School Committee: August 21, 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.

0:03 This webinar is being live. » Okay, so should be good now. » But is it to commence recording seven? » You stopped recording. So you need to start recording again.

0:21 Okay, public comment. Sarah » Sarah, 46th Street. I saw that for the second consecutive meeting you have um collected bargaining exemption for um you today on your agenda. You are not in a period of collected bargaining. If you are reopening bargaining, you have to do that as a vote of public session. It would be completely egregious at this point after putting our children through a strike to end this to be doing anything to reopen that that um contract, especially since the MTA at the state level has been very vocal in their mailings and in their conferences that their number one goal this year is

1:08 to seek members on school committees and select boards that are favorable to the outcomes they want. after they pushed very hard to campaign for two new members. Now you’re potentially reopening bargaining for something our children and 10,000 students on the Northshore will withheld their civil right to a public education for. So, I sure hope you’re not entertaining changing anything in that contract, especially without doing it in open session first because if you are indeed bargaining, you have to vote to do it. There needs to be documentation. There’s a very prescriptive process that we have followed in the past and has to be followed. And if you are doing anything

1:53 outside of this, it is not only an open meeting violation, it is an ethics violation. and I will be following this very closely. The second topic I want to talk about is sadly what happened in our community a couple days ago. In May of 2024, we had our youth behavior risk survey presentation during which it showed more than one in four of every one of our high school students reported riding in a vehicle with someone under the influence. At that time during a public meeting, I brought up several times that this needed to be addressed given the history of our town that clearly those numbers are showing that they weren’t just riding with other peers, but their parents are modeling this behavior. I begged to get ahead of this before it

2:39 happened again. Fast forward a year later, our youth risk behavior survey came out again. Same data, maybe one or two percentage points in one one area or another. We have to stop sugar coating and glamorizing what is happening to these kids and happening in our town. This is a community issue. Reached out to a school committee member. I reached out to other elected officials. You need a task force, not just in the school committee. It needs membership from the school committee, the select board, the department of health, parent representation. Because until this community starts to acknowledge that this is starting in the homes, that parents are socially hosting these parties, that parents are turning a blind eye to this happening, that we’re glamorizing when it happens, another kid will tragically meet the

3:24 same end. We can’t do these risky behavior surveys, see these outcomes, and do nothing. I know people think it happens in the that education can only happen in the schools. That’s not right. It starts in the home. They’re seeing this at home, but they also need a wraparound service from the schools, from the department of health, from the select board, everyone because these kids are the over one in four kids. They’re being driven by their parents, too. That’s what they’re seeing first is that mom and dad have a few pops at the yach club or at trivia night or whatnot, drive the babysitter home, drive them home from the party. It’s not okay. We’re modeling this for our kids and we really I’m begging you to do a true

4:10 collective effort in our town to talk about this. Do not let another child tragedy be in vain. Please, I would love to be part of any solution, but what I won’t be part of is sweeping us under the rugby. » Thank you. Thank you. » Thank you, sir. » Okay. I am

4:38 okay. Um, okay. Um, I see Sarah has her hand raised. » Sarah, can you hear us? » You need to make her a panelist

4:57 » Sarah, it looks like you’re muted on this from our my perspective. You need to ask her to unmute. » Sarah, can you hear me? Can you please unmute?

5:40 All right. Um Sarah, I apologize, but we cannot hear you.

5:48 She’s logged in again. So, » yeah, I’ve asked her to unmute. Oh, looks like that might just work now. Sarah, could you hear us? » I can. Can you hear me? » Y now we can hear you. Okay, perfect. Sorry, I had the thing I had the microphone disabled. Um, you know, I just wanted to reiterate reiterate what Sarah Fox said about, you know, this is definitely a teachable moment and as everybody knows in this town, you know, it’s always been swept under the rug with, you know, drugs and alcohol um with our kids and we really need to take this seriously. Um, my daughter’s going into high school and is very very nervous. Um, you know, I know that we we’ve put forth before, you know,

6:35 certain ideas of what we could do, but nothing’s really ever come into action. And I think that the school committee um really needs to take it seriously and do something about this. It’s not a joke. Um, you know, it’s we need to show our kids, you know, I’ve been talking to a lot of kids and a lot of parents and it seems like the kids are more outraged than the parents. Like this is some sort of normal thing in Marblehead. And um, you know, we really need to show our kids that we’re going to stand up for them and that this is not going to be allowed. And just like Sarah said, yes, it starts in the home. And unfortunately, we all know too well that um you know, parents are allowing this in their home and uh we need to do some

7:20 sort of education in our schools um not only for our kids but for the community. Um, so that’s that topic. And then I just wanted to ask the school committee if they are going to respond to my August 6th um, you know, email back to you guys in regards to the steps that you’re going to take um, for our community and students um, against anti anti-semitism because I haven’t heard back.

7:51 » All right. Is that Are you done, Sarah? » I am. Thank you. I just want to remind folks too before your comment uh your name and address please. Um so Tom Tom man uh 16 Shorewood Road. Uh I’m on the board of health. I had no intention of speaking when I came here. Um everyone if you followed me you know this is a very something I’ve been talking about for some time. I grew up in this town. I lived it. I drank and drove in high school. So did all my friends. I don’t believe the surveys. I mean, I told me and Julia have talked about it. They they’re written wrong. Um when you write a survey to say high

8:36 schoolers, have any of you ever um drank and drove? What’s the problem? Do they all have licenses? So, how are they even going to respond to that with an accurate number? Right? Those things need to be rewarded. You need to you need to change these for the students to make it so they’re directed at what you’re actually facing here so you get accurate numbers. I mean, I still don’t buy Yeah. I mean, I grew up here. I I still from what I understand from talking to my friends who still I I still think the numbers are under reppresented and um it needs to be addressed. And this it’s not a it’s not just a school issue, you know, it’s a you know, I’m sure you guys are going to catch a lot of heat for this, but it is a Marblehead culture issue. And it’s one that we always brush under the rug and

9:22 it goes everywhere. How many students you heard of with DUIs? Evan, so police department, you know, they’re complicit in it, too. Um, you know, parents, you know, everyone knows in town that there was parents that just, you know, let it happen at their houses. Um, you know, hoping like, well, at least if it’s my house, then at least my kid won’t be out there driving and stuff like that. And um what I was dismayed to find out yesterday is denial. » Tom, just a few more seconds. » We all know that fog did not kill James Galante. And the more we lie about that in the community, the worse off everyone else is. And I’m looking forward to moving, you know, putting something together,

10:08 together, together, working for this. I’ve been trying to I’ve come to schools. There’s roadblocks. The word trigger keeps coming up. Trigger the hell out of them. That’s what they need. I was in the school when this happens. You know, I saw it. I know how it is to be a student. Trigger the hell out of them. Get get rid of that and let’s move forward. I’ll help. You know, my board’s in. » Thank you, John.

10:38 » Okay. » Okay. » All right. That concludes public comment. The next item up is uh district updates. » Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um so good evening. It’s with a heavy heart that I share our district updates. I want to reiterate our sincere condolences to Savannah’s family at this very difficult time. We’ve had our counselors poised and ready at vets in high school to provide our students, staff, and community partners support and we’ll continue to ensure extra support is in place when school begins. I want to thank our counselors counseling team for their unwavering commitment to the work they do. Um so uh um it’s been a tough week for sure. This is

11:24 this is this kind of stuff is hard to talk about. So um you know I get emotional so just bear with me a little bit. Um our newly developed district model is moving forward together. This sad situation makes the motto even more pertinent. reminds us that we need to be there for one another and support each other in all aspects of our lives. Okay. As the school year begins, we are finishing up facilities upgrades and enhancements. Glover HVA system is in and they are ensuring that is operating effectively. The playground may not quite be completed as planned based upon delivery of equipment and the ability of the company to get on site and redo the rubberized portions. This has been something we’ve been working on since we talked about it. Um we’re at the mercy of the um at the company. They they

12:10 assured us that we’d have everything in place and on board before school starts. They’re a little bit behind. Mike Pifferling, I think, is on Zoom somewhere. Is working diligently with the company. So, we’re hopeful that um you know, we get it still get it in before Wednesday, but um at least portions of it will be completed. So, we’ll work through that. Um so, I just want to share that update because I know there’s a lot of people asking. Uh the vets pack is all done. The walls and ceilings have been repainted with the same color that they were before and the seats are reupholstered and reinstalled and it looks great. It’s just really sharp looking. Um so I’m glad that we were able to get that done. The village scoreboard was installed and it’s ready for action. Uh painting and refinishing of floors up across the district has gone well. Um our custodial staff is hard at work providing finishing touches

12:56 across the district. Rex and Park are tidying up our exteriors and we should be looking good for opening day. I took a ride around again today. most of the I know there was some glover was looking a little shaggy but it looked great this afternoon when I drove by. So I think you know Rex and Park is is getting out there and doing what they’ve they’ve been tasked with. So I’m I’m glad for that. Um I’d also like to make mention that the district now possesses its first 7D electric van to be in alignment to begin alignment with some of the green marble head initiative. So it’s I mentioned it before but we got it. We have it. It’s le you know it’s stencled. It looks great. It’s going to be it’s a great addition to our fleet and it’s eco-friendly. So very excited about that. Uh this last week we held our leadership uh I’m sorry this week we held our leadership institute where our leader leadership teams came together to prepare for the upcoming year. It’s a

13:41 bevy of activities and there’s a lot of great team building and preparation taking place under the direction of Julia and their instructional coaching team. Tomorrow we will welcome our new staff to the district right here in the library. Um first thing tomorrow morning uh we will meet together with the admin team and staff set expectations um and set uh set the stage for the start of the school year. On Monday all our staff will meet at vets in the morning where I will welcome everyone back and then they will head off to their respective schools for time with their principles and their teams. On Tuesday we’ll have another day of PD and preparation and then we’ll excitedly welcome the students back on Wednesday. That’s all my updates for this evening, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Um, move on to the consent, action, and agenda items. I’m

14:26 going to do do them separately to allow people to make comments around the minutes. Um, so I I’d like for a motion to approve the identified schedules of bills totaling 918, $34.58. » So moved. » Seconded. » Is there any discussion? Okay, we’ll move to a vote. Jen » favor. » Henry, » favor. » Kate » in favor. » Al in favor. » Um so building so subcommittee uh you know I know that there you know we all know that they’re uh open to to open meeting law.

15:13 Do their meeting minutes get approved by the school committee or just the » No, they get approved in the subcommittee » in the » Okay. So, just for people who are following on the agenda, we’re not going to then that that was my mayor called my mistake. I put um building subcommittee meetings on the agenda. So, I’m looking for a motion to approve the meeting minutes uh of August 4th and August 7th of the school committee. » So, moved. » Second. Uh any discussion? » I have some edits to the minutes. There are some things um that are specifically set forth in I’m fine with the substance of them, but there are some things that the open meeting law requires be included in our minutes um like the

15:58 location where it was held, documents that were used. So, I’m happy to move forward and approve the minutes um and I’ll work with Henry to make sure that those things um are added in. » Thank you. Can you when you submit the drafts make sure those are ready to go » like the draft in other words the draft should have should be ready to go like have the » location.

16:23 » All right. Um we’ll we’ll go to a vote. Jen » in favor. » Henry favor. » Kate » in favor. » Al in favor. » Okay. We’ll move on to the school committee communication and discussion items. The first one is around an upgrade to the handbooks and I believe superintendent you’re going to » Yeah. So um thank you Mr. Chairman. So in the Dropbox we put the updated you know the proposed updates to thing and I it was my fault I didn’t hit the like accept the changes. So I’m going to just pass out um actually accepted changes and it changes the language a little bit and I think it’ll make more sense. Um, so I’ll just I’ll just let you know in where it’s red it says Marblehead Public Schools utilizes a student family handbook to notify parents, guardians that have asked when we accept a change. It stands from um a change from notify

17:09 to obtain consent from parents and guardians. So I’m going to just share that with everybody so they can see it. Um so that you know that that will make a little bit more sense when we’re talking about um this handbook change and how it how it relates to a lot of our policies. » Thank you. » Thanks, General. Um so that um so I think um I’m actually Julia I think is is better equipped to have a conversation in regard to to the um the handbook changes. she she works she works closely with uh the language and the folks and um so I just kind of want to turn it back over to her but I just wanted before I want to share that um you know that update was is just because I didn’t accept actual changes that were

17:55 you know acceptable on my screen so that’s why you can pull it together so anyway Julia » we’ve been recently talking about the policy IL and I really appreciated the committee’s feedback so basically where we landed and I think it’s we need to still have some clarity on what was finally approved and if it was approved or Uh but basically we’re we’re aligned with um we’re moving forward with with align with MASC right that um that families um will consent u to the surveys and there will be an opt out as well. So what we’re looking at is how to operationalize that and this is already in our handbooks. So when we’re talking about getting ready for the year and we looked at the handbooks, we talked about really made me think about how we need to think about operationalizing

18:40 and so everything in the black font and and type is um has been in our handbook for years. What I’ve done in the red section and with some feedback um thought about how we can use our handbook to put the IL into action. So how can we operationalize it? an ILD basically says that um that families have the right to um will consent and have the right to opt out of and there’s a list of eight items and they’re listed on the back of this page. Um so what we’d like to do is use the handbook to obtain consent from our families yet we will still always give the opt out as we approach within a timely manner as we approach any survey within those I eight items that are listed. Um,

19:28 so essentially if we um if the committee wants to um approve this for the handbook language, it’s would be updated language just to say that families are consenting, but you still do have the opportunity to opt out. Um, this helps us operationalize when we’re talking about high school survey with 800 students. Um, we would have that consent um because they’ve approved the handbook, but they would still have the opportunity to opt out with plenty of notice as it does say in the law. Um, just wanted to » Can I just um can I just add, Mr. Chairman, so the IL section that I think has been kind of bantered back and forth and I this still has to go back through the subcommittee. I know that back to the school committee, but in the our current in our current um policy manual

20:14 is is the MASC version from I think it was approved in 2018. It’s been since updated in 2023 with very minor language changes. So I think that subcommittee is going to look at that. But currently part of the verbiage says without the written without the prior written consent of the student’s parent guardian of a student if he or she is 18 years old and it lists all those things. So there’s been some confusion going back and forth is opt in is opt out without prior written consent is I the piece that’s been confusing but what Julie was just explaining and I just want to kind of reiterate it was by signing off on the handbook you’re provide the way the handbook’s written by signing off in the handbook you’re providing the written consent and then the handbook also allows for the opt out for those areas that you need to. So I don’t know if that helps clarify a little bit some of the back and forth confusion I think then but that myself had as well but

21:01 that’s that’s what so I just want to share that as well. Thank you.

21:11 Any further discussion? » Um do you want to make the motion and have the discussion or do you want to do it before? » I was just about to make a motion but I’ll make the motion then we’ll do the discussion. So, looking for a motion to approve the proposed updates. I’m sorry, the uh proposed updates to the MPS handbooks develop to notification of rights under the protection of pupil rights amendment PP. » Some moved. » Seconded. » Okay. » Discussion. » Yeah, there’s a lot of issues here. Um, first of all, um, I don’t agree with this at all. Um, so a couple things. First of all, we have not approved policy. So, we’re referencing to approve a handbook that depends on which we haven’t approved.

21:57 So, that’s a bit of cart before the horse. Um, secondly, you’re asking for blanket consent, which I absolutely do not agree with to these to these surveys. In fact, I’m not even sure that that’s legal. I don’t know if you spoke to council on this. I strongly suggest that we refer to council on this because I don’t even know if we can do this or not. Um, I also think that it is sort of buried in this and you’re saying that you’re ask I guess asking for blanket consent u with an opt out but that is not the spirit of policy and par if a parent doesn’t sign the handbook what is that

22:43 you know how do you operationalize that and how do they even know that the handbook is ah 100 pages long » required to sign the handbook So, I don’t think that this personally I don’t I’m one person think that this is um a valid way to operationalize what we may approve in policy. You haven’t they haven’t done that yet. » So, so can I just follow up too because I think so our current policy is is what this is referring to now with the potential then it’s updated. So, if the if the D gets updated, we would have to go back and change the handle again because school start on Wednesday. Just wanted to make sure that we had the right handle. So this update to the handbook refers to our current IL policy which is still from 2018. » Well then this must be an error because

23:29 the current if you’re saying the current handbook is giving blanket consent. The current pol the current policy doesn’t have consent. The current policy says » policies no current policy says without prior written consent. What we’re saying is the is the handbook signing off on the handbook would provide would be providing the consent and then the the language about being able to opt out. we email them, you know, we let them help out. And and what I can say is this is we can I mean we can have a conversation. It’s up to the committee, but at the end of the day, you know, I’ve seen this in in other situations. For instance, um uh I think oh for photos so like if you opt in, you know, the handbook says you you basically consent to having your child’s photo. I

24:14 don’t know if I said this but in my previous like um you know you you basically consent to you know sign off on the handbook and consent so your kid being you know photo you know whatever is in the school and if you don’t want that you write you provide written opt out consent. So that’s one one example and this I look at similarly. So » I think that I do think this is a little bit different in that it’s surveys. So you’re asking also for blanket consent which apparently we’ve been doing. Shame on me that I didn’t know that. Um and you don’t even have the surveys give them. I mean do we have sample surveys because you don’t do I mean some of these surveys happen in the spring » right so nothing would change in our continuous pro process of notification and providing an opt out so we would still be in » but we should be providing an opt in is what the new IL policy is » so I was working off of was on the

24:59 Marblehead school committee website with the that’s approved and uploaded um so that’s one I was working on that is » I mean we can do that I’m I’m going to saying we can do that but we are we are going to be meeting next week. I think it’s on the agenda and if we change policy, then we’re going to have to change the handbook. » Correct. » Yeah. And that’s what I just I just I mean we have to be well we may have we may be able to not » Yeah. We don’t I don’t know what the committee’s going to » No. No. I mean we may not need to change the handbook because it depends on how it’s written. So right now it’s the MSC one. The one that’s on MSC has the same exact language about the written thing. If we do the one that we had proposed before which was the optin what I heard was the opt-in option going to work. So we went back to MSC. So that’s where the confusion but the subcommittee has that has is tasked with that. So bring that

25:45 back. But either way for starting school on Wednesday this this would provide us the opportunity to do that and then just like anything else if something changes from from the school committee then we we make the adjustments. That’s why we do the sites we do the handbooks electronically. Well, I also think the spirit of this from my perspective, and I’m only one person here, is um to to be transparent » and to give parents the information beforehand with some of these sensitive surveys. This is the feedback we’ve received in the past. Um and um and parents don’t ever see these often. Um so that’s » well with this on the sensitive surveys that’s I I would I would push back a little bit but the sensitive survey we absolutely do notify it’s the surveys

26:32 that you know are are around like collecting you know typical data whatever but like for surveys that are these especially these eight things we absolutely will if we have it pass that’s » to my knowledge we have I’ve never I as a parent I never received » and and that may be I can’t speak to that but I can speak to the fact that it says right in this handbook that for these eight areas which all sensitive stuff is outlined in the policy that we have to um directly notifi the district will directly notify parents via email and students are scheduled to participate in specific activities or surveys that concern the following and list is readable political affiliation mental sex behavior legal D parents will be provided reasonable notification of the planned activity and surveys listed above and will be provided an opportunity to opt their child out of such activities and services I

27:18 » think it’s important to also read further down the page that the handbook language provides the parents will have an opportunity to review, you know, the surveys. And so this what this is tracking is the statute that it’s based on which requires written consent for anyone under 18 and an opportunity to review and opt out. And it really is sort of a belt and suspenders, but it’s not really in that in my perspective it, you know, at the beginning of the school year in a 100page document, you’re getting blanket consent. I, as a parent of a high school student, never received anything ever. Now, that may change, right? So, you’re giving a blanket consent in August for something that’s going to happen, you know, next spring and so and don’t see

28:03 it. So, I think that the spirit of this may be lost. Absolutely. If I could have completed what I was saying, you know, the impetus is now really on the administration to make sure that when these surveys are conducted that opt out is happening. I mean, that’s it’s not just what you write on the paper. It’s how you operationalize » I agree your procedure. » I agree. » So, I think there’s some like updates that just we want to look at no matter where the committee lands. I mean, we we don’t use US mail to notify families of surveys. we we only do via email. So, I mean that’s just the reality of what we’re doing. So, I just want to from what was in the original language um I do just think we should look at some general updates of how we are really putting this into place and um so

28:50 whether it’s to obtain consent or um to just notify you know uh to the point made that we don’t have all the dates. We really don’t. Um our educators come back on Monday and we’ll start that work together. Um, but there’s language in here that we’ll let them know at the beginning of the year if we have if um beginning of the year has identified specific and approximate dates and we don’t have that. So, at least the handbook is acknowledging that we will be communicating that via email so people families can rest assured that we will be doing that. Um, with plenty of time to opt out. Yeah, I guess ideally it would be nice to change the policy, have the handbook match that, but we don’t have I don’t believe we have that luxury given right the start of school next week. And I also, if I’m hearing correctly, blanket

29:37 consent and they’re valid concerns, but it exists today. So, we’re not altering that in any way. So, I you know, I think it makes sense to approve what you you’ve suggested here at least personally. And you know when we make changes we you know we’ll understand that we have to make the ripple effect and make the changes where else it’s needed whether it’s the handbook regardless. So is there any more discussion before we move to a vote. Okay. Jen Okay. Jen » abstain. » Henry » in favor. » Gate » in favor. » Al in favor. Motion passes. Three, three, four, and one abstension.

30:34 » Uh, our next item is proposed updates to the MPS bullying intervention and prevention plan. I believe Lisa Murray, you’re gonna lead us through this. Um so um this uh bullying intervention plan was vetted by our um attorney Matt Makavoy. Um most of the changes were more grammatical than uh anything else. Um some updates uh to the plan that you received um were around um new language that is used um as part of the bullying uh statute here in the state of Massachusetts. So for example, instead

31:19 of um having it be an uh perpetrator aggressor and instead of having um the terminology also perpet per perpetrator to aggressor and also um it’s um not victim, it’s now target. So that language has been changed throughout um the safety plan. I have I have presented the plan as required by law uh to our administrative team last week during our um leadership um meeting. Uh we will continue to provide training um I know there might have been some questions about how we provide the professional development. Um and working with assistant superintendent FRA we are um adding as part of our ARCs ed

32:05 training mandatory training at the beginning of the year. Um so if this is approved tonight uh that will be included um for the staff to uh review as well as our building principles uh we’ll be using a presentation that was shared with them last week with their um building staff as well too. Um, it is also, um, going to be updated on our website. Make I feel like we need to make it a little bit more forward facing so you don’t have to go digging trying to find it, but I know that the district IT department’s working really hard to update our our website as well. Um, I don’t know if anyone had any questions. » There is » I didn’t have any questions. Lisa Mar,

32:52 thank you for doing that. Um, what I still couldn’t find is, and this is tangential, is the title nine, like who the title nine officers are like where would is that on the website. » It is on the website and that would be me. Uh, just » but where would I know where you know? Yeah, it I think you know we’re working and I’m working with Steve or uh » tech. Sorry, Steve. » Um to make things a little bit more in in the forefront of our our website. Okay. » Um » yeah, he’s he’s working to update the website to platform there that’s probably going to be more user friendly anyway. and we’ll make sure you know at least some of those I know should do a

33:37 good job making sure those very important things are forward facing more than more so than they are » some things are you know they’re buried with in within department and sometimes that’s hard when you’re looking for stuff it’s like a searching and so it’s it’s never easy but we’ll do our best to kind of put that out there so people don’t want to look that’s good point I think » and the only one change that’s not reflected um in the final version and there’s one little mistake. It says that parents uh families will be notified after the investigation has been concluded. That’s not accurate. Parents uh will be notified for both the alleged uh victim and for the aggressor um prior to the

34:23 investigation starting just as uhformational. I will make that one little change. So, so just for the sake of argument if the committee goes to approve the him the changes just make sure that’s a motion that we change it with with the with the minor adjustment that needs to be made in it. » All right. So, um I’m looking for a motion to accept the proposed updates with the edit that Lisa Murray discussed uh at the end of the document uh to our NPS bullying intervention intervention and prevention plan. Any further discussion?

35:06 » I’ll move the motion. » Second. » All right, we’ll go to a a vote. Jen in » favor. Henry » favor. » Kate » in favor. » Al in favor. The motion passes four to zero. » Thank you. » You’re welcome. Thank you. You’re » welcome. » Um the next item has to do uh around our high school roof project members. So at our last meeting we voted to form uh a high school roof subcommittee with Henry as chair and per policy PTE the committee chair subject to approval by this committee will appoint its members. So um I would like to put forward to

35:54 appoint Ralph Wallace and Sam Altrier as community members to the high school roof subcommittee. So uh just by matter of good governance and transparency this is not typically how we assign subcommittee or assign committee to any type of building committee. Usually there’s a period of time where people are requested to submit statements of interest. I didn’t I wasn’t asked to have anybody you know do that. I didn’t see any advertising for it. I also didn’t see any of the names in the Dropbox. So normally we would see those in advance um versus being asked to prove names of I don’t know any background of these people. I don’t » So Henry could you address that please? » Sure. I mean we did put notice in the papers for people to reach out um to

36:41 join the if they were interested. I got two people who contacted me and these are the two names. Um, » I mean, usually we do social media and we’d send out to the community probably after school started so parents would see um, we would try to do a pretty robust blanket solicitation. » Well, we are still waiting for John, you still have to make your recommendations um, for this as we discussed. And so if if we Yeah, that’s that’s » if we want to publicize this more widely, I’ I’d be happy to. I think these two names are really good. I’m happy to give you some background on them. I don’t think » Well, I mean, typically if you’re asking me to approve something, I should be see. » Yeah, I was hoping that yeah, I would be

37:26 um speaking a little bit about their qualifications. » Okay, but normally I would see that that’s » that’s my that’s my mistake, right? Next time I will put the members into the agenda specifically. Right. » That’s typ this is how we have done this in the past and it’s in the spirit of again transparency and good governance that we are really blanket you know blanketing the community in soliciting a number we I’d love I would have thought we would have had a number of people if it was well advertised that would be interested I would think just given the interest of this project and this is important to people in the town and then secondly we should have the opportunity to review this in advance Yeah, Yeah,

38:13 I’ll come back in the next meeting with and provide you with some um some information. does waiting until the next meeting delay work that we needed to be doing with » I think we can continue to move this project along in the building subcommittee for now until we have a fully formed roof committee. Um so I don’t think I mean it’s not going to delay anything. » Can I just chime in for a second Mr. Chairman? Um, so yeah, I I just want to make sure you obviously we need to take the right steps, you know, um, for the for the um, roof committee, but I would definitely because I want to say the pre-bid, if I’m not mistaken, this uh,

39:00 August 28th and it’s supposed to come in. I think we have a period of time to look for that. So yeah, I think the uh, subcommittee is going to have to do that work out recommendation to this committee, I think, because I we can’t we can’t delay it. So it just it just can’t happen because we delay that piece. people are not going to vote the rules when we need to. So I just want to be I caution this before and I know it’s it’s a it’s a logistics thing but I just want to make sure that » but I think ultimately it’s the school committee that needs to vote right. However, that vote gets to school committee on time, which maybe I don’t know if it’s the September 4th meeting » have to look at. Yeah. Um, » yeah, I want to say the 28th is the is the pre-bid like due date and is a period by which we have to select the September 8th sounds like it’s ringing

39:45 in my head, but but the 4th uh may work out, but we’ll we’ll look at that and I I just want to make sure we’re staying on track. So, I’ll work with Mike um the the actual timeline last week make sure we meet those. But yeah, » as long as it gets to the school committee, » right? That that was my point. That was my point is at least that first vote, however we get there because you guys have to make that vote regardless like » I think board does too. » Yeah. » So So Jen, if if Henry gives bit more background on these two individuals, » well, how many people are on the committee? What’s a quorum? Like I like you know because you’re going to need a quorum of the comm of whatever this committee is, » right? But right now we’re just adding two members. We can always we will add more members, right? So » I mean this is a fairly short period of time. So you know whatever

40:30 I’m just saying I can’t vote for people I don’t know who they are. That’s all I’m saying. So you want to come back at a future meeting that’s fine. And I think in the meantime, you know, either the facility subcommittee can vet it or frankly Mike with the OPM and John and the and the um designer can come forward to the school committee with the recommendation. » Yeah, I think I think that maybe the way we have just for this first piece to it. I mean, there’s got to be multiple layers of this and we’re going to bring stuff back to the school committee and it’ll go away. This first piece is really important and just for folks edification between Mike MCPPO, John’s MCPPO, the you know the left field um RDA and stuff um there’s enough people um that can I think make a recommendation for us to bring back. So um you know we clearly want people that have you know knowledge about rooster

41:17 stuff on the on the committee um for sure but you know it’s time to build. So » yeah. Yeah. So, John, I just want to be clear because I thought I heard a little while ago that there’s an August 28th meeting. » Well, the bids I want I believe the bids are the pre- bid documentation is due by the 28th. So, and then we have a period of time. I want to say it’s 10 days, but » I imagine it’s to approve the biders. » Yeah. there’ll be x number of biders and some based on the recommendation of the experts here or the you know the various procurement people will say that maybe you know bidder a b and c aren’t good for the following reasons or don’t » no so so well reel it back a little bit so this is just the pre- bid this is just identifying who was able to then go forward and bid so this this part is

42:03 important but the the bid bid is the real part um I think Mike has his hands up maybe he can speak more intelligently than I can to this part. » I’m not sure it’s more intelligently, but um the pre-qualification process that that is what potential biders need to apply to say, “Hey, I want to bid on this project and here are my qualifications. Here are the projects I’ve done. Here’s my financial backing. Here’s uh the size of my company. Here’s, you know, the number of years I’ve been in business.” There’ll be a bunch of pre-qualifi qualifications that they need to meet. Every company that meets the pre-qualification list will be allowed to bid on the project, but they need to submit that they want to be pre-qualified by August 28th. So So what are we um 7 days away from

42:49 that right now? That is not selecting a bidder. That is not awarding a contract. That is just qualifying people or disqualifying people won’t be depending on how you want to look at it. Uh who can or cannot bid on the project. Then after that, uh probably right about the same time as that, we will probably putting the bid out on the street for the actual construction. And that is um when we get that back, I think we’re going to have to have some some decisions made about whether we’re going to put a recover a new a new layer on top of the existing layer or or put a coating on top of the existing layer, a um a liquid applied barrier. That is where school committee and the adviserss are really going to help us uh make those decisions. Okay. » Yes. I’m confident we’ll be able to

43:34 figure out the pre-bid stuff for the next meeting for September 4. That’s if that doc if that date works for the pre-bid, you know, pre-bid selection between the folks that I just talked about, we can » Yeah. So, as long as we can agree, so it sounds like the impact is minimal at most and um I’d like us to agree on we’ll try to have the the other members all in place during the September 4th meeting. Well, yeah, » we’d have to vote it at the September floor date, » right? That that’s for us to be prepared to vote on those members. So, that means that, you know, sounds like we we want more widespread announcement of it and so we can you okay with that, Henry? Of » course. Okay. » All right. So, given that, I’ll uh I’ll withdraw the motion.

44:27 Okay. The next item um is a charter committee reviewer. Kate. » Yeah. So um Amy Drinker, who’s the chair of the town charter committee, sent an email um to Al and me. Um they the committee is looking for school committee feedback on draft B of the charter. I believe this is sort of like the second round of the charter. Um and they’re going to different departments and boards and committees that are discussed in the charter and asking them all to do this. Um they’re specifically looking for feedback around whether there are factual inaccuracies in the description of the committee and how we’re established and what we do. Um the the pertinent article that addresses the

45:13 school committee is article 6 section 8. Um, and there’s a deadline of Monday, October 6th for the for the response. And so Al and I just thought it made sense to come to the committee and have a discussion about how we want to go about providing that feedback to the charter committee. They have a form um that they’re asking to have filled out. Um, but you know, does the full committee want to review the charter that charter section and have a discussion at a future meeting? Do we want to designate someone to review it on behalf of the committee? So, um I’ve looked at it. I certainly need to look at it in more detail. It is not, you know, a particularly lengthy um amount of material to review.

46:06 I think we I’d be happy designating someone to look at for that level of language.

46:19 » Okay. Um Kate, would you be comfortable in doing that on our behalf? I would do you um would the committee want me to report back on on that or just go ahead and » Okay. » Yeah, » maybe we’ll do that. » Okay. » Thank you. So, there’s a um a mass MASC conference coming up in the middle of November. Um John, if you could just superintendent, if just put you on the on the spot and just help us understand what that is, then we can discuss who might be appropriate members to to attend that. » So um there’s two conferences that that the state kind of runs. One is the MASS, the Mass Association, superintendent, school superintendent conference. That’s

47:05 the one in July that generally superintendents, assistant superintendents go to. We all went this past July. I’ve been going for a dozen years or so. Um great great conference. And then in November they join uh MASS joins with the MASC the Mass Association school committees and they do a joint conference um uh November 12th to the 14th. So generally what happens is a school committee there’s two things one uh we kind of decide as the admin team who wants who would like to attend and we make that decision but then the school committee it’s more like you know who wants to go who can go you know it’s kind of up to the committee to decide. Um, sometimes there’s school there’s schools that all the committees go. Sometimes it’s just chair. Sometimes it’s just just some people can only go one day out of the three or whatever. So that’s kind of up to up to the committee. The other piece is the

47:51 committee. It’s my understanding that the committee is supposed to appoint a delegate to the to the um to the conference and that delegate there’ll be um a list of uh items that they put out that say here’s what we’re thinking about you know legislative things or whatever and that delegate we’re supposed to discuss that as a school committee and all those issues and the delegate is supposed to kind of say here’s our stance in marble headbased like you know um I forget the word for it but the you know number one we state you know we we don’t we agree with this or don’t » it’s a vote. So it’s it’s a slate of of items that voted. » So yeah. So but so that’s » designate the delegate is empowered by the committee to cast » so those are those are two things happen » which by the way we’ve never done.

48:37 » Okay. So I couldn’t remember if we did last year was a little bit of a blur last year or November but um sure. Uh but so tonight is I think just a discussion of the the conference itself which I feel you know it’s generally I feel it’s usually a pretty good conference because sometimes it replicates some of the stuff that happened with the superintendent so it kind of pulls the school committees into a lot of the same topics that we talked about. Sometimes there’s things that are really more geared toward I found the last couple years it’s more geared towards school committees than superintendents to be honest with you. It used to be more replication of MASS1 and then the school committees were kind of like what’s happening. So I think the last two years I found was was much better than the previous years that I went. So anyway, there’s usually a lot of good um you know there’s breakout sessions, there’s keynote speakers, uh the whole nine yards and there’s the one

49:22 day that the delegate has to go and you know pass the role for the on behalf of the committee. So and then what I would say is anyone that’s willing or wants to go, Lisa Manning manages that and we’ll try to I don’t know I don’t you I think I shared the uh thing with you guys tonight but um there should be an early bird special that we try to get in on. So it saves a few dollars. Um so and then you know she she’ll book it. She’ll book it book the hotel and that’s what I have but you know that’s been so shar » are there um what’s the budget around this? What if all » budget for all all members to go? » Excuse me. » We budget for all » for all of us. Okay good. Thank you Jen. » Um and the early bird special it’s is it before the September 4th meeting?

50:09 Oh, I just g I gave you guys all the the I think it’s in that documentation I gave you. I didn’t memorize the date, but um » September in advance. » Yeah. » The what? » September 5th is the » Usually if people want to go, they just let Lisa know and she’ll try. » Okay. So, there’s nothing to do through the » No, » other than maybe if we want to uh appoint a delegate. » Well, we have till November. » November. It’s just um yeah, I would say if if whoever is will wants to go and um look at the days of what’s you know basically outlined and just let Lisa Manning know yes, I want to go. I want to go all of it. I want to go to one day or just I’m not staying over. I’m just going to go down. I don’t know if you guys are going to drive to the table one day, but that happened a lot on my other job. Um but you know, those are things that just decide let know because there are menu items of like you

50:55 know you going to do the lunch, you do the dinner and those all have costs associated. So, just try to be mindful of that. If you’re not going to go to the dinner, don’t spend the $75 on the rubber chicken they’re going to serve. It’s, you know, better off going get a dinner somewhere else. That’s my advice. » Okay. All right. Any further discussion on this? » Okay. Um, and the superintendent also wanted to discuss a donation. Yes, we we received the making end donation from making ends meet incorporated foundation incorporated for $500 uh to the Brown School. Um you you saw it was in your packet as a blanket donation and I came to find out that it wasn’t for blankets. Um it’s actually a blanket donation to

51:40 the school. Um » so unrestricted. » Yeah. So yeah. Um yeah, we Mary Mary Maxwell and I had a little laugh over that when I emailed asked what the blankets were for. Um, so yeah, so anyway, I was planning a donation for $500 to the Brown School. So I I just wanted to thank them for for doing that. Very generous and you know, we’ll put the funds to good use, but has any with any other donations to accept that, you can do so tonight. Thank you.

52:11 » Yes, please make a motion to accept the donation from making the making ends meet Foundation. » Seconded. Any discussion? » Okay, we’ll vote. Uh, Jen » in favor. » Henry » in favor. » Kate » in favor. » Al in favor.

52:33 Okay. Um, the next item was just discussing the organization and membership of the anti-discrimination group. Chen, is that something we want to discuss tonight or would you like more time? » No, I can discuss it. I this was really um not necessarily how I recorded it but this came out of um the dis the last school committee meeting where we had presentation which we couldn’t hear um from Mary Bellhin who is um was speaking to us about extensively services she could offer to help us in regards to anti-semitism um and we also received some correspondence from one of the members of the superintendent’s um anti-discrimination task force um that was um fairly strongly worded and she’s a member of that task force so

53:21 I really took it to heart um in terms of some of her concerns. So um my my thought from the beginning of this last year I mean the genesis of this goes back two years but last year when we formed this committee originally I had thought that this should be a school committee advisory committee because from my perspective the issues around anti-semitism and anti-discrimination are um at our our level is our responsibility in regards to what we uh have as a culture and a climate in our school district. Um however, you know, the um school committee I mean, yeah, school committee advisory committee is subject to open meeting law. Um the superintendent committee is not and in

54:07 discussions with John, you know, he really felt that it was appropriate for it to be a superintendent committee, which which it is. I just feel that um I’m sort of rethinking this and asking the committee to maybe rethink this because I feel strongly that we need to have um a robust uh process for dealing with this and so and I did have conversations with with John about this and and maybe what it is um and I’d appreciate people’s input um whether you know if it’s a school committee advisory committee then we would we would be leading and we would be um determining, you know, what the goals are, what the deliverables are, what we’re measuring and and reporting back to the community.

54:53 On the other hand, I think it we could also consider, you know, working with John and getting, you know, some more um structure around that and really what we can expect because that was the me message I heard from uh this particular member of the committee and what I’ve heard from other members of this committee um and what I’ve heard from the community frankly uh that we have an obligation to to ensure that we are um making demonstrative and measurable and um meaningful change in this area in our culture in our in our climate. We have had um two years of of very very you know difficult conversations, difficult messages um difficult

55:38 experiences um in our district and in our community and we have an obligation to make change. So that was the point of this discussion. You know, again, John, I don’t know if you want to chill. John and I had did speak offline about it and I think John feels, you know, » I and I appreciate I appreciate the perspective, Jen. I appreciate having the conversations, too. And I think I just want to reiterate, you know, just kind of the genesis of this as as Jen said, it was, you know, obviously prior to when I got here and when I got here, there’s a lot of stuff going on and especially in regards to the anti-semitism piece of the anti-discrimination um arena and, you know, a lot of, you know, it seems as though, you know, folks are not happy with how quickly things are moving and I totally understand that. And um you know some of

56:24 that is me learning this community and you know what what this community how the makeup is and the passions that are out there and everything else and you know that takes a little bit of time but realistically the committee I appreciate the thought that you know keeping it as superintendent committee and the reason I think that that makes sense to me is that I you know we create the committee we have discussions I create safe space for folks to have conversations. I did that with the students that are that have been part of the conversations. I’ve done that with the adults and I think we had some good conversations. The the issues that arise are, you know, not everyone has the same exact level of passion about certain things. So that’s that’s for me to kind of navigate truly one and two um I I will admittedly say that I didn’t really I wasn’t able to

57:10 throughout the last half of the year when I kind of really formulated the committee and started we only met like three or four times between the middle of the year and the end of the year. Um, yeah, it didn’t gain a ton of traction just just by by happen stance really, but I think I need I definitely need to do a better job of saying this is what we’re working on. This is what we’re doing. These are the deliverables, reporting back out to the school committee. And I appreciate that feedback and I think that helps me. And I’m I’m more than happy to take any constructive criticism about what you think um what folks thinks we need to address. The difficult piece that I found in this kind of committee is um you know when you have something that you’re addressing kind of in a global way and it’s really this school culture stuff that needs to be addressed which is a much bigger longer process and then there’s the immediate things that happen

57:56 you know you may have a anti-semitic event you may have a racist event you may have a you know um LGBTQ plus or xenophobia any of those things right that you have to address in the moment how do we address that but underlying that is how do we um establish process processes and protocols um with our admin teams and our teachers and and we we’ve done a lot of that work already. We’ve laid a lot of that ground. So, I feel really proud about that. Um and I think folks will see kind of how that’s meing out. What I know and I’ve heard clearly like Jen Jen pointed out that folks some of the folks on the committee don’t feel like they have a good grasp on that piece yet and that that you know we need to do more different better and so I’m committed to that. I’m committed to continue to do that. I didn’t I haven’t I haven’t scheduled all the meetings yet because I wasn’t sure how this conversation was

58:41 going to go and I didn’t want to establish all the meetings and then the committee say oh no never mind we have do a subcommittee or something and change it. So I will do that um by the probably early next week getting ready for school to do um and I’ll set them all up. So I know um you know folks listening those meetings will be set up and we’ll we’ll do those monthly and then as often as we need to. Um and part of that is uh we’re going to reook at the surveys we did which were not well timed um and not well you know attended. So we’ll re we’ll relook at that. We’ll look at the myri bar helping. We’re going to talk about that in the committee. We’re going to talk about some other resources that folks have got a lot of resources from ADL CJC everything else. We’ll look at stuff um the people brought to the table. We’re also doing a lot of work with our deep um doc Dr. Danisa um she’s done a lot of

59:29 work with with the district and the um admin team. She’s doing some more um work coming up this school year which I’ll talk more about when we we just starting the conversation with her. But a lot of that will also dovetail with the anti-discrimination piece. Um so there’s a lot of good things happening. I just need to kind of pull it together, synthesize it, present it to you guys so you have you you can have a deeper level of comfortability with what I am doing um in the district in regard to anti-discrimination. So that’s my long story short. Thank you. So, I’m only one person on this committee. I don’t know if that’s the will of this committee or this committee may not be interested in this what John’s doing. I don’t know. I am I am committed to it. I think that’s been pretty clear to people in this

1:00:15 community. Um and I would like to see um more deliverables, more structure, and more reporting to us, but I’m only one person. So, » yeah. So, I agree with everything you said, Jen. is very well said, but I’m still a little confused as to the structure to best do that. And I think there’s pros and cons in both ways. And the one thing I’m I’m a little bit concerned about. So I think even if it stays as is, I think we have to be much more involved around what our expectations are and making sure that we’re working well together around that. But but my my concern and John this might be a tough question but uh how important is it for people to feel free to kind of speak you know whatever it’s their lived experience or whatever it is and would that possibly be compromised

1:01:01 if we make it an open meeting that would be% 100% because one there will be people that are more than happy to speak their truth and and all their lived experience shout from the rooftops that’s great there’s people that will not ever never do that and we’re and that would missing a huge piece to what I think the work of the committee needs to do and that I feel really strongly about that. Um but again will of the committee if if we want to change the structure I mean I’d have to think about how what my my role in that would be. Um but I I just in my years of experience I I find that when you have a committees are always difficult because you have the different you know you have all the different you know um personalities and stuff but when there’s important work to be done it has to be done by committee and you know whether

1:01:46 you make it a committee of 30 people which doesn’t really get done or you make it a you know committee of nine or 12 and you get bit more work done. I mean that those are the conversations right and from the very beginning I said you know I was going to have right now I have three three parents three administrators three teachers and then the kid and the students and I feel that that’s a good good amount of people but I also said that we were pulling people into the community and out of committee for resources when we need to and when when it makes sense and I’m still committed to doing that because I have had other people say why can’t I be like me I want to be like me and we need to like I I really do I need to get a better you know trajectory and tell our committee what trajectory is and and then when we do pull people in for certain resources, share that out. This is why this is how this is what we’re doing. So I I agree with everything. I think it’s

1:02:32 very important um for me to do a better job with this committee. Um I’m committed to doing that. Yeah, I just also would um along with whatever you know sort of structure or deliverables would like to also be able to hear from the committee » and not just from necess and I don’t know how that h whether it’s you know a couple times a year or something to come to a school committee meeting or maybe we invite a nonquorum number of committee members to a meeting I don’t or maybe to the beginning of a meeting just to hear it out and then we I don’t know somehow to be able to hear how from the members of that committee. How about how about this? Like um I can have those conversations with the committee and they can say hey you know school committee wants to have a a report out and you clearly hearing from you not just me would be good and and maybe they

1:03:17 come part of the decision making because maybe it’s hey some of the students come in and talk to you guys at one point and say this is what we’re doing this is what we’re feeling this is why it’s important to us this is the work that we think we need to do and then the adults to do the same or do it together whatever makes sense but yeah I would agree you know and and what I can tell you and I think I’ve said this before already like even like meeting with the the group the students and and their lived experiences and how they share is so powerful and there’s so much in-depth information and stuff that we can we can work with for the their betterment in the schools and outside of schools and their social beings and that’s that’s what’s really driving me in part and you know then then the adults bring in their lived experience and they’re going to be dubtailed to so there’s a lot going on there you know um but it’s important work but yeah I would agree I think reporting out in you know maybe

1:04:04 quarterly or something to their you late fall and early spring or something to the committee in a in a more global way other than me just saying, “Hey, we’ve met four times and we talked about this.” this » I would actually like to ask that you come to committee, you know, after whatever your first meeting of the year is with the anti-discrimination committee um with a report on sort of what the plan is for the year. Um, I think that these are, you know, really valid concerns, but that so much of the work that needs to happen here is operational. Um, and our role as a committee really is to make sure that the superintendent and the community understand that this is a high priority for our district.

1:04:53 » Agreed. I also am curious how um I’m not sure where we are in your the the district improvement plan is I think slated at some point in the coming school year that is there an opportunity for us to have input as an individual school committee member if I want to see something like this in the where this is represented in the plan » so so what I can tell you is we’re still I mean the pro you the whole dip thing is I I’ve told you there’s many layers to it we’re in we’re in the almost to the phase where it’s going to go talks to st all the staff and I plan for going to do that, you know, with the school year start and then then bombard them a little bit but in that you know we have that kind of built into to a lot of the areas that make sense in the um district improvement plan and I’m sure when I get feedback from staff and then parents and guardians they’ll they’ll further

1:05:39 identify where those pieces need to be which is why we do all the input and feedback and then the school committee is kind of like the last stop of the stuff once once I have all the input then I bring it to you guys and Certainly that’s that’s your goal to look at and say this looks great. These are all great or yeah these are great plot I really want to see this this and this and it doesn’t get approved until you guys feel comfortable with it. So there’s there’s multiple opportunities for feedback in what the district improvement plan and anti-discrimination language is already built in. So a lot » you see that in there I mean you seeing that in there but » I I in there a lot and I’ve gotten some feedback where else to put it already from admins central admins. So yeah, I I feel I feel good » because that’s sort of the next sort of step, right? » You have this committee that almost, you

1:06:25 know, feeds into the whatever we’re calling it that the strategic plan and then that is embedded. So everything we’re measuring, » correct? » Part of the plan and then the plan is yeah, just continue to review the plan and it’ll be threeear plan. So as it gets updated, we update it and then um yeah, it should, you know, I’m Yeah, I can’t leave it. Yes. Thank you. I’m glad it’s all that was that was the question. » And if it’s not in there enough for in the right places, why share this? » So that was the point. So I don’t I’m not looking to make a motion. I don’t think that that’s necessary to sort of either elevate this or make this into a school committee um advisory committee. But those were my thoughts in terms of the current current » and I think the potential is still

1:07:10 there. We might decide to go that route at a future date. So I’m I’m hearing that and please correct me if I’m not re laying this on but we want to hear after your your next meeting uh John it sounds it’s very important to us and then I think as a school committee we need to do some work on perhaps our expectations » around uh this group so so what I can also say is you know this this would be a great one of my great goals one of my goals would be grateful one of my goals some of my great goals you know um so yes there as we get to that um you you I think that that’s that’s something I was already kind of going to craft anyway. So, um, and then that holds my feet to the fire as well, having it as one of my valuation goals or portal one. Um, so

1:07:56 yeah, I I was thinking that that’s a good way in in incorporating the dip and you guys setting expectations. Um, all those things I think are positive and quite frankly, we get through, you know, middle of next year and and you don’t think it’s going well, you’re not liking what you’re hearing. Certainly to your right probably say John you know I’m pulling pulling the plug we’re sending in you know sending in the backup so you know do what we need to do but I I’m confident that we’re going to be moving so » all right thank you um and Kate’s going to talk to us about a year-long agenda. » Yes. Um, so as we’re looking, you know, sort of to planning for the year ahead, um, MASC recommends that school committee chairs use a year-long agenda when planning,

1:08:42 when planning, when planning, um, meeting calendars and whatnot. Um, and I’ve been thinking that it would actually be helpful not just to limit that to the chair, but to have it be something that the full committee participates in um, and that we’re publicizing to the community. And so in the in the share drive were three examples that I pulled from different districts because I thought they they were all doing the same thing in a different way. Um and I was thinking we could have a conversation tonight as a committee about what would be most helpful to us as committee members to our um community in looking at this. I think both because it helps us organize

1:09:27 our work and it helps the community understand, you know, what it is that we plan to do for the year ahead. Um, so the ones that I put in the in the share drive are from um Lexington, Andover, which I’m sorry is in two parts because I couldn’t get it to download, so I just had to do screenshots. Um, and then Greenfield. Um, » I think it would be helpful to also see our calendar. I’m not entirely sure. Are you talking about our » We have a year. We have a yearly calendar.

1:10:06 » Yeah, we’ve had them for years. So, where is that? Well, I if you had asked me, but it was in my I’ve had it for the last year. So, um, » so if you could share that, » that’s what I worked with John on for the last year. So, » yeah. So, it sounds like we have something to work with, but it wasn’t just it wasn’t publicized though. Or is it on our website in any capacity? » No. » Okay. just it was a yearly calendar that we’ve used for years in terms of what meetings we you know what items it was more of a you know similar to this » what general categories of um mostly around what things need to be

1:10:51 voted when around the budget around the warrant um school count I mean there’s a number of things that have timeliness to them that need to be deliberated and voted on throughout the year then there are things that you do every meeting which I don’t know necessarily need to be in there, but you know, we vote the bills every week. We vote that or every month. Um we vote um you know, things every meeting and then beyond that then things sort of can happen sort of ad hoc. So » Kate, did you get these calendars off of these? » They were on I found them by looking through their website. The Andover one is actually on their school committee page of their website. Um, and then the

1:11:38 Greenfield and Lexington ones are sort of embedded within their, you know, their meeting materials. Um, and came up when I was these are very similar to ours. So, I mean, I can share ours. Their formatting are a little different, but they we all do the same things around the same time. Um, so, » so my interest for this conversation was not so much in the timing of things because I I do agree that that’s sort of set. Um, but I think that each one of these takes a different approach um, in sort of how they frame the work that the committee does around these items. Um, and so that was sort of what I was

1:12:25 looking at and thinking about is just, you know, for example, Lexington, their rhythm of the year really describes the work in a different way than um the green field year-long agenda was does. So I was curious what other committee members thought about those different approaches and what might be be most effective for us. Yeah, it’s it’s interesting. I like the rhythm of the school year. So, you know, Henry, you might you have a better, but it looks very done by graphical designers. Uh, » but I I find it hard to follow. I like the more boxy by month u delineation,

1:13:10 which I think are » we’re close to having. Um, so I think if we we get what we have and put it in a format more like one of those » y » u and then I think what’s the most important part is having it » available » right » to the to the community on our website. » Yeah, agreed. And I think the Lexington one has they’re sort of organized by theme and season which I it’s a little tricky to be that. » Yeah. » You know, » to put things into boxes that way. So, I like the simple bullet points that they’re providing in advance in the green field version, but yeah, it’ be good to get this up on our » Okay. » on our website. » Great. Thank you for that feedback.

1:14:06 so I know that we we did um vote on in terms of subcommittees and lays on updates to having some monthly updates, meeting minutes and regular scheduled meetings. Um and I know that we’re going to move more towards that. Um at least personally I think that um this will be a little easier to do and enforce right when we have a new member we have all our committees fully staffed. Uh but given that are there any updates from any of the subcommittees or leaison for tonight? » As Jen mentioned the policy subcommittee is meeting next week. Um so we’ll have more to update on after we do that. » I did have my notes. I noticed you had some like three or four meetings set up. So you’re you’re moving towards the

1:14:51 regularly scheduled meetings or so kudos for that. Um

1:15:00 All right. If there’s nothing more around subcommittees and leaison updates, uh we’ll move to uh closing business. Is there any new business? » I have two items. » Okay. » Um the first is um the um task force against discrimatives.

1:15:24 Uh well the the state legislature voted to make recommendations to Desi for K12. It’s a resolution um for um K12 uh recommendations for um focusing and um approaching anti-semitism in the schools. I don’t know whether Desi I don’t know what their status is on whether they’re planning to adopt that or not or when they would be planning to adopt it. I would like our committee to review it and consider adopting it in Marblehead. Um, so I’m putting that out there as potential agenda item. I can talk to you about it offline. » Yeah, we had it had an update yesterday, but I was otherwise occupied, so I got to read the notes. Um, so I don’t know if they got to that on the agenda. Um, so I’ll I’ll look into that on the Desi side, but » I would like to put it on agenda if that’s the will of the committee.

1:16:15 Dan, Dan, I was just wondering should this be the the team that we just talked about should first address this and understand it and make a proposal to us or should we » I’m just worried that we get a little disorganized between us and the the committee that John » these are recommendations to Desi. Um, and I I don’t know whether Desi John can go back and I don’t know if DESI is going to adopt them, but if they do, my guess is that it would it’d be the earliest 26 27 there. So, I don’t think they’re going to adopt, you know, u a new set of guidelines, you know, in the middle of what is ostensibly the start of school year. Um, I would like us to consider reviewing them and adopting

1:17:01 them here in Maryland. Um, so we could task this to the anti-discrimination committee. I think that’s it » appropriate to look at it. And if they think that it makes sense, then come back and make I just don’t want too much time to go by, but that could be something, » you know, to address it here first. » What about what about both? » What I I have no idea. I have I would very much support us reviewing it as a committee. Um, » yeah, I’m happy to reach the » and then obviously your the test team to look at it and make specific recommendations to us. But yeah, I would I would uh I think you know Jen, would you mind facilitating that discussion at our following » our next meeting? Okay, great. Um the second item that I wanted to

1:17:47 bring up um in the committee to consider um is in light in fact of what um Tom McMahon Ian um spoke earlier as a member of the board of health um in light of the event that took place earlier this week um the tragic event that took place um you know clearly we have experienced too many of these in the lifetime that I’ve lived here in Marblehead um And there have been multiple of these over the over the decades. And I feel that as leaders here in Marblehead, we have a responsibility um particularly as school leaders um to try to mitigate and try to

1:18:33 lead our young people in understanding what the risks are and and what the dangers are and try to do what we can to try to stop this from ever happening. So I had a conversation um with Tom McMahon. I had a conversation with one of the members of the wreck and park and between the select and the select board members. So between select board, board of health, park and wreck and school committee, I think first responders, police, um you know, I I think to consider trying to pull together a leadership group in town to at least just start having a conversation about this. I have no idea where it would lead. I have no idea um you know what that would look like but I would like to

1:19:18 be part of that and I would like us to maybe we are the ones that have to come forward and try to organize this. So I’m throwing that out as something to um the committee to consider. I think if we were to to try to do that to just reach out and have sort of an maybe an initial conversation with with members of these different boards and other leaders in town um we’re not going to have any quorum issues. we can have a, you know, meeting without it. Doesn’t have to be an open meeting. Um, and just start this a conversation about what we might be able to do to ensure that this doesn’t ever happen to another young person in our town. » The board you met other folks that you talked to, uh, including Tom, was were any of them select uh, from of the select boards? » I spoke to one member of the select. » One member. Okay. » Yeah. Who was I didn’t speak to the

1:20:03 chair. I mean the the right thing to do is to go to the chair of each of these boards um and just see if there’s an appetite for that. And I think that there are folks that I some of the folks I spoke to includ time Tom not necessarily chairs but showed an interest. So, I think and and I and the ones I picked, I mean, we could, you know, I’d invite everybody um to the table and I think we need to have parents there and maybe clergy, but you know, I when I think about between the schools and the wreck and park department, we touch, you know, for almost every young person in this town. Um and even if you talk about the JCC and the Y, you know, it won’t at some point. Um the board of health is key um to helping the maintain the health, mental and physical health of our young people. Um the select board is the

1:20:49 executive board in the town. I mean they’re the ones who really frankly ought to be leading this. Um and then um police and fire, you know, clearly uh without without a doubt um need to, you know, need to be there. I’m willing to, you know, just make some calls and and report back maybe and just say, you know, I I spoke to, you know, formally to these boards and they are willing to do it and, you know, and then maybe we at our next meeting can um uh greenlight an initial conversation. » And I think I reached out to some board of health members as well. So, and as Tom said, they they want to help and we really appreciate that. So, » and I don’t know what it would look like and maybe we rotate it. I think, you

1:21:34 know, you know, we’re probably not going to be doing these as necessarily open meetings, but I think if we have representation, we keep it below form. Um, and that we can come back and we can talk about to each of our respective boards and say, you know, here are the ideas we entered about here are some things that with our administrator, the school department can do, here are some things Recken Park can do, here are some things health the health department can do, and we at least just get the conversation. I really appreciate the sentiment of this committee needing to perhaps lead the way. Um I’ve been thinking a lot this week about how the schools can’t solve this by ourselves. this really is the whole community and we’re a big part of this and we have you know an ability to touch these students but this is not something that our

1:22:20 schools or our school committee can can do ourselves » and I don’t know you know if even as leaders we are going to be able to I I do believe we can make a difference we may not be able to prevent something like this but we can at least try. So, Jen, along these lines, um I have no issue reaching out to a chair of another committee if you want or what might even be a better way to do this is, you know, having you represent the school committee in this regard and and speaking for us. I have no problem with that. Maybe what I’ll do is I’ll make a few calls but maybe I’ll do an email and I can copy you on that to say you know I was tasked with the chair with the committee um and just see what kind of a response we get and we just start some conversations and then and I’ll report back. » Yeah, we’ll discuss it our next the

1:23:06 September 4th. Yeah, » there’s enough to report by then when whatever, you know, » it’s a tough time of year with the, you know, and and the Labor Day and everything, but yes, I will report back. Um, and we’ll, you know, we’ll go from there. And, » you know, and and also I do think clearly we’re going to need support from our administrators, you know, whether it’s health department, school superintendent, chief of police, um, uh, the Breen Park um, u director. um you know, like I said, you know, clergy, youth groups, whatever it may be. Um the folks who are with our young people every day and are on the front lines, um tell who will be with eyes on our students to be able to tell us what they think we need.

1:23:53 » So, Jen, you’re spearheading this. Would you object to other members of the committee reaching out to different boards as well? » Great. Great. » Really great. and it starts this and then I think you know over the course of maybe the fall we’ll maybe start to get a little organization to it. We’ll we’ll see we’ll see if it gets some traction. » Thank you for that. Great. » Thank you. Appreciate the committee considering it. » Any other new business? » The only thing I wanted to say under correspondence I know you haven’t moved on is um would I would I make a motion. I’d like the committee to send a letter of condolence to the family of um Savannah Gel. I don’t know if the » we’re do I’m doing a home visit with them tomorrow. » Okay.

1:24:38 » But I think it is it is appropriate for us to write a letter. I don’t know if I mean whatever I can help you with it or whatever. Just just to » Thank you. » So Henry’s gonna you’re going to pen that? » Yeah. » I’ll send Okay. » Yeah. I’ll share it. » Normally it would be probably signed by the chair. » Yeah. just let me know and all right any other correspondents

1:25:07 okay I am looking for a motion and vote to meet in executive session for the following two reasons the first is uh pursuant to chapter 3A section 21A3 purpose three to discuss strategy with respect to collective barding with unit A 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. The second reason will be pursuant to chapter 38 section 2183 purpose three to discuss litigation. Kelly Ferretti at Al versus Marblehead public schools John Roboido and Al Williams Essex Superior Court as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the

1:25:54 school committee and the chair so declares. » So moved. » Seconded. » Um before we go in is Thatcher joining us? He he may it uh he had some other things that he was trying to move to to be at the meeting. » I think it’s very important that he he should be here » and we can discuss that once we’re in executive session. Was there a second? » Yes. » Okay. Thank you, Henry. Okay. The committee will now be meeting an executive I’m sorry. Thank you. Um a roll call vote. Uh Jen » in favor. » Henry favor. » Kate » in favor. Now in favor the motion passes passes four to zero. So the committee will now be meeting an executive session

1:26:40 pursuant to chapter 38 section 2183 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 chair so declares without intent to return to open session. We will also be meeting at exe executive session pursuant to chapter 38 sections 21 and3 purpose 3 to discuss litigation Kelly fared at DAL versus Marblehead public schools John Robo and Al Williams Essex superior court as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the school committee and the chair so declares

1:27:22 right thank you all relocate to another

1:27:29 Alan, you just might um look at your email from 10:23 24. wish have a copy and spoken many