>> Could you Yeah. Could you forward that chain to Sarah and me? I'll just update Sarah. I'll connect with Sarah and just update her. Um, and then I'll and then she she can decide how she wants it wants to proceed with >> goals and dates. Yeah, >> I would be glad to do that. >> Thank you. Um, and I it sounds like you have a few dates in that list in that email chain from Tracy. >> Yes, these are the dates she gave me based on our availability. >> Great. Okay. Um, is there anything Jenny or me that we want to add to retreat content that might be helpful also for Sarah? I don't know. I've never been to a retreat. I don't know what's like the norm for these retreats, but I do think um I personally would like to understand more about I mean maybe it's redundant with like the school future stuff like Sarah Beth seemed super excited when the idea of becoming an of magnet school came up and I was like I don't even know what that means.
Any questions for the student reps? Okay, great job by the way. And Lucas again, we're going to miss you, but good luck at uh at Bentley. Be a kind bulldog, please. All right. Okay. Uh we're on to the business manager report. Mrs. Robins, please. >> Good evening and thank you. Um, tonight we're reporting on the financial results and projections as of May 31st, 2026. We have one month to go. Um, the overall forecast as of May 2026 is unfavorable $235,853 which is 15,587 worse than the previous month. General education is projected to be favorable 44,35 which is 23,201 better than the previous month. Special education is forecast to be unfavorable 280,488 which is 38,789 worse than the previous month. So some of the highlights for the changes in May. Um you know salaries and benefits. Um just wanted to note that the overbudget condition is primarily driven by the negative forecast and substitutes which we have been talking about all year long.
CONGRATULATIONS TO TALISE. >> [applause and cheering] >> FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL, DANIELLE JEFFERS. >> [cheering] [applause] >> CONGRATULATIONS TO MS. DANIELLE Jeffers on being recognized as middle school employee of the month. Danielle is an outstanding member of the Maple Valley family. Since the first day of school, she has been a positive role model, a strong leader, and welcoming presence for students and staff alike. Danielle consistently goes above and beyond to support the school community through her organization, creativity, and dedication in making Maple Valley a positive place to learn and work. She builds meaningful relationships with students, earning both their respect and trust, while also serving as a constant source of support for staff members. Whether coordinating school and community events or helping others behind the scenes, Danielle handles everything with professionalism, positivity, and care, making a lasting impact on the entire Maple Valley community, and truly deserving of being recognized as the Middle School Employee of the Month.
This goes back to this is a very transparent way for us to have conversations together about what's happening. Ask questions. ask clarifications on what we're looking for for JJ. And so with that, I would like to ask uh board member Van Hook if she would like to explain what's going forward and then we look forward with uh the governing board and the decision they make. Is this something that's changed or we can have this discussion together and I think that's just a missing step that we have from hey, I'd like an agenda item and then to hey, it comes from the first read, but the first read's an information item which isn't an action item. So could you truly give us, you know, the power to could turn around and change and to work on this as a team? I hope that makes sense. >> Um, thank you, Mr.
So I guess like it would be good to hear from someone on mask whatever like about sort of I would be interested in their take on some of the scenarios that the school futures committee is looking at particularly around becoming an independent school. I'm curious when you talk about becoming more strategic about choice students like if they have any insights that they could offer around that. Like I think it would just be helpful to have their perspective on some of the more likely scenarios. Like it sounds like some of the work that you've done to date, there's already things that you're sort of saying like probably not going to get us where we want to be. But the ones that still feel like they are like real possibilities on the list to have their input on that I think would be really valuable. Cool. It's it's it's becoming my experience that Desi is a little more helpful in this space than MASC.
Um also I'd like to mention that we have used um some grants, some strategic grants um and fund filled vacancies um which have helped to um give us a positive variance in some of the light items which were used to offset the over budget um condition. District purchase services is impacted um by the daily use of substitutes within school buildings to cover teacher absences. Um unlike the previous category we spoke about, these services cover certified teachers short-term use of sick and personal time, usually one day at a time. Um our last category is special education. Um the highlight there is um that special education transportation has remained under budget throughout the year which is um quite an achievement. We have had um over budget conditions in the previous years and it took some very good management to get us where we are in that category and that was able to offset the overbudget condition in other special education categories which provide student support that is mandated through individual education plans.
>> [applause] >> UP NEXT, WE'RE CELEBRATING KEVIN SARUBBI. CONGRATULATIONS. >> [applause] >> For being recognized as High School Employee of the Month. Kevin Sarubbi is truly deserving of recognition as High School Employee of the Month for the positive and lasting impact he has on students, colleagues, and the Clifton High School community. He consistently goes above and beyond as an educator and assistant coach, serving as a strong role model who leads with professionalism, dedication, and a consistently positive attitude. Kevin builds meaningful relationships with students, creating an environment where they feel supported, respected, and motivated to succeed both in and out of the classroom. He is also a highly involved presence in the building, contributing as a coach for multiple sports, participating in school events and student media, and supporting colleagues within his department. His tireless work ethic, leadership, and commitment to student growth make him an invaluable member of the school community.
Lutzenheiser. Um, so at the couple meetings ago when we approved the supplemental material, I shared concerns that, um, our supplemental list is extremely long. And so, uh, I'd like to be able to see ways on how we can, um, you know, go through the list and see how, uh, we as a district could, um, possibly purge things that aren't being used. Um, and and kind of shorten that list a little bit. Um, and you know, my concern is not just like about one individual uh resource or supplemental material. Um, but it's just being able to look at uh, you know, the the whole process of approving and possibly um, being able to purge the list. Um and because we're not allowed to talk to um each other um outside of a board meeting um you know I can't come and say hey what do you think about this?
Um just like Tracy and company don't really know a lot about this because it's not governance related. But there are a couple of Desi contacts and maybe we could explore bringing them in. Um either for the retreat or for I wonder if holding a combined meeting with the school futures and the school committee as we kind of narrow down from this list of 12 to a shorter list to dive deeper into those options maybe and the finance committee. I don't know. Um, but there's I have a meeting tomorrow with a couple of the Desi reps that are able to explain more about um how superintendency unions work and what changing superintendency unions means for a district, what becoming independent of a larger all the things that you just explained. Um, it seem Yeah. So maybe bringing in Desi there would be a good move for everybody to have a fuller scope of what we're talking about.
Um so we are approaching the final weeks of the year. We are heavily focused on um um balancing active purchase orders, closing out encumbrances which are plans to spend which are dwindling. Um and um I feel like our priority um remains maximizing remaining grant opportunities and um executing a successful end of year. >> Okay. So I I I guess the way this would work then on the 15th we'll be reporting our finances to the board of finance and there's probably not going to be much movement one way or another. However, nothing is in concrete until we go through the audit which happens probably by October. >> We're just notifying them that we're going to we're going to be probably under a little bit. >> Correct. This is this is an estimate. >> Okay. Are you sure? Right. Until the audit comes through. We don't. Right.
Congratulations, MR. SARUBBI. >> [applause] [cheering] >> OKAY, WE'RE MOVING RIGHT ALONG. UH COULD I have uh Miss Paula Rabosa, please to um introduce our PBSIS awards. Thank you. >> My goodness. June and end of the night. Oh, tough tough act, tough act. Well, um thank you. Thank you to everyone who came out tonight. Um at this moment, at this part in the evening, we'd like to recognize three of our outstanding schools uh for our partnership uh for the E-Path pilot. E-Path stands for um equitable partnership across tiers and home. What that essentially means is that we've partnered with the University of Connecticut. This time last year, we started uh we embarked on a colorful journey, which is designated and designed to increase family engagement within our schools. And um I am so extremely proud to say that the work that schools 8, 14, and 17 have rendered a national model that is being tested to increase, as I said, family engagement, but more importantly to to actively look for families with students um who have special needs.
So, this is our opportunity um to take a look at uh my recommendations for the policy and determine um you know what we think and what we want to change and be able to move forward from there. Um, and um, I'm not sure if um, do you want me to read the policy? Um, >> you know, I think we all have the policy and we have a copy of the redlinined in there. >> Let's see. >> And, you know, and and uh, the stuff that's obviously in black is what is currently in it and the stuff is in red is what's being added. And you know, when you talk about you talk about the why, and this is why I appreciate that we can have a conversation here. you talk about the why and I can I can still remember this you brought that up and even Mr.
I mean, the reason that I thought it might be valuable to have Tracy speak to it is just that she clearly has a very solid handle on the finances. Um, I mean, she did the 70 on 70 presentation to us. So, I think having her perspective on like any significant financial implications that we should understand um could be helped, but I I think having Desi as well is great. Yeah, she doesn't have amazing context for for um or I I have found she just hasn't had had she's referred me out for some of the questions for things like innovation schools um cuz it's outside of her knowledge base. Um but I think combining the two expertise areas will be helpful. Um, I don't know if that's for a retreat this summer or if it's going to make more sense for that to be in the fall because well, maybe that's this is a question for you both.
>> Yes. >> Okay. >> Any questions on the uh finance report? >> I I'll just say that the finance report and the resolution that we just adopted that you were kind enough to write, they speak to each other that that we shouldn't be in this situation. No, no town should be in this situation. >> Uh and and we need the state to step in and >> solve that. We're hoping in the long session that they'll do a little bit more than they did this year, but thank you. So, I'll take a a motion that Camp Board of Education approve the May 2026 financials as presented. >> Thank you, Michelle. Thank you, Kim. So, first and second. Further discussion.
The partnership is with the University of uh Connecticut, as I mentioned, as well as SPaN. And we are incredibly grateful for the leadership in our buildings, as well as our district. Um and so, without further ado, um we're going to call up the schools by groups, and then we're going to take awesome pictures. Here we go. For school 8, if we could HAVE PRINCIPAL MUñOZ, >> [applause] >> I'M STILL ON THE >> MS. MUñOZ, THANK YOU SO much for leading the way for your crew. >> [applause] >> For school 14, we're going to start off with our administration. Um Ms. Ms. Mr. P, Ms. Fitzpatrick, COME ON UP. YEAH. >> [applause] >> FROM SCHOOL 14, WE HAVE our uh teacher >> [laughter] >> Miss Helwani, thank you so much. >> [applause] >> And Miss Echeverria >> [cheering] >> And um so we do have parent representatives on our teams and so um they're not here with us tonight, but that is the ob- objective of our teams.
Birkshshire yeah yes when we sit and go through supplementals we have a lot and we do think that we need to have an internal process to be how do we go turn around and keep them on remove them are they being used or not and and we feel like there is some area to clean up from that and so I actually tked Mr. Birkshshire said, "Come come forward with a come up with a plan." Especially considering that, you know, we used to have nine instruct or 11 instructional coaches that would have handled this. We're down to four. Come up with a plan. At the same time, uh board member Van Hook said, "Hey, here's what she would like to see in it." You know, and so from my perspective, when I look at it, I agree that we need to have a way that we look through our supplementals.
Um my instinct is to be sharing that level of detail once the futures committee has narrowed down our list to about five voices rather than giving you all uh like kind of endless data and analysis on all 12 options. Does that make sense to you or does having a full picture of everything feel important? Well, if you're going to narrow >> Yeah, sorry, Margaret. Going to narrow things down, it seems like it might be better and if if there are things that you're pretty sure are going to get pushed aside that we really wouldn't need input on those. And I wonder, you know, I mean, there are always lots of meetings, but there is the opportunity to have a special meeting that wouldn't be or or even maybe the September meeting because that typically doesn't have a lot of things happening. The October meeting typically has been the one with more stuff going on.
>> Hearing none. All in favor? I >> Amy votes yes. >> I know Felicia had to drop so 70. >> Thank you, Kim. Okay, we're at 70 on that. All right. Uh, we are on to new business. Dr. Gford. >> Excellent. And you had the opportunity last week to spend a great day at Sherburg Primary School and I I believe we had almost every single board member there. Maybe minus one or two minus two. So we had seven board members there and so you had a great So I'm going to turn it right over to Mr. Ramley. >> Thank you Dr. Gman. Um, and thank you to our members that attended last. It was very nice to welcome you and highlight wonderful work that we've been um accomplishing at Cherry Brook this year. Um as um a reminder and the review, our overall focus this year included aligning our practices in literacy and math instruction around high quality instructional strategies.
Um Next up, we have school 17, Miss Laura Sikorski. If you could COME ON [applause] UP. MISS KATHY ZAMORA, PLEASE COME ON UP. And um Miss Katherine Sudia Thank you so much. And Miss Erin Tetina Thank you so much. >> [applause] >> Thank you so much for your for for sticking to the end with this. And thank you particularly to the schools who embarked on this journey with us. Again, it it's amazing what we do when we work together as one Clifton. Um and I'm excited for what comes next. We have two additional schools joining our pilot next year that'll help launch things um in this research world um more effectively. So thank you again. Good night, everyone. >> [applause] >> Okay, um we're going to we're going to go on with our meeting. >> [laughter] >> So for everybody in the audience, if you would like to leave, you can.
And I don't think a supplemental approval should be a lifelong supplemental approval. I completely agree with that. What what I look at when I look at this, I appreciate the language and thing that's put in here. I wonder is it do we need to change the policy? Do I need to update the regulation and come back with a procedure that says, "Hey, here's the policy." The policy dictates basically that the superintendent will bring forward the removal of textbooks and supplementary materials. How can I turn around and define that for you more more closely? Which is where the regulation comes in. Remember, with regulations, they're not board member approved. regulations or how we interpret the policy and we bring it back to you. And so I'd love to have that conversation about do we need to change the policy to get to the goal that board member Van Hook wants that honestly I agree with.