 And Lisa right yes, so I'm gonna call us mean to order at six minutes after fox six and thank you for coming We're gonna see which like what legislators legislators actually come They just email Krista text iron a lot and we said use your own judgment You know whatever you feel comfortable with and we will be out of here by 730 Yeah, I just gonna do that so that we all get home totally Here the tough stuff supposed to be here between eight and I'm supposed to get pretty Welcome to our guests. Do you want to introduce yourself? Sure? And I know your voice from the radio Welcome are you here for a reason or I have Okay, so let me just finish this and then we'll get there agenda revisions I have a slight one. I put on the discussion agenda to talk about the current year calendar And I'm gonna ask you as a board to take some action on rearranging some days and I'll talk more about that later anybody else I'm just if there's some Where we can maybe get an idea of Whatever fallback option might be on budget and all of that if you know Things if we get deferred if we get deferred. Yeah. Yeah. No, that's a good question I figured out but I can we do that the administrators report. We'll do it there. I'll tell you where we are. I've been Tempted to put up another video on some questions On the process Yep, that that's what you're looking for. Yeah, you're sorry. Thanks public comments Now's the time So hang tight they're coming at 630 and then you can engage us all in comfort would you rather do it then I would okay? Then let's wait. That's totally fine. They're coming at 630. So we'll get to that. Thanks Emotion to approve their three consent agendas December 19th January 14th and January 21st and two of them are quite short and one is a regular meeting Emotion to accept those agendas We're all free. Sure. Okay. I will move that we approve all three steps a minute Comments on them look good to me. There was just one place in on the first set the Summer 19th on the second page There's a big space between the superintendent and Kimball in the first paragraph. Oh I see what you're saying starts a new line At the end of that paragraph under budget form presentation at the top of the second page Go down to the that's like it. So it says superintendent Oh, and then Kimball stage needs one back and then I noticed on 5.5 That the motion it wasn't written that the motion carried unanimously Which I think it Doesn't say anything about Anybody else? All those in favor say aye. I suppose that motion carries Onto the discussion agenda town meeting preparations Talk about Scott's question here Okay, so I think in Well a couple of things let me go back and set some context as you all know I sent it all to you on January 10th. We were sent what at that point was told to me to be Directive The AG has walked that back since then But that we were to follow We were not to put budget together at all for local boards and that we were under orders to go forward with Was the consolidation process Since that time the Attorney General wrote a letter in the court case Some of the districts in Washington Central are part of saying No, that was advice. So I kind of feel a little thrown on the bus Okay, and I think I would appreciate everyone's support here for fellow board members in this in our Supervisory meeting because some don't see it that way The where we're at now and in that letter said you could vote local budgets if you so choose I Think this is my opinion professional opinion that having separate budgets voted at different times Is not a good thing for Washington Central because of tax rates Because in Calis in Berlin where they're now putting local budgets for their all metrics forward I cannot tell you what the tax rate will be I can give you a range and So I think it's better with the four that are left is to have a unified date going forward As I was teasing you Scott at the beginning You know there are amendments up for both There's a second amendment that's a second bill. It's up for vote tomorrow for about a delay Which would bring five districts would be one of the five that would have a year delay If that that would then need to go through the Senate Get through the Senate and be signed by the governor Before it would have an act to change us or the court case could change us So I'm still kind of following the executive committee's direction from back in August which has had many paths to get there and My I think that's the right thing to do. I think there's going to be a point I'm not there yet to say hey, we should do this some certain date and take the Attorney General's. That's my vice It's not my Authority though. It's board's authorities. I'll be clear with that But I think it should be done with the four remaining boards together Because we should be able to at least for three of our towns be able to say we do know the tax rates because we Then we'll put all this together as best we can with the estimates we have because there are always estimates as you all know I Don't feel we're I think you know, I think mid-May is kind of that We got to do something by midway or may either way. I Don't feel the pinch right now It's not the way things have been and so that Change is difficult as the saying goes or change is hard for people But I don't think not having a budget voted on town meeting is the end of the world I think getting into the second half of May. Yeah, now we're starting to push and lose The reason I say that is because if we do in the beginning of May and it were defeated We could come back in June for a second boat before we get to the June 30th That's things get tough and we get into June 30 and then we're at a restriction by statute of how much percentage of the previous year Without having the statute of misquote it probably in front of me. It's somewhere 90 to 95 percent of the previous years But I don't I'd have to go look into the actual percentage So I think that you know, it's something we should be talking about it's something that you know it's if we get further along and You know, we're gonna right now I sent a letter to the town clerks this morning just updating them that you know We're still planning on and they were asking, you know, what's up with the district Organizational meeting on February 19th, and I said I'm still under the Warning that we're hosting that meeting so It's not that so I don't give you a definite scott, but it's just I know I just want you to know my thinking Yeah, sure and I'm trying to think about What I'm most concerned about is confusing the voters I think having multiple budgets at multiple times That's chaos. So I'd rather wait and be a little patient Then have multiple Things happening when they're straightforward. They're confusing to voters. I mean as a board member, they're confusing I mean so having six iteration. Yeah, where does that lead teacher contracts? So teacher contracts That would be some decisions that we'll have to make by a by the current content negotiate agreement We have to present contracts to the teachers by April 15th I usually try to do it as quickly as possible after a budget is adopted to get To start the process because they have 30 days to notify us if they'd like to accept the Contract and there is a hiring rate that goes on in Vermont As in, you know, there's the first wave after Tommy is actually a wave going right now Which is special educators for next year. We're already out in that because we've got some anticipations But we're not sure but we if you're not hiring for a special educator by March 15th You're probably not going to get a point that's endorsed in that area because there's such a low So there are so few candles thank you losing my words the pool is so small Why we're this conversation has been happening at the negotiation table. I think it's probably fair Carl between the association and the board leadership there in negotiation. So I Think it I think I could say this is that there's been an agreement to try to get things wrapped up. Yeah Negotiations. Yeah. Yeah, so we can say we're done with that part of it Yeah, I think It's possible that if we have our budget vote on a non-standard in a non-standard timeframe There may be different dynamics that we haven't really thought through that we need to we'll need to kind of try as much as possible to anticipate and You know get ahead of the curve Totally agree. Well at this point it's going to be non-standard. Yeah, it's too late for town meeting day. I totally agree But thank you. Yeah, that's the best of my thinking as I say this to everyone on anything act 46 Let me put the date and timestamp on it That's my best thinking I was a Wednesday night Town meeting preparations. I will come Monday night at six o'clock because we have to hold a meeting and Stephen I will have a lovely conversation and Yes, we can go and then we'll go home You are more than walk anybody It's a warning Sorry, and you'll be right. It's our annual meeting and if you want to come that would be lovely But no one has to come. We don't really even have a budget I mean we have a budget to talk about so you've done the two part of it, right? But we don't even usually do that in a normal year. I just want to see if anybody shows up When there was a budget on the table So just to back up to the this conversation of timing of our contingency budget vote So two of the towns will vote on town town meeting is a callous in Berlin Cal some Berlin. Yeah It seems like the other four budgets should be voted at the same time I think this is not just our decision. It has to be coordinated, right So it wouldn't be till the next full board meeting that we have a Plan well, yeah, I mean, I think it's something under there's an agenda item for next week for act 46 Okay, might be a good one for one of you to raise to say hey, we've got four of us. We should be talking Well, the Using thing is that Berlin and Cal are going to have to vote on the U32 budget So they will have to go now grab the vote that day. Yeah, that's a piece like Scott just said. It's a non-normal It's There's gonna be votes in towns that And we'll be running so they're not going on the user too much of it That'll be on their ballot and and your recommendation is to wait So we know more information But still a lot of ourselves time for a revoked. Yeah. Yeah, that's why that's that's why I'm saying you have to warn it We have to warn it between 30 and 40 days before the boat and that's why I count that back from I mean, I did not the schedule remember the schedule. I gave you the readjustment schedule Everything that kind of sets the date of the May is that that's that last time in May Okay, that we should be going for a budget vote whether it's local or merged So that you know that Second, I think it was this I look at my calendar, but it's like the second Tuesday in May or something like that Um 46 update Why don't we wait like the legends? Give us the yeah, most recent. Yeah, when they get here Chris has been messaging me on on the on the document here is Christa. Yeah We've got Okay, thank you, none Christa knows I won't look at my phone during the day Okay, thank you 2018-19 calendar bill is to start of your meeting. Yeah, so As you may you're most like most of you are aware except for maybe Adrienne because the rest of you have kids here We've had six days that we've had to call or for snow and two for water So right now we are the last day would be June 25th Which is a Tuesday students for students and the last day for teachers would be the 26th of Wednesday So we have one in-service day between now and then Which is on April 5th, so that's in for the rest of the district that's parent-teacher conferences and They're at four days, so what I'm trying to do is get it back at least one day So I'd like you to accept my recommendation, and I think it I just need your help I think it's appropriate for the board to approve this that we would turn April 5th from an In-service day to a day of school. Yeah, and that gets us back to five days We're still working on other things. I also know that we haven't gone through March yet March is warm and dear in my heart when I have to call snow days It's almost as warm and dear as late November and early December but Stephen did a lot of research which shows that over the past ten years We haven't even only one time have we gone above four snow days So we're in an abnormal year So that that's what I bring to you I think it you know the calendar is always approved by a board Usually, it's the SU because we do it as you across but That would be my recommendation to you Because it's you there to you only right now, but I'll mention you're still at four Is there a motion to accept bill's recommendation to turn April 4th April 5th April 5th from an in-service day into a student day Scott any more discussion on that So what are we giving up what it was the downside we lose a day of in-service We'll have to think about what the teachers and I'll talk I'm actually talking to the situation tomorrow about snow days and how we make that up. Okay. I mean it was scheduled for Professional development professional development. Yeah, so we'll have that 190 that we'll have to figure out because we are paying for that day All those in favor say aye. I opposed that motion carries. Thank you reports to the board I'm gonna go quick because we got five minutes Central my career sir at the center No here administration I Would first add and I'm gonna hand this to Steven and Jody real quick Hopefully you saw I did a off-cycle superintendents report that was a couple weeks ago that I sent out an email to you It's kind of my January brought up some issues just so you some good celebrations and some Frank I'd have to pull it up, but I wanted to let you know some stuff on budgets Yeah, it was just great. I saw that the other day on Monday. We need you here. Yeah, it was done Yeah, I'm trying to think so the kids trying to think what the students said, too So their parents told them to stay home with the pending eyes. So that's why they're not here. They send their apologies We did finish up our semester started a new one really haven't had that many days of it Although we've been in it for three weeks now We are yeah, it's We had We're getting traction now on this semester, but it was you know those unexpected water days were new to us And so we're we're developing some contingency plans for the future So, you know, this shouldn't affect us as deeply as it did when we have this water issue But I would say that We're all we haven't seen the kids that much in the last month. I just want to compliment Steven He did a nice job. He worked with the junior class the other day Oh, yeah, I graduation requirements and a proficiency based learning system and he did a nice job of explaining to them You know how this works what your opportunities are how to what you need to be looking at I thought I mean I walked in about halfway through but and I thought the juniors were really thoughtful in their questions And what they asked. Yeah, so I think we're actually So kind of the normal course of events for us during this time period is we would have met with our ninth grade parents Are those that are gonna be ninth graders next year by as we move into scheduling, which is starting up tomorrow Really is when we kind of kick off all of our scheduling for next year and we would have answered some of their questions as they came in before they did scheduling but Everything's been thrown out of whack in terms of time. We're gonna be with them in the 21st now and So we met with the juniors. We're gonna be with the sophomores and the freshmen as well Just kind of walking to okay. Here's what's happening. Here's where we're at with proficiency. Here's what we would expect you to be Demonstrating at this point in time Certainly as we've talked about before and freshman and sophomore years You're not gonna be demonstrating a lot of graduation level proficiency But I think helping kids understand like how to judge where they're at in the whole system. It's really important and And so we're going to be sending out a message to parents I'll make sure the board I mean most of you receive them otherwise, but I'll make sure that Adrian receives it as well Just kind of a refresher on everything because it's been a little while since we've sent out any major like here's what's going on in proficiency land And so so we'll get that out for everybody But I think we're just you know, we're refining it more and more each time, you know We're the questions are getting much more specific as opposed to general which I think is really helpful Because now we're talking about the details not the idea and so I think the kids were really thoughtful about some of their questions and And one of the things that we talked about is that there may be opportunities this summer We're looking at how we can run some summer session For kids to to gain some proficiencies as well We're not looking at it. It's just being a remediation. But but we have some kids who are Like the career center who may or may not have the opportunities to get artistic expression Proficiencies demonstrated and so just providing some additional opportunities for kids is really what we're looking at with summer school possibility We'll be bringing more information about that. We're still in the early stages of planning And funding So so we're looking at how we can do that and get that kicked off But I think that it's something that we would like to pursue longer term More than just one year but like how do we open up summer time for some opportunities for kids to do some learning and and really in and Non-traditional kinds of ways, you know that summer is a great time to kind of experiment with some unique Projects and and things like that and this campus has you know, we really don't use this campus in the summer for learning But it's a great location. I mean like It's just we can't ask for So we're less than three semesters away from first class graduating under proficiency. Yeah. Yeah, that that gives me up at night Is it is it a read in a place where you can project how many students are going to graduate or I think we'll have a much clearer idea as we reach into this year But I mean, there's no reason why it shouldn't be the same percentage of kids graduating I mean, I mean we're we're really We're really trying to make sure that we offer more opportunities for kids to demonstrate their learning I think that's something that's a positive about all of this is that teachers are really trying to say All right, how many different ways can we provide kids a chance to show what they know because the more opportunities We have more likely the kid is to be able to demonstrate that they're proficient And so I think we're just that's growing as fast as the need I think is the way to kind of put it So I think we're going to be just fine when it comes down to it We can't can't hold them all back Let's just go through these finance committee You met there's a report in here How many can I ask the tuition from other districts 172,000 how many students is that That is Well No, that's 10. It's 10. So 10 above what we Correct. Yeah, correct So that was in around we've intentionally been reducing the number of students that we budget for Because we know that that number is going to shrink over these several years and we're ahead of the curve Which is where we want. Yeah, yeah Executive committee If you guys know We had a brief meeting in january. I don't have anything significant to report. I need to do some business in there We've got a full board meeting Yeah, yeah, Matthew's Matthew and I met today to put those agendas and policy committee is holding off until Everything settles down Janet can I do two quick action items before we start? I know it's you okay I Shouldn't take very long and then we'll be done. So approve a motion to approve the bid for the auditorium wiring Which is that is that what was here? Yes. Yeah. Yes. Yes in our We need an electrician to come in from the outside and do somewhere. So yeah So on page 12 It was Selected $24,400 is there a motion to approve that bid so moved karen and a second a second scott questions excuse me We've used them before so we have good how many Request for proposals. Did you send out? And are you disappointed with this number of responses? No, there's only a couple of companies that do this kind of work in this area So we got that you two best In terms of the bids they we talked to both companies prior But there's very few other companies that actually engage in this All those in favor say aye. Aye opposed that motion carries An approval to accept two leaves of two requests for a leave of absence both for pregnancies both at the end of the year Um Christine chartrand and adrian wade She said kenny kenny Emotion to accept those Scott and a second second karen any questions about those? I'm assuming they're both coming back in the fall. Oh, yeah No doubt. Yeah. I had a question. Yeah Sick leave balance part request. How long are you allowed to accrue sick leave 90 days? You can accrue up to 90 without using them. So they roll over a year after a year 15 a year. Wow That's very generous of us Very It's only it's only generous in comparison with other u.s. Yeah within our country. Yes. Yes. I agree They call up. We say that's downright european. Yeah Exactly Practically canadian Any more discussion all those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye opposed And Do we have board orders that they sign? They are they think they need your signature Emotion to accept the board orders so moved And second Do you have the amounts? so 74,774 And 93 cents And the other one is 114,682 and 79 cents Questions about those all looked yet. We waited long enough Yay answer. I have one that I've noticed uh $6,000 in pizza kits from little caesars for fundraiser. What's that? Yeah, so that's money that flows through so um the purchase is made The money comes in from the fundraiser itself We have to pay little caesars for that. That's the Strip for pastor. Yeah, it's just a pastor the eighth grade trip. This is one of the big fundraisers All set All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye Motion carries and board communication, I think can I can I can I just say something out of the future jen? Yes, quickly to you and car We will have the track bid next wednesday and we're having an su we're trying not to have a u32 board meeting But we'll need to have that to accept The track bid it's in where the architect and civil engineers are checking references and checking some of the subcontractors right now Um and to do due diligence. They needed a little more time And we need to get it going so we can start planning to make that tight timeline for the summer We want to get on their schedule Right, so that would be our only agenda item after the full board meeting Okay, this week. Yeah, okay, so we would need a great. Thanks. Thank you. Okay, so you have to warn that. Yeah, okay Welcome, why don't you guys come on up all four of you? Two of our members are in a public hearing right now that they have to be yes Kimberly and Hoping that if I feel we get here a little later, but I I don't know if you've got the message and krista of my assistant administrator system is trying to send out to everybody You know use your best judgment. We're gonna try to keep it so much. Sure This is like 10 minutes before the meeting. She's like, all right. What are you guys doing? So they're my monitors. They're fine. I was thinking like I I never want to post on things because you just didn't but but I was thinking but I'm tired tonight I So we're gonna try definitely by 7 30 and maybe earlier since we're such a small group Because I really appreciate you guys coming. I know snow is one thing ice is something Well, it also Other some working in companies. I saw in the hallway. Yeah, there's very good. Okay. She said she was coming. Oh good. Okay All right, it's I Suppose I Welcome So you saw in Cummings in the hallway, but I'm gonna start I made your immediate. I'm the chair of her U32 board and we're really glad to have you guys here And we we're just talking about how badly we plan this in terms of the weather. It seems like every other year It's a bad, you know, but here we go. Incredibly. Well, you planned it in terms of Statehouse Exactly right. Um, and why don't we just go around the room we can introduce ourselves really quickly Um, Scott go ahead Scott Thompson from callus and thank you. You were magnificent I care Bradley from east Montpelier And uh you from uh northfield represented northfield in berlin And we would love to hear can you guys introduce yourselves really quickly? We'll be down some of them on east Montpelier school board from east Montpelier I'm 80 Batman John Brayback callus slipboard Betsy power callus Hey pair up callus And we love callus Tim, we love callus Jody Emerson associate principal here at U32 I'm Steven Bellamy Payton. I'm the principal here at U32 Berlin resident Bill Kimball superintendent of schools, Washington Central Carl Whitkey the U32 rep from Worcester And Cary Brownlee from east Montpelier And so in the past we've run this as an open discussion We've given the legislators time to talk about what's going on pretty good Time to do that today and then we'll open it up for questions from the public and from the The board members and the administration and I'm really going to try and be done by 7 30 So that people can get on their way And I don't know if you guys want to update us on what happened today. Some of us know some of us don't but I think that would be a good starting point I I have to say it's always such a joyful thing for me on the house floor I'm sure this is a cross-party lines thing when there's a a good Healthy issues-based debate that has nothing to do with party Where you don't know who's going to stand up and you can't predict where they're going to be coming out on the issue but we We took up proposal for delaying the not not changing act 46 not changing the mandatory Mergers of remaining districts, but giving an extra year time for those who were under mandatory orders and it it failed by a um, actually fairly unusually close vote. It was, uh 74 to 69 74 to 69 But the the um, we're not finished Because there was a compromise amendment that was presented by members of the education committee who had voted against 74 against the Initial proposal which would Which would carve out and give that delay to some districts and not others depending sort of on their status And that would actually include This district in being eligible for a delay That would normally have been voted on this afternoon because we had previously scheduled Very large expected large crowd public hearings starting at 430. We actually adjourned and will continue Today's business tomorrow. So that vote will take place tomorrow afternoon I think it's fairly likely since the education committee recommended it but that will pass Yes, I think it's I think it's likely that there will be a bill that goes to the senate That has a delay in it. Although the structure of that seems a little Um Yeah, god Do you want to say more about odd? It's um It has five categories It's first and out these three of them are unique to you know ones for mine and two and ones for Linda I think I can remember the one other time. Um, but there are two big categories and and the two big categories one is if you um Agreed on articles of agreement and you submitted them to voters and one of your town is rejected Then you are then you have a july 1 2019 deadline But if you didn't agree on articles of agreement and you never submitted anything to voters, then you have till 2020 I guess the theory is you've done a lot of the homework already So it's just about it being mandatory. So you don't need a lot more time to Work that out. Um, whereas if you were working on an alternate plan, so you never did that piece You do need more time. So that you know, there's there's some some logic to it It seems like the sort of micromanaging in a way But but I do think um, that's right because the vote was so close on the broader one And this comes with the support of the committee It does seem likely going to pass On the other hand, it would be good to have a member of the senate I ran into a member of the senate at lunch today and her opinion as one member was Oh, well the senate has absolutely no intention of taking that up That's just one person. I I don't know if she I don't even know what committee she's on because I don't think that I so So I I actually don't know at all where The senate is on the issue Questions about that Nothing but questions But but that's okay. I'll just leave that Sounds like you listen to some of the yes, um, I I have the bird's eye view Some Yeah, it was it was very interesting and I agree with him. We don't very often have debates that that Are just that are not driven And actually really school funding Anything education related tends to cut across party lines. I mean, that's just the way it is Not surprisingly, but it was but it wasn't a real debate and I didn't I don't think any of us knew how it was going to come out Is there is there any consideration of undoing act 46 at this point? No, I would say from the tenor of the debate now. I mean, this I this was like pushing a rock uphill. Yeah, this was just the way Yeah, I think I would be astonished if They're a bit of a reposal had any momentum Yeah, I mean I I had a perspective that says said maybe maybe we need to relook at the exact process for how a final conclusion got made You know at the at that very end point How much weight is given to the different things? And that's something where I would really like to see the the education committee committee of expertise and jurisdiction Take a hard look and say did this Happen the way we fought and expected and intended But based on that committee's response to even the idea of delay, which was a more seven Seven four vote against it That that's clearly not going to happen. So I mean that was part of why I signed on to the bill that Janda introduced That included relooking at some of that and that clearly And that's the two ideas that I Well, I'm putting aside the whole question of depth. I don't want to talk about that right now, but yeah, um, but the putting us up the Two issues that I really wish the committee had grappled with was the need for an evaluation and a an evaluation that The proposal I had had it happen in stages. So there would be stage one this december And then two years out and another two years out Because this is such a this is a major change in the way we govern our schools And I think we need to know whether they were actually achieving the goals and We're not doing that when we should put money behind it and we should put our You know Our open minds behind it and the other thing of which I introduced in a separate bill that I still hope maybe I've got some attention Is would say that you can't close the school unless the town versus school was located Oh, yes, and I understand that that's been another source of Difficult consensus to find But I just sitting from where I sit It's a lot of what people are worried about. Yeah, and so I think that the legislature says this is the role Then you take that off the table and you can negotiate other things. So I have that bill in as well I just did that by myself. I didn't bother getting Responsors, but it probably could have gotten a lot But that's also sitting Other questions People in the audience it doesn't have to be about education necessarily Or actually Just very quickly we got a little bit of an update from the agency of education about budgets You see when we come to where we talk about sort of where budgets are coming in and where we think tax rates are coming fall the letter, you know the commissioner writes a letter in december 1st and kind of gives us a their best estimate based on consensus figures And right at the moment I think 22 percent of budgets are in, you know a really small number And that they're a little higher than than the assumption But we like to see them a little lower, but that's I would just say we we have mail submit our budget The ones they have and that was part of the Dialogue that we had with That james who was the one who came in was you know, what's what it is How is this going to play out when we've got the communities that don't really know No, well, I'm not saying from that point of view. We were told by a we not to submit all this isn't for force merger So I just want to be clear on that Anyway, that so those things so we what we'll do is we'll get a weekly because of that that starts in our committee We'll get a weekly update from that so that By town meeting they would we would hope we would have some idea of where things are going But Adria and I would ask something but it's not 46 or budget related so I'll let people have a chance with any Janet on any of those but another education topic And I know anyone to say something do you want to say? Yeah, I do So I'm here kind of In a piece of research I own an auto repair shop in Montpelier. I live in or it's in Montpelier. I live in East Montpelier I'm very connected with the industry on a state level and on a national level. So on the state level I'm on the advisory board of the automotive Shop or the class over at Berry I've gone and I spoke to all the different high schools and some of the secondary schools Very tied in with the school up in high park because it's awesome I'm taught the darn who's their automotive teacher is like one of the best teachers I've ever met in H.Y. They're very very lucky to have him So within the industry I was the I'm the past president of women in auto care Which is a national group for women in a whole aftermarket I do consulting with ASU certification Which is the certification that technicians can voluntarily take to prove their skill level of what they do I'm also a part of the part of the auto service association which is the association for all shop owners in the country and if you talk to any shop owner dealership anybody who uses auto technicians in Their business What their number one problem is they're going to say I need help There is a huge shortage of technicians and it's not even technicians. It's well. There's farmers electricians So within the industry we created a program a non product called tech force And we were trying to is everybody had these different silos within the industry that was trying to gather awareness that there is Such career opportunities in the automotive world And so tech force was created to take all the different places and say hey, let's all go under one roof And take all of our scholarships because there's so much money for people coming into the automotive industry and Put them all in one place And create one message So we've been doing this for three years and we're just not gaining any traction So I started everywhere I went I started asking questions and I was up in high park talking to the whole school of the You know the technical side of it And I gave him a presentation and afterwards the guidance counselor of the school came up to me and said I need your help and I said how can I help you? She said we cannot get students to come to our school And I was like I am shocked because every time I go to the school. I want to go to the school And I was like what's the problem and she said We don't know we're doing advertising blah blah blah So being in an automotive world where we I fix people's cars You have to ask questions because they don't know and you just keep asking them questions to find out what the symptoms And the problem is so then we can fix them because we're fixers So I started asking her all the questions and what I think I found And then I called um the executive director tech force and said oh my god I got this huge piece of the puzzle here. Is this a Vermont thing or is this a national thing? We think it's a national thing. So I'm now gathering information So what we're finding is that every student has a dollar sign over their head And like when I wrote down the 122,000 dollars for 10 students, that's like $12,200 for that student 17 17 there was 1772 $17,000 Okay, so each kid's got a dollar sign over their head So if that kid goes to the bow tech school The money goes Some of that money goes to the bow tech school right all of it or pretty much all of it and sometimes more So right now there's this nobody has any money Um high schools don't have their less student population less money trying everything's more expensive and so the the guidance counselor of The bow tech school was saying We're not able to get these students in because the high schools don't want to let go of the students because when they let go there goes the money and so Who on average not always but on average who ends up going to the bow tech schools And I'm going to be very blunt or the kids at the high school doesn't want to deal with their pain in the butt They've got behavioral issues Let's throw them over the tech school and maybe they'll learn some kind of skill And they'll actually be able to know how to do something And so they're not getting the brightest and the best kids who then They're told college college college and Which we know in this day and age costs a lot of money And these kids come out of college with these huge debts and they aren't always able to get jobs Whereas in the automotive industry electricians plumbers, you know all these skills They come out of high school and they can start making really good money and they would stay in Vermont So I want to understand if that is the reality of it because if it is Tech force we are going to completely change our message because then we're understanding why we can't get any traction And we have this whole vision of creating like a whiteboard video of kids with the money over their head Being tunneled over to the schools and the bow tech schools saying come here and actually learn how to do something And trying to get the dollars this way so That is part of my search is to understand how it works And if that's so then we're failing our students because it becomes about the money and not about the children And these students especially students who are tactile learners they learn with their hands Those are the perfect kids to be going to the bow tech schools in the automotive industry Cars have changed I went to high school in the 70s and Kids who couldn't actually you know have trouble with math and science and reading and writing They did well in automotive Those kids don't do well We have to figure around videos And what is coming rapidly down the pipe are a hybrid into electrical cars And we're seeing them already and the amount of money I spend on Scan tools and equipment is crazy And I send my technicians to Kansas and florida and very far away to get the training To be able to stay up with current technology Because it's happening so rapidly there is going to be A time I will predict five ten years from now There will not be enough places for people to get their cars fixed because the technicians won't have the training The other shops will start closing because they don't know what to do about it. And we cannot find technicians to fill our bays so To circle back to that My question is is that a roadblock Two kids getting into low tech schools is the whole money thing and are the school and the guidance counselors here Saying no no no bright smart kid You need to go to college and not talk about well, what are your interests and what do you like to do? And maybe you would want to Go down that road and think about that And if that is so Who would I talk to on the same level who is in charge of that stuff that policy can be changed within our schools so kids Can find a successful track that works for them I think you want to talk to jody first Yeah We did so Obviously i'm not Sending people away from tech schools and the reason I say that is because my son actually is a tech student In an automotive field I think that we work really hard to give the message to our students that we want them to be a career college Whatever the next step in learning is ready And we're not trying to send them in a specific direction. We have heard the message from tech centers that they In a way that sounds like and I'm not going to say it's a direct quote but sounds like they want a different kind of student So I hear what you're saying about there's some needs out there that may not be met by the student that most traditionally goes there I would say that We compete with other schools and all of the students that want to apply to the tech center everyone has the opportunity to See their presentation for our local tech center They do apply they this year we've actually changed the process of the interview at the same day they visit So that takes another step out easy and early But there are not enough Positions in our tech schools either So often tech automotive there might be 16 openings and there's 38 students competing for those openings So there may be more to it than Um Students not feeling like they know all the options ahead of them I think there there is a component of there's not quite enough of the programming out there to meet the needs of the students That want to get in either that's not what I'm here. We're not going to go to tech schools I I would my son was wait listed at one and Luckily, I knew that if that happened he could go to another one. So you dual apply and was able to get into it But Lots of different things to happen. I know that I would not say to someone that they shouldn't go down That I feel like the problem with the berry school because I've been to all of them And um, and again, I'm very blood person The berry school has a reputation that goes with it as what the kids call they call it scary berry And so there's a lot of kids With in the high school that look at the bowtack And they say well, that's where all the losers go. I don't want to go there. I'm going to stay here with my friends So there's there's a piece of that that goes with it with the berry bowtack Um, not so much the high park one because it's right there beside the high school And um, it's just a remarkable Facility the amount of money they poured into that place. It's just amazing. Whereas Very didn't have that complete facelift That high park did and it does have a reputation um, I would be very interested to be here when they Do their presentation. I'd be very interested to see how they do it and is it like Is it a mandatory thing or is it just that anybody who's interested goes and to the presentation? It's a callback where people can choose to go in. Okay So there's a little bit of notification that goes out in advance Students can choose to go there. TA's recommends To their entire TA this is happening you can go And usually students from the program come and they have a digital media presentation that they use But they're students that are from all the schools that go there that come and go from school to school That would be interesting because I've been a lot of kids You know again scary very I don't know go there. They would never go to the presentation to see even I think there are some other issues too that we need to address overall in our career technical education I know the governor is actually this is one of his big educational agenda items, um, but uh We don't also look at technical education across the range that it can be So when we talk about career technical education, um, there is a tendency for it to be trade oriented Which is I'm not I'm not saying this is bad, but there are other areas of career technical education So advanced manufacturing is an area that that is popular. Um nursing And medical professions is certainly an area that's important. Um, we also don't pay any I Challenges to find the program that is around it That is a part of some career technical education programs. I think We're a little slow in vermont to catch on to the how broad career technical education can be. I know personally I came from a career academy before I came here, but I was an it career academy and then Some of the places that I visited. I think one of the most amazing programs that I've ever seen is actually in Las Vegas In their school system and their career technical education program had a fashion design it had It had a diesel program that I I would put up against any other ever seen my whole life But they had a broad range of things that attracted a broad range of students When we look at career technical education as being very narrow kind of just those trades focus You do tend to attract one type of student And so I think broadening the the base there Of what can be offered? I think the other thing that we We really need to figure out how to do better is the apprenticeship programs that go beyond career technical education And that's where we get into so many pieces of red tape Around osha requirements and department of labor requirements and all those that kids can't necessarily take advantage of the opportunity To even go into a shop because as you know Insurance isn't going to cover them because osha isn't covering You know, there's just this whole litany of things that can happen Because of the equipment that's used in some of those shops We always have a high school kid right and I mean, you know, they usually come from there because you know We're part of right because it's a little yeah. Yeah, and they do have insurance So there there is that now I mean I've had kids come in forever and I have one kid that came from very low tech God, it's been almost long years And he's still with me and he came right out of high school and this kid is You know, now he's not kidding Amazing and now he's a you know certified master technician And he's might be died but he came right out of high school Which was very cool So you you asked about the funding piece and I think this is the piece where we can turn to our legislators and really ask the question That would help us and some of it's an infrastructure question So when we look at a career and technical education program Our serves a vast number of towns the our central Vermont career center formerly knows very tech It serves a lot of people but if they need to do an upgrade to the facilities There's really no mechanism for them to upgrade because The bond has to be done from their local school board which It turns into it just turns into a nightmare Because they didn't have to finance it as one town versus Correct and so not that I'm proposing that we all get bonded because I know that's a whole different issue But I think that in many states what I've seen is that Career and technical education is usually funded from the state level as opposed to the local level In the way that they create some of the funding formulas for it and that's probably where There's a lot of legislation in that though when that I don't want to push us in that direction, but that's That's right. I was right. Yes, right. You can see sense I would also say Amy when I was going is you were pointing out we have a structural problem in Vermont Yeah, and the way we've been doing career and technical education I'm not sure that we should continue down that path Because I don't think we can offer it to all kids Let's let's forget the funding piece for a minute. Just be a u32 student And you want to go over and take automotive mechanics. It's over in berry So if you're having to take busing to get there, we're spending an extra hour on a bus to get there And so we've just taken a six and a half hour day and made it a five and a half hour day And by the time they get there now, we're down to probably a four and a half to five hour day So we've taken the learning time for learning away Now we're moving we are almost finished with our move to a proficiency world We're trying to take the time out of it and the learning is the constant But Our students that are trying to access that at the same time many of them want to work in the afternoon So we I think we need to stop thinking of technical Education career technical education as a place as one of our 13 regional technical centers I think that's one thing act 77 did for us. I thank the legislature for that for flexible pathways and learning I know both Ann and Janet were there for that And it's something that can really help open up and that's one of the things that's happening You know, we talk about branching out in our pilot system. We have kids out learning technical trades Through that instead of going to the the tech the technical center Because then they have more flexibility in what they want to do you talked about having a different caliber student Jody's told me a lot about her son. He's hopefully going off to college soon From being in a technical center for two years to get a real in-depth bachelors, right? Associates, okay, we're hoping for that. We're hoping you will get into a bachelor's And and auto mechanic Work and I totally agree with what you said that the the level of complexity has gone way up in the industry and if you do the The knowledge it takes to be career ready in a trade versus college ready It's higher in the trade Well, we need to be supporting those kids and when we're taking away time going wrapping this all the way back I'm hearing you say is they don't go there. They would just go right into a shop in the shop I would I don't have the answer any what I'm saying is we have a structure. I'm identifying the problem I'm not saying there's an answer Right now, but I'm saying that if we keep thinking about career technical center happening in one place For learning for all kids. I don't think that is the answer anymore I mean in a sense it doesn't it become kind of like a pilot school for them where they would just go there and they don't need to come here We have to That's one possible that's one possible solution Because it's so technical electricity plumbing all that they they have to go to school. Yeah So they need to be in that classroom as much as possible hands on That could that could be a possibility that could be a way that works I I just know we what I'm trying to say is I agree with you but we have to look at the structure Looking at the structure right now is not serving students anymore in 2019 In the way I they're best serving it is serving kids. I don't want to say it's not I misspoke I think we could do a better job rethinking the structure And I'd like to reiterate that We do send money to central my career center for the kids But I do believe that the administration doesn't Discourage kids to go because we're losing money Because those are our kids and we want them to do what they need to do in order to graduate And it's it's a budget line and we know every year and It's pretty much in and out, you know, the money comes in for that kid and then it goes out right now I think we're paying more To very tech. No, we're paying more than we did in the past Their price has gone up But I really believe that we're not saying no, you can't go because we're losing money Okay, well, I don't think we operate that way. Yeah, no, but I just want to make that clear But I also think it's a society that Of our community and our community thinking that that is not good enough for their children And the electrical work I had done on my house was a student I had known from each one earlier who went through the career center and it's the best work Versus the professional I had before he's a professional but The older person who did electrical work and then was stopped for a DUI after working at my house, which is not a good thing This young man Vacuums and cleaned and did all the stuff behind them and it's the best electrical work we've had and He went through the career center and buried But I also think our communities Because I went through the whole fight to have AP and U32 back when my children are here And what a force that was But not a force to expand the career center Yeah, I think that's an important piece. We had a Debate I don't remember how long ago four six years ago About some language that that was talking about every child, you know post graduate education We want a track where every child goes first graduate education You know what that is not actually right for every child and to assume and say It's not success unless you Got some sort of post and we did it. We did change a language. I think You wasn't feeling that made a fundamental difference in terms of of a bill, but it was Philosophically it was part of what's out there. I think you're right and we I was you know, six kids in my family Five went to college One did not he now owns more property than all of his siblings combined, you know And you know, I would encourage All of you are interested that you particularly did to take this discussion to the house education committee There's a new chair I think they're really open to looking at things differently and I'd also make the observation that These things are really slow to change And that it sounds so so some things are changing that it just takes It takes a long time. So how does one do that? I can If you give me your I'll at least share it can't guarantee that you can get in there, but I'll guarantee that I share it See what happens from there But I think it's a it's a great discussion to have, you know, now that they've They've actually got lots of instruments Amy right now, I don't believe there's a bill on the wall at the house head on career and technical education there was last Session, but it may be something that if you keep abreast of the legislative Uh, if you look for the house head give me you can see all the bills that are proposed And you can testify for a career when they grant career and technical And it's usually what every year or two. There's at least some bill Sometimes they connect with another bill or I can say Oh, yeah So this isn't an act 46 question, but let me just start by saying that Part of the our frustration with with the past four years or so Has been that um while we've been forced to talk about debt and one board and Now articles of agreement or articles of disagreement It's it's taken us away from the big picture um Well, I would use the word crisis that where we've now entered in terms of student population Has to you know, this is this is the big picture, right? Yeah This is the big picture for vermont in a lot of ways outside of chin county is is the shifting demographics low fertility rate, you know all these all these things that I'm not sure, you know, how we sustain our schools. I mean It feels like we're on the edge and so i'm i'm curious to hear is this discussion happening in the in the house and and Are there any solutions that people Six to solve all that And you know that we have this sort of Inconsistent set of priorities. We think that states too old. I mean, you know, they said that a but we also want to You know, not taxed social security and not taxed military retirement and not tax this and not tax that so we can get more old And those things don't really make sense. So We talk about this stuff in various ways all the time And if there were a fix, I think we would be doing it but it's You know, I ever get offering people $5,000 to move into the state. I don't think it's the right approach myself But those are the only things that we're coming up with that those are the things that get the play the other work is just hard and slow Yeah, I mean, I wish I had a better so I I agree. I don't feel like I don't think that's the solution but But right now, you know, I don't have a I think we all recognize we have a huge problem with demographics and I I think if the wall is built we got to build a An expression The truth is that That thing urging immigrants to move to the state is part of the solution. Yeah, and we have an administration in washington that's operating Um, to make that very difficult. I think in bramon people are actually pretty To it including the governor and including members of the legislature That that that's one of the things that we actually know will work The other things we don't know but you know, it's In this environment, it's been difficult. I mean, that's I think of the benefit of the state in Britain anyways agree curry, I would offer to I sit on Central monarchy development council as well and one of the things that we constantly talk about and we see it with our own staff is that Housing is yes, I mean that's you know, those are those are the things that how do we provide ways for new housing to be built that is More moderate or lower income Sensitive and so I think that those are some things that You know, we certainly see When we hire younger teachers here, they're living in chititin County. And so that automatically produces the first hardship um, and so You know, that's that's certainly one of the things that I think is We would cut there's not a business around the table that doesn't talk about how do we attract younger workers Well, first thing we've got to do is find a way to actually live in our community And so I think that those are some of the things and there's there's so much involved with that Well, except we're doing that there we yeah, we actually can do some things there I mean, we're working on, you know, we're in basic and credits for first time home buyers the down payment assistance We're working on the chair And that um, there's another So those kinds of things we actually You know, we're making small changes the other Part of the other thing that we do is that a lot of the benefits when we look at tax credits and economic development activity Tends to just migrate to chitin County because that's what we're working on And for those of us who are now from chitin County, that's sort of my constant Welcome and thank you very much for coming. Is it nasty out there? Yes Yes, we just had a big public hearing as you find out about I should I'm Kimberly Jessup. I sort of state let's respond to him mental sex Okay, go ahead. Thank you Stay breath and look Ken and I serve on house tradition. We just did a public hearing tonight on reproductive health Thank you for coming. Yeah, thank you very much. Can I just I wanted to know what you're hearing on the ethnic studies Bill I know that that's been kind of fast-tracked Then pass the house. Is he a pass the house? Okay There was a couple bumps in the road, but they kind of got worked out and um, I think what we Asked, but that was really really strong vote 140 to Zero Zero zero And so You know that that took a lot of hard work But um, but the vote was really strong. I assume this and I will A lot of people worked hard it almost made it over the line last term and I think people are also When they did their remarks, they were very very mindful of the fact that the legislative body does not set curriculum And there was no blurring of those edges and discussion yet. This was a body that was formed to then provide advice That then is acted upon by the decision makers in the education system I hadn't heard that it passed. So it must have passed thursday or friday of last week. Yeah The other questions or I know I just since um our new arrivals I just wanted to thank Our u32 town representatives for Sticking up for us and for being strong very much appreciated In helping us Get real real close on that vote. Yeah. Yeah You know, I was thinking about that on the way over and um, some of the discussion that we've heard in this room and I I think everyone in this room practices it is that we need to think of this as all of our kids right when we're not divided by town and when I was thinking about some of the floor debate and listening to people I look at our in our own subcommittees and our own comm boards and And we do have so many differences that I think we need to be thinking of each other and try to keep working hard as I have said for many of you have the deepest respect for all the tremendously hard work that has gone on and But I feel like one of the things that became really clear to me on the floor today listening to this debate is Just like we care about everybody's kids. We care about everybody's towns and we care about all the kids in those towns and I personally and really hoping that we can find a way forward that works As best as possible for as many as possible And I know that's a heavy lift Everybody's definitely very passionate everybody in this room anybody at best public services And when you're in the the chamber on the newbie in there and stuff like that and you see it firsthand At a much different level There's just a lot more people that we represent Just try everybody's got their own thing that they try to do and then you try to What I see today was a lot of people trying to work together, which is really really nice I will say that I've seen the sentiment expressed and I agreed with it that It feels like there's just So much work and effort that's gotten to this point and that any delay really just Let's the Grumbling and arguing and people there are people who are just never going to agree Just keep disagreeing for another year Yeah, and and it's like can we just Get our articles of agreement and find the way to merge and make it happen And then get back to the work we were doing for our kids And a delay is just going to let the arguing and grumbling keep going for another year And the budget doesn't happen and I don't know what's going on and limbo happens And so here we are So it just delays the inevitable But it seems like the the difference is the delay is for the Kind of the new conversation if you believe none can't keep Fighting over what we are aren't going to do because now we're stuck with what has to happen But now we do need the time to follow through and and do that as best as we can so That was the But it feels like yeah That that year The the thing that that year does though is the people who still disagree with it To fight it for another year not accept and take a year to make it happen peacefully It gives a year for it to keep fighting and let's keep going to court and so So I think From the people I spoke with that's why the committee didn't endorse the delay Right that was what that was The testimony they heard convinced them that people were going to continue to fight If they gave the delay and so They they actually initially had That supported it and then they backed off for it and that's why So and that's where I would support a delay if if everyone came to the table and said you know what let's just We'll throw this lawsuit out. We'll all come kumbaya and make it all work If you just give it a year then I'd be at that table singing But that's not I hear what you're saying and I got it from my colleagues, so we got it on the floor, you know This is The delay It makes sense to me But from where I sit and that's partly because I think our community is not ready for this yet just kind of stopping about the community people in the town itself and need time to sort of process and Have a conversation But you're right, there will be some people who will not Use it productively. They will use it to keep But it would also maybe give people who are still just in limbo a year to Feel like it's nothing with the world My own sense is that the education committee may find that it wants another year Because as was pointed out in some of the debate some of the things didn't quite work out the way The legislators thought back in 2015 And this is why your evaluation idea would be so Important And there were blockades all along the way to not allow voters in the five towns I say A committee talked and people came a handful of people came to every meeting but there was never a vote to find out what people the Elect direct really felt and I think that That is kind of shame on all of us as a town's I have to disagree with you I don't know because we followed the process No, we had that super majority business and that No, but it worked exactly as it was supposed to In your opinion No, no, no because the the vote was based on on flawed information, but that's sorry We're getting into See what happens when we open up this Disagree with that though too because it's the lawsuit is running its course if the lawsuit Loses if the appeal fails Then then that's that there's no there's basically no other recourse And we just have to make the best of it Any other last Questions or comments? I should think of something I sort of say Yeah Well The hearing on reproductive health I'm interested. What was the big theme? Did you solve Everything by imagine there was just gonna in that room Ah But that's a different issue because for you 32 once the infrastructure of Montpelier fell apart, uh, we couldn't have school There's a mess down there So, right? Oh, that's right with the watering very first water break the big one What kept closed us for two days? because Lack of water And then something they did didn't work because until on saturday there were six inches of water That was actually the third break there was a second break that came in there as well, um, but we uh, we survived that At least that was a saturday Because there was no scum we didn't lose water. Um, but so infrastructure might be another great issue Thank you very much And you know, we should probably do this in october when the weather's good And you aren't working so hard One year we postpone it till may and you were in the week of adjourn and that was a disaster too We keep trying Well, we use to have a slightly larger And we really appreciate it So thank you very much and everyone's drive safely and walk safely to the cars