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So, um not last minute and I know you talked about that last week, but I just want the community to understand that you are going to be on top of it when enrollments are coming in. So, Sure. Yes. I mean, my goal in um Mr. Shepherd's goal is we also we have to balance looking at those and I don't want to run a lot of sections that are at 18 20 kids because then that does impact then what dollars we have for compensation and um things like that when we get to negotiations. So we try to make sure that we're allocating those appropriately and still staying in those ideal or the recommended um class sizes. So then we just have we have three y kind of like an emergency fund that are ready to go. Is that right, Mr. Shepherd. Yes, we we when we looked at when we're starting to build the budget, we looked at those numbers and we built in a contingency for I believe up to three because that's what we foraw.
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Um purpose of the MTSS, it's a three- tiered approach to identifying students with a need. We have an attendance piece, we have a um behavioral piece, and then we have the academic piece. So, what we did this year is we we met with our teachers uh monthly. we discussed what are some of the issues in the classroom um and one of the issues was a lack of turning in assignments and work. So now what we're doing is we're running uh data um every couple weeks and students who are failing then now get to have a meeting with um an administrator um a counselor and the teacher of the course that they're struggling in and then we develop a plan for that. All right. So Brandon, so I'm Brandon Fry. Um, depending on when this was depends on my title. So um, so at the time dean of students and now I'm at the junior high helping out.
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We had um about 45 different teams between in town and travel serving the youth through um we started in October and we just wrapped up the season. So it's been a really great league and we have been some of the contributors to that fund of um paying for the rental space. But um so we're in favor of favor of that. We just wanted to voice that. for the gym floor especially. I think uh so Lori um the president of Ashley Basketball um I've talked to some of the people in this room about the floor safety uh we've had some injuries this year due to player safety of the floor. I think we all know it's in kind of disrepair at this point. So we're hoping that that you know I know it's a big number. I know $150,000 is a lot, but um we have close to 500 kids in our program um throughout these months.
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So, it's all dictated by uh the statute that governs each of the revolving accounts as to a policy. I've never seen a policy uh per se as to use or anything. Um I have seen committees talk about the practice of only using prior year balances for uh next year receipts always using having a year in a rears. Uh and the goal quite honestly is to have maybe two if if possible. I've also seen a percent where along the lines is similar to cities and towns free cash is like a used be a 5% cap. That's what I've seen in other places too that they hold the school districts to the same standard or whatnot. So long answer your honor is it varies. I I think in the past we had a policy and we no longer have it that's you know including what the suggested balances.
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That's what we're doing now. We're mandating it and we've been Yeah. And so it's just let's get the damn thing done and and be done with it and we'll meet the current code. So we'll meet the current which we currently do not. Does that have to go to RFP? What's that for that amount of money? So, that's what I was just going to ask. We got because that particular if we go with that particular contractor, they're already under the town and this could be considered an emergency repair. So, it wouldn't need to go and it comes out of and it comes out of the rainy day fund that would be replaced by whatever funds are left at the end of the year. But, we also have to remember that we also have the um IT uh repairs going on. And then one of the things we're going to talk about at the facilities meeting next Wednesday is the stair.
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Are there any questions? All in favor, could I hear I? I motion so carried. Okay. Policy number action item G. Could I hear um Teresa? G policy 5131.7 weapons and dangerous instruments. Motion that the board of education accept for first reading policy 5131 period 7 weapons and dangerous instruments as recommended by the policy committee and in accordance with 25-61. Motion made by Teresa. Could I hear a second? Second. Seconded by Louisa. Any question concerning the policy? Seeing none. All in favor? Could I hear I? I. Motion so carried. Lauren Ku H policy 5132 dressing and grooming. I make a motion that the board of education accept for first reading policy 5132 dressing and grooming as recommended by the policy committee and in accordance with 25-62. Motion made by Lauren. Could I hear second? Seconded by K. Any question concerning that policy? Seeing none. All in favor could I hear I?
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It was great. I think Tanya I think between ticket sales, the fundraiser, the auction items, I think they raised almost $7,000. So they're trying to figure out like what kind of a give back they can do with the kids and so it's they're super proud of themselves. Um yeah, so it was really nice. um our focus going forward, we are trying to support each other. We saw some of our OAS compadres at this um comedy show one night. So, we are working on supporting each other as March was a lot for everyone. Um April's super right now. It's great. We are hosting the regional spelling be on April 28 and 29th. I think this is the last year will host kindergarten through 3rd. will be there on the 28th and 4th through 8th will be on the 29th. If y'all would like to come, we'd love to see you.
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So I I certainly take that as a positive sign especially considering only about 34% of the respondents have kids at home. So um that's pretty traditional of what we do. So with that, I'm happy to No, just real quickly, just for for uh uh benefit of you guys, the last time it went down to 49. So it went from 52 to 49. This one you saw it go up to to 62. So just for perspective, last year when we did last time when we did the survey, early on in this survey, you saw the numbers were higher than uh than this year. But when it came to this pre-post, you saw it go up, whereas last last time we saw exactly what Mr. Ben would have expected, it went from 52 to 49. That's just more for perspective as we compare this. I'd also point out that we skew conservative as you all know living in this community.
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So the text complexity might be more rigorous uh thematic topics might be a little bit more in-depth. There might be different types of project-based learning that the students are exposed to. One of the things I wanted to bring forward um is the identification of gifted. When we look at the accelerated placement act, we cannot limit access to accelerated placement to students who are only identified as gifted. It is specifically stated in the law that this has to be available to students who are high performing as well. And so that's something that you'll see in some slides near you. Um, next steps for us and how we can continue to improve upon our current systems and making sure going back to that diamond, right? That we are addressing the needs of all students, not just those who are performing below grade level, but those who are demonstrating high proficiencies.
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Um you know, are you just going to invite a Republican or you invite a Democrat? Are you going to invite whoever our representatives are? I feel like without this and then in conjunction with the exhibit which are are board legis uh are the legislative positions that the board can change or bring recommendations to or change or whatever. If these aren't focused and this is just how I feel if we don't have something that focuses our attention that's when it can go off the rails. That's when you can have a board member just doing and saying whatever it is they want representing the board. But right now we have policy written saying that these are what we're focusing on and when we are focusing on these are interacting or being in touch with our representatives. These are what we're going this is what we're going to discuss and they're going to align with the district's philosophies and the goals.
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Great. Thank you. Yep. Hey, if there were no other questions, um may I have a motion to approve the staffing and intervention plan 2025 2026 as presented? So moved. And there was no other discussion. If we could take a vote, please. Stacy Salt, yes. Jason Jansen, yes. Julie Jetty, yes. Darling, yes. Mindy Hartman, yes. Ann Sanucci, yes. That motion is approved. Next up, 8.3 is the approval of the technology plan. Miss Rivera. Yes. There are a couple questions or um wanting all the information in one location. And so I just wanted to point out um if you're on the PDF of the technology purchase plan on page eight, if you're in the slides, it would be slide 15. In there, you have a breakdown of what funds would be used for or what funds which title one funds versus referendum funds would be used for the uh purchase of the classroom displays.
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So, so um with the MTSS um we're looking at uh the purposes and the focus. Um we start looking at the three pillars that we're looking at the academic support, attendance support and behavior and discipline support. So I'm going to cover the attendance and behavior first um and then we'll go from there. So, um, few years ago, um, before I started, um, the high school and the junior high partnered with the, uh, Jefferson County, uh, probation department and Judge Moat, um, and started working on some, um, attendance criterias, um, and getting their support on the back end to make sure students are at school. Um so last year we started the program um where um with the JCAST which is the Jefferson County alternative alternative to suspension program. Um so instead of out of school suspension um it's a place for them to go so they're not just able to sit at home and play games.
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Obviously, the winter months in New England, it's a big impact. If we take one gym offline, you know, we've talked about it's it's not to the point of player safety that I think it should be taken offline, but it's pretty close. And if we're taking that gym offline, it's going to really negatively impact the youth of this town. So just wanted anything we can do to you know we just wanted to bring it to your attention. Anything we can do to help you um we're willing to hear all no different we've kind of approached different people in this room. So just wanted to know you have the support of us. No and again that's the point of the hearing and I it's a good time for me to mention also that um I did I think we as a committee uh did receive a few letters um within the last couple days along the same lines.
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So I just wanted your your opinion on that. Thank you. Any other questions besides from me? I have one. Um, the amounts in our revolving accounts are in the reports you give us every month, right? Am I missing something? Yes, they are. Okay. So, so we actually do know how much is in the revolving accounts. It's not being hidden from anybody. Correct. Okay. That's what I thought. So, thank you very much for clarifying that. Um, think I had another question. Okay. Thank you. All right, let's move on to the report of the assistant superintendent of teaching and learning. So tonight's report just includes um two topics. One is again title one supported events upcoming. We have some vacation challenges uh at the elementary schools. They're doing Busybe vacation challenges at GMS. They're doing um a bingo challenge and also a read naturally challenge. So, uh Title One is supporting students both in continuing their literacy and math development even when they're on vacation.
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Uh there's some things we're going to want to change, some things we may want to do differently, but we all felt that uh the numbers a bit on the high side, but that um I'm going to give this uh I have a client Colona Concrete throughout Woodbridge and I'm going to call Cody next tomorrow or the next day or two and see if Cody will give me a better budget number. Let's see if I can pour a lot. They pour a lot of concrete. I do a lot of work for them and so that's why he owes me. So I'll see if I can get what? They're all out of Norwalk. They even working over this way anymore. They love them. Norwalk. Norwalk and and Norwalk loves them. Stanford loves Grasso. So I can get, you know, I'll try I'll try them first because they're local and then if they don't work, I can call Grasso.
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I I Okay. And opposed? Motion. So carry. Okay. Move on down the agenda. Do we have any information on the healthy? Yes. Um so in your packet this evening, you have information on the healthy food uh certification. This is for information. Um each year uh the uh healthy food certification is a statute which requires local boards of education uh for public schools participating in the national school lunch program to determine and certify whether all food items that are sold to students um separately from reimburseable meals will meet the Connecticut nutrition standards. Uh so this document is here for your review this evening and we will be asking at the next board meeting that you vote on it.
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Fun starts at 5. I can I'll send you an email more formal invitation here in a little bit. Kindergarten roundup is April 30th. Super important day. All of our grade level determinations are based on our numbers for kindergarten. Um, and kindergarten roundup impacts us probably a little bit more than it does OES because we have fewer teachers. So the diff we have five more kindergarters show up in August than we were anticipating. It really can cause quite the ripple effect and create combo classes all the way up. So trying to get the word out to make sure people know that registration needs to happen and that school does not start after Labor Day. It hasn't done that in my lifetime. Uh we are planning for next year including incorporating the data talks like Mrs. was talking about talking about the importance of kids setting personal goals, class goals.
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Uh if you would expect sort of evenly distributed about a third considering them some some sort of liberal or progressive about a third considering themselves moderate and a third considering themselves conservative, it's about at least a 10-point shift towards a conservative audience. So this is a very conservative audience. This is an audience that doesn't have a lot of kids at home. This is an audience that isn't necessarily getting their news directly from the district. But overall the results are positive.
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How are how are we meeting their needs? Oh, perfect segue into the diamond. Can I ask you a quick question before you move into this? I think you are kind of stating it with this new um act. Um I would assume that it's more of a a whole child approach, right? Because in the past, we know that um entry into a gifted level subject area has often just been based on standardized testing. So, I'm I'm I'm hoping you're going to talk about this, but that it's more of a collective group approach than just this is the test score they got on that one day in April and this is where it determines their placement because that seems to have been the pattern in the past. And I know that um if parents are listening now that that would be um a point of um relief that there's more to it than just a test score.
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It's not going to be a matter of what in certain what you believe in as a personal citizen. It's more of a board. Does press have something on this? You're acting more as a So, no, press doesn't. This is a district 26 specific policy. I I would point out the um the comments money to make sure we're kept up to date. The board's kept up to date on legislative issues and things like that. That's actually in 2150. It's to have a legislative leaison. We have in the past at times where a portion of the policy committee meeting which will be part of the committee of the whole reviewed some of the kind of hot topics that were coming up. Um so that is actually covered under 2150. On the other hand, um you know, with this one, the concern would be again district uh 26 specific last updated in 2011.
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