34:08A significant portion of the meeting was devoted to discussing immigration enforcement in schools. Concerns were raised about the potential impact of immigration policies on the school environment, particularly following the rescinding of a memo that had previously protected schools from immigration enforcement actions. The committee emphasized that schools are not public spaces open to immigration enforcement without proper judicial warrants. They detailed a new procedure requiring any requests from immigration agents to be reviewed by the superintendent’s office. This procedure aims to protect students and families, emphasizing the need for parental consent in any enforcement action involving minors.

The committee also explored the possibility of formalizing these procedures into a policy, with discussions on drafting a resolution to ensure all students, regardless of immigration status, are treated fairly. A recommendation was made to consider adopting a policy that would govern immigration enforcement in schools, recognizing the urgency to act while public interest is high. This would involve a draft policy being placed on the agenda for the next meeting, potentially waiving double readings to expedite the process.

0:00Another topic was the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. The committee considered a proposed budget increase of 6.29% for maintaining level services, a reduction from an earlier 9.72% increase. The budget discussion highlighted challenges such as adjustments for retirement expenses and out-of-district placement costs. A proposed addition of a kindergarten class, should enrollment rise, was also considered, with concerns about the potential financial burden on town resources, particularly health insurance costs.

18:37The conversation extended to the implications of school choice on the budget. With 11 kindergarten applications for the upcoming year, the committee examined how school choice could affect class sizes and the overall budget, especially with students leaving from sixth grade to seventh grade without replacements. The committee maintained flexibility in managing school choice placements, allowing principals discretion based on class size.

The meeting also touched on the potential addition of a teaching position due to fluctuating enrollment numbers. While an extra position was included in the budget, the committee acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding enrollment trends and anticipated making a decision after further observation. Potential savings from not filling this position could amount to about 2%, although a surge in enrollment could necessitate funding an additional section.

0:00Discussions on budget adjustments included minor expense increases to address inflation and deferred maintenance costs. The notion of a “soft freeze” was introduced as a strategy to limit discretionary spending without impacting essential services. The committee planned for upcoming meetings, including a public hearing and budget vote scheduled for March, emphasizing the need for collaboration with the select board and finance committee to communicate the school’s budgetary needs effectively.

51:04Additional meeting topics included updates on legislative efforts related to rural school funding, concerns about budget cuts within the collaborative due to fewer grants, and capital improvements with ongoing projects. The committee moved into executive session to discuss contract approvals, concluding the meeting with the approval of a new contract for the Director of Business Administration.