##VIDEO ID:kR-X4keHzNM## we are recording hi Curtis hello is there football being played tonight Curtis that there is IDE all I really know right now are Mount Greylock Sports schedules I can give you a socer update if you want yes please so uh three to one I think down three to one at the second half boys or girls uh boys the girls play tomorrow night at home ohona so if anybody wants to go it's a nice home game along with you could actually go to the game and then you could go to the student run production of magnol oh yeah so I'm I'm certainly going to note that as a part of back to school and if you want to stop in the gym in between you can catch some girls volleyball is that at home too it is there's a 4:30 JV and a six o'clock Varsity I believe and then it's not for a while but we should probably also announce the concert which has been moved so that we can have the school committee meeting not conflict with it which that's I think that's October 17th that's for a while that's not for a while we had actually moved the school committee meeting so that it wouldn't conflict with it on October 10th and then this week the concert did did it officially get moved to the 17th that's what the email said okay so as of right now they do conflict okay I see Noel Carrie will hopefully be joining us later by phone but since everyone else is here I think we can get started because it's 6:02 so I would like to call the M Greylock Regional School District school committee to order it is Thursday September 12th it is 6:02 p.m. we are meeting remotely via Zoom if we could call the role alphabetically by last name b in here conry here H here Elfen B here uh am I next Malloy here you're next M here thank you at Mount Greylock Regional School District our mission is to create a community of Learners working together in a safe and challenging learning environment that encourages restorative based processes respect inclusive diversity courtesy integrity and responsibility through high expectations and cooperation resulting in lifelong learning and personal growth I do not see a student on the call so we may not have been able to put that together but we will keep an eye out in case they show up um we can make some adjustments and have them speak I do not have anyone signed up for public comment I do not see anyone from the public here so we will move on to approval of minutes um I will make a motion to approve the August 22nd 2024 minutes second Curtis seconds any um discussion on those minutes hearing none all in favor B and I conry I Constantine I Elfin B ey Malloy I I wasn't there so Miller abstain okay that motion passes okay next up Joe may I also along with the next up and we're going to need to make Joel a co-host so she can share her screen I believe um may I ask of the committee that we move the summer programming review so that it's right after this uh desie tiered Focus monitoring final report item would that be okay with everybody awesome that would help us get a few people perhaps done a little bit earlier in the night great uh Joel I made you co-host thank you thank you on one second here I am going to try presenter mode and you can tell me if you see my notes or if you just see what you should see in the slides hold on for the record Carrie has shown up at 605 five thank you okay can you see just my slide yes yes thank you for the tutorial Joe um okay so thanks for having me I want to invite Joe and Noel to feel free to jump in at any time I am talking about our tiered Focus monitoring process that occurred last year um so it began with a self assessment we were part of a group b cohort we um I'm going to show you in a moment um the information that we needed to give evidence on um but this was a special ed an abbreviated special ed review and a civil rights review looking at our procedures and our policies we the review was supposed to happen and then be done with in the fall but uh in the in the winter but because of leadership changes all over the place we ended up having longer time and so this went into the spring these I'm not going to read all the slides to you and I'll share this presentation later so you can have it um but these were the special education topics and these were the Civil Rights topics and basically for each of these um mgl and federal law related um requirements we have to show evidence of our district addressing each one we do that in in the security portal we upload documents and then they're reviewed by Department of Ed um somebody comes out we had a liaison come out and we actually had two people come out and interview parents interview staff and um interview all of our admin so um all happened and then they give us results of their findings and overwhelmingly it was a very positive review we are broadly compliant in all the areas there are two areas for continued Focus that I'm here to talk about tonight um and you'll see they're not findings but they're partially implemented findings so you will see the first one and I am going to invite Joe to talk about this a little bit um but the first one had to do with bullying and intervention and the long story short is that there was one word that we needed to we needed to um remove from the policy which was basically viable um and all complaints will be investigated and addressed by Administration the old policy read viable so we took that out that part is done is there anything else I need to say about that Joe no that that was completed back in March of of this year um so that the plan now reads report as opposed to viable report um and with that uh the department said you're all set there's nothing more that that we need to um do or request great thank you the second piece um that I wanted to talk more at length about was the curriculum review this is the standard that they are requiring um basically we have to ensure that individual individual teachers in the district all review all educational materials for simplistic and demeaning generalizations lacking intellectual Merit on the basis of race color sex gender identity religion national origin and sexual orientation appropriate activities discussions Andor supplementary materials are used to provide balance and context any such stereotypes depicted in the materials we were the the um Department found that we had revised procedures for review of the educational materials which I'm going to show you in a moment and developed training materials with planned implementation for this year I'm going to talk a little bit about that so our plan has been to this work has been happen I should say I should preface this by saying this work has been happening for years and years particularly at the Middle High School um however through the TFM review what we learned is that our Focus had been primarily on texts and so we needed to expand the review of our materials to Encompass all student facing materials um in addition our elementary schools had not as regularly done the reviews at the middle high school this has been part of the middle high school routine for I don't even know for how long for a very long time um and we have done it periodically in the elementary schools and we really needed to do it much more regularly so using existing documents that we had in the district as a foundation I worked with principls and superintendent to develop materials which I shared last year with our administrative team we had lots of discussion about it and then we made sure that we had schedules in place to do the work to train teachers and to launch this in a full-blown way this fall which has begun uh talking about this a little bit um particularly in the elementary school this is a really really heavy heavy lift so we have been thinking about pacing this is not something that has to all be done in one year and actually it's never going to be done this is an ongoing process and we're really excited about it uh to help narrow the focus in the elementary schools this fall we are focusing on things you see when you walk into a classroom so bulletin boards games classroom libraries if we have time later in the year this will become part of an ongoing review which I'll talk a little bit more about in a moment um we are also establishing a District Administrative team to review this at least twice a year and that's something that will be new principal have always looked at the information they've gotten from teachers but now we're going to make sure that we also have District eyes looking um and we're going to be building this into our annual compliance work that we do each fall so that we'll have a mini training reminders and then make sure that our professional development schedule has time as it does this year built in explicitly for the work the next part of our TFM if you have a finding or a partial finding like we have that we have we have to do a corrective action plan and that's what we're working on right now and what I'm talking about tonight it is basically just a timeline explaining what we're going to do when we're going to do it and then there will be a couple of checkpoints that we designate so there'll be one in late fall and then one in midwinter where we will upload evidence to the department to show that we're doing the work that we we said we were going to do um Noel and I were both brand new to this process so Noel really took the lead on all things special ed in this and I took the lead on civil rights um we are Beyond grateful to everybody who helped us with there was a lot of us reaching out to people in the district to say hey can you send me X Y and Z and does this exist um thank you to Joe thank you to Jake McCandless it was it was a lot and we were we're really pleased with where we ended up um I actually want to go back because I skipped over something really important I wanted to share with you a little bit this is just this is an example of this is the elementary review procedure as I said this was something that we had already had established we revised it so that we have September and January benchmarks where we're talking about what the review is going to look like and why we're doing this then yeah I gotta get back I'm going to stop sharing this for a second sorry about that says clunky on my laptop um then I wanted to show you an example of the worksheet that we have developed okay can you see that this is the elementary level worksheet so we had been kind of leaving it to people to just review and say and kind of go through classrooms and look at what they were um reviewing on their own now we've tried to make this much simpler for the users so teachers will have dropdowns they can say oh I'm looking at a game um they give a brief description of what the game is then there's checklist does this portray people fairly um and accurately if there are concerns what the concerns are and if there is bias what the bias is um what they're seeing the bias is there is an area for teachers to check if they want followup with a an administrator as I've been talking to faculty have been saying you know absolutely talk with your principal that's your go-to person but there are many other us of us in the district who are happy and willing and ready to help so Joe will be Joe is available to um meet with people I'm available to meet with people and um so that's the plan going forward there is also an an administrator review tool because part of what we want to do is H make sure that often through the year that we have our administrators walking through their buildings and looking at public facing spaces so so what what are we showing in the um hallways what are we showing in the library spaces and cafeterias um same kind of dropdowns um spaces for comments Etc now I'm going to go back to oopsie and I'm not using a mouse so how about that okay are you seeing the our plan page again okay great y thank you talked about that okay so talked about that this this work is really at the heart of everything we do um it's the heart of our deib work we expect that we will sometimes find ourselves faced with curricular materials that are outdated and contained biases that we need to erase from the curriculum but we're also expecting that the process of this review will even more importantly help us discover places where representation is missing where less told stories can be added to our classroom so we have a better understanding of our Collective histories um and I think that's that that came up in I was in one of the elementary schools and people are saying you know we're not we're not going to buy things and hang up posters that are that are terrible and I said no this is not questioning people's intentions but it is a perfect opportunity to say are we representing our students and do they see themselves in this curriculum and in all of our spaces we are really not interested in compliance for compliances sake we are interested in what's the absolute best for our students and what education should be and what education should be in our district this TFM process allowed us to find our own areas of need um and commit to growth in those areas and this is another I just want to say again it's an example of how di work is the foundation and Infused of in everything that we do in our schools and that is my very brief presentation I'm happy to answer questions we are just digging in um I teachers have I'm actually day tomorrow at West um meeting with each of the grade levels I've been presenting it differently in different schools and then Mount Greylock started doing the reviews in departments yesterday afternoon and then on our first half day the 20th the whole afternoon in all three school buildings is designated for this um there is some flexibility around whether teachers will work on this on their own we're really encouraging people to work as grade levels or with a partner uh it really helps to especially when you're looking at bias to be able to get outside your own biases to be able to look at materials with someone else to say you know what do you think and have Rich conversations and we know that conversations around this process will be some of the most valuable the most valuable parts and I'll I'll add with that and I mean first to Joel and Noel the the work that went into this last year both in terms of Preparatory gathering information organizing things transmitting it being responsive with the follow-up questions it it was a full-time job for stretches in and of itself um on top of all of the daily and the involvement by the department of Elementary and secondary education on site was that the partnership that they take with this is all at once all consuming for some stretch of time and extraordinarily valuable I mean I think we're all for all of us internally who spent time with the team um the expertise the breadth of knowledge and the breadth of exposure to other school districts within Massachusetts that they bring when they when they walk the doors um was really fantastic so like the whole process it was it was an extraordinary amount of effort but it was also really rewarding and and this area that we're talking about tonight with the partial finding um the federal the federal mandate is that we have a process for individual teachers to go through the you know it isn't enough to have you know as you're selecting curriculum to go through a process at the district level or at the school level or to have a principal being responsible for something this is about a process and training for individual teachers the the flexing the development of that muscle of picking up every object that you see and by federal mandate but also as good practice going through and really trying to just like Joel said step outside of yourself and try to understand bias where where it might exist um what can be better is it's an incredibly valuable thing to do daily minute by minute and annually um so the work that's going into training and then ramping up this very formal side of it um is incredibly worth it it's a it's a focus this fall it is it is using a lot of our um PD time um that we've been able to carve out um so it's a very worthwhile very important very time consuming uh Endeavor and I'm really appreciative of everybody who is buying wholeheartedly into it um and and growing as a result so thank you and I would just add there may be budget implications um and we don't know yet but we're getting as granular as in prek classrooms let's look at the food that you have in your kitchens let's at your play kitchens look look at your dress up areas let's look in all the spaces in all the things that children touch so that we can make sure a that we're looking for bias but also that we are representing all of our students so there may need I anticipate we're going to we may you may see this in the budget Jose thanks Christina and thank you Joel for that for that presentation um you know just just speaking for myself here I I can say I I sincerely and I suspect that the rest of the committee also uh sincerely appreciates the work that you've done and and that you and Noel and the the broader team have done to pull this together um I don't want to I'm trying to think about how how best to phrase this what I'm hearing is that this work is is needed this work is important um but this work is also demanding of our resources you know both in terms of time and people um and you you know as we I think should start thinking about next year's budget and how best we can support you know our faculty our St staff and and our Administration um it's probably going to come up again you know I think folks will will want us to consider again the role of a director you know an admin a fellow administrator to help support this type of work you know not saying we need in this particular moment need to be wetted to that idea but just just curious Joel in terms of the big if if you could bring in either expertise or support what what do you think that might look like or maybe perhaps what should that look like I don't if you feel comfortable sharing that um here with us tonight I'm not sure I can answer that exactly Jose but I do I am looking forward to the work of the deib committee that we're convening to that Joe is commit convening um that will be looking at our practices and our policies and I think all of this there are many themes that are intersecting and I foresee we may be able to answer your question better um in a couple of months I and not having been through this process this rigorously and this deeply yet I'm not sure where we're going to end up on the other on the other side we're trying to make we're teachers do need to individually do this work um and that is the requirement and we're doing it for all the right reasons but we also are required to and so and we need IND individual teachers to be the ones doing that work and so we're trying to organize time and give them time and not say I mean that's why we have designated half days in the past it's kind of been during grade level Prep Prep time and things which is just not sufficient we're trying to show with our resources that this is really important um you can ask that question in a couple of months and I maybe will be able to answer it better it's a little amazing answer there no I I I think that hit head on in that the federal mandate is individual teachers it's a it's a process so it isn't something that we can contract out it isn't something where the director of anything can go through classrooms however um I think something that that we do hope to see is as these worksheets are being filled out as the teachers are spending their time on them that questions will come up and how we best answer those questions and I think that's where an additional resource um now it'll be interesting to see also the the breadth of these questions I think oftentimes um we think that there might be one person who knows the the answer or many or or everything but I I doubt that will be the case either um so figuring out how to convene many resources probably outside of our campuses to be on call to be able to respond to questions about very specific things um different cultures um different languages different different perspectives that are that are coming in from from all angles and I think it's possible that one person can end up being the the director of traffic for that um but that is all to be determined and I think that's why like seeing how this process works as we ramp it up um is important as a first step thank you both thank you yep that's it thank you any other questions for Joelle okay so we are going to turn it over to Noel because we're moving this can I get permission to share as well sorry let's see you should be all set okay uh um it's not letting me yeah here we go sorry okay are you able to see that okay yeah great um so I have a very brief review of our special education summer programs um this slideshow was put together by Chris Hawking who was our summer program special ed summer program coordinator who did a fabulous job all summer we had really really wonderful programs with a lot of great feedback so I'm really excited about that um we had uh programs for uh students pre through high school um this year at uh for the first time we combined the Lanesboro Elementary and Williamstown Elementary programs to one school um it was held at Williamstown Elementary this summer um we had two classrooms for prek in kindergarten one classroom for uh grade one and two two classrooms for three and four and a classroom for grade five in addition to the academic based programs um and social based programs we also offered related services in otpg speech and transportation was offered from lboro and within Williamstown for all the families that needed it or that took advantage of it so um that was great total enrollment in those programs were 46 students and we had eight teachers um and 13 para professional staff working um you can see some really fun pictures of our Kids In Action having a great time um we did some field trips so uh you could see some of the kids we had trips to Magic Wings butterfly conservatory and Hiking um on the rail trail the Brookshire Museum um and some pictures from Camp brussell as well at Mount Greylock we uh for the first time this year we um tried a a program for our sixth grader that were going into seventh grade we had their summer programming at Mount Greylock this summer um to help transition them ahead of time before they had to start in the fall um and it was great they were able to tour the school and find the cafeteria and see what the library is all about and try out lockers find the nurse's office Etc so that was a really um excellent transition for them I think that really was helpful we also had our academic skills program for uh kids in grade 8 through 12 um Joe will talk a little more about Credit Recovery regular education programs and then again we offered the related Services as well in otpt and speech and that program total enrollment was 29 students and we had five teachers and five par professionals working we um did have some students attending recreational therapy programs at Camp brussell um we had 10 students there and three par professionals um so you can see those kiddos having a great time at Camp as well I just want to say thanks again to Chris Hawking who was fabulous um being the coordinator of this program the summer we had such amazing teachers um and pair of professionals who were excited to work in summer and work with these students and uh we had a lot of success we are planning already for next summer we have a lot of really um great ideas and some um using some kind of creative ideas to come up with some new things to make it more even more exciting and fun and educational for our kids so does anyone have any questions on the special education summer programming something to highlight here is that this summer program that the staff assembled featured a lot of merging of students between schools bringing the rising seven th graders for instance from both elementary schools up into Mount Greylock together to let them own that space but also get to know each other um when we talk about the importance of trying to figure out how to bring our two member Town students together more frequently more often and at earlier ages um there are a lot of benefits that you could see there um that were that were very tangible in and the friendships that you saw developing in the ways that staff who had not always worked with those age groups were working with them were with them getting to know them um so that there were a lot of benefits of of how things operated the summer um and as we look towards next summer I think we'll be you know we'll be taking all of that into account um and trying to figure out uh what's best as we as we look ahead um along with just the the staff who work with within our schools during the summer the joy and the energy that carries through um and commenting on the on the credit recovery topic um that's a Mount Greylock Regional School only um it it brings students in who um who need to be able to um catch up a little bit so that they can move ahead during the school year um that that small cohort as well um seeing that energy those staff really trying to deliver something special for them um during a relatively brief period of time um it's it's always a nice shot in the arm during the During the period where it's like you you've got your little Dash in in June to to close things up to get things cleaned up and then starting in July um that energy through July and the beginning part of August is is pretty awesome so um many thanks to the staff who make it possible but the students who bring it to life um so any questions on the summer programming topic thank you Noel I'll tack on to just because it is kind of summer as we transition into the school year the the field and track project at Mount Greylock um is something that continued to happen all summer and and asphalt went down um around the track which was which was a a big deal then it needed to sit and cure for four to six weeks um that happened the Lanesboro elementary school parking lot um for anybody who has not pulled into it in the last couple of months it is such a spectacular upgrade as you as you pull in and you just feel that smooth pavement beneath your wheels and then you see all of the freshly painted lines and the new ways for people to navigate the parking lot safely um for a 22-year-old building it is it's a it's a really special awesome thing to have um it it makes so many things feel new um there and so that that we're really appreciative to the town of Lanesboro um for the the effort the funding the the ways that they managed to get that project through this past summer um so those were two other things that were happening over the course of the summer at our schools thank you Joe so I think we're ready for the finance committee report yes and uh unfortunately the finance subcommittee um we weren't able to pull together a meeting today um so I'm going to give just a a a a brief on this the fy2 24 close out with the vote I do want to get the time with the finance subcommittee before we uh before we do that um formally so I'm going to hold off on that vote for for October so the finance committee can bring that forward um there aren't any surprises it it it should all be in good shape um for the committee but I just want them to be able to to have that and KN it bringing it Forward um the FY 25 early update in your packet um you have our Federal grant allocations um as a PDF uh no surprises there um positive or or negative um certainly I think we're always looking to see increased Federal funding associated with with a number of areas um it just was not in the cards this year thankfully our budget um was was spot on as far as trying to be conservative and trying to um not not hope for the best with any Federal grant programming um within that uh Grant Line we should be in good shape as we as we move through the year so that form of Revenue um should be all right um with respect to the other areas in terms of early updates other Revenue um chapter 70 um our Town's assessments um all of those things as of right now are tracking just as just as they should without any without any surprises um so all of that is good on the expenditure side um so far we're we're in good shape as well um we are fully staffed uh which means that we are fully utilizing um that budget that that was laid out um for the vote in March April um we also are utilizing the additional funding that was associated with how to how to make it possible to to have Latin at Mount grock Regional School so that funding is is in use um and as of right now we don't have any uh unforeseen expenses that have um popped into our world but I'm trying to find some wood around here so that I can knock on it because you know we're only um you know we're less than two real weeks into the school year and we're we're still feeling out um what is going to be needed and and whether or not there are some additional resources required in order to best serve our students um so that's the early update um it's as steady as everything goes for the moment kind of kind of world are there any questions on that well then the finance subcommittee item is done okay thank you Joe so next we have policy subcommittee I will turn it over to Jose thank you Christina we are we are flying my goal is to I don't know what our record is for the shortest school committee meeting but that that we're Curtis Julia let's do this um so what we have before us are uh let me keep open the 1 two 3 four five uh policy action items that have been unanimously moved to the floor of the full committee and we'll um go through them uh one by one so we'll start off with policy J J and D access to digital resources um the policy and government subcommittee moves that we accept this policy would anyone like to Second it I will second it chrisa seconds um any discussion regarding this policy on access to digital resources all right hearing none seeing none we we call vote alphabetical order starting with Julia I'm tracking it right now sorry Bowen I conry I Constantine i alen b i green I Malloy I Miller I right the motion passes to accept policy i j and D next up uh policy J and DB use of technology in in in in instruction uh the policy and government subcommittee unanimously moves this to the floor of the full committee would anyone like to Second our motion I'll second second um any discussion hearing none seeing none roll call vote oh and I conry I Constantine I Elfen Bine ey green I Malloy I Miller I all right the motion passes and continuing on we've got policy i j and DC accept acceptable use of digital resources the policy and government subcommittee unanimously moved uh to the floor of the full committee that an adoption of this policy uh would anyone like to second our motion I will second chrisa seconds uh any discussion all right roll call vote Owen I conry I Constantine I Elfin b i green I Malloy I Miller I the motion passes uh nearing nearing the end here we've got policy jic CJ student use of techn technology in schools uh the policy and governance subcommittee unanimously moved and uh to the floor of the full committee uh the motion is to adopt this policy uh would anyone like to Second this CHR uh any discussion seeing n hearing n Roll Call vote oh and I conry I Constantine I Elfen B ey green I Malloy I Miller I motion passes and last stop policy KD CB District website and social media policy and government subcommittee unan unanimously mov to the floor of the full committee uh this policy for adoption anyone like to Second this motion Christina oh second it two seconds any discussion hearing none seeing none roll call vote ow and I hry I Constantine I Elfin b i green I Malloy I Miller I the motion passes thank you all Christina we hand it back to you thank you Jose could I just ask a question of Jose um what's up next on the policy agenda just curious since we've been looking at these for last couple of meetings right uh we I think are scheduled to meet in mid October um I think our next policy our next subcommittee meeting is scheduled unfortunately after our full committee meeting but um what you can expect to see at our next full committee meeting um is an ction item um asking us to consider um a policy regarding public comment uh effectively making our current policy or putting it in um streamlining it and putting it in compliance with with state and federal law Julia is looking at me I think Julia has a look my the only look is uh that that has already come for the committee right for the informational in the first read and we've been waiting for um input from attorneys and masc so it's gonna move really it we're not bringing it as information at our next meeting we hope or the that's right it's going to be an action item that's right um and uh on what we will ask time we haven't well Christina apologies this is all happening in in in uh real time here um but as a part of that uh po policy discussion um we'd like to reserve time on the agenda um for all of us to think about public input and uh various types and manners by which we accept public input in addition to the public comment that um has been reserved as a part of our school committee meetings do you want that in the October meeting or the November meeting after you've met apologies again Christina this is is happening in real time here um I we we can talk uh and I can reach out to you I believe that Joe and Carol um are going to consult with you regarding uh the agenda items in the October meeting the thought was that both of those items would be a part of that you know October meeting agenda great yeah that I got that right Joe yep I I think we'll we'll have an initial discussion and then the policy and governance subcommittee will then kind of take that up how to best solicit and receive and process public input um after the full committee has a chance to give some direction or give some comment great thank you thanks car for the question okay next up on the agenda superintendent report school yeah it's it's honestly it's very strange to think that we met the the last time we met was a week prior to school it feels like a long time ago um but we are just about to complete our first full week of school um and and I think I can speak for staff and students alike in that starting off with two partial weeks it allows you to get your school legs under you a little bit um just in terms of the stamina to get through one day then a couple days and then now we're we're about to have cleared a full full five consecutive days um like I mentioned about the summer programming the the buildup to a to a school year start has there's so much energy so much anxiety around um are we ready are the students ready school's starting it's less than 24 hours and getting back into it though seeing people flood literally flood into the buildings on those first days of school is a it's an exhilarating experience um and I think by and large the start of this school year has seen um a lot of positivity a lot of a lot of growth from a lot of angles um along with with just you know at this point trying to feel out what is new and and what is old um and some of the things that are new um the stown devices policy of course that's a that's a headlining thing um that we will be uh looking at in much more depth uh I cannot recall whether it's the October or November meeting but but it is there for a more formal discussion um my observation and I think the principal's observation so far along with the students that I've that I've checked in with um we're all amazed at how well it's working and again I'm trying to find wood to knock on um I'm I I I I go through lunches at the middle high school and uh students are are happily playing card games and and jumping rope um to the point where in the quiet ation with staff as we're as we're watching and observing we're saying we shouldn't mention how much we love this because they might stop doing it um but but I'll tell you it is it is wonderful to see um and and we just like we expected um we are meeting with students um on a on a somewhat regular clip right now trying to understand the places where this policy is um getting in the way of what they want to do um and so evaluating how we can best uh facilitate those wants um and in some situations those needs um is something that's an ongoing process but but I think that if you if you look at it there's a mountain of good and then there are a lot of details that that we're trying to iron out and figure out how how to best address um typically those details are around um some of our highest grade levels independent studies um areas where students are really going above Beyond outside what we normally offer and and what what we know as being supported by the devices that that we already have um but having the individual conversations with the students is rewarding for us too because it means that we get to understand these amazing talents that students are bringing inside the building where they want to use the the special type of for instance iPad with a with a pencil um for being able to do digital art that that was one example of a meeting earlier this week um where when we heard of the students interests when we saw what they were trying to do um of course we want to figure out how to support that um we also want to potentially figure out how to support that more broadly so for all of the all of the peers who might not have that device that they could bring in from home um how do we best support them in exploring the same world um and those are really valuable conversations to be able to um jump into and and have kind of forced by by this um so I've been really appreciative of the way that everybody within our buildings um staff and students have been working on this um and and so far uh I feel like it's going extraordinarily well um along with that um we we do have um you know we have the new parking lot at lboro elementary school which gave lboro Elementary School a chance to make its pickup and drop off approaches um safer and more streamlined with with new lining new ways of flowing traffic um that similarly it's a work in progress but by and large it's making people safer and creating um structure out of quite honestly chaos during pickup and drop off um in ways that I'm really appreciative of one the leadership that going into figuring out that change but to our community's willingness to participate in that process and to be patient as as things are are iron ironed out things are done um so we are off and running and um I think that by the by the October meeting we'll we'll actually have our school legs fully underneath us and we'll and we'll have a whole bunch of consecutive weeks of of great School uh in hand um so if there are any questions can certainly answer them but uh but it's quite early in the year Joe I don't know if you want to mention open houses at the various schools I know there's one in the Middle High I what I'll do is uh this meeting is gonna it's going to start to happen quite quickly but I was going to say that during a moment where I'm not speaking what I'll do is I'll get those all into a single GR Google doc and I'll share it as we talk about um upcoming meetings just so that I don't uh perfect I don't um I will though plug that tomorrow is um a day early in the school year where at Mount Greylock Regional School we will have all forms of spectacular happening all at once there is there's volleyball happening at Mount Greylock there is soccer happening at Mount Greylock and there is a student run production happening at Mount Greylock so if you happen to come to campus right around 6m you can then spend your entire evening being Amazed by the talents of of our students um so please please do um the the production has an iberkshire article that's up that uh the details and gives you background um and uh Arbiter Sports you know this is something that I I think we we uh we can mention more and more often but Arbiter a RB t r Sports is an app that you can download for any mobile device um and it will give you the full athletic schedule for Mount Greylock so you can actually tap into any sport and see what's happening and when um that's something that's new over the last few years um and it's and it's in wide use especially by um the the athletes themselves and their and their uh families all right Steve has his hand up oh Steve yes I just wanted to say quickly I I like the app but for people who are using it the games are often changed so just double check the time before you go to a game meaning there changed but they're not updated on the app no no sometimes I mean I think they've updated on the app but if you don't subscribe to the emails you might see that the game was at 4:30 but then the game was moved to 6 o'clock a day or so later because of issues with other schools um various things and whatnot so the app is terrific at sending updates just telling people don't just check the app once double check right before you go to the game to make sure that there hasn't been to change got thanks all right shall I move on to we already covered summer summer uh programming at our schools um and now looking at um how we're starting to approach um the curriculum and program of studies review at Mount Greylock um in back to what what triggered this and again I this is all best practices work but I think what triggered it was the need to make a budget decision in an environment that felt like um it was happening too quickly without a lot of process around it um and in ways where we didn't have all of the information already known by both the group that is within this meeting but also feeling like it's been shared with the public on a on a somewhat regular clip and basis um during the during the year leading up um so as we think about curriculum and program of studies review um I'm coming at it from the perspective of we want the strongest School possible in order to have the strongest School possible we're going to be looking at um all of the things that we need to do the things that we have traditionally done that we don't want to lose the things that we want to do how all of that fits within the context of um metrics that we view as being important whether those are mcast scores AP test scores college entrance life success um for for people after they graduate um how we can go about understanding those things and how to best process and work with them and incorporate them into the modifications that um that we want and need to happen within Mount grock Regional School um the reason that it's especially important for this governing body to be thoroughly involved there is it has some pretty serious budget implications as we talked about um this spring our school district is spending significantly less per pupil than most or all of our peers um and and that that is a point where we need to be able to take a step back and say one what can we do to manage within that but two how can we Advocate whether it's at the local level or the state level or the federal level for the additional funding that we need in order the to see the kind of growth um in Student Success that that we want to um so all of these pieces need to come together in a carefully orchestrated puzzle um so that we can advocate for the needs so that we can get those approved within budgets and then so that our staff and our students can do the great work that they're capable of within the building um so this collaborative effort um is something where um we have started to have some small group meetings um at Mount Greylock over the last couple of weeks um talking about the type of data and information that we um need to Marshall and what kind of effort uh that will take um the types of way is that we want to look at comparables as well as metrics for Success um and what form um that all takes will then feed into now let's make sure that um we are incorporating every voice every every perspective that we can whether it's coming from our staff our community and this committee so that we're working through a process as we go through this school year um that will then become a normal iterative process during every school year um for re-evaluation reaffirmation or change um and so uh as of right now um kind of like the school year we're just getting that off the ground but I think it's starting to take shape as far as um the the type of work that we're going to be doing the type of data that we need to pull together um and the ways that we want to prepare to pretty quickly um bring in all the voices that we can can um from as many angles and perspectives as we can um Julia I don't know if there's anything that you want to add having been a part yeah um I would first just wan to and I won't but Echo everything Joe has said we we did have a meeting this morning where we were talking about this and starting to talk about what data to gather um and I think one of the other things that we talked about in the original school committee meeting back in May or June when we this kind of was emerging um was really doing this work and tying it to the values of the school um and especially with Equity at the kind of foundation um and really thinking about who our students are um and recognizing we have all kinds of students and our work is to serve all kinds of students um so it's not uh you know it's not like a school where you can say we're only going to do this thing um and so just there I would anticipate there could there can be some um challenging you know ideally we have all the money that we need for everything but I know that there are going to be some questions that we're going to bring back um to different bodies around um people weighing in on what's most important um so that we can be serving all of our students uh in the way that they deserve any questions comments on that before we move into the deib advisory topic all right so uh The deib Advisory Group um thus far um I have had IND idual meetings with every um person who's that I'm trying to bring into regular activity within this effort um with the intent of trying to understand before they're in a larger group and and sharing and hearing and potentially being influenced in terms of priorities by by other people within that group um we we had individual meetings so that I could just collect um in as unfiltered away as possible what they viewed from their perspective as being the priorities within Dei and B efforts within the school district um and uh it's I think it's important to note from the outset that none of this is going to drive somehow that that these are the priorities for the district I I think we all know from the long-term planning that we've already done um and from some of the efforts like the one that we heard ton tonight about curriculum and materials review for bias um that there are a lot of efforts um from every level every every direction um to try to achieve not a specific project but to try to achieve diversity Equity inclusion and belonging in every aspect of everything that we do um but to try to get the the flavor and character and the and the interests of this group as it pertains to the very specific funding um that we received from uh from the select board and from Williams College thus far um we have gathered information and I'm going to share tonight um the high level of where where the interests of the of the group were were directed um something that's very um I'm just going to use the word comforting to me is that when I heard each person speak and when I looked back at the things that we were prioritizing and saying that we really wanted to to be be able to work better on over the last year year and a half all of it is very much in sync um which to me means we're on the right track we need to accelerate it we need to we need to figure out how to harness our our staff our community um and and really be able to to do this work and live it out um in the best way and in the most thorough way possible um so to to to talk about some of these things that are that are gradually jelling within the group as as priorities um there are some areas that were specifically cited as mus haves within the um original reason for for accepting and and working with this funding um those are that we want to look at our policies and procedures related to bias based bullying uh and sexual harassment incidents as well as the ways that students are uh referred out of a out of a classroom or out of another environment to the front offices um and I think that that the group so far is saying similar to what we saw through the TFM process the policies and procedures are are looking quite solid they they're certainly up to federal and state um standards um but they also as you look at them they are they are thorough they are detailed um there might be some things that through a look at Best Practices with them can and will be changed um but more than that um the important aspect that I think we're hearing from many angles is that we need to um put increased effort into communicating with all consti ents whether it's a student or a household or a staff member what those procedures are how they work how they are actionable um what exact steps happen during them uh and after them um and why so that one people know what's happening two people develop increased trust in that system and that those Frameworks that are in place and three um the transparency that comes with all of that work builds just confidence in the environment and and and a and a bit of um faith in in all of what happens within our buildings when when things don't go well um when we do need to respond um so that communication communication communication is I think a very consistent message that I've heard from from both members of this group as well as just I think I heard it in the spring from the public and I think I tend to hear it when we try to still um when somebody's unhappy it really comes down to communication more than say a set policy or procedure um and so it's an area that we're going to put a lot of of focus and effort into and I think that having an outside group um be able to provide fresh eyes best practices commentary saying well here is how for instance a district office here is how frequently and with what level of depth a central office communicates here are the issues that we've been seeing here's how we characterize them and uh here's here's why we need your your patience and faith and our ability to push through them um push past them like that's just one example of communication um where there are a lot of different perspectives on on how how to best do that um but if but if a group and an outside expert and then this school committee are able to have a series of discussions and and really being able to update how we work um and what those expectations are for um how we work in communicating we will all be uh better off um more productive as a commun as a community um second within the areas that are specifically cited as musthaves um looking at the tools and the use of the tools that we use to evaluate student staff and family sense of belonging inclusivity and progress Within These areas um we have used Panorama um as a survey tool which is a broadly used widely accepted as a wonderful tool type thing um that allows us to deploy surveys look um not just across all of our students but compare what is happening with our um Community responses to what is happening within other school districts all over the country um how we use that tool when we use that tool um whether we start to use a different tool know all of that is up for a discussion here um and it will be an area that is that is worked on and where we look to um identify best practices um from from an outside source so those are the two areas that that we know for sure are going to be a part of what is invested in um using the funding that we have available then there are areas that are tied to preventative and proactive work work um that are directly in line with the intent of the funding um but that as of right now have a little bit more of a of an amorphous character as far as um how we're going to go about doing that within a project type form during the during the life of this um this effort um increased awareness and knowledge of things cultures and Customs different from your own um that is an area where um from a number of different angles I feel like I've heard pretty clearly that um having an understanding of cultures and Customs that are different from your own um in addition to improving your ability to navigate the world they also make it so that when things don't go well so that when there are problems individuals and the community are better equipped to navigate those better equipped to resolve um and restore relationships um so trying to figure out how to best um promote efforts around increased cultural cultural awareness and education um we we already knew it needed to be a focus and I think having additional discussions through the life of this group and um within this committee and and within the community will be really important if I were to look at our school buildings 20 years ago um I think we probably quite honestly had more food from different cultures coming in we probably had more um unfiltered culture popping into schools what's happened to me over the last 20 years is we've we've said okay we we need to make everything safe we need to make sure that we um adapt to constantly changing very rigorous and time consuming curriculum that is heavily detailed um we don't have time for all School assemblies um that celebrate all kinds of things we're afraid to bring other things in because we might not handle them well or we might not honor every holiday that is happening over the course of the next month um and so that pen I think has really swung in the direction of saying we're going to for lack of a better term sanitize things we're going to make it so that we're just trying to not dive into other areas um and that's something that I think whether it's our policies or our procedures or just the the ways that we encourage as a district people to explore um we need to figure out what we can do to one get out of the way but two um really promote and and give people the the resources and the um the energy that they need um to be able to do that because it's a it's a very natural human instinct um to explore and to share um and and to whatever extent we can foster that um is important um then very closely yeah can I just ask I I wonder also how much the regulations and restrictions around around food in schools has impacted our ability to share cultural experiences um because that I think really changed School culture in some significant ways when we stopped being able to bring um Foods in because of either dietary restrictions and allergies that's all understandable but also regulations around what we were allowed to to do in schools around food it's it's so true and at the same time there are plenty of public school districts typically larger ones that that have um much more exploration in those areas happening um and this might be an area where trying to figure out what outside perspectives and and looking at what others do and trying to figure out how and can we Embrace that too will will be really helpful um so I I I think I I totally agree and I think there are ways to to mitigate those risks and challenges too um that are worth the effort uh so the next item that that's been a Common Thread through discussions um that many things over time have led to increased separation between the district the schools or staff and households you know there was physical separation through Co that that's one that's very easy to see that that just it it it was no longer normal to have members of households coming in and spending time in buildings on a regular basis doing things um that's one point but but I think there's also been a separation in other ways um relationships have been strained um Outreach you know people have been and this ties to a a later point you know in the in the vein of it all being threaded together um there's a fear sometimes of of reaching out and what will happen what will happen when the when the discussion ensues what will happen when somebody hears that that what you're doing is not exactly what they wanted to hear um and that's a cultural thing I think within the United States that that we've seen broadly in a lot of different areas and certainly within the relationships between schools and and family um is something that is no exception um coming up with ways to one admit that but then two figuring out how to how to reverse that Trend um incredibly important important and it's a part of the bigger challenge around just like with cultural awareness if you have a relationship between a district and a household if that relationship exists then when something happens that is not good it is a whole lot easier to um get past that to grow from it to restore the relationship than it is to try to build it after something has happened um so figuring out what others are doing or what we have done to make it difficult um is an incredibly important part of this work as well um and this ties to our staff and and I I think we've mentioned this from a variety of angles but I think it needs to be mentioned more and more often um right now our staff and our students and our families are oftentimes hesitant to engage in conversations and educational efforts that are related to material that's new or difficult or uncomfortable to somehow manage um that fear of um criticism or on the extreme end disciplinary action um it's really hampering our ability to embrace change to grow um to to be brave about implementing new things or jumping in the middle of a conversation or being willing to explore something that's optional that's not required by the state standards it's not required by the course syllabus that you have in front of you um but that you know you feel confident in exploring um there are a number of ways that that we can look at this one um is that we can look at just how to give all members of our community more um concrete examples more um more prompts more ways to catalyze that um that's one thing but the other thing is looking at how do we respond better both as a school district as well as a community when something doesn't go well um I can speak on the school district side looking at um what the quote unquote disciplinary process is in response to when something doesn't go well that's an area that my office and the school committee we can certainly look at are there ways for us to make this restorative ways for us to make it so that we have a chance to learn and grow as opposed to as opposed to just finding consequences um and you know it's I think it's it's wonderful that we have a a team and a community within our building so I think we're all working very well together we we all enjoy um the efforts um we need some of the the the policies the rules the procedures that we follow to give us the ability um to manage difficult times in ways that that allow that teamwork and allow that Humanity to really really shine um so that we end up seeing growth as opposed to consequence um and so exploring what we can do and how we can do it um really important there as well and and so I think that does take into take take us down the realm of what are our policies and procedures in response to when things don't go well um and then and then the last thing which is is one that um I heard from a couple of different people within the group and I think it ties very nicely to a lot of the different types of things that we've been talking about at the school committee level over the last year and a half but it really highlights the fact that it needs to be a headlining um item within a lot of the work that we do it's equity and access to our curricular our co-curricular and our community offerings um it's something that would benefit greatly from additional really concerted work we we are we are we're following federal and state mandates for sure um but when for instance a new family comes into our school community and into our towns um what are the ways that we integrate them into all of the different things that we offer them all of the different things that are schools offer and that our communities outside of schools offer um it it's something that again it needs to be called out as a priority um above and beyond regulation into something that will really help us be the best community the best schools that we can um and then when you look at look at that kind of idea of somebody coming in new um where are we in terms terms of when there are socioeconomic differences um when there are ability differences um race religion gender sexual orientation um with everything that we do kind of like when we were talking about curriculum review for bias um we need to be able to pick up everything that we do look at it from a lot of different perspectives and understand are we making this something that is as accessible to as large a part of our community as we can um some of that goes back to communication just to say it again how we communicate what the opportunities are when we do that um super important and then understanding that um we want to try to expand all the opportunities that people have to do things within our buildings do things in all the related Community areas um we need to make sure that everybody who's planning everybody who's doing um is thinking about all of the different types of folks who can be participating in those um and and how to best go about it so I think that there there can be some proposed best practices here are some here are some ways that we want to create standards for communication expectations around for instance multilingual communication um of all kinds of opportunities parent Square I think is a huge step forward in that regard in that the text that flows through parent Square any message that is sent out from a front office right now saying here's a signup opportunity here's here's a way to play this here's a way to do that um as long as it's coming through in text whatever the recipients desired um language is it will automatically be translated into that language um so many thanks to to the staff members Elliots Rob wook who were able to implement that within our community but that's that's one example of this type of work um and we need to multiply that out make sure that we're we're living that in every way because again if we bring more people together more often in more areas that go outside of classrooms relationships will be stronger sense of belonging will be stronger um and we will be a stronger Community for it um so those are the areas that so far this group has been saying here's a priority for me here's a priority for the group um how we then take some of these things down distill them into really actionable steps um that's a next step for the for the group as it as it comes together in larger group meetings um some of those will translate into um just conversations that come up to the school committee level I think other things will translate into um use of the funding uh and um trying to make sure that we have outside help um to be able to best navigate uh decisions and and proposals there sorry for the monologue but I just wanted to make sure that everybody got an update as far as what people are thinking where where people are headed um so that uh in the coming months um nobody will ever say this is the first time I'm hearing this thanks Joe any questions for Joe on those three items okay so I'm gonna turn it over to our division six chair Carrie green for our division 6 report from Mac um just want to let everyone know that there is another legislative Forum coming up on October 16th I believe at 5:00 p.m um it's on the agenda there's a link to where you can sign up and I encourage you all to attend um Julia and I I believe are both attending the conference Julia the conference agenda is on the masc website um and um maybe at some point we can coordinate you know who's attending what um but yeah that would be great and um yeah and related to that can I just move into the nomination so um the Delegate for the um resolutions at the masc conference I would love to nominate Julia Bowen this year I will second that so i' I've done it the last few years um last year it was um kind of wacky and contentious and a little bit um uh unusual uh this year there's been a lot of focus on how to um I don't want to say reain it in in terms of uh obviously it's a deliberative body the the um the delegate assembly it is a deliberative body um but to just keep it on track there been a better focus on or there's been focus on how best to keep it on track and inform folks of parliamentary procedures and all that kind of thing um so there is a clinic and Julia I believe has signed up for that um that's being hosted by division three and by the way all of the you know uh um the the working lunches and Clinics and the things that are hop uh hosted by divisions including the division six uh legislative Forum they're open to all members of um you know the school committees across massachusett so if you see something on the masc website that interests you at some point in the future definitely sign up for it don't worry that it's being hosted by a different division but anyway um Julia that's all to say that I think it's going to run pretty smoothly this year and uh there's uh there have been a number of resolution clinics and I think there's also going be the October learning lunch is going to be on the resolutions y so good to vote I assume Julia accepts the nomination Julia you accept the nomination I will accept the nomination yes um and do I vote yeah absolutely vote if I vote by then accepting the nomination I vote I okay conry I I green ey Malloy ey Miller ey great thanks for doing that Julia thank you Julia Joe you look like you want to say something no no I was actually try trying to look up the making sure I get the open house dates and times accurate because every once in a while but I I'm I'm not done with that yet I don't know if there's anything else Carri yeah I have one other thing on the masc update um so I nominated Christina conry our esteem chair for the all state school committee and at the masc meeting uh last night the board meeting uh that nomination was uh accepted and approved so congratulations Christina um it's Friday night that those awards are being um given uh but if you can't make it on Friday night we can arranged to have it um delivered at a school committee meeting so Friday night at six o'clock hope to see you there thank you Carrie yeah no it's great thank you thanks for all your your work I mean this has been your what is it your fourth year chairing this committee yeah yeah yeah I would also like to add on that that I I did go back and I I looked at at the history um you you're a like a a generational Wonder person within our community because the last time they Mount Greylock School Committee Member was the all uh the all state school committee for division 6 was 1996 literally a generation more than a generation ago so congratulations thank you that was the year I graduated [Music] [Laughter] college I I just dated myself right there whoops same well thank you Carrie I I really appreciate it well deserved thank you um upcoming meetings we need to talk about the October 17th 6 PM meeting we changed from October 10th um I have a com still have a conflict on October 10th I don't know what time the concert is I don't know if we can try to move the school committee meeting up or have it after I think the concert is at 7 pm because the kids are supposed to get there at 6:30 so I don't know what people's thoughts are on that I think we have two if not three parents that would be involved in that concert yeah if we were to move the meeting up to five uh we would have to do so with the understanding that half the committee would be going into the theater for 7 o'clock if not more I'm open to that but I don't know what the agenda really looks like for that meeting and I don't want to give short shrift to anything on that agenda in light of that time constraint we could potentially also hold it at the uh at Mount Greylock to make it easier for people to go from one to the other I mean my plan would be to be there even if we were still on Zoom I'd be sitting in a classroom at Greylock doing it till this concert started yeah oh actually since folks have to drive their kids at 6:30 how does that work I look out because she'll be at her mother's house uh that okay but I don't how others fair with that yeah I could probably arrange something to get around that as well so does it make sense to try to do an in-person at five meeting or stick with the zoom trying to accommodate as many people and the various schedules that we hold I can send out um some kind of poll so we can firm it up um if that makes sense sure Jose go ahead just speak sir just wait wait apologies I I don't want to uh introduce or make it you know more complicated than than it already is but I do think about the the number of uh parents and caregivers and and constituents within our uh District that um won't be able to attend not that they I'm I'm sure they are watching nonetheless these school committee meetings but they certainly won't be able to that evening participate because of the attendance at the at the concert so just just wanted to flag that as a you know certainly a conflict that not only school committee members will have but but folks who who could we do 6 pm on the Wednesday the 16th that's when the um we could how long does the legislative Forum last um so it's oh yeah it starts at 5 um I I wouldn't want to put a limit on that honestly because it'll probably run till about 6:30 is my guess I I'm I'm worried about putting a limit on our school committee meeting the next night so I'm wondering if we need to look at the week before but not the 10th Christina would you be there on the 11th could you no could you be there no the whole week is out I'm gone all week y which is fine I mean if if that's if the original date works for the majority of people and I can't be there that's perfectly fine so move it back to the 10th at 6 PM if that works for the majority I think that makes sense I have no conflict with that don't NE it's fine for me I think then does that work for you Joe uh yeah I'm I'm it certainly works for me personally um I'm trying to Che wa isn't that your anniversary that doesn't work for you personally um that that's I I I can definitely make it work it it was going to be that until we move to to be okay with the to avoid the concert on the 10th so um don't like that we we need you to to stick around for two years we don't want to precipitate early early demise of this relationship um but I mean quite honestly October October 10th from where I'm looking at I don't see anything on the mount grock calendars there aren't aren't even any games um we'll send you flowers Joe well if we did the meeting 5 to 7 I mean does that get you out at a reasonable hour I don't mean to Discount the importance of an anniversary but we can also celebrate our anniversary on that Friday the day after on a not school night yeah yeah I I just don't I think it's probably better to say October 10th 6 PM okay thank you for figuring that out folks and being flexible I appreciate it uh I have no other items to discuss any agenda request oh Joe does well I have open house open yep because I I I wanted to double check but it it they turned out exactly the way I thought Williamstown Elementary School goes first September 24th at 5:00 pm the next day September 25th at 5: PM Mount Greylock Regional School and then September 26 at 5:00 pm lboro elementary school so if you wanted to attend all open houses you you can and should September 24th West September 25th Mount Greylock September 26th lboro Elementary always at 5: PM great thank you for that Joe yeah um agenda request oh Julia Sor real quick I'm just gonna name that the Mount Greylock high school schedule says that open houses at 6:30 so uh I don't know it should be adjusted I just saw an email on that too so it sounds like it really so I have a schedule in front of me it starts at 5 but that's like an exploratory there's student clubs and family organizations and then at 5:30 there's a um All Care Giver meeting in the auditorium and then there's some introductions and then I think when you actually um then there's some movement into classrooms and stuff like that so maybe I'm really just calling out whoever manages the calendar it should just get updated on the calendar because the calendar is at 6:30 yeah thank you yep and that's on the mount grock District calendar yeah okay Joe looks very confused I I I'm just trying to find that specific calendar and see who I need to reach out to to update it because I yeah I I I went off the recent parent Square message that went out from Lindsay Von Holtz to all families with the kind of the full itinerary for the day or for the evening if you look at on the school website mg r s today drop- down menu mgrs calendar um that's where I saw the 6:30 thank you yep okay agenda requests okay hearing none would someone like to make a motion to adjourn so move Curtis moves do I have a second second har seconds all in favor Bowen i conry i constantina i elen b i green I Malloy I m I thank you this meeting is adjourned at 7:39 p.m. bye guys see you later well done everyone thank you thank you have a good night