Big congratulations goes out to Allison Tran. the SWC Unified Leadership Award. Unified Sports represents the very best of inclusion, teamwork, acceptance, and leadership. The Southwest Conference Unified Leadership Award recognizes a partner who has made exceptional contributions to both Brookfield High School and unified sports throughout the conference. Congratulations go to Brian Barry. The CIA Unified Sports Award celebrates an athlete whose commitment to inclusion, leadership, and teamwork has strengthened both Brookfield High School and the statewide unified sports program. Congratulations to Cameron Johnson. All right, everybody, take a deep breath. This concludes our recognition of our outstanding underclass. We now turn our attention to a group of students who achievements whose achievements extend well beyond the classroom. Throughout their time at Brookfield High School, these seniors have represented our school with pride, determination, and commitment. They've learned how to lead, how to persevere, how to compete with integrity, and how to support something larger than themselves.
Yes. Yeah. This is just the big overarching report on kind of benchmark after this year where do we sit? >> So yes they are having those conversations. They're tracking those students. Right. So we have we have a three tiered uh system that identifies students that are having uh that need additional support. Right. So, one of those is attendance, one of those is grades, and one of them is behavior. And when they hit all three triggers, they're getting interventions. They're having they're getting additional support. All of those things are are happening at that level. So, completely agree. That doesn't mean that all 3,596 of those students had 7.89, right? Some some might have had 15. Uh some might have might have had >> you might have outliers and might have correct. >> Um >> Yep. So, it's just to put it in perspective of what that looks like for those on average, but yes, there are higher and and certainly lower.
And now we'll just take that next step and they will take that next step and remove it from the cafeteria. >> Is there still what's the backpack policy right now? No backpacks in the classrooms. >> Yeah, because I was going to say it's really hard to tell whether or not somebody has a device in their baguh Right. So, okay. >> So, definitely you should be able to see it unless it's in pocket. Yes. >> Are they going to be able to have them on the school buses? >> Yes. >> Yeah. It's just >> bell. >> And we could say, is that a good thing or a bad thing? In your first draft, right? So, June 15th, we will take the first draft of the next policy. The cell phone policy is in there. Um, and it it speaks to I specifically chose to allow them on school buses.
Um, like she said, slinging those steak sandwiches and, uh, working concessions, which is a lot of manpower by volunteers and, um, doing the gift card program and things like that. So, I know they're out there doing a lot. Um, and it's all volunteers. It's all um doing their extra time like Mr. Fipps, Miss Fipps, putting extra time in for those things. Um, so, and we also plan to help support the the boosters and volunteer with them um this season. So, um I know it was mentioned back in February, the athletic department funds um uniforms and items for uh extracurriculars through ticket sales. Um and like Lindy said, the the band is asked to perform at at those events. So maybe there's an opportunity for them to get a percentage of ticket sales. Just an idea. Um help set off offset these costs. So whether you're at a yay or a nay, um it'll be interesting to hear your thought process and um some discussion around this topic.
Athletics teach lessons that extend far beyond the scoreboard. They teach discipline, resilience, accountability, teamwork, and leadership. The students we honor tonight have embraced those lessons and have helped strengthen the culture of Brookfield High School athletics. Please join me in celebrating the athletic accomplishments of the class of 2026. So, as I start to hand out these awards, I'm going to point bring your attention to the top right corner of this particular slide where you see the logo Chick-fil-A. And I want to recognize someone who generously has helped create many of the opportunities we celebrate this evening. Brookfield High School graduate Devon Scandlin has remained a tremendous supporter of our students, athletic programs, and our community. As a local Chick-fil-A owner and operator, she has helped provide scholarships that recognize excellence both on and off the field. Her commitment to giving back reflects the very spirit of teamwork and community that these awards celebrate.
>> And can you remind me how does the um formula work for if a child misses one class, but they're still in school. It doesn't hurt our overall school day attendance for children because they are still in the building. >> I'm going to talk about that in like three slides >> because >> Yep. Yep. >> Very good. the same way. >> We're right there. We're right there. Okay. So, that's the single period I use. Uh this next one is is really exciting. So, we talked about engagement and what does it mean for students to be involved in extracurricular activities, right? So, what we did was we broke this down by season. So, we didn't have anything to report in the first quarter because the first season wasn't over, right? The fall season wasn't over. So when that was over, we looked at through December 19th.
>> Now, the board can resend that, right, and and make it where they're not allowed on school buses, but I think you would be fighting a a battle that's not I'm looking at a resident bus driver. What are you pondering over there? >> I just curious. I just I didn't know if it was going to be the responsibility of the driver saying, "Hey, you know, that kind of thing going on." And >> where's your locked box? >> Yeah. Also at the elementary level, like when we have pickup, of course, it's after the bell, but there are a lot of times we all gather at the gym for pickup and once or twice we've seen kids pull them out of their backpacks and it's a quick like put it away or we hold it until you walk out the door and then it's right back as they're walking out.
So thank you. >> Thanks. >> Good evening everyone. >> I am here to speak about the band uniforms and ask that the um discussion moves towards the purchasing of uniforms. I'm going to read off of this just to make sure I get everything out. Um, for years I've been a mother of athletes and that's pretty much the world that I've known and have lived in. Um, I hate to admit it, but really up until recently I have had blinders on and have not known much about band until this young man that I brought with me today. Um, really introduced me to the world of band. You see, this is Wyatt, my son. He is not an athlete. We joked about this earlier. Um, he's not running up and down the courts or fields. He's not throwing a ball or catching a ball. And he's not running to beat a time, but he is learning something.
Please join me in thanking Devon Scandlin and Chick-fil-A for their continued support of Brookfield High School. Leadership is not measured by statistics or championships alone. The most influential leaders set the standard every day through preparation, accountability, resilience, and the example they provide to teammates. The Southwest Conference Leadership Award recognizes student athletes who have distinguished themselves both on and off the field of play. Congratulations to this year's winners, Matthew Akerly AND JAMIE COL. VERY FEW ACCOMPLISHMENTS REQUIRE THE discipline necessary to excel in both academics and athletics. The CIA Scholar Athlete Award honors students whose commitment in the classroom matches their dedication to competition. These student athletes have established a standard of excellence that reflects positively on our entire school community. Congratulations to our winners this year, Haley Miller and Bradford. These two exceptional students were recognized on May 28th for their outstanding dedication and volunteer service to the mission and values of CIS cast CIA.
If a student was in an activity, uh that meant that they were in a sport and or some type of a club, right? Anything along those lines, that number is in there. So in the fall season, just over 60% of our student population were involved in either a sport or an activity. Their attendance rate was 95.3%. And this is minutes, okay? Because I'm going to talk about the difference. This is this is minute calculations. 1830 of our students were not in either one, right? And their attendance was 90.66. So you can see almost a 5% difference in attendance of being engaged in in one of those one of those things. That trend continues right through quarter three, which would have been the winter season. And then we did the same thing for the end of the year for the spring season and what that looks like.
So, I mean, even for them, it's not >> um Have you gotten any push back parents. I mean, because what they're mentioning is very real is that it's parents who even more strongly than kids often want to have um don't want to be separated from their kid um through a through and have access to them and are used to having access to them through a phone. >> Have you got any comments? >> There's always going to be a little frightening here and there. I think at the end of the day, it's it's the wall >> and there there's not a lot we can do. I I think we can put some things in practice like a parent square so kids could email their parent through parent square if they wanted to or needed to. Um but I'm sure we will have more come when we start to enforce it.
He's learning about tone, music theory, and pretty sure Mr. Fipps will attest to this being an important skill for Wyatt volume. But much like athletics, he's learning about teamwork, trust, grit, determination, and perseverance. All of these things that he is learning are valuable to his character and this development of his character should be fostered by not just the directors or assistants, band boosters, and the band parents, but by our entire district and school board. I've got some questions. How many board members have attended a band concert, competition, community performance, or even just sat in their seats during a halftime show fully focused on what was happening on that halftime moment on the field? How many band members have approached the director, a percussionist or my favorite instrument, a saxoponist, okay, or a guard member and genuinely congratulated them or complimented them on their performance? The band has asked for money since February to replace 20-year-old uniforms.
Their passion for supporting and uplifting student voices across Connecticut alongside their exemplary exemplary leadership is deeply inspiring. We are proud of these young ladies and please join me in offering congratulations to Jamie Colbrith and Emily. Every athletic department has students who become the heartbeat of its programs. They participate widely, lead naturally, serve willingly, and consistently represent their school with integrity. The athletic director's award recognizes student athletes whose impact reaches far beyond wins and losses. Congratulations to this year's winners, Alli Freeze AND COLE TOBACCO. THE BEST TEAMMATES ARE OFTEN THE people who never seek recognition. They encourage others, celebrate the success of those around them, support teammates through adversity, and consistently place the team above themselves. The Bobcat Ultimate Teamate Award recognizes student athletes who embody the very best qualities of teamwork and sportsmanship. Congratulations to this year's winners, Kayla Fulchetti and Wavo Nami. For more than four decades, the Army Reserve Scholar Athlete Award has recognized students who demonstrate excellence in both academics and athletics.
And we were, you know, between 55 and 60% during that one season of our students. But then when you look at throughout the year, 71% of our students were in either a sport or an activity throughout the the school year. So when I look at that throughout the year, their in the entirety of their attendance regardless of whether they were in season or out of season was 93.61% as compared to 1300 of our students were not in either of those types of activities and their attendance was at 87.07%. So being engaged as we've been talking about matters and it makes a difference and we can see that the the data backs that up and and supports uh what that what we've been saying and now we know it to be 100% true. >> Okay. Do you see any um any correlation between like a student who just had a fall sport and then did not have a spring sport and if their attendance dropped like the other >> so they would move they would have we didn't get that granular this year they would have moved into then this 2000 number >> right so >> for the 1936 >> yeah I can't say can't say whether you know their attendance stayed at the same or or not um but we did just look at students that were in season, if you will, during that time and engaged and then those that were not.
>> I think too just looking at that communication avenue of potentially being able to allow I think as we've looked at what other districts have adopted somehow there's a way to import um parent emails to be able to be allowed. So you have one parent email that you could communicate via email with your kiddo through the day because right now they can't unless you have a Brown High School's email. >> So um email outside the system. >> Yes. So there could be a way to import that to allow some access. Um but I put it as part of like my student exit survey for this year. The last thing was are you aware of the new cell phone policy that the state has approved? Um, more details to come, but here are, you know, just so they knew before they walked away and all of them acknowledged that they knew it existed, but they were very grumbly about it.
Uniforms that are ill-fitting, worn down, and seeing their final days. Uniforms which which the band is judged upon during performances. Now, I'm aware that since the last board me uniforms yielded a no, things have now changed and there's a plan in place. I'm happy about that. But I have to ask, why did it take the public getting involved for a discussion to take place? Is at Knox Community Schools, all students are worth it, right? But my child should not feel undervalued because his interests are not that of an athletic nature. No child should question where they stand in the assumed hierarchy of extracurriculars. So, I ask that we all take a step back and recall what our purpose is here, which is to support every student, the whole student of Knox Community Schools. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> On items on the agenda, we will move forward to item A, personnel report.
This award celebrates discipline, determination, leadership, and commitment. Qualities that serve individuals well both during competition and throughout life. Congratulations to this year's award winners, Rick Carpenter and John Lopez. The US Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award recognizes students who demonstrate courage, competence, determination, leadership, and character. These are individuals who inspire others through both their actions and their example. Congratulations to this year's winners, Charlotte Warlock and Tristan. Every school has traditions that become part of its identity. At Brookfield High School, one of those traditions is celebrating the rare student athletes who dedicate themselves to competition throughout all three athletic seasons. The Cindy Adamsky Award honors seniors whose commitment to athletics spans the entire school year. Their dedication requires countless hours of practice, sacrifice, and perseverance. More importantly, reflects a genuine love for competition and a deep commitment to representing Brookfield High School. Congratulations go out to Leah Shaw and Landon Wall.
It's a good question. >> And this is a combined north and south, >> correct? >> Yep. This is for the entire district. >> I'm just The point being is like I'm not calling my kid out of school because they have a game tonight, so that's contributing to higher attendance in season. But in the spring when my kid does not have a sport, I'm more inclined to do that. >> Correct. >> I guess I'd like to know if that's actually happening. >> We can we can look at that data >> or if it's truly just these kids are actually more engaged than the non-activity students and therefore have higher attendance because of their engagement. I I would say it's it's probably more the the first part that you talked about um just due to the fact of students may be in a in an activity that lasts an entire year, right?
Um, so at least our kids know that it's coming. We've had those conversations, but um, I think they were very hopeful that they would be able to have them at lunch and that was something they were hanging on to. Um, but the the bill is very clear that it is not allowed at lunch. So >> I get that. But do they put any exception in for special cases? >> They do 504s, IEPs, medical like all of that. Yeah, we we can document and then allow um as needed. What about those that are allowed to leave the month? So that's we've I think that we will land on that's something our team's still discussing that once you have signed out because even if you're going to an internship if you're going to C4 if you are leaving our campus you sign out okay >> with the office so I think the moment you sign out you you get your phone so to travel to to Blooming or to Columbus to see now I think our communication with um Bartholomew Bartholomew County what is their cell phone policy going to be our kids will have to have a space to lock their phones up when they arrive on their campus.
Item A, intermittent FMLA. Item B, new hires. Item C, summer school staff. Uh, superintendent recommends the board approves items A, B, and C. Do I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Makes a motion. Do I have a second? Second. >> Second.