School Committee - Regular Meeting

Good evening everyone. I'm going to call our meeting to order. If you are able, I'll ask that you please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. I know it's not on the agenda, but I'll ask for your indulgence. I'd like to just take a brief moment of silence in memory of Principal Jeremy Goviel who passed and some other recent losses within the district. Thank you, everyone. Um, so it is now public comment. Before we go into public comment, I do just want to state quickly that on the agenda tonight, we have a possible vote for budget update. There will not be a vote tonight, just so everybody knows. Just wanted to get that out there for the agenda, so you are all aware. Public comment will begin. You have your I don't have my normal spiel in front of me, but I do ask that you be respectful and that you remember the appropriate avenues for personnel and issues for students to respect privacy and you have 3 minutes for anyone who'd like to speak. Good evening, everyone. Alexis Barrows, 75 Wareham Street, first grade teacher. I'm just here to first off, thank you for making it known that you're not voting on the budget. A lot of us were

concerned and also confused considering the financial state of our town. I do want to share a word of hope. Myself and a few other folks from Middleboro Public Schools are going to the Ways and Means Committee and we are going to speak in front of that committee on Tuesday because this is a problem that we do not want to see happen in our town and this is a bigger problem where the state needs to step in and provide additional funding. However, my hope is that the School Committee and also the interim superintendent will also be looking closely at the budget and seeing what we can do to, which I understand there's a lot going on financially, but I've been looking at the budget, other folks have been looking at the budget and we have some questions and hope to figure out how to save jobs. Thank you. Thank you. Any other speakers for public comment? Good evening. My name is John Burbidge. I live over at Oak Point. I'm the president of the Oak Point Homeowner Scholarship Fund. I wanted to um bring your attention to the fact that we're going to be having a fundraiser that over at Brax on April 22nd where 20% of your food and beverage will go toward supporting our cause, which of course is to support graduating Middleboro seniors that attend Middleboro High School here, that go to Bristol, Plymouth and Taunton and also Bristol Aggie in Dighton. We will be publishing this

pamphlet. Just please get a picture of it on your phone. Go to eat there. Won't cost you any more to do so. It'll be a nice passive way of you for you to support us. And I guess the only other message I have is uh I recently wrote an editorial in the Middleboro news about voting. I hope that everybody here tonight that is eligible to do so will do their civic duty, participate, don't complain from the sidelines. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. [applause]

Any other speakers tonight? Tony Cuppy, teacher. Um, just wanted to reiterate the fact that the anxiety level here at the throughout the district really is is very high for teachers. It's I you know, we're just in this moment of we really don't know what to expect. We're hearing some things that seem like things are getting worse. And we really would appreciate some as soon as you hear information or I guess we we we would like to know maybe some action steps from the School Committee that have been taken with with the town and you know, I've sat in many meetings with my colleagues and we try to go through the budgets thoughtfully and look at some lines and you know, we don't think that all of a sudden that there's going to be a big pot of gold that we're going to find. But I think that we're doing our due diligence to try to go line by line and mitigate any at least some cuts that could be made. And I guess what we're wondering is if that has been taking place um with with you and if there's been conversations with town officials that there's been any headway being made. Um I do have some specifics. I guess, you know, back to the budget since this was a budget hearing and I know that we're considering voting on that and it sounds like it's going to be pushed back now since the and waiting for further numbers to come

in. And if I'm wrong, please correct me. [clears throat]

But what what we noticed in some of the budget book that was published on the school web website was that some of the increases of salary outside of the the teachers were far above percentage increases above 3%. Um For example on the second page under salaries director of special ed in 24, it was $130,000 and then in approved fiscal year 26, it was $145,000. So it went basically an 8% increase from that time. So I mean, again, I'm not going to go every line by line, but when we see things like that and then there's some pushback on how teachers um you know, negotiated a contract and and get a 3% increase, we find it a little bit concerning that if we look at people outside the contract in administrative positions that get a a much higher increase than that, it it leads to some questions from us. Um Also, I think going forward we are trying to it seems like we're in the boat and it's sinking right now and we're trying to you know, duct tape the holes, throw the plug plug in there so that the ship doesn't sink. But really we we need uh yes, a plan now, but a plan going forward to what's year two going to look like? What's year four going to look like? What's year six going to look like? Uh and that planning takes time. We know that. We feel like we want to be a part

of that. And if um you know, a budgetary advisory committee that uh represented the teachers uh we would happy to be part of that if that could be created. Tony, I'm just going to ask for you to wrap up. If you have any more budget stuff, that's on the agenda later, and you were happy to hear you speak again later. Okay, appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you. Ashley Forni, 7 Maple Road. Um first, I just wanted to thank Alan and Jess for coming to the candidate night at the MKG PTA um on Monday. Was it Monday? This has been the longest week. As well as Alex and Kim Radlon and all the other candidates. Um we sent out our minutes, and we've heard back from our membership, and they were really pleased with everything. So, thank you. Um second, I just had a question. I know that we were um purchasing well, looking to purchase an ELA program, and there was going to be a committee formed um within the next month and a half. I was just looking for an update on that if there was a committee, and if there was if there was room for um parent input. So, if someone could just email me with the update for that. Thank you. Thank you, Ashley. Hi there. Uh my name is Bryce Abraham, a resident here in Middleborough. I'm also here on behalf of the Independent Socialist Group. Uh just wanted to let everyone know that we have a petition drafted to get more Healey and the state government to use the rainy day fund. Uh it's a fund that's supposed to be allocated for funding public services like our public schools uh to actually, you know, fund them. There's over $8 billion sitting in that fund right now. And uh while the town budget is obviously an issue like

[snorts]

it's just strange to me that nobody has like within the union leadership or any of you on the board have like made any action to allocate money from the state because there's plenty of money sitting there that is supposed to be used for these public services. Um and then just to make it aware to everyone that we have a petition to make that happen if anybody was interested in signing. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. Pat Rooney. Second grade teacher. I just wanted to bring up something I know things seem to be relaxing right now, but I have forwarded some information, and my concern I'm looking at is the 20 27 calendar. We have on that calendar that we have a Friday, June 18th off. I did send in stuff from the Massachusetts uh state their state holiday calendar, and their decisions of Saturday holidays are observed on Saturdays. And we are right now taking Friday off as an observance. That's not what the state says. Um I did share with the school committee members. Um I know we've been busy, but we haven't heard anything, but especially if we're going to be getting all these uh bombogenesis coming in stuff, we might want to be looking at that that why we observing holidays and taking days off that we don't need to take off. The state is not requiring us to take it off. In fact, they even say in their statements that Saturday holidays are observed on Saturday. Um and like I said, I did share this with you guys. So, I'm just curious if we've looked at that yet. Uh and if we're going to look at it down the road. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Any other speakers this evening? Alex Cook, East Main Street.

I want to just take this moment to say thank you to our teachers all across the district who I know are working in these high anxiety-filled times. I am currently a candidate for the school committee, and I want to devo- reiterate right now to the teachers in this room, to the listeners and watchers at home, that I am committed to our teachers, to this town, to our parents, and above all to our students. I want to help. I think we can get through these districts. I am planning to currently go to the State House on March 31st to address the Ways and Means Committee because Middleborough deserves its fair share just as much as any other community because we are as wonderful a community as any other. Thank you. Thank you, Alex.

[snorts]

Great. Seeing no additional speakers, we'll move on to our discussion items. Uh first up is a report from our student reps. All right, we're going to start with uh two district-wide announcements. The town's I Voted Sticker Design Contest opened on the 9th. Entries are categorized into three age groups: under seven, eight to 12, and 13 to 18. Templates can be found at the town clerk's office or their website, and the deadline to submit is May 4th. And the last day of school is June 26th. At the MEC, they would Sorry. They would like you to join them for their family literacy and math night on Tuesday, March 31st from 5:30 to 7:00. Doors will be open. Doors will be open for entry from 5:30 to 5:45. All pre-K and kindergarten families are welcome to attend. Uh students will be playing a variety of literary literacy and math games. Uh you'll also receive valuable information on how to support your young reader and mathematician at home. All families will be entered to win one of their fun raffle baskets, which will be announced at 6:30 in the gym that night. And students can choose some free books to take home for their at-home library. Also that night is the family night at the book fair. The class visits to said book fair take place from March 31st to April 2nd. This week, they rocked our socks in honor of World Down Syndrome Day. It is celebrated yearly on March 21st to signify the uniqueness of the triplication of the 21st chromosome, which causes Down Syndrome. Uh the March word of the month at the MEC is responsibility. Children are learning how to be responsible for their actions and words at school and at home. They had a school assembly to discuss the idea of responsibility this past week. And Principal Lord would like it to be

known that the after-school clubs have been a big hit. PE club, dance, STEM, arts and crafts, and wildlife. Uh 40% of their students are enrolled in clubs, and they will be running another 6-week session after April vacation. [clears throat]

Okay, now we'll be moving on to MKG. Due to a scheduling conflict, the MCAS testing schedule has been slightly changed. The ELA session one for grades three, four, and five has now been moved to April 7th, and the ELA session two for grades three, four, and five has now been moved to April 9th. First graders have been busy reading and writing about national symbols such as the American flag, bald eagle, Statue of Liberty, and the White House. Second graders have been wrapping up their author studies this week. The students have gotten to read or hear multiple books all written by the same person. Be sure to ask your student what book they picked as their favorite and have them explain why. This week, our third grade mathematicians began their deep dive into fractions. In class, students worked on partitioning shapes into equal parts, identifying unit fractions, and labeling fractions on a number line. Each morning upon arrival, fourth graders get their day started by completing a morning work paper and or working independently on their tablets on ST Math or Lexia while teachers work with small groups of students. Fifth grade has been working really hard on the March Mammal Madness on science. It is similar to a Who Would Win book where they learn about the animal and apply their knowledge to that animal to see which one would win in a fight in the wild. And congratulations to the winner of the art mascot competition, Lucy St. Pierre. Our mascot finally made it to the art room. So, at the HPB, some events to keep in mind, uh April 6th, there's a PTA meeting. It is an MCAS information session. It is 5:30 to 6:30. April 10th is their art show, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. April 13th through 15th is the combined third grade musical. April 17th is neon glow fun run of fundraiser. And the Above and Beyond winners from the past week are as follows. In grade four, Grayson Gaudet, Peter Res- These names are in- getting increasingly hard to pronounce. Peter Resendez,

Aviana Rodriguez and Aliyah Velas. Uh grade three is Lucas Adorno. Grade two is Jaylani Aloy Tolentino. Zoe Flaherty, Gabriel Garfield, Jameson Groves, Shane Kimball, Christopher McCauley, and Aliyah Preston. And from grade one, we have Cayden Clive, Elijah Hadzo, Joseph McDonald, and Maddox McKenzie. All right, now we're moving on to the Nichols Middle School. Uh Nidos are now banned in class following an incident involving one. And over the past couple of months, there has been an increasing number of students looking to call home for permission to ride another student's bus. Just a reminder that school policy states that if your student is requesting to ride another student's bus, a note from both parents is required. That being the parent that is allowing their student to go on a different bus as well as the parent receiving the student. Some important dates for grade eight is the June 18th dance from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The June 22nd field day, the rain date for that being the 23rd, and the June 24th promotion night at MHS 6-8. There is also a field trip that is to be announced. And for grades 6 and 7, field day, which is a new event this year, is June 24th, the rain date being June 25th, and the field trip is also to be announced. Moving on to the MHS, we want to congratulate all the students and staff of the performing arts program for their excellence as they represented our school in Washington, D.C. this past week. Jackson and I both had the opportunity to go, and it was one of the best trips we've ever taken. We want to thank Mr. Pitzly, Mr. Mosher, Mr. Susary, um Ms. Brunelle, and Mrs. Pitzly for chaperoning the field trip. And we got to perform at the Jefferson Memorial, we got to see museums and all the monuments, and it was overall one of the best trips that we could have taken. Uh congrats to Megan Kennedy, who is officially a candidate for publicity coordinator for C-Mask, and also congratulations to Michael Marzelli, who

is a candidate for delegate for C-Mask. Uh congratulations and thank you to the many student volunteers from the YES Club, who were instrumental in making the annual Cooler Middleboro event a complete success. The event was awesome because of you. Uh we want to congratulate Eleanor Jackson for for participating in the American Legion Oratorical competition this past week at Clinton High School. Eleanor competed at the state level as she gave a speech about the U.S. Constitution. We are very proud of you, and we know you'll compete again next year. Uh thank you to the members of the National Honor Society who volunteered with the Middleboro Little League to help get the fields ready for the season, and there will be more volunteer opportunities for the NHS as they have entered into a partnership for the upcoming season. The class of 2028 took their first of their two MCAS exams on March 24th and 25th. We would want to congratulate everyone who survived these two days. The math MCAS exam is administered in May. Uh just want to remind everyone that with the loss of a week to the due to the blizzard, it has forced the movement of dates to the closing of quarter 3 and quarter 4 and the end of the school year. So, at MHS, quarter 3 ends on Friday, April 17th, and quarter 4 will begin Monday, April 27th. Quarter 4 will now end on June 26th, which is the new last day of school, and at this time, there has been no posted change to the senior calendar and end dates. The class of 2026 will celebrate their final day of classes on Wednesday, May 27th. Um Middleboro Student Council is presenting the breakfast with the Easter Bunny. Uh it is a opportunity for kids in our community to come have breakfast. There'll be coloring, and there'll be pictures with the Easter Bunny. It is this Saturday. It is open to the whole community, and it's $5 per person anytime from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Massasoit Community College Instant Decision Day is Tuesday, March 31st at

MHS. There is a graphic with a QR code to sign up now, or you can contact your school counselor. And the last thing is we want to remind all um seniors or juniors, or rising seniors, that the spring SAT will be held at MHS on Saturday, March 2nd. So, be sure to plan and register for that exam, and if you have any questions, reach out to your school counselor. All right, now we'll be moving on to any announcements from athletics. Job well done to all of our spring athletes as we begin our spring season. We're very proud of each of you for wearing the orange and black. A great season is ahead of us. Congratulations to Kylie Kilpatrick and EJ Winky for being named the South Shore League Scholar Athlete for the class of 2026, and congratulations to Lily Price and Nolan Trottier for being named the Middleboro High School nominees for the Dave Cowens Award for the class of 2026 for your excellence on the basketball court. Thank you. Does that conclude your report, gentlemen? That does. All right, thank you so much. Nicely done. Moving on to our next item, it is the Superintendent's report. Good evening. Uh so, it was stated that there will be no vote on the uh budget because we are still waiting final numbers from the town. We do expect a further cut. We don't know what that is. Um hopefully I'll have that number next week, and we can balance, and then I will bring that to the next meeting uh for a vote. Um I don't believe I have anything else on that. So, uh the next is uh

Hold on one second, just to make sure. I know we had some questions earlier. Were there any that up for Were there any additional [clears throat] budget questions other than the unfortunately, we're still waiting to hear what the final number will be? No. Okay. Next, we have the uh athletics update with Ryan Silvia. Come on up, Ryan. I just want to Yeah. Before we move on to Yes. Hold on one second.

would just ask everyone in the public to contact their select board and let them know that the town should fund to the best of their ability the school district. It's still in flux. We still have opportunities here to to lobby our elected officials, and there is an election coming up. Let them know how you're going to vote. Let them know how you want the school funded. It's about time we started having these public conversations about this. There's the funding to the schools has not been increasing, it's been decreasing. So, let your select board know how you feel about the budget, and that you'd like to see the schools funded adequately. I mean, level funding is a pipe dream right now. So, we need as much help as we can get. Thank Go ahead, Sue. Uh also wanted to comment on the question uh that was raised during public comment about whether we continue to go through the uh budget line by line to see where we can uh make efficiencies and uh so that we uh have the least impact as possible uh on the um personnel lines. Uh so, I just want to reassure you uh from the uh finance subcommittee that it that is something that we are uh continuing to do, and conversations that we are continuing to have with the town. Hi, can I just ask a question? Or

Absolutely. Okay. We're still on budget. Okay, cool. So, I wanted to ask um okay, April 9th is the next School Committee meeting, correct? Okay, and that is when the vote would have to go through. Okay. Uh oh, sorry. Go ahead. If we get the number prior to that, it'll either be the 9th or the second meeting in April. I expect to get the final number next week, so I will be prepared for the 9th. Okay, so it wouldn't be pushed earlier at like an earlier mid uh committee meeting. We would be hearing about it on the 9th? Yeah, I don't anticipate we would schedule a separate a meeting that close to the election just to talk about the budget.

Okay. Um my question is is maybe hypothetical, I'm not sure, but when we come back together at School Committee meeting on April 9th, um and you have the number and what's to happen, um is that the end-all, be-all, or is there a potential that we can take even more time to really look at things a bit more critically? I just want to make sure that whatever the town throws at us, that we're not making haphazard decisions where we could be glancing over something and and miss a potential um I understand. You know what I mean? Yep, sure. So, what we vote on is the motion for the town meeting. Okay.

Um there is always the ability for that motion to be amended at town meeting itself

Mhm. if information changes and there's um a windfall or something like that. Um and what is being approved is the number, not how the number is executed. And as everybody knows with a budget, it's a guess, you know, it's it's where your baseline is, but things fluctuate all the time. So, the way that if this fund or a note new grant comes in, it could feed something, that means that money can be allocated to something else. So, that happens when you manage the budget all the time. So, that that doesn't require a new motion at town meeting for adjusting how the money that is allocated is spent. Okay. I guess another question I have is have we as a district been looking into additional granting uh in additional grants of fund grant money resources. I'm sorry, I'm so so tired. It's been a long week. Um because there could be grants out there, and I just want to make sure we're not missing that timeline. And also, who is responsible for looking for this grant money? Um I'm curious because we have been making so many decisions, especially with uh curriculum and everything. I just haven't seen the curriculum director, and I'm just wondering the direction of where we're heading. Um and also, the money that could be used for curriculum should only be grant money, should not be budgeted out of our budget, [snorts] where that $200,000 could equate to four to five year one teachers. So, when I'm saying we need to be careful with our money, we need to weigh what is more important to us. Is it just a screen that gives information to the kids or is it the student-facing positions that are there to service those students? Um

and also we're worried about not enough interventionists and I and I will tell you our coaches are turning into more interventionists. They're helpful. I I don't want them to be considered in a different light. I've worked with some of those coaches and they are interventionists even though that's not their job description. Um I remember we had two reading interventionists way back when. One was retired a few years ago. That position was never hired. Um if we lose more staff, we're really going to feel that effect with our kids. So, just bringing up some important points. Thank you so much, guys. Thank you. Sue, did you have something you wanted to I get Yes, I did. I just want other as I we said before, um under Mike's leadership, we continue to look at the budget. It's not like we're waiting for whatever that number might be to not continue to look at um how it is that we will respond to it. So, it won't be rushed after the fact of when we get that number. There's many things that are being looked at currently and discussed about how we will respond. Um Mike, can you I believe the answer is that each different um director looks for available grants within their own departments.

Grants come from all over, but we are definitely looking and applying. I just had a question. I know several meetings ago I asked about the plan for um letting go of teachers. I know like you had attrition, you marked it down. I'm probably going to say the wrong numbers, but it was like from 26 to maybe 18. Um and I had asked like at what buildings were these teachers going to be let go, you didn't know. Um I was wondering at what point would we have that and um not to put out a teacher salary, but it is it is extremely less to some of our admin. Have we looked at letting go of some of the admin, consolidating? I know um someone brought up a great point with combining two of the admin positions into one person. Um we have more admin on leave again that we're still paying out their salaries. Um what like are we looking at the admin level? Because I feel like when you had that slide, it was all teacher facing or I mean there was like an empty maintenance position, there was one ESP. It just seemed like it was so teacher-heavy. Has anyone looked at consolidating the admin level? We are looking at everything. And when will the voters, the parents, the teachers know this plan? So, after we get the number from the town, we will meet leadership will meet and make those decisions and bring them to the committee and then after the meeting, we will meet with the staff as to what the cuts are. Okay. And in that meeting

do that until we get a number. No, I understand. Just like everything that's been thrown up there is just an idea, nothing is in set stone. Who is in that meeting? It's yourself and who else? Principals and all the administrators, so there's about nine of us. When does the union leadership get engaged? Uh after the committee will vote, uh we will um then bring those cuts to um the uh union and they will uh assist us if not make the final decisions as to who the final cuts are and where they are because we have to follow the contract. Correct.

They will be they will be a huge part. Awesome. And when you say yourself, principal, and administrators, what level administrators? Like who? I know you're wearing two hats. Like you're the financial advisor, you're the superintendent. What other administrators will be on that team? On the uh leadership team? Yes. So, it's the special ed director, um PPS, uh the five principals, uh technology director, uh facilities director. [clears throat and groaning]

And I think that's it right now. Okay. Awesome. Thank you. Okay. Any other budget, anything? Please know we understand your anxiety. We feel it as well. Um you know, the the process to go through all this and then to have to wait even more than we had originally anticipated is is excruciating. So, we do empathize with you all. We we are not in your shoes, but I do empathize with everyone here. All right, Ryan. You want to come on up or I come up there? Yep. How much time he's got? He's got plenty. Jingle, jingle. All right. All right, lights. Thanks here uh for inviting me to uh give this athletics update. Apologize for my appearance. I've been down at the state athletic directors conference the past 2 days and driving back and forth from Hyannis. So, I think this is the first school committee meeting I've been to without my black and orange on. So, um and I also didn't let give Shawn enough notice that I had slides. So, I'm going to work off my computer. So, I apologize for that. No, it's all good. Um First, just um you may have noticed this year we we kind of changed how our communication obviously with the Parent Square. Um and so, rather than the weekly or the monthly updates from athletics, I've had kind of just uh blasts from the Parent Square communication system. Um and one of the biggest changes this year with athletics was uh and I'm going to give kind of a summary because this is this is the

first time I'm presenting this year and we're and we're in March. So, um one of the biggest changes was our athletics website, which is kind of uh in the not independent from our school district website, but it kind of redirects you to a new site uh that links directly with our scheduling programming and our registration programming. So, it gives you live updates on all of the a ticker across the top with all of the games, uh scores. So, I got our our tennis score from this afternoon. We put that right in there. So, people can see that. Um and there's just a a ton of information and links that go right to the registration page, the user fees, our live streaming for the stadium and the gym. Uh really everything you need to know for athletics is on that page. So, we're and um we just heard from the student reps about some of the student accomplishments, student athlete accomplishments. So, if a kid signs on to compete in athletics at the next level or the scholar athlete award winners, the Dave Cowens award winners, we're able to post those um you know, those updates and it's all linked right with the MHS um Instagram account and also the Facebook account. So, that's why you see them go up on on those social media. So, you probably also saw this year that uh there is no athletics Twitter or X account. There is no athletics Instagram or Facebook account. We do everything through the high school page um and it goes it kind of goes through that website. So, just kind of in case people are wondering like what happened to all that stuff. Uh we've kind of streamlined it all and it and it's been a a good a good change. Um As far as kind of a summary uh this year, we offered So, we're in our third season and this is not including any of the free clinics or the summer programming that we do. Uh we offered 49 different teams, 665 events by the time we're done with the uh school year. Uh right around in approximately 250 bus trips that go out. Um 22 different sports with 89 different coaching positions. That includes some

volunteers. It's not not all stipend positions. Four different levels with 30 varsity teams, nine junior varsity teams, two freshman teams, nine middle school teams, and 1,032 participants over the course of the year just in the that and that's just for the athletic the interscholastic athletic season. Um we added some free youth clinics that we offered throughout the year. Uh and that was really we're able to do that at no cost because of our coaches commitment to try to build their programs. So, soccer, wrestling, field hockey uh programs that we're looking to build numbers in. Uh coaches the only expense really to the school district is opening up the building or the facility wherever wherever we are. So, um those have been kind of positive things as well. Um I had some graphics here uh when you talk about the different participation levels with varsity and subvarsity. Um but I think I kind of summed that up with um Well, I can I can give you in the fall um our varsity participation, we had 11 teams with 216 participants. At the subvarsity and intramural level, we had nine teams with 163 participants. Uh winter participation, 10 varsity teams, 223 participants and um 10 subvarsity teams or intramural programs with Oh, I'm sorry. That's a that's a typo. Um five subvarsity teams and intramural programs with 69 participants. And then when we get to the spring, we have nine varsity teams, 220 participants, and seven subvarsity uh teams with 141 participants. One of those teams this spring uh that I'm I'm proud of in particular is the um the pilot program of a middle school track and field program. There's over 64 students registered right now. We bus them over to the high school 4 days a week, uh, on just a regular route bus that we're that's already out in the district, um, to get them over here and then they get

picked up here. And so it's been a great program, uh, and our track and field program is got a really strong culture and and continues to grow. And so that'll be a that'll be a help for that. Um, one thing I wanted to add, uh, and this is really specific to our winter season of cooperative teams. Uh, we offer a number of them and that's when we want we don't want to eliminate a program, uh, because of, uh, low participation numbers. Uh, we want to keep that opportunity for the students at Middleboro, but we need to add additional towns to the team to make it happen. Um, and so in boys hockey we we are the host school. We co-op with Carver and Wareham and share the expenses for the program with them. Um, and that team I I do want to give them a shout out. This year they competed for years in the Patriot League and most recently in the South Shore League in the past 9 years and they have never uh, this is the first year in the history of the program where they won the league championship. Uh, and unfortunately lost in the in the playoffs to time, um, but um, they had a really strong season and and so that was a that was a good accomplishment for them. So they'll get their their 2026 on the banner in the gym. Um, boys swimming and girls swimming are cooperative team with East Bridgewater, uh, and Apponequet. Apponequet is actually the host of that team. Um, and we're able to get pool time over at the YMCA, um, in order to make that happen because we know with the situation we're dealing with with the pool right now and and that's going to be kind of a a different completely different discussion. Um, but we have, uh, we've been able to keep the swimming program alive by by combining with those schools and and using the YMCA. Um, and then we also combine, uh, with Apponequet and a couple of students from Old Rochester, uh, for gymnastics. Uh, we use the

gymnastics facility over at, uh, in Lakeville, the uh, called Gym Hut. Our our coach, uh, Alyssa Young runs the program over there and she's a Middleboro High School alum and she did a fantastic job with the, uh, with the team this year. She actually won coach of the year for the Cranberry League, so that was that was exciting. Um, and then our wrestling team is a cooperative team with Old Colony Regional, uh, where we're the host school. Uh, and that team has also been outstanding, uh, over the past few years. They um, and I do have to give them a shout out as well because um, they won the the league, but they also, uh, and which we've done the past 3 years in a row with wrestling. Coach is doing an outstanding job, but uh, they also won at the sectional level, which is, you know, one level before being a state, you know, a team state champion. So they won the uh, South Section for their division. Um, so that'll be when you look in the gym, you have the the black banners of the league championships, the orange banners that hang from the rafters are the sectional championships and the white are the state. Um, so they'll have us an orange banner hanging in the rafters next year as well. Um, so those are our cooperative teams and they they're really all happening in the winter season. Um, and and if anyone has questions about those, I can answer them at the end too and kind of how the logistics of those work, but uh, and then middle level waivers, I wanted to to bring those up as well cuz it's something that, you know, has kind of become a hot topic. Uh, it's another way to allow us to maintain programs with by adding middle level participation at the high school level and it's mainly at the sub-varsity level, so freshman teams, JV teams. Uh, it does happen at the varsity level, but only when varsity is the lowest level you offer. So if we don't have lower if we have lower levels then the middle schoolers come up, they have to play at that at the lowest level that we offer. Um, and so that happened this year in field hockey, uh, boys and girls swimming, girls basketball, wrestling,

softball, um, boys tennis and girls lacrosse are currently pending, uh, approval, but we have them ready to go. Uh, and again, these aren't huge numbers. It's maybe, you know, three or four kids coming up depending on the sport. Um, and so, you know, we'll continue to you know, to pursue that when it's needed. Um, there's going to be some changes coming down the line. We just found out about at the state level in terms of what those rules look like. So, uh, with the possibility of there not being a waiver process for the middle school for the middle school, it becomes a local local discretion, uh, where we can decide if they're playing if they're coming up to play, um, at the lower at the sub-varsity levels. But that's not in place yet. We're kind of hoping for that going forward. I talked about the youth clinics. We had wrestling, field hockey and soccer this year and those are always opportunities. Uh, so if coaches are able to do it, uh, and we're able to make it happen, um, usually four eight weeks four to eight week sessions once a week. Uh, and we'll probably we're actually looking to start up field hockey again, uh, soon now that we have the spring season going cuz that's our coach is really ambitious about that. So I think that'll be that'll be good and we'll get it going on the turf as well. Um, I think We talked about the live streaming events. So baseball, softball and boys and girls lacrosse will all be live streamed this spring. You just have to go to the website, click on Huddle. And it's confusing sometimes because when you first click on the the live stream Huddle link, it doesn't it looks like there's nothing there. Like it just says it's it says play and it says the date, but it doesn't click on until about 5 minutes before the event. So you just have to be patient. You can watch it from your phone. You can watch it from anywhere you have an internet connection. Um, so just something to think about for this spring. Um, and then before I take any questions, if

there are any questions, that that kind of sums it up, but I did want to kind of take an opportunity just to point out that, you know, our athletic program is dynamic and it's constant there's constantly stuff going on. Um, and that it puts a strain on, you know, the gym space, the schools, the facilities. When we had the pool going, the pool, um, the turf. When we're trying to get the fields, um, you know, the athletic fields, especially baseball and softball fields in this weather in March. Um, it it puts a you know, it asks a lot from all of our staff, our coaches, but especially our facilities and maintenance staff and, um, they've done an outstanding job, uh, just kind of working with me to get make sure that we get things ready and you know, we're looking at talking to each other about, you know, oh, can when are we going to have the baseball field ready on on, uh, March 16th and there's and that's a week before, you know, a week ahead of time and there's still 2 ft of snow on the ground. And so, uh, and somehow we make it work and when it doesn't work, we're putting them in the gym. So now, you know, our custodial staff gets, you know, pushed out of there for whatever they need to do in those spaces. So I just wanted to point out that it's it's, um, it's appreciated in that, um, you know, I I think our staff does a great job kind of managing that. So, um, and any questions, uh, as far as athletics? No questions, Ryan, but as always, thank you for all the work you're doing. Um, I noticed the streamlined social media. I really appreciate having everything all in one place and being able to to make sure that everybody's seeing the athletics and the academics and the events all at once. I think that was a great move to to help make sure you didn't miss anything. So, Yeah. And and, you know, if there's reach out if there's someone that needs to be recognized, like let's get them up on the website and we'll put their picture up there. We'll do an article on them. Um, you you reminded me of something just the someone who maybe goes unnoticed sometimes is, uh, Leanne McDonald. You

know, and she's kind of taken over for Shawn and she, um, we meet I meet with her every Monday morning. We talk about what are we doing with social media and posts and and and athletics is just a small piece of that, but she does a great job with that and working with Shawn, too. So that, you know, it's it's not just coming from my desk. It's it's a lot of other people, too. So just want to thank her for that as well. Thank you, Leanne. Uh, also want to say I appreciate your call out for the maintenance staff. Um, I know what a strain that is, uh, particularly in early spring uh, to get everything done and I just want to echo, uh, your thanks to them because you can see the commitment that they have, uh, to the schools uh, to be able to provide what is needed for the athletics. So I appreciate your call out and I want to add to it.

It's ongoing. We and we still we still have a ton to do and trying to tell coaches that they have to be patient and we're going to get the windscreens up and we're going to get, you know, things ready and it's going to look good, but it just takes time. And and so, um, and sometimes there's other priorities than than making sure that the athletic field looks perfect. So, uh, we're working on it. Um, so thank you. Yep. And thanks to the coaches for their their job with the communication. I think they do a fantastic job communicating out to parents and keeping everybody in the loop. Yeah. We try to make sure that they get that weekly communication somehow out, whether it's email or you know, there's some apps and things like that that they use. Um, and I can share this presentation with the with I'll make sure it gets to you guys so you can see the kind of the details of it. You send it to Anne and then she can send it around to the rest of us.

Okay. Perfect. Thank you, Ryan. Thanks. Thanks, Ryan. Any questions from anyone else out there about athletics? Join. Play. Have fun. All right. Moving on to the next item is the school committee updates. So, uh, facilities update and we have a a guest to join us this, uh, evening for, um, talking about the facilities update with the subcommittee. Andy, do you want to join? Good evening.

for joining us. Thank you.

No problem. Thank you for the shout-out. My stuff is not as fun as, uh, kids playing sports. I know. Yeah, but I couldn't do it without you. I appreciate that. Um, so I was I was asked to give a quick update on some of the facilities stuff going on at the MKG. Um, we've had there a roof repair. It's been scheduled for quite a while, but after facing some significant delays due to weather condition and sustained, uh, freezing temperatures, creating ice dams, finally last week we were able to address that um, section of the roof. It was, uh, 12-ft section, which we ended up moving all the aggregate on the top of it, fixing that and replace that. And after the rain on Monday, it was still dry, which was good news for us. Um, the MKG wasn't the only building that leaked. We still have some leaks to address there, but, um, they are being scheduled as we speak. Um, we'll continue to monitor that section, um, as we go. Um, it is one of the oldest sections of that roof, so that's definitely one of the sections of roof that we are trying to get fixed at some point.

[clears throat]

Um, as far as the environmental safety and air quality, um, to ensure the health the health of the staff and students, we have started another series of air quality tests out of the normal, um, scheduled tests that we do every year. Um, we are waiting for those lab results from the most recent inspections. Um, there has been some unreliable reports regarding the black mold. Our preliminary physical inspections and air quality tests haven't supported tho- those claims. Um, so that that's why we did order the next round of tests for air quality. Just to get the speculation out of the air.

[laughter] Yeah. Um, And could you speak a little bit more about that about mold? Um, and one of the reasons why we wanted to address this is that because of, um, concerns that rightly are raised, uh, there's fear from parents that they're putting their kids in unsafe, um, environments. And, um, it's a common misnomer about mold that any kind of mold, uh, will have that kind of effect on children or on anybody. Uh, could you would you mind talking about that a little bit more?

yeah, black mold is the one you you really have to be careful with. And so for instance, at the beginning of the year we had some concerns about the Nickels, um, auditorium about the black mold, and we got that test done, and those results came back cleaner than outside air. So, I mean, sometimes what is on a ceiling tile doesn't really tell the whole picture. Um, I should have gone through you just uh, just go ahead. Keep going. You're on the subcommittee. [laughter]

I'm on the subcommittee, so. Uh, also, um, one of the questions that was raised was, um, why it is that really only maintenance should be, uh, cleaning when they see it when we see mold. Uh, and could you speak a little bit to that about, uh, what the reasons are of, uh, the kinds of, um, cleaners that you use and that those are all dictated by other circumstances?

Yes, so I mean, we can only use we're green. We use green cleaning supplies, so we they used to use bleach and all that, but it's a little bit tougher on the environment. Um, so we try and use everything that is green. So, we are limited in what we can use. And do I remember you saying that it's also dictated, uh, in certain buildings with certain children that they're We have had that come up before where certain cleaning supplies irritated students, so we would switch to the next and just kind of try it out just, uh, avoid that. We want them to be as comfortable and safe as we can.

Sure. Thank you. Um, so yeah, that's pretty much my update. I I would like to take a a moment to thank my crew. It has been a challenging year navigating, um, all the elements we've been going through. Their hard work has been the anchor of the facilities safety and their ability to deliver the results has been, I think, a testament to their character every day. Absolutely. [snorts] Cuz it has been a it's been an interesting year, to say the least.

Any other questions? Uh, just a a few other points that we've been talking about and Alan, I don't know if you want to speak to this or about, um, the roof in general. Uh, It's time for a new building. I don't know how else to say it. [applause]

And and I'm going to quite honestly keep saying it regardless of the, uh, outcome of the coming elections. Um, we have to have this conversation. We have to start to force ourselves to have the conversation. It's a maybe a 10-year-long process to get there. Um, I know a little bit about it. I don't know enough about it, but our next superintendent is absolutely going to learn a lot about it. Uh, it's not something I'm planning on giving up on. So. I do think

honestly and sorry. Um, I don't want to continue to throw money at a facility that we know we're going to replace. So, as chair of the To Ryan's point about the pool, it is a conversation for sure that It's just probably about time to be had. Especially in the current financial situation we're in. I mean, I the problem with roofs is if you don't fix the roof, then you got to fix the walls, too. Mhm. You know? So, it's but I'd rather patch a roof for a couple years and get a new building and pay for a new roof and tear up a new roof and then bulldoze a new roof, you know?

Yep. Um, but yeah, we need a new building. That's the bottom line. And so sometimes, you know, it may appear that we're not doing as much as we can about the current roof, but I think I heard in in the meeting that we had that uh, to replace to completely fix the way that you normally would Mhm. that roof would be over $3 million. It would be expensive. Yes. Um, and the same with the windows. Windows are going to be very expensive, too. You're probably looking in the millions to fix those windows.

uh, trying and so, echoing what Alan was saying is we need to get started on that process for, uh, looking at the new school and then in the meantime doing the best we can uh, and not spending those kind of millions of dollars that we don't have to spend on something that that we're going to tear down. Uh, and I understand the perceptions that that creates, um, but that is the reason that is the reason why. Uh, and lastly, I think one of the other concerns that was brought up was about, um, drains. Pipes, do we have any drain pipes in the, um, MKG that are not functioning that you know of? Yes, we do have we definitely have drain pipes that have been ripped off by wind, um, in the classrooms? No. I'm talking about the I'm sorry, I switched topics on you. Okay. Sink drains and things like that, not the

drains, uh, there were concerns that were brought up that there were sink drains that were not functional in the classrooms.

As far as I know, everything that we have we have fixed. Um, if there are drains that aren't, then um, put them on SchoolDude and we'll get them as fixed as quickly as we can. Uh, and that's a general one of the things that, um, when I went through, uh, with Lisa and Andy, uh, a few weeks ago when this first was brought up, um, just to reinforce, uh, and uh, if we could through the principals reinforce the use of SchoolDude, uh, because it is the fastest way that, um, maintenance can get to know and fix and and then keep track of there's a lot going on in in all of these different buildings, but, uh, SchoolDude has a tracking system of tickets that are opened and how they get closed and how fast they get closed and all of those. So, how important it is to use SchoolDude, uh, for any of your kinds of concerns, uh, that you have that teachers or anyone in the buildings have uh, mics. So, if we could reinforce that with the principals to reinforce with staff within the building to make sure we use that system. I think that would be helpful. Mhm. Anything else? I just had one. Sorry. Ashley.

But I know there were some issues brought up with certain classrooms of whose rooms were leaking the most and then doing the air quality testing. Do we make it a point to really go to those classrooms that were brought up Yeah, that that is something too. Usually when we do the air quality test, usually we will reach out to the union and get if they have any suggestions, we'll start there. But we always go to classrooms that we think are compromised. So, the most at risk.

The most at risk is what we we go to. Mold is not something you want to wait. The quicker you find it, the quicker you can address it. And how long does it take for those quality air quality tests that were run to Um a couple weeks. Okay. I'm hoping to get it expedited, but And the one just prior to this one was done when when when was the last one done that we got a clear? Um we did one Wednesday of this week and then Tuesday of last week. And prior to that on your annual one? Oh, November was the last one.

And November was and that was completely clear? That was one the one we did all the schools, yep. Okay. Thank you. So, you'll let us know how these turn out and we'll be able to report back. We send it to all the principals and the union. Okay. Great. And I just had one more. Sorry. Because of the lack of AC too and the humidity obviously start to increase as we get more into the year. Will do you do those again when it's actually like when the weather starts to change when it's dry or more humid? I imagine that's when we're probably going Yes, we we will do it one more before the school year ends.

round of testing, yep. Anything more from the committee? Go ahead, Ashley. Thanks, Jess. Um so, the drains there it's not so much the drains as the sink themselves not turning on. Um and a lot of our water bubblers or fountains, whatever you want to call them, they also don't drain. So, the there's do not use signs on them for the students. Um Like for my son, I pack extra water bottles cuz I don't want him using them because they're just not great. Um and Andy, to your comment of unreliable about the mold, I have pictures. So, if you want it, I have the pictures of the mold. I can send them to you. Um and I'm just speaking because I talked on the microphone, I believe it was at a select board meeting, about cleaning the mold myself and the rugs myself. And I did use an EPA registered, which is what the schools use, correct the green. And I myself um was disciplined for doing it. So, I appreciate all the work you do. That job is not a job that one person or 10 people should do. It you definitely need more hands. But to sit there and say it was unreliable comment really irritated me and I just wanted to um tell you I do have pictures if you want to see it. Okay. Yeah. Absolutely.

Hi guys. Um Andy, I just wanted to stop and say thank you uh for fixing the roof in the timely manner that you did. Um I know it was difficult. I know the timing probably wasn't perfect. Um but I just want to say that there were also leaks in HBB. So, I was curious if our friends over there um are also having their roof looked at. Um I also have pictures from all the water spots. So, I don't know what unreliable sources are. Um we have a lot of ceiling tiles that were

unreliable was about black mold. Mhm. Um I never said black mold. I did say however where there's water there could be mold. So, that's where the concern was. Um I do also want to say I know I understand changing ceiling tiles probably took a lot of work. Um but I didn't know if the ceiling tiles were sprayed with anything that might help prevent mold or if it was just for cosmetic. Um so, I just wanted to bring that up as well. Um we I understand cannot replace a whole roof. I get the money could be wasted. It's almost like putting your money into an old car and it's a money pit. I get it. Um but when you are in a classroom trying to teach students and there's tons of buckets in the way, that's where it's upsetting. And [clears throat] I was not trying to wear raise awareness to upset anybody and make everybody's lives difficult. Uh it was just to make everybody understand that we as a town are not funding our buildings properly. Um however anyone took it, I I can't speak for them. And uh I can't apologize for what I said.

[music]

Um however as a parent, I have a right for my children to go into a school that I want to make sure they are safe. I want to make sure that they're not in a leaky classroom. And to that effect, if we had one classroom that dealt with leaks for two academic school years, it um I didn't want it to be fixed because a lot of us were raising our voices. I was hoping that folks would just take care of it. So, That's what we try and do. I know and I just want to speak from from that angle. So, again, I thank you for your help. I thank the custodians for what they do. I know they can only do what they can with the materials at their disposal. Um and I also want to thank you if you had a hand in closing that gate finally from the first and second grade playground because that was a long time coming. So, I know you guys do what you can do. I get it. Um but that's all. Just wanted to bring that up. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Thank you for all you do and uh hopefully the weather will be a little more cooperative for the

Yeah. Just was a tough winter for sure. get you the rest of the things that you're working on done. Okay. Moving on to the superintendent search update. Um I put a schedule that's proposed timeline on the tables for everyone. I just got this this afternoon, which is why it wasn't in any of the online materials that were made available before the the meeting. Um but this is the proposed timeline that Sean prepared for us. The first item, it's actually a Thursday, April 2nd. Um And so, that's before the elections. So, I'll still be working with him to look through this timeline and to try to set schedules. Um so, it with that being said, I do ask that you all look at this timeline if you have any concerns. It is aggressive, but as you said, we are coming up right against that time crunch. So, we want to make sure that we can get through everything with the the goal of having somebody in place for July 1st. So, um please do look through this timeline. Let me know if you have any concerns so I can make sure I bring that to um Sean when I meet with him. Um and make sure that we can get everything off the ground. But with that being said, it's not finalized, but I did want to read out loud that we are looking at that first full week of April, April 6th through the 10th for uh focus groups and online surveys. And that's the type of thing where we start looking at what does the community want for um a new superintendent. What qualities are important to you? So, be on the lookout for those. Um we'll obviously be advertising it, sending things out on on Parent Square and advertising in the community once everything's finalized so that we can get as much participation as possible for that. And it's, you know, it's

tricky with the the election and the the unknown makeup of the committee itself, but I'm going to do everything I can leading up to election to make sure everything's in place for whatever the next step is. Jess. Yeah. Um first, thank you very much for doing for the work that you're doing to to keep this going given the dynamic with the elections. Uh I personally really appreciate the that because of how important it is that we get moving. So, thank you very much. Uh there is um one item on here that I I do have a concern about. Um and it was a question that came up during Sean's presentation. Uh and I think that um we should have a conversation about that. And that is under April 16th uh where it says designees meet with consultant to and the second bullet is approve qualifications and selection criteria. Um I'm of the opinion and it's why Mhm. I think there should be a discussion that that recommendation should come to the school committee first. Um and that those qualifications be voted on by the school committee. We are the people that are responsible for um for the who the next uh superintendent is. And as such, I believe that we should have the final vote on what we think that the qualifications should be. Okay, I'll bring that to Sean and I will let you know how that process works. Um I and I think maybe back here for a conversation um you know, so in of itself aside from Sean of what the committee committee thinks. So, you would prefer if that happened at the like the first school committee meeting scheduled for I don't know how that

times out. You would prefer if that happened at a full school committee meeting. Yeah, I think the qualifications of superintendent I think is incredibly important and criteria. Um, and I think it is something that we as a group should have a conversation about. So, that may then mean um cuz normally April is a one school committee month meeting month. So, that may mean scheduling a school committee meeting for the 16th in order to have that done. Right. Because the [snorts] Because the next meeting is April the next week is April vacation and we wouldn't want to push it out too far. Yes, Alan.

Um, I I have no qualms about meeting as many times as we need to to get this done. But, I also don't think we should be overruling MASC if they bring us a list of qualifications and criteria. They do this for a living and we've never hired Nobody here has ever hired a superintendent before. I've actually hired a town manager and a police chief and I've gone with the recommendations of the search committees and the the people we used to form those search committees. And that probably would happen I that you'd go along It sounds as though you'll this process down one day. I want this done as soon as possible.

So, I think the I think where the confusion where the complexity is going to come in is that um right now I am the designee um until after the election and then there isn't another meeting until April 9th to appoint whomever is going to be the next um you know, the official school committee representatives to the session and that's the same week that the community forums are happening. So, that meeting um with the designees on April 16th, we don't know who those are going to be right now. Um but, my understanding is it's approving um you know, what is also going to go in the to get the position posted. So, I definitely don't want to slow anything down. I agree with Alan that we we need to make sure everything happens on time. Um so, I think some of it's going to depend on do we determine phrasing that differently, does the school committee on April 9th determine that they want that meeting to be scheduled in a full school committee meeting or do they want it to just be the representatives? And I think, you know, what Sean advised us is that you don't want it to be the full committee, especially once we're a committee of seven, because that can lead to an exceptionally long meeting and that it's better to be a subcommittee. So, the goal would be to have a subcommittee appointed on the 9th that would be available to do that meeting on the 16th. So moved. So, let me just ask you this.

Hold on. We have a motion. Do we have a second? Second. Discussion. Okay, go ahead. So, when we're putting in volunteers, is is the goal to have them all recruited that week or is would there be time spent during the 9th the meeting on the 9th to determine I believe the goal is that the meeting on the 16th is to look at the responses to approve um the qualifications that came forward for posting, but I think that's also when the the full committee is finalized. But, I will double check that that's also cuz I know that we're recruiting, but I don't know when the um determination

When the determination When is the determination of the screening committee? I will ask that question. Also, um there may be a difference between qualifications and selection criteria. Um often selection criteria are something that helps guide where qualifications is what you post. Um and that might break the log jam. Uh so, Okay, add that into the questions. Yep. So, the question first question is when do we actually determinate when do we determine determine, yeah. the makeup of the screening committee and then um the approving the qualifications of those and the selection criteria, is that the entire screening committee or is that simply the school committee designees? Yes, Alan. Um two quick question one question one comment. Um how many people are we going to are we looking for for the uh screening committee? I for some reason I think the number 13. That's what I think, too. I think that's what he said.

what Sean suggested.

Yep. So, two from the school committee and then representation from different groups, parents, teachers, community. Yep. I would suggest that in that we ask the town manager to be on that screening committee. Um I would also suggest to the school committee that we let the screening committee do their job. Let them pick the Let them come up with the finalists. Stay out of it. If we're not on it, stay out of it. Let them do their job and then when they come to a finalist, then the school committee chair can make their decision. But, like I said, in a town manager search and a police chief search we let the people do their jobs. And it worked out pretty damn well. We hired Bob Noons. We hired Joe Parkers. Um but, I've seen other committees that appoint a subcommittee to do something and then don't let them do it and it turns into a mess. So, let's let our screening committee do their job and Okay. come up with the list of finalists. All right. Jess. Yes. Alan, completely agree. I think that they should um The only place where we differ is setting what the um what the qualifications are that that we get to have set we get to approve that. They bring a recommendation to us. That's the only place I just don't want to I I don't want to Don't couldn't couldn't agree couldn't agree more and I too have served on many high-level searches uh and uh so, I understand your comment.

I only got two, not many. Um so, let me bring this back to to Sean and um get his take on everything and see if there's um you know, how do we do this trying to adhere to this accelerated timeline and also making sure that we have awareness of the process as it goes on without awareness without interference, I guess is the the way that I'm thinking of it. So, let me bring back the questions. If you look at the schedule and you have anything else, please do let me know, but I'll reach out to Sean tomorrow and I will send out the answers to the questions and I'll also reach out to Joe um to see if he thinks that he'll have the availability um with this timeline the way it is and if he can't, maybe we reach out to Jim or someone else who's connected to the the town management side. Yeah, or a member of the um select board. So, we can see um where we end up with the with that. I'm just thinking of starting things end end of April. Might time out okay for Joe to be involved at this point, but you know, with the the town meeting date not set yet, we want to make sure that he can focus on what he needs to focus on, too. But, an invitation is important. Yeah, I'm actually with again agreeing I think cuz we've talked about this previously that having in what we've talked about of really wanting to be sure that the municipal side and the district side is working together that if it's not Joe, then we should think about um someone else not just to be polite to ask, but I think that it is um essential uh to begin this season of the

two sides of the house working together. Just the sync symbiotic synchronous I remember the word synergy the synergy the word you used last night, Alan. All right. So, again, as you look through this, I'll send you out the digital copy so that you have it.

a second. Oh, we have a motion and a second. And the motion and the second was um to make sure that on April 9th we form a subcommittee for the superintendent search and that they have a meeting scheduled for the 16th in order to meet with the the rep the MASC rep. Yes? Did I remember that correctly? Yeah, you said it. I All I said was so moved. [laughter]

Um all those in favor of making sure that goes on the schedule and so, whoever is here can enforce it. I. I. I. I. All right. So, I will make sure that is on the agenda for April 9th so that the first meeting is set. I do want to note, Jess, and say thank you to you for doing this in addition to being the chair of the sub of the school committee without a superintendent after the other chair left during a financial crisis. I think you have a couple things on your plate and we greatly Oh, and you're also doing negotiations. So, the idea of uh that you're taking more on is ludicrous to me. but I if you want to do it, you go right ahead.

[laughter] But I I can't thank you enough for the amount of time and effort you're putting into these things. It's above and beyond and it needs to be noted. Thank you, Alan. Thank you. Second that. Thank you. [applause]

All right. With that being said, we will move on to the consent agenda and I'd like to ask uh John, if you're still here, I'd like to ask you to potentially uh join us at the microphone or feel free to come up here if you'd like. Um we have a donation to the Middleboro High School Performing Arts program and this was uh $2,100 from the Oak Point Homeowner Scholarship Fund and $500 from the Oak Point Veterans Association operating account. I had the pleasure of being at the performance of the MHS Pops Concert that happened at Oak Point. Goodness, was it only two weekends ago? Two Sundays ago, March

ago. Um and uh John was so gracious to make such a a wonderful donation to the program. So, uh John, if you just want to say a few words, we'd greatly appreciate it. Uh first of all, thank you very much for having me. Um again, I'm John Burbidge. I'm the president of the Oak Point Homeowner Scholarship Fund. Uh because we have no dues uh to belong to that, everybody that lives at Oak Point is a member, so I can feel comfortable in saying that I speak for everyone at Oak Point um in saying how delighted we were to have the MHS Band Concert and Chorus uh come out, the Sachem Singers, I believe, too, uh to perform for us in America 250 show. Uh this um this is my fourth year as the president of the scholarship fund. Um I think that you all know uh from our work at Oak Point uh how we feel about your our kids here in Middleboro. Um I can say that having the MHS kids come out and perform for us uh as you said earlier, this synergy that we have between our community of fundraisers and the beneficiary schools of Middleboro, of Taunton where Middleboro kids go to the vocational school, in Dighton where Middleboro kids go to Bristol Aggie. Um it's been a white whale quest of mine to have these kids come perform for us and as you all know, uh COVID kind of gave us quite a stiff arm in the face uh preventing that from happening for many years. So, I was delighted when Justin told me at the end of the last school year that he thought we might be able to

get this on the calendar for 25-26. So, um I am still it's a dream that it happened. I'm so thrilled that that we did it. It was great and we had resolved because we knew that your kids were going to Washington uh we had resolved to give the door receipts to you uh from the performance. So, that's where the $2,100 came from. And I strategically placed our Oak Point Veterans right next to the podium where Justin conducted the show from. Uh they were blown away and afterwards came up to us and said that they were going to vote the following evening to give another $500 uh to MHS Arts program in gratitude for the performance. So, uh I want to thank you all again. We uh I'll just one more note. I mentioned earlier about the thing at Brax on April 22nd. We will have opportunities for MHS kids to do service hours at a car wash before the end of this school year and the uh rumblings uh we're coming out of hibernation at Oak Point. Uh we're starting to collect furniture, tools, and electronics. Yes, for the yard sale that's coming up this October. Uh thanks to all of you in Middleboro that support that. We made $46,000 last year. Uh we're actually going to be taking electronic payments this year for the first time, so uh come on down. We're expecting to do even better uh for you for you and our graduating students. Thank you. Thank you, Justin.

[applause] Good evening, Justin Pitsley, Middleboro High School uh teacher. We just wanted to publicly thank John and Oak Point for uh sponsoring this event for us. Um it's something we've talked about for a long time. It was a great opportunity to connect our students. I particularly appreciated it cuz of the only audience that's laughed at any of my jokes ever. [laughter]

So, I really appreciated that. But uh we put that money to good use uh for the the many activities in the arts uh at Middleboro High School. And as you know, we traveled to Washington, D.C. this past weekend and it was a perfect kind of going away concert a little bit for us um to get ready for that and uh to see our students perform at Jefferson Memorial in front of, you know, the White House and the Lincoln all of the different monuments in the background. Uh it was just such a a special moment for our students and Oak Point was really helpful uh in getting us there. So, we really appreciate that and look forward to future events. Thank you very much. Thank you, John. We always appreciate everything you do for the students of Middleboro and I hear at MHS. We'll keep it up. The other item on the consent agenda is the meeting minutes for January 22nd. So, I will entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda. So moved. Second. Motion and a second. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. All right. The next item is a grant information. So, um Mike, if you can go over the two grants that we've received. Yes, the first one is the Comprehensive School Health Services Grant for 33,500. That uh pays for the salary of our floating nurse who fills in uh at each school when uh one of the nurses calls out or uh is not in, so we have um coverage cuz we have to have a nurse uh at every school. The second is Project Lead the Way for $10,000. Um this is to pay for teacher training for two new Project Lead the Way courses at the high school. One is the computer science pathway and the other uh course is a capstone course for all uh 12th grade students that are in uh the Project Lead the Way.

Uh the teachers are already identified and signed up for the training. Okay. All right. So, the chair will entertain a motion to accept the these grants for as allocated. So moved. Second. All those in favor? Aye. Great. And thank you to uh those folks who applied for these grants so that we have one less thing we have to find money to pay for. Um All right. Informational items. Uh the Middleboro High School Class of 2029 is having a fundraiser, spring kit sales and those will be in April. The Mac PTA are having some fund raising activities. They're doing spring boo grams. Uh there's going to be on April 12th uh Papa Gino's evening, 20% sales donations. So, be on the lookout for a flyer or whatever you have to bring to um have your pizza and make a donation at the same time on April 12th. And then the Baystate Textile bin uh drive on May 2nd will be coming up as well. So, those are some things to look forward to. Um before I make a mo- or ask for a motion to adjourn, just because it's the last meeting before an election, I do just want to take a moment and thank my fellow school committee members. It has been an honor to serve with you and I appreciate all of the support and collaboration that we have had over this past year. So, thank you. Thank you again. Uh I really have appreciated your collaboration on on this board as the chair. So, I want to reinforce that one more time. And Alan, I don't know if you want to say anything, but thank you for 3 years of doing this together.

it's been uh I it's been a lot of learning, to be honest with you. Um I thought I knew what I was getting into. [laughter]

But I appreciate everybody I've served with. I appreciate the the community, um the opportunities I've had to spend time with the students. It's probably the best thing about being on the school committee. Um and just seeing how much everybody I I mean, you look at Paul and he's the epitome of what makes the Middleboro School District great and getting an inside look at that is uh is awesome. So, thank you very much for that opportunity and hopefully, Middleboro will see fit to uh elect me 3 more years. And thank you, Alan. Either way, thank you also. All right. And I'm just going to end by um echoing John's words and encouraging everybody to get out and vote on Saturday, April 4th. Let's have a greater than 4% turnout this time. It would be great. Yeah.

[laughter] All right. Um, so with that, I will entertain a motion to adjourn. So moved. Second. I have a motion and second. All those in favor? Aye. All right. [laughter] We are adjourned. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.