001[music] Good evening everybody. I want to welcome you to the regular meeting of the New Britain Board of Education. It's September 2nd. It is 6:01. Um, Mr. Kane, would you lead us in the pledge of allegiance? >> Uh, C. >> 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. >> Thank you. Angela, if you'd call the role, please. President Barbara >> here. >> Vice President, Miss Diana >> here. >> Secretary Anthony Kane with the C. >> Yep. >> Mr. Anthony Kane with the K >> here. >> Miss Annie Parker >> here. >> Miss Joan Pina >> here. Miss Amy Porski >> here. >> Mr. Jose Rivera >> here. >> And Miss Tina
002Sansson >> right here. Uh just as a brief aside, um we were notified earlier today that Mr. Escobas had submitted his resignation from the board. He is pursuing other opportunities and he's also quite involved with obtaining his superintendent certification which his schedule and class scheduling was going to conflict with our sessions. um a as I shared with him, I truly appreciated his insights and his partnership as uh being part of the board. I think as I speak for all of us in that regard um and wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors. >> Okay. Um moment of silence. Um, I'd like to put out there, as everyone has heard last week about Minneapolis. Um, quite the tragedy and and I think for all involved and if we could just take a moment
003to put those folks in our prayers. >> One, can we include Norm Elia? >> Thank you so much. >> And Peter Conmer. >> Absolutely. Thank you. All righty. Uh public participation. No one has signed up for public participation. Is there anyone that does wish to speak? Going once. Going twice. Three times. Okay, we're good with that. Um, are we at this point, Mr. Kane, looking to >> Um, yes. Uh, motion to suspend the rules to add items to the agenda. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> Okay, sir. >> Uh, Miss Santana. So, we have put together the resolution for Hispanic Heritage Month. And here we go. As we stand at the threshold of Hispanic Heritage Month 2025, we reflect on a rich tapestry woven through centuries
004of history, culture, and achievement. The journey began on October 12th, 1492 when Christopher Columbus and the Spaniards made contact with indigenous tribes, marking a pivotal moment that would forever alter the course of history. This encounter not only initiated the spread of Hispanic cultures throughout Western Hemisphere, but also laid the foundation for a diverse and vibrant society that continues to thrive today. From September 15 through October 15th, we come together as a nation to celebrate the myriad contributions of individuals with Hispanic roots. This month serves as a reminder of the strength and resilience of the 54 million Hispanic individuals who call our country home. Making them the largest ethnic and racial minority in the United States. Their influence is felt across all sectors from government and business to education, sports, and the arts. As we honor
005this illustrious population, we recognize the countless achievements of the Hispanic men and women who have shaped our city. Their leadership and innovation have left an indelible mark on our community, fostering a sense of unity and pride among all residents. In our own community of New Britain, more than 40% of our overall population and twothirds of our student population is of Hispanic heritage. In light of these reflections, the Consolidated School District of New Britain proclaims September 15, 2025 to October 15, 2025 as Hispanic Heritage Month. We encourage all residents to engage in programs and activities that celebrate the contributions of Hispanic individuals, ensuring that their stories and legacies are remembered and honored. Let us come together to celebrate the vibrant culture, history, and achievements of the Hispanic community mark recognizing that their contributions are integral to
006the fabric of our nation and our city. As we embark on this month of celebration, may we foster understanding, appreciation, and respect for the diverse heritage that enriches all of our lives. >> There you go. From us as a board. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate it. >> Thank you for the collaboration. >> Are the schools planning any kind of activities for us during this month? >> They typically do each year. We'll make sure we share that with the board. >> And um will they put in the dash month? >> We typically do it. We'll share that with the board. Yes, [laughter] >> I'd just like to point out that um I did not see this prior because I definitely would have made some changes. Um but um I am just very happy to represent the
007Hispanic community on this board and um I hope everyone has a wonderful Hispanic Heritage Month. >> All right. Thank you. Okay, sir, you're on. >> So, good evening everyone. Welcome back. I hope everybody had a restful summer. Um, for the central office staff and I, nobody believes it, but summer is the busiest time. We have some fewer evening meetings, but uh, other than that, summer is very busy. I want to say thank you to all of the staff who helped get our schools ready, maintenance, custodial, MIS, secretarial, administrators. Really, it's been a very, very busy summer. And other than the thing I'll talk about in a moment, it's actually been a very good start to the year. So, with that, of course, I want to address the concerns uh that have come up over the
008past six school days. Um, I just want the board to know one more time for me that uh in no way is our busing provers current performance acceptable to me. Um, we've been very clear and very blunt with them. at at this point the the recourse that we have is financial and we uh I I've already made it clear myself as has uh Miss Gonzalez to the busing provider that um we intend to exercise our our right uh as we see fit. Um, it is a contract as the board knows. It's a we're beginning year three of a five-year contract for general ed and a beginning of year one for a three-year contract in the um for the special education. Um, the degree to which our parents have had to wait for buses both coming
009and going is not acceptable to me. We've been very clear. want to thank Miss Gonzalez for her multiple communications per day with the bus company management. What we know is the uh majority of the issues are with our students who need the most reliable transportation. Um the majority of our issues are related to special education. Um and these are the students who get uh one or two or four or five students per per vehicle. Um, I will say uh I want to pause there of course to to thank the parents for their for their patience, to thank them for their concern, but it's also important for me to thank our staff. Um, I have visited the transportation office a few times each day and they have been nothing but professional. went on the phone with
010some very uh upset, >> high rate, very emotional parents and um we should be proud of of our staff who are taking these calls. As I wrote to you in my weekly email, we have flexed the meager staff that we have available um from our special education office here at central office. Miss Rios, my own executive assistant, has been down there both morning and afternoon um all of all of last week. Um what we're doing at this point is uh I would say applying the pressure that we can we we don't have school bus drivers. The superintendent is not a licensed school bus driver. Um but we can make it clear to them what our expectations are. What we'll begin doing uh when it's uh uh financially feasible is if if we do not see
011improvement is we will begin removing routes from for students and giving them to other providers that have the proper qualifications and certifications. It is um extremely frustrating for everybody involved. We know especially for the parents who are waiting a very very long time for their for their children. Um so again, you know, the the community has uh our thanks and our apologies for for [clears throat] this. Um we want to see better performance out of first student. I'll say it's somewhat surprising to me because last year when we had special education transportation issues with our previous provider, we took routes away from that provider and gave them to first student and first student performed well or at least performed better than the other provider. >> I know there were some questions about why did we
012change? I would just remind the board that our previous provider did not bid on our current contract. So staying with our previous provider was not possible because they chose they chose not to bid. >> Uh and the board is aware of of how that bidding process played out. So I'll say the the the greatest frustration for us and I hope the board um sees this and knows this is we really do pride ourselves on the degree to which we communicate with our families. both good things and when scary and/or bad things happen at schools, we take uh pride in telling parents that to watch our staff be on hold with the bus company for 5 minutes, 18 minutes, 25 minutes, and then sometimes just get disconnected, >> right? and not the bus company not able
013to tell us when a bus would arrive at a certain school or a certain stop leaves us unable to communicate that to the parents which is of course always our preference to tell people proactively right and thanks to our new communication system we can do that we can say send an email or send a text to the parent of every kid who's on bus 8 in the afternoon we can't do that though because we aren't getting the information from the bus company. So, uh we are seeing as I said earlier very minor improvements each day. Uh today we got the all clear about an hour and a half earlier than we got it at this time last week. So that is some improvement but but still not good though. So we will continue to push
014um to the degree that we can and use whatever is is a legal remedy uh with within our problem. >> Do we know what the greatest issue might be number of buses available GPS? I guess I would I would just say without going into too much detail here from a both a staffing and an infrastructure perspective, the bus company was not ready. I want to say though that Miss Gonzalez checked with them multiple times before the start of the school year and they reported that they were ready. So when they were asked by both Ms. Gonzalez and Mr. Valerio if we were staffed, if we have groups, if if we were ready to go. The answer was yes. What we're finding out now just their I'll say uh equipment for communication with the public and
015communication with us not acceptable. So I'll just offer you one example, Madam President. So they're supposed to our contract says they're supposed to have a hotline for our folks, >> right? >> So that our folks can call them right away and get answers. >> They did not have that. So, by day three, I think it was, and I don't want to sound too flip here, but I directed Miss Gonzalez to tell them to go to Walmart and buy a burner phone. >> Okay, >> this is this is the level of equipment we're operating here with. If they're not going to have a dedicated phone line, then there's no excuse not to go to the local store and buy a flip phone and whose number only we have. So, we're at that level of solving problems
016with with this company at at that point. These are things that they should have thought of months ago and solved in advance. Again, it looks bad for us. And and one in one of the emails I wrote to them is right, we take our credibility with our families seriously and we know when one of our contractor fails, the parent doesn't necessarily care that it's the contractor, >> right? We we know that and we uh will continue to push. we will continue to hold them accountable and when our lawyers tell us that it's advisable we will assign those financial commitments. So thank you for that. Um I have uh just one now and earlier today I have given a couple of uh uh statements to the media on that and again we don't like uh having
017this type of relationship with one of our contractors. We like to have good productive but when a contractor is simply not delivering they they don't deserve our support either. >> So with that some happy news. >> Yeah I was going to say can we Yeah. >> So uh I want to say just thank you for everything and it's obviously impossible to name everybody but everything that everybody did to have a really nice really kind of joyous launch to the school. Again, aside from the troubles with our buses, I will say I feel like I saw more smiles on kids and teachers than I have in in my in my previous three years of starting here. It's just a really nice vibe with our families um and and staff and kids this year. The backstochool bath,
018as always, was a huge hit, even though it was about a million degrees outside. Um we had um we even had our our uh transportation staff there to welcome people and help them work out issues. As usual, we've got an advanced copy of the district dispatch. I'll take you through just a few things. Um some really nice numbers to celebrate. I won't tell them all to you, but on the pages two and three, great photos here again of the first day of school. It's such a wonderful tradition. uh I believe it's in here 80 or more at least 80 people from the community police officers firefighters elected officials members of the board of education members of city of uh common council um just out to give high fives and smiles to the kids. It's such
019a wonderful tradition and I think that went especially well this year. Um a really nice uh update for you on the following two pages, pages four and five. The board has had a couple of discussions over the past year about reducing in in and in in in particular reducing the Latinos in action offering so that we could offer more Spanish instruction. And you can see here we're seeing the payoff of that. Now more students are earning credit for Spanish one while still in middle school so that they can start right up with Spanish 2 when they get to high school. um nice profile of our registration staff who's especially busy as always this time of year. I want to thank uh members of the public, some of them are in the audience now that I
020met with um just before coming down here to talk about a variety of issues and something that came up in that meeting I just want to mention here while we're looking at our registration folks. Just want to clarify for anybody in the audience or who's watching from home or listening is I want to be clear because it's it it's it's a real big worry in our community at this time. We do not check immigration status for anybody who is registering to attend school. We're in the business of teaching kids, right? by Connecticut law and by this the superintendent's own philosophies, we do not ask for documentation of of citizenship or immigration upon registration. Right? And it it would be totally understandable if there are some people in our community who might be worried about that,
021resistant when they think about that. So I just wanted to say that here while I have the mic that that all are welcome, right? The only requirements are that you can prove that you live in the city of New Britain. then you gain access to our schools and our wonderful teachers and and professionals. So, while we had the picture of the registration here, I just wanted to take that moment to clarify that for everyone. Um, a very nice recognition of Miss Escobales who did a wonderful job of MCing our convocation. Another really, really wonderful tradition that I've come to enjoy so much here at New Britain of inviting our uh a senior at our high school to really, as I said, at convocation to run the biggest meeting of the year um and she did
022a wonderful job. >> She's a natural. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. >> So, with that, that would conclude my report for this evening, Madam President. >> Thank you, sir. Uh for committee reports, obviously we haven't had any committee meetings. We will be having upcoming committee meetings, so we'll kind of cruise past that. I'm sure everybody's ready, raring to go the new school year to get involved with committees and things we need to tackle. Board reports. Anything to report for board reports? Yes, Miss Santana. Um, just very very quickly, I had a wonderful summer just interacting with all of our students, our district students, our staff, workers, parents around the school district and even outside of New Britain. Um, but what I wanted to send was a shout out to Chamberlain who had a like their own
023back to school bash, which I'm sorry, no adult should be allowed to have that much fun because they had you could come eat dinner, get a free backpack, dance, jump in the jump in the little bounce house that was done by the Boys and Girls Club. Listen, no adult should be allowed to be laughing that hard. And I like really almost fell over a few times. It was great. Um, and we also had community partners there. I mean, it was just I can't even say enough about it that it was just wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. Uh, and then the other thing was we just had, you know, other little pockets of community opportunities to be to be able to connect with our students. Um, and for that I am just eternally grateful. So, I just
024wanted to send a shout out to everybody in our district that is working hard to be able to bring our kids right back to where they need to be, which is in school and um allowing us to be able to share with you in all of that opportunity. Uh and just I can't say thank you enough to our staff just pulling it together. And I can just tell you I had to communicate with transportation a lot. um all four of my kids in the school district are special needs and so I just remember every day just saying thank you by email and we just thank you for helping me survive today. It was a lot. It was great and we just needed to bounce together as a community and just say hey listen we can
025get through this together uh even as special needs parents. So, any questions? Don't hesitate to ask. >> Any questions? >> I just want to say um I had lunch with my retired teacher friends and they were all very impressed by the photos on uh Facebook with all the kids and happy faces. And one of my friends who volunteers for self and us for everything was so exciting. I said, "Where are you volunteering?" because I know when we like this we're going to have to go someplace and volunteer for something. So >> keep that in mind. Yeah, [laughter] they did an excellent job and everybody really happy and it was a great idea to put pictures. >> Yeah. >> Oh yeah, >> I attended the back to school bash as well and really enjoyed it. I
026mean, I've done in the past, but this one was really nice. And I like not just different schools, but the different services availability. It really puts a focus on schools not only coming, but we're here to help you, too, and get ready. >> Can I just say this? When you're going to an event like that, one of the things that that I noticed is who's actually supporting the student. So like even though there's mom and dad, you know, there's also uncles and aunts that in the evening are bringing these kids to the event who are invested in their child's education. Like that's and you get to put a face with a name or I can't remember anybody's name, but I remember everybody's faces. >> So a face with a face and a school um and
027be able to pick up on that. And so it's really great to be able to find those pockets of opportunity to connect with the families, >> the the networks of support for our students. And I love that. So, great to do that. >> Oh, no. I was going to say that Dr. Pazorski and I had a lot of fun handing out um school supplies at the back to school bash. Um and I was able to greet the children at Smith on the first day. Um and I just wanted to give a shout out to the paras who were there to greet the children who just started school. um you know, children who had some special medical needs and they were just so warm and so welcoming and the children felt so safe and I was
028just I was so pleased to see that. >> Did you want to add anything or nothing? >> No. >> Okay. M class of 88. I'm excited that we're getting a new school next. That's all I'm [laughter] >> Anyone else? >> Madam President, may I add one thing that I forgot? [clears throat] Right. We um something I said at convocation, I guess I I should meet my own expectations. We should brag about what we do, >> right? And I think sometimes as public educators, we don't. And I think and it, you know, in our city with such a large large high school, sometimes our high school takes it on the chin. I want to just do a special shout out. This was also in my convocation speech. the high school, New Britain High School, during my
029time here has nearly doubled the number of kids who were taking advanced placement classes and more than doubled the number of students who are passing those classes, right? Um, as you guys know, I'm on a mission to help change the reputation of of the school district and hopefully thereby part of the city. We should not shy away from bragging about that. more than doubled the number of kids who were passing the hardest test there is the AP test. >> That's why I want to reach out to her tomorrow. >> It's one thing to have a kid increasing it. It's to have them passing it. >> Correct. So I want to just commend everybody who makes that possible. And really that's the whole staff right teachers pareducators everybody at the school level central office coordinators. really
030it it doesn't happen by itself and it certainly doesn't happen without Mr. Pierce pushing that. And we're we're like many cities. We're we're a school district that people like to get into the news for controversial reasons, right? But we should also remember to brag and I think that's an important uh uh thing for us to do and it's it's my pleasure just to bring some light to fantastic things that are happening at our schools. Wait a minute. Can you just expand on one thing though? Because for the kids like my kids that are never going to be able to take an AP class, not because they can't, but you know, they can't. >> Is um our MET program and how much we are expanding. And I can't just tell you that, you know, having been
031an operator in construction. Sometimes you have to think outside the box. These kids are doing it. They're doing it. and they if they're not if they just can't because they don't have academic acumen, they are doing it in other ways and being successful. And the fact that our programs are expanding, I was just so happy when you look through I mean our packet tonight includes purchases for things that we could not have dreamed of 15, 20 years ago, 30 years ago because this is my 30th anniversary with Diana. So, um, but [laughter] >> I agree wholeheartedly and and and in addition to those purchases and the expansions, um, I believe I said to you in my my weekly email that one of our MET teachers is going to get a very prestigious recognition from from
032the Connecticut Business and Industry Association. So, >> right, um, this is what I mean by becoming a beacon is is it happens slowly but surely if we stay persistent, we will become the kind of school district that others want to copy. Amen. But that said, football season started. >> And the band got to love that drum beat. >> So, thank you for letting me uh >> Not a problem. Never a problem bragging about our kids in our district. Absolutely not a problem. >> All right. Um we have an item to go into I need a motion to go into executive session. >> Second. And may I recommend inviting um Miss Manny and the superintendent along with Attorney Bartlett. >> Attorney Bartlett. Yes, please. So, we will be exiting for executive session. >> I think you
033just need a vote. We got a motion. >> Oh, motion. Second. Yes, you did. Sorry. Yep. >> All those in favor? I >> opposed. >> We're in executive session. All right, we are back. Uh moving on to new business. I have a motion to approve minutes from a regular board of education meeting of June 2nd, 2025. So move. >> Second. >> Okie dokie. Any changes, modifications, anything. >> When are we getting our drafts? >> Okay. Well, that's not part of this, but okay. That's another question after. We'll come home. >> We're approving minutes. Fine. All righty. All those in favor. >> Any opposed? >> Abstension. Thank you, ma'am. All righty. >> Uh, did you want to ask your question quickly now in between? >> Yeah. I just wonder the reps. >> Typically the board president
034and I work on that in October. >> Cool. We're gonna work on that in October. [laughter] >> [clears throat] >> All righty. Uh, item B, report of personnel transactions and extracurricular appointments. >> Um, I just want to thank Dr. Sanders and her team as you page through I believe it is eight pages of hires. Dr. Sanders >> just um you know I I pause to appreciate the hard work of our talent office in onboarding in doing the paperwork and the required trainings in the everything that it takes to get um these folks on board and on staff. And also a special shout out to Dr. Sanders and her team for how they've renovated the new teacher uh process where we've really tried to make um better connections with our new teachers and make them feel
035like they're at a place where they belong. >> Oh, new orientation. >> I Yeah, I was using a word in a creative way. >> Not like a building like a process. >> Okay. Gotcha. >> Any questions, comments? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Um I have a question. First off, I don't pause to say thank you. I just thank you all the time. Um, see, he said pause, not me. Um, [laughter] what do the different steps mean? Because I do see where there's a it looks like very similar education, but then you got different steps. What do the different steps mean? >> The different steps were determining the salary is your years of experience basically. >> So, um, a new teacher with the way the contract is, I believe everyone starts now on step three, right? Um,
036and let's say for example, if Tina has six years of experience, um, okay, one and a half. >> Exactly. >> Six years of experience, then we'll start you at six steps. >> Don't you think that's >> No. >> All right. >> We've been in a very good place. I've said to Dr. Gasper is we really um because our salaries are so high, I've only had to negotiate maybe one salary this um season. >> So you're starting off at around a three. What's that a difference between like a one? Where do you start at? >> So the teachers contract right now there is no step one. >> Okay. It starts at step three and I believe step three back is about 58,000 entry point >> roughly. Okay. 53. Okay. >> But if a teacher comes to
037us with 12 years experience, >> you're the highest. Well, >> so then they would be at like a Hold on. I got a step five and a step 13. >> I want to get 13. >> It depends Tina whether it's the salary lane, right? So you have bachelor's, masters, masters plus 30 PhD. So I just did simply entry point >> three is about >> was it >> where you're coming in at and then you're kind of slowly going up that way. That's what the steps mean. Yeah. >> Is there a reason why we have so many variations? And like I'm looking at a three versus a 13. >> The experience as people are coming in. Step 13 is our highest step and that can be somewhere masters 102,000. >> Okay. Do they always come out
038of steps like that? Like that's how it gets graded kind of a thing. >> When we look at like your when we review your transcripts, your years of experience, all that. Yes. >> Gotcha. Okay. overall they know in the various contracts. >> No, no, no. I understand that part of it. But when you're seeing it um lined up like this and you're looking at, >> you know, neck and neck people who are identified as having a bachelor's, but their pay is so different. >> I can understand that, right? Because they may have completed a bachelor's, but >> I have a bachelor's and a lot of experience. You know what I mean? For just the bachelor, just came out of school. >> You know what I mean? And I get that part of it. But how
039does that translate? So then why can't we have less steps but just like >> that's contract negotiation. >> That's all part of the negotiations process when you when you contract >> you know this see that's why I asked question we used to have more steps than this over the years >> why the steps plus 30 m plus which is the plus part >> the plus part. >> Yeah the master plus 30 m plus 60. So you have your masters and then you have credit hours over. >> Can I just say that all of the contracts are available on our beautiful new website >> for for you or any members of the public to take a look at. Let us know if you've got questions. Can I ask a question about the contract for the external
040resources such as ED advance and the bridging the gap? Uh like Tina, I was reading the contracts kind of thinking about personnel from within the school district and then I was surprised to see the external consultants contract. So I was wondering what the reason is for hiring people from outside the >> later on in the agenda. >> That's later. Oh, okay. We'll we'll we'll get into those as we discuss each of those items. Thanks. >> Your husband doing the homework. Oh, >> I'm sorry. [laughter] >> It was homework. This was our extra day off. [laughter] 56 pages. This is what I did. >> I I do have a question and let me know if it's better for later on. Um the two teachers from I think it was two teachers from Puerto Rico, right, that
041we hired. >> How have they um >> Are they here? Are they acclimated? Like >> so technically speaking, they're they're teacher residents, which is is kind of like a teacher in training, but um I was just speaking with Dr. Sanders about that recently and and they're really uh adapting well. >> Uh they're set up across the street for for a place to stay. Um anything else, Dr. Sanders, you want to say that? >> Are they the only people over there? They go I did site visits Friday to check on them and our other two residents that are internal. So we have four and checked on all of them. So they're doing well >> and they're all for special education. Correct. >> They're all for spent. So next year we have four spent teachers who we
042have to place. >> That's awesome. Thank you. >> Great. I did have one more question about this the list itself. Um exit interviews and any you know if I'm looking at people with some real serious years under their belt. What are we finding out when they leave? I mean, you're looking at [snorts] nine years. That's almost a decade in the school district at homes near and that person squad. >> So, we we have that detail in the personnel committee each month where Dr. Sanders details that all the different reasons for leaving the percent by a year. >> So, we wouldn't have that at this point. We'll have that for the committee at the end of this month. Do you ever tease out people who have over a decade or is it just as they're exiting
043everybody regardless of how much time the person who was here [clears throat] for three months versus the person who was here for 13 years? >> They they don't tease that out. >> I would say as as time allows, >> right? We >> No, I just No, that's the honest answer is is we just don't have time for a sit down interview with everybody who who chooses to work somewhere else. So, uh I think Dr. Sanders team does the best with the time they have available and that's through the survey and we try to get you very detailed data. >> So it's only as reliable as the person who's putting the information in on their way out. >> Yeah. And we we know for privacy reasons we we couldn't ask them anything further. >> Gota um
044moving on to item C enrollment report. Uh, as I've noted to the board in uh, my weekly email, we are seeing a drop in kindergarten registration and that's why I wanted to make that that comment um, earlier. Um, I will find out I think next week I have a meeting with my counterparts from Hartford County and I'll be asking if they're seeing something similar. Um, so for right now we are seeing a little bit of an enrollment dip. Um, most especially at the kindergarten level and we're not exactly sure why. Is it does it have anything to do with the change of age the body? >> Yeah, >> we don't think so. Miss Bordaloo is really our expert on that and as we like to call them the burn babies, >> right? We saw we
045saw a slightly reduced number of requests this year, but not that explains the full drop in kindergarten enrollment. Is that an accurate way to say that? You think? >> We saw about I think we aboutund 100 applications this year where we had close to 210 last year and then We looked at the data from the previous year. Um we looked at which students were successful with that early entry and then we use that score to help guide which student this year. So there are less students coming in but less students overall as well. >> Have Sorry, >> I didn't mean to. >> No, please. Um, as far as working with the agencies around and the preschools and whatever, I know there was some questioning about programming and preparing to move kids into Well, I know
046I think the ability to request goes away next year for early entry. Okay. >> No, superintendents wish that it would because then all the districts would be on equal footing. Right now, every district is kind of like making up their own rules about that. >> Gotcha. But I I believe there was a a question at one point about the agencies um >> within [snorts] >> New Britain or surrounding and the programs that were offering um enough rigor to use a word you guys use um in their preschool programming to prepare kids so that they may prove to be ready prior to age five. So I ran that prek task force last um at this time last year to prepare for the kids and this year and that includes our school liaison Chris Badenhoff who is
047our liaison between the the um school sites and then the district. Um I also invited some of those members. I myself spoke at a couple of those school um city councils just kind of letting them know what the process is going to be. we use their assessments that they use um but we determine from our students data what those kind of cut points are going to be. So we'll do the same thing again this year. Um and we also did kind of look at our students at the YWCA after that tragedy different ways to accommodate those families for the process. >> Okay. But but there's like an apples to apples kind of >> Okay. I know that came up in a couple and you and I had talked about a couple folks that had reached
048out. >> I mean really what we're asking for is an exception to the legislation which is saying that children are truly prepared um to enter kindergarten as an exception that has shown exceptionality. So we use a series of of rubrics. We move into the ones that our preschool sites and partners are already using and then we do some aggregate kind of data across and we use our own data to make sure that the kids that we did enroll last year we're making good decisions about >> right and and I appreciate that. I just I just want to make sure we're all of the agencies around we're all on the same page now and all understanding how that process is going to go. I will meet with them again at one of their schoolings. >> Thank
049you, Miss Brook. >> Yes. >> I just as a uh clarification. So, district total is 9253 for K12 and then the 393 is preschoolers. >> Correct. >> Um so then based on the um district dispatch 10,0004, would the balance of those students be out placements? Typically yes. Okay. Y >> typically yes. >> All right. Thanks. >> There may also be some uh some choice students and there are some magnet school students. >> Okay. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Any other questions, comments, concerns? All right. Moving on to item D. So, if I may, Madam President, just to give some context, I I apologize for the quantity of things that are here, but without um committee meetings, we didn't have a chance to construct a consent agenda. So, as is kind of typical for
050the first meeting of the year, a lot of these things would have gone straight to consent if they came out of committee, but right, >> of course, in our first meeting of the year, we didn't have committees. Not complaining about that. >> No. Yeah, that's okay. That's okay. So need a motion to accept donation from microare to support teachers in buying school supplies elementary. >> All right. Any discussion? >> Thank you. >> All those in favor? Yeah. Thank you. All those in favor? >> Any opposed? >> All right. That's all good to go. Um item E, motion to approve new position request, math instructional coaches for Chamberlain and Slade. So motion >> motion and second discussion >> just as is indicated here uh the reason these positions were not part of the superintendent's budget is
051that this is money that we've just gotten confirmed the school improvement grant these are both funded there we've also learned our lessons from the past under esser uh these these positions will be hired with a hiring letter that is specific to grant funding so the people who choose to take this position will be aware that they're taking a grant funed position And it could be temporary. >> That gets more complicated because just because of the funding source, they still have seniority rights under the contract. But they will they will know that they will have all the information that we have. In other words, so just because you're you're in a grant funed position doesn't mean automatically you lose your job when the funding goes away. There's still seniority rights under the contract. >> Yeah. We
052just have to move people around and fill it. Okay. So these are two additional bodies that we would then have to assume. >> We would not have to assume. But for example, two years from now or three years from now when the grant expires, these people would be wise to bid for a job that's opened up by attrition and these jobs would not be backfilled because they were grant funed. >> Okay. Wait a minute. And I'm just going to be like brutally honest with you. No, like I'm not just saying I'm still traumatized by the plus 300 people that we I'm just right like you see where I'm going. Me too. But like I'm still traumatized by that. So the fact that we don't have an a plan. Okay. So we got grant money in.
053The first thing that we thought of was getting two instructional coaches. So, I want to be really clear that this is a school improvement grant and it is uh leans specifically on what the principal him or herself believes would help their school the most. And I fully support this for for these schools. It's to your point though and I definitely agree because I was on the front line of that trauma in my first year as superintendent with you. So, number one, the employees will be very clear that this is that's a funding source. Number two, I don't want to say extra, but replacing a coach is different or doing without a coach is different than doing without a special ed teacher, right? A coach is definitely something that's good for kids and good for teachers,
054but can be done without much more easily than, let's just say, a classroom teacher. So, I'm less worried about funding a coach out of this funding source than if it said, "Well, we're going to fund the high school principal out of this source." Well, we need one of those. or we're going to fund three classroom teachers out of that. So, I share the same concern. That's why we've taken steps um to be really clear on this and it's a position that can more easily be done without when the funding expires and and we don't have the local funds to pick it up. No, but what I'm curious about is whether or not >> and I completely understand that you support the principles making the request. >> But in there is the gap of have the
055teachers expressed that this is something anybody call you up and say I need a coach. I don't know. But if that's the case, I understand that. But it probably could have come through a different way instead of investing 130 in one coach if in reality what we need for improvement are pairs. >> There's two. Why for each school? No, >> I understand that. But I'm saying if let's just say your example is the one school where the where I don't know 50 teachers raised their hand and said, you know, at their pow-wow that they needed a coach. I as a special ed mom have to think that somebody would have been raising their hand saying, "Hey, what I really need are Paris for improvement here or behavioral specialist. I don't know." >> Yeah. But >>
056I just don't know how the money is coming back in as a coach. >> But you know, whoever gets the position, it's a grant position. So, it doesn't matter who what um program you put in there, that person is going to lose their job if they don't find the grant. >> But what matters? >> It's an excellent question. And I guess I would say that the the SIG grant, the two important letters are the S and the I, school improvement, right? >> So when we apply to the state for this grant, it's expected to be things that improve, not staff. And I think you know what what you're implying there probably would have been rejected by the state. That's called supplanting rather than >> I understanding, >> right? >> Understand. >> So to say we
057were hiring um paras with this particular grant would probably not have been allowed. So this has already been vetted through the state department who tells us how we can spend this money. >> It's supported by the principles and and I support it too. I completely understand your concerns and the reason for the question. >> Absolutely. >> Um however, I do believe this is needed. I I do believe that that it'll be well spent. >> Do you have particular goals in mind for the uh performance that we want to get out of these positions like scores? >> Have you seen my email signature in the past few emails? Yeah, [laughter] that right. So, what we found is teachers with good hearts are working their butts off and delivering instruction at a level that's lower than what
058the kids need. And that's no individual's fault. So, we're really putting a push on that every single day, every single child needs to be exposed to grade level standards. Now, that may sound like a well, duh. But when we've been doing it the other way for quite a long time, it's kind of become a a culture. And people are doing this with love in their hearts. They're finding they've got six kids, 12 kids, 18 kids in their classroom who are below reading level. And our data says they're doing a wonderful job of boosting up those kids. But what our data also says is while they're boosting up these kids, the kids who came in on grade level, some of them are slipping back. So there's a crosswalk. It's called a matched comparison that we used
059to look at that. And my expectation is not just through these coaches, but all of our instructional support that we're going to reduce that backs slide over time. >> That's not going to be the algebra thing again, is it? >> Nope. >> Okay. >> Different different topic. So just a quick question to the on the two individuals coming in at the 130 per and a couple years down the road the grant goes and and their salaries go up with increases whatever contractual increases and so the grant goes away and they're sitting at a certain pay scale level. They have to get another job with that same pay scale level. >> How does that how does that work? Oh, first and foremost, 130 is the total cost, but benefits included >> per person. >> Correct. Y
060>> and um that's what I meant earlier where they would have contracted right. So, they're paid as you know very well because you've been in those conversations >> in those conversations. >> They're paid as per contract. >> And every year we have um people come in and people move out and they're moving in and out at various levels of of the steps that Miss Santana was asking about. But but these folks would have to then be given a position of similar pay. >> They would have they would have to basically bid for a position um that was open >> and they would continue at their regular contracted rate. >> They'd have to be certified. They have to be certified properly certified. Right. So, if you're certified as an elementary teacher, you don't get to bump
061into high school physics if as long as they're they're going into a proper they're certified for the position that they're going into. >> Yes, sir. Um just looking at the primary functions, would it be safe to say that although one of the tasks is that these coaches will be working with small group of students, the primary focus is on building capacity in our current teachers, classroom teachers. >> I think that is exactly a very good way of stating it. Yes. >> Um they they do provide small group instruction for intervention, but also the idea is to make as many teachers as possible better teachers. As you say, they'll >> when the grant goes away, we have the carry on. >> Correct. They've had their impact while they were while they were here. Yeah. >> Thank
062you. >> Okay. Any other questions, comments, concerns? >> My only concern really I'm sorry I don't want to be like raising my hand. I really should be raising it high. I want the teachers to build the capacity. I want them to feel comfortable in the classroom. I want them to be able to have the benefit of all. I I honestly do. Me personally, I'm just looking at it like and I I get the grant application process. I've been through the run-of-the-mill before on my own. I get it. I get it. There's going to be reasons why it gets rejected. There's going to be and I get that it's a grant, but it is for school improvement. And all I can say is that we as a board need to be demanding better of our state
063because this is not fair. I don't see how we can spend 130 on one body, 260 on two. And I get it, they're going to be in their individual schools. But when we need more paras in the classroom, more behavior specialists, more family school leaison, we need we need the support that's going to be able to help with teachers for them to be able to freed up to have the benefit of this. But they're going to be working with a coach and in between we have the students. I I I appreciate the staff chasing the grant. I appreciate the work that you put into it. I appreciate the work the staff is putting into the classroom with our students every day. I'm just as a parent, I'm just really having trouble with this. I appreciate
064All righty. All those in favor? >> Any opposed? >> All righty. Item F. Need a motion to approve contract between CSDNV and ed advance to this is your question A to provide an instructional coach to assist with developing a writing lab for modeling and coaching cycles for grades three to five. I'll leave it at that. So >> so I won't uh I won't um review the the the needs of coaching that we just spoke about in a moment but to Dr. resource these questions of why contracted. It really comes down to the quantity of need. It would be pretty difficult to find a part-time coach that would become our employee. So when the need is less or across multiple buildings and we can find a reliable contractor like this, we do. So also to be
065quite blunt, it's also to to Miss Santana's question of when we can find a reliable contractor. it's in our best and and that we know that position will be temporary. A consultant is the better solution because there there we don't have the the extra burden of contractual rights or unemployment if they have to be laid off and things like that. So, um I think my team will vouch for me that I'm very tough on them when they ask me for a consultant. Um but there are times like this when I do believe it's it's in the best interest of the schools and the board because it a consultant relationship with a consultant is what we can end much more easily than um than a a full-time employee. >> You also help me understand the funding
066source so that magic si you can apply for an external grant that would pay for something like this and that means it's not money that's being taken away from the city. >> You're exactly right. So that SI sig as we say very often is a grant from um from the state department of education and it's it's offered to schools at the lowest levels of student performance. So we've had um for example North End School is a school that was a SIG school but it made such progress that it's no longer a SIG school. So congratulations on doing better. We're taking your money away. Um so uh SIG is structured by the criteria from the state. They choose the schools. >> They give us a total amount of money to allocate and then um again as
067we said it's school improvement is in the name of the great youth >> and it just so happened they at least one of those people a retired teacher school system that works in advance. >> All right. Any other questions, comments, concerns? >> All those in favor? >> Any opposed? >> All right. Motion to approve contract between CSD&B and bridge gap educational consulting to provide professional development, coaching, and structural planning to accelerate student growth. >> So move to the previous. >> Similar to the previous. Yes. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Okay. Any commentary, questions, comments, concerns? All those in favor? >> Any opposed? All righty. Moving on. Need a motion to approve contract between CSD and the Southern Regional Education Board to provide instruction that supports authentic projectbased learning. >> Second. >> So, a continuation of
068an existing project and the same uh funding source as currently. >> Mrs. Perkins building. >> Perkins. Correct. I meant previously what? >> Oh, a brand. >> The last time we hired SV, it was also from Perkins. >> Gotcha. >> Sorry. >> That's fine. They're going to be at slave. All right. Correct. Okay. >> Then the next one be >> any discussion? >> All those in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Motion to approve contract between CSTV and the Southern Regional. Oh, this is another one. Oh, for Palaski. Same thing but for Palaski. >> Seconded. >> Any reading. >> Any discussion? >> All those in favor? >> Any opposed? >> All righty. We're all set. Motion to approve contract between CSDN and New Britain Emergency Medical Responder to provide an initial EMR certification course. >> So moved.
069Exactly. >> So proud of this. >> Another wonderful opportunity at our high school where kids become trade, you know, work certified right out of our schools and also a great example of our partnership with city first responders. >> Any discussion? All those in favor? >> Any opposed? And one extension I hear from Miss P. All right. The motion to approve purchase order between CSD and B and Snap-on Industrial to provide a comprehensive upgrade to the auto mechanic shop. So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Thank you. S. >> Really nice upgrades to the auto shop which was ready for an upgrade. >> You trying to say it's all [laughter] >> right. Any discussion? >> All those in favor? >> Any opposed? >> They're going to teach them how to work on EVs as well.
070>> That is the goal. Yes. >> Are we done with >> No, I'm excited about now. I've heard that some mechanics said they're not even going to touch EVs and our guys are going to be ahead of it and they're going to work on them. >> Don't you worry. That rain is going to be nice. >> All right. Moving on. A motion to approve purchase order between CSDNB and Tecton or equivalent um to provide a comprehensive upgrade to the auto mechanic shop to enhance hands-on learning. >> So move second. >> Any discussion? >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> All righty. Motion to approve bid award between CSBNB and the Omni Data LLC and Coina Labs Inc. for you guys are gently [laughter] >> for a cyber security pilot program. >>
071That's cool. >> Need a motion. >> Still moved. >> Thank you. >> Now you might sometime [laughter] just want to, you know, make sure we got this right. Okay. So this if I understand correctly is part of that E- rate thing. >> Yeah, it's the - pilot program. >> Okay. >> That we were granted. >> So 85% if I'm reading this right, 85% is covered through through that. Correct. >> Okay. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I. Any opposed? >> All right. Moving real. Motion to approve purchase order between CSDNB and New York security systems for AVA camera cloud subscription renewal >> for the 2526 school year and slate >> Motion >> Second. Any discussion? >> All those in favor? >> Any opposed? All righty. Motion to approve contract between CSDNV and the Parkland
072School Solutions for Mosaic Software to manage the lunch program. This surprised me. >> This surprised me too. >> I I How do How does How does this manage the lunch program? >> So, it it's um >> Yeah. >> Everything from the back end to the front end when when students are quote unquote cashed out when we take their ID number. >> Uhhuh. >> Oh. Oh, when they go through the correct whatever >> correct. Yep. >> So, does this come from that money that's so left in the cafeteria fund? >> Um, Miss Alano, this is paid more out of the cafeteria fund. Correct. >> Cafeteria fun. >> It is. Yep. >> Okay. >> I think there's just an Thank you for asking, Miss Parker. I think it says grant object when it really should say um
073really should say the food service fund. >> Okay, >> good. Just [snorts] a question. Um, just reading the description, does this have the potential to save money or is it just more of a compliance with federal guidelines >> or ease of getting there's not a savings. This is the software that we utilize. Um, as Dr. Gasper mentioned, when the students go through the line, it takes the meal counts. It it it tracks the meals served. It it so that um also for reporting purposes when we're audited, this is where the auditors go. review to make sure that our meal counts and our claim is all tied. >> Gotcha. Thank you. >> Okay. Any other discussion? >> All those in favor? >> Any opposed? Okay. On to back page. Motion >> Oh, motion to discuss nominations
074and approval of um board delegates for the CABE conference. Yes. >> Second. >> Okay. So, every year in Novemberish, mid November, Cape has their conference. Um, where is this year? I forgot. Um, >> we usually send folks um as a delegation, we send two representatives, I thought, for the Thursday meeting. And then as far as folks um being registered who want to attend the overall conference. So folks that are interested in attending >> three. Okay. Four. Okay. Just five. Okay. So >> just just for a point of information for perhaps the newer members is um you don't have to attend both. Typically, if uh you attended the Thursday meeting, there's a uh the board would uh compensate for the cost of the hotel and but attendance on Friday is you can attend. In other words,
075I I'm going to get my words out. You can attend on Friday without having to attend on Thursday. So if you're only available one of the two days, the Thursday is really kind of the business meeting day of CA >> and then Friday is like the professional development day where there's workshops and seminars uh to attend. >> Correct. >> I think that's some that's the bigger overarching part of it, the workshop that everybody comes and >> fingers crossed that Sanders will find it in her heart to teach another class which I would greatly appreciate. She's phenomenal. >> Um number one, number two is the Thursday you get advanced notice. You also get a booklet that is actually what you're voting on and you're making decisions with me and with other board of education membership. >>
076That's important. Okay. So, seeing that that there's five members, here's I'm going to split this out just a little bit. >> Yes. >> Who's looking to attend on Thursday? >> Okay. It was always me and Joey. Now, it's going to be by him. >> There you go. Okay. And >> behave. >> All in favor? All all approving the two Diana and >> tentative approval. >> Diana and Tina as the delegates. I will call them to the CAD meeting on Thursday evening. >> Yes. >> Is everyone. >> Okay. Cool. All right. So, and then as far as the conference and registering for the Friday sessions, >> one, two, three, four. Yep. And everyone is okay with that? >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, as far as registering, we'll just run work with Asia. >> Yeah, Miss Edwards
077can help. Members can reach out directly to Miss Edwards and she'll help get you registered. >> Okay. >> email Asia and that would be fine. >> President, what's the date of that? >> It's November 21st and 22nd. >> Part usually the twins birthday party. never get past it. >> Okay. All right. So, the last item that we have is executive session. Motion to go into executive session for and possible public action for purposes of discussing Mr. Superintendent's contract. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Okay. And attorney Ritter was going here. She's here. Okay. She's hiding behind the podium. >> Patiently waiting behind. >> Okay. So I invite attorney Ritter to join us for executive session. Everybody all in favor? >> I. >> Anybody opposed? >> Okay, we are in executive session.