 This program is brought to you by cable franchise V's and generous donations from viewers like you So seeing the presence of a quorum I'm calling to order this meeting of the Amherst school committee at 631 p.m And we will start with a roll call attendance Mr. Demling Deming present mr. Harrington Herrington present miss Lord Lord present Miss Spitzer Spitzer present and McDonald present that were In order I'll turn it over to chair Hall Okay, thanks seeing a presence of a quorum. I'll call to order this meeting of the Pellum school committee at 631 and I'll start with roll call attendance miss Kenny any present miss Barlow Barlow present miss Dancer Dancer present mr. Manino Manino present and Hall present And now I'll call to order the meeting of the regional school committee at 632 p.m And we'll start with roll call and mr. Demling Mr. Harrington Harrington present miss Kenny Kenny present miss Lord Lord present miss Seeker Seeker present miss Spitzer Spitzer present Dancer present Mr. Sullivan Sullivan present And McDonald present that we are now in order and I will note that we are being recorded and live-streamed on Amherst media's website as well as on channel 15 in and Amherst And thank you as always to Amherst media for your support in that And and our first item is a public comment and we have Some voice comment and some written comment and I will start with the voice Calling to commend the teachers at Wildwood and acknowledge their extraordinary efforts to make remote learning as good as it can be Lori heard in Kristen Riley in second grade and Chris Owen in fifth grade have strived to create Content to keep the children engaged in what is a very challenging for everyone All of the special teachers to librarian Susan Wells art teacher Carrie Anne the two classrooms for music and technology And Keith for going for PE have all gone above and beyond to reach the kids through the screens and build human connections and facilitate learning The wonderful book distribution project that Susan Wells developed and implemented has received some worthy press But I wanted to share that I see all of the teachers that my children have contact with Working very hard to make this work I look forward to the time when we can all be vaccinated against the scourge And the children can be back in the classroom with their friends again senior at the high school and I have sixth grader at Wildwood and I was just like to Emphasize how How much we appreciate everything that the teachers are doing right now in these crazy challenging times just so How much resourcefulness so much creativity Working so hard to keep the student communities together and connected to families We're just we're so impressed with all their hard work And I just that's important to knowledge. Thanks. I'm now going to share the written comment Which if it's not posted already will be posted on the agenda's web page for the regional school committee on arps.org Are folks able to see this? as mentioned that document will be made available on The Agendas webpage for the regional school committee on arps.org And our next item is to approve minutes and we had a few minutes in our packet Or a few sets of minutes within our packet Miss McDonald I think I'm sorry to interrupt. I think the minutes I think we're caught up on joint minutes I think the minutes They're in the packet or region only and there's a place on the agenda for them later So, okay, I think I think you're good for this group and we'll get to the regional minutes on the regional side Great. Thank you for that clarification. I was I was just coming through and couldn't find them I could so now I know what great So we will move on then to the superintendent's update and so I'll turn it over to you Dr. Morris sure You know, we meet regularly, but you know, there's never a shortage of things so I apologize about the length of the update So first thing I just want to thank Sheila and Tony for those public comments I think they're spot-on in terms of the incredible work that people are doing I think for a lot of families even if they had other people helping the snowstorm the last two days Has has for families who weren't actively seeing what their kids were doing People have gotten that window and I got a lot of communication from families with that appreciation for the hard work of our staff In the last 48 hours, so thank you for that public comment and absolutely Agree with that sentiment As the people on the committee know on the 26th of last month Just about every superintendent in Hampshire, Hampton and Franklin counties wrote a letter advocating for an earlier inclusion of Educators in the vaccine Timeline we received a response yesterday, which was shared with the committee from the secretary of education which Disagreed with the opinions expressed by the superintendents out here the North Shore superintendents in a similar letter You know, and I think I'll just voice that this may be something that the committee may want to come back to maybe as soon as you know We'll see you know next week. We have a meeting posted Maybe we can add to that because we're well beyond the 48 hour timeline. We can talk about the upcoming topics, but You know, it's we're it's 2021 So we all know and see pictures of educators in New York and Connecticut getting vaccinated And so when I hear in Massachusetts saying it can't be done We know that that's factually inaccurate that other other states have figured out other mechanisms to have their educators Vaccinated sooner than we have in Massachusetts. So I was a bit frustrated, you know candidly with the response that we received from the Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth And well, I agree with some sentiments that I think we can put safeguards we can produce An environment in school that I feel comfortable with That's not to preclude the fact that we want our educators to Get vaccinated and feel and be as comfortable as they can be when they're they're in school with children So, you know, I'll leave that for maybe upcoming agenda topics But you know for the committee you saw you saw both the email of the superintendent's group as well as that Response and I want to thank the APA for joining me and they're certainly Advocating along similar lines around where educators fall in the vaccination timeline And I know that's a dicey political question, but when I see our two neighbor two of our neighboring states seemingly doing this I Don't understand what's different in Massachusetts except we're 46th in this country in terms of vaccines gotten a percentage of vaccines received That have gone in arms and I can't help that there's a relationship between that that data point and then the data point about where educators fall in the timeline, so Also box when it's an agenda topic More formally in superintendent update, but I just want to express my frustration I just more shared those letters with the committee Without commentary, but I did think commentary is needed here Much more positive note when I congratulate Alicia Lopez. I think as many of you know She was a finalist for teacher of the year in Massachusetts. They came out with a desi came out with a really nice video series that Alicia Was she should be able to teach her in our middle school and congratulations to her for her achievement and Kudos to us to have her dedication expertise on staff. So congratulations to Alicia On a positive vaccine note as well We're partnering with the town of Amherst to expand their capacity for the town east of the Connecticut River in Hampshire County So starting tomorrow the vaccine clinic will be utilizing our high school gymnasiums both of them and it doubles the capacity that the Health department had at the bank center so they're about two or three days a week for the next couple weeks and optimistically pretty much a full week the last week in February when hopefully we'll have more Doses to be given Because of the bank center. It's it's the number is half as much as what they can do using the larger space of the gyms We have electronic signage, you know, they put out in front. They're really been great. There's no cross interactions When people come in for vaccines they go in through the back doors They're never coming into the main campus where there are is our distance learning center and other staff working they use bathrooms that are inaccessible to students and staff in the locker rooms and The folks in town will clean up With enough time for multiple air exchanges before high school athletics begins later in the afternoon So we think we've fully quarantined and cordoned off the space. So thanks to our facilities department Rupert Roy Clark in particular Jerry set up a better Wi-Fi access because that's really important in the gymnasium There was good good in the back gym. The front gym was moderate, but we want to make sure that was hot So, you know, it was higher. So we put another unit in there And it's really, you know, I will say in all this the partnership of the town and the health department has been one of the positive outcomes Of all of this and we're happy to partner with them and a safer community makes for safer schools And in my opinion a safer community has increased Its capacity to vaccinate its citizens. So it's something well We think we're doing for the good of the community. We also believe that the community directly affects the schools So we're happy to partner with them and Emma's been great to work with AEF has their grant program out So just want to just note that Amherst education foundation Supports our staff with innovative ideas that benefit our students and it's a teacher grant program that they Have been running for many years. It's highly successful And I just want to plug that in this public meeting and also plug our appreciation I'm saying are because I don't think this disagreement on the committee of AEF and all the great work They do on behalf of our students and faculty Later time survey later or the school time school start time survey, excuse me We have well over a thousand responses. I think in terms of total responses is over 1500 Not everyone loved the last forced choice question about which option do you prefer? So we have a little more responses on the qualitative than the quantitative, which is fine And understandable, but we have a good turnout among students staff Families we have good turnout. I think it most not most importantly, but particularly importantly from shoots man Lovett Community, I really want to thank the superintendent principals there. They've shared that with the shoots man Lovett communities School communities. So we have you know, because you're able to disaggregate and you'll see this later in the month You know by by what school you're connected to by what, you know, whether your student family or staff member So more on that but you know really appreciate the partnership and we continue talking to our Unit 28 colleagues about all this throughout about them last week And that's been that's been a good experience and I had my first of the optional town halls for staff members We had a big town hall and then Crocker farm. I was there yesterday with mr. Shea And well, I think the next seven days I think I have six schools just every day in the afternoon is an optional. There's no presentation It's just Q&A, but we're trying to do as much outreach as we can. We'll be with CPAC. I think on Friday Pgo's Thursday And we're trying to schedule the BPAC so doing a lot of outreach getting a lot of good feedback a lot of good ideas and That's the way that we want to work Last week it's cold day. I think it was last week. Yeah with last week Pelham's kindergarten had an art walk an outdoor art exhibit of students work. So that was great And I think well, Lori the teacher for writing me up to Pelham It's cold and windy But didn't deter people from coming and seeing a beautiful display of their artwork on the playground really creative use of outdoor space And wanted to share that I really enjoyed seeing kids and families and seeing their artwork up with the staff We did a fabulous shop Then we get to standardized tests so we Have our staff have been on a number of conference calls with the state who is still planning to administer the MCAS this spring But students won't be able to take it if they're from home They have not worked out the logistics of how that would go It's begging lots of huge questions about how that would work and would we offer it For families of kids who want to take the MCAS and who would be the proctors if our staff aren't in and is this Wise so I don't have any answers But I have a lot of questions and concerns About this so when we get to upcoming agenda topics, this may be a good one to add in as well but you know including today we're To administrative stay in two leadership staff members were kind of trying to figure out how this might all work Desi does not have any Ideas for us on how to implement and administering an MCAS if we're in a remote environment And so that's making it logistically quite complicated to figure out how to do this But they're saying we have to do it, but they don't have any ideas of how we do it So I don't want to go too deep into that except to say when we talk about upcoming topics That may be another joint topic that the committee we want to get more of an update as we get more information about but it's I'll be generous tonight and call it curious And I think I'll leave it there and the last thing we applied for the pool testing program that the state's running And we got an email last night that we've been matched with a pool testing vendor The idea of pool testing is that you test groups of people In a sample if the sample comes back positive then you do the by next testing which we already have operational For everyone, which is a quick, you know 15 20 minute response Test and so, you know, we don't have all the details worked out But we're just happy because in the eastern masses a lot of vendors and Western mass a little more complicated And they wanted to work with Western mass districts on Shared courier service and because all these go to labs that are in the eastern part of the state Solve more probably next week on that, but we're just happy we got matched with a vendor who's going to work with master Western Massachusetts districts So we applied for that program I think I shared that at a previous meeting and it was good to be accepted and it was good We have a vendor and now we have to figure out All the logistics and that's particularly challenging without knowing who's going to actually be in the building So we're starting with our distance learning center at the high school because we know who the kids are We know most of who the staff are that may shift a little bit with the Roland area turn, but you know, we've got approved for All three districts not every site in all three districts So that's where we may have to reapply for additional sites if we're able to open them up But getting in the queue is the hardest thing and once you're in the queue my understanding is expanding the queue Number of sites is is easier boss. I have to get nurses trained and things like that but that's in a nutshell I Was glad I think I was more succinct tonight than I've been so that's a whole lot of quick updates on a number of topics But I'm open for any questions anyone might have Questions mr. Sullivan It's a comment not a question while I was tooling around shoot spirit for the last 24 hours in my truck I was thinking about the whole bus thing in the early start and late start and one of the things I realized is that if we do flip the schedules Then the snane and shoots very will no longer be an issue for the elementary students in Amherst Yeah, that's on my mind as well. So just to comment briefly on it It's also on my mind that if our bus runs our earliest elementary bus run is quite a bit later than our current elementary secondary run So one of my hopes is that maybe it'll reduce the number of delays that we would have in a typical year or maybe make one hour Delays instead of two Which might be helpful for for it certainly increases instructional time But you know, there's a lot of delays that get made and mr. Sullivan knows this first hand Because I talked to someone he works with every morning when it snows Is that you know the roads and in shoots very elaborate in particular? When it's still dark out in the Sun hasn't come up It's just next to impossible to predict exactly what they're gonna look like when the Sun does come up And when it does come up in places over it's for it creates particular challenges So having that little extra window even if it's 45 minutes 50 minutes will actually make a difference of I think better snow calls And potentially fewer delays so Steve. I'm glad you're thinking about it You know, and I'm given your colleague there a Winter off of getting calls from me early in the morning and worrying about his cell reception Which is primarily the first five minutes of all of our phone calls is where he is and whether he'll have cell reception By the end of the call. So it's a great point though. I appreciate it. Mr. Demlin Yeah comment a question. So I mean on the MCAS administration. I mean, I think you said it about as politely as you possibly could but It's unbelievable how many roadblocks the state is putting up for districts to implement responsible and Caring education for children in this pandemic like from the beginning when when the governor didn't start talking about schools until August And and then the drip drip drip of requirements from desi that that continue to change and then the the vaccination Bungal at the state level. I mean, I don't I'm not I'm not trying to blame This the state for the mismanagement of the pandemic itself or the or the pandemic itself that that blame in my mind lies squarely with Donald Trump and his criminal gang and and his absolute application of responsibility and active misinformation. So, you know Just to be clear on that but but it is it is incredible like how we just expect that the next thing to come out of desi's Direction directive is going to be so tone-deaf as it's like the expansion of the synchronous required synchronous time at the elementary level Which they justified as being better for mental health without without a scintilla of evidence presented, you know So it's it's really frustrating And I think we actually have the advocacy thing for vaccines on the agenda already for next week So that's right a little later, but I can go on for another 20 minutes on that So for for start times I'm interested because you've run a number of these staff Forms building specific so far and you had the couple of public forums for parents. What are some of the issues? Both positive and negative that are that are coming up for people But that we haven't touched on and in in in school committee in public You know, I don't I don't want to just wait till the very end and then queue up all those things And you know, you've been an active part of all these conversations if you could just give us some some highlights You know questions concerns from staff and parents and what are what are people what's the input like? Yes, but the secondary level I think On the student side, I think there's a lot of concerns about extracurriculars and sports And even though we think we have a good plan for that I think we've had a harder time communicating more directly with students On that topic that's definitely came up We came up a little bit at this at the with the parent and guardian forum And a little bit with the staff forum, but it seems very acute for the students So we have to think about how to how do we actively communicate that we do have some fixes and Strategies for that. I Think there's some concern about at the secondary level about students who work and you know Would they much like student athletes be able to leave In a similar time frame as what they would Under the current or the typical non-covid schedule I think there's a little bit of a concern about Not so much the earliest of the start at the elementary level, but just all the logistics And I think that's probably true across the board I think the community has been really accepting because I've been really clear from the beginning and you all know this that We're not going to have every single logistical detail worked out with a time compressed time frame to make a decision But we've gotten some really good ideas about How you know for instance the elementary Morning schedule if it's earlier, does it allow us to have a little bit less rushed warning? Does it allow us to do things like breakfast in the classroom and some things that we were working on? And instead of just pushing everything forward 20 or 25 minutes, which you certainly could do Really good conversation with elementary staff yesterday about what that might look like and sort of reimagining it And you certainly could do it if we don't make the change But I think oftentimes in life when you make one change it often be gets a reevaluation of Well, actually, we don't have to just move it forward 25 minutes and we could really really revision What our morning routines look like there's a large interest in the elementary schools of having a more gentle entry into the school And not having students make a choice between playing with their friends or eating breakfast and You know, I think this is always true But all the sudden you start talking about what start time looks like and when buses come and it engenders a Conversation that certainly could have happened anytime, but it certainly is happening now There's a little concern actually less than I thought about childcare In terms of elementary kids being home potentially before secondary kid is there But that's a predictable one. We knew it was going to be there Dr. Gavara's talked to the after-school providers and we're working on that So I think a lot of the things that we thought going in we're going to be concerns our concerns And I think what I've witnessed in terms of surprises are some of the creative problem solving I mean that the elementary morning I really wasn't at the place of thinking about breakfast for the bell and what that is but In conversation with the educators, that's an acute issue that they want to tackle and this actually gives them Give some space to do it in some ways, you know There was some conversation about Specialized programs like preschool and would there were their hours be adjusted similarly to our hours When would early release days, you know, what time would they really you know, so a lot of logistical questions But I think in general what I've experienced is that people are aware of the research I think they have confidence in the research and it's about the trade-offs that are That have to be weighed And what problems need to be solved So, you know, I think when you see the survey There's a lot of in addition to the quantitative data Which is what probably everyone's drawn to because we can make really pretty charts and graphs of you know Lots of different stakeholder groups the qualitative research. Well, it will take you a long time to read I think it's incredibly valuable And so, you know, we'll get that out when the survey is done, you know Well before school committee meeting where you talk about it We'll get it out because it's gonna take a while to read again over a thousand responses It's gonna take a while to read But I'm getting I'm gaining a lot of insights from doing that and I Think I'll probably leave it there because I haven't coded it for themes But there's some really people really took their time to give us helpful feedback So I appreciate their community's been so engaged The seeker Thank you, Dr. Morse for that information. I'm in terms of early start times and what you hear from educators I'm wondering if If that can be shared among educators specifically ideas that are brought up in say Amherst could be shared with teachers and lever it and whatnot. I'm I'm And just I don't know if that data is gonna be in the survey and shared broadly But it would be great if since all educators in our area would be going through these kind of things of how do I do this And how do I do that? That some ideas get spread I don't know how to make that happen if I can help in some way. Let me know But as you mentioned, I thought this would be great to bring back to LES teachers Yeah, and I was with LES teachers last week as you know Bethany and You know We're also in touch with the Northampton folks because they're undergoing the same change at the same time or similar change at the Same time So I do think there's actually some some benefits of having you know lever it shoots very Amherst Pellum You know in Northampton if those other four districts first four districts I mentioned make this change be doing it simultaneously for all the reasons you shared But I'll be we'll be making the results public for everyone But you know, we'll try to figure out how we can desegregate the teacher specific feedback because I think you're right That's probably in terms of dissemination An impact on practice. That's you know, their voices are gonna be really important Yes, but sir Thanks Thanks for that update. I'll Ask a quick question about the well, I'm gonna just second the vaccine Thank you for your advocacy on that and I'm happy to hear that it's gonna be on the next agenda along with the MCAS I'll just do a plus one to both of those and then For the pool testing, I'm just curious. I think it's great news that we've been matched with the vendor I if I remember properly that we get six weeks where the state funds it and then is it the Districts responsibility to take over that cost and is there potential, you know, we know kids probably can be vaccinated for a while So is this something that could potentially keep going throughout this if we have students in the buildings of the summer or next year I'm just curious about the the time frame for it and potential cost to the district after the first weeks Right to the cost is significant and we'll have to look at this over time There are some districts that are using it primarily to test the pool of staff members and intensive need students who can't wear a mask And so that the pool just from a cost perspective it really provides Weekly Asymptomatic testing of all staff members and being more selective in terms of the student pieces Some districts are going full in of course. It's a by consent system. You can't mandate it So that's where it also gets a little bit complicated. So at this point, we're planning with what we know Which is our distance learning center at the high school. Now the number of staff number of students is pretty pretty low there So we're able to know it. I think when we get to the voluntary return to school and we look at those numbers, we are going to have to weigh some of those things and what stimulus dollars should we have and what do we want to preserve for the next school year and There really will be some complicated calculus for that piece. But right now with the only nurse we have who's trained in it works at the high school. Right, so we know we can implement it soon at the high school for the other sites We have to know which certain nurses are in they'll have to undergo training not just for the pool testing, but also for the by next testing because each site is You need a specific license to do those kind of tests at each site So right now the only site we have testing capabilities is at the high school now I think in the short term for the symptomatic testing the by next testing If staff returned to other buildings they can go to the high school and we can we can figure out the logistics on that pool testing is an is a larger bear So, you know, it is something we'll have to address over time You know the pool testing is less expensive than broad asymptomatic testing but it's it's it's not it's not a zero-cost proposition and as you'll hear our Bargains aren't wildly, you know, we don't have lots of extra funds sitting around So it is something that we will have to talk about over time and address over time But I think in the short term we feel like it's manageable within some stimulus funds We have in CARES Act funds At the scale that we have now, but that if that scale increases significantly We'll have to come back and have a broader conversation about the impact Any other comments or questions? Not seeing any Are you with that all your full update Dr. Morris it was sorry Yeah, thank you. That was that was really helpful the next is the chairs update and From my end Speaking for the Amherst school committee There we are hosting an open meeting of residents on Thursday evening this week at six o'clock That information is posted on the district calendar for anybody Who would like to participate or attend? It is open to all it is pursuant to an article in the Amherst town Charter At the request of a group of petitioners this meeting is being hosted by the school committee to respond On a list of subjects from the petitioners and those list of subjects and questions are included in the Announcement about the meeting as mentioned all are welcome to attend and participate And it's Thursday Chair hall do you have any updates? I don't thank you Now We have a school committee updates. Are there any announcements from members of the school committee? Mr. Answer Just a quick update from the budget subcommittee as you all know from the information in the agenda packets Dr. Slaughter has been extremely busy working on budgets So the document that we're hoping to prepare is kind of it's a work in progress But right now it's it's kind of at a stop But I thought I would just tell you a little bit about how we're thinking about it It would be something much easier for people to read and understand Then if they were to look at the full budget document Which you know can be several hundred pages and have lots of information in it One thing that Dr. Slaughter suggests is that we have some definitions of terms So that people can just see what does this mean and I think that's a really good idea other things that we talked about were Some historical information about enrollment Over time because as we know from recent discussions that that may have an impact as we go forward and also How staff and staffing and course offerings Have been impacted by budgets and enrollment over time What what we actually can control which is a small part of our budget So I think something like 80% of our budget is required for all the things that were legally required to provide Or that we have to provide because we need things like utilities and transportation So we really don't have a choice there. So for people to understand what where we have room wiggle room if we need it to do things and and it's actually not a significant part of the budget so Um What else I Guess so that's just kind of a little summary of some of the things that we hope that it will incorporate but Dr. Slaughter feels and I I speak for myself But maybe for the committee members too that we think some kind of document like this could be very valuable something that could be shared with the community and Um, perhaps help them understand better when we have to make choices. So that's all Great. That's um, sounds really helpful and interesting. So thank you to the budget subcommittee for all of your work And and I know you've been meeting right fairly regularly on that. So I would say we also should give a huge thank you to dr. Slaughter because most of the work of compiling the information will be his You know, he's thrown some things out and we've had some good discussion, but he'll be doing a lot of the work Understood Are there any other announcements from the school committee or any of the three school committees? Not seeing any We'll move on to our new and continuing business um and our uh primary agenda item is the spring 2021 in-person return planning And this is a continuation of the Conversations um that we've been having over the last several weeks both in the in these meetings as well as the regional school committee with the APEA executive board in planning for this voluntary return um starting in february And I will turn it over to dr. Morse for that update Sure, so uh, thank you and what I'd like to do is just walk you through where we are in the process so um consistent with the language that you voted I reached out And met multiple times now with um durian cunningham jennifer tees who work in the our human resources equity and diversity office And then members of the apa executive board to try to work on how to do this and the language I think you use to collaborate with apa and I'm glad to report that I think it's been my experience has been that's been a very collaborative process how to roll this out to staff So what was in the packet is the email that went out to all staff members um trying to ascertain their decision To return to in-person instruction. And so the survey Link has been active. We have over 200 responses, which I'm guessing is about half Of apa members Responses we've received it's due at the end of the day on thursday um The email was was co-authored by what we're calling the volunteer return group So it's that collaborative group between the three three of us administrators as well as members of the apa executive board and so, you know, we really wanted to assure staff members that It's very clear the where the school committee is and I think some members of the community and myself about getting more in-person instruction going in but we also Consisted with the language know that it's a volunteer basis and we didn't want there to be any coercion So, you know, our principles have been fabulous about If staff members have questions being very neutral We do have an email address and we have gotten a number of questions from staff That's a shared email address by this kind of leadership or organizing group And we want to make sure that people are making decisions free of influence from anyone that it's an individual decision Uh, we want them to be able to make it and feel good about their decisions that they make We also wanted to note that we may have and I think it's likely we'll have staff members who Are more interested in returning to in person later in the year So we didn't want to have one time A one-time choice. We thought that'd be really limiting and I'll be honest at a number of the survey responses There was no explicit question To elicit this response but have indicated Some people are certainly comfortable coming in some people just said no, but there was an optional A comment box and a number of staff members have responded, you know, once I'm vaccinated, I'm good Right. And so I think I want to be transparent in this meeting without Belying confidence and people who fill out an anonymous survey anonymous survey that, you know, the vaccine piece However, people feel about it will be is a significant factor to many staff members. And so anecdotally, I knew that and at this point I think we have hard data That would show that that's not to say that no one's willing to come back pre vaccine That's not at all what I'm saying, but it really does connect back to the earlier point. I made During superintendent update. I know we'll come back to next week So the survey also wanted to make sure that we don't we won't exactly know what all the models are until we know who's returning So administratively when we get all the information Thursday afternoon, we'll spend the next couple days sorting out what it looks like What grade levels what schools will we're able to open? You know what students were able to support and and at that point we'll reach out to families and try to understand who's interested in returning It's it's for us asking families to return if they want to return if there's not a seat for them is going to be a really futile exercise Um, and we don't want to set up families to be disappointed Based on serving them before we know what the model is Particularly the secondary level. There's a really unique challenge with that because you know if Half of a middle school team is in person and half isn't then we may have to look towards a distance learning model or some version of that to cover the times when students aren't in Uh in person classes So it's not that it's easy at the elementary level But the nature of changing classes at the secondary level brings about some unique challenges to us Um, so we're looking forward to getting the data back and and then doing a lot of creative planning for For that purpose You know, we did publicize the tentative agreement, which I think is worth mentioning in in open session I know it'll be potentially a topic in the executive session But I want I think it's important for me to say that the same protections around masks PPE Ventilation all the health and safety pieces That we agreed to are still in place in this model So I know we said that in the letter But I want to assure the community who may have questions about it that the volunteer return doesn't Allow or we're not looking at it as upending The fact that we're going to require masks or the fact that we're going to supply KN 95 masks to staff Or that kids and students will only be working In terms of main classroom areas in classrooms where the ventilation has been tested None of those things are changed and we wanted to be clear with staff as well as the community about that So I thought I wanted to I wanted to share that as well You know, and I think the last thing's important too. We you know, we want to encourage We feel like we're doing the right thing in terms of supporting staff members who want to come back And there's a lot of reasons that we know staff members may not want to come back And there's a lot of reasons staff members can't come back Either because of their health condition or a health condition of someone they live with and so, you know, I guess I want to just publicly state that We want to make sure that no one's confidentiality or privacy gets upunded in this process that Staff members may choose to come back. They may not choose to come back And we're going to do all everything we can do at the district level As well to the school level to make sure that the privacy concerns that staff members, you know, have expressed Are maintained and that staff members don't feel undue pressure from anyone To make the choice. That's not the one that they want to make If people want to come back, we're going to welcome them back. We're going to take care of them. We're going to do the right thing If staff members don't come back, we don't want there to be a perception that they're Less valued in our organization Or that their work is less valued and you know, that's the approach that we've taken and Not only is it the right ethical thing to do I think it actually yields a better response both in the short and long term when there's No feelings or perceptions of coercion on the part of, you know, principal superintendent and you know, educational leaders in the district So we'll have more to share Certainly, I think one last thing that's really important to note is we're looking about a return date of march 1st I know the Vote you pass said february But when we looked at our calendar and looked at all the steps we needed to take about building a program That's not going to be a typical program Asking families expecting a response and then particularly all the transportation logistics Of having some students in some schools back in session and not others It just we didn't feel like right after the february break was possible logistically so we are looking at Monday march 1st As the return date for the volunteer return We have probably have a different timeline for preschool and intensive needs Students where and I think it's been publicly stated that there's an interest in staff return and I think that won't be on march 1st that that should likely be sooner than that But for the more general population That's we feel like we want to do this right and we want to do it and have it go well And feeling like that right after february break is our staff members Some staff members won't be working february break. It didn't feel like the right time It would have felt really rushed and we want this again our interest is That for staff members to come in we match them with students who come in who are going to benefit from in-person learning And that we have a successful model Preschool is a little unique at the crocker farm level and that We'd sort of be creating a program. There's no students in person in preschool and the intensive needs program It's really weaving into the distance learning center that's already operating So that's the kind of smoothest transition Because it's we already have the model we have the space we have the administrative staff the nurse there For the other schools it is more of an adjustment and we did need a bit more time to put that in place So that is my Kind of summary of where we are in this volunteer return. I want to appreciate the school committee for taking an unusual step It's definitely pushing the creative juices of everyone involved to think about Exactly how this will work well for kids, but it does feel like we're trying to match people who feel Comfortable and desirous of being in person both students and staff as and I think that's at the moment the best we can do so appreciate the creativity of the committee and We're going to implement to the best of our ability Okay, um, I have one quick question before I go to mr. Demling. I hope you'll forgive me mr. Demmel So you talked about sort of intensive needs and pre-k potentially being able to come back sooner than march 1st so Assuming I think there's a a draft letter of agreement um that Both um the regional school committee and APA are looking at um Just wrap estimate how soon after those are approved. Do you think that we'd see those students able to return? Yeah, I think intensive needs would pretty quick again. They're they're fitting into an existing framework and existing structure. So Um, I think that can be very quick after that. I think for preschool It's probably a little bit slower than that just because we want to think about you know preschool wasn't for seven days But this will be a different model. It's a it's not a compulsory staff model Um, and um, so also it's been a bunch of months and some kids have turned three since we were in person Um, so, you know, I think that one's going to take more planning. We have a great preschool coordinator who We're very confident and the staff are very confident. We can lead that and make that work Uh, effectively. It's a very small program, but it is a different site. So we have to get a nurse up and running Uh for that site as well. Um, so that's the additional wrinkle So I think that one may be a little slower, but we feel confident it'll be before march 1st Assuming when the side letters get, you know voted and agreed by all parties So again, Lee Yeah, so thank you for that update. Um Yeah, in terms of the timing. I mean the the motion was starting in february prioritizing our highest need students and You know, so that's what's happening with pre k i l c going first and then everybody else Um, you know being responsibly taken care of after that. So that's You know, and we always knew this was going to be a very high-level challenging logistic and creative operation. So, um, You know, it sounds like you're going about it the right way Um, I I really want to thank the apa leadership for their collaboration throughout this process. Um The the email survey to staff that you shared in the packet was was very informative and supportive I thought like really tonally. I thought very supportive of staff. It wasn't just one line about You know, no one's going to judge you. It was it was there's a lot of good information a lot of follow-up And it probably wouldn't have been as comprehensive. Um, if it wasn't for the collaboration With um with our union leadership and and that's I just want to publicly acknowledge that's hard Um, because you know, it's it's no secret that that we're still in disagreement about other things about whether or not To renegotiate the moa. And so to to work collaboratively on this effort, you know, while there isn't Agreement on everything else. Um, that takes a lot. I mean this this could have gone in a much different way and Um, I'm very grateful for the for the for the collaboration of of EPA leadership on that. Um, so in terms of the timing for everyone else, so You know the a tentative return date of of monday march 1st So that was that was a bit of news in the in the um in the packet there So I I presume that you know some number of families will be surveyed this month um And then it it might be too early and if it is you can just say so but have you thought yet about? um How that return would would sequence is it everybody comes back on march 1st or is it? um, you know we it depending on the volume and and and where people are in different schools it may have to Um slot in um some sort of brief sequencing. Um Again, this might be too too soon. Although it is less than four weeks away. So here is just what your initial thoughts may not Yeah, I think the seconder is going to be uh logistically the really complicated one in the way that you said so I don't think we Feel based on the data I've seen that we're going to overwhelm our systems in terms of the number of adults and kids It'll be in buildings. So I'm not I'm not incredibly concerned that oh my god. We're going to have full, you know, every building is going to be 100 full I feel confident that that's not the case um Had a structure a day at the secondary level with only some staff in is going to be a logistical challenge and I think that may Potentially take a long time. So I don't have a longer time. Excuse me not a long time So I don't have a specific phasing plan yet until we see who's coming back. How many people And what schools they're in And you know, I know some staff members have said are we going to consolidate schools? Like if there's only x number of staff in so there's a lot of a lot of logistical questions ahead But we're not imagining the phasing taking six weeks to be blunt, you know, that that's I don't think we'll have the the the mass of the quantity of students and staff Where we'll feel a need to to stage things and phase them in that way Also, I don't mean to pick on your comment peter because I've probably used the term myself But I got corrected and I think it's important that I want to acknowledge staff who who lovingly corrected it That you know, when we say ilc ilc is the elementary intensive needs program But the side letter and the discussion is for the intensive needs programs Pre k to 12 or pre k to 22 age 22 So a secondary person who works in one of our intensive needs programs reminded me the other day again Very nicely that to watch my language because I've been using the language ilc Which is probably peter while you use the language ilc But I apologize if I did that but really it's about the intensive needs program And we you know, I don't want it people to have the belief that it's only the elementary level Because our middle school and high school staff members who work in there and some of them have indicated An openness to returning to in person. So I meant no disrespect if I said it tonight I know no one else did either but I I I want to acknowledge that feedback and make sure I'm publicly saying it correctly Other questions or comments More info coming soon that I can assure you You know, once we get the feedback, then we'll have to really build the programs And then we'll have to have lots of lots of discussions about what that looks like and and both with the committee and the community So more soon Right. Thank you very much for that update. That was really helpful Thank you. Um So Moving on to our next item we have uh speaking of future meetings. Um future agenda planning And We um the regional school committee has they Well, we're meeting after this joint meeting And we have a four towns budget meeting on saturday morning this week Um, and then we just scheduled another regional school committee meeting on tuesday of next week Um at that meeting we're talking that will be our budget hearing Um, so that was posted today so that we have that one week notice for that Um, we will be looking at um athletics for the swing season or the fall two season Um an update on in-person planning and vaccine Advocacy for educators uh in vaccines um We have a our much um anticipated february break and then um a joint meeting tentatively planned for february 23rd where we'll look at school start times um Tentatively slotted our c-pack annual report presentation and then the amherst committee meeting will have a meeting there um Dr. Morris We should also put the return to school because at that point we'll have a real clear picture So we should slot that in and that should be if we could do that the joint part Sorry, I should have updated that earlier. I miss mcdonald, but um I didn't I also want to give plug while people are thinking of other agenda items to amherst media for covering Then, you know tonight thursday night and saturday morning So, um, they're tireless and their support of us and making sure the community has access to these meetings. So Jeff, I'm sure you're watching uh your screen and just give you a plug and all the folks at amherst media because we know that's been a plethora of meetings Uh, and it's really important our community is able to access them. So thank you Um, and I'm guessing that the march second Meeting is would also be a joint meeting because that's when Alternatively, we're planning to vote on the change in school start times Any other So we have a medium meeting next week for the regional committee and then a large meeting on the 23rd For the joint, um as well as then for amherst The q2 budget update, um first look at fiscal 22 budget coming into enrollment policy And and capital and school choice Dr. Morris Sorry, I'll give people more think time if there's anything else, but just there is a pelham school committed meeting on the 11th of february um As well. So that's a week from thursday and we'll be talking about things like budget and Curriculum as it relates to health and um gender uh and a number of other topics As well, so I just wanted to note that this is a joint meeting. Um, if i'm missing anything sarah I know there's other things in the agenda, but just wanted to more note that there's a meeting a week from thursday And also preschool preschool. Yes. Thank you very much. Appreciate it Um and the other meeting on the um on the 9th Right now, that's where we have tentatively slotted when we'll look at the middle school grade span report and talk about next steps on planning for outreach and decision making at that point no planning discussion that meeting any other Um items for any of the soon to be coming up meetings um, we do have I think some gifts tonight for the region and for amherst I will make the motion first. Um, I will move that we accept the gifts the following gifts for the region um from Rebekah woodland and Michael Hutton with woodland to support the arps performing arts the donation of a cable nelson upright piano um value estimated value of three thousand dollars Is there a second? second moved by mcdonnell and seconded by stancer. Um, dr. Morris Yeah, I just want to thank this family for reaching out to us. They had um this wonderful piece of musical equipment And we're hoping it would find a home that would be used and Mr. Beck told our department chair Was engaged them and in a level of dialogue that I cannot follow because it's not my area of expertise and But really appreciate the community because it's going to be widely used by students in the future and you know Appreciate the support from our community members. Um that they reached out to us instead of doing a whole lot of other things They could have done with the with the expensive piece of musical equipment. So just wanted to offer my acknowledgement Yes, which is a generous and nice gift And so seeing no discussion will move to a world call vote of the region. Um, mr. Deming Deming I Mr. Harrington Eric and I miss Kenny Kenny I miss lord Lord I miss seager Seager I Miss spitzer Spitzer I Miss stancer Stancer I Mr. Sullivan Sullivan I And mcdonald I the motion passes unanimously And we also have a couple gifts for the amherst school committee amherst region. Um, or amherst district. Sorry Um, and I will make a motion that we accept the gifts. Um as follows From donor martha oliver number nine nine five nine two three To support crocker farm at the principal discretion and the amount of ten dollars And from stacey lennard and steven sacks in Um number three nine three nine to support the arps family center and the amount of five hundred dollars For a total gift amount of five hundred and ten dollars. Is there a second? Second Move by mcdonald second by spitzer dr. Morse Sorry to extend these but mr. Saxenian was a longtime math teacher at our Secondary at our high school and just you know, you've heard me say this about others It's just uh, so wonderful and appreciative at our community that our retired educators Continue to give back to our schools. Uh, even though they're not currently working them So just wanted to say a personal thank you on that one. Sorry. I won't extend more gift talk, but I think it's it's just Nice to acknowledge some folks who are doing and people. I don't know. I apologize. I don't acknowledge But I thought, you know, when it's a former staff person, I'd like to acknowledge them Thank you I'm seeing no discussion. We'll move to a real call vote of the emmer school committee. Mr. Demling Demling I Mr. Harrington Harrington I Miss lord Lord I Miss spitzer Spitzer I And mcdonald I I mentioned passes unanimously And now we have um warrants are there warrants from Uh The region miss spitzer. I have to um I'll just take me a moment to bring them up, but um Chair call. Do you have any for a pillow? I do I have one Why don't you go first then? Okay, great. I authorized by my signature to payables in the amount of 58,569 dollars and 19 cents And that was all in payroll. That was for a warrant dated January 27th, 2021 And I signed it on January 27th, 2021 That's it and miss spitzer Thank you. Um So I authorized by my signature to payables in the amount of 680,934 dollars and five cents For the warrant dated January 27th, 2021 and this included general fund expenses of 130,638 dollars and 16 cents and other funds in the amount of 50,275 Dollars and 89 cents for capital and state stabilization and this was signed by me on february 1st Other um, I authorized by my signature To payables in the amount of 644,837 dollars and five cents for the warrant dated January 29th, 2021 This included general fund expenses of 489,382 dollars and 61 cents Revolving fund expenses of 19,542 dollars and 11 cents Grant fund expenses of 132,451 dollars and six cents and other funds in the amount of 3,461 Dollars and 27 cents and that was for capital I signed this on february 1st, 2021 Okay, and I I believe I have three. Um, I think I neglected to read one of these um at our last amor school committee meeting. So, um I authorized by my signature payables in the amount of 118,899 dollars and 50 cents 57 cents for the warrant dated January 15th, 2021 It included general fund expenses of 51,282 dollars and 50 cents grant fund expenses of 820 dollars 1067 cents school reopening fund In the amount of 840 dollars and 84 cents CARES Act fund of 65,509 dollars and 45 cents And miscellaneous of 446 dollars and 11 cents and I signed that on the 15th of january um Sorry, I also authorized Uh payroll in the amount of 645,162 dollars and 84 cents dated january 27th, 2021 And I signed that on the on january 23rd, 2021 And Lastly, I authorized by my signature payables in the amount of 125,752 dollars and 41 cents for warrant dated january 29th, 2021 It includes general fund expenses of 91,218 dollars and three cents Revolving fund expenses of 533 dollars and 96 cents grant fund expenses of 10,753 dollars and 37 cents CARES Act fund of 22,535 dollars and 95 cents And a gift to the school of 710 dollars and 10 cents and I signed that on january 29th, 2021 And that is all that I have Uh, so now I will move that we adjourn the emmerced school committee is our second Second We went mcdonald's and seconded by spitzer. There's no discussion. Mr. Demling Demling I Mr. Harrington Harrington I Ms. Lord Lord I Ms. Spitzer Spitzer I And mcdonald's I The emmerced school committee is adjourned And chair hall All right, I moved to adjourn the pellum school committee meeting. Is there a second? Second Move by hall seconded by stancer. Um, we'll do roll call vote. Ms. stancer Stancer I Mr. Manino Manino I Ms. Barlow Barlow I Ms. Kenny Kenny I And hall I Pellum is adjourned Good night, everyone. Good night Good night Okay, so now uh, we will move on and continue with our regional topics And now we approve, uh minutes that are in our packet Um, and we have several I'm going to try to read the dates um, we beginning with I was surprised I thought that this one had been reviewed but it's august 18th Um, we also have september 22nd october 22nd december 8th That's it. Are there do folks have any edits on any of those? The secret On august 18th, I'm listed as being part of emmerced versus The region and I have one on the December 8th minutes on page two of those minutes Um, it's it's minor, but I think it's important to get it. Um, correct because it's pertaining to the vote um on at the bottom of the page um Ms. McDonald moved that we approve winter sports This was seconded by miss kenny and I think that should be a period after miss kenny um, and then The motion it should next read the motion carried um with Mr. I think the names are all correct. Mr. Harrington and miss lord abstaining And miss spitzer nay and five. Yes Are there other edits to These minutes this year I also noticed on december 8th. I'm listed incorrectly as well Any other edits? Are you good? miss spitzer I can make a motion I moved that we approve the minutes the emmerced or the regional minutes as amended for august 18th 2020 september 22nd 2020 October 22nd 2020 and december 8th 2020 Lord second Move by spitzer second by lord any further discussion Seeing none We'll call vote mr. Demling Demling I mr. Harrington Harrington I miss Kenny Kenny I Um miss lord Lord I miss seager Seager I miss spitzer Spitzer I Miss dancer Dancer I Mr. Sullivan Sullivan I And mcdonald I the motion passes unanimously So moving back to our agenda. Um, we will now um, I will now make a motion that we enter into executive session To this across strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation of a pea If an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigation position of the public body And the chair so declares and I declare With the intention of returning to open session. Is there a second? second Um moved by mcdonald the second by spitzer and we'll take a roll call vote mr. Demling Demling I Mr. Harrington Miss Kenny Kenny I Miss lord Lord I Miss seager Seager I Miss spitzer Spitzer I Miss dancer Dancer I Mr. Sullivan Sullivan I And mcdonald I But we will now um adjourn to executive session. Um with plans to return In about 30 minutes Uh, great. Well, welcome back everybody. Um, and we will now um move on to our next item Which is um the second quarter update on the fiscal year 2021 um budget Pass it on Oh, I'm sorry Doug is just logging on right now. And there he is. Look at that timing. Um Perfect Good night. How's it going Doug? It's going all right Good, um, do you want me to display the Second quarter budget or would you I see you're in the office? I don't know if you have the screens to do that I do sort of but it'd be best if you did. I think Okay I will pull it up momentarily Probably we're not prepared for us to be running ahead of schedule. So, um, thank you for Hopping on a few minutes early All right All right, I'm happy to be here and and so I'll uh, I'll here it is. I got it Um, so I think the short story is the following of as far as the quarter two budget is concerned and that is, uh It seems to be all right, but there are a lot of open questions. Um So if you were looking at the quarter one and then you look at the quarter two There's not much that's changed as far as the color coding along the right hand side Um, you know, just as a reminder red is areas we have, uh, some rather serious concerns about yellows Running keep an eye on a green seem to be okay And so those are pretty much the same three areas that are in a color other than green is was the case with quarter one um And so I think just to to take it in in orders or a top to bottom Uh, first piece of the of that report we talk about payroll accounts how we're doing from the standpoint of of, uh Our budget for payroll versus what our actuals are like Earlier in the year, we were a little concerned around contracts, which has to do with some things mostly it has, uh Some of our summer programming that we do We were concerned that that had had been a little above what we had, you know That originally budgeted and it was and yet, uh, we've been able to sort of moderate our spending in that area So we're sort of back to uh, where we'd expect to be at the midpoint of the year, which is about 50 Um, so that's that's trending in the right direction I think we're going to continue to keep an eye on our our contracted spending of payroll um You'll notice under just regular salaries. It's at 46 percent and part of that's because uh, we've already Recognized some savings in in those areas and we've sort of recoup recoup those, uh, those budgeted dollars to use elsewhere in our budget um And so that's part of why that is holding at about 46 percent. Um, we would expect to be In some ways further under budget, but we have shifted some of our budgeting from from payroll to expenses in order to To mitigate some expected costs in other areas and so that's why that's sitting at about 46 percent And of course substitutes is very very low. We do have some, uh, you know teachers do need Uh teachers in Paris both need coverage at times often. We're covering it with our own staff um But our overall Rate of need for substitutes is is very very low. And so that's remaining an area that's that's well under budget As we get into the expenses, uh for the for the district over the over the first half of the year Most are tracking as as would be expected. They're under they're under budget in some ways. Um Or if they are above budget, uh, they're they're explainable reasons. So for example, if you look at technology, um That is is trending. Uh, I'm trying technology. Um information systems. Thank you Can't remone thing it's it's 69 percent part of that's because we buy a lot of software Uh, uh subscriptions at the beginning of the fiscal year. So that tends to boost it up You see the same thing when you look at our uh risk and benefits, um They we pay, uh, our retirement assessment for hamster county Right beginning year that saves us 2 percent overall and and what that does though is it pushes our Our budget kind of out of whack until we get to the end of the year But just on the topic of risk and benefits One area that we keep a close eye on is our health insurance costs for the year Uh, and we're tracking right on those costs So if we were to dig into the individual lines for for health insurance We're we're right on what we had budgeted for that So I think that will to continue to uh to be steady throughout the rest of the year Um Excuse me The two areas of concern that we have are the same two areas that we had In quarter one and that it's under under the special education category And under the facilities category and the reason for that is both of those contain Expenses both that we've realized and others that we are projecting for the rest of the year In some ways related to our regular work, but more importantly Related to providing support around COVID related things and so the difficulty at this point in the year and is to Is to predict exactly how those COVID related related expenses are going to play out So you had a discussion earlier regarding, uh, you know volunteering for in-person schooling That's going to change some of the demands in those areas relative to COVID expenses Um So our demand side of things so there's what our expenses going to be are going to change throughout the year depending on how the pandemic itself evolves our own response to that evolves But also how the funding evolves so one of the things uh That we have is a fair amount of of support from the federal government by and large to to help us pay for some of those unexpected COVID related expenses um And and some of those are our standard grant programs. We've gotten a technology grant. We've gotten uh, uh a reopening grant You know, we've gotten a food service grant all of those funds have been expended To date and so those aren't in here But at the same time our expenses we we have incurred that we Have covered with grant funds. We have some other grant funds We haven't yet decided about and part of the reason why we haven't decided is because Two big sources of support are reimbursement based. So FEMA related expenses and part of the cares act expenses are reimbursement based Uh, so we have to apply for reimbursement. We have to wait for response Uh, if the if FEMA rejects those, uh, then they then we can kind of go to a second tier under cares act And so all of that's uh in process and is not quick for one thing I was chatting with Sean mangana my predecessor who now works in the town of amherst today And we're both kind of lamenting the the structure of this and in some ways, you know, there was no preventing it But but by having a reimbursement process, it's it's really difficult And one of the things that's been really difficult about this the rules relative What's eligible or ineligible have been changing over the course of the year? um And even with the new administration being inaugurated in january they they have put out that they They would have expectations that FEMA should reimburse for more things than they have previous to this date So, you know, the the playing field is changing and the and the rules are kind of changing as we go through and so Um, I think the short story is there's a fair amount of federal support to help us cover these expenses As we go through the year. We'll have to keep an eye on that We want to preserve some of those for our coming fiscal year And so, uh, you know, there's a lot of unknown still relative to how it'll exactly play out Just the raw expenditure to date and the and the expected expenditure And the funding sources that we know about in concrete terms, uh, you know, we'll be able to pay our bills But I do think it provides a considerable amount of unknown Which is most the reason why those are in bright red is is that there's a lot of unknown there and we'll we'll be trying to Uh, get firme answers about how that's playing out and what sources will be used for what purposes as we go through the The remainder of of this year. Hopefully by third quarter. We'll have a much much clearer picture on this Uh, and and it'll be critical in some of our planning for for fiscal 22 as well Um, I think that's most what I wanted to say about quarter two And so I want to stop and give everybody a chance to ask questions if they have them or or or post Any, uh, clarifying questions they might have as well Thank you Are there questions? Mr. Demling Yeah, so, um, I just want to thank you first that this entire sheet isn't all red. Um I mean based on what we were looking at a few months ago. I was expecting this to be a lot more A lot more representative of the right color. So, um Kudos to you. It sounds like the budget freeze was a good idea Uh, and that helped helped a lot of those even though that obviously comes with pain um But um, although I had the budget would be different. Um, but you know, but but thank you. Thank you for that I just want to acknowledge that that's this it's not an easy thing to for you to manage if you and your team and The district to manage it because everybody feels the pain of a budget freeze and has to adjust accordingly Um, so so two things I'm wondering about for for next year as I know this isn't about next year But as it relates as this year's budget relates to next year's budget. So there's this couple of Pots that that both these budgets can pull from right that we can kind of Turn the knobs on a little bit so that um, at least in my mind Where if we turn it down for this year, we could turn it up next year To kind of balance it off knowing that next year's budget is is obviously very difficult um, so I'm thinking about the school choice reserves And and also e and d and I'm thinking about what the I know because I know there's some laws around this But what's the maximum amount of money we can carry over? From one fiscal year to the next and it it seems like big picture-wise One thing we ought to be doing is trying to max out The amount of money that we can carry over and trying to as Minimize what we're taking from things like school choice and e and d so that we can Really rely on those next year to try and minimize the pain of next year's budget cuts. So Yeah, is that is that something we're trying to do given given at this point in the year Or have we already tapped out that strategy of just your general thoughts on managing that? No, I think that's absolutely as we as we head into the rest of this year and we start to balance those those resources whether it be, you know, uh, you know Additional a cares act, you know, there's a new cares act passed in in late December Which created what's now called s or two, which is how the state's funded those those grants or named those grants You know, that's one piece of the puzzle But but how that interacts with uh, you know, typically those are to cover Unbudgeted or unexpected costs. Um, but if if those can support us in the in in a significant way Then yes, we will definitely utilize, you know, the options available to us to sort of preserve monies for For next year to help it up with uh, with the The district in that regard One thing so you mentioned two critical ones school choice is one We have a decidedly greater amount of control over that we can there's not typically To my understanding a limit on how much of that you can Sort of bank and so if we get toward the end of the year and and we have savings Uh, you know, we have a budgeted amount of school choice that we have Expected to utilize this year, which was five hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Um, we're not compelled to spend that So that would retain that that money and preserve the the balance of our our school choice revolving fund In a way that would be beneficial to us and be available to us for next year Um, the second sort of tool we have is as you mentioned is indeed that was a little trickier Um, there is an upper limit on that five percent of our operating Budget is the maximum we can hold within that Um, it's also having to do what's interesting about uh, END is It's an amount that's certified and so, you know, we finished fiscal 20 We're in the process of getting that END certified for the current fiscal year And so if we're going to budget that there's a cut, you know, there's a there's a couple of places where we budget money From END into our next year's budget But you're budgeting next year based on your certified as of this year and so I think as a result of how last year played out at the end Our certified END will probably be a little lower than it has been in recent years Uh, to what extent i'm not sure There are there are aspects of our our end of the year that that um, I'm not sure how the state will will uh Factor in as they sort of think about it. Um, they essentially say sort of what what's your sort of remainder left over sitting on hand But there are a few different sort of rules around that as far as what's Counted or not counted. So if you have things that you are expecting to receive they kind of count That is not real money until you get it that kind of thing Um, so I think our our our amount of END for next year Uh explicitly will be a little smaller. Uh, which puts more pressure on us to to do something more Along the lines of using school choice to help support the budget So those are all factors we're we're definitely keeping in mind I think, uh, you know, some of the difficulty with these reimbursement processes from From the the federal government on FEMA and and the CARES Act some of that Uh It it makes the cash flow management difficult And so I think we may find that in fiscal during fiscal 22 We have these resources that come in because they'll come in so late relatives are expending which is happening In large measure now And so I think you know, that'll that'll impact and help our fiscal 23, but Anyway, it's a it's a bit of a Um a moving picture on all of those fronts But we're trying to keep an eye on them and and definitely sort of leverage those resources as best we can to help us out Uh in the current year and then and then as we look forward to next year Gary Hi, thanks again Doug for putting all of this together. Um Two questions and I apologize if they're a little In the weeds, um But that was as good a time as any, um, so I'm just looking at the student services line And it's showing that we're at 99.1 percent And so I'm assuming that's funding something that we pay for early on in the year Otherwise I'd expect it to be red. So I'm just curious about what what that line is And then going down to food service and I know we've received grant funds to, um Cover the expense of distributing food But I I think it's just a little misleading if you look at where we've been spending the funds to say that We haven't been the schools have been providing food even though students haven't necessarily been in the building so I'm just wondering where would that show up if anywhere because um I don't know. I'm just thinking about if I were a layperson coming and looking at this document I'd be like you haven't fed anybody but I know we have been so I'm just curious about if you could explain that Right. We'll start with the for the student services first. You'll notice that the total amount budget is about $50,000 That's very fairly specific thing. The other thing I'll point you to is that we haven't actually Sent the cash out the door for all of that yet. If you look at the One two three four fifth column of of the numbers there for that row. It's about 28,000 or so That's the actual spending we've done to date the remainder in that next column Is what we expect to so what we have in that in that category just in general is that It's a known cost. We're fully expecting to expend that through the rest of the year and we've In a sense sort of booked that money to be spent, which is why that one shows up at 99 um And so that's that's not to be of concern just because we don't have any expectation of any unexpected costs to show up there And and hopefully there won't be but I think to the food service question Largely food services operated independent of this budget. This is is our appropriation budget. And so that $150,000 is a support our Our appropriated budget gives to our food service to run its operation Um, you know today, I think our our food service is doing it. Well, They're doing a fantastic job not today They're doing a fantastic job getting meals to kids and and the current program we're running which is not Which is not our normal food service program is one in which every meal served is getting reimbursed at the free The rate that's provided for free meals Uh, and so we we have a lot higher reimbursement rate Um relative to just a broad spectrum, but we're also not collecting any money from anybody At the same time and so I think that that number once we we get a little further into the year probably third quarter Of a better sense of whether we'll we'll need to support our budget in that full amount of 150,000 Which was typically what we budget for that But as far as the general program and operation of food service, it's it's not shown here Um And so I agree it is a little deceptive in that sense And so we're we're holding that 150,000 for use if we need it and then if not then it can be Uh able to support the budget in a different way and then back to mr. Dimlin's point about uh, sort of use of school choice versus END, etc. It it can help, uh Bolster us in in sort of balancing those things out Yes, um, mr. Seeger Just a follow-up question for the food service in a typical non-covid year Is the whole is 150,000 the typical amount that's applied to that or is it I'm just wondering Um, how much it's supplemented with or how much of that's typically used Um in in a typical year. Yes, we we do utilize All of that or almost all of that 150,000. Um, it's a number that's crept up a little bit You know and partly because it covers, uh, you know if we have, um You know unpaid bills by students, uh, you know that helps cover the cost of that in the short term I'm going to still try to collect those after the fact But it also, you know, one of the reasons that number's crept up if you look at past budgets in the last few years It's crept up a little bit partly because we're trying to expand our breakfast program and offerings there and and to To utilize more local growers and that sort of thing and so There's a variety of reasons, but that is typically used in in its entirety But it is a number we try to keep an eye on and try to budget Carefully is and as we get back into, you know, some more sense of normalcy more in building service to food We'll probably reevaluate that number and and whether that's the appropriate level support from from our general fund Are there any final questions? Mr. Demi so, uh, dr. Morrison No one likes to consider furloughs, but we've you know, obviously we've had to go there to a degree this year Is is that something that is still uh, you think a strategy we need to be considering for this fiscal year given where we're at with the budget um and One just so that we can finish the year on budget but but two also the more general question of, you know, trying to uh trying to have the What buckets we are able to carry over carry over on the in the largest amounts and not being able, you know Um, you know the the carry down effect there. Um, you should just speak to that Um, yeah, I mean, this is one of the least favorite parts of my position this year Has been having to expand our furloughs. You know, we started the year with food service Uh, we're now expanded to AFSCME, which is um drivers and and custodial staff You know, has it been fiscally effective? Sure You know, is there a real cost to individuals? Absolutely, right and and you know, thankfully the government is helping out Some to mitigate that cost and we've we've had a voluntary system So some people have volunteered for the furloughs based on their personal life circumstances and and that's been okay, but um You know, it is a contributing factor to personnel costs being lower than they are So if you look at the second quarter budget, um, you can see that it's more of an acute issue and Some of the other districts I work for and I'll leave it there since we do have a quorum of one of those other districts I'll just um I think I'll I'll make that statement Um, but I wish it was not the case. Um, you know, I know you're not I know you agree with me Peter, I'm not at all suggesting that you you don't but it is a Strategy that we're in better shape because fiscal shape because we were able to take those measures Um and implement them Uh, and if you ask me if I'm happy about it, no, but if you ask me if it was good fiscal sense It will contribute more to next year's budget. Absolutely. Otherwise, we wouldn't be doing it Any other questions? Okay. I'm not seeing any So, um, thank you again, um, dr. Slaughter for the um update um Then I might suggest before we dive into the budget. I could really use like a two minute break um, I don't know if others could as well Are folks amenable to taking a Two to five minute break Okay My cat is now too tired. Um at this meeting so he just left so But we're all back um, so, uh We'll move on to our next item which is the um first look at the um f y 22 budget and and so there was a presentation in our packets um and for folks watching At home that was also posted in the packet this afternoon or this morning. Um online as well Yep, and I'll just preview, uh cue it up for Doug. Um So, uh, just one of the things to note is that this is a very difficult fiscal year There's a number of reasons why certainly the coven impact on all the town's budgets is is part of it but part of it is frankly that the proportional split for our four member communities I know this is really boring and technical explanation that has real implications So I'll try to try to be as clear as I can that our four towns the emersed levert palom and shootsbury Rely on an ever evolving formula which we'll get into shortly About how much each town is assessed So even though you'll see under all these models that one town in particular is assessed quite a bit Almost under all models two of the towns actually pay significantly less than they paid last year So the net budget that we're bringing to you tonight, uh, and we'll bring to four town meeting on saturday Is is is not just a we'll talk about the reduction as it relates to a level services budget, but it's a real reduction It's what we're proposing Basically heard from the towns is spending less money next year Then we're spending this year So I just want to have that framing that it's it's it's going to be a difficult year And I know often the idea of a level services budget and why do things increase every year? Is this sort of controversial thing and some people in our community? But this is literally a reduction In the budget for fy-22 to from the current fiscal year fy-21 So I'll have Doug go through. We're just going to go through the slides You know kind of briefly given the time and then Doug I'll get I can talk through some of the reductions pieces At this high level and we'll get into much more detail next week when we have our budget hearing But I wanted to frame it at the beginning so everyone's really clear that that it's it's A raw less money, right? We're just the budget has less money in it for next year has for this year We'll get into the weeds of level services and all that piece But I wanted to be blunt that it's a very difficult budget year to start with and I'll turn over to Doug who do some introductory slides I'll talk a little bit about potential reductions We'll pause before we go on to the next agenda item, which is capital even though it's in the same slide deck Doug, would you like me to bring that up again? Or do you have that cue? I can present. Okay. Thanks Doug and so I will Preface my remarks by saying if it looks like I'm looking at the ceiling It's just because the monitor is above is currently above where my camera is so if I'm looking like I'm looking at my At the ceiling. That's why So It's not any other reason than that. So Just tonight's presentation and so we'll start with a quick budget timeline Most of this you covered earlier relative to your own sort of meeting agendas and that sort of thing tonight's meeting is is this presentation On saturday the sixth we will have the four towns get together and and have A conversation about how this budget sits with them and and their ability to meet the the requirements and and quite frankly Hopefully a good honest discussion about And and some consensus around What a assessment methodology we're going to utilize to fund our budget for next year Then a week from tonight. We'll get into more specifics And and we'll go through that with you all and a budget hearing officially next week And then when we get into march, we'll We'll have the formal vote In preparation for the town meetings that are coming in in late april early may as well as the The town council's meetings in in may and june So slide along there's a few key points. I want to I want to bring to bear One of which is that the fiscal 21 budget just got finished literally the state's fiscal 21 budget just just finished getting Fully implemented a few weeks ago and as a result our chapter 78 for fiscal 21 finally got locked in it didn't change Appreciably from what we knew it was going to be but more importantly I think in preparation for 22 is what are called the minimum contributions for a significant Which are a significant component in our calculation of assessments only got fixed in the last Little bit relative to the fiscal 21 budget being fully passed And that has and that caused some shifts and it made some small differences In percentages that each of the towns You know sort of hold But those small differences can be you know tens Of thousands of dollars depending on the on the on the particular town and so it did shifting so if you're thinking back to to the Our forecasting we did in in december besides the normal things that changed by virtue of being further along in our in our budgets That also is something that changed In in a somewhat significant way that alters the sort of calculations as we go through A couple of the things i'll point out our health insurance. We got those numbers from our health insurance folks On monday of this week. We got it And so it looks as though our health insurance is going to go up about 1.11 percent for the coming year We factored that into this calculation and and that Is below what we had originally projected. So that's helpful to our to our overall picture We've gotten more information around what we think chapter 70 is going to be You know the governor's budget came out on the 27th and so that impacted our our chapter 70 estimates it also impacted our Our our understanding of a charter reimbursement and charter tuition costs which kind of track together So there's not a real impact on our our planning there, but also on our transportation reimbursement Which we also think might be a little lower than what we were originally projecting, which was already lower than than the current year But what we've done is we've gone through this, you know your your Not advice direction to us was to try to to uh Go through and look for about a million dollars worth of cuts to to try to get our budget to a place that that was uh uh You know functional and the assessments to the towns were ones that they could could meet um, and so that's that's what we've done in regard to that and so, um Talking about the sort of revenue budget. I'm not sure do I do I need to zoom in on this a little bit or is this visible to everyone? It's good. Okay. Um, so this is this I would zoom in just if you can a little bit. I think um Yeah, just even the people who are watching online it might be. Um, yeah, that looks quite a bit better Okay, so just to orient you to this to this display, uh, I know you most of you have seen this many times But but what we're showing here um Is on the on the left hand side sort of areas of uh Of the budget and and so we start with the operating budget Uh, then we have a section on revenue sources of revenue whether it be chapter 70 Uh reimbursements from the state etc And then we get down in the bottom third and that's where we talk about the assessments to the member towns And as we go left to right across the across the columns what we're showing the first two columns are are are We're fiscal 20 and fiscal 21 Set and then we have a variety of scenarios of ways in which we can assess our member towns To uh to fund our budget. So if you look at the top, uh in each of the colored columns If you look at the operating budget, they're all identical. There's 33 million. Oh nine, you know, 9,777 dollars is what a level services looks like at this point Uh, we're we're going through and making about a million dollars in cuts. And so our our projected Uh You know, uh funded budget is 32 million 9777 dollars, which is as displayed there point 42 percent below the current year's budget So it's literally uh, almost a level funded budget as in our attempt to be, uh Responsive to the to the financial constraints in which we're operating here um, and so from that, you know, uh, that level of of uh Need for for our operating budget Uh, we go and take out our our You know are known or projected uh sources of of revenue. So we have chapter 70, which is a large, you know state aid Picture that's the latest number we have from the governor's budget. Um We have a reimbursement for transportation being a regional school. We get reimbursement for transportation. Um It lags by year. So our expenses this year are what fund next year's reimbursement and so besides the fact that the governor's Uh proposal was to you know, was a lower number in regard to transportation reimbursement our overall Um expenses that we can count for that this year will be less Uh, and this you know, just reflect back to what we're looking at a few minutes ago in the in the quarter two budget um You know our transportation costs were 39 percent as opposed to 50 percent at this point in the year So, uh, we'll have less that will be reimbursable. So that that's part of why we we dialed that number back to to 700 000 Uh, Medicaid again with with being remote a fair amount our ability to provide services that qualify for Medicaid reimbursement That number's been marked down this year The charter reimbursement I just did relative to the previous slide the others Regarding interest revenue indy budget support and and contingency Are all where they where they have been again the uh by virtue of the way the end of last year landed I think that the available funds for for use from indy will be a little less And so that's part of why that indy for budget support is at 400 000 whereas in other years It's uh, you know, 600 000 500 000 that sort of thing. So we went a little bit lower in that regard That total of all of those different revenue sources gives us about 11 million dollars worth of of revenue And so what that means is that the assessment that has to be carried by the member towns is is 20 million 651 thousand four and twenty dollars as we project right at the moment and and what we have in the series of projections here are Different combinations of our regional agreement method, which is a five-year rolling average of students You know of student population for each town, which is shown in The far right column and a the statutory method which uses A the the minimum contribution to sort of a portion cost And then we also use what we actually have been using is a five-year average of those minimum contributions and a portion of that and a portion of the rest of it funded by the Number of kits so it's it's what we're seeing with the 45 55 and 65 percent is We're using 65 percent a statutory method and then the remainder with our with our method Detailed in our in our regional agreement And so as you can see as you look at those the different pressure points and and In places that that the different towns experience relative to their Their burden to bear relative to the assessment One bit of news since we spoke in december relative to this amherst head You know some encouraging news on its Revenue stream and so they were The town manager and their finance director reached out to to dr. Morris myself and indicated that their ability to To fund the assessment would would be able to be a little higher than what was originally Discussed in december Which is is making You know this A more plausible budget I would I would suggest Basically that they were of the opinion about a one and a half percent increase from from the current year Was what would be possible for the town of amherst to cover And so that's You know as you look at the different models there you can see that amherst is is kind of hovering in that range but you also notice that that You know and this is based in some respects on on you know student population, but also on the the You know tax base or the equalized values of of property in in each of the four communities Which is part and parcel of what goes into To the statutory method You see the the differences in in what's happening with the burden that that each of the towns is is bearing and so we have Amherst and pelham who are going to have increases in their In their assessments and leverant shoes very are most likely to be Paying less than they did this year And so I think i'm going to pause right there for a second and And see if anyone has any questions about this for a second or maybe dr. Morris has some comments Yeah, could you mind Mentioning I think it's worth the request you got for an additional assessment method to be added for saturday I think the committee should be aware of that Right, so I was contacted today by about shootsbury's administrator She had been in connection with the finance committee in shootsbury and they had asked for a 75 percent method to be included in that um, and so on on saturday, I will wedge in between 65 and 100 between the I have each color and the I don't know what to call that of the color um moth almost not quite Dusty rose perhaps Between those i'll put the 75 percent number in and you'll see similar trends and so as you track across the You know the the four towns assessments You'll see that you know amherst is going to be you know We're whereas with 65 percent it's 1.59 percent. It's going to track up to probably 1.7 Maybe maybe not quite that much, but probably close to 1.7 or so And how we'll get up above four percent is their increase and the decreases in lever and shootsbury will become Equally sort of changing as as they go through so, you know lever will end up probably close to Down a half a percentage point Maybe three quarters of a percentage point And shootsbury will be at a significantly larger the probably at six or seven percent decrease in theirs Um, so it'll it'll be a striking, you know comparison across the different projected ones the current year I believe is is the method we're using in the current year. I should say is the 45 percent Um, so that's just as a touchstone of where we're sitting right now So if we do what we did this year, uh, you know, what we're looking at is in that sort of Faded olive green color there Well, you know, I know that there there are Different opinions about how to how to fund this and and pressures in different communities to do different things And so we'll have hopefully a robust but productive conversation on saturday regarding these assessment levels and and the implications on our our our budgets Um question from miss seeker Thank you for this information. Um, but what i'm wondering about as someone who's been Reading slides like this for a few years now at four town meetings um And i'm still not wholly clear on this is so we're at the 45 percent stat five year this year And if I understand correctly a few years ago, we were trying to move towards probably the 100 percent stat five year average, which is the fourth column in the fourth colorful column um So I want to confirm that that's true and then what I want to understand is which is the column that is currently in the agreement between the the four towns Is it the column all the way on the right can just just some Yep I'll answer that one first. Yeah. Yeah, Doug can take Doug can take that one quick The five year rolling average of of students is the far Right column, uh, that is in the regional agreement. So that is the that is the uh, sort of uh In the written agreement, but if if we as a community or a set of communities, can I agree on an assessment method? Then we default to the fully statutory method, which is one column in from that Until you know, we can reach an agreement the state imposes that one on us And on your first question, um I would this has come up a couple times for people who've been at a number of four town meetings Like I have over the years Some towns would claim that there was a commitment to keep increasing till they got to the statutory method Some towns would suggest that it was really a compromise that there was not all four towns unanimous Support my own personal viewpoint having been more of an observer to those conversations Is that that same conflict that I just described was literally the same as a conflict within the meetings at the time So I think there are I can understand both points of view for people who said Well, we settled that we were moving towards statutory, but for some of the towns they settled for a year or two They didn't settle for a long-term commitment to move to a hundred percent statutory But uh, I think we'll likely hear that same conflict play out on saturday um And especially given the additional request that came from one of the member towns, uh, which I We'll see if it's palatable to some other member towns. Um I think the same thing comes up and I'm just going to express a piece of frustration Then we'll move, you know, we can have more questions move on because I know it's late that As opposed to it and this is the general frustration of every regional superintendent So this isn't particular to our four member towns But the fact that uh amherst, you know, let's say pelham. I'll pick on them So pelham would be up over three percent in this any of these scenarios While the net budget is going down Is just bizarre, right? And it doesn't happen in town departments and it's a unique aspect of regional school districts And it creates lots of tension and if I was someone from pelham in this meeting not this meeting but in the meeting on saturday Um, and I think we'll hear this, um It's really hard to stomach that that town would have to be very challenged fiscally to have a over three percent increase To respond to a budget that will have a million dollars in reductions and actually a net loss of spending capacity. So this is really where regional budgets regional districts struggle Because if you you know, like in leveret or an amherst or in pelham, which I have more familiarity with We sort of know what the deal is. It doesn't mean it's always easy But you don't have this additional variable of the relational assessments between member towns that can leave all sorts of hard feelings for predictable and understandable reasons Um, so we'll have to see if cooler heads prevail on saturday But I think you you know the point you raised and the reason I'm spending time responding to it is a little bit of prep for saturday Because this same discussion the same disagreement You know, I think you know people have bet in a lot on super bowl and prop bets, right? This would be like a really sure bet that this conversation will come up There'll be a lot of tension between the communities. I don't know what the outcome will be But I'm glad you brought it up because it's highlighting both for the committee and the public That this is a point of tension between our member towns and Points of tension. Unfortunately in regional school districts have large implications for students and staff I'll get off the soapbox Mr. Demling Yeah, so when you present this particularly this slide at the four towns I think it's important to remember that this is a very large meeting where the background foundational understanding of what an assessment method is And what what are what's in the regional agreement? And and what has happened in the last year or two Um, the knowledge of that is is quite the bell curve in participants There are some people there who could teach a senior level thesis course on it There's some other people that could not define what an assessment method is and are going to struggle Quite frankly to understand the minutia. So I feel like it's really important. It's your impossible task Is to is to take this very complicated thing and at the very least frame Frame the the the the guardrails of it so that we don't get You know, frankly ridiculous suggestions like why can't we just pay whatever we want or why can't we just make up an assessment? and you know and and things like that and um, you know, so I don't think you have to explain every single you know Get down to this is how You know, the properties are assessed and impacted by Yadda yadda, but just at least this is the regional regional agreement if you know, we have to If we're going to change it, we all have to agree if we don't, you know The default statutory and the last year it was x percent statutory because it is a very good point that I remember a member of the amherstown council saying very specifically last year We're agreeing to this, but we're not agreeing this forever, right? And I know that there are other people would say well, you did agree to So of course that argument is going to take place and that's fine and we do need to get it out in the open And that's good But but some kind of guardrail about what it is we're talking about I think would help a number of the participants for many of whom this is either the first or second time They're they're they're trying to battle through this and in a coveted situation in the last so so good luck with that Thanks, but I do appreciate those those remarks and the suggestion absolutely miss seager I I have a request Because I've been looking at these for a few years and still ask the question every year. I wonder if there's a way we could just mark Something on the columns to say like what is the current fy 21 Percentage and then what it like just the question I asked before about what's in the contract and where do we what's the default? I don't know. Maybe I'm the only one who constantly stumbles over that um Yeah, and you know one thing Coming from a member town and looking at our alias budget. We also run into We don't run into assessment discussions like this with union 28. I don't know if pelham goes through this at all But it our share of what we pay Can change every year depending on whether or not we have a bump in students Or no bumps, so it's definitely like there are years that you know even A shift in students Causing us to pay 11,000 dollars more which is extremely minor but not to a Two a million dollar school budget. It's not minor anymore Um, so we kind of get that from both being part of a union and then also being part of a region where you have that flux of Kind of don't know where you're gonna fall depending on enrollment each year. It's it's really challenging um For us and lever, I don't know much probably the same in shootsbury when things shift as well So we kind of get this this unknown in both places every year I can with so that's I will just suggest Which one thing I take the suggestion as far as more clearly marking what this year's current methodology is as well as what the regional agreement method is and sort of Bringing that more clearly onto the onto the form. So I'll definitely take that advice The other thing and you know part of why we we have these five year averages Is precisely because of those to try to mitigate those you know peaks and valleys because uh in schools The size of found lever shoots very a given class can go from 14 kids to you know 20 kids pretty easily Just by virtue of if you know who moved into town or moved out of town and that's one thing and those can have huge swings That are that are pretty profound in in the in the budgets And so that's part of why we've always gone with averages over a number of years time And just very briefly on that point I think to miss segar's point one of the unique challenges of a split district by split I mean municipal elementary schools and regional secondary school Is that minimum contribution number if we were and i'm not going down a place to say we should be k to 12 regionalized Like please that don't don't misinterpret the words But if we were Then it would all balance in terms of the point that you made about their enrollments and the minimal contribution numbers The reality is this budget has no relationship officially or otherwise to the to the municipal elementary budgets And therefore a change in enrollment which affects minimal contribution on one end Positively perhaps affects the other one negatively and there's no ability to balance between those So it is one of the unique challenges of split districts You you not unified regional districts that include all the elementary and secondary grade levels They're able to balance that and we're not so you're right to say that sometimes those differences play out really negatively on the municipal side and sometimes the on the regional side and You know that there's no you can't do anything about it in our current structure So I know no one's interested in that that level of weeds But I think the finance committee certainly are and the school committees I know you are but I think it's a hard concept for the public to understand the the financial elements and how Especially in the three small towns small changes in enrollment can flip minimum contribution really significantly With no ability to rectify that between the municipal and the regional district So I know that's like the least interesting comment. I've given in a while, but it's actually really important for this whole discussion Miss fit sir thanks, so It's late. I'm hoping I don't want to tear up too much time But I'm curious about the we've talked about the cares act money in the past and I think you've stated before Either Dr. Morris or dr. Slaughter that we've been very, you know, the town of Amherst has been incredibly generous in applying some of that The the cares acts dollar that we're getting to help us fund the Regional school districts budget, is that correct? I just okay, so I'm curious like if If Amherst were to get more like if some of these Positive changes that are happening in Washington could lead to more cares act dollars Following you know flowing into our our area with those those dollars would be showing up on The town of Amherst budget and not as revenue in the regional school district. Is that right? And so with that Impact their ability to meet the assessment amount that we're at Whatever is agreed on at the four towns meeting? I'm just trying to figure out like how does the care exact dollars funded in here because I'm not seeing anything in the revenue side here and um In in the revenues listed here, so I'm just curious if you could explain how that works So a couple of things I'll mention so first off. I think you know We've partnered with film lever and shoots very as well as Amherst relative to to getting some Support from them, you know using some of their cares act money um So on the second front of that, uh, I would say that Largely the those monies have been for unbudgeted expenses. So they're not typically going to show up in these kinds of budgets We haven't gotten just raw support that can be applied directly. Um, I was you know in a conversation today about Back in 2009 when there was money given and and they literally just gave a chunk of money and said spend wisely And you can support your budget whatever way you want it This has been more targeted in that it's been much more focused on things that were unbudgeted specifically Tied to needing to meet the demands relative to the to the covid pandemic So that's a little difference there and I think that's also a piece relative to any future funding that comes in It depends on what strings they attach Um, you know, we've we've had good partnerships. Uh so far with each of the communities They've been willing it in in in the ever fluid situation to be as accommodating as possible to help us out as far as Filing and getting some of that funding. Um, I will say just a Particular detailed information FEMA we are an independent financial entity as a regional school So we can apply to FEMA directly. So we have been filing, you know applications and Reimbursement requests with FEMA directly for the regional schools It's that second tier where we have to start going through the the member communities And it just sort of adds layers to things but but uh, so that's that's part of it And and then I think also, you know from a revenue source standpoint because it has been for largely unbudgeted and unexpected items Um, that's why it's not showing up on here And and while we do expect some things to ultimately become permanent parts of our budget as far as You know, we'll probably always have hand sanitizer in our schools from now on and airproof fires and that sort of stuff We'll we'll have the next year or two to sort of fold that into our operating Budgets as we move ahead and they're not really reflected in in a significant way and in in in these In these estimates at the moment other questions I'm not seeing any. Thank you. Can we move on? Yeah, so I'll talk about speaking of expenses. I'll I'll talk about the expense budget here now um, and and you know this You know what I would point out, you know on the far right edge of this of this particular Slide, uh, you see a lot of zeros which is indicating, you know, no change You know, and that's and that's part of what we're trying to do In in in getting to a budget that that is fundable by our four four member towns is to try to Uh, it's a whole steady on on what our expectations are relative to to some of our costs And and there are a lot of years that there are some things that we don't change There's a lot of Instructional material lines that we hold steady for a couple years before we bump them off that sort of thing but but certainly we are trying to to manage those expenses as as You know as well as we can to to keep the pressure on Or or I should say take the pressure off the communities as far as the amount of assessment that they're needing to fund But as you expect, you know If you look at the top section under payroll accounts the largest increases are relative to people, you know, fully 80% of our budgets You know people and expenses related to them And so, you know those those costs are are driven by contracts that we have and and we'll be negotiating this spring So that's factored in here as well You'll notice in the bottom left corner there's a couple things the amount of of school choice money that that I put in to support our budget is Is 600,000 that's a little above what we use this year this year. We used 575,000 I think we have, you know, sort of the resources to do that It's not sustainable for a long long period of time But I but I do think it is is an appropriate support to our budget for the coming year Given the unknowns that we have and in those a little bit less in in Ind support that we might be able to have We're going to return it You know, I did put OPEP funding back into our budget this year and we reduced it if it didn't go to zero In fiscal 21, but I'm going to bring it back up to the funding level that that helps Support getting to a a funding strategy for for our post-employment benefits And then as as we usually do we have factored in sort of what we have an expectation of IDA Which is a federal entitlement grant relative to to special education. We've factored that in to help You know support our our our programs in those areas as well And so those are all fully into the budget One other thing you'll notice in in the central administration. There's a big bump up about 6% that the $12,000 If you recall from last year, we pulled a chunk of money out relative to Supporting our our membership in MSAN, you know, we we asked them for And and got a reduced membership fee for the current year And so I'm just restoring that in I may have unintentionally. I'll admit to this They have unintentionally over reduced that budget line last year And so this is trying to put it back into into order. It's Some of it would have been there anyway, but but That is a sort of striking thing if you look at 6% relative to everything else, but But the raw dollars are not are not that large, but it's it's a it's a re establishment of a commitment We usually have and and want to sustain with the the folks in the The minority student achievement network So I think I'll pause there and see if people have questions about what what is on this slide Mr. Demley So the biggest dollar amount there obviously is the 714k for the projected increase in salaries, so a 4.2% projected increase so most of our contracts are up for Negotiation so I'm curious as to what variables you're projecting Are about those contracts in order to arrive at a an estimated 4.2% increase I can dug I can jump in there if that's okay, so um Some of what we assume are that uh in most of our contracts just about all of our contracts. There's step increases that are independent of whatever cost of living increases agreed to so You know, even if the colas were flat, and I'm not suggesting they would or should be that's a different conversation I wouldn't have in a public meeting The salary increases because of the step increases would go up significantly step increases You know and Doug correct me wrong between four and six percent Depends where you are depends what contract we're looking at But there's built-in step increases for significant portions of our staff So you really get at that That's the 4.2% should not be interpreted as there's a cola 4.2% that's within a contract I think for in terms of what the What any potential cola would be with any bargaining unit, you know That would be an executive session discussion and negotiations with the bargaining unit members So we can't comment on that, but I'm glad you pointed it out because it does stand out Especially that 4.2% but the way teacher contracts across the Commonwealth are organized is that these these step increases occur sort of Year-to-year Regardless of what the cola is for the majority of staff members In different bargaining units, so that really drives Significant parts of the salary increases year-to-year Doug anything I miss no, and I would the only other thing I would add is that you know the the You know we will you know negotiate either an extension of the existing contract or a new contract with with the unions And so we have put a a placeholder number to consider So we have you know planned for a range of outcomes relative to to those Negotiations and so we do have that You know in the mix as it were here. So again, we we need to be careful not to to sort of Negotiate outside of the cons constructs of those negotiations, but but You know we do and try to factor that into the into the mix of projecting this So we have a real number that we're we're You know as real as we can be I mean, it's like a lot of things We're making estimates of what we think but but that that has been factored in as as well and and It is part and parcel of of of all of that Miss Kenny So I think I caught most of the letters you ran through at the bottom as you were explaining them except the oped. Can you tell me what that is? Yeah, so opab as we it's often called stands for other post employment benefits Which is largely health insurance for retirees. It's not exclusively that but it's you know, almost exclusively that Required to to track that expense a projection of that expense and and try to make And and to fund that future expense in much the same way we do with pensions So when you see, you know, when we talk about retirement assessment, the opab is not as strictly Regulated as the as the pension the pensions in the mid 80s the state realized that the cities and towns Were not necessarily funding their retirements fully and so they Reforced their hand and required them to to actively and aggressively fund their their retirement systems They haven't gotten to that place with the the other post-employment benefits, but nonetheless, they're making us Sort of tally up the number and and put it on the thing and and and you know when we want to go and borrow money having a strategy and if you know both for Managing the money and also Funding that liability in our future is one of the things that those those People that loan us money look at so, you know to continually make progress on this is important to You know our ability to borrow and to borrow it at a competitive rate Mr. Eger I apologize if I missed it because you might have said it but in terms of choice being applied how much Do we do we usually apply? Um year to year just is that variable it does very year to year the last couple of years We've used $550,000. Um, you know the the goal with choice and you'll have this conversation in a little bit when you talk about choice, but the idea is that you're trying to You generate some revenue and try not to have your costs go up. I mean, it's not perfect. And so but also, you know, you're trying to You know hold and maintain a funding Resource that can be available to you in years that are more difficult or less and in years that are less difficult You use less and sort of build that that resource up And so this one is yours where we're going to tap into the resource a little deeper than we might normally But again, I think our balance in our fund is such that we can tolerate this You know, certainly for the year coming and maybe and we'll see how the next years play out But it's a little higher than in past years not wildly so but a little bit higher There's no other questions and maybe I'm not sure if this is the right time to ask this question, but in the expense accounts I'm curious about it's a pretty high percentage decrease on the special education and I wondered if you could speak to that Yeah, I think I'll I'll I'll be very broad with the with the The way in which I describe it but but it really in some ways is driven by What students we are expecting next year and so when we have changes in who those students are and what their needs are then Then we can make estimates that that trend In this direction. So I think that you know, we're in a circumstance Where our changing population is is kind of reflected there. There are other years when it's the reverse of that number it's up By a large number because we're anticipating a new student or or that sort of thing, but uh, it's it's a cork of our enrollment and and What the needs of those students are Okay, thank you Great. So, um, maybe uh, move on to the next slide Sure. So I think the superintendent wanted to speak to this slide a little bit more than So I'll I'll let him carry the water on this sure, so, um Just timing it out to going back to one of dr. Slater's first slides as well but budget hearing next week so by the by the weekend we'll be Publishing a more detailed list of what would what would comprise the reductions that are being proposed And And that'll be shared both with the committee and publicly so that people can comment on it But in general to get to about a hundred get to the the neighborhood We're talking about a million dollar reduction from the level services budget On the staffing side, it would be 16.5 fte reduction in staffing That includes reductions in the district office administration professional staff and para educator staff Um, I know I'm reading slides, but I want to make sure not everyone may be able to see this who's watching Um, the staff reductions we looked as much as we could about student enrollment Um, and and trying to match reductions to student enrollment, but it's not it's not as easily said than done Uh, you know, if if you if you do that equally, you don't end up with staff You end up with oh well we'll have 0.78 of our, you know, x teacher that We're talking about real people in real classes that don't don't do well with complex decimals So the reality is we may see increases in class size And we may see less elective offerings as a result of some of these reductions as well It can't just be tied to the to student enrollment. We tried as best we could We made a deliberate attempt to not fill vacancies as much as we could to retain our current staff members Just bluntly to reduce reduction in force notices for three reasons. One is that we like the staff we have Um, we want to maintain the talent staff we we have uh with us second As you know as we've had a significant push the last few years to increase the diversity Of our staff and we're trying as best we can to not undo the work that's gone on that's resulted in You know, really um some significant changes in the composition of our staff members And to be blunt the third thing is that financially it makes good sense, you know In terms of uh when we're replacing vacant not replacing vacancies and shifting versus Having reduction of force notices That that helps dr. Slaughter's office as well. Um some some costs there I want to be blunt too We i'm not at all suggesting that there will be no reduction in force notices in this budget There would be reduction in force notices Given to staff members. We can't avoid that with the million dollars of cuts in 16.5 fte reductions I think what i'm trying to express is that the number of rifts reduction of force would be less than 16.5 We're trying to do it Kind of to maintain staff all the reasons. I just said i'm not going to repeat myself Uh, and that that's in addition to non-personal reductions, you know the example here the easy one to talk about is chromebooks Uh, we purchase so many's with cares so many this year with cares act funds that we don't need to replenish So we can make a pretty significant reduction in the budget line for chromebooks next year Because of the purchasing that happened this year, but this is going to be a very very difficult budget Um, you know again the detailed information will be coming out soon. We'll have the hearing next week I imagine there'll be a lot of voices in that hearing and we're i'm glad for it Even if it's people who want us to do different things than what we're proposing That's the nature of it. Um, but you know, this is the third year of my five years Where we're talking about cuts in the magnitude of over half a million dollars in second year In the last few years, we're talking about a million dollars are over At some point the declining enrollment dust doesn't cut it, right? We're it's not going to get us to a million dollars, you know every other year every third year of reductions And so, you know, I do have concerns about the kind of future sustainability of the program that we want to have And again, I think we can try to do the best we can and we'll we'll talk about that in detail next week Uh, but I do want to be able to realize these are these are real cuts These aren't around the edges cuts or things that won't impact thing, you know, if there were those things We've already cut them in the past. Um so I want to acknowledge our administrative our leadership team for being really thoughtful and how to approach this and looking at the places Where yeah declining enrollment means we can do this but declining enrollment doesn't get to a million dollars Yeah, just very simply put And so uh more details on this to come I certainly could take questions, but you know, probably can't answer all that much more specifics Until we get to next week, but you know, I did want to share what's coming. Um, so that people have a sense of of Where the details that you'll see are coming from and how we approach the challenge this year Maybe because it's ninth or oh, there is a question. I was going to say it might be because of time of day Um, mr. Demling. Yeah, I mean it's more of a comment, but I mean, I think that Fully understanding in as much detail as possible what these cuts mean Is is really important. This this is more detail than we had before which is good. Um, but I I think I think one thing that I would encourage you to um Communicate at the four towns meeting a few times is the that you will be sharing these details soon and that um as the decision makers in the towns who Fund our schools are going to be thinking about the level that they can fund our schools at that you know Everyone in the all the towns and in the public and school committee We need to be doing this with eyes wide open right about the impact of it and obviously nobody wants to Reduce school services, but but we need to understand the consequences and You know on for my own part and I know we'll have more time to talk about this from a school committee point of view But it's hard to look at this and not have a A gut reaction Which is this this is not a level of reduction that I'm comfortable with This is this is not a level of reduction that that I want to approve for our schools this year and You know, I I do think it's it's appropriate for for the district to be proposing this Like as you as as it was framed Right, you have to thread the line between what the school committee has directed you to do which is don't cut more than a million dollars and the obvious pressures and strains that our member towns are under and to try and Thread that needle so approaching the four towns meeting. I think I think this this budget is You know, this is a reasonable proposal given those requirements um But it's it's really hard to think about approving this level of budget given what we have already cut in the last Several years because the one thing about about cuts and it's it's not that obvious when you're doing it in the moment Is that we never get it back? Right when we when we reduce, you know level services increase, you know, you should show the previous side would be 2.7 percent We're we're not going to get a level services budget increase next year Plus 2.7 percent, right? No one's giving us a five or a six percent budget increase, right? so When we cut um in when we cut into the bone, right class sizes electives major programs support services they're gone forever and And it's really difficult to to understand the impact of that I think sometimes and because we just have this notion that awesome public schools are just part of amherst's dna and Uh, because it's been that way for decades, you know, it's and we just sort of have this like association and The harsh reality is that if if we cut too close It's not going to be like that and what we'll be old and gray talk, you know, telling our grandkids about the days when, you know, amherst public schools were known as as the greatest in the region and That only happens because we support them and um, you know, I mean, I'm not I'm not really saying any value thing that anybody disagrees with but Um, it's it's really important. I think to continue to emphasize that when we cut things they don't come back And and we need to be really careful about what we do to To to what is is a magnet for people to coming and living in our town Yep, and I encourage you to say that on saturday But yeah, um, you know, so again more to come, uh, agree with that sentiment peter I'm just aware of the time we still have capital and still have a school choice hearing So if anyone's waiting to speak at that hearing, I'm just uh, want to make sure that we I don't think the capital is too controversial. I'm sorry miss mcdonough. Go ahead. Yeah, I did. It's just like two thoughts. Um, um, so Building on the, um, mr. Demling's comment about sort of the the in yours as well, dr. Morris about the history of cuts I wonder if there's opportunity to to add To the to the stripey colorful chart, um table it goes It shows current year budget prior year actuals, but I wonder if you could go back one or two more years also so that we can see that trajectory because I think everybody understands that this current year Um is reduced because of covet. So we really only have sort of one non covet year. Um in there and I think we It might be helpful framing to sort of have that in front of us so that when we Want to talk about sort of this this continuous You know numbers of cuts that we have to make and sort of that that can't come back We can point to that sort of right on the same page And particularly for folks that may not have been at four towns for the last four years And my other question and you might not be able to answer it So I apologize for asking but it might be helpful because when we were talking before It was just sort of you know, just thumb in the air saying roughly 20 to 25 fte We're we're now looking now that we have more numbers. We have the state budget. We're we're saying 16 and a half fte reduction And if that's not all Riff Is there orders of magnitude how much of that might be riff? Are we talking for are we talking more like 10? And right like that might be that I think that would be really helpful to understand how much of the reductions from not filling vacancies And other adjustments Are we able to make without riffs and sort of understand just proportionality of that 16 and a half? Yeah, that's something we could definitely bring next week. Um, you know, I think because we haven't had that conversation with the staff I want to be really cautious about Sharing that in a public meeting, you know, because we you're that's our processes We certainly let staff members be informed and there's a lot of moving pieces and the bumping scenarios are complex Particularly at the regional level with licensure being, you know, subject specific and sometimes sub subjects specific So we're still working through all those pieces, but absolutely we can have that information for you on tuesday Are there other questions or comments from folks before we move on? Seeing none, so we're going So are we ready to get into capital or was there another piece we want was there a piece that was going to happen before capital? I forgot Because it's in the one one powerpoint. I wasn't thinking about but it's a new agenda item But yes, we'll move on to the next agenda item So I will just say this regarding these these capital projects, uh, you know, I had a shorter list when we met in december I've added to it partly in conference with with our our facilities director And so it's it's a bigger list, uh You know, some things are things we've had on the list and brought back Some are continuation of things we shrink last year So the first one's a high school to walk in cooler freezer. It says part two because we only Sort of you know put aside enough money for part of that and so that's a project that's sort of midway Several of those are ones we've all seen before if you've looked at these one One new one is that high school data center upgrade that's that's primarily You know adding additional well, it's it's replacing an existing air conditioning unit and adding a backup And and upgrading the general system in in that area where those Servers reside in the high school building and and you know now more than ever with the amount of remote work that we're doing that that sort of infrastructure is Is essential to to function at all times and so That's that's a new one not terribly expensive as capital projects go, but nonetheless a new one on the list I think the the Other one that I would point out that's that's particularly new some of the concrete repairs you know at the more at the middle school building, you know the the The salt and sand that we use it's is a deleterious effect on concrete over time and the buildings, you know pushing 50 years old so You know it's it's it's time to do some of that work. That's that's a little more expensive another One that I will say that is on here that is Potentially may have to come off just because what we do with the capital is we borrow for it the HEPA filter replacements we bought a lot of nice new air Filtering machinery and you know to replace all the filters a pretty sizable thing so the idea was to To sort of get a chunk of money up front to help us Transition into making that an operating cost however One thing that I forgot about when I put this on here and if subsequently be reminded of is that when we borrow money It there's a factor of useful life That's involved And so it may not be an allowable expense that we can borrow for so that one may come off So I'll have I'm awaiting response from from our our bond council or our borrowing folks to to To get some clarity on that one. So that that may come off. We may have to find some You know Cares act money to help us out with that or or something else Asbestos management is another one where that's new on the list and and is We have asbestos in our buildings new buildings get built with asbestos You know it is a still a very useful product, but nonetheless it requires management And what this would allow us is to be able to Respond when we have circumstances that arise And be proactive in some cases with regard to that So we we haven't had a a set aside of some money available for for managing asbestos related problems in our in our regional schools and and The the facility director myself thought it would would be wise to put that in the mix Um, the one thing I will say on the parking lot light upgrade Because I know this will tie into the conversation about renewable energy study is that The lights, you know the ten thousand dollars for those lights is the light fixture themselves at the top the poles are staying It's it's really a fixture related Ask and and a project. So it's a pretty minor Pretty minor change to the to the light structure the the lights that we have in there are are Um sort of first generation led and so, you know, they're not as durable as the newer ones and and they're showing their age in some respects um And so that's that's why that project is in there and and so we'll get some hopefully some big from you guys but also feedback from the From the from the four towns as to whether you know funding all of these is going to be possible or Or likely And I'm going to slide to the next slide So the total ask for the coming year is 542 which is a much bigger number than we've asked for in recent years The good news is that that doesn't actually hit our assessments until Let's see fiscal 23 There's a lag of a year because we would borrow the money next year and then pay for it the following year But what it does do is is it has an impact here on this on this slide, which is our capital assessments And so you'll notice in in not so much in fiscal 22, but in fiscal 23 It kind of jumps up a little bit. That's by virtue of this being a little larger Series of ass and some of that depends upon whether we Actually borrow the full amount that that we're asking for this year And then the other note I will have relative to this this series of of You know projected assessments for the towns is that the the authorization for the for the Middle school roof, uh, it's a three million dollar authorization to borrow Currently is showing up in in the assessment in fiscal 24 It's likely that'll get pushed out another year I haven't yet, but it's it's likely I'll get pushed out the The state's ability and and capability of funding projects like our roof are are kind of getting pushed out a little further each year So we'll we'll still probably have that project a little further off in the future And of course, there's some items that we haven't haven't put into the to the agenda of of capital projects in the future that we will need to get scheduled and and one of those large ones is is You know the fields project, which we've discussed in in uh in past literally about a year ago As well as some other infrastructure things that are that are pretty sizable But we're we're not quite ready to strategize when those would would hit the hit the uh the capital planning process. So um I think I'll stop there and let you guys, you know ask questions about the projects themselves or or that sort of funding structure and and so um I'll pause here any questions Not seeing any questions Oh, sorry, um, mr. Sullivan It's not a question. It's a comment Thank you for sticking the girls locker room back on there again because for anyone Who's not aware that in 2012 the boys locker room was renovated and we're still waiting to do the girls locker room. So thank you It's it's definitely a project that needs being done. Um, I can say from having been in the boys locker room It's markedly better than it was before Um, and so I can uh, and we've done a small little bit of work in the in the in the girls locker room But it's desperately in need of additional work. Um And and uh, it's just not, you know, it's in part of the oldest part of the building at the high school And so it really it needs to be uh tuned up a little bit Any other questions or comments? Dang none Okay, I think we are upset and um can move on to um Are you staying with us uh doctor slaughter for the this one or yep? Um, so our next item is a school choice uh Discussion and hearing Right, so we didn't receive any public comments or comments about school choice But I will just share my opinion and then the public has certainly has the opportunity between now and the vote Which wouldn't be till next month in march. Uh to offer any feedback So recommendation I'd like to make to regional committee is that we I'd like to ask you to vote to have the region become a school choice district again Next year. Um, I'll be candid. We're not slating. We're not looking to increase significant amounts school choice students But I know from dr. Slaughter that we are using more school choice funds and the reality is we don't know what next year It's going to look like exactly Are we going to have a virtual option? Are we going to be in person? So I think there may be ways to increase our or to take more school choice students without influencing a lot of the things that we're Wanting to do here. Um, so, you know, I think the request would be for the committee to Entertain becoming a school choice district for next year and being coming on me to be communicating more frequently than a typical year Whether we're taking school choice students so that the committee has the opportunity to ask me questions on potential impact You know, I'd rather close not close the door and being untaking more school choice students until we know What our what our system is what our program is and what are the potential impacts of taking school choice students I'd rather have the flexibility in short than to close the door It may be the case that we don't take any we don't open up any seats But I think until we get there till spring and summer and our programs design Um, I'd rather have that flexibility than to um to not have it So, you know, I'm happy to take any questions or comments where again, we're not coming back to this till I think on the agenda, it's like, you know March 9th, I think would be the date that we would I'd be potentially asking the committee to vote on There's plenty of opportunities for the committee the community to offer feedback as well as the committee, but that's my initial Kind of recommendation to you is again a very soft school choice Vote in some ways, but continued conversation if we indeed take school choice students and and having conversations Whether that's in person whether that students who choose virtual and what is the potential impact on space and and programming for next year? so That's my two cents for now and happy to take any questions or comments at the moment or to wait until future meeting Can I say clarifying questions for um, I feel like I I knew this and I've forgotten that might be helpful for the public to also understand Is when you say to accept school choice uh students next year is that In addition to school choice students coming from our sending elementary districts Yeah, so that's a great comment. So at the regional level, we are tied to accept students from the uh, force sending, um districts Who are school choice that numbers increased significantly over the past couple years as Amherst has taken more school choice and She's brand levered have taken Well, she's always even taken school choice at all and levered taken more school choice so, um, it's really about beyond the students who are Entitled to have school choice seeds either because they were part of the region in the current year as school choice students Or because they're incoming seventh grade from sending districts Um, so we'd be looking at, you know, primarily frankly at the high school Because the middle school as you know, um likely will have a sufficient supply of incoming students Uh, I think the other reality that is that we don't know what the enrollment's going to look like in general next year Um, and we may you know have lots of students come back We may not have lots of students come back and have empty seats that we want to fill for financial reasons. So That's why you know to It's a bit of a hedging a bet Where we don't have to make a decision to definitely take school choice students But if the situation allows for it and it's going to support our operating budget in the future I think we'd want to seriously look at accepting more than just the incoming students from our our sending districts Ms. Seeger I could just use a little bit of background just being my first time hearing about a discussion like this. Is this see yearly We should look at school choice to see if we're still a district or region of choice. Okay. That's exactly right. Yeah And is it guaranteed that um, I know there'd been some question about whether or not students that say we have school choice And deliberate automatically come into the region, but that that is the case that they think you make space for those students for another Five years. Yes So the law changed a year and a half ago But it's the students who are currently in before that law grandfathered in it's really the incoming I guess it'd be the kindergartners I can't remember. It's kind of everything's so weird with covet So I can't remember if it's kindergartens or kindergarten and first graders I think it's the latter who are no longer grandfathered in that system And would they matriculate up to the regional level? They will not be guaranteed a spot Yeah, I think it's a lot or I think this year's k and one Any other questions comments I just have a I know you're speaking about it from a flexibility But we were just talking about increasing potentially increases in class sizes in the high school Given the cuts that we will have to make And so I guess the question is is but it wouldn't be because we're taking School choice students in yeah, we would only really look to do this once our students that we know are registered Are enrolled in classes and taking a look at what's our capacity? I think the real variable just to be really candid about it is Are we going to have a virtual option for students who want a virtual option next year? particularly at the secondary level where that's harder to sort of Actualize than at the elementary level. I'm not hedging a bet one way or the other a lot of bet language this week But um tonight, but you know, I think it's hard to say But that's where when we talk about are there seats in classrooms It's a little hard to know until we develop what the program is And so, you know, that's that's what is hard to figure out exactly Uh Are defined and that's why you know having the flexibility to get to the summer and say hey Here's our program. Here's how many students came back that we weren't sure about And you know having 10 students in 10th grade We'd actually fill some seats and fill out some classes in some nice ways That don't take away from you know, don't really increase class size in the ways that we're uncomfortable Or it could be the other scenario where we just don't take any students But the reality is I don't even think by the end of the spring We're really going to know I think it really is going to be a summertime decision Great. Thank you Miss Kenny um, so I have One I have a couple questions. I guess so I guess I didn't so okay, so students can choice in to the elementary schools and they As long as they're what second grade and up are guaranteed spots in the middle and high school. Yes correct Excellent. Okay, so However, if you are in say 8th grade or 10th grade The middle and high school do not take choice students Currently this year. That's correct. Historically they have but this year we did not Was that a covid thing or a non-covid thing Um, it was originally a non-covid thing actually. Um, it was just like we looked at our class size and said You know, we're looking kind of full uh, because we made reductions last year. So this is is actually a pre-covid thing last year okay, and so right and then for Moving forward. So say We say yes, go ahead via school choice That does not mean that you must take students if you say there's there's not enough space I know that happens in palom you have a class And it's full. You can't take any more kids. So that could so I guess I Don't see Like what the benefit would be to say no, we are not school choice Because you already don't have to take students if You feel like they don't fit nicely into your class size. It's correct That's correct I think the last year some of the thinking was is we wanted to reset what our enrollments would be And we didn't want to mislead people because we were pretty confident. We were going to take choice Obviously hindsight 2020 and you know the virtual seats that were Kids could have taken would have been fine this year But we were really trying to reset enrollments and also the other hindsight 2020 is our enrollments have changed considerably from what we're anticipating But but I think your larger points, right I think we can run our lottery in the summer and It'd be fine and we'll only take seats if we feel confident that there are seats to be taken Okay, thank you. Thanks Appreciate it Any other questions Not seeing any I know I'm closing quickly, but if you do have a question Speak now Um, otherwise I think we are all Set we have one last agenda item, which is Through the journey. Um, thank you. Dr. Slaughter for joining us and staying so late And um, thank you. C. L. O. And miss group hope for joining us I will make a motion to adjourn the regional school committee. Is there a second? second Move by McDonald's second by Spitzer. We'll call vote. Mr. Demling Demling I Mr. Harrington Harrington I Ms. Kenny Kenny I Ms. Lord Lord I Ms. Seeger Seeger I Ms. Spitzer Spitzer I Ms. Dancer Dancer I Mr. Sullivan Sullivan I And down on the I The regional school committee is adjourned Thank you. Good night, everybody. Thank you. I miss me. Good night, everyone