001Good evening everybody. Welcome to our new beautiful library. It's so lovely to be in here. Um it is uh December 8th. It is my nephew's birthday. I just remembered. Um Mr. Angley, can you please take attendance? Joe Abdullah >> here. >> Victoria Salem. Stephanie Cole. Jesse Leeman. >> Yeah. >> Angela Mackiulo. Alex McNottton >> here. >> Justin Angley here. Jen Pod >> here. >> Jane Sergeant. >> Pete Tagley >> here. >> Mary Weber >> here. >> Christine Widig have a quorum. >> Thank you. Um we have a lot of uh wonderful things tonight. First we start with our holiday music presentation in the auditorium. And so everybody, please join us as we go into the auditorium for um our choir and our band. So yeah, it's really exciting that they're going on Friday night. I
002know. It's a big deal. I know. >> 7 o' prime time. >> I know. excited for them. I know. So, now moving on to honor the fall 2025 first team Allstate and first team Birkshshire League Allstars, Mr. Karachi. Uh, thank you for inviting us to recognize our fall all-star performances. Uh I'm going to shift around the order, my original order, uh because we got at least one person in there rehearsing in the uh in the uh auditorium. Uh so I'll save her for last. We got a we got a few uh basketball players in New Milford who may be trying to make their way back here. Um but um I'd like to call each all-star up to the podium one by one while I read statements that were provided to me by by each all-star
003coach. So first of all, I'd like to call up Vienna Karu. for you. Vienna Vienna Karu earned first team Berkeley League cross country All-Star honors for the second straight year this year. She finished seventh at the Berg League Championship meet and 14th at the state meet. Her personal record time was run at the Wickcham Invitational, a very difficult course, where she finished in 2136 to aid the team in winning the invitational for the first time. We uh as a sophomore, she is a two-time Berg League All-Star, and we would like to congratulate Vienna on an excellent season. Congratulations, Vienna. Next, I'd like to call up Molly Cadido. That's for you. Molly Sado is the model of consistency. She finished sixth at the Berkshire Championship meet and 13th at the Class S meet to lead the
004girls to a class S runner-up finish. She ran a personal best time at the Winding Trails Invitational and finished in 2049. This is Molly's third time being named a Berkshire Golf Star. And like Vienna and Lily Cassini, who were saving to the end because she's the one in the um in the auditorium right now helped helped lead Shap to Berg Championship. Well, Molly Cado, congratulations. Next, I'd like to call up Will Abraham. You're welcome. Will Abraham, a senior on the Shap Varsity cross country team, capped off an outstanding season by earning first team Birch League All-Star honors with his ninth place finish at the Berkshire Bergkshire Championship. He set his personal record at the Nanowog Invitational with an impressive time of 1706. A consistent top runner for Shap. Will has been our number one runner
005all year long and his leadership and dedication have been unmatched. You'll often find him running longer distance in practice than what's required, continually pushing himself to improve and it shows. His commitment and drive have provided unending value to the team and helped elevate the program year after year. Congratulations to Will Abraham. Next is another cross country runner who's not here right now. That's Liam Riendo. Liam Riendo, a sophomore on the B on the Chap varsity cross country team, earned first team Bergkshire League All-Star honors with an impressive sixth place finish at the Bergkshire League Championship. He set his personal record this season at N at the Nonog Invitational, running a strong 1741. In his first full year on the team, Liam's rapid growth has been impossible to miss, as he quickly proved himself a consistent
006and formidable runner, finishing the season as our number three and spending most of the year as our number two. His commitment, determination, and fierce competitive spirit have made him an invaluable contributor to Chap's success. So, congratulations to Liam Riando. Now, I'd like to call up golfer Wyatt Angley. Wyatt was a Berkshire League Golf All-Star this year and was a leader of the team. He led by example, always seeking to improve his game, and he served as a positive role model for our younger players. Wyatt was one of four players who qualified for the CIA Division 2 state tournament as an individual. A highlight this season was his evenpar round of 35 at Lake Warmog Country Club against New Milford, earning him medalist honors against a very strong New Milford team. His differential this year was
0076.4. He shot 40 or better five times this season and he was the reason why the team had a winning record of seven and five. Congratulations, Wyatt Angley. Now going to move on to some people who couldn't be here tonight. We're moving on to field hockey. Now Lily Bac was selected as a first team Bergkshire League field hockey all-star for the second time this season and she was also named to the first team allstate team with her 17 goals and 13 assists. Lily was a powerhouse on the field no matter what position she was in. Lily helped lead Chapog to our third consecutive Birch League championship this season and next year she will be continuing her field hockey career at Roger Williams University. So congratulations to Lily Bac. Next is field hockey player Reese Evans
008as a midfielder and team leader who scored five goals and had four assists. Reese Evans was selected as a first team Bergkshire League field hockey all-star this season. Reese's leadership, enthusiasm, and infectious positive attitude helped set the tone for the rest of the team. And her stick skills, her speed, and her ability to communicate with her teammates made her a key component to our midfield during our championship run this year. So, congratulations to Reese Evans. Our third and final all-star from the field hockey team was Nikki Lights. On the field hockey field, Nikki Lights is a powerhouse in the defensive circle, and her performance this year as only a sophomore earned her a selection as a first team Bergkshire League field hockey all-star. She was constantly seen swooping in and clearing the ball out of
009the circle. And her combination of speed and agility oftentimes prevented the ball from even reaching our goalie, which was instrumental in our team success this past season. She was the anchor of our defense and her all-star recognition was welld deserved. So, congratulations to Nikki Lights. Now, going to move on to boys soccer. All three of our boys soccer allstars are also on the boys basketball team and they were at New Milford tonight, so they couldn't be here. First, I'm going to as as we move on to soccer, coach Stinson had this to say about all three of them. These young men have helped lead the soccer team to an unprecedented unprecedented run of success over the past three years. Their record over this time span is 537 and one during which they have won three
010Bergkshire League titles, two Bergkshire League tournament titles, two trips to the state championship game and one state championship. First is Drew Ko. Drew was a captain for two years and scored 14 goals and had nine assists. This season he was named a first team Bergkshire League soccer all-star for the third time and for the second time he was named first team all state. His dedication and leadership helped drive this team forward and he has been a valuable member of the program throughout his high school career. He was also also recently just named first team all New England which is a significant and well-deserved honor. So, congratulations to Drew Koic. Next is James Kirsten. James Kurten was a captain this year and he led the defense while also scoring four goals with three assists. He was
011earned as a first team Bergkshire League soccer all-star this year, which is the second consecutive year he has earned such recognition. And as the anchor of our defense, he helped set the tone for the success enjoyed by the Chapter team this season. Congratulations to James Kirsten. And our last boys soccer player was Sunny Smith. Sunny Smith has been a team captain for the past two years. And during the 2025 season, he tallied 14 goals and eight assists. In addition to being selected as a first team Bergkshire League Soccer All-Star this season, he was also named first team all state this year. Much of Shap soccer success during Sunny's four years are a direct result of his attitude and his leadership. And like Drew and James, he will be greatly missed next year. Now, I'm going
012to move on. I was hoping to delay it uh so Lily could uh finish with her um her cross country or uh her rehearsal. Uh but Cassini, cross country allstar. Uh Lily Cassini earned first team Bergkshire League cross country Allstar and first team all-state honors for the second straight year. She was undefeated during the regular season meets and finished second at the Bergkshire League Championship meet to help the team win the Bergkshire League championship. Lily finished fifth at the Class S meet and her fastest time of the year came at the Nanow Invitational where she broke 20 minutes and finished in 1939. So, congratulations to Lily Cassini. Thank you to the board for this recognition. Congratulations to those athletes for their success this fall. We look forward to seeing those of them who are doing
013something in the winter. Thank you. >> Thank you, Matt. >> Looks like >> I think we have some treats in the back. So, if we want to just take a quick recess just to congratulate our athletes and thank them for their hard work. Um, we can just take a quick recess. A little bit more water. Always so nice to have a reason to celebrate, a reason to have cookies. Thank you all for coming. Thank you. Okay. Now, moving on to public comment on agenda items only. Is there anybody that would like to speak on public comments on agenda items? There's an agenda. Yeah. Okay. Hello board. Uh my name is Natalie Oritzki and I'm a sophomore here at Shepog. I'm a part of cross country and track and I am on I'm here on behalf
014of my entire team that was here tonight. um and that they were awarded the Berkshire League awards and I am very proud of how my team has done this year and um throughout my high school years so far I have been taught critical thinking how to be a better learner leader and stand up for others. The Shap learner values that are posted on every classroom wall says this. Our learning community challenges and inspires us to demonstrate critical thinking, ethical behavior, creativity, and compassion each day in pursuit of intellectual, curious, and fulfilling lives. When I look at the people that each student is supposed to look up to, I'm ashamed. If we are taught to find the right way, even if it is hard, and no one else agrees, why are the adults not showing this?
015Us as kids are not seeing this example. All we are being shown is the adults with power are taking the easy way out. Mrs. Sher is just one of the many lives that has been affected by the new decision. Her love of coaching and abilities has brought her to take a position at Nawog, which as a student is affecting my whole team. Why are we allowing one of our best coaches that has helped our team get all these Bergkshire leagues um to leave Shap when we are in need of more coaches? Another example was the sophomore class adviserss. After this ahorent decision, the sophomore class was left to run ourselves. Even though we were successful in doing so, why was this even a problem to begin with? The statewinning field hockey team also has lost
016their coach this year because of this decision. And keep in mind that they also got all these Bergkshire leagues with that coach. The Shapog is a place that alumni want to come back to which says a lot about the school. Many of these people would love to be coaches, club leaders, advisers, and etc. But this new ruling prohibits that. You say you want to be fair to everyone, but how is this fair to the kids that are affected by this decision? To me, this doesn't make any sense. You can say this decision was the only choice, but even I know there were other ways to combat these challenges. If there was enough empathy and critical thinking involved, I think there could have been a better outcome. Thank you so much for the time to speak
017and I hope you all have a lovely evening. Thank you. Okay, moving on now to the cons. Is there any other public comment there? No. Okay. Thank you. Moving on to the consent agenda. I always look to you, Alex. >> Be perfect. >> Wow. Okay. Thank you. >> Great reading. >> Terrific. So, uh, seeing anybody else adopting? No. We will accept the agenda consent agenda as is. And now moving on to the reports and uh, recognitions. That would be me board. That would be me, I guess. Yes. I actually just wanted to start with um the library. I think it's just really beautiful. I know there's been a lot of hard work and effort put into u making this come to be and I know it took a while to get it to where it
018is. So, I just want to thank obviously Nicole first and Don Olri and Amber Lamont. Uh Christina Reicha. Am I saying her names? Yes. Great. and the custodial staff for really bringing this together. It's really quite beautiful and I hope that the students and the staff uh are enjoying it. It's really incredible. So, well done. Nice job, Nicole. Are you happy with it? Yeah. Good. Wonderful. Um your turn. >> Okay. Thank you. I have a relatively short report tonight. First, just to remind you about the concert. You all heard about that a little before here tomorrow night at Chap. That was just a teaser that you heard in there. And the kids have been working really hard and building up their musicianship and they're looking forward to having an audience tomorrow night at the concert.
019Um, the other big thing that happened obviously last week was the bizaar at Chipog. I stopped by there. It was very well attended. I thought a lot of activity. I think a lot of clubs made a lot of money selling quality products. I saw folks socializing, hanging out, eating, drinking, buying stuff for the holidays. It was a nice thing. M >> and we have a PD session half day for professional development for the teachers on um Thursday. Uh, and the big part of that is going to be a check-in on our curricular initiative for the year, which is a program called leaders of their own learning, where we're helping to build students who um know how to advocate and um choose what they want to do and teachers are learning how to make those choices
020possible along with the my favorite part of the program that I highlighted at my convocation address, which is our ability to help kids learn that they can do hard things when we support them with models and critique. And then I also have a few personnel things to update you on. Um there are some um resignations. Crystalan Curry who had been an aggra science weekend's operations assistant at Chap and that's effective November 14th was effective November 14th. There's a retirement. Tom Kelly had been a part-time custodian at Burnham School. That took effect on November 25th. And there is a retirement. our own Don Olri, director of facilities at central office effective June 1st is announcing his retirement. And then there is um one transfer to report to the board and that is that Billy Jean Sidus
021who was a payroll and benefits coordinator at central office that's what she's doing now. She had been administrative assistant to uh Ali O'Hara. So she she's transferred over to payroll and benefits. And uh that's my report for tonight. Thank you very much. Where's Jen? >> She said she'll be right back. >> Oh, okay. Okay. Um, I am going to hold off on my report and give it under the FNO. Um, because it's basically the same stuff. uh for agric there hasn't been a meeting but um I hope you all came to the to the uh b holiday bizaar and spent lots of money on the a for the agric science kids um I don't know if there are new more trees available uh or more of the items that they have um do you >>
022there are some Mary there are some out front yeah >> and so you might want to might want to pick something up um to support them. But thank you everybody that came and and supported them. They really do appreciate it. >> For curriculum, there's nothing new. Our next meeting is February 9th. Uh at advance, there was no meeting this month and our next meeting is January. Uh so nothing new to report >> and I am back again. Um we had our last meeting on November 3rd and being uh the procrastinator I am, I didn't do the minutes till Sunday, but having done the minutes, it refreshed my memory on a couple of things that uh I'd like to bring to the board's attention. Um, some of this is old news by now, but I just
023want to let you know we got two bids to do the uh uh Washington primary boilers. Um, and we obviously took the lower one uh which was $261,500. Um, I don't know the status of the boilers now, Nicole, or are the Have they finished the first one already? >> The first one's finished. Yes. >> And they're working on the second now? I don't think they've quite started the second yet. >> Okay. Um, also, uh, the Burnham School, we're going to put up some, uh, around the parking area some ballards and a gate, and its estimated cost on that is going to be about $4,500. Um, uh, we took a vote on that at the FNO level, but I I don't think that we need to have it at a board level, but I just thought
024I'd bring that into your attention. Uh we also reviewed the number of students from each town. Uh that's as of October 1st. Uh and that's how the prata is determined for towns. Um interestingly enough the both Washington and Roxbury went down from the previous year and Bridgewater went up which means Bridgewater's share will be larger and the other two will be less um on whatever the budget turns out to be. Um the budgeting will start uh in January. Um the there was some discussion about the outdoor track and whether we should do some subservice borings to see the condition of the under part of the track and how much of it needs to be replaced. But it the track needs to be replaced. Um let me just see. Uh we're probably going to need to
025do some bonding in the near future uh for some of these projects. Um uh currently we have about uh million and a half over a 4-year period with uh Webster Bank and 6 million over a 14-year period with US Bank. Um we still need to get some estimates and and get some uh thoughts on what we want to do about the kitchen. Um the audit has been completed uh but I don't think we've got a formal copy yet do we? No. And that would be the audit for uh 202425. And the last thing uh we t talked about was the brush around the fields and how it it's encroaching and it was suggested that maybe we should get some goats. But uh and I will end that my uh report on that high note. >>
026Thanks, Alex. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Uh moving on to committee reports. Aggra Science. Mary. Oh, you did? Wow. I was gone for a while. Okay. Um and Vicki is not here. Do you want to >> Yeah. So we made a lot of progress um and uh reached a settlement agreement with the union um and which is the terms obviously remain um confidential until this board votes on it. Uh and the next step is uh the art council has taken all the terms that will be familiar to our committee and dressed it up so that it looks nice, presented it to the uh union. Uh our committee will review it shortly and then it'll be ready to move before the board in executive session at the January 12th meeting. We have a little gap between between
027now and the next meeting, but that's when we'll do it on the 12th. And uh I I think everybody that that was part of the experience thought it went well and that um we reached a good settlement. Good for the kids, the school, and the teachers. >> Yeah. Agreed. >> The SVA >> policy. >> So, we met earlier tonight. Um but we'll discuss what we talked about under new business. >> Thank you. Um and strategic long range planning we have not met. So um there's nothing to report. Uh new business consider for approval trip to Hershey's Park. >> Yeah, I um I think you saw Mr. Oblowitz is probably engaged across the way there, so I'll try to do justice to this for him. The band is trying to go on a trip to Hershey
028Park, which is not just about amusement park, although there is some of that fun going on. It's a band festival. It's a music festival. And they go, the kids all play, they listen to each other. It's actually adjudicated, so they have a feeling of a competition, and they get feedback from professional judges and musicians, and they get to listen to each other. It's generally considered to be a good growth experience for musicians and a good performance opportunity. Plus, the kids get to have some fun in the park while they're there. And since it is out of state, it's something that the board has to um approve. And this would be uh this would take place um uh in May. Uh and um I guess it would be a be a dayong trip. >> May 1st,
029May 3rd. >> Yeah. May 1st and May 3rd >> to get there. >> Um well, they're supposed to depart here. >> It's a day long trip. >> Oh, no. Let's see. >> For5 to $600. Oh, no. I'm sorry. There it's May 1st to May 3rd. Yes. Yes. >> Okay. >> They wouldn't want me to compress them like that. >> Yeah. Like that's quite a Okay. >> So, uh, we I generally think it would be a good experience for our kids and I wonder if the board would entertain supporting it. >> Can I have a motion to approve a trip to motion? Jane seconds. All in favor? >> Well, I've got a question. How's it being paid for? Um, I think that they're raising funds between student contributions, parent contributions, and fundraising. >> Okay. So, the
0306,500 U. >> Oh, okay. >> It says five to six >> student payments. Okay. Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt. >> That's okay. All in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? Extensions. They're going to Hershey. It's fun. Great. um consider for approval first read of policy 5152.6 family and medical leave. >> Okay. And this is it's 4152.6. And um you you're going to have you'll see um the current policy, a redline version, which always to me is a little confusing, and then the proposed new policy. And I just prepared um if you'll permit me to pass around I prepared a little sort of chart cheat sheet that will help you understand the key differences between the versions and I'll share it with you as an electronic document probably in my Friday update maybe sooner. So I'll
031I'll pass this around. If you were if you were on the policy committee you already got one so don't take them because I have exactly 12 but maybe pass them. Um, and so this is necessitated by changes in um, Connecticut, the Connecticut's version of the Family Medical Leave Act, FMLA, which is a long-standing law, federal and state law, and it protects the rights of employees to take leaves under certain circumstances, and it protects their job while they're out on that leave. And recently, Connecticut's version of FMLA offered two new amendments that really pushed this policy, pushed change the law requiring us to change the policy. The first is is that now under the Connecticut FMLA, non-certified staff members, so not teachers, but non-certified staff members only need to work a total of three months in
032order to in in the 12 months leading up to prior to the the leave in order to qualify. Under the federal FMLA, everyone had to work, 1250 hours in the 12 months leading up to the leave. So this provides an opportunity for us folks who might not be able to in their at least initially um rack up that many hours if they have a leave during their early early stage of their employment. And second, it allows them to the extent that any of the leave that they're taking is not compensated and I'll talk about that in a minute. they can apply to a fund, a sort of a state insurance fund that will um pay them for part of their part part of their leave. So those are the two big changes um accommodating that
033those parts of the Connecticut FMLA. Now, usually FMLA is unpaid under the federal or the state version. However, employees who have acred paid leave time, sick time, vacation time, personal days can apply those to their FMLA so that they're paid for those days while they're out on leave. If you don't have any such time available and you're one of those non-certified folks I talked about and you apply under the Connecticut version of the law, now you could have recourse to that state insurance fund to seek funding. The other big changes is that the new law federal and state versions uh enhance there there are some more reasons why you could qualify to go. You can't just take a leave. There has to be a qualifying event. Generally, it's to take care of yourself or family
034members when they're having a problem. Now they include family members in the military who were injured in during military operations and need care or the parents who can't take care of themselves of military personnel who were injured and need care. This is a good thing. It allow so if you're a person who's connected to a member of the military who got hurt in the line of service and you need to take care of them now that's a qualifying event that would let you take FMLA. Um, and the big like I tried to just reduce it down to the if you look at the red line document, every time a semicolon changes it red lines it. You know, it's not that profoundly different. The big difference in the law now is in this new version chart
035that I that I'll also share with you all electronically. Okay? So, um, it's it's not a lot. It's no editorializing on our part. It just just restates the law. It's Shipman's model policy basically verbatim that we would be um ratifying and it would just bring us into line with what the law where the law says we have to be. Any questions? >> Yeah, I've got not so much a question is a statement. Um I I find the policies to be o ownorous to to to go through them as you have done. Um is it safe to say I mean I feel awkward voting on something that I haven't read to the nth degree but I think that uh do we feel comfortable that Shipman and Goodwin we just take their lead and and vote for
036something even though we may not have read the whole thing from cover to cover. I do. And because I don't want you to have that feeling anyway, when I digest it, I try to make sure that I'm being faithful to the the key changes so that it's a a lot less ownorous for you to read. You know, looking at this sheet might help because I think this encapsulates the changes. Now, there's always times I'm reminded of a time when Mary morally objected to something that was the law and that um Shipman profered and that good for her um she stood on her conviction. So there could be moments like that where you have a moral conviction that somehow is opposed to what the legislature has passed. But barring that, that was a I think a
037one-time event. I think when Shipman passes something, it's pretty garden variety, pretty brown wrapper and meant to just um capture what the legislaturator's done. >> Okay. Well, I just wanted to stick to I don't I hadn't read it completely, so I did look at the red line version. Any other questions? So, can I have a motion to adopt the first read of policy 4152.6? >> Sorry, I just had a question. >> Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see your hand. Um, does our policy talk about what happens when an employee takes leave when it comes to how that employee is replaced in the classroom or or is that just is that just happens kind of on an HR level? Yeah. Within each division? >> Good question. That's not part of the policy. Although the point of
038the law is to make sure that that person's position is protected when they come back, but while they're gone, we have to find coverage for that spot. And sometimes that's difficult, but it's on us to find a qualified teacher. Depends on the length of the leave, too. If it's a very long time, you need to have a certified qualified teacher in there. And you have to find such a person who's available and ready to work. And somehow we we always make that work, but there's a lot of scrambling to make it work. >> Any other questions? Can I have a motion to approve for first read? Yes. Thank you. Can I have a second? Thank you. Uh, all in favor? >> Anyone opposed? Extensions. It moves on for first read. Okay. May I have a
039motion to adjurnn? >> Second. Okay. I think we're all in favor. Thank you.