School Committee: August 7, 2025

Transcript captured from YouTube auto-captioning. No speaker labels; proper names and dollar figures occasionally misheard. Click any timecode to jump to that moment in the source video.

0:07 I’m just waiting for the live stream to start and then I’ll call us to order.

0:33 Did you all hear that echo? No. Okay. All right. I’m going to call us to order at 6:00 p.m. » [clears throat] » hearing the echo from the live stream. Okay. Um so one thing we when Brian resigned at our last meeting um one thing that we need to do according to thatcher that you know he

1:17 l are we called to order? » I did call us to order at 6 pm. again.

1:32 » Yes. Can you Can you hear me, Jen? » Yeah. I called this order at 6 PM. » Good. Um, Jen, I I don’t know if you ever had this problem, but I’m getting the the YouTube the YouTube live stream is kind of is is [clears throat] echoing me a few minutes later. I’m worried about muting it because I’m wondering if that mutes my voice. » I wouldn’t worry about it because we’re only going to live. What do we have on the agenda? You’re just going into executive session, aren’t we? Or wait, what or no? Wait,

2:13 » We do. We have two other items. And so the first one is related to the letter that I need to send to the select board » and part of it is that we have to um vote on declaring the seat vacant. » So who told you that? Because we’ve never done that before. So maybe we’ve not been doing good governance in the past. » Uh Thatcher uh is the one who who drafted this up for me to go to the school board, Jen. So it’s from Thatcher his recommendation to do that. » I understand that. But did you run that by council? » I did not. » Okay. I mean, we’ve just never done it before, so I’m not sure what where he was getting that from.

3:03 I mean, it’s just uh we have to just vote to declare the seat vacant. I’m not sure. I mean, unless someone’s very uncomfortable with doing that, it seems pretty a pretty simple thing to do um without having to involve legal counsel, but » Okay. » All right. So, I am looking for a motion so uh that we declare the seat vacant that was left by Brian Ot’s resignation. So moved. » Second. » All right. Is there any any more discussion?

3:46 » All right. Uh we’ll go to a vote. Um Jen » in favor. » Henry » in favor. » Kate » in favor. » L in favor. The motion passes. 4. The other item before we go into executive session

4:10 was related to um based on what we heard at our retreat, uh should we um look at an advisory committee for the high school roof project? I I » I’m in favor of that. I just um had a question, John. You may not know this, but Mike, what I wasn’t sure from the procurement laws because I kind of remember this from Gary School. At a certain level, are we required to have a building committee because I thought that’s what we were and I thought that’s what my recollection is that’s what the school committee voted to make the facility subcommittee. So I just want to I think we should make sure that that’s the case and which if in which case we can still do it but it would be a school committee

4:56 subcommittee not a advisory committee. The other thing I will make note is that if we go forward with an advisory superintendent advisory committee that’s fine but they are not subject to open meeting law. Um, and uh, I don’t know whether you would be posting them as open meetings, but you know, this is a huge project that has arguably during this campaign was discussed that had some concerns. So, we’re now going to be creating a committee that’s going to be discussing this not in open session. » So, um, so my Can you guys hear me? Okay. Um, so I I think [clears throat] » this is one of those things where I believe um we’re we’re just kind of, you know, we’re coming from behind a little bit, right? So I think that there should have been a committee established whenever the the roof started being

5:43 talked about a while ago. Whether it was or wasn’t, I don’t know. Um, so I think I think yes, there should be a roof committee. I think separate from the facility subcommittee. I think that was talked about. Um, I would concur though, Jen, that um, you know, we definitely want a school committee member on and I think Henry had actually um had, um, expressed interest. I wasn’t there for that part of the whole discussion. I had to step out of the um the the thing the other day. Um, so I’m not sure exactly where where it landed, but however, um, I think you I would concur that at this point with the transparency, etc., that we’re looking for to share with the towns people or school committee advisory committee likely makes more sense. Um just my opinion I I mean I’ll do whatever that’s the will of the committee. Um but I think if we have it

6:30 if we have a school committee med member on that committee I think that’s that’s important one and two if it’s a school committee advisory then I think it’s it’s probably going to lend some more credence to the um open discussions that I think people are looking for from the school committee. But again, just my opinion, » I think if it’s going to be a school committee sub subcommittee, it needs to be two members. Um, and I don’t know. I mean, and that’s what I I think it I agree with you, John. I think it should be, but I what I’m also not sure of is if it’s a superintendent advisory committee, is it even allowed to be open? I mean, I don’t think like I don’t » No, generally not. That’s why that’s why they kind of um Yeah, that’s why it’s set up that way. And typically, you know, you can have a a member on a

7:16 superintendent advisor. You don’t have to, but I think it’s always advisable in a situation like this. But I get I guess there’s three things, right? Superintendent advisory committee, school committee subcommittee, or I believe you could do a school committee advisory committee. I don’t know if that’s the laws are different for the regulations are different for that. Um, but I think I think for posterity’s sake, it probably just makes sense to have a roof, you know, separate from the facility subcommittee. A roof, I guess a subcommittee probably makes the most sense, but I think it’s just because because here’s the thing is we want to have some a group that whatever the group looks like needs to be focused just on the roof piece, whereas the facilities is kind of facility subcommittee is focused on everything

8:01 that’s facilities. So, I think that’s the reason for separating the two, I would imagine. Um, but again, just my opinion. Like I said, I’ll do whatever the committee decides. Um, I’m happy to facilitate whatever. If it is a superintendent advisory committee, I would just be looking for some uh input as to how to elicit that feedback and who, you know, who do we think we’re looking looking to get on that committee. But that’s I guess we decide the first thing first and then we’ll have a chat about the how to move forward. second. » I don’t feel strongly one way or the other whether it’s a superintendent or a school committee advisory committee. Um our advisory committee policy specifies that advisory committees are subject to

8:47 the open meeting law. So if it was a school committee advisory committee, you know, it would » it’s not a policy, it’s the law. If it’s an advisory committee to the school committee, it has to be it’s subject to open meeting law. » So I think it would make sense, you know, if if the concern is about making sure that the meetings are, you know, transparent and open to the public, then, you know, using a school committee mechanism that ensures that we’re having the meetings openly seems like the right approach.

9:31 when I looked at our our policies um you know there’s one there’s an advisory committee to the school committee and then there’s another one that’s subcommittees of the school committee. Is there a policy of subcommittees or or there’s nothing around advisory committees to the superintendent or at least I didn’t see it. I maybe I need to look look more

10:02 Did anyone So I I guess like John, you were mentioning the options. I’m still unclear as to, you know, what the difference is between an advisory committee to the school committee and an advisory committee to the superintendent. » Yeah, I think it’s it’s not it’s not advisory to the superintendent, it’s a superintendent’s advisory committee. So for instance, right now we have a um you know the anti-discrimination committee is a superintendent advisory committee. So that committee meets, we’re going to talk about stuff and then I will bring the information back to the school committee. That’s how that works. If it’s a subcommittee, it works just like any other subcommittee where you guys have to post an open meeting, have the discussions, and then bring it back to the the larger team for votes, which again, in my humble opinion, that makes more sense because we have, you know,

10:47 time is of the essence for for the uh the decision making. You know, the bid pro, you know, the bid process, the pre-bid process is out. I think we come back on I think that ends on August 28th. Then we have to meet within a certain amount of days after that to go you know do the checklist under pre-bid that’s all procurement. So whether there’s you whether the committee is part of you know um established or not the procurement has to happen. So I think it makes more sense to have you know the committee and again I would think the subcommittee makes the most sense in my humble opinion but » I mean if you look at the policy um BDF of the advisory committees to the school committee it doesn’t say one way or the other whether a school committee member can or should

11:33 or cannot serve on it but the way it’s described is does not in the description doesn’t lend itself to having a school committee member on it. It’s, you know, it’s it’s an advisory committee that’s made up of of whoever the committee appoints to it. Very clear assignment of duties, assignment of what the charges, um, you know, how you’re going to be reporting to the school committee. So, it’s clearly, you know, tasked with an advisory role. So again, it doesn’t say whether you can or cannot have a school committee member, but just from the way I read it doesn’t lend itself to have a school committee member on it because if a school committee’s members on it, is that school committee member chairing it? Then there’s not really an advisory committee. It’s a form of a subcommittee.

12:19 subcommittee. subcommittee. Yeah, it’s definitely » you have a school committee member leading it and then coming to the committee with a recommendation for a vote, which is ultimately what this will probably be doing. Um, so you know I it probably should be its own subcommittee or or we do an advisory committee purely with people from the presumably from our community or however we get them who have subject matter expertise that we are t they are tasked with working with the administration during this process and making recommendations for us as we need to vote presumably on the you know the the qualified biders and or the bid the ultimate bid and um approving what needs to be approved.

13:08 » All right. So, Jen, just make sure I So, you are suggesting that it should probably be its own the project should be its own subcommittee » or an advisory committee, but if it’s an advisory committee, it just doesn’t seem appropriate to have a school committee member on it. They could attend. » So, you’re talking about an advisory committee to the school committee, » just to be clear. » Okay. Correct. Yeah. I don’t think an advisory committee to the superintendent I don’t even that doesn’t to me it just that doesn’t seem to make sense. But » just one person. » No, I don’t think it does either. And I think um again the advisory piece generally you know you know the open meeting hosting and all that stuff and I don’t know that it applies the same way as the

13:54 subcommittee does. So just this committee is decided subcommittee or not. » Advisory committees to the school committee are subject to open meeting laws. » Okay. » Written in there. Yeah. » Yeah. I just I don’t have a policy in front of me. » All right. Any other » Well, I’m curious. When we’ve done more significant building projects, we’ve established building committees that have been chaired by a member of the school committee, but the membership of that committee is not limited to the school committee members. » Correct. » That’s correct. But that was a subcommittee. Those building committees were subcommittees to the school committee. » 100%. » Yeah. So I can share like in my my

14:40 experience when you know in my previous role um we had a building a building committee you know I did all the work for the SOI and and all the stuff to get the thing going and then once the building committee was established it was um it was a subcommittee. So the there was a person from the school committee on it who was from the school to sit on that committee to make the decision. So I see this as similar only, you know, obviously a roof is a lot smaller than of a project and building the whole building. So I I think that that’s probably the best way to go.

15:31 All right. So we are we coalesing around a subcommittee a specific subcommittee for the roof project.

15:48 » Okay. Um and by the way, it looks like you can there’s no number of members of school committee that need to be on it. So there could be one per it looks like there could be one school committee member on it which is fine. I think that’s I think it’s overkill to have two.

16:19 Okay. Is this um so Jen when we establish a subcommittee a motion needs to be made for that but do you do it with membership at the same time or do you do it in steps? » Well if you read the policy it says it’ll be established through an action of the committee. The committee chair subject to approval by the committee will appoint the subcommittee member members and its chair. They’ll provide it with a list of their functions and duties. They’ll make recommendations for the committee’s action but may not act for the school committee. They’re subject to open meeting law and they’ll be dissolved by the committee upon complete completion of its assignment or may dissolved dissolved by a vote of the committee at any time

17:11 All right. So, it sounds like I need to subject to approval by the whole committee start this. Um, but my my question was just um » someone needs to make a motion to establish this subcommittee. » Right. And at that time though, we can add members afterwards. That’s what my original question was. » There doesn’t seem to be I’m reading the policy. » Doesn’t seem to be any time » table. Yeah, there doesn’t appear to be any time table or calendar around appointing members.

17:49 » So, Al, I can make a motion um I’ll make a motion that we establish a subcommittee for oversight of the high school roof project um to consist of Henry Gwazda um whichever members of the administration John recommends for membership. um and that we task Henry with coming back to the committee um at our August 21st meeting with recommendations of community members with subject matter expertise who could sit on that committee as well.

18:35 » Okay. Um any further discussion?

18:45 All right. Uh we’ll take a vote. Uh Jen » favor. » Henry » in favor. » Kate » in favor. » Al in favor. The motion passes four to zero.

19:07 all right. That brings us to uh the end of our agenda items outside of I need a motion and vote to meet in executive session for the following reasons. Executive session pursuant to chapter 30A section 21A3 purpose 3 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining with unit A of the Marblehead teachers association as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body and the [clears throat] chair so declares without intent to return to open session. We’ll also uh go into executive session pursuant to chapter 30A section 21A3 purpose three to discuss threatened litigation by a former administrator as an open meeting may have detrimental

19:54 effect on the litigating position of the school committee and the chair so declares without intent to return to open session. » So moved. » Seconded. [clears throat] Um, any discussion?

20:15 Um, Jen, do I read that again after the vote before we discussion? Okay. » Yes, you do. » Okay. So, um, let’s vote on it. Uh, Jen » in favor. » I’m sorry. You you Okay, Jen. Uh, thank you. In favor, Henry » in favor. » Kate, » in favor. » L in favor. The motion passes. is Thatcher joining us? » He confirmed with me that he was. Um, we’re going to meet around 6. I told him about 6:30. » Okay. And then I had made, um, I had a concern. Henry, I don’t know if you came back with anything written from the ethics commission about joining us in this executive session.

21:01 » Uh, yeah, I spoke with them today. Um, and they assured me that there wasn’t any. » We have that in writing. I actually sub while the writing takes 30 days. The the phone advice is functional as written advice from uh from the ethics commission per their policies. I did submit a um disclosure of appearance of conflict of interest with the town clerk today. Um so that’s in the public record now as again that was on the guidance of the state ethics commission. Um and so yeah that’s in the public record.

21:46 » Okay. So we will be meeting uh in executive session pursuant to chapter 38 section 21A3 purpose 3 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining with you today of the Marblehead teachers association is an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body and the chair so declares without intent to return to open session. We will also be meeting in executive session pursuant to chapter 38 section 21 A3 purpose 3 to discuss threatened litigation by former administrator as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the school committee and the chair so declares without intent to return to open session. So I’m looking for a motion to adjourn our meeting.

22:31 » Uh we adjourn from executive session now. If you adjourn it now we do not go into executive session.

22:41 Okay. Um I we are we are done with the open meeting and um we’ll convene the executive session soon. » Are we of the same zone? » No, I sent an email Jen a day or two ago with new information, a new link.

23:05 » Jump off here and sign on the other one. The L. Yeah. » Yes. » See you on the other. » You have a few minutes if you need a bit of a break. » Okay. Thank you. » No later than 6:30, please. » I got it. » All right. Thank you all. Jen, do you need me to resend the link? Um, I’m trying to see when did you send it? » What? L, when did you send it? » I’m just going into email. Hold on a sec, Jen. » Well, I got a bunch of emails for you, so hang on. Let’s » No, no, no. Yeah, I’m just uh » we used for all our school committee meetings. Okay, » that was the initial. It was after that.

23:53 » Um, a second looking it up. Immediate action required. No,

24:04 » it was sent uh 8 uh 9 hours ago. 8:36 a.m. » We’ll have a short open meeting. The Zoom link. Okay. All right. Got it. Thank you. » All right, Jen. See you in a minute. Yes.