001Righty, Dr. Willlet, I think we have some acknowledgements tonight. >> We do. Uh we have a very sad kind of acknowledgement, very exciting one though as well. Uh we have Suzanne Grietta here tonight. She is the assistant principal of Birch Grove Primary School. And sad because we're very sad to see her go. excited because she's getting to retire and who doesn't love that? So, that's really great. Um, I also have here tonight um Mr. Swanson who is her principal, works very closely with her. Um, I'm not going to take all the oxygen out of the air here. I'll let Mr. Swanson say some some of the wonderful things that we want to say, but Miss Googla has been an incredible uh administrator for the Talon Public Schools. When we talk about those 260 something PPTs
002in a year and everything that that's per we're we're referring to the amazing feat of that if you can consider the PPTs can run up to three hours doing 260 to 300 of them you can imagine what that what that is in a in a work year and so on she has sing in many ways um with Tom and her as partners but in many ways she's really been the hero down at BGP really helping to make sure that all of the students needs IEPs are fulfilled and has not only IEPs, she's been instrumental in helping the social emotional learning um committee and work move forward very quickly there. She's worked very closely with social worker there faith. She's done so many things to make sure that kids social emotional welfare is uh paramount paramount
003and uh you know that that doesn't stop there. I mean her commitment to the community and kids. She's a fierce defender of the rights of students and the safety of students. Uh I can always count on Missa to make sure that things are done well and in the students best interest. You know, she she leaves no stone unturned and is one of the, you know, the strongest defenders of children I've ever seen. So, it's a it's a real hard loss for the Tomlin public schools. But, um but you know, I'm very happy for her. And when she went to is that Ireland? So hopefully she gets to do a lot of really cool things and great things in her retirement. Um so I don't again I said I didn't want to take all the thunder
004here. Also another amazing administrator Mr. Swanson. I wanted to give them an opportunity to say a few things about the best. >> Perfect. Well thank you and I certainly echo Dr. Willlet you know certainly I wish her all the best because certainly retirement's exciting but big loss for me. Uh but yeah just like Dr. Will was saying, you know, Suzanne joined us with an immense amount of early childhood experience coming to us and having been a principal as well as a special education teacher herself. And so all these years uh that she's been here, she's been such an advocate for our students here at Birch Grove. U the things that she's done with our teams, our MTSS team and our special ed team and our administrators has just been awesome to really support our students.
005And she looks at students age three all the way up to age eight. and that's work that's been done and you know really given strategies that can help our students and our families. Um can't thank her enough for all the work that she's done. We were just reflecting like how fast nine years goes. Um you know the day that she came on board she jumped right in and was helping me with a student that needed some support and sure enough we're going around the gym and chasing a student and you know those things happen and so but she jumped right in and she's just been amazing all the years helping us. Um she helped us as a district as well as a school and a family through the uh pandemic. Uh that was early on
006in her career with us and certainly she had just strong organizational skills and leadership skills and she paired up really nicely with our our staff and really helped us through that process. You know, thinking of things that we needed to be paying attention to as we were reopening our schools and the portables and going through the building project, all those wonderful things that we lived way back when. Uh but Suzanne brought a wealth of experience uh that really helped us through that process uh you know having our playscape and the the bus area where we loaded the buses and things that we just did and we made it work through that time uh of our building project and she'd always been an advocate like Dr. Will was saying were students needs around social emotional learning?
007Um, you know, students coming with concerns whether it's their their background or maybe some trauma or things that are just those are things that Suzanne's really paid close attention to with our social worker has really reminded us as a staff like how important it is to tune in with students that need that support and always been an advocate um through and through all the years. Um, you know, I can't thank her enough for all the things that she's done. She's been right there for all of our events after school. Um, you know, certainly helping us. Our PTO does amazing things as we all know and she's right there being part of it. You know, on behalf of myself, the staff and the students and the families of Burrow, I would like to thank Suzanne uh
008for her dedication and her countless years of service. Um, as a principal, I greatly valued Suzanne's um all that she's done to support not only our students, our families, but also me and my role each and every day. uh her knowledge, her guidance and commitment have been invaluable in helping our school run smoothly and effectively. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure that students needs were met and the staff uh members felt supported. Um the work that she's done behind the scenes has allowed me to focus on leading and supporting the teaching and learning knowing the with the responsibilities in our school. Uh and she does that by taking care and professionalism. her impact on Birch Grove will deeply be felt. Uh I personally will deeply miss her uh and her leadership and her
009unwavering support that she's had at Birch Grove and it's hard to believe how fast those nine years have gone. Uh so certainly on you know behalf of Birch Grove, thank you so much for all you do and I can't thank you enough. So there's still plenty more time to wrap things up at Birch Grove. So uh but I don't want to take away all I know Dr. Wood has a few more things too. So, but thank you so much for all you've done. I appreciate that. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Tried to get the board to give you a Tesla, but they said no. >> Of course, >> some of your >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you all. Um I'm very appreciative of the res recognition. Um I just wanted to share I knew
010how welcoming this community was. Um even before I started to work here because um few years before I started my son played little league in Ellington and he was bummed out because he couldn't get on a team because there weren't enough coaches. Well coach Shory said yeah from Taland come on over. You can play for Taland. So my son played in Taland. Um, and so that just to me spoke volumes of the kind of community that we are here. Um, I am very appreciative of um, all of the really interesting things we've gone through with the demolition and portables and the gorgeous new building. In fact, the last time I was here, I think the building committee was here, whatever. >> Um, but it's been wonderful work. Um, you know, I I am saddened um,
011you know, by the outcome of um, not my position not being replaced. I know there will be quite an impact on um students in the school community at large. Um but I am I'm very u most proud of the portrait of a graduate work that we've taken on. It's so cool to watch three-year-olds, four year olds, 5-year-olds work on those life skills. They're not skills just to prepare kids for college, for trade schools, what have you. They're life skills. We're teaching them how to be kind, empathetic, collaborative, communicate, um you know, rise through things. We can do hard things at Birch Grove. We've proven that we can and we'll continue to do so. So, thank you very much. Appreciate the recognition. >> We can't leave without getting a broker. It's a field day. It's coming
012up. >> Take a picture with some cards. >> [clears throat] >> I mean, I would just love to say, Suzanne, I mean, I've gotten to know you as a parent and a volunteer and as a board member, and I just appreciate you so much and um your kindness, your warmth, your grace. You are such a great compliment to Mr. Swanson and I know what a great teammate you've been to him. And you know, I think people, you know, often think, you know, administrators, well, let me tell you, you go into Birch Grove and every single time I've been in there, which is a lot. One of you is on a knee with a kid. One of you is walking a kid somewhere. One of you is bringing a kid somewhere. One of you is handling
013a situation. There's a kid crying who only wants to talk to one of you. Um, so I just I just can't thank you enough for the the time and the care that you have put into our district and to our kids and we feel it at home with our children because of the way that you nurture [clears throat] them. So, thank you very much and we are very sad for us, but we are very happy for you. >> Thank you. I appreciate your words. I usually try to get this on purpose. I can take >> um Jen, I raised my hand. Before we take um a picture, can I say something real quick? >> Please. >> Can you guys hear? Can you hear me? >> Can you hear me? >> Yeah. Yeah, we can hear.
014>> So, um Miss Googla Suzanne, I'm so sorry that I couldn't be there tonight. Um because this is why we're board members, right? Because we're appreciative of what you do. And um I hope you know what you did for me and my family. And I'm just very appreciative every day that I would walk into Birch Grove and see both you and Tom. And I don't know if you remember this, but you were the first person my little guy hugged when he ran back in that building uh after CO with your masks on and those kind of things. And it's that warmth and that kindness and that tenderness and that caring of your students and the and your craft that just came out in your personality beyond the classroom. Um, you know, my husband will forever
015love playing his opera when he goes into the drop off line and and you and egging him on and inspiring him to continue to do so. But those are all the little connections that you've had with families across Holland. Um, so again, I I am sorry. It breaks my heart that I couldn't be there tonight. I do hope that I get to see you before the end of the school year, before you retire. Um because truly you are a blessing to Taland. Uh you're a blessing to my family. Again, I appreciate what you've done for my student, my children, as well as the rest of Taland's children and what you've been available to me as a parent and as a board member. It was it's been a very special relationship. So, I'm so appreciative of
016you. >> Thank you so much. Do you have any else online that wants to >> No, I see no more hands. >> Picture time. We're out there. right in front of the >> cho. [laughter] >> Thank you. >> Nice to see you. Thank you for my pro card. >> Nice field day one. >> I got to get one of those. have the sign up. >> Right. I think we have some more acknowledgement. >> We do. So, we we are very fortunate tonight to have uh the students and the staff of the Rockville BOAG program which we have a relationship with the BAG program and um the kids from Tom go there. They have an amazing program and uh they do a great job. Um would anyone like to speak to the program? >> Yeah. Well,
017well, four years ago, we shipped these guys off to Rockville, so they high school so that they could take advantage of their agricultural and technology program. And so, tonight's their opportunity to let us know what they've been doing for the past four years and what their plans for the future are. So, they introduce themselves and >> Hi, [clears throat] I'm Molly. >> Molly. Hey, Molly. Um, I would like to sincerely thank the board of ed and the town for supporting students like me and making programs like Rafco as possible. I truly would not be where I am today without the support. When I first entered the program, I knew I loved animals, but I did not yet realize how much that interest would shape my future. Through my experiences in in the ACT program, classes
018like veterary science, animal anatomy, livestock management, and much more gave me knowledge and hands-on opportunities working with animals that helped me further discover my passion for animal science. Rockville's program did more than teach me about animal science. It helped develop me as a person. It challenged me to work harder, think critically, become more independent, and build confidence in myself. Because of the opportunities provided through this program, I am more prepared for the next steps I will take. This fall, I will be attending the University of Wyoming to major in animal science. As I work toward my long-term goal of becoming a veterinarian through the ACT program, I have already gained experiences and skills that will give me a jump start in my college career. I [clears throat] know that opportunities like these do not happen
019without you, and I am incredibly grateful to have benefited from your support. Thank you for believing in students and investing in programs that allow us to explore our interests, discover our passions, and build our futures. I am proud to represent Rockville and carry everything I've learned there with me into this next chapter. Thank you. >> Hi, my name is Andrew. [clears throat] I was another student sent over through the Rockville program. Um, and I I similar to Molly, I would not be where I am without this program. I Every teacher within the program has given me an opportunity to grow within each class. They've given me opportunity opportunities to grow outside of the class, whether it be CDE, LDE, SAPE, there's a bunch of different acronyms or whatever for all the different opportunities that we
020get. And even even just in the main building, I've met some of my best friends. I I've done some of my I've made some of my favorite memories within the school that I I wouldn't have been able to make otherwise. I'm going to the University of South Carolina next year uh to pursue sports management, which is one of my passions, and I wouldn't have been able to to discover that passion if I wasn't at Rockville and meet the people that I met. So I I really appreciate you presenting it there. >> Great. Any questions for our program? >> I'd just like to say congratulations and thank you so much for coming and and sharing with us. I'm so happy that this has been such a great experience for both of you. Um and best of
021luck with all that all the wonderful things I'm sure that you will do in the future. Thank you. Yeah, >> you're so you're so well spoken in that program is such a great program. Kudos staff too. >> I can honestly Oh, I'm sorry. >> I can honestly say seeing both of you here today in your jackets. I'm feeling a little homesick. You know, I'm a Texas boy, so you know, you get on the bus or you go to school, you see 40, 50 people with that same jacket. And I've been to many livestock shows in San Antonio where it's flooded with FFA uh uh jackets. So, the best of luck to both of you. And I do have any questions. Did you guys ever like show any animals at any livestock shows during your time
022there at Rocka? >> Um, I didn't really have time cuz I did a lot of sports. >> Okay. Alpaca Stewart one time. >> My dad was too cheap. He didn't want me in FFA. He's like, "We got enough animals here at home." >> I didn't wear the jacket, but I took care of a lot of animals. Best of luck. >> Take >> Yeah. Well, I actually took a home last >> with permission. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. >> There was a couple reptiles like bearded. >> Oh, wow. >> Very cool. All right. >> Molly was lucky enough, just a quick story because I'm such a fan of the program as well, um to she was on duty to watch the mother goat um who was about to give birth anytime. So after her lowcross game,
023I think last last season, she popped into the barn and sure enough had given birth. So she was the only one in there and had to do whatever she had to do. So that's one of the goats that we now have at our house. >> Talk about hands-on experience anytime. So We can't say enough great things about Rockville and the VOAG and um just thank you for supporting this the program. >> So she definitely has an edge going to veterary school up in uh does >> Wyoming. There you go. >> Great. >> Is Detective Sheep worth seeing in it from an agricultural perspective sheep then you will be out of but thank you. Thank you very much for coming tonight. I mean it really is awesome to hear you. Um now one thing that we
024generally do is we we want to acknowledge you but not torture you. So we're about to head into other aspects of the meeting. We won't be hurt at all if you decide to you know to make your way into a a beautiful up to you but you're not hurting her feelings. Okay. So thank you guys for Thank you. You didn't get ran by a goat with just making sure I because I got plenty of those growing up. >> If you come back for the goat [laughter] >> very lacrosse game yesterday, isn't it? >> Yeah. Congratulations. First grade. >> All right. Well, that was fun. All right, rolling on my nephew's >> additions to the agenda. I don't believe we have anybody. >> No, >> you would love to surprise me with something, wouldn't you? >>
025Uh, approval of minutes. So, I will accept a motion to approve the May 13, 2026 minutes. Anyone want to make that motion? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Dana. >> Anybody want to second that motion? >> Second. >> Thank you. [laughter] Any discussion? >> No. >> Okay. Brian, >> hi. >> JP >> I >> McKenzie. >> Hi. >> And I am an I. So those are approved. >> All right. Now we'll roll into public participation. The members of the talent 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 during points of information. However, in consideration of those in attendance and in an effort to proceed in a timely manner, follow-up discussion
026may need to take place outside of the meeting setting. You have the timer, Dr. Will? >> I have. Yes. >> Okay. So, anyone would like to um participate, you will have two minutes. Please state your name and address. Anyone in the room? Seeing none. Anyone online? Seeing none. Back to the room. Seeing none. Back online. Nope. Quiet night. We can close public participation. Next is correspondence. Dana. >> Um, we have the only new correspondence we was about a um private student matter. So other than that, no additional. >> Thank you, Dana. Um, now we will do points of information. Would any board member like to speak at this time? >> I just want to say uh thanks to um principal Hickeyi and assistant principal uh Tony Spangle. Uh we made our last rounds last week
027um at the TMS and what an amazing time. You missed you missed a good one. I'm sure you've been to several but you missed a really really good one. uh just the the overall brief that we got in the beginning and then seeing the um um god I I hadn't think um the um students yes when the student is but the the science uh what the um invention convention invention convention >> invention convention uh projects that they did and oh my god it's beyond impressive beyond impressive and and I had uh my first table I was assigned to was two young ladies uh presenting their uh um um Outsiders Project and from the book Outsiders and the play that someone got to go see. So, but overall seeing structures from earthquakes and seeing um different
028graphs and I'm not even I'm not even going to make a fool out of myself and try to tell you what they were doing with some of these graphs and the the math that they used was beyond impressive. Um so, overall great time. Thanks to like I said to uh Principal Hickey and and assistant principal Spangle and to all the staff and the kids there. What an amazing time and it's definitely u the right way to end the school year with their rounds. So thanks. >> Yeah. >> Great. Thank you. Anybody else? >> I just I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> Uh I just want to reiterate what Jo just said. Um, obviously the the middle school is a special special spot in my heart right now as I have two middle schoolers there and as
029a proud parent and proud board member because uh one of my students or my kids was able to present in that round robin which was really great and I didn't realize how into tech that she was. Um but I was able to go around and um see a lot of a lot of the groups on a very a variety of presentations from coding to tech to play tectonics and um with several of our drama students. Um I was able to get from the poetry slam as the seventh graders evidently do a poetry slam so there's some eighth graders presenting their poetry um from last year. beyond impressed um because the the those group of students really spoke from an emotional place and they actually asked me and I believe Joel I don't know if you
030she they handed out their poems to several of us that were visiting because you know it was just phenomenal all around Miss Hickey and Mr. Spangle do a fantastic job always. So, uh, I it's it's one of the best times is when you can be in those classrooms and walking the school and the hall and seeing how proud, uh, Miss Hickey and Mr. Spangle were of their school as well as the students, how proud they were to express and share their knowledge and beyond the textbook um, presentations, you know. Um, so thank you again to I sent an email to Miss Hickey, but thank you again Dr. Willlet for setting these up. every year. It's one of my favorite days is going into those schools. So, I'm appreciative of the time it takes to put
031in to create coordinate that and to have staff and students attend. So, thank you. >> Great. Thanks, Dana. >> I just I wanted to compliment all of the uh all the schools admin, teachers, students who participated in the instructional rounds. Um you know, and provided that for the board. It's a lot of work to put those things together and um you know as Joel and and Dana was saying it is it was phenomenal. The TMS one was phenomenal. All of the all of them were awesome and just thank you to the principles, the admin, the teachers, the students and every every other participant um you know the staff pair of educators everyone that is involved with that because it's a very big undertaking to put those on and I'm deeply grateful um deeply grateful for
032their cooperation and their work on that. So thank you very much. >> Great. Thanks. Anyone else? Right. move on to our student representatives port then we have our eagle rally Friday May 29th where we will be doing head shoulders palm knockout musical chairs a popup teachers event which will be wake snatching a relay race with plunger scoots human ring toss with hula hoops and eagle box stacks and lastly we will also have tug of And then in addition to the Eagle Valley on Friday, we've also had spirit week all this week. So yesterday was age day where the underassman dressed up as babies and then the upper classman dressed up as like senior citizens. Today was dynamic duo day. Tomorrow is Jersey day and then Friday as tradition goes is class day. That's it. >>
033Great. Thank you. >> Sounds like some exciting events. I'd like to ask you more information, but I think I'm just going to leave it there. >> I I can't wait to hear about it from my student. So, it sounds fun. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Uh committee and leaison reports, right? Did you have communications? >> Yes, we did. Uh last week, I believe the week before. Um we uh more or less went over the um uh partial uh was that cave? Well, it was the CAPS and CABE and other resources. Um, created a legislative >> Yeah. The legislative update. Um, we're waiting for Shipman and Goodman to give out their official list and verbiage and what their take is on the laws and changes. But, uh, Joelle and I, uh, kind of spent a little
034bit of time talking about the, uh, homeschooling and what our superintendent in all the districts we'll have to provide or monitor or report or whatever, you know, duties we might have as a district in regards to, you know, trying to reach out to people who don't want to be reached out to and all kinds of stuff. So, we're waiting more or less on what the actual verbiage of the law is, but that's uh on the horizon. >> Thank you. Uh Joan, you said curriculum was canceled. >> Curriculum was canceled today. Yes. >> You know, policy changes. >> No, no, I'm a communications. >> Um Dana, FFC. >> Um so, we had FFC um after negotiations last week, so it's a little compressed meeting. Um but we talked about um a building study and bringing that
035to the board. Um [clears throat] and also not just bringing it to the board but bringing it to the as a board to the town council um as they are town buildings and it affects overall um [clears throat] partnership with the town. So we talked about that and bringing that to our agenda uh regarding that. Um, so I believe that we're going to have that Dr. Will I think we're going to discuss about having that on our next board of ed agenda. Um, so we can kind of talk about it because it uh doing the study does cost a bit money. Um, but obviously we don't want to necessarily do the city if it's not going to go any further from that. So we want to make sure that the town is on board with
036what we're looking at doing and some of the different options that we might have. And then we actually had an early capital project discussion high level Sorry, dogs are barking. And as far as negotiations, we have we had those meetings. I'll report for and we're on target and we have them scheduled for the next several weeks. >> One minute or two. >> Um McKenzie or JP, do you have anything from policy? Was there a policy committee meeting? >> We started with one this morning. >> Okay. So, we discussed uh the uh dress code for uh staff um [clears throat] and um we're um going to continue to review that and and bring that back to policy one more time. >> Okay, great. Thank you, McKenzie. Is that a um is that an existing policy that
037we're just updating or >> No, be a new policy. >> Oh, okay. Great. the policy they're they're considering and we have a bunch of bases to run on that one. >> Okay, that's good. Thank you. And I think that's all of our committees. All right, moving on to the chairperson's report. I don't have anything formal tonight. Um I just really want to thank the voters for coming out and passing this referendum. Um really glad that uh we didn't have to come back to the boardroom and make any um adjustments. Thank you for the town council for making the smart decisions um that you guys did. I know that you put a lot of thought and care into it. Um I really do feel the support that you have for the board of ed and for
038our students and our staff. Um and I appreciate that. And um you know even though you know I'll continue to say that obviously the drop from you know a 6.7 to a 3.4 was very impactful to the district. Um we are still grateful for um the 3.4 because it is more than we have gotten certainly in any of my time on board. So >> [clears throat] >> um I know it's a difficult process. I know you have a lot of new members this time, but thank you for everything you did and again thank you to our residents for coming out and supporting this budget. >> Okay, moving on to the superintendent report. K1 is your budget update. Yeah. >> So, as I when we were building um this agenda and talking about um VA agenda
039planning, you know, we knew that we wouldn't, you know, have a full update until say the following meeting in June. Um but right now, we're in the midst now that the budget has passed at at we are now in the midst of working through the reductions that were discussed. So um that involves speaking with various stakeholders, speaking with the um you know teachers union and other uh bargaining units and and then making the uh the contact with individuals who uh who are going to be reduced in force. People can be called back if there are retirements and things like that. um you know and we are hoping and and you know [clears throat] seen we've seen a couple retirements in the span of the budget process and perhaps there will be more. So um you
040know I'll have a a report and an update on where things have fell when we get to that first June meeting but right now we are in the process of of making those uh taking those actions and working through that. >> Thank you. Um, and I would like to reiterate on on behalf board, I feel very comfortable saying this on our behalf is that it is our request of Dr. Willlet that any retirements or reservations that come up after um the budget that we of course work to to put that towards the headcount loss that we will be having. So that's something that is that is always questioned publicly but we do have resignations and retirements that come up after and it is our [clears throat] hope to um of course keep as many people
041in their positions as possible. So uh we try to we try to make that balance but the position is still reduced >> right >> position is always reduced. If we allow, if we are able to keep the person, we do everything we can to do so. The position is still comment. The only thing I had was I don't I I know there was some discussion potentially the middle school seats. Are we still using ERF? Are we waiting to possibly put that back on as a capital because it is capital or what's the situation with those funds or project or thoughts or >> anything regarding that? >> Well, I think initially we made the decision that we won't we won't be doing it this year. >> There's two reasons for that which we'll be reaching out
042to town now that the budget process is complete. Um, one is that given uh given the state of things with in terms of resources and materials, it wouldn't be possible to do that until October or November and that would be too disruptive at this point. Um so for that reason it's going to be put off to the next year but also um we we part of your budget process was reclaiming that to offset funds with a commitment to do that next year because you can't do that anyway in November. It's just not going to work. So we'll be you reclaiming it into ERF and then offsetting and then when we get to the summer of next year we will then be doing it the summer of next year. >> However, when we begin our capital
043when we have a discussion about our capital budget, >> I think we should have a discount. I think we should have a discussion about asking the town to put that back on to capital budget >> rather than from our year at >> I mean that's that's my that's my thought my feeling I didn't really care for the way that it was done whatever the year plus a go >> yeah we can have that conversation then and we vote if if necessary and then we'll send to the town council as part of our process >> right at this point we would be reclaiming that those funds for >> thanks for the update. >> Any other questions on um the budget or or comments? >> Okay. Uh moving on to K2, the superintendent evaluation. >> So, um
044tonight, interestingly enough, um there was going to be an executive session, but that executive session's not on here. So, so what we'd be doing and you know not everybody's full presence anyway. So I think what we can do is what I did do for the board and probably this is your preference anyway. Um I did create a summary document for you and it is posted to your dashboard. Um so that that I can briefly talk about that right now just because it's fine to do that. today, but but at some point we're probably going to want to go into executive session so you can do your thing, right? So, while that could have been tonight, it doesn't have to be tonight. Um, I can just go over this basically. >> And so, it may save
045you the uh the pain of listening to me banter on any >> online, Dana, and JP. It's on the dashboard if you want to look at the document. >> Yeah. >> Yep. Right. So, um, when I do the the basic summary, it it is really just that it's it's not meant to be exhaustive. It's just meant to give a general idea of the kinds of things that occurred this year. Um, and I'll just go over it very quickly, less than five minutes, just not to belabor anything. Um, you know, one of the things that we managed to do this year was acquire uh solar and the NRA approval. It was not an easy thing to do. It required a lot of energy, a lot of work, a lot of time, and we were able to
046get that. So now we will have solar at all four buildings. It looks like that that's wrapping up and rest has been approved. Um and we'll be able to benefit from that generating an offset of another 100,000 a year or more which will be a very beneficial thing for the school systems and for fallen. We did talk about already the instructional rounds and you know the awesome work that's been done giving the board of ed a a way of not just you know walking around a school but interacting staff interacting with students interacting um you know with uh with the teachers and you've noticed that it's really a way of of not just giving a cursory sort of just prefuncter view of things. you get invited in. You get to engage in all these aspects
047of these things that really help educate the board as to what what the school system's about, not just this one, but all of them. Um, and I think that's, you know, that's by design and it's it's meant to be structured that way. Um, and it's not serendipitous. So, it's it's it's just mentioned. Um, you know, the expansion of the open choice program at this point next year, we project $125,000 in revenue. over the last few years, more than a half million dollars. So, the expansion of that program has been beneficial. It was brought to the district through my efforts and we're continuing to expand it and and and accordingly it's it's a great program. Um they do a great job. The state of Connecticut are very thankful to the state for um you know for
048having that as an option for us. Postgraduate work, as you know, the district's been bored in that. One thing that um we can talk about more is the high quality instructional practices work. uh it's a core document that we're working on that al you know generated by staff or staff um and I think that's an exciting thing um that at some point they want to extrapolate on there's a lot of uh really great opportunity there and it comes off the professional development evaluation plan work um district assessment review committee work and we're reviewing all of the um district grading you know you know every school and we'll be working on that uh you know other things that you we know is this the chairmanships of many committees, the legislative committee work um and a variety
049of other things. Parent teacher of the year, I love doing that. It's one of the things that under the leadership side, it's just fantastic and we get to acknowledge our teachers and you're aware of the work for the SRO, although we are in a processing to get to that and we we have managed to move that to a 40-hour position and we're in the final stages of working for the town to try to land that. So, that's good. uh organizational management, you know, we've had a great year. Um team program again, a lot of great stuff happening with team. A lot of great things evaluation. Kudos to the high school Poland. That's fantastic. Um other things that some of the board members may or may not know then particularly the new board members may not
050know. I I do module 5 trainings. I'm an ethics u presenter for um team program in module five. So I do that. I'm the the Kenny Vento homeless coordinator. We worked a number of individuals and families that needed it own need more than others and um we made contact make sure that things are going okay. You know we hired special education this year. Um you're aware of your dashboard constantly being updated constantly providing information for you. Um there are other examples of information sources here listed so that you can take a look at your uh leisure. more than $1 million in funding for grant programs and the latest is $110,000 for uh the drip grant or district repair and improvement project. Um you know we've had some really great partnerships that have continued and uh
051were reassessed and engaged in again for 25 to 26 um and United Way and Talent um you know the talent greater together will both come together to help with the Alice program and provide opportunities for parents to have financial offsets and that's been a very great opportunity for everyone in Talon. You may [clears throat] or may not be aware that I was the executive chair for Egypt. Um, also the chair of their board of directors and for many years that helped us in many very many ways of help the group navigate to its uh current state of transition to the state partnership plan and this will give you an example of some of the work that's being done in that area um to get us there. You're aware also of the dashboards, the FAQs, other
052documents. You know they're just examples of things that that you know our work will be done. All hazard plans um chairpersonship of various things. You know this is residency. We've greatly increased our residency operations and have now recovered a lot of uh financial benefit for us uh in that we have been able to challenge residencies uh through this new process we use and it's been very successful through the district and continues to be. Um we have these great programs extend the school year and all that. Um community connections. You're aware that we do a lot of Facebook media. It's controlled. It's managed. It's you know it's helpful I think and it's a good resource for the community. I think during and you may have noticed that whenever we do have situations there's rapid communications and
053there's resolution communications so that people aren't left hanging. Um you know we have various community events and workshops. Um there's the community forum superintendent forum that I have every month. There's an example of um a pilot 10 to 10 video that was done this year that I talked about doing and then other examples of things like 66 for the superintendent and many fivei communications and then just personal that that area of domain for here. um under the AASA program, you know, I do have a national certification. I am a uh you know, I've received certain accolades over the years and I just included those a little bit at the bottom because it's talking about personal and professional qualities and relationships. I struggled a little bit with this particular one because you know I there's only
054so many things I I would say that we have a lot of partnerships, right? Um and I think that that those have been um created over many years and I think we we the district benefits from that um these partnerships and so there's a series of partnerships that we have and we we work very closely with them. Another example would be um you know the the recent I haven't actually put this in here um but we are in the process of working with the village and working with SAMA um on a new substance abuse avoidance program for not only just the schools in Talin but also the community and that being an example something I didn't put in here um but we are working and that's a collaboration with uh with human services as and
055Teresa working on that. So I there's things in that aren't even in here. It's just hard to come up with everything and put it in. But that's an example of another partnership we'd have that would have uh a lot of resources u to made available to our school system. Um, as a general background, I haven't done this part before, but I included some general background information at the bottom just because um, some new board members may not be aware. So, general background is, you know, I included the basic kind of resume experience in case you you didn't know, and this is because we have a lot of new people. Um, and then ASA national certification. You know, I have the 09 I have what's called a certification for 093, 092, 026, and a certification for
056national certification under the ASA. So, that's something that may or may not be known by new board members. Outstanding educator of the year for Albert award in 24. Um, also by the CSCA 2013. I'm FEMA trained. So I have a series of FEMA training IS-100 C 2000C 700B 800D as well as C CGIS which is a criminal justice information system certifications. So it's just these are things that you may or may not know but um these are all part of processing the day-to-day work of the job. So there's big things like the solar projects and um you know some of these other things I've been pursuing with FFC trying to bring in a building use group um you know and uh security you know vulnerability assessments and so on things that I didn't mention for
057threat assessment system we designed and um all these things but also these things like the CGIS allow me to participate in making sure that we have us you know I can review our background check systems I can make sure that we have um you know our volunteer system has the three-year cycle and you know that I'm certified to be able to manage that things like that that saves the district because we don't have to outsource or do things in a different way. We can do it here because I'll do that every year and reup that. Um those types of things. So, um, this is just to fly over and, um, you know, when we get into executive session, if you want, I can give you more of a presentation, but >> thank you. I have
058one question. Didn't you also you you brought us the idea um, and then the town took the idea of the the satellite phones or not saying it the right way, but the phones, >> the pathway by the high school, remember? >> Yeah. You have the emergency thing. >> Yeah. Also, I worked in partnership with the town recently. Um, there was a a very short turnaround request for assistance with Turkfield information for a potential grant in the state and I didn't include that here, but it did for work and it dropped everything to work, you know, for them in a partnership, which would be another example of the partnership. >> Did you do the phones? >> Um, the phones are in the process of a capital thing. We're we're looking to roll it into potentially >>
059is looking to do some in some some places. >> Yeah. It would be one part of a in cooperation with the town possibly a capital. >> You brought that suggest you did the >> Well, apparent you know parents learn the research possibilities and you know and again Pet is a great resource you know he knows how to make things happen too and you know and Brian thought about expanding it. So yeah, you know, we we we worked on that with them, but that's a good example of partnership. The turf field resource grant that we did the work on, good example of partnership. And I think the the key is that, you know, I'll we work very closely. We'll drop, you know, I'll drop drop things to jump up and help the town. And, you know,
060if there's a way we can contribute to the broader benefit of the community, we're always looking to do that. Um, so I can provide an example of some of that too, which I didn't put in here, but uh, >> great. >> All right, looks a bit warmed to end your session. Thank you. >> I always say I really appreciate I'm a bullet point type of person that's really uh, this really uh, does well for me and just overview of dayto day, monthtomonth, you know, throughout the year. the uh tasks and different areas you jump into and the fires you're putting out and things you're involved in. This really uh helps me see the overall aspect of what you do. So, thank you. >> I uh and and I tried not to put as many links
061in this here. So, >> yeah. No bullets, less other stuff. No, no, I wrote it. >> Um, so are we in the executive session, we're going to readress this and >> do it in more detail. >> Okay, then I'll just wait till then. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Also remember that on your timeline, um, one of the other pieces here is individual board members from now through June 9th sign up. And >> Bill said he discussed that at length last time. So that's another option >> to meet with the superintendent and Bill or the vice chair or I will be on as well and we can take any feedback from that discussion and into consideration as we write his evaluation. Anything online? >> No, I'm good. Um, let me ask, so what's um, if we
062want to schedule a um, I guess I can't call it a one-on-one um, an individual session with Walt and you guys, Jennifer, how what's the process for that? Should we speak with Walt first or you or what? >> In under action, all DOA members welcome to call 8608706850 extension one to set up a meeting through Jen Palumbo. >> Okay. Through Jennifer Pal. Okay. All right. Gotcha. Cool. Thank you. >> And you can you feel free to see CC me if you want JC so that you know >> you want to make sure it's flagged. >> Yep. Okay. >> Thank you. All right. So that brings we have no new business. We have no old business. We do have action. So N1 policy 930 formulation and adoption amendment or deletion of policies. Dr. Willlet, do you
063want to start? And then if Daniel wants to >> Yes. I just have to get us back to there sharing that screen here. Um, okay. So, update. Um, well, what we're looking to do, we're at the policy point here, right? So, we're looking to up update policy 9030. So, tonight's meeting is is putting this in front of you. Um, you know, possible action here is you could view it and then motion to accept it. Um, you could also try to next time for a second read. >> The purpose of this [clears throat] and I don't want to take um Jaden's thunder or McKenzie's thunder here if Dana Dana being the policy chair. Sorry. Yeah. I don't know if McKenzie or or or J or Jade want to say anything about it, but um in short,
064I'll try to make it short and summarize. We're trying to create a process that can fasttrack uh policies that the board doesn't have that much discretion over. So, for instance, um there are things that when we get the report from Shipwin and Goodwin will be almost 90%. And so the way we tried to do it is there's three tracks now for policies. There's 9010s. The 9010 is direct action. It comes directly to the board. And within 90 days of um you know the time that the state might release whatever we would get these all in front of the board. They wouldn't go through policy. They wouldn't go through two votes of policy. They would come right straight to the board and they would go right to an action item in the court. So we might
065have a couple of meetings because I might break it up where you are doing direct action on policies and basically those 9010 actions or direct action policies are um essentially policies that you just don't have a lot of discretion over and it might be a change in a law about a lunch thing or whatever. So there's no like you could debate it but if you say no you're against the law or you're gonna you know lose the grant or you're gonna whatever. So the 9010s are just basically n it's 90 days but also 90% of it roughly is that you know you don't have much discretion. Uh the next track is 50/50 priority action. Those are fasttracked policies. They don't go direct to action. Um but what basically they are comprised of um is that
066the meeting they will have a meeting uh in policy before moving forward to the board of education but it requires only one read of the board. Um it's something that has a lot of things you might have to do but there are some discretionary items as well. Um, and that that would be something that you would have a fast track to the board, but it would not be something that had to be an action immediately and, you know, needed to go straight to to one vote. Um, so that's a 50/50 um version of that. And it's it's meant the term is meant to give you more of a mental model of what you know what that looks like. It's a it's a priority, but it's not absolutely mandatory. Um and there's a deadline but it
067might not be immediately require that type of thing. Um so it could be in this track for review of the policy committee for one meeting and then the board of education for one meeting instead of two and two. And then there's discretionary action policies. Those can go to the policy committee and they may chew on it for multiple meetings. Um that might be something that goes on for many many months. It may be a couple of meetings in policy, a couple meetings in the board. Um, examples like a civility policy has happened, a social media policy, dress code one. These are things that they may kick around in policy, but they are not required by the state of Connecticut. Um, and so you have some time. They may be things you really want to do,
068but they have no 90, you know, no 90-day timeline or timeline that has to be immediately put into place. So that was um by design so that now the policy committee could start to process these things more quickly and also would help because something that some um you know rightfully so some people may be caring a lot about such as a civility policy or a social media policy that can be discussed without having other policies line up behind it. So those 9010 ones will jump over that. the 9010 ones will jump over that instead of being queued up behind because something might be very valuable or meaningful to the board like a social media policy or civility but it might not be required by law but the ones that are required by law might back
069up behind it if we don't have fasttrack processes so that hopefully is more or less it >> no I really like it I I mean everything is still coming before us um so we obviously still have a chance to review it, discuss it. We get it in our agenda packet, so we have time before the meeting, of course, to research it, and to think about it. What I like the most about it is giving our policy committee more time to create new policies, you know, to look at these other discretionary policies. Um, I think that's great. Like you said, we spend so much time on some of these that we we know we have to do anyway. It would be great to just bring them to the board and review them and and let let
070our policy committee look into other things. So, um I'm I'm all for this. Anybody else want to comment? >> I just have a question. >> Sure. >> So, for the discretion, there is no time limit on when they have to get done. >> Nestar the chair or they bring the air we set out >> like social media. I mean there's some requirements statewide but you know not like a social media policy say for board of ed members there's nothing specific and there's no timeline that was required so you can kick that around for a while but that may be very meaningful to you and and what might have happened before certain other ones might back up behind but now those other ones just fly by there getting handled in another process so you have more
071time to focus on the civility or social media or risk code or whatever you want to talk Yeah. >> And these are you're going to be determining which categories these fall into. >> Yes. But but mainly my way of determining it is when I get ship one's thing is a bunch of requirements. I just throw it and you can look at them here. You still approve them >> and you can say I don't know bypass it. >> This is a little strange. I'd like to bounce back to policy. So you can bounce an a 9010 one you know back. You can bounce the direct action one back if you feel like you want to. But if this is being done, you know, the best way, which I hope to do it the best way, you're
072not going to want to do that. You're going to get these and go, "Oh, yeah, this is because it'll be you're required to have this class. You're required to have that thing. You're required to have that, you know, food service, whatever." Um, the 9010ers are going to be things that I'm just reporting to you are required. >> Another thing would be like a 30-minute lunch for the when that came out for the teachers. you could you can't you could talk about it but you're not going to be able to say no to it. So that would be an example of a 9010, you know, just get through get it through if there's a policy we have to change. >> And I think the other good thing is that getting it to the board as soon
073as possible. We're making sure that our policies are updated as soon as possible. >> It'll allow us two policy meetings and then two board of ed meetings. >> That could be months then before it's updated. And so we need to we need to update those things as soon as we can. >> So this will allow us to update groups. Yeah. All at once. >> That would be great. which will be helpful. >> Yeah, >> seems like a better streamlined process. >> Yeah, it does. >> Uh, anybody online or McKenzie or JP? I know your policy committee, anything you want to add? >> No, I think you guys have hit the key points there, right? That we have the um you guys have the option at the board level to kick something back for further review
074at the policy level if you want. So none of the you know we call them deadlines or you know timelines but none of that is meant to be a stray jacket. Uh the intent there I think is that um it it will it'll provide that uh that streamlined you know instead of having a four, five, six month timeline before we adopt a a policy that's a you know boilerplate. [clears throat] It'll let us uh it'll let us deal like like um Dr. Dr. Will had said, it'll let us put more time on the places where we have discretion and not take five, six months to implement things that um just need to get through to to make us compliant with the state level changes. So, um I I think um I think you guys hit
075the key points and and I think this is a a going to be a really cool uh cool improvement if we can get it implemented over. Well, I will um accept a motion if anyone would like to make one. >> Y motion to accept the changes to policy 9030 as presented in the board of education meeting of May 27th, 2026 and agenda item N1. >> Second. >> Thank you. Okay. Any discussion? No. All right. Let's roll call vote. Brian, >> hi >> Joel. >> Hi. >> JP. >> Hi. >> Kenzie. >> Hi. >> Dana. >> Hi. >> I have an eye. Passes. >> Just thank you to the policy committee and I think McKenzie actually was one of the first people that said something about a fast track. So just >> thank you. All right,
076that brings us to public participation again. So, uh, if you would like to speak at this time, please, uh, state your name and address and you have a twominut limit. Definitely whenever you have the time already. Okay. Would anyone in the room like to speak at this time? Sure. Uh Mary Rober 37 Ryan Road. Uh shameless plug for the project grad bottle drive hand drive for Saturday 9 to1. Thank you. You've come. Thank you. Bring your hands. Uh anyone online? Back to the room. Back online. We can close public participation. And now we have points of information again. Would anyone any board members like to speak at this time? >> Yeah, I had a uh a thought while I was sitting here and said speak earlier. The uh tennis courts across from the middle school,
077I know they're kind of town, but the high school uses them for meets and whatnot. And uh my family and I just started getting involved in tennis when younger guys playing and taking lessons and whatnot now. But there's a lot of cracks and grass and weeds and bubbles and bumps and all of that. I don't know if that's on the town's radar, Pete's radar for capital, or how that all works in collaboration with each other. There's uh there is some history about that. >> Oh, all right. Um I think the town has attempted to remedy it and um they probably are thinking about what their next steps will be. Uh, I know Pete has been doing a great job down there. I think he rebuilt the whole area, the the seating and >> Yeah, I
078remember that a couple years. >> He did that out of his own valition, too. I mean, he he, you know, he he he did an amazing thing for the community by doing that. um the town council and the town direct kind of the resources for that space and um um I think they have talked about that and I'm not sure where they left off but I do know they tried to take some action on it and I don't know what happened. Send them a nice email. >> Oh, that'd be great. >> Yeah. >> All right. Thank you. Anybody else? No. Okay, then I will accept a motion for adjournment. >> Take a motion for adjournment at 8:13 p.m. >> Second. >> Thank you. [laughter] >> Any discussion? No. Brian, >> I >> JP. >> Uh,
079okay. I [laughter] >> hi >> McKenzie. >> She'll hang around. >> I was saying I have mute. Hi. I [laughter] >> we are ajourned at 8:14 p.m.