 This program is brought to you by cable franchise V's and generous donations from viewers like you Wonderful any other comments or edits? seeing none I'll make the motion. I move to approve the meeting minutes of our joint meeting of our three school committees on July 7th a second Move by McDonald and seconded by Spitzer Um, we will take a roll call vote. I will start with the Amherst school committee miss Spitzer Spitzer I miss Lord Lord I mr. Harrington Harrington I mr. Demling Demling I and McDonald I miss Hall All right, is there a motion from the Palin school committee? I move that we accept the meeting minutes from the joint meeting of July 17 7th second Great. Okay. I'll do a roll call vote mr. Manino Manino I That's dancer dancer. I miss Kenny Kenny I and Hall I Okay I'll now entertain a motion from the region school committee I move that the regional committee accept the minutes of July 7th 2020 a joint meeting between the three school committees Lord second Moved by a stancer seconded by lord. We'll move to a roll call vote. Um, mr. Demling Demling I mr. Harrington Harrington I miss Lord Lord I Mr. Manino Medina I and like to welcome Steven broadcasting indoors Miss seager seager I Spitzer I Miss stancer stancer I Mr. Sullivan Sullivan I And McDonald I the motion passes unanimously nine to zero Now um next up we move on to public comments um, and We have a lot. We have one video and A lot of uh voice recordings the video To be clear is a voice recording. Um that was submitted as a video. So I will do my best to share The screen Are you seeing a video the video? It's extra tiny So, uh, it's it's the document the video and then uh reading In regards to the reopening of schools in september amid the current pandemic I think we can all agree that no one knows what will happen One reason we don't know more is because we made the cautious and correct decision in the spring to close the schools Once the potential risk to students staff and families became evident Because we did not experiment with our community's health and lives in the spring. We still do not know what would have happened When the decision to close was made in march We were alarmed by the news that nationwide cases of kovat 19 were rising at a rate of hundreds per day Today as we sit with the decision about our school's plans for this fall nationwide cases are rising at a rate over 100 times as fast Yesterday it was approximately 62,000 new cases While we have learned ways to attempt to mitigate the risk it is safe to say that the current situation As i'm being seeing uh asks for folks to remember to mute themselves Um so that we don't have the echo Thank you far worse than we faced in march and that we still do not know what will happen One can make the accurate point that massachusetts is currently faring much better than other states However, I trust you have all heard the analogy of saying our state is doing better than other states Is like saying i only swim in the part of the pool where no one is being Come this fall. Thanks to the various campus reopenings of our beloved local colleges There will be residents of many other states joining our pool and perhaps peeing in it As to how that will affect our community's health and well-being. We just do not know what will happen As a teacher, I have a great appreciation for the scientific method of questioning Hypothesizing experimenting collecting data and then drawing conclusions However, I'm concerned for my students and their families my colleagues and their families and myself and my family That we are all being volunteered as subjects in a great experiment when we clearly do not know what will happen My request to you is that we choose the safest path for all parties involved and plan to only teach and learn remotely Until the current pandemic situation and the associated risks have been significantly altered I know there are concerns that the remote instruction this spring was problematic and inconsistent I would like to state that what we did in the spring was not carefully planned remote instruction But was crisis teaching in reaction to an unprecedented situation nobody saw coming or had prepared for We can and will do it better If we decide now to choose what is safest for all we can use the time we have left in summer to work towards creating And developing best practices for remote instruction and properly training all involved parties on how to manage it It will be the fair sensible and safe choice for not only our school community, but the greater community as well Thank you for your time Powered us for those echoes that um several of you reported. Um, so now I will play the google the the voice messages that we received on our public comment phone line I'm going to play them in the order that they were received starting with the ones uh, the oldest ones because some of these came in before our july 14th original schedule meeting Eric of an art student and a UMass employee As a non-essential worker at UMass, I have been safely working from home for the past 17 weeks If my department were to now call an in-person meeting of 15 people and require masks and assure us that we would have this Be safe to stay six feet apart. I wouldn't go because I would consider it unsafe And in fact such a meeting would not even be called at this time because we all know that staying home and meeting virtually is the safest thing for all And now we're considering sending our pre-k to 12 students and educators into a situation every day That even office workers aren't being asked to do Before you decide on opening up school buildings for in-person learning I would ask that you consider holding a meeting of the gamers, Pelham and regional school committees in person in a school classroom while wearing a mask the whole time and sitting at 6 feet apart Doing lists for the length of one of your meetings will give you a sense for what we would be asking students and educators to do And if you're unwilling or uncomfortable engaging in such an experiment And I would ask that you not approve any plan that includes in-person learning. Thank you. Hi, my name is Jenny Oskarski I'm a resident of Amherst I am a parent educator at Amherst regional middle school and I have been for the past three years Um, I'm recording a comment to express my significant concern about returning to school Um in any capacity in september I work in a special education classroom where it would be extraordinarily difficult For my students to wear masks for any length of time It will also be difficult to maintain um the six feet Or even three feet of distance recommended by most social distancing guidelines My concerns are both for myself and my own health as well as my my house My housemates at home um as well as the well-being of my students Both with levels of anxiety as well as physical health I already have to work um two jobs to afford My rent and groceries and student loans and I would be concerned about returning to school in person in the fall and putting myself in my body Um at risk In in such a way. Thank you so much Northampton resident. I'm a 24 year veteran of the arhs math department I leave this message out of my love for our school for our students for this community and for my colleagues I'm deeply concerned that relying heavily on in-person teaching has the potential to jeopardize the health and well-being Of our students and their families and our colleagues and their families I worry that we are missing an opportunity to devote our time and energy to make distance learning the very best that we can As teachers, we absolutely love working with our students Many of us chose to teach in amherst because of our district's core belief that every student matters and our district's leadership And our colleagues believe that the best learning happens when our classrooms are dynamic stimulating engaging supportive interactive environments Where students are encouraged and expected to engage in dialogue and problem solving every day with their peers with this Ford and Naples guidance of their teachers our past experience has been and common sense tells us That this kind of learning happens best when students are able to work with us and with their peers in the same physical space However, the pandemic has completely changed. What is possible for us to do? I believe that we need to focus on distance learning because of the enormous health risks physical and mental associated with trying to have people gather safely in schools staggering logistical challenges for transportation and instructional space design And the matter of adolescence hardwired nature, which is to exhibit risky behavior to want to congregate and be physical with And physically close to each other and to have difficulty following rules Here's what I think we should be going to prepare for the school year one Develop distance learning based models that are sustainable for teachers and staff and have the greatest potential for success for all students To develop and in person learning could be the focus for a second person exceptions for students But the remaining 20 percent of their time devoted to school students could access extra help with their learning And could access support for the whole child Including programs and services that address community building students emotional well-being executive fun tutoring and whole child services Could be done remotely and in person at tutoring and support centers that are school building based in community based The tutoring and support centers could be in community based centers and in the elementary schools By distributing the in-person services across the towns we serve in all the school buildings and community based centers We would promote access for all students. What does he say? Dynamic learning classroom look like students learning through hands-on science experiments and groups Students working collaboratively on a project at a table Students sitting together problem solving and using math derivatives Students acting singing playing instruments dancing and playing sports together Students having freedom of movement moving through learning stations stretching and using the bathrooms Students seeing friends and mixing with peers throughout the day Students using paper pencil markers as well as computers Teachers moving around the room to sit with students for one-to-one help Fragged above will not happen in a socially distanced in-person classroom What in-person learning classrooms will look like? Six feet of separation between all people teachers at the front of the room students at separate desks Everyone wearing masks physical proximity in-person group work or teacher help No sharing of materials the majority of work will be done on student Chromebooks Significantly limited movement and mixing throughout the day Teachers are responsible for monitoring student health and safety including symptoms distance and mask requirements likely increased anxiety over safety for students and staff Possible increased disciplinary actions resulting from students unable to sustain required physical distance and mask use That is needed for in-person learning We wonder what meaningful learning can happen in person this way with these restrictions Teachers are eager to explore the benefits and possibilities of redesigning courses with the robust dynamic remote learning focus We can read or listen to a short story Analyze and discuss it together online and thoughtfully write about it while remote learning We can have students conduct and experiment at home They can use their Chromebooks to photograph what they did and online discuss with others their hypotheses materials procedures data data analyses and conclusions Students can take measurements of objects at home. They compare with classmates online to derive and prove the Pythagorean theorem Using multimedia clips digital storytelling and interactive timelines students can unpack the effects of landmark supreme court decisions While plan remote learning for all starting in september will provide a stable and consistent experience for students and teachers If the world becomes a much safer place It's going to be very easy for teachers to transition from remote learning back to our familiar in-person learning It's incredibly difficult to do the opposite Let us focus our time and work now to prepare welcoming Thoughtful and differentiated remote learning this fall for the best possible learning outcomes for all of our students sincerely 39 teachers from So I apologize um that I played the incorrect message um that it She re-recorded that with the with the The the moniker 39 educators from the middle school and the high school I will also note that for those when we get to the reading the document um The document is posted on our website. So in case it is difficult to read when we're streaming the the actual document folks can go over to the arps.org website And locate the public comment document there on the agendas page And the full content the full text and the detail all the names of the educators that sign that letter The 39 educators is included at the end of that document We're three young black children in the amherst school system I am a graduate of amherst regional high school a umass amherst alum and I currently work in the criminal justice system advocating for anti-racist policies I am urging and advocating for amherst to consider the implementation of anti-racist policies within the school district as a priority when it comes To planning for fall of 2020 Including but not limited to covid relief and recovery I want to address the inadequacy of the data collection that was completed by the district Not only did the survey not address many of the main concerns of black and brown families At this time, but I question whether or not it even reached them at all Is important to acknowledge the access barriers these families May face in terms of use public survey data in the direction of the population to which it reached This data is missing the input of entire groups Which are community Seeing the input of entire groups, which are at the broken system already affects within our community Some of the barriers include what are not limited to access to technology the understanding and use of technology Time commitments and language barriers people who fall into these groups are already bearing the burden of our broken education System and our work must be centered around them I also want to take this time to debunk the superintendent's claim that there are multiple forms of outreach to families as the only correspondence I received via email Was via email and the only platform I was presented with to express my experiences was this survey I am a young black single working parent. My eldest child has a high service IEP um, I expressed difficulties at many times during distance learning to staff Um, and although it was amazing I feel although this was lost in translation and I didn't receive any additional outreach I also wanted to take a minute to speak on the superintendent's comments regarding the Crawford Farms staff member who was making racist posts on facebook It was stated that the district would look at its social media policy And I want to point out that this is a dangerous method that will not protect our students They are making someone from posting on social media will not change their character or belief And their beliefs will still display themselves in the classroom in other ways A more effective method would be to implement anti-racist hiring policies Um, and so I am also advocating for that today. Thank you So my name is Carol Cherryton. I live in Pellum. I have worked at Amherst Regional High School for 10 years Our two children were educated through the Amherst Pellum Regional School My question concerns the district's legal preparation as an in local parent's entity As such the district promises to protect all children as would a loving parent In its beginning of the year registration tactics Will the district include a waiver of liability? fully holding the district blameless and harmless in the event that a child or family member becomes sick or dies due to COVID-19 In light of the immense liability facing the district I urge the school committee to extend remote learning for all schools and all families through December 31st 2020 Thank you for listening parents a 10th grader And I'd like to make a public comment about opening up in the fall. First of all, thank you very much for your work I know these are very challenging times I'd encourage You to consider doing online initially and not reopening in person the reason I say this is because The town manager's recent letter to the chancellor starts off saying I have I quote I have profound concerns about two major decisions made recently by the university of Massachusetts at Amherst The first major decision was to open your dormitories to thousands of additional students Who otherwise may not be traveling to Amherst to live for the fall semester? The second was to treat university students living on campus and off campus differently in your academic pandemic management plans I believe these two decisions will endanger the health and perhaps lives of those who live in and around the town's Amherst He continued to say time is short students are invited to return within five weeks and this was a letter on July 10th He also says I fear that the decision to bring additional students to town will fuel the conditions for a massive spread of COVID-19 That could overwhelm our local public health infrastructure Create a crisis for our local hospital Strain the capacity of our ems rich responders and force our public safety officers into difficult untenable And possibly dangerous situations numerous schools are starting off remote Arlington, Virginia just announced three days ago. They were going to 100% remote san francisco, los angeles San diego Atlanta numerous schools are seeing they're at least going to start online I think we should start online and see how it goes with UMass UMass already had cases Even over the summer confirmed cases April 5th an employee at the blue wall cafe April 21st an employee at the integrated sciences building May 1st an employee at UMass police department tested positive At the Berkshire dining hall comments June 1st someone tested positive two students in july have tested positive What when tens of thousands of students return? We really don't want to have our kids back in the schools right now. I don't think Um osha requirements for employees say that a workplace must be free of hazards They could cause serious injury or death In arizona three teachers who share the classroom to teach their online courses all wars masks All socially distanced and disinfected twice daily all three got COVID-19 and one died We don't want to find out the hard way with a teacher dying that we shouldn't have reopened There's a safe way to do this and the safest thing to do is to wait and do remote initially I'd also or Is all of the recorded message and now we'll move on to the written comment that was emailed to To us with subject public comment more public comment has continued to come in and as Any public comment that came in after 3 p.m. Today will be shared in In our public comment period at tomorrow evening's meeting So can folks see that I I can't see what you are seeing for some reason so Okay, great. Um, so I will also a little larger would be nice, but if you can't make it larger I can live with it Did that make it larger? Yes Did that go off screen? Yes Okay, I'll go back down. Um, and as a reminder for folks that are watching from home We have posted this Document on the website. So if it is not coming through clearly on your screen at home Feel free to navigate over to arps.org Find the regional school committee agendas page and you will be able to find this document there For folks keeping track at the home. I am tracking. I'm doing my best to track the three-minute timer as well for each comment This final message is uh, the written of the recorded message So I'm going to scroll very quickly through this Just to the list of teacher names and again as a reminder to everybody Um, this document is available on the arps.org website If you go to regional school committee and the agendas you will find the document there As a reminder to everybody watching we are um, we always expect accept. Sorry public comment um on our public comment phone line And the number is posted at the top of every one of our agendas Um, so folks that want to have their comments read allowed so that viewers can hear the comments That is the best option or submit by email to mcdonalda at arps.org with the subject line public comment And I ask with the volume of public comment that we are receiving by by email. I ask your cooperation and putting that public comments in the subject line so that I can be sure to get that into the public comment In time for the meeting. Otherwise, I follow up with you to ask if it is comment or just for the school committee Um, so we are continuing to accept public comment for tomorrow evening as well Um, and with that we'll pull up our agenda so we can move on um And welcome dr. Morris um, so we are uh Unbelievably running four minutes ahead. So we are now moving on to the superintendent's update Sure. Um a couple things to share. Um So thank you. I apologize. I got most of the public comment And I'll watch the video for the others. Um, I was on a m a s c d which is meshes association of supervision curriculum development panel Which and thanks for this lord who? Uh, I guess couldn't get enough of virtual meetings tonight and ended up joining that one which started at 4 30 So it was nice to have you on that call this lord, but I apologize for being late. It was a prior commitment Um, so a couple desi updates, uh, I think we are anticipating the transportation guidance from them Hopefully next week on friday. We did receive the stop and start protocols. It's a 17 page document All these documents we receive are going on the fall 2020 website, which is linkable from our home page about you know, if there's um Someone who's suspected of having COVID in the school either student or staff or someone who's confirmed The steps you have to take there's it's a long document, but there's a really helpful chart. I found That is about halfway through to help guide decision-making on those matters Um, we're also anticipating next week getting receiving guidance about music physical education athletics We uh, we also received uh information which you're aware of that replant or one document with three plans All in person a hybrid model and an all remote plan are due to desi and by the 31st of This month and a final plan by august 10th And they asked us not to make a final decision until early august because at that point We'll have a better sense of the health information as well as the financial situation right now The state has given us a budget for the summer as you know, but not beyond the summer. There is no f y 21 state budget There's a month-to-month budget and so, uh, they um gave us um that guidance And um, a couple other things contractors started work on fort river. They're making great progress Our own facilities group is making great progress on wild would I get an update on that this afternoon for mr Roy Clark So in terms of some of the major modifications that we're we're looking to make those buildings those are going well Um, as you may know, there were different harassment regulations past this spring that relate to title nine. Um, dr Marta Guevara is our title nine Supervisor coordinator and I want to publicly thank the collaborative for educational services. He's organizing a training By genie tate on the new title nine regulations so that dr Guevara can learn that and bring it back both to the committee, but also to the district We have engaged child care providers over the last week again. Dr. Varra has been very helpful in this Being that we are it doesn't look like we'll have a foreign aftercare programs about the potential of providing Child care, particularly for children of staff members who are in the buildings next year We much like bus companies last year. We have a vested interest in child care providers maintaining in business Working with us and so I'll have more on that soon But I think it's just one of these ways that they're critical to our community the current situation probably won't allow for continued use as it's typically been done in the past and we're trying to figure out a way if there's a mutually beneficial solution to that challenge Bright is our program at the middle school and high school That supports their resiliency and youth They have a lot of expertise on mental health and they're going to be working with our administrative team in early august and they And continue on To work more with staff around how to support students mental health needs Given multiple things going on locally and nationally so we're appreciative of them working with us The group that's working on anti-racist curriculum I got a long one. So I don't know if you want it's it's a rather lengthy update I don't know. I saw a hand go up miss mcdonald. So I don't know if you want me to go through it and take questions or pause Um, why don't we pause if there was a question on on the portion that uh, dr. Morris just said mr. Minino Uh, you mentioned Desi guides on start stop. Does that mean uh, what criteria will be used to shut down the schools? I further I can't remember back in march Did you close down the schools or was it a government? of the governor's call So in march, uh, that was ended up being decision that I made. Uh, this is more guidance of This is guidance for if students are in school and there's a suspected case of kovat. So this isn't Let me differentiate. So I think what you're asking about is something I'm hungry for I'll address in a minute or two Actually, maybe tomorrow night that I addressed that maybe I'll mention it here is more specific, uh Public health guidance opening about infection rate that kind of thing This is much more in the moment when you do a kid comes down with a fever How do you handle that situation in the school setting? My concern is we're being asked to uh vote on a program for reentry without knowing What the exit strategy is and I have a problem with that Yep, and I think I can speak to that a bit more tomorrow night when it's more formally on the agenda for me to respond to if that's okay Mr. Munoz. Thank you. Um So the group work on anti-racist curriculum is making great progress. I got to check in and hear the group working for a bit. Um Last week and um got to see some of where they are Looking at developmental levels of students and a scope and sequence. So I want to thank the team working on that It's it's hard work, but it is the work. So Thank you. We have a hundred we had a hundred twenty three Staff members attended dismantling white supremacy workshops that occurred over the lot in june and july Obviously at this point by a zoom that'd be a lot of people to be in one place But the feedback from staff has been phenomenal in terms of the impact And galvanizing work instead of just oh, that was really interesting and much more What are the next steps which is what we want people to say when they go to a workshop? We are now actively investigating health check products for students families and staff So the guidance from massachusetts is to have a system by which There's a verification around symptoms before students come to school Jill our nurse manager who you've met Is working on that she found a product she likes and we'll probably have more on that Not by tomorrow, but by probably a week from now to be able to share But it's basically an easy tool where staff members and families can verify certain things about the health any symptoms And it actually has a useful health tracker that would assist in contract tracing and look for trends across the schools It's actually a useful thing we'd have in general, you know Because we often frankly kids are out and we can we can see those trend lines But we it doesn't collect symptoms. And so I was excited looking at it today after miss consolino sent it to me Just a quick note on annual preventative maintenance I know I've mentioned this before but I think I can't say it enough So in terms of exhaust fannings, we're working on changing belts lubricate identifying replacing failed motors motors And supply fans and direct drive clean lubricate and change filters Again, most of the filters were changing We're going to wait till august because we want to change them as close to students returning as we can But the exhaust fans and the fans the belts we're working on now We're also assessing build them automated building automation system for maximizing the outdoor air I talked about that I think a little while ago. Essentially, that's when can we start and stop The univents and the air blowers to turn over the air as much as possible And so we're working on that Also, uh, just this afternoon we purchased, uh, ultraviolet light HEPA air Um room air purifiers from capital costs and so these have both the ultraviolet light which More and more is being more recommended more and more As working well with cobit as well as other illnesses around disinfection on a regular basis Also having the HEPA filters will improve air quality regardless of the situation with cobit Mr. Roy Clark was and his team were able to find a product that that effectively did both and had good reviews So making that purchase to mr. Minino's point I'll just speak to it briefly because it's actually second to last item on my update Which is I know new york state. I shared this with the committee came out with their Their guidance for return and they actually do have explicit public health markers to guide Entrance and exit in terms of that And the public health markers start on august 1st because a lot of them are 14 or 7 day averages Which I thought was really smart to have Not wait until the school year starts But if we're talking about averages you need to start well ahead of time and get superintendents used to Be able to look for things and they're regional. They're not across the entire state of new york So i'm not here to weigh whether they're the right numbers the wrong numbers I just i'm hoping massachusetts comes up with something similar. That's an objective public Way to assess how things how community spread is working Finally, you know, I've received a number of questions about distance learning for next year Um, I want to briefly address those i'll go into more detail tomorrow But one is that i've all indications from the commissioner that the time on learning requirements Which are 900 hours at elementary 990 at secondary will not change Even if students are either opting in or we end up on a distance learning module because of The nature of the public health needs and so, you know, I know there's a lot of concerns and we saw that when obed Mostly obed but a little bit me presented that the distance learning survey And so I think for families and for staff people can expect that all the standards are going to be expected to be covered You know, we're going to be acknowledged that We didn't cover all the ones last spring. So it may have to adjust what standards are covered But it's not going to be last year. We were allowed to have a resource delivery model Which is essentially we offered staff offered resources for families to work themselves and that We have clear indication will not be in play this year that it's a direct instruction model That may be synchronous or asynchronous And that the time on learning requirements will be met. So all that to say distance learning next year will be a very different Structure have very different structures Then distance learning did this spring. I'll get into more details tomorrow night Especially when we start looking at schedules because many of the schedules are actually can be utilized Interchangeably between whether it's in distance or in person. Um, there'll be some differences of How how those processes are implicated implemented But it wouldn't be the case as it was this year where we'd have The release from the time on learning requirements and expectation that only about three hours of work happened, which you know The survey indicated we we got that right That won't be the case in the fall. Um, and I know I'll talk more about it last night But there's a number of emails and phone calls I've received on that topic So I wanted to clarify that it's not necessarily comparable what happened last spring to what would What we're planning what would need to happen in the fall for anyone who's on distance learning for any reason So that that was a long-winded one. I apologize, but you know two weeks before meetings gets me out of my flow, I suppose Um, I can I follow up on the the Comments, um, your update about the the ventilation and the the unit vents and an outdoor air. Can you sort of Describe that what? Describe that again and sort of also include sort of what's been happening before then and what changes are Are Underway sure so So typically and I'll speak to all schools. There's some unique variables at Fort River and Wildwood We've spoken to before and I'm spoken about before and I'm happy to speak to them again if that if that's helpful But in general we try to you know, we use the ashray standards. We try to balance How how often the room turns over in terms of air? With energy efficiency and so in this one, you know, we're going to tip the balance to having Air vent unit ventilators Blowing more often in other words starting before longer before students arrive and longer after students and staff depart So that the room air can turn over more often Additionally, the other things around ventilation is having fewer students in rooms and more space and fewer things Has a huge impact on ventilation and air flow So if you think of Fort River and Wildwood in particular where the unit ventilators historically We're budding up against partial walls halfway on their journey And having one point out That wasn't promoting air flow that was helpful In this way with fewer things humans carbon dioxide coming from human beings as well as objects in the room It allows for better air flow, but really running them Longer before and longer after you know and just another thing just to put it make it a little more concrete So at the elementary level We typically have students come at 7 30 in the morning If not sooner for before care and we have students who stay till 5 30 And so without those two if you look at the elementary schedules look at tomorrow It's about four and a half hours or about at least four hours more for both cleaning for our custodial crew But also for not having People in buildings to allow for disinfection And allow for air flow and that was some of our thinking talking to our local public health authorities Is that the shorter day really does promote that and allow for air turned over at a much better rate In terms of the air the air purifiers the UV light is thought to disinfect things that are in the air That's only becoming more important the more we're learning about the virus And the HEPA filter also contributes to that as as well as other pollutants In the air our systems won't allow for a general HEPA system So that's why we're buying individual air purifiers over 200 for every room that we would have students in in the district Thank you. Mr. Demley Yeah, I wasn't going to bring this up, but since you're on the topic Fort River and Wildwood, and I only bring this up because I've been asked it a couple times For those of our community members who are following both the msba process for Fort River and Wildwood the emmer school committee level As well as this fall planning natural question arises that Oh, we we suddenly did these partitions for Fort River and Wildwood to create walls and buildings and we're increasing the air flow Aren't those problems solved now or heard those weren't solvable problems Can you just briefly? Encapsulate why this doesn't solve the problems for those buildings and why they still need to be in the msba process sure, so The first and most logistically Most logistical reason is we're losing a tremendous number of classrooms This only works because we're doing we don't need some of those smaller spaces because we're not having students travel in the room to esl And and much to special education rooms. We're doing all of that in the rooms But that wouldn't be our normal model So we're going from you know having six quads typically that meant that there were 24 spaces in those schools in those quads and we're cutting that in half Therefore we're using the art room the music room the cafeteria is as classroom spaces Which is dislocating all the staff members who would typically be in there So if this was not a covet time we would not be allowing You know classrooms and and having art teachers and music teachers not be in their spaces It it really changes that I think At a larger level many of the problems if not most of the problems of fort river and wild would still remain So certainly we can put up those Walls in the middle again, then we have 1900 square foot rooms Which in a normal context would be a horribly inefficient use of space in a covet context. It actually works out to be Okay, given our context again right now It doesn't solve fort rivers roof problem. It doesn't solve How many rugs we're ripping up? We're doing two quads in the ell room at wildwood But we still have all those types of issues that we need to solve and so on a temporary Very unusual basis It allows for us using these buildings functionally because they are oversized for their current population But the existing challenges of those buildings don't go away With putting a half wall up or a wall up that cuts it in half Unless we were really going to shrink the population of students more dramatically in the future Again, this in this context where we don't want student movement It's okay. That's not our normal context in it and Hopefully knock on wood at some point in the future when we are promoting student movement Which is what we'd want within the building We would not have space for students and staff to do their what we'd want them to do Instructionally in any sort of way. So sorry a little long-winded, but and I can keep going but I think I'll I'll hold it there Miss spitzer Thanks, I'm happy to hear that we're purchasing air filters. I'm assuming that are we using carers money for that? It sounds like a pretty big capital expense. I'm just curious about how we're going to cover that Yeah, we aren't using carers money The thing to note is that the HEPA filters will be a good thing long after Again knock on wood where we're not in this current Place we're in But the upkeep and the filters for HEPA filters will need to be a capital expense moving forward if we continue to use them And so while this is covered by carers money This is something that when we get to next year and we're talking about capital expenses We will need to add a capital expense to replace the filters, you know, we're buying enough for I think a year and a half in terms of filters Because I think that's what what seems reasonable at the moment But there will be, you know a five digit add to our capital budget across the You know combined across the three districts If we want to maintain HEPA filters, what I would suggest I would be recommending that we do Any other questions or comments Mr. Sullivan I think you need to unmute yourself I have a few childcare questions, but I'll save them for tomorrow Okay I didn't hear that. I'm sorry steve. I didn't hear you I have some questions about the childcare, but I'll save them for tomorrow. Oh, thank you. Sorry. Thank you for that Okay, okay any any more questions Comments in the committees If I could just add I wanted to miss spitzer's I should have said uh and deservedly should have thank the town of amherst and uh for Supporting some purchases around some pretty big capital items through The the municipal covet funds that they received which has really helped us Be able to do that across two of the three districts and and using some of our covet funds and you know third so But I really not every community there are some communities like ours there that the municipal Government has made it a priority to support the schools there with cares act funds And some of my colleagues did not have that Real benefit. So I really want to thank the town for supporting schools and they're certainly putting their money where their mouth is In terms of continued support of our operation Mr. Deming, did you have another comment for question? No great so we'll move on to chairs update I don't have an update But I'm hearing from other committee members as well as I'm seeing email come in that there were some public comments that people Have sent in and we did not get included this evening. So I apologize profusely for that and I will Double check my email But if you have it ready and can just resend it With the subject line public comment We will get those in for tomorrow evening's public comment which right now is significantly shorter So you will have more undivided attention At that at that meeting, but please again, I apologize Best practice is to ensure you write public comment either in the subject line or the first line of the body of the email To be sure that we know that it is intended for public comment We're getting a high high volume of email. And so it's really hard to track down each one about Everybody's individuals and intentions for those Um Any announcements from any school committee members miss lord Yes, the zoom meeting that dr. Morris mentioned before was titled supporting leaders work towards racial equity in schools and district I wanted to thank dr. Morris for serving on this panel and having these conversations with other leaders from around the state When I saw the topic, I couldn't resist and I left it in a feeling inspired and grateful And to that end racial equity, I'd like to announce that there will be a school equity task force meeting on july 29th at 6 30 p.m Thank you Mr. Deming Yeah, I just wanted to briefly add to you know, we said about the high volume of public email that we're getting on this topic and Just just as a general comment to the public to thank you just thanking the public for for the input and I'm sorry that I'm not able to reply as as thoughtfully and at length as as the input that we're getting But but it does have an impact. I mean, I'm sure many if not all committee members feel this way that when you read something that is You know, so thoughtful and well informed and and and is obviously speaking for the common good It has a a definite impact on on our thinking and and what we're doing here And so I get I just I just didn't want people to think that if you didn't get a an actual reply That it wasn't being considered because that's certainly not the case I think if we replied at the same length that we're getting we would just be doing replies all day long But it's it's it's really been great. And so, you know, if you've been doing that, please continue to do that and encourage others to do so agree Any other announcements? no Seeing none and we'll now move on to new and continuing business and and we do have a request that we swap the order of the these agenda items under new and continuing business and that we address the resolution or motion on the town manager's letter first and then move into our priorities A document discussion. Um, so I'm going to look to the committee to find out if If folks are okay with that proposed change I'm sitting nodding heads and thumbs up so we will move forward with that change and that uh Both the letter and the proposed motion are in our packets And since mr. Demling you were the lead on this, uh, would you like to introduce the topic? Sure, um, I mean, I don't I'm I feel a little more like that. I'm I'm echoing the town's effort on this, you know, rather than the lead. So, um So last uh, last week, I think it was or a week ago friday. Uh, the embers town manager Uh, sent a letter to the umass chancellor. Um, it's been referenced in public comment. It's been in the paper and the news and whatnot Uh, and it's in our packets. I won't read the whole thing, but um, You know, just to frame it. It's very significant concerns of the town manager had has with the Umass plan for reopening um And uh, there was there was also another update today. So umass had a press conference Uh this afternoon and released a couple of documents Um, not directly responding Um to the town manager but but giving an update It seemed to have addressed some of the points if but not all I haven't heard Uh a response from the town manager yet. So I can't comment on that um But yeah, that's that's the framing of it. I also have my own personal opinion and comment on it But that's that's the framing of of why it's why it's here Mr. Manino I read the posted comments by the chancellor and I think he was responding to the uh, town manager's letter But that's just my opinion There any uh discussion Mr. Deming I'm happy to let miss uh miss Kenny go first. Okay. Uh, so I think I have uh two questions that I wrote when I read it the first time last week. So if And I quickly scanned the uh response that they came up with today So if this is in there somewhere and I missed I apologize. Um, so one thing I took note of was a UMass agreement Was that posted somewhere else and I just Missed it and then my other question was if we were asking the town is asking you mass to test all of the students but we're not testing the our own students um that Or I I just you know thought we should pay attention to those things. So I guess those are my two questions Yeah, mr. Manino My reading the letter is that both students living on campus and off campus will have to sign the UMass agreement If that's what you're referring to Yeah, mr. Deming And then so the UMass agreement is posted if you if you I don't know what the url is exactly if you google uh UMass amherst return to fall website They have a website that um includes a link to the to the UMass agreement and it's this it's this bulleted list of things that um students commit to do from what I understand There it is. It's yellow sharing it From what I understand from the um response today from UMass and again It's I haven't had time to look at all of the details and requests of the letter and match it up with all of the details and response From from UMass today But one thing they did say in their response today is that all students on campus and off um If you're on campus, you'll be required will be required to to uh sign the UMass agreement if if they're here in amherst um What they they did not include unless I missed this is is what the consequences are for violating it and so one of the major sections in the town of Amherst town manager's letter I think it's section two talks about enforcement, uh, that there needs to be really clear Consequences laid out by the university that needs to be explicit. Um, and I did not I did not see that that there um, there's other detail of the other requests, but that's that's what I saw for the UMass agreement Miss Kenny, did you have another comment? Uh No Thanks Miss Spitzer, did you raise your hand? Yeah, I I just wanted to um say that I strongly support us voting to um Sign on to this letter and you know I'm very happy to see that some of the items in this letter are being addressed for example I read today that there will be testing of um students Both on campus and off campus when they return to the Amherst area. So I think I think some of At first I was like, well, maybe this is a moot point, but I think the for the reasons peter brought up that we should continue to Um consider signing on in support of it and I appreciate um the towns and um specifically the town manager Backelman's um Issuing this letter and I think I think we've seen some real change. So Thank you Mr. Demling Yeah, so I mean I I supported it as well. So why I brought it to the committee. Um, I guess, you know for the public as well I just wanted to briefly connect the dots why we would focus on this here at the school committee level and the reason why I feel it's so critical is that um, I think you know more more than the COVID status at the country level or at the state level It's it's the local Amherst conditions that are going to affect us And in my view, nothing's going to affect our local conditions, which right now are Relatively speaking quite favorable Nothing's going to affect that more than the arriving student population and their behavior um, and You know, I mean, I would also echo the sentiment that the town manager had in his letter Which is this is not anti student, you know, I I firmly believe we would not have the excellent quality public Schools that we have today if it wasn't for the Town support that we have and the town wouldn't be able to give that support if it wasn't for the economy Of the colleges and the university And the fact that we have education as our industry is is that a beautiful thing culturally and economically And and the vast majority of students that I meet are friendly kind wonderful people that I'm very Grateful to have here, but you know, we've all seen in the news with these super spreader events it only takes a handful of You're really irresponsible behavior to risk the the health of thousands and so um, you know, I was I was um encouraged but but Only to a point by UMass's response today. Again, I haven't done the full detailed analysis, but um The lack of consequences is is a pretty big standout to me You compare this to places like Tulane that has said if they see 15 students More than 15 students not social distancing. They're going to get suspended or expelled You know and and that and that's it and I feel like if you're asking thousands of 18 and 22 year olds to sign something and you're not putting teeth behind it an explicit statement of what's going to happen if you violate um, you shouldn't expect The highest possible level of compliance and I think that's what we need um in order to You know in order for the community to be healthy in order for our schools to To reopen and you know the other thing that I wasn't super enthused about in the UMass's response as they talked about um, sort of these overtures of of working closely with the town um, and that's great if it comes true, but um You know to my ears that it rings pretty hollow after the completely shutting out the town When designing the plan? I mean that was in my view just a huge mistake on the part of the chancellor and UMass community Relations and there's no acknowledgement of that in their statements at all um, so to expect that they're going to suddenly engage Over the next three and a half weeks before students arrive at the level. We need them to you know, I'm not super Um, I'm not super uh, trusting that that's going to happen. I hope it does I hope that this did they actions will back up their words, but um You know, I think because of that that you know this this motion is the letter And the town of Amherst's town manager's effort is is still relevant. So I think it's something we could support Miss hall Yeah, I mean, I'll just say that I support it as well. I think it's just signing on to this Resolution is just really consistent with the deliberate and thoughtful and somewhat cautious approach that we're taking in all areas And so I support it as well And I'll also add on. Oh, sorry miss seager. I'll come to you Um, uh that I also support it and I think for me The the most important piece is is what mr. Demling um just said um and is Stated in the last sentence or the last line of our draft motion Which is this this idea of collaborating between the university and the town um to develop a plan that works Because we all are we are all part of the same community. Um, um, it does not operate in a vacuum And the the two are, you know, our two systems are very much dependent upon each other um, and when I look and listen to What other towns and universities have done in other parts of the country in terms of the tight tight collaboration On how how the universities are bringing students back or not And seeing and comparing that to what we've experienced here in Amherst I think that um There's a lot more that we can be doing to be collaborating and working working together Um to mutually beneficial um arrangement And so I wholeheartedly support this um miss seager I support this as well. Um One of the thoughts I have and I I almost hesitate to bring it up because um The university UMass is is I feel to a large degree much more integrated with the town having students living there But we also have Amherst college in town as well and it feels like Kind of ignoring the fact that they're going to have 60 of their population on campus too is like, um It's not a large population, but you know, it's um something like seven to nine hundred students and And within town and most are living on campus or in campus Housing so I guess the relationship is different and we are, you know, by a factor of 10 There are way more UMass students, but I'm just wondering And this is more of a town question. But is there any conversation happening with them? You know, I know focusing on UMass is um being a large university Is is a very good thing, you know, and we have this information about it, but Um, it's just sort of nagging at the back of my mind that it's not being in college in town Dr. Morris, you know there in present. Sorry, I apologize Sure, so uh, this is not a Political statement or advising the committee to do one thing or the other, but I have been briefed by Amherst college actually last week about their plans All of their students will be living off campus. They're not allowing for students to live I mean on campus. Excuse me. They're not allowing for their students to live off campus I'm going to get an email from bitty, but um, but um And um, they're not allowed to leave campus So in terms of Some of what I heard I think from mr. Demling about other college's approaches and I'm not saying Amherst college is good You mess about just as a comparative, right? It's a lot smaller. They cannot even receive Deliveries like food deliveries from places off campus So they are really trying to wall off their campus as being A separate infrastructure I know from my conversations with the town manager that weren't with Amherst college that they did have conversations about that Um about the return and you know, I will say my conversations them They they highly see as does UMass the relationship between the colleges and the schools and for their colleges to They have a lot of employees who are parents in the district And so I do want to note that I think there's a shared commitment on all on on all parts and same from hampshire college as well I think that's not to suggest that the committee shouldn't vote against the resolution because I think the policies and practices are Are not the same. They're testing protocols a little bit different and things like that. So But but you know, I have been briefed on Amherst's colleges plan You never know exactly how those things go. How do you have compliance if students leave the campus, right? all sorts of things like that, but um, I felt that it's um, it's not it's certainly A concern perhaps for some but I their policies and practices are quite different I'll see if I can get the link for that as well and share with the committee Miss seeker Thank you. I feel better hearing that because I don't know I have an idea of what the reopening plan is looking like But I didn't realize um that you have a channel of communication with them. So really appreciate hearing That that it is you know being talked about and considered and and it is I think Amherst college does have a very different relationship with the town um And just yeah anyways, thank you. Yeah, and uh, you know, I'll just add that miss consolino actually joined the call for me Because she's also a helpful person to think these things through So I want to thank jill for working a lot over time and all the meetings. We're asking her to do Okay Are there any more um, is there any more discussion? Not um, is somebody willing to make a motion Miss dancer I will read our motion. Um the Amherst Yeah, the Amherst Pelham Amherst Pelham school committee fully endorses the request detailed in the Amherst town manager's letter dated july 10 2020 to the chancellor of university of massachusetts Amherst Asking for critical changes to the university's plan for students return for the fall semester And given the urgency of our district's return to school timeline We call on the university to partner with the town to amend its plan for the fall semester as soon as possible I believe we will have to vote this move and vote this three separate times. Um, so How about we take that as the Amherst Pelham the region motion? Is there a second? A second Move by stanzer second and by spitzer and real call vote um, mr. Demling Deming I Mr. Harrington Harrington I Miss lord Lord I Mr. Menino Menino I Miss seager Seager I Miss spitzer Spitzer I Miss stanzer Stancer I Mr. Sullivan Sullivan I Ben McDonald I The motion passes with the Amherst Pelham regional school committee nine to zero Miss hall would you like to All right, is there a motion from the Pelham school committee? You did a great job before Margaret take it away I don't think you have to read it again. I think so So move uh for the Pelham school committee Is there a second second great All right, I'll do a roll call vote. Um, miss kenny Kenny I mr. Menino Menino I Miss stanzer Spitzer I And haul I Great Would somebody like to make a motion for the Amherst school committee? Mr. Demling I moved that the Amherst school committee uh Fully endorse the request detailed in the Amherst home managers letter as uh described in the previous two motions Nice job Second Move by Demling second by Harrington. We'll take a roll call vote. Uh, mr. Demling Demling I mr. Harrington Harrington I Miss lord Lord I Miss spitzer Spitzer I And McDonald I it passes the Amherst school committee five to zero Mr. Demling Yeah, I was just going to suggest um that uh when we Now that it's passed if that we send it out to the same distribution list that the town manager sent his to So this would be the chancellor umas community relations the Amherst town council And our state representatives Who are very active and supportive of both our public schools and and in the umas. Yep, we'll take care of that Great. Thank you I'm moving on um our next item of new continuing businesses our fall 2020 priorities and planning and um miss hall Would you like to start us off? Sure. Yeah So in the agenda packet is the uh framework for planning document that we had first seen at the july 7th meeting So just to set this up. Obviously, this is uncharted territory for all of us Um, so just to clarify that as the title suggests This is just a framework document to provide guidance to the superintendent and also to community members about What these three committees priorities and principles are as it relates to fall 2020 planning It is obviously very short It is intentionally light on detail because it's meant just to provide guidance and not to be of An implementation document with a lot of That obviously is coming So this is meant to sort of answer some but not all of the many questions that are still out there um, and I think it kind of allows us to continue to be deliberate and thoughtful um, but also to sort of Stay on track as there is obviously a lot of urgency. There's anxiety and uncertainty among teachers and other staff and families and students So just trying to set up what the purpose of this document is It's not it's sort of a step in the process, but it is by no means the end of of the process Ms. McDonald, did you want to add a little more to set this up? Yeah, sure um And I think it's sort of building on what miss hall just talked about. I think what's really important also to to think about is that this is um It's not our detailed plan It's it's a statement of our values of what's important and what we want to make sure that we see At a minimum in or at least strive for when we when the district gets to building those models and those plans um It's it's not committing us to any one particular model or plan at this point. We haven't seen those um, and the purpose of this is also To help the district understand that there's so many moving pieces and so many um dependencies to building those detailed plans And so by narrowing this and stating what our um values and priorities are as as the three committees Helps the district understand what what they should be focusing on when when building those detailed models and plans um So I will say we I've said this before when we've talked about this in our um in our last meeting Which now feels like ancient history. Um, but this is This is within the context of of the pandemic and it is By it's assuming so bad referencing back to uh, what dr. Morris was talking about in his update that we have um, at least, you know, a green light or a cautious green light that in person learning um is is feasible, um, so it all depends on What our community spread is what our local infection rate is? And as he referenced the seven-day average whatever those guidance is that we will be getting Hopefully very soon from desi and our state public health um, that's going to be guiding what we actually do on on at the start of school. So this is not intended to say Regardless of what anybody else is saying we are going we are charging full steam ahead We're getting those kids in the building. That is not what this document is saying It's it's assuming that that guidance is there Um from a public health perspective that this uh can work. So I think in the document our our Original introduction paragraph describes that we've built in some additional clarification in this version that sort of that gets at that as well um, the document that's in the packet and um and published has yellow highlights for the things that have changed since the last time We discussed this um at our meetings um Those changes were brought um were incorporated based on the feedback that we heard from The our three committees during our last discussion as well as the virtual town halls that we held um with community members And obviously as mr. Demling referenced earlier the volume the high volume of email and questions that we are getting from from community and staff um So without the other I think the key key changes in here We called out that we will be adjusting our approach as needed in response to changing conditions um We also have added in comments on the in-person learning section That um, we will prioritize special education el l and our youngest grades Um for in-person learning if we are not able if we're not able to hit some of the other metrics um for providing in-person learning And we've also stated that we want to um, we've added to the maximum extent feasible for outdoor learning because we've heard that from from all corners of our community that um outdoor learning is very important um in our distance learning we've also um indicated that for every grade students will have the option to choose full-time distance learning um, we've also stated um that We want attendance grades and regular communication with parents to be part of any distance learning plan And then another key change is that we've we've pulled out The section and reference um Regarding staff supports into a separate document. We have some members who've expressed um The potential they would like to not be part of those conversations with staff regarding staff support To avoid potential or perceived conflicts of interest. And so those were the the key changes What hasn't changed is our overall goals and values Which number one on that we had and we did number them was to protect staff and student safety And that is our overarching Goal across all of the nuances of the of this plan for these frameworks. Sorry I'm trying to use the words appropriately Our Other value is we want to maximize in-person learning time while maintaining those six feet of physical distance And third to invest in and deliver the highest quality distance learning experience possible So those were our guiding principles in our overall high-level values in our first document and continue and haven't changed in this one So um sarah and I have talked a long A lot. Um, so I will now um Raise your hand if you would like to comment and I'll also if uh, I will make sure that everybody has a chance to speak We will go go around the horn. So to speak um for those but if somebody would like to start us off Mr. Demling Oh, I'm always I'm always willing to go first and uh Happy not to um So, you know, we've talked about the the input that we've we've received on this Which has been notable for a few reasons obviously the volume Has been it's been the highest on any topic I've seen since I've been on school committee three plus years um And the other thing very notable about is how thoughtful and reasoned It's it's been you know, sometimes on a controversial topic you'll get angry Sort of off the cuff responses and there's been very little of that. Um a lot of thoughtful input from you know From teachers parents members of the community and from across the whole spectrum of Advocating for full distance learning to full in-person learning and You know, like when I reflect on the irreconcilable nature of that Um, I'm reminded about our first meeting when we we very sort of consciously stated That and noticed that there's this inherent tension between maximizing safety and minimizing educational loss and and and because of that we committed to finding a solution Other than just closing schools indefinitely until a vaccine is everywhere until until kovid's over Right and so so knowing that anytime we walk out our our door during an active pandemic We're increasing our health risk by some non-zero amount Um, the best guiding principle for me through this has been do the least harm possible for both health and safety and our students education at the same time because um, I don't think the uh The health risk and concern needs any further elucidation But the educational loss For a fully and an indefinite fully remote approach is real and it's increasingly unrecoverable the longer that kids go without it. Um, you know, which is true for students to varying degrees for all students But especially for those subgroups of subgroups of students who can least effectively access distance learning, um, you know, and we've mentioned these these groups that our youngest grades special ed English language learners Um, our homeless students and that there's there's there's a ceiling for these students that no amount of prep time or funding Is is going to is going to make remote Um, you know increase to the level they need and I just You know, one of the core sort of conclusions of this for me has been in this impossible task of balance is I just can't get to a point where I can say to those families The only option we have for the foreseeable future is one that your student can't access I I just can't get to that point. Um, Unless the local conditions dictated that Um, and so so we have to minimize the health risk and so that has meant pushing back Pretty fiercely if we've been asked to do otherwise, you know, the state came out with this three foot distancing Minimum a few weeks ago and that night we were the first districts in the commonwealth to say no We are sticking to six feet and since then other districts like boston and Worcester lexington Half a dozen others have have followed us now and it's it's a big debate um, and you know, we'll we'll review this in more detail tomorrow night, but I think with with the safeguards that we've put in place Given the status of the local covet condition I can comfortably say that of every reopening plan that that i've been able to read in massachusetts at least This is the safest most deliberately cautious approach that i've seen And so I think I think that our strongest commitment has to be The the flexibility with the model the the response to changing conditions highlight there and on page one And you know, and it's it to me it's following what fauci and the aap have been saying recently which is um, you know, you need to evolve your you need to change your approach based on what our how our understanding of the virus evolves Which is constantly evolving and your local conditions and and so that that to me is the real pivot point of where Our decision-making should should lie. So I think this is the best plan That does the least harm possible in response to current conditions for now So I feel I feel ready to support this tonight and um, you know, that being said we have to be ready to change Um based on those two things based on the understanding of the virus and the in the local conditions I will say I neglected one other key key change that we added and um was the uh The request for a phased in plan for gradual return to in-person learning whenever that is Mr. Harrington Yeah, I just kind of wanted to speak to like the parts that kind of resonated most to me like number one It was the the uh the first overall goal protecting our staff and student safety I think it's very important that that's the message that we are sending to our community right now that that's our priority Like there's the rush to put a whole bunch of people into the building is not the priority Safety of our staff and our students our entire staff and students and and educating them Are that that's the important part here, right? And so like for me Adding in the option for every grade students will have the option to choose full-time distance learning I think that kind of like sends the message that we're not forcing anyone to do something You know against their will and against, you know, the greater sensibility here So those those are two aspects that Kind of really jumped off the page to me overall. I think this is a great set of uh Great great framework. I'll say a great set of guidelines and and I appreciate the flexibility and non-rigidity of it miss dancer um Following on what mr. Harrington said um about the things that resonated with him for me Calling out the special education the el the homeless students I think is critical If we're going to try to address equity issues Um, we have to do these things People who don't have the best access to the internet So for me that was really important to see and the other one Was the idea of um a return in phases um that That speaks to me as well miss spitzer um I took a bunch of notes and i'm This is I just want to open up by saying that I think um This is a really difficult um Problem that we face both as policymakers and then also as parents or educators or you know people Who who are connected to the schools in any way so and and it's so difficult because We have seen a failure at the federal level So many levels and I think what we're seeing across the country Makes the thought of reopening schools Absolutely terrifying, but when I look at my community And I look at the fact that today I was looking at the dashboard and our testing positive rate was 1.6 Percent which is well well below that five percent threshold I feel reassured and I feel um Not that the risk is zero But that what we're proposing um is is reasonable But the key is again being flexible and and pay attention Not only to the changes in the rates that we're seeing in our community But also paying attention to research that's coming out So a few days ago there was a new study from south korea that you know sort of changed my thinking about the potential for you know This idea of prioritizing younger kids over middle school and high school teachers based on some of the data We're seeing So I just want to say like there is no situation where we're going to be able to say there is no risk And I think even before cobit There was no situation where we could say we're going to a hundred percent per You know protect your children from getting a virus that could um, you know seriously harm them So I also know that parents are exhausted and we are all kind of doing our best to make these decisions So I think this document is Is the best we can do in the current situation and I like the fact that we're prioritizing younger kids I like the fact that we're prioritizing those with IEP's English language learners in other documents we're talking about Also prioritizing homeless students and I think that's right because I think a lot of us in the community who are most vocal may also Often not be connected to some of these communities that may find it hardest to engage in distance learning folks who are You know working multiple jobs and May not have the time so The thing that i'm still somewhat uncomfortable with and Most of the folks who have spoken earlier may have conflicts or they can't talk about the staff piece But I I don't have any of those conflicts. So I I think I like the fact that we are stating explicitly that we will provide Accommodations for staff who have underlying medical conditions. I am sorry to interrupt. Um, I should have stated this up front We're gonna Okay, okay, so then I'll put my comments on the staff But but then I'll just leave with and with one thing So it's a little confusing to me that we state the district will provide accommodations to students who have underlying medical conditions Um for and always provide them with remote distance learning But now we're also saying the first bullet of the distance learning for every grade students will have the option to choose full-time distance learning I'm just a little are there additional accommodations that we think Beyond just full-time distance learning that we would be doing for folks who have underlying medical conditions or is it Redundant to say that distance learning is going to be an option for everybody And then I'll save my comments about the staff piece for later. Sorry Yeah, we are talking only about the the first two pages of this framework that that stop with the line Support for staff guidance related to staff is described in a separate section And once those folks that feel they have a conflict of interest Have have retired or um, then we will continue with this that second portion. Sorry, mr. Demling Uh, yeah, I was just gonna say my my interpretation is that technically it is redundant Um, but it's calling out two different. It's calling out the same answer to two different questions One is what if my child has a medical condition? Will you offer remote learning? The answer is yes, what if For whatever reason, I don't feel comfortable or I choose to have my child do remote learning. Will that be supported? The answer that's also yes So I think it's coming from two different audiences, but I think you're right that it's it's technically a redundancy um, that second bullet also gives an opportunity to call out this other addition that we added that um Provide the district will provide opportunities to change this choice at different points during the school year frequency to be determined so this is the idea that uh periodically every x number of months Uh, a parent could say, you know what my child's been remote now I want them to come back if that if that's something that's part of the the current model We haven't gotten into the details yet. Uh with dr. Morris who has his hand raised Um, I think that was another reason to have that bullet there Yeah, dr. Morris So to very very briefly add to mr. Deming's comment and attempt not to open uh a rabbit hole um, there may be Situations in the future much like mr. Deming said where students choose to return um Because either conditions approve comfort level improves whatever But it also could be the case that a vaccine that comes out in the future is 80 effective And that might change the comfort level of many It may not change the comfort level long term about someone with pre-existing Uh medical conditions. So, you know from my perspective, obviously it's your document I would support having it separate because it could be the case that Many students can return to I don't want to say normal but return back to larger Percentages being in school whereas for some students. Um, this has always been the situation something of students who can't come to school pre-covid because of this and um, you know, it may be a longer road for them to return Uh, I'd like to like talking about post-covid But it may not post-covid for some may not be post-covid for others So, um, that's I think the other piece about highlighting that is this is not a short term thing um, and this isn't getting into your guessing anyone's guessing games about vaccines, but um, You know vaccines may come out that are primarily effective, but uh may not address every every child's health needs Um, not seeing any more raised hands. So, I'll I'll um, oh miss seager I just want to say a lot of the stuff like if everybody else resonates with me in here I particularly like a phase that that it includes a phased in approach um one Point under the staff and student safety It says we'll include guidance from the centers for centers for disease control American Academy of Pediatrics The state and local public health officials Um, I'm an engineer So forgive me, but I don't want to book Uh, bookend us into just these sources Um, I wouldn't mind it saying something to to the guards of any peer-reviewed science on this matter Um, or the who as well, you know, I feel like in our country. Unfortunately the cdc seems to be coming undermined um, and There's some stuff in the mere American Academy of Pediatrics that When I read through their stuff, it was like three feet. Okay for kids, but six feet for adults and I just I would love fraud sources In there And that that's all Mr. Demling, are you responding to miss seager? Yeah, I was just gonna say I mean if the committee's comfortable with it If if they feel like it has the same sentiment as what's currently written we could alter that to um amend it to Uh, we will include but not be limited to guidance from Etc and then that allows us to freedom to Uh evaluate Great. Thank you um miss miss lord Yes for the first overall goal of protect staff and student safety I don't see us really addressing mental health um, I know a lot of We're not going to talk about staff, but there's a lot of um mental health stuff around coming back to school not coming back to school On the different intergenerational families we might live with so I would love if we could find a way to put a bullet point in about that or at least Open up talking about because to me mental health is also another part of that health and safety um, I appreciate the new phased approach as If we have 20,000 people coming to this town Our uh our rates might change and then I want to speak to the families. Um that are most Vulnerable to the equitable issues and or have always been I feel like we really need to talk to more of them. Um, I heard two public comments About you haven't reached out to me. What are you thinking? I've been trying to talk to a few and And we might not understand what their needs or desires might be as much as we think We might be looking at metrics and not getting behind and but I I I really implore us to try to find a way If well, you know call whatever it is, but just to get a little bit more input from those families Thank you Someone I look at there's a couple folks that haven't spoken up yet. Um, mr. Manino Do you have anything to add um It's a thoughtful It's a cautious expression of our values with respect to safety and education It's something this committee should be proud of I'm not sure how this fits in but uh, I still have concerns about in school and virus Transmission the cdc came out with something today that said fourth graders and up can just be a transmitter is as an adult And what does that mean for uh in school elementary education? But it it's it's a good compromise At something that says we understand the issues Um, I've read something like I read every article that appears in the wall street journal of the new york times That it has to do with education. I read It's it's I'm retired. I I'm concerned because this issue is consuming me basically There's evidence out there supporting any position you want to take And this seems like a healthy compromise That's all I have to say Ms. Kenny, did you want to speak to this at all? Oh boy, um I'm not sure I have Well articulated thoughts and feelings just yet. I do have lots of thoughts and feelings. I'm just not sure how to They all fit together in a nice neat Articular package just Take you though. I'm sure uh, you're not alone in that Um, so, uh, well we can uh come back. I'll keep an eye on you. I'm Um, mr. Sullivan. Did you want to uh add any comments? Not not this time. Thank you Okay Um, miss hall sure, um, yeah, so I mean, I also have trouble being articulate about it. It is all very overwhelming. I think for me the phased in part of it. I think, um Makes me a little bit more comfortable with this document and um And I don't I don't think there is a way to really be comfortable with this I don't think there's anything that we're going to do that's going to make everybody be like We're right like we nailed it. We got the right data and we did it the right way and we And our little bubble here in the pioneer valley did it exactly, right? um But I think the fact that it's open for flexibility that it's focused on data and on like As miss lord said sort of like sort of trying to get at the real authentic needs of students and staff I think it's you know, it's a really good framework and sort of goal document that Um, I feel good getting behind Thank you I'll just uh listening to everybody. Um I have the benefit I can go last Tuesday um, but I I think you know, they're Going all the way back to something that mr. Demling touched on which is this idea that we're What we're trying to do is You know, there's it's I don't want to use the word Win because it because it's not about winning, but I think you know and again what you just said about being uncomfortable No matter where we land it's going to be it's going to feel uncomfortable. Um, and and we're because we're balancing Goals that are inherently opposing or opposite, right? So as mr. Demling was tightly like that we were trying to protect from the the health risks of the of the pandemic The best solution is to just is to stay in lockdown. But at the same time we know that we That there is tremendous learning loss and risk for long-term learning loss and and negative impacts on specific specific populations, but in general as well For remaining in lockdown and and and staying out of school and remaining in 100 distance learning And so how how do we how do we manage those? Because we can't sort of put our heads in the sand and pick one or the other because we're going to be failing In in in many ways on on the other And if our mission is to educate our students And and provide that education so that they can have impactful and and lives All of our students then we we can't choose one or the other end of that spectrum and I and I do feel that What we've pulled together collaboratively here with significant input from the community and staff I will add because this has changed Over the last 10 days and I do feel we've struck a balance here that As miss hall suggested is still going to feel uncomfortable As as we work our way through to it, but I I do feel We've expressed our values very strongly here and I Can get behind this wholeheartedly As wholeheartedly as I can in a pandemic Mr. Deming Yeah, I just so too two unrelated things One is, you know, I I did want to acknowledge that while I feel like This is the best plan under the current conditions that does the least harm possible Doing the least harm possible still means harm Which is which is the really painful exercise of striking this balance You know, so there are there are aspects of this that that I continue to feel Movement on and and what I think is the best thing to do and I'm not totally Settled on and it's it's funny like just to break the fourth wall of school committee for like a half a second Now I feel like when when public bodies make these big decisions There's there's this need to sort of broadcast Confidence that, you know, you know what you're doing and everyone feels a hundred percent You know, but I don't feel a hundred percent on every aspect of this and and I Still today, you know reading input. I feel Move so for you know, so I just wanted to know a specific example like number of days On site for seven to twelve I've heard some pretty compelling arguments for for One versus two Maybe zero versus one. I'm not I'm not entirely sure and so I don't want to open up that entire can Again, I feel I feel good with with the framework that we have and But you know, I just wanted to acknowledge that reality The other thing is responding to what miss lord said about social emotional needs Um, so I just I just sent a chat that I don't know if it shows up. So this is a something we might be able to add to the Uh To the staff and student safety section So something like meeting social emotional needs of our students will be a primary goal of both distance and in-person learning throughout the school year Um to try and capture the the the value that miss lord was talking about So I don't know what y'all think of that seeing nodding heads and thumbs up so we have a two Minor amendments well not minor. I shouldn't say two amendments to this document One is in both our understaff and student safety one is in that second Section of the first bullet we will include But not be limited to guidance. Um, so we're adding but not be limited to Um, and then the other change is to add the bullet that mr. Deming just described about social emotional well-being Miss Penny are you feeling any more um eloquent at this point or Mr. Manino you had you raised your hand No, I was saying good night to my granddaughter. Oh, sorry Um, miss Kenny and then miss dancer okay, so I guess I have a few feelings right I Really appreciate that it one of the first overreaching goals is the highest quality of distance learning um because I think Focusing our time and efforts there because that is the Brand new piece right like we have great teachers that are really great in the classroom But who have never done the distance learning piece So I think being able to have that being one of our overreaching goals where That is one of our highest priorities. I think that's super important It also really appreciate making sure that we are meeting the social emotional needs of both the students and the staff because I think that is going to be Really really important. Um, I don't know about anybody else His family but our household super struggled with that piece of the whole emergency remote learning part And The the phase in approach I think is a fantastic ad um Along with the option for students to have full-time distance learning with Some points where people can make different decisions. I guess my only question Or one of my questions would be if you chose In school learning and then something changes for your family. Can you then Go be part of the distance learning team? Um And Yes, I think that's as articulate as I can be right now Oh Thank you. Dr. Morris Yeah, that is that It's it depends which way you're going that way is much less problematic uh, really what the What it would be much more challenging for the staff was Someone who started in distance learning and after two weeks wanted to be in the class Because we're gonna build our classes based on Students who are coming and you know, not that there's not one space, but having that disruption It would be really hard when there's so much work that staff are going to have to do to build that classroom community in a distance way to have Kind of up and down enrollments is not something for the in school that we think is in the best interest and also You know, we're trying to do orientations around health and safety with students and And families before they return and so there's some like logistical limitation on how often we can do that and build in systems and supports for families so Going the other way doesn't involve the same degree of orientation and health and safety Needs that uh coming to the in-person would this lord Yes, and i'm sorry if i missed it because i do remember it being mentioned a little But i don't see a section that would address how we um deal with if somebody in a class test positive is the whole class then quarantined our siblings um, would we have a framework for For those things as well my my my sense my take and Open to hearing other other committee members ideas on this but um that that's that that's getting into the plan um and protocols as opposed to guidance, I think sort of covered in the Maximize, you know protect staff and student safety um is it is our number one goal and and all of the things falling from that that Okay Mr. Harrington and then miss dancer Yeah I'm not i'm not hung up hung up on it on the second goal Because I see it within the first bulletin point there But I was just wondering if we could add some clarity to the fact that you know maximizing in-person learning time Well maintaining six foot physical distance Also kind of folds into the fact that we will adjust our approach as needed in response to changing conditions I just don't want people to feel like like We're forging ahead with the in-person aspect of all of this So I think what you were, um, mr. Harrington you were proposing that we take that Adjusting as needed in response to changing conditions into the overall goal. Is that? um maybe I'm I'm also Not super eloquent at the moment. So I'm dealing with that curve, but Yeah, I don't know if they necessarily have to be together because they're both, you know part of the same document, but maybe a When possible on the number two or some something to that effect. I don't I don't know Um, I saw two hands miss spitzer and mr. Demling. Did were you responding to that? miss spitzer So I had a similar concern last week. I feel like focusing in on the six foot of physical distance is kind of Calling out one of many ways that we work to keep people safe when they're in our school buildings And I'm not sure why I mean, I think it's important and it's an area where we were Making a clean break from the desi guidance and I think maybe it's the point is that We're gonna go with whatever is You know the strictest guidance about being in person um In order to keep our folks safe. So I I you know, I I said it last week. I still feel the same way I didn't feel the need to repeat myself, but um I agree with ben. I'm not sure exactly how to say it more eloquently, but I think this idea of you know We're not going to maximize in-person learning if it's not safe And and six feet of physical distance isn't the only way to keep us safe and and putting it in Overall goal to me feels like you're moving from a goal to an actual Implementation piece like the six foot of physical distance is a way we keep people safe. So that's why I I think it's a similar comment last week. I don't know if people have better ideas on how to say it I think the way you just said that is actually You're feeling not eloquent, but you sounded good. Um, the the maximize in-person learning time while well, um Meeting the staff and students say something along, you know the the staff and student safety guidelines that we've detailed below Dr. Morris Yeah, just the way that i'm continuing to hear uh, public health experts talk about this And I don't have the i'm not in the i'm not on the articulate train either. So i'll just bear with me, but Is something around uh, the language I keep hearing is like a suite of safety Measures it's not just the six feet. It's also the mask wearing it's also the ventilation So I think calling out six feet You know, especially when that was a novel thing a couple weeks ago, uh made a lot of sense That's not a critique of having included but I wonder if you know, I don't know if sweet's the right word but just You know everything that I read from public health is that it's not one thing It's actually multiple health and safety measures That one takes and maybe that's a language that we you know that that gets shifted from an isolated six foot Is one measure, but it's actually again the range of measures that complement each other. Yep. Um Miss kenny and then mr. Manino so what if um We take out the while maintaining six feet of visible distance and put in there something about a maximized in-person learning time while following health and safety guidance From the people as listed below or something along those lines because we then go on later to say Just six feet the masks and who we're taking guidance from so you know as more of like a Like we're gonna pay attention to what is happening. So maybe something more like that like maximizing in-person learning time while There was something else while Got halfway um Now I forgot who is next mr. Manino and then I had to advocate uh keeping the six foot uh criteria in It was one of the hallmark Hallmark conditions this committee brought forth. It was a direct response to the desi Reposal that you have three feet um You could add Adjusted our approach as needed in response to changing conditions Which would make it cumbersome if you want to indicate that That there are things other than six foot that would make it safe but I just like the idea that six foot is right near the top in overall goals rather than down in The reopening plan criteria, but that's just my opinion Mr. Deming and then mr. Harrington right possible solution to that would satisfy both of those requests is that um Right now under staff and student safety the third bullet Is the reopening plan will be designed as much as possible with requirements that at least six physical distance So let's say we take that entire third bullet section and then that becomes the first bullet under staff and student safety So the first detail that you see in the first section mentions the six feet That could allow you to then reword Goal number two to say maximize in-person learning time And then something like with a suite of safety protocols in response to to prevailing conditions That way you're you're you're talking about safety You're tying safety is the in-person learning time You still have your six foot prominence in that first bullet under staff and student safety I was seeing a lot of naughty I had one other suggestion So mr. Harrington talked about you know How to maybe further highlight or make more prominent the adjusting our approach as needed in response to changing conditions We we could just make that the fourth goal We could say that the fourth goal is we will adjust our approach as needed in response to changing conditions And then that and that really is a more general guidance of all the detail that then follows miss figure I don't know. Mr. Harrington is going to say this but but I think that's a great goal for the fourth goal And I would love to word it something like um, oh, I just let my mind Remaining flexible to adjust to the conditions as they change It sounds more goal-like than I don't know just a wording thing So we're much more articulate and productive at 8 8 15 than at 10 15. So I'm going to try I I think so I'm going to trust I'm taking notes, but I'm trusting also that CLA you've helped us with Taking some good notes on changes here, but just to recap we are proposing to change goal number two So that it reads maximize in-person learning time With a suite of safety protocols, and I can't remember that exactly but it was the um In response to prevailing conditions Thank you And then we are adding a fourth overall goal that is We will remain flexible and adjust our approach as needed in response to changing conditions that And moving the third bullet point up Correct and move the third bullet Up Um, we are also adding the other two changes the social emotional needs in this staff and student safety section Um, and then adding but not limited to to where we're going to look for guidance Since we know that we Well, I don't know how are folks feeling about Voting on this with the notation that as amended as just as amended as discussed Or would we like to table the vote? Wow good seeing lots of thumbs up um, and as mentioned we're only um We would only be voting on the first two pages of this guidance. Um, and then we will um allow any any committee members who would like to to excuse themselves From the discussion on the remaining page of staff guidance what Miss kenny Sorry, can you just um repeat how what goal for how that's going to read? um I scribbled this down so please Has this better um, we will remain flexible and adjust our approach Uh, sorry, we will remain flexible and adjust our approach as needed and response to changing conditions Thank you Would somebody from the region like to make a motion? Mr. Demling I move to approve the framework for planning Uh for fall 2020 as amended second Moved by demling seconded by spitzer Take a roll call vote Mr. Demling Demling I Mr. Harrington Harrington I Miss lord lord I Mr. Manino Manino I Miss seager Seager I Mr Dancer I um is spitzer spitzer I Mr. Sullivan Sullivan I And mcdonald I The motion passes the region nine to zero um is hall. Would you like to? I'll entertain a motion from the palim school committee I move that the palim school committee accept the Framework for planning for fall 2020 as amended second Great. All right. I'll take a roll call vote miss kenny kenny I Miss Dancer Stancer I Mr. Manino Manino I And hall I Um, and I will make a motion for the amherst school committee I move that we accept that we approve the fall 2020 reopening framework for planning for the amherst schools As amended is there a second second Move by mcdonald seconded by Harrington um roll call vote mr. Demling And down like I mr. Harrington Harrington I Miss lord lord. I miss spitzer Spitzer I And mcdonald I The motion passes amherst five to zero Thank you everyone I will make the the necessary edits to this document um and send uh to the committee and to c. L. O. For morning Um, and now we'll move on to the next portion. Um looking at the second section page or third page. Sorry. I have a document. Um and for any members that Believe that they have a conflict of interest or a perceived conflict of interest Would you like to re choose yourself from this discussion? Mr. Demling Yeah, for the record. I'm recusing myself from discussing the document given that my wife is an employee of the amherst school district And while there's no monetary component here that would create a conflict of interest. I'd like to avoid any appearance of a conflict Uh, so I am going to I'm going to mute and turn my video off and I will join you after the item Thank you Mr. Harrington Yeah, as an employee of the district. I'm also going to recuse myself and uh step away and mute and Come back after I will chat you both to come back Mr. Samford Um, because I have a family member who works in the school district I am also going to recuse myself But I also have a question if I mute myself and turn off my video. How do I know when to come back? Um, I will if you if you are still in the google meets. I will send a chat To everybody Great. Thank you Mr. Menino I have a question. How do you get a chat? Oh It's the little in the upper right corner of your screen There's a little white section with a lot of icons and the one that's just to the left of the time It looks like a little talk box like a comic strip Oh, it's got a person. Oh a little a little bubble and a sheet Yes, I see it now. Thank you Okay, so as as mentioned before we separated the staff sections out and and actually added to it from the first time that we looked at it so Most of these are new from the last meeting that we reviewed them. So we've um What we had before was the district will provide reasonable accommodations for staff with underlying medical conditions Um, we've added all those districts will speak to accommodate staff who for any reason Including concerns about household members who may be vulnerable express a preference for full or mostly remote work To the extent that such positions are needed and available And based on the instructional model and student preferences And we also added that the district will work with the leadership of the collective bargaining units To try to address other points of concern to staff And then continuing from the the last bullet on this in the page Um has not changed from the first time which is Staff will be provided the support in time training and professional development to adapt to the requirements of both in-person and distance learning instructional models Anybody have any um comments on this document miss kenny? Um, so as we change the first overall goals, um On the framework for planning Should we adjust these goals so they match up? Yes, thank you Yes Miss spitzer you had had comments before um, so let's start with you and then um, is lord. I see your hand. So you'll be next I feel like i'm talking a lot tonight. I was trying to give other folks a chance to respond, so I I guess This is the theme of planning during covet is that things you care a lot about are often in direct opposition to one another um, so, you know the idea of um All of this sounds great to me. I'm particularly concerned with the fact that we may end up having a situation where there is a mismatch between in the preferences of our students and the preferences of our staff and I feel like the way this is currently worded um and You know, I aware that this will probably be negotiated at a later date. So I want to be careful, but It you know will provide reasonable accommodation and will seek to accommodate staff for any reason Like that that's our goal But if we end up in a situation where we have more students who are interested in in-person learning and fewer staff who are interested in Being in the buildings and serving in in that capacity Then we're going to be facing a problem and the way i'm reading this document now um, it airs on the side to my reading of putting Staff potentially in buildings if they are even if they are uncomfortable with that option Even if their preference would be to do um remote learning and so that's where i'm feeling really uncomfortable and i'm not sure how to um reconcile these two competing interests so um, I for one would feel You know just really uncomfortable um With that type of situation of forcing somebody to go into a building if they feel that it's not safe for whatever reason it is and I also believe that you know It's going to be very difficult to um You know you'd have a situation where folks with easy access to doctors willing to write medical notes is going to you know Not be evenly distributed throughout our staff Even though hopefully all of our staff have access to to health care health care and health insurance um So I just want to put that out there because it's been what's honestly out of all of this Um, you know, we're giving our students the option of choosing distance learning or being in person But it's it's the thing that's keeping me up at night. It's the thing that I'm I'm perseverating on quite a bit so I'd like to hear what others are thinking and um, thank you Mr. Manino How do you propose to solve that conflict? That's what i'm saying. It's an impossible situation like all of this pandemic planning has been for me But I think it's it's the one where you know, it's it's It's really difficult Um, dr. Morris and then miss lord. I know you've been meeting sorry I can wait for miss lord to jump in. I just had one comment on one thing miss spitzer said not on her larger point So why don't we go to miss lord and I'll I'll Well, I just really want to echo what miss spitzer brought up um around staff The mismatch I don't see here articulated that a staff could start one way and also switch if they needed to like We articulated for the students like if you start in person is their flexibility to Then go to remote and yes, it's uh very Challenging and then I'm confused a little bit about the collective bargaining. So when a union Yeah, but that's just me new to the school committee about going against their recommendation and what the ramifications might be for that But I will learn Thank you Dr. Morris, did you want to? Um, I was just going to say on one particular point the miss spitzer made. So we did already ask staff Not what their condition was but whether they had a condition, you know That met the cdc list that is our legal guide for that And there were follow-up calls made by our human resources office, but there wasn't documentation required It's really just trying to understand that I think at some point there may be a need for that You know legally to cover our bases and we're in contact with our legal counsel about that But it was not please send in a letter from a doctor about it. It was really a the question I think the wording was something similar, you know, do you have a condition, you know that you know consistent with cdc piece Um, but I just wanted we were very attuned to the point around equity and the capacity of some to get doctors Notes versus others and all that but it was really just an open-ended question Or it was not an open it was a closed close ended. It was a multiple trace Yes, no and that we were going to follow up by phone for all the reasons that you cited Yeah, I'm not speaking to the larger point, but I just thought that was important given the comment that you made Miss seager and then miss off Does so bullet one Is accommodating folks with underlying medical conditions Bullet two is about seeking to accommodate staff who for any reason including concerns about household members may be vulnerable Um Expressing a preference for full and mostly remote work I've heard about teachers who have children and If their children are in some sort of program like ours where they're in one or two days a week at home three days um Does bullet two Is that a way to help these families so that these These folks can still work or is that a separate concern because that's really important to me that we Have that space as well To support them Dr. Morris If I if i'm understanding your comment and and I apologize. I may not be uh, which is my fatigue not your lack of clarity Um, so I think that's one of the reasons we're exploring childcare options for staff who Um, would be working in the building that they would have days where You know and there's you know, we have staff members who probably with kids who attend 20 different districts I'm guessing and that's not a real number We don't we don't have that catalog but that'd be I think a reasonable estimate It's a separate from whatever we do in our district We're going to have staff who have the conflict that you cite and that's really why we're trying to work on explicitly having childcare, you know, particularly for elementary age kids of staff members To be able to provide that service for staff members who come into work And miss hall you had your hand raised earlier Yeah, um, so yeah, I mean I think that miss spitzer's concern is an important one certainly one That I share and I don't you know, I certainly don't have like a really clean great response um, but I think for me Some of it just really hinges on chronology like we this document is something that is sending a message to the superintendent saying this is what we care about so We you know, we have our overall framework planning document and then we have this staff one that calls this out specifically that says We care not just about staff who have potentially underlying medical conditions, but just staff generally Um, but it seems like in order to even get at any kind of numbers and any level of specificity We need to have this document that says here District here are our priorities So that the district can start to get in to a lot of those specifics so that we can then present a plan That then teachers and families can actually make a decision on and I think if we I guess I just get concerned about continuing to Talk for too long and then not having an opportunity To present something so that people can actually make a decision Which and I I say that not to like stifle discussion on this document or anything I guess I that's just something that maybe That makes me feel a little bit better about voting on something that Still makes me feel not great meaning like we're gonna have to make these really difficult decisions that weigh heavily on us because they have a real and immediate impact on human lives, but I think if we're gonna we're gonna have to kind of make these slightly uncomfortable things so that we can actually have Some things so people can say okay. Yes. I'm in for in-person if that's available or no I'm not or have that information and then we can start You know, we'll have to rely on the flexibility built into the document that says okay Well, we got this information back now. We have to change our approach a little bit Yeah, I was Sort of as I as I think through this too. I mean We added that second bullet specifically Recognizing that we're all struggling with that that that conundrum, right that You know, how do we how do we accommodate them and we specifically put that in there? So I think You know rather than looking at it as are we guaranteeing that staff will can work 100% remote if they want to I look at it from the other perspective is we didn't have that in there originally and if we didn't put this bullet in here We would By having this bullet in here We're telling the district that this is important to us that staff be At least asked what their preference was and and sort of try to accommodate those as much as we can And to miss hall's point. I do think We're putting the stake in this in the in the No That's a wrong analogy because it isn't it is a carved in stone This is guidance and we're saying by voting on this if we choose to vote on this tonight We're saying that this is important to us to seek as much as possible to accommodate staff preference And then once we get to the the detailed models and plans Then staff and families have something that they can react to and decide on And we'll find out at that point how much further we need to go into in refining those plans and And accommodating people's desires at that point And mr. Menino The goal says the district will seek to accommodate that promise I guess that's the thing. I feel like if we want if we felt strongly If this is truly a statement of our goals and our values We are inherently creating a situation in which we potentially will have to decide between And maybe it'll work out. Maybe everything will but i'm being a bit of a pessimist these days because Everything seems to be going the negative way, but anyways, so ideally what will happen is we will Pull students will pull teachers and we'll have a perfect match And we'll be able to meet the needs of all of our students with that these staff who And accommodate their preferences But if if our goal statement doesn't state which When we come to this juncture Where we might have a mismatch if it doesn't state which way we're going to go Then is it really guy providing guidance for the district? I guess that's my question like I feel if this isn't binding them That's fine. I think it's good to say that, you know, but but if it does turn into a binding situation There is this mismatch and dr. Morris looks at this and says well, we prioritized accommodate, you know Getting as many students in the building as possible, but we don't have enough teachers. So what i'm going to do is ask Joe, you know, who said he preferred to work remote and i'm going to tell him he needs to work in person I would feel terrible if joe ends up getting coveted and can't you know I guess that's the thing that like at the end of the day That's the thing that I will not feel, you know, I My conscience is getting in the way So if we're saying that this is just a statement of preferences But we're saying it's actually guiding principles and that people are going to be making decisions on this So that that's why I'm feeling really uncomfortable And I I'm maybe the only one here who's who's feeling So strongly about it. Um, and I think it is good I think we are doing a lot more than other districts and I want to acknowledge that and that this was added And I'm not saying anything but but that's the thing that I'm I'm feeling uncomfortable with I think the struggle is is that we can't promise both We can't promise that all students that families that want their student want to need their students in school Can be can have that option and promise that all teachers That want to be Working remote can we can't we can't commit at this point to doing both Because you're absolutely right. We may end up with a mismatch and I Don't think that you're Alone in in sort of feeling that really weighing on our consciences, right? Like I think you know, we We've listened to the the tremendous amount of of public comments this evening that that fear and that Concern is real and and I in shared I think I meant I'm speaking only for myself, but I I you know, I see the The expressions on our faces as we listen to this and as we talk about this so I don't I feel as if we we can't sort of put that in a guiding framework and commit to providing and meeting everybody's wishes because It puts the District in a position that they can't actually deliver on what we're asking and and demanding of the district at that point so do we do we set them up to not be able to meet our guidance or do we do we Position something that says this is what we want you to work really hard to achieve if we can and and by Phrasing at this we will seek to accommodate You're absolutely right. We're putting the a slight priority on Meeting the student and family needs than we are on the staff needs and that feels icky It it it really really does and so I'm not you know as I say that but I don't I think Mr. Menino's question and I'm sorry. I didn't mean to giggle to make light of this Because it's it's a very very serious Um But I think you said at the very beginning was when you know, what do what do we do right and and I think It's it's it's the struggle as as we've all been saying of this really uncomfortable and and just Bad situation of being in a pandemic and having to figure out and and chart a path forward um I I feel I'm hopeful But I'm not sort of banging this whole you know betting the whole the whole framework on on hope for the best But I we hear enough from uh, both ends of the spectrum from families as well as from from staff in terms of wanting to be in school and not be in school um and We'll we'll have to address it if there is a mismatch and have those uncomfortable discussions And and tough really tough discussions. What if we when we get there is Um, just my take on this I saw a hand up before and I'm not sure who it was. Was it you miss seeker? No So so far I have the amendments to this are the identical ones that we made on the previous one on the overall goals so changing um overall goal number two um and adding um overall goal number four that we added um to the The main document There any other comments or ads or Miss kenny So I guess I have mostly a question so Bullet point three working with leadership of the collective bargaining units. Um, will that Sort of help mitigate bar number two if there's a mismatch so if if there's More students than there are teachers that are need slash want to be in school will that then I guess Will like the teachers union be stepping in and somehow I I guess I share the same concerns and the thought of putting someone in a classroom When it's either themselves or their family members that Will be put at risk. I I don't know that I could ask somebody to do that So I guess that's Yeah That's it Thank you. I have similar questions because I know the teachers union in florida is now suing the state over being forced to go back so You know Thank you for helping me articulate it a little better what is Going on and then I know we also did a survey once upon a time of the staff And I'm wondering not that they want to do a million surveys, but The shift the tides might have changed people might feel differently And if there was a way it could actually be anonymous so that I don't have to worry that you know my promotion or my My position might be um threatened if I say I don't want to go back to work for whatever reason that might help get answers that Feel less scary to give Yeah, I sort of tacking on to what miss lord was saying I was wondering if there should be some sort of bullet point under here about um communication And you know hoping in this framework that we provide or create some form of communications I mean there will be dialogue. I'm sure there's dialogue between administration and staff but just sort of A way to say that um, there's a way to give feedback or something as the the Um semester goes on you know stuff like that that it is a continuous iteration and and they will be listened to I don't know if that's appropriate to put here. I'm sure that will be happening anyways, but it is sort of uh I don't know can you um Restate what you the bullet you that you were that you were suggesting adding about community Good question um The district will provide I don't know a method of feedback or communication somebody. I'm sure here can say it maybe more eloquently than me, but um Or provide opportunities for feedback As the semester goes on mm-hmm I thinking um about your your comment miss lord um about surveying staff because I it's also true necessary for families um because our original survey back in Probably was only about four weeks ago, but it feels like ages ago, but um Uh, we had eight over 80 percent of families said they wanted in person learning and just judging from the the volume of mail that we're getting I'm Bet that it's much lower than that. Um, so I would suspect that it's also shifted among staff as well and so um You know that that getting that feedback um will be important we're kind of bleeding into maybe another agenda topic for another meeting, but um uh I do agree that that's that sort of taking that that pulse is is going to be important because I'm sure it's changed And it will continue to change throughout the school year That was my my sort of inarticulate support for miss seager's um ad about getting feedback throughout the school year How what are what are folks feeling about um voting on this as amended tonight? I'm seeing two thumbs up and very stoic Lances from everybody else And miss hall um, yeah, so I'm I'm okay voting On this as amended. I mean I do I think uh to your point earlier like we have to just make sure we're providing a document that Does not set the district up for failure That's just impossible to deliver on and I think this one has enough flexibility in it that that is possible um, and I I mean I Maybe I'm a little pessimistic tonight too and I don't mean to sound this negative But like this is so far from the hardest decision that these committees are going to have to make like the the bullets in this Document and I just I do think kind of getting Having this milestone, which is you know a step but not Just one step so that we can really get into these details is the important part And I don't it again and not to dismiss How kind of in some ways like heart wrenching some decisions will be but I think like we need to do This so we can continue to make progress because I I also am just really sensitive to The anxiety Collectively in the community around all of this and to the extent that we can continue to proceed toward Clarity even if it's not perfect clarity. I think that this document will help us do that Mr. Manino I understand the committee members reluctant to vote for this document Because there may be more students who want to attend than teachers, but I can't see of any Way where that's going to change if we amend the Document or for a way three weeks. There's it's a basically a fundamental Conflict and so to get on with it. I propose that I would consider Voting in favor of the document as amended Miss Kenny and then miss seeker So I guess my question is so I I understand the Adjust the amendment to have you know overall goals one two three and four match The overall one two three four goals but what There was a Another bullet point we added. What what is what were the other amendments? I just want to make sure Yes, so the Okay There's a three amendments. Um, I think okay somebody correct me if I don't get these all right This uh in the overall goals Um, so two of them are to match the overall goals of the Primary document so changing the maximize in-person learning time and removing maintaining six feet physical distance and make Substituting in the suite of safety protocols And then adding a fourth overall goal That is we remain flexible and adjust our approach as As conditions change The exact wording will be identical to what the the other document And the third amendment is we are adding in bullet about The district will provide opportunities for staff to provide feedback throughout the school year miss spitzer Oh, sorry miss seeker first and then miss spitzer Uh, I just wanted to say that I feel like Um, it's more of a question for dr. Morris like if us Expressing support for this tonight or not Does that slow you down? At all in working on this Because I feel like to some degree you're stuck with this conundrum whether or not we support this document The conundrum of the Different goals, so I'm just wondering How how it would affect you to have give in in us taking more time to think about this um Thank you for asking the question. I'm trying to think of a coherent answer. Um, Not sure I'll get there, but I'll do my best I don't You know because we had the Posting era and we had the cancel meeting last week. Um, there's you know a document That's on our on the website and was emailed to you right before this meeting with an updated agenda that had a timeline for when decisions be made so I just think You know, I don't have a great answer for you, but the longer things get delayed Uh, so I don't want to you do all the field pressure to make a decision tonight. I want to be really super clear about that um I think You know, I don't think we could put on I don't think you know, I don't want to speak for the chair I don't think you can put on tomorrow night necessarily because You know I don't think it fits into the less than 48 hours emergency kind of thing in my personal opinion um So you could certainly wait till next week we could present What we're planning to present tomorrow night because we had won a 24 hour window between tonight and tomorrow night We had to put together slides and and a presentation for tomorrow night. We couldn't wait till tonight ended to do A presentation for you all tomorrow And so it wouldn't have any impact on anything for tomorrow's meeting, but I do wonder Um, there's some different opinions expressed. I'm not going to weigh in on on those opinions But it would have a pretty polar change as to what we would do Um in the end. So I do think if it's the committee is not feeling comfortable with tonight I think that's I'm totally I'm absolutely comfortable with with pushing that I just think That's going to then have You know trickle down to dominoes and and that's again, that's fine with me And and I want the committee to feel comfortable Comfortable is the wrong word. I want them to feel like they've had enough time to discuss and debate issues Not because of the administration, but I do think there's some dominoes that are going to fall and That uh, it might mean Sort of multiple meetings or it might mean asking the state to not make a decision by the 10th And that comes with complications too because it's not just the state needs that but it's families that need to Counting that as well. So You know, I'm not again I didn't promise coherence and I delivered on my lack of promise But um, but at the same time, you know, I want people to feel like they're making decisions that you feel are right for you um And administratively, we'll we'll adjust for that as as is, you know, not to I guess I don't I can talk about it, you know Our phasing plans are really that we presented will present or in the packet anyway planning to present to right Are very gradual they involve with very few students in buildings at the beginning of the school year And some of that was because of this we want to make sure we're planning things accurately and appropriately as we move forward And we know the time is tight. So Uh Forget the last 90 seconds of this meeting because I did nothing to help you Answer your question miss seager except that, you know, I want people to feel good about their decisions and to recognize that the longer we go The matrix of decisions get smaller. That's not a reason to not to push a vote if people aren't don't feel ready for a vote Right. It's like anything else. There's consequences to decisions or in decisions Uh, and you know, but you know, I don't know that's where I am on it I Miss spitzer. I think I saw your hand up Sorry, so I I agree with mr. Manino that I don't think this is something that needs more time I I think this is really something like I don't think again a week I'm gonna suddenly feel more comfortable making a decision. Um, I think it's just that I fundamentally have I I guess I've been hoping that somebody else would suggest an edit that I could feel comfortable with but since I I'm I'm not sure I'm gonna suggest an edit that might make me feel more comfortable voting in favor of this because I have to be honest right now I don't feel comfortable. Um, I'm just trying to bring it up. So um We could add something to say to the district will seek to accommodate staff who for any reason, you know going through all that and you know This may require changing offerings to students or changes to um Staffing and what courses were available. So, um Or you could say we would we will prioritize in person learning to the extent possible Based on staff availability So I think we could make an edit to this that if other And I don't know if I'm the only you know, clearly we're all struggling with this. I'm not sure if Um, but I just I can't I can't vote for it as it's written right now So the the suggestion there that you just um the edit that you as I understood it Would be in direct conflict to the framework that we just Voted and approved which is where we've seen student choice. So But this is the problem with separating them and I why I So maybe I should I can't go back and change my vote But I mean we we made this choice to separate them. I think it's and and what I led with is that we are now in direct conflict so I If I'm the only one who feels this way this can still move forward and but I don't know seeker I I really like where you're going with this type of edit and I'm not convinced that it's totally in direct conflict meaning that If some of the course offerings Maybe don't necessarily need to change But they need to be done differently because for at least, you know with a phased and approach You can have a lot of students at home at first. So it'd be easier if more staff are at home Um and as time goes on when you have um, I know k through six could be kind of tricky Once a lot of those students are back in school, but at least in the middle school and high school Where you have the virtual days there might be some synergy there for Maybe it will work out is what I'm saying. Um It may not you know, it's it's hard you have to throw a bunch of things in the air and see where they land, but um Or even So if you have kids in a classroom or who all face forward and Listen to one teacher who's in the front of a classroom Um, I'm completely brainstorming here and not advocating for this but to have a teacher Well, this is this is hard at the elementary level But if you had a teacher on zoom or google hangouts who shows up in the front of the classroom to teach that one subject um You know how That that type of thing is possible Um, it maybe not so much pre-k through six that that could be a little bit tricky And I wouldn't advocate for that all day. I'm saying like if there was a period during the day of You know 30 to 60 minutes where someone is brought in that way. Um So, you know, there's definitely a conflict, but it might not be 100 a 100 conflict If this problem just gets more and more challenging I feel like it becomes a slippery slope though in terms of defining Getting into the weeds of matching licenses, um, you know current current roles so In and all of that and how do we define? How do we state something so that's broadly that's broad enough to encompass? You know all potential permutations um, but while still addressing that and I If you if you have um If we've said that we're prioritizing having special ed students And ELL students and in-person learning particularly in the in phase one some of the the specialized programs And let's say we have I don't know, uh, you know 10 students that are that fall into that group um or 20 and but we don't have enough teachers who are equipped to to Work with those students that are willing to serve in person We we can't sort of say We can't at that point say okay, you can work remotely because somebody still has to be in the room with them So if we're saying that we're prioritizing those students, we have to be able to Staff those students and and support those students in the way that we've described that we want to support them um, and that's where I I just keep coming back to I I just don't know how We meet sort of our desire to provide flexibility and choice for students for And and meet our desires of prioritizing those those special populations in our schools And at the same time say that staff have 100 flexibility to make their own decision on how they want to work I hate saying that out loud. I hate That is just super super uncomfortable And I I don't know how we how we say the opposite, which is That we're going to tell a family with special needs students that they have to stay at home And sorry, we can't help them because we don't have the staff to do that so These are the hard hard choices that we are going to have to make as a as a district in this committee. Um, mr. Manino Your reticence is understandable The student needs must take priority for school We seek to accommodate All the needs of teachers We may not be able to satisfy every teacher's needs But the students needs are paramount Miss kenny and then miss spitzer so I don't know if this is actually helpful, but this is like, you know in my other life not school committee life We had to make similar decisions because it So schools are not the only ones that have had to make these really unfortunate tough Terrible feeling decisions about Being able to honor your employees request with the Job that needs to get done, right? So I It feels really yucky, but I Don't know how it can have it be Too much different Where at the same time like I have the same feelings like asking someone to go into our classroom that they're uncomfortable about feels super yucky to me um, but you know It's It's not a unique problem I guess Miss spitzer. I mean, so I work in a healthcare setting and I know that a lot of There are so many healthcare workers who have done just you know What we're asking our teachers to do which is go in and potentially expose themselves to to disease that we know is Very dangerous. And so I guess I'm wondering if we could you know at least because we're saying, you know This is guidance and I think one of the guidance is well if we could provide guidance that this You know that we may consider making changes you brought up probably the hardest choice We could make with the special ed student But there may be choices where it's a high school English teacher Who is asking for the special accommodation and and maybe then that high school English class is delivered remotely and honestly That doesn't bother me on the same scale that would Telling a special education student So if we could just acknowledge That sometimes meeting these preferences of the teachers might be mean not offering every single You know in person that we would like to And and we're gonna have to rank these but they're to just put in there that this may require us to change our course offerings in a way that So might not be what Students and families would want but that we're making it because we value our teachers and and that we're willing to make that sacrifice in our In-person education office if it means providing A work, you know our workforce the support that they feel like they need I just I know that I I guess the thing I'm really worried about is just that This turning into a situation where people feel like we're not going to take their non medical preferences seriously And then they will seek I mean, I can't think of a person who probably couldn't come up with some way that they might be able to argue that they require a medical Waver so I I'm feeling like if we're gonna have this like opener thing Okay, I see my Um, I also Dr. Mr. Minino had his hand raised I do um, Mr. Minio, are you okay if we let dr. Morris's Dr. Morris has my full He can talk Yeah, I'm just gonna my experience so far has been that staff have been remarkably candid with us about um If there are medical needs they've been remarkably candid with us and and I do feel like I our staff are wonderful and I think they're um I'm not worried about you know, and I'm not using I don't know exactly how you put it miss spitzer, but just you know kind of um Flexing the system so much, you know, um, that's you know, I don't share that concerns based on the data we have and you know My experience with staff That people would produce medical notes. Um, you know, accurately or something, you know Sort of enhancing conditions. You know, I think our staff are honest and I'm not suggesting that I'll want to come back Like that's not where I'm coming from but on that particular point I don't have evidence right now that that has happened You know our experience with human resource officers have been remarkably honest and candid About that and I wouldn't expect that to change from our staff Mr. Manino Well, I would like to vote affirmatively for this A document this evening if it would make sense From miss spitzer to have time Postponed the vote until she could come up with a friendly amendment that would make sense I can't imagine what that amendment would be but I'd be willing to postpone the vote Miss spitzer, you're shaking your head. I don't think there's a need to postpone I'm miss lord I also wanted to mention that um We can prioritize our students needs absolutely and I believe still prioritize our staff's needs I think there's a gray area of people who would send their kid back but could also do remote learning So if for some reason there weren't enough teachers, we could you know, like sort of like miss spitzer said I think there will be some wiggle room to prioritize Um, I would you know, just I wanted to say that it's not like necessarily the worst-case scenario And and I I do feel that that having in there that we will seek to accommodate staff and maybe it's um Um, maybe we can add as much as possible um, who for any reason so if that sort of gets at this idea that they're That it's not just accommodating them that it's also looking at other ways to be creative and accommodating them those preferences And I think also You know, we've we've stated several times that our over one of you know Our number one overall goal is to protect staff and student safety and we've listed in that other document all the steps that we're taking and for our Our our protocols and Not that that's going to make everybody feel 100 comfortable. We're still all going to feel really uncomfortable But the same is true for students and families as well. Um, and we're not asking um We're not creating um separate safety scenarios or safety protocols for students versus staff at this point. So um Dr. Morris, did you have your hand raised? no, um Would would adding that that phrase um in in that second bullet will seek to accommodate staff If we said as much as possible who for any reason um And continue to does that I'm seeing a head shake as and no don't do that. Um miss hall I mean, I I don't mind it. It does seem a bit redundant. We're always saying we'll seek to yeah So I I'm not strongly opposed, but Okay, I think we can do it out. Okay. Um So I'm I'm also hearing that um more time is not going to change things. So Um, I I do feel like maybe we we should move I certainly would make a motion um at this point so that uh If time is not going to help us on this one, um, then let's I move that we adopt the motion for emmer's pellum Planting and support staff has uh written with the oh, yeah, it's written with the amendments to the goals I think that is a motion for the region committee. Is there a second? I will second that Um, is there any further discussion? uh, just the amended the motion with amended is more than just the goals Yes So as amended I think we'll move to a roll call vote um miss lord Lord nay Mr. Manino Manino I Miss seager Seager I miss spitzer Spitzer nay Mr. Sullivan Thank you miss spitzer for bringing this out, but uh, sullivan I and mcdonald I um the motion uh passes um four to two with One two, uh three not present Since uh, I am not going to take a motion for the emmer's committee. Um at this point I'll take a motion for the pellum committee My the only one Um Move to adopt the uh Uh framework for planning and support uh for staff as amended Okay, is there a second? We're sure I will second any further discussion? Okay, I'll do a roll call vote. Mr. Manino Manino I Miss kenny Kenny I And paul I Oh, so sorry. So that's uh three in favor and uh one not present. Um, I I'm going to just look for it to dr. Morris for just a piece of advice on the emmer's committee. Um Does it It's Unlikely to pass in the emmer's committee So do we take a take a vote and and have it not pass or do we just? Not move on Um, I my advice be take a vote. Um, and if it doesn't pass it doesn't pass and we get to upcoming agenda topics I'll have more to share on on that piece, but that's good. We have a quorum here. We should you know, my advice would be to vote, okay? I just don't know the procedural parliamentary procedures. So that's why I'm just asking. Um, uh, okay, so I will move to uh, accept the Framework for planning support for staff uh document as amended. Is there a second? Lord second Move by mcdonald's second by Lord, um, and we will take a roll call vote miss lord nay miss spitzer And mcdonald's I The motion fails one two two and two not present And now I will text our colleagues Or chat them to come back in Can I ask a question? of just about I guess somewhat related to procedure, but um Could this come up again if people want to amend it like can this be um Well, no, I imagine we're sending people in a direction. Um, and I was just thinking out loud if something like this if people did have more thoughts We are moving on to future meeting planning so, um, uh Absolutely any any committee member may Request an agenda item and make a motion in the future right so Future meeting planning. I think we have the this that The detailed schedule is in tomorrow night's agenda packet. Is that correct dr. Morris? Sorry, uh, I'm not sure. Um, so I gotta this is all happening live, right? Obviously I gotta think through whether it makes sense for the Amherst school committee to meet tomorrow night given Um, that I don't think it makes sense to present Um I'm not sure administratively and and this isn't a critique of the vote or any of the votes taken I just I'm not sure what makes sense for the Amherst school committee. Um, I think they probably need to have a different conversation Uh, then the one that's going to take place for helm and the region Um tomorrow night. Um, again, there is I'm just being explicit because I think I want to be careful with my language But there I'm not sure it makes sense to go forward in planning. Um Because I'm not sure what to do with staff and if I don't know sure what to do with staff I don't know how to present a plan So I wonder if there needs to be a separate meeting for the Amherst public schools on next steps That just happens distinctly from the region and from helm. I know that saves no one a meeting tomorrow night Because everyone on Amherst is on the region. So there's no reason to celebrate that for anyone who was hoping to do something fun on a Tuesday night but I just I I'm not sure I need to process a little bit of next steps, but I think presenting Um, a detailed phasing plan for the Amherst public schools. I'm not sure how to do that Yeah, to be very transparent Um, we do I will say that the Amherst school committee is meeting on Tuesday the 28th as as a single committee meeting for another purpose so that That absolutely absolutely could be added to that one I mean, I'm open to committee members thoughts, but and again, I'm not trying to be difficult but I think I what I don't want to do is present information that That I don't have a way to understand how to implement and that's a little how I'm feeling At the moment and so that's not a critique. It's just probably a separate conversation that the Amherst school committee And staff need to have on next steps um for the folks that were had recused themselves from the discussion then the staff section Was voted in Pelham and the region Was voted in all three but in it passed in Pelham in the region. It did not pass in the Amherst hence the the discussion about Separating out the Amherst elementary school plane Yeah Um open to divergent thoughts on that, you know, and it's not hard to cancel the meeting in Amherst We can just put up canceled we can leave it posted in terms of Pelham and region But I think the conversations will be different Yes, but I think this is the tricky thing for me is that we've been having all of these meetings jointly Representing all the phasing as though it's all but if it's really Separate, you know and the union for our organization correct me if I'm wrong, but is the union for our organization for all three districts as well for the teacher. Yeah, I would say all of our students I want to be just Remind that there's multiple learning units, not just the the apea which covers teachers paras and in clerical But there's other bargaining units as well So here's the thing that's been really hard for me is that all of the We're getting all of the comment As though it's all coming as one We're getting all of the you know and and it could be that And and I guess one of the things I want to understand is is this staffing planning that you're going to do Is there the ability? I mean we're talking about shifting staff among Buildings, you know And I know this has changed the thinking of this has changed But the reason we originally were meeting all together was because we're talking about bringing students into one of the regional buildings from the Amherst public schools and I guess in my thinking of this I have been thinking of it somewhat fluidly and maybe that's a problem Maybe we've now created a situation where we're now But Is that how much fluidity is there so if Would we ever take a high school teacher and deploy them in an elementary school or vice versa if there was a need Or is this getting into it off? I may be getting us off of the topic, but If they're generous Yeah, I don't think you are actually because I think this this relates to future meeting planning in my personal opinion Obviously, that's the chairs get the way they get to rule on that but for me It it feels comfortable So I think the challenge on that one is that it's different districts and different payrolls and different employers technically so um If there was some inter district agreement on that I think A couple things for me would need to happen is the People in Leverett and Shootsbury in particular We need to communicate to their select board and finance committee is that because it's hard to I think there's a very compelling counter narrative to that being okay Uh, particularly in communities that don't have an elementary school that is That I work for um, and it's their money. Um, so I think our governance structure And I think that's what you're noting does create some challenges with Districts that for instance, and you've seen some examples probably online have prioritized elementary education as being in person and and and per secondary education To not be in person and I think there's some compelling reasons for that That's a conversation that's out of my ability to answer because it's not it's not about me. It's about the taxpayers and How they value things? Um And so I can't weigh in on that particular question from a licensure perspective We are, you know, the state has a lot for emergency licensure Um, and so there is some flexibility, but I think thinking about If I was a high school Teacher teaching first grade some people could certainly do that But it's a pretty polar shift that you might be asking people To do so I think that there's you know, the licensure pieces is the easiest part to work out The funding in multiple districts would be hard and also what what kind of professional development would be required for staff So, um, you know, that's a conversation I'm open to philosophically I think logistically it would take a lot of people around the room to do a lot of work to pull that off Any sorry if that wasn't I don't know if that was helpful or not, but I don't know if the silence was Showed it wasn't helpful, but we don't have to decide. Um, Mr. Gunley I mean, I would just say if the superintendent is expressing such ambivalence towards presenting a model tomorrow given Given the lack of clarity at the Amherst level, then it doesn't make sense to present a detailed model at the Amherst level Because because then we're setting people up to say Well, if a decision is made that hasn't yet been made, this is what it will look like and and it's and then And then potentially changing everything the next time I think I think if we're going to talk through the implications of what our staffing resources How that affects our model then that needs to be a focus discussion I I do agree and I I think it's um if if it's Quote-in-quote Easy to cancel the Amherst school committee meeting tomorrow night and we know we have one on the calendar already so it's we don't have to um So I I can't remember dr. Morris if you were available for that one. So I think um, originally I wasn't but I'll make myself available So we will continue as planned for tomorrow evening for region and power conversation um, and then the further calendar, um, we will again talk about um tomorrow night with a lot more um details of Of sort of next steps and milestones planning um for getting us back to school um So as mentioned we have the the region um meeting tomorrow evening the Amherst um school committee on the 28th and we are tentatively looking at another joint meeting um later next week as well But we'll get to that tomorrow Any other thoughts on the future meeting planning at this? No, okay. There's a hand up. I'm sorry. Oh, sorry Uh, mr. Harrington And so not I guess this is kind of more vague to future meetings in general, but um, I just want to kind of offer the idea that we might Maybe consider talking about meeting in person at some point before we open schools That seems to be a shared sentiment of among a lot of people I talked to Smile a little too sense Mr. Demley Is is it allowed by the town of Amherst the town manager to need now that recently, okay he Yeah, yeah, he I did get in touch with him because um, some community members have gotten in touch with me I've had meetings people in the same space. Um, I'm not judging comfort of any committee members But it was clear it was made clear that at least for the in the town of Amherst that that is not currently Allowed, I think it also just raises one other piece that hadn't thought of that I did hear From another elected official not in this group is for people Who may have autoimmune or other health challenge? it creates You know, they can't be counted on for quorum based on remote rooting rules So there's some things I hadn't thought of that actually in another community not in this one I heard about that made me think about that A little differently so but at this point it's my understanding from the town manager some good point But I appreciate you raising it because I've heard it too. Mr. Harrington Yeah, so we were we've been we've been uh, I've been talking about it with uh Chairs and vice chairs as well about how how we could Look at doing that potentially and there's um So many things for us to consider um in Before our buildings are open, but as a public meeting there's different requirements um on us then Then just a meeting um So it's complex Just like anything we're dealing with in in this pandemic Then this um, um miss spitzer Just thinking about the implications of us canceling the Amherst meeting tomorrow and I understand the reason but it's If we originally were holding all three of them together because the topics spanned Right, so like the potential of having kids in the middle school, etc If that is now is it true like if what you're presenting tomorrow is not in any way going to Impact the Amherst schools and maybe we don't hold it But if we if we don't call the meeting tomorrow Will we then be unable to talk about anything that impacts the elementary level in which case when it makes sense to just Call the meeting but maybe not present The plan like I get what you're saying doctor morris about like now We've we've kind of thrown a wrench in the gears in terms of your planning But I'm worried if we cancel it then we're just going to be totally unable to talk about in implications of the region regional plan on on the elementary school kids I Without asking you and I think we Do that by only speaking about the regional plan And the regional models and we don't talk about the Amherst elementary models and The elementary model is is only Pelham at this point I mean, I think I hear your point miss spitzer. I don't disagree with miss mcdonald I think if the committee wants to call the meeting to order it hasn't been canceled yet So that's that's fine I guess my only thing I would say is you know, I would just pull out all the Information as it relates to the Amherst elementary schools um And I wouldn't be speaking about it, but I think miss spitzer I think if and correct me if I'm wrong you're referring to crocker farm and there was again Because it's all publicly online because it was posted We tried to share with the community that there was some different elementary models about You know hybrid models that would keep all students at crocker farm crocker farm students, you know physics rate at crocker farm, but I think that's what you're referring to But if I'm missing something if I'm wrong, please let me know Well, no, that's what I'm saying. I just seemed like we were calling these meetings. Well three Districts together because we felt like there were topics that would come up and it would be freeing to be able to talk about All of the districts that we represent or were for at the same time if if needed Yeah, I mean I think Since the committees are all here for future planning I think there's very low impact on the middle school for anything that happens at crocker farm in terms of The space is no additional maps for the middle school I think I'd be able to talk about that pretty clear pretty cleanly without Delving into an amorous elementary topic is really it was really an amorous elementary topic and with relatively light impact on the region So, um, I mean I'm happy going either way, but I feel like it won't constrain my presentation To not talk about that topic Whether constraint your dialogue is is certainly what I'm most interested in hearing But for me it would not be a constraint not to have amorous posted Okay, are we um able to move on to the next item now? Um I think um, I'm gonna look to and ask Ms. Spitzer if she has any warrants for um For the region Um while I pull up the warrants for amorous Do you I do have regional warrants that I will also need to pull up because I've been a little Already to go so I will read all right, then um So for amorous, I alice mcdonald authorized by my signature to pavels in the amount of 141 911 and 67 cents for the warrant dated june 20th 2020 this includes general fund expenses of 107 602 dollars and 74 cents Revolving fund expenses of 1693 dollars and 88 cents And grant fund expense of 17,652 dollars and 70 cents A gift for the school of 2029 dollars and 80 cents and capital of 12,932 dollars and 55 cents And I signed that on july 16th It also Um Authorized by my signature pavels in the amount of 83,559 dollars and 66 cents for a warrant dated june 16th 2020 this includes general fund expenses of 49,839 dollars and 70 cents revolving fund expenses of 1491 dollars and 64 cents grant fund expenses of 22,228 dollars and 32 cents In capital of 10,000 dollars And I signed that on july 10th. I believe this is a duplicate Yeah, that is sorry. Um I'm going to have to pass on the others because I can't find um There were some payrolls um pages that I signed as well, but they're Not showing up in this folder. So um miss fitzer sure um So I authorized for my signature to pavels in the amount of 51,323 dollars for the warrant dated june 23rd 2020 and this was signed on july 15th 2020 And I should clarify it was for revolving fund expenses I authorized by my signature to pavels in the amount of 105,881 dollars and 35 cents for the warrant dated july 8th 2020 This included general fund expenses of 1,005 1,000 105,000 dollars 800 sorry it's been a long This includes general fund expenses of 105,881 dollars and 35 cents. This was signed on july 16th 2020 That is all I have to report. I'm just Double checking one more time that I might have figured out which one is the right one No, it's not there Hmm, okay. Um, we'll tackle this another day um So uh next on our agenda is gifts and I do we have I don't believe we have any gifts tonight No, okay, so uh with the Amherst school committee like to make a motion Mr. Demling I moved to adjourn the Amherst school committee Second Moved by demling second by spitzer. We'll call that mr. Demling Demling I Mr. Harrington Harrington I Miss lord Lord I and miss spitzer Spitzer I In mcdonald I we are the amherst school committee is adjourned miss hall All right. Thanks. Is there a motion to adjourn from the pelham school committee? I move we adjourn the pelham school committee All right Oh, thank you. All right. Great. I'll do a roll call vote. Mr. Manino Manino I Miss dancer Stancer I Miss Kenny Kenny hi And hall I Pelham is adjourned Somebody like to make a motion for the region I need to return the Amherst phone regional school committee lord second Yes, by demling seconded by lord. There's no discussion. We'll call that mr. Demling Demling I Mr. Harrington Harrington I Miss lord lord I Mr. Manino Manino I Miss seager Seager I Miss spitzer Spitzer I Miss stancer Answer I Mr. Sullivan Sullivan I And mcdonald I Um region committee is adjourned. Thank you. Goodbye everybody. Thank you amherst media. Thank you everybody