Tolland Board of Education - June 10, 2026

001702. If you can all stand for the pledge of >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to it stands nation. [clears throat] >> Dr. Will looks like we have a handful of acknowledgements by we'll turn it to you. >> We definitely do. So, I'm going to share the screen so people at home can see uh the acknowledgements that we're doing tonight. Um sorry, my voice is a little horse, but so if I make it loud, it's not yelling, I'm mad, it's yelling because I'm passionate and I'm just trying to get the message out there. Um so, tonight we have a series of acknowledgements and um the first acknowledgement tonight is Ben Pope who believe is in is in the front row here. Ben, just stand for a minute. Ben is one

002of our phenomenal athletes in the Talon public schools. And I know tonight coach Omar Rosario is here as well. Coach, you want to come on up? And I don't know if Kelly um Coach Lopez is here, too. Okay. Okay. So, what I'd like to do is just honor you because u I've been we we've only heard the legend of Ben. The last thing is the legend of Ben has been talked about. Um and so we wanted to make sure we recognized you as an accomp accomplishment. So I'm just going to read a couple of accomplishments, hand it over to coach Mark, if you have anything you want to add um and then let the board kind of congratulate yourself. Right. So first of all, congratulations on um Ben Pope is here tonight. He's a a

003phenomenal athlete for the Tom Public Schools as well as many other things. During his freshman year, he broke the Connecticut record in freestyle with a 14 and under category of USA swim. As a sophomore, he became the fastest high school swimmer in Connecticut by winning a gold medal in the 50 freestyle event at the Connecticut State Open Championship. As a junior, he won gold medals in the 50 and 100 freestyle events at the Class M state finals. At the same meet, he broke the ClassM state record in the 50 freestyle event. He then won gold in the 100 freestyle and silver in the 50 freestyle events at the Connecticut State Open Championship. As a senior, he once again won gold medals in the 50 and 100 freestyle events at the ClassM state finals and broke

004his own classmate record in the 50 freestyle event. He then won gold in the 50 and 100 freestyle events at the Connecticut State Open Championship, becoming once again the fastest high school swimmer in Connecticut. At the same meet, Ben broke the 202 barrier by clocking 19 sec 19.99 seconds. I don't know how to put the 99 seconds twice during his splits. This accomplishment represents one of the of swimming's most elite speed barriers and it wowed everyone at the meet when the time was displayed on the big monitor. Overall, he has broken and currently holds the school team records in these events. 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, and 100 butterfly. But butterfly. Holy macker. Butterfly. He also is also a member of the relay team that broke and currently um stand school team records for the 200

005medley relay and 200 freestyle relay. He's his awards and recognitions just some are the all conference 2023 2024 2025 2026 all state 2024 2025 2026 CCC all academic 2025 2026 team coaches award 2024 team MVP award 23 256 team captain 26 CCC scholar athlete 26 Tomlin High School CIAC CAS scholar athlete 2026 Connecticut High School Coaches Association as M MVP boy swimmer of the year 2026 and he's considered for all American recognition in 2025 is being considered again this year hopes to make the final list which I think we would committed to Bachnell University of sorry Bucknell University and majoring in mechanical engineering just amazing congratulations I hope on all of his Uh well it's I mean we we heard the accomplishments that he has done as an athlete but you know it's also good

006to know that this part is you know his talent but also his dedication uh him as a person has taken it very seriously. is to work very hard to really do everything that an athlete should do. I've been coaching for 33 years, basketball, soccer, swimming, track, everything. And he's probably one of the top athletes I've ever coached. Uh definitely uh one of the most uh the best student athlete that I've ever coached just because of his dedication, who he is, uh not only on in the pool, but outside, the way he carries himself. He's very humble, helps out all the the the swimmers that are that want to learn. Uh he's very coachable. So, um so this is definitely welld deserved to someone who uh you know, he can get all the acclimates he wants

007uh in the pool, but is better as he's better as a human being. So, congratulations. >> I got a question, Ben. When was the last time you lost? >> Seriously, when was Did you lose one this year? >> I did not. >> Last year. >> I Well, I lost one last year. >> Okay. >> In an off event. >> Well, that your sophomore year. >> I think I also lost one. >> Okay. So, it's fair to say you >> I would challenge him from time to time and I'll put him in an event that it's not one of his top ones just to so he can excel. and many many times he will still win. >> But uh there are some other swimmers out there that you know that that are a little bit better

008than him in other events. >> Yeah. >> Congratulations. That's unbelievable. >> Thank you. So in the spirit of academic achievement, when did you realize you wanted to be an engineer? >> Uh I've known for probably like I want to say six years now. >> Excellent. >> I my grandfather worked in the Air Force. So, okay. He's a big inspiration to me and he >> drove me to want to be an engineer. >> Awesome. Very cool. >> And I was gonna say, you might have lost, you know, one race or two races. [clears throat] >> You were setting records your freshman year, my boy. So, you know, you were doing something right, right? So, um, awesome. Awesome. Are you going to keep swimming in college? >> I'm at Buck Middle. >> I'm swimming at Buck Middle.

009>> Very nice. Congratulations. Best of luck. Best of luck. Uh, I can sit here and tell Ben Pope stories all day long and you guys will be mad at me like, >> trust me, I have. And this is long, long, long overdue. I remember the first time I I met Coach Omar. And I've had the luxury of watching Ben swim for the last four years. Thank God. Even though my son graduated last year, but my wife is the assistant coach, so I got to go this year. And the first time I met Coach Omar, he said he was all excited because the team captains and the upper classmen were like, "Oh my god, we got a ringer. We got a ringer. This guy is amazing." And the way you see Ben now, that's what he

010looked like as a freshman. And I'm like, so when you describe freshman, what's the thing that we, you know, envision in our head? Oh, some frail little young kid. I'm like, "Well, where is he? Where is he?" And my son's like, "Dad, that's a grown man." >> Yeah. So, the guy's been absolutely amazing. He's um you know, I always remember I think it was the state championships and Ben was swimming, correct me if I'm wrong, Beth, was it the 50 or the 100? And there was a kid that was swimming with him and swimmers are they're the best. They're the most humble athletes you will meet in my personal opinion. And Ben would to go shake his hand and the kid spit in his face. >> Oh, >> right. Ben never forgot that. Right. So,

011of course, they opens. Ben came and I would say another word, but Ben came and kicked his butt. Yeah. >> You know, so it was like Yes. And I wasn't there, but my wife, I was in Texas. My wife's like, "Ben, won." I was like, "Yes." So, like I said, I'm truly truly happy I got to see you for the last four years swim. You're an amazing individual. By far the most humble um athlete I've ever met in my life. So, I appreciate it. And I know you're at the house a few months ago and I said, "Hey, as long as Lorenzo's conference championships and your conferences championships are not in the same weekend and especially if they're at the Naval Academy, we'll be there to support you." I can tell you as a retired

012naval officer, I'm used to saying go Navy. But when Ben folks in a pool, I will say go Ben. Welcome back, man. >> That's awesome. Can I get a picture here? Why don't you get in front of that real quick? >> And then Ben, we're going to give you a water bottle that'll be useless in the pool. Ready? Three. One, two, three. Thank you. >> Thank you. Congratulations. So, next tonight, um I do I think we have Noah Noah Mr. Fields. Noah Fields here to uh present to us the advanced theater studies class Halo Awards students. Um and I'll let him articulate on that, but I do remember that my own son was involved in some of it. And these are very prestigious awards and it's uh it's amazing that our young adults have won

013them. So, I'll hand over the floor to Mr. V. >> Well, we're very excited. We have some of our students here with us tonight. And we got our assistant director, um, Jamie Duber here tonight. So, our students participated for the second time this year in the Halo Awards. Halo Awards is ran by Seven Angels Theater. Um, and they went around and um, adjudicated 195 productions this year from plays and musicals across the state and high schools. And then they look at every criteria from onstage acting to stage managing to set design, light design, all aspects. Um, I'm very excited that our students this year received an astounding 10 nominations. I just want to read them off real quick for you and then one, two. So, our students were nominated for best performance in a featured

014male role being uh Brook Navtil. Best performance in a featured female, sorry, role in a musical being Annie Singer. Best hair and or makeup design execution, Al Paca, Ella Ray, Norah Russell, Abby Bramo. Best line design and or execution, Becket Murray, Raquel Winker, Don Everett, Pepper Guten, Chlory Langren. Best running crew, Tall and High School running crew, sorry, um, stage crew. Best scenic design and or execution, our advanced theater studies class, which ran for the first time this year. Best program art being Alipa. Best performance in the leading male role in a classical musical, Matthew Rodriguez. Best special effects, Becket Murray, Raquel Ricker, Don Ever and our advanced theater class. and we were nominated for best classical musical which only four schools were nominated for on our night. We were fortunate when we went to

015the awards um to come home with the best set design and or execution and best special effects which are students in our um advanced theater science class. We want to recognize them. Um we have a couple of them here tonight. Great. down. >> Come on down. Take a little picture of you. Also have water bottles. You guys want to come up? >> All right. Maybe you guys back up against that wood there. Sort of spread out a little bit. >> Let me scoot back. >> Put me in the back. >> Do the work. Oh, do you guys You want me to hold you? >> Yeah. >> All right. >> One, two, three. And two, three. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. >> Get your water bottle. Got to stay >> hydro. >> Mr. Fields, I

016have a question. >> Yes. But I went and saw the musical the second night and you know it just dawned on me when you were speaking. We say all the people that act but how many people are actually behind the scenes running stuff making it go? >> So toy was one of the people in charge of our running crew. It's all student led and operated. So she can How many did you have backstage? >> [laughter] >> I believe 13 stage crew and then it was me and my other assistant stage manager showed skate >> so when we look at all the students involved from on stage to tech students to stage crews involved in our classes we have about 100 students that have hands on the show >> and how many volunteer parents to help

017develop the stuff or anything like that >> um we're fortunate in the community over the years we developed quite a a strong um community volunteers with some stick sitting next to me behind behind me too. Um, and we still have parents, you know, I'll shout out Pete Cassingway whose daughter graduated years ago that still comes and builds a set with us. So, very fortunate we have a strong community behind us. So, that's great. That's great. >> Anyone else? >> No, congratulations. Congratulations. >> To be heard >> that you were nominated eight times last year. >> Eight times last year. >> 10 times this year. Oh, yes. >> You had a winner last year for Yes. Which >> I mean right here. Okay. All right. Just impressive program and really grateful that you're in district and

018you that all you students are in district and and sharing your talent. So awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. >> Yeah. >> Nice. Thank nice to meet you. >> Did all the Did all of you get the the water bottles? Anybody? >> You know, they'll be worth a lot. So, I don't want you. Okay. Um, so also tonight we have uh the honor of having Miss Bridge here who's also going to be an honory for retiring, but we'll get to that in a minute. Miss Bridge would be coming up right to to talk about the DECA program and introduce the Daka kids. Also for the young adults in DECA, you also get water. So at the end, I don't want to miss. >> All righty. >> Hi. How is everybody? >> Good. We had another fabulous year

019at DECA. Uh we took 16 people to the national competition which was wonderful. We had a great group. But as tradition holds, I'm going to do DECA by the numbers. >> Let's do it. >> So we have been a club for technically 14 years. We're on the books for 15 because we joined at the end of one year. So we were established in se September 2012. Total membership to date has risen to kids. Out of those 965, we've had 635 of them as state competitors. Out of that 635, 295 were state finalists, which means they finished in the top six. So that's a 47% rate of students that are finalists at the state competition. Out of that, also the state finalists, we had 177 international qualifiers, which means that they are in the top three

020in their category, 28% of all the kids we bring to state competition. I mean, those are really, really incredible numbers. We've had 21 international medalists. Now, think 20,000 kids competing. 21 international medalists, 12 international finalists, seven international champions. So out of all of them, pretty much every single one of them received a certificate of excellence, meaning they have reached the highest level of competition and met all of the performance indicators. We've also had two national scholarship winners, five Connecticut DECA state presidents, and 18 Connecticut DECA state officers. So starting the club back in 2012 to what we are now, we can truly say that we are now a powerhouse in the state of Connecticut and I hope that that will continue. We have a number of kids that are here with us today. I would

021love it if you would allow them to introduce themselves. They will tell you what grade they're in, what they competed at at states, how they did, did they go on to nationals, and if you're a senior, let's find out where you're going to college. Sound good? So, >> we can start front row. Nia, that means you are. Are you okay? >> I understand. And you're introduce yourself, grade, what you competed in, and how you did. >> Um, so I'm Mia. I'm in 10th grade and I competed in hotel and lodging management and I got fifth place. >> Mave and Hannah. We still like to go together. >> Hi, I'm Hannah. >> Hi, I'm Mabe. Um, we're both in 10th grade and we competed in travel and tourism team decision making and we got six points.

022Hi, my name is Cecilia. I'm in 11th grade. I can be in business services marketing and I got first. >> Stacy also is an international qualifier. So, she did compete at the international level as well and she is a state officer for next year for Connecticut. >> That's very cool. >> Hello everyone. My name is Dan Teruk. I'm a sophomore at Talon High School. I placed first in the state for retail merchandising services and I also received a roleplay medal at our national competition. >> All right. >> Hi, my name is Sa Davis. Uh I'm a junior. I competed in marketing communications. I got fit and then I also competed in schoolbased enterprise at ICC. I apologize. Hello everyone. My name is Lauren Walsh. Uh I'm a junior in high school right now and I

023competed in quickserve restaurant management. However, I did not place the states. >> Owen will also be our co-president of DECA next year. >> Congratulations. >> That's right after that. >> Good evening everyone. My name is Michael Wiggins. I am a junior at Tom High School and I compete in marketing communications. I got second in the state. >> You're getting second next year, don't worry. >> And I participate in ICDC this year for marketing communications as well. >> My name is Sophia Martinez and I'm a freshman. I placed first in the state for human resources management this year and I went on to ICDC war where I won a roleplay medal. >> Hello, I'm Diana Rodriguez. I'm a junior. I compete in human resources management and I placed fifth in the state and I competed along

024with Savannah in the um schoolbased enterprise competition at IC. I'm Bella. We're both sophomores and we place in travel and tourism team visit for >> Hi everyone, my name is Ryan. I'm a junior at Taland High School and I competed in business services marketing. Uh there I placed second at states and I competed at ICDC. I will also be a co-president along with Owen Malsh next year for Tala. >> Hi everyone. I'm Ben Malusa. I'm in 11th grade and I competed in restaurant food service management and I play at states. >> Hi everyone, I'm Crystal Pentino. I'm in 11th grade and I competed in restaurant food service management. I scored third place at CDC and I was a roleplay analyst at IC. >> I am Asher and we competed in sports and entertainment marketing and

025we had a birth place in state and win international competition. Hi, my name is Will Honor and I placed third in six internationally in apparel and accessories marketing and I also served as a state officer this past year. >> I'm Kelsey. I competed in buying merchandising team decision making with my partner Caleb. I'm a senior. I'll be attending uh Clemson University next year. >> Hi, my name is Will. Um, I'm a senior and I competed in personal financial literacy. I got third place at states and I'm committed to Bryant University. >> I'd also like to recognize my co-advisor Lori Nesbet over here who's been with me for >> you got them. >> Yeah. Um, so why don't we do this board? If you have any questions, we'll ask them and then we'll do we'll do

026a picture of eight and eight because 16 might be too many all at once. >> We're gonna let Jaden take >> Oh, thanks. >> Um, lot to say tonight, but but I'll keep it short. Deca never fails to impress me as as a former student. Um, ignoring where I'm sitting right as a former student, I follow DECA like it's it's the New York Knicks. I'm a Knicks fan. Go Knicks. and and I follow you guys and I follow you guys on whoever runs the Instagram, you do a great job. Whoever whoever's in control of all of it. It the fascinating part about DECA is is a lot of it is studentled and you guys put in a lot of work um that you deserve to get recognized for and I hope by being here tonight

027you know you feel a little bit of that um but more so how many of you are seniors? Okay, so over here over here okay now how many of you are sophomores or juniors? Okay, so think about this for a second. If you're not in debt to be a sophomore or a junior and to be placing at states, to be placing to be a finalist at ICDC, the international competition, I mean, that's pretty cool. Okay, how often are you seeing that? Not often, right? Um especially some of our our sophomore state officers going into junior year as a state officer or going into senior year as a state officer. I mean, these are these are accomplishments that, you know, I hope you feel proud of. Um, and DECA, I can't say enough good things about

028it, but I want to keep the focus on I recognize a few of you. I judged a few of you in your competitions. You guys did awesome. You know, Michael, Savannah, I re I remember your presentations because of because of youth, right? You you left it all out on the table and uh I do not doubt you did that at the state competition. I love seeing you. I I bookmark this meeting every every year because it's DECA and and uh not to mention all the wonderful other acknowledgements we have tonight. I don't have a question. I have the statement of go DECA, go you, go Mrs. Bridge, go Mrs. Desmond, go anybody who's involved with DECA because there's a lot of people that, you know, go in every year to make it work, right? So,

029um, just congratulations. Please keep coming back. If you're a senior, stay in touch with Tal and Deca, you know, come judge some practice competitions, right? Right. You know, um, but have a blast at your next stop. Seniors and juniors, sophomores, freshman, any freshman? >> Medalist. >> That's right. and a medalist as a passion. It's just I mean you can't make that up. So it's a lot of hard work. You deserve it. Congratulations. See you soon. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. So why don't we uh 8 and 8 16 might be so big. We'll take maybe the first eight here. Come on up. And um I can do that. >> Think we can fit. >> You think we can fit 16? If you put them in the back, put them in. Well, let's try all 16.

030[clears throat] Your faces from the fiction. >> Why don't we do the way back? by the bike. >> Oh, we Oh, going around. >> Take the center. Take the center right here. >> No, no, no. It's already a >> flavor. [laughter] Get shimmy behind. >> Ready? >> Well, we got to get the tall people in the back. >> Everybody's face. President. Mr. President, it'll be Decker rules. One, two, three. One, two, three. >> You can do that. >> Congrats. You're getting All right. Any any other questions? >> Okay. >> All right. So, um, on that on that note, we have a little somber kind of, uh, moment here. Great, you know, somber for us, wonderful for the individual, but I did want to recognize some teachers tonight. And the the first teacher tonight that I

031wanted to recognize for her retirement would be Miss Bridge. So very almost I almost did the big reveal accident and Mr. Poland really wanted to be here tonight but had a family situation so could not otherwise he would definitely be here. So I have a few comments that we would like to make about Miss Bridge and how awesome she is. Um, Mr. Thank you. So, Miss Bridge has long been recognized as a true cornerstone within the halls of Talent High School, a dedicated educator whose impact reaches far beyond the classroom. Throughout her career, she has served as a guide, mentor, and constant source of encouragement, consistently inspiring students to push beyond their perceived limits and discover their full potential. Her teaching has brought business concepts to life from balance sheets to marketing strategies to real

032world applications that prepared students for success beyond school. Under her leadership, the school store has become more than just a place of commerce. It is a dynamic learning environment where students have gained hands-on experience and valuable life skills. Miss Bridg's work with DECA further exemplifies her commitment as she cultivated pride, confidence, and excellence in her students. She helped each one of them achieve at the highest levels. Known for her tireless work ethic, Miss Bridge went above and beyond. Whether through long hours of preparation, early mornings, and late nights, she demonstrated an unwavering commitment to her students and her craft. She set high expectations while providing the support needed to meet them and led by example with both strength and compassion. Her legacy is one of lasting influence. the lesson she taught, the confidence she instilled.

033It's like your village or something instilled does the confidence and instills. Sorry. Uh the lessons she is teaching and confidence she continues to instill and the opportunities she continues to created have create has created throughout all these years will continue to shape the lives and the career of her students for years and years to come. Though she is retiring from the classroom, the mark she has left on Talent High School in the community is enduring. Miss Bridge will be deeply missed as a teacher, a leader, and a colleague. But her presence will remain in every student she has inspired and every success story she ever helped make. Congratulations Thank you. Trying not to cry. >> I'm failing already. >> I remember those yells you gave me as soon as this day started. Also tonight we

034are honoring the retirement of Lisa Madson who is amazing and I hired her so you know I'm part of that right but u we have Miss Hickey here tonight to uh to recognize Matson to come up please. >> Thank you. >> All right. So, we wrote some notes, but this was in partnership also with your co-arter friend Elizabeth as well. So, I'm not entirely thrilled to make this speech because I just found out about this retirement. So, when she called me and she's like, "Can I talk to you for a second?" And it was the first time that there wasn't a full smile on her face like for the first time in three years. And I was like, "Sure." She's like, "I'm retiring." And I don't know if I acted appropriately because I was just

035devastated at the fact that she's retiring and happy for you at the same time. And it was a lot of mixed emotion. >> I never saw anybody's jaw drop literally. >> But it did. >> I didn't I was like, am I happy? How do you feel about it? Let me mimic it. So Miss the reason I reacted about that is Miss Matson has been a cornerstone of our reading program for many many years. How many years? >> 18 18 years. Um but her influence extends far beyond the classroom. So you shape not only the literacy development of countless students um but also the professional growth of many colleagues. Though your deep knowledge of reading instruction and literature has always been a steady and generous resource for our school community. You're always willing to sit down,

036look at lists, make corrections, refine, applaud students, and have high expectations and allow students to meet that. Um so Miss Matson's colleague, also a reading interventionist, stated the following. So during the very first year, they were fortunate to share a classroom with Miss Matson. She actually called it a gift and you will not find many teachers who have to share a classroom state that it is a gift to share a classroom but sharing a classroom with Miss Matson is a gift. That is the word that was used. Um Miss Matson created a welcoming supportive environment and a sense of warmth that never wavered which couldn't be more true. Through her model lessons and daily interactions she demonstrates how to make learning engaging, relevant, and meaningful for middle school students which is not always easy. Um,

037just as importantly, she showed us how to connect with students, the right tone, language, and always joy. Um, while still holding them to high expectations. So that defines who you are. So you challenge students, you support students, and you truly believe in every single student's potential, always pressing them to go to that next level. I only had the gift of working with Matson, Miss Matson, for three years. This is year number three. Um, but it is clear that she embodies anything that you would want in a teacher. So hardworking integrity, reliable, honest, trustworthy, the only person who shows up at my offered admin office hours on a Friday. >> Um, so you communicate clearly, you speak about others with respect, and you always are promoting positivity in a way that makes other people truly feel

038it. Not like in that, oh, we're being overly positive, but no, thank you, Lisa. We all needed that. And that is appreciated. Um there's a positive energy that's infectious. Um it has been on display numerous times as our entire school. She is certified in laughter yoga and she has brought that to an entire school assembly where students fully brought in. So, if you bought in, so it is hard to get middle schoolers in grades six, seven, and eight, and some in this audience will remember this, TO PARTICIPATE IN HA HO H. And they all gave in and did it because she was so infectious and so all about it that you had no choice but an entire auditorium of students doing laughter, yoga, like really truly doing it. um this year she decided to do

039a giant rainfall activity with students where it sounds like a rainstorm comes and goes. Um and she was nervous, but the coolest part about it was that she actually worked with an entire advisory of students so that they let it with her on stage when it was time and surprised the entire student body audience. And this isn't her free time. um when in a team meeting, a classroom, or at my mostly admin hours where we've just really I've gotten to know you at a deeper level because she doesn't have anything to say. She's like, I like that you do this and I figured I would come and then I end up getting to know Miss Matson at a deeper level, which is appreciated. Your presence has always made things better. You're a true advocate for

040high quality literacy instruction, which we will miss. She's been a driving force of MTSS being a focus for Talin public schools. you have been a huge driving force for that. Um, your leadership, hands-on approach and problem solving mindset have completely strengthened our MCSS programs. Um, and you just make the students, families, and staff better, and that is appreciated. So, that's really your legacy. You have made us all better, not just in reading, but just as human beings. And I will miss your infectious smile and the energy that you bring in the high quality teaching you always provide. >> Thank you so much. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Thank you for being so supportive of the intervention program at the middle school because it has really helped many of us and many of the students. Thank

041you. >> Thank you. >> Could I have both the retirees? He's up for Victor. Come on. Who got >> [clears throat] >> I'm taking the pictures tonight. So, hope not. >> Are you okay with that? >> I'm sure. >> Thank you. >> Congratulations. >> I don't think Good. >> Thank you. >> Trust me. >> Yes. >> Just ignore all the texts. >> Oh, I have plenty of my own. Trust me, I don't need somebody else's. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> So the uh >> hold on hold on parts like >> was that was that the wrap up of you just about to wrap up? >> Yes. Just before we do, >> um I think I can't leave here without talking about the one individual who I mean, you talk about impact, you talk about

042uh Jesus, here we go. Uh Mrs. Bridge has meant more to me than I think anyone in this room, I know, than anyone in this room, but I think more than she could ever know. And uh I work with middle school kids now, grades five and six. And uh I was nervous my sophomore year going to apply to be a state officer because state officers don't really apply as a sophomore. You know, it's you're sort of, you know, at that time, now it's a little more common, but at that time sophomores don't apply. You know, you're not supposed to be here yet. And so I go down to a room and I'm nervous. I'm I'm Mrs. Bridge. I mean, my application is it is it ready? You know what do I do? Okay. What? What?

043What? And she stops me and she stops me in the most Mrs. Bridgeway, you know, just, you know, very direct. You said, Den, hold on a second. You tell them you you tell them because this is who you are. You're not just going to meet the goal. You're going to beat the goals. And that one, just one in the end of my sophomore year is probably around, I forget when the applications get turned in, maybe around February, March, something like that. I mean, you talk about an I said impact that shifted a lot in my my life personally, right? Where you don't just meet the goal, you beat the goal. And I I I communicated with her directly what that has meant as an adult now who works in Manchester with with fifth and sixth

044graders. Um, but the best way I can put it is we don't just do the bare minimum for these for these children. We don't just, you know, make sure they get their homework done and get home, right? uh we make sure they're provided opportunities that they might not get elsewhere, right? That they are provided guidance and and proper uh mentorship that they might not get elsewhere, right? And that's just I mean that that's a very general way for me to put it. It all stems from what she shared in one of my most vulnerable moments as a sophomore as I prepared to apply for state office. So, um I sit here with tears in my eyes, not because I'm sad. I'm sad because she's not going to be in our buildings. I have former I

045have athletes that I've coached. I've got people I've judged your competitions. I I you know, I wouldn't sit here if I didn't care about you guys. And man, there's nobody better in that building um to take care of you than her. And so, um as sad as I am that she's not going to be in that building anymore, the three G's are coming, right? The three G's. That's right. >> Okay. And you know, I believe it was, if it's okay, I believe it was grandma golfing and gardening. >> It's, you know, and and that's where the smile comes back to my face because she deserves the world and then more. If if I could reach to Mars and take that, too, I would. So, um, Mrs. Bridge, thank you. I will never uh keep the

046phone active because I'm I'm going to be I'm going to be letting you know, Mrs. bridge. I have a problem. Okay. I don't just meet the goal, beat the goal, you know. So, I can't thank you enough. Um, be proud to be a Mrs. Bridge student because I will always be a Mrs. Bridge student and so will you, those who are in this audience. So, thank you, Mrs. Bridge. We're not done. We're not done. So, thank you. >> I still live here. >> Yes, you do. [laughter] >> Yes, you do. And I I would like to say it's a little more composed now versus earlier that it truly has been a pleasure to teach in the town I live in. Like a lot of people don't want to do that. I love it. I loved

047being with the kids every day, seeing them on the streets, you know, having my own kids and their friends who I had in class, but now they're, you know, they're on the soccer field, they're doing everything. It truly has been a wonderful opportunity for me to be able to do this to move from PTO to you know volunteer for the education foundation to them becoming a teacher in the same school. I felt like it was a gift for me to do that. So I thank you all for the opportunity because it's been awesome. Been a great run. Thank you. So, well, I um I did want to also say that um you know that at this point in the program as we segue into the other board business, uh the purpose here is not to

048torture you. So you don't have to politely sit and go through the rest of it. We will take a maybe three minute, five minute break and allow everyone to sort of make your way your way to a a place where you want to be dinner. Congratulations all of you tonight. And anyone who didn't get a water bottle or Right now you guys stay the I've seen you guys go walk out there. I'm like 17 years. No, it's been all day. actually. I appreciate I need to I'm saving you. That was bad. significant join us [laughter] There's no Where's my grand I mean woman [clears throat] you believe that Jack isn't particular >> I know first. Yeah. >> She was promised [laughter] to be the best. He would further relax. Maybe if I promise I am

049so I mean at least Oh, that's different from the store. >> Everything looks better now. >> I said, "Good. I'm going on a cruise next week." That's right. We'll >> talk now. >> You're ready to bring it back. I fold it back off, >> right? >> So, >> I'm going to Are there any additions to the agenda? >> Yeah. >> Hearing none. >> Um, next item is approval of the minutes. May 27th, we will accept the motion. >> So, moved. >> Seconded. >> Any discussion? >> J. >> Hi, >> Kenzie. >> Hi. I passes. Um, item E. The members of the Talon Board of Education welcome members of the public to share their thoughts and ideas at this time. When appropriate to do so, members of the board and the administration may respond to comments

050during points of information. However, in consideration of those in attendance and in an effort to proceed in a timely manner, follow-up discussion may need to take place outside of the meeting setting. >> For anyone that would like the floor, please state your name and your address for the record. >> My name is Mary Rose, 37 Ryan Road. Um, I'm a mother of a senior. Um, so I wanted to thank this board of education and all the prior boards of education for the 12 years that my son has been in school. Um, what you do is extremely important, not only for our students, but our community at large. Um, I'm feeling all the feels of a senior parent right now. So, I prayed a lot during the last um acknowledgement session um along with Jaden. And

051um I just want you to know what you do matters. Um and and I'm very proud of my child being a Taland uh school um graduate next week. And um >> so thank you. A lot of fun senior things. Next week we're going to be setting up the banners on Tuesday. Um and please uh drive through when you get a chance to see them. It's pretty special tradition that we have. Thank you all. >> Thank you. Anyone online back to the room? >> Yes, sir. Um, no feels 3B Road. So, it wouldn't be me if I just took a moment always to just, you know, thank you for recognizing our students and taking an opportunity to always advocate for our students. So, I just wanted to speak tonight just regarding, you know, of course, our

052decision going into this academic year that we just came out of, um, to not fund clubs. You know, we still were able to allocate around $219,000 for athletics between transportation, official supplies. And I just want to be clear, my argument is not against athletics. In fact, I'm very supportive of athletics. I'm proud of our strong collaboration with our supervisor of athletics, Tim Mcccllesky, um, our coaches and coach the golf team this year and had a great time with it. I'm always full supportive um of our athletes and believe the sport's an important part of a well-rounded educational experience encompasses all of our portraits for graduate. What concerns me is the message that we sent to our students this year um when we when athletics was remain funded at signific significant level when clubs were left

053to fend for themselves DECA [clears throat] um being one dramatian another etc. When we fund one area um while limiting support for another, we create a hierarchy of student experiences where we tell some students that their activities are essential while some are optional. And I do not believe and hope that we do not um believe this reflects the values of our district. We can't say athletics need to stay because of student scholarships opportunities um etc. Since clubs provide just as much to our students to get into college and receive scholarships. Look at all of our DECA students who have gone to prestigious universities to study business. Our music and drama students and study to be actors and actresses. We have some freelancing on Broadway and we have some that even have contracts on cruise ships

054being line designers for the shows. Our science health club students who are now in the field of medicine and I could go on and on. Um, if hearing any of this makes any of us uncomfortable, that's good. We should hold on to that feeling. Remember it for future budget discussions because that discomfort is far less than what our students felt this year when they learned that the activities they care about and help them advance in their future careers were no longer considered worthy of funding. Um, so please keep that in mind as we go into future years. um let's make sure this never happens again our students and thank you for your time as always and thank you again for recognize our students. It means the world to them and they will talk about tomorrow

055um in class and it really truly excites them these nights. Thank you. >> Yeah, I think [clears throat] I'm going to talk about it tomorrow in class [laughter] with the 10 nominations and the two award just unbelievable. >> They did awesome and our deck like they all deans are killing it. So very proud of all our students. >> Thank you. Is there anyone else online like to be one final one in the room? [clears throat] >> Great. Close public participation and move on to correspondence. S is not here. So we will move on from correspondence. >> So points of information have anything? Yeah, I just would like to uh acknowledge the uh tennis coaches u from the high school for the boys and the girls and also the participants the seniors and juniors who came

056out. There was a clinic for two days last week um free clinic for underage not underage but like middle school and kids going from fifth to sixth. They don't have any uh feeder program for the tennis program. So they kind of had an open session for any kids who wanted to come and it was real uh real real good. There was probably about there about 20 or 30 kids who participated for both boys and girls. So >> I just want to thank all the high school participants from students, the staff who helped out with that. Well, and I'll add on to that, Brian, that uh baseball this year, you know, did uh a number of things with the little league, the varsity team and team. So, I love seeing our high school programs participating with

057our youth wreck leagues like that. It creates more of a complete program, complete athletic program. Absolutely. Each sport. So, that's great. >> Anyone else? >> I do. [clears throat] Yes, sir. I just wanted to say um it was great everything we got to see here tonight. Another amazing night kind of close out there that at least the school year not our job. We continue to come here. >> Um but to see all the great things to all the uh high school graduates of of 2026, I wish them all the best. Unfortunately, I won't be here. I will be sailing the sea. So, Mary Rose, I'll I'll leave you to make sure you you send me a picture of the uh of the row going up towards um towards the Talon High School. I think that's

058absolutely cool what they do every year. Um, so best of luck to all of them and and uh and to all the teachers and staff and everybody, you know, dice and great job for another another good school year and um I'm sure that graduation night we'll get to see and well you'll get to hear and see more amazing things just like we just saw here tonight. So I'm looking forward to it or hearing about it, not seeing it. I won't be having said that. That's it. >> Thank you. Good. >> Best wishes to them. >> Um, committee student representatives are not here. Committee and liaison report policy. >> Um, nothing since our last meeting. I don't I wasn't able to be at the last meeting. Uh, the last general meeting. >> Yeah. >> Gotcha. I

059think you guys voted on uh uh one of the policies. I don't know. There's a lot coming down. So, >> we voted the policy and policies, right? >> Yes. There you go. [laughter] So there you go. Communication >> was set the agenda for next week's. >> Okay. >> So that's should be out in the public to the town >> curriculum. >> Um no meeting last time. Now we had to cancel to other conflicting um things going in that day. So hopefully we'll get back on track. >> Okay. [clears throat] Dana is not here for FFC. >> I think FFC was the last week. >> We did have a meeting. >> We have a meeting next week. Yeah. >> Okay. um negotiations. We are about to close with the nurses. >> You did close. >> Okay.

060Just got to sign off on everything and um we're in process with the uh the parents. That's still ongoing. >> That's where we're at. >> I didn't [clears throat] miss the committee, did I? >> Yeah. >> All right. Um no chair report. Um we'll send it back to you. >> Question. use. Okay. So, as you know, the first meeting, excuse me, [clears throat] of every month is the monthly financial report. Um, at this CA, in this case, you're getting the monthly financial report for May. So, we're getting pretty close to the wrap up of the year. Um, board members would have access to that, but the public can see it on the on the screen. It's also in the board of ed packet. If you want a better look at it, you can get it

061through the PDF that's in the back. And I'll go over some of the basic lines. Some of this stuff you've heard many times before because some of it it doesn't change. It trends so or it doesn't change that much. It trends in a certain direction. So um 110 a little um under budget as we approach the end of the year. We expect the amount to you from May to June to increase as we continue to expend those funds. Um, code 120 substitutes is over by 181. Uh, we talked about this in the past two due to custodian substitutes uh being needed this year and several staff unfortunately kind of got hit with FMLA issues or long-term subs were used and so on. So, that impacted us um and as you know, we had a um

062supervisor position that um also was out for a bit and then was um you know, we have that individual brought in now. So this will be one more month of experience in May June and then have to close out information. We'll talk about that as we get to the end of the year. Um code 130 is a little over budgeted. Um this is overtime and so you know as you know other people are out people have to step in and do some overtime. So that's teachers, nurses, secretary paras and custodian overtime they're seeing in that overage there. 50 is over by 10,000. Um, this is that club line I said we get closer and closer to sort of that negative. You remember it was like 50 or something last time. So now it's 10. We'll

063continue to kind of resolve that between now and June, but it's landing about where I thought it would. >> Um, much better than past years, but still, you know, some room to to work on that. 210 health insurance over budget 33 uh due to several 33,000 due to several vacancies. Then the district is absorbing the cost of the employee contributions when that happens. Um there are some savings on lines um that kind of work with that, but it's it's overall going negative by 33,000. 320 professional ed services over by 102,000. Um it's down from last month in terms of the overage from 180 to 102 due to an additional you know services. Sometimes they begin, sometimes they end and sometimes we'll get a credit back from an incumbrance. So that's trending a little bit better,

064but it's still 102 over. It has to do with outplacements and um you know we did not budget for a uh you know a placeholder outplacement last year so we ended up kind of having it and um that's that was how that got incurred. uh 340 we knew legal services was we wanted to go over because we had kind of underfunded that line and kind of knew that would probably be how it how it happened and um you know it did uh we had a lot of things that the um you know from the two units and other things like that two big two bargaining units going in and and having negotiations and all that can can drive that up as well as other things. So that also um there's special education legal services which

065are sometimes engaged for a variety of different things and so that's also I'm going to be impacting but overall that's the picture as you come into the end of the year. Um the balance right now is 117,262 and um we have one more month to incur. not expect it to land somewhere in that zone for an end ofear balance. You're not going to know the actual end ofear balance until August or September once everything's incurred because we close it out June 30th and then there are things that trickle in. So, we'll be able to give a kind of a good good look at what that end of year number actually is in in August or September depending on what's what's getting incurred for that period of time after the close. But I do expect it

066to be something in the range of about a 100,000 that we'll have at the end. >> Can I ask a question? Up first, for no quick. So, we have received all of the uh state reimbursements that we'll we will be getting in uh for this year. >> We should, but there's one or two um grants that I have to sign off up off and on and finish. So there might be a little bit of trickling there. There's probably two or three that are they're finalizing and then they automatically rolled in. >> So >> and they would be applied for this. >> They'd be applied against this year. >> All right. And what is the values of those? >> They're not not a ton. I mean, you're talking in the thousands here. >> Oh, okay. >>

067It's not it's nothing. It's not going to be anything like >> Well, we're going to talk about drift in a minute, but but and that's the biggest, but that's going to automatically go right to some things. >> All right. I'll I'll wait for that. Thank you. >> Um, but the rest of them are just a couple, you know, couple thousand here and there that I'm wrapping up. >> Understood. >> Is there a way to concisely do it? I mean, I guess you could go back to the agenda from last June around this time of year to compare like the the the uh substitute line being over what it is, the overtime being over what it is. Is there a way to sort of concisely get gather that from, you know, end of school year for

068the last five years, 10 years, something like that? >> Yeah, I I have um data that we can talk about with respect to that and maybe the FFC would be a good place to do that. >> Sure. >> If you want to go year to year for a little bit. >> Sure. Because I'd be curious just because this number seems high. Um, and I just can't recall off the top of my head without looking back and I just can't recall what the numbers in the past have been like and whether they these these these overages are going up, meaning we're more negative um or whether they're sort of consistent. I don't know if you know that off the top of your head either. >> Well, it's top of my head. We've had a pretty rough

069year from FMLA point of view. >> Yeah. >> So, and um as we at earlier meetings this year, we talked about like a lot of illness. Yeah. Um and so we we had a little bit I think rougher of a year than than some other years >> excluding something like co I think it's been a little bumpier from an FMLA point of view and from a custodial outage point of view and things like that. Well, part of my questioning, you know, the the the FMLA we've talked about and I think multiple years in a row now. Um I'm more so I'm I'm, you know, I'm a little concerned, you know, with the workloads that we're asking people to do in, >> you know, and what they're being compensated. You know, I'm it it affects, you

070know, cost of living affects everybody. So I'm I'm I'm just curious from that behavior, >> are people being sort of driven to a point of sickness? Are they being driven, you know, it what is causing a lot of this? And it, you know, a lot of it is are those FMLA claims and whatnot. Understood. But I'm just sort of curious, you know, we're not helping ourselves by ignoring this every year, right, as we enter November, December into budget season and all that. So, it's more so, you know, >> there's also some shift in um I mean, just throwing all kinds of little things out there. There's lots of little factors on paternity. >> Yep. Yep. >> That's that's an sort of thing that when I was going through that wasn't something that happened a lot

071and now it's a lot more uh there's a lot more support for it. Um so, you see there are things like that and that would that would be an FMLA. >> Gotcha. >> You know, um that kind of thing. Um, so that that there's new things of mental health days, you know, now that's also sub coverage, not necessarily LTS, but the state requires, you know, you can take up to two, I think, mental health mental health days, >> notice, >> you know, there there's lots of things new that are different than five years ago, 10 years ago, and certainly, you know, way back. >> Um, so there's there's a lot of stuff like that that plays in. >> Yeah. um not I'm just throwing out things that are off the top of my head, but

072I know that that was um those are things that are incurred now that weren't passed if um that makes sense. >> Yeah, >> I would be curious if FFC would compare those data. >> There's that little on the dashboard list, she'll get it and then Gotcha. Gotcha. You >> have any questions? labs. All right. Thanks, Walton. Okay. Okay. Uh oops. Next on the agenda is your budget update. So when we get to this point in the year, what I try to do is go from the sheets that oops the sheets that we had before where you know we're looking at what we feel is going to be reduced in order to reach the 3.4 and so on and then we have to go through the process of actually executing that which I talked about in

073a couple of places. Um, if you notice the the tops of those sheets are always the the original sheets that you got say possible because we have to see who's going to bump whom and how that's going to play out. So the the actuals are on these three documents. It's going to be um presented to you tonight and then as soon as we're done tonight, probably tomorrow morning, I'll post it to the budget page of the board um so the public can view it as well. So this is um an update to how those reductions fell. You have a reduction of 12 positions which is more or less what you expected. Those reductions include an administrator. Um they include the prek five teachers. If you look at the vacancy retirement resignation line here, this will

074tell you was this um as instructed. I tried to look at towards as many of the retirements and um you know resignations as I could so that people that were in positions wouldn't lose their livelihoods at the board's direction. And obviously you know that was stupid people. Um so if you look through it you can see on the right side whether this was a vacancy from a retirement or whether it impacted an individual. Um, so there's the admin, the three prek5 teachers, a 0.5 librarian, uh, 612 ELA teacher, the four PAR educators, um, there's a 0.5 PAR educator, I broke it out separately because that was a vacancy. Um, BCBA 1.0, a district technology, and the total FTE reduced is 12.0. Um, we try to do our best with any kind of retirement differentials to

075lower the impact. So, you'll see some shifts here like the 0.5 librarian that was going to be a full in position, but retirements allowed us to do some things a little bit differently. Um, you know, it's it's it's got most of what you saw before, but it shifted in a direction um that that allowed you to meet your 3.4% with some of the impacts mitigated. Um, other things that were adjusted, these are pretty much the same thing as you saw before. However, what I did do is I I combined some of the lines because I tried to make this one page. So, you'll notice on the previous document, some of these things were spread out onto a couple of other bullets, but it represents the same stuff like insurance. I just threw workers comp, liability,

076benefits on this line instead of having them separate bullets. And I tried to push it all up because that I generally the board's a fan of one pagers. They like it all in one, you know, one page. So, I tried to get it all up there for uh for you based on the request from the best. If you look at the bottom of the page, this represents these documents here. The object page in the final budget object page represents that object page that you see in the uh board of ed budget and the superintendent budget. Also, a one pager. Caution on this. It is a rollup. So, as we talked about in the past, it's a roll up of many lines in order to get the lines on one page. So, it's consistent with the

077budget um docs you're going to see in the superintendent proposed budget and the board of ed adopted budget, but just keep in mind it's it is a rollup. So, that's that's you know that has some some benefits but also drawbacks when you're trying to extrapolate. In contrast to that, the fiscal year 27 final budget document also will be posted online tomorrow. This has everything. So, um I mean also it's not the 10,000 pages. It's everything condensed, but this is the this is the appendix F you'd see not in our FFC meetings but in the back of the budget booklets. >> So, this is consistent with that and it gives you how these lines were impacted um to achieve the 3.4% 4% 1 mill 1,51360 reduction to reach a budget of 46,014811. So these documents are

078the documents that I'll publish to the public that demonstrate your adjustments at this point to make that the final adjustments for the 3.4%. >> Any questions? Yeah, I have um so these um these two retirements I know the safety had said that one was like a last minute retirement. Those are all set included in this with adjustments that you're speaking about. >> That's why I uh I put in here um actualized retirement differentials. >> Okay. >> Because now it's exactly it's not any projection or you know whatever. It's it's the people that's retired. >> All right. And then the other thing, can you um correct me if I'm wrong, I could be wrong. Uh there was so many variations, but wasn't there loss of um I don't know if it was teachers or faculty or

079whatever realm we had mentioned at each of the different schools. Is that still happening here? Cuz I don't see anything here for the middle school yet. I seen three at Birch Grove and I remember there was only two at Birch Grove, I thought. And then I thought there was like two almost at each school. >> Yeah. Well, what happened impacted by bumping and then also things like if we're going to lose MTSS services entirely at a building, we might transfer a staff member to a different building to avoid complete loss of MTSS. >> Okay. >> Um some other things that happen are that somebody that might be bumped from one 612 school like a high school, that person might have seniority. And so the person that actually loses the job would be in a in

080a different school in the building and then we have to reshuffle staff to cover um to cover it. That's why you know when we put up there the where we are going to be making reductions we go ahead and start doing that and then all of that starts happening the bumping the reductions and then you know when it it looks like you might lose an entire program then I do a transfer of staff to make sure we don't lose an entire program where possible. Yeah. Um, so you're getting this pretty much the same FTE, maybe a little bit better, but it's just this is what happens when you start moving, shoveling around to adjust, not losing it. >> I end up making operational decisions to to ensure that we don't um lose like a sequence.

081And that's a good example, MTSS. Right now, you have it at Birch Grove, you have it at TIS, we completely lose it at the middle school, and then you have it back in ninth grade at the high school. But that continuity problem, you know, it doesn't work. Yes. Completely lose it. So I have to move people around. >> So it does impact the schools like that. It'll it'll be somebody I might take from a building because of a reduction and it retire and then transfer a position into the other one. >> So that's going to that'll happen. It may continue to happen a little bit depending on what happens if people, you know, leave after this or something. So the question I have with this I I I assume this was uh was it Wat

082uh Watson was I apologize for the name. >> I tried not to Yeah, one of them is Madson. >> Yeah, Madson. I apologize. >> Is this for reading though? K through five. >> So what happened? >> Is that her position? >> Yes. So I try to keep names out of it but in you know was >> Yeah. Yeah. The cat's out of the bag. Yeah. >> So she is the only reading interventionist and her employment was at TMS. So to avoid losing the entire intervention or eating program which also is connected to 504s and other things like that transfer someone from another building income to that position who has that certification. So we'll still have districtwide. >> We'll have districtwide assess. But that's the kind of thing that I I at the end of the

083day when it all falls down and who bumps whom and where and who that ends up being. And then Miss Madson was a retirement like you know not last minute but as you heard Miss Hickeyi say it was just came up. >> Yeah. >> So we had to reshuffle again to kind of like how am I going to cover those programs and you know how do we make sure we don't lose the program continuity. >> Okay. >> So that these end up being how the operational decisions come down. That's why I when I were doing the first round, it's all it says, you know, possibilities and then you >> Yeah, I understand. All right. Thank you, Bill. I'm all set. Any other questions? >> Can I just make a comment? >> Sure. There there are

084so many cases in these meetings where having seen how much ignorance there is online and social media about the effort that goes into managing these issues. I just wish more people realized how much effort is going into this chen and the actual effects dayto day and the the fact that people are looking as hard as they are to keep programs going and yet we have you know we got two people >> that's frustrating up >> I tell you what being being here your first year is is an eye opening experience. >> Yes, it is. Any other questions on the budget update? >> And we will move on to new business L1 possible cancellation, the July 22nd board of ed meeting date. So, this comes up, as some of you have been around the block a

085couple times know that as the summer approaches, the board uh entertains potentially not having the July 22nd board of ed meeting. It is a particularly unpopular meeting and board members as it is in the middle of the summer. I guess that's all. I will say I will not be in attendance of that meeting if there is a meeting because I will be not in the state. >> Um my only question is it going to is that is cancelling that meeting a throw off the superintendent timeline and if so then I cannot I can't I we have done that enough the last five years and I I just even if the purpose of the meeting is simply the superintending evaluation personally I just >> Yeah. The evaluation part. No. >> No. >> The evaluation part. >>

086What do you Okay. The evaluation part. What? What's the other part? >> The other part is you decide whether you want to give me anything or not. Does that get pushed back if we for me? It won't matter. You don't have to make that decision about me. You should do it. >> What does your contract say? >> Compensate. >> It has to be passed. I mean, you'll probably be passed it anyway, but but that'll be next. That'll be the next discussion that we have. And and it won't bother me if you don't do that. We can >> Well, you say that every year back. >> Not the reason to have that meeting. >> Not that he's not gonna get some or compensation >> loss and he'll just give back pay for it. >> Right. You

087you should Yes, that is not a reason to have the meeting along the same wavelength as Jaden. I don't like missing deadlines, right? >> And we've missed it every year I've been on board. We haven't even been close to it. So, my personal opinion is that we don't cancel it. I understand if you've got vacation, you're going to miss it. That's fine. But, you know, I don't want to miss a deadline, but I'm just one vote. >> I mean, will we have quarantine? >> I don't know. But and well, that's another part. Who knows if I can be there a month and a half? It's more so >> as far as I know, I'll be here. >> Right. Right. if I can the and timeline is important again the timeline is important we haven't hit

088it I think you just said all the four years or five years that at least I've been here that you've been so um >> I mean if you do everything the you know without any deviation you would complete that by July 8th >> okay >> complete what by July 8th >> my entire cycle and your compensation conversation if you follow this to a tea then you should >> when was the last time that that date has been hit for you. >> Remember it, >> but it's okay. >> That's a problem. >> Right. And you know what it really means, Bill, though, is you and Jen are going to have a line work, >> right? >> To do between now and then gonna hit that. I just s maybe can we revisit this topic for the

089next meeting to see how far along the actual document and if we're still on target for that date. I mean don't we decide that tonight or >> if there's this hesitation that maybe it is completed by the 8th we can cancel that. >> This isn't new business. This isn't an action. >> Yeah. >> So we're not voting on doing this unless we vote to move this to action. So new business is just for discussion. >> Okay. >> If at the end of discussion we choose that we want to vote on it then we have to vote to move it to action and then once we get it to action then we vote on the approval of it. >> So right now we're just in discussion. Yep. if sorry I was just I know there's at

090least one of us that has still has to get caught up on part of what I have to do to support that deadline and this is a perfectly fine kick in the butt for me to do that. So but as far as I'm concerned I'm going to do what I can to support the deadline. >> [clears throat] >> I'm I'm I'm almost opposite of Brian. Similar to Brian, but almost opposite in the sense of if we get to the July 8 what will be July 8th meeting and we've completed it and we then let's cancel. Okay, we can now cancel June July 22nd. But I am I am standing on 10 toes this year about hitting this timeline and and and being respectful to your time as well as your livelihood, you know. And I

091think it's about time that a board has done that in my opinion. So, um I think I would be sort of on the lines of what Brian just said, but almost waiting to cancel it instead of or is that what you were saying, right? >> Yeah. I was saying, yeah, wait to make a decision on even if we even want to decide about this. I know Bill's tell me the procedure. I understand that aspect of it. I'm just saying can you not throw this new business L1 at the next meeting? >> Yeah. And [clears throat] I mean we certainly can do that. We can >> in two weeks you'll have more. >> I mean technically this is your first read of that. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> Yes. >> I don't think we should cancel

092it. I think that we've got like policy stuff coming up that we're going to have to get through. We've got other things like obviously people take vacations in the summer. People take vacations all year long. So, if we're going to have a forum, I'd rather have a short meeting and get through what we need to get through than just cancel the meeting. >> Point policies. There are >> lots of there are plenty. >> Anyone else? So, I think the plan Dr. Willlet will be to um for agenda planning make sure we >> put this back on back when we when we meet again on Tuesday. >> Yeah. that >> and that'll give Jen and I time to figure out where we're at with writing of everything. [clears throat] >> Get it. We're on time. >>

093I agree. Let's get it. >> I think that's the Keith. I think we're all on the same page, right? If we're doing what we got to do, >> [ __ ] canceling. We're not all on the same page. No, which is fine. We've had people over the years that I've been here. >> Some say you can't cancel some I I I'm not saying cancel. I'm just letting you know, I won't be here. Whatever. There is a meeting or not. But even in sorry, even in the case of if it's a policy or this, I mean, we do have a meeting before that at the end of June, I think, too. So there, you know, if if, god forbid, we need to expedite things and get things, you know, going early, maybe we put it at that July

0948th meeting and and we, you know, so we can we can figure all that out down the road. But I agree with her premise of there's a lot of things that we have to accomplish this summer, you know, and stay on time. So that's >> it's not budget season when >> it's not budget. >> When it's not budget season. Correct. Correct. >> Anyone else? You're ready to move on. Okay. [clears throat] Um the thing for old business um board action, Dr. Willlet, drip funding. >> Two items for tonight. Drip funding is the first one. I don't know why this state comes up with the acronyms it comes up with, but so DRIP is the district repair and improvement project. Uh it's a it's a grant that um that is out there and I I completed

095the grant process. Um this will give us an opportunity to do a lot of work in the district that um needs to get done. As you know Stava is amazing facilities director. He's we can grab it run with it. Um and I worked on this. There's a spreadsheet that um has listed projects. Basically, the projects are summarized here in the bullets, but spreadsheets also there if you wanted to take a look at them. Um front entry man trap and main office restructure the fencing on for the edge of the brick retaining wall on that front patio there at Middle School. Uh safety and security projects. Um Man Trap is one of them, but also at Birch Grove. Rolled up kitchen area. There's a area we want to secure the kind of metal window. Um and

096then HVAC repairs and upgrades at the high school and the middle school. Flooring upgrades at Taland Intermediate School. The total of the grant is $110,9926. We have acquired the grant. So at this point, um what I would need from the board is your permission and acceptance of the grant that I completed. um if you don't accept it, we lose it. If you do accept it, we use this money to act, you know, to execute those projects. This spreadsheet has um all of those projects in more detail and that's available to you um you know and the public actually if you just copy paste that link you can see all the projects their detail uh legal and compliance notes. Um we intend to move on it very quickly once approved by you. Uh the question sorry

097he waved me on either because he was saying but >> are you done? >> I am ahead. >> Okay. >> I was like this you had your head down. That's all because I was reading >> would for all of these uh the projects we are considering for the drip funding are all of these would be covered with that 110,000. Oh, okay. That's quite a few projects then. Five pretty big projects it seems like. Especially you start getting into havoc players and bluring upgrades and all that. Okay, great. >> Yeah, I I didn't I just I didn't want to dig too too deep into that. >> Yeah, but um the the funds are actually technically available at this point. Like the town are aware of them um and they have been transferred over which it goes

098I I'll I do the grant paperwork. town gets those monies and then we you know once you approve it then they get allocated as the projects are worked on. >> So it's actually there we it's it's it's ready to go. We just have to officially accept it in the minutes >> and then and that work scope is is specifically tied to the grants when you go through the application process. Right. So >> yeah, it has a one to one tie. >> You let them know what you are planning on doing with it and then Yeah. >> Okay. So I mean is there I I can't think of a reason why we wouldn't accept it go forward, right? >> Ask some questions. >> Um do any of these impact does any of these jobs here impact

099summer school or anything coming up? >> No, we made sure that they wouldn't. >> Okay. But I will compliment to Ken and Pete staba like you know these kind of things come out of the woodwork and we'll do them and then I I have to ask Pete to be the one who executes it right. So he's the one who makes sure make sure that it doesn't interrupt our our ESY's program or extended school year program or any of it. I'll get the grant and I turn to him and he does the magic of making sure that it can happen in the time we expend it and the projects get done. So kudos to him. He's going to be making sure that it's not interrupting our programs. >> And sorry, follow question. So on any of

100these jobs here, um does he anticipate any kind of delays on any of this? >> No, he and I have talked um you know the one thing that is delayed is has nothing to do with this but is that auditorium seating which we already talked about >> but that not these no in fact these it's important that we act on it. you know, the timeline was tight. This came up, you know, kind of end of year. We're always keeping eyes peeled for anything. Um, there's a couple of other grants I have my eye on and I'll be working on, but this came up pretty rapidly and I I jumped on it, you know, got keyed in on it and, you know, we we're ready to roll. But these kind of things come up and we're

101looking for them all the time, but they usually do have a tight timeline when they come up and you got to get it in. You got to let them know and you got to execute it. >> Are any of these projects on the existing capital plan? >> No. No. They they help offset some of the things that we would now that we wouldn't ask the town board. We're doing it this way. >> I thought the man was on the capital plan, >> but there's some differential in funding and this will cover the differential in >> because everything went up. Cost of man went up. So when assuming we approve this that man trap will come off the capital plan. >> Well what was it what is extended plus this will bridge it >> right and

102it'll okay >> and then it'll be done and when it's done it's off and you have access to um the capital like request piece back on that page. I can show you later, but it's on the but if you go up to the superintendent page and then go to capital that main doc is there but also your your dashboard has the all those projects listed and their years and all that too so you can see where all of them fall but that one is getting supplemented. >> I was going to say because if I remember right that man trap is more than $110,000 but this is supplementing the differential of the correct >> correct that in that case it's bridging it. Yeah. >> All right. Yeah, the other trap money is only 45,000. >> Okay.

103>> Yeah. >> Any other questions? >> I believe there is a motion written at the bottom of the sheet. This is one that we are in action. So that would be either accepting or not accepting. >> I move that the board of education authorize the acceptance of state of Connecticut drip debt reimbursement incentive program payments as received. direct that such funds be deposited into the appropriate district accounts in accordance with state regulations and district financial procedures. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Like he >> said Jaden >> I >> JP got it. >> You're right. I got >> I am an I motion passes. >> All right. Next one. And two obsolete and surplus equipment. Dr. Willie. So, as you know, we periodically will bring to you obsolete and surplus equipment

104list. As per the um policy 3040, we have to put that in front of you in order to surplus the items. When we quote surplus these items, they are turned over to the town and then the town decides what they want to do with them. They could sell them or uh scrap them. So, a lot of times they're going to be scrapping them if they're useless materials. So, um sometimes metal materials can be sold to metal shops and so on. A lot of this stuff is destroyed, damaged, or not working anymore. But as part of the process, we don't just throw it in a dumpster, we return it over. Um, also, if you were to walk by a dumpster at a school and see a Samsung phone and a Galaxy and an Apple phone, like

105that's you think that, you know, they're being it's irresponsible. So this process also illustrates the why. So these are damaged, exploded, destroyed, you know, um, and they're turned over for basically to be trashed. The Ford F-150 pickup has been sitting in the back of the building for quite a long time and it is in very bad shape. And some of you may have seen it if you come to the subcommittee meetings or whatever. It's it's back there off to the right. Um, it needs extensive repairs, undercarriage and bodies severely rusted out. Um, the truck has been utilized for many years very heavily and it's been moving. Um, trailering, demolitioning. Um, mileage is 150,000. So, it's in pretty bad shape and there's probably life forms in there at this point that need to be cleared out.

106So, it's it's being surplused over. Um, they might be able to to sell it, but it is uh it would need to be fixed. um TMS TMS speech room. These kits are chronological awareness stuff very old, very out ofd um not up to the current research for any of those items for phenemic awareness, dyslexia, all that. That's literally decades old stuff and we can't use it anymore. So you'll notice the dates on it are 1989. It's very very old. We try to get everything out of it we can but that that these are unusable at this point and um they've been replaced by things that you know are much more researchbased now. Um so you'll notice that stuff is probably pretty straightforward. Um and then magnetic games. These things are in terrible shape as well.

107They've been used. One of them is from 1987. And you you know when we did our instructional rounds you saw teachers will use anything and they keep it on their shelves forever. So, [clears throat] these things are some of these are back to when I was in high school and um they're not they're not usable at this point. They're in very bad shape. I'm amazed that they survived as long as they have. So, that gets turned over. Um so, I guess you can tell by just reading it. 1979, 1973, you know, that's actually closer to birth time than high school time here. Um, so you're looking at really old stuff. And then CDs, you know, by their nature, most of the generations that were in here today barely know what that is. You do. Um,

108these are CDs from many, many, many, many, many years ago. Also, not working, scratched, or just not useful. >> So, that's about it. Then we have this this um open field tackling football slide. I can't believe it's finally going. Nobody wants this. There's one man who has reached out about this. One person and um we're going to turn it over to the town. We're going to tell that man that the town now has it for surplus. >> Let him go at it. [laughter] But this thing has been wanted by no one else. So um that there is a picture of that just I don't know because to memorialize it because this has been a thing trying to get this one surplus but that is ready to go. So that you know another use of it

109is it could be turned over for metal but um I think the gentleman has wanted it for so long would probably be fair to to offer him an opportunity to purchase this. Um so anyway that it's on this it's this is it that's total list for the surplus items for this meeting. Um and we'll have another cycle probably in another six months or something like that as we get into next year. >> I'm shocked that an Apple iPhone first generation in existence. >> Well it did uh yeah >> anyone have any questions on this >> on the iPhone situation? I mean, that is old. I'm not going to use the word old. It's It's >> It's old. >> It's It's It's from a while ago. >> I I think that's beyond mature. That's old. >>

110Beyond mature. >> Yeah. I mean, it's I'm not going to say what I was just about to say. I'm just going to say before I could access K devices. I mean, that is that is be What else? If that's still in our circulation, there's got to be other things. And maybe not. I don't know. But going to be a lot of things that we should be able to just get rid of and then the first five the first five and then a bunch of these other you know although then again there's like huge list here. I don't know the fact that an iPhone first generation is on this list. I mean is there >> that sounds like one of the newest things on the list >> really? I don't know. But, you know, some of

111the some of those bigger items, you know, those first five from the IT department and from facilities. >> I mean, I don't know when this Galaxy S7 and I don't know when all those came out, >> but those are I've got an S8 tucked away in No. >> Gotcha. You could drive around in the Ford F-150 with it. >> Yeah. There you go. I mean, are there other off the top of your head? I mean, you said in six months we're going to see probably >> Usually I come to you about every six months. >> Yeah. you know, on a half an annual basis. >> So, you're expecting more >> more. >> Yeah. Because there's always exploding dying, you know, electronics and and things that they do try to use things as long as they

112can. >> Got and I again I could have said the teachers as you've been around in the rounds, I don't know if your eyes wander to the the shelves, but there's stuff on there that you look at and go, why is that still there? >> It's usually because the teacher's working it into something. >> Yeah. Um, but when it finally is unusable, it comes to you here. There's surplus pieces. So, >> serious question. >> I would say my my big question that comes up from this is and and maybe it's something we want to bring up on policy, but h how is it that we are seeing things that are 40 years old that have not been reviewed prior to this for their necessity? Right? Like if there was if there was phonx stuff that

113could have been used 30 years ago, what the heck is it still doing on our shelves now? So, and I don't necessarily need an answer, but if you can give a 30 second version, are we missing something in terms of getting rid of stuff sooner than we ought to be? Well, I think the first thing that comes to mind is I think they try to use things for as long as they possibly can. Um, so I think it's more of a sign that they try not to throw things away and they use them. Um, but I would also say that when you look at something like dyslexia, it's moved forward so rapidly that there's so many changes, so many advances in understanding that um, you know, they they they quickly become outdated and again they're

114that combination of, you know, wanting to keep something until they're absolutely 100% sure they'll never need it again along with the rapid, you know, rate of that changing leaves. sometimes this happening where there's stuff that like you know looks like it's really old or whatever. Um but mo the teachers are using and doing the newest things and the most advanced practices that's happening but um but you know that I think that is part of it. They move rapidly forward and some of it is just the time it takes to in surplus things. Some of it is them wanting to hold on to it because they feel like it'll have some use at some point. Um, and then realizing just like you do at home, probably in your attic, you know, you look at it one

115time and you're like, "Well, do I really want to get rid of this right now? I don't know. It could possibly have a use, you know, and your your significant other goes, why the heck are you going to use that for?" And you say, "I don't know, but I want to hold on to it just in case." And you come back to it next year and the next year after that, finally, you throw it up. >> I I feel personally attacked. >> So, I think it's not that different here. I will say just as a point of example, you know, in the state of Connecticut for instance for reading programs, you know, we were riding riding along with effective programming and then the state said, you know, uh, you can only choose from one of

116these six programs and the rest of them can no longer be utilized and you have x number of time to shift over to this 24 months or whatever. And >> good luck. Yeah. >> And that that that 2-year period, the entire program got replaced because the state of Connecticut needed to have it be one of these six. >> So all that stuff, you know, in that example, we still use what's called foundations because it still has a place, but inter reading is now the one that we use, you know, as a broad district program because it's one of the states required ones. and then we augment it with foundations and then five ten years from now, who knows what that turns up to. >> See, in that case where something's just being obsoleted by a

117state requirement, I could see it potentially being useful to homeschoolers or something like that. >> But well, there's stuff that's 40 years old. >> Well, no, that's what I mean. There's stuff that's decades old. I mean, >> well, it's kind of like the the like you have a toolbox and you you have your hammer and now the state says this is the hammer that you're going to be using, right, >> forever. But you keep that other hammer because sometimes, you know, the other hammer is actually the thing you're going to use for Walt because Walt might not respond well to the, you know, >> so you have different nails and your best and get them all, you know, the state tells you this one's the one you have to have, right? It's also not saying

118you have to completely throw out everything else. It just means, you know, that might become part of your tier 2 three supportive stuff. So I think it's more like u just making sure you have all the tools in the tool box that are going to help every kid's need or every nail that needs to be you know used on getting a hammer analogy. I'm getting a little pink Floyd here and I think that probably notation hammers nail >> is any of this bought on capital and if so is it fully depreciated? co >> uh capital. I mean, Ford F-150 is like a capitalist and if you want to go look at it, I would say yes. >> We But we like on the books fully appreciate. >> So, yeah, I there's nothing I think that

119isn't. >> Yeah. I'd like to make a motion to determine all items included in this report as obsolete and/or in disrepair and turn the identified items over to the town according to board policy 3040. Second >> Jaden >> I >> Brian >> I >> JP >> I passes unanimously. >> Excellent. We are back to item O, public participation with a tomb limit time limit. Same rules apply as the first round. Please state your name and your address for the record. Anyone in the room? Anyone online? Back to the room. back online. We will close public participation. Um, points of information town council minutes May 26 and next item is executive session. So yes, >> so we need a motion to move into executive session for the purposes of the superintendent evaluation. >> And then if

120you want to invite >> I move to move into executive session for the purposes of the superintendent evaluation and invite Dr. >> Second >> Jaden I JP. >> Hi Joel. >> Hi and I am an I. So we will go to executive session. Everyone will be put in the waiting room. That is >> and everybody is back in the room. >> All right, we are out of executive session and I will entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> Second. >> I second. >> One of you can only >> make a movement and one of you can second. So let's try it. >> Second. All right. Jaden. Hi. McKenzie. Brian. Hi. JP Joel. Hi. And I am an I. We are journey.