2026-10-14 - School Committee

00:05like to call this meeting to order. This

00:07meeting of the Town of Auburn School

00:08Committee is being conducted in person

00:10and is being recorded by the Auburn

00:12Cable Television. All are welcome to

00:14join us in person here at 5 West Street.

00:17All supporting materials that have been

00:18provided to the members of this body are

00:20available online um on the town's

00:22website. The public is encouraged to

00:24follow along using the posted agenda.

00:26Thank you. We please stand for the

00:28pledge.

00:31I allegiance to the flag of the United

00:34States of America and to the republic

00:37for which it stands. One nation under

00:40God, indivisible, with liberty and

00:43justice for all.

00:48>> Our vision, the vision of the Auburn

00:50public schools is to educate and prepare

00:52students for the opportunities and

00:54challenges of a changing world. Our

00:57commitment. We will create, maintain,

01:00and support an environment that fosters

01:02a sense of belonging for all students in

01:04our schools, respecting race, color,

01:07sex, religion, national origin, sexual

01:10orientation, gender identity,

01:12homelessness, poverty, spoken language,

01:15and ability.

01:16>> Thank you. Any special recognitions

01:19tonight?

01:20All right. Student representatives

01:22report.

01:24Hi. So, um, we have the homecoming next

01:28Saturday.

01:29>> Um, our theme of our homecoming is going

01:31to be night at the Oscars.

01:33>> And the Friday before homecoming, we are

01:35going to have a football game versus

01:36Tantasa. Everyone be there.

01:39>> Um, we will also have some other

01:40homecoming games. Field hockey is

01:42playing Friday night versus Al Gangquin.

01:44Um, on Saturday we have girls varsity

01:46soccer vers Douglas, boys varsity soccer

01:49against Whitensville Christian, and then

01:50both of our JB soccer teams are playing

01:52Bay Path. The spirit week for homecoming

01:55themes are in order of day are going to

01:57be fall cozy, Hawaiian, pink out, Adam

02:00Sandler day, Auburn pride day, wear your

02:03blue. Um, we had our senior field trip

02:05today. They went to Boundless

02:07Adventures.

02:08>> Many seniors are getting ready for their

02:10early action and early decision

02:11applications for college with many

02:13senior seminars and um, senior

02:16appointments. Our marching band has a

02:18big competition coming up this weekend

02:21>> and the student council conference is

02:23October 21st

02:24>> and AHS will host its curriculum night

02:26also on October 21st.

02:29>> Great. What's up? Can you What's Adam

02:32Sandler day?

02:34>> We might want to dress up.

02:35>> So, you know how Adam Sandler tends to

02:37wear like lazy funny outfits like baggy

02:39shirts like baggy sweatpants? Like

02:41that's like what it is. Like you you

02:43wear like a Bruins jersey for Happy

02:45Gilmore, stuff like that. That's so

02:46cool. I love that process.

02:49>> Thank you so much. You guys are more

02:51than welcome to stay, but if you want to

02:52head out, you can do that, too.

02:54>> All right, student spotlight.

02:57>> Um, Madame Chair, I believe we're going

02:59to start with Swanson um Road.

03:04They're going to be presenting a

03:07piece on inspirational authors. It's my

03:09understand Dr. Lopez.

03:11>> Yes, that is. Good evening everyone.

03:13Great to be here. I have a dynamic group

03:16of students here that I had a lot of fun

03:18um reviewing all the activities of DOT

03:21day and under the direction of Mrs.

03:23Davis. So, I'm going to ask Mrs. Davis

03:24and and the girls to come on up and

03:27share what they learned about Dot Day

03:30and our visit with Mr. Reynolds.

03:35>> Wonderful.

03:39>> Right.

03:44Okay. Hello everybody. Um my name is

03:47Natalie Davis and I am the art teacher

03:49at Swiss. Um I'm here to share all the

03:53amazing uh the assembly with dot day

03:56that we recently had with a very special

03:59guest. Um so imagine the entire school

04:02coming together to collaborate and

04:05celebrate all that creativity inspires.

04:08Actually, this should be playing

04:12on autoplay.

04:14There we go. Okay.

04:17This past September, Peter H. Reynolds

04:19visited our school virtually to

04:21celebrate International Dot Day with us.

04:24The book, The Dots, which I have right

04:27here, okay, um is a worldwide known and

04:32celebrated for its message on creating

04:35bravely. The dot highlights creativity

04:38and art. When a little girl, Vashi,

04:41struggles to make art in struggles to

04:44make something in art class until her

04:46teacher famously says, "Make a mark and

04:49see where it takes you." This message

04:51has inspired a world of humans to

04:54discover self-expression and

04:56self-confidence. Peter H. Reynolds is a

04:58New York best times best-selling author

05:01and illustrator of many children's

05:04books. His collection of acclaimed books

05:06includes the word collector be you the

05:10water princess and of course the dot. He

05:13has also illustrated the popular Judy

05:15Moody and stink series by Megan

05:18McDonald. He has co-founded Fable Vision

05:21Studios and is a co-owner of the

05:23independent bookstore the Blue Bunny

05:25Books and here in Denim, Massachusetts.

05:29With all of Peter's accomplishments, his

05:32goal in life is to inspire others to

05:34make their mark. International dot day

05:37is celebrated every September 15ish. And

05:40here at Swiss, it was a week-long

05:43holiday. As the art teacher who sees all

05:46her classes every 6 days, I was

05:49celebrating DOT day from September 14th

05:51to the 21st with a yearly project

05:54following Peter's goal. This year we

05:57celebrated by having a Swiss spirit day,

06:00having Peter H. Reynolds visit

06:02virtually, and was able to spotlight six

06:05lucky students uh to ask questions.

06:09Every classroom at Swiss broadcasted

06:11Peter's face and listened to him speak,

06:14be inspired, draw along with him, and

06:16listen to him read and share his

06:18thoughts about the book. Having a famous

06:21author and illustrator visit and even

06:24shout out our school was a huge deal. So

06:27I wanted to make it special and ask our

06:29amazing students for their questions.

06:32Out of hundreds of submissions, I

06:34narrowed it down to only six students.

06:37And we have brought three wonderful

06:40students to share their experience

06:42tonight. But before they do, I want to

06:44end this with by saying out of this

06:47amazing experience, I hope that

06:49everybody, including adults, can leave

06:51with the message to make their mark in

06:53the world.

06:55Go ahead.

07:07>> They wanted to make it professional, so

07:08they made their own folders.

07:12Hello, my name is Irene Der Prey and I'm

07:14in third grade at Swanson Road

07:15Intermediate School. International Dot

07:17Day is all about having the courage to

07:19try even when you think you aren't good

07:21at something. It comes from the book The

07:23Dot by Peter Reynolds when a girl named

07:25Fostry learns that a tiny mark is just

07:27the third of something big. In art

07:29class, we all wrote questions for Mr.

07:30Reynolds, and I couldn't believe it when

07:32mine was picked. I went up to the live

07:34camera. I was so nervous, but when I saw

07:36a smiling face on the screen, I felt

07:38brave. I asked him, "Did you consider

07:40other shapes?" He said, "No." He also

07:43told us that there are no mistakes in

07:44art, just new ideas waiting to happen.

07:47Now, whenever I draw or write, I'm not

07:49afraid to make my mark. I like the video

07:51assembly. It was fun and interactive.

07:53Thank you for listening.

08:00Hello everyone. My name is Mia Abar and

08:03I am in fourth grade at Swift. Dot Day

08:06isn't about drawing circles. It's about

08:08discovering what makes each of us

08:10special and sharing it with the world. I

08:13want to share with you a little bit

08:15about our video schoolwide assembly. It

08:18was exciting and nerve-wracking. The

08:21most exciting part was our live video

08:24call with Peter H. Reynolds. Getting

08:26chosen to ask my question was awesome. I

08:28stood right in front of the screen and

08:30asked, "Why is the dot important?" I

08:33don't remember what he ex said exactly,

08:35but I do know he told us that ideas are

08:39everywhere. We just have to pay close

08:42attention to the world around us and

08:45listen with our hearts. Seeing a famous

08:47author listen to me and answer my

08:49question made me feel like my own ideas

08:52really matter. Thank you for supporting

08:54these cool experiences for our school.

08:56Thank you for letting me be here tonight

08:58and have a good rest of your night.

09:07Hello, my name is Elizabeth Moyer from

09:09Swanson Road. As a fifth grader

09:11preparing Whoa. As a fifth grader

09:13beginning to prepare for middle school,

09:15dot day turned out to mean taking

09:17ownership of how we affect the people

09:19around us. Mr. Reynolds taught us about

09:22growth mindset and leaving a positive

09:24impact on our school and community. Um,

09:27talking live with Peter H. Reynolds was

09:29a great highlight of fifth grade. When

09:31it was my turn to when when it was my

09:33turn at the microphone, I asked him,

09:35"Who's your favorite author besides

09:36yourself?" He paused to think and

09:39honestly, I forget literally everything

09:41he said. I I do remember something about

09:44Charlie Brown, though. Uh, my thoughts

09:47were just way too loud and I just didn't

09:49know where to look. Speaking directly to

09:51an author and someone so famous felt

09:53unreal yet 100% real at the same time.

09:56He made me realize that being a leader

09:58isn't about being perfect. It's about

10:01trying your best to make a difference.

10:04He also said he liked my style, which

10:06was one of the best parts.

10:08Thank you so much for supporting

10:10opportunities like this and allowing us

10:12to connect with such inspiring people

10:14and how to make our own mark.

10:23have any questions for our awesome

10:25readers or Mrs. Davis? And thank you all

10:27for having us this evening.

10:29>> Any questions?

10:31>> I just think it's great that you guys

10:33got that opportunity

10:34>> to do that. I bet you'll never forget

10:36it. Was it was that great

10:39>> chair? I think I was subconsciously

10:41thinking about you all when I picked out

10:43my time.

10:45>> Planned it any better.

10:47>> And I have to thank Mrs. Davis who

10:49brought um Mr. Reynolds to Swanson Road

10:52and uh gave the inspiration to really

10:54make this a schoolwide assembly and um

10:57promote art, reading and crosscurricular

11:00activities. It was really a fun day. So

11:02big thank you

11:03>> through the chair. Were you the only

11:04ones on with um with the author or were

11:07there other school groups or other

11:08people visiting with him at that time?

11:11>> At that time no it was only Swiss and

11:14every single classroom. Um so that was

11:16pretty awesome.

11:17>> That's great. That's great.

11:19>> Yeah,

11:19>> that's awesome.

11:21>> Do any of you want to become authors now

11:23someday?

11:28>> I told you they were a lively.

11:31>> I like it.

11:33>> Good job, guys.

11:34>> Thank you so much for having Thank you

11:36for coming.

11:39>> All right.

11:41>> Auburn High School.

11:50Swanson Road. If you guys want to leave,

11:51you absolutely can. Or you can stick

11:53around. Or can actually you guys come up

11:56so we can just shake your hands.

11:58>> Yeah.

12:09>> You did fantastic.

12:10>> Good job. I love your style as well.

12:12>> Great job. Great job.

12:15So awesome.

12:17>> Well done. Thank you so much.

12:19>> Last year,

12:21you did fantastic. That was great.

12:25>> Awesome.

12:26>> Well, have a good night.

12:29>> Mrs. Frizzle.

12:30>> Thank you.

12:31>> Thank you.

12:33>> New York City's wife.

12:34>> We don't fit very well, do we?

12:36>> It'll be easier when I move.

12:38>> No, I don't. I've never

12:40>> Good evening and thank you for having us

12:42tonight. high school.

12:45>> Miss Parker.

12:45>> Just kidding.

12:48>> Okay, so I am um I you know I want to

12:50pick up where they left off. Um I have

12:54six is it six?

12:56>> I have six um incredible students um at

12:59Auburn High School who truly do care

13:01about making a difference. And without

13:03going into great detail because they're

13:06going to share um our that's what our

13:08group is all about in the high school.

13:10It's given student voice. Um this is

13:12something that we began um last year um

13:16somewhere in the fall. Um we met as a

13:18group um because there was just an

13:22overarching need to be able to not only

13:25hear our kids but to give them a voice

13:26in the building. So with that being said

13:29um I'm going to do some introductions

13:31real quick. So we have um our group is

13:33made up of members of all four classes.

13:36So it's roughly like 30ish which is a

13:38pretty large group. Um, but frankly I

13:41would even take more if there was

13:42interest. Uh, we have um, freshman

13:44Isabelli Dusa. Who's Isabelli?

13:47>> We have sophomore Leighton Romano.

13:50We have junior Hunter Osborne and senior

13:53Aman Nagami. And I'm going to say that

13:56all four were elected by their peers to

13:59be um, the leader of each of their

14:01classes. We also have Piper who's a

14:04member of our group. Okay. And we have

14:06this fine young lady right over here who

14:10Amalaya who is not afraid to lend her

14:12voice. And um and I think that's what

14:14it's all about being brave enough to

14:16share what's going on and what we can do

14:18better. So with that being said, I'm

14:20going to step aside.

14:23>> Hello. I see student advisory more as a

14:26vehicle to voice the opinions of all of

14:28our students at Auburn High School.

14:29Auburn High School is 700 students and

14:32it's kind of hard to get everyone into

14:34one place and ask them what they think

14:36Auburn High School needs or needs to be

14:37fixed. And so gathering 30 student

14:40leaders not only connects us, it makes

14:42uh connects us and makes our community

14:44stronger, but makes us a more

14:45transparent place so we can understand

14:47everything that's going on, everything

14:49that we want to happen and that we can

14:51grow as a school.

14:54Our

14:58main goal of this club is to create a

14:59space where students are heard,

15:01supported, and get their ideas across.

15:03Um, our goal of this whole club is to

15:06make Auburn High School a place where

15:08students can get through it um with ease

15:11and they're not struggling dayto-day

15:12because they don't know what to do or

15:14where to go. Um, we want to provide us

15:16ways to fix our problems that we have in

15:19our school and fix areas that we're

15:21like, "Hey, maybe we need to do

15:23something more." Um, and so everyone at

15:25can graduate Auburn High School and look

15:27back and be like, "Yes, this was the

15:28best time. We had everything we needed

15:30and we truly succeeded."

15:36>> At our last meeting at Student Student

15:38Advisory, which was about two weeks ago,

15:41M. Dr. Scoza, he introduced himself to

15:44us, which I think was super important as

15:46he is the new superintendent of our

15:48district. He told us his goals of what

15:50he wants to change for our district and

15:52how he wants students to be a part of

15:54the voice, which I think all of us can

15:56agree on is super important and that

15:58we're all really excited to do. We all

16:01separated into groups of each of our

16:03grades and we elected our leaders, which

16:05is the four of us that are talking and

16:08we talked about our three major topics

16:11that we think needs immediate attention

16:13for our school, not only our school, but

16:15our district that Leon will talk about.

16:19Um our first one is communications and

16:22transitions. Um one of the biggest uh

16:25transitions between students is between

16:27middle school and high school. Um we've

16:29seen that between every single freshman

16:31that's come into our school stating that

16:33it's a pretty difficult switch and

16:35helping ease new students from different

16:37districts andor new incoming freshman's

16:41helping them ease into whether it's our

16:43bell schedule to knowing where each of

16:45their classes are is a very important

16:46thing for us. and is a direction that we

16:48will touch upon and help throughout this

16:50year. Um, we'll also be touching upon

16:53mental health. Mental health, I mean,

16:55across the world and specifically in the

16:57US is a very big issue, specifically

17:00within the high school years between

17:02grades 9 and 12. Um, that's something

17:04that I find value in and we all find

17:06value in. Um, helping and focusing a lot

17:09of attention on and that is another way

17:11that we will be headed into. Um and it's

17:14always a topic that we are discussing

17:16when we are in our large groups. Um and

17:20finally we are going to do and look upon

17:23academics and career readiness. Um spec

17:26specifically for our juniors and seniors

17:28who um want to know what they want to do

17:31outside of college or outside of high

17:33school and whether they want to go into

17:35college or go straight into the

17:36workforce. and knowing what they want to

17:38do, whether that's learning through um

17:41internships, job shadowing, we want to

17:43offer those opportunities for them.

17:47>> I want to add a few key points too with

17:49all of these three areas. Um the list

17:52was probably when I when I had asked the

17:53students what direction they wanted to

17:55go on or go in, they might have given us

17:5812 or 15 ideas and we tried to condense

18:00those 12 or 15 ideas and and try to come

18:03up with three general areas because it's

18:05just too hard to go tackle all of that.

18:07Um but what I what I thought was

18:09fantastic was just how thoughtful they

18:11each were. Um there were students in the

18:13room that said um and spoke to the

18:16importance of working with Mr. Carlson

18:18in the middle school when it came to

18:19transitions. Um when it came to mental

18:21health, it was students talking about

18:23how we can work along with our

18:25counseling team to improve um and pro

18:28provide strategies for students um or

18:30even make students aware of all the

18:32layers of supports that we have in the

18:33building. And then when it came down to

18:35academics and career readiness, um I

18:37think there were questions that um both

18:40uh myself and Mr. Berg could answer even

18:42in regards to um providing things like

18:45job shadowing, our internship program

18:47that we're going to be getting and then

18:48looking at things like our responsible

18:50citizenship class and how we can kind of

18:52um you know I won't say make tweaks but

18:55how can we always make these things

18:57better for us. Um and my excitement in

18:59talking about all the kids I forget to

19:02talk about the adult. Um so I have a um

19:06I always get great support from our

19:07staff. Um but when I brought this up to

19:10uh Mr. Berg, who's right behind me, um

19:12he was more than willing to help and um

19:15I'm going to let him speak to what his

19:16role in the team has been because I

19:18think it plays a vital part when you're

19:20taking 14-year-olds and blending them in

19:22with 18-year-olds. So, Mr. Burke.

19:24>> All right. Um so my job was uh 30

19:28students with um all leaders and with

19:34varying styles of leadership and various

19:38uh ways in which they are comfortable

19:41expressing themselves. How can we all

19:44talk as a group? And so um one of the

19:47things I do in my classes and in the

19:49school is some uh restorative practices

19:52specifically restorative circles. And so

19:55that's what I brought to this group. So,

19:57it was a way to allow for 30 voices um

20:03anywhere from 14 to 18 years old to be

20:06comfortable in a space and uh develop a

20:09way to speak with each other and and

20:11share ideas where uh maybe a freshman

20:14who might be reluctant to speak uh

20:17wasn't drowned out by a junior or a

20:21senior who was really eager to share

20:23what they had to say. Um and so really

20:26that's just my role there is uh

20:28providing them with um a little bit of

20:32training in the context of like how does

20:34a restorative circle work and then uh

20:37allowing them all to have their voice

20:40and to uh you know meet each other and

20:43build that community and that and now

20:46they've broken off and you know they're

20:48they're in their subgroups now. Awesome.

20:55>> Piper Deia, would you like to add

20:57anything or would you like to just

20:58answer some questions?

21:00>> Answer some questions. Okay. Would you

21:02do you guys have any questions for us?

21:03>> I'll open it up to the committee. Any

21:05questions?

21:06>> Um through the chat, I have one question

21:07just out of curiosity. Is it a closed

21:10group of 30 or is this open and like

21:13through the year if anyone wants to join

21:15they could join or is that

21:17>> No.

21:19>> So, absolutely. So that's something that

21:20we talked about um we're probably upper

21:22classman heavy. So um some of the

21:25homework that I gave um underassman was

21:28to um potentially give me some names of

21:31students that I might not know yet who

21:32might have impact in their classes who

21:34have influence um and they've already

21:36done that. So we our next meeting will

21:39be um I think there's three more names

21:41that will be added to our groups and

21:43then one more upper classman who wants

21:44to join.

21:48You guys are all wonderful speakers.

21:49>> Yes. Very good.

21:50>> Very, very good.

21:52>> Uh through the chair, we've got some

21:53great yearbook photos for you guys. So,

21:57>> uh it's good eye contact.

21:59Um which is key when you're talking,

22:02especially in a group of 30, right? So,

22:06>> you're the chair. Are um how many of you

22:08are involved in other uh student groups

22:11on campus as well? like in addition to

22:13and do you feel like you bring you know

22:15do you bring those experiences to this

22:17group and vice versa

22:20>> feel free

22:24>> um so I'm also the class treasurer of

22:27the uh class of 27 so definitely I try

22:32to bring like that into it it's much

22:36easier because now it's just 30 people

22:38instead of 180 and trying to get all

22:40their attention and trying to get all

22:42them to listen. But um yeah, I

22:45definitely like to bring in like my

22:48knowledge of that into the group. And it

22:52is like um originally like the group

22:55like he Mr. Donald Trump put all the

22:57officers. So like Isabella is an officer

22:59too. Leon was an officer. Like many

23:01people are were officers. So we get to

23:03all like connect that way. Like we all

23:05work the same. And then there's many

23:07other people who join in and they start

23:09to understand like how like everyone

23:11goes like with the officers

23:14>> like I'm not an officer but like in the

23:16same way I' I've joined so many

23:18different clubs and different

23:19organizations like I do track I do model

23:21UN and I feel like like when it comes to

23:24people when it like in this club it's

23:26not just people who are like the most

23:27vocal in their groups but people who've

23:29experienced the most and that can give

23:31their raw input that will benefit the

23:33entirety of the school because student

23:35advisory is not working for like the

23:37like the ideas of one group but

23:39everybody. How can we benefit Auburn

23:41High School as a whole?

23:43>> Amazing. Thank you. Oh, sorry.

23:45>> Sorry. Go ahead. Sorry.

23:47>> Um I have to say I'm not really part of

23:50any clubs that have specific positions.

23:53I am the Launchpad newspaper and I'm

23:55currently writing an article about Dr.

23:57Squaza. So keep your eyes.

23:59>> Part of our club, Piper. Part of our

24:01club.

24:03>> You're part of this club.

24:04>> I am part of this club. Um, but I think

24:06one of the biggest roles I play in the

24:08Auburn High School, um, it definitely

24:11has to do with fine arts and music

24:13because personally I'm a very musical

24:16person. I write my own songs. I play

24:18guitar and I do performances whenever I

24:21can. Um, and recently Mrs. Berg at the

24:26high school has been incorporating me in

24:31helping organize open mics

24:34and

24:36um I think I'm kind of like her go-to

24:38person for that. I have a ton of

24:40experience cuz I've participated in a

24:42ton um whether at the upper man in

24:46Worester or at the school itself. Um, so

24:50I kind of know like the ins and outs and

24:52I think she appreciates that she has a

24:55student who can help her. Um, but I

24:58definitely think that's one way that I

24:59contribute most to Auburn. It may not be

25:02through like running clubs with actual

25:05positions, but it's more like an outside

25:08fine art that anyone can join

25:12through the chair. If I can just say I

25:14would love to see where this goes

25:16throughout the year. So, if we can

25:18organize a couple times that you guys

25:20come in, I would love to hear updates on

25:21how this all goes.

25:22>> Yeah, I agree. Yeah,

25:24>> that'd be great. We'd be happy to do

25:25>> Yeah. through the chair. I'd love to see

25:26where these like three major initiatives

25:30go. You know, where how do we fix the

25:34communication transitions between AMS

25:36and AHS? How do we handle the mental

25:38health crisis that's not only going on

25:40in our schools but also going on in the

25:41country? and then you know academics and

25:44career readiness like how what are the

25:46initiatives we're doing for that. So I

25:48think it's I think it's a great the

25:50three great ones that you have.

25:53>> So we we plan on meeting again the

25:55beginning of November and then um right

25:58now because some of the problem we have

26:00is and I don't get this very often from

26:02students but Mr. Danch I don't want to

26:04miss a class.

26:05>> Yeah.

26:05>> So that's

26:06>> we got good ones.

26:07>> It's tough to navigate that and find

26:09like ample time. So, we're working

26:11through some some ways to get all of

26:14them together and be fair at the same

26:16time. So, but we'll be happy to report

26:17back.

26:19>> Excellent.

26:19>> Great job, guys.

26:20>> Thank you,

26:21>> Shar. I just wanted to say I was so

26:23energized from that experience. I felt

26:25like I could run through a brick wall. I

26:27was initially intimidated because

26:29there's it's a large group of students.

26:31>> Um, but they put me at ease quickly. We

26:34had a really nice conversation. I have

26:37to tell you, there's a level of

26:38accountability there, too. like I want

26:40to make sure that I'm doing my job to a

26:42certain standard. We're all doing our

26:44jobs to a certain standard to make sure

26:46that we can report back to this group to

26:48let them know that we are moving all of

26:50this work forward uh in doing so in a

26:53collective effort. Um, one thing that

26:55they did not mention was the uh

26:58traditions that they value. We spent a

27:00lot of time talking about the traditions

27:02of Auburn High School and I learned a

27:03ton about these traditions and I'm

27:06looking forward to a lot of these events

27:08um that we have coming on the horizon.

27:10So, it's very exciting to just learn

27:13about the school culture, how much they

27:16value the school culture and the

27:17traditions and how um in tune they are

27:19with what needs to happen in order to

27:21move um that student body and that

27:24school forward. So, kudos. It was great.

27:26I I really appreciated the time. Didn't

27:29Dr. Scaza mention that he was doing

27:30something with the lipsync in the school

27:32committee?

27:34>> Yeah,

27:36>> something about n 90s 90s boy bands or

27:39something. So,

27:40>> Mr. Keller, too.

27:42>> Good to know.

27:45>> You guys wouldn't mind. You can stay all

27:47night if you want. Or if you want to

27:48just shake our hands on your way out,

27:50that would be great. Thank you so much

27:52for coming.

27:53>> Thank you.

27:54>> Piper has to go sit it back down.

27:59back to business.

28:02>> Sorry.

28:04>> Great job.

28:05>> Great job. Great job.

28:09>> Now you get to go.

28:11>> Great job. Great job. Great job.

28:16Until next time. All right.

28:18>> Yeah. I saw your brother the other day

28:20and I was like, "Are you Hunter?" And

28:22he's like, "No, that's my brother." And

28:23I was like, "I'm sorry. I'm weird." Um,

28:25>> thank you.

28:27>> Have a great night.

28:28>> Yeah, he was wear he was riding his

28:29bike. Well, nice to meet you, neighbor.

28:32Hi, Mr. B.

28:34>> Good. Nice to see you.

28:38>> Thank you.

28:39>> I just passed.

28:39>> Oh, okay.

28:40>> Sorry.

28:41>> She's citizens comments.

28:44>> Ladies, citizens comments. No. Oh, okay.

28:48Make an approval. Uh, I'll seek an

28:50approval for the minutes on 9:30 26.

28:52I'll make a motion to approve the

28:54meeting minutes from 9:30 2026.

28:56>> I'll second.

28:58>> All those in favor?

29:00>> I

29:04superintendent report.

29:06>> Thank you, Madame Chair. Uh in your

29:09packet tonight, you have a copy of my

29:10goals for the 2627

29:13school year.

29:16These goals are reflective of my efforts

29:19to systematically gather information for

29:21strategic planning for the future while

29:23at the same time mo uh maintaining the

29:26momentum of the district by holding

29:27myself and others accountable um to high

29:30levels of accountability.

29:32I would also like to express

29:35gratitude to our school committee for

29:38supporting my involvement with the new

29:39superintendent's induction program. So,

29:41you heard from uh my coach and mentor

29:44Marco Rodriguez, Dr. Marco Rodriguez at

29:46our last meeting around what that

29:48program entails. It's been very

29:49beneficial um to me thus far. Uh the

29:52cohort of this cohort of new

29:54superintendents has proven to be a

29:55valuable network um as I progress

29:58through my first year in the Auburn

29:59public schools. So, we meet routinely.

30:02um they help guide uh me through some of

30:05the stages of a first year of

30:06superintendency and I I'm really

30:08appreciative of the school committee for

30:11um um providing me with that

30:13opportunity. Uh before I thank all of

30:17our staff and students, I didn't know if

30:19there were any questions about the three

30:20goals that I have in the packet um

30:22tonight.

30:24>> No.

30:25>> Um

30:27great. Then I would just like to

30:29conclude by thanking our staff and

30:31students for their hard work thus far

30:32this school year. I've had an

30:34opportunity to get into buildings

30:37frequently uh into classrooms relatively

30:40frequently to start and I am very

30:42impressed by a number of things but

30:46first and foremost I'm impressed by um

30:49the healthy school environments,

30:52classroom environments, the uh smiles on

30:55the faces of kids, the engagement of

30:57children in classrooms and the

30:59conviction and dedication of the

31:01educators. So, I I'm blessed and

31:04fortunate to be part of this school

31:06system. Um, and I simply just want to

31:09say keep up the good work, everyone.

31:11Continue to work hard, dedicate yourself

31:14to the children in the profession, and

31:15we're going to have a very successful

31:17school year.

31:19With that being said, we have our two

31:22nurse leads with us tonight, um, Carrie

31:25and Kate, who are going to walk us

31:28through, uh, a first read of the APS

31:31nurse handbook. This is a very valuable

31:34resource for our um, uh, school nurse

31:37department. So, they have all their

31:39information and a one-stop shop and a

31:41lot of resources that are linked in this

31:43document. Um, all nice and concise. So,

31:46if you were to be either a current nurse

31:48or new to the department, you would have

31:51clear direction on what your

31:53responsibilities are and what they

31:55entail. So, thank you very much for

31:56putting this together. They've

31:57graciously uh agreed to join us tonight

31:59to ask answer any questions that the

32:01committee might have about this uh APS

32:03nursing appointment.

32:07>> The chair, do you want to say something

32:09or because I read this

32:10>> Dr. Scaza pretty much for us. It's kind

32:12of a long time coming. Something you

32:14probably should have had in place. um

32:16years ago, but we just thought it should

32:17be happy when you don't want to stop

32:20shopping.

32:21>> So, um so through the chair, this is

32:23fabulous. I I read through the I am part

32:26of the policy and procedure here and I

32:28literally was like, well, what about

32:29this? Oh, it's right there. What about

32:32this? Oh, it's right there. Like that's

32:34it. Which was fabulous. There was only

32:36one teensy little teensy. We have a

32:40policy about field trips and nurses that

32:43need to go and I feel like we could

32:47button it up if we just make reference

32:49to that cuz you kind of highlighted like

32:51a little blurb and the field trip policy

32:54is like

32:55>> I will email you.

32:57>> It's like it's like eight pages. I think

32:59if you just put a reference to that

33:01policy that you're following

33:03>> the school guidelines because this is

33:05the highlighted version which is good

33:07but then I'm like

33:09>> let's not reference like policy.

33:11>> Absolutely.

33:12>> Yeah. Um, but that was the only thing

33:15that I saw in the whole a whole book

33:18>> and through the chair I have one and

33:21it's just a suggestion but you guys can

33:23tell me to pound sand if you don't agree

33:26but you guys put down like review

33:28compliance and ensure all students are

33:30up to date on appropriate immunizations

33:32and physical exams and you put for all

33:35fourth, seventh, 10th grade students.

33:39I'm just wondering if it'd be easier to

33:40do it during a transition year.

33:42>> Those are state mandates.

33:43>> State mandates. See,

33:45>> tell me to pay on sand.

33:47>> I don't know.

33:47>> I just I just I wrote why because I just

33:49was like

33:50>> maybe it would make sense for more

33:52transition.

33:52>> It would it would be a lot easier. But

33:54>> Okay. So, that was my only

33:55>> I guess because not every district has

33:57the same transition.

33:59>> Yeah, that's why. So, perfect. Okay.

34:02Well,

34:02>> I was just going to ask about that, but

34:03it's right here. I was like, where's

34:05kindergarten? But

34:06>> so, you're good. Looks great. These guys

34:08are awesome. I don't think we need to do

34:10great.

34:11>> I will.

34:11>> No, I read it. It was fantastic.

34:12>> Nurse Kate, because I have your email, I

34:13will

34:14>> email you

34:16>> the policy.

34:17>> Sounds great. Please.

34:18>> Thank you. So, this will go through

34:19three reads. Um, but if there's any

34:21questions, we can reach out to you.

34:23>> I don't think you have to come back

34:24unless you want to.

34:25>> Yeah. No,

34:26>> thank you.

34:27>> It was It was well written.

34:28>> We're getting out of bedtime, though.

34:30>> Isn't that exciting? Yes. It's the best

34:32part, right?

34:35>> Thank you.

34:36>> All right. Thank you so much for coming.

34:37>> Thank you guys.

34:38>> Thank you so much.

34:44>> I got to get my that was easy button cuz

34:47that that doesn't happen that often. I

34:48need a

34:50>> Bye bye. Thank you. Thank you,

34:53>> Madame Chair. Next on our agenda, I have

34:57a request for an action item. It's uh

34:59withdrawal from Asabet Valley

35:01Collaborative. Uh the Auburn School

35:03Committee is required to formally vote

35:05on a withdrawal from Auburn Public

35:07Schools of Auburn Public Schools from

35:09the Asabet Valley Collaborative. It

35:11would be effective June 30th, 2027. Just

35:14a little context here. Um upon coming on

35:18board, I learned that we are not um

35:21using ABC for any transportation or um

35:25placement needs. Uh and that seems to

35:29not just be uh this or last year. It

35:32seems to be a pattern of of years prior.

35:34Uh we work pretty closely with Southern

35:37Worcester Collaborative and utilize them

35:39for transportation and placement

35:40primarily through their grow school. Um

35:43there is an annual fee associated with

35:45the membership. Um this doesn't mean

35:47that we still can't access their

35:49services. We would just not be able to

35:51do so at their membership rate. Um,

35:54however, there's a lot of responsibility

35:57on being a a member. I'm on a board. I'm

36:00going to multiple meetings. Um, and

36:05again, just because we're not directly

36:07involved in utilizing their services, I

36:09think that it might be prudent at this

36:11point to um not pursue uh a membership

36:14in the future. So, um I added that to

36:16the packet for potential uh vote

36:18tonight.

36:20>> Uh any questions from the committee? No.

36:24>> Through the chair, what what do you

36:26think our purpose was when we joined as

36:28an were we using them at some point?

36:32>> Do we think we were using them at some

36:33point?

36:33>> So through the chair, I know the answer.

36:35So it was transpac was I think it was 3

36:37years ago. We needed it for a few of our

36:41um special needs um

36:45uh cognitively impaired schooling

36:48transportation cuz they do that type of

36:51transportation. And then there was an

36:53issue with them.

36:55>> Yeah, I remember that.

36:55>> And then we haven't utilized them since.

36:59>> Okay.

37:02>> Through the chair. They also have um a

37:05school and we do not have any students

37:07that are at that school and haven't had

37:08one student

37:09>> and that was prior to you know this is

37:12my third year and we don't have anybody.

37:14So it is a difference of the membership

37:17rate and the non-membership rate. At

37:20this point, we are utilizing for all of

37:22our out of district students, we are

37:24utilizing AA transportation as well as

37:27French River who had just purchased a

37:29van this year. So, um that's who we we

37:32were able to transition to

37:35>> through the chair. Are we locked in

37:36until June 30th?

37:38>> There is and Dr. Scaza might be able to

37:41there is a lot of steps that need to

37:44happen in order to um no longer be a

37:48member. Okay. So,

37:50>> the answer is yes.

37:51>> Yes, we are locked into June 30th of

37:53this year.

37:54>> Yep.

37:54>> Okay.

37:55>> Next year.

37:56>> Yeah, we know what you meant.

37:57>> This school year. This school year.

37:58There you go.

37:59>> Sorry. Okay. I'll entertain a motion.

38:01>> I'll make a motion to approve the

38:02withdrawal of Auburn Public Schools from

38:04the Asabet Valley Collaborative

38:05effective June 30th, 2027.

38:07>> I'll second.

38:08>> All those in favor?

38:09>> I.

38:10>> Okay. Thank you.

38:14All right. Sam and Steph policy

38:16subcommittee.

38:17>> Okay. So if it's okay with

38:22you, Dr. McCoy as the chair, can I just

38:25combine the policy subcommittee update

38:28with the unfinished business? Sure.

38:29>> Okay. Um so I have presented with you to

38:33you three uh four new policies. KBE,

38:36which is relations with parent

38:37organizations.

38:39Um KBG, which is parent advisory

38:42councils.

38:44that is a new policy as uh given out by

38:48um MASC

38:50um public gifts to schools that's KCD

38:55and um LBC which is uh relations with

39:00non-public schools. Um, so just looking

39:03back at um, KBE, this is just, you know,

39:07parent organizations. We made some

39:10changes of like cleaning up some

39:11language and then adding um, the the

39:14raffles and games. Um, they have to

39:17comply with applicable federal laws and

39:20state laws. Um, and then KBG, uh, we do

39:24have packs and CPACs, so it's just

39:28putting some regulation behind them. Um

39:31and then

39:34the uh KCD we just um updated some

39:38language um

39:41and just said like and usually any gifts

39:44of cash that come is usually accepted by

39:47a vote. I mean you have to notify the

39:49superintendent anyway. Um

39:53and then finally um LBC it's for any

39:57schools that are non-public. This is

39:59just the steps they kind of have to go

40:00through. And I believe they were already

40:01doing that when we had recently a

40:03private school come and see us, but just

40:06puts it more out into how it should be

40:08done. Um, and this is all based on MASC.

40:11And then finally, um, I brought back KHA

40:15and KH for back to a first read because

40:19we made some changes to them. Um,

40:24and we just added like so that there

40:26should be zero. So, our concern was that

40:29there's no conflict with fundraising

40:32and um this should solve that. So, I put

40:35at the bottom a clean copy.

40:38So, it says um at the end PTA, PTO,

40:41booster and similar organizations are

40:42independent organizations and shall

40:43comply with applicable district policies

40:45when conducting activities involving

40:47district, student, staff, facilities or

40:49resources. So, just make sure that

40:52there's no conflict.

40:55And then same thing I gave you on KH, I

40:58gave you a clean version at the bottom

40:59and it says in there um student club

41:03fundraising or solicitation activities

41:04shall require prior approval by the

41:06building principal and superintendent in

41:08accordance with policy JJ.

41:10Um student fundraising activities and

41:12applicable district procedures. So it's

41:13just referencing that that is the major

41:16policy there. Yeah.

41:17>> So that should be this is first read and

41:20whatever questions, concerns you have,

41:23let me know.

41:24>> Y uh through the chair. I think that

41:27referencing the fundraiser policy needed

41:29to be in there. That way you can't open

41:32it to any interpretation of I didn't

41:34>> know that I couldn't. You know what I'm

41:36saying? Um and then the only other thing

41:39that I have is for um policy K D the

41:45public gifts to the school. Does there

41:48need to be a denomination

41:51like that we had to make reference to

41:53>> above $50.

41:55>> So anything above 50

41:57>> it's the ethics code. So it if if um for

42:01example all the teachers have to go

42:02through like an ethics training. Well

42:04actually all of us do. And if it's if

42:06it's $50 or up, you have to like let the

42:10like you have to like record it or so if

42:13if a parent comes in and gives a teacher

42:15$40,

42:17you know, that like or a $40 gift card,

42:19that's okay. It's under the 50. Anything

42:21above that, it really has to be like let

42:24us know. It has to come through us.

42:26>> So, should there be a line in there that

42:29says gifts above $50? Like should there

42:32be

42:33>> based on the state law of the ethics

42:34state law I think I think because if the

42:38ethics state law

42:40changes it then we would have to go in

42:42and change it. So I so I think it it

42:44does reference MGL 4453A.

42:47though

42:51>> through the chair. Um sometimes the

42:53district will say that the

42:55superintendent will have the authority

42:56to accept all grants and gifts um

43:02in the name of the committee. And that

43:04way, for instance, with all of the state

43:06and federal grants that we receive

43:08>> Oh, yeah.

43:09>> We don't always have a

43:12school committee meeting for you to

43:14accept the state grants prior to us

43:18needing. We use that to pay salaries.

43:21But this is cash.

43:23>> It says grants and gifts.

43:25>> Grants and gifts.

43:26>> Doesn't say cash.

43:30It does reference funds and cash towards

43:32the end, but the top is in accordance

43:34with state laws all grants.

43:37>> So the thought is um at the discretion

43:39of the superintendent

43:42um on behalf of the committee which I

43:45think is

43:47>> make it easier for you guys.

43:48>> Hold on.

43:50>> Yes. Because it would really tie our

43:51hands with the grants we received if

43:53that is the case.

43:55>> Yeah. School superintendent.

43:57>> Yeah. I I through the chair I I feel as

44:00though with the federal entitlement

44:02grants to

44:03>> state and federal and state.

44:06>> Yep. Uh Mrs. Stank's point that it would

44:09be helpful if um I could use discretion

44:11and accepting those through the gems

44:13platform and all of that. Um and then

44:14they go through the town. Uh but my

44:16intention would be to put any donation

44:20potential donation on um uh donation

44:23acceptance sheet for school committee

44:25for the school committee to review

44:26before the school district officially

44:28accepts any donation um above $50

44:31>> and and I have brought those donations

44:33too. We have been following that.

44:36>> I I just haven't no one's donated lately

44:38I guess is

44:40much it happens uh through the chair. It

44:43usually happens like at the end of the

44:44school year. You'll come in like the

44:46last few meetings and she'll be like,

44:48"We got this from,

44:51>> you know, a bank or we got this from

44:52this family for this scholarship." Like

44:55it's

44:56>> and um through the chair. The other

44:58piece is I do come with the list of

45:01grants for you to accept um formally,

45:04but those start the applications start

45:07in the summer. then it takes time for

45:10the department of ed will send them back

45:11for edits and all of this approve

45:15approves but um that would be my

45:17recommendation otherwise our hands would

45:19be tied and we couldn't use those funds

45:21right

45:21>> in the timing of the school committee

45:23meetings

45:23>> okay so just to clarify through the

45:25chair in accordance with state law all

45:26grants and gifts to the district shall

45:28be reviewed and accepted at the

45:29discretion of the superintendent for the

45:31Auburn school committee

45:33>> or is there a better way you want me to

45:35put that

45:35>> I think you got to put for the grants

45:38That's where the our hands are would be

45:40tied if we

45:42>> all grants

45:44to the district shall be reviewed and

45:46accepted at the discretion of the

45:47superintendent.

45:48>> Correct.

45:49>> I don't even need to put for the Auburn

45:50school committee.

45:51>> Yeah.

45:51>> And then then it goes on and says in the

45:54case of gifts from industry, business,

45:56or special interest groups, no extensive

45:58advertising or promotion may be involved

46:00in any donation. Gifts that would

46:01involve changes in school plans be

46:03subject to school committee approval,

46:04which makes sense. Mhm.

46:06>> Gifts will automatically become the

46:07property of the school district.

46:10>> Any gift of cash regardless of donor

46:11intent will be accepted by vote of the

46:13school committee.

46:15>> So

46:16Mr. Sir Keller and I were looking So you

46:20cannot accept

46:22gifts of 50 or more teachers,

46:26but you said over the course of a year.

46:28>> Yeah. Like somebody could give a class

46:29gift of up to $150. That's that's

46:31acceptable. Like teach parents could

46:33come together. I just wanted to clarify

46:35that. So you

46:36>> if it's something under $50 that should

46:39be reported as Miss Rayfield was saying

46:40to the principal before, but you cannot

46:42accept individual gifts over 50.

46:44>> The al the other thing too is that you

46:46can technically accept a gift. If a

46:48parent gave me a $100 Staples gift card,

46:51you can accept that. It must be reported

46:55to this to I believe it's principal and

46:57the state. There's like a form and then

46:59it must be used for your classroom. But

47:02so the way that this is reading is that

47:05any gift or cash regardless of donor

47:07intent.

47:09So we could put any gift of $50 or over

47:14cuz that would mean that we would have

47:15to say yes, we accept that. Thank you.

47:20>> But then what about the $150 for the

47:22classroom? Like that shouldn't have to

47:24come to us.

47:26I think if we put something through the

47:28chair um in accordance with state

47:32ethics, you know, mandates, that way if

47:36that number bounces,

47:38>> Yeah.

47:39>> we're still good.

47:40>> I like I agree with that.

47:41>> So, any gift of cash, regardless of

47:43donor intent, will be accepted by vote

47:44of the school committee, kept separate

47:46from the general fund, and expended at

47:48the discretion of the of the committee

47:49as provided by

47:52law and the state ethics commission.

47:55Mhm.

47:55>> And in compliance with state ethics.

47:58>> Yeah. In compliance with the ethics.

47:59Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

48:01>> I'm like, what's the thing? I'm like I'm

48:03like I'm like I'm like we're close. What

48:05is the

48:06>> through the chair? What happens when

48:08businesses in town donate to for example

48:11like the PTO for a fundraiser

48:13>> entity

48:14>> doesn't count.

48:15>> Doesn't count.

48:15>> So I'm not in trouble.

48:17>> I love this.

48:18>> So and we said in compliance with the

48:20state ethics commission

48:22recruiting businesses. That's what I

48:23have asking.

48:24>> I would just reference

48:26what's

48:284453A.

48:30I would just say reference what that

48:32>> Okay.

48:33>> Yeah. says

48:36to ensure that we're saying the right

48:37thing.

48:37>> Okay.

48:38>> Yes. State.

48:39>> I will I will fix this and bring it

48:40forward for our second reading.

48:42>> And can I ask everyone to take a really

48:43deep dive into these? Take a peek at

48:45them. Bring back anything you have next

48:47time.

48:47>> Yeah.

48:49>> Yeah. I I had gone through them and

48:52everything it's you have to do it right.

48:55Um and

48:57there were a lot of small things in

49:00these policies where it didn't have

49:03guardian.

49:05>> It said he she it's

49:08>> it was it is and it's you know like

49:11those type of small things just need to

49:13be like

49:15>> brushing like like tighten it up. Um,

49:19the other ones we had to make reference

49:22to separating booster PTO from

49:25everything else, which I think I think

49:28we're there now on that other one.

49:31>> Um, and then the um soliciting I I've

49:36got to read it again, but I think I

49:38think that one is where in

49:42>> we're saying the right things. We're not

49:43o leaving it open to interpretation

49:47and that there is a clear understanding

49:50of what we're trying to say and what

49:52we're trying to do on behalf of the

49:54students to make sure that their success

49:56is still obviously first and foremost.

49:59>> Great. Thank you for all your work on

50:00that. It's awesome.

50:02>> All right, Mr. Keller, teaching and

50:04learning.

50:05>> Yeah, thank you. So, um I just wanted to

50:08talk briefly tonight about we had our

50:10first professional development days of

50:11the school year. uh this past Thursday

50:13and Friday, obviously a half day on

50:15Thursday, full professional development

50:16day on Friday. Uh we're on both days

50:20really targeting uh learning

50:22opportunities across every grade level

50:23and department um and really also

50:26looking at foundational skills as well

50:28as vertical alignment and safety as um I

50:31believe you heard earlier a little talk

50:33about um some Alice protocols that took

50:35place at the middle school and high

50:36school. Um so I will

50:40um start with uh datadriven instruction.

50:43So on Thursday um we had some of what we

50:46were doing was focused on I Ready. Uh in

50:49the morning um K to8 principles and I

50:51met with representative from I Ready to

50:53talk about um the kind of the the crux

50:57of I Ready which is one of the things

50:58that drew us to it in the first place

51:00which is their try discuss connect.

51:01That's their their big piece is that's

51:03how we want students to be working in

51:05the classroom to try stuff, try

51:07different ways of solving things, have

51:08conversations, discuss, see other ways

51:10of solving a problem and then connect it

51:12to how they're doing that. So our focus

51:15uh as administrators was facilitating

51:16studentled discussions, supporting our

51:18our teachers to compare and connect

51:21different problem solving strategies um

51:23and relying uh rather than relying

51:26solely on teacher-led instruction. Um we

51:29also then talked about how we can

51:30support teachers in planning target

51:32instruction for both whole group and uh

51:34settings and small group guided

51:35learning. Uh teachers that's uh that was

51:38a picture from uh Swanson Road when they

51:41were um meeting as a um 3 to 8 uh group.

51:46Um so they were uh working on u

51:49prerequis prerequisites in grade level

51:51instruction to maximize student success.

51:53So it mirrored what we were talking

51:54about as administrators. uh that was

51:56helping them leverage assessment data.

51:58Our um students take the I Ready

52:00assessment data in in English and math.

52:03Um it's now called inform and they take

52:04that three times per year. And so how

52:06can teachers use that data, identify

52:08student skill gaps and scaffold grade

52:10level content effectively.

52:13Um and then um on Friday uh we worked on

52:17literacy and our writing skills. And so

52:20our focus at the K to2 level was

52:22dedicated towards strengthening um the

52:24connection between wonders which is our

52:26K to5 uh ELA excuse me our predicate

52:30preK to five uh literacy speaking of um

52:34language um

52:37uh literacy textbook that we use and

52:39then we have empowering writers and so

52:41making sure that those two are working

52:42in tandem together. So that's what we

52:43spent the bulk of our time or really the

52:45whole time together is aligning those

52:47two and then calibrating writing

52:49expectations across the grade levels. Uh

52:52our grades 3 to 8 were doing uh were all

52:55together at the middle school. So we had

52:57uh grades 3 through five teachers as

52:59well as 6 through eight teachers of

53:01English science and social studies

53:03working on a constructed response

53:04workshop. Uh and that was focused on

53:07helping students structure

53:08evidence-based written responses uh

53:10across content areas. Um and so I'll

53:13share a little bit of the feedback after

53:15we get to that point. Um and then uh we

53:18had specialized PD taking place across

53:20the district. So our guidance counselors

53:22were meeting and working on um Dr.

53:25Campion was able to meet with them um

53:27for a bit of time on Friday doing some

53:30vertical planning and aligning of

53:31resources uh looking at different

53:34resources for our K to5 students. Um we

53:37had our preschool staff. Um, one of the

53:40things I've been working with our

53:40preschool staff on is working with the

53:42UMass Donah Hueghue Institute um, to

53:44look at some different professional

53:46development opportunities for them and

53:47they were also looking at different

53:48assessment protocols that they could

53:50use. Our nurses, you heard from two of

53:52them tonight, they were working on some

53:53specialized clinical training hosted by

53:55Boston Children's Hospital. Um, and then

53:58our related services teachers uh, staff

54:00members I should say OTP and speech were

54:03working on some clinical updates. Um,

54:05and then you heard me talk about Alice

54:08earlier. We also did vertical teaming um

54:11from 6 to 12 and had some K to2 groups

54:13working together and um overall I would

54:16say it was a very um focused day

54:19improving literacy and math outcomes

54:22helping you heard the um the group

54:24earlier the student advisory council

54:25talking about bridging that gap between

54:27middle school and high school that is a

54:28major focus um we're also talk having

54:30conversations about bridging the gap

54:32between Swanson Road and the middle

54:33school and you'll see that in some of

54:34the in some of the feedback that I'll

54:36share but uh felt like it was a really

54:38positive positive day. Um, and we

54:40received positive feedback from staff. I

54:42won't read through all of that. And of

54:43course, I didn't include everything. Um,

54:46but you know, the generally speaking,

54:48people felt very strongly working

54:49together as a as vertical teams was

54:51really beneficial. Um, a lot of positive

54:54talk about some of the presenters and

54:56moving them forward. Um, you know,

55:00there's room to grow from my um

55:03standpoint on

55:06u clarification of the schedules to

55:07everybody. there's a lot of people to

55:08communicate with and at times there were

55:11people when I sent out the general

55:13schedule that we overlooked or or didn't

55:15communicate effectively about and you'll

55:17see that comment in there a little bit.

55:18So, some room to grow, but um you know,

55:21it was overall very positive day. So,

55:23thank you. Any questions on any of that?

55:27>> Any questions?

55:28>> All right. Thanks everyone.

55:30>> Thanks for putting all that work into

55:31it.

55:31>> Yeah.

55:34>> Okay. And this is Dan. business and

55:38financials. All right, I have shared

55:40with you the year-to- date budget

55:41report. Uh this is dated October 7th,

55:452026. On page 20, the last line, we have

55:49utilized 95.2% of our budget at this

55:52time in October. I have frozen the

55:55budget for discretionary spending at

55:58this time um as we need to keep a good

56:00eye on that.

56:03So I am happy to answer any questions

56:05you have in regards to the budget.

56:10>> Any questions?

56:13>> Next, I've provided budget transfers. Uh

56:16this is a listing of budget transfers

56:17for quarter 1 of FY27.

56:20This is between the same series and

56:22between different series which I'm

56:23seeking your approval. Most of the

56:25transfers here have to do with

56:27contractual obligations. When we create

56:30the budget, there were three contracts

56:32that three bargaining unit contracts

56:35that still needed to be go negotiated as

56:38well as all the individual contracts.

56:40So, there'll be um

56:42shifts in the salary reserve line and

56:46various

56:47um classroom supplies. you know, the

56:52maybe potentially the music line went

56:53over by $50 and then we used classroom

56:57supplies and I'm happy to answer any

57:00questions, but I would need um your

57:03approval

57:04transfers.

57:06>> I'll entertain a motion.

57:12>> I'll make a motion to approve the list

57:13of transfers for quarter 1 for FY27 as

57:16presented by the business manager.

57:18>> Second. Any discussion?

57:22No. All those in favor?

57:23>> I

57:24>> I

57:27And then recently, Dr. Scaza and myself

57:31have

57:32met with all of the district

57:34administrators talking about our capital

57:36improvement um needs. So, the town has

57:41recently requested our next fiscal year.

57:45And this is fiscal year 2032 as we

57:49forecast six years out. So we had

57:52discussed the capital needs. We have

57:54formulated a budget for 2032.

57:58It is here in your packet and we are

58:01seeking your approval to put move this

58:04on to the town. I will say that at our

58:08next school committee meeting, we will

58:10be adding additional capital improvement

58:14projects that include

58:17the fields and potentially the modulars.

58:21um as those are big ticket items and in

58:25talks um with the town and with our

58:28first joint with select board and

58:31finance committee we need to ensure that

58:33we have a plan for those fields um and

58:37the maintenance of those fields. So we

58:39will be adding that in. Um Dr. Scazer

58:42and I were at select board meeting last

58:43night asking for some repurposing of

58:48funds in order to take care of our

58:50allpurpose field um this coming spring.

58:53It is difficult to forecast out six

58:57years ahead. As we know even in our own

59:00those that own a home you might plan on

59:03redoing your kitchen but your boiler

59:05might fail.

59:06>> So then you need to take care of the

59:08boiler before you can redo the kitchen.

59:11So, that is kind of how I look at this.

59:13Um, but here's the FY 2032. Um, we would

59:17be putting in a school district total of

59:19a million dollars for the schooling, but

59:22then again, we like I said, we will be

59:24adding some field

59:27projections

59:29>> if at our next meeting. So, I would need

59:31your approval on the FY 2032 capital

59:35plan to send forward to the town.

59:38>> I'll entertain a motion. We'll make a

59:40motion to approve the capital

59:41improvement budget for FY 2032 as

59:44presented by the business manager.

59:45>> I'll second.

59:47>> Any discussion?

59:49All right. All those in favor?

59:51>> I.

59:52>> Okay. All right. Thank you.

59:55>> And now the next one is the fiscal year

59:572028. So this one um obviously had been

1:00:01presented six years ago, but it has not

1:00:04gone to town meeting vote yet. It will

1:00:06be coming up in May for town meeting. So

1:00:10again, in meeting with our district

1:00:12administrators and with our facilities

1:00:15director, we've reviewed it and we've

1:00:16modified a few things before it goes to

1:00:18town meeting for vote. And so I'd like

1:00:21to draw your attention to package hog.

1:00:24So originally there there's an asterisk

1:00:27there. There was $100,000 set aside for

1:00:30the parking lot safety redesign. Well,

1:00:33not too long ago, the DPW was able to

1:00:37pave around package and add that other

1:00:40the gates. So, um, in speaking, we need

1:00:44to

1:00:46update the parking lot may for about

1:00:49$25,000 with parking lot repairs, but

1:00:53there are some interior wall repairs and

1:00:55upgrades that need to be done at

1:00:56Package. Um, so we would like to

1:00:59repurpose $75,000

1:01:02um at Package. And then if we move down

1:01:04to Swanson Road, it has an asterisk

1:01:08there for a generator switch gear

1:01:10replacement and um Mr. Gregoire is very

1:01:16knowledgeable now in generators with the

1:01:19whole high school project and he is

1:01:21recommending that we just change the

1:01:23wording to update

1:01:26um to just generator upgrades depending

1:01:28on what that particular generator needs.

1:01:32Not to be so specific with the switch

1:01:34gear replacement. And then there had

1:01:38been um a sprinkler project design for

1:01:42$25,000. at Swanson Road and he thinks

1:01:46it would be prudent to repurpose that

1:01:48$25,000 for restroom upgrades.

1:01:52I think that

1:01:55in the near future, and I don't want to

1:01:57speak for Dr. Scaza, we're going to need

1:01:59to have a building building study

1:02:02conducted to see and we want to be

1:02:04careful as to what we are projecting and

1:02:07spending money on uh moving forward.

1:02:10So this is um what we are projecting and

1:02:14we would need your approval for the

1:02:17change in fiscal year 2028.

1:02:21>> I'll make a motion or entertain a

1:02:24motion. Sorry.

1:02:24>> I'll make a motion to approve the

1:02:26capital improvement budget for FY28 2028

1:02:28as presented by the business manager.

1:02:30>> I'll second.

1:02:31>> Any discussion?

1:02:33>> Actually I chair if I may. I have one

1:02:35question. I meant to ask it on the last

1:02:36one too and it's way further down. the

1:02:39iPad the iPad equipment purchases.

1:02:42>> Um, can I just ask how you kind of

1:02:44determinate that? Is it the do you kind

1:02:46of estimate the number of iPads or you

1:02:49would need or

1:02:50>> So, what the plan has been is that we

1:02:52purchase new iPads for grades five

1:02:56>> five and eight.

1:02:57>> Five and nine.

1:02:59>> Five and nine. It's transition. Yeah.

1:03:01>> And then um that way we can

1:03:05>> rotate. I know what you're saying. And

1:03:06then they take what from five and then

1:03:10they, you know, fix them up and see

1:03:12which ones are doing well and still

1:03:14okay. So that's how that's kind of been

1:03:16the plan all along. Okay.

1:03:18>> It's five and nine.

1:03:20>> Got it.

1:03:21>> Thank you. I was just curious.

1:03:23>> Yep.

1:03:25>> Okay.

1:03:27>> All those in favor?

1:03:28>> I I

1:03:29>> All right. Thank you. um through the

1:03:31chair. Can I just if if it's okay, can I

1:03:34just jump back to

1:03:37our p public gifts to the school? As I

1:03:40was doing some

1:03:43research, there are

1:03:46a a couple options for us. We and I

1:03:49think option one would be our best

1:03:50option. There's permanent school

1:03:52committee policy language in order to be

1:03:56okay with Massachusetts general law. um

1:04:00chapter 44 section 53A.

1:04:03We are in fact the legal authority

1:04:07behind accepting gifts. But with that

1:04:09said, there is an option that we can

1:04:14change it. And I just want to get

1:04:15everyone's okay before I make a major

1:04:17change that we can put in in accordance

1:04:20with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter

1:04:2144 section 53A. The school committee is

1:04:24the legal authority designated to accept

1:04:25and expend all grants and gifts for

1:04:27educational purposes. To facilitate the

1:04:29timely utilization of external funds,

1:04:32the school committee hereby delegates to

1:04:34the superintendent of schools the

1:04:35authority to formally accept and expend

1:04:37any monetary g grant or gift on behalf

1:04:39of the school committee provided that

1:04:43we have to decide on a total gift amount

1:04:46whatever we as the committee feel

1:04:47comfortable with.

1:04:51Um and we have a preferred limit like if

1:04:54we want to say up to a certain amount.

1:04:57Um the terms and conditions apply with

1:04:59our educational goals and the

1:05:01superintendent provides us with we could

1:05:03do quarterly, monthly, annually,

1:05:06whatever works best.

1:05:08I just want to make sure that like

1:05:10that's and then that way that gives him

1:05:14the ability to accept gifts on our

1:05:16behalf without going against MGL

1:05:19>> and if any I'm sorry through the chair

1:05:21if anything is higher than the amount

1:05:23set

1:05:23>> if anything is higher than the amount

1:05:24set it has to come to us.

1:05:26>> Okay.

1:05:26>> For grants that might be a pretty high

1:05:29amount. I was wondering.

1:05:30>> Well, the amount that the amount that

1:05:32was suggested in my research was 25,000

1:05:37that anything above 25,000 comes through

1:05:39us. But that might be something I mean,

1:05:42do you have a like is based on what

1:05:44you've seen come through like we could

1:05:46lower that limit.

1:05:47>> I was say our grants are much more than

1:05:50so that was the suggestion they had.

1:05:52Anything

1:05:54total value of individual grant or gift

1:05:56does not exceed. So anything above

1:05:5825,000 would we would have to vote on or

1:06:01we could change that we could say 50,000

1:06:03100,000

1:06:05>> where are you and I guess my question

1:06:07through the chair would be are we

1:06:09talking individual griffs and would our

1:06:12federal and state grants be it's

1:06:14different than that you do have to

1:06:15accept the federal and state grants I do

1:06:17bring that to you but the piece that

1:06:19>> this looks like it's it says all grants

1:06:23>> where is is that uh mass

1:06:26So, Mass General law

1:06:30says that all grants and gifts for

1:06:33educational purposes. That's what Mass

1:06:35General law says that we are the legal

1:06:36authority number

1:06:37>> the Mass General law number

1:06:38>> it's uh 53 4 chapter 44 section 53A

1:06:44and we are the legal authority

1:06:45designated but we can

1:06:48option one is we can put permanent

1:06:50school committee language in that any

1:06:52grant above a certain amount

1:06:54Dr. Scaza can accept on our behalf. And

1:06:58then the option two is that we have a

1:07:00grant resolution that we vote on that we

1:07:03say pursuant to MGL chapter 44

1:07:06subsection 53A, the school committee

1:07:08hereby accepts. Well, that would be for

1:07:10each grant. We could say the school

1:07:13committee further authorizes the

1:07:14superintendent to execute all necessary

1:07:16contracts, agreements, and budget

1:07:17amendments required to implement this

1:07:19grant. So that wouldn't work. So, we we

1:07:21would want to go with option one, but we

1:07:23can change the number. That was just a

1:07:25recommended number.

1:07:26>> I think we maybe need to look at other

1:07:28districts and see what they have in

1:07:30their

1:07:30>> polic because I just don't I I don't

1:07:34want to handcuff Mrs. Stanic in the

1:07:36middle of the summer.

1:07:37>> Yeah.

1:07:37>> With a very big grant, you know what I

1:07:39mean? Um so, I'm just wondering how

1:07:41others because we're not the only ones

1:07:42who get these big grants. I mean, gifts

1:07:44I think are different, but

1:07:46>> yeah, the grants are tricky.

1:07:48>> Grants can be tricky.

1:07:49>> Yeah. So,

1:07:50>> this was last updated in 2022. So, I

1:07:53will

1:07:54>> I will reach out to our MASC contact and

1:07:58see and I'll double check this. I will

1:08:01also if it's all right with you, I will

1:08:05put this language in and then we can

1:08:07maybe decide if if that's what comes

1:08:10back, we can decide on the number. Sure.

1:08:12>> Like next meeting and so I can I can fix

1:08:15that language. Um,

1:08:20>> okay.

1:08:20>> Yeah, that with the chair. I just

1:08:22>> This is public gifts to schools. So,

1:08:26>> if the public is giving us something,

1:08:28it's not

1:08:29>> not the grants.

1:08:30>> So, please forgive me. It's not the

1:08:31federal.

1:08:32>> Yeah, it shouldn't be federal

1:08:33>> or state grants. Okay.

1:08:35>> Feel more comfortable with that then.

1:08:36Okay. I know. I just know we have a lot

1:08:38of state and federal grants and

1:08:39>> Yeah.

1:08:40>> Yeah. No, this is um so you looked up

1:08:43MDL chap. So public grants.

1:08:46>> So but and because we're referencing

1:08:48that we're saying in accordance with

1:08:49Mass General Law.

1:08:51>> Um and I can even put that in the title.

1:08:53It says well the title is public gifts.

1:08:55So it's not grants. So do we have a

1:08:58preference on an amount? And I can also

1:08:59search other schools as well.

1:09:01>> If it's not including the state and f

1:09:03federal grants, I'm not as concerned.

1:09:06>> But I also don't want to handcuff us.

1:09:07>> I don't. That's

1:09:08>> Yeah. I don't want to have to vote on

1:09:09every single little I mean I think

1:09:12how often are we getting

1:09:15>> $25,000

1:09:16from a public person.

1:09:18>> So I think we if we we if we say 25,000

1:09:22we're not handcuffing ourselves. We're

1:09:23allowing

1:09:25>> Dr. Scaza to do.

1:09:27So I'll leave it as 25,000 for right now

1:09:29and then I will double check with other

1:09:31districts.

1:09:32>> Sounds awesome. Perfect.

1:09:33>> Sorry. I apologize for bringing it back.

1:09:35I just didn't want to like start. Yeah.

1:09:38>> Changing things again.

1:09:42>> All right. And we do not need executive

1:09:44session.

1:09:46So I will entertain a motion to adjurnn.

1:09:49>> I will make a motion to adjurnn.

1:09:51>> I'll second.

1:09:53>> Any discussion?

1:09:55>> Please don't make us favor.

1:09:56>> I I All right. Thank you everybody.