001So, it's December 11th at 6:30 p.m. and I'd like to call the Stonington Board of Education regular meeting to order. And uh next item on our agenda is pledge allegiance. And I'll invite Bridget to lead us in pledge of allegiance. Next item on our agenda is election of board officers and we'll start with the uh chairman of the board. Are there any nominations for chairman? >> I'd like to nominate RA for chairman. Thank you Kevin. Are there any other nominations? Are there any other nominations? All those in favor of uh Baroo being the chairman of the board, please indicate by saying I. >> I. >> Thank you. >> Record reflect that it was uh six votes yes as unanimous. Uh next item on our agenda is a vote for secretary for the board. And just
002as a reminder, as the chair was elected as a Democrat, Secretary of the board must be from the opposite party or Republican or independent. Are there any nomination for secretary for the board? I'd like to nominate uh Kevin Agnello as secretary. Is there any other nomination? Are there any other nominations? Hearing none. All those favor of appointing Mr. Kevino as secretary of the board, please saying I I >> I thank you. Let the record reflect that was unanimous vote of present members. Six Y. Thank you for your uh for your votes. Um and we'll continue on with our uh communication and recognition. I'll turn it over to our superintendent schools. >> Thank you for um first of all I want to congratulate the newly elected members. Welcome Bri and if you're out there in TV
003land anywhere. Um, uh, congratulations. And to our reelected members, Kevin and Dan, welcome back for four more years of fun. Uh, moving on, we have several, uh, recognitions in our, uh, student athlete award uh, category, this from recognizing folks from this particular uh, fall season. The boys soccer team ECC division one tournament um, made it to the semi-finals and CIA class M state runner up. That was a very exciting game and it was a hard fight to the end. I was there. Um so well done uh Stonington Bears. Our field hockey team ECC tournament championship champions uh defeated East Lime. We always like to say it when we can uh defeat East Lime in anything. They also were CIA class S state um at the first round class S. Um and finally our girls swim
004team ECC division champions. Um they were second place in the ECC tournament. They finished in the CIA class doublel meet. So they well done. Um and I want to even say to our to our football team uh I although maybe the championship wasn't in your season this year, it is always so exciting to go to those Westerly Stonington Thanksgiving Day uh football games as part of our tradition and a long-standing rivalry and also tradition um that is unique across the country. So thank you so much for that. I'd also like to recognize our our new drama coach uh Maria Lad and her first performance that under her supervision puffs uh this this fall season. We want to thank her for taking over um that club and it's a it's a it's a big big set
005of shoes to fill and we're so happy that you have taken on that challenge. So, welcome. Uh we might not have beat Westerly in uh the Stonington Westerly football game, but we certainly uh outmaneuvered them in the Westerly credit union grant competition. Uh we had six awardees compared to there, too. So, I just thought I'd mention that to Mr. Garco across the way here. So, I'd like to recognize Lauren Mcugan from Stonington Middle School receiving $500 for Stories That Speak, Discovering Remarkable Lives. Timothy there at Stonington Middle School for um a Stonington STEM soldering station. Uh $500. Elaine Tamil, Stonington Middle School. I think she always applies and always wins these grants. I think this is her ninth. Literacy in motion building language. Um just under $500. Faith McDonald from West Fine Street Elementary School,
006one book, one school. Um Bill Harley, author visit. Um and also books to support that author visit, $500. Trisha Dilap Westine Street School um March Madness Stash on a coding challenge contest for $500. And then finally, we have somebody from the high school, Pat McCartney, um $492 to support a 91 uh 911 memorial and museum field trip. So, congratulations to all those awardes and thank you so much to Westerly Credit Union. We have a lot of exciting personnel changes here. I want to um thank first of all and recognize Lisa Babcock, our special education supervisors that's departing us for a teaching position in East Lime. She is a remarkable educator, has been an enormous made enormous contributions part of leadership team. Um I know Allison is going to miss her dearly. I want to just
007tell you that not only is she an amazing educator, but her real strength is making relationships um great relationships with families and uh that will be again another key position. to fill that won't be easy. And then of course it's uh no secret that Jem Mccertie is moving on for a bigger better uh career move here at Region 17 that serves Hatam and Killingworth. She's going to become an assistant superintendent and she thinks she works hard now. Wait till she figures out what that's going to be like. She'll be having Mr. Smith on speed dial. But she's been here in Stonington for 25 years as a classroom teacher, a counselor, and an administrator. almost half of that time has been at Beans Mill Elementary School. Um, which leads me to our next very exciting announcement
008that just went out today um to announce that Tom Bouquet, congratulations, will be the new principal at Beans Mill School. We had a wonderful uh committee. I'm going to look out at Ashley Tulle sat on that committee with us. It was uh we had 47 applicants for that and sat on that committee as well. Thank you. Um we had 47 applicants for that position. So it was well sought after. um several sitting principles uh and Tom Busuke blew the committee away. He just had a really relaxed conversational style. He has so many years of experience in the uh assistant uh principal role there as well as at the high school and the middle school and several administrative positions. He has that K12 perspective. Um and he is a beloved person by staff, families, and students
009at Deans Middle School. And I don't think Alicia Da realizes how quickly that transition is going to happen. But on the other side of uh winter break, he will be in that seat. And so uh protect me from Alicia Sweet Doll for taking him and moving him away from the high school. And then finally, I want to thank you um members of the board, faculty, staff, students, parents, and community members who have extended their congratulations and good wishes to me. Thank you out there online. Uh Megan, >> no I won't make you listen to my voice. >> And uh Katie, anything for you? >> All good. Thank you. Well, congratulations again. Uh we dearly miss you and we thank you for everything you did. But thank you for everything. Um next item on our agenda
010is Alicia already. See that? So we'll do the 20 20 26 2027 budget. Uh coming attractions. >> So this is this isn't delving into anything about the budget. Excuse me for sitting. I have a bump. So, um I just really wanted to go through the budget process. It's good for new board members. Um but it's also good because we do it once a year, right? So, it's good for sitting members um as well to just go through exactly how we um do the budget process and then throughout the year how we monitor things uh to make sure that we're staying within that budget. key participants in addition to the board event. Um I do a lot obviously of the gathering and compiling of information and then um we as a leadership team all meet together
011several several times. Um and the school principles and department heads fill out their own budgets and submit those requests and then we sit and talk about you know why why they are asking for what they're asking for so that we can advocate for it if it's determined to be necessary. the superintendent oversees it and approves it before it's submitted to the board of ed for permission, not permission, approval. Um, you should have in your packets the there's always a schedule every year of all the the dates that are coming up, meetings that are coming up. Uh, it's important for board of ed members to know when we're going to be asking them to vote on things. Um, Sorry to interrupt, but I'm getting feedback from some folks watching online that you're difficult to hear. So,
012can we either turn up the mic or can you speak more directly into the microphone, please? >> It may be that I'm not speaking right into it. >> Definitely not your bum foot, so don't blame it on that. >> Okay, hopefully that's better. So, the first thing that we do is really gathering information and we're looking at where is student enrollment going? Um, what developments in the town that we know about may be impacting student enrollment. Um, we're always looking at what programs are we do we have and what changes need to happen. Um, and then the facility needs, we actually, um, Steve, Chris, and I were at the capital improvement, uh, advisory committee meeting all afternoon yesterday. And so the whole town as a group goes through all of those requests. That's on your
013agenda tonight for I think just review, not approval. Uh, one of the other things that I'm always looking at is we have those entitlement grants, which means that we get them every year, no matter what, pretty much like our title one or IDEIDA grants. Um, but they're not always the same amounts. We typically do not know at this point in the year what next year will hold. Um, this year is particularly peculiar because of the federal grant situation. Um there were some concerns earlier this year that we wouldn't have access to that money for this year. Um and so almost all of that money is used to pay for salaries. And so what does that mean if we then don't get that money? And it's significant. You know, it would be several positions um and
014positions that are really really important to our students. Um Allison's office is looking at excess cost at this point in the year. So excess cost is based on our highest our students with the highest needs. Um they have to pass a threshold of expenses. Um so that can be tricky to um to budget. We do our best on that. Um and it's budgeted as an offset to expenses. So it's it's used that money comes in and it's used to reduce the amount spent on special education tuition and special education transportation. Um, I know people out there probably don't believe it, but we really are always thinking about what does this do to the mill rate. And, you know, we we don't want to go in any higher uh than we want to. We do uh
015care about the taxpayer and and our families that may be impacted by it in the end. Um, I was just working on this the staffing cost doing all the projections out until next year. Um, Steve will be working on or is working on utility costs, which I have to say should have gone up 25% this year. Instead, they're down 10%, which is really 35% decrease. Thank you, Steve. And all of the uh crazy good work he's doing. It's things like that that allow us to absorb some of those staffing costs and um the things that we can't get around u without coming in with a super high increase. Um, so I think we are the only one who wasn't here last year. So you'll see that there are three different iterations to the budget that
016we present. The first one is if we take everything and roll it forward, what is that number? And that's our maintain current services budget. Doesn't mean it's the exact same numbers as last year. It just means it's all the same programming plus any increases for the vendor increases that we know about. The next iteration is the improvement request and that is where everybody all of the department heads and principles have submitted their requests for things. Um and so what it would be with maintain current services plus those requests and you'll get a huge binder that has each of these sections um divvied out. So, and then the third version of the budget that the board of education receives is the superintendent's budget. And so, that's that's the one where we, you know, we've taken all
017of the things that the administrators want, probably cut back on some of them um so that we don't come in as high as we would otherwise. Um so, that's where we're kind of trying to figure out what can we do without to get these new things that are wanted. And then that's presented to the board of education. We get feedback. We make changes if necessary and then present it again. Um, you know, as we're going to as we're coming to you and then as we're going to community members in the board of finance, we we we try to be really transparent and make it so that people can see where the increases and decreases are. And we always want to convey the reasons for those and anticipate what questions are going to come. um so
018that we can also prepare the board of ed members with those answers. Um so this is a dashboard that you'll see. So each section of the budget is it's broken down by school or department and then at the beginning of each of them is a dashboard. It just this is one of those transparency pieces where it tracks everything that has happened between the different iterations. Um because the budget itself is I don't know 115 pages long or something. So it would be really difficult to identify what had changed. Um this is the the budget detail part. I understand you can't see those numbers. The point of this slide is just to show you it expl it describes what it is and then it gives I think four years of historical data um what the budget
019was and act what the actual expenses were. We already talked about this part a bit. I think, you know, one of the the biggest challenges that we that we all have um is getting information out there that's accurate that explains why we're requesting what we're requesting. Um I think another really important thing is for board of education members to be looking at those budget binders. a lot of time goes into them um to be looking at them and coming up with questions so that you know when community members ask you what what's going on, you've asked us and have the answers to do that. Um and just to be prepared so that when that budget meeting comes when you're supposed to vote, you've already asked us those questions. Um so that we're essentially not coming
020here on a night just to talk about the budget and then having nothing be able to happen. So u just important to look through them in advance. Uh we do a question and answer document for the budget book so that board of education members can submit questions and then that is public and it's also available to all of the board of ed members because typically we find that when one person has a question somebody else has the same question out there. uh the votes and but we'll keep reiterating this just so that the board of ed members know when to be really really prepared. Um I thought today was a SIP vote. It is not. Um so that will be next meeting I assume the January meeting. Uh and then February 5th and then after
021the board of finance meeting should we have to make reductions to our budget um we would need the board of education's input. Ongoing monitoring we do have we have implemented recently a lot of purchasing policies. Um there are layers to the request. For every purchase that comes in, the building administrator or department head approves them and then they come to me for approval and then they go to accounts payable before anything can go out. Um every every day I'm looking at some type of projection um be it substitute teachers and seeing what we've spent per payroll so far and what I think we'll spend for the rest of the year. um just so that making sure we're going to make it over that finish line at the end of the year. And then the law
022requires that we publish quarterly financial reports. And so you get your global monthly that just has what's been spent and what's encumbered. Um but it doesn't tell you what I'm saying will will be spent by the end of the year. And so that quarterly takes it a step further and provides that. And that is always on the board of eds website. Any questions? >> Does the board of ed votes on that? >> No, I think it's on the consent agenda. >> There's no vote, but um always happy to discuss it if there's something to discuss. I will note that that there is one on tonight's agenda. Um, this is very early and I, you know, I want everybody to understand that too. When I'm doing these quarterly reports, it's really early in the year. And
023the day after I hit the finalize button, Allison came to me with some concerns. And so, that number has already changed four days after I finalized it. So, just a word of caution. Don't get excited when you see that positive number at the bottom as a balance. >> Question. Most times So the board does vote on the consent agenda. >> Just keep voting as a board member. You are voting on those numbers. Just make sure you read them. >> You tricked me. That's just an attachment. >> That's just an attachment for your information and it'll also be in your budget binders, but it's just kind of a preview of so that everybody knows what what's >> coming up. Next item on the comments from citizens regarding items agree topic make sure that Sign up. We're
024going to get this type. First, I would just like to start um by saying that the end of October and the beginning of November came terrible, terrible notifications from the district. Um you know, I would definitely like to say thank you to Marian and Jen like knowing Jen, you know, for the past eight years while my son and daughter have gone through mill such a phenomenal person. I told her to as a comfortable sending your child to school every day. Knowing that the person in charge of that building is just so great and has a great team and has established such like a standard that everybody like to follows is just it's so comforting. It makes that transition from having your little child at home going to school so much easier. Um I'm very excited
025for Tom. I think he's going to do an amazing job. It's just such a awesome opportunity having had Tom there before. I think it's going to be a great dynamic with him and so I really look forward to that and great opportunity for Tom and I'm very happy for Jen just not happy she's leaving and same for Maryanne like the past few years like working with you and going through this process and all the ups and downs. It's been a pleasure and that's not something you can always say when dealing with the superintendent of school. So thank you. It has absolutely been a pleasure and I'm still happy with your um welcome to Bridget. Um you know, new face here, so have fun, especially coming up with budget season. Um and then kind of along
026that, I think that we really need to continue to make sure we try to engage parents in this process. I think last year we got a lot of parents involved and I would like to kind of keep going forward with that because I think the board of finance is such an obstacle for the board of education and the things we need for our students. So as maybe we can still continue to do some sort of moreformational sessions so that parents are more aware of what's going on if any hiccups are coming to be able to communicate that out so we can get parents on board because I think that a lot of parents have said to me I didn't I didn't understand. I didn't know the impact. I didn't know. You know, I went to
027board financing and I was shocked and I'm like, I know they're doing it. Like, so I think if we can kind of keep this and keep going forward with it, I think that um the administration has done a really good job recently and engaging the parents and providing the communication. I think going forward continuing to do that would be fantastic. Um and also including parents in communication through the next steps from when you know, middle of the school year, we have a lot of sh happening administration wise and things. You know, parents are, you know, it's always a nervous time. You know, trying to keep things the district running in the positive direction it's been going. Um, so just keeping parents like in the communicating, including us in these conversations, these processes because it's our
028kids who are in the buildings, our kids who are affected the most by everything. So to me, the parents are the biggest stakeholders. Um, our kids here. We're expecting them to come out of S public schools, great citizens, wonderful students, and um so I just ask that we continue. I think the board is a really great job past years of parent engagement, and I just want to continue to see that going forward. And then the personel report really like not see like the like the openings are dwindling and even the ones we had, they were already interviewing and filling. So I think if we can keep that a year ago, year and a half ago. It's just it's really good to know that staff is like in a really good position. So, I know that
029that was a tough place. But I will say in speaking to some of the faculty at the middle school, it's still it's still a struggle over there. Spacing constraints, I think that people still need to be in touch with like the building admin over there and kind of talking with them. a lot of frustrations from the staff and teachers and how uncomfortable things are and don't have the portables yet, but they're not even sure how much that's going to alleviate. Um, I know they're talking about like changes for scheduling, but just just because we have those. I don't want the middle schools issues to kind of be like, okay, we solved it. We put some portables in. It's good because I don't want it to be such an uncomfortable environment for staff and students there.
030I think we need to still, and I know we have the building committees and we're working on that, but I just want the door to close to what's going on there and to make sure that they feel heard because I don't want any frustration coming out. I don't want the staff to feel overwhelmed and frustrated by it. So, I think that the communication stays open and the checkins still happen from the board on what's going on, what are needs, like what can we do to help. I think that that would at least make them feel like they're heard and not just forgotten about because we finally got there. Thank you. Also like to recognize my fellow board member Zach joined us virtually. >> Yes, sorry for joining a little bit later. Ran into unexpected difficulties
031trying to get there in person and then some technical difficulties trying to hop on online. But very happy to be here, very happy to see all my fellow board members and welcome. having flashbacks with that uh echo. Uh hello uh for those who know me, I'm Bruce Jarno. Hold on. So I can get this better. Uh Bruce Jarno. I'm a teacher at Strington High School uh special education. I also the teachers uh union president live at 19 Clark Street in Westerley. Uh first of all, welcome all the new board members. Congratulations to Farooq and Kevin on the reelectment. Um I knew Tom was going for the position. I am very bummed he got it and I will miss him. I like working with him so I'm kind of disappointed that he got it but happy
032for him. Uh a request as you congratulations too on your retirement a request uh that administrators and teachers and parents etc are involved in the search committee for a new superintendent. Not sure what process that will take respect request that we are involved in the process. Uh and lastly, I'd like to remind everyone out there, uh Alicia mentioned it and you mentioned it as well, Ashley mentioned as well. Uh the board of finance, I was at the meeting on Tuesday. Uh what happened was of legal questionable, legally questionable, and went against the will of the Democratic Town Committee because they nominated a person who's not dem nominated by the Democratic town committee. It shows you I'll I'll stop there. I'll not smear anybody, but please students back there, you want to know where the real
033power is. Sometimes the talents people control the money and I recommend that anybody who's listening keep following the board of finance keep them on their toes. Thank you. Next item on our agenda is the board and subcommittee structure. I just wanted to kind of put it on our agenda to give a flavor of those committees to the board members. Hopefully, you'll be able to do the assignment based on your uh choices. I know some board members have emailed me which committees you would like to be on, but I wasn't able to have those conversations. I didn't want to have those conversations till we elect the officers tonight. Uh but we have the athletic committee, finance, policy, teaching and learning. Uh those are typically three or less board members. So, we would like to see um
034you know you ch one or two or three that would be the better because uh we in previous years we've also struggled in having three board members on some of these committees and if we don't have enough board members showing up we would have to cancel those committee meetings. So please indicate your uh if you would like to join any of those committees via email um and I'll discuss it among us ourselves and make sure that everybody's um wants and likes are fulfilled would like to stay on teaching and learning um but and I know shared with me other committees that you'd like to be on but please share share your likings uh the welcoming school committee Um I know it's been sometimes one, sometimes two board members on those committees, but those are fantastic
035and engaging. We get to see what happens in the schools regular basis get to engage with the families, new families, current families and students of those schools. like the learn board uh plays on the learn board uh board member that representing us currently is uh Katie got here and Katie would like to continue to serve in that capacity. If you anybody else would like to fight her for that position, let us know. Um legislative is currently open. Uh this is this would be the board member uh that would uh reach out to our local representatives and senators and engaged them in meaningful way so that uh we started this Sarah Baker legislative. She did a fantastic job in making sure that those senators and policy makers understand the burden that they put on uh public
036schools based on their decisions. for some even down in DC. So that's a that's a very engaging uh lesson on position. That's one one board member that would like to fill that position. Um Mr. Mystic River Park Committee um I've been serving on that committee for the past five years. Thought it was two months commitment. It's five years. Um but that committee is ending this June. So uh I'd like to meet for the months if you allow me. Um retirement board that you will partner with Felicia certainly representing the Stonington public school on the greater retirement board that has representative on the board of finance and the town as well. It's it's a very uh engaging conversation about the investments that happen in employees of the town. It's a it's a very powerful conversation. I
037I I did sit on that for a while and I really enjoyed that conversation there. And then we are looking for a board of finance lesson on the go is to uh improve our communication between us and the board of finance and have an open dialogue and hopefully uh be better collaborator so that can we can serve uh our kids and serve our community. So those are Um just uh you know email me your liking. I'll make sure you're you're taking you take that committee that you wish to serve on. Uh it's forunately part of the kick of being on the board of education is that you serve on these on some committees. Um athletic finance policy teaching of critical operation and that's where the that's where the the cooking happened. That's where everything you
038know in order for this agenda to this many policies to be voted on tonight. that comes from policy committee and that's has been a great fantastic uh committee one of the best committees working committees this year because produce so many policies and had to of course teaching and learning continues to be that's what we do but um K through 12 building committee um the board of education uh does have I'm sorry before I move to the next uh item on our agenda any questions on committees shoot me an email with what would you like and then we'll uh we'll communicate amongst ourselves and decide on those committees together um next is K through 12 building committee um so this is a board of education representative to the K through 12 and I wanted to be
039a among our because I wasn't sure of what the interest is like and I wanted to make sure that you if you like to serve on that committee that committee could be a long-term commitment like similar to rehearal house committee it's like five years so this could be a four five year committee it could be three year committee I'm not really sure so um anyone interested in serving on that committee >> I'm interested particular as someone who has a child who's going into middle school and I have sworn that I won't move till she's graduated from high school. So I'm gonna be here for however many years. >> So we have Megan is interested. Any other person interested Megan? Uh, all those in favor of appointing Bangan as the representative board of education on the
040K through 12 committee, please indicate by saying I. >> I. That was the I. Um, all right. Well, that was unanimous. Megan, congratulations. You're the board of education representative on the building committee. >> Thanks, y'all. >> All right. I'll turn it over to our superintendent to give us her report, but I thought it was >> We'll have to talk to Steve about this. >> Okay. Thanks, R. Um, I just wanted to give an update on the building projects and I know I I hear the frustration from the middle school staff and faculty. Um, and we share that frustration. I am happy to say that the contract has finally left from the hands of Shipment and Goodwin over to the vendor mobile. Uh so we we're hopeful that we can get that signed and and things
041moving along. However, that delay obviously is putting the del future delivery of those uh structures uh into the spring or summer. So we know we have to do something for that middle school and we want to thank the staff and faculty for their their creativity, their flexibility and their tolerance for what is really above and beyond a reasonable amount of time and students as well um for putting up with the that they've had to put up with. So, nobody's fault. Um the other piece and Steve's here if you have any other questions about these particular projects. We also this week um got the good news that the the second floor slab repair is ready to go out to bid. Um we're going to coordinate hopefully and work a little backwards so that the most impactful
042part of that project will be happening during spring break so that the children who are here having instruction won't be impacted and the staff who work here for our operational end of things will be minimally impacted. So hopefully that will be all ready and buttoned up for next school year. So when Allison tells us she needs $3 million to expand her her programming we can we can uh rearrange things here to accommodate that. So that's exciting news. And Thank you. You've been working months and months on this. Actually, since you arrived, you started this whole problem. So, um, so over a year now, you've been working on this in one way or another. A year and a half, one way or the other. Um, we want to thank you because it's, you know, it's always
043unpredictable and it's not easy work. Uh second of all on our agenda here we have the Maritime Study Collaborative which is I I'm so excited because it is just showing uh great promise and it's growing uh it's accelerating in in its progress more quickly than I had anticipated. Uh Tim and I yesterday met um thank you uh Meredith Kyle for an introduction to William Barber the chief of workforce development for General Electric and Electric Boat. We had coffee with him uh to tell him a little bit about the collaborative and the work that we've done so far with Mystic Seapport, Mystic Aquarium, including the latest grant application that went in under Mystic Aquarium and SE and Research Cent's signature with our letter of support for $25,000 um through the Connecticut Humanities Foundation in hopes that
044we will get that as a planning grant just to start to keep this work that is already underway going. And then we've been encouraged, should we get that award, to apply for a $35,000 implementation grant uh in the early spring. So, it's looking pretty good. Um we are very very excited that we did get a letter of support from the University of Bangor, their ocean studies, one of their professors over there in Wales actually uh also supported that grant application that will be very very instrumental in adding some fuel to this fire that's already out of control. I think uh both said they will do anything of support to grow this program. We also uh although Mark Garo doesn't know it, we will be sucking him into some conversations about how Westerly can participate in
045some of the offerings under our umbrella as well. We do have a long range planning meeting um next week at the aquarium with all of the stakeholders on our design team, representatives from our district, um our independent consultant who was our liaison to our our friends in oils and uh Obviously, the educators from the SE port in the um the aquarium. We will have for you hopefully at the end of that three-hour meeting a three to five year long term longrange plan that will be delivered to the aquarium and the seapport and left for boat in hopes that um we can use that and work with their lobbyists uh to get some more money to keep this project going. Uh it is really a lot of enthusiasm in the community is starting to get drummed
046up. I even had a conversation this morning with yellow farmhouse who wants in and I said let us get the bones of this five-year plan in place. We can put the sprinkles on top um as we go along. So uh stay tuned on that. I will certainly have much more information for you next week. I will send you a copy of that plan once it's developed and also um more information by the time we meet in January as well. I don't know if Dan is still on, but our Bear Bites inaugural event is this Saturday. Uh the food truck will be appearing. Uh thank you Captain Schneider for the idea at the Stuff the Cruiser event starting at 10:00 a.m. in the morning. Um it's a very very simple offering. We're going to be giving
047away some popcorn, some uh water, things like that for anybody who comes by and donates uh to their cause. So please come by and support two good causes and and be a witness to the great partnership that we have with Stone Police Department. Uh, and if you can't swing by, at least beep your horn when you go by and see us all out there. We appreciate your support. Um we also had uh speaking of Stonington Police Department, we had at the beginning of the month an afteraction meeting which was um I think one of the most professionally um conducted conversations uh between two agencies about how we did with the lockdown uh on October 30th and how we can improve our practices and communication on both ends both sides of of route one if you
048will. It was wonderful. um on our side, we've already made some adjustments on internal processes during that kind of um event. And I want to give a shout out to Ashley Brown and to Bill King. Both of those individuals uh serve in a par educator role at roles at the high school. Both were mentioned repeatedly by high ranking Stington police officials for their unbelievable service that day and for putting um their safety um in the backseat compared to the student safety and staff safety and faculty safety ahead of their own. So, um for people those two folks, I just want them to know um we recognize you, but you were also recognized by our law enforcement leaders. Um we will be taking specific action steps based on that debrief at our next safety meeting uh
049in our all hazards team meeting which takes place this upcoming Tuesday. Those are part of our monthly standing meetings with Stoneington Police Department. I wanted to to speak to planning for the transition in leadership. Um once the committees are established, I'll work with Farooq. We will have to probably do some dosy-doing around what the when the meetings are. We do have several board members that have amazing flexibility in their calendars and may like to have late afternoon meetings rather than being out especially in January and February um at evening meetings. But when you let me know, I I would like to especially get that policy meeting convened in January because I'd like to leave the district in good shape with that work. At least if it's not all passed, at least it will be in
050the queue so that you can have that buttoned up um this school year and then it will just be a matter of maintaining policy rather than trying to leave the garden. I would also encourage the policy committee to take a look at a mechanism to keep the board on track that that does not fall off the radar should other distractions come before the board as they have in the past. Um I will work with Farooq on retreat planning for the new board members. Uh Zach and Bri, you're going to get a formal invitation from us tomorrow to come to cabinet whenever you want and spend some time with our members, learn a little bit more about the departments and the characters that run them. It's usually a pretty fun meeting. Even if it's is late
051in the afternoon and we get a little punchy, but um please let us know what Tuesday will work for you. It runs from 3 to 4 4:30. Um you you can certainly come before the holidays or after the holidays, whichever works the best for you. Um I will do my best to get the educational specifications buttoned up. We did have a community event where we invited uh family and uh community members in to have a discussion about Stonington Middle School, not about the bricks and mortar, but what about about the instruction that is going to happen in that building? Um as we have a priority that the board holds dear to its heart on future focused uh teaching and learning. The takeaways from that meeting will be included in the educational specifications uh to guide
052the that team to not just think about creating a school that's all brand new and shiny, but about learning spaces inside and outside of the school and what that should look like um from the most important component, the instruction. Obviously, I'll be here um working with Alicia and the team on preparing the budget. Um, we will be reminding you that that budget meeting, that first budget meeting, the first two budget meetings in January, you do not have to vote and we will give you the cue when you need to be prepared for a vote. Um, but we are very much working actively on that now with all of the principles and their wish lists. Um, looking at all sorts of needs, especially in Allison's department. Um, there have some been some dramat dramatic increases in
053needs that are going to have to be addressed and they will be a priority, just so you know, as we move forward. Um I will also for whoever the poor soul is that follows me I will have the midyear evaluations for the principles and the cabinet members ready um so that that will be um the legal compliance issues will be taken care of. Uh and then finally I just want to put out a message to the community that we are having increasing reports of cars that are running by the school buses when they're stopped picking up and dropping off children. When the drivers are able to capture the tag numbers. It gets turned over to the department, the the motor vehicle department and a ticket is issued. I will be putting on the agenda for
054this week's meeting, next week's meeting with um our safety team um and then getting it on Captain Schneider's radar that we may need some police patrol attention at those bus stops. We've identified the hot spot stops. Uh and we ask your your help if if you see this happen and you can get a tag number, would you please reach out? We take this very seriously, especially, you know, those elementary children don't have the wherewithal that the secondary te kids do when they're looking and crossing streets and things like that. Please, please, please, it's the law. The lights are flashing. The stop sign is out. You stop, you wait. Even if it makes you late for work, hit safety first. It's the law. So, please help us out with that. Let's see if I have anything
055on the other side. Oh, as I've already let the board know in writing, I just wanted to reiterate that um although I haven't had the form completed yet, the Ocean State Chamber of Commerce will um be donating a musical bear nutcracker that is six feet tall. It's currently on display in Westerly as part of their anniversary celebration. They have nutcrackers um of all different uh shapes, sizes, and characters. Uh our friends in Westerly have accepted the Bulldog Nutcracker. So, we of course are obliged to have our musical in um uh Nutcracker that will be housed here at central office, but Bruce available for special events during the holiday season at Stone High School and any other one of our schools. Uh I have also accepted on behalf of the district a $1,000 donation uh to
056support the boys basketball team to defay housing costs associated with their Martin Luther King weekend tournament. Uh thank you Sam Chapen for that donation. Um, he specifically wanted it to go to that cause. And that's it. Any questions? Thank you. And I want to reiterate that stopping for a bus school is not optional. You need to stop for a bus school. We will record the cards. I'm sorry if you do get ticket. comes first. Next item on our agenda is consent agenda and required. So we have the minutes from our October 16th uh checks and checks and bills and personal report. Any questions on any item on the consent agenda? May I have a motion to approve consent agenda items A through C? There's a motion on the floor. Is there a second? Second. >>
057There's a second. Any discussion on the motion? All those in favor of approving consent agenda items B through C, please indicate by saying I. >> I. >> Now uneas. Next item on our agenda is discussion and I'll turn it over to kick us off here. So for our new board members and as a refresher for our existing board members um typically we try and level fund these accounts in building over the years. The board of finance likes to see nice smooth lines, not spiky lines. Um so Last year we had about $100,000 cut from our IT SIP proposals, but we didn't feel the sting of that because those were double funded accounts. So this year, you'll see if you're looking back at last year's projections, uh this year's are up obviously to roll that amount
058over. So each year that they decide to cut uh down to a dollar as a placeholder amount, that just rolls forward the following year. or if it's a multi-year, I spread it out over a few years before that next refresh is due. So, our first item is our computer systems. Um, these are district computers and peripherals. This is our uh infrastructure. This year, we are requesting $225,000. Uh for those of you tallying on the backups, you'll see there's about $316,352 uh in the total amount required. Uh the reason we're only asking for $225,000 is we're anticipating 50% uh -ate grant funding uh for our firewalls and network switches. This is an FCC program through the federal government um that USAC assigns uh in our SIP advisory committee. Yesterday, one of the questions was, "What's the
059likelihood that we'll get this grant?" Um, I've received 100% of these grants that I've applied for. There are special circumstance grants that we're still in the works on. Um, but this specific type of grant for category 2 we have received. So, I I plan on receiving that as well. Uh, that and competitive bidding process. Some of these are retail prices, which we anticipate will be some uping costs. by the time we actually pull the trigger on these and make these purchases. But again, the competitive bidding process will offset. The next item we have is the staff computers. Again, these are the district laptop computers for staff. Um each year we are building that by $45,000. Last year was cut. We've increased it up to 90,000 this year in anticipation for refresh. The next item we
060have is our district computers one to one which is our Chromebook refresh. Uh again these are our Chromebooks throughout the schools. Our elementary schools are classroom assigned. Uh and our middle and high school are one to one that the children take home. This year we had to increase that up to $123,000 just for increasing costs. And our 2627 refresh will be the high school Chromebooks. Uh future amounts have also been increased from 115,000 to $119,000 uh to again build that account for the new estimates cost. Next we have our district phone system. Uh $10,000 again level funding. We're a few years out uh from this refresh. Last year was cut. Uh this is the only account we did not increase um based on last year's cut because again each year we recalculate we look at
061future projections um I believe we are going to be fine without that additional amount when we get closer in a few more years to another phone system refresh we start to adjust those last few years of projection numbers with more accurate estimates. Uh so again this year we're only asking for $10,000 for that line. Next we have our security system cameras. Um $50,000 per year is being requested. I did receive a grant through the state of Connecticut to the tune of $75,000 we received last year. Um so at the border of finances request uh this current fiscal year the $50,000 request was reduced to $1 because again we received $75,000. and next year's request has been reduced from 50,000 to 25,000. So essentially over two years a net decrease of $75,000 that amount has already
062been put in that account in that zip line. So we already have that $75,000 in that. And the last uh component here is which I think is a few lines down on your sheets. uh the audio video systems districtwide. Uh $135,000 being requested again uh with previous year's cuts and upcoming refresh of 90 elementary school interactive flat panels um which will be totaling $225,000 over the next three years. Um and then SHS is due for AV refresh over the next couple of years as well. We have seven going on eight year old projectors in the school which will start to fail higher rate. Uh so again that remains to be seen whether we're going traditional projectors or some interactive flat panels or most likely a hybrid approach based on content areas throughout this. Any questions
063on those six lines? And uh just as a as a point of reference for our new board members, I know it's sometimes overwhelming. You're sitting here listening to all these numbers and all Chris throwing at you. Um this is just information meeting. Any questions about any of those items that Chris mentioned or Steve will mention shortly, please reach out to Maria with those questions. She'll take your question with the answer distributed to all board members so that everybody the same answer to the same question. Um and you know the you will be asked to vote on this and we just want you to be as informed as possible. Um you know if you are highly technical there are things that Chris will not be able to answer for confidentiality but um in general questions just
064want to make sure everybody's aware Um welcome to the new members. Uh this year we are presenting 17 um uh SIP uh proposals for this year's budget. Um the first one being um after the restructuring of the staff last year, we'd asked for an additional uh maintenance van. There was a dollar mark for that last year. The the cost is $51,767. Um we've entered in for a special ed man um to be purchased not this budget but the next budget that is $69,70. That's obviously to replace one of Allison's vans uh going forward in that year. Um track and turf replacement. I I've been in actually I think now three different contractors in two different subcontractors in meetings on the turf fields in the track evaluation. Um the first contractor said that the track had
065to be replaced. There was concerns that that was a single opinion. So I wanted to get multiple opinions as the track was installed in 2006. I wanted to make sure that was a valid uh suggestion. But now going on to vendor number three contractors. So, uh two different uh track contractors. Um so, five vendors in total. Um the tracks got to be replaced. So, at this point, we're looking at a total budget estimate at 2.2 million to replace the track and the turf field. So we have I believe 850,000 already being allocated for that um project. So we're requesting 750,000 this coming budget year 750,000 in the following to give us a total of two uh it's actually going to be 2,00 2,300,000 which will give us a total that would hopefully cover inflation by
066that time. It's it's been appropriated. Um, high school roof repair. Um, as far as I can tell right now, there's 1.5 million um, in that account. Um, we've requested an additional million this year towards the roof. Even though the actual project, the project the total project is 3,590,000. Um, there is a a state reimbursement of 1,32,000. Um, and there is actually a partial there 400,000 of that is considered um nonconsiderable. It's non rebatable from the state. Um, but it could be used and couldn't be used. It's almost not getting too deep. We may not actually need the additional 400,000 depending on how the project goes, but we are asking for the full amount at 3,590,000. Um the town does have to allocate that total amount to get state funding. So our allocation for this year
067is 1 million and next year would be 1,90,000. That would give us our total of 3,500,000. um Stonington uh floor burnishers. Um so the the we're at a point where our equipment it's actually not horrible in general overall. Some of our equipment's getting old. We maintain it. We change batteries, we change buffers, we change relays, but we're losing some of the wheel motors and some of the drive motors for the the the auto scrubbers. At that point, we have to get them shipped out. The machines cost $10,000. time we have somebody come pick them up, take them away, keep them for three months and cost us 4,000 for a repair. It just doesn't become make make sense. >> I'm just going to stop you pausing for a second. I'm just going to ask for recess
068for three minutes. >> Yeah, sure. No problem. No problem. >> Thank you. and over. They're going to miss the most exciting part of the whole trip. What you mean tonight? So, >> I was excited listening to you about the scrubbers. I mean, >> right. Right. It was it was it was getting it was getting interesting. Um, so the the floor burnishers, they're just that point where the money and maintenance is not worth what the machine's worth. So, we're actually putting in for two for replacement. Um, the parking lot at SMS. Um, this started out as a review of the pave uh itself. We have some really fractured areas of paving at uh 40 Field Street. Um, in trying to find a a where the parking lot is good that we only fix this patch but
069don't continue on. Trying to draw a straight line or any line in that parking lot area that doesn't look really foolish that we never continued on and finished the repair. It just doesn't exist. It's fractured throughout uh front and back. And in the meantime, our sidewalks have settled. So in our curbing, we have like a one inch reveal on the curb as you leave the curb to the the roadways. Our sidewalks have actually sank, but the curb is not. Um so then that became an issue. And then the stair the transitional stairs from the lower front parking lot to the upper front parking lot. Um there is some like discrepancies with the first stair and also the railing height. So you start off roughly at 30 in. By the time you get to the middle
070of the stairs, the real's right around 20 in. So you can leaning over to grab it. So there is some code issues with some of the areas. And then the other part is too is I don't believe that parking lot. I have no record of any oil separator in that system, which means like usually parking lots in any way, shape, or form to catch any contaminants as a filter system. the last storm drain. We don't have that. So, as we update that parking lot, that would be required. So, that it it feels at this point that it makes sense more sense than trying to repave a parking a parking lot plus some of the fractured areas have actually got unstable ground in either there's two scenarios in that case. Either we've got ground water underneath
071the parking lot or just over the years with the fracturing water's just got in and is made the ground unstable underneath bits of pave over a parking lot that's got that them features only you watch them we happen again if you've got ground water and you didn't address it in the initial repaving can be problems. So, I've decided to bring an engineer in, have them evaluate the parking lot, draw up a set of plans, draw up a set of bid documents, and go through our our our total parking area, sidewalk, stairs, drainage, and also the MS4. Like, I think some people have noticed that there's a a hole on the the exit to the high school for it's a pref filter system for storm water from parking lots. That That's mandatory now. So when we
072we do that parking lot, we would have to put uh a filter drain system in at field street to catch that first filter. I believe it's like 30% of your runoff water. Don't quote me on that percentage. So that would there is a lot to just repaving a parking lot. So originally it I mean it it was meant to be a patch job, but it looks like we're going to be redoing the whole thing. 3,900 is to hire CLA to to evaluate the the the parking lot and sidewalks fuel street boiler. This is from last year. Um it's the boiler domestic pump water system. I believe the total cost of the project is 1 million 84,000 85,000. 1 million that's more than that 1,285,000. So, um, we put in 321,000 per year. Last year it
073was funded. This year we're smitten and asking for a second year. We're hoping to fund the the project over four years. Also, given the town make some decisions in case that building's designated to be expanded or changed in any way that the boilers that we put in are not the wrong size for the the new life or for the life for that building. Um, SHF field light controls. Um we've submitted uh we've asked for 31 $30,125. 15,000 was funded last year. Currently Brian Maro and many of the coaches going in electrical panel and switch breakers on and off to turn on the field lights on the tour field. There's no scheduling in the system. We can't schedule games for the weekends, lights for the weekends. Many times Brian Maron is coming in and actually turning
074the lights on and off on his own time just so that people are not in electrical panels. Um we need another 15,000 in the Musco lighting system and it will take over the electrical circuits. It's remote. It's a 10 year service and we can give out codes, permissions, schedule games, let people extend lights, let coaches cancel lights. If they were many practice on a Wednesday night and it looks like rain, snow or inclement weather, they can cancel their light schedule. It's very user friendly and it's like the Apple phones of lights. It's in every single school system out there. So, we're looking for another $15,000 to complete that project. Um, the radios radios we've initiated, we've been through the first part of the radio project which was the 84,411 that we got this year. Um,
075new radios have been actually handed out to school. We are now on digital radios which is a lot um clearer quality, better signal. Um it's a a more private system that we have currently. The the new system is going to add repeaters and more channels to the school given inter school communication and more private channels which can be created in the digital world that we can talk amongst amongst each other like it want a radio a radio uh frequency they could have one just that they would only keep each other on. Um it's a really great system and plus it ties in with the police also that in that which I don't want to talk too much about but there is another branch of that as well where we'll get uh radio notifications during safety
076issues in the schools which will be added to that as well. Um we're asking the town for further 90,000 which was originally proposed over a little bit longer period but we did get our licenses and there's a one year uh which I wasn't fully fully understanding there's a one year time period to use uh use that license and get up and running so we're asking for 90,000 this year um build um building management software update um It's just a typical update. Um, the IT department, Mitch and Chris are updating servers and to have our building management software continue to work in that infrastructure or the uh software that we run on the servers, we have to update our building management. Unfortunately, this update will take us on a yearly payment, our license fee. Um, but
077we have two years the 10,850 two years they are covered under the license fee. I've been given an estimate going forward. After the two years, it would be about $1,200 a year. That would include the updates and any further um changes to the software to make it work with Chris's equipment. So, it would be instead of paying $10,000 every few years, you'll be paying $1,200 a year. SHs new tractor. Um, we've been, it's actually shouldn't say new tractor, it's replacement tractor. I'll change that. We have a tractor. Um, we have a skid steer. We have a couple lawnmowers that we don't use. And in Stonington, we have probably one of the best working relationships with a a school system with a Department of Public Works that I've ever worked with. Um, at this point, um,
078we use their equipment. They use our equipment, many jobs, just like the gas line that was put in here. Things that would cost us thousands of dollars, the town will come in and do it for free. Um, and in that same respect, we offer them equipment that we have, they don't have. >> And lately, they've been using this skid steer that was purchased um about two or three years ago, which seems to be oversized for the the educational school needs. So the town's been using it quite quite a lot actually probably more than we have and it's actually part of the town garage. Our current tractor that we did use it to unload track the trailer trucks. What we're going to do is submit that we replace the small track that we have in some
079of the agent equipment in a train and then replace it with a little bit heavier tractor that will pick up 1,800 pounds. that would let us unload our pallets, use it snow, use it dress the football field with the whatever we do in the sports area itself and then in that big picture of things once that's been replaced once that's been replaced of the town ops to replace it I think I would come back and ask the board in the long term to either slowly transfer or transfer the skid steer to the town. They've been maintaining it. They keep it at their garage. And I think part of the deal that I'm asking the town uh I've not mentioned that you and us giving them a skid steer, but part of the thing that I've
080been considering is that we give them the skid steer. The town buys us a heavier tractor. We never use the skid steer. The town need the skid steer. Tractor take the skid steer for the town. And as long as the board is good with that, I would like to make that proposal. We could talk further about it. >> Um, >> before you move on from the >> y >> conversation about it, you're trading in quite a few equipment. >> Yes. >> Few of them are snowers. Do we not? >> No, we we don't use the snowblowers. They've been using So, that's a good question. We use the um the tractors the track the I think two years ago. We purchased um brand new tractors for every school with plows on them maybe the year before
081I came. So they've been using these tractors with the plates on them and they've been working extremely well. I think there's three snowboarders down there. And I'm only going with the the um information I received that they have not been used in multiple years. I got to admit we've not had that much heavy snow in multiple years and that might be a consideration. So yes, it's a good point to bring up, but I don't think they've been used. >> They're also selling a couple of lawnmowers. Yeah, these are outdated ones that they don't use anymore. And this is part of the thing, too. So, Palmer building is located, you're going to hear later on about the Palmer building. Palmer building is located out in the field complex, and it made sense for us to have
082it while we maintain all the fields, but we don't anymore. The town's taking over that. Um, so what we're we're doing is cleaning that building out and letting the park the tractor in there because it's sitt And it we've got enough room right now. Most of the stuff most of the stuff is stored in there is stuff that needs to be traded in, discarded. It's time to clean it out. Um, and the moors that are in there, I think I don't want to say how old they are. They're old. >> Yeah. Know, I'm just going through that list on your list. >> Yeah. And a lot of >> I'm googling it, by the way, because I have I don't know what it is. >> Right. I one of them is a tiller. When we used
083to maintain the baseball fields, we used to till the baseball fields. We The times are completely rotten from the tiller. They wore down from the sand. One's a um an Xark lawn mower, a diesel lawn mower. It still has a good value. I believe around $2,000, >> which is a fair payment for that lawnmower. Um, and then the tractor we have right now, which they're offering 10 for, is a 26 horsepower B 262. >> Yeah. Was that >> B3200? >> B200. So, it it it's actually a nice little tractor, but it is no lift weights. It doesn't serve the That's why the SK That's why we needed the skid steer because it could pick a pallet. But it seems crazy. He keep a skid steer parked in our school parking lot just to take a
084pallet out, you know. So this this would solve all the problems. It gets rid of a lot equipment. it gets the funding for that traded and equipment back into the school budget in some way, shape or form where it's a new equipment and it seems to make sense to update that equipment. >> Okay. the what's my place your track that's where I was at right >> yes >> SHs SHS athletic stairs replacement so the the stair replacement stairs have got a builtin these the stairs with a built-in metal tread at the end of the stairs um the stairs are starting to fracture the metal treads have fallen off it's a highly used stairs from the athletic entrance to this to the um the uh field itself. Um the problem being is once them stare ends
085start failing, there's just no way you repair the stairs. There's no way you make it stick. There's no way. It just starts degrading and degrading and the point now they keep falling off every time we repair them. So at this point the I've done this in another school system is just remove the the stairs and reform them. It's just easier and it's a lot safer in the long run. The price at 17,500 does 17,000 750 actually isn't that bad. I've had I want higher ones up to 40,000. >> Y AJ is quoting a sidewalk along with why the code has a sidewalk too. There's a sidewalk down. >> So I opted that was replacing the front sidewalk. >> Yeah. >> If you look at the front sidewalk at the the high school. So, we've patched
086it in. It I I I can't stand walking into the high school and I see all the pieces of concrete are missing in the fracturing that's going in the front sidewalk. It's the I appeal is horrible. So, right now, we've filled in all the holes that were little areas that chipped off. It's stable. Doesn't need to go in right now. We did get a price to see how much that would come in to replace that front area, the front entrance to the school. We did hold off on that because there was a lot of items on the the uh the SIP list already, you know, and it seemed like it wasn't a safety issue. It was more it just it didn't look, you know, >> just just for our next round of SIP, like when
087we're ready to vote, if you don't mind having him update, I'm just worried about ing both in one. >> Okay. >> I'm thinking like is is he giving you that price for the stairs because >> Yeah. Right. >> because of the sidewalk or like so if you can just have him recode just the stairs. >> Okay. >> Or at least get a commitment on that. >> Yeah, I will update that. >> Thank you. >> All right. Not a problem. That's a good point. >> So, um maintenance truck replacement. We had a 1980 um Chevy um pickup truck. Um in Tony had noticed that it was rattling. We've been using it as a mail truck delivering mail from school to school. Um Tony noticed that when the male person was driving past that was a rattling
088from the right hand side. He checked it out and looked like the front end was loose. So he took it to the garage. It ended up having a cracked frame. So, the truck was taken off the road. So, this is $40,182 to replace a truck that we now basically sent for scrap. Chimney repair extension of district office chimney. Um, currently right now in building design, the chimney height is usually a function of the height of the building. So the height of the building reflects the height of the chimney, but in that reflection should be the height of the roof units. That gives you your total height of your chimney. Your building currently our chimney. There's certain members of staff that have been um breathing uh fumes from the boilers that have been coming in through
089the units because there's not enough air flow across the roof to vent the chimney. There is a ventilation from the chimney based on the heat and thermal load in the chimney. The fumes do come out, but the disturbance of air is causing rolls and pulling the air back down. We had a a a chim a chimney specialist come in um and take a look at our chimney. I won't tell you his name. And he he looked down the chimney and he he knew something wasn't good. No, he the uh what do you call it? the uh but we have had uh fumes coming in through the units. We have two or three times that we've had to go in in ventilate areas because the fumes from the chimney are being sucked into the building. The
090units are only 6 to 8 ft away from the chimney and then and the fumes are rolling over. So this is an 18t extension or 10 foot extension our current chimney with a stainless steel topper. Yeah. Right. Right. Right. Mr. Cringle, the chimney specialist, the um maintenance maintenance building. So, back to the Palmer building in the um the request from the town. So, I did get a request from the town, which I've not answered in any way, shape, or form, for in in the future if they could have the Palmer building because it makes sense that it's on the field area. It makes sense that they have it. I have not answered that that in any way, shape, or form. What I did do as a favor in in consideration of that was to evaluate
091the space that we had as a school maintenance facility. In the building that we have currently right now in Sunington High School property is a blue steel garage in that garage. I can't find a date for construction. Um, but the siding on it is basically kind of rusting off of that current uh metal building. So, uh I've had uh fuss and O'Neal take a quick look just to give me an estimate on the where I was at there. There is the steel building and then after that there is multiple sheds that go up from the steel building towards an older um maintenance building. I believe it was Bernie's office at some point. Um, so there's three or four buildings in a row and three of the buildings are wooden buildings, either sheds or build sheds.
092So the evaluation was to reskin that current steel m maintenance building and then remove the three sheds and draw up a plan to extend extend the current the current maintenance building by another 70 ft. So that would in that point give us enough room to move out of the Palmer building and the board felt comfortable and the town was happy with it would and extend the school maintenance building their goal if it could be worked out the board of education between the board and the town the Palmer building would go to the town for maintenance of the field and that's what it was there for originally um so the the quote for 41,000 um sorry 106,000 is actually for the engineering work to review that building come up with a proposal add a 70 foot
093metal building to the existing building, extending that building, removing the sheds and making it look like an actual facilities building the 25th century whatever 21st century. Um, it's a mess. So, I have question. Um, what's the what's the average number of students transported or maximum number of students transported in any given time? Do you know that number or No, >> we have vans right now of varying size. So, I think our max is a 10 pack, but that includes the driver. Mhm. >> Um that would not that's not for next year. That would be the following year. Correct. >> Um so we would be likely retiring a van at that point. We're still also operating with a spare van which has been used very very frequently. Um because all of our vans are transporting students
094to and from school either in district or out of district. So anytime needs we have that backup. >> So the >> and the v the route varies. So I mean West Vine, my van is full. Um Deans Mill, I think I have three or four students on it. I have students doing single routes here and there instead of paying a car to take them. >> I'm I'm all in for on the vans, but I just I'm just concerned is that because this is a 10 passenger request, >> I believe we're asking for that same in the new one. Yeah. >> Yeah. And have you entertained electric? >> I would love to get I would change all my bands to electric, but I'm not sure if it's practical in I mean, I'm not sure what the
095root sizes are. No, I haven't entertained it, but I would. >> You can get 300 miles on a charge. So, if you're doing a day, 300 miles long as we have a charging station. >> Yeah, 100%. Yeah. No, I'm >> mean right now they're going to the town, come back, they fill up park, they're ready for the next morning to go, >> right? That will say that you'll you'll have it parked here. I mean, this is $70,000 for 10 passenger. electric might be 100 but you might save on other expenditure because you're charging it here. Maintenance in general on electric is fairly significant. >> Yeah, we can check with the um previous dealerships that we purchased the vans from to see if those are coming out if there model right that needs the specs of
096those. >> I I believe there is. That's why I'm bringing it up. >> We have run into some issues with um those the size of the van no longer being offered by the dealership or they're no longer in production. And then of course our need to have it be a new vehicle that meets all the safety requirements which is of course extremely stringent. So um but we can we're happy to reach out because we've got our contacts. >> If you can just entertain the idea for our next meeting that would be fantastic. I mean chargers not big deal for for $1,000 and you know fairly reasonable electric cost to install them. charger next day 40 60 amp >> right >> and that will give you you know >> look into that >> any other questions
097for Carol about hearing none we'll go next item on our agenda I'll turn it over to our teaching and learning subcommittee. >> Okay. Um quick update. There's um seven uh curricula for review as a first read. No vote required tonight. They include um physical education grades through five, art and creative writing one and two. These will be on the agenda in January for second read. That's all. Any questions for Kevin about his subcommittee? Uh, finance and facility subcommittee did not meet. Um, so next item on our agenda will be policy subcommittee and uh I know Dan is is not on the meeting anymore. Um so I'll just make sure that um you know that policies uh uh number one A through K those policies are for second read. So a vote is required for those
098policies. May I ask for a motion for approve policies in uh C1 A through K. There's a motion on the floor. Is there a second? >> A second. >> Thank you. Uh any discussion on that motion hearing? None. All those in favor of approving uh policies in item C1 AK, please indicate by saying >> I I that was unanimous for the record. Thank you. Uh and policies for repeal. Uh those are for second read. Uh we reviewed them at our last meeting. Uh but I would like uh to entertain a motion to approve policies for repeal and IMC to through there. A motion moved. >> There's a motion on the floor. Is there a second? >> Second. Any discussion on items uh C2 A through H in policy subcommittee? Hearing none. All those in favor
099of repealing those following, please indicate by saying I >> I for the record. Thank you. Um welcoming school layers on report. Anybody you would like to report? I can start. Um since the last time we had a full board meeting, there's been two I think welcoming schools committee meetings at West Vine. I was able to attend the first one last month. We started to review the school uh culture improvement plan. Um mis remembering exactly full title of that. Um it was a shout out to um principal and um element as well for their transparency and openness throughout that process. They even shared a Google doc with the entire committee and asked for a lot of feedback before meeting during after between the meetings and everything. So very transparent process between everybody on the committee to
100get a lot of feedback on that final document. Um it's not totally approved yet. There was a meeting last night I was unable to attend. Um it's in the final stages of approval at this point but just wanted to lead for their transparency and assistance. Any questions? Um the learn is not with us this evening. So there will be correction earlier. The other financial reports are consuming dinner for our local behalf of student. >> Any questions for Mr. >> Thank you for your report. always a joy to read and I do know that event is your favorite always been for all the students every year. Um enrollment report is also in that monthly report. Any uh questions uh conversation um board comments and items for future agenda. Any any board members would like to make
101a comment or have support to have an item for a future agenda? Doesn't have to be now. You can always send me an email ask to add an item for any agenda in the future. Uh this is >> great. Uh Zach, >> I can move to adjourn. >> There's a motion on the floor to adjurnn. Is there a second? >> There's a second. All in favor? I unanimous vote. Thank you. >> Thank you.