10.20.2025 Fall River School Committee

call to order the regular meeting of the forest school committee for Monday, October 20th. Uh Deb, would you please call the role?

Mr. Aguia here.

Mr. Bailey.

Mr. Das here.

Mr. Cory here.

Miss Laravey here.

Miss Pereira, I got it.

Mayor Couan here. Exclude to the flag.

I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Pursuant to the open meeting law, any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium.

Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings of transmission are being made whether perceived or unpersceived by those present and are deemed acknowledged and permissible. I'd also like to make a note that um uh school committee member Bobby Bailey will be joining us virtually. Um with that being said, we have no recognition awards tonight, but on item number three, we have student comment from uh Jack Rio at

Derby.

You're up.

Oh, I am.

If you're Jack Rio.

All right. Well, uh, we got some stuff to talk about here. Um, why not? Um, there's a lot here. There's some of it.

Um, let's see here. Uh, oh, well, all right. So, last week, all right, Dery hosted a student forum for school committee candidates. All right.

And it was a great opportunity for students to ask real questions about the issues that matter most to theme things like transportation uh attendance. Uh that one's missing. Uh we were proud to give students a voice in the process and help them connect uh directly with city leadership.

Um there was that we got that. Oh, we got uh the pep rally planning. All right. Um we're in the process of planning our November pep rally for uh November 26th which will celebrate fall athletics clubs and student leaders. Uh student government is working to make it a high energy inclusive and filled with health pride. Uh because there's there's just so much that's going on at Dery right

now. Um let's see here. We'll just do that. Uh big thing right now we're doing uh student government is hosting uh Dery's first ever Halloween hallways event we're calling it. And uh we're inviting elementary students from across Fall River to come trick-or- treat safely inside of Dery on Thursday, October 30th from 400 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Um now kids here, the the kids the students we have will decorate the classrooms and they'll be handing out candy. It's It's like trick-or-treating.

Um it'll cost $5 per family to, you know, come on in and trick-or-treat. And uh we're hoping that this will be a new way to bring our community together and make Halloween extra special for local kids. Uh we're also currently collecting candy donations and appreciate any help that people can offer. Uh donations can be dropped off at Dery's main office and uh thank you in advance to anyone who can help.

That's about it, I guess. Yeah. Thank Thank you, Jack. Appreciate it.

So, I have a comment, Mr. Mayor.

Mr. Corey.

So, Jack, uh, as far as the the Halloween event is concerned, that's open up to, uh, people can actually come and trick or treat inside the school. Is that what you said?

Mainly mainly elementary schoolers we're looking at. So, yeah, you know, it's but yeah. Yeah, the little ones.

Are you looking at four of the public school kids? Is is it limited to that?

Yeah.

But, but still, it's really that's a great that's a very novel idea. Thanks.

Thanks a lot for bringing that forward.

I yield.

Uh Miss Laravey.

Actually, I'll yield. I'll wait.

Okay. So, on Friday night here, uh there's a trunk or treat up in the upper parking lot that will be extremely big.

I hope we get people to come out for that, too. It'll be great. And again, I want to thank Jack for joining us tonight. Appreciate it. Um citizens input. We have two signed up tonight. Um first is uh Taylor Perry, Aberdine Street. Um three minutes, please. Deb.

Dear members of the Fall River School Committee, Superintendent Curley and Mayor Coogan, my name is Taylor Perry, and I am submitting this written statement as a parent who expects honesty accountability and transparency from the leadership of our district. Despite the seriousness of the lawsuit filed by former employee Ka Cruz, this matter has not appeared on any school committee agenda. That

silence is deeply concerning.

When leadership avoids public discussion of serious legal actions involving the Florida public school department, it sends the wrong message that protecting reputations is more important than protecting truth and accountability.

Parents and taxpayers deserve to know why this lawsuit has not been placed on the agenda, who made that decision, and what steps are being taken to ensure full transparency under Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, Chapter 30, Section 20. This is not about politics. It is about restoring trust, protecting students and staff, and upholding integrity within our school system. It is time for leadership to stop avoiding

difficult conversations and begin demonstrating the openness and courage this community deserves. Thank you for the actual reading of my citizen input tonight for it was not filtered. The act of fairness and respect for for public participation means a great deal not just to me but to every parent and citizen who wishes to be heard without censorship. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I respectfully

request a written acknowledgement that this statement has been received and entered into the public record.

Respectfully, Taylor Perry.

Next up, uh Jordan Sylvia, Fall River.

Three minutes, please. Jordan.

Sure. So, just so everybody knows, I'm streaming this at home. uh so people can see on my Facebook live trying to bring attention and awareness and um participation from the public this whole place is empty but for a couple um employees who obviously have a vested interest but out of a city of 90,000 people only two people wanted to say something here today and every time and like I said I don't come here every

meeting but again I would never allow my kids to come into the forever public school system. Uh, and I still come down here because that's how much I care about education in for River. A lot of other people make a quarter of a million dollars a year to go to work, right?

Like clearly you have a reason to show up, but uh, I do this out of literally the kindness of my heart and my concern for my community. And I know it bothers a lot of people in Fall River, you know what I mean? Specifically, Mr. Coogan here. and uh there's an election in a couple weeks and he's looking at me like I'm crazy, right, Mr. May? He's agreeing with me, nodding his head cuz that's how

you've conducted yourself for 5 years at these meetings like a petulent child.

All right, just stay on whatever topic.

Hold on, sir. Hold on, sir. I have the first amendment right. You can't tell me what to say. Exactly. Unfortunately, you're going up against someone who knows what they're talking about, Paul.

So, you can stop talking. Your attorney's right there if you want to ask him any questions.

Right. Just Exactly. So, so stop trying to impede into my time. This is my time where I tell you how incompetent you've been for 5 years, okay? And why no one should vote for you. And he's saying, "Let him talk. Let him talk." Right? That's what he's telling you. So, stop. I know you do it because this is the this is the concerning part. Colin D said in my live earlier that you won't even answer his

questions. And he's on the city c he's on the school committee himself. So, I know when I come here to and and young men, young men, you're on uh student government, right? They tell you what the government's supposed to be. This is how it really is, bro. None of these people care about what you think.

Guaranteed. They'll humor you. And again, hey, if you don't Hey, don't take my word for it. As you get older, you'll see that's just not what we we do. We don't We're not learning about government.

Okay. Oh, I'm sorry. You guys actually govern the student body. Is that what we just kind of have fun and and like have fun? Hey, honestly, I'm all for that. I'm all for fun. We're trying.

The only I know. The only thing I'm trying to say is this.

These people who run the school the school department in Forever, as you become an adult and a taxpayer, you'll see they're failing kids like you. Every kid in the city of Forever, as far as the education they're supposed to be providing and what we pay for and what actually happens and the outcomes when kids get their diploma, cuz I have a Dery diploma, too. And if I only had a Derfy diploma and a BCC diploma and

UMass Damoth, I'd be screwed in life.

You know what I mean? But I went and sought out all Shelley Pereira coming in. Hold on, little Hold on.

Hi, buddy. How you doing, little Tardy? How you doing, buddy?

Oh, keep going. I don't want to take away from your three minutes.

See, at least she knows better, right? I love you, honey. Hey, honestly, that's your three minutes.

On a personal level, I wish everybody the best.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Next up is the sub is the subcommittee updates.

Paul, real quick, it was the only thing I wanted to Oh, this guy wants to have Okay, three minutes is up. Thank you.

Yeah, I just want to see what I just wanted to quickly just clarify what I question and what I You're all set.

Thank you. I can stand at this podium.

Correct. Public public property I pay for. Paul, go ahead, Colin. I'll conduct the meeting from here on out.

Okay. Quit interrupting. Please let him talk.

Sure. Just wanted to clarify and the question I was going to ask today is and I and I made this public in an email as well is we have a $10 million lawsuit and we're not able to ask any questions within any medium because it's not on the agenda. I would just like an update as to when this would be placed on the agenda in any form. So we as a committee, never mind the public, but

even just us as a committee can ask our questions as well so we can find out.

And I don't believe there has been anything in terms of a public statement that's been given to the public as well.

So that's Colin that's my stance.

Hey Jordan, please your time is up. Your time is up. Thank you Mr. uh um Das. I don't believe that's on the agenda. Thank you, M. Jim.

Mr. Aguar, I think uh it's incumbent upon us to at least acknowledge the fact that somebody in citizen input time add a question relative to a lawsuit. I don't think anyone can actually say that it didn't get filed like we've been doing for several months, including corporation council. So, I think it's incumbent upon somebody to at least acknowledge the fact that whether we can't talk about

it, whether we're doing something about it, but the public deserves to know something from the superintendent of schools and probably the vice chair because the chairman should abstain from it because his brother's named in it.

So, we're not looking to get into the details, but somebody should just make a statement relative to what's going on and how we're going to proceed. Please do. Someone mayor, if I could respond.

Yeah, Mr. Assad.

Respect to the lawsuit that was filed in Superior Court. Uh, I did have a conversation today with uh attorney Rumsy and he has submitted to me a a letter uh that I will read uh actually was a an email. As you are aware, the city of For was recently served with a law lawsuit filed by the plaint of Kala Cruz. A responsive pleading is due within 20 days. I have not yet decided

who will be representing the city on the case, but will let you know once the decision is made. In the meantime, I strongly recommend that the school committee refrain from any discussion publicly or in executive session of the allegations contained in this lawsuit.

The school committee should not be taking any action or making any statements that could compromise the city's legal position or inadvertently impact the defense of the lawsuit.

That's the response that uh I received today and I also had a conversation with uh attorney Ramsey who mentioned uh that this would not be the appropriate time for him to uh advise the committee as to anything concerning the uh lawsuit. It had just been served and decisions are being made at the present time as to who will be handling the lawsuit.

Mr. Chairman, who Mr. Agar, so just uh to clarify, attorneys, thank you for the information from corporation council, can you please clarify for the public and as well as the edification of the committee whether one of the reasons to go into executive session would be strategy respect to any pending litigation? Is that one of the reasons to go into executive session?

That that is one of the reasons that you can go into executive session. Yes.

Yes. So part of the frustration of members of the committee is that for months now we've been asking the chair to actually put this on an executive session agenda item which is legal as as attorneys just said so that we can actually listen to strategy with respect to potential litigation. What we've been told is, oh, there's no litigation filed, even though it was filed, and then, oh, we're going to wait a little

while. It's not coincidence that we're just kicking this can down the road. But at the end of the day, make no mistake about it, this committee has been served a lawsuit, whether it's large or small.

And one of the reasons to go into executive session is to discuss pending litigation.

Now that we have pending litigation, we're just going to keep on waiting for Alan Ramsey to make statements but not come here before us and not meet with us. To me, that's quite unacceptable.

And I think we should put it on the agenda for the next meeting so we can have a discussion which is legally an option for a committee or for any committee to go into executive session as attorney Assad just said. Thank you.

I yield.

Okay. Next up is the subcommittee updates. First up is the evaluation subcommittee by uh Mrs. Pereira.

Yeah. Okay. So, we'll get the update at the next meeting.

Yes.

Okay. Thank you, Miss Per. How about the special education alternative education and early childhood subcommittee? Mr.

Adia, can I just ask a question on the first one?

Go ahead.

Is anything from that on this agenda from the evaluation committee? I think it I believe the item is on the agenda, but we're not going to get a report.

Well, not right. She's not ready.

It's not about Excuse me. Not about being ready. The meeting was changed to a different time. I tried to make it. We all know this. Bobby ran the meeting, so I'm not throwing Bobby under the bus. I don't know if he's prepared, but I can't give a debrief on a meeting I wasn't at.

Mr. Mr. Bailey, I know what he said, and I received the documents, but Bobby actually chaired that meeting. Thanks.

Uh, if I can speak. Go ahead. Uh go ahead, Mr. Bailey.

Uh yeah, so as me and Mr. D present in the meeting, um we discussed the current process uh that we're using for the superintendent evaluation. Um in addition to that, um we just had a discussion based on where we're currently at and where the superintendent is currently at um and her position and the length that she's been in her position and what the evaluation would look like uh this year.

Um there's a few things I know we wanted to bring back to the committee. um just and I believe they should be on the agenda for a vote tonight to make sure um everything was good. There was only two items on the agenda.

Thank you, Mr. Bailey. Um Mr. Aguar, the update on your committee, please.

So, we had a special ed alternative ed and early college subcommittee. Just going to give a quick uh summary. First item was a people incorporated contract which I think was uh for discussion only, but it was a twofold discussion.

First up was the um $19,000 $18,000 contract that the school district had with People Incorporated for approximately six weeks of the the first six weeks of the school year. Two staff were paid uh to work 40 hours in uh RPA.

They'll um basically they wanted to summarize some of the work from the prior year. So this 19,000 I'm still a little confused on exactly what we'd got for that 19,000, but ultimately at the end of the day, we decided uh the administration decided there'll be no partnership with Paint Incorporated this school year. So that 18,000 was for uh a little bit of planning, I think a survey or um a Google doc to get some

information from the students, but there will be no partnership this year with people inc. And the work that was needed is going to be done by in-house staff.

Um second was uh data was presented and a discussion occurred with the IPA principal and administration of the school district. The principal explained where they were related to scheduling and a few other changes. I think it was a good solid discussion had by all three members of the subcommittee as well as the administration.

Um third up was a request for the current status as well as a discussion of the 2526 plan related to early childhood. Um the superintendent indicated that they were not ready to present with uh the 2526 plan. Uh the chair indicated that it will be tabled for 30 days so that we can get a plan uh where we're heading in the 2526 school year with a few additional questions. So

we look forward to that coming up soon.

Fourth up, the special ed director presented on special ed strategies. This is a deescontracted uh service with special ed strategies.

Mrs. is open chain is working hard creating an action plan. Uh she's meeting with DEESC or a lot of the districts have to do this and she'll be reporting back out to the committee. Uh a lot of detailed information um was presented and that was shared with the full committee uh on the separate cover.

The Walker report is a also a part of this project where uh we have brought in a consultant to discuss some of the options for special education. We table that until the next month as well because that's all part of the action plan related to uh the special ed strategies contract and uh Mrs.

Obenchain uh and the superintendent and those in attendance did a good job explaining where we're at, where we're going and um one of the big takeaways was the fact of how much uh how many resources have been provided to our special education department in the last couple years. So kudos to everybody on the committee uh and the administration for making special education a priority, but as we know and the data is

indicating, we still have tremendous amount of issues still going on there.

So special education has to be a priority and we're looking forward to the next meeting in 30 days. With that, I yield. Thank you.

Thank Thank you, Mr. Aguar. Um next up is item number six, the superintendent report. Uh Dr. Curley, thank you. Um, I want to start tonight uh just talking a little bit about uh fire safety in schools. Um, a couple of weeks ago, following, you know, the first month of fire safety drills and walkthroughs of our buildings, there was, um, a report coming out of the, um, fire department. I think it was during a

radio interview, um, that the department is looking more critically at some aspects of fire safety in schools and shared that, uh, you know, we were collaborating and that we had been responsive to some feedback and that we were, um, fixing some things. So then there were some questions about you know what exactly are you fixing in the fall public schools. So I wanted to share some of the things that are being um

presently addressed and then um we'll be um sharing a more comprehensive list but these are just some of the samples. So um at CUS following some repairs um the horns and strobes in the school um are all functioning properly. There was a faulty smoke detector over at Fonsica that um you know that had been repaired or replaced. Um we had an issue at Mavveris with something like um system

software that needed to be updated. That has been resolved. So basically, you know, in addition to all of the drills that are going on at schools, we have to do them quarterly. We just finished up those first quarter ones in that first month of school. um fire department is doing walks of our schools and just identifying some things that we need to address. Sometimes it's something that's

addressed just right there in the moment. It might be a a door a fire door that's wedged open um and they need to remain closed at all times. So, um some of the stuff that you know I spoke to the fire chief about was just kind of this interesting dynamic of in schools administrators want to be able to look down a hallway and see the entire hallway. Um, but for fire safety, the

doors actually have to be closed in our hallways. Um, if they're not the kind that are magnetic and then released when an alarm sounds. So, uh, we are, you know, we're addressing things as they come up. Um, one of the, you know, bigger things that had come up was, um, at Talbet and, um, realizing that just based on the age of the building and the like, it didn't have, um, a smoke dete

smoke detection system that all of our other schools would have. Um, I know that Mr. Pacho is going to talk a little bit later, um, on the agenda about a chapter 34 review. Um but it's addressing some of that review will address some of the um things that are we're coming up against in some of our older buildings.

Um in terms of school accountability um I just wanted to share I think everybody can I ask a question on the first one just before Mr. Yeah.

So, uh I understand the um answer where somebody was asking the question and they said I guess got taken into a bit broader thing like as if we had all these major issues but I recall some of them seemed like things that should never have been uh let go at that point. I I want to say and you might have just mentioned it but I might have missed it.

Putting in smoke alarms with batteries in a in a school temporary you know. So yeah, but my thing is how did we get to that point? And you might not have that answer today, but I think we need to sure we need to start drilling down how did we get to the point where they weren't working. I don't for whatever reason if devices not systems aren't working. We just say here

typically, yep, okay, we're going to put batteries in them. We're going to get some temporary fix. But we never get to the root problem of what it is. So, if you can get us something related to how that came about, I'd appreciate it.

Mr. Chair, the other piece um that I had, and I it's really related to safety in schools, but not fire safety. And I meant to ask this before, but was there an Alice drill canceled at Dery last week due to malfunctioning equipment?

I don't know.

A planned one that didn't go forward.

I don't know. I can find out.

I mean, Mr. Ventur is right there. I guess he would know if it didn't. So, I mean, I guess the request of the principal uh we canceled that. We had the contractor here in the morning and then we postponed it till a further uh a further date.

But was it a system issue? like what was the issue? Was it that the alarm didn't work or had nothing to do with it?

She wanted to get more information for the staff. I provided that today. Um we're finishing the draft and then she wanted to have um every something in the classrooms for the staff before we went ahead with the drills.

But was the system working, I guess, is the question. Was there a problem with the system? You know, we had the system where the alarm they they pulled the thing in and we had that other um sort of instead of the morning announcements, they played the Alice drill.

Was it due to any kind of system issue or was it just strictly that she said we don't have the and it's going to beg the question if that's the case then we've been in school all this time and we don't have whatever you're saying in the room. Is it one or the other or both?

The system was fine. The contractor was here. Uh we just went over some steps and then she just requested that we postpone the drill and that she wanted some more information. That's all for the teachers.

Can I ask you why the contractor was here?

It was just to update all of us on uh the system. We wanted to make sure that after that last incident that the system was all in order and it is and and a drill was planned.

Yes, sir.

When that drill was planned, did the principal know it?

Yes.

But it still got cancelled.

Yes, sir.

Y my only concern with it, sir, and I think you given fair answers, I appreciate it, is that when something like that happens and superintendent, whoever wants to listen, at the end of the day, if we have something like we're trying to check on things or we want to make sure we shouldn't schedule a drill and then have it go south or cancel because you know what the narrative is.

We talked about this in one of the debates about the narrative. The narrative shouldn't be the system didn't work. And now that you're telling me that's not true and I'm glad we're saying it, but ultimately that was the narrative that I was hearing was just generally we were going to have an Alice drill. The system didn't work so therefore we canceled. Now that's not the case what you're saying, but before

we planed I would think the two would get together and say we're going to have a drill on that date. Make sure everything's good. Whatever you got to do and that didn't happen. So for that I think we need to make some improvements.

But I appreciate your honesty. Thank you. I yield. Mr. Chair, guys, as a question on fire safety, Mr. Das, thank you. Um, this my colleague answered a lot of my questions. Um, just very quickly, I just want to one I guess thank the chief because I know he provided um I don't know if it was to myself or the whole committee. um a breakdown on like what the issues were

and um I think going forward when we learn about these fire safety issues. Um school committee has um a role in the charter when it comes to safety in our schools. I'm paraphrasing a little bit but um it's just important that we're kept in a loop when these issues come up so we're aware. Um, when you mentioned the superintendent that the fire department started doing walks around the schools, is that something that's

like yearly or is it something that's more proactive?

I think it's meant to be proactive. So, I think what we were what the our experience had been is that um they would come in to do drills and sometimes other things would you know they've noticed some other things. they're being much more um purposeful in terms of when they do the drills like whatever they're doing out of compliance, they're adding to it just to be proactive. And so some of these things

that are being uncovered, it's just because they're taking a proactive look at things.

Sure. And like I'm sure there's some yearly like checkups reviews that the fire department has to do and I'm assuming they went a little bit above their scope for these. Maybe that's something we can start doing as a normal maintenance plan just to make sure our schools are in tip-top shape. But that's all I have for that part. Thank you.

Uh next up is the section on school accountability.

Oh yeah. Okay. I thought you were skipping to the next thing. So um as everyone's aware, the school and district accountability data was released a few weeks ago publicly and we do um plan to present out on that more formally um at the November meeting. But tonight, I really just wanted to highlight for the community um three of our schools who made significant gains this year. Um the first of which is uh

Dery High School. Um although they only met um 33% of their targets, that was a significant increase over the percentage of targets met um from the previous year. And they actually increased their percentile from the sixth percentile to the 11th in the state um when they're measured against other high schools um in the state.

Watson Elementary School. Um this is a school that was previously identified as an underperforming school. Um you know originally like you know they were called level four schools and then underperforming um in the new accountability system. And they did shed that label last year when they climbed from like the sixth percentile in 2019 and again in 2023 to the 11th percentile in 2024. this school um this year met

77% of their targets in 2025 and also moved from the 11th percentile to the 21st in the state and just just such a huge thing um for all of the students and staff there at Fonsica um this is a school that remains identified as an underperforming school by the department um but in 2025 met 75% of their targets and increased their percentile ranking they were in the fourth percentile in

2023, sixth percentile in 2024 and climbed to the 16th percentile in 2025.

So 10 um percentage points. Big big wins. Um you know, we've been to many meetings now with the department ed uh department of ed um around accountability um you know, what we should be looking for in terms of some of the gains um you know where we can celebrate some successes and things like that. They've been really clear um across the state that you know a twopoint move in terms of percentile. Um

anything over two points is something to really celebrate um examine figure out you know in either direction really um and for these three schools they moved um five points 10 points 10 points and um just something we want to celebrate and acknowledge. The other piece of um the data that came out is that parents have um should have all received the reports, the individual MCCAST reports

for students. I know those were sent out via parent square and then I believe a reminder went out to anybody who hadn't opened it yet. If there's anybody who is looking for those reports um and they didn't come in through Parent Square, um I would just ask that you reach out um but you should be getting reminders about those.

The next thing I wanted to talk about um is an air quality update. Can I apologize just on that one?

Mr. Agar, just the um uh on the last part where you talked about Parent Square.

Obviously, I know what what parent square is, but did they get a hard copy?

Like, you know, in the past, you'd always have to send a hard copy home and then I think the DEESC was going to do a um portal that I think started but then didn't start or or something like that.

So how did each of the families get the actual is it a link to the report of each individual students work on each person?

Mhm. So each student gets their individual report. So they we do some mapping you know behind the scenes to make sure each student receives their personal report in the same way we would do report cards or something like that.

Right. So you save the money on the the oldfashioned mailing postage. So thank you. I yield.

Um the next piece is an air quality update. Um just I wanted to make sure I I know that we you know we did some press releases and shared this information um with schools but we have had um we have done two um air quality um two rounds of air quality testing at RPA. One was a little bit more comprehensive um with different places around the building after there was some concern around um the risk of

asbestos airborne asbestos in the building. And so both that test and then a subsequent test that we did in one particular area where um there was a suspected you know breach in the um in the safeguards did some testing in that room and that one again came back clean. So that's something that we will continue doing as the project moves forward. Either um you know just I don't want to say regularly because it won't

be done like you know twice a week or anything like that. Um but something that we intend to do as the project continues um either you know every couple weeks or as um anything comes up where there's um something of concern.

Any questions about that?

South Coast.

Okay. South Coast Educational um collaborative. So, as most people know, I serve on the board at the um South Coast Educational Collaborative. Um one of um the superintendents on the you know, many superintendents on the South Coast who serve on the board. Um and so it is our responsibility to report out um to our committee quarterly. And so I just wanted to make, you know, let the

general public know that I am sharing information with um the committee this week. They just released their first quarter report to us and that's information that I'll be sharing and um it 13 items on this particular first quarter report. It's not um I will say it's not terribly exciting but just to give people a little bit of flavor of some of the things that come up on this report um you know one of the updates

because this was a the first quarter report and it was um for July, August, September. There's a note here that South Coast Educational Collaborative is closing out the summer next week. More financial numbers will be coming soon.

FY26 business plan is built on 215 students and 207 staff. And as a reminder, it includes a 5% increase in tuition. Um, other pieces of this report will say things like excavations and reouting of a drainage system was installed at Life Academy in Swansea due to water leaking into the building. So, anything here is really, it's not Fall River specific. It's not um program specific for students um for programs

that our students are attending, but general information around South Coast Educational Collaborative, and that's information I'll be sharing um with the committee this week. The last piece here is a hiring update. Um since our last meeting, we've had 34.

Sorry, I had a question on that one, Mr. So, the um only question I have on that. So, you said it's a 5% increase on the tuition. Yes.

And do we know roughly what amount that is? Like uh do we spend $2 million, $3 million with South Coast or what is the total amount that we spend roughly with them? Millions.

I couldn't hear three two million.

Two million total. So I I want to just ask this question and uh I think that it's important to realize that if we a member of the organization believe we get a 15% reduction in tuition 10%.

5%. Well, it's going down every time I say something, but ultimately $2 million and you take 5% that's real the real money. Uh in the past we've had a situation where the superintendent Matt Malone refused to join and therefore we were paying that extra money. So, I want to give you credit for showing up to the meetings, participating, and saving us 5%, which I think you should get us a a

number on that because it is something that Dr. Curley's taken out of her day.

It's an important thing to be on, but um what's right is right, and Doc Matt Malone refused to go on and it cost us a couple hundred,000 if I recall. So, thank you, Dr. Curley. I yield.

Um so, we have we've had 34 new hires since the last update. Um and that included 19 paraprofessionals, four teachers, and four part part-time utility workers as well as a number of other positions. Um cafeteria assistant, a cafeteria driver, and a couple of other things that are just one or two per position. Um we've also had during that time 10 rehires including um three pair of professionals and three teachers

as well as um singleton other positions.

During that time of the 34 hires and 10 rehires, we've also had 30 resignations and four retirements.

Thank you, Dr. M. Mr. Das.

Thank you. So, I just have a I wanted to say my questions for the end, so I just have a a few. Just first on hiring um any of those um hirings that we've done um special ed or hard some of those hard to fill.

Um you know, it's not specific the update that I have, but I'll I'll find out.

Thank you. Um the only thing I have is just on the air quality and um again I just want to show my appreciation that we're being proactive with the testing um especially around asbestos.

Is it I don't know this will be in um chapter 34 review. I don't know if RPA is on that list but if it is or if it isn't um it's have we had any conversations? I think the the only um re like air quality tests have just been for asbestos. We're not we're not looking for other um irritants, right?

No, those have just been for asbestos, right? I think we do have we I mean there's we do have an opportunity to do other um but we have not.

Right. I guess that's what I'm trying to encourage. I think the district should um look into that and see if there are any other issues because I again I've heard from staff members that you know have headaches every day or um respiratory issues from going into that school.

I would ask you again that when you receive something like that that you encourage people to report it to their principal immediately.

Understood. because I'm not sure when you when you were alerted, but it it could have been yesterday or it could have been two weeks ago, but this is the first time that it's being reported here.

No, I understand that. Um just some some staff don't feel comfortable and so I I take that into consideration and again they're not I just think it's just something we should look at just in general and especially that we had asbestous concern something we should also look into other irritants as well. Um, that's all I have. Thank you, Mr. Corey.

Yeah, just to re reiterate a couple of points. Uh, Madame Superintendent on the South Coast Educational Collaborative.

I'm really proud of our association with that collaborative. I'm really proud that we also have Miss Oben chain in our in our clutches because we're we're totally targeted on focusing um the needs in our special needs programming.

And I think that our partnership with the collaborative has is is pointing us in the right direction and I was one of the early advocates to help establish the fact that um you are now on that board and I'm I'm very proud of the work I did to try to establish that. Number two, I want to reiterate the school accountability update and for the public certification. As the superintendent

stated, it's no easy feat to raise the percentage, the incremental percentage gains that are going on. And I know that we're making the Department of Education very pleased with the hard work that I know our school teachers are doing every single day, especially at Dery and Fonica and at Watson that have been three targeted schools in the past several years that have been showing some, you know, flat rate growth, but

now we're starting to see some real growth. And real growth happens when you have your teachers in tow and everybody working toward the center. So I wanted to publicly, you know, congratulate you, Madam Superintendent, on that hard work.

Thanks. I yield.

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Angia, just to follow up on what Mr. Das asked about RPA. I've gotten some of those same uh calls, but what I'd like to do is get a list of the staff that actually did complain to the principal so that we can kind of cross reference. Sure. So, I know staff members I directed them to the principal and I'd like to see whether they actually followed through

and uh and did that for one. Number two is I had a question on the Collins Center report. I see it listed in the evaluation. Um I'm hearing that that's done. Are we ever going to get a copy like now?

They gave us a draft and then following the draft we have to we um we met with them once. There's one more meeting um that we're having with them and then it will be a public report. So, we'll present out on it here and then we'll release it to what I would ask uh what we typically do with some of these reports is that they interview the school committee

and then we don't get a chance to look at a draft to actually say, you know what, I that's not what I said. We had a report 15 years ago that I recall that I sat with a a person from DEESC for over 90 minutes and told them all kinds of different things and then the report came out. We never got a chance to look at it and say, "Where was my interview?" And then the

report came out and it actually said at the time that we have adults caring more about people care more about adults than kids or something ridiculous. And I said well that's not what I said for my 90 minutes and I think other committee members did the same. So with all due respect I would ask that the Collins Center if they being thorough because it's a report from you as well as the

school committee give us a chance to look at it so that we can comment before it become the final draft.

Okay.

Uh that would be my suggestion. And lastly on the hiring update, I I don't know if you said it, but I'd like to get a report on the vacancies uh that we still have as well as um did anyone resign? Did anyone get terminated? I've been asking this for almost every month that it comes out. We do not see. So we see appointments and then we it just goes away and then I find out through

all different places, oh that person got terminated or that person resign. We don't necessarily we see the resignations, but there's a lot of movement moving parts that we do not see what is really going on. And um I'd like to get that so we can kind of know uh what what's happening. So if you could get us something on the hiring update, I'd appreciate it. Thank you. I yield.

Uh next up is item number seven, approval of minutes. I have five sets.

Can I get a motion and a second?

Move to approval all second.

I have a motion and a second. We're going to try to approve the um minutes of the parent and community outreach subcommittee from 98 from 8:19. The special meeting of the school committee from 98, the meeting of the regular school committee from 98, the evaluation subcommittee meeting from 9:23, and the grievance subcommittee meeting from 9:28. I have a motion, a second. Any discussion? Deb, would you please call

the role?

Miss Drag, yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. D, yes.

Mr. Corey, yes.

Miss Laravey, yes.

Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor Coogan, yes.

Item number eight is the approval of travel requests. Uh we have a number of travel requests.

Motion to approve all with just a quick question on I have a motion. Do I have a second?

Second.

I have a motion to second. Mr. D, just um quick question on the top two um and I just did a little bit of research be before the meeting specifically on um flights um to and from Pennsylvania. Is this something we're leaving out of Providence or we're leaving out of Boston? Cuz I could see why you'd want to go to Providence to save on transportation to Boston so it would

equal out and that looks right. But it I saw a Boston flight going to Pennsylvania for half the cost. I just want to make sure these are Yeah. Was it on these dates? I I don't know.

Yes.

Okay. So, I think um what I'm seeing here are estimates and so it might be that we end up paying A little bit less, a little bit more.

I'm not sure. But these were put in as estimated amounts. I'm not sure. Um I I don't know.

I understand just because I sometimes see the bills they come through and sometimes maybe it's just me. I I look at the the cost of some of the hotels. Maybe hotels are just going prices are going through the roof, the cost of meals are. So I you got to take that into factor, too.

But sometimes it just looks like the prices are going a little bit high. Just want to make sure we're um crossing our eyes and dotting our teas or the other way around. But I yield.

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Corey.

Yes. Uh on those same two items, uh as far as the travel request, I was wondering if I could, uh could request that the teams from CUS and the teams from Morton could report out to us in next month's school committee meeting on their findings because uh there's going to be some heavy work done at these um workshops and I just like to know what they're what it is they're discussing.

Perfect.

Yeah.

Thank you. Deb, I yield. Deb, could you call the role please on the travel requests?

Mr. A, yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Das, yes.

Mr. Corey, yes.

Miss Laravey, yes.

Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor Coogan, yes.

Item number nine is the acknowledgement of donations.

Um, we have a number of them. Um, can I get a motion, a second to accept the donations?

Motion.

Second.

Second. I have a motion, a second. Any discussion on the donations?

Uh, Deb, would you call the role before the superintendent reads them to us?

Mr. Draam, yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Das, yes.

Mr. Corey, yes.

Miss Laravey, yes.

Miss Carrera, yes.

Mayor Coogan, yes.

So, on behalf of Fansa Elementary School, um, Cape Cobb, I request the acknowledgement of $1,500 donation from Premier Cape Cod. The donation was used to support PBI to PBIS schoolwide events. On behalf of Green Elementary School Principal, Dr. Liz Dunn, I request the acknowledgement of a donation of a variety of school supplies for students from Quain Nagel Incorporated. This donation was used to

provide all students at Green with school supplies.

On behalf of the health and physical education director, Dan Fitzgerald, request acknowledgement of a donation of 15 Bell bike he helmets for Mass in Motion Fall River. The donation will be used to help fall public schools students who need um helmets for safe, reliable gear. On behalf of Green Elementary School principal, Dr. Liz Dunn, I request the acknowledgement of a donation of assorted school supplies,

five boxes, including notebooks, backpacks, pencils, etc. from the follower community food pantry. The donation will be used to provide students in need um with the backpack for the 2526 school year.

And on behalf of the seal department, I request the acknowledgement of donation of bulk polo shirts from the United Way corporate image. This donation will be distributed as uniforms for students in need.

Thank you. Item number 10 is the approval of grants. As you can see, we have a whole list of them there. I'm looking for anyone that wants a hold or a question answered on any of those grants here.

Presentation on them all.

What What did you say, Mr. Agar?

Can we get a presentation on them?

Um, who's going to address these grants?

You got title one, title two, title three, title four. Right off the top, I would say the person that says grant director right on it. So I'm sure he can handle it.

So I I guess Mr. Farious, I just wanted to can I say just why I wanted a presentation was more so we don't need a thorough I'm not looking for a thorough like look at what it is.

A lot of this stuff is the same uh similar that we've had in the past. So, all I'm simply asking is a a quick presentation relative to any changes, any notable concerns that you might have because we have $13 million in grants here before us and it's a lot of reading material, but you can summarize, I'm sure, with where we're at. So, I'm not looking at you to go tour the whole thing. Thank you.

Sure. Uh, I can speak to ones for me specifically. There really aren't many changes from previous years. Um, title one, two, three, and four, it's the same. I would say that we did get about $2 million more in title funding this year than last year, which is great news. Um, in terms of the 21st Century program, their continuation grants, which we've had uh for many years at these schools. Um, the one that's 436,000

is a continuation grant of from Dery, RNO, CUS, uh, Green, and Doran. And the one that's 148,000 is Henry Lord. They applied for an exemplary grant. So we have another three years of funding for that particular school which is extremely exciting. All the sites do an absolutely great job there. Um outside of those uh I don't really think there was much change. I'm not overly familiar with the

Perkins grant with uh Cindy Sylvia, but um I don't think I don't Well, I think if we just stick to All I was looking for is the one that your name's on.

Okay. So, one of the questions that I would have now based on what you just explained that the title grants went up by two million about that.

So, so the operative question would be what what is the $2 million look like in what summaries? Like what is that? Is it just $2 more million in staff? Is it in programming? Is it some in title one to you know any kind of uh detail that's a a good thing? Here we are thinking we're going to get cut by the federal government.

Sure. Sure. Most of that much of that got eaten up in the raises, contractual raises and also the hourly rate. Um, you know, contracted services go up as well every year. So, there's a wide range of things. It gives us the opportunity to also do more things with this money as well.

So, it's a combination of staff as well.

Yep.

And the other one I've asked in the past about 21st century, that's an application, correct? So it's not when you name a few schools, people watching will say, why doesn't every school get one?

It is it's a competitive grant which they are block funded for either three or five years. So um the continuation grant, the one that's 436,000.

Those schools are in a funding cycle year. So those students will continue to get funding. There will be schools that roll off of that amount uh every year.

the Henry Lord amount, the 148,000.

After your funding cycle is over, you have to reapply for exemplary status and uh that's an additional three years of funding.

Thank you. I yield.

Anything further on the grant?

Mr. Chair, Mr. Das, I'm going to um briefly step out. I had a sudden family emergency I I just learned about and I it requires my time, so I'll return if and when I can.

Thank you, Mr. Das. Um, Deb, would you please call the role on the grants?

Mr. Chairman, you wanted to do just one.

You want Oh, okay. So, Miss Sagerella here.

You got You got Miss Sagerella, Cynthia, Sylvia, Kristen Faras, and Kim La Liberty, and Amy. Amy, you want to do yours first at the bottom? Pass.

Sure thing. So, the opioid 8 positive alternatives for student success is a second year of the past program funded um to keep the alternative program running for the second this second year.

Same program, same program at the Boys and Girls Club, the alternative to school suspension program.

So, that will be continuing this year.

We got funded to extend the program through June of this coming year, 2026.

May I ask under separate cover that we get uh data on staffing as well as attendance or who's participating?

Sure. Yeah. I I have to I'll speak up on that one because I I was down at the Boys and Girls Club and uh it was nice to see a cross-section of students from across the city uh not just one school.

It was uh it was very positive and the kids seem like they're working hard.

Kudos to you guys for helping us put together.

Thank you.

Uh how about Kristen Farious next? You you have one there, Kristen?

Yep. So, this is the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Grant. And so, this was our year one of the second competitive cycle. So, we got this grant the first time three years ago, went through that cycle. We had to reapply.

Um, it opens competitive again this year for uh three more years. And so, we were awarded that grant. The amount is the same. We are continuing with the same two partners um Citizens for Citizens Head Start and People Incorporated Preschool. We did expand um People Incorporated moved into their new Weaver Street facility this year and so we did have the opportunity with that move to

have two classrooms at that site versus one that we had at the previous site. So we're now running um the itinerant team and support in two classrooms at People Incorporated and one at Maple Head Start.

Thank you.

Uh next up is is Cynthia Sylvia here?

We can speak to it.

Oh, you can speak. Thank Thank you. Uh Mr. Mr. Woodward, I can speak to the uh Perkins grant because Miss Sylvia is is unable to be here today. Um so the Perkins grant supports uh CTE programming. Um and the total for this year is 29,597 which is about an increase of $22,000 uh from the previous school year. And that's uh generally due uh to the increased enrollment in CTE. no major

changes in the types of categories um that will be spent this year. Uh the extra funding um is mainly going to supplies uh with an increase of about $20,000 in the supplies category.

Any questions?

One question.

Go ahead, Mr.

On where it says stipens in the various places. Is that for teaching staff?

For any administrative staff or is it also all for teachers?

Uh for teaching staff. So, um there's two advisors for uh or two stipens for deck advisors, two stipens for Skills USA um advisors. Um there's a $3,500 uh line item as well um for overtime for afterhour works on grants, advisory dinners, evening events for school staff.

And is administrators in that?

I I know the the adviserss are teachers, but I'm not sure completely if there's any administrators um in that salary line.

If you could just get that info. I I've asked the same question multiple years, so I appreciate it. Thank you.

Thank you.

I yield.

How about um Lisa Zagarella here.

Lisa, you have uh title three part A similar to what Derek said that is the same as last year. Um any additions would be likely eaten up by salaries or by extra stipens.

We're hopeful that title three funding will continue. Um we're thankful to have it for the upcoming year. I think so.

That's a financial question just on uh in general when we get these grants that are out like this. And for instance, we just heard twice that we had a $2 million increase and a half million dollar increase and most of it was eaten up with salaries or whatever.

when we get these grants in the future, if the opposite happens that we can't fund it and we get cut, what is the mechanism for us to learn that ahead of time so that we don't necessarily like if I just look at this and I didn't know we had increases, I wouldn't know we had increases based on just the documents we get. Flip side of that is if we had to

make cuts, how would we know? And do you think that we maybe should change a either a one pager with these or something to summarize or am I No, that's missing something. Oh, I I could pro I could definitely provide a one pager in the future. I as far as the federal funding goes, you know, as soon as we know, we'll let you know. They're still going through the uh federal funding process right now. Uh budget

right now and as soon as there any is any word as to how Title One and all the other grants are funded. We'll let you know. Um as far as title grants go, um I don't see a lot of change with the Title One grant moving forward, but the other grants are potentially up for Yeah. If you could, I just think it uh you look down, it's $13 million and we

just get all these things. We just I think this quick summary for each of them would make sense. Maybe we wouldn't have to call the people down to uh let us know. So, I would appreciate that.

Thank you, sir.

You got it.

So, I have a a motion and a second.

We don't have a motion.

Motion to approve.

Second.

I have a motion to second on the grants.

Deb, can you call the role, please?

Mr.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr.

Mr. Corey, yes.

Miss Laravey, yes.

Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor Kan, yes. We have a number of contracts. I know how we break them down. Uh, the first two are continuations from service master. Um, can I get a motion, a second on those two?

Question.

Um, okay.

Mr. uh, Mr. Aguia, just I obviously know can read it and see what it is. I think it's divided up twice because it's two different schools. and not one yes bigger contract.

Yes.

The uh only question I have and I truly don't know the answer to this but the five uh machines that we use for handling air or dehumidification or whatever at 20,000 is the price of these things uh to purchase and I know we purchased them before but I just don't know.

So cost effective or Yeah. So we're down from 60,000 in rentals down to 20. So, we've been buying each year a certain amount of um of units. Um and um they're quite expensive and they're very difficult to get, which is why we are um working our way into that. So, we have quite a few units already. Um and the the time that they're staying at each building is getting shorter and shorter. This year

was um maybe about 15 days less than last year. So, eventually we will have enough units to take care of what we what we do need. We also have um a grant um for the green school of two and a half uh 2.9 million which is going to do some of this work um without using these machines and and help us out on that front.

Yep. If I may just ask that we get a quick summary on a separate cover related to this issue like where we're at with the dehumidifies, what have we purchased, what have we not because absolutely it's very confusing because we've purchased a lot of things especially when that situation was happening.

Uh but for me it just begs the question of 20,000 for five it's good money but if we can't get the machines and we need to I understand but I think a summary would be in order.

Thank you.

Absolutely.

Motion to approve.

M uh can I get a second on that first?

Second.

I have a motion to second. Mr. Cory.

So, uh, Mr. Pico, just a a quick summary statement from where we were last summer when we had the, uh, the mold crisis that we were dealing with and, uh, and and you got, you know, you set all of this stuff into motion. Where where are we at this year, sir? Uh, so we we we had a slight issue at one school. um a little um more major at the one school

green where we had a little more difficulties very slight at Spencer um and um I don't know if we had to uh deploy more than two at LNO um which that school was the epicenter so to speak of where we were last year. So, um, basically we're showing we're showing a a pretty marked improvement.

Yes.

Over where we were last year.

Yes. And it's not just the equipment.

It's the way it's the way that we're attacking uh the season. Uh much more aggressive and um much more proactive than we were. So, and you're in constant communication with these school principles on behalf of their staff that are inside the school buildings.

Yes. and they are they are actually looking for things um that they weren't looking for before uh and helping us out tremendously along with the senior custodians who are doing a great job in these buildings.

Thank you very much. I can I get a motion a second on the two service master?

Oh, we do.

One more question.

Oh, go ahead, Mr. Sorry.

Might I ask also that uh the upcoming facilities subcommittee if we can put the uh schools like you just mentioned the school having more of an issue than the other the grant if we can make sure that's an agenda item so we could ask more in-depth questions. Absolutely.

Thank you.

Okay, Deb, call the role on the first two contracts, please.

Mr. A, yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Das, Mr. Corey, yes.

Miss Laravey, yes.

Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor Coug, yes. Uh, the next item are grant contracts. There's seven of them. Any discussion on those?

The first uh three.

The first three, Mr. uh bus.

Amaral bus. The first three hold.

Um, can I get a motion to second on the other four?

Motion approved. Second, Deb, call the roll on the other floor.

There's two more.

Oh, that's the other. Oh, yeah, that is the other four.

Oh, sorry.

Made the motion.

Uh, Mr. Agam, who made the motion?

Me.

Mr. Aar.

Mr. Cory, you second.

Mr. Cory second.

Y Mr. Aia.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Yes.

Mr. Das. Mr. Corey.

Yep.

Miss Laravey.

Yes.

Miss Pereira.

Yes.

Rouan.

Yes. Mr. for ag on the first emerald bus late bus for Henry Lord Emerald bus I think these are all uh grant funded my question is are related to transportation in general are we adding any other um buses they're in this year uh that are so these are here now because I guess this is a new contract yes if we added buses in when do we see it if we add any

additional buses I guess is the question we have no plans on adding additional buses for the 21st entry sites.

Nope, I get that one. Thank you.

Okay, but the question You mean just in in general busing transport?

I was just meaning in general. So, I can see this one says we're adding them. So, I'm trying to just figure out technically it's here because you're adding these. These are new. I'm only asking a follow-up question to the district on Thank you.

So, we're usually October is when um we have a pretty good idea of what we need.

uh everything settles down, buses either fill up or we have spaces.

So, I would say within the next um 45 days, we'll have um an idea of whether or not we're coming back here for um additional support.

I guess I think you know the root of my question. So, yes, if we had a contract with Ammeralds for 100 100 buses.

Yes.

And then we're going to need 103 buses.

Yes. What is the mechanism for that to come back before the committee like this because it's an almost an amendment to the contract rather than new or is there no requirement at all or do we need to make a requirement that you come back before us if we're adding to those buses the number of buses?

I'm not quite sure if we've come back in the past but we can come back.

Okay.

We we are going to have an idea at some point.

I just think it what we know sooner.

Sure. So then we can try to figure out like I asked earlier on in the year did we add buses or you know whatever we did in the budget was equal like it was said nope we're all set then I understand we added a few buses which I understand at the beginning of the year you got to do some of these things but I'm just looking the mechanism for if we did a

contract in July or August that you're going to put x amount if something's changing I think we should have uh that be before us like this that's just my opinion and some of the items as I said as things are starting to move move forward. We're moving buses from school to school, you know, the assets until we settle down. Then we'll know whether or not we need I think a net addition is what I'm

Exactly. So if you take one from one school that doesn't have the need, put it with another one. That's not what I'm I'm only referring to as if we're adding us. Exactly.

Therefore, we know if that expense is going to be added again. Thank you. I yield.

Um you want to call the role on the next uh three amall bus contracts. Please a motion.

Okay. I get a motion.

Motion to approve.

Second. I have a motion to second on the three emerald contracts. Deb, please call the role.

Mr. Aam, yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Das, Mr. Cory, yes.

Miss Laravey, yes.

Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor Kogan, yes. Uh, we have three miscellaneous contracts.

Any discussion on those three? Docuign, Green City Growers, Alliance Bridge.

Docu Sign and Lionbridge.

Okay. So, can I get a motion to second on Green City Growers?

Motion.

Second. Uh Deb want to call the role on green city and then Mr. Aguar and docuine.

Mr. A.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Yes.

Mr. Das. Mr. Cory.

Yep.

Miss Laravey.

Yes.

Miss Pereira.

Yes. Mayor Coogan.

Yes. Mr. Aguia. Docuine.

So I have uh a lot of questions on DocYsine. Um and I'm looking for to get an explanation on where we're at with DocYsine. How did we get to the place we're at now with 15,000 envelopes?

because it becomes an it it's a real issue for uh the committee as well as the public when we was talking about signing off on bills and uh all that stuff. So there's some controversy that amongst the committee whether we're signing things people have any uh right to ask questions what happens when we ask questions uh but this is an opportunity for us that we're going down the road of docuign and I'm going to

make a statement and Mr. Alter you can say whether I'm right wrong or change correct me if you need to. The way that I understand the process how it's been going over the last several years is we've taken the school committee signatures and put them digital onto a system but ultimately that system is has an envelope. So what would have maybe been five pages of uh paperwork back up

is now five pages times maybe 10 or 20.

So it could be 50 or 75 pages in one envelope that when we look at am I on track or is that I'm totally wrong?

All the envelopes have everything that you had before. So it's every envelope has specifically in the finance office because this contract is for both finance and special ed. The reason it increased from what I believe we originally had was 1500 to 15,000 is because the special it's to do with special ed and each individual parent gets an individual envelope. So that's the reason why you see the big increase

from one you from what it was previously to this. But I but in regards to the finance side of it, it's everything that you had in person you're getting electronically. So it's the batch that sits on top and then you have all the bills along with the POS behind it. And so it goes in that order. And so in any particular envelope that gets signed off on, you could have one batch with all the documentation or

you could have up to like seven or eight batches depending on the size. And so in order to try to keep the cost down, we try to fit as much as we can on there.

And so typically we have one to two maybe three batches a week. We typically try to we try to have every clerk process at least one batch a week depending on if they're utilities and everything else there are multiple batches that are done. So typically each clerk will have one up potentially up to three batches in a week. So you're looking at probably about 10 or so batches that get done on a weekly basis.

Yeah. So I guess so let's just use your number of eight you know eight uh different packages put together. Y some of those can be 10, 20, 30 pages of backup and bills and the like. So if we just use eight and then we use 10 pages, that's 75 80 pages of something that we have to look at that we used to look at as a stack like you did individually and

sign off. So it takes you probably one minute or two minutes to look at a three-page document and sign off on it in the past. But what what's been happening here and it bothers me is the fact that if somebody questions it, it becomes like, oh my god, they're questioning something, but the school committee signing off for a reason. And then when we're doing the batches the way we are now that there's 80 pages in

the batch in order for us, any of us, including yourself, the administration, superintendent, the department heads, you have to look at that stuff to review it and sign off on it on a computer.

That's 80 pages, let's say.

Mhm. When I did the forensics, and I've been asking for forensics on these things for a long time, people are being these things are being signed off on in 90 seconds.

90 seconds. And that's only on the few that we've seen. There is no way in hell that anybody, whether it's an administrator or anybody, can look at 80 pages of backup and sign off in 90 seconds. And I think part of what's happened when we're going to docuine is to just push things through and have less questions. And if I was in your I understand your side, you used to have

to wait for people to sign and all that.

I get it. But let's make no mistake about it. We have people from the school committee as well as the administration all levels and directors signing off on things that they view it and then signing off in 90 seconds on 80 pages of documents. That to me is why I feel like we are doing the finance piece of this.

We're not doing justice to the fact that we have to sign off. Now, I've emailed you, the superintendent, and everyone else to ask the same question. What is the purpose of us signing off if we just sign off and don't read it?

What is the purpose of the school committee signing off?

Is there a reason? It's part It's part of the process. It's part of the responsibility.

Right. So 80 pages, 90 seconds doesn't work. And I've been saying it, Mr. Das has said it. Everyone wants to criticize Mr. Das because he asked questions on the bills. And then it's well, we have services rendered. So why can you why is he asking if we have to pay a bill, but at the end of the day, we have people signing off on these things that are in 90 seconds and 80 pages.

So I feel like I'm not going to vote for this contract for that reason. I would vote for the special ed part in a in a hot, but I think we need to really take a look at how we're doing the sign offs.

If we don't need to sign, then don't sign. But if we have members signing off in 90 seconds on 80 pages, that's not right either. So, I'm not going to vote for it. But I would ask you and the superintendent to get together with the chairman or whoever and try to figure out is that happening? Because I don't think anybody's going to say that that they think that's okay. But if we're

looking at 80 pages in 90 seconds, no matter who it is, they should be told you have to look at this stuff before you sign off. With that, I yield.

All right. Can I get a motion, a second on docuign?

Motion to approve.

I have a motion. Do I have a second?

Second.

Have a motion to second. Deb, call the role on DocYsine.

Mr. Drag, no.

Mr. Bailey, no.

Mr. Dus, Mr. Corey, yes.

Miss Laravey, yes. Miss Pereira.

Yes.

Mayor Coogan.

Yes. Next one is Lion's Bridge. Mr.

Ragar again.

So my question on this is that in the backup it says uh the date is 610 2025.

And I think without even asking the question, I think you know what my question would be.

If I need to explain what the question is since it's October 20th. Um sure. We didn't get the information in time. The service was shut down for roughly an hour and a half. We immediately contacted the company, got the service put back on, and told them that we'd have the contract on the agenda for today.

And that's what happened.

Thank you.

Thank you for your honesty. But the June 10th is what's in here. So when you say we didn't get it, I is that a false uh No, it's not.

So Lionbridge sent us a contract on June 10th?

No, that's part of that information is information we received back in June for last year. We came to the school committee last year to get an increase on the contract. And so part of that backup is that information. But we were waiting on quotes from other companies to get best pricing for this contract.

And it didn't happen until more recently.

And I just don't see I see something here.

Language line services.

I don't see anything about any other quotes. But I guess the the moral of the story is we need the service. Shouldn't have been shut off. You got guys got to it quick. I understand that. the the question or my concern is that what I feel is happening is that we're not being told all of the information regarding some contracts and that's not necessarily in under your department, Mr. Almea. I think there's some issues

been going on with the city and the city folks asking questions and stopping some of these procedures and then you guys not telling us that the city's the one holding it up. So then it comes before us and then the superintendent and you are trying to answer questions like why is this late and all that stuff and what I've found out is that not from you guys is that there's actually issues that the

city the purchasing department we had the procurement last time that those questions are not necessarily your fault but the committee should be knowing if you're sending things over there and they're not passing them because of whatever they think things are are too much money or whatever their rationale is. We don't know, but I know because I've heard it over and over that there's some issues going on with the city

stopping some of our payments and we don't necessarily know that. So, I think you got to it quick, but um we got to get to the bottom of why things aren't being paid on time. With that, I yield.

Can I get a motion, a second on Lionsbridge?

So, moved. Second.

I have a motion from a Mr. Corey. Deb call the role on Lionsbridge.

Mr. Dragon.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Mr. Bailey, Mr. Das, Mr. Corey, yes, Miss Laravey.

Yes, Miss Pereira.

Yes, Mayor Cougan.

Yes. Uh, under special education contracts. We have 23 tuitions for students. Uh, any hold on any of them?

Judge Rottenberg, please.

Judge Rottenberg, can I get a a motion and a second on the others?

So moved.

Second. Motion a second. On the others, Deb, could you call the role and then we'll go to Mr. Aguio's concern.

Mr. Aguia?

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Mr. Das. Mr. Corey.

Yes.

Miss Laravey.

Yes.

Miss Pereira.

Yes.

Mayor Coogan.

Yes. Mr. Aguar. And Judge Rottenberg.

I have one other question related to uh all of these that we did not prepay any special ed tuition this year. Right.

Thank you. So, Judge Rottenberg, it's the same. Um, I voted against this in the past. There's philosophical difference with uh some of the procedures and practices that they use.

And uh I'm going to be voting no. I yield.

Uh could I get a motion a second on Judge Rottenberg?

Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Prair. I didn't see that.

No problem.

I'm sure. I just want to say why I'm voting yes. I agree with my colleague and some of the things we can go back and research it. The reason I'm saying yes is because I leave it I believe it to be a fundamental medical need that a child has and me as a school committee member should not be telling parents or guardians the care that their children are receiving. It's much more

complicated than that. What I wouldn't be okay with is if he was re if this I'm not going to say he cuz it's but if the child that we had there was receiving some of these outlandish treatments which we know that he we know they're not. We've had people go into the school to make sure it's looking good. We've spoken to the student to make sure it's a successful place. All of those things

are successful. So although I do not necessarily support that program or that school, I do think that it's not my child and if it's working, it's not my job to determine their medical care.

It's just my job to pay for their education. So I respect my colleagueu's opinion. I just want people to know mine that I don't disagree with him, but that's why I'm voting yes. That's all.

Thank you. Do I have a motion to second on Judge Rottenberg?

No.

Can I second?

Motion a second. Uh, Deb, please call the role.

Mr. I No.

Mr. Bailey.

Mr. D. Mr. Corey.

No.

Miss Laravey.

Yes.

Miss Perau.

Yes.

Mayor Coogan.

Yes.

Well, that's 33.

No, that's 32.

32. Okay. Thank you. I'm sorry. On the last set is all new contracts. Now, there's one, two, three, four, five of those. Are there a hold on any of the new ones?

I I'll take a motion, a second.

Motion to approve.

Second.

Deb, could you please call the role?

Mr. A.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey, Mr.

Mr. Corey, yes.

Miss Laravey, yes.

Miss Pereira, yes.

Mary Kan, yes.

And uh this item number 12 is a discussion to vote to approve membership in the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. Um this um this comes at a time when we're going to be transitioning to three new members of the school committee. Um I think it's an uh a part of their requirement to get the eight hours of orientation training and in the bill itself um the Massachusetts Association of School

Committees is uh mentioned as a provider of these services. I don't think it's a lot of money and I hope the council I mean I'm sorry the committee votes to approve.

Okay.

So moved.

Can I get a second? A motion to second.

I got motion to second Mr. Aar. So for over two months maybe three I've asked the same question looking at data from the MASC how many times they've communicated with us any communication data uh any outreach anything like that asked for that for three months everyone presents something has to pres pro provide backup does anyone have the data that I've asked for uh I don't know what organizations we

have the data on uh Mr. Aguar. But to that end, I know we get regular newsletters from them. They do provide services if you call them. Um they do work with our legislators. They have their day on the hill where they advocate for our schools. Um it's widely used across the state. It's our organization. And as I said in um chapter 71, section 36A under orientation for school committee members. It's a requirement. They

provide it. We are going to have some new members. I think we should fund it.

So the new members can get their training and the funding is $9,000.

$8,000 for the year.

So I think we can do that for less than $8,000. But my question and why I was asking and it actually is totally um it's hard to believe that after two months or three months of asking the same simple question. How many times have they reached out to us? How many emails have they had? whether it's to the chair, to the superintendent, to anyone. We have zero information.

So, I don't receive any communication from the Mass Association of School Committees. I've reached out to them.

I've reached out a couple of times to inquire um on Mr. Das's behalf about charting the course. um I've re reached out to them and like you know when we had representation here to talk um to the whole committee about what services are provided but I don't receive any outreach from them right and I think it's not my association I would say the same thing when it comes time to paying for the MASS or any of

those other organizations so we through the chair would be communicating with them relatively to policy procedures or whatever If they're sending down recommendations for policy, I think you should be involved in that back and forth with them or the rep. So, we would have some backup to say this is what they do. We're paying $8,000 so that they can send us a monthly newsletter basically. And then they give

us one day of training for three new members and we pay $8,000. And then if we have the event, we pay another thousand dollar so somebody can get $600 for enrollment and then a dinner and a stay overnight and and whatever. I just don't see the benefit to it. And all I've been doing is asking, trying to say, please show us why this is a good thing to be part of. And I've been on

this committee for a long time, but at the end of the day, I don't think they're providing the services that we need. Like for instance, I would ask the chair or the vice chair or anybody that's on this board or anybody from MASC, did they advocate? Did MASC advocate on behalf of the schools related to the special education laws that are getting changed? And nobody's advocating for them for our side of it,

for the principal side, for the administration side. What has the MASC done to lobby and advocate against some bills that have happening in Boston that are not helping the situation in schools? What have they done? No one can answer that because they don't communicate with us. We need to, if we're going to pay, I'm not voting for it. But if we do pay for it, we start have to start holding people accountable

to say what are they going to do?

They're supposed to be our advocacy arm.

And then we find out that legislation's passed in Boston. Nobody's paying attention to it. And our own lobbying firm or our lobbying organization isn't doing anything to help us. So, I'm voting no. But at the end of the day, uh I think it's a combination of the leadership on this committee as well as the superintendent and the assistants to work with them to say what now is coming

down, what policies do we need to make and when I ask something very simple for 60 or 90 days, we should at least get some answers. With that, I yield.

Fine. Miss Pereira.

Um so I agree slightly um with my colleague um Mr. Aya. Um, I think it's important that most schools, this is widely used across the state. So, I think that's an important thing to recognize. I think another important thing to recognize is me personally. So, just my opinion, we eliminate something, I want a plan B, um, and it sounds to me like we we know we're going to get new members of, you

know, of the committee and it is a regulation, a law, a that they need to receive this orientation. So then it makes me think, well, if I don't do this, we don't pass this and they can't get that, is that going to be a problem?

And I was in that orientation and I thought it was very helpful. When Mr.

Das joined us um in the middle of a term, he also participated in that orientation, which I believe is really helpful. Where I do agree with Mr. Aguia is that we're not utilizing the services enough. I think when you're a member of an organization, it's yes, they reach out to you, but it's also about you reaching out to them, right? Using them as a resource, whether it's further

training, whether it's getting involved in legislative initiatives that they have. So I am going to vote yes because I do think it's an important organization for our school to be a part of for a few reasons. But I also agree that if we are going to be spending this money which people might say it's it's short changed because you know the money we spend in the school department but

every dollar matters right so if we are going to be spending it we should get every dollar from it. What does that mean? I don't know. um maybe the superintendent um and the new school committee can look into um you know being more proactive with maybe having people come down giving talks and and what have you. Um and then as far as um I mean I don't know I don't know how the

membership works if there's a level right like I know at the gym I can pay $10 a month or if I want to bring my daughter it's whatever. If there's a is there a level of membership that we can say, "Hey, we just want that bottom tier, you know, the one that covers that orientation and you know, couple phone calls a year or is it a one fee type of thing?

Anybody know?

I think it's a one fee for the one."

I like the idea of getting it cheaper.

If we can I don't know if that's if we can negotiate that, but I like that idea. I mean, why are we paying the same as schools who probably have more money rolling in? I think they do. No, they do it as a we do it less. Okay, good. Okay. All right, that's good. Um, so anyway, that's why I'm going to be voting yes. I do agree we need to utilize it more

though. If we're going to be spending the money, we should be get using it as as a resource more often. With that, I yield.

Can I get a motion a second?

So moved.

Second.

Deb, call the role, please.

Mr. I no.

Mr. Bailey.

Mr. Das. Mr. Corey.

Yes.

Miss Laravey.

Yes.

Miss Perr. Yes, Mayor Coogan.

Yes. Um discussion 122 discussion and vote to school committee delegate for November's MASC um conference. Um Superintendent Curley said she would go representing the Florida public schools since we did not have a member that wanted to go. Can I get a motion and a second on sending um Superintendent Curley?

So moved.

Can I get a second? A second.

Oh, can I get a motion to second unless somebody on the committee wants to go? I mean, we can't find any.

I mean, Mr. Das is in here right now and and I'm not sure if Mr. Bailey's um is in the I believe they asked last time. They did not want to go. Nobody want Did you ask Mr. Das? Yeah.

Yes. Yes. He didn't want to go. He went last year and he he was there for a little bit.

Okay.

Is it Sorry.

You want to go?

No. God. Is there practice? Is it practice for superintendents to attend this?

Yes. It's a joint conference. It's a joint conference and superintendent.

Yep. Mr. A.

Yeah. Uh I unfortunately can't go.

Okay.

But at the what the discussion and vote is, it says school committee delegate for November's MAS C MASS joint conference.

What that means is the school committee members all get together and they try to have a delegate conference where they talk about legislation and the things that are coming down and we all have a vote on the thing. So the superintendent can't represent us there to go. But the superintendent can go on her own because that's what superintendents do. So if we don't have a delegate, I think we should

just leave it as we don't have a delegate. But superintendent can go or her team can go and participate like they always do. This is only for the vote of the delegates to actually get together. And to make the point even more about why there's a problem with how the legislation goes is that there's not a good system in place for school committees to be able to get to whoever to say this is legislation

that's making sense or not making sense.

We go to these things and it's not necessarily high leverage in any way.

They're not lobbying legislators. It's really just a waste of time. It's so it it's we're going to save money by not sending anybody. Okay.

I make a motion we uh leave to withdraw this.

All right. Second that.

I leave to withdraw. Deb, call the ros.

Leave to withdraw.

M. Drag.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Mr. Das. Mr. Corey.

Yes.

Miss Laravey.

Yes.

Miss Pereira.

Yes.

Yep. Item 123 is a discussion and vote to approve the superintendent's evaluation tool as referred by the evaluation subcommittee and presented by Miss Pereira. So as we know um the evaluation subcommittee met in September. Um last year we had um an a bridged version like we had a shorter version of the evaluation tool because the superintendent was hired sort of midcycle and it was um an evaluation

really over six months as opposed to a full year. Um so we had went through and sort of um you know made it fit and that's what we used. So this year we're going back to the full tool which is a tool um given you know that uh given to us by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and and secondary education.

Um it measures the superintendent on four different um performance standards being instructional leadership management and operations family community engagement and professional culture.

uh we went over the timeline um for this to take place. So the evaluations from the committee um should be sent you know should be forwarded to um to Deb and then to me by November I think I had said November 17th which gives a month for them to do them from today. Um and then I will present those evaluations in full at the December um meeting, school committee meeting.

Any questions on the evaluation tool itself?

Uh just uh Mr. Corey, just um um are we using the one that's in our packet right here?

Okay.

I can send it out.

Good. Okay, good.

I think she's had you she has it in our email form and then Yeah.

Any further questions on the evaluation tool? Yes, Mr. Aguia.

So, other than um going back to the original tool, is there any other changes that we just see regular paper? I don't know if I don't think there's any changes to the tool. There was some changes uh to the timeline, right? So, as you can see, there's sort of Deb had given us that what historical and then when we got a new superintendent, we sort of went off the timeline. So, we're

trying to this way work on getting back onto the timeline. I'd be happy to pre present at the November meeting if everybody could get me their evaluations back to me in a week or two, but if not, then we have to wait. You know what I mean?

I understand. The reason why I was asking the question was we're looking at uh student learning goals, benchmarks, and the like. I believe I could be wrong and maybe I'm mistaken that we did the first draft of uh a first read of the goals. Did we complete solid goals yet for the next cycle for whatever like right now uh the one we had last month right so looking at those so we this is a report

on the older ones you know from the prior year but when we're making these here trying to see how that imp impacts like what are we going to do for the golds are you not going to bring the golds until so after like one before the other I guess is Right. So the we did the first read and so my next steps I'm going to thought I can do it this week. Send I

plan to send out something to the committee um with an update on um any of the recommendations that were made about the goals going forward. But I think the idea would be to um try to it won't necessarily work. I'm not looking for people to approve my goals in December because like after the whole evaluation cycle is done. Technically, it should be. I'd love to work on a timeline where we're having this conversation

next year in like August, September. Um, like being evaluated in September. I know it gets a little bit murky because the goals haven't been um I can't report out on the goals because a lot of it's tied to the accountability, but I feel like all of the evaluation of um practice against the standards, it would be beneficial, I will say, if we could do that part early. um I could give out

some kind of reporting out on goals that are outside of the accountability and maybe it can't be finalized until November or something like that, but um I just want an opportunity to kind of start the cycle earlier. So right now the best shot I have really is kind of starting this cycle in December coming out of an evaluation and then into the new. Um so this doesn't have anything to

do with my new goals other than the fact that it would be you know getting some feedback reporting out on the old goals would be good so that we can get new I guess uh I and maybe I missed it the typical first um step is the self-evaluation and I will send that so um Shelley didn't um say this out loud but what we talked about at that meeting was my

getting my self assessment um out by the end of October. So by like November 1st, you would get a self assessment from me.

People would use have two weeks with that and their own thoughts and evidence to write the eval that will get to Shel.

Yeah, I guess that's sort of what I'm saying. So, we can't if we're not going to do it till November, then we really can't shouldn't do the goals because reporting out on the goals that we currently had to see if they made sense, how we did on them, how you did on them, how everyone did should be part of the discussions for the goals.

I know, you know, for the data anyway, at least for uh academic achievement. So, I just think it's a tight timeline um the the form. But the only other question I had I want to say years ago there used to be a line in here somewhere that said uh superintendent school committee relations relationships or something and I don't see it but I think we need to add that to somewhere on this and one of

I think it's under professional culture.

I think it it um addresses kind of what I believe you're referring to under professional culture uh standards like all the way at the back here all the way to the back fosters shared commitment demonstrates strong interpersonal written verb verbal communication skills develops and nurtures culture which staff members all that last page I think I don't know if you you're saying it doesn't directly address school

committee right there used to be a Is that what you're saying?

They pulled the um whoever at some point just pulled these uh 4 E, 4 F, 4 D, all that from the actual rubric.

But somewhere along the way, one of the most important pieces to an evaluation would be what is the relations between the school committee and the superintendent and I'm saying now because we're creating the tool, where does that fit in?

Well, I think I would I think in my opinion it it fits in under the uh standard for professional culture. I mean, it doesn't say just instructors way at the end, Kevin. Like, if you go to the end of the packet, the way way end, like the last two pages, how it breaks down each.

Yep.

It breaks down each one. So, it doesn't specifically say here teachers or this or that. So, I think it's overall, right? So, overall, you know, commitment to high standards, overall ensuring policies are met. And then over here on um 4C, I think communication is is kind of what you're you're referring to being the communication relationship.

So I'd like to make an amendment that we say under 4C that is uh also relationship with the school committee.

I mean I think it's there. It's relationship with everybody. So if you want to in your evaluation point out make that separate and point out like to make an amendment that says we add a sentence to 4C that says communication with and um communication with and to the school committee.

Okay. Second and relations with the school committee.

Thank you.

Sure.

That's under 4C on page 14.

I got a motion and second adding a line relationship and communication with school committee. secondary under 4C on I mean maybe 4C we break it down into because again that's referring to the superintendent's communication in general with everybody. So if we're going to add school committee I think we also need to add staff or or whatever the wordage because they should be that could be two different things

you want it to be 4C2. I think it's fine the way it is, but if you want to add that, if you're going to put the school committee in one, then I think we need to have one that refers to, you know, the staff and what have you because it shouldn't just be how she communicates with us.

Obviously, I think leaving 4C as is for everybody else and 4C2 be for the school committee.

Yeah. Okay.

Okay, that's we had a motion to second on that. Deb, want to call the role on that amendment?

Amendment on 4C2 school committee.

Mr.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Mr. Das. Mr. Corey. Yes, Miss Laravey.

Yes, Miss Pereira.

Yes, Mayor Coug.

Yes. Now, one approving the whole package.

Can I get a motion, a second on the whole package? So moved.

Second.

I have a motion, a second. Deb, call the role.

Mr.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey, Mr. Das, Mr. Corey.

Yes.

Miss Laravey.

Yes.

Miss Per, yes.

Mayor Krug, yes. 124 is discussion and vote to approve the request for usage of the Dery High School Nagel Auditorium on December 19th for the 7th annual Christmas concert to approve.

Second.

Um I have a motion to second again with this year. They're coming back to us from the West Coast. Uh the Sons of Serendip. It's almost sold out every year. So we hope people get there. Um it's a motion to second. Deb call the role please.

Mr.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey. Mr. Das. Mr. Corey.

Yeah. very happy about it.

Miss Laravey, yes.

Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor Kogan, yes. 125 is a discussion and vote to approve three chapter 34 code reviews of the following schools.

Um Tansey Robert Medeiros Resiliency Prep, and Talbot. Can I get a motion? A second.

Moved.

Second.

Any discussion on that?

De Mr. Sorry. short quick summary for the edification of the public what this is.

Sure. So, um we we did one of these at Nagel. I I attached the copy of the one we did at Nagel, which is the blueprint of how we're finishing that building with the roof with the um fire suppression and other recommendations. This is exactly that. It's going to give us a road map on um the three schools um that are currently um without fire suppression. Um and um we I had a conversation with FRPD about

you know moving forward what kind of steps um the building commissioner in the city um was also in in a meeting that we had and he suggested to do what we did at Nagel um which is the 34 review. So um we'd like to do these three uh we will go out um to get some quotes. Um this is uh an item that's exempt from um 30B procurement, but we

will get uh three quotes um anyway um to look for the best number. And it may be three I'd like to do it as three separate quotes. We may be able to have three different um companies do this if if the um quotes come in um substantially different. Uh and um this would be a a real good step for us to at least have um an idea as to to how long

um it would take us to get there and give us some rough idea on uh a magnitude of cost.

Okay.

Any further discussions? Can I get a motion to second on this?

We have a motion.

We have it. Deb, call the role, please.

Mr. Daga.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Mr. D. Mr. Corey.

Yes.

Miss Laravey.

Yes. Miss Pereira, yes. Mayor Coug, yes. 125 is a discussion, I'm sorry, 126 is a discussion and vote to approve first quarter transfers as presented by Kevin Almeida, chief financial officer.

So, in your backup, you have uh transfers totaling 1.4 million. Uh amongst cost centers, the largest transfer is in early childhood for 601,000.

Uh second to that is the Westall cost center for $257,000 and the green cost center for $178,000.

Um the early childhood cost center um has has a shortfall due to the fact that we moved the classrooms from um from Sylvia and from Fansa over to that cost center and so that's what attributed to that uh shortfall. Uh the Westall cost center, we added an ELL mainstream teacher to that school. Uh plus they're fully staffed and went over budget in that in that area.

Um, and so I've provided all the documentation and the backup for the uh for the transfer. And with that, I'm asking for your approval.

Any questions on the transfers? Mr. AIA.

So, I read in I believe in one of these that uh some of the savings was attributable to Title One picking up some stipens or something.

EDLT.

Yeah. So, I'm not necessarily opposed to the line items, but I I I say this a lot of times that one of our duties is to pass a budget including all the grants. So, that's is that the 161,000 fronica?

Yes.

So, the point is we as a committee voted on all of the line items to begin with, including the grants. Well, we disapproved the grant now, which is another backwards thing, but at the end of the day, we had no say in where that money was going to go. And I don't disagree necessarily with where it's going. But the process, I think, is where my problem is. Is that if we're

taking money from something that we have passed in the budget and then paying it out of a grant, when do we get a chance to say, "By the way, we got 161,000.

What do we think we want to put that in?" And we never get a chance to do that. So, uh, that was one of my concerns. the the second one on uh you got four or five paragraphs down. We will provide a healthcare update for second quarter. Um I personally would like to see that update every quarter, every time we're getting a report out because as you know from the other

discussion we're going to have later, if we don't watch that, it gets out of hand quick and sometimes we don't know what it is and not. So it says we'll get one four months paid, but I don't know where we're at with the and and what is the mechanism to try to manage that. So I'd personally like to see the healthcare update on the next agenda regardless of uh what this is and

I'm sure we're going to have more talk on the other piece. So with that, I yield. Thank you.

Okay. Can I get a motion in a second?

So moved. Second.

Deb call the roll.

Mr. Ragna, yes.

Mr. Bailey, Mr. Das, Mr. Cory, yes.

Miss Laravey, yes.

Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor Coogan, yes. 127 is a discussion and vote to refer the first quarter revolving fund report is presented by Kevin Almea.

So, this is the quarterly revolving fund report. Um, it's a reports out on our 13 revolving funds. Uh every every fund has a uh positive balance.

Um with this uh request, similar to each um quarter, uh you'll be approving uh $16,000 in outside overtime to the use of schools account, which you will see uh reported in the next revolving quarterly report. Uh so with that, I'm asking for your approval.

So move.

Second. Any discussion? Mr. Aguia, one question. Uh, if we have I think we've been use having uh Diamond Regional and I think maybe some other schools using our facilities.

Yep.

Do you have totals on how much Diamond has paid us or or any information on that?

I can get that for you.

Are they treated like everybody else?

To my knowledge. Yes.

Oh, yeah. If we could get a report on whether other system schools or whatever and what they're paying. Sure, we'd appreciate it.

Thank you.

Anything further on 127?

De, call the role, please.

Mr.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey. Mr. D. Mr. Corey.

Yes.

Miss Laravey.

Yes.

M. Perr.

Yes.

Mayor Coogan.

Yes. 128 is discussion and vote to approve yearto date budget report is presented by Kevin Amida.

So in front of you, you have the first quarter report. Um, I've updated the report with estimates to the best of my knowledge at this time. Um, and with that, I um I'm happy to report that we are in good shape to date for this year.

And if anything comes up, I will um bring that to your attention and we will um you know take take care of what we need to uh for this year. But with that, I'm asking for your approval. Thank you.

So moved.

Second.

I have a motion. Second. Any discussion on 128?

Mr.

So, uh, on the proposed, uh, you know, the, uh, FTE count, I'm going to ask the same question that I've asked in the past. I'm assuming that every principal gets a copy of this of the actual page comparing to everybody else.

Yeah.

No.

So, that's a problem in my opinion. So, we've said this for I've said it personally for at least three years since Matt Malone was here. So how well long he's been gone. We as a school committee try to make decisions based on all the needs of the schools. We get the information, but the principles need to be able to see what other and I've said this during the budget. We have winners

and we have losers. If you're a winner, that means you the superintendent gave you what you wanted. If you're a losing one, you didn't get what you needed. But how the heck can they ever figure out what everybody else is doing if we don't give them this report? Should be a common practice. Every single person, every single administrator and department head needs to get this actual document. This is one of the best

documents that tells us where our priorities are and what we're spending money on. And why in the hell nobody gets this, I just don't understand. It leads me to believe it's because nobody wants them to know the information.

Because if nobody can tell me after multiple years of saying the same thing to the finance people, the superintendents, the assistant superintendents that we don't simply give this to the principles, I have no other choice but to believe it's intentional. And it that really bothers me because this is not a this is a public document. Give it to everybody.

Put it on the internet. I don't care.

This is what's telling us why we don't give this to our principles is because we don't want to have any kind of back and forth and real true discussions when it comes to the budget. I believe we should have every principle in front of you people at the same time saying justify why you have this and you don't have that. But what we continually be told is oh you meet privately and you

know we'll have a winner here and maybe a loser or not over here. Everyone needs to be able to see and get what they need so they can I can't I can't say that Mr.

No, I can't. We we I will tell you in the years that we have been here you know they don't get this page specifically like everybody else the budget's available online number one and number two we meet with every single principle through the budget process.

Yep. And when you we have made we have we have enhanced the budget process and the cycle and what we do in our process year after year after year.

Let me ask you one question compared to what you Let me ask you one question.

Okay.

Just one question.

You please tell this committee or the superintendent can ask this answer the same. You please tell us the date of the meeting that you had with all the principles together in one room to discuss all of their budgets at the same time. Tell please tell me the date.

Okay. So I think what Mr. Alita just spoke to and you did too is that we meet with schools individually but we meet with schools as large groups. uh school leaders meet in pods, you know, with folks from central admin and on their own. I think it's misleading to to put it out there that like people don't know what other schools have. People know what other schools have. People come to

their budget meetings. We've had people show up and say, "Well, I know this school has this. I'd like the same thing." And if there is a rationale for a school to increase the number of staff um or to make some kind of conversion, we do that. So I mean I don't have a we will get this out to principles tonight.

It's not a secret. The principles talk to each other with us without us. I it's I don't know it's an open book. It might be someone might be surprised if they look and see that a particular school has 19 paraprofessionals and they go wow until they also recognize that that school has uh substantially separate classrooms with two paras in each of them in that it's not just you know one parah in every

elementary school classroom. Um it's not a secret. I'm happy to give it to principles. I just do not want this picture to be painted that we are, you know, pitting people against each other.

Some are winners, some are losers. No, people come and have very thoughtful conversations about the needs in their school and we are, you know, we give them what they're asking for where we can. So, so I will once again ask Mr. Alita, yourself, anybody on your central office team to please send me the date.

We didn't have the meeting. There was not a meeting when everybody sat there and saw everybody else's positions. We did have a meeting um toward the end of the you know our budget planning where we did do a meeting with all of the principles and we we talked to each one about um you know everybody had gotten a report of what was funded what wasn't because sometimes they leave the room

and we have to make some a decision afterward um when we consider how much money we have to spend and the asks across all of our schools.

And so we did have that meeting, but no, we did not have a meeting where everybody got a piece of paper like this so they could see what everybody had before they made their requests. In some ways, it's relevant. In other ways, it's not. To me, it's really only relevant to share this so people might be able to ask each other, you know, how are you making effective use of that fourth

school adjustment counselor or of that, you know, thirdclaison?

I only have two. we maybe our schools are about the same size, but how are you using yours differently? That is a very good conversation to have. But for someone to take a look at something like this in isolation as a spreadsheet and say, "Well, they have three, I want three." That's not productive and it's not really an effective use of their time and it's not really financially responsible to do that.

So, I I appreciate your honesty that you didn't have the meeting. The thing that I'm asking though is when you have principal meetings during the year, it is beneficial for them to share what they're dealing with in their budgets and their staff and the like.

Absolutely. Should be done and it's not done. What happens though is in May when we come here continually, year after year after year, principles, your principles sit before us and when we get told something or we said, "Oh, I didn't know that. Oh, we didn't know that. Did we get this? No, I didn't know that they had those. So, that happens. You can't deny that it happens. It happens in a

public meeting that the principles should know everything that's going on across the district. There is rationale for why you do maybe one thing more than the other. The time to have that conversation is with everybody in the room so that we can say, well, what does it look like at this school? And they're going to defend what they're doing. We are not going to have a situation where

we have unlimited funds moving forward.

I'm telling you, we're not going to do it. And I'm upset because this has been told to finance superintendents before you. This should be done across all the schools simply. So you're saying you're going to send it out. Please do.

Ultimately, that needs to happen so everyone can see where the money is.

Thank you. I yield.

Mr. Pere, have principles been requesting this? Is this a request of principles that you that you've heard of, superintendent?

Are there any principles in in here today? No.

No. because I'm curious if it's something they're requesting because I think we look at things differently, right? If I was a principal, I wouldn't really be focused on what my neighbor had. I'd be focused on my school and what I needed for my students and I'd be asking for everything and more to make sure that I got what I needed for my students regardless of what they asked for. I think we really come to again the

words equal and equitable and they're two different things. Okay, superintendent mentioned um you know one school may have 18 paras because they have so many sub you know this many number of subsppar classrooms we cannot have what we want through across our schools is equity everything can't be equal because there aren't the same needs at every at every school so to say we're going to put all

the principles together I don't know if that's even I I don't know I don't to me I question if that would be a meeting that would function well or if it makes more sense to individualize. I certainly know I would prefer to talk to you and the superintendent just so you're focusing on my school.

See, I'm the principal of Green. I just want to talk about Green. That's what I'm doing. Not to say I'm not going to be a community helper of the entire district, but I'm focusing on my school.

So, if we have principles there, I would I would suggest you reach out to them.

This shouldn't be about what's best for us. If principles feel that would be beneficial in the budget process, then 100% we should be doing it. But if they don't and they like the way it's handled this way, then I don't see the issue.

I I I you know, that's my opinion. But anyway, with that, I yield. Does this already have a motion?

Yes. Do we have a motion in a second?

We do.

Deb, call the role, please. Mr. Mayor, Mr. Agio.

Yes. To answer my colleague's question.

Actual story. budget hearing several years ago. We start talking about the issue. We've raised this issue. I ask the principles, "Do you guys get a copy of this?" The answer from them is, "No, I had never actually seen that document."

Meeting ends, I get an email from a principal saying, "Mr. Aguia, thank you for bringing that up because we have no idea what is going on with the budget and we need to know what other people are using so if they're getting more than us, we can advocate for ourselves."

Thank you, Mr. Aguia. from a principal.

Okay, so that has happened in the past that they would like it.

At the end of the day, it's not going to be a panacea to I'm not suggesting that it's going to be anything earthshattering, but they have principles meetings on a regular basis.

This is not a like you don't have to convene uh a meeting. The principles meet regularly and have a conversation about what it is. So I think that's part of the issue is for that particular document. But on a the bigger issue of just a general budget. So we have cost centers uh different things facilities whatever it is can you tell us what is the mechanism for if I'm a director of a

small program large program or whatever but a core center let's just say for sake of it when do I get as the director updates regularly to say you know your budget is $5 million and as of this month do you get monthly reports or anything to say you've spent you projected to spend $4,987 what what is the mechanism for the directors all across the district or principles whatever the call centers are

when do they get access to figure out where their money is and how it is.

They don't they don't get it.

They don't get it.

No.

So money gets taken out of their budget and moved or whatever and the directors don't know.

They would know. They they would know if it did after the fact.

Yes.

Um, I don't even know what to say to that other than the fact that that's not good practice. Uh, that's not good. Uh, fiscal controls, I'm not sure why my colleague to my right's raising his hand, but ultimately fiscal controls is something that's very important. And if you have a cost center and there's they're not getting a monthly report on where their budget is, Madam Superintendent, you don't have a

problem with that? No, I I here's what I think I know is that like when please share when when we see this um report um in reporting out on course cost centers and where um some people go over and some people go are not right. there's a savings and it help you know we're able to cover an overage somewhere else because there's a savings here either because they're not fully staffed or you

know whatever it is that um if somebody is doesn't have you know two teachers or you know whatever it is if there's a savings it doesn't necessarily become a hey you saved some money because we you know cut a position or you know whatever it is you can you know that's your money. I mean, generally speaking, it's because we've we're moving that money somewhere else and you see things with conversions all of the

time. So, I don't know. I can see what in terms of staffing. I'm not sure what that would I'm referring to budget, Jess. General budget.

So, you're just talking about budget a program that has $200,000 to spend.

The director of the uh ELLL or whatever that position is called now, they have a budget. That's a cost center, x amount of dollars. At that point, I'm asking, did they get a monthly update to say your budget was five million and at right now you're projected to spend whatever it is.

We Mr. Almeida just said that nobody gets that and I think that's a that's a major problem and you can take it to anyone at a school or uh Dery High School is a cost center. When does the principal of Dery High School get a monthly report to say this is how much money is in the budget for Dery High School? We don't.

But ultimately what would happen is oh well they had some opening so we're just doing that or how much supplies are you spending? How much both not only salaries but overall budget I think it's good. It's just common sense good practice financially to give all your call centers an update so we don't have directors wondering how much do I have?

What do I have? am I tracking my stuff?

And that's a recipe for let's just hope that we have enough money and then at the end of the day move all the stuff around and that's not good for planning.

That's not good for long-term planning.

That's not good for each department. I don't think that's a good practice in any way, shape, or form. Um I think you need to look at it and come up back with a recommendation. Um I don't want to make a motion right off the cuff, but ultimately I can't see how that's a good practice that people don't know what they have each month. And I think that outside of schools as cost center so

schools have very little I don't want to call it discretionary funds because there's a probably a different term u but they have a very small amount of money um that people that people are using within their schools outside of staffing um but I could understand where in the larger some of the larger departments obviously um where there is more spending throughout the year that makes sense generally speaking

principles if they're looking to do something in their, you know, in their schools in terms of professional development or an afterchool program or something like that, they submit proposals to, you know, the office of instruction and then that money is tracked. So, I think that we can but we can talk about what we can do differently with ultimately a policy. So, it's really a policy. School committee sets policy.

Yep.

We I think just trust that there's a policy in place like that. Now that I know that it's not and you don't come back to us with something, we'll have to prepare a policy that says we're going to give monthly reports to every call center. I'm not trying to do that now. I I'm trying to give you the to look at it. But ultimately, I don't know anybody that's going to say that that's good

practice, not to tell people.

Thank you. I yield, Mr. Corey. And so, um, Mr. I'll meet it's so um at the beginning of a budget season in the spring um the school committee converges with all of the principles and all of the directors of the programs and they sit down at the table with us expressing their needs for what they saw during the current year and what they're looking at for the future their future wish list

and I think that we listen intently to all of their needs. needs and I think we're we're really good with them. We have a great communication with them and we try to help them out. Whatever their wish list is, it's given. Now, my question to you is at the end of the fiscal year, uh, June 30th and and you you close out your books on the past school year, was the was the budget balanced?

Yes.

I yield.

Deb, do we have a motion? We do second.

Yes.

Can we get a roll, please?

Sure.

Mr. Daga?

No.

Mr. Bailey?

Mr. Dus.

Mr. Corey?

Yes.

Miss Laravey?

Yes.

Miss Pereira?

Yes.

Mayor Kogan?

Yes.

Good. Um to 129 discussion and vote to approve the end of year report as presented by Kevin Almeida.

We submitted the end of the year report to the state um a couple weeks ago. Uh in FY25, the city met school spending.

In FY26, the city uh is budgeted and currently is currently uh budgeted to meet net school spending. um in FY25.

Okay.

Uh the city spent um $8 million over net school spending. We initially when we filed the report um the FY24 report um it was in excess of $2.4 million initially. Um and the difference was attributed to health insurance.

uh health insurance caused the increase from the 2 million uh to the 8 million in addition to the retirement that's reported. Um in FY26 uh we are projected to meet net school spending uh and we exceed uh the budget by $1.7 million currently.

So with that, that's the update on the net school spending.

Any questions?

Can I get a motion, a second?

Question.

Motion to approve.

I got a motion.

I have a motion, a second. Mr. Rag, can you please uh take us through the health insurance uh number? You know, there's been a bone of contention of mine at every meeting.

Sure.

Uh in the past, the city has owed, you know, the money came in less, so the city owes money.

Yep.

And how is it that we now are, from what I could see here, $5.5 million?

Yep. over what what changed was there any uh just the cost this year the claims the claims went up the prescription drug costs went up we saw a significant increase that was not anticipated and originally at the beginning of the school year was not communicated to us that way so it was unforeseen note and we had no idea about it until the year went on so what is the mechanism for don't we

have a consultant that deals with healthcare we do in the city.

Yeah, the city the city does. Yes.

What communications happened AC around the whole school year to know we're getting to this point.

I I we monitor I I monitor the the insurance the whole year. Um you know, as far as you know, what communication I was aware that uh the the insurance was going up was going up last year.

And when did the school committee know that?

Um, it wasn't it wasn't reported.

So wasn't reported I actually think and I don't have the records so you can go back and find them but approximately mid year when I asked the question it was said we're right close you know was 21 million something we were close so during the year was I I don't know that I ever said it was close at that time.

Okay. So you reported out quarterly and knew that it wasn't close but didn't report anything out. Is that what you're now saying?

No, I'm not not saying anything.

Okay. So, if you didn't report it, but you knew it was going over.

I guess that's the point.

Cross-examination and I'm not sure like I just like like there's got to be like a question.

Do you think you don't have the same question?

Okay. So, now we're going to listen what I understand to be true.

Excuse me, Mr. Chairman.

Wait, wait, wait, Mr. Chairman. Let me just finish my question.

I just asking questions.

I am asking questions. Go ahead. So, my question to Mr. Almea and it'll likewise be a question to the superintendent.

So I can ask Mr. Almea questions but I can also just ask the superintendent questions.

The question that I've asked not only just here but I've been asking these questions for months to try to figure out what is going on with the healthcare.

You should have the same questions as superintendent that I'm asking Mr. meter to to make it un no chance in heck that he can say the claims were going up over and the school committee was never reported to. That's what your CFO just said to us and I'm saying you don't have that same kind of concern. So I've brought this up for months. Several months ago the CFO or lack interim CFO went to the city hall

was trying to say the claims were up.

They're down all this other stuff transferring money from the city council. Never once was it said that we're going to be over net school spending on the city side. I emailed everybody trying to figure out what in the heck's going on. Are they saying something? Why are they saying this at a city council meeting and no answers, but now we find out that the CFO knew we were going over, didn't report it out,

and now at the end, oh, it's 5 million.

And we've said all along, and I've said all along, 100% of that school spending is what the city can afford. And now the city is spending over $8 million in net school spending and we're just okay because it's for the school department.

Let's just let it go. I think it's a system problem. The system is broken when we don't know and all of a sudden the the budget was 21 million. Now you're saying it was 25 ultimately or 5 million more. What is the budget projected here for 26 healthcare?

30 million. And then based on what?

Like that's how they're going to meet it.

I'm sorry.

That's how they're going to meet it.

It's based on 30 million for FY26.

So we got 20. I'm looking at the FY26 budgeted. Is that the right line?

Is that the right line? Number nine or 30?

The insurance line that I'm reading on number 30 on FY26 says 26 million.

There are two lines. So, it's part of the 23 million and the 7.6 million. So, it's there's just over $31.3 million there. Um, and 30 million just over 30 million is health insurance and project. So that's in the what was it in the current year?

I'm sorry.

What were those three numbers in the current year?

About 30 million.

So we're not projecting an increase in healthcare.

Uh we're I the healthc care should stabilize due to the due to the prescription prescription drugs for this year and we're just hopeful and then we're hoping that the city's going to pay.

Is that what we're doing?

I'm on FY26.

I I'm not just hopeful. I'm you know pretty confident that that's what it's going to be. And what happens if it's not the case? If our hopes don't go that way, city's just going to pay.

No, we'll have to have a discussion with the city about it. So, but the city just paid 8 million over that's what they paid over this year.

Yes, Mr. Agar. And I'll just point out that many school districts in Massachusetts spend over 100% of net school spending.

Mhm.

You know, and I will tell you that year, you know, years ago, we tried advocating for more than net school spending. So, I think it's a good practice to spend more than net school spending. I understand as a city, I understand what they can afford and I fully fully understand that.

Yeah. And I, you know, I I get it.

I'll take you back to maybe three months ago.

Watch the meeting. Encourage everybody to watch the meeting. when we sat up here talking about the money that the um city was paying and how much they were paying and the like and the chairman made a statement. I didn't know what he was doing but he kept on yelling not over 100% not over 100% to you Mr. Elme.

So at that time three or four months ago encouraged people to go watch it not over 100% not over 100%.

Now we're 8.1 million over city somehow paid the bill. What do we just say like thank you and what do we say to the taxpayers?

It's concerning and I'm concerned that whatever we have we do for next year if the money is not going to be there what are we going to do and the time is now to get that right so that we don't have a deficit I yield okay I have a motion second you do call the role Mr.

yes Mr. Bailey, Mr. Das, Mr. Corey, yes, Miss Laravey.

Yes, Miss Pereira.

Yes, Mayor Coogan.

Yes.

We have a number of things for your information. Retirements, resignations, new appointments.

Um, can I get a motion and second to accept them?

So moved.

Second.

Deb, call the role.

M. Drag.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey. Yes. Mr. Das. Mr. Corey.

Yes.

Miss Laravey.

Yes.

Miss Pereira.

Yes. Mayor Kogan.

Yes. Item number 14, new business. Any new business? Hearing none, a request for executive session. Mr. Assad, do we have a request?

There would be a reason for it. Yes.

Do you want to read them first?

Get a motion. Sure.

National Laws Chapter 38 Section 21A7 to review and approve executive session minutes for September 8th, 2025 regular school committee meeting. National Laws Chapter 38 Section 21A7 to review and approve the executive session minutes for September 29th, 2025 grievance subcommittee meeting. Mass General Laws chapter 38 section 21A1 to discuss complaint brought against an employee of the school department as a chair is

determined possession may have a detrimental impact on the litigating position of the of the uh school committee. National General Laws Chapter 38 Section 21 A3 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining relative to all administrators and employees represented by the for administrators association as the chair's return attorney open session may have a detrimental impact on the

bargaining position of the committee max general law chapter 3A section 213 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining relative to all safety security employees in the for school system represented by the American federation of state county and municipal employees council 93 local 118 as Chair's determined that no possession may have a detrimental impact on the bargaining position of the of the

committee. National laws chapter 38 section 2183 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining agreement including hearing grievances relative to all par professionals employees of the for school system represented by the for federation of par professionals and chairs intimid positions of the committee. Uh we will reconvene there may or may not be statements at that time.

Can I get a motion to second?

Motion to enter.

Deb, call the role.

Mr. A.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Mr. Das. Mr. Corey.

Miss Laravey.

Yes.

Miss Pereira.

Yes.

Mayor Coogan.

Yes. We're going into executive session.

We may or may not. They make we'll come back after

back in session. De please call the role.

Mr. Aam here.

Mr. Bailey. Mr. Das here.

Mr. Corey here.

Miss Laravey here.

Miss Pereira here.

Mayor Kan here.

Anything further to come before the committee?

Yes, mayor. like to make a motion uh to approve the executive session minutes for September 8th, 2025, the regular school committee meeting.

Second.

I have a motion and second. Any discussion? Deb, call the role, please.

Mr. Dia, yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Mr. D.

Yes.

Mr. Corey.

Yes.

Miss Laravey.

Yes. Miss Pereira.

Yes.

Marugan.

Yes. Anything further?

Yes. Mr. B. I'd like to make a motion to approve the executive session minutes for September 29th, 2025 of the grievant subcommittee meeting.

Second.

I have a motion, a second. Discussion hearing none. Deb, call the role, please.

Mr. Aia, yes.

Mr. Bailey, Mr. D.

Yes.

Mr. Cory, yes.

Miss Laravey, yes.

Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor Cougan, yes.

Make a motion to adjourn. Second.

I have a motion to adjurnn. Second.

De call the role.

M. Drag.

Yes.

Mr. Mr. Bailey, Mr. Das, yes.

Mr. Cory, yes.

Miss Laravey, yes.

Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor Coogan, yes.