The Duxbury School Committee received a midyear financial checkup during their December 10 meeting, confirming that the district remains on track with 45.1% of the $44.3 million budget expended. The district's Financial Director explained that while overages are projected in technology support and employee separation costs, the overall appropriation remains manageable. It means that we have about four months of school payroll and operations behind us with resources remaining for the rest of the year, the Financial Director stated. Kathryn Marshall questioned the specifics of the personnel transitions, asking, How many retirements do we know about for this year? and seeking clarification on how leaves of absence were impacting technology help desk staffing. Motion Made by M. Gambino to approve accounts payable warrant 32 and payroll warrant 32, the budget transfer and second reading for policies JL, K, E, A, C, E, A, D, C and A, E. Motion Passed 5-0

The committee also welcomed student representatives who presented the Duxbury Rotary Peace Pledge, a commitment to compassion and empathy within the school environment. A Rotary representative encouraged the partnership, noting, The Rotary Club is always here if you ever want to partner or if you ever any questions or issues or, you know, that's what this community is all about. Kellie Bresnehan expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, I think it would be a great idea for the school committee to endorse or affirm our pledge to agree with the peace pledge or to support the peace pledge. Motion Made by M. Gambino to support the peace pledge. Motion Passed 5-0 Following the pledge, the committee authorized a trip for the DECA program. Motion Made by L. Deacon to approve the overnight trip to DECA to Seaport for DECA. Motion Passed 5-0 Kellie Bresnehan added, It's an impressive group.

Strategic planning dominated the latter half of the session as members critiqued the progress of TLA, the district’s consulting firm. Jen Weedon noted her focus on the process, saying, I was just taking notes on the future discussion on budget presentation. However, Laurel Deacon and Jen Weedon expressed concerns that the data provided by the consultants felt too generic and lacked the Duxbury-specific analysis promised. I think it is time. I would like to quite frankly hold TLA accountable for sort of coming to share with us what they have achieved, Laurel Deacon remarked. Matt Gambino advised the administration to trust their own expertise when presenting the budget to the public rather than trying to satisfy every external critic. I just wouldn't, if I were you, I wouldn't stress out and feel like you have to capture every individual expert's voice on how to present a budget because if you do that, it really is just going to be a dog's dinner, Matt Gambino said.

Superintendent Danielle Klingaman provided an update on her midyear goals, highlighting the intense workload facing the administration. We have four major initiatives occurring simultaneously and I think you all mentioned that to me at the beginning of the year that that's a lot to be doing at once, Danielle Klingaman said, citing the strategic plan, teacher negotiations, the budget override process, and the Alden School building project. Looking ahead to the February 23 budget forum, the committee discussed the importance of accurately labeling positions as restorative rather than new to reflect the recovery of previously cut services. The meeting concluded with a first reading of an onboarding guide for new members and several policy updates.

The meeting was adjourned at 0:56:23