Citizen comments opened the meeting with a clear message: the office personnel’s importance to the school community and the need to ratify their new contract. Jackie Mar, the Union vice president, led the charge, expressing frustration with the current state of negotiations and emphasizing the office personnel’s integral role. Support for the union’s position was widespread among speakers, with instructional coach Bridget O’Donnell, veteran teacher Maria Mahart, union representative Nor Bernett, and teachers Shantel Clark and Kathy O’Shea all advocating for a contract agreement that would properly recognize the office personnel’s contributions.

Delving into the specifics of the meeting, the committee reviewed and discussed the mission statement. The committee members reaffirmed their dedication to unbiased decision-making and support for majority decisions.

The consent agenda was passed with all items approved, except for the model UN field trip, which required further discussion. The trip was eventually approved once concerns about the hotel arrangements for students were clarified. The committee expressed gratitude to the Friends and Boosters groups for their generous donations.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the district’s financial outlook. The budget book for the forthcoming fiscal year was presented, with improvements such as the inclusion of stabilization fund accounting and Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) balance. The committee also responded to towns’ requests for more charts in the budget book, though a minor issue was raised about the font size on some pie charts. The budget and annual report were unanimously approved following the discussion.

The committee then moved on to discuss the security camera proposal, which focused on granting the Hamilton Police Department limited access to the school’s external cameras and, in emergency situations, internal cameras. The intention was to enable police to monitor outside building cameras outside school hours and access the live feed during emergencies. While the committee unanimously supported the initiative, some concerns were raised about the potential for increased surveillance and its effect on student-police interactions. The proposal was passed with an understanding that its impact would be monitored.

The financial forecast for the second quarter of FY24 was also a topic of substantial discussion. Vinnie ComfortableUseCaster presented the forecast, detailing the financial status of the district. With a projected positive year-end balance of approximately $1.3 million, the district faced deficits in instructional materials and equipment, as well as operations and maintenance. Noteworthy savings in health insurance and transportation were discussed, along with the impact of the new ESP contract, which was running a deficit of over $200,000. Residual balances and deficits were broken down by location, giving the committee a granular view of each school’s financial standing.

The budget discussion was thorough, with the finance director outlining the anticipated year-end budget status. The attorney costs were increasing due to ongoing union negotiations, while there was a deficit in substitute costs due to higher sick day usage. The Capital acquisition and improvements budget included significant investments in smartboards and high school theater lighting upgrades, among other items.

Technology budgeting was a issue, with debates over the need for a comprehensive technology plan before allocating funds for new devices. The finance director explained the need for device replacements due to an increased rate of failure. Ultimately, the committee authorized budget transfers to fund capital items and facility upgrades, including technology replacements.

Negotiations with various unions were also part of the meeting’s agenda. The negotiation subcommittee provided updates, and the committee recommended opening negotiations with the custodial contract. The superintendent gave updates on school activities such as the History Fair state competition and recruitment for a new director of facilities maintenance and operations.