001up decor for the table. >> Call the board meeting back to order at 19:26. >> Um, I'll entertain a motion from the floor. >> Um, I make a motion that the board approve the agreement between the board of education and UPS Shelton BE Nurses Unit 112 as discussed in executive session. Would you add to your motion also that I be sign approved to sign >> and that the uh chair be approved to assign to sign the contract? >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Motion made by Miss Coutas, second by Miss uh Razna. Uh any discussion on the matter? Seeing none, all those in favor state by saying I. >> I. Any being opposed? Motion carries unanimously. uh discussion of uh let's go on to Mr. Dr. Sarinick um of our meeting dates
002of the board of education. >> Yes. Uh the board should have received it's in your packet um the proposed meeting dates for the 2020 the 2026 um calendar year uh by city charter. we have to uh plan the full slate of meetings for the entire school year to be posted um in the city. Um in discussions with the board chair and the chair of the v the chairs of the various subcommittees um we've arranged and accommodated everyone's wishes in terms of how we'd like to um make these meetings and set up these meetings. Um the biggest reflective change as you saw this evening is finance will be will will follow the same suit as the regular board meetings. It' be six and seven. Um building and grounds will go to a quarterly meeting um in
003terms of the the calendar year and it would um be on the same night as athletics. Athletics would go with building and grounds and teaching and learning and policy will alter itself every other month. Um the only other thing with that as well is the budget workshops. Uh I will dive deeper into this and well I could explain it now. I was going to explain to my superintendent report but um we have the budget workshops that are going to be scheduled. They're going to begin on January 6th if the board passes this schedule um through the chair the chairs in the chair's discussion um to me he had asked instead of going six budget workshops that we've done in the past we're going to try to we're going to condense it and go into four.
004And what we're going to do because of the time of year um being that it's January and the weather is always uncertain um we will be holding the budget workshops uh virtually. So we'll do it through Zoom. You can do it through through your >> and we'll do the N1 will do in person when we do the um final vote >> the 22nd. >> Yes. Yes. Uh but those will all be done virtually. It's it's again we don't have to contest the weather. Sometimes it's easier to project um financial records on the screen so it's transparent to the public and the board so everyone can see it. Um so make sure that you have your laptops if you're not using your personal devices at home so that you can participate and contact me if you
005have any issues in terms of connecting with Zoom. Um but that's what we'll be doing for the for the budget workshops and this is all pending uh your board's approval based on the schedule presented to you. Any discussion on the meeting dates? We'll also call attention to the board. I've already I I've canceled the July. There's no July meeting. Uh we're mirroring the district. So, if you have vacation plans, please I will probably cancel the June meeting, but it's dependent on if there's business we have to take care of, we're going to do that. And it would be it could also be a condensed. It doesn't need to be a for one, but I need I would like to keep that date so you know about it. Any discussion? With that, I'll entertain a motion
006to approve the meeting dates. I >> make that motion to approve the meeting. >> So move by M. >> I'll second. >> Second by Miss Run. >> You got just so you know. >> She was quick. >> And once again, I'll call for any further discussion on the matter. >> All those in favor state by saying I. Any being opposed? Say by saying nay. Seeing none, the motion carries unanimously. Uh our next we're going to go to standing committees. Uh before I uh call on the first committee, you may have seen that I I'm also as chairman, I'm ad hoc to each committee. I believe in autonomy. I believe you're a chairman or vice chair. And regardless, you can do that job. If you ever need me at a meeting or feel it's an important
007subject, let me know ahead of time. I will come. I just don't I I believe when you're in charge of something, you should be in charge. Don't need the chairman watching. With that being said, let's go to teaching and learning. >> Teaching and learning committee will meet January 13th. The topic for discussion will be proposed courses high school here. >> Anything else? M >> finance Mr. Okonnell. >> So we met uh an hour and a half ago. Uh we we talked about healthcare and uh our next meeting will be next year. >> Okay. Any motions or anything to be for brought forward to the board? >> Yep. >> Very well. Policy >> uh besides the policies that were passed on the consent agenda um we'll be scheduled in January and then so did and then
008the uh meeting in February. >> Okay. I'm going to try to make that meeting because I was the past chairman. So that way I can ease you, you know, where we left off. But there there is a lot to discuss and I won't do here, but we are starting to hit some of the meat and potato policies. Um, and there's a lot of them that we have to update. Uh, and there's a lot that haven't been covered in the past that really are, what would we say, our bylaws, if you would. >> Yes, ma'am. Buildings and grounds. Uh as uh Dr. Sarinage mentioned uh we moved our building meetings quarterly. Um we believe that well I decided that we were basically very repetitive in what we were speak talking about. Um our next meeting will
009be February 18th and following that will be May 20th. Um I do speak to Mr. Calhoun regularly. Um and we can have a meeting if we can add a meeting if we have to. Um but we believe that most of the work uh that we have on our agendas are pretty uh repetitive. Um I can share with the board what Mr. Calhoun and his team have uh prepared for over Christmas break. One uh painting of the gym and some woodwork at Moheaggan school. A storage room upgrade at Longill School and also our IEES HVAC evaluation. Shelton High School, there will be a sprinkler sprinkler pipe repair in the auditorium and a test that follows that. Uh and then at Booth Hill, there will be a uh also another HVAC evaluation. Um in the next few
010months, uh most likely after the new year, my goal is to be working on um our high school field school uh scoreboard. I met with Mr. Calhoun today uh just to uh review the process in my best plan of attack. Um, and then that's when I'm going to be a couple months. I can go ahead and get this scoreboard off the ground. Yep. So, our next meeting would be February 18. Any questions, Discussion? DNG being none. The chair has one outside here and I've talked with the Dr. Sinich. It is horrific. If we can have DNG concentrate that and we need to we need to correct the rock and whatever type of weed garden. >> Working on that. We there was one one thought about being we were going to bring in some baby goats.
011Have them out there eating the high high grass. But I'm being told that it's a priority for spring. So, >> okay. >> If that happens. >> Thank you. Uh also for all the uh sub uh chairs, please keep in mind if there's something the superintendent may give you a call say, "Hey, I really need a meeting." You can do that. Or if you feel you need a meeting on any item, you don't have to go by the set schedule, but you do have to follow the rules. And that's generally I believe we were talking earlier it's 48 hours to go to the signpost >> uh the invisible signpost but there needs to be noticed so the public is well aware of it because uh also for the new members make sure you read about FOI
012uh it's extremely important uh and it's detailed so if there's a course they usually do them on Zoom you want to take that very important um with that being said you can always call a meeting next item uh report from liaison uh CES Yes, Miss Cout. >> Yes. The ES legisl legislative breakfast took place on Friday morning and we had the largest Shelton contingent in many years consisting of Dr. Theinitch, Mr. Fen, myself. We also had Amy Romano legislative and Jason Pllo came state senate and some of the topics that were discussed included regional programs reimbursement rates for construction or renovation learning loss cost postco and lunch funding as Mr. Sarah has just mentioned before tonight, healthc care costs, cell phones in the classroom, state mandates and busing costs and um electric buses, propane buses,
013that kind of thing coming down the pike in the future. Was very well attended. >> Yep. >> Oh, >> I'm going to get you. I'll ask you the questions. Uh for the new members, uh hey, could you explain what CES is, how often you meet, uh and basically who, what, when, what's the purpose of CES, and lastly, how long you've been there? >> That's the easy one. I've been there. I I meets at 3:00 on a Thursday afternoon. Makes it difficult for many boards of education to find a representative. CES is one of six regional educational services across the state, otherwise known as RESTs. And CES services mo most of southern Fairfield County. Um they operate um the 6 to6 in District Magnet School, which most people have heard of. The regional center for the
014arts, we have approximately 18 to 20 last count I had attending that. The regional center for early learning, which is preschool, and they have several programs for special education services, including um a developmental program for ages 4 to 13, a middle high school, again developmental for ages 14 to 18, a transition program for young adults 18 to 22. They also have rise reaching independence through supported education for higher functioning young adults and the merit academy which is for students in need of emotional or behavioral support. They also offer quite a range of um professional development which our district takes a wide use makes wide use of. They have executive searches. They coordinate uh the open choice program for southern Fairfield County. Um they have assistive assistance with assistive technology for special ed students and a
015number of other things. They transport dozens of special needs students um various programs. Did I hit all the questions you asked? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. There's one rep from each board of ed throughout Fairfield and I am vice president of the rep council. >> Right there knew you very well. Cape. >> Oh, Kabe. I thought you said Kate. >> All right. Um, uh, there was a mandatory new board member training. I don't know if anyone took that yet. That has to be completed within the year. It is a state law now that um, it's required of all new board members. And you know the the um CAB paper that we get in the mail um has an interesting article about what board of education do and what you know as a new board member
016sometimes you really don't know what you know your responsibilities are or who you even are. So although we are locally elected um by the voters of Shelton the board of education is not a local board. It is actually an extension of the state of Connecticut board of education and we are charged with the implementation of the educational interests of the state. In other words, we are state officials functioning at um the local level. Um we govern policy. The BOE is responsible in the hiring and evaluating of uh the superintendent. remember hiring, you know, going through that process with Yuken a few years back. Um, and the superintendent is is the school district CEO and is responsible for directing the evaluation of all the employees. The board submits a budget to the mayor who makes the
017recommendation to either fully fund the board's recommended budget or not. The alderman can either agree with the mayor's recommend recommended funding or they can recommend another amount of funding. And then the the mayor can you know veto that and the alderman can override that veto. The work of the school board is to make the interaction between a teacher and a student a successful one. And this is done by providing curriculum delivered by quality instruction. This area is focused with the teaching and learning subcommittee which is cleared by Kate. That's all I have to say. >> Could you uh for the new members explain who CAE is and what the purpose is? >> Yeah. Um, CAB is the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, and they provide us with guidance with legislative um, uh, functions, you
018know, of of things coming down through the state of what we're expected to to be following. um when we were were doing certain policies, we actually hired them to make sure, you know, to take their the language they had gone through to make sure that we were legally um following what the state wanted us to put in our policies. And that was just completed, right, Chim? >> Uh we're still on it. >> We're still on it. Okay. The house. >> We're in the meat and potatoes now. >> Well, no, that was the meat and potatoes. I'm sorry. I thought we were talking about um the other um what what are they? What What's Lauren? help me out. >> Bylaws. Okay, thank you. And um so CA KE uh provides us with trainings about different uh
019uh things that are going on in in uh with board with regards to boards of education. >> Thank you. >> I I have a question. >> Go ahead. >> So Patty, are the dates for new board member training are those on their website? >> Yes, they are. Um but the last one was on uh December 9th and I know you were away. Yes. >> Are they >> You have the floor. >> Are they um virtual or do you need to attend? >> Um as far as I know you need to attend but perhaps Ken knows something else >> for the chair. >> You have the floor. So I don't >> Okay. And just so so if I go on the website I'll get all the information. Okay. Thank you. Yeah, because um the Shelton Board
020of Education are members of CABE. Uh we could CABE will do that training for the full board for free and come here based on their availability. If that's something that the board would like to schedule and through the chair, we can contact CAB and try to get on their weight list to to pick a and it would be a special meeting of the board and they would just do the training here for the entire board. It's free of charge because we're members. It's just based on their availability. That'd be up to the board to decide. What's the feeling of the board? Does everybody want to have cave training or will they just do it for the >> I've been I can I can inquire whether they would just do it for some of the members
021and not all of them. I just know that they they did advertise or say that they would be willing to come to a board. They they would come to a board if request for pay for members free of charge based on their availability. Let's find that out. Sure. >> I don't know if they if they could do virtual as well. >> Yeah. I'm not sure. >> There are a lot more virtual offerings, >> right? >> Last I read it was at Cromwell, right? >> Yeah, it was Cromwell. Mhm. In the middle of the day, too, which is hard. I mean, it's a full day training, so that would be hard for those of us that work. >> Okay. Good. I just want to emphasize to the new members they give you a year to do
022that but it is state law you need to follow that um don't want not to >> Dr. Serinage your report sir. >> Thank you. Uh first I just I mean the first aspect of my report is not just to the to the board but it's actually to the general public who are viewing us viewing the recording and and with us tonight. Um t is the season and when I say tis the season it's not the holiday season is the flu season. Uh I just wanted to remind um all of our families that we really need to be conscious of your child and their illnesses. Um, we've seen a a great spike in our schools in terms of student and and subsequently staff absences which really impacts everyone. I was in conversation with uh the health
023department director 2 days ago um based on just the the data from Shelton alone and what was happening in some of our schools. Um they did we did put out some publications to the parents specifically for some targeted schools that had extremely high absent rates. Um and the aspects of what the health department is just telling all families that if your child has a fever of over a 100 degrees or higher symptoms of coughing, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, body aches, any symptoms exhibited with a flu or CO 19, you should not be sending them to school because that that obviously could lead to some sight of outbreak and we want everyone to be healthy. So, I'm just pleading with our whole community here that we we want to we want to educate your children. We
024understand the hardship that it gets put on families when a child has to stay home from school. Um, but we do want the best interest of all. So, we'd like to adhere to the um health department's recommendations. Uh, I also want to share for those of you who didn't see on social media um but I had the honor last night to escort our to escort our teacher of the year, Nick Mucina, who received his state plaque at the Bushnell Theater. That's an annual um event that takes place for all the teachers of the year throughout the state. They bring them all into the Bushnell. Very nice ceremony. Um and congratulations to Nick again. Um the board chair has asked me to uh make sure that I communicate to the board themselves so that they understand
025a change in practice that we have with the board. We did implement um for expulsions a hearing officer. We will have a hearing officer now. Um we actually have already had a an expulsion um overseen by a hearing officer. It's very successful and went very well. Um it is in the best interest of the board in terms of what happens now particularly with board members and their commitments to you know work days and and the timeline that we're stuck under by state statute of the 10-day commitment to have some type of hearing. So moving forward, what we'll be doing is any um non-contested uh expulsion hearing, which means an expulsion that the administration has worked with the family onto a stipulated agreement based on the outcome of the expulsion will be heard by a hearing
026officer. Um in no way does it diminish um our standards that we have in the school system or school rules based on um expelable offenses. Um it's just done for efficiency. uh there is no really additional cost to the board to have a hearing officer because when the board convenes a hearing we have to pay for the lawyer fees. When we have a hearing officer, the lawyers aren't required. So the funds that would normally go to the lawyer is just going to the hearing officer. Um so it it's it's just the more efficient way that we could do that. Um the only time that we would convene a hearing of the board of education on an expulsion is if the parents are not agreeing and they're contesting um uh the the recommendations of the administration
027and then we would have to have a full hearing. But as of right now um it's been very successful and should be very efficient for our school system. I know I've communicated this to the board um through several communications and those board members who have been with us some time. Um but just to reiterate, especially to the new board members who are here, we're we're very excited as a school system to be involved in the Harvard transformational leadership professional learning. Um this was an opportunity that was offered to all districts in the state of Connecticut. We had to it was an application process. I submitted Shelton um into this process. We were accepted with five other districts. We're only one of six districts who are involved in this who are actually working with the Harvard
028group who designed the vision of the graduate concept. what this is doing and it's a two-year commitment program and we have a Shelton designated team that is meeting with the Harvard group once a month and then we'll meet during the summer and then we'll do once a month next year. We are actually revising and looking at our vision of the graduate as many of the board members know our vision of the graduate is our is our goal and vision of our school system. It's the visual aid is right over there in the boardroom. Um it was put together about 10 years ago in our school system. So, it's about the best time to kind of look at it and see how we want to revise it and align it to what we do in our
029school. Um, since Harvard was the ones who initiated that concept of what they call a vision uh or portrait of a graduate, we refined the name somewhat called a vision of a graduate. Um, it's great to work with that group. Um, very proud of the Shelton team that's working together with that. Um, as that transitions along, we may be doing some revisions possibly to our our goal statements. um those will be brought to the board and of course um after our full year completion we'll probably as we did 10 years ago have board board and community involvement um as we move forward and publicize what we're doing as a school district. Uh, also, uh, a reminder from the the board chair as he and I discussed, you know, as tonight you've all met with our
030board attorney, you know, um, if there's any questions that need to happen, um, through the board attorney or any legal questions that you may have, um, of course, a board member needs to contact our board chair to say that they'd like to contact uh the the board attorney. No individual board member can contact the board attorney directly. and then I would process that request for you because any information that you access as an individual board member is available to all board members and our our current um council attorney uh Grantio and Fred Stanick who you've all met um they are very good at putting out what they call legal briefs. They send it to my office and then I communicate that and share that with all the members of the board. So we just want
031to make sure that we adhere to process. Um, two other things left in my um, report. Um, one of them or some of you know, some of you may know, but this will be Mr. Newman's last class. Um, Glenn is moving on to some other adventures. Uh, Glenn has been named the new director of information technology services for Alberta's um, Magnus Alberta Magnus College. >> Wow. I want to thank Glenn for the service and dedication he's given our school system. Um we've gone very far. Glenn helped usher us through um the pandemic >> which you know was uh very challenging for all technology uh directors throughout the state of Connecticut. He's really enhanced our cyber security in our school system. He's done a lot with the Chromebooks for our students. He's instituted laptops for our
032staff. you know, we've gone a long way in the in the short time that Glenn is with us and we'll be indebted for his service to the school system and wish him the best in his in his new endeavors. So, thank you very much. So, and um the last thing I just want to say is happy holidays to everyone. Merry Christmas and whatever holiday you celebrate. Um, as you know, we have three in an early dismissal day left for the school and then most of us will be taking the time off during what is somewhat of a long break because of the way Christmas and New Year's um, falls and I just wish everyone the best and happiest times with their families. Thank you. >> Yep. Sure. >> I was just going to ask you
033go first. Any questions for the superintendent? You're first. >> I have two questions. Um, having sat on the expulsions, we had a discussion what kind of Mr. Stanic was going to check into who we could use for an expulsion officer. What was the answer on that kind of a >> We can we can hire anyone that we deem qualified for a position. >> Did you get an retired administrator? >> We have we have actually several. So we we wanted to get a few just in the event that one is not available, we can go to another one. So yes. And the other question, in light of what happened in Trumbull, has there been any discussion about how much of our student body is vaccinated for measles or >> So I'm in constant uh conversations with
034our medical adviser, which is doc Dr. Casablanca. Um he um myself, uh Tracy Bike, who is our nursing supervisor, and Jess Christie, the Nagatuck Valley Health Director are consist um for those of you who have worked closely with Dr. Dr. Casablanca, he is um adamant about vaccinations, adamant about making sure that we adhere to it. He said he does not want the Shelton public school system to be affected in any way, shape, or form with measles or any other diseases that would shut down a school system. Um we've worked very hard um with we respecting families rights, but working within the law to make sure that um our school system is protected. >> Further questions? Superintendent Seeing none done, next item on the agenda uh is a healthcare uh update. And do you want to
035start or you want to go directly? >> I'm going to defer to Jackie. >> Jackie. >> No. So the annualized projection that I mentioned to the finance committee uh currently we are projected to be at 11,524,63. Um of that the district that's inclusive of our stop-loss credit and our RX credits. Um the actual district's health insurance is 10,146811. Um that combined with the custodial insurance is theirs is roughly 1.4 million brings us.5. So it is less than what was projected at last month's meeting. Um reason being when I spoke to Joe at IMA who was our plan administrator um you know he did state that the activity the claims activity was higher than normal at the start of the so that's thatction I projected little bit better questions for Jackie. I know the room post
036finance. >> I I just I have >> I have I just have a comment. Um, I I really do think that there needs to be a meeting or um I know that you said you're in contact with IMA and I'm not familiar with that company, but I do think we need better data um for the remainder of the year to see um exactly where we're going. And as I commented at the finance committee meeting, we need to see the buck the different buckets like how much how much we're over in RX, how much we're over in catastrophic healthc care claims and um what is the increase in people going to the doctor? What you know what are the reasons? Is it ware so on and so forth? And a good um a good consultant should
037be able to give you that data. Noted. >> Further questions for Jackie. >> Uh the chair has a couple for so originally people were saying we had a superintendent. So you're projecting that we're going to be 11 million. Are you saying our current there is no overage amount or is it such a small amount? Well, our our budget is 8.169 million for health insurance. So, there will be an overage. The projected amount of the 10,146 that's that's from our planator when he did the numbers. Um, and then obviously we have to add the custodial insurance onto that which brings us to 11.5. What's the exact amount we're going to be or or if you would round it up in a million? >> Round it up. >> Yes. 3.3,35460. Reiterate for the record, you're estimating right
038now based on the current trend that we're going to be 3.3 million over budget.5. if you would over budget. >> That is correct. >> Um, here's the military lingo. When do we hit bingo? That being where we have no more fuel when we have budgeted goes to zero. When would you estimate that it will happen? What month? A we're at 60 our budget 68.7 and we basically have 31 31. So that may give us definitely December we're okay. You know it all depends on the claim what type of claims come in. an estimate. >> Yeah, if you look at the data, um like the gross claims for just July alone were almost five. >> That doesn't include RX. >> Best case scenario, we hit bingo at Mar. >> Hey, we'll take your date. >> My
039next question for you is this. Did we do anything wrong board of education to have this over? >> No, we um the problem lies within the budget. We have a number that has been flatlined prior to costs go up budget number. There anything we can do to stop it? The overage Not at this time. Not that I can see >> any steps. >> Obviously within >> we have no control over the claim, the RF the illness. >> Jack, can you just talk closer to the microphone? >> I I just got a message that people listening can't hear. >> Could you repeat that? Could you repeat that again? So unfortunately at this time because the number the budget has been flatlined there hasn't been any increases in several years. Although the health the reserve account last
040year did cover our overage. We don't have that reserve this year. So you know we're potentially looking at a deficit in that line of 3.4 million. Unfortunately, at this time, there's nothing we can do. Um, you know, we have no control over the claims, the RX stop-loss claims, and when we were in budget, which for those that were here before, but I want to put on the public record, did you request additional funds to cover healthcare in our budget? >> We did. How much? >> I don't have that figure at the time. >> Have it for me next month, please. >> Four. >> And it was denied. Correct. >> Correct. >> We were flatlined on this item. >> Correct. >> Okay. Under the authority of being the chair, I hereby direct the superintendent to send
041a letter to the mayor stating that we are currently projecting that we will be over budget on our healthcare in February and that we're estimating by the conclusion of the year our current numbers at 3.35, the exact number that we have. And I also uh so direct you to send that to every alderman. I also request that you send that via email and it goes out immediately and hard copy, handd delivered and that we request a meeting with the city. Um obviously this is a serious thing that has to be taken seriously. $3 million short three to half million dollar shortfall not to be taken lightly. Um does any member of the board having hear me say this have any uh something they'd like to add to it or they wish me not to? I
042will tell you you'll be required to get a vote to do but I feel it is our uh it would our financial duty as well as our fiduciary duty to alert the city immediately and that also in this letter I want you to point out that we have no mechanism stop this loss. Uh I trust that you don't. Obviously I've said a lot and I think you were leaning close to the mic so I'm going to go to you first. I wanted to ask you if we should also send it to the alderman. I know we're sending it to the mayor. >> I just said yes. He said that all the alderman including the president. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Would it be helpful in the letter that you're going to send and requesting a
043meeting to put a date by which we want to have the meeting >> or keep it open-ended? >> I'll keep it open-ended. It's not my place to tell a sitting official when they have to put us by it. that this is more of an alert for them. Um I I don't want to in any way feel threatening to be honest uh demand anything. This is us alerting to them. See, we've alert we found a problem and know I've got to let you know about it. Just want to make a point that um when when Mrs. Doulings was saying flatline, that was flatlined by the city. make that very clear that we did everything and requested additional funds and had we been granted additional funds in a reserve we might not be in this situation. >>
044Correct. >> Thank you for pointing. May I >> I would just like to say Jackie was very forthcoming when we were building the budget last year >> requesting over I believe 11 million in the uh healthcare budget as well as hoping to receive the $2 million reserve that we had previously received. If we had received that funding, we would be in relatively good shape right now. And uh we had a to add to that in in our discussion with the superintendent you had told me something very interesting is that based on the past and you've been doing this for a while you you can get a good estimation based off the number of employees and add a little stuff into the sauce if you would that okay I need to add maybe 3 400,000 cuz
045I know someone's going to unfortunately have something tough healthcare-wise. Could you expel on that a little bit? >> Yeah. So, based on the projections and the amounts that we've seen come in in past years, the last year, last fiscal year, we were within budget with our reserves because of the numbers and how the budget was done and the projections I was able to put together. So when you have a realistic budget and you have num everything increases, we all feel that those increases. Um you have to really work with a budget where you account for those increases. Now even this year uh is is going to be tough for us because we were allotted a million dollars and our contractual obligations alone are two three. So we are we are unfortunately working funded budget. >>
046Any other statements or questions? Haley also please keep this as a permanent item currently on the agenda until so release by May. Next item. Uh obviously comments of board chair. I made a couple that one for sure. I wanted to expel on the expulsion hearings. Your time is very valuable. You are all volunteers here. Um we are still the backs stop and I want to emphasize there's been no change in expulsions. All I'm looking to do is watch your time and also not have people leave work when you're volunteering. Um, and we checked this through the board attorney who researched it. We're in full compliance with state law. Uh, as well as we're taking care of our students and making sure that we get the proper corrective behavior. But please keep in mind we are
047still the ultimate backs stop. Item two, um, with regards to the board of attorney, uh, as Ken mentioned, uh, we are in no way attempting to control anyone to have access to the board attorney, but there is a set process. Uh, I did have, uh, one member come forward and thought they may have an ethical breach on something. And I listened to the case. I said there was no need to go to the attorney for that. As the chair, I assured the member that there is no ethical breach of what they were doing. Um, at the end of the day, I will always, if I even think of a sliver that you need to go to the attorney, I will certainly send you there instantaneously. We're just looking to it make sure we monitor the
048amount of the attorneys cuz they do bill very well. My next item is we went to the legislative breakfast together as you heard Kate say. I and I wanted to give something I talked to a lot of you off the record. Keeping on with the vein of healthcare, some people said, "Well, if we go with the state program, that'd be fine." State program, they're estimating right now, this year, estimating a 15% increase. That's may go higher and that's the state which how many employees we're in the same, you know, there's increases on our end. Uh, another part which I felt was quite inappropriate at the legislative breakfast and we talked about it with a couple people is that tying housing to board of education budgets uh, low funds which we're currently getting what amount 12%.
049>> I I believe so, but I don't want to be misqued and accurate. Jackie, do you know what that number is? I >> not sure >> 12% sounds. >> Yeah, but it sounds familiar in terms of the >> Yeah. Yeah, I think the city is the recipient of funds. I don't have that in my report. >> Well, the thing that that had me was if your city adopts uh their housing plan, they're going to give you an extra 15% low funds. I just didn't think that was appropriate. Um I think that, you know, quite honestly, uh you know, a carrot and stick is not the place when we're talking about roofs, when we're talking about a new school. And there was a lot of complaints that lose funds are not properly funded. Um, but I
050just if you got the 15% in the background, why not give it to us up front? The other thing is we had a good discussion about uh I brought up home rule regards to uh Ken brought up regards to cafeteria uh funding for meals and uh I don't think that was met very well. I don't think that's going to happen. Uh the one person who was in charge of the legislative was very much polite listening to us, but I just walked away with the feeling and Ken and Kate could say I didn't think anything was going to change. I actually felt we're going to be facing more mandates. I don't know if you guys want to add into that or just agree with it and and we're not alone on that issue. I mean, this
051wasn't a Shelton issue. There were many districts pleading with making some changes relative to this problem. So, >> it's snowball that convers It really was. Uh my next item, uh just a housekeeping. Um if anyone doesn't have my contact information, Ken does, Haley does, you can come up to me at any point. I'll give you my cell phone, home address, top over, call, email, whatever you need. I'm always available to you. Um the next part is the Harvard study. One of the things when I met with Ken, you know, every new board chair I'm not looking to uh I want to maintain. I also want to improve the district and I was looking at a couple ideas and asked me to hold off. After the Harvard study's done, uh then we're going to convene the
052board and I think we're, as he stated, we're going to bring in a lot of stakeholders, but I'd like the board to begin to think of the following. How do we improve our school district? I'm open to any idea. I think we all are. But start thinking that out because that's going to probably be the subject. How do we make our district better for our uh employees, students? How can we make this place better? So, start thinking that out. Uh no no heavy mantra on that. Last thing I'd like to give to you, I'd like every member to please consider going to the PTO meetings. They are fantastic. Uh I went to three myself. Um, again, if you're available, please go. I know. >> I didn't I don't And did you There they are. I
053just want to give you some information on each one that I went. Uh, I think it's appropriate. I like to also, you know, if you take a look, I think it was either Patton or Omar Bradley. If you really want to know how it's going, go with the soldier that's in the trenches. Our PTO's are the trenches. They're out there. They're with the students. They're with our administration. And I'll tell you the wealth wealth of information. Uh the first one I went to was Moin uh Elementary. I have to tell you, uh kind of interesting. Actually, that was my second story. Um the couple highlights. Uh one I found fantastic was the principal. I don't know if you know this, the kids pick out um what costume for him to wear. I guess there's a
054bid for it and the highest bidder, he has to wear that costume all day. I'm thinking of bidding, but I I got to come up with a good costume, I think. But it is a great thing. They I think they made him dress as an elf one year. >> Mhm. >> And all day he had to go around as an elf. >> Yes, he said that. And he enjoys it. So, what a wonderful thing to get the kids engaged, I got to tell you. Um they uh also had a a fundraiser with low impact. They've raised $2,400. Um, they're doing outside events. Uh, for example, uh, if you're around, I'm going to see if I can make it, but I won't be putting on skates. They're going to have a family skate on the 11th
055of January. There's a bunch of other information. I just want to give you the highlights. The other one I went to was interesting, as they all were. As I said, was Longill. This, I got to tell you, was amazing. What an engaged group. Would anybody want to take a guess how much funds they've raised over their checkbook balance? Any guesses? Their checkbook balance is 20,000. They are raising funds and they give it all back to the children obviously and the events uh supporting the teachers. What a marvelous group of people. But there was something even better than fundraising. You may not know it and some may uh and I may have the name off the Vesley Heights uh elderly care >> Wesley Heights. Thank you. I'm sorry I had it backward. >> They're engaging with
056the res with the children. The children love it and the residents love it. They're across the street and everybody's included. What a wonderful program. And I I'll tell you, I heard that and I was just speechless in the sense of, you know, whoever dreamed that up really needs a a hell of a pat on the back. Another thing, which I found kind of neat, I guess a couple other schools are doing it, but uh it was kind of neat idea, they're doing a a cultural assembly. They got to have a whale inside, a big blowup whale inside the auditorium where they teach you all about the mammal, have touch touch education for the kids, and they say it goes over quite well. So, if you're available on January 28th, if I'm available, I'm going to
057go see the whale. The last one I went to is SIS tonight. Um, they uh another good organization, a couple things, their basketball season starting. Um they had uh students are moving to the state science fair and then another one which was really interesting and where do you hear this engagement 200 students with junior achievement they did a simulated stock market. Now they did say that they had like three or four sessions and like the first couple sessions were totally dry. The third session when they were trading stocks in the auditorium it went way over. But can you imagine engaging 200 students? Last thing, they're also having a winter carnival on January 23rd and that's from 6:00 to 8 if you're available to go. That was the highlights from them. And uh I think that's
058all I had from there. Any questions for the board chair? Any statements? I celebration sir. Just to remind the board, I do um within my communication, my weekly communication to the board, I do put um when PTO's are meeting, their times and locations. Just if you're if anyone, please go. Um it would be great if you do what you can. You can't go, that's okay. If you're free, please go. These are our people and they need to see the board staff. Celebrations. Bam. I was uh pleased to serve again as a judge for the science fair invention convention at SIS and they had a great showing especially on the science fair side and when it came to the invention convention submissions we had a really tough time narrowing it down to three to send on
059to the state so that we have some good um future look for maybe sending some to nationals. >> Thank you. Any further celebrations? Any communications to the board? >> None. None at this time. No. Uh in the in your packet is enrollment and staffing reports. Is there any questions or discussion on uh enrollment or staffing reports? >> Seeing none. Nothing else is further on the agenda. I'll take a motion for a German. >> Move. Move. >> Second. >> Okay. Second by Mr. Rosner. All in favor state by saying I. I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries unanimously. Thank you everyone. Enjoy your Christmas and New