8.18.2025 Fall River School Committee

I'd like to call to order the Monday, August 18th, regular meeting of the Farber School Committee. Deb, would you please call the role?

Mr. A here.

Mr. Bailey.

Mr. Das here.

Mr. Corey here.

Miss Laravey here.

Mr. Pereira here.

Mayor Kugan here. Salute to the flag.

I aliance 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 who 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, nor any student comment right now.

Citizens input.

We do, ma'am.

We do.

Yep.

Is anyone here to present or are you going to um I'm reading? Mr. Das did submit something. I don't know if you would like me to read it.

Would you like to read your own comments, Mr. Dus?

I would like to follow school committee policy. I submitted a written citizens input, which was my own, to the to the clerk, and school committee policy dictates that that must be read.

Usually when people are here, they read it themselves. No, it's actually in many cases under the Massachusetts open meeting law, discussions and deliberation by school committee must occur during properly noticed meetings. Engaging in dialogue during public comment could be interpreted as a deliberation outside of the legal requirements says the citizens for needm so so we avoid any kind of an

open meeting complaint. Would you be comfortable reading it to help us?

Mr. Mayor, are you trying to prohibit me from giving a citizen's input?

No, I'm also a citizen of this.

No, you read it.

Seriously, he's asking you to read it.

I didn't ask you not say it.

Why are we doing this at the beginning of a meeting?

Read, but you just read um some commentary. I don't even know where you got that from, Mr.

You want me to read it?

I I think we should follow the school committee policy, which is if we submit a citizen's input. I I didn't Was that referred to me, Mr. Prior? Because I'm not even fighting about it.

This is just dumb. Just read it.

And also, Mr. Mayor, was I the first person to submit census input? Are we going Are we going out of order today?

I don't know what the order there's an order to Am I the first individual who signed up on that list, Miss M Crawl?

No, you're not.

So, why was I the first to be called out?

I thought we go in order.

I just was trying to give uh preference to you because you were here.

I believe you're just trying to embarrass me, Mr. Mayor. I think we should follow school committee policy.

which we've done in the past and when we submit written inputs just let's have it be read. It's my written input. No one's denying that.

Mr. Chairman, here we go. Mr. Agio, I know you're going to go ahead.

Well, I don't know what here you go.

No, here you go means go ahead and talk.

Go ahead.

Oh, okay. Thank you. All I would ask is that the clerk reads it so we can move on.

Thank you.

Okay. I'll make a motion to renew business that all people present read their own when they're here. Second.

Okay, we can handle that on the new business which is at the end of the agenda. Not today. That's fine. Not yet.

Thank you.

Can I make a motion to go to new business?

You want to do that?

Yeah, Mr. Mayor. I'd like to make a motion to go out of order and enter into new business.

Second.

I have a motion and second. I take in new business now.

Um, uh, any discussion?

Deb, call the role, please.

Mr.

No.

Mr. Bailey, no.

Mr. Mr. Das, no.

Mr. Cory, yes.

Miss Laravey, yes.

Pereira, yes.

Mayor Kugan, yes.

Uh, Mr. Chair, point of parliamentary inquiry. Go ahead.

Uh, motion to take an item out of order requires a twothirds vote. That motion failed.

Is that correct, M?

Okay.

Yeah, it is wild. D.

Uh, first up is David Olivera, Roberson Street.

Three minutes to members of the school committee writing in today to ask the walk-off school committee members Miss Pereira and vice chair Miss Laravey to resign their post tonight. We the voters are coming very clear you are not for this school district. You keep complaining about how you guys keep being attacked.

Well, maybe if you focus on our school district instead of complaining about other members of this committee, maybe we could get back to business. Maybe you two can learn from Colin and Kevin about asking the real question instead of being a part of the mayor and the superintendent agenda. Now, on to the superintendent who has no right to tell a school committee member what to and

not to say is out of all is out of line.

They don't work for you, you work for them. I am also asking for the superintendent to resign her post tonight too. We all excuse me, we all know she is on is is on that stage not because of qualifications because I haven't seen it. Instead, you there you're there because the mayor and his agenda and that is to hide things under the rug just like he does on the city

side. As of today, we still have staff position opening. She clearly accepts bullying and harassment. In closing, I hope when the new school committee comes on board, their first order of business is to is to remove the superintendent if she continues to stay as a superintendent and milk her overpaid salary.

Next up, Jeffrey Goodro, Palmer Street for good afternoon, school committee members. As a citizen of Fall River, I and everyone has been in has been banned from commenting because some citizens questioned the qualifications of Stacy Monaet. So Tracy Curley banned everyone that violates my free speech. Please undo the curly ban on Facebook. Also, we need to protect our staff members. There

was a report that was released that highlighted fall public schools security sexually harassing and sexually assaulting staff members and children.

This needs to end. I hope the committee can override this administration and bring back sanity and safety to the fall public schools. Please, superintendent, do the right thing. Thank you for reading my email.

Chairman, thank you Mr. There you go.

On the one part of that was, I believe, brought up at the subcommittee and I believe it was asked at the time for attorney Assad to weigh in on the uh that issue. I'm not sure if that was the issue or um and it was only a couple days ago, but regardless of that, I do think we need to get a legal opinion on what is the options relative to commenting on uh social media uh that

Mr. Das and others have brought up. So, if it wasn't the issue that was brought to attorney Assad, I would like to ask for a legal opinion relative to that issue.

It's pretty clear and straightforward.

Does attorneys have anything to say on that?

I don't have a legal opinion and haven't researched the matter, but I would like to have a vote of the committee to do so.

Make a motion.

Second.

I have a motion and a second.

And what's the emotion? Can you state it?

to have um to have attorney Assad research the Facebook legality of blocking Facebook comments to have attorney Assad research the legality of blocking I would assume that's what we're saying Facebook comments.

Yeah, it's pretty straight I mean it's pretty straightforward that that we have an attorney when there's a legal question. We ask the attorney the legal question. So I'm not so sure we need a vote to be honest with you.

I'm going to vote yes, but I'm not so sure we need a vote. sort of in the job description of the attorney when an issue comes up to weigh in. So, I don't think it needs a vote, but I'll be happy to vote.

He works for the entire committee, so let's tell them what we think. Uh, Deb, call the role, please.

Miss Dra, yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Das, yes.

Mr. Corey, no.

Miss Laravey, no.

Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor Couan, no.

Uh, I guess you'll get that for us, Mr.

Assad. Next up, Mary Silva. Um, North Main Street. Uh, three minutes.

What happened to a dedicated a dedicated employee was disgusting, disrespectful, and absolutely unprofessional, and it raises serious red flags for us as parents. I'm not speaking for myself. I speak on behalf of many parents who are deeply concerned for our daughters attending Dery High School. We have serious allegations, not one but three security employees allegedly involved in

bringing narcotics into the building and asking our daughters sexually harassing questions. That's horrifying. Our children have been impacted by this and yet no answers. Has anything been investigated? Has these narcotics made their way into our schools? What measures are being taken to protect our children? We have a right to ask these questions and more importantly, we have a right to answers. Mr. Colandas has

asked time and time again in numerous school committee meetings for updates and information regarding sexual harassment complaints. He's pleaded, he's begged, and still silenced. Not one answer, not one shred of transparency.

That's why parents are protesting. we wouldn't have to take it to social media if the district was transparent. If the administration worked with parents and with the school committee, but they don't. They hide. They dodge. They deflect. And they keep the truth from the very people they're supposed to serve. We're not making this up. No parent wants to believe this is happening in their child's school. But

this but these concerns didn't come from nowhere. They came from what our children are experiencing firsthand. So we ask again loudly and clearly where is the transparency? What actions have been taken? Why has there been no public statement? And what will Superintendent Tracy Curley do now? Because silence is not safety. Silence is complicity.

Mr. Chair, thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Dice, go ahead. I'm sorry.

Thank you. Um, I just heard a comment about daughters. um being sexually harassed. Was that ever brought before the committee?

Uh do you have the people you want to name, Mr. Das?

It was We just received What are you talking about?

We just received a citizen's input.

I don't know if that's accurate.

That that that was the question. Has that ever been brought before the committee?

No idea.

as that we we have allegations of daughters being sexually harassed at Derpy High School. When I hear that, that's alarming.

I hope somebody notifies the police.

Mr. Mayor, I don't know if you think this is some sort of joke. I'd like to hear from the superintendent if there's issues at Derby High School relating to daughters being sexually harassed. It was just mentioned

So, it's never been reported to me that what I'm reading here, um, three security employees allegedly involved in bringing narcotics into the building and asking our daughters sexually harassing questions. I've never received a report of security bringing narcotics into the building or sexually harassing students.

I'm not going I have I can't speak to whether or not there were reports of that before I was the superintendent.

Not because I'm avoiding it. Don't know.

Um but no, I haven't received any reports like this. Thank you.

Okay. I just asked that you look into the issue and I hope it's appropriately addressed.

I just have to keep saying this. If things have already been investigated, they have already been investigated and we cannot continue. I I I won't reopen investigations that have already been investigated.

If I can just quick um I just want to be brief. Even if there's an allegation or there's an investigation going on, should we be having those discussions on this stage? No.

And I think that's a relevant question because if it's in citizens input, I'm not trying to, you know, say it's not important and I'm not trying to run away from that, but I I don't know if we should be having these discussions on stage if if something's involved. Um, so I yield with that. But Mrs. Pereira, I was just going to say I didn't know when that uh those those alleged things

happened or when she stated they happened. I'm assuming it was a while ago.

There's no time frame on it.

Oh, so is it would it make sense to reach out to that parent and just say, "Hey, you you sent in a citizen that was pretty pretty significant. Can you you willing to share any of that with me?" Is that something that we could reasonably do?

There's an email. Yes, that's reasonable. We don't have to discuss it here, but I think if that's certainly if it's happening, we we I know you want to know. So, I think reaching out seems pretty simple and if she wants to share, she can y Mr. Chair, very quickly, Mr. Dice, very quickly, um, and I'm not going to go into detail. I believe my colleague brought up some good points. Um I I was

questioned that the one about the daughters sexually harassed and the one about the narcotics um and the drugs I think we've all received a report on that and I'm not sure if it's been um properly looked into because the superintendent doesn't answer those questions. I what can you ask me the question that you need answered right now?

You you asked a question about whether or not I've gotten reports of security guards bringing narcotics into the building. The answer is no.

I have not had anything reported to me as new business for me to investigate.

Superintendent, I respectfully believe you just said something that's not true because we have all received the same report that in in part highlights a lot of horrible things, but in part highlights narcotics in Dery High School. It may not have been during your your tenure.

Yeah.

But they were reported to entire committee. And I think it's important that we make sure there's a thorough investigation which I haven't heard anything about as one member.

Mr. Jim, Mr. Agio.

Yeah. So, uh, related to investigations.

So, I think we we all just need to, uh, it's not a matter of discussing them in public here, but when an investigation is made, it's implied that that investigation has a start and that investigation has an end. And I think the problem that we have in this district is we have investigations that are started and we never get an end.

We've had recommendations to the like from consultants from uh professional development organizations where an investigation needs to start and an investigation needs to end and be closed. So the superintendent says, "Well, that happened before her and that it was closed." I would encourage her to work with HR to go look at any of those things because I am personally aware of many that have never been closed. And I

can even point to one that's very public, which is the ridiculous Matt Malone investigation that the people who filed a complaint still to this day have never received anything to say that that investigation was closed. So I ask the superintendent to work with them to when you have an investigation, start it and then close it. All right. Thank you. I yield. Let's get back to citizens input.

Taylor Perry and Aberdine Street.

Hello. This is my input for this evening. We are watching adults elected to serve our children behave in ways that are toxic, petty, and downright shameful. Walkouts, yelling, bullying, silencing parents. This is what our kids are seeing. This is an example being set by the people trusted to lead. Shelley Pereira has turned meetings into a stage for chaos. She storms out, shuts people

down, and treats anyone who challenges her with hostility. That is not strength. That is insecurity disguised as power. And it's hurting the community. And instead of reflection or accountability, we know what's coming next. Shelley won't take a breath and think about how her behavior affects families. No, she'll come back swinging with unprofessional, hostile comments, trying to ridicule and shame the very

people she's supposed to represent.

That's not leadership. That's emotional immaturity, and it has no place on the school committee. Let me be clear. I strongly request that Shelley Pereira resigns. She herself admitted she's tired, and it shows. If she is too tired to listen, too tired to collaborate, too tired to respect parents and the public, then she is too tired to lead. Her presence is no longer productive. It is

disruptive and damaging to the integrity of the committee and the trust of this community. Mayor Kugan's silence makes it worse. He stands by and lets it happen. Whether it's apathy or politics, he has allowed this dysfunction to grow.

And every time he chooses not to speak up, he shows us exactly where his priorities are. And with not and it's not with the families or the children of the city.

I've watched it. I felt it. I've been in that room and left feeling humiliated, not heard. And I'm not the only one.

Parents, students, and even other committee members are being bullied and shut out just for asking questions or speaking to the truth.

This is this isn't about pol political sides. This is about decency, respect, leadership. We are asking for something simple. For our elected officials to act like the adults we tell our children to be, to show up, listen, work together, and put kids first, not their egos, not their grudges.

Thank you, Perry.

Next up is is Manuel Canuel Seavoy Street.

To the members of the Fall River School Committee, I am writing to express concern over recent decisions to disable commenting on the Fall River public schools Facebook page. While I understand this was not a decision made by the committee, I believe this body has both the responsibility and the authority to step in. Families and taxpayers deserve more transparency and dialogue, not less. The district's main

publicfacing online forum has silenced community feedback. This is especially concerning because none of the city of Fall River's other official government Facebook pages re restrict public commenting. I feel strongly that encouraging citizen and parent participation should be the standard across all of Fall River public institutions, not just the schools. I respectfully urge the committee to

intervene and advocate for restoring public commenting on the district's social media. Our schools belong to the community and the community deserves to be heard.

Mr. Chair, Michael Canuel.

Thank you. You had written manual here.

I'm sorry.

Michael. Okay, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Das.

Um, based on because there's a few people submitting inputs on this, I'd like to make a motion that we direct the superintendent to turn on all Facebook all comments on the Facebook page and the X page until attorney Assad gives a written legal opinion. I think it's better to be safe than sorry. So I make that in the form of a motion.

Second.

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

Mr. AO, yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Das, yes.

Mr. Corey, no.

Miss Laravey, no.

Miss Pereira, no.

Mayor Kugan, no. Next up, Colin Das. Uh, Ray Street for three minutes. Mr.

Good afternoon, Mr. Chair and members of the school committee. I wish to bring to the committee's attention an employee relation student relationship that was originally brought to the administration's attention by vice chairperson Mimi Laravey. Whistleblowers have informed me that this possible relationship was between a Dery guidance counselor and a student of Dery High School and that this incident was swept

under the rug. When I, as a member of the committee, hear something of great mag of this great magnitude. I obviously become very alarmed. I started investigating. I would like to report that the superintendent has stonewalled me at every turn to discover more information on this matter. On or around June 24th, 2025, I asked Superintendent Tracy Curley what her what were the policies surrounding how we handle

student employee relationships. The superintendent responded at 7:27 p.m.

stating that quote, "I do not have someone on my staff with the time to search all of the policies for you."

unquote. On August 1st, 2025, I asked the superintendent, "How many student teacher relationships or sexual acts done by students have been swept under the run, under the rug to your knowledge or belief since the start of your tenure with the fall public schools?" After followup, the superintendent to this day has not given me an answer to that question. I have asked similar questions

to no avail because the superintendent has some reason for some reason does not want to answer my questions as a member of the committee. I had to file an official citizens public records request which as we know gives less information than what we receive as a committee and is different from the roles and responsibilities of the school committee. I requested information through an official public records

request request related to the incident.

Backtracking to July 3rd, 2025. In a response to the public records request for the records relating to the incident, Vice Chair Mimi Laravey brought to the attention of the administration. Our clerk debt cabraw told me that quote allegations of sexual misconduct the public interest does not outweigh the highly personal information in highly in high possibility of person personal embarrassment. End quote. In

response to the records request, the district con confirmed vice chair Mimi Laravey brought the claim forward. Also, the district provided some information.

Now, when the allegation is made of a student employee sexual relationship, you would think a proper investigation would entail documents from DCF, the police department, and an indepth HR investigation involving multiple witnesses. The quote unquote investigation done by Tom Kugan entailed only one page. Yes, you heard me right.

Um, in all my years of watching school committee meetings, I've never heard deliberations uh at this level, especially when it comes to citizen input. It just seems to me that there's an undercurrent here, especially in an election year to target certain allegations that should not be brought to public. It should be investigated legally and privately until there are findings. So, this just seems

like a whole bunch of gaslighting to me.

I yield.

All right, let's get back to work, guys.

The subcommittee updates item number five. First up is the policy subcommittee. Mr. Corey.

Yes.

Okay.

On July 22nd, we had a subcommittee policy subcommittee meeting. And on the agenda for uh item for discussion, we had to a vote to refer the revised walkers and writers policy EAA and we did vote to refer to full committee. On the second item of discussion, we had a vote to refer transfer the transfer process policy.

There was a motion to refer the transfer policy to the full committee.

The third item, we had a discussion vote to refer the purchasing policy. Uh we tabled this matter as uh we just wanted to have uh a bit more discussion about it before it was referred to full committee. On the uh next item, it was a vote to refer the creation of the public schools policy and parent advisory council representation.

Uh, no, excuse me. I jumped ahead of myself. There was a motion to refer the expense reimbursement policy to the full committee uh as a discussion item and uh that'll be taken up. We did table the creation of the full river public school policy of parent advisory council representation and the last item that we discussed that day was to refer policy BDE subcommittee of the school committee

to the full school committee. Thank you sir.

Thank you. Um and the instructional subcommittee by um Chairman Laravey will be submitted at the next meeting which then leads us to the superintendent report. Dr. Curley.

Um so first up um in terms of my update is on the administrator institute. So this past week we hosted the annual admin institute um here at Dery. Uh we welcomed back hundreds of school administrators um as well as district administrators. Um, as I told the committee in my update um, this weekend, the uh, the week was expertly planned by our three assistant superintendent and included sessions focused on our um, on

excellent instruction and our system for instructional improvement. Um, a district-wide coaching plan aligned with get better faster, the kickoff to our inclusive education with Deb Harris and bridge ever gap and a review of the district's MTSS mandated reporter and bullying training and um, more. So, it was really a perfect way to kick off uh the new year and we're following up this

week with new teacher orientation. So, um this morning we welcomed um more than a hundred new teachers on board for the coming new year. Um and during an icebreaker this morning, we got a little preview of who the teachers are and where they're coming from. Um and what we saw was a really great mix of uh folks who are coming straight out of college, coming from other districts, um

coming from other countries. We had um just one career changer which I thought was interesting. I expected there to be more. Um and so this week we have um for the next two days we have sessions that are facilitated by um you know FREA did a presentation. We have coaches and department chairs. Our director of HR um MLL department, special ed department are all meeting um and doing sessions

with teachers over the next couple of days. And then each of the first two days is actually ending um today was the first day with a trolley tour of Fall River. So that's pretty exciting.

Teachers will be in their schools um on Wednesday to do some school-based orientation.

Um also, as we prepare um to begin the new year, uh we I'm really pleased to report that all of our school facilities um are ready to welcome back teachers.

So we have teachers who are able to get into their um rooms, you know, across all of our buildings. There are some um some particular rooms or um sections that might not be available. Um but for the most part um people are back um in their buildings over the course of this week. So over the course of the summer months, custodial teams worked to ensure that every building had been thoroughly

cleaned and refreshed. our custodial staff accomplished this um you know all while we were still providing you know summer school and district um enrichment programs and things like that um in more than half of our buildings and somehow I don't know how they do it but every year the work gets done um maintenance and campus service teams provided preventative maintenance to various building operation operating systems

along with street trimming asphalt repairs and other beautifification projects in addition um we've done some moderate renovations and restorations throughout the district to improve safety, functionality, and overall learning um the environment in all of our schools. So, really, I think what you what we saw this summer is not um unlike what we do every summer and just is um indicative of the continued

commitment to providing students and staff with well-maintained um supportive spaces in which people are um learning and thriving every day. So, just in terms of some projects that were completed and maybe remain underway in the district, uh we've built out some additional rooms and spaces at different schools, we have five um additional classrooms that were created over at Bishop Conley for preK. We did some

parking enhancements at Doran. Carpet removal and vinyl tile work um at a few locations. Window installation is underway at RLM RPA and um we have painting projects at several buildings.

So, um, all of that is is wrapping up with really the exception, um, being the windows at RPA because those will be worked on through maybe December or something like that. So, we still have some work to do there. Um, in terms of an enrollment update, because um, we're doing all of this because we've got students returning. Um as of this afternoon we had 11,217 students enrolled in terms of like in

our seats um enrollment in the district uh through you know prek through 12 and we had another 214 students who are u making their way through the registration process with our pace team.

In terms of a hiring update, as of Friday, which is when we pulled the numbers, um there were 67 new hires since the last meeting, which was just about two weeks prior to last Friday, like two and a half weeks. Um so that included a vice principal and 36 teachers, 14 um pair of professionals, three school adjustment counselors, two department heads, two coach interventionists, and then a lot of

other positions like um nurse, music teacher, um and ISL um department heads.

I just already said department heads, cluster coordinator, clerk, um but 67 total since our last meeting. Um and then additionally, we had 39 internal transfers um in the district, two rehires, which is always nice to see, and 25 resignations.

And that's it.

That's it. Thank you, Dr. Philly. Mr.

Aario, just a few questions based on that. Um the class sizes, enrollment, um I know I hear that it's going difficult. I hear from a lot of parents that there's not room in certain schools. So, if we could just get an update on is there any classes that are any schools that are just maxed out?

We do. Um we do have some schools that are maxed out um where we're seeing numbers right now um you know around 28 at some grade levels and so we are not um enrolling any additional students there. We do have some schools with um fairly low class sizes. Latero comes to mind because we opened new classrooms there. We opened new classrooms at Fonsa as well and so it really just um it

differs from school to school, but we absolutely do have some um grade levels at some schools that are very tight.

If you could just get us a report on that, I'd appreciate it. So, you know, I've been uh saying this for a while that I think we're we missed the time to reorganize, but I think that now it's crunch time and I think people are going to start seeing that some of those things come to fruition. You mentioned the 28 as the number.

Following up on a conversation that we had relative to the contract lowering from 30 to 28 when it was do you have any update on that? I I actually don't.

You could get us basically I think we're at 28 because that's what the contract now says.

I don't believe that we as a committee were told that we were going from 30 let's we used to say class size of 30 here all the time. So if the class size is now 28 maximum without an aid, that's a big that's a big issue and I don't think that the committee was fully brought to speed on that. So if it's okay, we should just at least know uh what that is.

The um you mentioned the staffing going back to normal. So I know I asked Mr.

Pico this I think last month about the seniors is we closed one of the daycarees uh early childhood. So there was ultimately three seniors. So they were going to go back to normal levels as that happened. I would have to defer.

I think we were just in the summer they were covering um uh vacancies. So So they will be going back to the regular levels very shortly as soon as we get back to school.

Thank you. The um last one is uh something I've been asking the superintendent for and um haven't really heard much on it, but strategic planning is a major issue here and I think the lack of strategic plan is a major issue here in in Fall River. So, a while back I had emailed you about the reporting of your uh entry findings from your goals, but we haven't seen anything yet and it

would they were supposed to be due in early spring. So, I gave you a heads up on that to say, you know, what's going on? I haven't heard anything since. Do you have anything to update that?

I'll update next month.

I mean, I don't have it here with me, but I will update you next.

So, where it says early spring is going to be in September.

It said early It said early spring and I will give it to you in September. Yes.

Okay. The second one is um the key action was by mid August present a draft strategic plan to the committee considers the findings of various things. So is that now three months beyond is that coming in next month too?

It will not be ready in September but I would like to get something to you for October.

October obviously you know my feeling on that. I think we're well well overdue. I appreciate it.

Uh thank you very much. I yield Mr. Chair.

Mr. Das.

Thank you. I'll start um with school openings and just before the meeting I I met with the um superintendent, the assistant superintendent. I think we can all agree that we um and I think we're going to get there. So, this is positive new, but I think we could have done a better job at notifying families of transfers and regal locations back to their home um their neighborhood district. Um the most complaints I've

received over the last few weeks are on um trans transfers back to neighborhood districts and lack of notification. So I think um next summer I think we can um do a better job at that just maybe sending out some letters. Um also want to talk about and I brought this up. Can I just respond to that piece because letters did go out in June and then people requested to um they requested transfers to other

schools or they they filled out um requests and then requests weren't haven't always been honored but there was communication in June around the moves.

Right. I I think if I can just give an idea, I think something we can do to maybe give a little bit more communication is uh maybe send out reminders in the spring saying your child's due to go back at this school, so there's time to prepare. From what I've heard from parents that it seemed to be um they didn't know or um it was a surprise to them. But again, there's I

think there's a lot of different factors that go into I'm just trying to So we did So the other thing I would say is that when um we we do communicate with parents when they make transfer requests that it's not necessarily a permanent move and people agree to that when we make the transfer and then unfortunately when we when there isn't room and then we communicate via letter that you know people are not happy and

and we understand like not um we have tried very hard to accommodate people um so that could students could stay in schools to which they had previously requested transfers. Um we have tried to accommodate every request that we could, but we do have an issue with class size at some of our schools and we're in a position where some people have to go to their neighborhood schools that don't want to.

No, I understand you you do have some tough decisions to make. I'm not trying to um cast blame there, but I guess I will say as one member um with our transfer policy that we approved, I would I would have loved to have seen language in like the priorities of individuals who stay at their schools to be if you're already at your school, that should be a one of the top

priorities in my opinion as to whether we um move people like through choice transfer they transfer out of the school. That again, that's just my opinion. Um, back to school openings.

I've been pretty vocal on email about my concerns with SAR. I brought to the superintendent's attention a violent act that took place in one of these SAR bus terminals.

I understand we're we're talking about school openings and when we open up a school, there needs to be transportation. Am I right?

You didn't talk about that.

We have some schools to which we don't provide transportation.

Yeah.

Right. I don't but I just don't see the reason why I can't bring up the topic.

We're talking about school openings which requires for some schools transportation. I'm just bringing up some some points. I didn't see the controversy. Um if if I if I may continue. Um I think the committee should take a vote on whether we're going to um move to certain buses. And I think it should be clear within the policy. What I'm trying to understand is one member, what qualifies a student if

they qualify for transportation under the the transportation policy that was just approved. What qualifies them for a cert bus versus a yellow bus? I'm just trying to understand when we choose to either give a cert bus through versus a yellow bus where um when we took a look at um the bus routes where they were going, we took a look at um certa bus routes and where we could use public transportation

and a student could get on public transportation and have a direct route to school. We opted to do that and I think we have about 13 students right now who are using SERTA transportation at the middle level.

At the middle school level. Yep. And then we have hundreds obviously at the Derfy.

Right. I still think that should come before the committee as an official agenda item we should take a vote on. I have concerns of my own with with the certain buses. Again, we don't have um any oversight besides the the mayor serving on the board, but we don't as a school district, we don't have any oversight. Um, I don't believe we're even in any official contracts for SERA.

So, there could there could be, in my opinion, issues down the road if we start expanding this down to um, lower grades. I think it's just worth having a bigger conversation. Um, last thing on school openings. Um, want to make sure our schools are clean. Um, the Morton Middle School lot, the parking lot, that's maintained by the school department. Correct.

I think so.

Thank you. Um cuz I know the the mayor's office wants to hold a cleanup there and and I and I think that's all well and good that we're having cleanups.

However, if it's our responsibility to be cleaning that site, I think um we should be the ones cleaning that. I don't think we should um be relying I guess something to say.

Sure. So um as most people know that site was the former Carol School. The footprint of the property is a little different there because the park is adjacent. So the wood wooded area that's completely surrounding that parking lot is part of the park. Sure.

Not part of the school department. So we do maintain the grass cutting in different areas of Morton. But as far as the parking lot, we do get there. We make sure that um the drains are open so that we don't have any flooding in that area. But there is dumping there maybe four out of seven days a week.

Sure. I guess and that stuff we just can't keep on top of because that's not the only building we have. We have 18 of them. So with a small crew to take care of 18 buildings and cleaning up that parking lot is not always the case. We do however receive phone calls now and then from the neighbors on Hood Street who are very appreciative of the fact that we let them park there especially during the

winter time when they have uh snow issues to take care of. However, it is um an area that is not um necessarily well traveled. So, it allows for a lot of that.

No, I guess it's more and I I respect your cander on the issue. I guess it's more of a beautifification. Obviously, every part of your school you want to see clean and I know there's a big lot and I and not trying to place the blame on you, but I maybe we can work with the city besides having like um like a ceremonial cleanup like that's something we can work with the city's DPW to um

clean up um more often. Um but I I appreciate that. That's all I had on that. Um last thing I'm going to bring up is enrollment. Um what is the plan now with um ELELLL enrollment now that the um ELLL director is now the interimm principal of Talabet? Do we have a plan on that yet?

No, we do not.

Okay, I yield.

Mr. Chairman, next Mr. Aier.

I just uh Mr. D mentioned ELLL. So I just want to say again for the record I now it's on at least several months that I'm still waiting for the total cost of the dual language program along with what is the ramifications due to class size at the VA school based on having that program there at least three months I've still been waiting haven't received anything today I yield okay I

I have to say something I have to say something positive um I had the opportunity today to come to the uh new teacher orientation there was a tremendous amount enthusiasm with the crowd. Um, people are happy to be coming to the city of Fall River. I also had the opportunity to stop in at the administrators institute again. Um, I saw a lot of enthusiasm. I talked to one of the new people here who said the

professional development was some of the best they've ever received. Um, I also had the opportunity to take some people from South Coast Health through the building the other day and they were very, very impressed with the cleanliness. um the overall climate in the building uh while we're wrapping up the end of summer and uh I think it bodess well for our partnerships down the road with one of our biggest uh

private industries in the city of Fall River which is obviously healthcare. So I'm I'm going to say I think things are moving in the right direction. I hope we have a good year for football. The cheerleaders look like they're ready and uh let's get the show on the road. Next item up is the approval of minutes number seven.

Motion to approve.

Second. Uh, is that all three, Mr. Das?

Yes.

Okay. Motion to approve all three. Um, it's the approval of the minutes of the parent and community outreach subcommittee meeting from 6:30. It's the approval of the minutes from the policy subcommittee from 7:22 and it's the approval of the minutes from the agreement subcommittee of 8:13. I have a motion to second. Deb, would you please call any discussion? De, please call the role.

Mr.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Das, yes.

Mr. Cory.

Yes.

Miss Laravey.

Yes.

Miss Pereira.

Yes.

Mayor Kugan.

Yes. Uh eight is the travel request.

Approve. Second.

We have a motion, a second to approve the ban competition travel to Connecticut. Um discussion. De. Call the role please.

Mr. Dia.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Yes.

Mr. D.

Yes.

Mr. Cory.

Yep.

Miss Laravey.

Yes.

M. Carrera.

Yes.

Mayor Coug.

Yes. Item number Yes. Item number nine is the donations. We have four of them tonight. Um, quick Mr. D.

Thank you. I'm I'm I just had a question on one of them. So, I I figured we'd just take it all together. Um, just just um on the last one. Um, this more I'm just trying to understand the policy just from what we discussed at the last meeting. Um, we definitely want to bring anyone who volunteers anything or brings anything before the committee. We want to give them the recognition they

deserves from all our community partners who do great work. Um I just think and I'm happy this indiv brought this forward and I think that's what we should be encouraging more people to more individuals more admin in the district to you know bring these good things forward. I know um state representative um came before Faola came before one of the schools and um did something similar to this about

ice cream and or some popsicles and um I don't know if that came before um the committee to for under our policies K however that's not the issue but just think these things should be coming forward fluidly so we can just take a look into this policy I know we had a discussion I don't know if you have anything to report on superintendent I I could talk on that one Mrs.

That was that was my doing, making sure the kids all had a ride around the city of Fall River and they um made sure they got an ice cream down at the carousel.

So, I appreciate you acknowledging that.

It went well for the kids and they all got a a free ice cream that night.

I think your I think your name should be on the uh it's here on the agenda.

Oh, he she said you got one of them mixed up. No, I don't He's taking issue with the fact that at the end of the school year during some of the endofear activities um there was a popsicle donation. I did contact city hall because it wasn't clear to me. It wasn't funded by um Representative Fiola's office. It wasn't clear. It wasn't an individual. I'm not sure. It never made it to the donations. I will

figure out where it came from. But you know that it wasn't on. You're like, I I I don't remember if it was ever on. You know, it wasn't on it. It wasn't. So, I'd like to acknowledge these donations and I will get some information for you in terms of who funded the popsicles.

I I thought you were talking about this one, Mr. Zas. Um, I think it's just um a fair question just to ask, but that's okay. I thought you were talking about the one on the agenda. I talked to Carl from uh the tipsy tobogen who now owns the ice cream and he and I worked on an arrangement to make sure the kids got an ice cream cone that I mean a small cup.

No, I think that's very um great of you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Motion to approve.

Second.

That's all four again. Mr. Das.

Yes.

Okay. I have a motion to second on all donations discussion. Deb, call the role please.

Mr. Aia, yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Das, yes.

Mr. Cory, yes. Miss Laravey.

Yes.

Miss Pereira.

Yes.

Mayor Kouan.

Yes. Miss uh Superintendent.

Sure. On behalf of Assistant Superintendent Chief Academic Officer Brian Reposa, we acknowledge a donation in the amount of um valued at $1,500 from Carnegie. The donation was used to provide breakfast at the Administrator's Institute. On behalf of athletic director Bradustin, we acknowledge a donation in the amount of $1,452 from Bay Coast Bank used to purchase 12 footballs for varsity football games. On

behalf of Assistant Superintendent Chief Acedotic Officer Brian Reposa, we acknowledge um the donation of swag bags filled with pencils, pens, and notepads valued at $850. A donation from I Ready.

The donation was used at the um administrators institute and on behalf of our director of grant programs, Derek Faras. Um we acknowledge one carousel ride, a donation of one carousel ride in one scoop of ice cream per student, a donation from the fall of a carousel. Um the donation was used to enhance 21st century learning center field trips um at Battleship Cove.

Thank you, Superintendent. Item 10 is the approval of grants. We have two of them. Does anybody have a hold on either grant?

First one.

First one, Mr. Aguia. So, we will uh take up the second one first. The post uh secondary and postsecary.

Well, actually, if we I'm sorry. Excuse me, Mr. Dice. I'm sorry. Um since we only have two, if we can address Mr.

Aguar's concerns on the first one, we'll take them together. Mr. Aguia.

Yes. So, this we get this grant often and it's um I'm just curious to see what the options are for what else could this grant be used for to support early college. So, I've always maintained that um it um it troubles me I guess in a way that we fall all over ourselves to support early college. We spend money, we spend grant money, we have extra staffing. And I compare that to what we

do for the special education department and other types of students. And it seems like when every year this comes through, we keep getting the same thing.

Well, the teachers, and correct me if I'm wrong, but based on what I read is that there's teachers that have their prep time where they're supposed to be prepping for classes. they actually work to to help a teacher who's teaching an early college class to give those early college kids extra support. So, I guess my question is just what else could this grant be used for? It maybe some other

um uses, but the real issue is what are we doing for all the other kids?

Good evening. Um so the early college grant is actually a targeted grant uh from the state uh that is given to all school districts who have a designated early college program and the specific amount is based on student enrollment and a few other factors. Um so we were um allocated this year $80,000 to support the uh early college program. Um and so what uh we are spending it on as

you had mentioned was um all of our early college students are in our early college program for one-third of their school day uh the last two periods of the school day. Um so we utilize the majority of this funding uh to stipen uh teachers uh to teach our support class to partner with higher ed professors and to do academic tutoring uh through the early college program.

Mr. Aia So I guess the question is so it doesn't allow for any other funding. So every piece of funding of every grant based on what you just said across the Commonwealth that receives this grant, they tell you this is the only thing that you can spend this money on.

You can spend funding on supplies, transportation for early college field trips, contractual services um for organizations that will support uh early college programming. Um, but there are specific guidelines and it must be spent on the early college programming.

So up to 60 hours split between two staff members, $42 an hour and then the rest is 76,000 is for the teachers that we mentioned.

Correct.

And what is your feeling on how other students that are in other programs don't get that support?

Am I wrong or is that am I totally off base? Well, I feel uh one of the successes of the early college program is that it does take a village uh and the support uh that the students um do receive is instrumental in helping them enroll, persist and graduate or hopefully graduate from post-secondary institutions. Uh we do have students with disabilities. We do have MLL students uh former MLL students. We

target first generation uh students and economically disadvantaged students. Um, and we are um really targeting those groups because those groups are underrepresented in higher ed. And our goal is to reduce that achievement gap and allow for students to have the economic mobility that a post-secary credential um can help them achieve.

So if you have any of those topics, any of those buzzwords, whatever you want to call it, that just you just mentioned, and you don't happen to be in early college, what are the additional supports that those children have to just get through school? Never mind early college class, regular class. Is it the same as early college or is early college students getting a lot more support than other children with the

same profile that just don't happen to be in early college?

The early college students do get enhanced support through the early college programming and our goal is to expand each year because we feel like we're gaining strong outcomes from the early college program. But students outside the early college program still receive a lot of support in terms of post-secary. Uh there's classroom workshops that all students receive, opportunities to go on field trips or

industry tours, uh things like college fair, one-on-one, you know, application support and financial aid support from USIRE. Those are all uh some of the things that are universal uh for all um students within the Fall River Public Schools. Yeah, I I just feel pretty strong that we have students that are not getting the extra support like this that are that they have needs. And I can

appreciate where you're heading with trying to get more students in early college and all that. I'm not trying to, you know, minimize that, but as the director of guidance for the district, I don't think you or anyone in administration could say that we're not giving adha more enhanced support based on these teachers actually having their prep periods to actually work with those children

for every student because I don't see that we're doing that because any support that was for the other students, whatever you want to call it, student support coordinator, whatever the position is, they're also helping these children. So, all I'm saying every year this comes up and I say the same thing.

I'm still waiting for someone to create some sort of program where if this model is so good and this model is so great for those children, when are we going to utilize a model like that for the children that aren't in early college? I guess that's my only point and I can't imagine anyone that would be opposed to that. I'm just saying I'm just speaking for what I see. We're giving the

requisite support, I guess, from what you're saying to these children. But if you're not in early college, you don't get the same support. So, I'm going to yield on that, but I think everyone knows my my stance on it, but I'm eagerly awaiting somebody to come up with a program for those other kids to support them in an equal fashion.

Mr. Cory, so Mr. Woodward. Um, I was reading through uh the go the governor's proposed uh upcoming budget. Uh, was I right when I saw that early college was part of the idea within her budget to expand throughout the Commonwealth? So, as you stated in your comments, those are targeted funds.

I don't I don't follow my colleagues line of reasoning on this because if it's targeted and if the governor is calling for it and the legislature passes it then that's what we that's our allocation and we're going to target that allocation toward early college and like you said it will lessen the achievement gap which is really a monumental thing uh especially for the kids in Fall River that have had you

know nominally low scores year after year after year and we're for ways, especially for gateway cities like Fall River, to get a leg up in education for the 21st century. So, as far as I know, if the government if the governor is targeting this, then I want to thank you for carrying it out. I yield, Mr.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Adias.

No worries. Um, Mr. Woodward, if we can um we had I think this early college support grant is going to go to um what we discussed at the subcommittee level.

Can you talk about what you talked about the subcommittee how we're trying to expand this to both RPA and Stone?

Sure. Um we're doing having targeted uh approaches to support access from SOEN and RPA for students who are ready to uh take early college classes and join the early college program. Uh one of the things you'll see uh later on in the uh RPA program of studies is some targeted approaches to expand access you know for RPA students not only for early college but for things like CTE based on how we

are proposed to structure the schedule and a couple other um key strategies right but specifically to early college support we're trying to in in in what in the program this grant's going to fund we're trying to get students from RPA within in that program.

We would we would love that. Yes. And we have one student who transitioned from RPA to Dery, you know, over the previous year who um has already joined the early college program and we're looking to expand that and give more students um access and opportunity.

They they transferred to Dery, so they're no longer an RPA student.

Correct.

Okay. Um but if they're specifically they would have to transfer in to be eligible for this for the program.

No. No. Um um what we're looking to do is really um structure the RPA so that there's maximum flexibility especially in the second half of the school day where students uh will have access uh to dery uh for things such as you know early college for things such as CTE athletics and activities and those types of things.

I yield.

Thank you Mr. Aar.

Yeah just uh to follow up on my colleague to my right. We have uh how many students at Dery?

I believe it's right around 2,700.

And how many are in early college?

So, we have about 265 taking early college dual enrollment classes and another 150 sophomores taking an on-ramp class to prepare them for success in early college classes.

So, about 400, correct?

Total. And you said how many were in the hold school?

About 2,700.

2,700. So my comments which I don't know why he couldn't figure it out but we have 400 students total. We have 2200 students that don't receive any benefit from this year. This is my point. My point is why what are we doing for the other 2200. It's not and I'm not suggesting we're doing nothing. I think we're doing a lot of different things.

But the the point of why what I was talking about was we have to if this is a model that helps these kids get over the hump and do what they need to do.

All I'm asking you is the other 2200 need something similar. Whatever that is and if that means taking those other teachers out of uh paying for out of our budget if it has to if that's the model that works the 22 200 kids is who I'm asking for. This is very limited to 400.

you know, it's expanded and good for you and it's expanding but the other 2200.

So I don't think it's complicated. I think it's quite clear we have a lot of students at Dery have needs and this is targeting 400. I'm asking you to focus on what are we going to do together 2200. I yield. Thank you.

I I got to ask a question. How many kids are in our vocational program?

I believe between five and 600 students.

How many special needs students do we have here?

um I believe around 600 student 5 to six.

So that's another 1,200 that from my time here get additional supports across the board to coach them up while they're in school. Am I right or wrong?

Correct.

Okay. So the other kids have the opportunities you talked about with um what Mr. Bailey used to do. You aspire additional classwork. Um they can take um honors level classes. So there is support across the board for the majority of the school. Am I right or wrong?

That's correct.

That's what I know. I don't think 400 kids are getting and this is and I know Mr. Aguio's focused on this, but this is a targeted grant to help that group of kids. We do get grants for our vote kids. We get grants for our special needs kids. We get grants across the board. It just so happens that this one is an early college support grant. But I know from my time in Dery that the

majority of kids that need extra supports that you're talking about, and of course I believe what you're saying is noble because that's what we should do, but there's not 2,200 kids not getting additional supports across the board. I think the vast majority of kids in the school get an opportunity to get some additional supports. Whether it's work experience, whether whatever it is

we can do to help these families, that's what we're doing. I don't think it's uh it's 400 out of 2700 is it was characterized.

Anything further, Mr. Aguier?

Yeah. So, I just have one more question.

So, this model is you pay $42 an hour for a professor teacher to assist these children that are in um early college class. Is that true?

Basically, true statement. So yeah, the the higher ed institutions pay for the professors in the course and this grant uh supports Dury teachers to um support either through tutoring um through the one goal class or through um being a partner teacher to the professor in the classroom.

Right. So they're paying dur on their prep. I'm reading what's here listed.

Yeah.

One of them is an adjunct lead professor because Bridgewater didn't have a professor. So we have one of our teachers going to teach during their prep. Pay them. I'm assuming you're paying them a real rate not $42 an hour but doesn't it's not listed here. I'm assuming it's not 40 it's not the contractual rate if they're actually teaching the class I would assume but it's not here. The

other one is supporting by the teachers on their prep supporting other students that are in early college. My question to you is how many staff members on their prep period are being paid to assist children on an IEP at Dery High School? So, they're giving up their prep. They're going to get paid $42 an hour to help a ch child on an IEP at Dery High School. How many? If you don't

know the answer, if you could please get it to the superintendent and she could send it to us, I would appreciate it.

Cuz I have a feeling I know what the answer is.

My gut says none. So, please get us the information. That's the point I'm trying to make. With that, I yield. Thank you.

Okay. So, do I have a motion to second on both of the grants?

Motion. So, made second. I have a motion and a second. Uh Deb, could you call the role on item number 10, the two grants for early college in secondary and post-secary program?

Ma, yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Das, yes.

Mr. Cory, yes.

Miss Laravey, yes.

Miss Pereira, yes.

Cougen, yes. Item number 11 is the approval of contracts. Now, we usually take those in in uh in bunches. So, the first one is the continuations.

Um, does anybody have any holds on the motion to approve? Motion.

I have some holds, Mr. Chairman.

On the continuations, Mr. Corey.

No, I I'll I'll vote for the block. I just have three holds.

I have holds on the continuations, Mr. Dus. Which ones?

Yes. Um, all of the community partnerships um with the exception of US buyer. So, the children actively.

All right. So, why don't we just start going through those right away because that is the vast majority of them. your question on the first one the children's advocacy the sorry the children's advocacy center Mr.

Thank you. I just like a presentation on how um it's been effective this year.

The Children's Advocacy Center is a key partner with the For Public Schools. Um as we they are refer a referral source for us when any incidences of neglect on children are brought forth. They are a key partner of ours. Um and so they have been a great standing partner to be very responsive in all of our needs across schools as well as a professional development partner as well.

um to support our support staff and make sure um that we are up to speed as needed.

Thank you. Um just maybe I believe they were a a guest at the uh parent and community engagement meeting in the spring that was over at Fonsa.

I thought actually I Okay, I'm going to check. I I think they actually came out and presented.

Okay. I guess um I was just going through like the backup. I I guess going forward if um I guess for all of them you're in support continuing all these.

You think they're they're useful. Um I guess going forward if we can just get some data in the backup. I um I know the superintendent just before I shared extensive backup for all of them. That's why did you not I have the contract like the like I have the youth like the contract but it's um I don't know again I just um I know there was some not not for me but I know

there's been um some questions out there. So that's why I just wanted to um just have like a presentation on like how the usefulness of all the for the public edification. Could you do um coach for change did come before the subcommittee. Could you do the um Kate Brown educational program?

So Katie Brown as well. I shared with you all the backup and the data that gave each grade level at a glance. Katie Brown comes in and is in across all of our schools. At the high school level, I've been working with Dan Fitzgerald who's our director of PE and health to ensure that our teachers at the high school have a little bit more influence and oversight over the curriculum and

the way that it's rolling out just to make sure that we're keeping kids engaged. Um but we have continued with this partnership. I feel Katie Brown has been very responsive to our developing needs as well as they have amended some of their programming to be inclusive of the needs of our diverse population as well um and really responsive to any requests that we've had for them to

modify curriculum and just be responsive to the changing needs of our population.

Thank you. Um seeing that you're in support, I'll make um motion to approve.

I'd just like to request um go if there's any new community partnership contracts. I think um they I think just common place they go before parent and community outreach subcommittee. Um so I just like to make a friendly request for that. But I'll make a motion to approve all the continuations.

Second.

I have a motion and a second on all the continuation um contracts.

Did Mr. Corey have a hold on any Did you have Mr. Corey? That's what I asked you. Any of yours in the continuation group? Okay.

No, I I Okay. We'll get to yours when the next batch comes up. I have a motion, a second. Deb, call the role, please.

Mr.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Das, yes.

Mr. Corey, yes.

Miss Laravey, yes.

Mr. Per, yes.

Mayor Cookie, yes. The next batch is grant contracts.

It's Cartwheel Health and Lynch Leadership Academy. Does anybody have questions about either of those grants?

Cartwheel.

Cartwheel. Mr. Aguiar. Since there's only two, I hear it one for you. Go ahead.

Just I looked at the um backup. I think this was from an old presentation, the one we had, but and it sort of updated the um data.

The only question I had was I think we're paying for slots.

Yeah.

And how many slots did we not use from last year and are we reducing the um amount going forward based on what you So you'll be happy to know two things.

Yes. Um, we are reducing the number of slots from last year to this year based on usage. And I was able to secure and negotiate with Cartwheel that they will forward us 50 slots that were unused from last year. Um, we ended up making over 200 referrals, but sometimes parents backed out, never followed through. And so part of my stipulation with Cartwheel was I'm not going to have

expired seats to purchase new seats. and they were very gracious to be able to forward the unused seats from last school year to forward them into this school year and then I negotiated at the lower rate. So we will still have 150 teleaalth seats available to our students as we move into this year and that was very much right around the range with which we utilized this past year. So I'm feeling confident that

we'll be right in a good position for an equitable use of seats and even though we didn't use them last year, they are paying them forward to this year for us.

So this 487 is a little bit reduced from the last year.

See a little bit more. Yes, a good chunk saved.

Thank you. Appreciate it. Motion to approve. Second.

Is that both Mr. Agar?

Yes, please.

Okay. Uh Lynch and Cartwheel. I have a motion. Second on both. Any discussion?

De call the role, please.

Mr. Aar.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Yes.

Mr. Das.

Yes.

Mr. Cory.

Yes.

Laravey.

Yes. Mr.

Yes.

May.

Yes. Next one is a miscellaneous contract on one goal. Do we have any questions on one goal?

Motion to approve.

Second.

I have a motion to second. Deb, call the role on one goal.

Mr. Chairman, just one question.

Mr. Aguar, I did not get to see the uh backup, but is this the program where the person's with us four days a week and on site or is that a different uh through guidance or uh the the one goal partnership is a a a critical uh part of the early college program. So, it's a curriculum that all students go through. Uh, it's a three-year program and, uh, students, uh, start at the beginning of their

junior year and follow, uh, specific, uh, milestones and activities that are researchbased, uh, provided by one goal.

One goal um, then follows the student uh, through their freshman year of college to support with a transition to higher ed, which can be tricky uh, for many students. In addition, uh the partnership provides coaching and professional development for staff as well as leadership experiences and field trips for students as part of the uh partnership as well. And finally, uh one goal has partnerships with many of the

higher ed institutions that many of our students metriculate to such as UMass Dartmouth, Bridgewwater State, Bentley University, and many others. And our students who graduate um uh have uh specific supports that are enhanced. Uh they're eligible for specific scholarships uh only for one goal fellows across the state. Um certain colleges give students guaranteed admissions such as Bentley University to

one go fellows across the state. Um so those are some key pieces to the uh the partnerships. My only question was is this the where we have a staff member on site or is that the what we had just approved the uh that is the buyer contract so I just think every year when they come I think I might have mentioned this you know last year that if we pay 55,000

and we're paying a counselor for that same rate I think at some point this started off as a grant or some foundation somebody was giving us money for the other one and every year we just keep on getting the same thing presented whereas I think we if we're going to be putting that kind of money out, we should get the person 5 days a week and work for us rather than having go to

somebody else, but this what you explained is a different process. So, I know we already approved the US buyer. I just think when we're spending money for a staff member and it's the same amount of money basically that we couldn't get otherwise, we should probably just do it in house. I yield. Thank you.

Motion motion approved.

Second. Second.

I have a motion and a second on one goal. Deb, would you please call the role?

Mr. Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Mr. D.

Yes.

Mr. Cory, yes.

Miss Larby, yes.

Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor Coug, yes. We then have four special education.

Four special education contract. Mr. Das has made a motion to approve all four.

Second.

I have a motion, a second. Questions?

De, call the role, please.

Mr. Dia, yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Das, yes.

Mr. Corey, yes.

Mr. Laravey, yes.

Miss Pereira, yes.

Mary Kugan, yes. We have two facilities contracts, cleaning and restoration support on Lakeshore Learning.

The second one is Lakeshore Learning. Do I have a hold on the first one? So, we'll take them together. Mr. Dus, Lakeshore Learning.

Thank you. Um, going through the backup and obviously the cost of everything has gone up. I'm just trying to understand as one member. So, we have four classrooms and before I even begin, I'm assuming this is a state contract we're going through or so they have state contracts. the state contract.

So if I could just a quick on Lakes Shore. So um Lakeshore Lakeshore was responsive and responsible for all of the items that were requested. So again, as I probably said this at the last meeting, um as long as they're all equal, then low then the low bid would be the one we'd be looking for. But they weren't low all equal. The products were not all equal. and the quantities um

were not all available. So there's a certain piece of this that we have to take into consideration because we needed those we need them next week.

And um the threshold whether we if we didn't go through state contract we went through normal bidding process. Um the threshold, correct me if I'm wrong, is um if it's 100,000 and over, we have we have to go through if it's under 100,000, then we could solicit quotes, right?

Um in in your opinion, do you believe um I I'm I'm going I'm go I'm going to go on a hunch for four classrooms that we could have gone gotten a cheaper rate if we went out to get three quotes. And I understand this company's probably prestigious, probably responsible for um their work as you said, and I'm assuming they're responsible if something breaks.

So, two things. The um with with that being said, that the issue of the not going off a state contract, a lot of times those companies are still going to bid on the same work.

The only thing you're going to do is you're going to turn it into a 45 to a 60day procurement process as opposed to trying to get it down to the, you know, as close as you can. We're also competing with every district around for the product, right? So the the early bird gets the worm. That's that's exactly what we end up with. We we need to get these products here on time. Um and

some of this information wasn't necessarily known um early enough that we could have done this in let's say March or April, right? I guess so timing is a lot of it and we we have talked about this a couple of times about the fact that them being able to deliver the product on time. It's also white glove service with some of these companies and others drop it off and we

have to put it together. Do do we use like the pretty much the same company for all the schools that we have fans here, but is this it all depends on the product that we're looking for. So, um this this is um I don't want to say it's a new line for Lakeshore, but Lakeshore is has decided to go um almost across the board age- wise, but we've used them uh pretty much

all the time for preK K furniture. It stands up um and it's um it's all age appropriate, but it's also all adjustable. Not all companies, the furniture is adjustable. So, in this district, if we have to move a table from kindergarten to fifth grade, it's nice that we can just raise the legs and not buy another table. Um and that's uh some of this companies, they're not the only ones. Other companies do that. The

difference with this company, it seems to be that their ability to deliver on time product is much better than some of the other companies.

Understand that. Thank you. I I'll vote to approve it. I guess my last question would be if maybe and I'm just throwing this as an idea because I really don't know if we can like plan ahead and like if like we need new furniture going forward if we can maybe buy some of this in advance go on a longer time frame we get a cheaper price keep it in a secure warehouse and then when things break

down we can just move it in and long term we're saving a little bit of money.

Just wanted to throw that out there but um make a motion to approve.

Second Is that both Mr. Das?

Yes.

Motion to approve both of our facilities contracts. I have a motion to second Mr.

Aguier.

Yeah. Just on the same issue, I I agree with Mr. Pico that some of it is timing trying to get stuff, but I have to reiterate because I've been saying this for over a year. We need to reorganize all the schools since last year. So to Mr. Guys's point, if we did what we were told back in March, over a year and a half ago, and redistrict the school, we could give this gentleman enough time to

say we're going to have x amount of classes. We didn't do that. This was a last minute try to get a couple classrooms out of the fons, if I recall.

So, they didn't have the uh equipment because they didn't have a classroom. So I these are the type of issues though that if we wanted to avoid it, there's a good way to avoid it is to do what you administration says you're going to do when it you say you're going to do it and not kick the can down the road for a year or a year and a half. Everything

keeps on getting kicked down the road.

So to Mr. Pico's point, I think it timing is some of the biggest piece here. And we'd love to get you more time, but we're not in charge of those rearchs. The superintendent and her administration is. And when they said they were going to do something, they never did it. So that can't fall back on the school committee. I yield.

If if I could on that item, the the issue um with this in particular was the fact that we did not have the five slots that we needed at our facility across the street from Dery. So that was that didn't happen until later on. So until we had a place to move the classrooms to, we didn't have the ability to know that we were going to be able to outfit four classrooms or five classrooms, two

different schools um ahead of time. So I I I would love to have 20 weeks to do some of this stuff, but unfortunately with this particular Yeah. We didn't know the vacancies were going to happen at FONS until very late.

We didn't and but we didn't because we needed prek move. I get it. It's like a domino effect. Exactly.

But that's why when we have subcommittee meetings like we had at Spencer Bordon School over a year and a half where we said we needed to do this, we should have acted on it. Instead, we didn't act on it. Hence why we're here. So, thank you, sir. Appreciate it. I yield.

Okay. I have a motion in a second on both of those. Deb, call the role, please, on the facilities contracts.

Mr. A.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. D, yes.

Mr. Cory, yes.

Miss Flower, yes.

Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor Kogan, yes. And finally, the last one is HMH Education Company. Any questions on that?

One question, Mr. Aguia.

And just reading it, I think uh it kind of says we had a program, we purchased a program, and then they didn't uh I I guess they stopped making it or something, but I thought we just recently signed up with that other program. Am I right?

Yeah, absolutely. So, this is um this is specific to Talbot. Um really we held it because of we were determining the funding source. Uh this is going to go through the Talvet I AG but yes EDGE is no longer a program. Teachers and coaches provided input. This was the curriculum they selected um this English 3D. So this particular contract is specific to just Talbert Middle School

grades six, seven and eight. Um but this will be our newcomer curriculum for the district grades 6 through 12 right now for newcomer.

I guess the only question was when did we sign up EDGE? Am I missing that we it was recent? uh edge was I believe through this year this English 3D will start now uh once school I get it but wasn't it recent like within a year or two are we purchasing something and then all of a sudden they which we were told I think the edge was longer than that I

don't have an exact I can find out I don't have an exact but I think it was longer than that we probably did purchase it again recently like purchase enter into some kind of contract but it's something that we had for a number of years and now it's discontinued so we might have gotten like a new addition or something potentially um but I know It just beg the question that it said we

we we're using this and then no it's very rare to have somebody just say no we're not offering it anymore.

So my concern is sometimes we and primarily not here you know we buy something one year and then we don't think ahead and then all of a sudden Right.

I don't think that sounds like that's not the case.

No no this was on the company's end.

Thank you. Appreciate it.

I yield.

Uh do Deb, do I have a motion to second?

You do not.

A motion still made.

Second. I have a motion to second on the last contract. HMH. Deb, would you please call the role?

Mr.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Das, yes.

Mr. Corey, yes.

Miss Laravey, yes.

Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor Cougar, yes. The committee of the whole 12.1 is a discussion and vote to approve the Robert L. Maderas Resiliency Prep Academy program of studies as referred by the instructional subcommittee and presented by Dr. Dr. Amy Bronhard, assistant superintendent, student services and strategic integration.

Mr. Chair, Mr. Das, if I can ask some questions. Um, I had a lot of my questions asked answered at the subcommittee. Just um few followups.

Um this one thing I asked at the subcommittee I'm just trying to get um some clarification on is were any of these um programs in the pathways ever at Derpy High School like program were programs ever moved out of Derpy High School or vice versa that are in the current program of study?

Yes.

No.

Okay. Um, one idea I wanted to um, promote which I fulfilled to at the subcommittee is um, obviously I think um, life skills and civics is something we should be um, promoting here. Could you just speak to um, which one through this curriculum is is there like an emphasis on I know there's some on life skills obviously but civics and civics lessons like embedded within the social studies cuz I

know Dery High School's curriculum um that we just approved really even goes into like local civics like the the the structure of local government and obviously that's very important in state and national government. Is that embedded in this curriculum?

Yes, it is.

Yes, it is.

Okay. Um Dr. Brian Hart. So, who would be in responsible for the oversight of this of these pathways that we're going to approve?

The principal will ultimately be responsible for the oversight in partnership with her administrative team. Uh we've stepped in to help support principal Monae because she was literally on the job for 5 days by the time we were bringing it before the subcommittee.

And do you trust that the there is adequate administration, the experience to run these programs? without a doubt.

Okay. Um I guess I'll have a respectful disagreement with you on that on that point. Um I don't think the experience is there for this new principle to be running. That's so inappropriate.

It's it's it's just not okay for you to do that.

It's your opinion. You're right to it.

But I'm very confused, superintendent. You just interrupted. So we have um uh four pathways before us and and through the day-to-day we we need administrators that have experience in running these programs is my opinion and I believe this is very important when we have an alternative education. We have individuals who were involved in urban districts and alternative districts just so we can have a successful pathway,

successful programs. Um, so I think that is okay. Superintendent.

No, I don't think it is because it's not supportive of people. And when we're here and we want to talk about recruiting and retaining highquality people, I don't know what we gain by asking a loaded question. If you ask Dr.

Bronnhard if she has faith in the in this um in the administration and she said no, that wouldn't I mean, where does that conversation go? But you wait until she says yes, respectfully disagree. I'm not sure exactly how welcoming that is to a new member of of our staff, a new member of our team, a leader in our district. And I'm not sure what you hope to accomplish by making a public statement like that in

terms of just how we treat our staff and the messages that we're going to send to families when we have a member of school committee. the woman has been on the job for a couple of weeks and you're going to state publicly that you have no faith in her administration. You I get emails from you at least three times a week saying shame on you. I'm going to say

Mr. Dice, shame on you. That is not a way to treat people.

Um thank you superintendent. If I can respond, obviously the qualifications of this individual are there and they're high. The only question I have is related to running an alternative program. It's nothing against personal.

It's nothing against the individual. But again, running this program, superintendent, I believe there are questions there and I have made those um comments clear to you and I've been open and vocal about it. And superintendent, I'll just end with this. I do not need to take any lesson from you on how to treat staff in this district. Thank you.

Excuse me, Mr. Larve. Would you like to go first, Mr. Aia?

Yes.

Go ahead, Mr. Aia.

So, to just get back uh focused here.

So, the um hand I'm not seeing that there was that much. I did not get a chance to see the uh my question would be around the credits. We had reduced the uh total credits a couple months ago.

80 year. I think that was like last year or I think it was last year.

Whatever it was, that's not changing.

So, this the only changes are on this sheet here.

Correct. The graduation requirement that was changed is because we are now expanding with the use of egeneuity to be able to offer career and technical education electives through egeneuity.

We are asking that those electives count towards the fine and performing arts uh graduation requirement which which puts us in a consistent place with what is allowed for kids who are enrolled in CTE up at the high school. Um, and really as we're trying to create personalized pathways for kids, as I have mentioned before in a number of other meetings when we only have a student population

of about 160 students, financially it doesn't make sense to invest in large programs in that way. But as we have taken a look at all of the different offerings that are available through egeneuity, we really do feel as though those students will be able to craft their own pathway through th those platforms and we would like for those classes to count towards graduation requirements in the fine and performing arts.

So they still need the same amount just it would be different. The uh one question I did have about earning credits faster under the uh principle three number four the auto uh to have uh courses be it looks like Yep. Yep. Instead of a semester, a term term. Correct.

Is it hours? Isn't it something with hours? Are those relative to the you know like you only get x amount of hours in a quarter semester you'd get double the hours. Is there some way to you doubling up the those hours into one quarter?

We've calculating we've calculated it as such so that we have real clear marking periods that also will allow us to transition students between sites. And what we've also recognized is for some students the instant gratification and the closer quickness to be able to take a class for a term in lie of a full semester will give kids more opportunity to be more exposed and really be taking

classes that they prefer to be in as opposed to taking semester long electives that might not be their first choice. Um, so we're really trying to be able to leverage a number of different individualized and personalized approaches and being able to award credits at the term we felt puts kids in a better opportunity to close out grades and move on to something new.

Yep. So I I agree with that and I think in the elective area too only. Please notice it's only in the elective area.

We did not do this across the core academics. There are no changes in that.

I think with the academics uh I'm one that is actually in favor of that same premise whether it's be through egeneuity showing competency based skills because we need to show some progress we need to have some hope to get to the credit so I for one member would support continuation of the uh um competency based type of programs to make sure that the kids get what they need. We can't have students that are 17

with no credits. let's do this for four years and we'll see when you're 21. We know that doesn't work. That's how we get dropouts. So, I I know I think you're working on that. Um I do think that the um you do have plenty of administration there as far as the budget. So, that is a role that the school committee does play in making decisions on the budgeted items. Now, you Dr. Curley and the other assistant

superintendent make decisions on who gets hired and who doesn't. So, I for one am hopeful. I think that we're going to hopefully be moving in the right direction. I want to welcome the new principal uh to the school. I think you did the right thing by not throwing it into a subcommittee meeting in five day first five days. Uh so I'm hopeful that it's going to work well. Uh the one

thing that I saw in here that I am still hesitant is that Dery afterdoc because we had a bad experience with uh as far as my concern. We said we were going to do things that we never did before. So I'm hopeful that that is by us. We have the staff. we have the ability because uh we did see that a couple times and all of a sudden it never happened. So if

that does happen, please report to us it right away. But I'm hopeful and welcome to the new principal and thank you. I yield, Mr. Corey.

Hi. So then I'm really happy that you guys are trying to scrutinize uh on on the uh resiliency program and it it's it's been a real headache for a couple of years anyway. But I support you. I have a couple of questions. I'm really excited about the growing prospects of CTE programming and I'm just thinking out of the box, Dr. Brun Hod, um, and thinking about our Dery after dock program when Diamond

partnered with us and is there any way to get these kids into a real hands-on shop, maybe at the Dery campus or at the Diamond campus? Is there any any availability for that at all?

Yes, that is why we've written it into the program of study to make it a more formal opportunity for kids. Um, so that students who are ready to begin metriculating backwards to Dery will be able to take place in at a minimum after dark and as they're ready early college being able to transition students back in on the half-day routines which we found very successful last year and

building upon that so that all kids have opportunities in the setting that is going to meet their needs both academically and socially and emotionally. Yeah, I think that I think CTE speaks well for itself that a child really develops strong interest and and once they see a little bit of a skill set that they could exude, I really think it it it influences them to try to attend school with more regularity, more

consistency, better achievement, the whole ball of wax. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed. It's a it's a tough population to serve. I uh I appreciate everything you guys are trying to do to to take the rabbit out of the hat and I hope that we have a very progressive and developing school year around it and uh you got my support. Thank you Mr. Chair.

Okay, Mr. Das and Mr. Agar.

Thank you. Um, one last question on specifically, so just to give you an example, if a student says or desires to want to go back to Dery, what is the process for that?

Setting up a meeting with that student so that we can set some short-term goals as it relates to their readiness to metriculate back to Dery. um evaluating what had them referred to RPA and sent in the first place in ensuring that students are feeling supported, successful and equipped to make the transition back. Uh we have had some good success with that last year and I look forward to continuing to develop

the criteria as well as the partnerships with Dery so that it can be a very fluid experience for kids upon readiness.

Right. And without going the reason I asked that without going into detail obviously there's I think you might know reasons behind why I'm asking that legal reasons. So, just want to make sure um we're consulting legal counsel on that just to make sure we don't run into any issues why I wanted to bring it up, but I'll yield.

Mr. Angia, I had we had had the subcommittee meeting on virtual and I think it was said there, but I'm not finding it here, but I'll just ask the question. So, if I'm taking a virtual class, and I'm I don't have English 9, English 10. I failed both.

So, I'm in virtual doing well. I'm keeping up track. Do I just go if I pass English nine, do I go to English 10 right away? Is it like a rolling um virtual?

It it's a combination of exactly how we would function in person with students, whether they are enrolled in a full core class, a credit recovery class. It really depends upon where the students at, what their absences looked like going into that um and how much of the curriculum they lost leading into and those decisions get made with guidance counselors as the schedules get developed. So if you owed both, you're

in credit recovery.

Correct.

So I would assume at that point if you've successfully met all the requirements, you wouldn't say, "Oh, I have to wait until December 31st to stop taking English 10 if I've met the requirements." So it it's not Well, we're not holding anybody back.

No.

Because my experience in the virtual uh classes is that once students start to start to see that they're getting credits, they're going to want to work it quicker. And when you it's going well, we don't want to stop that. So that's not necessarily in the policy, but that's a protocol that you guys use.

Thank you very much. I yield.

Nothing further on that.

Second. One more question.

I have a motion. A second. Mr. Corey, just one more question. Dr. B and uh Mr.

for Woodward. Is there any chance that we could partner with like UTI or anything like Universal Technical Institute or or any of those types of programs that they could come and and partner with us to create expanded CTE offerings for the students? Is there any chance of that?

What about even youth build?

What about youth?

Mr. Corey, Mr. Corey had a question.

So that's your Yeah. Right now, we do not partner with MTTI, but that's not to say it can't be an opportunity for the future.

Yeah. I'm just I I I I just see so much, you know, possibilities when a child gets into a hands-on program, especially in that population. I just can't help but think that it's it's further developing for them. And and it's good for our community as well, you know, because now we're building certain skill sets that are pretty absent in the building trades these days. If you go, you look at any of the skill set trades

right now, they're all hurting for manpower. So, I just I just think it's a really good way to feed into that.

Thanks. I yield.

I think you said UTI. Is that different?

Yeah, UTI, universal technical or any I I just said stated that one, but any of those types of programs.

Okay, we're going to go for the for the No, no, I'd like to see I'd like to hear I'd like to hear what they said.

Oh, they just answered it, didn't they?

you know, yeah, that's what I said is that, you know, looking to partner with any of those organizations. Right now, we do not have any of those partnerships. Um, but not to say that, you know, there couldn't be a future opportunity.

I hope maybe you guys got your eyes on that prize later on. Thank you.

All right. I have a motion, a second on approving the Robert Eleras Prep Program of studies. Deb, could you call the role please?

Mr.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Das, yes.

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

Mayor Kruger, yes. 122 is a discussion and vote to approve the virtual pathway specialist job description.

Motion to approve with a question.

I have the um I have a motion and a second on approving it. Mr. Das, Ray, I'm just going to um vote to support this. I think Dr. Bronhard gave a good um explanation at the subcommittee level. It's just important for the public to know this isn't a new position. This is being converted. So there's no extra cost from a position that hasn't been used if I'm right.

Okay. So I um happy to see the position and I'll vote to support it. I yield.

Anything further? Mr. Aario, I wasn't at the subcommittee. Uh what was the position that being converted?

Parent and community field coordinator from RPA knowing that we have a community facilitator. we had this position um and we noticed quite an overlap of job responsibilities and after last year having piloted the virtual pathway uh one thing that we did know and notice um from our feedback and review at the end is that we did need a single staff member completely committed to ensuring success and oversight of all

the elements of what it takes to run a virtual pathway. um as well as to have a person in the building that we could leverage to be bringing students into the building who might need extra support. Um and just with not having a person identified to do that work, it made the in-person needs compete with some of the virtual needs. And so this was a way for us to really put someone

who is sole responsibility on monitoring and supporting students who are online and making sure that progress is continued to be made. And then for those students who struggle to make progress individually, how are we supporting those kids individually back in the school building to create that personal connection with students?

Yeah. So were those positions vacant or I I don't It is vacant. Yep.

It was vacant last year.

It was vacant at the end of this year.

So there was a person in there doing something else. They're going to shift their duties to someone else. I That contract ended. Yep. I want to say at the time there was a teacher assistant that did basically similar uh maybe not to this degree but their job was to run the the lab and so this person is sort of going to be the point person for the for all of the virtual students and

keeping in mind that it will be a fluid program this year whereas last year it was a pilot group so the kids that were enrolled were the kids that stayed. Um but in our attempt to be able to be more fluid and open it up to other students who are of interest, we just need a gatekeeper to ensure that um all students that enroll in the program are followed through and supported.

Thank you. I yield.

Okay, with that um let's have a I have a motion in a second. Deb, yes, you do.

On the approval of the virtual pathway job, Deb, call the role, please.

Miger, yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Dice, yes.

Mr. Courts, yes.

Miss Laravey, yes. Perau.

Yes.

Mayor Kugan.

Yes. 123 in discussion. Vote to approve the stone school program of studies.

Second.

I have a motion a second. Any discussion on the stone school program?

Hearing none. Deb, call the role, please. Oh, Mr.

Just uh I wasn't at the meeting. Is there any changes or is it exactly as is?

I don't see a summary. So, Stone um in the past hasn't had a standalone. This was, I believe, the first time um that we've presented a program of studies.

That is a true statement.

So, I mean, I'm I guess I'm just having a hard time understanding that, but we we've never had a program of studies at the school.

No, we've always worked with the high school guidance department to make sure that our credits are on point uh and that we um are doing what we need to do for our kids to make sure they have enough credits to graduate. This year we formalized it into a program of studies again working with the high school.

So RPA has I'm just looking at it quick.

So what is the number of credits you need to get out of RPA to graduate?

80 credits.

80. And what is it at the stone?

100.

Begs the question, I guess.

What's the question?

We have one school that's an alternative, and I understand the difference with the school, so I don't need a long answer on that. But wouldn't it be if we're reducing the credits to 80 because of the challenges that the children that are and the profiles of the students that are at the school met at the RPA?

Yep.

Are we saying then there's not those same challenges here to to require 20 credits additional when some of the profile of the children that you have are as difficult or more challenging than the other school?

I think the reason that I have wanted to keep it pretty parallel to Dery is that so many of our students return to Jery.

We've done um a very good job in the past five years um since we started working uh with the high school students of being able to transition them back to Dery. My personal concern is always that I'm going to send them back and they're not going to be prepared and they're not going to be able to live up to the rigor of the dery program. So I that is the reason that I've always felt that and

they've every graduate that we've had has been able to earn those 100 credits and additionally get credits. Part of those credits are the social skills credits that they receive. So their credits are not necessarily the same when it comes to electives and things like that. Those are the places where we push in the supports that are going to support them with their therapeutic needs.

But I feel that it's important and I'd be very open to a discussion about it, but that if I am going to work with students who are going to be planning on moving forward and going back to Dery to graduate, I want them to be in the very best position that they can be to be successful there.

So I don't believe that it's an automatic when you lower it. My personal opinion.

So you you could do the same exact thing that you're doing but by reducing it to the minimum so that we are being I I would call it more fair and equitable to me that makes more sense because if you were still going to go back on that track it wouldn't apply but I can't imagine that you have all your students that are going back to Dery. So those that are not there, you're telling me

that they basically do the same curriculum as Dery and they're earning what Dery does.

Yes. With the ex the exception is that 20 of those credits can be part of the social skills curriculums that they receive and the life skills curriculum.

We do not have the CTE options, which is why we try to, you know, if our students are ready to go back to Dery, there's a whole process that we follow. We want them to be able to um to go into those programs that we don't have the space or you know the materials for. We want them to be able to go back into that. Um so if we I suppose if we removed the life

skills and the social skills that would bring them down to you know the 80 credits that the other uh that RPA is doing. But my personal feeling is those social skills classes every week are hugely important and those life skill classes.

Yeah. So my last comment is just on I guess it's a philosophical thing. I've said this for many years. I think that we have an issue with the students IEPs that are going to a day school and it's not really a day school in my opinion because we are putting students that have IEPs that are not necessarily don't meet that threshold for a day school in your school. So, I think we

need to have a conversation moving forward about what what is the stone therapeutic day school really and what it's not because when in doubt we just move kids from one school we just all of a sudden they get a day school placement at your school and I think that's something that we need to explore uh moving forward has nothing to do with this it's for future discussion and meeting

right but I I would feel remiss if I didn't point out that we follow the IP process and if students so many of our students come to us as evaluation from substantially separate classrooms. If they don't need to be with us, they don't stay with us. If they need to be with us because they've had, you know, some sort of um recent traumatic experience or something where they just need those additional supports, then we

make the decision that this is where they belong. So, I mean, I think it would be a a very interesting conversation to have, but I think it needs to be clear that the kids come to us on a public day school IEP.

I understand. And I think your answer is more coming to you with a temporary day school IEP, whereas that's not always the case in my opinion. So, got if it's a transition program, like I understand how it works, right? Mhm.

Uh just I just being honest with you, I think that over the years and this has gone on way before you or you were here but the new superintendent wasn't here.

This has been an ongoing concern of mine as far as that. So we'll talk about in the future, but thank you again.

Okay. Sure.

Thank you.

I have a motion and a second on approving the stone school program. Deb, could you call the role, please?

Mr.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Das, yes.

Mr. Cig, yes.

Miss Laravey, yes.

Miss Pereira, yes. Mayor Kan.

Yes. 124 is a second read and vote to approve the following policies referred from the policy subcommittee and presented by Dr. Curley.

Okay.

So the first um of the policies is policy um BDA school committee organizational meeting and um it was presented by uh Mr. DAS um who was suggesting um that we change the process of how um the vice chairperson is selected and currently the vice chair is selected by nomination and vote of the committee and the suggestion was that um it moves to I don't know what it's called a vote by name. Yeah, vote by name.

Correct. There's just um mirroring the city council. Um I think it's non-controversial. I also think it um you don't have to vote no on your colleague. If you want to vote for someone else, you just vote for the best name. And um yeah, that's really all I have to add to it. I'll make a motion to approve.

A motion to second on the first one. De call the roll.

Miss Dragon.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Das, yes.

Mr. Corey, no.

Miss Laravey, no.

Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor Couan, yes.

The next one is administering medicine to students.

So, um, this was a policy that was brought, um, forth, uh, revised back in May. And, um, what you have before you is just, uh, it it's colorcoded and shows, um, any of the changes that were made. So, some of it is just revised wording. Um, but it was, I believe this was, um, I don't know, Mary, I would invite you up.

Um, I don't know if people have questions. It was discussed at length um but it was just I have a motion and second.

Any discussion for Mary?

De call the roll.

Miss dragon.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Yes.

Mr. D.

Yes.

Mr. Cy.

Yes.

Miss Laravey.

Yes. M. Pereira.

Yes.

Mayor Kouan.

Yes. 125 is discussion in the first read of the principal salary matrix as presented by Dr. Curley.

U. So um what I shared um with the committee in terms of backup is a proposed matrix for school year 26. Um basically I think maybe back around 2020 the um a first principal matrix was introduced and I think at that time there was um an agreement that based on that matrix um subsequent years the um adjustments the increases would mirror the FRAA increases from year to year. Um

we are at a point where I wanted to restructure that matrix and some of the highlights um in the restructuring um basically takes what had been an elementary structure with three different levels um and just dividing that into two different levels of elementary schools um up to 500 and then the 500 one plus. So, um, and I just mentioned in the backup that, um, there really isn't enough variation in the

experiences of our elementary school principles, I don't think, to warrant three different, um, three different rows in the matrix for those. Um the second piece was to include in our include preschool in the up to 500 um cate elementary category because um you know as we have expanded our um early learning center and we've now we're up to 18 classrooms um in more than 60 staff. the it it's not different from

running um an elementary school except that all the students are generally the same age and so I think that that person should be compensated similarly to um other principles. I look to um eliminate the 5 to700 designation for middle schools. Previously the matrix had two different categories for middle 500 to 700 and then the 7001 plus. Um, again, I don't think there's enough variation in

the experiences of the principles at our um, three traditional middle schools.

We've built administrative structures in in other staffing structures in the schools so that the role of principal um, really isn't much different from one to the next. So, I'm proposing just one lane there for middle school principles.

I'm looking um to increase stipens for advanced degrees. Right now, uh, CAGS is compensated at $2,500 and a doctorate at $4,000. Those haven't been increased, um, since, you know, in the last five years. So, I'm just looking for a 10% increase in those stipens. And then, um, in the f this first year, um, account for, um, it's a 5% increase to the salary ranges over school year 25. Any questions?

So, it's a discussion in first read.

What's obvious is coming back?

Approve first read.

Second.

A motion to approve first read. Dev, call the role, please.

Mr. Das, I'm sorry, Mr. AA.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Das, yes.

Mr. Corey, yes.

Miss Laravey, yes.

Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor Krug, yes. 126 is discussion and vote to approve the usage of the Derby High School Race Street parking lot to hold a drive-in movie on September 19th.

Motion to approve. Second and the trunk. I have a motion to second on both the movie and the trunk or treat which I hope everybody gets to go to. I Deb, call the role, please.

Mr. A, yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Das, yes.

Mr. Cory, yes.

Miss Ly, yes.

Mr. Pereira, yes.

Mayor Cuba, yes. Discussion and vote as follows. uh 127, I'm sorry, is policy BEC pertaining to executive session as presented by Kevin Aguio, school committee minute.

Mr. Aguio, thank you. So, uh I'm not sure really why I know why I'm why this is on the agenda because it was for discussion and vote, but we've we already have a policy on the books relative to this. So, I guess this came up from uh some discussion that Mr. DAS wrote um and I believe he's correct that policy BEC states in part uh school committee chair and superintendent will review executive

session minutes for possible declassification on at least a quarterly basis and if necessary necessary will consult with legal counsel. School committee chair will bring the minutes recommended for declassification to the school committee for a vote either as a part of consent agenda or individual action. In either case, there will shall be an announcement of the declassification.

So, I got that email like everybody else did and my comment was, "Chairman Kougan and Superintendent Curley, why have policies if we do not follow them?

Period. This is a formal request to place this on the agenda." Uh, received no information since other than that it went on the agenda. So, I guess the operative question is the same. We have policies and they're not being followed.

So please explain to me and the committee why these policies are not being followed.

So I mean I know it's here for discussion, right? I mean, I I'll be honest with you and say that I'm not um I think I'm not I'm unclear as like how this has been operationalized in the past because I think the idea is once um you know once we can once it can be offered to the public it is um and you know this you know unredacted minutes or

whatever it is. I think when I think about the executive session and a number of different I'm just thinking about like what that looks like to review in an executive session we might talk about 10 different things and then do they become declassified one at a time is it something I think the policy mentions that um it's the the mayor and I but it definitely warrants some um legal input I would think in

terms of when something actually is closed done and and then can be declassified in a way that you know it's unredacted or less redacted or whatever it is. So I'm just thinking about really how that becomes operationalized. I don't I don't know what that looks like to do that.

Yeah. So on July 30th is when Mr. D sent it.

So I would assume that after I responded saying why have policies if we do not follow them and this was sent to you the whole school committee the attorney and Mr.

What has happened since? So, take me through after you got that, after the mayor got that.

Mhm.

What was Did anybody do any research?

Did anybody do anything other than just place it on the agenda is my question?

No, I mean I um I asked attorney Assad um about it and he we said that we would discuss it. I don't because I don't I don't know how it works really. So, can anyone tell me that when is the last time that we declassified as per this policy in the for public schools?

I know the answer basically because we asked it in executive session and we were told the answer. I'll spare anybody having to worry about it because it was years. I think somebody said 42 years or something outrageous. So, all I'm saying is that Mr. Das raised an issue said this is the policy. We're not following the policy. So far, as far as the discussion and vote on this, I'm not

making a motion to change this. This is the policy. So, I guess the only thing that this is on the agenda for is because I asked for it to be on the agenda and the only thing I asked was why are we not following the policies that are in the policy book. Now, I've asked that about a whole bunch of stuff.

So, I guess the answer is from you, superintendent, or the mayor.

Yeah.

To say when are we going to do this?

It's not on the executive session agenda item today. we can develop a way to operationalize it.

We will.

I guess it's an interesting thing that for 42 years it hasn't been done and all of a sudden I'm not saying it's not my problem to fix, but it becomes a very big deal all of a sudden. Um if but it hasn't been done for 42 years and someone sent me an email about it on July 30th and I haven't solved the problem by August 18th and it it's like

the end of the world. I'm going to be honest with you. It it's like it seems outrageous to me. So you 42 years and 18 days in Mr. Chairman Mr. Chairman Mr. Chairman I have the floor attorney hold on Mr. Chairman he can answer your question right now.

I didn't ask a question.

I'm responding to the superintendent.

So madam superintendent I think that you need to be respectful of the school committee which I sometimes do not think that you're doing lately. Okay.

So what I would ask is I am not blaming you as superintendent. You've been here for 13 months, so I have no problem suggesting things that you said you were going to do that you didn't do. That's this not one of them. I want to be very clear with that.

So, this is not your own issue. But in the policy manual here, it says your name as superintendent. So, prior superintendents are just as guilty. So, but the chairman of the school committee is listed here as well. So, the reason why it became an issue right now was because we have a member, Mr. Gas who reads the policy manual very closely and when he brought this to everybody's

attention that's how it became an issue.

It's not something that we want an answer and I believe in executive session we said it's going to take some time because there's loads of this. So don't get all defensive and start coming back at everybody like I just want to tell you everything.

All I'm suggesting is that your name is here.

I'll just sit here quietly and take the abuse. That's what I'll do.

Okay. That's exactly the point that I was making. Okay, that's enough.

But that was exactly the point. Mr.

Chairman, I still have the floor.

Hold on. Hold on.

Mr. Chairman, stop talking.

Here we go. Here we go. Attorneys.

Attorney Assad's got something to say to weigh in on this. We're all there.

I still have the floor, just so you know.

Okay. Yeah. Go ahead. Okay.

The uh uh the last time that the uh minutes were uh redacted and submitted uh was not 42 years ago. It was it was several years ago. uh and it was a result of a request for um public records through the open meeting law. Uh there's no question that this is the policy and policy states that on a quarterly basis or or around that period of time they should be looked at and uh

redacted and uh where it should be and uh declassified where it should be. Um and something like that is a very time consuming process. I would uh also let everyone know that even though uh it is the policy and it should be followed and it appears that it's going to be followed going forward uh that many districts in the Commonwealth have the same issue because of the complexity of

time and the number of issues that the superintendent, the mayor, legal counsel and others have uh in the day-to-day operations.

uh it is part of the uh the u uh policy.

It is uh in accord with uh the open meeting law. It should be done uh and it will be done going forward. But it's not 42 years. It was a few years ago was a result of a request that was made uh uh through I believe it was the open meeting law. uh and uh we we what we did is is we did declassify a great number of the uh uh executive session minutes at that time.

Okay, Mr. Rag.

So just to follow up, I think that we should get a report of when they were last done so that we can just know moving forward on a quarterly basis we have to do this. It's also cited in in a legal reference mass general law chapter 3821 3822. So this is not something that the school committee is saying. This is just the law. Okay. So, all I'm asking for is that moving forward, we just look

at it and move whatever we have to do, but we should not have policies that are not being followed.

Okay?

I yield. Thank you, Mr. Dice.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, if I can just since we're talking about this policy, um, a few things. I believe state law is even more in-depth, especially with the open meeting law. When we receive requests, I believe the committee is supposed to review them at that time.

Um, what Mr. M. Attorney Assad just said about minutes being recently declassified. That's the honestly the first I'm hearing about. So I'd love to receive a report on that as well.

I didn't say recently. I said that was several years ago did that.

I apologize.

They were declassified and some were redacted.

Right. But we've received requests for minutes um and they haven't gone before the school committee and that is the law and the law as Mr. Agar said the law should be followed. Um, I also have a concern as well. Um, we don't really get much of a say when these minutes are declassified. I don't know if they're being over classifi like under declassified if we're leaving things in

there. This committee should be kept up in the loop and I again I believe that is the law which should be followed. My concern is why I brought this up is the administration has been withholding in its entirety minutes of the superintendent search committee to come before the committee. has never been done in the history of the school committee. Any subcommittee of the school committee that comes before the

those minutes come before the school committee unredacted yet. This apparently was a subcommittee that was formed specifically by the chair of the school committee and those minutes for some reason haven't been shown to the committee in its entirety.

So I question that. And just lastly um I thought Mr. Aguar's line of questioning was actually quite eloquent. I don't think there was any abuse there and if I can just say and I think the issue is is the superintendent does not like when members of this committee hold her accountable and it needs to stop stop lashing out on members when they ask question Mr. Das that's enough uh nice

speech since Mr. Mr. Agie, I was right.

It's the law. I don't really think we even have to vote vote on this.

Motion to grant leave to withdraw.

That's fine. I have a motion to leave to withdraw. Do I have a second?

Second.

Deb, call the role on 127, please.

Mr. Hagam, yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Dice, yes.

Mr. Corey, yes.

Miss Larby, yes.

Mr. Perver, yes.

Mayor Ken, yes. 128 is a discussion subcommittee to school committee policy bte as preferred by uh school committeeman Colin Das.

Um Mr. Das y what why why is my name on here?

I'm just reading it. I'm sorry. I thought that was not one of yours. No.

No.

Oh, okay.

No, I I didn't touch this policy.

Motion to withdraw.

Second.

Leave to withdraw 128. I have a motion to second that Mr. a uh yeah so somebody put in Mr. the DAS's name on it. So if somebody can uh if we can just ask for backtracking what I believe this was about subcommittees, right? That we're still waiting on a vote. Isn't that the issue or am I This is just says discussion. It doesn't say vote.

No, but I'm saying the issue itself uh the issue itself related to subcommittees. I have like a really blacked out section of uh is this the issue of mandatory quarterly subcommittees? I think that at one point got referred somewhere, right? Is it still in No, what this this policy is um is for at a subcommittee an additional any member can attend. They can participate in discussion but they're just not

allowed to vote. Previously, some members were under the assumption that they could attend, but they couldn't participate in.

Yeah. So, this is basically in concert with the legal opinion we received.

Correct.

Thank you. In the other one, if I could just ask somebody research the quarterly uh correct that that it's still in a bane somewhere. Thank you. Are you So, I have a leave to withdraw a motion to second. Deb call the role, please.

Mr. Aar.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Yes.

Mr. Das.

Yes.

Mr. Corey.

Yep.

M. Laravey.

Yes.

Miss Pereira.

Yes.

Mayor Cuban.

Yes.

13. Obviously, uh we have a number of retirements resignation transfers new appointments. Respectfully, some of our former members have passed away. Can I get a motion a second just to motion to accept and place on file?

Do I have I have a motion to second. Deb call the role.

Mr. Chair, Mr. Agie, I'm sorry.

I'll defer to whoever was Mr.

I was just going to say I thought we had discussed maybe taking a moment of silence announcing death. So, if we could maybe Take a moment of silence.

Let's have a moment of silence for some of our members that have passed on.

Mr. Aar, may I ask uh whoever can answer this? Uh I saw this last month too. There's a lot of appointments and it has 12126 listed as uh on the many of these appointments.

I think those are the 90-day appointments. Is that what it is for?

Yeah, those would be, excuse me, those would be 90-day appointments. So, uh, for some people, if we're still waiting on a lensure or waiver document to come in, we have to give them just a 90-day letter. Um, and then once the waiver or lensure document comes in, we'll reissue them an appointment letter that is good through the end of the school year.

Okay. I would just ask that when that happens, we get it back on the agenda.

because we're told something once here.

So, if I went down this list and saw that and you probably know the number, there's 200 people, 100 people that have this case. We never receive after this um acknowledgement, we never received uh only 175 of those went in. We don't really know that we've applied for waiverss forund 200 people or whatever the number. We don't get any data on it. So, this is the only way we get data on um a 90-day

appointment. And I think that's a serious enough issue to us to get it on a separate cover or something to say we we have 200 people on a 90-day waiver appointment. Um so any way that you can update us at uh any given time, I would appreciate it. The the um I see a lot of people here on step 12. Um and if they're new, I'm assuming they're just coming from outside. So,

am I to believe that that changing that policy helped?

Yes.

To get some people in.

It did.

Um, I do think that the um resignations are coming in hot and heavy and I think we always talk about the hires but it's a difficult job when you're looking at how many of people are on that list and some of them are recent.

So, it's a challenge. I encourage people to apply and u with that I yield. Thank you.

So, I have a motion and second. Mr.

Chair, just a quick question.

Mr. Das, just a quick procedural question. Um, why is it um I guess when we advertise this and I'm not suggesting we put when people resign or are fired, but maybe just like uh if we're putting this on here to notify the public when individuals like are hired or rehired, transferred, or they leave like We only put the resignations and I'm not saying we have to highlight the like if

they're fired, if they're not, but maybe just departures and we list everyone. So you don't have to list the reason why they left. However, we can have a more accurate list if that makes sense. I don't think that's an issue. Or maybe it is, maybe that's something we can look at, but just something wanted to point out. I yield.

Could we vote on that, please?

Sure.

Mr.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Yes.

Mr. D?

Yes.

Mr. Cory? Yep.

Miss Laravey.

Yes.

Miss Pereira.

Yes.

Mayor Kugan.

Yes. Item 14 is new business. Uh, as I did before, I'm going to bring up the fact that if someone is present at the meeting, um, and they want to read citizens input, they should do it on their own. I think that's a no-brainer.

Obviously, we started that during COVID when people couldn't make it. And we still do it to people that aren't present. But if you're there, you should be able to read your own um your own um citizens input. Can I get a second on that motion?

Yes, second.

I have a motion to second on that one.

Question, Mr. Das.

Um if I can just throw a hypothetical, and I'm not even opposed to what you're saying, honestly. Um, but if I can just throw a hypothetical out there, what if an individual comes to watch a meeting and say they have um something wrong with like they had surgery or something like and if we're going to put in language in here that bans someone from submitting a written input that's

present, I can see that how that could lead lead into issues. I just think you should just be very clear with your language when proposing the policy. I think you should put it before policy subcommittee to be honest that just so we're clear on the language but just taking a vote like this I think um could lead to some issues but I understand what you're saying an able-bodied person

wants to come before the committee and if they're able to I I would even support that but I think that should be better my opinion I yield um okay so I mean obviously it's a medical exception we can all see what that is I have a motion a second Mr.

Yeah.

Yeah. So, uh I'm just going to call it like I see it.

Uh this is before us now because Mr. Das wrote a citizen input time and this is a reflection on trying to get him to read something at the meeting. That's shortsighted and it doesn't make sense in my opinion because I sat here during contract negotiations or any meeting and any member of the public that feels like they are either intimidated uh nervous or whatever it is they want to put us

what the hell is the difference if they're sitting in the audience and we read it. We had that happen in the in the uh teachers contract many a time people just said you know they were here they submitted it other people are comfortable with that. I think we're making a knee-jerk reaction because this is going after Mr. Das and the content of what he wrote. So, I'm not going to

be supporting it for the reason that it really makes no difference. You the secretary is going to read it or you read it. You still got the three minutes and there's really no difference. What we are going to do if we vote for this is take all of those people that might have some reason why they don't want to speak before us that they can't submit it. So if the policy is that you want to

get rid of it and say bring everybody if you want to give citizen input time you have to show up then this isn't the policy to change it's you need to get rid of the you can do it online or just send an email right that's not what this is so this is clearly targeted towards one individual and I'm not going to support it I yield I go ahead prayer

had my hand up a lot today sir I know they all think you like yell for me go ahead you know that's what they think um I is going to mention that as well.

Um because we do we may have accommodations that may be needed, right, for somebody who may want to speak and may not feel they can articulate themselves correctly and what have you for whatever reason, right? Um I get that. I think what we're talking about now, and obviously it was brought up because Colin um has Deb read his words. And I think it's just kind of common sense if you I get if you're

nervous or intimidated, but I don't think we are up here. I mean, he speaks throughout the entire meeting multiple times saying like constantly. So, it's not like we have somebody here who's intimidated to speak. I've seen the way he speaks to the superintendent and my time, sir. I've seen the way he does that. And so, I don't think he's intimidated to speak whatsoever. I don't think he's nervous or scared. I think

he's a pretty articulate young man and I think he's capable of speaking his own words. So, I agree, but that's not the conversation we're having. What we're having is I'm going to write something that is really mean and instead of me reading my own words, I'm going to have Deb do it. I'm not going to vote for this policy either because I don't think it's necessary. Because what I'm hearing here

is that this gentleman would agree with the policy. He's okay with doing it, right? So now I don't think we should have a problem if he wants to read his citizens input. I believe he just kind of said that's what he'd do because that's what I think the issue is. It's it's it it is a difference. It's a difference when you write something and you own your words and you read it

yourself and it's different when I write something. Say, Kenny, I'm scared. You want to read this for me? There is a difference. And you know there's a difference. That's why listen, you're smart enough. I know you are. and you know there's a difference which is exactly why why you are employing that technique. What I'm saying is your colleagues don't appreciate it. So since we're all a team

whatever you have to say you're entitled to say. I just think maybe next time say it yourself instead of having uh Miss Mrs. Cabraw for you. That's all. So I'm not going to vote for this. I don't think it's necessary. I think it's silliness that we wasted 10 minutes before and we're wasting time now.

Okay, Mr. Mr. Das, thank you. If I can respond to some assertions that were just made. Um, sorry, Mr. Per.

Um, no, it's okay. Um, if first of all, the polic we've had members of the committee submit it before. It wasn't an issue. I don't think it was. The policy states you can submit a letter in writing. I submitted a little letter in writing because that's what I can do. It wasn't a nervousness or an intimidation. It wasn't anything to do with that. I just followed the policy and like I said to

the mayor just now, I have no issue changing that language if an able-bodied person is able to. Um that's fine. Um that's but again the policy is a policy.

It had nothing to do with anything and it wasn't a mean citizen's input. I was bringing awareness to an issue of possibly a covered up rape at Derpy High School.

Oh, Mr. Mr.

Which deserves to be thoroughly investigated. That was the issue.

Mr. Mr. Das, you told me you weren't reading it because you had a bad throat tonight.

I That was a hypothetical. That was a I thought you said I have a bad throat.

What? That was a hypothetical. What if someone has Oh, no. No, no. You told me I had a bad throat.

Mr. Mayor.

All right, let's just vote on it and whatever it does, it does. Since you're going to read them from I'm going to say them yourself. That's fine.

Whatever the the vote is.

Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Cory.

So, Mr. Chairman, I I um I like the nature of your request to to make a motion. However, I do think that we ought to vet it in a policy subcommittee so that we can get the language right.

Okay. But I am I am really um I'm surprised by the tone of the nature of the citizens input letters of recent times. They're really mean and um they just don't seem thoroughly genuine to me and they're very hard to sit and listen to when I know that the work of this school board is beyond a lot of the tone and temperament of those letters. And it must be very difficult for our secretary

to have to read those letters and and and bear the emotion that's in those letters that I completely disagree with.

So I wouldn't mind if we made a motion for this uh to go to policy to get the language right and in the nature of your request move forward with it. I yield.

So you're offer an amendment to refer it to policy subcommittee.

I'll second that.

Okay. We got a amendment. Let's just vote to send it to policy. We have an amendment to my uh proposal.

You can either send it to policy or just vote this down and then vote it down.

Or send it to policy.

Yeah. Um I Okay, go ahead.

I think we should just vote it down.

Makes no sense. Policy committee has plenty of other more worthwhile things to talk about than this. So, I'm going to vote no.

Okay. Vote.

This is on the amendment.

Speed up everybody.

Yeah. Let's let's add the motion is to amend mine to refer this policy to the policy subcommittee. Deb, call the role, please.

G.

No.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Das, yes.

Mr. Corey, yes.

Miss Laravey, yes.

Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor Ky, yes.

Mr. Chair, Mr. D um for new business um I wanted to walk back a little bit of my comments I made during the um RPA session. Um specifically with the part um obviously we have new principle and the one thing I do agree with the superintendent although I believe some of the comments were hypocritical I do believe it's important that um we send a good message. Um I'm not going to apologize

for my concerns. my concerns and my concerns and I have them and I'm going to continue to have them. However, I do want to wish the new principal um new new um success, great success as her success is um the success of our students who obviously need role modeling and we want to see RPA do well and I think I've as one member especially behind the scenes have been a champion for helping students and for

advocating for parents and um and for staff members to be treated right, which sometimes I don't believe they are by this district.

And I don't want to see that.

Okay.

And I don't want to see any of that go to waste. And so I wish to um apologize for um bringing that forward before even though I still hold the concerns, but I should there's time and a place for things. Okay.

Um I one more thing I wish to bring up.

Um there was an item that was referred out to parent and community outreach subcommittee as it relates to um policies surrounding um misconduct.

It's going to be on the next next agenda. Okay. I yield.

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Yeah.

Just in reviewing the uh executive session items, I believe that there's one on here that we talked about changing the job description in and that's an open session item. So, in an effort to try to uh make this more effective, I'd like to address the job description for the community specialists here here in open session before we go to the next agenda item.

Next one is executive session.

You want to go when we come out or you want to go now?

I would go now so that we can actually Which item is it, Mr.

It's uh the last one.

Preparation with non-UN personnel.

Correct.

Yes.

Description. So, if it's a if we're going to go in the back and change a job description, it makes sense to do it now so that when we go in the back, that job description is therefore fully um in place so that whatever we do in executive session can be rectified.

I don't see the job description on this agenda. The last item knows superintendent knows I think she understands what I'm asking for the backup.

Yeah.

Executive session.

Executive session.

Yes.

It's not like a a Uh, this is actually going to help.

So, if we're going to go in the back to do a job description, I'd rather do it now. So, we do the job description. So, when they get in the back, he saying Oh, he's got it in the back room. Scott, he said it in the back room.

Yeah, I'll get I'll We can back up.

Mr. Chair, if since Mr. Cabell is going to present, we're just going to go backwards. That's all.

Okay.

All set. No worries.

All right. We'll go. Is there a reason to go into executive session?

There would be. Uh, can I get a motion a second before he reads them?

Huh? Read them. Right.

All right. Read them. Go ahead. Mr.

Chair, I'm sorry, Mr. Chair. Mr. Aguio, may I make one additional request, please?

So, we get these agendas and I'm I am not part of the agenda setting meeting.

Uh, but when I see an agenda with all of these items on it, if there's any item that is not going to be called at the time, I would like that to be highlighted by the attorney when he's reading so that we are all aware of what's going to be heard and not heard.

Okay.

Thank you. Is there any going to be not heard tonight?

When you read them, uh, you want to say we're not going to hear them. We can ask them off out here.

Sure.

Okay. Go ahead.

National Laws Chapter 3A section 21A7 to review and approve the executive session minutes for June 23rd 2005 25 special meeting of the school committee. National Laws Chapter 38 section 21A7 to review and approve the executive session minutes for July 29, 2025 regular school committee meeting.

National Law Chapter 38 section 21A7 to review and approve the executive session minutes for August 13, 2025 grievance subcommittee meeting. Mass General Laws chapter 38 section 21A1 to discuss complaints brought against school committee members.

Mass General Laws chapter 38 section 21A3 to discuss strategy with respect to litigation with respect with regard to the Massachusetts Commission against discrimination complaint will not be heard in executive session tonight. Mass General Laws chapter 30A section 21A3 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining agreement including hearing grievances relative to all personnel engaged in a certified

licensed occupational therapy assistance, physical therapy assistance, speech and language pathology assistants, licensed practical nurses, social emotional liaison, instructional support liaison, community facilitators and school administrative managers represented by the forever educators association As the chair has determined an open session may have a detrimental impact on the bargaining position of the

committee. Mass General laws chapter 38 section 21A treat discuss strategy with respect to the bargaining relative to all administrators and employees represented by the former administrators association as the chair has determined that open session may have a detrimental impact on the bargaining position of the committee.

Mass General law chapter 38 section 2183 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining relative to all cafeteria employees of the former school system. represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 93 Local 1118 as the chair has determined that an open session may have a detrimental impact on the bargaining position of the committee. Mass General Laws chapter 38

section 2183 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining including all grievances relevant to all maintenance employees and Florida school system represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Council 93 local 118 as a chair has determined an open session may have a detrimental impact on the bargaining position of the committee and litigating position of the

committee. Mass General law chapter 38 section 2183 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining relative to all custodial employees for school system represented by the American federation of state county and municipal employees. Council 93 local 118 is a chair as determined that open session may have a detrimental impact on the bargaining position of the committee

national law chapter 38 section 2183 to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining relative to all safety security employees of the forward school system represented by the American federation of state county and municipal employees council 93 local 118 as a chair has determined that no possession may have a detrimental impact on a bargaining position of the committee match general laws chapter 38 section

213 to discuss strategy with the collective bargaining relative to all civil uh clerical employees of the forward school system represented by the forward department of civil service clerical employees association as the chair has determined that no concession may have a detrimental impact on the body position of the committee mass general law chapter 38 section 2183 to discuss strategy with respect to the

body agreement including hearing grievances relevant to all par professionals employees of the former school system represented by the for federation of par professionals as the chairs determined the open session may have detrimental impact on the bargaining position ition of the committee matching law chapter 38 section 2182 to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with

non-union personnel and or to conduct contract negotiations with non-un personnel including Sean Sibson Lieutenant principal Debbie Sardina communication specialist and Brian Lai uh human resource uh we will reconvene the main statements at that time can I get a motion a I'll make a motion.

Second.

I have a motion to second to go in executive session. De Mr. Chair, Mr. D.

Um I don't recall hearing about the um discuss strategy respect to litigation with the MCAD complaint.

He said it was heard.

Oh, you did say. Okay.

I would like to make a motion that we discuss the MCAD complaint executive session.

Second.

Uh I we we should not touch that. We have a lawyer uh a letter here. Um you want me to read it?

You can read it.

Okay, I'll read it. As a reminder, before tonight's school committee meeting, please do not engage in any discussion either publicly or an executive session regarding the proposed MCAD complaint that attorney Joseph Fingless recently provided. As stated in my prior communication, public commentary on pending litigation could compromise the city's legal position or inadvertently impact the defense of the

case. In addition, any discussion at this time could interfere with an ongoing police investigation. For these reasons, I strongly advise the school committee refrain from any discussion on this matter. Attorney Alan Ramsey.

M.

Um, Mr. Through the chair through attorneys, what we're discussing this in in executive session. What would be the risk to the um district?

Exactly what um Mr. Ramsey has said. M Alan Ramsey is is a corporation council and this matter is uh being handled by the corporation council's office. Uh he is advised today that again as the mayor has just mentioned no discussion take place concerning this matter. uh and he mentions the reasons uh that a potential for compromising the city's legal position impact the defense of the case

could interfere with an ongoing police investigation. Uh that is his uh opinion based on his analysis of of the case and my strong recommendation is that the committee follow that recommendation.

Mr. Chair, Mr. Das, this discussion is treading very dangerously. I understand. I'd like to make an amendment to my motion and the school committee formally request Kelly Fado transfer the criminal investigation to the federal government.

I do not have any trust in this police department with this leadership to run that investigation after what we've heard over the last few months.

This is part of what we're talking about. Mr. Das, you're really going down a bad road.

Mayor, please.

Well, does anybody second that?

Yeah, we have a second.

No, no, no. He made a motion.

We have a amendment. Would you like to read the amendment? No, the amendment was to No, no, I I I you can state it again.

Sure. It's to formally request police chief Kelly Fado transfer the so-called police investigation to the federal government so we can have an in-depth investigation.

Is there a second hearing? None. Could I get a I have a motion and a second to go into executive session. Deb, could you call the role?

There was a motion. Mr. D made me to discuss the MCAD complaint in executive.

Oh, back to the original complaint to take it up. Mr. Mo Mr. Dus also made a motion to take up the MCAD complaint. Do I have a second on that?

Yes.

Can we call the role on that?

Mia, yes.

Mr. Bailey, no.

Mr. Das, yes.

Mr. Corey, it's an emphatic no.

Miss Laravey, no.

Miss Pereira, no.

Maya, no. Now, can I get a um the roll call on going into executive session, please?

Deb.

Mr. Drag, yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Das, no.

Mr. Corey, yes.

Miss Laravey, yes.

Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor, yes. In executive session, we may or may not come back.

We may not come back.

Thank you, too.

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

Mr. Agu here.

Mr. Bailey here.

Mr. Das here.

Mr. Corey here.

Laravey here. M Pereira here.

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

Yes, Mr. Mayor. I like to make a motion to accept the executive session minutes for June 23rd, 2025.

I have a motion and a second for the minutes. Deb, please call the role.

Mr. Ael, yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. D, yes. Mr. Corey, yes.

Miss Laravey, yes.

Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor Kugan, yes. Anything further?

Yes. Mr. Mayor, I would like to make a motion to accept the exe executive session minutes for July 29th, 2025.

Second.

I have a motion, a second. Deb, would you please call the role on the minutes?

Mr. A, yes.

Mr. Bailey, Mr. D.

Yes.

Mr. Corey, Laravey, yes.

Mr. Pereira, yes. Mayor Kan.

Yes.

I'd like to make a motion to approve the executive session minutes for August 13, 2025.

Second. Second.

I have a motion to second. Discussion.

Deb, could you please call the role?

Mr. Dagam.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Yes.

Mr. Das.

Yes.

Mr. Corey.

Yes.

Miss Laravey.

Yes.

M. Pereira.

Yes.

Mayor Hugan.

Yes.

Oh, Jesus. I'd like to make a motion to uh to accept the memorandum of agreement with FREA as negotiated.

Second. Second.

I have a motion and a second discussion hearing. None. Deb.

Miss.

Mr. A.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Yes.

Mr. Das.

Yes.

Mr. Corey.

Abstain.

Miss Laravey.

Yes.

Miss Pereira.

Yes.

Mayor Couan.

Yes.

I'd like to make a motion to uphold the power of professional grievance as presented.

A second.

Second discussion.

I mean, please call the Yes.

Mr. A.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Yes.

Mr. Das.

Yes.

Mr. Corey.

Yes.

M. Laravey.

Yes.

Miss Pereira.

No.

Mayor Kugan.

Yes.

Huh.

I'd like to make a motion to accept the memorandum of agreement for frontline for cafeteria employees as negotiated.

Second. So move.

I have a motion and a second. Discussion that please call the role.

Mr. Agam.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Yes.

Mr. Das.

Yes.

Mr. Corey.

Yes.

M. Laravey.

Yes.

M. Pereira.

Yes.

Mayor Cougan.

Yes.

I'd like to make a motion to accept a memorandum of agreement for frontline for all maintenance employees as negotiated.

So moved.

Second.

Discussion. Deb, please call the role.

Mr.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Yes.

Mr. Das.

Yes.

Mr. Cory.

Yes.

Miss Laravey.

Yes.

M. Pereira.

Yes.

Mary Kugan.

Yes. like to make a motion to accept a maintenance employee settlement agreement.

Second.

Second. I have a motion to second discussion. Deb, please call the role.

Mr. A, no.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Das, no.

Mr. Corey, yes.

Miss Laravey, yes.

Mr. Pereira, yes.

Mayor Kan, yes. like to make a motion to accept the me memorandum of agreement front line for all custodial employees.

So move second motion and second discussion.

Deb, please call the role.

Mr. Agam, yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Das, yes.

Mr. Corey, yes.

Miss Laravey, yes.

Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor Coug, yes.

Like to uh make a motion to accept a contract as negotiated for uh Sean Simpson. So move.

Second.

I have a motion to second. Deb, could you please call the role?

Mr. A, yes.

Mr. Bailey, yes.

Mr. Das, no.

Mr. Corey, yes.

Miss Laravey, yes. Miss Pereira, yes.

Mayor Kan, yes.

Finally, I'd like to uh make a motion to accept the contract as negotiated for uh Debbie Sardina.

Second.

Second. So move.

I have a motion and a second discussion.

We do a job description already. Did I miss that?

No.

Oh, no. We have to do the job.

You going to do it right now?

Does that make sense to do one before the other?

Yeah.

Job description first.

Job description first.

We can do the job description first.

Okay.

Can I just make one? Um, we need to do security. Front line for security and safety.

Oh, okay.

All right. Why don't you do the front line for security and safety?

So, I make Yep. Make a motion to accept the memorandum of agreement front line for safety and security employees.

Second.

So move.

I have a motion. Second discussion hearing. None. Go ahead.

So what is it?

Mr. A.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Yes.

Mr. D. Yes.

Mr. Cory.

Yes.

Mr. Laravey.

Miss Laravey.

Yes.

Miss Per.

Yes.

What's the name of the job?

Mayor Cougen.

Yes.

I'd like to make a motion to accept the uh the job description for the communication specialist.

So moved.

I think the motion is second.

Discussion. Deb, please call the role.

Mr. A.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Yes.

Mr. Das.

Yes.

Mr. Corey.

Yes.

M. Laravey.

Yes.

Miss Pereira.

Yes.

Mary Kugan.

Yes. And now finally, I'd like to um make a motion to accept the contract as negotiated with Debbie Sardinia.

Second.

I have a motion and second discussion.

Call the RO. Deb, please.

Mr. A.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Yes.

Mr. D.

Yes.

Mr. Cory.

Yes. M.

Larry.

Yes.

M. Pereira.

Yes.

Mayor Coug.

Yes.

Motion to adjurnn. Second.

I have a motion to adjurnn a second.

Deb, please call the role.

Mr. A.

Yes.

Mr. Bailey.

Yes.

Mr. D.

Yes. Mr.

Cory. Hooray. Miss Larby.

Yes.

Miss Per.

Yes. May.

Yes.