Lauren Pedeski. She is our early childhood specialist and she did leave this effort for us. >> Aloha chair. Thank you for your question. Vice Chair, committee members. Um the first year of the assessment was $232,312. >> Okay. What was the initial purchase of software or initial was 200 >> $232,32? >> We were told it was a million dollars. Remember that. We're in Kim Ki. We're visiting this the your headquarters over there. It was in the summer. We went on a um education education um site visit and we were told that this software that we were purchasing was going to cost a million dollars. We asked you to stop and not go forward. You said it was in the law. I said we would introduce a measure and I did. I introduced the measure in January. It passed out of committee and and you continue to say that the cost was a million dollars.
But I'm not sure like how >> we did a really good job when we went to create this committee. We did the process of a person from each precinct. >> I don't know that we need to go quite that far because I think there are some precinct people who were on the full committee who may want to continue, >> right? Um, but I think it's it's get the word out and publicize it and get, you know, you know, volunteer form, say if you want to be on the committee, >> see what we get and >> I would some kind of process. >> I would make sure that it's a manageable size because I think I think what we had dealt with with the comprehensive plan was >> um, initially the committee was 29 of us and >> that's a lot. >> It's a lot. It's like a little like hurting cats and thank god that our consultant was as good as she >> agreed >> she was because it didn't phase her but um >> it was a lot of people.
>> Just go back the previous slide for a minute. >> Oh, come on. Sorry. I know you might get to presentation mode. Yeah, >> this one. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> For us. Uh, not to kind of um, >> so the now I can't see it. >> The D, so what does the data like look like as far as for PBIS? It's a great, you know, it's a it's a great system, right? That be safe, be responsible, be respectful. Um, and setting those expectations for behavior. So how does that look for as far as collecting data? So do you guys do referrals at the elementary level? Yeah. So >> is that something that you look at and say okay this these certain behaviors are escalating or >> so PBIS rewards is actually the name of the software tracking system. So classroom teachers are entering data and if a lunch monitor has a behavior in the cafeteria so both the minor and major behaviors are being documented and tracked.
And John and team are using their own encryption key. So what that means is that data is scrambled. And the only way you're able to get to that footage is by using that encryption key that's being used. So that's kind of first and foremost on the camera. Anything that's transmitted over the internet also uses another standard of encryption. It basically scramles the footage or any data that's being transmitted. So someone's trying to sit in the middle and access that data, they wouldn't be able to access it. And third and uh foremost is AWS. AWS is what they do is they have a a series of standards everything from firewalls to network security and also their own encryption on top of that. And the last piece is there's a standard out there that's referred to as SOCK to compliance. And what that is is an industry standard of how to secure and protect data uh whether it's stored on AWS or with on the cameras.
So, where did that million dollars come from? Now, you're saying it only cost 232,000 >> in the first year. >> It I'm asking initially to set up this whole program. What did it cost? >> $232,312. >> And we have we have recurring funds. what we still have to pay every year and we're we're paying $157,000 because we're utilizing their services to aggregate the data. >> What was what so what has been the total spent so far? >> That would be the math 230. It's going to be a little bit over 500,000 at the 5year point. We are currently at year four and that has not yet been paid out. So, two, three, four. I'm doing math out loud. My >> So, we don't have an annual annual assessment other than the $15 per child. >> That the 15 we we do it is an annual assessment of $15 per child and that would be our annual cost of $157,000.
So >> the the one thing we did do when we started it we said what night are we going to meet when we started it and when we interviewed people we said >> we're meeting the third Thursday of the month. Is that a night that you can make it? And if you can't, thank you for willing to serve. But this is because with 29 people, you can't go, okay, let's all get together and pick a night. >> I don't know that we need to do that here to start, but I think once we get everyone on, we have to pick a night and that is our consistent meeting night. Just like if you decide to be on the select board or conservation or anything else, right, they have a certain meeting night and that would be when it meets. So I I would say, you know, to to Mikita's point, you know, we should try to cast a kind of a broad net.
>> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Great. Um, has anyone at least um maybe the social workers or school psychologists considered like mindfulness as an extension to kind of help with those self-regulation exercises. It's a it's a great it's like been proven to really help assist, you know, kids of all ages really. >> Um, definitely at the elementary level. >> Yeah. Oh, absolutely. Like we our mental health staff very talented group. We have our three social workers and two two school psychologists. Uh so sure. >> Yeah. Have they ever looked into that using mindfulness or looking into bringing that in? >> I my and you know I I don't want to say yes it's absolutely happening but I can certainly reach back out to all them because they do a lot of small groups and they do groups and I'm sure they >> to bring up to them if >> to look into.
And we've not only does Vicata own that uh certificate, but AWS is in that same uh bucket of that certificate to meet industry standards. So that's kind of a high level of encryption and how we protect the data. But does that answer your question? Is that >> Well, kind of. But I my next question is probably just a little too far off for that. So, >> sure. >> Thank you. >> Can I add to that really quickly? >> So, it's very similar to how your banking app works. When you're on your banking app, it's you feel I feel safe using my banking app on my phone because it's encrypted between your phone and the bank. The data is encrypted and nobody can can take it and they can't receive it and unscramble it. Same thing with the data that we have here with uh uh with Verata.
>> Right. Okay. But there's not like another >> rental agreement or whatever contract agreement other than the assessment for a child. >> No. Okay. So number of testifiers testifying they're saying that uh this restores teacherled assessments practice reduce unnecessary administration and financial burdens and ensure that kindergarten assessments remain developmentally appropriate and instructionally focused. Um, so that has been a number of the concerns that's been raised regarding the need for to have a John Hopkins type of assessment versus the kindergarten teacher who really is best equipped to see each child and because each child is is very different. Right. >> Correct. and and our kindergarten teachers before the pre before the law was enacted. The kindergarten teachers historically did on their own assessed the their children when they came into their classroom and they did a great job. They assessed all different domains. They got the information they needed.
>> I agree. >> To um to get people to want to be a part of this. Um >> you know, it I >> I think there will be some new people that want to be a part of it. Um and I think it is good to have some consistency from the comp plan committee just to help kind of give some context to it. And um so I you know I I think we'll know exactly how many people that are going to be a part of it once we know sort of what the how many even how many people from the original comp plan committee want to continue. I mean it's been it was a long process. It was a two-year commitment from these people. So >> um so so thank you for >> but when we but when we sat there at the end and we started talking about what implementation would look like there were a number of people I think who said that they would be interested in being on the implementation committee.
>> Yeah. >> My suggestion. >> Any other questions? Do you have a survey out there now? Did you start your survey? >> Absolutely. And my class chronicle had the link for today's. We have >> I looked about three days ago. We're between 40 and 50 parents who filled it out already. And our staff was over 30. >> That's awesome. >> So, yeah. So, we're looking good. And then our students are upcoming and we'll get, you know, we shut down home room. So, we get we'll get, you know, 500 student responses in grade three, four, and five. >> Great. >> Yeah. >> Excellent. >> Thank you. One, sorry, one more. This is more a general question. What's the percent of parents that we look for to fill out the surveys? And this would go across schools. >> Terrible. Terrible. >> What What's our target, I guess.
That data is encrypted as well. And so, um it would be it's like really high encryption. Was it 256? >> I mean, no one's going to be able to crack that. It's just like your bank. No one's going to be able to just crack that. So, um, it's very, very safe. And on the user end, so on the on the side of, let's say, the principles, and let's say they're on their phone, we're going to secure that with Duo. So, you can't just have someone get on there and get in there and look at footage. We'll use Duo. And all of our employees know about Duo. Unfortunately, it's it's one of those curses. I think our board members do, too. The curse of Duo. But, it's what we do to keep safe, right? It's a way of proving who you are because you have a device, right?
The issue for the department from a broader educational viewpoint because each teacher had their own assessment. The department was never able to answer the qu where are your kindergarten children when they come in. What are the needs? Now that we have preschool, the questions are, are preschools making a difference? Are we seeing it? Unless we have a standardized assessment, whatever that may be, we can't produce any statewide data. And that's the issue. our kindergarten, you're right, our kindergarten teachers h have always been adept and um professional in assessing the students, but unless we have a standardized assessment, we can't um look at our kindergarteners from a statewide lens. So, you assess the kindergarteners when they come in within a month. Is that correct? If I read that correctly, it's >> yes, one month. So within a month the teacher assesses it and then what happens after that?
So the first step I mean the first step is we have to say do we do we support this process and decide who our appointee is going to be. Yeah. Next week we're doing a joint meeting with the planning board to do the housing production plan. They I believe are discussing this or they discussed it at their meeting >> um and they're going to appoint their person. So then after we have our joint meeting and we say yes, we agree to this process, then the you know who the the select the planning board member and myself or who unless again unless someone else wants to do it um would put a process together and get the form out there and start reviewing. >> So has this been shared at all with with the plan? >> It has been shared with Anna and Trisha and with Jasmine.
>> 100% is definitely our target. I think for research purposes, I should know this. 25%. Yeah, >> 25%. And >> just research wise that would be >> so out of my 2500 parents we would like to have 25% of >> those raicipation >> numbers. >> Thank you Dr. P and thank you gentlemen for those presentations. Those were excellent. Thank you very much. >> All right moving on to authorization for signature change. I move that the board approve Superintendent Steven Faresi as a designated representative authorized to sign the agreement for child nutrition programs and to sign claims for reimbursement for the Connecticut State Department of Education, school health, nutrition, and family services. >> Second. >> All right. I'm assuming there's no discussion on that, but if there is, please let me know. If not, all right. All in favor, please indicate by saying I. I. >> Any nays?
have something. It's more than just something you know your password. It's something you have. You have Duo with you. So, you prove who you are by having it with you. That's the power of Duo. So, that's how we'll keep it safe for our staff as well. So, when staff are using it, um it'll be they'll have to they'll have to authenticate or log in using Duo. So, that way it's safe. >> That bank example was excellent. Thank you. >> I understood that. >> May I? >> Yeah. So, I think you mentioned this, but I just want to be real clear. So, the camera, the system that is for the camera, the security camera has no access or communication to any of the other student information systems. >> That is correct. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> I know you said this already, but how many um schools in California are 600 districts within California?
>> So what happens after that is that the teachers are going to use that data to design specially designed instruction that those children might need. So for example, if they're assessing in those first couple weeks of school, they're observing one child has issues with fine motor, they're going to provide additional support for that child in fine motor. >> But they can do that without those without those. >> They definitely can't. Yeah, we just couldn't collect that data. Yeah. >> Okay. Then what happens? >> So after that, ideally what they're going to do across time is observe whether or not that child is making gains. And so for example, in the fine motor example, if we are observing that that child is not developing their fine motor skills alongside their peers, then that teacher would share that information with their professional learning community, inform the principal.
>> Okay. So that they are going to be looking at it and then the the idea was that we would all discuss it when we do our joint meeting with the planning board next week. >> So that'll be the second part of that meeting. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I I would also just recommend as this as this comes together, you know, you've got like you've identified some of the key responsibilities of the committee. I think when you're recruiting, you might want to make it clearer or you may want to look at a structure where you know people will have to understand that they're going to have to either pick one or two specific initiatives that they're going to be responsible for working on or something like that to give let people know that like you know this isn't like this isn't one of these committees where you're just going to sit around and do whatever.
>> All right. It's unanimous. Thank you very much. Congratulations, M. All right, moving on to all business uh discussion. Or should I say the adopted budget um for 2627? I know Miss Fesy, you want to speak and say a few things? >> Do I have to read this? >> I did. I Oh. Oh, no. No, you're fine. You're fine. You're good. You're good. >> Sure. And I tried Oh, sister. >> Thank you. And uh Yes. And I tried to share some of that. I think in my update as well um >> just the opportunity um to really review uh more carefully uh the budget. Um I know there's been a tremendous amount of of review already uh in opportunities that um have already reduced the budget to where it is tonight or where it was submitted to. Um and so a continuation of that with an ask of looking at what a.5% or a.1% decrease uh the impact that might have on programs.
Okay. Um, actually on that note, John, what is the deployment plan? Where exactly are these cameras going? Are they going to be mostly on the high schools? Are we going to have them on every site? What's the deployment plan? >> So, currently we have cameras on every site. Um, the all of our school sites have cameras. And so, we're looking at replacing what's out there right now. And so, we would start at a smaller site, probably up on Lassen because that's one of our smallest sites. and if there's any bugs to work out as far as the back end like the login and everything and we would work out those bugs there. And then when that's done, we're hoping to then deploy it um over spring break onto our high schools next so that we can get those taken care of because those are big sites.