 order at 604. Can we get the agenda up on the screen, please? Any adjustments to the agenda needed? The only thing we got is it under action items, the approved the fiscal 1819 audit. Yeah, they're going to be approving it, but we will be sharing all the notes of executive session tonight. Okay, so we'll need executive session for that. Alright. And we also will have to, I think, do a brief update on what's going on with the contract dialogue, I believe, because we had some news today. Yup. So that's not in the maintenance and executive session. It does sell, say, personnel and procedures. Any public comments? Hearing none. I would entertain dialogue regarding the minutes of June 29, June 22, and June 11. Are there any any dialogue? I'll make a motion to approve. Approve which one one or all? Oh, is there a second? Second, Sarah. Kathy approved to the minute. And Sarah seconded for the minutes on June 29, 2022, 2020, June 22, 2020, and June 11, 2020 as submitted. Any other discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? So motion passes, minutes approved as submitted. Reports from folks. We'd like to go first. I can. Okay. The process we're looking to do is make certain that you guys with your agendas get written reports. And you'll have ahead of time that you can review. And then we'll entertain any questions you have about each of our reports. In addition to entertaining questions, I want to let you know that Ray and I met with Otis. It's the company we use to house our data, student achievement data, and that can generate several reports for us in regards to how students are performing over times, most versus in cohorts and different demographics that we're going to look to better leverage at our data team meetings in the future to make informed decisions around universal instruction or interventions that will get rolled out during the admin retreat. In addition to we've applied and we're going to be moving forward with Swiss in order to house our social emotional data across the SU and both of these platforms will be used to make informed decisions both on instruction and supports, as well as to inform the reports that you're going to get be receiving monthly that was part of your packet for a data calendar. So I just wanted to add that and then there were questions about when reorganization would occur. The board would be looking to reorganize in August. G HUD has not voted yet and has not reorganized. So therefore, we can't reorganize the SU board until that occurs. Right. Any other questions that folks have? Hearing none. Anything else folks? For Jamie? No. Jamie, I just wanted to ask, and I don't know how to approach this. I was watching the news tonight and I saw one of our principles on having and I just wondered if that was known prior to or if that was something off the cuff. Nope, I was informed about that last week. Okay. Done. What was this about? It was about kids going back to school. And I didn't know that the white room that we had done any formulations of that to put out. So I just wondered where that came from. That's all. Got it. Yeah. And it wasn't necessarily representing White River School. It was more about educators in general. It's how it had it had his name and affiliation underneath on the gap. I was aware that that might occur. Yeah. Okay. Anything else? I'd like to go next. There's Tara. I'm sorry. I'm here. Hi. I'm just, I don't have anything with me. I'm in the car. So I emailed you all my reports yesterday to look at and then in the executive session we'll discuss the FY 19 management letter. So if there's any questions on any of the other stuff in my report, I can answer, try and answer those. And I also wanted to share that bill applied for an $8,000 grant for the summer food service program and he was awarded that. We found that out late Friday. So that's going to help with the summer food service program. Nice. Anything else for Tara? Well, hearing none. I would like to go. Don? Yeah. You want to So yeah, the brilliance. Well, I'll try. Just settling into my office a little bit, finding, as my report says, meeting people, building those relationships and, you know, role finding out roles and responsibilities within our team, reaching out to our, you know, supporting agencies like Claire Martin and so forth. So again, we're, we're, you know, it's a work in progress, you know, so looking at the budgets, looking at caseloads, trying to analyze where we're at. And hopefully in next meeting, I'll have some, some more figures and numbers for you where I think we should go. Do you think that's that's a doable, doable timeframe? Do you think we can get something next meeting or? I'll give you what I have. Okay. And as we move forward. So it might not be a polished and finished product, but I'll keep you posted where I'm at. Terrific. Any questions for Don? Is anybody out there? No, I'm just kidding. Just kidding. I can see you all. Mary Ellen, do you want to step up to the plate? Yes. So in my report, I, it's quite detailed, but I've been working with Charlie Watson and Amy Toth on the coaching and the detail of what's going to happen next year in our work with teachers to help them provide instructional practices that can be used both in the classroom and online if we need to transition back and forth. And Amy Toth is on the line. Amy, do you want to just add something there? I'm just really excited about the work going forward. And we're pulling in a few new groups in more of a systematic way, including pre-K as well as interventionists. And Jamie's indicated some additional work with principals also. So I fleshed out those sequences this last week. And I'm really excited about how we'll be implementing some of the phonics and word study in the coming year as well as firming up our work from last year. So those are the highlights for the curriculum instruction and assessment area. We are working on assessment plan, which will develop all our data points as Jamie was pointing out so that we can report out through the year. There's more in there. If you want to take a chance and read it all, that's fine. And I'll answer any questions anybody has. Has anybody had a chance to review it and then formulate questions at this point? Mary Ellen will review it and digest it and review. Thank you. Cynthia, do we have a lot of money coming? Well, I sent you a report which said that we were awarded $737,000. It's a little bit higher than it was last year, but it had to be distributed differently because the free and reduced lunch numbers changed. And we are spending included in our initiatives for the grant is salaries for the grant administrator pre-K interventionist, part of the pre-K coordinator salary, the parent family engagement and homeless liaison instructional coach and part of the literacy coach and every all the other stuff went to the schools. That's all I really have to say. And I also we also got the best grant and we're out for the we're waiting to hear on the tobacco grant, which is about $30,000. So the best grant is going to pay for the Swiss software to go into the schools that don't have it. So we'll have a consistent way to measure referrals and behavioral issues. So that's all I've got. Okay. Yeah, that tobacco grant has really diminished over time. For some reason, I don't know why but Okay, anything any questions for Cynthia? Regarding grant funding and dispersion. I don't have the list for the agenda. Rob, who's next? Anybody technology technology, right? Thank you. So you have my report. And I would just like to highlight that devices came back mostly in good shape. Devices damage was at a manageable level. Devices have been ordered for the fall in the amounts that we think are appropriate. We're reviewing what we use to send alert phone calls, emails and texts, try to streamline that for better communication. And what was the other thing I talked about? Consolidating services has saved us a little bit of money and we'll look to do that again in the fall for budget season in next year. Thank you. Nice. Any questions for Ray? Hearing none, we're moving right along. Can you post that agenda again? Yeah. Please. We're on to negotiations done. Negotiations. Okay, do we I just wanted to put out that date and I think we've confirmed that we will meet as a committee on July 20th at six. You want it on the 20th or the 17th? You want it on Monday, whatever on a Monday, Monday is preferable for most of us. Isn't that the 20th? I don't I don't know. Okay, that'd be fine. Whatever. Okay. All right. That's good for me. All right. So Monday, the 20th at six, I'll get that out tomorrow. And then as far as policy committee goes, I was hoping to pull that committee together on the 27th at six. I did. As far as the the dialogues regarding the contracts, I think we might as well let everybody know that the teachers came back with a counter proposal. So I that doesn't jive with what we had sent them. So we're going to have to set back and figure out where we go from here, folks. So just want to come in case anybody was wondering, right? Sorry, Jamie. No, you're fine. I'm just looking to there's been some desire to get back to work on policies. Oh, who wants to do that? I just heard a few people might be interested. That's everybody's favorite. There was some talk, at least at the Rudd level, and that's why I want to pull the policy committee together about the idea of an equity policy. And so I wanted to pull the policy committee together to discuss that. And there's some other business in regards to grants and things that we need to tidy up and revise. So I was looking to pull that together, that committee on the 27th at six. I think we did have some unfinished business anyway. I recall some that were sent back that Dina needed some pretty significant revisions. That's true. There were three. Yeah. OK, so the 27th. That works. All right, we'll get that out. OK, let's see. All right, discussion items. What's going on with the COVID-19 update with the test? The committee met on Thursday. All the subcommittees provided their last final draft. The committee reviewed it. I'm supposed to be receiving it this week, formatted. And I've got a meeting with Bonnie Born. She facilitated the group tomorrow to review those documents. I've been reviewing them as they've gone. My plan was to issue that document in full on Thursday. Late last week, there was information that came up from the agency that they might provide an additional update this week. Of revised guidelines. I'm trying to gather whether or not those are small revisions or large revisions. So I put a probe out in regards at the AOE and the VSA to find out if folks have any information around that. If they're small, my plan is to still release the task force guidelines. If it looks like it could be something large that I'm going to hold off and my bi-weekly communication will be this week to explain why that is. So my hope is to have a document out this week that provides the schools with the guidelines and recommendations around how they can look to move forward and implement in-person instruction at the building level. We have a COVID-19 now tab on the SU page where folks can submit questions and I'm answering them every two weeks. One of the larger questions we have, and I think what the agency is wrestling with, that we've asked for greater clarity around is what constitutes an immediate medical risk that then we would look to be able to provide virtual learning to an elementary student due to that risk. That's the guidance we haven't received yet in a clear way. At the middle high school level, there's a little bit more of an ability to maneuver around the idea of personalized learning and pathways that can better allow us to provide a hybrid model that we don't have the ability to do at the elementary school right now. And so we're taking those things case-by-case basis. Principles have been working with me to make certain that I'm in the loop at times when it's appropriate. Don's been part of those conversations and we're moving forward with the concept that we're gonna provide 95% of our students in-person instruction per the AOE and we will provide virtual learning on a case-by-case basis if that's not appropriate. And that's decided by a school team. It's important for the board to know right now the AOE stance on this is that it's in-person instruction unless a team decides that virtual learning is appropriate due to a risk. Otherwise, parents have to apply for homeschool. That is the current guidelines and they have until August 1st to do that. And so I'm waiting on further guidance and then I will wait until the last minute to get my letter out on Friday with that guidance and with the COVID Task Force recommendations. And Don, this is Lisa. I'm wondering if I can jump in and ask a question. Or shit. I'm wondering. I already did, please. Okay. I've been hearing that in districts where they've pulled their families, they've learned that somewhere between 15 and 25% of families don't feel comfortable returning their students for in-person instruction. So my concern is that if we were to find out that the numbers were that high, if we're not prepared to be flexible, that our ADM will be impacted in extremely negative ways that will hamstring the resources for all other students. So tonight on the news, I heard the superintendent of the Burlington district indicating that they are planning to be more flexible than what the state guidance is because the AOE has sort of backpedaled a little bit from what I've heard. And he's now saying that that's guidance as opposed to mandate. So I'm just wondering what you're thinking. I mean, I feel like you just shared what you're thinking is around this. I'm just incredibly concerned about our ADM if we have a large number of families applying for homeschooling or in some cases, families with resources applying to online private academies or in some instances, CCB has announced that they're doing all online instruction this year. So our seniors would be able to access early college. They've also pushed their application deadlines back. So it just all makes me very nervous for our district. I think we can be as flexible as we possibly can in the middle high school levels. And so Lisa, he's a brand new superintendent as well. And so I'm not certain what guidance he got to think that he could be that flexible, but that's not the information I received for the Winooski Valley Superintendent's Association. I'm not saying he hasn't, but what I need to make certain is that we can count those students if they're virtual. And right now the guidance I've received is that at the elementary level without a pathway that students need to be in-person instruction in order to count toward ADM unless a team is determined that it's appropriate on a case-by-case basis to have virtual learning in place. And if that guidance changes this week, then we will adjust. But what I'm not gonna do is, I don't think it would be wise for me to put that information out and then we're backtracking it. I have a question too, Sarah. Yes. I'm wondering what kind of considerations and considerations and opportunities we're also thinking of for help compromised employees. I'm working with legal and the VSA to have an original approach on that. And once that's determined, then we will issue that. This is Mika Tucker also from Stratford. I'm wondering what kind of equity assurances we're putting in place to make sure that these decisions are made in a way that doesn't favor the most activated families and doesn't rely on parents to be really savvy and understanding about how to get what they need. I'm concerned about our families who may have needs, but don't know how to self-advocate to get through the process for getting whatever waivers they need to have their kids be out of the classroom. Well, so for right now Mika, just so I'm clear, it would be medical related. Yeah, I'm not worried about whether or not they actually have a legitimate need. I'm worried about how to make sure that all parents understand the process, have the access get reviewed in the exact same way so that all kids are being reviewed for essentially a waiver in the exact same manner across the SU. Yeah, and so that information will continue to be rolled out. It's not gonna be a one shot. I mean, I think that you're, these are so far since coming on have put on at least four letters due to COVID and I'll be working with the administrative team to continue to get this message out. The other plan is we plan to hold forums across the SU on this once the recommendations come out. So there's a lot of work to be done, not a great deal of time. I'm rolling out a calendar with you to provide us some more time, but what I don't wanna do is provide information that I have to pull back. Yep. And what I, you know, I don't wanna say we can do elementary virtual learning and then we find out we can't cause we're gonna have a lot of folks upset. And Lisa, you're concerned about ADM is my concern as well. Stacy had a question. Yes, thanks Don. I read an analysis that an SU would need roughly $1.2 million a year to justify the extra expenses of extra custodial staff, any changes that might be needed to buildings, other basic things that are necessary to meet the standards that are set forth in the guidance. And I'm wondering if that's money that we have allocated from CARES funding or if there's like, I don't know if you've done the budgeting work on that. I never attended a CARES funding forum this morning that she can jump in on. I had in my note, she was gonna jump in about that. But before that, at this point, by working with my principals, we believe strategically, it's not actually, it's not the cleaning right now I'm as concerned about. I think we're gonna incur some costs there. I will tell you that a major concern of mine is transportation and how I'm gonna handle that and what costs we might incur there. So I'm meeting with a transportation company, Don and I are and Tara on the 28th because that's as soon as I could get them to come to the table of July to discuss how we best maneuver this in the most fiscally responsible way and ensure safety's in place. And we've got an ad going up this week for extra subs because we know we're gonna need extra bodies to maneuver things around. And so those things are all happening. If you said to me, Jamie, what are you most fearful about right now is that I don't have the staff or manpower to pull everything off. Because we are working with our faculty and staff to navigate to what that can mean to our workforce. Okay, thank you. I just wanted to follow briefly that the same analysis suggested that we would be soon seeing a shortage of subs because many of them are coming from retired teacher pools and other high-risk demographics. And I'm just wondering if that corroborates with your experience in RSU. Do our subs skew older or do you think we'll be okay on that? I feel like I can have a better estimate of that once I dig into that. I mean, that's why we put the ad out. Super. I'm concerned, again, about whether or not we will have enough bodies. I'm proud of that as subs. Great, thanks. It's certainly one of those extra grays that Don was talking about. I have many. Thank you. We talked about that in the health and safety subgroup of the COVID task force. And with real concern that with this increase that you weren't gonna get a lot of people saying, yeah, for 90 bucks, sure, let me come into a classroom that's the teacher's out because she has COVID or he has COVID and the class has all been exposed to it that you're not gonna get a lot of volunteers. And we suggested that we be preemptive in this and figure out ways within each school that other teachers could fill in for them and do it before it needs to be done so that at 815, the teacher's not told not only she got a kindergarten class but a third grade class, but she knows that that's a possibility all the time and that it's done beforehand. My experience with teachers is they don't mind doing things like that as long as they're not blindsided 15 minutes after you need them. And that was what Jody started some day. Teacher of subs, I, you know, so. Any other input? Terrence, can you give an update on the CARES money? So I had on Friday, the VASBO monthly meeting was Brad James presenting the CARES funding and what their thoughts and opinions are and how we can access the money. And it spurred a lot of questions from the seasoned business managers within the organization that there wasn't any real clear guidance as to what we can submit but what they did share is certain portions of the money if we access it, they will take it from our FY21 funding. So that caused a lot of angst. So what they have done is they have developed a subcommittee within VASBO that's going to work with Brad James and others at the AOE to come up with a streamlined way for all of us business managers to determine what we should and shouldn't be submitting for CARES reimbursement funds. If it was truly an unbudgeted expenditure, we should submit to get that reimbursed from our CFR funds. There's relief fund grouping. If it's something that's where they're going and we ask for reimbursement, that's where they're going to start taking our money away. So there's a lot of gray area and a lot of uncertainty. So I hope to have more as that develops over the next couple of days as to what we can and cannot do. Yeah, I was gonna say, just so everyone knows, no one that CARES money is not trickled down to anyone. I just think it's important that folks realize that. It's not like we're behind the eight ball on this. Okay, Stacey, you had another question. I did, I'm sorry. I'll stop commandeering very soon. COVID test results have started to come in a little bit more slowly. I myself just waited six days for test results, negative. And I wanted to know, Jamie, if the Department of Health is willing to work with SUs or the agency of Ed, or if there have been conversations started about expediting test results or prioritizing test results for members of our staff, because keeping everyone out until they get results is just an additional burden on the already strapped resources. So that came out in a VSA memo last week and there wasn't a direct answer about that. That's something that the VSA has raised as a concern. Okay, as long as it's- I do have the annual conference next Tuesday and I'm hopeful there too. The Vermont superintendents annual conference is next week and I'm hopeful that I can gather some more information there possibly too on Tuesday. COVID is supposed to be on the agenda, of course. Thank you. This is Dawn and I need to ask a radical, it's probably a pretty radical question and it's regarding transportation and health. Would it be possible or would it be cumbersome to have the parents drop the kids off at school? So they wouldn't have to drive right on a bus? Just a thought, just throwing it out there. One of the questions that that task force analyzed was what percentage of our folks require transportation versus not. And one of the things that we're gonna be looking to do possibly specifically in our larger districts is the idea of asking folks to consider dropping their children off versus utilizing public transportation. Or if there's under 25, they could do carpool, something like that. So based on the information I get on July 28th, I could be coming back to you with different recommendations in regards to whether or not transportation makes sense for us or not, based on whether or not I have the manpower to even carry it out. Okay. So Jamie, I have a question about that. What happens with our contract if we have a contract with Butler, what happens? Are we gonna pay the money anyway or are they gonna let us out of it? That's, I got a meeting with them on the 28th. Yeah. And I would voice concern when we talk about equity, if we're gonna decide not to do transportation, there are some families that truly rely on transportation and maybe they don't have the ties to carpool with somebody and then we're gonna have kiddos that can't get to school simply because, I mean, maybe their parents won't drive them or don't drive them or don't have a car. I know there's people in my community that have that problem. So we're really concerned about those kids. And I don't think that, I mean, I don't know how the board feels. I haven't heard that we're not gonna try to pursue some level of transportation. I was just, I don't know if we can carry out full transportation potentially. I was just throwing out different scenarios to review. Yeah. And as far as the kids that don't enable the transportation, it could be a criteria for homeschool, perhaps just throwing it out there too. Or we could handle transportation on a case-by-case basis the same as we offer remote schooling. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, that would go to my thought if we needed, if we had to go down that, that might be the direction we would go. Okay. I'm working very closely with the Rudd administration around planning around transportation, just so you know, because we're transporting students across campuses and that poses a whole nother situation that the other districts don't have, aren't having to handle right now. Right. All right. Anything else regarding the COVIDSaf situation? Now, do we wanna do the finances in executive session? Yes. All right. So let's move on to the calendar at this point. So you have a revised calendar. I've worked with the association and principals on this. I wanted to give you the thoughts of it. Based on all the questions you have, I believe that we need more time with the building level staff to ensure we're ready to implement in-person instruction in the fall. And we also know that there's gonna be students that we're gonna need to provide some type of hybrid models. And that's gonna require time. I was looking to build a calendar that allowed us to have this time up front to make adjustments without changing anything in regards to the number of student days or anything in that regard. So I've moved the SUIN service days up is what you'll see instead of them being spread out throughout the school year with the focus of safety and our ability to implement instruction and meet social-emotional needs upfront. And so we're looking to have four in-service days at the start of the school year. Students would start on a Friday. You may say, why? Well, I really think it's important that we have a test run and a weekend to adjust. If things don't go right in a building or two, it's gonna be critical that the administrative team can come together and adjust over the weekend. We then would run four and a half days the following week that half day Friday prior to the labor day would again be an opportunity for us to come together in buildings, reflect on what has worked, what has it and make adjustments. We then would assume our regular schedule on the 8th, the Tuesday after labor day. And you'll see what I've done is we've moved in-service days that were sprinkled throughout upfront because there has been a movement. Again, the superintendents have requested that the number of student days be lowered to gain more in-service time. At this point, there's been no movement in that regard. And so I didn't wanna wait on this. Some SUs are still waiting. I just said we need to get a calendar out that allows us to let folks plan ahead and that we know we have this time built in. And if they do decrease the student days throughout the year due to a waiver, which would be approved by the legislature in August, I'll take that time and we'll sprinkle it out at appropriate times to either do instructional work or make adjustments throughout the year due to COVID. I mean, I don't believe this is, by the way, I don't want you to think this is the last time I'm pulling you together to say we may need to make an adjustment in that time because I believe that we're going to have to make adjustments based on the information we gather throughout the school year. All right, well, this calendar is what we're meaning our students needs. This calendar is constructed with the best efforts and knowledge that we have right now. So that's all we can do. Oh, the only other thing I would add, that June 11th last day for F-Bud, that's not accurate because Tumbridge Fair is not occurring. You'll see we removed it from the calendar. So the last day for all schools would be on the 10th other than from RTCC, and I'll get that fixed. Now, weren't we required to have an approved calendar sent to the state before now? We are required to have an approved calendar sent to the state. I spoke to Secretary French last week and let him know I plan to revise it. And he was okay. Yep, he didn't say that I couldn't do it. That was my only concerns. So that's the proposal folks. Is there any dialogue? Is there any motion? Because we need to approve an amended calendar. I would make a motion to approve an amended calendar. Lisa. Lisa Floyd. Is there a second? Second. Lisa Pepper. It's improved and seconded to approve the recommended amendments to the school calendar for 2021. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? You got your amendment. Thank you. Thanks guys. And what's next? In-person board meetings. In-person board meetings. There's been some conversation around that at certain district boards. So what I wanted to offer is the concept of if boards wanted to come in socially distance, I believe based on the number, other than the full SU board, you could have your in-person board meetings here and warn them here. And there's technology that would allow the community to come in virtually that I feel like we can navigate well just because we're set up and raised here that I'm concerned about if you post it at your districts, I won't have that tech person with me. And it could be challenging. So I was gonna put out the idea that if the board wanted to come here in socially distance, there's procedures you have to do as you enter the building, signing in, there's a checklist you have to complete and you need to wear a face mask. But if folks were comfortable with that, you could come here to attend. And if certain board members are not comfortable with that, that's fine because the virtual option's still right here. And the technology is such that it works fairly well. The audio and everything. I didn't know how folks were feeling about it. I just wanted to get a sense. Input folks. My general feeling is that, the one thing that's been consistent as the science around this has changed, understanding disclaimer that I am not a scientist is that what we can do to control the spread of it primarily is to reduce our movement. So my feeling is that people shouldn't be coming from far away to attend or to mix and then potentially bring something back into their communities or to give it to you all who are working there every day to send home to your communities. But I feel like that's my opinion as someone coming from Hancock. And if someone feels like they need, that they're not being satisfied by this experience that they need to get around the table together for whatever reason, then that should be up to them, perhaps as long as you working in the central office are not made uncomfortable by that. I brought that up to Jamie. This is Sarah, it's one of the people because, and one of my thinking is that if it's not safe for us to get together for a meeting, why in hell is it safe to open up schools because it seems too faced and just wrong to me. It's we're not walking or talk. And so if it's not safe for us to get together and meet, then let's stop talking about school kids back together in schools with adults. I agree with that as well. I also, this is Lisa again, I also think that it's worthwhile to get together and as adults see the logistics of what it takes to be six feet apart and what that social distancing actually needs to look like if we're going to do it well. So I think that for people who feel ready to meet in person that makes sense because I don't think logistically it's as easy as we might think it is until we do sort of a run through. I also think if we're going to return to in-person meetings that we need to make some agreements about temperatures and masks and those sorts of things when we come together for meetings. Just to follow the same guidance that businesses are being asked to follow or hospitals. My father's hospitalized. I've been going to give her twice a day a week for a few weeks now and they take my temperature and make me Purell and I have to wear a mask every single time. And I just think that that's our due diligence. Other, okay. I think the rules that we have kids and schools operate would be the rules that we would operate with which would be social distancing, washing your hands, Purell or washing and masks. And I think I also think the idea of if you're comfortable to go to the office and follow the rules and you can still attend the same meeting virtually it makes it optional. I'm here in the office with the mask on. My internet's not working great. This is on my way home. It makes it much more convenient to stop here and try to get to a six o'clock meeting. Okay. Can I have it on? All right, anything else folks? I want more. Can I have a comment? Yeah, please. I do agree with all that has been said here about if we're having trouble meeting in person, how can we expect to open the school? But is that really our choice or is it a state mandate that we open our schools at this point? It's my understanding. There's no state mandate. They're just guidelines. Is that correct Jamie? No, the ABM count by the secretary unless he changes that this week and that could be the big announcement folks. That's why I said the guidelines haven't come out is that in person instruction is required. And I do agree that it has been easier to attend these meetings from my living room. But thanks. Okay. Yeah, I think that's important that we're all clear about that. Is that the ABM right now attendance is only measured by in-person based on the current guidance from the agency of education. Okay, okay. Anything else? So let's move on. Data monetary report for calendar is 2021. Aren't you guys excited about all these sheets I gave you? So this is an effort and we may adjust this as we go but this is at least the first shot to provide you all with a data calendar for you to whole progress monitor our SU goals. I hit on my board report. We're gonna be taking the strategic plan revising it coming to you with three overarching goals for your adoption. And then the SU will create tasks based on the three goals because the strategic plan is running out. There's lots of tasks in the strategic plan that haven't been accomplished yet that will move in to this new document. The idea too is that this new document will really be our continuous improvement plan which the agency of Ed uses for our federal funds because we want our title funds to drive the work within that document. They shouldn't be separate. This is a attempt to have data reports to you monthly that you'll get across the districts or at the SU level to progress monitor our work and whether or not we're being effective at meeting those goals. So in September, you'll get a social emotional data report at each local district level on office discipline referrals. Those will be broken down for the previous year and your attendance data. And then principals will address to you at that evening what tasks they plan to put in place to address their concerns based on that data analysis. And then you'll get another one of those reports later in the year so that you can start to progress monitor the results of their efforts. Same with Star 360. When you look at WRVSU in November, I'm looking, I'm gonna be looking for Don to do a child count overview for you. So you understand special education data and what our child count is and what we're doing to try to make certain we're getting interventions and supports earlier because the idea would be if our MTSS is working, our referrals would decrease for special education and we would better meet students needs at a quicker, more responsive time. You're gonna hear me say over and over again, special education as it's set up with adverse effect in Vermont really is a failure model. You have to fail and be behind one and a half to two grade levels or in the bottom 15th percentile before you're going to qualify. That's really hard then to fill that gap. And so one of the, and we'll talk to you in each month the data points that you should be looking at in order for you to gauge whether or not our work's effective. So what I'm looking for us to do is become a system that's analytical and that we're using data points to then make informed decisions about next steps. I'm also gonna be looking for us to use those data points in regards to how we build budgets. Next month, you're gonna get a calendar for how we're gonna look to approach budgeting for the upcoming school year and one of those suggestions that I'll have for you is that we actually scrap our current budgets and that we look to build from the bottom up based on the goals we define. Because I think if we can approach it that way that we could potentially find significant efficiencies that we haven't quite realized in whatever we're budgeting needs to support the goals and improvement of this data. Those are the questions I'm hoping that you ask us and hold us accountable to. So if anything, I look at this a progress monitoring tool to make certain that you're holding us accountable to meeting your ends. Okay, there was a couple of months there, January and February, we should already have a budget put to bed because we need to get them to the printers and everything for town meeting. So I'm not sure what can be put in place of that. Yeah, maybe I was looking for recovery from data from budget. Okay. No, I could probably go back to the admin team around February and see what we wanna add there as a data point. Okay. Anything else, folks, for any feedback? All right, let's move on. Does this sound good for folks? Is this helpful? And if you have data that you've been wanting to see if you email it to me, let me know and then I can dive into that with the admin team and figure out what makes the best sense for that report. Okay. I have a question. This is Mika from Stratford. You know, one of the challenges that we did a survey a year and a half ago on something completely unrelated, but you know, one of the feedback points that we got from data scientists and sociologists was, you know, your populations are so small. It's very hard to analyze and really get that much out of this data other than, yep, you got, you know, here's a positive data point or a negative data point. You know, it's just very difficult giving them very small population that you have. What sort of guidance are we getting, you know, to better understand these data points as more than sort of anecdotal, you know, in terms of just our very small population in the SU? So Mika, I think that one of the ways we should be looking to utilize data is cohort growth and rate of growth over time, because even with a smaller population, we're still going to see cohort growth throughout this school year and over the years to come. Whether it's a cohort of 10 or whether it's a cohort of 40, and Amy's saying she agrees. So I'm looking at cohort growth. I also am looking at equity. I think one of the areas that we need to dig into is performance of gender. And we also need to look at performance of our free and reduced lunch and students who are living in poverty. So those are the type of data points that I want us to dig into. And when it makes more sense, we'll record it out at the SU level, because we have plenty of students at the SU level that we can report out on. Yeah, that's- I think at the district level, cohort growth makes sense. Okay. Yeah, that helps to know that that sometimes will aggregate at the SU. Yep. Thanks. Okay. Anything else regarding data gathering? Okay. Let's move on. What's the next one, folks? Ah, no, don't rub us. Don. Okay. I asked to put that on there. It's another attempt to try and get everybody playing on the same page. I know everybody online has their own computers and everything, but I didn't know if there was a desire or a need for a supplier of books from the SU, or Chromebooks from the SU. And we could, theoretically, I think use some of that COVID-19 money in order to supply that, but I'm not positive about that. Does anybody have a desire for that? You're getting computers for us board members? Correct. I don't need any more computers. Thanks. I feel like owners, I mean, back to the issue of equity, I feel like owning a computer shouldn't be a barrier to serving on a school board. So certainly if someone is in, and I don't know how to communicate that to people who might be interested, but otherwise feel like they can't serve on the board. So I would not object to issuing them on an as-needed basis. Yeah, okay. I think on a need basis would be a good solution to on. I'm sorry, I didn't hear you, Kathy. I said, I think on a need basis would be a really good solution. Okay, well, if everybody's okay with that, then if anybody knows of any board members that I haven't, and I don't even know if we could drill down and maybe offer internet service at the house. I mean, we're doing that for students. Why couldn't we do that for school boards? If somebody needed it. Jamie, what do you think about that? Yeah, I mean, if you like, I can get Christy, I can put together a little survey, we can send it out and folks could fill out a form. If they're in need, I can collect the data that way and then move forward. Okay. Is that agreeable to folks? I see a collective nods and thumbs up. So let's do that. Thank you, Jamie. Okay. We'll get off this topic. Yeah, mention it at elections. Who, what's next folks? The draft audit management letter and corrective action plan. We're gonna move that to executive session. Okay. Blood signatures on warrants. That was in my board report, just a reminder that it is extremely, extremely important that you sign your warrants in a timely manner. The treasurers cannot send out checks until they have your signatures and our office and your treasurers are the ones that get the nasty phone calls from the vendors wanting to know where their money is. And we have to explain to them that we don't have signed warrants so we can't release the funds. This is my friend, annual friendly reminder. And I would also like to add if folks need a tutorial on signing it electronically, that might be arranged too, just to ease things. I will electronic the warrants. Tara, do you let the individual boards know if they're having that problem? Yes, I reach out. Joe lets me know if she's not getting signed warrants and then I get involved. Okay, thanks. Anything else for the warrant issues? Hearing none, central office health insurance. So that is just a heads up for future planning when we're discussing. I outlined that in my business managers report. Not really much more to talk about there. Does anyone have questions? Anyone? Thank you for bringing it up. Food service. So I just wanted to let you all know that we have been wonderfully selected again for our summer foods service program. We'll be going through audit again from the child nutrition program. It's just because the food's so good, they want to come back and have some more. So they're doing it all by desk audit. So Bill has been working so diligently. He sent me a picture of the pile, which was already at six inches thick of the material and documentation that we had to get together to submit to them. Okay. All right. Well, thank you for that. Keep us updated if you would. Absolutely. All right. Let's circle back up. Is there a motion to go in executive session to discuss? So moved. All right. We're out of executive session at 714. Is there a motion to enter executive session to discuss contracts? So moved. Second. Okay. Moved and seconded to enter executive dialogue for a contract. So all in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. We'll go into at 714. Ray, this is so much easier when you join us for executive session. It's our confirmed next meeting dates and then future agenda items. And I had a few future agenda items that I wanted to bring up to the board. Okay. So we have an executive board scheduled of course because it's every other month is my understanding for Monday, August 24th. My question is whether or not we want to have an executive board and then piggyback that on a full reorganization. Reorganize and then go to executive. What are folks thoughts around that? My thoughts is if we're all there for a full board why don't we just continue and have a full board meeting? I'm fine with that too. Just reorgan and then we just push off the executive. I'm fine with that. Yeah. I just wanted to make certain. Yeah, that way we're not duplicating efforts. That works for me too. Okay. So it'll be full board on the 24th, future agenda items. One will be fiscal outlook. I have a haircut, I know, but what do you mean physical outlook? So we're gonna give you an update on the fiscal outlook of the organization and talk to you about ideas and plans of how to move forward to ensure that we're on stable ground. And that would then lead into our budget calendar that I'll have for your review. Of course COVID will be a hot topic in August. Yeah. Anything else that folks would like on the SU agenda moving forward? Food service is one for me that I'd like to bring back up to you guys. We've had some changes in personnel and as well as just the agency's desire for us to become more centralized around food service. That's clear to me. And so that's something I'd like us to discuss in the future. Doesn't have to be in August, but just to get on there as a placeholder. Jamie, I mean, do you see your report as sort of a state of the SU? It was state of the SU in addition to after we have those goals that I roll out to you guys, it'll be a state of the SU in through the lens of those areas. Okay. Which it looks like based on your strategic plan is gonna be like MTSS, personalized and proficiency based learning and really community connection and interdependence across the SU. How are we doing a better job? And I think equity falls in that and things of that nature. So I'm seeing that those are gonna probably end up being something like the three major goals as we dig into the strategic plan in the work ahead. Those things were sort of captured throughout the strategic plan and the tasks aligned to it. One of the things that I've spoken to Mary Ellen about and to the principles is that we are not down the road in proficiency based learning as far as we need to be. And Nora, I think, do I think we're leveraging that enough to best meet students' needs specifically at the middle high school level. And so that's certainly something that you're gonna hear me talk about and report on next steps. And Rob, you'll be hearing about that at length as we move forward. And all those things impact things like special education and things of that nature and alternative placements. Mm-hmm. Okay. Any other topics folks? Yeah. If you think of anything, please email Jamie and myself and we'll get them on. Jamie, does the SU have copies of the strategic plan in case we have board members that don't have it? Yeah, but it's right on the website. Oh, okay. But I can definitely ask Kristi to email it back out to everyone. And again, we're gonna need to update it, but. Sure. Okay. Ray's putting it in the link right now, but I can also ask Kristi to get it out if that's helpful for folks. I think all the Strafford board has it, but or at least I don't know if our new people do, but. I also don't want to confuse folks right now. I mean, I could say that I'll make certain to say that this is the current strategic plan on the books, but that we're at a place of revision. Yeah. Okay. Anything else folks? Motion to adjourn. Sarah, any, is there a second? Oh, we're out of session. Yeah, second, second. Let's get out of here. Okay. Wow. Let's put the cargo for the horse here. Yeah. Okay. We've moved the second into all in favor. Say, see you. Bye. See you. Bye. Thank you. See you. Bye.