They wanted to get that into the spring session down in down in Springfield. So, uh them gathering these letters of support in a in a timely manner would get that down there. Then, um the appropriate bill could be created along with other tiffs that may be wanting to be extended. I think they kind of lump them all into a a single bill and then get that passed this spring. Um, I think once they get past the spring session, um, they might think it's too late. Um, I'm not sure, but they did mention they're trying to get this spring session this to pass. >> But again, if they knew the spring session, why didn't they ask us more than two days? >> Yeah. And I don't want to speculate as to what their timeline as well, but it sounds like if I could just summarize what I'm hearing, at minimum, there's there's uh two concerns that I think we need to to seek more information on.
>> Where's that 45 minutes come from lesser opportunity for UA? >> Yeah. Um, so currently eighth grade has three UAS, right? >> And that third UA is the comput. And so we move that computer class to sixth grade because that's what it does. >> Got it. >> And then Mr. Daniels, your your question about math was was good. I mean, it's it's counterintuitive to think that we would go from 90 minutes to 45 minutes, right? It's just counterintuitive. If you take a look at um sixth grade because that you know that's that's the area where um you know going from 90 to and really it's like 80 >> 72. >> Yeah, it's in between range. >> So um sixth grade the high range is eight, right? And then um as we just talked about, so the new schedule allows us for 45 minutes, right, of math.
So, it's not just, you know, me and Sean talking about our data. They've been able to ask our brokers. And I we're having Sigma come next, but I can't remember the date of that meeting. >> Gotcha. Thank you. Go ahead, Tim. >> Thank you, Emily. Um, wondering about uh Iran, cost of gas, cost of hydrocarbons going through the roof. I'm just curious, could you give me a a recap on where uh bus fuel, diesel? >> Yeah. >> And heating fuel lands in the budget. And are we locked into rates through the rest of the year at least the school year or >> Yes, we are locked in either through uh I think the electricity is locked in through October 2026 and I'll double check for our diesel. I think it's June 2025. I've been in communication with >> sorry 2026. >> Okay, >> wrong year.
We will continue to test it and make sure it's safe for our >> That's the thing, Jeff. What's the projected maintenance costs like added on beyond, you know, the 1.5 that we're looking? >> What do you pay about a,000 for GEX? >> Um, so we we are with Shaws. I believe our it's been like it's been like around 4,000 a year is our contract with them. >> Um, I have gotten some other met with somebody else recently with some different pricing, but it's it's not we're not just getting a GMAX test. So they're coming in, they're um >> they're doing >> they use like the magnets, they do the deep, they pull up any kind of metals >> more than what the equipment that came with the field like a brush and a swing. >> It's a bundle of services that are typically required every year.
One is what we just spoke about is in terms of the timing and and and is there some more concrete plans for the TIFF? And then secondarily, are there alternatives to a 12-year TIF for the entire uh the entire um geography of the TIF, if you will, versus other potential uh opportunities, whether it's to let the tiff um um conclude and and start a new TIFF in the area that they'd like to to resolve. So, I think Jeff and I could certainly reach out to their uh village manager. We told them we would do that tomorrow, get for more information in time for the April board meeting and then by that time the board will be in a better position to decide if they want to bring it forward for a vote or not to which is which is the option or which is the uh obviously you're you're right.
And then instead of having everyone with that full 80 minutes of of math, um we're actually looking at individual needs. And then when you pull in that win time of 37 minutes, you really you have 82 minutes total of for the kids that that need that more individualized or small group reinforcement whether it's um to become proficient or uh to continue beyond proficiency. >> So that's every day. So you could be >> okay you could be in a math class every day need the extra help and max out to get to that every day >> if you need that. >> I mean I think I just heard something that I probably should have known but I didn't. The sixth grade is how many periods? >> Eight. >> Seven. >> So this is just the math, right? >> You're converting six to seven periods. So the hours have to go somewhere.
I'm going backwards. >> Um but I've been in communication with some of our energy brokers. It's it's not great at this point in time in trying to get any prices on diesel. um heating heating fuel or electricity. The electricity rates are not looking great right now. Um and there's a lot of instability. Uh and so we'll keep our eye on it. We locked electricity around April of last year, so we're coming up to it, but there's just so much instability in all of those markets that um I don't really have an answer right now, but we're we're staying in constant. I've been in um a meeting last week about diesel and fuel um and essentially I was expecting to be able to have pricing and they were like we can't do anything right now because we had given you some pricing and all of that is out the window >> and and with regard to that you're talking about future pricing correct.
>> Correct. >> What you saw today is just our own maintenance department getting our turf field ready for spring season, which kicks off on Saturday. >> That's something you do on an annual basis. Even if you had a new one within a year, maybe two years would be doing. Some people recommend doing it very often. We we do it at least a few times a year at the high school. So, um kind of kind of take a look at the field and and ask the guys to go out and and to brush it and to do that. >> Did that $4,000 cost, I believe that's what you just said, did that include the infill that you said you had to bring out to the center of the field? >> They sent it to me for free because of the relationship we've had with that. Y >> So, I have a question.
>> Does that sound >> everybody okay with that? >> Sounds okay. >> All right. Thank you, Jeff. >> All right. Next superintendent updates. >> Yes. uh I have in front of you uh again not much has changed since it's only been two weeks and a day since we met last but uh or three weeks I guess in count weekends but um if I could just uh uh again I'll I'll highlight certain areas if you have questions on other areas or questions within please ask them as as you see fit. Um page two if you could focus your attention. So um again I want to thank the board for allowing me to participate in the ISIL training leadership cohort. Uh, I'm almost completed. I get to quote graduate in a couple weeks. So, you're all invited to my graduation party. Um, which will be just me by myself sitting in the back porch having a c cup of coffee or something.
>> Yes. Correct. >> Instead of having two English and two math, >> you've got two English, one math, and then you're reallocating time. >> Correct. >> That brings sixth grade um consistent with the seventh and eighth grade and also the high school closer. It's not it's not hey we're doing this to strike at math. We're doing this because we got to find the hour somewhere and finding a minute somewhere changing from a seven to a six period. Now we're all in 45. I guess if >> I I still am concerned about math >> and I appreciate where you're going with the win. I absolutely, you know, wouldn't take it from English language arts. They can't read. They can't >> can't do math even, >> right? They can't function in the others. >> Yeah. >> Um but please, please, please continue to look at the data.
So so just to just to recap here what you've said is electric is locked in or electric rates are locked in through October. >> Yes. which the price going up makes sense to me because a lot of it I think it's half of what we have here in Connecticut is natural gas which that comes through the LNG liqufied natural gas comes through the straight of horm so to hear that that price is going up is not surprising to me um but we're locked in for electricity and then there's uh oil or gas >> heating in our schools as well as the diesel if I heard you right for the buses were locked in for a diesel contract through June >> yes >> through the academic year. >> Yep. >> And then what about uh heating? Gas or oil heating for our schools. >> We have not locked in um gas in prior years.
You mentioned natural gas and as I've been trying to say I I think this is from a maintenance perspective. Um I do think that this is important for us to do. Um but I also want to uh understand the alternatives when people ask me about it. And you mentioned natural gas. Natural gas. >> Grass. >> Sorry. >> Natural grass. >> I don't know much about natural gas. >> Um >> keeps me warm. What is the So you're talking about Gmax. Let's just use that as our measurement right now. Yeah. >> What's the Gmax? You said concrete is 200. >> So natural grass will vary. I I want to say and we you know we use data that we find online, but like Tampa Bay's football field is considered the best in the NFL >> For natural grass. Okay. And I think GMAX is at 135.
But >> will there be cake? >> There there might be cake. There might be cake if if >> cupcakes. Bun puntinis. We'll do some buntinis. >> Um, but it it has been an enlightening experience and and I think it has allowed uh for some really uh good work. I plan to share my presentation with the board. that's part of the culminating culminating experience. Um, but I think you'll see once you see that presentation, I think that you'll realize that we've we've gleaned a lot from that experience, uh, working with superintendents from around the state. Uh, we're also participating in scope meetings, IHSDO, as things heat up in Springfield. Um, and just as this afternoon, uh, Mr. Avano and I attended, uh, what is now a second articulation meeting with our partner elementary districts. Um, the first one was focused on curriculum instruction. Unfortunately, Dr. Huffman had um prior engagements.
>> Yep. >> And if this is the wrong direction, let us know quickly >> and let's rethink things because I'm still scared. >> We have some quick data just quick data from middle school central. And again, this is just a little snapshot. So checkpoint three just occurred. So in language arts um currently our highest performing on checkpoint 3 is in English language arts in sixth grade. The lowest is in eighth grade by 13%. So there's some evidence there that the lacking of minutes really is hurting them. Now consequently in math the highest at middle school central for checkpoint 3 is seventh grade and they currently have 45 minute period. Um, and then sixth grade and eighth grade are tied. >> You know, I'm an attorney, so I play with they learned it all in sixth grade, >> just so you know. >> That's right. That's right.
It just hasn't been advantageous to do so. Okay. >> Um but heating oil is the same vein as the diesel. We're in the we're in the same spot. >> So we're locked in through June of this year. >> Okay. So the only the only serious risk that is cost risk that is currently unhedged is natural gas for heating and that does not include Norton or Dittle but we do use natural gas at each of our other schools I think. Right. >> I'll check which campuses are which um and I can send that to you um because everyone's using something slightly different and I know especially with going off Darcy and Chapman I just want to confirm before I tell you which ones are using which. >> I'm pretty sure it's okay. I'm almost positive it's just Norton and Dittle, but I'm not sure if any of them still use oil.
>> Okay. >> And that's when these fields go in, we're typically if we don't have a pad, we're typically between 120 135. So they're right there. Again, the the manufacturers are trying to always evolving their systems to most mimic natural grass. >> So from a safety perspective, and I think you talked about it before in relation to the track, are you going to Were you still getting to it or maybe I missed it? From a safety perspective, one of the things we're talking about is a concussion. >> It's just a higher likelihood of a concussion when somebody gets tackled. Is that a way to put it? um when their head hits the field if the GMAX is high. >> Yeah. Because it also so one in five concussions are caused by the field, but one in two in five really are because head-to-head two players hit, get a concussion and then get a secondary when they go down.
So Dr. Augustine from Stag actually represented the district did quite well. Uh Mr. Avando today. Uh we're going to focus on EL programming next. But I just want to highlight that is is just I think it's a next level of of of articulation with our feeder programs and um I think everybody involved has been really um um really pleased with how things have um have really helped us understand more about how our districts are are working and we've come up with some pretty good ideas to continue to bridge communication gaps and maybe some data exchanges that I think would be beneficial to both um districts or all districts I should say. >> That's awesome. um focusing on and district 118's um office is pretty cool. So I I was glad to see I Charles I can't see Charles is here but >> felt felt like we need to move it into the woods.
>> Well, and and following that and I think I know what your answer >> I object your honor. >> Yes. But yeah, >> so I think I know what you're going to answer, but I want to just kind of check my thinking. It kind of So, so what I've heard is we're increasing math time in the elementary schools like 15 minutes. >> We're looking at we're looking we're trying to find the 15 minutes. >> Yes. So >> if linearly you learned more math per minute, let's just say then the fifth grade, the current fifth graders that we have would have not had all those 15 minutes every year, every day every year of elementary school and then they will go into sixth grade next year and be at a 45 minute deficit to everybody older than them. So like this class is like in a weird spot.
I guess the ones that >> that are staying online, >> Norton and Norton and Dittle both use oil. There are not gas lines that go to those schools. Every other school has gas lines that pass them. >> Um I'm not I guess I'm curious in general if any of the other schools are still a dual fuel or if they're just moved over to gas, natural gas. >> Double check. >> And if you happen to know, that's great. Otherwise, >> still dual. >> It's okay. It's at some point we could talk in the future. You don't need to reach out back to me. Reach back out to me. I But I am curious to know that because this is a particularly big deal right now. I saw oil is >> what was it? Two months ago I bought it. It was 260 a gallon in January and now I saw it over $5 today.
>> Got it. >> You know, so >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> It's tough when injury statistics are, you know, and what you hear is it's all over the place. >> Yeah. Yeah. It's complicated. And you know, the the argument that this is less safe than natural grass, it's just there's really no data to support that, that it's pretty much even. >> And Kevin, I know you we briefly talked about this when we met before, but like the amount of play time you get from a natural grass field, >> that's the biggest cost. >> Yeah, >> natural grass, no matter how well you build it, how well you maintain it, it's a living organism. It can only take so much abuse. So, we just were involved in a hybrid uh installation over at CHO Rosemary Hall. And that's they build a million-dollar natural grass field because it's got to have sand under it and drainage and and all this.