===PAGE 1=== 1025 Massachusetts Avenue, Lunenburg, Massachusetts 01462 978 582-4100 ~ fax 978 582-4103 MEETING MINUTES SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING Wednesday, March 6, 2024 Town Hall, Meeting Room 6:30 - Hybrid School Committee Superintendent Carol Archambault, Chair- Present Dr. Kate Burnham Brian Lehtinen, Vice Chair - Present Business Manager/ HR Director Anthony Sculimbrene, Secretary - Present Peter Beardmore, Member - Present Laura Brzozoski, Member – Present Recording Secretary Courtney Fuller Guests: Eric Hevy – Director of Facilities, Tim Santry – LMHS Principal In accordance with the requirements of the Open Meeting Law, please be advised that this meeting is being recorded and broadc ast live over the Lunenburg Public Access channel, on Facebook Live on the Public Access Facebook page. (http://www.facebook.com/Lunenburg-Public-Access-Cable-157427270975305/) and will be uploaded to the Lunenburg Access YouTube after the meeting. The agenda lists all the topics which may be discussed at the meeting and those reasonably anticipated by the Chair. Votes may be taken as a result of these discussions. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by Open Meeting Law 1. Call to Order by Carol Archambault at 6:30 p.m. 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Public Comment - None 4. Chair’s Report At last Thursday's Finance Committee meeting it was suggested that I meet with the town manager to negotiate additional funds. Dr Burnham and I did meet with her on Monday and we were told not to count on any additional funding, there was a chance of maybe $40,000 from additional new growth but nothing definite. At last evenings Select Board meeting the Town Manager stated that there would be an addition $230,000 added to the school budget pending new growth certification and a warrant article from the assessor's office. This morning Dr Burnham and I received an email from the town manager telling us not to use the $230,000 in our budget planning so that figure will not appear this evening. Also at last evening's Select Board meeting it was stated they would put an override on the warrant as well as on the ballot. We will be deciding on the dollar amount this evening, the Select Board needs that number for their March 12 th meeting. The superintendent and I met with the Town Manager, Finance Committee Chair, Select Board Chair, and Park Commission members to discuss future projects, most discussion needs to be done between the Municipal Building Committee and the School Committee to determine an agreeable path forward with Turkey Hill, and we will commence this discussion after the budget is set. At last night's Select Board meeting two of our earmark requests one for network security and one for enhance 911 were voted on to be submitted to our state delegation. I wish to thank the citizens that have been following this very difficult budget season, I would urge all residents and I will at each meeting until then, to plan on attending the May 4th town meeting to make your voices heard. 5. Review & Approve Minutes a. Regular Session 1/24/24 – Ms. Brzozoski makes a motion to approve minutes, Mr. Sculimbrene seconded the motion, roll call vote all approve with Mr. Beardmore abstaining. 6. Review & Approve Warrants & Line Item Transfers a. Warrant Total 2/26/24 $102,872.20 – No questions, Ms. Archambault has signed Lunenburg Public Schools Dr. Kate Burnham, Superintendent of Schools ===PAGE 2=== 1025 Massachusetts Avenue, Lunenburg, Massachusetts 01462 978 582-4100 ~ fax 978 582-4103 b. Line Item Transfers $78,933 an explanation was provided for all line item transfers and reasons for each one. Mr. Sculimbrene made a motion to approve line item transfers, Ms. Brzozoski seconds the motion, all approve via roll call 7. Superintendent’s Report Nothing New to report 8. Student Representative Report Nothing new to report from The Primary School. Turkey Hill is participating in Read across America. LMHS is wrapping up winter sports and starting spring sports. Ms. Archambault adds that she thanks the third grade for inviting her to participate in Read Across America. Mr. Beardmore shares, I believe our sports teams are all done for the winter season and across the board I think our teams achieved above expectations once again with fantastic participation levels, as we have been demonstrated in the past and just want to give a shout out to our AD and his staff of coaches, the students, and the parents for a great winter season. I also just read I believe within the last day or two in social media that our Science Olympiad team did extraordinarily well in the recent state tournament so hats off to all involved to include the advisers and of course once again the students and their parents. 9. New Business Action a. LHS Program of Studies Mr. Santry shares good news from LHS – Every 10th grader has taken the MCAS and 100% have passed both ELA and Math. I was contacted by DESE last week and five of our students from LMHS received a Student Achievement Award. This award is provided to students who fall within the high need subgroup category in MCAS that also scored within the exceeding expectations in the math or ELA test. As you know, as part of our accountability with the state is to move our subgroups from Needs Improvement to Meeting Expect ations, in some cases at LMHS we are moving students from meeting to exceeding expectations. Once again a tribute to the people in our building and the hard work that we do in order to support students every day. Lastly about MCAS 29 of our students from the class of 2024 were awarded the John and Abigail Adams award. The Adams scholarship award goes to students that scores place them in the top 25% of the district scores, but also have to be in the advanced category in one of the two tests based on our average class size of 104/105, 29 of them received this award. Congratulations to our Science Olympiad team this is the first year Lunenburg has ever had a team, 16 high school students participated in Science Olympiad and they placed in the top 10 out of 71 teams in the state. A shout out to Bodie Orni, he placed ninth out of 81 teams in the Harvard University Invitational for Science Olympiad. Some more good news I spoke with Dr Burnham and we are able to lock in on a Saturday June 1 st graduation date, I will be getting that information out to families in my weekly email. You should all have copy of the program of studies for 24/25. I’d like to thank my Assistant Principals and Department Heads for helping us make the changes, with the uncertainty in the budget. Our strategy moving forward is allowing the students choices to dictate our courses and electives. We will whittle away at courses once we have recommendations and students choices entered. We would like to offer AP Statis tics if possible as many academic programs at college levels include statistics as a requirement. Offering could have an opportunity to receive college credit. The majority of schools in our Midwach group offer statistics both at CP and AP level, it would keep Lunenburg Public Schools competitive, we had already purchased textbooks, and we wouldn’t incur additional costs. Ms. Brzozoski asked how many students you accept. Mr. Santry replied last year we had 33 sign up for Statistics (Not AP). Mr. Beardmore asks for some more commentary regarding possible struggles of adding an AP class and pulling students from current classes. Mr. Santry shares that this year we are really going with student choices, if we have classes that only have a few sign ups then we won’t be running that class. We are hopeful that the last week of March, or first week of April to begin the registration and be able to get the numbers to the guidance counselors, and then we can start to decipher out which classes can and cannot run for the next school year. Mr. Beardmore asks do you think adding AP stats will affect AP calculus and is it likely that a course listed in the handbook, actually not be offered based on numbers. Mr. Santry replies we do not have any data yet as to if AP calculus would be affected and yes it is possible a class may not run. Mr. Beardmore makes a motion to approve the Program of Studies, Mr. Sculimbrene seconds the motion. All approve via roll call. b. Student Opportunity Act Plan Annica Scott provided a document to explain Student Opportunity Act Plan. Ms. Scott shares that every three years districts are asked to write a Student Opportunity Act for DESE. They gave us guidelines and I attended a webinar in order to write this. Today I met with a repre sentative from DESE who said this was in great shape to present to the school committee. We are looking to have this posted and open for public feedback for a few weeks as well, before it is due on April 1 st. We had to analyze our data and we looked at things like MCAS, Iready, our module assessment data and we looked specifically at any subgroups which were showing a ===PAGE 3=== 1025 Massachusetts Avenue, Lunenburg, Massachusetts 01462 978 582-4100 ~ fax 978 582-4103 disparity Ms. Scott references data through the report for school committee’s attention. M r. Beardmore asks for more clarification on how this document was built. Ms. Scott answers, through templates provided by DESE, this document does not include faculty, or public feedback yet. Prior to the committee’s approval in two weeks that information will be added. c. FY 24 Quarterly Budget Report Our financial consultants and Liaisons along with my team have been working on our budget lines and finding deficits or budget lines that need to be adjusted. A spreadsheet was provided to the committee that detailed all the budget line adjustments. Dr. Burnham went through each line and explains the differences noted. Mr. Sculimbrene asked if we are definitely getting Circuit Breaker money. Ms. Hanscom reports that we will definitely receive Circuit Breaker money, but it is based on the previous year. d. Warrant Article Submission Per the advice of the Town Manager it was suggested we write a request for the money and what it would be used for. We are requesting $82,119 from free cash to pay for the Network Security Upgrade. For the warrant, it should say that the town will vote to raise and appropriate or transfer from free cash a sum of $82,119. Mr. Sculimbrene makes a motion to approve and warrant as drafted, Mr. Beardmore seconds the motion, all approve via roll call Discussion e. Assessment Report A report was supplied to the committee and is posted online. If anyone needs more information or has any questions please email lps@lunenburgschools.net f. Facilities Update Mr. Hevy reports to the committee by going through each school building and different repairs or maintenance that needs to be done. He goes into detail on each item and shares the cost to repair or replace. The turf field feasibility study, we held interview with contractors and ultimately it was awarded to Collins Civil Engineering, hopefully to be completed by the end of July 2024. Mr. Beardmore comments to emphasize the timeline on the turf field plans, as the field has 2 maybe 3 years of life left to it. We are currently not in compliance with the E911 system, this system allows 911 to know which room a call is made from. Turkey Hill is most expensive because they have an older phone system. 10. Old Business Discussion a. FY 25 Budget update Q & A Dr. Burnham shares a new updated presentation for the budget. Mr. Beardmore shares his struggle of what the right path is the needs budget or the level services minus ESSER. Dr. Burnham reports historically the budget process was percent increase based. We really do not want to lose that position as we won’t be able to provide comparable services, if more cuts are needed, how can we do what’s best for our kids. Evan Waters, the Chair of the Finance Committee, reports the budget that is to be submitted to them has to be the 2.94% budget. We as the committee look at the budget as a whole, we have no authority over the Town Manager, the Select Board will look over the budget as well and then everyone votes individually. The committee asks “What if no one votes to approve the balanced budget?” Mr. Waters’ replies then you leave without a balanced budget and you begin scheduling Special Town meetings. Mr. Lehtinen asks if it makes sense for us to come up with a percentage and let the select board come up with the amount. Ms. Archambault replies, it really is up to us to come up with the number and is better for us to come up with the number. If we end up with our budget being over the asking price based on more town money, we would then hold a meeting to level the money and re-appropriate. Mr. Beardmore asks about the numbers we can use to determine the amount of taxes a household would increase. Mr. Water’s comments the DLS website will give a median home value, but also shows the amounts based on $200,000 and up, however, this is based on 2023 tax year and before our re-evaluation is submitted. Mr. Beardmore looks to more guidance for the values of what we gain or lose on each version of the budgets, what are we able to provide educational wise if we choose the budget. Dr. Burnham reports while working on the many versions of the budget, we have been focusing on positions, we are working on a line by line version to show differences in expenses and salaries. Renee Emkey, 6 Irish Court With the ESSER cuts it changes the salary reserve line, does it also change the health insurance? And is it fair to say the ESSER numbers stay the same? Dr Burnham: No, we have to do that separately, and yes the number will stay the same. There is an increase of $200,000 for co mputers, as the 6th and 9th grade students get new Chromebook, along with the replacement cycle for staff, Turkey Hill needs all updates current, because of MCAS and the network security update. Chris Menard, Vice Chair Finance Committee The comment was made regarding the democratic process and where does it begin. We’re kind of living it right now and, it was also stated that finance committee is an appointed position, ===PAGE 4=== 1025 Massachusetts Avenue, Lunenburg, Massachusetts 01462 978 582-4100 ~ fax 978 582-4103 but it's kind of a funny appointed position, where we're not a subcommittee to anyone. We're appointed by the town moderator, the school committee, and the select board. Our real purpose is to represent the legislature through hearings and ultimately, there are three things we can do through that; the first one is we can influence the budg et as its being developed, the second thing is we vote on every money article, whether we would recommend approving it or not, and the third thing we do is write a report that goes into the warrant. The last two things are pretty important because if Town manager, who is responsible by charter to pull for the budget. If we don't agree with it as a finance committee we can simply recommend to not approve it as it is. The second thing we could do is if we said hey you know the schools are short $200,000 and we believe these other departments are over, we could write that up in our in our report. On the floor we can hold those items and make amendments to the town manager budgets, during the town meeting. So that's the democratic process that comes into play. When you come forward to the finance committee hearing at least the first time, everything you do needs to be based upon the budget as it stands on that day, but you can come forward and say this is where we think we should be based on that budget. We'll have a public hearing, the budget will become more and more firm, throughout the entire process. Unknowns will become known and maybe by the end of it you know your budget is increased just like we saw this past week. So I want everyone to know that th e town manager is responsible for coming up with the budget for the entire time. But there are processes in place to push back against that budget. Shoshana Mulè 139 Cove Road Dr. Burnham why can’t you take the 5th grade band off the cuts in the level service minus ESSER. Dr. Burnham replies that position is not listed for cuts on that budget. The Turkey Hill position and the High School music position will not be touched in the Level services minus ESSER budget. TJ Loughlin 207 Rolling Acres Road My question I guess is I'm trying to reconcile the 8% starting point to a 6% which I think is a difference of over $400,000? Dr Burnham replies the 8% did not make actual position cuts, it took a salary value just off the bottom line, when you go in and actually make cuts in the spreadsheets that we're working in; there are embedded formulas. This year negotiating with the para professionals and the teachers, there's a salary reserve line in the budget, and when I remove a teacher or paraprofessional, the lines reduce accordingly to the individual staff member based on the formula. To be fair and transparent we have said that 12 positions, 8 licensed educators and 4 tutors which are not full-time jobs are currently paid for with the ESSER grant. We are trying to make a comparable number of cuts in terms of positions. We traded out one position for the four tutors, because we are going to keep those tutors and pay them out of a different grant. We have said for 2 ½ years that we would be making a cut to the positions, but that the cuts were not specifically the ESSER positions. Evan Waters, 45 Sunny Hill Road Do you have a dollar amount for the 6% - 2.94? $714,814 with a possible increase in funds of $230,000. Is there a standing policy that says health insurance sits on the school budgets side? Ms. Archambault responds, no it used to be town budget, a past superintendent wanted health insurance on the school budget side in order to benefit from insurance decreases and petitioned to have it as part of the school budget. Mr. Waters states it doesn’t seem to make sense to have one department in the town include the health insurance as part of their budget, but the town hold the rest of the departments insurance in their budget. Action b. Override Discussion & Vote Ms. Archambault shares the level services minus ESSER is the difference between 6.02% and the town manager 2.97% is $714,814. Ms. Brzozoski agrees with the number, but would like input from Dr. Burnham. Dr Burnham shares that if we can fund more positions she is not going to say no. Mr. Sculimbrene gives credit to Mr. Lehtinen, when he said if we are going to go through this whole process, we might as well go for a result we want. Mr. Beardmore is struggling with this scenario, because he does no t believe it is going to pass. There has been a huge mismanagement and the lack of trust that exists between citizens and the town. We are in a no-win situation, it is frustrating, saddening and irresponsible. I think Mr. Jeffrey has misrepresented this situation. Mr. Lehtinen agrees with Mr. Sculimbrene with the level service minus ESSER. Ms. Archambault agrees with Mr. Sculimbrene, if we are going to do it, let’s make it worth it. I understand there are people who can’t or don’t want to spend the money, but we need to do what is best. Ms. Archambault makes the recommendation to set the override amount at $715,000 Mr. Sculimbrene makes a motion to set the override amount at $715,000, Mr. Lehtinen seconds the motion, all approve via roll call. 11. Reports Mrs. Brzozoski reports the PTO met on Monday, they are doing teacher appreciation on Friday with a coffee warmup. The special someone dance has now raised $1,572 in total, which is fantastic. They are doing their spring planning event, they will not be doing Hollis Hills this year, and they are going to do a cruise night in conjunction with the Boys and Girls Club, food pantry, and the Lions Club. This will be held on Wednesday May 22 with a rain date of May 29. They will be doing kids games and raffles, maybe a DJ. This will be a real community event, not just the PTO. Mr. Adams talked about the solar eclipse which is going to be happening on a school day, a little before dismissal. ===PAGE 5=== 1025 Massachusetts Avenue, Lunenburg, Massachusetts 01462 978 582-4100 ~ fax 978 582-4103 Mr. Beardmore reports Mr. Stevenson’s Civic Class had a really fun event, getting to talk with the students from a school committee seat is always enjoyable and a great time. There will be an Advisory Committee meeting on the 18 th. I will be distributing an agenda to the booster club leaders, later in the week. I will also be encouraging all athletic parents to attend that meeting, there are some really good fundraising opportunities that have come our way. I think we need to build awareness and participation amongst the parents that have kids participating in sports. Last week at the Finance Committee meeting the police chief brought up our comfort dog, Hank, advancing age, and he will need to be replaced in the not too distant future. Mr. Lehtinen reports there have been three finance committee meetings. On February 21st the meeting was mostly on the budget process and review of the target budget, it was preliminary with a lot of unknowns. They did mention that free cash i s not part of the operating budget. On February 22, there was a cancellation of the no land presentation. There was a Council on Aging in the library, an interesting fact was that 30% of Lunenburg is elderly, they plan to increase the meal site manager’s hours to full time. There was a little push back, but it is really hard to hire part -time people. The library will be increasing hours. Some discussion on the process of town meeting was shared and some data regarding attempts for overrides in Massachusetts. On the 29th the IT department mentioned that the schools are going to be upgrading their phone system voiceover system, but did not know the particular details. The police are talking about recruiting and retaining has been a challenge, statewide average is 2.4 officers per thousand and Lunenburg currently has 1.5 officers per thousand. There was mention of a possible addition of a second SRO next year. They also want to seek a comfort dog in the community in the future. Ms. Archambault reports that tomorrow evening the Master Planning Committee is meeting before the Finance Committee meeting. 12. Public Comment Mary Foyle, 985 Flat Hill Road I am speaking as a parent, with the knowledge of an employee, as well as a high school employee particularly. I am from a small town, half the size of Lunenburg. I am from a public non-regional high school that had classes well under half the size of what Lunenburg offers. I never took an AP class, we only offered one math, it was many years ago. As a teacher now I realize how lacking my high school career was and not becau se my teachers didn’t work hard, they were simply working with the resources that they had. I am a small town girl, but I did not apply there and I do not live there, that is not by accident. I am sitting here now and I am wondering if I am putting my ch ildren in the same spot I was as a student. I appreciate all the work that everyone’s doing and I know right now with the budget process, we are in a half marathon, because of the timelines but looking out into the future we need to be thinking like ultra marathon or Iron man. When the decision was made to not regionalize, it was known we would have to fund our schools a certain way, and that might mean for some of those specialized classes you get into high school would have smaller classes. For one of my children this decision will be a deciding factor if they will continue to be schooled in this district. Mr. Beardmore As a parent, I couldn’t agree more Ms. Brzozoski Please make sure you all come to town meeting. It is May 4th at the Lunenburg Middle High School Auditorium at 9 a.m., your attendance, support, and votes are so important. Mark your calendars. 13. Topics for Future Discussion Budget Override Number Budget Hearing 14. Adjournment Mr. Sculimbrene makes a motion to adjourn at 10:20, Ms. Brzozoski seconds the motion all approve Respectfully Submitted Courtney Fuller