Jose Albuquerque

The meeting commenced with the Select Board entering an executive session for litigation and collective bargaining purposes, reconvening later in open session. Key discussions in the open session included announcements regarding the resignation of the Director of Public Health, Dr. Swaney Jett, effective after his pursuit of an opportunity in Louisville, Kentucky, with extensive appreciation voiced by board members for his service, particularly during the pandemic. The COVID-19 update detailed national statistics, predictions for reaching the 70% vaccination goal, concerns about the Delta variant's infectiousness, and rising hospitalizations among children. Strategies for managing the expected fall surge due to holidays and reduced distancing requirements in schools were discussed, including proposals for adding staff and potentially reducing the window for trash disposal to mitigate rat complaints which have increased by 150% since 2017. Additionally, announcements were made about a forthcoming COVID-19 vaccine clinic to be held at Lincoln School.

The meeting began with the introduction of Melissa Souza, the new Payroll Specialist, who previously worked in a similar capacity for Cambridge Public Schools. Key agenda items included the acceptance of an anonymous gift to the Heath School from First Spirit Where. The subcommittee also reviewed the approval of grants, notably an E-Rate grant of approximately $141,895.60, which will fund the purchase of 298 Chromebooks and licenses primarily benefiting paraprofessionals, and support for maintaining 340 mobile internet hotspots. A second grant of $200,000 was discussed, secured from unspent stimulus funds to reimburse costs associated with the Universal Summer Program (specifically ESSER 2) and free up funds for ESSER 3. Discussions also covered the status of the 2022 budget, noting that an additional $1,194,000 in funds has been received and earmarked for personal services to address a significant deficit in one account. Concerns were raised regarding the need for a dedicated role to proactively seek out and manage grant opportunities, referencing past roles that successfully covered their costs.

The subcommittee meeting included a review of the minutes from November 9th. The primary focus was a lengthy discussion concerning the Heath School name and the process for a possible school name change, necessitated by the school's namesake family's connections to slavery. The committee planned for a public engagement, grieving, and reckoning process before reaching a solution. A second major agenda item involved discussing the formal change of the title for the head of the Brookline High School position from "Headmaster" to "Head of School," citing the negative connotations of the former term, and the need to update related policies, including potentially reviewing other outdated position titles from policy documents dating back to 1984.

The Finance Subcommittee meeting covered several financial matters. Key discussions involved the acceptance and details of grants from Sodexo ($250.00 for the food pantry project with kids) and the State Department of Education ($11,620 for after-school and out-of-school time programs, specifically Steps to Success). Gifts totaling approximately $5,325 were also accepted, including $5,000 from an anonymous donor for enrichment experiences and $325 for the Junior Prom to offset ticket expenses. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the FY22 budget update, projecting a gross profit of approximately $42,542 before facility and custodian charges, leading to an estimated deficit of $7,500 when fully loaded. Discussions emphasized efforts to improve revenue projections and manage custodial overtime expenses. The committee also debated the waiving of the base room assessment, leaning towards charging the actual incremental cost to avoid placing the entity in deficit while ensuring some contribution. Furthermore, the meeting addressed initial plans for FY23, prioritizing streamlining the chart of accounts in the financial system (Munis) to better track expenses, implementing position control, and initiating training for departments regarding budgetary allocations, especially concerning the large portion of funds allocated to personnel.

The content appears to be a transcript, potentially related to a presentation or discussion titled 'Grandstanders,' which occurred on January 23, 2019. The discussion primarily revolves around sports commentary, referencing figures such as Dick Cheney, Tom Brady, and various aspects of game performance, statistics (like turnover differential), and player analysis. There are also mentions of web interfaces, searches, and various proper nouns and concepts that lack clear context within a typical board meeting structure, such as specific project names, financial terms, or compliance discussions.