Every day, Brookfield teachers challenge students to think critically, work hard, and pursue excellence. Tonight, the members of the Brookfield Education Association have chosen to invest directly in two students who exemplify those same ideals. Through their academic achievements, leadership, and contributions to school life, these students have distinguished themselves as outstanding members of the class of 2026. Congratulations to these two students, Ava Leapor and Aaron. Every successful theater program depends upon talented performers. Truly special programs are built by students whose leadership, commitment, and passion inspire everyone around them. This year's recipient has left a lasting mark in the Brookfield High School theater community through her performances, work ethic, and dedication to supporting fellow cast members. Whether on stage as Sophie, Roxy, or Gabriella behind the scenes, she has demonstrated the qualities that define outstanding performers: talent, preparation, humility, and heart. as she continues her journey as a Connecticut college camel.
It's just impossible to tell because the calculation method flipped over the other direction. Would it be reasonable to believe that if we made a mistake last year, the mistake was in the students favor of being present where this year if there was an error in in it, it was not in their favor. The error was that they weren't there. Right? So, uh even with that factored in, um it's a 1% increase. >> So, we met our we met our target for what we set, right? We wanted to beat our attendance rate the previous year. When you look at our chronic absenteeism rate, we wanted to be lower, right? Because you want less chronic absenteeism. Um, so that again, that uses a federal calculation. Um, and last year's rate on our report card was 23.3%. The number that you see there, 23.02% is a minute calculation.
Uh if we can get probably four more days of 13 trucks turning 200 loads a day, we'll be in really good shape getting our final dirt that we need. U had a great meeting just to be transparent with uh highway department, county commissioner. Um we've had visits from INDOT, from everybody else uh with the amount of dirt that we are trucking. Uh we put together a plan uh to kind of repair the road. Uh Tarquette Sports has been a great team player in this. They understand the the amount of damage that they have done to our county road. They are not obligated to repair it. Uh but they understand, right? They want to leave it better than where what they found it. So appreciate their support and help progressing through all of this. So when you say the county road, are you just talking about Snider Hill and then 046?
>> Yes. Correct. >> Correct. Yeah. >> Dusty, do you have to have a minimum number of students like 10 or 20 or anything like that? >> They I I've asked that and they they've told me no. But here's the other thing. Like every six students or every six travelers like a chaperone can go for free. So like I can get another traveler to be, you know, like another chaperone for free. So I that just is how that ends up going. Yeah. So >> there maximum. >> There isn't really a maximum either. So um I can keep on going as long as they, you know, let me go. Um they've never given me a maximum number. So, and there's no minimum number either that they've given me. >> That's good. >> Yeah. So, >> EF is a very popular um that's a superintendent talk. That is a very well-known group that will take kids on on trips.
We proudly present the Long Meadow Player Scholarship to Jamie Culbert. Music has the power to unite people, create community, and leave lasting memories. This year's recipient has spent four years helping create exactly that experience for others. As a dedicated member of our coral program and this year's choir president, she has been more than a talented musician. She's been a mentor, leader, and source of encouragement for those around. Her kindness, leadership, commitment have strengthened our music program and enriched our entire school community. Congratulations to this year's BHS Coral Award winner, Katherine Henderson. Is Alex here? Great. He's coming on up. He's going to help us present the Brookfield Arts Commission scholarship. The arts challenge us to think differently, imagine boldly, and express ideas in meaningful ways. The Brookfield Arts Commission scholarship recognizes a student who has demonstrated both artistic talent and a deep commitment to creative expression.
So, we cannot I I have not been able to figure out how to do the math to get that because there's a lot. You want to talk about data stuff that they go through. If a student was ended the year with us, but say they were here for five days, the previous 170 days that they were in another district or other districts count in our chronic absenteeism. So, this is with the students that are in our building. That's where we're at. We can't say definitively that. That is much I'm holding that with a much looser hand because we we don't know. We don't know what the experiences of the students are in in other buildings if they transfer it into us. >> Dina has spent more than a decade trying to figure it out what it's going to be before we get it from the state.
>> No, Dhy Road is the gravel road that's taking the beating. >> Say that again. >> Dhy Road, right next to the Gypsy Moon Flea Market. That's where all the dirt's coming to. >> Thank you. >> I was going to ask where is it coming from? >> Just outside of town. >> Okay. Just out of the ground. >> Out of a property in the very back of the road. >> Wow. Okay. >> We need about five more days. Oh, one more thing. Uh, middle school is hosting Van Beern summer school program. So, um, all the elementaryaries are hosting their own summer school program in their buildings. This year, the middle school will be hosting Van Beern, which starts on Wednesday. We set up a classroom and then a space right next to them. Uh for the office staff as well to work out of so they can be right next to their students.
>> Yeah. Not anybody's just flying by the night. >> Yeah. So, like Mr. Fitch who's next door to me at the high school, uh he's actually used this tour um and uh when he was at Plymouth. So, uh actually I think he went on this exact same tour. So, I mean, that's kind of why I went ahead and leaned towards this tour. And so, you know, Yeah. So, yeah. >> And that price is no matter what, if there's like one person in a room, four people, it that's that's their price. >> Um, I'm I'm guess kind of rephrase that. Is that is that just for like So, that price there would be for the student. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Because sometime like the Washington DC trip for example when there was um if you just wanted to go you and your parent you know it was um it was more because there was just the two of you in a room compared to if there was four students.
With the support of the Brookfield Arts Commission and the Brookfield Film Festival, they are proud to present this scholarship to Sydney H. Mary right here. Mary, come on. Up next is the Mary Nymer Springfield College scholarship. Some opportunities come full circle. As a proud Springfield College graduate, Mary Nyimmer understands firsthand the impact that education can have on a young person's future. This inaugural scholarship recognizes two students planning to attend Springfield College whose accomplishments, character, and promise make them worthy representatives of this opportunity. Congratulations to Julia Powers and Matthew. Now, I'm not sure if they're all going to come up, but we have a I have a big list, so you're all invited. But I hear that Andrew Oonnell, Alex Slater, Sous Slater, Victor Morrow, Bob Underh Hill, Nick Bonavita, Paul McCcluskey, and Kimberly Greington might be here that All right. Some legacies are measured not by accomplishments alone, but by the lives they continue to influence.
There's just no way to know because as Travis said, students that are coming and going their attendance at their other schools counts for or against us. So this is our own internal numbers. So, expect that to be a different number when we get our school report card around Halloween of this year. Uh, will be all of the variables that we can't account for. So, you know, when October comes, please don't say you said it would be because I have no idea how that that state number will end up. That's just our own internal calculations. Good. Okay. So, what that leads us to um in in looking at in in whole and this is what the data that we looked at this year for the entirety of the school year. Okay. Our tardy count, you can see it's broken down by period. Anything stand out to you?
Uh just know that that is happening out of the middle school this year as well. >> And the fireworks are on July 2nd in Eagle Park. >> Eagle Park. >> Everybody is going to ask you when are the fireworks and where are they? >> We even have little business cards made up to say here's when it's happening. So when they ask you to have a meeting, but thank you for letting us go. The Lions Club thanks you. The Lions Club thanks you for uh you know letting him use Eagle Park for that. And I think it'll be a real interesting experience doing it in a new place and see how it goes. >> Not under a motion to meeting. All in favor signif.
So I was just wondering if that was sort of the same thing or >> or it doesn't matter you're paying that amount if there's >> Oh okay. Yeah. So from what I understand that I mean that is just the individual price for that individual. Um so like that's what it would be. It's just for that individual student. Um, for what what I just showed you earlier, that's just the price for that individual. If an adult wanted to go, um, if you can go back to that >> pricing, um, that adult price is what that adult would pay, the 5,209, that's what they would pay. The student, their price is the 4,469. >> Yeah. >> I think you were asking, Mark, does it get cheaper if >> Yeah, like if there was >> Oh. Oh, okay. All right. Yeah. All right. Sorry, I misunderstood that. Um, but no, it it doesn't it doesn't get knocked down lower.
The Slater's Lane Foundation was established to honor the memory of Christopher Slater and to support students whose character and actions reflect the values he lived each day. Tonight is especially meaningful because these are the first recipients of this scholarship. Selected for their leadership, character, and commitment to making a positive difference, these students embody the ideals that inspired the foundation's creation. It is their privilege to congratulate the inaug inaugural recipients of the Slater Lane Foundation scholarship to Leah Shaw, BRAD. AWESOME. I think I saw her here. Was Carol Zer here? For 50 years, Dot Nstrom dedicated herself to helping young people grow through the Girl Scouts. This scholarship honors not only her remarkable service, but also the value she instilled in generations of young women, leadership, responsibility, perseverance, and kindness. This year's recipient has spent 13 years as an active Girl Scout and has consistently demonstrated those same qualities throughout her involvement and achievements.
Right. First period um and even second period, right? When you look at both of those things again, a student could have a single period AU first period and then be tardy second period. There's a lot of different variables that are at play here, but first period stands out, right? The first period of the day. Same thing when we look at our single period AUS. Um first second period's a little bit closer, right, to that, but first period that sticks out. The other thing that sticks out is fifth period. And that's our our last day when we look at our first and our last day last periods of the day. So on our block days, fifth period is our last day. Eighth period is our last day on the other day. So if you look at that, you're you're seeing fifth and eighth. So it's the beginning and the and the end.
Yeah. So, yeah. >> Is uh is it is everything else good on that or do >> I hope I answered that correctly? Yeah. >> Yeah. Good. Okay. All right. >> Anyone else have any other questions for Mr. Banks? >> Awesome. Thanks for sharing. >> Thank you. That being said, we'll take a vote. All in favor say I. >> Opposed. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Sign it up. It's approved. >> Uh we'll go to item F-1. Uh superintendent recommends a board field approve the field trip for the Knox High School girls basketball team to attend the overnight trip to the to participate in the Ludi shootout this summer. The team will depart on June 14th and return on June 16th. Do I have a motion? There's a move and second.
Congratulations to this year's recipient, Leah G. Up next is the Women's Club of Brookfield. I'm not sure if Naomi, Kim, Hildy, Cynthia for four. Not bad. Strong communities are built by people who choose to become involved. The Women's Club of Brookfield has long supported civic engagement, volunteerism, friendship, and service throughout our town. Tonight, they recognize these three students who have embraced these same ideals for the dedication to helping others and strengthening our community. Congratulations to this year's Women's Club of Brookfield recipients, Daniel Bogus, Bradford Salosi, and Grace. Jennifer is coming up to join us here. The Sharon Sazi Memorial Scholarship Some educators leave an impact that extends far beyond the classroom. Sharon Santi was remembered not only for her dedication as a teacher and library media specialist, but also for her kindness, humility, patience, and genuine care for every student she encountered. This scholarship honors a student who reflects those same qualities and shares Sharon's love of literature and learning.
And we're having conversations again around that. What does that look like? What can how can we approach uh that and and put those into place? And we're actually meeting tomorrow to to come up with some different solutions and and to to brainstorm on some of those uh those different pieces. >> And have the students been directly asked, "Hey, why are you missing first period?" >> Some of them um that that's definitely one of the things we need to harness more next year. But um part of our tardy brigade was really not necessarily why are you missing first period, but why why are you late school? Um and some of them wound up if they you know if you're more than 10 minutes late it counts as a period absence. >> Um so some of them would have actually landed in that absent colum column instead of the tardy column.
Any discussion on that? >> Yeah, just a good opportunity for our girls outdoor program stuff and get some basketball and get some good team building time. I'm excited for them to have this opportunity. >> Do they get to go with school transportation or are they to get there? >> Yeah, I I will double check that, but I'm pretty sure the school's taking them down. >> They're driving to Yes. But they're still taking the school transportation. Yes. And I know they have um I think four chaperones. Three of them are are female.
The recipient of this award has distinguished herself not only through achievement, but through the compassionate respect she shows towards others. It is our honor to present the Sharon Memorial Scholarship to Mura Oug. Up next is the Prince of Pre Prince of Peace preschool scholarship. So it looks like Cobra and Riddle. Yeah. Okay. Prince of Pent. Here we go. Rough one. A lot of talking. I'm doing this for an hour and a half right now. Prince of Peace Preschool provides young children and their families with a positive first school experience. Their mission is to support a child's development and foster wholesome relationships. They know from experience that the greatest measure of influence is often found in the impact we have on children. This scholarship recognizes two students who have made meaningful contributions to the lives of young people through mentorship, guidance, patience, and encouragement. Whether helping children feel welcome, supported, and valued, or serving as positive role models through volunteerism, and caregiving, these students have demonstrated empathy, maturity, and kindness.
>> I would be curious to know um h how much they say that it's just the time of the morning. You know I know there are start time >> handful. Yeah. Start time. Yeah. Um, I'd be curious to to see what other districts who start later, what their numbers look like. I know there's there are a handful of districts throughout the country that are looking at later start times for students. >> We're one of the later start times in the area >> in the area. >> Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Yeah, we're probably maybe the latest one in DuPage County or >> right around there. >> Just think it's worth looking into. may be helpful in the future to separate these last two slides um on like block versus non-block days just to see the like hour by hour because when I saw the fifth period I was like oh it's got to be like a lunch but then I forget that there's the two block days where that is the end of the day.