 Executive Committee report be added be very brief We don't have those action items warned What? committee members for Like to speak I generally am pretty loose about that If you're here to speak to a particular item on the agenda, then you can certainly speak at that time Can I say one thing? Yes Sorry, we all know who he is Consent agenda 2.1 approve minutes of 820 page 2 would make a motion to approve the minutes of 820 18 I'll second it Any discussion? Seeing none and hearing none all those in favor of approving them please say aye. Aye. Opposed? Abstained? Thank you Discussion agenda SU board goal number three community engagement on page five so It's all right out. This was one of the executive committee things Speak to it here because it's an item in discussions at the executive committee Meeting it was asked that we go back to the boards and encourage that this discussion Can it's being continued because it's here that it continues because there There is a variety of interpretations. I'm looking to you bill here to on what? Constitutes community engagement, so as it's tasked as a local board requirement To at least within our board have a pretty clear picture of what we we've come to a Consensus on what we mean by that so then that voice can be carried to the executive committee And I I said we had a good conversation And we had others planned, but I didn't feel like we had come to a board-wise consensus by what we How we interpreted that community engagement I Think that's a fair question We've wrestled with a little bit Yes, so I thought we had talked about that we needed some training before deciding what that meant to us because some of us had had that training and In that we talked, you know, we spent a lot of time talking about this So that's not a lot, but some time and one of the things that we talked about was Again for me, it's not about the how or the what That's what we're trying to get at I know it's hard because it's so easy to talk about how we do it or what we're going to talk about But you don't have a purpose behind it you'll be swimming and this is what I've seen in many different groups Is that and we should kind of test this because I've been pushing a pretty similar question with leadership team like if you can't tell me why we're doing it Really hard time we don't know the purpose Defining let's go right And the timeline calls for us in October for the board chairs and executive committee to have a draft written purpose So to have it for your executive committee meeting Probably for the full board October meeting so So we're almost talking about Horribly overused term, but it's almost a vision mission statement for this goal I'd say it's more specific than a mission statement I know what my research says I know that's informed by Thinking of why you do community engagement because I'm doing this with my doctoral studies but Those are the I'm trying to hold myself from giving that to you because then I'm going to inform you as to why do you want to do it as Individual members and as a collective Okay, so so maybe as a starting point I'll offer kind of my impression That it really evolves around revolves around two things Do we want? community input on things that we want to know about does that is that what we mean by community engagement or Do we want our community to be engaged in bringing us stuff? That they're interested and concerned with So it's kind of do we we're generating something by community engagement Do we mean having the community respond to what we've developed or are proposing or? Kind of like the training. Do we want to develop community engagement where the community? formulates opinions or you know something has got Possibly nothing to do with what the boards particularly, you know, I don't know Let me pick something so the community feels like the all the classrooms should be painted blue I'm intentionally picking something just silly right. It's not on our agenda, but it's something the community feels strongly about That's community engagement as well. So again the why why do we want it? What's the purpose of it informs? Does it have to be one or the other? No, I don't think so. I'm just I'm trying to start a conversation Go ahead Well, I would say to me We need both so if we have to not a mission statement, but just say we as as a board We want to inform and have the community Understand what why we are having this best practice like we had this retreat. So maybe our community engagement is about a The community in inform and understanding so that they can trust Where we're going so that's one part and then the Of why we want community engagement and the second part is to leave it open to community to form their own groups as How you know bringing stuff to us, but that we can't control that so It seems like we're a public board. So community involvement is The whole purpose we're serving the public So I like if if I had my best which I was I would like sort out of the blue a community member come up to us and say I would Want to have You know, for an example, we put the black flag matter flag up, you know I would want to have a conversation about you know Raise and diversity in our community and have their own group Working on how are we, you know, how can they help us have a better understanding of equity and diversity In our community, but having them work on that separately But for our purposes right now considering where we are is more about creating, you know Forming understanding and getting input in what we want Understand Yeah, I I know the school. I Can go to the website and see what's going on in the classrooms. I can read the newsletters But I cannot find out what the board is doing. I Search and I click and I try to go to the websites for the agendas every minutes They're not posted for Eastmont Believer. They're posted for all the other schools in the district I understand why I know that Meaning you have to engage You probably don't want to do that but It's information and information is power and people don't know They cannot understand begin to understand what you're doing and I I'm an informed person political person pay attention on all levels and It's very frustrating for me when I can't find out that information So from a real basic point of view, I just wish you would put up more information So that's a goal That's a good goal. So well, I'm hearing the first ending one is that the finding of this information is It's problematic and that's an operational issue for the board to figure out It's under WCS you know Right, so that's a problem in my mind, so that's an operational problem that this board needs to And What it has to be there and we have to make sure that it has to be there, so we will make sure that it is there in the future Just to summarize the conversation that I've heard so far it sounds like we have two Pieces of this goal we want to inform so that the community understands what we're doing and Then we want input I'm putting my own color on this so if it's too much You won't hurt my feelings, but we want input so that we are operating in a way That is reflective of our community's values. I get the first one. I have no idea what the second I'm projecting one of my own personal fears, which is that I'm putting Opinions out that are mine, but aren't necessarily the communities so That may be more reflective of I just want to make sure I'm bringing to the executive committee. I understand. I think I understand So others can join I'm only asking kind of clarifying questions. I'm comfortable with whatever we want to do the first part is To improve the sharing of what we're doing with the community and the second part would be to To improve or enhance our ability to receive Feedback from the community. I mean is that yeah to me that becomes the purpose We want to get better at disseminating information and we want to create a better mechanism to receive information Is that that is there consensus that that's what I bring forward to the executive committee around Purpose I Mean I'm trying not to get into the house Yes, I agree But I will always struggle is like I appreciate that you learn you go for the information and you look for it but I also want to figure out how to engage the people that don't do that and don't pursue the The websites and the front porch forums that they're sitting at home Maybe complaining about the school for some reason and we're not hearing that and we're not able to defend why we support What Alicia's trying to do and Community We're always working with how to get more interactions through Hands-on things which kids are great at and they'll get your parents into it And That's how you're going to transfer a lot of your information that you want to get out Is once you've got activity or whatever it is that has Come back to you through the interaction In place of working then you have Chance Get your knowledge to the parents and the kids We need the kids movement for you And we found that to work very well over the last few decades So you're you're right that you definitely need to Parent and not necessarily just parents, but you need to get Grandparents or neighbors or whatever that's the piece that we're wrestling with to be honest So if you're putting stuff there I Just think that it's valuable and like I said, you know, the front porch form is not the end on the be all Interesting to listen to people And the different things that they're talking about And it may be schools it may be You know jobs, it could be where they went last weekend. It could be where they're going next year It could be a gazillion different things, but they aren't necessarily related to what they're doing that take the moment But it's it's the opportunity that you Really need and this this is one of the things that is Why we were having the run around we were just having in the last session is because We have worked our way out of That kind of community where that happens constantly and people are in tune with oh such and such is going on at Montpellier elementary school and we need to be down there and not just parents of the kids that are going but You know the general community and they go there and Are part of it and one of the reasons why there's a lot of this black is because you know these Towns have always seen their little elementary schools as the center of things and Something threatens that they get excited about it. You can't blame so That's that's why it's it really has to go both ways And that's something that takes time, you know, you're not going to get it in a month It literally takes years to work on it. You have to start when the kids are little or you know People constantly ask us how how we Have the community that we have say and add them in there and make a corner or whatever You tell them well, it's it's work, but it's something that everybody just Sees the value once you're inside it and tell you are and you just think well, what the hell is just another word Right, but I think I have guidance to go forward with that. Can I just ask One more question um Just for so on financial reform Do so I find that meeting minutes to be a little bit dry and I'm not sure As a community member I would click on Are you are you suggesting posting other things that maybe aren't just meeting minutes, but like just blurbs about you know I mean Well, I guess the Is the ultimate Ellen will read it and say hey Darcy, you know the minutes are posted on front porch form You'll be like oh crap. I'm gonna go to that meeting tonight. Let me go back and search with printed So although the information may not be read at that exact moment It does create that buzz because I know how many times have we been like, oh, I'm looking for something Oh, hey, I saw this on front porch form. I got a champ. I actually got a trampoline on front porch form You know like and different that's how stuff starts and you go back and search That's a nice thing with front porch form and other Online sites is not necessarily people may not look at the information right at that exact moment You want them to but it does create that buzz people will go back and say, oh What was talked about at the meeting, you know, don't even if they don't look at the minutes the very next day Ellen be like, hey Rose you were at the meeting did you look at the minutes and I'll say oh, yeah, let me go to front porch form I do remember seeing it up there and it's easy to search so So I think one of the things that we wrestled with is we've talked about posting things on front porch form and It always ends up being well, it's too dry So we should make it be something more than just the minutes and then it becomes a bunch of work And then it just doesn't get that but I think palace just has to post them I think so Understood, so I think we've been our own worst enemy in thinking that Yeah So I I think perhaps a good start is to just start posting the minutes and the agendas to front porch form I mean Okay, I'm going to move us on to act 46 update Oh Does anybody have anything to add So I just want to like for the record clarify my position for that second vote I thought the question was a little vague and I abstained because I am willing to Uh consider a vote Or I'm joining up the lawsuit at another time I just want more information And I don't want it to look like I am absolutely going to commit to him So I just want to clarify that that was my position. I did I'm not against joining the lawsuit I just The way the the question was Formed I want to just clarify that I will I didn't there was an outcome that was just being Well in two and a half years ago, we would take this to voters. We wouldn't be at this place, but we didn't And I'm sorry that when we talk about community involvement None of us ever heard from the voters Yeah, um about this And that's a frustration of mine I couldn't have And the committee was completely shut down with that super majority business Two and a half years ago I would have liked to have heard about from voters to hear what's going on If I could have a little input From from my perspective, we never had anything to bring to the community to share No, it wasn't allowed We never we never developed anything But I I just want to say for the record. I don't remember how many updates I actually can Pull you know like pull out all of the updates because I have over 24 or 25 updates that we wrote That we put in the in the front porch forum that we put in the ems in the signpost letters So every time we had a meeting You know either either either myself wrote An update for for the community and as we got into The second part of community we didn't but let's not you know dwell on that because we've done Enough at 46 I think For today and we clearly understand that we need to do a better job at communicating Like you know, it's not for lack of trying because I think we all try really hard to communicate and we just need a better Way to do it, but we've been trying Because I find my biggest frustrations and disappointment. I've never heard that big board or anybody here say I mean, it's not going to say Academic educational opportunities for students. I have never heard Anybody answer I've never heard anybody issue Give a report Give one example If I asked you all to write down not a piece of paper right now by yourself And then when by one read it, would you say What is it going to do to improve educational opportunities for students? No one in the community has ever heard that people who have concerns about that board says Have you never heard it? Without the respect to someone who's been on the U 32 school board for 18 years She has never said what she did To change anything And increase educational opportunities for students. I've never heard it when she was on the board for 18 years Maybe that was a talent Well, I've never heard it from anybody. That's I have I I have said it several times. It's in the minutes, but This is where I get to the discussion of something to share with the community And specifics on the benefits We we never got to the point where we could talk about specifics For all that talk We never got anywhere So Well, some of the things were articulated Around magnet schools that could become possibilities Around For teacher contracts improving Protection job protection around flexibility on Being able to attend schools outside of your town lines on Stephen, can I say one thing? So from my perspective coming in late I I was not up on that 46 when I joined the board and that was I mean I tried to Come up on it, but I did watch about 10 videos of the meetings and it was It was interesting and it always Coming in one of the things that I felt was always tough is Anytime you brought up something that could be beneficial In my opinion, I'll say we started talking about callus and I'm not saying that Ever want to close callus, but in the scenario where there was going to be a three three kid kindergarten um I felt challenged or Felt that I couldn't bring up the possibility of that benefit being bringing those kids to East Montpelier or Worcester or whatever because I felt like that Fed into the The belief of other community members that We built our you know, we had the big bond and we did our school to absorb callus because I know I mean I I know enough about these guys to know that this wasn't that was not the goal or the plan So that was one area where I felt like a school merger could have solved A small classroom size that could be beneficial to the kids because the studies show that Classroom sizes less than 10 have an effect on on social development of children um So from my standpoint coming in late that was one thing I saw but I felt like I think I did mention it but I always felt Like I was going to take a little bit of a hit because it sounded like I was trying to take over callus Well, I and I would add I I I came across too defensive I completely Empathize and agree with your frustration around the whole Topic and sharing of information How it all transpired I'm I I I'm in agreement on how you feel. That's how I felt regardless of What outcome was wanted? um It was a very frustrating process So yeah, I mean I'd like to I'd like to allow enough discussion for healing, but we also need to move forward on What we need to do Okay I'm gonna move us to The reports to the board administration Which is in your WCSU board packet Here you want mine I want to say I really appreciated that Table day you sent us. It's really made a really good way to understand The population of school and where people are and easier to communicate And if there's any questions on the table I did I had a question about the peros They say EMS employees, but then it's a special ed parent So is it under the special ed reimbursement or they are under special ed reimbursement, but um Pair educators Okay, so they are under our budget where special ed teachers are in the WCSU budget, but they are reimbursable That's what I meant. The parent educators will be the exception of Jane Thatcher who falls under ESP So recognizing that I see a bunch of people looking at blank tables. Would anybody like the principles? Is it online also? It is It's supposed to be online It is supposed to be online because it's part of the Because it's part of the full board packet. It is supposed to be online. It may be On the WCSU It was one of those when you looked for it you saw where prior meetings were nicely laid out on EMS website Yeah This is a little opportunistic, but I will just mention that WCSU has been looking for a technology coordinator and they finally hired one who was starting october 1st and I'm going to put a plug in he is a flippin rock star I he worked for me for Five years But will his job include something like website oversight? It seems like he's more He's more grand scheme of things, but he will make things get done I have full confidence So just a little editorial plug for Keith. He's fantastic. I couldn't be more excited for all of us to have him taking care of the tech That is the hope Stay tuned Okay It's not anything you need to approve because it falls under the ESP contract, but our Head cook Susan Olander who gave her resignation just before the first day of school She had a She couldn't pass up in another state and she has relocated that left us without a cook. Um, we have since hired one Her name is Ann Finnegan. She has over 30 years experience as a head cook Much of those 30 years are in elementary schools And she'll be starting with us on monday october 1st Excellent But she's on her she's on her form a little chart I know I I because I I added her Because that came out after this Well, I had seen the ad in the paper for Susan or in the somewhere And went around asking people what's going on because I was worried about her health Fiscal report There's any questions this is just kind of the beginning of the year we had some savings And staffing changes we had some retirements and hiring of new staff was a savings of about $17,000 and we also had because of student needs changing At the beginning of this year as opposed to last year we decreased a 0.5 parent educator Other than that, there's really no it's just the the roll-up that happened over summer Which puts our fund balance at about 5.3 percent If there's any questions or specific Mine's a retroactive question Do we have a roll over fund balance from last year's budget? So we still need to do that You didn't have the number for that until it's made I think we we intended to do that Take money from the fund balance and put it into we always put a chunk in capital You usually go to 4 percent Which is the targeted amount What what is over right now is Maybe next meeting we'll have an action agenda to So what is our target for our capital fund? I mean, it's pretty substantial compared to all the other schools The target for our capital fund is to never have to bond again. Well, I get that I understand but I mean is that you know I assume we're not going to try to get to 10 million dollars No, but it will be multiple millions if we do it right because we literally The idea is that we as capital Repairs and stuff need to be made. We will have the money set aside to do them Right. So that's where the capital plan comes in where we want to make sure that you know these Things don't get too far apart from each other But then that they also don't cross to the point where we're going into debt because we need to spend money that we don't have Right. No, I just am curious as to if there's an overall the short answer is I don't think we have the number at the end of the day for what the sort of top of that fund would look like But we have an idea we have a capital capital plan now and we Right now we're healthy where we actually when we were at the 900,000 we were exactly where we Needed to be And right now we are in the Seven something But we have done also that number we had enough data because we did some work So that number would have been the work that needed to happen So so there is a target and there was a target given even when we had through act 46 and we had those presentations of Part of the not necessarily part of the efficiencies, but they showed each School the amount of money that we needed to have I don't have those numbers fresh on my mind But so so we do have An idea of that of that target So the short answer is that we're Um putting money aside so that we Are on track right so that we're sort of Taking money out at about the same rate that we're putting in We don't have you know taxpayer dollars just sitting there forever doing nothing And yeah, and then the other thing is that we are in the process of doing so like Next week we would receive some some furniture which was planned for you know this summer is just it takes a while to come and then every year we we have an idea of what we need to spend and for example right now we We need to target The cameras, you know, there's been some activity in the rec field So we had talked at our last meeting that we needed to do the cameras in the other side of the building where we don't have Where we don't have any There's the lighting of the gym that we had put out So it's kind of schedules of the light of the gym and the shelving in the In the garage There are some there's some kind of project for getting on the yeah Can I just ask a point? Yes. What rec field is she's um If it's rec field it's town Your moors have your moors have reported suspicious activity to us Um, I'm sorry, we have no cameras and we don't have any cameras The the cameras that we have are naturally cameras or the buzzer system. So there's no recording or anything We don't have a security system in that sense And it's something you know for you to to talk I know we've talked about it last year, but um Um Given some recent reports, I think it's probably a good time to think about it that there has been reports of suspicious activity um And we have there's there's really no way of seeing any part of that building at any time And it is the only place also when the teachers and other people are trying to come in into the school that we can't Let them in unless they They bring their keys. They bring their keys there. There's quite a few grants out there for safety right now Um, I know we've upgraded all of ours at the schools where I work because of these grants Um Yeah, yeah, particularly around cameras. Yeah. And then something we're talking about is an issue with all the schools because we're in We're all in pretty similar cases I think it's really important. Yeah Is this part of the work that came out of um mark moody's So that was a recommendation that came out of his report. Yeah, and we've just not done anything security wise Does everybody know what I was referencing we had we had a consultant come in and do an assessment of the school Remind me why what was the driver for that? Right after construction we did it in probably 2015 Just to look at the building and to see how secure it was We put a lot of measures in place got rid of the exterior classroom doors and like the buzzer system the vestibules And then so he went through and kind of audited and looked at all of that to see how secure the building really was And made some recommendation based on that and it's kind of a Continuum of you know, do you want some cameras or do you want bulletproof glass right like there's a lot there's a Wide range of what you could do to the school Um, probably the most basic would be security cameras And who did the audit or the secure building it was mark moody the retail resource officer He works And we were also part of that state safety audit by the state police Yeah We're impressed with how we were using what we have But they didn't really come back with any recommendations. They just were kind of auditing what what we had Okay Action agenda Appoint board representate representative proxy for v high and vis-vit annual meetings. I I nominate floor No, no Oh So usually a bill is the representative for the v high and vis-vit annual Meeting and there's one vote there and the other part of it is the voting for resolutions Which is separate and that is voting for the vsba. So it's two two separate things But I think they're just as late there and it was single memo So there's something for rubin to sign if you're an agreement to have bill be the representative So everybody see the yeah, I see the memo And the executive committee of washington central supervisory union already pointed floor As the from on school boards association rep So I'd make a motion that we appoint Superintendent bill kimball is the board representative proxy for v high vis-vit annual meetings. I'll second it Oh, were you going to say that? Yeah, next motion you can make I'll be quiet So any discussion of that? Seeing none and hearing none all of those in favor, please say aye. Aye 5.2 approve joining legal action to oppose state board ruling if forced into merger I would make that motion I'm sorry, I just like to move things along I was going to suggest we table that motion We can't table it Approved joining legal action to oppose it. You can oh, yes, this rubin needs to reply to them by the 28th of september And you need to add your under two pieces Yeah Yeah, I put those on as that was 5.4 5.5 I make a motion to approve with joining legal action to oppose state board ruling if forced into merger I second Okay, is there any discussion of this item a strong vote we had in there I don't I personally have not I don't have enough information to do that That's just and I voted that way there Great wait to see what the state board says I think the are we I think that this question is are we going to join now? and we answered So just to be clear if we approve 5.2 then we are saying that we are signing one correct And I understand you just phrased it differently. Yeah Yes, it's worded differently than we were in the other room Right. Yeah, that's why I clarified So if you don't want to join this then you would want to vote no So then we should keep this language and not what you just said because otherwise Well, I read I read it verbatim That's why it's confusing Right It sounds like you're voting to oppose but you're voting We're avoiding to join the legal action. This is a vote to join the legal action We talked this out That can The public ask what you're actually voting on. Are you voting to join? Is this motion an affirmative join? The motion is a vote Is to say if we say yes, then we want to join Just how So No, it was a straw boat I'm gonna summarize just For please correct me if I speak out of turn. I think this board is opposed to this so this motion is unlikely to pass We're opposed to joining is what the straw boat showed in the other we are opposed But they worded it differently in the other room The way this is worded is approved joining legal action to oppose the state board ruling. It forced into a most uh merger So we would if we don't want to join the legal action This is the class action lawsuit that's been that's The ill-defined has no parameters right right that has a deadline of two days You will correct So that's clarified it. Yes. That's why I'm saying I think this motion is very unlikely to pass Does that make sense? Okay Any further discussion All of those in favor of approving joining the legal action to oppose state board ruling are forced into a merger, please say I opposed opposed Abstentions Why on earth would you make the motion Because we have to we have to report something to someone in our district I mean, that's a fair question technically we Probably don't But we've been pretty consistent and personally I think that The unity that has been showed on the greater board so far Has been because we haven't found that i'm going to use Matt's words we haven't gone a bridge too far And I think this is an important signal for this board to say this is a bridge too far To the larger board We're talking about now So this this is in response to a request that was made of the board year We could have just elected to ignore it We could have changed it we could have made a motion that didn't have a second we could have done a lot of things I personally I feel like this is making a statement that we are not we are we are opposed To this this motion went down And i'm comfortable with the minutes reflecting that It just makes for a scary scenario when you're out here To hear the motion So from my perspective This motion is the same on every every board's agenda tonight. So I think it was important for us to Keep it the same so that we could see that Yes for some and no for others and so that's my take on it Okay I'm gonna move us to 5.3 we're seeing the east Montpelier policy c1 board meeting agenda preparation I think I would recommend that we are going to table Until the other policies are until the other policies have been passed. That was the discussion that I remembered as well. Thank you On to 5.4 A point committee member for act 46 articles of agreement committee Were you saying under your breath you wanted to do that? No, I was saying it's not on mine. I must know it's he's added No, we added it at the beginning of the meeting. I missed that sir I would do articles of agreement Unless there's somebody else I'm pretty sure I just heard floor nominate herself. I think so I think it's a done deal. There's no I You may make a motion. Uh, yes, I'll make a motion to nominate floor to the Articles of agreement committee articles of agreement committee Second I can't read that any discussion No, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye Opposed abstain thank you and Appoint a committee member for the act 46 debt study committee Just I'm on the negotiating team and and we're gearing up next week and I And I'm also on the twin field exploratory team. I I can't add Something else to my plate So I'll leave three other people. I don't feel like I have enough I personally I have the interest but I do not have the bandwidth All right Who you will no, I will but I'm gonna need guidance No, you'll be fine Well, I think anybody's gonna need guidance. Yeah, you'll be fine because I don't get it. It would be totally fine For you I don't know what help I can offer but if you have questions, let's let's nominate second and vote. Yes, and then we can talk later I'll assign Edie to you I nominate Darcy second I discussion All those in favor I would you like to abstain for your own vote? That brings us to the board order, which I passed Can I just ask that since we brought it up in the act 46? I just wanted to get a better sense of the of the board if we need to restructure in order to That's a good question. If we you know what I'm Yes So this is what I was going to say at the full board and just bit my tongue because I saw Matthew Wanting to try to get through everything Um, and and we've got some other board people here Even with our own board We designate alternates And if the primary so we have a chair and we have an assistant chair We have that because the board chair can't always be there if the board chair can't be there the assistant chair is there I think we can do The clerk can either do it or we can designate an alternate clerk And then if the head person can't do it then the alternate does it I mean, I just don't see Where that creates a problem and I just to be very clear I will Cheerfully and immediately see my spot Well, I mean, I don't see it as seeding a spot. I'm saying Boards allow for primary and for alternates and if the primary can't be there the alternate is there Yeah And it sounds like there is Capacity of like that's not going to be a problem You know if somebody is unwilling or unable Those are the words Yeah, and the board can appoint somebody else in their place. Well, and I think there's enough time In the interim that we're talking about the transitional board That's envisioned It's it's spelled out in the statute that the board chair and the clerk Are the two people that serve on the transitional board And it's the board chair and clerk as of July 2018 And it's the first meeting it looks like when I'm reading these draft articles Is election day plus 14 days So it would be after town meeting No, no, no, that's the real That's the real board Transitional board The transitional board would be until until town meeting day basically Meeting plus 14 But I think that would be the way to go so the board chair and clerk Are appointed and if the board chair and the clerk want to do that they do that There's no way around it if the board chair or the clerk Is unable to do it then we have an appointed alternate That can go to to be a representative for East Montpelier I mean from me I think it makes perfect sense. I also don't think the transitional board should be concerned I don't either And the transitional board will just carry forward the work of the committees That's that that was the view of the executive committee. That's why you form committees So they're not trying to cram stuff in Should it come to that Executive committee and executive committee included some people that are opposed to this and want lawsuits But executive committee agreed it was prudent regardless of how you felt on the issue To make sure you're prepared for multiple scenarios And not i'll put all your eggs in one basket and then find yourself behind eight ball So it was prudent to do this Oracle of agreement do some of this work ahead of time. Yeah Okay Do you believe that brings us to the board order? I make a motion to approve the board order of 32 573 dollars and 48 cents Second i'm your second tonight And I will add i'm wicked psyched wicked psyched. I'm very excited when board orders are like It's just more in my comfort zone because compared to a million and a half I feel like oh my god. I'm signing that All those in favor, please say aye Sorry That brings us to adjournment unless there is other Executive committee My executive committee take five seconds because it was matthew already alluded to it that All the executive committee members we're going to bring to our local boards Please please please please if we're going to task our administrators with anything Let's make sure it's something that's super important right now Because they're going to be very busy with the act 46 work and very busy with What was his other priority student? He's ahead too. Anyway, and the Executive committee was let's just make sure everyone's aware of all the work That the leadership team and the principals and the superintendent are doing it's not to say Don't ask them stuff, but be mindful of it And if it's something that really we could wait to get in next summer Then we don't start piling more and more stuff So can I just say I am not even thinking about act 46? And my priority is the building so we can pile on you At 46 I'm sure is on bill's plate, but it is he has taken that off of our plates. That's not I don't want that to be my priority Well, I so for the act 46 it was more the central office stuff and and board members And I would I won't make a comment board members can have a habit of asking People that work in the central office for something Which we shouldn't do should come from the board. It shouldn't come from individuals But just to be mindful that you know the example bill gave that math you requested something He was like we can do that. It's going to take 15 hours It's 15 hours less we have to spend on this other project you want us to do So just be mindful of that. I mean, I think it's always good We're mindful of what we asked for Indeed Have you ever put in numbers to that Regarding the amount of admin time that has gone to trying to clear I think he did I think he did Yeah In the packet from our last week No Because it I mean it Doesn't appear that it's gotten less as the year has gone on Being a teacher who is on that plan and seeing in my district. What's going on with it, but it's hundreds of hours I can tell you that it's hundreds And it's statewide and it's costing a lot I can imagine it's going to be in better next year It's on page 101 Since the middle of spring central office has become increasingly overtaxed by the increase shifting of work to provide benefits to our staff And carried hundreds of hours of overtime Currently overtaxing staff. So they are looking at I think we've just hired another position because we spent so much money on Overtime it was cheaper to hire a new position For administrative support around that Because for them So I can jump into the bsba because it's related So one of the things that I want to report back is that Matthew and the boards had sent a letter To the bsba and your representative from washington and orange to see if the bsba would either join an amicus brief or File a lawsuit regarding the the future planning associates and the response from the Complete board was no not because we don't feel the pain But the only two ways that we have we don't have the The money necessary to start with but also at the bsba has to be something that benefits all of the districts in this state And we don't have the legal capacity to coordinate that So so bill and john from berry brought it over to the bsba and suggested that they go They have their insurance filed that claim And seek legal action not because of lack of not wanting to help So we are willing to do an amicus brief if once the lawsuit is filed, but we don't have the ability to carry on lawsuit in behalf of the Supervisory unions And then the the last thing is that since I would be voting for resolutions and we were not able to go through the resolutions Tonight I can send you an email on that. There's already Recommendations from the board, but there were just a one that I want to equal two one that I wanted to Bring up that was brought by the burlington school district And and that one is that that remand school versus association advises the remand general assembly to allow reasonable time for school districts to plan for cost containment legislation And refrain from passing legislation that affects budgets already adopted by school boards Or approved by voters and I thought everybody would be happy about that So it's not like this means any this is just guidance for nicole when she is at the state house But to try to avoid the fiasco that we've been having and then the only other one that I thought You guys might want to I needed some guidance because we didn't We just didn't say pass or not pass is that also the Burlington school district but brought up should the bsba as a whole Keep some guidance we the bsba has stayed away from that on Supporting gun control, you know So I should read you what it actually says because that's the one that District So here it was sorry it was by the the green school district so To enact rational policy to keep our students safe from gun violence We do recognize that we live in a rural area with the long tradition of hunting and sportsmen like use of guns We respect that culture but automatic rifles armor piercing bullets clips and more Than a handful of shells have nothing to do with vermont hunting hunting culture Visit them this item should not be sold. We favor background checks extending to gun shows And we favor waiting periods so that background checks can be It can be thorough over time this and other measures will save the lives of students and staff So the bsba as a whole took no position because they requested that we brought it to each individual board So I don't know if you guys have any I know that we talked about but since we all signed resolutions in favor of Keeping school safe. This is by any means this language is not used. It's just guides Our executive director if she is in the state house, right? This type of Being talked of it gives her a point of reference So that's all we vote on so all of this are resolutions are are in dialing. So it doesn't mean that So should this be for us or should this be more for the wcs here? So So it would be this floor is voting for the entire Supervisor you a couple weeks October 19 Right, but I before there's So I would go back to our letter Yeah, that we modified that was different from the month to a year letter I'm of two minds of this I'm of the mind of how I feel personally But I'm also of the mind As a school board I'm uncomfortable I'm uncomfortable with this as far as that goes You know, it's is it is it It's hard for me to answer because I'm torn between you know And I'm not looking for a final answer. I just wanted some some some guidance. I mean, you know, this is guidance Here's the example used for if we really wanted to impact school safety Yeah, really and this is just my opinion. We really wanted to make an impact And put pressure on the legislature. We would take a stand on Opioids Right. Yeah, that's that In my mind, that's a that's an ongoing risk for school safety And we see occurrences every day But the school board's not taken school boards not don't take stances on That kind of thing I'm comfortable taking a stance on school safety Yeah Um I'll be quiet. You've heard what I say and let other people say what they have to say Like there was no research You semi-automatic I didn't think you should hear or any wasn't really hunting But they would not find anything to support their answer and so the gun lobby You know, it's just kind of gotten a hold on that. So I mean that's It's a gun culture thing So so if I summarize maybe that the only part that we really are in agreement is It's it's the student safety. So so it would be that we've sort of what our resolutions said we favor background checks We actually didn't even say background checks Because you're representing more than just this board. Yeah And because this was such a hot topic when it came about two years ago, um I would just caution you to represent everyone only having talked to this board And I just wonder if because there's going to be no time to meet if you even just Share it as information with the other boards to say this is one of the because they may choose to meet I don't know but I know this is a very Sensitive topic to all words Yeah, so our you know what we what what we recommended as the bsba was to not take up decision You know, it was brought it was brought by the green school district. So I just went so I would support not taking up Yeah, okay. So that's where I was trying to get so not taking a position at this moment because it was so And the position that we took is reflected in the resolution that we passed Last year Tell me that was your town meeting. Yeah And we we had we had asked them for changes on their wording and no changes were received I think that's something this board needs to talk about I know that Talking to other principals their board other boards are having that conversation this school has the largest capital You have the most money in a bank. Um, I know that other boards are talking about Spending spending and not letting others touch it All So I I've thought about it I I don't favor spending it so no one else can get it But here's here's what my thought around it has been I'm very sensitive to the fact that we have the biggest debt We've got a big chunk in capital If it's a forced merge, I would like us to think about using that money to pay down the debt So then it benefits everybody We bring in, you know at that point, it's going to be $800,000 $750,000 That that's going to pay down a huge chunk of our debt That I think it's a consideration I wouldn't favor. Let's just spend the money It would be for our school. It wouldn't make any sense. We don't you know, I don't want to spend it on stuff We don't need If we don't have a reason to spend it, I'm not uncomfortable bringing it forward But my only thought around it was It it might make it more palatable to everybody. We took that money And paid down the debt for each one failure I think they would like it for the other communities if we're paying down almost a million dollars of our debt it's going to Make it more palatable and easier for those communities as well Because that's a big chunk of the debt that we could take off the books So I I don't think we need to decide tonight, but that's where my thinking was around that money So I guess my fear just to bring that up is you know We then if if other schools are spending money and we're going to eliminate the money then aren't we going to be in that same place that We could be you know where we need to go into debt to fix buildings because we're spending it on things that may be You know, I don't disagree with you five pounds worth of debt, right? But I don't disagree that paying down that would be a great idea, but I think it's just It it could be part of a broader discussion outside of our board Right, that's a lot of money Yeah Would would if there's a merge for the towns that are going to merge would you rather see that money come through So there's all this money to do work on schools of which Our school wouldn't need a lot of it, but some schools Conceivably could really benefit from it or is it more valuable to pay down the debt Knowing that we're going to be starting at ground zero on capital money So I I agree with you. I think we need to do some stuff at school that we had, you know earmarked so that We do those things that we that we had on the line, but I I'd rather use that money for for students So if the interest in the debt right now from my understanding we had a pretty good deal in that in that interest I'd rather see that money used for a better student outcomes in lighting in, you know In Calif or in rummy like, you know, there's some Some buildings that don't have the capacity. I would feel bad if rummy just not rummy But like booster just decided to down their entire thing on And something else that is not for their students. I'd rather have this money be used for exactly what we did Which is improved The building for the teachers and it's not our call. It's their call. Well, no, I I know but We can decide what to do with our money. So I have two thoughts on this one The debt analysis the the business analysis as a school district Operation is going to open some eyes because towns that think that they're in a certain position Are going to be inescapably Corrected Because I don't think that they're going to find themselves in the position that they sort of are smugly Thinking that they're in Their ballot sheet is going to look a lot different At the end of that analysis and I think ours by contrast is going to look really really good And that's going to come as a surprise so that's My first comment my second comment is that While it's one board one budget that doesn't mean that all of these same accounts couldn't Basically come across as they are No, they can't come across to there. There'll be one capital fund budget. That's it Yeah There's one there's one budget, but it can be Potato potato, but it could be planned and that's sort of that's why I keep sort of going back to this like That's my biggest frustration about this entire process. Everybody's operating from this place of fear And It's misplaced Because at the end of the day, it's a whole bunch of very well-intentioned and well-informed people who are going to do buy and merge the white things by the kids and so You know doing something like spending your entire cash Is incredibly deleterious to that. That's Clearly not in the spirit of any of this um Doing something like taking the almost million dollars that we Carefully script and save and putting it to pay our debt down Is exactly the behavior that we've been modeling through this process all the way so I am hopeful ever hopeful that the other towns will know Sometime stop operating out of a place of fear Let's see something different before we adjourn. I have a request I I think it was in our packet, but it had come earlier and it might be that letter from margaret I don't know that was sent to board chairs Yes, I would appreciate getting those forwarded on when they go to you ruben So we all have them. So I should take the filter out of my notebook just puts them in the garbage Yeah Yeah, that would be good That's your job as chairman keep us informed Paul has a stand up Yes We are right now and assume that everything is Frozen, but you know when I was a kid A lot of the towns that we drive through regularly were Very active towns And they aren't anymore For more reasons than just what we're talking about tonight, but One of the ones that is You have a lot more of them is just You know this thing that you call fear well the fear is Realistic because some of us have seen this happen and when we take The generations, you know our grandchildren and great-grandchildren Still going to live in some of these places Maybe Maybe they'll be Like some of the places you go out in the woods now Where there's just cellar holes and trees that big grown That we're open fields when I was a kid And maybe you don't care about those places anymore You know having a little more bureaucracy is more important than You think you're doing a big favor for the kids While we're all interested in what happens for these kids Because we all have kids we've been kids and whatever But You know that what it means that they go up in Have a great deal to do with what they become Absolutely when you don't And when you just discard that and you say We're doing things just for the kids. You're forgetting all the things that that community does for those kids And so, you know when you say things like you just said I just find that So shallow It's not based on any experience Over time and you know, I I grew up and went to school in Montpelier 50 years ago when I graduated with My cohorts who were all from these surrounding towns and now part of U32 You know when I sit here and Think that about the possibilities of some of these schools in these towns where my friends grew up, you know Possibly no longer having a center of town And not having you know Getting on a bus and disappearing, you know kids do this. They don't want to have This important link to where home is and I don't care what you say You don't have the experience to be saying that and that irritates me You know and that I I just get sick of hearing and just plain isn't true. You haven't had the experience of knowing All those immensely good You're delirium people that are putting their time into this. They're trying to demand this And come up with Well Did you stay What did you start? Oh But I think they're doing a great job Well, if it's all right if I if I could weigh in Around school closure, I agree with you And that's what's fueled my support of mergers I think in talk to the The dodie school board I think unmerged dodie is it and this is just my opinion and I could be wrong But my belief that fuels my interest in merger. I think if dodie's left by itself It's got less of a chance of continuing than if they merge Because when they lose their small school grants in about two years, that's 10 of their budget is gone And they're going to have to make that up within their own town And I know their board and their town are very worried about it If we merge there's a chance I think there's a better chance they can keep their school than if they're on their own So from my perspective, I'm not looking at mergers to close schools I'm looking at mergers to preserve what we've got and I think we've got a better chance Of doing that merge than we do separately So we have different takes on how to get to the same place, but for me I have no interest whatsoever in closing schools and it's my belief that merger Increases the likelihood at least in our Five towns That the smaller schools could still exist And I know it's a difference of opinion, but I want you to understand from from my perspective That's my perspective and how I view it Particularly around Doty, I think Doty is a huge just my opinion Is a huge risk if they're going to have to go there go it on their own I don't I don't think that's fair to say, but I think at this point I'm going to call us done Because this has in my opinion become I'm not a healthy conversation So our official business is concluded and I'm going to adjourn us at 9.38