##VIDEO ID:S9rt0mF00xM## [Music] uh good evening everyone today is Tuesday December 3rd and the time is 6:31 p.m. and I'd like to call this meeting to order first on our agenda is the consent agenda and our meeting minutes from November 19 any questions or comments on the meetings uh meeting minutes hearing none I'll take the motion uh make a motion to accept the minutes from November 19th meeting can I have a second a second all those in favor I I just realized L is not here okay um next next is warrants 32 and 34 which I have in the folder here that I'll send around for signatures any questions or comments on those hearing none I'll take the motion I'll make a motion to approve warrants 32 and 34 can I have a second second all those in favor I I visitor comments any citizen wishing to speak before the committee must sign in with the administrative commit uh wow sorry Sor any citizen wishing to speak before the committee must sign in with the administrative assistant prior to the opening of the regular session of the school committee the visitor will identify themselves by name and address and shall speak for no longer than 3 minutes for anyone unable to sign in ahead of time we ask that you clearly state your name and address so that this information can be included in the record for the meeting uh Cole is not here moving right along new business superintendent search committee so here we are again search committee so um we need to get a committee before we can can we post without the committee anybody we did it all at the same time last time last time yeah postings tell me to so thoughts anyone should we just use the same the same ad from last time and work on getting a committee I'm just worried about trying to get a committee that maybe we can't have him panel by dates that we put in the ad well how far out can we put the ad I think it's in our control so right you know so um I wonder if we can hold it up plus the holidays are coming up so I imagine people would want to wait until January to volunteer their time right I'm just wondering if maybe it makes sense to get um to get the work on getting the committee and then uh or should we should we post it and then just have the dates out there so we can start collecting information and on and paneling a committee I don't see the harm it would just grab a bigger applicant pool thoughts well I know that um in March I think it was the 209th or 26 26th you guys were going to do a full search mhm is that still the plan yep that's what we're talking about okay are you going to use someone like um masc we're going to do it ourselves like we've done the last several times okay cuz the last time we just we we use them as like um as your vet our veter and um and we've gone to them with questions and concerns and it helps keep the cost down I still think it's about $5,000 or something okay but you are going to have them do and our newest Committee Member who's not here um tonight she is on masc so she's hoping that she'll be able to help us as well okay so then if she if she'd be acting in that role then she would have to abstain from no she can just make sure that we're doing like she's familiar with that so she can help make us sure make sure that we're doing all of the right thing she's familiar with the process more so than any of us so she can guide our decisions um and make sure that we're following the processes um most accurately so maybe we won't have to use NC as much I think the the thought is Tracy novic has been the district's contact mask yes right so that would probably continue because Liz would be a member on the committee okay but that because she has depth with knowledge when it comes to these conversations at the table she would be able to help okay with guiding up okay so last time we posted the the applications or the posting was March 8 applications were due on April 19th so three weeks is it bad to have it open for longer if we post it now and collect for longer while we try to imp panel committee or should we make sure that the ad is we're happy with how it looks and then post after the new year I just know that there's a bunch of other searches going on so I'm a little conserned the one thing that you guys had mentioned was talking about doing when you do the full search you want to get um even International so three weeks that doesn't offer enough time for that if we post through mask that's the international connect or the national connection right so then but 3 weeks doesn't seem like a very long time when we were doing the three weeks that was because we had that short window of about a month or two that you guys were requiring um us to come back I think April 30th was the day you needed our committee to come back with um the three names look can see back now April 30th was our first committee meeting ours ours as a search committee okay that was the first meeting yeah thank you I'm just looking to see because we have we've done it a few times just to see if we have any um what we did the time before because we had one for um superintendent Sol and then when we um got Mary Jean and then um so just looking to see so last time it looks like in 2021 we did the application January 18th and it was due March 1st yeah so it was a much longer a much longer period so we could shoot for that January 18th posting date and almost keep the same amount of time so we have a a a longer selection C uh period that' give six weeks to imp panel the committee M would you wouldn't you start your search committee now that's what we're yeah okay and then have it closed on the 18th the applications would okay would be I don't think the committee needs to be impanel when the ad gets posted gotcha um I don't think does that's what I was asking initially I didn't hear you were saying you didn't think it would be a problem but I I haven't heard from anybody else no and I guess my point of reference was they ran concurrently last time meaning the call to community and sta of any interest in being on a search committee and the application itself yeah because we don't really need any search committee members to be part of anything until after the application uh closes right and so ideally I think in my mind if you ran the posting depending on when you wanted it to close and I recall being on the search committee the I guess the first time here um that meetings only started the end of January beginning of February after like the committee was chosen okay by whatever mid January it doesn't mean that we have to stick to those time frames I think it was just it gave us finalist announcing on the last week of March site visits a last March 29th and the week of March 29th were site visits and then the finalist interviews were the first week of April so then that selection happened this second week essentially okay okay so why don't we um Circle back on who we need on our search committee so we can make sure that we um get an active accurate um list so we can post in the correct areas so last time the last couple times we've had a school administrator a district administrator um school committee members a GAA member um parents from both schools um and then we had uh a teacher from each school and then two and then a Community member so there was one we had two teachers from each School yep I'm just reading the headlines okay so I have uh parents from both schools so we had one two three no one two two from East Meadow and two from the high school just one GAA member although it looks like the teachers listed on this first one were also on GAA at the time so that was just um yeah but um I believe that we still had two teachers plus myself I was the GAA member um it just so happens that we're all teachers can't help it right no no I I I didn't mean anything by it I'm just looking at the list so that's the one from 20 for for Steven and then the one there's like multiple lists so we had last one we had one school administrator two districtwide employees um School Committee Member GAA two East metal parents two Junior Senior High School parents two staff at each building and two commity Community what members so we've been pretty consistent with how we've been doing that so should we keep with the same I think we should okay the one thing that we'd like to ask is that in the past last year was the exception we had um a representative from an admin from each school and we didn't have one from East Meadow last year anyone have any problems with that okay all right um so school so we just need to ask for volunteers from all of those um areas so for the parents and community members um well hopefully people are watching they can reach out to um to me or to Jenny um or to anybody really as long as the information gets flowed up um they can reach out to you as well um or any member um we can collect names and then um if we can put that in both newsletters that we're looking for um people for that and then we'll collect names and then we'll start working on where we're at um in January okay good bad different good bad ugly I don't know I think like they're used a they used a um Google form in the past like once they search comme members were informed that they were selected and if they wanted to participate they sent that out in terms of like scheduling availability and try to find those like common times and common days so that that could be thought about ahead of time be nice if we can don't have to recreate the wheel if we can modify what was used uh last time can you see any of those things or do we need to try to get you access to any of that stuff access I'm gonna send this to you I have it right here do you want me to keep uh keep it on the school committee agendas for that yeah I think we'll have it just live on the agenda um just uh under continuing business just so we can touch base on it as we go if you don't mind helping to get the word out so we get um people absolutely and they should funnel their names through us also so we can collect them and then you know we'll um we'll touch on it again at our next meeting um the only other thing is do we want to look at the flyer for right now or do we want to wait and see where we're at um I feel like every time we've looked at the flyer the only things that we've changed is some of the demographic information and yeah the last time was superintendent to right you just have to change the word the values or the you know yeah and so at some point we'll have to discuss where we're at for um are we going to keep this what did we do for sour last time did we post it or was it um well I'm looking at for 2324 was just commencement with experience okay I think we should do that as well there was the one I'm looking at has a range but I don't know if it was the final it was just a version of it um okay I'm sure there's stuff that are missing but what else do we need to talk about as far as that goes are you good with where we're at yep okay absolutely thank you so we'll get um collect the names and it's just going to be kind of living on the agenda so I don't know if one of you wants to kind of keep tabs on it and we'll try to keep it it's going to be in continuing business so whatever we have for new business is going to get bumped down so there's possible it'll be a little bit before we get to it okay you know what I'm trying to say I absolutely do my brain is like mush today I don't really know why um but yeah that way we can keep it there it's right in front of us we'll move through try to collect some names so we need people to spread the word um and we should make some um updates um try to take a stab at what we want for updates if people want to take a jot uh a look at it so what we did the one that I have is for the 2021 timeline like Joel said we posted January 18th um the application was due March 1st um March 15th the semi-finalists were selected March 22nd that week were semifinalist interviews March 29th finalists were announced week of the 29th were site visits and then April 5th through 9th were finalist interviews week of April 12th was the selection of superintendent with a July 1 start date so that's was a fairly aggressive schedule um last time I don't know if we feel like that is still you push it any later you're right yeah you're going to lose right okay so really we just need to line up what the dates would look like for um 2025 if you want to share that we can probably okay she can get the dates those times any just in case did you send it then Jill okay done it'll take me 18 minutes to figure out how to do that um all right anything else on superintendent search that you can think of no anybody I'm looking at Jenny like she's going to give me all the answers have to put some has them yeah to designate somebody uh not until we have then there'll be a a chairperson and there was a note taker or secretary or something they and they fleshed that out okay uh is how I remembered it from last time yes the LA the search we did for the interim you identified me to lead the committee right right and then I organized but the time before that when we had we had a it was a um not an interim search it was a full search we had done things um differently we can talk about it when it gets closer to if that's how we want to all right are we good does everyone feel good yes thank you that was easy see it was so easy easy um if you guys have any other questions or whatever just let me know and we'll work on it but mostly we need to get some names for people all right moving on uh enrollment board there has been no ads or drops for November we've stayed the same it's exciting yeah nothing for so we're still at 678 I think that's what it is um yep 678 okay and then you're up for superintendent report not not too much happening we're going to start seeing us ramping up in December but um couple things on November 20th um Nicole the special director and myself went to a legal issue seminar in Northampton and topics included special education student discipline 550 Force um healthcare plans uh federal court cases state and federal agency and social media policy so they have that um every year um and it was presented by um Betsy what's her last name beard Becky buard so she she's uh she tends to give all those legal seminars we vote every year to just get updates and such and in Friday November 22nd central office staff Todd myself and uh and um s went to a virtual Workshop focused on creating a successful policy around AI um as a result of the work we have decided to convene a working group around the use of Technology at AI in the classrooms and further discussion included providing fresh development opportunities for staff um with that so at our next DT meeting we'll be talking about how to um look at AI as a procedures for us moving forward so on November 25 and 26 the high school had parent teacher conferences and it was it was pretty um pretty well attended um thanks to our 21st century Grant we've started our after school program at East Meadow for elementary students we currently run three days a week um and they're hoping to open it for 5 days a week we're just looking to um get some new staff on board and I know there's some interest so we're hoping to get that up and running after the New Year East meta will be having a little shopper event for students so students will have the opportunity to purchase gifts from December 16th to December 19th for their families um so please watch your newsletter from um East Meadow on event I want to get that early so the parents know and then Boomer the Springfield Thunderbird mascot will be at East metal school on Friday uh December 6 to greet our students upon arrival um any school that went to that Thunderbirds U hockey game few weeks ago a few weeks back we U had the opportunity to have boomer come to the school so we will be here on Friday awes we get some good photos for everybody and then I think I saw something about um ice cream or something December 6 there's also yep December 6th there's ice cream Santa as well and they're looking for ice cream volunteers uh to scoop excellent and donate ice cream all right um any questions hearing then Todd you're up um yeah not too much since our last meeting um I'm preparing a few Capital articles uh we talked about that in the subcommittee so getting ready those need to be to the town by Monday um so I'm finalizing those um the other big push right now is um preparing the FY 26 budget um all the department heads and principles have their initial drafts I'm meeting with them this week um to see where they are in process um making sure that we're hitting all of our main points um those are due to me uh December 13th so I can get it compiled and sent to the Town Administrator before uh the new year so that's the big piece and in conjunction with that uh we've talked about doing a budget Forum um next school committee meeting so giving an opportunity for some questions or feedback early in the budget process um we have been working a few of us have been working to try to find a way to have a remote access to the meeting um so what we are looking to do is we'll have a Google meet link embedded in our agenda we'll post it on uh the website the school newsletters those places so people can access it uh the committee's decision I guess I need is do we want to run that from 6:00 to 6:30 and then begin the regular school committee time at 6:30 or do people's schedules need us to do the form 6:30 to 7 and then begin the regular meeting at 7 that's the 17th yes um I can try to do the six it's a tight squeeze for me but I can work on it that'll be your last Ming um all right is is do we want to do 6 to 60 :30 all right so it's 1217 6 to 6:30 public for is that I should out few rep I just agreed to that no that's okay we already we had conversations Todd and Jenny and David have been working on getting the Google meet going and I okay I think they fixed it think they got it working today excellent we're excited okay we just have to figure out how to do with gcam so we're gonna work with gcam as well um to facilitate this so that they can capture and when they post the the video of it it would also include um any questions that come in remotely okay um so hopefully that will give us more participation give the community um that early early discussion on it so one thing I am concerned about there are basketballs started so I know that that's always a a problem but there is a home game next door at that time for the girls and I think the boys have an away game so some people that are usually pretty active participants in some of these discussions won't necessarily be available um but you know we can give it a shot at least it's going to be recorded and you know we'll go and if people have questions they can direct them to me right and and we could ask if anyone has any budget questions they could submit them and we could that's a good idea we could read them um so put it in the newsletter if anyone have for both the schools they can um do that and um I know Ally sometimes does Instagram stuff if she could put that put Facebook yeah just so we can try to get some stuff out there that might be helpful I also want to make sure that we let people know that that's what we're having before the meeting you know this is your opportunity to participate in the budget conversations for the district so you know putting out a couple weeks in events just let them know what's coming and watch out for that so I think it's important we just don't want to put it out there and you know hope everybody looks at the agenda right so I think it's important we advocate for sure okay um all right anything else for that no uh anything on the kitchen we at we're waiting for a bid or something we're rebidding in the in oh February right February March is going to re rebit on it all right um okay anything for time CES we meet December 11th okay um all right so for our next meeting 6:00 to 6:30 we'll have the public forum budget it's supposed to be a working uh subcommittee meeting because that's the second meeting of the month do you guys want to do that or do you think it'll be too much with having the public forum beforehand all right then we'll um have then we'll do work groups so um budget probably anything budget and [Music] finance um I think it's policies up this time yeah policy we do usually do policy SL slash something else right yeah I think the evaluation part would be fine to sit right now we'll just work on like getting the template okay all filled in and all right um yeah then we were at policy D sorry not like section D yeah and all the see we learn all the policies within it so if we can get a hard copy of that somehow or at least yeah even emailed because I can figure out how to get it printed from there it's just nice to have like the we can print them out and then we can drop them off or whatever that's just you and George yeah we can get them too okay and then um when we come back from that we should talk about um who's going to uh if we're going to just have lives replace you on your committees or if we need to reorganize so we'll just put um reorganize with Jill's departure and um lizz's onboarding and I'll just have to touch out touch base with her because I thought she um got the dates from us but maybe not I didn't see anything from her about not attending tonight I don't know if anybody heard from her so we'll have to touch base um on that anything else that we want on the agenda for next time of course we just said super search will be down there anything else all right hearing uh not hearing anything I will move on we're going a vote to enter into executive session under Massachusetts General Law chapter 30A section 21 part A3 to discuss strategy with regard to collective bargaining as doing so in an open session may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the committee the committee will not return to open session Jenny can you do a roll call vote please I I I I all right everybody thanks have a good night