School Committee: October 23, 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.

0:04 And then let me see if I can live stream to YouTube.

0:28 Okay, I think that we are live streaming. » Um, yeah, it said it on my screen. » Yeah, but is it recording? » Yes, recording. » It did say recording in progress. So, okay. So, I’m going to call the policy subcommittee meeting of um October 23rd to order at 8:31. I think that we are live streaming. » Um, yeah, it said it on my screen. » But is it recording? » Yes, it’s recording. » It did say recording in progress. Okay. So, I’m going to call the policy subcommittee meeting of um October 23rd to order at 8:31. I think that we are live streaming. » Well, pause the recording for a second. » But is the recording » recording in progress? » Okay. So, I’m going to call the policy subcommittee meeting of um October 23rd to order at 8:31. I think that we are

1:17 live streaming. Why don’t you pause recording for a second?

1:25 Okay. So, I’m going to call. » Okay. » All right. That should be okay. » Okay. So, » there is a fix and I can’t remember what it I can ask Stephen. » All right. So, for now, we will not live stream and we will post the live stream to YouTube later. Okay. » Yeah. It takes about 24 hours just in case you get a call or something from the press. It’s automatic. It just does it. It takes I think 24 hours. going to run the meeting up and whatever. Okay. All right. So, the first thing on the agenda this morning is public comment. Um, we have no attendees. » I don’t see any attendees. So, » so we can move right on. Um, so the next item on the agenda is the um approval of

2:11 minutes. » Did you send me minutes or hang on? » I did. I sent you an email with a bunch of hang on » things for today and the minutes. » Oh, just things » you did. Let me just I didn’t get that. Let me hang on because I have minutes too. So, we have to talk about that for a second afterwards. Um, give me a second here. Oh, Gmail. » I sent it on Monday, probably like mid day. Oh, here we go. Oh, yeah. I’m sorry. I saw the I saw I didn’t see the minutes. Um, okay. So, I’m going to make a comment about this.

2:58 Um, » I I use that and I’m talking to Henry about Well, it’s talking but um I use that all about town um for the draft for the draft minutes. And what I like about that is we get the timestamp to each category so that if you want to under one particular item you want to go listen to just that you can click on it and it gives you a hyperlink right to that. So I like that. Um so I don’t know if there’s a way » to I mean I’ll be fine. I’ll approve these minutes, but I I just don’t know if there’s a way we can sort of combine that because I think it’s very I think in the spirit of transparency, it’s very helpful for people if they want to go listen to a specific item. Okay. » Um

3:47 I think that maybe we need to have a broader conversation as a full school committee about making sure there’s consistency across, you know, how minutes are being prepared and and whether including things like that. Like I’m looking at these minutes and there’s a like there’s one thing in the like there’s a lot of like just verbiage. It’s like it’s you know it’s you know um I don’t love that. Like I’m looking at this really long paragraph um of the like kind of a narrative of what what was discussed. » I think the paragraph looks that long because we discussed so many different policies. Um, if you want, I can certainly modify the minutes and, you know, do the policies as bullet points so that it » I think it would be better. I mean, again, I’ll I’ll approve this, but I

4:33 think that it would be helpful. And I also again feel like um I’m going to continue to to use this um version um because it helps me when I can so I can go back and listen because I do go back and listen to meetings a lot. So, I’m just But that’s fine. we can, you know, um I’ve asked to have it as an agenda item for I don’t know if it’s on for the for the next meeting or not, but I asked Al to put it on there. » Okay. » Okay. Um » so I’ll make a motion to approve the minutes of 9:30. » I’ll second that. Um so we’ll do a roll call. Jen » in favor. » Kate in favor. Motion passes two to zero. Okay. Next, um we have a policy review discussion about policy JB, which is the

5:23 entrance age for kindergarten. » Yeah, » this is the policy that um Al raised at one of our recent committee meetings. Um, I had a conversation briefly with John about this and he um said that he would agree that we should have entrance tied to your age on a specific date and not the start of the school year. He suggested August 31st or September 1st. Um, so the MASC version is September 1st. » Okay. So I that probably makes sense to be consistent. Um it is possible that we start I guess this is the issue right because we start sometimes we start before September well we often start before September 1st so

6:11 okay » all right so » even if we don’t if it’s tied to the first day of school then it’s a constantly shifting target for people whose childrens have days around that time of year. So, » okay. » Okay. So, I’ll make a motion to um revise policy JB entrance age as is » in the document you sent. » Okay. » And to send that to the full school committee » and to send it to the full school committee and it doesn’t require three readings. It’s only one reading. » Right. I believe » I will second that. Um so we’ll do a roll call. Jen » in favor. » Kate in favor. Motion passes two to zero. All right. The next um

6:56 on the agenda is um to talk about the competency determination policy which is IKF. » Um John and Julia don’t have a policy ready for us to review yet. There’s um apparently a lot of discussion going on in the superintendent message boards and community and whatnot about how different districts are approaching this. » Okay. » Um and he thought they should digest more of that before bringing a policy forward. » Okay. » But I thought it’d be good to have a conversation about how we want to approach this, you know, because there is this December 31st deadline. Um, and if we wait to address this policy at our next scheduled policy subcommittee meeting on

7:44 November 20th, it would set up a pretty quick timeline. Um, if we were to try to push the policy through before the end of December. So, I had two ideas. One would be I know you also wanted to meet with John and Julia to talk about policy IK and so we could schedule a meeting with them you know sometime in the next couple of weeks to do both those » or the other thought I had which we could still do the IK issue is whether it would be worthwhile to have them bring the draft policy to a full school committee meeting for the first reading so we get thoughts from anyone one else who might have opinions about this and then we could do the second reading in our subcommittee to work on any of those

8:31 edits. » Um, and we can talk to John about I don’t necessarily agree with that because that’s the purpose of the subcommittee is to be flushing this stuff out. » That’s what we’re tasked with doing on behalf of the school committee. Um, and then we would bring the second reading and third meeting to the school committee and that’s when we would get there. So, » you know, I mean that’s sort of what we’re supposed to do. I will say the December 31st deadline is irrelevant to me. I mean, there’s no policy jail we’re going to go to if we don’t have this approved. Um, I also think that what I’d like to get a sense from John and I do think we should have another meeting for sure before the 20th. I’d like to get a sense from John as to um where they are in this because like this is one of those things we MSN we have to really I

9:18 think rely on the um administration and if he is saying listen we’re all over the place as superintendent and assistant superintendents then this may get moved out anyway » um because it you know I don’t want it to be just sort of hurried by some you know vague you know deadline » um to really get this right. Um, so that’s all I mean. So maybe, you know, maybe we have another meeting. We can we can schedule that um with them for both of those policies and really just kind of get a clear view like they may be like, listen, we’re you know, 90% there. We think that we can have one, you know, in the next week or two or listen, we are all over the place and nobody is

10:06 agreeing and, » you know, maybe Desi has to step in at some point. I don’t know. I don’t know if that’s Desi’s role, but um, » no, I think that makes sense. I agree with you. You know, I mean, there’s a deadline, but there’s no real consequence for not » I don’t think there is. There may be, not for us in terms of setting a policy because there’s no policy jail. There may be issues around with students. I I don’t know. And because I don’t know if this is going to be effective for this school year, I doubt it. I imagine it would be effective. There would be some sort of rolling, » right? you know, like how do you make seniors now have some competency to it’s probably for incoming freshman next year would be my guess. » It probably makes sense, right? But that’s all the kind of thing we need to discuss with him and Julia and

10:53 understand. So » the other thing which is probably not necessarily relevant, but I have seen in the press is there is talk that Desi is setting up a exam again. like I’m like there’s obviously like some politics involved. » But if that’s going to be the case, » you know, if they’re going to set another set of exams, » whether or not they require it for graduation legally, we could if it’s going to be implemented. So that’s those I had some questions about like where where is all that? What’s all » I agree there’s a lot to discuss. So I will um reach out to John about setting up what you know what his availability would look like for a meeting. Can you ask him and Julia to be prepared to kind of give a some sort of a even if it’s a

11:38 basic presentation like MCCAST got um rescended and sort of this is where you know the super MASS is or this is where the superintendents are this is what my round table has been doing some just some kind of like um perspective on what administrators are talking about I don’t even know what the options are the options are um you exams for competency determination. I I think the options are I think that’s an option. Maybe it’s not legally. Um also certain um you know courses or number of years of courses that or subject matter that students have to take to graduate. It could be a grade point average. Um you know what are what are the options?

12:23 » Okay. » All right. I will see what their availability looks like and then I’ll follow up with you and we’ll get something. » Okay. All right. So, the next thing on the agenda are is this whole slew of MASC policy » Yep. » recommendations. Um, so the first one is CA administration goals. » Yep. » Um, » it’s pretty Yeah, » I think it’s pretty straightforward. Um, » I’m fine with that. Do we want to kind of go through them and then vote them all at once or do you want to vote them one at a time or » I thought it would make sense to go through and then vote them all at once at the end but as we go through maybe we can just like this one I think can be on

13:11 the consent agenda for the full school committee » when it gets approved. Okay. » Yeah. Um I don’t know if you want it for well we can decide that because the consent agenda is like it means we don’t really discuss it. I just I don’t know whether it’s worth it to have or maybe we can go through that it it’s its own consent like it this group is just one vote » one vote » not with because consent agenda I think means we vote minutes and we vote um schedule bills like the whole every item on there is just one vote. So we’ve done now two meetings where we’ve voted some really minor policy updates as part of that and Al’s approach has been that if any member wants to pull any particular

13:58 policy out for separate discussion and vote they can. So » yeah I just am thinking about for the public because you know for a lot of the members of the public the this is that’ll be the first time they see it but that’s all right. » Okay. Um, so, okay. So, this is, yeah, this is just a couple of minor word. » It’s really just sort of making the language less passive really. So, » yeah. » Um, okay. And then policy CB, school superintendent, is also fairly minor. » Yep. » Um, really pronouns and changing select board. » Select board from the mayor of the city. » That’s also I’m going to write this down. Consent. » Okay. All right. And so then next we have CBI, which is evaluation of the superintendent.

14:48 » Again, I think it’s sort of minor. » Yeah, it’s really just sort of centering around goals for evaluation purposes. » Are you okay with consent agenda for? » Okay. » Excellent. Right. So then we have CCB line and staff relations. » It’s a title change. » Title change and then changing district to or system to district » to district. Yeah. » Oh. Okay. » All right. So consent agenda for that one as well. » Yeah. Yeah. » All right. Um so C HCA approval of handbooks and directives

15:39 that is just changing the um hang. I guess it’s it’s not it’s deleting out what basically the description of the law, » right? » But » leaving in what the law actually requires you to do. So » yeah, and also it does change it to the spring which is for approval. » Yes. And that they take plate take effect at the beginning of next school year rather than specifying September. » Yeah. » Um is that one that you think we should do as a separate agenda item? » Um No, I don’t. Um No. I mean I think it’s » I mean I don’t think it really changes the » No, it doesn’t.

16:24 doesn’t change the like the meat of it, » right? Okay. So, next is CHCA- which is our existing policy on the approval of handbooks and directives. » Yeah. » And MASC recommended removing the policy as unnecessary. » Yeah. Um, so to me it appears as though what that policy lists out are just things that existing state law requires the district to put in our handbooks. » Yeah. And they don’t recommend that those I I think that my understanding is um if it doesn’t if there isn’t a law that says you have to have a policy, then you don’t have a policy for it because there’s, you know, lots of laws that we don’t have policies on,

17:12 » right? Um and these are also um this approval process policy is it pulls out a few items in regards to um certain provisions but there’s tons of other provisions in regards to student particularly around student discipline. So » Right. Exactly. So it just sort of sets up an inconsistency there. » So we’re uh we’re rescending or deleting that. Um I’ve been kind of thinking that we would do if we resend something it would be a separate agenda item. » I think so. Yeah. » Question about it. » Yep. » Because we can also explain you know why that is » right. Why that’s happening. All right. So then CL is another one that they’re

18:01 recommending removing which is a policy on administrative reports from the » I’m sorry. So same thing we’ll do that as a separate » Okay.

18:17 » Okay. So the D ones are a little there’s a little more meat to these. Um DJ purchasing the in MASC put out a newsletter in September 2023 that had updates to a number of purchasing and procurement policies. » Yeah. » And this one I didn’t redline it because the policy that they were editing was different from the policy that we have. » Um » so let me let me just hang on one second. I’m go to DJ. Where is it? Um DJ DJ is purchasing right which is the responsibility of the superintendent and

19:04 what does RSA

19:16 um yeah it’s a little bit different. » Yeah. superintendent’s purchasing agent » does that. But yeah, » John reviewed both and said his recommendation would be that the school committee adopt MASC’s policy as written. » Okay. » Um

19:40 Okay. That would probably not be a consent agenda, » right? And did do we think it needs because it’s would be a new policy for the district. » Um well don’t wait hang on we have DJ » we have DJ but » we have purchasing yeah so this would be it wouldn’t be a new policy it is a revision basically or a change » not a new policy but it’s you know a pretty comprehensive change to what exists. So, so do we want to put it or do we need to put it through three readings? » I don’t No, I don’t think so. My understanding is if it’s a new policy » that’s three readings. This is a revision of an existing policy. I mean, there it you know there’s a little bit more to this revision, but um I don’t I

20:31 don’t think so. » Okay. » My opinion. » Okay. All right. Um then DJA purchasing authority. » Um those are pretty simple changes. It’s updating the language to use cost centers. » Yeah. » And then that’s new language at the end on contract duration being limited to three years. » Um yeah, I mean that’s probably law. I imagine that is the law and it probably requires that it’s in our I would assume that it’s in our policy, right? So again, I I think it’s not a consent item, but I don’t it’s not a new policy.

21:18 Okay.

21:23 Okay. So then the most substantial one um is DJ the procurement requirements. » Yeah. So, John and Mike both reviewed and weighed in on this. Um, the MASC draft like sample policy includes a note at the end that there was a change to the procurement laws in 2022. » Districts who do all of their own purchasing can lift that $50,000 threshold to $100,000 » at their discretion. And we meet that standard. So, John and Mike are recommending that we change the » 50,000 to 100,000 » 100,000 » we do we don’t so we don’t use the town procurement officer is that what they’re saying » that’s what they’re saying » okay

22:08 I thought for like maybe for bond issues we do maybe that’s what is because I know you know like around the school buildings and stuff like that we I thought we use the town procurement officer but again that may be for things that are bonded » yeah that issue being different » yeah yeah so DJ. Um, yeah, it does say. Yeah, it is. I mean, again, I don’t I don’t think we It’s a new policy. It is definitely a an amended policy, » right? » Um, but yeah, » to be its own agenda, » and they’re recommending the 100,000. » Yes. Okay. » And then the other thing is » the only issue, I don’t think this affects the policy, but this is this is under the assumption that we that the school district will have a certified

22:57 procurement officer. » It’s always a possibility that we don’t, you know, that um say we didn’t Mike’s a procurement officer. » Yeah. » It’s a certification process, but let’s say we, you know, someone resigned or whatever um and we had an opening and we didn’t actually have a a certified procurement officer. we would then have to rely on the town. But I guess made » there were I’d have to pull it up. There are um ways that a district that does not do its own procurement can still do the hundred,000 threshold. I just don’t remember what they were off the top of my head. Um hang on one second. checked the act this treasure both written quotations and for

23:45 bids for school districts only from 50 to 100. The school committee of a municipal district conducting all of its own purchasing may choose to lift the cap in order for districts in which purchasing conducted by municipal purchasing department. The municipality may change the procurement policy. Yeah. Okay. Um I I yeah I doubt that we need like I don’t think that this policy needs to worry about what happens if we have a missing personnel that would um probably be automatic that we would just defer to the to this to the town. » Okay. Um I mean we can ask but I just » yeah just kind of something to be mindful of but » yeah I also think um we and we can ask John I think he’s a procurement officer too so we may like I think there may be redundancy.

24:32 » He mentioned something to me this summer about spending a lot of time doing the courses to get his certification or renew it or or whatever. So I think that that’s correct. » Yeah. I mean, the only issue is that you really it’s I I think it’s sort of a use it or lose it type thing. Like you can get the certification and if you’re not acting in any procurement capacity, all of a sudden two years later, you’re thrown into that, you know, but you have the certification, you’re you’re you know, you’re eligible to do it. So, » right. » Okay. Okay. » Um, the other thing on this one, there’s two like the second the third and fourth paragraphs I highlighted them like all purchases of materials and equipment. » You highlighted the MASC version or

25:19 » the one that I shared with you. » Oh, hang on. » Um, ahead of today that I marked up » DJ DJ, right? » Okay. So there’s the third and fourth paragraphs in our existing policy are not in the MASC policy and they use the language that I put in as an edit at the end. Um the like sort of those last two sections they basically say the same thing in a » So did you want to delete ours and just completely » That’s what that’s what I would think we should do. » Yeah. » Yeah. So all that means is you would be striking those three paragraphs three and four. » Yes. » Okay. » And replacing them with that language this at the end.

26:09 » It’s something about three all purchase of material equipment in amounts exceeding 50,000. It was competitive bidding between 10 and 50. Three secure quotes for all materials. All purchases less than 10,000. Sound business practice. So, » Mhm. » an effort will be made to procure multiple bids for all purchases excess to 50,000. » And then what they’re saying is the chief purchasing officer may use a request for proposals instead of the above process um which is anything over well in our case maybe it’s still over 50,000 or is it going to be over 100? » It’s going to be 100. It’s going to get bumped to 100. » Will be advertised appropriately. Suppliers will be invited to their names placed. All bids will be submitted. So under 100,000 we don’t have any bid I

26:56 guess. » So if you go what the it would be instead is the language sort of towards the end. So anything from 10 to 100. Right now it says 50 » would be awarded to the responsible party among three » three quotes. Yeah. » Anything under 10. It’s the same thing just a lot fewer words. » Okay. » Yeah. So you would Yeah. So we’ll strike R2 and just deduct the whole thing. Yeah, that makes sense. » Okay. So, the committee reserves the right to reject any and all bids. That’s read and struck. So, was that ours? I didn’t look this closely at it. » Uh, » that paragraph 1, two, three, four, five, six, seven, » those two sentences, those were » those were in hours and MASC was recommending deleting them. » Okay. Okay. So, it’s read and struck.

27:44 Okay. Got it. Sorry. Got it. Okay. » All right. So that too will be a um » it needs to be specific. » Okay. All right. » Okay.

28:06 Okay. So that’s all of them I think. Let me double check. Yeah. Okay. Um, I did forget to mention to you the IK policy that I had asked to talk about » is in response to well, we got an an email recently from a from a community member in regards to the uh the um handbook policy about returning exams to students. » Okay. » So, I want that’s what I wanted to discuss. » Okay. » Yeah. It’s not in any specific pol so it’s in the handbook but it’s not in a specific policy which happens. » Um so it seemed the closest one to me um would be that which I forget what the

28:54 name of it is. It’s like » yeah academic achievement. » Yeah. Yeah. Wait, what is IK? » Um I is Yeah, academic achievement. Um, so that’s something that I just wanted to talk about with John because because it’s in the handbook, all items in the handbook should be reflective of school of school committee policy. » We don’t have a policy for that, » which I understand maybe it’s, you know, there’s minutiae that we don’t have policies on, but it does bring up this has been a longstanding issue. This goes back many, many years. I mean, it goes back like 15, 18 years as far as I can remember that we do not return. Well, first of all, we don’t do midterms. So, that’s one thing I wanted to discuss. We used to do them, they stopped it during

29:41 CO and never resumed them again. » Um, which I have questions about um preparing students for college without doing a mid » year exam because it’s like what we hear from students who do go to who do come back from college saying, » you know, mo a lot of times in college, you have a mid, you know, a semester, you have a mid-semester exam and a final exam. So, they didn’t have that practice. Um and so that’s that’s one item. So that’s referenced in the policy handbook about um midterms and finals are not return or are returned but you you can’t them. And then this whole thing is about you know when we’re doing um certain um assessments they will be returned in a timely manner. It’s just I I think there’s an issue of, you know, our students being able to see the work, » learn from the work, have a meaningful

30:31 opportunity to learn from their mistakes. Um, and then, um, you know, and so that’s those are the discussions I want to have. What we hear from teachers and from I guess from teachers and administrators is that they um I think the reality is that they reuse tests, right? So that you know » right you you start having copies circulating and that » yeah but you know I think if you have four or five years worth of tests you know you can cycle through those and there’s probably not a huge um risk there and there was this sort of urban legend of a student who came forward saying that they had recently been tutored outside the school and had the actual exam as with the t that the tutor provided

31:18 » and actually went forward and said I’ve seen this exam. because when you’re reusing exams, you know, that can happen. So, » okay. » I also checked the um contract and I didn’t I couldn’t find anything. Now, I you know, I went through it. I didn’t go through the fine tooth comb, but um I didn’t see any contract language that would that would would be the other thing we’d have to be concerned about if we’re going to make any changes around this. » Um but John might have um and Julia may have more thoughts on this. » Um but I feel very strongly about it. So that’s so I don’t know if that’s the right policy u but I just wanted the conversation to start and then see where that goes and then figure out where it belongs or maybe it doesn’t become a policy » but it’s a practice in the handbook

32:05 that’s um managed more closely » managed more closely. Okay » you can start the conversation and you know always look to see if it fits in a different policy or you know or whatnot. Okay. Um » um yeah. So then the other So the only thing about the agenda planning I didn’t » Hang on. Before we do that, can we vote » can we vote to send these MASC recommendations to the full school committee? » Okay. So I’ll make a motion. I’m going to read these through. Okay. I’m going to make a motion that we send forward the following policies to the school committee for a consent agenda vote at a future meeting. That’s policy CA, administration goals. Policy CB, school superintendent. Policy CBI evaluation of the superintendent. Policy CCB line and staff relations. Policy CHCA approval of

32:54 handbooks. I’ll second that. » That’s it, right? » Yep. So, second from me. Um, all right. We’ll do a roll call vote. Jen » in favor. » Kate in favor. Motion passes two to zero. Then I’ll make a motion that we send the following items to the school committee at a future meeting for a one-time reading as an individual vote individually. And I’m just going to list them, but these will be individual votes for policy CHCA- uh rescending the approval of handbook and directives. » Individual vote for policy CL, rescending administrative report policy. Uh policy DJ uh revision of the purchasing policy, policy DJ DJA purchasing authority

33:44 revision and policy DJ procurement requirements revision. » Second. All right. Roll call vote. Jen » in favor. » Kate in favor. Motion passes two to zero. Are you going to try to get that on the 30th or are we going to is it it might be » I think we have a pretty full agenda because the principles are doing their MCCAST presentations. » Okay. » Um I might see if we can do the consent items on the 30th and then you know either do a couple of these and then move the others to November or » if we don’t do it if we don’t have that on the agenda. Do you think it makes sense to at least send it in the Dropbox or like that way we know we have it just we’ll push it out there. We can even say it’s not on the agenda, it’ll be on a

34:30 future agenda, but take a look at it. It just gives them we know what the changes are. It just gives folks more time. » Yeah, I will try to get those up. I can have um Lisa Manning put them in a Dropbox or in the drive, you know, today or tomorrow. So even if it doesn’t make it on the 30th, people have a chance to look at them. » Yeah. So, okay. Um, you had something else you said on the agenda. » Well, the only question I had, so I’m trying to understand where would the, you know, sort of the cadence of these up updates on the agenda. So, you created a document um, it looks like an Excel document that listed all of the um, items. But there, but then I was doing when I was doing it, I was doing a little different. I was going by the newsletters. Mhm.

35:15 » So, for instance, the March 23rd 25 newsletter, there’s several items on there that aren’t on your spreadsheet. Um, and there were some C ones that didn’t make it on this. So, I’m just trying to understand, did you were you going by the newsletter or what were you going by? » You’re saying the March 2023 newsletter? like the March 23 25 newsletter had changes for um AC-R but also had CM, CE, CH, ACA, ACAB. Um well, so we talked about the A and B policies at our last meeting. » Um » so a lot we talked about the A ones. We talked about the fact that our policy on non-discrimination is vastly different

36:05 from the MEESC policy, » right? » And so we were gonna have, you know, legal and the superintendent take a look at that. » So they’re not on Okay. So they’re not on the um I can’t remember everything we talk about. So not on the list. So that’s was my only So some items that are on the newsletter are not on your Excel spreadsheet. » So I think it depends on which tab you’re looking at on the spreadsheet. Um, a number of these were very minor revisions and they’ve already gone through the school committee. Um, » okay. » But if there’s if there’s specific ones that you think were missed, certainly possible that I missed something. » Yeah, that’s all. So like C I mean some of these are minor, but like CM, which is just the um school district

36:55 annual report. Oh, no. CM is on there. I’m sorry. It is on there. C E is there. C. Okay. So, I guess so I guess I need to go. So, I guess I’m This is where I’m getting confused. So, » there items. So, then then there were some items that are on the spreadsheet, but they weren’t on this list today. So, and then I’m like, did we already update them? » Um, maybe what we need to do, I can do this, is go through and update the spreadsheet. » I’ve been updating the spreadsheet » as we go. Um, » is it in the drive? Is that where » it is? » So, let me pull it up. » Must be in a shared drive.

37:45 » If you click on shared with me in your drive, it should be there.

37:54 Let’s see. School committee. Um,

38:01 shared with me. Uh, wait a minute. Hang on. » You know what I can do? » Oh, I’m in the wrong person. Hang on. Let me just get this shared with me. Hang on. Wrong email. Okay. Subcommittee minutes. Schoolboard governance and operations. No. Let’s see. I don’t

38:27 I’ve got individual ones. Policy review, Kate. Oh, policy review. I’m sorry. » That’s okay. » All right. So, you’re saying this has been updated. » So, I’ve been making notes in it as we go. Um, » like recent school committee action. » Yeah. I need to move them to the So, the master list tab, that’s every single policy we have. » Yeah. and then minor edits. If you click on that tab, » okay, » you’ll see under recent SC action, it says that a bunch of those were approved on 918 and there are some that were on » yeah June agenda and then some of them like that very first one AB

39:16 you know there were MASC min had the newsletter said there were minor changes but if you look over in column H when I went to revive eyes it our version matched with it. So whatever they were recommending changing either we never had or it had already been. » Okay. So like AC right All right. So here’s an example. A here’s under master list ACA. We don’t have an ACA. What does their newsletter say? Their newsletter says so ACA. So that’s the whole non-discrimination thing, right? So I guess » so under the the non-discrimination ones get confusing because there are a bunch that they recommended edits to that we actually don’t have, » right? » And I think it’s because they’re all combined into that one. » I guess I guess we’ll leave that alone

40:05 won’t match. Okay. » Yeah. » All right. Um, there were a few others on the JS, but I’ll go back and see like JBB have it on the master list like so we don’t have a JBB on our master list and they are saying JBB is educational equity. So like that’s Yeah, I mean that’s where I’m kind of getting bogged down. Um, » so I made our list based off um the policy manual that’s on » the website. Um, » yeah. » So, you know, it’s I can go back, I guess, through » Well, again, I was going by the newsletters because the newsletters are

40:53 like this is what you have to have. Mhm. » Um and they do say we’re we have to have an educational equity or well I guess that’s what they’re saying. Um and we don’t have one. So and that’s not on our list and it’s probably not on our list because to your point you were going about what we currently have. So I I’ll take some time and just go through and there may be a handful of these because there’s a JB there’s a JF BB which is school choice which we have. » Yep. » Right. And then » and there’s a JB which we have which is equal educational opportunities. » Yeah. Do they have JB? Let’s see what they’ve got. Do they have a JB? Where’s their J?

41:39 » Yeah, they’ve got a JB and a JBB. » Okay. » So um All right. So, I’ll just go through and just I I’ll check it against um the newsletters and just see if there’s anything we’re missing that that could fall through the cracks because if that if you did it by what we have then no you we may not see that. » Um » so, um there’s a the fourth tab is new policies. So, there’s 13 listed right now and we just haven’t gotten to those letters as we’ve gone through. So, those are » that’s where that would go. » It would go in there. Um, » yeah, » the ones that are in there are specifically new policies that were being proposed by MAS in a newsletter as opposed to edits to a policy that we had never » or or us adding a policy that that we

42:26 never had from I don’t know why we don’t, but we don’t. » Yeah. » Okay. There’s probably not too many of those, but I’ll I’ll I’ll go through it. So, if I’m going to suggest that, » I will just um I’m not going to add it to the document. It’s your document. I’ll just send it to you. » Yeah. maybe in an email and say, “Can you add this for as an agenda item?” Because » Yes. » Well, no, we haven’t gotten to these new ones. So, I guess you can put it on this tab and we will eventually get to that. » Yeah, if you want to send me those, I can as we get to those letters, you know, we can do them. » Or when we get to that, you’re doing I’m So, that was my other question. What are you What are you putting on the agenda? You’re putting on minor edit. Are you just kind of going through minor edits and then substantive edits or » I wanted to see what you thought. The minor edits, what we had talked about in

43:13 August was taking the ones that the MASC newsletters described as minor edits » and not talking about those in our subcommittee and just sending them to the full school committee. So, we’ve done those. We approved all of those in September at the full school committee. But as I’m going through, I mean, there were ones today that I think were really minor. We could » but that are under substantive. » They’re they Yeah, the MASC people didn’t flag them as minor. Um I don’t know if » and that’s how you’re creating this agenda for us is you’re just going I assume you’re going down this » I’m I’m working my way down the list of you know this is and trying to keep it to a manageable number of policies for I don’t know if it’s if we want to use a

44:01 consent agenda in our subcommittee for really minor you know things like the ones today that were like changing the pronouns. I don’t I think we should probably for the I don’t know » go through like and actually discuss them. I’m happy to do that. It just » and just crank through it. » Yeah. » Let’s see. We Where do we go? We got through the What do we get through today? D’s. » We’re through the D’s. I had thought about adding the ease but to to today but there’s a lot of them including several new policies and I just I felt like it was just too much » behind on any of these in terms of what he wants to be part of. » So I’ve been sharing like the ones that we talked about today I shared with him and he looked at them all. I mentioned

44:49 to him that it would be worth having a discussion about whether he wants to be weighing in on all of these or whether he just wants to be getting kind of the more substantive » and and he hasn’t responded. » He hasn’t responded to that piece. He did respond that he had looked at all of these ch recommended changes today and they were good, but he hasn’t gotten back to me about future. » Okay. So, let’s we’ll try to sort of ping him on that because I would say if he’s because say he’s I’m just gonna throw a number. He’s got seven items, six items that he wants to go through. We could just do a meeting for that. So he’s not to come to all of these. » We just keep chugging through. » Yeah. » The rest of these. I mean, I think we could bang out the rest of them in the next, you know, like the next two or three meetings. » Yeah. By my I think I had counted that if we did if we continue to do two sections at a time, we’ll be done by I think like by February.

45:38 » Okay. Well, then we have new policies, » right? Exactly. Um yeah. » So not that we’ll be done with our work. » No. And then there’ll probably be new ones coming out » and they’ll come out with new policy news. » The competency determination is going to be um its own thing too. That’s going to be a little time » consuming all of those different things. But so » so how about for the next time um you’re so so you’re gonna next time we would next time meaning like our official November meeting. » November meeting. Um, we can do the um, where we we didn’t do the E. So, we could do E, F. We could try to get through E, F, and G. G’s got a lot, but I don’t » He has a lot. But, you know what? I can just I’ll mark them up and, you know, we can even if partway through the meeting we decide we’re going to table this

46:25 because it’s too much to all do it once. That’s fine. » Okay. » Um, do you want » I do the same, you know, before November, I’ll shoot before that meeting. I’ll be sure to touch base with you about whether there’s any agenda items that you » Okay. » included that maybe you haven’t emailed me about. » Um, so I’m showing November 20th. » Yeah, I think 11. » Yeah. » Yeah. I don’t know why we did 8:30. I don’t know. I had 8:30. Was it Is this Do you have issues in the morning? Do you have » I don’t have issues in the morning. I think we had set 11 as all of our Thursday meetings. I can do earlier if that’s » It doesn’t I absolutely don’t care either. » Doesn’t matter to me either way. So, » all right, we’ll leave it at we’ll leave it at 11. » Okay. » Um, do you want to look at dates or do you want to for the I K E F what? » I think it makes sense to see what John

47:18 » so many letters. Are there t are there dates that you’re just going to be away? » The 20th, right? » Right. » No, I’m pretty good. Um, I’m looking at Sorry, I got way late here. I I have a funeral for someone. It’s actually the one-year headstone. Isn’t that how it works? » Yeah, it’s the one year head. I’m like, wait, » she died last year. I’m like, okay, that’s what that is. » Okay. Um, » I figure that out. Um, no, I’m pretty good. I mean, I’ve got like stuff going on, but um like I’m pretty clear next I imagine this week’s probably out between today and tomorrow. Will we » post? we would be able to post anyway. But » no, next week I’m pretty clear and the

48:06 following week. Yeah. No, I’m I only have a few things here and there. So, I I’m pretty flexible. » I think I am too. So, I’ll see what he and Julia might be able to do and then I’ll follow up with you and we can find a specific » Do you want to meet in person? I We can see if the room’s available. » I think all together in person is, you know, just the two of us back and forth on Zoom is fine, but bigger groups, I think it’s easier to sit down together. » Great. Okay. So, you’ll connect with him? » Yes, I will. » Okay. And let me know. But we’re going to shoot for sometime like in the next » sometime in the next like week or two. » Okay. Perfect. » All right. » And we can give this that update on the 30th assuming whether we’ve met with them or not when we give our update to let the um school committee know we’re doing this off meeting and back. » I think that makes sense. » Okay.

48:52 » All right. Great. » Great. All right. Anything else? » Nothing else for me. I’ll make a motion to adjurnn at 9:19. Uh, so moved. » All right. Second. Um, roll call. Jen » in favor. » Eight in favor. » 919. Okay, great. Thank you. » Thank you. Have a good day. » Have a good day. Okay. Bye. Bye.