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Um and as my kids have moved through elementary school, it's become increasingly clear that there are no unified guidelines in the classroom for the use of technology. Uh we all know that technological advances often outpace our ability to create rules around it, but students in this district have had Chromebooks for years, and the research is now in and definitive that not only are is it not aiding children in the classroom, often it's detrimental to their learning, especially in the early childhood classrooms. Um so, we in BPS should be continually striving for excellence, and so, I'm glad that we have this push in the community currently to bring this oversight to the board's attention. I would ask that a committee be formed to partner with parents, teachers, and administration to establish a set of rules for using technology in the classroom. Um some of these restrictions should include YouTube restrictions because there is some pretty free access going on right now, time limits per grade level, and I would think keeping Chromebooks at school, especially in the elementary school, there's no reason for them to have them for homework at home.
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So there's usually seven or eight different hotels to choose from. The prices are pretty reasonable for being in downtown Chicago about $200 a night which is almost unheard of in Chicago anymore. So just things like that that we would um I just want to make sure the board was aware we'd need to approve expenses. We can if we know who's interested in going and people can always add later, but if we know who's interested in going for next week we could work on approving expenses next week since the board is required to approve expenses ahead of time. So what would we be doing next week? Uh Exactly. If people are interested to attend then what we would do is get a copy of the estimated expenses forms to the board members to um submit back so that the board could approve those next week at the board meeting.
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I'm gonna find out though. I'd like to be able to attend if possible. Yeah. It's an honor. >> Absolutely. >> So, just closing out the year. I know I gave you guys a lot of the highlights last uh last month of things that we did, but it has been a phenomenal school year. Um I think everyone is ready for a break. And I was thinking about that. I think when you're you're doing so much as we are, we've got so many things going on. you know, it does get to the point at times when it weighs on you and stuff and you need a break and you need to, you know, recoup and regenerate a little bit. Um, but again, it's been a phenomenal school year. >> Been a fast school year. >> It has. >> Like when it started next this coming weekend on Monday, you can just sit in your chair on the porch, [laughter] watch the birds for a while.
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So, you know, here's some other positions that are going to look different. As you can see in some programs, and again you work closely with your special ed team, you're going to have more costs and and other ways you're going to have reduced costs based upon serving more children alone who live and attend in the town central. So, uh when you add all of those together, the some fewer teachers here, more or maybe shorter services there, that's where you end up with total projected increase in costs that's quite comparable to your history. So, you know, from a financial standpoint, you're just going to spend, you know, a substantially similar amount uh operating alone than compared to the cooperative. And as long as you keep that authority that you're now going to have as a standalone program and keep it in the eye in line of sight of what those costs are.
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She's met by one, two. McKechnie will get herself an 8-m attempt. Like we were just talking about that. Every time Every time the Spartans get into into the 8-m area I don't know if it's cuz Minnechaug's just not I mean they're playing zone, so they're not getting out of the way quick enough and then you get shooting space, so السبina McKechnie getting 8-m attempt. Sabina McKechnie 8-m attempt. McKechnie goes in looking to go five hole. Another good save by Minnechaug and Lucy Parsons there backing that up. Macwit, we're going to bring it in with Spartans holding an 8-3 lead with 4:50 to go in the uh third quarter. Spartans um retain possession though, so it's good to keep the ball down here. Macwit, we're with the ball. >> [crying] >> Macwit finds a seam out of nowhere, turns around takes a shot, misses just wide.
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We need them to either get the help in the classes that they're that they're being scheduled for for when, but also throughout the day, they have to go to all the classes. And it's also a huge safety issue if we don't know where they are during the day. [clears throat] Uh unauthorized areas are something that come up. It actually a lot of times when our kids are skipping class, they are with another teacher. So we they're two different things. Unauthorized areas are when a student leaves class, where are they? We have a system called smart pass, which is um in back in the day, we have paper passes. They they're really an annoyance and they don't do much other than prove to a student, hey, I got a teacher signature. I could be out of class. Now it's all on the computer. And if I if we ever have an emergency at any time, we have Smart Pass.
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I think that we will be certainly like reaching out to have them as being part of our advisory committee. Um Sure, because that that exact knowledge is very valuable. And I think that's what I was referring to when we were talking about sort of targeted recruitment of certain sectors. >> Yeah, I I think that would be a good one. And I think like we're at the point with visibility where we want and I know we talked about this at the last meeting like about having someone like um someone from the city side just to make everyone feel that we are being transparent and inclusive. And not just feel it, but to see it cuz we actually are. >> See it to see to see everyone getting along. Cuz they cuz we actually are being open and transparent about this to the best that we know how to do as humans.
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I do want to remind everyone that it's not the Board of Education projects, it's town projects, but how the state operates, it is the Board of Education that has to submit for grant reimbursement. So, the only project that I know of right now that is on our list that would be reimbursable is the the roof. But, also if we plan ahead and some of the AC units that people are talking about, we will also be able to apply for the state for grant reimbursement. So, I I want to thank Mrs. Blachly for bringing that up. I want to let people know that specifically we the the proposal that you're going to see is going to delay the replacement of staff laptops. And these are replacement cycles. So, we're going to delay the replacement of staff lap- laptops. We're going to pause our district-wide LCD installation projects.
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The individual embraces the challenges of intercolastic activi athletics [clears throat] and the leadership responsibilities associated with being a team captain. The individual understands the importance of taking an interest in others and exhibits the quality of a great teammate. The individual demonstrates outstanding sportsmanship, takes pride in representing Cheshire High School. The individual actively seeks opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others, and is dedicated to making our school community a better place. This year recipient is a two sport athlete and a two sport captain who always goes above and beyond to embrace a variety of leadership opportunities within our school community. Regardless of the scope of the activity she's planning or the complexity of the problem, she dep she displays the unique ability to maintain an upbeat attitude, an unwavering focus, and a determination to exceed even the loftiest of expectations. Whether she's leading a statewide presentation for student leaders, or she's serving as a mentor for elementary school students here in Cheshure, she is an everyday leader who truly help truly enjoys helping others.
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And as we've heard already, there's a lot of um issues going on when they're away from school. And they're heavy to bring home. Um so a set of rules will help us keep Batavia public schools as a wonderful place for all students to learn and grow, and we can make it happen. Our next speaker is Haley Lamb. Good evening. We really need to be able to try to not do everything cuz it's the danger zone of not accomplishing anything. Tom King, September 23rd, 2025. You've been doing a lot. But all it is is taking. Our taking our interventionists from our elementary schools and our novels from our high schools. When does the giving back begin to happen? How do those things better our children's education? Those questions are being asked to the board without response. Your decisions affect our children's education. There are many voices in the room that are offering concern, and it's your responsibility to address our concerns.
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We could wait and approve those in July. It just means if we're approving in July, there's just and it's not a big deal, but there's a little bit of a delay in the registration and it just means um ho- you you'd still get into the conference, but hotel choices and things like that become a little more limited and you might be a little further out from the conference. They There's just so many people that come to this that um you know, they have quite a few different that are part of the group. >> want to be but you want to be part of the action cuz I've stayed at a hotel off the away. Yeah, it's a bit of a hike. >> Yeah, it is. So, yeah, if that's a good point. Thank you. >> Uber ride. So. What's the dates again? November 20th through the 22nd.
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>> I'm hoping to tackle the email. [laughter] this time of year. It's >> all right. Any other comments, Terry? Comments? >> That about covers it all. >> I I would just uh give Andrea some commendation. She's done a great job and every year she just gets stronger and stronger in her leadership and what she provides for us. The board is so well done. She makes a recommendation, but at the same time, anytime we ask for information, she's on it. And um the thing I love about her the most is if there's something she didn't think of and you bring it to her attention, she acknowledges that and she's thankful for that. So I think that just shows a lot of humility on her part and just her desire to be, you know, get better at what she does. So good job. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, you had a great year.
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Um so, you might be able to slow that rate of annual increase with the greater control of operating alone. Now, the opposite could happen if you don't have that good line of sight. However, I have full faith and belief in your team uh of making sure that you're making sound financial uh staffing decisions in future years as you're needing to hire people against uh the number of children that you have. So, you know, and and so lastly, I would say, you know, it's going to be my recommendation that financially it's really up to you in terms of quality. What do you think is better? So, if I were your CFO, I would be saying financially we can do it. There's really no difference to me. So, what's better for our kids? And if you believe that it's better for kids to operate a sustainable program, strong recommendation there.
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Lucy Parsons there to get it. Good Good job by Lucy Parsons to quickly get get to the end line before anybody from Minnechaug. Minnechaug's the home field, they should be setting up the balls. >> Yeah. So, quote the ref. >> [cough] >> Ref calling a stoppage time on that. >> Yeah. And the Spartans have done a great job backing up the ball on both ends. We saw Julia Gray do it on the other end earlier, and the attackers have followed that ball the way out, so. Yes, they've been doing a good job not not letting Minnechaug. Minnechaug really keeping those two girls right by the cage. >> [snorts] >> I'm almost fun, Mac. They could They could be saying just pull back. >> Yep. Pull back and eat the last 4 minutes of it. They're not doing anything. Now you hear Yep. Now you hear the coaches from Minnechaug saying come to the ball.
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As a matter of fact, when a student's marked out of class, we don't know where they are, the first thing I do is go to Smart Pass to find out where they were let. So, for example, a student asks for a bathroom pass, they should go to the nearest bathroom. However, sometimes we find them over in the PE in the gym. Sometimes we find them in the cafeteria. Sometimes we find them in an area of the school. It's an unauthorized area. It's very important for us to stay on top of this stuff because when we find we find that in unauthorized areas that's where some of the trouble occurs and if we kind of tamp it down there and keep them accountable being where they're supposed to be. Um we have fewer problems. Um the goal always use smart pass to know their location but also to kind of re know encourage the students to make sure that they're doing what they're supposed to and they're where they're supposed to be.
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Um okay, then. Point well taken. Thank you, member Webb. All right. Great. So, with that if we are now we've got our materials, we've got a plan and a timeline and we know that we are accepting, we'll be advertising and then accepting um self-nomination to this advisory committee until June 15th. Um when would we like to meet next as a group? Or do we want to meet before the 22nd when we will be reviewing nomination information from folks? June is super tight for me. Okay. I'm going to be around the beginning of like the first 2 weeks of June. I'm around and pretty flexible. But then I got scout trips. So, I'm out. Um So, and I'm also out at the very end of May. Sorry. These These Girl Scouts, man, they got to rent these fancy Airbnbs. I got to take them all over the place.
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Those are the LCD projectors that are on a replacement cycle. We're going to pause that replacement cycle. And I agree with what we heard is that we really need to take a good look on how Chromebooks are used within our district. So, we're going to postpone the purchase of seven grade Chromebooks. That means that the Chromebooks that were for the middle school that go down to the CIS would not happen. In return, what I did find out since this conversation is one of the reasons and I know people know this that we need to have technology in the schools is because the state of Connecticut requires students starting in third grade to take a smarter balance test in third grade. So, I think that's something that I would recommend the curriculum committee and the policy committee possibly talk about is what is our feelings about our third grader and how they perform on a smarter balance and weigh that option of putting technology in kindergarten and first and second and third grade and I'll talk that in a about that in a minute.
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In speaking to one of her coaches, uh this is what they shared. Her enthusiasm and commitment to team success makes her the type of leader who is a positive presence both on and off the field. Her outstanding communication skills and team spirit ranks her among one of the best captains that this coach has ever been around. So on behalf of the Ryan T. Lee Memorial Foundation, it is my pleasure to present the 2026 Excellence Leadership Scholarship to Sarah Mullen. [applause] Over [applause] the course of four years at Chester High School, students may earn honor role status through their coursework. Tonight we recognize those students who have been on the honor role for at least three marking periods in an academic year for three or four years. Joining us tonight are the senior class adviserss, Miss Brie Merina Matthews, and Mr. Michael Luchi to read the names of the recipients of the honor role medals.
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Why is this an adversarial relationship? Why do you put us in a position to fight you? 3 minutes is not nearly enough time to say what I want to say. But you're failing our kids. You're failing our community. Our community is begging for help and you continue to ignore us. You have dozens of supporters behind you and when you posted about Sarah McBride, but who did you email with responses to? Our kids are being bullied and they are being ignored. There are no tampons in the bathrooms that we pay for as taxpayers and they are ignored. You do not give our kids enough recess that is mandated by law. 15 minutes increments and we still can't accomplish that. Our community is sick and tired of being ignored. We are not pains in the neck. We are passionate parents and family members. At night when we try to lay our heads down to sleep, we wonder if we've done enough.
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20th through the 20th through the 22nd. >> Okay. Yeah, it's usually Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Um Sunday is just in the morning only. Um and it's also the weekend where they do the lighting of the tree and they There's a lot of things happening in the city that are just holiday related that are uh interesting. Um so, it's fun there, too. >> So, should we just let you know this week? >> if you could uh just let me know, email me, or send me a text message uh this week. I can uh So, the forms aren't going to be technically approved until next week, but we can send copies of the forms to everybody now. It's really modeled exactly uh off of the uh forms that we use for staff for estimated expenses. So, we can I can um send those out to everybody um and we can put those together to put in the board under section 8 for next week.
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