9.8.2025 Fall River School Committee

I'd like to call to order the regular meeting of the for school committee for September 8th, 2025. Deb, would you please call the role?

Mr. AO here.

Mr. Bailey here.

Mr. Das here.

Mr. Cory here.

Miss Laravey here.

Miss Pereira here.

Mayor Coug here. Salute to the flag.

I pledge allegiance 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 transmissions are being weigh made whether perceived or unpersceived by those present and are deemed acknowledged and permissible.

Um we have no recognition awards tonight and no student comment yet, but we do have a citizens input item number five.

Nelson Vasquez, Sunset Hill. Uh Deb, could you please read the letter?

Dear school committee members, the time for action has arrived to better safeguard everyone that works in our district. Adopting an official policy that is committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and professional environment for all staff members is imperative. To ensure this, we must enforce a zero tolerance policy regarding any form of harassment intimidation threats or violence directed towards teachers,

administrators, or support staff. Anyone that is accused of verbal abuse, physical aggression, or disruptive behavior towards staff will result in immediate disciplinary action. An independent investigation will then take place while the individual accused of wrongdoing is placed on administrative leave without pay. If the accusations turn out to be true, their employment is immediately terminated. On the other

hand, if those same accusations turn out to be false, they will receive their back pay and proceed working care. This policy is not intended to limit communication or constructive feedback, but to safeguard the well-being of those who dedicate themselves to educating and supporting students. A secure and respectful environment is essential for effective teaching, learning, and the

overall success of the school community.

Nobody should have any feeling of fear working here and this policy aims to achieve that goal.

Thank you. Subcommittee updates. We have one.

Deb's going to have to read it because it's not coming up.

Deb, would you mind?

Sure.

Thank you.

It's uh Miss Laravey's instructional subcommittee. Um Deb will read it because she can't get it on her computer. Go ahead, Deb.

Instructional subcommittee took place on August 13th, 2025. The administration gave us an update on desi guideline desi guidance and updates related to competency determination.

We discussed the uspire program for our high school students. USire you Aspire provides financial aid information and resources to our unserved population to help them find affordable ways to enter into postsecary education. These services are available in person and virtually. Florida public schools and USPIRE have been collaborating since 2014. The committee voted to refer the US Aspire agreement to the full

committee. There was a discussion on services provided by the one goal program at Dery High School. One goal is a three-year program starting in the 11th grade and through their postsecary education. 11th grade is the define me phase where students explore their educational and personal identities.

Senior year students weigh their school aspirations, personal values, and post-secary options and start the enrollment process. Year three, students attend summer support session, stop their college classes, and consistently meet with one goal representatives to review both academic and financial goals. In the 2024 2025 school year, there were 121 11th grade students, 103 seniors,

and 84 graduates in their first year of college. The committee voted to refer to the full committee. The committee voted to refer the visual pathway speec to the full committee. The committee voted to refer the Stone School and RPA program of studies as well. The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.

Thank you. Um item number six is the superintendent report. Dr. Curley, good evening. Um I just want to report um in terms of our school opening that thanks to the preparedness of teams across the district, the um opening of schools went very smoothly this year. So lots of people to think um in terms of you know schoolbased staff as well as district planning teams. Um, every one of our schools has had multiple visits

from central office team this year and the general consensus from our team and from school leaders and talking to teachers is that things are going really well. Um, teaching and learning is happening in our classrooms across the district. I was just in a school today where they were already doing um learning walks using uh a rubric that we're using across the district and um already collecting some data there doing

observations in classroom. So that was really um that was really great to see this early in the year. Um as of today we have um an in our seats enrollment of just over 11,100 students. So that represents the number of our students who are coming into the district and it you know are in our seats in school buildings um on a daily basis. It's a number that looks very similar to where

we were at this time last year. Our October one number last year was 11,089.

So very similar to where we are now. Um so now that students are um student enrollment is slowing down um and we have we see that you know pace isn't as busy now that kindergarten is starting up um we're going to be moving forward with some plans for redistricting for next school year and we'll look to keep the community informed as we do that throughout the process. Um another big

to-do um in terms of school opening are the yonder pouches. Um, as everybody knows, we implemented a new cell phone free policy at the start of last school year in our um sec at the secondary grades, grades 6 through 12. Policy included the use of yonder pouches um at the secondary level. And so as of Friday, the um our three traditional middle schools as well as 2k to 8 schools have gotten yonder pouches up

and running in their building um at Dery. They're following policy and expectations in terms of being cell phone free while they prepare for their launch um later this week.

Another um something new for um school opening this year um is project present.

And so, um, so for the first time that I know of, and I'm I'm pretty sure it's really the first time, um, in the district, we're moving to an an attendance system at Dery and our three traditional middle schools that will require students to scan in present um, as they enter the building each day. So, using the new system, um, all students at these schools will be marked absent to start the day and they'll remain

marked absent until they scan into the building either on time or tardy. Um, so they'll be present or tardy on our records. Um, depending on the time of entry, we're expecting the system to streamline attendance taking, so it's actually happening before students show up at their first period class. Um it leaves less room for human error and is going to coincide with school's requirements for students to have their

IDs on them so that they can use them for lunch every day. Um so we'll be tightening up um in that area as well. I wanted to give a um a transportation update. Um one of one element is that we are adding some crossing guards. We've gotten some feedback um for two schools in particular um being um Dery and Various. And so it does look like that we'll um we're going to be adding some

um some crossing guards um that should be in place within the next week. So that was um really great to get that news today. Um wanted to mention that following some road construction out um on Eastern A new crosswalks are getting painted for Watson and those will um they should be done by the end of this week. And then in terms of some traffic at Dery, we have been able to enlist the

support of SRO's at Dery. Um they're assisting with traffic in the morning.

So outside of any u emergency situation that would take them away from the school, um we're expecting that our SRO's there will be able to help us out on Elsbury Street um in the morning. I also just want to mention that um you know one of the things that we saw at Dery that kind of was concerning um was that we understand that there has been traffic outside of Derphy you know

especially in the first week of school a lot of people who um are kind of new to the system seeing a lot of traffic outside the school and you know stopped traffic going north on Ellbury Street toward um Bristol Community College we were seeing um large numbers of students who were getting out of their parents' cars across the street and then kind of darting through traffic um you know

generally stopped cars but cars that could move at any moment um to make their way across the street on Ellbury Street. And so we're just asking um parents who are doing the drop off um that if they could be patient turn into the parking lot to drop off students and not drop them off across the street um that would be very helpful um to us in maintaining safety outside the building.

Um, and I would say that, you know, to be true at, you know, schools across the district. It was just something, um, that, um, was witnessed, you know, I got to see up at Turfy. Um, next piece is Pace on the Go. Um, as people know, last week we unveiled the new Pace on the Go RV. Um, that was generally donated by South Coast. Um, our community members can expect to see the RV out and about

um, hopefully in the next um, couple of weeks. Um, we have to get some remaining systems up and running. Uh, maybe battery. Not sure the AC is going to be working in the RV when we first get up and running. Um, but don't really want something like that to hold us back um from getting out. So, moving forward, the community can expect to see an event calendar identifying where the Pace on

the Go RV will be on a particular day.

um and so that that RV can make um some stops and connect people um with school and community resources. So, just want folks to be on the lookout for that.

Also, just want to provide a hiring update. We've onboarded 55 new staff members um since our last meeting in late August, including 27 teachers and four paraprofessionals. We've also added um you know three instructional support liaison, two coach interventionists, two speech language pathologists um and and other positions as well. We've had 12 rehires during that time which again I

always think is exciting when people leave us and they do come back. 14 transfers within the district a well um 30 resignations. So, as of today, we do still have numerous openings in the district. Um, nearly 50 of which are actually teaching positions that we obviously want to fill. About half of those openings are in high need areas um like special education in ESL. And um just want to let people know that we are

partnering with staffing agencies to fill these positions while we continue to recruit and hire. and we're looking at any time for any of our staff members um to continue recruiting uh their friends and neighbors and family members into the district because we've had a lot of that this year. So, thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Laravey.

Uh thank you, sir. Um just a question on the pace on the go. Who who's responsibility is it to drive it? Who's driving this vehicle? Is that a position that we're going to need? So, um I think that what we would look to do initially, I don't know that we'd have like we're not going to hire a full-time driver or anything like that. Um but we would need somebody with um you know, a special license.

That was my next question. Is it a CDL?

Is it I believe so. And so we would need um someone to be able to do that. And so we have we do have some people on our staff who have kind of raised their hands to say I'd love to do it. Um, but we will have to compensate somebody with that license um to do some of the driving, right? I mean, I understand you just said there's people interested. So,

would that require a transfer out of a a a certain position because they already have their own responsibilities. How would they Yeah, I I think that we would have to I think when if we were paying an existing staff member, um it would have to be for work obviously outside okay the um outside the school day and we do expect to do some things um you know after hours and on weekends

but outside of that I think we would have to look at some kind of part-time um opportunity kind of and as needed not someone who's going to you know drive every Tuesday from 9 to 12. I think there's plenty of bus drivers that would do that after they make their morning and afternoon run. Uh, Mr. D, thank you.

Thank you. I agree with the vice chair comments as well. I mean, we could in in the chair's comments or we could also maybe even consider that's something we could contract with.

I know we're going to have a lot of contracts on the agenda today for staffing agencies. I think that's a one position where we could save money or we could go to an outside company as well.

But if there's some someone in house or with a transportation company, that's a good idea, too. Um going to start I have a few different questions and comments.

Trying to think which one I'm going to start from. I'm going to start with um traffic. Um, so watching a um, Fall River City Council subcommittee meeting, I've learned that there will also be a crossing guard supervisor position that will be placed with inside Rock Street. Um, who's in charge? Is that how's that going to work? Is that through the city or is that through us?

Uh, the person will be hired through the city, Mr. Pico.

So, it is a city a city position. The money is city money that's paying for along with all of the crossing guards.

Um, the person hired will be working out of Rock Street maybe an hour a day. Uh, most of the time will be going school to school checking on the crossing guards um and um meeting with principles for their needs.

So, who would that person I guess report to? Are they going to report if they're going to be stationed inside Rock Street? That's the information I received from a city council meeting. I didn't receive it from the school district.

True. That's true. They'll be working out of transportation. They won't res they won't answer to transportation.

They will still answer to city hall.

They will be working for the traffic department in city hall.

Okay.

It's just a lot easier to collaborate to be at transportation with our people than it is at city hall working away from the situation. Yeah. And and I guess um cuz actually this was also brought up at that meeting as well.

Yeah. I think it's something that I'm open to listening more about. Is there any appetite to move the crossing guard positions within security?

Absolutely not. I'm I'm saying that from me, my standpoint, we we I don't need one more person to to watch over. I think that the system itself is fine. I I think that having someone that's in a position that all they're worrying about is crossing guards is very good. I think that the traffic department is busy enough doing the regular day-to-day work and having someone just worrying about

the um the guards at the schools, the uh crossing guards is um a nice um way of handling it.

Okay. Um while you're up here, Mr. Pico, I'm going to also um bring up um pace on the go.

Sure. And um I just want to make sure we're not running into any issues with I know because I know some of the um correct me if I'm wrong, some of the repairs for the pace on the go vehicle came through grant funding.

It did.

And um are we going to run into any issue like with the repairs that still have to be done with the AC or whatever? Where's that going to come out of?

So um I'm not quite sure where those funds are coming out of yet. We haven't determined um a vendor as of yet and how much work needs to be done. The vehicle is operational. Um the air conditioning may or may not be a problem um depending on how quickly we get it out uh into the community. So, there are some systems in the in the unit that we would like

checked out. Um but we we don't believe that that the air conditioning piece should be a hold up as far as getting it out the door.

So, okay. Okay, with that being said, so there's no issue if this pace on the go up and running went tomorrow. This could go out tomorrow.

Yes.

Okay.

Um, thank you, Mr. Pico. So, I have um other questions and um I'm going to go with um school opening. Um, it's no secret that we have a major class- size issue in this district and and I think there's a lot of different culprits, but I think one culprit is is the fact that we as a district not yet have a full and oper operational strategic plan that can address some of the issues there.

Um, I've heard from many parents over the last few weeks that have um, you know, not not to anyone's fault, but have been denied transfers or are being displaced and um, I think it's worth having the conversation as in terms of space within our buildings. Um, so actually, Mr.

Pico, I'm sorry, I actually have one more question in terms of um, space for for the buildings.

So, Bishop Connley, I know we rent out the first floor.

Yes.

We um we are in charge of maintaining the entire property.

Yes.

The second floor. Um I I went to Bishop Connley, so I know there's a few classrooms up there. That's not within our lease.

It is not.

Have we inquired to how much extra or how much an additional cost that will be?

We have not. Um, it I'm going to say that moving into Bishop Connley was a major task for us. It wasn't, you know, uh, just walk in and and take over the place. The the building is in tremendously surprisingly good um, shape overall. Um, we've had worse situations. So, I I believe that the building um is is um is very good for what we're using it for right now, but to have

um at this time of you know, school already started um to go into that building and try and make it school ready um that's that's not an easy task uh to expand up to the second floor. And to be totally honest, I'm not quite sure what we would house up on the second floor. Um it is a it is a school that um is for instance we have two elementary

schools right around it. So um as far as using it for that kind of purpose I'm not sure what we would do with it. And we are limited what we can do upstairs.

It's it's a small amount of classrooms.

Um and again I don't believe it's a quick fix for anything we'd want to do right now.

I'm not saying it's impossible. All I'm saying is it's not a quick move in and we're ready to go.

I I think there's some ideas to that. We have um administrative positions that, you know, are housed throughout various classroom buildings, RPA being one that could potentially, you know, we could free up a classroom space there if we move them there.

There's um a dual language program that could we could take a look at. Um same same line of questioning with the old stone. Is that um what what would be the to get that up and running?

So old the old stone school on on um Globe Street and the um WY school.

Just to clarify the one Yes. That one.

Yes.

Yeah. And the WY school that we turned in, you know, turned over to the city.

Both of those schools for us to reopen those schools, it's a major renovation.

So they need to be brought up to standards. They've been shuttered for a certain amount of time. So they would require require elevators, fire suppression, um major renovations. So to to do that in a school that um and both of those are small unit schools, maybe 10 rooms um or less um is a problem.

It's a major expense on the district to do that for such a small amount of students.

Did I hear you correctly say that we we turned over the old stone to the city?

No, no, no. I meant the WY. Yes. Not the stone. stone is still currently in our jurisdiction, right? Um and and I agree with you.

That's not something that obviously we can afford as a district and I'm not necessarily advocating for that, but I think it's just worth throwing it out there just just to find out if there is anything that we can do to get some additional space because I again I obviously the classroom sizes are through the roof more than what we would want them to be. And um and I just again

I feel for parents who are um getting either moved around or for parents that are getting denied a reasonable transfer. So I think something needs to be done. Um thank you Mr. Pico.

Superintendent on the um dual language program. Is this something um that could be I know we t had a little bit of a conversation. And I don't know if you thought about anymore if this is something that could be moved out of a vary during this school year. I I so I think the thing to understand is that so we do have open we do have open space at schools. We we added classrooms at both

FSA and Lno and we have some grade levels um at Laterno in particular with very low class sizes. So, as as new people come into the district, um it is a school um to which we provide transportation and and students will um will be enrolled there kind of regardless of in some cases regardless of where they live, they'll go to LNO.

um any change we make now, if we opened a a a new school right now on the um second floor of Conley or we moved a program out of a school, um I'm I'm not sure what we would gain if what we're trying to avoid is, you know, upsetting families um and and displacing students and the like. It's like at this point in the year, um, yes, we had some parents over the summer who were not

happy that their transfer requests were not honored. That is true. But the we we wouldn't be able to make that particular set of parents happy per se by moving a whole school worth of students out of um out of another building or you know from across buildings and trying to fill a school at um the Conley site or anywhere else. So we unless there is some dramatic change to what enrollment looks like right now

at multiple grade levels, I we wouldn't move to do anything different in terms of um the way grade levels and such are distributed across the district. Um we'd be looking to fill the classrooms that we have open.

I just wanted to say Mr. Das because I'm here moving the dual language program is Congratulations by the way. Oh, thanks.

is the equivalent of moving a two-unit school. So that would be the equivalent of like picking up Westall and moving it to another building. The dual language program currently encompasses 10 classrooms.

So it it's not a matter of like it's not a small program at this point. It's a relatively large program. So, I just wanted to throw that out there that it is 10 classrooms that we would need because we did look very very closely at multiple points in the year and like considered where all of our programs needed to go. I don't want you to think we're not doing our due diligence, but it's a large program.

Sure. If I can just ask you one question then. What was the um reason we didn't move it to Laterno?

There weren't enough classrooms. We needed 10. Like if we could have gotten eight, which kids were we going to say, "I'm sorry, you can't be in this program anymore.

There weren't that many free classrooms."

Okay. Right. Um just cuz I'm sure my colleague Thank you for that. Just cuz I'm sure my colleagues have other questions. The last question I'll end with for now, um I heard you superintendent mention we're putting a yonder program within the middle school.

I know the high school, correct me if I'm wrong, but I I know the high school program came before the committee for a vote. I really don't recall the middle school young they all came at the same time we did this last year right I remember but I remember there was specific um guidance in terms for um for the high school program in terms of like getting suspended or like there was a tiered system it

everything was presented at the same time a little bit grades 6 through 12 I think you might be recalling that potentially there was more um we got more parent feedback at the high school level than we at middle school, but yonder rolled out and was approved by the committee last year.

I stand corrected. Um I yield.

Mr. Aguia, just uh picking up on the under pouches.

So uh Madam Superintendent, you know, I've asked questions on this since the start of the school year. Um I asked how the program was implemented and roll out for year two. Uh we went back and forth on a couple of emails with you and your team. Um, I still am not happy with how it was rolled out. I think we're in school now for eight days, seven or eight days, and

no student at Differy High School, from what I understand, has a yonder pouch at the present time. That is a very concerning thing for me. This committee, myself included, was very clear that we needed to support the administration at the high school and the middle schools for implementing this program.

Once I started to ask questions, I was basically stonewalled to say by you, madam superintendent, to say, "Let my team handle the day-to-day operations."

I asked a few more questions and I received no answers. So, the reason why I'm upset is because we got no answers on how this happened. So, I asked for how many yonder pouches we purchased. I think we got some information in in the last I sent you the invoices in the last um which I haven't got a chance to add them all up but last year we made a a pretty decent size

investment in these pouches then in the in the la one of the last build schedules come out that we ordered a thousand new ones on August 27th or 28th and I'm saying to myself how in the heck are we ordering a thousand of these do devices that should have been ready to go over the summer so that when school started we could implement the program.

I asked you and your team to say when is it then were you thinking of rolling this out and now if it's by the end of the week that's going to be 12 13 days where we have students that are not following school committee policy. We have a school and an administration that is not following school committee policy. And lo and behold, with all of that said, going back at least a week

ago, probably a little bit more, we get an email from a parent upset today.

Their parent is upset because their student is suspended for two days on an emergency removal, which is not shouldn't be because refusing to give your cell phone number is not a danger to the school and that's not subject to an emergency removal in my part. At the same time, as this parent indicated right in the email to Dr. Curley and the school committee, that if we had yonder pouches, my son has never been in

trouble. He's a special education student and he would have complied with the policy. So, I'm upset because we are following policy when it's convenient and not when it's every each and every time with consistency. Now, if they couldn't be there in the first day, I get it. But there had to be a system in place. And I said in the email and I'll say it again, we are now over the last

week have been scrambling, absolutely scrambling to try to get people to do the yonder pouches, whatever they have to do to them, organize them, put right numbers on them, and we weren't prepared. The administration dropped the ball on the yonder pouches here, too.

And I've been one that's been very supportive of this program right from the get-go. But it's frustrating to me that I ask questions, I get zero answers from you or your members of your team that I added. And the reason is because let your team do the work. Well, your team is doing the work and there's not one yonder pouch at Dery High School. So now next week or whenever this gets

implemented, it's going to be like starting all over again for students, for staff to get used to the yonder pouches. This is something that shouldn't happen. And the email we got today is totally unacceptable on multiple levels why this is happening.

It shouldn't be happening. So, I'm very upset with that and I wish it didn't happen, but I guess there's some some there must be some reason why we need a thousand new ones. Maybe we didn't collect them. Maybe we don't hold kids accountable to them. Maybe we don't.

Whatever it is, something failed in this system because we shouldn't need after purchasing. I don't even know what it was. I think it was around 50,000 or $60,000. We just buy another thousand uh thousand of them, never mind what's in the other ones. It's it's unacceptable as far as I'm concerned. the I had a question on for the young lady for the dual language. If she could come back down please

I'm not positive of the information. So you just said that there's 10 classrooms like a two equivalent of a two unit. How many units are at Va school other than your program?

That I don't know.

Does anybody know? Or is it a five unit school?

Two additional units and some special ed.

And that's one of the questions. The other one is what are the class sizes in the dual language program for u the tent classrooms? Are they the same as the traditional?

So we have made a full court press this year to recruit students. This is the first year that I've dedicated one staff member fully to doing that with a lot of support. And this year our kindergarten ended up having a waiting list. So we were able to completely full fill those K rooms. We also for the years that we did not have people closely looking at dual language and thank you to this

committee for approving someone to help look at dual language. Um we did not have great enrollment because there was not a dedicated person really looking at it. And we have since worked over the summer. We are constantly reaching out to families to fill out those classrooms. It is a myth that you cannot join a dual language program if you don't start in K. So, as students leave the district, um, which we can't

control, we are looking to continually recruit kids into the dual language program and actively fill all of those seats.

When you say full kindergartens full, what does that mean?

Full same. They don't have no there's no cap. There's no cap that's any different than any other classroom. 28 28.

Yeah. So, whatever the contractual cap is for a classroom, it's the same contractual cap for the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth is 28.

They don't they're not all full at this point. K is full. Let me see if I can give you I can get those to you.

Yeah, that's fine. Just I'm just curious of to I've said in the past that the program seems good. It just seems like an extra. And when it's taking two units out of the most highly populated area that we we get calls from parents to say there's no room in Vera. It it I struggle with it because that those children are bust into that school.

Strategic long-term planning should have corrected this that we don't have two units of dual language at the most highly populated person. And then everybody complains about transportation, but we're paying transportation twice because we're paying for dual language to go there and the school is full. So now we're paying for kids to go there across the city. So everyone complains about transportation

and class size, but we've actually encouraged it because keeping that program there, and I understand if you need 10 rooms and you only have eight, that's one thing, but when you have years and years of planning, we can figure out a place to put 10 classrooms.

So, what I do want to say is I was not the director at the time, but what I do know happened historically is it was actually a pretty extensive conversation. As you know, our MLL population is relatively evenly divided between Spanish and Portuguese as our main languages. And so, there were actually conversations about whether or not we would do dual language in Spanish in Portuguese. And ultimately, I don't

know how the conversations went, but Spanish was what was decided upon. Um, I can tell you last year's class at Vavveris did include a lot of Portuguese speakers, um, which are not, not that they can't be in dual language, but we are looking for students who are native English or native Spanish. And so sometimes it does happen. We can't predict exactly the language we're going to get from year to year, like who's

going to move in and out of the district. So that has been a challenge for us too that we are looking very closely at and that we do plan around.

It's not that we're not looking at our numbers. It's just that the numbers of kids who enroll every year and what languages they speak can fluctuate yeartoyear. But I know that a study was done when we first launched dual language by my predecessor and Spanish was determined to be the language that was most needed and most supported by families. So that is why we went in that direction.

I understand. I think somebody was coming down to tell us the numbers of affairs.

So currently in K we have 50 dual in dual classrooms. Uh first grade we have 40 34 in second 30 in third and 37 in fourth.

So when I know we just talked about numbers and 50 divided by two is 25 but you said 28. Is what is is there is there openings? So, it sounds like there are since I last checked the list that we could add six children if we had six children. And I can look back at the list tonight and see if there are six more kids.

But it so there is opening for I mean the public listens to this. So there is openings for dual language K because you're at 28. But I I guess my concern is some of the other I was trying to read quick but one of them is 30.

They are low. We know we know this. So we added we were told that f and it's true first grade was our K last year was very very very low. I believe we left kindergarten last year with fewer than 30 kids in the whole K program. So getting that up to 40 in first grade was actually a huge accomplishment to us. So we are working very diligently and again parents are listening absolutely we can

still take kids into our dual language program. They do not have to be enrolled in first or second or even third grade.

Um, so if there are native speakers that want to join that program, they can join at any time. We are equipped for that.

Do you have the numbers for the ver rest of a various?

I do.

Can you read those, please?

So for kindergarten, our average class size is 27.7, so almost at 28. Uh, first grade, we're at 28 across the board.

Second grade, 26.3. So, two of the classrooms have 26. One has 27.

Uh, third grade 27, 27, and 28.

Fourth grade 29 across the board.

And fifth grade, 26, 27, 27.

Thank you. Thank you, ladies. I I just raised those questions because we definitely have an issue uh with the Vera school class size. It's not your either one of your issues per se and I don't think we can change it much right now. Sort of is what it is. Uh but moving forward, we have to do something different because we shouldn't have I I can say it again. I don't think we

should have two of the units blocked off for dual language where we bust children into a school. I just don't think it makes any sense at all. Um thank you.

The other question I had was over the last 30 days of um I had mentioned about having three senior uh custodians and then they I was told multiple times that they were going to be reduced down to two. Um do you have any update on that?

Because the last I um recall in our email communication was that we were told they were going to go to two and why why is it not two?

So I don't think the words that it would be reduced to two or was ever used. Um, I was referring to Mr. Pico's uh comments in the public meeting.

I know that's what I'm saying. I don't think that he talked about a reduction.

Um, there were not two there are not two seniors at any building.

Okay.

There are not two seniors in any building currently right now.

So, we had three seniors.

We have three seniors and we had two buildings.

And we had two buildings over the summer. over the summer so that we could get that building ready.

The first day of school, that senior was not there. That senior is working at other buildings. He's in a long-term sub position right now for someone who's on um FMLA for 6 weeks. There is no um there is no number of seniors in the district. When I came nine years ago, there were five senior floaters because of closing buildings, moving people around. So, there were five seniors

extra and every day they would be given assignments no matter where they were. We still currently have two with the MEO and and truck driver position. And those two seniors work in buildings, so they're not in the senior ranks, so to speak. So this senior, this senior that was displaced is currently working wherever I need a senior. They can work on vacation weeks for seniors. Quite a few

of our seniors, more than 50% of them have more than four or five weeks vacation. So that number totals up. They can work in any building as a senior.

There's no restrictions other than they're replacing a senior in those buildings. Um, and that's the plan moving forward until we have an opening for that senior to move into.

Right. I guess the my none of that is something that I don't understand. But we had seniors in this process that goes with when you appoint a senior or with a budget. I asked superintendent, what position is this person filling? Like we have two floaters, seniors or whatever. And how many float seniors do we have in the budget? There are no floaters, so to speak. They're truck drivers/memes.

And we have not increased the numbers of the custodians, whether they're labeled seniors or juniors. The exact amount that we started the year with is what we have now. No positions were added, right? So, there's no position that's called senior floater, but this person is now filling a role of a senior floater. And you don't have that authority to and the superintendent doesn't have that authority to just make

a senior floater position outside the school committee and in the budget which is that's not outside the budget. There are no dollars that weren't budgeted with when there was three seniors at two schools.

I was told by you in a public meeting when the summer ends we're going to reduce that down under the process that a union would agree or the union policy is so that two would go the top person seniority stays the second seniority stays the third senior seniority the third lowest goes back to being a junior it's nothing to do with nothing to do with seniority it's due to location so you can just unilaterally put

somebody wherever you want and seniority has no bearing on it that's not what I said I said seniority has nothing to do with those three positions.

I well I personally would beg to differ if you had so that's the way it was negotiated and that's the way the contract was signed they right so we got snookered by the contract as I told the superintendent the attorney yourself and anybody else that would listen during negotiations that we inadvertently without us knowing without our permission we created an extra senior position is what we did and

we gave it to a person who was part of the negotiation team because we cut a side deal that's my statement and that's what I feel is happening At the end of the day, we shouldn't just have it.

There's a process if we need a floater custodian should come up and before the budget and everybody that's a senior should get a chance to apply for that position. But that's not the case. We're making a side agreement to put a senior in which gets paid more, which is a budgetary issue for all that in all that time. If a senior was out at a different school on a a daily basis, I'm assuming

that the junior is going to get a chance to fill that job at on overtime on overtime. So here I have a position that's already funded. I have a position. There is no overtime involved. So I can either pay people overtime or I can use this position until the position fits itself.

But it shouldn't be. It's it's I guess I'm trying to have a hard time knowing that when we did the budget, we knew that there was no longer a third school.

That's not true. That's not true. We didn't know where it was going to land, but we knew there was going to be two instead of three. You've known that all summer since before July 1 when the budget took took over. We knew that all along. The whole school committee knew that there was going to be three seniors for two buildings. That's not a secret.

And the problem is is that we didn't go back and and look at the process to say how do we you know back fill these positions. The person like it shouldn't be just oh we we negotiated a side deal and we that's what we can do or an MOA whatever it is. It shouldn't be. It should be was three. It goes down to two. When you need another one, which you It sounds like you're making the

case for a floater custodian.

No, I'm not. I'm I'm basically saying that with this situation will fix itself. That's all I'm saying.

So, you know, the guy's basically doing a floater to custodian. And if there's no custodian senior opening, what does the guy get paid over the next six months? And there's a day when you don't need a a senior custodian. What does the guy get paid?

We're talking about a senior stipen, not a senior.

Okay.

So, we're talking a couple of thousand dollars is what I'm saying.

But he's getting paid more.

I understand that, M.

And it's taking money out of the junior custodians. That's the problem that I have with this is that this starts from when we were trying to negotiate and then we made a deal and then we signed this thing to say the be x amount of seniors, but we weren't told that it was going to go from three to two. And then we were going to say because if that was

the case when I asked the question in public meetings for the last two months the answer would have been that what the guy's going to do is he's going to fill in as a senior senior you know until such time as it works itself out. That's not what I was told and everybody can understand it. You said point blank it was going to go from 3 to two.

Superintendent when I emailed her didn't acknowledge the same. It just it's frustrating that we we go back and forth and if we just follow the process of how things go in the unions, I don't think we would have, you know, these disagreements. Um I Okay. You know, let's go Kevin, wrap it up.

My last comment is on the closed classrooms. I don't recall and I apologize if I didn't see it, but last month I asked for a list of all of the closed classrooms. If that didn't go through, can we please get it resent?

because at the end of the day we do have a class size crisis. Uh somehow we negotiated back from 30 to 28 in contracts that school committee didn't really know about and um now we're stuck against uh a cap and there is no room in a lot of places and too many places and at some point we got to do something about it. With that I yield.

Mr. Chair, Mr. Das, few quick follow-up questions. Um, one I forgot to mention on the traffic I obviously we I know the is that on the agenda transportation traffic update.

Yes.

So for that um so for obviously we we were just given a sorry I keep on hearing um rap like some sort of wrapping sound and giggling.

Okay.

So, um I've received and the committee's received plenty of complaints on traffic. U we just received one from a parent regarding Beveris. Um when we received complaints from parents relative to traffic um I was told I wanted to have a subcommittee subcommittee meeting on the issue last year. I was told it's not within told a few things but and I was told mainly it's not within the school

committee's purview to discuss transportation and traffic issues yet is on the agenda today. So I just want to make sure there are um guidelines and just understanding just want to make sure there's fairness in that. Um just one quick comment question on um or just a request on what Mr. Aar was talking about. We can get the line item where the those funds are coming out of for the paychecks or the stipen

just so we can have an understanding.

Okay, that should be coming out as a specific line item out of the budget.

So that should which stipen he's talking about the three seniors. He wants to know where they're located.

Yeah, that's just my one request on that on So I'm just going to end on the yonder policy. So is Dury High School the only school right now that doesn't have um full yonder pouches? I believe so. I believe the K to8s and the traditional middles have rolled out.

Okay. And I I fully agree with Mr.

Aguar. If we're going to have a policy that's made by the school committee, it shouldn't it should be fully followed or there shouldn't be a policy. And again, we all received that email as well. And that shouldn't happen to any other student. And if we're not fully prepared to implement a policy, there shouldn't be a policy on the books if we're not fully ready to implement it to 100%. So

the school committee controls the policy. So I don't want to see a situation where in the next week or two weeks while we're dealing with this more kids are going to get in trouble for something quite honestly they shouldn't be getting in trouble for. So, I'd like to make a motion we suspend the yonder policy for three weeks until we get it straightened straightened out.

I hear a second hearing none. Next item up on the agenda Mr.

Comment relative to the crossing guards.

So, on and this is relative to transportation and traffic. the crossing guards the I I think it's a little weird because they don't report to we don't have any say when we're told we don't have any say but we meaning us all are in charge of making sure that the children are safe getting to and from school we as a school committee receive zero zero information from the cross and guard traffic department slashcrossing

guard whoever this person is now we get no information whatso However, so we are sitting back saying we when it's transportation, we got a transportation coordinator that handles transportation and the city pays the bill. We have a crossing guard situation that we know nothing about. So if a constituent tells me we need a uh we got a situation going on other than I guess just forward it to

the superintendent, but you by based on what we're hearing here, especially from the mayor saying that it's really a cityside thing, you have no say that I think that's crazy. I think whatever we have to do, we have to change the way that we do it because we have to have a say in the crossing guards. For instance, we lost a young lady who worked at Dery and she used to be

outside of Dunkin Donuts every day. She did an awesome job. I went by there every day or most days to get a coffee and she was there every day. since she passed, we haven't had one person at that intersection the entire time, which is probably over a year now. And I don't understand when when they we don't have anybody. So, what happens? Do they send a police officer? Do we send a security

guard? Like, what? It just feels like there's a missing link. All I'm asking for. I'm not looking for uh uh you know, at some point the superintendent of a school system needs to have a say in the crossing guards. and they're going to pay the bill by contract by, you know, um okay agreement. But I I wish we could get one to say where where do we have, how many vacancies do we have, what because

right now the reason why I think it went to the city council and they were asking for, which I think was a mistake when they said the par union was negotiating, I think that was the person speaking out of turn. But at the end of the day, it's a valid question. We have children going to school that should have a crossing guard or a person helping, and we don't have any. and we in the school

department have zero say so whatever we can do to change that I'd appreciate I I think um Mr. I uh that's a partnership and I think when that parrot discussion came up, it was an opportunity for a parro that wanted to come in an hour earlier and work the uh shift. It wasn't anybody being forced.

It was giving them a chance to earn some more money. Um having a formal person as the head of it now is going to address the very things you're talking about.

Going school to school and seeing who's on what corner, what when and where. If not, it falls to the principal at a school that may have to say, "Where's my sec? Where's my crossing guard? So, we're tightening that up. It is a partnership. I'm confident that the uh the person that's going to oversee it has a ton of experience in traffic and streets and that'll that'll work much

better and hopefully I'm with you. We'll have a better handle on our kids passing.

Thank you.

Approval of minutes. Item number seven.

Motion to approve all minutes.

I have a motion to approve all minutes.

Second.

I have a second. So this vote will be on 71, the regular school committee from 7:29, 72, the instructional subcommittee meeting from 8:13 and 73, the regular school committee for 8:18. I have a motion to second discussion on the minutes. Deb, please call the role.

Mr. Agaffa, yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Das, yes.

Mr. Cy, yep.

Mr. Laravey, yes.

Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor Kogan, yes. Item eight number one is travel requests. They're mostly all banan related.

Motion to approve.

Motion to accept.

Mo I have a motion and a second.

I have a motion and a second.

One question. I want Do I have a question? Mr. Das.

Um I saw the performing arts one. I just didn't see the one for um Derpy High School. What What is this? Um could someone explain what it's for?

Which one? Which one?

The uh the uh Dury High School. the um Tennessee um just want to see what works.

That's Jane.

Cross town.

Oh, Janet.

Yeah, cross town.

It's the go to Memphis to visit a high school in uh cross town.

This is um evolve staff.

Okay. I was looking for the particip I I I see it now. I yield. Sorry.

I have a motion, a second on the trips.

Um could Deb, could you please call the role?

Mr. A.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Yes.

Mr. Das.

Yes.

Mr. Corey.

Yep.

Miss Laravey.

Yes.

Miss Pereira. Yes. Mayor Cooper.

Yes. I have a number of donations under item number nine.

Motion to approve.

Second.

I have a motion and second on the donations. Any questions on the donations?

Mr. Chair, Mr. Dus, just quick question or comment request on the first one um for the summer enrichment. I've asked for many months in public meetings in emails for the line items for the Dery summer program.

I haven't received it.

It's a donation. Okay, I understand. But it's for the summer enrichment program.

I have a motion to second on the donations.

I wasn't done speaking.

Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you were my mistake.

Um, so I don't I don't see what the issue is in providing it. So if it the line items could this be provided so we could see what we spent money on. That would be great. Thank you.

Specific to the Dery summer enrichment program.

No, the entire program. Uh, oh yes. This Yes. Specific to that. I have a motion to second. Deb, call the role on the donations please.

Mr. Drag, yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Das, yes.

Mr. Corey, yes.

Miss Laravey, yes.

Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor Kan, yes. The superintendent will acknowledge the donations.

On behalf of Dery High School principal, Dr. Jessica Stevens, the acknowledgement of a $5,000 donation from Beos Bank. The donation was used for the Dery summer enrichment program.

On behalf of the parent and community engagement center director Cindy Kudo, the acknowled I'd like to acknowledge a $300 donation from Guardian Home Healthcare. The donation was used to supply refreshments at the ribbon cutting events for Pace on the Go RV.

On behalf of Watson Elementary School principal Karen Wood, I acknowledge um the donation of 100 backpacks um from Stonehill College. The donation will be used for students um in the school who need a backpack. On behalf of Green Elementary School principal Dr. Liz Dunn, I acknowledge the um receipt of 40 backpacks with assorted supplies, a donation from LC Photography. The donation will be used

to provide students in need with a backpack for the 2526 school year. On behalf of Green Elementary School principal, Dr. Liz Dunn, I acknowledge the donation of home bags, which include school supplies for all students at Green, a donation from the United Methodist Church. The donation will provide school supplies for all students at the Green Elementary School. And on behalf of the Robert Elmadarius

Resiliency Preparatory Academy principal, Dr. Stacy Monet, I acknowledge the um donation of six cases of soup um from Blount Fine Foods. The donation will be used for the appreciation um staff appreciation lunchon.

Mr. Chair, thank you.

Very quick question, Mr. D. Um just on the backpacks that because I know the district already has a um a plentyful like a a good amount of backpacks to begin with and we're my understanding we're we're usually stocked up on that. Do we ever run into the situation where we don't have enough backpack? Do we ever get a surplus of backpacks from the donations? And if so, what would happen with them?

I think that generally speaking um we hold them for next year. I I don't we don't go necessarily and um I'm not sure what the alternative is because there's going to be if there's not a need right now they're going to be um I think that at the start of the school year lots of students do participate in other kind of backpack drives um coming out of you know coming out of the summer event um

but the schools keep them on hand in the event um that one is needed later in the year right I guess my idea if I can just give a quick idea is I would like to see if um obviously there's going to be certain needs like in terms of back like certain school supplies or supplies for educators if we can maybe work with the nonprofits and work with those who might

need it. So we can say hey this teacher needs this this and this these teachers need this this and this for their classrooms and maybe we have an excess of backpacks when the donations could then maybe people would rather donate to something more. Not saying we don't need backpacks, but I think there needs to be um better logistics with that. That's my opinion.

So maybe I think what you're suggesting is that we let people know that like we're all set with backpacks. Could you donate other things? Is that what you're suggesting?

Yes, if that's Okay. Thank you.

Thank you. Number 10, approval of grants. Um I know we do these in blocks.

So the first one, there's just one. There's just one.

Only one.

Who?

No, there's only one.

There's just one. Just one big block.

Okay. I'm sorry. One big block. My fault. I'm looking at contracts. McKenna Vento.

Motion to approve with a question.

I have a a motion on McKenna Vento and a second.

Uh got a question, Mr. Dice.

Yes.

And you got one. Okay.

Um and I I went through the just very quickly. I did go through um the line item like the actual backup for it. So, this is um basically like a generic just for like um supplies for students that are homeless or or in need of housing.

It is. So, we have a supply room at Pace where we have uniforms, shoes, um toiletries, anything that a student might need uh for basic um supplies to start school immediately.

All right. So, this wouldn't cover like the bus.

Yes. So there's also a line item on it that's set aside to run the bus for the next year.

Okay. So that could be maybe used um for the bus that could be used for um transportation like hiring a driver as we were discussing.

So I'm currently writing another grant where I'm going to have a line item to potentially hire a part- timerr um that will just be maybe like a someone who will just come in to drive the RV when we have an event. So, nobody that's going to be um at pace all the time, just as needed.

Okay, great. Thank you, Miss Larry.

Hi, Miss Kudo. Hi.

And just a quick question. So, I as well looked at the back and it I I think it said uh other as a $10,000 line item and $25,000. Let me look at it for Yes. So, that$10,000 is for the for the um RV for running the RV.

Okay.

Uh whatever that might be. So, it also stated in your um report here that it it was supporting summer programs as well. What what kind of summer programs is this grant supporting?

So, uh variety of ways. So, if we have a student who's homeless um in the summer who needs summer school or who's uh wanting to go to summer school, we're able to provide the transportation for those students. Um again, also whatever supplies they may need um at that time during the summer, uh we're able to do that.

Okay.

Okay. I have no I was just wondering because it said summer programs and and yo, um we've also paid for um students to have memberships at like the Boys and Girls Club um stuff like that.

Yeah. Okay.

Okay.

Thank you.

Of course.

Rob done.

Yes. I yield. Thank you.

Okay. Uh Deb, could you call the role?

Mr. Aguia.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Yes.

Mr. Das.

Yes.

Mr. Cory.

Yes.

Miss Laravey.

Yes.

Miss Pereira.

Yes.

Mayor Coug.

Yes. Contracts 111.

We have um one facilities contract for Evolve for 31,350.

Like to place a hold.

Okay. Well, that's the only one we're taking right now, Mr. D. So go ahead.

Um so let's have a few questions on the program. So let me get it up. Um, so I we've received at least even before I was a member when I was um I attended a like a student forum and and I remember some complaints came up about the evolved system about how we're searching maybe they're claiming they're being the students are being maybe searched when they don't have anything to be searched with like once

the the like when the thing goes off.

So, I guess my question would be, have we partnered up with legal counsel at all just to get understanding about what our rights are and what the students rights are or the public's rights are when we come in when we're using this evolved system?

Anybody?

I I I don't I have not been involved in any conversations with um attorneys around students rights and whether or not we're infringing infringing upon them by using the evolved system. I I think it's just worth Pat some if we're going to um go to attorneys for um anything and everything that I think that's a worthwhile question in my opinion and a specific complaint is certain and I guess in ter in terms of

policy and how we're using this when we're setting the system up for when we're having school committee meetings certain members of the committee when they set off the alarm get searched and cert certain members of the committee when they set off the alarm at that same meeting don't get searched. So I it's just very important that we're just not that we're very consistent.

It's the grant.

Go ahead.

So I just again I just think it's very important that we're consistent with policies when we're using this evolved system which is what we're discussing today. So I'll vote to support it but I think there needs to be a tightening around the belt around the policies again how we're using this. So, we shouldn't um try and risk infringing on anyone's civil liberties when they're coming in, setting off the alarm, and

then getting everything searched. My my that's my position.

But you're going to vote for it?

Yes.

Okay. That uh Mr. Mr. Cory, I just have a question on the equity on the equity grant. We're just doing evolved first. Tommy, I'm I'm sorry, Mr. Aaron. Go ahead.

Just a comment on Mr. Dice's comment. I think it's incumbent upon somebody to answer what he just said because it shouldn't be, you know, they search Mr.

Cory, but they don't search me. I mean, there has to be a protocol on it. So, for the edification of the public or for some clarity to the people that work under security, I don't think they should be doing it you, you know, arbitrarily. I've been searching, the guy comes in, looks at my bag, I don't have a problem with it personally, but he shouldn't be doing it to me, let's

say, and then not Mr. Cory and then maybe Miss Laravey. So I think it's clear that there should be a protocol, right?

If the alarm goes off, they should be searched.

That's the protocol. If you set the alarm off, something set the alarm off on your being on on whatever you're carrying. Sometimes the alarm is just based on depending on what's in the bag, a a roll of wire, you know, a charging cord wrapped up too tight. It it creates a mass and and it's going to set it off because it recognizes a size. That's the way the system works.

Yep. I just uh as an aside, today we just walked in the door because there was nobody there. Just it might be just a staffing issue and you know, I'm not suggesting anything otherwise just I I think it needs to be clear. So, if that's what the case is and it doesn't beep or what it doesn't go off for them, keep on walking. That's fine. As long as it's consistent, that's all. Thank you.

I yield, Miss Pereira.

Um, I'm sorry, but I just have to Every time I've beeped, I've been searched.

What I think we have here is one person telling a story from their point of view. That's not fact. That's She knows you're next. He's seen your hand.

I don't think he did.

He did. Trust me, he did.

Oh, yeah.

The point is that's him making a comment that could be true, could be not true.

Perhaps that person did get checked, but he walked away, didn't see it. I'm not suggesting he's lying, but he's not going to say that and all of a sudden it becomes fact. Anytime I've gone through that machine and it's beeped, I've been searched to the point that I usually don't bring my pocketbook in anymore because it just takes more time when I'm running late. I just bring stuff in my

hand. So to make an accusation about someone who works here while he's literally sitting out there is just kind of rude to do in public when we when it's not fact. It's just not nice.

You talking to me?

No, I'm talking in general. I'm looking at everybody.

Okay. I'm just I'm not talking to you. You didn't say it. But I'm just saying the point is it was said by one person who thinks he saw it. That to me isn't fact.

He knows he's calling on you.

That's not fact.

Okay. When I come in, I get beeped. I get checked. Now, if if Mr. Aia came in today and there wasn't somebody sitting there, that should be mentioned. I don't know if it should be mentioned right here in public on a microphone, but it certainly I would have said something if I walked in and somebody wasn't sitting there 100%. Because I don't care if the evolved system checks too many people. I

don't care if some kids maybe are a little put out cuz they got to look in their pocketbook. Don't bring it to school. You know what I care about? We don't have a gun in our school. See, that's what I care about. See, what just happened not too long ago this year already?

Think I care if people are searched. I don't care. And I also, what I do care about is not making accusations that are unfounded. I want to see it. I want it to be fact. And then we can bring it to attention. Stop calling out people who work here. We wonder why we can't anybody get anybody to do it. I with that I yield. You can say whatever you want.

Thank you, Mr. Das.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. my my my colleague actually brings up a very valid point and to just clear the record that I wasn't um this speaking willy-nilly I wish to read um a report that was made by the HR director relative to um selective enforcement other individ so I'm quoting a um specific report made by the HR director other yes other individuals had their belongings searched and there was no

indication that the security personnel were picking on who they would ask to search. Giving that given that Mayor Kugan set off the evolve machine and was not asked to have his belongings searched, I would recommend that the security policies be followed for every individual entering the premises regardless of security's knowledge of them. I agree with that statement. So, it wasn't a speaking willy-nilly. We're

speaking from reports. I yield.

I don't know what he's talking about.

How did I get roped into that one? this because it's not a roll call. Let's go to roll call. I'm like raging. This is this is voting for the thing.

Roll call.

Has nothing to do with Hold on. I need a motion to second.

Second.

Deb call the roll.

Mr. A. Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Yes.

Mr. Das.

Yes.

Mr. Cory.

Okay.

M. Larvey.

Yes.

M. Pereira.

Yes.

Mayor Kugan.

Yes. Next one is equity.

I I had a question. Mr. Chairman.

Okay. We got a question. We'll take it as one anyway. So, Mr. Uh Curry.

Yeah. I'm just curious. I think this represents uh real progress and uh I'm just curious if you could just describe, you know, the nature of this grant and what it's doing for your faculty.

So this is part of our I a grant at Talbet and um Equity is a firm that works um with language with multilingual learners. And so what it this is allowing us to do is provide professional development and opportunities for our students to um enhance their English language development skills beyond the just the ESL classroom. Um as you know ESL is 45 minutes a day and school is about 7

hours. So it's really imperative that all teachers are equipped to teach academic language to students in their discipline because science people are science people, math people are math people and the language of each discipline is really complex especially as we get to the secondary level. So this work um allows support through afterchool PD. It allows support in professional learning communities, in um

looking at student work, in looking at student data, in building lessons and talk protocols that will help strengthen academic achievement for L's across all content areas.

Yeah, Miss Zagurella. So, I I think this represents real progress because this is bonding together your faculty around cultural competence in order to meet the needs of the students even more so.

That's what this is about, right? Yes, sir.

Yeah, that's that's why it it grabbed my attention. That's why I asked my question. Thanks a lot. And by the way, congratulations very much. I wish you all the best.

Thank you.

Can I get a motion a second?

Motion still made.

I have a motion to second on equity.

Deb, please. Oh, Mr. Mr. Aguana.

Yeah, just uh my only question was just about the grant. I think it's uh not the only grant you get. Is that I'm reading Mr. proposes uh um they gave us a copy from what Mr. Reposa sent for it so obviously I can read it.

It's just that it seems like it's it's yellow focus but this isn't only you have other things to go on. I think it's exactly yeah the grant total is just under a million dollars for three years.

Um this is you know one small you know one component. Um, but there are lots of different pieces of the So that was my only question is that it's not like we're using only a $40,000 grant for only that specific. You have other Exactly. We have to submit a comprehensive plan to DESIE and that outlines all the work that'll be done.

Thank you, sir.

Yep.

Deb, call the role, please.

On equity, yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Das, yes.

Mr. Corey, yes.

Miss Larry, yes.

Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor Kugan, yes. We have three grants under miscellaneous. CDW, imagine imagine.

Do I have any holds on those?

First, the first one I have a hold on CDW.

Motion approved the other two.

I have a motion on imagine twice.

Can I get a second on imagine?

Second.

I have a motion to second on two imagines. Deb, call the role, please.

M. Drag.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Yes.

Mr. Das.

Yes.

Mr. Cory.

Yes.

Miss Larab.

Yes.

Miss Pereira.

Mayor Kugan.

Yes.

A point of parliament entry inquiry. If if I may give a suggestion and I I've been thinking about this for a while. Um just to get things up like going moving quicker. Something that's non-controversial like everyone's most likely going to vote for it. I recommend us doing a voice vote. All those in favor I no. I think it'll just save the procedural extra 10 seconds and I think it adds up.

I'll do anything to save 10 seconds. Mr.

Das. I agree with you buddy. Go ahead.

Mr.

on CW.

My only question was a financial one.

So at looking through the documents, it just seems like this is woefully late uh before the committee. So I'm looking to see why if anybody has a good rational reason why

uh We were just making sure we were following proper procurement with it and we brought it forward this month.

That's it.

Yep.

So July 1 is when the piece of paper came out from the director.

Mhm.

Approved looks like by him July 1 and it's a September 8th. Like how how does it take that long to figure out whether we're doing procurement? I mean um it's got to be more to the story. No, we were just working out the details to it. It's a big purchase. That's all.

So, it takes two months and eight days to figure out whether light speeded, which we've paid for in multiple years to be a whether it was procured.

Yes.

I I I just Madam superintendent, are you aware of this? I know that we have been um working really hard to make sure that we are following um procurement um processes um since you know well since you know ongoing but certainly um more diligently in the last couple of months.

I know the piece about yonder has come up repeatedly. Um, part of the late ordering had to do with procurement and making sure that we were following um, expected protocols. We did have the yonder piece get held up. Um, because there was a question about the quotes, we pursued yonder as if it was sole source initially. Um, and it got held up. it got held up in terms of the ordering because um we were informed

that it wasn't and it took a little work to get um some of the other quotes in order and to get that passed through. So um I didn't know the specifics about why this one in particular was held up, but I can see that um I I understand that it seems like a long time. Um, and I I don't know what um what took two months, but based on experiences um with other

contracts. I I'm not surprised that this got held up um for at least some part of that time.

Yeah. If you could just get us something, but I'm looking at page three or four of the thing that says software and services CDW government LLC with the thing. Isn't that just a a It's a state contract, right? So, how would it how would it be?

We were we were looking for better pricing because of the because of the cost.

So it wasn't a procurement issue.

No, it was but it was a procurement issue 5 minutes ago.

No.

What? I'm just trying to figure out what is it's a state contract, Mr. Aguar.

Because of the cost because of it being $126,000. We were looking for if there was anything out there that was cheaper to make this happen. That's all.

So it wasn't a procurement issue.

It's procurement from the standpoint of the price of how much it is. Yes.

Right. So, I guess the problem that I'm having is light speeded systems is a system that actually helps to protect our children in the classroom. It helps the teachers and it helps the children make sure that they're not on something that's going to be a danger to them or others and the like. This is now coming before us on September 8th and school started eight days ago.

But I don't believe we've been without it. We could have like if we're not if we're not passing this, we shouldn't be we shouldn't be purchasing anything until they don't know that we're going to purchase this.

So, there's got to be more to the story.

And I'd like you to please send us a one page on it. I yield. Thank you.

Can I get a motion, a second?

Motion still made.

Second.

I got a motion to second on CDW. All in favor?

Opposed? Unanimous. Special education contracts are below. Um, I have uh one, two, three, four, five, six special education contracts. Any holds on any of them?

Mr. Chair, Mr. Das, um, I'd like to hold all except South Coast Collaborative.

South Coast Collaborative. Can I get a motion, a second on approving South Coast Collaborative with the question?

Second.

I have a motion to second. Mr. Aia, the only question is financial. Uh what I would ask is that as we go and I've asked this before when we get our next quarterly report I would ask that all of these numbers are reflected in the salary lines. So when we're taking money from if we can't find somebody we take money from the salary line and we get them maybe when we get them at some

point during the year but this is now it it's contributing to us not having a clue what's happening with the budget.

So, as these go forward, at the next time we get a report, I'd like the numbers to be reflected.

Thank you. I yield.

So, that's Southeastern Educational Collaborative. All in favor?

I opposed. Unanimous. Let's go back to the top.

Can I ask who seconded that motion?

Mr. Ba or um back to the top. Emerges Healthcare Staffing Inc. Question.

Yes. Is this um the fill vacancies or is this for or is or are just something we don't we don't have a position for but we need the extra support.

So we typically get a lot of our nursing staff which is what many of these um positions are through these agencies because they require a special skill set. And then um South Coast, I know you didn't pull that one, but that one is um due to some uh FMLA situations. So, we have staff. They're just not with us right now.

I I guess from a budgetary standpoint, because we're looking at over a million dollars between with all the um ESY nursing, is this something that we could save in the long term if we had a position in house?

the Have we had positions in house?

These students are very medically fragile that require this full-time nursing. Many of them actually get nursing on the way to school in their specialized transportation. So, it's not I don't know how um how it would look if we tried to recruit someone with this um expertise on our full-time. That would be I think a question for our director of nursing. Um cuz she actually does the hiring through our agencies.

They're not here today.

No, I don't believe so. Um, but I guess the point I'm trying to and I I understand that, but looking at over a million, almost a million a quarter just in nurse staffing agencies if we just had if we recruit, if we have this in-house and because obviously when you go to staffing agencies, arm and a leg more. We all know that, right? So, I'm just trying to understand that's something that even we can even

add as a goal is to um cut back on the staffing agencies getting these positions in house and getting a team in house so we're not paying the extra bucks for staffing agencies. I mean, obviously this is going towards students who need it. So, I'll vote to support it today, but I think long-term playing is something that we need to look at. Um just one question on Solient. I'm just looking at the contract just in the

overtime rate. So this indivi this is for one individual getting paid um 65 an hour their overtime is 97 an hour that the for the overtime the 32 and a half is that for the entire year that we're budgeting for or is that I would imagine can you tell me where you're looking Mr.

Gas? Sure. The solant contract I have it up right now and under miscellaneous I'm looking at overtime 32 and a2 hours is to be approved by you.

I'm sorry I'm still not finding I can read it to you. It says one person covering an open position $65 an hour for 32 and a half hours a week.

Oh, that's O. It says OT. That's occupational therapy, not overtime.

under miscellaneous it says overtime. Um it says o overtime 32 and a half hours.

That's where I'm getting confused because overtime is 40 to my understanding.

I don't see that in the salant backup.

I'm looking it just says 32 and a half hours and it's for an SLPA, right? I have that up. Um it's I don't want to say the individual's name, but yeah, the bill rate 65 an hour. Um the assignment date 6726. Are we looking at the same thing?

I'm looking at the paper back.

The the following contract the South Southeastern Mass Educational Collaborative the It says OT and KOD coverage. So it's the occupational therapist.

No, it's Solian and certified occupational therapist.

So Solian Health LLC, the last one on our Yeah, but Salian Health says SLPA coverage for 2025 2026 is what it says in the description.

Yes. I'm I'm looking at the backup. the backup.

Yeah, I think I'm looking at the backup, too. I'm reading from Mr. I think what Mr. Dice is referring to is that if there was overtime, it's at the rate of 9750. That's on the It says that u $65 an hour bill rate.

Overtime bill rate per hour would be 9750. I think that's a if I don't necessarily think that's part of the contract, right? Right. Thank you for that. But under the overtime, right next to the overtime, it says 32 and 1/2 hours. So I don't know if it's contracted that you get the overtime pay after 32 hours.

That's that was my question.

It's under it.

This is just a cover just to pay for an SLPA because we need we need the coverage.

What you're saying though, Mr. Mr.

Almea, is it says here overtime parenthesis 32 and a half hours plus. So if the person worked 34 hours, they'd be entitled to one and a half hours. And this question is is usually in the industry you say over 40 hours. But I don't think that's necessarily universal across all businesses. 32 and a half might be the full-time regular rate all week. And then if you have more than that, it could be a Okay. So that's

so that that's typical. That's that's normal.

Wow.

It is because if you think about a um it's basically a six and a half hour workday, which is what our like a teaching staff at an elementary school would do, six and a half hours and that's what that equates to. Okay.

So, six and a half hours of work per day and then overtime um in the same way that if we were paying one of our staff members to stay after hours for professional development or something like that.

Okay. No, that that makes sense. But I guess um so all right. So they I guess after 65 an hour you had the overtime.

All right. I have a motion to approve.

Motion to approve all M. Um one, two, three, four, five. Or do you have questions on any other specific ones?

Oh, I already asked them. Oh, so I have a motion on the other five. Do I have a second?

Second.

All in favor? I opposed.

Unanimous.

I have two vendor contracts, Citywide Glass and Vincent's Plumbing.

Like to hold both.

Mr. Dus, go ahead.

Thank you. Um, so obviously I know the cost of everything in the past has gone up, but just so I have this understanding. So, we're paying for tempered glass for six classrooms and that's um 239,000. What's the reason for the special glass?

So, they don't crush the students if they break. So, if a student throws something at it, it's tempered glass so it won't shatter and then fall in the classroom. the the classrooms that that that this is specifically talking about is um at Bishop Connley. We have four classrooms that are in the um cafeteria.

They're freestanding classrooms, movable, so none of this stuff will stay at Bishop Conley. This will all come with us and to be used, you know, in another location um or the possibility of using it. The entire classroom is moves. It's a classroom made of glass and uh panels, solid panels. The other two, so it says six. The other uh classroom divider was basically taking a a a science lab. Um when Connley was the

high school, there was a science lab. We removed the equipment inside the science lab and divided that room. 2/3 for a classroom, one/3 for a pullout room. So that's making up to six classrooms. The glass is uh the the walls are about um I want to say 10 foot tall. Um the top area is glass and the bottom area is a solid panel that includes the doors, bracing uh but they are freestanding.

They're not connected to the building at all.

you think and obviously um you're like you're not in the classrooms but is this something that was requested by it's the only way we could it's the only way we could build these classrooms because the um the um the dascese did not want anything permanent put there so that when we move out um those areas would still be intact.

Are we using the gym? We are not using the gym for classrooms.

No, I think that's something we could use.

said we no we we we're using it for indoor recess.

Okay.

Um well I I'm I don't know. I'm just looking at it and obviously it's a lot of money and but obviously I know we just had discussion about classroom sizes. So I I appreciate the explanation I yield.

Um any qu Oh, I had a question. Do you want me to take them together? Vincent's uh which one is yours on Mr. D? Because he's this one. Let me finish citywide.

Just had one question on the uh I understand what you're saying. It's it's we had we needed it. I understand that.

I just don't see here where it says it's portable or can be taken down, but I'm assuming that in the quote it doesn't.

Yeah. So, it it's not connected to the building whatsoever and it's just disconnected the same way it was put up.

The corners would be taken apart and then we would take it doesn't say it in here. You're telling us that you know to be taken out which is why by our people, not necessarily them.

Yeah, they are portable.

Thank you. I yield.

Yes. All right. So, why don't we vote on this? Motion to approve.

I have a motion. I have a motion.

Second.

All in favor?

I opposed.

One one opposed. One miss opposed. Mr.

Das. Um, all vote passes. Vincent's plumbing. Mr. Das.

Thank you. Um, I just didn't get to see the elders for RPA. Um, so could you just give um an explanation? Is there something like with maintenance? What's what happened that we need the um So this is the culinary um piece with um Vincent Plumbers was hired um to do the uh culinary kitchen at RPA. Um there was a half a dozen items remaining to do. Uh some in the uh adjacent room uh and a

couple of um issues that we needed to clean up in that room. So that's what this is. This is a full redo. some uh some work underneath the um on the floor in that building up in the ceiling making connections in the hallway. Um it was pretty in intensive uh work that needed to be done at um RPA to turn what was a home class into a full culinary kitchen.

Motion to approve.

Second.

Second.

I have a motion to approve and second.

All in favor?

I.

Unanimous on Vincent's plumbing miscellaneous contracts. I'm assuming that's already and motion to approve.

So I have a motion, a second on both. Any discussion? Mr. Das.

Thank you. I was gonna So I don't know who's here for the M m. I don't see Mr.

Gabra here. No one's here for the data mining. Um could get like I went through the backup for this and I didn't really see what like what is this for?

What are we what data are we mining?

this um Arite is the company with whom we've been working around the cyber security event back in the spring and they that is the company who is looking through all of our files um and identifying for us any um individuals whose um data may have been compromised so that we can communicate with them.

Have we started that process of notifying?

No, because we do not have the information yet from the company.

Do we have not I don't know if you you probably don't have it now, but is that something you can give a timeline for like a Friday memo when we're those individuals will be notified?

Yeah. Yeah. I can we can make a request for the information um and then share that.

Right. Yeah. Just um like not the names but just specifically like what the timeline look like for that. Obviously, we know my thoughts on this. I wish this shouldn't even have happened, but we have to make sure we're protecting the cyber interest of the district. Motion to approve.

Second.

We have a motion to second. Any further discussion? All in favor?

I opposed.

Unanimous. Uh proav. Was that for both?

Mr. Das on ProAV.

Yeah, just one just a question on it. Um that was a red A.

Um, so for the Prometheian boards, um, I mean this is obviously for preschool. Is this like I know it's pretty customary.

Do we have the Prometheian boards throughout the district?

We do. Uh, we do, which, um, which why they were being added to the classroom, but didn't have them over at um, Conley, right? I'm Do we need it? Do like we need them like it's a need to have.

They are used during the day for instruction.

Okay.

We don't use like anything cheaper.

No.

Yeah. What was that question?

You said, "Do we use anything cheaper?"

Like I guess the point I'm trying to make it's prek. I don't know if we need like the big Prometheium boards like I'm just trying to think of ways we can save a little from here and there. That's just my opinion.

Mr. Chairman.

Okay.

I yield.

Are you done Mr.

Just on that issue? Uh when you look at the backup, it talks about the district using Prometheian boards as the standard uh standard procedure. So it is important that the youngest of the young get it so that in K they're ready familiar with it. The boards work well.

It's a good teaching device for preK through 12 and they're all over the building and credit to this committee.

Spent thousand hundreds of thousands of dollars on these boards. So I do think it's something that's worthwhile. Thank you.

Fair enough.

And I would just add I mean there has been a lot of work in the last few years around getting some routines into place.

um academic routines at the elementary level um using some shared curriculum, you know, early literacy in particular and um some of that work actually does rely on the use of these boards.

Motion to approve.

Second.

I have a motion to second on ProAV.

Further discussion hearing? None. All in favor?

I opposed. Unanimous.

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Rager, may I just make a request on the light speed? Uh if at some point between now and the end of the meeting if somebody on either superintendent or the team can let me know with light speeded has been implemented this year.

Thank you.

Okay. 12.1 is discussion and vote to approve membership in the Massachusetts Association of School Committees as presented by Paul Krugan. That's me. Um we are been a member of MASC for a long time. They provide a number of services to school committees. Um, I think we shouldn't leave for $8,000.

Um, including advocacy, training, professional development. They helped us with the superintendent search. They give us legal and governance information and networking. And I think uh it's it's an organization we should stay in. I know um they train the new members. I know Mr. Das is going to be going to Saturday get his training done and he has attended the um conference for us.

Um I would advocate strongly we stay in but um hearing anything Mr. Aguia.

So basically last month I asked for information on this topic relative to how many times they've been back and forth with information to us through whatever. Um I still have not received that information. I don't know why we when we ask for information at a meeting and table something why we don't get the information.

Quite honestly I'm disappointed in MASC.

As I said last month, we don't utilize them to the best of their um abilities or what they say. The super uh attendance search that they assisted us with was a debacle. They did not do a good job with that search. They allowed it to go in ways that it shouldn't have gone. I personally talked to the director of the MASC as the process was going on. And I got to a dead end

because all he wanted to say was, "Ah, that's what it is. That's what it is."

when the when the situation was created illegally, it wasn't utilized the proper protocols to create the committees. The the president of this organization was zero support to me as one member of the school committee and he didn't come clean with anything in writing. So, I'm totally not ready to do this until we get the data. So, I'll make a motion to table again.

Second.

Can I ask um who is supposed to be collecting the data from MASC?

You or the mayor? the mayor's the one presenting it. So the chair I don't know what you mean by data.

I think last month I asked for how many times dur throughout the entire year have MASC have we contacted MASC for any issue so that we could try to get some data on are they getting it we we the superintendent search is something we paid extra for. Can you believe that?

But we're paying $8 or $9,000 for what?

I think at some point we have to push back and say this is just a waste of $8,000. I know, Mr. Mayor, you said it's only $8,000, but it's $8,000. We shouldn't just give it away for no reason. If there's a person wants to come before us from the MASC, God bless them. Come on up before us and say why we think it should be. They send us the advocacy notes once a month and that's

about it. And we're paying $8,000 for it. I think we got to start looking at every dollar that we spend here. And it it quite honestly it was I don't even think we know how much we spent because it were never told to the school committee how much we were spending on a superintendent search. So the superintendent search should have nothing to do with this uh proposal at all because that's a totally separate entity.

Well, I I got to disagree with you about the search being a debacle. I think we got a great superintendent out of it and um I'm not disappointed in what happened at all. I think um Dr. Curly is doing a great job and going forward. I don't mind if we table it again. If you want me to try to find out some more information or bring someone down for the next meeting, that's fine with me. I

have a motion, a second on tableabling.

Any discussion further?

Yeah, I just have one. I just disagree with your premise.

I know you do.

You just discuss vote.

No, not going to vote.

Oh, yeah. All in favor?

I I motion's tabled. 122.

Unanimous. Um Deb discussion and vote.

school committee delegate for November's uh MCAST conference. We don't really have anybody table. I mean, we're not even we got a motion to table it, right?

I I agree with that. We have a motion and a a second on tableing. All in favor?

Opposed? Unanimous.

Who made the motion?

Um, Mr. Chim and Mr. Mias.

I said and who said it?

Bobby.

Okay, I second.

Okay, hold Mr. Chairman, I have a question on on on 122.

Go ahead.

Point point of order. The item was tabled.

Yeah, that's a good point. We can't talk about I wasn't I tried to get it in before I got tabled, but it's tabled the voice vote. The voice vote tabled it. I before I had very curious to hear what Cory says if somebody could withdraw that table.

Motion to reconsider.

Motion to reconsider. That's all I want to hear question.

Just want to hear Mr. Cory.

Let Mr. Cory talk. We got a motion to reconsider. All in favor? make a motion.

It gets a second and then the gentleman, all the gentlemen up here just decide my motion goes away.

No, you passed. He made a motion.

Okay. But we see what just happened.

Go ahead. Continue.

Just we're aware.

Just ask a question.

Just ask a question, Mr.

Okay. Thank you.

So, uh, there is some validity to the conference, Mr. Chairman. uh as far as I know like on on Wednesday's session of the school committee conference in November that they're going to be talking about you know building high impact partnerships with educational collaboratives. They're going to be building uh they're going to have workshops on relations with the superintendent and they're also going to

have conference meetings on the length of meetings. These are all questions that have been raised in our deliberations throughout the past several months on this school board and I think it's really important that we do send a delegate motion to appoint Tom Cy to this conference.

Tommy, do you want to go?

Sure. Okay.

Can I go ahead, M Miss Pere?

Uh, Mr. Curry, the reason I I motioned to table it is because the item before it 121 is our membership there. We have we don't we don't know if I I think it makes sense for us to let me just say I think it makes sense for us to continue our membership. I think not everything's perfect. I think if the problem is we're not taking advantage that's what I think the problem is. We're not taking enough

advantage as what's here because obviously we have a colleague who has no problem going on Saturday to get information because it's beneficial to him, right? And to us as as a whole as a committee, right? So it's a good thing he's going. So I agree with you. I think it is beneficial. However, why would I vote to send someone somewhere in November when we could come back and not even be able to send him there anyway

because the committee's decided not to be a member anymore?

Yeah.

Do you know what I'm saying? That's why I tabled it.

But I agree. I think when it comes back, we should I I'm voting to approve it.

But Okay.

That's why I mo That's why I made a motion to table, which I believe is still on the floor because I didn't get rid of it.

Okay.

So, second on Mr. Cory's uh I mean I I think I have a motion first to table it.

Why are we white pointing somebody when my motion was placed? A second was made.

I didn't take it off.

Second was withdrawn.

It wasn't withdrawn by me. Somebody can withdraw my motion. The second the second was withdrawn.

That's fine. Then there was an opportunity for someone else to give a second. That justifying and you guys all know it.

No. Okay.

I have a motion to table it. Do I have a second? If I don't, then that's fine.

We'll appoint somebody. But we don't even know if we're going to be a member of this of this group. I don't know why everybody's rushing to I think I I think we'd have to follow through with your motion in order to So make a motion to second.

Second.

Second. I have a motion. Second on tableabling. If we get back, we'll get you down there, Mr. Cory.

All right.

All in favor? I opposed. Unanimous. 123 is discussion and vote to approve the following job description as presented by Amy Bronhan, assistant superintendent of student services and strategic integration.

Thank you. Um, so we have been doing some data analysis around our responsibility to provide homebound tutoring or what we've always referred to as homebound tutoring. Um, but really doesn't take place in anybody's home.

It's just always been called homebound tutoring. um for students who receive either medical affidavits to be written out of school for any short amount of time or long amount of time as well as for students who are removed from school on suspension and or other you know very minimally any medical reasons as well.

Um last year the district served roughly 105 students in this programming and as we took a look and analyzed really the service we were providing we decided and we knew that we could really provide a more robust service and so in lie of having tutors out all over the community. Um, it is very hard to track.

It is very hard to manage the academic experience we're giving to kids. And we believe that by bringing it to a tutoring center and working with families to really meet the individual needs of their students will be better served to be able to meet those needs and then transition students back into school when they're ready. And so this has always been um a contractually stipended position. There was not really

a job description because but we were meeting our obligations. Um and so we have put together a job description for a co a site lead for the tutoring center as well as a tutoring job description for the tutors. We will look to host this program out of RPA as the alternative um placement location here in our city. Really trying to diversify the services that we can provide at RPA

as well. And so you have before you a site coordinator site lead position as well as a tutor position. Um, these positions will be funded based on student enrollment that will drive the need to bring tutors into these roles and this is our way of formalizing these roles um so that we can begin to meet our requirement as it relates to providing tutoring services across the city.

Mr. Chair, Mr. Coy, so I'm I'm I'm very much in favor of this. I just want to know a little bit more. Uh the school department's always provided homebound tutoring. So uh these kids are not going to be in their home, but they would actually go to the site at RPA.

It'll be a blend of virtual, hybrid, online, and in person at RPA. Yes.

So it'll be a blend. And And is it going to be a cross subject matters?

Yep.

Across the realm. So social studies would also be included. Even though social studies hasn't been so much of an MCCAST sponsored area, you know, they're still going to cover all of that, right?

Yeah. This has nothing to do with MCCAST. This is all about supporting students in making academic progress as it relates to the courses that they would be taking if they were fully if they were attending in person.

And are we talking uh we're talking primary level as well as secondary level students?

Thank you for asking. No, this is going to be targeting grades 6 to 12. And as we looked at the data, that was really the bulk of um the grade levels that we were serving students in the tutoring.

There's always a couple of, you know, anomalies in the lower grades. And it should also be noted that this doesn't mean that the one-on-one tutoring will be completely obsolete. It's really about looking at each individual students need um and what we are able to provide in a tutoring center and working with the families um at the same time.

Thank you very much. I show hi Amy was Dr. Oh, sorry.

No, Miss um um Sorry. What was I just I just got sidetracked. Give me one second. Okay. Um 6th to 8th grade. You said they're all going to This This is going to be housed in the RPA. Yes. Is this a program that's an afterchool program? Is it going to be during school?

It is. It'll be after It'll be evenings.

It'll run from 4:00 to 6:00 um in the evenings which will allow all of our staff across for public schools to be eligible to participate and work with our atrisisk students in this programming but also after school hours so that the school is not you know occupied by the students who are there and really being able to provide and use the resources at RPA for the students who do come in but also to have a home

for the tutoring staff that will be in the program Monday through Thursday. So, I guess my question is, are we going to have RPI high school students with sixth grade students? But you're answering me in a way we're not. Okay. So, then um the other question I had, where was this house before? Where was this work done previously? Did you say it was really all we were offering one- on-one student tutoring? And where

all over the community? So, whether it was at the library and oftentimes through virtual teaching experiences.

Okay. Um sometimes students might meet back at a school depending upon the afterchool hours and what really that individual student circumstance was. Um so we've we've really been doing this work.

So are these is this virtual tutoring opportunity still available or will this take place of that? It is because my my thought process is transportation, right? For kids to trans to get transported to RPA in the evening. If this was done virtually before or if this was done at their community school before that was walking distance or easy for mom or dad to get them there. But if we're centralizing

where this is happening, I just want to make sure that if there's a transportation issue, there are options for those students to go elsewhere. So that's the question I have is that we'll work with individual students.

oftentimes tutoring was not happening at a physical location. Those were really like singular situations and many times since co specifically the virtual world has really been the chosen pathway. So we feel by creating a space keeping in mind it's also on the sort of bus route.

Uh we'd love to continue to just expand opportunities um to get students to the site.

How late does the bus run?

I'm not sure of that. I'm not sure, but I I do believe past 6:00, though.

Well, I don't know what the after school hours are, but the bus Well, this program is 4 to 6.

Okay. So, it's not too bad, but believe it or not, the buses don't run very late. That's, you know, just cuz I I just know that. Um, so that isn't always an option necessarily. I just want to make sure that we have kids who have transportation issues. We're not causing more transportation issues for parents and trying to get the services they need for their kids by locating it. But if

you're telling me you're going to work with parents, if that part of the city is a little too difficult, maybe they're way out in the south, then mom, you know, whatever. You get what I'm saying?

We will work with individual students.

Make sure that that's happening. That's all. Okay. Thank you. I think this is great. Thank you for your work. Um, Dr.

Mr. Mr.

I just want to have a little follow-up question, Dr. B. U, are there going to be any attendance obligations for these students, a certain bar that they have a standard for them to meet? They're going to need to check in one to two times weekly at a minimum through a virtual meet link so that we can get eyes on students, check for wellness, but also ensure that they are making progress

academically. And so some of these features are also enhanced features as compared to where we've been as it relates to being able to monitor um and supervise our homebound tutoring programming across the the city.

So there will be a standard in place.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Thank you. So just just so I have an understanding. So this is going to be open for two hours a day Monday through Thursday for specific students who are enrolled in the homebound tutoring center. Yes.

And the two positions you're seeking approval for or the district seeking approval for is this um going to be a converted position or we so you said correct me if I'm wrong. These are right now individuals who are um going service out of rank to receiving a stipen for their work and the tutoring.

Uh this is a contractual service and teachers currently get stipended to do this work and so we are following the same funding mechanism as we have historically.

Right. So but now we're looking to create a two positions to specifically for this. So we've all just to be clear last year we serviced over a hundred students in tutoring and so we had probably roughly 50 to 60 tutors across the district functioning as tutors. So this is going to centralize that experience so that we can really keep our eyes on and support the tutors. They can work in concert and in strategy with

each other as they service our students that are in need of tutoring. But this is not a tutoring center dropin for students from our schools across the district. This is a required service for students who find themselves eligible for this service based on a number of other circumstances.

Right. But there's never the position of tutor which is what we're creating today.

No, there has been.

There has been.

Oh, there has. Okay.

You know, she talked about 40 50 or what whatever number you use. Like we have a large number of tutors who are providing one-on-one primarily through Google meets providing one-on-one tutoring to students four hours per week.

So, we're creating a job descript. This is just so this is just a job description for an existing position that hasn't had a job description that maybe has not been you know widely um you know broadcast in terms of the hiring. It's just people you know some people have been tutors forever. They you know um five years 10 years whatever it is they pick up a couple kids to tutor throughout the year.

Okay. But they haven't had a job description before.

No.

So I guess that my question would be you so you would have individuals serving in two positions basically. I mean we already do like it you really want to think about like an afterchool program. They're not serving in two positions. They're teachers by day and then we say hey we're running this after school program.

Who wants to apply? When we do that generally we we do it with some kind of posting for a 21st century program or whatever it is and people apply to the job. I guess and correct me if I'm missing what Thank you for explaining that. So where I'm getting confused looking at the tutor position like the draft job description like I don't see like um I I could be missing it but like

hours like usually those after schools are like 3 to six and that would be like in the job description. I don't think it says it.

I know I could be missing.

You're right. It might not say it here.

So I guess that's where the my confusion was. And for the site coordinator, is that going to be a part-time position as well? I I think it's under salary in terms of employment where we tried to just keep it brief which is contractual rate and in accordance with FREA and FRAA contracts and the reason that we didn't put four to six in the job description is because the timing of the

program could change and it could adjust and so once these are approved by you I didn't want to have to come back to the committee to approve a minor adjustment.

Um, so that's why the hours are not specifically listed, but if you notice um the last page of the FRPS secondary student tutoring center overview, the details that you're asking are listed within there.

Okay. And I'll go back and look at it, but basically we're not going to have like um a full-time salary for two hours of work. Okay. No.

Uh, last question. And I always see these on the um the like the the job descriptions of everyone that's come before us. And I I've never I don't recall receiving like communication. It says the superintendent of schools reserves the right to wave a position qualification. Um excuse me.

Bless you. Whoever sees um is that something that happens often like we wave a qualification like or superintendent. Do you usually wave qualifications for positions or have you ever I think I mean not that I can recall. Um I think that generally speaking what happens is we have um requirements for lensure. Um and there's probably I think accompanying language that say like license or wavered or and so I'm not

making an exception in those in those cases in terms of the hiring. Um, so I mean I have to look clo more closely I think um in terms of required qualifications and what's I I don't think anything's been brought to me in terms of this person isn't qualified. Do you still want to hire them or meets the qualific? Okay. I guess because I just never like I didn't know that's something that happens often like

person doesn't have like they require they're required to have a mast's and um they have a bachelor's and maybe hypothetically you're waving the requirement for them. I think it's that's supposed to come before the committee. I just really don't recall ever receiving that in general, but I didn't know if it's something I don't think that I've ever um sent any kind of information like that, but really can't recall.

I'm not saying it hasn't. I don't know.

I can't really recall, but I can make an inquiry.

Okay. I I yield for now. Thank Can I get a vote on this? Mr. Hagar, just a few comments. Uh, one is I think this something like this should have gone to the alternative subcommittee to flush it out a little. Uh, but that's just an aside. It's here before us. One of my concerns is the long-term suspensions and I I understand the premise of this. It's basically going to do online. Um, it's not necessarily

clear the profile of the kids on long-term suspensions. I see the data here. What does that look like? And what do we are we fooling ourselves to think that there's not going to be any if somebody's on a long-term suspension, you had 20 in nth grade. They're in long-term suspension for a reason. And I'm trying to figure out is this going to affect the school. Then I read through and it's basically an online

egeneuity program. It's not. So I think that needs to be just clear. This is just online egenuity and we're going to have a tutor sitting by themselves.

Well, not necessarily. So the tutors are going to be managing the work. they're going to be providing support, direct support to kids to be able to complete egeneuity and for students who we deem safe. Uh we will be able to bring students into the tutoring center. So that is one of our intentions. Um as well as you know this won't be a one-on-one tutoring center, but it could be a small group tutoring center. That

is our intention. Um, but it will certainly give us more oversight and ability to monitor student progress as well as student attendance, tutor attendance, and to ensure that our kids are getting what they need as well as our tutors getting what they need to be able to produce, um, the academic integrity that we're expecting as well through the tutoring center.

So uh knowing about the RPA program in the past, one of the successful components of that uh with the dynamics of the class was an afternoon program at RPA for students in RPA which I guess this is just going to stop that because we just were heard that we're not going to have any students from RPA in the building at the time like across No, this is going to be from 4 to 6 in

the basement of RPA which was the old middle school area. The reassignment of students at RPA. they are they are now all up on the second and third or third and fourth floors and so there will still be space in the RPA building as we know there is plenty of space in that building um but this tutoring center will be off into the basement into that hallway that's on the left so we will be

able to separate students um as well and there is an entrance and exit on that side and so we will be able um to support both groups of students in this alternative site as we develop and build after school programs at RPA that currently are not in the most robust place, but that is our goal as we continue to move forward over there as well.

I um I continue to have concerns about that having the students in the building. We can say that all we want.

I worked there in the high school when the middle school was downstairs and the kids interacted outside. We we create a dangerous situation potent potentially by having too many things in one building. Personally, I think 90% of this is all going to be online. should be just advertised as such and that you don't come into the building. Um there should still be some options uh to do

other stuff as you said. Uh but one of the things I I and I think I know the answer to this. We've spent money in the district last year on tutoring.

So when something comes before us, I would like to see how much did we spend in tutoring under the old way because it's going to be a selling point to why these two positions are going to sort of pay for that within that line item.

you're going to be able to say this year we spent 50,000 we're going to have x amount of tutors and we're going to have x amount just a selling point I think financially that we don't get necessarily it's not your issue it's a more of a financial one uh so I don't think it's going to cost us any money but I I would just want you to please look at the dynamics of having

those kids in the building at the same time thank you I I got one question Dr. Bonhard, if a kid's upstairs in RPA and they had to make up a class or take a test, can they use this after school?

Not currently. That is not how it's set up. We're working with the RPA staff to develop after school programming with that team and those that team separately, but this would be a completely separate program.

Okay. Thank you.

Y anything further?

Motion to approve.

Second.

I have a motion to second. Uh all in favor? I I unanimous.

Well, Bobby's not yet.

Oh, Bobby Bobby is absent. Okay. 124. A vote discussion and vote to approve the revised criminal justice job description is presented by Brian Reposa, assistant superintendent, chief academic officer.

Motion to approve.

Motion a second.

Question. Mr. Corey.

So, Mr. proposal. First of all, I'm I'm really pleased to see this on the agenda. Anytime that we could grow our CTE programming, I'm a big fan of. I think chapter 74 programs for public schools are incredibly important. Uh they hit our students in a different way. Uh and uh I think there's a huge success rate involved in that as well. I even wish that we could drive our chapter 74

programming even further, but I realize there's all kinds of complexities in scheduling involved with that. So, I'll leave it at that. As far as this program on um uh criminal justice, I think it's great. I hope it feeds into maybe um grooming not only some kids who may want to be lawyers uh but grooming some kids who may want to work in prisons or grooming some kids who may want to

become police officers or the like. Um with that being said, um as far as the curriculum is concerned, I really think it it looks pretty good. I know that they want to uh inform students about career pathways in law enforcement, the judicial system, corrections, and public safety. Uh one one of the aspects of the curriculum that I'm really keed on is do you know if it's going to touch on

humanities and cultural competence because in this area that's going to be a very vital area. So part of the feedback that we um took last time we brought this forward um was really to incorporate you know some language that was a bit more broad and incorporate the humanities. So you'll see that under the responsibilities um as you know it listed there in various places where we want the focus

to be on criminal justice and humanities. That way it's a broader scope where it could even pertain to social work in some way or other aspects of public safety. Um, so the intention here, as I mentioned last time, is to have a program, this is specifically at Morton, um, that could then potentially feed the program at the high school, the CTE program at the high school. Right.

So, right now, Talbet has a construction program, CUS has a culinary program, and this would enable Morton to have a program that could be a feeder for Dery, one of the CTE programs at Dery as well.

So, um, so you have three theater programs feeding into That's the intention. We we wanted to have, you know, some exposure at each middle school in some way so that we could start to build some interest towards when you look at our student demographics, it just makes sense to make this happen. So, personally, I'm I'm I'm very pleased to see this. With that, I yield.

Anything further?

Mr. Chair, Mr. D, quick question. And I know we um I think we might discuss this at the subcommittee, but it's been so long there's no way of intermingling between like um the programs like if a like if a student at Talbot they want to go check out the U Morton program um the we can't I I mean I don't know if we're there yet. I think there's certainly, you know, obviously if a student, if a

parent wanted to choose to send their child to a different school and there was room in that school, you know, it'd be great to get to a place where we build such interest in the programs that parents are saying, "Hey, I really want my child to do, you know, the construction program. So, I want to go check Talbot out." It would be great to get to that point. I don't think it's

necessarily impossible. Um, but it's not something that, you know, we're doing systematically right now.

Okay. Is there something we can look into? I yield.

Do I have a motion? A second. A motion and a second.

I have a motion second. All in favor?

I opposed. Unanimous.

Number 125 is a discussion and vote to approve the addition of a team chair at Dery High School.

Motion to approve.

Second.

Any discussion?

Hearing none. All in favor?

I opposed. Unanimous.

126.

Second reading. Vote to approve the principal's salary matrix. Motion to approve.

Second.

I have a motion to second on the salary matrix. Any questions? Mr. Agia?

Yeah. So, uh this um we sort of got ourselves into a situation when we approved the um FRAA contract where the salaries for the vice principles are up. So now we obviously would have to um compensate uh principles. But I think a range is is fine and the superintendent should have some ability to place people within the range. But one thing that I I don't agree with at the present time is once

you become a principal, I think we need to remove the advanced degree stipens and that should be incorporated into the value of the person. We could have a person for instance that's a first year principal that has a doctorate which is fine and we have a another person who's a 10 or 15 year experience principal that would their range is different based on a a cags or a doctorate and we

don't require in order to get a principal license a cag or a doctorate.

So I think we should eliminate those to have the ranges be wherever they are and the superintendent fits the people based on where she thinks they should be. I don't think we should be adding uh the CAGS and the doctorate um to that. So, I'd like to make an amendment that we remove the advanced degrees but approve everything else.

Second.

Uh Mr. Just to follow up on that, uh, at the same time as we've done the same thing when we look at superintendent contracts, assistant superintendent contracts and the like, we don't give those positions extra money, I don't believe. And we've been trying to get away from that for a few years. So that it's more like if you're superintendent, you're superintendent. Here's the range.

You have a doctorate, great. If you don't have a doctorate, you can still be a good superintendent. So we do that consistently at the upper levels across the board. And I'd like to keep it consistent. is um if you're giving if you're giving the super superintendent the ability to place them on the matrix where she thinks is best is she allowed to take the doctorate and the kegs into

consideration when she moves someone along and says you know you're going to go up a little more than uh Kugan because you have that's up to individual what it would do is just it creates the parameter so what we're doing here is the parameter for is whatever it's 160,000 this is just adding so the real parameter should be 1625 if It's $2,500 for a CAGS or $4,000 for a doctorate. So, we don't have that

authority to appoint people and place them in that matrix. That's the superintendent's role. But by us creating this structure, it's automatic that they fall within the range. And then the flip side of it, she could say, "Okay, I'm going to give you less and then call it a $4,000 stipen." But typically what happens is they would get, "Okay, him and I are both principles. We get 150,000 and he's got

a doctor. He gets four grand more than me. I've got 15 years experience as the principal. There's no mechanism for the superintendent to do this is automatic is I guess my point.

Yeah. I mean the the table the the the matrix does account for um for years of experience. But you're right it's like one to four you're in one range five plus. So, if you're talking about a fiveyear person uh five-year principal with their doctorate and then you're talking about a 10 or 15year principal, technically they could be making the same and then only one person gets the

um the increase um for their doctorate, but I would say like in general that that doesn't happen. I'm happy to um streamline this even more. I know like you know you had an opportunity to read through the rationale really looking to streamline this. Um the one thing I would just point out is that um you know I asked for a 10% I requested a 10% increase I think it was in the advanced

degree stipens because there hadn't been any movement on them um since 2020 or so when we first started um using the matrix on the out you know for folks who are not um at like the top step they are set or salaries that are unionized ized those built in the built-in movement on the scales. Those actually get increased um every year like with their you know the the entire salary including whatever bump that they

get for their degree actually increases for principles that has not been the case. So as if if I build in to someone's salary their um their education, their degrees, then that is going to get the same 5% increase or whatever it is we do from year to year.

I don't have a problem with that. Um I just wanted to point that out that usually the base salary gets the increase and then we add the stipend.

Now the base salary will include credit for their for education credit and then that will get the you know the percent increase will be applied to that as well. So, I just want to point that out to folks.

Um, K to8 school, K to8 schools run an elementary. I got to look to be honest.

Right here. It's right here, Doc.

Um, where they land?

Yeah, I think Kevin, am I correct that the K to8s have always been in the elementary?

They they they run in the elementary.

They run in the elementary. So So most of them are 500 plus schools for us anyway. Okay.

Yeah.

Should have probably listed it there.

Sorry. Yeah, that makes sense.

All right. So I have a motion to an amendment.

I have an amendment to Oh, I'm sorry. Shel, you got to wave, buddy. You're way down the end. Shel, I've been waving. I've been You got to yell and yell yell like Miss Pereira. Miss Pereira.

So, um, here's the thing. I I I'm just going to say why I'm going to vote no on this. because I do believe that there should be some credit given to education. First of all, hello, we're in a school. We're in the field of education. Second of all, it happens throughout. I get paid. The job I have doesn't necessarily require the degree I have, but I get paid a little more because I have that degree. Because

education matters. Because just like experience matters, so does education.

Somebody gets a doctorate, they just didn't throw money at a school and get a paper. They actually went, took classes, probably wrote a thesis. this is an investment in their life. It is experience. So I do think we should be taking education into account especially because this is literally what we're doing here is education. So that's why I'm vote with no on this. Now with that being said, I don't think it's a it's

necessarily direct requirement for hiring somebody. Mhm.

If you have two candidates and one is, you know, like my colleague said, has 15 years experience doing the job, another one may be less but got a doctorate, then you look at it and go, okay, this person might be better for the job even if they don't have the doctorate or what have you. But I think when we're talking about a pay scale, if you want people who have doctorate degrees and master's

degrees to come work here, then I don't think we need to give the impression that we're not paying them for their education because I just think it's going to be harder to fill. I don't think we have to go back and forth on this. It's going to fall where it may.

But I'm just saying that's why I'm voting no on on the amendment.

Okay. Dr. Curley wants to answer that then. Mr. Aguar, do you want to go? I wasn't sure who raised hand. So, I would agree with that. Um, and I would say that particularly because sometimes with the salary ranges anyway, things kind of feel arbitrary to people.

Um, and I do think that it is a a very solid statement um to, you know, to be made. I I could make a statement all day, but I do think it's an important statement to be made um potentially like by the committee um in terms of supporting like in this is the the this is the additional because of the pursuit um of that degree. And so I do think there's that opportunity there um to

place value and emphasis on it. And it to me I will say like it really has nothing to do with um two people side by side and we're going to pick the person with the doctorate because we um we value the education that that's not really the issue. The issue is for me it would be around like two people who you know the compensation potentially being different. On one hand, we are um offering people

compensation based on their experience in the job and I think that the salary schedule addresses that and then separately kind of above and beyond if you're if you have this experience and you've pursued these um higher degrees that we acknowledge that as well. Um I and I'll say it again like I'm all for streamlining it. I do think that there's um something to be lost here by not keeping those um higher degrees

separate.

Mr.

Yeah. So, it's a a straight um I guess it's just a process of being consistent and sometimes that's more difficult for some than others, but we as a committee have voted at the upper levels of this department to not do this. So, I don't understand how somebody can sit here today and say, "We're just going to add for the principles to do this when every member of this committee voted when we

hired the assistant superintendent to not give any extra money from the doctorates and or the kegs." And the same thing with the superintendent. When she became superintendent, we all voted for a contract. I might have voted against it, but at the end of the day, she didn't get money for her doctorate added to her thing. So, it's a matter of being consistent. We are not consistent on this board with how we spend our

money and we should be looking at it that okay so now this is going to happen. So next month or whenever we negotiate with our three assistant superintendent they're not going to get the same rate of pay or the when they start at the same time that we all voted in our infinite wisdom to keep them the same regardless of the doctorate. Now we're saying oh but principles you get four grand but assistant superintendent

you get zero. Madam superintendent you get zero. like it we're just not being consistent at the upper levels and I think we need to start to look at there's ramifications of contracts and what our job is. The administrators union negotiated a contract that the majority members voted for that increased some of these things.

Therefore the range has to be bigger but that has nothing to do with the fact of a doctorate or a kegs getting extra money. I think they're two separate issues. the range. You can increase the range, but at the at the end of the day, the ranges are what you recommended and they're based on what was before and they added the 5% as you know was recommended. But I don't know how we can

sit here and actually take a vote to be inconsistent when we're looking right out and we know that there's cases that we were not consistent with. I just don't see how it's possible. So, please be consistent with your votes.

Right. on on Kevin's very consistent on Kevin's amendment to remove the educational stipens from the principal's salary matrix. Do I have a motion to second De?

You do.

I do. Um, roll call.

We should do a roll call on this one. Go ahead.

Miss Dragon?

Yes.

Mr. Bailey?

Yes.

Mr. D?

Yes.

Mr. Cory?

Yes.

Miss Laravey?

Yes.

Miss Pereira?

No.

Mayor Coug?

Yes. Now on the matrix, do I have a motion and second? Motion to approve as amended.

Motion to approve as amended. Second.

Second. I have a motion. Second. All in favor?

One question.

Oh, Mr. I'm sorry.

I guess it's a question comment. Uh this is the opportunity for us to uh weigh in on how uh people get their increases.

I'm of the belief and I've always been of this belief, we've done this for many years, that principles are not in a union. They don't get automatic raises when everyone else does. When you're in a union, 500 members, we get 5%, everybody gets the 5%. What we've always done here is that sometimes a principal might meet their goals, meet their standards, they get more percent, and other people might get less percent.

But I think there's a difference of opinion with the superintendent that she believes that everyone should just get automatic raises no matter what their job performance is or whether they meet targets or anything else. So, I'm going to vote to approve this, but I would hope that we really look at the fact that it's not automatic. These raises are cannot be automatic because sometimes people need

a year to, you know, get coaching or whatever else. They're going to get the same with the mindset that we just automatically give out raises. They're going to get the same thing as another person who might have hit it out of the park and done something. So, we as a school committee have a right to give the range and have the superintendent pick which one it is. In the past, that's how it's worked. Some get zero,

some get two, some get five, whatever the ranges. Current superintendent disagrees with that. And I just think if we approve this, I ask you to please consider moving around where some don't get the whole thing and some get others. My last point is on the um m this is what was presented to us. The mayor asked a question on the elementaryaries and middles and the K to8s. I think we need

to get clarity on where that is, but at the end of the day, the elementary school range at two to level two, five plus years is exactly the same as middle. And I got to be honest, I think um a middle school principal has a a lot more on their plate than elementary. So, I'm not sure that we should have it be exactly the same. And I don't know if that's a um

I don't know if that's an old mistake that was just carried forward that they were the same or is this a new one that was vetted out, but I think it should we should kind of look at um whether that should be exactly the same or not. I yield. Thank you. Okay, Mr. Das, just thank you very quickly. I agree with my colleagues um uh statements and I also respectfully disagree with the

superintendent's philosophy on how we give raises. Obviously, these should be earned, not just given as a cost of living adjustments. So, I just want to make my um statements on the record. I yield.

Okay, let's let's call the role on this.

Excuse me.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I just want to make a point to say I am one of the people up here who believes in a cost of living raise. I think if you're doing your job and you're doing it effective, then every year everything costs more. And I think the people that work for the school department should be able to feed their families and should be able to provide a roof over their

head. So I am one of the people up here in that back room who fights for a raise for everyone. And I feel that if you're not doing a job that deserves a raise, then I question why you're still working here. And I think if you're doing an exceptional job, then we give you a big raise. But I think everybody who's showing up to work in this in this district should get a cost of living

raised. This way they can keep feeding their families and this way maybe we can have people who want to work here and continue to stay working here.

Okay.

So now we can take roll call without you.

Mr. Chair, you already talked two times. Okay. We have to have you just have to be the last one to talk.

Mr. Per, I just wanted to clarify my remarks a little if I may.

I would like to vote on this. Mr. D, could you make it quick?

Last word. Yeah, I know. Can I can I may I speak forever?

M Mr. Dias has the floor. Go ahead.

Can you please have something please?

Go ahead, Mr. Das.

Thank you. My my colleague is right and obviously as I've also fought for those raises for the teachers, the educators and the other unions as well. Uh my concerns are more in relative to the ethnons and and that's I just want to clarify that. I yield.

Okay. Call the role dead please.

Mr. Aia.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Yes.

Mr. Das.

Yes. Mr. Corey, yes.

Mr. Laravey, yes.

Mr. Pereira, no.

Mayor Kugan, yes. 127.

This first read and discussion, the draft subcommittee meeting calendar is presented by Dr. Curley, superintendent.

Motion to pass through first read.

Second.

I have a motion, a second to pass through first read. All in favor?

Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair.

Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Das.

I didn't know if Dr. Curley had a um presentation first, but I did have some questions.

Okay. You have Go ahead. Do you have a presentation? Sure. No, I mean I'll just um so we at a a previous committee um meeting I was asked um I think there was a motion a vote or something that I would create a calendar with quarterly meetings for each of the school committee um subcommittees. And so when we sat down um to take a look at it, we first started drafting um you know kind

of throughout the year. Um and then you know it struck me that um in January we will have at least three new members on the committee. Um and that we it it might make more sense to just get some things on the calendar in this um you know through December kind of the first meeting of all of the subcommittees and then revisit the rest of the calendar moving forward. I I guess the thing is I

I figure like if someone had Wednesday meetings going on and then you know they were scheduled out for the whole year, we have someone new on the committee who says that's great but I'm literally never available on a Wednesday. Um then we would end up having a a calendar that had to be revisited to a great extent in January. Um so I prioritize getting things on the calendar for the fall basically.

Mr. Das, thank you. Um, and I'll vote to approve this as a first read because I know it will come back as a second read. My position is I don't believe there is enough meetings specifically um on the agenda. I think there should be more specifically for facilities. Um, for policy, I know we're supposed to discuss having um an overview of all the policies on the book. Um, I only see one

for technology subcommittee. Obviously, we're very reliant on technology.

Obviously, grievance needs to meet as needed. I understand that. Um, another other thing too, I don't know the answer to this.

Yes, I believe so. Um, so in terms of making this, this could very well um if we're going to also change the the schedule and and make a schedule, it should align with school committee policy. For example, parent and community outreach subcommittee supposed to meet twice a month according to the policy and I'm fine for changing that a little bit even though I would like to meet as often as we can.

Obviously twice a month it might be a little bit tough. However, I don't believe we should have a calendar that doesn't go in conjunction with policy.

So I suggest the superintendent look at the policy or suggest bringing some changes for it and I'd be open to doing so. Um but yeah, I think overall I think we need to be meeting more um and having more meetings. I yield.

Mr. A, I'll stand by what I said at the subcommittee. We don't really need in my opinion this whatever this is of trying to come up with a schedule. At the subcommittee meeting, I made a statement in a motion was to say we need to have it at a minimum quarterly meetings. I don't think that's too much to ask if you're on a committee and we should have quarterly meetings. If you don't want to

have a quarterly meeting, don't run for school committee. Don't try to get elected because you have to have quarterly meetings. If you're on too many committees, you can tell the chairman, "Please take me off of some."

But really, for at a minimum of quarterly meetings, I don't understand why we're going through this whole exercise because it if anybody doesn't want to do quarterly meetings, I don't know why we're we're here. To my colleague, uh, Mr.

policy is definitely one that we have to adjust because there needs to be reviews of policies more often and it has to come with a um I guess a caveat to whoever gets appointed by the mayor to chair it that that's going to be one that makes more sense. We have policy meetings where we refer I don't know 300 policies or something like that. It's foolish. So we have to do a better

system but making them all equal I don't think makes sense. But at a minimum of quarterly, why would we not just do quarterly minimum quarterly meetings and or minimum four per per calendar year?

If you do two early, that's two of the four. We do it with fire drills in in a school. Like we do it with anything. I just don't know why we're we're doing this. I know why we're doing this because the mayor suggested that we go and you know do some kind of uh schedule or whoever at the at the I would be happy if the people if if the

chairs of each committee just sent to me um um to my team just I don't know two dates between now and January. I think that would be fine. It was I mean sitting down and saying when do you think we should meet? um knowing full well that if like you know um Brian Reposo and I could make um these meetings, we I could very well be coming here and hearing from the chair

that those dates don't work. I I mean I expect that to happen. I'm happy to have someone send us the dates and we can calendar them. Um you agree disagree with four meetings a year? No, I I mean I I thought it was agreed upon that we make a motion we do four meetings a year quarterly. Yeah, four meetings a year because I think that helps the when it's busy you might

have two. So I I make a motion that we have four.

I agreed to that. I did just want to point out though, Mr. Das, that the the description of the committee does not suggest that the subcommittee for a parent and community engagement meet twice a month. It says by monthly or but by monthly is every two months every other month like not bi-weekly but by monthly so once every two months meeting and then it does say um more if needed kind of

thing but I think any of the subcommittees could meet more than quarterly if needed for sure.

Okay, my only comment was sometimes I think I agree with Miss Drag. We're saying well this is this we need to do this four times. who need to scheduling subcommittee meetings this far out I think is going to be a ridiculous show.

Okay, because I don't know who's going to be sitting up here. I know it's not going to be me, but I'll tell you what, people have schedules. They have lives to to I'm not saying it was your idea. I know how it started. It started cuz people kept Yeah. You know, we need we need it. We need it. And so why why don't we have them scheduled? So the superintendent was trying to be

proactive. I get it. To me, it should be in the hands of the person who is um who's chairing the committee. It should be in their hand. Not every chair is the same. Now, if we're going to say four times, I'm on policy. I can tell you right now, policy should meet more than four times a year. I can tell you that right now. I'm on a lot. I'm actually on committees who who alternative probably

needs to meet more than four times a year possibly because they may have curriculum in between that we have to have a meeting and attend, right? I would say Kevin alternative policy. What else? I mean, those are the two that I know are going to meet more than four times.

The motion was minimum. That's what I'm saying.

Oh, minimum. But some of them like uh like like uh the superintendent the evaluation one that's it's going to meet once uh grievance you're going to meet when there's grievances. So you know what I mean? I don't know if saying a minimum what I think the the mayor's responsible whoever's sitting in that seat's responsible for putting a chair in all those committees. It's the responsibility of that committee to meet

appropriate amount of time. If that's not happening it should be addressed by the mayor or the superintendent to say hey what's going on? Why aren't we meeting? And I think this makes more sense to discuss this in January when you have new people up here for another two years and not now when one, two, three of us definitely ain't going to be here.

Okay.

Unless somebody chang I I think anyway. I agree with Kevin though. I agree with what he's saying. I do too. I did what I was asked to do. I did it through December.

Yeah.

Knowing that there'll be a new committee. Um I defendant didn't oppose it when we were at the meeting. It was a cordial meeting. It wasn't like she's saying no.

It wasn't like the everybody was sort of in agreement to say the minimum. So, all I'm saying is kind of uh put into policy what we have. Anybody that's out there that's going to get elected would know minimum of quarterly meetings at the subcommittee.

I don't think every subcommittee needs a minimum of quarterly meetings. I think there are some that's going to have more than four, but I think you have some that are not going to meet quarterly.

And the the ones I mentioned were depending on grievances. I don't know how often that meets. How often did you guys meet? For what I understand, that's as needed.

As needed.

As needed. How long How many times have you met this year, you guys?

So, I amend my motion. So, I amend my motion to have policy uh grievance and the evaluation one as needed.

Second. Yes, it does solve it. Thank you sir.

Thank you.

All right. So it's the motion is all subcommittees meet four times with the exception of a minimum of four times with the exception being grievance and um what was the other one evaluation?

Do I have a second?

Oh I'm sorry. I I think there has sorry I just think maybe we should consider adding verbiage that the communication between the chair and the superintendent to select the dates uh beforehand be some sort of agreement because there could be a reason that the chair wants a subcommittee meeting or is requesting a subcommittee meeting and the superintendent uh feels they can wait a month. I think it it's a decision of

both the superintendent and the chair to make that decision.

That's all I just wanted to make sure.

Can I comment on that?

Some bias.

Thank you.

Agreement with that.

Um my only my disagreement with that is specifically the superintendent is in in charge of the school committee if um again anyone that wants to run for school committee can run for school committee get elected and serve on here.

But that is not the superintendent's role and I think that's just um a conflicting role is my opinion. Are you Mary?

What part? I I I I don't understand. Do you mean collaborating in terms of the dates?

The dates. The dates over just dates, right? But there could be a reason. I mean, I'm not going if there's a reason for seven, say, um, instructional. Okay. So, situations happen in the district all the time where the superintendent will say, "We need this like right now." you know, but and there could be a meeting scheduled for three weeks down the road, but it moving up. So, it's I think it's

just communicating and working collaboratively to pick the dates. I'm not asking for anything crazy, but sometimes a superintendent or an assistant superintendent might need a meeting uh two weeks before uh say a quarterly date that's already selected.

I'm just saying leave it open. Have just I agree with Mr. Aya say we need to have quarterly meetings for everybody everything except policy and um grievance the grievance and just leave it at that but as long as the dates are approved by the vi by the chair and the superintendent I mean I think it's practice now let's vote on this we have a motion second go ahead Mr. Aer yes Mr. Bailey Mr. Bailey yes

Mr. D yes Mr. Cory, yes.

Miss Laravey, yes.

Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor Kugan, yes.

Next question.

There's a motion that Mr. Das made us to pass through his first read. So, we just eliminated.

Yeah, we we overrote.

I withdraw my motion.

Thank you.

Uh 128 is discussion vote to approve the the request for usage of the Morton Middle School.

So moved.

Second.

Second.

Um anything on that one, Mr. Tyus?

Thank you. As quickly just want to go on the record. I think um there needs to be a lot of improvement with South Coast Rail and I'm happy they're coming down here to um explain their disservice to the public. I yield.

Thank you, Mr.

Can I ask a question?

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Agar.

Serious question.

Yeah.

Uh based on the um what we had before when we have them come in from the public, they're not going through the machines right?

It's like is I the machines aren't important? No, I'm just saying if we did like if we have an outside agency, it just made my mind go to the machines. So if somebody use this auditorium for a community thing, they go through the machines as well. So they're required to pay for the security that's necessary to they pay for they pay for security for the events here. Um, right, Kenny? And

the machines are on Yeah. the football the basketball games.

That's what I'm saying. But they're as people somebody uses this auditorium to put a thousand people in. Yeah.

For an event. Is it automatic that they when they rent it, they go to the machines?

Yes.

And then they pay whatever requisite fee it is.

Thank Thank you. I yield.

Okay. I have a motion and a second on that.

Any discussion?

All in favor?

Opposed? Unanimous. 126.

District public relations plan.

We're on 129th.

12.

I'm so sorry. I'm reading it upside down because discussion. Thank you, Dr.

Forever. district public relations plan is referred by the parent and community outreach subcommittee presented by Colin Bas.

Thank you. And and I went back to um read the minutes that were attached to this item and u with that being said um since this is an item that came from parent and community outreach subcommittee and it was just really to forward the discussion to the entire committee. I will say this since I've um and the conversation was around P someone correct me if I'm wrong but I'm missing anything but PR firms and the

use of in like PR like firms outside firms and um what we do when we communicate with the public and um I've received a lot of feedback from the public and and I agree with them that using an outside PR firm it's a waste of money. That's my statement. Um, I believe we need a structured plan and we need to be able to communicate.

This is my own statement, but we need to communicate with the public. I think we need to wean off the PR firms and have open communication and collaboration. My position is we should turn for one turn back on the Facebook comments and the ex comments. But again, we should have we should be able to have open collaboration. If a parent has a concern that they can bring it forward and and

it can be properly channeled um when we bring in when we receive a lot of news.

I guess my question I would like to ask um is have we started like how do we and I asked this at the subcommittee do we notify when we have news we send out news releases are we doing that to um we have like some positive news or information we need to share how are we sharing that I know we had some conversations around news organizations just get it from the Facebook page I

think it's also important that we go out there and share what we're doing Um, that's my position. I encourage my colleagues who were at the meeting to um add their comments as well. And I would just like to see some more structure with how we engage the public. I yield.

Bobby.

Bobby.

Yeah.

Not Mr. Mr. Bailey. I'm sorry.

And and I'm agreeing with uh Mr. Das.

Some of the things we talked about is the dissemination of information, how we doing it, how we can be consistent um and do that internally. Um, pretty much I'm in agreeance with him in not using the outside PR firm and how would that look if we had someone that was strictly doing public relations in the district.

Um, I think one of the biggest things and and something that we all discuss is is what platform or what central location um do we have that we can drive um parents, students, teachers, no matter who it is to um for information?

What does that look like? um when we talk about our image in the in the district um how do we make sure we're overly informing um fac well parents, faculty, staff, whoever it may be. Um and then how do we control our our narrative to make sure that we're putting out correct information um no matter what it is and and you know just letting people know and staying up to

date on some of the things we're doing.

Um I from my understanding we do have someone here who does social media. Uh, one thing I did express is doing social media and in and public relation are two different things. That's two different entities. Um, it's a lot of work. Um, so some of the discussions that we did have was figuring out the best way um, to really get in front of some of the things that we have cuz I mean since

I've been on this committee, I think we've had incidents that have happened.

Um, I think there's misunderstanding. I I think um we're in a world now right now where it it doesn't matter if it's true or not. It matters who posted first. Um so it's really getting in front of some of these issues that we have and and and you know painting some of the positive things we we do as well because I think the district does do some positive things and I think

sometimes it can be overshadowed. Um but with that I yield.

Anybody else? Mr. Aia. So, I think that we um I think we talked about uh a new job description for our person which would eliminate the need for the uh extension of the PR firm. So, I'd like to make a motion that we do not renew the PR firm contract for $27,000.

Second.

When is up?

We've been told multiple things, but I recall October.

Yes.

But typically what happens is we say that if we don't take a vote, and I'm not saying this for the current superintendent, what happened in the past was we were told, "Oh, it's only a one-year contract, and we didn't know."

And then we ask the new superintendent, she looks it up. Oh, by the way, we signed a contract for multiple years.

So, the reason why I'm asking for the vote is to give her direction to say we're not going to renew that contract in October. I believe that the district has already said based on us giving a raise to the other person that the money was going to come from the uh you know not filling that but I want the committee to be on record as a vote. I yield.

Can I pray?

I just want to say that this is coming up right now as far as you know not renewing their contract. It wasn't necessarily on the agenda. So I'm not prepared to vote on that right now. I'm not saying I disagree. I'm just saying I'm not prepared. So, I'm either going to abstain if this vote goes forward, or we can wait and if and maybe the superintendent can promise us she's not

going to renew the contract until the October meeting when I and others can maybe look into whether we think it's important to keep an outside PR firm or not. I I possibly would agree with all my colleagues. They all seem to be in agreement with each other, but sometimes, as we know, I'm the sometimes I'm the only one that doesn't agree. So, I kind of do want to look into it before I make a vote. With

that being said, if you guys want to vote, that's fine. I'll just abstain tonight. That's okay. Hold on. Okay.

Um, Mr. Cory.

And so, as far in regard to this question, um, if I could ask my colleague, Mr. Bailey, um, because I I think he's the resident expert in uh, in PR and relations.

um what might you suggest uh somebody internally to drive this forward as far as our PR is concerned?

So from my understanding I I thought this was a discussion um just to move things a little bit further. Um, for me when when I think of our district from a PR standpoint, I also think it's important to have someone internally just because how fast news travels for one, for two, uh, someone who's actually familiar. But three, one thing I did bring up is when it comes to the superintendent, in my opinion, I don't

think it's her job um, to have to at the drop of a dime make PR decisions either.

That's not fair. Um, and I think if we have an expert on site for what we're spending, and you know, like I said, it's also working with her trying to try to see what that looks like. I think we really need to take a look at this because for what we're getting, for what we're spending, everyone on this stage knows I don't really think we're getting the best bang for our buck.

Um, so it's it's like I said, it's really looking at at that and what it looks like and sitting down with the superintendent and see what her expectations are. I don't want to make decisions for her. Um, but I do think it's important that we do go internally um, if we're paying the money, especially just to help her and to help this district.

So, Mr. Bailey, as far as um, having somebody like that, uh, would there be um a set a set job description? Uh, I'm worried about distortion. I'm worried about how news gets reported because it it seems like social media distorts, you know, a lot of the things that are happening within the system.

No, that's my concern. So, uh, how might we be able to control this where whatever the PR is, you know, going forward, it it paints a constructive picture on what's going on in in our system. Well, that's that's when I get back to to controlling our own narrative and putting things out um and offline and at the meeting. Some of the things that I even talked about is the superintendent,

how she does the WSR um interviews, you know, things of that nature. When you look at the bandwidth of of WSR, not everyone has the opportunity to go back and watch those meetings. And I was very candid with her when I told her I've never seen one because I'm at work during that time, right? Um, so people can only go by click uh clickbait or or whatever they hear during um her

meetings. Kind of like our own meetings.

Um, but when we look at our current contract, I really since I've been on this committee, I really haven't, like I said, seen the best bang for our buck when it when it comes to it. So, if we did go internally, um, I don't know what that would look like. That's why I said I I think it's it's a bigger discussion that we have um, collectively as a committee. I know Mr. D had a great a

bunch of great ideas and you did as well, but like I said, it's really looking at the job description and what we're looking for um and what that looks like and and the impact.

Superintendent.

Yeah, I did just want to mention and I know um Miss Purr had to step away, but I did just want to mention that um a vote like this one, which may or may not be necessary, um there's not an opportunity to have it at the next meeting because we have we will have to make a decision. on the contract before the October 20th meeting. So if it did

get pushed off, um it would be for not because we have to cancel um our contract prior to that meeting.

Okay. So I think we're going to do that.

Mr.

Take a vote on your on that exact point. The um I've asked I don't know for years that when votes are coming up to renew contracts, I used to talk about board docks all the time with this. We need to get the information a month or two ahead of time so that we don't get to the situation the superintendent just said is oh if we don't vote not for it then she's kind of

going on a limb do you vote for it if you just like didn't pay attention to it and it just automatic a lot of times contracts automatically get renewed for a year and then we're like oh we should have known that and it's only oh it's only 27 grand so I appreciate you saying that because that's what we need every like financial team before anything happens need to bring it two months before. Okay.

What do we want to do? This particular place, this is one last point.

When I was asking about a year or two ago before you became superintendent, what are we paying this company for?

After either a Freedom of Information Act request or some kind of a bunch of emails, we got that they helped us with Maria Pon's retirement press release and we were paying this company $27,000 and that's all we got. I'm not saying you did that. This was prior to you. So, at the end of the day, I think it was a a misguided vote a couple years ago, it was meant

for when a crisis happens or things like that, which if something like that happened, I think we should have the superintendent have contractual flexibility to say we need to bring somebody in. This is just a straight out $27,000 waste of money in my opinion.

So, I do want to Oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead.

I'm sorry. I just want to be really clear. So our contract with them was around doing press releases multiple per month um plus um that emergency type communication. I do believe that at that time we were 100% under utilizing um the particular PR firm with whom we're working and um but they did actually come here as well. Um it wasn't just you know an email where we said oh we use

them for a singular press release. Um the folks from JGPR came out as well to talk to the committee about um what services they were providing um at that time and continue to um provide. So just wanted to Okay, Mr. Aio's motion to eliminate the contract with JDPR.

Second.

I have a motion.

I second it.

I have a motion a second. Uh on that one, Debbie should call the role, please.

Mr. A.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Yes.

Mr. Das.

Yes.

Mr. Cory.

Yes.

Miss Laravey. Yes, Mr. Pereira stay.

Yes, Mr. Chair.

1210.

Um, we just had a we had a second part of this as well. I know I made the motion just quickly. One more part just to discuss this that my my colleague Mr.

Bailey brought up is um around using social media as well like person just speaking for myself. We have the WS show. I actually went back um recently to watch the the last three clips, the last three shows, and I believe one or two of them were repeats. Believe if we have a donor that's paying for a show for us, I believe that should be utilized more. And I know we were in um

summer as well, so that might play a role. However, believe one if we donors are paying for a show, that should be utilized, too. I'd like to see either the superintendent or district staff engaged with other media outlets. um farmer reporter um we have many different local media outlets within the city that reach a a wide range of people individuals so it's important and speaking for myself that we are engaging

with the community as much as we can um I don't know if I'm missing anything Mr. Bailey, if you'd like to add, but that that's my position. I yield.

Okay.

1210 is discussion and vote to refer a recommendation from the parent and community outreach subcommittee to the whole body that the policy subcommittee review the policies around parental notification in regards to any allegation made of any harassment, bullying, sexual harassment, threats or anything that constitutes criminality from employee to student or employee to employee as referred by the parent and

community outreach.

Second. It's a referral to the policy subcommittee motion. All in favor? I opposed. Unanimous.

Can I ask what this is?

It's a referral to the policy subcommittee to refer policies.

Referral policy subcommittee. Okay.

Sending it to policy to look at those policies. That'll come back.

For your information, we have a number of retirements resignations. Was there are we doing a roll call or was that unanimous vote?

That was unanimous.

Unanimous.

I don't like retirements.

No retirements. I'm sorry.

Resignations.

Motion to accept and place on file.

Second.

I have a motion. Uh all in favor?

I oppose. Unanimous.

Okay. Where are we now?

Do we have a reason to go into executive session?

Mr. Chair, new business.

New business. Go ahead, Mr. Price.

Thank you. an item um came up um I believe it was Friday night within 48 um hours of the open meeting law hours to the meeting come to my attention in a batch that I received that we have uh multiple invoices that are being paid um being paid late. They're past the due date. I counted 12 in my batch alone which I sent to the superintendent and the team via email. was wondering if we

can figure out um how much that will be in late fees if we can figure that out and present that to the committee. I yield.

Do that. Mr. Almeida, Mr. Chairman, thank you. Mr.

On that same note, I I saw Mr. Das's email and another thing that bothered me was uh I don't know four or five months ago, Mr. Das was criticized by the administration for asking questions on the batches of signatures that we are supposed to sign.

Then it came out that well Mr. Das you are costing the district $800 in a late fee from the superintendent. So then that led to me and Mr. Das to both ask for how many late fees are we paying across the district. One of the things that came out was that we paid last year which is the only information that we received on late fees was $13,000 to National Grid. I made a statement to

the committee and everybody else that said that's ridiculous. I don't know how this is even possible to to date still haven't received a response. We need a response to how did we what is going on in the system where we didn't where we were late that many times for national grid bills. That's one request. The second one is forensics. I've asked multiple times, including having to

contact the uh Docu Sign people myself, to figure out, can't we just figure out how long it takes when somebody looks at a batch of 100 pages and when they sign off on it? To this date, I still haven't received that information from anyone.

And multiple members of the superintendent and administration have received this. So, I'm asking for those two things to be provided to the committee. One is why are we spending $13,000? What other lay fees are there?

and we need the forensic report. I yield.

Okay. Anything, Mr. D?

Just just very quickly on that. I still haven't seen the proof that there was ever even an $800 late charge. You I'd like to respond.

Okay.

I'd like to respond.

Dr. Crowley. There we go.

So, what you're referencing are the mult like we did have an issue that started months ago um where Mr. DAS was kind of holding up bill schedules for weeks on end, making requests for information.

Um, either about the bill schedule itself or in some cases not refusing to sign off on bills because there was some other outstanding question that I had not answered that was unrelated to the bills. I was asking for the bills to be you know for him to sign off. Um and you know we we we had multiple communications about it. Um Mr. Dice maintained that he had fiscal responsibilities. I maintain that once a

service has been rendered um we are not in a position to not pay people. We enter into contracts with people. They come and deliver services. They come and deliver materials. um multiple people sign off in the district saying yes, we received those books. Yes, we received those cameras. Yes, the person delivered the PD. And then we have to sign them.

We ran into one particular issue with a vendor who was charging us an $800 late fee. That was something that came to my attention during this discussion, you know, over the summer. Um, and I pointed out that we had an $800 late fee because that particular bill schedule was not paid on time for this one vendor.

I've also said since then that the person waved the fee.

So, I'm I I'm not even sure. I mean, it's being thrown out there that we're looking for proof. I will I guess send the emails. I will I will forward to you. I don't like the implication that I wasn't telling the truth. I'm not that person. Plenty of things happen that I can report truthfully. I do not have to make things up. We were being assessed an $800 late fee. Mrs. open chain

through multiple communications with the vendor basically explaining the difficulty sometimes in getting bills paid being a school system and on and on got that vendor to wave the fee and that's where we are. We have since produced the bills um and all the late fees for national grid. I explained in the email that just tracking down that piece of it was cost cost four hours basically just to put together that list

and that if we were to do that with all of the bills just to kind of vet all of them. We don't we to this date we don't have a mechanism. If the suggestion is that moving forward we track all late fees separately and that that is what something that gets reported out in our quarterly um meetings, I'll be happy to do that. But this kind of retroactive looking back at two years worth of bills

across all of our vendors to track down the late fees is a huge ask and I'm asking you to withdraw the request and allow us to develop a system moving forward.

Mr. Chair, Mr. Das if I can briefly respond it's not more of believing misbelieving if you make the accusation superintendent I believe you should have provided the proof today you made the the accusation that's my position on that but again even I'm happy it was waved however is a valid question to ask that we have at least and I'm sure there's a lot more but we have at least $12,000 in late fees from

one company we as a school committee should know in our fiscal responsibility to this district if there are any more late fees and what that amount is and how we can address it. I think that's um a no-brainer. If you want to develop some sort of system, I'm supportive of that. However, just for the sake of financial prudence, it's important that we know what charges we're being charged when it when it can

even possibly be unnecessary charges. We don't know what the issue is for late fees. It could be a variety of reasons.

However, for an accountability sub aspect, that should be known that should be reported out to the committee and that's my position. I yield.

Mr. Jim, Mr. Agio, just a couple things. So, the U $800 late fee that came from a person. I'm still upset on the fact that she even had the audacity to to ask for that when we paid her over $200,000 in the contract. That's that's uh unbelievable that that was even asked for. So, I would like the proof of it to see what she asked for, how she asked for the late fee because we're paying somebody

$200,000. And yes, the city pays late. I said that in my email, but it's not Mr.

Das's fault that we pay late. There's other issues that we pay late on everything. And I'm sorry that if Mr.

Almea or somebody in his fiscal department that has a budget of over5 $500 or $600,000 that an internal fiscal control like we shouldn't be paying $13,000 in late fees to national grid is such a burden on his department or to you superintendent. But nobody in their right mind can say that that's a valid question. Who on this committee actually thinks that it's okay that we spent $13,000 on a late fee? I don't know

anybody that said this is and I asked for how it happened. got no information which just tells me that it just happened and that's okay. It's just 13 grand. Just 13 grand just like the 8,000 there, 6,000 here. At some point, enough's enough. But I'm upset with the $800 late fee and I would ask for the information of how the person asked for that because quite honestly, I think it's unacceptable to even ask that. With

that, I yield.

We did sign a contract with the individual saying that we would pay late fees.

Yep. And if I would have known that, I probably wouldn't have voted for the contract for $250,000.

Okay. All right. So, do we have a motion here?

No.

No. Okay. Do we have a reason to go into executive session?

I believe we do.

Yes, there is a need.

Mr. Assad.

Okay. I'll list them. Mass General Laws chapter 38 section 217 to review and approve executive session minutes for August 18th, 2025 regular school committee meeting. Mass General Laws Chapter 3A section 21A1 to discuss complaints brought against school committee members.

Mass General Laws chapter 38 section 21A1 to discuss complaints brought against an employee of the school department. Mass General Chapter 38 section 21A3 to discuss strategy with respect to litigation with regard to the Massachusetts Commission against discrimination complaint as the chair has determined that no concession may have a detrimental impact on a on the litigating position of the committee

national law chapter 38 section 21A3 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining relevant to all administrators and employees represented by the for administrators association as chair no open session may have a detrimental impact on the bargaining position of the committee mass Law Chapter 38 section 2183 to discuss strategy with respect to collect the bargaining relative to all civil

clerical employees of the for school system represented by the for department of civil service clerical employees association as the chair has determined possession may have a detrimental impact on the bargaining position of the committee national laws chapter 3A section 213 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining agreement including hearing agreements is relevant to all par professionals

employees of the for school system represented by the for federation power professionals. The chair has determined the no possession may have a detrimental impact on a bargaining position of the committee. We would reconvene. There may or may not be statements at that time.

Mr. Yeah, just uh before we go into executive session, I think there was an issue that Mr. Das had emailed about to get something on the agenda and I believe Miss Cabral said that the mayor would be addressing the issue tonight and I don't know that that was brought up. Do you recall what I was referring to?

Do I?

That is yours.

No.

Mr. Das asked that some item. I believe it was it's not on the agenda. It's not here.

On mute or do you you want to address it?

What is it?

I'm going to email the I believe it was the issue that I raised for several months about an investigation that I asked for that no one thinks that we should do.

I can address that. executive session.

But is that the issue that we were talking about?

That's what I think it is. Yeah.

Okay. I just didn't see it on the agenda and I didn't see where it was going to fit in.

Yeah, I have something for that. I I didn't know what you're talking about. I brought it.

Mr. Chair, Mr. Das, I'll make a motion to resent enter executive session and wave the 10:30 deadline.

Do I have a second?

Hearing no second.

where we're going. I make into executive session session.

Second. Do I have a second?

We get a second.

I have a motion to second executive session. All in favor?

We should take a call on that, Mr.

Okay, go ahead. Have a call. Take a roll call on executive session, please.

Mr. A, yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Das, yes.

Mr. Corey, Miss Laravey, yes.

Miss Pereira, Miss Pereira, yes. Mayor Coug, yes.

We're back in ex We're back from executive session. Deb, please call the role.

Mr. Drag here.

Mr. Bailey, here.

Mr. Das, here.

Mr. Corey, here.

Mr. Laravey, here.

Miss Pereira here.

Mayor Couan here. Anything further to come before the committee?

Yes, Mayor. I'd like to make a me a motion uh to approve the executive session minutes for August 18th of the regular school committee meeting.

Do I have a second?

Second question.

Just a um a comment. Um we obviously always it's always been customary we come out we approve these minutes which is fine but again approving the minutes I just want the public to be aware that doesn't automatically mean full disclosure of the minutes and the school committee never sees the individual redactions or we can challenge them and going forward I think that's a conversation that needs to be had. So I

please call the role.

Mr. Aia, yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Das, yes.

Mr. Cory, yes.

Miss Laravey, yes.

Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor K.

Yes. Anything further?

Yes. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion that we discuss strategy with respect to the collective bargaining relative to all civil clerical employees as negotiated.

Can we say repeat that because it I don't think it was we're doing the agreement, right?

It's to approve as negotiated.

I think I think Mr. Aguia is right. It didn't say to approve the agreement.

I think you just want to say a motion to approve it.

Isn't it to approve the agreement with all clerical? Okay.

You want to read that again, please? I'd like to make a motion that we approve theou uh relative to all civil clerical employees of the for uh school system as not negotiated.

Second.

Approve the contract.

Second.

I have a motion to second. De call the role please.

Mr. Drag.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey?

Yes.

Mr. D?

Yes.

Mr. Cory?

Yes.

Miss Laravey?

Yes.

Miss Pereira?

Yes.

Mayor Kan?

Yes. Anything further? Kevin, Mr. AA, did we do the Paris the power one?

We're not, right? We're not doing No.

When are we not going to do it out here?

I don't think we're not doing the Paris out here until the union goes.

I'd like to make a motion that we approve the budget conversion of pathway specialist to be a guidance counselor.

Second.

Second.

I have a motion to second discussion.

De, please call the role.

Miss Drag.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Yes.

Mr. Das.

Yes.

Mr. Cory?

Yes.

Miss Laravey?

Yes.

Miss Pereira?

Yes. May I?

Yes. Anything further to come before committee?

No.

Entertain a motion to motion to adjurnn. Second.

All in favor? I opposed. Unanimous.