001Everyone also at home last together and drive that was by a student organization. Um we also had our last football game and table And they also at Longveratform first grade class about jobs in our community. Third grade students shared their research project about famous people. PTO family fun night where school got together and students earned pieces and voted for their first day and October Hispanic heritage celebration as a partic month and over 80 students, staff and family members were in attendance and uh they were able to be treated in a student uh music and great We serve with fun games and recognition and sixth grade building. >> Thank you very much. just as you are thinking of things to let us know if you're interested in student government and it's a bit of a prayer
002to me. So talk about how that functions in the school and what roles are you interacters position all together >> Wednesday near and dear to your Thank you very much. >> I know. Sorry. >> All right. Um, next we have student recognition, National Merit Scholarship, Dr. Paul Jones. Sorry, they're used to coming to me for a deep bre. So, um, Thank you all for being here um to recognize students um of ours at Palm Rock High School who have exhibited um truly great academic prowess. Uh 1.3 million students take the PSAT uh as juniors. That is the test that is used to um to uh cipher out the National Merit Scholarship. So tonight we are going to recognize first our students who are recognized as committed students. Um, so they have a certificate and we're
003going to ask them to come up and thank them for how hard they've worked and the growth that they've shown over their time in region 15 at high school. And then we have one student who's moving on as a semi- finalist that we'll recognize as well. So up first also in our drum line he Except the heart pull it out. You like also in our truck. It will race it. So again, it's 1.3 million students on average every year that take the PSAT as juniors that are entered into this competition. Um students who we just recognized are in 1% of that 1.3 million. So we give them one more round of applause. the city finals, you um come down to the 0.5, the half percent of all of that 1.3 billion students uh as you
004narrow down to the top of the top students by filling out some different application type things and scholarship materials. So, um So, Beauty is our semi- finalist for this year. So, as we finish up our own PSAT day for this school year, um this is why 9% and 11th graders take it here at Pump Rock High School. And um we appreciate the dedication and support that our students and staff show every year with this assessment and with this tool. And then again, congratulations to all of our students and the recognition that you hold in being high school students. Thank you. >> Next, we have a couple of minutes. I have a motion to the minutes for September 29th, 2025 regular meeting of the board of education. Thank you, Heather. Have a second. Second. Any questions?
005All those in favor >> I carries. Uh next we have information and proposals policy and curriculum committee. Miss Heather's wire policy and curriculum committee this evening we have a few items on our agenda. First of which was to look at our president 26 calendar. Um we have decided that starting point instead of an hour long um we will still meet before meetings whatever happens first. Um we also meant to discuss uh a couple policies. One of note is something that brought last year. Um, and that was our investment funds policy which capitalizes pursue there. Although we're going to seek some advice We also moved on. So coming to board meeting near you. Right. Next we have finance committee. I'm sorry. I was like that's funny. October 6th um right Mary Johnson and we discussed kind
006of right the leftover piece of as is coming right as we close out the audits what we're going to do with those funds that's why we kind of kicked that back to Heather I think typically we discuss how this money would go into a capital reserve account but based on some feedback that it should all go into this educational fund now we should discuss how um we're going vote and utilize that policy. That's why we kind of had this pause, kicked it back to our friends at policy and curriculum. So look at that. Um we also, sorry I'm like pulling up. We also talked about um the capital plan, right, and where that is out for five years. We also talked about Beanfield, right? And that's something we're just going to kind of keep on
007the radar. I know that's come up where there is some traffic. We are routing me Joe and Josh are routing people right through you all to try to see if that um is something we can alleviate or how that settles as we move throughout the school year but it is something that we are looking at. Um and then oh also the state of Connecticut easement check. So, we got the ement check for what the state of Connecticut took us took gave us from the space they took us was 1,100. >> So, not going to run to the bank. Maybe we could buy a a new laptop, but that might be it. >> Yeah. All right. Any questions for Okay, next we have PTO advisory. Um, an addict. She is has a work conflict tonight. Um
008but she did ask me to update the board um that PTO advisory met on 09 October you know October 9th. The focus of the conversation was on one uh bus driver appreciation um honoring our bus drivers two the grant process three um ASO usage at school events and four the GES pickup line. The next meeting will be 06 November 2025 at 9:30 at central office. >> That's right. Um, all right. Next, we have a superintendent report. Superintendent Smith, >> thank you. A couple things. Highlight bus driver appreciation day. Just uh they're a group of folks that we cannot run school without. Every group is uh very integral to running our school district. So, appreciate the work they do. I had a question over the weekend from board member about the AWS outage that took place
009last week. I can say that's the Amazon Web Service that took down a lot of the East Coast. Uh while there was some of our systems were uh interrupted for a short period of time. We had no major interruption to our operational structures. I do think that as we move into a world that is completely uh integrated that the internet there is a lot of kind of crosspollination uh but there was nothing that brought us down for any length of time we're not kind of inconvenienced from any back of our operations I'll pause there before I shift up I am So um Mr. Martino and I work in part with uh our friends at Tecton to put this together this evening to join us. So we're gonna have to talk through it. Uh what we
010try to do so there's a lot of information out there. There's a lot of slideshows. Um there's a lot of recordings. What we tried to do is if you are entering this conversation today, here's a summary of where we are and where we're going. Um and I hope this kind of puts a maybe a marker in the ground for people looking to engage in the conversation and tell us how much we missed the mark or hit the mark and what questions you have going forward. Um I start with this is the timeline that we're working with. um if we are still intending to do a May referendum, these are the things that we need to work through. Um currently, you'll see that red bar on the top, the land due diligence is what we're going
011to talk a little bit about tonight. Um parallel to that are some community and staff engagement that that is happening, but also needs to continue. Um come to December, we'll have to start with some conceptual designs. Um and we're preparing for the referendum in May. the bottom part in order to uh apply for state reimbursement. That's the grant application process. Uh light blue are things that are currently in practice and the dark blue is kind of crunch time start back there. This TV is out. I don't know if it >> What's that? >> I said that. >> So yeah. We'll get this one in. So, kind of here's where uh kind of a summary of the two buildings we're looking at. Be infield constructed in is 197. The age, how they're structured, current enrollment for
012both buildings. Um the middle column there is the existing square footage of the buildings. Um, the part in green is the part that I think is important for us to focus on. So, if game field were to be built today based on state reimbursement specs, it is 35% larger than the state allowable space. Um, and PES is 22% larger. And where that's relevant is if you look at that state standard, the projected enrollment of the new schools that we're talking about would be at 504. the projected square feet of both of those buildings at 95,000. There's their respective numbers that they would be over uh the state formula. And why that's important is all through the project uh we've talked about building a school that's rightsized and not trying to back in the state formula.
013Um and so those numbers have been dealt. I'll talk about a couple of different ways on how that manifests in referendum. Uh yes, >> question. How do we get from the 319 and the 395 to the 54? >> So two pieces. One that's based on projected enrollment. Um our enrollment report is uh current one we're working off of is November of 24. Um it was updated in October of 25, but we're looking about six years out. Um and then The additional piece there and I'll talk a little more tonight but that includes a preschool. Currently PES GS do not have preschool in them. So this factors in about 100 students of preschool program in each of those schools. >> Can I ask a question about Dr. We talk about that when we're talking about building
014school. If we get a uh a breakdown, right, this is what we're going to save with 15%, but this is what it's going to cost more teachers or whatever. >> Yeah. So, I do have some numbers in there on what we're going to save um that I'll talk to a couple times tonight. You're looking at about $30 million in building incentives if you put a preschool. And I'll show you how we get to that number. Um, and if you if you spec it out as annual costs, this is where it gets a little like we could talk about what your variables are, how many staff you're looking at, but worst case scenario, even if you use the billion dollar, which is worth it, it would still be a 30-year bill. You know, you're going to
015get 30 million in upfront cost and take 30 years a year to get there. So, um, we're going to continue to recommend, uh, that we look at putting a preschool in. Uh, the other piece is that our expectation at the state of Connecticut is going to end the university preschool. So whether or not put this in, it's going to be something that we need to deal with, but we'll talk a couple question about the 95. Is that kind of based on their looking at the school and that way? >> Yeah. in meeting with teachers, administrators, looking at current class size practices. That's where that will come. >> 504 is it include also maybe if we did like a flight district. >> Yeah. So depending a little bit on what we decide as far as building
016and what space again we'll show some of that tonight. Um there may be a need for some pending. It'll probably be either way but depending on what it looks like. So, and this would include right all the proposals that are sitting with South Berry right now on changing the zoning downtown to include like the 72 apartments above some of those vacant spaces, right? Like those one and two bedroom apartments, right? This is like I just want it there was just an article about that. >> Yeah. Right. I just want to think about right like when they're talking about those middle area as well when you're talking about 30 descending departments, you're talking about 230 children potentially. Um but those numbers don't include any zoning in process. Now that's not >> correct. These are both larger
017than the current schools. They do not take into account new construction and I can't we bring tech back in there is some pieces about how much of a variable you can count like you can't build school like just in case. So, um, that's a little bit out of my wheelhouse, but >> So, if it shifted like, right, so say this apartments in South Berry, right, shift it and got approved, right, the zoning got changed between then and now, right? Would we then add those productions and we would change this like before like I'm just wondering because I know there's a bunch in both towns that are kind of up for redeveloping more. >> So, A54 includes pulling some students out of Long creates space based on current enrollment and projected enrollment at Long Meadow and
018NEX. Uh on this timeline here um we have until we set the referendum we can play with some of the important once we set the referendum language which is where we're going to end tonight with not that we're setting it just to give people an idea of like what it might look like and how that matters in our discussion. uh we until we set that you'll have some ability to reflect that. >> I'm sorry. Does the 504 the preschool or >> and just to clarify the preschool would there still be some students that pay tuition to attend so it generates income as well? >> Yes. >> And again so we've been in a couple meetings this year where the state is talking about some financial incentives per that if we go to the universal prek
019model that they would fund school districts certified teacher needs, it's not written in any law that I've seen so far, but um we were at a meeting when we heard 100,000 per class offset staffing. Again, there's a difference between being in a meeting in September or October and we'll see what the legislation is one time thing. >> Uh I know I would be annual >> I know you're getting passage or one flight. Sorry. Uh, you said we were going to be setting the referendum language tonight. >> No, no, no, no. >> Oh, I thought you said we were setting tonight. >> I'm going to show you some examples. I'm going to show you some examples. We're not going to set the referendum language until >> long time. >> Yeah, I believe it's 30 days before
020May, but I don't quote me on that exact timeline, which is why I wanted to give you some samples. >> Okay. >> Long long runway. gonna get >> you know how well I like >> no decision. You have to decide nothing. >> But there's a lot of things floating around. So when we left last time, these were the three uh recommendations from the space committee. There was 3D which was to basically build either kind of one combined or uh two buildings on one campus. Then there was to use our existing sites, build schools on both of those sites. and 4C which was built on game field and then look for a new site for PES or one of the the schools. So these are the um cost breakdowns of the total project cost that's TPC.
021Then there is the cost to the district that is the state bond reimbursement. So that's where you see the 78 87 and 86. This is where we left off. Moving forward over the summer, we looked at u every property in town that is 10 or more acres for private and public land. We've reviewed the topography, wetlands, geographic location, potential sale, the overall viability of every piece of those properties. Uh there is one private owned property that still has some potential, but we've not heard back from the owners as to their interest. This is the one the board talked about in executive session. Um, even if we do hear back, this one creates some challenges that do limit its viability. The fact that it's this linear site and there's wetlands attached to it. Um, so even
022right now we don't believe that anybody's interested in selling it. But even if they are, there comes some challenges. So based on the first three bullets, uh at this point in time, we believe that option three being that the one school on a large site is not possible and that we should focus our efforts on uh option four, whether that be two schools on existing or two schools, one on existing and one on. So these are options 4B and 4 C. They are building two schools for 504 student 504 students not 504 students 504 students uh and the academic class size these are the numbers kind of that we were going for Dr. Romano about some of the assumptions that were built into them um and just as a point of reference the state guidelines
023in their formula base the number of classrooms you need on a class size of 20 to 22. So, right out of the gate, we're not using their formula, which is where you get that we need more square feet than the state believes we need. Um, which I'll show you how that shows up. >> Yes, >> I know you showed us before current. >> We're we're going to revisit that. >> Yep. >> Right here, actually. Um, so here are the two schools. The projected size in the from the conversations with uh the educators at our current expectation is that we build a school of 95,000 square feet allow this is your question for John. >> No, if I was out the kids their class size 13 kids. >> My question was is that comparable to what
024we do now? >> Yes, that is exactly based on where we're at now. U and we we started this from we don't want to propose building new schools with expectations different than the community has today. Uh and so in order to do that, you'll see that that delta is the difference between kind of the state formula and our current expectation. Um and it's possible that that 51,000 square feet may not qualify for reimbursement. And um we'll talk about what that means. State reimbursement summary you'll have over there is that general construction is the 49%. That's if we did nothing else. That's our state formula right now. There's an additional 15% for um including the preschool. there's some space that isn't um calculated and that's how you get 61% reimbursement for the 69,223 square ft. I'm
025going to do the math for you as well. that stuff. So uh so when you do that the options on the left hand side are the assumptions being built into these structures. Uh currently these numbers do not include if you were to build on the existing space or pees this does not include the demolition of the existing site. uh and it does not include any sale of uh property or if we would need to buy property. But here are the breakdown of and this is pretty much the same whether you went with 4B or 4C when you could control for demolition or purchase. Um the cost of the school um is uh the effective reimbursement rate for that um will give you a project. And here's where things are going to get a little uh
026wonky. The total project cost for both schools would be 206 million that when you debt the state reimbursement, it's the 112 million. And this assumes like no space weight. So, one of the things that you can do is you can go to the legislature and you can ask them for that delta and say based on our community and the needs of our district, we need a space waiver. So, that 25,000 square ft here is included in the reimbursement. If you were to do that, this is how the numbers work with a space. the consultants give us and you know I'm here get it not get it. >> Yeah. So um it has been a fairly common practice for districts to ask and receive space waiverss but nothing's guaranteed. It's done through the legislative process. Um
027and in a couple slides you'll notice one additional complexity with the way the process works now. Okay. So on a previous slide when we show the three options we have 4 B being 87 million 4 C being 86 million now we say 4 B or 4 C 82 million. So could you just explain if someone's looking that discrepancy? Yeah. So the discrepancy before was the uh how you calculate in the uh state reimbursement cost and the res. So I do not believe this here. >> Let me I'm also just noticing this presented on June 4th. So it's possible since there's been some >> I could cycle back a minute too. I we try to make sure the numbers match. I agree with you. I think if we're showing numbers, we just should be very clear
028what number the press should put there. >> So, um, you know, so we took that's why that other slide in here. Here's the the piece. We can put it back in here. So, the state updated the reimbursement. >> Oh, yes. The percent was a change in the last couple. >> Yes. Which and it's a change that's not uh not usual for them to update the reimbursement rate. Usually, they do it once a year. This year they've done a update in the fall which these numbers include and the other number does not. It's funny we had a slide in there. >> Yeah, we took it out. >> And then that's why >> so the number we should have in our heads if the space waiver goes through is 82 million knowing that that is a pie
029in the sky. We haven't put that on the paper yet. >> If the space waiver doesn't go through, you could expect the two schools to be about 100. >> Yes. And the architects feel fairly confident, but nothing's guaranteed that we would be eligible for this. >> We are definitely eligible to ask about >> and 112 does not include does not include the purchase of property. >> Neither of those include the purchase of property or the sale of property >> or >> the demolition of GS. >> It includes demolition of GES. Yes. Okay. >> So, the GES one is kind of when we start to look at variables, um the GES one has the fewer variables because we know that that's the cycle. >> Can we get tighter numbers on? >> Yeah. Uh we were on
030to one of the other questions about PES is where the septic system on PES lies because if it's currently behind the school where we want to build that's different than if it's so um as we're going like there's still a lot of questions that need to be answered but we wanted to try to put a little bit of a marker down for people to come up to speed >> is really not an option. Uh Sally, this gets a little more detailed into kind of some of the breakdown of where those costs come from. Uh again, this one we tried to make it u as clean as possible that this is without the space waiver. I want to manage expectations. This is with the space waiver. Uh the buildings themselves are the same. It is really
031the effective reimbursement is shapes. Um the one property that's still um up for discussion is this one on Roxberry Road. Uh the opportunities and challenges of this property have not changed since the last time the board saw them. Uh what has shifted is the current effort on phase one. Um so what we are currently looking at on this property is the basic land records. They need to do a review of the history of the land and what the site has been used for in the past. Uh they start to do an environmental study and history of the site. Um if that all comes back positive uh and without concern then the recommendation would be to do phase two which does like sort of sampling and a more detailed look at what it would cost that
032rock >> this is a one total rock. Yes. And at this point, I mean, what we call them and everything else will talk about, but that would basically mean relocating PES to this site. Um, the board has seen this, but I think just to try to create a complete document, this is the legislation that puts the 15% reimbursement on the entire project. Um, one piece that that we do think is important to mention, uh, we, this is not guaranteed forever. So, while it's in current legislation, um, this is you have two buildings priced at about hund00 million each. This is where I get 30 million reimbursement. Uh, we are one relatively mid to smalls size school district. Um, if many other districts start taking advantage of this, this state evaluate percentage. Um I think this
033is an opportunity for us to put in preschool space that's reimbursed um before the state decides to mandate it without paying reimbursement. >> So do we have to guarantee so many classrooms that apply for this? >> This is the legislation as written here. So it does say at least 10 years >> 10 years production of says shall maintain such early childhood care and education program for at least 10 years. >> Could be two kids. >> All I know is it says it shall maintain it for 10 years. >> So helpful. >> This is my suggestion would be not to let the legislation fester for too long and have too many people ask some of those questions. uh the next piece. So, additionally, uh we have certain specialized education programs, specifically the one at Upper Elementary
034right now, um which would definitely go into the uh replacement of EES. Right now, we are unable to put this program or a similar program at Gamefield because of the stairs of the building, but a new school would certainly lend itself to that. Um and when you build a program specifically for children with special needs, the square footage that will service that program is reimburseable at 15%. So it's not the whole building, but of the square footage in there um that applies. So there five or 6,000 maybe more square feet that apply to this one. >> This again is guaranteed or >> Yeah. No, that that's guaranteed. >> The two 15 well the four 15% The preschool is the whole space guaranteed. This is the square footage specific to this program. Guaranteed, >> right? >>
035The space waiver is a vote at the legisl 100% reimbursement, but we have plenty of dude. at closest. >> Yes. >> Um, so what this is referendum language. It's nothing that we have to set, but I wanted to show you some examples because one of the challenges is that the referendum has to technically be the entire cost of the project not assuming any state reimbursement. So it is likely that we will get state reimbursement. The question is going to be how much whether it's the 49% 60% whether the space waiver for the 25,000 square feet is included or not. Those we will not have that answer at referendum. So you need to be u specific in the referendum language. So I took some examples here. I'm going to email this presentation to you so you
036don't have to try to read out your slide. Do us a favor. Can you email them? Can you zoom in? So when you email us, I can actually >> So yeah, when when you see the PDF, you'll have this as one. >> Perfect. Thank you. Um, but what you'll see, uh, I don't know if this is, sorry, I want to show you because the Weathersfield talks about 239 million for construction of uh, the school and the renovations, but their bond amount for the town will actually be an $88 million bond. So the referendum mentions both. Um and then the more interesting part of region 15 is then that 88 million will be divided by the ADM number. So 66 to 33 by town. >> How do they get from 230 million to >> so their
037reimbursement rate is higher than 60%. >> So some towns are as high as 85%. >> Now we have to then break it down by each town because the ADM could change. So what? Yeah, it does. But the so the debt service number is what really like once that bond is enacted, it's the debt service that will come in. Um so in this case the school budget is unlike um where this was it won't be the town going out behind it be us. So our impact will be whatever that 86 million was would be the t would be the school budget that we're asking for. The part that people really want to know is what's this going to do by taxes. Um and that's going to have to be a partnership with the town. We talk
038about the mill rate and what do you want? You could use a three threeear average of EDM or something like that. Uh I mean I think once you get to that level whether you're a percentage or two one way or the other for the average mill rate impact is going to be kind of thought when you were saying you don't know the amount that you actually get reimbured it's not guaranteeing thought that it would have been 239 and 239 not 88 they don't know that they're getting the like how can they do that what if they don't get a full amount have >> so they have to so let's assume assume state I don't think it's ever happened but the state said we're not going to give you any reimbursement you have to do the
039whole 239 million well this town this town here has 88 billion so you have to decide are you going to restructure your project on the 88 billion or are you going to go out for another referendum so that's kind of where we have some of those decisions especially when they start to look at potential for some of our square footage not to be reimbured So like we may say not to exceed 129 million uh but we really might need 85 million and I think some of the conversation that's taken place in the past among the community is if they give us let's say the 112 million then we get the higher reimbursement and we only need the 86 million that we're going to have to have a conversation like I don't want to I don't
040want to just say hey trust us we're not going to go over but I do think that's kind of the open convers conversation we have to have is if we get a higher reimbursement rate, we're not going to pocket $12 million and bond it anyway. Um, here's our intent and whatever that intent is, we could say we could take that money and invest it in putting roofs on or we just say we're not going to bond it. Um, that that's I don't want to I don't want to kind of usurp the conversation the board, but that is a conversation that will happen. If we set up a bond, get approved, and then figure out we don't do that. after we changed bond. Um it wouldn't we would know before we set up >> because when
041you apply for the state reimbursement grant we'll know all that. But we'll go to referendum in May and the state legislators won't finish until June. So that's kind of that difference. But our grant is due to the state on June 30th and we'll know by then we had the feasibility committee here last month was Mr. Michael who suggested something very similar happened where we did get that additional reimbursement and then how the district chose to use those funds 25 years ago caused someriction. It would be interesting potential scenar if if you had additional dollars inside a bond until you don't build a second can't you'd have to go back for reauthorization to reallocate the bond >> right we don't know what the district used that delta for better was approved and there was a delta
042that was used we don't know what it was I was I know the turf field was always bad thing. I wasn't sure which when he was talking about that was I there was one when the high school edition was done turf was part of the bond originally and they built the turf. So I think that was I wasn't sure if he's over the two or not but I don't know which so we all know what the situation was. So, [clears throat] when do you expect that we're going to have information from the phase one exploration of the Roxberry property and some harder numbers on the plan B? >> So, I believe that by Thanksgiving we will have phase one of this property. We may have four bedrooms but I feel like we'll have that uh
043when you say Balm. >> Yeah. So I mean there come there is going to come a point where this board is going to have to decide are we going to go with option 4B or 4 C. Do we call it something different option one option two? I have no idea. >> Do whatever you want, >> but we like at some point this board is going to have to decide like which direction to go with with these schools. So, you think that we're going to have the four um the Roxberry Road phase one completed? um there wasn't um and we need harder numbers on existing schools and what that would look like. So option >> so we need harder numbers on option option 4B and the phase one analysis of 4C. >> Yes. Okay. >> The
044four B things would be like demolition making cost septic. >> Right. So, the three pieces that we don't have an answer to. I feel like there's some rough numbers. I don't want to just throw them out there without some backup, but uh the three pieces on the PES existing property are where the septic is located, which they have, we just didn't visit it today. Uh in order to build behind PES, we have to build an access road from Rosham Road to the back of PES. Uh what the cost of that would be and the demolition of PES. Uh the other unanswered questions are whether or not we can tap into the sewer system for gamefield or the Roxberry road site. Um we can access water on all three sites. >> So when you're getting these
045numbers, are they going to be pretty close to accurate? Because I would hate to get a number that's either astronomically higher than it's going to be and oh look we save money and blah blah blah or astronomically lower and we weren't prepared. >> So I am not an architect or a construction expert. >> I would tell you that based on the variables that are available for them to factor in today. >> Okay. I don't know what asphalt's going to cost or they're gonna have like there's an escalator but you know I mean all of these numbers are based on conditions with whatever assumption I mean no one knew CO was coming right so if there's anything I I just want to be as transparent as possible we're going to enter all of these with all
046the known variables that we can and then we're going to have to adjust to whatever we don't know right I mean that's every building >> yeah until you the across that ground and know one elevator or two or four depending how how the topography works once it's laid down because right now while we have conceptual blocks we haven't actually obviously there's no design of school on what that will look like >> I'm I'm more worried about access road cost >> demolition of PDS >> um can we tap into the sewer for GES or Roxberry Road and cost like that's where I expect that to come in with pretty solid >> numbers that is so I'm working with them by you know work like so by January we're kind of going to have to move right
047building design we're gonna have to start doing um the uh building committee we're going to have to start getting into like the specs of the schools that would be built. Um so we can't do that until we know some of those things. At the same time you can't wait too long you know or we're going to run out of Just logistically speaking, would um if if this involves acquiring or selling land, is that a separate referendum question too? Like would the acquire the brush straight road property, how would that factor the timeline that so I guess there's a couple of variables. So in order for us to purchase land that would have to be on the record our current flipping different question on the same uh the sale of land is a little different in
048that we couldn't really sell the land until after we had a place to you know so it wouldn't be the sale of the property wouldn't show up on the >> color questions you know I want like this is have some space, but at the same time, you know, we want to have updates every meeting for so [clears throat] the other thing that's on my mind when we talk about these costs um is is the potential impact escalation as well. So um you know I I think the art indicated pretty solid on these numbers um but as we move forward in time those numbers are going to change inflation. So, um, you know, I I just want to be conscious of I know we're working towards a referendum timeline in May, but if that don't meet
049that, you know, there's potential that we have to to um on that note, um, very much interested in the second slide schedule and what needs before we get to a referendum. Do think there's a lot in here. Um, and I concerned about having enough time to work out. >> Um, and you know, it seems to me that standing up that building happens pretty late. um you know as as related to actually looking at those specs. Um would it be a similar process as feasibility committee where you know the building committee is reviewing architects and reviewing specs and you know coming up with you know 15 possible solutions and then having narrow it down to one or um is it more of a you know here's two or three the class would fit on this property.
050>> Comes in after that. >> So really, it's the board that's going to decide we're going to build on this property. We're going to build school with I don't want to take any authority away from board, but I think you have to look at building schools. >> Yeah. >> And whether you build them on the existing property, I think the game build decision is is done. The only decision left is really PBS on existing or maybe rock. We don't have enough information to make that decision yet. That's the decision. The building committee really walks for this year. The heavy lifting building committee doesn't really come next week which happens after the referendum and after they'll be involved with the grant. Um some of the building specs, it's really after that like during the construction which
051isn't going to start until June of 27th. that that's really the heavy >> and the build committee is it's made up by statute like there's it's a statutory um they delineate who has to be on that committee right >> it's different than doing the feasibility study >> okay I I guess what I'm wondering is when do the when do we get a picture of what that's like is that before referendum after a referend >> we get we get like a blue where we can say here's your school community. This is what it's going to look like. >> So, I would stop short of saying >> we'll get you will get some design images. You will get some maybe I guess knowing who's out there in the community. I'm not sure you're going to get like
052stacked of like, you know, room by room, but you'll get kind of a layout of the building. You'll get some architectural broad look like if you were to build actually on any of the spaces where it'll sit, how it'll look uh in that pattern. some some input in and that's really why like by December January kind of have to decide what property you want to build you know again I don't know it's locked in stone but in order to do some of the design pieces like where does it you know the PES one in some ways is you have less options you know there's only one road plus maybe that access road that allows for that afterwards, but know the other property canvas. So, you have some options. >> Allow me to these are not
053names that are selling themselves to anybody. Um, I guess uh I'd like to propose something throw it out there in place and the choir. >> I don't know that I'm in love with either of those languages, but I just think it's more descriptive than >> I was expecting something. >> You know, I was I was thought I was thinking about it and I was like, "No, this is time. What's that? >> How about the Heather plane and the giant? >> Yeah, that's even more confusing. >> Heather A. >> Heather, Heather. >> Just a quick clarification on the architectural process. So, understanding that you have some conceptual designs for the referendum so people can kind of see what they're voting on. Um my prior understanding is that they kind of gave Tecton the go ahead to
054be kind of our you know we're not going to put that out to our we don't have time they're going to be conceptual architects but if this is approved we have to go through a more formal architectural design and review phase that might be something where the building committee might look at architects but there's going to be there is a second architectural phase it's not like the pictures you get in March is exactly what schools. You're in a pretty close layouts, the pictures, the designs. It's going to be a pretty complete building because that's all because that's the piece that goes straight to the state. All your processors are based on by classrooms. The layout can't think of along those kind of that triangle shape. All that will fit to the property and it's pretty
055well hammered out drawing and designed by them. Yes, you have an architect that will do the build and actual work with the CM do the final phase there, construction phase, but the design at that point fairly well >> construction company >> all that build >> there like clearly there changes like material availability >> like hey glass is more expensive now because of tariffs take out some window so there would be there should be an expectation building Yeah, and that's the building committee's job, which is part of this by statute. You have to have like construction. There's people that have to be on there. >> Jeff is building a change percentage into this project already, which is pretty standard. Always carrying it 10%. There's there's always percentage that carries. >> All right. So we're gonna get
056an update on this November >> on the phase one and some further numbers on. >> Yeah. So our intent is to keep this basic standard item and to update you at every meeting based on the questions that you have and what information we need. >> Any other questions? I don't I don't know. Have to said Thanksgiving. So, I'm guessing the second Thanksgiving or second >> as soon as we have it, we will >> All right. Um, next we have um board member comments. Any comments by board members? >> Yeah. Go ahead, Tom. >> Real quick, our student repa mentioned RMS had a Hispanic heritage cultural link. Um, I was lucky enough to attend. I didn't know what I was walking into. Um I got to the parking lot. I was like, I wonder what other
057things are going here because like the parking lot was so full. There was over a hundred people at that event and it was phenomenally done. And at one point Michael came over and you know made sure I knew like this is all student. We have staff members who are helping them but like this was a studentled initiative. Really really impressive. So I really enjoyed that event. And I do hear that they're looking to do more of these uh celebrating other cultures. Uh and a special shout out to the very brave students and very brave staff that participated in some of these dances on stage in front of the opera mentioned 100 people in attendance. Um but it was really a great event and uh looking forward to the next one. >> Any other comments? >>
058All right. Uh next we have comments from citizens. Board of Education will recognize citizens from Mbury and Southbury and citizens are asked to state their name, their town or residence and limit their comments to times. Any citizens? N uh next we have announcement of future meetings. Um Monday, November 10th, PNC's meeting at the media center high school at 6:30. Monday, November 10th, we have our regular board meeting at 7:30. Um, Wednesday, November 12th, finance meets um at MIJ at 6:30. Monday, November 24th, PNC's meeting at 6:30 at the high school media center, followed by November 24th, our regular meeting of the board of ed at 7:30. They have a motion to move into executive session. move that the board of education go into executive session for the purpose of discussing superintendent Smith's employees for 2025
0592026 in the PAA bargaining agreement July 1st 2026 to June 30th 2029 for possible action and to invite superintendent and also invite Joe Martin as well and And can we also invite Shelby into >> Thank you, Shannon. Um, any discussion? All those in favor? Any names?