 This program is brought to you by Cable Franchise V's and generous donations from viewers like you. Seeing the presence of the forum, I would like to call to order the special meeting of the Amherst Regional School Committee on Thursday, January 21st, 2021. When I call your name, would you please indicate your presence? Mr. Damling. Damling President. Mr. Harrington. Harrington President. Ms. Spitzer. Spitzer President. Ms. Lord. Lord President. Ms. McDonald. McDonald President. Ms. Seager. Seager President. Mr. Sullivan. Sullivan President. And I think that's everybody and stance are present. Ms. McDonald, are you, do you want me to turn the meeting over to Ms. Cunningham or to Dr. Morris or are you ready to take over? I think at this point we will turn it over to our, to Ms. Cunningham, assuming he's here. He is here. This meeting was great. Tiffany, did you have your hand up? I'm sorry, but Ms. Cunningham could call on you. I just want to make sure Ms. Cunningham was able to see that. Thank you. Hi Ms. Tiberdell. Is there something you'd like to state? You might already be ready to talk about it, but I know there was the clarification about the agenda and I wasn't sure that was part of the school committee's road for roll. Yes, sorry. Sorry, thank you for reminding us. Yes, there is a site, the published agenda. If the rest of the regional school committee is okay with this change, we'd like to change it so that instead of having, that we would like to have the bulk of the meeting for the discussion as opposed to the welcome and conversation. Are folks amenable to that? Seeing some tiny nodding heads. Okay, so we will make that change. Thank you, Tiffany. Thank you all for that. So welcome everyone to the third meeting of the school committee and the APEA executive board. Many have expressed their appreciation for the steps that we have taken so far and for the continued commitment to be transparent and collaborative. So once again, before we start, there are norms that we have all abided by in the past two meetings and just going to state them again for this meeting. First norm is that we will assume positive intentions. One person will speak at a time. We will focus on solutions. We will listen in order to understand. And finally, we will accept and expect non closure. So once again, staying on this call shows that you are willing to abide by those norms. Okay, I see everyone has stayed. So with that being said, the district and the APEA has had two discussions so far about the directives that were issued by the school committee to the superintendent. And we have potential dates next week where we will continue to collaborate. And the reason I state that is because the prompt that we ended with last week talked about the things or let me read it directly. Knowing that there are educators, families and various members of the community who are interested in a safe return of staff and students to the APEA. What protections are you asking the district to ensure is in place. And to the school committee, what protections can you currently ensure will be in place. So me stating that the district and the APEA have already started communication is just so that the community understands the transparency that we have started the communication. And that here we're going to talk about the protections that both of you would like to see in place on behalf of our staff and our students. So with that being said, I know that we had ended very quickly once that question was posed. And so I'm going to ask Mcdonald if she can repeat what she had said. If she can remember if she can repeat at least the premise of what the protections are that the school committee is ready to provide. And I'll ask for the APEA to let me know who will be able to respond as Miss McGee is not here today. Thanks for the refresher. I believe that what we what I had started with was in terms of protections. That we as a school committee are committed to all of the protections that we outlined and have settled and agreed to in in our current memorandum of understanding. And our two groups are representatives are bargaining representatives worked really hard over the summer to come to those agreements and we stand by those and fully expect that the district will continue to to uphold those those protections that we've we've described. Thank you. And I'd like someone on behalf of the APEA except for it. Okay, Miss. Thank you. And we were also reassured as the APEA Executive Board, when Ms. McDonald shared last week that the safety protocols currently stated in our memorandum agreement with continue to be followed, even with this possible proposal of voluntary return to in person. And so in those are the protections that we are looking to or feeling our members are saying that they would like to have in place in order to feel like they can have a safe return. Along with that, we, we see the side letters as a way of having them documented in writing to support our members and being protected. In addition, we also know that the staff members that previously the Federal Family Coronavirus Act the FF CRA was extended to March 31, but not sure whether that falls in line with our district. I know you have to opt into it. So any details that you can give us about our district committing to offering that to staff members who may be returning to in person. And then one other question we had was relating to the pool testing and knowing that I think there are like over 300 schools who are hoping to be a part of this program and wondering where the camera stands in terms of whether we had any notification about acceptance or when we should expect to know that. I think I believe that I sort of highlighted the main things that were coming from our members and from our board. With that being said, I would like to still open the floor to any board member from the APA who would like to comment. Ms. Jagadish. You are muted, please unmute unbelievable. So backing up just a little bit in terms of communication. We'd like to have a shared understanding of how communication will happen between school committee and APA and what and how things will be communicated to families in the community. So there's already been. When our staff members heard about the school committee's directive to Dr. Morris. There was a lot of misunderstandings and there continue to be misunderstandings about when and how. So really having a plan of how school committee APA and the district is going to communicate would really be helpful in moving this process forward. And in that collaborative spirit, we really like to issue joint statements with the school committee in the district, but understand that that's not always possible. And if that's not possible to extend the courtesy of sharing with each other before the same time that we share things with the press. And then another really important question we had was, has school committee authorized Dr. Morris can negotiate directly with APA. So there was a directive that was given to Dr. Morris that he should collaborate with us, but it would be helpful to have that clarified whether that is indeed the school committee authorizing Dr. Morris to negotiate with APA. The executive board as Ms. Cunningham stated has already had some positive conversations with the district about how to move forward and we're feeling really good about that. We would really need to know the parameters of that collaboration. And if Dr. Morris can make decisions with us and can move forward without further authorization from the school committee, that would really enable things to move more smoothly and expedite the process. So we would need to know if Dr. Morris is authorized to negotiate in order to be able to collaborate with the superintendent, as was the school committee's charge in their directive. Thank you. Ms. Rhodes. Thank you. I just want to add a little bit to what month one just shared and I think that first of all, we received the nexus reports this week so thank you we really appreciate having those reports and some of our APA members are looking over those now. And I think that, you know, continuing to share any of that information as soon as we have it is really important. I know there's ongoing work being done all the time and any reports that we get are updated reports it would be really beneficial for us to have those as soon as possible, if we can get into the habit of that. In addition, I think that it would be really important for our members to understand what isn't isn't in place right now, as far as safety parameters go. So if things are ongoing or work is being done being really having a really clear system set up so that our members know what rooms are open what rooms are not open. So they know what the contact tracing protocol is if those have changed or any other safety protocols have changed I know that there's a lot of work being done on these things behind the scenes. But just a way for that to be really clearly communicated with all staff through all buildings so everyone's hearing the same messages, I think is really important to our members. And finally we'd love to know what the family responsibilities are going to be under this new program and maybe that's something we're going to work on developing together. It's really important for our members to know what's expected of families who are sending their students in in this first wave of of having students in person over the next month or so. So those are things that I would add that we're looking for. Anyone else from the APA executive board. Okay, seeing as no one has raised their hand, I will turn back to the school committee. There were questions I don't know Allison if you had an opportunity to write down some of the things that were stated but I can just repeat them one by one so that you or Dr Morris may have an opportunity or any school. Hold on one second please. Miss McDonald let me pause just to go back to the APA for a moment. Okay miss Todd. Hi, good evening everybody. So there has been some discussion to on clarification on what's being communicated to the to the community and to families and we want to have a shared understanding of what it's like when we discuss the metrics, what are like what are we actually discussing because metrics are so much broader than just like case numbers. And it's important that you know the community is aware of that and that our, you know, staff members are aware of that and things like that. So, thank you. Did you just want me to know them as Todd's hands were up. Okay, thanks. Okay, so miss McDonald going back to you. I probably will need your help because I was switching devices and so my note taking is not not quite up to par. But I do I did. The first question was about, or at least the first question they noted about what and how will communication happen between the APA, the school committee and the district. And I frankly would love to hear ideas from this assembled group to hear sort of what what you all are thinking would be helpful. I personally find these meetings to be helpful. I don't know if we need to do them on a weekly basis throughout the year. Maybe sort of at certain points in time but I do find these convert open conversations and sharing of ideas and concerns to be really helpful. There could be one one way for communication to go. I also personally have found our emails that you're, you have an email distribution group. And I've, I've found that that our responsiveness and sort of openness within that email has been which has been helpful and supportive and moving this conversation forward so those are just my two ideas but I think that's something that this group is really ideally suited to sort of sharing ideas and sort of coming up with an action plan there. And I don't remember what the other questions were. I'm not going to say that I have 100% of what was said but I will try my best. The FFC RA was extended until March 31. And there was a question as to whether the district will be willing to extend it to the staff. I think that in a couple of the other questions are probably questions that are best dealt with in within the confines of the collaboration with the district. And that's to one of the other questions that I did write down which was because I don't just to say that I'm not trying to defer or deflect I don't know the answer to that. So I would have to ask that question myself of Ms. Conningham and Dr. Morris and maybe they can speak to that but my thought is, in terms of authorizing the district to negotiate. You mentioned that that would help move things along more quickly. That's something that the regional school committee would need to sort of discuss separately. Probably in executive session I'm sort of looking at my expert on this that to make that decision and then officially appoint and agree to authorizing the district to do so on our behalf. We would need an extra meeting to do that and I think several of these items would fall under under that conversation sort of once you know assuming we do empower them to represent and negotiate on our behalf. I feel like a bunch of those would probably fall under that. I don't know Dr. Morris or Ms. Conningham if you have other thoughts on that. Since I'm me doing the facilitating I am going to take off the hat of HR director slash assistant superintendent and just focus on the hat of being the facilitator. So I will leave it to Dr. Morris if he'd like to answer that. Yeah, so I mean obviously I can't speak for the committee. But I think in terms of FFC RA I'd be curious what causes of FFC RA relate to this voluntary approach. And I don't expect you all to have that map that maybe do but I don't expect you to have it on the spot. FFC RA was a wide sweeping piece of legislation so I guess I'd be curious about what aspects of that what provisions of that relate to voluntary return to work that you're looking to be asking for it to be extended. That's it's not it's it's not about school committee and me and who has the authority I think it's just as we get down to it there's plenty of parts of FFC RA that actually, in my opinion, aren't related to a volunteer return to work and, and some perhaps are I think digging in on what aspects of it that the APA is looking for to be extended and how it relates to the current school committee vote. I guess that that would be the kind of data, you know, I would need to then engage in the conversation further. Sorry, long winded. I could have said that quicker. Ms. McDonald, there was also a question about pool testing. I want to know if you or Dr. Morris have an answer to that. I can definitely speak to that one. So we were one of the districts that did apply. As I think it's been shared before we have our by next system up and running. We applied for pool testing I think the thing to note is all of those same with by next their site specifics so I think if we do move forward, it's not like we get in and all the sites are then good. We do expand to multiple sites. We need different people to go undergo training and to get licensed to be able to administer those tests. So there is a bit of a time lag. So right now we're we for by next, for instance, we are cleared for student, you know, a nurse at the high school. The high school is a site that has been approved for by next testing and it's the same kind of process for pool testing. I think as we develop our system and our approach, given the kind of the vote in this collaboration, there's going to be some further applications to state for the not just the test but actually to be licensed to offer those. It's my understanding from our nurse leader is there's that they are site specific and you can only apply for schools that are open. So it would involve some re applications as we go down, but you know the district, you know, did put in its application which gets it in the queue which makes my understanding is makes further applications a little bit easier. The sort of once you're in expanding it is a little easier than being out of it, not hitting a deadline and then asking to get back in. But that application did go in before the deadline if you look at like, I saw a couple articles that listed all the districts that opted to opted to apply we're in that we haven't received any confirmation or more information. It does a conference call tomorrow but I don't think it'll be it's a general one it's not like a specific one for our district so as we get more information we're happy to share it, but I did want to just mention that it is our understanding at the current time and by next time it's like that you get an official certificate from the Department of Health of the state that listed as a site where those those kind of testing to those tests can happen. But applications and we'll see what happens. Thank you. Ms. McDonald it seems like the rest of the questions or thoughts that I have listed basically falls under communication, basically clarifying what's being committed communicated family responsibilities. Having joint statements if possible, if not preview having a preview of what's going to be communicated. And what is in place, as far as safety parameters and how they will be clearly communicated with staff. Also the Nexus and other updated reports that's also under communication. They want the updated reports do you have anything to state or share with that. Yeah, I'm the question about joint statements or sharing sharing comments, or statements, communication that might be going public beforehand. I'm definitely open to that and I do think that there's a there's a valuable role that our two organizations issuing joint statements can really have for the community and for for our schools and families to show that we are coming together on and sharing these statements so you know as as any two groups we will probably disagree on some things and so we can't sort of say that we'll always have joint statements together but I think I can definitely commit to sharing any letters any public statements or public letters that we might be issuing prior to making them public just as as you did over the weekend frankly was sharing the statement I think was over the last weekend it all blurs together. But recently when you shared your statement to the press with with us on the same day so you know at a minimum we can definitely commit to that and I my hope would be that we could come up with a joint statement particularly around the collaboration that is starting for this voluntary return I think that would be a really helpful one for us to sort of aim for. And the other ones I think have more to do with the implementation of that family of the of the in person voluntary return. And I know that we commit to open communication but I think some of those have more to do with the actual implementation of what the plan is so I don't know if I'm in a position to be able to answer those right now. Thank you. The floor is open to anyone who'd like to add something up on either side whether it's the APA Executive Board or the school committee who would like to add to the prompt or just state something that they wanted to share. This is before I move to the next prompt. I think Mr. Sullivan has his hand up. Mr. Sullivan go ahead. Yeah, I'm kind of super confused by the mention of negotiating with the superintendent. I don't understand where that's coming from and it sounds to me almost like it's circumventing the school committee. Are they talking about the actual MOA or are they talking about separate things and the other like the safety protocols. From my understanding this, the district was ready to roll with phase one and phase two by September 29 and if anything by now that we're into January that even be better protocols in place so I'm not quite sure what that was about either. So if I'm hearing you correctly. Ms. McDonald go ahead. Sorry. And my understanding and maybe I misunderstood was that when we were talking about sort of authorizing a superintendent and the district to to sort of work on our behalf it was not related to the MOA but to the side letters for the voluntary return. So, is that did I misunderstand note that's correct. Okay. So, does that answer your question Mr. Sullivan. Okay. Thank you Ms. McDonald. And with her answering I don't have to. All right, so the question that I have or the prompt. I want both sides to just let teachers know those who would like to voluntarily return. What, what do you want them to know from each of each of you. So from the AP a what do you want teachers who are going to volunteer to know that you are doing on their behalf. What would you like teachers to know or anyone who's volunteering to return to know what you are going to do on their behalf. We have teachers who are coming back. Ms. Jagadish. So I think if I'm under, I mean, this might not exactly be an answer to your prompt, but I think what teachers really need to know and what teachers I think need the community to know is. So especially for primary school teachers, we take parents are sending their children to us and expecting us to keep their children safe. And that's something that is true, you know, outside of the pandemic that we're in right now. Primary school teachers make sure that when we're on the playground, the games that are being played the interactions that are happening between students, we take that responsibility very seriously of keeping children safe and parents trust us with that safety. So teachers really need to know and feel that they can do that. And a lot is involved in being able to do that. So, Mr. Sullivan asked that question about the safety protocols being in place that so from our point of view and we've been working with the district on this and JLMC SC is working on this. There are still a lot of safety protocols that are not sufficiently in place for many teachers to feel that they can take on this charge of keeping the children safe. So it isn't just about the level of risk that that an individual teacher may be able to accept in in order to be able to come in person under the, you know, with the case numbers that the way that they are, but it's also teachers being able to feel like they can keep the children safe. Thank you. Ms. Rhodes. I just want to take on a slightly different angle than Mongolia's I really appreciate your response Mongolia. But I want to speak to how, especially the APA exact board can support teachers who are thinking about going in voluntarily to the school. And I think that we are here to do what is asked of us by our members so our members tell us what they would like and that's what we work towards. So we're here to support teachers who are feeling comfortable going in voluntarily and helping them ensure that they have everything they need to feel safe and supported while being in person. We're here to support our teachers who need to stay remote and we're here to provide everything they need and are asking us to do to help them feel safe and supported while working remotely, whether that's job security or whether that is the impact of making that really hard decision to stay remote when there's a choice to go in voluntarily and what that does emotionally for teachers who are making that choice. So really that is our role as the is the exact word to get all the information we can from our members and then work with the district to help our teachers teach the best they can by providing them with those safeties and securities. Thank you. Mr. Demling. Yeah, I'd say so two things from the prompt of what what I want teachers who are considering volunteering to know. One is that. And the school committee discussed this a lot when we made the motion, but there's total respect for teacher autonomy when it comes to the, the, the, this is a, this is a choice. It's an opportunity with and that we should not be pressuring. You know, the, there should be no school committee member or district member or public or teacher anybody who is pressuring one way or the other and that, you know, you know, we're committed as public figures to, to modeling that. You know, as, yes, it's obviously true that the school committee has been asking to change the MOA for a while but the legal reality is that we have an MOA in place and that has metrics and it does not require staff to be back right now. And so that's a complete legal right that I completely respect and that the school committee completely honors and respects and that this when we say volunteer, we mean, you know, voluntary, you know, and I think that's a big. That that's a really important point that I don't think we can make enough because I've lived in communities where it's gotten pretty nasty between, you know, unions and management before and it doesn't have a great lasting effect on the community. You know, so I think I think that's, that's important. The other thing is, you know, I heard someone mentioned before about the safety protocols and wanted to make, you know, what what what a what are they and then be are they sufficiently in place I think a commitment. Certainly I have on school committee is that if we've committed to safety protocols that are there in the MOA that are not changed. If they're not sufficiently in place, you know, the school committee wants to know about it. It's like, we, we expect the, the superintendent and the district to be implementing what we've agreed to. And so if, if, as, and, you know, school committee obviously isn't on the ground, right, we're not in the buildings to be able to say exactly how these things are, are, are not being met. And so, you know, part of that the JLMC is part is part of that but I think also, you know, part of that maybe more open communication is, is letting the school committee know, hey, you know, if, if you're particularly concerned about some aspects that we've already agreed to right that we are obligated to implement that's not being met then we want to know about that so we can bring it up superintendent and he can get on it. So I think I think that's, it's, it gets really about assuring staff that we're committed to what we've already committed to, right, which is the MOA that does not require you to go in right now. And, and it includes a number of safety protocols and, and whatnot that that we expect to be fully and completely implemented. Thank you. The floor remains open for anyone who would like to speak. Yeah, I think I'd like to sort of restate what I'm hearing several folks say is, is this sense of you, you asked the question about teachers who are volunteering and I, and I think in terms, I think it's also who are not volunteering and as you know, we're choosing, as Ms. Rhodes said, making the really hard decision in some cases emotional decision to, to remain remote and to know that whatever the decision is of any individual teacher or educator that that we support that. And, and that that was the point of asking for a voluntary return was that it's really, it's, it really should be voluntary instructional situation, because it's, you know, we're, we're opening up another opportunity but the choice is in front of the individual to make to choose either remote or in person. And I think, so I just really want that was came up in our committee conversations that I absolutely believe that myself and know that the others my colleagues do too that we respect all decisions. And, and that for those who do opt to be in the building with students that a we want to make sure that the protections that we've documented and settled in our in our MOA are being implemented and are working. And, you know, to help everybody feel safe. And if they're not then use our avenues of communication whether it's the JLMSC or other avenues to to reflect that so that it's the communication is continuing. And if something isn't happening, you know, sort of like the norms that we have here don't, you know, assume best intent. Because we've never been in a pandemic before. And so I think, you know, it's, it's, there's a little bit of ingenuity and innovation that will need to happen, even once, even once where they are and sort of keeping that this communication going I think is super helpful. Thank you. This question is going to be posed to only the APA exec board. And I know it may be tough to respond to, but the question is, why go the route of side letters instead of reopening the MOA. Like what. Why would we do side letters instead of reopening MOAs. Sure. So, you know, we've had this conversation a lot with our membership. When we are surveying or speaking to our membership, we have, like we said, we've yet to get a mandate to reopen the MOA. And we dig deeper into the feelings around what people are willing or thinking about is important to have changed. We do get a lot more consensus. So that's where our side letters of intensive needs and preschool came from, because the consensus was there that these students need in person learning now and how can we get that for them now. When our membership in our membership, we've shared is split on this. There's, there's a lot of feelings about this. Most of the talk of reopening the MOA goes back to the metrics conversation. And I think that that's what we've been hearing and we might not be hearing fully. So we are really open to the school committee telling us that there are other areas of the MOA that they're looking to be talking about and renegotiating. And what we've been hearing is it's really around that number around that metric and at this time our membership has not told us that that's something there that we're willing to reopen the MOA around. We continue to want to move forward. And I think the membership is an agreement on that. The areas that we want to move forward is really addressing the needs of our students for not accessing remote learning in a way that is working for them or their families. And that's really what we're hearing from our members. And that isn't something that was written into the MOA because we weren't really anticipating that as we were writing the MOA. So the areas where we're looking to move forward and change and really help our students and their families are things that are outside of the MOA. And we're continuing when we ask our membership around renegotiating the MOA to hear that they're not ready to do that. Thank you Ms. Rose for responding to that. I know that was a very difficult question. I know that your response will help many in the community to understand the difference between the MOA and the side letter. So thank you again for responding. Yeah, I know in conversation yesterday there were some things that was brought up to say that there were some miscommunication and that there were some who thought that the superintendent was directed to start and possibly open schools beginning February 1st. I know the APEA wanted an opportunity to say something regarding that and possibly Dr. Morris if I'm correct. So we will turn the floor over to anyone who is willing to respond and raise their hand. I think I can try and Tiffany anyone who because we talked about this yesterday. If I'm getting something wrong just let me know. But I think what I heard yesterday was that there were a lot of rumors out there for some reason February 8 was a date that people believed that this option you know the voluntary program would start. I want to be really clear that I've never said that date my administrative team have never said that date it came as a huge surprise to me. I think the school committee. I'm pretty confident intentionally left that as the month of February because they understood that there was going to be a tremendous amount of logistics. And they would be entailed in voluntary program or voluntary in person program both in terms of staff who want to return but also students. Right. So there's a lot of people we have to get lots of opinions about and then match our capacity to have seats with people who want them in the school. There's not been a date established and I think one of the other parts of that vote was that a directive to collaborate with a PA and as was mentioned earlier we've had two meetings and I think we're making substantial progress. Appreciate the collaboration with the executive board. But just to be really clear February 8 is not a date that I uttered until tonight because I heard it yesterday. And I think when we are able to establish specific dates will certainly communicate them out. There was conversation before about joint statement I think that's a really good one to have that if we can kind of understand best how to survey family survey staff survey families and do the matching you know if you hear a date before you hear it from me or from us. Please know that it's not a real date and then when we have that date established will be communicating that out all together and not piecemeal so I think you know I appreciate that. Sometimes rumors get to me sometimes they don't this one had not so I appreciate it being shared with me and just the opportunity to clarify that for anyone who's watching. And if I missed the detail you know anyone please jump in. And for the exact board is there anything else that you want to clarify it on this call. Miss dancer. Um, so we had this this is the third meeting with screwed together. Am I hearing that. Other meetings are going on to talk about the side letters. Um, somebody said something about progress being made with the superintendent so I'm just a little vague on. Details you know we're not talking about any details in this like you know what are the specific things that maybe aren't being met safety wise and you can't fix them if you don't know what they are so. What what's happening besides just these meetings if anything. Dr Morris. Yeah, so a lot of those go through as per the MOA go to the JLMC. So, as I think has been talked about before there's a JLMC that is a small group meeting. And because some issues come up that are confidential. And then there's a larger group meeting and like last week I understand Mr Harrington that that couple protocol issues came up that will be talked about in their next meeting. So that'd be the place I think in terms of meetings that Miss Cunningham or sorties myself have had with the executive board. A lot of them are, and this is pretty typical or just routine meetings that we try to have because issues accumulate, you know, and they're not necessarily just issues about an MOA or issues about COVID related challenges just, you know that we're trying to reestablish strong issues. Now, truth be told, we're in a context where a lot of the issues do relate to those but typical, you know, and Miss Cunningham leads, you know routinely over the years that I've worked with her joint labor management meetings. So, you know, at no point was we're talking about the MOA or anything that would be school committee specific information but it is an opportunity to share and work on any protocols that come up or any feedback but JLMC is the primary issue for discussions about protocols and the way that was described before. Does that help Miss Dancer. It does on this. I'm sorry, Miss Cunningham should I wait. Okay, go ahead Miss Dancer. Thank you. Sure. I understand about the JLS MC, but how, how is the actual, how are things actually going to move forward. You know, I don't, that's what I'm wondering about. I'm just going to talk how, how are things going to start to happen. Are they going to be in these meetings are they going to be in other meetings, because I feel like we're spending a lot of time talking about important things but we're not talking about happening. Dr. Morris. Oh, I saw actually. Yeah, her hand was up before mine so. Well, I'm probably going to say the same thing that you were going to say. So, when I mean school committee is going to meet to, to talk about whether they can authorize Dr. Morris to negotiate directly with a PA. So that would be a first step. Dr. Morris and the executive board have already spoken about what first steps would be in order to move forward with a voluntary program so first step would be surveying staff and we were going to work together to do a survey for staff to see what kind of students we would have to work with in terms of building a bond building a program and what students we would be able to offer something to and then we would need to reach out to families and work on how we could match up the staff who we have with the students with the students who we could learning to. So those are the first two steps that we would be taking together and through that process if we get authorization from school committee, we would be able to write side letters to kind of put all of this in writing of, of what would be expected of staff members who were who were able to assume the risk of in person instruction and maybe Dr. Morris can go from there. I guess that's as far as we've gotten in terms of thinking how this would move forward. Okay. Thank you. Dr. Morris, I'm going to have Mr. Demling go before you. Go ahead, Mr. Demling. Yeah, I mean, I just want to say briefly, I mean, go back to the language of the motion. The school committee directs the superintendent to develop and implement a plan and then describes what the plan is and then to work closely in collaboration with APA leadership. So this is, this is a, so we mentioned this at the committee being as well. This is a huge ask of the superintendent, right? We didn't, this wasn't the school committee saying here's how it's going to go and then just, you know, fill in the details. It's, it's not just implementing the plan, it's developing the plan as well. And so Dr. Morris has a tremendous amount of work to do to lead this effort. And so, you know, if like in terms of like negotiation negotiating, you know, I'm not, I can't say like how that affects contracts and whatnot, but I would, my expectation would be that working closely in collaboration with APA means don't waste any time now. And I imagine Dr. Morris feel the same way, but, you know, you have a lot to do and the example that was brought up just brought up about surveys that's that's perfect example there's a detail, one of many details right that's going to have to get settled. And so, you know, but that, at least in my sense of the motion, it's, you know, sort of has given the superintendent sort of broad direction to go forth and implement and, and don't waste time in developing the plan. I don't know if you've received it in the same sense, Dr. Morris. Yeah, we have six minutes, and we, we have many people who may want to respond. Go ahead, Dr. Morris. Yeah, and we do need actually Amherst media is letting me know that you need a minute or two gap between this meeting and then the joint meeting that happened that follows it so I can try to get that one set up. But it, I think we probably ending it at the latest 630, if not a minute or two earlier would help Amherst media. I have nothing more to add on this part other than I agree with what Ms. Jack said, that's exactly what it would have said she was she was right at the beginning of her statement. Mr. Goodies, excuse me, and then I agree with what Mr. Deming said as well. That I think if we're going to, if we're going to do this, we have to do it, you know, relatively aggressively in terms of a timeline I mean aggressively in terms of the approach, terms of safety but aggressively, in terms of the timeline to meet the school committee expectations and I'll be giving an update at the school committee meeting in a couple minutes during superintendent update about. I'll be basically restating probably less well what Ms. Jagadish shared here, just about our meeting and, and the collaboration and some of the next steps we're taking we're planning on taking. Thank you, Ms. Rhodes. I just want to ask the clarifying point Mr. Deming around what you just said. So I think that, you know, we have the same expectation as, you know, moving quickly and and really trying to get into this work because we do know it's a lot of work ahead and talking to Dr. Morris about the collaborative process we know it's going to take a lot of time and effort to do that and we want to do this for our members who are looking to go back voluntarily I think the piece that we were trying to state with the negotiations and the side letters is that we also want to ensure just as we did with the preschool and the intensive needs that it's written in a side letter what you're stating you're willing to do which is keep the protections of the MOA while we're implementing that and I think that's all we're looking for just to clarify in on that point. Thank you. And just through this meeting, many of these intentions have been stated to the commit community. And so, you know, putting them in writing is going to just solidify that these are what we have committed to, and plan to do for the rest of the 2021 school year. So, with four minutes remaining, I know that there's a lot of questions still like what would you like the community to know, you know, things like that, moving forward, what our timelines may be, how soon will we have a timeline how soon will we have something to share with the community, you know, things like that are questions that are going through the heads of many out there many teachers many staff many family members. I don't have the time today to do this, or talk about it but I do know that Miss McDonald had talked about one of her thoughts that she put out there was to have a way that we can communicate. You mentioned possibly weekly transparency meetings, and I'm not saying that that's what we're going to do I'm just saying it was something that you had, you know, touched on. And so, Miss McDonald is there something that you can share with the community because I'm sure they'd like to know today was the third meeting what should they expect next. And if you can share that I'm going to turn the meeting back over to you with three minutes remaining so that you can respond to that and possibly close out the meeting. Thank you, Miss Cunningham and thank you for your expert facilitation yet again, really, really deeply appreciative of your, your willingness to do that and help us out through this. This is, it's been great. You know, in the interest of time, I might suggest and the regional school committee can sort of address this in our, in our next regular meeting when we talk about future agenda planning but I might suggest that I coordinate with, with the APA executive board to sort of plan two things. A communication plan sort of a joint communication I think I'm sensing just from the, from the head nods going around that there's an interest in, in planning a joint statement and communication to the community about the work that the collaborative work that's that's beginning on this voluntary return. And then maybe get some ideas from, from the executive board APA group on sort of future meetings like this or similar to this frequency and sort of what our desire is there that then we can sort of take that back with the with the regional school committee just instead of talking about it right now our folks okay with that. Great. So, I will move to adjourn the regional school committee. Second. Move by McDonald and second by stancer and it's a roll call vote Mr. Demlin. I miss stancer. Stancer I miss Spitzer. Spitzer I. Mr. Sullivan. Miss Lord. Lord I. Mr. Harrington. Harrington I. Ms. Seeger. Seeger I. Mr. Sullivan. I'm McDonald I did I did I get your vote, Mr. Demlin? The region is adjourned.