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SC Meeting February 10 2026 — Transcript

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1:37Thank you for your patience.
1:40I'd like to call the regular meeting of
1:43the Pucket School Committee to order
1:47this February 10th, 2026
1:50at 6:00 p.m. At 6:02
1:54p.m.
1:55Clerk, call the role.
1:59James Shal here.
2:00>> Angel Rosa, Omar Reyes, Joan Bonolo
2:04here. Kimberly Grant, Juan Pablo
2:07Barrera, Matthew Wenhane.
2:11>> Join me for the pledge of allegiance.
2:34Thank you. Right now, I'd like to accept
2:37a motion for the approval of the meeting
2:39minutes of January 27th, 2026.
2:44>> Second.
2:45>> Motion's been made by Mr. Shal,
2:48second by Miss Grant and Miss Rosa. All
2:52in favor? I opposed.
2:56So carried.
2:58Public participation.
3:01Comments from the public are invited at
3:04this time. Persons wishing to speak must
3:08sign up with the committee chair before
3:10speaking prior to the commencement of
3:12the meeting. The committee is precluded
3:15from acting on items raised by public
3:18participation comments that are not
3:20already on the agenda.
3:23Public participation comments will be
3:26included in the meeting minutes. Right
3:29now we have five people signed up public
3:34participation. We'll call the first one.
3:37Mayor Don Grebian, you have four
3:39minutes.
3:42>> We know I gave you an extra minute.
3:46>> All right. No, but all seriousness, good
3:47evening, uh, Chairwoman Mola and members
3:48of the Pucket School Committee who are
3:50here in attendance. In front of you
3:52tonight is a very, very, uh, vote,
3:54important vote to recommend the closure
3:56of Cunningham School uh, elementary
3:58school, which would displace 300 of our
4:01students who love their schools. This is
4:03an enormous decision in front of you for
4:05the future of our city, future of our
4:08students, our families, and also the
4:10hardworking teachers. As a lifelong
4:12resident who grew up in Pucket and went
4:14to Pucket public schools, believe it or
4:16not, I am here tonight to highlight the
4:19significant impact the school committee
4:21decision will have on our community as
4:23well as uh if you choose to move forward
4:26with this. It is important to note that
4:28the city is not experiencing
4:29redistricting for over 20 years. And put
4:32that in perspective. It's all new to all
4:34of us. and I'm very concerned that this
4:36decision um is being rushed and without
4:38adequate data to support the reasons
4:41provided to the ad hoc committee. Put
4:43simply, we truly should not rush the
4:46decision of this magnitude and you
4:47shouldn't. Uh closing a school and
4:49redrawing district boundaries are
4:52actions with far-reaching consequences
4:55academic, socially, emotionally,
4:57economic, and they deemed a level of
5:00transparency. And that's what's kind of
5:01missing in this is that transparency and
5:04it's not been demonstrated so far
5:06through this process. There has been a
5:08clear no clear assessment provided to us
5:10to the public to the committees to use
5:12as a school committee or even to
5:14superintendent Buck. um those decisions
5:18we need to understand how it will affect
5:19the students, the outcomes, the class
5:21sizes, the transportation times, access
5:24with specialized services or
5:26disappropriation of impact in the
5:28vulnerable v vulnerable populations.
5:31Equally troubling is the lack of genuine
5:33community involvement. And that's the
5:35one that really stands out to me.
5:36Cunningham families and the residents
5:38have not given a been given adequate
5:40notice, accessible information or real
5:43opportunity to participate in the
5:45shaping of the decisions that directly
5:46affects the children and this decision.
5:49Process does matter. Community trust
5:51matters. Our community deserves a full
5:54and transparent impact analysis
5:56alongside a robust community engagement
5:58process. Pucket students and family
6:01deserve decisions that they are
6:03informed, equitable, and made with, not
6:06for the community.
6:08I'm I'm very concerned and I want to
6:10share my concerns. I I've shared my
6:13concerns with Superintendent Buck. So, I
6:15don't want anybody to think that this
6:16was uh hidden. So, we've had those
6:18conversations and I've shared with him
6:20until these steps are taken, I as the
6:22mayor cannot support the action. And I
6:24wanted to make that clear to you. I urge
6:26you to pause the the approval to move
6:28forward with redistricting and the
6:30closure of Cunningham school elementary
6:33school. I would like to thank the
6:35members truly of the ad hoc committee
6:37and my chief equity officer Chachi
6:39Kavalo who is a proud product of the
6:41Pucka school system as well. I know you
6:44worked hard. I know these are tough
6:45decisions and I understand these
6:47decisions are not easy. We are elected
6:50to lead, to be inclusive, listen closely
6:53to what our neighbors and our community
6:55needs are and what they want and based
6:58on solid data and fiscally responsible
7:00decisions.
7:02Uh me and the members of my
7:03administration are always here to work
7:06in collaboration. So I don't want
7:07anybody to think this is a fight because
7:08that'll be the story tomorrow, right?
7:10We're here. We have a difference of
7:11opinion and I'm urging you to rethink
7:13the decision tonight. I appreciate your
7:14time. Thank you.
7:16>> Thank you.
7:20Pray.
7:34Thank you, Chair Person Bonolo for
7:36extending the time tonight.
7:40The Urban Institute reminds us,
7:42"Decisions that we make when they affect
7:45the community our communities our kids
7:47live in, they also affect the kids." I
7:51rise this evening in strong opposition
7:52to the potential closure of Virginia
7:54Cunningham Elementary School in the
7:56Woodlon neighborhood. Decisions to close
7:58neighborhood schools have a profound
8:00impact on student learning, family
8:03stability, and the health of our
8:04communities.
8:06One of the most frequently cited
8:07arguments for consolidation is
8:09maximizing classroom utilization. A
8:11statement that has been repeated
8:13exponentially during the ad hoc
8:16meetings. But the research on class size
8:18is clear. The Tennessee project student
8:21teacher achievement ratio star for sure
8:23for short a large-scale randomized
8:26control trial is among the most rigorous
8:28studies in American education research.
8:31It found that students in smaller
8:32classes about 13 to 17 students
8:35significantly outperform peers in larger
8:38classes through both elementary years
8:41and later grades equivalent to roughly
8:44three additional months of learning by
8:47fourth grade with especially strong
8:49gains for students of color and students
8:51from economically disadvantaged
8:53backgrounds. Closing schools and
8:55increasing class sizes is not a neutral
8:57shift. It can reduce individualized
9:00instruction time, lower student
9:02engagement, and counteract efforts to
9:04close achievement gaps.
9:06Beyond academics, the 2019 Philadelphia
9:09school closure study published in
9:10Economics of Education Review analyzed
9:13outcomes when neighborhood schools were
9:15closed and students were redistributed.
9:17It found that displaced students often
9:20experienced no significant improvements
9:22in achievement and many saw increased
9:25absenteeism and behavioral challenges
9:27when they had to travel farther or were
9:29placed in already crowded classrooms.
9:33We also cannot ignore the documented
9:36community impacts. The Stanford
9:38University study, school closures and
9:40the gentrification of black metropolis
9:43found that student that school closures
9:44in predominantly black neighborhoods
9:46often correlate with accelerated
9:48gentrification and displacement, eroding
9:51social interconnection and destabilizing
9:54long-standing community networks.
9:57Over the last year or so, we have
9:59consistently heard that the Pucka School
10:01Department enrollment is has been
10:03declining steadily. Without seats being
10:05consistently filled, the temptation is
10:07to close buildings to balance budgets
10:10budgets. So the natural reaction is to
10:13consolidate aging school buildings with
10:15the fallacy that the school clo that the
10:17closure of Cunningham is to provide
10:19quote all students with access to 21st
10:22century learning environments end quote.
10:25With all due respect, the shiny new
10:27school building does not equate to 21st
10:29century learning environments. Smaller
10:31class sizes that foster strong teacher
10:33student and peer relationships encourage
10:36both collaborative and independent
10:37learning and allow for individualized
10:39instruction based upon student needs and
10:42enriching environments. All encompass
10:4421st century learning century learning
10:47instead of closures that students larger
10:49classes. We should focus on strategies
10:52that preserve smaller class sizes
10:56and investments in neighborhood schools
10:59as community anchor. When class sizes
11:01grow even modestly, it has a measurable
11:04effect on student outcomes, especially
11:06in early grades. The star findings show
11:09that the difference between a class of
11:1117 and one of 22 can have significant
11:14educational impacts.
11:17School buildings are more than places to
11:19learn. They are community hubs that
11:22foster belonging, parent engagement, and
11:24neighborhood identity. In Lon Waters
11:27words, school is a building which has
11:29four walls with tomorrow inside.
11:32Closing a neighborhood school may create
11:34real budget savings on paper, but it
11:37risks real educational and social costs
11:40that research shows can reverberate for
11:43years.
11:45I respectfully urge the committee to
11:47consider alternatives that strengthen
11:49our neighborhood schools, preserve
11:51reasonable class sizes, and invest in
11:53teaching and learning rather than
11:55diminish the community it serves. Thank
11:58you,
12:05>> Emily McKenna, please.
12:16Good evening.
12:18I'm speaking tonight about my
12:19participation in the ad hoc
12:20redistricting committee. I was very
12:22excited to represent my school, the
12:24interest of the teachers, families, and
12:26students at Cunningham and to advocate
12:28for what would cause the least
12:30disruption and prevent more barriers for
12:31my students and their families. From the
12:33start, there were issues with equity and
12:35representation. After the first school
12:36committee meeting, when the committee
12:37was established, I asked, "How are
12:39Cunningham parents being brought to the
12:40table to make sure that there is
12:41representation at these meetings?" One
12:44message was sent via school messenger,
12:45phrased as redistricting, not school
12:47closure or Cunningham school closure. No
12:49Cunningham parents were ever represented
12:51on the ad hoc committee. I was the only
12:53person from Cunningham represented.
12:56How can a recommendation like this take
12:58place without the voices of
12:59representation of Cunningham families? A
13:01survey was sent out still ambiguous in
13:03the subject line with only the option um
13:05to take it online from an email using
13:07Google Translate to translate the survey
13:09when when many of our parents don't
13:11speak or read in English. Um still
13:15despite that 59 community members
13:17responded from Cunningham 48% said they
13:20strongly opposed Cunningham closing. I
13:23did my own survey of the staff. 27 of
13:25the 28 people that responded to my
13:27survey um opposed Cunningham closing. I
13:31did um somehow these results did not
13:34factor into this decision-making last
13:36night. The rhetoric from the
13:38administration was we want to put kids
13:39in updated 21st century learning
13:41physical spaces. We have empty
13:42classrooms and new buildings. And on the
13:45administration's own survey that was
13:47sent out to our parents and families. Um
13:50the parents said the priorities were
13:51schools, student safety, access to
13:53programs in school, class size,
13:56proximity to home as being the most
13:58important thing. The reality is almost
14:02all of these things that Cunningham and
14:03parents said were most important will be
14:05made more unlikely and their voices were
14:07not taken into account. Also, it was
14:09said many times that the decision is not
14:11about saving money, but in the same
14:13breath, it was said that we're facing a
14:15deficit and need to make cuts.
14:18So which students will be taking the hit
14:20for this deficit that they had no
14:22control of?
14:24Not Curtis students, not barrier
14:26students, Cunningham students.
14:29It's undeniable that many of our
14:31students who come from the that our
14:32students come from some of the most
14:34challenging circumstances, financial and
14:35other will now face more barriers. There
14:39were many parents from Curtis on the ad
14:41hoc registring committee and from other
14:42schools. And when it came time to vote,
14:45those parents voted to close Cunningham.
14:48Now, if those our Cunningham parents
14:50were on that committee, then that would
14:53probably have turned out differently. I
14:55ask, whose voices were represented?
14:57Whose voices were given a vote in this
14:59decision? And whose voices were actively
15:01discounted? Because if you aren't
15:03actively trying to include them
15:04authentically, then you are actively
15:07trying to exclude them.
15:09At the end of the day, no matter who was
15:11on that committee, there was not enough
15:13information for any recommendation to
15:15take place other than closing no
15:16schools. Despite there being numerous
15:18unanswered questions, specifically about
15:21costs and cost savings related to
15:22transportation, costs associated with
15:24closing the school, keeping it
15:26functional for storage, which was
15:28brought up for the first time last night
15:29at the meeting. inconsistencies in the
15:32numbers, in the data, um bias that was
15:35maybe subconscious about how lines are
15:38drawn and who goes to what schools, who
15:41has higher classroom numbers.
15:43But a vote still took place to recommend
15:46to close Cunningham. It was clear that
15:49the administration had an agenda from
15:51the beginning and all of the
15:52presentations at the meetings were
15:53biased in that direction. Close
15:55Cunningham and Slater,
15:59excuse me. Let me be clear. I am not
16:02upset about losing my job at Cunningham.
16:06I am not.
16:08I am upset for the loss of the beautiful
16:11community that is Cunningham Elementary
16:14School and the effects it will have on
16:17Cunningham students and families.
16:20You still have the opportunity tonight
16:22to not close Cunningham.
16:32Bay.
16:43Good evening.
16:46Uh I'm here on behalf of Connie Hen. Con
16:50have been so nice to us.
16:53Connie Hen they care about our student.
16:56they are safe there. So I'm just kind of
16:59asking you to please not close your
17:01hand.
17:03Thank you
17:10Kelly Beckford.
17:24Good evening everyone.
17:27Sorry,
17:29I am a little nervous. I don't have
17:30anything prepared for you other than
17:32just passion and feelings. Um,
17:36I don't want my school to close down.
17:40Obviously, it's not about what I do for
17:42work. It's who I work for and I work for
17:45Cunningham students. Um, it's been a
17:47tough day for all of us to know the
17:49decision that the committee has made and
17:51the recommendation that they're stepping
17:53to you with. Um,
17:57it's unfair. It's wrong. I don't think
18:00that families were involved. A lot of my
18:03families didn't know about the survey
18:05until I canvote them. They didn't know
18:07about this meeting and this discussion
18:08that you'd be having today until I can
18:10vote them. Um,
18:17you know,
18:19we can do this anywhere. You know,
18:22teachers are in need. And
18:28not to toot our own horn, but we do a
18:31good job at Cunningham. We do the best
18:33we can,
18:37and that's pretty good. It's pretty
18:39good. It's not a mediocre kind of thing.
18:43We are top tier. And if you've had the
18:46fortune of encountering us or being at
18:50our school, you'd see that. And it's not
18:51just us. It's not staff. It's our
18:54students and it's our families that we
18:56work for.
18:58And I, you know, to be honest with you,
19:00I've been honest with my third grade
19:02class. I can't sit and lie. I won't let
19:05them know that next year they won't have
19:08Miss Keys. They can't say, "Oh, Mrs.
19:10Beckford, can you put me in Mr. Blay's
19:12class?" No. I'm not going to lie to
19:14anybody. And I won't lie to second
19:16graders who are banking on having me. It
19:19is a big deal that some of us have moved
19:21around. It's fun. It's cool. And it's
19:24always nice to know who your next
19:26teacher is going to be. And it's
19:28unfortunate that the kids that are
19:30enrolled at our school that they're just
19:33being thought of as a band-aid and a
19:35solution for the city. It doesn't feel
19:38like you're thinking of them or of their
19:41future.
19:44Thank you. Please,
19:52>> I would like to thank everyone for their
19:54comments.
19:56Um,
19:59the comments that have been made are on
20:02the agenda. Um, and if there's a
20:05recommendation, it's toward the end of
20:07the agenda. So, we will speak to that
20:10when it appears. Right now we have
20:13student representatives that I'd like to
20:15introduce you to.
20:20>> Introduce yourself.
20:21>> Hi, I'm Lzette. I'm from rep. Do I say
20:24that representing Tolman?
20:26>> Yep. Your name?
20:27>> Lzette.
20:30>> Oh, do I read your paper?
20:33>> Okay. Good evening, school committee
20:35chair Benolo.
20:39School committee deputy chairperson
20:42grants school committee members and
20:44superintendent book. My name is Azette.
20:47I am a junior at William William William
20:49E. Solman High School. After school, my
20:52goal is to go to law school and study
20:54law at Boston University. Here's just a
20:58few highlighting of many great things
21:00happening at Solman High School. Access
21:02Access testing boot camp. Sman has
21:05launched an access test boot camp and an
21:07afterchool support program for students
21:10that are taking the access and ELELLL
21:13assessments. The program is designed to
21:16support biling multilingual learnings by
21:20strengthening test taking skills and
21:22providing targeted preparation aligned
21:25to the access assessment. Students
21:28engage in the structed structed struct
21:32okay practice across the four language
21:35domains accesses listening speaking
21:38reading and writing within
21:44>> emphasis
21:45>> emphasis on building confidence and
21:48reducing test anxiety and ensuring
21:51students can accurately demonstrate
21:53their English language adequac
21:56>> acquisition
21:57>> acquisition. ition. Sorry. Um, Angel
22:00Tree initative update. The junior the
22:04Tolman junior class with the support of
22:06Miss Carus sex successfully hosted an
22:10angel tree initative right
22:13>> initiative.
22:14>> Oh, initiative.
22:16The angel tree was displayed in front of
22:19the main office which each tag
22:21representing a child in need. Staff,
22:23students, and families were invited to
22:25select a tag, purchase a gift, and
22:29return it to the tag attached.
22:32Monter
22:34monetary
22:36>> Yep.
22:36>> Okay. Donations were also collected to
22:40support any remaining needs and to
22:42contribute directly to the Salvation
22:44Army. We are so proud to share that
22:47there was there was a hundred angels on
22:49the tree and every single one of them
22:50was supported. This intentive
22:54>> initiative
22:54>> initiative highlights the generosity and
22:57compassion of the toolman community.
22:59Credit recovery twoman is launching a
23:02credit recovery program and academic
23:04support initiative. This designed to
23:07help help students make up failed or
23:10miss course material so they can get
23:12earn the credit. stay on track for
23:14graduation and rebuild the econ economic
23:17no
23:19>> academic
23:20>> academic confidence. The program
23:22provides students with the second chance
23:24to recover credit and when coursework
23:27has been missed or not mastered due to
23:29absences
23:32chance to wait personal challenge or
23:34difficulty understanding key concept
23:37rather than requiring students to repeat
23:39the entire course. Credit recovery focus
23:42focuses on targeted instructions aligned
23:45with to specific standards and skill
23:48gaps offering more efficient and
23:50supportive pathways to academic
23:55success. Then we also have um AC
24:00SAT boot camp begins on Monday, February
24:0423rd. This is an afterchool tutoring
24:07class to prepare our juniors, junior
24:09students and sophomores for the SATs and
24:13the PSATs on March 31st.
24:17>> Thank you.
24:19>> Good job.
24:23And we have JMW.
24:30Good evening, Chair Bonolo, Chair Chair,
24:33Deputy Chair Grant, school committee,
24:36assistant superintendent
24:38Buck.
24:40>> Oh, rabbit.
24:42Oh, it's someone new, right?
24:45>> I think she's been here a long time.
24:48>> Oh,
24:48>> it's super super
24:52>> assistant superendent.
24:54>> Oh, yes.
24:56>> Assistant superintendent Rabbit is here
24:57tonight.
24:59Oh,
25:00>> okay. Sorry.
25:01>> I was so used to reading superintendent
25:03like but I got so confused when I heard
25:05that.
25:05>> It's okay.
25:06>> Okay.
25:08>> Okay.
25:09>> Hi, my name is Melissa Pollen and I'm a
25:1112th grade film major at Jacqueline M.
25:13Walsh School for the Performing and
25:15Visual Arts. This year I'm participating
25:17in the early college program through New
25:19England Tech and I'm majoring in the
25:21health sciences. What's been happening
25:23at JMW? We're excited to announce that a
25:25mock trial team is undefeated and made
25:27it to finals. On February 4th, they
25:30successfully argued the case for the
25:32proxe against a very competitive Bay
25:34View Academy. They competed against they
25:37competed again today against an
25:39excellent team, East Grenidge High
25:41School, and defeated them. We are now in
25:43the final four for the state. We are
25:45very proud of Mr. Litz and his mock
25:47triyout team. Prepare RARI Prepare RARI
25:51recruitment presentations for a junior
25:53class was scheduled on January 8th
25:55during advisory period. Juniors learned
25:58about paid summer internship
25:59opportunities. Students can earn up to
26:02$40,700
26:04and receive three college credits. An
26:07excellent opportunity. We encourage all
26:08eligible eligible students to consider.
26:12Interviews took place on Monday,
26:13February 2nd. Best of luck to our
26:15juniors that have advanced to the next
26:17round.
26:18CCRI application day was held on
26:21Thursday, February 5th, 2026. A
26:24representative from from CCRI was on
26:28hand to help our seniors complete their
26:30CC applications.
26:33I Ready assessments. In January,
26:36students completed their midyear Ready
26:38Diagnostics in both ELA and math. These
26:42assessments help guide help guide
26:44instructions and support student growth
26:46moving forward. Access testing for our L
26:50MLL students began at the end of
26:52January. The junior and senior theater
26:55majors attended GAM theater on January
26:589th to see to see John Spectre's Tony
27:02Award-winning play Eureka Day. It
27:04featured JMW alumni the Hara Hines.
27:08Winter concert was rescheduled to
27:11Thursday, January 8th. Mr. Boygard and
27:14his stu his music students did an
27:16incredible job and we are very proud of
27:18their hard work and performances.
27:21The college planning center was at JMW
27:24on Thursday, January 8th for FASA
27:26completion. A representative was present
27:29to assist students and parents with
27:31completing the FAFSA form. We are proud
27:33to say that we have a a 69.8% 8%
27:36completion rate as of today. JMW
27:40auditions was scheduled for Saturday,
27:43January 24th. We have received a number
27:46of record of applications this year.
27:50Think fast interactive team driver
27:52assembly was on Thursday, January 29th
27:56for juniors and seniors during advisory
27:59period. It was an interactive
28:00presentation in which students learned
28:02about the dangers and tools they need
28:04for on the road and how to be safe. JMD
28:08JMW students had the opportunity to
28:10watch the secret mall apartment
28:11screening on Friday, February 6. It was
28:14followed by a talkback with filmmaker
28:17Mike Townan.
28:19Thank you to Mr. Kane for arranging this
28:21wonderful and engaging opportunities for
28:23our students and staff. We also hosted a
28:26lunch and learn with Mr. Maretti's
28:28economic class. A financial planning
28:31professor from Bryant University visited
28:33to present students and even brought
28:36them lunch and even brought them lunch.
28:38It was a valuable and enjoyable learning
28:40opportunity.
28:42Thank you.
28:43>> Thank you.
29:02for reading the report will be our clerk
29:05for Shay.
29:09Angelina Rodriguez uh could not be here
29:11this evening but the report was sent. Uh
29:14Shea High School has officially launched
29:17their first session of the mind in
29:19motion peer leader training program with
29:21Akim Lloyd, a nationally recognized
29:24public speaker and TEDex speaker, mental
29:27health advocate, CEO of a leadership
29:30journey and certified yoga instructor
29:32and marathon runner. He truly wears many
29:35hats and all of his work centers on
29:36youth development. His work empowers
29:39young people to build mental resilience,
29:42leadership skills, and confidence
29:43through mindfulness and movement. By
29:46blending personal storytelling with
29:47practical wellness strategies and
29:50interactive engagement, he makes his
29:52sessions impactful and relatable. The
29:55first session was powerful not just
29:56because of the content be- but because
29:59of who is leading it. Ake is a black man
30:02making mindfulness and movementbased
30:03practices not only accessible but
30:06compelling for students who rarely see
30:08themselves reflected in this space. As
30:10Shara would agree, mindfulness and
30:13movementbased work are often presented
30:15in ways that feel culturally distant
30:17from many of our kids. He disrupted that
30:20narrative immediately. Students appear
30:22engaged, open, and fully leaning in.
30:26Over the next five sessions, Akeim will
30:28continue guiding students through
30:30mindful movement and yoga practices
30:31during advisory while building authentic
30:34peer connections in a supportive growth
30:36centered environment. In the department
30:39of college and career readiness, Mrs.
30:41Reeves has been and will continue
30:42conducting advisory workshops and
30:44visiting classes in which teachers have
30:46extended invitations that not only
30:48inform students about up-to-date
30:50opportunities available through the
30:52local colleges but also focus on real
30:55job readiness skills students need as
30:58they prepare for life after graduation
31:00as well as those seeking to explore jobs
31:02in the trades. Recently, local
31:05businesses aligned with student
31:06interests were contacted to arrange
31:08future site visits. These experiences
31:11will include using district van
31:13transportation to ensure access and to
31:16allow students to truly see, hear, and
31:18experience the opportunities available
31:20to them firsthand.
31:22CCRI will be conducting an on-site
31:25application day this Thursday at SHA.
31:27This will provide students with direct
31:29assistance in applying to college and
31:31planning their fall course schedule. In
31:33the coming months, the senior students
31:35and families will continue to receive
31:37real-time support with FASA scholarship
31:40and resume support through
31:41individualized one-on-one meetings both
31:44in person and virtually aimed to ensure
31:47times most convenient for families.
31:50Underclassmen will participate in
31:51workshops aimed at helping students to
31:53think outside the box and begin thinking
31:56out loud on what their interests and
31:58commitment should be based on their
32:00goals as they navigate their high school
32:02journey.
32:04They're excited for,
32:08excuse me,
32:11they're excited for all of the upcoming
32:13events and we'll look forward to sharing
32:15all of our highlights at SHA. The
32:18Raiders competed in the Rhode Island
32:20First State Robotics Competition on
32:22Sunday, February 8th, battling all day
32:24and earning a spot in the playoffs as a
32:26six seed. In a double elimination
32:29playoff, the team showed incredible
32:31determination and teamwork, winning
32:33match after match and advancing all the
32:35way to the final round. After a
32:37hard-fought final match decided by a
32:39small margin, the Raiderbots secured
32:42their place at the regional competition
32:44in Springfield. Congratulations to team
32:477093 on an outstanding performance and
32:50best of luck at regionals. Winter
32:53athletics is wrapping up with Raider and
32:54Pucket sports teams showing grit on the
32:57hardwood track in the pool and on the
32:59mat as they transition from winter to
33:02spring. They want to thank coaches,
33:03families, and student athletes and the
33:05school district. Sha High School has
33:08also begun their SAT boot camp, a
33:10targeted program run two days a week for
33:12six weeks using College Board Blue
33:14Book's newly releasleased SAT practice
33:16test. Students will receive certified
33:19teacher support along with Brown
33:20tutoring corps. Students were identified
33:23as either partially meeting expectations
33:26or meeting expectations on the PSAT last
33:30year. All students are engaged in Khan
33:33Academy work during advisory.
33:36During the month of January and into
33:37February, Sha High School has
33:39administered access testing. Sheay High
33:41School has tested approximately 90% of
33:44MLL students thus far. Over 270 students
33:48at Sheay were tested with over,200
33:51sessions scheduled. Thanks to students
33:53and staff for ensuring an optimal
33:55testing experience to showcase their
33:57language acquisition.
34:00And on February 27th from 4 to 6:00 p.m.
34:05Sheay will host the second family dinner
34:07of the school year. This effort will be
34:09led by Mr. Jones and Chef King.
34:13The theme is honoring the 100th
34:15anniversary of Black History Month.
34:17There will be free dinner by the
34:19culinary arts team, performances by the
34:21dance team along with other other fellow
34:23Sha Raiders and artwork decor made by
34:26the hospitality and tourism team. Please
34:29join us. We look forward to sharing more
34:31updates with you next month and in the
34:34coming months.
34:39Thank you
34:41and thank you Shay and congratulations
34:45to our robotics and thank you all to Mr.
34:49Lorus and his
34:51mock trial team for their successes
34:56and we'll take a brief recess so our
34:59students can go. You want to leave or
35:02you want to stay?
35:04>> You can go.
35:05>> Okay. Okay, thank you very much.
35:35Next on the agenda.
35:39Oh, no. I took a brief
35:52order at 6:36.
35:54>> Okay.
36:01And now we'll call the meeting back to
36:03order at 6:36.
36:07Okay. Next on the agenda is
36:11from the facilities committee
36:14subcommittee updates
36:16and from the facilities committee. Oh
36:19no. Do we have anything for wellness?
36:24Um, yes, we did have our meeting last
36:28Monday. Okay. Yes, it was last Monday.
36:31Um, it went really well. Um, it's not
36:35usually our normal time. So, I know some
36:37folks had to leave, but we did get some
36:39updates on the composting of some of the
36:43schools. I know we were in the
36:44elementary schools. Um, but we did get a
36:46presentation of they are starting some
36:50other schools as well too. They have
36:52three new schools coming up. Um, and
36:54then hopefully that project can continue
36:56to build. Um, we got an update on the
37:00health and is it health and safety
37:02curriculum? Yeah. Okay. Um, that was
37:05great. I have some of the handouts for
37:08you guys. I can send it over. Um, and
37:10then I think our last one was we got to
37:14talk about it, but it wasn't really all
37:17of the members there, but we do have
37:19something that I'm excited to share
37:20probably next month. Um, we still have
37:24to finish talking with the rest of the
37:26crew um, in regards to it, but something
37:29hopefully exciting at the end of the
37:32school, no, the beginning of the next
37:33school year. There we go. So, and then
37:36just want to wish everybody a restful
37:39rest of the week and then a restful next
37:42week for February vacation as well too.
37:44So, stay well.
37:47>> And
37:49special education.
37:51>> So, we were scheduled to have a meeting
37:53two weeks ago. However, unfortunately,
37:56um we didn't have a quorum. Um so, we
38:00are meeting tomorrow night. Um the
38:03agenda is posted and um I hope everyone
38:08has a nice vacation.
38:12>> Okay. And finance
38:16>> do I miss that? Are we at the end of our
38:17meeting already? Can we skip? Everyone's
38:19saying goodbye to
38:22>> No. Finance has nothing except that I'm
38:24asking the CFO constantly to check under
38:26each every uh cushion, flip over every
38:29chair in the administration building to
38:30find a dollar to help take care of that
38:32deficit. So, but no, no update.
38:41>> Is Patrick here?
38:45um considering the topic that uh we're
38:49talking about that it seems like most
38:51people are here from for and a lot of
38:54these are educators that have long days.
38:57Would it be able to would you be okay if
38:58I made a motion to move the
39:00redistricting committee to the beginning
39:02of the agenda? Uh, may I make a motion
39:05to substitute to move the ad hoc
39:08subcommittee redistricting items A and B
39:12uh to uh go in front of the facility
39:15subcommittee.
39:18>> Miss Grant.
39:19>> Second.
39:19>> Uh, Miss Oh, sorry. I'm not the chair.
39:23>> Motion made by Mr. Ray, seconded by Miss
39:26Grant and Miss Rosa.
39:30All in favor?
39:32opposed.
39:35So moved.
39:37Okay. Um,
39:41executive summary of the ad hoc
39:43redistricting committee update.
39:46Over the past few months, the ad hoc
39:48redistricting committee engaged in a
39:51deliberate, transparent, and
39:53datainformed process to examine how
39:56Pucket can best utilize its elementary
39:59school portfolio and service to students
40:02and the community.
40:04The committee met over multiple sessions
40:08four each requiring significant
40:11preparation and followup with an average
40:14of approximately 30 to 35 p participants
40:18per meeting. Membership reflected a
40:21broad range of perspectives including
40:24families, educators, administrators, and
40:27community stakeholders.
40:29Meetings were intentionally structured
40:31to ensure transparency,
40:34open dialogue, and meaningful
40:37opportunities for all voices to be heard
40:40and were held at multiple locations
40:43including Jinx Middle School, Winters
40:46Elementary,
40:48Baldwin Elementary after a walkthrough
40:50of Cunningham, and Nathaniel Green
40:53Elementary School to improve access to
40:57community members. Our next meeting will
40:59be held at Barrier Elementary.
41:03Central to the committee's work was a
41:05careful review of district data,
41:07including declining enrollment trends,
41:12an increase in full-time equivalent
41:14staffing over the past five years
41:16despite declining enrollment and uneven
41:20facility utilization across elementary
41:23schools. This analysis highlighted that
41:27while overall operational costs have
41:30increased, class sizes remained well
41:33below capacity in many locations and
41:36facility utilization is unbalanced
41:39across the district, creating inequities
41:42in student teaching and learning
41:44environments.
41:46The committee recognized that these
41:48conditions pres present the district
41:51with a critical opportunity to optimize
41:55the use of existing elementary
41:57facilities.
41:58Reduce inefficiencies associated with
42:01underutilized buildings and ensure that
42:04students have equitable access to 21st
42:07century learning environments that
42:10support modern instruction and student
42:12needs. Throughout the process, the
42:16committee has balanced educational
42:18priorities with fiscal responsibility,
42:22recognizing that aligning enrollment,
42:25staffing, and facilities is essential to
42:28sustaining highquality learning
42:30environments while reasonably stu
42:34responsibly stewarding public resources.
42:38The work of the ad hoc redistricting
42:40committee
42:42reflects a strong commitment to
42:44transparency, community engagement, and
42:48datadriven planning and provides an
42:50informed foundation for future
42:52discussion and decision making by the
42:55full school committee. I want to express
42:58a special thank you to the members who
43:01participated and dedicated their time,
43:04expertise, and thoughtful engagement
43:06throughout the process.
43:08We also recognize that this process is
43:11inherently emotional for families,
43:14staff, and the community, and we want to
43:17acknowledge and validate those feelings.
43:20Throughout the work of the committee,
43:21the central mission remained student
43:24outcome focused to thoughtfully out to
43:28thoughtfully out optimize the use of
43:31existing elementary facilities,
43:34reduce inefficiencies associated with
43:37underutilized buildings, and ensure that
43:40all students have equitable access to
43:4321st century learning environments that
43:46support modern instruction and student
43:50needs.
43:53And so when we started this
43:58um
44:02I ended up being chairperson
44:05um by default because nobody else wanted
44:08to do it. It was something we needed to
44:10look at.
44:12Um
44:14but I did reach out to the schools to
44:17see who wanted to be engaged in the
44:19process and we did come up with about 10
44:22or 12 teachers
44:25um a dozen or so parents and then we had
44:29an
44:33four or five administrators. Um the
44:36information that was provided was
44:38provided through
44:41um our own staff. Um based on
44:46the
44:49data that was received from the I forgot
44:53the word. Um
44:59yeah from the stage
45:01the master plan
45:04and um the information that was provided
45:07and a lot of it was based on the quality
45:10of the schools and what what remained.
45:15So there were four schools that were
45:17mentioned in the master plan and it was
45:19Cunningham, Curtis,
45:22Balon, and Agnes Little. So we had to
45:26make decisions. Um
45:31so we took it we tried to take it to
45:36the people who attended the meetings. I
45:38tried to make it as transparent as
45:41possible.
45:43um and to reach an agreement. So
45:50right now we have a discussion of the
45:52recommendation of redistricting and
45:54school configuration scenarios. So they
45:57were there were three options that we
46:00were given.
46:02One was the Cunningham closure and
46:05redistricting.
46:06two was the sixth graders to elementary
46:09schools with slater closure and
46:12redistricting and the third was no
46:14school closures but redistricting.
46:17So those were the items that were given
46:20last night on a vote to 6 to3. Um
46:25it was recommended that it was
46:27Cunningham closure and redistricting.
46:30However, that vote was not a solid vote.
46:33That vote was a recommendation to this
46:37school committee. It is now the school
46:39committee's decision to
46:44make a decision. Um,
46:48so there was question about
46:52information being put out to the
46:54community. So we couldn't go to all of
46:57the schools. We didn't feel it prudent
46:59to go to all of the schools and say,
47:01"Hey, we might close your school." So,
47:04what it was, it was the committee's
47:07choice to look at all the facts that
47:09they had been given and make a
47:12recommendation on the information that
47:15they had been given.
47:17And then once that recommendation was
47:20given, then we would go into hearings
47:24within the community and speak to the
47:26families, speak to the teachers, speak
47:29to anybody who is involved in the
47:31process and get their feedback. And I
47:35believe
47:37um
47:40do you only correct me if I'm wrong? Two
47:42or three meetings with within the
47:46community.
47:50>> Yeah.
47:50>> Oh, I'm sorry. You're referring to the
47:52stat,
47:54>> correct?
47:55>> Just to kind of set the stage for
48:01Let me use the mic, Jim.
48:04You can have
48:07>> there are uh there's two statutes uh
48:09that would apply uh to to Pucket if
48:12there is uh a a decision made to either
48:15close a school uh any school. Uh one is
48:1916215 which is a general application and
48:22the other is 16 uh to 15.1 which is
48:26specific to Pucket. Uh this goes back to
48:281980. uh in which the school committee
48:32uh if the school committee of the city
48:34of Pucket whenever it shall deem it
48:36necessary to abandon or close an
48:38existing school building for a period
48:39more than 6 months or require reopen a
48:41new school by either the purchase or
48:43lease of real property shall conduct a
48:45public hearing within the city of Pucket
48:47for the purpose of addressing the issues
48:48of desiraability and necessity for the
48:50abandonment and closing among other
48:52things the reassignment of displaced
48:54students to the other other public
48:56education facilities and the
48:58transportation of displaced students.
48:59any hearing shall be held on a date no
49:01more than 6 months nor less than 45 days
49:04uh before the date of any abandonment
49:06closing uh of the school. Uh so it it
49:09calls for one public hearing. Um that's
49:12the floor. It doesn't prevent the school
49:14the school committee from having more
49:16than one. Uh but it does give us uh a
49:19prescription as far as the time frame in
49:21which it has to occur. No more than 6
49:23months prior to closing and not less
49:25than 45 days uh either. uh there's
49:28public notice by publication of a a a
49:32newspaper general circulation that has
49:34to occur two to four weeks prior to that
49:36hearing. Um so uh there was some
49:39confusion uh that was raised by folks as
49:42far as whether or not there was a
49:43definitive decision being made today. Um
49:46it would be whether or not to move in
49:48that direction which would require a
49:50public hearing before there's a final
49:51vote on closing any school.
49:56>> Thank you. So,
49:58>> sorry. Can I
49:59>> Yes.
50:00>> Yes.
50:02>> A recommendation would then do the
50:05public hearing. Is that what I heard?
50:07>> If there's Yeah. If that's the what's
50:10noted on the agenda is to uh approval of
50:16redistricting and school configuration
50:19or scenarios. And there's plural there.
50:21It's anticipation of the fact that of
50:23those three options, this school
50:25committee could decide to explore either
50:27all three or or one or two of those. If
50:30it does end up being Cunningham closure
50:32and redistricting, that's not making a
50:34vote on doing that. It's to continue the
50:37process in that direction, which would
50:39include a public hearing and then an
50:40ultimate vote.
50:43>> Okay.
50:47Do you have any other questions?
50:50>> Mr. Shal,
50:51>> look for clarification. I I have a ton
50:53of questions, but do you mean specific
50:56uh question? Are you asking for narrow
50:59questions?
51:00>> All right. Because you just listed that
51:02um Fallon, Little Cunningham, and what
51:06other school?
51:07>> Agnes Little.
51:08>> Agnes Little. No, Fallon, Little
51:10Cunningham, and what other school did
51:12you list?
51:12>> Bis.
51:13>> Curtis.
51:13>> Bis. So, who made the decision to talk
51:16about those four schools?
51:17>> So, that was in the master plan.
51:20>> Okay. So, you guys met to talk about
51:22that, but yet I'm looking at a piece of
51:23paper here that says one of the options
51:25is to close Slater. Where did Slater
51:27come from if you guys didn't
51:29>> Slater is also on there on the master
51:32>> the plan. So, the master plan,
51:34>> you just missed saying Slater.
51:37>> Slater, if I may
51:39>> uh answer that. Slater on in the master
51:42plan. it I believe it talks about
51:45potential
51:47rebuild or remodel K through eight if if
51:50I remember correctly
51:52>> and and I'm asking I'm again I'm not
51:53going I'm not trying it's not a gotcha I
51:56want to be educated
51:58what stats are going to come before us
52:00and how did you get there because one of
52:02my biggest questions you stated that um
52:04you didn't look into every school why
52:07didn't we look into every school
52:09obviously we don't want to look into
52:10Baldwin we don't want to look into uh
52:13Winters
52:13>> winters um green net green and the stuff
52:17that you your former committee invested
52:19a lot of money in to modernize. So why
52:22why wasn't
52:24>> every school?
52:26>> So those four schools well every school
52:29was on the list.
52:31>> Okay.
52:32>> But those were the four schools that
52:34were in the most severe condition.
52:38>> Okay. All right. All right. So there was
52:39a narrowing down. So all the schools on
52:41>> Correct. Okay.
52:43>> So, we received a report from Ryden
52:462017, and we're due to have a new one
52:49out two months ago, which we haven't
52:52received as of yet on the status of all
52:55the conditions of all of our schools and
52:58where we stand and where they rank. But
53:01this is based on the 2017 information as
53:04far as their rankings. So if they were
53:07in that condition in 2017
53:10plus we had um
53:17the guy with all the stats
53:19>> demographer.
53:21Thank you. Y
53:22>> so we had a demographer and he talked
53:25about low birth rates and where the
53:28numbers of the students were going. um
53:32not that they're not going to charter
53:34schools and things, but because of low
53:36birth rates, they don't expect to see
53:39our enrollment increasing unless we can
53:41bring students back. So, the statistics
53:46were put together by Mr. Christino
53:51and some of the other work was put
53:54together by Dr. Andred and Mr. Bach. And
53:57are we going to see like I heard a lot
54:00of passionate voices up at the podium
54:02and I just to make a decision um I'm not
54:05going to make a decision on approval of
54:07redistricting one two or three what
54:10about this class size because I have
54:12heard
54:14what about the class size what about the
54:15transportation cost what is the savings
54:17so is there a presentation come in
54:19because I don't want to ask you any
54:20questions if we're going
54:21>> we can do that if that's what you want
54:23so you've received all of the minutes of
54:27the meetings for every
54:29>> just now last night's
54:32>> except
54:32>> obviously I'm just saying flipped it up.
54:35No, no. And I'm not being funny, guys.
54:38Serious vote. The night before the
54:41committee as a whole was going to meet,
54:42which is in my opinion, just my opinion
54:45leadership wise. That's an odd thing
54:47that you took a very important vote 24
54:49hours ago and now we're supposed to vote
54:52on your vote, which is your prerogative,
54:54but we don't have any we I just need the
54:56data. And it's not a dig towards the
54:58clerk that the minutes aren't there. So,
55:00I've been keeping up and I actually gave
55:02the clerk a credit to the last three
55:03meetings. the the them notes, I'm sorry,
55:06the the minutes made me feel like I was
55:08involved in it, but a vote was taken
55:10yesterday.
55:11>> Why was that vote taken? What was the
55:13stats? What is the data? What's the
55:14what's the numbers?
55:15>> So, we can do that and we can do a
55:17presentation on that if you would so
55:20like and you can make a motion to do so.
55:24>> Yeah.
55:25>> So, we're in the thick of the discussion
55:28now.
55:28>> Yeah.
55:29>> All right. So here here's my issues with
55:33with with this as Mr. Chalow has
55:36mentioned
55:39scheduling an at high redistricting
55:40committee in which there would be a vote
55:42the next day on voting on something so
55:45serious as this without getting the
55:48proper information letting people know
55:51even if it is to go through the hearing
55:53process I think I think is not the best
55:57way of doing things.
55:59Uh there is as you know cuz we've had a
56:03conversation about it. One of the things
56:05that I kept saying about the ad high
56:07redistricting committee, I asked
56:09specifically, I said, "Is this about
56:11money?" And you said, "Not really." And
56:14then I said you I my opinion any
56:17scenario about closing or not closing a
56:20school should have an ask from the city
56:25because again if you're saying you're
56:27going to save a million dollars or $2
56:29million
56:31by closing one school then it is
56:34preventable if a proper in a a proper
56:38appropriation from the municipality
56:41happens. So without that ask, I feel
56:44like we're doing something where we're
56:46we it could be preventable.
56:48And also, you know, the city has some
56:51funding some level funding issues that I
56:53think we'd be letting them off the hook.
56:55Uh and we'd be closing a school and
56:57penalizing kids.
57:00Obviously, we know that academics uh
57:03that kids suffer academically. We we're
57:06in an enrollment issue. those kids at
57:09Cunningham may not go to Baldwin, you
57:12know, they may choose if you take if you
57:15close that school, they may choose to go
57:17to a charter. And so, and and that's
57:21just the reality of it. That's typically
57:22what happens with schools.
57:25Um, and you know, that really concerns
57:28me. A and on a human level, I vote at
57:33Cunningham every year. And
57:37again, not to make this about a Slater
57:39issue, a Woodlon issue, but Woodlon was
57:43the last community to get a rebuild. And
57:46now it's going to be the first community
57:47to have a school closure. And like that
57:51to me is very problematic be for many
57:55reasons. But we're trying to I'm trying
57:58to get I've been we've been trying to
58:00figure out a path for Slater. And you
58:03know that community deserves better. Um
58:06those are the kids in our community.
58:10Those are the kids in our community that
58:12really need a school nearby so that
58:16their parents can walk there during
58:18parent teacher conference. They feel
58:19more connected to the community. Um, and
58:23I just fear that we were making a
58:26decision. I'm I'm never I will say
58:30frankly no matter what school comes
58:31before me, I don't I will never say that
58:33we should close the school. That's just
58:34my philosophy. But Cunningham and
58:37Woodlon is a really special place. And
58:40so I I would say that this feels rushed
58:44in a way. It also feels irresponsible
58:48not from the committee just the
58:50committee but from the lack of funding
58:52that we've received over the years and
58:54now we have less options because what I
58:57heard from what the people that called
58:59me after the ad red ad hoc redistricting
59:01committee is I kept hearing about
59:04deficits and deficit and deficit and
59:07usually a redistricting process doesn't
59:10involve
59:11uh financial decisions a consolidation
59:14process does. But and so that's what
59:17that's a part that I'm really concerned
59:18about and that I think that we need to
59:21be better about this year about
59:24receiving some additional funding and
59:26knowing what that how that could be
59:29preventable.
59:32>> Okay. Thank you,
59:35>> Miss Grant.
59:37>> I'm I'm just a little concerned because
59:39um and please correct me if I'm wrong.
59:43Um, I think maybe Mr. Chal might have um
59:46mentioned something like this, but when
59:49you're redistricting,
59:52redistricting
59:54should affect the whole district,
59:57>> right?
59:57>> Um, so
1:00:02were you all looking
1:00:05basically
1:00:07to just kind of close a school?
1:00:10Because when you redistrict, you you're
1:00:14looking at all the facts. Are classrooms
1:00:16too crowded? Are do we need to shift our
1:00:20students depending on how many are in a
1:00:24classroom?
1:00:27Because then when you do redistricting,
1:00:31there would be a shift, a little shift
1:00:34maybe everywhere.
1:00:36Um, and it it doesn't
1:00:39>> end redistricting,
1:00:43>> right? But I I thought that was the
1:00:46purpose of the ad hoc
1:00:49>> committee was to focus on redistricting
1:00:54and then taking into account if a school
1:00:58or two needed to be closed.
1:01:02Um I I said from the beginning to to do
1:01:08a true redistricting takes about a year
1:01:11and a half. Um when this came up in the
1:01:14beginning
1:01:16um I was asked I was pointed to to be
1:01:20the chair of the committee.
1:01:24You can't make changes like this that
1:01:28could possibly affect people's
1:01:31employment
1:01:33um students classrooms
1:01:36um students attending particular schools
1:01:39in 3 months.
1:01:42If this is something
1:01:45the district feels
1:01:49we need to do or the committee feels we
1:01:53need to do to fill classrooms because I
1:01:56was under the impression when we had
1:01:59built
1:02:00Winters and Baldwin that these were
1:02:06um schools that were going to be built
1:02:10bigger that Um, when I grew up, you had
1:02:14more of community schools in each
1:02:16neighborhood. More kids walked to
1:02:18school. Um,
1:02:21and then that's why you had community
1:02:23schools. and then when Winters and
1:02:27Baldwin came in that we would possibly
1:02:32be doing some shifting to make sure or
1:02:36redistricting or looking at
1:02:37redistricting,
1:02:39but it it doesn't look like in this 3
1:02:43months
1:02:45there was any
1:02:48redistricting. It just seemed like
1:02:51things were just focused on
1:02:54Curtis and Cunningham and it just seems
1:02:57like the conversation should have been
1:02:59bigger. I if that's the direction we
1:03:03were going in. Um,
1:03:08you know, um, like I said from the
1:03:10beginning, I I just think and I know in
1:03:14a building committee meeting before it
1:03:16had come up a couple of years ago um in
1:03:22in a meeting in May and I'm like can't
1:03:25close a school and just notify them in
1:03:28May. Um, we we owe it to the community.
1:03:32If we're going to do these processes, we
1:03:35need to do them the correct way. We need
1:03:38to we need to make sure that um,
1:03:44everyone is included. I know everyone
1:03:47can't always be included, but but the
1:03:50conversation has to be bigger. And and I
1:03:53think this conversation, it sounds like
1:03:55it wasn't
1:03:57that big because people maybe
1:04:02didn't realize
1:04:05what the extent of redistricting
1:04:08actually should be compared to what was
1:04:11actually done.
1:04:13And um
1:04:15I just think that if
1:04:19this committee wants to make any
1:04:23decisions or
1:04:26move anyone,
1:04:28the process needs to be
1:04:31it needs to be um a lot better than what
1:04:35had happened. I I thank people for
1:04:38taking their time um and I I commend
1:04:42people for taking their times in the
1:04:44evening. But we we just can't ask um
1:04:48students and teachers
1:04:51um
1:04:53you know after a committee's only sat
1:04:56down for 3 months um to you know expect
1:05:02um their children to change schools. And
1:05:06like I said, I've always been about
1:05:08doing this process correctly. And
1:05:12I I think from the beginning it the
1:05:15timeline
1:05:17um you were given, Miss Bonolo, I think
1:05:20was
1:05:22was not a good one. And um you know, I
1:05:25think you you know, you put yourself out
1:05:27there. You you took one for the team and
1:05:30thank you for that. But but I think we
1:05:32owe it to the teachers in the district,
1:05:34the students that if we are going to
1:05:38look at any of this that we really need
1:05:40to put more into it.
1:05:43>> Okay. Thank you,
1:05:45Mr. Barrera.
1:05:49>> Thank you so much, madame chairperson.
1:05:52Um I just want to say that I join my
1:05:55colleagues uh Chile Rees and Grant in
1:05:59asking you to get more time in this
1:06:01tough decision. I I know that we are um
1:06:05in a big deficit and we need to balance
1:06:07the deficit but I strongly recommend to
1:06:11look for other alternative other you
1:06:13know choices that we can uh avoid the
1:06:17closing of schools. I think closing the
1:06:20schools uh is really tough because it's
1:06:24a community. We're closing
1:06:27um our children, our teachers, our
1:06:30community
1:06:32uh going to be impacted negatively with
1:06:34this closing. So what Kim says is true.
1:06:39We only have three months with this uh
1:06:41ad hoc committee for redistricting. I
1:06:44think we should take more time to
1:06:47analyze every alternative that we can
1:06:49may have. Um I heard Dion mention it
1:06:53about public hearing. That would be
1:06:55great if we can call a public hearing.
1:06:58uh listen our community, listen our
1:07:00teachers, listen our parents and get
1:07:03more um um input, get more uh choices
1:07:10that we can make a rightful decision. Um
1:07:13as I tell you, Cunningham
1:07:17uh Curtis
1:07:19Fallon and Little Agnes are great school
1:07:22all of them. And I don't think that
1:07:24because they are not in this moment a
1:07:2821st century education schools, they
1:07:31don't deserve to be and continue being
1:07:34schools. I think we we have to don't
1:07:36rush in this decision and I call my
1:07:39colleagues to look for other
1:07:41alternative. Don't vote tonight on this
1:07:44tough decision. Uh because I think no
1:07:47one of you wants to close any school in
1:07:49our district. We we want to
1:07:52balance our deficit, you know, but
1:07:55please look for other alternative that
1:07:59may not lead to a closing any school in
1:08:01our district. Thank you, Madame
1:08:02Chairperson.
1:08:04>> Thank you,
1:08:08Mr. Shal.
1:08:10>> Yeah. Uh with everything said, there's a
1:08:12lot of emotions being said and my deci
1:08:14decision is going to be based on
1:08:16something that I haven't seen yet. Um,
1:08:18three months is enough time in one
1:08:20sense. So, I'm I'll piggyback. I I agree
1:08:22with everyone's opinion, but there's
1:08:24nothing here. What have you guys done in
1:08:26the last three months? Um, where's the
1:08:29is there going to be a presentation
1:08:30tonight?
1:08:32Cuz I need to know, someone was standing
1:08:34up there, uh, data, uh, transparency,
1:08:38notice, class sizees, class size.
1:08:42Again, I wasn't part of the sub the
1:08:44advocac committee last night. Was that
1:08:46discussed? Is that why the vote was what
1:08:48the vote was? So, so we know what the
1:08:50class size is going to be. We know what
1:08:52this
1:08:52>> data was provided. So, um if you would
1:08:57like to make a motion, the clerk can
1:09:00pull the committee and we can have a
1:09:02meeting for a special presentation on
1:09:07the ad hoc.
1:09:10>> It will give the data. But but what I'm
1:09:12saying is uh so we're I think what Mr.
1:09:16Chal was leading. So, we're having we're
1:09:19making a decision today. Well,
1:09:23but I'm saying it's on the agenda and
1:09:26there's no presentation.
1:09:28Like I thought normally when something
1:09:32I'm not, you know, normally when we have
1:09:34like we're voting on some other stuff
1:09:35today, there's typically a presentation
1:09:37on it and with the data. So, we're not
1:09:40prepared to do that.
1:09:43Um, okay.
1:09:46M miss. Oh, no. My bad. My bad. I'm not
1:09:47touching.
1:09:48>> I think my only question is with the ad
1:09:50hoc, did you all have and did you all
1:09:53come up with a timeline or a specific
1:09:58timeline on when you wanted this
1:09:59completed? I know you talked about the
1:10:01master plan or the information that was
1:10:03given back in 2017. Like is that was
1:10:05that like a deadline? Like are you is
1:10:08there a deadline to
1:10:11have the ad hoc and have steps towards
1:10:15the redistricting? Like was is there a
1:10:17timeline?
1:10:18>> There are steps and Dion spoke of that.
1:10:21There are there will be hearings in the
1:10:23community and I had planned to have one
1:10:26at um Cunningham, another at Galgo Court
1:10:30in order in order to include the
1:10:33community.
1:10:35Um,
1:10:38and then I wanted another one. Mr.
1:10:41Chelle,
1:10:42>> is that cuz I because now I'm going back
1:10:45to something, Miss Bonolo. And listen,
1:10:48but it's not even that. I need answers
1:10:51and and you shouldn't be the one
1:10:52answering if you're not the one that ran
1:10:54the data uh had the like there should be
1:10:57someone speaking to us about the data
1:10:58that was presented for your committee to
1:11:00make this decision because all I'm
1:11:02hearing is that you were going to have a
1:11:05um uh what's it called?
1:11:07>> Public hearing at Galago Court at
1:11:09Cunningham which now is I'm going back u
1:11:11piggyback what Miss Grant said. Did you
1:11:13guys meet to shut down a school or to
1:11:15what I'm going to vote on? I'm voting on
1:11:17redistricting. I have been educated that
1:11:20we have two $50 million school schools
1:11:22that the school committee that the
1:11:24administration the city council has the
1:11:26taxpayers gave us the rights to build
1:11:29these schools and they're empty. That's
1:11:30what I've been told. So I could be
1:11:32supportive if it's a redistricting
1:11:34thing, but if it's oh no I want to shut
1:11:36down this school because it's a savings
1:11:37of 1.2. That's not what you guys were in
1:11:40charge of. I'm not questioning that's
1:11:42not what you were given the duty to. you
1:11:43were given the duty of what is the
1:11:45redistricting going to be for the city
1:11:48and does it lead to this cut just like
1:11:50this thing about Slater that get a
1:11:52little bit off tilter. We have Slater
1:11:54closure on here and this came up in the
1:11:56last month or so. Have you been in
1:11:57contact with the city council at all?
1:11:59The leadership tomorrow night, but I'm
1:12:02happy no one is going in this direction.
1:12:04Tomorrow night on their agenda, the
1:12:06leadership is actually going to have a I
1:12:08don't know how it's going to go, but
1:12:09they actually have a um resolution. an
1:12:13actual resolution that's going to go to
1:12:14the state house to ask the state to help
1:12:17us be able to rebuild Slater. I hope
1:12:20we're in communications in support of
1:12:22this because no matter what way the
1:12:25feelings might be, the city cannot
1:12:28afford to bond, but if the city council
1:12:30can get the state legis um delegation to
1:12:34get the state to uh play play ball with
1:12:36us, we can afford to do it. But we need
1:12:39to make sure that we're at that table.
1:12:41So, tomorrow night they're gonna vote on
1:12:43it and none of I just I just happened to
1:12:45watch or see the agenda or could I go
1:12:48that SOS and they send me, you know, the
1:12:51notifications and when I saw that they
1:12:53literally named Slater in it, I was
1:12:55hoping that you told me yes, I did talk
1:12:56to uh council president and we so they
1:12:59put it on on the agenda on their own.
1:13:01>> So,
1:13:02>> all right, but and I'm sorry, Mr. Reyes.
1:13:04Um, so I want to know if you as a
1:13:07committee met and who's going to deliver
1:13:10data, transparency, and notice and class
1:13:14sizes to us as a committee so we can
1:13:16make a informed decision. So, I don't
1:13:18mind having another special meeting or
1:13:20you can add it to the 24th meeting. But
1:13:22I I can only vote for what the
1:13:24recommendations are if I can see the
1:13:26data, the transparency, the the class
1:13:29size stuff that you made that you got to
1:13:33see last night, your committee got to
1:13:35see last night. Sorry, Mr. Rice.
1:13:37>> Yeah. Yeah. I I I uh also saw the the I
1:13:42just want to mention that even All
1:13:44right. So, let's say even the city
1:13:46council has this uh thing where they're
1:13:49going to I I saw the bill. They're going
1:13:50to send the resolution basically having
1:13:53the governor's the state uh take on the
1:13:56debt service and not the city and it
1:13:59also it for a limited amount
1:14:06knowing the way that certain people act.
1:14:09uh it could in a tough budget year, it
1:14:12could very well be something that
1:14:14they're sending to not get approved. So,
1:14:16we cannot even we can't even take that
1:14:19into consideration because it'll take
1:14:21number one, it'll take till after
1:14:22session for it to get voted on. So, you
1:14:26know, you're not going to get a vote on
1:14:27it till the budget gets voted on, I
1:14:29assume. Um and so we'd be making a
1:14:33decision based on a thing that may
1:14:35happen because it still has to get voted
1:14:37on. So
1:14:40my recommend I just think that there's
1:14:44that to note. Um but the other thing is
1:14:48is that
1:14:50again I'll say it for the 35th time. We
1:14:54don't know what the city's contribution
1:14:55is. The city verbally can tell us that
1:14:59we can't afford they can't afford an
1:15:00increase in our budget this year. But
1:15:03where's the evidence of that right
1:15:05there? It's just proof. if we're just
1:15:06taking people's word for it. And so
1:15:10if there is a way to prevent any school
1:15:13closure from happening in the next two
1:15:16to three years, because I do think that
1:15:18this conversation will come up again
1:15:20next year and and again the following
1:15:23year because we only do one-year budgets
1:15:25when we could be proposing three years.
1:15:28We need to come up with a plan because I
1:15:30fear that this is just the beginning and
1:15:32then next year we're going to be in a
1:15:34bigger hole and then all of a sudden
1:15:36they're going to want to close another
1:15:37school and then they're going to want to
1:15:39close another school and
1:15:42we already are $17 million behind
1:15:46meeting our core basic expenditures in
1:15:48the city of Pucket. That's money that
1:15:50goes direct to the classroom, direct to
1:15:52kids. And we c we really need an
1:15:55investment. I think it's about time and
1:15:57if if this investment can prevent a
1:15:59community like Cunningham from closing
1:16:02and can maybe help us
1:16:06remodel the building or make a K through
1:16:08where Cunningham is one side, Slater is
1:16:09the other, then I think that is how you
1:16:13innovate and that's how you protect
1:16:14kids.
1:16:17>> Last question. Go ahead.
1:16:19I just want to make sure again feelings
1:16:22that I'm I'm sorry I'm I'm not going to
1:16:24make a lot of friends out there. I'm not
1:16:26gonna base my decision on they might
1:16:29take a vote after the city council has
1:16:31taken a resolution up to try to help us
1:16:33with Slater. We have to make decisions
1:16:35based on facts. If the redistricting
1:16:39redistricting subcommittee did their job
1:16:42of and I'm not qu I don't please don't
1:16:44take it that way did the job of
1:16:47redistricting our city you should be
1:16:49pres not you someone should be
1:16:51presenting the the amount of students in
1:16:53this this neighborhood this day this is
1:16:56what a redistricting could do this is
1:16:58what it cost this is what it saves it
1:17:00it's not about again the feelings in
1:17:03this arguments getting way going above
1:17:06there's no one speaking to us about
1:17:07where you guys made your decision from
1:17:09and it's well I think no disrespect
1:17:12chairwoman Benolo you as the leader of
1:17:15our committee lead us there by putting
1:17:18it on the next um why do is someone
1:17:20prepared to give it to us tonight
1:17:23>> oh so I can't make a motion if no one's
1:17:25prepared to talk about
1:17:29>> you don't
1:17:29>> not if they don't have the I don't want
1:17:30to put someone on the on the spot that
1:17:32much I don't want to call someone up
1:17:34there if they don't know what they're
1:17:34going to speak about but Let's put it on
1:17:37the 20. Well, hold. I'm only one
1:17:38committee member. I don't know if
1:17:39anybody because it seems like the
1:17:40feeling might be that no one wants to
1:17:42make an action against this. I think we
1:17:45need to be educated. I think we need to
1:17:47know. Mr. Reyes said that next year
1:17:49they're going to come next, but we don't
1:17:51know that.
1:17:51>> We do.
1:17:52>> We do.
1:17:53>> We do know that.
1:17:54>> We know. We supposedly have facts on
1:17:56what happened the last three months. I
1:17:58want to hear it. I want to see it. Can
1:18:00we put that on next the ne will my
1:18:03colleagues indulge me in asking do I
1:18:05have a motion? Can I have a motion?
1:18:07>> You don't need to. You just send her an
1:18:08email. All right within
1:18:12>> I'm going to ask that this the the the
1:18:15data
1:18:17that the subcommittee made their
1:18:19decision to clo What was the decision?
1:18:22What was the recommendation? Sorry.
1:18:23Right.
1:18:25Okay. and redistrict, which is kind of
1:18:27an oxymoron because we asked you guys to
1:18:29come up with a redistricting and then we
1:18:31were going to figure out. But anyway, um
1:18:34I would like to see the data data
1:18:38>> data that you as a subcommittee was able
1:18:41to see pervy to seeing that led you to
1:18:44that decision so the whole committee can
1:18:45see that. That's what I asked for uh the
1:18:4824th. No, it's not a motion.
1:18:51>> Oh, good. The lawyer is going to tell me
1:18:53>> No, no, no. I just wanted to uh to make
1:18:56sure that your request
1:18:58is uh is fully captured. So what you
1:19:01asked for was the data that I almost
1:19:04said it wrong because of how you said
1:19:05it. Uh the data based on what the ad hoc
1:19:08relied upon to come up with their
1:19:10recommendation.
1:19:12>> Um but I don't know if what you if you
1:19:14also want any other data as far as any
1:19:17of the other uh considerations or or
1:19:19just data in general in relation that
1:19:20they viewed.
1:19:21>> You're right. I shouldn't narrow. I
1:19:22would like the presentations that was
1:19:25presented to your subcommittee be
1:19:27presented to us
1:19:29>> which was not limited to just the
1:19:31>> not limited. Good. Good call. Good. This
1:19:33is why we get the lawyer.
1:19:34>> May I make another request?
1:19:36Oh, my bad.
1:19:38>> There's a lot of conversation going on
1:19:40quickly. You asked if it was just about
1:19:42the presentation that was made last
1:19:44night. Mr. Challe responded yes that. So
1:19:48is it just that and or additional
1:19:51information that was discussed last
1:19:54night as would be forthcoming at the
1:19:57next ad hoc subcommittee meeting which
1:20:00chair Benola would have to share that
1:20:02you wouldn't know that you weren't at
1:20:04the meeting and haven't seen the minutes
1:20:06yet. So, so the clarification I was
1:20:08seeking was whether or not he was asking
1:20:09for the information data on the that was
1:20:12relied upon to make the actual
1:20:14recommendation that was that came out of
1:20:15ad hoc or the data and information that
1:20:18was provided in general when they were
1:20:20considering redistricting which may
1:20:21include school closure of any school not
1:20:24just Cunningham. That's what I wanted to
1:20:26make sure that I believe that's what Mr.
1:20:28I wanted
1:20:31>> presentation
1:20:32>> at every at every meeting. I believe we
1:20:35have them digitally
1:20:38>> and they will send them all to you and
1:20:41we will have a presentation.
1:20:44The clerk will poll the committee.
1:20:47>> You said
1:20:48>> you want to do it on the 24th. We'll do
1:20:50it on the 24th, but I will make sure
1:20:53that you get the information ahead of
1:20:56time, all the detail, all the data that
1:20:59we've been given and then you can look
1:21:02through it.
1:21:04>> How many presenters did you have or
1:21:06>> it was Mr. Buck, Dr. Andre, and
1:21:12Mr. Christino? Chair,
1:21:14>> can I just note that there's an ad hoc
1:21:17subcommittee meeting on the 23rd, the
1:21:20day before the next um PFC meeting as
1:21:24well, which I think additional
1:21:25information was going to be presented
1:21:27>> from my notes.
1:21:29>> Chair Benolo. So, at the next ad hoc
1:21:33meeting
1:21:35there, um a couple of the parents asked
1:21:39for more data. They asked for um very
1:21:44specific data. So that'll also be when
1:21:47we get that that'll be provided to you.
1:21:51>> May I also uh on the record so I'm sorry
1:21:56but Miss Bonolo Chair Benolu uh but I
1:21:59would like on the record the financial
1:22:01impact of closing the schools how much
1:22:03savings we would get. I want to know
1:22:07uh the the three-year plan on this. So,
1:22:11if we're redistricting now and you're
1:22:14going to suggest to close Cunningham or
1:22:16not close it this year, what's going to
1:22:17happen the year after and the year after
1:22:19that so that we're not we're not caught
1:22:22on that? And then I want to know what
1:22:24the school department's ask of the city
1:22:27will be this year. Um because I think
1:22:29that that that's important context.
1:22:32Thank you.
1:22:40You want me to make a motion?
1:22:42>> No, it's all on the agenda already.
1:22:44>> No, to to get rid of the It seems like
1:22:46we're not voting on this then.
1:22:48>> Yeah, you can. But
1:22:51Well, that's being carried over to the
1:22:5424th.
1:22:55>> So, could I have a motion to continue?
1:22:57Oh, sorry. Can I
1:22:59motion to continue
1:23:01um the the item the discussion of
1:23:03recommendations of redistricting and
1:23:05school configuration scenarios uh to the
1:23:07February 24th uh school committee
1:23:09meeting
1:23:11>> second also move that's the actual
1:23:13motion to second that
1:23:14>> yeah motion's been made and seconded
1:23:17clerk call the role
1:23:20>> James Shal
1:23:20>> yes
1:23:21>> Angelice Rosa Omar Reyes Kimberly Grant
1:23:25Juan Pablo Barrera
1:23:27Joan Benolo.
1:23:28>> Yeah.
1:23:31>> 24th.
1:23:34All right. Now, we'll go back to
1:23:37discussion action items and from the
1:23:40facilities committee. Patrick,
1:23:52good evening.
1:23:55Uh with me up at the podium is uh Phil
1:23:57Kanti of Studio Jade, the architect and
1:24:00engineer for um uh both of the the
1:24:04projects that are upcoming on on these
1:24:06two agenda items.
1:24:14Balonet Memorial Elementary School
1:24:17discussion and recommendation for
1:24:19approval to submit the schematic design
1:24:22package to ride SBA for the roof
1:24:25replacement project.
1:24:28>> So this is the the first step in gaining
1:24:30the approval from uh RIDE uh as it
1:24:34relates to the reimbursement for this
1:24:35project. Um, this is a very similar
1:24:39project to the var roof replacement that
1:24:41we did uh last summer. Um, and so the
1:24:44intent is is to put uh a very good
1:24:48quality roof on the the building um
1:24:51that's intended to last for 40 years.
1:24:54Um, and it will come with a a 30-year
1:24:57roof warranty. Um and then uh similar to
1:25:00the barrier roof uh project, we're also
1:25:02going to be um taking a look at the roof
1:25:05drainage system there, ensuring that
1:25:07that's adequate um to avoid any ponding
1:25:11um or water damage on the roof. Um and
1:25:15scope the the roof drains that are
1:25:17there. And if necessary, um, from those
1:25:20findings, uh, jet clean, uh, those roof
1:25:23drains to ensure that everything's
1:25:25draining properly and we're avoiding
1:25:27that, uh, the water damage on the roof.
1:25:32>> The um, the vents, the
1:25:38chimps, masonry.
1:25:40>> Uh, yes, correct. There's um some old uh
1:25:43masonary chimneys up there that uh have
1:25:46been deteriorated over time. Um so we're
1:25:49we're going to do some um uh some
1:25:53further investigation into um if there
1:25:57are any penetrations in there that water
1:25:59is getting into. And we'll ensure that
1:26:02the the envelope is watertight and um if
1:26:06necessary um uh repoint any any masonary
1:26:10that that requires that in order to get
1:26:12the building back up into good standing
1:26:14on the roof.
1:26:16>> Okay.
1:26:18>> That's at
1:26:22>> Oh, uh sorry. Um yeah. Well, when I was
1:26:25referencing barrier, it was the the roof
1:26:27project uh uh this previous summer. So,
1:26:30I I apologize.
1:26:34>> Do I have a motion for to approve the
1:26:38Fallon Elementary School recommendation
1:26:42for approval to submit the schematic
1:26:45design package to ride SBA for the roof
1:26:50replacement project?
1:26:51>> So, move second. Motion's been made by
1:26:55Miss Grant, seconded by Mr. Chal and Mr.
1:26:58Barrera.
1:27:00All in favor?
1:27:02Yes. Discussion.
1:27:04>> So, they went up to the roof. They
1:27:06didn't Right. They didn't send a drone,
1:27:07right? They went up their boots were on
1:27:09the ground on the roof.
1:27:11>> Mr. and I
1:27:12>> uh have both uh spent some extensive
1:27:15time up on the the Fallon roof.
1:27:19>> Roofs are a are a bugger for our
1:27:22district. Um, and so I just want to make
1:27:26sure that that that somebody went up
1:27:27there, somebody walked around and that
1:27:29the quote and the I mean putting this
1:27:31out for uh what we're going to be
1:27:33putting out for the job is going to be a
1:27:36complete
1:27:38is is what they have up there is way off
1:27:40topic, but while you were up there is
1:27:42can Fallon be converted? Can can an HVAC
1:27:45system get up there? Obviously, you
1:27:47know, if we pay for it, but is is does
1:27:49does it have it or it's just too big?
1:27:51Did you even look into that scope of
1:27:53work?
1:27:55>> Um, well, I'll uh Mr. Ki here uh he's
1:28:00the the HVAC expert, so I'll let him
1:28:02speak to that. But the HVAC is is not um
1:28:05part of the scope of work for this roof
1:28:07replacement project
1:28:11>> because of the way it's structured
1:28:12buildings and you have the middle one. I
1:28:14mean, I know anything can be done, but
1:28:16it would be a tough thing to get an HVAC
1:28:20system in that old
1:28:23I I rely upon your professional.
1:28:26>> Sure. So, um certainly we can install
1:28:32new HVAC systems on the buildings. Um it
1:28:37would likely come at a premium to
1:28:39basically reinforce the structure of the
1:28:41building to support any new rooftop
1:28:43equipment. It's
1:28:46>> far
1:28:49they didn't build because they built was
1:28:50much better back then, right? So, but
1:28:52you're saying that we would have to add
1:28:53a layer to the roof in order.
1:28:56>> Sure. Well, the roof assembly would be
1:28:58fine and any improvements would likely
1:29:01be done within the building underneath
1:29:04of the roof assembly. So, replacing the
1:29:06roof does no harm in coming back in the
1:29:08future with a larger HVAC project.
1:29:11>> Right. No problem. Just Just asking.
1:29:13Thanks.
1:29:15>> So, we'll have to check the electrical
1:29:18>> on that to make sure. But one of the
1:29:20things I did notice on because all of
1:29:23our roofs are flat is they put um
1:29:28what do you call those things? The the
1:29:30ribbon things. One thing that we did
1:29:32notice on Fallon as well as barrier last
1:29:35year when we did that is that there's
1:29:37minimal roof slope to facilitate
1:29:40drainage. So, one of the things that we
1:29:41did at Barrier and we will do at Failen
1:29:44is to increase the insulation, making
1:29:46sure there's adequate crickets between
1:29:48the roof drains to facilitate the uh
1:29:52water runoff, which will extend the
1:29:54useful life of any new roof membrane.
1:29:56One thing we did observe on Fallon is
1:29:58that there are a number of uh deficient
1:30:02roof drains in terms of quantities. So,
1:30:04that's one of the things that we're
1:30:05working on. It was probably one of the
1:30:07things that contributed to its
1:30:09deterioration.
1:30:12>> Check the the ducks that are in the
1:30:15building to make sure that they're
1:30:18clean.
1:30:19>> That's the barrier.
1:30:20>> The next the next item.
1:30:22>> Okay.
1:30:24Not ducks. Ducks.
1:30:30>> Seconded. All in favor?
1:30:32>> Opposed?
1:30:34have stank that
1:30:36>> okay
1:30:38and so moved.
1:30:42The next one is the Francis J. Varia
1:30:44Elementary School discussion and
1:30:46recommendation for approval to submit
1:30:49the schematic design package to ride for
1:30:52the HVAC replacement project.
1:30:56>> So the the scope of this project is is
1:30:59pretty straightforward. Um although it
1:31:02it is rather large. There's there's
1:31:04seven units up on the the roof of
1:31:06barrier. So it it is a large project but
1:31:09the the scope of it is pretty
1:31:11straightforward and it's been
1:31:13extensively discussed in the the
1:31:15building committee the best um strategy
1:31:18to proceed with this project and that is
1:31:20to replace the the units in kind that
1:31:24are up on the roof. So getting new HVAC
1:31:27units as uh the existing ones are at the
1:31:30end of their useful life. Um they have
1:31:34um uh they've served their their um
1:31:37they've done their job well. Um but
1:31:39they're they're currently it's time for
1:31:41them to retire and for new units to be
1:31:43put up there. Um along with this um it
1:31:47was desired to um replace the VAV boxes
1:31:51of um inside of the school um which is
1:31:55part of that overall HVAC system and
1:31:58controlling the temperatures inside of
1:32:00the specific zones um or just think of
1:32:04that as the the classrooms or
1:32:05administration administrative offices.
1:32:10um as well as um replacing the boilers
1:32:14uh at the the school as those are also
1:32:17near the or at the end of their useful
1:32:20life. They're about 20 years old. Um and
1:32:22then finally um to pair with the new uh
1:32:26units that are going up on the roof
1:32:28would be a new BMS system um which is
1:32:31basically the brains of the operation
1:32:34controlling um this the system overall
1:32:37um which is very badly needed at uh at
1:32:39this particular school. Um there is a
1:32:42BMS system currently in place there.
1:32:44However, it's very outdated and and is
1:32:47due for a a new upgraded one um to match
1:32:50with the uh the new equipment that will
1:32:52be on the roof.
1:32:54>> Would you talk about the alternates? Um
1:32:57because we didn't
1:33:00we didn't vote on all three alternates.
1:33:02>> Um yes. So, well, what was decided was
1:33:06uh further down the line when we um when
1:33:10we go out to um I'm sorry, chairperson
1:33:14Benol, I just want to make sure I'm
1:33:15understanding the question right. Are
1:33:17you talking about the the ad alternate
1:33:20um about the boilers?
1:33:22>> Yes,
1:33:22>> specifically about the boilers.
1:33:24>> Yes. So, that was the one that we
1:33:27>> Yes.
1:33:27>> were waiting on. So the um it the the
1:33:32plans will include replacing the
1:33:34boilers, but the strategy that was
1:33:37decided upon by the um facility
1:33:40subcommittee um at a later date when we
1:33:42go out for the the bid for the
1:33:45contractor to perform the work. It will
1:33:47be to have replacing the boilers as an
1:33:51optional ad alternate so that the
1:33:54facility subcommittee and then the
1:33:56school committee can make a decision. um
1:33:58based upon information with pricing um
1:34:02from the contractors whether that is
1:34:04work that you want to do or not do.
1:34:10>> Okay. So I will ex any questions.
1:34:14Is this the Sorry, my bad. Is this the
1:34:18>> these packets to write SBA? Is that what
1:34:21we were reappropriating the money for
1:34:23the Curtis roof?
1:34:25>> Uh
1:34:27for uh this was um the Curtis roof
1:34:30money. This wasn't a reappropriated to
1:34:33to Varrier. This was um always in the
1:34:37original plan of Varrier. It's just that
1:34:39instead of doing the roof and the HVAC
1:34:42projects at the same time, it was chosen
1:34:44due to the history of the projects to do
1:34:47them over two different summers. Um, but
1:34:50the the money for this um project has
1:34:53has always been allocated to the scope
1:34:55and it hasn't changed with um the the
1:34:58MOA adjustment um that was recently
1:35:01before you.
1:35:01>> Are any of these agenda items regarding
1:35:03money that was reappropriated from the
1:35:05Curtis roof?
1:35:07>> No. the the Fallon roof was always a
1:35:09planned roof project and then um uh the
1:35:13barrier HVAC project was always part of
1:35:16the um original stage two uh scope of
1:35:19work to to bring those buildings up to
1:35:22um you know an adequate new state.
1:35:25>> Okay, cool.
1:35:27>> Okay, so um I'll accept a motion for the
1:35:32Francis J. Varia Elementary School
1:35:35recommendation for approval to submit
1:35:37the schematic design package to ride SBA
1:35:41for the HVAC replacement project.
1:35:45>> So moved.
1:35:46>> Motion's been made by Miss Grant, second
1:35:49by Mr. Chal and Miss Rosa. All in favor?
1:35:53Opposed?
1:35:55So move. Thank you very much.
1:35:56>> Thank you very much. school.
1:35:57>> Thank you.
1:36:04>> Next from the building committee.
1:36:14So, first on the agenda is the approval
1:36:17of a recommendation to award number 017
1:36:20the Pucket High School site work
1:36:23utilities package to Shmet Design and
1:36:26Construction
1:36:27in the amount of
1:36:31$13,433,099
1:36:36WL French Excavating.
1:36:40That's correct.
1:36:42>> Correct. Uh, hi. Uh, good evening. My
1:36:44name's Robert Potter, a project manager
1:36:46with project manager with Collers. I'm
1:36:48going to just introduce a couple of
1:36:50these RTAs. I'm going to turn it over to
1:36:51Shamid to speak to the specifics. Uh, so
1:36:55you are correct. Uh, this is a
1:36:56recommendation to award from the project
1:36:58team uh to award site work and utilities
1:37:01to WL French Excavating Corporation of
1:37:04North Rick, Massachusetts for
1:37:0613,433,999.
1:37:10Um, and I do just want to note that this
1:37:12is part of the ERP4 package that was
1:37:15previously before you uh to submit to
1:37:18RIDE. Um, we did get approval from RIDE
1:37:20on January 13th. Uh, yeah, January 13th
1:37:23of this year. Um, so I'm going to turn
1:37:26this over to Shaman to speak to some of
1:37:28the financials.
1:37:31>> Good evening. Uh, Ed Mcno with Shamat.
1:37:34Um, this is the culmination of the ERP
1:37:37war, getting the the subs on board so we
1:37:40can start building the building. Um, as
1:37:42Robert said, um, you know, we're
1:37:44awarding to WL French. We actually had
1:37:46five biders on this pro on this scope.
1:37:48We narrowed it down to three and we had
1:37:51very extensive Dcopes with all three of
1:37:53them and French emerged as the the low
1:37:56responsible bidder um, with all the the
1:37:58proper scope involved. And just to
1:38:00remind you, this is the this is the
1:38:02scope to to do the excavation and back
1:38:04fill for the foundations, bring the site
1:38:06up to grade, all the site utilities, all
1:38:09the site finishes, as well as all the
1:38:11subgrade prep work for the for the
1:38:13fields. There'll be a separate contract
1:38:14for the fields. And also to remind you,
1:38:16WL French did our our last ERP or
1:38:20actually ERP2, which was the ground
1:38:21improvements, and they performed at a
1:38:24very high level. actually uh that was uh
1:38:26somewhat of a high risk be due to the
1:38:29unknown conditions of the soil and they
1:38:31performed very well and um and actually
1:38:33gave us some savings. So we're very
1:38:35confident in this award. The one thing
1:38:37I'll point out is um there is no MB MB
1:38:41um MBE or WBE. That was true of all
1:38:44three of those the site contractors that
1:38:47we descoped. Um, but French has
1:38:49committed to work with the local MBEWB
1:38:51office to find some suppliers or some
1:38:54some second tier subs that they could
1:38:56interject into this. So, there might be
1:38:58a followup, but at the moment, the award
1:39:00is based on on no involvement, but um,
1:39:03so that's pretty much the the story on
1:39:05this one. Are there any questions?
1:39:09>> Yes.
1:39:11Okay. So, I will accept a motion for the
1:39:14approval of a recommendation to award
1:39:17number 017, the Pucket High School site
1:39:20work utilities package to Shaw Design
1:39:23and Construction and WL French.
1:39:29>> Second.
1:39:30>> Motion's been made by Mr. Chal, seconded
1:39:33by Mr.
1:39:35Ray. Huh?
1:39:37>> James
1:39:40and Miss Rosa.
1:39:42Um, clerk call the roll.
1:39:44>> James Chal,
1:39:45>> Angel Rosa, Omar Reyes, yes. Juan Pablo
1:39:48Barrera, Joan Bonolo.
1:39:53Next is the approval of a recommendation
1:39:56to award number 018 the Pucket High
1:39:59School concrete foundations and slabs to
1:40:03Shmet design and construction and SNF
1:40:06construction of Hudson Mass in the
1:40:09amount of 9,478,563.
1:40:16>> Hi, I'm J.R. Roberts. Um yeah, as Ed
1:40:20said, we had a number of biders um uh
1:40:23bid on this scope as well. Uh there were
1:40:25about four biders. We narrowed it down
1:40:26to two uh who we brought in did an
1:40:29extensive DC scope with to ensure that
1:40:30they had the correct scope of work for
1:40:32this uh package which is the cast
1:40:35inplace concrete work uh for the
1:40:37project. Uh this includes uh elements
1:40:40like all of the concrete foundation,
1:40:42slab on grade, slab on deck. Uh this
1:40:45also includes um site concrete which is
1:40:48sidewalks uh concrete at the loading
1:40:50dock um and and and uh retaining walls
1:40:54around the site. Um SNF concrete uh
1:40:58their contract value would be 9.3
1:41:00million. Uh and they've committed to uh
1:41:03providing or having uh an MBE provide
1:41:06just under 10% of that uh contract value
1:41:09uh at $850,000 worth of MBE participate
1:41:12participation.
1:41:14Um, are there any questions?
1:41:18>> No questions. Okay. So, I will take a
1:41:22motion to approve the recommendation to
1:41:24award number 018 target high school
1:41:28concrete foundations and slabs to show
1:41:32design and construction and SNF concrete
1:41:35of Hudson, Mass.
1:41:37>> So, move madam.
1:41:40>> Motion's been made by Mr. Chal and Bobzy
1:41:44twins have made the second
1:41:49error.
1:41:50>> What error? Yeah. A while ago
1:41:53>> for Mr. Reyes and Miss Rosa.
1:41:58Call the RO.
1:41:59>> James Chal.
1:42:00>> Yes.
1:42:00>> Angel Rosa.
1:42:01>> Yes.
1:42:01>> Omar Rees.
1:42:02>> Juan. Pablo Barrera.
1:42:04>> Yes.
1:42:04>> Joanne Bolo.
1:42:05>> Yes.
1:42:07Next on the agenda is approval of a
1:42:09recommendation to award number 019, the
1:42:12Tucket High School Mason masonry
1:42:15structural masonry project to Shmet
1:42:18Design and Construction and Grandmasonry
1:42:21of Providence, Rhode Island in the
1:42:24amount of 3,851,23.
1:42:30Uh so this is for structural masonry
1:42:33which is uh all of the CMU that will be
1:42:37uh installed at areas of the building
1:42:39like the gymnasium uh the auditorium
1:42:42carpentry CTE automotive uh CT uh
1:42:45automotive uh CTE and um uh alternate PE
1:42:50areas. Um the brick veneer uh is not
1:42:55part of this package. you'll actually be
1:42:56part of a separate package which will
1:42:58get bid out um separately. So just to
1:43:00make that clarification, uh Grandandy
1:43:03Masonry is from Providence, Rhode
1:43:04Island. Um their contract value would be
1:43:07just under 3.8 million uh as the
1:43:10chairperson indicated and they'd be
1:43:11providing um about 6% of their uh their
1:43:16contract value being performed by uh a
1:43:19uh an MBE uh in the amount of $250,000.
1:43:24Um, any questions about the scope of
1:43:26work?
1:43:29>> Okay, no questions. So, I will take a
1:43:32motion for the approval to award the
1:43:35target high school masonry
1:43:38structural masonry package to number 019
1:43:42to show design and construction and
1:43:45grandmasonry of Providence, Rhode
1:43:47Island.
1:43:48>> So move, madam chair,
1:43:50>> second made by Mr. Challe second by Mr.
1:43:55Reyes. Call the role.
1:43:57>> James Shal,
1:43:58>> Angelus Rosa,
1:44:00>> Omar Reyes,
1:44:01>> Juan Pablo Barrera,
1:44:02>> Joan Bonolo.
1:44:03>> Yes.
1:44:05>> Okay. Next on the agenda is the approval
1:44:08of a recommendation to award number 02,
1:44:13the Pucket High School structural steel
1:44:16package to show design and construction.
1:44:22You missed my paper.
1:44:24What?
1:44:36No,
1:44:37I got it. Thank you. To Shmet Design and
1:44:42Construction and Trax Steel Incorporated
1:44:45from Quebec, Canada in the amount of
1:44:4813,93,987.
1:44:56>> Yeah.
1:44:57>> Uh, yep. So this is the uh steel
1:44:59superructure. Again we had a number of
1:45:01bidders uh this very competitive
1:45:03process. Um brought in uh we brought in
1:45:07the the low two um to have a detailed
1:45:10dcope with um both are Canadian both of
1:45:14the the low biders were uh Canadian uh
1:45:18based um fabricators uh but using local
1:45:22um erectors. In this case, Trax Steel is
1:45:25the recommended low uh subcontractor,
1:45:28and they're using uh HB Welding to Erect
1:45:31uh who is a local subcontractor. Um HB
1:45:34Welding would also be contributing about
1:45:3640% of the overall package uh or or uh
1:45:39contract amount uh in WBE participation.
1:45:43Uh so we're getting a good uh good
1:45:45amount. It's 5.7
1:45:475.175 million uh in WBE participation
1:45:52there. What percentage is that?
1:45:54>> I think it's approximately 40%.
1:45:59>> Approximately 40%.
1:46:04>> Thank you.
1:46:07>> Are there any questions? Mr. Shal.
1:46:09>> Yes. Um, please just educate me. I
1:46:12thought we already purchased the steel.
1:46:14Is this separate and above or is this
1:46:16did we only go out for um bid
1:46:19>> reeba?
1:46:21No, I think
1:46:22>> we I don't
1:46:22>> you approved Oh,
1:46:24>> I don't know what the prior was.
1:46:26>> You you approved us submitting this to
1:46:28ride so we could get the approval so
1:46:31that we can come before you with the
1:46:32RTA. So, um this is the first time that
1:46:35we're you're authorizing the money for
1:46:37us to actually order the steel.
1:46:38>> Yeah.
1:46:39>> I wanted to ask all through I want to
1:46:41wait till the last one. Did any of them
1:46:43come under budget?
1:46:46>> Uh yeah. So, we had um both of these
1:46:50both these biders came in under our
1:46:51control budget. Um
1:46:54>> I apolog
1:46:5617, 18, 19, and 20 under budget, over
1:46:59budget, on budget.
1:47:01>> Um all on or under budget.
1:47:03>> Honor. Thank you very much.
1:47:04>> Yeah.
1:47:10>> Okay. So, can I have a motion to
1:47:15approve the recommendation to award O2
1:47:18the the target high school structural
1:47:21steel package to Shmet Design and
1:47:24Construction and Trax Steel of Quebec,
1:47:27Canada in the amount of 13,903987.
1:47:32>> So move madam chair.
1:47:34>> Motions motion's been made by Mr. Chal,
1:47:38seconded by Mr. Barrera. Clerk, call the
1:47:41role.
1:47:41>> James Chal, Angel Rosa, Omar Rees, Juan
1:47:45Pablo Barrera, Joan Bonolo.
1:47:47>> Yeah.
1:47:49>> Okay. The next item, you'll have these
1:47:51in your packet. Um, Megan Havilla
1:48:00and Mr. Levy.
1:48:05So, what we were given were
1:48:12were these. They're they're for the
1:48:16outside of the school.
1:48:19And so we had a conversation with the
1:48:21teachers that were there and the other
1:48:24members of the building committee
1:48:27and they chose this one.
1:48:30>> Okay.
1:48:31>> Yeah. So it goes from a darker to a
1:48:35lighter as shown in
1:48:39That one.
1:48:43Did I do that right, Megan?
1:48:45>> Yes.
1:48:46>> Okay.
1:48:49So,
1:48:52that's for the exterior finish only.
1:48:56So, we're looking for approval on that.
1:48:58It's um gradient
1:49:01and those are the colors.
1:49:04>> Go ahead.
1:49:06>> Yeah. Go ahead, Mr. Chal.
1:49:08>> Um,
1:49:10who um who decided on this? You said
1:49:14teachers.
1:49:14>> We had um
1:49:16>> the whole sub.
1:49:17>> It was the whole subcommittee. We had a
1:49:19conversation after they had this. They
1:49:22had them out. They laid them out and we
1:49:25made a decision on it. Um
1:49:31>> um we had teachers from where?
1:49:35>> I can look up. No, as long as I have as
1:49:37long as I
1:49:39could. Um I'm about to become a
1:49:41hypocrite. U I don't think
1:49:45>> uh I I I don't think school committee
1:49:47members should boggle you guys down for
1:49:49colors and for but was any consideration
1:49:51given to Red and Blue to consider Tolman
1:49:55and Shaq? Um and and again it's not a
1:49:58gotcha. It just was consideration. This
1:50:01is a once in a generational school. We
1:50:03got tearing down two institutions for
1:50:06people that's been in protected their
1:50:07whole life and that is the red toolman
1:50:09Tigers and the blue Sha Raiders. Um
1:50:12although the Raiders colors is silver
1:50:13and black. I never understood that but
1:50:14we went with blue. Um Shay is known as a
1:50:17blue school.
1:50:18>> Don't forget JMW.
1:50:20>> It's also part of the school.
1:50:22>> Fair. But was do they have a school or
1:50:24do they have a color?
1:50:25>> Yeah. Multicolor.
1:50:27>> Multiolor. So So
1:50:29Madam Chair, red and blue will fix the
1:50:31multiolor. Was it was it considered? Was
1:50:33it considered or is this where um design
1:50:36is going? Is is designs going in this
1:50:39type of color scheme where it's um it
1:50:42fits into the it fits in nicely there is
1:50:45there's no pop to it which I can
1:50:46understand. So that's I just want to
1:50:48know was red and red and blue considered
1:50:51>> can make sure on the interior.
1:50:54>> Very good. That's exactly where I was
1:50:56going to go. have representation of all
1:50:59>> all school colors.
1:51:01>> I think there are numerous
1:51:02opportunities, murals, inscribed areas
1:51:06within the floors, uh different kinds of
1:51:09trim throughout the school where we can
1:51:11introduce colors and even an
1:51:13interpretive
1:51:15display can be incorporated that would
1:51:18help describe the the legacy of the two
1:51:21schools that came together. So, I I
1:51:23think there's plenty of room for that.
1:51:26Thank you.
1:51:30>> Go ahead.
1:51:30>> You know, I don't mean to be I'm a
1:51:32hypocrite, but just kidding. Um, you
1:51:35know, wasn't there an issue with the
1:51:36color at Baldwin on the in on the like
1:51:41something about the floors in the winter
1:51:43makes it look really So, we're not
1:51:45talking about that. But there's no like
1:51:46potential for a building color. Got it.
1:51:54I think it's cool.
1:51:58>> Any other questions?
1:52:02>> So, can I have a motion to approve the
1:52:05color
1:52:07material finish selections for the
1:52:09Pucket High School exterior only?
1:52:14>> So moved. Madam,
1:52:16>> motion's been made by Mr. Chal, seconded
1:52:19by Miss Rosa. All in favor?
1:52:22Opposed?
1:52:25Okay. Thank you.
1:52:27>> It's exciting. Thank you.
1:52:32>> Okay. Slater Middle School facilities
1:52:35update. Thank you very much.
1:52:39Um,
1:52:43they're all leaving. So, the Pucket
1:52:45School Department continues to address
1:52:48both immediate facility needs and
1:52:50longerterm instructional improvements at
1:52:53Slater Middle School. Intermediate and
1:52:56near-term repairs.
1:52:59Several safety and functionality items
1:53:02are being addressed through active work
1:53:04orders. These include repairs to the
1:53:07stairwells leading to the auditorium on
1:53:10the girls side, adjustments to exit
1:53:13doors at both the boys and girls gyms,
1:53:16and repairs to auditorium doors and
1:53:19windows that are not closing or locking
1:53:21properly. A long-standing issue in the
1:53:24boys gym involving a bucket beneath a
1:53:26pipe will be resolved by removing the
1:53:29bucket and monitoring the pipe. Ceiling
1:53:32repairs are also planned in the third
1:53:34floor office area in the girls locker
1:53:37room. February break work. During
1:53:41February break, custodial staff will
1:53:44complete a deep cleaning of both gyms
1:53:46and locker rooms, including walls,
1:53:49window sills, and exposing pipe. In
1:53:52addition, the boarded auditorium doors
1:53:55on the boy side will be addressed with
1:53:57the more permanent finish solution.
1:54:01Summer plans. Looking ahead, the
1:54:03district is planning for the possible
1:54:05replacement of carpeting in the media
1:54:08center and STEM lab with BCT flooring,
1:54:12including exploration of no wax options
1:54:16pending final review,
1:54:18instructional and programmatic
1:54:21investments. In parallel with these
1:54:23repairs, the district is making targeted
1:54:26investments to ensure Slater's facility
1:54:30support instructional improvement using
1:54:3321st century CTE funding and facility
1:54:37opportunity initiative.
1:54:40plans include library monitor
1:54:43modernization,
1:54:45steam space upgrades, the creation of
1:54:48CTE aligned exploration lab spaces, and
1:54:52alignment with Pucket high school career
1:54:54pathways. Together, these efforts
1:54:57reflect the district's commitment to
1:54:59maintaining safe facilities while
1:55:02ensuring Slater Middle School's learning
1:55:04environments directly support student
1:55:07opportunity and instructional growth.
1:55:11>> Yes.
1:55:14>> Just a question. What uh and with all
1:55:17due respect,
1:55:19why why are you giving school department
1:55:21updates? like shouldn't that be school
1:55:23department staff that's up here talking
1:55:25about those things because those things
1:55:28are
1:55:30are things that the school department
1:55:33has done. So I just want and
1:55:36>> of the facilities committee and I sit on
1:55:39the facilities committee and Mr. Wildenh
1:55:42is not here tonight.
1:55:43>> Oh got it. Okay. But uh and then my my
1:55:45next question is um
1:55:50here I'm concerned about the
1:55:52conversation we had about radon with was
1:55:54it Kerbin McCabe?
1:55:56>> No, it was sorry. Um
1:56:00>> so the the system has been installed all
1:56:03pieces and it's operable.
1:56:05>> But can
1:56:07has anybody raised concerns about the
1:56:09testing at Radon at Slater also? Because
1:56:12what what I'm hearing is from certain
1:56:14educators is that they feel that certain
1:56:18rooms are making them sick um with
1:56:22constant sinus uh infections.
1:56:25>> So you sent me an email about that and I
1:56:29forwarded I included Mr. buck on the
1:56:33list because I I'm not supposed to be
1:56:37privy to personal information of that
1:56:41nature and I asked you to reach out to
1:56:44Mr. Buck and provide him with that
1:56:47information so he could look into it
1:56:49further.
1:56:50>> So can but can we do uh the
1:56:54>> So we we test for radon every three
1:56:56years.
1:56:57>> Okay. So, it's a short test that they
1:57:00test and as long as it
1:57:06doesn't go over the 4% it's okay. If it
1:57:09goes over the 4% they have to do a long
1:57:12test which is 30 days. So then they
1:57:17which is under normal school conditions.
1:57:20It's not like when the school's all
1:57:22closed up. It's normal days. So they do
1:57:25a 30-day test and if it's over the 4%
1:57:30then we have to act on it. If it's under
1:57:33the four if it's 4% or under then it's
1:57:36okay by Rhode Island state law.
1:57:38>> Okay. All right. So here's what I'll
1:57:41here's what I'll here's my ask. So the
1:57:44those updates that we talked about
1:57:46what's happening at Slater. Can we get
1:57:48them as a committee in writing so that
1:57:50we know what's happening?
1:57:51>> Sure. And can we get a tour of Slater as
1:57:54they happen to make sure that they get
1:57:55done?
1:57:56>> Because this, you know, my concern is
1:57:59that
1:58:02my concern is that this is the first
1:58:04time in a year and a half that I've
1:58:06heard of anything being done at Slater.
1:58:08And so I want to make sure that it gets
1:58:10done and that we're making sure that
1:58:13we're holding that pro progress
1:58:14accountable. So, and then I'm going to
1:58:17request verbally that a Slater facility
1:58:20updates be on every workshop every
1:58:22workshop agenda going forward for and I
1:58:25I'll just I'll put in my calendar to
1:58:27send you a reminder, but I do I do want
1:58:30that on the agenda to make sure that
1:58:31we're keeping an eye on it.
1:58:33>> Okay.
1:58:34>> For clarification clarification
1:58:36>> for clarification of the minutes, you
1:58:38had two S. Can you repeat them so I can
1:58:40capture them? I apologize. one was to
1:58:43get a uh the the all the all the work
1:58:47that's going to be done in the timeline
1:58:49that Miss Banola read in writing from
1:58:51somebody from the district so that we so
1:58:53that we have an idea of that and it's in
1:58:55writing and then the other was to I want
1:58:59Slater uh Slater Middle School facility
1:59:01updates on the every workshop agenda
1:59:04going forward for the next couple of
1:59:06months.
1:59:14and and uh sorry, my I'll have another
1:59:18ask if that's okay. So, Miss Bonolo and
1:59:21Mr. Chalelle said that they knew about a
1:59:23resolution regarding Slater Middle
1:59:24School uh that you talked to the mayor
1:59:27about. Why uh you know, when I was in
1:59:30that seat, people kept accusing me of
1:59:32being a committee of one. And so I'm
1:59:35curious why that wasn't that information
1:59:36wasn't relayed to the rest of the school
1:59:38committee.
1:59:40>> The shal
1:59:42if I could address that one. One, I I
1:59:45stated it during the meeting. Uh Mr.
1:59:47Reyes, I get notifications of uh when
1:59:51the city council meetings happen in
1:59:53their agenda. And I just scroll through
1:59:55it just to make sure they my name's not
1:59:56on there. Maybe they want to see me for
1:59:58something. But in all seriousness, I saw
2:00:01resolution and I saw the name. I there's
2:00:04so you lawyers, you guys make a ton of
2:00:06money by lawyering these words up and
2:00:08but I saw the words Slater in it. I
2:00:10went, "Oo." So I read into it and I
2:00:12actually thought this was going to be
2:00:14associated with their resolution because
2:00:17I actually have a followup. I was going
2:00:18to besides defending myself on me
2:00:21knowing something that's a public form,
2:00:25a public uh paper and that's the agenda
2:00:27of the city council. That's the only
2:00:29reason why I found that's why I asked
2:00:30you did you talk to Terry? is this a
2:00:32something that's been in collaboration
2:00:34and you said no on the record. My ask
2:00:37during my time um is going to be I'm
2:00:42happy that the Mr. Reyes is asking for
2:00:44Slater Middle School to be on next
2:00:46agenda or any agendas going forward
2:00:48because I don't know enough about what
2:00:50that um uh resolution is asking to
2:00:55trigger. I know what it says, but what
2:00:57I'm saying is I think we should be
2:00:59holding hands with the city council
2:01:01asking for this because it helps us
2:01:03rebuild Slater. By what I'm seeing,
2:01:05they're asking we don't have 85% to fund
2:01:09to to front. We do possibly have the 15.
2:01:13We'll pay him back this way. Whoever
2:01:15came up with that, great job. If it's
2:01:18it's thinking outside the box to get
2:01:20Slater done. I don't know if you
2:01:22actually had conversations during your
2:01:23time. Um, Mr. Reyes, is this a byproduct
2:01:26of that? Um, I'm happy to see that the
2:01:30council leadership put this on their
2:01:32agenda. So, I was going to ask of us to
2:01:35send a letter of support, but only after
2:01:39their vote tomorrow night. So, I'm happy
2:01:40that this is going to be on there. And I
2:01:42on to that point
2:01:44>> I think we should send a letter of
2:01:45support but we should also get analysis
2:01:47an analysis of the debt service so that
2:01:49we understand which is ours and which is
2:01:52the cities so that we're not speaking
2:01:55out of turn and saying that we can't
2:01:57afford it because of school construction
2:01:59when there may not be school
2:02:00construction because I don't think I've
2:02:01ever seen a I don't think I've ever seen
2:02:03a document that that documents that
2:02:05because that that's really helpful in
2:02:09because basically what the resolution
2:02:10will say and there's a corresponding
2:02:12bill that will be at the state house. It
2:02:15will say that they want the the state to
2:02:17assume the debt because they'll get a
2:02:19cheaper interest rate. And so
2:02:25potentially
2:02:26uh that's something that I would like to
2:02:29understand a little bit better.
2:02:32My understanding that the ask of the
2:02:35general assembly is to front the money
2:02:38for rebuilding or refurbishing Slater,
2:02:42whichever it's supposed to be,
2:02:46and then and then we will pay
2:02:51whatever the difference is, the 15%. It
2:02:54may be because it's an impoverished
2:02:57area. So it may be more that it may be
2:03:02less for us. So like we get sometimes
2:03:0693, sometimes 81. So it'll be that
2:03:09percentage that the city would pay and
2:03:13not the full amount. They did it for
2:03:15Central Falls. So, they're asking if
2:03:19they're asking if they'll do it for a
2:03:20target.
2:03:22And the only reason I found out I found
2:03:24out yesterday.
2:03:26>> Well, I I think I think that's helpful
2:03:29information to know before meeting,
2:03:31especially because we were talking about
2:03:32redistricting and the Slater closure was
2:03:34on the agenda as one of the options. You
2:03:37know, uh those are things I think
2:03:40contextually that it's helpful to know.
2:03:43I'm surprised that the mayor didn't send
2:03:44us the resolution or the city council
2:03:46didn't. Uh, you know, since they were
2:03:48putting it on if they're asking for our
2:03:50support. I'm curious why, you know, I
2:03:53think it would have been helpful for
2:03:54them to send it to us so that we can say
2:03:57maybe we should do something similar
2:03:58instead of us find Mr. Shal looking at
2:04:01it through an alert and then asking us
2:04:03to do it. But I think that's real
2:04:04collaboration. But that's just me. I
2:04:06don't have any leadership skills, so who
2:04:08knows?
2:04:10>> Okay.
2:04:13Did we get all that?
2:04:15>> Half of it.
2:04:16>> Half of it.
2:04:16>> I'm being honest.
2:04:23>> We'll work on it.
2:04:25Okay.
2:04:27Right now, the school committee may go
2:04:29into executive session for discussion
2:04:32and or action pursuant to Rhode Island
2:04:34General Law 42464
2:04:37regarding those items of business exempt
2:04:40from open meetings under Rhode Island
2:04:42General Laws 42465
2:04:46one pursuant to 42465A1
2:04:50a discussion of job performance
2:04:52character or physical or mental or
2:04:56mental mental health of personnel
2:04:59consideration of superintendent contract
2:05:02and two pursuant to 42465
2:05:06A2 a matter pertaining to possible
2:05:09litigation
2:05:16session
2:05:17>> motion's been made is motion by Mr. Reus
2:05:22second by Miss Rosa.
2:05:24>> All in favor?
2:05:26>> Opposed.
2:05:29Okay, we shall return.
2:05:42James Shal,
2:05:44>> uh, Angel Rosa, Juan, Pablo Barrera,
2:05:47Joan Bonolo
2:05:48>> here.
2:05:49>> Were there many votes to report out?
2:05:52>> Yes, there was a discussion.
2:05:55Uh, there was a a motion that uh was
2:05:59made and
2:06:01seconded by um made by James Chal,
2:06:06seconded by Angel, and was unanimously
2:06:08approved. There was then a second motion
2:06:12um that was made by Juan Pablo Barrera
2:06:17and it was seconded by Angelis Rosa and
2:06:21that was unanimously approved. Um and
2:06:24then there was a motion made by Juan
2:06:28Pablo Barrera and seconded by Angelis
2:06:30Rosa and that was unanimously approved.
2:06:33Uh there was uh a motion to approve
2:06:35toile executive session m minutes made
2:06:38by James Shal, seconded by Juan Pablo
2:06:40Barrera, unanimously approved.
2:06:42Ajournment of the closed meeting. A
2:06:44motion made by Angel Rosa, seconded by
2:06:46James Shal, unanimously approved. And
2:06:48then to reconvene in school committee,
2:06:50open meeting in recess made by James
2:06:53Chal. Seconded by Juan Pablo Barrera.
2:06:58>> Motion to adjourn.
2:07:01>> Second.
2:07:02All in favor?
2:07:03>> I
2:07:069:39. Bye. Tell your wife to feel
2:07:08better.

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