Brown. Hi, Mr. Jason Tanzel. Did I say that right? Miss Kristen Mlelen of Vice Miller, Bond Council. Mr. Kyle Miller, architect of Smith Associates. Okay. And Mr. Richard Ro COE and VOL. Okay. All present.
Then you're back. It sounds amazing. And you've given us so much detail that probably my colleagues aren't going to even have any questions. Usually they're peppering people with questions, but I think you've answered all of them preemptively. So, uh, it sounds amazing. Almost all of them. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, Mr. Kendall, I know he always has a couple always has the same question. I I know what he's going to ask. It's always the same question, but I'll let him do it. I don't want to take away his thunder. Uh so, one of the things we always ask uh particularly with uh the trips that are uh on the more expensive side is uh how are we messaging the kids and identifying those that might need support uh to make sure that not only do we offer the support, but that doesn't preclude them from even raising their hand.
We we are so careful in everything that we do. And um we are a very caring team. So, I don't know what's going to happen tonight. Um, I do hope that you uh take into consideration all of the things that Superintendent Pat Node and um Steven Sullivan are um sharing because they are putting so much time and effort into their considerations. Um I I feel like you could tell me Karen that we were going to build a school in the sky and I'd be teaching 13th grade and I'd be like sure sign me up when because I have so much trust in in the decisions that you're making. Um, so that's really all I have to say. I hope that you um My time's up, so I'm just not going to finish that sentence. Thank you for your time. And then Hello, my name is Luke Martin.
Fair enough. Fair enough. I appreciate the explanation. Is there a second? Second. Okay. Please reflect that uh Joel show. Okay. All right. All in favor? Oh, wait a minute. EJ, you all set? Yeah, that was it. That was Thank you.
So that's why we're doing the bid waiver requests. I think it's also they're giving us an offse rate because it's not high season for the the blinds. Yes. Yep. And that's who we used the last time also. Yeah. Are they they're not blinds like this. They're like mini binds. They're not they're supposed to go like this. They make noise. Okay.
However, research consistently shows that punitive grading disproportionately harms students struggling with executive functioning, reinforcing disengagement rather than school improvement. It's time to re-evaluate our grading policies and empower our administrators to implement researchbased practices that prioritize feedback over punishment. The second issue I'd like to discuss is the implementation of the IR program in schools. My three children have vastly different experiences with I Ready, none of which fully aligned with curriculum associates publishers recommendations for implementation. Given that I Ready scores are used as a measure of our progress as recently as tonight's curriculum committee, ensuring its consistency and implementation is crucial to our success. I ask that the board assess how I ready minutes are monitored in our schools and the extent to which essential recess time is being replaced with I Ready minutes to meet district requirements. Students need breaks to stay engaged in learning and using instructional technology should not replace necessary movement and socialization in our schools.
So for the next time she would come in, she would know exactly what to call that student. And that may not seem like a lot, but for a person who's only been in the room one other time, to have that person know your name when you're answering a question shows how much they value what you're about to say, especially because they're used to some ridiculous thinking that probably given them. So it was nice for them to hear it probably for once. Um, we're at the point now, Mary Joe's been in, I would say about 10 times, where as students are getting a priority scores, we're facetiming her in the middle of the day. She was in a curriculum basement the other day and I had a student facetime, he made 175% growth in his math test. And I mean, hold the sign. I mean, she was with Dr.
Give you some time to look at that and ask questions. Um, I got excited about this. The um reading profic projected proficiency was 47% and last year on the CASP our proficiency for met and exceeded was 32%. That's exciting. Yeah. Let me know when you're ready to move on to the next set. So that this is just projected proficiency. This isn't the actual data. This is like you know I read crystal ball based on where how the kids are performing now. where they've come, how much more time of course is is and how much more time for instruction between now and taking the test, right? So, they have very complicated and convoluted formulas. Um, but they're usually pretty close. So, it'll be good. It'll be fun to look at this after we get the CASP results to see how close they were. So, I just have a question again.
In 1980, there were two to four live births per 10,000 children born that had were diagnosed clinically with autism in 1980 when this law came into effect. Autism is now 1 in 36 children. It is part of our new normal and we need to celebrate and honor these children by providing them the best quality of services and education that we can give because they are our future. In 1980, an IEP was one to two pages in triplicate that you would tear off and hand to a parent. My average IEP for a single sound articulation, that means for a child who simply cannot say their R, is pages. Multiple signatures and a formal standardized assessment is required. In 1980, there were four standardized assessments for language. I can't even count how many we have now. And I'm very proud of Beressa for purchasing those necessary tools to identify the needs of our students.
The phrase small town f the phrase small town evokes a quiet laid-back lifestyle and a close-knit community where people know each other and rely on each other and where people are connected. That is how I see Aaho. I love this town. I fight in it and I will fight to keep it alive in my small significant way. As I have met with Alterero a few times in different capacities, he has asked a question. What is your why? I'd like to think about I would like each of you to think about what is your why? And I want to tell you my wife. It is my family. It is my husband and six kids. I wake up every morning and my motivation is them. And I want to make the world a better place because of them. I want this county to be a launching pad for my kids as they grow.
Gabriel demonstrates integrity in school by always striving to do his best and not taking any shortcuts. He follows classroom rules and is a role model for his peers. He has earned the respect of his teachers and his fellow classmates. Good job. Good job. Congratulations. [Applause] And finally from Simon Elementary, Rory Eley. Rory. All right. I'm sure Mrs. Lopez will find a way to celebrate Rory at his school. Uh, one more hand for all of these students and their show of integrity. We will take a quick fivem minute break for any pictures and then we'll get started back up with the meeting in a few minutes. Right. So, um we do have um those public comments. We have one public comment and we want to um show a Huh? Five. Oh, 5.5. That's true. Does anybody any governing board members have anything? You do. Okay, let's hear it.
May 22nd, which is usually graduation day, but anyway, so that's when funds we hope uh will be available for the district. I'll pause. That was a lot. Let's see if you have any questions. Um what happens if we don't pay the bonds within the stated time? What? Well, so your bond the bonds uh are basically an IOU. Once they're sold, the board doesn't have once you take action tonight and we issue the debt, it will get repaid. The county will raise the tax rate every year on your behalf to levy for the debt service payment every year. And so they'll they'll levy the tax rate and then collect taxes throughout the year for each of the debt payments each year. And so if if some people say don't pay their taxes, is that what you're asking? Um then the county always adds a delinquency factor on top of the amount that they're collecting every year.
So that'll be our focus for next school year. uh bringing our teachers specific professional development in mathematics. On top of that, we have another committee that's in meeting and it is our benchmark assessment committee. Um so I want to thank it's thank everybody that's on there. It is currently our district administration um a couple of our building administrators. Thank you Miss Baker. Um and then in addition to our instructional coaches and we have been evaluating um I Ready and MAP NWA as a replacement for Star Renaissance. Uh Star Renaissance we recognize it was good for when we used it but there are aspects to it that um we feel we have outgrown and we need better data to be able to analyze all the work that we're doing and we're putting in place with our curriculum maps. One of those areas specifically I'm looking at Miss Baker.
Um we also do a little bit of research outside of what they submit to try to verify that. But that's why those references are are so important. Those are some pretty solid references there. I mean length and I verified like those people, you know, like I checked them out on the website to make sure they there were the right people in those positions. Yeah, it was 100%. And I think what what stuck to me was the one reference where when we asked how long they had been with that particular firm uh 1996 uh that speaks volumes in in my world for sure. Um thank you very much. I I did want to um ask bring up something to Dr. white. Um, and this is just with respect to our mutual appreciation for flag honors. Um, I noticed that the day custodians, one of their duties, um, is raising and lowering the flag.
I I couldn't find it, so I'm just curious what what a PC card is and um what that money is going for. That's all. Thank you. Okay, next up we have um there were five foyer requests this month. Voyer requests can be found on board docs. Uh, next up our member board member comments. Uh, first up is Ms. Mrs. Hartman. We do not have any tonight. Okay, Mr. Janik.
Next item on the agenda is for the board to hold a preliminary hearing on proposed project. If you're interested in speaking at the hearing, please make sure that you have signed in on the sign-in sheet, which should include your name and address. There will be an opportunity for the public to make comments about the project as well.
and and you know, you you know, you think about a trip that might cost $1,000. Some kids just wouldn't even think about even asking their their families for for that kind of money, but we want to be able to identify them. And then even you mentioned uh that the uh you might need that they will need some money during the day for for lunches and things like that. And you know, making sure we can identify those kids and provide those supports. So, I don't know if you've thought about how you're going to message that and and make sure you uh you know, we identify the ones, you know, get everybody that's interested to raise their hand and then we'll figure out how we can support the ones that may need it. Uh yes, I uh absolutely totally agree with um making it as equitable as possible so that everyone can partake and I completely understand that.
I live in Greenfield and teach at the high school. I have kids in second and fourth grade. Um, first I'd like to thank the superintendent for a budget that represented the true cost of educating students. Um, nobody expects a rubber stamp from the mayor or the city council, but as a teacher and a parent, I I for one am grateful for a superintendent who first thinks and who first prioritizes what it will actually take to educate our children. Anyway, as I was shocked as everyone else to hear about the mayor's new plan for our schools, I was shocked as a parent who closely followed the more than two years of meetings, forums, research, planning, and preparation to implement a change for next year. I gave input whenever possible in that process. I advocated for my kids' best interest as so many others did as well, only to hear recently that it may all be thrown out the window in favor of a plan that absolutely nobody had proposed or considered or even a whole new process to reconsider everything yet again.
Anybody else have any questions, comments? All in favor? All opposed? Any objections? Thank you. New business firewall 9300 healthy food option. Sure. So, um, every year we have to vote on the fact that we won't serve poor quality food to the students. And so, that's what this is. It's basically saying that we'll comply with the Connecticut nutrition standards for all of the meals that we serve to our students. That's the short version. And it's also listed on the there's a sheet that shows it. So, do the kids like the food? Well, more often than not, they do. Um, for just throwing it all away. No. And one of the really nice things is that we do have a lunch advisory committee that meets on a regular basis with students and the kids go and they get opinions from their classmates. Um, one of the most recent things and sometimes they want, you know, like there's a student that we have that really wants to know why we don't have steak in the cafeteria and certain things.
Does anyone else have any questions or comments about lines? All those in favor of the motion, please say I. I. I. Anyone opposed or abstaining? All right. Have blinds. Next computers. The second is to request a transfer of 86,500 of salaries and benefits to instructional technology. and that is to purchase 84 devices and 20 monitors. So, what's happening here is these devices are up um they're on a seven-year replacement cycle and they're up to be replaced in FY 2027. Um however, as of October, this this coming October 2025, these devices currently running Windows 10 uh will no longer receive the critical security updates for which, you know, we we really need. And this was um you know, highlighted by Novvice, I believe. And so what that entails is 25 devices at BCS. Uh that includes three teacher desktops, 10 mini PCs and monitors for the STEM classroom, and 12 Chrome boxes for the library kiosks and student workstations.