 This program is brought to you by cable franchise V's and generous donations from viewers like you I'm seeing a presence of a quorum. I'm calling to order this meeting of the regional school committee at 633 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20th, and we'll start with a Roll-call attendance Mr. Demling coming present mr. Harrington Harrington present Miss Kenny Kenny present miss Lord Lord present miss Steger Seeger present miss Spitzer Spitzer present miss Dancer Dancer present McDonald present and mr. Sullivan is is not yet here and we also have Miss our student representative miss group coat. Can you hear us? Yeah, and and dr. Morris and miss and miss Charquess So our first order of business I'm going to call Move that we enter into executive session to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation of AFS CME if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect in the bargaining or litigation position of the public body in the chair so declares I declare and With intention of returning to open session. Is there a second Lord second Move by McDonald seconded by Lord And we will take a roll call vote and mr. Demling Demling I Mr. Harrington Erick and I miss Kenny Kenny I miss Lord Lord I miss Seeger Seeger I miss Spitzer Spitzer miss Dancer answer I Mr. Sullivan I'll abstain since I just joined Thanks, and and McDonald I the motion passes 801 one obscene So welcome back to been session And our first Order is public comment and I will note We have two public comment periods This evening we have one during the region only meeting and then another public comment period during the joint meeting topics several Individuals submitted public comment and labeled it specifically as for region And others did not and so for the most part if it was not labeled specifically as being for the region I'm including it in the joint meeting Public comment and for the most part unless somebody specific even Actually, that's that's all I'll say at this point. And so I will share my screen. We have just a couple for For the region Okay, can folks see this screen? Sorry, can folks see the public comment? Yeah, okay So as mentioned, we will Any any comments that were not specifically marked as being for the region Will be covered in our joint meeting public comment and with that move on to the next item, which is our memorandum of agreement vote for AFS CME and Based on discussion that we that the committee just had We will follow a similar approach As we had with our other bargaining units and hold off on voting until after their membership has voted and ratified this memorandum of agreement So we will take this back up at a future regional school committee meeting now moving on I will Let they are Pelham colleagues and the rest of our Pelham colleagues know that we are moving on to our joint meeting and While they're joining us, I'll call to order this meeting of the Amherst school committee at 704 p.m. On Tuesday, October 20th, and I will ask take a roll call attendance. Mr. Demling down in present this here, Mr. Harrington Harrington present Miss Lord Lord present miss Spitzer Spitzer present and McDonald present and will pause to Miss Hall and Miss Barlow are able to join us and chair hall We've already called the Amherst school committee to order so whenever you're ready to call the Pelham school committee to order you make Okay, sorry to sit here with that dumb look on my face didn't realize Finally seeing the presence of a quorum I'll call to order this meeting of the Pelham community at 705 and we'll start with roll call attendance. Mr. Manino Manino present miss Kenny Kenny present miss Dancer answer present and I do not see miss Barlow on my screen Okay, and Paul present Thank You chair McDonald And so our first order for the Is to approve the minutes of September 29th Our agenda also said October 6th, but I don't believe that we those were included in our packets So we will review September 29th only to me Mr. Denning Just one minor change on number nine minimum contribution act change to minimum contribution study miss Spitzer another small edit on the third paragraph on Page three where it's talking about the CARES Act. I just think it should be all caps miss Hall I'm just a small cleanup thing in number five Approving them minutes. I moved to approve the minutes for Pelham not for the region under Item six the voice messages The gentleman's name is Ted T-E-D Solis S-O-U-L-O-S I also had under item 10 the second paragraph The first sentence it says and the results are that we will need major renovations after the first round of testing I don't believe that that's what dr. Morris said It I don't know if it was mine minor renovations If that fixes that okay Yeah, I would say updates of renovations to me sounds like ripping things out of water Walls and replacing them and what we need was was people to go into the machines and make fixes more than renovations I'll look at mr. Harrington who has better language for this stuff than me and he's giving me a thumbs up So I'll go with it minor updates and And on the top of the next page it says at Fort River Wildwood and Pelham tested at four air changes per hour Cracker farm had areas that tested low as well. I'm not sure It was it low or some rooms were low Yeah, so there were there was a couple rooms that were low Okay, so that's correct then, okay I think that was all I oh On page four Just above section D. It says miss Segar is interested in watching how this comes together dr. Morris said most people Do not have goals to reflect on and I think it so it should it should be most people do not have as a goal To reflect and and then under D Agenda planning we are meeting next Tuesday to discuss It should say Meeting next Tuesday in executive session to discuss a PE a negotiations Mr. Harrington yes, so the fourth page Three third paragraph down Said mr. Harrington shared a video that will clarify this vision The video the two videos that I put were more about the process of the evaluation than anything else That's all I have. I appreciated having those links in the minute So because we lose them and when they're sharing the chat, so thank you miss Charcus for including them Any other edits mr. Harrington? Do you have? Okay So I'll move for the region to approve the minutes of September 29th. Is there a second? Second Move by McDonald's second by Spitzer and we'll take a roll call vote. Mr. Demling Demling. I Mr. Harrington Harrington I miss Kenny Kenny I miss Lord Lord I Miss Beaker see your eye miss Spitzer Spitzer I miss dancer dancer I Mr. Sullivan 11 I in McDonnell I motion passes for the region nine to zero Miss Hawk All right, I'll move that column except the minutes of September 29th. Is there a second? Second all right move by Hall seconded by stancer and we'll do a roll call vote miss dancer Stancer I mr. Manino Manino I miss Kenny Kenny I and Hall I thank you I'll move for the Amherst school committee to accept the meeting minutes as edited. Is there a second? Second Move by McDonald's second by Spitzer and take a roll call vote. Mr. Demling Demling. I mr. Harrington Harrington I miss Lord Lord I miss Spitzer Spitzer I And McDonald I the motion passes five to zero. Okay, and now we will move on our next item is public comments and as mentioned the This includes as I mentioned in the regional school committee meeting this includes comments that We're not clear whether they were intended for region or joint so I Won't go into let's say more for those who've submitted email comments after five o'clock. So I made and Continue to accept public comment through 5 p.m. Given the late notice of the the late email from the district and But comment that was received after 5 p.m. We will share at our next Meeting which the region has posted a meeting for Thursday of this week So I will start with the voicemail comments and then we'll move on to the printed comments Stephanie Huckman and a resident of Pellum and a parent of an eighth grader and ninth grader Today's announcement by dr. Morris stating that phase one learning is returning to remote education is extremely disappointing I do not know what is worse The fact that we are allowing cases in towns and counties around us to dictate the decision for our children With the fact that the negotiations that resulted in these outrageous metrics We've done behind closed doors with people who only had the interest of faculty and staff in line Our teachers and staff are absolutely important and vital to the education of our children But they are no more important than our students Those it should be the main focus of all negotiations and the focal point of all decisions The students in our community The students have obviously been the furthest thing from the minds of those who negotiate the APA contract and the metrics do not reflect our Community and what our families and students want and deserve Our students in our four towns have done their part to stay safe, but they are being punished Our education system is teaching them that their actions their conscientious efforts will not be rewarded, but instead punished It's a negotiated metrics included towns outside those of our district because teachers live outside our district Or students choose our district for learning and I suggest we not allow school choice We no longer pay my tax dollars to those who choose to live in other towns I choose to pay high tax dollars for my students to go to a diverse school with excellent education Not to sit at home learning remotely Frustrated from isolation and anxious on the slightest internet as you arrive Just because someone who lives in Greenfield or Springville are not doing their part or being as smart as my kids If this elected school committee and hired administration can't take emergency action to remedy this situation and make the metrics representative of our community That it should not be surprised when the inequity that results and Those people no longer live in our diverse community for them to administer the sorts of decisions that do not Effect our four towns means that those with means will leave for institutions that can provide in person instruction Without such egregious hurdles, which is paying resources to supplement their children's education Those with means will help their children But that means the education gap widens for those in our community that do not happen They will suffer the most your actions means those living in Amherst and our four towns will suffer for those in Springfield Other towns which are causing harm to our community will not be impacted in the same way The negotiated metrics do not reflect our community and they are creating insurmountable barriers to education Your decision is not immediately acted upon and changed will create such a high barrier But those not community will never fail a wall to actually participate in equitable education please living in Amherst and I'm a mom of a kindergarten and 10th grader in the Amherst school system. I just read the email from Michael Morris. I am very very frustrated I don't understand how the school is canceling in person when these numbers does not They're not looking at the matrix in our town. It's from Springfield and other areas outside of Amherst and They're the students impacting the quality of the patient that my son and my daughter are currently receiving Not only that it's also affecting my job Because I work as a preschool teacher for the University of Massachusetts and we are currently open and going on the furlough and We have to cover the floor and I have to be at home to work to learn my son instead of being In my job helping the other teachers who are mandated to work I am very very frustrated and I do not understand how this matrix from outside of our town Is impacting the education that my son my kids are choosing? I chose to say in Amherst because of the quality of education that we we give to our children as a Person who went to school here. I always brag about Amherst, but this is beyond Frustration and it is unacceptable that we continue to go through this and you're impacting the children's social emotional skills Their mental health and the parents. I have nothing else to say just it's very it's unbelievable and very frustrating and I don't think there's enough words to describe The emotions that a lot of the parents in Amherst school system are feeling right now Thank you for listening. It's Coco me a TA and Administrators, my name is Renata shepherd. My children are in second and 10th grade These recent news the cases in Springfield will push our in-person start even further It's not only upsetting But it was a decision that does not make sense for our area And my name is Gerald bounce and I'm a parent of a student in Amherst, and I just want to state my My disgust frankly having to shift back to remote learning. I think that this remote learning Is a poor substitute for face-to-face learning. I think our students are suffering particularly the youngest student my younger students my child is In second grade, and this is absolutely not good for him I'm very frustrated that the numbers that were great who are far too low These numbers are not in Amherst. They're not due to UMass. They're not due to some of this around in town either like Like Pellum or she's very so I do not understand why These triggers a shift back to remote learning when it's so clearly having an adverse effect on our students I don't need to reconsider I think that this is a mistake to shift back particularly at this time of year When it's more possible to have windows open do you have all sorts of outdoor activities compared to beta in the year? When cases may well go back up and whether will be more harsh for those kinds of remedies If I'm happy to talk about this more my telephone number is four and three five five not I'm calling to just express my frustration about tools closing next week I think that the agreement with the teachers union is or in that we have tied the fate of the education of the children in our town In our district is other counties and other schools Which has no logical sense to me. It's just being designed to cause tools closed. Personal level my daughter has been back at school for four days now She'll get another three this week and she's been so so happy The night before her first day she was bouncing off the loss of the pregnancy come home today So happy just talking nonstop about how much she's having fun with her friends and like just teachers But beyond just a personal size and she is unprompted now several times to how much more she learned on the computer Even though I know the teachers are doing the best In the fact that six-year-olds can dream that means it's pretty darn hobbyist and The adults should clear me as well So to summarize I'm just incredibly frustrated and angry They feel like the best interest of the children in our town are being sacrificed. We actually care about educating kids They need to be recreated for ourselves. Can you guys see the screen? For those viewing at home, I apologize because we continue to accept a public comment until five I don't believe that this document has been posted online and that it will be posted on our website tomorrow morning First for those of you that notice that there were duplicates or what felt like duplicates It was because those in those emails actually came in separately One listed as region one listed as joint so I honored that request And there and also you noted that some of them Were received prior to the email that we received that that was sent this afternoon closing schools So the reference to we may be closed by Friday was obviously sent earlier Okay And just as another reminder and any comments that came in after five o'clock will be included I have them they're marked and noted for our next our next meeting Public comment session section And so now we move on to the superintendent's update. Dr. Morris Yep, and do you mind if I add to that last comment that the next meeting where they would be displayed at is is two days from now two nights From now it's Thursday night correct. Thank you. Yeah Yeah There's we posted in a new regional school committee meeting on for Thursday That will have public comment and an executive session So I have a rather lengthy update, so I think you know, perhaps I'll just ask those questions or comments a couple times because there's a couple See I've got one two Got nine updates to give so I apologize. I'll try to be as Clear as I can be so the first one I'm just going to read the closure letter that was sent and add a little bit of context But just in case people didn't receive it Dear ARPS community as I have shared with the ARPS community previously We are continually monitoring the COVID-19 case data in our area to measure it against the metrics for in-person learning agreed to by the school committee in the Amherst Palm Beach Education Association and There's a little asterisk in the metrics are listed below While the data shared in the ARPS update last Friday met the metrics to continue in-person learning this week It has shifted since that time as a result phase one in-person school will continue for the rest this week to promote consistency And provide time for staff families and students to transition back to remote learning Which we'll start next Monday October 26th for at least two weeks as per the agreement cited above To be clear there has not been a significant uptick in cases in Amherst, Leverett, Palom, or Schuetsbury Nor have we seen the UMass cases affect our numbers much locally However, there's been a significant enough increase in cases in Hamden and Hampshire counties outside our four towns That has pushed a metric over the 28 per 28 new cases per week level Per the agreement phase one in-person school will start again on Monday, November 9th If the health metrics are met at that time the new dates for phases two and three in-person learning are still being finalized Since they're complicated by the break and holiday schedules are released in the Friday update I think just to put a finer point on it are active cases Which you know are cases where people are still in quarantine is my understanding of that Are at the lowest level in the town of Amherst that they've been in weeks And that's a good thing and UMass has had I think we're at five straight days with zero cases, which is great So I just you know for anyone who's nervous about you know We're three more days of school before the closure starts at this point The cases in Amherst and our four towns are very very low So, you know, I felt comfortable moving forward with continuing and ending the week and then Starting that closure period on Monday of next week So that's obviously a big topic. So while I've got eight more I figure I'll pause here and see if there are questions or comments in the committee if that's okay with the chairs Yes, and mr. Deming and then miss Pitzer. Yeah, I have a few questions. So I mean just first off I mean I am frustrated beyond words about the current situation but given the fact that We have like you and the chair have said a executive session posted for this Thursday to I'm just reading the posting to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining with the APA I'm not gonna comment further ask you to comment further about what you think of the Autoclosure metric or possibility of change, but we obviously had a lot of public comment about it the few questions I have are about really about process and information so in in the Statement today, there's this ellipsis Okay, we're focused on an ellipsis But it's key in this point because it says the statement is one with the asterisk about what the metric is If the metrics failed to be met anytime the districts will return to full remover for all students dot dot dot And then provided there are fewer than 28 new cases per week and then goes on to explain So those are two different sections from the memorandum memorandum of agreement that when you put them together You draw the conclusion that oh, even though we're only publishing the value On Friday and making the closure decision then Actually, if if the metric trips that 28 threshold, right at any point then Then that's it then the following two weeks schools are Closed and that's not that's not clear I think in my opinion from previous communications and so it just leads a couple of questions that I've asked Similarly in the past one. Can we just post the memorandum of we keep referring to like various components of it We just post the MOA publicly and it's publicly accessible and then parents have questions They can throw through themselves and then the other question and I don't know how practical this is is Can we publish what the daily value is now? I understand that would require more work And it may be a technical obstacle, but the fact is is that there are now multiple Alternate sources of this daily value and Because we don't produce an ARPS official daily value people are turning to that and and this event has shown a light But well, it's actually kind of relevant to track Every day because that could even it happens on a Monday or Tuesday like it did or Sunday like it did this time That could mean the following two weeks and then parents have to plan and whatnot So I have a couple other questions, but just those two if you could dress Sure, the MOA has been posted on our website for since it was agreed to it's if maybe you can post a different place But it's under The fall 2020 website under staff and since it's an agreement with the staff It's at the very bottom. It's the last I think if I'm remembering correctly It's at the bottom fall 2020 There's you know, sort of couple headings one of them is staff and I believe the last one is the MOA So it is publicly accessible daily value. That's something we could definitely do. That's a good suggestion and We will work on it. We frankly in this situation have a little bit of time to work on it and but it's That's that's a good suggestion that we can implement. Thank you It's pet sir. Thanks So I guess I just wanted to start off by first just recognizing how disappointed and upset parents are because and Including in that kids teachers staff and you know myself included, you know yesterday morning I was driving around town and it was so nice to see the buses out and the kids did masks waiting with their parents So that you know this pandemics just keeps free He's opening and losses and the loss today, you know felt really really real for our community And at the same time I recognize that it's completely in line with the agreement that we all voted on Well, not all of us, but many of the members of this committee, you know voted So I'm not eager to revisit the agreement But I think and I'm assuming this is what's gonna happen on Thursday Is that we really do need to come together to try to find a path forward that's less disruptive because it just it feels really Wrong to be moving Back and forth at such short notice one question I have is for the For the two-week wait period is that something that's gonna start on the day we tripped the You know went over the metric or is that something that is always going to be like from the day when our we closed Our doors we need to keep the doors closed for two weeks It'd be the latter As you know, it was discussed in negotiations and and I believe is the fair interpretation Thank you Miss Hall So just I guess a process question. So there's a meeting a region meeting on Thursday an executive session So it's possible then that coming out of that meeting there might be a reason for a Later joint meeting to revisit some things too for all three committees or at this point or any conversations about like The health metrics and anything those are exclusively like the region in executive session Dr. Morris So the region is the negotiating agent for all three committees by policy and so much like anyone else I think if there's feedback that any Committee member would want to give to the region or to the chair of the region or They could do that, but I don't want to make a decision But I think because this is related potentially related to negotiations the region would be the group that would be a Negotiation it feels awkward to say I mean I have no interest in cutting anyone out of the dialogue So I hope you know that Yeah, and I'm not trying to make anything awkward. I'm just purely Because I don't have experience with this wanting to understand the process when there's an MOA in place anything opening back up what happens then but That's enough of an answer. Oh, sorry, but you're gonna talk. Oh, no I was just gonna say I mean, you know, I think I would encourage members who are not part of the region if they have feedback to actually share them, you know With the chair of the region because I think that it's not that I think that would be the Process wise the way that that could be communicated effectively Okay. All right. Thank you Mr. Menino, I'm not sure how I share my position. Do I do it now? Do I do it later? I mean How do I share my concerns I see several several weeks died Designs to respond. I would say later. I'm given that it's part of the Related to the topic of the executive session then later through Email is is appropriate. Um, dr. Morris is that but Yeah, so I think this is a I think I'd rather just be transparent explicit about it I think this is a fine line because if there's frustrations about something that was negotiated Or an interest in in going back to those negotiations. We don't do that in public meetings. That's why there's executive sessions I think if it's frustration that students About the letter I read and that students aren't won't be in school for two weeks. That's not related to an MOI I mean, it's indirectly related to an MOA But I mean certainly anyone like Miss Spitzer did can express sadness And I think it will in a second About the impact it had has in kids and families and there's no there's nothing barring you from Sharing any of that but I think if it's about the particulars of an MOA or particulars of a negotiation either past present or future I would strongly urge you to not share those publicly well, I'll express my position of Sadness regarding the students being cut out from classes. It was abrupt. I know it's the subject of a previous agreement But there's got to be a way around this somehow and I'll address later in private with the chair of the region I See your hand up. Mr. Deming, but I would I also like to and before circling back to you just express my extreme sadness I mean listening to Reading the letter and listening to the public comment this evening as well as the reading the emails It just really I don't have a kindergarten or a first grader But the hearing the pain and the frustration and the anguish and in our families is really Challenging and I and I do hope share Miss Spitzer's hope that we can Helped the situation and so that we're meeting the needs of our families and our students Especially our students better. I think also sort of to talk Indirectly about the MOA. I think you know as we focus on the you know with any MOA or any agreement sort of The implementation is sometimes that the where the challenges even after you know, even if everybody, you know And no matter what it is and I think one of the things that we're learning is that you know, despite all of our efforts there's a there's still a lot of question and a lot of confusion and an Uncertainty regarding in just like how do we implement this and what does it mean? And I think that's also part you know contributing to the pain and the frustration that the community is feeling because it's really hard to understand and You know, we've even had questions like just hearing our own process questions And so I think we have significant opportunity to To keep working on that together with the union Mr. Denley Yeah, I just wanted to Point out that I don't think we've completely figured out here exactly what the proper way is to Communicate and and opine on these things as they move through the various stages. So for example, here's what I mean, you know back in August we had Multiple meetings in a row where we all talked openly and had good discussions about metrics Right, and Dr. Morris had a couple presentations and he gave the list of evidence We had back and forth and we said, okay, there's this value. So the public got a chance to hear us on that When once that Component became part of an agreement that was under negotiation We stopped talking about it in public which was appropriate for at least for the region because it's the region that was an executive session Now that that agreement is done It's it's a little ambiguous as to what's appropriate to say publicly I mean is if you draw it to its logical logical conclusion It sounds a little absurd to say well, it's in the MLA. Therefore the public will never again get to hear a public Opinion or discussion among the school committee about what we think of metrics Which given their import seems a little odd and I think I think I think it gets it even a little more odd for Members here that aren't members of the region now You know when mr. Manino said that it raised for me that like okay Yes, by policy the region Negotiates for the three districts, but mr. Manino and this hall aren't members of the of the region and you know They're not therefore they won't be in that executive session and so You know, I think we should be a little cautious about saying oh, it's it's it's somehow related to the agreement Therefore we can't speak about it. I think I think we're still figuring this out And I think we need to be mindful of that especially when we're obviously getting a lot of public input about what we think of this Dr. Morris and then a mr. Manino. I saw your hand also, but Dr. Morris And you're muted Being without had happened a couple times Just to clarify my comments from before I don't I hear where mr. Deming is coming from and I don't want to do the back and forth I think what I wish I had said is since there's a currently posted meeting to talk about this and in the executive session Given that meeting I think that was what was causing me pause and perhaps giving you know The advice I gave was was framed that there This is not a topic that seems like the committee won't have an opportunity at least to discuss Next steps that it would like to pursue with it and that I think that was causing me pause about having more open conversation because it's already on an agenda you're right about the region and members of the Pelham school committee who are not on the region It's a super awkward system. I'll get into more three districts Don't make sense all the time stuff in a little bit on a financial level So we can riff on that a little bit later actually two different riffs on that Justin my superintendent update so But I think I just wanted to clarify where my my comment and my advice was coming from it really was was framed that there is an executive session in a Posted meeting 48 hours from actually almost exactly 48 hours from now. So I think that that was really where I was coming from Mr. Mamina did you have a yeah, my only concern is The low Bar is an important part of the memo of understanding it's probably the most important part and I Don't think there's going to be an opportunity for me to hear everybody's on the committee's viewpoint If the current understanding is you can't talk about something that's part of the memo of understanding It sort of feels like I'm Being shut out of the conversation, I know that's not intentional, but to basically I'm an observer not a participant. I'm a member of this Palom school committee and It affects the kids of my school, but I can't talk about it. I Feel disenfranchised But you know, I know that's not the intent, but I do feel disenfranchised. That's it Dr. Morris is very briefly. I think if you're an appellum school committee meeting, you might feel more enfranchised but right now this is a joint meeting with one of the committees being the negotiating body and so There may be an opportunity for you to feel more unable to have that conversation When it's not a meeting with the negotiating body Seated and I you know, you'll hear later in this update. I'm going to be asking for appellum specific meetings it's not necessarily planned on that topic, mr. Manino, but We'll get to it in a little bit Miss Kenny. Oh, hmm Maybe this is part of it. So I'll ask my question and if we can't talk about it, you can tell me we can't talk about it How's that? So There's the oh my gosh, I'm not gonna get this right J. M. L. S. C. Right? And they are an advising body that comes into play when They use metrics get tricked, right? Um, can you talk to us at all about how that conversation went? Is that is that closure? I don't know, but I think I can give enough without You know, we had a productive we met um Yesterday afternoon. We had a productive conversation about the metrics about next steps I think it was a good it was making sure that we're communicating with our bargaining unit. Um, I Don't know. I felt like it was a productive meeting To be able to talk about what the metrics were and what next steps were that there wasn't I shared no concerns About students finishing the week so we were able to have that conversation You know, I don't know to me it felt like a productive collaborative conversation about the you know How we were gonna apply that aspect of the contract so You know, we had met the Friday before because we meet on a weekly basis as per the MO A but in this instance, it felt right to meet More quickly and again, I felt like it was a productive conversation Seeing i'm not seeing any other comments right now. So like Back over to you dr. Morse And you're muted again Surely my max is two in a meeting so i'm at three now. I don't know if that Got a little more talking than I have to do so um In all seriousness, I do want to publicly thank the staff members for making the first four days of schooling so powerful for students Um, I know this is a sort of perhaps awkward to talk about given The first update I just gave but it's no less important to note Um, that it's been it's been joyous. So it asked me how the first two days were Um thursday was my favorite work day in many many months probably more than that Just seeing how wonderfully supportive our staff were and welcomed students to building I was able to start the day at crocker farm and see Our preschoolers our youngest students walk in and I wasn't the only person cheering up just seeing, you know, three and four year olds Come into the building and be welcomed by the coordinator by teachers power educators and others Uh, I then was able to go over to the high school where students from the middle school and high school We're able to attend one of the things I heard where there were students who Were choosing not to access distance learning who People were so happy to see because they weren't showing up on screens if they were their cameras were off and They wanted to be in school. Um, and even for, you know, some perceptions of high school students and not feeling like it's cool or whatever. Um, it was, um And um, you know, it was it was really neat. Um, and then was able to see the drop off at fort river and that was also Equally wonderful and really well managed for the number of cars that came in which is a much higher than our usual number I was able to make it all the schools Uh throughout the day including pelham, which was easy with two classes It was pretty pretty nice to be able to walk through one was outside and one was inside Um, but you know, the general feedback I got uh from students and families was that it was outstanding and from staff members too Who you know, I think anytime in a new situation doesn't feel quite the same as normal school and yet, um, there were Definitive benefits. I had a early childhood educator tell me, you know At first I was thinking it was going to be horrible that students were in desks and not tables and then by the third day She said, you know what? I kind of like this, right? She thought from a Chattering point of view it was contributing to a more useful dialogue. Um more academic dialogue. Let's have social dialogue So, uh, I really want to publicly thank the educators the bus drivers the man drivers the monitors the custodians um You know, one of the things that that I also heard was how it felt to one staff member who shared with me All of this is just me walking around the buildings not asking questions to thanking people Is that every time I open the door? I feel like there's a custodian cleaning off the door handle You know that that our full staff was out in force to support students You know, I saw a rival at multiple schools in dismissal and you know, everybody's outside making sure from a safety point of view Both, you know distancing safety, but also just literal buses and vans and cars and how do we do this? You know, many of our schools reorganize themselves, you know, for instance, crocker farm The buses are now coming down in the shay street entrance where the cars are going, you know the front at the high school There's multiple entrances for the different programs to promote, you know safety not necessarily just covid safety But again, just everyone's faith is feeling of safety and security for where they're going in the building Um, you know, it was just it was fabulous. And so, uh, I just want to thank everybody For their work and making such a difference I know it's more short lived at least in terms of consecutive days than we hoped But it's no less important in terms of the student and family experience that we had And there's just a lot of smiles, right? And I know that's like a very, uh, rudimentary way to assess How things are going but I'd walk in rooms And students and staff were all doing school doing work and having a fabulous time doing it And you know, I was in one class and it was a virtual PE lesson or virtual it was a virtual specials lesson at the elementary level And the teacher then brought them outside and they were able to knack things and just really creative ways To do that and it was just wonderfully the class sizes are small And that also contributed to everyone feeling much more comfortable So it was a really successful first few days of school and I know will be for the rest of the week I was able to attend a To three of the meetings that we had with in-person staff this afternoon The idea was that we were originally going to share the letter this morning But we thought it was the respectful thing to be able to talk to in-person staff before the letter went out And let them have a reaction. We didn't want to send it because there was a strong reaction for many in-person staff We didn't want to do that while they had kids in the building We felt like that was not actually fair to staff to do that So, you know, some really good dialogue and conversations after schools over at the high school with the kind of the intensive needs program We did a virtual one for the preschool and then in person over at Fort River this afternoon Um, so, you know, it's bittersweet for sure to talk about at this moment in time But it doesn't mean that the staff who are doing really important work shouldn't be commended and acknowledged in a public space so I'll pause and see if there are questions for me about the start of in-person before I go through my many other updates Mr. Damon So when I think about uh, the a safe reopening plan I've kind of Coalesced on like four pillars. There's this community spread and we just talked about how we define that so I won't belabor that But then there's masks distancing and and air exchange And I know what we've talked ad nauseum about that over the course of the summer But now that we're into it we've had I only I know it's only been four days But before this becomes a faded memory. Can you talk a little bit about how that how that's been going in terms of mass compliance? Um distancing and the air exchange has has things met our expectations. Do we need to make adjustments going forward? Yeah So, um, my perception is that we have met our expectations. The feedback I received from staff is they felt more comfortable Um being in than they anticipated. That's not hard data, but that's anecdotal data Um, and you know, it's funny. I use the word smiles. I mean the mass compliance was really good Um, it was really strong from students Teachers found creative ways for students to be outside a lot and when you see the smiles, you'd see the the eye, right? You know, you'd see that you can still see a smile even with the mask on just because you see it in the face And and that's what we saw a lot of so I do feel like from a safety perspective. Um, it felt really good I will say that you know I've gotten some Perhaps not always the most positive feedback about phasing It felt like a hundred percent the right decision in terms of drop off pick up the number of people in the building Felt like the right grain size Uh, you know, one of the one of my principles said today Felt like I was the best principle in the world because there was the right number of kids if there was ever a question The counselors if a student was struggling with something There was so much ability to be present very quickly and problem solve That would have been much more challenging if half the school was there for instance to start Um, so, you know, were there small things that required problem solving? Absolutely Were they able to be problem solved almost immediately? You know the feedback I received was yes that they really were. Um, and so, you know, obviously this is a big Detour that we're on right now, but it did feel like we were on the right pace Like we we'd gotten through the first couple days. We were now envisioning phase two and how to get second and third graders in Uh, you know, their locations were all sorted out. Um, and the staffing piece we were wrapped up with so It it really felt like we could problem solve because the scale was the right scale to start with. Um And so in terms of the planning it felt really good, you know, people had PPE They had what they needed to do that They knew where to go to communicate if something was out like someone said, oh, you know, we're out a hand sanitizer today And we knew where the hand sanitizer was from the fire department We can't bring barrels of hand sanitizer Over and store them and all together So if there's fire code around that but we you know, we had these systems That we're able to develop where people were able to problem solve really quickly. Um, and Right Friday wasn't a day that people kids were able to be outside as much as they typically would But again the systems and structures really worked well I want to thank the bus drivers and van drivers For their work because we did transport a fair number of students and there was work about literally like Assigned seating and sign in so you knew exactly where they're so in a worst-case scenario The contract tracing was all there. You didn't have to go and ask people you knew Who was seated where on a bus on a van in the classroom? Um in the classroom people have assigned seats. So students said I'm 3g, right? So again from all those Planning for worst-case scenarios people did an incredible job with that Sorry, I could go on forever on this topic because I feel really passionately about the job our team did The custodial team the administrative team teachers power educators, but it felt like it worked well It felt like there was space for students When I walked in rooms there was never a place where I ignore staff members said feels kind of too crowded in here It was quite the opposite. There was plenty of space for student movement staff movement and you know I'm sad that we're gonna have to take a pause from that because it felt like you know quote unquote it worked I think in the interest of time, um, we'll just keep going if you can hold your comment mr. Deming to later that'd be great Yep, um, one of the things on that topic Actually, I'll hold that part. I'll do it a little bit later. Um, so uh, let's see ma last week Tuesday, um, I was asked to be on riot again the racial and balance advisory council, um for the board of Elementary and secondary education. We had our first meeting. Um, which was very productive I was asked to facilitate a conversation about best practices post coveted for recruitment and retention of educators of color A lot of us are very concerned about the fiscal situation And especially districts like ours that have Significantly diversified our faculty, you know in the last five years. We have 50% if you look at the desi data We have more than 50% More staff of color than we had Um, and so a lot of us are concerned about that a lot of us are concerned about Uh, what that looks like over time in terms of retention Um, so we had some really good dialogue. There's some new members, which is fantastic And you know, I'll just continue to update you uh as we meet but the theme for this year is the area of focus I should say is around recruitment retention of educators of color So certainly something that we've talked about in this on these committees Many times and I just feel fortunate that i'm Enable to have the dialogue with educators from and school committee members from across the state There's a school committee member from springfield who is uh, we call each other. Uh, riot west because we're the only two Um, but uh, you know the virtual context actually makes it easier to participate in statewide groups like this, so It was looking for silver linings and i'm able to be much more present than it would be if i was driving a Worcester or boston for meetings um Today we had a pickup Uh, you had another pickup for hotspots chromebooks and ipads Um, so in terms of uh last time or one of the times previous we spoke We talked about hotspots. We needed a couple um some more So we those have come in and been distributed to families who indicated that they were in need of um Of internet, so thank you to jerry champagne for that uh that work The next thing i'd like to share is an enrollment update. Um, so i know at the last meeting i mentioned Uh high school enrollment um numbers being lower Um, and then i'm going to drill down even though it's a joint meeting to pelham because there's a particularly Acute issue that i want to talk about that specific to pelham So let me Share my screen There it is There we go So imagine you can all see that i'll try to make it a little bit larger Um That's probably a little bit hopefully a little bit better Um, so what you can see is at the high school i'll just say it out loud For people looking watching this on their phone. We went from 920 students our official october 9 2019 numbers at this point. We're down to 883. Um, this is not official because it has to get better than There's a whole Process by the state, but this is what we had so that's a pretty significant drop Of students 37 students At the middle school. We stayed roughly flat At crocker farm. We are down, uh, about 26 students at fort river. We stayed flat Pelham we're down, you know, 1718 students and at pelham we're down 20 students And the reason i point out pelham is as a percentage of the school That is a huge drop Uh in the enrollment of pelham. So again, i'm not trying to pick on pelham It's just because it's a percentage to do a little more Our research on pelhams. I think it's worth noting. This is a major concern for the fy 22 budget So when they do so for next year's budget for people who don't speak in arbor czar code so for Those budgets are chapter 70 money is based on enrollment and with a drop of 111 students From last year to this year that is going to be a major issue that i have deep concerns about affecting the fy 22 budget Um, there's nothing to be done about it, right? They'll pull our october 1 data Which is going to be give or take what what's on this sheet again. It needs to be verified and sometimes there's questions about that Um, but it is concerning. It is a trend that we have seen uh, or we are seeing in other districts We're not unique in that regard um But it it's no less concerned No less concerning than um Because it is happening elsewhere. It's still going to affect us So, you know, it's also just a marker, you know One student left or if I was one off to talk about 20 less than 2400 students in our district It's you know It does feel like some theoretical line is being crossed about the size of our district. This is Significantly smaller than we've been in the past. Um, this doesn't include the preschool at crocker farm But I want to note based on our decision last year because of covet We have very few students enrolled in the preschool at crocker farm, which is a whole other conversation for a different day Um, but we're seeing a rapid decline and this is going to have financial ramifications for us Uh in the next fiscal year Um, we are starting to do research on where these students have gone, right? There is this factor that we're seeing lots of places of kindergartners just choosing not to enroll Uh, because I do have a virtual Enrollment and for students that young for some families doesn't um, isn't appealing to them Uh, but it does seem like the number of homeschool families has doubled ish We'll have real clear numbers on that next week Um, and private schools, um, we have a lot a lot of students who left the district to go to private schools this year Um, so, you know when that data basically the state works with us to compile that data And by winter we have the school attending report And we'll be able to share that more formally at that time because the state plays a medium role And that data and make sure it's clean between private schools public schools um But it is again a major source of concern Uh before I go specific into pelham, um, want to just give Uh any committee members who have any comments or questions about this set of data opportunity to ask them And then and then we'll talk pelham miss lord I'm wondering if um, there's a thing that where all the school committee Can come together in massachusetts and just try to petition to get our numbers for chapter 70 based on The year before the pandemic. I don't know if that would ever fly, but It would make sense for all of us not to be, um penalized for COVID-19 Yeah, I believe senator comorford has discussed this matter So by recommendation either individually or a committee as if that's something the committee wants to take up Either I get individually or as groups. Um, I know that she has many districts in her Area that are facing the same challenge and I know she's spoken about this Pretty openly uh about her concerns certainly rep dome and and representative play Um, I'm not dismissing them, but I know I've heard it directly from senator comorford So that's the only reason I mentioned her but I do think um talk about legislators sooner as opposed to later Uh, if the committee is interested would be my recommendation Thank you Mr. Denley Do you do you think these enrollment numbers are uh results of the extent to which we've been able to offer in-person learning? I think they're affected by that Yes, I do Um, I I can't explain the private school numbers Except for that And the fact that right now it doesn't appear that our charter school numbers, you know, the two charter schools that have the Most students attending them are in virtual. Um, and so that number hasn't bumped whereas the private school number has Um, you know that leads me to that hypothesis again, you know anecdotally people have told me that right as they've left That's that's all anecdote. But um, I think the data points in that direction. Yes Any other questions and for dr. Morse? Miss digger and then miss fitzer Year to year I imagine the numbers fluctuate. Uh, how much do they usually fluctuate with students coming in and students leaving? Um, significantly less than this. Um, this and to have 100 over 100 students less is That is a marker of um something different happening. Um, and you know what you can see is that it's can't be all kindergarten because you know You look at the high school, right? That's significantly down the middle school. We did expect it to be higher Um, than that if you remember, we had a big sixth grade that graduated last year coming up to the middle school Um, and it certainly doesn't explain Some of some of the elementary some which stayed more constant and some that had pretty significant drops Um And that you'll get a sneak peek at Pelham data just for fun because you're not a pelham member But in a second, I think that'll actually tell sort of an interesting story. That's just why I chose to bring it even though It's a joint meeting Miss fitzer And I had a similar question about how this, you know looking at just year to year is Um, doesn't show a trend so it would just be interesting to see If we could look at this and I know it's in our budget document So I think I guess I it's on me to kind of go back and look at our budget documents But it it's clearly concerning and I'm glad that you mentioned that you're going to be doing some more Follow-up potentially with the family. So there are the families who Maybe were never in our district like the kindergarteners who Stayed home and so reaching out to those folks would be difficult But if there are families who were in our district and are a little longer in our district Is there any reason we can't Send them, you know Do some sort of outreach to find out what was driving that the decision because um I remember a long time ago. We did that It was right when I started there were results from Folks who had opted not to enroll in our public schools And it was like a lot of families who had chosen private schools and it was a survey so I'm just wondering if there's any capacity and I there are so many other things to prioritize right now that I don't want to add Just because it had been done in the past it might be worth revisiting and and looking at if if there are changes in the In what responses were then and what the responses are now because I think that would be Really important to see because I know just anecdotally like you said the the homeschooling piece is interesting because I think It's hard to say or people choosing Assuming if you're choosing homeschooling you still it's it's not related to this question of Being virtual because you're still not in person if you're doing a homeschooling situation Unlike the choice to go into a private school So I'd be curious about why are people choosing the homeschool option over the virtual learning option? Um Maybe there's something we could learn to improve our virtual learning or just um to respond to that need Yeah, this is where it gets really complicated. So um, I think it's worth me responding to that just for a minute I agree about getting more data and we plan to do that. So when we think about homeschooling, there's a number of Institutions that have popped up morse hill being the most prominent in our area that are offering Essentially private school, but they're calling it homeschool and I won't get into morse hill can respond to why they're calling it that Instead of calling it a school. I think I know the answer, but I'm I don't work there So, you know our homeschool numbers aren't necessarily all the traditional homeschool numbers sometimes people have found other quasi in person schools to To use to as the primary source of schooling for their child So that's where it gets the the data itself gets really murky because we do have a number of students that are listed as homeschool, but they're It's not homeschool like they're not actually staying home Right. Um, they're they're going other places I think the other thing is that homeschooling as an option feels different this time around because and i'm not picking on morse hill, by the way There are other Institutions that are doing that as well. It's just that's the newest one that's popped up And I've noticed that we do have some students who are formerly in the district all three districts actually I'm trying to know about this. Yeah, all three districts. I believe who are attending that I think the other thing is that, you know, when the option is We have people who are concerned about they don't want their kids on screens And if that's the virtual option that's offered Um, they're making other choices about what they want to do With their children, you know, I'm aware that people have hired in person teachers as a third variable to work with small groups of students who Um, because they want an in person experience and so yes, it's listed as homeschool But it's actually not what you think of as traditional homeschooling. It's in person schooling with people with resources who are Paying for someone to come into one person's home and three or four kids are sharing the cost, right? So The data is really murky that way. Uh, it's hard to really disentangle all those pieces We're going to try our best to do that But I use those examples to suggest that sort of the monoliths of categories that we have don't really apply to the current situation very neatly Does that make sense? To provide just context again not to disagree with the larger point you're making. No, I think that's really important and I think Being public about the financial consequences for our community about these personal choices is Worth noting, right? So I think not that everybody needs to carry around with them, you know, the guilt of funding Of our public schools, but I think it's just we all of these choices of consequences and sometimes they're not well understood Even by folks on this committee. So I think it's important to to keep mentioning that No, I agree I have um one question and Forgive me if you've already answered this and I missed it. So I apologize um in in the outreach and um amongst the families that that have left that you've done have Have you asked the question about whether their Their decision was intended to be a temporary decision or a more permanent decision because and I particularly in the high school where we see a very large drop there's You mentioned you mentioned morse Hill as an option, but there's when you get to the high school level There's even more options sort of if you're you know, particularly for the families of means um, you know to look even beyond our region um for for students and um You know families might be thinking of this as as a temporary, you know one semester or one year kind of sort of Thing and so I'm just curious whether we we ask that question or plan to ask that question We do plan to I mean the outreach we've done so far is very much at the individual level now that we have more data We plan to do a much broader outreach to that and I think you're right that that's a question that needs to be asked Um, you know, and I hate I'm going to be a little dour. I think I know the meaning of that word Like I just have a lot of not so great information to share tonight. So I'm not trying to be um Dramatic about it. But you know, when we look at some of the schools and school sizes You know for many many years we tried to keep the high school You mentioned it at around a thousand because we felt like that was the right size to be able to maintain The type of comprehensive high school we want And I do have concerns about 883 and and being able to finance, you know, the comprehensive level of programs I'm not getting ahead of myself But that's why I'm bringing it to the committee and the public's attention early is it's very real The consequences as people noted are very real to this And I don't want to get to spring or winter and people say where did this come from that we have a fiscal problem separate from the covet stuff I mean some of it obviously is going to be the covet stuff and that's going to be its own budget challenge for all three committees this spring But some of it's going to be with our with our current enrollment That's going to be a real challenge, you know, our class size at the high school or by and large on average really really Wonderful right now. And that's a great thing. I'm never going to speak about that being a bad thing the same time, you know, when we talk about fiscal feasibility Long term I do Have concerns about these numbers. Um, and we'll talk about Pelham more acutely in a second So, you know, I'm not trying to um alarm anyone But I also feel like I'm not doing my job if I don't communicate raw data that that has real implications for us in the future Mr. Deming so dr. Morris, I appreciate your moderation. Um, but I mean I will I think we should try to alarm people because I think this is alarming you know, because because we are 83 at the high school is My opinion in danger of triggering a death spiral and by that I mean decreased enrollment leads to decreased funding which means we need to decrease our services Which means people are less likely to want to go to the high school because of other options Which leads to decrease enrollment, etc. Etc. And then, you know, when you get the money back You can't just you can't just throw it back on the fire You know, you have those students that are gone and you have a new reality and Um, I mean I asked you the question before do you think this is related to our in person I'll admit that was a bit facetious. I mean, you know, I you talked about those other kind of options of non-traditional homeschooling. We haven't mentioned the word pods And I mean the reality is that if you have means Right now you can buy in person learning And and we're not offering it and and and that's that's a big driver here And I don't say that because I've spoken to every one of these, you know data points But but but we know this is the case and and we're in real danger in terms of The future of public schools That if that if we don't do something strongly and soon That our public schools could look a lot different for the coming generations and you know, I I I hesitate to say that in those terms and be that dramatic But I think the economic impact from a pandemic And what is happening here and what we've been able to do so far with maximizing in personal learning this year, which is Not a lot Meets that threshold. So I just wanted to add that comment. Thank you So that's like ways to Pellum if it's okay if I could drill in on that and I know it's a joint meeting But I actually felt like this was important enough I didn't want to wait for a Pellum specific meeting and it was related to this topic Um, I will be a little more dramatic talking about my concerns about Pellum And so, you know, I did think a lot about whether to share this at a joint meeting But I feel like, you know, we're in a supervisor reunion with Amherst and these students go to the region So, you know I felt like I should share it. Let me see if I can change the screen to Pellum Um, can people see that now for Pellum? Yes, okay So here's the enrollment and for Pellum folks They see this or some version of this at many of their meetings in terms of their enrollments and and one thing to note is that Kindergarten's low, but it's not that low 15, you know, so we're not seeing just that Pellum Um, is low, but you could see that across the grade level bands. We've seen a loss of enrollment Really across the board here And at 37 choice students, that's the lowest I was going to go back today and then I things happened and I didn't get around to it That's the lowest and I can remember in many many years in Pellum I you know, I've been this district, you know, at least one of these three districts for 20 years That's as as about as low as as it may have been in in in that generation Um, and it's a huge cause of concern Um, I'm just going to be really blunt about it. This is not sustainable to have 105 students in Pellum k-6 And 37 of them be choice It's not something that is fiscally sustainable Um, and I'm not talking five years down the road. I'm not talking 10 years down the road I'm talking much more narrowly and acutely Than that and so we do need to have a Pellum meeting to talk about this I am deeply deeply concerned about the finances of Pellum You know, and even just like what we've had to spend this year There's no huge cares act fund for Pellum the same way that there has been for some of our other communities and Amherst, you know In particular with the region itself even for the school based cares act So, um, you know, I know principal writing Jones has done a great job of Advertising school. We have had some new choice kids join. It's not that there hasn't been effort. So there's been rejection She's contacted many families. We had some new new students start right before the school year in grade one to get our numbers to 10 Um, but I think to the question asked earlier about whether the duration question It's really important here and um, I uh Cause it's a joint meeting. I probably won't go into more detail But those of you have been in Pellum A while if you look at that number of 37 and 105, I think you all know that that's Not what we're accustomed to seeing and that it's it's frankly not sustainable and I have courage concerned about the current fiscal year with those numbers And I have a lot of concerns about the next fiscal year With those numbers. So, um, to mr. Jenlings point about before about being me being moderated I'll be less moderated about Pellum because my concerns are are much more imminent and acute About how that school is funded and financed and moves forward in the ways that we wanted to Mr. Manino At that Pellum only meeting could you give a comparison for all these three columns last year and this year? Absolutely. Yeah Miss Barlow and then miss hall Um, does it matter if some of these families do it is just a temporary leave from Pellum? They come back or does it not impact would it impact the following year's budget if those some of those families did come back? Right, so Over one count every year that affects the next fiscal year So for this fiscal year it what's done is done so to speak Um for the next fiscal year, right that'll affect the next fiscal year. So if students return for the fall of 22 Excuse me in the fall of 21 it would affect the fiscal year that follows that that's the the trend always is that It can't it can't affect the current fiscal year because the fiscal year already started So we wouldn't know until october. So that's how the formula is as it uses the the current fiscal year Current fiscal years october 1 enrollments affects the following year's state funding Yeah, sorry. I wasn't clear about that And miss hall. Did you have your hand raised before? I did um, yeah, I mean I have One million questions and I will wait for our Palomoni meeting I guess I would just say I would like to And I know we have agenda planning later, but I think it's important to do that Sooner rather than later it's going to be it's and it's going to be more than just one palomoni meeting to figure some of this stuff out. So um Yeah, I would say don't moderate yourself because this is there's nothing moderate about this Miss dancer Is there any way to know how much the school choice was affected by the fact that we can no longer guarantee The palom students going up into the middle school and high school There's no way to know but I think the Anecdotally and my hypothesis is that was a pretty low factor this year. I think Collectively the world is thinking less into the future Far distance and much more living in the here and now. So I think you know, I didn't hear much of that which I heard last year Um, I think this year was was not related to that. Okay. Um, miss Barlow Oh, sorry We talked about this in the region it when When you click on raise hand, please just remember to take your hand down. Miss Segar Uh, so What I'm curious about um, I'm familiar with school choice. Um, But generally my understanding is what generally happens is that many first school choice comes into the district the year That the students are there and he's generally spent the following year So this this means that that uh, Pelham will have less money the following year what I'm curious about Just more of a preferring question is how do school choice numbers affect chapter 70 if at all? So Two parts to that so and and I don't want to do the history of Pelham school choice because I don't think that will be interesting to Most people here. Um, but I think the thing to note about Pelham is for many years Pelham was spending I think it is relevant to all districts was spending more of its school choice revenue Then it was bringing in in other words. It built up a fairly large balance Uh, I think this is relevant because we we increased our school choice using it all district So this is applies to all and so if we this year bringing in less revenue and this would be significantly less We're going to end up we budgeted for using more Then we spent which is going to make an operational deficit for next year Um, because you know, essentially the budget was built with income that it may not come So, uh, that's going to be its own problem in Pelham in Amherst It works much more how you describe it affects the next year's budget. Um, But um in Pelham it it essentially functions Bluntly as part of the operating budget Um is because it's such a large percentage of the Pelham student population in Belham budget So in terms of affecting chapter 70, I don't believe it has much of an impact at all. Um On that particular component, but that's a question I can have dug come back and respond to um Chapter seven. I'm just writing it down. Um, and I will Loop back to you all with the answer Did you have another question miss seeker? Okay. Um, since there's a Pelham Only committee meeting coming up. I'm if folks are okay to move on to the next Yeah, um and uh Now I'm going to make one third of the people happy and the other two thirds unhappy or I guess some people are going to be split in their thoughts So the governor put out the rest of the fiscal year 21 budget So in other words, as you might remember the governor did not file a budget that was Uh for the full fiscal year f y 21. So the updated budget to get through the rest of the year was posted Uh, I'll start with the positive newt since I don't have that much of my update Although there's some good stuff coming soon. Um Is amherst ended up um a bit to the good uh from what was budgeted for for the amherst public schools However, the region is down 95 000 from what was budgeted for um You know from our initial estimates from the state And pelham is down 11 000, which is a lot of money for pelham And I know some people might say those numbers for for amherst region 11 is You know is is easily manageable for pelham. That's less manageable At those respective committee meetings will go into the details But I did want to share publicly that in terms of the governor's budget It would have an impact on the current fiscal year because this is this is not projections for next year It's to finish off f by 21 Um, so it is a concern for the region Um, and it is a concern for and I don't want to minimize 95 000. That's a lot of money in any district including the region um, so Um, just something to be aware of that our current fiscal Years budgets in two of the three districts is at least potentially taking a turn for the worse um And so again in respective districts, I'll update you but because that's public information in terms of chair sheets I thought I would share that with with you and the public now um And why don't I pause if there are questions? Um, because I've got a couple other items and I will end on a positive note. I promise it's figure so I'm Sort of new to this area of how how does it work with the governor's budget and are they looking at every school district and what the school district has proposed or some of the things happening results in different districts any different businesses No, so what they're doing is they're uh, typically the governor's budget comes out In a typically right well it did come out last january and late january and then goes through the legislature And they have conversation and they vote a budget that lasts for the next fiscal year Since the process was certainly Not linear last year and how things played out We sort of made assumptions based on what the state had But that now it includes charter now it includes charter reimbursement includes choice includes a number of other factors In it. So when we're looking forward from what was anticipated for state aid And now what it looks like at least potentially we would receive There's a delta in all three districts, you know, this is again, I foreshadowed this earlier of the the kind of Farce of the three districts sometimes for me and Doug is that, you know, if we could average all of them together We'd be fine, but that's not the way our districts work We have, you know, positive variance in the Amherst public schools And negative variance and the other two based on what was anticipated So, you know, when we do first quarter budget, which I think is two weeks from now Doug can get into the weeds on all this stuff Um, I gave him the night off given, you know, that we had well not a long agenda, but a media agenda Um, but he can get into the weeds much more on all the implications and the reasons but Um, it's just a cause of concern that we have essentially, you know, three digits um number Um, or a hundred k's we would say three digits. Um down there and 11 000 in Pelham From what was budgeted All right. Oh, I'm sorry. There is another question Mr. Damon Yeah, sorry, um There was an update in the commissioner's update this week that uh, if you have a power outage day And we did experience power outage recently As to whether they could be treated as no days or not and he got into some options there and and the locals could decide Could you get into that a little bit? Why don't I come back to that next time? Um, just because I feel like my update is, um Getting it's quite lengthy tonight. So, uh, hopefully we'll have no storms Next two weeks and we can come back to that and talk about it more fully That's okay with the committee. Yeah So a couple others distance learning survey. Thank you for those of you filled it out We've got hundreds of parent guardian responses hundreds of student responses Emily's going to do a great job encouraging her colleagues to uh at the high school to fill out the survey Thank you Emily and then hundreds of staff responses So we we appreciate that we'll send a reminder out on thursday because the surveys do friday And we'll bring that back. Uh, thankfully obed is going to do some analysis on that We will also in the next week be sending out, um, a well-being survey. Um, obed has identified a survey I think it's from pennsylvania, Ohio, but it's a kind of tested research evidence based survey To best understand not at an individual level, but at a group level how our students are experiencing the world Um, and so, you know, thanks to obed for his continued work with us But, you know, both those data sources will bring back and and share both publicly with the you know On our website, but also with the committee. So I just wanted to let people know that those are out there and encourage participation We really want to know how it's going in terms of distance learning piece Uh, we'll only know that if folks respond. Um, we have some really interesting questions I've already looked at their initial data about compared to last spring How does how do things compare and that's how we're going to get better is by hearing not just this is great That's really important. But also what are the current challenges that folks are facing? um Second the last one is that I've met with the town of amherst and we are working to make the school The school's mask freeze. Excuse me mask zones not mass free zones. Excuse me That much like downtown amherst is uh, we've noticed that the community has been using our Uh, playgrounds our basketball courts other things quite frequently After hours and again, you know, we see ourselves at schools even this weird time as as being places We want our communities to access um But we also want people wearing masks Uh, and it'll be blunt that we've noticed in particularly um Some some folks coming to our schools to are participating, you know In activities we want them to do being active being outside not wearing masks and you know, again We'll follow the same town guidance and compliance and what happens with that But uh, we don't currently have any rules around that and I you know I want to thank the amherst town manager for his collaboration. It's already went to the health department You know the health director has already expressed her agreement with that and we would like, you know Some signage and just as reminders that when people are using our facilities after hours We're still expected to use masks in the same way that downtown amherst has that Um, you know, I think it'll be a challenge with compliance in the same way It is other places and I still think it's an important message to give that Our schools are places where people should be wearing masks So I didn't want you all not to be aware that it's something I've worked on, you know A little bit and just thank town of amherst for their collaboration on that one Ready for good news? okay, so um My last one is we have been the fortunate recipients of multiple Grants over the last um couple weeks and I think I wanted to catch up The first is both Crocker farm in the middle school because of two years ago with their status They were able to apply for um tag grants, which is assistance and both of them are using it around measures of the opportunity gap And of $15,000 each so that's great news both are really trying to engage their staff members And had a best work with students who have who are not currently being as successful as we'd like them to be We received the 36 two grants totaling $36,000 for secondary school virtual coursework to support teachers in developing innovative ways that uh would work well for distance learning at the secondary level And I'm most excited to share that we received an $84,000 grant by the amherst elementary schools That's supporting students behavior and mental health and wellness program To I think be the first so I might be miss speaking and if I do I will apologize later To start a bright program, which is what we have at the middle school high school actually have an elementary bright program Um, which would be super neat and a little groundbreaking and the bright people have been Fabulous in helping us think about this. So obviously in the current situation, we have to think about what that might look like Um in a virtual context, right? This was applied for before pre-pandemic Um early pre-pandemic in massachusetts. I think that's probably the more accurate way to say it um But you know really excited to get that grant and think about how to Next steps on that The bright folks are working with us over the next couple weeks We'll be doing a series for caregivers on how to support students mental Our well-being as we head towards winter where being outside is less Of an option and it's getting a lot darker sooner and all the emotional challenges that many people myself included Sometimes face when it gets dark at, you know, five o'clock and what that does for people's moods um So we'll be doing a multi-part series for caregivers. The bright people are fabulous. Um, we love working with them And this is really a neat exciting opportunity To start thinking about what would bright look like at the elementary level. How do we support students who are going through potentially temporary Challenges that way and you know really want to thank, you know, uh, favorit diane chamberlain Uh, we're really spearheading the effort on the application of this grant And so more soon on that but that's sort of recent news that I wanted to celebrate. So, um, Wasn't quite a sandwich of good news, right? It's sort of mostly was on the Below the line of good news, but this this is good news and we'll be following up on that So I wanted to share that with the, you know, committee in the community That's great. We have set a record for the longest superintendent update ever. So I apologize to everybody I'll have to share it Yeah, any, um, uh final questions for uh comments for the superintendent Seen none. Um Thank you, dr. Morris for that. Um I think you said nine and I wrote down seven but maybe you you you collapsed two into that I That's one so yeah, no I'm a little differently in my head than when I got into reality. So, um, I could send you my cheat sheet if you want to That's great. Um, so given given the hour, um, I I didn't have much to say on the chair's update But I will I will cede my time um on that and move on to number 10 item 10, which is school committee announcements Does anybody from any of the committees have an announcement? Ms. Lord Yes, I would like to invite each and every one of you to our school equity task force meeting tomorrow at 6 p.m Um, october 21st Wednesday, and you'll find the information on our district calendar. Thank you Thank you Any other announcements? Mr. Deming Yeah, the um, M. A. S. D. The massachusetts school committee annual conference is happening Uh, in a few weeks, obviously, it's all virtual this time. Um, I've actually never gone even though I know a bunch of members across the state, um it's uh, we you need to register by the 28th and the committees need to Designate you as the representative and then each committee gets one vote. It's basically like a massive school committee meeting what I've been told You know, so if that the sound of that appeals to you then great, um If it doesn't then no, but uh, I guess in in the normal times, it's a great way to you know Uh, kind of recharge and connect with your colleagues understand what a real eclectic body of people Schools and school committees are across the state. Um, it is it is also a way to meet people who are doing other things like advocacy, uh, they're voting on, um, uh Resolution about school funding they're voting on a resolution about, um, racism and racial awareness About a bunch of other things that all the information is done is on there on the website if you're interested um Sometimes committees have a formal agenda and you vote. Uh, it's it's it's really just designate. So if um If we're having a meeting next week, then it could be done next week as well But I didn't want to go by without mentioning that if people had interest When we get to agenda planning, we'll get to that. I don't right now. We don't necessarily have one on the agenda So if we don't end up with a meeting, I'll just say if anybody At least from ammarson region if anybody's interested, um, feel free to to email, um And I do have one one quick announcement. I almost forgot. Um, there's a meeting coming up. I'm currently serving as the representative on the formerly known as English learner parent advisory council now known as the bilingual parent advisory council And they have a meeting coming up On tuesday next week at 7 p.m. 7 to 8 p.m The it's going to be obviously on google meets. Um, and uh talking about a variety of things including the Seal of biliteracy and update on that as well as updates on el and dual language programs And planning for the school year. So, um any families are Interested and welcome to join and share ideas and and plan for the for the school year for that organization Okay, moving on to our I don't see any more announcements. So moving on to our new and continuing business. Um, We are our first item is the superintendent goals and Dr. Morris did email us His um his proposal Um, would it be helpful? It might be helpful since it wasn't in the packet to share that Yeah, I was just gonna ask if you'd like me to do that. Sure Sure, would you like me to briefly walk through them? Yes, please Sure. So, um, you can see that I I added the standards if you didn't see your email later this afternoon I I neglected to do that On the first run. So really, uh, I want to thank you for the really thorough document that committees sent me. Um, it was I'm trying not to use superlatives, but it was extremely helpful in writing these goals to know where the committees were So, thank you. Uh, the first one was really around, um against something we just talked about social emotional wellness of students Uh, and that's including the multiple pandemics that are going on right now. Um, and the anti racism curriculums being finalized The second goal around diverse needs is, uh, more specific to Amherst But around looking at early childhood education and what that might look like and what potential there is Uh, to expand it. We are going to move forward with that. Um, finishing off that study that was started last year and delayed because of because of covid The third one was kind of this one about, uh, reflecting on what we're learning this year. Um, you know, it calls out explicitly later Start times because that's one that continues to come up in terms of feedback we're receiving Um, I imagine Emily and her colleagues have thoughts on that one and we want to hear them. Um, you know, it's It is the first thing that any middle school or high school or talks about the school year mentions is That classes start at nine o'clock. I don't want to say every but I think the majority who I've heard from, uh, come on that explicitly so, uh, but there are other things that we should absolutely talk about, um, and and You know, try to figure out what those things are and engage the community To learn from what we're we're doing something really different than what we've ever done And I'm not just talking about the virtual just everything is really different And I use the desk example and I'm not claiming that all early childhood educators would want to use desks forever But it was an interesting reflection three days in of like I've changed my view now that I've actually experienced teaching young children in desks and what advantages they might have And there's others, um, large and small The next one was again completing that study for the sixth grade Move to arms and engaging the community what we're planning for spring and couldn't happen and we'll have to think of different ways to engage the community But we we need to continue to do that and need to move forward And that'll be important as it relates to the something that's in the next one, which is the elementary building project but monitor the expenses the pandemic and you know, we sort of talked a lot about money today And the shortfalls that may arise And that may influence next year and we still want to look at the capital plan and complete ADA You know, right? Some of these things can't wait, you know, students with disabilities Can't wait years and years for our buildings to become more and more accessible And the elementary building project, which is going to be an Amherst only agenda item in a couple minutes That needs to continue and we need to keep our eye on that because that's certainly a priority I know of the Amherst school committee. So I tried my best to weave in things that were Applied to all three districts when I could And but not exclude I went back and forth on this about well, should I not mention the elementary building project? And I don't think I should have goals in this job in this town And not mentioning the Amherst elementary building project that feel felt a little bit Awkward it would feel too general. So I don't know if I got the right mix But that's sort of what I was attempting to do is take the document you all offered Offered things that there's broad agreement in the three committees as priorities And also when there were individual items in individual districts call them out explicitly so that there wasn't confusion Around them. So I'm open to any and all feedback, you know tonight or certainly if there's individual feedback People want to give me after they've had a chance to reflect on these and and offer them But you know, I tried to do my best to take the documents you all shared with me and put them into action bull goals me Mr. Demling So I like the list. I think you did a good job translating the school committee document. Um This is an ambitious list um If you if you dropped almost all of this you would still have a very full plate given what's going on with with times and More might be added, you know, we talked last year and we'll talk a little bit during planning about What if we radically altered next year's school committee calendar and you know Had school during parts of summer and big ideas like that that if we seriously start to explore we're going to involve a lot of your time So, you know, I like I want to set you up to succeed I I don't disagree with any of these things as values. Um, but you know, does does this feel Manageable for you given everything else that's going on. I don't know what manageable means at this point and that's sort of ingesting sort of not Um I do think The things that need to happen Right and so, you know, like I'll pick the second one, right? So that's the probably the most Specific and finite one um I'm not sure that we're going to be able to expand preschool access Next in fiscal year 22 given what I know about fiscal year 21 and what I Presume about fiscal year 22. We still need to complete the study right so, um you know, I I think You know, we wait too long between two phases of a study and the study becomes meaningless because it actually doesn't You know, one part doesn't speak to the other part. So I do think it is I think, you know, much like this past year as long as the committees are comfortable that Things may change right and priorities may change, you know, I think, you know We had a good model in my opinion for that and how the evaluation worked and how goals work this year And as long as we keep that spirit, I feel like it's It's probably the right approach to have I had a similar question, but I but you for me at least you've answered it. Well, so and thank you any other comments input questions Dr. Morris I typically do this and she definitely can uh, really ignore me and that's fine But I wonder if Emily just has some thoughts if if some of these goals Speak to, you know, what students particularly at the high school level And I'm not asking you to be representative sample of all students at the high school but as you look at this list Are these the type of things that you think We all should be working on To improve the experience of high school students and you know, that's a yes. No question I probably shouldn't have asked it that way But if you had any thoughts to share We're open to hearing them or I am and I think I speak for the committee And if not or if you want to think about it get back to me That's fine, too, but I always love hearing from the student experience I want to give you the opportunity explicitly Um, I think I'll get back to you. I'm going to talk to some more students and sort of Yeah I'll email you this document explicitly so you you have it um on file and again I'm very open to hearing what uh students would think and and adjusting it based on that because that's you're all why we're here So, um, I'll make sure you get that okay Any other thoughts um for now? We will be coming back to this at an future meeting we're now voting on this tonight, so Okay, great. Thank you. Dr. Morris. Thank you And now we're moving on to um Our next item, which is future agenda planning, which we've alluded to multiple times um We can try to pull that up if um To share that Just give me one second I just can't seem to find it in my email Do you want me to come in? Do you want me to take a look for it? Yeah, if you could that would be good for the packet so I can project what's in the packet, but if we're going to edit it I can't Still be here I found it so I will share Okay, are folks seeing this? No, at least if I can make it bigger So this is this is just a um, it looks more official than I would say it is this is just To start the conversation um and look at sort of a potential schedule Um so that we can then in the past what we've been what we the last year Sort of use this document to map out the full year where we could um So once we have finalized our goals There's a lot that we know about what our future agendas might be looking like and and we've found it helpful Just speaking from the amorce committee perspective as well as the region um To map them out where possible because then we then we can we know what to expect and we know Sort of when we're adding things to our plate, you know, what impact that might have on sort of Future long meetings. Um now we're moving to two and a half hours right now so So in the past the region has met typically twice a month every other week and amorce has met once a month I didn't add a pelaman here because I'm sorry, but I didn't know what column schedule usually has been So And we had talked as I recall at our last meeting there was both interest in having joint continuing joint meetings where it made sense and then also thinking of um as as we just heard Pelham needs Pelham only meetings and Given some of these goals that are amorce only Potentially need for amorce only meetings as well. So I didn't I didn't note going forward when You know, which ones might be joint meetings and which ones might not and so I guess the question For us to consider is do we want to map those out or do we want? You know, which ones might be joint and which ones might not do we want to Do that sort of on a monthly basis look at look at it and figure out which ones might be joint um and and just sort of you know use this as our starting point and and adjust as needed and um as as things come up throughout the year so it just spoke a lot so uh Welcome welcome ideas and suggestions um from anybody on the three committees Miss dancer um It seems to me that at least For the next little bit That we might try to plan as we go in terms of whether we're going to have joint meetings or not um depending on perhaps what that amorce Committee decides they need to talk about what the region needs to talk about and what Pelham needs to talk about But certainly it seems to me. They're going to be some times when we're still going to all want to be in the same meeting Just my thoughts so um Sorry, I saw some people moving to but just to restate if i'm hearing Would you be is or is what you're suggesting sort of Put a placeholder that every time there's an rs a region meeting on here put in parenz Joint potential joint meeting. Is that sort of what you're? Yeah Yeah, I I think we could do that and then If we cancelled the joint meeting, I don't think anybody's going to complain Certainly for the amorce representatives it won't make too much difference um Mr. Demling did you have your hand up? Yeah, um one. I'm not sure how much of many of us are going to show up to that november 3rd meeting We might want to move that date. I think this something happened that night You're not getting the joke um No, I think I think in general like laying the tracks in directly in front of us has been Working out pretty well I mean, maybe it's been much more difficult the chaotic from for your point of view because you're the one who has to actually Schedule and post it, but um, I think I think it's a lot. It's like weather forecasting I think it's a lot clearer whether we'll need a joint meeting when we're a week or two out from it Then when we're you know three or four months out, so um And I think I think people given the size of our joint committees people have been remarkably flexible in terms of uh You know all of a sudden we need a joint meeting or this has to be amristin region and um, we get Very high attendance. So um, I'm okay with not Having a set schedule months in advance, you know if if this stuff if this is a straw man And it has to move around quite a bit based on me. That's I mean that works for me And it seems seems it seems to have worked for others in the past Miss hall Yeah, I would say the same. I'm I'm fine having it be as needed. I mean My attendance can continue. I what else are we going to do, right? So I'm me I don't have plans Any other thoughts I think um, you know part of it part of my motivation is also just so that we you know Sort of set this agreement that tentatively will be meeting every other week unless that we Have a need for another, you know an adding a meeting canceling meeting or moving a meeting, right? But I think that also helps that the community understand like when is the next meeting and sort of see forward um You know and and everybody knows it's subject to change I think you know at least sort of seeing that that what the cadence is can be helpful for the community as well um, so then looking at that november 3rd date, um I don't know. I was sort of like thinking people might want something else less stressful to watch but You don't think people will tune away and and check in on the joint committee meetings Mr. Minino I plan to watch tv 24 hours a day on that date Um So do we want to look to the week after that the um or the next week or What a um or just a different day during that week of the second Miss dancer What if we just move it to thursday? Is that going to conflict with anything else for people? Ah I have a conflict that night. I could definitely do the wednesday. Um the Fourth I guess. Yep the fourth. Um, I would have a hard time doing that thursday Yeah, that's the last thursday. I have a conflict. I do have that a conflict that thursday Are folks okay with the wednesday the fourth? Seeing lots of thumbs up great. Um Um and if they're the other question that I had was um earlier in this meeting we talked about um Ms. Lloyd brought up the idea of um Advocacy work for um maintaining chapter 70 funding um for f y 22 I think I'm not sure if i'm phrasing. I just scribbled that down um as you were speaking and I wanted to know if That was something that we wanted to consider a resolution On that next meeting that might be Building on what dr. Morris said that might be too late might be better for us to do that individually But just sort of tossing that out there for the committee. Um, is that something that the committee would be interested in addressing them? See a few nodding heads. Okay So we'll add that And um dr. Morris does that timing work for update on an update on q1 It does yeah Great. Yeah, when I added the aft speed piece as well potentially. Oh, right. Okay. That would be a regional only but it would be I think a relatively brief brief item Okay Great, uh, mr. Demlin. Yeah before we leave agenda plan. I did want to see if there was uh general committee interest in exploring this idea of uh major changes to the f y 22 calendar slash structure um This is brought up. I think in public comment last week. Um, or that we've received offline Uh, this idea of starting this school year a lot earlier maximizing time during the summer Not to get into the pros and cons of it, but is there Is their community is their committee interested in exploring it because if there is this is something that we would want to probably Start looking at earlier rather than later Um, mr. Menino and then mr. Yes, I I think we should export earlier rather than later And I saw some other thumbs up so I think uh, that's a that's a yes, so we'll add that We need now that we have the raised hand we need a thumbs up emoji our reaction in the here too Um, miss dancer. Did you have a question? Do you mean spitzer because I I have my hand up. Oh, sorry. Um, go ahead miss spitzer I'm but I also see um miss dancers raised hand too, but go ahead miss spitzer Sorry, so I just wanted to second that I mean, I think I brought it up also Try to the public comment at when we were going over the calendar um So the only thing I wanted to flag as something to consider is that I think similar to some of the other things We've talked about tonight. It might be part of um contract um But so I'm just curious about like the process by which can we talk about it first before we enter new Just wanted to raise that um as a process issue Dr. Morris It certainly would be part of negotiations, but I think in this particular regard Um, I don't see any content. It's not it's not part of any current negotiations I think as long as it's spoken about as The committee exploring an interest knowing that it would have to be negotiated I don't see any, you know, I thought about this one and at first I had Moreover negative read on it and then I kind of thought more about it And I think the committee should feel free to talk about it knowing that any decision Committee would come to would have to be go through impact bargaining with With bargaining units, but I don't I don't see as a need to hold off on that at all given that it's not currently a topic of negotiations and You know, as long as you have that caveat in mind. I don't see a conflict Miss there's a hand up Miss hall, I think I'm looking for a white Sorry Um, I well, I don't know if it makes sense to follow up with this later But dr. Morris, do you think that next week is too soon for a Pelham only meeting to talk enrollment and other matters Or do you want to take this offline and we can I can follow up with the rest of the committee after we talk I don't think it's too soon Uh, I don't think I'll have particularly more data then but I think some of the questions about comparing to past years will be easily to easy to accumulate and That'd be fine with me to meet x week in Pelham We could certainly follow up line on the agenda, but I do think this is an acute issue. We shouldn't wait too long to talk about Okay, all right, um Okay, I would That I'll check in with committee members and you on availability another time, but let's assume Next week All right, thanks. Okay. If there's no other comments and um Again given our late hour will move along to uh warrant reports. Um I have to I see miss spitzer nodding miss spitzer. Why don't you go? great, um So I authorized by my signature to pay a bulls in the amount of $461,274 and 64 cents for the warrant dated October 6th 2020 This included general fund expenses of $158,640 $4 and 14 cents revolving fund expenses of 140,963 dollars and 30 cents In grant fund expenses of 153,817 dollars and 20 cents And other funds for capital in the amount of 7,850 dollars and I signed it on october 8th 2020 In addition, I authorized by my signature to pay a bulls in the amount of 637,052 and 9 cents for a warrant dated october 8th 2020 And this included um general fund expenses in that amount And it was dated um signed by me and dated october On october 8th 2020 And then one last one Um On october 9th or sorry for a warrant dated This one doesn't have the nice cover sheet for me um I signed a warrant dated october 7th 2020 for payroll expenses in the amount of 394,700 $703.51 that is Sorry, I'm just looking at the document and Let me correct myself, please because I find the cover sheets at the end So I'm gonna scrap what I just wrote and I'm gonna read one more time. Sorry So I carry spits are authorized by my signature to pay bulls in the amount of 758,689 and 49 cents for the warrant dated october 7th 2020 And this authorized payroll in that amount For october 7th 2020 and I signed that on october 9th 2020. Thank you And miss hall Okay, um, I authorized by my signature to pay a bulls in the amount of 75,320 and 64 cents For the warrant dated october 16th 2020 This included general fund expenses of 37,241 and 97 cents And grant fund expenses of 38,078 and 67 cents And I signed that on october 16th And then I authorized by my signature to pay a bulls in the amount of 58,428 and 22 cents for the warrant dated october 21st 2020 And that was that full amount the 58,428 22 was all for payroll and I signed that on october 19th And I have two for the emmerced District I Alice McDonald authorized by my signature to pay a bulls in the amount of 657,379 dollars and 48 cents for a warrant dated october 7th 2020 That was all payroll in the amount of 657,379 dollars and 48 cents And I signed that on october 8th and I authorized by my signature to pay a bulls in the amount of 143,303 dollars and 38 cents for a warrant dated october 9th 2020 This included general fund expenses of 68,147 dollars and 39 cents revolving fund expenses of 180 dollars and 40 cents And grant fund expenses of 15,536 dollars and 47 cents FEMA fund of 31,843 dollars and 19 cents COVID relief grant in the amount of 632 dollars CARES fund CARES Act funding of 26,782 dollars and 93 cents And a gift to the school in the amount of 181 dollars And I signed that on october 14th We now move on to gifts and in our packets we had Two gifts one for the region and one for Amherst and I actually have that all set up so I can project Are folks seeing this yet? Okay, I would somebody like from Amherst like to make a motion I'm happy to That's what sir I move that the Amherst school committee accept the following gifts from the port river parent council number 2105 to support the port river library for anti-racism materials in the amount of 500 dollars And from martha albert number 995877 To support crocker farm at the principal's discretion in the amount of 10 dollars for a total of 510 dollars second We'll move by spitzer seconded by mcdonald any discussion Move to a vote of the amherst school committee. Um, mr. Deming. Demling. I Mr. Harrington Harrington I Miss lord lord. I miss spitzer spitzer I In mcdonald I motion passes five to zero And now from the region We have one gift I'll make the motion. Um, I move For the regional school committee that we accept the following gift from Jennifer casasanto donor advised fund In the reman james charitable fund number check number 153143 to support remote teaching needs and the amount of 800 dollars Is that a second? Move by mcdonald second by spitzer. We'll take a roll call vote of the region mr. Demling Demling I Mr. Harrington Harrington I miss Kenny Kenny I miss lord Lord I miss seager Seager I miss spitzer Spitzer I miss stancer Stancer I Mr. Sullivan Sullivan I And mcdonald I And the motion passes nine to zero Okay, um And I stop sharing Okay, um, I move to adjourn the regional school committee. Is there a second second Move by mcdonald second by Kenny no discussion. Um, and we'll take a roll call vote mr. Demling Demling I Mr. Harrington Harrington I Miss Kenny Kenny I Miss lord Lord I Miss seager Seager I Miss spitzer Spitzer I Miss stancer Stancer I Mr. Sullivan Sullivan I And mcdonald I The region is adjourned Chair Hall Oh, you have a question or a comment That was just a goodbye. Sorry, I thought oh I'm so confused by hands tonight. I'm not getting any of it, right All right on that note. I will move to adjourn the Pelham school committee. Uh, is there a second second All right move by hall seconded by stancer Okay, um, all right roll call vote miss stancer Stancer I Miss Kenny Kenny I Miss barlow Barlow I Mr. Menino Menino I And haul I Pelham is adjourned It seems that we we all seem so large now on the screen because everybody There's only five of us um So we have wanted a one agenda item and it's to hear an update on the msb a elementary school building project um so, uh I'll ask uh dr. Morris if he can Help us out with that Yeah, sure. I'll be brief so the next Well the next the first meeting of the building committee Is next Tuesday the 27th that's 7 30 in the morning so, uh, the Building committee has been formed and populated with members through the town manager and that process with the town council People have been sworn in. Um So we're looking forward to that meeting and getting getting things off to a good start. So, um We're we're we're raring to go with that Uh in terms of the district level the non larger committee. We've been in multiple conversations with the msba uh around enrollment and You know enrollment projection and so at this point we continue to go back and forth of another conversation with them later this week Um, just trying to narrow down our options. Uh that we want to study again. There's no surprises here. Um, you know We are looking at an option as is required of just looking at the building as is and just managing that An option of 600 students, you know in a school that's either k to 5 or k to 6 depending on What we do And then perhaps somewhere in between model, you know, if if kind of the cracker farm study That came out if the town decided it opted to spend money on its own The msba is very clear that that they wouldn't participate in an expansion of cracker farm. That's would be a townwide decision um Of of something in between those two numbers. So, you know, they have their own projections. They have their own uh resources It's been really helpful the town Someone from the town hall has been helpful in terms of people knowing about new developments and rentals and How to look at our town which is funky in terms of How to analyze it from a housing perspective because it doesn't follow typical trends um That most communities do, you know, we've for instance a higher rate of Rentals of single family homes than most communities would have That you know that kind of thing Townwide there's more transiency because of the nature of the universities and the colleges that affect it So we've had some really useful conversations. Uh when anything we would get to resolution I'll bring it back to the committee. That's not where we are But as it always is my experience a very collaborative effort from the msba staff I feel like they're incredibly professional knowledgeable and they also understand Amherst, which is really nice uh to know So that's sort of where we are is we're still looking at enrollment enrollment. Um, you know numbers and what that would look like Uh, we are going to study multiple options. This is required as part of the msba study Uh and our first meeting is next week. So that's out of the quick summary I'm happy to answer any questions anyone might have Miss better Um, it's a two quick ones. I'm curious are those the 7 30 a.m. Morning meetings. So there's going to be live streamed and recorded or I'm just curious about access to those Um, if at all and then the second question was, you know with the numbers that you were showing us early in the decline in enrollment. I mean that kind of Is me for a raised a red flag for me thinking about the elementary schools and seemed like our three elementary schools were actually a little bit less and particularly for river Was the smallest decline percentage wise, which was nice to see because I think that's I I don't know, but I'm just curious about your thoughts. I'm like, do we need to be it's late Do we need to be concerned about that decline in enrollment? With regard to the msba project Yeah, their projections are set. They were based off prior years information. So, you know They've been very clear as they always are being so thoughtful that they know enrollments right now are really A typical and changing And their practice is that they're going to stay the course with their methods And so, you know, we were explicit that we're seeing a change and they say every district they're working with is seeing some level of change So we are moving forward, you know with with the projections that were developed from in the multiple sources they have and they're looking primarily at birth years and When they say survival rate, they mean how many kids were born five years prior And how many students show up in the public schools? And I think that word could be misinterpreted given the context, but So they have all those things and they know the survival rate is going to be super wacky For every district right now. And so they're, you know, my sense is That they're understanding of that and not trying to over traumatize the impact on a building project from that The the meeting is posted with the zoom link because it's it's the town. So it's already been posted On that the topics are call to order introductions discuss the charge of the elementary school building committee Identify a chair a vice chair of the elementary school, but and vice chair, excuse me of the elementary school building committee Meeting schedule future planning items not anticipated by the chair 48 hours before the meeting kind of funding So none of the chair is now public comment and adjourn. So that's been set and posted by town staff And the link and how to access it and all that's on the town website where meetings will be posted so on that following up on that Thought about meetings posted. Um, we did create The district did create a A page on the elementary the building project and I wonder um I don't want to create extra extra work, but I think there'll be some sort of expectation that sort of Um agendas and minutes will be will be posted there Um, so that might be helpful to sort of start that Have it now from the very first beginning so that people know that Agreed. Yeah, thank you Other questions Seeing none Okay, great. Um, so then we have one last agenda item Daymore school committee I'll second that so, um moved by spitzer second by mcdonald no discussion. Um, miss spitzer Spitzer I I'm going out of order now. I'm going just by on the screen. Ms. Lord Lord. I Mr. Harrington Harrington I Mr. Demling McDonald's I By mr. Demling's opposition we are Make it for the record that I said I am breaking the streak I am channeling the spirit of mr. Selman. He you know three hours. This isn't long enough And now um, we are adjourned officially so thank you Right