School Committee: January 16, 2026

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.

1:06 Okay, go ahead. » Right. Do we have any commendations tonight?

1:15 Um, Um, I’m hearing some feedback. Fine.

1:56 Great. Great. » Thank you. Um, I would like to honor the life of Mr. Robert Sanford, a Holocaust survivor whose courage and dedication to education left an indelible mark on our schools and students. At a time when our community faced troubling anti-semitic incidents at Marblehead Veterans Middle School and Marblehead High School, Mr. Sanford stepped forward as a beacon of wisdom and resilience. His willingness to share his personal testimony, stories of unimaginable suffering and remarkable survival provided our students with a powerful living connection to history and a profound lesson in human dignity and tolerance. Mr. Sanford’s commitment to Holocaust education extended far beyond a single visit. He devoted his time to ensuring that younger generations would never for forget the

2:42 atrocities of the past and would stand firmly against hatred in all its forms. His presentations were not merely historical lectures. They were heartfelt conversations that challenged students to reflect on their own responsibilities as citizens and human beings. Through his gentle demeanor and unwavering moral clarity, he transformed difficult conversations into opportunities for growth, understanding, and healing within our school community. The impact of Mr. Sanford’s work was deeply personal as well as communal. His daughter, Vashie Karn, serves as an English teacher at Marblehead Veterans Middle School, embodying the same dedication to education and ethical leadership that defined her father’s life. Together, their family’s commitment to our schools represents the best of what education can achieve. the transmission of knowledge, values, and

3:28 hope from one generation to the next. Mr. Sanford’s legacy will continue to inspire our students, educators, and community members to choose compassion over cruelty, understanding over ignorance, and love over hate. We are profoundly grateful for his service to our schools and our community. I’d like to take a moment of silence for the passing of Mr. S.

3:59 So that puts us to public comment. And before we begin, just a reminder that the policy on public comment allows individuals up to three minutes to speak and limits the public comment portion of the meeting to a total of 18 minutes. Public comment is not a discussion, debate, or dialogue between individuals and the school committee. It is an individual’s opportunity to express an opinion on issues within the school committee’s authority, budget, superintendent performance, and school policy. I’ll give you a 15-second prompt to let you know if the plan is expiring.

4:52 Okay, we’re going to start um here in the library and then we will go to anyone online who has their hand raised. » Sarah Fox, 46 feet street. I was made aware of the letter that was received by Breijie K from this school committee notifying her you did not support her grievance you filed and voted against her. Breie KS is one of the best educators in this district. Today I attended the funeral of Bob Sanford. Rejie’s Bob. Mr. Sanford is well known to our district, its staff, students and parents. On multiple occasions following hateful anti-semitic incidents, our schools have brought Mr. Sanford to speak to students about his experience as a Holocaust survivor. Following each and every one of these presentations, our district

5:38 administration sent letters out to parents in the community praising rightfully so, Mr. Sanford and Brrigie Karn for being pillars in our community of standards for doing the work to make sure the words we will never forget came to life through real intentions and actions.

5:59 Each time I can only imagine how traumatizing it must have been for Mr. Stanford to revisit the horrors he survived or for Breij to witness her father reliving his darkest days in front of hundreds of strangers yet yet again. But both continue to do it because they have the moral clarity and fortitude that the majority of you lacked when you voted against Brejie. We have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in bullying prevention and social emotional curriculum over the many years. Essentially to teach the skills and strength to be good humans who identify, step up and speak against all the isms bigot in bigotry in our world. I teach my children to stand up for people, to do the right thing,

6:45 especially when it is hard. Because sadly, the world they are growing up in is filled with far too few people that are willing to sacrifice superficial friendships and political alliances to do hard things. Make no mistake, the vote the majority of this committee took against Brit K or worse yet, cowardly abstained from, will prove to be a defining moment for each of you. The unit A contract is clear. Trust me, I know it far better than anybody else here that clearly seems to have not read it cover to cover. It clearly states the number of staff that can hold a lead teacher position each year. There’s no ambiguity. There are there’s no contractual language for split stipens or shared positions. What this committee

7:31 did was uphold an unspeakable qualifier. Actions speak louder than words. The committee’s majority action shouted, “The rules need not apply if you are a Jew who dare to stand up and demand for a stop to anti-semitism. Your actions prove you are more concerned with whitewashing the narrative that Marblehead is a perfect place with no hate than doing the really hard work to actually combat hate. Your actions tried to make an example to others who may dare to follow the wonderful example of Holocaust survivor Bob Sanford and his daughter Breit Cars. Your actions are a frightening attempt to silence. Since it is clear the current committee leadership is dangerously unaware of Robert’s order, I would like to direct the provision that

8:19 states only someone in the prevailing party may motion to revoke an item. I implore one of the majority who prevailed and voted to silence Breijit to do the hard thing and be an example to our students and community that we are a place where we support those who stand up against any kind of hate and do not allow retaliatory practices to silence upstandards.

8:49 » All right. Um, there is a there’s a Linda online with your hand raised. I’m gonna allow you to talk. Um, please state your name and address for the record and you will have three minutes. » My name is Linda Bell. I’m a former coffin school student and former employee of the Marblehead public schools. My husband is currently the head custodian at the Veterans Middle School. Um, it was brought to my attention and I emailed Jen Shaner yesterday and I appreciate her getting back to me so quickly in forwarding my note to John Robidoux and to Al Williams about the time

9:35 capsule that was buried at the Clin School site in 1976 by all the classes that attended there. that is due to be dug up this year for the 250th anniversary. I believe this should be done this year before any demolition of that school is done and the school committee should take action. Thank you. » If anyone else would like to offer a public comment, raise your hand. All right, seeing no one um public comments closed, we will move on in the agenda.

10:22 Our student representative, um Will is not able to be here tonight because he has a track meet, but he did send um an update that I will read on his behalf. He says, “Hi everyone. MHS students are glad to be back after the long winter break and the new year is off to a strong start. I apologize that I can’t be here in person tonight as I’m currently currently competing in a track meet in Gloucester. The second quarter concludes at the end of this month, so students are working hard to solidify their grades as we approach that deadline. On Sunday, we held the annual senior show. It was a huge success featuring studentr run acts such as Twin Telepathy, Guess That Baby Picture, and Ex’s Musical Chairs, as well as musical renditions including Frank Sinatra’s My Way. Junior seminars also began today.

11:09 Over the next week, every junior will meet individually with their guidance counselor to discuss college planning and post-secary career paths. Last week, DECA, our intercolastic business and marketing club, complete competed at the Double Tree in Danvers. Students presented a variety of business focused categories and results will be posted soon. The club is hopeful to qualify students for state and national level competitions. On Monday, the National Art Honors Society hung of artwork from the high school as well as our elementary schools at National Grand Bank. Tomorrow at 7:00 a.m., the Performing Arts Department is leaving for a trip to New York City. They will spend two days and one night there enjoying the sights, sounds, and music scene the city has to offer. Winter sports are in full swing, and

11:55 here are the current records for MHS teams. Boys basketball 5 and three. Girls basketball 5 and three. Boys indoor track three and none. Girls indoor track 2 and one. Boys hockey 08 and one. Those students remain optimistic after remembering the state championship team two years ago started 0 and6. Girls hockey 3 6 and 1. Gymnastics 1 and one. Swimming two and zero. Wrestling 2 and six. ski team races for the first time tonight. Thank you and I hope to see you all soon. That is our student repres um update which brings us to the superintendent update. » Thank you. Um always does such a nice

12:42 job outlining everything. So good evening. Um, I think it’s important for folks to understand the financial situation that Marblehead is in and what impact our students and staff will face as a result of the town’s directive to de develop a a proposed level funded school budget. Some of this will likely be touched upon when we um have the subcommittee updates, but I feel compelled to share that we’ve been working diligently to determine what staff reductions and operational efficiencies need to be implemented in order to meet the goal of operating our schools next year with the same funding as this year. This is a difficult but necessary task given the increasing contractual obligations this and next to share next and the need for ongoing transparent and meaningful stakeholder engagement especially within the dire townwide financial picture. I’ve been attending PTO meetings and

13:27 have um some school advisory council meetings on the docket as a way to engage community partners and share what we have discussed within the budget subcommittee meetings um as we move through the process towards our upcoming budget presentation and public hearing. Please understand that we are in the business of students. They are our main priority and we cannot lose sight of that of the fact that they will be the ones who will be impacted the most by the town’s current financial situation. Staff reductions and programmatic programmatic changes will mean at some point high classroom numbers and resources supplies that will be spread thin. These are the facts and this is reality. Thought it was important to share um that we’ve been having a lot of discussions. Um, so I thought I’d start off tonight. [clears throat] Um, there have also been several inquiries about next year’s school calendar. Labor Day

14:14 is late this year, which necessitates deeper conversations given that contractually we can start no earlier than the Monday before Labor Day unless an agreement with the union to forego that constraint is made. We have been meeting to discuss this and other calendar related issues with administration and the union and we’ll be proposing the 26 27th calendar uh for the school committee approval at the next meeting. Although we don’t have the official start date solidified, I think it’s pretty safe to say that the plan is to start prior to Labor Day. In fact, be started Monday before. Um so I would think at least that that day will be uh on discussion. Uh there are a few meetings and webinars of note that I want to share um with you that speak to different aspects of anti-discrimination other things that are going on in the community. Uh there’s community action

14:59 meeting um anti-semitism and massic school that was schools that was held at Hawthorne Hotel on the 13th um hosted by the world fund. I think I said that correctly. Um so I I saw that posted and I said that this this meant great to go and find out like more resources. So, it was it was a pretty um good discussion about um you think ways that they can partner with uh teachers and administrators and school committees. Um so, I’m going to reach out some more, get some more information to see um how else um they can be of um assistance. Um the Martin Luther King community breakfast will be held January 19th from 9:30 to 11 at the Old North Church on 35 Washington Street. Um and that’s sponsored by Marblehead Head Ministerial sponsored by Marblehead Ministerial Association League of Women Voters Task Force Against Discrimination Alliance

15:46 for Democracy NAACP North Branch and United Methodist Foundation. I said, but I would share that. um what to do when a swast stick appears at your school is a webinar um that’s hosted for principles and assistant principles and that’s being held on January 22nd and that is um hosted by the Lapen Foundation. So I’ve shared that with our our principles and sister principles. Um and then holoca the Abbot Hall is hosting the Holocaust Remembrance Day. Um it’s an event that they host and it’s on January 20th at Abbot Hall at noon went last year for sher was really good um event. So I I plan on going that again. That’s great. Um, Marblehead Veterans Middle School is next is the next school in our district to receive the two portraits donated by the Marblehead

16:33 Racial Justice Team. The Marblehead Racial Justice Team will be presenting the portraits of Harriet Tman and John Lewis to the middle school students at their annual presentation of the portraits on January 23rd. Thanks to City Tower Loen, Lindseay Smith, and Vets principal Matt Evans for organizing this special event. Um, as has been discussed several times in our meetings and is one of my evaluation goals, we are embarking on the update of the district improvement plan. Um, I’ve received feedback from our administrative team. Um, and I’m sending the staff sending out to the staff for the approal and feedback. And then once I receive incorporate that pertinent input, I’ll send it out to parents, caregivers, school committee. Um, I’ll get a get the next round of um, input feedback. Um and then you know obviously

17:18 once I and I incorporate that we’ll bring that back to this full committee for the full discussion um any other feedback discussion hopefully approval so that we can move towards um getting that implemented for the fall um the current plan for success um uh is done this year. So there has been question I’ve said this before I just want to say it again because we had this conversation meeting. So the principles are working on their school improvement plans for the SACE’s and the the schools and right now we have plan for success that’s in place. The DIP is upcoming. We’ve had the conversation. So they the principles know kind of you know overarching goals that we’re talking about. They’ve had their input. So they’re going to start dovtailing their six towards the proposed goals because the six overarching goals are part of the plan itself. It’s the

18:04 benchmarks and all the um meat and potatoes of the of the thing that you know for their feedback. So there’s always that transition when we switch from, you know, one to the next. There’s always that one year that’s doesn’t match exactly, but I I’m pretty confident that it’ll dovtail nicely as we move forward. So I just want to share that and once, you know, we’ll bring that back to committee and have a bigger discussion once we get through the next round. Um, congratulations to Marblehead and High School for being named to the 20 2025 advanced placement school honoral platinum level, the highest achievement level awarded by the college board. As mentioned during the AP presentation at a recent school committee meeting, the AP school honor role recognizes schools whose AP program is delivering results in broadening participation for students. Last year, 85% of our seniors took at least one AP

18:50 exam during high school. 77 of 77% of seniors who took an AP exam score of three or higher at least one AP exam and 37% of seniors took five or more AP exams. Congratulations to amazing students and staff on this immense achievement. Um there’s I wanted to share this um kind of cool kindness initiative from Brown School um that principal Maxwell shared out. There many activities tied to this to help our staff model kindness for our students so they can in turn do the same. Uh things like 30 acts of kindness can connected wayfinder activities, read alouds and morning announcements focusing on ways to be kind. A few of the things that they’re doing there and this is just overarching information that set the stage for this important culture building. Um Mary says January is kindness and justice month at Brown Elementary. Here are the details of how we are helping to focus on these concepts and values this month at Brown.

19:36 So there there’s overarching goals of focusing on highlighting on all the ways we can be kind at school and at home in our community distinguishing the difference between kind an act kind of and common courtesy and creating understanding fairness and justice as well as the work of Tom Martin Luther King and other civil rights leaders. So I just thought that was really neat and she and there’s a whole bunch of other activities that she outlined. So, it’s really cool. Um, and you know, I know all the things are going on, too, but she was she really, um, you know, kind of highlighted that, so I wanted to share. And then here’s this here’s the new year shout outs. I’m almost done. Going to go through these from Scott Williams, principal, village school. Um, I would like to celebrate and acknowledge our amazing art teachers at Village, Julie McCarthy and Gina Simple. Through the hard work and diligence, we’re able to partner with our PCO to organize and fund a new mural installation at Village and our main lobby created by Bren Bad. I know this

20:21 sounds because I mentioned this last time, but this is one of his shout outs. but definitely worth repeating. Brent came to village in December working with the village students using their sketches and drawings to be inspired to create our new mural. This mural is truly spectacular, full of vibrance and joy representing what it means to be a dynamic duck at village. Thank you to Miss McCarthy, Miss Sil for inspiring us to all students and adults alike. It’s really cool. If you haven’t been by um you get a chance to check it out, it’s really neat. um from Matt Levani, Veterans Middle School principal. Um he shout out he’s shouting out to his instructional assistants Alona Linda Linda Fo Amy Herz Kathy Marino Robin Russell Shana Seer Jennings Nicole Phill Amy Sally Thomas Grabowski and Deianne Thomas

21:08 Thomas Thomas with that are deeply appreciated for the dedication hard work in supporting our students their caring nature patience and kindness help create a positive and inclusive learning environment puts all our students in a position to succeed. From Lisa Maria Pledo, assistant superintendent student services, I want to extend a heartfelt shout out to Gina Hart and Christine Shakowski for their unwavering dedication to our students. They consistently go above and beyond working beyond regular hours, actively participating in numerous school and community activities and demonstrating kindness, thoughtfulness, and inspiration in all they do. Their commitment truly reflects what is best for our students and we’re grateful for their exceptional efforts. from Michelle Carlson um principal here at the high school. Child Delena Gian teacher at Marblehead High School for her outstanding commitment to our students. Miss Gian has generously volunteered to

21:54 serve as adviser for the MHS newly formed speech and debate club which you heard well um meetings ago creating a new opportunity for students to participate grow their voices and develop confidence in public speaking. And if you’ll indulge me there’s some things that um are going to be in our newsletter but I thought I’d share at this meeting because I think it’s important. So, the DECA member of the Marblehead High School DECA Club were among 15 area schools that compete in the DECA District 6 Career Development Conference and Business Competition January 7th. Congratulations to all MHS students who attended the conference and special recognition of the students listed below who qualified to compete at the DECA state conference in March. My man third third place for sports and entertainment marketing series. Cole Barau second place sports and entertainment marketing series. Katherine Cole first place marketing

22:39 management team decision-making Haley Corbett fourth place principles of finance Naomi Goodwin third place principles of marketing checks sorry fourth place business finance series event Lou second place business solutions project Margaret Miller first place principles of hospitality and tourism Elanor Morgan fourth place principles of marketing Peters Abati second place principles of business marketing administration and ready second place innovation plan Avery Wiser first place marketing management team decision-m and Grace Walton third place hotel and lodging man congratulations Grace if you have our audience uh speech and debate congratulations to Gy Chen who participated in speech and debate tournament at Newton South this past weekend and placed first in the dramatic interpretation

23:25 interpretation contest proud of Gy’s outstanding achievement that was the only that came before us very cool um Marblehead High School 2025 AP platinum school. So, this is another shout out, but I’m going to read it anyway. Marblehead High School has been named 2025 AP honoral as platinum members as prestigious recognition highlights schools that are expanding access to advanced placement course work while supporting strong student achievement and college readiness. And we’ll go through the numbers again. That’s the same thing I just read. The results reflect the dedication of our students and exceptional work of our AP teachers in providing rigorous high quality learning opportunities. Here we go. So, couple more. Hang on. hang with me. Shout out to our from Frank Kowalsski, a principal of Glover Elementary School. Shout out to our kindergarten instructional assistants,

24:11 Elizabeth Liz wire, Becky Goss, Colleen Fabello, and Mary Roberts. Exceptional, caring, empathetic, and kind are only a few superlatives to describe these amazing assistants. There’s no task they are unwilling to do. They cover meetings, lunches in the class when the teacher is not in. They always ask to help out when when we need to plug holes in the day. But one of the best qualities each share is dependability. They all come to work each day with a smile and love their jobs and their children. I’m Julia Ferrer, our assistant superintendent teaching and learning. Thank you to our amazing English language educators who are leading the annual access testing process for all English learners in our district throughout January. Our English language learners, educators are Shelley Burns, Julia Bakinowski, Amanda Ward, Diane Babbett, Christina Honos, Unipa Canning, and Melissa Bell. They are also

24:56 planning and looking forward to a special event um next Thursday evening with our L students and their families. And finally, Mary Maxfield from Brown School Principal. A big shout out PE teacher Danielle McGrath for her commitment to our development and who and whole health approach to instruction. In addition to presenting thoughtful standardsbased, engaging and inclusive and physical education instruction, she’s committed to social emotional learning for all students. Students learn calming and breathing techniques and how to listen to their bodies. As a part of Bronze School’s kindness and justice month, students in PE are being recognized for seeing kindness shown by others. Danielle also champions the AHA kids heart challenge every February to bring awareness to our heart health and teach students about anatomy of the heart and its function. Danielle challenges all students and

25:42 families to learn learn hands handsonly CPR. This effort makes a critical impact in our community and has a ripple effect we will likely never fully realize. Thank you Danielle for your efforts and commitment to health wellness at Brown and the Marblehead Head community. Thank you and the Marblehead community. Thank you so much for allowing me to go through all those awesome shout outs. Thank you. » All right, so next on the agenda is our financial update. Um Mike is not here tonight, but he did put a report in the Dropbox that hopefully everyone had an opportunity to review. And John, I think you » Yeah, I just um yeah, as you say, he put everything in the Dropbox and you know, any specific questions maybe um he’ll be back um at the end of the weekend. So um but I I’ll read his his memo just for so folks at home understand. So um his his uh financial update memo is our

26:29 unexpended unencumbered balance is 3,123,627 at the end of December. This is $148,560 less than what was reported as of the November 30 report. There’s a line at minus 22,764 in the report that that was there last month also which needs to be distributed amongst various salary lines. This line was placed in the 20 FY26 budget to identify savings due to retirement/ attrition. He will uh he goes on to say I will make budget adjustments as soon as we are fully on immun system in January. Special education audit district tuition and transportation lines will need to be adjusted in January as well. Um current we have an over in Humber the circuit breaker line by um 27472,438. This would be rectified by updating

27:15 purchase orders that are currently in Humber under circuit breaker and move them to LEA on add district tuition and transportation units. Once these adjustments have been made available by speed 2,851,189 for our mun payroll process January 15th. the payroll staff, schoolbased administrative assistants and principles have been working diligently to ensure payroll is processed with extreme great decision. Um a caveat being there, there was a snafu today on has something to do with the tax table that’s in the system. Um I sent them email out to all staff. It was a little bit uh there was something with the federal tax number. Um so we’re working diligently. Christie been working on that most of the day with um munice our mun representatives and the talent payroll and our payroll department trying to figure out where it

28:03 pulled home correctly. So hoping to have a follow tomorrow and get a follow by this afternoon. So sorry I share that. Um that’s what I have for the report. » Do people have questions? Did you want to hold questions until next meeting? If there’s questions I I can jot it down from mics back to if that’s if that’s helpful. If not wait till next meeting.

28:31 Okay. Um so next we have an Essex Tech envirment update which is you again. » So Essex Tech. So um I dropped everything in the packet for you last week I think it was. So Essex Tech um serves students from 17 different communities. Um what’s what’s transpired is previously the vote tech schools would go through a process of you know getting student recommendations from counselors they would look at grades they look at disciplinary etc et allowed to do that anymore the regulations changed they have to do everything by a lot of system this is in place it’s been in place um tech has worked through how they do that so initially I went to a meeting on the 6th with myself uh a bunch of other super

29:17 superintendents from the districts. There’s some town um town managers uh mayors there uh with Essex Tech and to try to kind of talk through the process because what they proposed was to do a minimum number of students um minimum seat for incoming freshman. So for Marblehead for instance they they set our minimum seat at 10. So out of so they have a lottery system and they do a three- tier lottery. So they do first round they go through they fill the seats there’s still room they go to second round they fill the seats and then the targeted minimum number for us at Marblehead was 10 so that doesn’t really impact so much 35 kids there right now 10 you know it’s a couple more kids um but what happens is

30:04 with the larger districts that part Peabuddy Salem Dammers um they have many more children so therefore they have more slots to fill um and What happens is as the kids come from the sending districts into vote tech schools, the chapter 70 money follows them. So it does have a financial impact. So students require or want to or you know feel that that’s the way they should be educated. That’s great. We have to provide opportunity and we should um so we do all that but it’s just this it’s this um dichconomy that is is causing some issues. So the smaller districts, you know, the numbers were or that they were in the larger districts were much larger obviously, but part of the discussion was it’s in it’s not

30:49 proportional. So the larger districts felt that it would be good to say, well, instead of doing this minimum number, why don’t we do it by um based on the percentage of our uh our enrollment in the districts. So that sounds great when you’re a large district because now their number is going to come down, but conversely that means our number goes up. So » why would why? » Because they’re looking at a percentage. So So the I should start off by saying the the number the number 10 is based on three years average enrollment. So that makes sense to most people, » especially if you have 45 kids. That’s » correct. So that makes sense. But then they but the larger districts were saying, well, we should really share the wealth. And so the five larger districts made up 70% of the enrollment. So they’re they’re they contend that you

31:34 know they’re they’re getting hit really hard because like say for inance I think it was like sale manu had like 153 students. So that’s 163 students who was chapter 70. » How many do they have right now? » So that that’s their that’s their minimum number they have. They have roughly that amount. So » correct. So that’s so I was all on board. I said there’s there’s really no issue here. It doesn’t impact us um in a way that’s really outrageous. Um, so we had that conversation. I was fine. I went there. I said, “I’m fine. I had the conversation. Like, this is great. It’s really a non-issue for us. I’m great with the way it was fairly.” After the meeting, Six Tech decided they were going to, well, let’s see what it would look like if we did it for by percentage of, you know, enrolling. So, then they

32:20 did the enrollment numbers and lo and behold, our minimum number goes from 10 incoming to 33. So now we go from potentially 40 students to 132 students uh which um it’s still not really proportionate but it’s it’s more in some people’s eyes it’s more equitable. So I shared my thoughts about that and um had some conversations. Mark Stra who’s the uh school me chair there who’s from Marblehead and I went back and forth we had conversation. I don’t want to speak for him but he saw my logic and I’m like the first initial thought I shared that I have a call tomorrow with him uh Bennett Richio who’s the superintendent there that I called tomorrow just to

33:06 kind of walk it through again. So right now everything’s in still proposed a little bit. So, you know, whenever it ends up being decided is what we’ll have to go with. But, um, I just want to share with the committee that I think the first way was was fair. The second way not as fair, but if that’s what gets forward, maybe that’s okay. We’re not going to really have a choice. But, um, it all share back to the committee what the decision is because it could have impacts. And I will say I want to say they had they said they had set over,700 applicants. So the the other piece which is funny is they’ve gone from they’re they’re capping their enroll their enrollment the regular folks at 450 and um not inclusive of the agricultural department. So they didn’t really

33:52 increase their numbers by too much. It’s just how they’re dispersing the numbers what they’re trying to figure out the most economical way. I’ve reached out to other techs to see how they do it. And I’m going to share that information with Heidi tomorrow. Um, just to see if it’s something that makes sense for them. So, it’s still to be determined, but wherever we land, I I prefer that they go with the average of three years number to be honest with you. It makes no sense. » So, when you say proportional, they talk about like proportional based on our student involvement overall. » Yeah. So what they so what they did was they took they took the number from Desi that was like 39 51 or something and then I said well that’s all kids with inclusive children

34:38 who already enrolled in either private school or private day schools you know special education day schools so I said if you’re going to look at that you should probably look at our actual close to 2500 and then do it or better yet if you’re going to go that way you only service grades 9 and 12 so why don’t we cut the 9 to 12 number and use that number. So I’ I’ve shared all that. So » um you know we’ll see where where it falls. Um I had a few conversations with the larger districts and the smaller districts. So small districts are more like » Can they give us an indicate or do they give you an indication of how many applicants they get? » Yeah. So she sent I think we’re Yeah, I think we have 33 so far this year. » So I mean she did send that. Sorry I didn’t get this in the package sent to me. Uh

35:26 so class of 2028 it’s 33 applicants. Class of 2029 there’s 29 and class of 2030 is 28. So I mean but that’s applicants that’s » yeah but they but they limit us till 10th and have been on average they’re a little more than whatever 11 12 » I always knew there was more applicants than seats for sure. » And and the other piece of » there is a demand. » There is a demand and rightfully so. And the other piece to it that wasn’t really getting into doesn’t really affect us. So if you go to Essex Tech, you have um the opportunity to explore all that different areas whatever and the agriculture side of stuff. Um but the kids that are enrolled in just in the agriculture are students who are not from the second districts.

36:13 So those children it’s like 125 I believe go to the agricultural side. They don’t get to go the other way. they’ll get they don’t get the opportunity to go for like stuff. So our students get the full gamut agriculture only get the part because they’re not member districts. Um and there’s some conversation where how desi has I don’t understand where they are with this right now because it’s still kind of consistent discussions with desi about how they term it’s two different schools or well one school. So they’re working on that, » but the I think the kids are still there could be far and the chapter 70 would follow them too, wouldn’t it? » But yes, but not for us because we’re not our our kids aren’t they don’t apply to go to help. No, because they they go to Essex Tech and they’re eligible to do

36:59 that stuff through their » So then they go directly to » kids from so they have international students, they have kids from across the you know outside of that canv. So we have access to everything. They only have access to that. So it actually looks like most the benefits as tax, right? That’s what I know. » Well, I mean it could be half a million dollars. » I mean I guess the good thing is they they said that they they take the minimum share. So like they don’t that’s lucky minimum expect the cherry chapter 7. There are other

37:44 things being told that other others don’t

37:55 anything for any update bring on that. » All right, that brings us to the consent action and agenda item. Um, we do not have a schedule of bills to approve tonight even though that was included on the agenda. Um, so I am just looking for a motion to approve the draft meeting minutes from December 18, 2025.

38:17 » I’ll move that motion. » Right. Made the motion. Is there a second? » Move. Second. Any discussion? » Yeah, I have a couple of comments. Um, first of all, is it possible for you to attach anything minutes, you know, like put page numbers? » Yeah, that’s sure. I think it » um and then the only thing I wanted to mention is technically on » um so these are the minutes of the » Jen can I is this a change I can make right now or do we have I have them open I can make that change » I’m just saying you know on an ongoing basis can you » yes well I can definitely do that I was just talking about change » um yes so then the next thing is under

39:02 enrollment update and trend analysis um which is » qualified. It’s » after it’s uh one hour and 47 minutes.

39:17 » So you wrote under enrollment data and trends uh Julia Fer and superstarial revenue presented enrollment analysis showed negative 3.8% change from 2019 to present. That’s 3.8 average per year since 2019. that needs submitted. That’s it’s not 3.8 since 2019. It’s 3.8 average annual average » or annual » annual.

39:48 » Well, is that the only » Can we vote to approve with that and imagination?

39:59 » All right. Anyone else question? All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries four to zero.

40:10 Okay. So, this brings us to the committee communication and discussion items. And the first thing we have up tonight is a request to approve articles for the annual town meeting warrant. Um, again, this is something that was addressed in a memo that was in um the drive. Mike [clears throat] intends to submit I’ll just summarize what we’re going to be asked to vote on. Mike intends to submit 11 warrant articles for the re reauthorization. » We’re submitting them, Kate. » Okay. um for the reauthorization of revolving funds. These are the special education revolving fund, transportation revolving fund, athletic user fees revolving fund, high school activity fees revolving

40:55 fund, vets activity fees revolving fund, village activity fees revolving fund, general tuition, general education tuition revolving fund, kindergarten and prek revolving fund, athletics revolving fund, special education circuit breaker revolving fund, the facility rental revolving fund, Then he proposed four placeholder warrant articles. These are would be for school building capital needs, school building technology needs, school department capital needs, and a school department supplemental appropriation. The committee would determine whether to use these placeholder articles for what purpose and what amount at a later date. If they’re not needed, there would be a motion to indefinitely postpone them um

41:41 when we get to town meeting. So, I’m looking for a motion to approve placing those 15 more articles outlined in the memo um on the annual town meeting board. » I think you should be reading these into the record does have dollar amounts and people might spirit of transparency, people might want to know how much is being requested in each of these. » Okay, we can go through and read. » Well, you have to do them one individually anyway. Okay. I’m looking for a motion to place for an article for reauthorization of the special education revolving fund under MGL chapter 44 section 53E and E and 1/2 in the amount of $200,000 in anticipated expenditures

42:27 in fiscal year 2027 for the use of school committee authorized expenses within the scope and conditions pertaining to this fund. Revenue sources into this fund are from tuition collected for the attendance of outofd district students placed in Marblehead public schools special education programming. Said funds are to be expended on costs directly related to the Marblehead public schools special education programs serving Marblehead students. Is there a motion to slice? » Second. Any discussion? All right. So we have a motion by Henry, a second by Melissa. So we’ll go to a vote. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries four to zero. So next I’m looking for a motion to

43:13 place following article on the warrant reauthorization transportation revolving fund under MGL chapter 44 section 53E and 1/2 in the amount of $15,000 in anticipated expenditures in fiscal year 2027 for the use of school committee authorized transportation expenses within the scope and condition. Revenue sources into this fund will be from parent fees collected for the transportation of students enrolled in the voluntary payto ride bus program. Said funds are to be expended on costs directly related to school transportation. » So moving. » Any discussion? Okay, we’ll go to a vote. The motion was moved by Henry, seconded by Melissa. All in favor? Any

44:01 opposed? Motion carries. 4 zero. Okay. So, next I’m looking for a motion to place on the warrant article reauthorization athletic user fees revolving fund under MGL chapter 44 section 52 53E and a half in the amount of $550,000 in anticipated expenditures in fiscal year 2027 for the use of school committee authorized athletic expenses within the scope and conditions pertaining to this fund. Revenue sources in this fund will be from parent fees collected for student athletic programs. Such funds are to be expended on costs directly related to Marblehead High School athletic programs. » So moved. » Second. All right. Moved by Henry, seconded by Jen. Any discussion?

44:48 We will move to a vote. All in favor? » Any opposed? Motion carries. Four to zero. I’m looking for a motion to place an article on the warrant for reauthorization Marblehead High School activity fees revolving fund under NVL chapter 44 section 53E and 12 in the amount of $200,000 in anticipated expenditures in fiscal year 2027 for the use of school committee authorized Marblehead High School student activity expenses within the scope and conditions pertaining to this fund. Revenue sources into this fund will be from parent fees collected for Marblehead High School student activity programs. Said funds are to be expended on costs directly related to Marblehead High School student activity programs. » So second moved by Henry, seconded by

45:35 Jen. Any discussion? We’ll move to a vote. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries four to zero. Great. I’m looking for a motion to place on the annual town meeting warrant and article for the reauthorization of the Mar Marblehead Head Veterans Middle School Mar Marblehead Veterans Middle School activity fees revolving fund under MGL chapter 44 section 53E and 1/2 in the amount of $50,000 in anticipated expenditures in fiscal year 2027 for the use of school committee authorized Marblehead Veterans Middle School student activity expenses within the scope and conditions pertaining to this fund. Revenue sources into this fund will be from parent fees collected for Marblehead Veterans Middle School student activity programs. Said funds are to be expended on costs directly related to Marblehead Veterans Middle

46:22 School student activity programs. » So moved by Henry, seconded by Jen. Any discussion? We’ll move to a vote. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries four to zero. Looking for a motion to place on the annual town meeting warrant an article for the reauthorization Marblehead Village Elementary School activity fees revolving fund under MGL chapter 44 section 53E and 12 in the amount of $50,000 and anticipated expenditures in fiscal year 2027 for the use of school committee authorized Marblehead Village Elementary School student activity expenses within the scope and conditions pertaining to this fund. Revenue sources into this fund will be from parent fees collected for Marblehead Village

47:08 Elementary School student activity programs. Said funds are to be expended on costs directly related to Marblehead Village Elementary School student activity programs. » So moved. » Moved by Henry. Seconded by Jen. Any discussion? All we’ll go to a vote. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. One to zero. Right. I’m looking for a motion to place on the annual town meeting warrant article for the reauthorization Marblehead General Education Tuition Revolving Fund under MGL chapter 44 section 53 million 1/2 in the amount of $200,000 in anticipated expenditures in fiscal year 2027 for the use of school committee authorized general education tuition expenses within the scope and conditions pertaining to this fund.

47:54 Revenue sources into this fund will be from tuition paid by non-immigrant foreign students attending Marblehead High School elective Marblehead High School programs said funds are to be expended on costs directly related to Marblehead High School programs. » So moved » moved by Henry seconded by Jen. Any discussion? I think maybe you want to explain to the community what the source of this is. » Which one is this? » Number seven would be general education tuition. Oh, so that that’s um that’s for our students who come from other countries who come and attend school here. So we call it the educations. So uh they come and they pay tuition and come to school here. So that’s what that’s so up to $200,000

48:39 a year is what we collect. » Um that’s what’s in the revolving fund to be able. That’s what we’re going to anticipate spending out of that. The money coming in depends on how many things we get. I think we at like 40,000 per child

49:03 how how healthy that with all and I spent 200,000 question. question. » Yes. Okay. » It’s not for me. It’s for the » Oh, sure. » Spirit of transparent. » I got you. » Go to a vote. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. seven or four to zero. Um, all right. I’m looking for motion to place on the annual town we read weeding warrant article reauthorization Marblehead kindergarten and pre kindergarten revolving fund under MGL chapter 44 section 53E and 1/2 in the amount of 1,100,000 in anticipated expenditures in fiscal year 2027 for the use of school committee authorized Marblehead

49:48 kindergarten and pre kindergarten expenses within the scen conditions pertaining to this fund. Revenue sources into this fund will be from parent fees collected from Marblehead kindergarten and pre kindergarten programs. Said funds are to be expended on costs directly related to Marblehead kindergarten and pre kindergarten programs. » So moved. » Motion by Henry. » Second. » Seconded by Melissa. Any discussion? I still have a quick question. How so we have obviously another item [clears throat] on the agenda around fees. How does that amount 1.1 million change depending on the decisions of that topic? Again, this is what we anticipate expanding. Okay. » So, you know, I think the question the question » any further discussion I think it’s

50:35 basically reauthorizing the use of the fund. » Yes, » that’s why I was a little curious why the amount was there. I don’t remember seeing the amount before, but maybe » I know I know that when when this when this was asked of Lawrence were asked to go and tone back to what was what was done previously in the 20 23 years. That’s how that’s how he did the authorizations » with the amount in it really I I believe the intention was to approve the use of the revolving fund um and that whatever goes in that fund from that source we are authorizing the expenditures out of that fund budget. Yeah, I think » so if it were to go over the 1.1 I don’t know how that » right. So I think so I think that’s what anticipated. So you know I think um

51:22 notice some of those so we you know in the budget discussions that we’re having like this is what we anticipate using out of those funds.

51:35 » Any further discussion on this one? We can go to a vote. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries 4 to zero. Next, I’m looking for a motion to place on the annual town meeting warrant article reauthorization Marblehead athletics revolving fund under MGL chapter 44 section 53E and 1/2 in the amount of $30,000 and anticipated expenditures in fiscal year 2027 for the use of school committee authorized Marblehead athletic expenses within the scope and conditions pertaining to this fund. Revenue sources into this fund will be from date receipts and vending collected for Marlhead athletic programs. Said funds are to be expended on costs directly related to Marl athletic move » by Henry. Second seconded by Jen. Any discussion?

52:22 discussion? discussion? Move through both. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries one. Looking for a motion to place on the inal town meeting warrant article reauthorization special education circuit breaker revolving fund under MGL chapter 44 section 53E and 1/2 in the amount of 2,100,000 and anticipated expenditures and fiscal year 2027 for the use of school committee authorized marble head special education expenses within the scope and conditions pertaining to this fund. Revenue sources into this fund will be from Commonwealth of Massachusetts reimbursement for previous year’s special education claims received for Marblehead special education expenses that funds are to be expended on costs

53:08 directly related to Marblehead special education. » Motion by Henry seconded by Melissa. Any discussion? We’ll go to a vote. All in favor? Motion carries four to zero. for a motion to place on the annual town meeting warrant an article reauthorization marblehead facility rental revolving fund under MGL chapter 44 section 53E and 1/2 F in the amount of $125,000 in anticipated expenditures in fiscal year 2027 for the use of school committee authorized marblehead facilities expenses within the scope and conditions pertaining to this fund. Revenue sources into this fund will be from organizations who pay a fee to rent

53:53 school facilities. Said funds are to be expended on costs directly related to Marblehead public schools facilities and rental event expenses. So moved by Henry, seconded by Jen. Any discussion? Go to a vote. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries or to zero. All right. So that brings us to the placeholder articles. I’m moving for a motion to place on the annual town meeting warrants article school building capital needs to see if the town will vote to appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of making renovations and extraordinary repairs including all professional feasibility studies design architectural and engineering fees for significant capital expenditures for the Brown Vlog Village to Veterans Middle Marblehead Head High School and the school Marblehead High School and the school

54:39 building known as the Evest School and their respective school grounds and to raise the money for these purposes by the issue of bonds or notes, by the transfer of unused or prior creation and borrowing authority for such purposes, by the passage of a one-time capital exclusion and/or debt exclusion or in any other manner or take any other action relative there too. Moved by Jen, seconded by Henry. Any discussion? We’ll go to a vote. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Board zero. Looking for a motion to place on the annual town meeting warrant article school buildings technology needs to see if the town will vote to appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of making renovations upgrades and extraordinary repairs

55:25 including all professional feasibility studies, design, architectural and engineering fees or significant technology expenditures for the Brown Glover Village Veterans Middle Marblehead High School and to raise the money for these purposes by the issue of bonds or notes by the transfer of an unused or prior appropriation. and borrowing authority for such purposes and by by the passage of a one-time capital exclusion andor debt exclusion or in any other manner or take any other act action relative there too seconded by Henry any discussion » that this is are we planning to do that is this something that Mike is looking to go forward or is this just a placeholder » placeholder » talking about this a little budget

56:10 » no it’s it’s a placeholder Just so we have Eric to do so. » Any further discussion? Both all in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. 4 to zero. The next I’m looking for a motion to place on the annual town meeting warrant article school department capital needs to see if the town will vote to appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money for school department capital needs and to raise the money for these purposes by the issue of bonds or notes by the transfer of an unused or prior appropriation and borrowing authority for such purposes by the passage of a one-time capital exclusion and or debt exclusion or in any other manner or any other action relative there So

56:56 » moved by Henry seconded by Melissa and a discussion. » Yeah, I don’t understand this at all. like what would possibly between usually the the capital needs the debt exclusion is for a build building the technology one okay that’s you know but I what would possibly come under school department that isn’t one of those two categories capital need » yeah I I don’t know what he had in mind there was more it was replicated was there before in regard to all » I don’t think we had this before though » he show he showed told me what he was modeling this off of. So, um obviously if that’s something we want to pull back

57:41 out, we could certainly do that. Um yeah, I mean I think » maybe like vehicles like buses or like larger thing was like » but that we usually do through the town um the town does like furniture. » Oh, I don’t remember this ever. nor I so my in answer to you I wouldn’t support that. So I mean things like furniture and vehicle yet we haven’t had anything come up in our budget subcommittee that would lead us to believe that we are doing all right for furniture. » No I don’t think it’s that I think I think his his mind was probably thinking that you know the other things were specific to those um needs. Yeah. Yeah.

58:28 Now that I read it again everything seems to be covered under the other one. Right. School billing capitals, school department meetings. » What is the deadline? » 30:30 » and we have another meeting but we don’t really going to discuss that later on in the meeting. » The only other thing would be you know um school department mean um our building we’ve had anything discussion » that would be under cap that would be under the building » but you’re on that one. So that’s difficult. That’s why you put it over there separately. But um » well we haven’t discussed that’s why I’m I don’t know. We haven’t discussed it at the budget supplement. » Yeah. » So I think this the war articles are due by 30th I believe. » 30. Yeah. » Yeah. » And the

59:13 alternate way to look at it is that there’s no harm in putting it on. » I wouldn’t necessarily say that. I mean this will be printed in you know town meeting if we approve this. Um, and we don’t necessarily I don’t know what it is that we’re asking for. So, I guess I’m not comfortable with this. If we go forward with this tonight, I’m not going to support it. Um, if we want to table this and vote on it before the 30th, maybe better more of an explanation for Mike or we can discuss it in the budget subcommittee. I can I can try to get in touch with him and see if he’ll answer the question text answer. » Oh, it’s fine. That’s a good idea. Table it. Yeah. Then we can come back to it

59:59 later in the meeting if you hear back from them. » Okay. » Yeah. I’m sorry. I didn’t know what » Yeah. No, no. I saw I read it and then now that we mentioned it, I’m like, well, I don’t I don’t have a good answer for that because I my own it was uh wer, » you know, we need a ramp. We need you. I’ve also talked to Tom about that because he may have just thought that my last conversation with Tom is we are going to be part of that whatever. » Yeah. was I think » you know what what work we’ve done on central administration has come out of our operating budget because it’s been I mean recently not major stuff » and the idea that we would do a a major

1:00:44 like a a bond issue for which road I think I wouldn’t be supportive of because I don’t I don’t think it’s the best use of borrowing. So I don’t » that’s how they get I think but if he if so we can just maybe we can go through it in a table before the meeting ends and if not then address it at a subsequent meeting. » So I guess we would have to make a motion to table it » because there’s a motion on the table. » There’s a motion on the table. So we need that motion withdraw. » Uh I made that motion to all withdraw. Okay. » Is there a motion to table? Well, if you withdrew it means

1:01:30 » um so I’ll make that motion as well. » We have a motion from Pen to table the school department capital needs article to a later time. » Second. » Second. » Seconded by Melissa. Any discussion? We’ll go to a vote. All in favor? Any opposed? Right. Motion carries four to zero and we will table school article. So, I’m looking for a motion to place on the annual town meeting warrant article school department supplemental appropriation to see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds the sum of money to supplement the school department’s operating budget for fiscal year 2027 pingent upon the passage of a proposition 2 and a half so-called

1:02:15 ballot question or take any action relative there too. » Oh, so moved » by Henry. Sorry. Seconded by Melissa. Any discussion

1:02:30 to a vote? All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Four to zero. Okay.

1:02:41 I will make sure Mike knows that we approve these. Um his memo. He says that he will submit them to the warrant on behalf of the school committee. And then we can come back to the capital meetings article. at a later time. Okay. So, next we have a proposal for the 202627 user fees and tuition. I think John you were going to speak to that one. » Yes. So, this was also in your packet. Um the long and short is the user fees you utilize to to pay for you knowing and things like that. So um since that goal is 3% um made sense to do a 3% increase here and then the numbers you know rob.

1:03:26 So we go from high school the the music user fees for first season or um 540 we go to 555 second season before night go to 505 third season 4 to 445. So it’s that’s roughly the 3% increase in the insurance. Um for middle school first season go from 260 to 270. Second season would be 210 to 215. Third season 1605 nonathletics. So high school clubs or flag football unlimited would be 290 300. Same thing for school sports activities. So unlimited. So from the 290 go to 300 by 300 you can participate in all that we have to offer. um elementary safety 290 to 300. Um so the

1:04:13 annual maximum user fees will go from $2,60 to 215 and then all tuition based program same thing half day 5,000 5150 full day 7,000 goal 7210 uh half day kindergart

1:04:36 4,000 4,000 420 and then we talk a little bit about the labor cost process So just to share induction kindergarten tuition only families that apply for NP USDA’s income eligibility are directly certified for the virtual gateway will automatically qualify for either free 100% reduction in kindergarten tuition or leave or reduce 75% reduction in kindergarten tuition that’s just that um same thing with prek in tuition use if these families apply for meet the USDA eligibility or are direct certified for your some free commission here music fees free eligibility 75% reduction of this they call it selfies

1:05:24 and then transportation pay to ride um it’s K to six less than two miles currently it’s 250 it would go to 260 um I think I did the math on that it’s 44 cents one way each day so I think that’s still reasonable » we haven’t thought phrasing that to 12th grade or eighth grade. » We don’t have we considered it. Um » that I don’t know. I we don’t have a buses to support that we have. I mean » our buses full.

1:05:59 So I mean yes if we if we reached the amount of buses we had and drivers but that’s all stations. Sure. Um but yeah so that that’s basically the fire on top. They want to the second part I will just say this that they’re having questions about the you know user fees for like the » not the athletics athletics. So that’s the user fee and what we what we found out over the last year or so is that not always applied in um properly not apply properly they’re not always collected properly. So, so for instance, you may sign up for after school club and you know spend 290 and no one’s kind of, you know, so we’re looking at how we do that differently so that the fees that were actually charged are actually being

1:06:44 neglected. So, I think that part of the revenue source there is is not fully fun. So, it’s just something bought into this miss this fisc year exploring things. Um and and that’s also been brought up by parents thinking kids park suspended this but nobody ever asked for money. So it’s a thing. So that will be something that we’re going to tighten up. I’m going to next year to start.

1:07:12 » Um so I’m looking for a motion to approve these fees for 2627 outline as outlined um in the memo and in John’s presentation. So » moved by Henry seconded by Melissa. Do we have any discussion from the committee? » I I just want to point out that these fees are already so much higher like the kindergarten is a free public public um education in most towns and the user fees are already so high. I feel like we’re trying to force fit this on parents. I think um make up a budget gap » that I don’t think is appropriate. » Um

1:07:59 » these are also I’ve looked at other surrounding towns and whatnot. I’m like we’re already so far above and beyond kind of other places that have

1:08:10 » I’m curious about that because when we voted these they hadn’t been raised in years and they were voted a pretty big increase back in like » 2024 I think. No, before that even it was 2019 [clears throat] or 2020 was one job and another one. But I believe there were comparisons that were done to other school districts that or show that we were in line with other school districts. » Generally speaking, I won’t care for that. But generally speaking, that’s how that’s how you use their fees themselves and the tuition piece. I you know typically what happens take prek for instance because prek is actually a thing. Okay. So, um, that’s usually in line with like what private preschools charge. Um, I haven’t done that work here, but I assume that’s that’s where it started. Um, but I would concur with the, you know, the K is something that

1:08:55 we charge for. Not a lot of districts do. Um, but that’s a substantial portion of our budget. So, you know, as we continue to have conversation at some point, if there’s if there’s a funding discussion that’s lauded or anything like that, then it shouldn’t happen. I think that’s still his conversation with that been discussed thought took place » is that your issue with the kindergarten » I mean both of them there’s got to be a point of diminishing returns where like people are just going to start taking their kids doing private sports or no think so » they don’t I mean it’s just I I mean I I see I understand the kindergarten is one issue

1:09:42 » I find it a it’s a moral issue from my perspective that we don’t pay for it that we don’t cover our full to we don’t have to and so we haven’t eventually we’re going to be required um eventually we’re going to be required probably to do universal prek um but in the me at some point the state’s going to sort of realize in and require it at which point um we will be required to do um so I I agree on on the kindergarten I think in regards to the um you know in regards to the other activities things, athletics and other activities. Um, you know, yes, I guess, you know, does we should be paying for this, you know, out of our town renovation or, you know, budget, but it doesn’t exist anywhere in any

1:10:27 school, you know, all public schools charge for higher saw. » So, it’s just unfortunately it’s the reality. » Yeah. be these are extra » and I think you know not this is not why bees are getting parents angry they love our athletics but we have a lot of athletics here too like this I mean you heard a list just the sport this season is extraordinary amount of sports but that’s what we have that’s what we need that parents and kids want so I’m probably able to offer that but it’s also that comes with the soy stuff and quite frankly I mean, you know, the the club fee that $300. I mean, it it’s a lot if you’re only like last year, I know it was employment question like,

1:11:13 oh, I playing, you know, power football, it’s supposed to be me $300. Yes, if that’s something that you do, if you if you do all that, you know, do mass amount that that that’s a really good if you do all you money for a club. » Yeah. » I think the other thing to note too is you actually calculated the costs of these um of these current forculars. We have so much support from the peak in this town from various news athletic boosters and performing arts boosters, the arts boosters um that it’s amazing. It would be I can’t imagine how much higher it would be if we didn’t have those, you know, those supports. And with really, you know, I I totally

1:12:00 understand what you’re saying. It’s um unfortunately no it’s it’s the reality and it’s um there’s a demand and in order to supply it

1:12:15 and the other thing to know too is that like to John to your point in the fe these if you know folks cannot pay you know then then they don’t have to and I I believe there is there through the boosters there are other supports for parents that are um may not fall into a particular category but are struggling. I mean, I hope that we’re not turning any students away » from any activity because of an inability to pay take pay. » No, there’s all there’s same thing like you field trips. They can’t afford to pay. We have waivers for you know the waiver fees that we talk about for pay and stuff. That’s that’s part of okay have that off of the other so we don’t say sorry if we like we have ways to solve the problem » and on top of that I just for my

1:13:01 experience I’ve been out for a while but you know my your first thought and something like that is like well you know you know you have to ask for it right you know like there’s all that but my past experience is that the counselors and the teachers like and the coaches it it is seamless for like it’s it’s not a process where anyone’s embarrassed. I don’t you know or or like the way that » it’s it’s respectful. Um and families

1:13:45 reason. reason. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries three to one. » So next » I have an update » on the baptism. » Um he says this is a just in case or emergency situation like a boiler going out or new playground. Uh it can be anything identified between now and meeting. We sent out the known capital needs last month. if there isn’t a warn AR and it so it’s just so you know I think there there’s there’s situations like that I mean I could just think well probably goes out that’s 75 $150,000 that’s a

1:14:31 little change that was you know » but it would have to be now in town meeting but right » so it’s it is just in case that’s that’s out of the frame so I believe there so fail safe Nice to that point you made. That was the response. » Okay. That response is there an interest in

1:15:04 I’ll make a motion to agree with that article. » Okay. So, we have a motion to place the school department capital needs article on the warrant. Is there a second? » Second. » All right. So, we have a motion by Melissa, seconded by Henry. Any discussion?

1:15:25 » Yeah. » Yeah. » Oh, I’m sorry. Excuse me. » Any opposed? Motion carries four to zero.

1:15:45 Intuition one. Oh, who’s Oh, I’m sorry. » Sorry. » Thank you. » It was all the fees. It wasn’t just » No, they were all together. » Yep. All right. So, that could have broken out two. We could have filtered them separately. That brings us to the NA NRG National contract update. Yet another item um that in a memo for Mike. John’s going to give a brief summary. » Yeah. So um so thank you. Uh so natural gas contract, you know, renewal. So what ends up happening with things like natural gas is they’ll they’ll send a thing and say, “Hey, here’s the rates. You want to jump on them?” And they they give you all sorts of so that’s all in your packet. So long story short, this would we were able to lock in and you

1:16:30 lock it in at the moment. So the question might be like, oh well, we have to do a three-year contract or something. You don’t have to do that for for utilities like you do for um for other items like the threeear contract on the copier is different, right? So that’s why that’s that is but what I just want to make note that we are currently using approximately 34,000 deer the natural gas per year and the current contract prices of $8.54 per decre. just for the supply, not the delivery. And then um the new contract we’ve executed from go from April to um April um is at $710 per approximately savings of $49,000 annually or current

1:17:16 expense. So it was it came to my inbox. I was like, Mike, let’s pull the trigger on this because it does it doesn’t always happen that way. But I’ve had this experience before where like doesn’t happen for us very much or head so but um it’s it’s always good to jump on it. So they they give you different options like if you do it for five years if you do it for two years they’ll do it. So generally the threeear options is the best bang for your buck. So we jumped on it for 50 now which is good. The caveat is that it has been underfunded for the last couple years. So we don’t necessarily realize that 49 June won’t realize the formula down here because that was fun previously funding. So this will definitely Right. So it will definitely

1:18:02 it’ll be a savings that didn’t we have for the we have a surplus fund now don’t we or is that I think that’s we used to have a surplus that I forget what they called it. It was a reserve fund for utilities for water heat. Oh, I don’t know. Natural gas. Yeah, I don’t natural gas. » Yeah,

1:18:32 » Thank you for that. Okay, next we have a report the school committee’s grievance decision um which Henry is going to. » Yeah, thank you. I am reporting the school committee’s decision on the step three agreements that we heard on uh December 18th and the reason why I am doing it is because Al is out as chair and Kate recused herself from the deliberations in the vote. Um the school committee did vote to deny the step three grievance. Um and uh that’s it.

1:19:14 Okay. So, that brings us to um the January 29th, 2026 meeting. Um and superintendent and I discussed this and just wanted to have a conversation um within the committee. We had to make some shifts to our January meeting schedule um which resulted in a conflict between the January 29th meeting and the Brown School Steam Fair, which impacts three committee members. Our meeting and the steam fair are both scheduled to start at 6 pm. And so we’re looking to see if the committee would be amendable to either starting the January 29th meeting at 7 so that committee members could go see their children’s projects and then come to the meeting or because we have a meeting on the 29th and then one a week later on the 5th. um sort of leaving it to John and Al to

1:20:01 assess whether there is a sufficient agenda to warrant meeting on the 29th or whether it makes more sense to simply wait um and handle everything at the meeting on the 5th. So that see what Well, I think given the bag so we’ve had these issues come up before in the past and um have always found ways to work around it. I think 7 p.m. start makes sense. Um given that this is um budget season, I strongly discourage us from not having any other meeting between now and February 5th when John is going to present the leg. um the meeting in between the subcommittee will have met and then we will have an ability to at least update committee on what eventually we’re expecting on the so that’s just my my thoughts on

1:20:48 thoughts on thoughts on even a 7:30 start with a 7:00 start » yeah I think a seven I an hour at the seemed

1:21:07 » right now only couple items that you know

1:21:15 rather than stacking the fifth if we can do it on seven we can get those couple items out have the update on a bunch of stuff maybe probably J said » and then the fifth can be » and then the fifth will be budget and then whatever else » you don’t want a lot of other stuff » but that’s that’s what that’s the part that um K9 talks like do we already have three or four items and then we stack them with fifth and the answer was no Michelle has something Michelle had something to put up that’s straightforward » we have school calendar we have to do school » we have school calendar » well so we school calendar decisions that they will make on the end you know the thing I mentioned earlier so yeah so I’m fine with you an hour to

1:22:01 I mean, an hour is plenty of time for me. Yeah. Just want to make sure » that I make an appearance and check it out. So, um, so that she’s not upset with me. All right. So, we will plan to schedule our meeting on January 29th for 7 p.m. All right. That brings us to subcommittee and liaison updates. Anybody have anything? I think we met » we did on January 6th, » but we had a meeting that night and I thought Didn’t we did an update? » This is our first » Oh, no. We met January. Yeah. » Yeah, » that’s right. We did. Um Yes. So, we did meet on the um earlier

1:22:48 in the month. I’m sorry, the um budget subcommittee and John and Mike presented um basically it with we’re being tasked with a presenting or John’s being tasked with presenting a level funded budget to the school committee. That’s the request or the request of the finance committee. » Yeah. um given the um revenue projections of the town. And so um Mike’s um uh sort of um what he was saying based on a level funded budget and the current contractual obligations that we have and expected increases in things like utilities, etc., you were looking at about a $1.7 million delta. um you need

1:23:37 less $1.7 million in projected expenses above what a level funded budget would be. And a level funded budget would for appropriation would be I think it’s 4943 million appropriated by the town. » So John and Mike and the team worked together. Um there were a number of items they felt could be met um with uh to to you know to go through some so-called efficiencies um in not filling some vacant positions. I’m just doing this off double head. Not filling some vacant positions um two or 1.75 ELLL positions that are not filled that they will eliminate because the census of um English language learners is down. Um there were a few other items that

1:24:23 » yeah there was some attrition like you can look at there’s some other unfilled positions that we fill. I saw the HR secretary that had been previously filled in our office savings savings things like that but » we went down 200 art teacher I think at the high school or something that all of which added up to about 900,000. So Delta right now is like 800 you said it’s 9,000. Um so John and the Mike and the team are working on closing that gap between the discussion of our next meeting which I forget what they think 239. Um and so at that point the subcommittee

1:25:08 would hear from um from John and the team as to what their recommendations are and basically what we’ll be looking at for all intents and purposes for presentation on February 11 budget. Um it’s possible that we may be asked to make even more. It’s certainly possible in in the scheme of the town finances that there’s even less revenue projected. Um that’s, you know, it hasn’t been communicated to us, but you know, certainly could be a possibility. So, I don’t know, you know, we’re just going through and John will present what’s being asked of us by the finance committee, which is the appropriate process, and then we’ll go from there. Um, and we do have given some dates, but basically we’re looking at the 5th of

1:25:55 February for a presentation to us. Um we would then have a budget hearing uh which would be sometime in February. » Yeah. Whether it’s in spoken tonight item in our school usually in our school meeting that’s opportunity for the public to come hear the presentation again and then share their thoughts and then at some point after that the next meeting we would actually vote our recommended budget um which would then go forward to town meeting and That’s is I miss. » No, I think no that was that was the final I think you know the 8 800,000 and change that second like kind of deep dive into that after like the you know the general efficiency that we can see.

1:26:40 Um that’s where we’re going to talk a little bit more about staffing and and what that looks like and how we get how to reduce the budget by 800 change. Um and that’s why I mentioned that at the beginning the show here that you know it will eventually stream and stuff. So that’s the direction. » I mean there may be other I don’t know speaking for Mike but there may be you know we voted all these revolving funds he his recommendation may be to hit more of those revolving funds. » That’s so some of that is included in the summit. So like some of those members of the labor and what we already know we’re going to charge off of those accounts too. Um to help to help kind of legislate. Um but we have to also remember that some of those revolving accounts we have to be careful

1:27:26 what we charge off to that. So if it’s salaries like yeah one time thing but that doesn’t mean you’re not going to get that money back. So short-term help longterm not so much. Um you know and you know at some point we have to have a lot of conversation. I don’t know what Tom’s planning in terms of if they’re going to do an over not include us or say I don’t know any of that kind of conversation. So, you know, I know that’s the big question and you know, you know, at some point we’re going to have to have that discussion decision. But in the meantime, I’m going to continue to do what I was tasked with doing, which was figure out how to operate next year with the same 49 million change we have to shift. That’s the bottom line. That’s what I’m going to move forward.

1:28:16 Oh, no. The only other thing I wanted to mention uh we haven’t met as facilities but and I was spilled into appropriate to do that but um I did have a meeting with um Dan Fox from his left board and Rosanna Front Re um about the govern school building. So there is some um desire from Ren Park to have conversations about that building and whether it might be something that they would want to um perhaps look at the feasibility of doing something together that building because they have needs as well um beyond what they currently have at the center. So, um, so that was just kind of a, you know, ad hoc meeting, but I we haven’t met yet, so I don’t want to bring it

1:29:01 back to you, right? » Um, and let this committee know. So, I just figured, you know, sure, um, but we can have those conversations because we have been talking about the school and trying to and what our buildings there. When it’s like that

1:29:31 » Yeah. Yeah. I know. » Um » the thing with like park too like I’m interested. So Swamp Scott’s kind of done partnership like that. So we’re going to reach out. Yeah. We’re going to have those conversations too. That’s where we’re going to go. And I have let people know. just kind of dumps down what Jim was saying like um I have you know a lot of recommend go in and use the building side versus it sit in the towns you learn some archive stuff on top of the classrooms um so yeah I I be interested to see how how the building’s there’s great apartment » I mean something like when we have a placeholder now um so likely necessitate

1:30:17 a feasibility study um with either you know school committee school district and or school district in Breen Park and that has a price state to it that would probably be its own could potentially be its own bond issuance to cover it could be a couple hundred thousand » um but that might you know that might be what’s necessary again I’m jumping ahead of our subcommittee meeting but um to be able to really sus out what that building But that site um potentially could be used for and I feel we have an obligation to to pursue the options.

1:30:58 » Um I don’t believe we had any correspondence which brings us to adjournment. So like to make a motion to adjourn. » So I’m [laughter] sorry. Okay. » So move motion by Melissa. Seconded by Jen. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries four to zero. And we are adjourned at 7:31 p.m.