Um, so that they can learn at GTS. Um, that's all I have. If you have any questions, um, happy to answer any. >> Thank you, Louis. That was well done. Thank you. >> Um, I'm proud to say that Lewis is one of our graduates. >> Yep. >> Uh, I get a couple questions. >> If I was your instructor, I would say, why did we have 958 complaints? But I'm not going to say that. What was the biggest complaint of that 958? >> Um, I would say the biggest complaint this past year has definitely been the um displays in the classroom, the TVs. Uh, so that's kind of why we wanted to develop that plan to get them all replaced because they're reaching the end of their life for sure. and starting to have some problems. >> We had our own today. Good thing Oscar was here.
and intermediate school. Per per US News and Report, CIS is ranked 58 out of 561 Connecticut middle schools. Now, think about that for a minute. That's our fourth and fifth grade students in sixth grade that are being compared to sixth, seventh, and eighth grade. and they're 58 out of 561. Based on the 2025 aspect scores, CIS has no achievement gaps in any content area measured by the state. Improved from the Connecticut State Department of Education School of Category, which is a big deal of moving from a three to a two, showcasing overall school improvement. And again, I mentioned the NAM. Two sixth grade students were honored at the Connecticut Association of Schools 20th annual elementary celebration of the arts. In the fall of 2025 and winter 26, CIS offered 18 before and after school clubs. The sixth grade student music competition composition was named the intermediate school winner of the year by the annual school band directors association young composers finalist contest.
Lastly, we would like to congratulate our Mont View League Champion boys basketball and girls soccer teams. Both teams are advancing to CIF competition this week with basketball playing on Wednesday and soccer on Thursday. Game updates will be shared through our Isuza High School social media. Thank you and have a good evening. Good night. >> Thank you, Jesse. I'd like to now turn it over to Alina Torres uh to give uh her update for Sierra High School. >> Good evening, board members, superintendent Ortega, and cabinet. My name is Alina Torres, and I am excited to represent Sierra High School. I want to start by giving an update on our lunchtime Mario Kart tournament. After almost a week of students competing during lunch, my fellow leadership student Nate Martinez was the ultimate winner. Congratulations, Nate, and thank you to all the students who came out and participated.
The top one. Thank you very much. Up here in the top, you have the the air filter system that's in here, but you have gaps and you have these gaps here. And they may not seem like a lot, but this allows uh air to come in through the system. And I'm going to show you the result of it in the next slide. Oh, thank you. So, this is your cafeteria. And the result of those that uh air intrusion and bypass what this is is this is dirt and sediment that's built up on the discharge of your your air system. So that means you have dirt, dust, debris, things up in your duct work. Um and it's it's getting past that. Also means it's clogging in the coils which leads to lower efficiency operations, more energy usage, less heat transfer, so on and so forth. Um, and these are pictures of your locker rooms.
>> The same. Okay. So this is in the public. So if we were to be questioned about this from someone in the public, what should our response be? This is before we were audited >> and completely paid and completely paid. >> But it's also um you can also remind them that we're audited every year with specific checks and balances in every department in terms of finance, HR, registration, transportation, food service, like all those areas are audited annually and our audits are healthy and look good. So this is an average. So if you have something happen in one year, like when we ended up transferring funds, we knew it was going to look like this for the next two or three years till the average of the five years averages out. >> So about the transfer funds. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> So you asked about TUSD.
So we want it to be reflective of our entire student body. And so in terms of specific actions being taken, uh the reality is when we um invest in in teacher feedback and we look at identifying students who academically we know are performing at a high level and teachers are recommending that they could uh be successful in higher level courses. um student surveys, uh teacher surveys, um academic data going back a number of years. By nature, what happens is is the breadth of students grows. Um I wouldn't say that there's anything specific related to AP. On the gifted side of things, we've spent a significant amount of time um with assessing our title schools and hundreds of students being identified who previously weren't in our title schools um to ensure that services are provided there. Historically, we've been a bit underrepresented in title schools and that therefore not necessarily having a full-time gifted teacher or investing in personnel in the same way because of volume and numbers being located on specific campuses.
And so when we speak about the annual audit, what does that mean? Uh so these four items listed here are the the items that we issue as part of the annual audit for the district. So there's a communication to governance. So that's a letter that's addressed to you, the board, included in your packet. I'll touch on that in a minute. Uh the big one is the annual comprehensive financial report. So that is the district's audited financial statements. Uh it includes uh it's the biggest document that's part of the audit uh 150 or so pages uh includes the district's financial statements and our audit opinion. Additionally, there's the single audit reporting package. So this is a required document uh that's required for uh reporting to the federal government over the district spending of federal grants that the district receives. uh it's required to be submitted to the federal government uh and done annually.
It's what we can afford at this point in time. I wish I wish it would be more. Again, I I think we're showing our value in our current employees by offering them the 3% while also raising our initial rates to to attract talent. >> Mr. Becket, have you heard of what some of the other districts their starting uh teacher salary will be? >> I believe we we've done some study on that. I think we're still close to the top 10%. >> I I mean, I have quite a few friends in the valley. I haven't heard anyone giving more than a one or two percent raise, but a lot of those decisions haven't been made yet. So, we'll see more as the as the weeks come forth where everyone's at. A lot of districts in the valley are declining and the conversations they're having are a lot more difficult as far as finding raises when they're trying to close schools and reduce their their force.
>> K through five. They're taking the Chromebooks back. Not sending them home. >> Not sending them home on a daily basis. We surveyed the staff and there was no need for them to go home on a daily basis. >> So for an e-learning day to happen, every student in the district has to have a Chromebook at home. So you can call an e-learning day. >> Now the district >> are pulling K through five back from going home. So now that's not an option e-learning day. Correct. >> Correct. >> So that's why this is all I think >> it would only be if they didn't have their devices. Now when we can plan and we know those cold days were ahead of us, they go home, not a problem, >> right? So, if they have to call an emergency day for something that comes up unexpectedly, if they don't have their Chromebooks, now we're back to the old school way.
Just covered the hole up over the years. And I was like I was talking to the contractors and I said, "Hey, can can we just remove that? Can we, you know, wall that up?" You know, whatever. And >> they're like, "But do you want acoustical block?" And I was like, "No, I just want block whatever." They're like, "Oh, that's all acoustical block." And I was like, "Oh, I didn't know that. It's the the slits in there or whatever." I learned something. I was like, "Okay." >> A picture never western moon. >> I just thought it was a fancy >> cinder block. I didn't, you know, whatever. So, um, so yeah, obviously it's not something you can go back and retroactively do. Um, so >> we can't get a saw out. I >> I suppose you could. I mean, you know, or a grinder and just start grinding a lot of little holes.
>> Uh, sure. So, um, in VTO we um had a board and that board would review certain expenditures and things um that were over, you know, certain amounts of things, but we had bylaws um that was all laid out ahead of time, what we would fund raise for, what would we use funds for, and every time that we were going to make an expenditure, we would all like reference the bylaws and make sure that, okay, this is in our wheelhouse. Um, this is what we can spend. This is the process we're spending over a certain amount. Um, all of that was laid out. So, anytime we made any kind of fiscal expenditures or we were thinking about um items to be spent on, that was all laid out already. So, we would all we would go back and reference the bylaws of what we could spend and what we could spend it towards.
>> Yeah, Oscar's great. >> Um Lewis, how many cameras are protecting us? >> We have just under 150 cameras. Um they're outside, they're inside. They're covering both uh athletic complexes. Um >> you feel >> it's not a classroom space. >> You feel well covered. >> What' you say? >> You feel well covered. >> Yes, definitely.
Excuse me. Four sixth grade members of future problem solving team qualified for the state competition in a winner in 2024. and middle school awarded among the 2025 best middle schools in the state of Connecticut by US News and World Report. Continued recognition by man. Nine CMS musicians were accepted to perform in the Northern Region Music Festival. The sixth grade grade band placed first with a platinum rating the highest possible at an adjudication in May 25. The CMS student was the intermediate division winner of the 2025 young composers competition. CMS had a successful ongoing partnership with the Connecticut State Department of Education. Continuous improvement in ELA growth index for all students over the past four years, eliminating the achievement gap. And you've heard this before. Overall growth on school performance index was the fastest in the Farmington Valley region over the past four years. Our boys outdoor track team placed second and the girls team placed third at the Woodbury Invitational.
I also wanted to share that the Real Hundle dual enrollment welding program for both Sierra and Isusa High School students started this month with classes at Sierra on Tuesdays and inerson classes at Rio Hondo's welding lab on Thursdays. This is a great learning experience where students not only get college credits, but explore the field of welding and develop lifelong skills before even graduating high school. Our soccer season has been a lot of fun. Maybe not the most successful so far, but we are very proud of the students who came out and displayed great sportsmanship and teamwork. And at the end of the day, everyone has been having a lot of fun. Our last game is this Friday versus North Park. and I wish the best of luck to our team. Right after soccer season, we will be jumping right into basketball. This Friday is also our Valentine spirit day where students are encouraged to wear white, purple, red, or pink.
And you can kind of see these are original construction locker rooms. You can kind of tell by the color patterns here as well. Um, and we do know that I mean you guys are up here in the mountains and this is the perfect place for summer camps and summer programs and so on and so forth, but these are not uh shower and locker facilities that are conducive to to those sort of programs. And this is the showers on one of the other facilities. As you can see, you you need to address I mean, if nothing else, the the plumbing, the you can see the rust and >> and everything else. Yeah. So, and we didn't we didn't try operating any of them, but Yeah. >> Yeah. So, and they do. And so, one one of the things that that I'm really proud of is how much work we do in schools.
Here's the big thing. They're down 4,800 students. 4,200 students. They're opening enrolling to other school districts. >> That's >> I mean that would be my guess. question. >> So, Alter Valley, >> they're down 125 kids over five years. >> Right. So that's why you know that our enrollment is stable. We're not using 100 kids. And I'll turn to ours >> elementary or >> elementary. Which was this one? >> Elementary. >> They're their own, but they're in a lot of trouble. Can we go back to Michelle's question? I'm sorry. >> Is if somebody asks, which is possible, >> what's the best politically right way to answer it because the numbers are the best way to answer this would be with the auditor general's report. You're comparing audited statements versus unudited statements. So you're looking at two different snapshots of time. So you're looking, you know, statements that are already been looked at over by an auditor and then items that haven't even been looked at or checked over by an auditor.
So, um I would say at this point in time across the board and all accelerated learning, you'll see a growth of diversity and just a growth of students in general across the board. And so, we we celebrate that for sure. >> That would that's awesome. I I really want to see that the kids in our AP classes represent the entire school. >> Sure. >> Um I I did have another question. If we go back to the other end of the spectrum, the first grade reading, um what are some specific steps that we're taking if we have readers that are struggling a little bit um and maybe need a little additional help? >> Yeah, absolutely. So number one, we have a certified reading specialist at every single one of our campuses. So if we've got a student that needs tier three intervention, uh they receive that within every one of our master schedules of our elementary schools, we have at least a 30 minute win time, which rep it's an acronym that represents what I need.
And then finally, the uniform system of financial records compliance questionnaire. So this is a lengthy questionnaire that every district must have their auditors complete and submit to the Arizona Auditor General each year. So every uh public school district has to have this questionnaire completed by their auditors and submitted Uh so what is included in the scope of audit services? Uh so we follow government auditing standards and uniform guidance and then also to complete the USFR compliance questionnaire. Uh what standards do we follow and what guides the annual audit? So uh this sliding just includes a lot of different sources as to what guides audit and audit procedures uh and the requirements that are included in all the reports that are issued. So federal guidance uh governmental accounting standards board guidance uh AICPA auditing standards governmental auditing standards. So long story short, there's a lot of rules and regulations and laws that we have to follow as part of the annual audit.
So, we think that 3% is going to be some of the higher raises that we'll see districts uh attempt this year. >> Thank you. Any more questions or any motions? >> A motion to approve the salary. >> Second, >> Lisa. I have a motion and a second. Shante Rothschild. >> I >> Ben Owens. >> Hi. >> Lisa Garcia. >> I. >> Carolyn Lopez. >> I. >> Patty Catra. >> I. >> And thank you, Mr. Beckett. Uh, and our last item, adjourn. Do I have a motion? Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Lisa, I have a motion and a second. >> Shante Rosschild. >> Hi. >> Ben Owens. >> Hi. >> Lisa Garcia. >> I. >> Carol Lopez. >> I. >> Patty Coutree. >> I. Meetings adjourned. 707.
>> Okay. >> Hey, we're e day and then let's say we're done May 31st, >> June 1 2 3 4 and five are set up as backup emergency. >> E days. >> So, if they use two, then they go till June 2nd. Now, >> got it. That's the I think the premise >> they're trying to use >> some different holidays >> instead of taking off. I'm just gonna say I'm not to anybody. Casmir flask, right? Whatever. Yeah, >> they're going to use a day that we take off. They would come to school that day. Correct. >> That that would have been that would have been the option. That's the That's what we asked this day. >> So, they would use one of the days that we have off and they would come to school that day to make up so they don't go longer at the end of the year.