001Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Thank you. Yes, I have one. Thank you. Recognition. Yes, we do have a couple recognitions this evening. We're going to start with the McGawan scholarship awardees. We usually have one student here tonight. Sue is gonna talk about that process a little bit and introduce Natalie. Matineal, come on up here. So, as the board knows, we received a very generous gift from Kathleen McDowen and you've decided to utilize that gift in a couple of different ways. One is to support innovative teaching grants. So, we have a full committee that looks at submissions and makes those decisions. And another wonderful way is that we award
002five scholarships each year, one to a student from each elementary school who is going into education or a related field. So um it's a very busy time for our seniors seeing that graduation is tomorrow, but Matteline is here with us today. So this is Matteline Prowza. She's attending BC next year and she is our representative from Squadron Line School. Um, also acknowledged from Central School, Nora Walsh, who's attending St. Lawrence University. From Vladimir Lane, Livia Susi, who's going to be uh attending Penn State. From Terapel, Briana Coxin, who's attending Wilson College. And from Toutin Hills, Lillian Richards, who will be attending Sienna College. So, Maline, thank you so much for your great leadership. And you're again off to BC. And um, what do you hope to do? Um definitely something related to education. Great. Wonderful
003school, wonderful opportunity. Congratulations. Thank you for coming out. Great. Um any more? Yes, we have a couple more. We have our co-editors of the yearbook here. They're in the back. There they are. All right. So, we have Olivia and Abby. Hi. Hi. So, we have a couple yearbook. I know we had a shortage this year, a little bit of yearbooks, but um a wonderful problem. Yeah. Um but why don't you tell us about your kind of theme and process a little bit this year? All right. As you said, we're Olivia and Abby. We're both graduating seniors this year from Simsbury High School and your co-editors for the yearbook. This year's edition for the Simsbury Pinnacle is called Snippets and Snaps with which is a snapbook themed creation which we wanted to create this happy medium
004between having something that really represented what happened this year but also a timeless kind of creative piece that would be able to be looked at years after graduation. So, we think we were really able to achieve that this year. We had a lot of fun with it. And through some support from our high school, we were able to go to Southern Connecticut University um and create our um cover there with the online designers in person. Fantastic. That's great. Great. Any questions, comments? Thank you for coming out. You excited about tomorrow? I'm so excited. Looks like some good weather. Looks like the weather held up. We'll see you tomorrow night. Thank you very much. All right, one more. Miss Tanisha Grant. Got to stand up. I got to put you on the on the on the
005hot spot. So, I don't like being on I know you don't. I know. Uh but excited to uh bring Tanisha Grant out to tonight. Tanisha has just completed her second year with us as our open choice liaison, but she's got a very long-standing relationship with the school district going back way back to my days at at Squadron Line as principal and Tanisha was a parent there. So, but she was honored by CRE uh at an event that they had as the open choice liaison of the year. So, we wanted to bring her out and and give her some props on that. So around obviously Tanisha is instrumental in the success of our students and our family and works closely with uh Dr. Bachelor as well and has done incredible kids for our kids on both
006the social emotional side the academic side enhanced our communication practices with families and just really helping to elevate and make the students in that program really truly feel a sense of belonging in the Simsbury public schools. district has supported that program uh for a very long time in terms of participation. We have uh I think the highest number of students in that program or second highest number of students in that program. So it's something we believe strongly in and your work is has been instrumental and I look forward to working with you for years ahead as we continue the success for both you and our students. So thank you. Thank you for coming out and doing the good work. She really goes above and beyond. Yes, her passion shows every day. Absolutely. In a lot
007of different ways. So, have a great congratulations. Thank you. Great. I'm good. Awesome. All right. Public audience. Sure. Good evening. I'm Jane McCalpine, the executive director of the Simsbury Historical Society. So, first congratulations on completing another great academic year. And I want to commend um our fifth graders, fifth grade teachers, the paras, the students, and the parents who participated in Colonial Day at the historical society. Uh from May 30th through June 4th, we had about 330 students come across our campus. We had a team of more than 20 volunteers. And I will tell you that the group was outstanding. Um everyone left. We we take surveys. We were very pleased. Everyone reported that not only did they learn something new uh but they enjoyed the day. So that made us very happy. And I want
008to remind you we did um launch a program for Native American history um last year in the fall. I'll encourage your third grade teachers to reach out to us. We worked with the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington, Connecticut to create a program for that age group. And again, we had good results with that. So, we welcome you there. And then, I know the school year is ending, but on Junth, um, a lot of people are aware that the historical societies working with the town and other organizations for an amazing tribute to the Jackson family, an African-American family with a century of service in the uh, French Indian War, the American Revolution, and the Civil War. So, there will be a wonderful tribute and ceremony uh, and dedication. and it's taking place June 19th,
00910:00 a.m. at uh Eno Memorial Hall in collaboration with the town. So, thank you all. Thank you for [Music] the laugh. Uh Katie, start with you this time. Yeah, you're you're over there tonight. It's odd. It is odd. Josh, uh, no committee updates. We just say, um, Henry James Middle School, um, ceremony, graduation ceremony was very well done. So, kudos to everyone that was involved in putting that out. It was very well done, very well organized. Jess, uh, nothing board related, but Squadron had their recognition ceremony today. It was also really nice, well attended. And then the sixth grade committee threw a party for all the sixth graders at spare time and they were generally all well behaved. Everyone had a lot of fun. Generally generally so that's all I got have to I'm all
010set. Um yeah hot off the press today um you'll saw and I attended the um Cape um legislative um legislative office building the legislative wrapup after the entire year. So, um I won't bore you with 13 pages of different bills that were passed regarding education. Um as you know, it was a long session, but um the gist of it was that um the big two big um bills that were passed was the the emergency grants municipalities for sped. That was the big one that's happened all year, that $40 million um dollar bucket. And then um the sped task force which advocated with with very positive results um for us. And the other one was the um SB520, the act concerning an amendment to the Freedom of Information Act concerning um education records. So there's a
011lot of a lot in concern a lot in this. Um I can send it to you if you're interested, but um I'll send it out to everybody on all that. Yeah, they passed. It's a good summary. It's a good summary. Everything passed. We're very fortunate that we've had, you know, very good allies and and our legislators um and both our legislators representing Simsbury really worked hard with us with all the districts and uh to to to make this happen. So, this is where we are. We are looking for we are looking forward to always looking forward to July 1 when some of these are going to be enacted and and October 1st. Um some issues that did not pass this year were um cell phone policies because most local districts have their own uh just
012cause and termination hearings, crisis drills, additional expenditures, anti-semitism in schools, later start time, school accountability review board, homeschool students requirements, and minimum salary for teachers. So these were a lot of discussions that were ongoing right up until the last minute. They did not get into any of the um bills that were passed this year, but um most likely they will come back for um discussion next session in in January. But um but we were very pleased that these got passed this year and um and there were no new mandates which we really advocated at K and uh and correct. I don't know about that. Well, I mean, there's there's a few there's a few there's a few in here, but nothing that as in recent years where they arbitrarily put in some of these um
013mandates with no funding attached. So, there's a few of these things embedded in here, but not to the extent as before. So, I think what we'll do, Li, too, is we did it a couple years ago. I mean, there's enough here, particularly on the special education side, that we come back in the fall and do a review of some of these things because there's a quite a few things tied to like that excess cost, right? uh the excess cost discussions we've had, new grant opportunities based on things the state plans to put out, even maybe some new staffing requirements in terms of so when you say unfunded mandate, there are some things attached to special education that may require us to either look at positions we have or bring new positions on for for support.
014So there's quite a bit there. I'll say they did a nice job listening to districts about the stress of special education right now. Absolutely. and they tried to respond. There's also some other um interesting potential funding um that uh things that I've talked about with the HVAC systems and um maybe some dollars. Not enough detail in this packet, but I'll be interested to see usually over the summer more detailed. Uh there there could be some relief to districts about what this board has talked a lot about with CNR and like directing some interesting things. So, um I think they I was pleasantly surprised. Normally I dread that meeting, right? Um, but it was it it was I think they really did listen and and plus because we had a change over in the legislating general
015assembly too. But I think I think this year the big piece was the special education and and and the legislators that had been there, even the new legislators and the ed committee, you know, really listened to us this year. We testified and a lot of us testified really on behalf of of the sped pieces on here and then there were some other pieces in there but this is the first time that they really paid attention to the dire need um you know thank you to you know to um to caps and hassle and cave and crack and everything about about the dire need for this bet that's going on within the state within the state within the state within districts. So um so there's quite a bit that's in there. So, we will just move
016forward and see come July 1st and October 1st when all these take effect. And then again, as I said, before you know it, it will be January. They'll be back in session. It'll be a short session next year, but a lot of these issues will be coming back to the table to be looked at again. So, thanks. Sure. Yes, I do. Um, so I think I missed the last um, board meeting, but I'm going to take us back a couple of weeks and just say that I in all the years I've been on the board was able to attend the art show this year. And um, I just have to say to the families, to the students, and even to us as a board, what we have in this room is only a snip of
017what you see. And um I I'm getting chills again, but from going and walking and seeing what our students put out from that art show, I mean, it's worth it to put it on your calendars. It's taken me five years to finally be able to do that, but I high school show. I am certainly talking about the high school. And and the thing about it is it um is even even right now I get chills because when you walk around I mean the kids are expressing themselves through their art and you just get to see what they're some of them are handling and them having to get through high school. And so I just ask you to please put it on your calendar. All right. Um and and and I'm just glad that I was
018able to go. All right. um editing. I wasn't here to say it a couple of weeks ago. Other than that, um I'm glad that the weather's holding up for tomorrow with graduation and you know, congratulations to all our students that will be leaving us to go on to do great things. Absolutely. Thank you. Um one thing that I heard from a couple kids today that I ran into were they got to walk through the elementary schools and their caps and scouts. Today was a big day. So that's a really fun fun thing. When did they start that? A couple years ago. Couple years ago. It was brilliant. It's really was really fun. The kids Oh yeah. See all the pictures. Everybody's pages. It's great. It's really cool. Last day tomorrow for students and early dismissal
019reminder for families. Excellent. Neil, uh yes. Uh Josh has been updating you from the communications committee that we had the return of the communicator which is the board's sort of four-page um communication brochure that is going out twice a year and the current issue is at the printer. So you uh as our school year ends it will be arriving at households either like this weekend or on Monday and so it will be in houses soon. Great. I'm all set too. Just look forward to tomorrow as well. All right, I'm good. Great. Thank you. So, first on the agenda is the approval of the May 21st special meeting minutes. I'll make a motion to approve the minutes from Is there a second? Second. Uh any discussion? All those in favor? Any opposed? Abstain. One abstension. Uh,
020next up is the minutes of the May 27th meeting. I make a motion. Thank you. Can I get second? Second. Second. Great. Any discussion? I'll abstain. One abstension. All those in favor? Any uh personnel? Yeah. two um high school educators to that have um submitted their resignation because they've received new opportunities in other districts. Um the first one is well known to the board. Uh Gianna Girka has appeared before you um as our culinary arts teacher. Um Gianna got an opportunity to do the same kind of work at Suffington High which is 5 minutes from our house. Um, but she's also going to be a department supervisor for them. So, it's a leadership opportunity for Gianna. Um, and as you know, she's been tremendous. So, we have big shoes to fill there. Um, but I
021want to congratulate Giana on the opportunity that she took. And Will Wesley, who's been with us for eight years as a special educator, first at Squadron 9 before he transferred to the high school, um is going to be the new principal of a small elementary school in Kbrook. So, congratulations to Will um on landing an administrative job. So, the motion is there for the taking if somebody wants to do it. I'll move that the board of education accept the resignation of Giana Gerga and William Wesley effective June 30th, 2025. Is there a second? I'll second that. Both also um with uh great um regrets with Giana leaving you. Yeah. Um with something like that, just curious like so cuz she was so successful in that and kind of like built that up. So on their
022way out, do they ever get involved in like kind of feedback on like a replacement or what would fit? I'm like kind of like a debrief or anything. I'm just curious in they're they're invited to an exit interview with me. Um and I don't I actually don't know if Giana took on the opportunity. It's been kind of a whirlwind. This just happened at the end of last week. Yeah, because it would seem she was just so successful in that. That would be good to get her thoughts on like what made it so successful. Well, I will make sure I do an exit inter. Thank you. Any other discussion? Just here ago. Absolutely. Absolutely. So, now you're on the hunt for a new new culinary arts. Yes. Expert. Got a chef, you know, anywhere. I don't
023Yeah, I'll just pull one right out. Reach out to your neighbor there, Mr. Uh, he did say he offered to spread the word when we have an official posting. Let's let's we still we still need to vote on it. All those in favor? Any opposed? Great. Thank you. [Music] Um in your packet is the this is the time with the approval of the chairman I'm not the superintendent uh contract. We've we've talked about this in executive committee. Um, obviously Matt's provided us with another year of exceptional leadership. Um, we've had a lot of significant issues and I should say Matt and his team have had a lot of significant issues um, this year that we've all wrestled with. Um, and we are clearly in a better place at this the end of the year than
024we were at the start of the year. Not saying that we were in a bad place, just we keep getting better. This was my point. Um but so with that there is the motion in your packet to formalize the our conversations. Move that the board of education approve the superintendent contract for 25 through 28 with a general wage increase of 3% for 25 to 2025 to 2026. Second. Um any discussion? Just want to thank Matt again. I think we talked about the average tenure of a superintendent in Connecticut is five years or something and we've had Matt for longer much longer than that. We're very lucky. Thank you. You're stuck with us, Matt. All those in favor? Any oppos? Great. Thank you. Thank you for all your work. Appreciate the support. policy Neil come back
025to you. Yeah. Number of policies that we've been talking about over the last few meetings um that have gone through the first and second reading process and they are ready to be approved tonight. Um there was a request a few years ago to move them one at a time. So that's the way that the uh motions are presented. And I don't have anything more to add at this point. All right. I'll take it on. Move to adopt the revised policy 3240 tuition fees effective June 10, 2025. Second. Any discussion? All those in favor? Any opposed? Thank you. Move to adopt the revised policy 4201.6 non-discrimination effective June 10, 2025. Second. Any discussion? All those in favor? Any opposed? Move to adopt the revised policy 4260.5 family medical leave AB absence FMLA effective June 10, 2025.
026Second or I need any discussion? All those in favor. Any oppos? Thank you. Move to adopt the revised policy 4900 reports of suspected abuse or neglect of children effective June 10, 2025. Second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Move to adopt the revised policy 5116.1 non-discrimination students effective June 10, 2025. Second. Any discussion? All those in favor? Any oppos? Move to adopt the revised policy 5131.912 school climate effective June 10, 2025. Second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Thank you. Move to adopt the new policy 5131.913 challenging behavior prevention restorative practices effective June 10, 2025. Second. Any discussion? All those in favor? Any any opposed? And finally move to adopt the revised policy 5133 student discipline effective June 10, 2025. So any discussion? All those in favor? I oppose.
027Thanks for reading. I will add this is how this rolls. We just passed our revised FMLA policy. That's federal family and medical leave time. We, Lydia and I learned today that there's also Connecticut family medical leave and that our non-certified educators are now going to be eligible for that. So, more revisions to come. You finish it and then um yeah, that passed. Although, I will say there's going to be a lot less policy revision as a result of this session. There's not not a lot came out today that's going to require policy rem. So that's my little FMLA push. Well, I look forward to the three readings of [Music] um fiscal year authorizations. Yes. Um so this is something that we do at the end of every year. Um since the board typically cancels their
028summer meetings, there's certain authority that needs to be given um to the superintendent um for three items that are listed there. So first is um renewing our state and federal grant applications. This is something that happens during the summer months for our grants such as IDA, Title One, um and the remainder of all of our state and federal grants. So this gives him the authority to renew those applications during the summer months. The second one related to the transfer of funds. Um this is something that is required for the audit. So we take certain accounts um say that there's a surplus in a supply line item and there's a deficit in a services line item. We simply move the um surplus over to the deficit line item. So everything zeros out nicely. So that gives
029um the authority of the superintendent to make those transfers. Um the budget in total does not change. is simply line item reallocations to zero out those budgets. And then the last one there is um the board of education typically hires during the months of July and August and this gives the authority to the superintendent to hire teachers during those summer months. Yeah. Great. So I'll make a motion. Good. So, I move that the Simsbury Board of Education authorizes the superintendent to act as the board's agent in renewing applications for state and federally funded programs. Second. Great. Any discussion? All those in favor? I Any opposed? do next. I make a move move that the Simsy board of education authorizes the superintendent to transfer funds from those accounts in which a surplus is anticipated into those
030accounts in which is a def a deficit is anticipated. Second. Any discussion? All those in favor? Any opposed? Move that the superintendent with the approval of the board chairman be authorized to hire staff for the 2526 school year during the period of July and August when the board is not in session. Second. Any discussion? All those in favor? I [Music] not last. Um, so previously reported during the quarterlys, which I'm sure Matthew did a great job while I was away, um, we had anticipated a deficit of about $425,000 at the end of this fiscal year, uh, mainly related to special education, some electricity costs. Um there is some savings throughout the budget that we may achieve, but if for some reason we do need um to cover a deficit of $425,000 if that does come
031to fruition, we need a way to cover that. So right now we would like to utilize the non-lapsing fund to be able to cover any deficit in our general fund. Um the fund balance in the non-lapsing is anticipated to be about 562,000. Um, so this just gives the authority for us to utilize those non-lapsing dollars in the event that we do have a deficit in the general fund. Move effective June 10th, 2025 to authorize the use of the board of education non-lapsing fund up to the amount of the full year 2024 25 year end deficit not to exceed $562,41569. Second discussion. Yes. So I have a my just for clarity um we said that we there's a deficit position estimated to be 425,000 but we're giving the approval to use up to the full amount.
032Yeah. It's just saying that you can't exceed the balance in the non-lapsing account. Okay. But are we expecting anything? No, we're not expecting anything. All right. Um, all those in favor? Any opposed? Thank Thank you. [Music] Board of Education Summer. Am I taking this? Okay. Um, in your packet as always, uh, or in keeping with past practices, we have cancelled the summer meetings. Um, so that is what's before us. Again, what I would say is uh don't be surprised if your very mean chairman um requests a meeting in the middle of the summer. Um because there's just too much going on. Um well, with Vanessa's transfer to Central School, we do have an administrative vacancy. So, there will have to be a special meeting at some point for that whether people can join by Zoom
033or not. So, like I said, when Neil wants us to call a meeting in the summer, we'll blame him. But there's some capital things we definitely need to pull together on. Yeah. So, or somebody move that the board of education cancel regular board meetings scheduled on June 24th, July 8th, July 22nd, August 12th, and August 26, 2025. Great. Thank you. Is there a second? Second. Great. Any discussion? So my question would be, we know we're going to have a meeting, but if we call one, then it becomes a special meeting. Whereas if we kept one of these on, we wouldn't have to do a special meeting. Yeah, but there's no problem doing a special meeting. That only means you can't edit the agenda during the meeting or talk about items. We may want it to
034be a workshop, too, based on the conversations we're having. Yeah. So, and there would also probably need to be an interview and also a vote. And with school not in session, your teachers aren't I mean like the schedule meetings are great for teachers if we have to call them into the meetings. So, if we're off and the teachers are off, it's we have more flexibility in when we can meet. Great. And it's all going to depend on the search process for your admin for the administr for the new administrator. No, we have to work from those dates backwards. Just No, it's a good it's a good to um all those in favor. Any opposed? Great. Thank you. I have some news hot off the press. Girls lacrosse 175. They're heading to the state championship this
035Sunday. So, also got word earlier this week, really unbelievable, six of those girls made first team all state from that one team. Wow. Wow. So, impressive. Congratulations. They're playing Cheshure in the final Sunday here or Sunday at Fairfield University. Fairfield. That's exciting. Great. It's our last team team that's still cranking. Yeah, that's great. Great. [Music] With that, we've come to the end of the agenda. Can we get a motion to adjourn and just thank you all for your heart? This, let me just say 30 seconds. I that this has been a very tough year. We've had a lot of significant issues before us. I just want to say thanks to each and every one of you around the table um for the time, the commitment to our schools, to our students, to everybody. Um again,
036this has been a long year and I think we've we've done a great job, I think. So just yeah my undying thanks. Thank you everybody. Hope to see you at graduation. We didn't have a motion did we? I think Jen just held up her hand to make a motion. I will I I will make that motion. But I was also thinking I had you know what I didn't say in the beginning part and the reminder for families is this summer library. They're still doing that program with the books and presents and the reading stuff and they get little gifts and stuff. They still do that. That's great. ation has gone out in the lift service on Friday. Awesome. Yeah, it's a great program and I would like to make a motion to adjurnn. Excellent. Is
037there a second? Second. Right. All those in favor? Great. Thank you everybody. Really appreciate it. Thank you.