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Uh does anyone have any questions or comments about this? And just to clarify, we're not necessarily doing it because the auditor wants it. we're doing because we retroactively we had a a discussion about this. I don't I thought we did it but uh for going forward for the next threeear contract okay because they they've done a great job and I would I want to say I think it's important for this type of company and service to have a continuous if things are going well we should keep the service. Yes, that was going forward and this is for the year that it's almost over. Andrew, if I could also add, I think it would it something that Ashley and Ria that you may want to take up um at finance at some point because my understanding was that this was going to be um I think it has to be in a town meeting where this is approved because it's a a change and I think it's an ordinance change, but it certainly would make things a lot easier because we get so much better pricing from the consortium pieces um than we would Otherwise, as evidenced by the garage and the um technology that we have purchased.
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So, I really was going to say a lot more different things, but because tonight I think this is important to let you know that thank you very much and getting going moving forward. It's just something that's making me gets my energy up, getting excited. So, thank you again all of you for all the hard work you've done and the changes. I mean, so that that much I can only say. Well, thank you very much. [Applause] Victor Ward. Good evening board and superintendent. Uh I was here before I believe um Dr. Nian was presenting the second interim report and I had uh my uh I talked about one of the things that my company does which is the real time video yearbook. Um, but uh I wanted to actually talk about budgets and numbers and as I was thinking about things and I, you know, I could be wrong.
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Any opposed? Hearing none, that'll be the order. Expulsion case STIP8 202425. I'll need a motion to approve. So moved. Motion Buchanan. A second. Second. Maria. Yes, sir. All in favor? I.
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It's not possible. And this is the only thing that basically preserves a building in perpetuity um to the state. Next slide, please. What is a local historic district? It's a continuous contiguous area of a group of historic structures that the state approves and the town votes to preserve. This local historic district is located exclusively in the downtown area from the ocean house by the mill pond down to the post office up to the old railroad back to the library and back up to the ocean house. It doesn't include any of the streets around that. Nor does it morph like a sponge or or or a mold or a fungus into the surrounding streets. You have to do this very carefully and a lot of work has gone into this. Next slide, please. This is our map and the outline of the district is in blue.
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So, I just throw that out there for future thought. Um any other questions? All those in favor, please say I. I. No opposed or abstaining. Passes as well. On to resignations. We did receive a resignation from BCS administrative assistant Christine Patnog and we would like to thank her for her service to Fton public schools and we wish her well. And one final thing uh we have a first read policy. All right. Looked like it was a complete rewrite. Yes. So uh basically we are replacing the current policy 5131.9 not currently called the Connecticut school climate policy but that's what the replacement will be called. Um it's basically it's a new model policy shipment in goodwin and it reflects a number of recent changes to Connecticut state law that will go into effect on July 1st. So, uh, we'll do our first read tonight and then second read at our June meeting.
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I don't I'm not steeped into it as all of you are, but it seems to me that there are only a few ways that a school district and schools can raise money. Um, one is fundraisers and donations, ticket sales. Uh, PTA oftentimes is very involved in that. And uh to me the real time yearbook is something that not only satisfies part of that media arts curriculum and and uh need but it also gives schools and districts that additional revenue which is unrestricted. So you're able to take funds from one source, unlock them, and gives the district and schools an opportunity to spend money with uh with you. I won't say lack of oversight, but kind of lack of oversight, and you can spend it the way you want to. The other thing that's interesting is uh on your website, you have an attendance rate tracker.
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Any opposed? Hearing none. That'll be the action. Item two, approve the certificated and classified personnel actions as listed. Do we have a motion? So moved. You can second it. Second. Maria. All in favor? I.
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Now, not everything is going to be historic in it, but it does, like I said, it has to be a continu contiguous district. Um, and that's why it's drawn the way it is. Some of it's open space land, some of it's owned by the town. Next slide, please. Some of the buildings in the district will be the library, front street, which was the uh Mason block, Abner Greenwood block since 1884. Next slide, please. And of course, John Stones, all called originally the railroad house, Stones Hotel, public house, built in 1834. Next slide, please. The historic fire station, 1929. Next slide, please. And this is a good example. The fire station has been converted. A good example of what you can do with historic structures. It's been repurposed as Clover Road Tap. And as you can see, it's packed every night that I drive by it.
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Uh, yeah. So, I guess there's there's there's a lot of little differences throughout. I'll try to summarize them. Um, that Kristen, please feel free to jump in and correct me if I get anything wrong or miss anything. Um, that the changes tend to come in uh several different areas. Um there's clarification as to the scope of the policy. There are updated definitions. Um there are some expanded responsibilities for the staff people who are charged with implementing the policy. Uh there are some strengthened reporting procedures, clarifications about parent notification and parent rights and uh some enhanced prevention and response measures. So as far as clarified scope um the policy has been revised to explicitly name and define bullying, teen dating violence, harassment and discrimination whereas the existing policy refer to those in more some more general terms. Uh the new policy emphasizes that the policy applies both on and off school grounds.
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So, I know attendance is always a big deal and things like chronic absenteeism are always a big deal. Uh, I was at a school district um board meeting the other night and they had gone down from I think 38%. Everyone was up after CO of course, but they had gone down from 38% to about 22 or 28%. And as one of the board members said, that's still one in five, which is massive when you really think about it. And so what another one of our products does is it is a competition platform and we tie in both CIF and foundations. We tie in the CIF because CIF in order to participate in sports you have to have a certain attendance rate and you have to have a certain GPA. And so to participate in our competition you have to have those. And then on the other end, the way I the reason I say it ties in the foundations is because foundations and endowments give incentives.
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Any opposed? Hearing then that'll be the order. Approve recommendations for requested leave as noted. Some moved. Buchanan. Second. I'll second the other one. All in favor? I I. Any opposed?
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But instead of ripping it down and putting up a new building, they've repurposed the historical structure to great effect. Next slide, please. The railroad station is in private hands and has been since 1961. And I could be taken down at any time by the owner. This is also in the district. Next slide, please. The Federated Church might not always be a church is also in the district. Next slide, please. And the Ashlin Center Historical District Commission will be established by this by by this bylaw when we pass it tonight. The commission is responsible for overse over overseeing the district's bylaw and it's also responsible for establishing a non-binding set of guidelines. This is a separate commission appointed by the select board. It doesn't exist yet and it'll be chosen from various members of the community with expertise in real estate architecture and there should be at least one person living in the district or owning in the district on the board.
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So that it also covers electronic communications uh email that sort of thing. It has updated definitions again of bullying cyber bullying, teen dating violence, uh discrimination and harassment. Um a lot of those updated definitions are to meet changes in state law. Uh it provides some expanded responsibilities. Um well maybe it's not really expanded but uh it does uh ask that the school have a safe school climate coordinator which I assume will be a position that was already you know it's already we already have correct it's yes so it's just really a name change um and then the the role of the school climate specialist will I guess some additional reporting and investigation responsibilities. Uh it adds or clarifies some timelines for reporting by school staff. Um so the oral report is due within one school day of an incident being reported and a written report is due within two school days.
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That's when they give cash incentives, merchandise incentives. And so we're trying to combine both of those uh to help inspire and incentivize students to attend uh to lower that chronic absenteeism rate, to increase their attendance, to increase enrollment. And as they go, as they say, you you get more of whatever you reward. And so we want to reward students for attending, for participating in class, and for trying. So I want to cons throw out that throw that out there and hopefully get a chance to speak with someone about maybe working together in the future. Thank you very much. [Applause] Next is uh Marita Berm Bermutas. Sorry. Okay. Sorry. I'm I'm a little under the weather, so I'm trying to hold up to be here. Um, good evening again. Um, everyone. My name is Marita Benedm. I'm a parent of a student at Anaheim High School and I'm here to um speak on the agenda item um 11.7 on the school resource office um officer agreement with the city of Cypress.
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Hearing none, that'll be the order. Moving down to J. Consent calendar is recommended the board trustees consider approving a number of agenda items on the consent list. Tonight we have items 1 through 34. So moved that we approve it. Can I ask the board we because it was posted um number 16 is a contract having to do with um Greer Consulting. Um the county office of education has picked up the cost of that um consulting agreement through a systems of success um grant. And so there really is no need for the district to take action, the board to take action on it. But because it was posted, we didn't know until today that we were granted that. And so I just wanted to let the board know that you wanted to just if you can just you can just pull it. You don't have to take action.
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Next slide. What does a local historic district do? Well, it preserves the exterior street facing and facade of historically and architecturally significant buildings. It doesn't it studies have shown that it increases property values. ne. Can you move it up? There's no more cost-effective program of economic development of any kind in the country. Can we have the next slide, please? What it doesn't do, um, there's been a lot of, uh, misinformation out there that's been passed around, including tonight, about what this is going to entail and what is going to happen. Um, it doesn't prevent you from selling your property. It does not control property usage or what people can do inside the buildings. This is only concerned with the outside exterior of the building, what you can see from the street. It doesn't control what businesses are allowed. It doesn't prevent new constructions. And basically, studies have shown that it does not decrease property values.
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Uh it includes a requirement to investigate all reports promptly and to notify parents and guardians uh of any involved student uh when investigation begins. Uh it clarifies that schools must notify parents and guardians of any verified bullying incidents within 48 hours of completing an investigation. and parents must be informed of their rights and available available remedies under state statute um on the board of ed website. And then uh the enhanced prevention and response measures include uh mandated inclusion of anti-bullying language in student codes of conduct. I think we already have a lot of that already but and then uh it requires implementation development and implementation of prevention and intervention strategies for staff and lastly would like schools to invite parents of victims to meetings discussing safety measures and future prevention strategies. Yes, thank you.
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Um I am here to voice my um firm opposition to the proposed agreement with the city of Cypress to place a school resource officer at Cypress Cypress High School campus for the 2526 school year and beyond. and any presence at any re of any school resource officer at any of our schools as I'm not for um supporting them at our schools. Allocating $125,000 of district funds towards the presence of law enforcement in our schools is not only physically irresponsible in my opinion, but it is also under undermines the kind of supportive, inclusive, and safe learning environments our sto students truly need. Numerous students and lived experiences have shown that the presence of police on campus disproportionately harms black, brown, and marginalized students contributing to the school to prison pipeline um rather than disrupting rather than disrupting it. We do not need officers. We need opportunity.
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Okay. Table that. Okay. So you want to amend your motion Amanda through 1 through 34 minus 16. I'm going to pull uh seven number seven. Yes. Seven. Um and uh 22. Anything else? Okay. For now, uh 28. Okay. I have 7 22 28 and I would like to pull one one and 26. 26. Okay. So, let's go ahead and make a motion. Amanda, you want to So, what we're going to do here is Yeah. So, we'll move to remove one would remove one 7 16 16 22 26 28. So we have a motion to approve the the other. Is that your motion? Correct. I second that. Okay. And a second for all in favor? I Okay.
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Next slide, please. So, in summary, the historic district creates a thoughtful community-based review process that protects historically significant buildings from demolition and inappropriate alteration to retain the unique character of downtown Ashlin. We have a chance here, folks, to prevent the destruction of downtown Ashlin. We're about to lose another building. Um, it's in the pipeline, and this is one of the only ways, this is basically the only way a local community can do this. Um it when it passes here tonight, we need twothirds vote. Passes here tonight, it will go to the attorney general's office for approval. Then it will be recorded in the registry of deeds. The new commission will be set up and it will abide it will go by the bylaws and it will adjudicate things in the district as they come up. So thank you very much. I hope you're all with us.
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