While I'm certainly not the person who was known for the longest, I am very grateful for the friendship we have built and the support she has provided me. I'll get to sit with the patio now that she's ret on on her patio now that she's retired. I look forward to seeing her relationship continue long after retire at Norton. And I do have a job for her as soon as her cruise is done. Retirement will give Fran the opportunity to explore new places, create new memories, and enjoy well-earned adventures. But her impact on Norton will remain for years to come. Fran, thank you for your dedication, your wisdom, humor, and the care you have shown generations of students, families, and colleagues. Thank you for your support, and Norton School is a better place because of you. It is a privilege to know you and work alongside you.
We can help with that. Is it is it need diabetes care? And so it's really about cha chasing the need of the family and helping them understand we're here to help and we have some health care professionals available to support that. >> Um so connecting them to community resources >> or yes or or a health plan we can write in house. Sometimes the the need is just to understand that um we're here for them. >> Okay. Thank you. And then just a secondary question that are we looking to hire LVNs because I know we've been contracting those out. Um are we looking just to maintain the system as is and continue to contract out or are we looking to possibly hire? We definitely looking to fill every LVN position we have with a Hel Valley Unified School District employee and only contract out if the need arises.
One thing that the you mentioned that it also provides, you know, additional context. One thing that the board often forgets is that the provides, you know, additional context. One thing that the board often forgets is that the provides, you know, additional context. One thing that the board often forgets is that the the evaluation? Uh, the context. One thing that the board often forgets is that the the evaluation? Uh, the context. One thing that the board often forgets is that the the evaluation? Uh, the interpretation. Rather, the board often forgets is that the the evaluation? Uh, the interpretation. Rather, the board often forgets is that the the evaluation? Uh, the interpretation. Rather, the superintendent offers is not an the evaluation? Uh, the interpretation. Rather, the superintendent offers is not an the evaluation? Uh, the interpretation. Rather, the superintendent offers is not an interpretation of just that interpretation.
>> Thank you very much. >> So what I would like to do is let's vote to accept first so we don't forget and then we go from there. So um I will entertain a motion to accept the generous $64,732 uh donation from CEF. So move >> second. >> All right. Any other discussion? >> And this is for both districts. >> Yes. >> Call out. All right. Uh all in favor >> for both. >> I for region >> for both >> and abstain. Thank you for the reminder. Um all right. Let's uh do a photo. >> Thank you. When is the window? >> We'll circle around. All right. >> I know. Sorry. >> Really awkward. >> Take a couple. >> It's part of my office decor. They're all They're all out. >> Thank you. >> Well, they're stacked, but >> we can do better than >> Sorry.
Congratulations on your truly extraordinary career, and best wishes for your exciting journey ahead. If we could have all of our retirees come up for a photo. Sure. >> Done. You need You might want to be >> I'm always Congratulations everyone. Don't sit here. This is This is Oh, okay. We got two more to go. >> Okay, we have two more uh two more administrative retirees this evening that we want to acknowledge. These uh these ladies have dedicated many years to our student staff uh and community. Um They've had to put up with Miss Solano, Mr. Miana, Miss Taylor, and occasionally me uh and deserve special recognition for everything they've contributed to our school system in their time here. Please welcome to the podium, Miss Kim Dessert, principal of Darcy School. Kim Desert has the had the distinguished honor of serving as the Darkski school principal since 2020, holding degrees from St.
At the moment, we are looking at very few if any contract LPS. >> Thank you. Because I know that was that was something costly and you mentioned. >> Yes. >> Um on page 13 and 14, um this is in regards to the learning recovery education block grant. Um I notice in section one uh we have uh quote additional staff time mostly classified increased to access small group math and literacy interventions. Um so my question was with the reduced hours of our paras how are we accomplishing this? >> Kind of kind of mentioned that before. What we're going to let the sites do is determine how that's going to best work. So, it could be that um they decide they've got they've got a need to ex extend someone's time >> because it might be that it's an afternoon thing, but it could be that they really feel like I really need someone in that window, that kind of really key window of um 9:30 to 11:30.
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All right. Um, we'll move on next to Superintendent and Chair's update as well as METCO update. Dr. Hunter, do you want to go first? >> Sure. I'm going to be very big picture and just mention a couple of very large scale topics. Um we graduated the class of 2026 on Saturday. It was phenomenal despite the weather. Um being inside has this intimacy and that's the pro. The con is not everybody in the family is in the room. Um but really just a phenomenal morning. Speakers, the students, I think it was just another really special morning. And um thanks Brian and Katie are here. So I'll just shout them out. It's a ton of work to put put all of that together and um it was very successful and a couple of our graduates or at least Evelyn's here. I don't know if Maddie came in but we actually have firsthand experience to hear in a few minutes.
Joseph's College in Central Connecticut State University. She has had a long and successful career in education. She served as a literacy coach and classroom teacher for 14 years in East Windsor prior to becoming the principal of Kelly Lane Primary School in Graanby. After a dozen years in that position, she decided to commit herself to early childhood education by joining the Darcy team. Mrs. Dert has been able to shepherd us through a period of seemingly constant change. Joining team the team mid pandemic, she was responsible for supporting learners who notoriously touch everything they can. She navigated accreditation and now the transition of a community institution. We couldn't think of a better leader for these times. She constantly demonstrates compassion, commitment, and support. Miss Dert is the comm excuse me, consumate team player, often responsible for managing everything from lunch to the most sophisticated special education situation.
I've already got all the people I have during that time. I need another person. And so, it could be that it's an additional part-time, short-term, two-year only intervention. And so we're going to let sites build those plans um with the understanding that they are all going to have to have some flexibility to do that. And that may not work at a high school site, you know, and so it could be time to someone existing, but it could be that it's a a person who's coming back to us, but in a shorter capacity. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, and in section two, um, you noted increased professional learning, which I'm personally excited about as an educator. I think this is the best part of the job is being students ourselves. Um, will this training be led by district personnel? >> Our hope is that um, some of it will be using in-house personnel.
As a whole. And so, even It's an interpretation of where is the school system relative to goal? As a whole. And so, even It's an interpretation of where is the school system relative to goal? As a whole. And so, even though we're monitoring one is the school system relative to goal? As a whole. And so, even though we're monitoring one is the school system relative to goal? As a whole. And so, even though we're monitoring one particular slice of it, we're goal? As a whole. And so, even though we're monitoring one particular slice of it, we're goal? As a whole. And so, even though we're monitoring one particular slice of it, we're really looking at it. That slice though we're monitoring one particular slice of it, we're really looking at it. That slice though we're monitoring one particular slice of it, we're really looking at it.
Um also I just wanted to mention that Q5 is coming up at the high school and I want to be sure all of you know what that means because some of you are newer members. Um, from June 12th to the 17th, there will be four days where we literally transform the high school into an experiential learning experience for students led by their teachers. So, months ago, they got a catalog of options. Teachers propose um workshops of what they want to. It's incredibly eclectic, which makes it amazing. And they're read leading things they're passionate about. Students are signing up for things they're passionate about. Many many of them are off campus. I was we were at the bus depot today with the drivers and they had to move their end of year celebration back because so many of them are going to be driving next week for Q5.
As Mrs. Dessert retires, she will remain maintain her focus on early childhood by spending more time with her growing family. Congratulations, Kim. seems fitting that um celebrating with Kim tonight is another member of our team who spends a lot of their time dedicate well all of their time really dedicated to special education. Um, and that's Miss Robin Anne Kerry, our pupil personnel services director. If you'd please join me. Robin Anne Kerry began her career as a special education teacher for more than a decade in Taton, Massachusetts. Upon moving back to Wallingford, it did not take long for her to assume leadership roles. She was a special education team leader at Thomas Edison Middle School for four years and supervisor of special education in Graanby for two years before being hired as Cheshire's elementary special education supervisor in 2009. Her performance in that role was exceptional to the point that she was named pupil personnel services director in 2020.
Uh we've got I mentioned an excellent trainer on site who's been working with um grade level teams, but we're also um continuing to push into our SOS um funding capacity and bring back trainers from um groups like Kagan, which was very wellreceived. Still a cost to us because we have to pay for the substitutes, but if the trainers are coming in, we're trying to write grants for that. And we've been successful so far. We haven't heard back for this for next year yet. It's kind of a slow process, but um so that could be a combination of outside trainers and in-house trainers. >> And I know we're focused on math. Um but I personally would also love to see specific staff training and literacy instruction and phmic development. Uh just considering as an elementary teacher how crucial liter literacy support is and the development of that.
That slice relative to the entirety of particular slice of it, we're really looking at it. That slice relative to the entirety of particular slice of it, we're really looking at it. That slice relative to the entirety of situation? And that's valuable, because one data point could say, I don't And that's valuable, because one data point could say, I don't And that's valuable, because one data point could say, I don't think we're going to the right And that's valuable, because one data point could say, I don't think we're going to the right And that's valuable, because one data point could say, I don't think we're going to the right direction. But another, but data point could say, I don't think we're going to the right direction. But another, but data point could say, I don't think we're going to the right direction. But another, but when you look at the totality of think we're going to the right direction.
They couldn't do it next week. Um it's just a really special time. We had re reinvented it last year. It had faded away COVID and took us a few years to get get it back and I think we all were a little afraid it might not come back and um last year it came back roaring. So we're just really excited. I don't think there's many places anywhere that can say they transform an entire high school into this sort of learning experience um for all students, freshman through juniors for four full days. So, we will be sure to report out, but it's a really exciting time for all of us to be anticipating it. The kids will do their finals and what a gift that's not how they end the year. They end the year doing Q5, which is a very different place to be as the year wraps up.
Mrs. Kerry is guided by a steadfast commitment to supporting all students. In doing so, she understands that supporting families and staff in the process of fi of finding the best possible outcomes. She juggles a bevy of challenges, including the most difficult, with tremendous poise, a sense of humor, and creativity. Her leadership has helped to extend Cheshire's reputation as a destination for exceptional children. The district's outstanding achievement for students identified for special education services tells the story and reflects her commitment to ensuring all students are challenged to learn and grow. Mrs. Carrie looks forward to spending more time with her family. But with all due respect to her family, she really means her new grandson. Congratulations and thank you, Robin. Everybody has this retirement glow. I'm happy. Thank you, Dr. Solen. Um, congratulations to all the retirees. We wish you good health, many new adventures, and of course a well-earned next chapter.
Um and I know that we also have a goal in here to increase student achievement in third grade reading. So, just a note like this begins in pre-K through 2 grade. So, I just look forward to, you know, I know our focus is on math, but I think that's also a very key part of >> Well, I'll just mention that we we've had these literacy linkups now for um we're going into year three and they really have been breaking down those standards and working really hard and I think our I think you'll see our um test scores are showing growth in that area. So although math will be a new added focus, we have been focused on literacy pretty pretty carefully and have developed the teachers have developed a really strong scope and sequence that I think they're very proud of. >> Yes, I know you were looking into that curriculum too with who we work with.
But another, but when you look at the totality of think we're going to the right direction. But another, but when you look at the totality of the data, it could say direction. But another, but when you look at the totality of the data, it could say direction. But another, but when you look at the totality of the data, it could say actually. we're doing well. I actually had a situation like this, where the we're doing well. I actually had a situation like this, where the we're doing well. I actually had a situation like this, where the monitoring report came back. And we're doing well. I actually had a situation like this, where the monitoring report came back. And we're doing well. I actually had a situation like this, where the monitoring report came back. And according to the, uh, the a situation like this, where the monitoring report came back.
So, just wanted to be sure we anticipated that with you so we can talk more on it as it plays out. >> Can I just say was reviewing the warrant last night like seeing some of the goat yoga miniature horses, amazing race, it was just fantastic >> to see some of the >> It does. It does live in the bills right now. >> The things we're paying for. >> My final comments are really just to honor the retirees this year. Um we're celebrating them in many many forums right now and I just thought it was important to do that here. Um at the high school this year retiring we have Bob Wilder, Andrea Gillis and Mary McCabe and I can't not mention Joel Tracy who's been in the guidance office for almost 40 years. Um, at Alcott, kindergarten teachers Colleen Desmond and Gail Shatlash at Thorough, Wendy Marada, Jackie McKenna, at Willard, Hannah Matrius, and Cheryl Brandwine and Mr.