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Any questions for the chair? >> Oh, thank you. Yes. >> Is graduation day a full day of school for all students? >> For the middle school and the high school, it's a half day. >> For the rest of the student population, it's a full day. >> Okay. Thank you. >> For the middle school and high school. >> So, um I'm sorry. There is one final thing. It's in your kit and um it's in your Ford packet. So Cab has asked so CA has an annual at the annual meeting that's held in November and in um August they hold uh their um their midyear meeting and at that meeting they filter through the resolutions the things that they're going to press upon that they'll bring to the board meeting in November and approve and then that will be their lobbying effort for the f for the following year.
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DONNA PLOCK. >> [applause] [applause] >> AND EDUCATIONAL Service Professional of the Year, MS. COURTNEY TERRY. >> [applause] [applause] >> TWO MORE incredibly important awards. Each year the Clifton Education Association through a rigorous nomination process selects an educator of the year and a paraprofessional of the year. It is my distinct honor to let me read the resolution. Resolved that the Clifton Board of Education recognizes the 2026 Educator of the Year, which honors an outstanding educator in the Clifton Public Schools. The selection committee has named Rafat Ewais, mathematics teacher at Clifton HIGH >> [cheering] >> SCHOOL. >> [applause] >> MR. EWAIS WAS SELECTED FOR THIS DISTINCTION by his colleagues for his dedication to the teaching profession. The Clifton Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools commend him for his dedication to education and strong commitment to the children of Clifton. CONGRATULATIONS. >> [applause] >> AND IT IS MY DISTINCT HONOR to recognize the 2026 Clifton Education Association Para-Professional of the Year.
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So that's the policy. >> Okay. So then we're talking about the processes and if we want to change the process to to uh something more um I don't know able to be handled I guess efficiently and effectively for all of us. Uh we can change the change the wording of that process but the policy doesn't say anything about what we've been talking about. I guess for the board members, I I I look at it as I recognize there are there's an aspect of this that our district admin cares about. And to be fair, I do care about your labor and I care how you feel about it. Um I'm not asking that in this moment. So for that, I apologize. Um let's just stick to us up here. I do not believe that we are running a foul of our processes in that I believe our district has been very communicative with respect to issues or questions that we have that are pertaining to information that the board doesn't currently have access to.
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And sometimes the questions are like um you know some of them are ridiculous um and I think hard to understand. So if they put in some questions, let's say on I I would really love to see like by question compared to the state how we did if that makes sense. And I have often done that. Um but I'm not prepared for like that today. Um, but I just want to like caution against relying too much on just MCCAST. >> So I don't think the conversation is just MCCAST. I we don't have academic trend data like for example for I ready because you know that we're in and that's our diagnostic but for example in reading this is our first year using it in reading and I think we've used it multiple years in math. Correct. So for me what what this and to be clear this is meet meeting or exceeding this is not for students who are below that.
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Dave >> I >> um Jay >> here. Sorry. I >> Barbara. >> And I'm a yes also. Okay. So, we're going to table that um and that way um we can have another discussion right before and and do a vote at our next meeting. Um let's make sure that all five members are there. >> Great. Perfect. Uh next thing on our agenda is the health director's report. >> Thank you chief. Uh so the farmers market is coming up uh uh this weekend. Uh so we have total of 30 approved vendors uh from from the health site and then two of our caterers are going to be there. So that's 32 vendors. Uh then there are three applications that's pending or you know we have not received applications but uh the vendors are kind of approved by the farmers market. So uh going to be at least 35 vendors you know that uh we'll be looking at uh for the for the farmers market.
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I'm excited to present this draft to the committee later on this month and then hopefully put the finishing touches on it and um get that thing finalized. So, I think it's a it's a really good it's a really good draft. It really represents the the core work that we want to be doing moving forward for the next 5 years. And I think it'll be serve as a nice guiding document for us transportation contracts. Um, we just exchanged what we hope is the last of language adjustments um, with the other attorney this week. So, hoping to hear back from them. I know they're working on a couple different bus contracts at the same time. So, there's a little bit of delay in in the back and forth, but again, we're hoping to have um that finalized in the coming weeks. Uh, speaking of contract negotiations, teacher contract negotiations will be happening this summer.
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they asked for resolutions um for us to submit res uh for anyone to submit a resolution. And as you know, I'm I'm now on the board for CA. And so um on the back of this page, if you have it on the back, I put together a resolution for a couple reasons. One is it's time for camp to start um standing out and standing up for itself a little bit. So I'm in a position to be able to do that. The second thing is we've heard from the public that they would like us to do more at the state level. So I intend to give testimony when I can. I intend to attend more of the state meetings. This is this is a proposal uh and basically you can read it but but um I'll go down um K further urges the state to this is this is what we're giving them and that we would approve.
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Resolved that the Clifton Board of Education recognizes the 2026 Para-Professional of the Year, which honors an outstanding professional in the Clifton Public Schools. The selection committee has named Jeanette Hughes from CLIFTON HIGH SCHOOL. [cheering] >> [applause] >> MS. HUGHES HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR THIS distinction by her colleagues for her dedication. Clifton Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools commends her for her commitment to the children of Clifton. CONGRATULATIONS. >> [applause] >> SHE JUST THANKED ME FOR LETTING HER WORK. Thanks is all to you. Thank you so much and congratulations to all our honorees. >> [applause] >> One more round of applause for everyone, all the teachers OF THE YEAR. >> [applause] [applause] >> HEY, WE'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THE February employee of the month for the district Stephanie Goyzueta. >> [applause] >> Stephanie Goyzueta has been recognized as district employee of the month.
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That matters because if I'm asking a question that's not in here, that should absolutely go to everybody. And every question I have had that would pertain to that, no matter how I have asked that question has ended up either in a superintendent report, a random email. One issue I think uh uh Sherry called us to talk to us about it, but that was because things were happening in a very crazy fashion at the time. Um, but again, I don't believe that we are not doing that. Has anybody asked a question that you're like, "Nope, never ended up in here." Okay. So again, I I guess my question then is how is it that you reasonably expect the district to do more than what is already being done in terms of five individuals who our job is to do what we need to do to prepare for this information and prepare to come up here and how we choose to do that.
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This is for students who are meeting or exceeding expectations which even includes the sixth graders from that year or the year before. So those five students could have been sixth graders um and could have moved forward to to middle school. What what is telling in this conversation is that if you notice in 2017 in ELA we're at 56% in 2024 we're we're at 57%. And I'm sure there's population conversations like there's a lot of stories that can be told when we look at data. It's not about trying to justify whether it was four or five or six students. It's about what's happening with the students that's in front of us and what what do we need to do to implement instruction to shift them. Because if 49% are meeting or exceeding that means that how many 51% are not right. So that's what what we need to look at is that 51% have not met or exceed have not met the standards.
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uh with our central mosquito control program uh we we have the spray dates uh uh for you for June. We had one spraying yesterday or at least there was one scheduled right then we have one on June 8th uh June 15 uh June 22nd June 29th. So any resident right who would like to get their property sprayed uh for for the mosquitoes you know they can call the central mosquito control project or go to their website to make an appointment for any of these dates and again the these services are free and it's paid by the town of Ashland mention that uh we have uh our third uh MSC stop the bleed training that's going to be happening on June 10th. uh uh that's next Wednesday uh from 6:00 to 8 and I guess all the slots are filled again. So this is going to be our third training and nurse an uh is is again uh handling that and she'll be doing it you know with our housing cases uh 20 joined right number 22 a lot of improvement with this particular unit uh I got a uh report from the management for uh Wednesday uh that the the treatment was done I'm a little concerned uh with with the adjoining units you know so when I read the report I guess uh we have ordered them to treat this unit 20 join drive number 22 as well as five adjoining units you know so they didn't get access to three of the adjoining units uh though the treatment been continuing is like couple of months now right but I would like to see all all the units on what's the update so now I'll talk to the management you know so try to get access to to the adjoining units so so it's all taken care at once so this is where we are uh we have a another complaint at 99 Warren Road.
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Miss Gold Snider and I are starting to prepare and gather information to help us along with that process. Uh, finally, budget related, the finance committee last Thursday set the budget. Uh, the board of ed budget was reduced by $325,852.82, putting the BOE increase at 2.9% from last year's increase. Um, that brings the estimated mill rate that'll be voted on at 6.22%.
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We're we're asking the state to increase and stabilize excess cost and special education reimbursement funding. We're asking them to explore funding mechanisms supported from broader statewide revenue sources. Reduce the financial vitality associated with extraordinary extraordinary special education costs. Provide greater predictability to local school districts and municipality municipalities for budget purposes. and ensure that all students, regardless of their wealth or size of their community, have equitable access to the legally required special education programs and services. So, if the board chooses and we can move this as I guess we move it as a first reading, although um I would need to give that to them by August 6th. So, what's the best way to uh approach this? Um, well, I I think it would be tougher to ask the board tonight to do a resolution. So, I would do it as a a first read and if we need to schedule a special meeting to do that, if the board chooses to do that, we'll schedule a special meeting.
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Stephanie is highly deserving recipient of the February district employee of the month recognition due to her outstanding work ethic, reliability, and commitment to supporting the needs of the district. She consistently demonstrates a proactive collaborative approach. Willingly assisting across departments and ensuring tasks are completed efficiently and with care.
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[snorts] >> Okay. So, I'm going to address a few things you said. Um, first of all, I never said we are not transparent. Um, so, uh, that is not accurate. Um, you're also, um, [sighs and gasps] you mentioned that, you know, about open meeting law that we like to follow the law. Are you insinuating that I don't follow the law? Um because I know open meeting law. Um and I know how it works. Um and I absolutely do follow the law. Um and you just agreed with me that if a board member is asking questions that absolutely it should be shared with the rest of the board. Um which is my entire intention for this. Um and my experience differs from all of you. Um, so I am going to have different questions when it comes to agenda items based on my experience. Um, and the current appro all I'm saying is that the current approach creates inconsistency because if board members are asking agenda questions, then it should be shared with the entire board just as it states on our communication protocols in section 6B.
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And so that's the conversation around even if it's 10 students, how do we differentiate to pull them in a small group? What does that look like? um what are the cost? So so it's it's it's to drive the conversation not and what does that story is and so I started off the summit by saying a lot of times we use data to justify what we want it to versus looking at the data to tell the story of what it truly is. And so that's that's what it is. >> And I will say I mean I don't love standardized tests. I would never judge a school based on one test. But regardless of how many kids it is, these trends are not moving in the direction that we want to see them moving. And I am quite confident in saying that when we saw those significant increases from 2017 to 2019, nobody was saying, "Oh, but that's only three kids." People were celebrating it because that was a significant gain.
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This uh this is going on for for a year almost you know the building department have dealt with us. we are dealing with this you know um the resident uh I don't know you know so we have sent an order letter I did had a phone conversation with her last week you know u she mentioned u that she didn't receive the letter then me and Julie who is a social worker you know she went to post the letter u on her door you know at that time you know I don't know up to what behavior she was she was screaming um all that stuff and then she called the Ashlin PD on us, you know. So, uh they didn't show up. It's still, you know, we have not gotten compliance on this property. Uh there was a lot of stagnant water on the tarp where things are, you know, a lot of random stuff on the property that we're concerned, you know, so I'll keep the board posted, you know, but definitely, I mean, she she she was screaming at us, told us to, you know, leave her property, you know, and all that good stuff, you know.
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I met with both school staffs at the staff meetings this past week to provide them with an update on the staff update on the budget and answer any questions they might have. Um that that was a productive meeting. The governor did announce $107,000 in supplemental aid to Bolton public schools. There is a little confusion as to how that money can be used. We have uh another Zoom meeting with the commission of education tomorrow to hopefully gain some more clarity on how those funds can be used moving forward. So I'll provide more information as that comes. um working with the teachers union to create some financial efficiencies in our systems without negatively impacting effectiveness. So we're continuously every day trying to find creative ways to get um the high level work done at a more cost effective way and the union has been partners with us and and had some really good conversations about some different things we can do to make that happen.
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>> And the reason being is this has to be in August 6th. And forgive me because I just got it a couple weeks ago. So, I wrote this resolution for them, but I I want Canton to be first on the board is is providing a proposal. And second of all, I think this speaks to all the things that we uh we care most about when it comes to the state.
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>> Ladies and gentlemen, can we get started ladies and gentlemen, some order please? Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Building on this strong foundation, Stephanie has gone above and beyond her regular responsibilities by learning engraving to create district plaques. Approaching each one with precision and attention to detail while still managing her existing workload and meeting deadlines. She also took initiative to learn and train others on the district post printer. Her dedication, versatility, and kind professional demeanor make her an invaluable asset and truly deserving of this recognition. Congratulations, Stephanie. >> [applause] [applause] >> February employee of the month for the elementary grades is Rebecca Fitzpatrick. Congratulations to Mrs. Rebecca Fitzpatrick for being recognized as elementary employee of the month. Rebecca is a highly deserving recipient of the elementary employee of the month recognition due to her exceptional dedication, professionalism, and unwavering work ethic. With 20 years of service in Clifton Public Schools, she has consistently created a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment as a BSI teacher, skillfully meeting the needs of diverse learners while fostering confidence and a love of learning.
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