[0:01] All right. Good evening. I'm going to
[0:02] call to order the April 15th meeting of
[0:04] the Whimman Hansen Regional School
[0:05] Committee to order. If we can all please
[0:07] stand for the pledge of allegiance.
[0:11] » I pledge algiance to the flag of the
[0:14] United States of America and to the
[0:16] republic for which it stands, one nation
[0:19] under God, indivisible, with liberty and
[0:23] justice for all.
[0:28] Um, and I I we're going to have just
[0:31] have a moment of silence. Ela Nukem, who
[0:33] was a par professional Duval, um, passed
[0:36] away recently. Um, so we take a moment
[0:38] of silence to think of her and her
[0:40] family.
[0:52] Okay. Um, I want to announce that we're
[0:54] being recorded and broadcast by WHCA.
[0:57] Um, and we are going to go into public
[1:00] >> just for moments of silence. I don't
[1:02] know if anybody is aware of this, but
[1:04] John Non passed away. Uh, John Nune was
[1:07] a school committee member years ago and
[1:09] was on our finance committee in the town
[1:11] of Whitman. So, uh, he had his his
[1:14] funeral today.
[1:15] >> Okay. So, I'm sorry about that. So, if
[1:16] we um include John Non in your thoughts
[1:18] as well.
[1:21] So we are being recorded by WHCA um as I
[1:25] said and now we will um want to public
[1:27] comment and we have
[1:29] one
[1:30] >> one is it Mr. Kane?
[1:32] >> It is Mr. Kane. Thank you very much
[1:33] Jason.
[1:37] » Hi guys Sean Kane 31 Farest Street um
[1:40] also select board member in Whitman. Um
[1:42] I just like to speak briefly about the
[1:44] budget.
[1:47] I think two big questions were on our mind as we
[1:51] presented this last budget scenario. One
[1:54] was
[1:56] how could we potentially provide or
[1:58] present a budget that would avoid an
[2:00] override? The feedback from the
[2:02] community about an override is not very
[2:04] positive right now and we're thinking
[2:06] it's in all of our best interest if we
[2:08] come up with a scenario that would avoid
[2:09] an override. So that was one of the
[2:11] concepts. The other concept that really
[2:13] drove um how we organized the scenario
[2:15] was we wanted to share the burden. So we
[2:18] had about $500,000 that we had to cut
[2:20] out of the out of the budget. And what
[2:23] Mary Beth Garta did was she took about
[2:25] half a little bit more than half and she
[2:28] took it from the the departments in
[2:30] Whitman mostly public safety but also
[2:32] library and almost very deliberately
[2:35] every department with that shared burden
[2:37] kind of concept in mind.
[2:40] She also moved the the school assessment
[2:43] from we had a lower assessment which was
[2:44] our projected um based on our revenue
[2:47] proportion kind of formula and she
[2:49] bumped that up your school assessment up
[2:52] to 4.85. It was a little bit lower about
[2:54] $120,000 roughly lower. So she bumped
[2:57] that up to the full amount but then we
[2:59] had targeted non-mandated busing as a
[3:02] potential area to save some
[3:06] cut some money.
[3:08] what became pretty clear is that it's
[3:10] not that simple. I mean, fairly
[3:12] obviously, but even in the in the couple
[3:14] weeks that this has kind of been going
[3:15] on, even my level of understanding of
[3:18] this scenario has significantly grown
[3:19] with the the research and the feedback
[3:21] has been really helpful. Um, so it's
[3:24] obvious that simply eliminating
[3:26] non-mandating busing, you can't just do
[3:28] that because there are additional costs
[3:30] that would have to be incurred because
[3:32] of it.
[3:33] But are there ways that we can save with
[3:35] transportation? You know, I'd like to
[3:37] kind of just
[3:39] pause at that for a second. Are there
[3:41] ways that we could potentially save with
[3:42] transportation um as a means to save
[3:45] some money
[3:47] to do that I think does get fairly
[3:49] complex and I I'd ask that maybe
[3:52] somebody looks into it. Sounds like
[3:53] people are looking into it, but simple
[3:58] simply from my perspective I should say
[4:01] we're paying for non-mandated busing.
[4:03] So, a paying for I want to be careful my
[4:05] statements because I don't want to be
[4:07] inaccurate, but any student who's
[4:09] eligible who is outside the range um no
[4:14] who's inside the range of a mile and a
[4:15] half would be eligible for a seat on a
[4:17] bus.
[4:19] The exception of within a half mile.
[4:22] >> Yeah. Within the um walking zone or
[4:26] Yeah. So roughly a half mile, but there
[4:27] are some exceptions. So from a half mile
[4:30] to a mile and a half, any literally any
[4:32] eligible student has a seat on a bus if
[4:35] they chose to sit on the bus.
[4:38] So just thinking out loud like are there
[4:41] ways if it instead of being all or
[4:43] nothing, are there ways that could be a
[4:45] little bit of a compromise so that if
[4:46] kids opted out and didn't actually want
[4:48] to take the bus that we could pull back
[4:49] on some bus, you know, things like that.
[4:51] Are there cost savings that we can we
[4:53] can make with transportation? So, that's
[4:55] one kind of concept that we've been
[4:56] thinking.
[4:58] >> Sean, I just want So, it's been three
[4:59] minutes, so I don't know if you could um
[5:00] how long your your statement was, but we
[5:03] just want to kind of wrap it up if you
[5:04] could.
[5:05] >> Sure. Just one more point.
[5:06] >> Yep.
[5:06] >> Thank you.
[5:10] » This last part is kind of the difficult
[5:11] part and it deals with the regional
[5:12] agreement. Right now, from our
[5:14] perspective, my perspective, working
[5:17] with some of the the leadership team,
[5:19] crunching some of the numbers. From our
[5:21] perspective, if you look at
[5:23] transportation costs, Whitman
[5:25] non-mandated and mandated, and Hansen
[5:28] non-mandated and mandated, you simply
[5:31] tallied up the total cost, it's about $2
[5:33] million. You subtract the reimbursement,
[5:36] which is about $1.3 million. Have what's
[5:39] left over. If you look at what the costs
[5:41] are, not what we're reimbured, but what
[5:43] the costs are, it's about 5050.
[5:47] The cost for Whitman and the cost for
[5:49] Hansen are about equal. So, when we're
[5:52] doing the math that way, it seems like
[5:54] for and I I do want you to be skeptical,
[5:56] and I I'm throwing this out there not
[5:58] because I'm trying to like rub this in
[6:00] your face or something. This is honestly
[6:02] how I'm viewing the numbers. So, I want
[6:03] you to gain a perspective of my angle, I
[6:05] guess. So I I would I'd ask you to kind
[6:08] of do some independent or ask the the
[6:10] administration to kind of pres present
[6:12] some research that shows like a a
[6:14] transportation analysis so you can maybe
[6:17] just appreciate where we're coming from.
[6:19] our perspective, it looks like the
[6:20] costs are about equal 50/50. So then
[6:24] when you separate out non-mandated
[6:26] busing, it puts us at a distinct
[6:28] disadvantage.
[6:30] even the 6040 split wouldn't be in our
[6:32] favor. But now to go beyond 60 means
[6:35] it's really much not in our favor. So
[6:38] that's kind of why this has been a hot
[6:39] button issue for us financially. Um I
[6:42] know I'm running long so I'll wrap up.
[6:44] Every dollar in Whitman right now like
[6:46] en Hansen really matters. So for us, if
[6:49] this is an area that we can really focus
[6:50] on together and find some compromise in
[6:53] the way to one, maybe come up with a
[6:55] scenario that avoids an override and two
[6:58] find some cost savings that is not going
[6:59] to put kids at risk. I I want to make
[7:02] that clear. My intention is not to like
[7:04] throw kids under the bus or put this in
[7:06] the back of kids. Are there intelligent
[7:07] ways that we can save on transportation
[7:10] um without putting kids at risk safety
[7:12] wise
[7:14] and get through the budget and kind of
[7:16] together.
[7:16] >> Okay. All right. Thank you very much,
[7:18] Sean.
[7:18] >> Thank you.
[7:20] >> Okay.
[7:21] >> Um
[7:22] All right. So, the first item on the
[7:24] agenda is the superintendent update.
[7:29] >> Thank you very much. Um as promised,
[7:32] some uh photographs
[7:35] uh of what we've experienced in the
[7:37] district over the last week or so. Let
[7:39] me just pull it up on my side, too, so
[7:42] can see where we are.
[7:45] Um
[7:48] Okay, we're on the same place. Um, so,
[7:51] uh, around the horn, around the
[7:53] district, uh, this is preschool, uh, one
[7:56] of the classrooms, and they're playing
[7:57] an awesome game, uh, where everybody's
[8:00] holding on to that, um, uh, flexible
[8:04] rubber bandandy, uh, thing. Uh, next,
[8:08] um, this is getting outside. Uh,
[8:11] obviously last week, not today, because
[8:13] they got coats on. Um, and this is uh
[8:17] another room uh that we swung into where
[8:20] uh they were having a really fun chat
[8:23] about um uh about all kinds of things
[8:26] actually. So that was great. Uh next
[8:30] um is
[8:32] uh that is at uh Indian Head and those
[8:35] are the kindergarten kids in a glow
[8:38] pumpkin or glowfish uh activity which is
[8:42] really cool using a black light. Um
[8:45] these are uh students uh that are
[8:48] learning cursive.
[8:50] So I was sort of fascinated by that
[8:52] because I didn't think we were doing
[8:53] that anymore. But um but according to uh
[8:57] Mr. Tranter, that's what's happening. Uh
[9:00] next uh is at Duval. Uh this is
[9:04] something that uh Miss Craig brought to
[9:06] the school last year as when she was
[9:08] assistant principal. Um it's a
[9:11] organization that comes uh and does a
[9:14] whole drumming experience uh for
[9:17] students uh both uh in a subsparate
[9:20] program and then peers. So partners who
[9:22] are uh who who join them. So a bunch of
[9:25] staff come and support uh kids um both
[9:29] in gened classrooms as well as the in
[9:31] the uh ASD and TLC room. So it's a
[9:34] really cool experience. Um, next is
[9:37] yours truly, uh, putting up a sign. And
[9:40] if you go to the next one, Jason, you'll
[9:42] see that, uh, that's Gia. Um, and we're
[9:46] putting up the VCOS way sign, uh,
[9:49] because they won it at the basket
[9:51] raffle. Um, it was awesome. Uh, next is
[9:56] at Connley. Those are second graders.
[9:58] Um, and those are projects about
[10:00] measuring. So, it's about sort of
[10:02] measuring around the school and around
[10:04] town.
[10:05] Uh next are some scientists also second
[10:09] grade um looking at eggs and other items
[10:12] that are found around uh the school.
[10:16] Uh we move over to Whitman Middle. Um
[10:19] there's a hardy group uh getting ready
[10:22] to take a tour.
[10:24] And next, uh, and I'm sorry that I keep
[10:27] showing up in these pictures. Um, uh,
[10:31] but people send them to me because they
[10:32] know that that that that I want to be
[10:34] seen. Um, but that's me, uh, killing
[10:37] some kids in, uh, in pickle ball.
[10:41] >> Two on one.
[10:42] >> So, you're taking them down. Taking them
[10:43] down.
[10:44] >> Yeah. Taking them down. So, uh, they
[10:46] couldn't believe how good I was. Um this
[10:49] is the uh Excel uh program exclus
[10:56] uh uh helps to manage. Um and uh we
[11:00] provided uh coffee uh and other treats
[11:04] at all uh of the schools the day after
[11:08] conferences. Um, so it was kind of a
[11:10] nice treat for the staff to get um and a
[11:12] nice way to sort of say we we know that
[11:15] last night was long and we're glad that
[11:16] you're back.
[11:18] Um, this is over at the high school. Um,
[11:22] it was a cleanup day. Um, and thank you
[11:25] to Mr. Pharaoh for snapping these shots.
[11:28] Um, next is the team that was actually
[11:31] out and doing the cleaning.
[11:34] Um, this is over at Hansen Middle. Um,
[11:38] and this is a cool competition that they
[11:40] ran and there's three of the the
[11:42] winners.
[11:44] Uh, and then this is also at Hansen
[11:46] Middle and those are students um who are
[11:49] working on uh a literacy project.
[11:53] And next uh last night uh was the um
[11:58] family food festival, international food
[12:00] festival. Uh it was a wonderful
[12:02] experience. Uh there were uh foods from
[12:06] a whole bunch of different countries.
[12:08] Students signed up um and uh brought in
[12:12] uh treats either from their own um sort
[12:16] of background or from anywhere. So uh we
[12:19] had dozens of countries um represented
[12:23] uh we had uh singers um the band and I
[12:28] think this is McKenzie is that right? Um
[12:31] who sang for over an hour. God bless
[12:33] her. Um and these are a couple of kids
[12:37] representing Denmark. Um so it was a
[12:39] really wonderful experience um that
[12:43] again Dr. C. Mishnewise um brought to
[12:46] the district last year um and has
[12:49] managed to keep it going uh and um
[12:53] hopefully continues on next year. Um the
[12:56] next two just because I had to um
[13:00] there's a question about how many people
[13:02] fit on the seat of a bus. So I asked the
[13:05] Duval folks to take a picture. These are
[13:07] three adults um sitting on a seat. So
[13:10] you can see that Mrs. Curley is really
[13:13] not in a safe place right now. Um so not
[13:16] a good idea. Um and the next is uh those
[13:20] are three fifth graders. Um, and Sophia,
[13:24] you can see, is kind of in the same
[13:26] position as Mrs. Curley, kind of hanging
[13:28] out into the middle. So, um, when folks
[13:31] talk about how many people ride a bus
[13:33] and what is that number supposed to be,
[13:36] um, this is some nice visual, uh,
[13:39] evidence of, um, what that might
[13:41] actually look like. So,
[13:44] those are some things happening around.
[13:46] Um, some quick other updates. We had
[13:49] some concerns about this building. uh
[13:52] the gym and there was a tarp that was uh
[13:54] laid out um that that uh some folks felt
[13:58] looked kind of icky. Uh there was also
[14:01] some concern about the seats in the
[14:03] cafeteria and a lot of them were
[14:04] missing. Um I went down with u Mr.
[14:08] Pharaoh and Mr. Driscoll to look at both
[14:10] of those and understand what was going
[14:13] on. both situation, the gym situation is
[14:16] a leak in the roof. 20-year-old building
[14:19] um and it's been repaired. So hopefully
[14:22] that um is taken care of. Uh and the
[14:25] cafeteria seats um I learned uh that
[14:29] they twist and as they twist, they snap.
[14:32] The plastic snaps and then they go away.
[14:34] And so um I learned that we spent $7,000
[14:37] last year on replacement seats that
[14:40] don't twist as much. So, we'll probably
[14:43] be continuing that project uh moving
[14:45] forward so people aren't sitting on a
[14:47] pole. Um
[14:50] the uh we had um nice news from uh
[14:54] Hansen Middle. Uh we have an Eagle Scout
[14:56] and I'm not sure if this comes to you
[14:58] all as a um a vote or whatever, but um
[15:03] uh it's an exist there's an existing
[15:05] structure over there that um is the um
[15:09] the cabin that thorough used uh in
[15:12] Walden at Walden Pond and Eagle Scout is
[15:15] going to come and fix it up. So I don't
[15:18] think that's a vote thing, but uh it's
[15:21] nice to know. uh our active mind
[15:23] students here at the high school won a
[15:25] video competition uh last week. So good
[15:28] for them at the uh gathering. Um and
[15:32] then uh and just some quick thoughts in
[15:35] terms of the budget. Um we uh got some
[15:39] good news in terms of FY27
[15:42] that we uh I had mentioned uh once or
[15:46] twice that there were some
[15:48] considerations of cutting title one. Um
[15:51] there uh there were some cuts across the
[15:55] state. Some folks uh lost as much as 50%
[15:58] of their title one funding. Um we were
[16:02] sort of threatened or warned about that
[16:04] potentiality. Um luckily the numbers
[16:07] came in and and we've uh were almost
[16:09] even. It's about $6,000 difference. Um
[16:12] so that's actually really helpful and we
[16:15] were counting on that in the upcoming
[16:17] budget. So that's helpful. Um the House
[16:20] Two numbers just came out. Um that's the
[16:23] second version of the budget after the
[16:25] governor's budget. Um Mr. Wells and I uh
[16:28] just started looking at those today. So
[16:30] we'll continue to look at that and we'll
[16:33] give you updates on that. Um and looking
[16:35] toward FY27.
[16:37] Um uh we uh I put out to the staff uh
[16:43] earlier this week um a request for
[16:46] feedback on professional development. um
[16:49] and how we can reflect on our practices
[16:52] and um rather than sort of aim toward a
[16:56] shiny new thing. Um what do we know
[16:59] about what's um what's great work as a
[17:03] classroom teacher or as a counselor or
[17:04] as a nurse? Um and how can we make that
[17:07] the foundation of our professional
[17:09] development next year? So we're forming
[17:11] a committee. uh we'll have uh people
[17:13] working together so that before the year
[17:16] even starts there'll be an entire uh
[17:18] layout of what PD offerings will be
[17:21] available to folks next year. So I'm
[17:23] excited about that and that's all I
[17:25] have.
[17:26] >> Okay. Thank you Dr. Marcus. Any
[17:28] questions for Dr. Marcus?
[17:32] » Mr. Marks,
[17:33] >> you mentioned the uh the Eagle uh
[17:36] project. as a Eagle Scout myself and and
[17:39] former scout leader here in in Whitman,
[17:42] uh I love hearing about these Eagle
[17:44] projects no matter where they're at, but
[17:46] seeing kids and and I know we had one
[17:48] last year uh where somebody did some uh
[17:52] built a platform for the for the music
[17:54] department. I love seeing that stuff
[17:56] come back into the town. Uh part of one
[17:58] of the requirements of that Eagle
[18:00] project is it has to benefit one
[18:01] specific beneficiary. I don't think it
[18:03] ended up coming to this committee, but
[18:05] usually they do have to speak to
[18:06] somebody within the school department to
[18:07] make sure that it's okay. Uh, but I love
[18:10] to see that stuff. Awesome.
[18:12] >> Great to great to see that continuing
[18:14] here at Manson Beach.
[18:17] >> All right. Um, all right. Well, before
[18:19] we get to the action items, I I feel
[18:21] like it's been a little while since as
[18:22] the chair I've apologized for something,
[18:24] so I feel like we're here. Um, so, uh,
[18:28] my mother doesn't live here in town, so
[18:29] she always asks me to send her like the
[18:32] meetings that I'm in so she can watch
[18:33] them because she's a proud mom. Um, for
[18:37] reasons I don't know. And, um, last
[18:40] week, Dr. Marcus and I went to the joint
[18:42] select board meeting and the FINCOM
[18:44] meeting. And when my mother came by to
[18:48] visit this weekend, I did not mention
[18:51] it. And I was wondering why I didn't
[18:52] mention it. And when I thought about it, was because at one point during that
[18:55] meeting, I got a little um frosty with
[18:59] an um one of
[19:00] >> you should have
[19:01] >> one of the people on the select board.
[19:02] But I don't think that that's I I was
[19:05] but the point to realize is I was
[19:06] embarrassed by that
[19:07] >> and I don't um and this is my first
[19:09] budget season. Um and obviously it's
[19:12] very it's very tense and things like
[19:14] that, but I just thought I would bring
[19:15] that up to first say that I I I want to
[19:17] make sure that I represent you guys well
[19:18] when I go to these things. Um but also I
[19:21] just hope that as we all kind of
[19:22] traverse through this process that we
[19:24] are keeping being civil and being you
[19:27] know um representing the board well when
[19:30] we deal with other board member other boards and other committees and
[19:33] also when we deal with each other
[19:34] because obviously there's going to be
[19:35] some difficult discussions that we're
[19:36] going to have over the next few weeks
[19:37] about things and I just hope that we can
[19:39] I I think I I've really enjoyed I feel
[19:41] like how kind of cordial and civil we've
[19:43] all been the last couple months as a
[19:45] committee and I just I would hope that
[19:46] we're not we don't we don't kind of fall
[19:48] back uh some of the you know as things
[19:51] get tense, people get tense and we you
[19:53] know do those things and I just I hope
[19:54] that we can all kind of work together
[19:56] because we're you know we're all in this
[19:58] together. So um but I wanted to say that
[20:00] because when I realized I didn't want my
[20:02] mom to see it, I realized I didn't want
[20:04] you guys to see it either. So um
[20:05] >> I want to thank you. Yes, M.
[20:07] >> Does it does this apply to us? Can we
[20:10] get Frosty or is it only the chair? And
[20:12] the reason I asked that is that I did
[20:14] see your meeting and I did when we're fighting for children's
[20:20] this these towns have put our uh budgets
[20:22] in the lower 1 percentile and called
[20:24] that normal is normalized under funding
[20:27] to a point that some some somebody's gut
[20:31] say no at points and and and as far as
[20:34] representing me or what I would think
[20:36] was right. you've never been out of line
[20:38] and uh and maybe for yourself you feel
[20:41] as you always want to be cordial income
[20:43] but sometimes saying no strongly
[20:46] >> is the most appropriate thing to do.
[20:48] >> Yeah.
[20:48] >> Wow.
[20:48] >> Like I said I I I'm trying to keep up my
[20:50] like uh Richie Cunningham
[20:53] persona.
[20:55] >> I know. I know. When I when I was a
[20:56] teacher I I I practiced being like the
[20:59] very calm person. So then when I did
[21:01] bust out my my like teacher voice,
[21:04] everyone paid attention. So I guess
[21:05] maybe that's what I was doing. But I
[21:06] still I was icky about it and I just
[21:08] wanted to apologize for that. Um
[21:10] >> Sure.
[21:10] >> Well, thank you.
[21:11] >> So, um and um
[21:13] >> Oh, Mr. Boyce,
[21:14] >> can TJ play the fonts
[21:17] >> or or Glenn?
[21:18] >> I think he's more of a chachi, actually.
[21:20] >> Okay,
[21:22] sorry.
[21:23] >> I thought you were going to be nice.
[21:26] >> Joanie loves Chachi. What can I say? Um
[21:28] all right. Um for the first action item,
[21:30] we have a vote on an amendment for the
[21:32] project funding agreement. Um, this was
[21:35] in our packet and was taken out because
[21:36] it did have some um sensitive
[21:38] information in it that like banking
[21:39] information numbers and stuff on it
[21:41] because I'll let Miss Stafford explain
[21:43] what the the because she understands it
[21:45] better as the chair of the building
[21:46] committee. Um, but we just need to vote
[21:48] on that tonight so we can authorize um
[21:51] some stuff for the middle school
[21:52] building project. So, the Stafford.
[21:53] >> So, we get a lot of things every it
[21:56] seems every other week um that we have
[21:58] to fill out. We have to sign this um one
[22:01] paper. Uh we already did the IMA and we
[22:04] all voted on that. This paper concerns
[22:07] that the funding from well the I
[22:10] shouldn't say that the propay the
[22:12] reimbursement from MSBA will go directly
[22:15] to the town of Whitman now since they
[22:17] are the ones who are going to give us
[22:18] the money. Um so we had to um just sign
[22:22] it. Um Dr. Marcus is um just he's the
[22:26] only one that needs to really authorize
[22:27] to be signing it. Um so that the uh
[22:30] propay from MSBA will now go directly to
[22:33] the town of Whitman. Um so and they'll
[22:36] you know they'll send us the money that
[22:38] you know it's kind of back and forth
[22:40] thing and then we can pay and then we
[22:42] pay the bills. Um so um that's all that
[22:46] we just need to vote that we're okay
[22:48] with that. We've done the IMA so this is
[22:50] just another extension that MSBA wants
[22:53] us to do.
[22:55] >> Any questions? Miss Blackman. So, does
[22:57] this mean that the town of Whitman will
[23:00] be receiving the interest on the Thank
[23:03] you. project rather than the Whitman
[23:06] Hansen Regional School District?
[23:07] >> Yes. Well,
[23:08] >> which which might I don't know if the towns did consider that when they
[23:13] were planning their budget, but I just
[23:15] thought I would mention the fact that
[23:17] Whitman is going to actually benefit as
[23:20] a town from it rather than the school
[23:22] district,
[23:22] >> which would they would have anyway
[23:24] because that's a separate account. the middle school. So even if the
[23:28] interest came under the middle school,
[23:30] it would be going back to the towns
[23:33] anyway. It would reduce their uh owing
[23:36] their, you know, what they would owe on
[23:37] their budget. So it it kind of works out
[23:40] um the same way. It's just to me it's a
[23:43] little convoluted because we have to go
[23:45] back and forth and back and forth, but
[23:47] you know, that's what MSBA agreed and
[23:49] Whitman uh agreed to help us out to get
[23:52] this done, the project done.
[23:54] >> Yeah. And just to to build on
[23:56] Stephanie's I had thought I was just
[23:58] about to talk about the debt too. Thank
[24:00] you
[24:02] in a little different way. When we
[24:04] originally presented our budget, did we
[24:05] have to pull back and even if it was
[24:08] going to be
[24:09] >> um given back and forth or whatever, we
[24:11] had to shift our budget over from that
[24:13] debt over. Do we have a rough amount how
[24:15] much we shifted? So we just have a sense
[24:18] of how much they're getting back in
[24:19] interest
[24:20] >> to pay pay back. I mean
[24:22] >> it's not it's not a small amount. So,
[24:25] >> all I know is um and Matt can probably
[24:27] help out too is we have paid all the
[24:30] bills that we have agreed on so far and
[24:32] we have a balance of $75,000.
[24:35] >> Um so, um I don't know if Matt can
[24:38] answer anymore with that as far as
[24:41] interest wise or whatever.
[24:42] >> So, the interest it goes with the
[24:44] borrowing. So, they use that interest
[24:45] and they it reduces the amount of money
[24:47] that you end up borrowing in the end.
[24:48] So, you only borrow the total amount of
[24:50] money that you need for the project. um
[24:52] and the interest can offset that a
[24:53] little bit plus you know MSBA fund comes
[24:55] in offsets with the total borrow as
[24:57] well. So it all is kind of a total
[24:58] package directed at the school and all
[25:00] that money stays with the school.
[25:02] >> Thank you.
[25:04] >> Any other questions for Miss Stafford or
[25:06] Mr. Wells or Dr. Marcus?
[25:09] Okay. Can I have a motion to approve the
[25:11] amendment for the PFA?
[25:13] >> Motion.
[25:14] >> Second.
[25:15] >> Okay.
[25:15] >> All in favor? All right. Thank you guys
[25:18] very much.
[25:18] >> Thank you.
[25:19] >> All right. Next up, we have the
[25:20] acceptance of a donation from the Kowani
[25:22] Club of Hansen Foundation. Dr. Marcus,
[25:24] do you want to speak to this?
[25:25] >> Um, yes. And I Mr. Tranter was here, but
[25:28] I'm not sure they ran away.
[25:31] Um,
[25:33] this is uh an annual donation uh that
[25:37] the Kuanas Club of Hansen has um been
[25:40] giving to the Indian Head School. Um the request is to be able to over uh the
[25:48] next uh five years um provide about 120
[25:54] uh dictionaries per year. So 600 alto
[25:57] together um to the Indian Head School uh
[26:01] fourth grade students.
[26:05] » Okay.
[26:06] >> No questions.
[26:07] >> Sorry.
[26:08] >> I move we approve the donation.
[26:10] >> Second.
[26:11] >> All right. All in favor?
[26:13] >> All right.
[26:14] >> Oh, I just have to abstain because I
[26:15] have a fourth grade.
[26:18] >> This was all the ice dictionaries.
[26:21] >> Yeah.
[26:22] >> Okay. All right. Um Whitman Hansen
[26:25] Regional High School student council
[26:27] field trip.
[26:28] >> We have some Dr. Marcus, do you on that
[26:32] or is that
[26:32] >> Yep. This is a request for uh the high
[26:35] school student council to go to the
[26:37] vision conference um which is the
[26:40] national conference of um school
[26:42] councils. This is the funny one in uh
[26:46] when um Mr. Wells and I were looking
[26:49] through the budget and we found that
[26:52] there was um money from something from a
[26:56] revolving account going to MASC.
[26:58] Uh, and we we freaked out because we
[27:01] thought that their high school revolving
[27:03] account was paying for MASC. Well, it
[27:06] is. It's the Massachusetts Association
[27:08] of Student Councils,
[27:11] not not school councils. So, um, but
[27:15] this is so that that's what this this is
[27:18] that we found that we thought was a
[27:20] scary thing, but it's actually a really
[27:22] wonderful thing. um student council
[27:24] going to uh the um the program uh up in
[27:28] New Hampshire. Uh it will uh sponsored
[27:31] by Mr. Morardi. Um there are two adults
[27:35] going, Mr. Morardi uh and Miss Scott. Um
[27:39] and the members of the student council
[27:41] can see the times that they're going. Um
[27:43] and I recommend approval of this
[27:46] >> motion to approve.
[27:47] >> Second. Okay.
[27:48] >> Any questions? Okay. All in favor?
[27:52] All right.
[27:54] Okay. I don't think we have anything in
[27:57] paper on this, but we have next item is
[27:58] review capital request item. So, Dr.
[28:01] Marcus, you want to take this one? I
[28:02] feel like I'm
[28:03] >> dropping everything off on you.
[28:05] >> Sure. No, that's okay. Um so we uh had
[28:09] put in um a request to um the two town
[28:14] managers um to um have them put on the
[28:18] warrant uh uh a the paving of um to
[28:23] start with the paving of the lower lot
[28:26] um over here at the high school. uh we
[28:29] got a quote um so the the initial um uh request for the article was 191,000 I
[28:38] think um and the split uh on that was to
[28:42] each town 114 and whatever the other
[28:47] piece is 70 something thank you um and
[28:51] uh along the um the way we've had the
[28:55] this conversation uh that I talked about
[28:57] with um a company that's going to be um
[29:01] putting together a um a solar farm uh uh
[29:05] right next to us, right on the other
[29:07] side of the um power lines. Um and there
[29:11] are have been initial conversations with
[29:13] the company um about them using our road
[29:18] and what um what how we would arrange
[29:22] sort of them working uh with the road
[29:24] and their willingness to provide some
[29:27] service or some um uh financial
[29:31] arrangement with um with the district in
[29:35] terms of using the road. Um we mentioned
[29:40] the uh notion of paving. Uh we a we um
[29:44] gave the quote. Um the the solar company
[29:49] actually looked at some other quotes um
[29:52] and uh they felt comfortable um being
[29:56] able to provide us um with that amount
[29:58] of money. Now there's more to it because
[30:01] it's not you know one one of the things
[30:03] that uh in our conversation with deesse
[30:06] today um we learned that you know there
[30:09] are um systems in place and ways that
[30:12] the money um has to come to us. It has
[30:15] to be done appropriately. However, um
[30:18] given that uh we um had we're working on
[30:22] those conversations um
[30:26] in the in the midst of this just as we
[30:28] were getting close um the company has
[30:30] run into a little bit of a delay uh in
[30:33] terms of making the cut through from our
[30:37] road over to where the power lines are.
[30:40] It's um short short distance. Um and so
[30:44] they're trying to work that out. So
[30:45] there's been a little bit of a delay. Um
[30:48] but they uh are very positive. They
[30:51] think that the delay is only about six
[30:52] months. Um and uh it it makes me think
[30:58] that if we can um have the project of
[31:03] paving funded in a in a um in a
[31:06] different way um then it's a way for us
[31:10] to be able to reduce that capital
[31:12] request. um uh and move it either hold
[31:17] off uh and wait because we also um
[31:21] discover that the um town of Hansen
[31:24] wants to wait until um uh the fall and I
[31:28] know Miss Green is here. Um and so um
[31:34] uh so so we would have to wait for that
[31:36] anyway and that would then lead if the town of Whitman didn't have a
[31:40] fall town meeting it would end up back
[31:41] in at the spring anyway no matter what.
[31:45] And so, um, that concept of this is
[31:48] going to get delayed until the spring
[31:50] anyway, um, works in the favor of, um,
[31:55] you know, accepting, uh, this, um,
[31:58] donation or however this works, um, from
[32:01] the, um, from the solar company, um, and
[32:04] gives us the ability to, um, take it off
[32:08] of capital at this point.
[32:14] more to it.
[32:16] Shall I keep going?
[32:17] >> No.
[32:20] >> So, that would be my recommendation. Um,
[32:24] it's uh we're the the the articles went
[32:28] to the two towns through um uh through
[32:32] the business office through um
[32:35] superintendent's office. Um, so the
[32:38] reason it's an action item is really to
[32:41] um allow me um the permission or give me
[32:47] the permission to uh resend those
[32:50] requests um to the two town uh
[32:53] administrators.
[32:56] So, first of all, as somebody who sits
[32:58] on our capital and operations um
[33:01] subcommittee, there were a lot of other
[33:04] projects that we also had that we would
[33:06] have liked to have done. The longer we
[33:08] wait, the more the those
[33:10] >> areas deteriorate.
[33:12] Um, so I I feel like I I understand that
[33:18] we're
[33:19] doing what we can to ease the burden on
[33:21] the towns, but at the same time it might
[33:24] come back later as a more expensive
[33:26] cost. Um, and then throwing my realtor
[33:29] hat on. Um, are we giving them a right
[33:33] of way? Is that like a an easement? Um,
[33:37] what what is it that legally we're
[33:39] giving them? Um, can we legally because
[33:43] we lease the we don't own the property,
[33:47] right? So, like has this been run
[33:49] through the lawyers? Like all of that
[33:51] fun type of
[33:53] >> legal questions, I guess.
[33:55] >> Yeah, we've we've run some some of the
[33:58] initial thoughts um through council. Um,
[34:02] but it this is going to need to be
[34:03] firmed up um and we have to get clarity
[34:06] on what that is. the the the request
[34:09] from the company um is simply the use of
[34:14] the road um to be able to cut across um
[34:18] over to that property. We don't own
[34:20] anything beyond the road. So, they're
[34:22] just using our road to go into um the uh
[34:26] the right way the
[34:29] >> of the of the road. I know what you're
[34:32] asking about is what what off the off of
[34:35] the road are we giving them permission
[34:37] for and is that a right of way?
[34:39] >> So,
[34:40] >> no, if if we allow them to use our road,
[34:43] then that's that's establishing a legal
[34:46] precedent for the company to continue.
[34:49] And I don't know what the parameters of
[34:51] it are as far as that goes, but I just I think that it's wonderful that the
[34:58] company's willing to help us out. I am
[35:01] very concerned, however, about
[35:03] postponing projects. And if they're
[35:05] willing to help us out with this, but we
[35:07] could maybe get this taken care of
[35:09] sooner because that lot is
[35:12] >> very dangerous, then they could help us
[35:15] out with some of the other paving
[35:16] projects. For instance, the student lot
[35:18] here at the high school needs to be
[35:20] redone. The fire road here at the high
[35:22] school needs to be redone. So, it's not
[35:24] like there's a shortage of places where
[35:26] that money could benefit us down the
[35:28] road. And I'm just very concerned about
[35:31] us
[35:33] um you know delaying things especially
[35:38] now that there's some bumps that we
[35:41] might be hitting. So
[35:44] >> I'm going to do two things. One is going
[35:46] to be a question. Um it is my
[35:48] understanding that the regional school
[35:50] owns this building but leases the other
[35:53] buildings. Correct. So
[35:55] >> this building is is ours and the others
[35:57] are leased. Okay. And then um within the
[36:01] same context of that and Stephanie
[36:04] mentioned precedents are we is is it on
[36:08] the table that we will be doing a lease
[36:11] for a period of time access of say 30
[36:14] years or something or is it is it just
[36:16] fullon access
[36:18] >> because that can end up being an
[36:20] easement.
[36:20] >> Yeah. No, I hear you. So we won't have
[36:23] anything to do with the solar project or
[36:26] whatever. different property. So, um the agreement would be that we're
[36:34] allowing them to use a road that they're
[36:38] going to create on their own property.
[36:41] Um and use but use our road. Yeah. The
[36:43] question is that small amount that might
[36:47] be considered an easement or a
[36:49] >> Okay.
[36:50] >> Yeah. I have to figure that out. And
[36:52] then to continue on, um,
[36:56] just back to what Stephanie said, when
[36:59] you're considering your costs, you're
[37:02] considering a long-term view when you're
[37:04] doing a municipal thing. You're not
[37:05] considering the, "Oh, we get a deal
[37:07] today and we're not going to see it
[37:09] again because those things are rotating
[37:12] every single year." And and the sooner
[37:14] you can get to them, the reduced costs
[37:16] of the overall. We've seen this and I
[37:19] and she brings up a great point because
[37:20] we saw that we had to build a whole new
[37:23] middle school because we didn't address
[37:26] uh leaks in a roof in in a proper and
[37:29] timely full-on manner. We have other
[37:32] leaks in other roofs and other issues.
[37:34] So, a real thought on uh c and I also
[37:40] understand I was at the meeting last
[37:41] night that where you're at. So just some
[37:45] I think she brings up a valid point and I and well understanding the
[37:49] situation you're in at the same time if
[37:50] it's possible um to think long term
[37:55] >> as well.
[37:58] >> Mr. Ry,
[38:01] >> this is more of a procedural question,
[38:03] but it's probably too late to change the
[38:06] town meeting warrant at this point
[38:07] anyway, is it not?
[38:08] >> No, we can just pass over it. We can't
[38:10] just pass over,
[38:11] >> right? But so if it we could perhaps
[38:14] give Mr. Dr. Marcus two weeks to firm up
[38:18] some of these details before we make any
[38:20] decisions if there's no actual change to
[38:22] the
[38:23] >> warrant. Oh, I see what you're saying.
[38:25] >> Can I ask just quickly that because I
[38:28] think you mentioned earlier and in past
[38:31] I think it was mentioned that the
[38:34] capital is actually outside the warrant.
[38:36] is it wasn't sent over as
[38:39] >> it's it's outside the assessment, right?
[38:41] So, it's it own
[38:42] >> set out in ours. We we didn't have it in
[38:45] the assessment. So, he can we could vote
[38:47] to do that at any time, couldn't we?
[38:49] What is it?
[38:52] >> Not that I want to. I'm just saying just
[38:54] for procedural reason, you know.
[38:56] >> So, at this point with I know for sure
[38:59] Hanson's warrant is closed, I believe.
[39:01] >> Oh, the warrant being closed. Okay.
[39:02] Thank you. like we would be talking
[39:03] about someone getting up at town meeting
[39:05] and tableabling the article or passing
[39:07] it over because we don't need the money,
[39:09] >> right?
[39:10] >> So, we don't need to
[39:11] >> if we have things that we would like to
[39:13] see further clarified, we don't need to
[39:16] vote tonight. We could vote the 29th.
[39:18] >> Okay.
[39:18] >> Um which would still be the week before
[39:20] both town meetings.
[39:21] >> Perfect. Thank you.
[39:27] » Okay. So
[39:28] >> it
[39:29] >> to hold
[39:31] to table it till
[39:34] >> second
[39:36] motion.
[39:37] >> Okay. So we have a motion to second the
[39:39] table to the 29th.
[39:41] >> Okay. All in favor?
[39:44] >> All right. Thank you.
[39:45] >> All right. Um we're zipping right along.
[39:49] Um next up we have approval of meeting
[39:51] minutes for March 11th and March 25th.
[39:54] Motion to approve.
[39:56] >> Uh the minutes for the 25th,
[40:02] >> right? May the 25th.
[40:03] >> Yeah.
[40:04] >> Um the executive session portion has um
[40:08] one person vote listed as abstained and
[40:10] then says the motion passed unanimously.
[40:12] >> Is that I don't think it's technically
[40:14] true, right? Okay.
[40:18] >> Miss Black. Um, also on the um the
[40:22] minutes for the 25th um the numbers the
[40:27] figures for the warrant subcommittee um
[40:29] were not listed in there. They were
[40:31] listed on the other one. I think for
[40:33] continuity it would make sense. I did
[40:35] already send them to Jen, but um if we
[40:38] can just update the minutes to to
[40:40] reflect the amounts that were that were
[40:42] approved. Y
[40:45] >> any other comments? All right. All
[40:48] right. So, can I have a motion to
[40:48] approve these?
[40:49] >> You have a motion,
[40:50] >> but I guess with the amendment with
[40:52] those changes
[40:53] >> with those changes.
[40:54] >> Yeah. So, do we get a second on the one
[40:55] that motion that you
[40:56] >> No,
[40:56] >> I don't know. I was second.
[40:58] >> So, well, no. I think we want to make a
[41:00] motion to do with the changes.
[41:01] >> I believe Mr. Boyce made a motion with
[41:03] the amendments.
[41:03] >> Oh, did you?
[41:05] >> Yes.
[41:05] >> Okay.
[41:07] >> Is there a second?
[41:07] >> Second.
[41:08] Chris. Okay. All right. All in
[41:09] favor?
[41:11] >> All right.
[41:13] Okay. So, next up we have subcommittee
[41:15] reports starting with uh Miss Blackman.
[41:18] All right. So, um we did um good luck.
[41:21] >> I do have a report here in the um
[41:26] in your packets for you. So um on we've
[41:30] met so sub policy subcommittee met on
[41:33] April 1st and again on April 8th um we
[41:36] reviewed a number of um policies which
[41:40] are listed on both the front and the
[41:43] back of your um the paper and um most we
[41:50] um decided to move forward to the full
[41:53] committee and you have those in your
[41:56] March and April
[41:58] um folders. Um there was one that Mr.
[42:03] Trestle got a little twitchy about which
[42:05] dealt with um fussing. Um so we skipped
[42:08] over that because we want to wait until
[42:11] we have a um an updated regional
[42:14] agreement um to make sure that we're in
[42:17] line with the regional agreement. And
[42:19] then um there were several um that we
[42:22] tabled um from this last meeting because
[42:25] we wanted feedback from food services
[42:27] because they were related to food
[42:29] services and um Mr. Pharaoh got us
[42:33] answers the next day which was amazing
[42:35] but we can't um approve those until our
[42:38] next meeting which is not until May
[42:41] 13th. So, um, I guess my only question
[42:45] is does anybody have any questions about
[42:47] any of the
[42:49] troublemaker? All right, Mr. Murphy.
[42:52] >> I It's not really troublemaking, I don't
[42:54] think.
[42:54] >> No.
[42:55] >> Um, the DB policy for regional school
[42:58] district annual budget refers to a
[43:00] finance subcommittee, which I don't
[43:02] think we actually hold. So, I don't know
[43:04] if that needs to be adjusted to budget
[43:07] subcommittee.
[43:10] » Um,
[43:12] Which one is this? Sorry,
[43:13] >> this is a DB
[43:14] >> DB.
[43:15] >> And this is the um fourth paragraph. It
[43:17] says at the discretion of the finance
[43:19] subcommittee, an informal public
[43:20] information meeting may be held to
[43:22] solicit input from the general public.
[43:24] >> And then it it refers to the finance
[43:26] subcommittee again like two sentences
[43:28] later.
[43:29] >> So I think we did talk about that. So
[43:32] that might just be a thing we missed.
[43:34] >> So
[43:35] >> um
[43:36] >> I can appreciate the vast amount of
[43:39] policy you've been looking at.
[43:40] >> Yes. Yes, you can see by the thickness
[43:42] of the packets how much we've been going
[43:44] through. Um, but one of the things that
[43:48] I guess I will put before this committee
[43:50] to consider um is the naming of the
[43:55] committees and what different committees
[43:57] all stand for. Right now, we seem to
[43:59] have a lot of committees. um a finance
[44:04] committee in other districts anyway that
[44:07] I've looked at incorporates
[44:10] the budget, the warrant and maybe like
[44:14] capital or something along those lines.
[44:16] So, they're looking at a broader picture
[44:18] of I don't know if that's something that
[44:20] we want to consider at some point when
[44:24] we reorganize. But um
[44:29] I I guess my only concern is making sure
[44:32] that we're
[44:34] with policy broad enough that we're not
[44:36] pigeonholding ourselves but at the same
[44:38] time not doing anything um too minute
[44:43] but I am open to the will of the committee. Any
[44:54] other comments or questions for Miss
[44:56] Blackman?
[44:59] >> Do do we want to make a decision about
[45:01] finance committee versus budget finance
[45:04] subcommittee?
[45:04] >> We
[45:05] >> we're discussing so that
[45:07] >> is this the first reading second read on this. So
[45:13] we would we can certainly make that
[45:15] adjustment.
[45:17] And then just just reading it in the
[45:20] paragraph,
[45:22] I don't even I mean I suppose budget
[45:24] subcommittee would make a little more
[45:26] sense, but says the superintendent and
[45:29] members of the finance subcommittee will
[45:31] make every effort to fully inform all
[45:33] member communities and their officials
[45:34] of the budget plans of the district.
[45:37] then um at the discretion of the finance
[45:40] subcommittee and or I guess prior an
[45:42] informal public information meeting may
[45:44] be held to solicit input from the
[45:46] general public
[45:48] like what is an informal public
[45:50] information meeting seems oxymoronic to
[45:54] me um and isn't that like is this not
[45:58] our public budget hearing or is that
[46:00] totally different because to me that's
[46:02] what it sounds like in which case I
[46:05] wouldn't I would recommend not
[46:06] specifying ing a subcommittee because we
[46:08] just do that as a committee.
[46:10] >> I mean, the next sentence is in
[46:11] accordance with the district agreement,
[46:12] a public hearing shall be held. So, it
[46:14] sounds like it's two separate things,
[46:16] >> which is weird.
[46:18] >> So, if it's two separate things,
[46:20] >> the spirit of this and when we talked
[46:22] about it was that the budget
[46:25] subcommittee as it currently exists does
[46:28] have the ability for the public to go
[46:29] there. Okay.
[46:30] >> So, I think these words would be so
[46:32] that's the informal public to talk about
[46:34] things in the subcommittee that have to
[46:37] get brought to the full committee, but
[46:38] it wouldn't be the public hearing or
[46:40] anything like that. It would be when you
[46:41] have the budget subcommittee, whoever
[46:43] wanted to go could hear the context of
[46:46] what's taking place with the finances.
[46:48] >> Okay, that makes sense.
[46:49] >> The existing policy calls also says that
[46:52] you can hold an informal public
[46:53] information meeting. It just leaves the
[46:55] subcommittee part out,
[46:57] >> right? And so in that case, that would
[46:59] be just our open like our meetings. M
[47:03] >> that's probably because we have had a
[47:05] budget subcommittee standing budget
[47:08] subcommittee
[47:09] >> right yep
[47:12] >> so is there any
[47:14] >> Mr.
[47:15] And if I'm reading the the
[47:19] table of contents on the front here, DB
[47:21] is mass recommendation. So this this
[47:23] policy here is basically just
[47:27] in is it adding language from the mask
[47:30] policy or is this is exactly what the
[47:32] mask policy says?
[47:34] >> This is the mask policy.
[47:36] >> Okay.
[47:41] I mean I I understand uh TJ's point
[47:45] about you know we don't have a finance
[47:47] subcommittee so this doesn't give
[47:49] discretion to the budget subcommittee
[47:52] this gives discretion to a subcommittee
[47:54] that doesn't exist right
[47:56] >> so I think and I understand what you're
[47:57] saying about well maybe we when we
[47:59] reorganize we have the ability to
[48:01] >> change wording or or change the name of
[48:03] some of these committees and whatnot I I
[48:04] do think it would it there's value in
[48:07] having it match what we do have.
[48:09] >> And then if it's something that through
[48:11] reorganization or through creation of
[48:13] new subcommittees or merging of
[48:15] subcommittees we change that that could
[48:17] always go back to the policy committee
[48:19] to modify that that title. Correct.
[48:22] >> Um would the full committee be open to
[48:26] budget finance subcommittee? Therefore
[48:30] we can cover both bases.
[48:37] » I am budget and finance subcommittee. I
[48:40] don't
[48:40] >> budget finance sub so that that it's
[48:42] either or type of a thing, but are we
[48:44] going to have a finance subcommittee?
[48:47] >> It would be the same committee doing
[48:49] >> same things with a new name.
[48:52] >> Do you have to have the committees that
[48:54] are listed or these are just rules? If
[48:56] you have the committee, say the budget
[48:59] every year, usually you make a a
[49:01] five-year plan, you know, you wouldn't
[49:04] have the budget every year. Hopefully,
[49:08] >> we have an operating
[49:09] >> I think the the point I made before you came back in was like right
[49:13] now we're we're giving discretion to an
[49:16] entity that doesn't currently exist. So,
[49:19] you're right. I mean, you know, you call
[49:22] it whatever you call it. It is what it
[49:23] is. But I think I I think your
[49:25] compromise is fine because it it is at
[49:27] least giving discretion and giving some
[49:29] level of authority to a subcommittee
[49:31] that actually exists as opposed to one
[49:33] that could theoretically exist at some
[49:36] date in the future.
[49:37] >> So if we want to do it budget or budget
[49:41] finance subcommittee, I'm fine with
[49:42] that. But I think including the budget
[49:44] subcommittee that does exist in that
[49:46] wording is important.
[49:48] >> Okay.
[49:54] Any other questions about any of the
[49:56] policies before you?
[49:59] >> Thank you. You did a wonderful job. You
[50:01] all did.
[50:04] » It's really Miss Blackman. I just
[50:06] >> Oh,
[50:06] >> I just sit there.
[50:07] >> You just look pretty, right?
[50:09] >> Does his Richie Cunningham thing.
[50:11] >> He does the Richie.
[50:12] >> Not Not the case.
[50:14] >> I I think you play.
[50:15] >> So, these are all second reads.
[50:16] >> Um, so the first packet is second reads
[50:18] and then the second packet is first
[50:20] reads. Okay, that's confusing.
[50:25] >> They're in two separate folders in your
[50:29] >> I'm just being different.
[50:30] >> Now, which one is which?
[50:32] >> Very funny.
[50:34] >> I I specifically put current and mask
[50:37] versioned
[50:38] and I tried to be clear about what it
[50:41] was that we were doing for
[50:45] adjustments, right? But again, we're
[50:48] covering
[50:50] >> a multipleyear project in very few
[50:53] months. So
[50:55] >> So for this second read, it's just a
[50:59] second read. There's no vote or anything
[51:01] required for tonight. There's
[51:03] >> George's
[51:04] >> you could if you've already discussed it
[51:06] at the second read you could make the
[51:08] motion to wave the third read and accept
[51:11] then make the motion to accept as the
[51:14] second read that first packet then that
[51:16] would be clear the decks that she's done
[51:19] a lot of work and then the next time you
[51:21] just go into the regular second read of
[51:24] tonight's first
[51:24] >> read
[51:26] just require that every motion to wave
[51:29] third and then move forward
[51:31] >> I'm Sorry.
[51:32] >> Oh, no. No. It's okay.
[51:33] >> I move to wave reading and accept.
[51:36] >> Okay. It's not okay now cuz I was going
[51:38] to say something.
[51:40] >> It was okay if you were going to say
[51:41] something. Skip over me.
[51:42] >> Okay. So, we have a first time have a
[51:43] second. Then we'll have
[51:45] >> n discussion. Now you get to discuss.
[51:48] >> Okay. Oh, wow.
[51:49] >> Now I got to apologize for Chris.
[51:51] >> Cry over here.
[51:52] >> Um, first of all,
[51:56] this is really good work. I uh if it is
[52:01] you as we've been told I and and your
[52:04] attention to the public uh I I I've
[52:06] gotten a couple of phone calls saying
[52:08] that this committee really um listened
[52:11] and uh allowed for a lot of dialogue
[52:13] with the public. This is amazing and I
[52:16] want to I want to thank everybody who worked on this from uh those on my
[52:20] our committee to those out in the public
[52:23] who contributed. Um thank you so much.
[52:27] Great work. Thank you.
[52:29] >> And I definitely do not do it alone.
[52:31] >> Mr. Pharaoh and Dr. Samayweis also
[52:35] >> and staff and staff. I'm including you
[52:37] as the public.
[52:37] >> Yes.
[52:39] >> Yeah.
[52:41] >> All right. So, we have a first and
[52:43] second to
[52:44] uh wave the second reading and move to a
[52:47] vote. So, it will be two votes, right?
[52:49] It'll be a vote to move it to the second
[52:50] reading and then we'll have a move uh to
[52:52] wave the second reading and then third
[52:55] the third reading.
[52:55] >> Yeah, wave the third. I didn't I didn't
[52:57] read this. I didn't read the second
[52:58] time. So, I'm waving both of them
[52:59] >> and accept with the change.
[53:00] >> I only read it once.
[53:02] >> That's for yourself.
[53:03] >> Yeah.
[53:04] >> So, so we have a motion to wave the
[53:05] third reading. I'll step
[53:07] >> all in favor. Okay. And then can I have
[53:10] a motion to um accept these policies
[53:13] with the the added change of budget
[53:15] finance committee?
[53:16] >> Can I can Oh, you do it.
[53:18] >> Motion.
[53:19] >> Okay.
[53:20] >> Second.
[53:20] Any discussion?
[53:23] Okay. All in favor? All right. Very
[53:26] good. Thank you.
[53:29] >> Okay.
[53:30] >> Um,
[53:32] is that is that all for policy, Miss
[53:34] Blackman?
[53:35] >> Um, I believe so.
[53:38] >> Yes.
[53:38] >> Because this other one's first reading,
[53:40] right?
[53:40] >> This is the first packet is first
[53:42] reading.
[53:42] >> Yep.
[53:44] >> All right. So, now turning turning
[53:46] things over to Miss Blackman for the
[53:48] warrant subcommittee.
[53:50] >> So, the warrant subcommittee met on
[53:53] April 3rd. At that time, we reviewed and
[53:55] signed the accounts payable warrant in
[53:56] the amount of $6182,75741,
[54:01] the food services warrant for $55,561,
[54:06] and the payroll warrant for 1,647,294.
[54:12] There were no warrants for the Whitman
[54:13] Middle School building project at that
[54:15] time. And I need a motion to approve the
[54:18] payment of said warrants.
[54:20] >> So moved.
[54:22] >> Second.
[54:22] >> All right. Any discussion? All in favor?
[54:26] All right. All right. And now, attorney
[54:29] Blackman. No, actually, Mr. Voice. Mr.
[54:31] >> Mr. Boyce with the Pilgrim Area
[54:33] Collaborative.
[54:34] >> So, we did meet um our April meeting was
[54:37] last Thursday. Um there were two of us,
[54:41] uh Tendra Stson from Marshfield and
[54:45] myself who serve on the budget
[54:47] subcommittee. And this was we started an
[54:49] hour earlier so that we could get in our
[54:52] time with um our business manager
[54:57] um and obviously our executive director.
[55:00] So we had covered quite a bit the big
[55:04] and it was the biggest thing on our
[55:06] agenda for our regular meeting. You can
[55:09] see we're just over $11 million for our
[55:12] presentation of the FY27 budget.
[55:16] uh there would no there's a few key
[55:18] highlights below but basically um
[55:23] it's not just no uh significant
[55:25] additions or or no new positions were
[55:28] added but really it was the across the
[55:31] board 3% increase and you can see that
[55:34] can vary with collaborives between three
[55:37] and 5%. Um
[55:41] this actually though, you know, and I
[55:43] think when I started 10 years ago,
[55:46] um representing us at the collaborative,
[55:49] it was way down in the 50s or 60s. So
[55:52] now we're at 74,000. And I'm not selling
[55:56] that as a you know, that's that's a
[55:58] terrible thing. We're keeping pace with
[56:00] the others and we're being mindful. The
[56:04] 3% does also go across the board for a
[56:07] lot of services. I didn't bring the
[56:10] whole services list and I thought maybe
[56:12] there would have been a little bit of
[56:13] detail but um that was left off. But we
[56:16] do have our second read uh for the
[56:19] budget next month or second go through.
[56:23] We'll have the budget subcommittee May
[56:25] 7th before the regular May 7th meeting.
[56:28] So there still be more to come from that
[56:30] and I know we'll probably get a lot more
[56:33] um completed documentation.
[56:36] We also had policy updates
[56:40] 4,000 and 6,000 series that were
[56:43] introduced as a first read and as you
[56:45] can see from here it's an ongoing effort
[56:48] uh to review and revise pack policies.
[56:51] Uh Mr. Blackman, you probably would have
[56:54] enjoyed this but maybe you would have
[56:55] found this is enough. I don't need to
[56:57] see any more policies. But anyways, um
[57:01] obviously with compliance law compliance
[57:03] and and desi regulations and I know we
[57:06] have it on the pack website,
[57:10] but don't think that these are right up
[57:12] because it's the first read right up
[57:15] there in black and white. We are still
[57:17] going through. Um now Becky does a great
[57:20] job for us putting together the
[57:22] documentation and so forth. Um, so we're
[57:26] still with that. And then PAC has turned
[57:29] 50 years old this year.
[57:32] >> And they had during that day, I wasn't a
[57:36] part of it or or I I know a few people
[57:38] were um a celebration at the uh Pilgrim
[57:43] Area Coll um the Pilgrim Academy
[57:47] uh in Plymouth. Uh, Representative
[57:51] Michelle Badger was a former pack
[57:56] representative from Plymouth. Um, she
[57:59] left a couple years ago and she ran for
[58:04] office and congratulations to her. I
[58:07] think she took office maybe last year.
[58:09] Um, but she and Kendra and myself and
[58:13] Sheila have been the long-standing
[58:16] members. And I just like to mention that
[58:18] because I I often hear from Kendra or
[58:22] Michelle in the past, well, who who's
[58:25] going to be chair? Who's going to be
[58:26] chair? And you guys can do it. You're
[58:29] doing great with it. So, uh, this year
[58:31] it's actually Sheila uh, Vaughn uh, from
[58:34] Kingston who is our chair. So, just
[58:36] adding a few pieces there. If you have
[58:39] any questions, let me know. Um, I always
[58:42] like the repeat piece like the SSC and
[58:45] the other uh collaboratives that we
[58:47] belong to.
[58:49] >> Thank you.
[58:50] Mr. Boyce. Any questions for
[58:51] Mr. Boyce?
[58:54] >> Okay.
[58:55] >> Um, Mr. Wy, do we have anyone on the
[58:59] >> No, there's no one in the
[59:00] >> Okay. And there's no one um that signed
[59:03] up in person for hold comments. So, um
[59:05] we're going to vote to go into executive
[59:07] session. Before we do that, I do want to
[59:10] um thank Jason Cook um for all the work
[59:12] that he did. Um we are experimenting
[59:14] with ways to allow people who cannot
[59:17] physically be here at the um in our
[59:20] space to be able to contribute to public
[59:21] comment. Um he has acquired for us from
[59:25] WHCA a device called the owl, which is
[59:27] what this thing that's like looking at
[59:29] me the whole meeting.
[59:32] >> It literally says owl.
[59:33] >> It says owl on it. Looks like an owl. Um
[59:35] and as if you might have seen this on
[59:37] the agendas, but there's a meeting link
[59:39] and that'll be there for every meeting
[59:41] so that individuals that are not able to
[59:42] attend um in person, you know,
[59:45] especially, you know, people that might
[59:46] be disabled or have difficulty traveling
[59:48] would be able to participate in public
[59:49] comment with us uh through this method.
[59:51] And I just want to thank Jason because
[59:53] he and I have been working and I say he
[59:54] and I have been working on it, which is
[59:55] like I'm like Jason, can you figure out
[59:56] how to do this? And then Jason just did
[59:58] all the work, but I'm taking partial
[59:59] credit for it as well. Um,
[1:00:02] so
[1:00:04] somebody's got there's got to be one
[1:00:05] person who asks, right? The person. But
[1:00:08] I I just want to thank Jason um for all
[1:00:09] the work that he did to put this
[1:00:10] together today and all the work he does
[1:00:12] for the school and for the school
[1:00:14] committee throughout the whole year as
[1:00:16] well because it's uh he is one heck of a
[1:00:18] chap. So I just want to thank him for
[1:00:19] that. Um so
[1:00:26] um with that I am we are going to be
[1:00:28] entering into two executive sessions. Um
[1:00:30] we will not be returning after uh only
[1:00:32] to adjourn. Um so the first executive
[1:00:35] session is to discuss strategy with
[1:00:36] respect collective bargaining or
[1:00:38] litigation if an open meeting may have
[1:00:39] detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public
[1:00:43] body and the chair so declares and I do
[1:00:45] declare um for unit B and unit C. Um,
[1:00:48] and the second one is to comply with or
[1:00:50] act under the authority of any general
[1:00:51] or specific law or federal grant and aid
[1:00:54] requirements. And that is to approve
[1:00:55] executive session meeting minutes for
[1:00:56] February 4th, March 11th, and March
[1:00:58] 25th. So, I'm going to um I need a
[1:01:01] motion to go into executive session.
[1:01:04] >> So moved.
[1:01:04] >> Second.
[1:01:05] >> Okay. It's going to be a roll call vote.
[1:01:07] Mr. Boyce,
[1:01:08] >> yes.
[1:01:08] >> Miss Diffen,
[1:01:09] >> yes.
[1:01:09] >> Mr. Degraio,
[1:01:10] >> yes.
[1:01:10] >> Mr. Ralphie,
[1:01:11] >> yes.
[1:01:11] >> Mr. Trestle, yes. Mr. Marks,
[1:01:13] >> yes.
[1:01:13] >> Miss Hill,
[1:01:14] >> yes.
[1:01:14] >> Mr. McCllum,
[1:01:15] >> yes.
[1:01:16] >> And Miss Blackman,
[1:01:17] >> yes. Okay. All right, everybody. Thank
[1:01:19] you very much for coming out. Um, and
[1:01:21] we'll see you all. Our next meeting is
[1:01:23] the 29th, the Wednesday after vacation.
[1:01:25] Um, we also have a budget subcommittee
[1:01:27] meeting that day as well. So, hope to
[1:01:29] see you all there. Have a great vacation
[1:01:31] for those that
[1:01:32] >> here. We're going upstairs. Great
[1:01:34] vacation. What?
[1:01:35] >> I have a picture.