Also, the Connecticut Association of Schools Scholar Leader Award was presented to James Fitzgerald as well as Isabella Paio. On May 20th through the 22nd, Dodd 8th graders went on their trip to Washington DC with a stop at Gettysburg um Pennsylvania on the way. We got to see various memorials and monuments such as the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the World War II Memorial, and the Washington Monument. And finally, we want to thank you all so much for the opportunity to be here throughout the year recapping what's been going on at DOD. >> Awesome. Thank you, Whitney and Silus.
Number three, public employee discipline, dismissal, release, reassignment, transfer, leave, title, certificated, and classified employees. Item four, public employee appointment, resignation, retirement, reduction, title, certificated, and classified employees. Item five, conference with labor negotiator, agency negotiator Jeremiah Harrison, employee organization, Apple Valley Unified Teachers Association. Conference with labor negotiator, agency negotiator Kristen Depri, employee organization, California School Employees Association. Number seven, conference with real property negotiator, government code 54956.8 and uh negotiating parties, Matthew Schulenberg, Apple Valley Unified School District. Item eight, security matters, government code section 54957, consultation with the Apple Valley Unified School District Chief of Police. Can I get a motion to go into close session? >> So moved. >> Can I get a second? >> Second. >> That's okay. All right. We will be taking a vote via roll call. Mrs. Longore. I >> Mr. Raleigh. Hi, >> Mrs. Tucker. I >> and Mrs. Buchanan I vote I.
Um, I just wanted to acknowledge um I hope they're not embarrassed by this. We have two birthday girls in the house on our stage. So, sorry. Happy birthday, Eva and Omaya. Happy birthday, guys. If your birthday's out of embarrass I'll turn it back over to them. When they're ready, they'll start announcing our pieces. But happy birthday, guys. on stage now is the seventh grade orchestra and our first piece will be the tempest. This is another example of program music still the sixth grade pieces heard earlier. In this case, the music is meant to take the listeners think of a toughest, which is a strong windstorm. You'll hear intense repeating patterns throughout the piece, which is referred to as a musical distances or not that are that are meant to sound tense and dark. Hallelujah. Why? Our next piece will be Spring from the Four Seasons by Antonio Valdi.
So with that, practices with AJ, and then we will be back, um, to talk about our study session. So with that, practices with AJ, and then we will be back, um, to talk about our study session. So with that, I will turn it over to Mr AJ. will be back, um, to talk about our study session. So with that, I will turn it over to Mr AJ. Right. Um, and so that the topic for the our time together this Right. Um, and so that the topic for the our time together this Right. Um, and so that the topic for the our time together this evening is I really want to do Right. Um, and so that the topic for the our time together this evening is I really want to do Right. Um, and so that the topic for the our time together this evening is I really want to do a deeper dive into monitoring, for the our time together this evening is I really want to do a deeper dive into monitoring, for the our time together this evening is I really want to do a deeper dive into monitoring, really being reflective about the the governance teams monitoring practices.
Um it's not simply about just conquered residents or carile residents. These achievement gaps have existed year after year after year and we have to see why and we have to look at instituting framework to address these issues because they're not going to just go away if we don't make change. and the change is clearly needed because the numbers are going in the wrong direction. So, I've nominated Brian tonight. Uh Brian has served as chair of the Carwell School Committee for two years and the vice chair of the regional school committee for this past year. Brian and I worked really closely together on a bunch of projects. Um he represented the region on the financial audit committee. I think that his experience with negotiations and sharing meetings is going to be great for the region. I speak for myself. >> Go ahead. There's there's no chair right now.
As you forge ahead in the next chapter of your life, I implore you to consider just one thing. Please be kind in all to all you encounter. Life is not always fun. Life is not always fair. But you can be. you can be. Please remember that kindness is unique. It always costs you nothing, but its value is immeasurable. We all appreciate it. Why not be that ambassador to spread it? Most of you probably don't even know who Emily Post was. Well, she wrote a book on etiquette many years ago. Let me sum it up for you. Be polite and be kind in everything you do. Ask someone lonely to join you for lunch. Invite someone you don't know to join and go have some fun. Thank those who are working on your behalf. Be generous. Be happy for others. Practice not only random acts of kindness, but also purposeful ones.
Any questions, comments from Dr. Harrian? >> Could each of you tell me what the highlight was, the best part of the of the trip to DC was? Um, for me it was definitely the Martin Luther King memorial. >> Um, I really liked seeing the um, natural science museum. I thought that was really cool. >> Thank you very much. >> Very cool. >> Miss Fitzgerald, did you have comment? >> I just wanted to say thank you for um, all of your presentations and coming here each month. Um, it's really been a delight to hear from you and I want to say thank you and I want to wish you the very best in your uh, high school years. Mr. White, >> thank you. Just echoing Heather's comments. Uh, thank you. As well as a thank you to our chair, Sam, because you are the inaugural members of our Dodd representatives.
So we will go into close session at 10:04 p.m. He did. But all right, I'm going to call this meeting to order at 2 PM. Roll call. Amanda Buchanan, I'm here. Maria Akara is attending her granddaughter's graduation ceremony and regrets that she could not be here. Um, Anita Tucker here. >> Rick Raleigh >> here. >> Renee Longshore >> here. All right, please stand and join me in the pledge. >> Right hand over your heart. Ready, begin.
The composer wrote poems to accompany his music to help the listener navigate each of the four seasons in great detail. In spring, you can hear the arrival of springtime, birds singing, zentu breezes, and even a brief passing storm. This piece includes a violin solo with students participate on practice in addition for performing the violent solo with Andy Li. Heat. Heat. Hello. Heat. Heat. Are you daddy? Thank you. Woo! Woo! Our final piece will be Spartacus which is another example of program music. This piece is meant to tell the story of the gladiator Spartacus who was a significant leader through the third Survile War. A major slave uprising against the Roman Republic around the year 70 BC. The music tells the story through the harsh sounding harmonies and rhythms and intense repeating melodic themes. We hope you enjoyed our portion of the concert. Next will be our seventh grade chamber group.
That means the the governance teams monitoring practices. That means the the governance teams monitoring practices. That means both the work from the board the the governance teams monitoring practices. That means both the work from the board the the governance teams monitoring practices. That means both the work from the board facing the administration, but monitoring practices. That means both the work from the board facing the administration, but monitoring practices. That means both the work from the board facing the administration, but also the word for the both the work from the board facing the administration, but also the word for the both the work from the board facing the administration, but also the word for the administration the board, and facing the administration, but also the word for the administration the board, and facing the administration, but also the word for the administration the board, and so I want to try to dig into also the word for the administration the board, and so I want to try to dig into also the word for the administration the board, and so I want to try to dig into both of those.
So, it's the chair. >> I was drawn to my work on the school committee through my efforts to advocate for those whose voices have not always been heard and whose needs have not always been met. I've worked through the year to support educational excellence by focusing on meeting our students where they are and giving them the tools they need to succeed. By focusing on making our good schools better through honestly acknowledging our proficiency gaps and student achievement and advocating for policies and procedures that work to close those gaps. and by leading through thoughtful planning, open communication, and honest two-way engagement with all facets of our congregate community. As we struggle with the challenge of anti-semitism, bias, and racism, I press for supporting those agrieved in our community and educating those who have created harm. I've stood with citizens from conquered, Carlile, Austin, and our surrounding communities in support of our Jewish friends and neighbors.
Open the door, hold the door, invite people in. Interact, share, and laugh together. Please don't fall into the ways of social media. Be kind. Always be kind. Whether guided by karma, the golden rule, or just plain courtesy, it will make each of your journeys just that much more special. Be kind. Always be kind. Will you do it? We believe you will. So, as President Kennedy said best in 1963, so we ask the best of you. I congratulate you on what you have done and most of all, I congratulate you on what you are going to do. Congratulations, class of 2026. I would now ask Mr. Dan Cickle to come forward representing the Sherborn Board of Selecmen to offer his greetings. Good evening, families, friends, faculty, staff, school committee members, and most importantly, the DS class of 2026. As a member of the Sherburn Select Board, I'm very pleased to stand here today.
If Yep. Okay. So, this is the first year that we did this. We've had the high school coming for many, many years. High school representatives. Appreciate it, the help from you, but also particularly from Dodd. First time we were doing it, although Whitney had set of some inside information, I think on how to go about doing this. But anyway, I really do appreciate it. Thank you to you both. >> Awesome. No. >> Yeah, I've I've enjoyed watching you um come up here and just show us your leadership skills so early on. My question to you is is what is your favorite part about doing this or how do you feel? >> And you don't have to answer if you don't want to. Um, I love getting to um, sort of tell you guys all the great things about um, our dog community because I feel like everyone does a really great job and like participating in the community and I'm really just excited to like share it with you guys.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right, Mr. Raleigh, uh would you read out any action that was taken in close session? >> Yes. So during close session we had one reportable um action and in close session the board of trustees took action in support of the following recommendation from the superintendent B4 public employee appointment resignation retirement reduction cert certificating and classified employees on a motion by Raleigh second by Buchanan and the board of trustees approve the following appoint Julie Hester as assistant principal elementary desert mills Range seven, column one on the certificated management salary schedule 205 base duty effective July 1st, 2026. >> And I might note motion passed unanimous to all five. >> Four. >> I four.
Heat. Nobody. Hello. Happy So, our next group just needs a moment to get set up. Um, I'll introduce them though. Um, they're our seventh grade chamber group. Um so we have kind of a tradition going on at Fiser over the past few years where um students form these chamber groups. So groups of like four, five, six, right? Um and it usually starts with one or two students get the idea. I think this was like Matteo's idea, the viola player, and they kind of gather their friends they think they want to play with. Um so these guys, this group started as like I think it was going to be a quartet. It just kept growing. Um we have a very talented piano player, so now it's a piano chamber group. Um, so they they pick their people. Um, I help them pick the music. Sometimes they come with an idea.
But as a administration the board, and so I want to try to dig into both of those. But as a administration the board, and so I want to try to dig into both of those. But as a baseline, I want to start with so I want to try to dig into both of those. But as a baseline, I want to start with so I want to try to dig into both of those. But as a baseline, I want to start with just some real Basics of both of those. But as a baseline, I want to start with just some real Basics of both of those. But as a baseline, I want to start with just some real Basics of monitoring, um, and so, what is baseline, I want to start with just some real Basics of monitoring, um, and so, what is baseline, I want to start with just some real Basics of monitoring, um, and so, what is the purpose of monitoring?
Whether it was the amenities building, the release of academic achievement data, cell phone policy, or our community's concern about tech advisory needs, I pressed for our committee to have a better, cleaner process and honest and open engagement with our community with clarity of thought and openness to honest feedback. I work with our committee to bring commitment to address bias, hate, and anti-semitism into our committee's goals. Last September, Andrew, you noted for the first time in recent memory, I pushed to establish specific, measurable, actionable, resultoriented, and trackable metrics and our committee's assessment of our superintendent spots. I'm well connected to our community and to our town government. I've built strong relationships with select board members, the land use working group, the MCI vision and master planning teams, municipal bodies who work whose work product will directly influence our schools. I actively support the bias and hate incident reporting work group that Sandeep sits on and I worked with others to have Carlos Hoy give us informed testimony to that body.
Now, I know you're probably thinking when a local government official steps up to the mic, "Oh, great. We're gonna get a 20 minute lecture on the town's open space bylaws or some budget spreadsheets." And as a retired Welsley econ, that would definitely be my comfort zone. But I promise you, I left the zoning maps and spreadsheets at home. Being on the select board does mean that I get to see firsthand what makes a community thrive. And it isn't the bylaws. It's the people who step up and contribute and look out for one another. It's your parents, teachers, and all the other people in this community that got you to this day. So, looking out at all of you, I see tremendous talent and promise, and you're about to scatter from DS into the greater world. There will undoubtedly be challenges ahead such as all the ways that AI will change our world and the kinds of lives you'll lead such as how we together navigate local, national, and international politics.
>> Great. >> Yeah, I agree. It's pretty I agree. It's great. Uh, yeah. >> Just say ditto. We're good. Right. Well, before you go, we do want you to come up here. We'd like to take a picture. you know, you have an official name plate and so Dr. Soul Awesome job. >> Yeah, >> nice job. One, two, three. Awesome job. >> Excellent job to both of you. Thank you. And then we're going to move on to our more seasoned reporters, if you will. Connor Maline. >> Hello everyone. As we wind down the year, we have several announcements to share with you. We would also like to recognize the girls lacrosse and softball program as they both won their SEC conference championships. For softball for softball, this comes on the heels of an undefeated season in which they were not only widely recognized as the best team in Connecticut, but were ranked in the top 25 nationally per the National Fast Pitch Association.
>> It would have been five. >> Maria would have supported. >> Congratulations. And that's all that is reportable. >> Thank you. All right. Union representatives, California School Employees Association, CSEA, JC Scott. >> All right, we on. All right, cool. All right. Good afternoon, Superintendent Nelson, District Cabinet, President Sabers, members of Avuda, members of the community, and my union siblings of CSA, Apple Valley 828. My name is JC Scott, and I'm the dy elected chapter president for this local and regional representative for this area. I hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far. Normally the labor unions take the summer board meetings off but I felt it was important and necessary to speak today on behalf of the employees of Apple Valley Unified School District who suffered either a layoff or reduction due to the fiscal crisis we witnessed under our current administration. I strongly oppose any increase to compensation for board members or administrators within this district.