um reading aloud during assessments. Um second grade students received title receiving title one have shown marked improvement in reading accuracy indicating um that they're making growth in their individual word banks going from like 50 58 to 79% all the way to 81 and 99%. third grade looking at oral reading fluency students receiving the title one programs uh support 50% of the group has made gains approaching grade level with 98 to 100% accuracy so you know I think there's lots of work to do but we have some important positives teacher feedback as I told you one of the things we're working on is culture um so when I we do PD and we do things with teachers we often we ask reflections, right? And particularly what did you take away? What's your impact? Like how are you a better teacher now? And I love to read those.
So I'm really excited for that. And and Mr. Roland and and continues to look into ways to improve our special education program for our students families and staff and like I mentioned earlier to that end he and I met with the executive director of Connecticut Behavioral Health. They're a firm a company out of Cheshire Connecticut and they service schools in many different ways. But one that in particular that we've been discussing with them is an opportunity to come in and assess some of our programs and then some of our kind of not just specific programs that we have in certain schools but then that K-12 continuum as well and be able to give us another set of eyes and different perspective on how that's working. And and then some opportunities to continuously improve it. We are all about right continuous improvement and development and so we know that to do that we need multiple perspectives to be able to engage in that work and this is just another one of those.
You don't have everyone's attention. Oh. Rhonda, is I'm not talking about policy 4,000. I just have a a comment about the board policy 4,000. Policy uh policy 4,000 concept and roles. Um and at the bottom, it says "Superintendent or designee shall establish procedures where the superintendent or designee will receive and consider employee suggestions and submit them when appropriate for consideration to the board." Um we are I'm reminding people that you set the policy, the board sets the policy, um but the superintendent runs the day-to-day and she makes the decision decisions. She's the um you know, officer. And um I just given what has been, you know, the confusion and things that have gone on this year because we've been talking about things, but it sounds like maybe, you know, staff and employees might not have known what's going on. So, I just wanted to take that and maybe establish something that so that people feel like they can be heard.
It's going to be very helpful for energy um being more green and having a smaller carbon footprint, but also taking care of some of our different maintenance issues. Okay, I know you are new on the position, but this whole whole energy efficiency and savings energy savings performance contract is not new. So I'm just wondering at what point were DOE stepping up to the plate to look at this to ensure savings because it's been instituted at other institutions here in the state. Yeah, I've actually worked on these types of contracts in other institutions in my legal capacity. So I'm not an attorney anymore, but that's why I'm excited to see that DOE had already started on working on this before I got there. So helping to move it forward and hopefully get it get out to bid soon. So when you say soon, what are we looking at?
They could raise their hands. Anybody here? All right. Well, shout out to you. with us tonight on school night. I know that's not always easy. Of course, um testimonies, right? Miss Stevens, Mr. Kaggel, Miss King, thank you for your work and commitment to these projects and being the examples, right? You guys are the the beta testers, I guess, and show that it works. Um so, we're short on time. I I do want to address just one one question I had and then we can um communicate later Dr. Edgar with the department if that's okay on insuming questions. But um I love the idea of the flexibility and the autonomy that exists within the curriculum and the menu. I just wonder if that maybe not purposely, but if it could create some type of inequities related to funding and accessibility of projects that, you know, school sites might want to do.
I would suggest that the majority of the agendas over time are the same. Um, as I can just give you an example, there's there's probably going to be something about funding of an all day K. There's been discussion of funding of all day K since all day AK was taken away. So, so there may be some minor changes based on something that's going on politically. Then what happens is, and I think it's the next agenda item after this, you select a delegate. uh those districts that have delegates that attend the Saturday of the law conference would then vote on the agenda. Um and then the practical part that happens once the uh legislator legislative session starts is if there's a bill they compare what the bill says against the political agenda and then ASBA ASBA would either be for or against or neutral based on what the bill was doing in comparison to what the political agenda was that the majority of school districts voted on.
>> Yes. Okay. So scratch that from Okay. Okay. Those are all my questions. Great questions. Great discussions. Thank you, Mr. Harmon. >> Great. Thank you. All right. Uh, call to the public. I don't have any cards. Okay. Consent agenda. Do I have any motions? >> Motion to approve as written. >> Second. >> Lisa, I have a motion in a second. >> Shante Rothschild. >> I. >> Ben Owens. >> I. >> Patty Catra. >> I. All right. And we'll move on to my favorite action item, HR schedule. Mr. Beckett. >> Thank you, President Catray. I appreciate that. Member Owens, member Roshchild, Dr. Loman, you have the personnel schedule in front of you this evening.
>> So she seems like a thief. >> Oh. Oh, she is. If she were in an RPG, she would definitely be like the rogue of the party. Oh, and there's that there's that uh Oh my gosh, there's that fire hydrant pulled swiftly from her pocket. To me, if I'm Pac-Man, I quit with the fire hydra. I don't feel like the fire hydrant move has been successful. >> Unfortunately, not. But you wouldn't know unless you keep trying. Um, but as it turns out, they actually changed their mind and went for regular battlefield. A lot of deliberation happens, I tell you. And Jaden also has not taken a hit. He took a stock without taking a hit. That is absolutely crazy. Oh, then there. >> See, that's commentator jinx there. That is that's day one stuff. >> It's very it's very um it's very prominent that commentator's curse, I tell you.
So that's increased retention of roughly 15%. So, we're keeping our employees at Anderson. Um, beyond the numbers, we've been intentional about just how we are supporting those teachers. Um, I've been in classrooms. I know we've all been in classrooms. Alyssa has helped out just making sure that those teachers are there ready um to meet the needs of our students. Um, we want to work in a and build a positive culture at Anderson through our morale committee. You saw the steel and steam up there earlier. Sometimes we have the carbonation station come things that just keep give our teachers that like extra little pep to make it through a day. Um, and then letting them know we're not doing this work alone. We're in it together, right? And then our future plans at Anderson, of course, we want to just keep doing what we're doing, strengthening those things, um, adding some new goals as we move forward.
We have a month to do this. a little bit less than that. >> All you're telling me is >> we also have town meeting. We have we have a lot going on >> because it's so far in the future. Just don't let it fall through the cracks. >> Yeah. >> So that's >> please >> that's that. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um and and that's all I had. So >> yeah, Miguel, >> as you know, we um had a professional development day last week. We spent the majority of of the time for folks on our rollover from iPass to power school. Uh there it was not without hiccups, but uh we were able to get a good majority of our staff to begin their training uh to help with that rollover happening for next year. Uh beginning next week, there is a group of building level leaders along with some administrative assistants and school counselors that are going to uh begin a very comprehensive professional learning opportunity which is going to go over the course of two weeks where they will we will become trainers.
Um, so when I we do PD and we do things with teachers, we often we ask reflections, right? And particularly, what did you take away? What's your impact? Like, how are you a better teacher now? And I love to read those. But one of the things that I was excited about is that with the exception of one that I read, positive change in instructional practice and the teachers could articulate exactly what they can now do that they weren't doing before. And that that's huge. Um classroom walkthroughs and observations. We just did it the other day and the people from the state said, "Wow, any feedback we're giving you now, it's like tweaking it. It's not we don't see it. you have to put this in place. So that was really exciting and I did talk talk to the teachers about that and they were really jazzed up.
But one of the things that I was excited about is that with the exception of one that I read, positive change in instructional practice, and the teachers could articulate exactly what they can now do that they weren't doing before. And that that's huge. Um classroom walkthroughs and observations. We just did it the other day and the people from the state said, "Wow, any feedback we're giving you now, it's like tweaking it. It's not we don't see it. You have to put this in place." So that was really exciting. And I did talk to the teachers about that and they were really jazzed up. Social emotional set 37% reduction in the overall incident report since the beginning of the year for physical aggression and name calling. 15 students have been issued the Newton Way awards. 25% of the fourth grade students were selected as junior coaches to help out for recess.
And to that end I know Mr. Roland wanted to come on up and and just share with you and provide a brief update on autism awareness week. And if just notice his tie please. Thanks folks. Good evening. I wrote down my thoughts for a change. So I'd like to take this opportunity to recognize autism acceptance month month of April celebrate our students with autism who are such an important and valued part of the Brookfield Public Schools community. This month is about more than just awareness. It's about acceptance understanding and belonging. It's a reminder that every child deserves to be seen respected supported and included for exactly who they are. Our students with autism bring unique strengths perspectives talents and gifts to our schools each and every day. They enrich our classrooms strengthen our school community and remind us all of the importance of compassion patience and empathy.
The staff is not supposed to come directly to the board because of labor negotiations and, you know, there's many regulations put on us, right, about talking to you directly. So, I just thought maybe Michelle could come up with something to where the staff can have input into, you know, if things are going to be um Anyway, things for the superintendent to consider if employees have um suggestions. Obviously, she does not have to um she's not I'm to take your suggestions, but we hope obviously we want to work together as a team, and I know Michelle wants that, too. And so I'm required to take the suggestions. I think what you're trying to say is that we're not necessarily obligated to adopt them or have them say this is what's going to happen. So, of course, I Yes, I would like to listen to suggestions and consider them.
Um you know, I have I haven't reviewed the most recent draft, so I I don't want I don't want to say until I see it, but hopefully um by the end of next year or sooner. End of next year? End of this year or sooner, sorry. End of next year? Yeah, sorry. Most Most of the work has been done before I started, so it's just I want to be sure um it's There's a lot of details in these type of agreements that you have to be sure you get right for the long-term cost um of having it. And my staff has been coordinating with the energy office who leads uh or manages the these types of contracts for the state. >> Who's Who's handling Do you have a energy person at DOEE? We do have a office. It's our auxiliary uh auxiliary branch in OFO who works on these kinds of projects.
And that's just a little bit of a concern that that I have. um you know we have our dreams and wish lists and I'm just wondering when projects are selected and there's funding that's needed to make them happen what does that look like since each school site you know has their their autonomy on that so with the um math that was shown there are certain projects that are what do we call um specific what would you call it required I was going to have a more like special name but required projects for the grade bands and those are going to be supported by the district as far as the resources and the support uh like that space. I will say though in our um at our sites it has started with those foundational curriculum components and then as they move forward it's like oh we can do this and we can do this which is a little bit different but should there be a concern from the site that they don't have the funding for what they might want to do they will partner with curriculum instruction and teaching and learning and we can help make some of those connections for them and look at the funding component.
There will be some nuances in that because there may be a bill that's complex. And so then I think ASBA like a lot of the other ED organizations would look to see which parts are they for, which parts are they against. And if it's more pro, then you would probably come out in support of that particular bill. If it's more against, then you would probably come out against. If it's a split, you would just probably take a neutral stand. uh they may or may not testify down at the legislature against a bill or for a bill based on the political agenda, but really this first step is just to say so what are our priorities and we move forward from there. >> Okay. So if you guys had a chance to look over these what um give me some things that you guys feel that this is that you want them to um address.
Be happy to take any questions you have regarding >> board members. Any questions? >> Not at this time for me. >> Mr. Becket, I have two questions. >> Thank you. One is um the teacher contracts that have not been yet returned. Will they appear on the next HR agenda as contracts not returned so we can fill those positions? >> That's the plan at this point in time. Yes, we have communication going out to we have two outstanding contracts at this point in time. So once we get just two and once we get finalization whether they're returning or not, yes, we would then have them on the agenda. And then could we um get a number of exactly how many teaching positions are going are open currently for next year? >> 31 >> at this point in time. >> And that's across K. >> That's all of our >> Okay.
Unfortunately. All right. So, Isabelle really likes laying those landmines. Oh, and she really likes using that fishing rod. That fishing rod is basically u just uh her grab, but she can throw it out and grab any opponent it hits, you know. So, she can hang it off the stage and catch you. She can throw it She can throw it in the air and catch you and throw you. >> Fire hydra just went into the pocket. I feel like that's going to There we go. Almost broke his shield, too. Oh, boy. Using plenty of pods and brooms and pom poms. Yeah, Isabelle actually isn't much of a fighter in the Animal Crossing series where she's from, but boy is she a fighter here. She's using slingshots and another fire hydrant potentially. She's got one. She's got one in the reserves and she can't pocket anything else while she has that fire hydrant.
Um, we're expanding our student centered coaching, thinking about our schoolwide systems and procedures like the attendance um, that we put in place this year, and then just continuing to build that strong positive culture. And then of course we end with just a special thank you to you guys for first letting us present who we are at Anderson. Um we appreciate the decisions you make on our behalf, on our district's behalf um to keep us strong and moving forward. Um your time and the opportunity tonight to share the great things at Anderson has been appreciated. >> Thank you for being here. Thank you guys very much. Great presentation. Nice seeing all that information. It brings back memories. That was my school and stuff in elementary, but it was Michigan Road Runners back then and stuff. So, a lot of things have changed in the positive. So, it's really good to see that.