[0:17] We're good to go to our studio audience.
[0:19] Okay, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to
[0:21] the Penrook School Committee meeting
[0:23] Tuesday, March 17th, 2026. Happy St.
[0:26] Patrick's Day, one and all for
[0:28] evacuation day to anyone in Suffach
[0:30] County. Um hopefully if you're listening
[0:32] to this in Suffach County, good luck to
[0:33] you. Uh this meeting is being recorded.
[0:35] If you have any questions, you can send
[0:36] them to scinfrok12.org.
[0:41] Would you all join me for the pledge of
[0:43] allegiance?
[0:46] >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the
[0:48] United States of America and to the
[0:51] republic for which it stands, one nation
[0:54] under God, indivisible, with liberty and
[0:57] justice for all.
[0:59] >> Thank you very much.
[1:02] Okay. Public comment. Anyone here to
[1:04] publicly comment? Okay. No. Acknowledge
[1:08] your schedule of visitors. I think we're
[1:10] okay.
[1:12] Superintendent, any adjustments to our
[1:13] agenda?
[1:14] >> Nope.
[1:15] Communications
[1:18] uh 2526 calendar. So, I received a lot
[1:22] of communication um in regards to the
[1:25] 2526 calendar and the dislike of the
[1:28] idea that the final day of school for
[1:30] the school year would be Monday, June
[1:32] 22nd. Um there were several suggestions
[1:35] that I received. Um some involved um
[1:39] lengthening each of the day by days by
[1:41] 15 minutes, using a virtual learning day
[1:44] instead of a snow day. Um, I think the
[1:47] one that had the most traction was
[1:48] whether or not the school committee
[1:49] would consider um reopening this year's
[1:51] school calendar and shifting Friday,
[1:54] April 3rd, Good Friday, to a student
[1:56] day. Um, a couple things about that. Um,
[2:02] our school calendar is set generally in
[2:04] April of each year. Um, by law, we are
[2:07] required to schedule for 180 school days
[2:09] plus five inclement weather days. So,
[2:12] from the beginning of this year, our
[2:14] schedule has always been with the 185th
[2:17] day being on Monday, June 22nd. I
[2:20] appreciate that families have made
[2:22] plans. Um, I would caution anyone to
[2:24] make plans outside of what is the the
[2:26] printed calendar um for the year, but
[2:29] with that being said, if you have plans
[2:31] on Monday, June 22nd, continue with your
[2:35] plans. We are not sending the truency
[2:37] officer to anyone's home for the last
[2:38] day of school. Um, at the high school in
[2:40] particular, the last day tends to be an
[2:41] exam makeup day. Um, it's not a, you
[2:44] know, a full student attendance day. Our
[2:46] sixth grade students at the elementary
[2:48] level have promotion night prior to the
[2:50] last day of school. Um, and the last day
[2:52] of school here in the district is a half
[2:53] day no lunch. So, it is a very short day
[2:55] across the board. Um, when you take a
[3:00] day like Good Friday and switch it to a
[3:02] work day, um, we did do that in um,
[3:06] April of 2015. Um that year in
[3:09] particular, we used seven snow days
[3:10] prior to um Good Friday. We changed Good
[3:14] Friday to a professional development day
[3:16] for staff and then shifted a later day
[3:19] in March to a student day. Um Good
[3:22] Friday can be observed as a religious
[3:25] day, a religious holiday for staff. When
[3:27] we converted it to a professional
[3:29] development day, we did have several
[3:31] staff that put in for a religious
[3:32] holiday. If we were to entertain the
[3:35] idea of opening school on this April
[3:37] 3rd, I cannot tell you how many staff
[3:39] would be putting in for a religious
[3:41] holiday for that day. I can't ask people
[3:42] ahead of time. Um, so I think just
[3:46] overall my stance on it is that it's day
[3:49] 185. If we were talking about it being
[3:51] day 186 or 187, opening the calendar may
[3:55] make sense. I just think if you start
[3:56] opening it ahead of that day 185 now
[3:59] you've opened the door to then have that
[4:01] conversation in future years short of
[4:03] the mandated 185day calendar.
[4:09] But I know you all have gotten feedback
[4:10] from families too. Um I know that
[4:13] there's some staff that have reached
[4:14] out. There's definitely families that
[4:15] have reached out. Um
[4:19] >> well I know there's some concerns about
[4:20] summer camps starting that Monday and um
[4:23] >> go to summer camp. I got it.
[4:25] >> I just say we can't tell you not to come
[4:27] to school technically, but uh if you
[4:28] have a summer camp commitment. Um and I
[4:31] think they're worried about some of the
[4:32] staff being able to work, but again,
[4:34] it's an exam makeup day.
[4:36] >> Well, at the at the high school, it's an
[4:37] exam makeup day, but for the same
[4:39] reason, there's definitely families that
[4:40] have plans on Friday, April 3rd, as
[4:42] well.
[4:43] >> Um so shifting it to a student day at
[4:46] this point would also cause a group of
[4:48] families some sort of
[4:49] >> disruption to their schedule and plans.
[4:51] And I know in the past you've mentioned
[4:53] like not to I've heard it mentioned at
[4:56] this school committee meeting several
[4:57] times not to plan things for that last
[4:59] week in the case that there are snow
[5:01] days. Um so
[5:04] >> it's been a long time since we've used
[5:05] them but they're there for a reason.
[5:07] >> Yeah. Uh I would not want if we're going
[5:11] around with our opinion um would not
[5:13] want to change open up the school
[5:15] calendar. I think we leave it the way
[5:17] that it is knowing that some people
[5:18] won't be able to make it on that last
[5:20] day for plan reasons and that's okay and
[5:23] a personal choice
[5:25] >> and the questions I asked ahead of time
[5:27] that I'm just going to ask again just to
[5:29] make sure. So
[5:31] >> we cannot have school on a federal
[5:33] holiday. So Junth could not have school
[5:35] even if we voted to make that a school
[5:37] day. We're not allowed to.
[5:38] >> And then what happens if devil's
[5:42] advocate we have two more snow days?
[5:44] What happens?
[5:45] >> Um, so the state of Massachusetts
[5:48] expects you to adjust your calendar for
[5:52] snow days all the way up until miday. If
[5:55] weather days or weather, not just snow,
[5:57] if weather days happen after miday,
[5:59] there is some parameters under which you
[6:02] don't have to make up the time because
[6:03] you're so used to the end so close to
[6:05] the end of the school year. Um, if we
[6:07] were to have additional weather days, I
[6:10] don't want to use the word snow. Um, we
[6:12] could talk about changing the calendar,
[6:14] but without I mean we don't have any
[6:17] other days left in there that you
[6:19] >> we So in theory we would then have to
[6:21] potentially go to school Tuesday,
[6:23] Wednesday of that week.
[6:24] >> Correct. Okay.
[6:24] >> If we had more weather days.
[6:25] >> So us change. So that's part of the
[6:28] reasoning for not changing it now
[6:30] because it could just end up
[6:32] >> it could be a new point, right? We could
[6:33] still end up with weather days. There
[6:35] was that year that there was a giant
[6:36] storm at April Fool's Day. 9
[6:39] >> and contractually the teachers can't
[6:42] work past June 30th.
[6:45] >> The
[6:47] in Massachusetts you can't go to school
[6:48] past. So it's not even our a collective
[6:51] bargaining thing. It's a state.
[6:52] >> If 180 days goes to July 1st that's not
[6:56] possible.
[6:57] >> No. Okay.
[6:59] So just to clarify, there was a question around if we can go to school
[7:03] on uh federal holidays or just
[7:06] specifically Junth
[7:07] >> total holiday.
[7:08] >> Okay.
[7:09] >> That Junth question did come up a few
[7:11] years back because if you'll remember
[7:12] Junth was declared a holiday mid school
[7:14] year. It wasn't on our calendar when we
[7:16] approved the calendar. Um so there was
[7:18] some conversation that year on whether
[7:19] or not we had to observe it or not. Um
[7:22] we do
[7:22] >> due to a midyear change. Understand?
[7:23] >> Yeah. And it being that you know on for
[7:26] us it being that it is still part of our
[7:28] calendar you know a lot of places in the
[7:30] country they're they're out anyway in
[7:33] June so it doesn't affect them the way
[7:34] it does like Massachusetts. So
[7:37] >> do we have to take a vote on this or
[7:39] >> No. So I don't have it on your agenda as
[7:41] a voting item. If there was appetite of
[7:43] the committee to take it as a voting
[7:44] item. I would put it on your agenda next
[7:46] week for it to be a voting item.
[7:47] >> And this is all changes to the calendar
[7:50] have to go through school committee.
[7:52] >> You guys set the calendar. Y just making
[7:54] that.
[7:54] >> Yeah, I have no appetite to change it. I
[7:57] think what you said makes sense and we
[7:59] keep it as is.
[8:00] >> Mhm.
[8:01] >> Katrina.
[8:02] >> Agreed.
[8:02] >> Okay.
[8:04] So, kind of called a moot issue.
[8:06] >> Yeah. I just wanted to bring it up
[8:07] because I know that I got several
[8:08] emails. I know that there was a a
[8:10] Facebook kind of campaign to like send
[8:12] this email and I got several of them um
[8:14] and staff asked questions. I proactively
[8:16] did kind of survey staff and say if it
[8:19] were a conversation, which way would you
[8:21] lean? the bulk of the staff were leaning
[8:23] towards scheduling an early release day
[8:24] for Good Friday, but in the same breath,
[8:26] I can't ask them if they're planning on
[8:28] attending work that day. Um, so
[8:32] >> got it.
[8:33] >> Thank you.
[8:34] >> Um, can I add something for
[8:36] communications?
[8:37] >> Sure.
[8:37] >> Okay. Um, I know that the Pembroke um
[8:40] community center recreation department
[8:42] is looking for volunteers for their
[8:44] Easter egg hunt event um as well as
[8:47] people um to stuff the eggs and um to
[8:50] purchase candy. So, if anyone's
[8:52] interested, reach out to the recck
[8:54] department. Um and then coming up on is
[8:58] it April 2nd, David?
[9:00] >> Yes.
[9:00] >> There's a fundraiser um at Tiny and
[9:03] Suns.
[9:03] >> It's going to be at Tiny and Suns.
[9:04] >> Is it at 6
[9:05] >> 6 to 8? six to eight uh fundraiser for
[9:09] um uh the scholarship fund for David's
[9:12] late wife. Um so if people are able to
[9:14] come that would be fantastic.
[9:15] >> Thank you very much. Very nice of you.
[9:18] >> I actually self-promoting. I will be
[9:19] doing a um an interview with Christine
[9:22] James tomorrow on WATD at noon time. So
[9:24] >> nice.
[9:25] >> Thank you.
[9:25] >> Excellent.
[9:27] >> Um approval of bill schedule.
[9:30] >> Um I don't think you got it yet. It'll
[9:31] be good. Okay. Um okay. Okay, I'll take
[9:34] a motion to accept the school committee
[9:36] meetings for March 3rd.
[9:38] >> So moved.
[9:39] >> We have a second.
[9:40] >> Second.
[9:41] >> All those in favor?
[9:42] >> I.
[9:43] >> Any opposed? Any abstaining? 5-0.
[9:47] Natalie.
[9:49] Superintendent report.
[9:51] >> So we have a lot of stuff under my
[9:52] report this evening. We're going to
[9:53] start with um our next installment of
[9:55] budget presentations. And so up first we
[9:57] have um Chapman and she's going to do
[10:00] visual and performing arts.
[10:02] I think you have a question, right? Yep.
[10:04] It should work from your seat. MBTH and
[10:06] I tried it.
[10:07] >> Maybe it will. Maybe.
[10:08] >> Good evening.
[10:09] >> Hello.
[10:09] >> It's always my pleasure to talk about
[10:11] art and music.
[10:12] >> So, we are going to start um with just
[10:15] going over our goals for this year and
[10:17] we're going to uh I'm going to share
[10:19] some things about our accomplishments
[10:21] going through staffing and enrollment
[10:23] and then our maintenance of effort
[10:25] budget and what our next steps will be.
[10:29] So, celebrating goals, we're always um
[10:33] out in the community doing our concerts,
[10:36] having students be able to share their
[10:38] wonderful artwork. Um so, we do
[10:41] celebrate community by singing at
[10:43] Veterans Day, um marching in the parade
[10:47] this year for the first time on Veterans
[10:49] Day, which was wonderful. Uh and our art
[10:51] shows that will be coming up um this
[10:53] spring. So, we're excited about that. As
[10:55] far as our pathways go, um I
[10:58] participated uh at the middle school in
[11:01] late uh oh no, it was early March and
[11:03] presented to the eighth graders
[11:05] everything about the music and art
[11:06] classes and about the pathways. So, we
[11:09] always um look forward to be able to
[11:11] reach them and there's a uh video also
[11:14] on the visual and performing arts uh web
[11:17] page for people if they want to refer
[11:19] back to that. Um excited to share that
[11:21] we've had our first student finish the
[11:24] music pathway this year. He did a uh
[11:26] independent study uh composition and uh
[11:30] wrote his own piece, wrote a labretto,
[11:32] wrote the own his own piece, performed
[11:34] it, videotaped it. Um so we were able to
[11:37] have a videotape and a score. So that's
[11:39] kind of exciting. Um, and as far as PD
[11:42] goes, our visual art educators K through
[11:45] 12 are finishing the second year of
[11:47] their uh, art of education university.
[11:50] And so they have the opportunity to um,
[11:53] self- select pro packs on many related
[11:57] topics to what they're teaching or
[11:59] something that they're interested in
[12:00] exploring that they don't currently um,
[12:03] do. And so that has just the feedback
[12:05] from that has been tremendous and we
[12:06] hope to that's one of our goals uh for
[12:09] pre cons um years coming up that we'd
[12:11] like to be able to continue that um
[12:15] availment of their program there for the
[12:17] art of education university. We've had
[12:20] teachers participate at MASCU, our uh
[12:22] National Association for Art Educators,
[12:25] and at the MAA MEA. I'm I'm headed up to
[12:28] All State uh this coming Friday with
[12:30] three lovely high school students that
[12:32] got into the chorus there. So, that
[12:34] conference is happening this coming
[12:35] weekend. And again, I always do reach
[12:38] out to the staff, especially at the end
[12:39] of the year, to find out what they
[12:41] particularly would like to have targeted
[12:43] for PD. Um so, that helps us plan for
[12:46] the the next year coming up.
[12:50] uh celebrating our accomplishments. So
[12:53] really excited that eight out of 10 of
[12:55] our AP studio art students this year
[12:57] earned a qualifying score last spring on
[13:00] their exam portfolio. It's just an
[13:03] amazing breath of work that they have to
[13:05] prepare and submit for that. Uh we've
[13:07] had PHS artist exhibit works at the
[13:10] Boston Globe Scholastic Art Show,
[13:12] emerging young artists at UMass
[13:14] Dartmouth, Congressman Keading Journeyed
[13:16] Art Show and the Scholastic Art and
[13:18] Writing Awards. And currently we have 10
[13:21] students enrolled in the digital arts
[13:23] pathway and seven students in the music
[13:25] pathway.
[13:27] We also had a number of students this
[13:29] year uh be selected. This is Tyler K's
[13:32] uh photograph called Beauty and Fall. um
[13:35] and he won a gold um award for that. But
[13:38] we've had a number of students there
[13:40] listed, you can see that had their art
[13:42] selected at the Boston Globe
[13:43] Scholastics.
[13:45] We had a number of students um enter the
[13:48] emerging young artist and designers
[13:50] award um at the UMass Dartmouth and they
[13:54] you can see there how many it was
[13:56] wonderful to have that recognition as
[13:58] well for those students.
[14:00] Um for the first time last year we took
[14:03] place um we took part in the Attalboro
[14:06] uh art installation exam um art museum
[14:10] contest and I'm proud to say that PHS
[14:13] took first place. So it was the first
[14:15] time we ever entered and this was done
[14:17] uh mostly by our art club our afterchool
[14:20] group uh led by two of our students. So
[14:22] they uh two of our teachers they created
[14:25] this um
[14:29] what you want to say this exhibit this uh piece collectively. It was done
[14:35] with a lot of 3D materials and then they
[14:38] went down and actually did the
[14:39] installation. They had to move each
[14:41] piece separately and then install it
[14:43] down there and they and they actually
[14:45] took first place. So we were really
[14:46] excited about that. It was the first
[14:48] time that we had been involved in that.
[14:50] One of our teachers had done this
[14:51] previous in another school system and
[14:54] brought it to our attention and so we
[14:55] entered and look what they did. It was
[14:57] pretty amazing.
[14:58] >> Awesome.
[14:59] >> Also, our music department is always
[15:01] very busy. Um especially our uh
[15:04] elementary teachers, our band um Mr. Haw
[15:08] take likes to do lots of outreach and extra things for our students. So,
[15:13] they've already performed at a BC game
[15:15] this year and they have plans to go to
[15:17] Fenway Park. We've done the TD Garden
[15:19] and Celtics. We perform at Derby shops.
[15:22] They're looking to do um we uh excuse
[15:25] me, the middle school um and through the
[15:27] high school are going to Music in the
[15:28] Parks on May 1st this year. And we've
[15:31] also had groups uh the elementary
[15:34] choruses went to sing at New England
[15:36] Village as well as our middle school
[15:37] jazz band to perform for the residents
[15:39] there. And they also the middle school
[15:41] did Providence Bruins this past January.
[15:45] >> That's awesome.
[15:46] This is just a picture of our cast and
[15:48] crew of Susicle that we did in the fall
[15:51] that we also included students in grades
[15:54] five and six, which was a lot of fun to
[15:57] um have our younger students uh be
[16:00] involved in some theater. And our music
[16:02] students have been busy um preparing for
[16:05] festivals. So, we've had 15 students
[16:07] accepted this year to our senior
[16:09] district festival, which was in January.
[16:11] Four students just went last weekend to
[16:14] our um two weekends ago, I'm sorry, to
[16:16] junior district as well as our own Greg
[16:18] Tarbox who was the orchestra director
[16:21] this year for Southeast District, which
[16:23] is fantastic. We've had three students
[16:26] accepted to All State. I take them this
[16:28] weekend. And just last weekend, we had
[16:30] 21 students accepted to uh senior SEMSA.
[16:34] And so they performed down in Plymouth
[16:36] and our own Austin Glass is the
[16:38] president of SEMSA this year. So we are very engaged.
[16:43] Our current staffing is has not changed.
[16:46] So we have two uh full-time teachers at
[16:49] each of the elementary schools, one
[16:51] visual art and one music teacher. At the
[16:54] middle school, we have one visual art
[16:56] teacher and 1.2 music teachers. So
[16:59] that's Mr. Tarbox doing his string
[17:02] program there. At the high school, we
[17:04] have three full-time MU uh art teachers
[17:07] and 1.8 8 music teachers. So that's a
[17:10] full-time teacher. I myself teach 04 and
[17:13] then another teacher teaches point4 to
[17:16] get to that number. And at the
[17:17] elementary level, we have two
[17:19] instrumental music teachers, a full-time
[17:21] band instrumental teacher and a 2 string
[17:25] teacher. I don't know if you have any
[17:27] questions there about staffing.
[17:31] Our instrumental enrollment at the
[17:33] elementary school, we really like to
[17:34] look at these numbers. They have been
[17:36] holding nice and steady. I'm glad to say
[17:39] even with our declining ro enrollment um
[17:42] and just kind of a breakdown overall in
[17:44] that 174 number we're looking at about
[17:47] um 35 strings in the grade five six um
[17:51] if you were curious about how that broke
[17:53] down. Um but that that's the total
[17:56] enrollment. So um we're kind of I like
[17:59] to say the only game in town in grades
[18:01] five and six. So we're we're kind of
[18:03] happy that a lot of students do choose
[18:05] to try an instrument. Um there is a
[18:08] little bit of attrition between five and
[18:09] six and then six to seven. Um but we're
[18:12] so glad that so many families and um are
[18:15] supporting their children in making that
[18:17] decision to try an instrument and to see
[18:19] what that is like.
[18:23] Uh the current VPA class enrollment at
[18:26] the middle school and the high school,
[18:28] there's not a lot of change from last
[18:30] year from the middle school art and
[18:32] music. You can see our numbers there.
[18:35] And at the high school, uh, we have
[18:36] about a 5% increase in both music and
[18:39] art. So, I would attribute this to two
[18:42] things. Yeah, we're excited about that.
[18:44] One, of course, is the new VPA
[18:46] graduation requirement that you all
[18:48] voted on last year. And also um for the
[18:51] music classes, having the ensembles, um
[18:55] having the ability to take it just as a
[18:58] semester class in the fall really did
[19:00] help us capture some students that
[19:02] wouldn't have otherwise um been able to
[19:05] fill it fit it in if it was a full year.
[19:07] So uh we had a lot of students say thank
[19:09] you for that. And um the ones that did
[19:11] it a half year, I know for myself are
[19:13] like I have to do it a full year next
[19:15] year. I just, you know, so we're hoping
[19:17] that that continues. you know, if the there are constraints in the
[19:21] schedule, but it allows students to have
[19:23] that uh opportunity and to get kind of
[19:26] invested in the music department and
[19:28] kind of see what it's all about. So,
[19:30] that has been really wonderful. So,
[19:31] we're pretty happy with those numbers.
[19:34] Awesome.
[19:35] And we're not asking for anything
[19:37] addition um this year. We're just
[19:40] looking to do what we currently do at
[19:42] next year's prices. So our maintenance
[19:44] of effort, you can see the bulk of our
[19:46] um instructional supplies is the bulk of
[19:50] our budget because we have a lot of art
[19:52] consumables. Once we use those, they're
[19:54] gone and we need to purchase them again.
[19:57] Um transportation, we do provide all the
[19:59] transportation to all the festivals that
[20:02] we do. Um per mass principles
[20:04] association, students are not allowed to
[20:06] drive themselves to those festivals. So,
[20:08] we have to uh provide chaperoned uh
[20:11] transportation to and from all of the
[20:13] festivals and the auditions that we do.
[20:15] >> Um I don't know if you have any
[20:17] particular questions. There's a graph of
[20:19] kind of how how it looks uh with a
[20:22] breakdown between middle school,
[20:24] elementary school, and high school.
[20:26] tends to be a little bit
[20:28] more expensive, especially for art. as
[20:31] they're going through the art program,
[20:34] uh, our our projects and things get much
[20:36] more sophisticated as far as the
[20:38] materials that they need to use. We also
[20:42] take care of um a lot of the maintenance
[20:44] of instruments. We have many, many
[20:46] school-born instruments that were um
[20:48] even allowed to uh rent, not rent, but u
[20:52] let students use that may not otherwise
[20:54] afford it. So, we just have them fill
[20:56] out um a rent a little form that they've
[20:59] taken a certain they're all serialn
[21:01] numbered all of our instruments, but
[21:02] sometimes they come back when we need to
[21:05] make sure that they stay in working
[21:06] order. Um so, we do have to um and we
[21:09] have the pianos tuned and things like
[21:11] that. So,
[21:14] and then our we um our next steps, we
[21:19] are very excited that we're going to
[21:20] implement an AP digital photography
[21:23] course next fall. That will be open in
[21:26] for students in grades 10, 11, 12. They
[21:28] will have had to taken digital
[21:30] photography as a semester for a
[21:32] prerequisite. Um but there's a lot of
[21:34] buzz about that among the students.
[21:36] They're very excited about that course.
[21:38] So I I expect that we'll see some some
[21:41] good um enrollment there. And we are
[21:44] always always thinking about
[21:46] recruitment. We are an completely
[21:48] elective department other than the 0.2
[21:52] graduation requirement at the high
[21:53] school. So to capture students, we we
[21:57] really do as much as we can. things like
[21:59] doing Susicle, having the younger grades
[22:01] come in, doing the all town concerts
[22:03] like we put on last week where we're
[22:05] letting especially caregivers and the
[22:08] students see what is it going to be like
[22:10] if you stay in the programs. We plan
[22:12] trips. We try to do things that are fun
[22:14] to um give outreach but also to give
[22:17] them that extra experience. You know,
[22:19] you have to make it it has to be fun,
[22:21] you know, to be to be involved. So, we
[22:23] are continuing to think about ways um
[22:27] that we can always reach those students.
[22:29] But I would say to caregivers too, it
[22:31] it's up to them too to help support and
[22:34] to make those decisions. I would say
[22:36] especially six to seven and grades 8 to
[22:39] nine. Sometimes it is the caregiver
[22:42] giving that extra why don't you just try
[22:44] it and see what happens because the
[22:46] experience might be different than what
[22:47] you had in the previous school. So, um,
[22:50] I would just encourage people to stay
[22:51] with it so we can see those numbers
[22:54] continue to grow. We did have quite a
[22:56] number of eighth graders do marching
[22:58] band this year for the first time and so
[23:00] we'd like to continue that for next
[23:02] year. We also have our color guard um
[23:05] involvement and actually Miss Haley just
[23:08] went and performed with the elementary
[23:09] color guard at NESPA and they did really
[23:12] well. They got a gold medal last
[23:13] weekend. So, that's the first time.
[23:15] Thank you for your support, Mrs. Zobie
[23:17] for that um helping there pay for all
[23:20] the dues and everything, but that was
[23:22] the first time that we had the younger
[23:23] color guard compete. So, they did
[23:25] fabulous. So, we'd like to see that come
[23:27] up so the seventh and eighth graders can
[23:29] be a part of the color guard uh in the
[23:31] fall as well. And like I mentioned
[23:33] before, I I really would like to keep um
[23:36] the offering of the art of education
[23:39] university. I believe the line item is
[23:41] actually going to be in the teaching and
[23:42] learning PD budget. Um, but it's kind of
[23:45] short money for a two-year um,
[23:47] commitment for all of our art teachers
[23:49] to be able to have that targeted
[23:51] professional development. That's the
[23:53] thing I hear from the staff the most is
[23:55] that sometimes it's not always music and
[23:57] art specific. So, this is a way we can
[23:59] really offer um, and to move their own
[24:02] professional practice forward uh, having
[24:05] those options. So, that's
[24:08] slid
[24:11] questions. Yeah, I just wanted to say um
[24:14] fantastic job. You know, seeing the
[24:16] increase in music and art enrollment is
[24:17] really to be celebrated and uh credit to
[24:20] all the work that you and others have
[24:22] done to get there.
[24:23] >> Um and then I just wanted to mention to
[24:25] highlight I know you said Mr. Mr. House,
[24:28] >> Mr. Hos,
[24:28] >> Mr. Haw. Okay, there we go. Mr. Haw. Um
[24:31] having those elementary performances in
[24:33] different places, right? Like I think
[24:35] that's also going to um create those
[24:37] core memories for those students to be
[24:39] able to want to continue in high school.
[24:40] And so I just wanted to
[24:41] highlight that. That's fantastic. Um,
[24:43] continuing to do those and it's
[24:45] wonderful that he seeks those
[24:47] opportunities out. Um, and yeah, that
[24:50] was it. Just excited to see the increase
[24:52] in enrollment and ideas for the future.
[24:54] >> Thank you very much. Thank you.
[24:56] >> Alison,
[24:57] >> does the school own uh the cameras like
[25:00] digital cameras? Are these like for the
[25:01] or the kids own them and are
[25:03] >> it's a combination of like cell phone?
[25:05] No, we do own digital cameras and iPads
[25:08] that they use in the digital the digital
[25:10] classes
[25:10] >> and they're learning because you know I
[25:12] grew up doing film processing and all
[25:14] that. Do they get to do any of that?
[25:16] >> You mean like a dark room situation? We
[25:18] don't do that. Okay. We don't have the
[25:20] capability,
[25:20] >> but but they're still I know I know but
[25:23] I know there's other photography classes
[25:25] that still do that but they're still
[25:27] learning you know the aperture and the
[25:30] >> they are they are so with the digital
[25:32] and they a lot of it as times they're
[25:34] taking it into Photoshop or using
[25:35] Procreate on the iPad so that they can
[25:38] learn to manipulate as well. So, not
[25:39] only are they doing all of the um you
[25:42] know, rules of thirds and all of that
[25:43] with the digital work, but then they're
[25:45] able to do it both physically and um
[25:48] with the computers.
[25:49] >> Okay, very cool.
[25:51] >> Thank you.
[25:51] >> So, well, uh you know, I'm going to echo
[25:54] what Katrina said about the, you know,
[25:55] recruitment and, you know, getting the
[25:57] numbers up. I think that's fantastic. I
[25:59] love having that you have the eighth
[26:01] graders join. I think that's probably
[26:03] key,
[26:04] >> you know. Yeah, absolutely. And, um
[26:06] obviously Mr. Pause does an amazing job
[26:08] every year. So, um I just wanted to, you
[26:11] know, we had like a really interesting
[26:13] conversation today in budget sub about
[26:16] um what PAPA does and how they
[26:18] contribute financially because they do a
[26:19] lot of fundraising and I thought it's
[26:22] this is an a good time to just let
[26:24] people know what they do. So, I was
[26:25] explaining that sometimes like they
[26:26] bought the trailer uh for the
[26:29] instruments, they bought um you know
[26:32] they do like a lot of fundraising. They
[26:33] you know they do the mattress sale. They
[26:36] do, especially when we're planning our
[26:38] big trips like next April. But even with
[26:40] music in the parks coming up, students
[26:41] have the a chance. So, we're not allowed
[26:44] to fund raise as a department, of
[26:45] course. So, it's all done through um POPA or the booster group.
[26:49] So, they um plan out kind of depending
[26:53] on what the trip year is, um they plan a
[26:56] number of different fundraisers that
[26:57] students and families can get uh
[26:59] involved in so that students can help to
[27:01] offset that course. And what they
[27:02] decided this fall um was because we're
[27:05] doing a big trip next April, our our
[27:07] Florida trip, that students could bank
[27:09] that money so they could work multiple
[27:12] years towards offsetting the cost of a big trip. But yeah, they've they've
[27:16] been incredible. They've bought color
[27:18] guard flags. They've bought wireless
[27:20] microphones. They've bought the trailer,
[27:22] which is huge for us when we have to go
[27:24] to do a parade or like going to Florida.
[27:27] We take we send the equipment truck down
[27:30] so that we don't have to check all those
[27:31] instruments and play all those extra
[27:33] fees. They actually arrive safely.
[27:36] >> Um but it does save a ton of money
[27:38] having uh parents volunteer. They they
[27:40] just do so much for us. They're a
[27:42] wonderful organization.
[27:44] >> I feel like they bought a couple of
[27:45] instruments here and there too.
[27:46] >> They have bought instruments in the
[27:47] past.
[27:48] >> Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Thanks for thanks for
[27:50] they almost try to fund every everything
[27:52] that we ask for and of course they fund
[27:54] awards as well and the senior
[27:56] scholarships that happen. So
[27:58] >> yes absolutely okay thank you so much
[28:01] >> Katrina
[28:01] >> nothing to add. Thank you so much.
[28:03] >> You're welcome.
[28:03] >> Well just closing comment is a lot of
[28:06] time people talk about the penro public
[28:08] schools two things that come up are the
[28:10] music program and I will defer to my
[28:12] good friend over here Brian the sports
[28:14] programs. Um a lot of parents are
[28:16] thrilled and a lot of out of town
[28:17] parents are jealous. So,
[28:21] >> Brian, I think we're on to you, sir.
[28:23] >> Before I let Brian start, I'm going to
[28:25] let Gwen go. I know she was traveling
[28:26] today and
[28:28] >> thank you.
[28:29] very much for all your work.
[28:30] >> Well done.
[28:31] >> Have a great day.
[28:32] >> Thank you, Gwen.
[28:35] >> Make sure this works.
[28:41] » All right, we'll jump right into
[28:42] athletics. Thanks for having me tonight.
[28:43] I put this picture on this slide. really
[28:45] encapsulates a lot of what I feel about
[28:48] our athletic program right now. And it's
[28:50] interesting because I feel like this
[28:52] senior group, our student athletes in
[28:53] general, this senior group is so dynamic
[28:56] and they're so connected and they're so
[28:58] they're connected in a way that I
[28:59] haven't seen any group we've had in the
[29:01] past where there's no silos, there's no
[29:02] clicks, there's no this group and that
[29:04] group, there's no teams. Our student
[29:06] athletes seem so connected in the senior
[29:08] class. Like I feel like I could talk
[29:10] about them all day cuz they just
[29:11] >> they fulfill what you want them to look
[29:13] like. Um, so that's why I put this
[29:14] picture on here. They've, this
[29:16] volleyball team had a ton of success.
[29:18] That's honestly helps. But their
[29:20] connectedness just kind of shows and how
[29:22] I feel that our student athletes are
[29:24] right now. So this slide, any any um
[29:28] sports night that I do, I I show this
[29:30] slide. So some of you might have seen it
[29:31] before. People might get sick of it, but
[29:33] I think it's critical that we define our
[29:35] why of what we're trying to accomplish,
[29:36] what we're trying to do each and every
[29:38] season. And we go over this. This is
[29:40] really our philosophy with it's a
[29:41] student athlete center model. We can see
[29:42] them in the middle and there's three
[29:44] principles below it of educational based
[29:46] athletics, competitive excellence and
[29:47] transformational coaches. And it really
[29:49] takes these three areas to be aligned to
[29:52] come together and have belief to achieve
[29:54] what we want to achieve. And that's
[29:55] creating a great environment. That's
[29:57] having a great experience for all
[29:58] student athletes and educational based
[30:00] athletics. Um, which you'll see on this
[30:02] next slide right here is really we want
[30:05] our athletes to win in the classroom
[30:06] first, right? We have extreme um
[30:09] academic and rigorous standards that
[30:10] they need to take care of. They need to
[30:11] make sure obviously they're they're
[30:13] passing their coursework and doing great
[30:14] in the classroom before they can be an
[30:16] athlete at Penrook High School. So just
[30:18] some data to support and some evidence
[30:20] to support how well our student athletes
[30:21] are doing. This is from the class of
[30:23] 2026
[30:24] um that grade 10, grade 11, and grade
[30:27] 12, 28 of the top 30 um highest ranking
[30:31] students are all student athletes, which
[30:32] is tremendous, right? They're checking
[30:33] that box. That's what we want them to
[30:35] do. 31 of 36 of the NHS inductees are
[30:39] student athletes. So, they're checking
[30:40] that box again. Those are all the things
[30:41] that we want them to be great students
[30:43] first using a uh academics as an
[30:46] extension of athletics. And then the
[30:48] next piece, you know, you can see on
[30:49] there that we had 17 student athletes
[30:51] commit to play college athletics, which
[30:53] is just a a benefit and a bonus to
[30:55] having great kids, a great program, and
[30:57] they've put in the work to achieve those
[30:59] things to to get to that next level.
[31:02] The next piece of that uh that first
[31:04] slide, that Y slide is, as you can see
[31:07] up here, is our competitive excellence
[31:08] piece. And I could talk once again about
[31:10] our student athletes all day, but it
[31:13] just shows, and just to put this into
[31:15] context, this um presentation covers our
[31:18] spring 25 season, our fall 25 season,
[31:21] and our winter 2526 season. So, it does
[31:23] not cover the spring season that we're heading into right now. So all
[31:27] these awards are from those three
[31:28] seasons. But you can see through this
[31:30] winter time, Alyssa Marcella, thousand
[31:32] point scorer, Logan Shipper, 100 career
[31:34] wins, Kevin Mur 100 career points. Those
[31:36] three tremendous individual awards will
[31:38] have banners put up in the gymnasium for
[31:40] them so they can accomplish those and
[31:41] come back and see those accomplishments
[31:43] and what happened. So super excited
[31:45] about those three. I think Alyssa was
[31:47] the only four the fourth person in
[31:48] Pemrook um basketball history to eclipse
[31:51] that mark and she went over 1100. 112
[31:53] was her career number. So, a tremendous
[31:55] career for for PER girls basketball. Uh,
[31:58] state champion shot putter, a ton of
[32:00] Patriot League MVPs, girls and boys out
[32:02] to a track, girls tennis, boys soccer,
[32:04] boys into a track, and girls basketball.
[32:06] Um, so each side of the Patriot League
[32:08] gets one MVP selected and that's voted
[32:10] on by the coaches in that division. So,
[32:12] it just shows how what they provide to
[32:14] the league, not just the Penrook, but
[32:15] the whole entire Patriot League, the 12
[32:17] member league that we're in. Boys and
[32:19] girls track, we're outdoor track stay
[32:21] runner up, not a surprise to many. um
[32:23] eight Patriot League Fisher Division
[32:24] titles, 82 Patri League All-Stars, 12
[32:27] teams qualifying for the state
[32:28] tournament, six of them being a round of
[32:31] 16 finalist, four round of eight
[32:32] finalist, and then finally, we're the
[32:35] fifth uh we're fifth in the Patriot
[32:36] League in the Boston Globes Classic
[32:37] standings. So, the only schools in front
[32:39] of us are Marshfield, Ducksberry,
[32:41] Hangingham, and Hanover. So, we're that
[32:43] fifth school. So, we're we're above a
[32:45] bunch of, you know, highly competitive
[32:46] schools like Situ and some others that
[32:48] are around us. And um this past year has
[32:50] been tremendous. And that that
[32:52] scholastic standings is a win- loss
[32:53] result from your fall, your winter, and
[32:55] your spring season. It's an aggregate
[32:57] number that they put together. So
[32:59] overall, this this winter, the fall, and
[33:02] the spring have been certainly a time of
[33:04] a lot of competitive excellence that we
[33:05] chase, but I think the important part of
[33:07] that competitive excellence side is that
[33:09] I truly believe the platform of
[33:11] athletics is the greatest tool that we
[33:13] have to really teach the things that are
[33:15] necessary to be successful in life.
[33:16] There's no shortcuts to be successful in
[33:18] life. There's no shortcuts to be
[33:20] successful in sports. And I really think
[33:21] that platform that we have that our
[33:23] coaches are providing, um, our student
[33:25] athletes are are putting in the work,
[33:27] they're being committed, they're being
[33:28] resilient, they're they're working
[33:30] through adversity. I think those are all
[33:31] the things that we want all our students
[33:34] to to have. And I think the platform
[33:36] that we have here at Penrook has just
[33:38] been doing a great job for for our
[33:40] student athletes.
[33:43] >> Next slide. A little bit of of community
[33:45] service. Obviously, this is just as
[33:47] important as anything that any of our
[33:49] student athletes do. But we we hosted
[33:51] Morgan's message this year for the first
[33:52] time our girls basketball team. Um, and
[33:56] Morgan's message is really a nationwide
[33:58] message to kind of fight the stigma of
[34:00] mental health. And it just helps support
[34:02] um and get the the voice out and the
[34:04] word out and exposure out to mental
[34:06] health and who's fighting it and that
[34:08] you have help and there's people there
[34:09] that are willing to help you and ask for
[34:11] help and it's okay. So, we hosted that
[34:13] night u when we played Norwell in
[34:14] basketball. We had a great turnout. Uh
[34:17] it was a great first time that we've
[34:18] done it and we're certainly going to do
[34:19] that in the future moving forward. Our
[34:21] boys hockey team, uh they played a game
[34:23] that was dedicated to local food pantry.
[34:25] They spent a ton of time with those
[34:27] folks donating hours um doing whatever
[34:29] they can with with with that group and
[34:31] um they've done a great job. Our
[34:33] volleyball hosted their pink night which
[34:35] they do annually for cancer awareness.
[34:37] Uh we have a ton of youth camps that we
[34:39] host from uh pretty much year round,
[34:42] mainly in the summertime, but we host
[34:44] some during some school breaks and some
[34:46] holidays and you know extra dates we can
[34:48] get in. But we had some youth camps for
[34:49] soccer, both boys and girls, basketball,
[34:52] lacrosse, cheerleading, baseball, and
[34:53] softball. So that that importance of
[34:55] getting our youth connected with our
[34:57] high school aged um folks is is is
[35:00] something that we need. We're obviously
[35:01] not the biggest town. So when we can
[35:02] create those connections and those
[35:04] relationships early on, I think they
[35:05] really pay dividends down the road. and
[35:07] something our our kids and our coaches
[35:09] are doing a great job with. And then
[35:11] lastly, Alyssa Marcelo, once again to
[35:13] shout her out, she was a member of the
[35:14] MIA student advisory committee. There's
[35:16] only 26 student advisory committee in
[35:18] the entire state. It's a super rigorous
[35:20] um path to get there. You have a resume.
[35:23] You need to go through an interview
[35:23] process with the MIA executive director.
[35:26] They have monthly meetings at in
[35:28] Franklin MA headquarters. They they give
[35:30] back a ton. In this picture, you
[35:32] probably can't really see it well, but
[35:33] she actually spoke. This was at Gillette
[35:35] Stadium at the 31st um annual
[35:37] sportsmanship summit in front of like a
[35:39] thousand people and just that experience
[35:41] alone was was awesome and once again
[35:43] just representing what we're about at
[35:44] Pemrook and doing a great job
[35:47] >> uh in that role.
[35:50] >> All right, moving forward. I don't know
[35:51] if that top piece is on there, but I
[35:53] think you have it in your slide. So,
[35:54] this is going to start with the fall
[35:55] sports really our five-year um numbers
[35:57] from 2021 up to 2025 participation wise.
[36:01] Um, nothing drastic and major in here. I
[36:04] think you see our percentage of
[36:05] enrollment for athletics. We're down 1%
[36:08] from our 5-y year roll on average. So,
[36:10] nothing that's um drastic one way or the
[36:12] other. I think this is probably pretty
[36:14] consistent and and steady um expectation
[36:17] of where I hope we're at. That 40%
[36:19] number and above is is a healthy number
[36:20] and something that we we push to to keep
[36:23] going. Um the biggest drop off from the
[36:25] fall 2025 to 2024, girls soccer was down
[36:29] about nine. uh student athletes and
[36:31] football was down about seven. So that's
[36:33] that was a 16ish uh student athlete
[36:35] reduction from year-over-year. And then
[36:38] um volleyball has actually become pretty
[36:40] much our most robust and popular sport
[36:42] in the fall. We have we offer three
[36:43] levels of freshman JV and varsity. We
[36:45] have to make cuts unfortunately because
[36:46] we have so many girls who uh and boys
[36:49] who try out for that team which is
[36:50] awesome. Uh but it's a super it's
[36:52] healthy, it's growing and it's um it's
[36:54] been a great experience for all athletes
[36:57] moving forward.
[36:59] the that looks like it's fall right
[37:02] there.
[37:02] >> There we go. Winter,
[37:04] >> same thing. Five-year averages from 2021
[37:07] to our current winter that we just
[37:09] finished up last week. The winter sports
[37:11] numbers are down slightly more um in
[37:15] terms of from last year, but really that
[37:17] number last year I think had a lot of
[37:18] noise in it. I don't think it had much
[37:19] signal. that that uh indoor track number
[37:22] had like 125 last year
[37:26] >> where our 5-year average was like
[37:27] between 95 and 100 right in that range
[37:30] >> and that's where we're back at this
[37:31] year. So it looks like we're down kind
[37:33] of a healthy chunk but I think there was
[37:35] a lot of noise in that number from last
[37:36] year. I don't expect it to be that high
[37:38] moving forward which kind of shows where
[37:40] that drop off is coming from. But once
[37:42] again we're above that 40% threshold
[37:44] which is I think a critical number a
[37:46] number that we're trying to stay at and
[37:47] above moving forward.
[37:51] spring. So, I just updated this with our
[37:54] actually our current spring numbers.
[37:55] Spring sports started yesterday. Can't
[37:57] believe that the field's out there on
[37:58] spring like, but uh we're doing our
[38:00] best. These numbers are are pretty
[38:02] accurate. We had about 13 uh folks
[38:05] register between yesterday and today.
[38:07] So, we're still we're still adding to
[38:08] this, which is a good thing. Um
[38:09] registration, although I put a deadline
[38:11] on it, it never seems to close. We're
[38:13] always taking those those late ads. Um
[38:16] but once again, you can see our numbers
[38:17] are staying pretty steady. uh they look
[38:19] a little bit low. They'll come up to be
[38:20] about 39% of our enrollment. Um to be,
[38:23] you know, just right below our 5-year
[38:25] moving average. Um the two declines for
[38:28] this spring season that I've seen right
[38:30] now are girls lacrosse in baseball. Um
[38:33] but like I said, we still have a few
[38:35] late enrollies, and we'll see what those
[38:36] numbers uh kind of finalize as we, you
[38:39] know, get through this first week of of
[38:40] spring sports.
[38:47] » All right.
[38:49] budget overview. Let have this right.
[38:52] It's a little bit over here. Okay. So,
[38:54] just what it looks like from our fiscal
[38:56] year 26 overview. The next slide will be
[38:58] in detail. So, this is just a kind of
[38:59] the macro look at it. Athletic director,
[39:01] our coaching stipens. We have about
[39:03] roughly 60 to 61 coaching stipens and
[39:06] that makes up both our uh Penrook
[39:07] Community Middle School and our Penrook
[39:09] High School coaches uh in all three
[39:11] seasons. So, roughly about 61 coaching
[39:13] stipens to make up that number. athletic
[39:16] maintenance custodian, contracted
[39:17] services, officials, um supplies and
[39:20] equipment make up that 827 720. So this
[39:23] next slide you can see a little bit of
[39:24] detail to break those numbers down to
[39:26] give some context to them. Our biggest
[39:28] and largest expense year over year is
[39:30] going to be our rentals. Um our ice
[39:32] rinks are continue to um give us a cost
[39:35] that we have to pay and it's obviously
[39:37] expensive, but we that's it is what it
[39:39] is. That's a cost of doing business.
[39:41] We're fortunate they're in our backyard
[39:42] and uh you know it helps from a
[39:44] transportation perspective, but our our
[39:46] ice for our boys and girls team make up
[39:49] roughly 65,000 of that 90,000. Um and
[39:53] then our gymnastics program, our swim
[39:55] program,
[39:57] our two big other rentals, we use the
[39:58] Southshore YMCA and handover for
[40:00] gymnastics, we use a Kingsbury Club and
[40:02] Kingston um for our swim team. And that
[40:05] makes up that that 90,000 roughly for
[40:07] our rentals. Our league dues are
[40:10] consisted of our Patriot League dues and
[40:12] our MIA league dues and then we have
[40:14] entry fees for our cheerleading
[40:15] competitions, our wrestling events and
[40:18] our track um events that we that we
[40:20] regularly attend. Field maintenance,
[40:23] that's just our, you know, the stuff we
[40:24] need year-over-year. Like training
[40:26] services, that is the cost of Grace
[40:29] Walsh, our athletic trainer, and or any
[40:31] additional help that we um get provided
[40:33] by Mass General Brighgam, who our
[40:35] contractor is with for athletic training
[40:37] services. So at times uh if we need
[40:40] additional athletic trainer, if we have
[40:41] multiple events going on, they will
[40:42] provide that to us as kind of part of
[40:44] our contract. Um and it covers
[40:46] everything that way. Reconditioning,
[40:48] police details, repairs, uniform
[40:50] replacement cycle, and transportation
[40:52] make up the rest of that. Um 285, the
[40:55] contracted services, game officials, we
[40:57] host we host roughly 270 home events. Um
[41:00] and for each of those home events, we
[41:02] have athletic officials and that makes
[41:04] up that 5896A price. And then our
[41:07] training supplies broken up through our
[41:09] three seasons in our athletic training
[41:11] room make up that remaining 3160.
[41:16] So that's kind of the the budget
[41:17] breakdown and overview last year moving
[41:20] forward to uh 27. Some of our goals as
[41:23] we look forward to continue to you know
[41:24] try to provide the best experience that
[41:26] we can is obviously our athletic
[41:28] facilities is something we're always
[41:29] looking to invest in. That's going to be
[41:30] um you know an always an important and
[41:33] critical part of our of our program. So
[41:36] once again, an athletic press box that
[41:37] you've heard me say for some time. Um
[41:40] our grass fields certainly after this
[41:42] winter are going to need some extra TLC.
[41:44] Um they've been white for a long time
[41:47] and they get a ton of use. So they're
[41:49] and there's not great drainage. So I'll
[41:51] be very curious over the next 7 to 10
[41:52] days how they they shake out um in some
[41:56] better weather. And then in our
[41:57] gymnasium, our basketball hoops, we
[41:58] replaced two systems over the past two
[42:01] years and slowly been chipping away at
[42:02] it, but they are getting older in our
[42:04] gym and they get a lot of use, not only
[42:06] from our sports programs, but our our PE
[42:08] programs as well and our youth folks on
[42:10] the weekend. So, they're pretty um you
[42:12] know, a pretty popular piece in our
[42:14] school. The next goal moving down is
[42:17] once again to strengthen our
[42:18] relationship with our our youth uh
[42:19] sports folks. They're they're a critical
[42:22] part of what we do and if we want to
[42:24] continue to have success, we need to
[42:25] invest in them to get them involved as
[42:28] early as we can. Like uh Gwyn's talked
[42:30] about recruiting for her folks. It's
[42:32] we're recruiting for our own kids in our
[42:33] town as well. As you guys know, there's
[42:35] so many options from private schools and
[42:38] um just so many more options nowadays
[42:40] for kids to go. Uh we want to keep our
[42:42] own in town and we're trying to get a hold of them at a young age to
[42:45] have a chance to do that.
[42:47] >> We continue to live stream our athletic
[42:48] events through Huddle. It's been um
[42:51] we've got a ton of feedback on it. We
[42:52] get over 2,000 uh 2,000 10,000 views
[42:54] yearly. Um it's a free platform for
[42:57] parents, family, people afar uh to check
[43:00] in and watch their their family and
[43:02] friends compete at Pepper High School.
[43:04] And they continue to provide a holistic
[43:06] student athlete experience. Grace does a
[43:08] tremendous job in the training room uh
[43:09] taking care of our student athletes. And
[43:11] then the strength conditioning program
[43:12] is something that on the next slide um
[43:14] I'll talk about a little bit but it's been a a very popular uh place in
[43:19] our athletic department as well.
[43:22] So we kind of put this all together.
[43:24] Some of the capital items obviously the
[43:26] press box is is is the biggest cost. Um
[43:29] that cost year over year goes up a
[43:31] little bit more and more as the cost of
[43:33] new business goes up. Um, but I I hope
[43:36] it's something we can try to, you know,
[43:38] put our our work work in and and get a
[43:41] find a way to get that accomplished
[43:42] because I do think it impacts so many in
[43:44] this town, like I said, from our youth
[43:46] programs to to the high school program.
[43:48] So, I think there's there would be a lot
[43:49] of support behind trying to find a way
[43:51] to to raise that money if that was a
[43:53] path in in the town. Um, I do think
[43:56] there's a lot of support. basketball
[43:58] hoops I talked about and the strength
[43:59] conditioning coach. This would be a
[44:01] stipen position kind of like our coaches
[44:02] are per season. We have almost every
[44:06] single one of our teams use the weight
[44:09] room at at some point in time or the
[44:11] other throughout the week or or the
[44:12] individual season. So all our teams we
[44:15] probably have I wish I had a a number to track how many kids were in there
[44:19] each day, but we probably have at least
[44:21] 100 student athletes who enter that
[44:22] weight room every single day. all
[44:24] different sports um
[44:25] >> and all different music genre tastes,
[44:27] >> all different genres.
[44:29] >> I'm like, "Oh goodness, what's happening
[44:30] in there today?"
[44:31] >> Playlist and all all the fun stuff. But
[44:33] it it really has become a place that um
[44:36] it welcomes everyone. It's not just the
[44:38] football team or this group or this
[44:40] group. All our groups are in there. Um,
[44:43] and I'd love to keep that a place where
[44:45] we can, uh, provide some coaching and
[44:47] some, you know, u, year each season so
[44:49] we have some consistency for all our
[44:51] team and student athletes to have that
[44:53] because I do think that is an edge. I do
[44:54] think having a strength conditioning
[44:56] coach in the high school level is an
[44:58] edge and it's something that our student
[44:59] athletes really they they they enjoy
[45:01] being in there. Um, so I think that
[45:04] would be a great addition to our our
[45:06] program. And then the turf field one to
[45:08] two years away. I got it tested in
[45:10] April. We're our our GMAX testing and some other testing. We're we're good
[45:16] from those ratings. Some of our um seams
[45:19] and our busy areas are starting to decay
[45:21] a little bit, but we're uh we're in good
[45:23] shape. We added another maintenance each
[45:25] year to try to push that longevity out
[45:28] of the turf and um it's a it's a busy
[45:30] place for us. We get a lot of use out of
[45:31] it. So, that will be down the road.
[45:36] All right. I think that is the end. So
[45:39] happy to talk about anything athletics
[45:40] or whatever anyone wants to talk about.
[45:43] >> Start on the end, Katrina.
[45:45] >> Yeah. Um
[45:48] I guess thank you so much for this. It's
[45:50] really helpful to see kind of how things
[45:52] are going over time and um all the
[45:54] accomplishments of um the our student
[45:56] athletes. Um, one question about um, in
[46:00] terms of your big biggest budget ask,
[46:03] like if you were to pick from the
[46:05] capital items, what do you feel like is
[46:07] the most um, pressing?
[46:10] >> It's a good question. It's really I I
[46:12] think I think they both I think the
[46:14] press box and the transitioning coach
[46:17] are both super pressing, but they're
[46:20] almost in two different avenues where I
[46:21] think we get way more student athlete
[46:23] touches obviously by the transition
[46:24] coach, which has those benefits. I think
[46:27] the press box obviously has a benefit
[46:29] from a facility usage, from a game
[46:31] operations and logistics perspective. So
[46:33] I it's a good question because I think
[46:35] they have kind of a little bit of
[46:36] different path.
[46:38] >> Yeah.
[46:38] >> Um
[46:39] >> Got it.
[46:40] >> So it's kind of hard to pick. Well,
[46:42] since you mentioned raising money, um so
[46:44] we did start last year to reinvigorate
[46:47] the um PEO Education Foundation, but we
[46:50] need somebody to help us with the um
[46:52] taxes and all the things that fell off
[46:54] when it stopped being functional before.
[46:56] Um so if anyone wants to help with that,
[46:58] would love to raise money for this um
[47:00] turf field press box because we can use
[47:02] that. Um but we do have some work to do
[47:04] in terms of the um nonprofit status and
[47:07] things like that. But if we can get that
[47:08] worked out and there's folks who want to
[47:10] volunteer to help make that a reality, I
[47:12] think we could totally do fundraising
[47:14] for the press box.
[47:15] >> I think you should partner also with the
[47:17] boosters on that because I know there
[47:18] was an appetite a couple years ago to
[47:21] contribute toward it.
[47:22] >> Yes. And I candidly don't have a ton of
[47:24] time to do that. So if anyone wants to
[47:25] help, please reach out to me.
[47:27] >> Tell me what to do. I'll go picketing
[47:29] around town. Whatever I have to do
[47:30] holding up signs,
[47:31] >> we'll have an opportunity with the
[47:33] replacement of the turf field to
[47:35] potentially put together a project,
[47:36] right? like a athletic enhancement.
[47:39] >> Okay.
[47:39] >> Maybe like a capital.
[47:40] >> Two years from now, we're still
[47:42] >> Can we do CPC funds for that or no?
[47:44] >> Um, no. I think it has to be grass. I
[47:46] think
[47:46] >> it has to be grass. Can't be grass. I
[47:48] don't know that much about CPC, but we
[47:50] couldn't use it to replace the turf
[47:51] field. So, I can't imagine that you
[47:53] could use it for
[47:54] >> I did have one other question.
[47:56] >> The I'm I'm sorry. Can you let me jump?
[47:58] I was saying drop for a minute,
[48:00] >> but didn't we use CPC funds to do the
[48:02] playgrounds?
[48:03] >> The playground. Yes. But like I feel
[48:04] like Madakisa works because it's grass.
[48:06] I there's there's some weird
[48:07] stipulations to it. I don't know.
[48:09] >> But the press box
[48:10] >> Yeah, I don't know that the press box
[48:12] would fall under CPC, but
[48:13] >> I'm happy to explore it.
[48:14] >> Yeah, why not?
[48:15] >> Happy. Yeah, do that.
[48:16] >> I'm sorry, Katrina.
[48:17] >> No, you're totally fine. Um I was just
[48:20] curious too if we've looked into and it
[48:22] may be a no, but um if we've looked into
[48:24] any grants for um any of these any of
[48:28] these, like if there are grants that are
[48:30] available to potentially fund any of
[48:32] them. I have not looked into a grant for
[48:34] the press box or I don't think the the
[48:37] stipen coach position would fall into
[48:39] any grants be aware of but
[48:42] >> press box I don't
[48:44] >> once again I could look into that I'm
[48:45] not
[48:45] >> Brian just one off the board for a
[48:47] second what about having Springfield
[48:49] background that you and I both have what
[48:51] about an intern strength and
[48:52] conditioning person would that
[48:55] >> I would that kind of cover us or not I
[48:56] just
[48:57] >> that would be my next step kind of
[48:59] envision where we get a strength
[49:00] condition certified and then we can
[49:02] start having interns to make that
[49:03] program kind of more hands-on, get more
[49:05] touch points, and then we can get kids
[49:06] from Bridgewwater State Springfield.
[49:08] We're going to we can have a ton of
[49:09] those departments
[49:11] >> that are local that probably want to
[49:12] come get some hours.
[49:14] >> Yeah, I'm just let me talk to my
[49:16] brother. Um I'm sure he's got some
[49:18] resources there that I could tap in on.
[49:20] >> Great.
[49:20] >> So,
[49:21] >> I'm done. and Alison.
[49:24] >> So, if I remember correctly for the the
[49:25] press box, part of the
[49:28] process is it has to have sprinklers and
[49:31] ADA and all things that we don't
[49:34] currently have
[49:36] >> anywhere within that area really. Right.
[49:38] >> So, we have water. When we put the
[49:40] sprinkler system out to the brack field,
[49:42] we did run the the conduit for those
[49:45] pieces if there were to ever be a press
[49:48] box. So the the press box would be its
[49:51] own entity behind like is there even
[49:55] like a conceptual idea of where this
[49:57] would be or
[49:58] >> Yeah. So I I have some
[50:00] >> I'm just curious diagrams and some some
[50:02] u things that companies given us. So
[50:05] there's so many options now. Some come
[50:06] prefabed or they ship them in and they they build a foundation. That's
[50:09] kind of the work and they're prefabed
[50:10] and they're kind of nice and easy
[50:12] >> like on the ground.
[50:13] >> Not on the ground but they're they're
[50:14] already built and then they yeah they
[50:16] put them up on that. Um,
[50:17] >> so are we talking like an elevator or is
[50:19] this would be ramps or like how do you
[50:21] >> It would probably be an elevator process
[50:23] to have a ramp to that in the back would
[50:25] be
[50:26] >> it would be we don't have enough space.
[50:28] There's not enough space.
[50:29] >> Yeah. No, that's why I was just trying
[50:30] to pro like cuz you know I think that
[50:33] whether CPC can be used but then all the
[50:35] youth sports that use the fields like it
[50:37] would obviously be beneficial to
[50:40] >> the whole town
[50:41] >> a lot of places a lot of people. Um
[50:45] yeah, that's definitely something I
[50:47] think that could be explored in
[50:48] different avenues of outside of just
[50:51] like our budget um within the school.
[50:54] But I also want to just also shout out
[50:56] the basketball I mean the baseball and
[50:58] softball players because I've been part
[51:01] >> so first of all congratulations and all
[51:03] the successes for all the sports teams
[51:05] like I'm just really impressed. The
[51:07] volleyball team this year was
[51:09] unbelievable. And
[51:10] >> there was a dusty banner up there we had
[51:11] to clear off for New Year's.
[51:13] >> Oh my gosh. Yeah. It was just I mean and
[51:16] honestly I mean in the track program and
[51:19] cross country and so many amazing
[51:20] athletes and I think that they can't be
[51:23] developed without good leadership,
[51:25] right? So we really appreciate
[51:26] everything you're doing for the program
[51:28] which is pretty amazing. Um a couple of
[51:31] questions I had. First one is uh
[51:34] regarding the budget detail. Is there
[51:36] anything in here? Is this just
[51:38] maintenance of effort budget detail or
[51:39] is there any sort of um items in here
[51:42] that are increased from last year that
[51:45] should be called out or
[51:46] >> the the biggest increase is really come
[51:48] back to that contracted services piece
[51:50] for the rentals. So that just goes up
[51:52] yearly based off whatever the rink
[51:53] decides they want to charge next year.
[51:55] It's not like a a price that we know
[51:57] we're getting.
[51:59] >> So yeah, so our maintenance of effort
[52:00] budget includes an increase in those
[52:02] type of services. You know, we kind of
[52:04] guess at it. I I think we'll we're
[52:06] pretty close. But
[52:07] >> so basically this is maintenance of
[52:08] effort. Correct.
[52:09] >> Okay. So that's that's kind of my
[52:11] question trying to figure out. And then
[52:13] the other question we we talked briefly
[52:15] today in budget sub about potential for
[52:17] track at some point. Uh the so would the
[52:20] how is the track doing right now? Have
[52:22] you had that checked?
[52:23] >> Yeah. So it's it's actually become a a
[52:25] very niche market. The Cape Islands who
[52:28] have done a lot of u the track work in
[52:30] this area. They've kind of gone away
[52:32] from doing repairs. now they just want
[52:34] to do brand new construction. So, it's
[52:36] been a challenge to get them here. Um,
[52:37] with that being said, there's definitely
[52:39] some usage and wear and tear in some of
[52:41] those hight traffic areas. Uh, it's
[52:43] probably going to be along those same
[52:44] lines as our turf field timeline. Like
[52:47] Aaron said, it might be a project piece
[52:48] where we come in and resurface at all.
[52:50] It's not going to be need to be
[52:51] reconstructed, but it'll be need to be
[52:53] resurfaced sooner than than later. It's
[52:56] a ton of use, you know, and we we host
[52:58] some MSTC events which add to that,
[53:01] >> right? Um, but that's a great, you know,
[53:03] opportunity for our town to host that,
[53:04] which is why we do. Uh, but it's
[53:07] probably on that turfield timeline of
[53:08] needing to be resurfaced.
[53:10] >> Okay. All right. Good to know. Thank
[53:12] you.
[53:15] » Nothing. Thank you so much. Again, I'll
[53:18] kind of come to a close and I will say
[53:20] um Brian, I still remember the first
[53:22] time someone asked me if uh we would
[53:24] interview for this position and I having
[53:27] a very athletic background, a
[53:29] Springfield College guy, I looked at
[53:31] your resume and I said, "Why in heaven's
[53:33] name would this guy want to come here?"
[53:35] I said, "He is so grossly
[53:36] overqualified." And then I honestly
[53:38] said, "He'll last about a year and some
[53:40] school will scoop him up." How many
[53:42] years you here now, sir?
[53:43] >> Six years.
[53:44] >> We have an agreement.
[53:47] Well, I I just want to say I'm I'm I'm
[53:48] honored to have you here. Um, as with
[53:51] all the faculty and stuff, but I just
[53:52] remember seeing your resume and I was
[53:54] saying to myself, "Holy heaven, they
[53:56] said, "If we can land this guy, this is
[53:58] like big time." So, and your results
[54:00] have proven it. Everything you've done,
[54:02] and again, similar to the other people,
[54:03] you know, Gwen's music program,
[54:05] whatever, it it's just what we're known
[54:07] for. So, thank you for all you do.
[54:09] Again, I've always said you call the
[54:11] kids student athletes. It reminds me of
[54:13] my dad. I think that's the greatest
[54:15] compliment in the world. I've never
[54:16] heard you once say he's a football
[54:18] player, a basketball player, track,
[54:20] whatever. Um, so thank you. Great
[54:22] presentation. Um, we got some things to
[54:25] look at in the future.
[54:26] >> Thank you guys.
[54:27] >> Thank you,
[54:28] >> Brian. You can go if you want. Do
[54:30] >> you want me to hang on the waver?
[54:31] >> Uh, no, there I got it. That's fine.
[54:34] >> Thank you.
[54:34] >> Thanks.
[54:36] >> Have a good night.
[54:37] >> No pressure now. Yes.
[54:40] >> If you do well, you get to leave. Yeah,
[54:42] you have to stay.
[54:44] >> We had two amazing presentations. So
[54:47] >> I uh I don't have Great job. Right. I
[54:50] don't have any gold medals.
[54:53] It's
[54:53] >> not true. You still appreciate it.
[54:55] >> So and in fact um the irony is when my
[54:59] department does their job well, nobody
[55:01] notices.
[55:04] >> That makes it tricky because we
[55:05] certainly notice when things are not
[55:06] working.
[55:07] >> Yeah, that's true. Right.
[55:08] >> If that screen doesn't work, we are in
[55:10] big trouble.
[55:13] Uh nevertheless, um I'm going to follow
[55:15] the same format as as our colleagues
[55:17] did. Uh we'll talk about an overview of,
[55:19] you know, the historical information. Um
[55:22] update on the fiscal year 26 goals that
[55:24] we put into place, take a look at what's
[55:26] coming for 2027, and uh outline the
[55:29] priorities where we're headed. I
[55:32] finished a really
[55:35] I I don't use the term rigorous lightly.
[55:38] This was a rigorous course I took um
[55:40] where on the first day the the professor
[55:42] stated that technology in schools has
[55:44] quietly become infrastructure and it
[55:47] really truly has. Um th this department
[55:50] um has two sides and I have to forever
[55:54] look at this with two minds. I'm an
[55:56] educator first. I was an educator for for 20some years and I bring that to
[56:01] the educational technology portion of
[56:03] it. But then
[56:05] there's there's a ubiquity to technology
[56:08] in everything we do now. So, you know,
[56:10] the the Wi-Fi, the the HVAC systems, you
[56:13] know, we're responsible for keeping all
[56:15] of that going and and if it's too warm
[56:18] or too cold, the learning management
[56:20] systems, uh the the network security,
[56:23] student data protections, delivery of of
[56:26] instructional materials, the point of
[56:27] service machines at the in the cafeteria
[56:29] for the kids, the huddle cams that Brian
[56:32] uses um in in security, pick a time for
[56:36] parent teacher conferences, the voice
[56:38] over internet protocol telephones like
[56:39] we we have our our our hands in
[56:41] everything. Um and it's not something I
[56:44] take lightly and in fact I I take it
[56:46] very very seriously. Um so
[56:50] to that end our foundational principles
[56:53] and strategic outlook remain uh from
[56:56] last year. Um at the nucleus of it all
[57:00] kids are first. We're we're a school
[57:01] district. Kids are always first. um when
[57:05] I speak to um you know this sort of wish
[57:08] list of things that we're looking at for
[57:09] the budget, I' I I try to approach it
[57:11] pragmatically with a very realistic
[57:13] outlook. Um I'm I'm not sort of unaware
[57:17] of of the lift that the citizens of the
[57:21] town will will need to look at in in the
[57:24] coming months and things like that. Nor
[57:26] unaware of all of the things happening
[57:27] sort of with tariffs and supply chains
[57:30] for the things we need. So this isn't
[57:32] the year for a moonshot.
[57:34] Um maybe next year we'll see how it
[57:36] goes. Um but it's that pragmatic
[57:38] approach to all of this that that we
[57:40] keep at it at our heart. Um transparency
[57:43] of practices for our department.
[57:46] If if we think about the way our data
[57:48] was used 10 years ago compared to now
[57:51] where where everything is for sale.
[57:54] having transparency in our practices
[57:56] when we're working with these other
[57:57] vendors and and and how are we using the
[58:00] kids data. All of that um needs to be
[58:03] crystal clear. So, we keep that to heart
[58:05] and we keep respect to our funding
[58:07] sources. We know that our stakeholders
[58:08] are those families with Pembro Public
[58:10] School students and there are some
[58:12] families and in residents who don't have
[58:14] kids here. I look at those as our
[58:16] investors. So, what's their return on
[58:18] investment going to be? And I'll do my
[58:19] very best to to keep uh respectful of
[58:21] that. Um, in terms of our outlook, I
[58:25] spoke last year about the exponential
[58:27] growth of technology and the linear path
[58:30] of schools. I was asked not to show that
[58:31] slide again this year because it is very
[58:33] overdone by me at this point, but
[58:35] nevertheless, it's still there. Um, the
[58:38] feedback look to pull a page from from
[58:40] director Phillips's uh book, we're we're
[58:43] trying to skate toward where the puck is
[58:45] headed. Um, we I I don't know of any way
[58:48] to stay ahead of technology. It moves
[58:50] too fast. Chat GPT came out four years
[58:53] ago. It's on its fifth iteration and
[58:55] we're still trying to figure out how the
[58:56] whole thing works. Um, so it it's it's
[58:59] an outlook that way where if we can
[59:02] enable our students, empower our
[59:03] students with transferable skills so
[59:06] that no matter what comes out, they will
[59:08] have something to put towards it. That's
[59:09] our goal.
[59:17] Our state of tech, um, Titan Tech in
[59:20] particular, uh, is kind of interesting.
[59:22] It's been an interesting year. We've had
[59:24] a decrease in our department staffing.
[59:26] We were small before. We're we're teeny
[59:28] now. We were a skeleton crew at one
[59:29] point. Now we're a couple of bones. Um,
[59:31] but it's all for good reason, too. Um,
[59:35] Ken Cruz was our media technician who I
[59:38] believe started prior to Pemrook split
[59:42] from Silver Lake, but I know he had been
[59:44] here for 22 years. He retired uh in in
[59:47] uh December uh excuse me, in January of
[59:50] this year. Um couldn't be more grateful
[59:52] for all of his hard work. He was he he
[59:54] did great things. Um and our digital
[59:57] learning specialist made sort of a
[59:58] lateral movement from that position to
[1:00:00] the high school librarian. It could not
[1:00:02] be a better fit. It could not be it was
[1:00:04] as if there was a a a hole shaped
[1:00:08] exactly like her that she just stepped
[1:00:10] into for this. And and she mentioned it
[1:00:12] was her dream job as well. Um we've had
[1:00:14] some system level disruptions that
[1:00:16] required some shifting of priorities and
[1:00:19] a definite heightened focus on um
[1:00:23] security and compliance.
[1:00:30] But our tenacity
[1:00:34] is greater than the adversity. And
[1:00:36] despite it all, we I'm I'm a judo guy at
[1:00:39] heart. It's my secret life. We fall
[1:00:41] seven times in stand 8 and we will
[1:00:44] continue being committed to reliable
[1:00:45] network access to to compliance with
[1:00:48] state and federal regulations with
[1:00:50] things like data privacy and all of that
[1:00:52] uh filtering. Um a a hyper responsive
[1:00:56] technical support team. Even though
[1:00:58] we're small, we try to get to you the
[1:01:00] day those tickets come in. and
[1:01:02] continuation of uh of instruction based
[1:01:05] around all of those network needs.
[1:01:12] So in terms of our expected outcomes,
[1:01:15] our core goals, we need to strengthen
[1:01:17] our cyber security posture. Um things
[1:01:21] have changed again, you know, thinking
[1:01:22] about data in the last 10 years, things
[1:01:24] have changed considerably. Um I'll speak
[1:01:26] a little bit more to that as as we move
[1:01:28] forward. um increasing our department
[1:01:31] agility. Although we're a small team,
[1:01:33] we've outsourced. We this is our first
[1:01:35] full year of working with Oak's
[1:01:36] technology to sort of um help us with
[1:01:39] the lift with a lot of the updates to
[1:01:41] our services. They can kind of get in
[1:01:43] and um do a lot of the work that our
[1:01:46] network manager normally would do, but
[1:01:47] he's stretched with me too. So, it's a
[1:01:50] help. Um device equity and connectivity
[1:01:53] ubiquity remains a core goal, as well as
[1:01:55] best practices from professional
[1:01:56] learning uh with our teachers. so that
[1:01:58] they can deliver their best to our
[1:02:00] students. And continuing on with our
[1:02:02] replacement cycles,
[1:02:04] um we'll also continue to support all of
[1:02:06] the digital community that we have. Um
[1:02:09] there are over 100 edte software
[1:02:11] programs that we're using from preK to
[1:02:14] 12. That includes um instructional and
[1:02:17] non-instructional components. support of
[1:02:19] all of the standardized testing that's
[1:02:21] all digital now as well from MCCAST to
[1:02:24] WEDA to to the AP tests
[1:02:28] around 3,600 enduser devices. An end
[1:02:30] user is just anyone that's using a
[1:02:33] computer right so it could be an iPad or
[1:02:34] it could be a Chromebook or a laptop of
[1:02:37] some sort. Um but supporting all of
[1:02:39] those the the VIP phones voiceover
[1:02:42] internet telephone system that that goes
[1:02:45] uh within and among the schools security
[1:02:48] cameras our key fob security entry
[1:02:51] systems all of the audio video
[1:02:52] projection devices and our in internet
[1:02:56] our penrook internet as well.
[1:03:02] We have had some successes. It's neat
[1:03:04] hearing Director Phillips and Director
[1:03:07] Chavin talk about the kids because I see
[1:03:09] the same things. Um I have a a help desk
[1:03:13] course that is run at the high school.
[1:03:15] Uh there are six seniors that are
[1:03:17] absolutely remarkable. They're
[1:03:19] innovative and persistent and and do
[1:03:23] such great things. So that's a semester
[1:03:25] long course. Um they have repaired,
[1:03:29] salvaged or recirculated 200 Chromebooks
[1:03:32] um which is remarkable. And when Mr.
[1:03:37] Cruz retired,
[1:03:40] it left me sort of with the the the load
[1:03:42] of getting to all the schools and doing
[1:03:44] the physical repairs. It was great
[1:03:46] knowing I could bring a pack of
[1:03:48] Chromebooks labeled Brianville and drop
[1:03:50] it off at the table outside of my office
[1:03:52] at the high school and the kids would
[1:03:53] get to work and know just what to do,
[1:03:55] how to troubleshoot it, how to repair
[1:03:56] it. So, we had kids repairing other kids
[1:03:58] Chromebooks within the district and
[1:03:59] that's great. Um, and in fact,
[1:04:02] >> part of the course that we run is to
[1:04:04] take a really hard look at the way that
[1:04:07] we use our tech in the district and are
[1:04:10] there any, you know, areas that could be
[1:04:12] built up. And in fact, they found one.
[1:04:14] Um, when I was looking over the the
[1:04:17] feedback we received for the strategic
[1:04:19] planning team, there were some
[1:04:23] despite having new devices,
[1:04:26] there were still some gaps that some of
[1:04:29] the kids were saying and in particular
[1:04:30] the Chromebooks were operating really
[1:04:32] slowly even though they were new. And
[1:04:36] the kids took a deep dive into it and
[1:04:38] realized that
[1:04:41] without getting too technical, Google
[1:04:43] Chrome takes up a lot of memory
[1:04:45] >> when it runs. So when the kids had one
[1:04:49] tab of Google Chrome open, it was just
[1:04:51] over half of the Chromebook's memory
[1:04:53] being used at one time. So you can
[1:04:55] imagine if they had like five tabs open,
[1:04:57] everything comes to a stop. Um, so as a
[1:05:00] result of their work, um, we we sort of
[1:05:02] reimagined how Chromebooks would look
[1:05:04] for the kids for next year, uh, with
[1:05:06] some increased memory, but we'll speak
[1:05:07] to that in a few slides. But that's
[1:05:10] because of the kids. It's because of our
[1:05:12] seniors, Tyler K, uh, Michael Madden,
[1:05:15] and just think they're names that we all
[1:05:19] hear. Um, Nick McCarthy and and Aiden
[1:05:22] Donahue and Chris Linsky. They're just
[1:05:24] remarkable. Oh, John Vieira, another
[1:05:26] one. just absolutely outstanding kids
[1:05:28] and incredible troubleshooters and they
[1:05:31] could leave and get a job at any tech
[1:05:33] service now except for Johnny Studio but
[1:05:36] the other
[1:05:40] uh faculty and staff. We've done I think
[1:05:41] a nice job of centralizing our tech
[1:05:43] department. It used to be we had a
[1:05:44] couple of free agents that sort of came
[1:05:46] under our umbrella too and that offers
[1:05:48] up a little bit more um leverage when it
[1:05:50] comes to assignments and getting things
[1:05:52] uh you know where we need them to be.
[1:05:55] Our building based lead technology
[1:05:57] teachers have been fantastic too.
[1:05:59] There's one at each school. They are
[1:06:01] classroom teachers and will help
[1:06:03] support. A lot of times they're our
[1:06:05] first line of defense. So if a device
[1:06:07] comes in broken, um they will be the
[1:06:10] ones to send the support ticket and then
[1:06:11] my team can kind of go from there, go
[1:06:13] from that. But they are very
[1:06:17] wellrespected and sought after
[1:06:19] presenters at conferences on technology
[1:06:21] because of the innovative things that
[1:06:22] they're doing in their classes. um and
[1:06:24] they contribute to our weekly techt tip
[1:06:26] newsletter uh that comes out on
[1:06:27] Tuesdays. In terms of our adjustment to
[1:06:30] practices, we're at almost full
[1:06:32] enrollment with multiffactor
[1:06:34] authentication, our Google accounts as a
[1:06:36] um safety measure. It's another lock to
[1:06:38] the door to to keep the bad guys out. Um
[1:06:42] we have a strong presence in state and
[1:06:44] regional tech leadership. Uh we've been
[1:06:46] featured speakers at conferences on
[1:06:48] artificial intelligence and assisted
[1:06:50] technology. Um, and then, uh, there's
[1:06:53] also leadership, um, on a regional
[1:06:56] assisted technology special interest
[1:06:58] group that meets, uh, bimonthly. Um, so
[1:07:01] I'm lucky to kind of be that guy. We've
[1:07:04] had a few highle certification
[1:07:06] acquisitions as well, and we're working
[1:07:08] on developing uh, guidelines on
[1:07:11] artificial intelligence in the industry.
[1:07:13] Matter of fact, tomorrow
[1:07:20] our end user hardware um has also been a
[1:07:24] success. We have implemented the
[1:07:26] business computer lab uh and it's it's
[1:07:28] very well used at the high school. Uh
[1:07:31] Taran Lang uh is the the teacher there
[1:07:34] who is also one of those people I spoke
[1:07:36] of a moment ago about presenting. her
[1:07:38] command of a of an auditorium when she
[1:07:39] presents is remarkable and and just
[1:07:43] we're very lucky to have her. She's
[1:07:45] fantastic. Um our high school staff
[1:07:47] device replacement continues the Windows
[1:07:49] laptops and Chromebooks uh for for
[1:07:51] faculty. We use Chromebooks for our PAR
[1:07:53] educators and Windows laptops for for
[1:07:56] the classroom teachers. And uh 575
[1:07:59] Chromebooks had been replaced. It's our
[1:08:01] cycle of renewal that we began recently
[1:08:04] uh beginning in grade two, moving on to
[1:08:06] grade seven and then again at grade 9.
[1:08:14] We're also working towards making our
[1:08:17] infrastructure less fragile. Uh so these
[1:08:22] are some things I'm particularly proud
[1:08:23] of actually. So um we we've completed
[1:08:27] our upgrades to the wireless internet.
[1:08:29] There are access points. You can see
[1:08:30] them in this room. Um they're they're
[1:08:32] more robust. They'll handle a lot more
[1:08:34] data uh being sent to and from the
[1:08:37] backup systems have been built uh and are robust. They are in the case of
[1:08:43] some sort of catastrophic failure, what
[1:08:45] we turn to to restore everything. That's
[1:08:47] part of the restoration process. We've
[1:08:49] completely replaced all wireless access
[1:08:51] points at the middle school and the high
[1:08:53] school. So now all five schools are on
[1:08:55] the cloud. Um that was a three-year goal
[1:08:58] that stretched out to I think five and
[1:09:00] uh and and that's great. Um so the
[1:09:03] reliability and all of that we we don't
[1:09:06] have to rely on some old device in a
[1:09:09] dusty closet that someone will trip on a
[1:09:11] cable and and knock the network down
[1:09:12] from which is is actually what would
[1:09:15] happen. Uh we've moved the HVAC systems
[1:09:18] to the cloud. So that's all controlled
[1:09:20] through uh through the web at this
[1:09:22] point. Um, we had our hands on
[1:09:24] installations of new PA systems that
[1:09:27] attach with our network as well at Hava
[1:09:28] and at the middle school. And I
[1:09:30] mentioned before it was our first year
[1:09:32] of full managed services with ochres
[1:09:34] technology.
[1:09:35] Super easy to work with.
[1:09:38] >> And what does um ochres do? Again,
[1:09:41] >> ochres is a so
[1:09:44] a number of things. They supply a lot of
[1:09:47] the materials that we use, but they
[1:09:49] provide a service sort of like the guy
[1:09:51] in the chair. they'll have an overview
[1:09:53] of all of the things that are happening
[1:09:54] on our network. Okay.
[1:09:55] >> So, if I notice, oh, the library lost
[1:09:57] connectivity at North Benro, I can reach
[1:10:00] out to them and they'll have someone on,
[1:10:02] not necessarily on site. If we need
[1:10:04] that, they would uh but they can adjust
[1:10:06] things on the back end. That's the
[1:10:07] benefit of having things on the cloud.
[1:10:09] We no longer necessarily have to have
[1:10:11] somebody come in to get hands on a
[1:10:13] gadget.
[1:10:14] >> Yeah,
[1:10:14] >> it's done.
[1:10:15] >> Got it. Okay. Perfect. Thank you.
[1:10:17] >> Absolutely. Great question, too.
[1:10:22] In terms of transparency of our
[1:10:23] practice, um this is an important one. I
[1:10:27] mentioned that that
[1:10:30] personal data is is sought after um by
[1:10:34] thread actors for a number of reasons
[1:10:37] >> and the ways in which businesses use
[1:10:41] data um is is
[1:10:45] it's critical to make sure that it's
[1:10:47] protected. Um so what are we doing with
[1:10:50] the kids data because there's a lot of
[1:10:52] it. So um we recently signed on with the
[1:10:55] student data privacy consortium and and
[1:10:57] that is um the industry standard of we
[1:11:01] have to have a signed contract with them
[1:11:03] that they're going to keep the data
[1:11:04] protected and not sell it to vendors and
[1:11:06] that sort of thing. Um if they are
[1:11:08] unwilling to sign that contract, we are
[1:11:10] unwilling to work with them.
[1:11:11] >> Awesome.
[1:11:12] >> Um the district website also has our
[1:11:14] data privacy practices on there too.
[1:11:16] It's all within three clicks. So, if you
[1:11:18] go into the um the district technology
[1:11:21] page, there's a big purple shield on the
[1:11:23] right side. Now, that sort of opens up
[1:11:24] what what we do with the kids data and what we don't do. Um there was also
[1:11:30] sort of a gray area with the whole
[1:11:32] repair process and billing of families
[1:11:34] too. Um so, we we made an overhaul to
[1:11:37] that. Um
[1:11:41] in the past there was no process. um
[1:11:45] things would get dropped off, parents
[1:11:46] would get build,
[1:11:48] it's on the bottom of a report card, but
[1:11:52] I mean
[1:11:54] I I was a little bit surprised. I think
[1:11:55] it was last May when I went to the the
[1:11:58] main office of the high school and there
[1:12:00] was a line of panicked kids from Mrs.
[1:12:03] Sarington's desk, I'm not exaggerating,
[1:12:05] clear into the auditorium, um, holding
[1:12:08] checks and and wondering how to write
[1:12:10] checks because their iPad broke when
[1:12:13] they were in second grade and they would
[1:12:14] build for it and somewhere in the mix.
[1:12:17] Who likes getting an unexpected bill,
[1:12:19] too? And
[1:12:21] >> so, we we switched things up a little
[1:12:22] bit. Um there's a process now when a
[1:12:25] device is broken. Um it's brought to the
[1:12:28] office or those lead technology teachers
[1:12:31] I mentioned let us know. At that point
[1:12:34] we send an email notification to
[1:12:36] families that something happened with
[1:12:37] their device that just says that they're
[1:12:40] your student paid a visit to the tech
[1:12:42] department today. We're going to look
[1:12:43] things over but um there may be a bill
[1:12:46] coming so just be prepared. We assess
[1:12:49] the device from there. If it needs
[1:12:50] repair, we do that in two ways. Either
[1:12:54] um it's done with the kids at the high
[1:12:57] school. Uh if we can use salvaged parts
[1:13:00] and the kids do it, we do that as sort
[1:13:02] of a teaching moment, you teaching
[1:13:04] material that we don't charge. If it
[1:13:06] needs more experienced um you know,
[1:13:10] hands-on sort of thing, um then then
[1:13:12] we'll have our technician look at that
[1:13:14] and and repair. And then there are fees
[1:13:16] that apply for there. At that point, we
[1:13:19] put the fee into P school, which
[1:13:20] automatically pushes it to my school
[1:13:22] box. And then the parents will get a
[1:13:24] push notification there that there's the
[1:13:26] bill. They could pay with a credit card.
[1:13:27] They don't have to write a check
[1:13:28] anymore. There'll be no kids holding
[1:13:30] socks full of coins for this desk
[1:13:33] anymore. Um, we can do payment plans and
[1:13:37] there's a dispute form in case they feel
[1:13:39] as if they uh had been charged unfairly.
[1:13:42] uh on the district website as well. We
[1:13:44] take photographic evidence of the things
[1:13:46] that we do and put it in in a file, too,
[1:13:48] just in case um you know, there are
[1:13:50] questions about that. So far, uh the
[1:13:52] tech department's got back about $2,000
[1:13:54] in outstanding bills. And I think
[1:13:56] overall, we kind of pushed it to all the
[1:13:57] other departments, too, for like missing
[1:13:59] textbooks. I think I think it's about $4
[1:14:01] or $5,000. I can get a a solid number,
[1:14:03] but it's working well so far. Nice.
[1:14:05] >> And the disputes have been reasonable.
[1:14:08] They've been very, very reasonable.
[1:14:12] Um our staffing is small and mighty.
[1:14:16] Uh we we obviously have our director of
[1:14:18] instructional technology. Uh Aaron
[1:14:21] Tinker is our data and software manager.
[1:14:23] James Eliss uh again another person that
[1:14:27] started at uh Silver Lake and and
[1:14:29] brought his skill to here. He's been
[1:14:30] here over 20 years as our network
[1:14:32] manager. And our newest hire, I think
[1:14:34] this is week two and a half. He was
[1:14:36] supposed to start on the the blizzard.
[1:14:39] That didn't work out. But uh Patrick
[1:14:41] McGovern uh is he's a 2011 graduate of
[1:14:45] Pemrook High School. Actually absolutely
[1:14:47] remarkable human being. His technical
[1:14:50] knowledge is only matched by his
[1:14:52] personality. It's ironic to think that
[1:14:54] the the the most
[1:14:57] important aspect of our technology
[1:15:00] department has nothing technical at all.
[1:15:02] It's about relationships. And he's got
[1:15:03] that personality where he can reach out
[1:15:05] to people and
[1:15:06] >> and he does great work. Um and and we're
[1:15:08] lucky to have him. We still have our
[1:15:10] five building based uh lead tech
[1:15:12] teachers. Sarah McNelte at Bryantville,
[1:15:15] Mindy Murphy at Hobok, um Katie Roger at
[1:15:18] the middle school, Greg Zapati at the
[1:15:20] high school, and of course Kate Nent uh
[1:15:23] here at North Penroke. And Thursday
[1:15:26] through the Pathways program, we're
[1:15:28] interviewing four senior interns. So
[1:15:31] we'll have three or four guys working
[1:15:32] with us um all with driver's licenses so
[1:15:35] I can send them off to other schools.
[1:15:37] We'll take all the help we can get.
[1:15:41] >> In terms of um you know sort of regional
[1:15:45] numbers, uh we're we're the smallest
[1:15:48] around. We have our four people. You
[1:15:51] know, these are the dart schools. Um
[1:15:53] comparable numbers of devices and
[1:15:55] students. Uh but but some of them almost
[1:15:57] double what we have going on.
[1:16:00] >> Yeah. Yeah. There's like all these other
[1:16:02] numbers for folks at home. It's like 9
[1:16:04] 12 6 9 7 8. getting more complicated. Um
[1:16:08] I I I I mean I can I can speak, you
[1:16:11] know, with the wisdom of experience
[1:16:13] after Mr. Cruz left things got a little
[1:16:15] bit tricky. Um I I would never go lower
[1:16:18] than what we have now.
[1:16:19] >> Got it. Very helpful to know.
[1:16:23] >> Um it's reflected in our tech tickets.
[1:16:25] This is from August of February. We had
[1:16:27] our media tech uh completing 220 service
[1:16:31] tickets. Our network manager was 72, the
[1:16:33] digital learning specialist at the time
[1:16:35] at 36, the software data integration
[1:16:38] person had 172, and the tech director
[1:16:41] had 255. It was a lot. It was sweaty.
[1:16:48] So, in terms of our recurring costs, um,
[1:16:52] using our tech interns and salvage parts
[1:16:56] for Chromebooks, um, that costs us
[1:16:59] nothing and and it saves us a lot. When
[1:17:02] we're looking at new devices, I make
[1:17:04] sure that they are compatible with some
[1:17:06] of the older parts that we have. As they
[1:17:08] get more advanced, that changes a little
[1:17:10] bit. Um, and of course Apple, you know,
[1:17:13] when we talk about iPads for the
[1:17:14] littles, those aren't really compatible
[1:17:16] with with parts. We have to send those
[1:17:18] off for repair. Um, but that's actually
[1:17:20] few and far between. Those are always a
[1:17:21] good investment because they're pretty
[1:17:23] beefy. Um,
[1:17:24] >> with with a case, we can get a solid six
[1:17:27] years out of them, which we'll speak to
[1:17:29] in a moment, too. Our software licensing
[1:17:32] and support for instructional and
[1:17:33] non-instructional software. Um, so I I
[1:17:38] worked with assistant superintendent
[1:17:39] Bruss last year and the the uh teaching
[1:17:42] and learning team and we took a deep
[1:17:43] dive into the instructional software
[1:17:45] that's being used or not being used as
[1:17:48] much and sort of shifted things. So
[1:17:51] we're saving a little bit of money there
[1:17:53] either by not renewing some or or
[1:17:56] placing more emphasis on other software.
[1:17:59] Um, internet
[1:18:01] that that provides the service to our
[1:18:02] district doesn't change. That's at
[1:18:04] status quo now. This is the portion that
[1:18:06] we paid from E- rate. Supplies and
[1:18:08] materials we cut back on a little bit
[1:18:10] too. Um I don't think that we needed uh
[1:18:13] the the the full 30 from last year. So
[1:18:16] we'll scale it back and save a little
[1:18:17] bit that way. Um bringing us to a total
[1:18:19] savings of about $57,000 for this
[1:18:22] company.
[1:18:24] >> Nice.
[1:18:26] >> In terms of the devices that we need for
[1:18:28] the coming year, um there there's a few.
[1:18:33] The elementary laptops are starting to
[1:18:36] fall apart. We get about four solid
[1:18:38] years out of them. Um and and indeed
[1:18:40] this is where we're at now. So we'll be
[1:18:42] looking to replace 130 of those. The
[1:18:45] elementary paraprofessional Chromebooks
[1:18:48] are a little bit more than we asked last
[1:18:49] year simply because there are more of
[1:18:51] them at the elementary school.
[1:18:54] Um we got our money's worth out of those
[1:18:57] iPads that the the kindergarteners and
[1:18:59] first graders have been using. Um,
[1:19:02] when I was a classroom teacher, I heard
[1:19:03] this statistic once that you have half
[1:19:06] of a child's biological age and minutes
[1:19:08] of attention.
[1:19:11] So, if you're a first grader and you're
[1:19:13] spending five minutes troubleshooting an
[1:19:15] iPad, the moment's gone. So, let's maybe
[1:19:18] we could look to replacing those slow uh
[1:19:20] iPads for uh kindergarten, first grade.
[1:19:23] Uh, and of course the replacement cycle
[1:19:25] for the student Chromebooks, um, a
[1:19:27] little bit more this year because we're
[1:19:29] boosting up the the the ability of them.
[1:19:31] Um, and that cycle goes through grades
[1:19:34] 2, six, and nine. As we had mentioned, I
[1:19:36] don't think that a second grader's first
[1:19:38] experience with a Chromebook should be
[1:19:39] troubleshooting, which is why I'll
[1:19:40] insist on starting them off there. Um,
[1:19:43] right now the oldest Chromebooks in the
[1:19:45] district are in grade five and grade 12.
[1:19:48] So we can salvage those parts u
[1:19:52] if and hopefully as new ones come in
[1:19:55] our network equipment needs. So when I
[1:19:59] came on as director the priority was to
[1:20:02] shift away from those on premises
[1:20:03] devices because they kept breaking. Um
[1:20:06] they they were super vulnerable. So when
[1:20:09] we're thinking about network needs for
[1:20:10] next year we're in a pretty good spot.
[1:20:12] Um, looking at where the trends were
[1:20:14] headed, um, we, you know, we we'll we'll
[1:20:16] stick to managed services and we'll need
[1:20:19] to strengthen our cyber security stance
[1:20:21] as well.
[1:20:27] This is the not as fun stuff. Um,
[1:20:32] in terms of a justification for the
[1:20:33] cyber security stance, I I have some
[1:20:35] alarming statistics to share. Um,
[1:20:38] there's
[1:20:40] a good part of my week where I spend
[1:20:42] much of the day stopping cyber attacks
[1:20:45] and fishing campaigns and things like
[1:20:47] that. It it's it's a lot. Um, data from
[1:20:51] um, you know, the the the research that
[1:20:52] I've shared here indicates that there
[1:20:55] are 4,388
[1:20:57] cyber attacks per week, per
[1:20:59] organization. On an annual scale, that's
[1:21:01] 228,000 per school per year. um and and
[1:21:07] as it says in context more than double
[1:21:09] the global a uh average for other
[1:21:11] sectors. Schools are easy targets
[1:21:13] because they know that budgets can be
[1:21:16] tight and infrastructure can be weak and
[1:21:19] practices can be weak
[1:21:21] >> and and and if we can boost that up that
[1:21:24] makes us less of a target. Um 82% of
[1:21:27] kindergarten through 12 schools report
[1:21:29] experiencing at least one significant
[1:21:31] cyber threat over the course of 18
[1:21:33] months. That's a lot. that that's daily.
[1:21:36] Um so my hope is that we can sort of uh
[1:21:40] you know boost and and at least
[1:21:42] amilarate all of the constant attacks
[1:21:44] because they really are they're
[1:21:45] aggressive. Um we have some threat
[1:21:47] actors actually calling the schools and
[1:21:48] demanding to speak to teachers that they
[1:21:50] find you know information from a website
[1:21:53] or something like that. Um this is a way
[1:21:56] that that could be slowed down.
[1:21:58] So, um, in summary,
[1:22:02] 2027 requests, uh, we're looking at, uh,
[1:22:05] district-wide tech and software programs
[1:22:07] at 444,000. E- rate continues on. Um,
[1:22:10] this is the district's cost. Um, and in
[1:22:13] our device replacement cycle, uh, also
[1:22:16] around $447,000.
[1:22:20] Um,
[1:22:22] looking towards the future,
[1:22:26] I'd like to continue with the uh
[1:22:28] replacement cycle of the Chromebooks for
[1:22:29] the kids. Uh, it's a great tool for them
[1:22:31] to use. Um, the engineering lab will
[1:22:35] take a closer look at in fiscal year
[1:22:37] 2028. The secretaries and central office
[1:22:40] staff will need some new devices also in
[1:22:42] 2028.
[1:22:43] um the digital arts lab. This is what um director Javin was speaking of.
[1:22:49] You know, all of the the the new
[1:22:51] courses, these are the devices that will
[1:22:53] facilitate the new courses that are
[1:22:54] coming, digital photography, things like
[1:22:56] that. Um VMware, server replacement, VM
[1:23:01] stands for virtual machine. Essentially,
[1:23:03] if if you imagine a power strip that you
[1:23:05] it's like a plug that you can put a
[1:23:06] bunch of other plugs into, virtual
[1:23:08] machines are a computer that pretend
[1:23:10] that they're a bunch of other computers,
[1:23:11] too. Those are something that we use to
[1:23:13] run P schoolool and things like that. Um
[1:23:15] so uh the replacement for those uh
[1:23:18] sometime in 2029 firewall updates and
[1:23:21] replacements as well, backup solutions.
[1:23:23] And I'd like to eventually move Power
[1:23:25] School off premises to the cloud as
[1:23:27] well. That'll offer more stability. That
[1:23:29] one breaks down a lot. Um we have a a
[1:23:31] great team that works with us to build
[1:23:33] it back up again, but it'd be nice to
[1:23:35] not need them. Um, and also a shift away
[1:23:41] or or a shift back towards the
[1:23:43] instructional technology portion of my
[1:23:46] job as well. So, I'd like to see and and um assistant superintendent Russ
[1:23:50] will speak to this I think as well, but
[1:23:52] looking at some more teachers um
[1:23:55] especially where um
[1:23:58] there there's so much coming.
[1:24:00] >> Yeah,
[1:24:01] >> there's so much coming. You know,
[1:24:03] artificial intelligence is only part of
[1:24:05] it. um and and having people who are
[1:24:07] dedicated, highly qualified instructors
[1:24:10] to facilitate that learning will only
[1:24:13] benefit all of us.
[1:24:15] >> Thank you.
[1:24:16] Thank you.
[1:24:17] >> Amazing. Katrina,
[1:24:19] >> uh yeah, just a question on the um
[1:24:23] I know you had mentioned the
[1:24:26] um stronger cyber security stance. Yes.
[1:24:29] >> And just wondering if there's any um
[1:24:31] budgetary
[1:24:33] >> It's a great question. I left it blank
[1:24:35] on purpose.
[1:24:36] >> Okay.
[1:24:36] >> Um part of that is
[1:24:39] we could put it in towards um the
[1:24:42] managed services portion of it. Um -
[1:24:46] won't pay for
[1:24:49] cyber security.
[1:24:52] Um
[1:24:54] we need to see what's out there really.
[1:24:55] There's a number there's Arctic Fox is a
[1:24:58] company that does it. Um uh you know
[1:25:00] there's Sentinel One. There's a number
[1:25:02] of them. So once we get a little bit
[1:25:05] more clear and and there's also that and
[1:25:07] I don't mean to sound paranoid but
[1:25:08] there's that security component of it
[1:25:10] too. I don't want people to know what
[1:25:12] we're doing
[1:25:13] >> in terms of of of protecting ourselves.
[1:25:15] >> Yeah. Yeah. It is a yeah it's a public
[1:25:17] meeting so understood. Um I was mostly
[1:25:19] just wondering like the cost associated.
[1:25:22] Um is there any possibility and this
[1:25:24] might be a no but um to partner with the
[1:25:27] town on cyber security or is it
[1:25:29] something where we should be completely
[1:25:30] separate?
[1:25:31] I think there's always a possibility to
[1:25:33] do things like that. Of course. Yeah.
[1:25:35] >> Cool. I don't know that they're any
[1:25:36] further along than we are, but happy to.
[1:25:38] >> Right. Yeah. I just mean like it could
[1:25:40] there be a cost savings if we like went
[1:25:42] in on it.
[1:25:42] >> If we both use like if the town used one
[1:25:44] company and we jumped on with the two.
[1:25:46] >> Yeah,
[1:25:46] >> we can absolutely look into that.
[1:25:48] >> Yeah. As long as it meets the needs of
[1:25:49] the school and, you know, upholds that
[1:25:52] goal of stronger cyber security. Yeah.
[1:25:55] >> Great. Thank you so much.
[1:25:56] >> Thank you, Alison.
[1:25:59] So I wasn't aware that our digital learning
[1:26:03] specialist is no longer a digital
[1:26:05] >> it's part of our budget. She just has
[1:26:07] shifted roles.
[1:26:08] >> So are we hiring for that?
[1:26:09] >> So
[1:26:10] >> because there's no people being asked
[1:26:11] for right now and that concerns me.
[1:26:13] >> So we intend to fill the digital
[1:26:14] learning specialist role. Um, as you can
[1:26:17] imagine, the the digital learning
[1:26:19] specialist is probably somebody that
[1:26:20] already exists here within our
[1:26:22] organization, and pulling them out of a
[1:26:24] classroom in March or April doesn't make
[1:26:27] a lot of sense for students. So, the
[1:26:28] intent is to post it as we get closer
[1:26:30] towards the end of the school year
[1:26:31] because there are several um internal
[1:26:33] candidates for that.
[1:26:34] >> So, we filled one internal need with
[1:26:36] another internal need, leaving another
[1:26:38] internal.
[1:26:38] >> Correct. Correct. So I'm just concerned
[1:26:40] that that happened without I guess being
[1:26:43] aware because we were already on the low
[1:26:45] side. So I'm concerned why you're not
[1:26:47] asking for people.
[1:26:48] >> So I mean he is asking for people on the
[1:26:50] back there. He's asking for another
[1:26:52] network
[1:26:52] >> but not this year.
[1:26:54] >> You don't Well,
[1:26:56] >> in the back.
[1:26:57] >> So some of this educational technology
[1:26:59] teachers can show up in Mary Beth's
[1:27:01] presentation. Some of this can show up
[1:27:03] in the as
[1:27:04] >> because if we're half the size or
[1:27:08] a third the size of some
[1:27:13] I'm concerned that we're not asking for
[1:27:16] enough and that concerns me.
[1:27:19] >> Yeah. So the the tech integrator
[1:27:20] position isn't a position that is though
[1:27:24] in the past we've assigned tickets to
[1:27:26] them in certain places. the the basis of
[1:27:29] that role is to get into classrooms and
[1:27:31] facilitate um technology for teachers to
[1:27:34] work with teachers to you know
[1:27:36] troubleshoot in the classroom in the
[1:27:37] moment. It's they're it's a teacher
[1:27:39] role. It's not a tech role. It's not
[1:27:40] like a technician. It's not a repair.
[1:27:42] It's none of those.
[1:27:43] >> They work as a coach for
[1:27:44] >> right. They're an instructional coach
[1:27:46] for teachers. Um
[1:27:48] >> well, I'm just looking at like schools
[1:27:49] that have less students and less
[1:27:52] teachers and they have seven. One
[1:27:53] director, three media tech, one data
[1:27:55] manager, two digital learning. Y
[1:27:57] >> so I just feel that we're I mean even
[1:28:01] some of the higher
[1:28:02] >> Yeah, we've always been low. I think I
[1:28:04] know each year we're at
[1:28:06] >> we're at five. There's five positions.
[1:28:08] Only four of them are filled right now.
[1:28:10] No, no one is saying that all of these
[1:28:11] are filled in all of these places
[1:28:13] either. They're just what's budgeted
[1:28:14] for. Um
[1:28:15] >> do any of these other Dart schools, you
[1:28:17] know, do as the what we do in terms of
[1:28:21] replacing having the students do all of
[1:28:23] that tech work? I've had a number of
[1:28:26] them reach out to ask about our program
[1:28:28] actually. So there there are some that
[1:28:29] do. Um but we have a really nice model
[1:28:32] with that.
[1:28:32] >> I'm just wondering if that has something
[1:28:34] to do with why our staff is a staff is
[1:28:37] slightly lower.
[1:28:38] >> Um I think that the low staff is a
[1:28:41] reflection of the old way of doing
[1:28:44] things in a time that that
[1:28:48] >> is it's moving faster than we think.
[1:28:52] Mhm.
[1:28:53] >> Before we know it, you know, suddenly
[1:28:55] everyone has an iPad suddenly. So, so I
[1:28:58] don't know that it's we can work with
[1:29:01] five. I would love to have more. I don't
[1:29:03] know that this is the time to ask for
[1:29:05] more.
[1:29:05] >> Mhm.
[1:29:06] >> Um and and it's absolutely something
[1:29:08] that that we're looking to do. I mean,
[1:29:11] in an ideal world,
[1:29:12] >> we would have
[1:29:14] so junior network admin, additional
[1:29:16] media tech have always been part of our
[1:29:18] admin recommended budget. In previous
[1:29:20] years, they've been level two
[1:29:21] priorities. So that this is not a new
[1:29:23] thing. I would expect and foreshadow
[1:29:26] that you will see some sort of tech ask
[1:29:28] in presentations that you'll see at the
[1:29:31] next meeting as well as on our running
[1:29:33] list of priorities.
[1:29:34] >> Well, that's why I just not seeing it
[1:29:36] here kind of caught me off guard.
[1:29:38] >> It's also the reason why we move towards
[1:29:39] managed services too to act as sort of a junior network administrator. Mike
[1:29:43] works handinhand with the content
[1:29:45] supervisors in our teaching and learning
[1:29:47] meeting and we have discussed this at
[1:29:48] length and we are aware of the fact that
[1:29:50] we need digital literacy teachers
[1:29:52] educators probably in each building to
[1:29:55] help students today start to navigate
[1:29:57] some of these challenges that we're
[1:29:59] talking about. They fall a little bit
[1:30:00] outside the scope of what he does, but
[1:30:02] they fit a little bit better into the
[1:30:04] scope of asking.
[1:30:05] >> Well, and I know I bring this up a
[1:30:07] million times and it again falls between
[1:30:09] the two, but like the kids aren't
[1:30:10] learning how to type
[1:30:12] >> and that drives me insane
[1:30:15] >> cuz I the only of my four who knows how
[1:30:17] to type I had to teach.
[1:30:18] >> You're not wrong.
[1:30:19] >> So that's a problem. like you know so
[1:30:23] how we and again this is split but I
[1:30:27] don't know this just is kind of I'm
[1:30:29] hoping to see more numbers for people
[1:30:32] because I think a lot of what's come out
[1:30:34] of
[1:30:36] >> be really happy next week
[1:30:37] >> okay that's the need of the community
[1:30:40] >> slightly horrified
[1:30:41] >> and the need
[1:30:42] >> perfect that'd be hard to do at this
[1:30:44] point and the need of what you know with
[1:30:47] the the struggles that we have the fact
[1:30:51] that I think a lot of it falls in places
[1:30:55] that shouldn't always have to fall in
[1:30:57] those places and that's where
[1:30:59] >> I think this number and it whether you
[1:31:03] know moving internally to like there's
[1:31:07] holes that aren't I'm not okay with I
[1:31:09] guess
[1:31:10] >> and keeping in mind that managed
[1:31:11] services is in a way the equivalent of
[1:31:13] having a person on staff. So, you know,
[1:31:16] a junior network admin is the pretty
[1:31:19] similar to the 60,000 that we would pay
[1:31:21] for purchased services.
[1:31:23] >> So, there's other ways around it. Again,
[1:31:24] as to the point that Mike was making a
[1:31:26] minute ago, our student help desk,
[1:31:28] >> it's not a one for one for another media
[1:31:30] tech, but it's a fraction of the work
[1:31:32] that that person would be doing. So,
[1:31:33] there there's there's some places where
[1:31:35] it's not as big of a hole as it might
[1:31:36] look like from this.
[1:31:37] >> Yeah. Well, just like knowing that, you
[1:31:38] know, like again, we're filling from one
[1:31:40] side to another, but it's again there's
[1:31:42] now a gap that some of our students
[1:31:44] possibly aren't having.
[1:31:45] >> Yeah. And so the reason why we move
[1:31:47] forward with filling the librarian
[1:31:49] position at the high school is because
[1:31:50] it's student facing, right? So being
[1:31:52] able to have students access the library
[1:31:55] as opposed to being able to provide the
[1:31:57] instructional coaching support to
[1:31:59] teachers in the in the realm of in
[1:32:01] instructional technology was a a choice
[1:32:03] that we made. both positions are
[1:32:05] budgeted and as Mike alluded to, um
[1:32:07] Naomi is the exact person for the
[1:32:09] Pemrook High School librarian position.
[1:32:12] Um that is great things are going to
[1:32:15] come out of of that that pairing. So
[1:32:19] we try to be as least disruptive as
[1:32:22] possible when we're making moves during
[1:32:24] the school year.
[1:32:26] >> All right. Uh so
[1:32:28] >> yes. So, first of all, I mean, you're
[1:32:30] doing a great job with very little, like
[1:32:33] cuz you really I mean, this stuff is
[1:32:35] really needed and you're somehow
[1:32:36] managing to juggle it all and still make
[1:32:39] it work. And I do have to say the one
[1:32:41] thing that I really love about the way
[1:32:44] Aaron prioritizes things is it's so
[1:32:47] student centered. It's always about how
[1:32:50] we can best serve the kids and get the
[1:32:52] kids as much as possible. And that's one
[1:32:54] of our strengths. But at the same time,
[1:32:57] I do see Allison's point and I feel like
[1:33:00] um at some point we really need to start
[1:33:03] focusing
[1:33:05] more on, you know, getting our tech up
[1:33:08] to par with other districts. You know,
[1:33:10] not that it's not cuz he's still he's
[1:33:12] doing a lot with very little. Um but I
[1:33:15] would like to see us make some sort of
[1:33:17] an investment toward that goal because
[1:33:20] it is like it is the infrastructure now.
[1:33:23] This is this is what we do, right? like
[1:33:25] everybody everything is tech now
[1:33:27] everything is online everything I you
[1:33:29] know we can't survive unless we foc like
[1:33:33] you know we have to work on on um making
[1:33:36] sure it's staff so uh but with that said
[1:33:39] I do have a couple questions I just I
[1:33:41] wanted to know um you know you you
[1:33:44] everything's going toward the cloud
[1:33:46] which I think is obviously needed so you
[1:33:48] have a backup system so if for some
[1:33:51] reason the cloud is attacked in any way
[1:33:54] whatsoever. The backup system do you do
[1:33:56] like that daily? Is that like a daily
[1:33:58] backup?
[1:33:59] >> So the cloud works sort of differently.
[1:34:01] Um the cloud is the method by which we
[1:34:05] won't need the backups which is neat. So
[1:34:07] it it would be like if somebody attacked
[1:34:10] Google
[1:34:12] >> their infrastructure is so much more
[1:34:14] robust and and honestly the threat
[1:34:16] actors are they're they're great at what
[1:34:18] they do and they have advanced
[1:34:19] equipment. So getting into an
[1:34:21] infrastructure like that is safer for us
[1:34:23] so that we won't need those backup
[1:34:24] systems.
[1:34:26] >> But our backups update
[1:34:28] >> regularly. They do.
[1:34:29] >> They do. Yeah. Yeah. Daily.
[1:34:31] >> Um
[1:34:32] >> I know. I I I understand that and the
[1:34:34] concept. But then there's this piece of
[1:34:36] me that's like well whoever owns the
[1:34:39] cloud owns us. Do you know what I mean?
[1:34:42] So like it makes me nervous to think
[1:34:44] about it.
[1:34:44] >> You're a conspiracy theorist. This is
[1:34:46] why
[1:34:47] >> this is why having really solid um data
[1:34:51] >> privacy is is critical,
[1:34:54] >> right?
[1:34:54] >> Because of that very reason. You're
[1:34:56] right.
[1:34:57] >> Sure. So I I feel like comfortable as
[1:34:59] long as we're we're still backing it up
[1:35:01] because I don't really know that the
[1:35:02] cloud.
[1:35:02] >> No, that's a critical part of our
[1:35:04] infrastructure, the backups. Yes. Um,
[1:35:06] and then, um,
[1:35:09] oh, I wanted to mention also the, um,
[1:35:12] the having the my school bucks piece.
[1:35:16] >> I actually got to use it because TA
[1:35:18] owed, it wasn't for tech though. It was
[1:35:19] for for a club fee. It was like $25. But
[1:35:22] I was like, "Oh, we can finally pay
[1:35:24] with,
[1:35:24] >> you know, my school bucks. I think
[1:35:26] that's like a really value ad." Because
[1:35:28] I'm like, "Oh, I got to remember to
[1:35:29] write our check." I was thinking in the
[1:35:30] back of my head, she needs a check. This
[1:35:32] is so much easier. Good. I'd rather pay.
[1:35:34] >> That was the idea is to to modernize it,
[1:35:36] but also make it a living take.
[1:35:38] >> I think you'll have more people paying
[1:35:40] their fee if they know they can just go
[1:35:42] online and do it rather than have to
[1:35:44] bring it to the school or remember.
[1:35:45] >> I feel like people are accustomed to
[1:35:46] paying online.
[1:35:47] >> Yes.
[1:35:48] >> When we first started it was scary.
[1:35:49] >> Yeah.
[1:35:50] Absolutely. But I do want to
[1:35:53] reiterate that I'm I am with Allison on
[1:35:55] this. I do really feel like, you know,
[1:35:58] it it's really difficult because every
[1:35:59] year we add more emotional supports for
[1:36:02] the kids, which I'm not saying we don't
[1:36:03] need because we do, but I feel like this
[1:36:07] is just as important,
[1:36:08] >> right? I feel like the tech department
[1:36:09] is emotional support for our staff.
[1:36:12] >> I feel like Mike probably feels that
[1:36:13] way, too.
[1:36:14] >> Yeah.
[1:36:15] >> So, I just wanted to throw that out
[1:36:16] there. But, thank you so much for
[1:36:17] everything.
[1:36:18] >> I think it speaks to the nature of how
[1:36:19] it's all changed, too. You know, the
[1:36:21] future's faster than we all think. and I I I I'm complete alignment with
[1:36:27] you. Um I think we do need more.
[1:36:30] >> I think once, you know, Assistant
[1:36:32] Superintendent Rust presents, you know,
[1:36:34] we'll have sort of a a more clear path.
[1:36:37] This couldn't be better news for me
[1:36:38] actually hearing these questions come
[1:36:40] up.
[1:36:40] >> Don't get your hopes up.
[1:36:41] >> So I I I will try. Um but also, thank
[1:36:45] you.
[1:36:45] >> Got a couple rounds to make it through
[1:36:47] still.
[1:36:47] >> Great.
[1:36:49] >> Katrina,
[1:36:50] >> no questions. Thank you.
[1:36:51] >> Thank you. I just had one other
[1:36:52] question. Sorry. Um in I know you
[1:36:55] mentioned so similar to what Allison and
[1:36:57] Sue had said around um getting
[1:36:59] instructional positions. Um are there
[1:37:02] districts around us that are doing it
[1:37:03] right or like would be really good
[1:37:05] examples to look at with AI instruction
[1:37:08] or you know security for students
[1:37:11] understanding a digital world?
[1:37:13] >> Another great question. Um, yes. And
[1:37:17] with all respect in the world, there
[1:37:19] were some others that I know I'd like to
[1:37:21] sort of steer clear from as well that maybe
[1:37:27] » developing policy for something that
[1:37:28] moves so quickly like AI is tricky.
[1:37:31] >> Yeah.
[1:37:31] >> Because by the time it's written and
[1:37:34] implemented, it's already on its fifth
[1:37:36] iteration.
[1:37:37] >> It's more like a living document.
[1:37:38] >> It's it's like a living document.
[1:37:39] Precisely. Um, so Burlington is a great
[1:37:43] example to look at. Um,
[1:37:46] there are a number of them. Um, MASHP
[1:37:49] has a really robust program. That's
[1:37:50] another great one to check.
[1:37:53] >> Are you going to list off the ones you
[1:37:54] don't want to look at or
[1:37:55] >> Sure.
[1:37:57] >> Well, I think that everyone was a little
[1:37:59] shell shocked, right? Like we
[1:38:01] >> there's an adoption policy for
[1:38:03] technology where we we vet vendors and we trial and pilot and all of that
[1:38:08] stuff. And one day we came into work and
[1:38:11] suddenly there was an AI agent and all
[1:38:12] the things that we were using already.
[1:38:14] There was no vetting process. It just
[1:38:16] arrived,
[1:38:16] >> right? We had that singularity moment in in 2022 when it all sort of started
[1:38:21] and it's just moved faster than anyone
[1:38:24] can keep up with. So, it's two-sided.
[1:38:27] It's a great tool to use. Um, but it
[1:38:30] needs it needs careful consideration and
[1:38:34] a close look at at the ways that we can
[1:38:37] teach our kids to use it responsibly.
[1:38:40] >> Kids didn't start cheating when AI was
[1:38:42] invented,
[1:38:43] >> right?
[1:38:43] >> Um, but that's the easiest lowest
[1:38:46] hanging fruit that we can look at as
[1:38:48] soon as it arrives,
[1:38:49] >> right?
[1:38:49] >> So, let's teach them to collaborate with
[1:38:51] it in
[1:38:53] >> 100%. That's awesome. Yeah. I'm just
[1:38:55] thinking like um in planning out
[1:38:57] whatever those instructional needs are
[1:38:58] if there's ways that I'm sure you guys
[1:39:00] will do like visits or talk with those
[1:39:02] districts, things like that. But I think
[1:39:04] that would be helpful just to see
[1:39:06] >> we're we're very well connected.
[1:39:08] >> You might already be doing some
[1:39:10] I meet monthly with tech directors from
[1:39:13] around the state and and we talk about
[1:39:15] their programs and all of that. Yeah. So
[1:39:18] >> yeah, there's fantastic
[1:39:20] >> there's a vision.
[1:39:20] >> Cool. Thank you.
[1:39:24] question from the audience. Is that
[1:39:25] okay?
[1:39:26] >> Sure.
[1:39:26] >> You don't mind? The name
[1:39:28] >> lean flashman school street. Um I'm a
[1:39:30] network professional so I just have a
[1:39:32] question that might help also them
[1:39:33] understand a little bit. Um for your
[1:39:35] managed services is it just
[1:39:36] infrastructure maintenance or are you is
[1:39:38] it a collaborative team? So when you're
[1:39:39] having an issue you have access to all
[1:39:41] sorts of people. It's a little bit of
[1:39:43] both actually. That's normal.
[1:39:44] >> Yeah. So when that on on premises when
[1:39:47] the on when the people do have to come
[1:39:48] on site we have a lot in time that where
[1:39:51] they do that but it's it's sort of an on
[1:39:53] demand sort of thing where like I
[1:39:55] mentioned if we notice that the Wi-Fi is
[1:39:57] slow or down in one particular room they
[1:39:59] can go in and get it up and running for
[1:40:00] us. So they can do a lot more while it
[1:40:02] doesn't it's not a replacement for
[1:40:03] people
[1:40:04] >> if he needs something he can reach out
[1:40:05] to people for support or different ideas
[1:40:07] or solutions to complex issues. So
[1:40:10] that's something that you may not
[1:40:11] realize why he's able to do so much. Um,
[1:40:13] and I had a small question about the
[1:40:15] VMware server. Sure. Um, is it just
[1:40:17] replacing one of the VMware servers and
[1:40:18] not the sand or anything else or
[1:40:20] >> just the one? That's what I figured.
[1:40:21] Okay. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you.
[1:40:24] >> Thank you. We'll let you off the hot
[1:40:26] seat. Thank you so much.
[1:40:28] >> What else? Well, there you go. You
[1:40:31] earned it.
[1:40:32] >> Thanks for your time.
[1:40:33] >> Thank you very much.
[1:40:34] >> Thank you for the presentation.
[1:40:35] >> Absolutely.
[1:40:37] >> All right. Well, as we can see, there's
[1:40:39] nobody over there with the name tag that
[1:40:40] says director of facilities. So, I am
[1:40:43] going to get the maintenance department
[1:40:45] putting on your third hat.
[1:40:47] >> Um, we'll see how it goes.
[1:40:52] » So, similar to how maintenance has been
[1:40:55] prevented uh presented in the past, it's
[1:40:57] not a flashy department, right? It's not
[1:40:59] um a lot of accolades for our current
[1:41:03] facilities department, but um we have
[1:41:05] made some improvements in the past year.
[1:41:07] Um, the high school has been on a summer
[1:41:10] painting project schedule for the past
[1:41:11] several years where uh designated areas
[1:41:14] of the building are identified for
[1:41:15] painting, which painting is one of those
[1:41:17] tasks that we just never seem to get to.
[1:41:19] Um, so Mark and the maintenance staff at
[1:41:21] the high school has made great progress
[1:41:23] um by sticking to a schedule each
[1:41:25] summer. We have been um doing ongoing
[1:41:28] roof repairs. So our roofs were replaced
[1:41:30] at four of our five schools um every
[1:41:32] school except Brianville um between 2011
[1:41:35] and 2012. Um so they are relatively new
[1:41:38] in the scheme of roofs but they do still
[1:41:41] um occasionally need repairs. So we are
[1:41:42] chasing a lot of roof repairs across our
[1:41:44] buildings. Um again I think at the high
[1:41:47] school in particular the roof repair
[1:41:49] center around that atrium. It is I think
[1:41:51] in 1980 was probably a beautiful design.
[1:41:54] Um there's so many different high school
[1:41:57] construction models now but I'm sure
[1:41:59] back then that was the model school. um
[1:42:00] that is the area that causes us the most
[1:42:02] trouble when it comes to roof um leaks
[1:42:05] and repairs at Peenrook High School, but
[1:42:06] we are actively working on them. Um when
[1:42:09] the elementary and secondary principles
[1:42:11] were here the other day, they did
[1:42:12] highlight some of these projects as
[1:42:14] well. So, you heard about the uh
[1:42:15] additional water filtrations here at
[1:42:17] North. Um North is in a three-phase
[1:42:19] lighting project. Um you've seen our
[1:42:21] lovely um visitors have been walking
[1:42:23] around to help the lights stay on. Um
[1:42:25] so, that is a project that is ongoing
[1:42:27] here at North. All of the classroom and
[1:42:29] the shared spaces are done. The hallways
[1:42:31] are the third phase that is left. Um
[1:42:33] Habamok has a new playground. Um thanks
[1:42:35] to the uh suggestion of Allison and
[1:42:38] exploring that with the community um
[1:42:40] preservation funds, we were able to get
[1:42:42] a new playground at Hobok. We also
[1:42:44] replaced the bulk of the carpeting at
[1:42:46] Hobok this past summer. There's only um
[1:42:48] two areas at Hobok left with carpeting.
[1:42:50] It's the main office and the ensemble
[1:42:52] room. As you can imagine, the ensemble
[1:42:54] room requires a flooring material other
[1:42:57] than lenolum. So, carpet makes sense in
[1:43:00] there. Um, but we'll look to replace
[1:43:01] that carpet this summer. And Habamok
[1:43:03] also received a new PA system over the
[1:43:06] course of August. Um, at the middle
[1:43:08] school, we have done some significant
[1:43:10] HVAC repairs. They also got a new PA
[1:43:13] system, and we continue to look at roof
[1:43:15] repairs. Um, finally, Brian Phil got a
[1:43:17] new gym roof. Um, I think David is
[1:43:20] probably the person that emails me the
[1:43:22] most to say there's shingles in the
[1:43:23] parking lot at Bryantville after a
[1:43:25] windstorm. So, I'm happy to say that the
[1:43:27] Bryant Blue roof has been replaced. Um,
[1:43:30] there was some additional plumbing
[1:43:31] upgrades that happened at Bryantville
[1:43:32] and we continue to work on HVAC repairs
[1:43:35] there as well. Um,
[1:43:38] the maintenance budget on paper looks
[1:43:40] huge. So, let's talk a little bit about
[1:43:42] it. We have 18 custodial personnel. So
[1:43:44] there is um one dayshift custodian in
[1:43:47] each of our buildings. Our elementary
[1:43:49] schools and our middle school have two
[1:43:50] evening custodians. Our high school has
[1:43:52] three evening custodians. We have um an
[1:43:55] athletic custodian that Brian talked a
[1:43:57] little bit about. We have a position for
[1:43:59] a wastewater treatment operator. That
[1:44:01] position is a 6 wastewater treatment
[1:44:03] operator and a point4 custodian. We have
[1:44:06] not found anybody to be the wastewater
[1:44:08] treatment um operator. So, though that
[1:44:09] position is budgeted, it is unfilled
[1:44:11] right now. And those services are being
[1:44:13] provided by Weston and Samson. And we
[1:44:15] just most recently um had a retirement
[1:44:17] in our department in Diane Elliot, who
[1:44:20] everybody knows and loves. Our part-time
[1:44:22] custodian, part-time bus driver did
[1:44:23] retire um at the end of February
[1:44:25] vacation. So, that position is currently
[1:44:26] posted. Um the bulk of the money in
[1:44:30] maintenance, it goes to contracted
[1:44:31] services. So, those are our um
[1:44:33] agreements with vendors for plumbing,
[1:44:35] HVIC, electrical. Um we uh participate
[1:44:39] in an annual collaborative buy with
[1:44:41] other Southshore towns that allows us to
[1:44:43] get paper towels, toilet paper um at a
[1:44:45] much reduced rate um based off of the
[1:44:48] volume that's being purchased by that
[1:44:50] consortium. Um we do try to cover our
[1:44:53] custodial absences with substitutes when
[1:44:56] we can. Um so we do spend about $50,000
[1:44:59] a year on substitute coverage and then
[1:45:01] another big portion of the budget is
[1:45:02] utility services. So that includes heat,
[1:45:04] electric, phone, water, all all the same
[1:45:07] ones that you have at your home.
[1:45:12] A breakout of um that contracted
[1:45:14] services line. Just kind of a snapshot
[1:45:15] of where we are today. There's currently
[1:45:17] $61,000 available in that budget line.
[1:45:20] Um that is
[1:45:23] probably not enough money to get us to
[1:45:25] the end of the year. So as we get to the
[1:45:27] latter part of May and early part of
[1:45:28] June, we start talking about, okay,
[1:45:29] what's an emergency that needs to be
[1:45:31] fixed and what can we wait for July 1.
[1:45:33] um to address. So, we do keep an eye on
[1:45:34] that number. Um the miscellaneous pieces
[1:45:36] are um reimbursements for some of the staff if we're asking them to travel
[1:45:43] between buildings or um some
[1:45:45] professional development stuff for those
[1:45:46] staff. It's it's not a big number.
[1:45:48] Preventative maintenance, that's like
[1:45:50] the belts and um whatnot for our rooftop
[1:45:53] units. We do a whole lot of repairs. And
[1:45:56] so when you're talking about five school
[1:45:58] buildings that um were renovated or
[1:46:00] remodeled in 1999 or 2000, every single
[1:46:03] thing in this district is about the same
[1:46:06] age. Every toilet is 26 years old. Every
[1:46:09] faucet and fixture is 26 years old. So
[1:46:12] we do a whole lot of repairs. Um and
[1:46:16] that makes sense, right? That's that's
[1:46:18] where the bulk of our money would be
[1:46:19] spent. Um you know, it's not anything
[1:46:22] that's outrageous. I would say the
[1:46:24] biggest driver in that repair number
[1:46:25] right now is HVAC and plumbing. Um, in
[1:46:28] the past 18 months or so, we've seen
[1:46:30] significant plumbing concerns in all of
[1:46:31] our buildings, but the plumber that that
[1:46:34] we contract with, Holdley, told us as
[1:46:36] soon as it starts, it's going to keep
[1:46:38] going, right? Um, so they have been
[1:46:40] great. They're super responsive and they
[1:46:41] come out all of the time that we call,
[1:46:43] but it's it's a larger issue. some of
[1:46:45] the way that the pipes are um
[1:46:47] constructed from you know most of the
[1:46:49] buildings were existing to remain the
[1:46:50] pipes are from 1976 in some places um
[1:46:54] and you know plumbing technology has
[1:46:56] come a long way as well um so you know
[1:46:57] switching out some of the the
[1:46:59] connections and whatnot is really where
[1:47:01] we find the bulk of our funding going
[1:47:04] service agreements so we have a um
[1:47:05] agreements for some of our equipment
[1:47:07] whether it's our lawnmowers we have um
[1:47:11] Mike talked a little bit about the HVAC
[1:47:13] and how that's um run through the cloud
[1:47:15] Now, so we have a service agreement with
[1:47:16] Automated Logix. They run all of our
[1:47:17] rooftop units through the buildings. Um
[1:47:20] we do have a a a bit of um supply money
[1:47:23] that happens through May's contract
[1:47:24] services. That's, you know, going to
[1:47:26] Rockies to get whatever we need over the
[1:47:28] course um of the school day or school
[1:47:30] year. Um and as I said before,
[1:47:32] wastewater treatment is a a position
[1:47:34] that is budgeted in our budget, but
[1:47:36] right now we are using a um contracted
[1:47:39] services model for that.
[1:47:40] >> And how much does that cost to cut that?
[1:47:42] >> That is it. It's 66,000. So, so what we
[1:47:45] would be paying a person, we're paying a
[1:47:46] service.
[1:47:47] >> Correct.
[1:47:52] » Okay. Like every department, we have
[1:47:53] goals too in the maintenance department.
[1:47:55] Um, so we have some projects that are on
[1:47:59] the capital warrant for the spring. Um,
[1:48:01] we have been really taking a a look at
[1:48:03] HVAC across the district, focusing a lot
[1:48:05] of our energy at the elementary level.
[1:48:07] So, we have um a request on there for
[1:48:09] the funding associated with three new um
[1:48:11] HVAC units at the elementary level. Um
[1:48:14] we also have phase two of the flooring
[1:48:16] project on the capital warrant. So, we
[1:48:18] would be looking to complete the project
[1:48:20] at Habamok and take a look at some of
[1:48:21] the spaces um in the other buildings
[1:48:23] that have um carpet that is 26 to 30
[1:48:27] years old. Um continuing our roof
[1:48:30] repairs. Um each year Mark identifies
[1:48:32] that rear courtyard of Pemrick High
[1:48:34] School as an area that could use some
[1:48:35] love and attention if you've entered or
[1:48:37] exit the building from that side. You
[1:48:38] can see um there's a lot of um
[1:48:40] disintegrating bricks and a lot of
[1:48:42] masonary work that needs to happen back
[1:48:44] there. Um the Bryant build rooftop unit
[1:48:47] in the library needs to be replaced. So
[1:48:49] again, using some of the capital funds
[1:48:50] for that. Um Jen Simmons when she was
[1:48:52] here the other day also mentioned the
[1:48:54] desire to have um at least one more
[1:48:56] water filtration system. maybe not the
[1:48:58] eight that they have here at North
[1:48:59] Denver, but at least one more. Um, a lot
[1:49:01] of brick work needs to happen at the
[1:49:03] middle school. Again, um, you know, the brick repointing is something that's
[1:49:07] on our capital plan, but is not
[1:49:09] something that gets funded
[1:49:09] year-over-year. So, really targeting
[1:49:11] some funds towards that. Continued HVAC
[1:49:14] repairs is really a common theme across
[1:49:16] the mall. And as I mentioned, North
[1:49:18] would be entering its third phase of its
[1:49:20] lighting project.
[1:49:21] >> Can I ask a question? How did North end
[1:49:23] up with eight and the other online
[1:49:25] preschools? Not
[1:49:26] >> a grant. So they he used the swag grant
[1:49:28] for that.
[1:49:29] >> But it was only for one school. They
[1:49:31] couldn't be split.
[1:49:32] >> So the north PTO and Mr. Murphy wrote
[1:49:35] the grant together. So the um grant
[1:49:37] covered a portion of it and then the PTO
[1:49:39] covered a piece of the plumbing
[1:49:40] associated with it. Each of the schools
[1:49:42] can apply. Um North was the only one
[1:49:44] that applied last year. Jen and the
[1:49:45] Brianville P2 are applying this year as
[1:49:47] well.
[1:49:47] >> Did they So it was known that this was
[1:49:50] an option that the schools could have
[1:49:51] done at the same time. So I think Mike
[1:49:53] was a little bit further along in the
[1:49:55] process and shared how it was going with
[1:49:57] the other two buildings and then they
[1:49:59] would get it to the next cycle.
[1:50:01] >> So there still a grant that's a
[1:50:03] possibility of school.
[1:50:04] >> Yes.
[1:50:07] » Um quick question. um and not making any
[1:50:11] assumptions or anything like that for
[1:50:13] the future and what happens with um
[1:50:15] Southshore VOTE and all that, but are
[1:50:17] there any of these projects that could
[1:50:19] eventually like if we were if that does
[1:50:22] end up happening? Would any of these
[1:50:24] projects be something that we could
[1:50:26] utilize students to help with a project
[1:50:28] on?
[1:50:28] >> Sure. I mean, Southshore Tech has a
[1:50:30] metal fabrication shop. Um they don't
[1:50:33] have a masonary shop. They do have a
[1:50:35] landscape shop. So there's definitely
[1:50:36] some some pieces where we could
[1:50:38] capitalize on that, but you can also
[1:50:40] engage with Southshore Tech as not a
[1:50:42] member town.
[1:50:44] >> Um so happy to to explore that as well.
[1:50:47] I know Brian um was talking with Bristol
[1:50:49] Plymouth um about softball dugos, right?
[1:50:52] So there's we're we're we're kind of
[1:50:54] marketing ourselves out there. Um one of
[1:50:57] the other large capital projects for the
[1:50:59] schools is the parking lots. Um we get a
[1:51:02] lot of feedback about the potholes and
[1:51:03] the sinking drains. Um, it is at all
[1:51:06] five of our buildings an area that needs
[1:51:08] further explanation. And I will be
[1:51:09] transparent and say parking lots has
[1:51:11] been on the maintenance department goals
[1:51:12] now for six years. Um, we have not made
[1:51:15] much progress in that other than
[1:51:17] plugging the holes or relin parking
[1:51:19] lots. We have not made any huge capital
[1:51:22] improvements to digging them up and and
[1:51:23] re
[1:51:24] >> and we're separate from the town. Like
[1:51:25] we can't be added to their
[1:51:26] >> No, we're not part of their pavement
[1:51:28] management plan.
[1:51:29] >> Could we be?
[1:51:30] >> No. Okay. And we don't the chapter
[1:51:33] whatever funds
[1:51:35] >> cannot be used for
[1:51:36] >> Okay.
[1:51:39] » I mean we'd like to get some days in the
[1:51:41] facility department too. So um
[1:51:44] heck why not start with a full-time
[1:51:46] director of operations an operations
[1:51:48] manager. Let's go for that. Um we've
[1:51:51] obviously had conversations in the past
[1:51:52] about is there some capacity to share a
[1:51:55] facilities director with the town.
[1:51:57] Obviously still open to those
[1:51:58] conversations. I'm not sure that our
[1:52:00] timelines will ever sync up like that.
[1:52:02] Um, but I do think given this the the
[1:52:04] age of all all five of our buildings, we
[1:52:06] do need to start moving in the direction
[1:52:08] where some a portion of somebody's
[1:52:10] full-time job is maintenance. Um, and in
[1:52:13] really planning out the projects. I do
[1:52:16] not want to be in the position where
[1:52:17] we're asking for five school buildings
[1:52:18] over the course of three years. We have
[1:52:20] to be thoughtful about how we're looking
[1:52:21] whether we're looking for new buildings
[1:52:23] or to remodel um or renovate what we
[1:52:25] have, but really, you know, giving lead
[1:52:27] time to the community. I'm far ahead of
[1:52:29] that.
[1:52:30] >> Um I think we will look to increase
[1:52:33] contracted services. The repairs are
[1:52:35] getting more costly to the point that
[1:52:37] has been made previously about the cost
[1:52:39] of materials has increased. The cost of
[1:52:41] labor has increased. Um so we are seeing
[1:52:43] some of that. Um and we did used to have
[1:52:46] one additional custodian in the
[1:52:48] district. It was cut in 2013. Um you
[1:52:51] know we may want to look at adding that
[1:52:52] position back in to flow between the
[1:52:54] buildings. We do have um a solid amount
[1:52:57] of custodial absence across the
[1:52:59] district. If we had a body that could
[1:53:00] kind of fill in when we can't find a
[1:53:02] sub, that would be great. And also
[1:53:03] somebody that could focus some of their
[1:53:05] energy on the outside maintenance.
[1:53:06] That's our custodians do get to that,
[1:53:08] but it is really at the bottom of the
[1:53:09] list when we're talking about getting
[1:53:10] the buildings ready um for occupancy the
[1:53:13] next day.
[1:53:15] >> Um between those requests, is there one
[1:53:18] that's more like most important to you?
[1:53:21] Um, I I think the director of operations
[1:53:24] is something that you'll hear again as
[1:53:26] we continue to go through the position.
[1:53:28] I think adding other pieces to the
[1:53:31] department don't make sense until you
[1:53:32] have somebody that's really
[1:53:33] >> directing it. Yeah. And one other quick
[1:53:36] question with the um our strategic plan
[1:53:39] is kind looking at and obviously we
[1:53:42] don't have a copy yet but um looking at
[1:53:46] um kind of the timeline for facilities
[1:53:49] and um all of that part going so as I
[1:53:53] said in the budget subcommittee meeting
[1:53:55] that we had earlier today I just want to
[1:53:57] temper your expectations when it comes
[1:53:58] to what the strategic plan looks like in
[1:54:00] its current form. So it's really big
[1:54:02] rocks, right? It's really the ideas.
[1:54:03] It's the action steps that really
[1:54:05] dictate the work that we're going to
[1:54:06] undertake for the next 5 years. So if
[1:54:09] something says to evaluate
[1:54:12] um scheduling of buildings, to me, one
[1:54:15] of those action steps is looking at
[1:54:17] grades span schools, looking at closing
[1:54:18] a school, looking at all of that. So I I
[1:54:21] think really how much we get out of the
[1:54:23] strategic plan is really a function of
[1:54:24] you know how
[1:54:26] >> how much administration is is looking to
[1:54:27] take on and how much accountability
[1:54:29] you're looking for us to have as working
[1:54:31] towards those milestones. So when you
[1:54:33] get the strategic plan it is not going
[1:54:34] to say um move to gradespan schools by
[1:54:38] 2031. It doesn't say that. Um, but it
[1:54:41] does there's several places where it
[1:54:43] says to evaluate some of the makeups and
[1:54:45] the components that we would need to
[1:54:46] have a better handle on in order to make
[1:54:48] that recommendation. That makes more
[1:54:50] sense. Thank you.
[1:54:55] » Any questions?
[1:54:56] >> Fewer maintenance questions.
[1:54:58] >> So exciting.
[1:55:00] >> All the questions were answered.
[1:55:02] >> Yeah.
[1:55:02] >> All right, let's jump in. Uh,
[1:55:05] consideration first read the
[1:55:07] superintendent. I'm sorry.
[1:55:08] >> We're still going, David. Here we go. So
[1:55:09] in your packet you have for first read
[1:55:11] the 26 27 school year calendar. Um
[1:55:15] couple of things that are different
[1:55:16] moving into next year than our of from
[1:55:19] this current year and for previous
[1:55:20] years. So with the newly ratified
[1:55:23] collective bargaining agreement, we are
[1:55:25] doing open houses. Um so that's really a
[1:55:28] meet and greet at the schools with
[1:55:29] students and staff um the day before
[1:55:32] school starts. So those are on your
[1:55:34] schedule um for 91. Um it's the
[1:55:37] afternoon, the day before school where
[1:55:39] kids can come in with their parents or
[1:55:40] caregivers, see the classroom, meet the
[1:55:42] teacher so that the first day is a
[1:55:43] little bit less scary. Um but there is
[1:55:45] still a tremendous value to what we used
[1:55:47] to call an open house, which we're now
[1:55:49] calling a curriculum night where parents
[1:55:50] and caregivers can come in, meet with
[1:55:53] students, um teachers, and find out what
[1:55:55] the curricular expectations are for the
[1:55:56] course. Right? That's still something
[1:55:57] that needs to happen. So those dates are
[1:56:00] listed on the calendar as well.
[1:56:02] Um we played a little bit with um
[1:56:05] conferences. Um so previously we had two
[1:56:09] iterations of conferences in the fall
[1:56:11] and early winter. One um that last week
[1:56:14] of October and one that first week of
[1:56:15] December. The feedback that we got um
[1:56:18] from staff at the elementary level is
[1:56:20] with having conference those two
[1:56:22] conference options so far apart, they
[1:56:24] were seeing that many elementary
[1:56:26] families were registering for an October
[1:56:28] conference and a December conference.
[1:56:30] that was not the intent. Um so we have
[1:56:33] gone down to one conference um for each
[1:56:36] of those those grade levels. So October
[1:56:39] 28th would be conferences for 7 through
[1:56:40] 12. That lines up with when term one
[1:56:42] ends and then um o December 2nd would be
[1:56:47] conferences for K through 6. That lines
[1:56:49] up with when the the term ends um the
[1:56:52] term one ends at the elementary level.
[1:56:54] You'll remember in previous years we've
[1:56:56] had a November professional development
[1:56:58] day um that synced up with election day
[1:57:01] um and we were using half of that day
[1:57:03] for day conferences for folks. We do not
[1:57:05] have that in this calendar. Um you know
[1:57:08] having a a professional development b
[1:57:10] day day that early on in the year wasn't
[1:57:12] super productive for us. now that all of
[1:57:15] the voting takes place outside of our
[1:57:16] schools, we'd rather have it as a
[1:57:18] student day and save that professional
[1:57:20] development day, that third day for a
[1:57:23] date later in the year. Um, it also
[1:57:25] gives us some flexibility with the
[1:57:27] current situation that we're in right
[1:57:29] now. If you have a professional
[1:57:30] development day scheduled for March
[1:57:33] 29th, you can make a decision about
[1:57:36] March 29th in midFebruary if there's a
[1:57:38] need to adjust your calendar or do
[1:57:40] something like that. So our third
[1:57:42] professional development day for staff
[1:57:44] is currently on March 29th. Gives us a
[1:57:47] little flexibility that we don't have um
[1:57:49] this year to the attune of the
[1:57:52] conversation we were having at the
[1:57:53] beginning of the meeting. Um half days
[1:57:55] or early release days have shifted a
[1:57:57] little bit in this version of the
[1:57:58] calendar. Again, as part of our
[1:58:00] collective bargaining agreement, we have
[1:58:01] agreed to have the student day be the
[1:58:03] same length elementary and secondary. um
[1:58:06] before the student day at the middle
[1:58:08] school and high school was significantly
[1:58:09] shorter than it was at the secondary
[1:58:11] level. We shifted this the day across
[1:58:14] the board at all five schools. That's a
[1:58:15] little bit longer at the secondary level
[1:58:17] and a little bit shorter at the
[1:58:18] elementary level. Um the intent on those
[1:58:20] half days is to not serve a full lunch
[1:58:22] in the cafeteria. We do not serve a
[1:58:24] lunch on those days at the secondary
[1:58:26] level. Right now at the elementary
[1:58:27] school, we don't serve snack on half
[1:58:29] days. So we'd go back to more of a
[1:58:31] robust snack model than serving lunch.
[1:58:34] um grab-and-go lunch would still be
[1:58:35] available for students that have um that
[1:58:37] we have concerns about food insecurity
[1:58:39] for, but the day would not be um
[1:58:42] scheduled around a formal 25minute lunch
[1:58:44] period.
[1:58:47] With the late start of school and the
[1:58:49] Junth holiday in June, our tentative
[1:58:53] last day of school is Thursday, June
[1:58:55] 17th. So that means with one weather
[1:58:57] day, we're already into Monday. Um the
[1:59:01] 185th day for next year would be Friday,
[1:59:04] June 25th. Again, with a late start,
[1:59:06] we're significantly later in June um
[1:59:09] than we have been in years past.
[1:59:13] >> This is a first read,
[1:59:14] >> open to any and all feedback.
[1:59:16] >> Can I ask some questions now?
[1:59:17] >> Of course. You can go in whatever order
[1:59:19] you want. Okay.
[1:59:20] >> Oh,
[1:59:21] >> I feel like she was first. She started.
[1:59:24] I just was curious why we're doing the
[1:59:26] later start like the
[1:59:28] >> So we can't start before Labor Day. So
[1:59:31] Labor Day is late this year. Um Labor
[1:59:33] Day is the Monday June uh September 7th.
[1:59:38] >> We can't start. Well, okay.
[1:59:41] >> Teachers can't start any earlier than
[1:59:42] the Monday before Labor Day. So you can
[1:59:44] see we have them coming Monday, August
[1:59:46] 31st and Tuesday, a uh September 1st.
[1:59:49] And then students traditionally the
[1:59:50] Wednesday and Thursday of that week is
[1:59:52] just the late Labor Day that
[1:59:53] >> throws the whole thing off a little bit.
[1:59:55] Got it.
[1:59:56] >> Late Labor Day.
[1:59:57] >> This is the Labor Day.
[1:59:58] >> Yes.
[1:59:59] >> Give it down the thing. Trina, you have
[2:00:00] a question or good?
[2:00:01] >> No, no, I'm good.
[2:00:02] >> Okay, Alison, we'll give you a shot.
[2:00:03] We'll work backwards.
[2:00:04] >> Um, okay. So,
[2:00:07] we all know school days in the beginning
[2:00:10] of the year are more important because
[2:00:12] of, you know, MCCAST and APs and
[2:00:16] whatnot.
[2:00:18] How
[2:00:19] in this? I don't know if Mary Beth or
[2:00:21] who, but are AP tests and MCCAST
[2:00:25] unchanged even though this is like a
[2:00:27] whole week basically later because
[2:00:29] >> I think the MCCAST window will shift. Um
[2:00:31] >> MCAST will be the 24 it'll start the
[2:00:34] 24th of March at the high school.
[2:00:36] >> And what about the AP test? Those
[2:00:38] >> the AP tests are generally the first two
[2:00:40] weeks in May. So they would start um the
[2:00:43] 3rd of May. that's generally it's a
[2:00:45] nationwide
[2:00:46] >> and so that's where like the concern of
[2:00:48] and I get it we can't do differently. Um
[2:00:55] it's this is just a lot there's just a
[2:00:57] lot of time off and having it the
[2:00:59] potential of having to go to school
[2:01:01] until you know almost the end of June.
[2:01:07] So, there's no time off built into this
[2:01:09] calendar other than observances of
[2:01:11] federal holidays in the three
[2:01:12] professional development days that are
[2:01:14] outlined in the collective bargaining
[2:01:15] agreement.
[2:01:16] >> Yes.
[2:01:16] >> Um there's, as you can see, fewer half
[2:01:19] days in next year's calendar than there
[2:01:21] was in previous year year's calendars,
[2:01:23] keeping in mind that a full day of
[2:01:24] instruction in January is more valuable
[2:01:26] to us. Um you'll see that the half day
[2:01:28] or early release day in May moved to a
[2:01:31] Friday. um thought process being that
[2:01:34] the high school is looking to have a
[2:01:36] Friday prom instead of a Saturday
[2:01:37] potentially and we wanted to give them
[2:01:39] some flexibility um there. So, we're
[2:01:41] trying something new with that day, but
[2:01:42] there's I think two less early release
[2:01:44] days in the calendar for next year than
[2:01:46] there is for this year. So,
[2:01:48] >> but having like two days off in March
[2:01:52] and then you don't know I I guess
[2:01:55] >> 26th is Good Friday.
[2:01:57] >> Yeah.
[2:01:57] >> So, we're we're pretty much off that
[2:01:59] day. um or and you know when we look at
[2:02:02] putting that professional development
[2:02:04] day that third one somewhere in the
[2:02:06] calendar we we generally look to back it
[2:02:08] up against another day off so it's
[2:02:09] something that
[2:02:10] >> Massachusetts has always done instead of
[2:02:13] doing like spring break around
[2:02:16] >> March having February
[2:02:18] >> February and April that's just
[2:02:20] >> nobody's trying to change that
[2:02:22] >> no
[2:02:22] >> in New England
[2:02:23] >> it wouldn't make any sense to try to go
[2:02:26] to school six weeks you
[2:02:27] >> did it one year it did not go well for
[2:02:29] April. So that's not
[2:02:30] >> Yeah.
[2:02:31] >> So I'm just looking at like how many you
[2:02:32] know we end up having
[2:02:33] >> I know but getting rid of February and
[2:02:36] getting rid of April and then putting a
[2:02:38] twoe break in March is
[2:02:39] >> the same.
[2:02:40] >> Well, no, but I'm I'm looking at more
[2:02:42] like how many days of school can we get
[2:02:44] before May 3rd basically,
[2:02:46] >> right? So again, putting a spring break
[2:02:47] in March and here in April doesn't give
[2:02:49] you any more days before.
[2:02:51] >> Well, it's it's just there's a there's
[2:02:53] going to be like how many is that? one
[2:02:55] like a lot of weeks of school of
[2:03:00] >> but not for seniors. So
[2:03:02] >> yeah, not just it's just after MCCAST
[2:03:04] and after AP tests and it's just it's just the schedule just does not make sense in New England to
[2:03:11] me. But I
[2:03:11] >> it's not just Pinrook.
[2:03:12] >> I No, I I understand that. It's just
[2:03:14] >> it's really I mean the College Board
[2:03:16] could be more responsive to and have a
[2:03:18] different schedule for more different
[2:03:20] regions. So
[2:03:22] >> yeah. No, I know. And that's where it's the fight to the end of where this
[2:03:27] is what it is. So, um,
[2:03:30] >> are we able to post this online so
[2:03:31] people can see?
[2:03:32] >> We can post it as a draft. Yes.
[2:03:33] >> Yeah. So, people can see what the early
[2:03:34] release times are and whatnot so that
[2:03:37] people can if they have feedback.
[2:03:39] >> Feedback. Um,
[2:03:41] >> part of the problem too is like just the
[2:03:42] start of is when Labor Day is.
[2:03:45] >> It couldn't come at a word like it's the
[2:03:47] latest it could possibly be.
[2:03:49] >> It is the latest it could possibly be.
[2:03:50] So, it's going to be
[2:03:51] >> which is annoying. a potentially long. I
[2:03:53] don't know if it's still a normal amount
[2:03:54] of weeks of summer, but I just think
[2:03:56] it's kind of
[2:03:57] >> I I I
[2:03:58] >> our hands are tied on this. I just don't
[2:04:00] like it and I know that we don't have
[2:04:02] any choice and it's just like having a
[2:04:05] Wednesday off in November. That's
[2:04:08] >> that's what it is.
[2:04:10] >> I will I don't want to beat a dead horse
[2:04:12] with something we can't fix. So,
[2:04:14] >> and is it is it a state thing here
[2:04:17] >> or is it in our contract that they can't
[2:04:19] we can't have school on
[2:04:20] >> contract? I think they're holiday.
[2:04:22] >> Oh, just like the labor law.
[2:04:24] >> The labor law. No, in Virginia. In
[2:04:26] Virginia, they go to school in Veterans
[2:04:28] Day.
[2:04:29] >> So that's the only reason I know my
[2:04:31] daughter. It's my daughter's birthday.
[2:04:32] >> So none of this has anything none of
[2:04:34] that has anything to do with our
[2:04:35] collective bargain. Holidays are not
[2:04:37] spelled out.
[2:04:38] >> No. No. This was when I when I had her,
[2:04:39] I was like, "Oh my gosh, she's never
[2:04:41] going to have to go to school on her
[2:04:42] birthday." And then we she absolutely
[2:04:44] went to school in Fairfax County on
[2:04:45] Veterans Day.
[2:04:46] >> Interesting.
[2:04:48] >> Yeah. It wasn't until
[2:04:49] >> it must be a state. Well, that's what I
[2:04:50] was just wondering.
[2:04:51] >> Is Veterans Day a state holiday?
[2:04:53] >> I don't know.
[2:04:53] >> I'm gonna do some research holiday, but
[2:04:55] maybe the state
[2:04:56] >> dictates how I don't know.
[2:04:58] >> I just know that the kids went to school
[2:05:00] today. She went to school up until we
[2:05:02] moved here on her birthday.
[2:05:03] >> We should also I feel like not you're
[2:05:05] not saying that, but we could also check
[2:05:08] with a veteran service agency. I feel
[2:05:10] like we don't want to
[2:05:12] >> take away the Somebody has a real big
[2:05:15] problem. No, I'm not I'm not suggesting.
[2:05:16] I'm just more wondering.
[2:05:20] >> It is an interesting point. Could it not
[2:05:21] be? I mean, I Veterans Day, I think, is
[2:05:23] the only one that's actually celebrated.
[2:05:24] Whenever November 11th is, there's no
[2:05:26] school. Correct.
[2:05:27] >> It could be a Monday or Friday or
[2:05:28] Thursday.
[2:05:29] >> Always in states like Massachusetts,
[2:05:32] public schools are legally required to
[2:05:33] close legal holiday.
[2:05:37] Yeah.
[2:05:38] >> But it must be statewide. I mean, it
[2:05:40] must I was convinced like when she had
[2:05:43] when I had
[2:05:43] >> I didn't know that. I I thought it was
[2:05:45] nationwide.
[2:05:46] >> Yeah, I Yeah, that's why I was like I
[2:05:48] thought so too until I had a kid that
[2:05:50] had to go to school on Veterans Day. So,
[2:05:51] Yep. Okay. I would like this posted just
[2:05:54] so that people can see that the you know
[2:05:55] because I think people will have to
[2:05:56] adjust for the early release times
[2:06:00] >> um being different.
[2:06:03] >> All right.
[2:06:03] >> And maybe even consider having
[2:06:06] >> Fairfax County Public Schools says they
[2:06:08] do not have school on Labor Day on
[2:06:09] Veterans Day. says they do not students
[2:06:12] usually do not have classes.
[2:06:14] >> No, they
[2:06:15] >> and they often use this day for
[2:06:17] professional development.
[2:06:20] >> Maybe they've changed since I've
[2:06:21] movement.
[2:06:21] >> Yeah.
[2:06:21] >> So, but I'm curious too if we can do bag
[2:06:25] lunches like as a standard
[2:06:27] >> for kids.
[2:06:28] >> Yeah.
[2:06:29] >> Across the board. Yeah.
[2:06:30] >> Yes. Because I think it's funded as an
[2:06:32] enterprise, right? Like I don't know if
[2:06:34] we have it where they opt out instead of
[2:06:36] opt in.
[2:06:37] >> Nope. So, in order for us to give a
[2:06:40] student a bag lunch and have it qualify
[2:06:42] as a reimburseable meal, we have to get
[2:06:44] their um my school box number. So, they
[2:06:48] have to opt into it and say, "I'm going
[2:06:49] to take a meal on the way."
[2:06:51] >> Okay. But I think I'd like to have that
[2:06:53] be
[2:06:54] >> a norm.
[2:06:55] >> Yeah.
[2:06:56] >> That that's a conversation we had with
[2:06:57] the principles when we talked about not
[2:06:59] universally serving lunch. Well, cuz
[2:07:01] it's also part of the whole thing if of
[2:07:04] if a kid feels weird about like, oh, I'm
[2:07:06] the one taking a lunch home, why is
[2:07:08] other kids on the bus if we have it be
[2:07:11] >> I mean, I'm going to publicly out Dave
[2:07:12] Ricks and he eats a whole bunch of the
[2:07:14] school lunches in the office.
[2:07:17] >> So, they do them at um exam times at the
[2:07:20] high school and so there's like 20 bag
[2:07:22] lunches or something in the office and I
[2:07:24] Dave's in there picking out the
[2:07:25] goldfish. They also have a ice cream
[2:07:28] maker there that
[2:07:29] >> we have frozen yogurt that we have also
[2:07:31] not been invited to try yet. So,
[2:07:33] >> I'm glad you brought that up, Alison. I
[2:07:35] think that's a good point. We don't want
[2:07:36] to make any kids feel uncomfortable
[2:07:38] >> cuz I think if the kids are used to,
[2:07:41] especially elementary kids, it's I mean,
[2:07:43] >> it's a difference.
[2:07:44] >> Yeah. I mean, 12:25 for elementary kids
[2:07:48] not getting home till 1:00 potentially,
[2:07:51] >> that's a long day,
[2:07:52] >> but they'll have a snack, right? And as
[2:07:54] a parent, you can send whatever you
[2:07:56] think
[2:07:57] >> isn't isn't the
[2:08:00] school provided free lunch.
[2:08:01] >> So, we did talk about potentially having
[2:08:03] the school lunch be the provided snack
[2:08:05] on those days for students so that
[2:08:06] they're getting the the balanced meal.
[2:08:09] >> Yeah. I' I'd like to I'd like it to be a a normalized thing rather than a
[2:08:15] >> you have to opt in. Here's here's the
[2:08:17] kids that might
[2:08:20] >> How do we end up with a whole bunch of
[2:08:21] trash bags on the side of this road?
[2:08:24] >> We know who to ask that Mr. Rick.
[2:08:27] >> Yeah. Then we know that that's not
[2:08:28] working.
[2:08:28] >> I think some of it has to do with what you're serving as
[2:08:31] well. Um, you know, there's maybe not a
[2:08:33] ton of interest in the sun butter
[2:08:34] sandwich, but if we can come up with
[2:08:36] some options that are
[2:08:37] >> Can we not serve peanut butter?
[2:08:39] >> No.
[2:08:41] >> I just say if you talk about food,
[2:08:43] there's going to be an issue because I
[2:08:44] have not eaten dinner. So, NO MORE
[2:08:47] MOVING ON. OKAY.
[2:08:48] >> Katrina had a question.
[2:08:49] >> I just had one quick question for the
[2:08:50] North Penroke. Is that the early release
[2:08:52] time for preschool as well?
[2:08:54] >> Well, please preschool's an entirely
[2:08:56] different.
[2:08:57] >> Yeah. So, they don't get out at the same
[2:08:59] time now.
[2:09:00] >> So, it'll be different.
[2:09:02] >> Okay. Am I getting an hour and 20 25
[2:09:05] minutes more on the half?
[2:09:08] >> Yeah. Because these are the new people.
[2:09:11] >> That would be helpful for my brain.
[2:09:13] Absolutely. And then just and I know I
[2:09:15] asked this one time, but I always
[2:09:17] >> put the start time in the delay and
[2:09:19] notification.
[2:09:20] >> Yeah. No, I know because that's super
[2:09:22] helpful.
[2:09:22] >> So you all need to take it as a first
[2:09:24] read. Okay.
[2:09:25] >> So the only the only question I have on
[2:09:27] this comment is I'll be honest with you,
[2:09:28] I don't like these hours for the parent
[2:09:31] teacher conferences. I think 1 to 6:00.
[2:09:33] If you have, and I'm going to say
[2:09:34] respectfully, a real job and you get out
[2:09:36] of Boston at 5:00, there's no way in
[2:09:38] hell you're getting here at 6:00 for a
[2:09:39] conference. and I was the one that used
[2:09:41] to attend most of those and I didn't get
[2:09:43] most of my conferences till 7 or 7:30.
[2:09:45] So I'd be interested. I wanted I'd like
[2:09:47] to know what the attendance numbers are,
[2:09:49] what the feedback is from parents
[2:09:51] because I don't like this at all.
[2:09:53] >> So the 6 and 6:30 have been our practice
[2:09:55] now for the past four years and it is
[2:09:56] spelled out in our collective bargaining
[2:09:58] agreement that they can't be start later
[2:10:00] than 6:30. Um, but we do offer families
[2:10:03] the option, the first hour is reserved
[2:10:05] for virtual conferences. And we have
[2:10:06] seen, to your point, David, a lot of
[2:10:08] people that can't possibly get from
[2:10:10] their day job to, right,
[2:10:11] >> North Pin Brook Elementary School for a
[2:10:13] conference often offer to take it during
[2:10:15] their lunch break or a break at work.
[2:10:16] But, um, I've also asked and we have
[2:10:19] been tracking attendance um, at
[2:10:20] conferences for the past couple of years
[2:10:22] because I think it's something that
[2:10:23] we're overly interested in um, both from
[2:10:26] a standpoint of parent and caregiver
[2:10:28] participation as well as equity amongst
[2:10:30] staff. Um it's very different if you're
[2:10:32] a teacher that just has two conferences
[2:10:33] over the 5 hour window versus 27. So
[2:10:37] taking a look at that as well. So happy
[2:10:38] to share back out about that too.
[2:10:40] >> Nope. I appreciate. Okay. So we have to
[2:10:42] take this as a first read. Do I get a
[2:10:44] motion please?
[2:10:44] >> So moved.
[2:10:45] >> Second.
[2:10:45] Uh all those in favor?
[2:10:47] >> I opposed. Abstain. 50. Natalie.
[2:10:52] >> Uh the next item in my packet is uh the
[2:10:56] trip that Gwen spoke about. Um so this
[2:10:58] current coming weekend March 20th and
[2:11:00] 21st is the all state music festival in
[2:11:04] Worcester at the DCU center. Generally
[2:11:06] um a trip like this would not be an
[2:11:08] overnight request. Um if you take a look
[2:11:11] in the packet you'll see that the start
[2:11:13] time on the Saturday is quite early. Um
[2:11:15] and so given the fact that it was just
[2:11:17] three students, a conversation was had
[2:11:19] um with those three students and their
[2:11:20] families and the desire to stay
[2:11:23] overnight. Um the rules of the
[2:11:25] organization are if we have students
[2:11:27] staying, a chaperone must stay. So
[2:11:29] that's why you're getting it in a field
[2:11:30] trip format.
[2:11:32] >> All right. Could I get a motion for the
[2:11:34] overnight field trip high school musical
[2:11:36] to the DCU center in Worcester?
[2:11:38] >> So moved. Second.
[2:11:39] >> All those in favor?
[2:11:41] >> Opposed? Abstained. Natalie 5-0.
[2:11:45] >> Next up is consideration for approval of
[2:11:48] MIA middle level waiverss. Um, so this
[2:11:50] is the waiver that we file with the
[2:11:52] athletic association to allow eighth
[2:11:53] graders to participate in some of our
[2:11:56] sports. As Brian said, our spring
[2:11:58] numbers are still kind of rolling at
[2:12:00] this point. Um, we are in a pretty good
[2:12:04] place with most of these. We have asked
[2:12:06] for the past three years um for a waiver
[2:12:08] for boys and girls lacrosse as well as
[2:12:10] softball. Um, at this point, I think
[2:12:13] Brian had uh the middle of last week
[2:12:16] only 12 girls register for lac lacrosse,
[2:12:18] 17 boys for boys lacrosse, and 12 um
[2:12:22] students for softball. That number has
[2:12:23] grown. He now has 22 for boys lacrosse,
[2:12:26] 20 for girls lacrosse, and 14 for
[2:12:29] softball. But he is still looking for
[2:12:30] some flexibility with the waiver. As far
[2:12:32] as boys tennis, um when we posted the
[2:12:35] agenda, um there was only six students
[2:12:38] registered for boys tennis. Um, you need
[2:12:40] seven in order to have the singles and
[2:12:44] the three singles and two doubles teams.
[2:12:46] There are currently seven registered.
[2:12:49] Um, but Brian would like a little bit of
[2:12:50] flexibility if another student or two
[2:12:52] doesn't come out in the next day or so
[2:12:54] to to extend it to eighth graders. So,
[2:12:56] that's the only new one. The boys and
[2:12:58] girls lacrosse and softball have been
[2:12:59] previous requests in years past.
[2:13:01] >> So, would for softball would we be
[2:13:03] looking at that the eighth graders being
[2:13:05] on the varsity team?
[2:13:06] >> Eighth graders can only play the lowest
[2:13:07] level that you offer. So, they have to
[2:13:09] be on the JV team,
[2:13:10] >> but 14 is not enough to
[2:13:12] >> He has both.
[2:13:13] >> He's He would It would be fielding a JV
[2:13:16] team
[2:13:18] >> with all eighth graders.
[2:13:19] >> No, there's there's some students that
[2:13:21] could play both.
[2:13:24] >> Okay. Because softball has nine players
[2:13:27] on the field.
[2:13:27] >> I understand. Okay.
[2:13:28] >> I Googled it. So, I just dumped it up.
[2:13:31] >> Well, sometimes 10, but it depends on
[2:13:32] the age.
[2:13:33] >> Because when Brian sent it to me, I
[2:13:34] think he was tired of me asking how many
[2:13:36] people play at a time.
[2:13:36] >> Yeah. I don't know lacrosse and then for
[2:13:38] tennis when that's it's seven you also
[2:13:42] we don't technically have JV but we also
[2:13:47] >> the so
[2:13:48] >> so this this eighth graders can only
[2:13:50] play on the lowest level you offer just
[2:13:52] like girls hockey the eighth graders are
[2:13:53] playing varsity girls hockey because
[2:13:54] that's the only level we offer.
[2:13:56] >> Okay.
[2:13:56] >> Yeah.
[2:13:56] >> So that's for lacrosse.
[2:13:58] >> She was talking about tennis. Oh. Um
[2:14:00] they would the boys and girls would be
[2:14:02] playing JB lacrosse. We'd be having J
[2:14:04] there's a JB team. I was Brian and I had
[2:14:06] a lot of conversation about boys
[2:14:07] lacrosse. I'm not comfortable with
[2:14:08] eighth graders playing varsity lacrosse
[2:14:10] because of this and it's not it's we
[2:14:11] have a JV lacrosse team that would play.
[2:14:13] >> I'm not even sure because it's such a
[2:14:15] physical sport that even eighth grade
[2:14:17] boys I mean there's so much of a
[2:14:19] difference in
[2:14:19] >> Yeah. I think it was three years ago
[2:14:22] when we did the waiver first and you'll
[2:14:23] remember there was quite a few um eighth
[2:14:25] grade lacrosse families that came.
[2:14:27] Obviously, safety is one of the
[2:14:28] decisions that um one of the things that
[2:14:31] comes into account in the decision of
[2:14:33] the students that are invited to
[2:14:34] participate and not size is part of
[2:14:36] that. So, just not all eighth graders
[2:14:38] that are interested in playing JV
[2:14:40] lacrosse will get the opportunity to
[2:14:41] play JV lacrosse.
[2:14:42] >> Okay.
[2:14:43] >> Safety is a driving factor.
[2:14:45] >> All right.
[2:14:46] >> And there's additional safety equipment
[2:14:48] that they can also utilize as well um if
[2:14:51] there are concerns.
[2:14:53] >> Sure.
[2:14:54] >> As with all sports, right? There's the
[2:14:55] padding you can buy that goes
[2:14:56] underneath. There's there's all kinds of
[2:14:58] things.
[2:14:58] >> Are we fully staffed with coaches?
[2:15:00] >> Uh I think they're still looking for a
[2:15:02] JV girls lacrosse coach um and a middle
[2:15:06] school volleyball coach, I think is what
[2:15:08] they're looking for.
[2:15:09] >> Okay. If you know anybody, middle school
[2:15:12] volleyball hasn't started yet, but
[2:15:14] >> I will take a motion for the MIAA middle
[2:15:18] level waiver for boys and girls lacrosse
[2:15:19] softball and boys tennis.
[2:15:21] >> So moved. Second.
[2:15:23] >> Okay. First, I have a second. And all
[2:15:24] those in favor?
[2:15:25] >> I.
[2:15:26] >> All those opposed. Anyone abstaining? 5
[2:15:29] nothing. Natalie.
[2:15:30] >> Last thing is my contract. Um, so so
[2:15:34] great to be evaluated in public and talk
[2:15:36] about my contract in public. It's just
[2:15:38] one of the great perks of this job. Um,
[2:15:41] I have a contract that currently runs
[2:15:42] through June 30th of 2029, but there's
[2:15:45] no salary set for each year. So, the
[2:15:47] purpose of this wording on this is to
[2:15:49] set my salary for fiscal year 26. Yes,
[2:15:52] we are in March of that that year. Um,
[2:15:55] but we did we've had extensive
[2:15:56] conversations um in executive session
[2:15:58] and I think we are in a great place. Let
[2:16:00] me first say that I am fortunate to work
[2:16:03] here and to work with a group of school
[2:16:04] committees that understand members that
[2:16:06] understand the work and give us the
[2:16:07] space to do the work. That is not the
[2:16:09] case everywhere. Um, you know, we are a
[2:16:11] lean leadership team, but we are very
[2:16:14] appreciative of the support that we
[2:16:15] receive. by you guys are always on those
[2:16:17] nasty posts sticking up for us or if you
[2:16:20] have a question call this person or
[2:16:21] Allison was the first one today that
[2:16:22] said all five schools have power when
[2:16:24] somebody said what a horrible idea to
[2:16:26] have school today. Um so I very
[2:16:28] appreciative of that. Um you know as
[2:16:31] with any contract negotiation I take a
[2:16:33] look at kind of what I make what other
[2:16:35] department heads in the towns make. But
[2:16:37] in addition really looking at the market
[2:16:38] for superintendent. Um I do think I
[2:16:41] provided you guys with any any and all
[2:16:43] backup that you had asked for. um and
[2:16:45] you all did um you know come to an
[2:16:47] agreement that was greater than what I
[2:16:49] had asked for and so I am very
[2:16:51] appreciative of you guys valuing my
[2:16:53] position in my role here. Um my
[2:16:57] current compensation package totals just
[2:17:00] under 238,000.
[2:17:02] Um and what you all have set for next
[2:17:04] year is 265,000. So you all have to take
[2:17:07] a motion and do whatever it is that you
[2:17:09] do.
[2:17:10] >> So moved. Second.
[2:17:11] >> Well, you know what? I I want to Okay,
[2:17:13] we have the first second. Um I I do want
[2:17:15] to give some feedback on this and it's
[2:17:17] been my pleasure for 9 years to be on
[2:17:19] this committee and to be the chairman
[2:17:20] this year and I think if there's anyone
[2:17:22] listening out there in the um viewing
[2:17:24] public that hasn't gone to bed at this
[2:17:26] point, I'm very happy.
[2:17:29] >> They're not used to feel like they're
[2:17:30] not used to two and a half hour
[2:17:31] meetings.
[2:17:32] >> Shout out to Karen who's still here
[2:17:34] >> to the studio audience. Thank you. We
[2:17:37] appreciate it.
[2:17:39] I think it's important to point out that
[2:17:40] one, the superintendent runs the largest
[2:17:42] department, you know, with inside the town of Peer by far. Um she
[2:17:46] basically wears two hats as a
[2:17:48] superintendent and the business manager.
[2:17:50] And if you knew what it cost us to get a
[2:17:51] superintendent and a business manager,
[2:17:53] um that would be um far more than this
[2:17:56] number would exceed. So to say you have
[2:17:59] um earned this and put you uh I
[2:18:01] hopefully like to think within your um
[2:18:04] upper end of your competitive set or
[2:18:06] your peers, whatever we care to say. So
[2:18:08] I wholeheartedly endorse this contract.
[2:18:10] Um I'm a big believer in it. And now I'm
[2:18:13] happy to take a vote. Um we have a
[2:18:15] first, we have a second. All those in
[2:18:16] favor?
[2:18:17] >> I.
[2:18:17] >> Any opposed? No one abstains. Now it's 5
[2:18:20] nothing. Thank you, Erin.
[2:18:22] >> Of course.
[2:18:22] >> Yay.
[2:18:24] >> Um next is subcommittee updates. These
[2:18:26] are quick, I promise. Um, so budget
[2:18:28] subcommittee met last week and this week
[2:18:30] just to talk about um some of the
[2:18:32] upcoming budget items, but we also um
[2:18:33] went through a topic calendar. So in
[2:18:35] your packet, you have a calendar of what
[2:18:37] we believe to be the outstanding budget
[2:18:40] items that need to be covered between
[2:18:41] tonight's meeting and town meeting on
[2:18:43] May 12th. Um you'll see there in red
[2:18:46] that it is the recommendation of the
[2:18:47] budget subcommittee that you add an
[2:18:49] additional March meeting. Um I selected
[2:18:52] the 24th and we talked about a little
[2:18:53] bit it doesn't if the 24th isn't the
[2:18:55] right day the 31st is also
[2:18:59] >> an option as well um up to you all but
[2:19:02] you can see that in addition to the
[2:19:03] teaching and learning budgets there's a
[2:19:05] fee discussion um we want to give a
[2:19:07] vocational presentation the strategic
[2:19:09] planning presentation um you know budget
[2:19:12] subcommittee feels strongly about the
[2:19:14] admin recommending recommended budget
[2:19:16] being a standalone item one night for
[2:19:18] just you all to talk about it before you
[2:19:20] invite the select board and advisory for
[2:19:22] a joint meeting. So, um looking at the
[2:19:25] breadth of those topics and the meetings
[2:19:26] that were currently on the calendar, um
[2:19:29] the recommendation is to add an
[2:19:30] additional day in March. The asterk
[2:19:32] there with the fee discussion um budget
[2:19:34] subcommittee met today at this point not
[2:19:37] necessarily um proposing any additional
[2:19:40] fees. Um, so it's possible that that
[2:19:42] discussion could take just one night,
[2:19:43] but understanding if there's um
[2:19:45] additional information that's sought. It could go to the seventh as well as a
[2:19:48] second night of that discussion. We
[2:19:50] don't want you to be having discussion
[2:19:52] and making decisions at the same time.
[2:19:54] We want you to be able to think about
[2:19:55] it. Um, you know, those the fee
[2:19:57] discussions are are big ones. It's
[2:19:59] >> it's a lot that we're asking of
[2:20:00] families. So, um, I do have a meeting
[2:20:04] that was scheduled on the 24th. I could
[2:20:06] always move it or just not really I just
[2:20:09] can't go to whatever it is. But um
[2:20:12] depends on if people are available on
[2:20:13] the 31st
[2:20:16] >> because I'm just saying if we do the
[2:20:17] 31st that's I mean we're already going
[2:20:20] to do like three there's going to be
[2:20:22] three meetings in a row no matter how we
[2:20:23] do this. So four meetings in a row
[2:20:26] whatever it is. But yeah losing the
[2:20:28] February one kind of threw us off. And
[2:20:30] the other thing we can if I can just
[2:20:33] back up one second too is David, do you
[2:20:35] think you can reach out to the
[2:20:36] legislators to see if they can join us?
[2:20:39] What did we talk about?
[2:20:39] >> I think we talked about 4:14. So
[2:20:41] >> 414 for that for the budget discussion.
[2:20:44] So 4:14 at 6 p.m. I would assume.
[2:20:49] >> Okay, let me get that on there.
[2:20:50] >> So for the 24th,
[2:20:54] which would be
[2:20:56] from tonight?
[2:20:56] >> Yeah. teaching and learning, student
[2:20:58] services, and the fee discussion. Um,
[2:21:02] Katrina, you
[2:21:04] >> I'd prefer the 31st, but if like that
[2:21:06] messes up things for other people, then
[2:21:09] I can just not go to the event and I can
[2:21:11] probably find other people to help with
[2:21:13] the work event I have.
[2:21:14] >> What about other people?
[2:21:18] >> All these dates are good for me as of
[2:21:20] right now.
[2:21:21] >> I could do the 31st if we needed to.
[2:21:23] That's not a problem.
[2:21:25] Does it make a difference like in terms
[2:21:27] of the the timeline for anything in
[2:21:29] terms of folks on the budget? So,
[2:21:31] >> no. Okay.
[2:21:33] >> Sue, are you are you good with switching
[2:21:36] the 24th to the 31st?
[2:21:37] >> Yeah, I'm good with that.
[2:21:38] >> Okay.
[2:21:38] >> Yeah. Okay. Thank you. I just had an
[2:21:41] event.
[2:21:41] >> Does that work for you, Aaron?
[2:21:42] >> Yeah, that's really fine.
[2:21:43] >> Good. We're going to take the 24th out
[2:21:44] and make that the 31st.
[2:21:46] >> Yep. Okay.
[2:21:46] >> Okay.
[2:21:47] >> So, we get next week off.
[2:21:48] >> Sure.
[2:21:49] >> Oh, nice.
[2:21:50] >> Really? But
[2:21:52] >> and then the other
[2:21:53] >> the other thing we talked about is the
[2:21:54] meeting on the 28th, the joint meeting
[2:21:56] with the select board and advisory. I
[2:21:58] know that we generally have a 6:00 start
[2:22:00] time. Those two boards have later start
[2:22:01] times just taking into account um their
[2:22:04] members. Um I think it would be a nice
[2:22:07] gesture to offer a a later start time. I
[2:22:09] know advisory meets at 6:30 and select
[2:22:11] board generally meets at 7. Um because I
[2:22:15] think last year like the reason I kind
[2:22:17] of mentioned that is I think last year
[2:22:18] we had other things on the agenda. So,
[2:22:20] we started our meeting
[2:22:22] >> and then I think we might have gone over
[2:22:24] or late, whatever. But I think the idea
[2:22:27] in my head is we either don't have other
[2:22:29] stuff on that meeting, which probably
[2:22:32] can't happen or doesn't happen, but have
[2:22:34] it be
[2:22:36] >> a like a 7:00 start time and if we do
[2:22:38] need to meet, we start at 6 and then we
[2:22:41] recess and come back at seven instead of
[2:22:44] >> Yeah. Is everyone comfortable with them
[2:22:46] with me offering them a seven o'clock
[2:22:48] start time for the joint meeting? And
[2:22:49] then as it gets closer, we'll decide if
[2:22:50] you all need to meet before that.
[2:22:52] >> Yes, sure.
[2:22:52] >> Okay.
[2:22:55] >> Got it.
[2:22:57] >> And when
[2:23:00] are we going to ask them tomorrow?
[2:23:02] >> I'm going to ask them tomorrow.
[2:23:03] >> Okay. cuz I'd like to have that like
[2:23:05] kind of semi finalized so that if we
[2:23:08] can't do that
[2:23:11] >> I mean I I think it's yeah
[2:23:13] >> it's it's on both of their radars. Um we
[2:23:15] I've spoke about it when I went to
[2:23:16] advisory the last time and Bill has
[2:23:18] shared with the select board that
[2:23:19] >> and for some reason it worked so well
[2:23:21] for the past couple of years that the
[2:23:22] interest is there to do it as well. The
[2:23:24] other thing you all need to decide is on
[2:23:25] 47 the plan was to give the vocational
[2:23:27] presentation ahead of um the meeting. Is
[2:23:30] a 5:30 start time okay for folks for
[2:23:32] that and then we'll just do the im the
[2:23:34] meeting immediately to follow.
[2:23:35] >> Yes, definitely.
[2:23:37] >> We don't want to do it as part of our
[2:23:39] meeting at 6. I'm just questioning
[2:23:42] >> you can we can I think at when we
[2:23:44] originally started it was there was
[2:23:46] other big things on that agenda. Um
[2:23:49] >> I mean
[2:23:49] >> strategic plan is a pretty big thing.
[2:23:51] >> Yeah. Well and we're we are inviting the
[2:23:53] 20some members.
[2:23:55] >> I would leave it as a 5:30 and then have
[2:23:57] your regular meeting start at 6. Would
[2:23:58] it still be a public like we open a
[2:24:01] meeting or would it we
[2:24:02] >> Yep.
[2:24:02] >> It's not Yeah.
[2:24:03] >> Okay. So, it would be just this
[2:24:06] >> just like when you do executive session
[2:24:07] at the beginning of a meeting, you're
[2:24:08] going to open it and then have the
[2:24:09] regular meeting to follow.
[2:24:12] >> Okay. So, it wouldn't just say like
[2:24:14] school committee meeting starting at
[2:24:16] 5:30. It would be two separate start
[2:24:18] times.
[2:24:18] >> I would post it. Yeah. on the same
[2:24:20] agenda but two separate sometimes
[2:24:21] because there are some people that are
[2:24:22] just coming for the vocational um
[2:24:25] >> and so
[2:24:25] >> and then there are some people that will
[2:24:26] be joining us just for the strategic
[2:24:28] plan
[2:24:29] >> and you would suspect that the vocation
[2:24:31] will take 30 minutes
[2:24:32] >> I think it would the the slides will
[2:24:34] probably be 20 minutes and then allowing
[2:24:36] 20 to 25 minutes for question and answer
[2:24:38] or not um
[2:24:39] >> well that's why I just worry about
[2:24:40] putting a start time on strategic like a
[2:24:42] six o'clock start time if we're possibly
[2:24:45] >> could be an yeah we can I I was thinking
[2:24:49] saying that it would start immediately
[2:24:51] to follow but not before 6:15 so that
[2:24:53] people can plan to get here for 6:15
[2:24:56] when we wouldn't be starting before
[2:24:57] that.
[2:24:57] >> Uhhuh. That makes sense. So
[2:24:59] >> we are completely overthinking it for
[2:25:01] the two people in the audience. What
[2:25:02] time would you like to come?
[2:25:07] » Oh my goodness.
[2:25:08] >> Okay. Um
[2:25:09] >> it wouldn't be
[2:25:11] >> and and just so everybody's clear, this
[2:25:12] does not include all of the agenda
[2:25:14] items. This is just
[2:25:15] >> this is just budget topics, right? We
[2:25:16] have those the public hearing on school
[2:25:18] choice. Um you all when you get to talk
[2:25:20] future meeting dates and topics need to
[2:25:22] talk about your MIA conversation and
[2:25:23] where that falls here. These were just
[2:25:24] budget related topics. That's what this
[2:25:26] calendar is. Um speaking of budget, the
[2:25:29] vocational regional planning committee
[2:25:31] has not met since we last met, but I
[2:25:33] will be attending the select board
[2:25:34] meeting tomorrow evening in order to
[2:25:36] potentially answer questions associated
[2:25:38] with um the placement of the two
[2:25:41] overhead questions on the ballot. Um I'm
[2:25:43] not giving a presentation tomorrow
[2:25:45] evening. I've shared um through Bill the
[2:25:48] latest version of our slides. They were
[2:25:50] provided to the select board ahead of
[2:25:51] time. I'm only going to answer
[2:25:53] questions. Um I've given the same
[2:25:55] presentation eight or nine times. We
[2:25:56] have another presentation scheduled for April 7th. So just there to answer
[2:26:00] questions if there are questions.
[2:26:03] Perfect. Um and then the last one is
[2:26:05] policy sub. you have in your packet um
[2:26:08] the second read of those series B
[2:26:11] policies that we looked at the last time
[2:26:12] I took the edit um that we all had
[2:26:14] discussed about just adding the word
[2:26:16] Peendrick to resident um in each
[2:26:18] instance that it showed up in those
[2:26:19] policies
[2:26:22] to take them as a vote
[2:26:23] >> you have to take them for second read
[2:26:24] and approval
[2:26:25] >> okay
[2:26:25] >> you can take them all at once you don't
[2:26:27] have to do three separate
[2:26:28] >> All right if I could get a motion to
[2:26:30] take consideration of second reading or
[2:26:31] approval revised policy beb revised
[2:26:35] policy B E D H in revised policy B E.
[2:26:40] >> So moved. Second.
[2:26:42] >> All those in favor?
[2:26:43] >> I opposed abstain.
[2:26:46] >> 5 nothing Natalie across the board.
[2:26:50] >> Committee dates and topics. I think we
[2:26:51] just covered.
[2:26:52] >> Yep. So you usually do your school
[2:26:53] choice hearing the same day that you do
[2:26:55] your public budget hearing. So that
[2:26:56] would be May 5th. Um it's up to you all.
[2:26:59] I know at your last meeting you talked
[2:27:02] about um discussing
[2:27:06] a potential correspondence to the MIA or the topic in general. Um you just
[2:27:11] need to let me know where where you want
[2:27:12] to put that whether it's 331 47. I would
[2:27:16] shy away from those two budget meetings
[2:27:18] on 414 and 428. I think they should
[2:27:20] solely be for budget.
[2:27:22] >> Let's do a 331. We Yeah.
[2:27:24] >> 331 for which one? The
[2:27:25] >> the MA. Yeah, let's do that. That's
[2:27:27] good.
[2:27:27] >> Yeah. We don't want to delay that
[2:27:28] anymore. Yeah.
[2:27:30] >> Great.
[2:27:34] » And what is it exactly that you want the
[2:27:36] agenda item to say? Is it discussion of
[2:27:38] potential correspondence to the MIA?
[2:27:41] Okay.
[2:27:41] >> And a and a vote
[2:27:44] on that.
[2:27:46] >> I'd imagine.
[2:27:47] >> Yep. Discussion, potential vote, right?
[2:27:50] >> Yep. Got it. I'll find the right words.
[2:27:56] That's it.
[2:27:59] Okay. There. Okay. I will take a motion
[2:28:03] for adjournment.
[2:28:04] >> So move. Second.
[2:28:05] >> All those in favor?
[2:28:06] >> I
[2:28:07] >> opposed. Abstain. 50. Thank you very
[2:28:11] much for your time, ladies and
[2:28:12] gentlemen. To the viewing audience.
[2:28:13] Thank you to the studio audience and to
[2:28:15] the man behind the booth.
[2:28:17] >> Thank you all.