>> Any discussion? All in favor say I. >> Id staff handbook. Superintendent will discuss the board with the board staff handbook listed on page 91. >> Yeah. So we got some um about five changes here that I just want to talk about. This is just a discussion. We're not approving anything. Um on page 12 here of the staff handbook, the paid benefit days. Um this was in there. We had taken it it out. It didn't make the transition between the two books, but um for classified employees, um who are using deduct days, what we're putting back in there is the disciplinary progression. Uh which if you have three deduct days, you get a verbal warning. Six deduct days is a written warning. nine deduct days, the suspension or termination. Um, a deduct day is once they've used all their benefit days, they're they're going into deduct days where they're where they're not getting paid.
Their actions remind us that leadership often begins with simple acts of compassion. Congratulations to this year's winners, Charlotte Morlock and Ryder Real. on to the Dbury Old-Timers Athletic Association scholarships. Jerry. Yep. For generations, athletics have helped teach lessons that extend far beyond competition. Commitment, teamwork, leadership, character. The Dbury Old-Timers Athletic Association was founded on those principles and continues to invest in young people who embody them. Tonight's recipients have distinguished themselves through academic success, leadership, service, and athletic involvement while representing Brookfield High School with pride. We are pleased to award these scholarships in memory of Donald Weeden and Dominic Vulp Jr. Congratulations to Jillian Delaney and Nathaniel Bo. Mrs. Azorek, she also deserves a round of applause. Another All right. Saving lives often begins with a simple decision. A decision to volunteer, a decision to donate, decision to help someone you meet. >> Surprise. >> I didn't even have it in my hand.
Um so I think maybe moving forward having those two separated just to see like okay at 12:30 there's a increase or something like that um might be helpful because otherwise I was like oh man the kids are like sneaking out halfway through the day. No, just >> they're not. And and and one of the other things we've had to get used to in Infinite Campus is period one is always the first period of the day. >> Period 2 is always the second period of the day. Right? So when you look at periods one through five, those are happening every single day of the week. Periods six, seven, and eight are only happening on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday >> on our non-block days. Right? So that that's another thing that we've had to get used to because we're used to >> in block days we would say period two is meeting right and and really that was it's that's period one in our in our schedule.
Uh, so that's on page 12. Um, on page 13, um, we have put this in in the CBA that um, when there is a brement, they have 90 days to use those brement days. So, we just added that into there. Um, next year the school calendar has Martin Luther King Day. Uh, we are taking that date uh by that approved calendar. So, we added that in as a paid holiday uh for our staff. Then we added two uh addendums to the handbook. One is a transportation um handbook um that is there's about uh 15 pages here or so for the transportation handbook. I'm not going to go read all of that, but you guys can read that. We can have more discussion at the next board meeting um if needed about that. And then on the very last page, the last addendum here. Um we always struggle with when we have a snow day, a virtual day, who comes to work, who doesn't come to work, and it's it's always a little bit of chaos there.
No surprise. They were the blood drive coordinators. It really wasn't that surprising they're running this, but like I'll go through it because they deserve it. Decision to donate. Decision to help someone you may never meet. This year's recipients played a critical role in success of Brookfield High School's blood drives, helping recruit donors, coordinate efforts, and encourage participation through our throughout our school community. Because of their leadership, countless individuals will receive life-saving care when they need it most. Congratulations to this year's blood drive coordinators, Noranessian and Compassion is one of the most powerful forms of leadership. The Barice Nelicherryi awareness and compassion and empathy memorial scholarship honors this the belief that kindness, understanding, and concern for others can have a profound impact on people's lives. Established with the Dads Against Oppression Foundation, this scholarship recognizes a student whose character reflects those ideals and whose future holds tremendous promise.
>> Gotcha. >> When we talk about infinite campus um so that's something when we've analyzed the data we've had to remind ourselves okay period one really is the first period of the day. It's not you you get where I'm going with that, right? So, what that all has led us to and and you you've seen the statement of work, right? You you understand kind of where we're at. Um attendance and accountability that that's been established in this school year. We're going to build on that, right? and we're working towards that and and our action uh our statement of work with that is that we're monitoring intervention reach and frequency overall attendance rate chronic absenteeism first period attendance by building again that goes with um tardies and single period AUS or just having an absence in that first period and then a low attendance week patterns compared to prior years.
Um, so we put together this document that says who you are. Are you supposed to report? Are you not supposed to report? Superintendent has approval to bring people in. If it's a fog day, we think it's going to lift compared to ice, compared to snow, you know. Um, so we wanted to just kind of lay this out so everyone knew what the expectation was um on those days. So those are the uh the five additions to the staff handbook.
We honor tonight Landon Wall. >> We know you're not a sprinter. Take your time. He did take second. The 800 yesterday won one SWC's, right, Lind? >> All right. He's got tired legs running a lot. >> Strong communities thrive when organizations choose to invest in future generations. For many years, New Town Savings Bank supported students throughout our region through scholarships that recognize achievement, leadership, and community involvement. Tonight, we're pleased to recognize a student whose accomplishments and aspirations make him a deserving recipient of this honor. Congratulations to Ryan Lang. For Robert Lquist, mathematics was far more than a profession. It was a lifelong passion. This scholarship honors an educator who dedicated his career to helping students discover confidence, success, and joy through learning. Tonight's recipient has distinguished herself through outstanding achievement in mathematics while also demonstrating the character and citizenship that this award was designed to celebrate.
So there are a couple of of uh weeks that we identified uh this year. One of them was Thanksgiving week, right? So that that was something that fed into and we talked about as as part of our change. Uh with that question, >> is there any correlation between students who consistently miss first period and chronic absentism? >> We I can I can pull that. I don't have that data off the off the top of my top of my head. Um, typically the the chronic absenteem chronic absenteeism is going to be more of a of a fuller day. So it's not going to be in that single period AU data that I shared >> because that is again just if they missed one period in the day. >> So there are kids who are just consistently late to first period. >> Correct. >> But may be perfectly in regular attendance thereafter.
Any questions I can ask or answer right now? employees acknowledge receipt and a chance to review the handbook in some fashion, signing something. >> Yes. So, what we'll do um in the beginning of the year, uh we always have the videos that they have to watch. Um and we're going with a new program this year which is going to make it much easier for us. But we can add three documents into that. Um, and this will be a document that we will add into that for for the staff to be able to read and view. Any other questions? Going to addition to the crisis plan. Addiction to crisis plan. Superintendent recommends the board approve the addiction addition to the crisis plan. This addition includes behavioral and digital threat assessment toolkit. Do I have a motion? Motion >> second. >> I'll second >> discussion. >> Yeah.
Congratulations is this year's this year's recipient of the Robert Warren Linquist Memorial Scholarship. ZARA CITY The Goddard School Scholarship. The future of education depends on upon individuals who are willing to invest their talents, energy, and passion into helping young people learn and grow. This scholarship recognizes a student who has demonstrated the perseverance, work ethic, and commitment necessary to succeed in that important work. As she prepares to pursue a future in education, we are proud to recognize Jillian Delane. Favorite scholarship title. Success is often found in balance. Balancing academics, athletics, service, family, work, and personal responsibilities. Requires discipline, determination, and consistency over time. This scholarship recognizes a student who has demonstrated that balance throughout her high school career while remaining committed to helping others and contributing to the school community. Congratulations to this year's Dairy Queen Grill and Chill Scholarship, Sydney Miller. For those of you who don't know where Dairy Queen is, it's between the uh Chick-fil-A, Dave's Hot Chicken, up the road from Bird Code, and down the road from Old Kentucky Fried Chicken.
>> Right. Actually, what our data shows is once a student is on our campus, then they are generally in class and they are generally in class on time. The hardest part is getting kids to school and getting kids to school on time, which is one of the frustrating things in the data. It's one of the things we have very little control over. That's why, you know, obviously continuing to work on first period is a focus, right? And if we hyperfocus on that one, the more students we can get in the door to start the day, the better our data will be overall. Two, this is about relationships with families and students because a lot of our students do report that I'm like because my parents dropped me off late, right? Well, that >> that's not in the students control necessarily always. Sometimes it is. Uh and it's definitely not within our control as a school.
So, we had talked about this at the first board meeting uh the May 4th board board meeting. Um you know, our crisis plan um it's not public knowledge because we don't want everyone to know what our plans are, reunification, all that. Um this is just a behavioral um and digital threat assessment that we can go through if we think there's a concern with a student um as far as harming themsel, harming the school, anything like that. This is kind of a protocol um behind um an evaluation system so to speak where we bring the crisis team together um and we go out and get information, come back and answer questions based on this to determine um how much of a threat we have. Uh so it's a great tool to have to add to our already created crisis plan >> and that's available on administration if we want to review it.
We are the chicken capital of Fairfield County. Some legacies continue through the opportunities they create for future generations. Quiet dedicated her life to education and established a foundation 17 years ago that continues to support outstanding students years after her passing. Tonight, we recognize a student whose accomplishments have distinguished her among the class of 2026. Congratulations to Juliana Adams. Afraid of his touch. Leadership is not always about standing in front. Often is it about stepping forward when others need support. The Connecticut Association of Boards of Education Student Leadership Award recognizes students who demonstrate initiative, integrity, courage, and a genuine commitment to improving their school community. Congratulations to this year's recipient of the Cave Student Leadership Award, Aaron Hunler and Mura Oop. THE Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendent and the Western Connecticut Superintendent Association recognize students whose accomplishments extend across academic leadership and service. These students have consistently demonstrated excellence while making meaningful contributions to Brookfield High School and the broader community.
So, you know, how do we move that needle knowing that we're trying to impact a variable that is less under our control than the other ones which we are seeing the things under our control, Karen, Patrick, the teams and the buildings are are very much controlling those variables and getting kids to class, getting them there on time. Um, so that's one of the challenges here is how do we lean into a variable that's less under our control than the other ones we've been working on uh this year. >> Do we see any correlation between grade and first period absenteeism? Like ninth graders more likely or once I have my car and I drive to school more likely to be on time. I can speak at South our bus riders are at school on time. >> Okay. >> Uh because the bus is dropping them off.
>> Correct. >> Thank you. Any other questions or discussion? All in favor say I. Ime I, band uniform proposal. Superintendent will make a proposal for the purchase of new band uniforms. I have a motion. Oh, are we vote on the proposal? >> Um, no. Let me let me talk for it. Um, let me present the proposal and then if we feel that we are ready to make a uh motion for that, we can. Um so first of all over this whole whole journey Mr. Wler thank you Mr. Fipps thank you I think we've had great communication uh through through this process um especially in the last two weeks I think we've really brought brought our our minds together in the thought process together I appreciate you guys um and being able to come up with what um you know the three of us feel like is very good option uh at this point.
Please join me in congratulating this year's recipients of the award, Aelour and Brad. Don't feel they look empty-handed. They got a dinner already, so they're fine. Speaking of dinner, these two students also had a dinner and I think it was March at the Aquatur. Uh, the arts challenge us to imagine, create, communicate, and inspire. The Connecticut Association of Schools Fine Arts Award recognizes students who have distinguished themselves through artistic achievement while also demonstrating scholarship and leadership. Although these students were previously honored at the statewide fine arts banquet, we are proud to celebrate their accomplish accomplishments again this evening. Congratulations to Jamie Colborth and Talia Jones. Some people leave a legacy through the positions they hold. Others leave a legacy through the lives they touch. Biola Martini Wid was remembered for her dedication to the town of Brookfield as well as for her generosity, compassion, and commitment to helping others.
>> Yeah. >> On time. Um our students who have earned parking privileges are on time. >> Okay. >> Because they did what they needed to do to earn the parking privilege and they're generally kids who have the habits that will get them there. Um >> the kids that are showing up late are neither of those two groups. True. Right. and and and the grades part, we we've dug into it a little bit, but not to that level of breaking it down by period. Um there uh our chronic absenteeism, correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't remember what the the data is. You you shared it today. Can you recite that what you had >> with the chronic the when you look at your chronic absenteeism list the number that have all >> so we have almost 50% of our students with chronic who are chronically absent have a bes so it's not the profile that we used to see um kids are a lot of students who are chronically absent are passing all of their classes >> there there's not as much of causing Right?
Uh so I do want to go and review the the history a little bit of this. Um you know on was it February 2nd you guys came we had the presentation at the board. Um at that time um for new band uniforms you guys mentioned the age of them. We we know we need new new band uniforms. Um the thought process of the board was absolutely we want to support all of our current students that are in band um which was about 50 um uniforms at that point. Um, that's where we wanted to see the invoice and that's where we really started having conversations after that point of, okay, you know, we're we're committing to 50 uniforms here. Let we want to see the invoice. Um, and that the company took a long time getting that back to us. And that's what the holdup was.
This scholarship honors a student who reflects those same qualities as they prepare to enter the healthcare profession through her academic accomplishments, service to others, and commitment to caring for those in need. She embodies the spirit of this award. We are pleased to award this $5,000 annually renewable scholarship to Norah. AND THE LAST SCHOLARSHIP OF evening is the Raymond G. Wid scholarship. Raymond Widlick dedicated his life to learning, public service, and the pursuit of knowledge. This scholarship honor students who share a passion for inquiry, discovery, and academic excellence. The recipient of this award has distinguished himself through exceptional achievement while pursuing interests that reflect the purpose and vision of this scholarship. We are pleased to award this $5,000 annually renewable scholarship to NATHANIEL BOGUS. WE DO HAVE SOME more recognitions this evening. We now recognize students whose academic accomplishments placed them among the highest performing members of the class of 2026.