Board of Selectmen, September 7, 2016

HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MEETING MINUTES

SEPTEMBER 7, 2016

EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS REVIEW COMMITTEE

VOLUNTEERS FOR MEMBERSHIP/INTERVIEW

6:00PM                                                                                               Senior Center

Present:  Chairman Anthony Renzoni, Tim Ethier, Geri Herlihy

Others Present:            Jacquelyn Kelly, Town Manager

                                    Liz Fotos, Town Recorder

Chairman Renzoni called the meeting to order at 6:00PM. 

Brian Allen was present at the meeting. 

Sel. Herlihy asked Mr. Allen about his interest in the Committee.

Mr. Allen stated that he is a ten-year resident of the Town with three children in the school district.  He stated that his background is in School Finance and he works at the City of Worcester as the Chief Finance and Operations Officer for the School Department.  He stated that he is also a professor at Worcester State School of Finance.

Mr. Allen stated that his time to contribute to community service is limited but when he sees something that comes up that he can do that would also be meaningful to his children and the Town as a whole, he tries to do it.  He stated that he is also a member of the District’s Pupil Population Task Force and while he doesn’t have a lot of time to volunteer he wanted to lend his expertise to the Committee.

Chairman Renzoni asked if Mr. Allen had been following the budget and what his initial thoughts were on Holden’s position in the district and for the next five years.

Mr. Allen replied that regional schools are a little peculiar and they have a lot of instances where funding becomes challenging between towns and that has clearly become an issue in Wachusett.  He stated in this case, the townspeople have said that Holden will commit resources because of the budget process and there are limitations because of the Regional Agreement.  He stated that he knows that it is complex but he is willing to roll up his sleeves and work on the matter.

Sel. Ethier asked if Mr. Allen would support allocating funds to Town schools. 

Mr. Allen stated that whether technology or a different avenue he would support either way.

Chairman Renzoni stated that he feels that the fact that Mr. Allen works on the Pupil Population Task Force brings a lot of value because it is overlapping committees.  He thanked Mr. Allen for his time and told Mr. Allen that he was advocating for him.  

Kristin Turner was present at the meeting.

Chairman Renzoni thanked her for coming to the meeting.

Ms. Tuner stated that she became aware of the budget issues when her children started school.  She stated that she started the ‘I am Wachusett’ Facebook page with her sister.  She stated that they did this to help people become aware of what was going on with the schools. 

Ms. Turner stated that she is a teacher in Algonquin Regional High School and that their region is smaller than Wachusett.  She stated that her experience is different teaching than from what her children go through.

Chairman Renzoni asked if she willing to explore every possibility including removing K-8 from the district.

Ms. Turner stated that she would research anything. 

Chairman Renzoni stated he understood that some people were against moving K-8 out of the region. 

Ms. Turner replied that if it was an Options Committee, then every option should be explored. Ms. Turner stated that it may not be the right move but she thinks that it should be looked into.  She stated she also feels that surrounding towns should be contacted, as well.

Chairman Renzoni stated that Ms. Turner’s Facebook page is very influential and accurate.

Chairman Renzoni thanked Ms. Turner for coming out.

Lauren Salmon-Garrett was present at the meeting.

Ms. Salmon-Garrett stated that she realized all the budget issues within the district at the beginning of last school year and she went to the School Committee meetings and heard the issues and wanted to do something.  She stated after that she saw this opportunity and thought she could help.

Sel. Ethier asked Ms. Salmon-Garrett about her former teaching.

Ms. Salmon-Garrett relied that she began teaching in New Jersey and after moving to Massachusetts worked in Millbury for 3.5 years.  She stated she also had worked in Wachusett briefly at the ECC as an inclusive preschool teacher.

Chairman Renzoni asked if everything was on the table to explore for the Town.

Ms. Salmon-Garrett replied that options are options and that anything that can be done better should be explored.  She stated that all options including K-8 should be looked at.

Chairman Renzoni stated that the intent of the Committee was to have a diverse group to look at many options and ideas and then validate them. 

Chairman Renzoni stated that this Committee could look at a previous study that was done by a former Committee and see the results.

Sel. Ethier stated that it had a lot to do with the financials and the funds that the state guaranteed.

Chairman Renzoni thanked Ms. Salmon-Garrett for coming to the meeting and told her that the Board would be in touch.

Chairman Renzoni stated that the next step would be to have a meeting to review the candidates.

Ms. Kelly asked if the Board had seen the memo from the district.  She stated that the Board would need to designate someone to represent the Selectmen on the Committee as well.

Chairman Renzoni asked how many members were included in the Committee charge.   

Ms. Kelly replied the charge was for five members plus a representative from the School Committee and the Selectboard.

Sel. Ethier stated that he felt all seven of the candidates were qualified.

Chairman Renzoni stated he felt all three tonight were qualified and he would push for them.

Sel. Ethier and Sel. Herlihy stated they felt that the volunteers they met at the prior meeting were also very qualified.

Mr. Lukes entered the meeting at 6:28PM.

Chairman Renzoni stated that the Committee was currently set up as a five-member committee and asked if the Board would consider making it a seven member committee from the public at large.

Ms. Kelly replied it was up to the Board but she did not think it would be a problem. 

Motion by Sel. Ethier, seconded by Sel. Herlihy, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO CHANGE THE ORGANIZATION OF THE EDUCATION OPTIONS REVIEW COMMITTEE FROM A FIVE MEMBER COMMITTEE TO A SEVEN MEMBER COMMITTEE, IN ADDITION TO ONE EX-OFFICIO MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN AND ONE EX-OFFICIO HOLDEN MEMBER OF THE WACHUSETT REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT COMMITTEE.

Chairman Renzoni stated that the Board would appoint the volunteers at the regular meeting tonight. 

Sel. Ethier offered to be the ex-officio Selectman representative to the EORC. 

Chairman Renzoni stated that Sel. Ethier would be the ex-officio member to represent the Board on the EORC.  He stated that Sel. Ethier would need to call the initial meeting and send notices to members.  Then the Committee would elect a chair who would run future meetings.    

Motion by Sel. Ethier, seconded by Sel. Herlihy, it was UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJORN THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN AT 6:34PM AND RECONVENUE AT THE REGULAR MEETING.

APPROVED: _____October 3, 2016__________