 Welcome, everyone. You may recall that two weeks ago we had a special meeting to discuss the reopening of school under conditions of COVID-19. That was a special meeting. Today, the same topic occupies a big part of our agenda. But it's a regular board meeting, which means that once again, everything is fair game. So, in terms of agenda revisions, I'd like to add, if there's no objection, an item 3.3 under board operations at the request of George Gross, Linda Johnson, and others of an in-person board meeting with remote option. So that's 3.3. One other major event that has taken place since our last meeting was the announcement of the Supreme, the Vermont Supreme Court's decision by a 3-2 margin to reject the Athens appeal from the State Board of Education's decision to force the involuntary consolidation of school districts. Some of you old timers may remember that actually a number of our school districts, our precursor, our town school districts were parties, were plaintiffs in that appeal, as were a number of us personally. So, I would propose that since this event unfreezes a number of issues that had been in suspended animation while we were awaiting the decision, I would open up future agenda items to anything that board members wish to include in that regard later on. Hello. So, anyway, future agenda items, we're just dealing with that, as well as any other future agenda items that people have in mind. So, any other agenda revisions from other board members? I don't know, future meeting, next one's a special meeting. So, will we put that on their board operations? Yeah, let's do that. Let's put that under board operations as 3.4 possible special board meeting. And one last thing, Jill will be late, she's in another meeting and will be running a few minutes late, but she will be joining us. Great. Thanks for that, Flora. Good. Anyone else? Agenda revisions? No? Okay, let's then move on to public comments. I know that there are a number of members to the public and we're very happy that you're here. Corinne, I see your hand up. Hey there, Scott, and the rest of you. Some of you or all of you may have seen an email that I had sent to Scott this morning. I'm certainly not going to take the time to make all the comments I have, but I would like to start off by saying I was a bit taken aback on Monday to see a front porch forum post that started discussion with the public, with widespread public, as far as what the plans are for the fall when that hasn't even been discussed at a board meeting yet. At the last board meeting at the tail end, I had asked when we would start hearing those plans and I was told tonight was the night. Maybe a post go out to the public without there being a board meeting to discuss it when the board is ultimately responsible really took me aback. I also have many other questions, comments, concerns, I kind of tied in with that, even though I don't think that should have been posted. It bothered me that apparently front porch forum was the only place that was posted and if it was something that truly needed to get out. Which again I don't think it did but if it truly needed to get out, it needed to be also on the school websites and on the Facebook feeds and in other places, and I hope that going forward. The communications that are trying to get the word out to people will work that way and I understand that there's a way to get in touch with parents as far as emails and phone systems and so forth. But we're talking about also needing to communicate with the public with our communities at large, potentially new people in the district that want to know what's happening or people that are considering coming to our district. So I really think there needs to be a much more cohesive plan in communication. There are one or two other quick things that I want to mention and as I say I have lots but I'm hoping that some of them will be addressed tonight, or it'll happen at a at a future soon meeting. But one question I have is in considering bringing back staff and students. Will there be widespread testing for everyone. Before or as this happens because as we all know, many can be asymptomatic. And it would seem like if we're going to bring hundreds of people together that there would need to be testing to make this happen. This is about the question wondering if subs have been called to see if people have typically sub are interested and available this year, if we would be open to having subs who sub in other districts. If our own teachers, if we want them teaching at multiple schools, whether in our own district or if we have any part time staff. If we're good with them also teaching elsewhere. My questions go on and on so I'll leave it at that. I think what we'll do is just take it on board, your remarks and your questions, and then address them when we get to that particular part of the agenda. And I think in, in every case of the major points that you've mentioned will be touched on at least indirectly. Other other public comments, please. If you're, if you're visible, if your video is on raise your hand. And otherwise, I say David Lawrence, yes. Hi, David Lawrence or middle sex one quick side comment though, who's ever on the phone on 7871 you probably want to mute. But apart from that, I actually have also a lot of questions, but I won't take up time with them right now, I do have one kind of overall context question that I'd like to understand though at the last meeting it seemed to be a foregone conclusion that we were going to be having in person school the one thing that I've been on is this mandate that comes from somewhere above or does the board have the possibility to have the power to make its own decision to say either go or no go on in person school. So I just like that that question answered and I'll write for more appropriate times in the meeting. Thank you David will will definitely get to that. And we'll, we'll answer that question as to the nature of that mandate or whatever it is. Other public comments. I hands raised or clear your throat loudly if if you don't have a video. Okay, I'm not hearing anything and not seeing any hands so let's move on to student report, although I'm not sure if we have towns to grow here today. I'm not seeing towns. And I'm hoping that Mia is enjoying her summer. This is a breakfast. Excellent. Excellent. Happy to hear us our student representative emerita. So, okay, board operations then 3.1 replacement board members for middle sex and oyster. Chris. Yes. Any, any leads. I do not for what I was going to suggest that we do is set out. And I would do this with the board's permission is just set out a request for a front porch forum, looking for applicants and put in a soft deadline just to spur individuals who might be interested on and direct them to write a letter of interest to the board, directing it to the chair. So we can take it up at a time certain and the purpose of the semester and this is soft deadline. It's soft if no one that is to give everyone a fair opportunity to respond by a date certain effort to consider candidates if we got letters of interest. And I suggest that two to three week deadline from now. Thanks. Thank you, Chris. Any, any comments on that. Yes, Diane and then Dorothy. So I believe part of the process but I could be wrong but I know this is what happened earlier when I first came on was that we need to be doing it collaboratively with the select board. I believe that's part of the new expectation. So, at what point does, does that happen. Yeah, what I'll do is I'll look at the statute and whatever it requires me to do I'll do in terms of contacting and working with the select board. Floor and then Dorothy and then Jonas. Dorothy and sorry, I meant Dorothy and then floor and then Jonas if that's okay. Sorry floor. All I want to suggest is that since this rep has to come from middle sex. I suggest using. I noticed that Casey is sending out newsletters to the parents. And also I think middle sex has other ways of contacting their, their residents. And so since it's basically has to be a middle sex resident. We need more than one way to tell people this besides front porch form. Great. Thanks Dorothy floor. So two things just to answer. Chris's question. So we, the process that we used the last time because we have not just middle sex but it was their community also needing a member was a central office and it could be with a little description from each town but a central office put out a request for letters of interest or to the board or or you could post something. Scott because we're looking for two people. And then as far as the select board is once we have letters of interest we so we I went to the Berlin. The select board and all you do is that you ask them if they have a problem with the person that we're recommending for for the board and and they have to say yes, or, or no, but we have the burden of bringing somebody forward to, to, to them. That's how we did it the last time. And you were part of this cut to and I attended Berlin because you had to be at the other town. Yeah. Yes, thank you floor. Jonas. No floor covered it. Great. Yeah. She didn't need the this is actually one of those. One of those unfrozen issues from act 46 that this may be a good point to go over in when we had individual elementary school districts town based. And it was it always seemed very simple and straightforward. The recruiting of new board members, except perhaps in Berlin, but it was a fairly natural process. And I think I would love it if board members would sort of reflect on how we might develop something. Recruitment pool. Typically, my natural tendency is to look at the at the members of the public who happen to be here and to maybe start fishing first and in those waters. But, but I think it would be great if we could somehow develop the talent, and there's tremendous talent throughout all our towns, that we can then be able to encourage to join at times that are convenient or opportunity for them. So I'm not saying come up with ideas now. Just be very interested in perhaps at a future meeting. If, if you have ideas of that nature would be great. And if anybody does have ideas now that would be okay too. Otherwise, we can, we can move on. Yeah, I'd at some point this might not be the right time for this maybe when we start talking, maybe we'll get to 3.3. But to discuss the possibility of reverting back. Sorry, just to discuss the possibility of reverting back to a 10 member board. I agree that that's worth talking about that. Not right now, but I would support adding that to the agenda and having that conversation. Okay, wow. That's an article is of agreement change that we would then have to have to make that's doable though. Yeah, I believe Chris. Am I right about that? I think so. I think we'd have to be voted upon by the electorate though, because they voted in and they could amend, we could present an amendment and have the electorate vote on. Thank you. Stephen, I see your hand up and then Dorothy. To go back for a moment to the replacement board members from middle sex Worcester. I'm not advocating for any particular method, but whatever method is used, I would strongly suggest be uniform and be the same for both towns it shouldn't be because Chris is from middle sex he does something and Chris is from Worcester they do something. This is one board for one district. We should have exactly the same process and procedure for a new board member to come on board, no matter where they're from. And certainly take advantage of Chris's generous offer to distribute information I'm not suggesting that's not correct, but I think it's very crucial that we have one process that's identical in every town. Thank you Stephen at Dorothy. If we want to do that. The cheapest time to have a vote would be on the November election day so we'd have to work back from that date to see what kind of warnings and things we would need to do in order to reduce it back to a 10 member board. And that would take a little time we don't mind to spend tonight. Right. Okay, thank you very much. I just wanted to. I think we, I'm so sorry I think we got a question on the chat about why so I just wanted to be on record the reason I'm interested in it is because as we're seeing how hard it is to keep a compliment of three members so Worcester has been only represented by two people we had trouble recruiting for Berlin. My personal concern is that we're not going to be able to recruit for three people for all towns at all times, which leaves those towns somewhat disadvantaged. So that's my thinking, and my interest just to be on the record about about the interest. I don't want to debate it now I just wanted to understand rationale in favor. Thank you very much. And I might just take a moment to comment that day if you did exactly what I hope members of the public will do. Since we can't have the public weighing in during the debate part. But if you put your comments in the chat box, they're on the record, and, you know, we can address the question and it will inform the debate. So, thanks for doing that as a matter of course, anything else on this before we move on. If not, let's go to 3.2 VSBA vs a virtual conference page three. This looks very interesting and floor I don't know if you want to say anything about this. I, if you're okay with it I, I will. Yeah, I think we should put a team together I don't think that we necessarily all have to open our calendar but put a team together. I think it's worth it is to, I believe is $250 for however many people and I think it would be really important for us to participate on on this. Yeah. Board member reactions. Does anybody object to this to floor suggestion of virtual. It's a good I think it's a good idea. Yeah. Um, I may just ask what is a virtual team look like. Is it like us here. It's a virtual meeting so it has to be a virtual team. Yeah. Yeah. So what I was thinking is that it would be good to have a variety of people it wouldn't necessarily have to be just board members. It would be I think it's how we would probably take the best out of it because it would be more of a diversity of thought around different issues in our school so we would be all taking. We all have different perspectives the board had is way different than a principal's had or a superintendent's hat so that was just a suggestion that's I know that's how some other districts are doing it. I, unless we are all the board members are interested in going that's okay too it's there's no limit on the amount a Brian do you have. I mean, I know I'm again I'm the newbie here, but I know that the VSA did send me something. And I was looking at, you know, looking at the agenda. I think that they are inviting numbers of the board. So if there's board members who want to attend. If you want to if you want to send send it to send me email me give me a quick email or let me know. And I'll make sure you get signed up and I'll get I'll send you the information. Great. Thank you very much. Any other board member comments on this questions. If not, we will move to the 3.3 the new 3.3 regarding the possibility of in person board meetings with remote with option for remote connection. George raised this with me. And Mindy also separately, and others have have asked the question and when is when it's heard a lot if if screws are reopening what about boards. So the question is whether there is some sort of physical format in which we can meet with the possibility of those who are unable to. And in this, I think we're just a microcosm of, of the of our community. There will always be those who can't, who can't join, but who can join in person but who can join by the internet via zoom. Is that cannot be arranged. I guess is the question. I'm going to start with Mindy. I guess I let me talk because I've talked and I do have an opinion about this and I'll go after her. Great. Mindy and then floor. The article that I shared was not so much that I thought we need to meet in person. But as we need to be considering the appearance isn't the right word, but if we're expecting large groups of people to convene in schools, and we aren't willing to meet in person. That doesn't send a very good message that we believe everything is safe enough for our children and our teachers. That would be a discussion versus me having the opinion, which I don't have a problem with it, but that wasn't really my purpose, but going across social media, and other avenues as an educator I'm getting a lot of things shared with about you to go back to school, but you aren't willing to meet or do things in person. My son who works remote right now was just told they are remote till July 11. I mean January 11. And that's with a pretty big corporation. So I just, I feel like that's why we're sharing that information. So I gotta say that I totally respect that opinion. I think we had some guidance before from the VSBA that we limited the amount of meetings in person. I have no problem meeting in person, but I also want to say that the guidance came from limiting who goes the state guidance is to limit who goes into our schools. So we are 15 members meeting every other week at U32 with different professions that are completely open or sooner open. So I think maybe there's a hybrid. I'm willing to do a hybrid model, but I also don't want to put extra stuff on the staff that now you have 15 people that have different ways of taking care of themselves to keep contract tracing for them. So I was seeing it more as safety and care for the kids and the staff, but personally I'm willing to meet and maybe we could have a, if it would feel good for everybody have either part of the board that feels comfortable meets in person with the necessary precautions and then the other part joins by Zoom, but we have to be equitable also to the public right so once we start meeting then we are opening it to the public too. And maybe there's a way to make that work but I rather put less more less worry on the staff. Again, so if we can be efficient. You know, I don't know I'll stop talking now but that's just my I appreciate that. Thank you for other other views board members about the possibility of me. Yeah, Scott this this is Jill so I definitely get the sort of I think that it's really a sort of a fairness question that that people are raising about you know if we open school why wouldn't a board meet in person, but just looking at it from my public health and health care lens. It doesn't make our community safer to have more people in the buildings and meeting in person it that is not actually supportive of the public health need to reduce. Everybody's exposure at all times we've all we all need to try to keep our budgets low on that front so that we're, you know, not doing more than we need to so I don't think hospital boards are meeting at this time in person, you know nurses and doctors are working but hospital boards are not meeting in person, so that we have a community wide approach to reducing unnecessary interaction. So that's, that's the lens I'm looking at it through. Rather than what am I willing to do if we meet in person I am willing to show up, but I don't think it's more protective of either students or teachers for us to do so. Thank you Jill. Yeah, there was an unmuted mic, I think before. We can sort of observe mute discipline as much as possible. I will try to do so as well with my house full of young adults. So, other, other views of this. May I ask Brian, is it. Is it just physically possible, can it be arranged. Well, so, I'm going to make it so you can hear me so I, so I was thinking about I know I, I, I've also been hearing that that a question about, you know, who's a reopening. Should should you know what I heard about it I heard the same thing about central office. Why isn't central office completely opened why isn't board meeting in person I had heard those types of things. And I do know that those are interesting topics to talk about the, one of the questions comes down to is definitely public health, public health, and what is what is the guidance for board meetings. I haven't seen guidance being issued. I'm not sure if we will see guidance being issued. I did I did hear that our state of emergency now has been extended by the governor till August 15th. And I'm wondering, we are also trying to get a coven 19 coordinator who has a medical background. And I've also been working to find a pediatrician to also work work with our district, no cost on a voluntary basis. I'll have more information about that in the near future for the board. But these are types of questions that we can either reach out to public health, I can reach out to public health and try to find out more information for the board. Also, maybe if also reaching out to legal counsel to see what is within the legal guidelines. And I have to say that this kind of thing that we're talking about is something that we're pretty much dealing with on a regular basis, when we're looking at the guidance from reopening guidance for schools. What is possible, what is the public health experts say, what is legal say, because, because there are a lot of questions in regards to that. Thanks Brian, Stephen look. So I'm kind of modeling what I say, year after what what I see from the state and the governor and announcements and that kind of thing that it might seem appropriate for the board. And it could be with support and guidance from Brian or others. So likely a subcommittee, but for the board to establish criteria, which would need to be met for the board to then begin holding in person meetings again. I'm just making stuff up. I'm not suggesting at all what it is, but that, you know, the test positive rate has to be a certain percent or there are certain conditions on the school from the state that would need to be in place or any number of criteria, but to make it easier for us and for the public to understand. This is what this is the criteria that we're waiting for before we did before we go into public meetings again. I don't know what that criteria would be, but I think there could be some reasonable parameters established to say this is what we're looking for. And when we see these things happen, we're we're going to begin holding public board meetings again. Stephen, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm ready whenever you I can. I'll wait. Go ahead, Joe. Go ahead, Joe. And I think I'm Chris may have wanted to say something too. It's hard to tell since he's on the phone when he wants to speak. Yeah, somebody wants to go before me. I'll just absolutely defer a lot of things. Chris McVeigh, if you're there. You know, that you'll speak because she enlightens me all the time. And she might this time. She enlightens all of us. Yes. Thank you, Joe. I think Carrie wants to say something too, but I'll go ahead. So what I was going to suggest is I was going to say I like sort of even thoughtful approach as always. I also really liked what Brian was saying about consulting with experts. I would I don't think we should do is grapple with this question. Just one individual board, I think it's something that we want to do in conjunction with other other groups and other other boards and other authorities. I don't think this should be an individual, you know, district by district decision anymore than the decision to open schools has been really a district by district. It's really a statewide approach. So I think it's sort of a blend of what Brian and Stephen were saying is the approach I would suggest for moving forward. Chris and then Carrie. So, as much as there, it is a public health issue. It's also a perception issue. And if we are deeming it fit for our students and our staff to come into school. We have to be deeming it fit for ourselves to meet in public as well. I just, it's, you know, the common theme is we're all in this together. And if that's true, then we are all in it together in terms of opening school and if students and staff are expected to show up and have to basically meeting in a public in a public place. We should be willing to do that too. And I just, we can establish all the protocols and trying to explain the health issues. And I don't think it would be well received if we're saying the health issues for us mandate that we meet by video, but the health issues otherwise have open school. I think we really need to follow and lead by example is what we're willing to asking our staff and our students and their parents to do. Thanks. Thank you, Chris. I take note also of Dave Lawrence's shot. Carrie. Yeah, just reiterating basically what Brian and Jill said, I can't believe that every other board school board in the state is also wrestling with this question. I would say let's let's do a little research. Let's ask Brian to look into it. The sources he said and any any others, and just report back and and we can think about this in the context of what the experts advise on Jonas. I would note that we are not asking students and staff to return to school right now because it's July. We have six weeks until school opens or five. And I would be very disappointed if we were making decisions that affect public health, based on optics, rather than what you know what are acceptable and necessary risks to take. It seems to be a whole lot more essential and necessary for education to happen. However, we can arrange for that, then to make sure that the bunch of us are in the same room. Thanks. Great discussion. I think where we've landed basically is once again more work for Brian, but I don't think it's anything that you wouldn't probably be in the midst of doing anyway. Linda. What I am appreciative of is the conversation, because now if people talk to me or ask me, I can say it was discussed. It's being deliberated and looked at and what's going on across the state. Versus, I don't know why we're working remote and you're going back to school or whatever we've had the discussion we're looking into it. And I think that's an important part of this as well. I believe all the select board meetings are still remote. So, looking at it that way, I am somewhat frustrated with the state of Vermont that it isn't more coordinated across the state and that some districts have put out an AB plan, or the person I was kayaking with today said her superintendent is putting out for starting after Labor Day. We need to be more coordinated as a state and have more direction from above in my opinion. And something like this because you could have kids in one district and you live in another district and you teach in another district and if they're on an AB schedule and you're on a CD schedule and it's it's going to be impacting a lot of individuals. So, I appreciate the conversation about just meeting as a board. Yeah, great. Thanks very much and thanks for raising it Steven look. Just to Brian, if I can be any help in researching or gathering that information, feel free to contact. Thank you, I definitely, I definitely will. Excellent. Are you satisfied board members with where we are at this point. So we move on to new agenda item 3.4, which is the possibility of a special meeting. Floor, do you want to come out of the finance committee, do you want to introduce this or Brian. I think I would let Brian and introduce that and just for timing. Yeah. Yeah, so, thank you floor. I, this is one of the, I'm requesting a special meeting for next week. Depending a I want to bring legal counsel in to meet with I would warn it as an executive session with the board to discuss with the board and executive session with legal counsel. What, what has been happening in what what other districts are doing in the state of Vermont, what we're allowed to do in the state of Vermont. And this is really about leave requests that we've been starting to get from teachers. We received a number of leave requests within the last several days. Some teachers are concerned about not coming to not worried about coming back to school in the start of the year. And there are what are what what can we do to support our teachers. What can we do to support our students, and it's a very dynamic situation with reopening. And again, I want to say that again it's a very dynamic situation. I can go over different examples here but I don't want to get anyone into rabbit holes right now but there I think it's an important conversation that every board member here needs to do that and think about. And then I think afterwards we should have that conversation. I believe in public session. So the general public has an idea of some of the complexities that we're facing here with reopening school. And I do think that's really one of the biggest in my opinion, one of the biggest things about being a member of a board of education and a board public board is to really talk about these things and invite members of the public to be there. Because I do think it's something that's very timely, but ultimately, it's been very difficult and trying to get the word out there about exactly what we're going to be doing because we've been waiting for guidance from the state. One of the things that we were waiting for came today. It was a big deal. I was talking about what we're allowed to do during height for hybrid learning. So it was very difficult to put out the, to put things out there to the public that we may or may not have been able to do. I know there is a, I know some folks talked in the public comments and said they were concerned about communication and I can definitely understand that. And I think that that person of our teacher asked a lot of great questions. And before I'm always opting out making sure that whatever we put out there is something that we're comfortable doing and it's been vetted legally. It's been done medically. It's been vetted by giving teachers voice on the option walking the parents. So we're trying to get that information out with our plan and we are developing a reopening plan. But I think a lot of the pieces have been hanging in the balance until we got this guidance, which just came out today, literally a few hours ago from the agency of education about the, about hybrid learning and what that could look like. I still need to vet it myself. So I'm not prepared to talk about it here tonight. I'd also like to vet it with my leadership team. And again, go through the process of, you know, when you read these long state statute state items, what does it actually mean. I have a weekly meeting with the agency of education officials. I'm sure this will be a big topic later on this week. And making sure whatever we again making sure whatever we put out to the public is something that's been vetted on many multiple angles. So for the special meetings piece, you know, really, I'm looking for something on possibly next Wednesday. Six, six o'clock special meeting to talk about up in a personnel or we can personnel matters. Executive session with a with our with our legal counsel. I got to make sure the legal counsel is available. I want to end in the availability of the lawyer to talk with us. You know, what are our options. What have we done in the past. What is, what are we obligated to do as as a district. What do we want to do maybe do we want to do something more do you want to do something just obligated. I mean, these are real serious questions. And I think I think it's everyone I'm going to ask everyone to bring their thinking hats if we can have this meeting next week. Brian, if you feel like we need a meeting, I fully support that. I'm happy to come Wednesday is the best night for me. I do have other commitments and other nights. So I would hope that we could do it on Wednesday. Brian. Yes, if we if we have a meeting next weekend, I'm all in favor of it as well. Can we get materials around the questions that we're going to be asked to think about an answer because we often get materials like the same day, which doesn't give enough time really to do the thinking and consideration that I think you are expecting from us. So anything that either from you, the state or whatever attorney is going to show up to kind of target pinpoint what we're going to be really being asked to do and consider would be helpful and the more time in advance of the meeting the better for me. Thanks. I can do that. Sorry. Anybody else did I miss a hand up somewhere. Otherwise, mark your calendars please. July 22nd, six o'clock. Another happy hour with the school board. So that takes us. If there are no more. Nothing more on the special meeting to 4.0 and 4.11 school board retreat, which is discussed in a memo on page eight of your packet. Brian. Yes. So I, of course, obviously this is all pending, what we can and cannot do, you know, and obviously consult, we can have to consult with the Department of Health and if we are able to have a retreat, it would refer be referred to have the me have the retreat in person. You know, the, I put down some ideas on the on the some things I like the board to consider for it. I know that board member had asked me last, last week, last time we met. What would the cost be. And so I did a full disclosure I do. I have a one of my folks I know very well is a man named Nicholas Fisher, Dr. Fisher, I did put a little blurb about him in the board packet. About his background. He's been a sister associate superintendent director of human resources, high school teacher, real strong background in working in many different types of schools. He did graduate. He has a master's and doctoral degree from Harvard. He's been basically working in public education is his entire life. He is someone that I were I know very well. He's serving as a mentor to me in my new role here as superintendent, and I thought that it would be great to have him come and meet meet the board and help serve as a facilitator for a board retreat. The cost that he has I thought was very reasonable. I always joke with Dr. Fisher, and I always say, you know, you know, I can't afford you. I can't afford your advice, but he laughs but he did give us I thought a pretty good deal. He said $2,000 for pre work the actual work when he comes and some post work afterwards we regarding this particular retreat. We would have to also pay for travel lodging and food which is what I understand a normal cost for a retreat facilitator. Thanks Brian. So, I think the action that the board would need to take based on the discussion we had in the finance committee just prior is a motion to authorize the expenditure of $2,000. The cost of travel food and lodging for Nicholas Fisher to facilitate at the board retreat when that happens, and that's still to be determined based on the doodle poll and everything else that's up in the year. So, my own, if I may just my own sense of this is, we're going to have very few opportunities for board education, your board training during these upcoming months. And this seems like a good opportunity, a good, a good investment for us. So, I'm, you know, I'm just one board member, but I'm in favor of it. If anybody else wants to first make the motion. And then second it and then we can go from there. I'll move your motion as you do you want me to read it again or you have it. So that the video right when Lisa, did you get it. I have that floor moved to authorize the expenditure of $2,000 plus travel and lodging expenses food travel lodging and food for Nicholas Fisher to facilitate the board retreat. Yes. Thanks so floor moves. Is there a second. Thank you. Thank you, Kai. Great. So for moves, Carrie seconds on discussion. Diane. There will still be a small group right that's planning and working on the retreat. It's just that often usually there's kind of the focus and then you figure out who's the facilitator or the work and. And I guess my only concern and I don't want it to come across that I'm saying, you know, you outsiders can't know what we're doing I'm not trying to say that. I guess my only question or wondering is Brian with you being new to new to the state and new to doing this and then having somebody from outside of the state also facilitating the conversation. I just want to be sure we're clear what we're hoping the conversation will be so that it's on target for for helping us advance what we need to do. Yeah. Sorry, just want to make sure. Yes, Diane. And I know that if you look at the packet, you know, I put some agenda items down there about some of the things that we that could be discussed but I agree with you that the subcommittee would have to definitely. I know we have a subcommittee already together. And that is a floor and Scott. And the idea is that once if Nick, if you approve Nick tonight they would one of the things we could do is start having that conversation with Nick about moving this moving these moving this forward. Thanks, Jonas. Yeah, I would prefer not to have a facilitator not that I don't think you know the good doctors and perfectly Cromulant facilitator. But last summer when I met most of the folks here for the first time at Scott's favorite place on earth. It was, you know, it was just us and the superintendent and Dave Delcore. And I thought it gave us a chance to communicate and learn how to communicate together. Honestly, Brian, I'd rather have you lead it because I'd like to get to know you more and not have that buffer between us. I certainly wouldn't veto it or, you know, it'll probably it'll be okay. I just wanted to make that make that point. Yeah, and I understand the point I really do. And I do have to just respond to it saying that. Yes, it's probably, I think at some point in my personal opinion that it's important at some point you may want to, I'm hoping to have a nice long fruitful tenure here as your superintendent. You're in Washington Central. I moved my whole family here. We're, you know, 10 minutes away from the, from my, from work. So which is a double edged sword where I can roll out of bed and see what's how much snow is on the ground. But I would say that really, really, I think as, as the years go by it would make more sense to have a retreat with me leading it. But I think with with a new superintendent in a dynamic situation with, I think, I think it's, I will say it. This gentleman Nicholas, he does not hold any punches. So if we had a board topic, a topic at the retreat and he thought I was holding back that there he would he would pull it out of me. Your, he'll definitely pull it out of me is what I'm trying to say. Thanks. Other board member comments on this job. Thanks. I would be more inclined to have a facilitator, because I would really like Brian to be able to participate and just as someone who facilitates a lot of meetings, you cannot do both. And so that would be my, my preference would be to have a facilitator. I don't feel strongly about it if others don't feel that way but that's. I would lean yes on a facilitator. Thanks Joe, and I should just draw attention to the comments in the chat box, both from the public and from board members. Other other discussion. I would like to also have a facilitator I think in the in the past we have wanted a facilitator and hasn't always been approached that way and I think we would grow more as a board agree with Joe's comments we is a different hat you were when you facilitate and I think having somebody that doesn't have as much history on us run the visit where might made us more honest and see all of us in a different light. So I think it would be an important step for us to, you know, move forward be more creative and think outside the box with somebody that doesn't have as much baggage as as we bring to to the board so we can be, you know, just focus on kids and and growing as that that would be my thought. So yes, so if it's like tater. Thanks for there. Are there other comments before we move to a vote. Yes, Jonathan. Yes, I would also be in favor of having a facilitator as well I think, as Brian mentioned there, there. We're all facing highly unusual time so, so having someone outside the district, both with a new superintendent coming in and a facilitator I think would be very beneficial in a lot of ways. Great. Thank you. Dorothy. I agree with having a facilitator. And I agree with, I think with Jill who said how difficult it is to facilitate and be part of the meeting and I think the point of this meeting is for us to get to know Brian and Brian to get to know us and he's having to do two jobs at once. I don't think that's very helpful. And I do think it's good to have somebody that's totally unconnected. We so far to our district. It just, I just think it's a good idea. Thanks Dorothy. And, and once again, the chat box is active. Which is great. If there are no further contributions to the discussion, we can move to a vote. Very good. So, all in favor of authorizing $2,000 plus travel lodging and food for the purpose of bringing facilitator Nick Fisher as I got the name right. I hope as facilitator to the retreat that we hope to have some somewhere down the line. Please click yes, or thumbs up or whatever you have. I'm seeing. Oh, and no, of course, the red Xbox X circle rather. And I'm seeing all yeses, I believe. Did I did I miss anything. All yeses. Okay, very good. The motion carries. Let's move on then to internet. Just a quick question. Sorry, sorry. And a few ideas about agenda topics. Should I email those to you and floor. Absolutely. That would be mostly. Yeah, thank you so much. And Stephen look. I would just request and look in it. Item three in the memorandum, the last sentence that should include just the board members and the superintendent. I appreciate what the desire is. I'd request that some study be done on the open meeting law and get some legal interpretation on that. Because it's probably going to have to be warned as a meeting and if it's warned as a meeting, then the public has to be allowed to attend. Absolutely. And if it needs to be warned as a meeting, we'll have to warn it as a meeting. Yeah. And gladly to floor. I just want to say to speak to Jonas in his concern that this is this is a retreat that doesn't mean that we can't have a meet and greet with Brian. In my favorite place in the world. If we follow cobit less than 25 people, you'll have to not sit on the porch though. And I have to get her away. Yeah, got it. Okay. Excellent. Great. Okay. Next is internet access. And there's a memo on this on page 10, I believe. Yes. So basically, before I start, I just want to thank the board for their support and getting the facilitator vote. So basically there was a, there's been a huge conversation around the state. I know a board member boarded up at the last meeting. I would also respond to that, that board member, just let her know that we did, we do have a survey. We've been really trying to take an idea of what our needs are for our children around the, around the area. We have some very rural communities may not have access to technology. And I know that the state has been also has is aware of that because it's not just, it's a really a statewide issue for the, for our children in the state, especially when you go to remote if you have to go back to remote learning for everyone. Some children have hard times getting access to the, their teachers. So this was just to give you an idea of some of the things that we've done. And some of the, some of the areas that we're looking for. And I didn't know I don't want to be able to point go through everything piece by piece. But, you know, right now we are limited in our, our infrastructure, but some, some items that we're looking for that we've been giving out the students Chrome books, looking at that internet services, putting up hot spot devices for AT&T and Verizon, and those carriers who first have accesses. And we've done that for at least some of our children but there's still a lot more work to be done and there's not a major so there's not an easy solution at this time. I do know that the state of Vermont is trying to put money for money at the problem and figure out ways that they can get more hot spots in areas where children may not have access. And I do know that's something that they've been working on. Keith, I know Keith is here. Do you have anything, anything else to add? I think that that covers it really pretty well. We are trying to sort of explore all the, all the avenues and all the possibilities. Like Brian said, the infrastructure in Vermont is just such that we're really limited in some cases to what we can provide at location. So we are looking into some alternatives. AT&T and Verizon are examples. VTEL is another one. That's a wireless carrier. We're looking at, you know, the schools provide internet so the state put out a hotspot map, an open hotspot map back in the spring. Those will continue to be available in the fall if they're needed. You know, and, and just in terms of looking at device access as well. We were one to one through all the grade levels. We're looking at what it might take to be able to do that so that we could send a device home with every student if we had to. So we are looking into some of those access issues and that work is ongoing over the summer at this point. And Keith, I know that the AOE has asked for information about information regarding some of our spots where we don't have good access for some of our families. And we've been able to provide them with that information, correct? Yes, yeah. Thank you very much. So, something that happened the spring when it was an emergency was, and I think it was AT&T in Verizon, but it may have been more where they gave much more data time to people on their phones for free. Because some children were using their parents phones that was their only access. I don't think a lot of these free things that happened in the spring are going to continue to happen. And that was one of the only ways that people could get through. I taught in Berry City and Berry Town and you would think that they would have excellent access because it's so not rural. And I was delivering materials to a child who lived right in the city and they didn't have access. And when I told them what I was hearing on those weekly reports, it turns out they had a bad credit problem with Spectrum or one of those that was where they lived. And they couldn't access. And they were not comfortable sitting in the McDonald's parking lot, even though there was free access in the McDonald's parking lot. You know, so there's all those kinds of stories. And here we are in the rural part where even in our meetings with teachers with boards, we're going in and out, we're turning off our cameras because we don't have access. So it is a real serious issue with the rural nature of where we live and making sure that we can have equal education when we're remote or when we're hybrid. But I'm just worried about the ones that were made free because it came on so fast in the spring and they people had to do stuff but the corporations don't have to do anymore. Yeah. So we had, we had some discussion about this earlier today actually at a task force meeting. And one of our agenda items for this week is to reach back out to all of the local carriers, and to see what programs they might be offering in the fall, or, you know, who pretty much just collecting all that information about will the wireless carriers be doing anything in the fall. Maybe only if we go back to remote learning, they've been the next so have that information on hand to better help our students get online. Thank you, Keith. Linda is just pointing out that you exemplified the problem just now when you froze. Yeah. And also, note Kevin's chat in the chat box. I didn't see that. Yeah. Good. Other board member comments. If not, we can move on. I don't. Yeah, I just, maybe this is not a fair assumption to make but I do assume that lack of internet access is more of a problem in less affluent parts of the state or not. Because if it is, then we have a serious equity issue, particularly as there will be some remote learning as time goes forward, we don't know if it will be only remote learning exclusively. Something that I know we're all concerned about is ensuring that all of our kids have at least equitable access and fair access to remote learning because it will be part of the learning in the now and in the future. Yeah, thanks, Jonathan. Any other any other board member comments. If not, what I was to just since it's 707. And I'm trying to remember to tickets. I think a five minute break. And we can move on to reopening schools. Okay, freshen and fit. So reconvene at 707 012 712, please. Thanks. Welcome back everyone. My clock shows 712. Great, so the next two items on reopening schools and efficiency Vermont HVAC are both are both informational if I'm not mistaken correct Brian. Yes, there was a, and I do think it's, you know, good to just mention that there are some, you know, items that are, you know, that stand between the goal of getting all students to come back to school in the fall. And, you know, there are some things that stand between that goal. And in the reality of that happening and I think it's good to watch it up there. The Center for Disease Control guidelines, Vermont Agency of Education guidelines, the Vermont Department of Health guidelines, our own local context. So I've only been here for about two weeks now as superintendent and I know that we've been, the leadership team is doing some amazing work task forces that we have working on this, which are meeting weekly are putting some amazing work and ideas together. We've also been, let me rephrase that they've been doing amazing work based on the guidelines that we have and have been coming from us from the state from the Agency of Education. And so, so when we're planning the reopening of school, we have these different guidelines. I've also am asking my, my team, a leadership team to also look at the National Education Association guidelines for reopening, because we also want to make sure that the union has its voice in these guidelines. I've met with some teachers union folks already discussed the reopening as well. And we're trying to incorporate the guidelines from all these different agencies into what is going to make sure that our children and staff are safe when we reopen. The one thing that I have not had a chance to and I know one of the members of the public brought it up today. If you go to, you know, the last, the bottom of that page that memorandum, it basically says that, you know, our leadership team are five task forces, we're looking at these guidelines. And, you know, while we've given received these guidelines, and sometimes they're updated and changed on an almost daily basis. One of the things is, what is the local context right so this Board of Education I wanted to just say I provided two pieces for the local context to the team and the task forces, and those were parents need to go to work. And we need to operate within the confines of our budget. And because we don't want to just come up with all these ideas of, you know, spend millions and millions and millions of dollars and things that, you know, sound good but they're not necessarily really what we need. Everything, and every purchase that we're spending money on is going towards addressing a Agency of Education or Department of Health guideline. And so it was any other types of local guidelines something else you want to consider or if you think that these two need to be rethought or changed or anything. Please let me know because we're definitely working very hard with the leadership team and the task forces. Thanks, Brian. We do have members of the leadership team here. I wonder, is there anyone you would like to call on specifically to address any of the issues of involved in reopening schools in this connection. Well, I mean, I think the leadership team is here to help as a consult when I was really hoping to see if there was any members of the board. I mean, these two things about parents need to go to work and we need to operate within the confines of our budget. Obviously, in addition to following all the safety guidelines from the Vermont Agency of Education and the Department of Education. The purpose of this is really get see if there's any, any board community. I know board members you are you are the community you represent the community. If there was anything else that you thought should be added or change or updated in that piece. I think Stephen may have something. And the reality of number one parents need to go to work. But if it, if I was writing it, I would prefer to see number one is, we know that students learn best with the in person experience. I'd like to frame it around what we know is best for students. We need to appreciate so maybe there's three things, but in my mind. What should within the confines of what's safe, what should be driving the reopening of our schools is that we know students are best served if in in in the classroom with a teacher. I'm assuming that it's safe that in my mind that's what's driving the reopening of schools, the number one thing, because that's what's best going to serve our students. And I've seen no, I could, I haven't seen everything, but I have seen nothing to suggest there's an advantage to not have an in person learning for the students. That's my recommendation. I think that might be, it would be more palatable to me. Okay. Thanks. Yeah. And approbation from other board members as well. Other other board member comments. Anything to suggest to Brian. Not a suggestion Scott, but since it has already come up. I think if we had clarification on what entity is the decision maker on whether school actually opens. And what what the timeframe is for that meaning school opening in person for in person school, as opposed to remote learning again. And what the timeline anticipated timeline is for making that decision. I think that would be helpful. So, Chris, I think you make a great question. I'm operating under the, under the belief that the state makes that ultimate decision. The, the boards of board of educations are formed under the state constitution. And we are preparing for, for in person instruction as the state has advised us to prepare for in person instruction in the fall. And another question I'd like to raise is the various guidelines that you have here are the CDC guidelines. And I think it has come out within the past week or two that the CDC may be modifying its guidelines under political pressure. So my question is, how do we take that into consideration? And should we rely upon the Department of Health, our own Department of Health, more heavily or just call Tony Fauci and rely on him for more than the CDC. Because that's a serious consideration in my view in terms of because they're quite blank about. The President said that guidelines were too stringent or too expensive. So they're going to revisit them. And I think if we know, you know, we want to have faith in the guidelines that we're relying upon in opening schools. So it's a, it's a comment and some, I think something we need to take seriously because of the, I think political politicization of the CDC at this point. Yeah. So, so, Chris, what I can say is that the agency of education and the Department of Health are continually updating their, their information to that they're sending out the superintendents. I share it with my leadership team as soon as I get the information. And so I am aware that the CDC has issuing guidelines. I've heard, I've heard that before. I've seen those, I've seen some of those new, new ideas coming through the state. What they're doing, the State Department of Health and Agency of Education are doing is they're providing more clarification around the guidelines. And now in my last meeting with Agency of Education folks and the Department of Health folks, they are answering answering questions from folks like me who end up getting the folks from getting questions from general members of the public members of the board members of of our leadership team, and we take them back and you find out that a lot of the questions people are asking are being asked across the state different to different superintendents because a lot of us are asking very similar questions. And the State has advised me in Vermont that they are going to be updating or providing additional clarification around the guidance that they issued in late June in a frequently asked question page, which they're putting, which they put out last week. And I was told that they will continue to put those information, that information out and update their guidelines based on the health, public health information that they have available at the time. Dorothy. My, I'm wondering if it comes down to the fact that they say there, we will have schools in school operating in the schools. I know that there are many parents who will not send their children to school. And I want to be sure that they then have making it difficult I understand for the staff and the teachers, but they have access to distance learning. Otherwise, they may do their own homeschooling in which case we will lose their purple whatever we get from the state. And I also have heard. And I can't tell you where and it somewhat makes sense to me that there are some homeschool kids families who would like to be part of distance learning. And I think that it gives them a little more opportunity to be involved. And also, then those children become part of a distance community but children that they may actually end up going to middle school and high school with them thinking more in terms of elementary here. But I just wanted to be sure that that we can assure parents that they are not sending their kids to school that we will provide distance learning for them. And I think that's not good. So, Dorothy, you asked the big essential question. And so I want to try to answer your question. And also, I know a member of the public was, I guess, a concern that I had put out a letter out earlier this week. And so what's happening is the leadership team and the task forces are working extremely, extremely hard in trying to put together the information and communication plan to communicate to our communities and families. And one of the hardest things that we've been grappling with is how many families will not come back to school or refuse to come to school or put their children on home instruction. And it's been very hard to even take a poll or send out information about what schools are trying to do with regards to their schedules. Because we didn't have that information about what we're really permitted to do based under the guidelines that came out. So we've been waiting and waiting and waiting. And I know one of my principals in particular was saying, Brian, we got to put someone out there. And I agree and I agree with them. But at the same time, I was hoping to hear that we would get some guidance around the hybrid learning. And though I know that today, just a few hours ago, we got something I have not had a chance to review it, review all of it. I have not had a chance to vet it with my leadership team. We're meeting twice twice a week for several hours. And then in between those times, we're continuing to ask these types of questions, what we can and cannot do. So I think we're going to start with this new guidance that came out, we're going to start being able to get more information out to families in regards to what we're thinking and what we're going to be able to do. And I think ultimately we'll be able to identify what the, first of all, not just what we can do with remote learning and hybrid learning, but also what we decide to do here at the district level to support our families. Thank you very much, Brian. And I just know George's question in the chat box to Keith. And the board member questions are Jonas. So this goes back to something I think Corinne said at the beginning, her question about testing. And I think that goes directly to Brian what you just said about how many families are going to be willing or not willing to send their kids back into a building. I saw someone, I forget who it was, say that the pandemic and the virus allow us to make immediate short term decisions and long term decisions, but that medium term decisions are relatively impossible. And I will, I'll punctuate this with an anecdote. We have a three year old. And last week, we were planning on sending him back to daycare for the first time last Thursday. Because the case numbers in Washington County are so low. And, you know, we figured that, you know, we might as well do this now you know we sent our nine year old to a to an outdoor summer camp last last week in maple corner which was just awesome. So we figured we do this now and get them some social time, you know, you know, if and when you know another wave breaks over the state. On Wednesday afternoon, we got an email from the daycare center saying that a teacher who had not been in the building since the previous Thursday was sick that Monday and Tuesday with fever and nausea. And my question was, has that person been tested? When will you know the results of that test? And unfortunately they said we don't know and the guidance that they'd gotten from the state was that they can't require a test before someone comes back into the building. They can't require a doctor's note from a sick kid to come back into the building, which of course means that if someone was pre symptomatic, that they would have, you know, they would have been in the building and contagious for up to two weeks. Right. The numbers in the data that we are seeing are, you know, a time capsule from what for what's happened in the past one to three weeks. Without, without a credible and overwhelming testing regime, we're not going to have confidence that schools are safe. And the decisions that parents are making about when to send their kids to school and when, you know, when, you know, when that time is, we are making those decisions with really imperfect information. The ones that are out there are great for people who are symptomatic. That is the best you can do. Wear masks. If you're symptomatic isolate, leave the building immediately as soon as possible. And you can return, you know, you know, 48 hours after symptoms go away. But without testing, I'll say on Monday we got another email from the daycare center saying that another two teachers had been sick. I, you know, I have a, I have a kid going into fourth grade at Dodie. And I love the school. I think the principal is awesome. The faculty and staff have been terrific. And the guidelines that I've seen about safety in schools are all well intentioned and thoughtful. But without that testing, without knowing who's sick with what. That decision becomes incredibly difficult and we will probably err on the side of not sending our kid. You know, we did not send Nate to daycare last week where we have nixed that idea because there is no way to be sure. And when, you know, if we make a mistake, like it's already too late before we know it. So Brian, I would love to hear, you know, what you're hearing about testing, what's available, what the infrastructure is, what the protocols are going to be. And I think most importantly, and again goes to current concerns, what, what is the communication? What is the communication protocol, right? I would, you know, I would love to see like a daily bulletin, right? There are X number of teachers in these schools who are sick and out X number of students, right? You don't have to get into HIPAA stuff, you don't have to tell people who they are. But this is the illness that we're dealing with, right? And we know that, you know, five, you know, the five people who are sick, you know, last week got tested and are cleared, right? But there needs to be that kind of information sharing that, you know, frequently, constantly. So, Jonas, I think you definitely raise all good points there, you know, testing, you have your children go to school, I understand that. The part of the thing is, some of these are, some of those questions are one of the reasons why we have to have more interaction with the medical community. I know that we're going to have a COVID-19 coordinator who's going to be hired and these are types of questions that I would probably ask him or her, whoever that person will be. And then, if they don't know, they would have access to talking to public health nurses. I can tell you that I did find, I have attended some meetings with Dr. Levine and I've seen meetings with Dr. Levine and Dr. Holmes from the Public Health Department in Vermont, and they did answer questions in regards to some concerns about children going to school. And what I've heard, and I can even share this with the board at some point in the near future, that most of the transmissions, children are mostly very safe. They're not the ones getting impacted by the disease. Obviously, they also did the caveat that they're, you know, we're learning more about this disease. But, you know, it was very instructive to me. And so, I think when you hear these public health officials answer these types of questions about the necessity of wearing a cloth mask in school, I'm sure that your social distance is much as humanly possible and we're practical. And we have all these task forces working together. I would say almost around the clock about trying to make sure that we have precautions in place. I think the only piece that was holding up a lot of our communication was this idea around hybrid learning. So, for the last two weeks, we've really been focusing on, you know, personally, what supplies do we need? How do we set up isolation rooms? Do we need to purchase plexiglass or barriers to protect people in certain areas of the building? How do we do it, for example, central office going around to the school? So, we've been focusing on a lot of those types of things while we're waiting. And our principals have been very diligent in looking at schedules for their children for 100% of students coming back to the building. What it could look like with hybrid learning, which is partially remote learning. So, we didn't want to put anything out there yet to parents and families because we didn't know the guidance from the state. And I firmly believe once you put something out there, it's hard to take back. And so that the thing that went out on Monday, this past Monday to our families, I strongly feel that those are things that we are putting out there because we're putting out there and we pretty feel like we're on solid ground with those areas. And it also does generate questions. So, I mean, I will say I got a lot of questions about masks and facial coverings and what's appropriate, what's not. And these are all conversation ideas that we have to definitely vet more with the leadership team and then with the medical community. And then we can have a better plan to bring out to the public when the time comes. And I think the time is coming. We're getting there as a result of this hybrid learning guidance, which just came out today. I'm sorry, Brian, we still need to know more about testing. Yeah, I agree. I agree with you. We do. Absolutely. Like all of those preventative measures are fantastic. Masks absolutely are essential, right? But without testing, we're sending kids and adults into an environment where we're hoping that they don't catch it instead of seeing if the virus is actually there. And that's, you know, that's not your responsibility. That's largely, you know, to Chris's point earlier, that's a federal issue and there isn't a whole lot we can do about that. But some information, you know, some information at a future time about what testing protocols and what infrastructure is going to be available, how they will be administered, you know, what peoples, what staff and students and families responsibilities will be if someone gets sick, you know, is absolutely critical. Sorry, Joel. Go ahead, Chef. Now I'm, I double muted after realizing I after Jonas pointed out I was hot Mike. So thanks. So I absolutely agree with Jonas on his concern about testing as someone who does nothing but work in health care all day long. I can tell you that testing is a very hot topic at the agency of human services and in the Department of Health and I have seen various testing plans that are aimed more at the health care system and the extent to which health care providers should and will be tested, but also things aimed at the general public about who should be tested and the particularly the question of how much asymptomatic testing should be done. So I think that this is an area where we really want to look at state guidance and Brian in terms of your interaction with various state leaders, I think making sure that there's at least clear information about what the testing strategy is for schools. I suspect there will not be enough testing to satisfy your concerns. Jonas, that's my guess. We actually do have, we are one of the few states in the country that has as much testing as most epidemiologists think we need to have. So we're in better shape here than in lots of places. But I'm not sure we're going to be, you know, testing lots, you know, multiple kids and teachers on a regular basis. But that's really a health department decision. And so I think we need them. We need their guidance and their information on what what the plan is. Thanks, Joe. Other other board questions. Did I hear you, Chris? Yeah, you didn't. Brian, has there been any contact with the teaching staff about making voluntary testing readily available if they wanted it. So then any teacher or any student who wanted to be tested would have access to testing at no cost. I have not heard anything in regards to that. Has there been any resistance by teacher by the union on testing protocols? I have not had that conversation with teachers union officials here in our district. I base most of my conversation has been making sure that teachers have a voice here in our, in our, our decisions and giving their input into making making good decisions for them. I know that we do have the task. We do have over 72 folks that are meeting on a regular basis every week in these five task forces. And our leadership team is constantly taking the information and basically synthesizing it working to that. And, you know, the big again the biggest holdup has been the hybrid learning piece, not knowing what we're able to completely do until until today, but we still need to figure out what that actually read means because I haven't been able to read it yet. It just came out a few hours ago. It's really been most of a, you know, the most of what we're doing. I have also shared the NEA guidance document with the, with the leadership team and we're making sure that I will understand from talking to other superintendents that that guidance lines up quite well with the guidance that we've received earlier in the summer. We are looking at a, we have one of the, one of the task forces is the communication task communication and policy task force. And they, there is a opportunity we're working together we're working to put together a website, which will have lots of the information that I think, you know, folks, like one of the members earlier today in the public and asked a lot a lot of questions. And I think there'll be a lot more, what do you call it, opportunities to provide answers to those questions. And of course, sometimes you provide answers and then you get more questions because folks have, you know, you go deeper into the material. So, so we're looking at having a website. We're hoping to also have a area where someone can get like a teacher parent can post or email the send it send an anonymous email or send her an email and hopefully not anonymous but an email to say hey I had a question about face masks or I had a question about isolation rooms or I had a question about and that we're really hoping to come up with that and finalize that protocol and a future leadership meeting. So I think there's going to be a lot more information coming out of our plans in the next several days. So stay tuned in regards to that. And I'm hoping that that will help to address some of the anxiety and concerns that some of the members of the public are failing. And ultimately, you know, we're going to continue to this will just continue to you know, chop wood and keep going forward. Thanks for one follow up. Sorry, Chris, go ahead. Just about based on the staff participation in these various task force. Has there been a primary concern that the staff has raised about returning to school. Well, I mean, I think I think we're all we all have been grappling with the my leadership team is, I had a member leadership team on every task force. So I think one of the things that we've heard so far is is the some of the some of the concerns around hybrid learning. What is that going to look like what am I going to when we come back to school, how safe are we going to be, you know those are the types of but I think a lot of people understand we're working very hard with the solutions that we've been working to develop is going to be very helpful. The, I'm just trying to think what else. What else can I share right now the the with regards to the leave requests I think there's a conversation of I think there's some concerns about that that has come up, and which is why I think we definitely want to talk more about that at next week's meeting. And I know that in the chat box, the questions continue to spill over. So that's part of the, the video record at least. So, if you feel board members that you have we talked through the memo on page 12 sufficiently, so you move on to the HVAC question on page 13. Yes, let's do, Brian. So I think this is an area that one of the things that is my understanding that when you have fresh air coming into your building, the, you do limit the exposure to COVID-19 and other airborne diseases. So we did. We start working with our mechanical engineer to provide to go into every school, and basically conduct an analysis of of our HVAC and air condit and indoor air quality and our possibilities of what can we do to make sure that when children come to school. They're safe as possible with the CO2 levels with the amount of fresh air coming in. And one of the ventilation areas that we need to look at is cubic feet per minute, right. So the, so how much ventilation is accurate is actually being pumped into a room at a certain given time. I learned a whole crash course on air ventilation this last week and this week with regards to this and it really depends on the year, but apparently from what I was told the the air back in the 1970s. There were regulations around seven, five, five cubic feet per minute per person of outside air and exhaust air in a room. And then in the 1970s and 1980s it's kind of gone up and down. So the 15 basically the government has, I think, I think we're right now around 15 cubic feet per minute. And so, in order to make sure that we have fresh air for our children who are going to we're expecting to wear masks, and we want to pump in fresh air into the built into the rooms. We, we worked working with the mechanical engineer, we thought that doubling that to a 30 cubic feet per minute per person of outside exhaust air would be would be very helpful, especially during a pandemic where we're asking folks to come back to school. And this could really help. And I think, so what we did is we had the mechanical engineer meet with notice each school, we provided a detailed report to each principal about what some of the short term goals of improving the air quality in the school which would be, I would think that the short term goals is what we want to get done before we open school. We learned little things that we had to replace some filters at the school at some of the schools. We did have to order a part for one of our elementary schools, which, again, I was very concerned about I was told that we had to get it, we had to make the order today in order to get it within the next five to six weeks. And so, we are, we ordered that, we put the order in today. And I was told that we should be okay to get it set up. I did also, we also met with the architect, our black river, designed to also go out to the schools and meet with each principal about setting and make sure that their isolation rooms have the proper ventilation for their, for the rooms to make sure that if you have children in there, the air first of all, isn't just coming in there but if a child's in there it's not just going out. And so the idea is, if you can make sure you have 30 cubic feet per minute per person in an isolation room and they're still and they're wearing a mask. They're really limiting exposure to even if you have someone else in that room with them. So we're trying to make sure we do that information as, as we're trying to make this a reality for all of our schools before the before the start of the school year. Now, I know one of the things is how do we pay for this right so it is my understanding efficiency Vermont is an option, and I did have a good conversation with one of the folks at efficiency Vermont. And they have asked me in my team to submit a grant to help pay for some to offset some of this cost I don't know what we'll get. There's no guarantee we'll get anything, but we are work we are going to be able to submit something hopefully soon for this project. Thanks, Brian. I should just mention that Brian's anecdote about having to order today apart in order to receive it with five to six weeks out is a lead up to some of the things we'll be having to deal with in the second block, the finance committee block of our agenda. Board member questions for Brian on this. The subject of air quality. Not so much air quality, I guess. I'm going back to the opening just about masks and whether we, the school district will be providing masks for students. Just, I know there'll be a cost associated and kids will probably lose masks on a regular basis and like helping parents cover that cost. They can't afford it. And also ordering things I know trying to order thermometers the pointing thermometers took like a friend who had to order some for his work and took like four weeks to get them. So, I don't know if we're considering doing that too. Yes, I is Lori still there. I know Lori's been. We have a task force that's been working to put together a lot of supplies and all the things that you mentioned. I know we're purchasing or we're intending on purchasing. Lori, can you comment more on that? I was just going to say, I think we're going to cover it in great detail under item 423. Thanks. Packet of all the things that we're buying and we're actually the orders are going out this week. So it's, it's on, it's on page 19 if you're interested to see the list. Thank you, Gia. You're moving us forward. So I take it then that we should go to 4.2 finance committee. And floor, do you want to kick it off? Sure. So the finance committee met at five. And what I'm going to do is I'm going to let Lori do she did a review of I don't have a chance to look at it. But then I review what we would be filing for the cares act and I let her speak to, to that. And then we'll touch on the other points. Lori. So the list I put together with the financial report and it's on in the board packet it's on page 14. And what you can see is what we basically spent from March until June. In summary, we spent 112,000 on instructional and related support costs. For our daycare program that was run by community connections. We had revenues of 46,000 expenses of 98. So we would be submitting a cares reimbursement for $51,855. And we also ran the food program delivery meals to families at their homes that generated a large, a large amount of income 201,000, but our expenses were 455. So the net amount that we're requesting from cares is 254,000. So if you add up the net amount on all those the total that we will submit on our application is about 418,000. Additionally, we closed the books on July 3rd. As I noted in the memo, we still hadn't had guidance from the agency of education so in order to close I decided to call our audit firm our HR Smith, and they gave me guidance on recording this as a receivable. So should we not collect the full amount, then we would be booking it in FY 21. For the difference. If we collect the full amount there'll be no other entry needed. I'm waiting for application materials. I've been working with the agency of Ed today on that and I believe we'll have those documents in the next couple weeks, hopefully to get the money by the end of August is my hope. Did you want me to touch on anything else floor. It's still projected that we'd in the year about 1.8 million above our 2% target. But we would want to consider the fact that if for some reason they find some of our costs ineligible we might need to reserve some of that fund balance to pay the difference. Okay. Yeah, yeah, those were the main, the main points and we'll have a future meeting if you read your package that will we consider options for this for this balance, but we won't do that tonight. Okay, so thank you very much 4.2.2. We have an item to authorize the finance committee to award bids over 15,000 and up to 100,000 for COVID-19 items. We do not have to convene the the board and plenary session every time we we exceed that $15,000 limit. There should be a language for emotion on page 19. I believe today. I had a finance meeting around this but I let the motion carry first and somebody wants to make the motion. Jonas. Okay. Jonas seconds. Is that okay? Thank you. Very good. So the motion is Lisa, did you get it? Sorry, I can't find it. I'm looking at page 19. Yes, I think it's authorized the finance committee points 123 under 3.2. Yes, it's the first bullet. So, authorize the finance committee to award COVID-19 related bids over 15,000 per Vermont title 16 section 559 up to 100,000 per item. Carrie moved it and Jonas seconded. And we had a discussion as a finance committee and we felt like they had asked us for a ceiling before one of the board members. So we felt that 100,000 looks like a good number. We also had a discussion that it felt like, you know, we want to have have as much flexibility as possible so that we can order as needed without putting too much requirements into the superintendent in the central office. So it was sums up from everybody in the finance committee that helps the discussion. Sorry. That's great. Thank you for indeed as you asked something. I did have something because I heard parts of it. I sat in during the finance committee. I think I would like an example of something in the $100,000 range that has to be ordered today. So that I have a better understanding, because people are acting like that's not a lot of money. But for me, that's a couple of cars. So, what we talked about was that there's a temperature piece of equipment that might cost for four different buildings and accumulated total of about 81,000. We're not sure yet we would have to complete the entire bid process. So we had asked if this was, if this was authorized tonight, could the finance committee meet by the end of July, excuse me. Yeah, you said the 20. Yeah, the 29 like any. And that would buy enough machines for four buildings you said, or is that for one building. That was our current estimate we need to officially bid. Okay. Thanks. Other questions, Stephen. I appreciate the time we find ourselves in. My inclination is to support this. Everyone knows my fiscal conservatism. So, I mean, I will be supporting it. But I want the finance committee to feel the weight of my wrath and eyes over their shoulder as they're making decisions that I fully expect, even though I've given permission that they're still going to be held accountable for their decisions. So I'm just strongly encouraging very wise choices. I don't have any reason not to trust and that's why I'm going to approve it. But I just feel I want to make that statement. Thank you, Stephen. Lisa, I hope you took note of that. Jonas. I appreciate what, what, what Stephen just said, but my guidance would be not to be penny wise and pound foolish. Let's get kids back to school. Let's do it safely. Let's spend the money that we need to. Good. I hope you got that too, Lisa. And just that clarification, Scott, this is all COVID-19 is not like you're giving us a checkbook for going on spending and everything. This is all related to COVID-19. Thank you for an important point. Yeah. Any other questions before we move to a vote? Yes, my only concern is that if cases rise and we can't open schools and we spend all this money on the supplies. I don't know where they could be used some way in the future. Is there any way to get reimbursement on any of this or anything? I see Jonas has his hand up. Yeah. I would say Gile, if we can't open schools, then absolutely there will be use for all the PPE and at some point hopefully we'll be able to reopen schools and all that work will be necessary. We are living in the, we're not in a post pandemic era. The pandemic is going to be with us for the foreseeable future. We will need this stuff. Thanks. Stephen. And then right. And I would. This is probably not very reassuring to hear. As a board member, we'll find ourselves having to make decisions in real time, based on the best information we have. So for me, in real time, based on the best information we have. We have to act now and we have to act with the best information we have in good faith. So could there be unnecessary expenditures down the road? I think the answer has to be fairly yes. But I think that doesn't work. We still have to make decisions. So I've always felt like I need to be guided by the best information I have in front of me at the moment. And if I need to meet the decision, I need to make the decision. That's my responsibility. So I, I, you know, that I just offer that. I think that we still have to make a decision now. So I've always felt like. I need to be guided by the best information I have in front of me at the moment. And if I need to meet the decision, I need to make the decision. I, you know, that I just offer that insight that I have complete trust. You're operating the best you can with what you've got. And if down the road. We spent more money than we needed to it's unfortunate. Understood. Thank you very much, Stephen. First Lori and then Joe. Thank you. Thank you. When she asked, is there reimbursement? Yes, there is reimbursement. There's cares reimbursement for expenses for FY 20. And FY 21. It's unclear whether there'll be sufficient money to cover every cost throughout the state of Vermont to reopen schools. So should there not be sufficient money? I was told today, the formula would be similar to our special ed reimbursement. Everyone would get the same percentage. And if there's sufficient money to cover every cost throughout the state of Vermont to reopen schools. And if there's sufficient money to cover every cost of their costs, that's how it would work out as long as the total sum of money at the state was expended. Is that too confusing? Okay. That's good. Just on the, on the subject of, you know, are we spending money on something we might not need. The guidance that I gave to my home health and hospice members about the crisis when they were debating some expensive N95 masks and some other things that were, you know, just hard decisions is, and I, and this has worked really well is which, which thing do you want to regret? Right? You have to make an imperfect decision. Which thing do you want to regret? I would rather regret that we bought too much than that. We didn't do everything we needed to do. So we don't have it. We are not going to have perfect information, but I just found that to be a really helpful guiding way to address this whole crisis. Thank you. Are we ready for a vote? Yeah. Okay. All in favor of carries motions seconded by Jonas to authorize the finance committee to award bids over 15,000 up to 100,000 for COVID-19 items. Please click yes or thumbs up or whatever. If you're opposed to click no or a thumbs down. And I'm seeing all yeses. I believe. Yes. Very good. Okay. The motion carries. We'll move on to school. A 4.2.3 school reopening COVID-19 expense. Page 19. As well. I'm losing track floor. Do you want to introduce this one? Yes. So we, we also review this one in our finance in our finance meeting. And basically it's those items. I'm just looking for my notes or those items that need to be bought immediately. We have, we already authorized a 200,000 dollars of that previously. So we're looking at adding $300,000 to, to that. Right, Lori. So that's what we would need for tonight emotion to authorize. This are, these are things that have already been vetted by the state that we would be purchasing. Sorry. So as floor said, we need a motion to. To authorize the. The administration to spend 300,000 for. COVID-19 expenses connected to school reopening. Without additional board action. I think this is very much in the same line. Stephen. Look. Didn't we just do that? No. It just gave them permission to spend up to $100,000 on items. You gave the finance committee permission to approve. I guess bid items. Up to up to $100,000. We're authorizing here. More money. Not as I understand it. I think it's just, we need this today, Stephen, in order to get them on time. So there's no time for the finance committee to meet again, and we're in a meeting. So this are items that we would like to have them. That Lori and the central office team and leadership team need to have access to that now for timing. And then you are authorizing us from now on to be able to meet more frequently to do take that type of position. So I think that it's not enough for me to hear, we need $300,000 to buy some things. What things, at least give me some rough guidelines. Yeah, yeah. That's way too big. There's a list. As I have a list. Yes, there's a list. So for example, we need to purchase desks for our schools. So that the classrooms can meet the requirements. So there's a number of schools that need desks. So there's a number of schools that need desks. And there are things like PPE equipment for nurses, PPE equipment for faculty, staff, and students. There's food service and custodial PPE. It includes those items listed here. And so there are a lot of different purchases. Some are $3,000, but the sum of them in total. Projected could be as high as 300,000. It's software. I mean, I'm trying to think of what, what's the number of software applications for health screening. Application. They're listed on page 19 in our package. Yeah. Page 10 in the financial. So there's $22,000 just for the software for the health screening software. So all of those that we were talking about before will be part of this package. Thank you. That's adequate for me. I just. You know, don't say I want $300,000. Yeah, sorry. I was, I was operating on that assumption that everybody had read the package, but I should have been more clear. Sorry. So, so yeah, on page 10 of the finance of the finance committee and on page 19, you can see supplies, equipment, software staffing. There's a list there. So if I'm not mistaken, we still need a motion. I can make the motion or some of the chair of the finance committee, but I'll make a motion to approve. Up to $300,000. I'm sorry. I'm in a page right now. Great floor moves. Chris seconds. You got that Lisa. Great. Okay. Further discussion. I think it's very much along the lines of the last. The last item that we voted on. With the voice of my, my, my conscience speaks in the voices. Even look. So. But Linda, I saw your hand. Yeah. Something that has kind of upset me about the state of Vermont. When I was saying earlier about needing more guidance. One of the lowest spending states on students and we're one of the highest. And that would be Alabama, which is have, I mean, we can't say a lot. That's great about that. And it is where my family is from, but they have bought three masks for every teacher and three masks for every student to be distributed to the schools from the state. And I, it's another thing that I am feeling like. The state is letting down our locals and. Leaving things too much to school districts where there's going to be inequities of districts who. Don't have the means to be buying the masks for their teachers or their students. And I, I'm just still, I want that. I just want to make sure that we have a good meeting that I feel that the agency of education isn't. Doing the best that I think they could be doing in this situation for our kids and our teachers. Thank you, Linda. No taken. Any other, any other discussion where shall we move to a vote. On the floor's motion seconded by Chris. To authorize the spending of up to 300,000. On COVID-19. Related. Equipment and supplies as listed. In the memo. Please click on the yes button. If you're opposed to click on the no button. And once again, I'm seeing all the yeses. Great. Okay. So that motion carries as well. And I noticed that again, we've kind of. The clock has turned where it 808. Should we again just take a stretch break. Five minutes. You're all right with that. So, yeah, Chris, we have much, we have much more in the finance. We have much more in the finance. Because when we do, if we don't have more, let's just finish it out and then we'll start a fresh. With a different section. Would be my suggestion. That different section just happens to be yours. I have to. I have to bone up on it somehow. There, the only thing is there, there are maybe five more items. Under finance that. That are not necessarily. You know, open and shut. Yeah. I guess if you just wanted a report in, but we wouldn't have enough time for discussion. I don't know how I'm happy either way. We're in there a couple of us that we have to take too. So let's, let's just take the break then. I'm sorry. No, no, no, no problem. Good. It was a good question. Okay. So let's break. Reconvene at eight. Eight 15. Hello everyone. Welcome back. I hope. My clock reads eight 15. Great. Lisa, are you. Are you there? Excellent. Got it. In that case we can, we can continue. So we're now, I hope you all had a refreshing. Pause. We're now on four point two point four, which is central office renovations. I don't know floor. Would you like to introduce this as well? Sure Scott. Thank you. So we talked about renovations at central office that are necessary to get people back to the. To the building and there we're looking for a $26,000. Of up to 26,000. And renovations for central office and that's partitions in the front and temporary partitions in the back or potentially fixed partitions in the back. We had a long conversation about equity around our buildings and make sure that we are, we are taking the same approach in all our buildings. And this would allow the staff to, to get back and in, in person. At central office, the, the money is in the budget for on, on their capital. So we, we did not have all thumbs up on, on this one, but we also feel that we don't want to hamstring the central office to operating properly and supporting the rest of our, of our schools since the money is in the budget. That was the end of our discussion. So open it up for a motion so that we can discuss. Yes. Yes. I'll make the motion. I would move that we authorize. The spending of up to $26,000 for health and safety measures COVID related with prompt consideration given to our other buildings. Got that Lisa. Do we have a second. Okay. Jonas seconds. Very good. Further discussion. If we don't have further. Oh, sorry, Chris. Yeah, I can hear you there. I appreciate Kyrie's comment about prompt consideration of other. I would like to make it a little stronger and saying direct. I would like to, I would like to, I would like to, I would like to visit each of the other schools and do a similar analysis to determine whether or not those schools need a similar type of virtual fitting. For the safety of those staff members. So rather than consider actually have. I think with Black River design, have them go out and do the work. To see what needs to be done. Can I just go ahead? Yes, Brian. So one of the things is you do this work here with the renovations and a few weeks ago, we, I also met with one of our principals. I think Gillian is here right now. I see her. I know we worked with Bill Ford and a contractor to go out to the other schools also to see what else needs to be done in regards to this area. I have not had a chance to talk to Gillian. I believe she was doing this important work today to go out there. And I should have some more information at a future board meeting in regards to what else is needed in those, in these high traffic areas in the schools in order to make sure that staff and students are safe. So Gillian Gillian does have her hand up. Maybe Gillian. There you are. Yes, please. So just really quickly, Bill Ford and I traveled around. We did not go to Romney and Dodie and part we didn't go to Dodie because as part of our current work, there was some, there was some stuff in there about hours for the front office. So lack of has already done some reconfiguring. But today what we did is we went through and we focused on all the front office areas. And then all of the school buildings. And so we're moving forward. Bill Ford is going to go around with Portland glass. And he's got a detailed list of everything and they're going to prepare estimates. So the schools are being taken care of. And I just want to say that it's, I appreciate Gillian and Bill Ford working on this. And going out to each school. I know that the one of the challenge, of course, was just getting folks from, you know, who had that expertise to come in because apparently Gillian, we've had about two, two, two plus weeks, two weeks ago with Bill to try to talk about how we're going to do this. And today was the first day of availability. So, you know, it's, it's very difficult even getting the folks to come because I guess there's a lot of demand right now from other folks around the state of Vermont. Thank you very much. And so if we, if we stick with sort of the, the clean motion that, that Kari made and incorporate your observations and, and, and guidance Chris in the, in the minutes, Lisa, did you catch what, what Chris was saying about making sure that the, that the schools are given the similar, the same consideration as the central office. Okay. Sorry. I didn't get, I just said that under the discussion that Chris suggested more direct language in the motion around the other buildings. And then that Gillian shared that she and Bill Ford have visited the schools and are actually preparing specific information. Yeah, that sounds like it'll work. Yeah. Absolutely. Great. Thank you, Chris. And thank you Lisa and Gillian and everybody. Okay. Anybody else want to contribute to the discussion or shall we move to a vote? We'll move to a vote then all in favor of Kari's motion as seconded by Jonas. Click. Yes. Opposed. Click. No. Or thumbs up, thumbs down. As you wish. I lost the connection. So I'm just going to say hi. Okay. Very good. That works. Chris. Thank you. And again, I see all yeses. So that motion carries as well. Great. Okay. So. Let's see. Well, I very stealthily smuggled 4.2.5 into 4.1.1. So we can skip over to 4.2.6. Solar net metering. Floor would you like to introduce? Yeah. First floor then Dorothy. Sure. So we discussed this at length in our finance committee meeting. We, the novice energy was looking for a 20 year contract. We, we were proposing a two year basically because we, from the very beginning, we've been looking at having an energy consultant. If you guys remember this, we've been wanting to come up with a job description and have a broader approach to all our schools and what is our ultimate goal with all of this? So they are not interested in a two year, in a two year contract, just a 20 year contract. So that's where that's what there is right now. The recommendation from the, from the finance committee will be to, to still concentrate our resources in finding, in putting a future agenda item, getting the energy consultant and having a more comprehensive approach about our energy use around all of our buildings. Thanks for the Dorothy. I was going to table, make a motion to table that article. Would you like to table it? Or because a motion to table is not debatable. So just table it without, let's just, we've got a lot to talk about and we spent a lot of time and I think just table it and begun with it. Okay. Dorothy has moved to table it. There is no discussion on a table motion. So is there a second to Dorothy's motion? I'm not hearing a second. Okay. Sorry, Dorothy. Okay. So anyway, what, I would make a motion that we decline the offer from novice and proceed with our plan to hire an energy consultant and develop a comprehensive energy plan for the district. I'll second that. Okay. It sounds like there, there's competition over seconding. I heard Chris first. Yeah. Okay. Well, in that case Lisa, Carrie moved Giles seconded further discussion. If not, let's move to a vote. All in favor of Carrie's motion to decline this opportunity and move ahead with, sorry, that's not what Carrie moved. Lisa, do you mind rereading it again? So I don't mess it up. To decline the offer from novice and to proceed with the plan to hire an energy consultant and develop a comprehensive energy plan for the district. Excellent. All in favor of that. Please click yes. If you're opposed, please click no. And once again, I'm seeing all yeses. And Chris, I assume you're an eye. I am. I think I did see my click. Yes. Yeah, I do see it now. Thank you. Great. Thank you. Okay. So the motion carries Brian. Just a point of clarification. Mr. Thank you. Is there a timeline that the board would like to a set for me to begin trying to get this energy consultant in? Is there. Is it just trying to get an idea? I think we should put it in a, in a future board agenda item, and then first find out a consult with bill for, that we're looking to have from this person and what is our ultimate goal with hiring an energy consultant and I wouldn't want to add more into your play at this point right now so it might be something once we get school started that we can so at least from the sense that I got for the finance committee is something we want to do but it's not you don't need to jump on this tomorrow okay so maybe after after if all goes well with reopening sometime after that after that time period yeah great thank you floor nobody objects to what floor just said I trust good so let's move on then to 4.2.7 Berlin driveway reconstruction and paving project on page 21 um would you like to introduce the floor here so they open bits at Berlin they open bits yesterday the finance committee had a chance to review this before our meeting and we're basically doing a looking for two motions to award the bid to every excavation and also the bad news is that we came over budget you guys got this email a little bit late today so between the then the 10% contingency and the additional funding needed we're looking at $126,000 extra to move the money is in the capital budget so what is this renovation is basically lighting parking parking for Berlin so handicapped accessibility in that in that area and Aaron I believe is in the call so he can also speak to it I personally see it as an investment we had a lively discussion as a forum as a group but it's something that was before in the bond that the previous school board moved out of the bond to make it more palatable for the community and then it's something that was earmarked by the previous Berlin school board that what we're looking to add is just at 120 I know that is not just but at 126 right now we had earmarked 399 for that before so that's that's basically basically it so we basically we don't do it right now we're just kicking the can down the road and the money is in there for capital and I everybody else from the finance committee can chime in too thanks Laura should we have is it necessary do you find it necessary to say anything Aaron or just to add to what floor we're saying finance meeting I just mentioned that it's a project that we've been hoping for for a long time now and it was great that we were able to you know move it forward to this point only been there two years but I know that in just that short amount of time been able to see how difficult it is having the parking lot being just just dirt and gravel it has become a safety concern around handicap handicap accessibility being one but safety being another not just mud season but even during the winter season it can be glare ice and we've had to just be very diligent in trying to make sure that it's safe in that sense we've also in terms of the lighting I mentioned also that we have a lot of building use being one of the facilities in Berlin that folks can use and public can use and the community can use almost every night of the week it's it's in use so during the winter months with with basketball and volleyball and other kinds of events the parking lot being as dark as it is during the winter it's good that we are you know hoping that we can increase lighting in the parking lot as well and also just the maintenance of the potholes that are constantly happening have been challenging as well so thank you very much Aaron um now I'm uh sorry Lisa we don't even have a motion do we oh I I don't I'm gonna need some help on okay so um basically what we need is a motion to approve the bid um correct yeah we need we need two motions first to award the the Berlin project bid to Avery excavation ink in the amount of four hundred and seventy seven thousand five hundred and eighteen dollars sorry can you tell me the amount again four hundred and seventy seven five hundred and eighteen dollars thanks that's um that's the first motion and then that's the first motion so let's I'll second that just to get that off the table okay so floor moves and um Chris seconds all right very good so discussion right what we've basically had the discussion Stephen it's it's just a clarifying question um so the budget was three ninety nine two fifty but that did or did not include a ten percent contingency so I'm gonna let Laurie speak to this but it did not include the ten percent contingency and it did not include the the lighting was an addition no that's okay that Laurie doesn't need to speak to it that's all I needed to understand thank you okay other questions Sharon next my bad uh I'm gonna channel uh Rick here and and ask if there's a way that we can protect the you know hundreds of thousands of dollars investment we're about to make in the in the Berlin driveway um you know is there a plan for you know upkeep and um you know repair when necessary to extend the life of this thing that just a little bit of a sticker shock I would hope so Jonas and that's part of what we've been you know that's sort of the mentality that we've been using for the facilities a committee we do not have we have a facilities committee we don't have a service committee as a board yet but it is part of right now the task for the finance committee so so I would say that you know the Berlin it has as a committee and would be you know responsible it you know our entire district so it's not just Berlin that is the mentality that we are having and the promise that we're making to the public lindy Corinne posted a question in the chat about a retention pond which I'm assuming all of this is in the bid to be legal next to a wetlands and everything can somebody address that and on another note as somebody who worked in the district and was at Berlin a lot that parking lot can be a nightmare as far as the mud and also because of the way it is getting people to park in a way that everyone can fit because there aren't any lines and the first person who barks kind of sets the phone so as somebody who's been there through a lot of the weather it is certainly necessary and it's a nice flat lot as far as getting it paid but I would like the part about the environmental concern so there is a separate project and then I can't think of the name of the folks but that we're getting one of the stormwater runoff systems in place somebody can chime in with the name of the folks hopefully you can hear me okay I guess I wasn't loud enough the last time for the stormwater treatment project so we have that that's supposed to be happening as well but that's been a separate project I know Deborah oversaw most of that while she was here but that is part of the plan for that as well and I think from what my understanding that satisfies that that issue and that also might help with Jonas's point of maintenance I think that will help with you know how water affects black black top great thank you Stephen just one more thing I was going to save it to the second motion but I'll just say it now and I think it's just restating what Floor said but in my mind now we've committed to paving the parking lots in all our schools maybe it's not going to happen in one or two years but a plan to do it because the safety concerns of one gravel parking lot are the same safety concerns and other gravel parking lots thank you Stephen Jonas I certainly don't I hope we don't have to do that I think it's fair to say that the Berlin lot is you know a different animal than the rum near the dodie locks which are which are both dirt I think callous too you know and yeah it's more billiard it's more billiard too if there's a specific I mean if there's a specific ADA issue with with Berlin absolutely you know we should we should do that yeah but I don't I don't see that for a dodie at least I think it's one of our largest schools too is one thing to remember and most of the food drives have been taken place at Berlin too so it is really an investment in an entire community a large good um is there more discussion of this motion or should we move to a vote then you know let me just Chris yes and Jonas said one size need not fit all but we just case by case is what we should be doing in our review thank you okay and Jonas again I would just also note in response to Corinne's question in the chat where will the retention pond be I imagine that the plans you know now that they are about to be approved will be public and you can review them you know like any other public document and do you have anything further on that specifically about where it will be yeah um the design uh calls for it to if you're if you're familiar with these designs there's more of a place where the water flows to where it's filtered and there'll be a spot if you know Berlin we have this uh kind of apple orchard out front it's going to be off to that side of the property which is much better than the original design which was right in the center of the circle where the flagpole is and we said no so everything will be you know kind of flowing uh on that's you know it's not visible um but that that basin area um will be kind of towards the left as you're looking at the building and you know we do it up with uh foliage and and and um gardening kinds of stuff like that um we also the design also called for um a more underground design than some of the well ones that come way up above the surface it's more of a manhole kind of design so it won't be as sightly as other of these designs tend tend to be very careful knowing that some of these designs are an eyesore and we thought to go around that pretty pretty strongly thank you good so then ready for a vote if um if you're in favor of approving the motion um and and I Lisa do you want to reread the motion just because my memory is starting to fail me yeah it was just to award the bid to Avery excavation in the amount of four seven seven five one eight very good thank you so all in favor please click yes opposed click no or thumbs down or whatever and once again I'm seeing all all yeses okay so the motion carries wonderful thank you everyone now we have a second yeah we have a second motion on this so approve the transfer of 126 000 with 126 and 20 dollars from the district capital fund as the project goes six that's it okay um floor moves 126 000 and 126 000 20 dollars 126 000 20 dollars floor moves Jonas did I see you second Jonas seconds um further discussion everybody understands what this is all about okay very good shall we move to a vote then all in favor please click yes if you're opposed click no and once again I'm seeing all yeses great thank you so much um now uh we're done with finance and can move on to policy uh before before I hand it over to chris shall we um shall we get a a motion to approve policy c 47 on um uh second reading that's yeah yes please okay well you're moving it no no I'm saying a motion be a great idea okay great uh do it I'll make the motion Dorothy moves to approve c 47 student exchanges on second reading um do we have a second lindy seconds great okay chris take her away okay so we have um one motion for approval uh c 47 which is a student exchanges policy um sorry one policy for approval um any questions on uh the student exchanges policy that will become a an adopted policy if we vote in favor of it tonight hearing none hearing none I sure um I'm going to call the vote I I have to explain first though that I am not going to vote because this policy affects me directly and immediately since we're expecting a um you know inshallah expecting a uh a german exchange student um this for this coming school year so um I will not vote even though um I think it's a great policy so all in favor please say yes or click yes rather if you're opposed click no and once again I'm seeing all yeses great okay so guys did you make the salad could you guys hear me got a hot mic floor great okay um wonderful uh so moving on to 4.3.2 chris so we have a series of other policies that are up for consideration and what I'd like to do is just go through each one one by one and ask if there are any comments um and concerns about any of them so first up would be c 20 which is a student conduct and discipline any so hearing no questions or concerns the policy committee would take it up next and just probably send it back at our next board meeting for adoption the next is c 46 interrogation or searches of students by law enforcement or other non-school personnel um and so this is the policy that generated a lot of discussion because section two previously um allowed for um the school making a student available for uh interrogation or interview by law enforcement and our discussion centered largely over whether students should be advised that they have the right uh to record the conversation uh and what that would look like uh concerns were raised that if that happened um that there would be potentially perpa concerns over what the student would say whether involved other students whether the student with the recording could post it on social media and issues like that so we sent it out to um uh council and council wrote back and basically said school shouldn't make students available at all to law enforcement so that's where um that's why we ended up including uh or proposing language at number two now checking out what had been and including what what language that you're looking at now so if there's any questions about any of the this the aspects of c 46 um we we'd be happy to entertain them i see steven has a question chris chris i like that the the move i'm just i'm wondering if the to me the language is too specific that's the new language that's been proposed so the only the old language said interrogation by no non-school personnel why would why would we not use that same language instead of just restricting it to law enforcement so in other words blah blah blah would not make students available to non-school personnel for interview or interrogation that's fine with me i think later on it says law enforcement too like it it just seems by saying law law enforcement is making it too specific and it i'd like to see it more general and just say non-school personnel like i see brian has some input yeah go ahead brian uh as a former principal i was reading this and uh in some school districts where i wish wish where where i have worked uh i wish i had seen something i wish my some of my previous places i've worked had this policy uh because there is sometimes often a um misnomer that police can just come into a school building without the permission of uh to just go in obviously there are times when they have to come in if there's a major major imminent emergency sometimes uh you know they really need to be invited in by the by the school administration uh and taking that away or taking that off taking it away from the school administration uh sometimes works against the school district and our mission from education for educating children um yeah i'm i'm definitely i am supportive of law enforcement i just think that are i also want to make sure that our our school administrators uh you know we operate under parent is locus i hope i said that correctly were the parents uh in our schools when the parents are not there uh and so you know we i thought it was written well because we wanted to make sure it set law enforcement um i think that having uh i think uh other personnel sometimes may come in uh sometimes you have dcf or social workers agencies coming in and they may have been appointed by the court or and they come in to interview children based on uh many different reasons abuse alleged abuse alleged neglect other reasons they may come in so so i think uh making sure that it was mentioning law enforcement uh is intentional in that regards and doing that yeah brian just to point out we make an exception for that in we have except paragraph number covers what you're referencing right now and and because that was raised um jody raised that as a concern that there are times when um social workers will come in and interview a student and for that purpose so we left that in time okay johnson yeah christ do you anticipate that um in section two and the loot new language uh written notification would that include email notification um is your concern about actually it being received yeah both either received i'm only i'm thinking in terms of um quickness of communication in other words if it's a if it's a letter and there may be a reason why there needs to be a quicker response by law enforcement or or other non law enforcement personnel it seems to me that being able to do it electronically would would greatly facilitate both the request or from the school and vice versa the response from the parents or guardian to that situation as opposed to sending letters that right i mean that could take days right well but if the notification is the trigger then however long it takes that's how long it takes yeah you know because it's not did this it doesn't really have an emergency component to it saying you know i think the previous language said if we couldn't get in touch with the parent um so this this trigger is you need the written notification okay but that could include email right i mean it's common that yeah you know writing is now considered in the legal community right email email correspondence yes okay great um others uh other questions or or remarks on on c20 or rather c46 sorry right um looks like Jonas has his hand up yeah i i wonder if we could return to c20 given cat's comment in the chat that c20 only uses language appropriate for responses at u32 not at the elementary schools paragraph four refers to loft student services the spark center or community plus it shares a restorative approach that is practiced with a guiding adult those do not necessarily uh exist in all our schools which i think it's a very salient point uh what what if we approach it this way what if we um had two different versions one for u32 and one for the elementary school um you know given that we're a single district um and don't have policies directed for specific entities maybe we should have deviation when it's wanted like in this one yeah can i uh just Brian go ahead yeah i i know and i know i'm looking at you know in school suspension out of school suspension for less or 10 days or more than 10 days and i know that we typically think of you know older kids i'm really hoping we're not having so many uh of our little kids or anyone really but especially at the elementary schools that we're gonna have to expel i'm just trying to i know that uh kids do things and make mistakes they also know that we're also trying to restorative approach where we know we work with children and their families to who make mistakes and they learn from their mistakes and uh you know i know this is really about the uh the discipline policy and so i i i'm hoping we're not expelling too many of our youngsters anywhere in particular in the elementary schools and i'm not okay sorry jody i want to say that erin and i are part of that um committee and we did work on this this policy extensively i did specifically which is probably why there's so much u32 language in it however i see planning room and i gave an example but we can add some more examples in there and because planning rooms happen across our schools they're not just at u32 and i would also say that a restorative approach doesn't necessarily mean that the person has been trained in restorative practices but it's meant to encompass the trauma informed work that we've all been doing so there might need to be a little touch up of language but i think it is appropriate in what we're saying the the baseline of this policy across our district thanks um i see johnathan's uh hand up icon um johnathan i should unclick it because i raised it but forgot to not raise it that's fine great um okay uh any other um any other discussion of c46 or c20 quit cat i didn't mean to get things all stirred up um but i do think it's really important for us to be thinking about when we're talking about um policies that go that um govern pk to graduation that we're really thoughtful about our language that it's clear that there are some um things that are different in terms of the adults um professional development in each of our buildings and the in the way that we respond the way our buildings are set up to have resource rooms or planning rooms or park centers um these are all great approaches i don't argue with any of them i'm just saying we need to be clear when we're saying policy language that if it's specific that it's clearly titled it may include something like a restorative approach or so that we can touch on the idea that it's developmentally appropriate at each grade level um and by built every building's particular flavor does that make sense um yes and cat with um along those lines uh primary responsibility here is late is um given to the principal of the school at the superintendent um so that gives the principal a lot of authority in how this is approached i believe uh so but we'll we will take that into account in our in our next revision perfect thank you okay you're welcome uh any other questions um no other uh none that i see but um are you able uh to read the chat box chris this relates to the next one does but um i don't think there's anything more on c46 is there so continue please chris okay so we are up now on c49 which is kindergarten entrance aid and this was another hotly debated policy change so i'm gonna throw it out to the board for any comments um that they anybody may have or the public that they may have on this particular policy yes there is a public comment in the chat box are you are you able to read it from karen you know what i uh i had it and then i i lost it actually um how can someone paraphrase sure yeah um she would like to see the september 1 to 30 consideration remain and just um talk about it so the so the i'm gonna let other board members time in on this of house time sure and explain the you know that the so good to you aron chris were you asking me a question yeah do you want to they have the position of for the change here please sure so this the previous uh the former policy had this second paragraph here can you hear me okay everybody hear me okay okay uh and i raised the question um in regards to that that second piece because and in speaking with my colleagues as well um consensus feeling that that that language opens up a lot of um a lot of ambiguity a lot of of opportunity for inequity because we don't have a really solid system of determining if a student that falls within that month of september that they're just past the age really truly is you know quote unquote ready for for an early start to kindergarten and we felt that just to be clear cut on a date um is in a sense more fair than than an ambiguous uh timelines i mean karin brought up a great question and we talked about that same exact thing you know what about kids that are even further on and even the other end of the spectrum what about kids that might be you know ready uh early and um or or not ready and so it did open up a lot of discussion and the consensus was that it felt that we if if we had a cut off it would be it would just be easier um and in a sense more fair thanks aron uh lindy has a point this has just been one of those things that there is no no way you can have a date that works for everybody because kids are kids and everybody's at a different place but when you don't have a designated cut off then it becomes an emotional um kind of and in our own district i don't know if this is a brand new policy or what but when i worked there i know of people who shopped around to see which school would accept kids that were born on september 5th or 6th and then looked at houses or rent in those areas because some of the elementaries were dead set and even in the time i was working there callus had a different i think they had a december date when all the other schools had a september date and it just you have to pick a date and i think it's better to have a hard and fast date and then differentiate as a school has to do anyway so i if we're going to have a policy which it appears we do it should be fair like aron was saying and it's it's not up to an individual to shop around or for a principal to be put in the position of yes i know your your child is very ready but that might not be true emotionally but it might be true academic you know it just i'm i'm not in favor of keeping that paragraph thanks um any any further discussion of of this policy of kindergarten entrance age before we let chris continue i'm not seeing anything chris so so we'll move on thank you good um so c 49 i don't know the same one d3 um is responsible computer internet and network use um this did not generate as i recall much discussion or language change from what was already in existence any comments or thoughts from board members um very good chris there there is um a public comment in the chat box regarding the previous policy that i overlooked um it says um i might suggest adding some language that at least mentions the ability to speak with the elementary school administration about it about the entrance age yeah so that that kind of gets back to um it gets back to the difficulty of potential inequity because some folks may be more sort of in speaking with the administration and others uh and you know create a a breach in the the the dead you know basically the age line and i will say that i was on the other end of the debate um because of um a sense that different students are already at different points in time and that we should accommodate that to the student um but the committee went the other way and um so i i think if we created an exception you're undermining the goal of of simplicity really in terms of this is the deadline and this is the rule great thanks um please feel free oh oh uh lindy has has her hand up i i just think in a policy there's not a need to say something like you can speak to the administrator unless the policy says there's a window um any parent who's enrolling their child in a school has the right to talk to an administrator about whatever they want um but i i think that you wouldn't put that in a policy not unless it means something right yeah so please continue chris okay thank you um so having heard no comments on d3 we'll move on to d4 which is title one comparability again not not it we didn't have i don't think we have really any discussion on this so it's just passing in the long um any comments on d4 the things that's up to which is animal behavior animal dissection is d5 um you know something's coming to this group that didn't even know if we did animal dissection any longer in the district um so but any comments on this policy i'm not seeing any okay up to d6 class size and pretty straightforward straightforward yes um i'm not seeing any oh kawaii has his hand up um this is a related but separate comment occasionally we see in these policies um the uh requirement for a report from the superintendent like this one in number four says uh at least annually on the implementation and i have this uh concern that we don't know about we don't have a calendar for these reports we don't and we're not necessarily monitoring this and i was wondering if it would be possible to generate a list or a calendar so we were more aware uh you know kawaii would we'll do is a well um work to generate each policy that requires a reporting that has reporting mechanism um and bring it back to the board so we can figure out how we would like to arrange that for our for our schedule and and and work with the administration as to when it would make most sense to have a reporting requirement in the year okay thank you great um anything else on d6 if not um go ahead chris okay but the e1 which is uh parent title one parental involvement in nine of nine a lot of discussion on our end uh hey chris what about d6 did i skip one yeah we um i thought uh did you have something to say about the sixth child um no i just didn't hear him mention it oh okay that that's the one kari was talking about the report oh sorry i thought that was the talking about the animal dissection uh no i i think ours we're talking about d4 the title one comparability but also as a general statement anyway it doesn't matter so we're up to any question on d6 class size can i work to e1 and remember yeah sorry chris i'm just wondering is this going to change with covid and do we need to address anything with this i don't remember our discussion on the policy committee no i don't i don't think we did discuss that we just we certainly discussed that about absences and in terms of the covid and the impact on that and that we were going to monitor that and see if it created a problem i don't think we did this did that same discussion on d6 anything else no but we could you know we could add in a proviso um saying that that is i'm limited to um the uh coronavirus and take it into account if necessary although if it's if it's um but we would have we would have to make sure that we i mean we couldn't supersede or undermine the statute through the policy then you know we'll look at that and steven has a stand up i would just from my read of the policy it's sufficiently vague enough that it it covers covid you know to develop guidelines for minimal and optimal class sizes so the minimal or optimal class size would realistically change under covid so this policy in my mind the language of it allows enough flexibility to make adjustments and uh i i'll just give my two cents i agree with steven on that okay thanks both of you thank you chris great um so on to um e1 title one parental involvement compact again i don't have much discussion about e1 and just pass it along to the board you had yeah i'm not seeing anybody with a hand up next up is um e45 role of religion in schools um i don't believe this is Jonas i believe had was that a stretch or a hand a hand so just yeah curious chris uh where did the language come from in terms of what to do what not to do um tips for planning activities i'm not supposed to you guys draft to that we did not draft this it's not a required policy and i think it was a recommended policy um from and the language i think came from the vermont school board association is my recall i don't know that specifically does anybody else on the committee remember where the language came from no but i remember us adding something about um students not being penalized for absences for religious holidays i think we did do that in relation um and that's on the top of age two you're absolutely right about that because i think we did it to mirror uh the change in the teachers country yeah i just don't see it's not a different colored font it's you right it's not highlighted but i think it's on um it's under what not to do at the very top but bullet on the second page under considerations you got um i think that was uh would you say one lindy i'm sorry under what not to do it's the bullet that starts the next page impose rigid attendance policies right okay and so that's what not to do to not impose rigid you know i i actually thought we changed it so it was more directive in saying um shall not yeah i remember that too shall not be penalized for an absence for religious holiday i'll go back and look we'll go back and look and see because i thought we were more affirmative than um just a recommendation of what not to do is to not be done thank you for catching that channel any other questions about and this is open to the board as to whether we have this at all um it's not a required policy recommended policy i'm not i'm not seeing any okay um strong expressions of we'll bring it back next time with a more directive included next up is e46 on memorial steven has his hand up yep so i have concerns with the entire policy i understand while it's and and i reread and reread this many times in light of our current um political and racial atmosphere in united states i know this is different but and i understand why this policy was likely um created because there are memorial walls and there has to be something governed by it um and i don't mean this to sound harsh but some may take it that way but i have to say this that just because a student or staff member dies in a traumatic event that might not warrant them being um memorialized on a wall so um uh i i think in developing this policy there was a um a bias that there are you know people are good well-meaning people so let me use a specific instance that came to my mind a student brings a gun into school shoots people and kills himself they've died in a trim uh in a they have died a traumatic death do we want to memorialize that person on a memorial wall and the answer might be yes but i i think this this concept needs to have more informed thought okay yes um um this was you said a more informed what well more i i i can't the only thing i can suggest is that it goes back to ground zero and and starts from the ground up to to discuss how this is gonna how this is gonna happen you know i don't know why i i i i just have these concerns i guess that's the only way i can say it thanks um i'm glad you are yeah okay Jonas also has something and then flora sorry mute problem i'm chris i mean if you have something to say in response to steven by all means go ahead um i just it can be more for the board as a whole um whether they have a sense of wanting to scrap this policy and start over or something else but your thoughts well i'm what what precipitated this policy to be to begin with why do we need this policy um and and i i ask i mean not not to be flip um but um as a preface to saying you know you know grief is important and you know young people's you know experience of death and dying and trauma um you know in a school community is born by the community um and i wish that there was a way if we need a policy i wish there was a way to allow the community to memorialize people that have been lost in more of an sort of in more of an organic spontaneous way rather than what seems like a rather rigid a bureaucratic that's that's what i got on flora would you mind if jody and steven delinger paid um step down that was that was that's what i wanted if jody and steven memorial wall all that we actually have been guiding their process i was mike great thanks jody i was waiting to see if steven was going to go first um my understanding of the past was that prior to there being a policy about this that there were large items that were set up to memorialize folks and so there would be there quite honestly could be a ton of benches or other big memorial things all over the campus at this point had this policy not been put in place so it's sort of said yes we acknowledge that people want to remember folks and and um go through that great process and here's how you go about it um so that we don't have large items scattered all over the campus and no end time to when that would take place and what's the right way to do that i mean there's still one thing that's in our i think somewhere in our building that has been there forever and i don't know if there's even family left to take it back i hear that thanks jody right and i i would just add to that is that there was a responsibility at u32 uh keep these um um in good repair um was another thing that being put upon the past administrations and so that uh led to this policy being adopted is just because of that disparity of remembrance and the need to provide upkeep for those things as well thank you both of you lindy and then steven look did you have something lindy i i was thinking it but i didn't raise my hand you just read my mind um there i don't think that i mean i don't i kind of like steven don't want to sound crass or cold or anything else but i might be able to afford something and my child might have been more popular than somebody else's child and that also came into play when children have or a teacher you know there's very popular teachers and there's not so popular teachers and there's and i think having a policy helps in that regard as well um because yes we we might have those pop up just like when there's a car accident and a person is killed a pop up memorial shows up and it goes away but it's a way for people to show their grief but there there was also inequity in how people were remembered and i know this from when my older son a child died while we were on the eighth grade trip um and it was a child under dcf custody who didn't get to go on the trip and it was but that child had a very different life than other people in the cohort and i'm not sure there's any memorial for that child um and i think about that a lot when i you know another child who's been something else it's just lives are it's a very difficult situation i think a policy helps guide that um so that we don't end up with things that have to be kept up thanks um steven and then jonathan so uh so chris maybe to go back i'm i'm trying to give some more specific guidance so maybe that second paragraph under philosophy is what's making me feel uneasy that there should be i i'm not saying there shouldn't be a memorial space it should be common it should be the same for everybody i i understand that and the reason for the policy for that and i support that but that second short paragraph which is actually i think a sentence where it says uh common space designated in the school or on the school grounds where students or staff who die while enrolled or working at the school can be honored um that statement to me suggests that any student or staff who dies when enrolled or working at the school um it it doesn't provide enough to say it just says can be honored so so steven i i wrote in may there and then i also wrote in on the next word the policy section um which says will be remembered i put may be remembered um and it kind of gets to your point i mean your example was extreme um but under the policy as written would have been one where that individual um despite the harm caused would be remembered because the word will is a mandatory word um so what what additional mechanism i think needs to be included here though is the decider of who will or will not be remembered um because you're adding a discretionary term and someone needs to exercise the discretion i mean i'm adding the discretionary term with that found it's that it addresses your your concerns or the board as a whole says leave it the way it is i'm fine with that too but if we were going to add discretionary terms we need to also identify the decision maker and it can be the principal i well i'm sorry i'm just button in here but maybe a straw it you know if people aren't bothered by it now i'm the only one then we can leave it the way it is like i say this many times you're really good steve that's not the way we think so if i'm the only one it feels that that has a concern then it's fine let's just leave it the way it is move on no i think i think it's good to talk it through i have jonathan and then gillian yeah my only my only suggestion that i see here chris would be some language that speaks to in consultation with the families or next of kin um because it may not be their wishes for example that you know they they would for whatever reason may not want a memorial want to keep it private or more private or whatever so i would that would be my suggestion that there would be some language in there and that includes in consultation or approval or consent of next of kin or immediate family something like that that would be my suggestion okay thank you and gillian so my question about this policy though is whether or not and i'm i'm blanking on the woman's name i'm not even sure if she's still in practice anymore who does a lot of the grief counseling with children um who we unfortunately had come to when i was at berry city she came there um distressingly frequently um and my concern is about developmental appropriateness and about how do these memorials sort of apart from all of the equity concerns but how do these memorials align with what's best thing what's best what's the current sort of best uh practice in terms of these things whether and are are we inadvertently traumatizing children by having these are we inadvertently frightening them so my my question is about whether or not um grief counselors and experts in the field have been consulted and if they haven't could we perhaps think about doing that thank you great um anything else on memorials there um yeah let's put up to i would recommend we put up to a store phone um just so if the board as a whole thinks we should not pursue this policy then we'll know that um just to say and cat also has something oh i'm sorry okay one question about the policy it doesn't state what happens to individual memorials that are already in place would they have to be taken down the there are several memorial benches all around the callous property and we are a small school so it's not we haven't had the same issue that might have been faced at u32 or maybe even berlin with a number of memorials and to try to think about um how to make sure everyone is is supported respectfully and equitably um like my elementary principal has a bench dedicated to her um it's still there and taking it down would just ruin every picture taken there ever so the policy doesn't talk about it so um student look i think it does talk about it in the procedures if i'm reading it correctly says existing more memorials will be grandfathered for a period of 12 months from the adoption of this policy so i would have to take it down after 12 months it goes on to explain taking it down and explaining it to the the family and um there's anyways there's there is in some language in there about existing memorials and what would have to happen this uh lindy kind i don't know surprises me or whatever but concerns me because people donate i mean i walk on the stove bike path sometimes and there's all these benches that people have paid for and put on the stove bike path so that people can stop and they have a little plaque that those who they're in memory of and um that's a nice way to have a picnic table at a school or a bench or something that has a different meaning than just our budget could allow us to buy a bench so i kind of understand cat's concern if this if the way that's being read means in 12 months all those benches have to go away or the memorial part has to be erased i i have a problem with that as well and um okay you know what we do well we'll address the um various concerns that we've heard in the policy committee and bring back a um a different type of policy um but do we want to have a shortfall as to whether we need the policy at all um yeah the one problem i'm sensing that uh there's there's sort of at u32 there um there seems to be a greater need for such a thing than perhaps in other schools so i if we if we abandon the policy altogether then we might leave u32 in in sort of a difficult position i'm brian yeah i mean i'm listening to the rich discussion discussion around memorials and uh what i think it is is maybe we need to have more we have to define a memorial more maybe have to put an actual i mean it says memorials and someone someone's passed away but maybe we actually need to define what that memorial made more parameters around defining what that could be and that might be a way of of um being uh being able to possibly address uh different schools uh aspects by defining what the memorial could be i mean i think if you have a perfectly nice park bench and kids who are using it people can use it you know it might be an a memorial but it might also serve another function why get rid of a bench it doesn't seem to make any sense however i do know that uh i know even like uh i remember uh as a as a child driving down to the new jersey shore and uh there were memorials all over the highway and it was just you got to a point where you just saw these you know highway you know that and they were just it was very sad and and then you realize 20 years later you go down you see these you see even more so i think uh i think there's i think i think it's something to consider but i don't know i think there's uh more work to be done on it that's what it sounds like thank you brad i have steven look and jonis as a as a path forward on this we frequently discuss um well maybe not recently but in many years that i've been on the board we've discussed opportunities to involve the community and i'm wondering if this might be an example of something that let's slow it down and let's make it a community issue and solicit input from community members um make it an opportunity for everyone in all the towns to to make comments to to discuss it to think about it we need some guidance i think from the school's perspective but instead of making it you know the responsibility of the policy committee let's make this let's open this up it involves work so of course that means i'm automatically volunteering myself but you know as an opportunity to engage the community engage community members that are interested in this topic and and let's not approach it like a typical school board policy committee thing and let's use it as an opportunity to engage our communities in something i think it's important to many many people and maybe it takes a year a year and a half to resolve it but it's a way to acknowledge that this is an important thing beyond just the school it involves community members and and their children and residents and you know faculty and staff or teachers and i'm sorry i talked college language sometime but you know what i mean um and use it as an opportunity as an example of something where we can make decisions as an entire community good idea Jonas yeah i second what steven said i think that's a really good approach and this has nothing to do with the policy itself i just want to point out something that i learned very recently that the phrase grandfather clause or grandfathered has its origin in post civil war south as part of laws literacy laws to prevent african-americans for voting so i would hopefully hopefully we can replace that with legacy or legacy or something nice interesting history um so chris um what do you think about steven's idea i am open to doing whatever the board would like to do i don't foresee that happening until the turn of the year because of all the other things that people will be focused on as we reopen the school um so i would suggest we put it as a future agenda item okay um great uh does anybody object if nobody objects then we can move on to the next one and last one i believe it's the memorial travel reimbursement policy of course it would have to travel reimbursement pretty straightforward it sets up the methodology for reimbursement travel within the district um i i'm seeing i'm seeing a thumbs up from flora and lindy uh anybody have concerns about this one or questions i'm not seeing any reactions chris i think you've got to oh or jonas sorry just real quick do we need to specify that this does not you know include commuting to work no because it's for travel on school business and commute is not school business good elegant answer okay um i'm not otherwise seeing any uh any appetite for discussion of travel reimbursement i think you have a keeper there so um thank you very much so um that that was very interesting actually that one yeah um so we're now at the consent agenda and we have the minutes of june 17th and july 1st to approve um i'd suggest just approving them uh single motion to approve both minutes anybody up for that um diane diane moves uh any second second floor seconds um very good thank you discussion they look good great as always thank you very much lisa great job um all in favor please click your yes button and if you're opposed you're no and um i'm seeing only yes's so the motion carries um as for board orders um if anybody has them handy whoever does have them handy could you please read them out for um lisa and for anybody who's listening to this so i have them i have them here and i have two different forward orders the first is an amount of 11 million 293 thousand 37 dollars and one cent and the second is an amount of 156 thousand 482 dollars and 19 cents and is that for uh for what date is that chris the date range for the 11 million dollar number is for 618 20 to 624 20 uh well actually there are a number of different dates um 618 20 to 624 20 uh for two of the of the warrants one for 610 2020 uh to bmo all caps and then another warrant for 625 20 to 630 20 and another warrant in the for 625 20 to 630 20 and the combination of those different warrants total the 11 million 293 thousand 37 dollars and one cent and then the other warrants for the 156 thousand 482 dollars and 19 cents is for from july 1 2020 through july 15 2020 with two different entries okay um um lisa got that great okay um thank you chris is there a second lindy seconds great okay um any discussion i would like to just ask about i assume it's hardware but i don't know test computer for 39 thousand dollars was that for computer hardware yes that was laptops replacement laptops for this coming school year okay thanks she was testing your keith to see if you were listening great um any other questions otherwise on in favor of approving the board orders as moved by chris and seconded by lindy please click yes opposed click no and um i'm seeing again only yeses i'm voting yes god even though i can't get my button down okay i'm actually seeing it flickering there chris so okay there you go thank you thank you very much great okay so um future agenda items we have a number of these we have um the uh memorials um question yes that we were just discussing yeah is there personnel action to be taken oh my gosh thank you so much there is um page 59 thank you um let me just go there right um from what i'm seeing and please correct me if i'm wrong they're only a group of retirements only um we can move them i believe as as a group if someone would like to do the others i'll do that um i move that we accept the recommended retirements that will be effective june 30th 2021 do i need to list the names um maybe mention them just again for yeah thank you susan price at u32 suanne mayet at u32 jane badger at east montpelier and catherine stone at east montpelier thank you lindy um uh diana are you seconding great thanks and you also have a comment i'm assuming and maybe i shouldn't be assuming but these are early retirement people okay yeah uh yeah so uh i can just provide some more background so uh the early retirement uh was sent out to 55 people uh so far 13 have responded out of the uh five accepted and eight have declined they had until september 15th to make their decision so we're waiting to hear back from 42 people and uh the the original projection as it was told to me was uh 22 may take up to 22 around 22 may take it thank you um others other questions if not we can go to a vote all in favor of um of accepting the retirements as moved by lindy and seconded by diane please click yes opposed click no and i see all the yeses again and once more thank you lisa for catching me on that um right now uh future agenda items um i'm i have three um in my head and and please fill in any blanks i have memorials energy consultants and uh act 46 sort of cleanup um does anybody have anything else yes uh christ sir lory b vote replacement ah my god of course that's a big one thank you um anyone else have anything um not not for future agenda but i would like to address something that's in the chat um there have been a number of questions uh typed out in the chat tonight from uh from a few different people i think they're all well considered and very thoughtful um and you know with really with all due respect i don't think the chat is a great venue for communicating um between ourselves or with the public during these meetings um i think it's it's distracting and um you know there there are venues for uh for getting this you know stuff into the into the written record i know that we're trying to include the chats on the record but the thing that karin just posted uh i think is is is worth making um karin's question about um um about you know what the plan is and if there are outbreaks and does the board have discretion to close schools uh you know even if the state uh you know uh if the agency doesn't want to or the department of health you know do we have that power those are things that that that that i don't know um brian i don't know if if you know them um but then what what i really wanted to address is um you know asking for confirmation of what was told july 1st the families who choose not to send their children will be able to do remote learning in conjunction with the school as opposed to needing to homeschool i don't think that that's been decided yet and i just read through the minutes of july 1st and i can't find any reference to where anyone um from the district said that that is what is going to happen karin i also hope that that's what's going to happen but to my knowledge that has not been decided and and was not presented as a decision that had been made on july 1st there jonas this is diane there was a statement made though brian did make a statement that um you know because there was a concern as to whether or not families would have to choose homeschooling and so it was in response to that that um we would be uh responsive to families needs and would be uh providing those options i can't remember the exact wording of it but it there was definitely a statement made i'm not i'm not sorry i'm not seeing that in the minutes and that's that's also not my recollection my recollection is that it was um still up in the air and and that nothing had been nailed down brian i wonder if you could speak to that yeah i can just also say that uh there was a a gentleman in the audience who had asked and i and i did not commit any anything to that because i didn't have the guidance but i did say that if remote learning was a possibility we would definitely explore it i didn't i didn't guarantee that that's what we could do because i didn't have the guidance so i didn't want to commit to that because it's hard to do that when you don't know what the state is going to direct uh give you that guidance around so so that raises i think the question is to whether there would be remote learning for parents who took if this if the state um said schools are going to open for in-person learning and some parents decided to not send their children to school um would they be would there be access for remote learning for those parents and i think it was dave lorenz who raised that if i'm not mistaken and david if you're on the line um either correct me or do it weigh in if you can because i thought it was you that raised the question yeah once again this is um not david lorenz obviously but once again i i find it interesting how the future agenda items circle back to the present agenda item excuse me may i comment is that karen it's karen please so at the end of the meeting i had specifically asked what about parents who didn't want to send and that was when brian questioned whether i was talking homeschooling or remote learning and after i said i'm talking about remote learning i absolutely know what homeschooling is dav lorenz spoke back up because he had made a comment at the beginning of the meeting and so he said oh i want to clarify it is absolutely the remote learning that i would be interested in doing in conjunction with the school and so if you all take a few minutes to watch the end of the july first meeting you will say that you will see that was given as a that can happen that's all i think i think the intent there was uh ultimately to say that i i would prefer to have remote learning than homeschooling i think that was the intent so uh but i didn't commit to anything because we ultimately it's very hard to commit to anything without having the guidance thank you can i just just i just want i would yeah i just wanted to suggest i think that brian has has reminded us multiple times during this meeting that he's just recent just today in receipt of the hybrid model guidance and really needs to absorb it and make sense of it so that we can have a more i think practical and thoughtful conversation about this so clearly that needs to happen and it sounds like you know he's only just gotten what he needs for that so um i i had every expectation that we would be having that conversation and learning more about that based on his comment that we we now have this memo in hand this new guidance thank you ja yeah and um if i remember i just looked at yeah go ahead work a video at two hours 29 minutes in about 30 seconds uh is when brian starts talking about this and i think he's clearly saying that's one of the options that we will explore i hear no commitment okay good i'm steven look i'd like to bring us back to what was originally discussed how we're going to handle chat questions um and this is a perhaps part of what jonas was getting at when he first brought it up it it can get a shooting in all kinds of directions all over the place what if it's an appropriate ask i would ask the agenda committee or whatever that group is called to just to i'm sorry i'm not trying to be flipped to at their next agenda meeting to discuss us how is a board we're going to handle chat amongst ourselves and amongst the community and come forward with a recommendation as a future agenda item i i do it's 10 o'clock i don't want to start looking at 52 chats and deciding what we're going to do let's come up with an approach on how we're going to handle chat bring it up as a future agenda item we'll talk about it we'll make a decision this is what we're going to do and then we can move forward steven can i can i also just chime in and i also think in thinking about the district and obviously a board meeting you definitely want to get illicit information from members of the public at certain times during the meeting and so i would definitely it would look like to look into you know making sure that whatever we do or get some maybe some legal parameters around what we can or cannot do with the with the chat because i do think that should be something that needs to be looked at great i so a future agenda item the what to do about the chat great um anything else anybody has floor it could we could potentially add the vsba dues sure the future items yes thank you and then of course i just uh if we're done with that i just have a comment um are we done then with future agenda items i think we are uh wait scott can i just i'm sorry it's still i just wanted to clarify what i heard steven suggesting was that the agenda committee take the first crack at thinking about what to do with the chat so yes it would be a future agenda item but that it would actually be one that that committee would consider sure yeah um which i thought made sense as a process yeah yeah i agree it's great thanks um so uh we're done with future agenda items so floor uh comment i just i just had a comment that you know in the way that we've been going back and forth a conversation that i i think we every time we have these meetings and for the public and us that that just remind ourselves that we're gonna have to constantly pivot and change through this so to hold people accountable we we can't have a linear approach at what how we're dealing with COVID-19 right now so you know just remind ourselves that we're gonna have to be flexible a little bit more flexible than before that's that's all you know we're gonna be constantly making decisions that we might have to change the next day so that's all yeah sounds good thank you for that um if uh nobody else has a comment we can adjourn by consensus before the clock strikes 10 um no objection thank you for your support everyone and you too brian all of you thanks very much