 Mr. Kimball How are you? I'm doing well, so I can't have him Since we had to speak I think it's probably It probably was yeah, yeah, well, it's good to see you again, and I believe Lynn Kota might be jumping on at some point as well Superintendent up there in Franklin, Northeast Remind me Bill. Where's make-or-run school district? So the reason we we asked you to come in is when we're talking with Jeff Fannin of the NDA We were talking about and we're working on the facilities that bill that we're gonna be taken Through by alleged counsel tomorrow and pick up the next week But we're really looking at issues in the state where there may be some big discrepancies around offerings in other words You know you I can just think of my own personal experience with my cousins up at a little school in Northeast Kingdom Great school lots of incredible opportunities But compared to maybe some more urban areas Again, this is somewhat anecdotal not as many opportunities So we could we could certainly start there And so what we're trying to figure out in a little bit with our friends and appropriations and and others is First of all how big is the need in other words? We do not want kids We know kids are competing globally. We know kids are also Competing with other kids, you know within the country and we don't want kids leaving schools Without as many opportunities as possible You know if you're the kid that really wants to take a class in Chinese Given the technology today, it seems to me that we want to be able to offer some of those innovative exciting things We're also quite cognizant of the fact that if there are two kids that really want to take Chinese the school Probably isn't gonna hire somebody Nor would the person be able to you know financially figure out a life anywhere in Vermont with housing Etc. Where they could just go and teach a couple classes of Chinese So we're looking at different things and I've been telling my own personal story here where I'm taking a history of Boston class my first online class ever through Harvard extension anybody can sign up and I've been so impressed by how much you really can get through these online experiences, you know with discussion boards faculty member all sorts of other supports out there and So if this 52 year old guy can do it I bet a lot of people a hell of a lot younger than I can can get something out of it. So That's the situation. We're looking at we're also talking with appropriations related that should do we need to have some funding set aside for schools That want to be able to offer things and just can't right now So that's the situation Did you know any of the I don't know if we've talked about this any of the Pennex and Craftsbury or Hazen Well, I know their experience, you know, that's Patrick is my uncle and So his kids were at Craftsbury Academy and you know again great things Incredible, but not always a ton. I think of different offerings So Bill, can it can you is it working out in that regard then in your district? I mean are you using technology and some Have you tried it though with kids that you know, again, you're not I Was speaking with some constituents recently and some young women were saying that they didn't realize this but Talking to their therapist is Better over zoom than in person, you know And they were talking about are there ways to make sure when they go away to school They can continue to work with their therapist and get reimbursed for that kind of thing Do you ever go to the student that again? You might not know that much about and just say hey Sally might you want to try this class? And before we move to Lynn, I'm just curious and others may have a question about some of this but Funding for these kinds of things. This is all this is all built into your budget So I'm curious about that. Secondly, is there Either you experience personally or do you know schools where there's some real Technological deficiencies that the state should know about to make sure that we can get funds to certain schools So that they too around equity can participate in these things that other kids can participate Yeah, and you know, I've seen the CUDs in some districts. I feel like they're really knocking it out of the park We heard from Christina. Oh, please to you know oversees this for the state And I left the meeting feeling like she's got her eye on those areas particularly where you know, there's real need and equity issues But I appreciate knowing that senator do it. Thank you chair Thank you superintendent Kimbo for speaking with us much appreciated and thank you for your work. It's not easy I was just wondering if there's still a program by which you can have a Faculty member teach a VTV LC class and get a certain number of students To be able to take a course for free. Do they still do that on a totally different subject You mentioned that kids from first grade on have a device. I'm just wondering as an educator if you have any thoughts on the effects of Screen time on on Children's brains Thank you, sir weeks Thank you, mr. So superintendent Kimball up. I'm so trying to get my head around the 90% of students that 90% of the students are Who call who do not qualify for a free or reduced lunch or the ones who are requesting or utilizing the online access courses? And I understand that internet access potentially in your district's region is Problematic I'm just the question really is is there in the school? Is there enough bandwidth and access that's That allows Fair use of the system of the remote courses And then that the inhibitor is somewhere else. It's not in the school facility itself It's not in schools physical facility. I'm gonna say it that way and is And let me just follow and there is is there enough time in the school day for a student to to utilize a remote Program, okay. Thank you Yeah, Senator do it Superintendent Kota. Thank you so much for being with us. I Really appreciate how difficult your jobs are especially during and post pandemic. So thank you very very much I I'm really glad that you've brought up Your you know alternative programs. I think often what I hear from folks is that Their child or a student doesn't fit into a public school And I often have to explain to folks that within a public school structure You can often have Alternative programs or even like alternative schools. I know in Burlington We have horizons and on top and at Essex High School where I taught before we had a program called ace So I just really appreciate that there's a concerted effort within the public sphere to Meet the needs of all kinds of learners and all with all different kinds of talents abilities, etc So thank you for bringing that up Thank you Any other questions for Ms. Kota at this point? No or mr. Kimble This is really helpful and I would still like to figure out the piece around the free and reduced lunch kids that you know aren't taking advantage of some of this technology and If there's something that you think we should have our eye on related to that, you know Let us know again what we're in some conversations with the probes. It's really You know, I love that what senator Gullick just said how can we make our public schools more vibrant more? Interesting offer different classes whether they're online or get different teachers in part-time teachers or something We're having a serious They're going to have a serious look at with the house You know it how can we you know deal with this teacher shortage as well as not lose Well only improve, you know the academics and the experiences that kids are having so if you do have ideas This is a place to bring them Lynn what percentage of your students would you say don't have access? Thanks, Lynn. We can always loop back to you as we continue our work on this bill any other final comments from you We need to take a few minutes of a break before you move on to our next meeting, but any concluding comments? Thank you both really makes a difference when you're able to Be with us like this. So thank you and also thanks for everything you do And we'll keep you posted on some of our progress on other fronts and likely have you back later this year All right, thank you very much. Thank you. Bye. Bye. Good to see you both Can you let's take five and we'll come back