##VIDEO ID:gaHsr39ZUh0## e e e e e e e e e book about feelings which I would understand you up Cas you at all for I think live well enough because they had older siblings for e e e e e e e e e good evening hollon to the uh the December 19th uh 2024 meeting of the hall and school committee we're already in session but we're back from executive session um we'll just do the consent agenda uh really quickly have motion to approve the consent agenda second okay all in favor thank you um is there any school committee individual comment we're talking about start times later so yeah okay just a quick one if you are watching and don't have all your presence wrapped NHS is running a fundraiser right now over in the high school cafeteria to uh first a small donation and get all your gifts wrapped on :30 :3 cynia any any comment from do any uh comment School Comm comment okay uh so then um we will move into uh public comment this will be the now for the uh the public to to U make any comments about anything on our agenda or anything at all that they wish to uh to talk about uh we have four people and if there's someone on Zoom they can use the raise hand feature and we will we will uh uh recognize them at the end of uh inperson public comment B Ryan is the hand raised okay so uh we first have Ro up first coming up to the to the microphone should I come up there please hell guys I'm Rohit raden I'm an alumni I graduated in 2022 and I'm currently studing at the University of Wisconsin Madison my brother here had brought up that you guys are looking to change schedules to a rotating drop schedule and some other things and he was saying thus far like he's asked about Audits and research that you guys have done and it's been a little vague in terms of the response so i' like I just like some transparency on why you guys are looking for the schedule change and sort of what studies and research you guys have done some numbers to back up the reason for the change so uh just to clarify briefly because there is a lot to talk about schedules the schedule we're talking about and and voting on tonight is the starttime schedule for the different schools what what you're referring to is the is the high school sort of uh bell schedule right that's correct right so that we're not um that is currently in a a separate committee that was sort of formed as part of our Mo MOA uh that's comprised of four administrators and four teachers and they're working through the process we'll have an update from from Mr list uh our high school principal a little or or an administator a little later tonight but um that's that that is uh work in their hands I don't know DAV if you have anything to add a question but I don't yeah I mean other than that and and this could kind of like talk about the update but like our our committee was tasked to just kind of look at like different sched schules that are um uh that we have options we've been meeting uh periodically over the last couple months um including kind of a longer day that today um looking at uh different types of schedules that exists so we've consulted with Power School uh as well and looked at a lot of like our area not area but like schedules that exist um around the country uh specifically fitting into the parameters that uh or constraints that we have as a SK as a community in Holliston um the number of teachers that we've got the length of planning times that we have to kind of create schedules that um really kind of Meet the equity needs of students um looking at some things that we've kind of been identified through Nas Nas is also kind of like our accredit accreditation um uh system for for Massachusetts high schools and schools uh and one of those recommendations to kind of really kind of look at some of those those components all right so I think like students and him are a little frustrated that it's sort of difficult to get their hands in touch with the information and research you guys are doing so like to them it seems like it's sort of vague and like they're not getting any feedback from you guys and I think um the Opera Administration has been sort of vague about it um so like moving forward if you guys could just be a little more transparent maybe it's absolutely okay if like you guys are doing some research and think this is the best step moving forward but then convey that to the students clearly these are the reasons the changes are happening because that disconnect might cause a lot of issues and frustration um which I think I definitely had that when I was in high school like why are we doing certain things and there sort of it felt really hard to stay in touch with the administration and the changes that were going on um maybe there's a better process for that to have the students in touch with the school committee um but he was sort of just like sharing his frustrations with me and um saying like his class presid right now it's sort of hard for him to get his hands on information um so I know you guys are working on it and it's a process that's ongoing but that transparency would really be appreciated I think parents teachers and everyone like so so I think that there there will be more coming when the committee needs to to finish its work um then they'll be putting forward a recommendation and then there will be time before it is sort of finalized before before there's a vote to sort of Implement that schedule uh that hopefully a lot more conversations can happen Okay okay sounds good thank you thank you thep yeah so uh hi my name is V ramanathan freshman here at hollison High um so last Thursday there was a round table with Dr Kusa where I know roughly 15 kids in the high school showed up talked about we talked about our opinions on the schedule start times and the proposed schedules for me uh Dr kusco was really nice about saying that I could come here and talk about my frustrations that I've had with the schedules that have been proposed which I know you guys aren't directly a part of but will be when the voting goes on um and the biggest thing that I want to say you know whether this comes up in a month or in two months in your next meeting it's on how three or I think three or four of the five proposed schedules that we as students got on the form all had drop schedules which I talking with friends talking with teachers you can see the same opinion that not many people want a drop schedule maybe it's worth for other schools but the biggest thing with a drop schedule is students don't get to see their some students don't get to see a specific teacher for a specific class roughly three to four times a week that what that disrupts continuous learning right now in this box schedule we have I have four classes I get to meet with those teachers every day uh talk with them connect with them learn if you guys put in a schedule where there's a drop schedule where I'm dropping maybe it's an a class schedule I'm dropping three I don't get to see three of those teachers three times a week if I can't see those teachers x amount of times a week my learning isn't continuous I'm going to lose touch with my learning and just not just me it's going to be the other 800 students you guys have attending here every single year so I know I'm coming sort of at like a frustrated angle I don't mean to be rude I don't want you guys to think I'm like a super rude person it's solely just from the frustration that my friends have conveyed told me several of which told me like I can't come here but if you can go to that meeting share the frustrations that we all have it'd be good cuz not everyone can come up here talk in front of people public speaking isn't everyone's strong thing but I've had several texts from several friends what that's been my friends on the football team wrestling team student advisory that they don't they barely even know what some of the changes are so just like my brother said being more transparent talking to kids saying these are the changes that are going on please give us your opinions and I know there are forums that go out really frequently of you know like vote on this say that and there's one section one one section where you can write your opinions and that's any other and it'll always have an as next to it where you can write down what you may want someone else to read but for many kids they think I'm writing this down who's going to read it who's going to read this why should anyone care if I write it down here it's a small Google form they think okay several of these people are going to read it but what are the chances that my opinion is actually going to get cared or read about maybe if you guys are you know making sure that these kids know that their opinions are listened to will be listened to that's good cuz I know there are it's not just me there are several more kids that don't like schedule change that's going to be put forth in the future which we know is inevitable Dr Kusa mentioned there's it's very high percentage that it is inevitable and a very low percentage that the four block schedule we have now stays so it's the biggest thing that I want to get across is please don't do a please don't do a drop schedule I know I'm one student just one student speaking isn't going to make a big change but I know that there are several other students behind my back whether they're watching with their parents over here or more parents around the town that will be on my side when they say they don't want to adop schedule and that's pretty much all I have to say thank you well thank you very much and there a new schedule will not be you know finalized and ratified without you know significantly significant more Community discussion but again like with the the the start times uh discussion you know people are always feel are always free to to email the school committee about concerns that they may have about anything going on in the district um I think you know you you have now been on on live public TV so hopefully people have heard what you what you have to say there too um and um we we'll work through the process and and um I think you'll have more opportunities to share your your your opinions right thank you so much thank you for Michelle is probably my no you have now you you have to come every meeting from from now to I think I'm busy um Michelle Hastings 142 Hal wrote um after last week's meeting and reviewing the data I feel the need to share some concerns about the proposed school start and end times um these decisions affect thousands of students staff and families so we need to prioritize SA Logistics and the long-term wellbeing of our school Community the Administration has clearly communicated significant safety and logistic issues with certain scenarios for example staggered bus dismissals at the elementary complex are unsafe without hiring additional staff which is both impractical and overlooks the daily challenges our professionals already face Additionally the dismissal logistics for the elementary schools under scenario B and C are extremely complicated and possibly not feasible these concerns raised by administrators who live and breathe these systems every day should not be ignored I hope some of you accepted the principal's um invitation to observe the dismissal process at our elementary schools is anybody able to make it to the elementary schools to tomorrow definitely a little late um I've seen it a few times though but it's okay I think there's a difference between going through the dismissal process as a parent and just walk like sitting there driving through and looking at it and being there with them as some someone who literally volunteered in complete half of my day during Co to help with dismissal and all this stuff for the entire year um there's a lot involved to it that I think spending the time with our Administration administrators is very important to see the logistical challenges that go into that but I'll get back to what I was chatting about um watching it well this is part of what I just said but um watching it firsthand would help you understand how complex it is um to get so many young children safely onto their buses and out of the building on time you'd see just how much effort our staff puts into keeping students safe and managing the chaos that comes with dismissal um extending the school day beyond 3 p.m. poses serious consequences for staff across all schools while last Thursday's meeting included discussions about the impact on High School staff and after school clubs there didn't seem to be the same level of concern for Miller staff who would face a much more dramatic time change and disrupt disruption I'm sorry to their after school lives and commitments a later end time would affect all staff impacting their ability to manage after school activities second jobs and personal appointments the comment at some point it shifts from expert opinions to political opinions was deeply troubling to me decisions about education must be based on expertise safety and what's best for students and staff not political promises or personal agendas statements like this are disheartening and undermine the hard work of the professionals who've provided thoughtful informed recommendations similarly comments like these and others come across as dismissive and argumentative while I realize that the school committee members don't need professional education experience that doesn't mean the expertise of staff and administrators should be brushed aside their input based on firsthand knowledge of what works and what doesn't in our schools deserves to be taken seriously the survey dat data shows that staff supports schedule a while families and students are divided across all options importantly students Express new equal opposition to all three schedules highlighting the need to prioritize professional input from those who directly I'm sorry who work directly with students and understand the daily impacts of these decisions while I understand the concern that parents voices might feel undervalued it's important to remember that staff feedback isn't just about personal preference it reflects their professional expertise on what will best support apologize students academically logistically and emotionally parents voices are Absol absolutely important especially since many help make the override possible however weighing staff input more heavily in this specific decision is about ensuring the um sustainability and practicality of the plan not dismissing familes contributions this isn't about di diminishing one group's input it's about recognizing that teachers and staff bring critical firsthand experience to the table which needs to guide us in making a decision that works for everyone in the long term feedback from Miller staff and families show that younger students benefit from an earlier start teachers have noted that younger children are more alert and productive in the morning while some families were hesitant about the 7:30 a.m. start time initially many now see how it supports Better Learning and allows for outdoor play during daylight hours we must listen to our licensed professionals weigh the real impacts on staff and families and ensure that our choices reflect what is best for our community this process demands professionalism respect and a commitment to doing what is right not what is politically promised many things have changed since the override passed I please consider these points As you move forward and thank you for your consideration so I will just say that um I I misspoke when I when I said political what I more meant was that we had a lot of conversations discussions and and yes we did make uh certain statements during during the over based upon uh conversations and and things that we had heard from parents for a number of years and concerns that they had with with the start times and so sometimes you you want to make a a decision that has to merge sort of different priorities I I think that you know it is very important that we we give parents uh and families you know a strong you know voice as part of this obviously the staff are very uh important as well but parents are the ones that have to you know get their kids to school every day get them to the bus I mean it's there's more to this than just and I think as I've said before that I wear all hats for this I have a parent of four children two who have gone through the system already and two who are currently here and also a teacher here as well um I also I and I know that this I mean I don't mean this in the rude sense but as a parent it's it's a it's a time that I deal with a certain start time and then they're going to move on to another start time and there's always going to be challenges with the different start times that are in front of you and on the table but as a Prof who's worked in this district for an extremely long like long period of time um I mean I'm I just I just hope that you look at that that really carefully and clearly and I think a lot has changed since the override and talking to people in the community things have changed and our survey didn't you know there's a way to put into a survey you know relaying all the different changes that have have occurred I understand that and I appreciate the survey and I appreciate the time that has gone into all this I just really want to you know just this is just what I want to say I'm sure everyone has something that they'd like to say but just to be clear listening to the professionals the staff I mean the same number of Staff wanted option A as wanted option C but option C to me isn't even doesn't sound like it's even feasible like I I'm not arguing with the details but when you when we put it out to the community and the staff and they voted it was so you know the why was option step put out there I guess I'm curious about that because truthfully options can see the time frame from when bum bus drops off and the next one comes it's not even from my understanding and what I could see it you didn't have the same amount of time I feel like it shouldn't even even been there as an option because there isn't the equal amount of time between one bus drop off and the next one it doesn't even seem like it's feasible so people were given an option to choose from that isn't even an option that can happen so well I think it was more of a start schools a little bit earlier for the high school and and it was it was more of a a framework rather than than necessarily the specific but that's not helpful when you're taking that survey and this is the information you're giv you're you're saying I'm choosing between a b and c and you're believing that that something within I know that there's some you know wiggle room for all of these and I think that's something you're going to discuss right now but um I think that that's that's frustrating and then I don't know I think it loses something for your survey when the one when s is not even possible your your opinion has been heard okay thank you um Beth um okay um then Barbara you need to unlock her I um thanks I wish I could be there with you in person but I really don't want to spread my JMS um thank you for this opportunity I first want to recognize I think there's at least 200 plus years of um experience in the room um and I'd like to thank Dr Kar Jordan Swain Mr V and Mr K for Len Miss Manning for your professionalism and your patience um that is just deeply appreciated and that is a lot of years of experience that you bring to this community every day and I just would like to acknowledge that as an active Community member who deeply respects process including fact Gathering Gathering opinions gathering information from surveys and a variety of sources I too am wondering um what you met Mr ask and reported in time stamp 2 hours 52 minutes and 46 seconds on the hcap reporting 12 December school committee meeting start stating it's not that I don't it's not that I don't value your expert opinion it's being weighed very heavily but at some point it's just from expert opinion to political opinion that was very disturbing to me um and what makes this decision political I really don't understand that and I'd like to know um not only how the school committees regarding our local expert Educators and all their experience but also the following professional organizations that have opinions they are bodies of experts they include science and research this includes Dr V Murphy the US Surgeon General the American Academy of Pediatrics the American Medical Association American psychologic Association American Academy of sleep medicine and the national sleep Foundation this is the relationship of sleep and adolescence 13 to 18 years old mental health and leader school start SI my other questions um I know Mr Alfred you wrote me back and I appreciate that and you have recently started to mention the whole child approach I've done a little bit of reading on that and I would really actually like to hear the perspective from our superintendent and our school leadership's perspective on what full child approach means to them I'd like to understand why we really only hurt you Mr Alfred City and this was I really don't have a good understanding from the rest of the school committee members on this this issue at all I I bar I've been to every subcommittee meeting as a as an observer I tried to engage in every school committee meeting uh recently and I really don't hear from from you at all um maybe occasionally and I'd really like to see that change from the other school committee members this seems to be Jour by Mr um with and I know you are the presiding I also would like to know if any school committee members have taken up Mr K's invitation to see the current discission process um I also haven't heard how these extra minutes of learning time 155 15 and 10 will be accounted for who's managing them how are they going to be measured what are the goals of the additional minutes and then there's the issue of non-request the contractor issue and I ever confidence that Dr Jordan and Mr uh B those St on turn are going to solve this issue but it's a contract issue and um it's an impossible task even if the over right did provide $200,000 extra dollar I do hope a multitude of factors are considered in this decision I'm disappointed again that all school committee members haven't been vocal or have asked more questions of our Educators in this process my opinion clearly rks with our Educators in the room with adolescent rep King theirs the need for later start times and the opinions of the a menary professional organizations as well as again Steed Educators in the room I wish you luck with the decision I will certainly be your Champion when it's decid once it's decided um yet I I hope it's as thoughtful as it can be thank you thank you Barbara does anyone else have a public comment I would like to respond to that okay but um I don't think I I think everyone has spoken up in their own way to say that there's cor uh school committee members that have not spoken up frankly is false uh I know we've been part of the few of us have been part of the subcommittee we are part of this committee and we have different points of view and different expertises where we lean in on um I can speak for myself I've been very active in the starttime discussion uh trying to find a solution that you know really can help across all angles whether it's staff parents or or um teachers or teachers parents and students sorry um so to say 2/3 of us are not engaged uh is frankly false if I can answer a couple of our questions so um I have con to I I didn't say you disengaged I strike that I didn't say disengaged I just didn't hear enough from all of you I really only heard from three a school committee members in my so if that rled your feathers I apologize but don't say I said you were disengaged okay thank you to answer a couple of Barbara's questions um I have gone to observe the elementary school so I participated in the dismissal process as a parent both before during and after covid um I did go down and watch the placentino last week um but I've also managed the dismissal process for uh 900 student Elementary School and this would be looking at dismissing 1300 students next year if we combine Miller and placentino and so I I very much value the plan that was put forth because I know how um intricate that is to move students safely and swiftly through that process um especially when we have pre kids um you know in my school it was 75 pre kids that you're putting like helping to put into the car um and get the fivepoint harness buckled and so all of those things that to take into consideration is a lot and so I appreciate app the the planning put together um I know we've all looked deeply at the research the sleep study research that the original subcommittee put together several years ago as well as look deeply at those survey results um I have read through every single student parent and teacher feedback um on each of those comments as well as the emails that came in and so I really value all the input that the community um took the time to put into that yeah and Barbara isn't wrong I I have not been as vocal as Dan Don and and Cynthia uh but that's simply because I'm trying to digest all of the information that is coming in I think one of the problems that we have today is that people speak without understanding an issue and I don't I don't want to misspeak and I'm considering all of the emails and uh research that that has been coming in and digesting that information so I can make an informed decision I think that's what we've learned the most from the is how complex this process is which is why it is taking so long um but also why we're trying to gather as much feedback and research to inform the decision yeah and just to add on um we've gotten so many um pieces of information and various perspectives from lots of emails that have been coming in which have been excellent um the survey and I I mean I can't speak for everyone but we've I think we've all read through every single comment on on the surveys um you know so in addition to looking at the numbers and the graphs which are helpful it's also really um we gain a lot of insight from just reading the the life experiences from everyone from whether it's the teachers the students the families the parents um it's it's a lot so we're really trying to balance unfortunately there's there's like so many various priorities that people have and it's almost an impossible task to make make every single person we can't satisfy everyone so it's a balancing act of trying to figure out what really is going to work best for students first and then families and teachers I mean it's a big web everyone's important in this whole big equation so I please please know I we really I this morning read through everything again just to make sure it was fresh in my head to you know not forget those various perspective so um yeah all right does anyone else have any uh public comment on Zoom or in the room okay we'll close public comment um I have on here uh reports from subcomm is there anything that anyone has put on just in case I didn't think there would be but no nothing since last week policy is coming up in January do you have a date but but I mean to add to an agenda okay um so moving on to we have an update on our uh High School msba Grant application um someone from our Administration when I sure so we uh were not accepted for this with our statement of interest for a feasibility study unfortunately there were what 47 um schools that put board plans and most of the plans it seems that were approved even though I haven't researched them all it seems to be the ones that are getting approved are the ones would have a a stronger or larger enrollment increases and they just can't manage the volume of students I would say that's probably the majority that have been getting approved and as you've heard us say um initially when I wrote the SI SOI two years ago and last year we were seeing an uptick in students and our kindergarten class had increased inside immensely and then now we are we have talked about during the budget process all last year that we're actually seeing a decrease right now so um increase enrollment seems to be what's getting deals to go through or um to get agreements with the msba because they have so uh limited funds to do so so it's very unfortunate um we will apply again this year but I don't know you know each year is a new year and you're always up against whoever it is that goes for feasibility studies for that year through an SOI so it's unfortunate but it is what it is unfortunately uh yep that's uh not great news no um and we will resubmit and that opens January 13th okay and we have to submit by March uh well for the roof for the accelerated repair project it's earlier it's March it's April April for the S so renovated High School I mean I know it's early to ask but do you have any thoughts about other studies or anything else that we can include in our application that could strengthen it well I mean we did do that last year we brought an consultant to strengthen our application and gave us all kinds of information msba came out last year which made us very optimistic um they actually did come do a walkthrough with us sen it gave us some feedback and we added that to our application so we actually thought this could be the year because of all that um I think unfortunately it comes down to if some schools didn't apply this year maybe we would have been stronger but the it's every year is just it starts all over again it's not like you move closer uh the more you apply it just really who who you're up against that year so I can't I don't know of any other consultant we could use to strengthen that um you know the fact that the building although it's it's challenging it doesn't meet what we would like it to do for for today's educational needs it it's not as visually unappealing and rund down as some of the buildings because it was renovated in 199 2001 2001 so we know it has limitations but um the work that had been done then unfortunately may be masking some of that as well I mean we'll certainly look out if there's any other I just we into everything I thought last year yeah it was you know I mean we had an advant not an advantage we had the idea of of the enrollment issues that could exist um based on the lack of classroom space at the elementary complex and um as as you know Susan mentioned that the um that's not the issue any or that's not the advantage we have any longer so we'll actually lose some uh uh lose a reason for requesting it going forward so you have to check off the one out seven reasons that you applying and I added the enrollment on the last two cycles I think I'm going to have to take that off unfortunately so it actually it'll help us even less and unfor again our building is not in a decrepit fashion they've reinstated The Accelerated repair program so when the time comes for replacing this roof it'll flow under accelerate repair as opposed to renovating the building so that's you know good and bad you know they do theel repair program but that's where you know we they'll push us in that direction rather than spending the money to do the entire building so cuz then you can't reapply for what 10 years if you go into the accelerator prare I actually don't know that um you know I wouldn't expect that they're going to give us two three million $4 million to repair the roof and then you know hand us a you know $120 million project so okay um Dr Jordan who's going to the high school sorry the high school school schedule update I mean I think you want to come up why don't you start I'll start you want to like fill in if we've got um yeah so we've uh we've been moving along through that process we had a kind of an all day session today is our most recent um time that's uh we had met yesterday for an hour to look at staff survey data that we had improves through that um to reach kind of what the major takeaways from that um to kind of help us dial in on what our different schedule options were um today we spent uh the first portion of our day going through all of the staff and or sorry student and family data um just to kind of uh Drive where kind of our thinking and process was so this is an all day process as far as the moving kind of the needle we felt like we made some good progress we're committed to making a decision by January 1st um and the the committee is committed to that um and we our goal was to try to reach um a vote by the end of today today um and then we weren't able to kind of get to that conclusion so we set time for tomorrow morning uh to spend the first half of the day um tomorrow to see if we can kind of accomplish that at at that point in time um but uh I'm I'm content with some of the conversations and things that we we had at that point and and I feel like we're we're making making some progress I just want to thank you for coming out speaking and Shar your voice and I encourage any student to do that and also there will be opportunities for students um and families to um join in on that convers on the conversations as well um obviously coming up against break uh but there there will be opportunities for that so great P um all right I just let's just skip through and get rid of get everything else done on on our agenda should be pretty quick and then we'll we'll get back to the uh the start time discussion so did did anyone they did extend the deadline for the uh the Dei policy committee at at the Town level did anyone have a chance to to think about that see if there's any anyone they knew that might be interested anybody okay okay I'll relay that and move move forward um so now I we'll just uh the sign of liaison for the nurses collective bargaining unit uh Joe uh graciously raised his hand last time so uh if there's a nomination to uh to appoint Joe's liaison to the the nurses collective bargaining unit I second okay okay all in favor that passes unanimously thanks Joe um and then we do have a um a tech collaborative agreement do you want to just give a brief overview and what what we need to uh vote on yes so um I sit on the tech collaborative um for the last this my fifth year as a board member and we had I believe it was 14 member districts that have been there for a long time and it was over a year ago I'd say Sharon Public Schools approached Tech and asked if they could join the collaborative so it's a a long process um they have to be vetted by the board and then they have to be vetted by desie we have to redo the collaborative agreement and uh the board um has agreed to um invite them to become part of the collaborative but that while our board has voted each school committee has to vote to allow them to be part of the collaborative they have to have an affirmative vote from each school committee as well but you were supportting yes okay does anyone have any uh questions about this so what exactly do you want as a as a motion just to to approve the new tech collaborative agreement including Sharon Public Schools so sove that motion move I okay all in favor I thank you is there anything else we can do um our next meting you want to set our next meeting date um okay so week next week not next week no anyway all right so we will um I I apologize yes King philli and Sharon Public Schools both were I didn't think King philli made it so we do have to revote that I apologize motion to reconsider the prior uh uh prior vote we need to okay second okay there okay uh so then we need to amend the the motion to include King philli so is there a motion to do that okay okay thank you no no we got make sure we got everything in there um so I know that uh some of us had have had conversations with Administration about potentially trying to find some middle ground with some of the options uh optimal ground what's that optimal ground optimal ground thank you for for thank you for speaking up um does uh Keith or Dr Jordan have something to yeah um Matt are you able to project so uh while M kind of gets that up um over the the last week uh Keith and I had asked principles to kind of collect um the uh start and end time and kind of length of some of our transitions of what we're we're getting at so we if we are looking to kind of uh accordant in a little bit our different ends how much flexibility do we we have uh we've been operating off the Assumption of like 50 to 55 um minute uh bus routes um are there opportunities to kind of transition down to 45 at points and and other different points so we built some models based off the data that we collected um and what we believe is feasible um are there hopes that whatever we all right whatever is decided um between uh now and when school starts is I think that um I am committed to and as much as that I can steal Keith's time from retirement um as is possible um we uh are hopeful that we can kind of continue to kind of um consense or strength that time sorry Matt you're I'm like watching like lots of eyes on me but the can we make the figure May trying to get it but still keep everything visible want to watch through the yep um in what we're looking at uh this is option a um there was you know where where there was concern about 7:30 uh a 7:30 a.m. and then how would that impact like you know while that got us below um the 3:00 uh window it was seem like could we look at some considerations at times that might exist um potentially after this model I can in in a live moment I can put we can put times into it if we want to look at what was 7 this is this is presuming 740 at this point on when the district would start and then when it would end um we can put in or change times live if we want to we want to make it 7:45 the impact that it would have uh but this is the option a model at 740 um this would put uh put in as said a district in time of 3:3 p.m. uh based off of some of the data that we've collected to kind of create that model uh on the second tab once I kind of give you a second second to kind of take a glance at this is an option C um that's kind of a feasibility model uh based off the information that we've claught we're putting Elementary second um and I don't know if can I just ask a question why Adams in the high school both end at the same time and maybe I'm wrong because it's so hard I can't to see I can't tell but it appears to me that Adams and the high school end at 303 they 10 minutes they starting 10 minutes apart right but why we've always had staggered end time where they have to share the same bus so why is it not a staggered the the time while being it is it is staggering um 303 and 303 well no but the beginning 825 and 8:15 is it's the beginning of the day um the the the challenge the challenge see here was on there um the the the challenge is trying to get the students out as quickly as possible at the from the high school to get them onto their next event as soon as possible so the decision was made to dismiss the high school to arrive at the high school first and dismiss them when you arrive at the high school first it's going to dismiss them at about the same time is what it's going to be because it's it's we had hope we originally built the model we had hoped that that the time difference between the high school and middle school to go across Washington Street was 5 minutes um in over the last week of data it's been 10 it's been 8 n 10 consle we're currently ending that we currently end in the high school second so after the middle school that would just this is just an opportunity for us to kind of like have that end as soon as possible but by doing that based off the length of the day of the middle school which is to in shorter it's going to end that 303 303 so are the hundreds of kids just waiting for 10 minutes for us to show up yes and which ones are waiting the middle schoolers M yes who is someone watching the 4 or 500 middle schoolers while they wait 10 minutes with us the the administration is available yes I mean to do it the reverse somebody you know that if you do it the reverse you're going to end up with with either dropping children off appreciably earlier at the middle school to and then having an end appre year I right but are there safety concerns of having like 400 or 500 middle schoolers waiting for 10 minutes outside for the buses I think we're we're like with middle with middle schoolers like the secondary age I think that there is more ability for them to kind of monit they do that in the morning as far as like them when they arrive the number of suits that are waiting there do we need supervision out there yes do we need less supervision than say the elementary school might need if there's like a similar situation that occurs yeah um and you know we we have a lot on a given Friday or whatever it would be we have a large number of students that that walk or use use kind of alternative means um that are there um this type of um solution like I want to encourage families andu students to to look at alternative pickup locations like St Mary's and um different places we use during Co potentially um uh but I do think that um you know of the models we've got I I would feel the most comfortable having our secondary students with that weight time as far as version okay um this this model gives us the this is this is got the 17 buses in the the morning running the morning run which or running the first run uh the elementary run uh automatically providing us an extra two the two buses that we might need for um immediately available for sports um if we're able to potentially look at our ridership and where that happens is create a little bit faster routes that we might be able to speed up kind of availability of a third and fourth plus at certain points in time that's something to think that you know we're working towards um over the this period of time between now and the start of the school year to kind of make those more available but minimally we would definitely always have two buses and then we would have immediately have who would be on a little bit faster run would immediately have the next the third and fourth buses that follow Dr would there be any this is what looks like right now are there going to actions during the course of this year and even into next to possibly get 74 even later there some optimization like could there be a plan I know you can't commit to it and commit to it but is there are there paths you see where we could actually move in a little bit later without affecting the end times I think our goal um will be continually to work on it between now and the start of school to find every opportunity to tighten this up as M much as we possibly can and um and that that's that's every bit of detail that we're looking to as you said um to concretize it right now before we can like deeply dive into the routes uh and not have a committed structure to actually kind of really build that um isn't something that we want to like um commit to but it it is it is very much part of the work of like really getting into the actual routes the actual ual ridership that we're going to have for next year and what flexibility we have to kind of consolidate that I think it would be better to be able to try to tighten it up after we've gone through because I mean it still is all new to be putting all the elementary together to be able to tighten it up later and shorten it slightly would be better than the alternative to start and then have to increase the time I mean that would actually be worse in families so w this benefits in coming back to all walks of feedback sleep studies all of the information the biggest issue with the original option set that was really where people were hone in on we've made changes here but I just appreciate the commitment to continue to look at to keep pushing that a little bit later cuz there are concerns I have a 2 and 1 half-year-old and I can't even get them up by seven um so I see the challenges but certainly there are puts and takes to this process and I do think this satisfies a lot of the concerns that a lot of folks have had and right I mean we're at 3:03 p.m. I know that's not the 3:00 p.m. I I think that you know where we are this is kind of are there things that can be done are we hopeful of the impact of the bridge opening at the uh down by the Miller placentino Campus are we conern are there gains that could be made by ushering buses across Washington yes are there potentially Community decisions that could occur that can improve our our um ability to kind of do this yes uh but kind of within our perview as like administrators to kind of really do this this is kind of where where we are and my hope is that the community can kind of look at other opportunities for us to be able to kind of condense this as well and and the select board did open us to come with some like have a discussion so I think we should take them up on that um but we can control what we can control so what is your level of confidence of a 35-minute bus route in the morning right so if we are dropping kids um if we have a 7:40 start time for um Miller and placentino that you're going to be able to get those buses back out and get kids to the high school in time for an 8:15 start time I mean so to me that looks a lot like 35 minutes have we are we running 35 minutes now because it's a similar route with high school and Rams together now it's a 45 minutes we're strapping the kids off at 7:30 right but you're also not dropping them off at the high school at 8:15 right you're dropping them off at probably it may be closer to 8:15 then so they'll be late for school they will be right on time right now when I look at the from the software having put the roots together without doing a lot of efficiency things my longest route is 45 49 minutes excuse me I still have a few more tricks to play to get that down um so I fully expect that the roots will be no longer than 45 minutes at this point in time how much lower I can get from there for all the roots I'm talking about 17 routes I'm not talking about one 70 R I do have some as short as 30 minutes um so I will there will be the availability to play around with some of those that maybe I can stretch a neighborhood one way or the other so but the the the problem is again we're dealing with the current cohort as opposed to next year's cohort which adds which adds a complicating Factor there's no question about it I mean you know I know but You' run RS has F together for decades right so you have a pretty good feel of what the roots are and again we're we're hopeful with the with the Rams and and and the with the Rams and and atam schedules of trying to combine we haven't done a lot of combining of stops yet um but doing more combination of stops yet and the the bridge impact is the highest at that school because of where the children are Distributing where we're taking them from um because they're going between those two buildings so there's an increased traffic load um having to deal with working around that bridge you know so it's it's just it's again you know you you want to speak in absolutes in something that there is no absolute so um you know and I'm not saying you I'm saying in general everybody wants to I just don't want two or three messes with 60 kids to be consistent late that is our Target as well there's no question about it they the consistently late is not something that we want to accept and you know we we we continually work things this year the unfortunate part has been based around drivers that we are we are a bus short from where we normally are um on our routs which is what's caused some overcrowding on buses and caused a a particular run to be habitually late you know as Keith said you know we based on the what we've been able to collect from principles and the way we've we've looked at this this is this is the model like the way it is both models the way it is what we believe we can deliver on what would the stocking look like for those supervision of a few hundred middle schoolers for 10 minutes waiting outside during pickup too you feel like you can speak that you want to come up to the m Staffing yeah we've heard concerns of placentino and Miller about buses being a few minutes late and the concerns of having several hundred kids waiting outside to get on the buses and the staffing issues and supervision of those kids the proposal I think I'm hearing has our middle schoolers waiting probably about 10 minutes for buses and I think it could be as many as 400 500 kids what kind of Staffing do we have or what would you need and how you feel about this sorry uh in terms of uh this alternative of of 7:40 that has your middle schoolers waiting for 10 minutes are you comfortable with this and how would you supervise so that is currently how it looks at the middle school so we go outside with all of the kids in the building which is a little over 600 some of them walk some of them get picked up um both administrators are out there there are some AIDs that have to ride um some Paras that have to ride with certain students on buses and all the bus drivers are out there also you know welcoming the kids on the buses so some buses do come in late um you know it it is Controlled Chaos um a little bit but it is age appropriate for that group to gain a little bit of indep dependence we have a lot of Walkers as well they walk up to Coffee Haven they walk up to town so it's a completely different scene than what you would see at an elementary school where they're coming out in lines and they need to be directed they can read the numbers on the bus they know what their bus driver looks like so um i' welcome you to come on over and and check it out it sounds probably really scary but it goes really well and and smoothly they're great I've been I've been over there a number of times I do my round table in the days so I happen to be leaving a lot of time and I will say um I've really never seen a problem but also it's a social time for kids because while they're waiting they're connecting with children that they haven't seen all day so they're very happy to see their peers they come out too having having done that dismissal for 12 years we we don't it it runs smoothly and so like the time that they're out there they're you know they it's really for the most part the act like the true supervision historical was like ey or jesser ey or who whoever that that was that was there and it was you know they're they're pretty good it's it's I mean same thing we've done in like the cafeteria when there have been 250 kids that are in there at a given time or whatever that would be they're they're pretty good we're and we're looking at like our ridership which is you know 375 whatever that our number might be um the prometer where kids walk off or get picked up and um the three is how many kids have bus passes many of those kids would take the bus in the morning but don't necessarily take the bus in the afternoon because they have other activities they're going to or they're walking downtown their friends or they get picked up they could be doing after school enrichment right yeah we have about 35 clubs that will in and sports that run at the middle school throughout the year so we have a a big population of kids that that do that what time are the buses dropping off at Miller now like as far as the Delta between are you looking at right this year in the morning yeah um first bus gets in at 7 two buses get in at 7:05 um the rest get in between uh 710 and um 718 I think my last bus left me at 718 today um so they were all in that window of time so that's 7:30 that was the last bus 718 no no no no the 7:30 in the model I mean we're going to be building towards the 7:30 time okay the goal will have them all be there at 7:30 so they'll start their run with the plan so the the you know we right now our plan is at 7:15 so we're actually pretty close to 7:15 with most of our buses I mean a good most of our buses this one of the earlier buses is by plan that we've had to change the plan for based on being down a bus um for the high school middle school run we been down two buses so so yeah at 7:30 there might be some buses that get there a little before 7:30 yeah it was it's amazing how close actually because again it doesn't you know the software does its best that it can do it can't always account for traffic particularly well but the number like said the number of buses that are coming in in around that 715 time frame it's I was I'm surprised will be collected the data this past week and I appreciate that that you guys have continued to work over the last week and looked at that data and tried to polish this up um has this alteration of schedule a the um been shared with all the principles in in terms of discuss and no no concerns or it's it's not it's not a great variation I mean structurally it's the same structure it's just speaking times at this point based on the new data so that you know again sharing I'll say no but again it's structurally it's the same but they're here tonight and I guess I just want to know if they have any concerns with this slight change to schedule it I was actually hoping when you were talking last week that we could get the and I think with the numbers that they crunched um this week we could see that that would work on both ends so you said you prepared uh an alternative C that that is more feasible so option C um this is B based again off of like our um time this is this is put in Adams and the high school first um and then Miller and placentino um second uh again we can we can manipulate these times this is based off of a 7:45 just acknowledging a desire for for not the the true 7:30 but also like a later time acknowledging um kind of a later start times um stuff that we've done uh but this has got uh Miller placentino as far as the bust apart um at 3:48 p.m. um and the the challenge that we have here while the am um on the middle the high school run uh high school and Adams run uh we could in Theory start uh Miller and placentino at 8:40 a.m. um the way their day would end uh at 35 3:18 and 3:15 p.m. there's actually based off of the runs that we've had after the secondary PM run that there would be about a 28 minute um downtime uh Gap time that we would need Student supervision before buses and um before buses would arrive uh to pick up um to pick up our students to take take them there so we would explain that again yep so PL uh plastino Miller um due to kind of their uh shorter uh a little bit shorter day um and based off of them having a they have a longer run uh the like so we're accounting for like a 50 minute 55 minute run um and needing that in order to get the buses there to load the buses and get them out there is a lot to account for um and this is what we would be kind of comfortable on and being able to deliver on um I think what while we would not just have that 28 minutes of um of like Delta or wait time where placentino and Miller is monitoring the students we would be starting the day day later than the 8:40 it'd be 28 minutes later than the 840 likely would be the would be probably the scenario that you would do so that the buses would be more or less there uh for that it'd be more time than we would ever need potentially in the in the AM uh but we would need to start later to make sure that we had the buses there in the PM so that we did they the students weren't waiting around and we didn't have to have the heavy level of supervision so and can I I reading that right that the last drop off for in the afternoon would be at 4:43 in the afternoon yes that would be Yes W so if I'm understanding what you said correctly 840 is when buses would start arriving at Miller and placentino and there'd be like a rolling start as students come into the building for instru no they would we would we could we could B the if we were just to try to get no plas new started as fast as possible based off of like how soon we could get the buses from the atams High School run we could start the elementary schools at 8:40 the challenge with doing that is that when we end the time it will take to get the in the afternoon the bus is there and the length of the days of the high school um leaves us with a 28 minute Gap if we were to start at 8:40 that placentino and Miller would need to supervise students for 28 minutes um or we don't start at 8:40 and you start 28 minutes later um and then the buses would be there at the 3:43 by the 343 time so what you're saying is almost triple the time of option A would be waited and these are elementary students or we greatly impact staff and students by pushing the school day back further something the princip oh go ahe uh something the principls had mentioned was that uh this option would at dismissal the second dismissal uh have no SRO available how would that impact dismissal I I mean our sro's I mean I would I actually I would almost that turn to Jamie and Dave to be able to talk about specifically the role of the SRO in arrival and dismissal but I mean other than I can acknowledge that we would not have access to that SRO unless we worked with the town um and the police department to to adjust their schedule in some some capacity or whatever that would be so I will say right now they come up and while they're coming up um till the the schedule is 7 to3 now so lentino dismisses after that they are there for the Miller dismissal the difference so that get Miller roll and the difference is now we're talking about all of the kids going at the same time with no SRO so I mean you know have there been discussions with hollison police as to how to provide coverage if that were to occur um in the past I have I have not recently cuz I didn't know where we're going um in the past it was not well received because it would it's it's a shifts condition of um colleting colle so we can't impact that can't change their shs there's 5 minutes now between high school and Rams why is there 10 there's 10 minutes now I just do I just not the schedule there's five no we assume there's 10 minutes in travel what I'm saying but the is 85 805 right right but now you've got 10 minutes okay right now the weight is right now Rams is 8:05 High School is 810 but now that we're trying to accommodate we reverse to make high school first because they have the extra time at the end just trying to accommodate for all of that we reverse the main um Middle School later just trying to keep it as tight as possible um the high school Ram should be quicker because you actually you you have a traffic light that will actually Ensure the cars are getting AC at dismiss it won't be though CU that's when we'll be running into student traffic as well that's the you know can the problem is that the high school run we saw with the data we collected this past week um that the high school middle school run for some classentino runs is buttressing up an hour long or actually one run is slightly over an hour so we built the 55 minutes and assuming we can cut it down to that but it's like again there's one run that I think was an hour and a minute or an hour but now you're going to be blending you're put some Miller kids on those buses that are a little little faster this High School Middle High School Middle School I was why is it so much why is it so much longer I I think that maybe they're just I I honestly don't know I I but say I do know my my guess is that they're either struggling going around in some neighborhoods maybe some of the traffic is hitting earlier than it used to in the past I I I honestly don't know not reach I for no we're going to combine stops but I'm not going to make up 15 minutes by combining stops on a run is what I'm saying if I'm running a run that's going an hour the hope would be is that I can cut 5 minutes out by comining some stops I mean stopping a bus is a 30-second event The Break Stop open the door close the door and start the bus up 30 seconds Joe still had a question that he wanted to askr about the SRO you need more information what the dismissal would look like without yeah what would the impact be of not having an s on site during the second dismissal in option C well da Haso at his dismissal because they're early enough to be there we just have to think about the compounding of having double the kids um probably 34s kind of the cars like combined together um with the waiting what Dave and I were talking about is if we're holding so the buses go first right if we're holding kids we' be holding all kids which includes all those cars too lining up so it it it would be one of us you know directing traffic but then it would be one of us not watching all those kids for 28 minutes too so it and the one thing with the SRO um we tend to be able to phase out the SRO after about 3 4 weeks you know get the pattern down I don't know what that's going to look like with this new pattern uh coming through um they are always willing to jump in uh whenever they can uh I also know that they've been filling in for the crosswalk guard you know down uh over by CVS uh in those things so you know it's just one of those things where um I know Jamie doesn't have him right now if she's got issues that are going on at the end of the day have a challenge to think about as a parent knowing your child's school day certain day we'll have an increase in the amount of cars and pickups and what I like to call Walkers you know cuz they park somewhere and walk scho out yeah and then we're getting into I'm not sure what the survey said about after school activities and things so yeah but you dismiss uh you let parents on and getting their kids before the buses leave we're not because we want the buses to be able to get in and we can get the the 17 buses in 28 minutes what what be like no I'm saying if you go 17 bus in 208 minutes letting the parents through it's not I also don't want to diminish the fact that we're talking about some kids getting home at 4:43 in the afternoon that means for like the entirety of like the winter or from the time the daylight savings starts right until it ends or beyond your kids are getting home in the dark there is no outside activity I don't care what it is it doesn't happen for kids and that's bad for kids of those ages they need to get home from school and be able to get out and be able to get outside get fresh air blow off some steam and they will and and our option A they have a chance to do that all year but in this option they don't get to do it barely at all what times does the Ladi placentino kid get get that out the bus right now the end of their day not the beginning of no I'm I'm telling right right now what time is the latest pass you get off the bus they're released at 320 or so it's got to be at least 420 420 no not 420 probably a little after 4 41 maybe but this is a you're buing in a 55 minute run time so should on this one so 55 minutes to get from the Middle School no it's you're saying 348 and then you're 340 and 443 you're saying as L start has 55 minutes no the the reason that it's no the 55 minutes is the high school middle school 3:48 p.m. right that's the from the high school to Miller not no that's that's the departure time of the buses from Miller and buo yeah but not home that's and then below that you say that it's 443 is when they get home no no no no no no that's 443 is the last you're missing can I finish please I want to explain to you what you're reading wrong okay the 443 was was added because we actually have a 28 minute Delta there so we're just putting I care right now the bus is leave the buses leave it around not Apples to Apples what he's saying is because there's a 28 minute wait that's why it's this this one this number here it's 55 minutes between when they leave and when the last drop off is D this should say 9:08 okay now it's the right time 3:43 because we we have 28 minutes that the kids will won't have a bus they will be sitting at the I no no I understand that I'm not I'm not I'm not these have no relationship I think what Dad saying is 34 if you put 8:40 back whatever it was 3:43 is when they 3:48 is when they leave the schools bus leaves the school today there's a 55 minute the last kids dropped off 55 minutes after they leave the school right not necessarily that's we have not we have not projected I'm telling what is what is the latest Elementary School placentino drop off time today again sometime after 4 not not much after 4 would be sometime after 4 but that would make sense Dan though because cuz if he if we're saying 55 that's it's not right it would be 443 cuz you're 28 minutes to 405 what I will get at is though is that like we we wouldn't be able to base this off of our we can Bas we can we can project our our secondary runs we're doing that right now combined with our elementary runs we don't really have a good insight into when that when they're going to get home per se so like what 55 minutes 50 minutes what it is I I would not feel comfortable going below 50 minutes on a projection on that but it's hard for us to be able to because we we're going to have two schools wor the kids on I think you were missing I think you were missing my point 55 minutes is talking about how long it takes to get the buses from middle to Elementary it's not about elementary home okay I get I get that but so my my point is not about the the gaps in the Del is 443 you put that up there it's a shocking number people or at home or our gas it's not that much different than what what placentino is right now it's 20 minutes 20 20 minutes 20 minutes right 20 minutes I have never heard anyone come to us and say placentino buses are just absolutely getting off the bus too late we absolutely need to do that to change that so so my my point is we're now you know CN is saying kids need to be outside and and getting you know getting outside time they need to be able to bloww some steam and in the middle of the winter you know it's dark out and they don't have that opportunity and yet nobody until you know we started talking about this brought that up as as an issue and something that we should try to address over time but I think we did hear in the survey no no in the in now yes but I'm saying we haven't seen under priority needs that you know try to we this has not been what we're going to change in priority needs for for years for years the school committee came to the finance committee asked for $250,000 to get rid of bus fees knowing knowing that they were never going to get we would love to have had all the buses to be on the same time in fact we talked what would it cost to have one bus time throughout the entire district and Keith correct me if I'm wrong it was somewhere in the nature of 34s of a million to a million dollars I don't think it was that high I don't think it was that high 500 it was high it wasn't AG that the finance committee was going to give us to do again we we were tasked with doing a cost neutral correct that was a purview from the survey data that we had sent out Forst I I think just one thing is we're going again from three bus runs to two so therefore to get all of the Miller and placentino home on the 17 buses is going to take we estimate longer than what we can do placentino now I'm more concerned about students ages 5 to to your oldest 10 11 sitting sitting 28 minutes we just ched out 10 minutes Middle School right we didn't care about it's a long time or the delayed start time then and everybody getting home later I there these options that you presented today is there any impact on our ability to provide transportation for after school activities at Rams and we will have no buses available um before uh the mider the midle plastic run ends there will be no buses available until that run ends so if that run is starting at 348 say I we can turn around the most efficient buses in 30 minutes you're then talking about 415 is the first bus would be available from our normal TR of buses so there I can't I can't account for things they may be able to grab from other sites or anything like that but I'm just saying because again we have 17 running on the second run if I and if we figure out way to get the shortest routes for X you know three four buses that's still 415 we're looking at but and while while in option A you have your 17 buses and then your 15 buses that Lees you the two to guarantee for sports your you're also by that 303 time are running you're running your routes you're more apt if we're able to kind of consolidate that to get maybe a third bus or fourth bus faster than if you're starting your secondary run with zero extra buses you're starting your secondary run at 348 you are looking well past 4:00 to have any buses potentially Avail potentially available I mean I think either the way I think we heard Mr list say that 3:15 is when they need the buses available for the high school sports if I'm not mistaken correct Miss list and so in with a 17 buses tied up and not getting to um school for till 3:43 I mean there is just little bus that's the issue to me it sounds like if you start flushing out option seat it's really it's not really There's Something Fishy with this but but fine buy I it doesn't matter to me but um that's fine let's go back to option A then and talk about seeing what what you would be comfortable with doing to to tighten that up so disrespectful I'm sorry probably no no no no Michelle Michelle Michelle Michelle I'm sorry I I can't we Michelle all right I'm going to dip it but I'm I'm not enjoying I'll respectful be respectful everybody here walk a lot of time it's just be respectful that's all I to say so I'm going to go back to last week when they presented this it was 7:30 start time for Miller and placentino and that got um Miller I'm sorry Adams and the high school out at um 258 and 248 if I'm not mistaken is that correct 258 was the latest 253 and 258 I yes 253 and 28 thank you so by pushing them 10 minutes later at M plen Tino that should have pushed them to 303 and 308 but hearing the concerns this is where Mr huday and Dr Jordan tried to work so shaving five minutes off of that high school so they I know um we want to get them out no later than three 303 was the best that they feel we can do in this model with the hope that after we run the buses next fall we would try to decrease that and get us before 3:00 I mean the hope is to shave 5 minutes off I think it could be definitely more feasible when the bridge is open um but to be fair I think you got to consider both sides right we do want to push it a little bit later too so if we gain time we have to make a decision do we want to have the element just come in a little bit later or shave off 5 minutes from high school so right I think again that's going to be for whichever way we go but to try to tighten up regardless so I and and I appreciate that you were able to bring it down from what could have been um 308 to 303 I just want to say based on that survey data when when asked um Ram staff said it reported a negative impact if we went past 3:00 18 Ram staff and 24 High School staff and I know I know 303 is just past 3:00 the only thing I would say is we've been really creative and really pushed you guys and we've had lots of discussions and I appreciate all the time you put into this um one thing that I I see as as different between Rams and the high school is the parking lot gridlock it's a little easier for staff who are already pressed if it's 303 to get out of um it's a little easier to get out of the ram slot so I guess if if we move towards a 303 time it's incredibly important to me that we um are committed to like trying to reimagine the parking lot and the situation and getting people out because staff did report much more so at the high school than Rams that it was impactful to take him to 3:00 because of child care because of second jobs because of a a number of factors so um I I don't love 303 I I I liked um 258 but I also hear the feedback we're getting about 7:30 and how early it is so I think we need a commitment to seeing if we can use and you guys have been so creative with what you want to do with the the carpool for joining the two schools and what we've done through Co that I I know there's a solution right so that we can you know still help people get out quicker and and this may be a solution that we would work with the town on to and honestly because we can only do what we can do the the I mean if I'm coming back to the high school I can't even get into my office if it's that time of day I mean that's the reality right um it's a gridlock just the way it's designed so I I know we have limited options but it is possible that the students aren't getting on the buses right at 303 and that teachers might actually be able to leave while the kids are still waiting for the bus you know what I mean so this is part of what we think could happen as well and I I I you just like the the hard work the principles have done um over the the last week and US done into really like we're shape looking at seconds and minutes and things like that and that's that's just in the last week and we found five minutes I I'm just saying that like the things that we can do in 7 months I don't know how many months we have until next September however many months that is um to find more time and and my hope is that you know the the things that that um you know town can do the bridge can do and to find that time the issue is we do need to sort of set a time now we can we can do more work but there's only so much sort of changes that that we can make once we set times I mean a few minutes here and there but we you know safe to say we had to vote on something we're not going to solve this tonight sounds like and you can reaffirm there's a commitment I think for next year this is what it looks like if they're able to do something we'll have to come back and reconsider that we're talking minutes here we're not saying rechange the whole schedule but I guess what I want to understand too is what's proposed here tonight is 303 for the Adam for for Rams and the high school but we're talking about getting the the buses to the high school uh first and then Rams so I guess I'm my question question is why can't we flip that and take the buses to Rams first and then we're not clogging up the high school lot as much and I kind of feel like I I I'm more comfortable with like my 14 to 18yearold being somewhat unsupervised for those 10 minutes than I would be my 11 to 14year Old so I guess and and often times high schoolers are running around trying to get extra help or a question answered or stopping off for something so is there a reason why we wouldn't consider putting those buses at Rams at 303 getting people out of our mess of a parking lot and then bringing the buses up the the the biggest mess in the parking lot is the students and the parents so I'm just saying because there are buses are contributors and they Lo the buses are only in the front the majority of cars by a great number are in the parking lot area the the the the the best way to um control the parking lot is controlling the exits and so if you if you you know to be respectful the teachers to allow the teachers basically to escape the the the grounds through the one way that way and forcing everybody else parents and students out the other way and maybe even holding them for a little bit until for a few minutes so that most of the teachers at least many of the teachers can get out that would be a big help okay that's a good idea but respectfully 15 buses leaving an entrance are also clogging things up and clogging traffic 15 don't leave that entrance though and and they clog it up because we have cars they get mostly clogged either at the bottom because of students leaving or up here at the top of H student you know students leaving again if we held them back which I wanted to do a number of times if we held them back the buses would then be able to escape as well so if you're doing just teachers and buses trying to get out and again remember a good 1 2 3 four five six or seven of the buses actually go out this side and the others go out that side so the buses are split based where they go next what are the pros of having those buses leave the high school first you be I think it be it'd be easier to control the traffic with regards to uh uh slowing down the students and and parents if we if we go to the uh Adams first then we just have to let everybody go and you know uh the buses may take longer to get here too with traffic um I I just which we have had problems in the past we we do not remember we added 5 minutes one of that one of the reasons was is to try to get the buses here before the high school let out I don't know like I mean and I I can't believe how much I'm quoting Keith on this these days is structure um but the this is getting into the things past the structure that like we might find like once we've got a solid structure we we we're 95% of the way there and then we can that's a Nuance like we do have identified maybe it's faster to drop at ni first or whatever that would be we might be able to you know condition the light so that the buses shoot down and they're able to utilize the light to get across so that we can go into and get the buses over to the high school versus like a police officer being there like those are things that maybe outside of like our ability to control at this point but my would be like iterations that it's also possible because right now there's 5 minutes between middle and high school that you do 8:15 and 820 and adjust that I mean there's incremental changes but the majority of it would be that that you would vote on the structure that we've proposed with some hopeful small tweaks afterwards and and if with further study if it was that Adam it makes sense of with Adams first in the high school we would just adjust the start times um you know obviously sooner as opposed to later but again as as a A wise man once said it's about the structure and um the the um being able to have the structure in place and and approximate is times you know to 740 is you know 81 15ish it's it's enough for us to guide the rest of the program and give people an idea about when they need to both be at work and be in school thank you so I also just want to read that I do appreciate all the time and the work that you guys have put into it I recognize that all the Administration has put in a significant amount of time and it is more than I think anyone ever okay anyone has has has ever anticipated and um but I think that everyone in the community also needs to recognize that it is our job is our fiduciary responsibility to push back on some of the assumptions that you've made to question the the inputs and the sort of the assumptions that are underlying this and so and that's that's not disrespectful that's just simply us doing our job okay hold on a second cindia disrespectful I will also just remind everybody that this is a a public meeting but it is there's not public comment continuously during the meeting so we need you know there's a time for republ comments and then there's a time for the for the committee to to deliberate so we need to adhere to that um that being said where do people uh stand I think we're ready to vote okay so Cynthia is ready to vote we're voting against these two options right well I mean we can the original a and the original b the original see we can do we can vote what we're seeing on the screen as amended or as revised can we just clarify for people that are watching that are wondering why are we looking at options that we didn't survey them for so the the original Three that were on the survey were taken from our last school committee meeting as the potential options and then exploring further we appreciate the work that you've done to explore further other options there are like an infinite number number of options so we have to limit it but also taking into consideration the feedback that staff and families have shared around what would it look like if we pushed it back a little bit or shifted the times a little bit so yeah clear direct feedback I mean option A had some negative feedback again a lot of it not solely but a lot of it was based on the 7:30 start time this was an effort to get that a bit later so it's not like we pulled something new out again um this is an iteration of option A right and directly related to that feedback yes yes but I just want to say like the fact that we were even able to get placentino and Miller together which is like a dream scenario as a parent of three kids that was on three different buses for years I really applaud you for being able to be think creatively and be able to get make this reality cuz I I think it's huge for families to have two blessed runs that they can manage with their young kids together is amazing yeah so thank you before we vote let me just ask Woodland Street opens we get some some help from the town on a few things we streamline some of the exits we we you know everything we get all the favorables going we we do stuff we we do we reduce bus pickups stops we consolidate where do you think the sort of the the best case scenario for this is over time can can can we get to a a 750 with a with a 3 you know 258 can we can we say 15 minutes I I don't think so so what's the best case I think like there's maybe another 5 minutes of play here maybe 5 to seven and I mean maybe seven five I think is in play um the I traffic patterns would have to change you know there still is Washington Street in the way and we we you know they're not going to give us the the magic bypass lane um you know you know so if you know the town wants to install that magic magic bass Lane then yeah I mean but um you know some of it is just volume the types of streets we have um you know we we we we've looked a little bit like I said at combining stops already that that'll continue throughout the year and and and make appropriate um we do know you know the parents will not be happy with some of those you know combinations cuz well you know my first child went here my second child went here why is my third child going have to walk down the street and you know but again we have to create efficiencies to have the the most time efficient model that we can while still maintaining our safety standards and you know convenience will not really be an option but what are like splitting the the high school in in Adams uh buses up you don't have to cross Washington necessarily with them the difficulty with that is the runs become much longer cuz now I'm covering the entire town to say half the buses you know what I'm saying because I'd have to have i' have to have two buses go up Adam Street I'd have to have two buses no not necessar because with the high school you'd only have a few stops right they still have to go up the street well but not every street no but I'm saying I have to go out to Adam Street with two buses down south street with two buses you know I'd have to go all the way out you know the old car path with two buses and are going to be driving right behind each other potentially you know and that's the difficulty at that point is covering 99 mes of Roads not on not driving on every road but covering 99 miles of Road this town with only half the number of buses that's really what you're doing I mean I have like five buses possibly maybe six buses going through the Queens as opposed to just three and well I think it's a creative idea I the absolute bottleneck is that it would just but it would take would take a you know a 40 or 45 minute run and make it probably a 505 50 I think it would actually go slower in all honesty Pat Weston and I would always say Pat Weston are a former longtime uh a transportation coordinate we always kind of figured that nine buses was the minimum buses to cover the entire town you know so you know I mean so we'd be taking the high school middle school run if we were thinking that you know from 15 buses to 19 19 buses now our was higher than them it was to cover the town not to pick up that was coverage not not for volume that was just coverage we would need nine buses just because of the size of the town because the size of the town you know we drew out neighborhoods we did neighborhoods we need one bus in this neighborhood two buses that neighborhood type of thing um but the number was always nine oh I mentioned Pat's name she's she's watching North Adams She said now like that to watch I mean I as I sit here about to vote and I I I'm ready I know uh which option I go with but I do again I want to thank the school best start time committee um and they gave us recommendations and I'm still I I do think option A as amended Falls in with that the district day is not to start before 7:30 nor end after 4: um Rams and the high school should start no earlier than 7:50 they requested that we survey St holders for feedback we did that feel like we are being responsive to a lot of the feedback we received about about the early um 7:30 time for placentino families um I I think we heard um we got some surprising feedback from Miller families I found like that many more of them than I anticipated were were in favor of it um we've you know we surveyed um staff we surveyed students um the scheduling of schools should be thoughtful around students sleep at high school and Rams limit the impact on teacher attention and limit the impact on after school activities um including sports clubs extra extracurriculars and after school jobs um while no option is ideal I do I do think it's really important um I heard a lot from the principles and I'm weighing that heavily um uh the survey data the comments I do appreciate the part where we need 17 buses to get be there at the elementary school at dismissal and it is also helpful to them have those two extra buses after school I don't love that we're past 3:00 I don't and I think there's still some more work to do to to to uh maybe make to ease that parking lot um and really be thoughtful about whether those buses have to start at Rams or start at the high school because I do think that causes congestion right 15 buses would no matter what exit they're leaving from they're they're jamming things up but I'm also respectful of our administrators talking about how if we um let all the traffic loose it would be an impediment to getting those buses there so maybe instead of 10 minutes our high school students could be waiting even longer um we've had a lot of discussion on this I'm ready to vote I think we're all ready to vote yeah I'm uh I'm ready to vote to I I still have significant reservations about this I I do think pushing past 3:00 is is a is is an issue I still think that the 740 is too early but you know give and where we are and and you know what was presented with option C while I think that there is more work that we we could do if we had more time on on that um yeah I mean so so you know I I hopefully we will be able to make some some some sweets uh to this as we as we go forward but um I will entertain emotion make a motion to accept option A as a second by all right we'll just do a roll call for this one just to it's a big vote Frank yes Hillary yes Joe yes Sarah yes Cynthia yes Don yes and I will vote Yes as well um so with that we we have a a schedule thank you to thank you all of you I thank you to our administrators for for all their hard work for putting up for phone calls from from me um and and dealing with them and all those questions and thank you to our to our principles and and uh and and and Jess is here too yes do you need to be do you want to be called on for something just so you know no good think I'm coming in January oh did you for January okay um we have to go through a a uh a Draft before everyone leaves I might just ask uh people to stay for just one second because we do have kind of a a big uh um announ announcement no well not really announ announcement to make but but um as many of you know um on March 27th of of 2024 uh Mr Keith bu our assistant superintendent of finance and operations um informed Dr Kusa and sub subsequently the school committee uh that he intended to retire as of June 30th uh we've been fortunate that with everything going on he's agreed to stay on um and help us out uh plann for the implementation of of what we just voted on helped Dr Jordan uh transition into his role um but Kea served hollon and holl public schools with distinction for 24 years it's a an incredible amount of time and uh he's helped see the districts through through some very challenging periods including covid um when I remember being on Zoom calls with him while he wore a mask in his office alone which was you know Keith is not only a town employee though he's also a longtime resident and you know as parent in the district um while Keith will most likely be around uh in some sort of part-time capacity at least through January this will more than likely be his last school committee meeting um which is kind of hard to to believe um well we're definitely you know excited to have Dr Jordan here we we welcome you uh to to to this new role um it's it's also a Bittersweet day as we wish Keith good luck in in his uh in his retirement um so on behalf of the uh the hon school committee I I have a card here uh for you with a with a small token of our appreciation for all that you've done for the district over 24 years um it's also um not lost on me that I'm presenting this to you as a former Tormentor from my days on the finance committee um though even then I could appreciate your your knowledge and dedication to to the town and everything that you did so thank you very much for for everything and um you know don't go too far but but but we uh we do wish you well and and hope that you have some fun thank you thank you I do appreciate it thank you thank you and I also I brought some cookies for for for after we had Jed yes thank you all um not often I'm left speeches but this is one of them so I appreciate it the structure so thank you everyone um we just have one last piece of business which is to approve a communication to to go out um people are welcome to stay for that but uh it will be pretty pretty boring um now that we've gone through do we read it in public no we have to read no no no this is just this is just to review was was uh gracious enough to put it together and so um um if you were generally okay with it we can fill it in you know later in um in response should oh I don't have we don't have editing yeah I yeah I just I'm not sure sounds right the first paragraph that says the new teacher contract and and are also in response have a response okay should I refresh mine no I think I had in respon okay oh I don't even think I can ni oh wait me make sure I'm looking at the right oh I'm looking at draft Community Comm response that all of us bring up the one in the further just to make sure yeah the one I am I'm talking to myself okay from us from from us we work with Dan can you not edit it I can you put it in the folder for me I did I can did you put request edit and access I can't seem to edit it that mean I can't seem to um who owns it hold no I can do hold on a second here we go there we go two s's is British English I know that's what I was saying I think it's just one s yeah thank you like talking myself if you refresh now Cynthia you should be able to I'm I'm getting to everyone okay need a refresher yes should see Google that's really bothers me that it won't take like 19th the th and it won't super script it somebody you just heard refreshing it yeah I think we should right yeah that's kind of point I could I going to do myself yeah of course well we could also just have done that yeah those need to be centered too then 28 we say just I think rather than just saying approxim I would say that you know over the next you know 7 months or whatever you know the the committee and the administration will continue to work to try to tighten things up a little bit we don't anticipate any any material changes well whatever's left over that get all those right find accounting and yes they should be yeah I guess that looks better it's fine no don't just send them and line Al I mean a p.m really should be capitalizing I mean and and daylight savings time or not because that might you know might M anyway you know yeah we should sorry very to the point it should have our it'll go out with our names on the bottom like it like normally bot he just do that yeah we we when we send it send it we can make sure it is but that's the default I think okay all right U if everyone's good with it then I like a motion to approve the uh the communication to the community to go out tomorrow all in favor okay the top of it unanimously top of we'll put a date in ibody at least there's a time it happen there's a time and a date St in the email but I mean but we can have um uh with where's this going to be sent to the email distribution to everyone reporter well reporter is on the community list so they then sort she's been any who has the community list Dan McLoud Dan has a list of people is there's you know um Early Education programs and other after school programs it would be nice if we could you the ones that we know of we could include those as well like CCC and and GMA and all of those that we know of folks did ask us questions about what this means for preschool so I do think at least in January we might need an update on what this looks like for the pr Dr Jord can you make sure that all sort of the connected entities to the school the different preschools the different distri any contacts you have at those uh you know get this communication I don't know if they're on the the dist that Community distribution list already or not I'm talking the ones that they're not Affiliated directly with Austin but you know are impacted because they I don't know that we would be able to get we have we um well the sections that we do I think for our existing preschoolers they can sign up for this newsletter right we checked that out with d with the survey we did have prek families there but like talking about HCC oh yeah if if if there are contacts you have then to but it'll be in the house in reporter and it'll be kind of you know you could you could always use the the census as well we we pay for the Sens that's um so again email has addresses addresses so you can s people too I mean well no I'm saying if you're looking just for preschoolers I'm you know what I'm saying it depends on you know you wouldn't do the whole list you would do you know children were three and four okay well we'll figure out way just to make sure we do 78 as probably as possible we'll put it on Facebook spoken yeah we if we can ask understand tomorrow it's also posted to the district's Facebook page um it's not automatically done um so with with that though um we are more than likely at the last meeting of the year um no promises because there are day because there are days left in the year so um uh but um I want to wish everyone a happy holidays Merry Christmas Happy Hanukkah what else Quanza boxing day and I've forgotten one I apologize um and so we do not have need for for to continue our executive session so I'll simply entertain a motion to adjourn move by John ex by all right ver thank you very much everyone for