001No. >> Good to go. >> Okay. Good evening everybody here and everybody watching at home. I'd like to welcome everyone to the February 25th edition of the summer's board of education meeting. I now call the meeting to order at >> o six o'clock. Let's rise for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Great. >> Okay. So, first off, we'll need a motion to approve the minutes of the February 18th meeting. Um, any discussion on the minutes? No. Okay. So, motion to approve. Kim second. >> A second. >> Gina. All those in favor? >> JT wasn't here. So, >> and I'm okay. So, we have three yeses and two abstensions.
002>> That pass. Um, okay. Dr. Galloway with the superintendent report. Thank you and good evening. Tonight we have several updates. We're going to hear from our student reps. We're going to hear from Principal Martell who will talk about the MBA schedule. Miss Jen Meyers is going to talk about her proposed trip to Quebec. And switching gears, as it stands right now, our last day of school is June 16th. We've had four snow days so far. Uh, also, we posted the answers to budget questions that came up last week. If you check our website under the business department section, budget documents 2627, you'll find the answers to all of the questions that were raised right there. And lastly, on March 10th, uh I will be presenting the board's budget to the board of finance at town
003hall 7 p.m. That concludes my remarks and I'm excited to hear from our students. Great. >> All right. >> Thank you, Dr. Galloway. >> Now for my favorite part of the meeting. >> Now, do you understand why my blood pressure went away? Oh gosh, guys. I'm stressed out. Okay. I had a very rough day today and part of it is because of you guys. So, >> Whoa, whoa, whoa. >> Us. >> Yeah, you guys. Okay. >> All right. Give us the good news. Give us the good news. >> No, you have to hear about my day first. Okay. So, this morning I had to wake up early cuz it was Ramadan and I was already late. I thought we had a delay, but like we didn't. And I'm coming into school and I tripped in
004front of everyone. Not even trip. I fell on my back. It was so embarrassing. And right behind me were all the guys. And yeah, then I fell again cuz I was running to the office to complain. So great. Thank you very much for that. >> Are are you in the next drama production? >> That was a great audition. >> That does not. >> Okay. >> Sorry. >> Today is February 25th. >> Um so some recent activities since the last time we met um the new inductees got inducted at the ceremony on December 10th. We had a cultural cookie baking class in December 11th, like right before winter break, and it was really fun. And on January 7th, we had um multiple several different public health administrations come in and talk to students that might be
005interested in going that um field for future careers. And then on January 10th, Interact Club held a cannon bottle drive where we raised almost $300 for Interact. Um, in addition to uh January 13th, we had CAPS presentations which went very well. And then on the week of the 20th, we had midterms for us, which was a nice it was it was hard, but we got through it. >> And then and then we had the W uh sports management which the Yukon and the Yard goats sports managers came in and talked to students about what exactly they do. >> So WBL is workbased learning just >> okay and then Mr. Maluso's principles of law pass went to their prison field trip where they talked to incarcerated people and like just learn about the prison life and
006stuff. and then the AP art class when um they had a fundraiser for their their New York field trip um on the 10th and then we had the SAT academy which was actually really like useful so I don't know why I said it like that on the 14th that was the first one and then the all state music convention which is like a really big deal because we had a band student get in Jason de Cruz and that normally like never happens and then we had four chorus people get in very did that. Um, and here are a lot of pictures from um the cultural baking class. And this is a picture of all the different types of cookies we baked because each like session we had, we did a different um cookie recipe from
007different cultures. I had like nine of those that was threw up in the Mexican cookies were really good. I had three of those. That was not smart. And then the capstones. The really cool thing about that was everyone kind of dressed up to go with their board. Like she had purple on to go with the domestic abuse. And >> it was a really cool night. And then here's a sing. Oh, sorry. And then here's um so here's some sports highlights. So winter sports season started and um the girls and boys basketball have their first playoff game today. The boys games, I think, is starting soon um over at the high school. And the girls are away at Ellington. And I think they're doing pretty okay this season. And um their conference and state tournaments start
008this weekend, the following week. >> Um indoor track had ended their season just two weeks ago with the states and conference. And then girls hockey is also playing tonight to for the um states >> and boys hockey is also playing tonight. So they have a lot of games going on and the wrestling team is done. They had their senior night on the 31st. Oh 21st. >> Yeah, this is them at senior night and they did a really good job. >> And this is the Indoch team. >> Um so some more sports highlights. Um fall sports ended so they had their all state Um, here's Laya Manel. She made all state for field hockey and she took a picture with coach Povski. And then that's McKenzie. She made all state for girls soccer. >> And then
009Harrison, of course, he won his 100th career match in wrestling. >> Okay. And Molly Tab got into Western New England for lacrosse. And Danella Powski also got into Worester State University also for lacrosse. And Madison Noski also got she got into University of New England lacrosse too. Mascowski committed to UMass well for D1 lacrosse. And then Ben Medric got committed to Enikott for soccer and Kellski committed to Roger Williams for lacrosse. >> And then Gian Bakabach uh committed to University of Hartford for soccer and then Nate Poyer committed to Illinois Tech for lacrosse. >> And here are some pictures from signing day. Um, the boys I think are going to have their signing day in the spring, at least what I've heard. But here are some pictures of the girls from their signing day. >>
010Okay. And then we have a lot of upcoming activities. Start off. >> Um, playoffs for the boys and girls basketball team start. Um, SAT Academy is happening pretty much every weekend, which helps us, you know, SAT is coming up in March. dry town pink out game happened and then musical is coming up as well. >> Please come. >> Um and then in two weeks um the Yukon EC history class is going on their DC field trip and we're really excited for that. Spring sports begin sometime in late March and um the NHS is holding their annual blood drive on the 27th. And then um when we talked about recently their senior val um Valentine's paint night, they're raising money for their um AP art New York trip. And we have another SAT Academy that'll be
011the third one on the um 28th. And we have the BC2M um New York City Summit that's happen on the 28th as well. And we have SA SAT day the 31st. We're very excited for that. And trade fair is going to be on April 2nd. I think this is our second time having that. That was a lot of like it was a big hit last year. I'm happy about that. And then the Spain field trip is happening um on the 2nd of April to the 11th. And then we have a chemistry trip to the Yukon Labs on the 3rd of April. >> Okay, that's it. We've been pretty busy. So >> there is a lot happening. So I ask this question every time and aside from providing better traction um how how can we be
012helpful to you as a board? >> You want to start this? Okay, we have to go back to this very important day. Yes, we mentioned, okay, last time we mentioned the fact that we wanted like something more cultural so people are more aware of like other people and like just a diversity because we're not too big on that here like spies. But Dr. Meenberg so kindly hosted a cookie baking day which we got to learn about different cultures and just like what they had and different cookies and life which is really cool >> and we got to use the food service for >> kind of brought like together our two things and pe so many people signed up for food service even this year we have 71 kids signed up one kid next year for
013like it's only open to two grades there's 66 people in our graduating class so >> just put that into a lot of people and we're really hoping while you guys figure out the budget and everything like that that you consider like adding a free service room and it doesn't even have to be a full-time teacher. We can have a halftime teacher anything to just like protect this program and just help us out. >> Yeah. Now, this was a a cool thing. Is that something you could do with other foods or or >> Yeah, that's going to be my capstone actually. >> Is it? >> Yeah. I'm going to um do different types of food. I just learned how to make butter chicken. Jessica's dad, they own China City. He's going to teach me some recipes
014and hopefully I can have like parents and kids come in and just learn how to like make different types of food. >> That's cool. >> Yeah. And then our second thing um because we always have a second one. This one kind of goes towards you guys too. So recently in our school there's been a lot of talk about like advisories and like making them more team based and just like bonding sessions. And I know somewhere in middle school people just start to like pull apart and kind of lose like just like our school. >> Yeah. So we were wondering if maybe like once a month or maybe every two months we have some type of team based like building activate advisories maybe just to implement it like talk about it amongst each other because I
015think it'd be very helpful in the high school to just like reduce the amount of clicks we have like I personally feel like it'd be very helpful to start off like when they're really young so many times but when they're young and see how it goes. >> Those are two things >> like something kind of random where you just get put in a room together or Well, they're already >> Okay, Miss Martell, this is your great idea. I have like a great line, but there was some time in seventh grade when you had us do these like markers. We had if everyone had a string, you had to meet up with someone in your advisory that you didn't really talk to and you had to like draw out certain words using it. It took a
016lot of communication and you were forced to step out and learn about your other classmates. It was a good way to just like know the people you were always with. >> Stand up. making blankets. >> That was really cool. And the other one you did. >> Yeah. I like >> any other questions. >> Sounds good. >> All right. So, tell me more about the footwear situation this morning. >> I like these on, too. >> Let me see the souls. >> Yeah. And so many people felt I wasn't the only one. Actually, she got an earful because I felt right. I sure did. >> Well, we can work on that next time. >> Well, thank you guys very much for coming. >> Thank you for coming. >> All right, >> Stephanie with our monthly budget report.
017>> It'll be quick since we're already through the next month already. Dr. Renberg, >> thanks. >> Okay. So, in your packet, you have the January report, and at the next meeting, I'll have your February report already, so you won't have to even wait a whole entire month for your next one. Um just notable changes that I wanted to talk about in the February report is um the health insurance changed drastically and that's because we're at the six-month point really in January and I made all the adjustments from people coming on and off the insurance or making changes from dual to family or single to dual if they got married over the summer. Um, so I just I wait until um six months to kind of update that just because of the number of changes that
018do typically happen. Um, especially when spouses have open enrollment in October. Sometimes decisions are made um in October. So, uh, that line has changed. And then, uh, the special ed tuition line changed. That actually went down. We had a student, an outplayed student that withdrew. Um so we are not responsible for that tuition any longer. So um that helped our bottom line. And then um the transportation regular ed transportation there was a significant increase and that is due to um we have a couple McKini Vento which is homeless um transportation needs. um some families that have either moved into Summers and we share that transportation cost with the receiving district um or families that were Summers residents that moved to other towns and they're coming back into Summers to finish their school year and we'll
019share the transportation um with those towns where they're where they are living. So those were the biggest changes that happened in January. Um and then we'll talk about February and March. You have any questions? I didn't answer that. >> Any questions? >> Pretty straightforward. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> Okay, Mrs. Martell. >> I am not nearly as entertaining as Aza is, but I'll do my best. >> So, Mrs. Martell is here to discuss the the schedule change at the middle school. So, >> yeah. So, >> everyone at home knows. Thank you very much for uh inviting me in to talk about this. I want you to know that making a change to a master schedule is not a decision that has come by lightly. Um and so I'm not a big proponent of
020creating solutions for problems that don't exist. Uh but we did have a problem and we needed to find a solution for it. um and the the schedule that we have moving forward for next year solves that problem and also offers some additional opportunities for our students. So the primary driver for the schedule change is looking at instructional time and in increasing that instructional time. Um I think that there are uh spaces in our current schedule that uh lack the structure and learning engagement that we're looking for our students to have. So we wanted to make sure that we kept that increased instructional time as one of our priorities. But then we actually had a very specific challenge that we needed to meet up meet with a solution. Um, I'm a member of the math leadership
021team and I often find myself at those meetings in a very uh much so a listening stature where I'm listening to the work that the math teachers are doing uh in a very collaborative effort under great leadership from the instructional leader as well as the director of curriculum. Um, I also have the opportunity to participate and find out ways that uh the administrators can help support teachers uh especially as they're implementing a new program. The Eureka Math Squared program is something that we've invested a tremendous amount of professional development time in um as it is a very worthy program for our students ensuring that the math standards are met and the rigor is of high value to our students as well. However, at the middle school level, the lessons require 45 minutes of direct instruction.
022Our current schedule has 43 minutes of direct instruction. I need to be clear that that's for the 6 through 8 uh Eureka Squared math program. The elementary program requires an hour for each lesson, but the middle school level program requires 45 minutes. We have 43 minute periods. And by the way, kids have to go to the bathroom, and it's good for them to have a good connection with their teachers. So we are short on time. I think our teachers along with the leadership from the STEM instructional leader have done a great job with the time that they have. But we need a long-term solution because we are committed to this program long term. So in looking at that, we also wanted to consider what are some of the related opportunities that can come as we
023open up the schedule. When we think about increased instructional time, what additional opportunities can we find for our students? One of them was looking at our music program. Currently at the middle school, we only offer music for band students and chorus students. And yet, there are so many other people who would benefit from more exposure to music. And so, there's an opportunity for us to broaden uh student exposure to the music program through a general music class. We wanted to offer additional course offerings that expose students to a level of um depth in an area that might meet their needs. And so when we looked at additional course offerings, we wanted to make sure that we had a level of diversity. So you can see that I have technology, math, literacy, and music listed. And
024I'll speak about that a little bit more as we get into the details of the schedule. We wanted to look at study halls. And when you do kind of a deep dive into what study halls look like at MBA right now, I'll show you on the next slide. How much time is actually given to unstructured study hall time and that became a concern. It actually was a concern Dr. Galloway had brought up u and something that he's asked me to keep a careful look on. And so this again became an opportunity for us to begin to address that loss of instructional time that was happening in the middle school. We also have the opportunity to have uh additional departmental collaboration time. This is time that is uh available to teachers to meet with their colleagues
025in the same department. So our language arts teachers meet together, our math teachers meet together, science and so forth. It's a great chance for them to talk about curriculum alignment. It's a great opportunity for them to analyze data. It also is a wonderful opportunity for them to meet with either the humanities instructional leader or the STEM instructional leader uh to make sure that they are getting support and collaboration uh for their instructional practices along the way. We've been able to to really build that time uh but right now it only happens one time out of every six days. It would be able to happen more frequently through this schedule. >> How many minutes once every six days >> currently? 43. >> 43. Oh, so it's I got it in one block. Correct. >> So when
026you look at the current study hall impact, and this is what I think really means something here. Um, I want to focus on the majority of our sixth grade students. The majority of our students don't participate in band or chorus and the majority of our students do not require intervention or service needs. So when we look at that, the majority of our sixth grade students receive 387 minutes of study hall over six days, which is almost six and a half hours in a six day cycle. That is ex an excessive amount of time that could be better spent in an engaging curriculum class that reinforces the standards that we are responsible for for our students learning. If you are a student in seventh and eighth grade with no band, chorus or intervention, you are having
027258 minutes of study hall time over a six- day cycle. You can see that the study hall minutes begin to reduce as students pick up services or they engage with other academic courses such as music. And so you can see that it reduces. Yes, there are some students who do not have any study halls in their schedule and that's understandable because they're receiving the services that they have. Those services are still going to be available to them in the schedule that we have. Um, but we don't have to look at study hall as the only other option if you're not in an intervention course or a music class. So, that is a driving factor for us that became an additional opportunity when we looked at changing the master schedule. So the general concepts of the
028schedule change currently we have an eight period day with 43 minute periods. >> Next year we will have a seven period day with 50 minutes. I know it doesn't sound like a lot but it's a lot. Seven minutes of instructional time for 180 days. It certainly adds up and it also meets the need of the Eureka Math Squared program. So, while the teachers are doing a great job, we actually might allow the kids to breathe while they're in math class um taking the course courses that they need to >> in order to make a seven period day, we are looking to remove the double block of language arts. And I want to speak to a couple of the questions that um I know came up at the last board meeting. Um, so when we remove
029the double block of language arts, we actually align ourselves a little bit more closely with surrounding districts uh who offer between 45 minutes and 50 minutes of language arts instruction. I know that there was concern around uh how the literacy needs would be met for our students specifically in reading and writing. And what I think is really important is for years now literacy across the curriculum standards have been required of schools. And so we've spent some time unpacking standards this year across all curricular areas even beyond what those uh standards require uh because we believe that literacy is important in every field. So even our art teacher has taken that into consideration. When a student is doing an art critique or reading about an artist, they are also exposed to reading and writing standards along
030the way. Um, I know that we have talked about uh what level of support our teachers will have as they continue to implement these standards. Uh, and we certainly have the humanities instructional coach, the STEM instructional coach, but we also have our reading interventionist. Currently, our reading interventionist has done a great job meeting with grade level teams, which includes all curricular areas to give them reading strategies that students are being taught and um are being reinforced in the classrooms. So, we're looking for that o those opportunities to continue. But I want to be clear again, this is not something that is new. This is something that has these standards have been in place for a number of years. And so writing and reading opportunities in all content areas have been available. When we talk about
031the additional course offerings that uh we have available now to students in this new schedule, we are also looking at a three-day rotation. So during one period of each day, a student will either have PE elective choice one or elective choice two. Um and those classes will rotate through the year. For a student who requires intervention or other service needs, it would be PE plus those service needs. And certainly, there are different models. I've been working closely with our special education department with different models of how we can ensure that students have their needs met as the priority before we hit elective courses. As far as the scheduling concept, lunch is a rather important uh aspect of the day, especially in middle school. I don't know how the cafeteria stays stocked with food quite honestly.
032Um but we are going to continue with the same concept. So right now we have 30 minute lunches that actually are between periods. A lot of schools have adopted a practice of having one long block. That is something that MBA used to do. You have one long block and you fit three different lunch waves inside it. Unfortunately, it causes for inequitable instructional time because that is that block even with lunch is longer than what all the other periods would be. By putting lunch waves between periods, we're able to keep the equity between the blocks, which also helps to maximize that instructional time. So, the schedule will look like this. We do have three different schedules. Each grade level has a slightly different schedule because their lunches are still based on grade level lunches between periods.
033I know 10:18 looks like a very early lunch start, but let's not forget some kids rush through breakfast, don't get as much of a breakfast as they would like, and by 10:15 they're getting hungry. Uh we're seeing kids come down looking for snacks. We um you know, sometimes we have to say, "We're we're all out of snacks. Here's a mint." and they are quite happy with a mint. Uh but 10:18 seems like a very good time for us to begin renourishing our students to make an effective second half of the day. Also, if I moved the sixth grade lunch any later, my eighth grade lunch would also be moved later and the earliest I would be able to have the eighth grade lunches around 1:00. That is not as um beneficial as having a 1018
034lunch. >> So, this is what our schedule would look like. other implications. So, very similar to what the high school experiences, the high school has many more elective opportunities for students than what the middle school would be able to offer. Um, but we will have course registration happen through the power school student portal. Um, in the past, I have sent out a Google form that basically tells me, would you like to take music? Well, now we have a lot more questions that we would like to ask people as they select their preferences for their elective courses. Uh, and so completing the course registration through the power school portal will prepare them for high school because that's the process that they use there, but it'll streamline our productivity uh with this process as well. I do
035have a website that is ready to be pushed out to families that have all of the directions. It has the possible additional course offering descriptions so parents can click on it and get more information about each of the courses um as well as all of the directions that they need in order to register online. So I really appreciate uh Jess Wood's help in creating that along with the teachers and the coaches for their help with the course descriptions along the way. Students and families will rank their preferences for additional courses. But it needs to be known that I cannot guarantee the first choice. Um that's again something that we have to get used to. It happens in high school. It happens in college. You don't always get your first choice. We like to ask what
036it is so that we can do our best to meet those needs. And then as I noted already, services for students who need support for accessing the core curriculum at the school. that takes priority over the additional course offerings. So, all students will have their IEP 504 and intervention needs met. So, the two new courses that the board is going to be considering this evening um are creative literacy and general music. Um again, I think that these are two courses that offer great opportunity to our students in a diversified fashion. um they are uh they were uh shared with the curriculum subcommittee back in January where we had unanimous support at that time. Um and I'm looking forward to um hearing the discourse from the board this evening as well. So when you add those
037two proposed courses in total these are the additional offerings that we have and again I I keep talking about a variety of courses. We have technology, digital literacy, which was approved last year and meets a state requirement. Uh we have the creative literacy course which focuses more on reading and writing that is proposed for your consideration this evening. We have the applied math class which focuses on mathematics and problem solving in a real world math environment. We also are proposing the general music class which expands the arts access for our students. And then we have advanced band, beginner band, advanced chorus, and beginner chorus. And for the band classes, if you have room in your schedule to have lessons, those will also be embedded in the schedule as your second elective choice. The courses will
038fall opposite of intervention, resource, and PE classes. So we do have a clear understanding of how those courses fit into our master schedule as well. While we look to meet all of our students needs, so that is the bridged version of the master schedule, but I'm happy to answer any questions. >> Just Yeah, I thank you for this. This was really helpful. Could you go back to the other the slide you were just on? >> Yes. >> So, um people will have to select two of these. Is that what you're saying? >> People will give me three preferences >> and you get one or you get two. >> You potentially the maximum you'll get is two. depends on if you have inter if you have other things like if you're the student who doesn't have
039any intervention or any of that then you'd get two >> so will applied math still be kind of invite only based on performance >> no we similar to what happens with the AP classes students who want to challenge themselves in that way it's a good opport digital you could I forgot about the digital literacy when we talked about this >> digital literacy is going to be required of all students one time in their three-year experience and that's a full year course. >> It's a 60-day course because it runs one day out of every >> three. Oh, I know what you're saying. >> So, through the three years, they'll have to rotate through that once, >> correct? >> Okay. So, the ones that are the classes that we talked about I'm sorry. >> No, go ahead.
040I'm just talking >> the classes that we talked about like so for music you talked about like it would have like the different topics. So if they wanted to take it all three years, they would have that. Will like the creative literacy have that as well? That's correct. So it won't be the same thing. >> How is let's say everyone wants to sign up their first choice is creative literacy. How is it determined who gets in? Is there a >> So we likely would look at eighth grade first, okay, and do our best to meet those needs because the other students will have additional opportunities in future years to take that class. Um but again there are many different factors that come into creating the schedule. So when we look at all of the intervention
041needs there there are quite a few seats available in each of these classes. So when we look at the intervention needs the resource needs and all of the other options that students have created. Um it is my hope that everyone will get something that they wanted. >> Right. The those other classes the creative literacy those are the there's 25 seats per class. Well, there but there are multiple sections >> per grade level. >> There are multiple sections that the teacher teaches. So with each teacher teaches five sections and so there's a hybrid of that along the way. Now uh the general music class there are um six sections of that available. So remember it's rotating every three days. So while the teacher teaches one period that is three different sections within that period because it
042rotates through multiple grade level. You're correct. Okay. >> Okay. >> That was one of the original questions. First of all, I'd like to thank Dr. Galloway and um Principal Martell for answering the questions. I know I shot a lot of them out at you. This is very helpful and trying to wrap your head around that. So, I appreciate the time um for that. So, I guess my only other question, I had several um conversations um with parents who um this garnered attention from them watching the meeting. So the good news is people are watching screen readings. Um but so one of the concerns many of them were supportive of the additional classes but one question was is there any possibility of there being still an option of a study hall? So like if we think
043about like the student in the first scenario there where they don't get the other services. So now they would have two study halls with the new schedule they they would have two of those extra classes. And so would they be able to have one of those classes and a study hall? And their reasoning behind the question around that is many of our students are involved in afterchool activities and trying to fit everything in. Um there was a concern um in and the ones that approached me talking about is there any way to balance that at least for a year or so to see how it goes. >> Yeah, I think I'd actually heir on the other side of that. Um because I unfortunately I think having an alternative is too quick of an out. Um
044if if that makes any sense. I right now as it is there are times that we have students who are in a music class and they want to go into a study hall. They think it's more fun. They're with their friends. They're they're they don't have the pressure of the learning engagement that's happening in a classroom setting. And so I think if we started to open study halls um that there would be too much of a wave going in that direction. So I would rather present it here it is this is what our schedule is and move forward with this schedule rather than have any seats available in a study hall. I also think that we one of our jobs and what we state in our our mission for MBA is we are preparing students
045for high school and getting into the routine of time management of afterchool activities which will become heavier at the high school level. Um and managing some amount of homework is an important feat. Uh I I hear too often that students do not have homework that they're coming home with at uh MBA and we want to make sure that we are preparing them for the rigor of what the high school model will bring. >> I get that. But they do have study hall options at the high school. So I I guess I'm just looking at >> heavier rigor at the high school too. So >> right. Yeah. >> But just the bal that's all I just worry about some of the balance in regards to that. I hear what you're saying. Um, but if music was
046the third choice and that's the one they really didn't want and they're forced to go in that as we know some of our adolescent kids can be, are they really learning and taking away what we want to take from it, right? So, I guess I'm just thinking about that balance in there. >> Yeah, I appreciate that. I think that we're our plan is to move forward with the schedule at this time without study halls in it. >> How many have an ending statement with your questions? >> Um, you might have said this. How many know it's probably hard to say, but at the high school, how many study halls does the average kid get? Is there >> high school? >> Yeah. Is there daily study halls for everybody? >> So, it depends on what they
047take, right? like the more things that you're >> involved in. >> I know I can I can speak a little bit. I can't speak for every student. Obviously, the student's course load changes. I know that in uh the revised schedule that they have, they've worked to reduce study halls that students have. It's my understanding that a student cannot have more than one study hall at a time. But there are many students that don't have any study halls because similar to what you're seeing Gina but on the flip side if a student really wants to take digital photography and if there's period four students will operate. >> Yeah. >> So have an after school homework club actually Myers runs that. >> I I did bring that up. Yeah. >> Um but that's the conflict with the
048after school activities is just trying to fit it all in. >> Understood. just sharing. >> Yep. >> I guess I so I do have um so both my seventh and eighth grader have no study. They're not in music, but they are taking another math class and they do not have study hall this year. And um it's actually been fine. Um especially and just this is just my two children. Um we've had especially with eighth grade, there's been quite a bit more homework and She she has about an hour, hour and a half a night and it's really really preparing her for high school and she's like trying to get her head on her shoulders for that. Um and when we actually went and did the high school um rotation was last week the two weeks
049ago >> the 11th. >> Yes. Which was phenomenal. They did a great job. You know one person who did I think it was the he was the head of the business area. He was like whatever you do we have so many wonderful options. Do not take a study hall. you can figure you you can do this and I get the after school commitments. I do. Um >> J I'm with you. My eighth grader doesn't have one either. Yes. So I can hear you. >> And and I do think there is going to be a population where it is very helpful for them and maybe maybe there's >> I don't know. I don't know. >> Um I do think the library across the street now is awesome. The teen club >> um I see people there
050all the time. And the teen center has a at least >> over 150 kids >> has registered. Yes. And and any given day you're seeing 20 to 30 kids and I'm like an hour after school's out when I'm picking up. So they're they probably could have been gone too. So I do think there's a lot of options. Um, and I get the concern some parents are going to have, but I think a lot of parents, especially if we're letting them know in our flyer how many minutes of study hall your kids have at times, they're going to be like, "Yes, please put me in some of these other classes." I do. >> Thank you for that feedback. >> So, just one comment. So, the courses they will sign up for are all full year courses
051>> that meet once every three days, right? Correct. So just kind of not making this more complicated, but so supposing you've got some kids, they sign up for the fullear course, >> they get to the half year and they say, "Can I switch to a different one?" But we're not getting into semester signups, but >> So I'm actually going to change your scenario if that's okay. Um, my answer to that would be no, you're committed to the course. Um the the second scenario that I think is actually going to be more prevalent is for a student who enters into intervention and then exits intervention. Where do they go? Right? And so we've had discussions with the teachers who will be teaching these courses if they're approved um that they will have uh units that are
052able to be you can enter in at this time and it allows for that uh flexible movement from intervention which needs to happen because we hope that our intervention services last between 6 to 12 weeks um and then a student is moving out they've met their needs have been met and they're ready to re-engage at the curriculum level without that support. So we need to have a flexible construct for that and we have discussed that as a committee. >> So it wouldn't be cumulative information. They could come in on unit three and just pick up that unit. Great. >> Okay. >> Music. >> So the third year we talked about two of the option. Do you know what the third one's going to be? >> So we are looking at the first year being a
053music tech course with percussion. Then we are looking at a second year of guitar which builds off the ukulele experience at the elementary school. You're signing up to teach it. >> Um and the third year we're considering if we have the funding to do a piano uh lab. So we're looking at that as a possible option. Uh and that will be something that you know we have to start preparing for next year um just as an opportunity to get keyboards and placement for that. uh with some of the funding. So, we do have a budget for starting these classes uh that we had considered. Um there is um I presented to the superintendent and the business manager as well as all of the district leadership um where there's actually cost savings in this master schedule
054proposal while still supplying the needs that we have for new courses that come along. >> What is the fund for just for the pianos and the keyboards or >> it's in >> Oh, it's in there. >> The first Oh, yeah. I just read the guitar part. >> Well, the funding isn't in there for that. Just for the first >> The guitar has Yeah, we we have uh I believe we kept $12,000 >> uh uh for supplies for the music course over the next three years. >> Okay. >> Now, will the >> I read that it's just guitar, but >> sorry, >> that's >> our thinking initially um was that guitar would be this first year. However, out of respect for our music teachers, they need to refresh. uh on guitar. So I want to give
055them the time to do the professional development that they need. However, the music tech, they are ready to teach from day one. Um and I think that makes it a more um appropriate learning experience for our students while they're brushing up on their guitar instruction. Uh there also is a program that we have put forth, an application that we've put forth that works on Chromebooks, number one, and uh meets the privacy standards required by the state of Connecticut. So we've that out and we know that we have the budget to be able to do that within the proposal that we have. >> Um is there uh an opportunity or would there be an opportunity for students to give feedback on the courses? Um just listen I I'm I'm fully aware that some of the student
056feedback is more helpful than others feedback. >> Yes. Some of it you just go thanks for sharing. I get it. Um, but I'm just wondering in regards to that just to make sure we're hitting the points that keep them intrigued and interested. >> The engagement factor is important. We've got to appeal to our audience, right? So, I'm certainly not opposed to that. I think that's a great suggestion. >> And then the only other wonder with the work that Miss Ericson's doing with STEM at the elementary level >> and the work that Dr. Reenberg's doing introducing more of those electives, I wonder as we get going if there's more STEM opportunities to consider what the rotations do. Our technology ed class uh hits a lot of the focus robotics. Yes, that's where our STEM primary focus
057is. Yes. >> Digital literacy can mean a lot of different >> digital literacy is more computer-based taught by our library media specialist. So that's and so that's where um AI um research strategies out social media safety those types of things um uh will be reinforced. >> All right. >> So will they still have the tech you know the art tech? >> Yes. that rotation still >> they still okay correct >> so this is an additional >> right so all students will receive art teched and life skills as they currently do on a trimester rotation >> one point that I feel I need to make so art teched and life skills is on a trimester rotation so students have that course every day for one trimester I am not able to do that with these new
058additional course offerings because of PE >> I do not want to to trimester PE where you only have PE one trimester and students who don't have any physical activity outside of school then go most of the the year with no physical activity. So it's very important that we keep PE on a regular interval throughout the entire school year. >> And then when you talked about the opportunity to meet with the coach or the reading interventionist that's great phenomenal. Um, how frequently does that happen? Or will I like I know you said that they meet as a grade level team or their discipline team one time every six days, but the times to meet with those others. >> So grade level teams will um Mike, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's two times
059out of the six day cycle for grade level teams and four times out of the six day cycle for department teams. >> And do the reading interventionist or coach attend those meetings to help support them. >> Um, the reading interventionist is available if if the if the need arises, we make that available for the reading interventionist. The reading intervention is a part of the language arts team. The math interventionist is part of the team. >> No, I'm just thinking the science and social studies. >> We have also changed our afterchool model um this year. Our afterchool meeting model in the past had been business. Just let me share the next agenda worth of the activities that we're going to be doing over the next month. We've gotten rid of that. That can all be through
060bulletins and emails. So, we have a weekly bulletin that goes out with that administia information. All of our meetings, we have four meetings a month with our teachers. All of those meetings are professional development, curricular alignment, collaboration. Our faculty meeting on Monday is about unpacking students uh with our special ed teachers and grade level teams. So there's a huge level of collaboration >> multiple times per month getting it perfect. >> Yep. Thank you. >> Both during the school day and after. >> Thank you. >> Okay. You want to finish up and close? >> I sure do. >> All right, >> Margo. Great job. >> Thank you. That's very helpful. >> What I'm really happy to hear publicly um our leaders and teachers. You know, when I met Tim Posski, one of my challenges for him
061was I said I need 70 points on the SAT. It's almost the first or second meeting and and and I was pretty direct about that. >> He's up for the challenge, >> right? >> And you see evidence of SAT support on Saturdays and I believe it's been well attended, right? And and the kids are eating it up. The kids who were missing or kids who were working, right? And I've said it multiple times here. I said this district has yet to reach its ceiling. And this is these steps forward are our efforts to go from being a good school district to an exceptional school district. When I first met Marggo, my challen I was like, why are there study halls? And I've asked it every year. So I appreciate the time that it because it
062does take time. You just can't flip it, right? But it bugged me from almost the first week I was here when I was taking it in. via their study halls at the middle school level and that's another step forward. You know, I'm going to speak organizationally at the elementary school. So many good things are gone. There's now curriculum that is aligned. I can go in a second, third, fourth, fifth grade classroom and see the curriculum that you guys voted on and invested in. I can see the fidelity of instruction. I can see the external partners that we are partnering with to improve teacher practice because time is such a precious commodity and when teachers get together in those spaces they run strict protocols now it's a more colleial sharing of information and then we have
063an awesome invention convention we have coaches down there you know I'm I grab Tim and Caitlyn all the time like hey just come to the office they're working closely now with SCES and MBA to work on that fifth to sixth grade transition so we don't lose anything. The applied math class came about as hey where are these kids? We now have the ability through Looker Studio and and the different ways that we're looking at kids with how they're growing and developing to meet them where they are right now because they're going to pop at different times. So, you know, to your point, when we take feedback from students, we are establishing a culture of continuous improvement, which means we're always going to reflect on our practice. It's just part of the fabric that that's what
064we're driving at. And then lastly, you know, there are ELA leadership teams, there are math leadership teams. So, you have teachers who are meeting in a space. I have to say I'm really proud cuz I've been in the meetings of the discourse that comes out of there and the action steps that come out that I see in in the classroom buildings. So, you know, and also lastly, the high school's already moved to Wi-Fi block. So, that came from Jamie, Dr. Reenberg working with her staff right through making those changes all to improve the educational experiences on in every space. So, I know we're just talking about MBA, but I see it as this this larger picture that we've been driving at. You know, for Principal Musi, I said our third graders can hit a higher
065entry point. That's why they're taking assessments on Chromebooks. That's why they're learning how to type now. All of these things that we haven't done over time are starting to be put into place and will bear fruit very soon. So, I just wanted to commend you on that presentation, the transparency and board members, I thank you for the the probing questions um because I hope you know we we we write it down, we talk about it, and we try to action what is asked of us. So, thank you for that. >> Thank you. Okay, now is the opportunity to add or delete agenda items. Nothing. So, we'll move on to the consent agenda. So, we'll need a motion to approve the consent agenda. JT second and all those in favor. That is unanimous. Okay. Old business.
066Um, last week we we looked at the budget. So, did we have any questions about the budget before we >> No, they were all answered in the followup. So, >> the whole followup >> that was very helpful. Thank you. >> No, okay, great. So, then we'll meet need a motion to approve the proposed 2026 2027 budget. >> So moved, >> Gina. Second, JT. All those in favor? Unanimous. Okay, now to the first new course that was introduced, creative literacy. Did we have any questions while we have principal Martell here? >> Nope, she answered all nine. >> That went through the curriculum committee. >> Yes. >> Where we had alarm questions. >> Okay. So, we'll need a motion to approve the creative literacy course. All those in or I'm sorry, Kim. Second. I got so excited.
067Second. And all those in favor? Unanimous. Okay. So we will need a motion then to approve the general music course at MBA. Kim second JT. All those in favor unanimous again. Okay. New business. I'll ask Miss Meyers to come up and talk to us about the Quebec field trip. May I sit here? >> Of course. >> Um, I'm Jen Myers and um, it's really nice to see all of you. I've been teaching at the high school since 2018 and I thank you very much for this opportunity to propose uh, a trip this year to Quebec, Canada for all students of French. That would be French one, two, three, and four. This is the first time that we're extending the invitation to all levels of French, not just the upper class uh French levels because I
068really feel that um we need to spark the interest and a sort of new excitement uh in our uh students to take French. I think this would be a good way to um maybe boost enrollment in future years. So I came up with this um trip with the help of Jump Street Tours. Um, we have used them in the past at Summers High School. This, however, is my first time using them at Summers High School, but I've used them um in West Hartford when I took the kids to Canada um at the middle school. So, they're reputable. They have a 4.7 rating out of five stars. Um, I organized this trip with my contact Lydia Labrador and together we were able to broker a fun-filled yet educational agenda of activities um for three days. Um
069she also worked me with me on the pricing which has been an issue in the past and we're able to secure a price of $739 per student. Um that is if it's 34 students or under. If we reach 35 students, then the price will be reduced to $69 per student, which and I'm gonna go for the 35. Um, I decided to make it a Thursday, Friday, and Saturday trip. Um so that our students and our staff could have you know we do get back at 10 p.m. on Sunday evening or excuse me Saturday evening and that will give them a day of rest on Sunday to you know rest recuperate rejuvenate for Monday. Um okay does everyone have a copy of the package? Okay. Um, so like I said, we'll be leaving on Thursday, April
07023rd at 7:30 a.m., which is about the same time uh we start school. Um, we're going to we're on a a luxury um motor coach. We'll be making a few rest stops on the way. Um, it's about an eight hour trip. Uh, so we'll be arriving in Quebec City at about 4 pm and our tour guide, who will be a 24-hour tour guide who will be staying with us in the hotels and and whatnot, uh, he or she will meet us upon our arrival and basically never leave us. So, in case of an emergency, we'll have we'll be able to uh take immediate action because we'll have our tour guide, we'll have um our four staff members that are attending. That'll be myself, Chris Manini, uh Sarah Bura, and one of our administrators. Um okay,
071so day one, depart for Quebec City. Um Quebec has a few nicknames. They call it uh a little slice of Europe. So if I can't take them to France, I could take them to Quebec. It would be a lot less expensive. It's also called New France. And it's also a nickname for Quebec. Another nickname is Kbeck with a K, which was the Franco Alangquin name that was given to it when it was founded. Okay. So here we have the narrow cobblestone streets, Quebec. Um this is uh on the on the bottom there is uh a famous uh shopping district. It's called um Prit Shamplan which is named after the individual who discovered Quebec. Sammy will do shap. Um, excuse me. On day one, we'll be uh we'll be learning about the history of Quebec City.
072Um, we'll be going to La Plas Royale, which is exactly where Samuel Dur Champlan discovered Quebec. Um, and then we'll be doing some shop shopping at the Petite Champlan, which is a a shopping district again with the cobblestone streets. Uh we'll also be taking a ferry ride um across the um St. Lawrence Lawrence River and then we'll be um dining at one of the local restaurants in downtown Quebec and then um after that we'll be returning to the hotel. Day two is going to be um a tour of old Quebec City. We have here the Chateau Frontak which is surrounded by the St. Lawrence River. We have here also the Cabana Sutra or the Sugar Shack. We'll also be attending the Museum of Civil Civilization and the National Assembly. Um the highest waterfall in Canada
073is called um Lash Moni or the Moni Falls. And then we're going to um we're going to take a trip to the very famous uh R San Sanjong which is um a beautiful shopping uh street which which includes cafes, restaurants and shops. So there the students can um you know buy souvenirs, sample the Kqua cuisine, um you know practice their French skills with the locals, with the shopkeepers, with the restaurant, with each other. And we will be dining on day two at um like a seven since Kipek was discovered in the 17th century. We're going to be dining at uh a restaurant where it's like it's it's like a throwback to um the 17th century where um the cuisine is that which was enjoyed in 17th century. the attire, there's singing and dancing. It's really
074a beautiful time. Day three, um we're going to be leaving at about noon, but um the mornings start at about 8 and day three we're going to return to old KBEC. Um this is Martell Tower, which was um >> sorry. Well, it's it was their defense, you know, their military de defense. So, so it's if you are related, that's a good relation. Um, you know, of course, more souvenir shopping at Rous Sanjon and um I encourage the students to try the, you know, the the native Kibikqua poutine. And um here's a tque, which is, you know, another classic Kikiwa tradition. Um yeah, so we leave at about um noon time on on Saturday and um you know, we get on the chartered motor coach and we're back in summers at about 10 p.m. I I
075think this trip would be um good for the students because it aligns with our standards of you know speaking the target language, speaking French, practicing French um you know the the cultural immersion aspect and also inviting them to be global citizens. That's one of you know our goals inviting them to be global citizens to you know, expand their knowledge, their acceptance of other cultures, um, you know, to get out of summers and to discover other lands. And I really do think this would be, um, good for the students who are taking French or thinking about taking French because it makes taking French real and relevant to their young lives. you know, it gives them a purpose to take French because I can go to places like Canada and speak French where French is spoken as
076as a primary language. Um, they will have work to do while they're there. Um, I'll be giving them a packet, a checklist, giving them things that they must do and they have to check it as as they as they do them, which would include, you know, speaking French to um somebody that works in the restaurant, speaking French with Madame Myers, speaking French with the tour guide, speaking French with each other, uh ordering a Kebeekqua type of cuisine, you know, etc. So, there'll be a checklist. There'll be also activities of reflection where they reflect on the daily activities. Um and um there'll be journal journaling as well. Um I think that's important. It you know kind of brings back they reflect on their daily experiences uh you know in a new country that they've never been
077to most of them and where French is the predominant language. Oh yes I >> Sounds good. >> Okay ask me any questions because I wanted to remember everything but in case I didn't you can ask me. I I I'll do my best to answer any questions that you may have. I'm just wondering if there is a student who has a financial hardship, is there a scholarship so that they that wouldn't preclude them from going? >> Yes. Okay. I made sure. Yes. Um >> Thank you. >> Yes, there is one scholarship that will be awarded to a student and you know, believe me, I've that's always a concern of mine. Um, and that's what took me longer to organize this trip because I wanted to get it to be really reasonable this year. And she Livia
078Lavador worked with me. We worked for months on this and we finally got it to a price that I thought was reasonable, but I did ask her, "Okay, can you do any better?" And then she came out with the $69 if we get up to 35. And I said, "Okay, what can you do? Anything else?" And she said, "I'll give you a scholarship which would let one student go free if if we or if no student needs no one particular, we could use the scholarship to shave a little bit off everybody's price." >> Thank you. >> I think you put everything possible in this packet. So, um, >> I tried. >> Great. Great efforts. So my questions have all been answered in sense. >> Thank you. >> And I think it's great that you're opening
079it to all the French students. >> Yes. >> Great move. >> You might have answered this in the beginning. How many kids you think are in French one through four? Oh, currently I have slightly under 30 28 students, >> you know, and I'm trying to get those numbers high up up again because they've they've numbers have declined unfortunately >> across the entire one, two, three, and four. >> Well, I have a pretty thanks to homework club. Okay. I have a pretty good uh French one class because I would talk about French um at the MBA homework club that I supervise every week and I've done that for years. So, you know, the homework club OGs, you know, are in my French one class and and and also French two class. So, the French one and
080two classes are okay. I mean considering 10 10 kids okay each >> um French three dwindled because I don't know I don't know why no excuse I'm sorry not French three French three uh is about nine nine uh students this year French four dwindled because they were juniors and they had a lot of AP classes on their schedule and for that reason they had to drop French it was just too demanding So, um I I'm trying to bolster all levels of >> necessarily the sparks of interest. >> Yeah. Sure. This does it. >> So, they're looking forward to it. I told them, you know, it has to get has to get approved. You know, you're not going to pass out any papers yet until the board approves it. So, fingers crossed. >> They might be
081watching me right now. I don't know. >> I bet they are. I bet they are. >> Uh any other questions? >> No. Quebec's all good. >> Yeah. >> All right. Um, so we'll need a motion to approve the uh trip to Quebec. >> So moved. >> How do you say that in French? >> Voyage. Voya. Voyek. >> All right. >> I'll second. >> Okay. Second by Kim. All those in favor? >> All right. That's unanimous. Have a great time. Thank you so much. I appreciate your time. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay, we have a budget flyer in our red folders. Hopefully everyone's had a chance to look at it. So, we just need approval on this before we send it out to the public. We post it. >> Okay. So, good. We will
082need a motion to approve this flyer. >> Sam, do you want to point out the time? >> The special meeting, >> March 9th, 6:30. >> That usually takes place before before the actual board meeting. >> Historically, we've done 6 p.m., but we've always found that there's quite a bit of time in between the public hearing ending board meeting. So, we thought we'd move it to 6:30. Everybody was able to do >> much better. Okay. Great. >> All right. So, we have a motion to approve the flyer and second. Kim. All those in favor? Unanimous. Okay. Committee reports. Uh Ed is not here for curriculum. >> We were supposed to meet and we had to cancel it. So, we're working on a rescheduled date. >> Okay. >> For March. >> Great. Policy. So, we were supposed
083to meet on the 9th, but I think we're going to wait and see what happens, what curriculum does. So, we're we're on hold. >> We have two days. >> Kind of a chain reaction. >> The second or the ninth. So, as soon as people respond, we'll be able to confirm. >> It's like double. Um, all right. Planning and finance. >> We're on hold for now as well. >> Okay. Salary negotiations. We have our next meeting on the 16th at 5:00 to begin the uh custodial negotiations uh building committee. The application is out or in with the state for the HVAC. So, we're just waiting to hear back. The next meeting is on the 3 at 4 o'clock. >> Um >> are you guys still meeting every other week? >> Yeah. uh CIP. >> Uh next
084meeting is March 4th and I'll be attending that one. >> Okay. >> I know Sharon's not here for crack, but I did speak with her and she was able to attend a meeting and there are new resources that the open choice program is going to offer to districts for open choice students. >> So whenever she returns, she'll have more information on that. >> Okay. Okay. And Shane is not here for SEF. We have the advanced calendar. Uh we have the drama production of The Music Man coming up on the 6th and 7th at the high school auditorium 7:00 and then there's a double showing at 2 and 7 on the 7th. So plenty of opportunities to get out and see that. Um the PTO meeting on the 11th. We have the SHs trade fair that
085the the students discussed on the 2nd of April and that is 7:30 in the morning at the high school gym. Um and then we have the district-wide art show coming up on the 27th of April. And lastly, Capstone June 2nd, the uh spring version, which will be from 7:30 to 2. And I know at the elementary school, we also have the invention convention coming up. um >> over the next couple days. >> I know the snow day messed me up because I can't go. >> Yeah, over the next couple days. So, it's tomorrow and Monday now, >> right? >> Um >> with presentations for the for the the little ones. So, that should be exciting. >> Okay. Audience to citizens, staff, and students. Nothing. Okay. So, then we'll need a motion to adjurnn. Gina >>
086second JT all those in favor that also is unanimous okay we'll adjourn the meeting at 7:14 thank you everybody