Uh but as part of that we're also looking at the transition planning that has to occur for that. That's been a lot of uh effort on a lot of folks part. Um the new friends day as we call it will be June 4th 5th rain day um where we are taking the students from their current schools and busing them to new schools uh to have uh activity team building activities with uh the the kids that will become their new community. Uh and so our focus initially has been on getting that squared away. That will obviously happen toward the end of the spring. Uh tomorrow actually we you know Marlene and I Christina Sherwood and I have been bouncing around meeting with principles and and teachers to tell them about the moves that we're making. I think most of them are um in a position now that they're feeling more optimistic about that.
We had tours this, not that people were really upset, actually a number of people that were thrilled about it, but um the we had tours last week uh and this week to bring I guess it was just this week, right? >> Monday feels like a month ago. Um to bring teachers that are moving to the new buildings to see those buildings and they were excited about that. Um, Marlene has been putting a lot of work into uh the the transitions for our staff. I mean, tomorrow is our PD day. So, uh, they have their new friends day, as we you kind of tongue-in-cheek call it, new friends day. They they are meeting new people and connecting with their their new faculty. Marlene, you want to talk a little bit about what that is? Yeah, tomorrow we'll have um 16 teachers who are transfer 16 teachers who are transferring schools along with about 15 teachers who have been working at Darcy for a long time and not in a bigger school.
So, we're bringing all of them together and we'll really be doing some deep thinking to build the foundational cultures for New Norton and for Barnum. We're going to be um working on some foundational beliefs about teaching and learning and really crafting the um figuring out how we're going to support students through systems, structures, intrinsic motivation. And the the day should really be about creating a brand new culture at each school. It's not just going to be Norton 2.0 or Chapman 2.0. It's it's really about bringing people together. So, we have a number of activities designed to really unearth that and get people working together that um don't know each other yet or have only seen each other from afar. We figured that if we do that for the staff, then they will be really primed to do that for the students. So obviously, you know, there's there's a lot of coordination that goes into all of this stuff and um appreciate the flexibility of our parents, students, and staff to um make the most of the transition and see it as an opportunity.
It's it's exciting. Um quick update on the energy performance contract. uh we were the beneficiary of legislation uh to work through an issue we were having with OCGR and uh we've subsequently submitted six grants for solar projects around the district really at um Barnum Norton Dodd Highland Dittle and CHS so really across the the entire district um right now um Eneria and Johnson Control controls are reviewing the original plans, making any adjustments. Applications have already been submitted for building permits. So, we're working through that process. We're also working with Bank of America on uh financing, which we hope to close on that end of April. This is all stuff that's otherwise already been approved. And I mean, we're working break neck speed to see what we can do to get uh solar installed as as quickly as we possibly can. Uh it'll certainly drop the the cost of our utilities.
Um so I appreciate all the work that Vin is doing on that. Um I know that he's working on getting the working group together, which Tim sits on. Uh so hopefully we'll get that scheduled soon. And um that concludes my report. I'm sure there's like 42 things like even today Marlene and I were at the uh CAP spring cons uh conference. Um the speak the speaker the keynote this morning was a guy named Dan Heath who wrote the book reset. Great book um that we've read with our admin team after Marlene and I read it last year. We wanted to bring it to them. just take a fresh look at what we do and how we can improve. And the afternoon keynote was uh Mark Brackett from the Yale, he's the director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. Um and again, you know, really dovetailed both morning and afternoon with the work that we do here around complex thinking and social emotional learning and inspired to uh do more work in those areas because we know how meaningful it is for our students.
So that now concludes my report, I guess. Oh, CF. Looking at Heather reminds me CF uh on Saturday. Uh anybody playing? >> Uh we're taking the trophy. >> Let you know that in advance. >> All right. There's some uh smack talk going on early. Um I'm sure we'll be battling for the basement. Um but it'll be a lot of fun. >> You can still get uh tickets to that. You can still participate. It's $80 for a team of four. Uh it'll be at Cheshure Academy. bring your own beer or wine. Uh people bring shuderie, all sorts of fun stuff. And uh go on cheshireedfoundation.org if you are interested in participating. I think we already have 24 teams including um a team of rockstar teachers from Highland. uh Denise Shalaba uh was invited because um I had reached out and I appreciate the the support of OMG who's our construction company in Tecton who's our architect who each made thousand donations to be uh marquee sponsors of the event and um so OMG can't make it and they've given their table to uh to Denise.
>> Nice. >> So >> questions for Dr. Solen Mr. Thank you. Thanks for that, Jeff. Um >> Marlene, you had mentioned uh Norton and Barnum building their school communities. I'm curious. Highland is how many kids? 900 right now? >> 900 something. >> Okay. Just ballpark. And next year it's going to be 700. >> 950 720. >> Of that 700, how many are currently in the 900? >> Of the 7. Is it all 700 or is Highland getting any new kids? >> No, Highland's not getting >> Yeah, Highland has significant transformation and they have a new friends day as well. >> Okay, that was my only point. Like I feel like Highland is going through it. >> Is getting some students who are coming from Chapman, but they are not getting any teachers or staff from other buildings. >> Okay, I'm focused right now. >> But they are getting new kids is the point.
Yes. So that community is >> and they're involved in the new students day uh new friends day in June. >> Okay. >> And Dittle's getting >> I don't think they're losing some losing. >> Yeah. They're basically going from >> getting more Dittle's losing like 50. >> Yeah. It It's a small change there. And then >> you know they're not really getting new students. So we don't have um I asked uh Kristen Lopa the principal to just make contact with those handful of people that are um new to Dittle for whatever reasons. I think it's four um and some of them are children of staff members who are now working there. So she'll connect with them to make sure the kids feel comfortable. >> Uh yeah. So I didn't mention it during liazison reports. I wasn't thinking about it at the moment, but I'll take this opportunity, which I'm guessing the other schools are doing something similar like the Norton PTA is organizing an ice cream social >> for um Highland parents coming over to Norton >> uh the kids as well obviously uh just to meet some of the Norton community, the Norton parents and Norton kids.
And my last question, Adventure Playground, any chance of uh keeping up with the new schools? >> So, the playscapes, >> the mentioned playcapes, and that's what got me >> they're not as they're not adventure playground in the way you and I would think of adventure playground. Uhhuh. >> And I think it is something that, you know, when the it's built out and we have space, that would be a priority item for me to take a look at. Um, you know, I'm sure with donors, I had spoken to um the Boy Scouts in advance of the project >> three years ago. >> Okay. Um, but you know, I'd love to try and coordinate something that has incorporates the uh adventure playground the way that that we have studied in the past and and tried to Yeah. junkyard. >> Yeah. Without it looking like junk, you know, we want it.
It's okay if it looks like junk. We just in some respects we don't want it to look like trash on the sideyard, but >> it's what the adventure playground is really. The kids put this together and love it. >> So, I have a bit of an adventure playground in some open space in my backyard and I had four fourth grade boys at my house this afternoon having an absolute blast with with a junkyard. >> Awesome. >> They do enjoy it. All right. >> Did you make their parents sign a waiver? >> Just saying. >> Thank you. >> A question from Arlene. Are you is are the principals facilitating the gathering or are you co-f facilitating? So, I will be there. All of the principles will be there. Kathy Carluchi will be there. But about a year and a half ago, I had um reached out to Mike Anderson, who's a national speaker, and also Andy Ducus, who's done a lot of work with teachers at all of those schools.
And so, they will be primarily doing some of the uh facilitation so that the principles can participate and be a part of getting to know the staff. >> Gotcha. Great. Thank you. Um uh so I'm gonna have to ask Dr. Sen because it's a bone of contention for me personally. How's the sign situation? >> Oh yeah, they're they're in the process of uh drafting a a what you call it um dedication plaque that uh would be discussed at the next meeting which may be next Thursday. Does that sound right? I think >> there's no agenda publicly posted yet for >> Not yet. No, not yet. Um, you can plan on next Thursday though that we do have a meeting next Thursday night and I'll I'll follow up with Rich tomorrow. >> Okay. >> To see where that stands. Thank you. >> Because I know we had discussed that maybe prior to that meeting >> having some sense.
>> Yep. You're right. >> Yeah. >> I'll follow up with him tomorrow. Um, thank you for sharing that. Any questions for Dr. Soulen? Comments. Awesome. Thank you, sir. Um, I think there's no old business, but there is an item for new business, and I believe it has to do with the healthy food certification. Um, you want to kind of go over this really quick? >> Yes, I'll be brief. Uh the healthy food certification is something we do every year. Uh it's about food items that are sold to students separately from reimburseable meals. Um they have to meet certain standards. You guys have all snacked on things that meet the standards for the healthy food certification, including the sun bites, the goldfish, and the sliced apples. Um why do we participate? Other than the health benefits, we get reimbursed 10 cents a lunch if we participate, which is about 20k a year in revenue.
Um so there's a financial and a health incentive. Um we there are 189 eligible districts to participate and eight 183 participate. So they have about 97% participation across the state state including 130 public school districts. Um and the healthy food certification has been around for about 20 years. Uh the participation has increased from 50% 20 years ago to 97% as of this school year. So you have um motions in front of you that we need to vote on. Um we have motion one and well three. Um one is to participate in the healthy food certification. That's motion one. Motion two is about food exemptions and motion three is about be beverage exemptions. So we do have to vote on the motion separately. I am happy to review any of this but I also know it's it's getting later at night. So if you have questions I'm willing to entertain them.
But um you know I didn't want to go through >> I think the only question I have is because there's legislation on the table does that impact >> what we're ultimately going to vote on? >> No, this is our just the certification that we're going to um retain a healthy foods program that provides guidelines around, you know, how much sugar, salt, all those things that could be in any of our our food. Now, if the federal guidance changes around, every kid has to have whole milk or whatever. Um, this is federal guidance. So, I >> So, we had to come back and >> I think we'd probably revisit it, but um it because like um like Emily said, you know, there's there's funding and everything tied to this and we've run this program for a number of years. Nothing's really changing in this, but um God knows what could change at the federal level.
And this is um the Connecticut general statutes. And I will say the you know the motion one is about participating. The second two motions about are about exemptions which allow us to sell items at our concession stands for games. Um there are certain windows you have to abide by to have the exemptions. Um but generally we're saying we're going to participate and then we want exemptions for these special events. >> Okay. Questions before we move a motion? >> Yeah. >> Or do you want to move and then have discussion? >> We could. We'll do. We have to do them one at a time anyway so we can take questions. >> Um, somebody want to do the first motion, please. Dan, go ahead. >> Um, move that the that pursuant to CGS section 10-21 lowercase F. The Cheshire Board of Education certifies that all food items offered for sale to students in the schools under its jurisdiction and not exempted from the Connecticut Nutrition Standards published by the Connecticut State Department of Education will comply with the Connecticut Nutrition Standards during the period of July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2027.
This certification shall include all food offered for sale to students separately from reimburseable meals at all times and from all sources, including but not limited to how many lawyers did it take to write this? Uh, school stores, vending machines, school cafeterias, culinary programs, and any fundraising activities on school premises sponsored by the school or by non-school organizations and groups. >> Second, Mr. Right. Discussion. >> The discussion I wanted to make was the comment that we talk a lot about unfunded mandates by the state. These these are mandates that I can really get behind. So, um, we do them every year and there's never been any blowback in my opinions. So, I'm happy to make the motions. Thank you. Any other comment, Mr. Caller? >> Uh, I I just have a question. Which of the three motions that we're gonna talk about tonight is the goldfish relate to?
>> Number one. >> Anticipating. >> So, healthy food option. >> It is there's actually a really extensive list of all the healthy like it will say goldfish, whole wheat, cheddar flavor like there's a you go on the website, it's there. >> Do we do any work on top of that? I mean, I understand that that would be more of like a hey, here's what's approved to fall under that, but I mean, >> I think you'd be hardressed to to make an argument that besides some state list that this is healthy. >> They're made with smiles. >> It's made with smiles. >> It's wheat, flour, and vegetable oil. I mean, it's it's like the healthier version of the craft, but it's >> Yep. It is by no means a healthy food option. >> Start. Any other comments, discussion on this? All those in favor of the first motion that is on the floor?
I think we have unanimous. All right. Somebody give me motion number two, please. M. Corer, you want to tackle that one? >> I'll I'll let you catch your breath, Dr. Heran. >> Yeah. Thank you. uh move that the Chester Board of Education will allow the sale to students of food items that do not meet the Connecticut nutrition standards provided that the following conditions are met. Number one, the sale is in connection with an event occurring after the end of the regular school day or on the weekend. Number two, the sale is at the location of the event. And three, the food items are not sold from a vending machine or school store. An event is an occurrence that involves more than just a regularly scheduled practice meeting or extracurricular activity. For example, soccer games, school plays, and intercolastic debates are events, but soccer practices, play rehearsals, and debate team meetings are not.
The regular school day is the period from midnight before to 30 minutes after the end of the official school day. Location means where the event is being held and must be the same place as the food sales. Is there a second? Dr. Herrian. Discussion on the second motion. None. All those in favor of the second motion? Unanimous. Okay. Third one. Go ahead. >> Oh, keep going. >> It's the same thing. moved that the board of that moved that the Cheshire Board of Education will allow the sale to students of beverages not listed in section 10-221Q of the Connecticut General Statutes provided that the following conditions are met. Number one, the sale is in connection with an event occurring after the end of the regular school day or on the weekend. Number two, the sale is at the location of the event. And number three, the beverages are not sold from a vending machine or a school store.
An event is an occurrence that involves more than just a regularly scheduled practice, meeting, or extracurricular activity. The school day is the period from midnight before to 30 minutes after the end of the official school day. Location means where the event is being held and must be the same place as the beverage sales. >> Second, Dr. Herrian. All those in favor of the third motion, unanimous. Thank you, everybody. That was a lot. Um, just a few items for my update. Uh, first I I just want to thank the staff and students who participated in the uh YMCA's annual polar plunge. I did not see Dr. Soulen in any of the pictures, so I'm not sure if you were >> behind the scenes. Yeah, I didn't. >> No, I was underwater. >> Were you? >> Yeah. Un must be when the photo was taken. I was snorkeling at that point.