001and heaven allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the for it stands one nation indivisible attendance is um attending virtually and She is on and everybody else is here. Kate, yes. I apologize for not being there in person. Um, the sewer situation is in my backyard and they've been very busy running back and forth today and I I needed to stay here in case the pumps failed. I will be there next meeting. Okay. No, we appreciate that and I'm sorry that you're having to deal with those issues. So, that stinks. Uh, yeah. Oh, that that's a you can't imagine how many S jokes I now have. Do we have any added agenda items for this evening? Not that I'm aware. Okay. Then we have our minutes in the packet from um
002March 26. I'll make a motion to let's approve the March 26 regular meeting minutes. Second. All right. So, we have a motion from Courtney and a second from Heather. Um, are there any corrections or any discussion about the minutes? All right. If there's no further discussion, all in favor? I. Any opposed? All right. Motion passes. Okay. Next on the agenda, we have public participation. Not sure if we have people here for your presentation or we have general public. Anyone who would like to I have people for my presentation that look, but they could participate if they wanted. I was going to say if you would like to speak, if you have any questions, let us know. They're good. I don't think we have any further public oning either. Okay. All right. So, next we have
003our student. Yeah, we have our student representative report. Broadford School concluded it reading of their one school, one book, The Chocolate Touch, on March 28th. Students enjoyed the book and the accompanying act accompanying activities. This annual event would not be possible without the support of the PTO who purchased the books for the children. On Monday, March 31st, the third and fourth graders participated in an assembly to kick off the SBA testing. The yard goats wanted to support the SBA kickoff again, but unfortunately Chompers couldn't make it. In Chompers absence, Biscuit came to a raffle came to raffle off a family for pack of tickets to a yard goat game. Jason Miller won the prize. All students signed a pledge to do their best on testing, which starts next week. At the middle school, they had
004an exciting and eventful week. They held a fun-filled student versus staff basketball game and hosted the first ever inflatable staff race where Mr. Elliot took home the win. The middle school is also proud to host the Great History Challenge with o over 30 students participating. At the high school during the week of March 17th, we proudly celebrated our fifth annual Think About Your Future Week with an exciting opportunity for students to explore their academic and career paths. This week was packed with meaningful experiences, including PSAT and SAT testing, college field trips, and our highly anticipated career speakers day. Freshman and sophomores had the chance to visit one of several postsecary institutions, including Elms College, CT State as Nuk, Lincoln Tech, the University of Connecticut, and Western New England University. Juniors attended the Hartford National College
005Fair at the CT Convention Center where they connected with representatives from colleges across the country. Seniors took a significant step towards graduation by completing their senior exit interviews, reflecting on their high school journey and future goals as well as their senior portfolios. On career speakers day, we welcomed over 25 professionals from a diverse range of industries, giving students insight into potential career paths. Our guest speakers include an architect, hair stylist, vet, chef, social worker, mechanic, engineer, accountant, photographer, and many more. I went to the environmental science one and we had some people from the water treatment plant come and show us a bunch of different job that they do and we're taking a field trip in bio and environmental science to go see them. Um, as many of you know, we also had the student
006versus police department uh basketball game which had a turnout of over 200 people that I was clicking in. So, that was great. That was a lot of fun. Um, we also had our first track meet and the rededication of the track to George Croft, which also looked the setup looked beautifully. The students weren't allowed to watch, but everything looked good. The track meet went well. It was it was very cool. But we also got to throw on our shop area, which myself and Ella Marshall have been working on as a part of our NHS project. So, that was a really good feeling to see all of our work pay off and all of everyone's donations kind of go into everyone being like, "Oh my gosh, wow, you guys have this is this looks great. This
007is so nice to throw on. So yeah, it was a good week. You did excellent on the track, mate. I saw you won a couple of your races. Very nice. Right. Thank you very much. And next we have the middle school report. Mr. Mr. Richard, I have some friends here. Mr. Richard, DD and Zoe, come on up. So, um, we're just going to talk about our new science curriculum. Um, so first, real quick, um, this is really tied into the port of the graduate. There we go. Uh, because I was in Mr. Richard's class and they were talking about this a student, not a student, but a patient, I guess, person, a real person, uh, McKenna. McKenna, not a student in any swims school. And I was like, "Oh my god, they're learning about all
008this information." I was like, "This is great." Right? So, it was really showing how like they're cur motivated problem solvers, problem solvers, critical thinkers. I was like, "All right, I need to have Mr. Richard and some of his students come up here and talk about this amazing work they're doing." Uh, and it really goes in our goals. Uh, really ties with the court of the graduate and really continues to create a positive learning environment for all our students. So, I'm going to pass it over to Mr. Richard and two of his amazing students. Thank you, Mr. Field. Uh, again, I am Mr. Richard. Uh, there's a good handful of faces I don't recognize. I have been around. Actually, I'm proud really proud to say this is my finishing up my 27th year here in the
009district. Yeah, very proud of that. Uh former student of mine and I'm not sure. I'm sorry. No, I went to you had her sister. Okay. Thank you. She had my younger sister. Yeah. A lot of parents of students that I have had and again uh Dary Schmidt and Garcia goes by DD and Zoe Mcame are here to help me out a little bit. Uh the curriculum as Mr. field indicated it's it's a well very hands-on it's very collaborative very investigated a lot of material um I've seen a lot of different well not a lot I've seen a good handful of curriculums come and go this one's extremely hands-on and really generates a tremendous amount of uh discussion among the kids and it uh gets the kids thinking it provides them with data and information they
010look at the data and then they generate a whole lot of questions about what the data is pertaining to and I uh I brought a couple samples is your uh guide. Thank you. So, this is what the student could see uh on a daily basis. The entire thing you're looking at is a uh a learning target. The opening goal is the learning intention. Today, I'll analyze McKenna's symptoms to develop a model that explains what could be causing her health issues. Why are we doing it? How I know I'm successful? All the success criteria. and they can at the end of class or at the end of two days or three days be able to give me a thumbs up or a little exit slip as to how they feel about the their you know their
011they're they're learning. Are they on pace or do we need to you know revisit some uh those learning skills? So this is a little bit of what it would look like. So, we're going to be looking at a real case. A girl, she's sick. Her primary complaints, stomach hurts, diarrhea, stomach cramping. Turn and talk. Uh, show I'll show the kids their symptoms, her symptoms. What do you think might be causing McKenna to feel the way she does? And then there's a little audio clip. We don't need to listen to that. There's a doctor talking to McKenna. McKenna sharing her information. So, they're getting a little more background as to what's going on with McKenna. In a moment, they get to look at the doctor's note. They'll do a what I see, what I notice, what
012wonders do I have, what questions do I have. And this just gets them to set up in their notebook what they're about to work on. And they actually look at the doctor's note. This and the doctor's uh you know what her symptoms are and what the doctor takes notes on. And so the students are able to look at this and then from this generate what I see, what I notice, and again questions, what's missing? And they'll they'll have these conversations maybe with a partner and as a group and then as a whole class. So build an initial model to explain the following question using pictures, symbols. How could all these symptoms be happening in the body all throughout the body be happening all at the same time? So it's it's it's a baseline. They don't
013have too much information, but they have some information and they have their own thoughts as to like how is all this stuff connected? And so then they generate a real simplified model initially to just and then Yeah, turn the page. I'm sorry. Generate a quick little model uh of what they feel is happening. Turn the page. Thank you. And again uh now the students can look at each other's similarities have a conversation again with a partner or the group as a whole and then if you turn the page again uh sharing out their initial models and it might be a gallery walk where we can look at each other's models. How's mine the same similar differences? Uh wow I didn't think of that. Yours looks really Oh that's really interesting. Thank you. And then a
014uh an initial consensus model. Again, it's still a baseline, but it's uh it's going off of everyone's ideas that we have this general baseline of like this is what we think is happening. So, before we go, what did you think was happening when we kind of like when you first started doing that, you know, death, finding out her symptoms, right? I I just thought she had like some like really bad sickness with her symptoms, but um any thoughts? Well, me personally, I thought like she had like a really bad like condition or like a disease that's like affecting her. It was seemed like up front like there was really right. It was it seemed pretty obvious that there was something particularly wrong with this young lady. She couldn't even do her sports anymore that she
015loved. Thank you. And so there's this progress tracker that's throughout all the lessons or all the units and we go back to it. It's like what have we figured out? What do we think we know or what do we actually know? It's something that can be revised uh continuously throughout the curriculum. And I'm only going to give you a little bit here because I feel like this really kind of shows you what kind of material this is. So, lesson two and actually what I just blazed through was actually three days of Yeah, that wasn't one class period. That was days of material that I really cut down for you. And um day number two I get now I'm going to compare McKenna's digestive system with a healthy one interpreting an endoscopy images and food data.
016Uh what can we see inside McKenna that looks different? Go ahead please. So can I tap or do you need to or go ahead tell a little bit of what they're going about? Well you're going to look at a person a healthy endoscopy and tennis endoscopy. I've seen Yeah. You say you never thought you'd see before that meeting. Dr. T, if you just click on the esophagus, please. I think I did. Click on the tab there. Oh, that. So, the scroll up just a little bit. The mechanis is on the right. The healthy one is on the left, but I can't tell from your perspective if you're getting much out of that, but if you scroll to the next one, please. Yeah. Or I think I got to back out of that and hit the
017tab. Come on down to the stomach. So these are real pictures, right? Yeah. Right. So you got a little better picture. Senna's on the right. See one is on the left. And it's you're starting to get a sense that something looks a little bit different. A little bit. Which one's McKenna? Menna's on the right. Yeah. Yes. So what were your thoughts when you were looking at these pictures? Um, well, I was really grossed out. There were definitely some pictures where you could tell like there was definitely something wrong there. It was out of place. Um, I think one of the attestants, I don't know if it was a small or large, but there's something that you can see very clearly. Okay. And what's interesting, I know uh Mr. Phil just a moment ago said, "Oh,
018wait. Is McKenna on the right?" And then someone over here said, "Wait, is that the one on the right?" And so that actually brings up a discussion that you're not seeing her problem really quite yet. And so then that it it brings up a discussion several lessons later where they're like, "Oh, clearly the issue is not in the esophagus. It's not in the stomach." And as you move along here, where we going into the beginning of the small intestine, now McKenna is on the right and the healthy one is on the left. And the kids can now really see that all the ridges are missing. It's very dry. If you go ahead, Dr. Touan, to the next one, please. What does that mean? Do you know what means no ridges? What's happening with food there?
019Do you remember? Oh, like the food it like every time she would like try to swallow it wouldn't go down properly. It would just like hurt cuz it's like very dry. It's like So was that area of the intestine like working for her? No, it wasn't. It's like like sandpaper. That's how I felt when she was eating and stuff and thinking about this before lunch was not Yeah. Sorry about that. Lunch is not fun. One more image large intestine. Yep. So now the discoloration um and they were able to then speculate as to like where the issue is actually happening. This is at the start of lesson two and it's not I I think this unit had 15 lessons and uh it's not until deep into the unit around nine or 10 that um they're
020then given some additional information where they're able to narrow down oh that's what it was. Then we looked at other diseases. Oh yeah. Were really like descriptions of her symptoms. Yes. And they gave descriptions of her symptoms. Exactly. And description of the other diseases. Yeah. And they had I think they had pictures of like steins from people who had those diseases and illnesses and we basically just like compared them and they were able to then narrow it down and go, "Oh, she either has this or this." So, what do you think she had? Remember what it was? I think it was like celiac. There you go. Celiac. Well, not nice from the kind of bed. That's it in a nutshell. Very excellent. It's a very uh it's a very it's well hands-on science. It's it
021generates a tremendous amount of discussion by the kids. Really does push the uh talk to your partner, talk to your group, share out to the group, share out to the class. What do you think regarding the students that is? It's then what do they think? But Ed, what do you think? I look like you want this stuff. So, I'm like really into it. This would be my cup of tea. But I think that they have to like problem solving, working together, those skills, communicating, you know, real life situation. It's higher order thinking right there. Yep. So, anyway, medical field now because of uh wondering if people There's no memorizing. It's all like real data, level two, level three, and level four data uh information. And the SC the seventh grade like science like you know
022how they have like earth science biology and that be like what type of curriculum do seventh grades? What you just said our opening unit was um the chemistry of bath bombs. Okay. The opening phenomenon is a big bath bomb in a container of water and they see color change. They see the gas, the odor fills the room and then you know it's like what do you think is happening? Where's all why is it you know then there's stuff in the bowl that wasn't there from the start from the bath bomb. And so they begin to rationalize there's something happening and that lends it itself into the discussion of a chemical reaction taking place. And then recently we had um where does food come from and where does it go? We did talk a lot about
023you guys. What is your favorite topic so far for some of the great science? Um I I would have to say um where does food come from and where does it go? Okay yourself. Think about that before lunch. But the backbone backbone it was more like we got to work with different groups and different people and see how like compatible we were. Oh, okay. Yep. What is the balance of the year? Sean, like what do you have for I'm sorry. What do you have for the balance of the year for them? Uh we just started the last unit, the fourth unit is um earth systems and how they impact our communities and it's revolves around uh uh temperature change and how is it possible that temperature impacts both floods and droughts. Okay. So this is
024the first year they're teaching all the units, all four units. We piloted that unit last year. In fact, in the springtime, the same time last year. And uh Yep. each grade level sixth, seventh, and eighth grade last year piloted one unit near the end of the year. So, seems like compared to last year's science, how is this year's science? Um I like I like this year better. Yeah. I you weren't here. I know. I know. Dies. All right. Do you like it though? Easier. They're both really good students. Well, thank you very much. All right, we appreciate that. Thank you. Responsively, Mark, it looks like the young ladies are going to stay. I'm going to enjoy the everybody. It's been out of here, too. Didn't mean to cause a problem. All right. So, next on
025the agenda, we actually have facility update. I didn't know if you had something particular before the meeting or I mean it's an ongoing um agenda item. So it's just carried over. I mean other than I mean I think just about every was at the meeting prior. Yeah. Um really isn't I mean um I don't have any new information on specs. The challenges still remain the same with square footage. um am uh waiting to hear back from uh GWWL regarding it sounds like they um uh want to connect that um some maybe uh possible um uh solutions as far as like um multi- uh functional spaces in order to reduce uh the square footage to get closer to the recommended amount. So um nothing candidable to bring forward to the board that's really an update from
026anything previous to happens. I don't know Denise if you're I think the board of ed one of the questions that that I've been hearing from different members um across the board actually is when are we going to see the EDS specs because that's our big next we've got to approve them and we haven't seen them and if if you were at the meeting it'll be a you know kind of a reminder of what they said but I and I've been more involved and than the rest of the board on on hearing this stuff over and over again. But what they were saying is as we go through the variations in the designs that they come up with, then they have to go back and change the edecs, which is that Patrick has constantly got to
027be, you know, on top of everything else he's got, he's doing that. Um, so that's why we can't get it. And it it really goes to my concern that I had said at the last meeting half hour ago it seems like. Yeah, about a half hour ago that I'm really concerned that we're not going to have the time to be able to absorb, you know, the the EDS specs, get that all done without being in such a crunch that we're like on fire. Um and that's not fair to this board. It really isn't. So I think um what the the the end of the meeting discussion about um possibly going for a legislative whatever they call it special legislation. Um it will will maybe alleviate some of that and take the crunch off of of
028getting all of that done quite so quickly. It also um will maybe what we didn't get a chance to discuss uh the community conversations, it gives us a little bit broader of a time to be able to do that. So, um I I think it's up to this board to either advocate for some of that or or not. Um, I think we have held back some. This board has held back some, not knowing the space between the ad hoc committee and this committee and we all don't know it. It's we're making it up as we go along. But I think I think maybe the board of ed needs to be a little more vocal about um where we are on on the stuff. And in that uh in that vein as far as I would
029move um to schedule a special board of ed education meeting within two weeks, right, that specifically really looks at um both the elementary and the high school project that that would be the only thing that we would that we would discuss. But what Julie I understand what you're saying and I know I'm assuming there's make can we just point of order could we first do the you know is there a second okay I just was curious what what your um discussion yeah I mean I'm I'm right against that I I think I'm on I think what I'm thinking is there is you know there's um we are now looking at kind of a time we've been given new information that we are all kind of considering I think in terms of you know I think
030we're okay with the elementary but I don't even know that from everyone I think we're okay with the elementary I think we have questions about um you know the the renovate or the new build for the middle um and high school and for me I think that if we sat down together collectively and just kind of had a consensus we're not going to vote right But if we had a consensus of what about what we want then when you go to the meeting or when the Fran's there you know you can say you know what we discussed this is what we this is what we think and um I I think it would just I think it would just help us to be on the same page and had the same message in terms of
031because otherwise we're going to go back and forth and if you know you know what I mean we just have to cut down on that time. We have to cut down on that time. So, are you thinking that we still can get it done in the time frame like the June 30th time frame or if we if I think that's part of the discussion by I mean I I actually I I would welcome that kind of because I mean I have my especially after that meeting we just had I have my serious concerns like I want this I want this so bad for us but I am looking at it from a point of view that is different I guess we all have different perspect perspective. I just think we're I don't know. So what
032So I think if we took like some of those things and thought about that timeline, I think we would hear from everyone. I I would welcome that. And you know, I mean, do we split it apart? you know, if there's a lot and that's part of the discussion. You know, the elementary, the middle, high school, do we need a lot more information before we because I agree people are asking great questions, but it appears to me that the elementary proposal is pretty, right? Oh, sorry. That would just be question that would be that would be part of the discussion. So, split it. You mean split the the middle high school from the She had a question if that's why she unmuted but we'll give it a minute. She could still unmute. I'm unmuted now. Sorry.
033Did you have a question? Yeah. Well, no. I just wanted to jump off of what Betsy was saying based on what was just said in that last meeting. I think we absolutely have to get together as a board of education and have a conversation. I and not to I I think there's coming very quickly a come to Jesus moment based on the numbers that they gave us. Yep. the numbers that were given out with our bonding capacity and the numbers that they presented are so far apart from each other that um and I think we need to get some information about the absolute dead number that we're going to be able to go ask people for and figure out how it fits into this entire plan. Renovates new Broadbrook, all of it. And I think
034that needs to come to us as a board to make a decision as to that. So I agree with Betsy that I think we need to get together and start having some real conversations about what is our realistic ability to accomplish this stuff. So I don't know that we need a motion to have it like to to discuss having another meeting per se, but um well motion forward. There is a motion for the the only reason I that I brought it up and I do want to kind of move because I asked last time and it's in the minutes last time and we didn't move forward. So I'm really hoping that you know that we that we vote on this and we decide. I appreciate that you asked last time. I feel like we were
035waiting for certain information last time and we actually ended up getting some of that information tonight in terms of like a little bit more about the the costs and looking at the different um plans. I was hoping I kind of agree with Denise. I don't really understand why every time we get this the EDS specs have to change because I thought we were going to get the edsp specs like back in January. So, I'm kind of confused. I thought we had to have those completed before we could start on this. So, I'm I'm kind of thrown that they keep having to change. So, I was hoping to get those, but I do agree it would be good to kind of just have that on an agenda. I don't know how busy the next regular meeting
036is because I know sometimes it's hard to schedule additional meetings on top of the ones that we Yeah. The only thing I ask I'm sorry Patrick No, the only thing I was going to say is um like we just had the ad hoc meeting um and it was stated uh they want a meeting in two weeks. Uh in this meeting we're saying we want a meeting in two weeks. I would just ask that we are strategic in how we're staggering it and there's clarity. Do we want to meet as a board before that meeting? I mean u my understanding is at least we have to connect and figure out when we're scheduled. So I didn't leave thinking we have a date for that. So, I would just want some clarification um as far as like
037like are we looking to meet as a board before the next ad hoc or do we want to wait for the next ad hoc and and then meet immediately after um based on where we are in the process. I think that would be helpful for planning purposes. It I guess it doesn't matter. I'm I'm just relieved that I'm not because I thought I was the only crybaby that was saying this is on fire and we have to stop. So, I'm glad to hear that everybody was kind of holding back a little. And I almost think like it would be in all of our best interest to have a kind of a meeting where we kind of we could go like Gabby, what are your feelings right now? Betsy, what's your feelings? Like instead of us
038having like an agenda, let's talk about this, which I think is appropriate for cross the but I mean I want to know what Courtney thinks. I want to know what Kate thinks. But like what are your feelings? What are your things you're upset about or nervous about or things you need to concentrate on? because that's the only way we're going to stay together unified. Yeah. and figuring out how to best represent the and it might help the ad hoc committee too to have that kind of and to Patrick's question maybe before we have the next ad hoc meeting to have a meeting where the ad hoc members of this committee then go into that committee and and have an idea where because at the end of the day it's the it's the board of ed's
039responsibility. We're the ones that are going to take the heat for it and we want to be sure that we've got a cohesive something you know so probably before I think but I you know doesn't really matter to me I guess well the motion is within two weeks so that would be this next week is school vacation week so but it have to be the week after that's when you have a year but that's when they might we meet if that's two weeks from tonight that's what we're saying like it is I mean I think I I think we do have to take in consideration if people are away on um you know on vacation but I mean I think the week after which is which would be the 23rd which meeting the Tuesday before
040what would be and can we just do a dual after that is it possible to do something rather than try and kind of, you know, is it possible to do a doodle poll, Patrick or Jess? Could you do that and just get kind of a consensus about days? Um, it's next week completely off the table for folks, Thursday. So, I've got Monday, Tuesday. I'm available Monday and Tuesday next week, but after that I'm out of town. Monday I'm vacation probably not good because we're doing stuff. Would the following be the 21st or the 22nd work? Because the 23rd I can't do the 21st or the 22nd. 22. You can't do the 22nd. 22nd is we have a meeting with that. So Patrick, that's I have a note that we have an ad hoc committee meeting
041on the 22nd. I don't know because we have a board of ed meeting now. It's tentative. So it must have been something that was said at some point. I didn't put it in my calendar. No, this is my own note, but I don't put them in just willy-nilly. It must have been discussed at some point because we have a board of ed and a curriculum. Oh, that's why because we didn't want to tell Darli had to this curriculum meeting again. I think that was at the last meeting we just talked about. What about the Thursday? 24th works for me. Yeah, just maybe after that uh ad we haven't scheduled it, but but forward there's that's not within two weeks but I mean sorry I mean it's you do the 24th. I um having a um
042I can participate remote. I'm having I um procedure um without getting in details with my be on commission that Thursday and Friday. Thank you. Um but I I could participate remote. Yeah, that might be our best option. and then I could pull the ad hoc committee and see if we wanted to wait until after that board of ed meeting have the following week which would be the 30th 30th and then they'd probably be relieved if they get a little more time might give them more time to it would also give time for that um for more solid numbers but I can't I won't be able to read this is May 30th yeah We no April 3rd April 30th Brad Hawk 24th for the board of edly just the board of ed discussing it too. So
043I don't know that you need to be special meeting. Yeah, even if you couldn't see. Oh my god. Let's give them a chance to relax. No kidding. Um what time? Six o'clock. Maybe six. That way if it needs to go a little bit to 8 by the latest yeah I need I'm will say that I put a time on it just because I have a meeting every single day that I'm sure as others do. So I think it'd be my suggestion would be like if people have concerns maybe they can write them write them down so that you can go off of it and then we can just be efficient and and obviously there's discussion and questions for sure but just so that people can make the best use of all of our time is
044that's what we're coming to is what are your main concerns and then if someone else has those concerns you can kind of check like okay I feel the same way like you don't need to like and it'll make it more efficient and then and that way. We're all using everyone's time wisely that way. So, we're talking about a meeting that somebody said, I don't remember who said, but go around the room and say, "Here are my concerns." Yeah. Yeah. The full board might be able to share this. And if there's consensus on a lot of items, then those are the items. And then everyone All right. So there was a motion on the floor just to generally there is have a meeting in the next two weeks. So I'll second. So we need to be
045in I mean does it have to be like but you need a motion to make Well that's a motion has been made and seconded. So I'm just trying to determine whether we want to vote on that or whether we just want to set a meeting date. just we have to now that motion's on the floor. Well, she could just Yeah. take away the mo I mean because it's not going to be within two weeks. So that's the problem. You could either amend it or you could just April 24th. You want me to um amend the motion to be the same? April 24th from 6 to 8. Yes. Okay. So um I move to schedule a special meeting for Bo um a second. Who actually made the original second? Ohordort. made the second and Betsy made
046the motion, but now we have to vote to amend. Okay. Yeah, it's okay. So, first we need to vote to amend. You need to tell her just Yeah, just Sorry. I'm just trying to figure out the best way for us to do this. Um I I almost wonder probably just I'll vote no and then No, she can amend her motion and she second and we we also like we said we don't need the motion if you're going to schedule the meeting. We could just just schedule a special meeting, right? We don't need to if Betsy wants to. Okay. So if if it's comfortable, it makes it easier. I mean I think we have the meeting. I can I can certainly withdraw my motion. Okay. It's just in anticipation of the of the scheduled meeting. Can
047you withdraw your second? I withdraw my second. Okay. No, Kate, you're gonna Thank you. Well, the motion has been withdrawn, but we do plan to have a meeting on April 24th 4th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. That would be the plan. So we will forward to the discussion of the new uh for the discussion of the school projects. Yep. And that's all that's and that would be the only thing on the that's all. So so we will get notice out about that. Do we have to have like public participation and all that stuff? We are allowed to put whatever we want on the agenda. But does this one also have to be because it's a special meeting. It does have to be um it does have to be posted. Yes. Almost everything. Yeah. Mhm. Whatever's
048on the agenda, we have to do what's on agenda with Yeah. Yeah. I will say though for um a special meeting, what's a 24 hours? It is 24. And also, you can't we can't do add an agenda items. We can't do So, what is on the agenda is what you have to do. Okay. You can't add to it during the meeting. Okay. So, I guess the question is would you want public participation to be part of that meeting or is this more of a workshop for our Okay. So, can we do it in that fashion? where the Russians is not because we don't want to hear from public because we don't even know what we're saying because we need to know what we want but I thought there was something that any board or commission
049has to have public participation in their meetings but the special meeting justice on top of all that stuff so I will make double check but I I don't believe so we just at that um the meeting over at the board of finance and there was no public participation over there I reminded me that's what reminded me when was like but it could have changed too you know I think if you call a special meeting for a workshop that might negate the public participation part if it's a if it's a workshop meeting a special workshop I believe the meeting has to be open to the public we do not have to allow public participation I absolutely trust you to know about I Perfect. You've done your homework on this stuff. Thank you. All right. Thank you
050everybody for kind of working through that. So, what did we get today? All right. Because it was under the facilities update. So, moving along under new business for a vote, we have um four new course proposals. Speaking of the curriculum uh committee, curriculum council committee, and we've curriculum has already gone through these. I forget if this was on the last agenda, but now it's up for um new business for a vote. So, those were the descriptions were included in the packet. Kate, can we motion all of them at the same time or do you need individual motions? Jess, what would you You can do them all as long as you're going to either approve or not approve all of them exactly the same. You can do all them at the same time. You can just
051say to approve the proposals as listed as. So if people are generally in agreement of them, if if they think we're going to pass them, we can do it all as one motion. But if you think one of them is something you're not comfortable with, then we should do them separately. I will make a motion to accept the new course proposals for the United unified music at East Windsor High School, the AP Music Theory at East Windsor High School, music theory, and a career and community connection which is an elective course at East Windsor High School. I will second a motion made by Courtney for all four and seconded by Heather. Is there any further discussion or questions? I'm just really excited to be able to expand use it. I have one question. What is
052the interest? Have we had much interest in these for I mean I am as well excited but I'm just curious like what do we think the numbers of kids going and what? Yeah. Um I really want to predict the numbers. The reasoning behind um the offering of some of these courses is because students have been going to the music teachers and asking for um so that prompted some of these courses. Nice. And I know that the majority of the underassmen in the jazz band were asking for an AP music theory classen. So we had a discussion about that a few weeks ago. So, and it does build after time, right? As you're offering it and you're Yeah. Yeah. And and I mean, as we discussed at the curriculum council, I mean, we we did this
053a few years ago, you know, um with the art program, you know, we have an art teacher who the the students really do um thrive with. So as as you you know move faculty in and out of the building some of these courses become more viable because students really do enjoy and want to have an interest in some of these courses. So um fits what lends itself. We have uh between grades four through 12 um it's almost 200 kids in band course. That's amazing. That's excellent. All right. If there's no further discussion, all in favor of uh the motion for all four proposals. I Any opposed? All right, motion passes. Thank you. I'm going to commit. Thank you for your hard work on those. I know it takes a lot. We appreciate the presentations by
054the the different teachers and the music program. Learning more about that was helpful. All right. Next on the agenda, we have a liaison and subcommittee reports. I was just going to say I was able to attend the track dedication um rededication and it was very nicely done. Um his son came and spoke and it was very heartfelt about kind of his dad being very involved in East Windsor schools for I think it was like four decades, 38 years. Yeah. um and just kind of teaching and coaching and just um you know being very involved and remembering his dad's kind of dedication. So we really appreciated hearing from him and then Patrick spoke and um the first selectman spoke and the athletic director spoke and it was very nice uh nice presentation and really appreciated that.
055So it was well attended as well even though we had to move inside because it was freezing outside. It was really windy and cold at that at 2:30. So, um I think that was my name on both. Yeah, his son did say, you know, like as far as the legacy, he thought it'd be pretty cool like if the track got like a nickname like the Croft. So, I know we have one of the students there, but like really start with the students like when you're going in the track, you refer to as the Croft. I'm sure uh you know u you know just uh always keeps uh his legacy alive. He was the guy. So was very assistance. We did u there is a change in the athletic subcommittee meeting was supposed to be this
056Friday originally the 11th and it got moved to the 25th at 9 and obviously we've already spoken about facilities and we will discuss that at the next upcoming and I think for finance we actually have a subcommittee meeting tomorrow night. Correct. Correct. We have a regular Oh, finance. And then we have Yeah. the board of finance. Um where they're supposed to be I didn't see it on the agenda. Are they just a public hearing? No, we've already had the public hearing in the presentation. This is supposed to be them deciding how much they're willing to put for us. Yeah. put up for um the I just didn't see like the line item to discuss, but I guess that that's yeah, that's what they had said. So um you would we would encourage people to come
057to support our budget and encourage them to support our budget as we present it. But we'll see. Kate, they start their deliberations and they they go line by line from the beginning of their budget book all the way through. We are last. Um but um we don't need to get there early. And even if we weren't last, we'd be last. Um um it helps to have faces in the room. Yeah. It you know, it helps to have faces. Is it worth it for us to like a couple of us members to speak, do you think, or do you think that that's I think they usually just go through. Okay. There's no speaking unless they ask somebody a direct question, you know, if somebody has in fairness. So, there have been hearings and there have been
058opportunities. Yeah. And I was trying to remember that as well, whether we could give ourselves one last plug, but I would hold I remember speaking when they were thinking about cutting it down to like 1%. We'll read the room. Yeah. Were there other um liaison or subcommittee parks? Go ahead. Mr. club. The um bing go is uh Sunday the 27th of April. So anybody wants to go high school so we do my tuna sandwich. We should really do Oh, that's where it's in. It's usually up um in Enfield at the like right on Route Five. It is fun. All right. Is it going to be puring? They get some really good models though. Yeah. And then there's other baskets too. So there's like baskets you can do raffle at home with bucket of beer. Yes.
059I don't drink beer. My husband said, "What did you lose your mind?" I said, "You and your friends can have it." My friend Shelby drink. All right, moving along session. Yes. One thing, um, PTO is doing bus driver appreciation next week or the week after. Um, and they're seeking donations. If anybody, you probably see the post out on Facebook um or if you're on the PTO website or their the PTO Facebook page, they're they're seeking donations for the to um they give the bus drivers baskets in their buses in the morning. So, um if you see it, they could use some donations. Yeah. There's just a list of things on Amazon wish list. You buy it and then it goes and that's the PTO on go on that website. That's how you find out. Yeah.
060Okay. All right. Any other liaison or subcommittee reports? All right. And it doesn't look like we have any public for public participation. Who's the R? I think that's just the meeting room. Yes, the meeting notes actually. It's the AI taking notes. Just don't want to ignore whoever Mr. the robot. All right. Uh, do we have any miscellaneous tonight? I just have one. It's just to put it on your radar for a future agenda item. Um I am going with the F FRC um as an agenda item for a greater board discussion. I did u meet with Kate Mabley the director um yesterday so she is aware um they don't have an existing board um and I uh have reviewed their bylaws which haven't been updated since about 2012 2013 which states um of 12 oh
061my and uh um and there I actually have a report that was started around 2012 3 with findings, recommendations. Um um and uh um that program obviously does a lot for the community and families. And as far as just uh it being um um sustaining for the future, um I do think it needs a greater conversation at this board level. um you know certainly it wasn't something I could take on um you know my first few years as superintendent but is something that I do want um to uh talk to the board. What I'll do is um uh get you the report that was last done that'll have the bylaws. Um it'll provide some foundational information. Um but I do think it should be um some consideration on the board to essentially absorb those board
062responsibilities. um they do require some financial um oversight and support too. So one of the things I may be looking for is for like our finance subcommittee to have a part in that. So, I'm providing some information so you can digest some of it ahead of time so that you're not, you know, caught off guard when I come caught off guard now um two to four weeks, but then you have some time. Again, I I don't think it'd be as much work as, you know, it it sounds, but um obviously um you know, the people that are running it are great, but you need to have systems in place beyond just good people. Um so that the systems support it. Um and I'm not I'm not 100% convinced we have great systems in place. Patrick,
063I just have a question because I know um um of course they have to submit uh some reports to the Department of Education, right? As far as what they do, but that being said, do board members actually have to be parents of children in the school system because I didn't know sometimes there's they have different uh I I don't know the um I looked at the bylaws uh yesterday. Um um it's uh it's something regarding board members and their children, but not um not board members. Um yeah, kind of funny. It has it has some language. I will say um um there are other school districts that have um essentially taken on the board responsibility. So we wouldn't be the first one to consider or or do something. You came up with 12 members. Yeah,
064that is a lot. large, but they haven't updated their bylaws since 2012 2013. But if you don't have a board, how do you hit your bylaws? Well, it's it goes to the get absorbed by Yeah, I was on it periodically, but I think there were like five or six. I don't remember there ever being I mean, the director hasn't been on a new contract since the original contract, which was 2013. So I mean these are just just kind of the documentation goes in it's funded and y if you're not so um um so one uh you know I think it'd be helpful for the board to see the report again it's it's somewhat outdated and that's 10 years old but a lot of information and you know even provides some foundational information when it was
065first established how it was first established um it provides some context uh for I uh some conversations um and some considerations that uh that need to take place. Well, it would be worth looking at because the board is typically voted, right? Members are voted. So, you know, but would these people never mind put on another agenda? Yes. Um I didn't expect Patrick to bring that up, but I had a thought to throw out and this might segue right into it. Um, I I I watched the um presentation that um uh the video of uh when Daryl went to the forum last week and they did an excellent job. Thank you very much. Um and it was a very informative informative generally from the the perspective of public schools um and all of that. And there
066was one part that was um there was one woman who spoke last and it was about early education and how important it is to get children going as early as possible. Um, and it made me think about the idea that um, perhaps we could start putting some thought into seeing what we could possibly look to in the future to expand our prek programs and our F FRC programs to try to ensure that every child in East Windsor has the opportunity to get into our schools as early as possible. Don't expect it to happen overnight, but perhaps a conversation with FRC can possibly lead us down those rings. I know for the past few years, we've been for my time here, we've been just battling fire after fire after fire, but I think we've accomplished a
067lot of those fires and maybe we and start to focus on some things that we'd like to accomplish long term. So, I'm I'm a big proponent of getting as many kids in as early as possible and if it's through the F FRC program or through our own programs. So, this might be a good jumping off point for that. And the other thing I wanted to mention was I sent you all an email uh earlier that I had gotten a a a thing from CCM for some reason um um Connecticut municipalities about um the appropriation committee starting to work on on appropriating for the upcoming budget. And part of what's actually in there is um early childhood education for everyone. Um so I sent it out to you guys. It's very interesting to watch. You're going
068to start to see things on television and whatnot. So it's just something to to take an look at if you get a chance. Okay. I appreciate that. Thank you. Nor miscellaneous and it's a question. Today I was at a conference and the speaker was the secretary of state and one of the things that she was talking about was the DEI mandates that are coming from the Fed, you know, from the White House that could jeopardize actually specifically she said schools if we don't stop DEI. Is that something we need to worry about? Um I so I've been getting frequent correspondence um from the state on it. Uh the last correspondence of those um there was actually there was something that I received right after after she did her presentation from I think it was somebody
069at the state level who said that he was refusing to sign the whatever and go ahead and take us to court if you're going to wasn't Was it in was was it on the school his school? I don't know. I get a lot of I don't know which which ones he's part of. he's part of um um a lot of attorney general's suing and I don't know which you know which lawsuit it's in it's involved but but I know that I I listened to something from Senate Senator Anar in just some of just some of the stuff from the from the governor as well and they're really committed to to just you know maintaining what we have. Well, that's um I'm trying I can't find uh the correspondence, but the correspondence basically indicated uh that
070the um state was uh stating to continue um to work in that area. Yeah. So then we don't we don't have to at at a local level worry about it at this point. I mean we don't need to start dismantling diversity programs or anything like that. Um I mean not today statements in our policies. I mean I I think we are in like an unknown area but based on the correspondence I've gotten um as uh recently this week um the answer to that question will be no. And you know I think that that would be a specific board question. So that would be something that we would I mean from my perspective um right now that would not be something I mean we've always operated in a lot of ways that um you know values
071equity and inclusion which is a little bit of the DEI stuff and boy I sure wouldn't want to I shouldn't wouldn't want to change our philosophy for our school system or um as a board. I I think that would be part of that would be part of a bigger discussion. Yeah. Yeah. At this point, I was just wondering because she did bring it up today. Yeah. I'm hoping the state will stand firm on kind of where they're at right now. Yeah. I mean, I think information will come by the next board meeting because uh the update I had was uh indicating that there'll be another update before April 22nd. Thank you. Yeah. So, we can keep an eye on it. All right. There's a couple um items in correspondence and I think they've both kind
072of been tangentally mentioned. Um you're talking about the forum. Is there a way we can watch it now that it's over forum that is that list? Yeah, it was recorded. Um so um it's uh uh so it was one it was in the email I sent out um to everyone the uh the link to the recordings in the mail. It's actually on our Facebook page too um on Monday. Thank you. I just wanted to reiterate that that I think that's, you know, speaks to the work. Want uh listen to uh um Mariela's uh um board presentation. We did um highlight the the five minutes that we found on today's uh Facebook page encouraging people to attend the board of finance meeting tomorrow. So that's great. So you can pull out the five minute clip of
073her speaking and we appreciate it. You're welcome. Patrick, I wanted to um I forgot about it, but thank whoever is putting up the Facebook posts on our page. We seem to be getting out a lot of positive information over the past week or so. So, who's ever doing that? Kudos to you. Thank you very much, Jessica. If that's who's doing that, I was going to say the person is in the room. I very much appreciate it. All right. Thank you very much. I think next on our agenda, we do have need for an executive session tonight. All right. So, I have a motion from Heather and a second from Courtney to go into executive session at 8:13. All in favor? I 8:13. But I will sign these