[1:32] We are going to call the September meeting of the Southampton School Committee to order. Um, first thing on our agenda is approval of minutes from our August 5th meeting. I was supposed to look at those.

[1:50] Um, I got sidetracked by emails, but I’m going to give Joe the benefit of the doubt that he figured it out. So if we all just take a quick look, I will need someone to approve a motion to approve the minutes and then someone to second that motion. I’ll make a motion to approve the minutes. I looked them over earlier, and. So motion made by Ashley.

[2:10] Am I allowed to second if I wasn’t here? I’m just not going. I think so. I’ll second that second. The minutes. Okay. Seconded by Kate. Is there any discussion? Anyone see anything that they think needs changed? This was the meeting we did on zoom.

[2:32] Um, and then we had executive session and then came back. Oh, that’s right. Kate, you right there. The only thing I didn’t know is I have notes from the executive session. They don’t go anywhere. Okay. Nope. Great. Nope. All right. Hearing no discussion.

[2:53] Um, all in favor of the approving the meeting minutes for August 5th? I. I opposed perfect. That passes. Um, next up is public comment. Is anyone here going to speak during public comment? Erin. Nope. You’re good. All right. Uh, circulation of warrants. We already do. Um, announcements and correspondence. I’m going to guess this is, you know. Yes. Um, the there’s new law passed called the Protect act.

[3:19] And, um, the we received notification in August that, um, we had to develop a policy for the Protect act, or in response, I should say, to the Protect act. And, um, set up procedures for it. Uh, we have since, I guess, September of last year had procedures in place.

[3:45] Um, um, and those have been communicated to all the front offices, principals, etc., so that the procedures, if, um, ice were to arrive at a building are in place, what’s not in place is a policy in response to this act.

[4:10] So what I did in my, um, my update to the chairs, I shared the desk version, the, um, masc version of a template policy that could be used and customized for, uh, for a town or a district. And, um, what we need to do is just get it into a first read on an agenda. And, um, make it, uh, get it through the the procedure to be a second read and approved.

[4:34] Unfortunately, they’re telling us that it should have been done by September 1st, but we just found out about it. Um, so I think we have to just go work through the process as it is. We can’t just jump a step.

[4:50] Um, so I think at least Hampshire, the committee felt comfortable that because there’s procedures in place, they can work through the, um, the school committee process of first read, second read approval and, um, follow the procedure. Correct. We did. Um, since that meeting, have you had any response from council on this? I have, um, I forwarded it to the Hampshire Policy Subcommittee tonight. And so they are looking at it.

[5:17] Um, uh, Attorney Roche really just had a few minor edits that she wanted to add or that she encouraged to be added. Um, so I will share them with each of the committees as we go. Okay.

[5:40] Um, so, like we said at this, we first got this last week at the Hampshire meeting and I don’t know, we did feel, um, for the most part, very confident in the procedures that are already set in place at the schools and the chain of command. And what’s to happen.

[5:58] These things that are in here are pretty, um, I don’t want to say, in line with what we’re already doing, but also the reason we were hesitant is because it came with a bunch of stuff for like, veto to unpack and look at, and we didn’t want to like they’re saying like, oh, here’s this, and it needs to be passed by this date and just do it.

[6:14] And we didn’t feel comfortable just blindly saying yep, yep, yep and passing it through. So we want to take it through, like you said, the proper channels. So I mean I would suggest we do the same. That’s up for discussion and whatever everyone wants to do.

[6:29] Um, but I feel comfortable knowing the procedures that he has already had in place and has had it in place for a year, that we’re in a good spot to do the normal look at it, do a first read, see if there’s anything we think need to be tweaked, especially since council has now seen it and has some changes. Um, but that’s up to. Is you don’t really have to take a vote.

[6:44] It’s really just how you want to move forward. Right. Is that the whole that’s whole that whole part. Or is there. No. That’s it. Oh, okay. So we can talk about that and put it on the agenda for next month for a first read. Yeah. Sounds good. Uh, principals report. Oh.

[7:10] All right, so you have the principals report in your packet. We have 470 students, which is nine less than we had in June. We’ve had a few families with a couple kids in the family. Mom, move out of Southampton and then a couple, you know, outliers that just left. Um, and we are working with.

[7:33] So we had students who were, say, doubled up in a that lived in Southampton, became homeless, were doubled up in another community, had have the right to stay in Southampton, but then have in the place that they were doubled up in um had had sort of made roots there and then they decided to now go to that place. So, um, you know, that that that happens.

[7:53] But we kept them as long as we could. And what made sense. But now that the children are getting older, it made sense for them to sort of go to school in that community where they’ve been living for a few years. Um, so updates on staffing.

[8:11] Um, Daniel Roy was hired August 20th, um, to serve as our new assistant principal. He’s from Wilbraham and most recently worked in Uxbridge. His experience ranges from preschool to 12th grade. He’s been great so far. Um, I don’t know if you. You probably met him at PTL last night.

[8:26] He’s been doing his walk around and he’s been in the cafeteria, and he’s been at different things to meet the students. Um, and then Jamie Connor was hired in preschool as paraprofessional. She has tons of experience for about 28 to 30 years. I think it was as a para with students with disabilities.

[8:44] Chelsea Bosio I forgot to mention at the last meeting, but she was hired when we met last time, um, as our gym teacher to replace Mr. Hallett, who retired. She comes from West Hampton Elementary, where she was a part time gym teacher, and then we have an occupational therapist position open at 2.4. So we had 1.35 before.

[9:04] Um, and so the there was one person who was 1.0 and she left in like March or April and the position wasn’t filled but needed to be filled. And then over the summer, the person that was left, um, wanted to be increased to full time. So she’s almost full time. She’s like 0.9. So that left or 0.95 and that left 0.4.

[9:22] So we’re trying to hire someone for two days a week and to focus mainly on preschool. Uh, in that position is posted and we’re looking to interview this week. Um, some curriculum and instruction updates.

[9:40] The Mass Cultural Council has awarded us a grant for $5,000 for an artist in residence to work with our third graders on creative writing, and it’s, um, Motoko. And she has worked with us before. Probably not in the past 4 or 5 years, but she has done this before, and it’s a really great opportunity for our third graders to do some really good writing.

[9:55] And that’s a critical stage of, of, you know, um, we’re not reading to learning to read anymore. We’re reading to learn. And then we’re also incorporating good writing and MCAS testing. Grade is third grade. So we’re excited about that. And then our intervention teachers have been getting up to speed on our fast bridge interim assessments.

[10:14] And looking at previous data from the spring in order to target those students in K to two in math and reading intervention. Um, we do have a math intervention teacher now that came back with the override, which is phenomenal. And two full time reading intervention teachers.

[10:30] So we’re really trying to focus on those younger grades. To start with K to two and get all the support needed in those grade levels so that we don’t continually have kids falling behind as they get up in the grades. Um, welcome back. We’ve had a great start to the 2026 2027 school year.

[10:48] Um, cafeteria has been wonderful. We have one grade level at a time. Last year we tried to have two grade levels at a time in the cafeteria in order to cut down on the amount of time that myself and the assistant principal were in the cafeteria. However, it really didn’t work. It was noisy.

[11:07] We also had two grade levels out at recess at one time. You know, 120 kids out at recess. We have the space, but I think it works out better when the staff that are out there can really work with the one grade level at a time and teach students how to, you know, be

[11:23] good sharing and taking turns and how to use this play structure effectively and all that stuff. So it’s been great. Um, we had our preschool students arrive on September 2nd and that’s gone great. Ice Cream Social was a wonderful event. Thank you so much to the PTO. Huge success.

[11:41] I mean, every time I looked up, the lines were just getting longer and longer and longer. It was great. And then open House is scheduled for October 1st. It was October 8th. We had to move it. So it’s October 1st and curriculum night for grade six is September 15th at 5:00.

[11:59] What time is the open house? 6 to 7. Perfect. 6 to 7? Yes, 6 to 7. I think you said that because I definitely thought. It was. Yeah, because the paper that came on about curriculum nights has 530. So I just want to. Oh I could oh, curriculum night. I have 5:00 on my calendar.

[12:14] No that’s okay. I’m just saying that the information that came home from Miss Finney said 530. If that’s what it said, then she’s right and I’m wrong. Were you just having to prepare. For it? I can guarantee you I’m wrong.

[12:31] Um, and that’s just a bulletin board that one of our awesome teachers made welcoming some of our new staff and says, you know, you’ll fit right in there. Their face is on puzzle pieces while everyone else is on a puzzle piece. I thought that was really cute, so I thought I would include that. That’s really great. Okay. Perfect.

[12:45] Uh, superintendent report? Yes. So one of the bits of feedback I received in my evaluation last year when I started putting surveys out, was that the superintendents report was kind of really high level and, uh, dealt with DC things and ML and budget things.

[13:06] And while I personally feel it’s important for school committees to hear those things, I recognize that the input really asked for, well, what’s happening at the schools, too. So I took that, um, seriously. And so I’m going to try and balance the, the, the reports that I’m doing.

[13:25] And in line with that, uh, back to school where all the schools are back in. Finally, we have all our kids in. I’ve been out and about in classrooms, at recess, at lunch, and I, of course, was here last year at recess and lunch and the decibel level at recess or at lunch is certainly lower. The kids are calmer.

[13:45] It’s it’s a, um, a better atmosphere, I think, for kids to just to eat, um, outside. It’s a better atmosphere for supervision for, for teachers that they don’t have to stress. About 120 students. It’s just one grade level. I was out there swinging today and running around with some kids. Um, and it’s, uh, it’s wonderful.

[14:04] Saw some eggs being taken from the the chicken coop, which was nice. Um, but I also got into some classrooms. And what I’m really seeing in the classrooms that I’ve been to so far is routines being set, expectations being set, and really reminding students and giving them an opportunity to understand what

[14:23] they should be doing when they’re in a classroom, in the hallway at recess, at lunch, etc.. So, um, it for me, it’s just exciting to see the kids and see them out and about, uh, to have some interaction and make some connections with them, and also to see teachers doing what they do, uh, and

[14:42] supporting our students as we start this new school year off. Um, I have all the open houses listed. I just didn’t have the time. So I’ve been asking at every meeting what time the open house is ten one, 6 to 7 four. Norris. Um, I will certainly be there.

[15:04] Um, the the next part is more of a municipality piece. It’s, uh, slides from the Hampshire Regional Partnership, the HR energy transition meeting, and, um, Dan Abrahamsson was hired by Southampton, Williamsburg and West Hampton to look at the infrastructure of the towns and the schools within the towns, including Hampshire Regional, to see where improvements could be made.

[15:29] And he has a plan, uh, the, the the report that you have received an electronic version, uh, you can click on it and see the plan and it’s really an impressive timeline that braids together opportunities for a grant, resources and also, um, brings in the MSBA, which we’ve who’ve we’ve met with a couple times.

[15:51] And we now have to get back together and start thinking about what that, um, uh, submission is going to look like, uh, because unfortunately, Hampshire’s boilers of the three, only one is online. And one other is not functional. And the second, the third one is, um, needs to be repaired to be brought online.

[16:14] So our goal is to have that third, the the one that is operable be brought back online. So we have two of the three going. My fear is what happens if.

[16:33] And that’s why this is really important that we get the towns together and think about how we can, uh, braid together these grant resources and defray the cost so that grants are picking it up. But we can improve the facility up there, which ultimately benefits every town because they’re the biggest, uh, energy user in all five towns. Right. Um, for your information there, uh, the upcoming orientation events for the MASC, uh, the charting the course.

[16:56] I don’t know who’s taken that or who hasn’t, but I put the links to the September 19th, November 4th to sixth, and the December 12th, um, events. Uh, hold on one second. Sorry. The November is is the annual joint conference.

[17:15] October 17th is West Springfield, and that’s probably a good one to go to if you don’t want to travel to Danvers. Um, the Protect act. I’ve already talked about. And one really piece of, uh, piece of good news that is at a high level, but it affects the school, uh, specifically, we have, um, we have been granted rural aid again from the state, uh, initially we weren’t going

[17:37] to get as sizable of a grant from the state, but they, uh, with advocacy efforts from school committees, from our legislators, uh, we have, uh, cobbled together about $20 million in aid of 67 schools. Norris is one.

[18:00] And they will be receiving we will be receiving $139,154 in rural aid. And that is a huge for us in the West. Who are regionals and rurales and who don’t necessarily get the same slice of the pie from the chapter 70 formula and the Student Opportunity Act. And unless anybody has any questions, that’s all I have for you. Before.

[18:24] Uh, cheers. Oh. That’s me. Um, we did meet, um, as chairs, uh, with Vito last week. The week before, um, right after school had started. Uh, just kind of like housekeeping type stuff for the most part.

[18:49] Um, the one caveat that I will say, and I know I’m gonna say it because Trish shared it in our meeting, is that Vito has expressed the fact that this is his last year in his contract. Um, and due to a plethora of things, not, um, just one versus the other.

[19:09] Um, he is he just wants to be transparent and letting us know that he is not a 100% one way or the other, seeking, um, a renewal, uh, just so that we have we’re in a good position going forward. If that decision needs to be made closer to the end of his contract. Um, other than that, there wasn’t a ton of stuff we talked about.

[19:26] Um, at the chair’s meeting. Um, but I’m sure there will be more to come. Um, Hampshire Regional School Committee is also me. Um, that’s kind of already went over that. We talked about the Protect Act stuff. Um, we went over some budget stuff, but nothing, anything that was crazy.

[19:47] Um, a lot of it was talking also about the grants and helping to get funding for the boilers and stuff like that. Uh, PTO. Is we met yesterday. Um, so far this year, we have had a pretty successful year.

[20:07] We did a new Chalk the Walk initiative the night before school as a little bit of a community building event, and had a nice, steady stream of participants and a pretty good response from the community. The next day when all the kids and families. And that looked really good, just shut it right. It was turned out pretty great.

[20:22] Um, we also did a welcome back lunch for the teachers, and we had a really successful ice cream social. I did hear personally from a new employee at, um, Norris just how welcoming she felt like from Mrs. Pluta all the way down to the PTO.

[20:43] Everyone that she’s interacted with, she was just saying it’s been such a welcoming experience joining the Norris community. So that was really nice to hear. Um, we approved some teacher requests last night for classroom supplies, some field trip offsets, and curriculum requests to be able to cover the handwriting without tears curriculum for grades 2 to 4. So we really excited about that.

[21:00] Um, and our upcoming events are going to be our bake sale at the open House. And Mrs. Pluta is allowing us to set up outside. So we’re going to be selling a little bit beforehand too, for anyone watching or listening. Um, and then we’re also going to be organizing.

[21:18] We’re working on a new, um, fall community engagement event, looking to do some type of like collaborative apple picking, um, hopefully at a local orchard. Um, and then planning our trunk and treat our trunk or treat event, which is going to be October 23rd. Uh, school. Have you guys met for school? We have.

[21:40] Not met yet. I am going to be seeking volunteers to serve on the school council in the next couple of weeks. I’ll send something out to the parents and to the teachers to get representatives. Uh, see? Yes. Okay. So.

[22:05] Um, CS meeting, uh, met on, um, August 26th for an extremely long meeting, and it was really, um, I participated via zoom, but neither here nor there. Um, what was basically occurring was a whole bunch of voting process.

[22:22] So I guess there’s a whole layer of subcommittees that were being voted upon and people were speaking about what they’re about and back and forth. So there was a long time spent on that. There was also an hour long presentation from a representative from the CFC, which is the Coordinated Family and Community Engagement organization, and they do serve all five of our towns.

[22:39] So it was really neat to see how they do contribute. I didn’t really see a lot directly like in Southampton. I didn’t really understand how word directly related, but I know like the optical programming and things like that, as she was just trying to say that they’re looking to spread awareness and and let the community know that

[22:55] these services exist and that they’re free to families to participate in. And that was really, um, the long and the short of it. And it will be meeting monthly. So it would be meeting and at the end of September. Okay. Cool. Um. You don’t. Have a Selectboard. Okay. So. Wow. To put them on the spot.

[23:15] I’m trying to think of what view from this, but we did, um, at last night’s Selectboard meeting. Um, proposing draft, uh, selection of some board priorities.

[23:37] Um, when the financial policies and management stabilization, um, a lot of that would fall to the TLS memo that we received back in November. Um, for the first time and some of the items contained in there are interactions between, um, both Norris and Hampshire Regional and the accounting department. Um, and also references, um, you know, conclusive evidence about Central Office.

[24:06] Um, a lot of the other priorities were, um, setting a long term financial plan, five year rolling. Um, forecasts for the town and also looking at the long term um, capital projects, for example, you know, off in the future, a replacement or refurbishment noise.

[24:28] Um, so that we can start in advance of what needs to be put in place for us, other great opportunities or for the financial impacts that we can start, um, putting a roadmap together of these are different timeline deliverables that are working towards.. Awesome. Thank you for that. We’re up to you. Dawn. Right on time. Yeah. Anything else on? Um, no, not at this moment.

[24:53] Um, so just picking up on, um, what this gentleman said, and I’ve forgotten your name again. Doug. What Doug was saying about the interactions between the central office and the accounting department. Um, we are in the midst of the reconciliation of FY 26 expenditures. Um, we keep our books, the town keeps their books, and then we get together and review those.

[25:12] Um, that’s going well. Um, initially. And I don’t know what gets reported to you, but, um, initially there was a concern that, um, that we were over budget by about 6 or $700,000.

[25:36] Um, but we knew we weren’t, but it was just because the, um, accrued payroll entry that has to be made on the town side hadn’t been made. There’s two entries that get made every year, one to record the the current year’s expense, one to reverse the prior year’s expense that hadn’t been made. So it just distorted things. But we worked through that. And now we’re trying to come down to the final numbers.

[25:50] Once we get the final numbers, we’ll be able to distribute those and we can see exactly where we were in terms of yeah, so that’s FY 26. And in terms of FY 27, we are in the midst of loading the budgets that were finally approved and moving forward with that.

[26:11] So once we do that at the next meeting we’ll have documentation to provide. Normally when I’m here, I provide all of that documentation. Um, the other thing is we’ve had some conversations and I think that may come up later in the in the agenda.

[26:30] We’ve had some conversations regarding the salary schedules and such, and, um, we do have some, some things to present relative to that later on in the agenda. For the public or just for us in executive session. Um, I think that would be an executive session. I just want to make sure. Yes, yes, that would be an executive session.

[26:46] And then, um, but we’ve been in conversation and I think there’s a very elegant solution to all of that. So other than that, um, the new, um, internal district accountant started last week and we’re trying to come up to speed with that. That would be, um. Oh, the old. The other person left after six months, and now we have a new person. That was Kim that left.

[27:07] Right? It was Kim that left. And now we have. Teams doing payroll. Pardon me. Rebecca is now doing. Yes, yes. So you still are. Short of person and working through that. Okay. Okay. So where does the job play in.. He’s Vito’s assistant. Okay. Uh, administrative assistant. Yes. Makes sense.

[27:25] Yeah. And our department. So especially for those people who are new, um, I’m the business administrator and have responsibility for the payroll. And there’s one person who does the payroll for all five schools, and then there’s one person who does the accounts payable for all five schools.

[27:46] And then we have now an accountant that does the accounting for all five schools. And then I do the budgeting along with this person who isn’t here, um, and who hasn’t been here for several years. And so we limping along the best we can.

[28:06] And, um, we’ve dug out from a number of issues and we’re making progress and, um, we just try to do our best in answering everybody’s questions. So thank you. All right. We are up to policies. I’m not 100% sure what the first policies. Yeah.

[28:30] One of the things we talked about at the end of last year was how are we going to update the policy manuals at the elementary schools when the elementary schools don’t necessarily have a budget subcommittee? Oh, right. Yep. So one of the things we talked about was, well, the MASC could send policies for update in their newsletters. DC could send something, the state could send something like the Protect act, right. And um, Hampshire Regional because they do have a budget subcommittee. They do this work to update their manual.

[28:53] So when something comes that could be appropriately, uh, worked through the process at the elementary level. Right. I said I would bring it to you so we could get it on the agenda for first read. So BDA School Committee organizational meeting was approved. 831 at the Hampshire level.

[29:15] It’s now appropriate for all our elementary schools to look at it, update it and get their policy manual in line with, uh, the updated policies. Right. I remember that you say. That I’m here for you. I thank you. Um, so, yeah. So this will be our first read for this, um, which just means we’re gonna look at it.

[29:31] Um, it’ll get posted so that the public can weigh in on it. Um, but I think it just basically has to do with, um, what we already do. As far as reorganization meetings. It just gives it more context. Treasurer. Uh, we. Know because the that’s the regionals. Yeah, that’s the regionals. That’s exactly correct. It’s okay. Hampshire regional.

[30:04] Higher ed. Yeah. Summer fun. And they have the treasurer, I believe, for. That. Oh, okay. Gotcha. Gotcha, gotcha. We don’t have it. We don’t have any. All right, so say perfect. And the treasurer for the region does other things such as. Bank reconciliation. So that was a whole conversation to actually know.

[30:26] Is it on the agenda? I was going to say I don’t see it. Or is it in the. Is it in the. I’m sorry. It’s in a school. Committee organizational meeting. It’s in the packet. Then the agenda. Yeah. The policy. Yeah I know, but does it say on here. I don’t see any language about treasure if that’s what you’re asking.

[30:41] Oh district. Yep. It’s the last. One two. Third paragraph down lesson. Yep. Um. Oh there it is. Funny because we do a for. Chain chair. We did a. like written ballot up there. We didn’t do that here. All right. Well the regional agreement has different parameters for those things.

[31:02] Okay okay okay. So you look at this and think anything in there. Oh so you got to. Remove state line or regional agreement. Require elections Shelby I don’t think that’s true either. So I don’t think that’s needed. So this is pertaining to us. It is it was a the this was done for Hampshire. Yep.

[31:24] But we are also a school committee and have organizational meetings which we had in June. Um, so like Vito was saying, any policies that start there that makes sense for the elementary schools to have, he’s bringing to us. So this is what they set. We said yes to up there.

[31:42] Um, it’s obviously more tailored to than the Hampshire than it is here. Um, so like this, we can read through it, cross stuff out and make changes. We’ll bring a changed, updated form to our next meeting for a second read.

[31:59] And if that looks good, then we’ll say, okay, yeah, we’ll stick this in our policy manual so that it’s consistent throughout the district to a certain extent. So yeah, it’s not um. I’ll make a. Good thing that he brought this tonight. I just want to make this. Now, because if we do our our policy on policies, if we make substantial changes. It has to be.

[32:17] First read. So if we can meet these now. Right. So we’re taking out that we’re taking out the ballot thing right. Uh. The first meeting. Rochester. And we’re just are we just going to say that we are not doing an election by ballot.

[32:37] Or strike that entire sentence? Sentence number two of the second paragraph four says state law and state law does not require because we’re not a regional school association. Okay. Always good to have attorney present as. Well. Right. Perfect. Moving on to our next policy, which is. What. You what? Sorry. We gotta remove a point. Official depository for district funds. Yeah. Don’t do that. As we remove as well.

[33:05] Can we just get rid of that entire. Paragraph bars? That one. Totally good. The bottom. At the time of place of regular meetings and attend to other organizational regular businesses listed on the agenda. Or just get rid of. Just. Get a. Point for. An official depository for district. So we don’t have district. Okay.

[33:28] What was the first change that you had suggested? Dylan. The last sentence of one two. Do we need. To do any changes to the term? It says all. All of whom will hold their respective offices for a term of one year, or until. We do it every. Year we. Do it. That’s fine. Okay. All right.

[33:50] Now moving on to the next policy, which is the cell phone, smartwatches and all personal electronic devices. Um, so I had drafted a policy. I had worked on this last year before I was chair.

[34:13] Um, I then looked at policies of surrounding communities that have this because last year there was this push for, um, the state to pass a bell to Bell policy where there are no personal electronic devices of any kind from start to finish of school year. To my knowledge, that has not been fully passed yet. Correct. To my knowledge, it hasn’t been fully passed yet. Correct.

[34:36] So either way, to get ahead of that, um, and to be in line with a lot of other schools, uh, that have policies similar to this, I wrote one, I brought that, and then I sent it to our attorney, and this is what she came up with based on what I had already said. So this is our first read.

[34:51] We did see this last June. Mm. And it was substantially different. Substantially different. It was I had a very minimal things and she brought into it. So it covers all our bases. Um, so this is our first read for this.

[35:14] Um, the thing about this, I want to make public knowledge to parents more so than anything else. I don’t know that there’s a lot of kids carrying phones during the school day. However, any kid that has an Apple Watch should not be wearing that Apple Watch during school.

[35:29] That is considered a personal electronic device, and that is supposed to be stored away and off during the school day. I guess that’s the piece that I worry most about having to be enforced more than kids. Walking around an. Apple Watch, even if it’s a.

[35:49] If it is any kind of smart device, smartwatch or anything other than like a digital or analog, and it’s considered a smart device, it is not supposed to be on them during the school. Day. Right? Um, so. I guess that’s the only piece that I. and worry about being enforced more so than the phones. Right. And it is in our handbook. It is such.

[36:08] It is that’s the other part is that we already have a policy in the handbook or procedure. Sorry, procedure in the handbook that there are not supposed to be any electronic devices. This backs that up with it being our school committee policy, that there are no electronic devices. What the, um, disciplinary actions are. Sure, there need to be any kind of a thing. That’s in the handbook.

[36:34] It is already. Yeah. If you went into the Norris handbook, that was the other part is like it took what was in the Norris Handbook, which I had in our like. You’ll see it. It references the Norris Handbook and the bottom of the policy as where some of the information came from. Uh.

[36:50] Is this in line with is there an existing Hampshire regional policy on. Smart? There’s this different they use yonder pouches. They do have a as well a policy of there are no phones during school.

[37:10] Um, they have a different difference is again, they have the yonder approaches, which if you’re not familiar, are pouch like a little foam case that has a very strong magnet on it. And the kids are to all lock. They have locks like magnetic locks at the doors when you walk in and you’re gonna lock your phone in that pouch, and then you unlock it when you leave. So it’s locked.

[37:23] You can’t get in it unless you have a medical issue. And then it’s more just like Velcro. So if you have to check your blood sugar or anything like that, there’s accommodations for that. After last year, they did have some pushback from the seniors on the policy.

[37:43] So I believe this year seniors don’t have to use the yonder pouches, but they are still required to not have their phones on or being used during the school day. Okay. But yes, it is very across like they’re in here, that there has not to be any personal electronic devices. Um, during the day. At all. Great. So this is districtwide or just for.

[38:08] This is Hampton just for Southampton. Because we have a different policy there. Okay. We are our own entity. Right now. I understand that. I’m just, um, so I was just looking through this. Is my clarify now because this is going to be. Yeah. very confusing thing. We are the Southampton.

[38:24] School District. I understand that there is only one school in the Hampshire Regional School District. Okay. That’s Hampshire Regional High School, right? Right. We have an agreement with the Hampshire Regional School District for sharing of central office costs.

[38:38] And we send all of our kids to the high schools with the Hampshire Regional School District does not include William Memorial Country. So when you see district and a policy that we set, it applies only to because we have one school in our school district. So hence the different starts of school date, okay. That’s for multiple forms. Hence I know I’m just. Clarifying. There’s a lot there’s a lot more after that.

[38:57] There’s a lot. But that’s just the start. That’s that’s the that’s the very short. List here. Bus transportation. Right. Yeah. Share what I. Didn’t really. Share. Transportation. All sorts of stuff through. This okay. Yeah. Nice. Um, this part where it says personal electronic devices must be off and out of sight during the school day off.

[39:20] Out of sight. Feels like a bit vague and like a room that I don’t know. I feel like teachers. Maybe if you’re the one enforcing this policy, it’d be nice to have a firmer, clear understanding of where they’re supposed to be. Go like often in your backpack, often in your because.

[39:38] Can you imagine a sixth grader who goes out of sight? Yeah. Good one. You know. I we do tell them they need to keep them in their lockers or their backpacks, and their backpacks are usually in their lockers.

[39:58] Um, but when you think about, you know, second, we haven’t had an issue, right? We really I mean, a couple times with sixth graders or fifth graders going in the bathroom and texting a parent after they took their phone from their locker. But that was, you know, once a year or whatever, or, um, student texts their parent because they don’t feel well and they say, come pick me up.

[40:18] And the only time I know that is when the parent shows up at the office and says, I’m picking up my child, she’s sick. Oh, she’s in, the nurse’s out. She’s not in the nurse’s office. She texted me. I’m like, oh, no.

[40:27] So, um, you know, we we we tell the teachers, tell the kids that they need to be in their lockers. But also, I mean, it’s not protected in their locker from something being taken. Right? So that’s the risk. And it says not responsible for, you know, what you’re bringing to school. But I hear you. Yeah, I.

[40:45] Like if we’re making a policy, it feels like. I don’t know. avoiding big state. So to that point, sometimes the policies are up here. And the umbrella that covers the procedures. So, um, out of sight in actuality means in a locker in a, um, a backpack, etc.. Yeah.

[41:06] So just gives a little wiggle room or a little latitude for the administrator to do. Yeah. Yeah, I guess I’m just thinking about teachers are really the ones that are enforcing this policy, which I always feel like is an unfortunate position to be in.

[41:23] Do you choose not enforce policies? Teachers enforce procedures. The procedures are dictated in the student handbook, which are the actual rules. You know what? Let me look at the. handbook here. What it. Says okay. So if the if administration. Was. In the student handbook out of sight shall be defined as. I see. ABC, then the administrators. don’t do. That. Right. And I’m not sure.

[41:43] I see I see what you’re being. More vague is better. Because it allows for more. Local discretion. Right. Thank you. That makes sense. That also. Coming from a firsthand experience every day of my life, um, that is those those vague statements also lead to a lot of inconsistencies with kids.

[42:06] Granted, I work with high school students. However, it’s different place to place it. We have umbrella terms such as this that don’t provide enough solid structure for there to be consistencies, because somebody might be a little bit more flexible here, more strict there.

[42:29] And so kids especially, I was thinking kids that, um, have a difficult time with inconsistencies in, I guess, procedures. Um, that can be unnerving for some. But I this is I think this is okay, but I, I, I agree with that because for me at a site community kid puts it under their leg on it in class. Well, it’s a way miss. No, no it’s not.

[42:44] So I, I’m very specific about how to go into a location, but we’re in a different age bracket. And I understand what you’re saying there, but I, I can see where that might lead down the road to more of these bathroom sneaks and things such as that, I guess. To the point you all are making.

[43:00] The, um, this is a first read, so we can look at what the the handbook says, and then that could always be adjusted to fit the policy that ultimately will be approved after a second read. Oh, did you find it? I found the 25, 26 version of it. Yes. That’s the latest and greatest until I change the.

[43:22] Date. Which I put in my notes. So phones and smartwatches pretty quickly. I know. We’re not even out of the first month that you have, Grace. Thank you.. Grace. No, it’s the choir. Oh, I’m like, what’d you say? Whistling daughter? Oh. It doesn’t say lot. In the. Current handbook says cell. Phones and.

[43:47] Smartwatches must be off and out of sight during the school day. Any cell phone smartwatches that are out during the day will be held by school staff. And for a caregiver to pick up. School is not responsible for any cell phones left in lockers or lost at school, so perhaps our policy is good.

[44:06] And we and the procedure needs to be. defined okay. Specifically where they should. Be perfect. I also find that last line to be a little tricky, because if we’re going to ask them to keep them in their lockers and what was the last line again. The school.

[44:22] Is not responsible for any cell phones left in lockers or lost at school. That that’s in at the in our policy to if you’re choosing to bring it, you’re taking on the risk of it not being there. Should you.. Right.

[44:39] And what makes it tricky to I understand we want to say, well, what if the kid doesn’t know that? So I don’t that’s why I don’t like to do specifics. We say must be connected backpacks. Why don’t you go back, right. or right? Yeah. And right. I can get you the price that the Hampshire regional pay to the Andre pouches. And I can guarantee you $30,000.

[44:53] Yeah, but there are a lot of other districts that use low tech options, like a shoe rack that hangs on the back of the door, and you gotta put your stuff in there, you know, like it’s not yonder pouch or bus. I don’t think that we have the need to even go there.

[45:06] I don’t think so. I mean, yeah. I have two questions. How so? What’s the difference between this and that? This is our, um, like you said, our umbrella policy. We are saying that here’s a policy. Now, you must make a procedure to enforce this policy that we are creating.

[45:29] We actually did it backwards because there was already a procedure. We drafted a policy that supports what’s already being happened. Okay. Correct. Okay. And then the date needs to be modified to 26. Oh, sorry. Spacious okay. So we’ll consider that a first read. If everyone’s after discussion okay. With it being the handbook that because that’s more often what parents will see. Yes okay. First this.

[45:53] Yeah. Nope. That sounds weird. Will this live? This will live on the Hampshire region. Hampshire regional, our website or the Norris website policies. Yes, yes. Thank you. Okay. Cool. So those will both be two new reads for next month. Second reads I mean, um, we don’t have any old business that we need to discuss, right? Yeah.

[46:20] You, however, Miss Pluta had a new business for the fourth grade. Teachers would like to take the fourth graders to the Connecticut Science Center on December 4th, 2026. And I’m asking for permission to take the students out of state to Connecticut.

[46:39] Um, the bus cost is 1245, and the admission fee is $12. And the PTO graciously, nicely has donated $780. I think that’s probably the cost of admission. And then the kids will pay, or the parents will pay for the cost of the bus. It’s probably like 20 bucks a kid or something. If you divide it out. So if you approve, I have a signature page for you.

[46:59] I move that we approve the fourth grade for the trip to the Connecticut Science Center, as described by Principal Pluta and authorize the chair of the committee. Um, Dylan makes the motion to approve the Connecticut Science Center Museum. Do I have move? I’m sorry. Ashley has seconded that motion. Um, all those in favor? Aye.

[47:19] All opposed. Passes unanimously. So for all of the new people, um, any field trip that takes the kids out of state, we need to approve. Just so now. Um, okay. Does anyone else have anything else that we need to discuss before we go into executive session, which I again, will need a motion for? Wait.

[47:52] Just remind you to invite. Yes. You have to invite Lori. Elizabeth. And Don. I move. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I move that we go into executive session to discuss strategy or go to executive session pursuant to Master of Laws, chapter 3821, a sub three strategy with respect to Collective bargaining or Litigation.

[48:17] If an open meeting may have the detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body. If it does, the Chancellor declare. I do declare. And we would like to invite the superintendent building principal, uh, representatives from the Sta. And Mrs. Administrator. Second. Philip makes the motion and Ashley second for that motion. Um, we need a roll call. Vote.

[48:49] Um. Oh, and we will not be returning to public session. Correct. Uh, still. Stone, I. I want to say. Is that I. , John and I, we’re good public portion at this moment of this meeting is now concluded. Hi.

Southampton School Committee 9/9/2

Transcript