001All right. Good evening everybody. Welcome to the June 8th Summer's Board of Education meeting. We have JT Galloway on the phone with us. Um I'll call this meeting to order at 7 o'clock. Please rise for the pledge of >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. So, first off, we have some exciting awards and recognition. So, Dr. Galloway will present Torres. um Melissa Gridley and Aza Drama with the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendent Certificate of Excellence Awards. Dr. Galloway. >> Thank you, Chair Briggs. I just want to inform uh the members present and those watching this uh recognition comes is associated with the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendent. It's uh
002an award recognition program that allows superintendent to uh interact and recognize students who sometimes could fly below the radar. However, in tapping into school leaders, we ask like who would this award fit? And this award is based on community service, service to others, academic prowess, leadership service to the school and the community. So to take this uh information, I've asked the school leaders, the principles, who in your space would do you think should be recognized in this manner? And three students came to mind, one from each school. So I had the distinct honor and privilege to meet and interact with all of them. And I've also like we've done here, I'll say a piece, but I also like the school principles to talk about the students who are under their care and charge. So, I'd
003like to ask principal Musi if she would say a few words about Alyssa Ridley. I met Alyssa is it last week or so? I'm bringing up the tribe just because that's what it takes, right? >> All right. >> All of you carry this. >> So, Mrs. Noacowsky is Alyssa's fifth grade teacher and Mrs. Peterson was invited by Alyssa as her fourth grade teacher. So, we have a little bit of her tribe here along with her family, her sister, her mom and dad. On behalf of our tribe, um it is my absolute privilege tonight to present Alyssa to to the to receive the superintendent's award. Alyssa is the absolute definition of a role model at Summers Elementary School, consistently working to better herself, our school, and our community. Whether she is serving as a bus buddy
004for our youngest students or cleaning the classroom at the end of each day, both of which she does without even being asked, her dedication is unmatched. What truly sets Alyssa apart is her deep empathy and heart for inclusion. She acts as a true advocate for her peers, always making sure that their needs are met, and stands up for absolutely everyone. For instance, when a classmate recently missed a lesson, Alyssa was the very first to step up, assist him, and ensure he felt entirely caught up and included. Academically, she shows an inspiring perseverance and a true desire to do well. She takes full responsibility for her learning, proactively emailing her teachers for feedback, and working hard to apply it. Above all, Alyssa brings pure joy to our halls, constantly showing kindness and respect to all students
005and staff with her warm smiles, compliments, and daily wellwishes. I myself get those every time I see her. So, she's one of the few most are in the morning, Alyssa will say, "Hi, Mrs. Nuc. How are you today?" And I'll say, "I'm great. How are you?" "Great." and she's always happy to be in our home at the morning and when she's leaving, too. She represents the very best of Summers Elementary, and we are incredibly proud to celebrate you tonight. You are truly a spectacular Spartan, which I know her mom did say that she's been counting down the months to receive the spectacular Spartan Award for her yard. So, we have that for you, as well as some for you, too. Congratulations, Alissa. [applause] >> [applause] >> There you go. >> It's very important to you
006too. Dr. Do you want her to come your way or do you want one more thing to >> So I'm going to award you with a very important looking certificate from the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendent. Congratulations. But also Alyssa has the distinct honor of we ordered challenge coins. uh it took about two months. Uh and we've ordered them when I in discussion with Shannon, my assistant, I said, I want a a way of recognizing staff and students uh for outstanding work. So, they just came in like a week ago. So, you're going to get the first >> summer's challenge coin. And in some uh other cultures, a challenge coin is great significance. It recognize recognizes performance or overcoming obstacles and being a part of a team. And you are going to get our
007very first challenge. [applause] Let's get start just just go. You got >> All right. So, I have the privilege of introducing to Kiana Lee Torres, who is currently an eighth grade student at MBA Middle School. Kiana is a dedicated student who consistently holds herself to a high standard, always striving to do her best in the classroom. Beyond her academics, Kiana Lee stands out for her incredible character. She is a highly active member of our school community, participating in our peer mentoring and leadership, environmental book, and volleyball clubs. What truly makes Kiana Lee special, however, is her natural commitment to inclusivity. She has an amazing way to identify anyone, whether a classmate, a peer, or a younger child, who might be feeling left out. She consistently goes out of her way to connect with them, draw
008them into the activity, and ensure that they feel valued. This trait extends far beyond the school walls as she fosters the same sense of belonging in every setting that she enters. Kiana is also incredibly humble. She does so much for others without seeking recognition and her kindness is such an inherent part of who she is that she likely doesn't realize the impact that she has. This award is a wonderful way to acknowledge her quiet, consistent leadership at MBA Middle School and in our community. Congratulations [applause] >> [applause] >> Good to see you again. >> And she gets the second. >> Thank you. [applause] [applause] >> Dr. Gallowaya is in route. She's just running a little bit late because of another commitment. >> Yep. All right. We'll come back to her. I'm sure she'll make an
009entrance. [laughter] >> We'll know when she's here. No worries about that. >> Okay. So, while we wait for Aza, uh the board would like to recognize Ashley Gara and uh Dr. Galloway would introduce >> Great her and uh take it away. >> Great. Uh thank you for that. So last the last time we met, we recognized some retirees and and the board and public got to hear and witness some of the great things that our staff has done for our students both on duty and off duty. So, in having a discussion with principal Martell, she was telling me about this recognition and I I said, "I have to bring Ashley forward really to let you know that um Ashley is an administrative assistant at NBA, but does oh so much for this district and the
010students here. She has been a vital part of the wrestling team. And if you are a wrestling mom or dad or whatever, you know that that's a whole culture and she is there from start to finish. So that I already knew and when asked to to go above and beyond, she came forward without hesitation. So I wanted that on the record. But in relation to the conversation I had with Principal Martell, here's what is also very special. So Ashley was recognized u by the Westover Airlift Wing as the 2025 key support liaison of the year which recognizes a volunteer who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to the commander key support program. Ashley acted as a vital link between the squadron leadership and military families. Specifically ensuring families are supported during deployments and separations allowing service members
011to focus on the mission. So she is a proud military wife. Uh so her husband and her family are dedicated to service and she brings that same service and dedication to this school district. So I just wanted to recognize you publicly and thank you. [applause] [applause] >> Also very humble. All right. [applause and cheering] [applause] >> Okay. Miss A is here. >> Dr. Rekenberg, if you'd like to. >> All right. Here we go. Every year, the CABE certificate of excellence award is given to a student who exhibits exceptional leadership, ethics, and commitment to their school community. Usually, usually leadership is described in quiet terms, leading by example or steady guidance. But tonight, we're honoring a leader who operates a little differently. Tonight, we honor Aza drama. If I had to describe Aza in a few
012words, it'd be bubbly, joyful, fiercely determined, and completely unafraid of the word no. In fact, I'm pretty sure Aza views the word no, not as a refusal, but as the opening line to a very spirited negotiation. Aza has a vision for how things should be. She has zero qualms about ensuring the rest of us getting on board. her sphere of in uh I'm sorry, I lost my space. Um her sphere of influence doesn't just stop at her peers. It extends all the way to the highest levels of district leadership. Just ask her superintendent. Whenever winter weather approaches, a superintendent doesn't just have to consult meteorologists and highway departments. He also has to check his inbox for a direct email from AO. She has been known to kindly but firmly remind him that the high school
013has a lot of brand new drivers on the road and that snow is slippery and that is critical data should be weighed heavily on making his decision for the following morning. [laughter] Honestly, I think about I think she's about one storm away from calling a press conference. And if she isn't emailing central office, she's dropping into mine. It's [clears throat] always delight I'm always delighted by AA's impromptu dropins where she cheerfully catches me up on how things are going, what she thinks about current policies, and exactly how things should progress moving forward. When Aza sets her sights on something, she rallies the troops. She doesn't just ask for change, she builds a movement. Uh when the high school needed a culinary program brought back, AA didn't just complain to her friends. She marched right up
014to the board of education meetings, took the microphone, and powerfully shared the student sentiment around um around the course. When the school budget needs passing, Aza transforms into a onewoman political action committee, rallying families at athletic events and award nights to get them out to vote. She has these grand visions for our high school. And the magical thing about Aza is she actually possesses the joy and drive to pull people in her visions together. Her power persuasions are so potent that it even extends to my own family. During a US history lesson on homesteading practices, most students would just read the textbook, take a quiz, and move on. Not Aza. Aza became utterly obsessed with the idea that her class needed the authentic pioneer experience of turning butter. [laughter] Now, word traveled to Aza that
015my mother collects antiques and possesses multiple butter turners. >> [laughter] >> Most students would think, "Oh, that's me, not Aza." Supply chain opportunity. She didn't hesitate. She managed to contact my mother to advocate for [laughter] the historic butter turner. And Aza didn't let let that lead go. Months later, when my mother came to the school to judge capstone projects, there was Aza right on Q checking in on the status of the butter churn. I'm fully convinced that if Aza went back to 1800, she wouldn't be turnurning butter. She'd be running an entire homesteading conglomerate. Aza, your joy is infectious. Your determination is a superpower, and your willingness to speak up for what you and your peers need is exactly what true leadership looks like. You make our school better, and you keep our administration on
016our toes. And you remind us that a little passion, a lot of happiness can move mountains. [applause] >> [applause] >> She reminded me of >> next year we need them too with the set graduation date. [laughter] >> Congratulations. Good job. >> Okay, everyone is welcome to stay, but if you decide you don't want to, this is your opportunity. >> 30 seconds. >> Thank you so much. >> You're welcome. We'll hold it down. >> Okay. [snorts] So, approval of minutes. So, we'll need a motion to approve the minutes from the May 26th uh board of ed meeting. Slow move. >> Shane second. >> Second. >> Derek second. Any discussion on the minutes from the May 22nd meeting? >> All those in favor? Post JT >> JT. [laughter] >> Okay. So, for the special meeting on May
01728th for the uh the budget discussion, we'll need a motion to approve those minutes. >> So, moved. >> Okay. Gina, a second. Kim, any discussion on those minutes? No. All those in favor? >> JT in favor. >> Okay. Opposed. >> Abstensions. Edension. >> Oh, cuz you weren't there. >> Okay. >> I mean, I wasn't there. I was there. >> You sure you want? >> No, I'm good. We're good. [laughter] >> Okay. Administrative reports. Dr. Galloway. >> Thank you. Um, a very brief uh update this evening. Um, I just wanted the board and public to know that, you know, we all know the budget did not pass, but I did want to um affirm that the CO team, we've developed contingency plans based on what we're facing regarding the reductions. We'll talk about those in detail
018under new business. We've met multiple times uh with principal CO team to um respond uh in a meaningful way, a thoughtful way to the budget shortfall that we are facing as a board. I'm happy to talk about that under new business. Uh next in another direction. Um, I did want to just reiterate uh the purpose behind uh the challenge point recognition that came about like I said two about two months ago when I was trying to think of ways to um increase our speed of core recognize staff members on a regular basis and that coin is based on leadership service and and education and we'll periodically recognize either students and our staff members for going above and beyond without even thinking. The the Ashley is not asked to do a lot of what she does.
019She just does it. And it really struck a chord with me um in our last meeting when we got to talk about and recognize our retirees with how much they've given to the to the board and to the district. U so I'll move on from that. And graduation is on Wednesday the 10th starting at 6 PM. I'm sure Aza will probably be emailing me about the weather report. >> She's a junior, so maybe not. >> Well, I don't know. [laughter] >> I don't know. >> You didn't hear she's running it. >> So, so those those those were facts. she and a few other students from the high school would email me regularly to remind me um that I need needed to make thoughtful decisions regarding snows. Uh that concludes this report and I'm happy to
020talk about uh the budget. I'm happy >> retract that willing [clears throat] I willing to discuss the budget reductions uh during business. Okay. Any questions for Dr. Gall? Okay. Thank you. Okay. So, now we'll welcome Kevin Nichols from Morgan Stanley to update the board on the the pension. >> Thank you for the time. I know you know you got a lot going on, so I'll try to keep this brief. Uh you usually have a packet here. Two-page summary in the front. Okay. Market perspectives before tab two, pension uh performance report before tab 4, and OPED after tab 4. So, if you want to get into the details, there it is. Okay. Uh market's been really really strange this year. Okay, we went from everything focused on quality downside protection um you know income producing uh
021to a complete reversal and low quality high beta stocks doing very very well uh in this last sort of rally that we've seen here. There's a few reasons for the rally. One is uh I hope that the Iran conflict uh will end at some point. Okay, keeps you know one day it's off and the other day it's on. Uh and then there's a bunch of uh tech IPOs that are coming out that a lot of people are trying to get ahead of basically uh and buying the indexes as a result of that. Um a few things you know Morgan Stanley's capital market uh group has lowered their GDP growth uh increased their inflation expectations. Uh we've got a 10-year and a 30-year that are the highest we've seen in in kind of decades. Uh and
022we think that the dollar weakness is going to continue as we go into the second half of the year. yet we're saying that the S&P 500 might be 10% higher 12 months from now. Okay. Um right now basically high beta stocks have outperformed since the market bottom in April. Okay. High beta stocks are the most volatile stocks that you can have. Uh lowquality stocks which were you know basically down 5% to start the year are now up 15%. Uh value stocks which were up 5% are now down 5%. Uh so we've seen you know just a complete change in what the market has been favoring from one month to the next and that doesn't mean that this could reverse again going back into the you know last month of the fiscal year here or even
023the last uh last few months of the of the year. Um you know things that kind of give us concern are the you know the high beta stocks doing well. Onethird of the S&P 500 earnings growth has come from one singular stock micron. Okay, not earnings actual earning dollar earnings, but earnings growth in the S&P 500. Okay, so technology is already about 35 36% of the S&P 500. When these uh IPOs do come out, we're worried it's going to be pushed over basically 40%. So, it's going to be extremely concentrated market. Uh we're at 23 times forward earnings on the S&P 500. Uh that's a level we haven't seen since the dot uh bubble. Okay. Typically the S&P 500 trades around 16 17 times forward earnings. Uh and then one of the things that uh
024I think the market is sort of really not digesting is headline CPI and PPI are the highest since 2022. There's a lot of actually similarities between what's going on what went on in 2022 and what's going on today. Okay, we had Russia and Ukraine. Now we have US and Iran. It was gas then it's oil now. We had a Fed that was raising rates going into 2022. We have a Fed now that has gone from possibly cutting rates at the beginning of the year to now possibly raising rates going into the end of the year. Uh and emerging markets we still feel like are extremely attractive. So backdrop is very challenging uh environment for active managers that focus on quality balance sheets. Okay. Second thing is we think the macroeconomic backdrop is actually a lot
025worse than maybe the market is recognizing right now. >> Any questions before I move on? >> I I I just had a question. You mentioned interest rates. >> Yes. >> So inflation could be its concern. The Fed may actually raise interest rates, >> correct? >> How do you think that would affect this? >> Yeah. So good news is all right. We have a very short duration bond portfolio. We have not increased duration that much. fact the for the pension portfolio the duration is under two years. Okay, under two I should say. Um and that means that basically the kind of the average maturity is less than two years of of your average bond in the portfolio. The shorter the bond maturity, the less susceptible they are to long-term interest rate changes. So about two years
026ago, interest rates had gotten higher. A lot of people said increase duration, increase duration. We decided to stay more short duration. that's actually worked out in the portfolio. Okay. So, that's been actually one of the bright spots I'd say in the OPED in the in the pension portfolio. Um, in terms of the pension fund value, it's at almost 7.3 million. Okay, it's an all-time high. We're over 95% funded in the pension fund. So, that's those are the that's the good news. Uh, more good news is that uh for the fiscal year 2026, we're going to be just under 10% net of fees return. Okay, so that's going to be higher than our assume end return, which is 6%. So we expect the fun ratio to go up even more. The bad news is that we're
027lagging the IPS and the 6040 by about anywhere from 450 to 500 basis points. So our benchmark, we're really lagging. There's a few reasons that one, I talked about the low quality, high beta stocks. So we're not going to get invested in the riskiest part of the market. That's just not what we're going to do. um because especially because your funded ratio is so high, there's no reason to take undue risk. We're actually looking to get higher risk adjusted returns, which means take lower risk and try to get the highest rate of return we can for taking that lower risk. Um and then the second is because it's a spending portfolio, we want to make sure that we're getting enough cash flow from the investments via dividends and interest to pay for the pension benefits,
028right? And in fact in the last five years about 89% of the benefits paid has just come from dividends interest not in the growth of the stocks but just from dividends and interest. So that means you've taken less out of principal and just more out of the income to pay those benefits. Um current allocation is around 6040. It's a little bit higher than that but basically a teeny bit overweight global equities teeny bit underweight uh fixed income. Um and last three years um returns are about 10.15 and since inception is about 7.16 per year average. So again higher than the assumed rate of return. We do have some um manager sug suggestions for the portfolio because we've got some active managers that haven't been performing in line with what we would expect. One is the
029the midcap manager. So we hire right now nuance midcap value uh and we are looking to replace them with Boston partners midcap value and decrease our allocation uh from the in midcap portfolio from about 10 and a half to 6%. Uh then we have a manager right now Lazard that manages international and emerging markets together as one part of the portfolio sleeve. We want to separate those out and replace Lazard with Mandreon International Equity uh and decrease that allocation from 20% or from 25% I should say to 20%. And then add the emerging markets ETF EM uh to increase emerging markets exposure to about 9 and a half% from 6%. Those are suggestions portfolio going forward. >> So is that something? I >> think the last time I came to you with manager suggestions, I
030just kind of informed you about it. We had a discussion about it. >> Um, >> that's what I kind of >> I mean, you had suggestions before. No one had anything not to do. So, >> so if you remember last time we added small cap, I believe that was a point of discussion. It's actually done very, very well. that's been one of the positive parts of the portfolio as well. Um, and so this is really just to increase geographic diversification, try to take advantage of the lower valuations in emerging markets right now, the weaker US dollar, um, and try to, uh, reduce the volatility of our overall portfolio. >> So, you would just go ahead and do that soon? >> Yes, we can do that tomorrow. And then quickly on the OPED, uh it's just
031under 1.7 million, another all-time high, 9.79 net of fees, uh last three years, uh average rate of return of 9 little over 9% and uh and six and 7% sorry since inception. So again higher than the assumed rate of return. Uh modified duration of the portfolio there is slightly a little bit higher. It's 2.5, but again still very very shortterm. So in case more interest rate increases still very very protected on that side of the of the portfolio. Uh and we're going to do the same uh manager replacements at the OPED as we are convention >> questions. >> Thank you so much. Appreciate the time. >> Thank you. >> And when will you be back then? >> Uh in January. I think we're going to do January and June. >> So now we're going to
032we have a snowstorm in January. So that's why we're here, but you know, happy to happy to come next. >> Okay, great. >> If you need me before then, happy to come to. >> Thank you. >> All right. Take care. >> Thank you. >> Okay, Stephanie with our monthly budget report. >> Hello You can stay there. I can stay. >> All right. So, in your packets, you have May's report. Uh there isn't much too much change between the um May report and the April report. Um we have accounted for in this one the excess cost. So, our balance is relatively high. Um we're at 241 as of May 31st. Um just due to some of the budget discussions that have been happening, we have been starting to spend some of this down so that we
033could make reductions in areas of our fiscal year 27 budget. Um we have discussed returning money to the town or not expending it. I shouldn't say we return it. It never comes to us. We just don't expend it. Um so I believe we're at about 100,000 that we're comfortable saying yes, we are going to um freeze $100,000 and not spend that um it may come in as we go through June. We're cleaning up purchase orders that are hanging out there um in bills that we don't end up coming in um or that we don't incur the expense. Um we're still working on utility bills and such like that. So um as those kind of clean up, we'll have a more firm number and we'll the final number is always comes out at the audit once
034the audit is completed in December. Um but it'll be in the $100,000 range that we'll leave for the Um, but other than that, no no major changes on this on this report unless there's any questions. >> Questions. >> Okay, >> I'll stay close. >> All right. Opportunity to add or delete agenda items. Looks like nobody. Okay. So, we will need a motion for the consent agenda. Okay. Second and Okay. Discussion on the consent agenda. [clears throat] Nothing. Okay. All those in favor? >> JT in favor. >> All right. Opposed extensions. That is unanimous. Okay. No old business. New business. Uh Mr. me a genie. >> Come on up and we'll talk about the Puerto Rico trip. >> Well, thank you all for having me. And I think you all have a copy of this, but
035never hurts to have enough information, right? So, I will also then take a seat. I know you've seen this before, but never hurts. There you are. And last but not least, >> of course. So, All right. >> All right. So, I'm gonna kind of go in between all of it, but to begin, I know the dates look a little odd and enticing because everybody wants to get out of here in winter, but it's kind of twofold on that part. It is right at the end of semester 1 and it'll be the beginning of semester 2. So if and hopefully when approved, kids won't be missing much of classes where it will be impacting their final exams in a halfyear course or a midyear exam, midterm year exam in a fullear course. So we're anticipating to
036go at the end of January to kind of avoid extracurricular and content uh issues. I'm just going to say it that way. So who we will be going with EF and if you recently remember Mr. from coming in to talk to you guys about Spain. They just had a successful trip with EF. The company has been around for over 50 years. They are fully insured. They fully insure us when we're abroad and when we're on our way down there. They make sure that all the kids are taken care of. The chaprons are taken care of. 247 nighttime security in the hotels. 247 medical support. God forbid we need any of that, but it's there for us. Also, just to kind of put it in there, technically, yes, we will be going abroad, but given that
037it's a Commonwealth, the United States, we're still in the United States, so kids are getting kind of a taste of international travel without having to really travel travel internationally. And speaking of that, why Puerto Rico? originally, and I'm just going to go into the little kind of track of my mind, I was going to bring them to Costa Rica because I want students to not only understand more about the culture, the diversity, and the language, but I want them to get an understanding of how they are as global citizens, their impact, what they can do or stop doing. Hopefully, that one is a little less than what they can do. So on top of learning about history, geograph geography and geopolitics by going to historic sites and colonial sites that were part of colonization. They're
038also going to be learning about ecological tourism with Aciendo ooa which they go learn local agriculture, learn about local culinary uh skills and types of cuisine. Sorry. as well as embracing and really getting their hands dirty on in Ojo where they take care of some of the animals or they work the field and they get an understanding of how they can get back to the environment that they are always in. And lastly, because I know budget is a big big big item no matter what, cost effective. So, when I was quoting for Costa Rica, because they had similar ecological and geographic uh highlights, it was about four to $6,000 depending on when we went. When I started going back to the drawing board, got more ideas, shorter trips. This one would, if we can even
039get uh 24 20 to 24 kids, cuts it in half to 2600 to 2,800. So the cost effectiveness makes it eligible not only for the students in Spanish three or three honors and this is next year in the 26 27 school year. The four and four honors we have a small class of Spanish five. If, god forbid, of those approximately 50 kids, we don't get as many as we should be getting, then we can go into our reserve, I'll call it, of approximately 20 to 25 kids who have successfully taken Spanish 4 and Spanish 4 honors this year to see if they want to attend the trip as well. And I already mentioned the absences, but I think it's a good thing to mention again. As well as if we get it approved, fingers crossed,
040we can inform students ahead of time so that they can have the summer time to save. Really start using those summer working jobs to their benefit and trying to make a payment plan with their parents or even with EF they offer multiple payment plans. So, it's not going to break the bank for anybody. And lastly, if approved, fingers crossed, I keep saying if, we wouldn't have to be going to Boston or New York, we could actually leave from Bradley International, take a direct flight on JetBlue, to Luis Mo airport, which is right outside in San Juan in Katalina, which is a town right outside of it. We are met right by our uh I was going to say cruise director. [laughter] We are met by our tour director and for the next five days that
041person is our liaison in Puerto Rico along with the chaperons and myself included also with the EF support staff that we have there and back home. And lastly, the hotels. I mentioned the nighttime security, but they are all fourstar and above. So they are reputable, safe, and they don't put us in any places that are, for lack of a better word, sketchy. And with that, I ask for questions and thank you for your time and consideration. >> Thank you. Any questions? >> I have a couple, >> please. >> So, given the time of year being January, um is there any kind of contingency like if for for some reason the weather was bad and the flight was canled out of the control, does EF cover for that? >> They have their travel. So, the insurance
042that goes with medical is different than travel insurance, but the travel insurance does help with our window of if it gets extended by like let's say up here there's a snowstorm and Bradley closes for two days, but we can leave like that day. They would wait until Bradley is good to get us and then they would help us. Sorry guys, we have to stay in Puerto Rico for a couple days, but they would help us with um the fight back, but also how we can stay there. So accommodations, food. >> All right. So there's a contingency plan. Okay. And um how many chaperones would be going? >> So at this moment it's one for every eight students. So I have myself and two other uh certified staff. But the more students we get, I have
043>> and I have a list going already. >> All right. And last question. Despite the hard work of the >> Yeah, I got that one. [laughter] Despite the hard work of students and families and and getting the advanced notice, is there any opportunity for there to be any financial assistance for any families that have a hardship? >> EF does have some options and I was also considering fundraising >> once approved obviously and knowing who might be because >> this and I appreciate you asking that because I chose something that everybody could take part in, not just >> people who do have, you know, thousands of dollars possibly lying around or saved up and be like, "All right, well, this is your big present for the year. That's cool." >> Right? >> This may be like
044a make or break point for some families or kids, and I'm not trying to break the bank. I'm trying to give them an educational experience and also kind of a once in a lifetime experience. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah, of course. >> Yeah. >> So, do can like parents be the chaperons of this? >> Can [laughter] there are there are adult crises? Yes. But actually, no. Um I currently have a Spanish 3 student who her mother was asking about that and she signed up for Spanish 4. So her mom has the idea that if she wants if she goes and we do need parents or even if they want to go and >> on their own >> they want to be there just to kind of be there but not chaperon they could pay
045I think parent prices last time I checked I want to say like 32 or 3600. >> So it's really not that much more. >> Yeah. Would there be a preference for board of ed members? [laughter] >> You guys kind of hold my job. So, >> go. >> We'll see how many kids we get after approval. >> Mr. Many, thank you so much for putting this together, organizing it. That's a lot of work, something you don't have to do, but [clears throat] you understand the value of that for our students. And the other big thing I'm noticing is that you're trying to keep the doors open as wide as possible for our population. So, not just honors, but you know, regular Spanish three, four, five. Um, so thank you for that. That's that's great. >> I
046agree with that. >> And it really helps the kids see a purpose for the classes, the language, even just understand. Yeah, >> exactly. >> I like seeing all the trips come through personally. >> Yeah. So, we've never Have we ever done this to Puerto Rico? >> Nope. >> Have you been to Puerto Rico? >> Yes. And biasedly, yes. I'm excited. [laughter] Also, it's because I can kind of help the tour guide or the guides in general. Just when we go to the Yun, we can talk about Elco, go through Lasascadas, all that good stuff. >> Then the new stuff, I'll be just as enthralled by like the kids and be like, "Oh, well, I didn't get to see that, so we're going to go. Let's go." >> Right. >> So, there's going to be a
047bit of new and old for me as well, but it's a place that, yes, I am comfortable with. And I think again having the direct flight right out of Bradley just you skip three steps right there >> and $1,200. >> Exactly. I mean it's a win-win for everybody. >> And for for the record, we're just approving just the safety and trip itself. This is to no expense to the school district directly and paid out of pocket by the parents. >> Budget is a sensitive topic. So let's go on record and say that we are not approving a thousand multi,000 trip to [laughter] >> just the idea not the financial back >> we are supporting the idea that [laughter] >> thought I had a lot of you >> I appreciate the timing too so that students
048who are worried about missing classes don't have that stress too >> and with the conglomeration of like this field trip going here this one going this AP, this test, this state's >> championship tournament, this person's going on vacation after April break. It just kind of helps alleviate one more stressor. >> Yeah, I appreciate >> for the kids and for us. >> Yeah. >> And thank you for coming early because that does give people a lot of time >> to prepare. >> I want and thank you for letting me sneak in because >> it was kind of a rush job. I'm not going to lie, but these two helped me pull it off. So, thank you. Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> Okay, we'll need a uh motion to approve the January 2027 field trip
049to Puerto Rico. >> Second. >> Okay, Gina. All those in favor? >> Is that a yes, JT? [laughter] >> All right. Those opposed? That is unanimous. >> Mama Puerto Rico. >> All right. Thank you all very much. >> Thank you. >> Oh, yeah. Actually, the kids do get sales on the beach. >> No, that's um >> Do you want to Should I put it back on the original? >> Yeah, because we'll all pretend [laughter] there right now. pretend I'm there. >> Okay. Where's our friend Steph? >> She didn't go far. She promised. >> As I think everyone in this room knows, the budget failed again. Um, so the board of finance gave us the amount of money that we need to cut from the budget. So, Dr. Galloway and Stephanie went through the budget thoughtfully
050and made quite a few cuts. um places that they would least we feel least impact students. Um so that's what we'll discuss now. Dr. Galloway. Very good. Uh thank you. So I'll start with the total amount um that we are going to talk about regarding reductions which is $474,510. And I'd like to say to the board and to the public that um it was me, Stephanie, and our CO team as well as our our school principles who all put skin in the game here to help us uh meet this number. So, you have the um budget reduction sheet with you, but I'm going to go line by line u and discuss these reductions. So, we started off uh at the high school by cutting uh the tennis coach. Um we haven't run tennis in a
051while, so that was a reduction we could make at $4,700. Uh we're going to cut the cheerleading coach for a reduction amount of $1,793. There are multiple clubs that won't run uh next year, but haven't run. Um we tried to look what was most popular, tried not to touch those. We came up with a reduction of $9,381 to reduce the number of clubs that were run. Um, professional development wages $5,000 and that means there are reduced opportunities for staff to attend professional development outside of contracted hours and it affects curriculum summer work. There are three uh para educator positions. We have two retirements and a resignation. Um we will be looking at possibly consolidating um duties related to these um positions. Social studies teacher. Um we didn't know this at the when we were [snorts]
052first drafting the budget, but they were able to hire a social studies teacher at a lower pay rate. And That's a savings of $19,283. Um, we have determined that there is a vacancy for a special ed teacher and that vacancy will be capped at a master 7. So, we will not hire anyone with more experience than that. Our contingency line is affected to the tune of $15,545 and that means there's a reduced amount of funding available for contract negotiations. In the benefits line, we reduced social security, Medicare, and the employee tax by $30,000, which could mean a potential budget shortfall. But along with the reductions that I'm discussing, we are really talking also about freezing the budget at strategic points in the year. Um unemployment, the reduction there is 15,000, which could be a potential
053budget shortfall. So as Stephanie is working day in and day out, she's able to project where we might land and that could throw us into a freeze and we're not spending anything because we may encounter some of these shortfalls. professional development registration fees, $30,000. Uh, as you know, we um acquired a new math program that requires professional development. The teachers have done really well with this professional development. We think we can still be effective by eliminating $30,000 of that professional development. Our maintenance and building repairs at the high school, a reduction of $6,800. Maintenance, roof repairs, a reduction of $4,000. Forms and printing, $5,000. Um, we were going to, um, acquire new emergency preparedness directories. Um, and a more sturdy document. We're going to bypass that as savings of $5,000. SCEs has put forth a
054reduction of 2,000 in art supplies, bus fuel. Same scenario as before with the social security and unemployment, a reduction of $10,000 which may cause Stephanie to freeze the budget at strategic points over the year. other business office. Um Stephanie's going to bypass um a certain module in the clear gov uh software that she's been working on that's a reduction of $11,000. Um math supplies reduction of $5,000. Science textbooks at the elementary school $15,000 reduction. going to the supply line uh educational software reduction of 24,400 by not continuing with certain programs such as PBIS there's a Swiss program in there at Puzzle Pro Zern Seesaw I Ready Gizmos at the elementary school a reduction of $5,000 for social studies text books a reduction social studies weekly. Another reduction of $5,000 uh in textbooks, reduced budget that
055supports additional textbooks when classes exceed. I do remember at the high school, I want to say was Dr. Gdut's class. He had an influx of kids come in and we had to buy. So, those are some of the things that could throw us into a shortfall that would cause a freezing or moving money around. So, um, we can still would still be able to meet the needs of students, but without that cushion. General supplies a reduction of $2,000. Um, and this is a large reduction in our technology hardware of $100,000. Uh, we were had started a rotation of Chromebooks every three years. That's going to move to four years. teacher laptops renewals will be delayed a year and the business at Tech Lab uh we were able to uh do a pre-purchase with that. So
056we were able to reduce by $100,000 our capital outlay of reduction of $12,350. Um, the science lab furniture eliminated at the elementary school, $2,000 reduction. Arts uh replacement of art schools eliminated and NBA furniture, a reduction of $1,000. And that brings us to $474,510. >> And Dr. Mr. Galloway, just for clarification, this is the third budget reduction you've done because you reduced right before the first referendum when we were at the joint meeting. Yes. >> Then you reduced after the first fail. So this is our third reduction. >> This is our third. >> Thank you. [snorts] >> When uh when you say may have to freeze the budget, what do you mean by that? What happens if you freeze the budget? That means only necessary bills are going to get paid. >> Electricity, >> right?
057So, our utilities salaries and benefits, things that keep people employed will will stay obviously we'll we'll make payroll. Um it's not ordering supplies for the classrooms potentially that don't directly impact curriculum, children accessing their curriculum. Um the nice to haves, you know, that makes a lesson easier to teach. We we won't be doing that. Um, building repairs may have to be deferred a little bit longer than we would like to in some scenarios. If it's not an emergency, it's not going to and we can make it, you know, six more months until the next budget or, you know, the spring when I kind of can see where we are landing as things shake out through the year. We all know as we've gone through this year, um, staff members take unpaid leaves or, uh, we
058get a substitute in that's cheaper. As money frees up, we can start purchasing those things again. Um but my initial thought is that there will be very little supply buying um over the summer. >> So that then in turn in many cases gets transferred over to the teachers because the teachers will not let the kids go without. So many teachers on their own will purchase items that we are unable to provide. >> Okay. When you say elimination of educational software for 24,400 the students and staff will not have access to that or is that just a like additional services that we're paying for or are they eliminated entirely? >> They will be eliminated entirely. So >> Seesaw is gone. >> Right. So there is a there is a replacement for that um which was already
059in the works. Um so that was not as big of a reduction and we we've already paid for that. Okay. >> Um and the IT department will be working on that this summer. Um so those were the areas as we've gone through the year, right? We get past the budget presentations and all that things start kind of working out. We start making decisions about next year. Um some of the impact is not awful. We have a replacement for it. We wanted to update our website anyway. So like software that we're buying for it will take care of messaging services for parents. Okay. Like Seesaw. Um there are uh the director of curriculum will review how many people are using a software and make a determination that the return on investment if there's five students or
060five teachers that are using a software in comparison to a hundred. It's fiscally not responsible for us to continue if we cannot continue that software. >> Sure. >> Um so those are the the thought processes that are go we're going through as a central office team to determine what can be reduced. >> Okay. Yeah, thank you for elaborating. Sounded like everything was getting axe with no real >> Yeah. Well, >> we we have contingency plans for, you know, other options. >> I do want to emphasize that every principal was around the table >> and asked they knew the number. What can you live without? And and this is their skin in the game for for their schools. So, >> no more science at all. >> That was a pre-purchase with end of year funds. >>
061Oh, okay. Good. >> So, we're not returning, you know, the the 100,000 could have been >> That's a helpful That's a pretty good tool for the elementary school. >> No, it's staying. >> And Stephanie, I can see even you made a cut in your own operating budget. You know, we just looked at Clear Gov, right? >> We did. >> I'm keeping a part of it. Okay. I am keeping the budget part so that um Brian and I at the town can collaborate and create that budget document that hopefully in the future creates a better um message for the town. It's the personnel and operation um modules >> where I would be able to like put in like all of our staff members and do all the calculations. I'm doing it in an Excel spreadsheet right
062now. >> Yeah, >> it just means that I continue to do it in an Excel spreadsheet. >> Okay. Thank you for explaining that. I think one of the differences here that Gina pointed out, this is now the third budget cut. So when we first start working on this budget with the budget committee, a lot of the budget is really an estimate because it's so far out, >> right? >> And then when we accepted the budget, I think it was [clears throat] 3.68% 68%. >> But then we got more information at >> and as we got more information it could be more accurate in the projections so that we were able to make a cut. This is a whole different level. Some of us have been this route before. And the biggest frustration for me personally
063is most of these things if we put it back in the budget next year is new money, not the same. So if we get an interest in tennis next year, we're trying to put in a brand new position. And so the budget has a whole different look. It's like, oh my god, you've added new software, you're replacing more computers, you're adding teams, you're adding advisors. So you 474,000, most of that you're probably going to want to put back in next year. And this is where a lot of it you never get back. You you it's hard to play catchup. And we did this for years. >> Those are the the positions that are I, you know, I appreciate the careful attention to it being from attrition so that we're not having to tell our current
064employees, sorry, we don't have a position for you. But I get really concerned when I look at PAR educator positions that are being eliminated, especially when we have just put so much time and effort into reducing the out of district play placements. You take and and stretch a para educator across multiple students instead of them being able to focus on one or two students and that can mean the difference between a student who can remain in district and be successful and not or you also don't have any room for a new student who moves in that has significant needs. So, I I think it's important that people understand that it looks like it's just this one little position, but it could potentially be a domino effect that could have a bigger impact on us. We've
065seen how expensive out of district placements are. We know what happens when the needs get to be too great. And I just get really, really concerned about all of the work and the strides we've made to now continue to peel back and peel back. And I understand that it's tough times for everyone, but I don't want everything that we've just done as a district to start crumbling around us as we're just starting to get off. >> Right. So, the last thing I was going to say is even though I have personal frustration, but I also have to commend Dr. Galloway and the administrators because this has been a team effort. This is not top down. It's like we're all in this together. Everybody's got to give up something. But this is painful to look at
066this list. And unfortunately, past history, when the town starts defeating budgets, it actually gets harder to pass the third time around. So, I don't know what the answer is there, but we've been there with four. One year we were the very last town in the state of Connecticut to pass the budget, but each time it gets less. So, I'm just hoping we can come up with a plan to to get this passed. But I want to thank you for as painful as this is, we're we're trying not to affect student learning on a day-to-day basis. >> Thank you. If I may, I I just since we're here and we're talking about it, uh I just want to say publicly with the support of the board, we have really operated in a responsible manner regarding staffing.
067Since I've been here, we've reduced uh a tutor at the high school. We've reduced a science position at the high school, a data specialist position, an elementary teacher position, a school to career position, uh a kindergarten special ed position, a reduction in art at the high school, and a job coach within the three years. So, I've said it here and I've said it in town meetings that we just don't post a job. We really have a discussion about can duties be consolidated? Do we need to replace this job? So, I just want um I appreciate your support in letting us operate in that manner, but I just want to s say for the record that we have thoughtfully reduced positions all while still gaining on performance, but you will hit a tipping point. >> Yeah,
068>> we're close. >> Yeah. And I agree with what Ann said. I've had the opportunity to watch this firsthand now and and how hard you guys all work on it. Um, it's it's incredible the stuff you do. I guess I'll ask the question that no one wants to really talk about. Uh, what happens if the budget doesn't pass? >> I don't know. >> Okay. >> Um, I think that there from from conversations that I've had, it it sounds like we would not be asked for anything else. Um, the CFO feels strongly that the board of ed should not any more of a hit. I don't know if legally we even can. Um, that would I would be looking for a legal opinion if it came down to that. Um, which means that it is more
069potential cuts on the town side and I don't know what that looks like for them. >> Um, I'm I'm not really sure. I haven't been in this position before where we've had a third failed budget. Um, I've only gone through a failed budget once in in a prior town, so I'm not really sure. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And how long does it keep going? >> Well, until it passes. So, if July one comes, we start with the budget that we have right now. >> Um, >> that's what we were getting back, >> meaning anyway. Correct. we were getting. So, the the budget that the the town has approved for us to work with right now is this current year budget plus the supplemental of $227,76 added in >> and that was the return from not
070>> that was the supplement from the state >> from Yeah. the state side of things, >> right? So, we're Yeah. >> So, that's where we are um right with these reductions. >> So, just for clarification, so we come July one if we're still in the same position We keep the current budget. >> Yes. >> 2526's budget rolls to next year until they've got to keep they'll keep going to referendum until a number >> salary freeze for our for >> Yeah. Can you impact >> I would need a legal opinion. >> Yeah. I don't we can't contraction. >> I don't know if we can contract our salaries from other places. >> Correct. I don't think I it would be big PL. We would not buy any technology. We would not do any maintenance on our buildings.
071Like I'm in survival mode at that point. >> Oh yeah. >> Because all of the staff that we currently have right now plus benefits. >> I don't have enough money. >> Yeah. We will be in the hole. >> So if I'm reading this correctly, we the stars kind of align where that we had a couple retirements and a resignation. Otherwise, we'd be having a different conversation now about having to ask. >> Right. Right. because right because I am right we're making either a really good hiring decisions by and able [clears throat] to reduce those salaries or in the case of the special ed that has not even been posted yet I don't believe and I'm saying >> no more than a master seven >> good luck >> which still provides experience >> it does >>
072yeah it does >> really [clears throat] >> so just a positive note um we don't lose all perspective the fact that the referendum is the 16th is helpful because it's before school is over and we do know once school is over parents start leaving town and that's one reason why it gets harder. So we're hoping maybe on June 17th we have a celebration for the last day of school. >> We can get the parents out. There's just not a lot of I mean and maybe there are parents voting no for the budget because at the end of the day I don't think people quite understand that this is >> our budgets from both the town and the school side are good. It's a reassessment issue. Your commercial properties are reassessed differently than your residential and
073we could be at a zero budget >> and a lot of people's taxes are still going to go up. >> That's right. So the question for the voters out there, do you want to decimate >> our entire time? Not just the board of ed because a lot of people don't care because they don't have school kids now in school. They did and now they don't care about it and that's whatever. But you're also going to decimate the services you use on the town side. So I think my opinion is it's been I found there to be an incredible lack of communication >> on the evaluation. People do not understand it. >> I I just feel like you go to our website. There's not much on there right now where I was looking at other people
074in the same boat, other um towns in the same boat and it's immediate where you can find all their budget information, steps that have been taken from A to B to C to D. Um because we aren't the only town who's having this reassessment issue and >> I think a [clears throat] lot of people really truly believe it's the town is getting a ton more in tax revenue which is not the case. >> The you know there are certain properties that aren't seeing the same increase in values but have the same mill rate applied to them. So I just think that's information is not something that people are talking about. >> Right. Right. That's my two cents. >> A lot of confusion. That's a good point. Thank you for bringing that up. >> Great point.
075We're definitely going to need community support, especially from parents if we want to continue. It's other otherwise I just don't see >> and we need significant amount of an increase in support. Significant. Yeah. >> Yeah. It's just uh people need to start paying attention >> and I think the silver lining is that we're paying attention. I think the silver lining in all this is our communities actually showing up to vote on a budget by referendum. The turnout is pretty pathetic year-over-year in any town anywhere, >> right? >> So to pay attention, that's good. But to get your media, to get your information on voting from social media >> is terrible, >> unacceptable. >> Yep. >> That is that that is ignorance beyond belief. >> You need to pay attention and tune in to board of
076education meetings, >> Board of Finance meetings, board of selectman meetings, all this information public. You can utilize tools today to get a synopsis of those meetings and get the get this the spark notes, >> but actually go to the source of the information. Look at the budget itself. >> Well said, Shane. >> Look go to the source of the information and do your own due diligence other than just going through the comment section on your phone and making a decision that way. >> Correct. >> Because that's nonsense. So I I hope that we celebrate when the community rallies. >> Agreed. But I think that's the other frustration that I think the town and some of the parents don't understand. I mean, there were people that I heard after the first referendum. I didn't know about
077it. Why didn't the board of ed do something? Why didn't the principal send something out to the parents? And I don't think they understand we are not allowed to do that. >> It's it's not allowed. Principles will not be sending out reminders. >> PTO is not allowed to either. >> No, I talked to them. They said it's in their bylaws. They can't >> just say there's a budget, >> but no, >> they can't put anything in the newsletter. We can't do anything. So that's that's our frustration. So, >> but we're we are unpaid volunteers for the community. Why can't we as a board of eds say anything? I think we can. >> Okay. Because it's not we're not a paid position. >> I've heard about it. But yeah, >> right. You've heard about it and
078we we're legally correct in that situation. So I guess that's where I'm I mean we we're talking about it in this meeting. >> We I I we believe in our budget and >> think I mean I don't like this reduction, but I will support it if hopefully this is it. So, I guess I just don't understand why we can't do more either without giving a legal letter saying we did something wrong. >> Well, if you send something out to the parents, not every single parent would may be on that text messaging. So, now do it. I mean, >> you can't use public funds, >> right? Right. >> So, we can't use the school emails or anything like that. Right. >> Use school messenger. Can't use anything. And yet there are public funds that were used
079on the board of the firehouse to remind people to vote. There were public funds that were put up on the sandwich signs for the first time ever. What research shows when you put big sandwich signs up around town, it works. It brings out the no vote. >> Yep. That's what it brings out. So again, it's frustrating. >> Yeah. >> Well, in any event, I'm beyond the point of celebrating if it passes. I'll just be relieved. >> Relieved. >> A celebration. >> Would be nice for the life of school. >> Yeah, it would be. Okay. Any other questions, comments? >> I did on the other. Yeah, I think just to accept what is being reduced. >> Yeah. All right. All right. So, we'll need a motion to accept the recommendations for the updated budget reductions. Slow
080move. Shane second. >> And okay. All those in favor. >> Okay. That is unan JT. Sorry. All right. That is unanimous. and zero. Okay. Okay. Committee reports, curriculum, >> uh we'll be meeting at the start of next school year. I will update that. >> Policy. [clears throat] >> Uh policy met tonight. We'll have a couple policies to post for our next meeting uh for the next board of ed meeting and our next policy meeting will be August 24th. Um and for right now at 6:00 p.m. >> Okay. Planning and finance. >> Nothing. All right. Salary and negotiations. We [laughter] >> So we completed the nurses contract. We Did I read that? >> We had a meeting with the maintenance union for the 17th scheduled and then the 20th and now it's back to the 17th.
081>> That's what it sounds like. >> Okay. So, >> we'll see. >> Tenatively it's scheduled for the 17th to hopefully wrap that that one up. Um, >> we did the nurses. >> Was that mediation or >> Not yet. Still trying to get their proposals. >> You had my Yeah, not yet. Okay, good. >> Um, okay. Building committee, uh, no new updates. The last meeting was cancelled and it is tomorrow. So, next meeting I should have some updates for you. Uh, CIP, >> uh, no report. >> Okay, correct. >> Not until next year. >> SEF, nothing new to report. Nothing. All right. Do you have the date for the annual meeting? >> I think I reported that in the last meeting. I don't have that. >> Okay. >> Handily available. Some point July. >> Okay. So,
082on to the advanced calendar. Uh the first one's a big one. Wednesday, we have graduation day. Uh 6 o'clock on the turf. >> And how many of us will be here? >> Hopefully, >> uh I will be there. >> I will be there. >> Two, three, four, five, six. All right, JT. >> JT. All right, six of us. So, >> that'll be good. >> Um, should be a nice night. They dropped the temperature down quite a bit, so I'm I'm happy about that. >> They changed the rain. [laughter] >> Be positive. We're positive. We're positive. Okay. All right. Then on the 16th, we have the eighth grade uh promotion ceremony. also on the turf at 9:00 a.m. Uh, I will be there for that as well. >> Yep. >> And Gina, >> there's nothing here
083for SCS. >> SCS. When is the >> is the last day of school? It's there. Fifth grade promotion. >> It's not there yet. >> Oh, fifth grade. Okay, I got you. >> The 16th also on the 16th. This is the great thing is you'll be able to go right from the turf [laughter] right down the street right over the town hall. >> I bet you there won't even be a line at 10 11 o'clock. You'll breeze right through. >> Give them your name, check the box, and then call it a day. >> 107 students. Usually both parents attend. >> Yeah. So I think it's a you're already out of work. Let's let's just >> we can't So at what point does >> the announcement have to be made if graduation is indoors? >> Um >>
084we're trying to be positive. >> I know. I'm just looking at the weather and it's rain noon time. Noon time on the >> noon time. >> Yep. Okay. >> Wednesday. Wednesday. >> Make a call at noon on Wednesday. All right. So, the budget referendum is the 16th. It's all day long. 6:00 am to 8:00 PM. Um, plenty of time to get over there. It's nice. It's air conditioned. You don't have to worry about sweating. So, friendly people there. Friendly people. So, you have people to talk to. It's a really enjoyable experience. Get over and vote. Um, all right. Right. So, the 17th we have the last day of school and that is the fifth grade uh SCES promotion ceremony on the turf. Um 9:30 a.m. And then we have the teachers last day. Okay. And
085then lastly, we have on the 4th of August, National Night Out, which is a free event, and that is presented by the Summer's Police and Preser Pre Prevention Services, and that's at Field Road, uh 5 to 7:30. So, sounds like a nice night there. Mark your calendars for that. Um, all right. So that brings us to audience to citizens staff and students. >> Hi Lisa Hin 43 Shady Lane. Um just want to say I don't have kids in Summers public schools. They're 25 and 22 and the next game starts in 12 minutes. But I'm staying because I feel so strongly about this uh situation with the budget. Um I think this is the definition of of the being required to keep making these reductions is the definition of being pennywise and pound foolish. Reductions now
086will almost certainly have knock-on effects shortterm and long term that will either require significantly more expensive remediations or result in declining education quality which affects the children in town, not mine. But I think we're supposed to care about the welfare of all children in our community and purely from self-interest. If the education quality in summers declines, so do all our property values. So it it's just staggering foolishness to me to be making these cuts. Um I think one part of the problem is u misinformation and lack of information. Uh astonishingly poor communication to voters. Um, if people went to the town website for a clear and comprehensive explainer with maybe an FAQ section, something along the lines of shorter documents that I have made in the past, they would not find it because it doesn't
087exist. It should be the first banner headline on the town website on the I don't know if the board of ed can put it on theirs. It should be the first banner headline. Tap a URL link and it takes you to the clear accurate explainer. Not doesn't even have to be advocacyoriented. Just the facts. It's not available. the percentage of citizens who attend meetings of any of the boards in this town. I'm the nag pain in the ass who does. I'm alone a lot of the time. Uh or even at least watch them on YouTube to listen and ask questions is infinitesimally small. We don't have a newspaper. I highly doubt anyone has gone into town hall to seek information from, for example, CFO Brian Whissinger. I have He's giving me more information tomorrow. All
088of these facts, as well as people's attenuated attention spans, reliance on social media for important information, and atrophied discernment as to trusted sources, and critical thinking and analysis skills make the job of clearly communicating the truth to voters overwhelmingly difficult. Um, I I I don't know what the answer is, but um at this point I think I'm correct that the budget is neither level service nor level funded. Um and I know that Connecticut has a minim minimum budget requirement statute. Um so we can't keep cutting or we lose ECS funding. Um, you mentioned that this is the third reduction. So, I'm curious if what is the total dollar value of all three if you uh I can get that. Okay, thank you. Um, would the board or superintendent Galloway please explain in detail the comm's
089strategy and the tactics regarding the budget including are you, the board, the superintendent, school staff, administrators permitted to email or text? Are do you have restrictions as to the content advocacy versus neutrality? Um what what are the restrictions you're facing and in light of those what efforts you're making to educate the public? >> I can talk about the con constraints. So I cannot directly advocate for our budget using school messenger, emails, school newsletters. I cannot and that is based on the guidance of our board attorney >> and staff >> if they are private citizens if their advocacy goes in that direction but they cannot advocate >> they can't use their school email. >> That is correct. differentiator is public funds, right? So, if they use their school email or school messenger or anything like that,
090then they can't do >> as private citizens, they can advocate. >> Um, and to that end, we've all been out messaging my neighbors are going to egg my house. All I do is >> I I've sent out messages. I did a a video that we put on on Facebook. Um, >> I was forwarded. >> Yeah. So, it's I we obviously share in the frustration and and I was under the impression there was going to be a a splash page on the website which was going to have all the information in it. It hasn't happened yet. Um >> I think they're waiting for this meeting before >> and I because they need our our official >> Okay. They didn't have our detail. >> Yeah. Yeah. That's right. >> Um I feel like at this point because
091of all the factors I listed, all the hindrances to making voters informed. Um, I wish that before June 16th, there could be a kind of super meeting in the largest venue in town where all the members of all the boards as well as the superintendent are there on the stage. There are slideshows that depict timelines, trends, data, tax history and calculations, mill rate trends, comparative pay rates for our town employees versus other comparable towns. All of the information that I have created in the past, I could do the slideshow. Um, just a townwide conversation type of thing in a large venue, which by the mere fact of it being in a large venue might make more people think, oh, this is important and it looks like they expect a lot of people so maybe I
092should go. I don't know if this is permissible by the town charter. I don't see why it wouldn't be. I I feel like a meeting with all the boards and superintendent Galloway and you know signs and we're just we're heading in the wrong direction and >> I'm I'm open to try anything. We don't have to act like this is an emergency. >> Um, just to answer your question regarding the three cuts that the board has made since its original um approved proposal to the board of finance is 894,64. Um, I'm curious regarding the line item cuts. I heard various maintenance projects. I'm wondering if you insight with maintenance professionals here whether I know you're trying to mitigate harm in all ways is this something that well we we cut doing this now and then you
093know two years from now it becomes a a 10x more expensive fix >> so maintenance tends to be one of those areas that >> like no but um if there is an emergency and I have to repair something I have to repair it just impacts something else in the budget. >> Um we we have been allocated uh what's called drip funds which is essentially it's called a district repair and improvement um funding source from the state. It's to be treated similar to LOI. We've used quite a bit of it this year to make maintenance repairs that we've needed to make over this year. Uh a hydro coil up at the high school broke and so we had to repair that and replace it. Some fittings over at the elementary school, things like that. We have
094use that funding. I do have a little bit of leftover funding that will carry over. Um, so we will use that first. I I so appreciate all of the work that especially you and Dr. Galloway and the teams making these thoughtful cuts, but you know, I feel like I'm trying to be diplomatic, but people want they want to just say no here in town. They can't say no to the inflation and high gas prices and everything that you know our federal government is inflicting upon us. But here in town they they they have a voice and they can vote no. And uh it's it's it's a stunningly childlike ignoring ignoring of the fact that if if you're paying more for things in your household budget, and we know we all are, do you not think
095the board of selectman town budget and the board of ed budget every year h needs slightly more money? It's just willful ignorance and magical thinking and I'll be quiet now. I appreciate all you're doing >> and I want you to know we don't consider doing that. >> But I we I think I agree with you. >> I advocate for this, you know, and I go to the meetings and you know I I have great sympathy for especially my fellow fellow now and elderly community members who are on fixed incomes and uh I went on a fixed income at the age of 41 when my husband died and um I understand but uh you know choices have to be made and we have to choose for not just our own household well-being but the well-being of
096our community and also if you just want to choose on your well beinging Again, quality of school is one of the biggest determinants of your property value. So, >> thanks. >> Anybody else? >> Okay. So, at this time, we'll need a motion to enter executive session at 8:29 and invite Dr. Galloway in to discuss the nonus and staff wage adjustments and the superintendent evaluation. >> So moved >> Jana second Shane. All those in favor. >> Okay. That is unanimous. Okay. Thank you everybody. >> Thank you.