1 00:03:52,239 --> 00:03:54,080 meeting. I call this meeting of Westboro 2 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:56,400 School Committee to order. The time is 6 3 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:58,480 p.m. The meeting is recorded live on 4 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,120 Westboro TV. All those who can please 5 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:05,270 rise for the pledge of allegiance. 6 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:08,319 I aliance to the flag of the United 7 00:04:08,319 --> 00:04:11,040 States of America. and to the republic 8 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:14,560 for it stands one nation 9 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:17,280 indivisible with liberty and justice for 10 00:04:17,280 --> 00:04:21,990 all. 11 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:24,560 » Thank you. 12 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:28,320 Um we're going to start our meeting with 13 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:30,400 citizens request. Is there anybody here 14 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:35,030 that would like to speak? 15 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:37,919 Okay. 16 00:04:37,919 --> 00:04:39,360 This 17 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:39,688 Good evening. 18 00:04:39,688 --> 00:04:40,160 [laughter and clears throat] 19 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:42,160 >> Good evening. Rod Shepard, a Parkland 20 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:43,919 Street. And I know the last thing 21 00:04:43,919 --> 00:04:44,880 >> and uh sorry, I just got to read 22 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:46,560 something real quick here. Apologies. Uh 23 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:48,720 so before we begin uh begin, we will 24 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:50,240 remind everyone of the school committee 25 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:52,560 policy regarding citizens request. Uh so 26 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:53,919 you must be a current resident of 27 00:04:53,919 --> 00:04:55,680 Westboro. Speakers are allowed to 28 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:56,720 address the school committee about 29 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:58,000 issues within the school committee's 30 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:00,080 purview. Each speaker will be allowed up 31 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:01,520 to three minutes to speak to the school 32 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:03,520 committee. Written comments longer than 33 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:05,040 three minutes may be presented to the 34 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:06,560 presiding chair before or after the 35 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:08,080 meeting. You are welcome to hand the 36 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:09,600 chair additional comments in writing now 37 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:11,199 or send them via email and the chair 38 00:05:11,199 --> 00:05:12,320 will share them with the other school 39 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:14,400 committee members. Public comments by 40 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:15,840 residents at this meeting is not a 41 00:05:15,840 --> 00:05:17,600 discussion, debate or dialogue between 42 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:19,440 individuals of the school committee. Is 43 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:21,280 an individual's opportunity to express 44 00:05:21,280 --> 00:05:23,039 an opinion on issues within the school 45 00:05:23,039 --> 00:05:24,800 committee's authority. Our role is to 46 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:26,240 listen carefully to what you have to 47 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:27,919 share with us tonight. Clapping, 48 00:05:27,919 --> 00:05:29,600 sharing, calling out or any other noise 49 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:31,199 during the following uh a following 50 00:05:31,199 --> 00:05:33,120 speaker is not allowed. At the close of 51 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:34,800 citizens requests, school administrators 52 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:36,479 may address what the sh what was shared 53 00:05:36,479 --> 00:05:38,560 by the speakers if they wish to do so. 54 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:40,000 State your full name and street address 55 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,400 and speak directly into the microphone. 56 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:45,759 >> Thank you. Rod Shaper, 8 Barkman Street. 57 00:05:45,759 --> 00:05:47,199 And I know the last thing you guys want 58 00:05:47,199 --> 00:05:49,840 to talk about right now is roofs, but so 59 00:05:49,840 --> 00:05:51,919 I'll make this very brief. So I 60 00:05:51,919 --> 00:05:54,639 understand from the agenda today that uh 61 00:05:54,639 --> 00:05:56,000 one of the things being considered is 62 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:58,160 your capital projects for next year. 63 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:00,080 within those capital projects, there's a 64 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:04,080 number of roofing uh uh proposals. And 65 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:06,400 you know, I've cautioned the school 66 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:10,800 board that uh over the last several 67 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:13,520 roofing projects, 68 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:15,680 the person who's made the recommendation 69 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:18,000 on what to do has been the manufacturer 70 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:20,080 that's provided through roofing systems. 71 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:22,000 And I'm not saying that anybody's trying 72 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:25,919 to do anything uh illegal or anything 73 00:06:25,919 --> 00:06:27,919 like that. I just said I think the 74 00:06:27,919 --> 00:06:30,080 system is set up right now that we're 75 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:31,600 really limiting ourselves to a 76 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:34,080 proprietary system and I know Jacob has 77 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:37,039 agreed to look into this. Uh but before 78 00:06:37,039 --> 00:06:39,600 we go forward with any capital project, 79 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:41,759 I would strongly recommend that we get 80 00:06:41,759 --> 00:06:45,280 an independent roofing uh consultant 81 00:06:45,280 --> 00:06:47,039 involved. 82 00:06:47,039 --> 00:06:49,199 Candly, I'm not even sure that sealing 83 00:06:49,199 --> 00:06:52,160 the roofs is the right solution versus 84 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:54,800 uh putting in new roofs. One of the 85 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:56,880 arguments for putting ceiling as opposed 86 00:06:56,880 --> 00:06:58,400 to putting in new roofs is you can't 87 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:00,479 reuse the material from the existing 88 00:07:00,479 --> 00:07:04,639 roofs. I'm a contractor right now using 89 00:07:04,639 --> 00:07:06,720 the insulation that's been taken off 90 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:09,280 roofs as the insulation under the slabs 91 00:07:09,280 --> 00:07:11,280 for new buildings. So there are 92 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:13,360 opportunities for recycling, reusing 93 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:15,680 existing roofing products. All I would 94 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:17,919 say is let's do a little more further 95 00:07:17,919 --> 00:07:20,319 investigation before we commit ourselves 96 00:07:20,319 --> 00:07:22,479 to what's currently being proposed. 97 00:07:22,479 --> 00:07:26,960 Thank you. Thank you very much. 98 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:29,919 Okay, I think that concludes our citizen 99 00:07:29,919 --> 00:07:31,919 request. We're going to proceed with 100 00:07:31,919 --> 00:07:33,039 superintendent update. 101 00:07:33,039 --> 00:07:35,440 >> Great. I'm um happy to invite Tammy 102 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:37,120 Castella who comes here every year to 103 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:38,960 give you a little overview of what's 104 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:40,560 happening in terms of our staffing uh 105 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:43,039 particularly after the kind of final 106 00:07:43,039 --> 00:07:45,039 push in the summer and uh to give you an 107 00:07:45,039 --> 00:07:46,560 update about the start of school. So, 108 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:48,479 thank you Tammy. 109 00:07:48,479 --> 00:07:50,160 >> Hello Tammy. Welcome back. 110 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:52,720 >> Thank you. 111 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:54,879 to this. So, I want to hit you point the 112 00:07:54,879 --> 00:07:57,520 thing if you point it at me. But yeah, 113 00:07:57,520 --> 00:07:59,360 you [laughter] 114 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:00,879 think 115 00:08:00,879 --> 00:08:04,400 um thank you for having me. You do every 116 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:08,319 year. I love staffing. I love hiring. I 117 00:08:08,319 --> 00:08:10,000 enjoy my job. So, I'm just going to go 118 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:12,160 through um some of the things that have 119 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:14,160 happened since about April, since hiring 120 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:16,720 season. hiring and recruiting and hiring 121 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:19,599 is just one part of what we do, but um 122 00:08:19,599 --> 00:08:21,599 it's a very crucial part to get us ready 123 00:08:21,599 --> 00:08:23,759 for the school year. So, I will bring 124 00:08:23,759 --> 00:08:27,280 you through the slides. 125 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:32,000 Okay. Um one of the actually I sorry 126 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:35,519 there we go. Um so just some hire hiring 127 00:08:35,519 --> 00:08:37,120 highlights for the year, things that 128 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:39,680 shaped how we did things. The biggest 129 00:08:39,680 --> 00:08:41,039 thing that happened this year was the 130 00:08:41,039 --> 00:08:43,039 elementary redistricting. And so what 131 00:08:43,039 --> 00:08:46,160 that allowed us to do is to transfer 132 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:48,640 staff from two elementary schools over 133 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:52,160 to fails where um students were being 134 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:55,040 moved. So that was a big big part of our 135 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:57,760 hiring this year, how we did that. Um we 136 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:00,000 had a very large year of administrator 137 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:01,920 hiring which I'll get into. And the 138 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:03,200 other thing that made this year a little 139 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:06,560 bit um different than in previous years. 140 00:09:06,560 --> 00:09:09,839 So we have six of our seven um unions. 141 00:09:09,839 --> 00:09:12,320 We have new contracts and the unit B 142 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:14,880 which is our para educator unit which is 143 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:17,279 now called ESP which is our educational 144 00:09:17,279 --> 00:09:19,680 support personnel. We recognized that 145 00:09:19,680 --> 00:09:22,320 there were um different levels of 146 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:25,360 positions within that group. And so we 147 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:27,760 created a two-tier system. So we have a 148 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:30,080 tier two and a tier three. And because 149 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:32,640 of that um how we hired we had to be 150 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:34,880 very specific about which position we 151 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:36,240 were hiring for. So that was just 152 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:38,320 something that was um a little bit 153 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:40,800 different this year. 154 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:43,360 So as I just alluded to, we had a very 155 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:45,839 um gang buster year of hiring 156 00:09:45,839 --> 00:09:49,120 administrators for no real particular 157 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:50,560 reason that I can think of with the 158 00:09:50,560 --> 00:09:52,640 exception of um I think we've done a 159 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:56,880 good job getting our administrators um 160 00:09:56,880 --> 00:10:00,160 very skilled at their crafts. So, we had 161 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:03,360 three of our um longtime administrators 162 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:08,000 leave to go on to other places and be 163 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:10,959 promoted within their um disciplines. 164 00:10:10,959 --> 00:10:15,040 So, that was some of what we have. Um 165 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:16,640 so, these are the new administrators we 166 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:18,480 hired this year. Scott Connory at the 167 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:20,800 principal, Mark Levida who's our 168 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:24,000 athletic director, 169 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:26,160 Ryan Dewolf, director of fine arts, 170 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:28,399 Christopher Kitell and Andrea Ostroski 171 00:10:28,399 --> 00:10:29,680 are our new student service 172 00:10:29,680 --> 00:10:33,040 coordinators, Katherine Faria, who is 173 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:36,480 our um literacy and data coordinator for 174 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:39,440 grades four to eight. and Lauren Dbor, 175 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:41,279 who is one of our high school math 176 00:10:41,279 --> 00:10:43,040 teachers, has stepped in the role as a 177 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:46,160 one-year interim assistant principal, 178 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:49,200 which was part of our plan for replacing 179 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:51,600 Brian Callahan. And there's one other 180 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:54,160 administrator I didn't put on here. He's 181 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:55,760 um 182 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:57,839 he's a he's an upandcomer in education. 183 00:10:57,839 --> 00:10:59,600 I think he's going to be excellent. His 184 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:02,399 name is Jack Foley and he's taken over 185 00:11:02,399 --> 00:11:06,240 um at the high school and I think um I 186 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:10,470 think he's one to watch. 187 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:12,720 » So I usually break down our hiring into 188 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:15,839 classroom staff and everyone else. And 189 00:11:15,839 --> 00:11:19,440 so this is the bulk of our um hiring for 190 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:23,440 the classroom. We had 40.2 FTEEs and it 191 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:26,480 was just about half and half. We had 19 192 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:28,959 teachers that we hired which was 18.2 193 00:11:28,959 --> 00:11:32,160 two FTEEs, but 19 teachers and then 22 194 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:34,720 PAR educators. You can see that the bulk 195 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:38,959 of the um hiring or the higher uh hiring 196 00:11:38,959 --> 00:11:41,200 was done at Mil Pond and Gibbons. You 197 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:42,800 also see that there was more hiring done 198 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:44,640 at fails and a lot of that has to do 199 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:46,560 with switching staff from those 200 00:11:46,560 --> 00:11:49,040 elementaryaries to fails. Um and then 201 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:51,200 also having to to beef up staff a 202 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:53,040 little, but all of our staffing was a 203 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:59,590 onetoone. We didn't increase any FTEEs. 204 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:01,519 This is um something I like to go over 205 00:12:01,519 --> 00:12:04,320 every year which is this the analysis of 206 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:07,360 the new professional staff unit A. Uh we 207 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:09,839 had nine internal moves which again is 208 00:12:09,839 --> 00:12:11,839 mostly because of that redistricting but 209 00:12:11,839 --> 00:12:14,800 we also had of those nine we had two 210 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:17,279 special educators transfer within their 211 00:12:17,279 --> 00:12:20,399 own schools to general education. So um 212 00:12:20,399 --> 00:12:22,320 I have to track internal moves because 213 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:24,959 we have to then backfill them. So, it's 214 00:12:24,959 --> 00:12:27,839 considered a hire. Um, we had a Gibbons 215 00:12:27,839 --> 00:12:29,680 tutor promoted to a computer science 216 00:12:29,680 --> 00:12:31,839 teacher and we had a fails par 217 00:12:31,839 --> 00:12:33,279 profofessional promoted to a special 218 00:12:33,279 --> 00:12:35,680 educator, which I love when we're 219 00:12:35,680 --> 00:12:38,000 promoting our own staff. And we also had 220 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:40,560 an elementary long-term subteer at 221 00:12:40,560 --> 00:12:43,440 Armstrong who we recognized was an 222 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:45,120 excellent teacher and she was hired into 223 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:48,320 a permanent position at Mil Pond. of the 224 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:51,920 18 um teachers new to Westboro, we 225 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:54,560 actually had 19 new teachers that we 226 00:12:54,560 --> 00:12:57,040 hired, but one came back. She had been 227 00:12:57,040 --> 00:12:58,959 here about five years ago for five years 228 00:12:58,959 --> 00:13:01,279 left and now she's back. So we have true 229 00:13:01,279 --> 00:13:04,560 18 new teachers to Westboro. 230 00:13:04,560 --> 00:13:06,160 About three of them, out of about three 231 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:08,320 of them are in their first year, which 232 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:10,800 is great. About 60% of them fall in that 233 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:12,639 two to 234 00:13:12,639 --> 00:13:16,000 nine year range. And then we had four 235 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:18,480 that were um 10 plus years experience. 236 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:20,720 So that's the breakdown. I like to see 237 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:23,279 that sort of even level of experience. 238 00:13:23,279 --> 00:13:25,600 So we're getting all different levels. 239 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:28,959 And um of the 18 that we hired, we hired 240 00:13:28,959 --> 00:13:34,150 three educators of color. 241 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:37,120 This is um the teacher retention rates. 242 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:38,480 This is something I started tracking 243 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:43,680 when I got here. Uh 2021, 2022. I wanted 244 00:13:43,680 --> 00:13:45,760 to see if we were keeping our teachers 245 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:47,839 and I also was trying to figure out the 246 00:13:47,839 --> 00:13:49,440 teachers that left why. So I've been 247 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:51,440 tracking this for a number of years. The 248 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:52,720 important thing about this is that we 249 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:55,360 had really good retention this year. Um 250 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:58,639 we, you know, we lost teachers due to 251 00:13:58,639 --> 00:13:59,839 resignations, retirement, and 252 00:13:59,839 --> 00:14:02,959 non-renewals. Um and this is a lower 253 00:14:02,959 --> 00:14:04,959 than average turnover rate. I was doing 254 00:14:04,959 --> 00:14:09,199 some research and DESI's most recent um 255 00:14:09,199 --> 00:14:12,560 reported percentage is 90.1% is a 256 00:14:12,560 --> 00:14:14,639 teacher retention rate across the state. 257 00:14:14,639 --> 00:14:17,600 So we're at 95.4 for this year, which I 258 00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:22,790 was really happy about. 259 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:25,760 This is all the other people we hire 260 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:29,519 besides unit A and unit B. Um we don't 261 00:14:29,519 --> 00:14:31,600 hire interns, but I like to put that 262 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:34,720 number up there. 34 interns. These are 263 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:36,880 people that might and in some cases do 264 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:38,639 come back and become teachers for us. We 265 00:14:38,639 --> 00:14:42,320 also we hire interns for um educators 266 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:44,399 who were in their last year of teaching 267 00:14:44,399 --> 00:14:47,199 and so they have to come and do their uh 268 00:14:47,199 --> 00:14:49,519 student teaching here. We also hire a 269 00:14:49,519 --> 00:14:53,040 good number of school nurse interns. So 270 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:56,000 these are people that are potential for 271 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:58,639 the future that we do tap into. Um, 272 00:14:58,639 --> 00:15:01,279 we're always hiring on call substitutes, 273 00:15:01,279 --> 00:15:04,240 extended day, uh, partial year long-term 274 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:06,880 subs. We have that for our leaves of 275 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:09,360 absences, most notably maternity leaves, 276 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:10,959 but there are other childbearing leaves. 277 00:15:10,959 --> 00:15:12,560 There are others. We've hired five 278 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:15,920 custodians, five coaches, seven new, 279 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:18,800 two food service workers, 280 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:22,079 and a partridge in a pear tree. Mhm. 281 00:15:22,079 --> 00:15:24,160 >> Um, I wanted to go over just a little 282 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:26,880 bit about stuff coming up in human 283 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:28,480 resources. 284 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:32,160 The normal dayto-day is hiring and 285 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:34,560 taking care of employee issues and 286 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:36,800 benefits, um, things of that nature. 287 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:39,440 However, this year there are three 288 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:41,279 bigger things going on. We will be 289 00:15:41,279 --> 00:15:44,000 hiring a permanent principal for 290 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:47,279 Westboro High School. That will be um a 291 00:15:47,279 --> 00:15:49,199 very big hire that we'll be working on 292 00:15:49,199 --> 00:15:50,880 and we'll probably start that process in 293 00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:52,240 December and hope to have that wrapped 294 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:54,160 up by February. 295 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:57,120 We last year 296 00:15:57,120 --> 00:16:01,360 renegotiated uh six of our seven union 297 00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:03,519 contracts. So it was an extremely busy 298 00:16:03,519 --> 00:16:05,519 year and this year we only have to do 299 00:16:05,519 --> 00:16:08,000 one which is our administrator contract 300 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:09,600 which is great. So that is on the 301 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:11,440 docket. We hope to get going on that 302 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:14,079 soon. uh for our administrators in that 303 00:16:14,079 --> 00:16:15,759 union. You have your assistant 304 00:16:15,759 --> 00:16:17,519 principles, your student services 305 00:16:17,519 --> 00:16:19,839 coordinators, and your curriculum 306 00:16:19,839 --> 00:16:21,360 coordinators. 307 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:22,720 And then there's also, which you're 308 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:24,959 aware of, the efficiency study that the 309 00:16:24,959 --> 00:16:27,120 town's doing just to look at if see if 310 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:29,519 there's any redundancies between the 311 00:16:29,519 --> 00:16:33,749 school district and the town. 312 00:16:33,759 --> 00:16:36,320 And that's all I have. So, I open it up 313 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:38,079 to you for questions. 314 00:16:38,079 --> 00:16:41,360 >> Thank you. I will say that um 315 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:43,040 well I already said it actually so 316 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:44,880 there's more than just hiring that goes 317 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:46,560 on but this time of year I'd love to 318 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:48,000 come and talk to you about the hiring 319 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:49,600 because that's what's been the main 320 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:52,560 focus since about midappril to pretty 321 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:56,639 much now. Um we just landed the plane 322 00:16:56,639 --> 00:16:58,720 about a week and a half before school 323 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:00,240 started and we had all our unit A 324 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:02,320 positions filled which was great. It was 325 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:06,079 a very very um tough year for hiring 326 00:17:06,079 --> 00:17:08,480 special educators which continues to be 327 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:11,039 the trend of our 19 hires. 10 were 328 00:17:11,039 --> 00:17:13,679 special educators and I'm happy to say 329 00:17:13,679 --> 00:17:16,000 that we hired them all, but at the end 330 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:18,480 we had two that we were really pushing 331 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:20,400 for. We actually got two excellent 332 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:22,640 hires. 333 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:25,520 >> Thank you. We'll start our discussion 334 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:26,559 questions, Steve. 335 00:17:26,559 --> 00:17:28,240 >> Well, I think it's well put together 336 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:30,480 presentation and in fact has all the 337 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:32,559 pieces that we normally would be 338 00:17:32,559 --> 00:17:35,760 interested in and you've you've uh 339 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:37,840 defined them very well. Thank you. 340 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:38,799 >> Thank you. 341 00:17:38,799 --> 00:17:39,840 Jane. 342 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:41,919 >> Yeah, thank you so much for the update. 343 00:17:41,919 --> 00:17:45,440 Um, and it's very busy. Um, one thing I 344 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:46,960 was thinking about with the special 345 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:48,960 education, you know, this is a 346 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:50,480 persistent 347 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:52,880 uh challenge it sounds like. And I 348 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:56,000 wonder, do we ever have um special ed 349 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:57,840 teachers who were on one of the 350 00:17:57,840 --> 00:18:01,440 long-term sub type roles? And then, you 351 00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:03,200 know, that might be a good person to try 352 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:03,919 to hire. 353 00:18:03,919 --> 00:18:08,559 >> We do. We do, but um more often than not 354 00:18:08,559 --> 00:18:11,039 the long-term sub, we have we actually 355 00:18:11,039 --> 00:18:12,320 hired someone at the high school that 356 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:13,919 started as a long-term sub a couple 357 00:18:13,919 --> 00:18:15,840 years ago and now she's permanent at the 358 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:19,360 high school. Um but special education, 359 00:18:19,360 --> 00:18:21,200 the actual special educators, I'm not 360 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:23,360 talking about the SLPs and the OT's, the 361 00:18:23,360 --> 00:18:24,559 specialists. I'm talking about the 362 00:18:24,559 --> 00:18:26,960 actual special education teachers 363 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:29,919 continues to be a dwindling group. And 364 00:18:29,919 --> 00:18:31,760 um it's like this. We have a greater 365 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:34,160 need for them and they're dwindling. And 366 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:36,799 so this summer there was lots of emails 367 00:18:36,799 --> 00:18:38,640 between myself and my peers at other 368 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:40,640 districts saying, "Do you have any 369 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:42,160 special educators? Do you have any 370 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:43,840 special educators?" That was maybe your 371 00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:45,440 number two or your number three. So it 372 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:47,120 wasn't just here. It was pretty much 373 00:18:47,120 --> 00:18:48,799 everywhere. 374 00:18:48,799 --> 00:18:51,120 >> Yeah. I mean it just seems like if it's 375 00:18:51,120 --> 00:18:53,840 something that's a issue for us that's 376 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:57,280 ongoing strategizing um maybe with the 377 00:18:57,280 --> 00:19:01,039 student with with Meg Garvey too about 378 00:19:01,039 --> 00:19:04,160 um how we can and and I know sometimes 379 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:07,440 we have student teachers maybe come in 380 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:10,240 and or or um you know when they're doing 381 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:12,720 their rotations for school things like 382 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:13,120 that. 383 00:19:13,120 --> 00:19:15,440 >> Yeah. And one thing, it doesn't sound 384 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:18,000 like a great number, but for the past 385 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:19,760 four years, every year we've had one 386 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:22,480 pareducator become a special education 387 00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:24,160 teacher, which is excellent. They 388 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:25,919 they've gotten the schooling and 389 00:19:25,919 --> 00:19:27,679 >> they've the best part about that right 390 00:19:27,679 --> 00:19:30,480 now. Um this year, the one that fails, 391 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:32,400 she was there all last year as a par 392 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:35,440 educator. She was, as Maryanne put it, 393 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:37,600 sort of homegrown and then she had an 394 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:40,000 opening and she hired her. And so that 395 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:42,240 happens um often enough here. We've had 396 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:43,440 a couple at the high school that were 397 00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:45,440 PAR educators. 398 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:46,400 So, that's 399 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:47,360 >> Yeah, that's great. 400 00:19:47,360 --> 00:19:48,080 >> Our sources. 401 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:49,440 >> Thank you. 402 00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:51,120 Tim. [clears throat] 403 00:19:51,120 --> 00:19:52,799 >> Good evening, Tammy. Thank you for the 404 00:19:52,799 --> 00:19:54,880 presentation. Uh, just a couple quick 405 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:56,080 questions. I know we were talking about 406 00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:58,160 the uh the 34 interns. I'm curious, is 407 00:19:58,160 --> 00:19:59,919 there a budget um that we associate with 408 00:19:59,919 --> 00:20:01,919 the intern program or 409 00:20:01,919 --> 00:20:05,120 >> No, we don't pay the interns. Um, so the 410 00:20:05,120 --> 00:20:07,919 only real expense is what we do in HR to 411 00:20:07,919 --> 00:20:09,440 on board them. We just make sure that 412 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:11,039 they're coreied and that they're 413 00:20:11,039 --> 00:20:12,640 fingerprinted and we make sure they I 414 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:14,000 have them sign a confident 415 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:15,840 confidentiality agreement and then I 416 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:18,160 have them do some staff training just to 417 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:20,400 make it that much more 418 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:22,240 get them ready and they're in the 419 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:23,760 classroom and they're always our interns 420 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:25,520 are always with someone. So we we don't 421 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:28,480 allow interns to be alone with the 422 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:30,640 students. Not that it's overly a 423 00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:31,760 concern, but they're always with 424 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:34,799 someone. It is mostly um teaching 425 00:20:34,799 --> 00:20:38,480 interns and nurses 426 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:40,240 >> sense. And I was curious as well, you 427 00:20:40,240 --> 00:20:41,440 know, Jane was just asking about the 428 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:43,600 special educators. I'm I'm curious if 429 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:45,120 you could talk maybe briefly just a high 430 00:20:45,120 --> 00:20:46,480 level of like how long we've been seeing 431 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:47,919 this going on for like the upward trend 432 00:20:47,919 --> 00:20:49,840 and like are we seeing anything from the 433 00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:51,120 state or like anything that's giving you 434 00:20:51,120 --> 00:20:55,120 hope that that might end? Um, 435 00:20:55,120 --> 00:20:56,880 I think that there are more people 436 00:20:56,880 --> 00:20:59,200 leaving the field than they used to. So, 437 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:01,440 you have two of our own teachers went 438 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:03,760 from special education this year to 439 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:07,280 general ed. And um, 440 00:21:07,280 --> 00:21:09,200 that was great because we got to keep 441 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:11,760 them and they didn't go elsewhere. But I 442 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:13,280 was like, that's two more special 443 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:16,400 educators we have to hire. So, I am 444 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:18,400 hopeful that it'll turn around, but I 445 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:20,480 would say this is year three. Last year 446 00:21:20,480 --> 00:21:22,480 was very difficult. this year was more 447 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:24,720 difficult because we had to hire 10 448 00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:27,760 which was a lot and uh two years ago we 449 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:30,640 started to see the trend. So 450 00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:33,200 I think I think there's just a shift now 451 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:35,039 where you have more people just 452 00:21:35,039 --> 00:21:37,360 migrating towards general ed but I'm 453 00:21:37,360 --> 00:21:40,159 hoping that'll change. 454 00:21:40,159 --> 00:21:42,000 >> Um I know I don't think any other 455 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:43,200 questions. Um I just do really 456 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:44,480 appreciate the the number from Desi. 457 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:45,600 It's great to hear that we are doing 458 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:46,559 better than the rest. So 459 00:21:46,559 --> 00:21:48,880 >> yes yes we are. Thank you. 460 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:51,919 >> I think we're, you know, I always say 461 00:21:51,919 --> 00:21:53,919 that we're a great district and I think 462 00:21:53,919 --> 00:21:55,600 there's word of mouth out there and we 463 00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:59,360 do get teachers from other districts and 464 00:21:59,360 --> 00:22:01,280 we get really good comments from 465 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:03,360 teachers saying, "Wow, this process was 466 00:22:03,360 --> 00:22:05,760 great and everyone here's so nice and 467 00:22:05,760 --> 00:22:08,320 you know, it's just a small thing, but 468 00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:09,919 it it's always nice to hear." 469 00:22:09,919 --> 00:22:12,080 >> Yeah, it's awesome. 470 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:14,080 >> Sarah, 471 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:15,560 >> you Tammy, this was great. 472 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:17,360 [clears throat] Um I have a couple 473 00:22:17,360 --> 00:22:20,480 questions. One is regarding um so the 474 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:22,640 new hires you have you're showing as 18 475 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:26,320 new hires. out of that. How how many of 476 00:22:26,320 --> 00:22:29,200 those were went to bails? 477 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:32,159 Um 478 00:22:32,159 --> 00:22:35,120 the 479 00:22:35,120 --> 00:22:37,520 I want to say 480 00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:40,159 four the bulk of the hiring we did 481 00:22:40,159 --> 00:22:42,640 wasn't so much at fails as it was for 482 00:22:42,640 --> 00:22:44,240 givens in the high school because what 483 00:22:44,240 --> 00:22:46,400 happened is it's a it's a little bit 484 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:48,559 skewed because you have teachers from 485 00:22:48,559 --> 00:22:52,960 Armstrong and from um Hastings that got 486 00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:55,440 sent over or vacant positions got sent 487 00:22:55,440 --> 00:22:58,159 over and I can tell you let me just pull 488 00:22:58,159 --> 00:22:59,440 it up and 489 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:01,280 So is that not included in the internal 490 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:02,400 moves then? 491 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:04,159 >> It is included in the internal moves but 492 00:23:04,159 --> 00:23:06,080 every internal move still is a hire 493 00:23:06,080 --> 00:23:08,000 because we have to backfill the person. 494 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:13,120 So the person that moves from Armstrong 495 00:23:13,120 --> 00:23:16,159 well we had someone that moved from Mil 496 00:23:16,159 --> 00:23:19,039 Pond to fails 497 00:23:19,039 --> 00:23:21,440 then we had to backfill at Mil Pond. So 498 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:24,480 it's technically it's a mil pond hire 499 00:23:24,480 --> 00:23:26,720 not a fails hire because fails we had 500 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:29,600 already calculated the numbers of 501 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:34,080 teachers but when I say 18 hires um or 502 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:36,320 19 hires 503 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:39,600 we had 19 vacancies we actually had 21 504 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:41,679 vacancies and we hired 19 people because 505 00:23:41,679 --> 00:23:44,240 two positions we didn't fill. So, we 506 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:47,280 hired 19 people and I would say I can't 507 00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:48,880 get online for some reason, but I'd say 508 00:23:48,880 --> 00:23:50,720 there was about five or six that were at 509 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:51,679 fails. 510 00:23:51,679 --> 00:23:53,919 >> And then, so then would you say that the 511 00:23:53,919 --> 00:23:56,240 internal moves were those mostly to 512 00:23:56,240 --> 00:23:57,200 fails? 513 00:23:57,200 --> 00:23:58,480 >> Mostly to fails. 514 00:23:58,480 --> 00:23:58,960 >> Okay. 515 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:00,799 >> But there were two that were internal, 516 00:24:00,799 --> 00:24:02,720 meaning within their own school. So, Mil 517 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:05,600 Pond and Hastings each had a teacher 518 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:07,520 that went from being special education 519 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:09,600 to general ed within their school. So, 520 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:11,360 those are internal moves. And then we 521 00:24:11,360 --> 00:24:13,200 had to backfill and hire the special 522 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:14,960 educators. 523 00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:17,120 >> And then I'm just curious because the 524 00:24:17,120 --> 00:24:18,720 numbers match, but are the third the 525 00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:21,120 three first year hires are they of 526 00:24:21,120 --> 00:24:23,200 color? Are they is that where the 17% 527 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:24,320 all three of them or 528 00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:28,880 >> No, none of our um three of color three 529 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:32,640 teachers of color are they're in that um 530 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:36,159 one was six years, one was 12 years, and 531 00:24:36,159 --> 00:24:40,320 one was nine years. And have we done are 532 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:41,919 we doing anything different or you know 533 00:24:41,919 --> 00:24:43,279 I know we've talked about this a few 534 00:24:43,279 --> 00:24:43,679 years. 535 00:24:43,679 --> 00:24:46,000 >> Yeah, we actually had a a really So last 536 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:47,679 year we hired four teachers of color. 537 00:24:47,679 --> 00:24:49,200 This year was three but the percentage 538 00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:51,600 was very comparable. Last year was 19% 539 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:54,880 this year was about 17%. Um but we did 540 00:24:54,880 --> 00:24:56,799 have a really successful we're part of 541 00:24:56,799 --> 00:24:58,720 MPDE which is the Massachusetts 542 00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:00,400 Partnership for Diversity and Education. 543 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:03,200 And every year I go with some staff to 544 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:05,039 their job fair. And this year we hired 545 00:25:05,039 --> 00:25:08,640 two people from that job fair which I if 546 00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:10,640 I hire one person from that job fair I'm 547 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:12,320 over the moon. So we hired two which was 548 00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:13,440 excellent. 549 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:13,840 >> Okay. 550 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:17,520 >> So we do that and you know we very much 551 00:25:17,520 --> 00:25:19,279 look at the applications that we get. 552 00:25:19,279 --> 00:25:21,200 The biggest thing that we do is look at 553 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:22,960 applications and and make decisions 554 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:25,440 based on the totality of the experience 555 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:28,320 they bring to the table. 556 00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:30,400 >> Yeah. Diversity being one of them. 557 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:31,919 >> Right. Right. I don't know if we've done 558 00:25:31,919 --> 00:25:35,440 anything further. um you know than what 559 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:37,679 we've been doing. Uh I know we had 560 00:25:37,679 --> 00:25:39,760 talked about different 561 00:25:39,760 --> 00:25:43,600 avenues to try and recruit more, but I'm not sure if there is. So I'm just 562 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:46,480 curious. Yeah, I mean one of the things 563 00:25:46,480 --> 00:25:49,919 I do with the principles often 564 00:25:49,919 --> 00:25:51,679 pretty much all summer is I look at all 565 00:25:51,679 --> 00:25:54,240 the applicants that come in and so I 566 00:25:54,240 --> 00:25:58,640 will recommend and we did interview a 567 00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:01,039 few teachers and the reason why I say a 568 00:26:01,039 --> 00:26:03,679 few is because it was about the number 569 00:26:03,679 --> 00:26:05,679 that actually applied not that we didn't 570 00:26:05,679 --> 00:26:10,320 extend interviews. So, um, we hired 571 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:13,279 three, uh, not those same three, but, 572 00:26:13,279 --> 00:26:14,960 um, 573 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:17,440 it's it's a work in progress. I'm I'm 574 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:19,440 happy the direction we're going in. Do I 575 00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:21,520 think it could be better? Yes. But a lot 576 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:24,480 of it, um, some of it has to do with, 577 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:26,240 you know, getting the people to apply. 578 00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:28,159 It's not it's it's once they've applied, 579 00:26:28,159 --> 00:26:29,679 we have a good system 580 00:26:29,679 --> 00:26:32,799 >> for, uh, reviewing applications and and 581 00:26:32,799 --> 00:26:35,120 interviewing, but it's it's getting them 582 00:26:35,120 --> 00:26:36,720 to apply. And a lot of that has to do 583 00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:38,559 with our location 584 00:26:38,559 --> 00:26:41,520 >> and the makeup of this location. 585 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:44,080 >> Okay. And lastly, um do you have a 586 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:46,240 timeline for when we're going to be 587 00:26:46,240 --> 00:26:48,960 starting the principal search for um the 588 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:50,000 high school? 589 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:52,240 >> Yeah, Allison and I have just started to 590 00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:54,080 talk about it, but I think roughly 591 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:55,760 speaking, we're going to get the posting 592 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:59,200 up by winter break, probably, you know, 593 00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:02,400 mid to the December the break. We'll 594 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:05,360 have a two to three weekish period into 595 00:27:05,360 --> 00:27:07,039 January where we're collecting 596 00:27:07,039 --> 00:27:09,440 applications and then we'll do the whole 597 00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:12,080 um first round, second round site 598 00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:15,679 visits, community forums and we'll have 599 00:27:15,679 --> 00:27:19,200 a very um multidisciplinary committee 600 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:21,919 which will probably start 601 00:27:21,919 --> 00:27:23,679 reaching out for committee members I 602 00:27:23,679 --> 00:27:25,679 would say mid December to get that set 603 00:27:25,679 --> 00:27:28,240 up so we have the committee ready to go. 604 00:27:28,240 --> 00:27:31,360 This is a all hires are big hires. This 605 00:27:31,360 --> 00:27:34,640 is a very big hire and it's probably my 606 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:35,919 top priority this year. 607 00:27:35,919 --> 00:27:38,559 >> Yep. Okay. Thank you so much. 608 00:27:38,559 --> 00:27:40,559 >> Thank you, Gary. 609 00:27:40,559 --> 00:27:43,039 >> Thank you so much. Um, two quick 610 00:27:43,039 --> 00:27:45,360 questions. First is just regarding the 611 00:27:45,360 --> 00:27:48,240 um Westpro High School principal. Um, 612 00:27:48,240 --> 00:27:50,320 you mentioned that uh there would be 613 00:27:50,320 --> 00:27:51,440 they would be hired by the end of 614 00:27:51,440 --> 00:27:52,640 February. Is that what you said? 615 00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:53,440 Ideally, 616 00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:55,520 >> ideally it would be great. I mean, in my 617 00:27:55,520 --> 00:27:57,440 mind, again, Allison and I haven't 618 00:27:57,440 --> 00:27:58,960 finalized it, but I would like to think 619 00:27:58,960 --> 00:28:01,600 we would have someone named by February 620 00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:02,240 break. 621 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:03,200 >> Okay. Thank you. 622 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:05,360 >> Our goal, I I I think we're hoping that 623 00:28:05,360 --> 00:28:06,799 the February 10th school committee 624 00:28:06,799 --> 00:28:09,279 meeting um we will be able to make an 625 00:28:09,279 --> 00:28:11,600 announcement. That's my sort of target. 626 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:13,840 Um you know, sometimes uh the candidates 627 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:16,240 themselves make it so we have to have a 628 00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:17,919 little bit of um flex in the process, 629 00:28:17,919 --> 00:28:19,440 but that's really the hope before 630 00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:20,399 February vacation. 631 00:28:20,399 --> 00:28:21,840 >> Awesome. Thank you. I'm just wondering 632 00:28:21,840 --> 00:28:24,080 what the like uh what you see as the 633 00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:26,080 student involvement in that um decision. 634 00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:27,360 I know that students have served on 635 00:28:27,360 --> 00:28:29,200 committees in the past and um I'm just 636 00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:30,720 curious about the process for gathering 637 00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:32,000 student input on that. 638 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:34,559 >> We will have a student forum. It 639 00:28:34,559 --> 00:28:37,919 actually it will mimic um what we did 640 00:28:37,919 --> 00:28:40,320 for Gibbons which worked out really well 641 00:28:40,320 --> 00:28:44,399 and we had a student group of about 13 642 00:28:44,399 --> 00:28:46,559 uh students and I'm sure we're going to 643 00:28:46,559 --> 00:28:48,880 do some sort of student participation 644 00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:51,520 again. There'll be student forums, 645 00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:54,640 parent forums, teacher forums, community 646 00:28:54,640 --> 00:28:56,559 forums. 647 00:28:56,559 --> 00:28:57,840 Those the big ones. 648 00:28:57,840 --> 00:28:59,679 >> In addition, uh we'll have student 649 00:28:59,679 --> 00:29:01,679 representation on the hiring committee. 650 00:29:01,679 --> 00:29:03,840 Um that was I think very effective in 651 00:29:03,840 --> 00:29:05,520 the case uh particularly of the athletic 652 00:29:05,520 --> 00:29:06,799 director and the director of performing 653 00:29:06,799 --> 00:29:09,360 arts. So we that having a student voice 654 00:29:09,360 --> 00:29:10,720 at the table when we're doing 655 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:13,600 interviewing. So we'll be seeking a few 656 00:29:13,600 --> 00:29:15,840 you know probably a couple kids. 657 00:29:15,840 --> 00:29:18,159 We had a student on our hiring committee 658 00:29:18,159 --> 00:29:20,799 for the director of fine arts and she 659 00:29:20,799 --> 00:29:22,880 was fabulous and she was very nervous 660 00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:25,039 and they said, "Don't worry. Nobody's 661 00:29:25,039 --> 00:29:26,799 going to nobody's going to call you on 662 00:29:26,799 --> 00:29:28,320 the carpet. You just, you know, you just 663 00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:30,399 ask your questions and we're all here to 664 00:29:30,399 --> 00:29:32,240 help you." And one of the very first 665 00:29:32,240 --> 00:29:34,159 applicants turned to her and said, "Now, 666 00:29:34,159 --> 00:29:35,440 I'm going to put you on the carpet here 667 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:36,880 and I have to ask you a question." And 668 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:39,760 I'm like, "Oh." But she handled it fine. 669 00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:41,360 And I love when we have students on the 670 00:29:41,360 --> 00:29:43,440 committee because they have a different 671 00:29:43,440 --> 00:29:45,919 lens that I think is for obvious reasons 672 00:29:45,919 --> 00:29:49,600 very important. And um most of the time 673 00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:52,320 the students we have we we choose people 674 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:55,200 that are um not shy which is what we 675 00:29:55,200 --> 00:29:56,720 want people who are going to give their 676 00:29:56,720 --> 00:29:58,080 opinions. 677 00:29:58,080 --> 00:29:59,600 >> Uh and then last thing regarding the 678 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:01,760 Wester High School principal um is that 679 00:30:01,760 --> 00:30:03,679 open to internal um promotion as well? 680 00:30:03,679 --> 00:30:05,360 They would uh go through the Okay. Thank 681 00:30:05,360 --> 00:30:05,760 you. 682 00:30:05,760 --> 00:30:08,799 >> Yes. I I will say that just regarding 683 00:30:08,799 --> 00:30:11,919 the principal search, 684 00:30:11,919 --> 00:30:14,240 the word is already out that we have 685 00:30:14,240 --> 00:30:16,559 this position coming because of the way 686 00:30:16,559 --> 00:30:19,679 we um hired Jack Foley, this again this 687 00:30:19,679 --> 00:30:23,440 newcomer to cover at the U high school 688 00:30:23,440 --> 00:30:25,200 people that are already reaching out and 689 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:26,960 are interested in the position. So when 690 00:30:26,960 --> 00:30:31,919 we um post for it, I anticipate a large 691 00:30:31,919 --> 00:30:34,480 response. we will do very similar to 692 00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:36,640 what I said to the uh middle school 693 00:30:36,640 --> 00:30:41,279 principal last year at Gibbons where we sort of jumped out early and we got a 694 00:30:41,279 --> 00:30:42,880 really good pool and I anticipate the 695 00:30:42,880 --> 00:30:45,440 same for the high school. 696 00:30:45,440 --> 00:30:46,960 >> Thank you. 697 00:30:46,960 --> 00:30:49,520 All great questions. Uh Tammy 698 00:30:49,520 --> 00:30:51,840 just a few short uh some of mine were 699 00:30:51,840 --> 00:30:54,880 already uh asked and I was wondering we 700 00:30:54,880 --> 00:30:57,039 had the new contracts uh signed earlier 701 00:30:57,039 --> 00:30:59,120 this year. Do you feel like they had any 702 00:30:59,120 --> 00:31:00,640 impact on the hiring process for you? Do 703 00:31:00,640 --> 00:31:02,399 they help? You know, 704 00:31:02,399 --> 00:31:04,799 >> the biggest thing that helps is, and I'm 705 00:31:04,799 --> 00:31:06,960 always anxious once this contract is 706 00:31:06,960 --> 00:31:09,279 signed, I want to get the salary grids 707 00:31:09,279 --> 00:31:11,360 on the website. It's the number one 708 00:31:11,360 --> 00:31:12,720 thing teachers would look at when 709 00:31:12,720 --> 00:31:15,120 they're looking at other districts. I 710 00:31:15,120 --> 00:31:17,200 when we're looking at hiring teachers, I 711 00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:19,120 will guess what their salary is by 712 00:31:19,120 --> 00:31:21,200 looking at the salary grids from their 713 00:31:21,200 --> 00:31:23,200 district to get an idea. 714 00:31:23,200 --> 00:31:26,559 >> So, um it's extremely important. Lynn 715 00:31:26,559 --> 00:31:28,159 has been my partner in crime all last 716 00:31:28,159 --> 00:31:29,760 year getting everything up on the 717 00:31:29,760 --> 00:31:32,320 website. Lynn Hurley [snorts] Allison's 718 00:31:32,320 --> 00:31:34,320 assistant and as soon as it's up I 719 00:31:34,320 --> 00:31:37,600 wanted the teacher contract grids up 720 00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:40,080 right away because we were already in 721 00:31:40,080 --> 00:31:42,559 starting hiring season. So it does have 722 00:31:42,559 --> 00:31:45,760 that impact. Um I do think you know 723 00:31:45,760 --> 00:31:47,360 teachers are more savvy if they're if 724 00:31:47,360 --> 00:31:48,880 they're teachers that have been teaching 725 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:50,960 a while. They're looking at the benefits 726 00:31:50,960 --> 00:31:53,120 within the contract. A big thing right 727 00:31:53,120 --> 00:31:56,159 now is FMLA and maternity leave. I'm 728 00:31:56,159 --> 00:31:57,600 sure that that was looked at, but the 729 00:31:57,600 --> 00:31:59,039 number one thing people are looking at 730 00:31:59,039 --> 00:32:02,159 is salary and they're not looking at, 731 00:32:02,159 --> 00:32:03,600 but they're considering commute. Those 732 00:32:03,600 --> 00:32:06,320 are the two biggest variables I think. 733 00:32:06,320 --> 00:32:09,679 >> So, at least one of them we can control. 734 00:32:09,679 --> 00:32:11,600 >> The other quick question just I'm uh how 735 00:32:11,600 --> 00:32:13,279 many tutors do we have right now in the 736 00:32:13,279 --> 00:32:14,159 system? 737 00:32:14,159 --> 00:32:14,880 >> Nine. [laughter] 738 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:15,519 Nine. 739 00:32:15,519 --> 00:32:19,600 >> It's still okay. Um that's all for me. 740 00:32:19,600 --> 00:32:21,120 Thank you very much. Thank you for your 741 00:32:21,120 --> 00:32:24,159 update. Okay, thank you. Feel free to 742 00:32:24,159 --> 00:32:25,600 email me if you have any other 743 00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:29,509 questions. 744 00:32:29,519 --> 00:32:31,440 » Thank you. Moving on, we have uh on the 745 00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:35,679 agenda district strategy. 746 00:32:35,679 --> 00:32:41,509 >> Reorient myself here. 747 00:32:41,519 --> 00:32:50,950 I'm gonna load this up. 748 00:32:50,960 --> 00:32:53,279 » So, you know, you have seen this in 749 00:32:53,279 --> 00:32:54,559 draft form and we've been sort of 750 00:32:54,559 --> 00:32:57,039 refining it as as we go along and I'll 751 00:32:57,039 --> 00:33:01,840 speak a little bit to process. Um the uh 752 00:33:01,840 --> 00:33:03,600 leadership team does a summer retreat 753 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:05,919 and really the main focus of that 754 00:33:05,919 --> 00:33:08,240 retreat is to take some time kind of 755 00:33:08,240 --> 00:33:10,559 carve out time when it's it's quiet to 756 00:33:10,559 --> 00:33:12,799 do some thinking about what is the 757 00:33:12,799 --> 00:33:14,880 district uh what direction are we 758 00:33:14,880 --> 00:33:16,799 headed, you know, uh kind of reflect on 759 00:33:16,799 --> 00:33:18,159 where we've been and where we'd like to 760 00:33:18,159 --> 00:33:21,120 go. And um in the case of this district, 761 00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:22,080 there are a lot of things that work 762 00:33:22,080 --> 00:33:24,240 really well. So it's an exciting time to 763 00:33:24,240 --> 00:33:26,159 be able to reflect on where our needs 764 00:33:26,159 --> 00:33:27,600 are for improvement and then where we 765 00:33:27,600 --> 00:33:30,399 can innovate and get out um and address 766 00:33:30,399 --> 00:33:33,840 things similarly to in prior years. It's 767 00:33:33,840 --> 00:33:36,559 really oriented around sort of four main 768 00:33:36,559 --> 00:33:39,360 um uh strategic objectives. One is 769 00:33:39,360 --> 00:33:42,240 academic excellence. Uh the second is 770 00:33:42,240 --> 00:33:44,559 caring and supporting school and caring 771 00:33:44,559 --> 00:33:47,039 and supportive schools pardon. The third 772 00:33:47,039 --> 00:33:49,760 is connected community and the fourth is 773 00:33:49,760 --> 00:33:52,240 financial and operational stability. So, 774 00:33:52,240 --> 00:33:54,880 those are unchanged from last year. I 775 00:33:54,880 --> 00:33:56,880 think what changes is sort of what are 776 00:33:56,880 --> 00:33:59,519 our goals year-over-year. And then, um, 777 00:33:59,519 --> 00:34:01,039 you know, the back end of this document, 778 00:34:01,039 --> 00:34:02,720 if you want to dig back in, has all the 779 00:34:02,720 --> 00:34:04,480 sort of more detailed action steps. I'm 780 00:34:04,480 --> 00:34:06,000 going to sort of stay high level tonight 781 00:34:06,000 --> 00:34:07,760 because it's an overview, but if you 782 00:34:07,760 --> 00:34:09,760 have questions about any part of it, um, 783 00:34:09,760 --> 00:34:12,639 I would love to hear about that. In the 784 00:34:12,639 --> 00:34:15,520 academic bucket this year, we are really 785 00:34:15,520 --> 00:34:18,720 looking at um, sort of actions that 786 00:34:18,720 --> 00:34:21,359 strengthen our instructional core. We 787 00:34:21,359 --> 00:34:25,119 want to make sure that our our work 788 00:34:25,119 --> 00:34:26,800 builds a foundation for students to have 789 00:34:26,800 --> 00:34:28,639 really strong outcomes as they head 790 00:34:28,639 --> 00:34:31,359 through the school. And two places we're 791 00:34:31,359 --> 00:34:33,679 thinking about that are early literacy 792 00:34:33,679 --> 00:34:35,200 curriculum. You've heard about that last 793 00:34:35,200 --> 00:34:38,159 week from uh Matt and Aubrey and Kathy. 794 00:34:38,159 --> 00:34:40,399 And then uh robust curriculum maps for 795 00:34:40,399 --> 00:34:42,240 our high school courses. This is 796 00:34:42,240 --> 00:34:43,919 something that came out of the NEAS 797 00:34:43,919 --> 00:34:47,679 report as a need. And you know, it's 798 00:34:47,679 --> 00:34:52,320 more than just a documentation issue. I think it's actually a really 799 00:34:52,320 --> 00:34:54,639 interesting and substantive exercise. 800 00:34:54,639 --> 00:34:56,480 When the departments take time to come 801 00:34:56,480 --> 00:34:58,880 together and map out here's what we're 802 00:34:58,880 --> 00:35:01,280 doing and how we're doing it, it sort of 803 00:35:01,280 --> 00:35:03,440 is an opportunity for reflection and 804 00:35:03,440 --> 00:35:06,800 alignment. Um um we are also looking at 805 00:35:06,800 --> 00:35:08,880 ways to enhance support for all 806 00:35:08,880 --> 00:35:12,000 students. Um and particularly we 807 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:14,880 identified math instruction that is 808 00:35:14,880 --> 00:35:16,880 specifically designed to support our 809 00:35:16,880 --> 00:35:19,599 multilingual learners. Um that's work 810 00:35:19,599 --> 00:35:21,839 that kind of builds on the work we did 811 00:35:21,839 --> 00:35:24,320 last year for all students um all 812 00:35:24,320 --> 00:35:27,119 multilingual students in all areas. We 813 00:35:27,119 --> 00:35:28,720 sort of did this more general work and 814 00:35:28,720 --> 00:35:31,200 now we're deep diving into math 815 00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:34,014 instruction in particular. Um and 816 00:35:34,014 --> 00:35:35,920 [clears throat] math is surprisingly 817 00:35:35,920 --> 00:35:37,440 language intensive. you know, you don't 818 00:35:37,440 --> 00:35:39,200 think about it that way, but um in a 819 00:35:39,200 --> 00:35:41,680 math class, oftentimes students who have 820 00:35:41,680 --> 00:35:44,480 a lot of interest or ability may get 821 00:35:44,480 --> 00:35:46,320 kind of held back if we're not using 822 00:35:46,320 --> 00:35:48,160 really careful instructional strategies 823 00:35:48,160 --> 00:35:50,000 to help them kind of get through the 824 00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:53,280 language and get to the math part. Um um 825 00:35:53,280 --> 00:35:54,640 we're going to continue to look at our 826 00:35:54,640 --> 00:35:58,000 co-eing practices um uh strengthen 827 00:35:58,000 --> 00:35:59,680 executive functioning support for our 828 00:35:59,680 --> 00:36:01,680 middle-grade students. And then the big 829 00:36:01,680 --> 00:36:02,960 one that you've heard a little bit about 830 00:36:02,960 --> 00:36:04,880 and we'll be reporting out on this year 831 00:36:04,880 --> 00:36:07,040 is is my cap, which is an initiative in 832 00:36:07,040 --> 00:36:09,920 grades 7 through 12. Um, this is part of 833 00:36:09,920 --> 00:36:11,520 an alignment with uh new state 834 00:36:11,520 --> 00:36:13,599 graduation requirements, but it's also I 835 00:36:13,599 --> 00:36:14,640 think it's just really kind of cool 836 00:36:14,640 --> 00:36:17,839 work. Um, it's essentially focused on 837 00:36:17,839 --> 00:36:20,000 helping kids think about what is next, 838 00:36:20,000 --> 00:36:22,320 you know, what's coming down uh after 839 00:36:22,320 --> 00:36:24,560 high school, after college, and doing 840 00:36:24,560 --> 00:36:26,320 some early thinking about what are the 841 00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:28,880 different pathways out there for your 842 00:36:28,880 --> 00:36:31,920 career and your life. um in helping 843 00:36:31,920 --> 00:36:34,400 expand their thinking so that they can 844 00:36:34,400 --> 00:36:36,640 really tie their academic study now to 845 00:36:36,640 --> 00:36:38,320 something concrete which makes it I 846 00:36:38,320 --> 00:36:41,680 think more um more motivating in some 847 00:36:41,680 --> 00:36:44,560 ways you know um 848 00:36:44,560 --> 00:36:46,320 I'll pause after each bucket if you want 849 00:36:46,320 --> 00:36:47,839 to or should I just blast through the 850 00:36:47,839 --> 00:36:48,720 whole thing 851 00:36:48,720 --> 00:36:49,599 >> maybe blast through the whole 852 00:36:49,599 --> 00:36:50,560 >> I'm gonna blast through the whole thing 853 00:36:50,560 --> 00:36:52,240 okay caring and supportive schools we 854 00:36:52,240 --> 00:36:54,320 have these three big buckets one on uh 855 00:36:54,320 --> 00:36:56,640 digital wellness and uh school 856 00:36:56,640 --> 00:36:59,440 connection and that's really building on 857 00:36:59,440 --> 00:37:01,520 some uh work that we started but also 858 00:37:01,520 --> 00:37:03,280 focuses on some of our our 859 00:37:03,280 --> 00:37:05,119 implementation of the bell to bell p 860 00:37:05,119 --> 00:37:09,280 plan um structures for support we really 861 00:37:09,280 --> 00:37:11,760 want to look at chronic absenteeism in 862 00:37:11,760 --> 00:37:13,760 particular we've um it's been an issue 863 00:37:13,760 --> 00:37:15,760 that's sort of burbling out there around 864 00:37:15,760 --> 00:37:18,400 the state post pandemic you know some of 865 00:37:18,400 --> 00:37:21,760 that I think is um 866 00:37:21,760 --> 00:37:23,760 you know that the norms around coming to 867 00:37:23,760 --> 00:37:25,599 school have changed so there is that 868 00:37:25,599 --> 00:37:27,920 phenomenon right it used to be we would 869 00:37:27,920 --> 00:37:30,160 tell you unless your child is really, 870 00:37:30,160 --> 00:37:31,359 you know, coming apart at the seams, 871 00:37:31,359 --> 00:37:33,200 please send them. After the pandemic, 872 00:37:33,200 --> 00:37:35,680 that did shift. However, this is really 873 00:37:35,680 --> 00:37:38,560 referring to kids who are missing uh 10% 874 00:37:38,560 --> 00:37:40,240 or more of the school year. So, that's 875 00:37:40,240 --> 00:37:42,560 18 or more days. Those numbers have 876 00:37:42,560 --> 00:37:45,440 ticked up and what that suggests to us 877 00:37:45,440 --> 00:37:47,200 is we have work to do around what are 878 00:37:47,200 --> 00:37:49,119 the systems and structures of support 879 00:37:49,119 --> 00:37:52,240 that we need. Um, and that's going to be 880 00:37:52,240 --> 00:37:53,920 exciting work that we'll report out on 881 00:37:53,920 --> 00:37:57,200 this year. Um, I think uh we're looking 882 00:37:57,200 --> 00:37:59,119 to implement new timeout and seclusion 883 00:37:59,119 --> 00:38:00,720 regulations. You heard about those from 884 00:38:00,720 --> 00:38:03,520 me Garvey last spring. Um, we'll be 885 00:38:03,520 --> 00:38:06,000 reviewing our SEAL curriculum and and 886 00:38:06,000 --> 00:38:07,920 supports and also updating something 887 00:38:07,920 --> 00:38:11,200 called the DECAP. Um, we we love uh 888 00:38:11,200 --> 00:38:13,040 abbreviations in education. There's all 889 00:38:13,040 --> 00:38:14,640 these mysterious sets of letters flying 890 00:38:14,640 --> 00:38:16,400 around. So, the district curriculum 891 00:38:16,400 --> 00:38:19,200 accommodation plan, the idea behind it 892 00:38:19,200 --> 00:38:21,440 is really simple. It's um a set of 893 00:38:21,440 --> 00:38:24,240 things that apply in any classroom at 894 00:38:24,240 --> 00:38:26,160 any time for any student who might need 895 00:38:26,160 --> 00:38:28,800 them. And maybe a concrete example that 896 00:38:28,800 --> 00:38:30,640 everybody can get their head around is 897 00:38:30,640 --> 00:38:33,040 if you think about if you're given an 898 00:38:33,040 --> 00:38:34,720 assignment where you have to fill in 899 00:38:34,720 --> 00:38:37,280 blanks for some reason, having a word 900 00:38:37,280 --> 00:38:40,400 bank is an accommodation as opposed to 901 00:38:40,400 --> 00:38:42,079 having just to pull that language out of 902 00:38:42,079 --> 00:38:43,920 your head. It's it's an accommodation 903 00:38:43,920 --> 00:38:46,560 that some kids might need and other kids 904 00:38:46,560 --> 00:38:48,800 might not, but it doesn't truly impact 905 00:38:48,800 --> 00:38:51,440 learning, right? Um, you have to know 906 00:38:51,440 --> 00:38:52,720 enough about the words to put the right 907 00:38:52,720 --> 00:38:54,240 word in the right place. It doesn't 908 00:38:54,240 --> 00:38:56,000 undermine your kind of long-term 909 00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:58,160 learning process, but what it does do is 910 00:38:58,160 --> 00:38:59,680 it helps students who have word 911 00:38:59,680 --> 00:39:02,480 retrieval issues or um or who just have 912 00:39:02,480 --> 00:39:04,480 memory issues to be able to actually 913 00:39:04,480 --> 00:39:06,240 complete the task. So, those are the 914 00:39:06,240 --> 00:39:07,920 kinds of things that happen on a decap. 915 00:39:07,920 --> 00:39:09,920 you identify what are the types of 916 00:39:09,920 --> 00:39:11,680 accommodations that are out there and 917 00:39:11,680 --> 00:39:13,920 available. Um, ours has not been updated 918 00:39:13,920 --> 00:39:15,280 for quite some time. Matt's going to 919 00:39:15,280 --> 00:39:17,920 spearhead some efforts along with Meg to 920 00:39:17,920 --> 00:39:20,160 look at that. The trick to it is making 921 00:39:20,160 --> 00:39:22,640 it um, authentic. So, really working 922 00:39:22,640 --> 00:39:24,320 with the staff at each building so that 923 00:39:24,320 --> 00:39:26,240 they know what's in there and so it kind 924 00:39:26,240 --> 00:39:29,200 of gives them permission and and also a 925 00:39:29,200 --> 00:39:31,839 philosophical grounding for doing things 926 00:39:31,839 --> 00:39:34,400 that help students and and and are clear 927 00:39:34,400 --> 00:39:39,040 about what your learning targets are. Um 928 00:39:39,040 --> 00:39:40,880 on the connected community front, we're 929 00:39:40,880 --> 00:39:42,480 talking about student and family 930 00:39:42,480 --> 00:39:44,160 partnerships and school family 931 00:39:44,160 --> 00:39:46,880 partnerships. Um we really are working 932 00:39:46,880 --> 00:39:48,960 on the transition for families as 933 00:39:48,960 --> 00:39:50,480 they're moving from the high school to 934 00:39:50,480 --> 00:39:53,200 the burrow program as well as um those 935 00:39:53,200 --> 00:39:54,880 entering kindergarten. The kindergarten 936 00:39:54,880 --> 00:39:56,320 work, the bulk of it was last year, but 937 00:39:56,320 --> 00:39:57,359 there are some things we're going to 938 00:39:57,359 --> 00:40:00,560 continue to refine. Um we we got a great 939 00:40:00,560 --> 00:40:02,079 start especially with CPAC and 940 00:40:02,079 --> 00:40:04,560 revitalizing CPAC. Um, and we want to 941 00:40:04,560 --> 00:40:06,079 kind of continue that work into this 942 00:40:06,079 --> 00:40:08,800 year. I'm really pleased to let you know 943 00:40:08,800 --> 00:40:12,320 that the CPAC leadership along with um, 944 00:40:12,320 --> 00:40:14,800 uh, our student service director, Meg, 945 00:40:14,800 --> 00:40:17,040 myself, and I think one or two other 946 00:40:17,040 --> 00:40:20,240 people are entered into this um, uh, 947 00:40:20,240 --> 00:40:22,240 program called Apple. And I, it's 948 00:40:22,240 --> 00:40:23,520 another abbreviation. I'm not going to 949 00:40:23,520 --> 00:40:25,680 remember it off the top of my head, but 950 00:40:25,680 --> 00:40:27,040 um the Federation for Children with 951 00:40:27,040 --> 00:40:28,800 Special Needs runs a program and it 952 00:40:28,800 --> 00:40:31,119 really is about strengthening the bonds 953 00:40:31,119 --> 00:40:33,200 between the parent community and the 954 00:40:33,200 --> 00:40:34,160 school when it comes to special 955 00:40:34,160 --> 00:40:36,560 education. Um so it's an institute you 956 00:40:36,560 --> 00:40:39,040 go through a bunch of work together as a 957 00:40:39,040 --> 00:40:41,599 group and set sort of a vision and goals 958 00:40:41,599 --> 00:40:43,920 for that for building that sense of 959 00:40:43,920 --> 00:40:46,640 collaboration. Um which I think is is a 960 00:40:46,640 --> 00:40:48,640 great thing. 961 00:40:48,640 --> 00:40:50,960 Um we are looking to promote more parent 962 00:40:50,960 --> 00:40:53,760 engagement districtwide in in all sorts 963 00:40:53,760 --> 00:40:56,000 of things. Uh we've been talking a lot 964 00:40:56,000 --> 00:40:58,079 recently in a bunch of different places 965 00:40:58,079 --> 00:41:00,400 about how do we how do we do that 966 00:41:00,400 --> 00:41:02,000 effectively? How do we reach the parents 967 00:41:02,000 --> 00:41:05,359 who are not typically um involved as 968 00:41:05,359 --> 00:41:07,280 much as other parents in the school day 969 00:41:07,280 --> 00:41:08,640 and school environment. We're really 970 00:41:08,640 --> 00:41:10,160 kind of focusing on our communication 971 00:41:10,160 --> 00:41:11,599 tools and you'll see that reflected in 972 00:41:11,599 --> 00:41:14,400 my goals when I get there. Um, in terms 973 00:41:14,400 --> 00:41:15,839 of infrastructure and long-term 974 00:41:15,839 --> 00:41:17,760 planning, um, we are looking to 975 00:41:17,760 --> 00:41:19,839 integrate our capital planning process 976 00:41:19,839 --> 00:41:22,800 to clarify it and and also work closely 977 00:41:22,800 --> 00:41:25,599 with the town. Um, I've been talking 978 00:41:25,599 --> 00:41:27,040 about updating the budget structure for 979 00:41:27,040 --> 00:41:28,880 a while. Uh, we finally, this is the 980 00:41:28,880 --> 00:41:32,000 year I think um, we had to sort of hold 981 00:41:32,000 --> 00:41:34,240 on until the town was ready because in 982 00:41:34,240 --> 00:41:35,280 order to do it, we have to work through 983 00:41:35,280 --> 00:41:37,119 Munis, which is the shared software that 984 00:41:37,119 --> 00:41:39,119 both uh, the town and the schools use. 985 00:41:39,119 --> 00:41:40,560 But they are doing it and we're doing it 986 00:41:40,560 --> 00:41:41,760 right along with them. So, we'll be able 987 00:41:41,760 --> 00:41:43,440 to update those budget categories and 988 00:41:43,440 --> 00:41:47,119 I'm very excited about that. Um, 989 00:41:47,119 --> 00:41:51,119 and we are doing this internal um 990 00:41:51,119 --> 00:41:53,359 operation review that kicked off this 991 00:41:53,359 --> 00:41:54,880 last week. Um, we actually had our 992 00:41:54,880 --> 00:41:57,359 initial meeting with the consultants uh 993 00:41:57,359 --> 00:41:59,280 Christy Williams and myself just to kind 994 00:41:59,280 --> 00:42:01,920 of get a sense of process. They are 995 00:42:01,920 --> 00:42:03,680 starting to gather information and will 996 00:42:03,680 --> 00:42:05,920 begin um interviews shortly. So they'll 997 00:42:05,920 --> 00:42:09,520 be doing outreach to um uh a lot of the 998 00:42:09,520 --> 00:42:11,359 department heads in kind of both the 999 00:42:11,359 --> 00:42:12,960 municipal and the school side to sort of 1000 00:42:12,960 --> 00:42:18,470 understand how things operate. Now um 1001 00:42:18,480 --> 00:42:21,440 finally um kind of safety is is a piece 1002 00:42:21,440 --> 00:42:23,440 on here that I again I've been talking 1003 00:42:23,440 --> 00:42:25,119 about for a bit. I had had this great 1004 00:42:25,119 --> 00:42:27,920 plan. I was going to hire um Jack Foley 1005 00:42:27,920 --> 00:42:30,720 to help out of retirement to do a help 1006 00:42:30,720 --> 00:42:32,160 us with a safety audit and then I came 1007 00:42:32,160 --> 00:42:34,160 up with a better thing for him to do. So 1008 00:42:34,160 --> 00:42:36,000 this is now coming squarely in my 1009 00:42:36,000 --> 00:42:38,240 bucket. Um but we'll be doing an audit 1010 00:42:38,240 --> 00:42:42,079 um this year of our kind of manuals and then also building out the schedule 1011 00:42:42,079 --> 00:42:45,200 for um uh training and structures. You 1012 00:42:45,200 --> 00:42:46,960 know, part of it really is with an eye 1013 00:42:46,960 --> 00:42:48,560 to having this turnover and 1014 00:42:48,560 --> 00:42:51,119 administration um means it's even more 1015 00:42:51,119 --> 00:42:52,560 important that we get things sort of 1016 00:42:52,560 --> 00:42:54,640 updated in terms of documentation. We 1017 00:42:54,640 --> 00:42:56,400 have relied on institutional knowledge 1018 00:42:56,400 --> 00:42:58,880 and that's um it works great when it's 1019 00:42:58,880 --> 00:43:00,480 there, but once we lose it, we lose it. 1020 00:43:00,480 --> 00:43:03,760 So we have to get it written down. Um 1021 00:43:03,760 --> 00:43:05,200 and then finally, school committee 1022 00:43:05,200 --> 00:43:06,560 operations. Just thinking a little bit 1023 00:43:06,560 --> 00:43:08,400 about, you know, how does this group 1024 00:43:08,400 --> 00:43:10,480 operate? How can the work of the 1025 00:43:10,480 --> 00:43:12,800 district support the committee and vice 1026 00:43:12,800 --> 00:43:14,960 versa? How do we make sure the work here 1027 00:43:14,960 --> 00:43:16,720 is thoughtful and transparent to the 1028 00:43:16,720 --> 00:43:19,040 public, too? So, that's the final bucket 1029 00:43:19,040 --> 00:43:21,920 there. Um, this hasn't been blasted out 1030 00:43:21,920 --> 00:43:23,599 broadly except on the school committee 1031 00:43:23,599 --> 00:43:26,240 agenda. Um, but I will send it out uh 1032 00:43:26,240 --> 00:43:27,760 after tonight and after you have the 1033 00:43:27,760 --> 00:43:29,520 chance to review, ask questions, and 1034 00:43:29,520 --> 00:43:32,880 provide feedback. and uh we will um get 1035 00:43:32,880 --> 00:43:35,119 to work. Thank you. 1036 00:43:35,119 --> 00:43:38,000 >> Thank you. Let's start with discussion. 1037 00:43:38,000 --> 00:43:41,119 Uh Steve. 1038 00:43:41,119 --> 00:43:45,040 >> Okay, J. Thank you. This is this is 1039 00:43:45,040 --> 00:43:49,280 great and exciting and um one thing that 1040 00:43:49,280 --> 00:43:51,200 I just wanted to bring up to encourage 1041 00:43:51,200 --> 00:43:55,200 you to keep on the forefront and I think 1042 00:43:55,200 --> 00:43:57,920 it actually crosses 1043 00:43:57,920 --> 00:44:03,280 um several of our academic excellence 1044 00:44:03,280 --> 00:44:04,800 objectives 1045 00:44:04,800 --> 00:44:08,850 um is just maintaining the rigor of 1046 00:44:08,850 --> 00:44:11,359 [clears throat] um our curriculum and 1047 00:44:11,359 --> 00:44:14,400 our evaluation of students in areas that 1048 00:44:14,400 --> 00:44:17,839 can be impacted by AI. So, writing being 1049 00:44:17,839 --> 00:44:21,520 the biggest one. Um, and I I've said 1050 00:44:21,520 --> 00:44:23,280 this a number of times, but I'm gonna 1051 00:44:23,280 --> 00:44:27,040 keep saying it because I continue to see 1052 00:44:27,040 --> 00:44:30,480 it happening is that there is most of 1053 00:44:30,480 --> 00:44:32,079 the writing is happening in the 1054 00:44:32,079 --> 00:44:33,280 classroom. 1055 00:44:33,280 --> 00:44:36,720 >> And that is we can't do anything but 1056 00:44:36,720 --> 00:44:38,400 lower the standard of what we expect 1057 00:44:38,400 --> 00:44:39,920 from our students if we're having them 1058 00:44:39,920 --> 00:44:42,400 only write in the classroom. um because 1059 00:44:42,400 --> 00:44:44,720 there's that defined amount of time. It 1060 00:44:44,720 --> 00:44:48,160 also disproportionately disadvantages 1061 00:44:48,160 --> 00:44:51,839 our students who require extra time. Um 1062 00:44:51,839 --> 00:44:55,599 and that is not what we want to be 1063 00:44:55,599 --> 00:44:58,640 doing. Um and no matter what our 1064 00:44:58,640 --> 00:45:00,800 students are doing after they leave 1065 00:45:00,800 --> 00:45:02,880 Westboro, they are going to do some of 1066 00:45:02,880 --> 00:45:04,800 it outside of their workday or their 1067 00:45:04,800 --> 00:45:06,880 school day. And so we need them to 1068 00:45:06,880 --> 00:45:10,720 practice that skill. Um and so I don't 1069 00:45:10,720 --> 00:45:13,599 know it fits into multiple buckets I 1070 00:45:13,599 --> 00:45:17,119 think here um in in strategic objective 1071 00:45:17,119 --> 00:45:18,560 one but I just hope that will be 1072 00:45:18,560 --> 00:45:22,400 incorporated in because um I I don't 1073 00:45:22,400 --> 00:45:24,240 really see it here and it just sort of 1074 00:45:24,240 --> 00:45:26,880 struck me when I um was trying to think 1075 00:45:26,880 --> 00:45:29,599 about how we would address this but I 1076 00:45:29,599 --> 00:45:30,800 just hope that will stay on the 1077 00:45:30,800 --> 00:45:34,390 forefront. 1078 00:45:34,400 --> 00:45:35,119 » Thank you Jane. 1079 00:45:35,119 --> 00:45:36,960 >> Yeah, 1080 00:45:36,960 --> 00:45:38,880 >> thank you for the presentation. Um just 1081 00:45:38,880 --> 00:45:41,359 a couple quick questions. Um the first 1082 00:45:41,359 --> 00:45:43,359 regarding uh decap you know so very 1083 00:45:43,359 --> 00:45:45,040 interesting and I am curious to hear a 1084 00:45:45,040 --> 00:45:46,400 little bit more um you know just about 1085 00:45:46,400 --> 00:45:48,000 how um you know this came to be a target 1086 00:45:48,000 --> 00:45:49,760 for this year. 1087 00:45:49,760 --> 00:45:52,560 >> I think you know part of it we have been 1088 00:45:52,560 --> 00:45:56,880 looking at um our systems for support in 1089 00:45:56,880 --> 00:46:00,160 general. Um, you know, the current 1090 00:46:00,160 --> 00:46:01,920 thinking in education is around having 1091 00:46:01,920 --> 00:46:04,319 this notion of tiers, right? Uh, tier 1092 00:46:04,319 --> 00:46:06,160 one supports are those that happen in 1093 00:46:06,160 --> 00:46:08,400 the classroom kind of fluidly for all 1094 00:46:08,400 --> 00:46:11,520 students. It's sort of like um anything 1095 00:46:11,520 --> 00:46:13,920 that you might need extra help with. It 1096 00:46:13,920 --> 00:46:15,599 there's a kind of nice medical analogy. 1097 00:46:15,599 --> 00:46:16,960 A tier one support would be like an 1098 00:46:16,960 --> 00:46:22,240 over-the-counter thing that you can buy some aspirin, right? um uh tier two 1099 00:46:22,240 --> 00:46:25,119 or specialized supports that require um 1100 00:46:25,119 --> 00:46:28,480 more um you know more expertise and a 1101 00:46:28,480 --> 00:46:30,800 and more of a narrow focus. So like a 1102 00:46:30,800 --> 00:46:32,880 prescription uh medication, something 1103 00:46:32,880 --> 00:46:35,920 that you have to kind of get specially 1104 00:46:35,920 --> 00:46:37,839 um assessed for and get some support. 1105 00:46:37,839 --> 00:46:40,079 And then tier three may be you may need 1106 00:46:40,079 --> 00:46:42,400 a fully different approach um like 1107 00:46:42,400 --> 00:46:45,520 holistic medicine, right? So the decap 1108 00:46:45,520 --> 00:46:48,240 is designed really to help that first 1109 00:46:48,240 --> 00:46:50,880 tier access for all students in the 1110 00:46:50,880 --> 00:46:54,800 classroom. and that um you know our 1111 00:46:54,800 --> 00:46:56,640 conversation about it really grew out of 1112 00:46:56,640 --> 00:46:58,720 looking at our tiered structure 1113 00:46:58,720 --> 00:47:00,319 realizing you know we've got the 1114 00:47:00,319 --> 00:47:01,920 foundations of it really in place 1115 00:47:01,920 --> 00:47:04,240 particularly at the elementary level um 1116 00:47:04,240 --> 00:47:05,599 but have some work to do at the 1117 00:47:05,599 --> 00:47:08,400 secondary level and before we get there 1118 00:47:08,400 --> 00:47:10,319 we have to sort of make sure it's really 1119 00:47:10,319 --> 00:47:12,160 clear what are the things that everybody 1120 00:47:12,160 --> 00:47:13,680 can do all the time that are going to 1121 00:47:13,680 --> 00:47:15,839 help make students more successful. um a 1122 00:47:15,839 --> 00:47:19,280 decap. It promotes um really interesting 1123 00:47:19,280 --> 00:47:21,440 conversation among teachers around what 1124 00:47:21,440 --> 00:47:23,359 instruction is supposed to be. So that's 1125 00:47:23,359 --> 00:47:25,440 kind of the origin story and last 1126 00:47:25,440 --> 00:47:29,520 updated was 2012 or 2020. Okay. So pre- 1127 00:47:29,520 --> 00:47:31,839 pandemic it's been a little while. Um 1128 00:47:31,839 --> 00:47:34,960 and our sense is that you know during 1129 00:47:34,960 --> 00:47:37,280 that time period that was the time when 1130 00:47:37,280 --> 00:47:38,960 you know a lot of people had a lot on 1131 00:47:38,960 --> 00:47:41,200 their minds. So I think being able to 1132 00:47:41,200 --> 00:47:43,200 get back to it and have more robust 1133 00:47:43,200 --> 00:47:44,800 conversation is going to be helpful and 1134 00:47:44,800 --> 00:47:45,599 important. 1135 00:47:45,599 --> 00:47:46,960 >> Sure. And that just made me think of it. 1136 00:47:46,960 --> 00:47:48,640 And when did we start roughly like the 1137 00:47:48,640 --> 00:47:50,880 co-eing model 1138 00:47:50,880 --> 00:47:52,240 >> that is a historic I'll have to look 1139 00:47:52,240 --> 00:47:54,400 that up. I don't actually know that. Um 1140 00:47:54,400 --> 00:47:55,839 it's been in place for my understanding 1141 00:47:55,839 --> 00:47:57,200 for quite a while here. But 1142 00:47:57,200 --> 00:47:58,480 >> I mean just something that I'm sure goes 1143 00:47:58,480 --> 00:47:59,760 handinhand pretty well with you know 1144 00:47:59,760 --> 00:48:01,440 more student um you know specialization 1145 00:48:01,440 --> 00:48:02,480 things like that is having another 1146 00:48:02,480 --> 00:48:03,839 educator in the classroom that's able to 1147 00:48:03,839 --> 00:48:04,960 take on some of that. 1148 00:48:04,960 --> 00:48:06,720 >> Absolutely. Well, I think um you know 1149 00:48:06,720 --> 00:48:09,119 the that is first and foremost a special 1150 00:48:09,119 --> 00:48:11,440 education initiative. So a way to make 1151 00:48:11,440 --> 00:48:14,079 sure um students who have learning needs 1152 00:48:14,079 --> 00:48:15,839 are able to have them in the least 1153 00:48:15,839 --> 00:48:17,119 restrictive environment. They're right 1154 00:48:17,119 --> 00:48:20,000 there in class alongside their peers. Um 1155 00:48:20,000 --> 00:48:22,319 and and it helps everybody, you know, it 1156 00:48:22,319 --> 00:48:23,599 just happens to have these spillover 1157 00:48:23,599 --> 00:48:25,680 effects. So it's great. 1158 00:48:25,680 --> 00:48:27,599 >> And then just one other question. Um I 1159 00:48:27,599 --> 00:48:28,640 know that you already spoke to this a 1160 00:48:28,640 --> 00:48:29,920 little bit but um in terms of like the 1161 00:48:29,920 --> 00:48:31,920 safety nets and updating some of that um 1162 00:48:31,920 --> 00:48:33,280 could you speak a little bit to you know 1163 00:48:33,280 --> 00:48:34,319 some of the work that you potentially 1164 00:48:34,319 --> 00:48:35,839 saw you know kind of Jack coming in like 1165 00:48:35,839 --> 00:48:37,680 taking on if you were to come back and 1166 00:48:37,680 --> 00:48:39,040 just like how you know you plan to try 1167 00:48:39,040 --> 00:48:40,000 to do some of that without 1168 00:48:40,000 --> 00:48:41,040 >> address that. Yeah. 1169 00:48:41,040 --> 00:48:42,880 >> Um you know I haven't ruled out the idea 1170 00:48:42,880 --> 00:48:45,119 of um getting some outside help to do 1171 00:48:45,119 --> 00:48:47,040 that. Um and it's just a matter of sort 1172 00:48:47,040 --> 00:48:49,760 of figuring out who and and how. Um but 1173 00:48:49,760 --> 00:48:52,000 in terms of the work it's updating some 1174 00:48:52,000 --> 00:48:54,559 documentation is is sort of the not not 1175 00:48:54,559 --> 00:48:56,559 super exciting but has to get done part. 1176 00:48:56,559 --> 00:48:58,240 But once that's in place, really 1177 00:48:58,240 --> 00:49:00,559 formalizing some of the structures. Um, 1178 00:49:00,559 --> 00:49:02,880 so having what's called an incident um, 1179 00:49:02,880 --> 00:49:05,680 management team um, at each school site 1180 00:49:05,680 --> 00:49:07,359 and then a district-wide site and 1181 00:49:07,359 --> 00:49:08,880 getting those teams a little bit more of 1182 00:49:08,880 --> 00:49:10,960 a regular training schedule. Um, and 1183 00:49:10,960 --> 00:49:14,240 what that does is it sort of helps um, 1184 00:49:14,240 --> 00:49:16,480 uh, spread the knowledge a little bit 1185 00:49:16,480 --> 00:49:18,240 from just the principles and key 1186 00:49:18,240 --> 00:49:20,000 leadership people to a few more people 1187 00:49:20,000 --> 00:49:21,920 in the bucket, which is always good, you 1188 00:49:21,920 --> 00:49:23,920 know. So, 1189 00:49:23,920 --> 00:49:24,400 >> thank you. 1190 00:49:24,400 --> 00:49:27,200 >> You're welcome. Thank you, Sarah. 1191 00:49:27,200 --> 00:49:30,240 >> Thank you. Um, thanks for this. Uh, this 1192 00:49:30,240 --> 00:49:33,119 was really helpful to look at. Um, I 1193 00:49:33,119 --> 00:49:35,760 have a couple questions. 1194 00:49:35,760 --> 00:49:37,839 So, one of them is around in the 1195 00:49:37,839 --> 00:49:39,760 academic excellence section, you talk 1196 00:49:39,760 --> 00:49:41,760 about the robust curriculum maps for the 1197 00:49:41,760 --> 00:49:44,559 high school. Um, I'm really interested 1198 00:49:44,559 --> 00:49:46,000 to see what that's going to involve. I 1199 00:49:46,000 --> 00:49:48,079 think that that's a great initiative. 1200 00:49:48,079 --> 00:49:50,160 Um, I wanted to make a comment that I 1201 00:49:50,160 --> 00:49:52,000 did see the email that came through on 1202 00:49:52,000 --> 00:49:54,800 the APs, which I think is awesome where 1203 00:49:54,800 --> 00:49:57,440 you guys are um this this must be a 1204 00:49:57,440 --> 00:50:00,000 brand new initiative about um allowing 1205 00:50:00,000 --> 00:50:02,240 students to take AP exams as ninth 1206 00:50:02,240 --> 00:50:03,119 graders. 1207 00:50:03,119 --> 00:50:05,440 >> That was for self-study. So, a couple 1208 00:50:05,440 --> 00:50:07,200 we've there a couple things that we're 1209 00:50:07,200 --> 00:50:09,520 hoping to expand the number of options 1210 00:50:09,520 --> 00:50:12,240 for students who want access to APs. I 1211 00:50:12,240 --> 00:50:13,920 know the administrative team at the high 1212 00:50:13,920 --> 00:50:15,680 school did work last year on the 1213 00:50:15,680 --> 00:50:17,920 schedule itself. I think there's more 1214 00:50:17,920 --> 00:50:19,520 that could happen, but it was a good 1215 00:50:19,520 --> 00:50:21,680 start. Um, you know, we're going to hire 1216 00:50:21,680 --> 00:50:23,040 a new principal and one of the things we 1217 00:50:23,040 --> 00:50:25,040 can do in that hire is sort of put out 1218 00:50:25,040 --> 00:50:26,960 priorities and this is is certainly one 1219 00:50:26,960 --> 00:50:30,160 is thinking about how do we um work with 1220 00:50:30,160 --> 00:50:31,760 the schedule so that we're really 1221 00:50:31,760 --> 00:50:34,079 meeting the demand uh that's out there. 1222 00:50:34,079 --> 00:50:37,920 Um the self-study option is um it's 1223 00:50:37,920 --> 00:50:40,720 really for students who there's either a 1224 00:50:40,720 --> 00:50:42,960 specialized class that we don't offer or 1225 00:50:42,960 --> 00:50:45,520 they can't get into a class. we do make 1226 00:50:45,520 --> 00:50:47,520 it possible for them to study on their 1227 00:50:47,520 --> 00:50:50,800 own and take the exam. Um, and for 1228 00:50:50,800 --> 00:50:52,880 whatever reason that initial email went 1229 00:50:52,880 --> 00:50:55,359 out just to 10th, 11th, and 12th 1230 00:50:55,359 --> 00:50:58,160 graders. Um, there are students who take 1231 00:50:58,160 --> 00:51:00,000 AP classes at all grade levels 1232 00:51:00,000 --> 00:51:01,440 throughout the Commonwealth. There's no 1233 00:51:01,440 --> 00:51:03,839 reason in particular to restrict a nth 1234 00:51:03,839 --> 00:51:05,280 grade just just because they're a nth 1235 00:51:05,280 --> 00:51:07,680 grader. Um, so it was to open that up as 1236 00:51:07,680 --> 00:51:08,240 a possibility. 1237 00:51:08,240 --> 00:51:09,920 >> So, did we have previous restrictions on 1238 00:51:09,920 --> 00:51:10,480 that? 1239 00:51:10,480 --> 00:51:12,880 >> We did not. It just wasn't advertised. 1240 00:51:12,880 --> 00:51:15,280 >> Ah, okay. Okay, that that's actually 1241 00:51:15,280 --> 00:51:17,359 really good information because I I do 1242 00:51:17,359 --> 00:51:18,400 think there might have been a little bit 1243 00:51:18,400 --> 00:51:20,000 of confusion around that email. Yes. 1244 00:51:20,000 --> 00:51:22,079 >> I clearly I was confused because I was 1245 00:51:22,079 --> 00:51:25,200 like thinking um you know it's great 1246 00:51:25,200 --> 00:51:26,720 because I I've been talking about 1247 00:51:26,720 --> 00:51:28,400 expanding AP options for 1248 00:51:28,400 --> 00:51:28,720 >> Yeah. 1249 00:51:28,720 --> 00:51:31,920 >> since I got on this committee because I think that our students are a great 1250 00:51:31,920 --> 00:51:34,240 disadvantage when it comes to 1251 00:51:34,240 --> 00:51:36,319 applications for colleges when there's 1252 00:51:36,319 --> 00:51:38,559 you know other schools are offering APs 1253 00:51:38,559 --> 00:51:41,760 and nth grade and we're not. Um, and I 1254 00:51:41,760 --> 00:51:43,280 think that because we have so many 1255 00:51:43,280 --> 00:51:45,760 limited years that it's being offered, 1256 00:51:45,760 --> 00:51:47,760 kids are not able to even as seniors get 1257 00:51:47,760 --> 00:51:49,520 into the APs that they want to, which I 1258 00:51:49,520 --> 00:51:51,440 think is very uh 1259 00:51:51,440 --> 00:51:52,160 >> frustrating. 1260 00:51:52,160 --> 00:51:54,079 >> Yeah, very frustrating and and I I think 1261 00:51:54,079 --> 00:51:58,000 we need to fix that. Um, and this email 1262 00:51:58,000 --> 00:52:00,800 I took as because I was thinking the 1263 00:52:00,800 --> 00:52:02,960 roll out of this is very strange coming 1264 00:52:02,960 --> 00:52:05,040 once school has started because some a 1265 00:52:05,040 --> 00:52:06,480 ninth grader who'd want to pick up a 1266 00:52:06,480 --> 00:52:09,119 self-study would not want to do that, 1267 00:52:09,119 --> 00:52:11,040 you know, in after school started in 1268 00:52:11,040 --> 00:52:13,839 September. I would have thought that. So, I understand now what that's 1269 00:52:13,839 --> 00:52:15,599 about. I'm glad that I got the clarity 1270 00:52:15,599 --> 00:52:16,800 because I was 1271 00:52:16,800 --> 00:52:19,119 >> really uh wondering why the roll out of 1272 00:52:19,119 --> 00:52:20,720 that was happening at this time when 1273 00:52:20,720 --> 00:52:22,160 school had started because if somebody 1274 00:52:22,160 --> 00:52:23,119 was going to want to pick up a 1275 00:52:23,119 --> 00:52:25,119 self-study, they would have planned for 1276 00:52:25,119 --> 00:52:28,800 that last year. So, um thank you for 1277 00:52:28,800 --> 00:52:32,240 that. Um and then also I wanted to just 1278 00:52:32,240 --> 00:52:34,720 hit on this um piece that you have the 1279 00:52:34,720 --> 00:52:36,880 belonging piece. Um 1280 00:52:36,880 --> 00:52:39,040 >> you know that that part is really 1281 00:52:39,040 --> 00:52:41,440 important to me. I want to just touch on 1282 00:52:41,440 --> 00:52:43,040 so we you know had the calendar 1283 00:52:43,040 --> 00:52:45,119 committee. I think that the can the 1284 00:52:45,119 --> 00:52:46,240 committee came up with certain 1285 00:52:46,240 --> 00:52:48,240 recommendations at the end which you 1286 00:52:48,240 --> 00:52:50,960 know I I have my issues with but there 1287 00:52:50,960 --> 00:52:53,040 were a lot of loose ends um with that 1288 00:52:53,040 --> 00:52:55,920 committee. It was sort of you know I 1289 00:52:55,920 --> 00:52:58,160 don't know that we were able to to come 1290 00:52:58,160 --> 00:53:00,160 to a real consensus and so we kind of 1291 00:53:00,160 --> 00:53:01,760 left it as this is the recommendation 1292 00:53:01,760 --> 00:53:03,599 but we don't know how we're going to 1293 00:53:03,599 --> 00:53:05,119 implement we don't know how we're going 1294 00:53:05,119 --> 00:53:06,480 to measure. we don't know how we're 1295 00:53:06,480 --> 00:53:07,680 going to get information from the 1296 00:53:07,680 --> 00:53:08,480 students 1297 00:53:08,480 --> 00:53:10,000 >> regarding the impact. 1298 00:53:10,000 --> 00:53:12,800 >> Um and so I see that you've 1299 00:53:12,800 --> 00:53:14,480 >> well one from the email that you sent 1300 00:53:14,480 --> 00:53:16,400 out which is that I think you're um 1301 00:53:16,400 --> 00:53:17,440 working with 1302 00:53:17,440 --> 00:53:18,880 >> the staff 1303 00:53:18,880 --> 00:53:21,839 >> um in trying to create uh a committee 1304 00:53:21,839 --> 00:53:24,000 and and do some evaluation there. 1305 00:53:24,000 --> 00:53:24,400 >> Yes. 1306 00:53:24,400 --> 00:53:26,160 >> Um and I just want to reiterate how 1307 00:53:26,160 --> 00:53:28,640 important it is that we do come up with 1308 00:53:28,640 --> 00:53:31,599 some sort of way of measuring the impact 1309 00:53:31,599 --> 00:53:34,720 of both. Um, I would say not only now, 1310 00:53:34,720 --> 00:53:36,319 you know, this idea of what we're 1311 00:53:36,319 --> 00:53:38,400 planning on instituting in two years, 1312 00:53:38,400 --> 00:53:41,119 but you know, the homework holiday um 1313 00:53:41,119 --> 00:53:43,280 policy has 1314 00:53:43,280 --> 00:53:45,680 the Yeah, that's I said that right. Um, 1315 00:53:45,680 --> 00:53:49,359 has so greatly changed. Um, I'm really 1316 00:53:49,359 --> 00:53:51,280 concerned about the impact that that is 1317 00:53:51,280 --> 00:53:54,400 going to have. Uh, and I think like we 1318 00:53:54,400 --> 00:53:56,720 there needs to be some real measure of 1319 00:53:56,720 --> 00:53:58,960 what the impact is. And I I don't have 1320 00:53:58,960 --> 00:54:00,800 the first clue of how you're going to do 1321 00:54:00,800 --> 00:54:02,960 this, but I would like to follow up and 1322 00:54:02,960 --> 00:54:04,640 I've said this previously as well, like 1323 00:54:04,640 --> 00:54:06,480 I would like updates on how this is 1324 00:54:06,480 --> 00:54:08,640 going and what information and how 1325 00:54:08,640 --> 00:54:10,720 you're obtaining it. So 1326 00:54:10,720 --> 00:54:12,480 >> I think that's that's right. I mean in 1327 00:54:12,480 --> 00:54:15,680 addition to so there's in addition to a 1328 00:54:15,680 --> 00:54:18,800 staff group internally I think um Roger 1329 00:54:18,800 --> 00:54:20,960 Anderson and Kim Tinan have put forward 1330 00:54:20,960 --> 00:54:23,839 a grant proposal to form a student group 1331 00:54:23,839 --> 00:54:26,880 and um which will follow kind of a 1332 00:54:26,880 --> 00:54:29,599 similar trajectory. We've identified an 1333 00:54:29,599 --> 00:54:31,359 outside facilitator to come and train 1334 00:54:31,359 --> 00:54:32,720 both the staff group and the student 1335 00:54:32,720 --> 00:54:35,200 group in in terms of thinking about what 1336 00:54:35,200 --> 00:54:37,760 is the work of supporting belonging and 1337 00:54:37,760 --> 00:54:39,440 equity within the district. How do we do 1338 00:54:39,440 --> 00:54:41,760 that well? Um so year one is really 1339 00:54:41,760 --> 00:54:43,200 going to focus on a lot of sort of 1340 00:54:43,200 --> 00:54:45,359 foundation building. Um we'll be looking 1341 00:54:45,359 --> 00:54:48,079 at at data but also doing outreach so we 1342 00:54:48,079 --> 00:54:50,720 can understand how things are impacting 1343 00:54:50,720 --> 00:54:52,640 students directly. I think that's really 1344 00:54:52,640 --> 00:54:55,680 important. Um and that's part of the 1345 00:54:55,680 --> 00:54:57,200 reason we need to kind of get those 1346 00:54:57,200 --> 00:54:58,559 groups up and running. So 1347 00:54:58,559 --> 00:55:00,960 >> yeah. So once you figure out a mechanism 1348 00:55:00,960 --> 00:55:02,960 by which you're going to measure, gather 1349 00:55:02,960 --> 00:55:04,480 data, if you could please update the 1350 00:55:04,480 --> 00:55:06,559 committee on that, that would be I just 1351 00:55:06,559 --> 00:55:07,839 don't want to come up on the two-year 1352 00:55:07,839 --> 00:55:09,040 mark and then 1353 00:55:09,040 --> 00:55:10,800 >> we don't have the information we need. 1354 00:55:10,800 --> 00:55:12,079 We're just moving forward with a 1355 00:55:12,079 --> 00:55:14,720 decision that's based on right. Um and 1356 00:55:14,720 --> 00:55:20,870 then my other question is um 1357 00:55:20,880 --> 00:55:23,200 I don't know. So I lost that train of 1358 00:55:23,200 --> 00:55:24,559 thought. Um 1359 00:55:24,559 --> 00:55:27,280 >> yeah, but thank you. You're welcome. 1360 00:55:27,280 --> 00:55:29,599 >> Thank [snorts] you, Sarah. Gary. 1361 00:55:29,599 --> 00:55:32,559 >> Hi there. Thank you so much. Um couple 1362 00:55:32,559 --> 00:55:34,880 of quick questions. Um the first thing I 1363 00:55:34,880 --> 00:55:36,640 just wanted to mention with um what you 1364 00:55:36,640 --> 00:55:38,800 described about the decap. Um just 1365 00:55:38,800 --> 00:55:41,040 because students uh this mainly affects 1366 00:55:41,040 --> 00:55:42,480 probably middle and mainly high school 1367 00:55:42,480 --> 00:55:44,800 students um not having access to phones 1368 00:55:44,800 --> 00:55:46,960 now and how that's also um changing 1369 00:55:46,960 --> 00:55:49,280 education. uh speaking with peers I know 1370 00:55:49,280 --> 00:55:51,280 that often phones while they absolutely 1371 00:55:51,280 --> 00:55:53,280 in school had harmful effects that were 1372 00:55:53,280 --> 00:55:55,520 pointed out um they were also used as 1373 00:55:55,520 --> 00:55:58,160 coping mechanisms by students in various 1374 00:55:58,160 --> 00:55:59,200 different points. 1375 00:55:59,200 --> 00:56:01,119 >> Uh so I'm just curious or actually I'm 1376 00:56:01,119 --> 00:56:03,599 just wanted to point out um as the decap 1377 00:56:03,599 --> 00:56:05,359 is being rethought kind of how some of 1378 00:56:05,359 --> 00:56:06,960 those same supports can be included even 1379 00:56:06,960 --> 00:56:08,480 without uh phones. 1380 00:56:08,480 --> 00:56:09,520 >> Um 1381 00:56:09,520 --> 00:56:10,720 >> and then just kind of letting students 1382 00:56:10,720 --> 00:56:11,520 know about that. 1383 00:56:11,520 --> 00:56:13,040 >> That's great. Thank you. 1384 00:56:13,040 --> 00:56:15,440 Um and then uh the other thing I just 1385 00:56:15,440 --> 00:56:18,559 wanted to uh mention was um broader like 1386 00:56:18,559 --> 00:56:20,720 student communication regarding um the 1387 00:56:20,720 --> 00:56:22,480 district plans. I think that especially 1388 00:56:22,480 --> 00:56:25,520 at high school when um when we as high 1389 00:56:25,520 --> 00:56:27,440 school students know why certain things 1390 00:56:27,440 --> 00:56:29,520 are happening even if they are probably 1391 00:56:29,520 --> 00:56:32,240 above our pay grade to an extent of um 1392 00:56:32,240 --> 00:56:34,160 like the exact educational reason for 1393 00:56:34,160 --> 00:56:36,799 it. I do think that in uh classes there 1394 00:56:36,799 --> 00:56:38,400 tends to be more cooperation between the 1395 00:56:38,400 --> 00:56:39,680 teacher and the student for why 1396 00:56:39,680 --> 00:56:42,000 different decisions are being made. Um, 1397 00:56:42,000 --> 00:56:44,160 and because ultimately we're all on the 1398 00:56:44,160 --> 00:56:46,079 same team there, I just wanted to also 1399 00:56:46,079 --> 00:56:47,680 emphasize making sure students are aware 1400 00:56:47,680 --> 00:56:49,440 of these district plans and the 1401 00:56:49,440 --> 00:56:50,640 reasoning behind them and that they're 1402 00:56:50,640 --> 00:56:52,000 ultimately to help students. 1403 00:56:52,000 --> 00:56:53,920 >> Absolutely. I mean, I think one of the 1404 00:56:53,920 --> 00:56:56,720 things happening also is um, and you'll 1405 00:56:56,720 --> 00:56:59,440 also see that reflected in my goals is a 1406 00:56:59,440 --> 00:57:01,520 student advisory committee that works 1407 00:57:01,520 --> 00:57:03,359 with district administration. Um, this 1408 00:57:03,359 --> 00:57:05,040 is actually not my not my big idea. 1409 00:57:05,040 --> 00:57:06,319 There were a couple of high school 1410 00:57:06,319 --> 00:57:08,960 seniors who had approached me last year 1411 00:57:08,960 --> 00:57:11,200 and my initial conversation with them. 1412 00:57:11,200 --> 00:57:12,880 They a lot of the issues they were 1413 00:57:12,880 --> 00:57:14,000 focused on were really high school 1414 00:57:14,000 --> 00:57:15,520 issues. So I said, well, you know, maybe 1415 00:57:15,520 --> 00:57:17,119 this is something to bring to the high 1416 00:57:17,119 --> 00:57:18,960 school administration, but then with the 1417 00:57:18,960 --> 00:57:21,119 turnover um and a little time to reflect 1418 00:57:21,119 --> 00:57:22,799 over the summer, I I kind of thought, 1419 00:57:22,799 --> 00:57:24,559 you know, I think students need a voice 1420 00:57:24,559 --> 00:57:27,040 at the district level. So I reached back 1421 00:57:27,040 --> 00:57:28,960 out to them. We had a meeting. they've 1422 00:57:28,960 --> 00:57:31,839 got they're about to send out um a form 1423 00:57:31,839 --> 00:57:34,160 basically to the student body asking for 1424 00:57:34,160 --> 00:57:36,160 interested students who might want to 1425 00:57:36,160 --> 00:57:38,640 sit on that representative group and I 1426 00:57:38,640 --> 00:57:40,160 think that is something we'll talk about 1427 00:57:40,160 --> 00:57:42,240 how do we get the word out about 1428 00:57:42,240 --> 00:57:44,240 initiatives that are coming and also 1429 00:57:44,240 --> 00:57:46,240 that group can be a sounding board and 1430 00:57:46,240 --> 00:57:48,480 really give some helpful feedback in 1431 00:57:48,480 --> 00:57:50,720 terms of direction and communication. I 1432 00:57:50,720 --> 00:57:54,559 mean I I think we will always um you 1433 00:57:54,559 --> 00:57:56,160 know make decisions that are going to be 1434 00:57:56,160 --> 00:57:57,359 uncomfortable sometimes. I think the 1435 00:57:57,359 --> 00:57:59,760 phone is a good example of one where um 1436 00:57:59,760 --> 00:58:01,839 some sometimes I may see something that 1437 00:58:01,839 --> 00:58:03,280 I believe is in students best interest 1438 00:58:03,280 --> 00:58:05,040 and the research suggests it is even if 1439 00:58:05,040 --> 00:58:07,359 it's you know not what not what people 1440 00:58:07,359 --> 00:58:09,200 want you know for a short term and but 1441 00:58:09,200 --> 00:58:10,880 to your point if we can communicate 1442 00:58:10,880 --> 00:58:13,200 about it well it can help ease the 1443 00:58:13,200 --> 00:58:15,760 transition so I appreciate that a lot 1444 00:58:15,760 --> 00:58:19,030 you're welcome 1445 00:58:19,040 --> 00:58:21,440 » thank you Allison for the uh thorough 1446 00:58:21,440 --> 00:58:23,760 presentation and the and the goodlook 1447 00:58:23,760 --> 00:58:26,799 plan for next year I I'm I I mean 1448 00:58:26,799 --> 00:58:28,480 everybody seems to have some something 1449 00:58:28,480 --> 00:58:30,799 of uh of focus for me I guess would be 1450 00:58:30,799 --> 00:58:33,359 the AI road map and it implementation I 1451 00:58:33,359 --> 00:58:35,359 mean that's a lot of people are are 1452 00:58:35,359 --> 00:58:37,680 looking at that and so I'll be following 1453 00:58:37,680 --> 00:58:40,480 that closely I have two questions one is 1454 00:58:40,480 --> 00:58:41,920 very specific the other one is more 1455 00:58:41,920 --> 00:58:43,040 general 1456 00:58:43,040 --> 00:58:45,599 >> um the could you speak a little bit more 1457 00:58:45,599 --> 00:58:49,440 to the chronic absentism uh um 1458 00:58:49,440 --> 00:58:51,680 forgive me for ignorance but does it 1459 00:58:51,680 --> 00:58:53,359 count students for instance who leave 1460 00:58:53,359 --> 00:58:54,160 the country 1461 00:58:54,160 --> 00:58:54,559 >> yes 1462 00:58:54,559 --> 00:58:57,359 >> it does that counts as absent because 1463 00:58:57,359 --> 00:59:01,599 that's a different kind of absent 1464 00:59:01,599 --> 00:59:05,200 being anxious to come to school. 1465 00:59:05,200 --> 00:59:08,240 >> some numbers to see, you know, what kind 1466 00:59:08,240 --> 00:59:09,920 of absentism we are we are mostly 1467 00:59:09,920 --> 00:59:11,200 concerned with or maybe you can just 1468 00:59:11,200 --> 00:59:12,000 speak to that. 1469 00:59:12,000 --> 00:59:13,440 >> Right. I I think you know one of the 1470 00:59:13,440 --> 00:59:15,920 things I I pushed out like last year the 1471 00:59:15,920 --> 00:59:18,240 year before just 1472 00:59:18,240 --> 00:59:20,880 update for families if uh families leave 1473 00:59:20,880 --> 00:59:23,040 for beyond that chronic absenteeism 1474 00:59:23,040 --> 00:59:25,680 threshold we do encourage them to 1475 00:59:25,680 --> 00:59:29,280 unenroll um in part because you know um 1476 00:59:29,280 --> 00:59:30,880 they're technically not accessing school 1477 00:59:30,880 --> 00:59:32,400 during that time they're we're not 1478 00:59:32,400 --> 00:59:33,839 actually students we're not providing 1479 00:59:33,839 --> 00:59:36,240 them an educational service and um and 1480 00:59:36,240 --> 00:59:37,920 it's just not it's not a great practice 1481 00:59:37,920 --> 00:59:40,480 but um but you know that's really a 1482 00:59:40,480 --> 00:59:42,319 family's choice about making that 1483 00:59:42,319 --> 00:59:45,280 decision. Um, in terms of being able to 1484 00:59:45,280 --> 00:59:47,520 monitor which students which, it's a 1485 00:59:47,520 --> 00:59:49,119 little hard to tell. However, in the 1486 00:59:49,119 --> 00:59:50,640 data, it has very different data 1487 00:59:50,640 --> 00:59:52,240 patterns, right? A student who's gone 1488 00:59:52,240 --> 00:59:54,079 one big chunk of days, it looks very 1489 00:59:54,079 --> 00:59:55,359 different than a student who misses 1490 00:59:55,359 --> 00:59:58,000 every, you know, Monday and Tuesday um, 1491 00:59:58,000 --> 01:00:01,839 in November. Um, so I think part of what 1492 01:00:01,839 --> 01:00:04,319 um, Kim Tinen's role is going to be this 1493 01:00:04,319 --> 01:00:06,799 year is p pulling together a committee. 1494 01:00:06,799 --> 01:00:08,400 um she's working with a couple of the 1495 01:00:08,400 --> 01:00:10,319 principles and as a sort of subgroup of 1496 01:00:10,319 --> 01:00:12,720 the leadership team and the data is 1497 01:00:12,720 --> 01:00:15,040 where they'll start looking at you know 1498 01:00:15,040 --> 01:00:18,559 where are um the pockets of students you 1499 01:00:18,559 --> 01:00:20,480 know what are are there characteristics 1500 01:00:20,480 --> 01:00:21,920 of students in particular that we should 1501 01:00:21,920 --> 01:00:23,839 be mindful of are there programs and 1502 01:00:23,839 --> 01:00:26,640 supports that we can put in place um for 1503 01:00:26,640 --> 01:00:29,280 example there's um there are a number of 1504 01:00:29,280 --> 01:00:32,799 districts that have now joined um I'm 1505 01:00:32,799 --> 01:00:34,079 not going to remember the name uh 1506 01:00:34,079 --> 01:00:38,640 there's um a program out there that is 1507 01:00:38,640 --> 01:00:41,040 uh helps families connect with mental 1508 01:00:41,040 --> 01:00:44,240 health services online and uh the 1509 01:00:44,240 --> 01:00:45,920 districts that have used it have said 1510 01:00:45,920 --> 01:00:48,240 it's incredibly effective, very 1511 01:00:48,240 --> 01:00:50,960 powerful, really helpful and often uh 1512 01:00:50,960 --> 01:00:52,720 the underlying causes of school 1513 01:00:52,720 --> 01:00:55,040 avoidance are things that need to be 1514 01:00:55,040 --> 01:00:56,559 addressed that we may not have the 1515 01:00:56,559 --> 01:00:58,640 bandwidth to help families address. So 1516 01:00:58,640 --> 01:01:00,799 helping to sort of build in structures 1517 01:01:00,799 --> 01:01:03,200 and supports can work and be very 1518 01:01:03,200 --> 01:01:04,960 effective. So, those are the kind of 1519 01:01:04,960 --> 01:01:07,280 things we're going to be looking at. 1520 01:01:07,280 --> 01:01:08,720 I don't know. I don't know if I just got 1521 01:01:08,720 --> 01:01:09,839 to your question or just talked all the 1522 01:01:09,839 --> 01:01:11,839 way around it and came back. 1523 01:01:11,839 --> 01:01:14,960 >> You did both, but 1524 01:01:14,960 --> 01:01:16,319 >> uh the other question is more is more 1525 01:01:16,319 --> 01:01:19,200 general. Which of these maybe more than 1526 01:01:19,200 --> 01:01:22,559 one uh goals you find most challenging 1527 01:01:22,559 --> 01:01:25,680 for the district right now? 1528 01:01:25,680 --> 01:01:27,839 >> Um it's it's interesting. I think the AI 1529 01:01:27,839 --> 01:01:31,520 is the thing that I'm the most 1530 01:01:31,520 --> 01:01:32,960 I think it's the thing you know Matt and 1531 01:01:32,960 --> 01:01:34,640 I talked about this too. I think it's 1532 01:01:34,640 --> 01:01:39,359 the hardest thing because um I think 1533 01:01:39,359 --> 01:01:42,480 educators have a responsibility, a deep 1534 01:01:42,480 --> 01:01:45,280 responsibility to be mindful of what's 1535 01:01:45,280 --> 01:01:47,680 in the best interest of children. And I 1536 01:01:47,680 --> 01:01:49,520 think sometimes there are very different 1537 01:01:49,520 --> 01:01:52,000 intuitions about what those things are. 1538 01:01:52,000 --> 01:01:56,960 And um so helping move educators towards 1539 01:01:56,960 --> 01:01:59,520 something when we don't really know what 1540 01:01:59,520 --> 01:02:01,359 the outcomes look like for anybody 1541 01:02:01,359 --> 01:02:03,920 because it's new. we find ourselves in a 1542 01:02:03,920 --> 01:02:08,160 strange place. Um and um you know I and 1543 01:02:08,160 --> 01:02:09,680 I think it's not helpful that the 1544 01:02:09,680 --> 01:02:12,160 external conversation right now in the 1545 01:02:12,160 --> 01:02:13,760 news media is about how it's just going 1546 01:02:13,760 --> 01:02:16,400 to kill us all soon, right? That's super 1547 01:02:16,400 --> 01:02:19,280 unhelpful to us in this moment. Um 1548 01:02:19,280 --> 01:02:24,240 >> um so we I think have this very 1549 01:02:24,240 --> 01:02:28,720 challenging task of helping to get our 1550 01:02:28,720 --> 01:02:31,119 educators comfortable and familiar 1551 01:02:31,119 --> 01:02:33,280 enough about what do what are these 1552 01:02:33,280 --> 01:02:35,359 tools? What do they actually do? What do 1553 01:02:35,359 --> 01:02:38,000 they not do? Uh because I do not believe 1554 01:02:38,000 --> 01:02:40,960 we'll get any kind of buy in from them 1555 01:02:40,960 --> 01:02:44,799 until that happens. Um, and I think it's 1556 01:02:44,799 --> 01:02:47,440 important that we do because to Jane's 1557 01:02:47,440 --> 01:02:49,040 point, you know, we're sending kids out 1558 01:02:49,040 --> 01:02:51,280 into a universe where these tools are 1559 01:02:51,280 --> 01:02:54,240 everywhere. And um, and if our students 1560 01:02:54,240 --> 01:02:56,799 don't know how to use them um, and what 1561 01:02:56,799 --> 01:02:59,280 they do not do well as well as what they 1562 01:02:59,280 --> 01:03:01,599 do well, we are setting them up. So, 1563 01:03:01,599 --> 01:03:04,880 it's uh, that one that one's tough and 1564 01:03:04,880 --> 01:03:05,599 uh, 1565 01:03:05,599 --> 01:03:06,880 >> well, I'm glad you're not going to be 1566 01:03:06,880 --> 01:03:09,440 distracted by redistricting or 1567 01:03:09,440 --> 01:03:11,680 >> other projects. So we got more energy 1568 01:03:11,680 --> 01:03:12,480 for this. 1569 01:03:12,480 --> 01:03:15,520 >> There's always something distracting. 1570 01:03:15,520 --> 01:03:18,799 >> Thank you very much. And now we can 1571 01:03:18,799 --> 01:03:21,119 proceed to very related next agenda item 1572 01:03:21,119 --> 01:03:24,640 which is your goals for 1573 01:03:24,640 --> 01:03:27,039 so 26 27 goals. 1574 01:03:27,039 --> 01:03:30,319 >> Yeah. And these are are very connected 1575 01:03:30,319 --> 01:03:32,799 as you can see. Um and I I want to speak 1576 01:03:32,799 --> 01:03:36,799 to how I chose these. I I think um my 1577 01:03:36,799 --> 01:03:38,319 job is interesting in that there are so 1578 01:03:38,319 --> 01:03:40,240 many different things I could uh focus 1579 01:03:40,240 --> 01:03:42,720 my time and attention on. And I think in 1580 01:03:42,720 --> 01:03:44,720 order to 1581 01:03:44,720 --> 01:03:47,839 um specifically think about my role 1582 01:03:47,839 --> 01:03:50,640 here, I did a couple things. One was to 1583 01:03:50,640 --> 01:03:52,640 think about the district strategy and 1584 01:03:52,640 --> 01:03:54,559 what are the things where I could have 1585 01:03:54,559 --> 01:03:57,440 particular I could be a particular help 1586 01:03:57,440 --> 01:04:00,160 or influence. Um the second thing was to 1587 01:04:00,160 --> 01:04:02,000 think about feedback um internal 1588 01:04:02,000 --> 01:04:04,880 feedback from the leadership team. uh 1589 01:04:04,880 --> 01:04:08,079 from teachers um you know what am I 1590 01:04:08,079 --> 01:04:10,319 learning from people around me about the 1591 01:04:10,319 --> 01:04:12,160 work that I'm doing and the third is 1592 01:04:12,160 --> 01:04:13,920 feedback from you all actually looking 1593 01:04:13,920 --> 01:04:15,599 at end of the year feedback last year 1594 01:04:15,599 --> 01:04:17,520 that had a heavy influence in terms of 1595 01:04:17,520 --> 01:04:20,640 thinking about where and and you and the 1596 01:04:20,640 --> 01:04:22,480 community you as representatives of the 1597 01:04:22,480 --> 01:04:24,480 community so those are the things that I 1598 01:04:24,480 --> 01:04:26,880 really kept in mind in terms of choosing 1599 01:04:26,880 --> 01:04:32,160 areas of focus um and uh I put these in 1600 01:04:32,160 --> 01:04:34,079 this order for this reason you know I I 1601 01:04:34,079 --> 01:04:36,880 do think um 1602 01:04:36,880 --> 01:04:39,599 thinking about community engagement and 1603 01:04:39,599 --> 01:04:41,599 really expanding the reach of 1604 01:04:41,599 --> 01:04:43,680 communication from the district feels 1605 01:04:43,680 --> 01:04:46,079 very important to me. Um I think that 1606 01:04:46,079 --> 01:04:49,440 this uh it is the thing that is the 1607 01:04:49,440 --> 01:04:51,039 superintendent's job more than anything 1608 01:04:51,039 --> 01:04:53,359 else. Um and it's the thing that 1609 01:04:53,359 --> 01:04:55,039 sometimes to me feels like the last 1610 01:04:55,039 --> 01:04:56,880 thing I get to. So, by putting it here 1611 01:04:56,880 --> 01:04:59,520 and prioritizing it as a goal, it kind 1612 01:04:59,520 --> 01:05:02,319 of makes it concrete and hopefully will 1613 01:05:02,319 --> 01:05:05,680 kind of help me keep that uh in my sites 1614 01:05:05,680 --> 01:05:09,599 all the time. Um, 1615 01:05:09,599 --> 01:05:11,039 you know, a couple of the things that 1616 01:05:11,039 --> 01:05:13,599 I'm hoping to do here. One is an audit 1617 01:05:13,599 --> 01:05:15,440 of what's happening with our 1618 01:05:15,440 --> 01:05:16,799 communication. And I've mentioned this 1619 01:05:16,799 --> 01:05:18,799 in kind of offhand way that we have 1620 01:05:18,799 --> 01:05:20,640 tools that don't seem to be reaching 1621 01:05:20,640 --> 01:05:22,400 everybody, but I want to be able to 1622 01:05:22,400 --> 01:05:24,640 provide you with more data about what 1623 01:05:24,640 --> 01:05:27,760 that looks like. Um, 1624 01:05:27,760 --> 01:05:31,200 I do thinking about school committee and 1625 01:05:31,200 --> 01:05:32,160 thinking about the time at school 1626 01:05:32,160 --> 01:05:33,599 committee, we've had conversation about 1627 01:05:33,599 --> 01:05:36,400 this as well. um you know, how do we get 1628 01:05:36,400 --> 01:05:38,720 more people involved in understanding 1629 01:05:38,720 --> 01:05:42,160 this board's role in sort of shaping the 1630 01:05:42,160 --> 01:05:44,559 schools uh and really committed to 1631 01:05:44,559 --> 01:05:46,319 showing up and telling you what they 1632 01:05:46,319 --> 01:05:47,839 think. I think that's actually important 1633 01:05:47,839 --> 01:05:50,480 that that folks do do that. Um so I've 1634 01:05:50,480 --> 01:05:52,559 thought about engagement and engagement 1635 01:05:52,559 --> 01:05:54,720 with the schools and with the community. 1636 01:05:54,720 --> 01:05:57,440 Um the partnerships I already mentioned 1637 01:05:57,440 --> 01:06:00,000 and then uh student advisory council and 1638 01:06:00,000 --> 01:06:02,319 student voice um is an important piece 1639 01:06:02,319 --> 01:06:04,799 too. So, I've um kind of advocated for 1640 01:06:04,799 --> 01:06:06,559 that since coming here. I want to 1641 01:06:06,559 --> 01:06:09,520 formalize it and expand it. Um I I think 1642 01:06:09,520 --> 01:06:12,000 I don't know of any situation ever where 1643 01:06:12,000 --> 01:06:16,000 we um didn't benefit uh enormously from 1644 01:06:16,000 --> 01:06:17,920 seeking input from students and 1645 01:06:17,920 --> 01:06:20,640 listening to what they had to say. So, 1646 01:06:20,640 --> 01:06:22,240 um, 1647 01:06:22,240 --> 01:06:24,559 thinking about instructional leadership, 1648 01:06:24,559 --> 01:06:26,240 um, 1649 01:06:26,240 --> 01:06:28,880 I I really wanted to think again about 1650 01:06:28,880 --> 01:06:32,720 where is it that, um, we have work to do 1651 01:06:32,720 --> 01:06:34,559 that I can be helpful with. The AI work 1652 01:06:34,559 --> 01:06:37,119 was a big piece. Um, and I think my part 1653 01:06:37,119 --> 01:06:39,200 of that is going to be working alongside 1654 01:06:39,200 --> 01:06:42,960 Matt to help create the the steering 1655 01:06:42,960 --> 01:06:44,960 committee advisory group. I can't 1656 01:06:44,960 --> 01:06:45,760 remember what we're calling them. 1657 01:06:45,760 --> 01:06:47,760 Advisory group, I think it is. um that 1658 01:06:47,760 --> 01:06:49,920 has a little broader representation. So 1659 01:06:49,920 --> 01:06:51,440 looking for some parents. We've spoken 1660 01:06:51,440 --> 01:06:52,880 with a couple parents in the community 1661 01:06:52,880 --> 01:06:56,079 who have background and expertise um and 1662 01:06:56,079 --> 01:06:57,520 trying to kind of pull them together 1663 01:06:57,520 --> 01:07:00,079 with staff and with some leadership to 1664 01:07:00,079 --> 01:07:01,760 help us oversee the implementation of 1665 01:07:01,760 --> 01:07:03,280 that plan. So that's a group that can 1666 01:07:03,280 --> 01:07:06,480 kind of keep that work on track and um 1667 01:07:06,480 --> 01:07:10,000 and I think that's important. Um, 1668 01:07:10,000 --> 01:07:11,359 you know, we've had internal 1669 01:07:11,359 --> 01:07:12,960 conversations about achievement gaps and 1670 01:07:12,960 --> 01:07:15,039 I think we do need to sort of bring that 1671 01:07:15,039 --> 01:07:17,520 out and highlight it in a more public 1672 01:07:17,520 --> 01:07:20,000 way. Um, it's sometimes within a really 1673 01:07:20,000 --> 01:07:22,799 high performing district. Uh, we have a, 1674 01:07:22,799 --> 01:07:24,559 you know, we have great results in the 1675 01:07:24,559 --> 01:07:25,920 aggregate. Things look really, really 1676 01:07:25,920 --> 01:07:27,839 good, but they don't look um, great for 1677 01:07:27,839 --> 01:07:29,760 everybody all the time. And by looking 1678 01:07:29,760 --> 01:07:32,319 at those gaps, it allows us to um, 1679 01:07:32,319 --> 01:07:35,760 notice what's working um, and what isn't 1680 01:07:35,760 --> 01:07:37,920 and for whom. and then we can sort of 1681 01:07:37,920 --> 01:07:41,680 refine our our work. Um, and then we'll 1682 01:07:41,680 --> 01:07:43,520 be updating about secondary my cap 1683 01:07:43,520 --> 01:07:45,200 implementation. I just think that's an 1684 01:07:45,200 --> 01:07:46,720 exciting one. I want to kind of keep my 1685 01:07:46,720 --> 01:07:50,400 finger on the pulse of that. Um, um, in 1686 01:07:50,400 --> 01:07:52,880 terms of staff and professional culture, 1687 01:07:52,880 --> 01:07:54,480 I've thought a lot about this. You know, 1688 01:07:54,480 --> 01:07:56,160 I think one of the hardest things in my 1689 01:07:56,160 --> 01:07:58,960 job is to be able to get out of my 1690 01:07:58,960 --> 01:08:01,280 office and do stuff in the schools and 1691 01:08:01,280 --> 01:08:03,280 see firsthand what's going on. And I 1692 01:08:03,280 --> 01:08:05,839 think people value that. they need to be 1693 01:08:05,839 --> 01:08:08,559 seen and heard. Um, but it it's it's a 1694 01:08:08,559 --> 01:08:12,960 hard thing to do unless I sort of force it to happen. Um, and so I'm 1695 01:08:12,960 --> 01:08:14,559 trying I keep trying kind of new 1696 01:08:14,559 --> 01:08:16,719 thoughts or new structures. Um, you 1697 01:08:16,719 --> 01:08:18,719 know, last year I uh started the office 1698 01:08:18,719 --> 01:08:20,960 hours. I think some people like them, 1699 01:08:20,960 --> 01:08:22,319 some people said, "Why are you just 1700 01:08:22,319 --> 01:08:24,080 sitting around with plate of cookies? I, 1701 01:08:24,080 --> 01:08:25,839 you know, go do something else." I was 1702 01:08:25,839 --> 01:08:28,719 like, "Okay." Uh, so [laughter] 1703 01:08:28,719 --> 01:08:30,319 it's, you know, you get it on both ends. 1704 01:08:30,319 --> 01:08:31,440 Other people are like, "Great, great to 1705 01:08:31,440 --> 01:08:32,560 see you. Nice. Thank you for the 1706 01:08:32,560 --> 01:08:34,799 cookie." Right? So, I'm trying to find 1707 01:08:34,799 --> 01:08:37,279 uh ways to reach people that work for 1708 01:08:37,279 --> 01:08:39,920 them. Um 1709 01:08:39,920 --> 01:08:41,920 and we, you know, we hit on the um the 1710 01:08:41,920 --> 01:08:43,920 group around belonging and uh and 1711 01:08:43,920 --> 01:08:45,600 equity. I think that's really important. 1712 01:08:45,600 --> 01:08:47,279 And not only important, it's legally 1713 01:08:47,279 --> 01:08:49,600 mandated. So, uh there there was a law 1714 01:08:49,600 --> 01:08:53,199 passed um and signed by um the Healey 1715 01:08:53,199 --> 01:08:54,880 administration that that actually 1716 01:08:54,880 --> 01:08:57,040 dictates that uh every district is 1717 01:08:57,040 --> 01:08:58,960 supposed to have either a DEI director 1718 01:08:58,960 --> 01:09:02,719 or a team that does this work. And um in 1719 01:09:02,719 --> 01:09:04,400 the absence of a director, pulling 1720 01:09:04,400 --> 01:09:06,400 together a team is the thing that we 1721 01:09:06,400 --> 01:09:07,679 need to do. And I actually think it's 1722 01:09:07,679 --> 01:09:09,679 more effective anyway. Um it's work that 1723 01:09:09,679 --> 01:09:11,359 really should be distributed across the 1724 01:09:11,359 --> 01:09:13,120 district and should have a lot of people 1725 01:09:13,120 --> 01:09:16,319 advocating for it. 1726 01:09:16,319 --> 01:09:18,719 Um and then in terms of uh the sort of 1727 01:09:18,719 --> 01:09:21,440 safety and management part, I think um 1728 01:09:21,440 --> 01:09:23,759 for me it gives me a chance to sort of 1729 01:09:23,759 --> 01:09:26,159 really hone in on this safety goal that 1730 01:09:26,159 --> 01:09:27,839 um you know Tim asked questions about 1731 01:09:27,839 --> 01:09:30,960 earlier. um it is the thing that um that 1732 01:09:30,960 --> 01:09:34,400 I worry about, you know, uh in my uh 1733 01:09:34,400 --> 01:09:36,799 sleepless hours and so being able to 1734 01:09:36,799 --> 01:09:39,359 address it is important. And then also 1735 01:09:39,359 --> 01:09:41,279 working with the town and with our 1736 01:09:41,279 --> 01:09:44,239 operations folks on um just making 1737 01:09:44,239 --> 01:09:47,759 everything work as well as it can. 1738 01:09:47,759 --> 01:09:51,279 I think that's it. Um put together like 1739 01:09:51,279 --> 01:09:54,159 a summary table at the end. Um and this 1740 01:09:54,159 --> 01:09:55,840 is helpful for me too so I can track 1741 01:09:55,840 --> 01:09:57,600 deadlines. I've got a few things coming 1742 01:09:57,600 --> 01:10:01,280 up soon. Um, but my hope is to be able 1743 01:10:01,280 --> 01:10:04,159 to report out both at the district 1744 01:10:04,159 --> 01:10:06,239 strategy level and at my own goals 1745 01:10:06,239 --> 01:10:08,400 level. So, as we're giving I'm giving 1746 01:10:08,400 --> 01:10:09,920 you updates in school committee 1747 01:10:09,920 --> 01:10:11,520 meetings, sort of tagging them to this 1748 01:10:11,520 --> 01:10:13,040 so you can kind of see the progress as 1749 01:10:13,040 --> 01:10:16,000 we go. 1750 01:10:16,000 --> 01:10:17,360 >> That's it. That was a lot of me talking 1751 01:10:17,360 --> 01:10:19,199 in two different presentations. 1752 01:10:19,199 --> 01:10:20,640 Apologize for 1753 01:10:20,640 --> 01:10:24,080 >> All right. Thank you, uh, Steve. 1754 01:10:24,080 --> 01:10:26,800 Well, I guess first of all the the goals 1755 01:10:26,800 --> 01:10:29,440 and effort are 1756 01:10:29,440 --> 01:10:31,360 the second part that I worry about as a 1757 01:10:31,360 --> 01:10:33,679 member of this school committee is to be 1758 01:10:33,679 --> 01:10:34,880 careful of burnout. 1759 01:10:34,880 --> 01:10:35,679 >> Yeah. 1760 01:10:35,679 --> 01:10:37,760 >> Every single one of these strategies is 1761 01:10:37,760 --> 01:10:39,840 a full time. 1762 01:10:39,840 --> 01:10:44,400 Yeah. And I think one of the things 1763 01:10:44,400 --> 01:10:47,840 about you is your attempt perhaps to do 1764 01:10:47,840 --> 01:10:49,679 more possible. 1765 01:10:49,679 --> 01:10:51,360 >> And there's two outcomes. You're very 1766 01:10:51,360 --> 01:10:54,960 successful, super tired. or you burn up. 1767 01:10:54,960 --> 01:10:58,000 And so obviously we know the strength of 1768 01:10:58,000 --> 01:11:00,000 our school system and all the people who 1769 01:11:00,000 --> 01:11:03,040 work in it and work for you 1770 01:11:03,040 --> 01:11:05,920 >> is to engage them to help you attain 1771 01:11:05,920 --> 01:11:07,120 these goals. 1772 01:11:07,120 --> 01:11:07,520 >> Indeed. 1773 01:11:07,520 --> 01:11:10,480 >> And so having said that, we'll watch to 1774 01:11:10,480 --> 01:11:11,760 make sure you don't burn out. 1775 01:11:11,760 --> 01:11:13,440 >> Thank you. 1776 01:11:13,440 --> 01:11:14,960 >> But thank you. Thank you. 1777 01:11:14,960 --> 01:11:17,120 >> I appreciate that. I I do want to say my 1778 01:11:17,120 --> 01:11:18,960 goals are not just my goals. I mean, I I 1779 01:11:18,960 --> 01:11:20,800 have such a I work with such a fantastic 1780 01:11:20,800 --> 01:11:24,080 team. Um, and I I cannot thank you 1781 01:11:24,080 --> 01:11:26,560 enough for it. I I I don't know of any 1782 01:11:26,560 --> 01:11:28,960 other superintendent that feels super 1783 01:11:28,960 --> 01:11:31,040 lucky, 1784 01:11:31,040 --> 01:11:33,360 period. Really. [laughter] Um, and I do. 1785 01:11:33,360 --> 01:11:34,800 Um, and I think part of that is a 1786 01:11:34,800 --> 01:11:36,000 testament to the people that I work 1787 01:11:36,000 --> 01:11:38,320 with. Um, the district level team and 1788 01:11:38,320 --> 01:11:40,000 just the school leaders here are 1789 01:11:40,000 --> 01:11:42,719 phenomenal. And, um, and because of 1790 01:11:42,719 --> 01:11:44,960 that, it's it's it's fun. You know, I 1791 01:11:44,960 --> 01:11:46,320 enjoy it. I deeply 1792 01:11:46,320 --> 01:11:47,440 >> Well, that's the important thing about 1793 01:11:47,440 --> 01:11:48,880 any job. It's got to be fun. 1794 01:11:48,880 --> 01:11:50,560 >> Yeah. I mean, not every single load of 1795 01:11:50,560 --> 01:11:54,080 every day, but a lot of it. 1796 01:11:54,080 --> 01:11:56,560 >> That's true. 1797 01:11:56,560 --> 01:11:57,840 >> Jane. 1798 01:11:57,840 --> 01:12:01,520 >> Um, yeah, these I am very impressed with 1799 01:12:01,520 --> 01:12:04,239 the goals and echo what Steve said that 1800 01:12:04,239 --> 01:12:07,360 they're ambitious and um will do a lot 1801 01:12:07,360 --> 01:12:10,000 for our district. And that's something 1802 01:12:10,000 --> 01:12:13,679 that um I've been impressed about um 1803 01:12:13,679 --> 01:12:15,280 your leadership that you're not afraid 1804 01:12:15,280 --> 01:12:17,520 to take on very difficult things. And 1805 01:12:17,520 --> 01:12:19,199 many of these are very difficult. So, 1806 01:12:19,199 --> 01:12:22,790 thank you. 1807 01:12:22,800 --> 01:12:25,040 » Yeah. Um, no real comments. I mean, it's 1808 01:12:25,040 --> 01:12:26,640 always great to see people, you know, 1809 01:12:26,640 --> 01:12:28,480 implementing the the smart goals and 1810 01:12:28,480 --> 01:12:30,800 doing that. Uh, and so I'm just really 1811 01:12:30,800 --> 01:12:32,080 excited to, you know, I appreciate the 1812 01:12:32,080 --> 01:12:33,679 deliverables, the timeline, and I'm 1813 01:12:33,679 --> 01:12:35,199 really just excited to see how we, you 1814 01:12:35,199 --> 01:12:36,560 know, start checking these off. So, 1815 01:12:36,560 --> 01:12:37,840 >> thank you. 1816 01:12:37,840 --> 01:12:38,960 Sarah. 1817 01:12:38,960 --> 01:12:40,320 >> Yeah, I'm going to echo what everyone 1818 01:12:40,320 --> 01:12:42,560 said. Um, I think that this is great. I 1819 01:12:42,560 --> 01:12:45,600 really uh think that your goals are also 1820 01:12:45,600 --> 01:12:48,320 quite ambitious, but I too have seen 1821 01:12:48,320 --> 01:12:50,880 that you um 1822 01:12:50,880 --> 01:12:53,280 you know put hold yourself to very high 1823 01:12:53,280 --> 01:12:55,920 standards. So I I appreciate this and 1824 01:12:55,920 --> 01:12:58,560 I'm I'm hoping that um we're able to see 1825 01:12:58,560 --> 01:13:00,719 especially in the piece around family um 1826 01:13:00,719 --> 01:13:02,719 and community engagement and data 1827 01:13:02,719 --> 01:13:04,560 collecting around how we're going to be 1828 01:13:04,560 --> 01:13:06,719 able to you know what's the current 1829 01:13:06,719 --> 01:13:08,080 status and how we're going to be able to 1830 01:13:08,080 --> 01:13:10,000 get more community engagement um and 1831 01:13:10,000 --> 01:13:12,560 connect with parents. uh when there's 1832 01:13:12,560 --> 01:13:15,199 barriers. So, I I appreciate that. So, 1833 01:13:15,199 --> 01:13:17,040 thank you. Thank you. 1834 01:13:17,040 --> 01:13:18,000 >> G. 1835 01:13:18,000 --> 01:13:19,360 >> Thank you so much. I really appreciate 1836 01:13:19,360 --> 01:13:22,640 it. Um three quick actually no, two 1837 01:13:22,640 --> 01:13:24,880 questions. Um the first one is with the 1838 01:13:24,880 --> 01:13:28,480 student advisory council. Um is that b 1839 01:13:28,480 --> 01:13:30,719 is that going to be implemented in the 1840 01:13:30,719 --> 01:13:33,360 um way that the um state describes in 1841 01:13:33,360 --> 01:13:35,120 some cases of districts having the 1842 01:13:35,120 --> 01:13:37,280 student advisory council or is that a 1843 01:13:37,280 --> 01:13:39,199 more internal? 1844 01:13:39,199 --> 01:13:41,679 the the two young men who approached me 1845 01:13:41,679 --> 01:13:43,440 were part of a kind of statewide 1846 01:13:43,440 --> 01:13:45,440 conversation. So I think they are 1847 01:13:45,440 --> 01:13:49,600 pulling um from their experience and um 1848 01:13:49,600 --> 01:13:52,719 and having 1849 01:13:52,719 --> 01:13:54,960 sat in on some sort of conversations 1850 01:13:54,960 --> 01:13:56,400 with other districts and hearing about 1851 01:13:56,400 --> 01:13:59,520 what what it looks like. Um so very much 1852 01:13:59,520 --> 01:14:02,159 informed um but I also you know we want 1853 01:14:02,159 --> 01:14:04,640 to make sure there's room for it to 1854 01:14:04,640 --> 01:14:07,280 really meet the needs that are here at 1855 01:14:07,280 --> 01:14:09,040 the high school especially. But I I have 1856 01:14:09,040 --> 01:14:10,880 also talked to them a little bit about I 1857 01:14:10,880 --> 01:14:12,239 I'd love to get that group thinking 1858 01:14:12,239 --> 01:14:14,000 about how do we expand so that they're 1859 01:14:14,000 --> 01:14:15,840 thinking about students at all grade 1860 01:14:15,840 --> 01:14:17,440 levels, you know. 1861 01:14:17,440 --> 01:14:19,199 >> Uh and then the second question is just 1862 01:14:19,199 --> 01:14:21,440 around student belonging. Um is there a 1863 01:14:21,440 --> 01:14:22,640 way that that's being tracked and 1864 01:14:22,640 --> 01:14:24,080 measured right now? And I'm just curious 1865 01:14:24,080 --> 01:14:25,600 what an improvement in that area would 1866 01:14:25,600 --> 01:14:26,640 look like. 1867 01:14:26,640 --> 01:14:28,719 >> It's a it's a great question. So um 1868 01:14:28,719 --> 01:14:30,800 there is actually there are a few 1869 01:14:30,800 --> 01:14:32,800 instruments that we've we've looked at 1870 01:14:32,800 --> 01:14:35,360 some initial data around. Um first of 1871 01:14:35,360 --> 01:14:37,840 all the vocal survey which is uh 1872 01:14:37,840 --> 01:14:40,000 administered at the end of MCCAST 1873 01:14:40,000 --> 01:14:42,960 testing um wasn't being administered 1874 01:14:42,960 --> 01:14:46,080 before I uh asked people to start doing 1875 01:14:46,080 --> 01:14:50,320 it. Um and it's um it's it looks at 1876 01:14:50,320 --> 01:14:53,679 safety environment and engagement and 1877 01:14:53,679 --> 01:14:56,080 asks students a lot of questions around 1878 01:14:56,080 --> 01:14:57,440 how they're feeling about their school 1879 01:14:57,440 --> 01:15:00,080 experience. It's incredible data. Um, 1880 01:15:00,080 --> 01:15:02,719 and so we have it for Mil Pond and 1881 01:15:02,719 --> 01:15:05,760 Gibbons, grades four, five, and eight, I 1882 01:15:05,760 --> 01:15:07,600 believe. Um, it's also given at grade 1883 01:15:07,600 --> 01:15:10,320 10. Um, so my hope is to get the 10th 1884 01:15:10,320 --> 01:15:12,719 grade implemented this year. Um, now, 1885 01:15:12,719 --> 01:15:15,120 you know, uh, survey data that's taken 1886 01:15:15,120 --> 01:15:16,960 at the end of the MCCAST test, you know, 1887 01:15:16,960 --> 01:15:20,159 I is understandably, you know, 1888 01:15:20,159 --> 01:15:21,520 >> might be a little skewed toward the 1889 01:15:21,520 --> 01:15:23,280 negative, right? I I totally get that. 1890 01:15:23,280 --> 01:15:25,120 But it also, you know, everybody 1891 01:15:25,120 --> 01:15:26,800 district statewide is doing that. So 1892 01:15:26,800 --> 01:15:28,800 it's at least like with like um so it 1893 01:15:28,800 --> 01:15:30,320 gives us a sense of how we're doing 1894 01:15:30,320 --> 01:15:31,440 compared to the state and how we're 1895 01:15:31,440 --> 01:15:33,520 doing year-over-year. It breaks out into 1896 01:15:33,520 --> 01:15:35,600 subgroups so we can see what's happening 1897 01:15:35,600 --> 01:15:37,920 with particular groups of students and 1898 01:15:37,920 --> 01:15:40,000 um and that's incredibly useful. So we 1899 01:15:40,000 --> 01:15:42,000 did a first pass with leadership team 1900 01:15:42,000 --> 01:15:43,600 this summer at looking at those 1901 01:15:43,600 --> 01:15:45,440 preliminary um data. They weren't 1902 01:15:45,440 --> 01:15:47,840 published yet. Uh the second set of data 1903 01:15:47,840 --> 01:15:50,000 that we have already in hand is from the 1904 01:15:50,000 --> 01:15:52,719 Metro West Adolescent Health Survey and 1905 01:15:52,719 --> 01:15:54,880 that's um it's less asking directly 1906 01:15:54,880 --> 01:15:56,560 about how kids are feeling and more 1907 01:15:56,560 --> 01:15:58,000 asking about what they're doing, you 1908 01:15:58,000 --> 01:15:59,760 know, um whether it's things that are 1909 01:15:59,760 --> 01:16:01,600 risky or things that are healthy and 1910 01:16:01,600 --> 01:16:04,400 that can be kind of a an indicator of 1911 01:16:04,400 --> 01:16:05,402 how you're feeling about school, 1912 01:16:05,402 --> 01:16:06,320 [clears throat] whether you're engaged 1913 01:16:06,320 --> 01:16:08,159 in the the kind of things that we're 1914 01:16:08,159 --> 01:16:11,040 trying to do to help feel help folks 1915 01:16:11,040 --> 01:16:12,640 feel attached to school and like they 1916 01:16:12,640 --> 01:16:16,159 belong or not so much, you know. And so, 1917 01:16:16,159 --> 01:16:17,920 um, there are other tools out there and 1918 01:16:17,920 --> 01:16:20,080 that's something that we may well end up 1919 01:16:20,080 --> 01:16:22,400 exploring, um, at some point as well. 1920 01:16:22,400 --> 01:16:22,800 So, 1921 01:16:22,800 --> 01:16:23,280 >> thank you. 1922 01:16:23,280 --> 01:16:24,640 >> You're welcome. 1923 01:16:24,640 --> 01:16:27,120 >> Thank you, Gary. Um, 1924 01:16:27,120 --> 01:16:28,800 and thank you, Alison, for this 1925 01:16:28,800 --> 01:16:31,360 presentation. I'm not surprised the 1926 01:16:31,360 --> 01:16:34,239 goals are ambitious. I I know I've 1927 01:16:34,239 --> 01:16:35,920 learned enough that you respond to any 1928 01:16:35,920 --> 01:16:37,760 feedback, critical feedback with even 1929 01:16:37,760 --> 01:16:39,520 more work. So 1930 01:16:39,520 --> 01:16:42,400 >> uh just I I think it will be your 1931 01:16:42,400 --> 01:16:43,920 success in achieving these goals will be 1932 01:16:43,920 --> 01:16:45,760 our success uh you know the whole 1933 01:16:45,760 --> 01:16:48,080 district. So I wish you all the best. I 1934 01:16:48,080 --> 01:16:50,080 just one specific question. 1935 01:16:50,080 --> 01:16:52,560 >> Sure. Um, you mentioned the the position 1936 01:16:52,560 --> 01:16:55,360 of DEI director. Uh, so if you could 1937 01:16:55,360 --> 01:16:56,880 help me understand the timeline because 1938 01:16:56,880 --> 01:16:58,480 I remember a couple years ago there was 1939 01:16:58,480 --> 01:17:00,960 MAC resolution that we I believe we 1940 01:17:00,960 --> 01:17:02,560 voted against it and I believe that that 1941 01:17:02,560 --> 01:17:04,880 resolution failed but then is is it the 1942 01:17:04,880 --> 01:17:06,800 case that the state went ahead and still 1943 01:17:06,800 --> 01:17:09,120 established that as a mandate? Yeah, 1944 01:17:09,120 --> 01:17:11,600 there there is a state law that was 1945 01:17:11,600 --> 01:17:15,440 passed um and uh I'll I'll get the 1946 01:17:15,440 --> 01:17:17,679 citation and send it along to you, but 1947 01:17:17,679 --> 01:17:22,480 um and so yes, I think it was 2024, I 1948 01:17:22,480 --> 01:17:27,199 want to say. Um and you know, it's I I 1949 01:17:27,199 --> 01:17:29,760 think the idea was that there's been 1950 01:17:29,760 --> 01:17:32,719 important work that's happened around 1951 01:17:32,719 --> 01:17:34,880 thinking about, you know, making sure 1952 01:17:34,880 --> 01:17:35,920 we're really paying attention to 1953 01:17:35,920 --> 01:17:38,320 everybody who's here. Um, and not to 1954 01:17:38,320 --> 01:17:40,640 lose ground and to lose sight of that. 1955 01:17:40,640 --> 01:17:43,653 Um, so Matt, do you want to just say 1956 01:17:43,653 --> 01:17:44,000 [laughter] 1957 01:17:44,000 --> 01:17:45,040 >> Matt's looking it up for me? 1958 01:17:45,040 --> 01:17:48,080 >> Yeah. So, Matt's general law, Chapter 1959 01:17:48,080 --> 01:17:50,719 70, section 101, 1960 01:17:50,719 --> 01:17:52,080 uh, Massachusetts public school district 1961 01:17:52,080 --> 01:17:53,440 and charter schools required by state 1962 01:17:53,440 --> 01:17:54,800 law to hire and appoint a diversity, 1963 01:17:54,800 --> 01:17:56,960 equity, inclusion, DEI officer or 1964 01:17:56,960 --> 01:17:59,600 establish a diversity team. 1965 01:17:59,600 --> 01:18:00,000 >> Okay. 1966 01:18:00,000 --> 01:18:00,400 >> Yeah. 1967 01:18:00,400 --> 01:18:01,840 >> So, it doesn't have to be necessarily 1968 01:18:01,840 --> 01:18:02,880 position. It can be 1969 01:18:02,880 --> 01:18:05,280 >> It can be a great team. And did does the 1970 01:18:05,280 --> 01:18:06,880 state provide any funding for this or 1971 01:18:06,880 --> 01:18:07,600 no? 1972 01:18:07,600 --> 01:18:10,719 >> Just a requirement. [laughter] 1973 01:18:10,719 --> 01:18:12,320 >> And to date, they haven't offered 1974 01:18:12,320 --> 01:18:13,840 guidance either. I mean, usually when 1975 01:18:13,840 --> 01:18:15,679 there's a kind of a mandate, there's 1976 01:18:15,679 --> 01:18:17,920 some guidance and that is still pending. 1977 01:18:17,920 --> 01:18:20,080 Um, so I'll be curious to see what they 1978 01:18:20,080 --> 01:18:21,920 come out with. You know, I'm attending 1979 01:18:21,920 --> 01:18:25,280 tomorrow a webinar on the Protect Act 1980 01:18:25,280 --> 01:18:26,880 guidance. So, um, they've they've kind 1981 01:18:26,880 --> 01:18:28,880 of hustled it up on with that one in 1982 01:18:28,880 --> 01:18:30,320 particular. This will be interesting to 1983 01:18:30,320 --> 01:18:32,960 see. Uh the good news is I've um you 1984 01:18:32,960 --> 01:18:35,840 know I've found a a consultant who's 1985 01:18:35,840 --> 01:18:37,199 somebody I I know and have worked with 1986 01:18:37,199 --> 01:18:39,040 and trust before who's done a lot of 1987 01:18:39,040 --> 01:18:40,800 work around facilitating training for 1988 01:18:40,800 --> 01:18:42,960 teams uh who do this work. And I think 1989 01:18:42,960 --> 01:18:44,480 it's really important to get that group 1990 01:18:44,480 --> 01:18:46,719 trained well um so that they're 1991 01:18:46,719 --> 01:18:48,000 approaching the work in a way that's 1992 01:18:48,000 --> 01:18:52,640 thoughtful and welcoming and really um 1993 01:18:52,640 --> 01:18:55,760 you know helps it be a thing that pulls 1994 01:18:55,760 --> 01:18:56,960 the community together and doesn't pull 1995 01:18:56,960 --> 01:18:59,280 it apart. 1996 01:18:59,280 --> 01:19:00,960 >> Thank you. Welcome. 1997 01:19:00,960 --> 01:19:01,199 >> Okay. 1998 01:19:01,199 --> 01:19:02,480 >> I just have a follow to that. 1999 01:19:02,480 --> 01:19:03,280 >> Yes, absolutely. 2000 01:19:03,280 --> 01:19:06,000 >> So, um, this came up a couple years ago 2001 01:19:06,000 --> 01:19:08,640 as well, um, about the DEI director and 2002 01:19:08,640 --> 01:19:10,239 I understand that now, you know, you can 2003 01:19:10,239 --> 01:19:12,000 either go with that or have a task force 2004 01:19:12,000 --> 01:19:15,760 of some sort. Um, and you know, I I want 2005 01:19:15,760 --> 01:19:18,239 I wonder uh because you referenced that 2006 01:19:18,239 --> 01:19:20,480 you think it's actually a better idea to 2007 01:19:20,480 --> 01:19:23,280 have a team, but um, absent any 2008 01:19:23,280 --> 01:19:24,719 budgetary constraints, 2009 01:19:24,719 --> 01:19:26,000 >> would I want both? 2010 01:19:26,000 --> 01:19:26,320 >> Yes. 2011 01:19:26,320 --> 01:19:27,520 >> Yeah. I mean because I [laughter] have 2012 01:19:27,520 --> 01:19:29,920 seen a lot of districts who do have this 2013 01:19:29,920 --> 01:19:31,600 um and my understanding is that it 2014 01:19:31,600 --> 01:19:35,280 allows you know that one person to be 2015 01:19:35,280 --> 01:19:37,280 focused on this solely and so the really 2016 01:19:37,280 --> 01:19:39,280 move the work ahead. So I'm curious as 2017 01:19:39,280 --> 01:19:39,679 to 2018 01:19:39,679 --> 01:19:42,080 >> yeah I mean in an ideal universe uh 2019 01:19:42,080 --> 01:19:43,679 where funding is no object I think 2020 01:19:43,679 --> 01:19:45,760 having both is great um in part because 2021 01:19:45,760 --> 01:19:48,400 of that you have built-in leadership um 2022 01:19:48,400 --> 01:19:52,640 and I think the danger of having just a 2023 01:19:52,640 --> 01:19:55,040 leader and not another structure is then 2024 01:19:55,040 --> 01:19:57,440 that single person is carrying the 2025 01:19:57,440 --> 01:20:02,719 weight of this whole project and it can lead to dynamics that I think are 2026 01:20:02,719 --> 01:20:05,760 really hard and um having known and and 2027 01:20:05,760 --> 01:20:07,440 worked with and interacted with a lot of 2028 01:20:07,440 --> 01:20:09,280 people who've held that position in the 2029 01:20:09,280 --> 01:20:11,280 state. That has very much been their 2030 01:20:11,280 --> 01:20:14,159 experience that they feel isolated and 2031 01:20:14,159 --> 01:20:17,360 um and you know they do a lot of putting 2032 01:20:17,360 --> 01:20:20,000 out fires and feel like it's very hard 2033 01:20:20,000 --> 01:20:23,440 to get the strategic work going um if 2034 01:20:23,440 --> 01:20:29,360 it's just a single person. So I think a group is a necessary component. A a 2035 01:20:29,360 --> 01:20:31,360 director would be a nice to have thing 2036 01:20:31,360 --> 01:20:33,040 too. 2037 01:20:33,040 --> 01:20:35,199 >> Thank you. You're welcome. And we're 2038 01:20:35,199 --> 01:20:37,360 moving on to the next item on the agenda 2039 01:20:37,360 --> 01:20:40,239 to our excellent student representative 2040 01:20:40,239 --> 01:20:40,960 Gary. 2041 01:20:40,960 --> 01:20:42,880 >> Hey there everyone. Thank you so much. 2042 01:20:42,880 --> 01:20:44,880 Um yeah, starting with the elementary 2043 01:20:44,880 --> 01:20:47,120 schools. Uh this week Fails is having 2044 01:20:47,120 --> 01:20:49,120 its uh first Wester food pantry 2045 01:20:49,120 --> 01:20:51,040 collection for breakfast items. Uh that 2046 01:20:51,040 --> 01:20:52,880 goes to the end of this week. Uh and 2047 01:20:52,880 --> 01:20:54,640 over at Armstrong tomorrow is the book 2048 01:20:54,640 --> 01:20:56,960 fair uh for families and students 6:00 2049 01:20:56,960 --> 01:21:00,159 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Uh also we have open 2050 01:21:00,159 --> 01:21:02,080 houses for all of the elementary schools 2051 01:21:02,080 --> 01:21:04,560 tomorrow. And uh Mil Pond is happening 2052 01:21:04,560 --> 01:21:07,679 tonight um at Gibbons and the high 2053 01:21:07,679 --> 01:21:09,199 school clubs are starting up for the 2054 01:21:09,199 --> 01:21:11,840 year um at Westboro High School. I think 2055 01:21:11,840 --> 01:21:14,239 we had uh yeah uh nine clubs were 2056 01:21:14,239 --> 01:21:16,080 announced uh over the loudspeaker for 2057 01:21:16,080 --> 01:21:18,159 their first meeting just today. Um so a 2058 01:21:18,159 --> 01:21:19,679 lot of different communities uh 2059 01:21:19,679 --> 01:21:21,840 community events happening there. Um and 2060 01:21:21,840 --> 01:21:24,000 late buses began last week for both uh 2061 01:21:24,000 --> 01:21:26,719 Gibbons and the high school. Westpro 2062 01:21:26,719 --> 01:21:28,080 High School is having its homecoming 2063 01:21:28,080 --> 01:21:29,760 dance on October 2nd and then the 2064 01:21:29,760 --> 01:21:31,199 homecoming festival which is available 2065 01:21:31,199 --> 01:21:33,440 to the entire community on October 3rd 2066 01:21:33,440 --> 01:21:36,159 12 to 3 p.m. And Gibbons is also having 2067 01:21:36,159 --> 01:21:38,960 an upcoming fall dance. Um as we 2068 01:21:38,960 --> 01:21:40,960 mentioned earlier uh the new holiday 2069 01:21:40,960 --> 01:21:43,840 guidelines are in place are in place for 2070 01:21:43,840 --> 01:21:46,080 uh homework um which we had the first 2071 01:21:46,080 --> 01:21:48,560 instance of happening uh over this uh 2072 01:21:48,560 --> 01:21:51,040 long weekend with Yamapor. Um I think 2073 01:21:51,040 --> 01:21:53,120 that right now students are still uh 2074 01:21:53,120 --> 01:21:54,400 understanding the way the new system 2075 01:21:54,400 --> 01:21:56,719 works. there was some surprise around um 2076 01:21:56,719 --> 01:21:58,320 how homework was still offered because 2077 01:21:58,320 --> 01:22:00,800 we were used to the category 1 system uh 2078 01:22:00,800 --> 01:22:02,880 that was before but um that's starting 2079 01:22:02,880 --> 01:22:04,560 to get rolled out uh and students are 2080 01:22:04,560 --> 01:22:05,656 becoming familiar with the 2081 01:22:05,656 --> 01:22:06,880 [clears throat] new way that it's going 2082 01:22:06,880 --> 01:22:09,360 to work. Um my cap was used for the 2083 01:22:09,360 --> 01:22:11,120 first time I believe at Gibbons today. 2084 01:22:11,120 --> 01:22:14,320 Um and students uh seem to like both at 2085 01:22:14,320 --> 01:22:15,840 the high school and Gibbons the idea of 2086 01:22:15,840 --> 01:22:17,440 focusing on the future as opposed to 2087 01:22:17,440 --> 01:22:20,719 just the content. So incorporating into 2088 01:22:20,719 --> 01:22:23,040 the um three pillars of my cap. um today 2089 01:22:23,040 --> 01:22:24,639 they completed a vision or some students 2090 01:22:24,639 --> 01:22:26,880 completed a vision board uh at Gibbons 2091 01:22:26,880 --> 01:22:29,040 during their structured time for it. Uh 2092 01:22:29,040 --> 01:22:30,400 and then the other thing I just wanted 2093 01:22:30,400 --> 01:22:33,360 to uh bring attention to is um I think 2094 01:22:33,360 --> 01:22:35,440 Miss Owens you were saying the uh 2095 01:22:35,440 --> 01:22:38,320 writing in class and um how that works 2096 01:22:38,320 --> 01:22:41,520 given the new um concerns around AI and 2097 01:22:41,520 --> 01:22:44,639 uh many students have um reported both 2098 01:22:44,639 --> 01:22:46,960 this year but also a lot last year about 2099 01:22:46,960 --> 01:22:50,800 the way that we do um writing systems uh 2100 01:22:50,800 --> 01:22:52,719 in when we're in class or when we're 2101 01:22:52,719 --> 01:22:54,159 outside of school to ensure that AI 2102 01:22:54,159 --> 01:22:57,280 isn't being used. Um, I'm curious if uh 2103 01:22:57,280 --> 01:22:59,040 there's been any thought towards 2104 01:22:59,040 --> 01:23:00,480 specific software that students can 2105 01:23:00,480 --> 01:23:02,000 write in. Right now, we used locked 2106 01:23:02,000 --> 01:23:04,080 Google Forms on schoolisssued devices in 2107 01:23:04,080 --> 01:23:06,000 our English classes or wherever else 2108 01:23:06,000 --> 01:23:07,600 that's needed, but Google Forms isn't 2109 01:23:07,600 --> 01:23:08,800 really designed for like the word 2110 01:23:08,800 --> 01:23:10,639 processing environment. So, I'm just 2111 01:23:10,639 --> 01:23:13,040 curious uh if there's anything else um 2112 01:23:13,040 --> 01:23:14,560 that's happening there. And then aside 2113 01:23:14,560 --> 01:23:15,840 from that, happy to take any questions 2114 01:23:15,840 --> 01:23:17,280 about any student affairs that are going 2115 01:23:17,280 --> 01:23:18,880 on. 2116 01:23:18,880 --> 01:23:21,600 >> Excellent. Thank you, Gary. 2117 01:23:21,600 --> 01:23:24,719 Um gonna move on to the financial 2118 01:23:24,719 --> 01:23:27,679 update. 2119 01:23:27,679 --> 01:23:29,840 Wonderful. 2120 01:23:29,840 --> 01:23:32,772 Hand things off to Anita here. 2121 01:23:32,772 --> 01:23:34,950 [laughter] 2122 01:23:34,960 --> 01:23:36,960 » So, we had a couple sections here. Uh 2123 01:23:36,960 --> 01:23:38,320 capital planning first. So, I'm going to 2124 01:23:38,320 --> 01:23:39,520 let 2125 01:23:39,520 --> 01:23:42,159 >> Okay, it is capital season 2126 01:23:42,159 --> 01:23:46,320 >> and budget season. Um okay, so starting 2127 01:23:46,320 --> 01:23:49,600 with the capital projects. Um if you 2128 01:23:49,600 --> 01:23:51,679 look on this spreadsheet um the first 2129 01:23:51,679 --> 01:23:54,880 six tabs um they show the capital 2130 01:23:54,880 --> 01:23:59,280 projects um that we have um for FY28. Um 2131 01:23:59,280 --> 01:24:01,040 you can see that there's two of them 2132 01:24:01,040 --> 01:24:03,440 that are highlighted in red. Those are 2133 01:24:03,440 --> 01:24:07,199 for um two possible projects that we can 2134 01:24:07,199 --> 01:24:10,320 go out for MSBA funding. 2135 01:24:10,320 --> 01:24:12,880 We did do a lot of um research. We spoke 2136 01:24:12,880 --> 01:24:16,080 to our internal um subcommittee and 2137 01:24:16,080 --> 01:24:20,400 after doing um talking to everyone we 2138 01:24:20,400 --> 01:24:23,440 kind of decided that it was best and for 2139 01:24:23,440 --> 01:24:26,560 the um sake of time efficiency and cost 2140 01:24:26,560 --> 01:24:28,480 efficiency that we actually don't go 2141 01:24:28,480 --> 01:24:30,000 through MSBA because when you look 2142 01:24:30,000 --> 01:24:31,440 through the spreadsheet you can see that 2143 01:24:31,440 --> 01:24:34,719 it would cost us more and um the MSBA 2144 01:24:34,719 --> 01:24:36,639 funding would be two to three years out. 2145 01:24:36,639 --> 01:24:38,239 So by the time we get it the project 2146 01:24:38,239 --> 01:24:40,400 would be even more than what we think it 2147 01:24:40,400 --> 01:24:43,280 would be as of today. 2148 01:24:43,280 --> 01:24:47,280 Um the second two um are for the 2149 01:24:47,280 --> 01:24:50,880 Hastings um parking lot expansion and 2150 01:24:50,880 --> 01:24:53,679 the Hastings playground replacement. Um 2151 01:24:53,679 --> 01:24:56,800 we are um actively getting um quotes for 2152 01:24:56,800 --> 01:24:59,760 the playground replacement right now and 2153 01:24:59,760 --> 01:25:02,960 we are putting together a um scope of 2154 01:25:02,960 --> 01:25:04,560 services for our parking lot right now. 2155 01:25:04,560 --> 01:25:06,000 And I'm actually working with Tim on 2156 01:25:06,000 --> 01:25:09,280 that. Um Tim and um Kelly Jackapello on 2157 01:25:09,280 --> 01:25:15,189 that. 2158 01:25:15,199 --> 01:25:17,600 Those are the four kind of things that 2159 01:25:17,600 --> 01:25:21,120 we anticipate moving before the kind of 2160 01:25:21,120 --> 01:25:25,199 capital expenditures committee. Um, and 2161 01:25:25,199 --> 01:25:28,000 we put together the information about 2162 01:25:28,000 --> 01:25:30,719 both the MSB and and nonMS MSB versions 2163 01:25:30,719 --> 01:25:32,239 because we believe that question will 2164 01:25:32,239 --> 01:25:34,400 come up and so we wanted to have it 2165 01:25:34,400 --> 01:25:37,679 there. Um, and you know, I appreciate 2166 01:25:37,679 --> 01:25:40,480 Anita kind of she's spent a lot of time 2167 01:25:40,480 --> 01:25:42,480 uh kind of on the phone with MSBA 2168 01:25:42,480 --> 01:25:46,159 digging into sort of back um background 2169 01:25:46,159 --> 01:25:48,239 um research about cost per per square 2170 01:25:48,239 --> 01:25:49,679 foot, whatever we could kind of get our 2171 01:25:49,679 --> 01:25:52,320 hands on. Um because the reimbursement 2172 01:25:52,320 --> 01:25:54,480 rate, it looks like this great thing, 2173 01:25:54,480 --> 01:25:56,719 but when you actually kind of look 2174 01:25:56,719 --> 01:25:58,719 around at what those cost per square 2175 01:25:58,719 --> 01:26:01,760 foot report outs are, it it kind of 2176 01:26:01,760 --> 01:26:04,159 washes out. And in addition to the wash 2177 01:26:04,159 --> 01:26:06,639 out, because the involvement delays the 2178 01:26:06,639 --> 01:26:08,560 process, we're concerned that in those 2179 01:26:08,560 --> 01:26:10,239 intervening years, the price point might 2180 01:26:10,239 --> 01:26:12,880 ratchet up. Um, you know, you heard from 2181 01:26:12,880 --> 01:26:14,400 a community member this evening about 2182 01:26:14,400 --> 01:26:17,280 the restoration versus replacement. Um, 2183 01:26:17,280 --> 01:26:19,040 and you know, that's something we can 2184 01:26:19,040 --> 01:26:20,719 bring back to the capital subcommittee 2185 01:26:20,719 --> 01:26:23,840 for conversation. Um, you know, I think 2186 01:26:23,840 --> 01:26:26,080 our director of facilities has has noted 2187 01:26:26,080 --> 01:26:28,239 that restoration is becoming an 2188 01:26:28,239 --> 01:26:31,199 increasingly popular option uh out 2189 01:26:31,199 --> 01:26:33,760 there. It's been done all around um the 2190 01:26:33,760 --> 01:26:36,239 state and seemingly with good results, 2191 01:26:36,239 --> 01:26:38,320 but that's a conversation we can look at 2192 01:26:38,320 --> 01:26:40,639 too. 2193 01:26:40,639 --> 01:26:42,719 >> Before we begin the the discussion and 2194 01:26:42,719 --> 01:26:43,760 question, I just have 2195 01:26:43,760 --> 01:26:44,159 >> Yeah, 2196 01:26:44,159 --> 01:26:46,159 >> I'm confused about these two two tabs. 2197 01:26:46,159 --> 01:26:49,040 We have one Hastings Elementary School 2198 01:26:49,040 --> 01:26:51,120 parking lot redesign. 2199 01:26:51,120 --> 01:26:55,280 >> And then following is parking lot and 2200 01:26:55,280 --> 01:26:57,360 playground redesign. 2201 01:26:57,360 --> 01:26:58,880 Is that just a 2202 01:26:58,880 --> 01:27:00,800 >> That is just a typo that should have 2203 01:27:00,800 --> 01:27:01,920 been edited. So, 2204 01:27:01,920 --> 01:27:02,960 >> sorry. 2205 01:27:02,960 --> 01:27:04,400 >> At one point we had those glombmed 2206 01:27:04,400 --> 01:27:05,840 together and then we pulled them apart. 2207 01:27:05,840 --> 01:27:06,159 So, 2208 01:27:06,159 --> 01:27:07,440 >> okay, that's 2209 01:27:07,440 --> 01:27:09,760 >> the first is parking lot and this one 2210 01:27:09,760 --> 01:27:11,040 should be just a playground. 2211 01:27:11,040 --> 01:27:13,440 >> Yep. So, I'm going to do that right here 2212 01:27:13,440 --> 01:27:17,600 in real time about there. [laughter] 2213 01:27:17,600 --> 01:27:18,159 >> Excellent. 2214 01:27:18,159 --> 01:27:19,280 >> Thanks for catching that. 2215 01:27:19,280 --> 01:27:20,639 That would be 2216 01:27:20,639 --> 01:27:23,199 confusing for anybody. 2217 01:27:23,199 --> 01:27:25,840 >> Thank you. Okay. Uh can you start with 2218 01:27:25,840 --> 01:27:27,520 questions Steve? 2219 01:27:27,520 --> 01:27:30,159 >> Uh no I think you answered one of my 2220 01:27:30,159 --> 01:27:32,560 questions which was the combination and 2221 01:27:32,560 --> 01:27:35,440 the wording of them. I think it's 2222 01:27:35,440 --> 01:27:38,239 clarified now. Uh, and I guess I would 2223 01:27:38,239 --> 01:27:41,760 comment on on the 2224 01:27:41,760 --> 01:27:43,600 work that you did to look at what it 2225 01:27:43,600 --> 01:27:46,400 would cost us to do the work directly in 2226 01:27:46,400 --> 01:27:48,480 our own schedule with our own hired 2227 01:27:48,480 --> 01:27:52,159 people uh versus the quote contribution 2228 01:27:52,159 --> 01:27:56,159 to Comwalth Massachusetts or for similar 2229 01:27:56,159 --> 01:27:57,679 projects 2230 01:27:57,679 --> 01:28:01,120 and hit the nail on the head that unless 2231 01:28:01,120 --> 01:28:03,199 it's a borrow and unless it's really 2232 01:28:03,199 --> 01:28:07,440 beyond the capital capacity of the to do 2233 01:28:07,440 --> 01:28:11,360 a plan. It is much more expensive using 2234 01:28:11,360 --> 01:28:13,199 the MSBA 2235 01:28:13,199 --> 01:28:15,040 term. 2236 01:28:15,040 --> 01:28:17,280 And one of the things I didn't didn't 2237 01:28:17,280 --> 01:28:19,920 mention was probably no and that is that 2238 01:28:19,920 --> 01:28:23,040 they also don't um consider the entire 2239 01:28:23,040 --> 01:28:26,480 cost as reimburseable by the state. 2240 01:28:26,480 --> 01:28:29,040 That's the allowable piece. for example 2241 01:28:29,040 --> 01:28:31,600 for uh 2242 01:28:31,600 --> 01:28:34,800 fails out of the 50 something million 2243 01:28:34,800 --> 01:28:37,840 dollar project with all the piece that 2244 01:28:37,840 --> 01:28:40,480 the MSBA was contributed to was around 2245 01:28:40,480 --> 01:28:43,120 36 million. So there's quite a bit that 2246 01:28:43,120 --> 01:28:45,760 the town has to carry on their own in 2247 01:28:45,760 --> 01:28:48,480 regards to the way the MSBA works. 2248 01:28:48,480 --> 01:28:50,719 >> Uh which I'm sure you will have to 2249 01:28:50,719 --> 01:28:52,800 answer before the finance committee when 2250 01:28:52,800 --> 01:28:56,560 they discuss these two numbers versus 2251 01:28:56,560 --> 01:28:59,280 for the same project. 2252 01:28:59,280 --> 01:29:01,600 I think additionally with that, you 2253 01:29:01,600 --> 01:29:04,000 know, uh the other thing Anita sort of 2254 01:29:04,000 --> 01:29:07,040 in her math looked at is the fact we're 2255 01:29:07,040 --> 01:29:11,360 sitting on already um sort of mostly 2256 01:29:11,360 --> 01:29:16,800 completed schematic designs for both of those projects. If we were to go 2257 01:29:16,800 --> 01:29:18,320 through MSBA, we would have to redo 2258 01:29:18,320 --> 01:29:18,960 those. Um 2259 01:29:18,960 --> 01:29:20,880 >> yeah, because they want to hire their 2260 01:29:20,880 --> 01:29:22,880 own engineer and their own 2261 01:29:22,880 --> 01:29:25,679 >> OPM. So, so there's a cost savings in 2262 01:29:25,679 --> 01:29:27,520 kind of working off what we have 2263 01:29:27,520 --> 01:29:29,600 already. 2264 01:29:29,600 --> 01:29:31,040 >> Thank you, Jane. 2265 01:29:31,040 --> 01:29:33,360 >> No questions. Thank you, 2266 01:29:33,360 --> 01:29:36,320 >> Tim. So, I'm I'm fully on board with 2267 01:29:36,320 --> 01:29:37,360 everything we're talking about here with 2268 01:29:37,360 --> 01:29:39,040 MSBA, but can you just walk me through a 2269 01:29:39,040 --> 01:29:40,239 little bit more like how that can 2270 01:29:40,239 --> 01:29:41,760 happen? Like looking at the numbers, how 2271 01:29:41,760 --> 01:29:43,120 one is so much higher than the, you 2272 01:29:43,120 --> 01:29:44,560 know, if we did it ourselves. 2273 01:29:44,560 --> 01:29:46,480 >> Yeah. So, the cost if you go through 2274 01:29:46,480 --> 01:29:49,840 MSBA, it's um anywhere between $41 to 2275 01:29:49,840 --> 01:29:54,400 $55 per square foot and versus um if we 2276 01:29:54,400 --> 01:29:57,040 were to do the project right now, it 2277 01:29:57,040 --> 01:29:59,600 would be approximately $25.66 2278 01:29:59,600 --> 01:30:00,560 per square foot. 2279 01:30:00,560 --> 01:30:01,920 >> And do we know is that because of the 2280 01:30:01,920 --> 01:30:03,360 approved contractors? Like what is 2281 01:30:03,360 --> 01:30:06,000 driving that that large price increase? 2282 01:30:06,000 --> 01:30:08,480 >> I think it's a combination of um the 2283 01:30:08,480 --> 01:30:11,679 MSBA. They have so many different um 2284 01:30:11,679 --> 01:30:13,679 areas that the contractors have to look 2285 01:30:13,679 --> 01:30:15,920 at and they have to go through. So they 2286 01:30:15,920 --> 01:30:18,159 set their own prices and I think Steve 2287 01:30:18,159 --> 01:30:20,000 can probably answer it answer that 2288 01:30:20,000 --> 01:30:20,880 question better than me. 2289 01:30:20,880 --> 01:30:23,280 >> And they also review the scope of work. 2290 01:30:23,280 --> 01:30:27,520 For example, there there is new uh 2291 01:30:27,520 --> 01:30:29,600 oversight if you will that they require 2292 01:30:29,600 --> 01:30:32,239 in regards to any project that their 2293 01:30:32,239 --> 01:30:38,080 agents i.e. the hired engineer requires 2294 01:30:38,080 --> 01:30:41,360 terms of state oversight in terms of 2295 01:30:41,360 --> 01:30:44,159 what you have to build. For example, if 2296 01:30:44,159 --> 01:30:47,520 we wanted to build a new high school and 2297 01:30:47,520 --> 01:30:49,840 we wanted to put an auditorium in it, 2298 01:30:49,840 --> 01:30:53,120 they would not carry any of that. 2299 01:30:53,120 --> 01:30:56,400 So that's why it gets bigger. uh if you 2300 01:30:56,400 --> 01:30:58,880 want to get what what you need isn't 2301 01:30:58,880 --> 01:31:01,199 necessarily going to be supplied by the 2302 01:31:01,199 --> 01:31:02,880 school 2303 01:31:02,880 --> 01:31:04,800 and that was the case with our high 2304 01:31:04,800 --> 01:31:06,719 school. We had to limit the size of the 2305 01:31:06,719 --> 01:31:09,360 auditorium 2306 01:31:09,360 --> 01:31:13,600 to what their standard was. 2307 01:31:13,600 --> 01:31:15,679 >> Another question. Thank you. Thank you 2308 01:31:15,679 --> 01:31:16,560 Sarah. 2309 01:31:16,560 --> 01:31:18,480 >> Um I just have a couple questions. One 2310 01:31:18,480 --> 01:31:22,159 is regarding the milon roof. So we had 2311 01:31:22,159 --> 01:31:24,400 this was before us what three years ago 2312 01:31:24,400 --> 01:31:26,719 I want to say and then we had pushed it 2313 01:31:26,719 --> 01:31:27,600 off 2314 01:31:27,600 --> 01:31:29,920 >> because we had something else that was 2315 01:31:29,920 --> 01:31:31,120 there at that time. 2316 01:31:31,120 --> 01:31:32,080 >> Um 2317 01:31:32,080 --> 01:31:33,600 >> just to tell you the finance committee 2318 01:31:33,600 --> 01:31:35,360 wouldn't support what we asked for. 2319 01:31:35,360 --> 01:31:36,800 >> Sorry they didn't support it. 2320 01:31:36,800 --> 01:31:37,360 >> Right. Yeah. 2321 01:31:37,360 --> 01:31:39,040 >> So that was the so that blew it up. 2322 01:31:39,040 --> 01:31:42,080 Okay. Um, so my question though is 2323 01:31:42,080 --> 01:31:45,040 because it's interesting that we were at 2324 01:31:45,040 --> 01:31:47,520 the prime time at that time 2325 01:31:47,520 --> 01:31:49,679 >> to have the sealant done and now we're 2326 01:31:49,679 --> 01:31:51,440 still at the prime time have the sealant 2327 01:31:51,440 --> 01:31:52,000 done. 2328 01:31:52,000 --> 01:31:53,520 >> So window 2329 01:31:53,520 --> 01:31:55,440 >> Yeah, it's a window. I understand. I 2330 01:31:55,440 --> 01:31:57,199 just want to understand a little bit 2331 01:31:57,199 --> 01:31:59,360 more as to 2332 01:31:59,360 --> 01:32:01,120 >> how long that how long we can stretch 2333 01:32:01,120 --> 01:32:02,960 that, right? Because we want to be able 2334 01:32:02,960 --> 01:32:04,639 to do that as long as we can. And I'm 2335 01:32:04,639 --> 01:32:06,639 just trying to I don't know who can 2336 01:32:06,639 --> 01:32:09,600 answer that. you know, at the time it 2337 01:32:09,600 --> 01:32:12,639 was offered, it was um brand new. There 2338 01:32:12,639 --> 01:32:15,120 wasn't any experience about it or 2339 01:32:15,120 --> 01:32:17,360 whether any of it would work. Uh 2340 01:32:17,360 --> 01:32:19,199 obviously, there's now three three more 2341 01:32:19,199 --> 01:32:21,760 years worth of experience with it. Uh 2342 01:32:21,760 --> 01:32:24,800 and going forward with that approach 2343 01:32:24,800 --> 01:32:28,239 might be easier to offer and support 2344 01:32:28,239 --> 01:32:30,239 based on other history of other work in 2345 01:32:30,239 --> 01:32:33,120 the meantime. Uh but the the secret to 2346 01:32:33,120 --> 01:32:35,360 it all is 2347 01:32:35,360 --> 01:32:39,360 if the manufacturer will provide the 2348 01:32:39,360 --> 01:32:41,520 warranty, 2349 01:32:41,520 --> 01:32:44,239 okay, then it works because they have to 2350 01:32:44,239 --> 01:32:47,840 go back and fix it at their cost, 2351 01:32:47,840 --> 01:32:52,239 which I I pretty sure we we didn't bring 2352 01:32:52,239 --> 01:32:54,080 that forward at the time, but it was 2353 01:32:54,080 --> 01:32:56,080 what was offered. They were going to 2354 01:32:56,080 --> 01:32:59,280 offer a warranty for that repair, which 2355 01:32:59,280 --> 01:33:01,520 would have added for 2356 01:33:01,520 --> 01:33:04,719 approximately half the cost using that 2357 01:33:04,719 --> 01:33:09,679 method. Um, another 20 years worth of 2358 01:33:09,679 --> 01:33:12,480 capacity, if you will, under warranty. 2359 01:33:12,480 --> 01:33:14,800 >> Um, but at the time the town was 2360 01:33:14,800 --> 01:33:16,719 strapped with other projects that needed 2361 01:33:16,719 --> 01:33:18,800 to get done and it just didn't get into 2362 01:33:18,800 --> 01:33:20,719 the mix. 2363 01:33:20,719 --> 01:33:23,120 >> Are you asking to the urgency of of this 2364 01:33:23,120 --> 01:33:24,320 project? 2365 01:33:24,320 --> 01:33:27,440 >> Um, not really question. I mean in 2366 01:33:27,440 --> 01:33:29,679 general I think like since we presented 2367 01:33:29,679 --> 01:33:32,320 it or it was potentially something that 2368 01:33:32,320 --> 01:33:34,560 we were considering three years ago and 2369 01:33:34,560 --> 01:33:36,880 at that time we were able to defer it 2370 01:33:36,880 --> 01:33:39,840 you know I'd just like to be to know 2371 01:33:39,840 --> 01:33:42,080 when somebody asks me you know why can't 2372 01:33:42,080 --> 01:33:43,520 you defer it again sort of thing right 2373 01:33:43,520 --> 01:33:45,199 so I'm just trying to yeah what what are 2374 01:33:45,199 --> 01:33:47,199 what is the criteria but I understand 2375 01:33:47,199 --> 01:33:49,440 that's probably not something I would 2376 01:33:49,440 --> 01:33:50,159 answer 2377 01:33:50,159 --> 01:33:52,880 >> in the bigger picture I think for the 2378 01:33:52,880 --> 01:33:55,280 school committee to bring forward any 2379 01:33:55,280 --> 01:33:59,840 article We need to do all the research. 2380 01:33:59,840 --> 01:34:01,920 Okay. And then present that and present 2381 01:34:01,920 --> 01:34:04,960 it uh with the 2382 01:34:04,960 --> 01:34:07,280 support of all the players on our side 2383 01:34:07,280 --> 01:34:08,800 and hopefully we could get the board of 2384 01:34:08,800 --> 01:34:11,520 selectmen and and the town manager to 2385 01:34:11,520 --> 01:34:14,080 agree with us. Obviously the role of the 2386 01:34:14,080 --> 01:34:15,840 finance committee is to query 2387 01:34:15,840 --> 01:34:18,960 everything. Uh but if ultimately the 2388 01:34:18,960 --> 01:34:20,639 town doesn't have enough money to do it 2389 01:34:20,639 --> 01:34:22,719 and all the other things, we have to 2390 01:34:22,719 --> 01:34:25,840 stand back and in effect try again. 2391 01:34:25,840 --> 01:34:26,480 >> Yeah. 2392 01:34:26,480 --> 01:34:27,120 >> So here we are. 2393 01:34:27,120 --> 01:34:29,440 >> That makes sense. 2394 01:34:29,440 --> 01:34:32,080 >> Yeah. So Sarah, so I'll add that we're 2395 01:34:32,080 --> 01:34:33,600 actually going to get the roofs 2396 01:34:33,600 --> 01:34:35,679 rescanned just to make sure that they're 2397 01:34:35,679 --> 01:34:38,239 um eligible for the restoration itself. 2398 01:34:38,239 --> 01:34:40,159 >> Okay. So we're not we don't know that 2399 01:34:40,159 --> 01:34:41,120 right now they are 2400 01:34:41,120 --> 01:34:41,679 >> correct. 2401 01:34:41,679 --> 01:34:43,520 >> Oh, okay. That's that's good 2402 01:34:43,520 --> 01:34:45,120 information. They're still within the 2403 01:34:45,120 --> 01:34:47,520 window of time that we believe. Uh and 2404 01:34:47,520 --> 01:34:48,960 you know in terms of the shape they're 2405 01:34:48,960 --> 01:34:52,000 in, we're you know they are requiring 2406 01:34:52,000 --> 01:34:54,080 ongoing maintenance and repair work. Um 2407 01:34:54,080 --> 01:34:56,480 which is why the restoration is is 2408 01:34:56,480 --> 01:34:59,920 important to do. Um so we're optimistic 2409 01:34:59,920 --> 01:35:01,760 but we just want to make sure that it's 2410 01:35:01,760 --> 01:35:02,320 actually 2411 01:35:02,320 --> 01:35:03,600 >> it would be interesting to find out from 2412 01:35:03,600 --> 01:35:05,679 them what the criteria is just so that 2413 01:35:05,679 --> 01:35:08,320 we have an idea um for other Absolutely. 2414 01:35:08,320 --> 01:35:09,679 >> Who's them? 2415 01:35:09,679 --> 01:35:12,400 >> So actually that's a good question. And 2416 01:35:12,400 --> 01:35:14,480 who who is it that's going to be 2417 01:35:14,480 --> 01:35:16,880 evaluating or scanning and doing the 2418 01:35:16,880 --> 01:35:18,560 roof to see if it it's eligible for 2419 01:35:18,560 --> 01:35:19,120 this? 2420 01:35:19,120 --> 01:35:21,760 >> Well, as Rod brought up earlier, we do 2421 01:35:21,760 --> 01:35:25,040 have a consultant. Uh certainly the the 2422 01:35:25,040 --> 01:35:26,880 statement that in fact that our 2423 01:35:26,880 --> 01:35:29,120 consultants in cahoots with a specific 2424 01:35:29,120 --> 01:35:30,800 manufacturer I think requires some 2425 01:35:30,800 --> 01:35:35,280 research to either affirm or deny 2426 01:35:35,280 --> 01:35:37,360 because it's the consultant that we're 2427 01:35:37,360 --> 01:35:40,000 using to tell us what we need to do. And 2428 01:35:40,000 --> 01:35:42,480 that's an important understanding maybe 2429 01:35:42,480 --> 01:35:43,760 different than what happens in 2430 01:35:43,760 --> 01:35:45,760 Washington but I think in our case we 2431 01:35:45,760 --> 01:35:46,880 need to do it right. 2432 01:35:46,880 --> 01:35:47,440 >> Right. 2433 01:35:47,440 --> 01:35:50,320 >> And in fact uh I believe we have been 2434 01:35:50,320 --> 01:35:51,840 doing it right because I don't believe 2435 01:35:51,840 --> 01:35:54,480 that the individual works for any 2436 01:35:54,480 --> 01:35:56,159 manufacturer 2437 01:35:56,159 --> 01:35:58,159 but let's make sure we know that 2438 01:35:58,159 --> 01:35:59,760 >> and that was actually my second 2439 01:35:59,760 --> 01:36:02,080 question. So um this came up at town 2440 01:36:02,080 --> 01:36:04,159 meeting as well. Um I believe somebody 2441 01:36:04,159 --> 01:36:05,840 had come up and it may have been him. I 2442 01:36:05,840 --> 01:36:06,239 don't recall. 2443 01:36:06,239 --> 01:36:08,480 >> It was Mr. Hley. No, it was it was 2444 01:36:08,480 --> 01:36:11,120 >> right, but it was to the same um 2445 01:36:11,120 --> 01:36:13,679 >> it was a concern about that and u we had 2446 01:36:13,679 --> 01:36:15,280 conversation in the wake of that and I 2447 01:36:15,280 --> 01:36:18,159 think want to be able to look to 2448 01:36:18,159 --> 01:36:21,440 engineers and independent people to to 2449 01:36:21,440 --> 01:36:24,080 make that assessment uh as much as 2450 01:36:24,080 --> 01:36:26,239 possible. So just to say that um you 2451 01:36:26,239 --> 01:36:27,600 know since this has been brought to our 2452 01:36:27,600 --> 01:36:30,000 attention as a potential 2453 01:36:30,000 --> 01:36:31,760 >> um we want to make sure that we're 2454 01:36:31,760 --> 01:36:33,199 looking into this as 2455 01:36:33,199 --> 01:36:35,040 >> but but keep in mind it's not that 2456 01:36:35,040 --> 01:36:37,360 single individual that agrees or 2457 01:36:37,360 --> 01:36:39,600 disagrees. The engineer's responsibility 2458 01:36:39,600 --> 01:36:43,760 is then to listen to um the the issues 2459 01:36:43,760 --> 01:36:45,520 if you will of all players including the 2460 01:36:45,520 --> 01:36:48,719 consultant and and provide a document 2461 01:36:48,719 --> 01:36:51,679 that in fact meets state law and has all 2462 01:36:51,679 --> 01:36:53,600 the the bells and whistles of what's 2463 01:36:53,600 --> 01:36:58,080 required in public bidding. uh and uh as 2464 01:36:58,080 --> 01:37:01,119 was done particularly as a result of the 2465 01:37:01,119 --> 01:37:03,360 discussion at town meeting was to make 2466 01:37:03,360 --> 01:37:07,760 sure that the contractor who was the low 2467 01:37:07,760 --> 01:37:09,280 bidder 2468 01:37:09,280 --> 01:37:10,800 actually 2469 01:37:10,800 --> 01:37:13,840 was performing and asking questions 2470 01:37:13,840 --> 01:37:16,320 according to state law that was 2471 01:37:16,320 --> 01:37:19,920 documented as part of this project. So 2472 01:37:19,920 --> 01:37:23,199 I think u and and the outcome of the 2473 01:37:23,199 --> 01:37:26,560 work so far uh has been beneficial to 2474 01:37:26,560 --> 01:37:27,520 the town. 2475 01:37:27,520 --> 01:37:30,320 >> Sure. So I guess I guess the question is 2476 01:37:30,320 --> 01:37:32,000 and it may be just that I don't 2477 01:37:32,000 --> 01:37:33,440 understand which I don't think I 2478 01:37:33,440 --> 01:37:36,080 understand. So the consultant the the 2479 01:37:36,080 --> 01:37:38,080 allegation or what what's being stated 2480 01:37:38,080 --> 01:37:40,800 is that the consultant is um 2481 01:37:40,800 --> 01:37:44,400 >> was a manufacturer's rep 2482 01:37:44,400 --> 01:37:47,119 >> right? So engineering the basically 2483 01:37:47,119 --> 01:37:49,440 engineering the plan such that you know 2484 01:37:49,440 --> 01:37:52,159 only specific people would be eligible 2485 01:37:52,159 --> 01:37:53,520 to bid. Correct. 2486 01:37:53,520 --> 01:37:54,800 >> That was the second. 2487 01:37:54,800 --> 01:37:58,480 >> No not people specific material uh could 2488 01:37:58,480 --> 01:37:59,199 be used. 2489 01:37:59,199 --> 01:38:01,920 >> Right. So engineering the plan so that 2490 01:38:01,920 --> 01:38:03,520 basically stating that this is the type 2491 01:38:03,520 --> 01:38:05,119 of 2492 01:38:05,119 --> 01:38:07,520 >> the specs the specs that were set were 2493 01:38:07,520 --> 01:38:10,239 favorable to a specific vendor. Right. 2494 01:38:10,239 --> 01:38:11,520 >> Or bidder rather. 2495 01:38:11,520 --> 01:38:13,199 >> Yeah. That was the second state. 2496 01:38:13,199 --> 01:38:14,880 >> Right. And so did we 2497 01:38:14,880 --> 01:38:17,520 >> we corrected any misunderstanding there 2498 01:38:17,520 --> 01:38:20,880 was about the rights of contractor to 2499 01:38:20,880 --> 01:38:23,440 offer any product he wanted that quote 2500 01:38:23,440 --> 01:38:26,800 unquote would meet the spec and was not 2501 01:38:26,800 --> 01:38:29,119 uh a a single 2502 01:38:29,119 --> 01:38:31,600 manufacturer's product that you would 2503 01:38:31,600 --> 01:38:35,360 have to hire or buy that product u 2504 01:38:35,360 --> 01:38:37,840 contrary to state law 2505 01:38:37,840 --> 01:38:41,520 what was done was in in in that 2506 01:38:41,520 --> 01:38:43,760 particular issue 2507 01:38:43,760 --> 01:38:46,239 was that the contractor was allowed to 2508 01:38:46,239 --> 01:38:49,600 offer anything they wanted in the 2509 01:38:49,600 --> 01:38:51,119 anticipation of meeting the 2510 01:38:51,119 --> 01:38:55,199 specifications offer and under review 2511 01:38:55,199 --> 01:38:56,960 everything that they offered was 2512 01:38:56,960 --> 01:38:59,440 accepted. 2513 01:38:59,440 --> 01:39:01,360 >> Right. And I I concur with everything 2514 01:39:01,360 --> 01:39:02,880 you're saying. I what I'm trying to 2515 01:39:02,880 --> 01:39:04,880 understand is so I don't know that there 2516 01:39:04,880 --> 01:39:06,239 was a question of whether or not it was 2517 01:39:06,239 --> 01:39:08,880 in compliance with state law. I I think 2518 01:39:08,880 --> 01:39:11,520 that the the question was whether or not 2519 01:39:11,520 --> 01:39:14,719 we are getting the best pricing that's 2520 01:39:14,719 --> 01:39:16,239 out there. Um 2521 01:39:16,239 --> 01:39:19,440 >> that's why you bid a specific scope of 2522 01:39:19,440 --> 01:39:20,000 work, 2523 01:39:20,000 --> 01:39:20,480 >> right, 2524 01:39:20,480 --> 01:39:23,040 >> with a specific requirements of that 2525 01:39:23,040 --> 01:39:26,080 work and it goes out to bid and the low 2526 01:39:26,080 --> 01:39:28,639 bid is the one that we selected and 2527 01:39:28,639 --> 01:39:30,800 awarded to. That's how you make that 2528 01:39:30,800 --> 01:39:31,360 statement. 2529 01:39:31,360 --> 01:39:33,679 >> But if we are skeptical of the actual 2530 01:39:33,679 --> 01:39:36,159 specs being put out, that that's my 2531 01:39:36,159 --> 01:39:38,080 question. I'm not saying that we are. 2532 01:39:38,080 --> 01:39:39,440 I'm just saying that I hope that we're 2533 01:39:39,440 --> 01:39:41,440 evaluating the prospect of that. 2534 01:39:41,440 --> 01:39:44,000 >> Let me chime in. I you know my 2535 01:39:44,000 --> 01:39:44,400 understand 2536 01:39:44,400 --> 01:39:45,679 >> say one thing that might be helpful 2537 01:39:45,679 --> 01:39:47,600 which is in terms of like looking ahead 2538 01:39:47,600 --> 01:39:50,000 the the uh scanning is actually going to 2539 01:39:50,000 --> 01:39:54,960 be done by the engineering firm not by a representative of any company. So in 2540 01:39:54,960 --> 01:39:56,960 terms of the analysis looking forward we 2541 01:39:56,960 --> 01:39:58,480 are sort of sensitive to this. 2542 01:39:58,480 --> 01:40:00,560 >> That's something else in here. It is. 2543 01:40:00,560 --> 01:40:02,000 >> I mean, 2544 01:40:02,000 --> 01:40:03,360 >> obviously if you're talking about a 2545 01:40:03,360 --> 01:40:08,000 project um of this magnitude, there's 2546 01:40:08,000 --> 01:40:10,560 it was 150 pages maybe of the 2547 01:40:10,560 --> 01:40:12,560 specification. 2548 01:40:12,560 --> 01:40:16,639 But uh the research was done. The issue 2549 01:40:16,639 --> 01:40:18,560 of whether the contractor had the 2550 01:40:18,560 --> 01:40:21,600 opportunity to offer something that in 2551 01:40:21,600 --> 01:40:24,320 their opinion met our specs 2552 01:40:24,320 --> 01:40:27,199 u was uh they didn't take advantage of 2553 01:40:27,199 --> 01:40:30,159 it upfront. But we ask them specifically 2554 01:40:30,159 --> 01:40:32,000 under the terms of the state law as to 2555 01:40:32,000 --> 01:40:34,400 how you bid, particularly whether or not 2556 01:40:34,400 --> 01:40:38,159 you have uh another offering, if you 2557 01:40:38,159 --> 01:40:41,520 will, other than what was specified 2558 01:40:41,520 --> 01:40:45,440 to to submit it, have it reviewed and 2559 01:40:45,440 --> 01:40:47,199 approved. 2560 01:40:47,199 --> 01:40:50,560 And that's what happened. 2561 01:40:50,560 --> 01:40:51,760 Yeah, you were saying. 2562 01:40:51,760 --> 01:40:54,159 >> Yeah, I just want to add I I I don't I 2563 01:40:54,159 --> 01:40:55,920 believe we looked into it and we 2564 01:40:55,920 --> 01:40:57,920 determined that the spec was not written 2565 01:40:57,920 --> 01:40:59,679 to favor a single vendor. That was not 2566 01:40:59,679 --> 01:41:06,400 the case. And I I do support uh hiring a independent roofing 2567 01:41:06,400 --> 01:41:10,159 consultant uh just to I don't know 2568 01:41:10,159 --> 01:41:11,760 reassure 2569 01:41:11,760 --> 01:41:13,920 the residents that we doing our due 2570 01:41:13,920 --> 01:41:15,679 diligence. But uh I don't I think the 2571 01:41:15,679 --> 01:41:18,080 due diligence due diligence was done in 2572 01:41:18,080 --> 01:41:19,520 the first place. 2573 01:41:19,520 --> 01:41:23,440 uh as far as I understand. 2574 01:41:23,440 --> 01:41:24,480 >> Okay, thank you. 2575 01:41:24,480 --> 01:41:26,239 >> I think we can move on. Uh Gary, any 2576 01:41:26,239 --> 01:41:27,520 other questions? 2577 01:41:27,520 --> 01:41:29,840 >> Oh, uh nothing major. I just wanted to 2578 01:41:29,840 --> 01:41:32,320 say uh great to see all of the uh 2579 01:41:32,320 --> 01:41:33,520 improvements that are planned and I'm 2580 01:41:33,520 --> 01:41:34,880 sure Hastings is going to be super happy 2581 01:41:34,880 --> 01:41:37,600 with the new um playground. Um, I just 2582 01:41:37,600 --> 01:41:39,360 wanted to mention one thing um that I've 2583 01:41:39,360 --> 01:41:40,880 just noticed at town meeting where 2584 01:41:40,880 --> 01:41:42,000 there's always someone that's asking 2585 01:41:42,000 --> 01:41:43,600 like why wasn't a capital expenditure 2586 01:41:43,600 --> 01:41:46,560 budgeted for which obviously they work 2587 01:41:46,560 --> 01:41:48,639 different than um recurring budget items 2588 01:41:48,639 --> 01:41:50,639 but um just want to encourage that it 2589 01:41:50,639 --> 01:41:53,440 the school communicates it um about why 2590 01:41:53,440 --> 01:41:55,199 uh these are capital projects versus 2591 01:41:55,199 --> 01:41:56,880 budget items to the broader community 2592 01:41:56,880 --> 01:41:58,719 just so that we ensure these get passed. 2593 01:41:58,719 --> 01:42:00,880 >> Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Appreciate 2594 01:42:00,880 --> 01:42:02,320 >> Thank you. Okay. Now, just add just 2595 01:42:02,320 --> 01:42:04,000 >> Well, I mean, the first answer is 2596 01:42:04,000 --> 01:42:06,400 there's no way that we could out of the 2597 01:42:06,400 --> 01:42:09,600 school budget in any given year. Um, you 2598 01:42:09,600 --> 01:42:11,040 know, carry a million dollars, $2 2599 01:42:11,040 --> 01:42:13,119 million, $5 million project by 2600 01:42:13,119 --> 01:42:14,800 definition. You don't do them very 2601 01:42:14,800 --> 01:42:16,400 often. They're that's what makes them 2602 01:42:16,400 --> 01:42:17,040 capital. 2603 01:42:17,040 --> 01:42:17,679 >> Yeah. 2604 01:42:17,679 --> 01:42:20,480 >> But, but the definition of capital in 2605 01:42:20,480 --> 01:42:22,719 terms of let's say the finance committee 2606 01:42:22,719 --> 01:42:24,080 is their definition. 2607 01:42:24,080 --> 01:42:24,560 >> Yep. 2608 01:42:24,560 --> 01:42:26,400 >> Right. So, I mean, actually, that's 2609 01:42:26,400 --> 01:42:27,920 where to point that question and we 2610 01:42:27,920 --> 01:42:30,000 react to it in either or. 2611 01:42:30,000 --> 01:42:31,840 >> Yep. Right. 2612 01:42:31,840 --> 01:42:34,560 >> I just want to uh say one one thing at 2613 01:42:34,560 --> 01:42:36,239 the end. I don't know if that was very 2614 01:42:36,239 --> 01:42:38,560 clearly presented that if if all these 2615 01:42:38,560 --> 01:42:41,600 ask go through the process and they end 2616 01:42:41,600 --> 01:42:43,440 up on the Tom Warren, we would be asking 2617 01:42:43,440 --> 01:42:46,719 for the wing the seawing roof 2618 01:42:46,719 --> 01:42:49,199 restoration design money for the for the 2619 01:42:49,199 --> 01:42:54,080 mill pond and uh the parking lot 2620 01:42:54,080 --> 01:42:56,880 redesign and and the Hastings 2621 01:42:56,880 --> 01:42:57,600 playground. 2622 01:42:57,600 --> 01:42:59,040 >> So all four of them. 2623 01:42:59,040 --> 01:43:01,040 >> All four of them. And with the with the 2624 01:43:01,040 --> 01:43:05,360 mil pond, if if it if it gets to that uh 2625 01:43:05,360 --> 01:43:07,360 then the following year we we'll be 2626 01:43:07,360 --> 01:43:10,719 going to ask for the for the full uh 2627 01:43:10,719 --> 01:43:12,480 actual project. 2628 01:43:12,480 --> 01:43:17,760 >> No, So that 1.7 million and that 2.276 2629 01:43:17,760 --> 01:43:19,840 million that includes the project costs 2630 01:43:19,840 --> 01:43:21,440 as well because we already have the 2631 01:43:21,440 --> 01:43:23,679 design money because we already did the 2632 01:43:23,679 --> 01:43:24,480 design, right? 2633 01:43:24,480 --> 01:43:26,800 >> So we already have that in hand. So that 2634 01:43:26,800 --> 01:43:28,960 money is for the project work, for the 2635 01:43:28,960 --> 01:43:32,239 OPM work, and for the um architect. 2636 01:43:32,239 --> 01:43:33,840 >> Okay. 2637 01:43:33,840 --> 01:43:36,320 >> If we were to go through the MSBA, then 2638 01:43:36,320 --> 01:43:38,400 it would stretch out and be a a bigger 2639 01:43:38,400 --> 01:43:38,560 time. 2640 01:43:38,560 --> 01:43:39,600 >> I was looking. 2641 01:43:39,600 --> 01:43:41,360 >> Yeah. 2642 01:43:41,360 --> 01:43:43,360 >> Thank you. 2643 01:43:43,360 --> 01:43:46,080 >> Okay. 2644 01:43:46,080 --> 01:43:48,400 Moving on to budget summit preview. 2645 01:43:48,400 --> 01:43:51,920 >> That's great. Um 2646 01:43:51,920 --> 01:43:55,760 I shared a draft of this earlier uh with 2647 01:43:55,760 --> 01:43:59,040 um the advisory finance committee 2648 01:43:59,040 --> 01:44:01,760 leaison uh that work with the school and 2649 01:44:01,760 --> 01:44:04,400 I'll I'll sort of I I will go through it 2650 01:44:04,400 --> 01:44:06,400 quickly because I want to keep us on 2651 01:44:06,400 --> 01:44:11,280 time here. Um but uh I welcome your 2652 01:44:11,280 --> 01:44:14,080 feedback because you know part of my job 2653 01:44:14,080 --> 01:44:16,159 in the budget summit is to sort of put 2654 01:44:16,159 --> 01:44:19,119 forward to um the other boards in town, 2655 01:44:19,119 --> 01:44:21,040 the advisory finance committee and the 2656 01:44:21,040 --> 01:44:23,360 select board sort of a little bit of the 2657 01:44:23,360 --> 01:44:25,360 state of affairs of the the school 2658 01:44:25,360 --> 01:44:28,080 department and try and help them 2659 01:44:28,080 --> 01:44:29,760 understand some of what we're grappling 2660 01:44:29,760 --> 01:44:32,159 with. So, in doing so this year, I 2661 01:44:32,159 --> 01:44:33,440 started where I always like to start, 2662 01:44:33,440 --> 01:44:35,040 which is bragging a little bit about the 2663 01:44:35,040 --> 01:44:36,880 school district. Uh, saying, um, you 2664 01:44:36,880 --> 01:44:38,320 know, our our students do really well, 2665 01:44:38,320 --> 01:44:39,600 they perform well, there are great 2666 01:44:39,600 --> 01:44:41,440 things happening, and they're very 2667 01:44:41,440 --> 01:44:43,440 exciting. One of my favorites is this 2668 01:44:43,440 --> 01:44:45,600 best, uh, bang for your housing buck, 2669 01:44:45,600 --> 01:44:48,560 uh, uh, note, which we've been on that 2670 01:44:48,560 --> 01:44:50,159 list a couple years in a row. It's a top 2671 01:44:50,159 --> 01:44:52,080 10 list. So, that's top 10 in the state. 2672 01:44:52,080 --> 01:44:54,560 That's pretty good. Um, and although 2673 01:44:54,560 --> 01:44:56,480 these ratings, they move up and down. I 2674 01:44:56,480 --> 01:44:58,639 think we're up in Boston magazine. were 2675 01:44:58,639 --> 01:45:00,320 down slightly in US News and World 2676 01:45:00,320 --> 01:45:01,280 Report because they have slightly 2677 01:45:01,280 --> 01:45:03,760 different metrics. Um, Westboro always 2678 01:45:03,760 --> 01:45:06,080 is really reflected and that is a 2679 01:45:06,080 --> 01:45:08,239 testament to the incredible work of of 2680 01:45:08,239 --> 01:45:10,719 the staff here. So, I like to give them 2681 01:45:10,719 --> 01:45:14,159 a lot of proper credit for this. Um, so 2682 01:45:14,159 --> 01:45:16,320 major categories I I put out so people 2683 01:45:16,320 --> 01:45:18,239 have a sense of scale, right? Where does 2684 01:45:18,239 --> 01:45:20,080 their money go? And the overwhelming 2685 01:45:20,080 --> 01:45:22,080 majority of our money goes toward people 2686 01:45:22,080 --> 01:45:24,159 toward the staffing. Um, the kind of 2687 01:45:24,159 --> 01:45:25,920 next greatest category is special 2688 01:45:25,920 --> 01:45:28,560 education. Uh then transportation, other 2689 01:45:28,560 --> 01:45:30,320 non-s salary which is going to include 2690 01:45:30,320 --> 01:45:32,560 all materials and supplies and kind of 2691 01:45:32,560 --> 01:45:34,480 everything else under the sun. Uh 2692 01:45:34,480 --> 01:45:37,840 buildings and grounds and then utilities 2693 01:45:37,840 --> 01:45:41,760 and um I got some help with updating the 2694 01:45:41,760 --> 01:45:43,199 pie chart. You remember my pie chart 2695 01:45:43,199 --> 01:45:44,960 with a really tiny writing. So this we 2696 01:45:44,960 --> 01:45:47,360 did this instead the donut. Um and this 2697 01:45:47,360 --> 01:45:49,199 is just nice to show the percentage of 2698 01:45:49,199 --> 01:45:51,040 how these different things appear in the 2699 01:45:51,040 --> 01:45:52,880 budget. And it's also helpful for folks 2700 01:45:52,880 --> 01:45:54,719 to understand what the levers are in the 2701 01:45:54,719 --> 01:45:57,600 budget. you know, we really can't make a 2702 01:45:57,600 --> 01:46:00,320 big impact on savings in the budget by 2703 01:46:00,320 --> 01:46:02,800 looking at non- salary items because 2704 01:46:02,800 --> 01:46:04,480 they're such a tiny portion of the 2705 01:46:04,480 --> 01:46:06,320 budget. If we ever need to make 2706 01:46:06,320 --> 01:46:08,320 reductions, unfortunately, the place we 2707 01:46:08,320 --> 01:46:11,520 have to look uh inevitably is in uh 2708 01:46:11,520 --> 01:46:14,159 salary and in staffing. So, that's just 2709 01:46:14,159 --> 01:46:15,360 an important thing for people to 2710 01:46:15,360 --> 01:46:17,760 recognize. One important note too here, 2711 01:46:17,760 --> 01:46:20,880 our salary is has actually shrunk as an 2712 01:46:20,880 --> 01:46:23,119 overall percentage and that's for two 2713 01:46:23,119 --> 01:46:25,520 reasons. one is our FTE has shrunk a 2714 01:46:25,520 --> 01:46:26,880 little bit over the past couple years, 2715 01:46:26,880 --> 01:46:30,400 but also um the the costs that we don't 2716 01:46:30,400 --> 01:46:32,800 control have escalated and that's a big 2717 01:46:32,800 --> 01:46:34,560 focus of this presentation is helping 2718 01:46:34,560 --> 01:46:37,119 people understand how our our universe 2719 01:46:37,119 --> 01:46:40,320 is impacted by these other things. Um so 2720 01:46:40,320 --> 01:46:42,239 I'll talk about these four main buckets. 2721 01:46:42,239 --> 01:46:44,159 The first is enrollment, what's going on 2722 01:46:44,159 --> 01:46:46,400 there. Um the second is out of district 2723 01:46:46,400 --> 01:46:48,880 costs. So tuition and transportation for 2724 01:46:48,880 --> 01:46:50,800 students who attend schools out of out 2725 01:46:50,800 --> 01:46:55,920 of the district. um student needs. Uh I really want to focus on that this 2726 01:46:55,920 --> 01:46:57,440 year. In the past couple years, I've 2727 01:46:57,440 --> 01:46:59,760 talked about spec especially last year. 2728 01:46:59,760 --> 01:47:01,760 Um I talked about level services and 2729 01:47:01,760 --> 01:47:04,080 kind of just keeping things stable. I 2730 01:47:04,080 --> 01:47:05,920 don't think we can do that anymore and I 2731 01:47:05,920 --> 01:47:07,440 think I need to be able to address that 2732 01:47:07,440 --> 01:47:09,600 publicly right now. Uh and then also 2733 01:47:09,600 --> 01:47:11,440 state mandates um which are kind of 2734 01:47:11,440 --> 01:47:13,440 coming at us fast and furious. So I want 2735 01:47:13,440 --> 01:47:15,600 to be able to to note that we need to be 2736 01:47:15,600 --> 01:47:18,000 responsive to things that are happening 2737 01:47:18,000 --> 01:47:20,320 at the state level. Total enrollment 2738 01:47:20,320 --> 01:47:22,239 continues to come down. We are down 2739 01:47:22,239 --> 01:47:23,760 between last year and this year. These 2740 01:47:23,760 --> 01:47:26,000 are estimates based on Septemberish 2741 01:47:26,000 --> 01:47:28,560 numbers. I'll have like a very robust 2742 01:47:28,560 --> 01:47:30,560 enrollment presentation for you next 2743 01:47:30,560 --> 01:47:33,600 time u when we meet in October. But uh 2744 01:47:33,600 --> 01:47:35,520 this is just the the big picture and you 2745 01:47:35,520 --> 01:47:37,679 can see this is sort of a a long-term 2746 01:47:37,679 --> 01:47:39,920 trend of kind of coming slightly down. 2747 01:47:39,920 --> 01:47:41,600 This is not unique to Westboro. It's 2748 01:47:41,600 --> 01:47:42,960 happening in a lot of places in the 2749 01:47:42,960 --> 01:47:46,239 state. Um but interesting when you break 2750 01:47:46,239 --> 01:47:49,520 it apart into different groups. Um, you 2751 01:47:49,520 --> 01:47:52,239 know, we are down at These are tiny, so 2752 01:47:52,239 --> 01:47:54,080 they're hard to see. I apologize. Um, 2753 01:47:54,080 --> 01:47:56,000 but we're down at the high school, we 2754 01:47:56,000 --> 01:47:58,560 are down in grades four to six, we're 2755 01:47:58,560 --> 01:48:00,800 down at the middle school. Uh, we are up 2756 01:48:00,800 --> 01:48:02,480 slightly at the preschool this year, and 2757 01:48:02,480 --> 01:48:04,080 that's great to see. That's partly due 2758 01:48:04,080 --> 01:48:06,000 to the fact the preschool was able to 2759 01:48:06,000 --> 01:48:07,920 offer extended day this year, and I 2760 01:48:07,920 --> 01:48:09,760 think that has had a positive impact on 2761 01:48:09,760 --> 01:48:11,679 our enrollment, uh, which is great. That 2762 01:48:11,679 --> 01:48:14,400 is a, uh, tuitionbased program, too. So, 2763 01:48:14,400 --> 01:48:17,280 there's a kind of revenue income. Uh the 2764 01:48:17,280 --> 01:48:18,639 most interesting thing though is right 2765 01:48:18,639 --> 01:48:22,239 here. So this is K to3 um has rebounded 2766 01:48:22,239 --> 01:48:24,239 a little bit and what I would say is 2767 01:48:24,239 --> 01:48:26,239 this is a thing to watch. Uh enrollment 2768 01:48:26,239 --> 01:48:28,000 cycles in schools tend to go in about a 2769 01:48:28,000 --> 01:48:30,000 20-year arc. They go kind of up and down 2770 01:48:30,000 --> 01:48:32,560 in waves. So uh and if you notice this 2771 01:48:32,560 --> 01:48:35,840 has been down down down. Uh if this 2772 01:48:35,840 --> 01:48:38,239 continues in next year to kind of keep 2773 01:48:38,239 --> 01:48:39,760 on the upswing, I'd say we could 2774 01:48:39,760 --> 01:48:41,679 probably expect there may be more of 2775 01:48:41,679 --> 01:48:44,719 that to come. Um so and that will then 2776 01:48:44,719 --> 01:48:46,719 wave out through the school levels just 2777 01:48:46,719 --> 01:48:48,560 as the downward enrollment has trended 2778 01:48:48,560 --> 01:48:52,400 through the school levels. Um um the 2779 01:48:52,400 --> 01:48:54,000 good thing about keeping an eye on this 2780 01:48:54,000 --> 01:48:55,760 is that it has implications for 2781 01:48:55,760 --> 01:48:57,119 staffment. We just need to be really 2782 01:48:57,119 --> 01:48:58,880 cautious about any staff reductions 2783 01:48:58,880 --> 01:49:00,080 because we don't want to reduce and then 2784 01:49:00,080 --> 01:49:02,159 have to add back next year. Uh it just 2785 01:49:02,159 --> 01:49:05,520 creates churn. 2786 01:49:05,520 --> 01:49:08,000 Um we've talked about this before but I 2787 01:49:08,000 --> 01:49:09,520 think one of the big drivers in our 2788 01:49:09,520 --> 01:49:11,600 budget is special education. Uh it's an 2789 01:49:11,600 --> 01:49:13,760 important investment and really uh 2790 01:49:13,760 --> 01:49:15,360 creates programming that's strong and 2791 01:49:15,360 --> 01:49:16,639 supportive for our students. It's a 2792 01:49:16,639 --> 01:49:19,040 responsibility I take very seriously. Um 2793 01:49:19,040 --> 01:49:21,119 the costs for our outofd district 2794 01:49:21,119 --> 01:49:23,199 placement have skyrocketed in the past 2795 01:49:23,199 --> 01:49:25,440 few years. So um as you're aware, we 2796 01:49:25,440 --> 01:49:26,639 have a handful of students in the 2797 01:49:26,639 --> 01:49:28,960 district um whose needs can't be met 2798 01:49:28,960 --> 01:49:30,800 here in the in the district. We do a lot 2799 01:49:30,800 --> 01:49:32,400 to try and build programming to keep 2800 01:49:32,400 --> 01:49:35,840 kids here. Uh but in some cases, their 2801 01:49:35,840 --> 01:49:37,920 needs uh are specialized and need to be 2802 01:49:37,920 --> 01:49:41,360 met elsewhere. um when we send students 2803 01:49:41,360 --> 01:49:43,360 out of district there are two types of 2804 01:49:43,360 --> 01:49:45,679 schools collaboratives and private 2805 01:49:45,679 --> 01:49:47,679 schools and you can see the cost per 2806 01:49:47,679 --> 01:49:49,920 year per student are pretty incredible 2807 01:49:49,920 --> 01:49:52,239 here. Um so collaboratives and these are 2808 01:49:52,239 --> 01:49:54,080 updated costs this year are now running 2809 01:49:54,080 --> 01:49:57,520 in the 70 to $80,000 range and these are 2810 01:49:57,520 --> 01:49:59,840 sort of based on our numbers. Uh private 2811 01:49:59,840 --> 01:50:02,880 day placement between 80 and 183,000 and 2812 01:50:02,880 --> 01:50:05,040 then uh private residential trait 2813 01:50:05,040 --> 01:50:09,440 placement is $300,000 and up. Um, as you 2814 01:50:09,440 --> 01:50:11,119 know, we do get some partial 2815 01:50:11,119 --> 01:50:12,800 reimbursement for this from the state 2816 01:50:12,800 --> 01:50:16,000 for some of these services and tuitions. 2817 01:50:16,000 --> 01:50:18,159 Uh, but it is partial and it comes the 2818 01:50:18,159 --> 01:50:20,639 year after the expense. So, it's a very 2819 01:50:20,639 --> 01:50:22,320 tricky thing to budget with that in 2820 01:50:22,320 --> 01:50:24,480 mind. What I'm showing here is actual 2821 01:50:24,480 --> 01:50:27,280 cost, not the cost after the application 2822 01:50:27,280 --> 01:50:29,040 of uh circuit breaker because I think 2823 01:50:29,040 --> 01:50:30,960 it's important to see the total cost 2824 01:50:30,960 --> 01:50:33,760 escalation over time. Uh the good news 2825 01:50:33,760 --> 01:50:36,400 is there is substantial advocacy going 2826 01:50:36,400 --> 01:50:38,560 on at the state level not only for 2827 01:50:38,560 --> 01:50:40,639 addressing circuit breaker which is that 2828 01:50:40,639 --> 01:50:44,480 reimbursement program but also for um 2829 01:50:44,480 --> 01:50:46,960 seeking more transparency from the 2830 01:50:46,960 --> 01:50:50,159 private schools around cost escalation. 2831 01:50:50,159 --> 01:50:54,639 Uh we've seen some schools apply for um 2832 01:50:54,639 --> 01:50:56,960 tuition increases above and beyond what 2833 01:50:56,960 --> 01:51:00,080 the state allows uh through um 2834 01:51:00,080 --> 01:51:02,560 restructuring their programs. And 2835 01:51:02,560 --> 01:51:04,639 there's a movement right now among the 2836 01:51:04,639 --> 01:51:06,800 superintendent association to try and 2837 01:51:06,800 --> 01:51:09,760 create some legislation to mandate uh 2838 01:51:09,760 --> 01:51:12,080 much more transparency so that so that 2839 01:51:12,080 --> 01:51:13,920 the communities have insight into what 2840 01:51:13,920 --> 01:51:15,679 exactly is happening and is it serving 2841 01:51:15,679 --> 01:51:17,840 the needs of students. Um these are our 2842 01:51:17,840 --> 01:51:19,760 students. We take that very seriously. 2843 01:51:19,760 --> 01:51:22,719 If these are necessary costs, so be it. 2844 01:51:22,719 --> 01:51:24,719 If they are not, then people should 2845 01:51:24,719 --> 01:51:29,119 know. Um I do feel like these are important 2846 01:51:29,119 --> 01:51:31,119 numbers to share because they also 2847 01:51:31,119 --> 01:51:33,360 indicate when we have invested really 2848 01:51:33,360 --> 01:51:34,880 heavily in special education 2849 01:51:34,880 --> 01:51:37,760 programming, in co-eing and in all the 2850 01:51:37,760 --> 01:51:39,679 things that we do to support students 2851 01:51:39,679 --> 01:51:42,000 here. It is an investment in keeping as 2852 01:51:42,000 --> 01:51:43,760 many students in district as possible, 2853 01:51:43,760 --> 01:51:45,360 which is the most cost-effective thing 2854 01:51:45,360 --> 01:51:48,239 we can do. So, it's also just a 2855 01:51:48,239 --> 01:51:50,960 wonderful thing to do. 2856 01:51:50,960 --> 01:51:53,599 Um, out of district transportation 2857 01:51:53,599 --> 01:51:55,199 continues to be another area that's 2858 01:51:55,199 --> 01:51:56,639 really volatile. This is one of the 2859 01:51:56,639 --> 01:51:57,840 hardest things for us to predict 2860 01:51:57,840 --> 01:52:00,400 year-over-year. Um, these contracts are 2861 01:52:00,400 --> 01:52:04,159 tricky and also um we don't always know 2862 01:52:04,159 --> 01:52:06,719 uh we may have an idea that a student's 2863 01:52:06,719 --> 01:52:09,040 going to be um heading toward a private 2864 01:52:09,040 --> 01:52:10,960 placement, but we might not know where 2865 01:52:10,960 --> 01:52:12,159 how far it is, what kind of 2866 01:52:12,159 --> 01:52:13,440 transportation needs are going to be 2867 01:52:13,440 --> 01:52:15,360 required. So that's so individually it 2868 01:52:15,360 --> 01:52:17,599 adds up really quickly. 2869 01:52:17,599 --> 01:52:19,199 >> Really quickly I have a quick question. 2870 01:52:19,199 --> 01:52:21,040 Um can you remind me is the 2871 01:52:21,040 --> 01:52:23,199 transportation cost also factored into 2872 01:52:23,199 --> 01:52:24,320 for um circuit 2873 01:52:24,320 --> 01:52:26,639 >> circuit breaker. It is reimburseable. 2874 01:52:26,639 --> 01:52:28,719 We've over the past few years our our 2875 01:52:28,719 --> 01:52:31,520 costs are high enough that we've applied 2876 01:52:31,520 --> 01:52:33,679 our circuit breaker reimbursement 2877 01:52:33,679 --> 01:52:36,320 primarily to tuition um because we have 2878 01:52:36,320 --> 01:52:38,320 enough of it to you know eat up all the 2879 01:52:38,320 --> 01:52:42,080 circuit breaker. Um, but we we have a a 2880 01:52:42,080 --> 01:52:44,320 just incredible person who works for us, 2881 01:52:44,320 --> 01:52:46,159 Lisa Ber, who works in this special 2882 01:52:46,159 --> 01:52:48,000 education department, does our circuit 2883 01:52:48,000 --> 01:52:49,679 breaker claiming, and she's excellent at 2884 01:52:49,679 --> 01:52:52,639 it. It's a it's an important job in the 2885 01:52:52,639 --> 01:52:54,320 district in terms of making sure we're 2886 01:52:54,320 --> 01:52:56,000 getting as many of those dollars back as 2887 01:52:56,000 --> 01:52:59,760 possible. Thank you. 2888 01:52:59,760 --> 01:53:02,239 >> Um, our total transportation costs have 2889 01:53:02,239 --> 01:53:03,920 really escalated too over the past 2890 01:53:03,920 --> 01:53:05,599 several years. If you notice like what 2891 01:53:05,599 --> 01:53:08,880 it looked like back in 22 um versus what 2892 01:53:08,880 --> 01:53:17,599 it looks like uh this past year um it's incredible. Um and you know I I'm 2893 01:53:17,599 --> 01:53:19,760 grateful right now we're in a contract 2894 01:53:19,760 --> 01:53:22,320 that is stable because with fuel prices 2895 01:53:22,320 --> 01:53:24,320 and everything else going on. It's nice 2896 01:53:24,320 --> 01:53:25,760 to know it's going to be a controlled 2897 01:53:25,760 --> 01:53:28,560 cost for this year and next. After next 2898 01:53:28,560 --> 01:53:30,000 year we'll have to go out back out to 2899 01:53:30,000 --> 01:53:32,800 bid. So um this will become another 2900 01:53:32,800 --> 01:53:34,560 issue for us. 2901 01:53:34,560 --> 01:53:35,360 Yes. 2902 01:53:35,360 --> 01:53:37,679 >> Are we subject to escalation relative to 2903 01:53:37,679 --> 01:53:39,760 fuel cost within the contract based on 2904 01:53:39,760 --> 01:53:41,679 the fact that when it was bid it was 2905 01:53:41,679 --> 01:53:43,760 probably three bucks a gallon and it's 2906 01:53:43,760 --> 01:53:46,080 now six. So we have to adjust I think 2907 01:53:46,080 --> 01:53:49,119 based on the cost of fuel. 2908 01:53:49,119 --> 01:53:49,920 >> I didn't know that. 2909 01:53:49,920 --> 01:53:51,840 >> Not so good. [laughter] But that's it. 2910 01:53:51,840 --> 01:53:54,000 >> Thanks for telling me that. 2911 01:53:54,000 --> 01:53:56,480 >> Um I was unaware of that until right 2912 01:53:56,480 --> 01:53:59,588 now. Um yeah that's a bummer. Uh so 2913 01:53:59,588 --> 01:54:01,040 [laughter] 2914 01:54:01,040 --> 01:54:04,800 >> all right we'll get ready. Um I think uh 2915 01:54:04,800 --> 01:54:06,560 and that may impact how we think about 2916 01:54:06,560 --> 01:54:08,400 budgeting moving forward if things don't 2917 01:54:08,400 --> 01:54:09,760 sort of stabilize in the next little 2918 01:54:09,760 --> 01:54:11,360 bit. Uh we're going to hope for you know 2919 01:54:11,360 --> 01:54:14,239 the end of you know we're going to hope 2920 01:54:14,239 --> 01:54:17,920 for peace and lower prices and fuel for 2921 01:54:17,920 --> 01:54:20,639 many reasons. Uh 2922 01:54:20,639 --> 01:54:25,599 um so other kind of driver I wanted to 2923 01:54:25,599 --> 01:54:27,119 talk about this year and I did not do 2924 01:54:27,119 --> 01:54:28,480 this last year was really talk about 2925 01:54:28,480 --> 01:54:30,000 student need and specifically three 2926 01:54:30,000 --> 01:54:31,840 areas. I talked a little bit about this 2927 01:54:31,840 --> 01:54:34,239 earlier, but um when we've gone through 2928 01:54:34,239 --> 01:54:36,080 the budget process the last couple years 2929 01:54:36,080 --> 01:54:37,920 and also in the strategic planning 2930 01:54:37,920 --> 01:54:39,679 process, some things have emerged as 2931 01:54:39,679 --> 01:54:42,000 areas that we really want to focus on as 2932 01:54:42,000 --> 01:54:44,080 a district. Uh one is early support for 2933 01:54:44,080 --> 01:54:45,760 our youngest learners. Um we are one of 2934 01:54:45,760 --> 01:54:48,560 the few district that doesn't have ESP 2935 01:54:48,560 --> 01:54:52,080 eSPs in all kindergarten classrooms. Um 2936 01:54:52,080 --> 01:54:55,040 which is a pretty um wonderful support 2937 01:54:55,040 --> 01:54:56,719 for kids as they make that transition 2938 01:54:56,719 --> 01:54:59,360 from preschool into kindergarten. And 2939 01:54:59,360 --> 01:55:01,679 because we're seeing kids have a harder 2940 01:55:01,679 --> 01:55:03,679 time with that transition in general, we 2941 01:55:03,679 --> 01:55:04,880 think that's a worthwhile investment 2942 01:55:04,880 --> 01:55:05,920 that we're going to be looking to 2943 01:55:05,920 --> 01:55:08,159 pursue. Um whether we do it all at once 2944 01:55:08,159 --> 01:55:10,239 or we do it in phases, it's definitely 2945 01:55:10,239 --> 01:55:12,560 going to be on our list of things to 2946 01:55:12,560 --> 01:55:14,320 look for. Additionally, we had talked 2947 01:55:14,320 --> 01:55:15,679 last year a little bit about 2948 01:55:15,679 --> 01:55:18,480 transitioning from um math tutors to 2949 01:55:18,480 --> 01:55:20,080 math specialists in the early grades. 2950 01:55:20,080 --> 01:55:22,000 really bolstering up our our work 2951 01:55:22,000 --> 01:55:24,880 supporting math instruction in K to3 and 2952 01:55:24,880 --> 01:55:26,800 building that really strong foundation 2953 01:55:26,800 --> 01:55:28,400 together with the literacy initiative 2954 01:55:28,400 --> 01:55:30,960 which is uh even above and beyond the 2955 01:55:30,960 --> 01:55:32,960 grant going to cost us something to 2956 01:55:32,960 --> 01:55:34,320 implement. So we're kind of keeping an 2957 01:55:34,320 --> 01:55:36,560 eye on all that early support work. 2958 01:55:36,560 --> 01:55:39,119 Wraparound partnerships is this idea of 2959 01:55:39,119 --> 01:55:41,840 looking to build structures and services 2960 01:55:41,840 --> 01:55:45,040 that are going to help kids who need um 2961 01:55:45,040 --> 01:55:47,360 kids and families really who need um 2962 01:55:47,360 --> 01:55:50,480 more extensive support than what is sort 2963 01:55:50,480 --> 01:55:52,000 of typically provided through the 2964 01:55:52,000 --> 01:55:55,760 school. So, uh, if students are are 2965 01:55:55,760 --> 01:55:58,080 coming to us with, um, learning needs 2966 01:55:58,080 --> 01:56:00,400 and a trauma background, for example, 2967 01:56:00,400 --> 01:56:02,480 and, um, in their family, they've had a 2968 01:56:02,480 --> 01:56:04,159 hard time accessing mental health 2969 01:56:04,159 --> 01:56:06,480 supports and services, that really 2970 01:56:06,480 --> 01:56:09,360 impacts a student's success in school. 2971 01:56:09,360 --> 01:56:11,599 And if we aren't able to kind of help 2972 01:56:11,599 --> 01:56:13,679 connect that student to to the support 2973 01:56:13,679 --> 01:56:16,480 they need, it's going to undermine their 2974 01:56:16,480 --> 01:56:18,080 uh, attendance and probably their 2975 01:56:18,080 --> 01:56:20,719 long-term um, capacity to achieve in 2976 01:56:20,719 --> 01:56:22,800 school. So, we're looking at how do we 2977 01:56:22,800 --> 01:56:24,480 build some structures. We've kind of 2978 01:56:24,480 --> 01:56:27,040 been handling this on a um case-byase 2979 01:56:27,040 --> 01:56:30,400 basis, really trying to um wrap around 2980 01:56:30,400 --> 01:56:32,320 arms around kids and families and and 2981 01:56:32,320 --> 01:56:34,639 help them, but we need to take a more 2982 01:56:34,639 --> 01:56:38,719 systems approach to it and build in some 2983 01:56:38,719 --> 01:56:42,719 um kind of consistent structures so that 2984 01:56:42,719 --> 01:56:45,119 uh we're not always solving the same 2985 01:56:45,119 --> 01:56:46,400 problem over and over again in a 2986 01:56:46,400 --> 01:56:48,480 different space. Um that's part of the 2987 01:56:48,480 --> 01:56:51,040 work that Kim Tinen will be engaging in 2988 01:56:51,040 --> 01:56:53,280 this year and leading and along with 2989 01:56:53,280 --> 01:56:55,119 that chronic absenteeism and those two 2990 01:56:55,119 --> 01:56:56,800 kind of go hand inand because sometimes 2991 01:56:56,800 --> 01:56:59,119 these things run parallel. Um you know 2992 01:56:59,119 --> 01:57:01,119 students are who are coming with a lot 2993 01:57:01,119 --> 01:57:03,119 of complicated needs. Um sometimes 2994 01:57:03,119 --> 01:57:04,719 school avoidance is in the mix with 2995 01:57:04,719 --> 01:57:07,920 those needs as well. So um all of these 2996 01:57:07,920 --> 01:57:09,520 things we're looking to address and we 2997 01:57:09,520 --> 01:57:11,280 anticipate there'll be some cost to 2998 01:57:11,280 --> 01:57:15,280 doing this and doing it well. 2999 01:57:15,280 --> 01:57:16,639 uh state mandates. You know, we've 3000 01:57:16,639 --> 01:57:18,320 talked about the early uh literacy 3001 01:57:18,320 --> 01:57:20,080 legislation. Uh we've talked about the 3002 01:57:20,080 --> 01:57:22,960 bill to bill cell phone fan. We ban we 3003 01:57:22,960 --> 01:57:25,119 uh were very grateful for Senators 3004 01:57:25,119 --> 01:57:27,440 Moore's office for earmark funding that 3005 01:57:27,440 --> 01:57:29,119 came through. Yay. Uh which helped 3006 01:57:29,119 --> 01:57:31,199 offset the cost of the uh initial 3007 01:57:31,199 --> 01:57:34,080 investment in yonder pouches. And uh in 3008 01:57:34,080 --> 01:57:35,679 order to make sure we maintain that 3009 01:57:35,679 --> 01:57:38,000 program, we are going to need to add in 3010 01:57:38,000 --> 01:57:40,639 uh some amount to the budget. It's not a 3011 01:57:40,639 --> 01:57:41,840 huge amount, but we want to make sure 3012 01:57:41,840 --> 01:57:43,360 we're able to have that stable for at 3013 01:57:43,360 --> 01:57:45,679 least the next few years. Um, you know, 3014 01:57:45,679 --> 01:57:47,040 it's possible in the long run there'll 3015 01:57:47,040 --> 01:57:49,119 be a different solution that's a cheaper 3016 01:57:49,119 --> 01:57:51,360 solution, but for now the pouches seem 3017 01:57:51,360 --> 01:57:53,040 to be the thing that people are saying 3018 01:57:53,040 --> 01:57:54,880 works best. 3019 01:57:54,880 --> 01:57:56,960 Um, there are these new high school 3020 01:57:56,960 --> 01:57:58,480 graduation requirements. We want to be 3021 01:57:58,480 --> 01:58:00,080 thoughtful about potential costs 3022 01:58:00,080 --> 01:58:02,560 associated with those, especially as we 3023 01:58:02,560 --> 01:58:05,440 see sort of the myap development. At the 3024 01:58:05,440 --> 01:58:07,280 end point of that, we're looking to add 3025 01:58:07,280 --> 01:58:09,920 uh things like more robust internships 3026 01:58:09,920 --> 01:58:13,440 and kind of career coaching kinds of 3027 01:58:13,440 --> 01:58:15,599 opportunities and that may take some 3028 01:58:15,599 --> 01:58:17,599 staffing changes. Um so we want to think 3029 01:58:17,599 --> 01:58:19,760 about that and then again this diversity 3030 01:58:19,760 --> 01:58:21,599 team that we're looking to put together. 3031 01:58:21,599 --> 01:58:24,000 Um you know this year we are going to 3032 01:58:24,000 --> 01:58:25,520 try and find ways to do it on a 3033 01:58:25,520 --> 01:58:28,639 volunteer and um some like PDP credits 3034 01:58:28,639 --> 01:58:30,719 and and things like that. going forward, 3035 01:58:30,719 --> 01:58:32,639 we'll be looking to create stipens so 3036 01:58:32,639 --> 01:58:34,400 that those positions are really stable 3037 01:58:34,400 --> 01:58:36,080 and people are compensated for their 3038 01:58:36,080 --> 01:58:39,119 time and effort. [snorts] 3039 01:58:39,119 --> 01:58:41,440 Um, I will also provide people with a 3040 01:58:41,440 --> 01:58:43,199 snapshot of our federal grant funding. 3041 01:58:43,199 --> 01:58:44,639 Um, I've done this the last couple 3042 01:58:44,639 --> 01:58:47,440 years. You know, I I put it here just to 3043 01:58:47,440 --> 01:58:49,840 say that this is a pot of money that's 3044 01:58:49,840 --> 01:58:52,800 been relatively reliable. And yet, over 3045 01:58:52,800 --> 01:58:55,280 the last few years, it hasn't felt like 3046 01:58:55,280 --> 01:58:59,920 um we could 100% rely on on on this from 3047 01:58:59,920 --> 01:59:01,840 the federal government. Um and in 3048 01:59:01,840 --> 01:59:04,320 particular, the the highlighted ones 3049 01:59:04,320 --> 01:59:06,320 here, the pink ones are the ones we feel 3050 01:59:06,320 --> 01:59:08,400 are the most vulnerable. Now, I've said 3051 01:59:08,400 --> 01:59:10,560 this and it it keeps showing up, so 3052 01:59:10,560 --> 01:59:12,719 we're grateful for this so far, but I 3053 01:59:12,719 --> 01:59:14,880 don't, you know, I don't know what will 3054 01:59:14,880 --> 01:59:17,599 happen in the future. So, as we budget, 3055 01:59:17,599 --> 01:59:20,159 we really need to think about um what 3056 01:59:20,159 --> 01:59:22,000 would happen if this pot of money 3057 01:59:22,000 --> 01:59:23,599 disappeared and how we would backfill 3058 01:59:23,599 --> 01:59:25,760 for it. 3059 01:59:25,760 --> 01:59:29,760 Um, finally, kind of looking at 3060 01:59:29,760 --> 01:59:32,159 what the year-over-year cost increases 3061 01:59:32,159 --> 01:59:34,239 have been, you know, we have been able 3062 01:59:34,239 --> 01:59:36,159 the past two years to sort of start to 3063 01:59:36,159 --> 01:59:38,560 bring the overall percentage increase 3064 01:59:38,560 --> 01:59:40,400 down, and I'm I'm proud of that work. I 3065 01:59:40,400 --> 01:59:42,239 think um, Anita and the business office 3066 01:59:42,239 --> 01:59:44,080 have done an incredible job. We've also 3067 01:59:44,080 --> 01:59:46,080 really asked the leadership team to kind 3068 01:59:46,080 --> 01:59:49,840 of look at reallocation and reduction 3069 01:59:49,840 --> 01:59:53,280 where that was responsible. Um, I don't 3070 01:59:53,280 --> 01:59:54,639 know that we're going to be in that 3071 01:59:54,639 --> 01:59:56,639 position this year. I think it's um, you 3072 01:59:56,639 --> 01:59:58,719 know, we'll do our best to to bring a 3073 01:59:58,719 --> 02:00:00,480 number that is reasonable to the 3074 02:00:00,480 --> 02:00:02,880 community and that can get passed. At 3075 02:00:02,880 --> 02:00:04,719 the same time, I think if there are 3076 02:00:04,719 --> 02:00:07,920 savings that we realize from decreasing 3077 02:00:07,920 --> 02:00:10,159 enrollment, we may need to reinvest them 3078 02:00:10,159 --> 02:00:12,000 in those things that support our student 3079 02:00:12,000 --> 02:00:14,000 needs. So, that's really going to be my 3080 02:00:14,000 --> 02:00:17,679 main focus in talking to folks tomorrow. 3081 02:00:17,679 --> 02:00:19,520 um you know, we have these things that 3082 02:00:19,520 --> 02:00:21,280 have changed over the last few years in 3083 02:00:21,280 --> 02:00:23,360 terms of kids school readiness, in terms 3084 02:00:23,360 --> 02:00:25,280 of the need for additional supports for 3085 02:00:25,280 --> 02:00:29,199 students at all levels and um we have a 3086 02:00:29,199 --> 02:00:30,960 responsibility to do what's right for 3087 02:00:30,960 --> 02:00:32,960 kids and I want to make sure we're we're 3088 02:00:32,960 --> 02:00:38,880 putting that in the mix. So um that is a snapshot. If you have 3089 02:00:38,880 --> 02:00:40,400 feedback, you can either share it now, 3090 02:00:40,400 --> 02:00:41,920 send it to me in an email, but I will 3091 02:00:41,920 --> 02:00:43,679 see you hopefully there tomorrow night, 3092 02:00:43,679 --> 02:00:46,159 too. And I I got some nice feedback. The 3093 02:00:46,159 --> 02:00:49,119 uh uh AFC leazison had a few 3094 02:00:49,119 --> 02:00:50,800 recommendations. I did not have time to 3095 02:00:50,800 --> 02:00:52,239 implement them because they came at me 3096 02:00:52,239 --> 02:00:54,560 at 3:00 today. Uh but I'll be working on 3097 02:00:54,560 --> 02:00:56,880 that tomorrow to kind of put up a little 3098 02:00:56,880 --> 02:00:59,920 more emphasis on a few of these things. 3099 02:00:59,920 --> 02:01:02,159 >> Thank you, Allison. Um since we are 20 3100 02:01:02,159 --> 02:01:04,480 minutes behind schedule, I would uh ask 3101 02:01:04,480 --> 02:01:07,040 that we limit our questions to maybe one 3102 02:01:07,040 --> 02:01:08,960 or two. I already asked my questions 3103 02:01:08,960 --> 02:01:11,119 earlier during the presentation to AFC. 3104 02:01:11,119 --> 02:01:14,480 So um um I'll let you Steve start. 3105 02:01:14,480 --> 02:01:15,920 >> Yeah, I don't have any real questions 3106 02:01:15,920 --> 02:01:18,320 about it. I I think it's it's um you 3107 02:01:18,320 --> 02:01:20,400 know the full presentation that will be 3108 02:01:20,400 --> 02:01:21,920 presented tomorrow night. I think it's 3109 02:01:21,920 --> 02:01:25,199 very good. I think it's an eyeopener for 3110 02:01:25,199 --> 02:01:29,760 the team teams AFC boris selectman and 3111 02:01:29,760 --> 02:01:33,520 ourselves. Um and I I think it's a fair 3112 02:01:33,520 --> 02:01:35,040 place to start. Obviously we're going to 3113 02:01:35,040 --> 02:01:36,880 have comments 3114 02:01:36,880 --> 02:01:39,360 u but um I think it's well done. Thank 3115 02:01:39,360 --> 02:01:39,760 you. 3116 02:01:39,760 --> 02:01:41,040 >> Thank you. 3117 02:01:41,040 --> 02:01:43,199 Jane. 3118 02:01:43,199 --> 02:01:45,760 >> Yep. Thank you. I agree. It's great. 3119 02:01:45,760 --> 02:01:49,040 Very clear. Um, and one thing that I 3120 02:01:49,040 --> 02:01:51,440 think I'm sure you'll emphasize is that 3121 02:01:51,440 --> 02:01:55,199 these investments that you're you're um 3122 02:01:55,199 --> 02:01:57,360 wanting to make in our students, 3123 02:01:57,360 --> 02:02:00,480 especially the early grades, really do 3124 02:02:00,480 --> 02:02:04,239 bear fruit down the road in probably 3125 02:02:04,239 --> 02:02:08,800 lower special education um uh costs and 3126 02:02:08,800 --> 02:02:11,119 just, you know, in in addition to 3127 02:02:11,119 --> 02:02:13,760 improved probably educational outcomes. 3128 02:02:13,760 --> 02:02:15,760 If we're talking about the money of it, 3129 02:02:15,760 --> 02:02:18,159 you know, if we intervene early, we know 3130 02:02:18,159 --> 02:02:20,000 that the students need less support 3131 02:02:20,000 --> 02:02:20,800 later. 3132 02:02:20,800 --> 02:02:22,560 >> Absolutely. I think their experience is 3133 02:02:22,560 --> 02:02:24,239 better, too. I mean, I think that just 3134 02:02:24,239 --> 02:02:26,159 and it all kind of goes together often. 3135 02:02:26,159 --> 02:02:27,920 When kids are engaged and they feel 3136 02:02:27,920 --> 02:02:31,920 successful, everything just goes better. 3137 02:02:31,920 --> 02:02:33,679 >> Thank you, Tim. 3138 02:02:33,679 --> 02:02:35,360 >> Thank you for the presentation. Um, just 3139 02:02:35,360 --> 02:02:36,719 one quick question regarding the 3140 02:02:36,719 --> 02:02:38,400 enrollments. Um, I know that you said 3141 02:02:38,400 --> 02:02:40,400 that uh typically like you see kind of 3142 02:02:40,400 --> 02:02:41,920 20-year trends and I'm curious like is 3143 02:02:41,920 --> 02:02:43,440 that within schools? Is that like within 3144 02:02:43,440 --> 02:02:44,719 the state? Like I'm just curious if you 3145 02:02:44,719 --> 02:02:46,000 could expand on that a little bit. 3146 02:02:46,000 --> 02:02:47,840 >> It's interesting. I got that um so 3147 02:02:47,840 --> 02:02:49,679 NASDAQ that does these enrollment 3148 02:02:49,679 --> 02:02:51,440 projections has just sort of said that 3149 02:02:51,440 --> 02:02:53,760 and I it seems to be true broadly with 3150 02:02:53,760 --> 02:02:55,199 looking at the data here, looking at 3151 02:02:55,199 --> 02:02:57,440 data from other places, it kind of waves 3152 02:02:57,440 --> 02:03:00,560 um like this and I'm not sure why. Um um 3153 02:03:00,560 --> 02:03:01,679 I don't know if it's true in all 3154 02:03:01,679 --> 02:03:05,280 districts. Um it may be in certain types of districts. I've only worked in 3155 02:03:05,280 --> 02:03:06,800 districts sort of similar to to 3156 02:03:06,800 --> 02:03:09,360 Westboro. So um I c I couldn't speak for 3157 02:03:09,360 --> 02:03:12,880 the urbans. Um that's a different ball of wax. time. 3158 02:03:12,880 --> 02:03:13,199 >> Yeah. 3159 02:03:13,199 --> 02:03:14,320 >> Thank you. 3160 02:03:14,320 --> 02:03:15,440 sir. 3161 02:03:15,440 --> 02:03:16,639 >> I don't have any questions. The 3162 02:03:16,639 --> 02:03:17,920 presentation is very thorough. Thank 3163 02:03:17,920 --> 02:03:18,239 you. 3164 02:03:18,239 --> 02:03:19,199 >> Thanks. 3165 02:03:19,199 --> 02:03:20,320 >> No questions. Thank you. 3166 02:03:20,320 --> 02:03:21,840 >> Thank you. 3167 02:03:21,840 --> 02:03:25,280 very much. And can move on to 3168 02:03:25,280 --> 02:03:27,599 the next item, which is uh student 3169 02:03:27,599 --> 02:03:30,400 activities account approval. 3170 02:03:30,400 --> 02:03:32,480 >> So, this is something that we ask school 3171 02:03:32,480 --> 02:03:36,159 committee to do um annually. Um you have 3172 02:03:36,159 --> 02:03:38,960 to approve all of the student activity 3173 02:03:38,960 --> 02:03:40,880 accounts. There's one located at each 3174 02:03:40,880 --> 02:03:44,480 school. Um if you see on the paper um 3175 02:03:44,480 --> 02:03:46,639 you can see what the ending balance was 3176 02:03:46,639 --> 02:03:49,679 um for FY26. I'll add that these um 3177 02:03:49,679 --> 02:03:51,360 these balances are for the checking 3178 02:03:51,360 --> 02:03:53,280 account. Each [snorts] checking account 3179 02:03:53,280 --> 02:03:56,159 has a companion money market account and 3180 02:03:56,159 --> 02:04:01,030 that account earns interest. 3181 02:04:01,040 --> 02:04:03,920 » Thank you. And since this is our uh our 3182 02:04:03,920 --> 02:04:07,040 first um discussion item under under new 3183 02:04:07,040 --> 02:04:08,800 business, I think we just we can just 3184 02:04:08,800 --> 02:04:11,199 move on uh to that point. 3185 02:04:11,199 --> 02:04:14,800 And do I have a motion before we start a 3186 02:04:14,800 --> 02:04:16,639 discussion to vote to approve the 3187 02:04:16,639 --> 02:04:18,480 student activities account? 3188 02:04:18,480 --> 02:04:19,280 >> So move. 3189 02:04:19,280 --> 02:04:20,560 >> Is there a second? 3190 02:04:20,560 --> 02:04:21,679 >> Second. 3191 02:04:21,679 --> 02:04:25,119 >> Is there discussion? 3192 02:04:25,119 --> 02:04:28,080 >> No. Thank you. All those in favor? 3193 02:04:28,080 --> 02:04:28,880 >> I. 3194 02:04:28,880 --> 02:04:32,639 >> Okay. 500. The motion passes. 3195 02:04:32,639 --> 02:04:35,679 Thank you. Uh 3196 02:04:35,679 --> 02:04:39,040 our next action item today out of three 3197 02:04:39,040 --> 02:04:43,360 is uh vote to approve SRO agreement. 3198 02:04:43,360 --> 02:04:45,360 >> Yeah, just in brief, this is just the 3199 02:04:45,360 --> 02:04:48,080 agreement that we make with the um town 3200 02:04:48,080 --> 02:04:52,639 to um have our uh SRO who serves really 3201 02:04:52,639 --> 02:04:55,040 as the point person uh in a kind of 3202 02:04:55,040 --> 02:04:56,560 communication link between the police 3203 02:04:56,560 --> 02:04:59,520 department and the schools. Um and uh 3204 02:04:59,520 --> 02:05:01,280 working with Detective Delight has been 3205 02:05:01,280 --> 02:05:03,199 great. His office is directly below mine 3206 02:05:03,199 --> 02:05:05,040 and in in his words, all I need to do is 3207 02:05:05,040 --> 02:05:06,719 like stomp on the floor and he'll come 3208 02:05:06,719 --> 02:05:10,000 right up. And um I'd say Chip has been 3209 02:05:10,000 --> 02:05:11,360 really critical in a number of things. 3210 02:05:11,360 --> 02:05:13,440 One is some training and outreach for 3211 02:05:13,440 --> 02:05:15,520 staff and leadership around safety 3212 02:05:15,520 --> 02:05:17,679 protocols, but also whenever there's 3213 02:05:17,679 --> 02:05:19,840 anything happening in town, he's able to 3214 02:05:19,840 --> 02:05:21,360 communicate back to us so we know what's 3215 02:05:21,360 --> 02:05:23,520 going on. If there's a major issue or 3216 02:05:23,520 --> 02:05:25,040 accident or something like that, he's in 3217 02:05:25,040 --> 02:05:26,800 touch with our school principles, our 3218 02:05:26,800 --> 02:05:30,159 bus coordinator. um you know he has you 3219 02:05:30,159 --> 02:05:31,599 know he's boots on the ground he's at 3220 02:05:31,599 --> 02:05:32,880 the schools kind of getting to know 3221 02:05:32,880 --> 02:05:35,199 students seeing what things are like and 3222 02:05:35,199 --> 02:05:37,920 really with that eye for safety and it's 3223 02:05:37,920 --> 02:05:40,480 a it's a bargain we pay the town exactly 3224 02:05:40,480 --> 02:05:43,840 $1 a year for um having him uh part of 3225 02:05:43,840 --> 02:05:45,280 our school community and I'm grateful 3226 02:05:45,280 --> 02:05:49,119 for that this goes alongside the um uhou 3227 02:05:49,119 --> 02:05:50,960 and that's actually signed by the the 3228 02:05:50,960 --> 02:05:52,400 chief of police and the superintendent 3229 02:05:52,400 --> 02:05:54,400 but that's sort of our how we 3230 02:05:54,400 --> 02:05:56,400 communicate between departments which is 3231 02:05:56,400 --> 02:05:58,960 regulated through the date. So, um, but 3232 02:05:58,960 --> 02:06:00,239 this is a kind of companion document 3233 02:06:00,239 --> 02:06:02,480 that the school committee signs. 3234 02:06:02,480 --> 02:06:04,719 >> Thank you. Do I have a motion to vote to 3235 02:06:04,719 --> 02:06:07,040 approve uh student activities? I'm 3236 02:06:07,040 --> 02:06:08,639 sorry. Want to approve the SRO 3237 02:06:08,639 --> 02:06:09,360 agreement? 3238 02:06:09,360 --> 02:06:10,239 >> So, move. 3239 02:06:10,239 --> 02:06:11,119 >> Is there a second? 3240 02:06:11,119 --> 02:06:12,560 >> A second. 3241 02:06:12,560 --> 02:06:14,960 >> Um, I'd like to just ask one question. 3242 02:06:14,960 --> 02:06:17,760 Does this contract 3243 02:06:17,760 --> 02:06:20,719 um agreement rather differs in any way 3244 02:06:20,719 --> 02:06:22,639 from the previous uh version of this? 3245 02:06:22,639 --> 02:06:24,880 >> Nope. 3246 02:06:24,880 --> 02:06:27,280 >> Uh, is there any discussion? Yes, Gary, 3247 02:06:27,280 --> 02:06:29,520 >> just a quick question. Is I know we were 3248 02:06:29,520 --> 02:06:31,440 discussing the protect Act um last 3249 02:06:31,440 --> 02:06:33,199 meeting. Is theou publicly available or 3250 02:06:33,199 --> 02:06:34,320 is that kept private? 3251 02:06:34,320 --> 02:06:35,920 >> That can be public. I mean, it's should 3252 02:06:35,920 --> 02:06:37,440 be part of public record. So, I'm happy 3253 02:06:37,440 --> 02:06:39,760 to share that and we can post it 3254 02:06:39,760 --> 02:06:41,599 anywhere. It probably needs to be posted 3255 02:06:41,599 --> 02:06:42,880 somewhere. So, I'll make sure it's out 3256 02:06:42,880 --> 02:06:43,199 there. 3257 02:06:43,199 --> 02:06:43,520 >> Thank you. 3258 02:06:43,520 --> 02:06:45,920 >> You're welcome. 3259 02:06:45,920 --> 02:06:48,800 >> Okay. Uh we'll proceed to the vote. All 3260 02:06:48,800 --> 02:06:50,000 those in favor? 3261 02:06:50,000 --> 02:06:54,560 >> I I 500. The motion passes. Thank you. 3262 02:06:54,560 --> 02:06:57,599 And we have one more agenda item action 3263 02:06:57,599 --> 02:07:00,880 item in our discussion uh section which 3264 02:07:00,880 --> 02:07:04,239 is vote to approve donation from Eel 3265 02:07:04,239 --> 02:07:05,280 Harvey. 3266 02:07:05,280 --> 02:07:07,040 >> Want to show a photo of the guys who 3267 02:07:07,040 --> 02:07:08,880 came to donate this. Um this is a 3268 02:07:08,880 --> 02:07:11,280 wonderful donation. Um and this is above 3269 02:07:11,280 --> 02:07:12,960 and beyond. I know the youth and family 3270 02:07:12,960 --> 02:07:14,560 services does outreach in a backpack 3271 02:07:14,560 --> 02:07:16,400 drive which is fantastic. And then on 3272 02:07:16,400 --> 02:07:18,159 top of that Yale Harvey sort of swooped 3273 02:07:18,159 --> 02:07:21,520 in and donated 75 backpacks filled with 3274 02:07:21,520 --> 02:07:24,400 school supplies. So 25 at Mil Pond, 25 3275 02:07:24,400 --> 02:07:26,400 at the middle school, 25 at the high 3276 02:07:26,400 --> 02:07:29,040 school. And I can tell you this is it's 3277 02:07:29,040 --> 02:07:31,199 just such an incredible thing to have 3278 02:07:31,199 --> 02:07:33,119 this. They're brand new. They're totally 3279 02:07:33,119 --> 02:07:35,599 stocked. So when whenever we have uh 3280 02:07:35,599 --> 02:07:36,880 even if we don't use them all at the 3281 02:07:36,880 --> 02:07:38,239 start of the year, we have them. So if a 3282 02:07:38,239 --> 02:07:39,920 new family moves into town, we've got 3283 02:07:39,920 --> 02:07:42,480 them right at the h at the ready. Um so 3284 02:07:42,480 --> 02:07:44,400 we're really grateful to Harvey for 3285 02:07:44,400 --> 02:07:46,480 their donation. It's worth a little over 3286 02:07:46,480 --> 02:07:50,480 $4,000. So, it's nice and uh had some 3287 02:07:50,480 --> 02:07:52,400 help from our facilities department like 3288 02:07:52,400 --> 02:07:54,159 moving these uh around wherever they 3289 02:07:54,159 --> 02:07:55,679 needed to go. So, thank you to them, 3290 02:07:55,679 --> 02:07:57,040 too. 3291 02:07:57,040 --> 02:07:58,560 >> Thank you. I'd like to say, you know, 3292 02:07:58,560 --> 02:08:01,280 this is first of all, thank you uh to EA 3293 02:08:01,280 --> 02:08:03,280 Harvey for this generous donation. you 3294 02:08:03,280 --> 02:08:05,440 know, we we receive them every once in a 3295 02:08:05,440 --> 02:08:08,239 while and and I was wondering if do we 3296 02:08:08,239 --> 02:08:10,719 have any kind of recognition wall or 3297 02:08:10,719 --> 02:08:12,800 some website or something where we can, 3298 02:08:12,800 --> 02:08:14,079 you know, list all the different people 3299 02:08:14,079 --> 02:08:17,920 that are so generous over the years and contribute to our to our schools. I 3300 02:08:17,920 --> 02:08:19,520 think I don't know if we have something 3301 02:08:19,520 --> 02:08:20,719 like that in place or not. 3302 02:08:20,719 --> 02:08:23,040 >> It' be nice. Yeah, it'd be neat on the 3303 02:08:23,040 --> 02:08:24,719 almost like on a website like a photo 3304 02:08:24,719 --> 02:08:26,560 thing or something. It' be great. Uh so 3305 02:08:26,560 --> 02:08:28,719 it's out there too. But um I love that 3306 02:08:28,719 --> 02:08:30,880 idea. Thank you. 3307 02:08:30,880 --> 02:08:34,079 >> Thank you. Okay. Do I have a motion to 3308 02:08:34,079 --> 02:08:36,560 approve donation from Eel Harvey? 3309 02:08:36,560 --> 02:08:38,960 >> I move that we accept the donation from 3310 02:08:38,960 --> 02:08:43,440 Eel Harvey with appreciation. 3311 02:08:43,440 --> 02:08:44,719 >> Second. 3312 02:08:44,719 --> 02:08:47,840 >> Thank you. Any discussion? 3313 02:08:47,840 --> 02:08:49,520 All those in favor? 3314 02:08:49,520 --> 02:08:53,040 >> I 500. The motion passes and thank you 3315 02:08:53,040 --> 02:08:56,960 again to Y Harvey. 3316 02:08:56,960 --> 02:09:00,159 Okay. U we're going to proceed to school 3317 02:09:00,159 --> 02:09:02,560 committee reports. Steve, 3318 02:09:02,560 --> 02:09:03,920 >> none. 3319 02:09:03,920 --> 02:09:04,960 >> Jane, 3320 02:09:04,960 --> 02:09:06,880 >> nothing to report. 3321 02:09:06,880 --> 02:09:07,679 >> Tim, 3322 02:09:07,679 --> 02:09:09,920 >> nothing to report. Jane, 3323 02:09:09,920 --> 02:09:10,480 >> just there. 3324 02:09:10,480 --> 02:09:11,199 >> Nothing to report. 3325 02:09:11,199 --> 02:09:14,079 >> I'm sorry. And same for me. Nothing to 3326 02:09:14,079 --> 02:09:17,199 report. Uh, this means we're moving on 3327 02:09:17,199 --> 02:09:20,079 to the next item, which is the consent 3328 02:09:20,079 --> 02:09:23,280 agenda. And 3329 02:09:23,280 --> 02:09:25,760 do I have a motion to approve the 3330 02:09:25,760 --> 02:09:29,119 minutes from meetings on August 31st, 3331 02:09:29,119 --> 02:09:31,920 September 4th, and September 9th? 3332 02:09:31,920 --> 02:09:33,920 >> I move that we accept the minutes of 3333 02:09:33,920 --> 02:09:36,400 August 31st, 3334 02:09:36,400 --> 02:09:40,239 uh, September the 4th, and minutes of 3335 02:09:40,239 --> 02:09:43,199 the 9th of September as well as written. 3336 02:09:43,199 --> 02:09:45,360 >> Is there a second? 3337 02:09:45,360 --> 02:09:48,000 >> I'll second. 3338 02:09:48,000 --> 02:09:50,480 >> Okay. Uh, we'll proceed to the vote. All 3339 02:09:50,480 --> 02:09:51,679 those in favor? 3340 02:09:51,679 --> 02:09:56,159 >> I I 500. Motion passes. Thank you. Do I 3341 02:09:56,159 --> 02:09:58,239 have a motion to adjurnn? 3342 02:09:58,239 --> 02:10:00,400 >> I move that we adjourn the meeting. 3343 02:10:00,400 --> 02:10:02,079 >> We have a mover today. Do I have a 3344 02:10:02,079 --> 02:10:02,880 second? 3345 02:10:02,880 --> 02:10:04,480 >> Second. 3346 02:10:04,480 --> 02:10:06,639 >> Uh all those in favor. 3347 02:10:06,639 --> 02:10:09,679 >> I 500. The meeting is adjourned. Thank 3348 02:10:09,679 --> 02:10:11,920 you very much. And we are ending three 3349 02:10:11,920 --> 02:10:17,320 minutes before the schedule time.