[clears throat] >> Uh thank you for being here and offering comments. um land use commission. Does any of this particular land areas go to the land use commission? >> Uh thank you for the question. Unfortunately, the Luc did not testify on this measure. We did coordinate with them and yes uh this is codified in the state land use commission's law where these proposals uh proposals for solar energy facilities on a lands for lands that are on B or C go before the state land use commission with the special use permit process for the counties to review. And so what this bill does uh in I believe page 16 is it does open that up to DANAs as well um which is it actually doesn't go through the land use commission process since there's no special permit required >> again can you repeat that why >> so for BNC lands it does go through the land use commission process >> I've always known that >> but now that with this bill's language opening it up to DANSS [clears throat] >> that does not go to the land use commission Okay.
>> Thank you, Chair Kim, Vice Chair Kim, Senator Deort, uh Jan Goa. We have we stand on our written testimony with comments. >> Okay, you will actually give a little more details before we start asking you questions. Um so in essence the measure um uh seeks to require the university to establish a facilities master plan that takes into consideration uh broader academic issues like the projection of enrollment um different methods of pedagogy, how much is online, how much will be in person as well as uh taking a look at the demographics. um moving from a more traditional uh or evaluating where the um what the characteristics of a a student might be which might be moving away from the more traditional you know straight out of high school kind of characteristics versus um adult learners um second kind of career um education effort. So, the bill seeks to um have the university take a look at all of that systemwide and then develop a facilities plan to support that the growth in those areas.
>> Any dream college at the moment? >> I really hope I go to Friends because it's close and I don't have to like drive very far and you know buy a lot of like like the room because it's very expensive. But yeah, I'm hoping to go to Friends because it's close by home. >> How about you, Payton? >> Um, you know, whatever happens after high school happens. I'm excited for senior year, but I'm also kind of sad at the same time. You know, it is a sport that I've enjoy and I found a love for. But if I don't continue after high school, I know that that will be the last time I step foot on a mat. But if I do, if I do get that opportunity, that is amazing. I'll look into that. But, you know, for now, I'm not really worried about it.
So we are looking at ways to address what we see coming up in the data and we're going to continue with these initiatives moving forward. What I'd also like to draw attention to is specific to Lamont, which is just that there were two restraint and seclusions. And really what that the message that it sends is that our district prioritizes other strategies other than restraint and seclusion and that we use those strategies only in the event of ne only when necessary to ensure that students are safe. So I think that's something that we also should be proud of looking at this data. Section B focuses on the cost of vandalism. Thankfully, we haven't had any vandalism, so there's been no cost to our district. Section C focuses on actions taken specific to HIB. You can see that we have had in school suspension, out of school suspension.
I understand from a parent perspective employee as well. I think to me this this satisfies I think the half days are good for teaching and learning. I think it gives our teachers a chance to learn students for those first couple days and adjust have some vertical articulation as well and it gives parents the opportunity to reach right afterwards. Right. I know. I know. >> But we still do. We still do. This is a lot. This is like I don't know the calculation. Yes. Either way, >> most of those factors are 100%. You're going to have a small 50% of people say a good 20% of people say >> yeah the case in Europe. It's it is what it is. But not going to say right what's important they're going to prioritize what's important but yeah I mean I think I think you know I I don't think there would be any advantage to tealing for further input because that would be counterproductive.
And these groups were uh representative of every subject area, UVA, special education, um all of that. And our teachers gave us eight different schedules that they designed themselves. And so we took those eight different schedules um and through January through March of that year, we continued to gather their input and their thoughts on different schedules. Um and then uh we expressed in in March of 25 an interest in moving forward with some of the changes for actually this school year. Um but we decided that we would delay that and get more input from our teachers. And so we continued to get more input um during the summertime uh June through August. Um and and again uh we've continued to work with our leadership teams and guiding coalitions over the fall uh to get more input on um how we can reach some of these specific scheduled targets.
So, >> yeah. >> And are you planning on any road work? I know last, you know, we we've we've done some repaving. Um >> uh we recently, if everybody noticed, we did some water work out there on 135 after 50s in the Fountain Street area. Um I understand it's pretty rough shape right now, and that's why we're holding off trying to make sure they're coming back right before the marathon do their part in paving that up. Um outside of general maintenance on the route, nothing specific at the moment, but >> yeah. >> And that's the one where we got the money for do the paving just this week, right, Doug? That's for the long term. >> Yeah. >> Okay.
Um I've also met with um Deb and Mr. Banda and we met uh today with a representative from the uh New England Association of College Accreditation. uh and so NASNC to really uh look at what it might be like to have all of our schools accredited by that institution. So our high school is accredited. Uh some districts uh throughout the state of Connecticut are looking at getting accreditation for all schools and engaging in that reflective improvement process uh to be able to help support uh students and teachers. So, we went on a call today just to learn a little bit more about it and see what it it could uh provide to us. And I think we're still in that learning and factf finding phase. So, uh we will continue to do that. Um we also had an opportunity today uh Deb and I to meet with uh Lisa Bowden from Ed Advance and our local uh regional um educational service center and learn more about how they can support our continuous improvement efforts.
>> Okay, that's it. >> Back to you, Emily. >> Thanks, Ben. All right. Um, have some capital projects updates for you all. So, uh, just as kind of prefacing this whole conversation, we were having conversations about the capital expenditures plan for the town. um way earlier in the year, I think uh like January, February, the town has decided to push back that process to align more with their budget season. And so we are looking at reviewing a capital expenditures plan next month as the planning committee and then bringing it to the board of ed in April. Um there are a few items that I just want to go through that are going to be pertinent to the the capital plan. And I'm hopeful that after this meeting, we can schedule time for March to review our our proposal for a capital um expenditures plan. So, uh with that said, a few capital projects that are important or timely.
Um and then right under that is electric. Um that that's coming in an unfavorable uh $160,000 and that's largely due to um the the opening of the the new high school uh DHS West. Um part of that I I believe is um when they calculated the delivery charge, the cost, they were including averages um in the summer when we weren't occupying the building. Uh we had many doors and windows still not installed. Um there were bay doors open, but the the air conditioner was on and circulating and it drove that bill up. Um but I did just recently see an email from our um director of facilities and there is going to be um an adjustment there. And then in respect to natural gas, we lowered that for the 27 budget. We slightly increased the electric um and we just got word from the city that they um negotiated um the propane contract, gasoline and natural gas um at favorable rates.
>> Yeah. Great. So, I'm Heather Hacking, um, program manager for international training at Chico State, and we wanted to recognize that we have 22 international educators from 21 countries in Chico right now. They're attending a six-w weekek really intensive training program um, through the college and starting Friday, they will be in our local schools. So, I actually see some of our partner teachers here. Um they'll be matched with one of our um your local teachers from Chico High, Pey, or Chico Junior. They'll be there for a week. We've already visited um Chico Country Day and they're learning tonight about how the school board um process works. So, thank you for welcoming us and um they'll be around. >> Thank you. Welcome. >> Okay. Okay. At this time, I'd like to ask if any board members have any announcements regarding student events or awards or um any school site accomplishments.
>> And no matter how many acres. >> So >> that is my understanding after consulting with the staff there yesterday. Yes. So this provision will now open up D to go to the land use commission with the special permit review. >> Okay. >> It does or it doesn't. >> It will. This provision in the bill. >> Okay. On the D lands. >> Yes. Okay. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh cheers. Yeah. >> Okay. Uh we're going to go right into decision making on this measure. >> Oh, wait. Excuse me. Excuse me. >> I I they need me to go vote. >> There's a vote being done now. So, I'll be right down to public safety. So the chair's recommendation would be to pass uh this measure with DAB's suggested amendments that protect agricultural integrity and also with OPSD suggested amendments to clarify implementation.
>> Okay. And so, do you have any recommendations in light of opposition? We um it's it's a broader uh as we as we laid out in our testimony uh our written testimony, you know, we do support the intent of of putting together a plan. Um the criteria and the elements that's identified um in the bill uh is a fairly heavy lift across all 10 campuses. Um and actually should be developed that's really the academic strategy um and that needs to be developed before the facilities plan is developed. So as we laid out um in our testimony we we recommend that the university be given some time to to develop that broader academic strategy from which the facilities plan um can develop. So does the university does not have any plans in past regarding >> facilities and student housing. Do you have any plans? >> Yes.
Yeah. Uh, well, thank you guys for coming on today. Thank you, Gracie. Thank you, Payton. Um, and we will catch you guys next time in the next Sports Talk podcast. See you guys later. Thank you for watching.
We did have a police notified in one of the cases, but there was no complaint filed. We're really trying to address the situation within the schools themselves and additionally handle the education of our students who are going out on hibs internally as well. Section D focuses on offenders and the targets. You can see a community we have an equal number of offenders and targets where smallie and the high school have an uneven number. In those cases, we often have multiple offenders with one specific target. But what is great to note on here is that we have no victims of violent criminal offenses. Section E refers back to the slide that I talked about before with suspensions in that we're able to educate our students and not have to do anything externally. We've been able to provide them s um assignments instruction within the school. We haven't had to rely on any in district programs or special indist programs, home instruction or out of district programming as well.
So I mean I completely understand your point as well. I I love September and day and I was like no >> we can't turn it we can't turn we can't >> but that is yeah it just it was well thought out it does make sense I'm not happy about day either let's say every single parent I'm just being obviously every single Maybe the entire school calls you up and says, "We don't want this." >> All the other districts are pretty close to what we're doing. Everybody started, you know, in trying to work through this. Um you know but Belmar Spring Lake Spring Lake Seager they are all starting >> for this year with the snow day we lose another day. >> Yeah. So that's the second calendar that's here and that what's the difference? So what I am proposing to make up day is that the 13th was supposed to be a full staff in service day and students were going to be off.
Um so in 2026 um December through February um all all middle school teachers provided multiple checkpoints to give additional input and uh refined the preferred schedule. Um we had shared uh that new schedule again on this past January waiver day and begin to collect uh input again. So, um we are reporting uh the work to you guys today and sharing the update of of this new schedule and where we are. And um we will continue to take input and work with teachers and all the stakeholders at the appropriate times. Right now, we're working on those logistical things that are in-house logistical schedule things and then we'll continue to branch out to um more of our stakeholders when it comes to things like programming and and things that we'll do for our kids. So, you might ask yourself why now? Um obviously over the last 18 months um we've talked about uh schedule change at the middle school level and studied options and gathered input and um you know even talking with Dr.
Does anyone have any questions? >> Yeah. >> So, go ahead. >> Oh, yeah. So, you're saying for the We got a lot of funds to do the paving. So, what section of that? And will it be done the whole thing? >> Are we planning on doing the whole thing before the marathon? >> Yes. So, there's there's two or three phases to this. the the the first phase is to put in the permanent trench over the water man that was just replaced and that needs to occur before the marathon. Um so we're going to make sure that is done. Um and then after that um then there's a separate job that involves the safety improvements of the intersection itself. Okay? >> And that's all new traffic signals. It's a crosswalk. We've been talking about this for a long long time. So that $500,000 that Becca Navaro managed to get today was was part of that, you know.
So, we want to always really try to take advantage of the professionals that are out there that can offer support and guidance uh through the reflective process of us really taking a deep dive look at what we currently do and how we might be able to evolve those practices, right? Celebrate the successes on where we are, but be able to engage in practices that will promote us to continue to move forward. Um, so that's what we want for Brookfield. And so uh we're engaging with folks who can offer that and uh today we had a great opportunity to do that twice. So um I keep looking forward to those efforts and keep looking forward to hearing uh the ways in which we can engage in that those processes. Uh and I share a little bit more in in the writeup. So please uh you know enjoy reading that on your own.
Um we have the Highland roof project. This was a project that was budgeted for $ 1.5 million in the 2829 school year. Uh the 2930 school year for a project estimate um you know we had $ 1.5 million. We recently did the design work with Petraelli for this uh to estimate our costs and it came back at $4 million for the Highlands. >> Yes. Yep. So, one thing is that our capital plan is only approved a year at a time. So, the $ 1.5 million, it's a few years down the road, but we're going to need to budget quite a bit more. Um, you know, and it's a heavy hitter at $4 million. So, I just wanted to kind of prep you for that because you will see that show up on the plan. Um, and I think part of the challenge is we estimate these costs and then our capital plan kind of gets pushed back and back and back.