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Anybody's interested is open. Okay. Seeing no public comment on the budget, we move on to agenda item two, board comments. Just quickly what I wanted to say tonight what as a legislative delegate I this year one of my personal goals is to do better about being a good delegate and advocate for our district. Um so what I will be attempting to do is every month providing one of these update sheets with this sheet how I'm breaking it down is what's pending. Um and I'll keep my eye on uh all the bills that are pending. If I find one that looks like there could be motion and looks like it would be advantageous for our district to kind of push the community to reach out to their their um representatives. I will do so. Um a lot of these are are there's no motion yet. There's no movement yet.
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His favorite hobbies are running outside. And his future career plans is to go to college, but he's still deciding exactly what he wants to do. He's only a freshman, so he has plenty of time to figure it out. >> Thank you. >> Let's have another proud another round of applause for all of our students of the month. Okay. At this time, I'd like to call forth Dr. S. to introduce our district employee of the month, Miss Jorge. Come on down. >> Congratulations to Miss Jorge, our district educator of the month. Miss Jorge is a special education teacher who truly cares about her students and works hard to help each child succeed. She creates a classroom where students feel supported, confident, and ready to learn. Miss Jorge leads fun and meaningful activities that help student grow. Each morning, she starts with games like pass the bean bag, where students practice listening, taking turns, and working together.
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presentation will be redone for kindergarten parents um at 2:15 um so that kind of coincide with the pickup. So we had spoken about it at a board meeting a few months ago um and it's really great that that is uh in fruition now. So hopefully we'll get more parents to get that information for that presentation review. Um and kindergarten prek registration is open. So that's it. Register children early to help administration get everything. Yeah. So lots of good stuff happening in curriculum and programs. have two questions. First is We don't start >> like I'm available for my kids first day here because >> I think because of the high school they are But spring upon and user >> I think so. >> Yeah, we went back pulled out old calendars. I can't site the year exactly, but I think that was one of the first things that we looked at before we started.
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Gain would have forced you, you probably would have done it, but but you just really stood up and said, "No, this is my friend spot." And of course then and I was confused at the time. I like Mia did this last night and this other friend did it the next day. But but that just shows just one example of the type of character she has. So fantastic student, fantastic friend and an exemplar north Viking Mia Embry. pictures. >> While they're getting pictures, I'd just like to point out that we not only had Lann all this time, her mother also taught for us for many, many, many years. Not to date myself, but I knew Lan when she was that age. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Siner. Okay. Our number 5.1, middle school schedule update. >> Thank you, Mr. Russell. Um, I'm going to call on our principles at Middle School Central and Middle School North, Dr.
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>> Yeah, I think that's why there's the urgency for the attorneys to talk with one another and for Hopkin and Ashland to work in a coordinated way to just get that special permit enforced. I don't think it'll be that big of a deal for Hopkin to do. It's just the the push from Ashland that this is important to us. Yeah, I did I did receive a call from their town manager today, but we were playing phone tagged, so we didn't get a chance to connect. And I don't know if that's what it was about, but >> Okay. >> Um, you know, she did reach out. >> Okay. And it's on their uh Open Space and Preservation Commission meeting tomorrow. So, Tony and I will attend that. I'm not sure if, you know, Robera is going to be able to attend, but we'll be there and listen to what they have to say.
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If you look at this up at the ed site, the number of bullying instances over the past several years are all asterisks with the exception of one year at the high school uh which was seven. Asterisk means less than six. I can tell you a year where my kid had three verified uh incidents of a victim of bullying and several that were like a kid yelling at her down the hall, I'm going to effing kill you. And that wasn't a verified uh instance of bullying as well as a stick figure drawing with her name labeled as the victim uh was not a verified uh instance of bullying. So the data that's being reported does not meet actually what has occurred. If you're not getting the data and the principles cannot tie their plans to the data and their underlying data to the data that's being reported, there's a problem.
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So that is something that is also progressing. And really the last thing is I just wanted to explain that Johnson Controls and Energy our owners rep are still finalizing some of the details on the different amounts of savings that we can achieve through this energy performance contract. So you know everything is moving ahead. We're just waiting really for the legislation so we can get our con school construction grants um approved. And assuming we got the legislation, I do have to go through the process of applying for the school construction grants. The window opens the 1st through the 10th of every month. So, I'm hoping that we can do this in the March window. And the OCGR is supposed to um receive applications, you know, by the 10th of the month. They're supposed to complete their review by the end of the month and, you know, provide a response as to whether those can go forward or if there's additional information required.
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So that's what falls in there and that's why you see that as a negative number. Uh can we go to the next screen? >> Um so we have all our salary accounts by the different groups. Uh can we go to the next page? So we have a favorable balance under salaries of 7.8. Next year, um, we're budgeting for, uh, longevity and stipens. And you see this year that we do not have a budget in there for it, but we're trying to bring it more in line next year as we move forward. And then we have our benefits. Uh, you go up to Yep. Thank you. So in benefits we have a a shortfall of 43,000 but with all the different types of benefits in there were favorable 5.6. >> Yeah. The the majority of the items sitting in that benefits line um is for social security.
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>> Yeah. Okay. Good job. Christina almost blew it. >> Oh, yeah. She told me about that. She came in and confessed it. Denise Muan, our office manager at Bidwell Junior High School. Uh again, another silent hardworking cog that without whom the place would would crumble and in fact we got to experience what that was like a little bit. We had some health issues a while back. U we barely held on without her. But again, while I could brag all day, I think it's even cooler to hear what some of your colleagues had to say about you. Denise is the essential gear that keeps the school rolling every single day. From the complex logistics of managing substitutes and balancing budgets to handling supply orders and the endless stream of random questions that come her way, her expertise is unmatched and the sense of humor unmatched as well.
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So I I seen the excuse of them growing not only vegetables and and and stuff that we eat but even like um uh Miley which is you know hard to get Miley right there they had an area that was cool enough that was actually growing Miley >> you know so those ideas for moving forward I mean to me I think that was like a template so it's something that I guess not only you guys but even us should encourage more of that even like what Senator Cameron said with with the early farmers ers even though they don't know the condition they can probably visit there and they they have multiple conditions that they talk about that is challenging what is working what kind crops they can plant and they they have a area that they're doing that so that they know what's going to grow when they move their production elsewhere so there's something there to consider I mean not unmandatory but just to consider having >> yeah thank you chair >> thank you s anyone else >> I got a question for Farm Bureau.
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So >> yeah, I'm not arguing that point at all. It was it was was language that we did put in got taken out. >> I wasn't part of that. >> And so I'm not arguing that. The point that I'm I'm having is that leaving it up to the auditor to make a determination of whether you're fit. I think the the bill is clear. If the transfer doesn't happen, if it, you know, time runs out, then it was supposed to revert back. So, I'm not arguing that point. I'm just saying that the bill didn't call for for there to be an evaluation of whether or not you were fit in order to continue. I I I wasn't part of the I cannot add to that in terms of what was in the original draft of the Senate. Um but this is 2031, right? The the transfer full transfer is 2033 in terms of when the leases get.
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It's so nice. It's great. You get treated like a princess. It's great. Um but during folk style um it's just kind of like go go go and you can't lock your hands. There's a lot of rules and everything, but freestyle um it's kind of like you get a break. There's shorter periods and there's only two periods, but I don't know. I like the ability to lock hands because I used to do that a lot freshman year and I'd get caught a lot on that during folk style. So, I don't know. >> Yeah, I would say uh freestyle for me because there's breaks, there's um less rules, and I mean, like I said, me and Payton do summer freestyle together, WTC. Um, yeah, full style. Folk style was pretty basic. I really like that one, too. Greco was not my favorite. >> No. >> But yeah, freestyle was probably my top three.
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So there there's no calls now. Uh the second section is laws that have passed. Um and now this is just since January 1st of 2026 federal legislation that's enacted and then what I would recommend is for followup. Um For example, there definitely needs to be some policy updates around the student internet enabled device law changes. Um, make sure we're in compliance with the Caesar seizure disorder care training. Uh, all of those, uh, review staffing implications for any mandates such as the minimum wage and public notice adjustments. Um, and continue to monitor the state aid bills. Uh, and once a month try to bring just this summary sheet to you guys. And then if you have in depth questions, you're always welcome to reach out to me and I'll do my best to help you understand uh what the bill and law is about and what we should be doing and anything about them.
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She changes lessons when students need extra help, and comes up with hands-on activities when materials aren't ready, making sure everyone stays engaged and successful. She also plans real life experiences to help students build independence. For example, she took her class to a local diner, taught them how to read a menu, decide what to order, speak clearly to the server, and handle money. She works closely with families, translating during conferences and sending notes in their home language so everyone's included and informed. Miss Jorge is always willing to help whenever she's needed, for preparing lessons to supporting behaviors and helping with school events. Her care, patience, and love for teaching shine in everything she does. Through her hard work, kindness, and guidance, Miss Jorge makes a real difference with the lives of her students and everyone she works with. Congratulations, Miss Jorge. >> Thank you. Thank you.
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>> Do you remember uh when I when I mentioned it? said, "Well, it's not really >> I don't remember as a teacher. I don't know. Fantast. So I think again you know we took um a lot of time and thought to put into this. I think the idea of um starting with two half days is a way to introduce kids to a lot of the routines the expectations you know without right off the bat starting with two full days. So I think that's a pretty common practice. Um and then when we come back from Labor Day we're able to kind of hit the ground running. Um, I would also say that, you know, the other thing we thought about is the longer you go into June, the more difficult it is to keep kids engaged in learning, especially after Memorial Day. Um, so, you know, if you can get done sooner in June, I just think that's a better use of the instructional time.
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Davin Harp and Mr. Jason Weisman to present. Um, as they come up, just want to set the stage that this is something that Dr. Long charged them with in 2024 is to take a look at teaming, uh, take a look at scheduling and teaming and, um, a little bit of everything for the middle schools as we started to talk about our student day changes, um, what are some options and some opportunities. And so they are going to share with you a presentation they've put together um the work they've done on this really over the last 18 months and looking forward to hearing from gentlemen. >> Thank you Dr. Taylor. Um good evening. My name is Jason Weisman, principal. I proudly serve as principal at Center Grove Middle School central and I have with me Dr. Davenharp. He uh serves as principal at Middle School North.
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I mean, we're we're monitoring actually the Hopkin planning board meetings and select board meetings because the absolute worst case scenario would be if they change the terms of the special permit. So, we're keeping a a close eye on on that. >> Yeah. >> So, anyway, >> yeah, I I I I would think if the developer went to try to apply for that, that would definitely catch some red flags. >> I would hope so. I would hope so. So anyway, that's that's my request. If we can stay in touch. >> Thank you. >> All right. Is there anybody else? David, do you want to come on up? >> We don't want seconds. I've known Susan forever living down the street. >> I think this is very important. It is 1.8 acres of woods of and which is significant. And the trail there is wonderful. I've been on it dozens of times.
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And if what they reported to the state isn't true, that is a big problem. So I ask you please ask questions. Um if you don't, I will follow regardless. I will follow up to with the what I expect this school improvement plan to be and if we don't have another meeting to go over it. There's a provision in law that 1% of the electorate you get signatures that citizens can u put drive a meeting where the board of ed will have three weeks to answer. So please um with due deep diligence un work on climate and fix it in two months or less and on the whether or not you have to vote um on the budget to discuss the budget to go back to the super uh to the first selectman if you answer the questions as first selectman as opposed to decide not to you have to have a vote Mr.
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So that really is what I wanted to u provide in terms of an update this evening on the energy performance contract. So if there's any questions >> Mr. White Yeah, thank you. Um I apologize Vin. I missed it. You had mentioned that Emily put some uh files up there to look at the solar arrays the location and I I was clicking on that and I missed what you had said. I think about the telp. Is that what it is? >> Yeah. So, the school construction grant doesn't allow um for TP funding. So, we need special legislation. >> It's not withstanding legislation that would allow us to finance through the tel and still be able to get our school construction grants. >> Okay. And then later on, you had mentioned that you were looking at doing that taking action between March 1st and March 10th. Fingers crossed on that.
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So those of of the employees that don't pay into TRB pay into social security. Um th this year uh looks like we're a little bit over the uh over the budgeted amount and I corrected for that in the seven budget. I increased it by about 115,000 to reflect not only that $43,000 variance but also taking into account any um incremental increases for uh the non-certified staff that uh pay into Social Security. >> Okay. uh professional services >> in the professional services line. I just wanted to uh point out to the the um account 53023 which is professional services um under professional services. uh that that majority of that is as Angela mentioned before the fact that we had some vacancies that we weren't able to fill and we went to third parties um such as Stepping Stones and the Nurses Network try to fill. So that's where that um that uh negative 1.3 came from.
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