RHAM Board of Education Meeting; May 18, 2026

001calling meeting the roll. >> Just do the roll call. Mike >> Rudy >> Kirstston >> Kirst and >> Pam Fington Marbor >> Carrie Frino Drew Golfin Jessica Hall. >> Jessica Hall. >> Amy Romanchuck. >> Amy Rochuck. Marra. >> Scott. Soya. And handover. >> Heather Summer. >> Lisa Touty. Brianna Aduoku. Yousef Ahmed. and Avery Soia. >> Everyone rise for the pledge of 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. All right. Uh, Heert, Andover, and Marvel community engagement and attendance at BOE public meetings is welcome. Public comment segment of the meeting agenda is set aside so the BOE may receive public comments. Procedurally, public remarks will be limited to three minutes

002and citizens will be asked to identify themselves and the town they are from. Because the BOE is limited by the Freedom of Information Act to discussing only matters on the agenda, the BOE is not permitted to engage in a discussion of the comments presented. Is there anybody that would like to make public comment? You just need to go to the the microphone doesn't project it here, but it lets them hear on a little louder. That's not a microphone. Is it better? the microphone. So again, um wanted to make a few brief comments been involved in this process the last few months regarding the budget and the ongoing um resolution of how that will turn out. Just wanted to say that feel pretty disappointed in the cuts from keep education similar challenges rose the engagement a

003little bit um acknowledged the will of the voters with administrative cuts and other cuts that has not happened here. Additionally, it was stated one of the drivers changed to the sheriff psychologist meeting somebody's remembering that he had asked that question Dr. did acknowledge a conversation, a lengthy conversation in which at this point given the cost of a psychologist at Graham share for Hein would equal that of Hubin hiring on their own psychologist full-time. So while circumstances would change, we opted out for that reason. So it wasn't that that nobody responded. It was a likely conversation. So I'm a little confused as to how that was communicated to the public that nobody responded. Um, also, you know, we'd like to ask that you guys consider voluntary discontinuation of the what was it called again? I have

004written here the side fund, the 2% fund. I apologize for not having correct terminology. Um while we heard you know your points of view that provides meaningful opportunity to do things during the year that may you know seen it's viewed by the public as distrust as sliding under the radar. You know the CIP process is here for a reason. We want everything to go through CIP. If there are expenditures that come up we want the reference. We want engagement. It takes a little longer but effort to restore trust transparency and the long-term goals that we're want. Um, we don't like the legislation. It's legally legal. Totally get it. Um, but would ask that you consider stepping up and at least suspending that and having a conversation to see if there's not a better way to

005garner partnership. Um, you know, and then the last thing is overall just those methodologies, right? We're looking for complete engagement. Sure, there's plent down, but can we get push notifications? Can we leverage modern technology and subscribe to elements change? budget changes that we can engage in more interactive. I will be at the meeting. I wasn't before. I'm here again meeting and I'll be at everyone that I can possibly attend. We're looking for the same feedback and engagement on the boards and our representations and responsibility, transparency, sustainability to establish a longterm partnership. So about all I had. I appreciate the time. We'll wrap it up there. >> Thank you. There anybody else that would like to make public comment? Anybody online? Okay. Right. Thank you. Um item four on the agenda is add and delete agenda

006items. Is there any um items the board would like to add or delete from the agenda? Okay. Then we have the student representative report. Yousef, I guess you get to go first. >> So, a couple of things that took place was the AP testing that's been happening for the last two weeks. And also, there was a senior and junior prom that took place. A couple of the upcoming things includes the um senior nights for sports. Some of them already took place and there's also a couple coming up. Then there's also the honors breakfast and high school award night. >> Great. Thank you. Uh item six is the board chair report. I just have a couple of things. Um and I wanted to thank the board for your efforts on the budget. I know it's been

007a really challenging time. I know a lot of us are getting questions um directly from constituents. I appreciate you taking the time with that. And if um things pop up that you're not comfortable answering, you can send them to to either myself or to Dr. McNamera. But again, thank you. You know, we recognize it's been been a hard budget season. Um the next meeting is going to be on Monday at 9:30 in the morning. I realize that's a holiday. That is that meeting that we are we are um obligated to do. And simply what it it does is we vote to move the budget to referendum. The way the days work, that's the day that it falls on. We decided to move it to 9:30 in the morning because um figured we'd give everybody the

008chance to to vote on it and then get back to their holiday because we do do know that it's not a holiday. So, um that I believe has been posted on the temp's website. Um, again, you're welcome to to log into it, but that's what that next district meeting is for. Uh, finally, I tomorrow at 6 o'clock, we have invited some folks to um come tour the campus. And the goal of that tour is to specifically look at our CIP projects. Um, it's kind of there's two two arms to it. The first one is to take a look at things that are in the CIP for this coming budget, things that need to be fixed. An example you keep hearing is the loading dock. We will take folks over to actually take a look at

009the loading dock and see firsthand um the repairs that are needed. We're also going to take the opportunity to highlight some of the items that have been covered by the 2% and repaired um in previous years so you can you know have an understanding of what we're talking about when we say hey we use some of the 2% to do this. So, the invitations have gone out to elected officials in all three member towns along with um Steve Wear, uh Kathy Austin, and the rep from Ramen. >> Thank you. >> I don't have that name in my head. Um we also invited Keeper Voice. Um we invited the River East to come look. Um and then tonight or tomorrow morning, >> tonight or tomorrow morning, >> we are going to notify the community that they

010are welcome to come join us. Um >> right out front of the middle school, we're going to gather and it's simply, you know, a walking tour, a chance to actually see these things, put your own eyes on them, um and ask questions. We will have um Michael Schlayhoffer here um to to talk about it, talk about some of the facility things and we encourage people who are interested to uh please join us. >> When you say again >> tomorrow >> it's a short turn for a couple of reasons. Obviously we're trying to get people to see this before the next referendum. You know there's a holiday in there. It's just the way it worked out. >> So jump in. So I I just want to um we have to be this is not intended to

011be a board meeting. So we have to be conscientious about how many board members can get together at one time for this. This is not a published agenda at a board meeting. It's it's an opportunity. So Heather and I talked about this last week. It was an idea that she had. I think it's an excellent one to showcase how the investments are being made, how they're benefiting the districts, particularly from that 2% fund, the it's called the fund for educational expenditures. Um, which has really done a tremendous amount of of really good stuff for us. Um, so it's gonna be Heather, myself, and and and as as Heather alluded to, um, Michael Schllayhoffer who knows this facility, the ins and the outs and can talk about all the stuff that we've we've done over the

012past handful of years, particularly with that with that um, you know, funds from that account as well as from the CIP as well because it's been a combination of CIP and our fund for educational expenditures. We've really focused a lot on some of this recent work particularly towards athletic field. So I just I just it's it you know we invited we we intentionally didn't say to the entire town council from hey all of you come because then then they'd have to worry about posting requirements and that's one of the reasons why it's it's more of just an opportunity for for us to share some of these things with some of the elected officials. We also invited the town managers or town administrators from the free about six or seven people saying that they're able to

013come. But I will be pushing out a communication about the budget update kind of where we are as well as inform people about this event either later tonight or tomorrow morning. The day got away from me. I have it mostly done but I need to just clean it up a little bit. Um but as I as Sharon Summer said uh you know if members of the public are here and want to be part of that certainly welcome. That's okay. Um that's all I had for the for chair report. So superintendent. >> Yeah. So I'll start with you know start off with positivity as hopefully um we recently celebrated and recognized we had staff appreciation week. It was in the beginning of May. It was the week. >> Can I interrupt and just tell you we

014have a major audio issue as far as the live streaming. People can't hear. It sounds like there's fans blowing and there's almost zero audio online especially on the ram life page. I apologize for interrupting. >> That's okay. Thank you. >> Yeah, >> we'll just we'll shut the fans off. >> And I Nobody was really able to hear a word of what the first uh public comment was. >> Okay. >> If that if you'd like to repeat your comments, we want to make you guys okay with that. >> Yes. >> We don't want the public to be silent. >> Yes. Well, and before just if you can start speaking and then let's just make sure everybody can hear. Sure. All right. Can everybody hear me? Craig Daki folks online hear that? >> Much better. >> Thank

015you. >> I'm still not going to get the name right at the front of my head. >> That's just say 2% everybody. >> Perfect. So, so yeah. So, thank you again. Um I'll try and recap as I can. um basically expressing disappointment in the progress made with the last set of cuts after referendum here largely in comparison to um what the hein board event did relative to the public charge around he administration um you know there's a lot more work to be done but there's a noted contrast there and um we feel a lot more can be done here at RAM uh secondly there was a discrepancy from our perspective in what Dr. Mcamero had described at the last meeting regarding a shared psychologist um that an offer was put out to the towns to

016do that in an effort to try and save cost but there was basically crickets no response from the towns that's inconsistent with information that we got from Dr. saying there was lengthy conversation. Um and again the reason for Hebrin opting out at this point was the cost at the RAM rate um for the shared psychologist split in two for Hein to take that on would be as much as Hein at their rate taking it on full-time. So two to one more cost at RAM than allocations within the districts within the towns. Um so somebody remembered that incorrectly you know it would be nice to get that clear out. Um then again regarding the 2% fund, you know, it feels to the public like that fund, albeit with some of the things you just described that

017can be accomplished with it at your discretion, um it seems like the public is edged out. We it does not build trust. Um it does not feel like transparency. Um we are all in favor of the capital project uh planning um components. So looking forward to seeing if I can make tomorrow. Um appreciate that. Um, and likewise, if there are expenses, big expenses that come up, you know, there's a process to follow that. So, as part of establishing trust, transparency, long-term sustainability, we want to be involved. We'd rather it take a little longer and know and be able to partner than have this methodology where there's over budgeting seemingly, I'll just say seemingly to accommodate the the allocation to that fund. And then we, you know, nobody knows really. I shouldn't say nobody knows. I'm

018sure there's published information, but we're not involved, right? Um lastly, the the last piece again was around just overall engagement, right? We're looking for more transparency. You know, it's not that there isn't any now, but we want more of it. We want it to be more collaborative, uh more responsibility, sustainability, long-term approach, and partnership of the community versus doing it the way it's already been done all this time. So, I'm not necessarily um discrediting what's been done, but we want it to be done better, different, more involved, long-term sustainability for everyone in all the communities. So, about covers it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um Yousef, can you give your report one more time? Sorry. >> Yeah. So, a couple of things that happened was the AB testing concluded and there was a senior and

019junior prom and something's going on right now is the sports senior nights. That's throughout all the sports. Some already happened like lacrosse happened today and so is baseball. And there's the honors breakfast and high school awards like that's coming up. >> Great. Thank you. Appreciate it. Um and then the uh board chair report. I thanked the board members for their time on the budget. Um there's, you know, we're aware that a lot of board members get approached directly by constituents. um emails, phone calls, just running into each other and we really appreciate the time. Um it has been a contentious budget process. Um we just really appreciate the efforts of of everybody. I also mentioned that the next district meeting, which is when the board votes to just put the the budget through to to

020vote on the referendum, is going to be Monday, May 26th at 9:30 25th, sorry. May 25th, um the Monday at 9:30 in the morning. Um that's a little unusual for us, but we do recognize it's a holiday weekend and we wanted to, you know, kind of get the business taken care of so people could enjoy enjoy their holiday. Um that has been posted on the town website and the uh public does have the opportunity to log in and watch that. So I wanted to highlight the change in time. Um finally the campus tour is tomorrow at 6:00 meeting outside the middle school main entrance. Uh what we have done is invited elected officials to and uh Hein Boyce River East um and we will be inviting the community either later tonight or first thing tomorrow

021morning where they can join us. And the goal of the campus tour is to actually show the items that are going to be in this year's CIP, but also to highlight things that have been accomplished through the 2% in previous years. So, we will be walking around the campus and pointing these things out and giving the community an opportunity to actually put their own eyes on them and see what we're talking about when we say, you know, loading dock needs to be fixed. We're going to show you the loading dock and you can see um what needs to be done. So hopefully we we have had some people who have RSVPd. Um we also invited along with the uh three member towns. Um as Colin said, we just went to the chairs of the towns

022because we have to be careful not to have more than three people from any given board or it makes an illegal meeting. So we kind of have to manage how many um folks are coming. So each of the member towns I believe are sending folks from their boards of finance. Um we also invited Steve wear Kathy Austin and the rep from Andover >> MD Ramen I'll get it someday um to participate. So um you know that's the goal of of that particular um activity is just to kind of show off the CIP projects. 6 p.m. >> 6 pm here in front of this main entrance. So, that I think catches us up on all the things that we mentioned. Um, brings us to the superintendent. >> Do we want to make sure that there's not

023a member of the public that didn't hear us say that it's public comment opportunity? >> Oh, right. Was there anybody online? Um, that's a that's a great point. >> Was there anybody online that wanted to make public comment that didn't have an opportunity to do so? I have one sort of correction to your report which you said you say it's posted on the town website. Well, there are three towns. >> Well, >> and and I don't know if it's >> it's it was posted on our district website today and it was being handd delivered this afternoon before the closing of business to each of our three member towns. Sorry if some they may have posted it, they might but it's been it's been given to each of us. >> No, ju just in in general

024we we often talk about the town um and because he is so so dominant in population and so on right now but there are three of us two other smaller towns right Amy >> um that brings us to the superintendent. >> Yeah. So I'll just again starting off with you know some positive news. It was staff appreciation week here. Um it's at RAM for at both schools the week of May 4th. We had a lot of um a lot of things going on. Um I wanted to start off by thanking members of the community because um well obviously thanking our teachers and our staff for all the work that they do, but one of the things that we've tried to do over the past couple of years is really expand our teacher or staff appreciation

025week. We don't it's not just teacher appreciation week or or par educator appreciation week. We we really just want to make sure that everybody um has that sense of that they are appreciated for the um for what they do for the for the entire community. Um you know, we had lunches, we had um ice one day. We we had a a parent in the community who who owns a um a donut and an ice cream truck. He actually pulled his pulled that food truck right out to the front of the facility and and and was here for four or five hours and just donated things to staff. and we had a lot of members in the community making donations of of gift cards and and and a variety of different things that were used as

026as raffles each day. And and you know, again, I appreciate everybody's pitching in because we want to make sure that we do send that very loud and clear message to our staff. It just we are so appreciative of the work that we do here every day for our students and it's really a great week. Um, one of the things that I just wanted to to highlight as well, you know, there's obviously been a lot of talk about the budget and one of the things that came out relatively recently in the past couple of weeks and and I'm sure that you've seen things on the news about it is there's been some supplemental funding for education that recently was provided by the state. Um, this is a report dated May 7th, 2026. It's it's not in

027your packet, but what we did is it talks about that supplemental funding. Um it's it's funding that doesn't come directly to region 8 because we're a regional school district. It's it's provided to school districts in the same way that ECS um funding goes out which is it goes to the member towns and then the member towns can use it to reduce the um taxpayer burden of of educational spending. Um you know the good news is that our three towns got a total of approximately $438,000 in in supplemental funding. We did take this and actually put a link to it on our website on our budget page. We did that earlier on today, but if people are looking for information um about that supplemental funding, it can be found at our website. Um one of the

028things that was mentioned uh at our last budget hearing that we had was there was questions about the um enrollment projections that we've gotten. We as I as I've said, we use NASDAQ to get our enrollment projections. Um there was some comment about you know maybe we need to do a better job of having more accurate reload projections um because we obviously we utilize those projections uh to help us create the budget not only you know for for the year that we're moving into but then obviously thinking long term as well. Um we had a meeting today with a demographer uh that would be different potentially from NZDC to kind of talk about the services that they provide. We're also going to we're going to continue to explore um we're working with our member towns

029to try to do that. Right now we each pay an individual amount from individual towns um in in using NASDAQ and the approach that we're taking is is try to be more collaborative and say you know maybe there's a if we if we all agree to work with a particular demographer that we could um you know see some discounted rates with regards to that. So that work continues to try to see if there are other opportunities for us to either save money or work with another vendor that potentially could give us some more accurate projections. Um, one of the things that there's talk about is is obviously regionalization and and um sharing of services and obviously that's something that we're always working to achieve. One of the things actually that we received a communication from

030Eastcon, which is our local um rest, is uh they're actually going to be having a meeting on May 29th for superintendent and special education directors from school districts in the East kind of area to go and talk to you about um shared services with regards to special education programs. you know, a lot of school districts like us, we create specialized programs that we that serve the needs of our uh community, but there's always an opportunity potentially to to to say, "Hey, we could take a student from Colchester because this program that we have here at Region 8 would benefit this particular student of this particular profile." But the problem is you often don't know about what specialized programs that different districts have. So, we put it out to Eastcom. They they they created a um

031a form where we said, "Do you have they asked school districts, do you have any specialized programs that we'd be interested in potentially talking about bringing in tuition students. We communicated with them. We have a resilience program is is a great program that we have here in districts. It's really meant for students who are tend to be school avoidant. Um and so we'll go and we'll we can talk about the services that we offer at the speed and then we can learn about other services we've offered by other public school districts. The benefit to doing something like this is you can realize cost savings because a local school district might not charge you say as much as a a private um or not for-profit company like a um that for tuition rates are could be

032significantly higher. So again just a way that we're looking to potentially um you know seek savings uh currently and in the future. Um and finally uh at board members each board member's place is our latest edition of the Rambler which is our high school um periodical that comes out and uh just wanted to provide that again. It's great work done by our students and we want to make sure we show that. >> Okay, that brings us to item eight on the agenda which is the student program spotlight the youth manufacturing pipeline initiative. Yeah. So, this is some this is a program that I really have wanted to highlight for a while. I'm I'm glad that we're able to do it. The timing, I think, couldn't be better because we are I've communicated this with with

033members of the board. Um it's a great program that is providing an opportunity for students to learn a very valuable skill uh both for themselves and for society as a whole, which is manufacturing. Um and Paul Venous is our teacher of our manufacturing program um or courses that we offer here at High School and he's going to talk a little bit about a specific initiative that that puts kids right to work at very high paying high yield jobs. So thanks so much for coming Paul. Appreciate it. >> Yeah, my pleasure. Uh once again, my name is Paul Hannish. I'm a welding and manufacturing teacher at Rand High School and I do in fact live uh in town. So I want to take this opportunity to highlight our program. Uh, personally I think the welding manufacturing

034lab at Ram High School is the best kept secret in the building. And I think it's a sh I really want to highlight our program, get out there, show more of what exactly happens in that room that occasionally makes the hallway smell. I would like to uh really highlight that. Uh, so we can go to the next slide. So I'm here to highlight our YMPI pro uh program in our course of studies. The class is called manufacturing for industry and it's kind of a senior capstone class. It happens spring semester of the senior year. It takes up two periods so it is a full credit class and it's a partnership between the Connecticut State Community College System, local high schools, the Eastern Connecticut workforce um board or e-whip and the Connecticut State Department of Labor

035as well as our industry partners um to transition high school students directly across the graduation stage and to begin employment immediately. So some of the things that we cover back there one second one more. So some of the things that we cover are measurements. We use precise and semi-precise measurements down to what machinists would call a tenth or five 1000 of an inch. So we can get pretty precise. Uh we study print reading taking uh two dimensional objects and rendering them in three dimensions. We spend a lot of time on layout accurately placing different features that you would see on a part, hand tool use, machine use, uh lathes, mills, drill presses, um as well as an ocean 10 certification. We go to the next slide. So, how do you enroll in our YNPI program?

036So, it's pretty simple. It's pretty straightforward. Uh number one, you have to be a senior. It's only uh open to seniors. Uh you have to have passed introduction to manufacturing. That's really the only class requirement that we have and you have to be able to pass an eskills assessment through the Eastern Workforce Commission Board and then have an interest in pursuing a career in manufacturing. We do recommend that you take at least two other classes or one full credit in any of our other uh shop environments. So in our manufacturing and welding lab, there's intro to manufacturing, manufacturing technology one, manufacturing technology 2, and welding one two and three. In our engineering lab, we have introduction to engineering, aerospace engineering, principles of engineering, robotics, architectural design. And in our construction lab, we have applications of

037construction, principles of construction, and cabinet making and furniture. Next slide. Uh, so I'm only really going to talk about what happens in my lab, in the welding and manufacturing lab. I would not presume to talk about what my colleagues go over. They're more than um they're probably far better versed to speaking about their programs than I am. So, our beginning course is introduction to manufacturing. In this course, I assume no prior knowledge um or any work experience at all in any sort of shop environment. Uh we cover shop safety extensively as well as the proper use of hand power tools. Uh students should leave this class with the understanding of shop procedures and protocols. They should be able to take semi-precise and precise measurements and be familiar with processes of cutting, bending, rolling sheet metal

038as well as an introduction to some of our more advanced processes, smaller lathe projects, mill products, and a little introduction to welding. Next slide. If they choose to continue on, we have manufacturing technology one. And I treat this course kind of like the development of American industry um and show off some different processes. Uh we start off at our blacksmithing station and we create one of a kind parts using historic techniques and procedures. We then move into the early industrial uh revolution with the invention of tin plate and sheet metal and then we move on into the later industrial revolution uh with some more advanced manual uh lathe and mill skills and then move into the digital revolution with our CNC process. We have a CNC lathe, a CNC mill and a CNC plastic cutter.

039I treat this as a operator's course. So, uh students will be able to leave this class uh with a series of projects and tools that they've made themselves. Next slide. We also have manufacturing technology 2. This is more of what I've designed as a um milright and technicians course. Uh in this case, we look specifically at machinery themselves, how you go about maintaining, repairing and troubleshooting problems on them. We look at two major power delivery systems to machines which are electric motors and gas engines. Um and then how to uh hook them up to different uh machinery and how those machineries would operate. So if you have an electric motor, you hook it up to a mill. What does that do? You have a gas uh engine, you hook that up to a generator. How

040does that produce power? How do you troubleshoot problems uh with both power delivery and machinery itself? Important things that we study in this course are reading diagrams, finding part numbers, troubleshooting problems, 12 uh volt wiring, and the ability to use different tools and tests to uh troubleshoot problems. Next slide. If you decide to take our welding track, we start with welding technology one and we focus on the most common welding processes that the home hobbyist welder would probably need, which is um our MIG welding and our stick welding. Um, we also cover welding safety extensively. Um, this year I signed us up with Miller Welders through their open book program which allows students to get um, various certifications on different welding processes and other certifications. It's like getting Google certified but for next slide. If

041you continue onto our welding technology 2 and welding technology 3 classes, this is our advanced welding uh where we focus more on advanced MIG and stick techniques and then introduce uh TIG welding as well as oxyen class. Uh students in this opportunity to get additional miller credentials in uh specific welding processes. So the first semester uh they would be able to take either stick or MIG to specialize in and then specializing in TIG the second uh semester and then if they came back for welding technology 3 which are two courses I run concurrently they would get certified in the other area that they didn't do for welding too. Next slide. And then all of this culminates in our manufacturing for industry the YMPI program uh where we take all of those skills in those earlier

042classes and really drill down. Uh this is a class that was put together by state department of labor Connecticut uh state community college system and our industry partners for different skills that our industry partners whether they be electric boat um radon col whoever they are uh different skills that they would want to see floor apprentices have right out of high school. Uh for us we focus extensively on job uh readiness and placement and the final evaluation is administered uh at Quinnabot Valley Community College by their machine instructors. Our students this year are getting ready to take their exams on Thursday. So we've been building up to this for the entire year. Uh it's a high stress time for them. It's a high stress time for me. Uh so Friday morning they'll finally be able to

043sleep. Uh, next slide. But nobody wants to hear from me. Uh, I've done enough talking. Uh, program's only as good as the students that it produces. And in this case, um, when you originally approached me to line this up, all our seniors were definitely excited and wanted to be here tonight. And then a couple of weeks later, they politely informed me that today was senior skip day and that they had clients. Uh, so we recorded their testimonials, which if you've ever worked with high schoolers, you know the herculean feat it is to get them to say anything on camera. So that's a testament to how much they would have loved to have been here uh if they had otherwise. So we'll play uh their testimonies. >> My name is Nathan Ramos and I have taken

044welding one and two in the pipeline industry class. Uh my experience at the manufacturing classroom is it's different than your average uh elective. You have hands-on learning activities. Uh I learned how to operate multiple machines and I enjoyed welding because it is fun but also a career path. My favorite memory in uh welding one was when I made my first project. It was uh Rose out of sheet metal. And um this program prepared me for my career after high school by providing me with hands-on direct direct hands-on training. And my plan for after high school is to get employed at a welding company such as Electric Boat or Colombia Manufacturing. Hi, my name is Isabelle Gavish and so far the CTE classes that I have taken that I have taken was welding one and manufacturing

045one and two. I'm currently taking welding tech in the youth manufacturing pipeline. Um, my experience in the welding and manufacturing programs is actually learning what it's like to be in a shop like that and the environment that it is. and anytime that I needed help, I had my teacher to rely on to help me get unstuck from the problem that I know was stuck in. Um, I learned how to fabricate using sheet metal and how to use drill presses, mills, lathes, and I also learned how to stick weld, MIG weld, take weld, and how to solder. Um, I enjoyed learning how to make things using many different using many different processes from drill presses um to like mills and lays along with using the welding techniques. Um, my favorite memory in this class was spending

046the time doing what like spending time doing what I enjoy with my friends as well as learning things that I never thought that I would be able to learn at my age and in school. Um, and so after high school, um, this class has prepared me for, um, I had gotten a job offer from Electric Boat and it opened up more opportunities such as CT State if I decide to go there, um, if EB doesn't work out. But my plan for after high school is to pursue is to pursue my job with EB and also have a backup plan at CT State if that isn't really exactly my ideal place to be. >> Hi, I'm David Reed. Uh I've taken loaning one, two, and three and intro to manufacturing one and two and I've taken

047applications of construction and architecture design. My experience with the manufacturing welding program, it helped me a lot with going through school and giving me a reason to go to school. I've always been more of a hands-on learner and it gave me a creative outlet that wasn't just art classes with drawing and stuff like that. I learned how to make sculptures and weld and forge and stuff like that. Some of my favorite things I've done was learning all three of the welding processes, including MIG, TIG, and stick. I've also done some oxy acetylene welding, which was pretty cool. Um, my favorite thing I've done probably was forging. It's really creative and there's something about having a super hot piece of metal and hitting it with a hammer that's just different than everything else. This career jobs

048kind of classes where you do hands-on stuff is really important to kids like me who don't want the college course. And this these courses helped me get a job at electric boat as a nuclear submarine welder. Um, and those are my plans after high school is to do that and get as rich as possible by welding. And I couldn't have done it without Mr. Hannish, who definitely does not get paid enough and deserves a raise. So for the CTE classes that I've taken, I've taken, you know, the YMPI, welding 2, welding one, and intro to manufacturing. And my experience with the manufacturing and welding program was really good. I've never had any bad experiences in this class. I learned a lot about how to stick weld, how to read a stick, what amperage to use

049when I'm welding MIG and stick and other different uh strategies to make sure my weld was good, especially after bringing in the welding teacher from Electric Boat. He showed me a lot about what I'm supposed to do and how I can fix some personal errors. I definitely enjoyed welding. Welding was definitely the best class for me because I could just put in an AirPod, listen to music, and just kind of do my own thing as long as I got what I needed to get done on time. And one of my favorite memories of this class would probably be making the toolbox because I messed it up so many times and it was backwards from from everybody else's, but it was mine in its own special way. And this program prepared me for after school because

050it allowed me to gain some sort of skills that would let me do things that aren't just academic related like welding. You never know when you could use a welder for something. And you never know when you could need the knowledge on how to use a mill or a drill press or something like that out in the real world. And my plan for after high school is I enlisted in the army as a 15 Romeo Apache attack helicopter repairer. and these classes help me learn how to work with my hands a little bit better so that I'm more self-prepared for that journey. Thank you. >> I'm uh Seth. I've taken YMPI, welding one, welding 3, uh intro to manufacturing, and a YMPI course. Uh my general experience throughout uh every single different class was uh

051overall like really great. It was a it was a good escape from just sitting at a desk the whole day and uh you know not doing anything with my hands. I'm a very hands-on guy. Um I learned how to do uh pre precision manufacturing, semi-precise measurements, all three different welding processes, and uh basically anything I could need to prepare me for my future career at uh EB. Um, my favorite memory from this class, uh, from the classes was probably, um, going to QVCC, uh, for a, uh, like shop day. And, uh, I'm going to electric boat for a, uh, job as a structural welder, welding together the holes of nuclear submarines. Yeah. So, you notice that a lot of those students um I mentioned getting a job at. I'd like to say that out of

052our entire class of 2026 for the YMPI, uh six students have been offered jobs at electric welding yard. Uh five have accepted. The only one who didn't uh as you saw up there had already signed the military. So once uh once kind of that tour wind lines up. We may end up with six there all the time. >> That's great. >> Um, additionally, um, just because it's always nice to hear other people as well. Uh, I brought two other students from last year as part of our YMPI class of 2025. Uh, they took the class, they passed the test, they got a job in industry, and perhaps most importantly have maintained employment a year later. So, I think that's that's, you know, that's what we're that's what we're doing here. That's the entire point of

053the program. And Scott, to your point, uh, Kin is a dominant town, but both of the gentlemen here today represent our central town today and harbor. I'm a little bit underprepared compared to everyone else, but the this class taught me a bunch of things that you wouldn't really think about before, you know, you get into either a class or a job of this type. Um, just everything from like how to hold tools and use certain tools properly by a way of like injuring yourself. uh little things in safety that um nobody really thinks about thinks that's serious but thinks is very serious and people that have been injured by you know not using it properly. Um it prevents people more people from getting hurt in the shop later on in the job. A lot of

054the things like uh riging prints they seem relatively simple at first like a lot of the pieces we get in the beginning but I I know that I'm doing um like structural like manufacturing right now when I talk uh that they're doing structural work for EV basically build the buildings that they use to build something Um the the prints there are it would be very very overwhelming for somebody who's never seen one before anything before. Um and I'm assuming you know every other industry that works with metal works with blueprints tolerances. That's something you've never been like exposed to before. you you are getting thrown in head first at any job, you're not you're going to be in a little bit of trouble. Uh learning those things early on, even if it's a really really

055basic outline of it, is extremely useful, more than I could imagine when I was taking the class. Many people that aren't in this kind of industry could imagine. Um, going back on my tool usage, um, I use an angle grinder uh, quite often at my job. A lot of the safety that Mr. Hannish forced on us that I didn't like at the time, I realized is significantly more important that other than that I'm using one almost every day at work for, you know, hours on end. You make a small mistake that this talk to you is like you make a small mistake with the angle grinder, it can cause, you know, not so great injuries. Um, so learning safety early on, having it embedded into me by, you know, getting in trouble for not using

056it properly, um, is it's helped me. It's helped keep myself safe. It's helped keep others safe. Uh, I've been more wary of when other people at my job haven't been using it properly or the other people around me. I feel like just being exposed to, you know, shops are dirty, shops are very, very loud most of the time. At least mine is. Um, it's good to be like exposed to that stuff early on before you get a job to it or before you get a job in it. Um, because if you get a job and you don't like it, too loud, too dirty, too much work, things are too heavy, whatever your issue may be. being exposed to it early on is um before you get a career in it, before you start like putting

057time that you can be using something else is very useful. As well as I like the I like the loud, dirty, heavy stuff everywhere, which I'm glad I got to take the classes because now I know that I'll give uh the last word. It's unfortunate that Jason didn't have anything to read off of, but I'll try to present myself as best I can. Um, I would take this class 10 times over again if I had the chance because it has taught me so many skills that fortunately I have actually gotten the chance to use but I am very much looking forward to using eventually and I'm sure taking it 10 times over even if I was taught new things every year would still be more stuff for me to learn and my autistic hyperfixation for

058the detailed stuff of that will go on for the rest of my life. And I definitely have gained so much with so much confidence in my ability to do machining processes and working in a shop environment from Mr. Hish's class. And he also has a very good sense of humor and charm and it's really fun. He's a very very very fun teacher and I do agree with whoever said we can raise and yeah it's I mean I have so much drive to learn uh because of myself um it has given me so much confidence and pride in learning and knowing how to do stuff in this field that it definitely gives me a lot of mental security and like job security and comfort in uncertain times that we live in right now to talk about

059while >> you didn't move your models. You guys did a great job. >> Perfect. >> Uh, does the board have any questions or anything that I can address while I'm here? >> You seem to have a pretty tight relationship with ED. Um, and also through their their suppliers. Um, are there other manufacturing companies that you >> So, the big one is Electric Boat. Um, the youth manufacturing pipeline program is sometimes colloquially called program even though that's not exclusively what it is. uh just being in the part of the state that we're in, they're the major power player. So, a lot of things go through all roads go through EV at some point, even through some of the smaller manufacturers like Commer, they end up being subcontractors to them. A big part of that is just

060the nature of the system. Even if you were to go out the other direction more towards the Connecticut Valley where you have more uh smaller aerospace companies, all roads eventually lead to BRA. All roads eventually lead to RAIN. Uh that's just kind of the the nature of the industry. So I do I'm always looking to increase our relationship with other uh vendors, but the big boys are kind of where they are. >> This is great. I agree with you that this is the best kept secret at RAM. When we began the high school search with my oldest four years ago, I was shocked to see the CT offerings. I had no idea they were here. And what made it so wonderful is that he was able to attend his hometown school and receive the technical

061education that we wanted for him. So, thank you for all you're doing for the program and your students. >> That's uh that's kind of my goal for the program is to be a sort of technical school for uh kids who have fallen through the gaps. People who realize that maybe they don't want to necessarily go through the college track but didn't know that at the age of 13 when they make you sign up for tech school. So, I would like that to be another stop for that and show that there's a proven path from high school to industry without necessarily having to go through the college. Do you think there's more demand from EB um year to year? Like this year, what does it say five out of six, but say would if there was

06212 kids that wanted to go to EB, do you think there would be capacity at EB for like a dozen RAM kids to go and >> presently? Yes. Um, [clears throat] EV right now is in the process of hiring. I want to I don't want to get my statistics wrong, but I I think they're looking to increase their workforce by 8,000 in the next couple years. >> Yes. >> They're looking to increase production, I think, from two submarines a year to four or something like that. Um, and programs like ours, especially through the YPI, our major feeder programs for that. Uh just talking with our uh industry partner, one of the supervisors at the weld school, uh students in our program have been up against long lines of other applicants uh to the point where

063they've had to stop taking walk-in appointments uh for job fairs that we've signed up for. And the jobs that they are being offered, they're being offered not at base pay, but with the step increase through uh what they've been able to show through the interview and skills they acquire. So what what I'll just sure Paul can correct me if I'm wrong or comment if I'm you know if I'm on the right track but I EV is definitely the power play around here but I will tell you that there is a shortage of manufacturer of of people going in this field >> nationwide. It's one of the reasons why this is such a great program. I have a a good friend of mine that uh operates a manufacturing company in Stafford and they're constantly looking for

064people with the skill set that this program is designed to provide to students. My my brother-in-law is has been a career welder. He's currently working in General Electric um out in Erie, Pennsylvania, but he weld he puts together trains similar, you know, not doing subs, but doing trains. um he traveled the country for four or five years before he settled in at GD making more money than he knew what to do with as a travel world because your your hourly rate of pay because you're rolling in the ground is is getting significantly better and so um it's a shortage everywhere and you know there's a lot of local manufacturing companies that are you know that certainly would be great resource for us and partner for us. You know, Paul does field trips with his students

065to other manufacturing company plants as well. And I mean, it is it is a absolutely phenomenal. >> We're going out to visit Brent with me on Wednesday, right? >> And and a lot of these programs too when when people become employees of these programs, they get tremendous benefits under those employment agreements, you know, they get, you know, things like tuition reimbursement um for for if you wanted to if you wanted to go to school. Um, my, as I said, my brother-in-law was a welder for GE. My sister, my sister-in-law was worked in the manufacturing industry in GE. She was, her position was eliminated, but they paid for her to go to school and she became a registered nurse post working for General Electric and so, you know, because they want their base to well. So,

066it's it's really it's a tremendous industry to get into. It's testament to all obviously the program was successful. to your point, generous retirement benefits, retirement match, good health benefits. >> Yeah, usually pretty competitive vacation. But yeah, >> I should [laughter] I just there might be other questions, but I want to thank Paul for coming tonight. Um I want to thank you guys for being here tonight. You didn't need a script written down. You did great. You guys watch be board if you want to be board of education members. Elections will be up, you know, in a couple years. And just uh just before I leave, I'd like to thank the building administration, the board for their support and more importantly, most important uh the voting public without the support we couldn't do. Thank you very

067much. There's so much more [laughter] afterwards. >> You did great. Okay, that brings us to item nine on the agenda, which is the consent agenda. >> So, on the consent agenda, there are minutes from a few meetings as well as the approval of policies. There's two policies up for um these are both up for a second reading, which would uh again, if the consent agenda is approved, these policies would be put into place. So, it's our social networking policy and our uh student confidentiality of educational records. Um, both of these came as a first read last board meeting and there were no questions or concerns about either of them. So, I would recommend consult. >> Okay. Do we have a motion? >> Move. >> Scott Soyette. Do we have a second? >> I'll second it.

068>> Mike Bolier. Any other discussion on the consent agenda? >> Okay. All in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? Anyone abstain? Okay. Brings us to item 10, which is new and unfinished business. 10.1 is the Chartwells presentation for RAM food service program. >> So, as the board may be aware, we work with Chartwells as a food service management company who helps uh us run our food service program both here and at Marro Elementary School through the inter school agreement. Um Jamie Davis who is the district uh manager is online and he will be doing a presentation on Chartwell's art program as a current. >> Good evening everyone. Can you hear me? >> Yes we can. >> All right. Thank you. Uh yes. As Eva said my name is Jamie Davies. I work as an area

069director uh for Chartwells and we are you know very happy to be partnering with RAM uh as your food service provider. Um and I want to thank you for the opportunity to be able to present tonight. You go to the next slide please. Uh so this is you know this is us. This is Chartwells. This represents your your on-site uh team. Heather Partridge is the uh the director. she's here with us tonight. Uh she can answer any questions at the end. Uh myself, again, I work as the area director. I support uh roughly about a dozen districts across the state. Uh region 8 being one of them. Uh then we have Elena who is our uh registered dietitian that helps out in the district. And um this slide is just to kind of illustrate the

070support that goes beyond the district. Uh you can see we have finance uh support, culinary again, nutrition uh support as well as marketing support that that is uh often in the district and um is there to to provide assistance to Heather and the on-site team. You go to the next slide. And these are the ones that that really make it happen. These are our hourly associates that uh are cooking and serving the students every day. Uh we have Heather here. Um she is our lead. She's uh stirring up some stuff in the tilt skillet there. Uh then we have the other members of the team, Dorne, Meen, uh Karen, Roxy, and then uh Nancy over here cutting up some uh some good-looking pizzas, getting those ready to go. So, yes, these are this is the

071core of of our program right here. And these guys do an awesome job. We were very fortunate coming into the district. We were able to uh retain a large portion of the team uh and added uh a couple key members. So, great job here. Um just a few things that have happened around the district the last several months. Um you know, when we got into the district, we we surveyed the students right away. We wanted to know what they what they want to eat, what they enjoy, what they're looking for in their program. uh a lot of the results we got back from the survey, you know, they want healthy, they want local, they want um you know, convenient, they want a a large variety. Um so that's you know, certainly what we focused on

072and continue to focus on um and constantly soliciting feedback from the students. It's it's very important for what we do. Um AR review. So many of you probably aren't aware, but every 5 to 6 years, the dining service programs and public school systems need to go what they call through an administrative review, which is a very very indepth audit. Uh we were lucky enough to be chosen for one this year. Uh and there is just a ton a ton of work that goes into it. Eva can certainly attest to this. Um but it went uh phenomenal. probably, you know, I've been in the part of many many of them and this uh this was probably the best one that we I've been I've been a part of. Uh it was actually so great that the

073uh bureau chief for the state department of education uh their dining that handles the audit joined our exit interview just a it's a compliment of of all the great things that we're doing in the district. So kudos to to Eva and Heather and the team there. uh the empty bowls project. Um I imagine many of you are aware of this, but I think it's run by the art department every year where they get together, they make some bowls, and then they serve some soup and all the proceeds go to some um some local food pantries or shelters. Um Heather was a big part of this night. Uh just coordinating um the soups are pretty much all donated by local restaurants and grocerers. Uh, so Heather, you know, helps out with with preparing the soups, heating

074them up and and serving them. Another thing we've been doing, you know, kind of a going down the sustainability track is, you know, donating uh kind of some food rescue stuff. Any food that that might not be utilized, we we've look to uh work with lo local shelters to donate. Go to the next slide there. Uh and this slide just kind of encapsulate encapsulates what we what we want to do. We want to serve seasonal um you know seasonal produce is great local whenever we can we can get it. Uh New England growing season as you know is is pretty limited but there are stuff that we can get uh almost year round and you know certainly focus on it. Uh this was a nice uh citrus tasting that we did um I think it

075was in January so it was during citrus season. Um, you know, just a large variety of the uh the oranges here. Satsuma, I think we had carakara, my favorite, some grapefruit, some blood oranges, and then in the middle there is a uh a homemade limeade that that Heather made for the students to sample. Um, again, everything we do, we want to, you know, local, seasonal, and we want to engage the students. We want them to try new things. We want them, you know, to educate them on making uh smart choices. a bunch of local different apples. You know, we're we're fortunate to have a lot of farms in the area, a lot of orchards um to provide the apples. So, again, just fun stuff that that we're trying to do in the calves to to

076uh engage the students. Next slide, if you would. Um these are just a couple other ones. This is a a local uh apple cranberry crisp that uh we made and we're serving to the students. And these were just some dumplings. What we focused on here was a was an Asian uh local zucchini. This came came to us from a local farm. So students got to to sample it, eat it for for their lunch, and then there was a whole, you know, educational piece around where the zucchini came from the farm. Um, another, you know, just some things that we we've done throughout the year. We call these seasonal limited time offers. just kind of changing the envel. Uh we started out in the fall with what we call dip into flavor. Uh students love to

077dip things in a variety of different sauces, you know, spicy, sweet, tangy. So we we had a lot of creative sauces from I think there's a Sriracha mustard in there, a pickle horseeradish, some mango jerk. So just students could try these. they could they could uh sample them. They could take them with their meal if they wanted. Um, and as I said, a lot of these have stuck around because the students just enjoyed them so much. We actually put them on the deli now for uh sandwich spreads and the students are loving them. Uh, as we went into the cooler months, you know, kind of the the homemade uh comfort food items, some some chilies and and stuff like that. Um, we offered the students and then kind of a play on spring blooming into

078breakfast. Uh, we did some overnight oats, a lot of healthy, uh, breakfast options. It's not always easy to get the students to eat breakfast, but we certainly uh, gave it our best shot. And we did a lot of breakfast for lunch. Students tend to really enjoy that one. Um, they don't necessarily eat it in the morning, but they they really enjoy it for for lunchtime. And then just finishing the year out with some, you know, some fun and celebration type things, end of year barbecues and some some favorites. Go to the next slide there. Um, and you know, it's very important that we take care of the uh the staff, the faculty, and and the administration in the building. Uh, so we we we offer a robust catering menu and, you know, we work with

079the teams. Uh, Dr. America was saying, you know, staff appreciation and this is really a great way to highlight the culinary talent that we have in the building. You know, school lunch is great, but there are some, you know, there's only sometimes there's only so much you can do it it with some restrictions, but really the um the catering is is where we really get to highlight and then the chefs get to have some fun. Go to the next slide. Uh fresh spaces. Uh this is intended to show some of the marketing. These pictures really don't do it justice. Uh we've really spruced up the uh the serving areas with some colorful signage. Uh some nutritional education, promotional stuff. Um you know, I imagine the majority of you are are are in the building or

080near the building sometimes during lunch. I would encourage you to to stop in and and really see what the what they look like. But yeah, they're they're really I mean very fortunate just as a district to be able to have these great spaces and you know I think we've we've spruced them up nicely. Um so yeah, that's kind of what's been going on. But most importantly, what what are we what are we looking forward to? Um you know, what we have kind of starting up this year and what we're going to uh end with this year and move on to next year. If you can continue on there. Uh expand local. Um this is, you know, it's a huge huge focus as it should be. Uh we have a a lot of great local farms

081that provide produce and meat in the area. Um the state of Connecticut and the federal government are providing a lot of grant funding to purchase from them. So we are we are taking every opportunity we can to to um to utilize that uh power up. Uh I know Heather has worked with I believe it's Kim in the uh the PE health department. um kind of just you know working with with student athletes and you know really just any active student you know what they want as far as sports nutrition and um stuff that you know when they are working out or um or doing you know different things what what can we do for uh for them? uh might, you know, look into items that students can take for to have before or after practice

082or, you know, if they have an away game, eat it on the bus on the way to the game or something like that. Um, really there's a lot of opportunity in in the PowerUp program. And then on the go kind of in somewhat in this realm, but you know, students are are very busy. you know, they're they're looking for convenience items to either, you know, take with them or have as a quick lunch. Uh bento boxes are a great opportunity for that. You know, this is one here, just some crude, some um homemade pita chips and homemade hummus. Um you know, different salads, but just healthy options that that students can eat on on the run. Next slide, please. Uh then this just a couple of programs that you know we we've we've kind of

083experimented with uh global eats. This is authentic uh international cuisines that uh students are uh provided. We put these on the menu. All of them come with an educational uh piece about the region and then uh you know some some little knickknacks as well. Um you know if it's the younger kids we give them stickers and some bracelets and stuff like that. just, you know, it's all about engaging the students, having fun, educating them, and uh hopefully um you know, getting them to make good good nutritional choices. Uh nutrition game on this one. This slide here is probably more to the the Marbor elementary students, but we'll certainly um customize it for for the high school middle students, but kind of just, you know, gamifying or incentivizing the the uh school meal program. Um, just

084have some fun with it. Next slide. I think that's it. So, I'll take any questions. Heather again is on the the on-site director. Um, >> are there any questions that anyone might have? >> How long is March? >> So, Marot uh so that the inter school agreement are will be completing our first year. Do we have to renew? So we're going to do that too at our next >> Okay. Are there any opportunities for any other towns to to join? >> Um so at this point because we are in a contract and going through the contract or going the process is going through the state process. Um it would be considered a material change. So we would have to go out to a bid to try that. >> Okay. And last question, sorry. Um, financially,

085do you know how much we benefited by bringing marble into the mix? >> So, >> yeah, that would have to be. So, I've never done a study to see if we out like we have in house versus outsourcing, but we have all of their resources have a food service dietician. There's lots of benefits that they provide to us for the management that we pay. >> I meant to have um I'm making an assumption that there was a there was a savings benefit of pulling Marvel into pulling them in. I'm not sure if it was the savings per se or if it was good because they're small. We're small. Um it it made us more marketable to get a food service. Got it. That helps. I'm >> Anybody else have questions? >> Almost. I know that

086Andover has been very happy for years with their relationship with Columbia. >> So, they're they're doing the same thing with Colombia that Barbara's doing with us. >> Look at that. One of those sea towns. >> Are there any additional questions? Is there anyone online? Okay. So as part of this presentation as well as Heather and Jamie are here um we also have to as part it's a regulation under the um USDA that we have to evaluate our lunch prices our meal prices um and there's a paid lunch equity tool that is a requirement that each district need to complete to ensure that the meal charges that we're charging families for federally um reimbured meals that we're covering the cost of Um so Mr. Davies was uh very was helpful in this process for me. So

087he was able to do this calculation for us. Um and so based on the calculation and the weighted averages um Mar both Marorrow and Graham need to increase their prices for meals by 10 cents. So, at this time, um, we are asking the board of ed to consider a 10- cent price increase for, um, for both, um, lunch and, uh, breakfast prices. >> And it says here, but that would not impact free and reduced families. Correct. >> So, do we have a motion to increase the meal prices for lunch at both schools by 10 cents as proposed for the start of the 2026 2027 school year? I'll make a motion. Hey, that was Jessica Hall. Do we have a second? >> Second, >> Scott. So, any other discussion on this? >> Okay. Um, all in

088favor? >> Anyone opposed? >> Anyone abstaining? >> Okay. Jamie and Heather, thank you very much for joining us and thank you to the board for considering that. >> Thank you. >> That brings us to 10.2, which is the personnel report. >> So, there's a memo in your um board packet uh three resignations to announce um well, resignations retirement. So, Andrew Barton, an English teacher at the high school, will retire effective uh June 30th, 2026. Uh these parts have been employed at the district since um August of 1997. Mike Brooks, English teacher at the high school, will also be retiring effective June 30th. 126. He has been employed in the district since uh August of 2000. And finally, Ethan Spanelli, science teacher high school, resigned effective June 30th, 2026. He has been employed since August 2025.

089And that concludes >> Okay. 10.3 is a discussion and possible action opposed 10 text books. Sorry, not textbooks. >> So, um we have a board policy regarding the adoption of textbooks um by the board. It's policy 6134 very similar to the policy related to the adoption of policies where it comes to the board in the first meeting and then it comes back um you know assuming there's no questions or concern about the recommended textbook for adoption for the following year um the board can adopt it at the second meeting. Um I had no questions. I had no concerns about either of the textbooks that have been presented and discussed at our last meeting. I would recommend that the board um approve the use of these textbooks for us for the next I'll make that motion.

090>> Okay. Scott Soyette. And then the second is Remy. Amy Roman. I think it's the key that [laughter] talk. >> Hi Rey. >> Remy. Um any other discussion on the textbooks? >> You said no. No push back. Very happy. >> Well, again, most of the kids they stay in the classroom. It's pretty rare that kids carry books back and forth to school. Okay. Um, all in favor? >> I I >> Anyone opposed? Anyone abstain? Okay. Thank you. Brings us to um item 10.4, discussion, possible action regarding the loading dock replacement project. >> Yeah. So, this is um I don't want to say strange, but it's just we have to do it in a little bit of a different way. we typ typically do it. So, as the board knows, one of the really the the

091largest project that we have as a part of our budget for next school year is the loading dock replacement. I talked about it at our last meeting. We went out to um we did an RFP request for proposals. We ended up receiving four bids. Uh enclosure 10.4 has information related to each one of those four bids. And the lowest bidder, the lowest qualified bidder is leading edge construction with a base bid amount of $440,000. Um, and then there's some additional money money that we will put into the budget for contingency. Um, but the board needs to approve I'm I'm sorry, the board needs to authorize me to enter into contract with Leading Edge Construction in order to complete this project. So, the motion is a little different than typical um in the sense that this

092is obviously contingent upon our capital uh budget passage. Um we, as the board knows, we are utilizing $235,000 from our fund for educational expenditures to to bring down the CIP budget for this particular project. Um, so the the language of this motion needs to be to authorize me to finalize and execute a contract with leading edge construction for the learning gap replacement upon the passing of the 2627 budget. This is a project that show I've shown before pictures of the the the current state the the loading dock. It is it is falling apart. Come tomorrow you'll be able to see it. Um, it is crumbling away. Um so uh again it's it is um wise for us to get me to uh have the authorization to enter into this contract upon the passing of hopefully

093CIP referendum and operating budget referendum on the 26th and then I can enter >> what happens if it doesn't >> the project is still going to need to be done. So this this so even if it even if it doesn't pass which I don't want to think about but if it doesn't pass um if it goes back to referendum three weeks later then um you know this is a project that is not going to be taken out of like this needs to be done. So, >> and so if we do have to go out to bid again, um most likely the price will increase on it due to all the >> plus we'd also have to have all the costs associated with going out to to so but if this doesn't pass this time around

094that those bids are already expired. >> No, it should it's a 60-day window I believe uh is what these were um guaranteed for. But again, we told them the project would start on July 1st. So you can still get >> is there any reason the reason is between the low and the high? I mean that's a significant amount of money is just >> yes probably their costs that they pay their employees as well and really see what the differences are in that regard there >> or they just said well they're going to have to >> yeah there's there are we you do see a big spread oftentimes with bids for for certain projects there's a lot of times where a company might bid just off the chance that we say they happen to be the

095lowest even though they're really high and you know It's it's kind of like a there's nothing there's no harm in bidding. >> Sure. >> You know, they're plenty busy. They have more than enough work. So, we're going to bid a little higher. Again, that's pure speculation. >> No, no, that's what I'm thinking. >> Yeah. So, I'll make the motion. >> Okay. So, the first is um Mike Bullier >> that do I have to restate it? >> Yeah, I would. Okay. to authorize the superintendent column Dr. Colin Mcamera to finalize an executed contract with leading edge construction for the loading dock replacement project upon passing of the 20 2026 2027 capital budget. That's my motion. >> I'll second. >> Scotty, any other discussion on that? >> All in favor? I >> I >> Anyone opposed? Anyone

096abstain? Okay. That brings us to um item 10.5, our financials. >> Okay. So, in your handouts, our enclosure 10.5A is um the anticipated net favorable position as of April 30th, 2026. Um I'm projecting $613,2 as uh being available. Um the revenue will have a more concise report as hopefully for the June meeting. Um it was going to be a little bit tight in terms of getting the financials ready for the June meeting, but at that time we will definitely know um the final amount for excess cost. um the expenditures all departments were given a May 15th deadline to encumber um their funds for this year. Um so that because again these funds were budgeted for the year that we're in and are supposed to be utilized for the year that we're in. So that's why

097the May 15th cut off was put in place. Um again, if there's extenduating circumstances, they're they can still spend. Um and then um all of these items need to be received and paid out no later than June 30th. Our capital improvement funds, the reports attached illustrate that there's $47,13246 available. Um 40,000 of that is earmarked for sidewalk comparison. We're going to be doing a walk through to identify the areas um that we're going to be working on this year. And 40,000 is really um what we do annually for um sidewalk repairs. the reserve for general education fund which is the 2% account. Um currently the net available position there is 301,2.96 um of which 235,000 is being um reallocated to um hopefully is reallocated to um the loading dock project um as was discussed at

098the public hearing on May 12th. Are there any questions that the board may have on this? Hearing none. Um 10.5B is the um [clears throat] next enclosure that we're going to be reviewing and this is um a budget appropriation transfers for use of funds from the current net favorable position. So we're requesting $268,676 um that can be spent on items that were pulled out from next year's um past. Um items that didn't make it into um next year. Um one of them being um one of the teachers wanted to um sought donations for um the firefighter gear and the fire chiefs didn't think that was a good idea. So unfortunately their acts didn't make it into the budget. So that's part of this. And then there's additional items um because we had an OSHA on

099OSHA review that came through that is helping us mitigate some of those um findings that um have yet to get finalized. Um so are there any questions that the board may have on me? >> I don't know if you saw mine >> I I I saw that I didn't get a chance to really delve into it. Um, just a year and a half ago or something, I I said it' be really nice if we had a different format for these that was easier to read. >> This is anonymous. So, I manually type these up. >> I looked at the wrong one. Oh, in the transfer >> I'm sorry. How about the next one? I'm jumping ahead. >> Okay. So, um, recommend a motion is to transfer $268,676 as presented in enclosure 10.5B to fund the

100costs of identified one-time purchases. We have a first. >> Oh, move. >> Okay. So that's um >> just going over the list. >> Mike, that was Mike Bolier. >> Yeah. >> Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> That's Rudy Del Fury. Anybody have any other questions about these? >> Are these things that we like covered in the budget presentations earlier in budget season? >> So the majority the majority of them, yes. So, it's it's things like furniture that they were things that we took out of next year's budget and then said like we're going to pre- purchase them to reduce. It's it's part of what we discussed last week. There are some additional things and we had Eva alluded to one. One is the firefighter gear. Again, there was conversations with some of

101the local fire departments about making donations to provide some of that equipment to help uh you know decrease the cost for implementation of that new class. It's going to be put in next year. that wasn't a part of next year's budget, but that's something that we was unexpected because basically it was determined that the donated equipment would not really have been safe and good for the kids to use. So, there's some things in there for that. There's as as linked to um we recently had a an OSHA assessment done and we're it's it's in our best interest to work with the consultant to help make sure that we are in compliance with all required OSHA regulations. So part of this is working with this consultant to help make sure that we are up to speed

102with OSHA requirements. One of the things that came out of that OSHA OSHA inspection was the fact that um we need to have uh eyewash stations in each of our custodial closets. That's an unexpected cost, but that's something that people can purchase now because one of the things [clears throat] in making sure that we show a good faith effort to make sure that we are in compliance with things that they've identified, then obviously it's it's in our best interest to demonstrate that effort to be in compliance. Um, one of the things uh you know, one of the things that's in here is we put I think 15 teacher chairs into next year's budget. That was actually taken out as a part of the last meeting. What we have been doing is we've been peacemealing, buying

10310 or 15 shares at a time, 10 or 15 shares at a time, 10 or 15 shares at a time, and slowly kind of building up to what what we need to be able to provide. If we purchase shares in larger quantities, we actually get reduced prices to our vendors. So, it makes it um as as you alluded to earlier, going back to when I presented the budget to the board in January, I talked about how we prior to even coming to you all as a board were about $800,000 in the reductions that had been made from the budget report that was initially presented. And so, some of like the chairs are a good a good example of that. There's science furniture that have come out of here um out of out of the budget

104at some point. So, it's a combination of things that were in next year's budget that we've already talked about reducing, plus things that are unexpected expenditures that we need to do and then there are things that were taken out of future year budgets like beyond next year that it just makes sense because um like one of the things um in here is virtual service. So, the virtual service for $42,000 that that's an upgrade that we need to be able to make. that never even made it into next year's budget initially because of the fact that it was a $42,000 pivot. So, we're we're trying to be strategic in how to utilize our our current net position and and the captures those purchases. >> Any other questions on these items? >> Okay. Um, all in favor?

105I >> I anyone opposed? >> Anyone abstain? >> I missed a voice. >> Okay. >> Um Jessica, we're going to do a voice vote on that. >> I got me Mike Folier. Hi >> Rudy Delury. >> Hi >> Kirsten Erlandson. >> Hi >> Pam Farington. >> Hi >> Carrie Folino. >> Chief is not here. Jessica Hall. >> Hi. >> Amy Romanchuk. Hi >> Scott. Soette summer. I Lisa Touty. >> Okay, so that motion passes. >> Thank you. >> That will bring us to uh 10.5 C. >> So these are the regular budget appropriation transfers as per our board policy. Um these encapsulate March and April transfers. There's 29 journal entries that represent transfers that total 30 $391,5372. I'm happy to answer any questions that the board may have. >> Okay. >> I I just what

106I started to say before is that I I I wanted a different format for these and this software you said were given to us. Um, I wrote a tool for myself to extract these things into a format that I like. Um, I sent it to Colin and I can send it along to you just see if it's something that makes sense. And it's it's probably not complete yet. It's probably got problems, but I did it this one and one other and just ended up with a table that at least I can read. >> Yeah. And and um what I would say is if that's something that board members choose to use individually and independently, that is something that we tried. I think we have to be cautious about having an individual board member create I

107I have I don't know what it was that you created. I'm not an IT guy, but I think that we can't be in a situation where we're having board members create a a platform that puts a report a certain way, changes things around. So I if if it's something you want to use and you like formatting, that's great. And if individual board members like it and want to use it, that's great. But I just I think it's something that we would want to be cautious about that we're not generating a financial report from a formula soft. I don't even know what it is. I I don't understand. It's just not the world I live in. That's that's just something I just wanted to to point out. >> Yeah. And and we have a policy that

108basically the board can't accept anything from members. You know, not just, you know, can't pay for things, but also really can't just accept it as gifts. And I I know that. But on the other hand, it is a tool that that is is useful for some of us and might be for you too, you know, even if it's not an official board of work and it might not. It might, you know, I'm sure you read these things without any issue at all. I look at them like >> I think I trust her as the professional to use what is she's able to work with, >> right? But I want to actually know what's there and I I look at one of these and okay, you know what was transferred in of an okay person novel

109came out and I just have a hard time finding. That's what I I'm a computer programmer I think in terms of hey how can I transform this data in a way that makes it sense to me. So, uh, the recommended motion is to approve the budget appropriation transfers in the amount of $391,53.72 cents as presented at the board of education meeting. Do I have a first Scott? So, yeah, a second. >> Amy Roman check. Any other discussion on that? Okay. All in favor? I I Anyone opposed? Anyone abstaining? Okay, brings us to item 10.5D. >> Okay, so 10.5D is the reallocation of funds from uh the reserve for general education expenditures to in the loading dock. So currently the money is sitting in a project labeled as field improvements. So, the board needs to move

110the 235,000 to the loading deck replacement project. That's the difference between what we just did and what I'm asking to be done. >> Okay. So, we need a motion to approve the reallocation of $235,000 from the RAM athletic field project to the loading dock project within the reserve fund for educational expenses. I'll do it. >> Mike is the first. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Rudy Delury is the second. Any other questions on that transfer? >> So, does that mean the money is not needed for the fields? >> No. [laughter] So, so but this so this is this is the fund for educational expenditure. So it currently is in this field because that is how the money has primarily been used is to address athletic field deficiencies and issues. >> But because of

111the fact that it's being used for the loading dock, it's it's what we discussed the other night in the board of education. >> The loading dock is a higher priority right now. >> Well, reducing our CIP budget. So So do we still have significant drainage issues in the baseball field after a rain? still need to address the second half of the of the um uh 316 practice. I was forgetting what the files but anyways but but there's another half of that that needs to be done. Um so those things still exist. It's just we're rep prioritizing the use of that fun. >> Understood. >> Okay. Um, so all in favor? >> I opposed. Anyone abstain? Okay, so 10.5e I don't think that. Okay, 10.5e is the food service monthly sales and expenditure report for April

11230th, 2026. Um, so currently um in totality we were collecting a loss of $81,78110 for the fiscal year, but for comparative purposes last year at this time we had a loss of $53,549 and the year prior we had $86,261 loss. There is still a positive fund balance. Um towards the end of the year, the state um gives whatever monies for the 10 cents for our healthy food. Um they last month gave us money for no reason, which is very nice of them for breakfast, they said. So we took it. So we tend to get a little bit more than reimbursements towards the end of the year. So are there any additional questions of what you have on? So hearing none, 10.5F is uh the student activity report. Um the report balances with the Webster bank

113account. Are there any questions that the board may have on student activity? There none. 10.5g is the short-term investment fund account. Um, so for the April 30th, the dividend we invested for the month was $598.81 and the investment account is also in balance with our questions that the board may have. Thank you very much. >> Okay, that brings us to item 11, which is theformational items. >> Yes. So we are I mean school is always a busy time of the year but I certainly know that our board members who are also educators can attest to the fact that we are in a really crazy time of the year where you're just trying to squeeze a lot of things into a very short period of time. Uh we're just a month away from uh the last

114day of school. Um so we have a lot of awards ceremonies uh honors recognition um awards night. We just had junior prom uh a couple weeks ago. We had senior prom was just on Saturday night. Um we have uh the relatively new event coming up in the beginning of June which is our senior walkthrough of the elementary schools which is just a really wonderful event. A wonderful idea to detail here. Um >> when is it? >> Uh Monday uh June 1st sorry Monday June 1. Yeah. Um and uh we have things like the senior outing is coming up where our seniors are going to go to Six Flags. We have Raptor Recreation Day, which is actually coming up this Friday. Um about three years ago, I think it was that uh the governor declared the

115the Friday before Memorial Day to be get outside and play day. Um and and the teachers and staff have done an awesome job of taking that and and we've turned it into wrap the recreation day. and it is a day of just a really enjoyable day for our students and staff. Um that'll be this Friday. Again, awards ceremonies for each of our middle school teams. Um and last but certainly not least, we actually have graduation coming up on the 16th. Um and then the last day of school and our eighth grade promotion ceremony will be June uh 18th. So say one month away. All right. Anybody have any questions on any of the calendar items? Yep. So, the last uh part of the agenda is just the reporting out of the discipline information uh that's

116been updated um for for the month of April. So, that information is found in one of your >> 112A 11.2. Sorry, it had whole punches where the numbers were so I couldn't see it in the comments. >> Anybody have any questions or comments on that? Okay, final item. We have a motion to adjourn. >> Can I make a comment before we adjourn? I just want to piggyback on what Dr. McNamera said about um staff appreciation. We have an amazing staff here at the middle school and high school. I can't thank them enough. Our five years here have been incredible. They are not only completely professional, but they are kind, compassionate, and dedicated towards serving this district and the students in it. And I just needed to say that. >> Thank you, Jessica. >> So, move

117to >> Scotty. I need a second. >> Jessica Hall. [laughter] All in favor? >> I. >> Anyone? >> I. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> Thank you everybody. Sorry for the