Board of Selectmen, August 15, 2016 5:30 p.m.

HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MEETING MINUTES

AUGUST 15, 2016

EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS REVIEW COMMITTEE

VOLUNTEERS FOR MEMBERSHIP/INTERVIEW

5:30PM                                                                                               Senior Center

Present:  Tim Ethier, Jeremy Kurtz, Geri Herlihy

Not Present:    Chairman Anthony Renzoni

Others Present:            Jacquelyn Kelly, Town Manager

                                    Peter Lukes, Assistant Town Manager

                                    Liz Fotos, Town Recorder

Sel. Ethier called the meeting to order at 5:30PM.

Sel. Ethier thanked all those present for putting their names in to serve on the Education Options Review Committee.  He stated that the Committee would be reviewing Holden’s current schools and then providing the Town options to offer the children of Holden.  Sel. Ethier read the Committee Charge to the potential candidates.

Sel. Ethier stated that the idea for this Committee came about last year when the schools were having a difficult time getting the other towns in the region to agree on the budget.   He stated that the region needs 2/3 of the towns to support something in order for it to pass.  Sel. Ethier told the potential candidates that this means we need 4 out of 5 of the schools to support something in order for it to pass.

Sel. Ethier stated that he believes that the purpose of the Committee is to examine the whole idea of the Regional Agreement and determine what can be done to improve the schools.  He stated that all ideas are welcome and the Selectboard need to appoint five residents to the Committee. 

Susan Sullivan was present at the meeting.  She stated that she was a long-time resident of Holden who graduated from Wachusett and then the University of Maine with a degree in math and had a long history of serving on school committees, in addition to working in the public sector.  She stated that she has seen the schools from a lot of different perspectives and that she felt she would be an asset to the Committee because of her history.

Sel. Herlihy stated that Mrs. Sullivan has been involved in education in town for some time and she is sure that she (Mrs. Sullivan) knows a lot about the agreement and what can be done.

Sel. Ethier stated that Mrs. Sullivan had a lot of experience from many different angles and he appreciates her experience and willingness to volunteer.

Sel. Ethier asked Mrs. Sullivan what she thought about allocating money to the Holden schools in the form of technology and what other ides she thought they could move forward with.

Mrs. Sullivan replied that she thinks the Committee should look at any and all options allowed to see what they should do.  She stated that if there were options to expand staff they should move forward with that as well.

Sel. Ethier thanked Mrs. Sullivan.

Laura Puleo was present at the meeting.

Mrs. Puleo stated that she grew up in Holden and went to school for Early Childhood Education and that she has a daughter in the school district. Mrs. Puleo stated that she wanted to be involved in what her daughter is learning, and that is why she wanted to step forward.

Sel. Ethier asked Mrs. Puleo’s thoughts on the money earmarked by the Town for school technology.

Mrs. Puleo stated that if the Town has funds in surplus they can apply them to different things. She stated if they can’t use the surplus to hire staff, maybe they could use the funds for tangible things and then focus the budget on employment.

Sel. Ethier thanked Ms. Puleo for coming in.

Christopher Larsen was present at the meeting.

Mr. Larsen stated that he received his undergraduate degree in physics, his master’s degree in applied math, and his PhD in math.  He stated that he is a math professor at WPI and is the Associate Department Head, as well.  Mr. Larsen stated that he has two young children and that is why he was interested in joining this Committee.  He stated that his family moved to Holden four year ago because of the reputations of the schools and he was surprised when there were budget issues. 

Mr. Larsen stated he would like to look at the agreement and understand the constraints of it.  He stated he would like to look at it judicially and see what can be done moving forward.

Sel. Ethier asked about Holden breaking the agreement.

Mr. Larsen stated that was not the foremost thought in his mind.  He stated that he understands that there is an agreement and constraints that the Town needs to adhere to and he does not think that the Town should be trying to leave the District but we should be seeing what is plausible to do within the agreement. 

Mr. Larsen stated that without looking at the agreement it is hard to say exactly what should be done but technology supplies would be one and seeing if they can shift around funds to pay for something and then be able to use other funds to hire within the agreement.

Mr. Larsen stated that another thing he is aware of is that in other towns, Paxton for instance, the voter turnout is very low.  He stated he would like to explore the idea of looking to see if there is a way to help the other towns pass the budget. 

Sel. Ethier asked if Mr. Larsen had any other ideas.

Mr. Larsen stated that everything should be on the table. He stated that right now he does not know enough about the constraints but once they learn what they are they can work within them.

Sel. Ethier thanked Mr. Larsen for coming in.

Liam Dempsey was present at the meeting.  He stated that he grew up in Western MA and went to a regional school district so Holden was appealing to him when he began looking for a home.  He stated that he went to Assumption in Worcester and his family chose Holden because of the schools.

Mr. Dempsey stated he did not want to complain behind the scenes and wanted to do something about it.  He stated that what he brings is not yet having a child in the school system but being an eye forward.

Sel. Kurtz entered the meeting at 6:27PM.

Mr. Dempsey stated that technology was an important area and he would like to see funds go into that because it is notable.  He stated that the only thing he would want to look at under the technology plan would be if other towns were reimbursed would Holden be reimbursed for whatever funds were originally spent. 

Sel. Ethier stated that was a valid argument and one he was hopeful the School Committee would be involved with.

Mr. Lukes entered the meeting at 6:30PM.

Sel. Ethier stated that it was time to adjourn to the regular Board of Selectmen meeting.  He thanked everyone for coming in and stated that they all present compelling cases. 

Sel. Ethier called a two minute recess at 6:32PM in order to convene the regularly scheduled Board of Selectmen Meeting.

APPROVED: ____October 3, 2016_________        _