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Cool.

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» All right. Uh good good evening

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everyone. Like to welcome everyone to

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the uh September 28th, 2026 meeting of

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the Plymouth School Committee. I will

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call the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Uh

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if you everyone please join me in the

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pledge of allegiance.

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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

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United States of America and to the

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republic for which it stands, one nation

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[clears throat] under God, indivisible,

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with liberty and justice for all.

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>> Thank you for that. Next, I'll read our

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land acknowledgement. We acknowledge

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that we are meeting on the unseated

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ancestral homeland of indigenous people

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whose enduring presence we humbly

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recognize. We honor the Wampaoic people

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as the original stewards in the Herring

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Pond Wampaoic as a surviving tribe

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indigenous to these lands. In our

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commitment to lifelong learning, we

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acknowledge historical injustices to the

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native people of this land and vow to

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educate ourselves, our community, and

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our students on the first peoples and

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the hardships they endured. We offer

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this as a small but essential step

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towards building a culture of respect,

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truth, and accountability.

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Uh next up, like to hear from uh the

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public. So, we have a few people signed

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up to speak tonight. Uh, first up, we

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have Miss Kathy Babidi.

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[clears throat] Thank you. On behalf of

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the Plymouth Education Foundation, we'd

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first like to thank you and recognize

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the Plymouth Public Schools for their

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wonderful u campaign for gold goal for

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hope. We have decided we're tomorrow we

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will be sending um a check for $1,000 to

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the Southshore um hope um I'm sorry the

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Cellshore Action for Hope um and ask

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that that donation be included with the

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school's donation because as they say it

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takes all of us. So we're hoping that our donation along with yours will

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really make a difference. The only other

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thing while I'm here is we're I just

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want to flag we are having a support our

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schools trivia night in November.

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5th is going to be the American

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Legion. We'll be sending that out this

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week. Everything's all set to go and we

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hope we can only accommodate 15 teams,

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so we're hoping to have a great night

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and and raise some funds. Thank you.

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>> Thank you.

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>> All right. Next up, we have uh Dale

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Weber and Carrie Cooper Magcguire from

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Cobra.

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[snorts]

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Thank you, Mr. Chairman. For the record,

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I'm Dale Weber, president of the

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Collective Bargaining Relief Association

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with the acronym of COBRA. Tonight, I'm

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here representing the 78 Plymouth First

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Student School bus drivers of COBRA.

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As you are aware, First Student is one

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of your contractors, and we understand

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that dynamic perfectly. We also know

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that a solid working model built on

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mutual respect with all parties to that

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service benefits everyone when a

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peaceful and harmonious relationship

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exists. It is in that vein that we

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appear before you tonight to deliver a

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courtesy communication that we are

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approaching a somewhat strained

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relationship due to the collective

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bargaining with first student and their

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strong desire to implement a software

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update to their school bus camera

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monitoring system.

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We are nearing [clears throat] the

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finish line on our new 5-year contract,

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but are stalled out over this matter.

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perhaps you could assist us in getting

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us to the finish line. We currently have

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seven cameras installed in each school

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bus that delivers the precious cargo

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that we transport to and from school

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each day. Your students,

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we are okay with that system. We are not

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long haul cross-country truck drivers

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hauling heavy cargo 12 hours a day. We

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are a group of parents, grandparents,

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and neighbors who adore their cargo,

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your students.

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We see them first thing in the morning

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and last thing after the dismissal bell

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sounds. But we are troubled by this new

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system of school bus monitoring called

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samsara,

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which by the way,

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the definition of samsara is the cycles

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of birth, misery, and death caused by

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karma.

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We want to focus tonight solely on the

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misery this is causing our drivers.

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It is an AI based camera recording

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software system that stores its data in

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the cloud which is more easily

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accessible than the se seven camera

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system we are familiar with and have

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accepted for years. But now an eighth

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camera will be installed and mounted

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directly in front of us, capturing the

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driver's face and sends alerts if the

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system detects anything even remotely

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related to a distracted driving

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impression.

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Have any of you ever driven a school bus

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full of students? There are and have

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been for [clears throat] years, excuse

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me, distractions all around our drivers,

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let alone the traffic hazards they

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encounter. But through all that, our

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Plymouth drivers have an excellent

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safety record. Samsara also loops in the

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other existing cameras

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of all the students on the bus and again

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stores it in the cloud-based data that

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is more easily accessible than the

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system we currently are familiar with.

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We look at this as an overreach and an

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invasion of privacy and are sharing this

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information so that you are aware of the

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implications this intrusion may have on

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you and the extended population that you

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serve. I could go on, but I want to

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introduce to you to Carrie Cooper

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Maguire, a Cobra Stewart and school bus

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driver, who can tell you more about the

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boots on the ground impacts this system

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is distracting our drivers about. Thank

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you.

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Carrie,

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>> thank you, Dale. Thank you.

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Good evening, members of the school

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committee. My name is Carrie Cooper

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Magcguire, and I'm the proud union

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stewart representing our 78 first

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student school bus drivers in Plymouth.

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Thank you for the opportunity to speak

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about the proposed use of SIMSAR and AI

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technology on our buses. Our objection

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to adding AI monitoring alerts inside

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the cab without a clear safety benefit

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that outweighs the distraction and loss

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of privacy. Our drivers share one

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priority, getting children to and from

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school safely. We take the

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responsibility seriously every day,

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which is why I'm asking you to listen to

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the drivers before First Student adds

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this system to our buses. Our buses

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already have GPS monitoring, seven

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cameras, and a five-star system that

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tracks our speed, hard braking, rapid

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acceleration, and idling. Drivers work

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hard for their five stars, and we take

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pride in them. We already have extensive

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training and tools to promote and

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measure safe driving. The overwhelming

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message that I have heard from drivers

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on AI monitoring feels that it is

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intrusive. Every driver that has spoken

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to me is concerned about the facial

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scanning and having ordinary movements

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such as taking a drink of water, rubbing

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your eye, or yawning, all of which will

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alert the AI system and alert our

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manager considering the demands of the

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job. A driver is operating a large bus

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full of children, watching the road and

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mirrors, listening to dispatch, and

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responding to what's happening behind

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them. In addition, an alert inside the

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cab would distract us from the road and

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the children. We [snorts] recognize the

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value of a forward-facing camera in the

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road ahead.

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We ask the committee to support Cobra

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drivers asking to implement only a

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forwardfacing camera without the

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driver's face, facial scanning or inc

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alerts. Our existing cameras and

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monitoring system already provide

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accountability inside the bus and on the

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road. The seven cameras currently on

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each bus would feed through the Samsara

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program, meaning that student footage

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would be stored on [snorts] an AI

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system. It would change from a physical

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tape being removed from the bus to a

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storage on a national database.

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Please consider the people behind the

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wheel and support our request for

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forward- facing cameras only. We

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[snorts] are proud of the trust families

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place in us. Let's keep the focus where

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it belongs on the road and the children

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in our care.

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>> Thank you both.

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>> Thank you. [clears throat]

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All right, next up we have uh Collins

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Fay Martin.

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» Hi Collins Fay Martin, Gunner's Exchange

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Road, Plymouth. I wasn't actually going

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to talk about Sincara, but since I just

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educated myself on it, um I'm a, as I

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mentioned last meeting, I'm a special

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education attorney um who resides here

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in Plymouth. Uh I think we all most of

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us share the concerns about the flock

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cameras that have gone viral and raise

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um privacy concerns. That said, as a

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special education attorney in my wealth

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of experience, I can tell you having a

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camera doesn't need to be AI, but at

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least having a camera recording the

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driver's face and frankly what's going

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on behind the driver is very important.

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Keep in mind, most of these don't

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include audio recording. It's typically

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just video, but I ran into an incident,

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not in this district, in another

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district where on a van there's only an

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outward- facing camera, but my my

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client's coming home telling his parent

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that the driver is getting into um

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verbal altercations with pedestrians.

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It's not cap it's not captured on a

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forward- facing camera. it would have

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been captured. At least the the

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aggressive facial expressions, the hand

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gestures would have been captured on an

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internally facing camera. We also have

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some shady things that go on on school

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buses. So having a an inward facing

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camera, even if it's not AI, is wise. Um

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that said, what I did come to tell you

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about

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this this week in special education in

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Plymouth is the observation law. So,

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what I have run into um is Stacy Rogers

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specifically has been obstructing

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parents right to observations consistent

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with the observation law. Um [snorts] to

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which I reminded her, this goes to all

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kids, not just special ed kids. I

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reminded her that the DESIE advisory on

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this very topic specifically states that

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school districts and parents have

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reported that typically observations are

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between 1 and four hours. While useful

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as a general rule, the department

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recommends that district policies and

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practices specify that the duration and

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extent of observations will be

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determined on an individual basis.

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Districts should avoid rigid adherence

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to defined time limits regardless of the

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students needs and settings to be

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00:13:04,079 --> 00:13:06,160
observed. the complexity of the child's

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00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:07,839
needs as well as the program and

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00:13:07,839 --> 00:13:10,000
programs to be observed should determine

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what the observation will entail and

280
00:13:11,680 --> 00:13:13,360
what amount of time is needed to

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complete it. So the response from Stacy

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00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:20,320
Rogers is that the district's position

283
00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:22,959
remains the same. It is arbitrarily

284
00:13:22,959 --> 00:13:26,320
limiting parents to two hours um

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regardless of what the individual

286
00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:31,519
student needs are. I have advocated I'm

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00:13:31,519 --> 00:13:33,200
not particularly concerned about the one

288
00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:34,880
student. I'm concerned about how this

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impacts all students. The fact that

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00:13:36,639 --> 00:13:39,360
we're making arbitrary decisions just

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because Stacy Rogers can is not

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00:13:41,680 --> 00:13:43,519
appropriate. It's not collaborative.

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It's not individualized for sure. So, I would ask that the district take a

294
00:13:49,519 --> 00:13:51,519
longer look at what its own internal

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00:13:51,519 --> 00:13:54,160
observation policies state. And I would

296
00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:56,160
also ask that the district take another

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00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:58,800
look at its observation requirements

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00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:01,920
because they have there is a a a

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00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:03,760
document floating around that's not

300
00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:05,440
consistent with the observation law and

301
00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:07,040
the fact that I had to come here today

302
00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:09,600
to inform you guys. This is stuff you

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00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:11,040
should be hearing from Stacy Rogers

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00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:13,199
herself. It should not be somebody from

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00:14:13,199 --> 00:14:15,360
the public having to come and out this

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00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:16,880
situation. And I could come back here

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00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:19,120
every single month with another topic or

308
00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:21,920
12. Honestly, I could. I just I prefer

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00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:23,680
not to. I would just really like

310
00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:25,519
collaboration from the district and it's

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00:14:25,519 --> 00:14:31,440
such a small sideshow of an issue. Um I do encourage the school committee to

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00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:33,199
encourage Stacy Rogers to be more

313
00:14:33,199 --> 00:14:35,920
collaborative with families. Thank you.

314
00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:38,160
>> Thank you.

315
00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:39,680
I don't think we have any anyone else

316
00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:41,360
wishing to speak tonight. Think we're

317
00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:43,040
good. All right. [clears throat]

318
00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:45,680
All right. Next up, we'll move on to our

319
00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:47,839
uh high school representatives. We have

320
00:14:47,839 --> 00:14:49,839
two uh two young ladies joining us for

321
00:14:49,839 --> 00:14:52,639
the their first uh meeting. Welcome both

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00:14:52,639 --> 00:14:55,360
uh Noro O'Neal from Plymouth North and

323
00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:58,240
Maline Cox from uh South. Um I'll let uh

324
00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:00,000
Maline if you want to go first.

325
00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:03,440
>> Yes. Good evening. Um this last week we

326
00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:05,040
hosted a club fair for all grade nine

327
00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:07,360
students on September 21st. Upperassmen

328
00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:08,800
encouraged our grade nine students to

329
00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:10,079
get involved in many clubs and

330
00:15:10,079 --> 00:15:12,399
organizations at PSHS.

331
00:15:12,399 --> 00:15:14,720
As well as we have unified basketball

332
00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:16,560
kicks off tomorrow at 3:30 with a game

333
00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:18,560
against Marshfield and other and all

334
00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:20,480
other fall sports are well underway.

335
00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:22,320
It's hard to believe midway point of the

336
00:15:22,320 --> 00:15:24,160
first quarter was Friday.

337
00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:26,800
Congratulations to Camden Lan who was

338
00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:29,040
named condemned student in the 2027

339
00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:31,440
National Merit Scholarship Program.

340
00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:33,199
National Merit condemned students placed

341
00:15:33,199 --> 00:15:35,360
among the top 50,000 students in the

342
00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:37,839
country who entered the 2027 competition

343
00:15:37,839 --> 00:15:40,240
by achieving high scores in the 2027

344
00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:42,959
preliminary SAT. Through this award, it

345
00:15:42,959 --> 00:15:44,320
is more than evident that Cam will

346
00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:46,000
continue to have incredible academic

347
00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:48,639
success in the years ahead. We had a

348
00:15:48,639 --> 00:15:50,240
tremendous going and gold week last week

349
00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:53,040
at PSHs hosting an openhouse picture

350
00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:55,440
day. Due to the creativity for our

351
00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:56,800
events and the generosity of our

352
00:15:56,800 --> 00:15:59,199
community, PSHS was able to raise over

353
00:15:59,199 --> 00:16:01,360
$3,600 for this incredible cause,

354
00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:04,399
surpassing last year's totals. Um, last

355
00:16:04,399 --> 00:16:06,399
week was a was scheduled to be our

356
00:16:06,399 --> 00:16:07,680
homecoming dance, but due to mother

357
00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:09,199
nature, we decided to move all

358
00:16:09,199 --> 00:16:10,880
festivities to the weekend of October

359
00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:12,800
16th.

360
00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:14,800
Um the basketball team of no the

361
00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:16,800
baseball team is hosting Scarefest

362
00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:19,600
Saturday, October 24th from 6:00 to 8 at

363
00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:22,480
the PSHs. The proceeds will benefit the

364
00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:24,560
trip to Dodgertown in April. A great

365
00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:26,160
deal of local businesses are supporting

366
00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:27,839
the event through the trunk or treat.

367
00:16:27,839 --> 00:16:30,000
Swing by to support. This year's college

368
00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:32,320
fair is October 15th at Plymouth North.

369
00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:34,000
We encourage students and staff to wear

370
00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:36,480
college gear on the 15th. BSAT for

371
00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:38,880
juniors is also on the 15th. The white

372
00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:40,800
coat collaboration for juniors in the

373
00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:43,040
biomedical program during klock on the

374
00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:45,199
21st of October. All fall sports

375
00:16:45,199 --> 00:16:50,629
captain's lunch is October 7th at South.

376
00:16:50,639 --> 00:16:52,320
» Thank you for that. All right, next up,

377
00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:53,680
Nora.

378
00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:56,240
>> Good evening. Last week at Plymouth

379
00:16:56,240 --> 00:16:58,880
North was the Go Gold fundraiser. Go

380
00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:00,800
Gold is an initiative that raises funds

381
00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:03,040
for children fighting cancer. We raised

382
00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:05,679
$1,340.

383
00:17:05,679 --> 00:17:07,360
Plymouth North will be hosting college

384
00:17:07,360 --> 00:17:09,199
visits during all four lunches as well

385
00:17:09,199 --> 00:17:11,679
as KB blocks. These visits allow

386
00:17:11,679 --> 00:17:13,439
students to speak with a representative

387
00:17:13,439 --> 00:17:15,760
of the college or university and get

388
00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:17,600
insight about what each school has to

389
00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:19,839
offer. A full list of the visiting

390
00:17:19,839 --> 00:17:22,480
colleges, university, and armed services

391
00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:23,919
can be found on the Plymouth North

392
00:17:23,919 --> 00:17:25,839
website.

393
00:17:25,839 --> 00:17:27,679
On October 8th, the Plymouth North

394
00:17:27,679 --> 00:17:29,280
Student Council will be sending students

395
00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:31,360
to Seamask, the Southeastern

396
00:17:31,360 --> 00:17:33,360
Massachusetts Association of Student

397
00:17:33,360 --> 00:17:36,000
Councils. At Seamask, students will

398
00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:37,840
build leadership, communication, and

399
00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:40,400
teamwork skills. The Plymouth North High

400
00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:42,080
School varsity homecoming game will be

401
00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:44,640
held on Thursday, October 8th. The

402
00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:46,480
Eagles will face off against the Whitman

403
00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:49,679
Hansen Panthers at 7:00 p.m. The

404
00:17:49,679 --> 00:17:51,840
homecoming dance is Friday, October 9th

405
00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:54,799
from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Early bird

406
00:17:54,799 --> 00:17:56,880
tickets are now available on Goofan for

407
00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:59,840
$15 until October 2nd. Parents and

408
00:17:59,840 --> 00:18:01,760
students can see Mrs. Walcott in room

409
00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:04,559
331 with any questions. Parents and

410
00:18:04,559 --> 00:18:06,880
members of the class of 2027 can visit

411
00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:08,799
the Plymouth North website or view the

412
00:18:08,799 --> 00:18:11,440
PNHS daily bulletin for important

413
00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:13,200
up-to-date yearbook deadlines and

414
00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:15,120
information.

415
00:18:15,120 --> 00:18:17,200
A parent page is offered by Principal

416
00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:19,760
Parcelin. This page provides information

417
00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:22,000
on anything happening at North. This

418
00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:24,320
page may also be found on the PNHS

419
00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:26,559
Facebook page as well as the website and

420
00:18:26,559 --> 00:18:28,320
is a great way to stay informed on all

421
00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:30,880
things PNHS. Thank you.

422
00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:32,480
>> All right. Thank you. Thank you both. if

423
00:18:32,480 --> 00:18:33,760
you have any questions for our rep

424
00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:36,080
representatives.

425
00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:37,360
All right, thanks again. Like I said,

426
00:18:37,360 --> 00:18:38,640
you guys are welcome to stay as long as

427
00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:41,679
you want or leave as early as you need

428
00:18:41,679 --> 00:18:43,440
to.

429
00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:47,440
All righty. Uh next up, our uh first

430
00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:49,280
thing on our main agenda tonight is an

431
00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:51,039
update from our special education uh

432
00:18:51,039 --> 00:18:57,430
parent advisory council. So, come on up.

433
00:18:57,440 --> 00:19:11,909
» Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

434
00:19:11,919 --> 00:19:13,120
clicker [clears throat] will should work

435
00:19:13,120 --> 00:19:14,320
if you hit the right button.

436
00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:15,039
>> This one

437
00:19:15,039 --> 00:19:15,760
>> that'll be you.

438
00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:17,919
>> Oh, [laughter]

439
00:19:17,919 --> 00:19:20,480
>> good evening. Uh,

440
00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:22,080
thank you for inviting us tonight and

441
00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:23,600
letting us present. My name is Holly

442
00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:25,039
Gay. I serve as the chair on the

443
00:19:25,039 --> 00:19:27,919
Plymouth CP pack. Um, I'm Shandandy

444
00:19:27,919 --> 00:19:29,919
Cardier and I I'm the community

445
00:19:29,919 --> 00:19:32,799
development officer on the board.

446
00:19:32,799 --> 00:19:35,200
>> I am Stephanie Howie and I am the

447
00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:37,039
treasurer.

448
00:19:37,039 --> 00:19:38,640
>> And not with us tonight, we have five

449
00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:40,799
board members. Uh, we have April Burr

450
00:19:40,799 --> 00:19:43,520
who's a vice chair and also acts as our

451
00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:47,200
secretary. And we also have Nikki Felton

452
00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:48,880
uh new to the board this year and she

453
00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:52,000
serves as our CPAC uh district liaison.

454
00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:53,760
She's going to have a big focus on

455
00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:55,919
collaborating with the school's uh PTAs

456
00:19:55,919 --> 00:20:00,230
this year. So, we're real excited.

457
00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:03,520
So, uh, Plymouth CPAC, acronym for

458
00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:05,600
special education, parent advisory

459
00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:07,679
council.

460
00:20:07,679 --> 00:20:10,000
Like to emphasize the special education.

461
00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:12,559
A lot of times people hear the acronym

462
00:20:12,559 --> 00:20:14,880
and think the letter C, PAC, and

463
00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:17,200
sometimes when they're looking up CPAC,

464
00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:19,679
they might miss us. So, it's special

465
00:20:19,679 --> 00:20:23,039
education parent advisory council.

466
00:20:23,039 --> 00:20:26,240
Um, our mission is through our advisory

467
00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:28,159
and participatory role, the Plymouth

468
00:20:28,159 --> 00:20:31,760
CPAC provides a bridge between families,

469
00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:33,840
uh, the Plymouth Public School District

470
00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:36,559
to collaborate for safe, inclusive,

471
00:20:36,559 --> 00:20:38,720
equitable education for all students

472
00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:41,280
with disabilities.

473
00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:43,919
We empower families, foster

474
00:20:43,919 --> 00:20:45,840
collaboration, and promote a culture of

475
00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:48,080
respect, understanding, and high

476
00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:54,470
expectations for all learners.

477
00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:56,559
What is CPAC?

478
00:20:56,559 --> 00:20:58,720
Well, we are a parentled council that

479
00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:00,720
serves both as an advisory and

480
00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:03,280
participatory role in special education

481
00:21:03,280 --> 00:21:04,720
to the district and the school

482
00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:07,360
committee. Advising on the special

483
00:21:07,360 --> 00:21:09,280
education programming and safety of

484
00:21:09,280 --> 00:21:12,159
students receiving special education,

485
00:21:12,159 --> 00:21:14,480
bringing families together to engage in

486
00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:16,960
meaningful conversations

487
00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:21,679
to gather feedback, concerns, and input.

488
00:21:21,679 --> 00:21:25,200
So basically um the vehicle the way we

489
00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:27,039
do that is we have monthly meetings. We

490
00:21:27,039 --> 00:21:29,679
have public meetings um usually hosted

491
00:21:29,679 --> 00:21:31,840
here in the Mayflower room. This year

492
00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:33,200
they're scheduled to be the fourth

493
00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:36,400
Wednesday of every month depending on

494
00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:40,640
holidays. Um we have that information

495
00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:43,520
posted on social media on our CPAC

496
00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:45,919
website and you can also find it on the

497
00:21:45,919 --> 00:21:47,360
Plymouth Public Schools special

498
00:21:47,360 --> 00:21:49,600
education page.

499
00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:52,640
In addition to our public meetings, we

500
00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:56,240
also meet with our liaison, uh, Stacy

501
00:21:56,240 --> 00:21:58,320
Rogers, which is special education

502
00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:01,200
director. And this year we'll be meeting

503
00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:03,600
with Ashley Shaw and Megan Parker as our

504
00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:05,840
school committee liaison. Last year we

505
00:22:05,840 --> 00:22:07,600
had Katherine J Jackson who was

506
00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:11,039
fabulous. Um, so basically what we do at

507
00:22:11,039 --> 00:22:13,280
those smaller meetings outside of our

508
00:22:13,280 --> 00:22:15,360
public meetings is we're bringing the

509
00:22:15,360 --> 00:22:17,360
input, the voice from the parents back

510
00:22:17,360 --> 00:22:25,909
to directly to the school committee and fulfilling our advisory role.

511
00:22:25,919 --> 00:22:29,270
Um,

512
00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:31,520
CPAC is comprised of board members

513
00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:33,360
there. There's five of us currently on

514
00:22:33,360 --> 00:22:36,240
the board. Uh, voting members and

515
00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:39,200
general members. Uh voting members is

516
00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:42,080
basically if you've uh attended two of

517
00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:44,240
our public meetings within the last 12

518
00:22:44,240 --> 00:22:47,520
months excluding uh elections, you'd be

519
00:22:47,520 --> 00:22:50,480
a voting member. And a general members

520
00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:52,320
uh anyone that comes to one of our

521
00:22:52,320 --> 00:22:57,669
public meetings in the last 12 months,

522
00:22:57,679 --> 00:23:00,159
how to become involved?

523
00:23:00,159 --> 00:23:02,559
Um, you can attend our our monthly

524
00:23:02,559 --> 00:23:04,559
public meetings

525
00:23:04,559 --> 00:23:06,480
and again that will lend your voice to

526
00:23:06,480 --> 00:23:09,120
our district leadership meetings.

527
00:23:09,120 --> 00:23:11,679
Follow us on social media and on our

528
00:23:11,679 --> 00:23:14,080
website for information and resources.

529
00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:17,440
Uh we're very fortunate the district um

530
00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:19,280
coll has collaborated with us and we are

531
00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:21,679
part of masspack and so being part of

532
00:23:21,679 --> 00:23:25,919
masspack we have um the opportunity for

533
00:23:25,919 --> 00:23:28,000
the all access workshops which are

534
00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:30,799
available monthly now that calendar goes

535
00:23:30,799 --> 00:23:32,159
up every month and they have great

536
00:23:32,159 --> 00:23:36,000
workshops such as understanding the IEP

537
00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:39,360
um topics on bullying

538
00:23:39,360 --> 00:23:41,200
all different types of topics that you

539
00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:44,080
can look on the calendar register

540
00:23:44,080 --> 00:23:46,960
watch when is convenient with you and,

541
00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:48,720
you know, become more educated so you

542
00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:50,240
can better advocate for your child and

543
00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:52,960
understand special education.

544
00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:54,320
Uh, if you can't make it to our

545
00:23:54,320 --> 00:23:56,159
meetings, you can always email us,

546
00:23:56,159 --> 00:23:59,120
message, uh, provide us with any input,

547
00:23:59,120 --> 00:24:01,840
feedback, feedback, um, questions,

548
00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:03,679
concerns.

549
00:24:03,679 --> 00:24:05,840
You could join one of our, uh, CPAC

550
00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:09,600
spin-off caregiver gettogethers. Um, we

551
00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:11,279
kind of have those sporadically. Maybe

552
00:24:11,279 --> 00:24:13,360
it's a get together for coffee. We've

553
00:24:13,360 --> 00:24:17,440
had our sensory swim social. That was kind

554
00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:20,159
of a fun thing to do.

555
00:24:20,159 --> 00:24:21,760
H [clears throat]

556
00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:24,799
so looking ahead uh we have a continued

557
00:24:24,799 --> 00:24:26,880
focus on engaging parents in special

558
00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:28,799
education discussions and building

559
00:24:28,799 --> 00:24:31,760
strong working partnerships

560
00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:33,840
working towards goals that are specific

561
00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:36,080
to our district

562
00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:37,840
uh that are recognized and developed

563
00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:41,279
through our continuum of discussions and

564
00:24:41,279 --> 00:24:45,430
through our partnerships.

565
00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:47,440
And this is a a phrase that really I

566
00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:49,279
think resonates with us is that when

567
00:24:49,279 --> 00:24:51,840
parents and school districts collaborate

568
00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:54,159
um student outcomes significantly

569
00:24:54,159 --> 00:24:55,919
improve

570
00:24:55,919 --> 00:24:57,760
and at the heart of our mission is the

571
00:24:57,760 --> 00:24:59,760
individual students. So really at the

572
00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:02,640
heart of our work is trying to engage

573
00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:05,207
parents, give them the tools they need,

574
00:25:05,207 --> 00:25:05,840
[clears throat]

575
00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:07,679
understand the complexities of special

576
00:25:07,679 --> 00:25:11,279
education, but have those conversations,

577
00:25:11,279 --> 00:25:13,600
you know, with the district with our

578
00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:17,120
teachers so that we're becoming a

579
00:25:17,120 --> 00:25:20,159
unified team and and trying to, you

580
00:25:20,159 --> 00:25:22,720
know, get ahead of issues and and really

581
00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:25,279
create the best education plan that the

582
00:25:25,279 --> 00:25:28,080
individual child needs.

583
00:25:28,080 --> 00:25:30,080
Um, and like somebody already mentioned

584
00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:32,240
earlier, it takes all of us. If that if

585
00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:33,919
that line isn't true for special

586
00:25:33,919 --> 00:25:36,559
education, uh, [laughter]

587
00:25:36,559 --> 00:25:42,549
then I don't know what is. So, um,

588
00:25:42,559 --> 00:25:46,080
I'd say thank you and

589
00:25:46,080 --> 00:25:49,360
come to one of our meetings or find some

590
00:25:49,360 --> 00:25:50,480
of our resources.

591
00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:52,400
>> Yes.

592
00:25:52,400 --> 00:25:53,919
>> Questions,

593
00:25:53,919 --> 00:25:55,840
>> provide input. [laughter]

594
00:25:55,840 --> 00:25:57,039
>> All right. Okay. Yeah. Thank you.

595
00:25:57,039 --> 00:25:58,480
>> Yeah. Now it's our turn. All right.

596
00:25:58,480 --> 00:25:59,840
Questions or feedback from the

597
00:25:59,840 --> 00:26:00,799
committee.

598
00:26:00,799 --> 00:26:02,480
>> Um

599
00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:06,159
>> I would love for at least one of you to

600
00:26:06,159 --> 00:26:07,919
talk for a minute about how being

601
00:26:07,919 --> 00:26:10,080
involved in the group has really helped

602
00:26:10,080 --> 00:26:12,559
you. um if you don't mind sharing

603
00:26:12,559 --> 00:26:14,880
something cuz I think like being a

604
00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:17,360
liazison for the school committee I've

605
00:26:17,360 --> 00:26:21,360
seen like the the impact of the

606
00:26:21,360 --> 00:26:23,520
programming that you have in educating

607
00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:26,240
and uniting families who might otherwise

608
00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:30,400
feel alone or overwhelmed by navigating

609
00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:33,679
the system on their own. Um, and without

610
00:26:33,679 --> 00:26:35,760
having to share too much, you know,

611
00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:39,039
maybe you could speak to the impact that

612
00:26:39,039 --> 00:26:41,360
the group has had, whatever you feel

613
00:26:41,360 --> 00:26:43,039
comfortable with because I've seen it

614
00:26:43,039 --> 00:26:44,799
myself.

615
00:26:44,799 --> 00:26:46,240
>> You guys know I like to talk.

616
00:26:46,240 --> 00:26:48,080
>> Just kidding. Um, [clears throat]

617
00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:50,880
>> oh you can say [laughter]

618
00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:54,320
well personally um coming into the group

619
00:26:54,320 --> 00:26:58,559
I was able to understand more um special

620
00:26:58,559 --> 00:27:00,080
education

621
00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:02,400
it is very individualized but there's so

622
00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:05,279
many different experiences that everyone

623
00:27:05,279 --> 00:27:07,679
has and when we are in a room together

624
00:27:07,679 --> 00:27:09,279
and talking you can kind of figure out

625
00:27:09,279 --> 00:27:11,919
that there's a lot of commonality or

626
00:27:11,919 --> 00:27:14,640
needs that are shared across families

627
00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:16,559
that when we do get together and we're

628
00:27:16,559 --> 00:27:19,440
able to bring that to the district. It

629
00:27:19,440 --> 00:27:21,520
is more not more important, but it

630
00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:23,279
allows us to communicate that better and

631
00:27:23,279 --> 00:27:25,840
clearer. So, that's something that was

632
00:27:25,840 --> 00:27:28,320
important that I found of coming to the

633
00:27:28,320 --> 00:27:30,000
meetings and being able to just talk

634
00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:34,799
with families and caregivers. Um,

635
00:27:34,799 --> 00:27:37,120
so that's been huge. And personally,

636
00:27:37,120 --> 00:27:40,320
within the last year, um, I have seen a

637
00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:42,159
lot of collaboration that's occurred.

638
00:27:42,159 --> 00:27:45,039
And so it's been nice to see changes

639
00:27:45,039 --> 00:27:46,960
being made from things that we have

640
00:27:46,960 --> 00:27:48,799
talked about at our meetings, at our

641
00:27:48,799 --> 00:27:50,240
public meetings, and then bringing them

642
00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:52,480
to our district um monthly meetings,

643
00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:54,399
too. Not to say that there aren't, you

644
00:27:54,399 --> 00:27:56,320
know, more things to work on or things

645
00:27:56,320 --> 00:27:59,120
to go over, but it's been um really nice

646
00:27:59,120 --> 00:28:02,000
in that way. But it's opened my eyes to

647
00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:04,559
not just my own individual experience,

648
00:28:04,559 --> 00:28:05,760
but

649
00:28:05,760 --> 00:28:08,080
>> we have three completely different

650
00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:10,080
experiences right here at this table.

651
00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:12,240
And it's beautiful that we're able to

652
00:28:12,240 --> 00:28:15,200
all like come together and be there for

653
00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:17,200
one another, but then also try to be

654
00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:19,919
there for whoever else wants to come and

655
00:28:19,919 --> 00:28:22,159
talk to us too. And we are very

656
00:28:22,159 --> 00:28:24,399
welcoming I feel. [laughter]

657
00:28:24,399 --> 00:28:26,640
So please come to the meetings.

658
00:28:26,640 --> 00:28:30,080
>> I mean absolutely. And just on top of

659
00:28:30,080 --> 00:28:33,840
that is I'm a big believer in knowledge

660
00:28:33,840 --> 00:28:36,640
is power and the more you know on both

661
00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:41,039
ends um the better outcome that you're

662
00:28:41,039 --> 00:28:42,880
going to get. Like before I was a

663
00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:45,200
special education mom. I had no idea

664
00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:47,600
about any of it. [snorts] Um I also

665
00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:49,200
didn't know much about how the schools

666
00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:52,640
ran. So, it's like my individual kid, I

667
00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:56,480
bring that info up and that can help

668
00:28:56,480 --> 00:28:58,240
others who may not be going through the

669
00:28:58,240 --> 00:29:00,799
same thing. But my biggest thing that

670
00:29:00,799 --> 00:29:03,679
I've noticed is as well is people don't

671
00:29:03,679 --> 00:29:07,520
know what your specific child needs

672
00:29:07,520 --> 00:29:09,679
unless you bring it to the table and

673
00:29:09,679 --> 00:29:12,000
you're, you know, educating everybody on

674
00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:14,399
both ends what that looks like and what

675
00:29:14,399 --> 00:29:17,520
that child needs. So,

676
00:29:17,520 --> 00:29:20,320
I have I'm a huge advocate outside of

677
00:29:20,320 --> 00:29:22,880
just the school. So just coming in and

678
00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:25,600
being able to, you know, talk to parents

679
00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:28,480
that need that information or feel

680
00:29:28,480 --> 00:29:31,520
alone, like there may already be things

681
00:29:31,520 --> 00:29:33,360
that have happened at one school and a

682
00:29:33,360 --> 00:29:35,760
parent's already like conquered that,

683
00:29:35,760 --> 00:29:37,440
you know, all that input could be talked

684
00:29:37,440 --> 00:29:39,840
about and discussed and, you know,

685
00:29:39,840 --> 00:29:41,919
spread throughout the district or even

686
00:29:41,919 --> 00:29:44,480
like helping these families feel less

687
00:29:44,480 --> 00:29:48,159
alone is huge.

688
00:29:48,159 --> 00:29:51,360
>> And I'm sorry, one more thing. And

689
00:29:51,360 --> 00:29:53,039
coming into things, you always feel like

690
00:29:53,039 --> 00:29:54,880
you're going to have a fight, especially

691
00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:55,919
from like a [clears throat] medical

692
00:29:55,919 --> 00:30:00,000
complex child parenting. And it was

693
00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:02,080
really refreshing this past year, like

694
00:30:02,080 --> 00:30:05,840
having so many ears like listening to us

695
00:30:05,840 --> 00:30:08,480
and what we need and then seeing actual

696
00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:11,520
changes has been huge. So, thank you for

697
00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:12,080
that.

698
00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:13,919
>> Uh that that's great. Um

699
00:30:13,919 --> 00:30:15,120
>> I was just going to say thank you for

700
00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:20,159
sharing. I appreciate it. I've seen the camaraderie and the growth and the

701
00:30:20,159 --> 00:30:22,399
warmth and acceptance and I think it

702
00:30:22,399 --> 00:30:23,840
would help a lot of families to be a

703
00:30:23,840 --> 00:30:25,200
part of.

704
00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:27,120
>> Yeah, I was and thank you all for you

705
00:30:27,120 --> 00:30:28,559
know you and the rest of the board

706
00:30:28,559 --> 00:30:30,240
members for stepping up and doing that.

707
00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:31,679
I know you get something out of it but

708
00:30:31,679 --> 00:30:34,080
you know it it it it is important and

709
00:30:34,080 --> 00:30:35,919
helps a uh a lot of people. I know Holly

710
00:30:35,919 --> 00:30:37,520
you've been on it for years since I was

711
00:30:37,520 --> 00:30:39,679
the leazison on

712
00:30:39,679 --> 00:30:41,039
years ago. So it's good that we're

713
00:30:41,039 --> 00:30:43,279
getting more people actively involved

714
00:30:43,279 --> 00:30:45,279
and yes I definitely encourage the the

715
00:30:45,279 --> 00:30:46,880
public. I think the majority of the

716
00:30:46,880 --> 00:30:50,159
school committee has or has had kids on

717
00:30:50,159 --> 00:30:52,320
IEPs or other things. So, I think we're

718
00:30:52,320 --> 00:30:55,360
all very uh appreciative and you know

719
00:30:55,360 --> 00:30:56,720
recognize the importance of what you

720
00:30:56,720 --> 00:30:59,120
guys you know do. The the one question I

721
00:30:59,120 --> 00:31:00,960
would have and you your comments kind of

722
00:31:00,960 --> 00:31:03,840
both answered I think yes, but I'll put

723
00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:07,440
you on the spot of is what we're doing

724
00:31:07,440 --> 00:31:08,799
working are you guys getting the support

725
00:31:08,799 --> 00:31:10,720
you need? you have the engagement you

726
00:31:10,720 --> 00:31:12,480
need from you whether it's a school

727
00:31:12,480 --> 00:31:14,480
committee or administration you know for

728
00:31:14,480 --> 00:31:16,640
you guys to you know further your your

729
00:31:16,640 --> 00:31:19,039
objectives

730
00:31:19,039 --> 00:31:23,120
>> I think um Stacy uh Rogers acting as our

731
00:31:23,120 --> 00:31:26,399
liaison she's very responsive

732
00:31:26,399 --> 00:31:30,240
um attends all of our meetings if we

733
00:31:30,240 --> 00:31:33,679
have a question or an idea she's right

734
00:31:33,679 --> 00:31:36,640
on top of it uh Katherine Jackson was

735
00:31:36,640 --> 00:31:38,640
our le liaison last not only attended

736
00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:40,159
our leaders leadership meetings but made

737
00:31:40,159 --> 00:31:41,919
it to a lot of our public meetings. And

738
00:31:41,919 --> 00:31:44,960
so we're very excited to um have Ashley

739
00:31:44,960 --> 00:31:48,559
and Megan this year as our liaison. So

740
00:31:48,559 --> 00:31:52,559
that respect um you know we've we've had

741
00:31:52,559 --> 00:31:55,919
meeting spaces and our flyers printed

742
00:31:55,919 --> 00:31:58,480
and our information shared and questions

743
00:31:58,480 --> 00:32:03,519
answered and out of the box thinking and

744
00:32:03,519 --> 00:32:08,159
yeah so we're um I think we did a lot of

745
00:32:08,159 --> 00:32:10,799
organization last year and we're kind of

746
00:32:10,799 --> 00:32:14,892
over that hump now. And so, um,

747
00:32:14,892 --> 00:32:16,880
[snorts] as we stated, we're kind of

748
00:32:16,880 --> 00:32:18,720
focused on just furthering our our

749
00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:21,919
partnerships and more growth and

750
00:32:21,919 --> 00:32:23,840
bringing more parent voice and really

751
00:32:23,840 --> 00:32:25,360
getting the message out that that's the

752
00:32:25,360 --> 00:32:28,720
heart of the CPAC is the parents voice

753
00:32:28,720 --> 00:32:30,559
and everybody has a different

754
00:32:30,559 --> 00:32:32,320
experience. We don't even we don't

755
00:32:32,320 --> 00:32:34,159
always agree. So, it's really important

756
00:32:34,159 --> 00:32:37,679
for parents to come and share ideas um

757
00:32:37,679 --> 00:32:40,559
so we can get the results individualized

758
00:32:40,559 --> 00:32:42,480
for the kiddos. Thank you. All right.

759
00:32:42,480 --> 00:32:45,440
Yeah. Yeah. Forever obviously work

760
00:32:45,440 --> 00:32:47,279
through your leaison if there's anything

761
00:32:47,279 --> 00:32:48,880
that you know the committee can do more

762
00:32:48,880 --> 00:32:50,559
to support you. But appreciate it.

763
00:32:50,559 --> 00:32:51,120
>> One question.

764
00:32:51,120 --> 00:32:53,120
>> Yeah. Mr. Smartos.

765
00:32:53,120 --> 00:32:55,919
>> So what percentage of um families are

766
00:32:55,919 --> 00:32:59,519
part of uh CPAC? Like when do you have

767
00:32:59,519 --> 00:33:02,000
that data like how many families could

768
00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:03,919
join? I mean we're not going to get 100%

769
00:33:03,919 --> 00:33:06,240
but where are you guys as far as

770
00:33:06,240 --> 00:33:09,200
percentage of families? Um it it kind of

771
00:33:09,200 --> 00:33:12,720
fluctuates and I think it depends on

772
00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:15,360
you know we the topic or the workshop we

773
00:33:15,360 --> 00:33:17,600
might run and if it's convenient you

774
00:33:17,600 --> 00:33:20,240
know for parents to come on we have both

775
00:33:20,240 --> 00:33:22,640
in person and virtual

776
00:33:22,640 --> 00:33:26,559
um I think all CPACs not specific to

777
00:33:26,559 --> 00:33:28,799
Plymouth struggle in that in that area

778
00:33:28,799 --> 00:33:31,360
and you will see that fluctuation but

779
00:33:31,360 --> 00:33:32,880
even people that might not come to the

780
00:33:32,880 --> 00:33:35,120
meetings regularly we find that they

781
00:33:35,120 --> 00:33:36,640
know where to find us they can check in

782
00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:38,720
with email and all of that,

783
00:33:38,720 --> 00:33:39,120
>> right?

784
00:33:39,120 --> 00:33:40,000
>> Different avenues.

785
00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:41,600
>> Yeah. So, someone might not be coming

786
00:33:41,600 --> 00:33:44,640
regularly, but they know that this is

787
00:33:44,640 --> 00:33:45,519
available.

788
00:33:45,519 --> 00:33:47,120
>> I mean, you think there's enough? Yeah.

789
00:33:47,120 --> 00:33:49,919
Anything we can do for awareness, Chris?

790
00:33:49,919 --> 00:33:51,039
>> Through the chair, if I may.

791
00:33:51,039 --> 00:33:51,279
>> Yeah.

792
00:33:51,279 --> 00:33:56,799
>> So, to that, a few things. Thank you for your leadership in in your advisory

793
00:33:56,799 --> 00:33:58,159
because it's [clears throat] a great

794
00:33:58,159 --> 00:34:01,279
partnership and I really appreciate uh

795
00:34:01,279 --> 00:34:03,679
this board and everything that you do.

796
00:34:03,679 --> 00:34:07,440
Um, regarding outreach, um, we at the

797
00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:08,639
meeting in the spring, we talked about

798
00:34:08,639 --> 00:34:10,240
doing a promotional video. I have a

799
00:34:10,240 --> 00:34:12,320
meeting set this Wednesday with EdTV,

800
00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:13,599
the folks that are running this meeting

801
00:34:13,599 --> 00:34:16,399
tonight, to do a promotional video to,

802
00:34:16,399 --> 00:34:18,079
um, hopefully get some of you on camera,

803
00:34:18,079 --> 00:34:20,320
too, to help with that and kind of

804
00:34:20,320 --> 00:34:23,040
>> promote CPAC, you know, the benefits to

805
00:34:23,040 --> 00:34:24,560
the community, to our families, you

806
00:34:24,560 --> 00:34:26,879
know, what it is and, um, you know, what

807
00:34:26,879 --> 00:34:28,639
you can get for it as an individual and

808
00:34:28,639 --> 00:34:30,240
how you can contribute to that process.

809
00:34:30,240 --> 00:34:32,480
So, look forward to doing that with you.

810
00:34:32,480 --> 00:34:35,599
And I also appreciate that CPAC will be

811
00:34:35,599 --> 00:34:37,599
um a representative on our strategic

812
00:34:37,599 --> 00:34:40,639
planning committee as well. So um again

813
00:34:40,639 --> 00:34:43,440
making sure that uh no voice is is left

814
00:34:43,440 --> 00:34:45,599
out during that process. So really

815
00:34:45,599 --> 00:34:46,560
excited about that.

816
00:34:46,560 --> 00:34:47,679
>> Yeah, we're excited about that.

817
00:34:47,679 --> 00:34:47,919
>> Yeah,

818
00:34:47,919 --> 00:34:49,599
>> I think those are two great things.

819
00:34:49,599 --> 00:34:51,599
That's I mean to get awareness. So but

820
00:34:51,599 --> 00:34:53,679
thank you for all the work you guys do.

821
00:34:53,679 --> 00:34:58,000
And I would just note that you know when

822
00:34:58,000 --> 00:35:01,359
thinking of data I think while data is

823
00:35:01,359 --> 00:35:03,920
important we'd have it at you know the

824
00:35:03,920 --> 00:35:07,040
administrative level what's hard is

825
00:35:07,040 --> 00:35:09,599
parents based on where they are in their

826
00:35:09,599 --> 00:35:12,720
journey right so as we heard from your

827
00:35:12,720 --> 00:35:15,119
individual stories based on where you

828
00:35:15,119 --> 00:35:17,119
were in your journey is when you decided

829
00:35:17,119 --> 00:35:20,160
to seek out the the group. So, it's

830
00:35:20,160 --> 00:35:21,520
great that you have that lived

831
00:35:21,520 --> 00:35:24,079
experience for families to lean in on

832
00:35:24,079 --> 00:35:26,720
and utilizing

833
00:35:26,720 --> 00:35:30,880
um opportunities like the video and the

834
00:35:30,880 --> 00:35:33,599
promotional materials you have will be

835
00:35:33,599 --> 00:35:35,680
definitely beneficial. But whatever you

836
00:35:35,680 --> 00:35:37,599
do, don't get discouraged because even

837
00:35:37,599 --> 00:35:39,520
if it's just one other family that

838
00:35:39,520 --> 00:35:42,320
you're helping, it's it's super

839
00:35:42,320 --> 00:35:44,079
important. So, thank you.

840
00:35:44,079 --> 00:35:44,880
>> Absolutely.

841
00:35:44,880 --> 00:35:45,440
>> Yeah.

842
00:35:45,440 --> 00:35:48,000
I feel like a lot of times it's if

843
00:35:48,000 --> 00:35:50,000
you come up and you're having a struggle

844
00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:51,839
specifically, that's when they'll reach

845
00:35:51,839 --> 00:35:53,200
out and but that's what [clears throat]

846
00:35:53,200 --> 00:35:55,200
we're here for as well. And

847
00:35:55,200 --> 00:35:57,520
>> to have all the stories from other

848
00:35:57,520 --> 00:36:01,040
families, we know how to help with that.

849
00:36:01,040 --> 00:36:04,640
>> Awesome, Michelle. Um, I think that, um,

850
00:36:04,640 --> 00:36:06,480
I'm happy to hear that there will be a

851
00:36:06,480 --> 00:36:08,000
representative on strategic planning

852
00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:09,680
because I think I've realized more and

853
00:36:09,680 --> 00:36:12,480
more that like you don't you don't know

854
00:36:12,480 --> 00:36:14,800
until you know and then you don't think

855
00:36:14,800 --> 00:36:17,680
of it until you know. So it's like even

856
00:36:17,680 --> 00:36:21,040
just to have that

857
00:36:21,040 --> 00:36:24,480
voice to say, "Hey, you know, let's

858
00:36:24,480 --> 00:36:27,200
think about this population when we're

859
00:36:27,200 --> 00:36:29,040
specifically and putting the spotlight

860
00:36:29,040 --> 00:36:31,440
on that when we're talking about ways to

861
00:36:31,440 --> 00:36:33,680
improve the schools and ways to build

862
00:36:33,680 --> 00:36:37,599
community and ways to um build lifelong

863
00:36:37,599 --> 00:36:39,839
learners and make sure we're including

864
00:36:39,839 --> 00:36:42,560
all populations in that um and making

865
00:36:42,560 --> 00:36:47,599
things more accessible to everyone and it's just I people don't mean to

866
00:36:47,599 --> 00:36:51,119
forget because they feel guilty when you

867
00:36:51,119 --> 00:36:54,240
point it out, but it needs to be pointed

868
00:36:54,240 --> 00:36:56,560
out and and it's and everybody needs to

869
00:36:56,560 --> 00:36:58,000
understand that you really you don't

870
00:36:58,000 --> 00:36:59,839
know until you know. So,

871
00:36:59,839 --> 00:37:01,280
>> it's good that you're here and it's good

872
00:37:01,280 --> 00:37:03,599
that you're going to be there. So, I'm

873
00:37:03,599 --> 00:37:05,060
happy to work with you this year.

874
00:37:05,060 --> 00:37:05,280
[clears throat]

875
00:37:05,280 --> 00:37:07,680
>> Yeah, good point.

876
00:37:07,680 --> 00:37:09,440
>> All right. Any parting thoughts? Very

877
00:37:09,440 --> 00:37:10,320
good.

878
00:37:10,320 --> 00:37:12,720
>> Takes all of us. [laughter]

879
00:37:12,720 --> 00:37:14,480
>> Thank you. Thank you all.

880
00:37:14,480 --> 00:37:19,460
>> Thank you.

881
00:37:19,470 --> 00:37:22,150
» [clears throat]

882
00:37:22,160 --> 00:37:26,640
» All right. Next up, we have the the uh

883
00:37:26,640 --> 00:37:28,640
first installment in our budget

884
00:37:28,640 --> 00:37:31,839
education uh series. This one is about

885
00:37:31,839 --> 00:37:33,839
understanding school district revenue,

886
00:37:33,839 --> 00:37:35,599
grant limitations, cost containment

887
00:37:35,599 --> 00:37:37,680
measures, and future fiscal planning.

888
00:37:37,680 --> 00:37:41,200
So, Dr. Campbell and Dr. Blazil,

889
00:37:41,200 --> 00:37:43,599
>> thank you very much. get my glasses

890
00:37:43,599 --> 00:37:47,040
situated so I can actually

891
00:37:47,040 --> 00:37:49,839
see what I'm doing. So, good evening

892
00:37:49,839 --> 00:37:51,680
everyone. So, you know, as you just

893
00:37:51,680 --> 00:37:53,200
said, tonight marks sort of the launch

894
00:37:53,200 --> 00:37:56,000
of the educational budget series. So, uh

895
00:37:56,000 --> 00:37:58,480
the goal of our five-part series is is

896
00:37:58,480 --> 00:38:01,200
pretty simple. It's really to provide as

897
00:38:01,200 --> 00:38:03,440
much transparency

898
00:38:03,440 --> 00:38:06,000
uh to our fiscal conditions, to the

899
00:38:06,000 --> 00:38:08,640
fiscal process as possible. So before we

900
00:38:08,640 --> 00:38:12,400
enter the FY28 budget cycle, we want

901
00:38:12,400 --> 00:38:14,480
everyone in PL to clearly understand how

902
00:38:14,480 --> 00:38:16,320
school funding works in Massachusetts,

903
00:38:16,320 --> 00:38:19,119
where our revenue comes from, how costs

904
00:38:19,119 --> 00:38:21,680
grow, and what proactive steps we've

905
00:38:21,680 --> 00:38:25,440
taken and and will continue to take um

906
00:38:25,440 --> 00:38:27,440
you know, as we stretch every dollar

907
00:38:27,440 --> 00:38:28,960
that we have available to us. So

908
00:38:28,960 --> 00:38:30,079
tonight, we'll kind of lay the

909
00:38:30,079 --> 00:38:32,400
foundation of our financial framework

910
00:38:32,400 --> 00:38:35,520
and historical efficiency.

911
00:38:35,520 --> 00:38:39,040
Um so you know as we you know our

912
00:38:39,040 --> 00:38:40,480
discussion tonight is kind of broken up

913
00:38:40,480 --> 00:38:42,880
into three main sections. First how

914
00:38:42,880 --> 00:38:46,240
we're funded. So we'll sort of explain

915
00:38:46,240 --> 00:38:49,920
how chapter 70 chapter 70 state aid

916
00:38:49,920 --> 00:38:52,320
local tax appropriations special

917
00:38:52,320 --> 00:38:54,400
education circuit breaker and why

918
00:38:54,400 --> 00:38:56,720
operational costs naturally grow faster

919
00:38:56,720 --> 00:38:59,280
than revenue. Um we'll get into

920
00:38:59,280 --> 00:39:01,440
additional funding realities. uh clarify

921
00:39:01,440 --> 00:39:03,359
some common misconceptions grounded

922
00:39:03,359 --> 00:39:06,000
around grants and revolving accounts.

923
00:39:06,000 --> 00:39:08,000
More specifically, why grant funding

924
00:39:08,000 --> 00:39:10,079
cannot legally or practically solve

925
00:39:10,079 --> 00:39:12,960
certain operational deficits. And then

926
00:39:12,960 --> 00:39:14,960
we'll get into some past efficiencies

927
00:39:14,960 --> 00:39:17,440
and uh fiscal outlooks. will review

928
00:39:17,440 --> 00:39:19,920
concrete cost containment measures we've

929
00:39:19,920 --> 00:39:22,000
taken and implemented from solar energy

930
00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:24,640
to in-house transportation to

931
00:39:24,640 --> 00:39:27,119
specialized indisted

932
00:39:27,119 --> 00:39:30,480
programs and discuss why you know pure

933
00:39:30,480 --> 00:39:32,720
efficiencies have kind of hit their

934
00:39:32,720 --> 00:39:37,200
limit as we enter FY28.

935
00:39:37,200 --> 00:39:39,760
So to kind of understand our budget

936
00:39:39,760 --> 00:39:42,240
we'll first look at where our money

937
00:39:42,240 --> 00:39:45,040
comes from. So these are really the the

938
00:39:45,040 --> 00:39:47,359
primary revenue streams. So the the

939
00:39:47,359 --> 00:39:48,640
largest two being municipal

940
00:39:48,640 --> 00:39:51,599
appropriation or a local tax levy. Um

941
00:39:51,599 --> 00:39:53,200
this is our largest funding source which

942
00:39:53,200 --> 00:39:55,040
is derived from Plymouth town property

943
00:39:55,040 --> 00:39:57,040
taxes uh which is governed by

944
00:39:57,040 --> 00:39:59,839
proposition 2 and a half. So, you know,

945
00:39:59,839 --> 00:40:02,880
we can only ex exceed um last year's

946
00:40:02,880 --> 00:40:05,760
taxing uh by a certain percentage. And

947
00:40:05,760 --> 00:40:08,960
then chapter 70, which is state aid, and

948
00:40:08,960 --> 00:40:11,520
that's calculated by Desi by enrollment,

949
00:40:11,520 --> 00:40:14,320
student demographics, and the town's

950
00:40:14,320 --> 00:40:17,280
local effort capability. There are

951
00:40:17,280 --> 00:40:19,440
secondary uh and specialized funding

952
00:40:19,440 --> 00:40:20,960
streams that are part of our budget

953
00:40:20,960 --> 00:40:22,880
including special education circuit

954
00:40:22,880 --> 00:40:24,720
breaker which I'll get into in a little

955
00:40:24,720 --> 00:40:26,560
bit uh which is state reimbursement

956
00:40:26,560 --> 00:40:28,720
program for extraordinary high-cost

957
00:40:28,720 --> 00:40:31,280
special education services. There are

958
00:40:31,280 --> 00:40:33,839
federal and state grants uh restricted

959
00:40:33,839 --> 00:40:36,960
grants like title one and IDA tied

960
00:40:36,960 --> 00:40:39,839
specifically to fally manded programs as

961
00:40:39,839 --> 00:40:43,760
well as chapter 74 funding uh for CCT.

962
00:40:43,760 --> 00:40:45,520
And then we have revolving funds and

963
00:40:45,520 --> 00:40:47,920
fees uh which are user supported

964
00:40:47,920 --> 00:40:51,280
accounts like our prek tuitions tech

965
00:40:51,280 --> 00:40:53,839
revolving accounts, athletics, building

966
00:40:53,839 --> 00:40:56,880
rentals and food services. And then also

967
00:40:56,880 --> 00:40:59,359
which is very uh supportive of us is

968
00:40:59,359 --> 00:41:01,839
donations from local nonprofits are our

969
00:41:01,839 --> 00:41:03,920
PTAs and other groups that are providing

970
00:41:03,920 --> 00:41:05,440
resources

971
00:41:05,440 --> 00:41:08,240
uh that support the programs in our

972
00:41:08,240 --> 00:41:12,870
schools.

973
00:41:12,880 --> 00:41:15,200
So we want to directly dive into chapter

974
00:41:15,200 --> 00:41:17,359
70 state aid. So how it's performed over

975
00:41:17,359 --> 00:41:19,200
the last eight years and what that means

976
00:41:19,200 --> 00:41:21,680
for Plymouth taxpayers.

977
00:41:21,680 --> 00:41:23,839
So if you look at this graph and I I

978
00:41:23,839 --> 00:41:26,560
have a table after this as well. Sorry

979
00:41:26,560 --> 00:41:28,480
it's clicking. There we go. If you look

980
00:41:28,480 --> 00:41:31,920
at this graph in in FY20 chapter 78

981
00:41:31,920 --> 00:41:34,800
state aid funded 26.31%

982
00:41:34,800 --> 00:41:38,480
of our total operating budget. Um, fast

983
00:41:38,480 --> 00:41:41,359
forward to FY27, present day, and state

984
00:41:41,359 --> 00:41:45,119
aid covers just 23.53%.

985
00:41:45,119 --> 00:41:48,319
That's a net drop of 2.78%.

986
00:41:48,319 --> 00:41:50,319
Um, in the state's relative

987
00:41:50,319 --> 00:41:52,079
contribution. So, while the state a

988
00:41:52,079 --> 00:41:54,880
dollar amounts have grown modestly, they

989
00:41:54,880 --> 00:41:57,119
failed to keep pace with the total

990
00:41:57,119 --> 00:41:59,200
district operational costs, which is

991
00:41:59,200 --> 00:42:08,069
important to to highlight.

992
00:42:08,079 --> 00:42:11,200
Can you Thank you. Um, here's the exact

993
00:42:11,200 --> 00:42:13,599
numeric breakdown. So, in FY20, you can

994
00:42:13,599 --> 00:42:15,680
see our total operational budget was

995
00:42:15,680 --> 00:42:18,720
100.2 million and chapter 78 aid was

996
00:42:18,720 --> 00:42:20,480
26.37

997
00:42:20,480 --> 00:42:24,400
million. By FY27, our total budget

998
00:42:24,400 --> 00:42:28,720
reached 133 million while state aid rose

999
00:42:28,720 --> 00:42:32,720
um to 31.32 million. So, you notice that

1000
00:42:32,720 --> 00:42:35,119
while our total um operational needs

1001
00:42:35,119 --> 00:42:38,000
grew by over 32 million, state aid only

1002
00:42:38,000 --> 00:42:40,480
increased by less than 5 million over

1003
00:42:40,480 --> 00:42:47,430
that entire 8-year period.

1004
00:42:47,440 --> 00:42:50,240
So,

1005
00:42:50,240 --> 00:42:52,000
this sidebyside comparison kind of

1006
00:42:52,000 --> 00:42:55,440
reveals the core that core structural uh

1007
00:42:55,440 --> 00:42:56,800
challenge that we're facing in Plymouth.

1008
00:42:56,800 --> 00:42:59,359
So, our total municipal school budget

1009
00:42:59,359 --> 00:43:04,880
again expanded by almost 33% or 32.8%

1010
00:43:04,880 --> 00:43:07,440
or $33 million over that 8-year period,

1011
00:43:07,440 --> 00:43:11,280
while chapter 70 grew by 18.8%

1012
00:43:11,280 --> 00:43:13,839
or just under 5 million. Um, so this

1013
00:43:13,839 --> 00:43:16,400
divergence creates that winding

1014
00:43:16,400 --> 00:43:19,040
financial gap that local property tax

1015
00:43:19,040 --> 00:43:23,440
must bridge um otherwise.

1016
00:43:23,440 --> 00:43:25,440
So to kind of summarize, so far our

1017
00:43:25,440 --> 00:43:28,480
budget base has expanded um to meet the

1018
00:43:28,480 --> 00:43:30,000
inflationary

1019
00:43:30,000 --> 00:43:32,720
realities in student needs um over that

1020
00:43:32,720 --> 00:43:35,920
period of time from 100 to 133 million.

1021
00:43:35,920 --> 00:43:38,640
State aid has grown at a moderate base,

1022
00:43:38,640 --> 00:43:41,040
excuse me, at a moderate pace at best um

1023
00:43:41,040 --> 00:43:43,359
adding just under $5 million. So

1024
00:43:43,359 --> 00:43:45,119
consequently, the state funding ratio

1025
00:43:45,119 --> 00:43:46,720
has declined, meaning that Plymouth

1026
00:43:46,720 --> 00:43:49,359
taxpayers are being asked to contribute

1027
00:43:49,359 --> 00:43:51,200
a larger percentage of public education

1028
00:43:51,200 --> 00:43:54,790
costs every year.

1029
00:43:54,800 --> 00:43:58,079
So looking ahead, oh that's my slide.

1030
00:43:58,079 --> 00:43:59,839
All right. So looking ahead, while we

1031
00:43:59,839 --> 00:44:02,480
must be realistic in our revenue

1032
00:44:02,480 --> 00:44:04,079
projections, we, you know, we can't

1033
00:44:04,079 --> 00:44:06,720
assume a sudden windfall in state aid

1034
00:44:06,720 --> 00:44:08,400
unless the Commonwealth alters its

1035
00:44:08,400 --> 00:44:10,800
statutory uh funding formula, and that's

1036
00:44:10,800 --> 00:44:12,319
being looked at under committee, but

1037
00:44:12,319 --> 00:44:14,480
that's going to take some time. So, you

1038
00:44:14,480 --> 00:44:16,880
know, we can anticipate um I think a

1039
00:44:16,880 --> 00:44:18,560
good prediction would be that to

1040
00:44:18,560 --> 00:44:21,440
anticipate state aid stabilizing year 23

1041
00:44:21,440 --> 00:44:23,760
to 24% of our overall budget, we've

1042
00:44:23,760 --> 00:44:26,079
typically go with level state aid from

1043
00:44:26,079 --> 00:44:29,119
year to year. Um meaning that local

1044
00:44:29,119 --> 00:44:31,599
revenue is the primary vehicle that's

1045
00:44:31,599 --> 00:44:33,040
going to support essential school

1046
00:44:33,040 --> 00:44:34,720
operations.

1047
00:44:34,720 --> 00:44:36,960
So, um

1048
00:44:36,960 --> 00:44:39,359
you know, that's that. Um so you know

1049
00:44:39,359 --> 00:44:41,760
why you know just for the public to

1050
00:44:41,760 --> 00:44:43,359
understand like why do school districts

1051
00:44:43,359 --> 00:44:45,119
AC you know not just Plymouth but across

1052
00:44:45,119 --> 00:44:47,359
Massachusetts face these recurring

1053
00:44:47,359 --> 00:44:49,040
structural deficit it really comes down

1054
00:44:49,040 --> 00:44:52,400
to again fixed costs and we'll get into

1055
00:44:52,400 --> 00:44:54,160
that at the next meeting even greater

1056
00:44:54,160 --> 00:44:57,119
what those are but fixed costs outpacing

1057
00:44:57,119 --> 00:44:59,280
capped revenues. So, our primary costs

1058
00:44:59,280 --> 00:45:01,520
such as our contractual cost of living

1059
00:45:01,520 --> 00:45:04,079
adjustments, step increases, state

1060
00:45:04,079 --> 00:45:07,839
mandates for services, health care,

1061
00:45:07,839 --> 00:45:10,160
utility inflation, and you know, they're

1062
00:45:10,160 --> 00:45:13,520
naturally growing 4 and a half to 6% a

1063
00:45:13,520 --> 00:45:16,000
year. Um, even to maintain level

1064
00:45:16,000 --> 00:45:17,760
services, and we've seen that in our

1065
00:45:17,760 --> 00:45:20,480
budgets, right? Um uh and then with a

1066
00:45:20,480 --> 00:45:22,560
revenue cap, you know, municipal revenue

1067
00:45:22,560 --> 00:45:24,480
being constrained by Proposition 2 and a

1068
00:45:24,480 --> 00:45:27,839
half, uh new growth being capped, uh the

1069
00:45:27,839 --> 00:45:30,079
state aid is is capped by that formula

1070
00:45:30,079 --> 00:45:32,000
limit. So when you have expenditures

1071
00:45:32,000 --> 00:45:34,000
that are growing at 5% and revenues

1072
00:45:34,000 --> 00:45:36,800
growing at three, that structural gap is

1073
00:45:36,800 --> 00:45:39,040
going to open every single year,

1074
00:45:39,040 --> 00:45:40,880
compounding over time. And that's where

1075
00:45:40,880 --> 00:45:43,119
we see ourselves getting um you know,

1076
00:45:43,119 --> 00:45:44,560
it's [clears throat] getting even

1077
00:45:44,560 --> 00:45:47,359
greater as we move forward.

1078
00:45:47,359 --> 00:45:49,200
I mentioned circuit breaker

1079
00:45:49,200 --> 00:45:51,760
reimbursement be one of the larger uh

1080
00:45:51,760 --> 00:45:54,960
sort of funding uh you know formulas

1081
00:45:54,960 --> 00:45:56,880
that support us in special education. So

1082
00:45:56,880 --> 00:45:58,079
I want to examine that a little bit

1083
00:45:58,079 --> 00:45:59,680
because this is a critical state

1084
00:45:59,680 --> 00:46:01,839
reimbursement for us for extraordinary

1085
00:46:01,839 --> 00:46:04,480
high cost to student services.

1086
00:46:04,480 --> 00:46:08,079
So um

1087
00:46:08,079 --> 00:46:12,640
my clicker's on a delay. There we go. So

1088
00:46:12,640 --> 00:46:14,640
state circuit breaker program reimbures

1089
00:46:14,640 --> 00:46:16,880
districts for highcost special education

1090
00:46:16,880 --> 00:46:19,119
services that exceed what's called a

1091
00:46:19,119 --> 00:46:22,000
statutory threshold. So as you can see

1092
00:46:22,000 --> 00:46:25,920
here in FY20 if you look at the um the

1093
00:46:25,920 --> 00:46:29,200
bottom row our total eligible high-cost

1094
00:46:29,200 --> 00:46:31,760
special education expenses were just

1095
00:46:31,760 --> 00:46:35,520
under 7 million. It was at 6.84 million

1096
00:46:35,520 --> 00:46:38,640
uh which generated 8 excuse me 2.85

1097
00:46:38,640 --> 00:46:40,720
million in state reimbursement. So

1098
00:46:40,720 --> 00:46:42,720
41.76%

1099
00:46:42,720 --> 00:46:46,800
of that by FY26 those eligible costs

1100
00:46:46,800 --> 00:46:50,880
have reached over 10 million 10.43

1101
00:46:50,880 --> 00:46:53,839
generating 4.7 million in reimbursement

1102
00:46:53,839 --> 00:46:56,319
or 45.1%.

1103
00:46:56,319 --> 00:46:57,760
So you know being that's pretty

1104
00:46:57,760 --> 00:46:59,119
consistent in terms of the percentage.

1105
00:46:59,119 --> 00:47:00,960
So even with state reimbursement

1106
00:47:00,960 --> 00:47:02,319
Plymouth Public Schools is still

1107
00:47:02,319 --> 00:47:05,680
responsible for you know 55 to 61% of

1108
00:47:05,680 --> 00:47:08,319
these high-cost expenditures.

1109
00:47:08,319 --> 00:47:11,680
um you know just over 6 million or 6.38

1110
00:47:11,680 --> 00:47:15,670
million in in FY26.

1111
00:47:15,680 --> 00:47:17,680
Just another way of looking at it. So a

1112
00:47:17,680 --> 00:47:19,520
visual highlighting those two trends.

1113
00:47:19,520 --> 00:47:21,520
First, our total eligible special

1114
00:47:21,520 --> 00:47:23,839
education costs crossed the $10 million

1115
00:47:23,839 --> 00:47:26,640
threshold for the first time in FY26.

1116
00:47:26,640 --> 00:47:28,880
Um second um you know while

1117
00:47:28,880 --> 00:47:30,880
reimbursement dollars have increased the

1118
00:47:30,880 --> 00:47:34,000
gap um between the total cost and the

1119
00:47:34,000 --> 00:47:36,400
net district responsibility you know

1120
00:47:36,400 --> 00:47:43,589
that continues to expand for us as well.

1121
00:47:43,599 --> 00:47:45,839
Um so just to kind of break that up a

1122
00:47:45,839 --> 00:47:49,440
little bit more um in terms of how

1123
00:47:49,440 --> 00:47:51,119
circuit breaker is calculated. I know

1124
00:47:51,119 --> 00:47:53,119
this is hard to see on the screen in

1125
00:47:53,119 --> 00:47:55,920
here and hopefully the slides are um are

1126
00:47:55,920 --> 00:47:58,480
in electronic school board too but um

1127
00:47:58,480 --> 00:48:01,040
the states again sets a a claim

1128
00:48:01,040 --> 00:48:04,160
threshold. So only costs above this per

1129
00:48:04,160 --> 00:48:06,319
pupil threshold are eligible for

1130
00:48:06,319 --> 00:48:07,920
reimbursement

1131
00:48:07,920 --> 00:48:11,119
um add up to about 75%. So notice how

1132
00:48:11,119 --> 00:48:12,800
this threshold has increase. So if you

1133
00:48:12,800 --> 00:48:14,640
look at FY20

1134
00:48:14,640 --> 00:48:17,520
on the bottom row,

1135
00:48:17,520 --> 00:48:20,960
um it was $48,352

1136
00:48:20,960 --> 00:48:23,440
per student. So once you reach that

1137
00:48:23,440 --> 00:48:25,599
expenditure for expenses for a

1138
00:48:25,599 --> 00:48:27,839
particular student, you could put a

1139
00:48:27,839 --> 00:48:32,079
claim in. Okay. Um by FY27,

1140
00:48:32,079 --> 00:48:34,960
that cost that that threshold rose to

1141
00:48:34,960 --> 00:48:37,040
54,906.

1142
00:48:37,040 --> 00:48:40,079
So there's been a 13.5% increase to that

1143
00:48:40,079 --> 00:48:42,400
threshold over time. So a claim is no

1144
00:48:42,400 --> 00:48:46,800
longer eligible unless it exceeds 54,906

1145
00:48:46,800 --> 00:48:48,559
and then it's based on a you know the

1146
00:48:48,559 --> 00:48:50,480
difference of that and a percentage of

1147
00:48:50,480 --> 00:48:53,280
the total expense. So on a positive note

1148
00:48:53,280 --> 00:48:55,839
the state law did expand circuit breaker

1149
00:48:55,839 --> 00:48:58,720
to cover out of district transportation

1150
00:48:58,720 --> 00:49:01,280
uh moving from zero and 20 to you know

1151
00:49:01,280 --> 00:49:04,559
68 to 75% present day. So that provides

1152
00:49:04,559 --> 00:49:07,040
some key support for specialized

1153
00:49:07,040 --> 00:49:08,800
transportation. So that is a good thing.

1154
00:49:08,800 --> 00:49:11,359
But um again it's a it's an expense in

1155
00:49:11,359 --> 00:49:13,429
the and that threshold has risen

1156
00:49:13,429 --> 00:49:18,630
[clears throat] over time as well.

1157
00:49:18,640 --> 00:49:20,880
So this kind slide kind of synthesizes

1158
00:49:20,880 --> 00:49:24,000
that entire funding story kind of into

1159
00:49:24,000 --> 00:49:27,599
one. Uh so between FY20 and FY27 our

1160
00:49:27,599 --> 00:49:30,000
budget again has grown by almost 33

1161
00:49:30,000 --> 00:49:32,720
million. State aid has only grown by

1162
00:49:32,720 --> 00:49:35,359
under 5 million. uh which means that

1163
00:49:35,359 --> 00:49:39,200
state aid covered just 15.1% of our

1164
00:49:39,200 --> 00:49:43,359
growth or a dollar out of every $6.60 in

1165
00:49:43,359 --> 00:49:46,319
new operational costs. So Plymouth

1166
00:49:46,319 --> 00:49:48,480
Municipal Property Taxes have to

1167
00:49:48,480 --> 00:49:52,319
shoulder the remaining 84.9%

1168
00:49:52,319 --> 00:49:54,559
or $5.60

1169
00:49:54,559 --> 00:49:58,559
out of every $660

1170
00:49:58,559 --> 00:50:01,040
again. So it's just fall it's falling on

1171
00:50:01,040 --> 00:50:03,119
the local taxpayers.

1172
00:50:03,119 --> 00:50:06,880
So, you know, a question we frequently

1173
00:50:06,880 --> 00:50:08,720
hear is, you know, why can't we use

1174
00:50:08,720 --> 00:50:10,880
federal state grants to kind of sort of

1175
00:50:10,880 --> 00:50:13,119
fix some of our budget shortfall? So,

1176
00:50:13,119 --> 00:50:15,119
there's really, you know, a few reasons,

1177
00:50:15,119 --> 00:50:17,359
you know, important reasons and fiscal

1178
00:50:17,359 --> 00:50:19,599
reasons for that. So, first is

1179
00:50:19,599 --> 00:50:21,680
restricted versus unrestricted. So,

1180
00:50:21,680 --> 00:50:24,000
grants like IDEIDA, special education

1181
00:50:24,000 --> 00:50:26,640
grant, and title one, which is for uh

1182
00:50:26,640 --> 00:50:29,920
low income, uh are legally restricted to

1183
00:50:29,920 --> 00:50:32,480
specific student support programs. uh

1184
00:50:32,480 --> 00:50:34,240
they can't pay for standard classroom

1185
00:50:34,240 --> 00:50:36,559
teacher salaries or building you know

1186
00:50:36,559 --> 00:50:38,720
utilities and heating obviously so

1187
00:50:38,720 --> 00:50:40,559
there's limitations there and

1188
00:50:40,559 --> 00:50:42,880
restrictions. There's also federal

1189
00:50:42,880 --> 00:50:45,119
non-supplanting rules uh particularly

1190
00:50:45,119 --> 00:50:47,119
with title one for example. So federal

1191
00:50:47,119 --> 00:50:49,920
law would forbid using grant dollars to

1192
00:50:49,920 --> 00:50:52,240
replace existing local funds. So doing

1193
00:50:52,240 --> 00:50:57,839
so u would be a violation and result in severe penalties of course. And then

1194
00:50:57,839 --> 00:51:00,000
there's that one-time grant clip. So,

1195
00:51:00,000 --> 00:51:01,599
you know, grants you depending on the

1196
00:51:01,599 --> 00:51:03,119
grant, it could be a one-year grant, it

1197
00:51:03,119 --> 00:51:05,280
could be a multi-year grant. Uh, we do

1198
00:51:05,280 --> 00:51:07,280
have some grants that are three years.

1199
00:51:07,280 --> 00:51:11,119
Um, but funding permanent staff with

1200
00:51:11,119 --> 00:51:14,079
temporary grants is very risky, but also

1201
00:51:14,079 --> 00:51:17,200
creates a se severe fiscal cliff when

1202
00:51:17,200 --> 00:51:19,200
those grants end and it's something that

1203
00:51:19,200 --> 00:51:20,880
you have to be very careful about. So,

1204
00:51:20,880 --> 00:51:22,800
that's just to kind of let the public

1205
00:51:22,800 --> 00:51:24,480
know.

1206
00:51:24,480 --> 00:51:26,800
Similarly, you know, we have revolving

1207
00:51:26,800 --> 00:51:28,880
accounts and Dr. Stella has reported on

1208
00:51:28,880 --> 00:51:30,480
these quite a bit but you know our

1209
00:51:30,480 --> 00:51:33,280
revolving funds like athletics building

1210
00:51:33,280 --> 00:51:36,000
rentals our prek tuitions and the

1211
00:51:36,000 --> 00:51:37,839
circuit breaker carryover which we use

1212
00:51:37,839 --> 00:51:40,000
as a carryover those are dedicated

1213
00:51:40,000 --> 00:51:42,480
reserves so they provide you know

1214
00:51:42,480 --> 00:51:44,960
short-term cash flow buffers and and Dr.

1215
00:51:44,960 --> 00:51:47,599
Blazelle spoke to how like an example of

1216
00:51:47,599 --> 00:51:50,319
transportation we've used that buffer

1217
00:51:50,319 --> 00:51:52,960
quite you know significantly this year

1218
00:51:52,960 --> 00:51:55,760
to to to address the the contract. So

1219
00:51:55,760 --> 00:51:57,280
again, it provides a short-term cash

1220
00:51:57,280 --> 00:52:00,079
flow buffer, but um so buffering an

1221
00:52:00,079 --> 00:52:02,319
unexpected, you know, enrollment spike

1222
00:52:02,319 --> 00:52:04,880
in a certain program, you know, may be

1223
00:52:04,880 --> 00:52:06,960
the case or transportation. But, you

1224
00:52:06,960 --> 00:52:09,359
know, relying on one-time reserve

1225
00:52:09,359 --> 00:52:12,160
balances uh to fund baseline operations

1226
00:52:12,160 --> 00:52:14,880
only makes a structural deficit and and

1227
00:52:14,880 --> 00:52:17,440
guarantees a state a steeper cliff once

1228
00:52:17,440 --> 00:52:19,520
those reserves are depleted because you

1229
00:52:19,520 --> 00:52:21,520
need to account for those the following

1230
00:52:21,520 --> 00:52:24,720
year. So, it's very risky uh to do that

1231
00:52:24,720 --> 00:52:30,160
and and should only be done in desperate times.

1232
00:52:30,160 --> 00:52:32,559
Um I think it's important to kind of

1233
00:52:32,559 --> 00:52:34,480
highlight some of the proactive steps

1234
00:52:34,480 --> 00:52:37,680
that we've taken um for at least a

1235
00:52:37,680 --> 00:52:39,359
decade now. Uh Plymouth Public Schools

1236
00:52:39,359 --> 00:52:41,440
hasn't just asked for more funding. Uh

1237
00:52:41,440 --> 00:52:43,520
we've aggressively audited our

1238
00:52:43,520 --> 00:52:46,960
operations to generate internal savings,

1239
00:52:46,960 --> 00:52:48,079
you know. So, some of the key

1240
00:52:48,079 --> 00:52:50,240
initiatives that we've done really um

1241
00:52:50,240 --> 00:52:53,040
harnessing rooftop solar um as well as

1242
00:52:53,040 --> 00:52:55,839
solar leasing uh the solar fields to

1243
00:52:55,839 --> 00:52:58,720
dramatically cut utility costs. Um,

1244
00:52:58,720 --> 00:53:00,960
we've recently signed a Amoresco

1245
00:53:00,960 --> 00:53:03,359
performance contract. Um, you know,

1246
00:53:03,359 --> 00:53:05,839
helping to self-fund like building HVAC,

1247
00:53:05,839 --> 00:53:08,400
LED lighting upgrades through energy

1248
00:53:08,400 --> 00:53:10,400
savings and kind of putting those

1249
00:53:10,400 --> 00:53:12,400
investments. I mean, putting those

1250
00:53:12,400 --> 00:53:14,800
savings back in and investing them into

1251
00:53:14,800 --> 00:53:16,800
our buildings, further, you know,

1252
00:53:16,800 --> 00:53:21,040
reducing our energy uh, needs and costs.

1253
00:53:21,040 --> 00:53:23,440
transportation route op optimizations.

1254
00:53:23,440 --> 00:53:26,319
We've had multiple assessments of that

1255
00:53:26,319 --> 00:53:28,160
um in the last few years and really

1256
00:53:28,160 --> 00:53:31,200
looking at um our tiered busing to

1257
00:53:31,200 --> 00:53:33,520
consolidate and and be as efficient as

1258
00:53:33,520 --> 00:53:36,400
we can without um you know jeopardizing

1259
00:53:36,400 --> 00:53:40,400
the quality um of services of course and

1260
00:53:40,400 --> 00:53:42,720
then Medicaid um you know really getting

1261
00:53:42,720 --> 00:53:46,559
our staff to maximize um you know what

1262
00:53:46,559 --> 00:53:48,800
they're doing on their part to do the

1263
00:53:48,800 --> 00:53:50,960
medic the Medicaid claims our nurses our

1264
00:53:50,960 --> 00:53:53,200
special education staff who do all of

1265
00:53:53,200 --> 00:53:55,760
these services, the health services and

1266
00:53:55,760 --> 00:53:58,319
related services uh to get those claims

1267
00:53:58,319 --> 00:54:00,400
because it's money that comes back to

1268
00:54:00,400 --> 00:54:02,480
the town. And we're very fortunate to

1269
00:54:02,480 --> 00:54:04,000
receive some of those funds that

1270
00:54:04,000 --> 00:54:05,520
supports

1271
00:54:05,520 --> 00:54:07,680
uh the really important programming that

1272
00:54:07,680 --> 00:54:09,839
we're doing for our kids both in special

1273
00:54:09,839 --> 00:54:13,280
education and in our health offices.

1274
00:54:13,280 --> 00:54:15,760
Um so just kind of highlight one of

1275
00:54:15,760 --> 00:54:17,839
those and I'll highlight the solar and

1276
00:54:17,839 --> 00:54:19,440
we've done this in the past. So this is

1277
00:54:19,440 --> 00:54:21,119
kind of proof of that you know

1278
00:54:21,119 --> 00:54:23,359
stewardship over the last decade. So for

1279
00:54:23,359 --> 00:54:28,559
the past 10 years from 2016 to 2026 you

1280
00:54:28,559 --> 00:54:30,319
know without our solar power purchase

1281
00:54:30,319 --> 00:54:33,520
agreements um our estimated electric

1282
00:54:33,520 --> 00:54:36,960
costs would have exceeded $21.1 million.

1283
00:54:36,960 --> 00:54:39,119
So through those solar fields and the

1284
00:54:39,119 --> 00:54:40,880
net metering credits that we've received

1285
00:54:40,880 --> 00:54:44,160
our uh net payments were only 11.4

1286
00:54:44,160 --> 00:54:47,119
million. So we've generated almost 8.5

1287
00:54:47,119 --> 00:54:49,839
million in net cost avoidance over a

1288
00:54:49,839 --> 00:54:52,240
decade. So imagine what you know what

1289
00:54:52,240 --> 00:54:55,599
we'd be going without or asking for uh

1290
00:54:55,599 --> 00:54:58,400
from the town if we needed an additional

1291
00:54:58,400 --> 00:55:00,640
8.5 million to to cover our electric

1292
00:55:00,640 --> 00:55:04,240
bills. Um so you know in 2026 alone

1293
00:55:04,240 --> 00:55:07,520
solar saved the district you know 1.51

1294
00:55:07,520 --> 00:55:09,920
million. So I think it's a great

1295
00:55:09,920 --> 00:55:13,040
example. Um, transportation is another

1296
00:55:13,040 --> 00:55:15,599
area that we continue to be very

1297
00:55:15,599 --> 00:55:19,119
transparent and look at um our

1298
00:55:19,119 --> 00:55:21,200
efficiencies and how we can sort of

1299
00:55:21,200 --> 00:55:25,680
maximize our um our our pool of uh vans

1300
00:55:25,680 --> 00:55:27,760
and really looking at um I know we did

1301
00:55:27,760 --> 00:55:31,280
the study for our our bus study, but

1302
00:55:31,280 --> 00:55:33,440
also looking at our our vans and how we

1303
00:55:33,440 --> 00:55:36,079
can maximize opportunities to do some of

1304
00:55:36,079 --> 00:55:38,640
that um internally. I don't know if you

1305
00:55:38,640 --> 00:55:40,160
want to speak to this one more

1306
00:55:40,160 --> 00:55:41,040
specifically. Sure,

1307
00:55:41,040 --> 00:55:42,000
>> Dr. Blaze.

1308
00:55:42,000 --> 00:55:43,440
>> Um, one of the things that you've

1309
00:55:43,440 --> 00:55:44,960
noticed over the past couple years is we

1310
00:55:44,960 --> 00:55:47,760
have bought some some vans um to provide

1311
00:55:47,760 --> 00:55:50,720
our own uh specialized transportation.

1312
00:55:50,720 --> 00:55:53,839
Um we did that with Esser funds. Um and

1313
00:55:53,839 --> 00:55:55,520
we've been trying to continue to buy one

1314
00:55:55,520 --> 00:56:01,040
van per year um with capital. So what I've been doing is really looking

1315
00:56:01,040 --> 00:56:03,839
at if we were to take over more van

1316
00:56:03,839 --> 00:56:05,680
routes, what would that look like? What

1317
00:56:05,680 --> 00:56:08,640
would that cost us? Um, so if we did

1318
00:56:08,640 --> 00:56:10,480
internally, if we were looking at this

1319
00:56:10,480 --> 00:56:14,079
year, um, if it's if a driver took

1320
00:56:14,079 --> 00:56:17,119
insurance, it would cost us about $338

1321
00:56:17,119 --> 00:56:19,599
per day. If the driver didn't take

1322
00:56:19,599 --> 00:56:21,359
insurance, it would cost us just under

1323
00:56:21,359 --> 00:56:25,280
$200 per day to run a van. Um, whereas

1324
00:56:25,280 --> 00:56:26,960
if we are looking at van poolool, we're

1325
00:56:26,960 --> 00:56:29,359
currently paying them $338,

1326
00:56:29,359 --> 00:56:33,920
just over $338 a day. Um, oh, actually,

1327
00:56:33,920 --> 00:56:35,119
no, I think that's a little higher.

1328
00:56:35,119 --> 00:56:40,400
Sorry. Um it is next page $343

1329
00:56:40,400 --> 00:56:43,839
per right now for Vampoo. Um so we would

1330
00:56:43,839 --> 00:56:45,839
actually start s we're really just

1331
00:56:45,839 --> 00:56:47,599
starting to save money if a driver took

1332
00:56:47,599 --> 00:56:49,599
insurance. Um next year is where we

1333
00:56:49,599 --> 00:56:50,960
start to see a little bit of a

1334
00:56:50,960 --> 00:56:53,359
difference. Um it next year we would pay

1335
00:56:53,359 --> 00:56:56,160
someone three we would pay $343

1336
00:56:56,160 --> 00:56:58,400
versus 204 depending on if the driver

1337
00:56:58,400 --> 00:57:01,200
took insurance or not. My glasses are

1338
00:57:01,200 --> 00:57:02,960
not large enough so I'm actually messing

1339
00:57:02,960 --> 00:57:06,720
up the vanool numbers. There we go. Um,

1340
00:57:06,720 --> 00:57:09,119
so basically if we look at Vanpool, um,

1341
00:57:09,119 --> 00:57:11,839
we're actually paying 359. Um, first

1342
00:57:11,839 --> 00:57:14,400
student next year we paying 436. So we

1343
00:57:14,400 --> 00:57:16,079
would be starting to save a larger

1344
00:57:16,079 --> 00:57:17,599
amount of money when we if we start

1345
00:57:17,599 --> 00:57:19,760
taking it over next year. Um, and that's

1346
00:57:19,760 --> 00:57:21,200
by leasing a van. That's not by

1347
00:57:21,200 --> 00:57:22,480
purchasing a van. So that actually

1348
00:57:22,480 --> 00:57:26,319
includes the lease cost as well.

1349
00:57:26,319 --> 00:57:28,400
>> Thank you.

1350
00:57:28,400 --> 00:57:29,599
>> Stell spends a lot of time on

1351
00:57:29,599 --> 00:57:31,440
transportation.

1352
00:57:31,440 --> 00:57:34,240
Um I think uh perhaps one of the most

1353
00:57:34,240 --> 00:57:36,400
impactful efficiencies which is also

1354
00:57:36,400 --> 00:57:39,760
good for kids and families is the is the

1355
00:57:39,760 --> 00:57:41,839
um the building of our specialized in

1356
00:57:41,839 --> 00:57:44,559
district program. So um you know when

1357
00:57:44,559 --> 00:57:46,400
our high need students are placed out of

1358
00:57:46,400 --> 00:57:48,000
district and you know primarily

1359
00:57:48,000 --> 00:57:50,000
collaboratives in many cases you know

1360
00:57:50,000 --> 00:57:54,319
those tuition average almost $79,000

1361
00:57:54,319 --> 00:57:56,240
per student plus you're looking at you

1362
00:57:56,240 --> 00:57:58,559
know $30,000 sometimes in specialized

1363
00:57:58,559 --> 00:58:01,200
van transportation. Uh, Nathaniel Morton

1364
00:58:01,200 --> 00:58:02,640
is our newest and I just want to

1365
00:58:02,640 --> 00:58:04,799
highlight that. Um, and it's gone off to

1366
00:58:04,799 --> 00:58:07,119
a great start and been in there recently

1367
00:58:07,119 --> 00:58:08,799
myself. So, at Nathaniel Morton, we've

1368
00:58:08,799 --> 00:58:10,559
created an additional Strive program to

1369
00:58:10,559 --> 00:58:12,960
educate students right here in our home

1370
00:58:12,960 --> 00:58:15,520
community. It's just an a new addition.

1371
00:58:15,520 --> 00:58:18,960
Um, so when you look at purely

1372
00:58:18,960 --> 00:58:20,799
financial, I'm just talking about the

1373
00:58:20,799 --> 00:58:24,960
finances right now. If you look at the the finances of the Stride program,

1374
00:58:24,960 --> 00:58:26,720
so sending

1375
00:58:26,720 --> 00:58:29,040
12 students uh to an out of district

1376
00:58:29,040 --> 00:58:30,640
collaborative would cost almost

1377
00:58:30,640 --> 00:58:32,160
$950,000,

1378
00:58:32,160 --> 00:58:33,599
right? And after circuit breaker

1379
00:58:33,599 --> 00:58:35,119
reimbursement, which I talked about

1380
00:58:35,119 --> 00:58:38,160
previously for um the threshold cost,

1381
00:58:38,160 --> 00:58:40,160
the net cost to Plymouth would be

1382
00:58:40,160 --> 00:58:42,640
$730,854.

1383
00:58:42,640 --> 00:58:46,079
Right? So instead by, you know, when we

1384
00:58:46,079 --> 00:58:48,960
have an opportunity to to to educate our

1385
00:58:48,960 --> 00:58:52,000
kids here in Plymouth, to staff it

1386
00:58:52,000 --> 00:58:55,119
properly and keep kids um in their

1387
00:58:55,119 --> 00:58:58,400
community, um funding a a program with

1388
00:58:58,400 --> 00:59:00,720
12 with two dedicated teachers, five

1389
00:59:00,720 --> 00:59:02,880
dedicated par profofessionals, a speech

1390
00:59:02,880 --> 00:59:04,720
language pathologist, plus the

1391
00:59:04,720 --> 00:59:06,480
availability of all the other resources

1392
00:59:06,480 --> 00:59:09,200
that already exist in the school. that

1393
00:59:09,200 --> 00:59:13,349
cost us $373,615

1394
00:59:13,359 --> 00:59:16,079
you know so over the last 12 years or so

1395
00:59:16,079 --> 00:59:18,319
and I've been here for this is my 19th

1396
00:59:18,319 --> 00:59:21,760
started my 19th year um you know due to

1397
00:59:21,760 --> 00:59:23,760
decline we had almost 9,000 students

1398
00:59:23,760 --> 00:59:29,200
when I started here we're you know we're south of 7,000 now but in that

1399
00:59:29,200 --> 00:59:31,359
time you know we don't have a lot of

1400
00:59:31,359 --> 00:59:33,200
space in our buildings as you all know

1401
00:59:33,200 --> 00:59:35,200
and people like how is that possible but

1402
00:59:35,200 --> 00:59:38,400
in that time since Dr. Rogers has been

1403
00:59:38,400 --> 00:59:40,880
here particularly our department, you

1404
00:59:40,880 --> 00:59:42,880
know, under her direction has been able

1405
00:59:42,880 --> 00:59:45,040
to develop a continuum of services and

1406
00:59:45,040 --> 00:59:48,640
programs from preK through age 22 for

1407
00:59:48,640 --> 00:59:50,960
our students requiring more specialized

1408
00:59:50,960 --> 00:59:53,680
support, which is a wonderful thing. Um,

1409
00:59:53,680 --> 00:59:55,599
so this has helped keep students in our

1410
00:59:55,599 --> 00:59:57,520
community that otherwise would have had

1411
00:59:57,520 --> 01:00:00,319
to look elsewhere. Um, but additionally,

1412
01:00:00,319 --> 01:00:03,599
it has helped to cost avoid well over $8

1413
01:00:03,599 --> 01:00:05,200
million.

1414
01:00:05,200 --> 01:00:07,280
um probably more than that but just you

1415
01:00:07,280 --> 01:00:09,280
know conservatively. So you this is one

1416
01:00:09,280 --> 01:00:11,680
example we have 280 students that are

1417
01:00:11,680 --> 01:00:13,839
take that are benefiting from our

1418
01:00:13,839 --> 01:00:17,599
programs. So the math is good the

1419
01:00:17,599 --> 01:00:20,000
quality of programming is good. Uh it's

1420
01:00:20,000 --> 01:00:22,000
and it's good for Plymouth. So again

1421
01:00:22,000 --> 01:00:24,400
another way we're investing and also

1422
01:00:24,400 --> 01:00:26,720
trying to be good stewards of our

1423
01:00:26,720 --> 01:00:29,599
taxpayer dollars. So, you know, now

1424
01:00:29,599 --> 01:00:31,920
we're we're talking about like sort of

1425
01:00:31,920 --> 01:00:33,760
def moving forward and kind of

1426
01:00:33,760 --> 01:00:35,760
distinguishing our choices as we move

1427
01:00:35,760 --> 01:00:37,280
forward. And we're going to get into

1428
01:00:37,280 --> 01:00:39,839
greater details in in a lot of things,

1429
01:00:39,839 --> 01:00:42,720
but you know, as we begin preparing for

1430
01:00:42,720 --> 01:00:44,960
FY28 budget, you know, it's really

1431
01:00:44,960 --> 01:00:47,680
crucial that we kind of use, I think,

1432
01:00:47,680 --> 01:00:49,280
precise language when we're discussing

1433
01:00:49,280 --> 01:00:51,599
our financial decisions. So there's

1434
01:00:51,599 --> 01:00:53,200
operational efficiencies which we've

1435
01:00:53,200 --> 01:00:54,880
been talking about this evening. You

1436
01:00:54,880 --> 01:00:57,680
know, cutting costs without impacting

1437
01:00:57,680 --> 01:01:00,640
student services, solar leasing, bus

1438
01:01:00,640 --> 01:01:03,440
route optimizations, bulk purchasing,

1439
01:01:03,440 --> 01:01:06,319
collaborative purchasing. Um those are

1440
01:01:06,319 --> 01:01:08,319
great examples. Service reduction, you

1441
01:01:08,319 --> 01:01:09,760
know, that's where cuts that directly

1442
01:01:09,760 --> 01:01:11,440
impact programs and classrooms. So,

1443
01:01:11,440 --> 01:01:14,079
increased class sizes, elective

1444
01:01:14,079 --> 01:01:15,920
reductions,

1445
01:01:15,920 --> 01:01:18,000
um staff eliminations, those are things

1446
01:01:18,000 --> 01:01:20,640
that fortunately we have yet to have to

1447
01:01:20,640 --> 01:01:22,480
deal with. Our class sizes have gone up

1448
01:01:22,480 --> 01:01:23,920
in some cases, but it's typically

1449
01:01:23,920 --> 01:01:26,000
because the enrollment has gone down.

1450
01:01:26,000 --> 01:01:29,920
We've always maintained a cap of 22 preK

1451
01:01:29,920 --> 01:01:32,960
to two and 25 uh beyond that. That's

1452
01:01:32,960 --> 01:01:34,720
sort of the soft cap that we've we've

1453
01:01:34,720 --> 01:01:36,400
used and we've talked about that

1454
01:01:36,400 --> 01:01:40,319
publicly and and here um as a group. And

1455
01:01:40,319 --> 01:01:42,240
then, you know, beyond that, you're

1456
01:01:42,240 --> 01:01:43,920
looking at structural changes and

1457
01:01:43,920 --> 01:01:46,160
certainly not a proponent of any of

1458
01:01:46,160 --> 01:01:47,520
this. And you see, we've seen this in

1459
01:01:47,520 --> 01:01:48,880
other communities. You know, fundamental

1460
01:01:48,880 --> 01:01:51,520
redesigns of how things operate. School

1461
01:01:51,520 --> 01:01:52,960
building consolidations, grade

1462
01:01:52,960 --> 01:01:55,040
configurations, schedule overhauls.

1463
01:01:55,040 --> 01:01:56,480
These are things that other communities

1464
01:01:56,480 --> 01:01:58,880
have had to deal with. Um, these are

1465
01:01:58,880 --> 01:02:00,640
really sort of the three buckets of

1466
01:02:00,640 --> 01:02:03,440
decisions you're making. Um, when you

1467
01:02:03,440 --> 01:02:05,359
look at this is a slide that I presented

1468
01:02:05,359 --> 01:02:09,200
last year in our budget. This table I

1469
01:02:09,200 --> 01:02:10,640
really feel is demonstrates our

1470
01:02:10,640 --> 01:02:13,200
commitment to our staff and ultimately

1471
01:02:13,200 --> 01:02:16,480
our students um over everything else. So

1472
01:02:16,480 --> 01:02:18,079
uh you may recall this from last year

1473
01:02:18,079 --> 01:02:22,000
table shows the shift from 26 to 27 this

1474
01:02:22,000 --> 01:02:24,559
year. So note that our total salary

1475
01:02:24,559 --> 01:02:27,200
increase was 4.14%.

1476
01:02:27,200 --> 01:02:29,040
That added, you know, just over $4

1477
01:02:29,040 --> 01:02:31,760
million to our overall budget. This

1478
01:02:31,760 --> 01:02:33,440
shows our commitment to honoring the

1479
01:02:33,440 --> 01:02:35,920
collective bargain agreements um and our

1480
01:02:35,920 --> 01:02:38,480
the staffing of of our of our our

1481
01:02:38,480 --> 01:02:42,079
buildings. Uh to balance that

1482
01:02:42,079 --> 01:02:45,119
um with our strict town allocation, we

1483
01:02:45,119 --> 01:02:48,559
pull back non salary items. So notice

1484
01:02:48,559 --> 01:02:51,119
that supplies and materials are a

1485
01:02:51,119 --> 01:02:54,480
negative growth of you know 1.77%.

1486
01:02:54,480 --> 01:02:56,559
We squeeze squeeze materials out so that

1487
01:02:56,559 --> 01:02:57,599
we wouldn't have to squeeze out

1488
01:02:57,599 --> 01:02:59,920
personnel. We had to make significant

1489
01:02:59,920 --> 01:03:02,160
reductions in non-personal lines. So our

1490
01:03:02,160 --> 01:03:04,480
overall non-personal

1491
01:03:04,480 --> 01:03:06,799
non-s salary lines went up less than

1492
01:03:06,799 --> 01:03:08,799
1%.84%.

1493
01:03:08,799 --> 01:03:11,040
That includes contracts, contracted

1494
01:03:11,040 --> 01:03:13,760
services. So we have you know we have

1495
01:03:13,760 --> 01:03:16,160
squeezed blood out of a stone to get the

1496
01:03:16,160 --> 01:03:19,920
number to that. Um so just again for the

1497
01:03:19,920 --> 01:03:21,440
public to keep in mind these are lines

1498
01:03:21,440 --> 01:03:22,799
that include all of our contracts

1499
01:03:22,799 --> 01:03:24,240
including transportation, special

1500
01:03:24,240 --> 01:03:25,680
education placements and other

1501
01:03:25,680 --> 01:03:28,640
contracted services. um which as we know

1502
01:03:28,640 --> 01:03:31,520
have increased considerably. So I think

1503
01:03:31,520 --> 01:03:32,799
this confirms that you know

1504
01:03:32,799 --> 01:03:35,280
non-personnel line items have been

1505
01:03:35,280 --> 01:03:39,680
squeezed um as tight as as possible. So

1506
01:03:39,680 --> 01:03:44,549
I think

1507
01:03:44,559 --> 01:03:48,160
there we go. Sort of a takeaway for this

1508
01:03:48,160 --> 01:03:50,559
evening. Uh I think a decade of

1509
01:03:50,559 --> 01:03:53,280
aggressive cost containment on our part.

1510
01:03:53,280 --> 01:03:55,839
solar, you know, amaresco contracts, our

1511
01:03:55,839 --> 01:03:59,680
buses, our in district investments means

1512
01:03:59,680 --> 01:04:01,680
that, you know, we virtually zeroed

1513
01:04:01,680 --> 01:04:03,760
non-personnel efficiency dollars left to

1514
01:04:03,760 --> 01:04:07,760
squeeze out. And as we head into FY28,

1515
01:04:07,760 --> 01:04:10,319
level service costs will likely exceed

1516
01:04:10,319 --> 01:04:12,880
that baseline revenue growth. We we can

1517
01:04:12,880 --> 01:04:15,599
anticipate that for sure. So balancing

1518
01:04:15,599 --> 01:04:17,119
our future budgets is really going to

1519
01:04:17,119 --> 01:04:19,599
require a conscious community decision

1520
01:04:19,599 --> 01:04:21,839
regarding local municipal tax

1521
01:04:21,839 --> 01:04:24,720
investment, service reductions or you

1522
01:04:24,720 --> 01:04:27,359
know other other decisions you know. Um

1523
01:04:27,359 --> 01:04:30,640
so um that's where we are tonight in

1524
01:04:30,640 --> 01:04:32,079
terms of kind of give laying the

1525
01:04:32,079 --> 01:04:35,359
groundwork and as a reminder we you know

1526
01:04:35,359 --> 01:04:37,680
um we will continue to do this next next

1527
01:04:37,680 --> 01:04:39,119
meeting. We're going to get into budget

1528
01:04:39,119 --> 01:04:41,599
constraints. We're going to dive into a

1529
01:04:41,599 --> 01:04:44,720
lot of those um the operate large

1530
01:04:44,720 --> 01:04:46,160
operational costs and mandates and

1531
01:04:46,160 --> 01:04:47,760
non-negotiables.

1532
01:04:47,760 --> 01:04:50,240
Uh meaning thereafter we'll get into um

1533
01:04:50,240 --> 01:04:51,920
a lot of the major cost drivers,

1534
01:04:51,920 --> 01:04:54,559
personnel, employee benefits, kind of

1535
01:04:54,559 --> 01:04:57,440
the structure behind our buildings and

1536
01:04:57,440 --> 01:05:01,359
the details behind that. Um we'll we'll

1537
01:05:01,359 --> 01:05:03,440
spend time looking at special education

1538
01:05:03,440 --> 01:05:05,920
expenses and transportation across the

1539
01:05:05,920 --> 01:05:07,839
district. and then hopefully by meeting

1540
01:05:07,839 --> 01:05:10,079
five having conversations about, you

1541
01:05:10,079 --> 01:05:11,920
know, kind of pulling that all together

1542
01:05:11,920 --> 01:05:14,079
and and and hopefully having a a better

1543
01:05:14,079 --> 01:05:16,720
direction as community as to uh where

1544
01:05:16,720 --> 01:05:19,839
we're going as we design FY or proposed

1545
01:05:19,839 --> 01:05:24,640
FY28's budget. So, happy to um answer

1546
01:05:24,640 --> 01:05:26,559
any questions, but for the public, this

1547
01:05:26,559 --> 01:05:28,880
will go on our website. Um we'll put all

1548
01:05:28,880 --> 01:05:30,640
of our budget presentations on the

1549
01:05:30,640 --> 01:05:32,480
website. This is Dr. Bldale's finance

1550
01:05:32,480 --> 01:05:36,079
page, our contact information. Um,

1551
01:05:36,079 --> 01:05:38,000
again, budget constraints, mandates, and

1552
01:05:38,000 --> 01:05:41,280
non non-negotiables will be the October

1553
01:05:41,280 --> 01:05:45,440
19th discussion. Um, happy to answer any

1554
01:05:45,440 --> 01:05:46,160
questions.

1555
01:05:46,160 --> 01:05:47,599
>> All right. Yeah. Thank Thank you, Dr.

1556
01:05:47,599 --> 01:05:48,799
Thank you so much for doing this. I

1557
01:05:48,799 --> 01:05:50,720
think it definitely helps the public and

1558
01:05:50,720 --> 01:05:52,480
I think it probably helps. I'm sure each

1559
01:05:52,480 --> 01:05:53,599
of the committee members get something

1560
01:05:53,599 --> 01:05:55,440
out of it as well. Start with Miss

1561
01:05:55,440 --> 01:05:57,760
Jackson and Miss Bryant. [clears throat]

1562
01:05:57,760 --> 01:05:59,920
>> Thank you for your presentation. I feel

1563
01:05:59,920 --> 01:06:01,359
like it really did a good job in

1564
01:06:01,359 --> 01:06:03,039
highlighting

1565
01:06:03,039 --> 01:06:05,520
um like what overall goes into the

1566
01:06:05,520 --> 01:06:07,680
budget and I think going into like the

1567
01:06:07,680 --> 01:06:09,520
mandates especially the unfunded

1568
01:06:09,520 --> 01:06:11,760
mandates will paint an even broader

1569
01:06:11,760 --> 01:06:15,680
picture of what we're obligated to um

1570
01:06:15,680 --> 01:06:18,000
impact and you also did a great job in

1571
01:06:18,000 --> 01:06:20,559
pointing out how this will impact the

1572
01:06:20,559 --> 01:06:26,720
students. Um I would love to talk about

1573
01:06:26,720 --> 01:06:28,720
why this matters to the people who don't

1574
01:06:28,720 --> 01:06:31,440
have children in our d in our district

1575
01:06:31,440 --> 01:06:34,400
but also are still paying for these you

1576
01:06:34,400 --> 01:06:37,440
know as people face rising costs who

1577
01:06:37,440 --> 01:06:40,160
might be on fixed incomes

1578
01:06:40,160 --> 01:06:43,039
um I think it's important to also talk

1579
01:06:43,039 --> 01:06:46,079
about how having a good school district

1580
01:06:46,079 --> 01:06:49,920
impacts them and um why it matters to

1581
01:06:49,920 --> 01:06:52,319
them. Yeah, I can think of a whole host

1582
01:06:52,319 --> 01:07:03,440
of reasons, right? One, we're we're we are um investing in our future um consumers in this

1583
01:07:03,440 --> 01:07:05,359
community, the future contributors to

1584
01:07:05,359 --> 01:07:09,039
this community. I think um strong

1585
01:07:09,039 --> 01:07:12,559
communities that support education have

1586
01:07:12,559 --> 01:07:15,920
lots of strong outcomes as a community.

1587
01:07:15,920 --> 01:07:20,319
Um when when you see that decline and

1588
01:07:20,319 --> 01:07:23,119
resources suffer and schools suffer,

1589
01:07:23,119 --> 01:07:28,319
ultimately um your um property taxes

1590
01:07:28,319 --> 01:07:33,680
suffer, which is a a just a perpetual

1591
01:07:33,680 --> 01:07:35,599
issue, which [snorts] further reduces

1592
01:07:35,599 --> 01:07:38,160
your revenue, which further reduces the

1593
01:07:38,160 --> 01:07:40,000
available resources for a community,

1594
01:07:40,000 --> 01:07:43,520
which affects all sectors of our town

1595
01:07:43,520 --> 01:07:47,119
municipal budget. So, um it's really

1596
01:07:47,119 --> 01:07:48,960
important to invest in education

1597
01:07:48,960 --> 01:07:51,920
regardless. Um and I think we are very

1598
01:07:51,920 --> 01:07:56,880
mindful of um the tax burden on people

1599
01:07:56,880 --> 01:07:59,839
and do everything we can to not ask for

1600
01:07:59,839 --> 01:08:01,599
anything that we don't think is

1601
01:08:01,599 --> 01:08:04,319
important. Um but I can tell you when I

1602
01:08:04,319 --> 01:08:06,480
first started here

1603
01:08:06,480 --> 01:08:09,920
18 years ago, we had we didn't have the

1604
01:08:09,920 --> 01:08:12,319
programs that we have now. We had very

1605
01:08:12,319 --> 01:08:14,880
few kids that took world language. We

1606
01:08:14,880 --> 01:08:19,679
had a a very um very very minimal visual

1607
01:08:19,679 --> 01:08:21,679
and performing arts program. We had

1608
01:08:21,679 --> 01:08:24,560
students that weren't fully scheduled at

1609
01:08:24,560 --> 01:08:27,120
the high schools. I don't know why, but

1610
01:08:27,120 --> 01:08:29,920
they weren't. Um so the resources

1611
01:08:29,920 --> 01:08:32,080
weren't going in the right place. we

1612
01:08:32,080 --> 01:08:34,560
through the support of this town and

1613
01:08:34,560 --> 01:08:36,799
this community um and the and the

1614
01:08:36,799 --> 01:08:38,719
collective work and and the credib

1615
01:08:38,719 --> 01:08:40,239
building the credibility I think with

1616
01:08:40,239 --> 01:08:43,839
the schools uh we were we've been

1617
01:08:43,839 --> 01:08:46,480
supported generously

1618
01:08:46,480 --> 01:08:48,560
um and have built something I think in

1619
01:08:48,560 --> 01:08:50,640
the last dozen or so years that is we

1620
01:08:50,640 --> 01:08:52,640
we're really proud of and and the

1621
01:08:52,640 --> 01:08:54,239
community should be really proud of and

1622
01:08:54,239 --> 01:08:59,279
it's good for kids. Um, I worry about

1623
01:08:59,279 --> 01:09:01,359
what happens if we can't continue that

1624
01:09:01,359 --> 01:09:02,880
and what that would do to the next

1625
01:09:02,880 --> 01:09:08,309
generation of kids that go through PLT.

1626
01:09:08,319 --> 01:09:11,040
I think that's a great point Miss

1627
01:09:11,040 --> 01:09:14,799
Jackson brings up and I think it's would

1628
01:09:14,799 --> 01:09:20,560
be beneficial to add that that lens of

1629
01:09:20,560 --> 01:09:23,199
those who don't have someone in the

1630
01:09:23,199 --> 01:09:26,480
district to possibly meeting five. I

1631
01:09:26,480 --> 01:09:29,679
have to say this presentation,

1632
01:09:29,679 --> 01:09:33,279
my time here has been honestly the most

1633
01:09:33,279 --> 01:09:36,960
helpful in regards to peeling back the

1634
01:09:36,960 --> 01:09:40,640
layers of what goes into the budget. you

1635
01:09:40,640 --> 01:09:43,920
I think that it's difficult when you

1636
01:09:43,920 --> 01:09:46,960
appear at town meeting or you appear at

1637
01:09:46,960 --> 01:09:50,719
the select board and have to discuss a

1638
01:09:50,719 --> 01:09:54,000
fragment of the overall budget that

1639
01:09:54,000 --> 01:09:56,719
appears so large and people not

1640
01:09:56,719 --> 01:09:59,440
understanding which parts of the budget

1641
01:09:59,440 --> 01:10:03,280
is a must. Which part of the budget that

1642
01:10:03,280 --> 01:10:07,360
the administration fights for? which

1643
01:10:07,360 --> 01:10:10,239
part of the budget that you have grant

1644
01:10:10,239 --> 01:10:13,120
writers and programs that seek out

1645
01:10:13,120 --> 01:10:16,480
additional dollars will be very helpful

1646
01:10:16,480 --> 01:10:18,640
in people understanding what type of

1647
01:10:18,640 --> 01:10:22,640
impact that that this makes. So, I'm I'm

1648
01:10:22,640 --> 01:10:25,040
honestly looking forward to the other

1649
01:10:25,040 --> 01:10:27,600
four meetings in the series. I think

1650
01:10:27,600 --> 01:10:30,560
it's just important to remind the public

1651
01:10:30,560 --> 01:10:32,880
where I'm just coming off of my last

1652
01:10:32,880 --> 01:10:35,840
campaign that districts across

1653
01:10:35,840 --> 01:10:38,480
Massachusetts are fa facing all of the

1654
01:10:38,480 --> 01:10:41,040
same problems, right? So inflation,

1655
01:10:41,040 --> 01:10:43,679
rising gas prices, that attributes

1656
01:10:43,679 --> 01:10:45,360
directly back to busing and

1657
01:10:45,360 --> 01:10:48,000
transportation and increased cost of

1658
01:10:48,000 --> 01:10:50,719
outsourced special education, increases

1659
01:10:50,719 --> 01:10:53,280
in healthcare. all of those things that

1660
01:10:53,280 --> 01:10:55,360
just in this presentation alone you've

1661
01:10:55,360 --> 01:11:00,800
addressed to a point. Um I would say

1662
01:11:00,800 --> 01:11:03,840
um what I think I would find beneficial

1663
01:11:03,840 --> 01:11:07,199
if on slide three as well as you know

1664
01:11:07,199 --> 01:11:10,239
the upcoming slides if you could be

1665
01:11:10,239 --> 01:11:12,800
specific about which of those funding

1666
01:11:12,800 --> 01:11:15,600
and and I mean when I say specific I'm

1667
01:11:15,600 --> 01:11:18,320
talking about me as a non-math girly

1668
01:11:18,320 --> 01:11:23,440
like I I hate the numbers but I was very

1669
01:11:23,440 --> 01:11:25,840
interested in how this was all broken

1670
01:11:25,840 --> 01:11:29,040
down if in Slide three, you can

1671
01:11:29,040 --> 01:11:31,600
highlight what are those pockets of of

1672
01:11:31,600 --> 01:11:35,040
dollars that are stable that are like

1673
01:11:35,040 --> 01:11:37,920
those guarantees that we expect every

1674
01:11:37,920 --> 01:11:40,560
year because it's part of our makeup.

1675
01:11:40,560 --> 01:11:42,560
And then which are those that we're

1676
01:11:42,560 --> 01:11:44,800
moving and we're fighting for. So you

1677
01:11:44,800 --> 01:11:47,120
made a point to talk about the grants

1678
01:11:47,120 --> 01:11:51,520
where we would not want to um hire

1679
01:11:51,520 --> 01:11:53,920
someone based on a grant because then

1680
01:11:53,920 --> 01:11:56,320
the the dollars aren't as stabled. And

1681
01:11:56,320 --> 01:11:59,679
then I think slide 14, anytime I bring

1682
01:11:59,679 --> 01:12:03,040
um we talk about transportation, I think

1683
01:12:03,040 --> 01:12:05,440
it's important to note that over the

1684
01:12:05,440 --> 01:12:08,640
past 10 years, specifically within, you

1685
01:12:08,640 --> 01:12:10,640
know, Quinsey, Bronx, Wemouth, and

1686
01:12:10,640 --> 01:12:14,960
Plymouth, we've seen 160% jump in the

1687
01:12:14,960 --> 01:12:17,840
rate of homelessness. And I bring that

1688
01:12:17,840 --> 01:12:19,840
up specifically because women and

1689
01:12:19,840 --> 01:12:21,040
children are the most

1690
01:12:21,040 --> 01:12:22,719
underrepresentative

1691
01:12:22,719 --> 01:12:24,560
and underounted

1692
01:12:24,560 --> 01:12:28,480
um number in regards to homeless. And

1693
01:12:28,480 --> 01:12:31,360
based on Mckitti Bento, it goes directly

1694
01:12:31,360 --> 01:12:34,400
back into the funding sources and having

1695
01:12:34,400 --> 01:12:36,719
to budge children into their home

1696
01:12:36,719 --> 01:12:41,040
schools or to have to um get additional

1697
01:12:41,040 --> 01:12:43,840
dollars in funding for children to

1698
01:12:43,840 --> 01:12:45,840
maintain the programs or the needs

1699
01:12:45,840 --> 01:12:48,800
within our district. And I just say that

1700
01:12:48,800 --> 01:12:51,360
because again, it's one of those musts.

1701
01:12:51,360 --> 01:12:55,199
It's not a choice. it's a must that that

1702
01:12:55,199 --> 01:12:58,560
we have to do as a a state and you know

1703
01:12:58,560 --> 01:13:01,840
just good humans. So, um I think this

1704
01:13:01,840 --> 01:13:04,719
series will be very helpful and help

1705
01:13:04,719 --> 01:13:07,040
inform people

1706
01:13:07,040 --> 01:13:10,880
who live in Plymouth, contribute to to

1707
01:13:10,880 --> 01:13:13,440
um the

1708
01:13:13,440 --> 01:13:16,960
funding of of our schools to understand

1709
01:13:16,960 --> 01:13:18,960
what it is that we're dealing with, why

1710
01:13:18,960 --> 01:13:22,080
we asked for what we asked for and what

1711
01:13:22,080 --> 01:13:24,640
on the administration side, as well as

1712
01:13:24,640 --> 01:13:27,440
the decisions we hope to support and

1713
01:13:27,440 --> 01:13:30,719
inform um are up against. So, just

1714
01:13:30,719 --> 01:13:32,560
wanted to share that. And this this was

1715
01:13:32,560 --> 01:13:36,470
great.

1716
01:13:36,480 --> 01:13:38,800
» Yeah, I think this was uh very

1717
01:13:38,800 --> 01:13:41,520
informative. So, thank you. Um and I

1718
01:13:41,520 --> 01:13:44,000
think a further step would be for, you

1719
01:13:44,000 --> 01:13:46,080
know, for the residents who elect us to

1720
01:13:46,080 --> 01:13:48,320
that to view a presentation

1721
01:13:48,320 --> 01:13:51,280
um to go a little deeper if you can to

1722
01:13:51,280 --> 01:13:55,040
see how, you know, this happened, right?

1723
01:13:55,040 --> 01:13:56,800
Prop two and a half has been around

1724
01:13:56,800 --> 01:14:02,480
since 1982. And the equation did predict

1725
01:14:02,480 --> 01:14:04,800
uh what your property taxes would be,

1726
01:14:04,800 --> 01:14:07,520
but it also didn't allow towns to move

1727
01:14:07,520 --> 01:14:10,080
the lever in good times and bad without

1728
01:14:10,080 --> 01:14:12,880
politicizing the issue and voting for an

1729
01:14:12,880 --> 01:14:15,760
override where, you know, I know we're

1730
01:14:15,760 --> 01:14:18,080
in uh you know, the public sector, but

1731
01:14:18,080 --> 01:14:20,400
if you had your own private business,

1732
01:14:20,400 --> 01:14:22,480
you could spend when you needed and not

1733
01:14:22,480 --> 01:14:24,800
defer. So you'd have to spend triple and

1734
01:14:24,800 --> 01:14:27,199
you wouldn't have to sure you'd have a

1735
01:14:27,199 --> 01:14:29,840
management discussion, but they made it

1736
01:14:29,840 --> 01:14:31,840
so volatile with Prop 2 and a half

1737
01:14:31,840 --> 01:14:33,520
because I believed in the fiscal

1738
01:14:33,520 --> 01:14:35,280
oversight of it even though I was 12

1739
01:14:35,280 --> 01:14:36,976
years old when they passed it. But

1740
01:14:36,976 --> 01:14:39,920
[laughter] I it just it didn't move with

1741
01:14:39,920 --> 01:14:43,199
rising costs, right? So when we go to

1742
01:14:43,199 --> 01:14:46,239
look at a budgetary shortfall and we're

1743
01:14:46,239 --> 01:14:48,960
faced with which door do you take,

1744
01:14:48,960 --> 01:14:50,400
right? If all those doors are locked,

1745
01:14:50,400 --> 01:14:51,920
it's because they were locked from the

1746
01:14:51,920 --> 01:14:55,679
inside. I mean, chapter 70,

1747
01:14:55,679 --> 01:14:57,920
the the cost per pupil might look great,

1748
01:14:57,920 --> 01:14:59,440
right? Because of the volume of money

1749
01:14:59,440 --> 01:15:01,120
going through the system, but

1750
01:15:01,120 --> 01:15:05,199
Massachusetts is like 8 to 10% behind in

1751
01:15:05,199 --> 01:15:07,840
state aid than other states. They put a

1752
01:15:07,840 --> 01:15:10,239
lot of pressure on local municipalities,

1753
01:15:10,239 --> 01:15:12,000
>> and then that pressure comes home to

1754
01:15:12,000 --> 01:15:15,520
roost when every other cost is going up.

1755
01:15:15,520 --> 01:15:18,000
>> And you can't tax your way out of it. I

1756
01:15:18,000 --> 01:15:19,440
mean, there's a threshold for

1757
01:15:19,440 --> 01:15:21,840
everything. So, I I think it's important

1758
01:15:21,840 --> 01:15:24,400
when you're showing like you're

1759
01:15:24,400 --> 01:15:27,040
literally dealt this hand because you're

1760
01:15:27,040 --> 01:15:28,560
not going to turn your back on the

1761
01:15:28,560 --> 01:15:31,120
services of educating the children of a

1762
01:15:31,120 --> 01:15:32,880
community. I don't care if you're an

1763
01:15:32,880 --> 01:15:34,880
empty neester. No one in their right

1764
01:15:34,880 --> 01:15:37,440
mind would would agree with that. But I

1765
01:15:37,440 --> 01:15:38,800
think we are going to be at a point

1766
01:15:38,800 --> 01:15:41,520
where, you know, something has to give.

1767
01:15:41,520 --> 01:15:43,600
And maybe it's on a state level. I mean,

1768
01:15:43,600 --> 01:15:46,320
I talked in another meeting about, you

1769
01:15:46,320 --> 01:15:48,560
know, ways that we funded the school

1770
01:15:48,560 --> 01:15:50,960
building program, right? We need some

1771
01:15:50,960 --> 01:15:53,679
more innovative talk on a state level

1772
01:15:53,679 --> 01:15:57,679
that can offset that sort of it's it's a

1773
01:15:57,679 --> 01:15:59,199
ticking time bomb for local

1774
01:15:59,199 --> 01:16:00,640
municipalities. We're not going to just

1775
01:16:00,640 --> 01:16:02,960
think our way out of this. So, I I think

1776
01:16:02,960 --> 01:16:04,800
when when you make these presentations,

1777
01:16:04,800 --> 01:16:07,120
it's great, but I think people have to

1778
01:16:07,120 --> 01:16:11,120
go deeper to understand that um you

1779
01:16:11,120 --> 01:16:13,440
know, there's ways we got here and we

1780
01:16:13,440 --> 01:16:15,280
can't just repeal Prop 2 and a half and

1781
01:16:15,280 --> 01:16:16,640
then what? You're just going to that's

1782
01:16:16,640 --> 01:16:17,920
basically an override for everyone in

1783
01:16:17,920 --> 01:16:20,480
the state. You can't do that. But

1784
01:16:20,480 --> 01:16:22,800
there's going to be some um different

1785
01:16:22,800 --> 01:16:24,800
approaches to how we create revenue

1786
01:16:24,800 --> 01:16:26,400
streams

1787
01:16:26,400 --> 01:16:28,560
for local municipalities that aren't

1788
01:16:28,560 --> 01:16:31,600
always based on a volatile override

1789
01:16:31,600 --> 01:16:32,800
discussion.

1790
01:16:32,800 --> 01:16:35,120
>> Um and I I don't have that answer. I

1791
01:16:35,120 --> 01:16:36,960
mean, we'll we'll work at it all of us,

1792
01:16:36,960 --> 01:16:40,480
but it's uh this is the way to start

1793
01:16:40,480 --> 01:16:43,120
talking about it. So, thank you.

1794
01:16:43,120 --> 01:16:46,320
>> Awesome. All right. Anybody else? All

1795
01:16:46,320 --> 01:16:48,239
right. Thanks again, Dr. Kemp.

1796
01:16:48,239 --> 01:16:49,440
>> Thank you.

1797
01:16:49,440 --> 01:16:51,040
All right, next up we've got the

1798
01:16:51,040 --> 01:16:52,480
superintendent report. So back to you

1799
01:16:52,480 --> 01:16:52,719
again.

1800
01:16:52,719 --> 01:16:55,280
>> Oh, there you go.

1801
01:16:55,280 --> 01:16:56,640
>> Uh [clears throat] brief one this

1802
01:16:56,640 --> 01:16:58,239
evening. So strategic planning

1803
01:16:58,239 --> 01:17:00,560
committee, our uh strate strategic

1804
01:17:00,560 --> 01:17:02,880
planning committee has been established.

1805
01:17:02,880 --> 01:17:05,679
Uh sent an initial welcome letter out um

1806
01:17:05,679 --> 01:17:08,320
I believe yesterday uh or Saturday, I

1807
01:17:08,320 --> 01:17:10,159
can't remember. I'm losing track. Uh we

1808
01:17:10,159 --> 01:17:12,320
have a very diverse representation, 27

1809
01:17:12,320 --> 01:17:14,719
in total, students, parents, teachers,

1810
01:17:14,719 --> 01:17:17,040
school committee, administration, and

1811
01:17:17,040 --> 01:17:19,840
our CPAC support for this process. Uh

1812
01:17:19,840 --> 01:17:21,520
our initial meeting will be next

1813
01:17:21,520 --> 01:17:24,480
Wednesday, October 7th. Uh so really

1814
01:17:24,480 --> 01:17:28,159
excited to kick kick that off. Uh FY28

1815
01:17:28,159 --> 01:17:29,840
budget and capital planning. So we have

1816
01:17:29,840 --> 01:17:31,920
a meeting tomorrow afternoon with um

1817
01:17:31,920 --> 01:17:34,800
town leadership. So, we hope to get a

1818
01:17:34,800 --> 01:17:36,960
greater sense of uh where we are in

1819
01:17:36,960 --> 01:17:40,960
terms of um FY28. Um

1820
01:17:40,960 --> 01:17:42,960
we'll see what we learn. So, look

1821
01:17:42,960 --> 01:17:45,040
forward to to that meeting tomorrow

1822
01:17:45,040 --> 01:17:46,560
afternoon.

1823
01:17:46,560 --> 01:17:47,840
Um [clears throat]

1824
01:17:47,840 --> 01:17:50,239
and I'm going to end with a video, but

1825
01:17:50,239 --> 01:17:51,600
just as a reminder, we also have our

1826
01:17:51,600 --> 01:17:54,400
school committee retreat this Saturday,

1827
01:17:54,400 --> 01:18:00,960
uh 8:30 start. Um so um and so we should

1828
01:18:00,960 --> 01:18:02,719
be done by I would think no later than

1829
01:18:02,719 --> 01:18:05,920
noon based on that. Um and then lastly

1830
01:18:05,920 --> 01:18:08,719
and and Seth's going to cue this up for

1831
01:18:08,719 --> 01:18:13,360
us I believe. Um very pleased that our VIPs program volunteers in Plymouth

1832
01:18:13,360 --> 01:18:16,640
Public Schools um you know years past we

1833
01:18:16,640 --> 01:18:19,120
spent a couple of years working learning

1834
01:18:19,120 --> 01:18:21,760
from uh Felmouth which is in their 40

1835
01:18:21,760 --> 01:18:24,159
maybe their 40 43rd year at this point.

1836
01:18:24,159 --> 01:18:25,840
who started with eight volunteers and

1837
01:18:25,840 --> 01:18:28,320
grown to over a thousand. Um had an

1838
01:18:28,320 --> 01:18:30,400
opportunity to have a grant with Mass

1839
01:18:30,400 --> 01:18:33,679
Partners uh MA um Mass Service Alliance

1840
01:18:33,679 --> 01:18:37,520
working with Felmouth. Um and and we

1841
01:18:37,520 --> 01:18:40,960
have a a a good starting point. Um we

1842
01:18:40,960 --> 01:18:43,520
had a great up celebration last spring.

1843
01:18:43,520 --> 01:18:46,320
So our EdTV staff put together this

1844
01:18:46,320 --> 01:18:47,520
great video which we're going to be

1845
01:18:47,520 --> 01:18:49,199
using to kind of highlight this and to

1846
01:18:49,199 --> 01:18:50,800
promote participation. Plymouth

1847
01:18:50,800 --> 01:18:53,120
Independent is also working on a piece

1848
01:18:53,120 --> 01:18:55,280
uh which should be published uh very

1849
01:18:55,280 --> 01:18:57,440
soon. So I just wanted to end with this

1850
01:18:57,440 --> 01:18:59,600
short video so you can see uh in the

1851
01:18:59,600 --> 01:19:06,709
public can see what VIPS is all about.

1852
01:19:06,719 --> 01:19:09,040
I truly enjoy volunteerism. I really

1853
01:19:09,040 --> 01:19:11,120
have I tell people my whole life I've

1854
01:19:11,120 --> 01:19:12,734
had two jobs. One that paid me, one that

1855
01:19:12,734 --> 01:19:13,280
[music] didn't.

1856
01:19:13,280 --> 01:19:16,239
>> I'm retired. I have time. I enjoy

1857
01:19:16,239 --> 01:19:17,920
children. And I [music] thought, I ought

1858
01:19:17,920 --> 01:19:20,640
to do something helpful and useful. And

1859
01:19:20,640 --> 01:19:23,280
so this fit the bill exactly. It's as

1860
01:19:23,280 --> 01:19:25,600
little or as big of a commitment [music]

1861
01:19:25,600 --> 01:19:27,679
as you want. There are endless

1862
01:19:27,679 --> 01:19:29,679
opportunities ahead, which is really

1863
01:19:29,679 --> 01:19:32,385
fun.

1864
01:19:32,385 --> 01:19:34,000
[music]

1865
01:19:34,000 --> 01:19:37,520
For many years, we have talked about

1866
01:19:37,520 --> 01:19:39,440
trying to create something [music] that

1867
01:19:39,440 --> 01:19:41,600
would be like a lasting relationship and

1868
01:19:41,600 --> 01:19:44,239
a bridge between our residents and and

1869
01:19:44,239 --> 01:19:46,400
public education. So [music] we started

1870
01:19:46,400 --> 01:19:48,640
this program called BIPS volunteers in

1871
01:19:48,640 --> 01:19:49,920
Plymouth public schools.

1872
01:19:49,920 --> 01:19:52,880
>> We have such a rich town [music]

1873
01:19:52,880 --> 01:19:54,640
community and we all have so much to

1874
01:19:54,640 --> 01:19:56,480
offer each other. We have a growing

1875
01:19:56,480 --> 01:19:58,239
senior population but we also have a

1876
01:19:58,239 --> 01:19:59,840
growing population of young families in

1877
01:19:59,840 --> 01:20:01,440
Plymouth and it just bridges both of

1878
01:20:01,440 --> 01:20:03,199
those communities together. There are

1879
01:20:03,199 --> 01:20:05,140
many members in our community that

1880
01:20:05,140 --> 01:20:07,280
[music] have passions whether it's

1881
01:20:07,280 --> 01:20:11,040
sewing or playing cribage or ma jang or

1882
01:20:11,040 --> 01:20:12,719
former teachers [music] that have all

1883
01:20:12,719 --> 01:20:15,280
this knowledge and they are looking to

1884
01:20:15,280 --> 01:20:17,520
share it with our staff [music] and our

1885
01:20:17,520 --> 01:20:19,920
students. I've been retired for 12

1886
01:20:19,920 --> 01:20:22,560
years. I was a military clothing

1887
01:20:22,560 --> 01:20:24,719
designer. Someone [music] contacted me,

1888
01:20:24,719 --> 01:20:27,440
I think it was Angela, and said Indian

1889
01:20:27,440 --> 01:20:30,159
Brook is having a show um at the end of

1890
01:20:30,159 --> 01:20:32,080
the year, Willy Wonka. would you be

1891
01:20:32,080 --> 01:20:33,300
willing in helping with costumes?

1892
01:20:33,300 --> 01:20:34,000
[music]

1893
01:20:34,000 --> 01:20:36,159
I did a couple of prototypes. We went to

1894
01:20:36,159 --> 01:20:38,560
the school. They loved what I did. They

1895
01:20:38,560 --> 01:20:40,480
took kids out of class to try on the

1896
01:20:40,480 --> 01:20:42,400
costumes and they were [music] so

1897
01:20:42,400 --> 01:20:46,000
excited and giggly and it just fulfilled

1898
01:20:46,000 --> 01:20:48,560
as a grandmother like, "Oh, wow. This is

1899
01:20:48,560 --> 01:20:49,840
what I want to do for my own

1900
01:20:49,840 --> 01:20:50,800
grandchildren." [music]

1901
01:20:50,800 --> 01:20:52,880
>> That was super helpful and important.

1902
01:20:52,880 --> 01:20:54,480
and the kids got to learn different

1903
01:20:54,480 --> 01:20:56,719
skills from her. For some of the kiddos

1904
01:20:56,719 --> 01:20:59,199
that might not [music] get to do

1905
01:20:59,199 --> 01:21:01,760
individualized things or or special

1906
01:21:01,760 --> 01:21:03,430
things to be able to feel like they're

1907
01:21:03,430 --> 01:21:04,960
[music] special cuz they're working with

1908
01:21:04,960 --> 01:21:07,120
this important person who's coming into

1909
01:21:07,120 --> 01:21:07,679
the building.

1910
01:21:07,679 --> 01:21:09,520
>> Some of our students learning might not

1911
01:21:09,520 --> 01:21:11,520
be their favorite thing or it might be a

1912
01:21:11,520 --> 01:21:12,719
little bit more challenging. So [music]

1913
01:21:12,719 --> 01:21:14,560
finding that hook and finding that

1914
01:21:14,560 --> 01:21:16,239
little niche that maybe they didn't know

1915
01:21:16,239 --> 01:21:18,159
that they liked sewing or knitting, the

1916
01:21:18,159 --> 01:21:19,806
kids look forward to seeing their, you

1917
01:21:19,806 --> 01:21:21,600
[music] know, senior partner and it can

1918
01:21:21,600 --> 01:21:23,679
really excite kids about school. The

1919
01:21:23,679 --> 01:21:25,679
value it brings to the volunteers is it

1920
01:21:25,679 --> 01:21:27,679
gives them a sense of being [music] part

1921
01:21:27,679 --> 01:21:29,679
of something larger and I think it also

1922
01:21:29,679 --> 01:21:31,920
gives them an understanding of what is

1923
01:21:31,920 --> 01:21:34,719
happening within our schools. I went to

1924
01:21:34,719 --> 01:21:36,960
Manet Elementary School to work in the

1925
01:21:36,960 --> 01:21:39,520
kindergarten classrooms. A lot of

1926
01:21:39,520 --> 01:21:41,520
children need a little bit more one-

1927
01:21:41,520 --> 01:21:43,199
on-one. [music] Just another person

1928
01:21:43,199 --> 01:21:45,199
there to talk to them and ask them

1929
01:21:45,199 --> 01:21:47,120
interesting questions about their lives.

1930
01:21:47,120 --> 01:21:48,640
They ask very interesting [music]

1931
01:21:48,640 --> 01:21:51,280
questions about my life. The enthusiasm

1932
01:21:51,280 --> 01:21:53,280
and just the innocence of all the kids

1933
01:21:53,280 --> 01:21:54,480
is just great.

1934
01:21:54,480 --> 01:21:57,840
>> It is extremely extremely rewarding. I

1935
01:21:57,840 --> 01:21:59,920
enjoy learning [music] from them what

1936
01:21:59,920 --> 01:22:01,040
they're going through, some of the

1937
01:22:01,040 --> 01:22:03,040
issues that they uh think about or worry

1938
01:22:03,040 --> 01:22:04,560
about, and it gives me a better

1939
01:22:04,560 --> 01:22:06,960
perspective. I'd say there really is no

1940
01:22:06,960 --> 01:22:08,800
limit [music] to why you can't belong to

1941
01:22:08,800 --> 01:22:10,480
this program, especially if you have

1942
01:22:10,480 --> 01:22:12,320
some time. The scope of the program is

1943
01:22:12,320 --> 01:22:13,520
such that you [music] can start with

1944
01:22:13,520 --> 01:22:15,120
kindergarteners and go up to high school

1945
01:22:15,120 --> 01:22:16,800
students and you can find your niche

1946
01:22:16,800 --> 01:22:18,400
with any of those age groups [music]

1947
01:22:18,400 --> 01:22:20,480
doing what you like, but something that

1948
01:22:20,480 --> 01:22:22,800
they'll probably appreciate as well. I

1949
01:22:22,800 --> 01:22:24,719
volunteer for about an hour and a half,

1950
01:22:24,719 --> 01:22:27,272
so total, you know, with driving it was

1951
01:22:27,272 --> 01:22:29,760
[music] maybe 3 hours altogether. The

1952
01:22:29,760 --> 01:22:32,080
benefit to those 3 hours was far greater

1953
01:22:32,080 --> 01:22:33,600
than the time. It's not a [music] huge

1954
01:22:33,600 --> 01:22:35,360
time commitment. You may want to come in

1955
01:22:35,360 --> 01:22:37,600
once a week, once a month. You may want

1956
01:22:37,600 --> 01:22:39,679
to work directly with students or not.

1957
01:22:39,679 --> 01:22:41,120
Just because you're a part of the VIP

1958
01:22:41,120 --> 01:22:42,340
program doesn't mean you need to commit

1959
01:22:42,340 --> 01:22:44,159
[music] to something that is 5 days a

1960
01:22:44,159 --> 01:22:46,159
week, 180 days. We're looking for people

1961
01:22:46,159 --> 01:22:47,520
to find something that they're

1962
01:22:47,520 --> 01:22:48,960
interested in, something that they're

1963
01:22:48,960 --> 01:22:50,197
passionate about, and try to make that

1964
01:22:50,197 --> 01:22:53,360
[music] connection in our schools and match them the best we can.

1965
01:22:53,360 --> 01:22:55,440
>> We are looking to expand this program

1966
01:22:55,440 --> 01:22:56,960
for the upcoming [music] school year.

1967
01:22:56,960 --> 01:22:59,199
And if you are interested in joining, we

1968
01:22:59,199 --> 01:23:01,040
would love to have you come on board.

1969
01:23:01,040 --> 01:23:02,642
Please visit the Plymouth Public Schools

1970
01:23:02,642 --> 01:23:12,310
[music] website for more information.

1971
01:23:12,320 --> 01:23:15,199
» So, I just want to thank Seth and Ed TV

1972
01:23:15,199 --> 01:23:16,480
for putting that together. I think it's

1973
01:23:16,480 --> 01:23:18,960
a great promotional video, but again, it

1974
01:23:18,960 --> 01:23:22,000
just and those that's a small example of

1975
01:23:22,000 --> 01:23:24,480
the many volunteers and and sort of the

1976
01:23:24,480 --> 01:23:26,320
impact it's had on them. Um, they've had

1977
01:23:26,320 --> 01:23:29,040
a greater impact on us. But getting back

1978
01:23:29,040 --> 01:23:32,320
to like also your conver your question

1979
01:23:32,320 --> 01:23:34,880
Kathy about like the importance of you

1980
01:23:34,880 --> 01:23:36,880
know getting our community in our

1981
01:23:36,880 --> 01:23:38,560
schools to really have a great

1982
01:23:38,560 --> 01:23:41,040
appreciation for the kids and the staff

1983
01:23:41,040 --> 01:23:46,080
and what's going on. So um opening the doors not just the the

1984
01:23:46,080 --> 01:23:48,080
window but opening the doors to our

1985
01:23:48,080 --> 01:23:50,159
school. So it's been a I'm just so

1986
01:23:50,159 --> 01:23:51,840
excited that it's it's you know we got

1987
01:23:51,840 --> 01:23:53,600
the ground get it got off the ground

1988
01:23:53,600 --> 01:23:56,159
last year and look forward to how it

1989
01:23:56,159 --> 01:23:57,440
expands this year.

1990
01:23:57,440 --> 01:24:02,560
>> Yeah. No, great great program. Great video. I love that.

1991
01:24:02,560 --> 01:24:03,520
>> Very cool.

1992
01:24:03,520 --> 01:24:04,639
>> Thank you.

1993
01:24:04,639 --> 01:24:06,880
>> All right, let's keep rolling here. Uh,

1994
01:24:06,880 --> 01:24:08,000
next up we have retirement

1995
01:24:08,000 --> 01:24:09,679
announcements. Dr. Blazel,

1996
01:24:09,679 --> 01:24:11,760
>> we have one retirement this evening. Deb

1997
01:24:11,760 --> 01:24:14,080
Travers retired from Plymouth North from

1998
01:24:14,080 --> 01:24:17,040
Project Growth on September 23rd.

1999
01:24:17,040 --> 01:24:18,639
>> All right, Miss Jackson.

2000
01:24:18,639 --> 01:24:21,040
>> Thank you to Miss Travers for her 19

2001
01:24:21,040 --> 01:24:22,960
years of service to the district and we

2002
01:24:22,960 --> 01:24:27,280
wish her good luck on her next chapter.

2003
01:24:27,280 --> 01:24:29,360
Thank you. [clears throat] All right.

2004
01:24:29,360 --> 01:24:32,239
Next up, we have uh just our uh report

2005
01:24:32,239 --> 01:24:34,880
out. So, uh any committee member uh

2006
01:24:34,880 --> 01:24:36,480
updates.

2007
01:24:36,480 --> 01:24:38,960
>> I have packed this week.

2008
01:24:38,960 --> 01:24:41,360
>> Oh, upcoming. All right. Thanks.

2009
01:24:41,360 --> 01:24:44,880
>> I um attended safety committee. Um

2010
01:24:44,880 --> 01:24:46,480
although I won't report out on

2011
01:24:46,480 --> 01:24:48,239
everything that we talked about, I just

2012
01:24:48,239 --> 01:24:50,719
want to say that I'm always impressed by

2013
01:24:50,719 --> 01:24:53,120
the collaboration that we have across

2014
01:24:53,120 --> 01:24:56,320
agencies with the police, the fire, the

2015
01:24:56,320 --> 01:24:58,800
administration, the tech support teams

2016
01:24:58,800 --> 01:25:01,040
that we have here

2017
01:25:01,040 --> 01:25:04,000
um and the schools and how everybody

2018
01:25:04,000 --> 01:25:06,000
works together to ensure the safety of

2019
01:25:06,000 --> 01:25:08,719
our students.

2020
01:25:08,719 --> 01:25:10,560
>> All right. Thank you, M. Jackson.

2021
01:25:10,560 --> 01:25:14,480
Anything from Michelle or Mr. Schmz?

2022
01:25:14,480 --> 01:25:15,679
this week.

2023
01:25:15,679 --> 01:25:17,760
>> All right. Thanks. Um, I've got a

2024
01:25:17,760 --> 01:25:22,400
building committee uh report. Um, I see

2025
01:25:22,400 --> 01:25:25,600
highlights of last uh excuse two weeks

2026
01:25:25,600 --> 01:25:28,800
ago meeting was uh the they are

2027
01:25:28,800 --> 01:25:32,080
evaluating designer bids for uh uh the

2028
01:25:32,080 --> 01:25:35,920
updating the visitor center. Um there is

2029
01:25:35,920 --> 01:25:38,960
uh oh for the uh new DPW administration

2030
01:25:38,960 --> 01:25:40,719
building, they're evaluating design and

2031
01:25:40,719 --> 01:25:42,239
cost options. that phase of the project

2032
01:25:42,239 --> 01:25:43,199
you go through the end of the year and

2033
01:25:43,199 --> 01:25:44,639
then they'll start fig figure out what

2034
01:25:44,639 --> 01:25:47,040
they want to actually design and go out

2035
01:25:47,040 --> 01:25:50,880
for funding for and most relevant for us

2036
01:25:50,880 --> 01:25:54,400
um for the uh elementary school project

2037
01:25:54,400 --> 01:25:56,960
um AI3 has been uh selected as the

2038
01:25:56,960 --> 01:25:58,719
architect and they're going in the in

2039
01:25:58,719 --> 01:26:01,440
the contracting process now so I think

2040
01:26:01,440 --> 01:26:04,080
anyone will know what the when that's

2041
01:26:04,080 --> 01:26:06,400
finalized I know it's in AA3's hands at

2042
01:26:06,400 --> 01:26:06,960
this point

2043
01:26:06,960 --> 01:26:09,679
>> right they were still waiting on a few

2044
01:26:09,679 --> 01:26:11,199
contractors to get back to them,

2045
01:26:11,199 --> 01:26:13,679
subcontractors to get back to them. Um,

2046
01:26:13,679 --> 01:26:15,920
so hopefully we'll hear something this

2047
01:26:15,920 --> 01:26:21,280
week. I'm hopeful, but I know we have a meeting with them and CHA on October

2048
01:26:21,280 --> 01:26:21,840
5th.

2049
01:26:21,840 --> 01:26:23,840
>> Yeah. Perfect. All right. So, yeah, we

2050
01:26:23,840 --> 01:26:24,960
should have an update by the next

2051
01:26:24,960 --> 01:26:28,400
meeting. And lastly, the next building

2052
01:26:28,400 --> 01:26:30,159
committee meeting is actually scheduled

2053
01:26:30,159 --> 01:26:33,199
for to actually at Nathaniel uh Morton.

2054
01:26:33,199 --> 01:26:34,960
the committee is actually wanting to

2055
01:26:34,960 --> 01:26:36,239
take a look at that you know all the

2056
01:26:36,239 --> 01:26:37,360
improvements that have happened to that

2057
01:26:37,360 --> 01:26:39,920
building the last um uh you know over

2058
01:26:39,920 --> 01:26:42,480
the last uh year or so especially even

2059
01:26:42,480 --> 01:26:44,880
over the summer. So it's kind of given

2060
01:26:44,880 --> 01:26:46,639
that you know rather than setting up a

2061
01:26:46,639 --> 01:26:48,000
separate tour made the decision why

2062
01:26:48,000 --> 01:26:49,360
don't we just actually meet there and

2063
01:26:49,360 --> 01:26:51,280
we'll kind of let the committee you know

2064
01:26:51,280 --> 01:26:53,040
see the building kind of showcase it and

2065
01:26:53,040 --> 01:26:55,040
then we'll actually have our our next

2066
01:26:55,040 --> 01:26:56,960
meeting there. So kind of excited about

2067
01:26:56,960 --> 01:26:59,440
that one.

2068
01:26:59,440 --> 01:27:02,239
>> That's all I got. Uh next up back to you

2069
01:27:02,239 --> 01:27:05,760
Dr. Dr. Bzel for uh personnel reports.

2070
01:27:05,760 --> 01:27:07,600
>> So we have uh [clears throat] two

2071
01:27:07,600 --> 01:27:09,040
certificated appointments during the

2072
01:27:09,040 --> 01:27:11,600
month of September, four classified

2073
01:27:11,600 --> 01:27:13,040
appointments during the month of

2074
01:27:13,040 --> 01:27:15,280
September, and we have three

2075
01:27:15,280 --> 01:27:17,600
resignations um between September and

2076
01:27:17,600 --> 01:27:19,520
the beginning of October.

2077
01:27:19,520 --> 01:27:22,025
>> All right, thank you for that.

2078
01:27:22,025 --> 01:27:23,360
[clears throat] All right, uh we're

2079
01:27:23,360 --> 01:27:25,440
cruising right along here. We are at our

2080
01:27:25,440 --> 01:27:27,120
actually un uh unfinished and new

2081
01:27:27,120 --> 01:27:29,360
business. any unfinished business or new

2082
01:27:29,360 --> 01:27:30,960
business any uh members would like to

2083
01:27:30,960 --> 01:27:33,360
bring up for uh this meeting or future

2084
01:27:33,360 --> 01:27:35,920
meetings.

2085
01:27:35,920 --> 01:27:38,080
All right, and we brings to our consent

2086
01:27:38,080 --> 01:27:40,560
agenda. Pretty uh routine agenda here.

2087
01:27:40,560 --> 01:27:43,840
We've got some uh minutes, some bills to

2088
01:27:43,840 --> 01:27:46,480
pay and some homeschooling plans and

2089
01:27:46,480 --> 01:27:50,960
some disposal of some old books.

2090
01:27:50,960 --> 01:27:53,840
Any uh anything needs to be pulled or

2091
01:27:53,840 --> 01:27:55,760
any questions or concerns on the consent

2092
01:27:55,760 --> 01:27:57,440
agenda?

2093
01:27:57,440 --> 01:28:00,080
If not, I will entertain a motion.

2094
01:28:00,080 --> 01:28:02,880
>> A motion that the Plymouth School

2095
01:28:02,880 --> 01:28:05,600
Committee approve the consent agenda as

2096
01:28:05,600 --> 01:28:06,960
presented.

2097
01:28:06,960 --> 01:28:08,960
>> All right, we have a second.

2098
01:28:08,960 --> 01:28:11,280
>> Second. All right, Michelle seconds. We

2099
01:28:11,280 --> 01:28:16,380
can vote.

2100
01:28:16,390 --> 01:28:22,070
[cough]

2101
01:28:22,080 --> 01:28:25,040
» Was it not letting me vote?

2102
01:28:25,040 --> 01:28:27,040
>> Dr. Camp was an initiative.

2103
01:28:27,040 --> 01:28:28,836
>> Sorry, I thought I clicked it. No,

2104
01:28:28,836 --> 01:28:30,239
[laughter]

2105
01:28:30,239 --> 01:28:32,480
>> we've taken so many votes.

2106
01:28:32,480 --> 01:28:34,880
>> I know there. Why isn't it doing

2107
01:28:34,880 --> 01:28:36,560
anything?

2108
01:28:36,560 --> 01:28:43,189
All right, where am I?

2109
01:28:43,199 --> 01:28:46,480
No, I'm still not getting it. Who else?

2110
01:28:46,480 --> 01:28:49,199
Hold on.

2111
01:28:49,199 --> 01:28:50,960
All right,

2112
01:28:50,960 --> 01:29:03,430
log it back in.

2113
01:29:03,440 --> 01:29:06,960
Now we got it.

2114
01:29:06,960 --> 01:29:10,239
All right, that passes unanimously.

2115
01:29:10,239 --> 01:29:13,600
Um, with that, we are at the end of our

2116
01:29:13,600 --> 01:29:15,440
uh agenda. So, we were a little behind

2117
01:29:15,440 --> 01:29:16,400
schedule and now we're ahead of

2118
01:29:16,400 --> 01:29:18,880
schedule. All right, so I will call the

2119
01:29:18,880 --> 01:29:21,360
meeting to a close at 8:27 p.m. Thank

2120
01:29:21,360 --> 01:29:24,520
you everyone.