Honestly, it's the kind of project you'd expect from a full-time research team at a medical device company, not someone who has to worry about high school and AP exams. Beyond her brilliant research, she spends her time inspiring everyone around her. She promoted equity in the in STEM globally through the prestigious tech girls program and she has been the backbone of our science national honor society serving as vice president last year and leading the group as president this year. She is compassionate, incredibly creative and possesses a level of brilliant determination that is perfectly suited for her next adventure as she attends MIT this fall. I could not be prouder to watch her change the world. Please join me in recognizing this year's senior science award winner, Sujito. [applause] >> [applause] >> Please allow me to introduce the physical education and health department chair, Mike Divine. [applause] >> Sorry.
We all now know there is growing research connecting excessive screen use to weaker academic outcomes, decreased attention spans, and increased mental health concerns among children and adolescents. This comes off of an additional concern that arose when I attended my son's kindergarten orientation last month and was informed that all kindergarteners will also be receiving one-to-one devices and will be on them 30 minutes a day at school. As both an educator and parent, I worry about the broader message this sends regarding district priorities. Research consistently shows that students, especially younger students and students with greater academic or socioeconomic needs, benefit most from relationships, small group and instruction, large language-rich environments, intervention support, and meaningful human connection. Yet, we are simultaneously discussing reducing the very human supports that help students remain engaged, connected, and successful in school. People cannot simply be replaced by devices with larger class sizes.
Um and if there are changes, we can certainly look at that. Um but it it would certainly be good for some amount of time. Um Going to give us like a five-year plan as part, you know, like or is that up to like what you would like the admin is going to do with it? Okay, here's the plan. >> they make recommendations, but then what the plan is and how that's structured is done by the administration. >> Okay. But we can we can we'll Can you put it on our list too? Belinda, we'll we can um give them a call and ask them like we'll get this data and we'll have this data say in September or October, whenever it is. And generally, how long is that good for? Like it's Do you expect that information is good in a year or is it just so variable with the market that in two years it's going to be completely moot?
Any questions regarding Gina or Lindsay? >> I entertain a motion to accept those two ladies for the summer school teacher. So move second that all in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Again I would like to say thank you to all three of those ladies for coming in over the summer so that we can provide that opportunity to our students. >> Next on the agenda is the ECA school musical assistance. >> So I had given you a summary in your packet for this. Um, last month you guys did approve Jen Stall for her medical leave of absence and because of her medical leave of absence, she wasn't able to fulfill all of the program duties that come along with this ECA position. And so what my recommendation is, our contract gives us the flexibility to prorrate that stipend. And so we would prrate it for the program that Jen was able to do.
Of course, there is going to be there's unknowns. Uh our special education population is in ebb and flow. You know, you cannot predict how many students will qualify for special education services. We cannot predict how many students will no longer need special education services. But we can study the past so that we can prepare for the future and maybe the worst case scenario that we're looking at. So, with that, unless there's any other comments, um I think we'll go ahead and proceed if it's all right with the board with the presentation from April Williamson. Looks like it's about 13 minutes behind. Thank you, school board. Uh my name is Dr. Nathan Williamson, and I am going to be sharing some analysis and information regarding special education in your district. So, to start out and introduce myself, I have been working with DeKalb for a couple of years now, primarily on the title side of things with federal grants.
Gets the ball over to Parsons. Parsons looking to have just a one-on-one. Nothing there. Gets the ball to Crimmins. Crimmins to Peltier. Peltier finds the open Whitwer. Now it's Whitwer's turn to see if she can save it down. Peltier You know, good screen by Pellegrino. Mack Whitwer zooming in and out. Turns around and gets a goal, but whistle before that. Mack Whitwer will get herself a 8-m attempt. And it looks like Adam one of the Minnechaug players will be getting a a yellow card and that's Sergenko. >> Yep. No advantage in lacrosse like soccer. Wish they just let the goal stand, but >> They changed that in in the college. They do that now. So, you you get the advantage, you get a shot. If the goalie makes a save, then they pull it back. But, still in high school, it's it's uh if you get the shot with they call it before, but sometimes the ref will hold the flag up.
They provide a critical bridge that balances accountability with the comprehensive care our students need to succeed. Tonight, our team will discuss a comprehensive approach to safety and accountability where we will introduce our multiddisciplinary safe office staff, review incident counts and trends for the current school year, review um excuse me, examine our most frequent behavioral challenges, outline key disciplinary measures used to ensure a safe and productive learning environment, and discuss the comprehensive of care in student support services that we all provide. All right, you can go back to that orange uh slide there, Mario. Perfect. I'll now turn it over to Christa Gillis. >> Good evening everybody. Thank you uh Mr. Jackson and thank you to the committee for inviting us here tonight uh to speak on behalf of the safe office. Where are you? Can you go? Yeah. So um first we want you to meet our team.
Okay. I just don't want people to read it and think like, oh my goodness, I can't ever get sick, you know. Yeah, that's fair that's fair. And I you know, I don't even like >> [snorts] >> while I strongly encourage 100% attendance at all times for all school committee members at all committees, I think that it's true like if one of the two of you was ill for some reason, you know, like there I think that that's we can be reasonable and flexible, but the expectation is showing up to to as many meetings as you can. And and prioritizing as a commitment. Um the one people there are several like I want your feedback on all of this, but there's one in particular that I was hoping that we could talk through and that is the dates. Like I I threw in some dates and it's pretty aggressive um with the hope of maybe being able to appoint members at our June meeting.
When Band-Aids finally give way the result is more expensive replacement and repairs. It also needs to be noted that there is a nationwide trend of teachers leaving the field in record numbers. Yet I have not yet heard Canton talk about what it's doing to ensure teacher retention. Teachers are citing inadequate support, low pay, and increased demands. I've also heard a couple people reference um the surrounding towns and their budget increases and my opinion in that is that they were adequately funding their schools prior. So you know they it's like if you get a fixer-upper house it's going to cost more to fix that up than a house that's been maintained appropriately. It is both unhelpful and unfortunate that the financial strain due to the systems in place is causing a divide in our community. This is a Connecticut problem impacting local community. I've looked up grants that specifically support seniors and those with disabilities for property tax relief.
Standing in for Mike, the ever wonderful Dan Lee. [applause] >> Uh, Coach Deb couldn't be with us tonight. uh he's actually coaching a lacrosse game right now. So he asked me to pres present tonight's awards. So tonight we are proud to recognize two individuals who truly embody what wellness education means here at Cheshire High School through their leadership, character, and positive impact on others. The Kathy Sullivan Wellness Award is presented to students who [clears throat] demonstrate a commitment to overall wellness, not just physically, but emotionally, socially, and academically as well. These students lead by example, support those around them, and represent the values of our wellness program here each and every day. Our first recipient consistently brings positivity, kindness, and effort into every class and activity she's involved in. She is someone who makes others feel included and supported, and she approaches challenges with maturity and determination.
Many, including myself, have shared how other districts are making more robust changes in technology and cell phone use in schools and how my own district that I teach at made simple policy changes last summer, which were easily able to implement in the fall of this year. Finally, I also want to acknowledge the growing lack of trust many families feel toward the district process itself. With limited transparency and little meaningful community input, it creates the perception that these decisions are being made in a way that overwhelms staff and families before they can fully respond. Whether intentional or not, that perception and impact matters. Trust is built when communities feel heard, informed, and genuinely included before decisions are finalized, especially decisions that affect the students with the greatest needs. I urge the board to reconsider the cumulative impact of these changes to prioritize smaller class sizes, early EL support, intervention services, educator opportunities, and student-centered learning environments rooted in human connection, rather than increased dependence on screens.
And that would be make a real difference. Yeah, okay. I was just curious. I believe it's a couple years cuz definitely in the three to five, I believe. I would I looked it up when we discussed this last time. Um but I do think we for the cost of doing both, um I don't know if we're going to be discussing just doing teachers or just doing what, but the cost of doing both, I think >> [clears throat] >> is we've spent we've spent more on wackier things than this. So, I I think it it needs to be done. That's just where I am and I will plan on supporting this. Well, I think it's the key to to our how to money for salaries is if we can control our um you know, having to use a contract like lab and if we can kind of halt that that that should maybe free up some more money for to spread around.
And then Missy Mosby, she did our K1 program for us as well. And so I would like to give her a third of that siphon as well for the time that she spent on our K1 program. Again, very thankful to have a staff member step up and to help out when we have a need. I know that was a big relief off of Jen because she carried that very heavy on her heart that she wasn't able to do that for those kids and I know our families and uh students were very thankful that Misty stepped up and provided them with that opportunity. So would like to thank her for that with appropriation of that stipend.
Um but I'm an owner and a consultant of MGT Education, and we work with a lot of school districts across the state regarding fiscal matters, including special education. So, your team, you know, had asked me to take a look at things from our lens, and then also because we work with such a large number of school districts, uh we are able to utilize that information when we are making sure that we're thorough when we are analyzing your info. So, a little bit about me before I get started, prior to being a full-time consultant, I used to work at the Indiana Department of Education where I oversaw most of the state federal grants that went to the school districts. And when I was at the state, I worked closely with our special ed office, but I did not oversee special ed work. But as a local administrator, I have overseen special ed and actually served as a special ed director.
Makes sense. >> the flag, but yeah. It's all situational. I don't know the rules. Mack Whitwer 8-m attempt. Mack goes in and around, turns around, and gets a shot off and scores another goal. Mac Whitmer with her fourth goal of the season, her fourth goal of this game, put the Spartans up 8 to 2 with 1:13 left in the first half. I'd like to see the Spartans creating chaos for that zone. I think that a lot of the movement has looked good past couple of minutes, so more chaos they can create, more things open up, and Yes, I mean it it it eventually they're not going to be able to sit back in the in the zone because then we'll be able to, you know, you want to get a six goals in lacrosse is Yeah. >> It's not much of a lead. So, you kind of want to really really just keep that >> Yeah, keep it down, but then eventually they're going to have to uh play a lot more man-to-man because then you could just really sit out.
Our team is made up of 15 individuals. Okay. Um six of them are our security which act as um really student liaison. They work with our students. Um they become mentors. We have three parent liaison, two administrative deans, one SRO, one admin assistant, one freshman academy team leader, and one adjustment counselor. So what our security does um is a lot. Um their number one priority is to keep our uh students and our environment in our campus safe and secure. [snorts] Um they do campus surveillance during the day. They're walking through the hallways. Um interacting with students, helping teachers, um making sure visitors are checking in. If there's visitors in the building, we know that they're okay to be here in the building. They respond to emergencies. when emergencies arise. They become mentors to our teachers. Many of our security members are also from um our communities and GLTS alum.
Now that is unclear to like it I think it's doable, but I wanted to to see what you all thought about that because it is a very tight timeline um to get advertise like advertising this opportunity to get the nominations for us to do the work of reviewing the people and putting forward the slate that we want to that full school committee. So, I would love for you all to help me help bring me back down to earth if that is not a realistic timeline. That's fine and we could probably push it to July to have a a slate of people that we would like to nominate that the committee can then approve. What do folks think about that? I think July is far more reasonable. I think like if you if you um spoke about the timeline at our next meeting or or rather if you put it out to the public say next week and then there's you know reminders, we do our social media thing, we tell people we get it out there.
I see you and I'm planning to reach out to the senior center to learn more about what I can do. I was lucky to have a grandmother who saw citizenship as an action, not a status. In closing, I would like to Well, this is also part of what I gave last night. I would like there to not be any budget cut. If anything, I'd like the $200,000 that was already cut to be added back on to the budget. Um but I'll close with saying whether you have children who have already benefited historically from Canton schools, have children enrolled currently, or have no children, we all benefit from a good public school system. There is not excessive spending. We pay less per pupil than average with above average median income. Thank you for your time. Thank you for your comments. And I have one more raised hand from Maryann.
She has shown tremendous leadership through her ability to encourage others, communicate respectfully, and create a positive environment for her peers. As Mr. Mr. Cut shared, she is a very mature student that has a great personality and work ethic. She is caring of others feelings and a great leader in class. You don't get a student like this many times. And for Mr. Crutch, she makes his all-time great list. Our first recipient recipient is Sarah Mullen. Our [applause] second recipient exemplifies dedication, resilience, and character. He consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic and a willingness to push himself well while also uplifting others in the process. His leadership is often shown through his actions. Whether it's encouraging classmates, demonstrating teamwork, or setting a positive tone in class, he reflects the core values of wellness through his commitment to growth, accountability, and respect for others. Mr. Belarsson shared this.
Thank you again for your time and consideration. >> [snorts] >> Thank you. Our next speaker is David Peebles. For a good start, I I have a handout and uh you can pass it around and see what I'm going to talk about tonight. Uh as as you heard, uh my name's David Peebles, lifelong resident here Batavia, except for the 2 years I was in the army, also a graduate of Batavia High School. I have a direct connection to Batavia schools since my dad was a music teacher for 30 years in the school system. He was a triple threat. Orchestra, band, and choir. Orchestra degree from Northwestern, band degree from VanderCook, and choir from North Park. Um I'm I'm here because I I'd like to donate what I've just passed around, a piano, to the high school because they have 10 uh practice rooms and they use electronic pianos because they don't have to tune them.