===PAGE 1=== 1025 Massachusetts Avenue, Lunenburg, Massachusetts 01462 978 582-4100 ~ fax 978 582-4103 MEETING MINUTES SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING Wednesday, April 16, 2025 LHMS Collaborative Room #D132 6:30 – Hybrid School Committee Superintendent Brian Lehtinen, Chair - Present Dr. Kate Burnham Anthony Sculimbrene, Vice Chair - Present Carol Archambault, Secretary - Present Peter Beardmore, Member - Present Laura Brzozoski, Member - Present Recording Secretary Courtney Fuller Guests: Dr. Susan Gilson – Director of Administration and Finance, Kaja Savasta – CSS Architects Inc., Michael Ray Jefferies – Select board Vice Chair In accordance with the requirements of the Open Meeting Law, please be advised that this meeting is being recorded and broadcast 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 Mr. Lehtinen at 6:31 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Public Comment – Carol Archambault This afternoon the House Ways and Means Committee did submit their budget. Their budget has a minimum aid to school raising from the $75 per student to $150, however, this is a huge example of how you can’t count on anything because this has to go to the Senate, so right now it looks like we would have more Chapter 70 funding. However it could be cut in half come July 1st, it is very important for people to realize these things go up and down. There is also potential for 75% of all required out of district placement eligible for reimbursement, which again could change and cannot be counted on. Peter Beardmore There have been a number public hearings over the course of the last several weeks pertaining to education funding. There was a hearing in Boston last week that I know the superintendent and two of our members attended. I was able to watch some of both the hearing in Springfield and the hearing in Boston over the internet. I recognized a lot of impassioned testimony on the part of parents, students, municipal leaders, and quite frankly what I consider to be a lot of political theater on the part of acting commissioner of education and many legislators. What came out last week in the way of a proposal that is explained as a one-time funding from the fair share tax. Although the fair share tax is a permanent tax the funding proposal is one time funding which I don’t quite understand. As well as a House budget I have inquired of our legislators relative to the bill that came out last week, what the net effect on Lunenburg? I would encourage people to repeat and Lunenburg Public Schools Dr. Kate Burnham, Superintendent of Schools ===PAGE 2=== 1025 Massachusetts Avenue, Lunenburg, Massachusetts 01462 978 582-4100 ~ fax 978 582-4103 reprint to their hearts content because we need that number and while all money at any time is sufficient, the sooner the better 4. Chair’s Report I also have the House and Ways Means Committee was expected to release their FY26 budget today prompting increased advocacy efforts as state budget activities. The state house news service reported that the speaker Mariano’s comments at a Boston Chamber of Commerce event last week was Mariano confirmed that the House Ways and Means budget will sustain funding for universal free school meals and fully support the Student Opportunity Act, however he ruled out reforming the Chapter 70 school funding despite calls from superintendents, school committees, and students at budget hearings. When asked post event about revising the formula, a topic Senate president Karen Spilka had shown interest in, Mariano firmly declined stating , no too much uncertainty. Representatives will have until Friday to submit amendments and then we encourage the public to contact your district’s representatives this week and urge them to file amendments establishing a chapter 70 commission using the language from Senator Lewis’s bill Senate 400 and all requests outlined in the FY26 advocacy document. The 211 have been working from Representative Scarsdale house bill H405 was finalized as H410. An act making appropriations for fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects. It allocates a one-time 1.3 billion FY24 fair share amendments tax surplus and has been referred to the Senate. Key provisions to the bill were a full 100% reimbursement for FY25 regional transportation up from 82%, a 75% reimbursement increased from 44% for FY out of district special education transportation cost through circuit breaker, a directive for the office of Inspector General to review transportation and recommendations by February 2, 2026 to reduce costs and enhance purchasing power and streamline services. Also Representative Kushmerek and Scarsdale reached out to me stating that there are $50,000 in earmarks for Lunenburg Public Schools. The chair of the select board also reached out stating the same. 5. Student Representative Report In the Middle High School they have been having the spring food drive, I have seen a lot of kinds bringing things in. We have the Spain trip leaving tomorrow and the DC trip is happening next month. We have had MCAS in the schools. Elementary school is having field day on June 11th and the Primary School will have theirs on June 12. The fifth grade will have their promotion ceremony is June 13 6. Review & Approve Minutes a. Regular Session 2/26/25 Mr. Sculimbrene make a motion to approve the minutes, Ms. Archambault seconds the motion, all approved via roll call vote 7. Review & Approve Warrants, Line Item Transfers & Donations a. Warrants 3/27/25 to 4/14/25 $368,097.31 b. Donations A donation in the amount of $800 for the Parilla family for STEM supplies for the Primary School and will be deposited into the gift account for future STEM supplies. We also have a check for $1000 from an anonymous donor to help students going to Nature’s Classroom in October 2025 that check will be deposited into the gift account at Turkey Hill Elementary. Mr. Beardmore makes a motion to accept both donations with gratitude, Ms. Archambault seconds the motion all approve via roll call c. Line Item Transfer A transfer in the amount of $19,600 from computer purchase and lease line to the equipment maintenance and lease line, this is for an anticipated expense from Canon. Second line item transfer request of $5,000 moving from the fire safety furniture repair line to the vehicle maintenance repair line, this transfer will cover the remaining ===PAGE 3=== 1025 Massachusetts Avenue, Lunenburg, Massachusetts 01462 978 582-4100 ~ fax 978 582-4103 repairs to the truck and mower for the remainder of the year. A third transfer from the school salary reserve line of $311,041.69 to the multiple salary lines. A fourth transfer to move funds to the athletic transportation, special detail, dues and fees and the high school after school stipends, this is the first phase move making monies available in the athletic portion of the budget. We can go back and reclassify expenses that had been charged against the revolving account. Mr. Beardmore makes a motion to approve the line item transfers, Ms. Archambault seconds the motion all approve via roll call. (Ms. Brzozoski was unavailable for this vote) 8. Superintendents Report The transportation form were a little late getting out to families, we weren’t able to get the payment option on revtrak up and running in time. Transportation forms are due by May 1st, at this point we have only received 413 forms. You do not have to fill out a bus waiver form if you have already submitted a free and reduced application and qualify, because we will be relying on that information for the bus waiver. The free and reduced applications can be found on our website on the main page and on the transportation page, for anyone submitted an application, you will also need to complete and submit a sharing form also available on our website. In order to pay the bus fee, you can send a check made out to Town of Lunenburg and send it to The Central Office 1025 Massachusetts Ave, make sure to put bus fee in the memo section of the check. Once revtrak is open and operational we will send out a notification to families. Additional details about the bus fee can be found on the website on the transportation page. To date we have received 27 bus waiver requests. Moving forward payment will be due at the time you fill out the transportation form. We have extended a due date for payment to June 1st. Registration for the summer program extended day will open April 28. Before and after school program for the fall will open May 5th and Early Learning Center Program will open May 19th. We have been notified that we were awarded the innovation grant from Innovation Land Education, this was one of the stackable grants. Innovation Land will work with us providing us letters of support for additional grants that we should pursue in order to complement their grant. Our current plan is to apply for both the Ryman Foundation grant and the SC Johnson grant both of which have rolling application periods. Routinely our tech department repairs broken Chromebooks, replaces screens and we were out of available parts, we had to switch vendors and the prices went up 54% due to tariffs, I think we need to be prepared it is going to be a bumpy ride relative to our funding in our current approved budget. Town meeting, our food service program will be offering bagged lunches, cost will be $8 and be available between 11 and 1, cash and carry only. I was one of those in attendance at the Ways and Means hearing on April 8th, I did submit written testimony advocating for some of the bills that are under consideration at the moment, and based on estimates for revenues that could come to Lunenburg if those were passed. We should be able to restore 9 positions if all of them pass. Upcoming Dates April 21 Schools and Offices are closed for the Holiday April 22 -25 Schools are closed for April Vacation May 7 School Committee meeting 6:30 Town Hall 9. Presentation LMBDC Mr. Michael Ray Jefferies gives a presentation on updates that the Municipal Building Design Company has been working on which includes The Ritter Building, Town Hall, and Meeting House. The presentation that will be shared at Town Meeting is shared with the committee. ===PAGE 4=== 1025 Massachusetts Avenue, Lunenburg, Massachusetts 01462 978 582-4100 ~ fax 978 582-4103 10. Old Business Discussion a. Student Activity Fee Restructure LMHS The committee has been provided an update in their folder regarding the progress that has been made thus far. b. Athletic Summer Camp Update Dr. Burnham makes the committee aware that our AD Bigelow has accepted a new position, he will be resigning effective June 30. We did reach out to the Board of Health there is a rather lengthy check list of tasks to take care of in order to be compliant. Given the short timeline I am not confident at this point that we are going to be able to satisfy all of the Board of Health requirements. They are working on the list, and while we may not be able to hold camps this summer, I think it is worthwhile to continue the progress with paperwork so long term we can pursue this as an option. c. School Committee Goals passed over Action d. THES ADA Study Report Dr. Gilson introduces the architect Kaja to the committee and shares a presentation. They are wrapping up the study of conditions and assessments and ADA compliance for Turkey Hill. Kaja shares the details of parts of the building that have been assessed and what would be recommended for replacement or repair. The engineer also shares information on scenarios and costs. Ms. Brzozoski makes a motion to accept the report as a draft, Mr. Beardmore seconds the motion all approve e. FY26 Budget – Free Cash & FinCom memo The committee discusses the FY 26 budget, position cuts, unemployment costs. We have developed a memo to be shared with the finance committee and how we would plan to spend the free cash, but also it was suggested it be printed and available to the public and at town meeting Mr. Beardmore makes a motion to approve the memo to the finance committee as presented, Ms. Brzozoski seconds the motion all approve. Mr. Brzozoski makes a motion to move forward with the recommendations for free cash, Mr. Sculimbrene seconds the motion all approve f. School Choice Dr. Burnham shares options of opening school choice beyond 9th grade. Dr. Burnham goes through each grade, their size, and potential seats to open. Mr. Beardmore makes a motion to accept the proposal, contingent on the passing of free cash, Mr. Sculimbrene seconds the motion g. Warrant Articles Mr. Lehtinen goes through the warrant article 7 and how it relates to the school Mr. Beardmore makes a motion to support Article 7, Mr. Sculimbrene seconds the motion all in favor. Article 8 is the FY 26 program of Capital Projects, there are two options Mr. Sculimbrene makes a motion to support Article 8 option 2, Ms. Brzozoski seconds the motion all approve Article 9 authorization to fund special projects Mr. Sculimbrene makes a motion to support article 9, Ms. Brzozoski seconds the motion, all approve Article 11 is the citizens petition for the override – no motion Article 12 Supplement LPS fiscal year operating budget Mr. Beardmore makes a motion to support article 12, Mr. Sculimbrene seconds the motion all approve Article 28 Marshall Park Design Debt Exclusion, the Parks Commission shares details of the plan Ms. Archambault makes a motion to support article 28, Ms. Brzozoski seconds the motion, the motion passes 4 -1 with Mr. Beardmore voting no Article 29 LMBDC debt exclusion Mr. Beardmore makes a motion to support article 29, Ms. Archambault seconds the motion, motion passes 4-1 with Mr. Sculimbrene voting no h. Superintendent Search In the folder is the dates of the timeline of a plan to meet the candidates. The MASC rep speaks about the interview, questions, length of interview and ===PAGE 5=== 1025 Massachusetts Avenue, Lunenburg, Massachusetts 01462 978 582-4100 ~ fax 978 582-4103 the schedules of the day of site visit. Ms Archambault makes a motion for Alicia to see if she can schedule two candidates the week of the 28th and two candidates the week of the 5th, Mr. Sculimbrene seconds the motion all approve. i. Second Read Policies 1303.1, Advertising in Schools 3601.1, Proposed Bus Fee Policy Mr. Sculimbrene makes a motion to waive second read, Mr. Beardmore seconds the motion all approve. j. Capital Plan This was voted on during an emergency meeting, but also just agreed to support Article 8 section 2 11. Reports Mr. Sculimbrene makes a motion to table reports, Ms. Brzozoski seconds the motion all approve 12. Public Comment Chris Sullivan 108 Island Street As a private citizen, listening earlier in terms of the athletic director discussion,. The possible solution that was proposed budgetary and totally get where we are at budgetary right now obviously, I would hope that we will look at this as a very temporary solution. The reason we have a full time athletic director is we have 50% of the student body participating in high school sports. To think that job can be done on a part time basis is short sighted, even in the short term. Again I understand where we are at and I think we have made a lot of strides in the last few years with Lunenburg Athletics in terms of quality of the program and that we continue to put out in terms of the level of participation, spectator participation at a lot of our sports. I would just hope this is a necessary short term solution. Additionally I would just point out prior discussions in term s of what our athletics has been charged with, one team in particular, with the ski team, I want to make sure we do not lose sight of that discussion that needs to happen with the other schools involved and if that is something that is going to default to someone who is part time. 13. Topics for Future Discussion 14. Executive Session ( to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel or to conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with nonunion personnel 15. Adjournment Mr. Sculimbrene makes a motion to enter executive session and adjourn immediately following at 10:31 pm , Mr. Beardmore seconds the motion, all approve Respectfully Submitted Courtney Fuller