001flag of America and to the republic for it stands one nation with all say thanks for all Vet took a second to appate veterans and everything. Uh, first order of business as always is guidance. >> Yeah. State your name, address. My name is Ahmed 48 Road. >> Good. Good evening everyone. My name is Al Sala. I'm a junior at Cury High School and also a proud member of the rugby and wrestling team. I want to talk about why Eid, one of the most important holidays in Islam, deserves a place on the school calendar. Eid is a day of joy, family, and gratitude for millions of Muslims around the world, including students right here in our schools. It's a sacred celebration that marks the end of a month of fasting and reflection. It's a day spent
002praying in the morning, visiting loved ones, and sharing meals together. But for many Muslim students, it's a special day is spent on worrying and missing classes and falling behind on school or being marked absent for celebrating your faith. We already recognize holidays like Christmas, Yangapur, and Good Friday on our school calendars. These are important holidays for many people and Eid is just as meaningful for Muslims. Recognizing recognizing it, we show that our school values inclusivity, fairness, and respect for all religions. When students see their cultures and beliefs respected by their schools, they feel more welcomed and supported. Taking lead off would not only allow Muslim students to celebrate uh freely with their families, but also teach everyone else in our community by diversity and understanding. We live in a country built on freedom and religion.
003By adding Eid in the calendar, we live up to that promise, ensuring no students has to be has to choose between their education and their faith. So I ask you all teachers, administrators, and classmates to think about what equality really means. Recognizing Eid isn't just about a day off. It's about respect, belonging, and representation. It's about showing that every student matters. Thank you. address. >> You don't have to. >> Good evening, council members. My name is Famil and I'm a sophomore at Sbury High School. I'm here tonight to speak about the importance of recognizing Eid as a school holiday as well. uh for Muslims in sinsbury Eid begins with a religious prayer that is most essential part of the celebration. This prayer is not optional and is a central act of worship and a cornerstone
004of our faith. Yet many students face a difficult choice to rather attend school and miss this prayer or to attend a prayer and fall behind it academically. No student should ever have to choose between their education and their religion. This is more than just a celebration. It represents milestones that every Muslim stries to achieve. Fther marks the end of Ramadan, a month where Muslims pray. Muslims fast daily to sunrise to sunset for 30 days and Eid celebrates the annual pilgrimage to Mecca where Muslims gather to pray before Islam's holiest monument, the Ka. These holidays are deeply spiritual, profoundly meaningful and central and central to our identity. Several nearby school districts have already taken steps to acknowledge Eid as an official holiday including South Windsor, Manchester, Waterbury, Milford, Fail, Fairfield, and Bridgeport. Others such as Farmington
005are currently [cough and laughter] considering similar measures. Simsbury should not fall behind in recognizing the needs of its diverse student body. While student while students who celebrate Eid may be excused from school and marked absent and not marked absent, the b the burden still remains. They must still wake up. They must still make up miss assignments, lessons, and exams. Adding stress to what should be a joyful and sacred occas would will remove this unnecessary hardship and affirm the value of inclusivity in our community. Thank you. Uh, good evening board of my name is ABI and I'm a junior at Simsbury High School. I've been a proud member of this community for four years. I'm one of the few Muslims at my school and the only Muslim girl on the track team. One of the Simsbury
006on the Simsbury website the board says we will recognize and address the biases and inequities that exist within our school system. I'm here tonight to say that not recognizing you one of the most important holidays for Muslims is an inequity. For Muslim students like me, Eid is a day of joy, faith, and family. But every year we're faced with a hard choice. Either miss school and fall behind or miss Eid and lose the chance to celebrate with our families. No student should have to choose between their education and their faith. Recognizing need on the school calendar would send a powerful message that Cbury values all of its students equally and that equity and inclusion aren't just words but actions. Other nearby districts including West Hartford and New Haven already give students the day of free.
007If they could do it, so can we. Being part of this community means a lot to me and I hope to see it become even more inclusive for all students. Adding you to the calendar would be one small change that makes a big difference in helping every student feel seen, respected, and included. Thank you. >> Um, I'm Lucas Kazinski. I live at 68 Seminary Road. Uh, greetings members of the board and spectators. My name is Lucas Kazinski and I'm a junior at Century High School. I'm here today in support of adding Eid as an official holiday and a day off for the district. Aside from religious arguments that my partners gave, leaving Eid off the calendar represents an academic disadvantage for students who practice the holiday. Firstly, parents are pre presented with the options of
008either sending their kid to school and missing a time and special moment for them that's holy to the Muslim faith or taking them out of school where they can miss tests, labs, projects, or even midterms or finals. In the case of last year, Eid happened to fall during final season and according to a student from Firmington High School. She had to miss fi her finals for that day. Simsbury students and families should not be forced to make a this difficult choice. Secondly, according to a former attendance worker of Sea High School, the days of Eid correlated with a higher absence count than typical. Also, according to the same staff member, many families were not aware of the religious exemption available, meaning many students not only missed school, but were penalized for spending time with their
009family on Eid. Members of the board, I urge you all to support the addition of Eid to the school calendar so that students and families do not have to make difficult decisions that limit their faith or academics. And I thank you all for listening. >> Thank you. Just wanted to take a quick minute and thank you for coming out and sharing your perspective. Had an opportunity to meet with a um Dr. Bachelor last week and sit down and talk through this a little bit. Uh some of this work and conversation has initiated through our equity council which was our suggestion. We've also had some reach out from community members about other celebrations and religious holidays as well in terms of how to look at this in totality. So that those will be the first couple
010steps. I just wanted to share that. We don't do a lot of back and forth in public audience, but you guys did such a great job uh coming up and sharing. I didn't want to be silent on that. So, thank you for coming out. It was it was great getting an opportunity to talk to you and I look forward to follow. >> Thank you. Have a great night. >> [clears throat] >> on the agenda here a couple minutes uh from our high school's big game fishing club and their shoe drive Mr. Pelinkus is in the corner to lead this effort. >> Hi. Um yeah, my name is uh David Pelinkus. Thanks so much for this opportunity. Um I am a teched teacher at uh Simsbury High School and um we're just going to talk real
011quickly about asking for your support for our um [clears throat] club. It's a new club and we're looking for some funds, our um some of our leaderships, student leaders from the uh club are going to just give you a brief overview of the club, some of our missions, and uh some of our fundraising efforts. Uh we're going to start with Liam, our our president. Hello, my name is Liam Fitzgerald and I'm the president of the fishing club here at Simsbury High and I just want to share you some of our long-term goals that include the growing the sport of fishing and teaching proper fishing technique as well as improving our environment while doing so, taking care of our fishing places and leaving them cleaner than the way we got there. Some activities that we plan
012on doing during the school year include unified fishing where we hopefully will partner with unified sports and unified classes and do an activity with them, teach them how to fish at the SHs pond that people have been working on cleaning up. [snorts] And some of our environmental conservation goals include cleaning out the SHS pond, attending uh events such as the Farmington River Cleanup, which is held uh on the Farmington River up in New Hartford once a year in April, hoping to get some of our members to go out there and help clean up the river before the fly fishing season. We'd like to set up fishing line collection boxes at local fishing places such as Stratenbrook, which there already is a couple, and promote catcher leash practices and teach our members how to prop properly
013handle fish. And I'm going to pass it on to Mitch Pinkis, vice president. Hi, I'm Mitch Blankis. I'm the vice president of the Big Game Fishing Club. Um, we're a brand new club here and we're in need of new supplies, uh, such as fishing line, lures, um, and rods. Um we are currently collecting gently worn or brand new shoes um called the fun the fun or shoe drive. Uh yeah um it's going to be going on to December through mid December. Um and they're putting boxes in every single school in um the Simsbury district. We're also putting one downstairs in the town hall. Yeah. Hi, my name is Danny Kelly and I recently um organized our first official fishing club outing where we raised over $40 from our members of which we have over a
014hundred. Um my goal here is to hopefully spread the fishing club not only to us but to the um the unified classes throughout the school and hopefully coordinate uh tournaments where we can fish in the Onion Mountain Reservoir where we held our first official event um Stratenbrook and maybe even the pond next to our um next to our high school which leads on to Kylie's point. >> Yeah. So, we recently had a few members from our club go out to Sweetheart Pond, which is the pond behind our high school, and help remove invasive species, clean up trash, so that hopefully eventually we can clean up the pond so that we're able to fish there and for other recreational activities in our community. >> Good evening everyone. My name is Sam and I'm Kylie. We're the
015social media managers of Fishing Club. Yeah, we just wanted to share our Instagram with you guys tonight. This is an example of our stats of the Instagram page. We post updates about the club and we're also starting a new thing called catch of the month where students can DM us their most appreciated catches and we'll post a highlight for them as well. And if you guys want to follow us now, this is a QR code. But yeah, we're spending our time promoting the club and what we do. So, thank you. >> Thank you. very much. Wait since we knew you all were coming, put a little word out and so to help you get on your way. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you, Mr. >> Tendo for >> Thank you. Thank you so
016much. We appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> It should be there already. >> Oh gosh. Okay. Yeah. Thanks so much. appreciate >> school. So, uh take chairman's prerogative a little bit tonight. We're going to do a little differently. >> Tonight, as you all know, is a little bittersweet, right? We say goodbye to two great friends as we say hello to two members of the club. Sharon Thomas, as you all know, um couldn't be here tonight, but I just want to say, you know, you know, we want to thank her for her service. She's challenged us on a lot of our issues, which is great, right? You you want to be challenged on your core issues that that either reinforces, right, that you that you're doing the right thing or gives you the opportunity to change.
017So we appreciate that that perspective [clears throat] our own best in the next in our next endeavors. Um as we as we did we had a little celebration before the meeting. Um just a few words on this incredible person to my left here served 28 years. 28 years. I mean that [laughter] is incredible. You got a ways to go. [laughter] It's it's um it is truly remarkable and uh you have all our respect as you well know. Um and I just on behalf of and everybody's going to get a a chance, right? Uh but I think I think anybody who's talked to me about this board, one of the first things I say is I love this board because we leave our party, right? You probably don't know who's an an R and a D
018up here because we have a singular focus and and a singular focus is having the best education for our students in this district. And I can think of nobody nobody who encapsulates that more than they did. If you know from welcoming the new members and having their training to maybe uh you know taking a a a chairman who may be a little bit overwhelmed in those first couple meetings out to lunch [laughter] to make sure uh he's um his head is still attached to his body. um you your dedication to the Simsbury students and everybody in this room is nothing short of of remarkable. And so with that, I get the honor of reading the century board of education. That's why I needed to get my glasses out of my car. [laughter] So whereas Lady
019Tone has dedicated 28 years of distinguished selfless service as a valued member of the Simsbury Board of Education from 1997 to 2025. And whereas Lydia Tone has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the success and well-being of all students, staff, and the entire school community. And whereas Lady Teddome dedicated countless hours to attending meetings, reviewing policy, and engaging with the public to ensure that the district's decisions reflect the values and needs of the community. And whereas Lady Teddon has consistently been involved at both the state and federal level, ensuring that each student everywhere has access to excellent and equitable public education governed by high performing schoolboard leaders and supported by the community. And whereas the board of education and the Simsbury community recognize and deeply appreciate the profound and lasting positive impact of Lydia's service, wisdom,
020and dedication to public education. Now, therefore, be it resolved, we the board of education hereby officially recognize and extend its deepest gratitude to Lady Tone for her exemplary service and contributions to the Cbury public schools. And be it further proclaimed that we extend our sincere best wishes for a joyful, healthy, and fulfilling retirement. Signed by Jeff T. Hi. >> So, with that, I turn it over to >> I have kind of a long one for you today because I asked everyone to give me specifics about their Veterans Day celebrations because I thought that would be relevant considering today's veterans. Um, so starting with the high school, I also did every single school this time. So, um, starting in the high school, we had a Veterans Day celebration for veterans in the staff in the morning.
021Um, my choir sang the national anthem for them. Um, and then over the the announcements. Principal Sidell read an announcement that she says connects the service of our veterans to our core values, passion, preparation, and personal growth. Um, and then also Mr. Curtis, I believe, read announcements throughout the day um during like passing through. Um, and then at 4 pm on Thursday, November 13th, which is this Thursday, we start the penathon, which I'm sure everyone knows what that is. Um, for those that don't know, it's over 22 hours that students are in the tech lab um, making pens and we encourage everybody to come. So, if you're doing anything from 400 p.m. to 10 p.m., come to the Freedom Penathon, make a pen. [snorts] Um, the pens are given to veterans struggling with PTSD and
022adjusting to civilian life. Um, and they also collect food donations and cash donations at that event. Um and then boys soccer is our last fall sports team still moving on and they are playing New Britain on [cough and laughter] in new in Newington on Wednesday at 4:30 playing New Britain for the semiinal. >> Then um the middle school they're starting their turkey trot um which my school is doing as well but it's affiliated with the club. Um and then they're doing it through their connections classes. So the connections class with the most pizza party. So that's clearly consentive. Um and then on Monday, uh they did two Veterans Day assemblies with six veterans from various branches where they came to share their stories and students could ask questions. And then HJNN is um really persevering.
023They up to nine episodes. Um there's a link here if you want to watch them, which they're on their website, too. They're pretty funny. I've watched them. Uh and then all of the elementary schools, I believe, are doing conferences coming up or already done them. So, Tutin Hills is starting their conferences and then they did a community thing with veterans where they had like veterans from the community come in um with their student. Then, um at Latimer, they did a veterans breakfast, similar sort of idea, and then did a drive-thru parade. Um and they're also their Halloween night on the 24th had 400 kids. Um and then central uh central has a big list of things that they've done like [clears throat] coming [snorts] to um sort of facilitate Miss Messiah in with the new
024students. So they did a harvest dinner which welcomed all the new families. Um the hallway hustle was tied to the fun run. So they just kind of like ran the hallways. Um the sales assembly celebrated students um based on their character traits. Uh and then she gave out a principal perseverance award at one of the assemblies for students showing resilience and determination. Then they did the camp duel stuff and then um they're also their teacher conferences are coming up. Um squadron similar sort of idea with the veterans presentations where they have veterans from their communities come in, speak to the students, students can ask questions. Um and then squadron also is holding conferences and squadron is supporting um the SHs fishing club with the shoe drive. this week. Um, and then also doing the turkey
025drive. >> But before I just want to say I appreciate you mentioning the turkey trap and I know you guys I say this every year. I know you probably probably sick of it, but I just want to remind everybody the turkey trap started by Jack Bannon, teacher in this district. May or may not have been my sixth grade teacher line. So I just really really encourage everybody to get Ryan and his support. No committee updates. Just echo everything you said about Lydia. Thank good >> uh just a few things. First, uh thank you to all the veterans who have served and their families. Um second thing is I just so appreciate all the students who came in and spoke in public audience. They did such a beautiful job. They were very eloquent and I um
026I just really appreciate the time and energy they put into that. And the third thing is to thank you for all that you've done you've done for Simsbury, your board members. Um, and you have big shoes to fill. So, we'll miss you. >> Uh, no committee updates. Um, obviously want to echo what you said earlier about Lydia. Just a quick story. Um, I first met Lydia in 2005 at the YMCA. She was the preschool teacher for Tim, who's now a senior in college. Like the two-year-old, like a two-y old, not a preschool, but like a >> two-year-old program at YMCA. Um, I'm going to miss sitting next to her and hearing all the cape updates. So, we won't certainly miss you. Um, I don't know if you touched on it, so I'm sorry if I'm
027repeating it, but Terville also does a better say where they have the kids come in. But what I think is cute about it, I don't know if all the elementary school that, but the third and fourth graders, I believe, learn songs and then they sing them to the veterans during these, which I thought was really cute. And so, thank you to all the veterans. And then also, I love you, Lydia. I'm alive. I miss you so much. You're so awesome. And I can't imagine better come back and check in on us. >> Um I think um you know we were talking earlier about when we decided to change uh Veterans Day in the classroom in the schools and I think it was a really good choice. And I think that um I love hearing that
028the kids are really doing a lot and I also think it's it's really really cool because like husband's a veteran and you know I mean these are people who sacrifice their loved ones for periods of time and I think when you see them all in the school I think the kids can say whoa I'm not alone I've got other you know other people who are having the same thing missing their loved ones too and um a big thank you to veterans of course um I have my family members and it's just a very cool and beautiful service that they do for our country um Lydia there's just nothing to say it's going to be very very strange and we're going to miss you [laughter] and I don't like being the oldest one here now. >>
029The good news is I will never make 28 years. [laughter] It was great seeing all the different ways that our schools were celebrating today and they all had assemblies but they all had their own flare >> to them which was really neat to see. Um, Lydia, just want to thank you. Lots of different stories, but you were there at the beginning when Neil hired me to come to Simsberry as the assistant principal of the high school, and you chased me out into the parking lot and just were completely supportive of me personally and professionally, and you helped me to grow up in this district. So, I'm always thankful to you. Thank you. Like Brian, the first people in my family to meet Lydia were when my children were at the preschool programs at the Y
030and would come home talking about Miss Lydia. >> Um, and then in 2000 when I got hired here at a couple of months later, my family ran into Lydia out at a restaurant and she came over to talk to my family and my kids could not believe I now worked for Miss Lydia. >> [laughter] >> That was said. >> It also strikes me that uh my two [clears throat] children are now also 28 years old. So, >> thank you for everything, Lydia. >> Um, no business, but I remember when I was new and the most warmest, most welcoming one was Lydia and that always stuck with me. Um, so I've enjoyed working with you and best of luck. >> It's your superpower. >> It is. I'm good. >> I do want to say, can I
031ask say two more things? I'm sorry, but um I uh work on the Sory Celebrates event that happens the Friday and Saturday after the Saturday after Thanksgiving. And um we are currently needing more gingerbread houses. So, it's a shameless plug. I'm very sorry, but I would really like people to look at our website and find some friends and make a gingerbread house because it's really fun to do and it's we have a video online that will tell you how to make one. And um we really we need more gingerbread houses desperately. And so I would really like to um take this moment to do that. Sorry. [laughter] >> I'm only desperate. >> Excellent. >> Thank you everyone. >> Um first please. Anyway, [laughter] >> it's okay. [laughter] You know, I can take as long as
032I want eldest member of this very distinct board and I can do that. So anyway, but uh I just want to say thank you very much from the bottom of my heart. Thank you very much the reception previews that was was given to me and all the very kind words [snorts] and and the um the past board members that came and others and my family meant very very much to me and uh you know I'll spare you my speech again but it's 28 years went by like that and and it seems like yesterday seems like yesterday teaching your little ones and here they are. How old is he? So anyway, that was also a great time in my life, [snorts] too. But uh but I will miss you all deeply. Um I'm here for you.
033I care for this district. I care for all, as I mentioned before, from parents to community, teachers to staff, and most importantly, students is is what gets me up every day. To do what I do is about the students and not only the students in this district, but the students in this state and the [snorts] students nationwide. So um service is not easy, but it's crucial and I so appreciate that you're all continuing to do this and and new people will be coming and sitting on here. So, um I will not be far. I will be watching you from my couch as I said, you know, who knows I'm making the audience and raise my hand for something. But so, I do have something for my fellow board members only. So, I'm going to pass
034this on pass it on to the board member. This is for you guys. >> What it says? [laughter] >> Stop before I volunteer again. >> Stop me before I volunteer again. >> We should just wear them. [laughter] >> So, I had uh I was cleaning and I just said, "Oh," and this was given to me. I found them in a drawer when I first started board service and I said, "Oh my god, I just got stuck in there." But anyway, so um so so that's it. But uh and just briefly, my last communications report is um coming up is going to be the K delegate assembly and and the uh conference. You know, the delegate assembly voting on all the resolutions for um the general assembly coming in January. And then the other just on
035the national front. Uh you know what's going on on the national front, but the big big push right now is universal vouchers. So um you've got to be concerned about that because more states are starting to look at that. um professional learning in the AI world is playable for state and local and board leaders and how the shifting education oversight um education crisis don'tate what we do for so that is the end of my reports and we will hopefully have people in positions to be able to work for everyone Such an honor to sit here with all of you and be part of this distinguished board of education means very much >> first of all. >> All right. [laughter] >> [laughter] >> motion. Any discussion on the on the minutes? All those in favor? >>
036Any opposed? Uh, next up is the uh the bargaining agreement. Yeah, I'm gonna I'll get it started and then uh throw it to Brian if he would like to add some things [snorts] before I go through the details. So, the settlement with the uh teachers union with SDA contract um was settled um in October uh at at mediation and um has been ratified by the the um teachers uh about two weeks ago. So, it's our opportunity. I will go through the details here in a moment, but um I certainly want to thank the people from this board that were involved [clears throat] um through personnel and negotiations, which Ryan chairs um and some others got their first opportunities to see what late night negotiating is all about um with uh Jesse, Lydia, and Tara. Thank
037you for all the hours that you put into the process. Um and Jen was last time. >> I was like, you forgot about me. >> Sorry. Do that. >> I'm sorry, Jen. >> And I'd like to be off now. [laughter] >> My apologies. >> Um spend that much time together. Um but hopefully the snacks helped get us through while we were in caucus. We found an >> extremely excellent trail mix. Um but it's it's a lot to ask of volunteers and um for for uh them to persevere through that process. I will go through the details in a moment, but Brian, what would you like to add? >> No, you said it, Neil. I just want to thank um you first and foremost for all of your time. Um, obviously Jess, Jen, and Tara as
038well. Um, I was thankful that we got things wrapped up in a time pretty timely manner compared to previous years and just want to thank members of the teachers um, who came in and and were pleasantly nice to work with. So, it was a good experience for us. >> Okay. Thank you. So to uh take the highlevel uh highlights uh uh you can follow on the exhibit here. The as is typical it's a three-year contract from uh July 1, 2026 to June 30th, 2029. The overall three the way these get talked about is in what is the overall three-year value of the contract. Um and you can see that as a percentage we came to a 13.03% increase over three years slightly below the state average which is how this gets benchmarked. So, um, but
039the difference with Simsberry's contract, as the negotiating team learned, is that because we keep our teachers, the the cost of moving younger teachers up the steps is much lower in Simsbury than it is in other communities. Therefore, we were able to um take an average settlement but get more money to the top for our teachers who have been here for a long time by not spending it, bringing less veteran teachers up the scale. You can uh really make a difference and we're going to close a gap with some local communities for our teachers. So um and you can see in the fir the the increase to the top in each year was 3.4% in year 1, 3.4% in year two and 3.5% in year three along with some money uh sprinkled onto the steps. Um,
040we did make some movement with insurance as the teachers will contribute half a percentage more to their share of the premium in each year of the contract going from the current 21% that they pay to by the end of the contract it'll be 22.5% of the premium that they pay. And we also were successfully able to negotiate some prescription management that should help contain costs uh into this negotiation. A small matter of um retiree benefits. This had been in the contract. We upped the amount. This is basically helping people who retire before they're 65. So, let's say you retire at 60, but you're not going to be able to get on Medicare till you're 65. So, you stay on our benefits and pay for it yourself. This is a stipen to help defay a little
041bit of that cost, which is significant during those retirement years. Um little uh just some clarification on life and long-term uh disability to we had an error in the contract that said that people had six months to sign up for those benefits. You don't. It's you have to do it within the first month of uh employment and we just needed to make sure that clarification got in there. the additional compensation. We met uh the stipens which are things of uh coaches uh instructional leaders, club advisors, things like that. There's a section of the contract um and we negotiated uh with them to I just finished with a separate committee that reviewed those and they're going to 2.5% will be added onto each of the stipens. a $1 increase to their professional hourly rate. This is
042like if you're if Sue brings you in the summer to write curriculum, this is like the hourly rate that you get and it's other purposes as well. And then finally, under the other contractual language changes, um the teachers really emphasized wanting a 4hour block of time. We we have two days before students come that are teacher uh professional development days. They said really just getting ready. We can sometimes overdo it with the professional development and they asked to negotiate that on that second day that they be given four hours of time just for themselves to get things organized. Um and we agreed to that language. Um, we had to get uh in compliance with the law on the Connecticut Paid Sick Leave Act. Um, and this uh was an agreement on the teacher side. The
043Connecticut Paid Sick Leave Act was allowing people to take the first 40 hours of sick time in hourly increments. Hourly increments don't work for schools. Like we can't get a substitute. So the negotiation consisted of making sure went back to what the past practice was before this law was passed which is if you need to take time you got to take a half day or a full day. Those are the increments that you can take. Um change to the ability to take personal days. They used to have one day where they didn't have to offer they could just be confidential about the reason. we agreed to increase that to two. Um and then an important issue was the language about moving up salary degree uh salary advancement. Um and we were able to get some
044language that um will first of all we have a a master's track then a sixth year which is 30 credits beyond a master's and then a seventh year track which is another 30 credits. We are very unusual to have that seventh year getting another 30 credits. We there's only one other in Hartford County. So, we were able the most important part of this negotiation was to say after this year, you have to do a a doctoral degree to get to that level and not just another 30 credits. because one of the things we're finding is that the 30 credits in the online market of coursework can be pretty easy to get under some vendors. And so we're kind of trying to put a slowdown to um uh that for the future. Um, and then a
045small issue about some classes that when they go to specials have to be put above the class size guidelines and they asked that we would consider putting a parah into the room to give those teachers some support and we said we would agree to do that wherever we could. So, um, that represented a lot of conversation, a lot of work to get to these outcomes. Um, and it's a it's a good deal. It's a good deal for both sides and that's nobody gets everything they want in a negotiation. Um, but you know, I think the parties greatly respect one another and got to a good outcome. So, the motion is there for your consideration. Thank you. And one last thing I'll say is you said there's a lot of information in it and it wasn't
046just the one night. This was like >> five nights but a month and a half two months of negotiation. So um just want to thank everyone once again. I'll move that the board of education ratify the proposed changes in the collective bargaining agreement between the Simsbury Board of Education and the Simsbury Education Association for the period July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2021. >> It was a lot of work, but it was it was I felt it was respectable like respecting each other's opinions was I was impressed. All those in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Thank you. >> I I'll close by saying a strange part of the statute about teacher negotiations is that now that the teachers have ratified and you voted, it has to go in front of the board of selectmen, >>
047which will happen next month. The board of selectmen can vote in favor of it. they can decide not to vote in which case it becomes the contract anyway and they have the right to um reject it which I don't think they ever would because that would put you back into arbitration. So, but it does have one more hurdle to clear um and I don't know that's been in the statute for a long time. So, we're going to be bringing it to the board of selection in December I believe. >> Excellent. Let me just add my thanks to all parties. It's a lot of work. Um, next on the uh on the calendar is the cancellation of the November 25th meeting. >> I make a move for education meeting on Thanksgiving. >> Second. >> Any any
048discussion? All those in >> favor. >> Next is the uh report from our friends. >> Welcome Jeff. >> Jeff. [laughter] >> Just ordered the new members. You missed the window. Thank you. So, while Jeff's uh getting ready, I'll tee things up a little. So, we've invited [clears throat] uh Jeff, the principal at Tecton, back uh with us. He's a familiar face. Jeff really spearheaded a couple years worth of work, and we have a slide to go through that in a few minutes when we did our long-term facility study and our planning. They all have it, Jeff, on their screen. Yep. >> Um >> does anybody Sure. >> So, we're in a position now as we think about long-term capital planning >> um to think about what our next major priority and project will be. And
049Jeff is here to walk us through some different options. We had the benefit of a presentation last Friday with our finance subcommittee to kind of work through it and uh give Jess some suggestions. So, um I think it'll be a great presentation. It's focused on squadron school, but we'll give some rationale to why we are where we are. Uh, and we'll go from there. Have plenty of uh time for questions and conversation. I'm just going to plug my computer in. >> We are trying to fix this situation. >> What's that? >> We are trying to fix this situation. Yeah, this is not the best. >> We're working on it. >> If we need new schools, we can't afford it everywhere. [laughter] >> Trying to be >> frugal. >> Well, good evening everybody. Uh my name
050is Jeff Wisinski. I'm a principal at TechON Architects. Um and for tonight um we've prepared um kind of a brief overview of the work that we've been uh we've completed over the last month and a half, two months now. Um want to take you on kind of just a summary of where we've been uh since the um since the beginning of the master plan. Um talk a little bit about the next best step um and why the reasons why. We'll review um the squadron line existing conditions. There's a few slides in there just summarizing kind of the content of the existing conditions. And we actually walked uh the building and site um this past week or last week. Um then we'll go over the enrollment uh building size reimbursement, kind of give a refresher on
051kind of a summary and how how we get to sizing and scoping the buildings that we do. Um talk a little bit about the options and then talk about next steps. So, we first began this um master plan back in 2018 um when I had hair. Um but it's I've been up to uh it's about seven years now since um we we first started the master plan and as everybody on the around the table knows we um started with Latimer Lane um renovate as new. So, we submitted that grant application in basically 2021, June 2021. Um, and it took about three years or so to kind of design and construct it. And now, now we're headed into um looking at this next best step. And if I turn this on, um so on the right
052side of this slide, just wanted to kind of focus on what the current plan is. And certainly the the content in here, please consider a draft, but also uh the schedule can be kind of changed or modified as as we continue to receive input on work that we've completed. So, as I mentioned, we we've been working at this study for about a month and a half now. Um we're looking at um the possibility of um a year year and a half worth of work preparing grant applications similar process to what we went through for um the Latimer lane um building to towards some a referendum. Right now we have it targeted in 2027. That can change certainly and be modified. um and then submitting a grant application in that in that June time period with
053a potential completion um in 2031. But I I have a more detailed schedule that I think will outline that. So when we flip to the next slide and I noticed it's it's not June 2021, it will be June 2027 grant application. Um the next uh best step in and Y squadron line um in simple form is the building really hasn't been touched since it was originally constructed. So it's it's well-built building um has good bones um but after 56 years there's there's a lot of work that needs to be done um major building systems, major envelope improvements. Um, as I mentioned, there's been no real significant renovations um since the building was built, unlike some of the other elementary schools in the district. Um, it's the largest elementary school um by population. Um, and it
054also contains um it used to contain several years back just the sole source of of prek, but now that's been split between um between Squadron and Latimer Lane. Um, but it does contain a prek program [clears throat] which is an important piece as we move through this presentation because the state has has changed some of the reimbursement regulations and provided some incentives related to um early childhood care. Um and then lastly um just walking the space um the quality of of the educational space itself is is a bit challenging, right? So, there's a lot of acoustical. This building, for those that aren't familiar with it, this building was um designed as kind of an open space um open classroom plan. Um so, every third classroom has a hard wall. So, there's three classrooms that have
055a temporary partition or a a folding partition that doesn't necessarily have the the acoustical separation that you would want in today's educational environments. So, that's a summary as as to the reasons why. Um, let's walk through some of the existing conditions. Um, we I think gave a presentation a few years back on on Squadron 9, but just to kind of set the table, the existing buildings about 91,000 square feet. The site is 20 acres. The existing enrollments around 678 670 um in that range. um the projected enrollment and I I have a slide on that and I'll show you um kind of how this leads to the building size, but um the projected enrollment is a steady increase of about 704. Um it's not as significant as as we had looked at in the past,
056but it is still modest increase and that's pretty consistent with what we're seeing in districts um across the state is that that early to mid elementary has been pretty strong and steady. Um I think you're seeing more compressed um enrollment projection because of there's not a lot of movement in the housing stock. So you're not and that's hard to predict. Um so I think we're see we're going to see some changes to that enrollment um as things as the um as the rates kind of drop down and you start to see movement in the housing. That's historically if you look back at the history that's that's what really generates it. As I mentioned, original original construction 1969 utilities, just a summary there. Um, and then as we walk through um we created um a dashboard
057of observations just graphically to show you kind of general conditions. So we started with site analysis things like parking, sidewalks, play areas, they're in fair, poor condition, right? So there this area um this site um has adjacent wetland properties um next to it. So there there's damp conditions throughout that tend to sometimes um deteriorate some of the things like pavement uh sidewalks a little bit faster than originally you know as you little bit faster than the normal deterioration building envelope we gave a red on the dashboard just because the the roof has active leaks. um the exterior prim envelope, windows, single pane. Um so there's a lot of work that needs to be done on the envelope, exterior envelope of the buildings, roofs, windows, doors, sealants, those kinds of things. Safety and security. Um so
058there was a a fairly um modest modification to the building for the safety security. Um so there's good visibility from the administration suite. There was windows that were added. you have the um the um secure vestibial lock. So that's in decent shape, but the rest of the perimeter of the building still needs some work to meet the current standards, which are the school safety infrastructure guidelines, program space. I mentioned I touched on kind of the acoustical challenges or existing conditions challenges, but there's also, right, this building was designed before things like special education ever existed. So there's real challenges with um intervention coaches spaces um the specialized resource rooms. Um so we see that throughout as well. Um from a code life safety accessibility perspective um anybody familiar with the building there's the kind of
059the academic wing and then there's the the gymnasium cafeteria um portion of the building and it's connected by this this this long ramp. Well that ramp isn't um code compliant. Um, so accessibility, um, when we talk about universal access to buildings and sites these days for for all of our students and all of our staff, that is, um, a priority in in buildings. Um, so things like floor clearances, mill work, and you'll see it in the photos and ramps and access to spaces to public spaces really needs to be compliant these days. Building systems, um, again, very simple. back then, you know, 60 years ago, it was perimeter radiation and if you wanted ventilation, you open the window. So, there's not um a sophisticated building infrastructure or building systems for proper air exchanges in the
060building. Something that we would look at. Um there's, as I mentioned earlier, inconsistent support spaces, not only from a programmatic perspective, but also from a a practical one. Things like toilet spaces, storage, utilities, those kinds of things. And lastly, just I I want to touch on the quality of the space. Although, you know, the building has been wellmaintained over its years. Um just the overall quality and expectations of today's contemporary educational environments, it just doesn't meet that standard. So again, uh we put that together um for for the community. So in case the community is looking at this presentation, they can see easily kind of some of the areas that are have the most priority in the building. The next few slides uh indicate some of the conditions things like single pane windows. The exterior
061envelope needs attention with the brick facade. Um mentioned some persistent moisture challenges in the lower level of the building. So the lower level of the building is at or near the same elevation of um kind of the wetlands that are that are adjacent to it. Top right photo. So that can lead over time to some challenges. Um, and then you just see the remainder um of the conditions overall. Uh, things like the active roof leaks really need to be addressed. Um, if they're persistent, that leads to some concealed conditions that you really need to to to need to dig into to make sure things like deck deterioration, roof deck deterioration. It just one thing leads to another when you have these kinds of conditions, unfortunately. And lastly, the the last photo I'll pick on is
062the bottom right, and that's just an indication of the mechanical systems, right? So, you have a lot of these window AC units for for temperature control and the perimeter radiation, something that we wouldn't see in today's um contemporary educational environments. The next um slide is really just the existing conditions um um as you map them out. So, north is directly up. So as we move through some options later on in the presentation um the site plan will have the same orientation. On the left side is Squadron Line Road top is Hoskins Road. Um so the the the site is really bifurcated by that kind of that blue swath there which is the the um identified wetland via the GIS website for for your town. um relatively flat with exception to access off a squadron line
063road which does create challenges with bus uh and parent drop off and site circulation um because you really are stuck to that one entry um into the site overall at the moment. flat topography on the north side of the site. Um, we would have to, you know, as things move forward, you would want to look at some due diligence. Obviously, flag and kind of hone in on kind of the wetland soils and and wetland areas. And, um, on the bottom of your screen that just popped up, um, there's an adjacent town property in the triangular piece there that I have a larger map that I'll that I'll talk about that. Um, that could be a potential benefit. not not so much for for placement of structures, but just to give a little bit more buffer
064space should um you decide to go with a new tech new construction. And there the the bubble that just popped up is the steep slope area um at squadron on the left side of your slide there. So, how do we size um the the building itself? Um, and for those that do remember, we we look at um the state wants you to look at the highest enrollment in an eight-year window. Um, for purposes of this effort, um, we took the latest Thank you, Neil, the latest NASDAQ projections um, from from late October. And this is only a five-year projection. So we pick the highest enrollment which is which is 624 students for K to6 and you add the 80 preK um to that and you end up with 704 total students and it's pretty simple
065map. This the state has changed some of the forms some of the regulations some of the way that things are calculated since um we had run through this with with Vladim. Um, so on the left side, don't expect you to read it, but the left side is kind of the new state form. You plug in all your your square all your student information, the size of the building, the age of the building, and you end up with what's called an allowable area. Um, so the allowable area is what the state will reimburse as far as square footage of the building. And what we do is we call we call it we gross up the building because the state measures inside the exterior face of the um inside [clears throat] I'm sorry the interior face of
066the exterior wall. Um but when you're when you're estimating buildings and when you're sizing buildings you're you're talking gross square footage. So we want to go with the outside perimeter. So that represents about eight and a half. So, long story short, the one takeaway you want from this slide is if you were to build a building or add to a building like the existing squadron line at about 91 92,000 square feet, you can build a building of about 100,000 square feet, 99,625, and get that all reimbured at your reimbursement rate. Okay? So, that's that's the number that should stick in everybody's head is that 99625. some of the changes in the reimbursement um are are quite significant. Um I'll start with the first right in the center of that slide. There's a lot of information,
067but the the main takeaway here is that new construction um the state would reimburse you at 29.17. General construction or we call it renovate as new, they would reimburse you at 36. So every dollar that you spend the state would as long as you follow the rules the state will pay you 36 cents on that dollar. Now um several years back that delta used to be 10%. Right? So so there you there was more of an incentive basically there was a higher reimbursement rate for renovate as new versus new construction. I'm not sure exactly all the reasons, but they came out this past August with new reimbursement rates or updated reimbursement rates and and in most communities that delta has come a little closer together. So you can see here that delta is only about
068seven or so percent now. So it's not the 10 that it once was. The two um footnotes underneath the 36.43 43 are critically important to to the conversation tonight. So last uh spring session um the state the legislative body approved um basically a 15% an adder to your base reimbursement for early childhood care and education. So birth to five programs. So that 15% would get applied to the entire footprint of the building. So it would be applied to the entire 99,625 square ft. So effectively taking your your reimbursement rate from either 36 or 29 and bumping it up another 15%. Um and then the other piece that they passed was a 15 an additional 15% for areas that are focused on specialized education only. So so that is just for areas in the building focused
069on specialized education. So it doesn't apply to the entire building, just just the specialized ed. And the intent of that is to try to bring outsource students back into the district because we know how incredible costs are when you outsource um for specialized education. So a lot to consider on state reimbursement. Um there is one piece on this and again a lot of text here but um what I wanted to do is include where you could find this should you want to do additional research or if the community does if if we can do an analysis between a renovation as new and new construction and I don't think the state really cares all that much which one you plan to do. What they care about is the total cost. If we can prove through our
070analysis that new is just as or more economical than a renovation like a phased occupied renovation, you're entitled and this is the section you're entitled to the higher reimbursement. So that's a piece that we should consider as we move through as as the community considers um the various different options whether you renovate or build new construction. So there were three there were three asks of our work basically. Um and it's somewhat similar in parallel to to the work that we did for Vladimir Lane. The first ask was well what if you just status quo what if you just fix on a year-to-year basis all the challenges that are in the building. So you take it on a 10 15 20 year plan. One summer you do lighting, one summer you'll do electrical systems. [clears throat]
071Um so you can you can take that approach that that practical pragmatic yearly approach. Um the challenges with that as on the left side there's some categories here to consider. Um and I'm going to walk you through those. So the expected duration if you were to do that it's going to take you 20 maybe even longer 20 years to to address all of these. If you're going to do if you're going to do these on a kind of a summer annual basis um scenario, um we already mentioned the building's about 91,000 square feet. The big challenge with those kinds of projects is um they're called nonpriority projects. So you can submit you can submit to the state for um eligible um grant reimbursement. They're non-priority which means um not everything is going to be reimbursed.
072So, your reimbursement, your effective reimbursement rate is going to come down because they're going to say, well, if things that you should have maintained are broken and you need to fix them, that's going to be ineligible. So, so your effective reimbursement rate is going to come down quite significantly. Sometimes we've seen it almost as much as half of that reimbursement rate. So, that's an important piece when when the community asks, well, let's just fix a little at a time. And the other piece to that is that not all of those fixes are going to be eligible for reimbursement. Okay. So, so that's a piece that um as we move through and I I'll I'll share with you some of the costs associated with that from our original master plan CIP. So, um phasing logistics. So,
073when you have a building that's about 60 years old, um replacing a mechanical system isn't a, you know, nights and weekends job. is it is likely more than a summerlong job. It's probably about a four to six month, you know, maybe even six to eight month job. So, you're going to have to think about how you kind of implement that kind of work while students and faculty and staff are in the building. The second piece or second option that we're asked to look at was um what's called reneas new and the and the best example of that is is Latimer Lane just completed and the reason why um communities are attracted to that is because it's you have to apply for renovation status and if you apply as part of your grant and you're accepted
074and it's approved things that would ordinarily be ineligible like you know fixing you know the lighting that you should have fix, you know, you should have maintained or the or the or the heating that should have been maintained. All of that becomes reimburseable, right? So, so your ineligibles go way down and you get closer to that higher reimbursement rate. The the bigger challenge with a renovate as new is, and um I have a gentleman sitting behind me that knows very well what it means is where do you put the students? How do you how do you develop a plan a phased occupied phasing plan that can safely um protect the students, faculty and staff while work is being constructed on site? And in Latimer Lane's example, the the plan was begging for a connection at
075either end because it was never the building was never connected circulation wise. So it almost it it almost had two built-in areas for additions. when we start talking about the options for squadron, um it's a bit different, right? Because you have that uh classroom academic portion of the building and then you have the the common core portion of the building and they're both kind of very tight circulation um I'll call them donuts if you will with not a lot of opportunity for for addition. So the biggest challenge with a renovate as new is swing space. Finding a spot to put the students. A a building of this size, which is about 90 92 95,000 is going to take you probably three to four years if you were to go through it and do a phase
076occupied renovation. Um so that is the biggest delta between um status quo and new building. When we move to new building, a new building of this size is a is about 18 to 20 months worth of construction from from um start to finish. Um we would propose in a new building uh the building would be about 100,000 square feet. We would demolish likely demolish the existing building at 91 361. All of that work would be reimburseable. Right? So, one of the challenges many communities face is if you're going to build new, what hap what are we doing with the existing school and does it become some other use? So, all those are still likely on the table, not the entire building as far as reusing the entire building be on the table. So, it's something
077we could take a look at if the if the community is interested, but my point is that the new construction and the demolition would all be reimbursed. Um so we would maximize the kind of the the environment the 21st century educational environment. Um it would likely be two phases, right? So we build the building on the back or side or on the opposite of uh side of the site. [snorts] Um once that building's done, tear down the existing and kind of do some um site and parking remediation and and new work, wrapping it up basically in the fall when the new building opens. So, those are the three scenarios we looked at. Um, digging into scenario number one. Um, and it's it's a it's an option that um some communities um do commit to. The
078the challenge with it is you you do in fact have to commit to it, right? So, so these are projects that will have to happen every year um in order to to address to comprehensively address um the building. So that can be a challenge um sometimes. >> But these are addressed through like our normal CIP, right? >> Normal CIP. >> X number of dollars. This is going to take up that. >> Exactly. So So there are benefits, you know, you can you can plan the projects on a year-to-year basis. Um you can kind of maint it maintains the building. You're not you're not making any real changes to the building and they can be broken down into smaller smaller projects. So So there is an advantage. The cons are that it's not going to be
079comprehensive. You're not addressing any of the programmatic needs. Um ultimately, if you do the math, and we'll we'll show you in the next slide, um the escalation, if you were to if you were to take a project like this that could take two to three or three or four years, and you stretch it out over 25, the escalation just becomes um quite quite scary. Um, and then the other piece is you still are going to have to deal with some swing space challenges because not every project's going to be able to be completed while the students aren't there. And then the last piece and and for anybody that's kind of renovated their own home or has witnessed a building renovation, if we're just replacing the mechanical system above our heads, we have to take down
080the lights. We have to take down the ceiling. We have to take down the fire alarm. We have to make sure that we're not touching the other systems but still put in the new mechanical system. So inevitably you're going to be doing some work and repeat work through this process. So perfectly fine scenario. Those are the challenges related to it. The big piece is it doesn't address the programmatic needs. This slide here, this the table on the left um is taken from um the CIP list from our master plan. So five years ago, [clears throat] so five years ago we identified about um $19 million worth of work um in the kind of one to three, three to five, five to 10, you know, just the just the kind of fix it as you go
081scenario. If you escalate that up to today's dollars, you're talking about 25 to 30 million just just to address those components that we identified on the far right. And again, I don't expect you to to read all that. Um then becomes, you know, if you wanted to take a more comprehensive approach like putting in a full fire protection or putting in replacing all of the plumbing infrastructure, those numbers start to become much more significant up in that 55 and 65 range. Again, this slide doesn't address any programmatic needs. So that's again one of the challenges with that option. So when we walk through the next two options, I already mentioned spring space. Um we with renovate as new, we just need again a safe spot for the students. Um with new construction, we would likely
082propose a two-story building just for for practical plan efficiencies. um we could look at the north and south side and we have a couple diagrams to kind of walk through and then um if there are alternate um considerations um to accommodate um some of these mod like for example if we can move all the students out of the building to some building uh in the community um a renovate as new would become that much more easy to achieve. So on the existing conditions, I've walked through most of these already, but I wanted to highlight on the bottom left side of this slide. Um the adjacent um parcel to the south is a town-owned property. And again, not suggesting that we would necessarily build on it, but what it does is it gives you the ability
083to to create and maintain that buffer to that existing neighborhood while pulling, if you wanted to look at new, while pulling a new new construction right up to that property line. So, we could enhance the buffer. We could increase the buildable area on the existing site. Um and we can also address um basically [clears throat] the screening um between what would be a new building and adjacent existing adjacent properties. This slide um shows you an aerial view. North is to the right. Um so as a renovate um add addition and renovation or renovate as new. We would likely look at where that blue area option two is for for the possible addition to the building. Um and then um consider some demolition for new builds. We could look at the the northern side of the
084site which is it's labeled option 3A. Um that would of course take over temporarily anyways the existing soccer fields. Um or we could look at option um 3B which is more towards the uh eastern southeastern portion of the site and again not necessarily building on the town property just building up adjacent to that property line. I think that the ability, you know, when walking the site um last week, the ability to um to to site a building further back on the site has a lot of of potential benefits. Uh extends um Q lines for bus and and um parent drop off to alleviate some of the traffic concerns that we know happen on um both Squadron and Hoskins Road. Um so those are the three sites that we looked at. Um, the other piece that
085I wanted to highlight and flag here is if you were to site a building, um, in either of those two locations, option 3A or 3B, um, that green portion of the site, which would be the the northwest corner of the site right at Squadron Line in Hoskins, could open itself up for a pad site, could be more fields, could be um, basketball courts, it could be some community um, benefit. it um so that it it's usable land. It's relatively flat. It's already somewhat improved with um some parking and and play fair fields there. And we feel strongly that if if a building was is located kind of towards the eastern side of the site or or the bottom section of of the screen, um there's plenty of distance between the building parking and that potential
086pad site. So, something for the for the community to think about as we move along. I know I'm throwing a lot at you, but we're almost there on on on planning options. Just to zoom in a little bit on that town property, just to to be clear with what the the thought process would be is there is a bit of a gray change there. again pulling the building right up to the to the edge of the existing property um would benefit and then we could enhance that buffer to that existing um residential neighborhood there. So um I I do think it's an advantage um to this to option 3B as far as building sighting. Um a couple other just footnotes so you're aware. The property on the right side of the screen is an existing
087private property. Um there was an easement a few years back um for an outdoor educational space. It's kind of highlighted in the white dotted line. Um so so the school is in fact um using a portion of that through an easement. Um something that we could definitely make sure to maintain um with whatever option is selected. [snorts] So when we go through the um planning scenarios, if we were to look at a renovate as new and with a substantial new build to to basically build in swing space, you could build a new new two-story addition more or less to the east of the existing gym cafeteria portion of the building. um first that would give you that built-in swing space if you will. Um so you would build that, you would renovate um the blue
088portion on your screen and then ultimately when that building when the building is um complete both new and renovation, you could demolish the um existing twostory um section of the existing squadron line building. Once you did that, you could then improve the sites. We would maintain the fields, increase the the outdoor play and education area. We would um make a more more compact and efficient parking um at the front of the building of the front of the addition and renovation. Um and then we could also look at proper separation of the parent drop off and bus drop off. So we could we could use the existing curb cuts on Squadron and Hoskins to separate the traffic out and increase Q lanes. So ultimately improve the overall traffic flow on the site. So very high level
089conceptual plan for consideration. If we were to consider um a new two-story build, there's two real obvious portions. You would build on the northern side. That's what the footprint could look like. Um, so the footprint of a of a 100,000 square foot building is about 68 to 70,000 square foot in footprint because it's basically a 2/3 one-third separation if if for just as a sense of scale. So you could build that building. You could put part a bus drop off off of Hoskins. You could then put um parking um and a separate parent drop off line and have a outdoor play kind of towards the um eastern side of the new building. Again, the challenge with this one is that more play areas would would occur after you demolish the existing building. You could create
090more parking and more play on um essentially the southern half. is just you end up with pretty much what you have today is there's fields on one side of the site and and there's limited access points to get there. So it creates from a educational curriculum PE perspective it creates a little bit of an operational challenge. So that's the reason why we we took a harder look um at uh basically twotory build on the southern I'll call it southeastern portion of the site. Again, the footprint you can see there bottom right hand of the screen. You could create some outdoor protected outdoor play. Once the building's done, you could demolish the building. You could put plenty of parking up front. You could put plenty of green space, play space, playcapes adjacent to the building. We're
091confident that through refinement of this plan, you can get the necessary age appropriate playscapes, outdoor education, and general play around the perimeter of the building without having to go maybe, you know, a field day or maybe like an all day event, you would use the northern site. But what's what's nice about this sighting option is it preserves um what we know are community fields to the north and it opens up that north west corner the top corner of your of the property for for more development potentially or redevelopment or some kind of community use. So that's the options that we looked at in in the last kind of portion of this is the cost and schedule. And um I think I've used this analogy before, but I'll use it again. Um when we talk about
092costs, we're always talking about total project costs, which are construction and and soft costs. And the way it works out is basically 80% of are of the budget is construction costs, 20% are soft costs. You take this building that we're we're sitting in off the ground, turn it upside down and shake it out. I come out, tables, chairs, equipment, all of that is soft cost. Everything that stays is construction. So simple way to think about it. But what's most important is the numbers that you're going to see, which likely are going to be eye popping include escalation, contingencies, FFN. It is there's no surprises. It's it's a comprehensive as it was with master planning as it was with Vladimir Lane. This is a comprehensive budget planning approach um to projects. So numbers that we're seeing
093um today's costs um believe it or not in middle and high school are approaching $1,000 a square foot. Um when you project that out to 2020 [clears throat] 2028 you're looking at in in the range of 11 to to 1200 um dollars a square foot. So um I have more data to show you but believe me we we do a lot of work in Connecticut, a lot of work in Rhode Island. Those numbers are are pretty accurate. They're based on projects in planning, projects that were just bid and projects that are under construction. and we validate them with probably half dozen of the the major CMRs in the state and in the region. Um I will say because there may be a question escalation is we saw extreme escalation from 2021 to about 23ish 24.
094that's leveled off even though there's been some fits and starts with tariffs and non-tariffs and but we're back to about 4 and a quarter um annual um four and a quarter% annual construction escalation. So that compounds so renovate is new left side of the screen is a lot of the detail but it's the same structure. Um, so when we compare renovations and new construction, we want to be fair, equal in in using the same unit costs and quantifying them correctly. So we'll look at the project summary, the number of students, size of the building. We'll look at demolition, parking, utilities, energy enhancements. Um then we'll look at our soft costs which are about again the 20% but also include things like phasing logistics on a on a phased occupied renovate as new. You would like
095and at squadron line you're likely to investigate the possible temporary modulars to put the students in so they can get bigger sections of the building to renovate. This is a little different because you have a two-story building. you can't have workers above or below a student, you know, a floor above or below. So, it it creates a little bit more challenges. Um, so when you summarize all this, the total project cost for a for a complete renovation renovated as new for building a 100,000 foot building more or less is $131 million. Now, that's escalated um to the midpoint of construction. Um, and what what it does is the cost to Simsberry is about 68 million. And what that is is it's your your your base reimbursement of 36.43 plus your 15% for prek and then
096minus some ineligibles because there still will be some ineligibles. the the the couple takeaways besides the the large numbers on the screen that that you you need to consider as you as you continue to contemplate these options is escalation alone in in this project is $36.8 million. So again, the state's looking for you to to to escalate the construction to the midpoint of construction and escalate the construction cost to the midpoint of construction. And when you have a a three or four year long construction, that's that's what happens. So when we look at new construction, same size, same format, same structure, same reimbursement. Believe it or not, it's it's neck and neck with the total project cost. There there will be some um variation in the cost as as the options continually get refined. Um,
097so you're playing you're paying much more in uh new construction for the new building. Um, but you're paying less about seven or eight million less in escalation. So that's kind of how how these things start to to weigh out. Um, so total cost to Simsberry is a little bit less um 66 million um because your ineligibles are more predictable um at 2%. So, we'll continue to have the conversation about understanding what you're truly investing in the building and and what you're getting, you know, what you're really getting as far as what you pay for. >> But Jeff, real quick, yeah, >> you shared that legislation before that. >> You demonstrate that it's more affordable to build new construction. That's why you have the general construction reimburse. >> I do rather than the 29. So, it's
098that type of exercise. >> Yeah. that have to demonstrate in the grant application. >> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, there's there would definitely be the expectation would be that there'd be more detail to it. >> Um but we're going through a very similar scenario um for an elementary school in another district and um we're working with the CMR and the CMR is actually pricing phased occupied renovations more than new construction just on a pure construction cost per square foot. And and some of the reasons and we talked about at our um our facilities meeting some of the reasons are um related to things like environmental um so the environmental challenges have become much more complex. Um so building hazmat environmental but also site environmental um that's um led to much more um kind of general conditions
099related to it and and time and um and we hit a little bit of this in in kind of the latter lane but um compo building components in a phased occupied renovation you need things like a switch switch gear for electrical you you need that pretty much day one, but you you can't get it day one because it takes a year, you know, to order. So, that's creating a compounding effect on costs. Um, it's not so much it doesn't so much impact the new construction because you don't need portions of your building until you're done with your new construction. So that's there's some hidden costs there that are not so easily explained but but we are seeing the the cost between new and renovation come much much closer together. Yeah. >> And these estimated cost
100does does it include the extra 50% for special education? >> It does not. >> No, it it doesn't. And um I think once we flush out a little bit more in more detail the program, the proposed program um we can apply that 15% adder to just the specialized education program. And we know we know that exists um and I didn't work that into this presentation. We know that works that exists for the prek program but also the K to6 as well. >> So these numbers would likely come down somewhat >> somewhat. Yeah. I I think the the the biggest impact is that additional 15% for the I'll call it prek but early childhood. Um and I I do want to say that I'm not sure how long that's going to stay because that came in
101late last year. There was rumors of it. A lot of communities know about it. And I I think the intent I didn't write it, but I think the intent is for communities to start preparing for some kind of um full day experience for prek. Um similar to like my daughter started school half day K, it's full day K now. So, um, so I think what the the intent is to try to incentivize communities to get prek with their home elementary schools, I believe. >> Last slide, I promise. Um, and then I can answer any questions that go back to anything. Um, the schedule, I just wanted to do a side by side. the the green portion is developing the preferred options where we are today. Um if if you submit a grant application not next
102June, not June 2026, but June 2027, you'll get on the priority list December of 2027. And that's usually when communities start planning the design. So if you were to start the design once you knew you were on the priority list, you're basically for new construction, you could design about a year and a half. You could build about a year and a half, maybe year and 3/4, 18 to 20 months and open a building in 2031. So it's not going to happen tomorrow but it again those I think we've adequately communicate communicated this kind of scale project takes four to five years when you when you go side by side with phase occupied renovated new you're likely adding two years to construction so 20 33 and that's why those escalation numbers they're they're significant is because
103really what the state is asking us to do is to escalate to the middle of essentially 2030 for new and to the middle of 2031 32 for a phase documentation. >> Quick thought. >> Sure, >> Amy. I'm not holding you to it. >> I'm just trying to play out the timeline in my head. So, building complete 2031 debt currently falls off from the Henry James. When and when would debt payments pick up for 2030. >> If you need more time on that to come back at a later date. >> Yeah, I'm gonna have to look at that for you. Um because we had two issues issuances for [clears throat] James. >> So, I'll have to see when the last one comes off and then we have the ladder too. So I had to break that
104out from the other projects, but yeah, I can do that. >> And just want to say kind of prior to any of this work going on and some of our conversations with the board over the summer, we've been having some dialogue town manager for the finance chair, Jeff, myself, Amy, just looking at service models and trying to understand times to fit uh things in to be able to to move forward. So it's a pretty complex puzzle. So, um, I know that was a lot of info information. Happy to go back to any slides and answer questions, but our next steps generally speaking, are to kind of hone in on it, what a preferred option would be. Um, if if you need more information in order to kind of make that decision, happy to do so.
105We can develop more sighting scenarios. Um, obviously, we need to refine budgets. um assess impact, financial impact, get get a little more um detail from a cost perspective and timing perspective and um fine-tune some of the schedules and happy to help with any kind of engagement plans you need to communicate this out to to the greater greater community. >> Um really interesting though with some of the timing of the legislation, the two legislations that add reimbursement and the difference between a renovate is new, complete construction time, what it does to escalation and build is new when you consider all those factors. >> Yeah. >> I mean, there's a lot of pieces to that puzzle that >> Yeah. And and they're close enough where I think we can make the argument. I we still have to
106flush out, >> you know, do you want to use modulars? Is there a spot to put the students? You know, so all those could could move some of the numbers around, but generally speaking, I think they're at this scale, I think they're close enough to make the argument in either direction. >> Yeah. >> Can I ask a question about cost of removing if you knock down a building, what what does that what cost does that look like for 1970s? >> So, >> is there are there beds environmentally? Is that >> Yeah, it's a great question. Um, so have really good numbers combined. It's a probably about $55 a square foot and between 50 and 55 and about 20 of that is is building environmental. Um, so it's it's less expensive on a cost per square
107foot than than if you were to go through it and each section and remediate and selectively demo for a renovation. So, so you're probably about, you know, 15 20% more when you're doing it in pieces because you got to put up walls to get done. But when you're taking the entire building, um, it becomes more economical. Um, you still have to you still have to remediate at some level, but there's it becomes a little easier because you can you can the piles are bigger and you can put them in different different spots. So, >> and those costs are included in this. >> Yes. Yeah. Absolutely. Yep. It's very process. >> Well, it's really interesting that the costs are so close now because I mean that was never the case before. I mean, it was always
108it was always so much more expensive to build new >> than renovate as new. So, it's it's interesting to see that shift. >> Yeah. I mean, I think we're seeing it in a lot of our work. Just um we went through a case study. We're we're doing a project a couple projects in Cheshire and very much similar one of the projects is very similar Norton school um to you know studying and analyzing um squadron and um yes that was [laughter] a super >> sorry we're tearing it down but yeah um so and that analysis was completed early on um and the and the decision so there are some things that you can't measure um things like disruption um in in understanding the length of construction and the experience for somebody over a four-year period. So,
109this is a this is at least a third bigger than Latimer Lane just from a a size of the building too. So, so there are some differences um that um that people just need to kind of think about because it because it is it is a bigger building. Um, it's a two-story building, so it adds those complexities. Um, I think if if we were it would be interesting if we were to reanalyze Latimer Lane today with the reimbursements and the incentives that are given, you know, what that math would pen out to be. Um, and we're also seeing it in the bid numbers um with the the amount of work that was out there. If if you're a builder and have an option between new versus a phase occupied complex renovation, um sometimes you get
110better numbers on the more attractive projects. I got most of my questions answered last >> no longer at 10% delta. So when we did it there was about 10% delta. >> There was Yeah. Um it's I find it what's the reason that you're incentivized from a reimbursement rate if assuming there is a delta but we're going to try to bring it together right >> what's the reason they would give more money back for renovating new I would have thought the other way around >> I I think there several years back there was um I think a push to kind of use what you have >> yes kind of reimagine exist existing spaces. Um I I where it's very successful is where um you saw very large buildings and and enrollment decreased to a point where
111the building was twice as big as it needed to be. So we did a project in Colchester 10 12 years back now and that was exactly the case where they could move all the students in one portion of the building completely renovate build new portions and renovate the rest. So that was a a renovate as new technically and move them into the building and tear down the rest. that if if the if if squadron line was twice as large that would be a very viable option because you're doing it in essentially two phases. So we saw a fair amount of those of that kind of challenge. Um so it made sense then. Um I'm not exactly sure what's behind the changes in the percentages for all the way up until this past August. It's always
112been a 10% delta. I I'm so >> we'll find out. >> I guess I'll state the obvious. I mean, if it's cheaper to build a new building than renovate as new, if it's 18 months versus 3 to four years to build a new building versus renovate as new, if we're going to get the same if we're going to get the same reimbursement rate to build new as we would renovate as new, I mean, I don't think anybody would say, let's renovate as new a four year project that's more expensive than building a new building >> and that also doesn't maximize your program. >> There's no compelling reason from a financial standpoint this particular one from what you're saying. >> I Yeah, it this one's much more challenging than than the first one that we went
113through. >> I it there's >> there's nowhere to put kids in this. I mean at Latimer we got created remember we closed down the library for a year to create two more classrooms. We added like >> there was enough so that um and even at the end they were taken just like six classrooms at a time. >> Right. Right. >> And >> yeah when we started Latimer we actually only disrupted four classrooms. um the the squadron if you were to shut down a wing upstairs and downstairs you're probably talking 13 rooms 12 rooms for the first phase >> and are expensive at now couple million bucks >> yeah so so we're doing a very complicated um phased occupied addition renovation to Canali school in Hartford and They um are they put out I think it's
114five temp modulars and I want to say I looked at the number and I think we might have brought it up at the our meeting. I think it was between four and $5 million to build them. The the one of the layers that you got to consider is if you're going to use them for an extended period of time then you need you need accessibility. You need toilet facilities. You need accessible toilet. So it it became it became uh much more than we had originally, you know, contemplated. So the days of kind of pulling up a kind of a trailer and and using it, I think you have to comply with all the codes if it's going to be there for a three or four year period. Um it it does need to comply with
115all of those codes. So um they didn't have space. They very similar scenario here. There was no room to put a significant addition. So, we're really modestly adding to the building and comprehensive comprehensively renovating the existing. So, we chose the modular roof. So, it was actually I think cheaper to buy them to than to rent them. No, I was just gonna say if you do new, I'm with you, Brad. And if you do new, one of the things we didn't talk about here, >> but if you do a new build, you you also still leave the door open for you talk about reimagining space. >> You don't necessarily have to destroy the whole building. >> True. >> You could reimag if you go back to slide 26 and then 27 like there's a world we
116live in where if we were to build this new what you have for 26. 26 is done. And then 27 is where you layer in phase two where you start putting in the fields and different things in the back, right? >> You don't have to fields at the back. You could repurpose, reimagine this part of the school you can keep, which I think would be something to discuss at some point. So I think to your point, both your points about reimagining space and new is more efficient. It's better for the kids. It's better overall numbers. everything you build new and then you still have flexibility. I know that somebody brought up not in the room had brought it up. Um is there something we can do with the other part of the building? So I
117think that's something that you would consider too. So I like that concept right build new don't have to knock it down. Gives you time to think is there something we can do with this thing. >> The advantage of renovating my business is a financial advantage. The only advantage I see for doing to fixing an old thing and making it nice again is it's cheaper than buying something new. Buying new is cheaper than renovating the old. Be a fool to renovate an older building for a higher cost. >> I heard you correctly. You said there roughly in that that 131 million number there's roughly 36 million in escalation cost. So if I can say this back to you, so if we put shovels in the ground today, say it would be a 90 what $6 million
118obviously not >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> My my point of this is is right, we're going to hear pushing this back, bringing this back. back and for financial purposes and I understand all that. But I think what we also have to do and get grasp on as a community is sure we can delay it but every every year is another what $9 million roughly in invest. It's it's little money, right? >> Well, on top of that, you have the cost to continue to maintain building. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. And we potentially run the risk of that 15% reimbursement disappearing as quickly as it appears. >> Absolutely. >> I mean dramatic changes. >> Yeah. I think your your effective reimbursement rate for Vladimir lane was down in the 30s. Yeah. >> Next for us. >> I heard
119his next steps. about that. >> Yeah, I think we need to we need to come back and think about a timeline for next conversation how we get some synergy around what are our thoughts about our priorities, right? I I felt it was important I know members of the subcommittee and Amy as well when we had planned to make sure we're doing our due diligence and looking at everything. our early planning conversations even when we brought other boards in. We're just this global number and it was kind of hard to wrap your head around which is why we have the maintenance cost numbers to take a look at. Um so I agree with everybody's point about renovate new versus new. There also has to be some conversation about all right what does it what does it
120cost and what does it look like feasibility to just move things forward. So I think we need to get you know a cycle of of conversations dates on our end planned plan which I'll need a little time with my team to think about but I think we need to make a decision on what we feel most comfortable with and then when do when and how do we engage other boards in this process because this is obviously everybody together talking about um affordability, talking about need, engaging the community, engaging parents. Fortunately, we have good experience and and a good track record with that. So, we have a good blue blueprint to follow. But I think first things first for us, right? What are we most comfortable with and how do we come to that consensus at
121the board? So, then we can move the conversation. >> And just so that the public knows, I know you and all have thought, we've all thought a long time about what school should be next and why squadron. Squadron's the only school that's never really been touched out of all of our >> among other reasons why our larger school infrastructure really fallen apart in there. Um but really the only one that hasn't been touched >> since it was born. >> Correct. >> 50y old carpet in there for not not too long. >> Great. Great. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. Thank you very much. Good to have you back. >> Good to see everybody. With that, >> maybe it's appropriate we turn to with our budget. >> Um, just laying out some important dates for the
122board of ad for the public to see on our budget process. Um, most important, uh, kickoff being December 16th, which is the tri board meeting. Um we'll undoubtedly receive some guidance there and discuss importance parameters and have an opportunity to share things like our fixed costs and initial pieces of the the planning puzzle. Uh and then just kind of went through uh what our presentation plan is for the board in terms of key uh public presentations uh that will be going. That's really all that it's that important first date in December. >> Y to >> we will do a lot of communicating, a lot of discussion and a lot of kind of push out on where we are in this process. >> Well, we offer now 129 and then tri close together. Is there anything
123we should think about going? >> I mean, one one thing we'll set up is I mean, my plan would be to pull the finance sub together prior to the tri board where we we talk about fixed costs. If that's something we want to share in the December board meeting, we probably do that as well. I mean we could speak close I would think at least give it an idea where um you know in terms of just some reason but I think we have a planning meeting about what we want to share with the tri that finance committee meeting and go from there won't be a major budget presentation in December um be more just kind of enrollment some [clears throat] basic basic details of where we are >> so finance Friday bring it back, >>
124right? >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. Take care. I think at least make a motion to say oh my goodness I have >> I think I've said everything I'm really without words which is really >> I just want to thank you all keep up the good work and I [snorts] will make the motion to adjourn this meeting. >> Second. >> Go. >> For over 40 years, SEM has been the voice of our town, >> bringing us together through local programming, >> education, and live broadcasts. [music] >> SEM isn't just about television. It's about empowering our community, >> ensuring our voices are heard during government meetings and celebrating milestones [music] >> like our high school graduations. >> But today, SEM faces a challenge. >> Our funding structure is based on television subscriptions. And it's
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