>> I have I don't know what they're called, but >> you have tendencies, muscle memory. >> Uh that >> bad habits. >> That but also I have picked up like if you're just barely walk like not running but walking and you press >> Yep. That's a tilt. >> Yeah, tilt. Yep. I have been using those. >> That's good. That's good. >> Mhm. And an easier way you could use tilt is actually by changing that setting in the uh in the controller menu. >> I I've tried that and smash is more my style. >> Okay, I guess that makes sense. It's more so a combination of the two. It's like which one are you more comfortable with doing? If you're more comfortable with doing smash attacks >> Yeah. >> Yep. Yep. If you're more comfortable with doing tilt attacks without the stick, then you use the stick for smash attacks and stuff like that, which makes sense, unless you want to do like special stick, which I've never seen actually anybody do.
So that's a project that was really needed. And if you have a chance, it'd be nice if you take a stroll back there sometime. They have did a great job. It's been fun watching those kids and uh a lot of them just all in hands. They just need that. So, and we got a few other projects that we have lined out of, small projects we're going to do. So, um we'll talk a little bit more later on about the tunnel project, but you might want to write these dates down. March 20th through the 27th. If you're not going on spring break, we're going to clean out the tunnels. >> Alan was the first one to write it down. So, have you he signed up? So, um it's kind of been a the main one's been where people have just shoved stuff in there for years and years and they're rusted now.
So, no matter what, and we had a lot of debate with our admin team yesterday on whether this this was we had two separate slides that showed this. I ended up with this one because I couldn't figure out how to fix the other one. Um, but the strategic financial realignment, what does that mean? Well, we are always constantly looking at our budget to say, okay, with retirements, with lower class enrollments, uh with lower enrollments, period across the district at say the K2 or 35 level, can can we not fill a position that's currently um someone's retiring it, for instance, a third grade teacher. Do we have to fill that position? Can we just not fill it? and and how will it impact class sizes? Uh we have a number of positions as you can see that relate to in the blue district level the Warren School.
So, we took over positions from the talent support bank and our small capital is up $77,000. That equals a 5.92% increase over last year's budget. And if you recall, I gave a very detailed explanation that the the following number, which I'm about to show you, as I mentioned last time, is another $250,000, which is a 74% increase. That is due to our auditor adjustment, meaning that we were using education cost share funds that were going to the town and we were using it to offset the board of education budget. The auditor is recommending that it just stays with the town. It does not increase the mill rate mill rate or taxes at all. It's just saying that it's just a a clerical thing that we need to accounting that would just be with that money. So operationally it's an increase of 5.92 with the ECS funding.
Only, and this is very important, only community members with a vested interest can petition to have a book or material removed from the library. And the key to this is you have to have a vested interest. So, in other words, we can't have somebody from an organization in California come to Cliffside Park saying, "Please remove this book from the library." It really has to be somebody from the school community to petition to have something removed or even looked at. And that obviously again puts the people of Cliffside Park first, the people of our school community first. We shouldn't be able to have outside influences who have no vested interest in our community or our school district coming in. And this is uh part of the law, the Freedom to Read Act. So, I know when you do the budget, you want to do that. And I'm very proud to say because when I got on this board, we had the conversation that's taken several years, but 2624 revises the grading policy and it's a very extensive policy.
As much as she will be missed in the school community, everybody, especially my staff, knows how she will be truly missed in my heart and in my family's heart. This loss is not only professional, it is personal and it is profound. I am not a crier. So for me to be crying, it's very emotional. Miss Arleene, you will always be part of the James Madison family. You will always be part of the Garfield's district. You will always be part of Garfield because no other words, you are Miss Arlene. Um, we put a very small slideshow together. Before we started, I just want to point out this was her doing a 5K, stage 4 cancer, lung cancer, and we ran a 5K. And as we're running it, she's going, "Jen, you could go ahead." I go, "Hey, if I'm not coming in first, I'm coming in last because those are the two that are remembered." So, it was Miss Arlene and me crossing the line with the ambulance following behind because we were last.
What what is it that you're saying? Well right now it's like if they don't um have passing grades they can't play in the game. Um but then also like some of those kids it's like you're basically not on the team because every week you aren't eligible. So really I'm focusing just on like playing the game and the grade checks just the logis like how the logistics work for grade checks. Um cuz and and I think it's also um I'm not trying to be about adult convenience but we're like really rushing to get kids to get their grade checks in and so sometimes this season it felt like um and I'm just kind of like a bird on Karina's shoulder so I could be wrong but I read I read the thread um but it's like all of a sudden we're canceling a game cuz somebody ran out of players because that the test the day before like made them ill ineligible.
and Ann Yeth a boot fifth grader from Maricopa Elementary School. Annth stands out for the way she collaborates and rises to every challenge. And Derek Almanza, first grader from Pimab Elementary School. Derek approaches learning with dedication and treats others with care. Jamanna Alsha Baby, third grade student from Saddleback Elementary School. Jamanna steps forward to help her classmates and makes everyone feel included. Sullivan Beeish, second grade student from Santa Cruz Elementary School. Sullivan is a loyal friend who consistently helps others and sets a positive example. Mia Maddingley, third grade student from Santa Rosa Elementary School. Mia excels academically and proudly represented her grade at the district spelling bee. [applause] Axel Cauldron, seventh grader from Desert Wind Middle School. Axel tackles challenges with determination and inspires those around him. and Callie Benson, seventh grader from Maricopa Wells Middle School. Callie's hard work and positive attitude stand out across the Wells campus.
Like, >> I don't think I've seen anybody do it either. >> Yep. Oh, well, there's probably there probably is some benefit to special stick. And while we've been talking, Sebastian managed to take a stalk off of the Lucina. Yep. He's certainly keeping that her at a distance with those PK fires. That is awesome. She can't even get in. He's doing all the forward smashes and specials. And another forward special. And another. And a forward smash. >> Oh yeah. >> Does his neutral special. >> Allighty. >> Okay. names and >> all right so Sebastian has just lost to the Lucina taking one stock and they are now that is the wrong that is six and seven haha funny number >> funny number >> we now have Aiden coming up >> oh yeah >> our team captain actually >> that's awesome >> I believe he he plays a multitude of characters >> he does he does play a m he plays Terry Kaza Ganondorf we're going to see which 20 picks though and he seems to be putting a lot of effort into thinking about that.
It's metal and stuff. So, we are going to take turns and about four of us, we're going to split it up and and spend at least the whole spring break cleaning. We we have to remove that for the uh the architect. So, and we'll be making a scrap run, I'm sure. But that's kind of what we're up to during spring break. Um, I'm going to give everybody the option if that's the way they want to do their spring break and their filters are changed and PMS are done. We're going to let that happen. So, um, we're mainly right now, it was a joke to you guys a few minutes ago, but I sent out an email to my staff, every one of them about a week ago. We made it through the winter with not one co coral busted. That's about a $30,000 fix. And that's from these custodial staff knowing what to do, leaving waters dripping, leaving doors open, walking buildings twice a day on the weekends, uh, all my head custodial and Keith types, making sure temps are up where they need to be.
So every building is being impacted here and this is just focused on staffing this slide. So 13.2 faculty staff across the district all the schools and central office will be impacted. No matter what, even if an override passes, these are not positions that will be reinstated. These are positions that we've identified based on looking at all factors, enrollment, class, um um class requests, uh potential class requests, positions that haven't been filled previously, uh where we've been working without uh the roles. For instance, um you know, Chris has a couple positions in his office. we have them on the books that we just haven't filled. So, we're just pulling them off now. Uh they're pulling them out of the budget. Um doesn't mean we don't need them or couldn't use them. It just means it's the right thing to do at this point in time is to pull them out.
It is u 74 more 6.67 but it's not money to tell. So, what I'd like to do is answer all the questions that you had. Um, you had 19 questions, which um I'm going to go through all 19. This is on top of the 17 or 18 that you had previously in our previous question, but we feel that it's really important um for you to get the answers to your questions. So, I'll do it just like I did last last time. I'm gonna read the question and then I'm going to read the answer. All right. especially at 504 percentages in in lines is what our neighborhoods are seeing in around the state. Connecticut school districts are seeing increased increasing identification rates across three primary categories. Specific learning disability, autism, and other health impair impairment. Can special education prevalence rate is 19% and our five 504 prevalence rate is 9%.
So I would encourage anybody who really has an interest in the grades to really go online and look at our policy. But the official grading policy is updated for students in grades K through 12. K4 uses standardsbased learning. So basically the students are graded against how they perform against each standard in math, science, social studies, etc. Grade five uses ELA, but letter grades are in all the core subjects. And grades 6 to 12 use letter grades. And I believe the new thing is we're introducing plus and minuses because when you have a particular letter grade, that can cover 10, you know, 10 numbers, right? So when you have pluses and minuses, it brings it down to groups of three. So you have a better idea of where you fall when it's in a group of three rather than if it's as wide as 10 different grades.
But I will tell you, she took second place in her age group that day. She might have come to last, but she got a medal and she's well deserving. Please enjoy this little brief show. [music] like is it peaceful? Is [music] it free like this? The [music] sun shine bright forever [music] way. [singing] [singing] [music] [singing] [music] >> [music] >> There's I hope you [music] I hope you sing [music] in the air down the [music] Angels [singing] know what they [music] don't tell me why [music] do you do [music] love >> [music] >> Is there is there she is my forever friend [applause] because we're being selfish and we're hanging the plaque up in school. You're not getting it. I made you this really nice thing on Canva. So, if one of the family members just want to come up, it's basically what the plaque is going to say.
And so I just feel like the way that we're doing it is creating a lot of complications and so I thought if we could maybe find a way to make it more like student supportive and then um like kind of like discipline focused basically. Um that would be helpful. And I and I know what you're saying Evan like I don't think we necessarily would have like a you must go to tutoring but I do think like okay if missing assignments in if in second quarter you got D's and we can attribute to missing assignments then your next plan is that you get in 60% of your assignments and even if you had got a D this week you turned in that assignment then when we did mid quarter checks there is a plan based on the performance you saw from this point to this point.
Pearla Wrangle Castro, senior from Desert Sunrise High School. Pearla approaches her work with focus and leads with integrity. Marina Buchalto, [cheering] senior from Maricopa High School. Marina stands out for her experienced leadership and ability to turn ideas into action. Micah Via, seventh grade student from Maricopa Virtual Academy. Micah treats others with respect and consistently steps up as a leader. and Eric Lopez, senior from Ram Academy. Eric turned challenges into motivation and made impressive academic progress this year. Congratulations again to these outstanding spotlight students. [applause] Next, we are honoring student athletes. As I call your name, please come forward to receive your certificate and give a quick fist bump to the governing board and Dr. Lopeman and then head to room 123 for a group photo. Congratulations to Chance West, sixth grade flag football player at Desert Wind Middle School. Just Beimut, eighth grader, wrestler from Maricopa Wells Middle School.
>> Yeah. >> Mhm. He did his thinking pose. All right. He's got >> he's got Ganondorf. Got Ganondorf who's going to who he's going to use to try and take down the Lucina. >> All right. Let's hope he can take it down because the JB team does seem to be down one stock. All right. Bringing them in here. So lose. So just like Sephro in the first round, Lucina is also going to have to lose two stocks. All right. And boom. All right. >> All right. >> Have to taunt before attacks can start. >> They have taunted. Let the attacking begin with a down throw and a dash attack and an up smash. Already up to 69%. That's a funny number right there. >> You know what else is a funny number? >> Uh, >> don't fay it. We had a counter one of these.
So, I think this is the first winter since I've been here, we've not had a broken pipe or anything. So, I think everybody understands what we got to do to move forward on winter months. So, and teachers were understanding about leaving doors open. There's a lot of times they don't want teach they don't want people in the rooms because of confidential paperwork and stuff, but they were really good about it this year. So, um fire marshall shows up once every 3 years unannounced. >> Um we did have a few violation, but we had them all cleaned up in 30 days. Uh the principles took the challenge on to anything that was had to do with their staff, they made sure it was done. Anything on my end, maintenance made sure it was done to meet the requirements. So, we got that all taken care of last Friday.
Um questions on this. I know you've seen it and I will share it with the community obviously, but >> Jim, yeah, just a question like the way it's presented because I think the when it says assuming override >> Yep. Um it could be confusing as to whether or not those things are going to happen whether we have an override or not. Well, >> and I know you just explained it and I know that you've explained it clearly at at both um of our >> tri board meetings and at our budget meeting, but I think for the people who are tuning in later or even just new to all of this financial language, I I just wanted to back up a couple steps and share that um >> we we had an idea because we're in communication with the town manager, you are in particular throughout the year, that this budget cycle was going going to be difficult.
Over the last decade, Kenton has managed a 37 Connecticut, excuse me, has managed a 37% increase in special education, which now stands at the state of Connecticut preference rate of 17.9 at site 26 2026. An example, autism rates have more than tripled. Since 2010, the number of Connecticut students identified with autism has gone from 5,866 students to 14,428 at 143% increase in students requiring specific spec specially designed instruction. The rise in identification of special education students across Connecticut districts coupled with the rising cost of special education services poses a unique systematic challenge for all students in all districts. Investing in training, strengthening, intervention, supports and programs like thriving bridges are proactive steps towards meeting all of our students needs. Question two, you indicated there are no new initiative. Does this mean there are no new curriculum changes in any grade, no new courses in the high school?