4.29.2025 Fall River School Committee

I'd like to call to order the Tuesday, April 29th regular meeting of the far school committee. Deb, could you please call the role?

Mr. Aguia here. Mr. Bailey. Mr. Das here. Mr. Corey here. Miss Laravey here.

Miss Pereira here. Mayor Cougar here.

Salute to the flag, please.

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 or transmissions are being made whether perceived or unpersceived by those present and are deemed acknowledged and permissible. We have no recognition awards tonight and we have no student delegate comment. Mr. Chair, who am I to Oh, I didn't see it. Mr.

Das, just a quick question. Maybe it's just the first time I'm noticing this. I know we did some changes. Why is um what was the thought process for moving student comment before citizens input? I was just curious. Uh many times this the kids are double booked. They have other events to get to whether it's studies or work and we try to give them a chance to move up. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Yeah, just a follow up to that. If we could get a one pager from uh yourself or superintendent related to the student delegates and the rationale and the roles of the student delegates.

I don't you have a problem with that?

Okay. The reason why I'm asking is because I think that the purpose of them being a student delegate is to actually be here to uh give their feedback relative to the issues that come up or whatever. and we consistently hear say, can you re read us a report on the five to 10 things that are happening at a school which is all well and good and then we release them home and I don't

think that's the nature and the spirit of the student delegate. Thank you.

Agreed. Um there's no citizens input tonight. Item number five is our subcommittee reports. Um parent and community outreach subcommittee, Mr.

Das. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um the subcommittee met on March 26th with myself present, Mr. Aguar filling in for Mr. Bailey and Mayor Kugan filling in for Mr. Corey. The administration agreed to submit a community project funding proposal to Representative Aenclaus to possibly alleviate some of the burden off our school budget. And because it's a capital improvement project, potentially our taxpayers as well, um we

await an update as to whether um Mr.

Aenclaus will earmark this proposal or not. I am unsure whether um the administration has an update on this project or not. We also discussed having yearly meetings and meet and greets with the state legislature state with our state local delegation as we have determined that better collaboration with our state and federal partners would only help the district. That item is before you today.

And finally, we also had discussions on subcommittee schedules that was also discussed and that is before you today as well. I yield. Thank you. Um item number six is the superintendent report and Dr. Curley.

So I will um I'll begin with the hiring update. Since our last meeting, we've had 31 new hires, 26 resignations, and five terminations. The total of vacancies in the district um as of today um is 129 vacancies 66 of those are teachers five administrators, 53 paraprofessionals and five other positions. Uh in terms of kindergarten enrollment, um we are excited about the fact that we have 365 kindergarten

registrations. That's more than double of what we had last year at this time.

Um, we're really hopeful that with earlier registrations, we'll have better projections for kindergarten. Um, as the year progresses, we're continuing to offer K registrations on the go at schools. Um, we're also at community events and daycarees. And so, I would encourage anybody who has an incoming kindergarten student um to please, you know, contact contact our um pay center or take a look on the website to see

when those onthe-go registrations are available.

Um, attached to that is a dual language update. So, we have 18 families who have expressed interest in the dual language uh program at Vavveris for the fall in kindergarten. And um we're holding an interest meeting on April 30th from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Vavveris for anybody who would like to know more about um dual language education in Fall River. On Saturday, May 3rd, we have a recruitment

fair scheduled. Um, it's from 9:00 to 11:00 at Dopey High School and we're working on getting the word out right now advertising um through Handshake that so that we can promote it to current college students in their settings. We're using Talent Ed and Schoolspring um for a posting. We obviously have the information on our website and across our social media and we're also sending out a district-wide

email looking um certainly for folks in district to get the information out to friends and family members who might be interested. Uh we do have a recruitment video available on the site and we have um a job fair flyer that will be available as well. Um as you know we've had some um internet issues over the past few weeks but I'm really happy to say that yesterday um the internet access had been restored across the

district. People are able to log into their devices using their district um usernames and passwords and um getting back to full access across all of our platforms. We've got printers up and running across the district and getting back to business as usual. In terms of retroactive diplomas, um we've had 153 full public school students who have requested a a retroactive CD review. Um to date, um

we're looking at, you know, all graduation years 2003 to 2024 represented in the request. So, you know, ever since that CD requirement around MCCAST came into place, um, and moving forward, every year has been represented, um, which is, you know, really interesting, kind of cool. Um, after a review of transcripts, we've actually been able to, um, approve 108 new diplomas. Um, we did have 25

students who had who didn't met their requirements for a status change and that and we still have about 20 students who are under review. Um, all former students received communication about the status of their review. Students who have currently met criteria to earn a retroactive diploma received an official letter confirming graduation status change, a copy of an official transcript, and have and have already or

will receive a diploma showing that they have met the graduation requirements. I have an update on vacation and summer programming. Um, first I just want to look back to last week where we hosted um an April acceleration academy um for math and science. It ran um the 22nd through the 25th 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. So full days um in the program serving schools across uh serving students across multiple

schools, grade five students from FSA and Green. We had middle school students from Talbet Cas and Morton as well as grade 10 students from Dery.

In terms of summer planning, um we'll we'll see summer programming at fewer schools um over the course of the summer. So, fewer physical spaces being used. We have a 21st century enrichment programs serving 65 students at elementary um elementary sites, Green Lerno, Doran, and Henry Lord. That's for grades one through four. Middle school sites grades six through seven and um a high school site grades um 9 through 11.

We're also offering credit recovery at our middle and high schools this summer.

The district planning um as we have in the past an enrichment program. This is going to be a self-funded enrichment program for students. Families have an option to pay for the program. Um planning to offer a discounted rate to the children of Fiverr public school staff members. And Dery is also planning an evening basketball league. Um, so not Derphy, but it'll be housed at Dery, a

summer basketball league that will be offered um for a fee to interested participants. Our MLL department is planning a grant-f funded acceleration academy this summer for newcomer students in grades K through 5. The program is going to have the capacity to serve about 100 newcomer students. So that's all. Thank you, Chair. Mr. Dice, um, some questions um, just very quickly um, because I know it was in the last 30

days. Do we have an update on the community funding proposal that we submitted? We we have not received um I I don't remember seeing a timeline for when we would get notification, but I can go to the site and see if there's any information there, but we have not received any um any news since putting in that application? No. Um when we submitted the application, have we has um Rep. Acclass's office been in

contact? No, not I haven't heard anything. Thank you. on um internet restoration. Um believe it's safe. We could say we've been caught off guard by this incident. Um it's an obviously a novel is issue in this in this district.

However, you know, with the world that we live in, um I think it's important going into the future that we're better prepared for when incidents like this happen and knowing what the backup plans are. Um, I think sometimes as a society we're too reliant on technology that especially to educate our students and don't think there's anything wrong with like a some good old pen and paper. So, I'd like to

make a motion to refer to the instructional subcommittee a review of the district's curriculum when we do not have technology readily available and to also refer the technology subcommittee a review of the backup plan as it comes to technology and when that doesn't work.

Can Mr. D just repeat that? Could you repeat that? Certainly. Um the motion was to refer to um instructional subcommittee um a review of the district's curriculum when we don't have technology available and also to refer to technology subcommittee a review of the backup plan when the Wi-Fi goes down or um things like that.

I have a second. Mr. Aguier. Um Mr.

Corey. So, in in in regard to that question, uh, Mr. Chairman, uh, does my colleague refer to a contingency plan?

Is that what is that what this is?

Because, um, there's already there's already a curriculum in place.

I I would say I received um from again from educators, from parents, especially when it came to MCCAST. There was some issues taking the MCCAST. I um specifically on the instructional issue with with our curriculum, I would make the argument that we and it's no no one's fault.

Again, it was a novel issue. However, I believe it's just um keeping the instructional subcommittee just informed on if this happens again, what are what would happen? I think it's just worth having just this just just for discussion purposes only the discussion there.

I Mr. Aguia. just uh yeah, I think these are two valid questions. I don't think it's really controversial at all. I would think that the superintendent, assistant superintendent for curriculum is aware of this and they would almost be just reporting out what is the contingency plans given this, but I think it's a valid question for us to do with a subcommittee, let them articulate

it to the subcommittee. The public can see it. I don't really see a negative thing. And with the technology piece, I I agree that it should be on the agenda for us to discuss because there's no loss here. All it's going to be doing isform informationational sharing and the more heads that we put together on it makes more sense I think to articulate what it is. So I don't I I

seconded this because I think it's just a no-brainer. Thank you. I miss Laravey.

Sure. Thank you. Uh Mayor uh Superintendent, is there presently a plan in place? Have you guys been discussing it? Is there something that um you can share with us as a contingency plan moving forward as it as it pertains to So I think that what we found um was that not have being going from like you know having an internet and having people plan expecting that they were going to show up on a Monday

um with access to the internet uh people had to very quickly kind of change their plans. Um but what we saw in schools was the instruction continuing. We saw people using the resources to plan, you know, this using the same resources but to plan for lessons that were not internet-based. Um, I sat in uh a couple different PLC's while um while the internet was down to see what planning looked like. Um, very similar.

Certainly, we we saw that we had some, you know, leaders who did print things.

Um, you know, it was more difficult without a doubt, but brought things in paper form. um people were just in those rooms planning for instruction um while the internet was down. I did want to make a comment about MCCAST because once we were able to restore internet initially for um on a smaller scale so that students could take um you know could take their tests. We did run into

an issue one day. We started MCCAST. We had the start. It basically delayed MCCAST testing for one day, but we were able to we got an extension on the um you know on the window and people are you know in the process of like continuing their makeups, but it wasn't interrupted in a way that we ended up with large numbers of kids who just couldn't test or or things like that.

So, I think we were able to kind of recover from those days where we didn't have the internet and uh you're confident if this which I really hope it doesn't happen again as we all uh sure we share the same uh feelings but um you're confident we would probably be better prepared for something like this without a doubt because we did unfortunately go through this situation.

Yeah. And I do think that there's an element to initially not knowing, you know, it was it going to be a day, was it going to be two days, what were we dealing with kind of thing. I think it's difficult for people to plan forward and you know, I'm not going to plan five days out because we might get internet back tomorrow. Um, you know, certainly as time went on, we

were much more productive. Maybe it took a day or two, but people were more productive just knowing that they needed to plan for that. Yeah. I'm not going to support this motion uh just because I think um our administration is prepared.

Unfortunately, we did have to go through what we went through, but uh if you could provide let's vote on the motion and then I will maybe respond. Go ahead, M. Yeah, like my colleague um to my far left said, I think this is something that's non controversial. I think it's important for again not just us, but the community just to be informed as well.

And I don't disagree that we wouldn't be more prepared going forward. However, having those discussions and having it on record and letting the public know is something that should be encouraged. So, I I think it's just a no-brainer. I don't see any reason why colleagues would vote no on this. However, I'm prepared to vote. Let's continue. I yield. Okay. Deb, could you call the RO?

Mr. Haga? Yes. Mr. Bailey. Mr. Das. Yes.

Mr. Corey? Yes. Miss Laravey? No. Miss Pereira? Yeah, Mayor Kogan. Yes, we have a number of uh minutes. Mr.

Chair, I still had other questions relative um I'm sorry. Go ahead, Mr.

It's okay. Um relative to internet restoration and hiring. Um when I'm asking this question, you know, there's an issue just a question. Just let me know. I'm not trying to but um is there any way we can be notified?

I understand the superintendent has some conversation. However, there is ever data leakage. We don't know. If there is, can the committee be informed as to what the legal requirements are to reporting the public? I'm not asking you to confirm yes or no. I'm just saying can can the committee be informed as to what those require? Sure. I mean, I think it's it's public knowledge. I

mean, I don't know it off the top of my head, but it I can do um a search and I can send to you the language. there are requirements if um you know if an entity knows that data has been breached or something um once that's been confirmed there is there is a requirement to inform the people who may have been affected I I appreciate that thank you and I I think it's

important that we make sure that we follow every requirement there is because this is again a very serious ongoing issue um on hiring on the hiring update I had a few questions for the Um, HR director, if you wouldn't mind coming

down. Um, thank thank you, Mr. Lai. And I understand we're going to have hopefully a discussion soon about what we're doing for community outreach when it comes to um hiring more educators and individuals to come into the district.

Um just curious first question what's the requirements for um for hiring a par professional what is it um so my understanding correct me if I'm wrong either they need to have an associates degree they need to pass parro or have enough credits college credits that they obtain junior level of college am I am I correct uh yeah so our requirements for a paraprofessional um would be either an

associates degree a passing score in the parro or at least 60 college credits.

Okay. And and so we adhere to that. Um so if there's individuals that come before us, they have so many credits, never got their degree, they can we we are accepting them, right? Yes. Okay.

Awesome. Um not a lot of people know about that. That's why I just wanted to ask about that.

Um, so when it comes to hiring for a few different departments, when it comes to hiring for individuals and facilities and operations, how does that how's that process work? Is it um the director goes through you or goes through a superintendent?

in terms of like starting the process or so if there's an open position um the hiring manager the supervisor would um submit a request to post that open position. Once that request to post is accepted uh a position gets posted on our our job posting site. Um as applications get submitted um the hiring manager is able to review those and setting up interviews. Uh once interviews are established, um depending

on how many rounds there might be, uh typically for you know some intro kind of maintenance custodial positions, probably one round for for most of those interviews. Um and maybe a follow-up with just the supervisor. Um but after the interviews are done, there's reference checks uh that are done and then a um request to hire is eventually submitted to my office and then we kind of take the onboarding process from

there. Very good. So there are certain positions within let's say our collecting bargaining collective bargaining agreements that certain positions need to go out for bid.

Uh what do you mean out to bid? There needs to go there needs to be a public process a bidding process for the position.

I uh I I guess I'm not quite sure what you mean. It's not really a bid. It's an application process. I mean we we post positions and and and um potential candidates can apply. Superintendent, do you want to wait because you understand more of what I'm referring to? Um, I do, but I'm not sure it's entirely appropriate for right now, but I I think I mean it does sound like the question

is do we have to post or can we just appoint people? Um, contractual language across many of our contracts or all would say that we have to post some are specific. You have to post for 15 days and things like that. There are parameters within contracts um that speak to posting positions and people getting their applications in. Yes, I would say we're talking about hiring update and hiring individuals coming to

the to the district. I believe it's definitely fair game for questions. Um do do we as a district feel confident that we're adhering to our collective bargaining agreements when it comes to what you just said?

Yes. Okay.

Um uh next round of question. Who does the hiring for SRO's?

Uh, I actually don't know.

Police department. The police department. Police. It would be the um be be the chief. Correct. I do not know who appoints them to be honest with you.

Okay. Um I don't know who can answer this question. I don't know if I'm attorney aside or anyone um can answer this question. And in anyone's opinion is um hiring an STRO and indispensable and essential to the performance of the duties of the office of police chief.

I can point no one knows that call call the chief. He had a meeting with the ground with I'm not sure about on the school. Yeah.

I don't know what his responsibility point of clarification I don't know what he's talking about either.

I I can explain. So We're we are in a district that has an SRO program where those individuals are hired by the police chief. Those personnel decisions are made by the police chief. I think it's um what does that have to do with us? That's the point. Oh, so why are we talking Miss Per? I don't believe you were called. If I can Colin, this really this is really Colin this has nothing to do with the

school department. We don't know who's they assign them. We just take the SRO they give us. I have a concern. I believe it's a legitimate concern is when the city charter is disregarded and individuals are hired past 150 days that could lead to issues within the district and I don't want to play politics with public safety and I believe it's a fair question. I just have one question on

summer school if I may. Um I heard on the morning radio that um students may have to um pay for certain summer school programs. Is there any validity validity in that?

Superintendent. Yes.

Could you exp I I I just heard that um recently on the radio. Could you explain um I believe there are certain programs from what I've heard that individuals did not have to pay for these programs and now they do.

So, I think that when we had an opportunity to access um increased grant funding over the past several years um through ESSER funding, we were able to um you know, it was the purpose of of some of that money um to be able to ex extend programming outside of the school day um so that we could support students in terms of kind of postcoid recovery and things like that. Without that

money, there were, you know, that there were millions. Um, without that additional money coming through um the district, we're not able to offer as many free programs as as we have had um in, you know, the past four five summers. if if we can get potentially get a one pager on that because I I wish I heard about that u through the administration rather than through the morning radio because um I don't know if

there's something we can do if there's something we can cover within our budget this year. We're still in the middle of budget um budget deliberations that have now been pushed back a few weeks. If there's something that we could potentially cover with our um school department um with our school committee unallocated funding, I would love to do something to help in the the students

and parents out that they don't have to again pay pay for I I don't even know what the issue is. Again, it's the first I'm hearing about it through the radio.

However, I'd love to hear more about this and see how we can help individuals. Um okay, I yield. I'll include something in the Friday um memo.

Thank you. you. I I yield.

Mr. Aaron, just uh I would have the same similar question, but was he talking about uh high school, summer school, uh was it? Yes. Do we have summer school in the middle grades? We do have credit recovery um for middle grades as well.

And this is the same pay. Is that or is this a different I know it's going to come out on the one page, but it's just begging the question of what was said on the radio that he heard. I'm just So, I'm not sure what was um what was on the radio. Um, we are going, we actually have another meeting tomorrow to discuss summer programming and so I'm not sure what out there. Who who said something

on the radio? Was it a constituent calling or was it a It was um It was the radio host uh Mr. Terrell. I he said he heard something. Um and then that's why I want to ask I I I don't know anything about it. That's why I wanted to ask about it. I think it's a valid question to ask, but it is. Mr. Terrell or any radio host shouldn't be just saying,

"Well, I heard it." take it as gospel just so I would like to see the option of uh pay but there is probably a rationale that the superintendent has or the principles have on why we're told that we don't have any more money we've spent all the money in the budget you know like so we don't have a a lot of money per se to to be just funding these

things so just I would say I would caution everybody to wait for the answer but I had a couple questions on um one I think is the public should hear from somebody here relative to the public hearing that was canceled today and when it's rescheduled for just so that they know because people could be looking in saying where's the public hearing on the budget. Could you just acknowledge where

that is and Sure. The public hearing uh for the budget is uh is getting to be rescheduled for uh May 12th. So at 5:15 prior to the regular school committee meeting beginning at 5:30. Right. And it was just a posting issue. It wasn't it was a posting issue. Um, by law, we have to post in the newspaper at least seven days in advance of the meeting. By the time the meeting was scheduled, we did

not have a seven-day window in uh for which to um kind of post that notice.

Um, it was brought to our attention today that we had failed to do that. So, we are rescheduling for May 12th. And that posting, I believe, is going to go out on Friday. On Friday. That'll be in the newspaper on Friday. Sure. Thanks. I didn't want people to think there's a conspiracy theory or anything with this.

It's nothing more than that. So the dual language uh program that you had mentioned about uh having the increase.

I know I had asked about the cost of the program uh but also the location of the program. I know we've had discussions about maybe making some moves. I've been saying that we have a crisis of uh um class size and it's not a secret. I've met with you and the assistant superintendent. We talked about it. So, um, what's the status of that program and is it possible that that program

should be moved to another school that has the room in order to create other options? I know the discussions have been placed about where to house internal programming, but we're not getting any action on it. So, I'm looking for some advice on where we're at with that. Okay. Whether from you or Mr. Reposo or Yeah, I mean, Mr. proposal is well, you know, more than welcome to um, you know, offer some information as

well. We have discussed the potential of moving um, the program. There have been um, you know, we had discussions mid year. I think the idea is that in moving eight classrooms um, it'll be 10 classrooms actually this coming year into another building. We're still displacing we're still displacing students. I think we're in a situation at the elementary school level where in order to um change any kind of

configurations around u moving to K to8 models where a DLE program I think would be you know it would be an exciting opportunity to offer a K to8 DLE program um in order to do that it displaces a lot it it and it it doesn't just impact elementary schools it impacts middles as well so we're in a situation that to really do come some configuration we have to I think at this point we'd

have to we're going to have to convert one of our middle schools um into a different configuration not just build out elementary schools uh because we need as much elementary school space as possible. So we don't have a plan for uh moving the DLE program for the coming fall but it is something that we're looking at moving forward. So when I asked for the info, uh what I got was

that it it is complicated and it does affect the special education, regular education class sizes. Uh it also affects busing uh I think tremendously and I for one think we should have acted on many different moves related to this. It's not a secret. You we've had that discussion over and over. Uh, I just think it needs to be brought to a vote of this committee to determine why are we not

going to move somebody. And the longer we keep waiting, we sort of force ourselves to say, "Oh, it's too late now." And I've been saying this for 3 months. Uh, we've been saying it for over a year. I have the minutes here from May 15th of 2024 where we talked about establishing a task force to look at trends, explore long-term planning, school, look at school zones. So, like I'm I've been on this for over a year

waiting. I think the time is now. And if we have a school, the school committee hasn't necessarily been apprised that we have a school that can fit that whole program.

The whole school committee doesn't know that. I I think the the problem is that we we don't there isn't something readily available that could house the entire program. That's that's the So, I think we're in a position where we know that um for the fall of uh 2026, we have to make some pretty extensive changes.

And it makes I'll say I'll say me, I won't even say we. It makes me very reluctant to make immediate changes that have a domino effect when we know that a year from now there will be pretty extensive changes in the district and we'll be putting families and students in in our staff in a position that they might have to be in, you know, three different places in three years. Point of

clarification. Yes. Um could you just um maybe elaborate just a little more on some of the potential extensive changes we might I'm not prepared to do that.

Okay. So I would just say that uh so we could not move the dual language program to lieuteno.

Lieutenant doesn't have open space to fit they no the I mean they no program or we would displace if we're moving uh grades K through four of a program over to LNO then we would displace class 10 classrooms to make room. So they don't have any capacity at the turno as well.

I do not believe so. The um I think we just need to act. I think I've said that over and over. One of the things I think we should look at is we have to do something to eliminate the the high class sizes and the special education issues and the transportation issues. We have to do something and the time I think is now to do that. I would recommend that you look at even if it's

kindergarten or whatever it is. the more that we can move preks and K's to other places, we need to open up space somewhere. I agree. So, I mean the what we're what we're looking to do, I can say like a most immediate thing that I want to do is take a look at are there other places that where we could house prek because I want to be able to open

up if we have a school with four or five prek classrooms that could be elementary classrooms. I want to be able to do that, but it's a matter of finding space for prek. And so we've been spending, you know, time just trying to figure out where could that be, where else in the Fair enough. I I fair enough. I think we're on the same page with that. What I

would ask is at the May meeting, we get a presentation and some action on something, whether it's small actions, any small actions are going to help the short term like as you said before we get to the long-term plan. But if we can get that on the agenda for uh the next meeting, I would appreciate it. Sure.

the um ID asked you had mentioned in your hiring report that there was some terminations over the time and I've asked this in a public meeting in the past that on our agendas we say persons uh hired uh you know hired retired resignations whatever but the committee doesn't get any information relative to terminations whether it's under a separate cover or something like I just think somewhere along the way we are in

the dark relative to any terminations that go on in district. So within the reigns of the legalities of what we can know, I think there should be a look at how does the school committee get apprised of terminations over the years so that we can know are we terminating people? Are we having are resignations really terminations that have turned into allowed resignations instead of terminations? Things like that. So

whatever you can look at within the confines of the law um you know I would appreciate it. And um lastly on the um you were talking about recruiting people from HR to get uh to try to staff up our buildings. I think we should look at something like a signing bonus or to a signing referral bonus to our staff because one of the best ways to have people want to come to

a district is to hear from a colleague another teacher in the district that says come and work for us because this or that you know and I think we should look into a signing bonus. I don't think it has anything to do with unions, but I think it just would be another incentive to say if I get happen to refer Mr.

Corey to come to work. It's an incentive for me to to try to twist his arm to come, I don't care if it's 200 bucks, 500 bucks, or something. I think there's a pot of money that we should put aside to say if you're recruiting people and putting the best foot forward of the schools and get the person hired, whether it's they stay for a year and then you get the money or something like

that. I just think it's something to look at. So, if you could do that, we do I'd appreciate it. Thank you. I yield, Mr. Chair. Mr. Das, just to respond to um some of my colleagues um remarks. Um I agree with um the respect that I believe we are kept out of the kept out of the dark on some items and I think it's important that the committee know it's not a personnel issue because we're

not hiring or firing everyone. We have oversight responsibility within within this district. That should be respected.

on the item in regards to the public hearing and sending out the notice. Who would we would be sending out the notice too? It is in the newspaper. We have to the the law says that it has to be in the newspaper. Right. Um just you know it's one member and I of Herald News is is where it gets published. Correct. Uh right. No. Um, so the issue, and I think it's been a long-standing issue, and

from individuals I've spoken to recently, it's there's been an issue of getting the public to attend these meetings. Um, so I think it's important that we reach out to various forms of media on a broad spectrum. So, I'd like to make a motion that that hearing that that notice go out to the Herald News, um, Fiverr Reporter, WSAR, F FRC Media, and Spindle City Straight Talk so we can get more of an

get more potentially more individuals to come and give their input on the budget.

I make that in the form of a motion.

Any second? Second.

Comment, Mr. Regar? Yeah, I don't think I I second it because I think it's worthy of the discussion. I don't think anybody would oppose to try to publicize something in a more variety of uh venues. I don't know that we need to make a motion for that, but we can even suggest that the superintendent that you post it as many places as you can. Some of these things are on internet. One email goes out, we should

have a list of all uh those sources when we want to pass on information like that. So, I'd like to leave it to the superintendent to to be able to vet what are those media outlets so that it's fair that everyone that should get a media release gets a media release. And I think you probably already have that, I'm guessing. So, I will draw my second because I think I trust the

superintendent to do that. I yield.

Anything further? Item number seven. We have three sets of minutes to approve. Motion to approve. I have a motion. Do I have a second? Second. Discussion. Deb called the role on the three minutes. We're calling the role on the regular school committee for 210, the parent and community outreach subcommittee on 226 and the joint meeting with the city council on 311.

Mr. Dragam, yes. Mr. Bailey, Mr. Dus, yes. Mr. Corey, yep. Miss Laravey, yes.

Miss Pereira, yes. Mayor Kuban, yes. We have a number of travel requests. It's that time of year. Um, unless somebody has a hold, I'm looking for a motion in a second. a motion with a with a question or sec I'll second it with a question.

Okay. Uh Mr. Das. Yeah, I'm going to support all of these. Um however, just speaking about our travel request policy, I think we need to really look into updating this policy so we know where district employees are going. So, we have department heads getting reimbured from those who are traveling with said department head to conferences that are on grant money. when we sign off on those, we should know also know

who's going again for liability purposes if something happens. That's all. I yield and I'll support all these. Um Deb, would you please call the role?

Chairman, I'm sorry, Mr. AA. Just a comment on that. So, I think that uh Superintendent Curley is working on I'm not speaking for you, but I think we talked about this at a a meeting to say we gave you some leeway to do a couple things and then I would assume at the next policy subcommittee there's going to be a policy related to this issue because I don't necessarily think you

have to put everything in as Mr. D said, but whether somebody's going or not like if a husband and wife go on some a trip or something, you're not paying for the spouse. I don't necessarily care who that other person is, but the thing is we shouldn't be paying for we talked about $15 Starbucks drinks at 9:00.

Sure. You know, $50 stakes, this and that. So, I think you've already corrected it, but is that going to be on the next policy committee meeting and it should be scheduled soon forward. Mhm.

Thank you. So, we have two on the books, right? Y are you, Miss Pereira? I just have a question on that. So, when I've traveled before for work and what have you, I'm given a stipen. So, you have a $50 stipen and I can go out and spend that money on a steak. Well, I don't eat steak, but you know what I mean. And then I can use my money to buy other

things or what have you. So, is that not what we're doing? So, there is not um a dollar amount that's been established for daily spending so that technically someone could go out and do whatever they all day and they hand in their receipts and we don't have a policy in place that would restrict how much someone could spend in a day. So I think that's something we need, right? And it

should be that simple. So if I choose to go with, you know, my buddy is going to come along with me, but I have a conference. What that's it's cut and dry. You get 25 whatever. You know, we look at whatever the average is, you know, um you get this amount and this is for your breakfast, your lunch, your dinner. You can go eat somewhere fancy, but then you're buying your own

breakfast and lunch, right? I mean, I think that's what we need to be doing, right? Okay. That's that's all. Mr.

check that um you know I I I don't disagree but it was more it was a different issue which I um spoke about with the superintendent in regards to if you have um a department head going you have four other say three to four other individuals going with you and you're you're all able to go however and you pay for the ticket you're getting reimbured for your for your plane ticket

because there's a grant however we don't know who the other individuals who went because those other individuals are reimbursing that one department head.

Again, there's nothing they're not doing anything wrong. I just I'm just advocating for um more transparency in the policy. That's all I yield. Deb, call the role on travel, please. Mr. A.

Yes. Mr. Bailey. Mr. Dus. Yes. Mr.

Corey, yes. Miss Laravey, yes. Miss Pereira, yes. Mayor Kugan, yes. Item number nine, we have a number of donations.

Um, I'm looking for a second. I mean, a motion, a second. Second with a quick question. I have a motion, a second, Mr.

Das. Thank you. I noticed um the Home Depot Middletown gave us a donation. Did I Did I read that right?

The last one for green. Yes.

So that that store in Middletown just um looked up the fall public schools and wanted to give us a donation.

Uh no, I I mean I think the we've received donations um in a lot of different ways. Some schools or programs might um send a letter to um a business requesting donations. They may have know somebody who works there who says, "Oh, we do donations all the time. How about I get, you know, get my boss to donate, you know, 50 bucks, we'll get you a gift card or something like that. And then we

gen when whenever corporations do that, we generally have to have, you know, they have to have on record that they've made a donation to us that we've requested a donation or something like that. Okay. So, I guess my what I was thinking was happening was another person went to Home Depot, got the these indiv these items, and we're putting Home Depot as the as the donor when it's

really a third party. So, I'm I'm wrong on that. Yeah. Oh, I don't think Yeah. I mean, not to my knowledge. I I don't know. I can't say, but I don't know.

I I can't understand what you're saying.

So, like this would be like if I went and bought something at Home Depot and donated it and we're putting Home Depot as the person who made the donation. No, that doesn't happen. Okay. Thank you. I There's actually a policy on that. So, in the past, we had a situation where someone donated anonymously some money to something and then we actually created a policy that said truth in advertising is whoever

makes the donation. So, if I went out and bought $40 worth of plants, it would come under my name, not the Home Depot.

So if somebody ever does that, that's violation of the policy. Okay. Thank you. Deb, you want to call the role on that, please? M. Drag. Yes. Mr. Bailey.

Mr. Das. Yes. Mr. Corey. Yes. Miss Laravey. Yes. Miss Pereira.

Mayor Kugan. Yes.

10 is the approval of grants. Read them.

Yes. Oh, I'm sorry. Stay with me, buddy.

Um, on behalf of Spencer Bordon Elementary School, Principal Eric Bradley accept a donation of $1,000 from the family and friends of Peg McGawan.

The donation will be used for innovative instructional materials and other needed resources. Um, Principal Kyle Riley on behalf of the Robert Elmaderas Resiliency Preparatory Academy accepts a $900 donation from Bay Coast Bank. The donation will be used for the Boston field trip.

director um Dan Fitzgerald on behalf of the health and physical education department request um is accepting $500 donation from St. Michael's Credit Union. The donation um will offset the cost of adaptive middle school bowling field trip. Shamba Daniels, principal of the Henry Lord Community School, accepts a donation of $250 um from Bakos Bank. The donation will be used to for the student treasures publishings

to pay for the book um the classes are writing. Dr. Nicholas Bettincourt on behalf of Morton Middle School accepts a donation of $70.66 from Somerset Nursery. This donation will be used to establish a community courtyard. Dr. Dr. Janet Schwitzer on behalf of the Dorfy High School Evolve Academy accepts a monthly hygiene accepts monthly hygiene products for 50 students which is a donation from Hope

and Comfort. The donation will be used for students in need. Dr. Janet Schwitzer, Dery High School um Evolve Academy director accepts monthly bags of gently used clothing for two students and a don a donation from gifts to give. The donation will be used for students who have clothing insecurities. And finally, Dr. Liz Dunn on behalf of the Green Elementary School accepts um potting

soil pot seeds and seed starter pods valued at $40 a donation from the Home Depot Middletown. The donation will be used for hands-on activity to go along with the current SFL unit. Just quickly, superintendent, just uh as far as the hope and comfort uh donation, is that in addition to what we have in the district? I I've been told that we are fully um you know, supplied in every bathroom that needs to be

supplied. This is just in addition.

Okay. Thank you very much. I yield. Item number 10, the approval of grants. We have five grants tonight. And as we do, does anybody have a hold on any of the grants? Ask a general question on all of them. Go ahead, Mr. Yeah. What is the contractual rate for teachers uh hourly?

Is it $35 or did it go up? It went up.

It is $41.

40. Just kidding. 40. Just in reviewing the documents. I think we need to have the grant people requesters change it because it's 35 which it's I I understand what you're saying just that they're in there. So if the grants all spelled out, you're going to have to do something different than what's here.

That's all. Thank you. Are you Mr.

Corey? Yeah. I'm just um I'm really pleased to see uh something here in the line of social studies and I noticed we have Mr. Dearis in the house with us tonight. Mr. Dearis, would you mind coming to the podium just to explain Democratic Knowledge Project and Investigating History? I see so many grants and so many contracts being aimed at special needs or science or math or ELA and literacy. I'm very

very happy to see something aimed at social studies because I feel that through the years social studies was almost kicked to the curb in regard to the MCCAST standards. And so, um, I'm really happy to see a resurgence of the social studies, uh, curriculum in our schools. It's, it seems to be re-energized. Could you just I'm just curious to know about the Democratic Knowledge Project and

investigating history. Thank you, Mr.

Curry. Thank you for the opportunity.

Um I agree with what you said in terms of the uh last bit of time in terms of history and curriculum and I'm happy to say that it's very different now. Um if we speak specifically about investigating history the curriculum was designed by the department of education by desi along with school districts that piloted advised it was like a lab that happened for a number of years in conjunction with input from

universities. So they developed this opensource curriculum for districts just because that history was ignored for a long time and that there are not a lot of high quality instructional material platforms for history. So these are really the first of their kind so to speak and you're going to see more growth. Um so the investigating history was developed and it was given it's open

source it's there anybody can click on it and access it. These grants are given to provide professional development for teachers to implement and it's very high quality. I've been to the trainings that have happened this year. The district was awarded several years ago uh a grant to get some initial training for teachers in investigating history.

Democratic Knowledge Project is a curriculum based on Massachusetts standards endorsed by DESIE, but it was developed by Dr. to Danielle Allen and her team at Harvard and it's in conjunction with project zero which is a research lab on learning. Um so that particular platform has a tremendous amount of professional development and support for it. It's again aligned to the standards. It's got the civics

project embedded. Both of these platforms are applied learning platforms that are this professional development is funded by the 1A foundation. I'm sure you've seen that na that name on the agenda before. It's a philanthropic outfit that provides funding. They they look at high quality instructional platforms that have applied learning and they fund them so that districts can access training for it. They fund

project lead the way they fund STMath.

They fund um open sed it's there's a lot of overlap in terms of the strategies. So the transferable strategies for students to go from a a a science classroom to an ELA to a math to a history classroom be is more apparent for students that are in these curriculum. So right now investigating history is grades 5 through 8. Um I mean for sorry 5 through 7. Grade 8 is democratic knowledge

project. They're about to release in a pilot form curriculum for grades three and four for investigating history. So I'm excited to see that work. Um, and that'll be in the next year. I appreciate that update. Um, again, I'm I'm really happy to see some new energy funneled into the social studies curriculum. It's incredibly important for our young learners to have a sense of history, you know. Thank you. With that,

I think on the grants, Mr. Das, um, thank I I do have three holds, but I did have a specific question on investigating history. Um um just a quick question. So this is um a desi grant. It is a one8 foundation grant. I'll come from that's why it's private. Okay. Yes. No, I yield. Thank you. Um and Mr. Mayor, can I give my um three holds for sure? Um I'd like to

place a hold on the first three. Um playful learning, my cap, and title three. Okay. So the other two, can I get a motion and second on the last two? So motion. I have a motion and second, Deb, on on the two social studies grants. Can you call the role, please? Who seconded the motion? Mr. Corey. Oh, then who made the motion? Mr. Das. Oh, okay. I'm sorry.

Mr. Agap. Yes. Mr. Bailey. Mr. Das. Yes.

Mr. Corey. Yep. Miss Laravey. Yes. Miss Pereira. Mayor Coug. Yes. Mr. Das on Playful Learning Institute. Thank you.

So I see the duration of this grant started um last month and it's coming before us today. Um just want to get an explanation as to why that is.

It says um oh yeah I see it.

So the grant you the school committee was notified when we submitted the grant to the desi and the desi did not approve it until then. So that day is after the most recent school committee meeting. We got approval after the March meeting. So I put it on for April to get approved.

So we haven't started this um we we haven't accepted the funding yet. We have not. Okay. Um same question for all for um all three. So is that the same?

Seems the same. Yes. We waited for DESC approval on the funding and the funding happened and the my cap one happened very late. We submitted it back in November and so they're they're giving us approval back to November, but we didn't get actual approval from them until after the last meeting. Um I see title three is a federal grant. We still need dusty approval for that. Yes.

Okay. I So all three of those. Any further questions on those three?

Um do I I have a motion to second?

Motion still made. Second. Okay. Deb, could you call the role on the three we held? Mr. Daga. Yes. Mr. Bailey. Mr.

Das. Yes. Mr. Cory. Yes. Miss Lar. Yes.

M. Per.

M. The same thing. Just um the grants.

Yes.

Mayor Kan. Yes. Item number 11 is the approval of contracts. Again, uh as we do, we use epox. So for the continuation, is there any holds on the continuation of those contracts? Maximum Staffing Services.

Yes, Maximum Staffing Services. Anything further on the first uh other two. Can I get a motion a second on Hill and Pearson?

Yeah, I have Mr. Chairman. Yep, Mr. I mean, Mr. Cory, that's on the next section. He's taking just the first. Oh, okay. Excuse me. Okay. Motion to approve the other two. Second. I have a motion to second the other two. Um Deb, call the role, please. On Hill and Pearson.

Yep. Mr. Yes. Mr. Bailey. Mr. Das. Yes.

Mr. Cory. Yes. Miss Laravey. Yes. Miss Pereira. Yes. Mayor Kan. Yes. Mr. Das on Maxim. Thank you. Um, is there anything uh any clauses, any staffing changes that are different from the last contract in terms of this one? What's the question? I'm sorry. I apologize. Is there anything um different in this contract that's from the in terms of stat? So everything's the same? Yes. Um, if I can ask um because it's um a

$650,000 contract, if I can um have a superintendent explain um the like the needs um where these par professionals are going to be staffed, what school is it going to be mainly um stone? So, it's so I I'll I'll take this one. So, it's it's mo it's it's mostly Paris. That's what it mostly is. It's mostly special ed pars and they are for the most part it's staffing for middle schools because

we've had we have a lot of vacancies in the par positions in the middle schools.

We have a couple situations where there are teaching positions but this is a continuation. So we originally came before you back in I want to say it was September I believe or October for the initial approval for this contract. Um, and now that we have a sense of how many people are exactly on the contract, we know that it's going to take additional funding to fund us through the end of

the year, but most of the staffing does lie in the middle school. Thank Thank you. Um, next question. I I'm assuming I don't know if you have the answer to this, but what are we doing to hire individuals to come outside of this staffing agency just to come wholly into the district? I'm sorry. Mhm. Um what what are we doing to to hire people outside the staffing industry to come

in? Have we put these positions out um to bid? Are we not receiving individual are we not receiving like um applications? So I can I can tell you that with each one of these positions, they're still out for advertising. I think still out it's still posted. So if a person comes on board and we can take fill the position, we do. But these are pos positions that were are still open

technically. All right. So yeah, so we put these positions out. We have there individuals in the community at large have the ability to apply. I'm just trying to understand what is stopping us from hiring people outside of a staffing agency. And and again, I'm not not shifting blame. I'm just trying to understand more because again, it's a $650,000 contract and eventually we need

to really look into lean reigning into spending. I totally agree with you, Mr.

Das. I mean, our goal is to always hire our own employees that are going to be with us long term. I can assure you that my teams check our online application pool daily. They're just not there. The applicants just aren't there. We interview anyone that applies. And a lot of the times when they hear what the position is, a lot of these positions are paraprofessionals in substantially

separate classrooms in middle school. It is not a kindergarten classroom paraprofessional position which a lot of people think it could be when they're applying for a par profofessional. This takes a unique skill set and then people try and then they don't stay with us.

And the reason that we end up with agency personnel is because they are constantly recruiting and they have read people readily available. But I can tell you even the turnover within the agencies themselves, they send us Paris, two weeks, those people are quitting on us or not showing up to work. It really is a huge problem as far as the pool and um hiring the quality of the of the

power professional that going to stick it out and be with us long term. Would Would you No, I don't disagree with you and and thank you for the explanation.

Would you say an updated collective collective bargaining agreement would help with the issues. I do think um I mean again anytime that feel like anytime that um adults feel like they're valued financially by being compensated for the work they do of course that always helps but along with it it becomes an understanding of the work that you're going to be asked to do and making the a

difference in the lives of our students.

People have to want to do this work from administrators to teachers to paraprofessionals to custodians and nutrition, right? We're looking for people who want to do this work and sometimes, you know, again, it's just hard to find those um candidates in this economy that we live in now. No, I appreciate that. That's why I'm of the opinion that with an up and if hopefully we get there soon that that will help

alleviate some of the burden. Is this a yearly contract? Is it one year? It's only till the end of the year. Yes. And then we tell they're already asking me about next year. And I always say come back to me in August because between now and August, we are always going to be um seeking out district employees. So this is till December.

End of the year. This is until December or the end of No, no, June. Sorry. The end of the school year. So this is from April to June. This contract. This is the extension of a current contract. So it's really just asking for additional funds to continue to support the level of staffing we currently have from agencies.

Okay. So this is from April to June.

This is extension from April to June.

Yes. Um in the ex extension is not 650.

So this is just the overall that I mean that would be a it's in addition to what we've already spent again a projection based on right the staffing agencies are very expensive. We have been very transparent with this committee about it. It's not something that we can negotiate. Trust me, whenever I get a higher quote from a particular agency, I'll always say, well, this other agency actually quoted

us this. Can you ma can you match them?

We do our best to, you know, mitigate those factors, but ultimately they're a business and they determine their funding. No. And again, I again full faith and confidence in the special education department. And it's just wow.

It's just again $650,000 just from April the June. I again this is going to supporting our special needs students in the district.

So I'm going to I'm going to support it because it's needed for them. However, um I think it's worth having a bigger conversation down the road. I I yield.

Thank again. Thank you, Mr. O. Mr.

Aguar, Mr. Almeida, can you tell me how much uh a par profofessional in a substantially separate classroom, as Miss Oen said, makes from maximum staffing? From maximum staffing. Well, the one that's on here, one of the agencies.

Yeah, they I I want to say they make about four, you know, based on the rates. So, I I couldn't tell you whether how much goes directly to the employee because I'm sure that the staffing agency keeps a piece of it. Uh but it's it's roughly $50,000 I believe per per paragraph. They're there for the year.

Right. That's what we pay. That's not what they Correct. Correct. Right. I I think the um one of the simplest answers to somebody's question, but to solving this issue is that people are not going to apply for a $26,000 a year position when they can in another district or in a ser agency make 35,000 and even if the agency takes $15,000, which we should look at to see what that is, you have to do this

because we got no we have no choice at this But the real answer to this question is if a paraprofessional should be making a lot more than $26,000 a year. That's a fact. So we need to sit down and say what are we going to pay them so that we actually have a chance to pay this. Now in the district I believe that not all paraprofessional positions are created equal. Some are in what Miss Obenchain

just said, maybe they should be getting a higher pay because we don't have money to, you know, pay everyone, but we have to do some creative things because if the agency were paying 50,000 for a person in a substantially separate classroom, why don't we pay them 35,000 and we'd have a better chance of getting people if we did that? But what we do is keep everybody at 26 or 27,000 and they

get uh what I would call a very minimal stipen one, you know, for having uh more difficult children, toileting and and all that, that's nothing. So the real issue is in order for us to get rid of this type of stuff coming on our agenda is to pay those par profofessionals a hell of a lot more money than what we are. And I don't I'm not looking for an answer. I'm just saying I think that's a

fact. And until we really get serious about that, we're going to continue to have budgets come here for 650, 1.6 million speech, the same thing. You know, like all the agencies that we're paying more money is sometimes because the people that may be wanting to do it are going to go to the agency to make more money for their family rather than for less. So, we have to be competitive.

We did it with the teachers. We need to do it across the board, uh, in my opinion. But I don't see this as a big issue because it's not $650,000 for them. you probably have hundreds of employees or that have fit under this.

So, it's not a it's a big number, but what in the budget is happening is the salary line is being reduced to pay this. So, this isn't a new expense. I think being clear about that is what we need to see. So, if this 650 goes to the contract, you reduce the salary line by 650 to pay for it. This isn't a new $650,000 expense. Correct. Correct. So, I I'm not as worried about that as we

got to solve the problem somehow. I want to pay people more money personally. I yield. Mr. Cory. So along those lines, Miss Obenchain, I I I just want to say that I really appreciate how hard you're working to to build up the ranks in the special needs department. I'm going to go back 30 years. And to my experience as an educator in this school district for my entire career, I've never seen a

focus on special ed like I'm seeing it now. So kudos to you for bringing that focus and that sense of direction. We need that sense of direction. According to my colleagues comments about pay, I'm in full agreement and I I the question I have is are the Paris being trained right now?

Are there skilled trainings throughout the year for Paris especially in those extenduating circumstances in um you know the subsparate classrooms and the such. Sure. One thing that we have done consistently since I came on board in um Fall River is offered professional development for PAR professionals over the summer before school even starts for some of our highest needs um specialized

programs and many many paras have taken us um in that opportunity taken us up on that opportunity. They're also, you know, um, safety care trained just like our teachers and just like our administrators are to help them build the skill set. Fall River still offers the jet program to help them work towards um, you know, some type of lensure or schooling. And then one thing that Mr. Reposo and I are working on

right now is um, a partnership with one of our local colleges to work on an autism certificate program that anybody in the district could do. So it doesn't mean you have to take um you know x amount of college courses. This is actually a certificate program that's a very minimal set of courses and again to help our paras have tools in their toolbox um to work with our students.

The um social emotional learning comp components of working in especially in a middle school um substantially separate program. you know, our um they're always getting feedback and support from our adjustment counselors or our our administrators over in those positions as well. So, we are willing to help them in any way grow and learn. Again, u I'm going to go back 40 years. A par

profofessional had to barely have any skills whatsoever. There were no trainings. There was nothing. A lot of a lot of the jobs were political handouts, you know. Um it's not like that any longer. there's so many, you know, um, so many constraints in place to make it happen. And I know that what you said, I I believe you and I feel for you that the candidates just are not there in the

job pool. The candidates are not there.

I don't think it's just affecting our district for for edification purposes. I think it's a it's it's a it's a real problem in American society right now.

Mhm. Uh and I'm just wondering what can colleges do to step up to maybe uh you know give kids the training necessary as an associates and come in here maybe with a slightly elevated pay. I agree with my colleague to the left that we need to elevate their pay so that we can attract these skilled candidates. I'm very concerned about the lack of candidates available for a special needs

classroom. With that I yield and I can tell you I I can also tell you that the feedback from PAR professionals when we offer them professional development I mean they you know um are thirsty for it. They want that. They sign up for it.

They give up their time to come in for it and they are a ve very very valuable member of our team um because our teachers cannot do this work without them. I see this I see this amount of money coming from the staffing agency and I just wonder what can we do to uh to maybe change change course of direction on instead of relying so heavily on staffing agencies. I just

wonder what we can do for recruitment. I don't have those answers available here.

It's just a question I'm putting out.

You know, one thing we are doing that the committee um u might not know about is we are meeting actually with some of our staffing agencies that are fairly new to us like over the past year because we do have strong staff members that are agency par profofessionals or agency teachers that we want to bring on board as district employees. sometimes what they require us to pay them to buy

them out is much too high for a district um to um to agree to. Right. So, but Mr.

Lai and I have an appointment with one of the agencies that we get a lot of our paras from and a lot of our teachers from just to see if we can come to some agreement. We do have one precision that we already do that with after so many hours of working for the agency. they can come on board as a Fall River public school employee and then we bring them

on that way again. Um so I'm hoping that if we can to your point Mr. Corey if we can start to engage in more of those discussions then eventually paras are brought on brought to us from an agency but then eventually a year in or a year and a half in we can bring them on board as district employees and then we're done with the agency fees.

Thank you. I yield. I appreciate that.

Thank you guys. Thank you. Last last round of questioning and agree and I agree with both my colleagues to my far left. I think one of the biggest things we can do and we said it is when we get this settled and hopefully it's very soon we'll see an influx in the numbers somewhat. However, I think there is some truth as to whether what is this agency charging us. Again, we're not just

paying just for pair of professionals.

We're paying for a whole lot more. and Massachusetts has very strong consumer protection laws. So, I'll make a motion to approve. However, we either task attorney Assad or other legal counsel to look into whether this agency is violating any 93A consumer protection laws.

Second, I just don't know if we should be assuming that companies are violating the law. We'll lose all that. Yeah, we're going to lose people that don't want to. I mean, obviously that's a simple thing that Kevin can can check.

I'm not going to vote for this because I think we do this stuff anyway and I'm going to roll with it, but I have a motion to second. Uh, Mr. Aguia. Yeah.

Just the reason why I seconded it was it's pretty simple. I think it's a valid question. I don't think Mr. Das is accusing anybody of anything. He wants an attorney to actually just state. He just wants attorney Assad who we pay, excuse me, to look it over to say to make sure that they're not violating any of the regulations. Along with that, it's probably going to come out that

we're going to actually get the fact of how much are they paying and how much are they uh taking on the side. There must be some sort of regulation that they can't just have charge us anything.

There has to be some regulation. So I think it's something good to look at and through that process maybe they're overcharging us or other districts and that they need to give us a better deal.

Thank you. I yield. Oh, Miss Pereira.

So, I think the way staffing agencies work, because I've worked for them, um obviously there are fees that they're going to take themselves because they have people that work for those staffing agencies that also get salaries. So, we're paying for a parah or teacher, whatever. Um, as well as their administrative costs to run whatever they're doing. I I think that that's simply a question when we're negotiating

a when we have, you know, signing a contract with these people. I think it's a simple question to ask and it's something they will furnish to you. I I I don't think that that's something they wouldn't furnish to you. Um the reason I'm voting no on this is because I'm sick of people getting work that's unnecessary. If my colleague thought there was a reason to believe there was something wrong, then I would say,

"What's that reason?" You know, let's do it. But right now, we're just like throwing dots in the air and waiting for something to stick. I mean, I don't think the terms dots, but you get my point. And I'm I'm over giving people work that is unnecessary. Our job is to keep an eye on this body. It's not my responsibility to see if that company is doing the right thing. As long as we're

getting the services we're paying for.

If we weren't getting the services we're paying for, that'd be a different story.

But I don't think it's Attorney Assad's job to look into the ethics or morality of any company quite frankly. Um, with that I yield and that's all I'm going to say. Everybody will disagree. Yada yada vote.

I again mayor I actually do disagree yada yada because we're paying this company $650,000 for three months. It's a very we we absolutely do have oversight over our contracts and it's good to ask questions on our contract and making sure we're getting the best bang for our buck. I think it's something worthwhile looking out for again the taxpayers and looking out for the public dollars which

we spend. It's something that's important that we do and I I don't think it's um something that's unreasonable at all um for for attorney side or anyone to look at. I don't want to speak for attorney side but that's just my opinion. I think it's something we need to do to re in on these costs. Again, this is a motion to approve and just tasking our own legal counsel to look into this. Again, we're not accusing

anyone of anything, but it's important when we approve a $650,000 contract from April to June. We need to do our homework and our due diligence when we do this. Again, my colleague can make um fussy noises to my right. However, I'm looking at for the best interest of the fall public schools and the dollars that we use. So, I'm prepared to vote yes on this motion. Mr.

Das, I do want you to know just um and for the public to know we do turn down agencies that I feel like the cost is, you know, astronomical because there are out there and we don't just uh agree with every agency that submits a proposal to us. No, this company, the the PAR professionals, you would agree do great work. Of course. Okay. And that and that's important. That's why I'm

voting to approve this because I don't I I don't want because that that would that would directly harm special education in our district, which is something I don't want to do. However, it is very important that we take a look into a $650,000 contract and look to see where these monies are going to. And and that's not to say you're not doing your due diligence and looking at these

contracts. However, when we have to take a vote to approve, there needs to be a balancing act. And I think this is a proper balancing act of approving this contract but also looking into it more, investigating it more and see where our public monies are going to. I Okay, Mr. Aaron. So the uh issue is even not just 650, it's the 1.6 million or more. Has anyone in the administration looked at what Mr. D suggested the

question I think he quoted 93A or whatever the regulations are and I don't even know what there is for regulations because it's never been asked but has anyone in the administration looked at it to see if what he's suggesting it's all clear and we're ready to roll I have not I have not Dr. early. No. So, I think that's the reason why I'm supporting this is because I don't think it's a bad thing

to look at. It doesn't have to be an extensive piece, but here on this committee, we pay a full-time attorney for a reason. Attorney Assad's very capable. He can do this in a very short order to look at is there any regulations of this and are we following them? Very simple answer. And when he gives us that report, it will certainly make me feel better and it should make everybody feel better, including the

administration, to say, you know what, we checked it. Everything's good. I don't think it's a I don't think it's a heavy ask, but we should check on it and if there is regulations of hiring agencies, he will get to the bottom of it and be give us a a report on it. He's not telling me he's going to do it in one week. Okay, I I just want to know what are we voting

on right now? We are voting to approve the maximum contract right now and and to task our legal counsel just to look into hold. Yeah. Yeah. No, no, no. I made the motion. It's That's why you Why are you saying no, Mr. Mayor? I thought we had the first motion was just to approve the maximum.

There wasn't a motion. No, there was a motion on that. I'm sorry. Okay. Can Can the clerk um clarify my motion? No, there was no motion. It was the motion that's on the table is the motion that Mr. D made to staffing service along attorneys wanted to say something when I was talking, but I No, he said no. He changed his mind. Changed his mind. I'll just uh just uh quickly uh I know it

very often seems that I am full-time uh but uh it is not a contract for for full-time but um uh I appreciate your uh your support. Thank you. Uh Deb, could you please call the role? Mr. Can we clarify what the motion is?

It's the one the motion I made that includes um approving this and to look into to task attorney. Yes, he put them together. That is his motion. He put them together. He mo he made a motion to approve Maxim with the investigation to test.

Go ahead, Deb. Call the RO. Mr. A. Yes.

Mr. Bailey. Mr. Das. Yes. Mr. Corey. No.

Miss Laravey. No. Miss. Perrum. No.

Mayor Cougen. No. Motion to approve the contract. Second. A motion to second on the maximum. Deb. Uh. Mr. Agger. U. Just want to make a suggestion to my colleague to the chair uh relative to uh getting a legal opinion. My suggestion would be to follow the charter, send it to the city corporation council and he has to give you an answer in a short order. Thank you. I yield. Great.

Could you call the role please? Mr. Rag.

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

Corey. Yes. Miss Laravey. Yes. Miss Pereira. Yes. Mayor Kugan. Yes. Mr.

Mayor, I like to make Can I make it separate? I guess there was an issue with some members. They didn't want to put it together. I like to make a motion separate that we also We already voted that you had an issue, Mr. Mayor. You had an issue. We voted the emotion because I from what I heard, you were upset. No, I wasn't upset. No, no, no, no, no. Don't. Please. I know you can

read minds, but don't read my mind. I'm not upset. I wouldn't want to read your mind. Well, you were. You were trying to. Let's go. We already voted your motion. I'm making a new motion. You didn't even Mr. Mayor, you're reading my mind because I haven't even made the motion yet. Go ahead. So, you I from what I just heard, you did not want to I'm not even reading your mind. I'm just

I'm just replaying your words. Can Can I speak, please? Thank you. So, the mayor just said that he did not want to take the two items together. He voted no. The committee voted no. So, I'm making the motion. So, I seconded the motion, voted yes on the contract. So I have a right to make a second motion that we look into whether there are 93A violations by this company. Motion so made.

Do we have a second hearing? None. Mr. Chair, Mr. Ragu. Uh I would agree with you that you you weren't angry when he was suggesting.

What I would suggest though with all due respect is to please have some decorum of the members. So if a member is saying something that you disagree with, it is not okay to make comments under your breath or try to interrupt them or to start to go whatever, say anything. Let the gentleman say what he's going to say. If there's no second, we move on to the next item. There's too much on this

committee of people that don't want to ask questions and just keep on making snide remarks or whatever they're doing.

I we got to stop it. That's all I'm asking. That's all. Thank you, Miss Pereira. With all due respect, I'm not taking um decarm advice from you or my colleague to the left. Um with that being said, I have no problem with questions being asked. I appreciate it.

However, some questions really could have been asked before or some are questions that we kind of all know the answer to. So sometimes it's a little much. I'm sorry, but sometimes what it becomes is obstruction. And that's that's the problem. Okay. So So I I apologize if I come off rude or aggravated. It's probably because I am aggravated. With that being said, I don't need tough love as my colleague to

the left likes to give me. And I don't need advice on decorum. Let's just do a meeting and and have a vote and not have these conversations. We have a motion.

Do we get a second for Mr. Das's second?

Do we have a second? No. Hearing none.

The bottom one under contracts, there's new, there's three, and to approve, Mr.

Chairp on the first one and I'd like to make a motion to refer that to the technology subcommittee. Second.

Okay. So, we're pulling out Hold on.

We're pulling out ENE security. The motion on that one is to refer to the technology subcommittee. I have a motion to second. Any further discussion? Deb, call the role. Mr. Agu. Yes. Mr. Bailey.

Mr. Das. Yes. Mr. C. Yes. With the question.

Do you want me to finish the role? Well, we're already into the roll, Tom. Okay.

Well, yes. Okay. Miss Miss Laravey. Yes.

Miss Pereira. Yes. Mayor Kugan. Yes.

Uh the bottom two with Deborah have Mr.

Cory's question. Oh, I'm sorry, Mr.

Cory. I forgot. Go ahead. Your question, please. So, okay. It got referred to technology subcommittee, but I just I was just very curious as to try to understand what this contract is is talking about.

Um, I have not heard anything about vape sensors, but I might like to learn a little bit more. That's all. Maybe I'll wait for the technology committee to make a report. Quickly, go ahead, Mr. I read the backup from Mr. Cabraw. Mr.

Cabraw is actually not here. So, what what the backup basically says is there was a pilot program for some vape sensors. Uh, I haven't heard about it as well. So, that's why I wanted to refer it at that subcommittee. we can talk about whether they're truly working, what's the ins and outs of it, and then it has to come back before us. Doesn't look like it's timesensitive because it's the end of the school year. Yeah.

So, I think we all need more information on it. And uh that's it. Okay. M Mr.

Chair, can I make a quick comment? Mr.

Das, on that as well for the vape sensors, I think it's really important that we do something different because um I remember um when I was a candidate, I don't know who else was there. I remember um there were some derpy students that were um complaining um or not not complaining. I didn't mean out of bat, but were expressing um dissatis um despite that's dissatisfying comments over the amount of um intrusion into

their lives when they go in and they're getting searched. School committee members also sometimes get searched when they go through the door as well. So, I think we really need to lean back on how much um we search people when they come into Dery High School. So I anything um any new ideas I'd love to hear the full committee report on that as well. I yield that went from vape surgeon. Um

okay so the other two are Deborah Harris and it looks like Len Dubel Deborah Harris please. Uhhuh. There's more on the other page just so you know. I'm sorry page and there's two. Yes. And there's Thomas Chew and E plus on the other. Those are four contracts that we have less. Does anybody want to hold any one of those four? Deborah Harris.

Deborah Harris. Mr. Drag. Any any others? E+.

E+. So, we had two holds. E+ and then could I get a motion, a second on the other two? Motion to approve. The other three. The other three. Okay. Star is up on top and the other three. Deb, call the role, please. I didn't get a um Yeah, Mr. uh Shelley made the second and Mr. I made the motion. I made the motion dis seconded. Mr. A. Yes. Mr. Bailey.

Mr. Das. Yes, Mr. Corey. Yes, Miss Laravey. Yes, Miss Pereira. Yes, Mayor Kan. Yes, Mr. Aguia. Deborah House. Not so much a question as just a comment.

So, we get sometimes uh backup documents and they just kind of get brushed by what, you know, just the backup, but I was uh taken aback a little bit by what is the facts that are in here that Miss OpenChain gave. It's very detailed about the percentage of students that we have in special education. And it's not secrets, but this is some real serious um the numbers are very serious here.

The numbers are through the roof. The needs are through the roof. The people in testing are through the roof. The numbers of students that we have in substantially separate classrooms are through the roof. So when I keep on saying at these meetings, we have a crisis of class size and we have a you know, not the ability to do inclusion right and all those things. I encourage my committee to please take this out,

look at it, study it, and this spells out the exact reason why we shouldn't be spending only the this is easy 2550,000. The issues that are presented here are millions of dollars worth of services and issues that we are not nec we're trying to address them, but we're not addressing them because we keep on saying we're going to do it next year with the class size issue and that. So,

my only comment is I want to give Miss Obenchain credit for not only putting this through, but there's numbers in here. There's real numbers. There's real data. Please read it because at this point, we're going to have to give So, whoever said that we have a lot of resources going to special education right now, we need to probably double to address the issue the amount of budget money that goes to special education.

So, thank you for what you're doing here. It's not a really question. I'm certainly going to support and I would support a lot more. I yield. Thank you.

Motion to approve. Second. I have a motion second on Deborah Harris. Deb, call the role, please. Mr. A, yes. Mr.

Bailey, Mr. Dice, yes. Mr. Cory, yes.

Miss Latin, yes. Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor Kogan, yes. And finally on E+, Mr.

Das. Thank you. And um I didn't It's something I'm going to support. Um I just had some questions on it, but I know um Mr. Cabraw isn't here today.

Hey, I don't know if anyone I'm just looking for uh more of a um just a update on this and I I guess I'm just want to make sure this is something that can't a breached in any way as we're approving new technology. I just want to see what um the cyber security is on on software like this. However, I'm I'm still going to vote to approve it, but it's just

more of a secondary question. Um, so maybe when Mr. Kabraw gets back in, he can just give a one pager on that issue.

Um, that would be great. However, I'll make a motion to approve. Do I have a second? Second. I have a motion, a second on E+.

Mr. Dice, just I can speak to it as the technology subcommittee chair. This is something that we've done in the past, this program, and the contract is up, I believe, in another month. So, in or another couple of weeks. So, it's sort of urgent that we do this to keep the continuity going while at the same time, Mr. Cabraw and his team, Mr. Faras and and the like are going to be coming to

the tech subcommittee to ensure that all of the systems that we have in place uh the proper ones with the the consultants and all that stuff. So it will be vetted in the um department but we need to do this because it's time sensitive. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, I have a motion second. De want to call the role please.

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

Mr. Corey, yes. Miss Laravey, yes. Miss Pereira, yes. Mayor Kugan.

Yes. Committee of the whole 121 is a discussion and vote to approve the selection and appointment of Sandra Mada districtwide nurse for the VA public schools. Move to approve. Second. Any discussion on Sandra Mana? Deb. Call the role please. Mr. Aam. Yes. Mr. Bailey.

Mr. Das. Yes. Mr. Corum. Yes. Miss Laravey. Yes. M. Pereira. Yes. Mayor Kogan. Yes. 122 is a second read and vote to approve the 2526 school academic calendar as presented by Tracy Curley, superintendent. Motion to approve.

Second. I have a motion to second discussion on the calendar. Deb, call the role, please. Mr. Chairman, I'm sorry, Mr. Maya. Is there any highlights to the calendar? Superintendent. Um, I think the one thing I would highlight is that we do have um built into next year's calendar the same twoe recess in December. That would be something. I'm sure people will be happy to hear that.

Very happy. Thank you. I yield. Deb, call the role, please. Mr. Aguia, yes.

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

Miss Laravey, yes. Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor Coug, yes. 123 is a discussion and vote to approve an occupational therapist. Motion to approve. Second.

Second. I have a motion to second.

Discussion. Mr. Mayor. Mr. Das. A full support for this item. I just was wondering if Mr. chain could just explain to the public how this is going to be very beneficial to students in the city.

So I think our occupational therapists provide um valuable resources to our students. They do evaluations for us of fine motor and visual motor skills. They provide professional development to our teachers to support students in the classroom with those ski with the skill development. um they oversee our um occupational therapy assistants who provide the direct services to the students. So if you can see from in uh

2022 we had 604 students eligible for occupational therapy services in just a few years 2025 we now have almost 1,998 um students that require this type of service. So, right now we only have six full-time occupational therapists, excuse me, occupational therapists. Um, and the need is there to provide to um hire one more for this year and there's another one in the budget for next year to bring

their case loads manageable so we can meet the needs of students. Like everyone has said, the needs of students in Fall River is growing. it is starting at the very young age of our preschoolers and continuing throughout um their time with us. So having these uh related service providers are crucial to help the kids develop the skills to be successful in the classroom. Thank you.

Mr. Aaron, I noted that um in addition to the need that is contractual now. So when we vote for case loads or case caps, which has been a big ongoing thing that we've had to deal with for the last year, when we vote for caps, it requires us to add positions. And I just I'm in favor of it. But true. Over the years, we caution when we're voting for caps, these are the ramifications. And then

everybody can say what they want, roll their eyes if the questions are getting asked. At the end of the day, because we have C, you know, thankfully we have a little bit of money to fund this, but when we have it now locked in and money becomes tight where we have to provide layoffs or anything like that, this isn't an option because we have locked in case loads. Am I correct? You're correct. Thank you. I yield.

Anything further? Deb, call the role, please.

Mr. Agam. Yes. Mr. Bailey. Mr. D. Yes.

Mr. Corey. Yes. Miss Laravey, yes. Miss Pereira, yes. Mayor Kugan, yes.

124 is a second read and vote to approve that the school committee endorse the following legislative bills as presented by Colin Dia School Committeemen. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, again, I think it's um two no-brainer um bills that I think would benefit the fall public schools on the indoor air quality. This would um again look this would the state and state agencies will look into forming some sort of air

quality for mold which was a big issue when we had the mold situation within this district. Um I think this is a no-brainer that's going to um help the health and safety of our students and for the MSBA school funding. I support that as well. I would like to I just want to let the committee know I would um advocate for this bill to also include prek funding as well to potentially get prek funding that could

help again the auditorium or if we ever have any future projects down the road um alleviate some of the burden off of the districts. So um if um yeah so I look forward to sending letters and if there's any um public input submit public input as well. Motion to approve.

I have a second. Second. Any further discussion on those two bills? De call the role.

Mr. A. Yes. Mr. Bailey. Mr. Das. Yes.

Miss Mr. Corey. No. Miss Laravey. No. M.

Pereira. No. Mayor Cougan. No. Mr. Das.

Mr. Chairman.

Um I'm not sure if people didn't read uh what the actual item was, but the actual item is just to create a task force to develop a statuary statuary and regulatory framework to identify, monitor, and remediate indoor air pollution and indoor mold contamination in schools, long-term care facilities, correctional facilities, early childhood education facilities, public housing, and privately owned residential

buildings. They shall identify and make recommendations for funding sources for implementation of their res recommendations. Why the heck anybody would vote against that, I'm not sure.

The other one I think talks about, and correct me if I'm wrong, Mr. Das, is you're asking for MSBA school funding to actually be considered for prek, which would assist us with improving our prek situation in our class size. Why anybody would vote against that, I have no idea.

I yield. Mr. DS 125. You have another two, your other three. Thank you. Just to respond to my colleague. I I think we all know why, but I'll let the um general public um make that determination for themselves. So for this, we have um three issues, three um items before us. Believe again, they're um no-brainers, no-brainer items. Um the first one again it would assure 100% reimbursement from the state for um

transporting special need special education students within the district by FY29. An issue that we've been fighting for, an issue we voted unanimously to support through the unfunded mandate provisions and something that would alleviate um the burden off of the city. So if the mayor wants to help his taxpayers, he should vote for it. Um the second item it would adjust the foundation education

for chapter similar funding to account for inflation ensuring per pupil rates keep pace with the real costs more money coming into the district that'll help alleviate some hopefully some of the burdens on the federal level. And the second one is just a special commission on special education funding. And it looks just how we can improve state funds within special education, including the circle circuit breaker

program and chapter 70 calculations. Um, mayor, I don't understand what was funny about that whatsoever. Um, so I like to make a motion. I don't One more. Mr. Mr.

Das, I didn't say anything to you nor was I laughing at you. I have no idea what you're talking about. You're trying to embarrass me because I did not do one thing to you. I just I just heard you laughing, Mr. Mayor. I was talking to Miss Laravey about something. Nothing to do with your bill. Okay. I just don't I heard I heard laughing. No, you were trying to embarrass M. No, I'm not. I

was sitting over here not saying one word to you. Go ahead with your issue.

Thank you. When I'm speaking, I hear laughing. That's just plain rude. I wouldn't do that to you. No. No, you sure wouldn't. So, I like to And one more issue as well. I see this is a first read. Um, I don't understand why this is a first read. We're not approving policy. Um, attorneys, I know we talked about this at the last meeting. You said you would I don't know if you have an

answer. You think this should be a first read or not or something we could pass through all readings if the committee votes for it. It's up it's up to the committee. Motion to pass through all readings and to um authorize myself to go advocate for these bills. Second on Mr. Das's motion. I I have a Yeah, I have a motion a second. Any Mr. Hear? I would probably just echo the same

comments on the first one. These are very simple uh pieces of legislation.

uh even if they have no um what they call in at the state house no legs you know like somebody might they may not actually have a chance of passing these are serious issues that should be addressed so in district transportation for special education students which is what the first one is is an issue of how do we fund it that's something that we should have advocacy for and we should be wanting to get that

the inflation adjustment is what many school districts across the commonwealth are saying that we need to adjust the chapter 70 formula. Now, we had received uh the S SOA funds from this legislature. That's all well and good.

We appreciate it, but this is an inflation adjustment that's going to actually promote further betterment of the of the formula. That's all this is. It's it's really not a big issue. And the last one about special education funding is we all say it, we just said it here. So, why are we not funding uh why is the state not funding but 100% specialed funding? So, I don't know why anyone in

their right mind would actually vote against any of this to to go forward.

The issue that I do have when we look at transportation, I think there's a another motion. I wasn't at the joint meeting, but is that coming up later in the agenda? So, we can talk about that then. The issue that I have with the the funding in transportation or special education or homeless is the state should be mandated to fund it at 100%.

So these are no-brainer bills and I'm going to support it and I thank Mr. Das for doing this background work. I Mr.

Corey, Mr. Chairman, it's um in in regard to my colleague Mr. Das's uh recommendations here. It's not I think these are good ideas. However, I just in instead of making a broad statement and overstepping our boundaries in regard to these ideas, I would much rather handle these ideas as I have in the past through phone calls and and in private meetings and trying to set it up in in a

in in a less formal manner without any fingers pointed and see what we can do to try to help bring more money into the district, especially in regard to the mold issue, which I hope is not a repeat act this coming summer. I hope that we're a couple of steps forward in regard to the mold affecting our schools. Uh that being said, we had some conditions in regard to the mold last

summer that were untenable and I don't see a repeat performance on that. But in regard to reaching out to the legislator legislative body, I I I like doing it the way that I've been doing it in the past, especially when it came time to ascertain SOA funding. There was a lot of private phone calls made and a lot and that's how I want to approach this.

So, I'll be voting no on this. I yield.

Okay.

Mr. Dus, your motion was on those three bills. What was your motion, please? I'm sorry. It's okay to um approve through all readings and have the committee endorse them and allow myself to go advocate for the district. Okay. Well, I'm my motion was to wait to pass through all readings because honestly the way that was that was handled that this was put as a first read was personally ridiculous, but I won't get

into that right now. Okay. Okay. Mr. Egg here. Yes. So, uh two things on the the first read issue. I would like to have the superintendent work with attorney Assad to look at our policies and actually come up with some rhyme or reason why we make things first read or second read. I think that's a good start to look at because it is kind of willy-nilly when we say something's

first read, second read and all that. Uh but on these bills, so the reason why from what I understand why Mr. Sadas is taking the lead on this is that our own policy book over the years has asked the committee to hire a lia to hire to appoint a liaison for legislation and bills to be our liaison to the legislature. We voted we voted to make Mr. Das the person who was going to do

that work. He is working hard to try to do this and this is an absolute mechanism for how that liazison work. He has no authority to go as our liaison to them and say we want to endorse a bill as a committee without a vote of this committee. So that's why I'm voting for this because it is coming before us. If we don't like a certain one, we can say nope, we don't endorse that one. Uh

Keith Mishan from the union comes up before us and says please look at endorsing these things. And when Keith Mishan comes up, we fall all over ourselves to try to say we're going to do it. But Mr. Das happens to come up and everybody wants to wonder and give him a hard time. Mr. Das is doing what we appointed him to do as the liaison.

In addition to that, uh, Superintendent Curley is actively working, which I've been saying for three years or more, that we need to have legislative meetings with our delegation where we talk about these issues. So, she's doing her part. Mr. Das is doing her his part.

I don't understand why anybody would vote no. When you vote no to something that's saying we're not going to endorse these positions, that's actually saying I disagree with the premise of indistrict school transportation for special ed chapter 7 inflation and special ed funding. Let's let's just call it like you see it. Mr. Chair, Mr. Das, thank you. This uh and maybe this will help. Um these three bills

were actually recommended by Mr. Mishan.

He sent it to the superintendent. He might have sent it to the entire committee. I don't know. I reviewed them and I looked at them and they made sense. As Mr. Aguar said, these are bills that will help the district. Um, so these are bills that the MBTA is looking at. I believe the FREA is looking into um formally endorsing them as well, I believe. So, this is something I believe many of our

educators support. So, I would just advise my colleagues, put your hatred of myself aside and vote what's best for the district. If this was anyone else on this committee that was going out to advocate for these, I would be voting yes, putting my personal feelings aside as well. We that's what we should do, working for the best interest of the far public schools and the students. Thank

you, Miss Pereira. Just to be very clear, and I hope you understand this, that when I don't agree with you, it doesn't mean I'm attacking you. Do you understand that? Because I I sometimes don't think people do. I just have a disagreement. What I didn't like, if you want me to be honest, I I'm losing my voice and my throat is on fire.

But we did put a lot of things together in one thing. So if maybe I agreed with A, but not B, but C, but not and maybe that's the reason it was a first read. I don't know. I had a reason for voting no. I'm about to vote yes. And I think that it would behoove you to stop talking and maybe you can convince one of your colleagues because you've already said enough. They hear what

you're saying. you keep going, you might actually make them want to vote now.

Just a suggestion. Let's see where Let's see where this goes. Let's vote.

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Cory, Mr. Chairman, I I I I can't be colored uh um in in in this fashion that, you know, I disagree with um the temperament of where these where this is coming from, but I just disagree with the methodology. But please don't paint me as somebody who's not trying to help the district when I was the lead advocate for the S SOA funds um when they were when they were

up on the docket. And uh I'm just disagreeing with the methodology of this right now. I'm in favor of the direction of if if we can move our district forward and save money at the same time, but I disagree with this methodology.

I'll be voting no. I yield. Then could you please call the role? Mr. Aam, yes.

Mr. Bailey, Mr. Das, yes. Mr. Corey, no.

Miss Laravey, no. Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor Kugan, no. Motion doesn't carry.

Uh, Mr. Motion to table to the next meeting is when we have a full committee. Which one? All 125. All we motion to table the discussion to the to the next meeting because we we are missing a member. It was a three-3 tie.

Second that one that we just tied on.

Yes. We have a second.

So we have a motion to table. Deb call the role.

Mr. A. Yes. Mr. Bailey. Mr. Das. Yes.

Mr. Corey. No. M. Laravey. No. M.

Pereira. Yes. Mayor Coug. No. Item 126.

Mr. Chairman. I'm sorry, Mr. Aar. I'd like to make a formal request that the items uh that are located in 125 go on the next agenda.

Just put them on there. That's fine.

Thank you.

Y 126. Mr. Das, thank you. Um so we you were there for this, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Aguar was as well.

Um believe this is also a no-brainer as um this actually isn't even motion to approve. Second, Miss Laravey.

Get to my notes. No, I got I have nothing. I have nothing. I'm good. I have a question.

Mr. Cory, um, could you explain this to me, Mr. Dice?

Yeah. Um, this was a discussion. And I believe this is also an idea Mr. Aguar had for a long time which was a really good idea. That's why I introduced it at the subcommittee level was voted unanimously to come here. It's important that we keep ourselves informed with our community partners. Our state delegation and um that's really it is just having them meet with us once a year to go over

different bills of what's happening. We can exchange ideas at a formal level and with all of us present, excuse me, at least invited to be there. Um I think it's something that we should have um we should vote on and yeah I have not I have not much more to say I think. So Mr. Das could you clarify when you say our state delegation do you mean our state reps? Do you also mean our city

councilors? Do you also mean anybody else in that regard or just our state reps? I was referring I was just referring to our state reps. Okay. So, you're asking for a a yearly meeting with our state reps in regard to um how how they could help us in any way financially? The subcommittee voted to refer this to the subcommittee and myself. Yes. Have they been have they been reached out to previously to see

what they is is this something that they expect or is this something that we're going to propose for them?

I don't think they they expect it.

So this would be in the form of a proposal. Yes. Okay. Thank you. I yield.

Anything further, Mr. Hegio? I can answer that question. So it is expected of the local delegation as well as the state sen state reps and the state senator to meet annually with all the constituents that they have. No matter whether it's public or private sector, schools or anything else. We just sit back and haven't taken them up on this.

So you have legislative meetings for STAR, for the CAC, for the different organizations that have a bunch of childcare providers, whatever it is, they do this all the time. So it is expected and it's not that a big a big deal, but it's a chance to share ideas with them so that we can get a feel from them to say what's happening. Sometimes at the state level, laws get passed that

they don't even reach out to us because it's, oh, it's going to pass unanimously. We don't even know how to push back on this. So, this is an opportunity to say to them this has to something like this has to change. Yes.

And I think it's this is definitely a good idea, but it is expected by them.

Thank you. I yield. Deb, call the role, please. Mr. A. Yes. Mr. Bailey. Mr. Das.

Yes. Mr. Corey. Yes. Miss Laravey. Yes.

Miss Pereira. Yes. Maruga? Yes. 127. Mr.

Das. Thank you. I mean just um just something that we referred out of the subcommittee when we had discussion of h assuring that certain boards some certain subcommittees have some sort of schedule going forward.

Um at least for most subcommittees um again we we should be meeting more. Um so I would like to do two things with this motion. And I'd like to make um a motion to approve. And if there's a member that isn't able to make it to a meeting, I want to clarify a vote that we took before. So I'd like to make a motion to approve and that a subcommittee chair can replace a member

who does not respond to a request to meet within 48 hours of said meeting.

I'd rather see you make that two separate motions, Mr. Das. All right, I'll withdraw that. I'll make a motion to um approve that we go into a quarterly schedule for subcommittee.

Okay, Miss Laravey.

So, I have a little bit of a concern with with this. So, when you break down break this down uh when it comes to administration, um when it comes to our executive assistant, when it comes to unnecessary meetings, um this is going to be 48 meetings in in a year. Okay? 12 regular, 36. Okay, that that breaks it down to one meeting a week, four meetings a month. Um I don't want to

say, okay, let's have a meeting just because we're mandated to have a meeting. I am perfectly satisfied with the superintendent, her team requested meetings when they feel that there is a necessity for the meetings. I am also very uh pleased with any one of us who is the subcommittee chair at any time requesting a meeting. Um but to force four meetings a week uh I'm sorry, four meetings a month, uh

one a week just because we want it to be a policy. Um I I I'm not going to be voting for this for that reason. Um, I don't ever see us having an issue with scheduling meetings when we need a meeting. Um, I think, uh, sometimes our issues do run into, um, our colleagues not having the time to attend meetings. And if we go to this, I think it's going to be even worse. So

for that I I mean I don't want to just say we're going to be having meetings to have meetings and because they're in the quarterly schedule. Um for that reason I'm I'm voting no and if we continue this conversation uh I guess I Okay. So I will um you know give my opinion on the replacement uh for the subcommittee person who doesn't show up.

I yield. Mr. Sir Cory. Yes. Um, in the spirit of this question, um, I appreciate the verve, the energy, the aspiration to want to, you know, delve into the dealings and the work of this body. But I'm going to echo the co-chairman's remarks. 48 meetings a year. And not only that, but I think subcommittee meetings need to be focused and tailored. The agendas for each subcommittee meeting needs to be

tailored and focused. If I'm noticing the upcoming subcommittee meeting on parent engagement has seven items on the agenda.

10 10 items on the agenda for a subcommittee meeting. That's in in in in my former terms on the school committee.

It's never been that way and there's no reason why it needs to be that way now. And so in the spirit of consolidation and trying to move school policy forward, I will be voting no on this recommendation. I yield. Anybody anything for Mr. Agar? Can uh someone please tell me where this uh one pager came from? Me. Did you create this on your own or like where's the is it a

Google doc or Yeah, I I just created it on the Google doc or Yeah, Google doc.

Could you please share that with us at some point? Sure, I'll share it now.

When we sat at the subcommittee, um, we had a pretty good discussion, but one of the main focuses was the fact that we get elected to do a job and we haven't had we've had subcommittees, certain ones that haven't met for eight months, nine months, various types of length of time. And that creates a bigger situation where then when we have a meeting like the policy subcommittee as

an example where the administration, the private administration came to us one meeting and said, "I want you to approve." Mr. Kugan, the HR director was there and he said, "I want you to approve all these policies." There was, I think, 78 policies on the thing. And said, "Well, let's just approve them."

Prior committees have done that and just said, "Okay, we get a motion to approve with no idea what the heck you just voted on, but we voted on them." So when we were discussing this at the subcommittee, it was like we need to have a minimum number of meetings quarterly so that they the administration can plan and the meetings are not that big a deal. If you're elected to do a job, that means you come

to your your monthly meeting and then you have your subcommittee meetings.

There should be no subcommittee that doesn't meet four times quarterly. There should be none because there's enough issues going on or information that should be shared with the public that we should be meeting. There's no excuse not to have a meeting quarterly. When we start looking at these numbers, I don't agree with the numbers and that's why I asked you to share it because I don't

agree necessarily with the numbers.

These numbers are swayed towards let's try to find a way to not just create facts in my opinion. It's to try to get people to say there's so many meetings that we are going to it's no way we're going to do it. And the mayor, myself, and Mr. Das voted to move this forward because it made sense at the time. We talked about the fact that the superintendent doesn't need to be at

everyone. If it's a meeting that she can have one of her assistant superintendents do, we can't. This, in my opinion, was created to try to sway some votes to say, this is just my opinion, that these numbers are overwhelming. When you when you look at it, I don't think they're overwhelming.

When I ran for office, I got elected to do a job. Part of that job means I'm going to have regular subcommittee meetings. And when I can look at it and we can get the facts out and say when did all of these committees meet like we even talked about the grievance subcommittee. If there's no grievances to be heard that wouldn't fall under this policy because obviously they've been not that skews the numbers that oh

my god we got so many meetings. So I'm going to vote for this because to me once again it's a no-brainer. If people get elected to do a job that means you come to regular meetings and that means you come to regular subcommittee meetings. And if you can't do that, then maybe you should consider whether you should be on the committee or not. I yield. Uh Miss Curley and then uh Shel.

I haven't talked yet. Okay, Shell. Thank you.

Um I'm going to be voting no on this.

Not because I hate anybody up here. um uh simply because I think it's a little bit of micromanagement on what the superintendent's role is and also because it doesn't coincide with all our committees like the evaluation committee, the grievance committee my colleague mentioned and I also think that there are times where when we say we're meeting quarterly that means once every 3 months there could be a time

where maybe there's no issue and no need to go into an instructional subcommittee but then all of a sudden there's a lot of things that are going on and So, we're meeting multiple times. So, maybe we're meeting four times in four months.

So, it I don't think I've ever been on a committee in the last three years that I've met less than four times a year.

Like, no way. Absolutely no way. So, if I thought this was something that was necessary, then I would. But I consider it more micromanagement. I think that we have a system here that the superintendent wants to have a subcommittee meeting. She does. And if the chair of the subcommittee or even another member, right, we've seen people refer things that are not even parts of subcommittees. You can I want this

referred to policy subcommittee. I'm not on the policy subcommittee, but I just went and put it there. I just created a policy subcommittee meeting basically, right? So I don't really think that's a thing. And then the other thing is I think in my opinion, and I could be wrong, maybe Bruce would know better than I, but subcommittee meetings should be for specific issues, right? to handle

specific issues. They're not like check-ins because that's what I think if we're saying we're going to do it quarterly, to me it comes off as more like a check-in because if there's nothing to discuss and there's no specific issue to discuss, then what are we meeting for? And then I'd also like to point out that my voting no has nothing to do with not want to come to meetings. I come to all the meetings

unless I'm really sick. You know what?

It's not just us though. And there is something to be said with we don't want to have a meeting for no reason. That doesn't seem beneficial to anybody. And when we talk about that, I don't think about it just in terms of me. I think of in terms of my colleagues who have two jobs and kids and all the the lovely people here who've been working all day who then come to the meetings. And I

know you said we don't have to have the superintendent at all of them. Sure.

Okay. But come a subcommittee where we go, where's the superintendent? We got a question for her. She's not here. I mean, I'd like her to be at the subcommittee meetings. I think that's important. I I don't think she should put an assistant in unless there's, you know, like a health issue or or something where she can't can't be doing her job. Um, so with that being said, I feel like the superintendent does a good

job and I think if there's an issue, I don't know if there is or not, I don't have one, but if my colleagues have an issue with maybe certain subcommittees they think need to be meet, you know, need to meet more, then I suggest them to tell the superintendent that and tell the the committee member that and make that happen. I I don't have a problem with that. I just feel like saying yes

to this is micromanaging and and that's why I'm voting no and that's the only reason. That's the only reason. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Tommy then Tommy, Mr.

Mr. Cory. Yes.

Again, I don't I don't want anybody passing any judgment on me or my input on this school board. I'm in my third term. I've never heard proposals in this manner before. This sounds like an unnecessary mandate to me to have four meetings per year is an unnecessary mandate. I I expect the administration to call the need for subcommittee meetings and that's how we respond and then I expect a subcommittee

meeting to have a focused agenda of two or three items to be brought forward to the full body for votes. not the 10 items that I need to be on next week's subcommittee meeting. 10 items on that agenda all with heavy discussions and I don't want to hear well nobody wants to be here at the meetings or put their time in or elected stuff. I ran as an elected official because I love

education. I'm here for one reason, to promote education and to help education progress in our district, which I love dearly. So, this has nothing to do about input. This has something to do about micromanagement for sure. This is about trying to hold everybody up. It's crazy.

I will vote no on this.

Okay, Mr. Das and Superintendent.

Thank you. And my colleague to my right made some fair points. And um my my my issue my honestly why this was even brought up in the first place is and one to your point this motion maybe I could have clarified a little bit more was it supposed to be every subcommittee was supposed to be every sing like sub like um evaluation subcommittee or grievance those are as needed certain however policy subcommittee we are a

policymaking body and that should be our sole focus our main focus because when we create policy that trickles down and helps many different things and helps our students. We are a policym that is what we're supposed to do. To to my colleagueu's point or I don't know if he brought it up directly yet, but I'll bring it up. Policy subcommittee. We have referred many items and I'm not throwing blame at the at the policy

subcommittee chair if things come up or whatever. Yes, you are. No, I'm not Mr.

Corey. So, Mr. Yes, Mr. Cory, you got to let him talk, please. Go ahead, Mr. D. I'm However, we that that subcommittee should be meeting more and if a if a member is not able to make it, I I don't if there's something that happened that that's perfectly fine. However, then temporary pass over the chair, refer other members to go into the subcommittee to meet. I don't see an issue with that whatsoever. However,

with the amount of items we have referred to policy subcommittee and we haven't met since November, we should be meeting more. But that's not to say I'm blaming anyone or things didn't come up.

However, we are a policymaking body and that is very important that we address policy and if individuals aren't able to make it on that subcommittee. Just let someone else chair it just for a meeting. I don't see the issue with that whatsoever. It's something that we should be doing. So, if this motion fails, I have a second motion I'll be making. I yield. Mr. Chair, Mr. Corey.

Yes. In response to that, uh I will assure you uh my colleague to my right that uh when the meeting does take place later this month that there will not be more than three items on the agenda.

Thank you. I yield. Okay, Mr. Chairman.

M I All right. Mr.

Ang Go ahead, Dr. Curley. So I I just actually wanted to address the um you know the way this is worded. It I literally was just going off the facts.

I went to the website how many committees do we have? I know that not every committee will have would have to meet four times. I went by the way the motion was worded that it would mandate every subcommittee. And so it I wasn't trying to mislead people. I literally was just used the words u mandate a minimum of four meetings for every subcommittee. That's what it says. So that's why I use the 9* 4 36.

Um and so I just want to say like I do I would intend to be at every subcommittee meeting and I do think that I don't know the number of um meetings we've had so far this year. I don't know and I think it people are correct in saying PE subcommittees very likely are meeting four times a year. I don't think this would push us toward surpassing anything that we already do. I do just I

want to point out the upside I would say like for me and my team is like a dependable schedule um where we would know like maybe we are doing them like on Tuesdays and I know that every Tuesday I am going to be locked up and I know that and then everybody can calendar out um something that makes sense for like the rhythm of specific committees. I think that sometimes when

um then when we're midyear and we're mid, you know, action and we try to get a subcommittee meeting uh you know, scheduled then it's oh but there's this and there's this and then there's this and we may have to push out a week later than we wanted, two weeks, three weeks.

It would something like this whether whether it's a m whether it's quarterly or we say it's going to be three times a year or everyone has to meet a minimum of two times a year or something that we could actually get the dates on the books.

I think that would be helpful um to like me and my team and I think it could potentially be helpful to people on the committee just so that we have some kind of shell of a stable um schedule for meetings over the course of the year and we could kind of plan toward them that that could be very helpful. Okay, Mr.

Aia then Miss Laravey, I I agree with Dr. Curley. I think that was sort of the sentiment when we met. I thought it was a cordial conversation. I thought it was grounded in better planning. It was grounded in leadership of the the the entire school committee that we we have to have some minimums and we have to have some standards for what we do. And it's and it's a way it was a way to

streamline some things. It would allow us to streamline some of the meetings that everyone complains about that is so long on a Monday. Everybody's complaining about it. But if we dealt with it during subcommittees, a lot of times the issues are going to be vetted there where it could be a more simple process or a smaller presentation at the full committee. But at the subcommittee meeting, it was stated by the

superintendent and the secretary that we are having a difficult time with the policy subcommittee specifically. So Mr.

Das is correct. And then we asked when is the when are they meeting? When's the last time we met where we went over the data which I believe was Mr. Das is right in November. And then subsequent to that when we tried to get he tried to get a meeting with the administration he was told we can't have a meeting for six weeks even though we have items before us. So when somebody doesn't want to

have a meeting for six full weeks or have a replacement the end result of that is you have 10 items on the agenda and now we're hearing that we're going to try to limit the items to three. I think we need to understand you have to have subcommittee meetings and I agree with the superintendent. It should be regularly scheduled so we know what's going on. Trying to limit the number of

items on an agenda makes no sense and saying that we can't meet for six weeks makes no sense. I yield. Mr. Chair, I'm sorry. M Larry was next. Yeah. So, uh, Dr. Curley, I'll just refer to what what you said. I I think what like popped out at me is the mandate a minimum of four meetings. So, I I have no problem with maybe uh requesting you and the administration come back next

meeting or even a June meeting uh with maybe a proposed calendar with the subcommittee meetings that following maybe for next year FY26. Uh just come back with something that we can see um and and go from there. Um, I I'm still not going to vote for this, but I would consider uh voting for a calendar that would uh work for everybody.

I yield. Mr. Das, I actually was going to say that as well. I actually agree with the vice chair on this one. Um, so and seeing that the votes may not even be there. So, I I'll withdraw my motion and I'll make a motion that we instruct the superintendent to create a subcommittee calendar. Can we ask not instruct? Please ask. Just a just a request. Sorry.

Okay. I'll say ask. Um to ask the superintendent to create a subcommittee calendar, draft subcommittee calendar come before the committee similar to how we have a meeting calendar for our regular meetings. Second with a comment.

Miss Pereira. I second it because whatever. I want to vote and I want my colleagues to have an opportunity. I'm still going to vote no because to me it's the same thing. We're saying create an calendar for imaginary events that you think are going to happen.

Subcommittee meetings are supposed to be for specific items. Specific items. So unless the superintendent's going to say, I know all these specific items, it doesn't make sense. Now, if she thinks there's a subcommittee that warrants um, you know, quarterly meetings or warrants, you know, update kind of meetings, then she can make that determination. Maybe when she looks at it, it will be the policy subcommittee.

I don't know. I'm not interested in mandating the superintendent to set a calendar about meetings she may or may not need to have. I think she's been doing a good job setting up meetings. I realized there was an issue with that policy. the way it was presented was not exactly the way it happened, but I'm not going to get into it. I do know that it was a while before that meeting could

happen. There are multiple reasons for that, not involving me. But the point is that's a separate issue and so although I did second this because I think it's important that everybody gets their opinion, I just want you to know I'm still voting no. That's all.

Colin, Mr. Das, thank you again. We we have in our if we're going by our policies and our duties and functions parent facil a parent and community outreach subcommittee is supposed to meet once a month once a month. Some of the I think some of these committees already with subcommittees within their policy already have specific times when they're supposed to meet maybe once a month twice a month or

or twice once every other month twice or or whatnot. So we have to look at that.

However, again, some most subcommittees meet fine. Instructional is fine. It's just policy. I just want to see policy subcommittee meet more.

It's something I'm passionate about is creating policy and debating that. And it's important that we do it as a committee. Um, how I do agree with this creating some sort of schedule. However, because we have like I believe Miss you said, Miss Pere, we have indiv or someone said it, we have individuals who work and need to take the time off. So, if there's already a set time where these meet and that's not to say we

can't have subcommittees as needed as well, but to have some sort of basic function formula for these meetings so people individuals can take it off their schedule, I think would just help us as a committee, not hurt us. So, that's why I'll be supporting this motion. I Mr. Ragan at the uh policy at the um meeting where this was referred the original comment came up because the superintendent has specific items and

the secretary had specific items that they've been trying to schedule a policy subcommittee for. So to my colleagueu's point, the superintendent had a need for certain things to be on the agenda so that she could finalize the draft policies to get them before the full committee. One of those we just mentioned earlier today related to the uh policy on trans uh travel. That's been going on for 5 months. So we can't

get a meeting. She can't get a meeting.

And at the start of our subcommittee meeting, it was discussed saying we're trying to get a meeting, but we can't get the chair to agree to it. And then that was the impetus for us saying we need to have minimums. So my original motion at that subcommittee was going to be when the a need arises to have a subcommittee meeting that we have to have it within the next meeting. So if

it came up be between now and the next month we would have to have it. That was my original motion. So when there becomes a need for the meeting, it has to be had before we meet again. So that it would be you meet two weeks ago and now it's on the full agenda. To me, that's what was was the easy pol uh part of this. The mayor brought up points to

to try to come up with a better policy, which is what we landed on to try to say minimum of quarterly. I think the mayor even said, I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I wouldn't be opposed to it. His concern was if Dr.

Curley had to be here at all these meetings. We said, no, she doesn't have to be here at all of the meetings. So, this specific items have been there for referral and they we can't get a meeting. That's the real issue here.

Let's not cloud the issue. The facts are the facts. That meeting should have happened a long time ago. And if you can't do the meeting, then that's up to you to to determine whether you can actually do this job. I yield. Okay. I'm I'm good. I'm good. Anything further?

I'm just um and now I'm more confused than I was at the subcommittee meeting.

Um I I also think there should be regular meetings. I said it at that night. But I do get concerned when I see numbers like, you know, 36 subcommittee meetings, 12 regulars. Those don't do much for me. That's a lot of work. I also talked that night about doubling up meetings going six to seven for someone like Kevin that had um you know, two committees if there was nothing in in uh

grievances and do something with uh policy or do something with instructional. It's a lot. It's a lot of meetings and I my concern is the staff.

We're going to burn them out. So, I know we're going to vote on this now. So, let's give it a ride. Mr. Chair, Mr. D, if I just wanted to respond directly to what you just said. So, that's why we're the vote is to instruct um I'm sorry, ask our um superintendent to look into some sort of schedule. So, maybe the superintendent could come back with a schedule that puts some of these

meetings back to back. Um so, I think it this motion addresses some of the concerns that you had that the last motion didn't. So, I just wanted to throw that out there. I go ahead. So, I I don't disagree. Um, when we first started talking about this, somebody mentioned maybe uh two meetings would be mandatory. Uh, maybe not four for all policies. That's something I want to see on paper. That's

what I want. I want to see what the administration brings back to us that they firmly think would work. um we could have four meetings of instructional and have to add two more and then we have these two that were were scheduled that we don't need. So I I do see that there are some I foresee some of these subcommittee meetings having those four potential meetings and then because of time uh constraints say

no we need it three weeks earlier or we need it six weeks earlier. What I would like to see is the administration come back to us maybe by June even July with something something that we can see and maybe we can all agree upon. That's all.

I yield.

Anything further?

So Deb, call the role. What are we voting on? Um your motion the the motion 127 on the agenda to mandate a minimum of quarterly meetings for every subcommittee. No, that's not the that's not the motion. I'm sorry. Go ahead, Mr.

Mr. Mr. Das motion was to ask the superintendent to draft um a calendar a subcommittee calendar and to put it on the May agenda, not May. I'm voting no.

I'm voting no for May. Well, that's what I believe that's what Mr. Das's motion was. Can I second it? Okay.

But I would say the next I'll amend my motion. I'll withdraw it and just take out May agenda and within the next three months to get the support. Do I have a second to his amended motion? Second, Shelley comment. Mr.

I guess my question would be does anyone actually think that the process of how we're doing subcommittee meetings is not broken? Because it's very clear that it is. When you look at the data and indicate that some committee meet more often than others, that the superintendent or his team cannot really schedule meetings when they need to, that to me is a broken system. I don't understand what the big

issue is here. And Superintendent Curley is very capable of creating a schedule that actually would help us to become more organized. It's really not her role. That's the role of the chair and the vice chair to deal with this, but they haven't. And the system is broken.

I don't know why everybody can't understand that the system of subcommittees is broken and when we look at the data look at the information of when the meetings have happened and we don't even follow our own policies that are in place as Mr. DA said the finance committee that's on here we're supposed to meet quarterly doesn't really meet quarterly. We don't even follow our own policies. The system

is broken. Please let her submit something that tries to make sense of it and we can move on. I yield. All right.

Mr. Das, could you give us your new amended motion, please? Yes. It was to ask the superintendent to create a draft calendar of subcommittee meetings within the next three months.

And I have a second. Believe Miss Per second. Okay. That call the role, please.

Mr. A. Yes. Mr. Bailey. Mr. Das. Yes.

Mr. Cory. No. Miss Laravey. Yes. Miss Pereira. No. Mayor Kugan. Yes. Mr.

Chair. Mr. Dus. I like to sticking on this issue of subcommittee meetings. We have so many policies that were referred to policy subcommittee and I don't know we have a meeting later in May. However, there is just having three items just not enough time. So I like to make a motion that we instruct policy subcommittee to meet within the next 10 days. Um Mr. Mr. Mr.

Cory Mr. Cory Mr. Chairman Mr. Chairman the motion was made. Motion was made. Do I have a second? Second. I have a second. Mr. Aar Mr. Corey Mr. Chairman, these are veiled attempts uh at picking at my chairmanship on the policy subcommittee. Um we have a scheduled meeting to my colleague at the right. We have a meeting scheduled later on in the month of May. It's already in the books,

sir. And according to my personal calendar, sir, I will be out of town, but I did not want to announce that. But I will now. The meeting is already scheduled.

How dare you raise a motion to try to get one going in the next 10 days when you know that the meeting's been scheduled already.

I yield. Tom, just peaceful people.

There's nothing peaceful here. They're driving a motion. They're driving.

They're driving. They're driving.

Please, Mr. Aguia. Yeah. Just uh point of clarification under the current rules of the uh if there's motion if there's items that are referred to a subcommittee meeting I believe that they have to be on the agenda and I don't think there's anything that limits that and maybe you or sad or somebody can see but the way I see it is if we had 10 items that are on the agenda you can

list those on the agenda and at that time you say well we're not going to be able to address those if the meeting's let's say it's a an hour and a half time limit whatever it is there's ways to deal with that but the items that are referred I don't think should be limited to three as Mr. Das just mentioned and Mr. Corey stated. So what I would suggest is that meetings get held for a

period of time so that we don't go hours and hours and then if you get 10 items on the agenda and you only get to the first three or the superintendent says these three are the priority for this meeting. Those get handled once the basic time limit goes up then it it can move on. But I think that's probably the way that I would uh represent it. So, I'm I'm going to withdraw my second to

the motion because I don't think it's needed, but we shouldn't be holding to three and that's the current policy.

Thank you. No second. Next item up on the agenda is 128 is discussion and vote to refer the school committee policy formal objection to the policy subcommittee.

Mr. Mayor, Mr. Das. Yes. Thank you. So, this is just codifying the charter language for the city council into our rules for the school committee. Um, what's good for the goose is good for the gander in my opinion. Um, I think it's non-controversial. I think it's just something that is just codifying certain um parliamentary language into the um into our policies. And like I just said, the city council has the

exact same policy. So um I make a motion to refer to policy subcommittee.

Do I have a second?

Mr. Chairman, Mr. R. Yeah. So from what I'm understanding here and I haven't looked at the charter with this, but from what Mr. D presented under 12.8 that the where it says school committee policy formal objection is that in the charter or is this the city council's version? Th this I I I personally created this policy. I took the city the the policy under the uh in the city charter for the city council and just

like tweaked it a little bit like took out city council put school committee.

So it's not it's not in the charter currently. It is in the charter for the city council and you're trying to have a policy that says we will adopt a similar type of correct. So I will second the motion.

Okay. Anything further? Yes, M. Larry.

Yes. So I I have a couple concerns. One of them is uh article two school committee policy um access to information and that's the next item.

That's the 12. Yeah, we're on um 128 128.

Oh, okay. My bad. Okay. Anything on 128?

I don't know if you got the same thing as me, but I got two copies of the same thing. Yeah, that's why it one is highlighted, one is not.

Yeah. I just thought it was all one. I didn't Oh, they're both on the same thing. All right. All right. Okay.

Gotcha. So 128. My bad. Well, not really. Anything further on 128?

Hearing none. Deb, would you call the role? Mr. I needed a second. I did. No.

Mr. D made the motion. Mr. Okay. Mr.

Aan. Yes. Mr. Bailey. Mr. D. Yes.

Please. Mr. Cory. In regard to what I'm I'm 128 Tommy. Objection following the city council language article one what's highlighted to refer to the policy policy subject. Okay. Yes.

Miss Laravey. No. Miss Pereira. No.

Mayor Kan. No. Motion to table to the next meeting. Second.

Deb. Call the role.

Motion to table 128. Mr. Aam. Yes. Mr.

Bailey. Mr. Das. Yes. Mr. Corey. No. M.

Laravey. No, Miss Pereira. Yes. Mayor Kan. No. Mr. Chair, I'd like to request unanimous consent that this be added to the next agenda for the next meeting.

Unanimous consent. Is that a roll call?

No. No. Asking.

Yeah. I don't I don't see anything. Put it back. 129. Let's go.

Mr. Das. Next meeting. You want to want to table 129 too, Miss I have a motion to table 129. I got a second. Deb, call the roll on 129 to table.

Mr. Aan, yes. Mr. uh Bailey, Mr. Das, yes. Mr. Corey, yes. Mr. Miss Laravey, yes. Miss Pereira, yes. Mayor Kugan, yes.

1210 is a discussion and vote to approve the joint resolution on transportation presented by Mimi Larave. Thank you, mayor. I just wanted to bring this back to the committee. Uh we met with the uh the city council joint meeting a few weeks back and uh I just wanted to talk about this. I had an in lengthy uh inlength conversation with the superintendent. Uh I just want to make public understand what we were voting

for because um I made a mistake. I voted for something that after speaking to the superintendent and getting some clarity, I uh I would never vote for anything that took funding away from the school committee. Um it came to my attention that net with net school spending and the formula.

Um I agree with somebody who said this on the stage earlier that the state should be funding all transportation.

it should be on their tab, their budget, and it shouldn't affect any um school committee or city for that fact. So, um, if the superintendent wants to, um, say something, uh, something about the conversation we had, just the clarity, um, I want to bring it back to our school committee, but I'm officially withdrawing, uh, my vote to the city council that I would be, uh, signing off on, uh, a

letter to the state. Thank you. Motion to reconsider the vote that we took at the joint meeting.

What about this one here, Mr. Das?

Discussion and vote to approve. It's on the agenda 1210. Yeah. Yes. I I think that's um what we're trying to get at here. I also have similar concerns as the vice chair said um looking more and speaking um with the FREA. So, we took a vote to um to to to sign on to a letter.

So, what I'm trying to say, and I'll go more into detail. So we took that official vote. We should offici unofficially take that vote from the record. So we should make a motion to reconsider the vote that we took at the joint meeting and then vote then we'll make and then when that passes Yep.

Let's go make that motion. Okay. Motion to reconsider. Second. All right. De call the role on the Mr. A. Yeah.

So uh I wasn't there but there's no way in hell I would have voted for it. I can tell you that. The um question what we voted for that they voted for that my colleagues voted for was for to have them send a letter to the delegation. Do we even know if they sent the letter yet? No. No. So the city council was given this they could have but our signature is not going to be on

it. You know I'm not sure if they did or didn't. Oh I didn't sign it. And I didn't I didn't sign in. I didn't sign it, but it said we made a motion by council Ponty and seconded by Mr. Reposo that the city council send a letter to the Fuller River delegation regarding the need to adjust funding for mandatory unfunded requirements. I thought this was about mitt net school spending somewhere from what I heard and then

where is it um said I wasn't present but I just don't understand where oh it says the school committee will co-sponsor a letter to the delegation like where how did this not come up now I guess is my point okay that meeting was April 7th or something you know I mean like we haven't had a meeting since then this isn't but why would we have to have a meeting if this was voted on Mr.

So, you vote on it to send a letter saying that the committee voted to do this, that you'd send a letter. That doesn't mean we have to bring it back to a full meeting. I'm I'm trying to figure out why this is even here. And the only thing I can gather from this from based on what the vice chair said is people took a vote for something that they didn't know what they were voting on and

now they found out more information and want to resend it. That's how I'm kind of figuring this. But we're going to look stupid if they've sent a a a letter. Like they should be sending a letter. If we voted if you all voted on April 8th to send a letter, that letter shouldn't be not voted on, not sent already on April 29th, I guess, is is my point. But right, I I may

I definitely understand what you're saying. What was supposed to happen is the letter was supposed to be drafted and was going to be signed by all of us.

I guess that was my assumption. So why I wanted why I asked to get this back on the agenda is one so I could politically say I like to I mean publicly say that I made a mistake. I know I shouldn't have signed this. I was wrong. Blah blah blah. Second I wanted my other colleagues to understand what we did because we were missing two colleagues that night and wanted to bring it back

to the full committee on whether or not you thought it was a good idea. bad idea. We just heard you think it's a bad idea. So now where do we go from here? I say we don't sign anything. We haven't signed anything. We're not going to be on any letter. Um and that should be how it stands. You understand my point? My point was just that if they sent the letter, I didn't nothing in it would

nothing in that motion would indicate that we have to have a letter signed by everybody. So if you guys know that that didn't happen, then we won't look stupid. We would just look like we rescended the vote. I no problem with it. All right. Mr. here, Mr. uh Das and Mr. Cory. Thank you. I just want to go on the record as well as to why I'm going I'm resending my vote. And again,

councilors Kadim and councilors Ponti who were discussing this item brought up some very good points and some fair points. And when they proposed this, they had the intention, I believe, of funding above net school spending. If it was in we would if we were to include transportation in we to keep the current funding levels without withdrawing any funds, we would have to fund at 104% net

school spending. And it was the intention I believe of the council is to use it almost as a point. Look at us.

We're funding above net school spending.

However, there exact No, I I I agree. I I do agree that there there is no guarantees that the city wouldn't just take that money right back from us and then leave us at a very terrible situation where we could face mass layoffs. So, however, I believe their intentions were good. Their intentions were pure. However, I don't believe we have a city administration right now that would fund it at over 100% net

school spending and that could greatly affect the Paul public schools. So that that's my reason that's my reasoning for Mr. Cory taking that Mr. Cory. So I I want to I want to announce that I I I also made a mistake on my vote on that given evening. It was a joint session.

It was really good to be in joint session with our other city colleagues in government. Uh I was very excited at the tone uh that councelor Ponti was bringing up that maybe we should just enter in some uh discussions with uh I don't think he just meant our state delegation. I think he met with the entire legislative body in Boston uh to state our intentions on trying to get

some help in the budget. In no way would I ever vote to to to have a motion uh to take have transportation take away, you know, from our uh net school spending.

Absolutely not. I absolutely had a little bit of hearing difficulty that night. Uh that that's that's a straight fact. Um, I got excited at the idea that we would enter maybe into a congenial discussion with the legislature about trying to address this very serious problem. Uh, this is uh 6 years now and I've all I've ever seen with the transportation budget is that it grows exponentially each year. It's almost not

fair to the city, but in no way should it affect our net school spending. I I thoroughly support the superintendent's intentions on net school spending in her remarks and uh I will resend my vote that night. But at the same time, I have no problem in in wanting to have a discussion further with our city colleagues to see what we can do to address this burgeoning issue. With that, I yield.

Go ahead, Mr. Das. state in um to a comment in in in a question for the city. So, a comment. So, we all took a unanimous vote and the mayor supports as well. City supports it that we're going down the the avenue of unfunded mandates. I already spoke to the council president. They're going to put it on their agenda for the next meeting and I think that's going to address a lot of

the issues with the transportation.

Maybe I'm just being over hopeful.

However, hopefully we get a a a good um a good vote, a good response by the city auditor. I mean, not city, the the state auditor.

Do I saw it before? Okay. Um with the state auditor and we we do some good advocating, we can get more money coming back in. And some of these bills as well also that we voted no on also address the issue. Just saying. Um, if I can just ask one question because I really don't know the answer to to to the chair. If this ever did come into fruition and we merge transportation in,

would you cut back on the on the net school spending or would you keep it around 104? I'm just curious if it ever happened, you probably won't be there anymore, but I'm just curious what the city's city's position is on. Well, we're not go we're not going to 104.

Whatever you want to tell it, we're not doing 104. I can't afford that. Um, I I voted for this because it's kind of done exactly what I thought it was going to do, stimulate more debate on transportation. I talked to the legislators and I told them what I did it for. Um, I talked to the union president that night, Keith. This this has no chance of going anywhere as many

of these other bills do. We can hope.

Matter of fact, um, school transportation is a law, but it's subject to appropriation. So, as long as they um sit on it and don't fund it, we're not going to get any money.

But the law is there which provides for uh in city and regular transportation for kids. They just don't put any money into it. I've had numerous discussions.

Um hearing we're starting to make some headway this year a little bit and it may break through next year. Um I look at it the way it is to me. The kids the kids that are selected to go to Diamond that are in the city of Fall River have 95% of their bus route paid for, but the kids going the same distance to Dery get zero. So, if this did what it did tonight and stimulated

debate, I have no problem. It's doing something positive to get transportation on the table. Um, you know, everybody knows, I know everybody at this table knows that this is going to be one long slug, but um, I believe from what I'm hearing, there are many more eyes on it at the state house that realize it's patently unfair what's going on right now. Kevin, Mr. Yeah. Yeah. So, uh, one

of my colleagues earlier today said that, um, the way to advocate is to just contact people individually, and I would recommend that that colleague do exactly that. But that flies in the face of signing on to a letter to do the same. So I would encourage him to do his individual work as he has done in the past. What we do have with transportation is an issue. So what we can control, we as a committee

should control. We are not addressing the transportation budget by things that we actually control. So when I've been advocating since May or April of 2024 for a reconfiguration of the district, redrawing of the lines so that we can minimize some of the transportation. So the same people who are saying the transportation is too much money have not supported pushing the administration to say we have to

make these decisions. We just had this earlier today related to the uh a language program not moving to another school where those children are bust at that school that currently has a lot of students in it that are already getting bust by doing moves like that. You can actually save transportation money. But this committee doesn't deal with those issues because it never rises to the level of people saying to the

superintendent when we said it to the prior superintendents with all due respect it's not only you Dr. early. We said this under Mrs. Ponds that we needed to do some work last year so that we can do incremental before the big changes or something. But there's no way anybody can tell me that we can't save some money on transportation by making some decisions on boundaries lines where the kids are coming from, where

kindergarten's classes are, where prek classes are. No way anybody can tell me, and I know there's been meetings that have had been had where these discussions have happened. We can do it.

It's within our purview to do. Committee doesn't want to take it up, but we're going to send these letters. We send these letters and complain about the transportation. Let's try to deal with what we can. And that's why I asked the superintendent to come back next week meeting with some decisions that will actually help reduce it because currently we're $750,000 off on transportation because unless we do

something different, which we're we were put in a bad situation, which I explained last time, our transportation is $750,000 over budget. I yield. Okay, Mr.

Cory, I feel like a whack-a-ole tonight. In any case, um, transportation being what it is, Mr.

Chim, and I really respect your last comments about at least we're opening up a conversation on this very serious issue. That being said, we we could look at the MSBA and see how they, you know, provided funding for all of our newer schools in the district over the past 25 years. And that in itself in the essence of those new schools has created the necessity to employ serious social

emotional learning techniques such as hiring so many SEAL liaison and counselors to satisfy the need for these much larger buildings. Previous in in our previous history in Fall River, we had small neighborhood schools. We had no transportation issues. We didn't really have as as much of an attendance crisis as we face today because of transportation in the city's demographics. When you look at the city

demographically as a map and and you see the transportation routes in certain points of entry and exit, it becomes extremely difficult. So, I really want to point at the MSBA for creating all of these buildings that we have now that have really created this problem. This is the stem of the problem. The problem is our buildings are bigger. We used to have more buildings that were smaller and able to be walked

to on a regular basis and staffed. But right now, the the problem is what it is, and we must deal with it as such. In my three terms on the school board, all I've ever seen is transportation rise exponentially. I really hope that the state hears us loud and clear and maybe makes some appropriation to help us out in the future. I yield, thank you. So, I I just want to very

briefly say that I wholeheartedly agree with my colleague in seat one. Um, I have agreed with him on this across the board. We have huge transportation issues and I agree. We need the state to step up and do their part, but we also have to do our part by being fiscally conservative and we need to be redistrict. We all know this is a problem, but it hasn't started yet. So I

am along with my colleague in seat one I'm going to encourage the superintendent to make this our priority um because we have significant transportation costs that I believe could be lowered significantly if we redistrict and we had you know children attending the schools that are in their neighborhoods providing um you know less transportation providing maybe situations where you don't have you know

a half full bus or we've heard all the the stories right and I think that's not just going to solve the transportation issues. Um, but it's certainly a huge chunk and a piece and it is going to be hard. It's going to be hard work. She's probably going to get heat for it.

There's probably going to be aggravation. We're probably going to have a room full of parents angry. Tough choices. You know, it's it's what we're here for. It's why she gets paid the big big bucks. And I'm sure she's totally ready for it and at task for it. But I do think it's something we need to do sooner than later. And let's just let's get it done as quickly I think as possible. Um because essentially at the

end of the day, it will benefit every student if we're able to put more money to direct services and not things like transportation. And with that being said, I will never ever ever support transportation being put into net school spending because I'm sorry. I'm sure Mr.

Adem and Mr. have the best of intentions, but there's no way in heck I'm going to believe either of them telling me they're going to sit there and fund over net school spending. All right, I'm sure they want to, but it's not going to happen. So, I will never support that. The mayor wouldn't do it either. Mr. Chair, against that. Go ahead, Mr. D. No. Um, attorney Assad advised me that the correct motion that

we should the mo the parliamentary motion we should be making is not a motion to reconsider. However, a motion to rescend our vote at the last meeting.

So, I I'll withdraw my motion, reconsider, and make a motion that the school committee rescends its vote regarding transportation at the joint meeting. Second. Okay. Deb can call the role on that.

Mr. Hagio, yes. Mr. Bailey, Mr. Das, yes. Mr. Corey, yes. Miss Larvy, yes.

Miss Perrara, yes. Mayor Kugan, yes. Now 1211, 1212 and 1213 are held because we did not have the public hearing.

1214 Mr. Chair, Mr. uh Das I understand we can't vote to approve the budget tonight. However, I did have some budgetary questions I would like to ask.

Huh? I don't I believe you have to have the public hearing to to those were the three that miss we don't have first word is discussion concerning the annual budget annual operating budget we we and transportation we we can't approve the budget tonight because we did not have a public hearing however we we we can dis discuss the budget and make ch and potentially make changes or recommendations you can discuss you can

discuss the uh the budget The way the the item reads is discussion and vote to approve the proposed fiscal year 2026 annual operating budget.

Do we have an uh Yeah, we can't do that.

You don't have a draft. So, can I make a motion to table 11, 12, and 13 for the next meeting? Yes. It's already motion to table 11, 12, and 13 for the next meeting. Second. Who who just Mr.

Chairman? Yeah, we were just going to hold them. Go ahead, M. Oh, hold on. M who actually just said we don't have a proposed budget fiscal 2026 annual budget before the uh we voted on a proposed budget. Okay.

Then you could then you can't vote if that's the case. You can't you can't can discuss it. Yeah. We can discuss three months ago vote.

We just can't vote to approve it until we have the public hearing. That's correct. Okay. So you want to go back then? What? Hold on. I got a motion from my my point was I I understand there's questions but we don't we've tabled things because we didn't have a colleague here. I feel like if we're not going to be able to approve this and we can table it so that our colleague who

isn't here like we've tabled other things and then we can just have it on the agenda once and have those discussions and question answered when we're all here. If I thought it was something we could vote on today then I'd say let's do it. But if we're not going to vote on it, we're just going to talk in circles to come back next month and talk in the same circles. C can I

Mr. Mayor? without a yield. That's just Okay, hold on. I mean, Mr. Mr. Hold on. I yield. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, that's just Mr. We can't vote on these items tonight. Correct. Okay.

We're I'm not vote. We're We're not voting to approve the budget. However, I think it's better than waiting to have questions last minute and I understand we would have been having it tonight.

However, our colleague to to our right will be able to ask question all the questions he wants at the next meeting as well. This will come back up.

However, just to um I don't want to like prolong now, we're just going to be talking about the budget even longer at the next meeting. I had a a few good questions regarding the budget. I would really like to ask about it. We're not going to be voting to approve it tonight. And I understand we can table it to the next meeting. However, I really like to um I do have some items

I'd like to discuss on it. Well, I have a motion. Do I and I have a second the table 1211 12 and 1213. So on that Deb, I'd call the role.

Does mean you say we had a second? We have a Laravey. Shelley made the motion.

Miss Lar, there's no discussion on the table when it when the item is tabled.

No, there's no discussion. Get the vote.

Point of uh inquiry.

What's the point of inquiry? Point of inquiry is false information was given to my colleague based on that false information, my other colleague voted the table. The real story should have been it's a no-brainer to anybody that's paying attention that we had a rarity of vote.

So when the answer was no, we can't discuss it, Miss Pereira actually said, well, I make a motion to table, it was basically because somebody gave him false information. The end of the day is we have a budget, it should be discussed. So the motion to table was under false uh information presented by the administration. Was it brute? No.

No, it was not. I mean, Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Do you want me to respond?

Yeah. Um, a little bit it was in terms of I didn't think we could discuss it, but then when Mr. Attorney Assad said, "No, we can't discuss it. We just can't vote on it." I just kind of thought for time per if if my colleague to the left has dire questions he needs answered today, I'm fine with that. I just thought for the purpose of we've tabled many things tonight because we

haven't had a colleague here to be involved in the process. So, I thought instead of if this is going to be on the agenda next month, then why don't we table it now and next month we ask those questions when everybody's here. I think that's going to expedite it and make things quicker. However, if we ask questions today, we ask the questions again. Whatever floats people's boat. I have the motion. People can vote

now. With that, I yield.

All right. We have a motion to table.

Did Deb call the role? Mr. Yeah. No, Mr.

Bailey. Mr. D. No, Mr. Corey. Yes, Miss Laravey. No, Miss Pereira. I guess I'll go with no.

Mayor Kogan. Yeah. No. Go ahead. All right. So, thank you. We're not voting on anything. It's discussion only. Mr.

Das on 1211. Go ahead. Ask these questions next time. Yes. Yeah. No.

Yeah, that's good.

Um, I I'll ask questions and if I'm I'll accept the the opinion of attorney if I'm not able to. We can't amend the budget.

Would you do you think it would be? Uh, I uh if I made a motion to to take something out of the budget, would that I I'll take I'll take your advice.

Generally speaking, a lot of the motions come after the the u public hearing.

Okay. I won't make any motions out out of respect. I won't make any motions to amend, but I will ask question.

Informational. Yes. Okay. But I may make motions at the next meeting to amend.

That's fine. Um um so I want to talk about Michael Joyce. Um and I I said it before and I I spoke to the superintendent on length about this. So superintendent knows my opinions on this. He's projected to receive around $200,000 this year. Am I correct? Yes. And again, that is a lot of money. Do we know besides special education, how much of that 200,000 would be geared towards special

education costs and what and how much would be for other costs?

I couldn't tell you exact the exact breakdown. I'd have to look at all the bills. Right. I I have been asking for that for a while. So, I would really like that information for the next I'll No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt. No, but if you have the answer, I'd love to hear it. I No, I don't have the answer. I just want to say that we have not had access to

munice like readily accessible. Um we've been we've had some access and that's been for a few weeks now. So since we first had the discussion we've had less opportunity than we usually would have had to pull that kind of information. We don't h it's not it doesn't come to us categorized. So we literally have to go through every bill every item on every invoice. I'm looking just for an

estimate just to make it easier for you.

I think we'll have to do the whole thing anyway, but okay. Because one invoice could be all special ed that could tell that then we'd say like, "Wow, it looks like everything's special ed." We go to the next month, maybe it's 50/50. We go to the next month, like there aren't enough by the time we go through enough months to give like what we think is is is like a responsible estimate, we'll

have to go through, you know, September through April. And that's what we'll do.

All right. That's I appreciate that.

Thank you. Um, so what I think needs to come into play here when we're budgeting amount of money for this individual, we have a memorandum with the city that handles certain cases under a certain dollar amount. Am I correct? Is it 50,000? Yes. 50,000.

So we could send a a legal matter that could be under 50,000 to corporation council whenever we want under our memorandum. Am I correct?

We have not done that yet. But yes, we can. Okay. So we can we have not done that. And that would and if we have done that more, could that alleviate the burden on our budget by not having to go out to outside legal counsel?

Potentially. Okay. Um I don't know about that.

So that that's good to know. And can I just make a comment? I do want to say I I mean I don't I don't really know corporation council in you know areas of expertise and whether it's around municipal kind of law or you whatever it is. We we are very specific you know our our work with um attorney Joyce's office is very specific to you know students uh special ed discipline law things like

that. And I just really would want to make sure that there's an area of expertise there that that would be a consideration that we would have to I I appreciate that. I believe he used I know he hasn't I guess hasn't done it in recent past. However, he used to handle public records requests. I remember he used to when I was a citizen made public records requests for um a certain

report. Um I believe he'd be the individual who would respond. Um so does he only do special education now or does he do other items?

uh right now I mean my only experience with him is around student related issues Mr. open this. So, it's more special ed and regular ed. Sometimes there are disciplinary issues that don't involve students with disabilities, but we still we still collaborate with his office around some cases. I believe Miss Obachin wants to clarify something.

Um, Michael Joyce's office supports anything related to students in this district. It could be anything about if if there's a records request related to student records or record or something that involved students that would go through Michael Joyce special ed general ed if there are issues with bullying 504 um anything anything with student files um that's what Michael Joyce again I've

said it before he is an extremely valuable asset to this school department and I don't know of other attorneys with his level of expertise and experience in the field.

Okay. But yeah, so it's it's not just special education. I see those bills every single month myself and I often work with attorneys from his his office.

Um there's no way, Mr. das to be able to give you a clear breakdown of 75% special ed, 25% general ed, or vice versa. It's it really does vary depending on the issues that come up from um the students of Fall River and their families. And honestly, more students and families have attorneys right now than ever before. So, no, I and I realize that and I I know they um there's a lot of different advocacy

groups that come into the city and it's very and I and I respect that. However, he $200,000. He's the most second most paid individual in this district and we need to do something to rein that. It's a law firm though. We work with at least three attorneys from his office ongoing, you know. So that 200,000 goes more I didn't know that. So this 200,000 goes more to just Michael Joyce.

It's his law firm. But do and we deal with more attorneys than just Michael Joyce.

Um I I didn't know that. I I was assuming it was just but however Mr. Das if I can add one more piece. I want to also make it clear that anytime a student has an attorney at the table, we have our attorney represented at the table. So that has also increased at least in the last two years that I can speak to being in this role. Um where we are showing up to manage and navigate

difficult student situations and we are being greeted with students who are bringing their legal counsel and so therefore we also bring our legal counsel which is again that representation of upwards of about three attorneys who we work with with regularity in the district. Um, as well as when we look at the formal documentation that has to take place over tier three incidences that go on in

the district, they also support us with making sure that all of that documentation is accurate, clean, clear, so that there are no other further, you know, situations that would arise as a result of that. So, I'm just I'm just trying to think if we could even get it potentially for free if we refer cases under 50,000 and if we use this memorandum the right way and we get the most out we can out of our corporation

council. Some of the some of some of these can be referred to our corporation council. Some of these cases um well you you you were there Mr. Das when I took you over to show you the kind of work that the city is doing to support the schools. But this is very technical education law. It's not like it's like hiring a divorce attorney. If you committed a crime, you're not going to

do it. They're both good lawyers, but these this is education education specialization. And it's it's it's not for a regular attorney to walk in and handle it. The things you saw them working on, you know, some financial issues, they'll work for the schools, no problem. But these are big cases that could cost the district a ton of money.

I don't No, I I don't disagree with you, mayor. However, I think one item that could I don't know if we do get a big influx in public records requests. I don't know if we use attorneys or if we use outside legal counsel for that.

However, I think that's one avenue right there where a corporation council should respond. I believe they do it for the police department. So, I believe they should be able to do it for us as well.

Um, I have a few more I have a few more questions. I'll get through my question.

I probably know my colleagues have more questions as well. Um so for SRO positions that are budgeted in this budget um who approves the overtime for those SRO positions should be I do upon request.

You do? Yes. So an overtime situation could be just about anything. Sports. Um sports. Uh we would have uh uh bus situations. we would have other issues going on. I'll clarify this. Do do you put in the request for for them to to show up for overtime or do you approve that overtime? The request. Okay. You put Okay, that's fine. Who approve?

That's I was looking for. Who approves the overtime? The request for overtime.

Once the request for overtime is approved, then it's paid for.

Okay. No one at the police department is approving the overtime. The police department told me the opposite. Just so the police department is saying that they are approving the overtime. The sergeant the sergeant prod overtime unless we said yes. That's what I'm trying to So we would say yes and then the school and then the the police department would approve their that person to have the overtime. Yes.

All right. We have to approve it first.

I I appreciate it. Thank you. So um next question on it. So to and thank you for the superintendent for providing these projections. So for the pro projections for the for the SRO position FY24 we budgeted 700,000. We spent714,000. For FY25 were budgeted for 700,000. However, we're projected to go over to 785. Why didn't we just budget for the 785? I'm just trying to figure that out. because I can only budget at

the time what I know and I don't get I'm not getting direct information from the police department. It's just an estimate that I'm putting in the budget based on what I know at the time.

And why aren't SRO's in our school why aren't they a school department collected bargaining unit? I believe I just I was told today they're part of the city's bargaining unit. So, we don't really have m much of a of a say over how much they get.

Yeah. We don't control that. How much they get paid? They're part of the police department. Part of the police union. Well, we we have a we have a me but I believe I personally believe reading our memorandum, our SRO memorandum that and that would contradict itself. We have state law that mandates that memorandums be put in place and state law would would would go over that. Um would it go over

that SRO memorandum? Is that memorandum being filed in the district?

Is it being followed? Yes. Is it the I I believe it's out of date. I don't know if it's out of date or if it's current, but we're I believe we're following police department's following all the parameters in that SRO memorandum. I I couldn't tell you that. That I couldn't tell you. So, if the chief um just all of a sudden gave a bunch of raises to the to those positions and to a higher

pay grade, we would be obligated to pay it no matter what.

Uh whatever their salary is. Yes, we pay. We don't have we don't have any say. So what they could budget it to 100,000 per position. We would be forced to pay that. We have absolutely no say what we do with our dollars. I believe I believe their pay is based on whatever the collective bargaining agreement is.

But whatever that is, we pay. Yes. Okay.

Um last two items I'll I'll definitely wait until to the next meeting. They're they're a little bit smaller. I I want to give um time to my other colleagues who have questions. Um thank you.

However, I think this is an issue that needs to be addressed in my opinion. But thank you. Thank you. Anybody else have any question? Mr. Agiar, on the the SRO overtime question, theou states that the superintendent approves has to approve all overtime and as well as the sergeant and the SRO's or something because what was happening is and you know this Mr. Almea all of a sudden we come one year and

they said we got we're over budget by $22,000 in overtime and we like who the heck gave you permission to go over? So we added into theou which shouldn't be out of date. That's no excuse for that to be out of date. But if it's out of date, I'm assuming we just follow with the last one is. So in it, it states the superintendent has to approve all overtime. So the SRO sergeant can't just

do whatever he wants. And I think Mr.

Pico was referring to when we need the district says we need an SRO. I think that's what he was referring to. He wasn't referring to all overtime. So, what I would like to request is a list of all overtime that they're asking you to pay and have you scrutinize it to know whether the superintendent approved all of those pieces of overtime. That's what we call an internal fiscal control,

which we need to have relative to that.

The other issue of pay, if you're given a number at the beginning of the year to plug into a budget for the indirect or however this gets funded, that should indicate what it is. Are we paying for the SRO at the charter school that left?

Is that part of it? We have uh some SRO are covering other schools. Are we getting a discount? Because now we're covering like there's a lot of questions that I've already emailed about several weeks ago. But those are questions for over budget if since the collective bargaining agreement was I believe passed prior to the fiscal year. So you could only go based on what the information was given to you on what the

salary is. But subsequent to that, more recently, if decisions were made by the police to say, "We're going to promote people, which I've asked you the question and still haven't got an answer." If that's the case, and they all got extra raises upon the collective bargaining agreement, we can't just be sitting here saying, "We're going to pay it." Even if it's 20,000, $30,000. So, they shouldn't have cop to

just tell the school department, "Here's the bill, you're going to pay it." We need you all to push back and say, "Wait a minute, what's this? What's that?"

Because we work for the schools, not the city. So, those are the reasons why I was asking those questions for several weeks. So, please, whatever you can do to get it. The only question comment I'd have is on the Michael Joyce uh bill or attorney's bills. I don't think anyone would say that it makes any sense to not have a contract with this individual.

Now, I've asked this question for over three years to the prior superintendent, to the current superintendent, to anybody that would ask. I've said it in public meetings. We're spending over $200,000 and we don't have a contract.

So, if we're going to spend that kind of money, I believe we should look into having a retainer where that covers all of the needs. So, if the needs go up, you get more, but we can control it.

That's a fiscal internal control. But what we're doing is just keep on saying we're going to keep spending. So, if you look into the data on the next couple of items with the transfers, we're over budget $80,000 already in legal. My question will be, how are we $80,000 over budget in legal? Where is the answer to that? Now, you probably know or you could get us a report and it might be for legitimate

reasons, but if we had a contract, we wouldn't be over budget by 80,000 heading into it. I do know we need it.

I'm not suggesting we don't. Mr. D raises valid points. I've been saying those same things for three years. We need to sort of have an internal control. What is it? How much is it per hour? Like for instance, Michael Joyce has experience. He's been in this district for a long time. Everybody said it. What is Michael Joyce's rate and what is Joe Schmo's rate who might not have that kind of experience, but he's a

newer person. Do we pay a lower rate for that individual versus the high-profile case? I don't know. But in a contract, it would say when you use Michael Joyce, you get $300 an hour. When you use Joe Schmo, you pay $200. I I think that's where I'm looking at. the money is going to be spent because we need it. Uh there's also things that we probably spend on legal that we shouldn't have

to. So that legal isn't just Michael Joyce. That legal is outside investigations. We vote for outside investigations. We got to hire people.

Who's checking on how much money that costs? So the legal issue for the next meeting, I'd like to get as much detail as you can before that to maybe answer some of these questions. With that, I yield. Thank you. Anything further on 1211? Okay.

1212 is a discussion on transportation.

We kind of just went around that a little bit unless anything further wants to come up. Mr. Das, um I don't know.

This is subjected to the um provisions of the public hearing. However, I'd like to make a motion that we increase the budget by $750,000.

Where's that coming from? the city taxpayer is that Well, hold on, Mr. Mr.

Pad. Can we do that after? Uh, again, it's uh it's it's prior to a uh public hearing. Yeah, I would probably wait till next meeting to offer that, Mr.

Das. I withdraw my motion. Thanks. Just offer any anything else on transportation, Mr. Ria? So as far as the discussion items, so uh don't know the date off the top of my head, but it was at least 60 days ago where we had a facility subcommittee meeting where I had asked prior to the week before the meeting that any discussions on changing policy get presented to the subcommittee

for that meeting. at that time which is over two months ago now I think superintendent said we uh I put it in my uh report and they were going to bring it forward now we still don't have that issue it's already almost May we still don't have that issue is that just a uh is the delay because we can't have a policy subcommittee meeting for another 30 days is that what we're waiting on or

is it like what is the what is the background of that you know that we would be bringing it to policy subcommittee committee and so we will when we have the next policy subcommittee meeting and that's scheduled for May 22nd.

So to my point, you know, we have an issue. I'm not voting for it. I already said it publicly. I said it to you personally. I said it at the subcommittee meeting. I'm not voting to change the transportation rules to try to let the city fit within a number. Not doing it. So that policy isn't even presented to us until May 20ome. the mayor has to put his budget to the

school uh to the city I think on May 15th. So, he's not going to be able to even if we voted at that point to say change the policy or not, we're $750,000 off on the transportation line and it's not going to be even brought up to the policy subcommittee meeting until that such time as after the mayor has to present his budget. So, we're basically allowing a $750,000 deficit in

transportation. That to me is not right and it shouldn't be happening. I yield.

Okay. Anything further on transportation? Obviously, the last one we can't touch because it's the vote to refer. So, we'll go to 1214 discussion and vote to approve the third quarter revolving fund transfer presented by Kevin Armea, chief financial officer.

So, in front of you is your quarterly update for the revolving funds. All of our revolving funds have positive balances. Motion approval. Second.

Second. A motion and a second. Does anybody want discussion? Deb, call the role, please. Mr. A. Yes. Mr. Bailey.

Mr. D. Yes. Mr. Corey. Yep. M. Laravey.

Yes. M. Pereira. Yes. May. Yes. 12:15 is a discussion to vote to approve the third quarter budget transfers presented by Kevin Almea. Motion to approve. I have I have a motion to second.

discussion on that item. Deb, call the role, please. Mr. Ang, I'm sorry, Mr.

Chair. Yeah, just uh when you look at all these transfers, I I think I've asked this in the past. So, once these transfers are made, is all of the available funds that are in the budget spent?

No. In the next in the next section section, I've got all the cost centers costed out through the end of the year, and you'll see that there's a balance left over at the end.

So these transfers are not these transfers are taking care of the the shortfalls that I'm aware of currently.

Yes. And no projected shortfalls. This is going to cover it till now. Yes. And then you're going to wait till the last quarter where you finally to clean it up it. So you know my stance on it has always been the school committee should have a say in it, not just overspend it and then tell us we got no choice to vote for it. So I think you and I agree

on on that piece. The question that I would have though is what amount of money is what amount of money are you recommending from prepaids or anything from savings in the current year to be part of the budget that we the draft budget is there anything that as of right now it's zero but um I if I could have another month to review if I if I have the ability to come up with a

number that potentially we can prepay it'll be an item item that I bring forward to you probably. But all I was asking is you don't have an assumption.

No. Currently any prepaids any savings from the current budget to pro to put into the um next year's budget? I do not. No. Thank you. I yield. Mr. Chair, Mr. Das, quick question. Um has the city where has the city met school spending so far? Yes. Thank you. I yield.

One more. U Mr. Chair, Mr. Second, the one about the facilities and operations being short 500,000. So, uh, several months now, I've asked several months ago, I asked for how much money it cost us for the mold. I'm assuming some of this probably has that if we could get for the next meeting or in a a Friday meeting where what did what did the issues with the mold cost us in total? Thank you. I yield.

All right. I have a motion to second.

Can we call the role, please, Mr.? Yes, Mr. Bailey. Mr. Das, yes, Mr. Cory. Yes, Miss Laravey. Yes, Miss Pereira. Yes, Mayor Kan. Yes. 1216 is a discussion and vote to approve the yearto-date budget report as presented by Kevin Almeida.

Chief Financial Officer Motion to approve. Second. Motion to second.

Discussion hearing none. Deb, would you please call the role? Mr. A. Yes. Mr.

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

Miss Laravey in two minutes. Miss Laravey.

Yes. Sorry, Miss Pereira. Yes. Mayor Kugan. Yes. Item number 13 is anformational piece. Retirements, appointments, transfers have done place on file. I have a motion. Deb, call the role, please. Mr. AP. Yes. Mr. Bailey. Mr.

Das. Yes. Mr. Bury. Yes. Miss Laravey.

Yes. Miss Pereira. Yes. Mayor Kan. Yes.

Any new business to come before the committee? Mr. Chairman? Mr. Era Aguio, I just had a question, a follow-up question on the new appointments. Go ahead. So, uh, Mr. Dr. Curio, Mr. uh, Elmeita, um, we voted to, uh, and I I'm trying to look at it as I'm going that to put the teachers at step two. Uh, all of these teachers, is that taken into consideration? because um I'm seeing

otherwise and I'm not sure why I didn't think it was confusing uh what I mentioned two months ago and then the last month and then privately in other meetings I didn't think it was confusing in any way shape or form and I'm seeing names on here teachers that are at step one am I missing that or is it like there's paris there's uh other folks But why would I why would anybody

after we voted a a um a contract that anybody is listed here at step one? I just don't understand. Step two, I don't believe that um there was consensus. We'll look back at the minutes. I don't believe that there was consensus that there was that there was an agreement to retroactively um like to start paying step two in year one of the contract.

So we voted a contract and I'd like to ask attorney Assad if we voted for that contract to be retroactive to July 1.

Which one? Which contract? FA teachers retroactive. There are certain provisions in there that are retroactive to July of of uh 24. Is it the step pay?

I'd have to take a look at it. So, I'll just I'll just I don't want to believe the point, but I have a pretty good memory of what we discussed. And when we discussed it, which is now public session, so anybody can ask for the minutes of the meeting and see it. What we suggested was and I and I was proud to bring this up because I think it's important that we pay our teachers so

that we would become the highest paid or the second to highest paid out of all of the local meaning for Somerset, Swansea, Westport, Dartmouth, New Bedford that we were going to actually pay them the starting pay so we could go out and recruit people based on the starting pay being equal to almost or better than most of those places. We voted for that.

This committee voted for that at the time. The union didn't want to even hear it because they wanted to get the money to the older people. We decided very clearly and there's language that the contract was solidified on that said the superintendent of schools has the ability to appoint where the steps are.

That was stated and voted unanimously by this committee.

So at that point, the superintendent was given the directive by everybody, not unclear, very clear that step two was going to be everybody getting the contract. And therefore, if when we're doing the contract negotiations, if if the votes were retroactive to July 1, why in the heck is it the administration's feeling that they don't have to follow that directive to go to the step? I mentioned this for the last

two months in meetings. I asked if it was going to be done. It said it wasn't done. Then I said it was going to be done because it's quite clear and it's not debatable that that's what we voted on. Why are we seeing anybody here on step one other than the fact that the will of the committee is not being followed? Okay. So, can I I just I I do

have the I can read from these minutes.

Go ahead. Okay. So, we um these were the minutes. These were approved. It was from a September 9th executive session approved by the committee on October 21st.

Um it was a motion by Mr. Dice to eliminate step one for year two providing guidance to the leadership team and that was the vote that was taken.

Six were in favor, none were opposed, one person absent.

So what's your point? So it is to eliminate step one in year two. That's what the vote was and we voted to at the end of the meeting we voted to say the superintendent has the authority to do it. It's separate vote and the superintendent has the authority to set the steps and this you didn't need the vote of the committee which is what was told to us because you have the

authority to do it based on there's contract language the contract language says that you have the ability to do it.

Okay, hold on. Talking about um uh negotiations, talking about uh I believe you're looking at executive session minutes. Yeah, that's what I just said.

Executive session or not have not been uh approved for release. So any comments concerning the minutes itself should take place in executive session at this present time. Okay. Point of clarification Mr.

Can Attorney Assad or anybody on this board tell us when the last time we released to the public executive session minutes when they were no longer in in um in need or whatever. Can anyone please tell me starting today, right?

What and what is the law on it? Let's do some research and figure it out. Once it's over, those minutes are open session and that you know they can be looked at. at the end of the day is the the message here is was to try to get people to actually come to the district and all the right intentions and we had the money. We shouldn't be not doing it.

It was retroactive for that including people that were given steps. There's other provisions in the contract that were retroactive that people only could go to step 10 instead of step 11 or 12.

That should have been rectified. Is has that been rectified? So everybody else got hold except for the first year people. Is is that what you're saying? Mr. Al is saying yes. So are you saying agree or you not like he just said yes to No, that's true. I I think honestly I I I don't understand what like what the real issue is. There was the vote was to do this in year two. I understand

that there was um there is language that says I can you know I think hire someone at the highest step which we could never do before right but there was no um directive that we had to start people at step two and what you just said is what I agree with in what we've discussed as a team is this idea that we were doing that to attract people to our district

and that was something that made sense to do moving forward and not now. So if a person is working here right now and they are on step one, you're telling me that it makes sense to try to look at this in that way so that that person next year will be on step two even though they've been here for over a year and a half or a year. A year, they're going to be on step two.

person comes from outside, they're going to be on step two is what you're saying.

If that's the way you're you're reading those minutes play out. Yeah. I mean, other Yes. I mean, otherwise, why would the vote be to start it in year two? It would just be so those people would have to be in step three is my point.

Otherwise, we're we're we're not being equal to the people that are coming in.

Now, you can say those minutes. From this day forward, I am going to scrutinize the executive session minutes and the notes like you've never seen before because I don't think that those are accurate to be honest. But separate from that, how is that equal? Person comes in from outside, they're going to get step two automatically and the other person who's worked here for a year is

still on step two. And the people who worked here last year at step one and are on step two in their second year would be getting paid the same as a brand new person who came in this year at step two. So eventually the the worlds collide. If I if we start people on step two this year who are really in who really are step one, they're colliding with people. So we didn't vote

to move to eliminate and adjust every person that I I to me that if that were the vote and that made sense that we would just eliminate step one and everybody would move, we would we would avoid this. But regardless of when it starts, there's going to be the collision of two steps. I believe that's what we voted for. So, we'll just have to agree to disagree. I yield. Okay.

Okay.

All right. Uh can I just say one thing?

But when we have to when we're looking to make a a decision and we were making all of the moves that that we had to make in terms of making those um you know midcourse adjustments to people's salaries and steps and all the things we went back and we relied on the notes because it wouldn't make sense for us to just all rely on our memories. We went back to the notes. If there is a problem

um with executive session notes, then I would just We went back to approved notes. I would I think it's a good idea that everybody read them. I do. Yeah.

Okay. I don't know what else it's going to be a good idea for me to scrutinize them. Okay. Uh item number 15 is a request for executive session. Mr.

Assad, do we have a reason to go in?

There would be, mayor. If you'd like, I could recite them.

You want to read them first? Sure.

National Laws Chapter 38 Section 21A7 to review and approve the executive session minutes for March 10, 2025 regular school committee meeting. National Laws Chapter 38 section 21A7 to review and approve the executive session minutes for April 17, 2025 special meeting of the school committee. National Laws Chapter 38 Section 21A1 to review the open meeting law complaint dated April

18th 2025 filed by Colin Das regarding the April 17 2025 special meeting of the school committee. The complaint alleges that the school committee violated the open meeting law by one announcing whether the committee would uh not announcing whether the committee would reconvene in open session or stating the purpose of the executive session.

further that the agenda item was vague and the votes taken did not match the agenda item. Mass General laws chapter 38 section 21A3 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining agreement including hearing grievances relative to all professional teaching employees of the for school system including coaches title one teachers, nurses, occupational physical therapists and specialists in the teaching

profession represented by the for educators association as the chair has determined that open session may have a detrimental impact on the bogy position of the committee. Mass General Laws chapter 3A section 2183 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining relative to all administrators and employees represented by the for administrators association as the chair has determined that open

session may have a detrimental impact on the bargaining position of the committee. Mass General Laws chapter 38 section 21A3 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining relative to all cafeteria employees of the for school system represented by the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Council 93 local 118 as the chair has determined that open session may have a detrimental

impact on a bargaining position of the committee. National Law Chapter 38 section 21A3 to discuss strategy with respect to collect the bargaining relative to all maintenance employees. The for school system represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Council 93 local 118 as the chair is determined that open session may have a detrimental impact on

a bargaining position of the committee.

Mass General laws chapter 38 section 213 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining relative to all custodial employees of the for school system represented by the American Federation of State, county and municipal employees. Council 93 of local 118 as a chair is determined that no concession may have a detrimental impact on a bargaining position of the committee. National laws chapter 38

section 2183 to discuss strategy with the threat to public relative to all safety and security employees of the for school system represented by the American federation of state, county, and municipal employees. Council 93 local 1118 as the chair has determined that no position may have a detrimental effect on a bing position of the committee. National laws chapter 38 section 213 to discuss strategy with

respect to collective bargaining relative to all civil clerical employees. The for school system represented by the for department of civil service clerical employees association as the chair has determined that no concession may have a detrimental impact on the bargaining position of the committee. National Laws Chapter 38 section 21A3 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 of par profofessionals as the chair has determined that open session may have a detrimental impact on the bargaining position of the committee national laws chapter 38 section 21A1 to discuss complaints brought against school committee members as the chairs

determined that an open session may have a detrimental impact on the litigating position of the uh committee uh mass general laws chapter 38 section 21 A3 and section 21 A7 to discuss pending settlement agreement and in order to discuss strategy with respect to litigation and comply with student records laws the chairs determined the position may have a detrimental impact on the bo on the uh litigating position

of the committee national laws chapter 38 section 21 A2 to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiation with non-union personnel and or conduct contract negotiation with non-union personnel including all school principles 18 in number all for river educational for river government TV cable grant positions nine in number all non-union central administration support staff 13 in number all administrative

assistants 10 in number all school-based community support specialists six in number all schoolbased athletic program support positions all facilities and operations supervisory position positions eight in number. All computer technical and student information management system support positions 8 19 and number. All special education support positions two and number. All early education support positions two

and number. Allison Los redesign coach.

James Sullivan, chief officer of special education compliance. Christine Abdo, procurement specialist. Sandra Silva, payroll manager. Melissa St. year CTE cooperative education coordinator Kendra Pimemental postsecary career pathway specialist administrative intern William Squires National Navy Defense Cadet Corp and Derek Randall National Navy Defense Cadet Corp. We will reconvene. There may

or may not be statements at that time.

Mr. Chair, Mr. Aar first. Sorry.

Who was up? Mr. I just want to state for the record that I did submit a complaint against a school committee member and I will be following up with that as I would based on our policies so that it will be on the next agenda and I will bring it up in new business as the policy indicates. Thank you Mr. Chair.

Can we take the open meeting law complaint separately so I can abstain be abstaining from uh from uh the uh open meeting law complaint. So other than that oh do that first and let him stay outside. Okay. Uh I wish to be I wish to be present. I'm just not going to vote. Okay. Can I get a motion a second on going into executive session? Motion. I have a motion. Second. Second. this for all

items except the open meeting law complaint. I was asking to take a step.

Okay, that's correct. No, same the same vote for the open meeting law complaint.

Same vote just to go to second. Yes, we're going to do roll call for everything but the two open meeting law complaints. Deb, call the roll, please.

There's only one open meeting law complaint. There's one. One. You said there was two. Bruce, one one open meeting law. Okay, one. Mr. A. Yes. Mr.

Bailey. Mr. Das.

Mr. Corey, this is for everyone, not the open meeting law.

Okay, I vote yes. Thank you, Mr. Corey. Yes. Miss Laravey, yes. Miss Pereira, yes. Mayor Kugan, yes. Okay, now motion to go in executive session for the open meeting law. Second, please.

Mr. Aguia. Yes. Mr. Bailey. Mr. Das. Mr.

Corey. Yes. Miss Laravey. Yes. Miss Pereira. Yes. Yes. We're going to go into executive session. You may come back after.

Deb, we're back in session. Please call the role.

Mr. here.

Mr. Bailey, Mr. Das here, Mr. Corey here, Miss Laravey here, Miss Pereira.

Mayor Kugan here. Anything further to come before the committee? Yes, mayor.

Um, I'd like to make a motion to approve approve the executive session minutes for March 10th, 2025.

I need a motion. I have a motion. Do I have a second? A second. People, I need a motion. Oh, I Sorry. I need a second.

Second. Discussion. Deb, please call the vote. Mr. A. Yes. Mr. Bailey. Mr. Das.

Yes. Mr. Corey. Yes. Miss Laravey. Yes.

Miss Pereira. Mayor Kugan. Yes. Mr.

Mayor. Anything further? Um, Miss Laravey. Yes. What do you got? Mr.

Mayor, I would like to make a motion to allow Attorney Assad to address the address and respond to the open meeting law complaint dated April 18th, 2025.

Do I have a second? Second. De, please call discussion. Deb, call the role, please. Mr. A. Yes. Mr. Bailey, Mr. Das, abstain.

Mr. Corey, yes. Miss Laravey, yes. Miss Pereira, Mayor Kugan, Mr. Mayor, Mayor, Mr. Mayor, Mr. D, I'd like to um as talked to attorney, I'd like to make a motion that we release all executive session minutes that the purpose of the executive session has not um been fulfilled. And we'll leave that up to attorney Assad to determine that.

Second.

That's the one we just voted in there, right? We vote. Yes. We got to bring it out here. Okay. Go ahead. Uh Deb call the roll.

Mr. A. Yes. Mr. Bailey. Yes. Mr. Das.

Yes. Mr. Corey. Yes. Miss Laravey. Yes.

Miss Pereira.

Mayor Kugan. Yes. Motion to adjourn. I have a second. Second. Deb. Call the role. Mr. A. Yes. Mr. Bailey. Mr. Das.

Yes. Mr. Cory. We're done. Miss Laravey.

Yes, Miss Pereira. Mayor Kugan. Yes.