001All right, Kate, you're out already. Yeah, I'm here. Give me the flag when you're ready. It's It takes about 500 years, but that's okay. Yeah, I'm ready to go. All right. Uh motion to come out of Motion come out of executive session. Motion to come out of executive session. Motion made by Miss Coutach. Second. Second. We're back in session. Thank you. Second. All in favor? I. Any oppose? Seeing none. May uh May 28, 2025, 7:45. We're out of executive session. No votes were taken in executive session. Can I get a motion to accept the recommendation of an existing corporate counsel, Mr. Carter? Moved. Motion made by Miss Cout. Second. A second. Uh, all in favor? I. Any opposed? Seeing none, motion carries. Thank you, Mr. Carter. Thank you. Good job, M. Thanks. [Music] Okay. Uh,
002reports of standing committees. Uh, item number eight, teaching and learning. Oh, no, no, the comment. We're where are we? Public. Sorry. Where are item number? Skipped one over. I'm sorry. Item number seven, public comment. Disclaimer. Um, per board policy number 9323 and 9325. 5 minutes is allotted to each speaker. No board of education employee, student, or community member should be defamed within public comment. Any member of the public who wishes to speak briefly before the board must only comment on matters associated with the board of education business. Persons wishing to address the Shelton board of education are limited to Shelton residents, parents of current Shelton students and employees of Shelton public schools or service contracted providers of the Shelton public schools. Have anybody who wish to speak? Adrien Hamilton. Hi, good evening. My name is
003Adrienne Hamilton and I have been a music teacher in Shelton for the last 20 years. I have worked at Lafayette, Perry Hill, Moheaggan, Long Hill and I currently teach at Long Hill and Sunnyside. This is my fourth year teaching at Long Hill and my second year being split between two schools. I am here tonight because the reduction to our staff is having a negative impact on the quality of music instruction and programs we offer to our students. Current enrollment at LHS is 369 students which shows an increase since the 202021 school year when the enrollment was 31 students. Currently have 22 sections at LHS. Students have 30 minutes of music each week, which is a decrease from three years ago when they had music per week. In addition, we used to have music enrichment Fridays
004in which each class would receive an extra lesson for a period of time throughout the year. These enrichment classes allowed me to compensate for classes that were missed due to scheduled days off, snow days, or shortened periods with delayed openings or early. Now, when a class is missed, children have a large detrimental gap in music lessons. The design of our music curriculum requires units to be taught in a continual manner building on skills and concepts from the previous lesson. Therefore, one day off of school is the equivalent of having a week off of music instruction for the classes that are missed that day. I taught full-time at LHS. Students showed a great deal of growth in their musicianship as could be seen on pre and post test assessments, whole class performances with various groupings, their
005fourth grade coral performances. Students left fourth grade with the ability to read music, sing in two-part harmony, and play more complex on their record classroom instrument. Sadly, this is no longer the case. Now, students playing only simple BAG songs, meaning only songs with three notes. Most of classroom instruments a such as xylophones and other mallet instruments don't even make it off the shelf. The same excitement about music programs offered at Perry Hill is not evident is not evident in their comments and questions about Perry Hill. And this is evident when we look at enrollment numbers in band and chorus. AHS band currently has 35 students from the 70 students in the 201718 school year. The SIS band has 40 students and the Shelton High School band has 20. Barry Hill used to have a choir
006of about 150 students in the school year and this choir no longer exists. SIS once had over 100 students in choir and now enrollment stands at 30. The high school has 12 students. Music is an integral part of the elementary school experience. Songs are often included throughout the school year at things like Veterans Day ceremonies, holiday assembly, kindergarten and step-up ceremonies, and other various events throughout the year. Sometimes these events take place when the music teachers out of the building, and there is no one to lead the children in song. This is the equivalent of an orchestra playing without a conductor. As music educators, we know the importance of having a good rapport with students. It creates an elevated classroom culture with a higher level of student engagement, motivation, and trust. This is much harder
007to do when spread across two schools with a total enrollment of 614 students. When a teacher is assigned to one building, there are many more opportunities to connect with a child while excess lunch or simply passing them. Our youngest learners, our prek students, do not have to instruction because teachers are split between buildings. Research outlines the vital role that music plays in early child development. Simple games and songs build body and brain coordination. Songs and rhymes help expand a child's vocabulary and develop. Fine motor skills are developed through finger plays and playing instrument. Gross motor skills are developed through action rhymes where children bodies. Children hear singing. They very quickly song. Children are naturally drawn to music. they sing, dance, and freely with while also learning so many. It's not fair to deprive our youngest
008because we don't have full-time music teachers school. Research shows how quality music education strengthens student achievement, emotional development, and overall well-being. Programs need to be designed to nurture growth and development through the elementary carryover of her grades. Music is not a luxury. It's a vital part of our children's education, development, and we allow our music programs to falter. We risk dimming the spark of creativity and confidence in every child who walks through our doors. This is not just about notes or instruments. It's about nurturing well-rounded, resilient learners who carry these gifts into every part of their lives. We ask you to join us. Recommmit to our music program. Not only to restore what has lost, but to invest in the bright future, child sheltered. Could you just state your name for the record? Say your
009name and your address, please. K Testani 384 How a Good evening. My name is Kate Testani and I'm the music teacher at Elizabeth School. This is my 12th year teaching and I have only ever taught in the Shelton public school system. I have also taught at Perry Hill School years. I was the band director at Shelton High School. I would like to start by saying that I love working at the Shelton public school system. I did not grow up in this town, but I have immense pride when I speak about my time in this district. I grew up in a larger city of Fairfield County and did not get the sense of small town that is extremely evident here. I love talking all things Shelton and all things music. Please know that we stand here
010today to ask for your help to work together and to help help us. The Shelton public school system currently consists of eight full-time music teachers. Three at the K to4 level, two at two at SIS and one at Shelton High School. The entire department has a strong connection. Get along. We support each other and we work together to help solve problems. In the last 5 years, the department has really come together as a prek to 12 unit that sees, understands, and worked hard towards the vision of a music graduate rather than separating ourselves by elementary and secondary. I am proud to call all of these teachers. I'd like to draw our attention to some numbers at the prek to6 level specifically because general music is a required course for all prek to six students. All
011data that I have collected comes from edsite.gov, an online data portal provided by the state with public information on all Connecticut. In 2017, there were 2,46 pre6 students enrolled in the Shelton public school system. At this time, there were 8.3 full-time equivalent music teachers at the pre6 level. Between then and now, we have had the elementary school redistricting as well as CO 19, which did impact our enrollment. If we jump ahead to this school year, we currently have 2,471 pre-K6 students, which is 65 more students than in 2017, which is about three additional class sizes, but we have lost 3 and a half music teachers at just the prek to6 level. This is a 40% decrease in music teachers. Moving from 8.3 full-time music teachers to only five is impacting the entire department of music
012teachers. All prek to6 students are required to receive general music class. Having only three full-time music teachers from five elementary schools is simply not enough. Adrienne's case load split between Long Hill and Sunnyside just herself is 614 students. And JJ, one of our newest members of the department, single-handedly teach 712 students per week between Booth Hill and Mo. That's the equivalent of teaching all of Perry Hill school every week. Our goal as preK to6 music educators is not to pump as many students as possible to join band or choir. Our goal is not to create as many professional musicians and music educators as we can. Our goal is to create the musical child who will grow to become the musical person. Here in Shelton, we teach with a 30-year plan. When our students are 30
013years old, they will be able to dance to the beat at their own wedding. They will be able to sing happy birthday to their children and eventually to their grandchildren. They will be able to sing and the home of the Gales in tune at Finn Stadium at a Shelton High School football game, a tradition I very much miss from my time teaching at Shelton School. They will seek out musical experiences and be able to express why they enjoy it to others. Not every child will grow to be a professional musician, and that's okay. But every child will grow to become a musical person. The only way this 30-year plan can come to fruition is if there are enough music teachers to execute this plan to our students. With our preK students not receiving music class
014at all and class period times being cut shorter due to not having enough music teachers in the building, we will not reach our goal of the 30. By adding just one more music teacher to our department, we can impact multiple schools and hundreds of musical children in the city of Shelton. When I am not teaching at Elizabeth Shelton, I am a professional musician with residency at multiple theaters in lower Fairfield County. I often work with a music director who begins every show by saying to the musicians, "Remember who you are and what you stand for." And while the sentiment doesn't always relate, it resonates with me as a music. This is who we are and this is what we stand for. Music education is critical for all children. These children will eventually grow to be
015our neighbors, our friends, and our family. 30 years from now, those people can say, "30 years ago, I had a great and it's up to us to work together to make that happen." Now, being said, remember who you are and what you stand for. Thank you. Does anyone else wish to address the board? Anyone else? Seeing none, we'll move on to item eight, reports of standing committees, teaching and learning committee. I think she's not here. There was no meeting. There was no meeting. No, no meeting. Not here either. Uh finance committee. Uh we did not have a meeting. uh April, we are working towards meeting our financial obligations. Jackie, do you wish to add anything? Uh current update currently with the reserves um close to being budget. Had a couple issues with health insurance, a
016very large stop loss claim. So, we're waiting to hear back from the city where we're at and planes added to that stop loss. So that may change things work. Okay. Thank you. Policy. Well, Mr. Fian's not here, but uh the policy did not meet last month. This month, rather. All right. We'll stick right with you. Building and grounds. Same thing with buildings and grounds. Uh we didn't meet this month but we did have a meeting with the building committee. Um myself uh Dr. Sarinich and John Calhoun attended. Uh the final drawings were uh were designed and reviewed by the building committee and ourselves for the Moheaggan roof. Um that was on May 12th. Uh Mrs. Romano organized a Zoom meeting with the board members. We also reviewed it um passed that and and got the
017proper signatures. Um so that is with the uh I believe it's with the state now, right Mr. Dr. Sinich? It's uh that's correct. Approval and there's been so many signatures. So Dr. Sin has been quarterbacking this for us. So almost uh we're almost out of the park here. Um yeah and that's that's basically it for for that buildings. Okay. Reports of less and CES. Yes, Mr. Chair. Um CES representative council met on Thursday May 1st. The operating budget was reviewed which includes a 3% tuition increase at Merit and 2% increase at Oakviewmies which are both sped programs. They're switching to Sigma for insurance with a 5.7% increase over current year rates. All beginning teachers assess are on track to complete their team requirements for the current school year. Enrollment is open for the regional center
018for early learning preschool programs during the summer and fall of 2025 and is open to Shelton families as well as others outside of Bridgeport. You can call to set up a tour and learn more about their play-based learning of visits to facilitate transition between buildings or intake due to surrounding districts placements. Cheryl Cart Hodon has been designated as on-site supervisor and program coordinator for six classrooms being set up in Stamford to serve as students on the spectrum that are referred to CES. The first year spots will be available to Stamford residents only, but in the second year, other towns nearby may be offered space. This can help save on transportation costs all the way to Trumbull. Open choice openings have will be offered shortly to students who have applied from Bridgeport, Norwok, and Danbury to
019surrounding districts who have offered openings. RCA has had 77 students accept openings, which means they will start next year at full capacity. And a sixth grade teacher at 6 to6 Magnet School received a national award for excellence in science teaching. And I apologize for not having her name. Didn't catch it that night. And that's my report. Okay. Um, okay. We don't here. All right. Super item number 10, superintendent report. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, as we're all aware, the alderman set the no rate uh last week. Um, we received $1 million increase to our budget. Uh, that leaves us approximately $1.3 million short of our contractual obligations. Um, as well as, uh, unfunded for the title money that we did not receive from this past year. um as well as the increases that we put
020into the budget which were increases to our prek program and this board did propose to the city the increases to music program um library media and the arts all of which were go unfunded by the city because we need to meet our contractual obligations we need to at least um find the $1.3 million I along with Mrs. toolings have been working on that task uh in consultation with other administrators. Um so far my goal is always to be least impactful to people's livelihoods. We are looking to retirements. We are looking to resignations um which we started off with first. There are positions that we do need to replace. Um, we did start cutting some positions and as I left my desk today to this meeting, um, I'm still short $660,000 in cuts that I have
021to make. And this is after incorporating those retirements, resignations, and making significant cuts to the title money, positions, um, and other requirements that we need to do for prek. Uh, we will have a budget to present to the board at our June 10th meeting. Um until then, uh I look forward to graduation with our seniors on June 6th and celebrating the end of the year celebrations with all of our students. And lastly, I know that the next agenda item is a comment from the board chair, which I'm sure will come from Mr. Rosetti, but I did speak to Mrs. Romano briefly before this meeting. She asked me to just convey um congratulations to the seniors um on the award cereum the other night that she could not attend. Um she wants to wish them well.
022looks forward to graduation and she also wants to do a special recognition to Hershey, our former um last year's board rep. For those who don't know, she last night and and as her connection is directly to this board, Mrs. Rano wanted to make sure that she publicly noted that. That's all. Thank you. Great. Congratulations. Okay. Uh item number 11, comments by the board chair, acting chair. Um well, we've all been attending a lot of workshops. I personally attended the board of alderman workshop to see exactly how they were functioning as opposed to what our how our board uh operates. It was very enlightening uh to say the least. Um the board we uh the board attended many meetings for with the uh board of alderman on the budget and we've been uh busy as the
023superintendent had just uh alluded to. Um, it's going to be a challenging next couple of weeks. With that, I'm going to just go um to item number 12, celebrations. I went to a baseball game and I witnessed Mr. Zur celebrating his 200th win as a Shelton High School baseball coach. That was pretty impressive. Does anybody else have any? I just wanted to make a note of the fact that the very day we announced our teacher of the year on Instagram, I ran into him at a restaurant that evening celebrating and was able to congratulate him. I again the name le uh Nick Msina. Nick Msina from school. Yeah. So it was like oh my god congratulations. I was just like surprised to see them but it made sense. I would have stuck around but they
024won the game such a large margin. Um actually they're in the tournament the tournament. Yes. Anybody else celebrations? Uh and with that I just like to uh make a note that this is the 51st graduation from the Shelton High School on Meadow Street. Goes by very quick. Uh with that, uh for your information, item number 14, for your information, enrollment report and the staffing report are all in your package. And number 15, I'll make a motion. Second. On favor.