City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire School Board, 14 Feb 2023

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2.14.2023 School Board

A

Okay good evening, everyone welcome to the february 14th meeting of the portsmouth school board.

B

um Welcome hope, everyone's enjoying valentine's day. Think of us all.

B

Slaving here at the school board meeting, while people are sobering.

B

Okay, let's have the roll call liz barrett here, pip clues here, lisa rappaport, here ann.

C

Walker here, margo peabody, here nancy clayberg, here, pope van epps, brian french, here carrie.

C

Nolte here daniel miles here, nick dahlin here, shall we all stand for the pledge of allegiance.

B

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to.

B

The republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

B

Okay, we have some announcements and recognitions. Does anyone have any before I.

B

I would just like to call our everyone's attention to our debate team at the portsmouth high school.

B

They're four members of our portsmouth high school debate team have qualified for the 2023.

B

National public forum debate tournament, which is in louisville, kentucky on memorial day weekend,.

B

Did you want to comment on that um yeah, so I unfortunately was not able to make it myself.

D

To the qualifier, but from what I from what I've seen and also just knowing the people involved, it.

D

Seems like it was a very, very tough fight and they actually they've done a ton of research leading up.

D

To this, so I'm I'm very impressed with all of them and I yeah, I think they deserve your recognition.

B

Fantastic, thank you [applause]. We also have two middle school students who are going to the honor.

B

Band, which is the new hampshire bda, I'm not sure what band director association or something anyway.

B

Okay, did I get that right? All right, two of our students from the middle school will be going.

B

There and then we have 10 students who, from the middle school, who will be going to the southeast.

B

District honor choir, so that's pretty impressive yeah, so we're excited and congratulations to them.

B

And then the last thing I have is um on sunday a saturday we had. I don't know how many students.

B

From fort smith, high school that jumped into the ocean and the frigid waters of the atlantic,.

B

Ocean to benefit new hampshire, special olympics and we those students I should, I don't- have the.

B

Number they raised almost twenty five thousand dollars for new hampshire wow and I must say the.

B

Next day, my son jumped into the frigid waters of the atlantic ocean for the 15th year in a row to.

B

Benefit new hampshire's special olympics, so it was an exciting weekend and fortunately, the weather.

B

Was gorgeous yes to do something like that? Well done! Okay. Does anyone else have anything zach do.

B

You have anything more just I just I think I've kind of mentioned before, but it's important to.

E

uh I just want to continue to thank the people at little harbor for their flexibility. As we you know,.

E

Have had to move classrooms and move offices and do a variety of different things around.

E

Down the pipes issue, the initial response of our of our teams was great, and but now even as we've.

E

Done that we still had to go through a period of time, where there's a lot of shuffling and things.

E

That needed to happen, we had you, know principals working at art rooms and um all that type of stuff.

E

So I just I don't want that. The the fact that they're able to run reasonably seamless operations.

E

In the midst of all those things happening, uh those don't it doesn't happen by mistake that.

E

Happens because a whole bunch of people come in on the weekends on there and um on their own time, to.

E

Make sure that we're up and running and operating uh without folks there's no moaning and groaning.

E

About well, this is, I thought this was going to be my time with my family and I can't come in like.

E

The job needs to get done, people come in, it gets done, we're up and we're up and running, and that.

E

Has happened over and over again, so I just want to be. um I wanted to just thank the crew over at.

E

uh Little harbor and uh the crew in maintenance and custodial once again for all their hard work.

B

Agenda is uh approval of one two, three four sets of minutes, so why don't we try to do.

B

These all in one motion, um unless people feel that one item should be pulled out.

B

I've moved to approved before. Okay do we have a second.

F

I'll second, okay, all the times that I was late on all four of the meetings. It was good perspective.

B

For me, thank you time keepers. I will do better. Is there any discussion on any of the pip.

G

um On the minutes from, I think, the only actual meeting that we had that wasn't just.

G

A work session um from the let's see the 20th january january 24th, oh january, 24th.

G

um There was a let's see, I'm trying to find the section in under old business um in our.

G

Discussion of the community communications plan, there was a motion that I made, which I think was.

G

Then modified by a suggestion from hope and then restated by margot, and then there was a lot of.

G

Discussion about the timeline and um and in the minutes it says that there was never a vote taken.

G

On that on that motion, but my understanding was that it was all, um and then there was another.

G

Motion listed in the minutes, but my understanding was that that all of that was one motion that.

G

That I made and then we added the deadline of when we wanted the information. And then we took.

G

The vote, so I don't know if others remember it that way or if uh maybe my memory is off.

G

But I was under the impression that was all one motion and then we voted on it. Not that.

G

There were two separate ones. I think I remember it that way. Yep that was my recollection as well.

H

Okay, so then, I would suggest that we just, I think we did set a deadline around it.

G

It's in there yeah the deadline is in there. I think if we just removed.

G

The um statement where it says vote never taken okay, um so we will take that out. I will just say.

E

um That my my understanding was, there was an intense amount of work done on that section of.

G

The minutes yeah, oh there was back and forth with um with the school attorney. There was re-watching.

E

Multiple times trying to figure out how to how to properly um reflect um that process, uh I think.

E

There was, there was a lot of tumult in trying to create a record of what the kind of process.

E

Was- and I think that was- and I think it's uh and again I wasn't, I didn't do it, but it's I think it.

E

Was it was, I think there was a spirit of what was trying to happen in the moment and then there's.

E

What's emotion, what's not emotion and when is it kind of an amendment to somebody's motion.

E

um And so my understanding is, there was a decent. I mean I just wanted to.

E

Paulette does a lot of hard work and I I think this was. It was an intense amount of work trying.

E

To reflect accurately what occurred in the moment, through multiple watchings of what occurred and.

E

Yeah she does, and I remember there was quite a bit of discussion about it yeah, but I think.

G

The intention was that that that discussion of the deadline was part of the whole motion.

B

Okay, so does everyone agree with that? Is there any? What meeting was this.

B

Does everyone agree with that change that pip wants to make okay? I hover, though, in the second.

F

Part as I'm looking at it yeah, I think it is too so it repeats the motion above it and then it says.

B

I guess I would just worry about if, if paulette put that and because it yeah, because under.

F

Margo's motion, it says, bring it back and move it forward. Motion on the floor that the template.

F

So I think to me this is accurate and I guess I would worry if paulette went back and forth with.

F

The school, the attorneys okay, well, it looks to me like there were two separate motions, uh one that.

G

Was never voted on and then one that was so, but what you're saying is it looks like it's the same.

G

That or I guess maybe is there a point uh sorry to enter up. No, it's all right. It's not clear who.

G

Made that motion, but I guess it was it- was margot restating the previous motion that had been that's.

B

That's how I look at it. That's how I'm looking at it. It was restated, but in the deadline was added.

G

So I guess my question is, then why does it say, vote never taken when we did yeah in fact take.

G

A vote if it is the same all of the same motion right right, why does it so that's why I think we.

B

Should take that out vote never taken um should come out. Do you agree with that? Pip mm-hmm, okay,.

B

Just does everyone else agree with that, so I'll say and just defense of um the person I rely on.

E

Most in the school district, um the uh just, I think this, I think the spirit I I totally agree with.

E

What the spirit of what you're saying! In terms of where the conclusion we drew uh was um and.

E

I'll just say, I think I have. I haven't gone back and looked at it exactly to kind of go through.

E

All the kind of machinations of what happened, um um but I I just wanted to say I I think she did.

E

Work really really hard and go through multiple go rounds to try to get this accurate to what.

E

Occurred so don't leave it at that, okay liz, um so I guess my interpretation of that would be that.

I

The minutes or the minutes or the minutes, and if we want that included into something.

I

um Take a vote on it right now or vote tonight, or have it being a separate.

I

Line in a agenda versus this, so, however, you want to pull it together. So you know to sort of add.

I

An amendment tonight to that I don't think, that's necessary, because the second motion.

B

That's in there that did get a vote basically says what the first motion that says vote not.

B

Taken says so I think we can leave it the way it is if everybody agrees and uh move forward.

J

Yes, so we just said that going forward, I think what would help paulette is when we make motions.

J

We need to write them down, pass them forward and restate the same motion that was written.

J

I think that was the what was happening there, but nothing was written down. So the.

J

Anyway, we'll just practice the art of writing our emotions.

H

We heard about it brought this up before, but the city council does put their emotions where.

K

Feasible in the packet in advance in writing so that everybody's on the same page. But I think.

H

With this we did no, no, I know in this state. I know in this case that was a particular situation, but.

K

I just think we might wish to revisit that in the future. That's a very good point. Thank you.

B

Okay is everyone in agreement? Can we approve these four sets of minutes all in favor.

B

Aye any opposed motion passes. Okay. The next item on the agenda is a public comment.

B

Session, do we have a motion to go into public comment? Do we have a second second.

B

All in favor aye aye- we have one um gentleman here to speak at public comment, david hudson david. You.

B

Have three minutes to speak before the school board? If you could give us your name and address.

B

um That would be wonderful sure. My name is david hudson. I live at 384 lake road in portsmouth.

L

Go ahead, fair enough! Thank you um sorry. My mistake. ah Okay, perfect! Thank you. So I have.

M

An adopted child, um it's three and a half years old, he's registered in the preschool program.

M

um I will say that you guys have some wonderful therapists in that program. I I just wanted to.

M

Number one say that to start off with, um he has a rare neurogenic disorder called mech p2.

M

Duplication syndrome and that syndrome has several develop like issues associated with it or symptoms.

M

Associated with it, development that delays, hypotonia gross and fine motor skills challenges.

M

One of them also is immune or compromised immune system, and I've been working with zach. Thank you.

M

Very much for all the help that you've given me to try and find a solution to have my child actually.

M

In a classroom, so we started with extended school year services. In june of 2022, we made the school.

M

Aware of the symptoms that were associated with this we've offered and sat down, and I won't name.

M

Names with the administration and said that we would actually purchase- and I just want to bring.

M

That up, based on today's conversation, that we would actually purchase a active purification.

M

System we were told at that particular time that there was a lot of money spent on hepa.

M

Filtration on updating hvac systems, and so we took a wait and see perspective and it didn't work out.

M

I will say that much we moved at one point, so I moved at one point to one-on-one therapies,.

M

Instead of our son being in a classroom, I'd love to see him in a classroom. I think we're almost.

M

There again, which is parade, I'm concerned, though, that he's missed 95 percent of school of school.

M

I think the school has the school district has a perspective on that. I have a different.

M

Perspective on why that is, I won't go into that he's missed 25 percent of his therapies as well.

M

And that's really impactful for somebody who has mac p2 right, especially with the gross motor.

M

Skills and and fine motor skills challenges that they have so they regress pretty quickly. We also.

M

Made the school district aware at the original time and we made made them re-aware in a meeting.

M

That we had in the superintendent's office that pulmonary infections and viruses are the number.

M

One killer for these kids and they don't live past 25 50 of them don't live past the age of 25.

M

I am asking this board to help me help you to find a long-term solution, so I'm working with.

M

The school district right now to actually find a short-term solution that mitigates the risk in.

M

Both his classroom and in the therapy room that he actually works in, I need a long-term solution.

M

My wife's name is jennifer friel. We have a long history in durham. We also have a.

M

Long history, with her father, actually who has passed but is a legend over at unh in terms.

M

Of basketball, coach we're not going anywhere right, we're planning on living our life out.

M

Here and so I'm looking for some help from you guys to find a long-term solution, some.

M

Lifestyle can attend school. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We appreciate you coming in.

B

Okay, next on the agenda, we oh we're going to I'm sorry: oh, are there any online public comments.

B

No, do we have a motion to close the public comment session so moved second, okay, all in favor, aye, okay,.

B

Thank you, marco. Next, we go to where I'm going, to ask for a motion to go down to consideration and.

B

Approval of the proposed fy 24 budget, which is going to move that up to the agenda at this point.

B

Do we have a motion to do that? Are we moving up we're moving the public here, we're going.

B

To move the public hearing after I pick up this presentation, what we had discussed is the the what.

E

We were concerned about is having the public hearing in advance of the opportunity for the.

E

Public to actually hear the presentation, so so um so I think the thought process was if we can slide.

E

Up the um the portion of what the board would hear the meat of that and then on the tail end of.

E

That have the opportunity to then open the public hearing at that point uh have have the opportunity.

E

For the public to engage with all the information that the board has heard of to that point and then.

E

um And then, if they're you know, then if there was or wasn't, if there wasn't the possibility.

E

Of a vote tonight, then it would be appropriate, but we didn't want to flip the public hearing and then.

E

Have people have the opportunity to speak, then then give new information. That was the concern so.

I

We had mentioned previously about being able to respond to public comment afterwards and.

I

I guess the only thing I like more of a parliamentary question would be.

I

um Whether there's a mechanism for a parent who would want to come to speak to the school board,.

I

Privately about a situation I mean, obviously we just heard a gentleman essentially offer a.

I

Donation to the school to upgrade a system, and so I guess I'm just wondering if there's a mechanism.

I

To have that contact, we don't respond to public comment. That's that's the modus operandi that.

B

We have, we don't respond to public comment. uh We haven't talked about like briefly at one point and.

I

I guess I just that's: maybe we could do that at a future agenda item, but we do not respond to public.

B

Comment yes, margo I'd like to make make a motion to move the consideration and approval of the.

J

Proposed fy24 budget section under old business of tonight's agenda to now. Second, all in favor.

B

Okay, exactly we'll hand it over to you so and I'm going to very quickly uh hand it over to.

E

Nathan, our goal is to walk you back through, what's kind of using the core of what we've talked to you.

E

About in the last budget session um kind of bring those update, those numbers based on what we felt.

E

What we felt was a clear consensus, at least that evening, in the room about where people felt most.

E

Comfortable, give you updated numbers a couple things that have also changed in terms of what.

E

We've received from the city-sided equation around a couple of things, have adjusted a little bit and.

E

Put you in a position to give you that that most up-to-date information so I'll hand it over to.

E

Nathan and I'll ask mr toby if he could uh kick the slide up for me and and then remind you that.

N

uh Everything that was just discussed really leads us back to. uh It was in the packet, the slideshow.

N

Was really not so much informational for you as it is informational for the public wanted to make.

N

Sure the public had that in the package so that they had the opportunity to understand what you.

N

Were deliberating on it's a summation of what we did uh at our last meeting, so man, if you give me.

N

The next slide, let me just let me just talk for a couple of minutes and then take any questions. You.

N

Have before we open the public hearing wanted to remind the public about the process. The process.

N

We've been through and again more for the public's consumption than for yours, the superintendent's.

N

Office offered guidance out to the school budget makers that includes the directors of departments.

N

As well as building principles, those folks worked to draft their proposals and brought them into the.

N

Central office team, one by one in 30, 45, 60, plus minute meetings, we reviewed all of their ideas.

N

And and the details of their their discretionary budgets, you know the line by line. We then compiled.

N

A continuing services budget, which we brought to the board so you'd have a sense out of the gate.

N

To continue level services, what we have now the people we have, the programs we run with collective.

N

Bargaining increases and the like. What does that look like for another year and then considered.

N

All of the feedback from the budget makers and brought a proposed budget which in this case was.

N

Different from the continuing services, you started with public hearing and began your deliberation.

N

In a series of workshops and ultimately, we seek the board's approval on the proposed budget and.

N

We'll then send that forward to the city manager and the finance office, the finance department and.

N

The city manager will compile that with police and fire and general government and will propose.

N

A full city budget to the city council that will come out in that very well done. Full color glossy.

N

Book that you'll see and it will be online in a very interactive pdf version and then the city.

N

Council in may will hold a series of hearings and workshops and will finalize the budget that.

N

Process normally ends by the first or second week of june. So that's just how we kind of get here and.

N

Where we're headed, so if matt will give me the next slide, let me walk you through the numbers.

N

Remind everybody that the continuing services budget, which is really an exercise to give a.

N

Sense of if we don't make changes, where do we land the continuing services budget included.

N

A health insurance increase or health insurance claims by a percentage, that's dictated by the.

N

10-Year rolling average of our of our health rates and we make our contribution to a health.

N

Stabilization fund and out of that, our bills are paid, so that was a 5.3 percent increase and it's.

N

About a four hundred and fifty thousand dollars, we did salary and wage adjustments to reflect.

N

Everybody that was here and what their collective bargaining agreements from the union contracts.

N

What they provided for them? We saw a savings uh because new hampshire, retirement's rates fell. We.

N

Made a correction to a couple of english language and arts teachers at the high school, whose ftes.

N

Had shown on the in the budget at 75, but they were really 83 the the money matched the 83, but.

N

The ftes had never been adjusted so to make our documents make more sense. We added that no cost.

N

uh 0.16 and then we had an elementary special ed case manager that had been added to the fold.

N

Coming out of the last cycle, because of the needs that we had in special ed at the elementary level.

N

And then we have bus contracts that grew our costs. We've talked in the past about our energy.

N

Increases electricity, rising 66 percent on the supply side and gas, rising 41 percent uh that.

N

Cost us a little over a quarter of a million dollars of new cost in this. In this budget and.

N

Then a special ed out of district placement costs and services. The reality is they're suffering.

N

Service providers, the placements that we that we use suffering some of the same challenges we are.

N

With staffing and the costs of human capital and those costs being passed on to us all in that's.

N

A 4.1 percent increase it added that 1.16 ftes, um the actual dollar amount of the budget may be.

N

Irrelevant right now, but that's we actually went through that exercise. First, in the next slide, matt.

N

uh Please, thank you, sir. The proposed changes now include, uh and only if you've been here.

N

Or watched the tape uh option, 3b 3.5 the middle ground, I've been I've incorporated. All of that.

N

And can say this then about the proposed budget as it stands in the aggregate.

N

We had a small increase in extended school year. That's the identified students in the special ed.

N

Realm continuing their their programming through the summer time, the extended school year and some.

N

Adaptive services costs we've added a couple of extracurricular stipends, there's one there for.

N

The national technical honor society and our cte program and the bass fishing sport, which.

N

Is nhia approved and, and we had missed that in um in our budget process, I have missed that. Thank you.

N

um We added uh we reduced, we had a vacant vacant halftime position at the central.

N

Office that we reduced, we made a reduction in a in a teaching position at little harbor.

N

And then we've shifted four ftes out of esser, where we're funding their counselor at the middle.

N

School and a math tutor at the middle school, a social worker who has done a lot of work at the.

N

At the middle school, but has also reached out and done supportive work, both up and down the.

N

Grade levels and an interventionist in math at the high school, those four positions are here and then.

N

The other piece that you hadn't heard all of what we just talked about brought us to. I think.

N

A number that looked like 4.88 percent when we were talking a week ago, the city uh passed me.

N

An adjustment to our workers comp projection the city's a little bit behind us, and so as.

N

Well, as general government decided to work on the bills and the projections we actually get.

N

Our workers come from them and when they handed me our share of next year, it was 14 857 bucks.

N

Higher than what I had plugged in- and I uh I think that's a we can talk about that- another.

N

Time, there's definitely some consumption uh utilization costs that have driven because.

N

Of some of the slips and falls and other things that have the fallen, our staff, but I also think.

N

That a fair chunk of that was just premium rate hikes where the workers comp pool is suffering.

N

Some of the same challenges we are everywhere so so I adjusted for that and then all of the.

N

All of the district operating challenges that we tried to address with cost inflations added.

N

Up to about 6000 dollars, which was really not a huge increase, when you consider that the last.

N

Couple of cycles we've cut hundreds of thousands out of the stuff that we use in our buildings, so.

N

We put back about 60 of it all of that leads us uh matt. If you want to hit the next screen all that.

N

Leads us to a summary, a proposed budget right now that felt like we were getting there when we were.

N

Meeting last time it's 60 869 335 dollars. That's the general fund budget. It represents an increase.

N

Of 2.8 million uh I broke down the salaries, benefits and operating costs, and we were in.

N

The continuing services we'd identified, 1.16 of increase, we had a reduction of 1.5 positions and.

N

Then an increase again of the shift from esser of four positions, so we have a net fte increase of.

N

3.66 three and two thirds and all in it is a 4.9 projected increase over the prior year. Fiscal 23.

N

So again, more for the consumption of folks at home uh in your packet. I would remind you that the pink.

N

Sheet this time, the very pink sheet. So if you need to make sure it's approach to see that from space.

N

um The pink sheet and then the summary that follows I wanted you to have those to be able to.

N

Put all of these in your board binder your budget binder for posterity, if not for reference.

N

That's what those are, and they all support and defend the same numbers, explain the same numbers.

N

That I just kind of went through but and that's it you know, I think matt you can. The last slide just.

N

Asking their questions, that's just for me, but um I would ask if you folks have any questions.

N

Before and you don't have to make this decision in this moment, I, the idea is, if you have any.

N

Questions we could follow up on those and then we'd open up the public hearing again collect.

N

Any feedback from your public and then you can decide what you want to do next to your budget.

B

Thank you, nathan. Do we have any questions for nathan and back.

N

Okay, it is where you were last week, so I mean it just. I said I would clean it up for you and that's what we've done.

B

Summary spreadsheet you did the three items: yeah. Okay, all right. Your homework is to get.

N

Those new binder okay, so we will open reopen the um uh public comment regarding the budget.

B

We open the public hearing on fy 24 budget.

B

To do that, okay! Is there anybody that would like to speak on the fy 24 school budget.

B

Do we have anyone online that would like to speak about the fy 24 school budget.

B

Okay, thank you very much. I guess the next item is a motion to approve the budget.

N

Why don't you close your public hearing? Okay, we will close the public hearing normally and then.

N

Let me just say before you take a vote um again, I remind you of the process. This is the school.

N

Board's um adopted vision and it will be, it will be forwarded to the city manager's office, and it.

N

Will be added to a final city budget proposal that will be before the city council somewhere.

N

In writing. End of april 1st of may, I believe right now the hearings that we anticipate participating.

N

In are in the in the teens of may in the 12 to 17th of may time frame. Those are all our all-day.

E

Marathon, I think monday, the 15th mondays is our all day, which each department is expected right.

N

Now this is something something harkens of days of old. I guess where they used to do long, saturdays,.

N

That's what you said: nancy yeah saturday. Now it's they're talking it's council's wanting to do that.

N

On monday and I'm pretty sure it's monday may 15th, each department will come and have its.

N

Time in front of the public and the board of the council, but there are some other hearings in that.

N

Process as well, all of that is encapsulated and listed on the city's website. uh You can follow.

N

The click to the city finance office and you can find the timelines and we will certainly continue.

N

To remind you about the city's process, so I just wanted people might be watching this later make.

N

Sure they catch that so back to you, sorry, okay, so the motion would be that the school board approves.

B

The fy 24 budget of 60 million 869. 60 million 869 335 dollars correct, which reflects a 4.9 zero.

B

Percent increase over last gf and an increase of 3.66 ftes and an increase of 2 million eight.

B

Hundred and forty three dollars 2843 877. Okay, does everybody have that on the sheet here so.

B

You know what I'm talking about, I kind of screwed that up okay, do we do we have a lotion? Second,.

K

We have a second percentage in correctly 4.90. You said: oh nine, oh okay, 4.90 increase! Thank you. Okay,.

B

Brian did it for us: do we have a second second, okay and all in favor? Oh, do we have any discussion.

B

All in favor aye any opposed motion passes. Thank you. Everyone. Thank you very much. Fy 24 budget.

B

Reflecting a 4.90 increase, thank you. Okay. We will move back up to the agenda.

B

um Where we have a presentation of social media data, so this is not meant to be. uh We were talking.

E

About presentations the other day and um and about whether or not what we want to do with.

E

Presentations kind of period and whether or not cycling back through principles was the.

E

Appropriate way to go, and one of the things I had offered is that in uh in my previous district, we.

E

Used to alternate between program presentations and giving the board presentations that would.

E

Give additional information that would reveal kind of what's happening in the school district.

E

A little bit and one of the ways in which we did that was we identified certain data points.

E

And that might be something like looking at uh spending a night taking 15 minutes.

E

To look at free and reduced lunch populations inside the school district for those how many.

E

Students are there: how do we, how do what is that statistic? How does it, how do you come to it.

E

um What does he, what does it look like compared to communities surrounding us? What are the impact.

E

On programming and we'd spend it it would, they would be quick, hitter, informational opportunities.

E

For the board, so um then that would just be one example so tonight I just want to come back to.

E

um As a starter, for that come back to some of the data, I had left as a hand carry one.

E

Meeting and added a few other pieces just to look very briefly at some of our social media.

E

Information as a district and so I'll take you through that and I'll have matt share the slides.

E

There's a couple of additional pieces from what we shared in the packet that are on there and.

E

It's not meant to be a super long conversation. A lot of this stuff will come out as we get into the.

E

um March 14th meeting as we move into the community the communication plan and.

E

We and we start doing that work. A lot of this stuff will continue to come back to.

E

um But I wanted to at least give you a snapshot so matt give me the next slide.

E

So so some of this stuff- you already have in your um in your packet and actually let me get myself.

E

um This information is this was pretty recent information on looking at who our.

E

Facebook and instagram, um you know the number of followers we have on facebook and instagram.

E

um At the moment- and let me just open up my slide deck here- if I apologies.

E

um So um so at the you know at the moment you know we're we're. um You know having uh 1300.

E

um Followers you know is, is not a huge um uh group of folks to follow a district of.

E

This size I mean it's, you know it's nice to have people who are checking.

E

um Who have decided they're going to go ahead and follow, um follow our site, um but the the.

E

Other thing, that's interesting is just really quickly. Some of the things you can see is that.

E

We don't have a lot of people who are exclusive uh instagram folk. We have a lot of exclusive facebook.

E

Folk, so you know for reasons that you know I don't I don't fully haven't diagnosed yet we.

E

We do have a following on facebook, but not so much on instagram matt. If you can move ahead.

E

And then, as you get into this, I think um I'll, um hopefully margo looked at this information.

E

The other night- and I think said, oh we've so we've got we've got moms is what we've got.

E

um And you know, I think that this this particular kind of breakout when you start getting into the.

E

Gender, you take that group of people and you start looking at okay amongst those 1300 unique.

E

Users, what do we, what are we looking at and what we're looking at is primarily um you know, females.

E

Between the ages of 35 and 54 is who is looking at our you know, looking at um our social media in.

E

At least these two platforms- um that's that's who our audience is um and if you can move ahead, map.

E

um This is, this is a slide that I don't have and I apologize that it's a little bit distant.

E

And I know we talked about this, the other night and I apologize. I don't have a printed version.

E

This is from some of our youtube analytics, so this is um one of the last youtube videos.

E

um I had done around the um it's around martin luther king uh junior uh day, and it gives us.

E

Again, another snapshot of like how many people are actually viewing the material. So you know in this.

E

Particular this is not the highest watch, one um of all time it goes up and down, depending on what.

E

um What catches, how talk about how this works, but but this is a 212 views um from folks the.

E

um And um you get the number of watch time and the number of subscribers that we picked up as a result. um Matt go ahead, one more.

I

The message is.

E

Yeah and I don't think I'll go through in a second, I don't think I clipped that part.

E

You could you can see what you can see is, on average, so of the 212 people. You also get a.

E

Line graph, where it's like here at at 212 people, clicked it and opened it and started watching.

E

um How many people dropped off five seconds in how many people dropped off 30 seconds in, like you, can.

E

See where it like tails off and um and what's you know what the thing you know, this should not be.

E

Surprising any of us, you know you hold people, you got people for 30 seconds if you're lucky.

E

um And uh and then some and then some will hold on, but you lose, you know you lose a third a.

E

Third of your people drop off 20 30 seconds in, and so you got to make sure those first 20 30.

E

Seconds are going to hold people's attention and you gotta and there's this balance of.

E

Of trying to use that platform to give off give out information.

E

um And how much you can do in 30 seconds uh versus um versus how many people you want to click your.

E

Stuff, you know, and that's this is on the parents platform, so so this is. This is the other thing.

E

I'll come to this in a minute too, which is really interesting, which is when, um although.

E

Not consistently but pretty consistently when I've created those videos, it's going out in a couple.

E

Different ways it's on it lives in youtube, that's where it's being created. So what is this from.

I

Youtube, so this is youtube analytics right here: okay, it lives in youtube. Initially, it's then being.

E

I'll go really quickly through the process, so I create something in youtube and then.

E

um Well, I create something I edit it in in um um I edit it on my on my desktop that I send it out to.

E

um This company called rev.com, who does all the captioning. So we do the captioning stuff, because.

E

We're trying to make sure that we're ada compliant we're equitable in the way in which we're thinking.

E

About our audience and all that type of good stuff and then so, I've got the captioning which is not.

E

The auto captioning done by youtube, which is not as good but we're paying people actually.

E

Do the captioning and that also the same group, does the um does the transcript with all my ooms.

E

And oz, and whatever it's just like here's, what it is that gets pasted into the parent square.

E

um Stuff, so when that's done it gets burned back up into youtube. Then I go to parent square. Then I.

E

um Then I paste it into pair square that I I put the the link in with the video image there. So it's.

E

So it's more people are more likely to click on. It then paste in the transcript with the information.

E

About captioning and how the captioning works so there's a little bit of a process to kind of.

E

Get it all up there and flow, but anyways this is. This part, is from the actual native youtube.

E

um Stuff, so can you see who clips? So this is good, so so what you can see it depends later.

B

Please so we can see what well I can and I'll go with something about. How do people get here.

E

Because I also the other thing I was going to say is so this gets posted parent square. Then.

E

Usually, in most cases, I think this is one time where I haven't that I'm also pasting it to the.

E

um The same video to the district's facebook page at the same time, so it's going out to multiple.

E

Channels simultaneously, and this helps to see like who's getting to it from where so, if you go ahead.

E

um That again, so here's this helps the answer. Some of your questions, liz, it's.

E

Not exactly what your question is, but in terms of how are people getting to this to the video.

E

You know 84 of the other people are parent square, all right and our adults in parent.

E

Square because you got the students are, in my you know, my student squared, um so the vast majority.

E

You know vast majority of people are getting it through parent square still not through facebook.

E

Where it's only 4.5 percent youtube, I've been picking up a few followers along the way. So my.

E

Loyal whatever it is 16 to 20, whatever people um who get the stuff when it gets posted via youtube.

E

um That's a small group in in terms of this particular video, that's where they came in from.

E

um As opposed to coming in through uh these other places first, but it gives you an idea that parent.

E

Square is a good in terms of the video stuff. Parent squares is a good driver of people to.

E

The content uh matt go ahead, a couple quick ones here and then these are small and I apologize.

E

um I'll, just just the upper um the upper one is um it's 98. It's basically like 98 to two percent.

E

It's uh how many of these are from people who are subscribed to your channel so most.

E

Of the vast majority of people are non-subscribed people to the youtube channel. um How many people.

E

Are utilizing next, one is on subtitles, how many people are utilizing subtitles or not utilizing.

E

Subtitles, so you got 95 of people, not utilizing subtitles, but there are five percent who are.

E

um Who are so? There is an audience who wants the the subtitle utilization? This is again small and.

E

I'll print, I can send out print copies to the board for these couple of slides that were extra.

E

um This other this is the bottom, is a timeline at the bottom. It's got a timeline of dates. The.

E

Spike is when the video went out and there's two different things. The purple line is uh returning.

E

Viewers people who have who have um who have viewed before and the blue is new viewership.

E

um So you also get to see like okay, so what's who's who's taking a peek? How often are we.

E

Bringing in new people what is it also, as you look at each set of posts, you get to see what.

E

Is bringing in new people um and what is just hitting the same folks so um matt, if you had so.

E

There's a lot there's a lot more. You can get into in terms of what's going on inside of inside of.

E

These different platforms- and I just I would just say that in a lot in a very in a smaller district.

E

We were, you know we had. Instead of 1300 followers, we had 2 500 followers uh on our site and we.

E

Started, that's we didn't have um when I entered the superintendency, we didn't have a facebook page.

E

um So we had to kind of build it from the ground up and if you move ahead matt it would be.

E

Helpful. Thank you one of the things we did and it was, as we were, having some success with it. We also.

E

Got a little it became uncomfortable at one point um is not only were we developing content and then.

E

Just putting it out there for folks, but we were using paid targeted ads for particular groups of.

E

People in order to build our um fallership so when I say that it I know that the people that we have.

E

The moms we're gonna get on and they were gonna see what was happening and particularly that was.

E

Going to be true, if we were generating content of their kids doing things uh on a regular basis and.

E

uh That was going to be true, but there are a whole bunch of other people that we also wanted to have.

E

um An idea of what the day-to-day life in the school district was because one of the things.

E

We found and we thought was really problematic, was everybody went to school and everybody pretty much.

E

Thinks schools exactly what it was when they were in school, which is not the case and so.

E

How do we open, how do we kind of open the window a little bit for people to see what does school.

E

Look like now and um and what are all the amazing things that are going on in schools, because we've.

E

Been in an environment for two, you know we're on two decades now, where it's all test scores are.

E

Failing you know what are schools not doing for you? um That's been the kind of political, social.

E

Environment in which we cultural environment, in which we've been in, so how do we open up the.

E

Window, so people have an opportunity to see that stuff. So one of the things we would do in terms of.

E

Paid targeted ads is, we would if we had something on. um Let's say, students were doing an engineering.

E

Projects in the fifth grade we would target in the community through facebook. Give me people within.

E

A 10 mile radius of this particular zip code, who are interested in schools or engineering.

E

Or like whatever, and we would send that out so it would, it would come into their feeds and it.

E

Wasn't super expensive, but it was. It might run us on a particular depending on how big an audience.

E

We were trying to target uh and um how many days we were trying to do it generally, we always ran at.

E

Least a three-day ad when we were doing it um it you know we, it could be anywhere from 25 bucks to.

E

100 bucks to run a particular to run a particular thing, but it would get it out to a particular.

E

Audience and what we would see is things could catch fire because those people in turn could then.

E

Share out to other folks see, are you seeing this cool thing? That's happening inside of this place.

E

And it could be people who don't have kids in the school district. It could be people who were in.

E

um Who are in the business community very a lot of cases? It got into alumni, started to become a.

E

Bigger factor in what was happening uh in terms of our social media presence uh and um and then.

E

uh And then just broader, even within the state, uh it started to get people started to kind of push.

E

Out and we would and then sometimes depending on the issue, we might even target particular parts.

E

Of the state not around our zip code, to see to where we thought people might have an interest.

E

um In addition to the the the paid work, uh we also did a lot of work around kind of unifying.

E

Our messaging uh and having a coordinated approach that it wasn't balkanized, it wasn't.

E

A bunch of individual people all off on their own doing their own thing. We had an overall kind of.

E

Thought process about what we were trying to um what we were trying to put forward to the.

E

Community, um how we designed our posts, uh what types of you know how we always wanted an image.

E

We had conversations and trainings around what types of images we wanted to. We wanted to have.

E

In our post uh and then what type of language and how much language was too much language, and so we.

E

Worked through all those types of things, and then we tried to um you know, try to work on a cadence.

E

Through our messaging, so there was a certain frequency. People could count on when things.

E

Were going to come out from which platforms when um and um and we were, uh people became.

E

um Our public became very much understood what platforms we were using for for what and that.

E

Didn't change as you moved across schools, it didn't flip like it was consistent. You knew.

E

What twitter was going to be used for at schools and if you moved from one school to the next, it.

E

Didn't change on you like twitter was a consistent thing. You knew what it was for. You knew what was.

E

Going to be there if it was instagram, you knew what instagram was going to use be used for what.

E

It wasn't going to be used for and as a parent and what was great about that is as a parent. You.

E

Didn't have to get like retrained, you already knew you knew what the deal was. You knew how this stuff.

E

Worked so um so we really focused on that, like not having to retrain our stakeholders um that.

E

Was ahead, so how do we do that and we we were very specific about? We went from a period of time where.

E

The district had kind of who kind of feels like doing some content creation. You're you you're. It.

E

um And instead we we identified content creators, uh we paid contract creators. These are in-house.

E

People who are doing other work anyways, uh we trained those folks, we paid them. We monitored the.

E

Work uh on a regular basis, we talked all the time constantly. What we were saying is we were. We are.

E

Working on telling a story to our public, about who we are, what we're, what we are adding to kids lives.

E

And what we are collectively adding to uh to, in our case the community of springfield as a whole.

E

um And we were constantly reminding us stakeholders, I mean we're trying to push.

E

Back on the fact that it's like school- yes, it is important what standardized test scores say also.

E

There's a there's amazing things beyond those numbers that are happening within.

E

Schools on a regular basis that are super important to kids, families and communities.

E

um We the way in which we ended up doing a lot of this stuff because we tried to do it.

E

Independently, with just coordinating meetings with folks was eventually we we landed on this.

E

Tool called buffer that slide me ahead. Buffer is uh this is not the best it's hard to really show.

E

You graphically this is one example. It doesn't really help you very much. Basically, buffer allows.

E

You to take all your different social media platforms, integrate them under one kind of.

E

Umbrella and coordinate it all within buffer as umbrella, and so what you can do is you can.

E

Schedule- and this is one of the cooler features- there's a lot of nice parts to this and great.

E

Analytics built into it, but what it allowed us to do as teams is if patty was working at little.

E

Harbor and patty was my content creator. I could give her access to the twitter at little harbor.

E

The um the district facebook page, the instagram at little harbor.

E

um But she wouldn't have access to the other buildings, but she could see what the other.

E

Buildings were doing and if brian was working at um dondero same thing at dondero and then what.

E

We could do is all these folks could collaborate through um through the platform to make sure we.

E

Weren't doubling up on times when are things going out, you're not getting two messages at the same.

E

Time, there's a pace to it, there's a consistency and we're already always targeting two times a day.

E

um We we would avoid the weekends research says: the weekends are not as good a time.

E

So we were monday through friday. Primarily we were looking at a nine o'clock release and a 12.

E

O'clock, release and it would be pretty regimented and those are the slots that were available to.

E

Content creators and they knew they had to have at least one piece of content on a weekly basis.

E

That was going to go up and they had to like stand in line with other people in order to.

E

um In order to have it all set matt, if you go ahead, uh not a great, not a great slide I'll.

E

Just tell again I'll just say: there's a lot of really good, in-depth analytics available.

E

Through the platform, instead of having to mine it through all the different social.

E

Media platforms buffer would allow you to do it all through one place, keep going back.

E

um I'm gonna whip through this and then I can provide in the future.

E

um This to the to the board in a paper form, we have a we've, got a spreadsheet of this that we.

E

Developed as a leadership team, just to kind of do an inventory of of what we're looking at and.

E

We went through and we identified, you know in the district. What are the the platforms? The.

E

Name of the pages, the the: uh where do you find them who manages the pages? What's the frequency.

E

What is pre-screened if it's connected with the building by a principal and what is not um and.

E

We went through and kind of did an inventory of all this stuff. I will go really quickly through.

E

These slides, you have them in your packet. um These are the couple I did include parent.

E

Square, you could argue pair square is not really a social media thing it's different, but I'll. We.

E

Included parent square just for the purposes of thinking about that as a we'll call it a cousin.

E

um Of uh of social media um and if you push matt to the next one, so by the time you get.

E

This and arrow you're into six different you're into six different ways in which we're trying to.

E

Communicate with folks, um some of which, um all of which I think are filtering through.

E

The principle uh at some point for some type of you know: okay, um but that's a lot of different.

E

That's a lot of different channels for people to try to monitor and be on top of keep going matt.

E

So fort new franklin um again we're we got some twitter and some of these some of these are.

E

Ones that kind of sort of used to have a life but have kind of kind of tailed off over time.

E

um And um and have not been officially declared dead yet, but are on on life, support.

E

um uh If you can move ahead, um portsmouth middle has got the two channels. I know.

E

You guys have talked a lot about about what you know what you like about communication and that.

E

Hasn't necessarily been explicitly mentioned before, um but it's just the two channels just.

E

uh Parent square and yeah, of course, with high school uh and the cte, so you've got a you know.

E

A variety of different um different things there as well, and then that you can move ahead. One more.

E

And this is not the best stuff, um but I will tell you that in the communications committees talk.

E

About this and the work they've done, one of the challenges around parent square is is around it.

E

Is based on the fact it does not have the same robust analytical ability that some of the other.

E

Platforms, I was showing you have, uh it does not give you the same ability to uh to know in detail.

E

um Who's clicking what, when um and, uh and so that is, that is a challenge, as it said before,.

E

Our goal for the remainder of the year is try to maximize parent square to you know, to see.

E

What we can squeeze out of it and then make judgments coming out of the the end of that.

E

Maximization so anyways, that's a it's a whole bunch of stuff to be thrown at you, um but.

E

But I'm having to take any any quick questions again, it's more about just giving you a peek.

E

Behind the curtain than it is to talk about any specific strategies other than the couple image.

B

Do we have any questions? Thank you, zach. Do we have any questions for zach lisa.

H

um Well, first of all not a question, but this is really helpful to see as an overview and I think.

K

The more you dig into- and this may be in your admin spreadsheet already, but there are just like.

K

Dozens of different accounts all over the place like if you have a kid in band, there's a special.

K

Portsmouth band facebook page that you have to follow. If you want to know like at the last minute.

K

When things are happening, there's a bunch of stuff like that yeah, so I think it's really helpful to.

K

Know that you're starting to get your arms around that, so that it's easier for people to find.

K

um The one thing that I am curious about is what you're thinking about at this stage in terms of.

K

Trying to get more crosstalk between some of these different things that are happening, because you.

K

Can't shut them down overnight, like there's a lot of membership and devotion on some of.

K

These channels, like I'm biased, I met around the little harbor uh pta. You know facebook page and.

O

Website which is not in there. Thank you very much. No, but I mean people are really used to going to.

K

Certain places for certain things and, if you're trying to unify it as a district like is that so.

E

This is the challenge right, so you got so that so, when you're, in a period when you've gone through a.

E

Period where it's just kind of like I I like I can see internally outside of the pta um situation, but.

E

Even in the internal stuff, where there's uh there are these specific to certain niche kind of areas.

E

Where it's like, hey boss, I think I might create a facebook page for people to follow, so they can.

E

Have a better idea what's going on? Well, you know four years ago, five years ago, ten years ago, it.

E

Was like that sounds like a neat innovative way to keep people in the flow of information. That's cool.

E

um And I think, what's I think what will be challenging? I'm glad you said because I was.

E

Going to say once whatever your question is going to be, my next thing is going to be the challenge.

E

Is going to be there's a cultural component to this that people have have already established.

E

Their culture around their channels that they like uh and um and so and I know this is what.

E

I talked to administrators about anything when we talk about the need to unify some of our practice.

E

Everybody's on board, with unification of practice, whether it's around curriculum communication, all.

E

That other stuff, as long as unification means the other guy, is going to change what they're doing.

E

To do what I'm doing, right and and the challenge is going to be, and there is in.

E

Some of that unification there is some guard railing around some of the unlimited freedom.

E

That was available before to do it. The way you want, however, you want whenever you want.

E

um You know, um and so so that will be a challenge and it's not just because of the nature of kind of.

E

Here, which is great, there are groups who are not pta pto, but also there's other.

E

Groups who are kind of like we'll call lightly affiliated with schools they're, not my employees,.

E

So but they're also filling up the bandwidth that our stakeholders have to absorb information about.

E

Us at the same time- uh and they may or may not be information that we're screening in every form.

E

uh And so that is going to be a challenge, and I I don't have an immediate answer for you other than.

E

You know my goal is to sit down with all those different folks and start having this dialogue.

E

About like, how are we being, you know, more uh thoughtful about what we're putting out not.

E

Because people are doing a bad job, but because the people who are receiving this from us have.

E

Limited bandwidth to to receive it and so and if we, if and if it's a finite resource, then we have.

E

To start making a different set of choices about how we deliver content to people yeah, so there's.

K

Two things, I would say, like people, have had really positive feedback that I've heard from.

K

A lot of places around the district about the ability of parent square posts to go out on.

K

Social media, because that wasn't always the case, so it is much easier for those videos to get out.

K

There into the world so that extra people can see them and I think that has helped people.

K

Who don't always notice parent square right to be like? Oh there's, a video, you know right and.

K

They should know it's in parent square and the other thing I do think that people are wanting.

K

To try to preserve that's not in parent square is the ability to have some of those connections.

K

Yeah, you know like just one example that I thought was so touching is like new franklin. Does this.

K

Great project, you know around kindness day and then don darrow supposed to be like. Oh look, this.

K

Is so cool? Look what new franklin did for us and I think, having that organic community connection.

K

That does happen between all those groups is not preserved in parent square in a great way.

K

Right and that's just one thing where I think it would be cool to figure out how to do that.

E

I think for me, the the one of connected with that and I think, there's a conversation to be had with.

E

The city is when I look at powerful solutions, the the trend right now in terms of the stuff, I think.

E

That works really well is that you have seamlessly integrated web. You know website, slash social media.

E

Stuff, where it's not like they're, not add-ons, those things are like totally integrated they're.

E

Not you're buying a secondary product, you have one product and it all works together, seamlessly.

E

um And at the same time, I'm also very I'm very conscious of um trying to make sure that you know.

E

We figure out how that's, how that would work or not work with the city and what we're doing with.

E

The city at the same time, so so I you know, I think I think I've said before in writing- someplace that.

E

You know my goal this year is maximize what we're doing on squeeze everything we can squeeze out of.

E

Parents square squeeze everything we can, you know fix whatever we can fix on the website around.

E

What's there in an existing way and then come to conclusions based on okay, this is maximization, so.

E

Is this good enough, um or do we do because those because those transitions to to new platforms.

E

um To you know to move to a more more seamless solution, those require a lot of training, a lot.

E

Of movement of content, you know sometimes sometimes companies can help us do that.

E

um So we don't have to do it all on our own, but it's a lot of work and to wear a lot of.

E

Cash on the front side to maybe do it, I think danielle has a question. Thank you. I just had a.

P

Quick thought on that and I was um reflecting on the systems piece of it and thinking about.

P

um Phs clippers has it's the basketball team. Instagram has a an amazing group of parents.

P

Who are essentially writing it and and it's phenomenal and I I started taking photographs.

P

And so I started working with this mom who was looking for photographs putting together these.

P

Advertisements in in a very professional way to notify our student body that there were upcoming.

P

Games and it has worked phenomenally, but it looks at I I guess I bring it up because it's.

P

How do we solidify this into a more sustainable system right? This just happened to work out that.

P

There's this mom with this talent. I have a camera I'm there now, because I have these children and.

P

Then, actually, the yearbook ended up grabbing this folder that I was just sharing out to the students.

P

But it was this weird, like I'm putting my mom hat on taking pictures of kids, because I'm a mom.

P

But do I have permission as a teacher to share it across it just felt a little funky, but what works.

P

Is that it's getting the message out to the kids on their platforms that it's across insta and then.

P

The other kids were taking it and throwing it out and putting it on snapchat and all of these other.

P

Things, but what part do you allow the cultural wave to just take it and let non-districty people.

P

Take this on versus: how can we tag on and say this is really working? What can we get in place so that.

P

This stays so that when these kids graduate out and this set of parents go that we can sustain.

P

That same success yeah I mean and there's a bunch of layers to that, like so sort of like the so.

E

When it comes to our stuff, if we're going to put something out on any any platform, people have the.

E

Ability to say you know, I don't want to immediate release my I don't want my kids image out there.

E

Right so for us we're gonna, we have to go through a process to make sure. Oh and you know, and we used.

E

To do this, we would go through and usually it's a limited number of students, um but we would have.

E

Like, oh, it's the best shot of all time and it's like you, know, jamie johnson's in it it's out. We.

E

Can't use it can't use jamie johnson stuff, so uh so we'll use our a lesser image. But if we have a.

E

Third party: that's not the school district, but you get it's phs clippers. So it sounds like us.

E

Right I mean so uh and now we're pushing out images and they've got three to four hundred.

P

Followers just for the boys, basketball, team, right and so looking at what is it? That's successful.

P

About it, we've got the kids, we've got their work, but now, looking at this other purpose of we want.

P

To drive our message of us being an innovative school to try and grab in these outside audiences.

P

It's well, how do we let our super challenge right and it's in it's and and the sustainability of.

E

It, though too, so it's not like wow. We had that amazing year, where you were taking photographs.

E

And there was this other mom who's tech savvy and really into this, and like totally did it and then.

E

um And then it just kind of then it suffered for a few years after that, because you know.

E

Other people came in, it wasn't originally with a lot of this stuff, like they weren't the founding.

E

Kind of members of doing it, they kind of tried to take over somebody else's thing kind of sort of.

E

Works, you know so I mean those are the challenges and it's like so when you, when you start to try.

E

To bring in the guardrails you limit creativity and at the same time then, but then you create.

E

Some more quality control over what we're doing and what we're not so I mean that's.

E

The thing I think that's a it is a very hard discussion for sure any other questions hip liz.

G

um I wanted to echo at least a sentiment that I think this is really helpful to see and I'm.

G

um I'm really glad that you're starting to look at all the like look in detail at all the ways.

G

That we do communicate and it's exciting to think about how that might come together and.

G

um And how we're going to be able to make some progress on this front.

G

um I just wanted to suggest- and maybe maybe you said this already, but I missed it- that we.

G

Maybe have a list of all of these channels, not every channel but like specifically, the accounts.

G

Somewhere, where people can see them, because I think that there is a lot of information.

G

Out there that we're a lot of people don't see unless they have a particular connection to the.

G

Particular thing, then they don't get alerted to it, and I know you alluded to that a little bit from.

G

Your past experience in doing that, and I think that, but just even having a list of those things.

G

Would be great because you know if I'm interested in a particular area of something I might just you.

G

Know connect to that thing, but I think so many people don't know about them unless they have a.

G

Kid who's doing that particular thing, so it would be cool. I think it's one of those things where.

E

um If I want to put out a, uh I want to put it on the list and we do have a list, but it's not.

E

Complete, like you know, sounds like phs clippers wasn't on there I didn't have. I mean I just put.

E

Out the principles like what do you know about? That's in your realm um give me it, and here are.

E

The things I want, I want what platform? What's the url you know, do you get to see it first, how often.

E

Is it coming out um that type of thing and see? Is it to link a button to our site right right, so so.

E

um So so we so even that we're not even totally clear on all that stuff, then the other challenge.

E

Is which we got into is I came in with you know, we started having this conversation about.

E

um Well, look: here's the um here's, the model that I used before and talking about paying.

E

Paying employees giving them a stipend here's the expectation we're going to monitor the work and.

E

Like well, but there's a bunch of people who have been doing this for free for years, you.

E

Know, you're gonna pay one, and then we gotta pay everybody else and it's like yeah. That's great.

E

But if I don't pay anybody, then how am I supposed? How do we have any expectation about like style.

E

You know any of those things we talked about, that we would want to kind of have some control over.

E

um If it's just everything's freebieville, then it's hard to do that so but then, as.

E

Soon, as you start, the we're going to pay for this well what's in for payment and what is not.

E

um And I think what would I think, what we would move towards? Probably in my head, it's like what.

E

I would push out as a district would be. There are going to be other things that people will.

E

Reach out with to folks, but I would push the stuff that we are paying to have part of our.

E

Communication, you know, uh and we have a theory behind what we're doing. We have uh expectations.

E

About when the stuff's going to come out what it looks like all that types of things, because.

E

um Because then we have some quality, we have some thought process and quality control about.

E

What we're presenting to the world- and we say these are our channels. These are the things we.

E

Own as an institution, these are the things that we're presenting to you. There are these other.

E

Things that are affiliated with us, but they are not. You know, they're, not us us, they're, cousins,.

E

um So I think I think I could see us move into a model like that.

E

um Because otherwise, we could be chasing, who should get paid and not get paid forever. Yeah.

I

Thank you, pip liz. um Just a couple comments, maybe some follow-ups about the new uh you.

I

Know what what direction we're going in in the future, but also, I guess I just want to.

I

Dial it back to parents, where is there a way to see um like? Is there? Are there numbers of.

I

How many people are actually using it? I'd like to, I guess, maybe, for the next meeting.

I

um How people are actually using it and you know, use the example of your post that had you know.

I

uh 250, I think it was views for the video how many people actually clicked that post.

I

um You know are people reading the transcript there too. So.

I

um It would be good to have a you know if there's a way to do a breakdown for.

I

um Different schools and whatnot too it'd be really good to have that information, because I don't know that I've seen any of that information since we've been using parent square and obviously.

I

That's the newest platform that we've delved into and tried to get everybody using, and we.

I

Haven't really gotten a whole lot of numbers, I don't think from parent square, so so I think I.

E

Think the communications committee did a pretty good job when they looked at parent square, about.

E

What was available not available in terms of data? Okay? Well, I'm happy, but I'm happy to bring back.

E

With similar kind of like here are the graphics, here's the things yeah, here's the things you can.

E

Get so you can have as a group kind of get a feel for it. Here's what's happening, that's not so much.

I

About what I can get of like who's, using it right now, so if we're looking at a video, that's getting.

I

250 views are we only getting 250 clicks or are we getting 500 clicks and um but then people are.

I

So you know, because I read sometimes I read the transcript that you put on on parent square versus.

I

Watching the video absolutely and I get people to tell me exactly that, I get people who tell me all.

E

I look at is transcript because I don't have time to look at a video and then I have other people.

E

Like I don't do the transcript, I just watch the video um ian, I'm also skeptical about 212.

E

um Because it does go up, that's not significantly lower that I would say it's. You know anywhere from.

E

Trying to remember you know like four to two kind of range when I put those things.

E

Out but I run into people around town randomly all the time who are like hey.

E

You're, the video guy- and so I I don't know like I'm skeptical- that it's only yeah 200.

E

People exclusively seeing it, but maybe it's not maybe it's just 200 of the right people.

E

um And um and when I'm going to open houses, when I'm trying to find a house, those people are at.

E

The open house and when I'm going to get coffee there, they are getting coffee. um So um so it's.

E

So I I am, I will tell you that I'm a little skeptical on that, the that the the youtube.

E

I have to do some back digging on what does or does not register on the youtube side, because I.

E

Am curious to whether or not there are more people who are actually viewing some of that stuff than.

E

What do I think, but okay, and then I guess a couple, just comments about the future. It sounds like I.

I

Mean I guess I'm a little bit concerned or I'd want to know more about um the legalities, because.

I

It sounds like and if whether it needs to be more education to teachers about it or what's going on.

I

um I mean obviously instagram accounts pop up. Anybody can create one, but I would think if the.

I

School is sort of getting behind it, and teachers are doing it. There are, I would assume legalities.

I

Like you said about, you know, people sign forms and they don't want their kid on the on the internet.

I

And obviously you know teachers would you know, I would assume, know that sort of thing, but I guess.

I

You know it's like an account, can pop up for a sport teams and then are we sort of liable if.

I

A kid's running that account for that account, and so, like sharing those accounts, saying here.

I

These are all our accounts, so I guess I just wondered if you could come back so that's my.

E

That's my like share out all the accounts thing. I oh, if I'm saying you're all awesome, some of them.

E

Aren't us and then we're putting out and then we and then we have a family. Who said we don't.

E

Want our kids images out there and then one of those accounts who we don't control is putting.

E

That image out, then I worry about the same type of legalities, okay, and so is that a reason like.

I

I mean I don't know, I guess another thing I'd want to revisit too is whether to do this in.

I

English has their person in-house and they were able to do um like different, like newscast type.

I

Things as well as a lot of the social like all of the social media, and so I think, there's a benefit.

I

But sometimes there could be a benefit to out of house because obviously there's more, you know.

I

Minds and brains behind what they're able to do and the analytics and what they're able to sort of.

I

um Get behind so I would say that in the in the not too distant future, I think one of the things.

E

I think we need to think about you guys have identified. Communication is an important thing.

E

Which is which is so true and I'll, tell you a whole bunch of other districts have identified.

E

It just before covet and then in coveted people really figured out. Oh my god. We need to be able.

E

To be really quick, precise, clear about what it is we're saying um and the move in even some.

E

Smaller districts has been to consider: how do you bring on capacity of some form of um chief.

E

Information officer, the city, has recently hired a cio, and I have had no conversation with the city.

E

About our ability to potentially utilize some of those services as part as a school district.

E

um And that is, and I'm sure when, um when the city manager created that position, it was not with the.

E

Intent of us absorbing some of that person's resources, um but I, but I do think I know in my.

E

You know former district, we were having conversations about if we needed to invest.

E

In an additional person that there was real value and a consideration of a designated.

E

um Person that was going to be connected with information, because what ends up happening instead.

E

Is it ends up? It ends up very often coming through. It happen, not a haphazard way, but it's coming.

E

Through my office, you know, and so I I become ucio in a lot of ways with to the extent to which I.

E

Can kind of manage it all it's coming through me uh and then try me trying to create systems for.

E

The whole thing to kind of work together and all this kind of disparate group of people kind of.

E

Work together, uh and so when you know when there's a problem on the website early in the morning or.

E

Something I'm texting patty to be like: hey, patty go switch the website, you know so I mean if you're.

E

In a decent sized corporation you're, not having your ceo and your your assistant, do your website.

E

um Go ahead. No, I guess I'm just concerned too, because we just wrote it on the budget and if.

I

This is something that, like we need and we're having like this amount of issues- and I mean.

I

Obviously, with everything with you know getting out messaging, for you know, emergencies and.

I

um You know it just seems like it seems, like obviously we're sort of moving the.

I

Budget forward- maybe you have this conversation later, but it seems like this needs to be a sort.

I

Of a line item or a proposal or something to come forward soon, if we're having these type of issues.

E

I had some whispers over here saying strategic plan and I think they're right, I think, coming.

E

Out of, I think, strategic planning, depending on what we you know as we go through, that.

E

Process and we, I think, because I think it is a as much as I think, there's a trend towards places.

E

Considering this something that's worthy now of hiring a position, that's going to connect to it.

E

um It's also like not everybody's doing it yet can we afford to wait? I think we can afford another.

E

Cycle to go through just still, because we're still working at we're still trying to figure out to do.

E

A deep analysis of what's actually happening, um and I think that will then inform. Is there a need.

E

um And is it and is that need a full-time person? A halftime person is that need an executive level.

E

Position is that need somebody, that's in a different. You know, there's all different types.

E

Of tiers that people that you could bring on, and so I think I can see us the next cycle me coming.

E

To you with a proposal that would include adding some additional human resources, specifically for.

E

The purposes of information, um but I don't know in terms of what amount of fte that's going to.

E

Be and what level of professional expertise um and salary would be looking for in connection.

E

With that would be something I think it would come through the process we're going through right now.

B

Okay, I think it's time to move on. Thank you, everyone for your comments and zach. That was a.

B

Fascinating presentation and I'm sure you'll keep us updated on on it every time. Okay, we will move.

B

On to the superintendent's report, part of our agenda items of information, uh zach you're on.

B

Again, superintendent memo um just the memo's there, I'm happy to answer any questions um connected.

E

With the memo, um I think that's it, okay is uh okay. Does anyone have a question on zach's uh memo.

B

Okay, let's oh go ahead! Carrie! I'm sorry! um I am on this agenda. I did not see the like future agenda.

F

Items would this be an appropriate time to ask for one uh sure what would you like to ask it's.

F

A really simple one, I just don't recall when it normally comes up, but the school calendar.

F

um Camps are already filled yes um and and there's and in some response to summer programs. They're.

F

Deciding what they'll offer based on when our calendar comes out, so it is definitely coming.

E

To you next meeting great, no doubt, thank you, okay! Thank you. Any other questions. Okay, if you look at.

B

The school board email summary: we had one email, we got in class sizes at dondero, elementary school.

B

And then oh lisa, sorry, I had a quick question in the memo. Oh yes,.

K

um When would we expect to know more about sort of the timeline for that process, in terms of when.

K

Things are going to roll out in strategic planning for the public. I know it's still in early days, but.

K

Is there uh uh so we had to pay for people on sort of you previewed it really well yeah. So we uh we.

E

So we had our initial meeting um with leah tuckman who's. Our our uh point person for us uh gsp met.

E

With all of the administrative team uh yesterday um so we went through, we had an hour and a half.

E

Meeting- most of that was really we that most of that was really focused on portrait of a graduate.

E

um Talking about the timeline but really focus on what is it was introducing or reintroducing the.

E

Principles, what is a portrait of graduate? Why are we doing portrait for graduate? What are we hoping.

E

To get out of that process, um we did talk a little bit about kind of um working towards developing.

E

A team in the next couple next week or two next couple of weeks and then the the representative.

E

Leah would be here in front of the board on our next meeting to have a conversation with the board.

E

And then, in terms of the community, I I'm I was torn because I didn't want to.

E

um I know I wanted to provide the border with everything I was going to share with the community.

E

But now I'm worried about march 14th, like I almost want I like I want to go. I want to start talking.

E

To the community, at the same time I want to be, I don't. I never want the board to ever be in a.

E

Position where it feels blunt, you know surprised by something that the communities can't you know.

E

um That you, you know, I always feel like. I wanted you to be uh especially around key.

E

Strategic initiatives like strategic planning- um I want you to be in a position to kind of have.

E

An opportunity to see stuff, so I think what I'm anticipating is. We will have some some more work.

E

Will be done in terms of some additional work with the administrative team and starting to.

E

Recruit some folks um to uh to be on the working group and then we'll have some conversation that.

E

The board in the 14th and then I'm hoping to you, know I'll, be like ready to burst. To talk.

E

To the community about it right after the 14th, that's my thought process. Thank you.

B

Any other questions for zach: okay: let's move on to the district school report card.

B

um Does anyone have a question on that patty submitted a memo about that yeah see. I do oh.

F

Yes carrie, I was just curious on context. Was this something we were in compliance with? Did.

C

You just give me a little, I'm glad you asked yes, so as so, if you check the date of the memo um by.

C

February 3rd, we were required by the state of of new hampshire department of education to make sure.

C

That we had our link prominently displayed on our website, because that is a requirement of essa. The.

C

Every student succeeds act that link is now there. I provided a screenshot under district information.

C

It's highlighted for you to look at and that link goes to ireport, which is something that the state.

C

Has developed has had, I think, since 2018 pretty much displaying uh school data, not only just.

C

um Student test scores, but there's a lot of demographic information. You can do a lot of mining.

C

Of information on the second page sort of a couple, little snapshots of the page that when you land.

C

On ireport, what you can look at and you can either look school by school district as a whole and then.

C

There are a lot of different areas that you can peruse through that pretty much self-explanatory.

C

But a lot of information that's in there, but that link is now up for folks to find quite easily so.

C

Is this new? This is a new requirement of the state, but the website has existed previous to that, but.

C

They wanted it to be very easy for people to find information about local school and district. They.

C

Call it the report card pretty much gives the public an understanding of how students are.

C

Performing and what the demographics are in the district. Thank you, foreign. Okay, any questions.

B

Okay, thank you, patty. Let's move on to the financial memo and report zach put together.

B

A financial uh memo for us and then nathan has some pages here. uh Are there any comments.

A

Either you want to take it. Okay, yeah seems, like we've, been doing well with the memos.

N

um Trying to describe, I would say that the biggest question has been the salaries continuing to lag.

N

Behind andrew and I have I've wrapped up the the analysis and the calculations today and so he'll.

N

Be working over the next week to key all that in the impact of salaries and taxes and retirement. So.

N

At least for the collective buying agreements that are that are now resolved, you'll see those impact.

N

In the in the in the financial report for february, when we meet again otherwise, there's no new news.

B

B

um Consideration and approval of the leave of absence do we have a motion to accept the leave.

B

Of absence, second, second, okay, brian and kerry, all in favor aye, any opposed motion passes.

B

Consideration and approval of non-supervised supervisory cafeteria personnel agreement.

B

Do we have a motion to accept this agreement? Pip.

B

Any discussion.

B

All in favor aye any opposed motion passes and the third one we have is uh considering.

B

Oh, I guess we have more than that consideration and approval of para educational memorandum of.

B

Understanding move to proof, and second, second, brian, any questions. Discussion, yes kerry, so.

F

This was the one that we had already moved forward. Yes and then this is the text for it.

F

um Can the minutes just clearly, I would just want the minutes to reflect that. This document replaces.

F

The motion from the prior meeting, so I guess let me clarify, go one step further. Not only does this.

N

Replace but ultimately, through the through the conversation that happened at city council on the.

N

13Th of january january 23rd was the 13th 23rd. Anyone city council considered this.

N

uh In the in the conversation that night, uh the the um the effective date became verbally january.

N

1St, as opposed to upon ratification or upon approval, so the document in front of you not.

N

Only clarifies, but it adjusts now the effective date to one january, as opposed to when it's voted.

N

So you you're serving two masters here: you're getting two things accomplished.

N

Just to be clear, what you're voting is that clearing, because the last time so yeah.

F

um I think in the meeting minutes- it's just sorry, I don't have the right ones, but.

F

So yeah just a reference that it was the january 24th right, 2003, um 2003., 2023, meeting.

B

Okay: okay, any more discussion all in favor aye. Any opposed motion passes okay. Next we have.

B

The consideration approval to establish an ad hoc committee for superintendent evaluation process.

B

Everybody up yeah marco, why don't you take that this? uh The proposal form I'm not sure why it's.

J

Crooked, but um apologies for that that came off of our conversation that we were having.

J

um Way back in the fall when we talked about committees, and so um as we know it's in the.

J

Contract and we need to have a formal evaluation of our superintendent every year we waited some.

J

Time since it's a new relationship and it's time to form a committee to go through the evaluation.

J

Process agree on what the evaluation should be, who should be um involved, etc. So this is the new form.

J

That we're using modeling, it hope you all like it for when new committees are proposed, as as it says,.

J

It would be ad hoc, um so really the duration would be now through june. um The proposal is.

J

Two to three board members and likely a member from legal would be part of that. I just said.

J

That the intended purpose of this committee is to develop the formal end of the year superintendent.

J

Evaluation and the process to be followed for carrying out this evaluation. First meeting.

J

Will include watching the new hampshire school boards association webinar on the superintendent.

J

Evaluation process, a draft evaluation will be developed and shared with the superintendent and.

J

Board for approval, a timeline of the valuation process will be developed and shared with the.

J

Superintendent and board for approval a list of evaluators will be generated for approval by the.

J

Superintendent and board and the committee will end at the conclusion of the process. It.

J

Also included under there the reference to the law under rsa 90, 91-a, colon 5.. This committee.

J

Will assume that employee evaluations are exempt from public disclosure, which is how we operated.

B

Yes, carrie just curious about the thought on this being an ad hoc versus a standing committee.

F

um I guess my one concern with that would be that it would be reappointed every year.

F

um And could be really changed or swayed depending on that and that the.

F

Process would be relearned, so it seems like having some continuing membership.

F

Could be important so that you don't have three new people every year.

J

um All I can say is in the past once the evaluation and the process was agreed upon.

J

By the board, any adjustments would go through the board, not through committee.

J

um But that doesn't mean we don't have. We have to do it that way, meaning the evaluation once.

J

It's the same evaluation every year. If, if the board decides to alter a section of it, then that.

A

Goes to the board not to a section of the board to make that proposal and the timeline once decided.

J

Other than the dates following a different time of year, but the timeline of you know two weeks that.

J

Stays consistent. Do you mind if I just follow up go ahead? Sorry, um the so thinking about this.

F

The contract committees, those are standing correct, even though those only meet for a short period.

F

Of time, but they are not disbanded, so I guess I would to me it makes sense to have this be similar.

F

To that, where it is a standing committee, but in general I think this is a great process, but that.

F

Way, it is also consistently sort of assigned by the board and not something that every year we're.

F

Picking up and like scrambling for or forgetting or why not thank you carrie brian, uh just a.

O

Maybe some clarification in my mind because when I read this, I read this as develop a process.

O

And then we have a process and then we'll use it every year. um That would be like the purpose.

O

Of the ad hoc committee right yep, but it's called superintendent evaluation committee.

O

So maybe there was some confusion in that. It's the committee actually evaluating. Oh that's right, so I.

O

Just want to make sure that it was just really for the process not for the actual evaluation.

O

Does that make sense so who and then in general, oh yes um in general, then the process will be defined.

F

By this group and the chair leaves this process every year, yeah yeah or, however, it's designed yeah.

B

So could we change the name to student evaluation process committee or evaluation development? What.

B

Would you suggest brian something that explains what it is? I guess [laughter].

O

I

Every year, somebody's gonna have to deal with compiling and going through the process and.

I

Making sure everybody's aware of the process and doing all this sort of stuff. So I guess to.

I

Carrie's point: I think it would make sense to have some sort of committee. That's developing.

I

The process tweaks the process, whatever deals with it every year, you know and have it and.

I

But like the committee doesn't have to meet every other week, it could be. You know, once a.

I

Quarter but at least the meeting's on the schedule and we're not going to lose that.

I

Process and the whoever is going to pick up the you know the strings to pull it all together.

I

Thank you, liz lisa. um I think my one question with this is to have some sense of the timing of the.

H

Meetings because we have had some issues this year, in particular with people being unable to.

K

Attend the committees that they're assigned to- and I would think particularly for this- that it would.

K

Be essential that whoever is serving can attend and participate, um so I think it would be helpful.

K

To have some sense of you know: when is it starting? Is it going to be another committee.

K

That's going to meet in the middle of the school day because we have to do it that.

K

Way or is I don't know I mean I don't want to dictate every last detail, but.

K

To know that the people who are on it are gonna are gonna, be able to be part of it.

B

Okay, do marco, I just want to just want to clarify. I know we, you know because of covet and everything.

J

This process has been lost, but it is, um it is owned by the board, so it is always once.

J

The process and the evaluation is clarified. The board as a whole is responsible for carrying it.

J

Out it doesn't require tweaks, um you know if the board changes its goals depending on how.

J

The evaluation is written if there's a section on delivery to goals, it's just the language. What the.

J

Goals are that would change, but the section and the evaluation wouldn't change. So I'm. I guess.

J

I'm I want to be careful that we're not sending this message that this group would need to meet.

J

Monthly, to continue to have eyes on an evaluation that happens once a year, that's owned by the.

J

Board as a whole, so to to brian's point oops, I would suggest the name be changed to ad hoc.

J

Superintendent evaluation, development committee or evaluation process development committee to.

J

Be clear, the purpose it serves because the ownership of the evaluation is owned by the.

J

Board every year, it's carried out by the board, it's carried out by the board chair and the vice.

J

Chair that that's never changed over the time. So, but it's just that we haven't because of covet.

J

There's been a pause in the normal cadence of the process. So is the two to three times a month. Then.

K

A correct frequency yeah again because it's just it's ad hoc. As I said it's it's literally february,.

J

Till june, so the two to three times a month is because the board meetings are twice and you need.

J

Approval through board and superintendent for various things that will it necessarily utilize.

J

All that no maximum it'd be that, but it takes a little and then has to go through legal. So.

J

It's a short-term if it gets approved tonight, it's literally mid-february to mid-june.

F

Carrie, um this may be so, and I hear all of these things- and I don't like I don't disagree with any.

F

Of them, but I'm just also thinking of having us with it on the note of standing committee and.

F

Thinking about the other issues that we've had related to communication of goals, approval of.

F

Goals like making sure that, like I guess, I would see- benefit in making this a standing committee.

F

um To ensure that the elements needed for evaluation are also sort of spearheaded or.

F

Brought forward- or you know, tees are crossed and eyes are dotted by this small group.

O

I I would well I'd be in full support of this, um but I would hope the very first.

O

Thing would be because june's coming right up and then you have to execute that plan, that we.

O

Have some sort like the very first thing, as a timeline of when the process would be completed.

G

Hip um I'd like to make a motion to adopt this committee, as presented with the change of the name.

G

To um to superintendent evaluation development committee: okay- is that.

B

All you want to put in that motion. We can vote on that motion, yeah, okay, I'll. Second, that motion okay,.

B

The motion is we're going to change the name to superintendent evaluation development committee.

B

It made the motion and seconded it any comments, any dialogue, all in favor, all right, bye, okay,.

B

um Did you want to talk about it being a standing committee? Yeah I mean I'm, I'm curious. I mean first.

F

Of all, I think, zach, I love your thoughts. I don't want to over committee us with.

F

You know I, I guess it's more just reflective on some of the um things that could be improved and.

F

May be, you know I've I've seen over the years since boards boards really struggle with this.

E

This is a really hard thing for all boards, um and you know, I think I think the recommendation.

E

To to make sure there's the the tether to uh the school boards association as a resource, I think.

E

Is is really smart um because it's too, it means twofold. I mean you know most I mean you know a a.

E

Key component of this is just like: we try to do with employees, you know giving regular feedback.

E

About how the job is going and what we need, or what's going great, what isn't going so well super.

E

Important and then also you know you think about your, you know the the most important roles that.

E

You play the other thing. We've talked about this right. What are the jobs of the board? Hiring fire.

E

Superintendent, the budget and policy- that's that's really the core of your job, so I think you know I.

E

Think taking the time to devote a group of people to do a deep dive to be very thoughtful about what.

E

Does that process look like to be able to be to really well to define that process really.

E

Well, both for the whole board, you know, and for me and for the public, I think it's just a really.

E

Good smart move and you know so I think it's but I think the key to it all ended up being.

E

Successful and not having you know is, is that is doing the deep dive doing the thoughtful work and.

E

Then uh making sure everyone here understands it well, as you move into that process, so yeah.

F

Yeah, can I I have a resolution. I think it's a conversation. Can I just ask that.

F

In the committee description, we add in um and recommendations on.

F

um Time for reevaluation or establishment of a standing committee I'll write it. I.

J

I think um if you, if you remember with the committee process at the end of a committee.

J

The board can decide one of two things to disband: to vote, to disband an ad hoc or to.

J

Vote to roll it into a standing, so be careful because this this committee, right now as zach.

J

Said is doing a deep dive into this process. This super this evaluation once that grows some legs.

J

And that's carried out, then we're in a position to say how can we do this well going forward and.

J

That might be the proposal of a standing committee that would have a different purpose than what's in.

J

Print here, but that would come in right at the end of this, where we're at that position of a board.

J

To propose a standing committee or to disband this ad hoc or both, so it doesn't mean what I'm.

F

Hearing it doesn't need to be added explicitly to a description, because it is the natural next order.

F

Of the board function and the timing of it's really good too, because then you roll you roll.

E

Into the summer, and then he got you've got like kind of like here's. This, like wrap-up of the year.

E

Here are the things we feel like went well didn't do well from from here, which is reflective of.

E

What's what people feel like is going on overall, and it leads in a natural flow of conversation and.

E

Kind of summer retreat with the board about what are we all collectively doing: okay, great here's.

E

What we learned over the course of this year and what's it going to be like next year, so I think.

E

It makes a lot of sense, and then that is a great time to talk about that longer term. Is there a.

E

Need for uh for an ongoing committee that retreats your right side for that too? Okay, so, do we need a.

B

Motion: okay, okay, so we're also people that are interested should email, nancy and myself and.

J

We'd like to get that going asap: okay, okay, mago. Thank you. Michael put a lot of work into that.

B

Okay, the next item on the agenda is consideration and approval to establish performance objectives.

B

That the superintendent will report quarterly per his contract. The super general will report on two.

B

Performance objectives, strategic planning and communications: the superintendent will report.

B

To the board, at the 328-23 and 613-23 meetings, do we have a motion to consider to approve this.

B

um Consideration brian second.

B

Sure kerry. Okay, do we have discussion? Yes, margo. um I'm trying to figure out how to.

J

Word it I'm concerned that the way it's written it would be hard for us to get a presentation on.

J

um I think what we're looking for for performance is um progress to date. So you know: we've evaluate.

J

And hire a firm we've had progress to date, etc, et cetera, but under communication.

J

um Those are the, I think, the the aspects that we placed under that for our board goal was.

J

On what are we all agreeing is necessary for quality communication going forward, but that.

J

Would be very difficult to ask someone to present on? I don't know how you'd present.

J

On performance for those, so I feel like we need to be way more. Black and white.

J

And clear on the actual performance objectives related to those key tenets of communication.

J

I don't know if I said that clearly, but so how would you reword it yeah? I need to spend.

J

A minute, let me see if there's other questions, maybe okay, margo, yes, oh lisa and then kerry had.

B

Her hand up, I can wait. Okay, kerry then lisa to margot to follow up on margo's the the.

F

I think will report progress or something to that effect, but I think my concern.

F

Which I know is a minority on the board. Is that to me there is a lot of the the communication goal.

F

Is to create an effective partnership, blah blah blah and that the school board will approve a plan.

F

That focuses on communication and then it has the tenants of those communication and then there's in.

F

My opinion been a lot of different opinions on what this means when it's supposed to be.

F

Done things like that, I envision this as like the full year, um but I think there just needs to be a.

F

Clear understanding of the board of where that communication comes from, and I think that that.

F

Would be the chair of the board? Is it has to? There has to be a subjective component from someone.

F

That is like this is sufficient or not sufficient. It can't be all nine of us.

F

It doesn't make any sense, so I think the report to the report- progress to the board may kind of.

F

Modify or may help to clarify that first part and then, as the second part, all we're saying here as.

F

A goal is that by the end of the year in my mind, we will approve a plan and I think someone needs.

F

Either, as margaret said, the specifics need to be put into how what we see as these tenants.

F

What we want as deliverables or we need to have a point person or a chair, and you know.

F

I'm sorry assistant deputy what margot vice. Thank you. Thank you for that title. um You know that that.

F

We either need to do, and, and so that's why I would recommend just because of all the back and forth.

F

And the time and the confusion on this that we just make that clear. If that we're adopting this.

F

Goal the adequacy of meeting this goal needs to be from the board chair and vice chair.

B

Okay, let's see what others have to say ian and then lisa I. I would think that.

L

We really should have consensus on the board, not not just the chair and generally you you.

L

Read the consensus really? Well, you know it's happening, so I feel that's important.

B

You're next, thank you in yeah. I think that this is one area where we can say in 2020, hindsights.

K

That when we had our retreat in august, we did a better job with the strategic plan of laying out.

K

Some specific objectives than we did with the communications goal I feel like we did have a.

K

Meeting where we agreed that our superintendent would come back with a draft communications plan.

K

For the board to review and part of what was embedded in, that plan was for him to identify.

K

What are his big things that he wants to work on most urgently over the near term, and I think it.

K

Would be reasonable to put in here that the goal for communication, since we are where we are and.

K

It's almost june is to produce that plan for the board and within that plan, if we're getting it and.

K

There's any near-term things that are achievable by june. To lay those out I mean I don't know at.

K

This point how we rewind to go back in time and get the specifics. I mean I agree with you. Carrie.

K

It would have been very beneficial to have them, but I don't think that we can sort of wave the.

K

Magic wand and say, oh, these were in retrospective goals that we should have come up with back in.

K

Time if that makes sense, you know I mean like what zach laid out tonight around social media. There's.

K

A lot of work right there, which is in progress, and there could be some concrete goals around that.

K

Just as an example that maybe are achievable by zoom that are june, that are reasonable to.

K

Bacon, but I guess I don't want to presuppose what those benchmarks are by fiat, but I feel.

K

Like would it be a fair compromise to say that one goal is just to deliver the communications.

K

Plan and then to identify within that plan some achievable benchmarks to hit by june.

K

In the areas that zach identified, I'm not going to say them right now, but there were.

K

Three that you identified at the last meeting that were your big objectives. I think one was.

K

Around social media and parent square and I'm blanking now with the other two but.

B

Thank you lisa. I think marco has a suggestion. Okay, so maybe on that, what we're saying is and.

J

This isn't as detailed but like we have the three under strategic plan evaluate.

J

And hire a firm, easy to present out on that established strategic plan establish an end.

J

Operating hunt right easy to present out where we are to date. On those, I wonder if the three.

J

For communication would be established, plan or produce plan, whatever language we want.

J

Second, update progress to timeline on major goals and three report on next steps.

J

I don't know if that's within reason or but I do understand, that benchmarks is one of those.

J

But I'm thinking in terms of the this comes off of the um zach's contract, which says quarterly.

J

Performance and so the um the theory behind that was quarterly reports on what are you doing to.

J

Advance board goals so, where we've run into the muck is okay. So what do we need to hear.

J

That gives us all clearness on how it's advancing, so that would be the three that I would propose.

J

That don't get into you know we're not going down into the fine print, but they clearly identify the.

J

Three components of that goal in a way that can be quarterly reported. I think that makes sense.

K

Margot and I think when we have the strategic plan in gold, you know that last sentence before we list.

K

The objectives we say you know this is a time to develop a strategic plan that can be implemented.

K

For the next school year- and I feel like carrying that language down to communications, to say this.

K

Would be a good time to develop a communications plan that can be implemented for the 2324 school.

K

Year could be a nice way of framing that if people agree and then like the strategic plan,.

K

You know step one is draft the plan, you know step two. Is you know, what are the steps that.

K

We're going to do now and then what needs to come next or something like that so kind of what you.

K

Said but just tee it up the same way. We teed up the strategic plan goal if that makes sense.

B

Thank you, let's uh yeah pip and then liz. um I just wanted to say that I like that idea. I think that.

G

Would that makes a lot of sense, just even in terms of the structure of how we're presenting.

G

These goals, because I think we've learned that the clearer we can get the better we're all going to.

G

Be in terms of understanding it the same way, but I also wanted to say that I think I think um I agree.

G

With you that that identifying those sort of like three top uh priorities is really important, and I.

G

Wonder if um I'm assuming that that will that that will happen, naturally, in a communications plan.

G

But so we could either just assume that that will take place within that. That will come to us inside.

G

The communications plan, or we could identify that the communications plan should uh ex you.

G

Know identify what those top three priorities are and that's a way to to make sure we're doing both.

B

Thank you, pip liz. um I would propose that uh we don't get into all the specifics and keep.

I

The strategic plan stuff to a separate sort of discussion around strategic planning and keep it.

I

The just keep the um the quarterly performance objectives, general strategic planning and.

I

Communication, so when we have the performance committee that comes in and takes a look, we.

I

Can say all right: well, how are we doing with the strategic planning in general, and you know.

I

The process that was created with the strategic planning committee and every in in the development.

I

Versus trying to define everything right now into specifics, um you know, obviously I wasn't.

I

Expecting zach to give the pro the presentation he gave about communication tonight great.

I

um I don't think we can, even you know would have contemplated. You know specifics about.

I

um You know parents wear so to speak, so I would suggest if we're going to do performance.

I

Objectives, keeping them general as we're sort of getting into this process and reinventing this.

I

Process or restarting this process and let the committee get into the feedback and and develop.

I

The specifics you know, as we do the strategic planning process separately and take votes there.

I

And as we get information about communication that we might want to vote on and do so so I would keep.

I

It general on those two things: I'm a little bit hesitant to sit here and work out specifics today.

I

Thank you. Thank you, liz lisa, so I was just going back through my notes from the um january.

K

24Th board meeting um when we did give zach an opportunity to identify his three big areas that.

K

He wanted to work on occasions and he identified three things. He said: creating consistent messages.

K

Across schools and across the district to improve credibility, accuracy, timing and reliability of.

K

Communications website improvements to make it a more effective default resource for information.

K

And working to improve parent square and social media and those were also the three sort of.

K

Areas that we included and the template that we created for zach as we were asking him to consider.

K

You know the elements that he might want to include in the communications plan.

K

And we're also drawn from the original draft communications plan that zach had done himself.

K

So I guess I'm not sure that we need new goals. Again I mean those were identified and.

K

The motion around creating the communications plan template laid out those three things that.

K

Zach identified as the three things that would go in that template, um so I think those still.

K

Give him a lot of room to identify what work he would want to do around those areas or what ways.

K

To demonstrate progress in those areas and what's reasonable to do in a fair timeline.

K

But I feel like we have the things I mean and they didn't come from the board. I mean they came from.

K

His expertise around what he's been seeing in the district so far as he's been wrapping.

K

His arms around all the different things that are happening and I apologize zach. If I worded it not.

K

The right way, but those were the broad ways that I um oh, I think those you know, took the notes yeah.

B

Could you get all that or yeah it just sounds like is the question on the table that the.

J

Three things we're gonna um put under these performance objectives are those key priorities.

J

Zach established or the three things we're going to put under these performance objectives related.

J

To communication is broad stroke of establish the plan, provide information related to progress, share.

J

Next steps, I think those are the two different things I've heard. I think what you're saying is.

K

In line with this, I just meant to speak to liz's point that we already have identified. Oh right.

K

The three main areas, so this isn't an issue where the board needs to sort of rehash. In my.

K

Opinion I I hear that I would be misunderstood, so I think it would be reasonable to say yeah.

K

Number one for it is the communications plan number two report on progress on those three.

K

Main areas that jack already identified as his main goals and then three report on next steps.

K

So you would add your three elements under instead in the lieu of the four that are.

J

Here, right are our goals. This is our goals, we're talking about performance objectives.

J

So the performance would make, I would imagine yeah why not? I would make them all right. Let's.

B

Let's listen to this motion. Everybody nancy. That's also consistent with the draft communications plan.

K

Template that you reviewed and margo reviewed and zach has been discussing with the admin.

K

Team around the district- yes, thank you, okay, so I would make the motion that I would replace.

J

One through four under communication.

J

As it pertains to quarterly performance objectives, with one establish or draft.

J

Whatever word, we want a communication plan that identifies top priorities for the district.

J

In the coming school year, two provide information related to progress. Three report on next steps.

N

That would be an amendment to these to the existing.

J

Motion existing well, there is an emotion on yeah.

N

Did essentially what's in the agenda as a motion, do you accept that amendment? Yes, carrie, do you.

B

Accept that amendment, okay, the first and the second, accept the amendment now we'll.

B

Have discussion on that amendment kerry, um marco? I think that I appreciate that. I think that helps to.

F

Clarify and at least move us forward for this year, um and I and I just I I just have to say I think.

F

That this process has been the learning thing for all of us that we have a lot of lessons to take.

F

Back from, but I just think that the level of um the amount of time we've spent on it as a board is.

F

Inappropriate and has bordered on micromanagement- and I just it's it's up to us as a board- to make.

F

Those goals explicitly clear in the summer and we can move and learn and go forward from that. But it.

F

Highlights things like when we make a goal around, we want a communications plan that does mean four.

F

Different things to four different people, so I think I just want to highlight it, and I appreciate.

F

You addressing my concern with the amendment and then that we do better going forward. Thank you.

F

Brian, may I ask her a question yeah. You can ask her a question. What feels micromanaging about this.

F

So I think to me in the in this goal, this is a year-long goal that we established in the summer.

F

Create an effective partnership, blah blah blah blah. We will make a plan but then to on multiple.

F

Meetings kind of criticize the way that this is happening or not happening, and it it just is, is.

F

um It has felt to me as an observer and not someone who's intimately involved with this.

F

Process as throwing up hurdle after hurdle um in a public meeting, and I think that it just to.

F

Me could have been managed better. I think one of the biggest things that comes up for me is that.

F

Whether the communication plan is a strategic plan of goals, moving forward or a plan that has all of.

F

How the district will communicate and those are two very different things and use interchangeably.

F

In our discussion, so mine, thank you kerry, interesting perspective. Thank you. Anyone else.

B

All right, we want to take a vote on this liz yeah. It's creepy. I guess that's why it goes to my point.

I

Of generality so for creating objectives for zach to come back with, I think zach's been the creative.

I

One that said these are things that I think that um would be good as far as measurable components.

I

Of me doing a communication plan, but he sort of presented that himself. I do think that he is.

I

Capable of doing that, and so I think that that's why we should just say strategic plan to develop.

I

It you know, have this process and have it there, not all these specifics and then communication.

I

And that we want to buffer our communication and make it better leave it general and then.

I

You use the committee to evaluate you know where has zach at where is he going and then you know.

I

If we may want to change our goals next year or whatever you know, every quarter, you know we want.

I

To update them, then maybe we sort of get into you know more of a specific or an ask or whatnot, but.

I

I think right now, that's why I would suggest even amending this to eliminate getting into.

I

Specifics and just keep it general strategic plan and communication, because I feel like that's what.

I

We landed on when we had our a retreat. You know we never really got into the specifics. That's what we.

I

Landed on and we walked away from it, and I think I think we just need to go back to that and keep.

I

It general so that the interpretations aren't different for everybody and everybody's, getting.

I

What they want or whatever, because at the end of the day, it's actually going to come back and show.

I

Us what he's done? Thank you, okay, thank you. Liz um lisa did you want to say something before we vote.

B

We do get brian and kerry okay, or we agreed to the amendment accepted a friendly amendment. I.

N

Haven't ever seen, you guys do friendly amendments, but that's not like we've ever done it before so.

B

Play it like you, if you want to unfriend you, yes, okay, get. A second is what you're looking.

N

For yeah, so kerry margo margo made of men. Would you like me to reread the amendment? Yes.

H

Okay, we're good. First, we have to vote on the amendment. Then we have to vote on the.

B

Original motion right so you're, just adding the language that margo read yes to what was already.

B

In the agenda, yes, okay, all in favor hi any opposed motion passes. That's the amendment. Now we have to.

B

um Vote on the entire motion here, that includes the strategic planning.

N

That's why brian and seconded by kerry, originally all in favor.

B

Aye any opposed okay motion passes wow great board. We had two big votes tonight and we accomplished.

B

Everything and it's only ten after nine. Thank you happy valentine's day, [laughter] particular.

E

Parliamentarian work I've got to protect him from getting beat up by the minute taker tomorrow.

F

Definitely appreciate me: she will appreciate that. Yes, yes, and thank you to margo for.

A

Crafting that for us, okay, okay, I think we are on committee updates and let's go to lisa. First.

B

With her legislative committee, okay, um so the committee is moving forward.

K

um Slowly and carefully to try to call the many hundreds of bills on education down too.

K

Much more manageable list of maybe 15 to 20 ish that we hope to come back to the board.

K

With in march, with some suggested positions that the board may wish to consider, taking.

K

um Several board members have reached out to me to suggest some bills be added to our list.

K

For consideration that weren't on the original list, there's so many, it's really easy to miss.

K

Something that may be important to the district, and I would encourage people to continue to reach.

K

Out anyone in the public can always just use the school board school board contact form online to.

K

Send any feedback that they may have at this point, um I would say that broadly we're trying.

K

To weigh as we look at bills, which ones may have the biggest impact for the entire district and not.

K

Get bogged down too much and something that might only affect a very small population. Zach has very.

K

Kindly agreed to you know, drag nathan in a little bit where there may be fiscal implications to make.

K

Sure that something that we recommend to the the board doesn't have an unintended financial.

K

Consequence so, as an example, you know there's several bills around school lunch that sound.

K

Great on the surface, because they would prevent stigmatizing students who don't pay their lunch.

K

Bills, but we want to think carefully about which of all of those bills may be the best.

K

Ones for us to weigh in on that have the correct and intended effect. So that's just one example:.

K

um We are most likely going to be in a position after bills. Leave the house of origin to cross.

K

Over to the other house of the legislatures, to start to tee up the board potentially to.

K

Hopefully, do some written testimony or some oral testimony, maybe on a very, very small.

K

Slice of these bills that we're watching and the intention with that is to pick some things where.

K

We have broad consensus and where we can just test out this process, because this is an ad.

K

Hoc committee and the real goal of the committee for this year is to come back to the retreat in.

K

August and be able to make some decisions about, is this serving us? Well, if we want to keep it.

K

Going, how should we restructure it so that it works more efficiently and wraps in more people.

K

um Nancy and I just attended a really great discussion on zoom today with several other.

K

School boards around the state that are also in kind of the same spot, we are, you know they.

K

Looked at the fire hose of legislation flying through in the last couple of years and went.

K

Geez, we have no idea how to really start to think about how we might weigh in so we got some great.

K

Feedback from how manchester is doing it, how keen is doing it? It sounds like oster river and maybe.

K

Hampton or hampton falls also is working on it, but they weren't able to join the conversation.

K

Today, so we're working as closely as we can with nhsba to really get their guidance on. What are the.

K

Best ways to build consensus: what are the best ways to pick the things that really have legs.

K

um And I think there's going to be a more realistic update for people next month.

K

um I think the list I have right now is still about 50 bills, long, which is far more bills than.

K

We can practically ask the board to weigh in on or read, but certainly if you have a chance to skim.

K

The list and there's any that you feel strongly. We should not be waiting in on or any that you.

K

Really want us to look at carefully reach out and if there's any, that, um you feel like need to be.

K

Added to the list, we still have an opportunity to do that. um I think my hope is for the packet for.

K

The first or maybe it won't, maybe it'll either be march, or it will definitely be by april. If.

K

It's not in march, we'll have in the packet a written list with the links of the bills for.

K

Anything that we're going to recommend positions around so that people have a chance to review it.

K

um And I guess I mean that's the update at this stage I will say I have a whole new respect for.

K

Nhsba, like just doing this sliver of work is pretty liver intensive and they do a lot more.

B

Thank you, lisa. Any questions. Felisa.

B

Hey, do we have any other committee updates? Has anybody been to a committee meeting, yes nick, so.

D

um On the student council end um first off the uh winter, semi-formal uh finally wound up happening.

D

um I I'm hearing very good things from just about everyone. I've asked so awesome.

D

um My understanding is that um the homecoming dance we had a few issues just just around like.

D

The music and then I think, yeah, just a few, just a few misunderstandings with the administration that.

D

Kind of resulted in like just a less ideal dance, I suppose, but um with the winter semi-formal, uh we.

D

Made a point as a student council of working a lot more closely with the administration um like we.

D

Brought in the music list much farther in advance- and I think the results were very positive, so.

D

So it's certainly much better than what happened previously and so.

D

um So that was a success uh and then also we have our second senate meeting of the year um during.

D

Which I will be reporting on school or things, and actually also looking for uh who's going to.

D

Replace me so yeah we'll see how that goes. I'll. Keep you all posted um nick, we're gonna miss you.

B

Thank you for being with us these years and then the last thing I wanted to highlight was that.

D

um The model un uh this year was actually able to go to the boston bosman trip, um which was.

D

Something that we actually um you might remember last year was a major reason why we were proposing.

D

The club fund, um it's because that that was just a major fundraising hurdle um last year.

D

um In part, because we had access to the club fund, um the model un felt like it was much more able to.

D

um Fundraise with bosman in mind and was actually able to go and also cover everybody who needed.

D

Financial aid, in doing so awesome it was a really great time. I I was lucky enough to go so.

D

I'm very happy with that, and I just wanted to say that the club fund and.

D

The legislation on that front is actually making a real difference.

B

Meow, would you like to tell us how things are at lister academy.

P

uh Maple, the maple program is well underway. Our students have gone over to each of the elementary.

P

Schools, I think at this point several times to do their tutoring type education for the.

P

Little ones- and I know that's a big hit and the quality of education that really happens.

P

The teaching that happens and the kids, hands-on and engaged and really using academic vocabulary.

P

At a high level for third graders is, um I know something that our maple teacher is super proud of.

P

um Actually, they're co-teaching, so we have two two of our teachers who go over.

P

And our kids are really ramping up, we're excited. We found out that our.

P

um Craft fair aligns perfectly with the high school craft, fair and so we'll be sharing.

P

Hopefully, people visiting both of those and our kids are undertaking some really big and.

P

Exciting but various different projects that they're envisioning and laying out so it's lots.

P

Of good hands-on stuff for this time of year, which is well needed as we go through these gray colds.

P

Yeah, oh good, uh I was at the mclaughlin household. There was a third grader had a lot want to talk a.

E

Lot about the maple syrup people, it's very excited about the whole maple syrup, presentation and.

E

Everything that happened, so it was good big thumbs up we'll give kudos to those two teachers, because.

P

I think, having been able to repeat the program for a couple years now and really increase the.

P

um The rigor that we are teaching to those third graders, like our our kids, we have very few who.

P

Have repeated it, but because there is a repetition in the school it gets built up, and so our kids are.

P

Proud and excited, and actually competing to get into it, um which is nice because we know.

P

We have some seniors and some older classmen who just really want to get into it before they get.

P

Out or they're planning ahead to their next year, where they're going up to the high school we've.

P

Had lots of um middle schoolers coming to visit, but also our kids, going over to the cte program.

P

And to the high school really looking at those partnerships- and I think I know our project of.

P

Getting into our new space is um still in limbo, but I think we're really excited to to envision.

P

What that could be and what that'll look like as we move forward, so thank you, yeah. Thank you.

B

Anyone else do we have a motion to adjourn, so it moves second people in favor. Thank you. Everyone.