Good evening everybody. Let's call this meeting to order is June 21st. Thank you everybody for engaging with us and coming to our cohort meeting. I want to start today first by celebrating that we have had so many great events in the past couple of weeks at school. We raised the prize flag just not less than two weeks ago with the students. We had a retreat, the board and the staff had a retreat together. We had to celebrate elementary school graduations which I'm sure a lot of you participated and they were really sweet. We participated in the career center award ceremony for some of our kids and we had the great graduation at U32. We have so much to celebrate all of us here tonight and we also, the staff had the day off in Juneteenth which is also a really great for all of us to acknowledge in Juneteenth. I want to start today by asking everybody to just breathe. Let's try to breathe together because the energy in the room is going to impact how we treat each other and how we make decisions in the moment today. Breathing is something that we all do together. Let's try to breathe together and be relaxed, be present. I know that I've heard several comments through the week and I know that a lot of people sometimes feel that they jump the chair to move through the agenda and to have a meeting and just get it there. Every time after a meeting I try to reflect on what is it supposed to be my role or how can I do this better for all of us and I always come back to the same question and what culture do I want to participate in and when we got together as the administrative team, as the leadership team and the board, we were working on what governance culture do we all want to be in together. We have done a lot of different things together and I think the ability of the board and our leadership team to handle complexity and to handle different things it is because we can always imagine things together as a board and look at the future. I hope that today we can hold space for each other and find hope and courage and joy in the present and in the future for our kids and I think we're all committed in this room together including the policy. We take really seriously how big the future is for our kids, how high the stakes are and what future we want to build for the next generation. So with that said, we have a great opportunity. This is our last meeting before the next year starts. We have had a full new year with Megan. I also want to thank you today for that and you know it's been another great year with the board. We have grown and learned together so let's use all of that and with that I'll stop talking. We welcome our guests today. We're going to have public comments, 15 minutes of public comments at the beginning. We're hoping that if you have comments from for the branding and the logo conversation we're going to do that further down in our meeting so that those comments can be included in part of our decision process. So if you're okay if you're here for some other public comment that you want to share with us please go ahead and make it right now. We're going to try to hold people to the two minutes depending on how many people we have. Other than that we're going to move right into the agenda unless anybody in the board has any agenda just good. Any public comments not related to the mascot? Hey so with that I would like to invite a presentation and discussion of post-secondary outcomes. We're going to have a presentation by Jan Miller-Arson on our post-secondary outcomes for our students and I feel lucky to be sent for ourselves since on our student learning outcomes. Yeah so this presentation would not be possible without the help of Lisa LaPlante and Stephen Dowlinger-Pate so they're going to do a lot of the speaking. This is we did this presentation as part of the Ed Quality Committee meeting a few weeks ago. We took some feedback and adjusted it accordingly for the full board and we've updated it because we now have more complete information around this year's class that just graduated. So Lisa's going to kick it off next slide please Maher. So this slide talks about the overall tier one curriculum that the student services either two provides. So it starts in seventh grade which is not there with some flex time but then mostly via next step in eighth grade. This past year we saw a need that our students were needing some more skills in communication. So I believe I'll have this presentation in their links. So this link for overcoming obstacles gives you eight lessons that we did with the eighth grade in regards to communication. Then this is also where the students get to meet the high school counselors and myself and make a choice in regards to who they adopt. So it lists for you the high school seminars that we offer again the link to the host high school planning guide that gives you all of the in-students and families all the information that they will need for figuring out what host high school planning looks like. And we'll talk a little bit later in regards to some testing with the 10th and 11th graders while they are in testing the 12th graders are in in-school field trip that supports all the different paths beyond leaving high school. So there's interviewing skills for exploration, resume writing, some financial help that English department helps us with essay support, common applications, and then the other bullets just talk about the other programs that we offer. Next slide please. We use a software called Naviance. There is a link there for the board members if they wish to have a later date look at the video. It's a fabulous software that provides many different options for students. We in our seminars have kids take the learning styles and the career interest inventories and the achieve works so that they can learn more about themselves and about careers and other options that are out there that might interest them. The road trip nation videos are fabulous. A couple of college students a few years ago went out and interviewed over 3,000 people in different careers so they can actually watch videos to see where people came from, how they got there, what their highlights and little lights are in their careers, and then it also provides enrichment opportunities, college search information, and it's where we house all of our scholarships. Next slide please. And then also in this program we wanted to highlight early college, dual enrollment, the career center, and the military. So we every year have anywhere between 45 and 55 students attend the Center for Montclair Center. Many of them receive many college credits through their program there. We also have students who attend early college in their senior year and many students who start using their dual enrollment vouchers. Next slide please. So I'm going to talk through a bit of the post-secondary planning assessments that we administer. This is the list of assessments outside of the cap and I'm ready, right? These are the ones that we do for post-secondaries. So you can see that the assessments themselves, the grade levels that are tested, the subjects that are tested, we universally administer the CREACT in grade 10. That's part of our local comprehensive assessment plan and the PSAT as well is universally administered in 11th grade as Lisa talked to you about. And then we fund those exams. We also fund the advanced placement exams. So we're going to do a much deeper dive in advanced placement this fall during one of the Equality Committee meetings. The SAT or ACT are tests that students decide to take and they paper them themselves. Next slide. So we're going to go rather quickly through this data. We just want to make sure that you have it and you don't yet have the slides. We'll make sure you have the slides, okay? Yeah, we didn't send them. We just were putting pictures from graduation in them with your fee shortly just in the past day or two. So I'm going to tell you a little bit about it and then again, we'll make sure those slides are posted for everybody. So pre-ACT, you've got data from this year and then the next slide will be next year's data as well. The sophomores take this test and math includes pre-algebra, algebra and geometry. Science includes skills like interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, problem solving. So you can see that in this test, about 35% of our kids who took it in math were proficient on target and in science it was about 43%. Next slide. And then this is the same test, also science and math, the data from 2021 and the performance overall was not quite as high as it was in 2022. Next slide. So this is the English and reading data for the pre-ACT. And so the English includes stuff like grammar, punctuation, sentence structure and organization, some topic development and some style. Reading includes reading comprehension, stuff like main idea, purpose and tone. And you can see again the purple represents kids who are on target in the pre-ACT and just as you've seen over time, this mirrors our other data where our ELA English reading scores are higher than our math scores. Next slide. And this is the same test English and reading and this data is from 2021. Next slide. This is the PSAT data and so the PSAT is the practice SAT and it scored between 320 and 1520. And Stephen's going to tell you a little bit about how teachers were using that data here at U32. And so the math department, the wonderful thing about the PSAT is we get to see exactly what the questions are and we get to see the results from the kids on those pretty quickly after we get the tests back. So our math department sat down and looked through where were the kids doing well? Where were they struggling and started going through and saying, okay, what are we missing some teaching opportunities for some of these problems? And if you're familiar with PSAT, it goes from easy to hard questions as well. And so we can see where the kids fall with that. It was a really good discussion in the math department about, are we getting some of these things in front of the kids so that they can get practice with them? Know the concepts and be ready for the test. And we'll keep looking at that data each year when we get the PSAT data back. It's very valuable for that. Next slide, Mark. This is just for folks to have an overview of what the sections of the ACT test are and what that format is. I don't think we had this one last time for ed equality. So just so you have a sense of that test. And then next slide, we wanted to give to you the most recent data that we have around our SAT scores. And the ERW is the English reading. It's the evidence-based reading and writing and then math and then our ACT scores. So you can see that for the past two years, our students are scoring higher than the state average. This SNP actually came from our school profile, which is the official document. You'll see other SNPs from that later in this presentation. It's what accompanies our students' transcripts and other reports that go to any post-secondary planning institution. So that SNP comes from there. And again, our students have had the experience in 10th grade universally taking the PSAT and in 11th grade, or vice versa, pre-ACT, 10th grade, PSAT, 11th grade. And then you can see their scores. Next slide. And then finally, this again, it's just a quick overview. It's really hard to read from here of just the percentage of kids who score three or higher on the advanced placement exams. Those numbers, a number of students take more than one AP exam each year. And again, we'll do a deeper dive into advanced placement and how that plays out in our system and proficiency-based systems, how those scores are used, all of those things later this fall. Next slide. That's two reasons why there was a spike in the number of AP students last year. There seemed to be a consistent one of like 96, 94, then came back down. It was a large class. Thanks. Stephen's going to talk through some of our graduation rate data. Yeah. So before we talk about the actual rate, we want to make sure that you understood how it was calculated. So the graduation rate, the four-year graduation rate, are every student who shows up here in the high school with whatever their year of graduation is. That is our denominator. And so if a kid shows up here a month before, their senior year, a month before graduation, they count towards our total number. The kid who was here their freshman year may be left. We've lost contact sometimes with kids. Those kids still count unless they register in another school. And so it's literally everybody who was here for that four-year time span and did they graduate on that day or by the very first day of school the next year. So we also though calculate the five and six-year graduation rates because those are reported as well. And this will help you when we talk about the rate because one of the years we have a fairly low four-year graduation rate, but you'll see the six-year is not so bad or I think just five-year is not so bad. So I think that's the next slide. Yeah. Yeah, so I'm going to point out 2020-2021, the four-year rate was 77.1%. The Vermont four-year rate was actually lower than it typically is as well. But if you look at our six-year rate already we're up to 88.6% with that group of kids. And so you can see we do a really good job particularly our student services of staying in touch with any student who does not complete high school within the four-year graduation time period to make sure that they have the supports and they have additional ways to get to graduation because there are multiple pathways to do that. So they can go through adult basic ed. There are other programs that are available. Some just simply finish with us do the work that they had not completed yet to show proficiency. And so while we know that we have some low years it certainly is something when you look over the six-year rate we tend to do as well if not better than Vermont as a whole. And so we're pretty proud of that fact. The only thing I would add to that too is that we have kids for whom we know their plans are longer than four years because they have needs and they have goals and objectives they're trying to do. Yeah, Jen's right on that and I forgot to mention it. It's the so students who are part of our transition program don't technically graduate in four years and there's but then they count against us in our graduation rate but they're still here with us doing work learning skills and hopefully graduating within the six-year time span. But there are a few who don't even complete it within the six-year time span because they're continuing in our transition program until their 22nd birthday. Thank you. We're going to talk to you. Oh, I got this one. All right. So this is so every year student services does the survey with students to see whether their plans for what's high school and Lisa actually won't let them get their cap and gown until they complete the survey so we make sure that we get this data. And you can see that the percent of kids attending college has held pretty steady overall. We do see like this year that it's a little bit lower but the percent who are going into employment is up that's where you see the change. Military it fluctuates but it's usually not more than about three and a half percent each year. And then the year off is a gap year. Students reporting that they're going to do some kind of gap year program. And so I mean those numbers hold pretty steady. We do the self-reporting because we also have the clearinghouse data as well and we took it out. That isn't always accurate either but that's what gets reported for kids who go up to college and say that they're willing to be reported to the clearinghouse data. And I will add that the 8.9 percent for the year off many of them it's they've been they've applied and been accepted to school. We work really hard with our students to tell if they want to take a year off to have them still if they're planning on going to school to still apply while they have our support. So many of them apply and then defer. So they'll say if taking a year off and then I'll be going to but it does report as a year off. So this is the school profile that Jen talked about earlier. It lists all the information about U32. It's sent to all of the post-secondary institutions. It's also sent with transcripts with students of students transfer. So it does list the SAT information that you have. On the bottom right hand side you can see part of a high chart which gives you the summary of the class. We added that feature in when we moved to proficiencies to help colleges and institutions see sort of where students stand. And it talks about the you know the different unique features of our school like the TA system branching out pilot and all of the co-curriculars and not the extracurricular piece of it. So we ran this through god I don't know 80 or 90 different college reps three or four different times when we switched to the proficiency system along with our transcripts to make sure that they had all the information they needed to make sure that they understood our system. Next slide. So in on part of the profile we include the colleges that students were accepted to. So this is the list that last year's students were accepted to. I switched a number of years ago before actually even moving here. Instead of the colleges where kids were enrolling is to where they were accepted. Oftentimes students get accepted to school and then for whatever reasons choose to go elsewhere. Oftentimes financial and I think it's a better representation of our academic system as to where students are actually accepted. So this is this year's and then next slide which is updated because we now have this from our current graduates. It's a pretty impressive list every year. Our students get into really good higher ed institutions. And that picture like I don't know if you can for me you can just see how much that student right is the relationship they have with their TA that's the TA that they're hugging on the stage at graduation the other night. So next slide. And then we talked a little bit I think floor talked a little bit about all of the ceremonies. So the first link that's on there is a list to all of the scholarships and awards. It includes the college book awards the key awards all of the senior awards the award that you three two students were given at the Center for Career Center. And then we just going to move into the room watch the video we're going to watch the video. So I want to publicly thank Kirsten Keys who is one of the high school counselors who worked with students this year and last year to have them make testimonials about their future plans. So Mark if you can play the video. Mark is there any way to angle last lately so people can see more of them. The board behind me is about to. Thanks Mark. I'm interested in a variety of different sciences I'm still figuring out which ones but you know research investigation education is my primary interest and I wanted to go to a place where I could my current plan is to go to Princeton University of the vault to study something in the biological or social sciences. I mean interested in a variety of different sciences I'm still figuring out which ones but you know research investigation education is my primary interest and I wanted to go to a place where I could explore that in an academic way most fully looking to maybe be a professional researcher or professor after school. I enjoy research I enjoy science the most that the two great interests that I have right now that could potentially be a you know career or life path are acting and research and I think the stress of an acting career really the experience of acting so I'm quite excited about coming in for the research. I'm parents of my counselors for the actual college admissions process itself but from an academic perspective which is what I've really needed to do everything I've needed to do to to be at the level I think I need to be for top research university. I'm extremely grateful to our pilot director our pilot program I'm a full-time pilot student this year I've been a half-time pilot student for the last two years and the flexibility and guidance that I've had there to pursue my own course of study is what I attribute to my success so far. Designing and managing your own course of study is a lot of work it's a lot more demanding to do advanced coursework in any independent study than in a regular class because you don't have other people planning it out for you it's it's it's you know greater effort that you have to put in but you get more out of it because the result can be you can work more efficiently it's more personalized to your experience so managing that setting my pace balancing the amount of work I do to keep moving forward in the amount of exploration I get to do is it's very tricky to manage but the research experiences I've had the experiments I've created everything that I've done along the way has been a lot more sophistication education is my primary interest and I want to go to a place where I can if you explore that in an academic way he was pretty much yeah so it's about about 240-245 I think and let's see where we end up with sorry yeah Jack was just about done there you go I'm trying to get someone for the online but if you turn that on I can feedback so just give me one more second to try to resolve that I'm not sure I'm not sure I'm not sure do you want me to do it play it for the folks here physically and we can post the video later folks on the screen can watch it later all right little things like how you know what works for me you've set goals and deadlines and you know what I'm motivated by and lots of little steps about teaching myself things which pilot kind of forces you to figure that out about yourself but also in a larger sense I've had a lot more time and not a lot more time I've been quite busy but I've found a lot about what I actually want out of life and leave the opportunity to explore a bit more to figure out what it is in my work that feels satisfying to me and what I want to keep pursuing and what is not the kind of life I want to leave current plan is to progress up the dominoes chain so as of right now I'm working as a shift manager and the main encouragement that I've had to progress to the chain is my bosses they've like encouraged me they show me like that it came to be enjoyable although like you have to get busy and everything it's hard work but it pays off and I've made great bonds with like my co-workers and my managers over the last almost two years so it's very beneficial I decided to do this like I said because of my bosses the like I've learned very strong work ethic from working at dominoes and I've just decided like I was like yeah this is all I do I already know just about everything to do inside the dominoes store so like I know I've run the place I know how to close and open and I really like working up to all highlights and challenges would be like how fast I've gotten at making food I've gotten incredibly fast over the last like two years so that's that was one of like a challenge at first was learning how to be able to like make food and not over top or under top and like perfectly top and so go fast and keep up other challenge was like learning new tricks to help things go faster even more smoothly another challenge might have been like making sure I don't miscount the tail at the end when I want to closing or making sure my prep is done in the morning while I open main highlights would definitely be the bonds I've made with co-workers over the last two years and not just one store but at least three yeah so that's that's a big part of the highlights and challenges I've learned that I have like pretty good strong work ethic and that I like working a lot could piece me off you buy a piece out of my house gives me something to do other than sitting inside just like that we all love money so obviously running money is a big beneficial factor I don't think I really know anything else for myself just the fact that I like to work and I like my job well my current plan is I want to take at least a year off hopefully two I've been starting a little artery business with a few other friends who graduated last year hopefully gonna make some money those three students and then go to University of Maine or no forestry during COVID I spent a lot of time inside and realized that I really needed that and wanted to get outside more and slowly build a really rebuild a really deep love that I have the outdoors that I had a child kind of rekindled it a little bit and realized that I find I need to go on a career path so I can be outside it's really good for my mental health that I'm really passionate about conservation and so I felt like I can make a difference and I have to be really interested in civil culture and forestry and forest management so I decided that for sure it would be a good thing um big one with my counselor Nate he really helped me out with realizing that hey taking a gap here is fine it doesn't make you any less of a good candidate and I also a lot of other people including my parents who never really put any pressure on me and it was like you need to go to school you need to get this degree you need to do this you need to make a lot of money um was really helpful um Amy Kaye in the pilot room has been super instrumental in making sure that I can learn what I need to learn I give the opportunity to find out that I can really love being outside and being in the forest uh yeah I think that's it a big highlight is just the ability to just kind of relax after high school I don't need to go straight uh into more school which I'm really excited about for me one of the biggest factors was a money uh and be that I just need a break um it's a lot of school schools that were easy for me whether it's up in the pilot program because I don't learn really well in a traditional sense so it was kind of an uphill battle all the time so I'm excited to kind of relax after a little while and go back to school when I'm excited um but a challenge that is definitely the anxiety that comes with that going right back into school I mean I'm not gonna it's a little it's a little weird um it's not the traditional path especially because once I leave school like you don't necessarily can't just go hey I'm gonna go to Nate's office to get some college help um so it is a little there's a little bit of anxiety comes with that but other than that it's been pretty easy and I've been supported by everyone here at school it's pretty awesome on the two plus two pathway it's uh CCB to UBM so yeah it's basically two years spent at CCB doing like the uh basic classes need out of the way and you keep up a certain GPA and then you transfer over from CCB to UBM afterwards and then you continue specific classes to finish your degree and I I was not a hundred percent on you know college and I was ify I wanted to do when I saw this as like an opportunity to save a bunch of money and get college going straight out of high school just what you know is the ideal situation for me saving a bunch of money and getting my degree yeah at first was my dad straight away he was like oh I would have a hundred percent done this when I was younger and then my mom jumped into and you know every any teacher that I tell about you know my path for next year they're like that's really smart you're gonna save a lot of money so just like anyone around me really has like supported the uh decision so I'd say the highlights are just how easy it's been to contact like CCB guys and the flexibility of the classes that I'll have for next year and it's it has been pretty smooth you know I've been staying in contact with my counselor mate and he's been giving me great information on it so that's all been good highlights but I'd say some like struggles would be just like you know what classes I need to be taking and um which ones are gonna cross over well do enrollment too I've been doing that this year to get some stuff out of the way for next year and that's been tough at times to kind of for it to be in the background like after school okay now I gotta do my intro to psychology class which I'm going to psychology and um that's been tough at times but it's been a good challenge so I learned that if there's an opportunity that I can take that will be an advantage for my future self I'll take it this is a great example it said it's gonna save me a bunch of money it's going to be very flexible and I can shake uh like my classes for the way I want them to be um it's going to be a good challenge uh yeah so just taking good opportunity for myself that's the end of the video that was great um again huge thanks to garrison keys in the school counseling department for putting that together for us our students for being willing to be interviewed for that purpose and Urs is going to just talk us through what this might mean for the school board is our sound back on for isn't the owl still muted it's red good observation don't know why can you hear us now and then my next slide is our last one so this is where often talks about what the school board role is going to be with learning these this information and so the monitoring of student learning outcomes hopefully board members ask good questions um but supporting student services the exploration and support of flexible student opportunities and we kind of do this what else so that this is like our presentation to the board on the post-secondary outcomes and you get to ask us questions a lot of you were there so if you have questions for research even or me we're happy to answer them I'm also paying attention to the time so yeah yeah we were hoping to be done with this far by 6 10 this is Tina and we have a full room I think if there's any clarifying questions for yeah I guess I would say if there's information you would like to see in next year's presentation or the next time it comes back around feel free to email me thank you thank you everybody coming out for our presentation don't go anywhere because you're gonna love the next one okay so let's move right into the results of the board is attendance of the central office report you guys had a scan I'll let you do some highlights and then maybe moving to questions yeah the the thing that I was going to highlight is just there's an update in here around strategic planning where it's sort of coming to the end of the first phase which is a really high level what are the hopes and dreams that that information will then feed into some vision and core beliefs drafts that will then come back to various community stakeholders and different types of engagement for phase two that are really more targeted specific focus group more conversations and I would just highlight that we had a steering strategic planning steering committee meeting this week where we just talked about being really thoughtful about designing that next round of engagement so that we have a really full you know full and robust amount of input and also had a good conversation that I think this board will think about particularly at the retreat around the board is a focus group in and of itself for one thing so how do we plan adequate time for that into the work plan but just in general how do we engage the board in the strategic planning so happy to answer questions or I don't know floor sorry have anything to add around that piece also I can't answer the question run anything else in the whole report you well I'm just I've seen people come in and I'm hoping that you're signing on your name and your email address it's this is perfect for our focus groups so it's great data for us to use so please we're excited to to have you here and I don't really have anything to add on the city friends it's like how hopeful we are that we're going to get more engagement just so you guys know we had just 130 responses to our survey for strategic planning so we're hoping that you know we can engage more people to our focus groups yeah I want to reiterate that the sense of that we did we've done a fair amount in phase one but we need to do more and I think we're going to need to ask you for some specific help and that would be organizing focus groups identifying who are experts in the goal areas that we're setting and just generally getting a word out so we need to be specific with you and I think we need your help on phase two begins when we're sort of in it now sort of we're kind of in between so the end of phase one is the analysis of the data and that kicks off the engagement on the results so we're in between phase one two and it kind of goes through the first couple months of the school year during those specific math it'd be cool to have somebody like if I'm hosting like people or whatever like somebody yeah absolutely yeah well we even talked about and I'm not getting ahead of what the board decides because it's what you all decide but we could use work plan time also to run a training about how to run a focus group so that you all have the same message right like we couldn't fake that into our work plan to reveal yeah any other questions and the reports help that's called standing are the steering committee meetings public uh they're not yeah public and public for us to crash I guess it's another question we would be happy for you to crash that's a good question the we can update the website with the dates um they're not like it's not a it's not like a meeting that needs to be publicly warned but we certainly would be happy to publish the dates for sure yeah that's a good suggestion yeah and I think what makes the most sense is like how do we best not waste your time right so how do we best focus on the the need is great so how do we best use it to partner in especially those focus groups to try to you be our messengers with the community right so how to engage the community rather than you know the busy work right because it's divided into different categories right so facilitators who are data analyzers who are you know so but yeah we'll do better in communicating with you guys but like Kari said we're going to need you if there's no other questions we're going to move into the central Vermont Career Center report I was thinking that I was going to skip it but I don't want to skip it I apologize for people online because you again might not be able to hear it our reports for the central Vermont Career Center again it's going to be a five minute video and because we have a lot of community members I think you guys we really appreciate this so we're going to go ahead and I don't want to skip it okay so Mark we can we move the screen again again I apologize for the people online and we can end it right at the five minutes to Mark okay we are no no no no start at the beginning and end that by sound My name is Jerry Ramour, I'm the staff coordinator at Central Vermont Career Center. The students are going to take away from this and what they're getting me deep into is a couple different avenues. There's the problem that we're trying to solve, the technology of it. We've got students working from the electrical department, the digital media arts, the building trades program, all working together to try to solve this. What's interesting is the collaboration between programs. So we have obviously the students in electrical, but we also have people again. Building trades that are looking at how do we construct a mobile unit or a stationary unit and figuring out what's best, what's most useful. I'm a market man, I'm a literacy interventionist here at the Tech Center. My name is William Gilbert, I go spotting high school and I'm part of the building trades tech class here at CBTCC. My role has essentially been the foreman or whatnot. I've been appointed to help with schedules and catalogs, helping spread out work. We have an electrical student and we have two building trades students here. The electrical guy has been wiring everything up, so make sure that we have flow going through everything and it's properly working. My name is Beau Ferber and I'm an electrical program at CBTCC, the Central Vermont Career Center. So the wiring that we're doing, we are going to try to connect the jackery that we have to a GFCI because it has to be weather proof to be outside. Currently I'm working on sort of figuring out the best angles that the radius of the sun can hit on the panels. Now me and the other building trades guy, we have been setting up the structure and the solar panels so that it can work properly. And we've made it where it can hit so we can have the most sun exposure it can, so that it can be as efficient as it can be. My name is Cooper Bernaschi and I am from the electrical technology program. The other programs has been pretty good. I don't fully understand the purpose of some of the things that the building trades has done, but we have different sort of codes and coordinates that I have to follow. So I guess it's all a learning process for both of us or in different fields. So I think it will turn out well. The collaboration part of all this has been a little bit difficult. We have to go between teachers and different students to make sure that we all have a general understanding. That's all the same. But another one of our challenges was when we first came together and talked about an idea, we got one set up to do it as we are now. We changed the design multiple times on them. So we had meetings without them there and we changed the design without them knowing. So what happened here? Why was it this way? They wanted to do it where the solar panels hinge at the very top, but it's not an eight foot and eight foot like this. It's four foot, four foot, and they're right next to each other. So we tried doing that, but at the top it would cause it to go up or whatnot too much and it would start to kind of put too much pressure on stuff so it couldn't do it. What we're trying to see is was the jackery better to be plugged in to the building itself? Based on the data, we could say that eliminating the jackery just being plugged in to the building. We had a seven percent increase on the battery. I think that the jackery, it charged it better. It went insane a lot of time, it charged it more. But as it became a battery, it goes from 100 to zero. Rather than being into a wall that doesn't really have a run-out of energy within certain limitations. But when you add a solar arm, it seemed to help keep the jackery charged a little bit more throughout it, but not enough to make a huge difference. I'm curious why we have a three percent decrease when it was with the solar. So that needs me to believe, even though it's showing that the solar panels are charging the jackery, I would say we don't have a charge of the jackery with the solar panels based on data. For charging purely on the jackery, we had to stop at the middle because it couldn't keep on during it at some point. But it does go for an hour and 13 minutes whereas with solar, it went for five minutes longer. But yes, it did have three percent less charge in the car. I would say that it was due to just temperature and heat outside and losing efficiency because that was outside, rather than being in the order to the cooler environment where the jackery also is out, but it's only one percentage to keep something cool. Yeah, that's a great point. And I also know some electric cars charge more efficiently on a lower percentage. When you get in the higher percentages, it charges slower because it doesn't want to burn it up. We spent about three weeks working on it. Materials roughly cost around $3,483. The cost of labor would have been around $400, so if you add that up, it would have been $3,883. We came up with a better design for the next time. The idea is to make it waterproof from the outdoor elements. I would like to see it become like a yearly project almost because it's interesting to go through and do and especially when you get to different designs off of it. Thank you, Mike. That's good. So this was a grant that the career center got through the agency of education and all of the professors you were seeing there, Dimitri, and all of the building trades working together. The problem was there's no, and even things have been built one for here too. There's no charging station for the career center for electric cars. So that was the problem. They were trying to do something portable. They were going to try to use a regulation, but then in third range, so they couldn't use the unit groups to have. But it's a great, you know, it's a great example of collaboration, a real life experience, finishing a project and also what happened in, you know, not just in the building trades, but in life of, you know, having to work with each other and communicate. And we all have different expertise. So I thought that what better report from the career center to end the year than the video. And Bo, who was highlighted there, one of the electric students, it's one of her students, and he also got the award. I'm forgetting the name of the award for the award of the students of that best represented people looking at this guy, the best represented spirit of the career center, because he's always like the ambassador. He's taken every class. And now it's really committed into efficient. Okay. Okay. Thank you everybody for allowing us this time. I hope you enjoyed the video too. So let's move right into financing. I'm looking for a motion to award the revenue anticipation note on page seven. Can I have some help? I moved that the board from the revenue anticipation note for an amount not to exceed 3 million and 316,745 dollars investment, he named bank and authorized the board chair to sign all documents on behalf of the board. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Any discussions, questions from board members, Hearing none. All those things just to say to them to them in the last column that's estimated net profit minus the cost Yeah of the transaction whatever And I also have documents for you all to sign actually tonight not just the chair because you need bank requires a majority of the board That's what they kind of Yeah, that we will send around with a pen after you take the action. Yeah, and yeah, there's a couple we'll give you instructions There's a couple of things in the folder. So all those in favor of the motion as read by also first let's second by Daniel to signify by saying I any oppose Any abstentions hearing none the motion carries a Moving to the next one upper as a scope The big documents are on page eight for all the projects If I have a little chair and then we'll discuss that Move us along. I move the board authorize the use of capital reserve funds not to exceed 30 000 dollars To develop a necessary scope budget and to pay documents for the utility generator project in fiscal year 2023 2024 And fiscal year 2024 2025 approved capital proc capital improvement projects Thank you versa. Thank you. Natasha. Any discussion questions from board members? I know that was kind of the mouthful All of our other schools have generators Yes, yes, all of our schools have generators. Yeah Yeah And the part that was missing for rummy is now being replaced so all of them have working generators Okay, hey all those in favor please signify by saying I I Any abstain hearing none the motion carries If we're down to by 1.3 authorize the superintendent to award bits for the wood chips They have a motion I move that the board award the bid to supply fuel for the wood chip boilers that can you see us D for fiscal year 23 24 As you know, there's no forest product for 72 dollars a ton. Thank you, Daniel second Thank you, Fred Any discussion or questions? Being none all those in favor, please signify by saying I post Any abstention hearing none that I have it the motion carries Okay, now we're going to be moving into our policy committee discussion Chris, I'm going to pass it to you and then I'll ask for a motion. So we have two policies up for consideration. Uh, thanks to the legislature We have The F3 is the fire and emergency preparedness drugs policy and we Access control and visitor management policies We're somewhat under the gun because it's time to be passed by all this current of this year So we reach out to our council because we also have a 10 day notice provision that we are not able to meet To order to fully pass them. So our council recommended that we provisionally approved the these policies at this meeting and then Reapproved them when we meet again in august and that seems like that would cover our basis. So I was welcome a motion to Put F3 and Both and discussion I'll make I'll make a motion to adopt Yes, adopt Policies f3 and f4. Thank you. Wendy a second seven Any comments or concerns the policy of April pretty much has model policies. We made minor adjustments to F4 taking out what we didn't do Circumstances but other than that, uh, people there are unchanging. So my question is on f4 So they said you changed that but not that how you changed it But what does it mean to say that all members of the district are responsible for the same security? Well, just kind of putting it a more open active Oh, he's so active Emphasis on that as opposed to the passive which is the sentence Who are the who are the members of the district? And I'm silly question. Well, it's it's all of our community members our staff members Everyone has a role in ensuring that we're safe So it's kind of like see it do something see it say something. So it's kind of that emphasis on on school safety Okay Yeah on f3 yeah Under administrative responsibilities number five we have the board shall be informed if any changes Make the plan after review it has to be reviewed regularly Will we be informed of the plan like is that going to be part of the process that we get like a copy of the plan? Yes, and the initial plan. Yes I have to correct myself. We didn't make that change for Right. Yeah. Yeah Yes The other question Okay, well those seem favor-pissing it by by saying hi Any opposed Any extension if three and f4 had been adopted We had the equity policy but not for any action because we had only just Actually, it is second reading We didn't make any changes to it after last month's conversation. So we have next up our district equity policy c29 for action Then I'll make a motion to adopt policy c29 For district equity policy Thank you. Thank you any further discussion other than what we already had I just wonder about is it wise to include language about the Humanity and Justice Coalition in this policy Will it always be around? Right. That's more of a procedure I'm with but since it's an accident to in terms of the Humanity and Justice Policy I commune in a five-year facility That's why I think we wanted it there and know what the advice is in reporting and maybe go ahead Well, I was just going to add one of the things that we added to this policy is Especially right now the idea that it's iterative and that we would likely review this one every year in the beginning because it's evolving That might give us the opportunity to fix that because I think it's a good, I think it's a good question and I think we've also written it in a way that says we'll catch that in our annual review At least in the short term To a specific point if the Humanity and Justice Coalition Somehow ceased to be there is no required action on on their part. It is advisory. Yeah, we just don't do anything Absolutely All right, well, all those in favor of adopting our equity policy as noted by lindy and second by maggi Be signified by saying aye Any opposed Any abstentions I have congratulations everybody. Thank you. Thank you chris. You've been Working on this for a while. It's a big It's a very proud Okay Now that's moving to board operations We that was part of that little change in the agenda. We have the berlin nature Trails and again, you have the extensive I can speak to that. Um, so we were approached by One of the organizations working on the berlin town center project asking if the district which really is the board Would sign a letter of support for future Walking trails being developed between the town center and the school And you have a draft of what that letter could look like in the packet We did speak with our attorney and from his perspective This is a general signal of support that he would be comfortable if the board so chooses to do that The point at which we would actually be talking about walking trails There may need to be a discussion about whether or not that would require a vote frankly But that that His perspective is that um signing this letter supporting the concept of walking trails doesn't set you up for any future Um decision in other words, you'd be able once once they're at the point of actually building them you'd be picking that Discussion up again, so that sounds worded. It depends to work exactly. Yeah. Yeah Is there a recommended action here? Yes, it's a recommended action will be to authorize the chair to sign the letter And I was just going to ask we're talking about our land or because of the land being Ah, good question. Originally, this would be different because this would be land that is ours that that this walking trail would cross Which is why before anything happened And We'd be back at this board would be discussing that and our attorney believes that may even at that point may require a vote Of the town's Uh, the town's potentially that's what they that's what he would be in the world Yeah, oh Correct because it's district land Just like just like you needed a vote To transfer that parcel. So this is a great question. This is a different because this is really just And I should say From the perspective of the berlin principle in our facilities It probably has been dangerous for there to be a path between a bunch of new housing and our So the concept is certainly something that So this is coming to us because it crosses our of our something yeah, yeah, and That's the only concern council believes that that use would be consented with our agreement With the date that we signed Yes, that that use of walking trails. Yeah, yeah Because this letter is being initiated by us And I thought number one or did they come to us they came to us. Yeah Yeah, and it's it's one of the organizations down streets the street housing. Yeah, so it's one of the working with We make one change Berlin elementary school is located within Long distance You want to make a motion term? I move to authorize the board chair to sign this letter with the amendments for text Thank you. Jonas. Thank you. Ursula. I just want to check with you. Lisa. You've got that. Yes. Thank you All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed Hearing none, the motion carries I can hear you, Eric. Thank you Okay, and then we have the other I can take this one too. Yeah, so the next item Actually something that would normally be on the consent agenda, but it landed under board operations So I figured I'll explain it every year. We write the ID of the grant which is special education and federal funding and there is a need to for the board to Frankly, it's pro forma authorize the board chair to sign the assurances packet So that packet was in your revised packet And it is simply saying that that floor is authorized by the board to say that we will be compliant with federal law and using these funds So again, that's why it would normally be under consent agenda, but since this year So the motion would be to Yeah, to sign it All right, board chair to sign the idea of the local education agency plan Thank you Jonas. That was a second by Any other discussion or questions being non? All those in favor, please signify by saying aye Any opposed any abstentions hearing none the motion carries. Thank you everybody. So we Well, let's do this last part of that with us. Let's move right into the consent agenda I'm looking for a motion to approve minutes You need to approve minutes of age 24 to 23 Jonas Daniel that was you Any discussion any revisions to the minute? Seeing none. Hey, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye Any abstentions None the motion carries And now lindy should I put you in the spot? Okay, I'm looking for a motion to approving our board orders I have a question about The can they be done as a block of each Section. Yes. Okay. Yeah I make a motion to accept the new teacher nominations for 23 24. No, no, no. Hey board boarder I don't have those. Oh, okay. So I was ready for the next one. Okay, here's Sorry, I didn't have much to do there Is that okay? Yes I'm in it may approve the board orders For june 1st 2023 to june 21st 2023 a total amount of 525,723 dollars and 15 cents We'll take the number again first 500 and 525 723 and 15 cents Can we move the board to go? Yeah, is that a Yeah, and I move that we approve the orders for May 18 through May 31st Any total amount of 330 413 and 90 cents Thank you. We're so that a second Any questions because I had a chance to see them Okay, there's no questions. Uh, all those in favor of facing me five by saying aye. Hi. Hi Eric anybody suppose any abstention seeing none before orders have been approved So with that I'm going to ask the folder. There's two they're marked And then there is the the sign for the berlin The berlin action and the passing of the patient. So please I'm just gonna Start it at the corner there Stick the panel in it. Oh, yes. Take your pants. Yeah Pass it down. Thank you There's a lot to pick on so now yes, lindy. Let's move into personnel All right Um, I make a motion to accept the new teacher nominations for the 23 24 school year which include Nathaniel Schwartz library technology integrationist at callas Lydia faze nurse adodi michelle lynch part-time pre-k teacher at romney Christina collard interventionist at adi Thank you, zindi I have All those in favor facing me five. I think I Oh, sorry question. Sorry yeah, um It might be my fault. Um I feel as if there might have been a couple stop changes at callas That might have been enough to graduation or Or maybe you can't remember. I just heard them through for the callas community chatter or was This is all to say I'm interested in knowing sort of all of the staff turnover having some record of all of the staff turnover for the year Made available to us. Is that something that could be put together without too much difficulty? Well, you have it in every month's update because every Resignation that occurs. So you'll get the ones like this is the list that has happened between last board meeting and this board meeting so, um, I mean Melissa could create one list based on all those but if you want it in the month like more immediate It's in it's in these packets in each one, but I can have Melissa So I didn't see something Who could I inquire about what whatever public information is available because if a community member asks me A situation I'd start with cat or well at least that was a respective principle for sure because sometimes Uh, sometimes you haven't officially seen the resignation of the board sometimes Uh, Vermont's a small place Sometimes things come out before they're intended to be public But if I think starting with the principle as I always say, I'm happy to answer questions to you No, that's okay, okay Lindy moved Okay, you seconded and we're in discussion. Yeah, so So hold on one second. Okay, go ahead Yeah, please The public the Doting interventional position Christina Pollard the pre-cable teacher. She Is this in addition to good question or it's a point five position So it she is it fits into her teacher level fde. She Christina current position is partially Early yet in partially cc. Can you Addition to her current pre-cable. It would be in addition to her current pre-cable. Therefore letting go of her cc portion But I just wanted to say, you know Christie's was a board member briefly. He's like a great child and Cody. I just wanted to see how great that is And I have nothing but you know Respect and admiration for anyone. I wonder if the composition of the interview committee Was was entirely maybe there was someone else Oh All those in favor of approving our new teacher nominations for the school year 23 24, please see me by by saying I Any oppose attention and now the motion carries if Indeed my principal I make a motion to accept the new principal nomination for this year 23 24 at Berlin elementary seal your Second Thank you Any discussion I would like to ask Superintendent, uh, just a couple of questions. We you know, we received some communication from Some people some staff at Berlin were not happy with the decision that was made So I just in an open session wanted to ask the superintendent Do we have a procedure in the process for hiring? Including for for for principles and was that process and that and those procedures followed correctly? Yes, I'm happy to describe the process if that would be helpful to the board. Um, so for principles um I use an external search consultant So we contracted with Jay Nichols of the Vermont principal's association. He facilitated the process The interview committee is convened. It had a faculty support staff district staff community members including parents We and that the charge of that committee is to support the interview process and provide input And they're charged with providing the superintendent two candidates There were five candidates selected for a first round interview. That is a pretty good number for this time of year We had a strong candidate pool. We ultimately interviewed four because one did withdraw Two were moved forward to the second round There were community and school based forums and this is the nominee Um, what we is giving to staff um So for for the uh, the committee. Yeah, I would say the the pieces of input is the person's background experience uh The answers to the questions and both rounds of interviews the forum reference checks forums of both faculty and staff So I don't know that I off the top of my head would say Any one I I don't know that I have Percentages assigned to each I take it all and sort of weigh it all based on all the information Is it clear to the staff that the ultimate decision rests with the superintendent? Or do they feel that it is from our Lord Can't answer that question for the staff I can tell you that the committee was very clear because that Description of their charge was part of jay's initial work with them Any other questions? How many from an educators or staff or on the committee three two teachers one support staff two hands And just how many How many things It seemed like a lot of staff members That's a good question. I don't know off the top of my head. Thank you Okay Both hearing none other questions all those in favor please signify by saying I Hi Any of both any abstentions your thing When abstention you get that maybe maybe I mean it was that yeah, okay All right, so the motion carry. Thank you everybody and welcome Celia. We're very excited to have A new member of the leadership team a retirement That's okay I that's actually not it's good for her. I make a motion to accept the retirement of robin gannon even eastmont failure classroom teacher for over 40 years and with great appreciation for her teaching second And daniel and yeah, I had a little piece but we're already late But exactly what you were saying if robin gannon had served out this for 40 years A lot of you are familiar with she's been really Carried on the science part in a lot of her elementary schools and not just You know robin gannon will be missing but robin rainbow will be missing from our science lessons So thank you as a scan on personal years of service Okay, we don't have any rehires All those in favor please signify by saying I I Any opposed any ascensions hearing none the motion carry Okay, resignations I make a motion to accept the following resignations Um, Karen whiteman principal at rillernan jeremy ovoli p.e. Health at e 32 mary bough english teacher any 32 Julie marie bristol special ed teacher berlin callas Deanna murray pre-k teacher rungney Sandra wetsel special ed teacher berlin Shannon miller classroom teacher berlin Jake plugh school counselor you 32 Thank you then be a second Second thank you bertha Any questions or discussion None I'm gonna vote against one. So do I do that separately or how do we do that? There's all for desolation I'm just gonna I just just offer this statement and I'll yeah All those all those in favor please signify by saying I Except for for me from rungney her resignation i'm not accepting not that it can be forced to stay but She's a wonderful asset for the rungney community and I don't want to see we go right Any abstention hearing none the motion carried. Thank you everybody a and then Any they can see updates I don't work so the there are There was some of these resignations prompted. We do have a couple of Hires those revocable resignations particularly again in the area of special ed. Um, we also have a classroom teacher at berlin So we are moving through the hiring process. Um, it again candidate bull has been better this year We are late. These are now at this point likely positions that would be hired after july 1 Which we had quite a bit of last year But we are moving candidates forward pretty quickly The pool is Pool is still okay Okay, so then so we can move into our next part agenda Our our future agenda items with specific reminders. Everybody we're having a retreat in august August 8th I know that that they can are worth a couple of you but Part of size people that hadn't been pretty 24 So we're looking forward to seeing you then it's again at the nature center and you'll get more information We're not gonna So the fourth calendar right now, but we as you know, we're gonna try to Put in some of the strategic planning for the fourth calendar. We're gonna be talking about the fourth calendar at our retreat We felt that we could get that tonight and move into 11 our non-discipline and very masculine branding I was gonna feed the board just like in the public like five minutes We've been sitting for a while to just quickly use the restroom and be back here at 7 o'clock Bye that works for everybody Start your rights. Please make sure that you sign That form and share your email Okay, are we ready? So we're we're gonna move into one of the last parts of our agenda And we're gonna talk about our non-discriminatory masculine branding discussion that we think hadn't for the last few meetings I wanted to make a decision tonight because we have had new people join and as we speak people are joining the the waiting room the waiting of the Meeting and we have had people come in so the meeting of some of you miss sort of like the beginning I'm not gonna do the whole introduction. Don't worry board members But I just wanted to you know first a read just that Ask our equity policy and I know that a lot of people You know didn't had a chance to have the packet or read what that equity policy I'm not going to attempt to read the entire equity policy But I just want to read a brief part which is really the purpose Of the of the equity policy and the and it says the washington central unified union school district Is dedicated to taking concrete actions to provide a safe and supportive and learning environment that is free of barriers One that affirms the identity of each of us and acknowledges and celebrates differences to create a sense of belonging for each person connected to our schools The school district is committed to creating inclusive educational opportunities that are relevant both historically and culturally Addressing the impacts of bias prejudice and discrimination while bringing more opportunity for us to thrive Our commitment is to the development of cultural humility and personal growth That is best supported in a climate that respects differences and provides a sense of belonging and inclusion So with that as I said at the beginning, I hope that we can hold space for each other and find hope and courage and joy in the present and the future and and I think the entire board here is committed to making a impact that not just for today, but for the future of our school and and shaping Shaping the future for all our kids and board leadership Matters So with that, we're going to use Tonight a particle that a our kids and not our kids our Teachers we have a class every year and I actually should let either Natasha or Jen or Or my he took the class a talk a little bit about it But every year shelly vermelia our equity scholar it teaches a class U32 And it's it's basically a racial gender and the intersection of that with justice And and we have last year We had several teachers take the class last year. I took the class this year We have both the ugly buggy and Natasha are taking the class and Jen So we wanted they developed this traditions protocol that we then adapted it in the memo that we sent to the board And I was wondering either either of the two board members or Jen if you wouldn't mind Sharing a little bit of how you came up with this traditional protocol So we offer this class every year and we have a class legacy project It's actually with it. It was the genesis of the commanding and justice coalition all those years ago That is an advisory obviously serving as an invite in an advisory capacity So this year we happened to have class on Valentine's Day and we weren't sure what our legacy project was going to be and we had heard a bit about the tradition of carnations at at high school and a lot of us Were called similar traditions in our schools and when we were growing up and how we felt and that was really a catalyst for us thinking about all of the traditions and actions and And pretty beloved things that have happened that may or may not be beloved by everybody and as we continue to live into Our humanity and gender commitment statement and continue to learn and grow as the school community and society at large we wanted a way to just Establish it a way to reflect through with an equity lens pause and take stock of what we're doing why we're doing it Analyze it through the lens of some equity questions that were the ones that we used for our school community equity book groups for staff in our faculty Hear from students to hear what they had to say and then have that inform our actions so we can figure out Is this the line with our values and are we going to continue it as it should be Adapt your change part of it to be a better alignment with our values or should we abandon it and So it's by way of introduction. I'd obviously that is How do you want to still in anything We practice we choose it Right, we did it over the course of of February until May end of the class and then presented it very quickly to the leader 15 for a continued dialogue down the line So what what I what I did was, you know, Megan and Carrie was like adapt is the Frigid protocol so that we could have an equity lens that we could so we could have like the blueprint to to look at The decision that we have in front of us tonight So with with that we're going to use this first part just to have a discussion As as a board and then we're going to move into public comments So don't worry you'll have a chance to to comment and after we have received the public comments the board will will vote in any questions on the procedure Or From having the discussion about the public Well, it's not a good thing. I think we should have discussion after the public comments the board discussed Because they were losing a piece of information that we don't otherwise have And that's sorry. Maybe I made a confusion here. We're just gonna we're just gonna go through the through the protocol Just quickly as a board Then we're gonna hear the comments from the public And then we're gonna move into into still more discussion Yeah into more discussion and then we'll make the decision I think the idea is that the traditions protocol will inform the board and the public You know how to Use the equity lens and then we it's not that we're not gonna The idea is to use their input and the input that we have received and the input of the people that are not here Party discussion with laws. Okay. Sorry. Yes. Yeah, sorry, but I didn't mean to do that. So Let's move into You know, we're gonna ask ourselves tonight, you know, they I'm just gonna go one by one. We put it in there. So, you know, we're the raiders and the night And we're gonna ask ourselves today. What is the identity of u32 and what is the purpose of this master and a name? Right, you know, you guys had had a chance to Think that through and if you have any comments I can just keep going down and you feel your little table by yourselves, but I would love to hear some thoughts Otherwise I could keep moving Okay, sorry, yeah, that's one of my friends and I was asking that at the beginning, but did you hear the beginning at least? Yeah Okay Yeah, so I get I stand up right now and get a little closer. So we're gonna be asking ourselves What is the identity of u32 and what is the purpose of this master and name, right? So I was wondering if the board members had some some thoughts in You know, what is the purpose and for what we've been learning not just your thoughts But what we've been learning from the kids for the conversations that have been having What I'm okay with that one Yeah, I think the board wants to hear from the public You guys are gonna be heard from this but then ask yourselves and adjust the board for the public as yourself It's the name of the mask that's free of life, right? I know that not everybody has a chance to have the packet. We try to put it The Damascus or the name even the relationship With our students and among our students This name or mascot activity disrupts systems of oppression and I know that that is the hard one to but you know, just have it on your mind This name or mascot activity centers multiple perspectives and avoid marginalizing or pressing others And then again, what does the students have to say about this? And then consider the thought Well, you're giving us your testimony or your input which aspects of the existing name can ensure the The prohibition of the school branding that directly or indirectly references other characteristics Let's say I have a type of that references stereotypes A and like the speakers of symbols for traditions or characteristics that are specific to this name or branding Might we keep as we actualize our commitment to humanity and justice? Sorry, that was enough Which aspects of this branding might be tweaked or modified as we actualize our commitment to humanity and justice? And which aspects of this branding might be stopped or abandoned as we actualize our commitment to the united justice? And I know that this sounds redundant, but think about the students think about, you know What do you want our students to be? What wouldn't be one person to represent? What does it mean for our students? And after considering this Questions let's open it up to public comments And what what we're going to do is we're going to stick to the two minutes because I don't know how many of you Can can you guys raise your hand who's hoping to speak? So that I have an idea of so we have one two three four five six Okay And and I'm going to do and then I'm going to do that online too So online could you guys raise your hand if you're planning to speak? Your electronic band your electronic band or yeah, because I don't see all of you What if we just have clarifying questions? Yeah, you can be part of that too, but if you have a clarifying question by all means george as your clarifying question Now, yeah, because I'm more interested in the research That you did within the student body I'm interested in the research into the reader's name I'm interested in the board's thought of what a reader is I'm interested in who's Apprended by this and why? So so that that is sort of part of the public comment and then we can and we I think I can have a better insight. I got a better conversation Regarding all of this once I know that information George we went through that in a previous meeting. We had an extensive presentation by the students Right that's that but that was before and this is now. So we've gotten this far So Yes, I think we received a student report right that showed that in very broad strokes The students don't really care about the mascot at all. Well that nobody really Yeah, so wait, wait, wait, wait, wait Nobody nobody showed this There's not there's not a strong There's not a strong opinion in favor of changing it. There's not a strong opinion that It is offensive in in any way And there didn't seem to be a strong opinion about the mascot at all I believe there was a question like does this represent you or does it improve your school spirit? And the answer was was not no So so to answer a couple of those questions. I don't think anybody's offended There there there is a complaint was brought to us And at that first meeting when we heard from the students There was a strong opinion on the board that the second part of the policy that the mascot that the branding the Raider name was in violation of the second part of the policy There are two parts of the policy A the race creed so it isn't the branding is in violation of the policy if a The race creed color national origin sexual orientation or gender identity of any person Of persons that that represents and the board found that it did not violate that okay, the second part of the policy is That it features the likenesses of the likeness feature symbol traditions or other characteristics that are specific to be any person group of persons or organization associated with the repression of others and when the board discussed that We the there was a straw hole taken that and the majority of the board found that the Raiders name was Inherently violent and that violence imagery indicated oppression. So that's what we're talking about So number one does it violate the policy? Do we and do we change the name right? So there's been a and there's been a lot of conversation about that and Between that first meeting and now a number of board members seem to have changed their position And no longer find no longer believe that that necessarily violates that part of the policy Thank you for that So so without just even clarifying more we're we're gonna have you Do your You know do your public comments and then but we're not going to get in a back and forth with if I just For clarity it would be a conversation of the board. So with that. I don't have a Many hands up online. So let's get started with with the public And if you could like just standing line one behind each other and you have two minutes And we're gonna start a timer. Please introduce yourself And then and and the timer will get started once you have introduced yourself My name is Julia de Roja. I'm when I was here with land I've had three children go through here in 1821 and last Friday First of all, um, thank you for your kindness, but um, I One thing I want to say is for for when you I heard that you raiders may do cringe. It may be very sad I don't think that was for I think that was my calling Your name on it, but It may be very sad If you could be in the car with the football team singing the windows down and Queen playing and these teenage boys singing queen at the top of their lungs Enjoying their time together bringing them together All in the name of their school and their raiders and their Um, love for each other the camaraderie To get things straight what I understand With the raider name is that it was created And people please feel free to correct me with uh Paul Revere and the raiders who were writing for freedom and for our deliveries and what better thing could be raiders fighting for What are our children doing with the pride leg and black lives matter Flying out there these kids are redefining and hopefully watching away those The negative parts of raiders, you know, and what a better use Unmonetary standpoint What a better use for funds than putting hundreds of thousands of dollars in the stripping floors and throwing out good uniforms than To re-educate people You know, let them know this is what we fight for. This is what we stand for not my kids, you know And our children have been through enough Please The raiders kept them it was their hope for four years We thank you. Thank you Good evening. My name is Robert Blair. Um, I have a unique perspective on this in a long relationship with this institution The day that this school opened up as a brand new school I was the seventh grader I was part of that group of students who selected the raiders name I also sat where you folks sat for nine years. I was on the school board I was part of the school board and went through the expansion and renovation My children graduated from the school I was an athlete for the school both of my kids were athletes from the school The other perspective that I had was I was in the Vermont legislation for 80 years and debated this particular piece of legislation that you're referring to The raider name has always been something to be proud of and be a spider to I find it troubling that somebody has taken a word that has been held in revere for so many years And now trying to make it something that it's not It is something to be very proud of I'm proud to be a raider you talk about the student survey I've talked to several Current students and they say the school board doesn't care what we think they're not really asking us what we think I don't know the process that you've gone through But I will tell you somebody from the outside looking in It doesn't seem very inclusive. It doesn't seem very transparent and it seems very very rushed There's a lot of us who have had a lot of history with this institution and continue to and really care about it But to move this thing as quickly as you're trying to move it I think if you're Still set on this course You need to slow this thing down because as much as you can this school has been around since 1971 There is a lot of us out there around the globe That are just now catching wind of what's going on here But I would encourage you to not change the name Is the name that has helped inspiration and cry for thousands of us and hopefully thousands of us going forward But thank you for your service again. I sat here for nine years. I understand what you're up against But remember your representatives of the community Not just a small faction who happens to be very vocal and very loud Thank you What I don't think you at all haven't do any of this But I appreciate you hitting us all the time to be here for our plan I will go over the two-minute mark. I filled out inside her for two hours looking to what you have to do and do your jobs Usually give us the purpose of the nation to fill what we have to say I'm coming to you wearing four different radar hats I'm coming to you as a radar taxpayer So with this rebranding should that happen? Who paying for it? You might take a small fraction of your tax bill Well, that might be so well when you start bringing in $125,000 just replacing uniforms When right now our staff has walked out again the year with no contracts for next year and you're still in negotiations It's kind of a flap in their face Also, we ran a different fetish shortage of para-educators special educator custodial staff the hipster staff And if there's anybody out there that works in the pool with her and you've seen he have You know this to these children that require services every day, but they're not getting them That's our job. Our job is not to change the name increase this that money she spent on jobs training um If there's anywhere I think another that feels that's not as important I fortunately by G go spend a day with me in school My job starts at nine o'clock at night and goes round the clock trying to find subs just for big staff So I don't have to change people That's not because they're a raider because they're god in the bill I come to you as a district employee and that's my car business I've not been a raider for very long, but I hold it through and in my car I also come to you as a raider parent I myself was not a raider growing up. I wore and there were the colors in the mascot of a rival school And I'll hold that in my car, but I have adopted the raiders and I will hold that on the other side of my car My child is a raider my husband is a long night People here that are raiders are because they're parents or maybe they're nine times for raiders Or you're a child that works in a district and all you wanted to be was a raider my daughter couldn't wait to be a raider I had nothing to do with what the names stand for. This is what they are I come to you as a booster member I know you're going to stop me my time, but I think this is important I'm just gonna take just one minute.   You tell me that the raider name will have to change As the boosters, we will launch whatever engine you want to be and we'll stand by because that is our job But the boosters also have a concern we have thousands of dollars In the blood of a girl that's been allowed to commute We have just clawed our way back from the cold in the last few years being And now you might be asking us if our word from nothing. I don't think nothing is very fair When you finally just you know, I don't think you can talk as lightly. I don't want to bring a rumor is sarcasm but as you think hope is That's those ways this has to stop are you going to now tell the leader department that they can't break like normal performance A saying that has been provided to last them over a hundred years at some point where he draw the line And if you look at the word rate, yes, these are the word costile surprise attack But now look at the other side of the rate The police raided the building and it's about thousands of dollars involved in it from getting on our streets The house was raided including the child that has been held captive for years The rate is the occurring where they found weapons and mass destruction today is thought another school mass shooting In 1863 Harriet Tubman led the operation that freed 700 slaves in the Combined he buried rain So in some cases writers are heroes When you walk into our gymnasium, what's the thing the first thing you see? It's the night holding a shield I'm not attended by a shield We issue protection you come into the raider house. You're safe Go raider One thing I'm an mhs person But you gotta understand that there was a very big rivalry Never once in all of my years did I ever think that the raiders were the president or maybe it was a sign of strength And diligence and passion And we fought a lot You know on the on the athlete me um, I just You need to really look at it from the positive side of him Get out of the negative look at it from the positive side Anybody else One time Bring it well 100 minutes Today They didn't want to say that rain To me that I've met something like my 44-year-old son kept in the icebox Or A mascot being a good luck charm the letter that was written from ruffin and actually there's mascots of good luck Um, switching university tiger didn't Make much of a what good luck charm northern positive university prior Good luck charm. So it was a thousand definition and there's nice director down here Builds a profession one thing. I think most of them think they'll be testing a certain someone or Are doing some damage and we a raider doesn't Start out to repress something and that you think it does. So I guess it boils down to all of your own definitions on how you're going to describe things I'm hoping the nature just isn't You think it's third all of us Why is this human oppression? Thank you all for all the work you do If we don't have any more here asking the I Raised three of our kids here Julie's an alumni spent the last 10 years Going to and from and probably more than that with our son starting those school football or The great ball and then I'm coming through and the pride that Our children Our family has taken with the raider name being part of the raider family raider nation is So powerful It's family and it is family. I mean I wouldn't by see the other our kids With their teammates with their classmates in the atrium at the art events You know celebrating privately Black lives matters They're not exclusive. They're inclusive and inclusive also means being willing to Think of maybe something that's maybe you see and feel something a name is Repressive Well, others don't Then just because someone feels a certain way doesn't mean that that it's that it's The actual thing that's going on I spent 25 years in the emergency department here at cbmc and Most people when they come in they're they're certain that whatever's going on with them is a life threatening emergency And and many times it is but a lot of times they have them And they're very convinced that this is this is it. This is really a bad things going on and they have to kind of get Made aware that you know this this person over here is dying. This person needs this. This is a real thing a real issue is going on And it's not always fun to hear that what they feel is an emergency really isn't But that's kind of what and so they have to learn that going on And A good friend of mine once said you know when when the only tool in your tool belt is a hammer everything looks like a nail And if somebody is in the part of their life is feeling like They have been repressed in their own or their experiences then but It doesn't mean that everyone else is trying to repress them or that everything Is that a name is repressing individuals or the groups? And the students don't feel that way Thank you I'm gonna ask one more time online before the board moves into discussion Oh Clarifying questions I was trying to get in before we've joined but I really want to understand the question or what you're going to be voting on To evaluate the name is it greater than night? I'm still not clear on what really the question is tonight And also back to the student survey. I think you know wasn't strong one under the other Don't even point when we look at our capsaulers at work as a community member and a parent of a reader former mh column as well So this was um always a big rival on the sports field, but certainly proud to be part of greater nation today I think we still need some clarification on what exactly your time to answer tonight And what that timeline does look like for our process If we decide to move forward, but I hope that that's not the case Thank you I'm gonna ask one more time online and then I'll move on to answering that question. So, okay There is one person one person Barbara Oh Barbara Okay, all right Barbara if you can hear me, please unmute yourself and introduce yourself and you have two minutes We're not in writer's bed Barbara are you Okay, I can keep watching it while you're on it. Yeah, so So, okay two things two things that I would like to to clarify. So we we had uh I guess first we've been we we passed the policy and that's the reason we we we're here So it's a it's a conversation that we've been having for a while but tonight We put a sample motion in our in our packet and I'm happy to to read it to read to you but I'll read the motion But then I want to say the decision that we make if we decide to move forward We would take a whole year and until we're done with our strategic planning before we move into knowing we would Decide on what name or what what it is that Our students our students now today in this current time find meaningful Identify with and that would take you know, we would have a meaningful process what that process is We don't know yet. We would just be moving into it because after the strategic planning We would know more about our communities Second, I know the monetary part has been part of a lot of different people testimony It's nothing that we need to do right away, right? We don't need to suddenly we have a schedule of how we move how we replace uniforms We can continue to be in that same schedule We don't need to replace the flooring at the gym today that could be part of history If that's why we decide we don't know where we're gonna decide So we don't need to spend 125 thousand dollars today to replace or the uniforms our uniforms are in a sequence We can replace the uniforms as we go So it's not that we're trying to erase what we happened before We're trying to respond and the question in front of the board today And the suggested motion was to vote up and down So it doesn't mean that that is what Needs to happen. I moved to determine that after reviewing the raider mascot and associated imagery The board finds that well the raider has no history of discriminatory imagery It is found to be in violation of policy F2 because it directly or indirectly references or stereotypes The likeness features symbols traditions or other characteristics that are specific to any person group or person Or organization associated with a regression of others and that's the same with the question of others Because the other one is that mouthful because it's part of our policy But as a favorite impression of others The board will ask the administration to engage in a thoughtful process of renaming ourselves with this input from students This will occur after a strategic planning process. So that's the question for us. Is that clarified? a little bit What's in the policy that we make it's violating again? The name of policy the policy was f2 and and it was part of the it was part of the packing the packet and I'm gonna Yeah, we're gonna The board is gonna be The board is gonna be discussing and you you will hear that and so I'm gonna ask one more time if there is any Barbara's ready. Okay. And then we'll move Barbara go ahead Can you hear me now? Hold on one sec take one one second one sec. Can you hear me? Yes, can you hear me? I can't hear you one sec Okay, can you hear me now? It's that one minute one minute Let's see. Let's lose Sorry thick one second one second One minute Barbara. We are just Hearing you give me one moment here Okay Okay, try again Barbara. Please. Hello. Can you hear me? I can't hear you I can't hear you Yeah, go ahead Barbara. Okay My name is Barbara Karecki and I taught Art at U32 for 30 years and it's interesting That um about 25 years ago The visual arts department raised this very question about the Raider and the night um because we felt that perhaps it was not visually inclusive enough of all that U32 does and so we suggested that um the visual of the Raider and the visual of the night be enhanced with um things like paint brushes and books in the Raiders saddle and rather than carrying a jouster um that the Raider might carry a musical instrument or have a very benevolent and um uh well accepted symbol on the Raiders jacket like a heart um this might make it a little um more inclusive for for everybody. Um, I think the Raider is an important symbol to U32. I would never want to change I would never want to change it, but I think that U32 is so much more than than a night or somebody on a horse and I think that you can represent that visually by embellishing the Raider So that's what I have to say Thank you Barbara. You're welcome Okay, you had a clarifying question and then we're going to move into board discussion I can tell you the question. That's okay Violation of the policy because of oppression Oppression, yeah, oppression Yeah, there's a part to do in the Raider that needs to be pressed or all pressed. Oh, okay. Yeah The language, thank you Yeah Thank you, Moel. I uh, that's not a graduation in 0.20 you're going to graduate in 0.4 Um, I most you know the Raiders have been Raiders for like 52 years, which is a longer longer than something you've been alive Um, I think I first started in the 70s early 80s. This place doesn't even do But now this this school is very well prepared as a high quality institution and the Raider Name did not make that change when we gathered the staff the people who work here community So I don't see where a mascot can oppress or make people feel bad When there's history in this school that showed them that name had no effect on the student body for their community um When you're at a sports field, that's a different mindset. Raider, yeah, you're going in, you're going to win School by classroom You're there to learn um I think it's it really is A couple people who have their feelers out there who really need to just kind of cover up a little bit And just kind of go with it Majority of people have no issue with it Part of your responsibility to be financially responsible We're going through changing letterhead Floors uniforms just because a couple people Are the sweet wheel Makes no sense so I'm definitely very much in favor of changing the mascot So One more. Yeah, go ahead My name is Bonnie Pollard Allen and I've been a Raider parent for 20 years I have seven children who have I have five have gone through this school I have two that are currently here a senior and an eighth Raider Those two children love the Raider name. They love what it represents like Julie said it represents family It represents all ages. It does not represent people standing on the outside They love the fact that including so open and accepting while every school has the it's accused My children don't feel like that. They don't feel like they're being heard with the mascot issue I've spoken to both of them and their friends baseball team football team, softball team, hockey team They're not being heard. They're not feeling like they're being heard. That's what I'm hearing from my children Every night at the interval when we have this conversation over and over again You know, they're the kids money isn't their worry, but they're saying mom. Why are they spending 125,000 loads change in form? Joey brought up a good point We do need more educators in the system. We need more support. We need more education for the educator So why not put that money somewhere else? You know, I just I feel sad That this isn't even an issue and why after five years you're all of a sudden deciding to change this when It seems like there are a few individuals why not change the policy To say, you know, take the policy you all make a policy or somebody made the policy Why not change the policy to reflect support of the readers instead of a question? and hatred and Making something positive because they can't They'll always consider themselves You know, they've started to change their way rule union. Well, what's a union? Yeah, somebody who's a collaborative and together and represents one body So why wouldn't you do that? Why don't we leave it for these kids for the parents who've been here might happen to an alumni? You know, so I just made it foolish and it is a waste of of everything's time change the policy instead of mask off Okay, so with that we're going to close the discussion part the the community input The public input and we're going to move into board deliberation and discussion with the input that we That we have received So a couple a couple of things for members. Just like take a breath It you know, we can we we can do this and I know change is hard changes Is difficult Again, I'm going to repeat, you know, board leadership It matters. We have received a lot of input from community members that are here with us We have received input from community members that had sent to us via email and and and tonight I asked us to sit here not just for ourselves But think about somebody that is not able to be here in the room and that is not represented in this room And with that hat Be I've just opened it to discussion. I don't want to micromanage how you want to start talking I do you want to address a couple questions that were asked about the the policy the policy is in our In our district website the policy was brought to us not We didn't write the policy the policy with the legislature had a process where they Asked the agency of the patient to provide a policy We we approved this policy in last December Yes last December like we're getting on my and we had already started having this conversation Changing policy so that we have different outcomes. It's not something that we that we do as board members We we have a policy and you know, we we take responsibility of following policy so that answers that one quick question and then the the second part I'm just going to reintegrate again for the board members that we're not talking about money today We're not talking about but like how we decide and how do we spend those resources? It's not a tie to this decision today And I want us to have a clear separation of that with that Jonas, I do you want to do you want to get started? I'll be happy to pick it up Oh, wait That was a sample And I think it means talk about the information actually is Yeah, and and that was just it was it was a sample to get the conversation We were the conversation started we could have the the motion and change it but I you know And and amend it so that we talk and discuss around the motion because that seems to incorporate all of the input that they had given us So it's actually not a bad idea to have the motion and then change it I can just go into our discussion and then we'll talk about the motion later. Yeah, okay because motion is a shoot, you know, a certain director Yeah, I don't want to branch. I don't want to create a branch. Okay, go ahead. So I'm a huge sports fan, right? And we're here in New England And I hope that all of us in this room has people good faith, right? Our favorite team is a piece of red closure, right? So Team names are what they are right and sports are what they are I have paid a lot of attention to the name change sort of conversations and dialogue on the national level I'm a washington football team fan. I think the commanders is a terrible name. I think the washington football team was better I have a bunch of friends who are Cleveland guardians fans formerly the indians I Grew up right next to dandle that used to be the indians All of us followed what happened in ruttland with the red raiders Right. So before I get into our name It's I think we all need to acknowledge that the same arguments about tradition About what those names mean And and and the resonance that they have for communities All those arguments were made for names that I hope that we can all agree were probably needed to be changed It's not the name It's the community It's the school that's important The name is a representation in a symbol and that becomes really really important, right? But it is the community. It is the school itself It's not necessarily the name decades go by and that's the tradition, right? But at the end of the day Like you know People who love the so-ons love the so-ons right and are proud of that just like us and our raiders Right just like the huskies and the church's so A bit of history about how we got here Nobody is trying to hammer in a wood screw or lag bolt There is not a cadre of people here who are angry and offended and want to change the name The history the floor gave is accurate The state passed the legislature passed the law We adopted the model policy without changing it at all A complaint as part of the process outlined in the in the law a complaint was brought to us from outside here We received the complaint and looked at it and found The board has found that the name is not discriminatory. It's not racist, right? It's not offensive to certain groups of people But the second part of that policy gave us pause Right that directly or indirectly the branding references or stereotypes the likeness features symbols traditions or other characteristics that are specific to Any person group of persons or organization associated with the repression of others? And that's what we focused on associated with the repression of others and I've received a lot of emails From a lot of really smart people going into detail About how a rater could be a good thing, right? And we heard right You know raid the icebox, right or the raid on harper's ferry, right? It was done for reasons right to eliminate slavery, right? That's a good thing. I think that these are all missing the point It's not about a specific rater's name It's about a reading of the policy that in our first instance I also want to mention that we started talking about this months ago We put off a decision for a number of meetings to give more people time to come in. We are not rushing this Right, which we've tried to take as much time as possible because as some of you Like I don't think we want to be dealing with this. I don't think the board wants to be dealing with this This is a distraction. It was brought to us. We are trying to play the hand that we are dealt, right? So In the reading of this policy that the majority of the board sort of gave a straw hole thumbs up to To me indicates that that reading would have would say that any mascot or branding that references human violence against other humans Would be against the policy And I've gone through the list of high school team names in vermont And I'd like to read some of them that would be out of policy if that if that reading prevailed the raiders The rebels which is problematic for other reasons The chief the the chief didn't have problematic for other reasons. So is the kernels the commodores, right? That is that's a military person, right? That involves violence the crusaders. That's horribly problematic The ghosts which used to be the galloping ghosts featuring a man on a horse wearing a white sheet, right? I think there's a problem there the gold That swept across the steps from central Asia, right murdering and pillaging along its way That's repression the golden knights, right?  That's problematic the kings What does a king do being a king or a head of state necessarily involves the use of violence or oppression for your interests? The Lancers the marauders You could in these three are gonna are it may upset people But the minute men patriots and presidents all involve violence as well the royals the spartans kept slaves The trojans kept slaves the vikings. We know to be violent the warriors So I the the reading of the policy that the board indicated that it was in favor of two and a half months ago What would seem to say that none of those names are okay As a fan of sports teams, I don't like the idea That by that we are going to eliminate references to human violence in sports names. I think that tradition is too deep-seated I think that there it goes back like, you know, sports is is sports is war by other means, right? That's how football got started in England right towns fighting against each other instead of actually beating on each other day later This giant ball shrove type football is that fascinating stuff I don't want to eliminate. There's that it's not about the rater name It's about whether we think that this policy precludes us From having a mascot that references human violence I think that's a very narrow reading But I also think it it makes sense given the letter of the policy I hope that there is a way for us to Acknowledge that the name is in tension with the policy I would also note that the policy Also says the superintendent or designee shall Uh Periodically review per our policy review cycle and provide recommendations for necessary updates to the non-discriminatory school branding policy as necessary this Policy was adopted. We did not alter it at all The superintendent or designee has not gone through that policy review cycle and looked at this I think an alternate action that we could take Would be to direct the superintendent or designee to review the policy And see if we want to edit that clause that has caused so much controversy In a way that would not That would not preclude us from endorsing a mascot that does in some way reference human violence That's what I have to say And we're not We're we're not we're not going to have a back and forth. It's we the public head is Time we're going to we're going to be made at the end of the meeting If if there's still some comments we'll take comments But we in order to have a process and be able to make a decision I apologize, but I hope that I was clear at the beginning that that's what we were doing if Maggie or did you have your hand up? No Maggie do you want to go next? I don't want to put people in the spot or Yeah, we're so good next whatever Yeah, I'll go I'll be great I just want to clarify. I'm also a parent of the 33 students and sparsity letter children adults and teens now And my feelings about the name are personal and I'm certainly someone who's very sensitive about language and part of what I do professionally And it's been really helpful to have the past two months since we first discussed this in a board meeting not the policy but discussed our current situation with addressing the policy It's been really helpful to receive emails and to have robust conversations with current students including my own Miss here and with community members who attend the school here and faculty A lot of people are taking time to respond to this Which is super helpful as a representative and that's Something that I take very seriously is that I represent My community and my own Personal feelings whether I'm a cringe when I hear it because that's how it makes me feel Is that's that's my personal feeling But I do not take seriously that I'm here to represent the the will of the community and I also Share Jonas's concern about the wording and Um, how it puts us in this complicated position not just mascots, but I think a lot of language that we use and in our schools I'm a st. John's very hill topper. We call ills I want to push back on something floor said, which is that The economic aren't a consideration for me the economics are a consideration. Yeah, but I think There I think there's a lot on both sides now, so I don't think it's the only factor I think there are costs changing it that are real and imminent. I think there's also A strong case that a lawyer could make maybe that we're breaking the law if we Ignore our policy which was dictated by statute And just walk in that direction from the law. So That's a risk and it has it has probably real financial costs associated with it um I think your point Jonas is a good one that The war metaphor is pervasive in sports. I frankly would be okay if the war metaphor went its way But I do think point the good one that many many Maths got from the state would be in violation um I guess I like the idea of changing the policy um I don't think that I don't want to ignore the fact that real people could feel Some You know, so I'm correct to their safety based on sort of A majority opinion that that we all want to be raiders and we all want to identify as raiders. I don't personally find That to make me unsafe I don't But I can't speak for others and I want to just recognize that Well, those voices aren't here at sports that they they could well be out there um But I I do think that the law has written which led to this If it had language that our model policy had that we have been adopted Is it bad law? I think it probably is worth Challenging if it is written that broadly because I don't think it's really in the spirit of what Vermonters are looking for in terms of their school mascot um So I don't love our sample motion um I voted in favor in the struggle Of affirming that we were in violation of this Of this policy. I still think we're in violation of the policy that doesn't it doesn't follow for me that we should change the mascot um, and I sort of agree with what what I'm saying that Let's look at the policy most more closely Hi, good evening. Um, josh from sevens. Thanks everybody for coming in out. Um, I'll make it sort of As short and quick as I can. I know there's a lot of people here. Um, I think as things stand now the uh The name Raiders is in violation of our policy I wouldn't mind Voted on the sample motion to change it. I think it's worthwhile to change it. Um I based my decision as many of you have it's talking to alums talking to current students We can all pull from our own sample communities and You know Getting different results Um, I work on a job site with recent grads You know who for example said they don't understand raiders and why Why do we need to do this and are also willing to Decentre their own experience and examine their own bias unintended bias And trust that others in the community are not just stirring things up or not just ending in hawing or curl clutching at the name. Um This as you know, it's been said This is the issue that came to us outside of our board Even though we've been examining it for a while it did It came from an external source Changing the policy. I don't know if that would take us out of jeopardy legal jeopardy with the state Everything is still up in the air in regards to how these things will be hired out I would hate for this decision to be taken away from the board and be pitched to an attorney in the state office Which is it could be possible that it could go that way Part of the packet That was sent out And I thought this blueprint that floor included was really helpful and great in boiling things down So i'll just go through it and i'll share my results It's more things is the name or mascot for your bias. Yes. No, not sure not sure There's many Different opinions on that where I land. I'm not sure Does this mascot Or name deep in the relationships With and among all students Again, not true Most students Are not connected to the name This name or mascot Mascot actively disrupt systems of oppression. It does not This name or mascot active Actively centers multiple perspectives and avoids marginalizing or oppressing others and it is not Um, so Again, I if we were to vote on this motion today, I would I would vote for the motion And look for other ways past our strategic planning process to come up here With a new name. I don't know about mascot, but new name for sure um And uh, yeah, so that's that's where I fall I think that's uh, maybe um I I don't think it highlights policy only because when you were talking about an attorney This attorney or that attorney could read it either way. They wanted to in my opinion um And organization associated with the progression of others one thing we've got a mascot That is not what the name We've got a knight but we're called the raiders So we have that issue going on there But uh when I asked my children about it who are both graduates They they both said I don't understand why it's a picture of a knife, but where the raiders Uh, we never said anything about the knights where the raiders. They didn't care about the picture They're the raiders and I was thinking about Because this is going on in a lot of places If we just decided that everyone had to have something safe, let's say flowers Well, then we'd be stalking on the daisies if it was uh That's when you're thinking about these things I think of it as athletics even though It represents our school So I personally don't think it violates. I was going through this is the name or math got free of bias Based on the history where it came from There was no bias as far as what the kids and what I've had shared with me from people who were here I wish so much my father in law were alive because he built this school, but um, he's not so um Does it deepen relationships with and among all students? I don't think anyone either any mascot would Um My kids know they're raiders one was an athlete and one was not but he was very involved in um theater So he was a theater raider Um, and they thought he did plays and he would love to joust and be in um Does it disrupt systems of oppression? I don't see it as oppressive. I just don't so I I'm on the side of Not having a problem with the name. I went to school in florida of all places But we were the scorpions and we stung them So even insects are violent, um, but You know, we get into the violence and it's it's sports and the idea is to win. I'm sorry, but it is to win And my husband's a soul and and I never knew what the soul was so I met him Now I do um, so I don't know but I don't think that it's repressing others to be a raider personally um, thank you everyone for coming and for all the folks who sent in emails stating their opinions The the word raiders it's it's um It's ambiguous because we heard about the good raiders and the bad raiders In terms of the actual of the act That ambiguity ambiguity, uh, I think creates problems for us in terms of the policy Um, because we good raiders look for good raiders and it's not an oppressive symbol We're bad raiders and it is an oppressive symbol um, uh, so you know, there are Times in history like the rate on end heavy was that a good rate? Yeah, so which rate? um, You know for cherry anything but end of the bad rates. Um, so, um, from from not perspective Then the time you look at is whether it violates policy um, I really enjoyed Barbara's comment on talking about the mascot and enhancing what we want about uh, you 32 Um, I appreciate the comments and the deep seated feeling connected to the name I I don't think I'll ever understand that from a personal standpoint, but it has a resonance and a connection and a symbol for folks um Who are joining me in this enterprise that we call you 32 Which is multifaceted and extensive and hopefully joining and and helpful for everyone um, and I would I think I would hope That we could um join us talk about trying to save the name in a way I don't think we should change the policy but I think that's a maybe An unsavory way out, you know just change the word down the lawyer So I know how to change words to get the result we want Which is not necessarily a an authentic way or a direct way of doing Um, but I think what we we potentially could do is if we want to emphasize the positive aspects of the reader Um, you could change the name to something like Raiders for justice in humanity um along the lines that Barbara talked about you know the mascot with an amusement or um paint brushes emphasizing what we value here or 10 Um, did you say 10? Uh, great, um, probably value here if you use the name because if the name suddenly has a lot of Cache and residents with with folks that we heard from and I imagine even broader um, and so I think in I'm looking I think the the cost but you know for social injustice, you have to bear costs and we should recognize that that In order to write what has been wrong In our history and it's a good thing to write what has been wrong in our history It'll cost us and we should be going for that price Because we wouldn't want to be in a position of those who were oppressed and say oh to that move on Without trying to help But I think we could do both by adjusting the reader name to Enhance the qualities that we want for it So Yes, and I'll go private vote to maintain the name as it is Thank you Interesting idea that just reminded me of uh When my oldest uh simon was uh young you watching a football game He said hey dad come and watch with me the oakland moderators are playing the uh multiple reasons So I've been on the school board for a while and I'm hard for us to think of a uh subject that I Last like to take up And partly because of thorny and mostly because it just From my perspective doesn't have much to do with our core mission of getting young people ready for You know like beyond you do too um You know bottom line it's a symbol and for a lot of us it doesn't mean much as a symbol You know I went here. I played sports and My kids went here and played sports and it just doesn't come up. It doesn't have meaning for us I guess my favorite part of Tonight, maybe the whole process is just hearing from people how much does mean it has actually a lot of power for some people And it's interesting that The word and the concept of the raider, but it's really about the the community and and the institution And the folks behind it I think it's really important that um going back to the first Meeting when we were hearing from the students there We really haven't heard any evidence that anyone is harmed by by the symbol um I think that's really important and yet the policy To the way I read it is clear enough Raids and raiders and knights are associated associated with violence and not exclusively But they are and it's um That to me that's unavoidable And and so I I think that it violates our policy And beyond that I think it's also problematic and if not In 2023 at some point down the road some school board is going to think about we need to change this because it's It's not ideal. Um So I I would if it comes up I will vote to Um say that it violates the policy we should change it and we can look to change it after this Do you find the purpose? Thank you karis. Yeah, eric if you can hear me your your neck Eric I can send you a message, but I don't know if you got it All right, I'm here. Just a second to unmute can hear me. Yeah, we can hear you um Well, I want to thank all the input and everybody taking your time to You know their feelings and thoughts tonight um It is It is a hard defense make. Um, you know looking at the policy You know, I agree with jona that You know, it is uh an interpretation of the law um You know and and you could take it to an extreme that almost any name Is going to have some sort of violent connotation to it. It is sports um and there is there The things that I kind of look at and with my decision tonight is you know Community what it means the community what it meant When it became When it was chosen to be the mascot and the name um You know and For sometimes when when things Are kind of foggy with the law you do look at intent and the intent was not Mean the intent was not um to oppress the intent was positive. Um So and to look at it that way I I I I couldn't vote against it and Sorry ahead another thought. Um I I do I I really liked Barbara's suggestion On you know taking The name and the imagery to the next level You know to make it Even more inclusive and representative of today's community But without changing The history and tradition Um is something to look at But to take it away completely. I I could not vote for that tonight Thank you, eric So my position hasn't changed since we first started talking about this on the sterile poll. I felt that this word our name violated our policy And I know that a large number of people glossed over the discriminatory language that it references um Groups of people who have been marginalized in the past And we focused very much on the greater name and then there was a lot of very minutiae discussion about what that radar word meant And that there are good aspects of radar and bad aspects of radar and if I was going to look at that and go The bad kind of outweighs the good in that sense because we will not be walking everywhere with our radar's name To explain the intent behind it. So when we talk about equity and justice, we're talking about Not the intent but the impact of that word And our word goes beyond these walls in this school. It goes beyond our neighboring towns and play sports When our kids do great, they're in the paper Our name is national. So it's not just our state that is impacted by it And I'm going to point out that part of the complaint that came to us was brought by the nca ncai the national congress of american indians Vermont has a 0.5 percent Population of may of americans So we are not hearing from them and that is where I'm going to try to amplify their voice If I can I don't want to speak for them The ncai started their mascot movement in 1968 Nobody's been rushing this And in 2020 they started the initiative to address hinderdart and 212 grade schools And our name the raiders is linked to native american names and titles And as elected officials to this board We are leaders in our community who get to be examples be examples to our students of what we want And this year we have concentrated so much on our three pillars equity and justice Safe and healthy schools and academic achievement and we have talked so much about how our health and safety schools and our equity and justice works Our academic achievement as well And I think that we Can show how we may change we look at that flexible mindset, right? We talked to our students about growth mindset Our students are strong our students are outspoken and they may change And that's something that I take away from it I am really proud of the students at this school one of our students spoke up at our last meeting and reminded us that it is not The intent but the impact that matters That is where harm can happen And so I would be voting to Win the motion to that it divides our policy And I can say so much more, but I'm going to stop Thank you Um, first of all, thank you for every one you showed up today and for everyone who you spoke and for the emails On the communication that we got leading up to this meeting um I am an alumni of this high school I I'm a taxpayer in the community my my children go to the school I was very excited to have my kids come and graduate on the same school that I graduated from because I have a lot of pride Being a u32 alum I was a three season athlete. I was editor of your book I was part of stage 32 And the memories and the pride that I hold from that Are because of the communities out in the park not because of a name That was associated with the mascot whether Greater state or does not stay it does not take away from the fact That I am a u32 alum And I had an amazing experience here And then my kids get to go and be a part of this school in this community. They will still be U32 alumni and whether they're raiders or not that will not take away from the fact that they are u32 alumna In terms of the policy I looked at definitions of raid. I looked at definitions of raider. I looked at definitions of parkin I looked at the synonyms for all of those and based on that I do think that the main raider is in violation of the review of our policy So I will I will kind of stop with that one other thing I do want to say is I heard people talk about community and This being a safe space I will tell you as a member of this community That some of the responses that we got Gave me harm. I cannot feel safe And i'm trying to separate My personal response From what my duty is as a school board member, which is why I feel back to the definition of raider and doesn't violate this policy But I do believe in the community and the pride of the school And I don't think that we need the main raider to continue to be A proud unified community And again with some of the responses that we got Honestly, I didn't feel safe walking into this space tonight And It doesn't make me feel safer. I've done my kids Being in this community if that's what some of the Responses are So Again, I'll just go back to the policy.  So I think this is right here even before I was a student um This has been A really hard and interesting because and I'm not very I'm not sure This is the appropriate this board is the appropriate place to have this discussion But it's been very interesting. Unlike Ursula. I have changed my morning ones during the first of this conversation um I have a personal attachment to this community and to Being a reader. Um, so immediately I I want to build my own attachments that When we really built into the policy and I read it very narrowly and thought very specifically More about the night the interest in the reader per se, but you know read it very narrowly I said it one meeting after those by the way back Um, but I think it's a I think the policy isn't great and I think it's ambiguous I think you have to read it narrowly They that we are clearly in violation of it um You have to see a narrow definition of the reader to fit a narrow part of the policy Again, I think it's a great process for the school community of the district to go through and directly to evaluate How we are how well I think I'm good and what that means. Um And having really hard conversations I I don't feel great about the 12 or 15 of us saying If it if it were so personal fear that it would be discriminatory or practice But I don't but I don't feel it's back to her head. So but I I feel good I don't think this should be the end of the discussion. I think that's definitely I love the ideas of kind of broadening Or redeeming the map gods or even somewhere making it more inclusive. Um But but I I don't I don't think there are ways to policy Yeah If at the end but we We we had an opportunity for For comments and then with the board is going to make a decision and then if you want to comment after there will be opportunity for comments after the board the board And Yeah, there's a yeah George You know better than Yeah, George, you know better than anybody you've sat in our seats You know that it's not an easy decision. So the process was clear the board will be there was ample A time for people to make comments The board would make a decision Tonight and you know, there's no There's no motion on the table. There's no spreading term in As you can say as you can see the board has gone from Drop all that the majority of the board wanted to change it to right now Not looking like the majority of the post So it just led the board to the work that he needs to do I want to answer two questions because I want whatever motion we put in front If we don't want to use the the motion that we had is that one thing to make clear is that we cannot change the policy The policy came to us because of act 152 act 152 was an act relating to not discriminatory school branding The act passed by the legislature Had the exact language they add and they and and they tasked the vermont school versus The vermont schools to provide a sorry Down here they tasked the agency of education and consultation with stakeholder groups including the vermont school versus association Should develop and form a timeline or create a model policy of non-discriminatory school branding So There's no we can't change the language just to adapt it. So sorry don't it out. I'm almost I'm almost done So so with that if that wants to be a motion on the table I'm at the chair. I'm going to try to hold As best as I can. I'm to the point that you know, I get a little emotional But I think that we have one thing that we have to secure that we have a great opportunity I'm trying to think about the fox set that we just did at east montede, right? We had this conversation for years. We were doing For six years we try to pass this one to upgrade our school And at the same time try to have the conversation of changing the the mascot But it was the roadrunners and you would have thought that it was like the worst thing that it could ever happen two or t