001I would like to call the April 22nd Board of Education meeting to order at 7:34 p.m. Let's stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice. >> Alrighty, Dr. Willlet, I'm guessing we have some acknowledgements. >> We absolutely do. Um, and we have many from the music program here tonight. So I I guess what I would do is just start off with the pep band here that is going to be doing the u do that for us. So why don't you guys start? Thank you so much. >> Yes. Yeah. Right. If anybody needs to plug bars, we will not be offended until we put Heat. Heat. Great. >> Awesome.
002Thank you so much. >> Every meeting that'd be great. >> Thank you for Thank you so much. >> So, tonight we we have we're honored with a lot of uh acknowledgements and the the music program professionals are here tonight as well as some of the students. Let's give him another round of applause. >> I think we have the music staff here, too. Do you want to stand up and uh introduce yourself? We're here to kind of honor them and our music. We're going to But I wanted to say a couple of quick things that um that our music program has once again and it's one of 36 one of 36 in the state of Connecticut has won the best community music education award. So again, another round of applause has worked and done the wreaths
003across America and I know that was an amazing program that they've done that was made an incredible impact on people. Um there are other awards and accolades. So I just like the music uh music staff to introduce themselves and then I would like uh Mr. fields and little known to to give us the uh the accolades that have been happening at ths antique this year. >> Mr. Field stepped up for he'll be right back. I'm Titus. >> Nice to meet everyone. >> Hi, Mr. Monica. I can still I teach chorus at the middle school. >> Norman Marasani fourth fifth grade band, fourth fifth grade chorus. >> Noah Fields and music primarily chorus and drama at the high school. >> I'm also over here. I'm a teach band at the high school. So, uh, do you
004guys want to say a little bit about the middle school and the high school programming? Is there any awards that we've gotten? >> Yeah. So, um, a few of the awards that the middle school has gotten this year were, um, we had 12 students accepted into the Eastern Region Middle School Music Festival this year, which is way more than last year. Um, we had nine participate for chorus and three participate for band. Um, so we're very proud of them for that. And then next month we are doing our adjudication again with fantastic festivals where we perform at school um for a score and then we go to Lake Hop outs for the rest of the day. Nice. A lot of great great things. Um I'm just going to put my laptop on the table. I
005don't have to hold it down and play the game. I just typed it out so I'm um we had a very successful year at the high school. We had 20 students accepted to the Eastern Region High School Festival and participate in the festival which happened down the road at Yukon. Um we had five of our students that auditioned for Eastern Region that placed within the top 10 of their sections within the Eastern part of Connecticut being Angelique Rodriguez, Annie Singer, Ella Ray, Donald Eaton, and Brook Navatil. So we're very excited with them with Angelique Rodriguez being the highest scoring soprano in all the eastern part of the state. So we're very excited about that. We had um seven students at the high school that were accepted to all state. So from the students in the
006separate regions they accepted they can all um audition for all state and become a higher selection. So we had seven students get selected to all state. We had Angelie Rodriguez, Annie Singer, Brook Natil, Tavian Strother, Nikki Hine and Val Carlson. Um so we're very excited. They participated in a multi-day uh festival right down the road at the Harford Convention Center. So, we're really lucky. Everything's right down the road for us, very centralized. Um so there for a couple days, worked with students across the state and um professional um conductors that came from other states and so it was a really awesome experience for them. Um, additionally, due to um, the support that Matt and I get from the district and our admin, we're able to be involved in the organizations those students are um, going
007to and benefiting from, which is the Connecticut Music Educator Association. Um, Matt this year was one of the co-chairs for the jazz band for the Eastern Region. And so, he helped facilitate make that ensemble possible and was one of the all state equipment managers helping make all the equipment come so all the instruments and stands and stuff like that. So he helped make that possible for our students and other students across the state. Um yes um I took on the role of student affairs commission chair which oversees all the different auditions and festivals across the state um from the elementary, middle and high school and then the all state level. Um, and alongside with that with our involvement with the board, um, this year CBA was able to get a proclamation from the state where
008it says that pretty much, we'll just summarize it for you, that March is being recognized by the state of Connecticut as music in our um, schools month, which has been recognized for over 50 years by the National Association for Music Educators. So, we're very excited for that accomplishment and to be part of that accomplishment to bring it to our town and to the rest of the state. um continuing because like I said we're very successful this year. Very happy. Yeah. Um we have been recognized yet again as a best communities for music education um by the National Association for Music uh merchants. It is the seventh year in a row that Tom Public Schools has been recognized and it we are one of only 36 school districts in Connecticut to be recognized this year. Recipients
009of this award were selected through a um comprehensive application review process that ev um uh evaluate sorry key indicators including funding instructional time participation rates facilities and community support. So to uphold programs rigor and credibility is uh reviewed and verified by a leading research evaluation firm and a third party. So we're very excited that seven years in a row we've been able to receive this award and be one of 36 districts. Um, additionally, we had four incredible performances of family the opera this year. Our students did an amazing job putting on a show um that has been stated by many feeling like professional production with an actual chandelier that rose and fell above the audience, moving boat on stage, top-notch vocals, and much more. Our students um were involved in every process of the production
010um of the show from our theater studies classes that meet during the school day. Um they the classes design, execute creating various elements for the show to our student directors, dance captains, lighting designers who designed, rigged and positioned every light as well as program all the lights and special effects coming to well over 500 various cues that had to be programmed. Students created sound effects as well as controlled all the live sound. Mics, actors, and mking the pit musicians. That was over 25 various live sources of sound being controlled every moment of the show. To controlling the spotlights, our incredible stage crew that made all the magic happen and run backstage without the audience knowing. Additionally, we had stage managers being two assistant stage managers who was on all the stage crew and our stage
011manager who was at the top of all this. She's the one who calls all the cues every show. Anything you see happen on stage, small or large, a light that changes brightness or color, a sound effect, curtain open, chandelier fall, etc., is called by this student. She's in charge of every department, sound light, stage crew, spots, etc. Our students are incredible and put together an amazing show this year. They constantly push the expectation of what is possible from our students. Our students always strive for nothing less than excellence. We shall not dwell in the land of being mediocre. They ooze so much pride and in total we had approximately 100 students involved in some capacity and element of the show whether on stage backstage designing construction etc. Our productions are no small feat. Phantom was
012our largest production to date between the various tech chandelier remote control boat rentals um our largest pit being 16 professional musicians we've had um hired um and and more. The rights alone to the show are just $5,000 to say you want to do the show. Our total budget cost is $37 $37,000 being paid for by the tickets and sponsors and ads for the show. Phantom is now also our most attended production having 1,885 people attended over the four shows. last year at the Halo Awards. Uh last year participated in an organization called the Halo Awards where a judge comes to the show and judges us against over 100 other schools productions across Connecticut. Last year we were nominated for an amazing eight different awards with one of our students Eve de Man winning the best
013female actress in a contemporary musical. This year we participated in them again and we should be receiving our nominations on May 19th and we'll travel to the Palace Theater in Wbury on May 29th to see how we did. Um, in a few weeks we'll be traveling to Mass for a one-day trip where students will be adjudicated. Last year we tra travel traveled to Hershey, Pennsylvania where students were adjudicated and we came back with three uh with all three requireers getting first place and excellent rating and our jazz band getting first place and a superior rating. Additionally, our music department earned the spirit decor award which recognized one school out of the weekend that displays ex um exemplary attitude and positive support, outstanding personal behavior throughout the festival, personal integrity, quality of character, values, and a
014desire for excellence. And so we're very proud of them for that and we're excited to see what we can accomplish this year during our adjudication. That's it. for just so obviously we have an incredible music program as well as all the programs in town but really music and for program across the whole district is incredible. The te the teachers and staff do an incredible job. Um I did also want to uh honor Kate Adams who's not here tonight she couldn't be but she's also part of the crew. Um so just thank you so much for the for their their gifts and everything that they do for our kiddos every day. Also our kids our young adults are obviously amazing too. to support the board have anything that you want to kind of ask or throw
015out there. >> I mean, one just thank you so much for coming tonight. We absolutely loved hearing you play. So, thank you for being here and congratulations to all of you and to all of our music and theater students who I mean, you're obviously very exceptional and we just appreciate you so much. Thank you to our staff. Uh, thank you for running such a great program and bring such happiness to our kids. We really appreciate it. And thank you to the parents because we know all the work that you put in making sure that these guys practice at home and get to and from band practices etc etc. So thank you very very much. Very proud of all of you and just proud to be here with you tonight. >> But now uh in honor
016of your amazingness um this week >> it's going to be difficult I know because you've got a lot in your hands and you know the tariffs make everything super expensive. So, you're not going to get one of these. All right. So, I'm not sure the best way is to distribute this to you, but I'm wondering if maybe thinking is uh it would be an awesome time to distribute these awesome these awesome chachkis to all of you. We're looking to honor you tonight, not torture you. So, at this time, if you'd like, you can uh >> Dr. Could we possibly take a picture? I would take it from back. Oh, no. >> TV. All right. >> All right. Ready? This for me. Yep. Is that a base? >> All right. One, two, three. Take a bunch.
017Everybody keep your eyes open. >> All right. Thank you. Yeah, thank you. Thank you. >> Great job. Thank you, >> ladies. basketball team up here. We'll get the picture first before we do anything. My office is far enough. Yeah. Um, we want to have >> Can some of you come this way or is that too right? Let's get a couple more. >> Are you guys ready? One, two, three. Take a bunch. Keep those eyes open. >> All right. Thank you. Yeah. >> Thanks, sir. Tim, I'll email you pictures, too. All right. >> All right. So, as you can as you can tell, we have another great group here to honor tonight, the TMS uh young women's basketball team. Uh they have done an incredible job. The TMS Young Women's Basketball team. Um basically blew us
018away. Um they they should be congratulated for winning the basketball conference championship. They had a season finishing with an amazing record of 15 and one. They beat a very good South Bloomser team with uh well not only once. How many times did you beat them? >> Three times. >> South three times was amazing. >> Um you know coming into the semi-finals. Uh they followed up you know with an extremely tough Enfield team here that they they they've persevered and have done such a great job this season. Um this is the first conference championship in over 15 years for Talin Middle School. So ladies these districts, you know, Manchester, South Windsor, uh East Harford, much bigger than us and they and they showed them who uh who was best. So adding to the incredible season, they
019also finished undefeated at home. So congratulations and congratulations to coaches. We also have three minutes. Does the board want to coach? >> Oh, yeah. Of course. Sorry. Music is a tough act to follow. They are an amaz It's amazing to watch them teach those kids at the high school and it's been really awesome to watch the support of the band at the athletic events too. It really has been an incredible bonus for that. Um so thank you the board of ed for celebrating us tonight. Um the girls had an amazing season. Um I said before when you're coaching when when you are a team that teams want to beat uh when you kind of have the target on your back and these girls wanted to win and we went into a lot of hostile gyms
020a lot of really good teams and they wanted to beat Talen and uh the girls rose to the challenge. Uh they fought hard. They wanted to win and that's what they did every day. So I appreciate all their effort. Um, I appreciate all the support from the parents um, all year long and it's a great group of kids and it's great to see them set goals and to follow through with those. So, it's been a great year and thank you so much for the support. >> Thank you. Yeah. >> Any of our champions want to say anything? >> Eighth grader. Eighth grade. >> If you're stand up, let's recognize There's only a couple of you sitting, so you know, I hope you're ready to work. >> Are you guys Oh, go ahead. >> Are you
021How many of you are thinking about playing next year? >> Oh, let's talk to them. >> Yeah, we'll get there. Yeah. Helping you scout, right? Helping you scout. Well, that's awesome. >> And is there a captain on the team? Do do you do that at the middle school level? No. No. Gotcha. >> So, other other than winning, what was your favorite part? Cuz when >> you guys can sit down. >> Yeah. >> Other than winning, what was your favorite part? I think it like built our chemistry and then we all kind of like got closer and like I think our chemistry helped on the basketball court. >> I see. >> I I got a question. Who was your loss to and did you get to avenge that loss and get them back? >> Yeah. >>
022How did they finish? >> Anybody else want to ask our Mr. McCusky? >> Well, someone I heard someone say, "Where's Sage Park?" That's uh that was Windsor, right? >> It's a middle school over there. Who who who's our team leader? Who's the one everybody depends on? Or is it a everybody? >> This Thank you ladies for coming. Um this is the best part of what we do as volunteers is getting to see the pep band, the music, and we've seen the the the soccer boys at the high school. And it's lovely to see some of our um talented folks from the middle school come and fill this room with championships. It's it's really fantastic. Um I've seen I've known some of you since four or five years old. So it's really cool to watch you
023grow and and turn into young wonderful scholastic athletes and leaders. Um the future is bright with you young ladies and I look forward to seeing what our sixth and seventh graders are going to do next year. And what I do And and again, just just a huge thank you. Thank you guys for all the hard work that you put in all year long and balancing it with everything else you do and your academics. And thank you again to our coach and our athletic director. And thank you to the parents. We know that these kids would not be here if you weren't playing basketball with them at home and driving them around and going to games and coming here so that we could acknowledge them tonight. So, thank you very very much. >> All right. So
024again, um, no, we're we are looking not to torture you, but to honor you. So at this time, if you want, you can grab your charts. Thank you. >> Say hi. >> Did you win? >> No. >> Everybody was like, "Who's the baseball kid?" >> Not a good night. today. >> This is a good old team. They don't make mistakes really fast. >> Why did he switch your order from your batting order? You know where the worst practice tomorrow? >> Yes. So cold. >> All right, guys. We're gonna have to keep going now. >> All right. Ready? >> That's right. We have this amazing TMS work. As you know, the library has a program every month honoring the talent public library honors our students. Right. So, this um thank you. >> This particular one is
025going to be on tomorrow night. This is some of the artwork so you can see it online. And I just want to honor the artists. Uh Logan Hajj, Julia, Da Aiden, Selen Zang, Gabriel Diz, Allison Paris, Marin Hannah, Lily Flynn, Geneva Knight, Catherine, Liam Woodworth, Drew Foster, Chloe, Travis Johnson, Savannah Lord, Gavin Seroka, Roco Devita, McKenzie, Olivia Neel, Ben Capalo, Henry Curo, Ken Hurst, Ella Carlson, >> Autumn Brennan, Marley Levine, Kennedy Bothergill, and Isaac Shaid. These are student artists. Congratulations, guys. That's That was their stuff. >> Dr. Will, could you zoom in for a second? >> Yeah, I was trying to zoom in. >> Wow. Great. >> What time is that event tomorrow? >> Tomorrow I think it's starting at 6 time. >> Sounds good for our students. >> Congratulations. Okay, moving on. Do we
026have any additions to the agenda this evening? No. >> Okay. So, approval of minutes. Why don't we take these one at a time? So, I will accept a motion for to approve the March 25th, 2026 meeting minutes. >> Seconded. >> Any discussion? >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? Okay. That passes unanimously. Uh how I will accept a motion to approve the April 8th, 2026 special meeting. >> So moved second. >> Any discussion? >> All in favor? >> Thank you. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? >> Okay. All right. Let's move on. So that passes. >> Uh let's move on to 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
027administration 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 may need to take place outside of the meeting setting. Okay. So, please state your name and address for the record. And um also, you will have two minutes tonight to speak. Just trying to pull up my online. >> Okay. Well, we'll just look over there. All right. Would anybody in the room like to speak at this time? Can come forward. >> Dr. Will, you have the timer set. >> Nobody's sitting there. whatever you would like to say. >> Hello, good evening. I'm Kate Bal Green. I just wanted to thank the board of education members um and staff. We're taking the moment to recognize the wonderful music program
028here at Tal. >> Thank you. >> Hey, would anyone online like to speak at this time? Just raise your Zoom hand. Okay. Anyone else in the room at this time? No fields, three beach wrote. Um, I've always struggled to speak out and acknowledge our accomplishments and fear of sounding cocky and boasting. However, I just wanted to porn again that our talent public music and drama porn are killing it and doing amazing things. Um, music department has accomplished all what you heard earlier because it has been supported. Tom has given our students a space to engage in music and drama outside the four walls of the classroom. Our afterchool programs, notice I don't say clubs because I believe our community has a false impression believing our clubs are nothing more than social spaces and fingerpainting. Our
029programs are educational extensions of our classrooms. The programs such as jazz band, ban, and our musicals exist outside the confines of the daily schedule because they cannot fit inside of a school day. Our after school programs are just as successful, if not sometimes more successful than courses we have during the school day. As you just heard, if clubs are not funded, these programs do not exist and will be a large decline in the success of our students, not only in our department, but the school in its entirety. We already saw this in the beginning of this school year when clubs were not funded. This year, our students as a whole school were defeated. It felt like a ghost town for months. It was not something that could just go away after a few days. Clubs
030did not run for the first few months of the school year. Our students were not thriving. In fact, they were barely surviving. They had no excitement or pride. It had a large impact on the school community, the students, and the success that they had. I speak today to urge the board to find a way to put funding back in the budget for clubs. They are a non-negotiable for our students. If you truly want Silent Public Schools to be successful and bring pride to our students and community, then clubs have to be a part of this equation. It cannot fall on students and community to find ways to fund it as it did this year. That model did not work this year and it's not fair to smaller clubs with fewer students who can't find ways
031for this funding to happen. This is not an equitable solution for our students. If clubs are not funded, music and drama will not exist in the ways that you've seen there. Um, they only exist this year due to the friends of Tele Music from boosters fundraising over the summer to make it happen. It will not happen again next year that way. So, thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hopefully being able to continue to raise the limits of what our students expect out of themselves and helping them find pride in themselves and also ultimately bringing pride to our community. Thank you. >> Anyone to speak at this time? Just raise your hand. Seeing none, back to the room. Would anyone like to speak? Leon Hines, 22 Austin Drive. Thank you for having the
032pet band play this evening. They are dedicated musicians who are committed to bringing excitement to sporting events. Matthew Abate is an amazing band director and teacher. His enthusiasm for life is unmatched and his love for music is contagious and inspiring. Mr. Abate is making a meaningful difference in the lives of his students and is a trusted adult for many of them. This district is lucky to have him. Change of subject. I spoke at the BOE meeting on March 25th. When the minutes were drafted, my statements were not accurately reflected. And in its current form, it it is a diluted version at best. I spoke about staff members failing to investigate Title 9 complaints, the district's retaliation, and Colum Public Schools federal investigation. This and other pertinent information has been excluded from the minutes. I respectfully
033ask that they be amended to include my full statement. I had followed up with an email in that had been sent previously. On numerous occasions over the years, I have attempted to resolve my concerns with the district and each time I was dismissed. At the last BOE meeting, I provided you with a document detailing my allegations. I would still welcome a fruitful conversation with any of you who are willing to come to the table to effect change. I encourage the district district to fix what is broken. I have been accused of coming forward as being politically motivated. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have been actively involved in public public schools for many years. I have supported the schools, the budget and also Dr. Willlet. It is possible to support the schools while
034all while also supporting an investigation to look into parents concerns. It does not have to be one or the other. You are a new board and had the chance to undo some of the damage previously done. Be the helpers that the children need. Bring it to a vote and vote yes to make positive changes to the district. You're either part of the problem or part of the solution. I encourage you to be part of the solution. >> Would anyone online like to speak at this time? Anyone else in the room like to speak at this time? Seeing none, I'm going to do one more call to online and one last call back to the room. >> No. Okay, seeing none, we will close public participation. >> Okay, moving on to correspondence. Dana. Um yes, we
035had uh 10 emails uh pertaining to a public parent complaint and I'm muting on 32526 and we received two emails regarding the athletic paytoplay fees um and supporting the athletics department and keeping the paytoplay fees current or level and for us to dive into the athletic projects. Thank you. >> Moving on to points of information. Would anyone from the board like to speak at this time? >> I just want to I'm sorry. >> No, please. >> I just want to give a shout out to the high school counseling team for the amazing fair they put together a couple weeks ago there at the high school. Um it was nice to see the uh students participating. The teachers bringing some of their uh students down there and it was nice to see a lot of the
036um local um alumni from um Colin who had their own businesses and participated in the actual fair. It was really neat and the kids really talking to some of the kids there and teachers. They really got a lot out of it. So great job. They were a little nervous. I got there early like always got there early. They're a little bit nervous like I don't think there's going to be a lot of people but it turned out to be an amazing time. So my hats off to them and thank them for you know giving the kids another option. So >> yeah, Miss Grady and the entire counseling department basically made that happen. So it's it's great about it. By the time I got there, it was pretty pretty well crowded and all the tables were,
037you know, quite well trafficked the whole time. So, it seemed like really good. >> Good variety, too. Good variety. A lot of entrances, though. >> So, yeah. >> Um, I would have loved to attend that. And then saw that there was a lot of local businesses um showing our young students that there's different pathways no matter what it is. It doesn't have to be the straight trajectory, you know, there's different opportunities for all of our scholars no matter what the capacity. So, I look forward to that's the first annual, right? So, hopefully I'll be able to attend that next year. Um, but I was able to attend the rounds that we had at TIS and it was phenomenal. Um, going through meeting with those educators, talking about um, special education, tier one, tier 2, tier
038three education and learning. Um, I got to listen to one of my favorites, Mrs. Silverberg speak who's phenomenal and her passion around um teaching young children even adult their their adults or their you know u guardians um how to look at words and vocabulary and the English language in a completely different way and she and the rest of the group because there was there was multiple educators in that room um Mr. McCarthy was in there etc. But they were equating English to mathematics to foreign languages and and pulling it all together. >> current events because they were reading about the moon. Yeah. >> And there was a young lady who was showing me the book about going to the moon and then she was finding the and and the not the conjunction but the word
039base into it and how she was adding on to it and they were the kiddos were proud to teach us in the room. So I you know Dr. And I appreciate the staff for always welcoming us with open arms. Um I look forward to the TMS rounds is coming up next month. Um and then the last thing that I had is the all band concert is Monday. >> Yes. >> Monday and then Tuesday's chorus. >> All right. 5 to 12. >> So we have some music going on the next couple of days. Monday. >> And is that is that all by all chorus? Do you mean literally all 5 through 12 are performing together? >> Yes. We had 200 students on stage. >> Wow. Holy cow. >> And what do you have like the times
040and locations that we could put that out for the community or >> Boulder at the high school band is Monday night starts at 7:00 and is Tuesday night starts at 7 High School. >> To put that on the superintendent page. >> Yep. >> Um I just wanted to add to um Dana about the rounds that we had um at TIS. you know, it's it's great when we get to go into our schools and actually see, you know, um our students at work and our teachers at work with our programs. Um we viewed um our MTSS again, which are our multi-tered levels of support for students who need intervention. Uh we saw a lot of tier 2, which is which is kids getting kind of, you know, pull out attention, but instead of doing pullouts, they
041they have an actual block where they can go and work on um either English or math. Uh, you know, last year we also were at TIS and we got to see um a lot of a lot of the kids doing math and then we also got to um watch the meeting with the staff where they talked about which kids needed to needed intervention. You know, sometimes students are just having a hard time with one lesson with one um >> provision or subtraction. >> Exactly. And sometimes they they need help throughout the year. Um, and then this year we got to actually see, you know, a breakdown. Mr. McCarthy was who does the intervention at TAS, was able to show us even looking at the data and pulling up, you know, a math question that went
042to the entire grade and able to see how many students got it right and how many students got it wrong and able to kind of dive into that. Was it the way the problem was written? You know, was it the concept? You know, what was it? and being able to then um guide future working with teachers to guide future lessons but also to guide future intervention on really specifying with the students who are having trouble with. So it's just you know it's amazing what we can do when we have both data and we have you know the real time um updates from our amazing staff. You know I always find it very inspiring to listen to them talk about how um how they're helping our kids how the program is growing year overyear. you know,
043intervention. I have two kids and to be able to see the way it's grown in our schools um and constantly evolving as our kids are constantly evolving, right? Um and the curriculum is constantly evolving and the expectations are constantly growing and evolving. So, um just a big thank you to our superintendent and to the staff that put those events um together for us as a board to actually be in the schools and see um the work we're doing being done by our amazing students. Anybody else? >> Nope. >> Okay, let's move on to Oh, the student representatives reports, but they are not here this evening. So then we will go to committee and liaison reports. Jaden, did you have a policy meeting? >> We did. We did, and we took up every minute we possibly
044could. Um, which was which was and we have, right? And we we might even have what to be considered a special policy meeting um sometime soon. Um the what we discussed this morning was a policy about policies and how do we expedite some of the you know there's mandates from the state that um sort of I you put it in a much better way than I will. I'm just going to say we have very limited options in what we um can edit of those policies. And so the state um those are things that if they can be updated quickly and we can approve it as a board with you know one review or two reviews as a board you know we can possibly um skip that that policy portion or we go one policy one
045board it's passed quicker than 90 days that we're sort of looking at right now. So we've got a couple different um solutions. Mackenzie offered a nice solution this morning that I think Dr. Willlet's going to map out and see how can we expedite some of those things so that we can stay on top of the you know more specifically to tolerant focused policies. So um and those policy we'll review and then send up to the board and same process. So um couple things coming down the pipe. We have a lot of policies to review. So this policy about policies I think is a good place to start. >> I know. I'm sorry. Policy about policies. You know it's exciting. >> Ryan, did you have communications? >> Not at this time. >> Okay. D FC. >>
046Um no it was spring break. And Joel, did you have >> No, it was supposed to be today, but because of our our other meeting, we didn't get a chance to have something. >> And I believe you did have a negotiation with meeting Mr. Bod. >> We did the uh nurses just to set to set our meeting dates. >> Great. >> So, the first two in May. >> Feels a little unprepared for that. >> Well, >> okay. Uh chairperson's report. I'm just going to keep it short and sweet tonight. Um really glad that we had our students in here. It's always great to see them um and have them share what they love to do with us. Um and you know, we'll talk about budget again tonight. I just really want to thank this board
047uh for you know, all of the the intelligence and articulation and support and empathy and everything that you know you show myself and each other. It's a pleasure to work with you and um I know the budget process is not an easy one and our task is not an easy one, but I certainly appreciate every member in this room and everything that you have done so far and will continue to add to our discussions. Thank you. >> Um okay, moving on to the superintendent report K1 monthly financial report. So, as you know, in the first meeting of the month, we will typically have monthly financial report. I'll go over some of the highlevel stuff. Um, and of course, if you want to dive deeper, I'll take any questions you have or we can dive deeper
048in FC as well. Um, I'll go through these quick and then I think we did touch on the transportation question that Mr. Bro had. I'm going to publish something to the dashboard because I have found more information about what that is, but I think it'll be better in a document for you and we can go diagnose C2. So, uh, code 120, um, substitutes, those are over budget by about 33,000, um, due to the custodian substitutes. We just needed a lot of them this year as we had talked about before. And many of these lines, you know, we are repeating some of the same things because at this point in the year, if it's over, it's going to stay over. Um, and those custodians, you know, we've just had a they do the hardest job. They're
049in there cleaning up after everyone for everything. And sometimes the illness and shortages will cause us to have in a situation like that. So now the district currently has several staff. They're also out right now. Um you know sometimes there are long-term leads involved and um all kinds of reasons why that would be the case. So that's that's affecting it. Um 150 stipens. Uh they're over budget by 52 due to um us still collecting some of the remaining money that um you know is being transferred over. What happens when we do some of the um activities and things like that is they get paid into the SAA accounts of the schools and then those accounts get transferred up. So right now it's over by 52, but we'll see that probably balance out a little bit
050better as get closer to the end. Health insurance is over by 21 uh due to several vacancies. The district is absorbing the cost of the employee contributions because when you have a position there to pay into their employee side, that's not happening if you don't have them in the position. So, there's going to be a little bit of a shortage there. There's some uh savings that are noticeable on code 200, which is the HSA DOE contribution. Um, so you get a little bit back in that line. So, they they don't balance out entirely, but there's a little bit of an offset there. Code 240 is a 401 retirement. Um, that sometimes will swing in direction of being a little bit over due to um when a new hireer comes in. Not everybody selects the 401A
051plan, but more of them have been selecting the 40A 401A plan. When they do, that can affect things um in this line and they're also working a lot of extra hours in overtime which also affects that. So during the budget season last year, we didn't budget, you know, remember that we had made some reductions, things like that. We didn't budget any anticipated additional 401as and we had them. So that pushed it a little bit over 320 uh public I'm sorry public professional education services um over budget we've talked about this a little bit in the past it was over 151 now it's 162 due to the additional services provided to out placements this year um the net increase of kids has caused this differential here um and certain students received services that u you know
052needed to be provided so during the budget season remember that all anticipated costs like this were removed from the budget and then we had this one new outplacement and things like that. So that's the kind of thing when we're going into this next budget iteration conversation. Um you'll have to decide whether you want to build in some of the safeties um that would kind of offset some of this uh 340 legal services. We are engaged in our negotiations. Um you're also aware and I've mentioned before that we under under budgeted that mine. Um so we were expecting to run over a little bit and we have uh other additional units joining for negotiations now Paris and so on. So we might see that uh edge up a little bit more. 510 um student transport is
053under by 12. Athletic transport as I discussed before is over. Um so we'll be talking a little bit more about that probably in FC and I'll post some more information. 560 student tuition outplacements. um you know this one is over a little bit 42. Last month it was 65. So this has actually gone down due to a net increase um of some money coming back on some of the programs because sometimes servants will stop and we'll get uh a little bit back and that's what happened there. So um we talked about this before and we'll deliver that line but you see those kinds of swings in that line um when somebody stops services or starts services that type of thing. I think that that covers most of the the bigger swings and most of the
054things that are negative. So, >> okay. Thank you. >> Quick question. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Just going to clarify that at the very beginning to be honest with your question about transportation related to the sports the freshman sport thing athletics. >> That's refreshing. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Any other questions? Go ahead. >> Um I just had a few Dr. Will for when we're checking in the next FFC. um because it seems like a lot of our trends. So, we're looking at um benefit, excuse me, health insurance, 401A, um see, professional ed services, they're all trending in the same direction. Tuition ed agency up. So, now the tuition ed agency and professional ed services, a lot of it is driving it by outplacement. >> Why would they go into two different buckets? Why
055it's driving one bucket versus the other bucket? Uh well there's there's different classifications of that. There's 560 561 564. So an FFC maybe I could break that down longer conversation but yes and then you have interd district ones you know you have you have a lot of the magnets there's another line for that >> so we should uh we could break it all down. >> That would be great. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Just as a reminder, these lines are rollups, right? >> Because your other FFC lines, you have three or four pages of them. This rolls everything. >> And that's why that's why I was saying the ones that are trending still in being over. So, I'd like to dive into Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Um, okay. Let's move on to K2
056superintendent evaluation. So, uh, this is a friendly reminder that around this time of year, um, I am to remind you as part of the process that superintendent evaluation begins roughly now. Um, so this item is just the official reminder in accordance with the the rules on reminding you. So, the evaluation must occur no later than May 31st of each year or copies provided to me, you know, later than June 30th of each year. The superintendent may then provide a written reaction or response to the evaluation and shall become a permanent attachment on the personnel file no later than July 31st of every year the agreement the board executive session will be the superintendent to discuss the guidance. So um you know as you know things are always busy and crazy so sometimes you know you
057you can't make these deadlines but we'll we'll try. So I'll put information up there and I'll work with you on on whatever you need here. But hopefully we can stay as close to the deadline as possible. The deadlines can be changed by mutual. >> Don't say that. >> It's very soon. >> So whatever you need is >> anyone have any questions on this for Dr. Bullet. >> Any Can we make statements? >> Don't worry. >> Yes. >> Can we make a statement? I think, you know, I I got, you know, last year I think I made it very clear it would be nice this year to try to stick to that timeline just out of the respect of the superintendent as much as possible. So, um I appreciate the early notice. So, now we can
058get an early start on mapping out timelines and whatnot. So, and things will come up, but I I am uh in this year I'm definitely in favor of trying to stick to this as much as possible. So, whatever that takes, >> let me know. >> I concur. >> All right. >> Are there any other questions or statement at this time? No. Okay. Let's move on to new business. We have none. Old business. M1. A bunch of discussion. >> So, I know the town council and you know, town has moved with a 3.4% budget for you. And uh in the process right now, we've been looking at what reductions we may or may not want to work. I'm not sure how much you want to talk about right now, but I'll I'll work with you on
059however you want to proceed. Um what I'd like to do is provide you sort of uh groupings or packagings of different options and you can decide where you want with respect to to what you want to do. So I'll try to provide you as many options and I'll try to group them. But as we've done in the past, I'll have a document that you can sort of move things in and out of um as you discuss these items. So I'll try to give you some overall guidance with options to make it a little bit easier and you can take the item options or leave them or you can take and create a customized grouping of these yourself. But I'll create that kind of setup like we have in the next. Um you did get the
060SRO downside. Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean they they stated at their um public workshop that they they um the money that they talked about that they encumbered because of you know a change in um >> the salary differential when someone a trooper left and a trooper came in that they do still have that money set aside and they can encumber it towards um our SRO for next year. >> So that's very good news. That was a great job by our chair and working with the town and Mr. Foley also. So that was fantastic. Um and >> and special thanks to town chair Chris Moran for helping >> Chris Mor. Thank you. Sorry about that. Yes, you guys. And they did it basically. Yep. >> And of course the whole board and the whole council being
061in support. >> So that that was a great partnership. Um so at this point really you're looking into just how the rest of it falls. I think that was the major offset, right? Unless there's another one, >> right? Um, and they did discuss, um, sorry, I just thought of it and then um, they did discuss in their budget discussions, um, talking about adding the tech to the capital budget next year. Um, they the councilors had some questions on that and town manager Bolley did say that he agreed that the policy that they have been using is bit antiquated, right? It's an old policy and tech has changed a lot and the lifespan of of items change a lot, right? and our reliance upon them do. So, um he said he was completely open to us
062being able to put those into the capital um budget plan for next year. So, thank you to the town council for having that conversation. Um it was such an important one. We understand that that process has already been, you know, completed for this year, but we're really great that you're open to having it on there next year. >> So, I you opened your mouth. No. Oh, >> uh when you speak about uh covering tech, I know I mean town budget see multiple areas of >> upgrades for X Y or Z or this or that like all kinds of tech is in their own capital that they cover. Is that something besides just our tech for our students or are we talking like if uh middle school needs an upgrade um of some sort of technology
063throughout the building? Is that going to be something that we would approach as a capital instead of we've been funding all of this through our regular budget for as long as I've sat on the board like bunch of stuff a couple years when I first arrived. Hundreds of thousands of dollars with the superintendence um upgrade um of technology. for the for the school building itself and not necessarily as an operational aspect that we still unknown. I think that just probably something we should have a discussion about. >> So my impression was that when it came to the one to the the technology that we were asking for for this year which was the one for one refresh which of course we would be meeting year-over-year. >> Yes. >> Um that they acknowledged that most other
064districts around us do that and it seemed that they were open to that. It also seemed that they were open to the hardware upgrade that we were looking to do so that we could basically transition to Windows 11 but be using um uh monitors that would have a longer lifespan, you know, than the desktops we were using previously. So, that was what their discussion centered around because that was our ask. But, um I think that I think that I'm sure that that some things will qualify and some things won't, but we can have those discussions as we go forward. I don't know, Dr. able if there's anything that you think to add at this time. >> The town ultimately decides >> that's so we can throw anything over the fence we want. They can make
065that final decision. >> Yeah. I'm just notating that they have it in their budgets for these type of things. So under capital. So I feel like it should be a townwide, you know, if you're going to include it for one department, it should be for the the whole town as a whole because we're all as a whole here. We're not, you know, we're not independent as a lot of the people believe. >> That's all my statement. Thank you. >> Um, so with that being said, we had tech in the proposal for us. So we work at postponing those those upgrades a year. >> Well, we have to make that. >> That's what I'm saying. So that would be a part of our discussion when we're having Absolutely. >> You need to find it or >>
066Yep. Yep. So we did have it in our 6.7 member. So, yes. Anybody else? >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> I just want to make sure numbers wise we're all on the same page. Our request to to the town was 67. They approved to go to referendum 34. And so that difference between 6.7 and 3.4 is about 1.5 million that we have to that we have to find. Okay. Um timelinewise, when do we have to finalize on that? >> The referendum is May 5th. Um we would ideally want to let people know what they're voting for. So I would I would I would highly suggest in the next seven days special meeting. >> Yep. I think that, you know, it's spring break last week and we've had a heavy lift over the last few weeks that
067to be able to have a meeting that we devote solely to budget is the right thing to do for our students and our staff and our community. So, um I think I think a special meeting is probably the best way to go. >> Yeah. For us at this time, we'll >> do one next. >> Give Dr. will have some more time to work on those options and maybe we can have them, you know, in advance and be able to to really prepare. Yeah. Digest and and really prepare oursel for those conversations to proceed to >> what do you mean something tonight, you know, to work on for next week. >> Well, I think as you stated that you're going to try to, you know, give us options that are kind of bucketed together. That makes
068sense. You know, security, tech, you know, things like that. and we'll be able to to move things in and out as as best we can. As we all know, this is really tough. It's always been a tough process. We're, you know, we're very grateful that um the town council, you know, they voted to put forward the largest one I've seen since I've been here for sure and uh they really looked into using their unassigned fund this year towards the overall budget. So, we're very grateful for that. um you know so with that victory and unfortunately still comes with a something that's not so victorious for the board. Um but you know we do we understand that it may take some years of of progress before we get to where we need to be. you know,
069um I did speak at the um the public meeting and I did explain that just like the town um which was explained by town manager Foley that you know a majority of our budget increase is really just our you know really our basics to keep the lights on. You know it is energy, it's it's gas, it's our staff contracts, um transportation um whatnot. So, and regarding our staff contracts, they're all at the state average, but mostly below the state average still. Um, so, you know, it's I think about six 6.4% or it was 6 something% of um of the 9% that Dr. Willlet put forward in his proposed budget was just these cost drivers. So, um anytime that we have less than that, it requires us to reduce and uh and not add. So, the
070importance of parents coming out and um voting for referendum. I mean, just voting period. We have very low referendum rates. I think it was 14% max over the last uh referendums that we had was the highest. I think there were at least three. Um you know, whether you vote yes or no, what's important is that the parents are really out there um choosing, you know, what they what they really want for their for their community and for their students. So, um, just really hoping that we have a stronger turnout this year overall. >> Just 98% of that 3.4%. So, 1,47725, 98% of that is um made up of contractual obligations, insurance costs, special ed tuition and transport, and the grants that have completed. So of the basically of the entire 1 million 51306 increase one
071you know 1 million47725 is already out >> and you know you Mr. Field I so appreciate you coming here and advocating for our students. we've of course heard from our students um about clubs and um I really like that you brought up equity because it is really important that people understand um you know just like I feel like this is probably going to run the same way that it went last year and the same way that it went the year before. We're in a Sophie's Choice situation and there's no easy things to let go of. So every single thing that we have impacts our students. Every single thing, every person that is in our buildings impacts our students. um and everything we offer them impacts our students. So, it's not something that we take lightly.
072Um we will again, you know, hash everything through. Um not just where we left off with the 6.7, but we can go back to the drawing board if we need to. But, um there's not there's not a lot that you can squeeze from the stone at this point is is is the important part. when you have a 1.5% over, you know, 10 or 11 years increase, you're just it's just not cutting it. So, let's hope that this year we can start a trend to maybe go a little bit more and and get some things back for our kids and get some things some new things in for our kids as well. >> Um, I think the most productive thing would probably be if we um talked about dates for a special meeting, probably offline. Maybe
073like a Google form that you could have maybe Jen Blumb sent to us. Would that work for everyone? >> Wednesdays are easier for the town, but but yes, of course. No problem at all. >> Yeah. Okay. >> No problem at all. >> All right. So, is everybody anybody want to speak on that? Is everybody okay with doing that? >> I was just going to Saturday. >> Oh, you could you could do something like a Saturday. Well, >> why don't you send that Google form? >> I feel like that's be an extensive conversation. >> If you want to do Saturday, maybe it's fine. >> Yeah. Yeah, that'd be a great place to hold our meeting. involved. >> Okay. >> Kenny's enjoyment. >> All right. I am going to move forward. We have no board action at
074this time. That brings us back to public participation. >> Can I Sorry. I didn't know we were done with that. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Oh, no. It wasn't I just was saying the um uh the hybrid meeting, the town council minutes from the March 24th one. And I it says that there was a EHIP. Uh Mr. Polling, Dr. We'll we'll meet with the insurance consultant next week which have been like few weeks ago. Is there any sort of update on what the consult consultant recommended or what uh the guide is for a percentage what we're currently paying? >> Yeah, I I you know I intended once all the things are tied up on that to do a little report for you for FFC. So Egypt is dissolving talked a little bit before >> and
075most of the members of Egypt are headed towards the state plan. >> Yeah. >> So what we've been doing is we've been meeting with the bargaining units and talking with the bargaining units about all this. Um we are above 90% in disruption. Our disruption report shows basically that there most of the services that will be ava that were available will be available with the state plan. Therefore we're able to move to the state plan. There aren't a lot of other options um out there. We don't want to self-insure because certain kinds of conditions are massive impacts on on you know it's okay if you're part of a consortium but if you're trying to self-insure say district our size not be a good idea. Um so that's where most of these groups are going and that's
076where we're headed. Um so at this time the town public schools are looking like it's you moving over to the state plan for insurance for its parking >> for the whole town. >> Well the town council system but my guess is >> no they did already. the town council voted you um to move forward with the state plan >> because there's not there's really >> you know you're in the ocean you got to get to a vote the one that seems like it's the best one at the moment with the state plan. >> Do we have a sense from this consultant on on a cost basis? Are we going to be equal more less or we're not we don't have any money yet? And uh it's it's a little more for our bargaining units than
077the HDHP West HSA is more but certainly you could argue that services are better. We're going to keep the same dental and the same um vision. Sigma will stay as our dental and vision. Uh Anthem will probably become the medical and I don't know if you recall what you had initially put in the budget to what you believe the percentage is. we going to find a savings from what you had originally budgeted to what we possibly project or we going to have to have a deeper cut >> because of that. >> The hardest part about the timing of all of this is we've made our projections and that's kind of what we're going with at the moment that you know we won't officially know all the information until we get all we we're finalizing our
078meetings with the units. for signing the paperwork with the the state plan and then you get more information at that point and we won't know that by the time of the referendum. >> No, but we have a pretty good idea. >> We're just going to roll with the same number. >> We have we built We knew this was coming. >> No, no, I I understand that. I'm just saying. >> So, our figures represent our thought this was going to land, >> but um we are going to have some conversations still to have with our units and everything as we move forward. It's going to probably be a big part of the negotiations conversations that are coming. >> Okay. >> I was just thinking kind of, you know, is there 200 grand we can find on
079that line or whatever it might be, but we're going to keep it the same. And thanks for the update. >> Thank you. >> Sorry. >> No, no, no. I wouldn't come. I just I didn't really notice what we're doing. >> Okay. I'm going to bounce back to public participation then. Uh there's a twominute limit. Um, please uh either raise your Zoom hand or step forward and you um and state your name and your address. Will it? Nope. Timer's ready. >> Would anyone um here like to speak at this time? >> Okay. Would anyone online like to speak at this time? None. Back to the room. Would anyone like to speak at this time? Okay. Last call for online. Anyone like to speak at this time? Okay. Close public participation, please. And uh now we have
080points of information. Would anyone on the board like to speak at this time? >> Just um again, I just want to reiterate um that such a phenomenal showing of our scholar athletes and our scholar musicians um here this evening. Um it ends up it's it's one of the better the the joys of coming to the board meetings um seeing you know these students not you know finding other avenues to explore their education and grow themselves into the humans of of tomorrow and so on so forth. And it's very important that we when we deliberate through budget and we have these conversations that we're cognizant of the fact that just like we had that career fair the other day that not every student's going to go to Yukon or going to go to Central, they could
081go to, you know, the military, they can go to a tech school, whatever it might be. And I think we show those opportunities to our students with the with our social work with our um counseling team at the high school. Uh, we see it with our with our musicians and our actors and actresses and we see it with our athletes. We've seen more athletes this year than I think we've seen combined in several years. So, and then you go to the you go to the athletic awards and these music awards and everything you hear about all these scholar athletes and scholar musicians and and all the different things and just be cognizant of what helps our students continue to learn is by that diversity and that um being able to follow a different path. So,
082I thank Mr. Fields and the rest of the team that came tonight um for showing us really what's makes Talon bright and what makes our students help thrive in Talon public school system. So, when we do have those conversations, it ties into that. Um I definitely think we just need to be cognizant of it. But again, I just wanted to thank and please pass it on to everybody. Uh thank everybody for coming tonight. That was really fantastic. >> To that point, Dave, if it's okay, Jen, um I think at a at a at a fall football game, Mr. field. You'll see players, you'll see the student section, you'll see uh the chorus. You're singing the national anthem. You'll see the the the pep band playing in the audience. You'll see um um did I say
083the cheerleading team yet? Like there are so many different aspects on one night of the week, you know, you know, and it's concessions, whoever, wherever these guys are, whatever these guys are doing. We some of the kids that were some of the students that were sitting in these seats, they're, you know, the the ball girls and the ball boy on the sideline. I mean >> seeing to your point seeing how sort of interconnected all the different after school programs and after school clubs it's pretty cool and so and that's coming from a deco guy right you know I'm pretty protective over my deck but um who are competing this week but um but again it's it is really fascinating how after school programming it's >> it's it's it impacts everybody differently so I think it's
084a good note to to to leave off of >> yeah I thought in particular that career fair I mean we specifically talked about that kind of stuff I think in our very first meeting and it was it was really great to see that come together. It's uh hopefully that's something that is the first one but hopefully it'll be a regular uh staple going forward. >> Yeah. Anybody else? Oh no. >> All righty. Is there any objected objection to adjournment?