001Board of Education meeting to order at 7:14 p.m. And I think our CMS cheer team would like to lead us in the pledge of allegiance. >> Right. nation under God, indivisible, liberty, justice for all. Hey, >> Dr. Willlet, I think we have some acknowledgements tonight. >> We do. We do. So, um, tonight we have with us the TMS cheer team. Can I hear it? >> As well as their coach, Nikki Burrell. Um the T TMS cheer team started out a few years ago uh as a club and um you know through the the efforts circulate efforts of a lot of um parents and young adults um they really formed and pulled together and created that club which you know really has turned into for all intents and purposes an amazing team. Um, Coach Burell has
002done an incredible job with this group and you young ladies have done an incredible job um, winning the title there, right? So, they had an amazing season, an incredible job winning the title and I'm sorry if you relate a little bit here. I will say one thing um, after we say some really awesome words about your awesomeness, we actually have blank chashki. I call it chachki. This chashki is for each and every one of you. So before you leave, I want to make sure that you get it as well with the coach. Okay. But I also want to make sure um you know that you get one that says Tom public schools. They all should, but they didn't. >> Okay. >> So I want to make sure you guys know. >> It's okay. But I'd
003like to hand it over to Coach >> P. All right. Hello everyone. For those that don't know me, my name is Nicole Burl. I've had the honor of coaching these amazing athletes and the TMS cheer team for four years now. After 20 years of coaching, we know that's a long time to some people. Um, that's including all of my years with TIFC as not only a head coach, but also the chair coordinator here on Holland. This has been the most memorable season for me. Um, I'm incredibly proud of how far this team has come. For a fairly new program, we have been extremely fortunate where we have placed every year, but this is our first first place win. So, it's incredibly meaningful. I want to thank everyone for taking the time to recognize these athletes.
004Moments like this remind us of the hard work, the dedication, and the long-lasting impact that this particular night is going to have on these athletes. I'd also like to thank my two high school assistants, Cassie Smith and Emma Susie. While balancing their own responsibilities as Talin High School students and cheerleaders, they continue to give their time and their effort to mentor these amazing athletes to make sure that the Talon program of cheer continues and is strong throughout the town. I'd also like to recognize my captain, Lily Ve kindness, and her commitment helped guide this season and this team. She has spent countless hours shaping a routine with me that was not only recognized once but twice for its choreography. Lily, I thank you for your heart. You've brought it to me and to everyone here.
005One thing I like to try to remind these athletes is to stay humble. I keep saying it. Um, yes, it's great to win, but remember all things need to align and sheer success doesn't happen by accident. Every team that we are beside has worked just as hard as you. What made this group special is that they trusted in each other and they trusted in me. They lifted each other up both on and off the map >> and because of that, it was a successful season. I couldn't be more proud of these 16 athletes and I am truly honored to be here tonight and I am so proud of the work that you put in and I am so proud that it's being recognized. Thank you. I just want to say congratulations to all of you.
006Um I'm so glad that you're here tonight. You have no idea how much we love uh when our students come in. So sorry for the delay, but it was longer that we got to just hang out in a room with you guys. Um thank you so much, Coach Fil. You know, it's funny. Four or five years ago, I remember when this the a lot of parents were trying to get this team off the ground. And so it's so amazing to see you today. And I know one of your student coaches, Kathy, was one of those kids who started um this TMS chair a few years ago, four years ago. Um what my stepdaughter was a lifelong cheerleader, TYFC. She was captain um in high school. I know how much work goes into this. You guys
007spend so much time on this sport. It's not an easy sport. You're flying in the air. you're holding people flying in the air. All the choreography, which you were obviously so amazing at. Um it's just what what you've done and what you've done at your age is just great. I was just wondering, could we see like would you stand up if you're a sixth grader? >> Wow. >> Yeah. And then how about our seventh graders and our eighth graders? >> Wow, >> that's >> Yeah, it's really great. Um, and thank you so much to our parents for being here tonight and of course for all you do. We know how much work goes in behind the scenes and taking them back and forth to practices and watching them and I'm sure watching them plenty in
008your living rooms and, you know, hoping that they don't, you know, hit their head on the coffee table for years. >> Um, and I'm blessed to know the burrills as well. And I'm just so happy for you and getting to coach your daughter and of course your your mask over there >> every step of the way. >> Very welld deserved and it really shows how much your team appreciates you Nikki and how much you appreciate your team. So thank you so much for coming and letting us share this with you. It was it's really really exciting for us. >> Thank you. Anybody else on the stage? >> Go ahead. >> Who's our high flyers? >> There we go. >> You remember when you were the mascot at TFC? >> Yes. >> And now you're flying
009high middle school. Very excited. >> What about our base? Who's who's our base? >> Yeah. None of you are doing double duty, huh? >> That's awesome. >> You guys ever get scared either flying or faithful? >> How do you How do you overcome your fears? >> Well, when flying, it's best not to tell them what and I say, "Close your eyes." Well, again, it seems to have worked. >> Just don't show. Okay. >> Works except for driving. You learn to drive. >> So, you guys won for choreography, right? >> We won twice for choreography. So, we did um the crawl showcase at Reputation is something that was started six years ago by the South Windsor Middle School cheer coach and they invited us. Um we went there. We got best choreography and fan fave. They
010don't do trophies and they don't do places. They just try to get the middle school community out there because there's not a lot of opportunities for the middle school. Um, so we went there. We got best choreography there. And then when we went to our one competition at East Line, um, we got best choreography again. >> Oh, wow. >> Um, in our division. So, they gave us this amazing banner and then we had our whole team sign in the back. Um, so that it's a memory of who was there. But that one says a lot because there's a lot of stuff that has to be inc uh incorporated in the choreography. So Lily and I spent a lot of time really trying to narrow it down and then there were days where we were like
011should we change it or should we push them and every time we pushed they accepted the push and I think that's why the choreography finally showed through because they really did take everything we threw at them. So, it was a really good group of kids. Um, in all my years of coaching, I don't think I've had a group that's gotten along as well. Um, getting a lot of females in a room sometimes isn't easy. This group really does. They seem to really like each other, so it makes for a really cohesive team to coach. means crazy. >> I'll add I'm probably the one up on here at the board that saw them the most times just because my son was on the basketball team. Um, and there's hands down no other cheerleading group, cheerleading team
012that was better than than they were that I saw. So they were and I went to the home games, the away games and you guys, especially what you did at halftime was hands down the best of what I saw from any other cheer group. So that's kudos to uh you guys and the work that you put in and it definitely paid off and showed. >> Bringing up halftime, um there are some other girls. Uh we have 22 on this team. So when I first started there was 12. Um we have almost doubled in the last four years. there. You can only bring 25 on a chair map. It's really hard with one team to be at three games sometimes a week because we cheer for both boys and girls and be able to compete the
013way we do. So, we actually have game day cheerleaders and those um cheerleaders cheer at every single game so that we make sure that there is someone for those boys and those girl athletes. Um, so when we can't be there, if we're practicing, there's still representation for school. >> So, who's the um who's the best tumbler and who's got the best uh backwards handspring? >> I see your finger point. >> This is official. I feel shame cuz I do that by you know loving. >> So the way the way we tumble nowadays is not the way they tumble. Uh but we actually have a really tumbling is something that is very important in cheer and we've actually been able to push a lot. So this year uh we had six um we had six roundoff
014back hamstrings. We had six back tucks. Um, actually I think we got eight standing handsprings. So we have a lot of tumbling. Uh, and I mean we could always have more but we're we're good. >> And too because when you go into competition you kind of have to figure out the right formula of things right how to you know that would match up to winning. So you did great job for >> I studied those score sheets. >> We have some high school coach assistants here. Yeah. Today I have had the pleasure of Oh boy, these two have been by my side for a long time. Um, some started with me and TFC. Um, some stay and follow me wherever I go and I keep track. Um, but it's good too because one of the other
015things is all of these cheerleaders, including these two right here, have all really good academic grades. I have no no athletes that are not doing well in school. So to be able to pull off those academic standards to be able to cheer for the high school and then give their time back here and some of these kids do multiple activities. It's a lot. Um and they all handle it tremendously. >> Congratulations. You guys are awesome. It's wonderful to be able to talk to young about them. Um, >> well, one second. >> I just want to say I can't not say something when we have scholar athletes in the room. Um, I've had the pleasure of watching a lot of you grow. I think McKenzie who's been with RAM since kindergarten, maybe even preschool. Um, and
016Scarlet uh, you know, and so I just I'm so proud of you young ladies or of course proud of everything that you all do. um watching you do. I've seen the videos that your mom's put on the on Facebook and they share and not just your mom, I see Nikki's posts as well. Um you ladies are doing phenomenally and you're doing tall and proud. We have so many wonderful um standouts from Talland athletics that we've had this year at the high school and the middle school. And it's so great to see a group of 22 young ladies um that you're saying are scholar athletes uh representing us in a form that hasn't been it's only been what do you say four years? >> Four years. >> That's phenomenal. 22 22 of you. That's so great.
017And doing multiple activities which know most of you have a million different activities that you're doing plus school and then doing multiple games a week. not there's not a lot of other athletes and programs that do that and execute at a high level. So, seeing what you ladies were able to accomplish and with your high schoolers helping guide you, um it's just going to continue to flourish and get better and I can't wait to see what you all have to will lead to. The future is bright for these young ladies for sure and I look forward to I go to a lot of the THS games. Sounds like I need to go to some more of the TMS games. Do you guys have anything like young ladies? Anything else? Is there is there a captain?
018>> Our captain is Lily and then um >> and then our captain is >> So what would you say? What would you what would you say about this team? Either either one of you. What would you say about this team? Was it meant to you? >> Loaded question. I >> put him on the spot. >> That's my job. You forgot. >> That's okay. That's okay. >> See what I'm saying? They really support each other. mean you like there's never been those times where we haven't been there for each other like whenever someone's down we pick them up and kind of make sure that we do the best of our abilities and just a lot of trust and great bond >> yeah that like the practices are so intense sometimes that like even when it gets
019hard, we're always there for each other. And I think that's really important and a team bond and that's happens. >> I don't show I helping them out. This is exactly what I mean when I say this group of kids really gets along. They really do. when we find ourselves laughing all the time at sometimes at people, sometimes at things, I don't know. Um, it's just been a really fun group of kids and a really good year and it was really easy to coach them because they wanted to be coached. So, when it all aligned, it aligned and here we are today. >> So, great. >> Thank you, Lord. >> Nice job. So know the moment you've been waiting. >> Do you want to take a picture first? >> Dr. Willlet, you want to take a
020picture first? >> You want to take a picture? >> If we um How do you want to do the picture? >> That direction. You want to have it back there? >> All right. >> Try to get in there. is not a special. >> Oh, I bought the bag. What? What do cheerleaders say? Do you say cheats or do you say like >> rock and roll? >> Falcons. >> Cheer. >> One, two, three. Cheer. >> Falcons. again. One, two, three. >> Oh, no. >> There's another one. >> Is Is there All right. >> All right. Thank you for bringing on Excellent. Yeah. All right. >> What's coming? I'm coming. >> He's not a rookie. >> I love that. >> Is it easier if I email it to you? >> Yeah. Yeah. To me. >> Your fan
021or mine? That sounds like I thought maybe this. >> All right, Dr. Willlet, I think we have one more recognition. THS artwork. We do. So, um, let me share that screen. >> Okay. >> So, also today, um, we did have artwork that was posted and again, it's going to be part of a competition. Um, but I wanted to give you a sense of actually I'm going to read the names um of our artists. So, the high school typically does um special art projects and special awards for art. And these young adults um they've done an amazing job. They did receive letters of recognition. So, just for the record tonight, I'm just going to read a couple. It's powerful. So, it >> Oh, good. We'll be left. After acknowledge this, we can just >> I think
022it's working. So, I'm going to read a few names tonight just to um to highlight these individuals. Their artwork was chosen for the month of March to be displayed in the Talon Public Library. So, once again, you know that um they do the art shows down there. So, you'll have to go to the Talon Public Library to see their amazing art. Um, but they they get a recognition as well a communication and letter and an outreach. Uh, basically letting them know how impressive it is. So, I'm just going to read their names into the record. Uh, Grace Nash did a fantastic job. Kajari Belden Herrera also Marissa Donna uh oops Bin Neman Andrew Freeman Kendall Naborski Savannah Denafhrio Nora Russell Nicholas Deforge Mason Gerard Evan Devos, Natalie Clember, Adriana Lamb, Josh How Lindoo Doo, Linda,
023Dulu, Aaron Gleer, Luke Kerry, Madison Manfrey, Biola Bashon, Emily loss or loss, Anna Fargo, Nathaniel Glidden, April Rebinic, and that all our high school artists. Um, so please go down to the Talon Plat Public Library to see their art. Um they are going to have uh their art show tomorrow, March 12th, from 6 o'clock to 7 pm. So congratulations to all our artists that were selected for that. Um you can see their artwork there tomorrow night. >> Great. Thank you. In fact, do you know maybe >> I'm sure you would like it to be on you all night, but you >> There we go. Thank you. And um are there any additions to the agenda? >> No. >> Okay. For the approval of the minutes, I will accept a motion to approve the February 11th,
0242026 minutes. >> So move second. >> Okay. Any discussion? >> No. All right. Start with you, Joel. >> Oh, sorry. >> Hi, >> Dana. >> Hi, >> Bill. >> Hi, >> Brian. Understand >> McKenzie >> I >> JP >> I >> and I am an I >> call J. >> What about me? >> Oh Jen operations. No kidding. I of course that's what it is. Feel free to do that. >> Got ahead of myself. >> I knew at some point there was going to be an error. Sorry. >> That's okay. >> Do you happen so I don't start with you? >> Never again. >> Okay. Moving on to public participation. The members of the Talon Board of Education welcome members of the public to share their thoughts and ideas at this time when appropriate to
025do 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 may need to take place outside of the meeting setting. >> Dr. Willie got the timer up and ready to go. All right. Is there anyone in the room who would like to speak? >> I will. >> Please get your name and address. Yes. And I'm just going to stay seated if that's okay. Heather McCann 62 Cross. You probably all know my address by heart by now. Um, I just want to take a moment to acknowledge the remarkable contributions of Miss Wendy Cody. Wendy is a dedicated professional in our special education sphere. Her official title is people services supervisor. Um,
026but I have learned to think of her as friend and teammate. She recently announced her decision to retire early from Talon Public Schools. As a parent whose family has benefited greatly from her compassionate expertise and support, I feel compelled to share my thoughts. 10 years ago when my family moved here, Miss Cody played a pivotal role in seeing the potential in my child, expertly recognizing his needs and provided him with the supports that he needed. Her skill set to see the good despite the challenges has made significant difference in our lives. Over the years, my son has made remarkable progress, much of which can be attributed to her insight, passion, and unwavering dedication. When I told my son about Miss Cody Harter, his response was one of happiness for her. She deserves to be a
027part of a school district that supports her, he said. However, her departure raises concerns. Last year, several special education professionals left our district. I think anywhere from 5 to six, citing a lack of support um within our community community. This is what they said. Having attended budget meetings over the past decade, I witnessed how students with special education are often reduced to mere numbers and figures. We must remember that these are children, students, community members, and human beings. with right with the right supports and skilled administrators and teachers, our children can thrive. We would not be here today without Miss Cody's dedication. Um her departure is a significant loss for our school district. And I heard that urge the board to reflect on the conditions that lead to attrition. I'm unsure of Wendy's exact reason
028for early retirement, but if educators feel unsupported or undervalued, we risk losing more talented professionals who are essential to the success of our students. I hope you will take these comments to heart. Thank you. >> Thank you. Would anyone online like to speak at this time? Seeing none, I'll go back to the room. Anyone else in the room? One more check on online. Okay, I think we're all set. Just take it back. Okay. Correspondence, Dana. Um, we had a correspondence regarding um the juvenile detention center conversation. Um, another one that went to the town council and the town manager as well as the board of ed regarding CT House Bill 5468 and discussing on how that impacts schools and homeschooling. And then um there was a one about the school calendar regarding us ending on
029June 22nd and asking for some creativity to have us not ending on June 22nd. So I think that's going to be something we'll have to add to our discussion at some point. >> Thank you. Okay. Points of information. Would anyone from the board like to speak at this time? >> Just two things. one uh just a reminder I I can't remember if we have a meeting before next Saturday, but uh Wizards game happening next Saturday. Great fun. A lot of fun. Uh so just shouting that out for the notes and making sure people are aware. And then two, I think we also had um some DECA students. It came in weird because they were all batched into I think Miss Palumbo at the office. So we did have some correspondents from u I want to
030say a dozen or so deck of students, something like that. So, um, there's some out there and they were, I believe, writing in support of, you know, supporting actually about co-curriculars and whatnot. So, I just wanted to throw that. It was hard to catch though because it was I think you forwarded that to us. >> Yeah, they I think they sent it to Miss Palumbo because generally people send communications to Miss Palumbo when they're sending it to the superintendent. So, that's why we scanned all of them and we put them on your board dashboard uh to say here's, you know, these Brooklyn students attacker. >> Gotcha. Thank you. Yeah, it was non-traditional wave, you know. So, um I just wanted to make sure everybody was aware so that, you know, we can all take a
031look at some point. So, that's all. >> Well, we did. >> Perfect. >> Y and there there guys want to go. >> We always love hearing from our students and our DECA students are always such wonderful communicators. >> They are really good at >> Oh, I'm really glad that they took the time to write in. Um, I will just say, um, uh, because Miss McCann brought it up, um, that, um, Wendy Cody is leaving that, um, I want to congratulate her on her retirement. As I always say, when we have wonderful staff members, happy for you, sad for us. Um, as a mom special education student, um, I know how much Wendy did for our students, um, and how, um, much our parents, uh, respected her and the help that she gave. So, we wish
032her the very best of luck for members. >> Um, I just want to give a shout out to um, two of our teams, the um, indoor track team. Um they both competed in state states >> state then uh state finals, open finals. Um one of our students went in uh the thousand meter in the uh regular state and um some of our other students um participating and competing very well at the open states. The other one is to the um boys uh swim team who just competed in state uh finals yesterday. Congratulations to um Ben Pope, our threetime state champion. Um yesterday he won the 50 meter freestyle race and broke the state record which was his from last year. So um and then he won the 100 meter um and he's going on to
033u state opens on Saturday. Congratulations to like I said him and um he was also part of the um as we know our our swim team is a co-op team between Eio Smith and Talon. Um, so he also participated in relay teams. Our relay team in the 200 IM they got second place and that consists of uh Ben Pope and Nick the Forge uh and then two two kits from um Eio Smith and then they got um fourth place in the actual um 400 uh meter um freestyle. So, uh, for regular state, all six the first six come finishers, they all get medals, but they're also moving on to open states on Saturday. So, best of luck to them and best of luck to Ben. I think he's actually the only one competing in the
034individual events on Saturday. So, he is also an open state champ. So, hopefully he'll break his open records again and win on Saturday. So, good luck to him. It was amazing to hear all the good news even though I wasn't there. So yeah, that's all I got. >> So for the medley exswmer, not a very good one. Um, was does Ben do freestyle or the med? >> Ben does a freestyle. >> I just I mean he'll do anything. Ben is Ben is Ben is a freestyle. Nick is the backstroke. >> Oh. >> And then there's a kid named even he is our breaststroke and the kid named Malone is the um um butterfly. >> Yeah. But Ben Pope would do anything. >> Oh, really? >> Oh yes. The kid is fish. >> Yeah. So, u
035hopefully we look forward to seeing him here so that we can acknowledge him. And for those of you who don't know, Ben, he's an amazing kid and probably the most humble athlete that you'll ever meet in your life. >> He's here, right? >> Yes. He's a senior. >> Yeah. So, hopefully look forward to seeing him. >> Yeah, that's him. >> That's awesome. to kind of rip off of that. Um there are some things that have occurred between the last one, you know, last time we met and this one. Um we did have snow days, cancellations, all that. The TMS girls basketball team, the Connecticut River Athletic League, they are the champions. They also won the end of year end of league tournament. Um so just kudos to them for winning those. um at the state
036meet uh for I think it's track indoor track this year. Uh Jake Bargard um he won the champion in the 1000 meter. Rebecca Langlay placed third in the thousand meter and John Adagio second in the 55 meter. So they did amazing as well. Just a couple of things to throw out there too sport. >> Thank you. Unfortunately, >> um first of all, Heather, Miss McCann, thank you for bringing up about Miss Cody. Um she'll be sorely missed and greatly missed um in the Talin community. Um she's done a wonderful job, not only with our special education community, but the entire Talon public school community. She's been a great source, a great resource for she's always made herself available to whoever it was, whether your student or your family falls under her umbrella. Um she has
037been a bright shining star. Um again, I wish her nothing but the best and she will be sorely missed. So, thank you for bringing that up. I really appreciate it. Um as far as tonight with the TMS cheer, there's so much so much happening with our athletics and our DECA. Thank you for bringing that up because I I did see the email and I just didn't it didn't come through regularly so I missed it. So, thanks for picking me up, Jaden. Um, so we have our DECA students who come in here and they speak so brilliantly and so intelligently and are go to all over the country to compete with Miss Bridge and her team and and then you have the the ths soccer team that was here like two years in a row for
038such amazing accomplishments. We had the golf the golf team that won all these competitions last year. Um, we have our swimmers which I wish we had more swimmers and growing up in California swim program is huge because you got to do it all year long. So, I'm glad that we're able to figure out um a creative way to have it. Um such a wonderful sport. Um but the reason why I talk about this and they build the TMS the TMS cheer and then our TMS um basketball young ladies that'll be hopefully visiting us soon. They're starting these programs at such a young age and they're helping develop their teamwork skills, their leadership skills, their team building. 22 young ladies that are getting along. >> Man, she's doing something with those skills. Um, but nevertheless, and
039then they're back filling into our high schools and you have so many students. I ran into Andrew Chad at the bubble the other day and he's going on to London for school and soccer's helping him pay for that and he's a scholar athlete. Um, Miss Susie who is here, her brother Cam, same thing. Soccer is helping him. He's a scholar athlete. So, they're doing these sports and those artists that you mentioned, Dr. through so many names that are familiar that we've heard again and again and again doing whatever that the artistry that they're doing or the chorus or the band. Those those opportunities that we're providing here at Talland are going to only help these kids whether they go into a college or a trade school or go right into the world right after these
040are giving them lifelong skills to help them be an entire person in the community. So, I couldn't be more proud. Like, this is the best part about being on the board of ed, seeing the success of those kids. And as Heather said, these are kids. Let's let's pay attention to those kids. So, um I just wanted to highlight we go through a lot of conversations that are tough and rigorous trying to figure out what we need to do to take care of the whole school system. just remember the things that we see each each week when we have visitors and our young ladies here who are a bright future and what they bring to the table every week and what they're involved in and in and in their classrooms. So, we just need to think
041about when we're thought thoughtful in our discussions on how we're taking care of our school system. Thank you, Jen, and and Bill for mentioning the TMS cheer and then talking about the basketball because I'm really excited to get more folks more folks in here to highlight how important these programs are and what kind of impact it has on these students. So, and thank you ladies for coming every week. You make us proud. >> I drop another uh >> you know, we're talking athletics, but Ben Pope is also kicking it out of the park in AP. They're all >> these classes that are like, "Oh my gosh, >> isn't this room?" >> He's he's in the AP Cal, which to be an AP Cal and be knocking out of the park. That's something, too. So, >>
042yeah. >> What did we have at the rounds a couple years ago that we were in the physics class? >> And I was like, why was I a fish out of water? But these kids were so brilliant. It was It's amazing. And it's it's again all these things are helping them build everything to to excel. >> And and just Miss Cody did a great job. She I think is moving to college level. So she's uh you know she'll be there sipping lattes with professors and that's a very recent development. Um but I also want to point out um we did have a retirement too. Um Suzanne Getta also amazing you know they're both amazing admin but she also is for retirement. So we uh we have two they're willing to do some wonderful things and
043you know we got out their points. >> Anybody else? >> You um Dana hit on DECA. DECA had their state competition last week. Blew it out of the water. They did awesome. So I look forward to them coming in soon. I don't know when that is like typically they come in a few meetings after their competition. But I mean Mrs. I'm never I never get I think all three business teachers were in attendance for that trip that day. I want to say I could be wrong. So, it's just cool that our whole business department got to see, you know, where where are a lot of these students are going. So, um thank you for mentioning the the deck aspect of the world, but it's all clubs. So many of those names of the art students
044and Bill, I know you recognize some of them, too, because they played for us. They're they're some of our old baseball kids. So, they're they're and they're still playing baseball. So, you know, there's there's multifaceted students, whether it's clubs, sports, academics, it could be community based stuff. It could be volunteer, whatever it is. I'm just very impressed. And I think you hit the nail on the head. All of these things sort of adding on. It's almost hard to digest. It it it's really cool. So, well done to the to the folks in the schools and to the students and especially the two sitting in front of us who bear the brunt of these meetings. So, um just awesome. Our students are so cool. >> Right. That's it. Speaking of the two sitting in up where
045the student representative. >> Okay. So, um we've missed a couple student council meetings due to snow days. So much fun, >> but we've decided spring pep rally will be nonunified. So last for context last year we tried to do a unified pep rally due to admins pressing us to do a unified pep rally which basically means that there would have been like teams which with one student from each grade so like one freshman one sophomore um one junior one senior with the goal of bringing everyone together as opposed to like in the fall when it's grade versus grade and unfortunately only 16 people volunteer or signed up to participate so we weren't able to have that. So, working with Mr. Poland, we're able to come to the decision to have it nonunified this year for
046the spring. >> And our pep rally will either be April 9th or April 10th. All right. Thank you. >> Yep. Okay. Moving on to committee and leon reports. I'm not sure who met with who. So, Jaden, did you have a policy? >> We did uh last week, the week before. last week. >> Um we talked about a few things, but number one is pushing forward the policy that we're going to talk about tonight. So um other than that, we've got a few things coming down the pike um that will be added to I want to say the next agenda, the agenda after that that we've been talking about for a few years and that I think it's it's about time we start actually looking into it. So um so Dr. Willlet's been gracious in the
047list of things to finally attack and we're making our way. policy. The best update is later in the meeting and board action. >> Great. Thank you. >> Good point. The calendar did come up in our last policy meeting and so because we have I I think you said D we're pushed to June 22nd or something like that which is bizarre. Um it did come up last meeting to just sort of test the waters if we were going to change anything on the calendar. Now is probably the time to do it because break is in April break meeting. Sorry. Sorry. um is in about a month. So, if we were going to change anything, if we were going to make any adjustments to the schedule or the calendar, um might be a good conversation to have
048tonight sort of off the rift. Um but I'm not sure if that has to be a 24-hour notice type of thing on the agenda and we have to because we're acting on it. So, I don't know what to add something agenda. Yes, >> I can like to make a motion to add the calendar to to add a calendar discussion to the meeting. >> Even if it's a No, nobody wants to get rid of it. >> Sure. Add it on sale to new business. >> Okay. >> So, motion to add the school calendar to the 2025 2026 school year to tonight's agenda under L2 as L2. Thank you. Any second? >> Any discussion? >> Okay, Jaden, with start >> uh Mackenzie. >> Hi, >> Brian. >> Hi, >> Bill. >> Hi, >> Dina. >> Hi, >>
049Elaine. >> Hi, Noel. >> Hi, >> JP. Do we have to unmute him? Actually, >> we need to get that fixed up. >> No, no. I I don't think that setting is Hold on. >> I am an I. >> That's not on for this. >> I I I I I I sorry. >> All right. So, we will add that as L2. Okay. Uh oh. Okay. So, Ryan, how about communication? >> So, it was next week. >> Okay. Uh I'll give Dana a second to sit down. Uh Joel, how about >> we did not have curriculum because that was our snow day. >> Okay. >> That's what we did. >> That's hot in here. >> Did you have an FFC? >> Next week. >> Okay. Um so moving on is the chairperson's report. Um I don't
050have anything formalized for tonight. We're going to hopefully finish up our goals which will be great. Great. Congratulations to all of us for getting through the first part of the budget process and uh putting forth an adopted budget. Um, so now we will wait and the town council I believe starts very soon um going through their budget process. Um, and then Bill just pointed out to me that March is board of education member appreciation month. So I would like to tell you all how much I appreciate you. So thank you very much for being here and being online JP and getting through that first part. I wanted to say first budget process but it's not over yet. So there's part of the budget process. Um, and you know, as we say regularly, I really enjoy
051working with you all. I really enjoy being a part of this team. Thank you to our student reps because you are also board members, you know, and to our superintendent, Dr. Willlet. Thank you. >> Thanks for steering the ship. >> And Lisa, thank you. Keep it >> most importantly, Lisa. Make sure that's in the minute. >> There you go. Lisa, I'm going to make sure. Okay. So now moving on to the Detroit tenant report. K1 is the monthly financial report. Dr. Bella. >> All right. Let me cue that up here. >> Gotcha. Good. So as you're aware monthly financial report is we do that the first usually first meeting of every month. I'll go through some of the bigger considerations or lines. If you have any questions, please let me know and I'll try to
052answer what I can or I'll get the answers for you later. Um, the FFC meeting is next week and we do dive deeper in even further disagregation of of this information. So, if you're interested, that will be occurring next week as well um Wednesday of next week if you want to tune in. So, um, board members and those at home, you can also uh take a look at the agenda and expand. It might be easier to see if you open up that agenda item and expand it. Um, you know, that's part of the attachments to the agenda that was posted. All right. So, code 120, um, substitutes, that's over due to custodian substitutes running over. We're using more sub custodians. you may remember that um you know a few years ago with MAD reductions in
053that area and we have when we have illnesses or things like that we have to use um subs to cover um it's about 15 days and you know we've had to use about 17 custodians over that span of time so it's a lot there's eight hours a shift $17 an hour so it equals about 30,000 that we've had to use to cover um those types of things u 150 stipens Um the uh we still have some stipens that um you know grant money is still coming in and so are some donations that were promised but it's not probably by the end of the year it's going to balance out as we would expect. Um we're close to it. Code 240 401 retirement um that's over by about 20 due to several new hires selecting the
054401k plan and when they you know you can only estimate what you're going to get there. Sometimes people take it, some don't. The 401A plan um is just people jumped on that one. This time the staff are also working um some extra hours and that will also affect that. So during budget season last year, uh we did not include any, you know, anticipated so we cut that back and so this is going to run over a little bit when those people when those individuals take it. uh 320 professional education services. It's over uh 53 last month was 73. Again, it's additional services provided to three out placements. Um that's going to continue to go on over the span of the year. We're going to get some money in, but you're going to see that line
055continue to grow. Um because of those you may remember last year in last year's budget we took out any anticipated you know we did not budget for you know placement that any any that might happen we just did what we had sometimes in in this budget we we try to budget for one or two that could happen in case this kind of thing occurs so it did occur um and so we'll incur that against that line we should see that run negative um there is SLP services also required by um an individual. So that was something that had to be added here as well. Um 340 legal, we knew this would happen um but we are going to run over on budget because we put that line significantly below trend and um you know we've
056incurred this and will continue to incur this. Um we also have error educator negotiations approaching so it'll probably be some legal advisement in there. Um so that line will probably run further during this time. So these that I'm kind of highlighting now, you're going to in month to month see these increase. Um 510 student transport over by a little bit more due to um some additional transportation costs. Uh we also, you know, price of fuel and other things is going up. So there's going to be some impacts there, you know, as we go through the the next cycle. 560 tuition outplacements. Um again that's going over um that has to do with students uh having special service needs uh net increase of additional outplacements. Um and we talked about that last time. Um we also
057have one that some that could fee incurred fairly soon that we've already talked about. So we'll continue to labor that. Um so that's kind of where we're at at this time. Um, McKini Vento also has impacted that line. Uh, we've had some additional family needs with respect to McKini Vento, which is our homeless. Um, it's the homeless act. So, there are things that they will do. Um, and it's it's there's no one person or family right now. It's there are quite a few people that we've been helping. So, that's that is part of that picture, but I don't want anyone to think, "Oh, I know who that is. You probably don't know who that is." I'm just saying. So, um, so that those are the big ones. um we expect to um kind of come
058in pretty typical this year, but where we end will have a lot to do with these kinds of outburstments. You know, I think you know in the last couple of years, we already talked about this budget-wise the average is about 3%. We'll land somewhere in the 3% zone. Um but you've noticed that, you know, an outplacement can affect by over $100,000. So that anything can shift very dramatically um depending on who comes in or goes out. That's just one example. >> Um given that um when Cody is leaving or and we're bringing in a substitute for her, will that overrun that substitute line as well? >> Uh well, so there'll be a small diffial between the time of the leaving and the time of the hiring. Okay. So that'll kind of offset the person that
059we have to bring in. >> So it shouldn't be too bad, but yes, I mean it'll occur against the line, >> but it'll be offset by what you're not spending, >> right? >> It's a very recent thing, so we're just all trying to figure it out now. You know, we are getting that worked out. >> Any other questions for Dr. Will? you. >> I can you explain to us I think I think think I have a pretty fair understanding but I want to make sure everyone's on the same page. The encumbrance what what we see that a lot. Can you just give us a a layman's definition of what that line uh defines? Typically, um that's that's the the process and it is an ongoing one of saying that we know we have this amount
060that is coming up that we need to spend in the short term and we want to make sure that that set aside is solid so that if for some other reason there's a lot of draws on that line, this is protected because we've already made a commitment. That commitment could be a contract that's coming due in March. It could be so like if something happened and you drew if you didn't do the incumbrance and you happen to draw against that line so much that now you don't have enough to pay the contract that's coming due in March or what you know something like that now you can't pay the contract in March. So the encumbrances are um basically a positioning of those funds in a protected place so that they cannot um be over withdrawn
061from. Um and so that will happen as we get towards you know as we progress through the year. Some things are encumbered immediately, some things are encumbered as you know contracts are approaching some you know that's generally the process. We will do encumbrances sometimes um also as we get to a certain point in the end of the year because there's things that they know I'm going through the lines and they know I'll start to pull together data on you know where we might land. They want to make sure I don't include something they're going to spend in amm April 15th. Um the other thing that happens is when we get to a certain point in the year I I let all the departments know two things. one, we may freeze certain certain lines like PED.
062I'm sorry. Yeah. Professional development, but I also say you better make those expenditures or get those contracts resolved by X date because I'm going to pull all funds out of, you know, any incumbrances by a certain point. That usually is when we are getting into what June I will start to pull all incumbrances back and that's when I start to talk to you about what's remaining and where we might land and you know do you want to commit resources to X Y or Z based on what we might have here's what we might be transferring to ERF >> it's basically reserve funds reserve funds is the easiest way to say it is make sure that we're not put in harm's way if if we don't have those funds to take care of something that might
063not just happen at the beginning of the year. So, it's having that in the just it's literally reserving it for our specific >> that we know is coming up to be spent >> huh >> that reserving it because we know it's coming up to >> our specific like it's in a separate column so from it but so it's still there. The other question I had is under student transportation services. You you had mentioned uh there was some additional expenses and fuel up until two weeks ago. Fuel was cheaper than it was last year when we even made this budget. >> Yeah. >> Um don't we do we lock in a fuel price? >> My comment I I apologize for not being clear. I meant that it's going to impact us in our cycle going forward.
064>> But that's not reflected here. >> No, no, no. But what I was saying is that things can impact that and as we look forward there we're going to have probably a different impact in fuel. >> Okay? >> Like that won't hit us right now per se, but but next year, you know, as we start to get into our budget process conversations, >> these kind of things can impact those lines. >> Sure. What what impacted us here to go over $6,000? Do you know specifically? >> It's athletic transportation costs. We just we had to run either further longer or to additional places >> with all those uh tournaments we're going to >> tournament sending face cost you know the the sometimes that you have to accommodate more than what you expected you might have to
065send a bus down and back down and back you might have to have a bus sitting there it depends on the circumstances and those can affect the cost >> so I question that because we didn't have J football we didn't have freshman basketball. Um, we didn't go to the state tournament in football this year. Um, so there was a lot of things that we didn't do that I'm just I was I was shocked to see it over. >> Yeah. Well, it's over by 5,000 >> and I small number 45 million budget. >> If you want what I'll do is I'll get exactly why it's over by 5,000. We can add it to the FF dive. We can dive into it. >> Absolutely. >> What I know at this level is it's athletics related because it's
066drawing on that area of it, but I can find out specifically what that 5,000 is. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, I can talk about it FFC if you want. >> Yeah, we did a deep dive into it next week. Anyway, >> and I'll see it on the minutes. >> But that is too >> in the transportation realm. It is the student athletics that's hitting. That's where that 5,000 overage roughly is kind of good. Thank you. >> Okay. Anybody else? Anything else? Um gradu when someone foyers if we when we get foyer um how much does that cost the district? >> Um well I mean foyer is a complicated matter. So you have both um the cost of whatever sometimes is necessary to generate the response. For instance, if you have to provide something that requires
067redactions, generally you have to have legal people look at it to make sure that the redactions, you know, aren't viol that they are appropriate. You know, that whatever you're giving doesn't violate any privacy um laws or anything like that. So, if there's a foyer that has a series of documents, for instance, emails, you have to put those emails up and get them redacted. That cost is quite expensive. would be anywhere from I don't know 100 to multiple hundreds per hour depending on what you do and you know um how many documents and and the density of it. There's also uh what you might consider opportunity cost or sunk time it's the time we have to spend working on the foyas. So if you take the staff that have to work on the foyers, you know,
068the amount of time you have to work on the foyers and multiply it by what you're paying us, you know, daily, you do have a lot of workforce kind of productivity lost and you're spending money that way too. You're spending money in the workforce that is, you know, the workers that have to be processing those and you're spending money in any redactions or any legal processing you have to do when you provide these foods. So would you say the I know we have some other legal stuff going on but so the 52,000 that were over foyer some of the foyer requests contributed to that >> which legal services >> oh uh I mean definitely yeah that's where it would hit if it was going to hit that's where it's hitting and yes we do have
069to do redaction >> and then plus like the hourly payroll or salary payroll office people your team in the office, I should say, and obso uh your team in the office doing um some of the leg work as well. >> Yeah, we try to handle everything we can, but anything that gets tricky about, you know, redacting, we want to make sure we're not violating because if you >> it's a much worse situation, even much more legal vulnerability if you violate any kind of privacy by not being careful about that. So, >> and then I have more questions, but we can save them for FFC since it's >> anybody else. >> Okay. A2, the instructional rounds. >> Okay. Um, just want to put in a plug for the instructional rounds. Um they are amazing. They're coming.
070There's the Birch Grove one coming up tomorrow and many have signed up. Um obviously life gets in the way a lot of times. So that's uh that happens. But I just wanted to encourage um board members to engage in those. Those are set up for you to interact with students, teachers, administrative staff. Um they're designed to give you an insight into specific areas that you can request. Um, and you know, I'll work on them. Um, and these are usually from those kinds of things, but we set them up about a year in advance based on what people have asked for and wanted to see and their interest areas and so on. So, um, I just wanted to encourage you to engage in the instructional rounds. Um, and people, we love seeing you. We love seeing
071you in the buildings. We love walking around with you. The kids love seeing you. So, it's a it's a fantastic experience for everyone. Any of you have that have participated, do you want to throw out how fantastic fantastic of an experience it is? >> I love it. But, you know, I was just gonna call Dr. Willlet out because he doesn't love when I break away and run around to school by myself. >> Champ will destroy the grow card economy by flooding it. >> He fashions the entire business and he has already made me extra copies. It's fine. >> Ke in economics. the more you put in. >> No, they truly are great, though. I mean, they're so It's so wonderful to actually see um to see the kids, you know, even I mean, I love
072even just seeing them at their locker breaks in the older years um and seeing their energy. But it is really great to see, you know, our staff working one-on-one to to see um the kids in the classrooms, to see kids working with interventionists. um you know our curriculum supervisors and directors are there and um it's just you know again we all have so many experiences right I have an experience as a parent I have experience as a volunteer and this is still an entirely new world of an experience for everything that they explain to you that is going on behind the scenes for what we're actually viewing happening in action for our students. So they are fantastic. Um, I do love Birch Grove because the kids actually like to see us at Birch Grove, so
073that that's enjoyable. Um, but yeah, I can't wait for tomorrow. You have u So there's tomorrow. The next one coming up after that is the March 23rd. Um, tomorrow is focusing on unified arts and music and the fizzad computers and birch groves um engagement and so on. The one on the 23rd at THS is all about equal block and MTSS. remembers sometimes we have questions about that. We're not sure what that looks like. Well, this will give you a really good look at that. Um, structured academic supports. Students will talk to you about that. The integration of smart pass. Many of the things that you've heard but you know you haven't had direct experience with. This will give you an opportunity. April 8th is MTSS's data analysis and special education service models at TIS. So
074that'll give you a really good sense to look at, you know, how we use data and how we use it in the classroom, how kids react and how that is impacted. Um, and then TMS on May 20th, that one is one of the ones knocked out by the snow day. Um, that's about specifically student centered learning in the classroom and we'll talk to you about the domains and the CCT and the 2015, all that. So, it just gives you a really good shot, really good view right into all of those things you've been hearing about as terms, but you're just not sure what that means. So, it's just great to be able to participate. We can't wait to see you guys there. >> Um, can I put you on the spot and ask you if
075you want to maybe give us a quick echip update? So um EIP um it's not on the agenda but it does relate to the financial aspects of things. So um EIP is uh you know our um health collaborative that I've been executive chair for for some years now and the town has had a great experience with um we have a very healthy reserve and um Tomlin is doing great. Um the state has offered a um health insurance plan that's extremely competitive and that health insurance plan um will be uh probably for many places um a better deal especially in the early year or years. Uh so Egypt as a as a collective most of the members have decided to go and become part of the state's plan and currently the um the Taland our entity
076is also looking at that. Um, so what I am in the process of doing right now is working with the membership of Egypt to create our termination agreement or termination notice uh and termination process which is a pretty complicated process because we're kind of um I don't want to use the word divorce. We're having a very amicable separation, right? Um but think of it like you know there's paperwork. There's who gets what where's that going? you know, everybody taking their balances and heading out the door. So, um, there's a process that is required to do that and we're walking through that process. Um, that process will have been mostly completed by June 30th, but there is what is called a runout period. The runout period is when any claims that people might be submitting are
077going to happen after June 30th. That could be for an entire year. So the, you know, we'll have our final separation around June 30th as an entity. Um, some of those, you know, some of the funds and all that come with us. Some of the funds also have to stay committed for the runout period because there'll be claims push put against it after our separation. So, we're not going to really see much of any kind of um we're not going to be able to have a full financial conversation about what is and isn't until two points, you know, June 30th and then ultimately one year out from then. Um, so those funds have to stay committed for any run out claims, things like that. So that that's probably not going to do anything for us
078into this budget season, but it, you know, but I'll let you know as we progress and what that looks like. Remember though, um, we're talking about insurance. So whatever is there and whatever um, you know, reserve we have there has to be applied to insurance to people, you know, that thing. So it's not like any you can't that us or something like that, right? So just keeping that in mind. So that that I'll report out as time goes on. Um in FFC I was talking to Miss We may um we may be able to have an FFC agenda on that in about a month. >> Okay. I just know our the town manager mentions it in the in his I don't know if it did last night, but he mentions it in his town manager
079update. So, I just wanted to make sure >> Yeah. Yeah. No, I'm happy to happy to expound upon it. >> Um, and then I was also going to ask you if you just wanted to give a quick, you know, NAS uh update being that the committee was here this week and Bill Joelle and I met with them on Monday. Yeah, they uh as you know we are having our dennial visit which is um essentially for those new members um the um this organization comes in New England Association of Schools and Colleges and they do a review of your high school. They also kind of connectedly do a review of your community and essentially they uh give you certification. They give your high school certification. Um and so uh they're in their process of doing that.
080You have your initial visits in sevenyear point and then they come back at the 10ear point and then they come back every 10 years. So basically it's every seven years but it's dennial because the final visit is in a 10ear cycle you know and they check in seven visit 10. So um we are in that the that part of it. We are in day three of it actually and and it's wrapping up um and has mostly wrapped up. So they will be giving us their report probably in a couple of weeks and then I'll share that with you. Um I think we are doing great. Obviously we have great students, great teachers, great staff of every of every classification and the board members did exceptionally well. Um so I think this has been great for
081us and I think it's going to we're going to show you how the school system is a really wonderful place to be. Uh what I would say is um the purpose of having a certification analysis like this is also to see what you need to keep working on. Um so if I had to guess like most districts, they're going to say keep plugging away on curriculum, you know, um because that we've made a lot of progress in that area and we're developing and doing more than we ever have before. But you know, they they they're going to probably throw out something the effect that you should have a rich curriculum for every course and things like that. you know, that's pretty typical. Um, you're not I don't think we would we're not going to fail
082for this reason. It's just, hey, you know, keep doing that. Um, that type of thing. So, I think it'll be very positive, a lot of positives. I do think they'll have some real structure suggestions, which is our also part of the process. And, um, your board representatives >> and they also met with sta um, some staff members and they met with some students too. Well, they meet with every every group. Every group they meet with students. >> You were How did you How was that for you? >> Um, it was pretty good. They mostly just asked like how like our community was and like what we would want to change about the school. >> Okay, >> great. Thank you for being a part of that. All right. I was just going to say, does anyone
083have a question? >> Yeah. What the NES evaluation, I'll call it for now. Can you just explain if that has an impact on, you know, what schools are looking at our students? Does that impact how schools view how colleges or colleges view the district in terms of, you know, this student's coming from a district that NAS gave a lot of thumbs up to versus this student's coming from a district that NASK gave a lot of thumbs down to. Is there some sort of significance there? we can um I think the ask and the visiting team is really focused more on helping uh districts and towns communities grow. >> So they're they're very u you know very uh positive oriented towards the community just trying to let you know ways that you could optimize things that
084you know could use optimization. >> Yeah. Um, in the distant past, uh, what sometimes would happen would be schools would lose their accreditation potentially if they went on probation and did not fix the things that he has told them to fix. Um, so, you know, that has not happened in a very long time that the schools have gone on probation. And I can't think of a recent example of that. I'm sure somewhere there is one, but um you know years and years and years ago I do know of one that did and a district went through a lot of trouble and it is very scary and if you go on probation and colleges might not accept kids you know but that's not something I've seen a lot of in recent years and um and the
085ask really is more along the lines of a very uh helpful partner who will take a look at everything and make recommendations to us about things you know community school and programs curriculum. You know, they might make a few comments about budget, but they're they're more in the line of constructive criticism than damning it, damning a school system. So, I'm expecting that kind of thing. I'm expecting them to tell us where they think things are great and where, you know, they can give us some constructive criticism, we'll do that. Sure. >> I think we have such great staff and students and so on, great community. I'm not worried at all. And I will say, you know, we as community members, they're they're teachers. >> Yeah. >> So, the last thing that they want to do
086is is do anything that would affect the, you know, the livelihoods and the choices of our students. So, um, like Dr. Willis said, it very much felt like that they were they were there to help and and be constructive and and just just make our schools be better. Certainly, not to take anything away. >> And they're not they're not our teachers, >> right? Right. Just to clarify, they are a group a team of admin teachers and so on, but they come from various other places. They NEAS assembles the team and sends the team to a district. So, for instance, I was sent to a a district in Massachusetts. And so people will put in their time and then you go for a couple of days and you do an evaluation of a district based on
087the data and the package and the information they give you and you're trained in how and then you go do it. So, it's usually um they assemble a team of people that are not from one place. They're from multiple places and that team works together um but they're not just to clarify that but they're not our teachers. They're teachers from around the New England area. Sort of come together as a team and they send the teams to do these. >> Any other questions on any of those things for Dr. Willlet? Okay, moving on to new business L1 healthy food certification. So those of you who have been here before and you know in a few months I won't be saying that anymore but still some of you have not experienced yet the healthy food certification.
088Um, the healthy food certification is a dense narrative and essentially the shortest version that I can give you of the narrative is that we do need to comply with um, CGS 10215F, USDA um, and 221Q uh, various laws and regulations. And if we comply with the various laws and regulations, we get reimbursements for our lunches. If we fail to apply, we will not get reimbursements. Reimbursements are about 17 to $20,000. So, they do help our budget. Um they help our service service program, help the budget. So, it's not a good idea not to do it. It's a it's better to do it obviously. So the the way that we get that done is we have to have the board take a look at this and you can you know do the first read and come
089back and do a second read if you want. However, it is one of those things where we do it, we get the 17 to 20, we don't do it, we don't get it. So it's better to do that. Um but you have to make a motion that is quite extensive. So, a lot of times what we do is we we refer to the motion. Um, there's a recommended motion item here, motion to allow superintendent to support and authorize the 2026 27 health and food certification and allow for the exemptions of food beverage items as well as other provisions as indicated in considerations one and two and then you have this consideration one and two. So, if there's anything in this you do not agree with then don't do that. Um, but that those are the
090stakes involved. The board has to do it that way. It has to say one against two in order to get all full compliance to be in full. >> Any questions on this at this time? >> Yeah. In order for us to get that Sorry, >> what? >> Right. In order for us to get that reimbursement, we have to be on this program. Correct. Um if we are not on this program then we don't get that 17 to $20,000. >> You don't get the Yeah. >> So is it just and then then so if we don't go on the program what what are the benefits? Is there any do we get different foods more all involves a lot of libertarian like you get to drink a soda during a school day or something. Um, >> I
091mean, is that essentially what it is? >> Yeah. I mean, if you kind of parse through this and what we're going to talk about next is also kind of similar. Um, you cannot sell food during the school lunch or school day because it'll take resources away from the the, you know, USC program. And you also should not be um using vending machines to sell food that's not in alignment with the healthy food served. Then you could do those things, but you would not now get the reimbursement. >> So the the lunch that the students are being served wouldn't change. There might just be additional sugary non-healthy options that don't >> you wouldn't have to police your vending machines that way. you probably have some something in there. I'm not going to go as far as
092to say ding-dong because I don't know if this actually could happen anymore. But um yeah, I mean like when I was growing up, they had Coca-Cola machines and things like that. >> Yeah, they probably make up the money other ways if I have kids say, "Hey, give me 25% of all sales." I'm the Coke guy. >> Yeah. I mean it's just also that when you have a um when you have funding right kind of sp you know funding of our lunches they also don't want things competing with those lunches. >> Sure. >> So you can't have a pizza you know somebody selling pizza every day that's now taking you know that money away because they're giving you they're subsidizing really your lunches. So now if somebody's selling pizza and it takes away from the number
093of lunches you sell, it's messing with everything. >> I just want to understand both sides of it or the school store, right? So the school store can't >> can't sell candy bars, right? That's why the school store can't sell any of that stuff, >> right? >> So it's it's meant to do a couple things. Meant to make people healthier because they're, you know, during the day they're distributing foods that are good for the body. um but also not um not go against the state program and you know uh contrary to the state's objectives with this >> okay you probably realistically make up most of that money in other ways selling some >> less healthy ways >> yeah yeah less healthy the the actual money part is I don't think is a we're saying oh we're
094doing it for the money I don't think we're doing it for the money because you can get the money other ways through selling these non healthy items. >> So, it's the way they promote healthy. >> Yeah. No, I know the way they promote it, but it's real realistic. >> Yeah. >> Real world, you can get that 17 grand easily throughout the school year. >> I don't know. Do you guys eat Twinkies anymore? >> Healthy already. It's working. >> Twinkies vending machine, right? Yeah, >> I think we I think we'll see parent contributions change because I'm dumping money into that school account all the time and I'm not going to be dumping money into it if it's going to soda that. Yeah, >> we could do a Twinkie or soda initiative, but I don't know. Yeah,
095>> we would definitely make the news for a Twinkie and soda in whatever she said for sure. Um, >> would anybody like to move make a motion to move this to board action? So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. Any discussion on that? Okay. So Joel, >> hi >> Elaine. >> Hi >> Dana. >> Hi >> Bill. >> Hi >> Brian. >> Hi >> McKenzie. >> Hi >> Jaden. >> Hi. J >> dropped off for right now. And I'm an I. So we will move that to what is it? N. No. >> We could do N2. N2. Okay. Okay. So now that brings us to our addition which is L2. Correct. Which is the discussion on the school calendar. >> Yeah. School. Yeah. This is this year. >> Yeah. >> This year's calendar, >> right? >>
096An off-the cuff discussion. But I guess what we would be asking right is what are our options at this point that given that the final day of school is um June 22nd I believe at this point. Is that correct? Okay. To make sure >> um and uh what would our what would some options look like for us? >> So just to pull it up um I mean you're asking about options. Thank you. >> Uh your main option right now would be um >> sorry >> would be April break. You do have the authority to remove days from April break and make them school days but we would have to run some bases for that. I'd have to, you know, go and um make sure we, you know, handled all the stakeholders. But, but that essentially,
097you know, you still have the same number of contractual school days and same number of teacher work days, but now you would be pulling that last day back. So, if you started taking April days, April vacation days, you could subtract a day from end of year for every April vacation day you took. >> Okay? So that that's your positive. On the downside, there are people that have planned things, staff have planned things, community members have planned things. So that would create some stress around that for those and the system, you know, our staffing. We would have to do some things to make that work because some people may have committed to do things during that week. Are there any other options outside of April break? >> Uh, your only real space to take it from
098is April break now. That isn't a holiday a federal kind of holiday and things. >> Okay. >> All right. Any questions or comments? I >> say when we brought up at the um the policy committee meeting um our recommendation was to not change anything. um unless the very near term we have a big storm that causes another multi-day um cancellation. >> Thank you. >> I was just curious is is it possible for a half a day on April 3rd or no Friday? It's most likely people aren't traveling just for one >> you can but it won't it won't if you do a half day it doesn't do anything for you. What? What do you mean? >> An early release. >> Um, well, I guess if I don't know, whatever they call it now. >> You're
099in school for that day. I mean, I would have to check about Good Friday, but maybe. Yeah, that one is um >> It's not in any of our contracts. >> I would have to check. >> I feel like it might have been >> I would just have to look at that. But, um, >> I'm not sure if it's any other contract. >> I don't know. I'm just throwing something out. >> But, you're you're I mean, if you came in, I can look at that if you come in half day on that day. Yeah, I'm just being double Z. I know some people have plans actually that week of the 22nd. So, you're going to lose some people on the 22nd as well. So, >> so you're saying get rid of the 22nd, add the third
100as a half day. >> Yeah. Whatever we call it on the 19. >> Um, is this hold up or is this where are we at for potential graduation day? >> That doesn't change. Okay. We set that when we hard set that we don't change it because everybody starts making plans and plane flights. >> What day is it? >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Well, Friday the 19th. >> Any other questions? I'm sorry. I'm trying to look at the contracts while we're talking. >> I don't have I just have a comment chair. Madam Chair. Yeah. Um, I think we're just at a point it doesn't matter if you take April spring break, people have plans. If you take, you know, if you move that, people have plans for the end of school year. I have big
101plans >> during that whole week. My daughter's 15th birthday gone the country, you know. So, it doesn't matter which way you take it, you know. It someone's going to be affected one way, you know. I I don't think we um I know I as not a native New Englander, you know, I'm like, "Oh, this don't affect us. This won't affect us." Of course, you hear that you plant something, bam, it's in your face. So, but I would like to know from the students what what's the talk in the school, you know, what what are kids feeling and what are they thinking about, you know, now you got six extra days going into the summer. >> To be honest, I know like even I do like already have plans over April. Like for example, for me,
102if we have to be in school at Wednesday, like I'm just not going to be there. Like I have I have things I do more important with no offense to my education. But I think that you're going to find a lot of absences that week if you do choose to take away those vacation days. But like we were talking about, I think it was a couple months ago about like having the last day on a Monday. I think you would find, especially because high schoolers have to be there for finals, you would find less absences on that 22nd than you would throughout that week of the 15th. I think that's a very good point and that would also affect what progress you can make in classes if a very large number of kids are not
103young adults are not there all out >> yeah I have to say um although I completely understand and I'm not thrilled about going into September or September >> sorry I'm trying to fast I'm looking through our contracts um I um I do very much feel that people have made plans for April break. And I also think about our staff and I know that our staff has a summer break, but these are the people that are with our students all day, every single day. They have very limited time that they can take off that are not scheduled breaks or days off. Um, and I for one want them to be at their best considering that they're with my child longer than I am on a regular day on a school day. Um, so that's very important
104to me. I also think that Angela made a good point, which is that, you know, I do think I mean, listen, I don't have anything planned for April break, but if I did, I'd still be going. And um there's going to be a lot of students um that will just miss school. They will then be behind. The teachers will then be, you know, overburdened catching them up afterwards. You know, I have a high schooler and he was out for a day, you know, a couple weeks ago and I think he's just taking the test tomorrow. So it t at the high school level because things are moving so fast when you have makeup work it sometimes gets pushed pushed pushed pushed pushed and and it's difficult for them. So I do understand the need to
105discuss it and and again this is just my personal opinion but I I feel like what the policy committee came up with makes sense. If there's additional days then we're going to come to um we're probably going to have to do something. Um but as of right now as unfortunate as the 22nd is I would personally stay with it. Um, so far I just got through the admin, our administrator's contract and they do have Good Friday listed as a paid holiday for them. So I would assume if the admins have it then the teachers have it, the parents have it too because they paying attention to each other's contracts, but I haven't gotten there yet. I wouldn't necessarily assume that of other contracts, but the state of Connecticut does give you um you can hold
106school on CGS14 indicates that you can hold school on that day if you wanted to. So, it's not like there are certain holidays that are December holidays, but then you can't hold school on. Good Friday is not one of those. So, you can technically as a board decide to hold school on it. If you do old school on a day that you can you're just going to >> in some form >> when it's a paid holiday, >> right? You have to pay them again. >> You might there might be impacts to that. If it's in a contract that it is a day, you might have an impact, >> but that I don't think that's not in all of them, but I would say, you know, >> yeah, >> you're allowed to under the, you know,
107it's not like there are certain holidays that the state federal you cannot. This is not one of those. I just looked it up. So, we are actually allowed in Connecticut to have school on that day if you wanted on Good Friday. Not to lessen the importance of PD days. take one of those or those >> contra different but you wouldn't get anything out of the ERS per se but the full actual like yeah those service days are >> okay Dana I think this is almost a m point because when we talk about kids being in front of or students in front of teachers or teachers in front of students and having time in the classroom And yeah, six days is significant. Obviously, this is a obscure year. We haven't seen snow and ice like this
108in probably a decade. >> Um, but I we're talking about different things like M. McCann talked about um attrition and morale and retaining our folks and I get concerned that we're talking about able vacation and I think I appreciate your cander. This is same for people you know they have their plans whether they have plans or not how how many kids kids are going to be there and how many student staff are going to be there right and so you can't do forward progress forward progress on education when you have half your class missing so then are we just putting a day on the calendar to put a day on the calendar when they're probably going to do a whole bunch of pomp and circumstance in the classroom anyways. So yeah, do we want 180
109days? Absolutely. Are people probably not going to come to school on June 22nd? Absolutely. You know, um but I think it's just an unfortunate odd scenario and I think some of these things that we need to talk about as New Englanders. I also am not a native New Englander and this has been a long winter. Um is maybe and again this summer obviously is already shortened. So, do we look at moving it a couple days like in next year while we're talking the calendar and the next year that we're talking the calendar, do we talk about starting out earlier in August? And then that's goes into contracts and negotiations where that looks with our teachers. So, this is more of we're not going to be able to fix anything today for this calendar year. It's
110kind of going to fall the way it's going to fall. Um, but these are conversations, bigger conversations for when we're negotiations, when we're doing contracts, and then when we're setting the calendars year over year, what does that look like? give us some kind of buffer. Again, this was a really obscure year. I mean, I don't think we we didn't have any I think I used a snowblower once last year, you know what I mean? So, it's it's just different and it's unfortunate. Well, but I appreciate there was a couple emails regarding it trying to be creative, but contract surely one and then morale for another thing is just another thing. um and name New Englander. Um I uh when I back when back when I was in school um the school year didn't go that
111long. Um and we've also gotten comments from parents about ending too early in June and having a lot of June needing on child care. Um so um you know just something to think about for how we adjust next year um or any years after that. Um it but I I just have a question. Is is the last day of school an early release day? >> Yeah. >> Um and just again quick perusal through the contracts. It's in the admins. It's in the paris. It's in the nurses and it's in the custodians. I'm not sure. The language in the teachers contract is a little different. So I wouldn't necessarily say it's not in the ginger contract, but it is in those four contracts that they can fully debac one one last comment. I'm glad that you
112know Tayden you brought this up and and you know we discussed it and I think we we gave it as due diligence and you know there's we're already March you we were having this discussion prior to our winter break and maybe there's something we can do but you know spring break's next month few weeks away actually it would have been easier if it happened before February. Yeah, exactly. So that's all >> well I I'll say this. I'll credit Mackenzie for bringing it up during our policy meeting because it it just sort of I'm thinking about bad chest. I don't know my personal schedule. I want that April break still. But um the one thing I said to McKenzie is I don't think right now I'm in a place where I can support touching April break
113or anything like that. If we you can't go past June 3rd again. So if we have another snowstorm and we start to see our date is 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, >> 29th, then I think we need to address it hopefully sooner than later. But um hopefully we are through Oh god, not >> hopefully we are through the toughest of winter and we don't have to do that. I think that's just what it would take at this point of the year for that to happen. Now if we were in December, Joel, I think you just made this. If we were earlier in the year, I I think we've got some more maneuverability uh to to to work with, especially in, you know, February and and you know, and there's some other days in here that we
114could we could we could touch, but um just where I am right now, what we've discussed in policy, I don't think we're there yet. If we have some cancellations coming in the next few weeks, don't be surprised if policy brings this up again, though. So, um that's that was sort of where I finished myself. And if we need to have a special meeting because something needs to be decided, we should do it as well. >> Right. >> Um, any other questions? Or you then make a motion to move it to boy action. >> Okay. All right. Thank you for bringing that up though, Jaden, and good discussion on it. Um, all right. Let's move to old business M1, which is the board of education holdings. >> Okay. All right. I >> think we all our
115dashboard too. We can look at, right? >> Yes. Um, so the uh I I love acronyms, so I I got to create another acronym here. But you uh the admin and the teachers that staff knows. Um, so you you submitted some base submissions. uh we can look at those but basically what I tried to do here and I will admit I I engaged some AI assistants I took everything that you had created and asked AI to summarize it. Um so what you're seeing here is you have the goals on the left side and I you know took from all of the submissions which they're you know they're quite a lot which is good you know a lot of detail. So AI synthesized and consolidated each of these. Um so if somebody let's say five people
116gave uh an example of what they felt was expected under expectations or conditions for success or system accountability or building public support for the first goal. It would take all five of your contributions and synthesize them into you know for expectations this one for consolidate conditions for success this one. So that's I'm not can't take credit for the consolidation of them that was u you know 5.4 before um but this is um this is what I came up with. I can show you your original if we did not use the AI for this you would be consolidating you know your own one by one so we can do that too if you would like to do that too >> so we had this discussion earlier that's thank you Dr. for doing that because that's what
117we talked about with this group. We knew you guys like the expediency. So there is the background data there, you know, if you need it. Um >> I can do a quick read through if we want so that we can what what would happen if we looked at this at home and came back. I mean >> so just you can see both here's your base submissions. >> Yep. Um these are your base submissions and then you can also see your you know the consolidation both of them are accessible to you you know here and >> so if we just if we ran through them tonight do we have to vote on anything or motion for anything or >> really you've already created your goals well I mean you could but this this exercise was once
118you have the goals >> it's a board activity to help articulate what do you expect of yourselves you in to achieve these what are the conditions of success that you're thinking will have to be in place. What are the things you know systemically accountably for your accountability? What are you saying is going to be an indicator of that success? What are you accountable to do because of that goal? And then how are you going to build public support for that goal? >> Yeah. >> So you could approve these officially or you could just say, "Yep, this was our consolidation." And then you use it as a dock. Um the goal here is to use it every time we talk about goals your goals now though. So over the next two years and mine you know
119when I go to create the superintendent goals for the coming year I'll look at this. I'll look at what you said was your important goals. I'll look at what you you know have for things you want to do to build public support. You know the conditions you want for success and I will try to build my goals off to loose. So that's essentially it. you you can vote to accept these or just you could take it as you did it a a as a synergy of all of your offerings and here it is. >> Okay. >> We have already um articulated publicly our five goals and voted on them. So >> and they're on your agenda. >> Really really this is really just a matrix for us to hold ourselves accountable for achieving our goals.
120>> That's right. That's the final stage of the exercise is you have your goal. Now, how are you going to build public support for it? What are you gonna you know, how are you accountable for it? All of that, which is what you did uh between last and this meeting was you submitted those items and they were consolidated by our friendly AI so you didn't have to take all of all of your different ones and do it yourself. >> Finally, say I don't think we need to vote on anything. I think we just, you know, unless someone is reading this and vehemently disagrees with how uh those of us that submitted suggestions, you know, how it was summarized wording. >> I wanted to make sure I got that in there to give those of us
121that submitted items. Um, so you know, unless unless there's something that someone has uh bouncing around in their head that they need to get on here um that didn't submit in the last two weeks that we've had time to do it, >> right? >> You know, I think I I think it is what it is. >> Yeah. Why don't we do why don't we do this? Why don't we um why don't we just say take a look at it at home? Uh if there's something that you're really not okay with, again with the understanding that we did have a couple weeks to to submit these things, but if there's something that just really looks off to you, um maybe by Friday at 4 p.m. send an email to myself and the superintendent. And otherwise, we'll
122just assume that everybody is good to go. >> Is that good? >> Yep. >> All right. >> Sounds great. Thank you. >> Great. Thanks, guys. Go. >> You're looking for information there. >> Yep. All righty. All right. So, Oh, Jane, I'm sorry. Did you have some? >> No. Okay. >> No. Nothing. >> I'm getting excited though. >> Oh, excited for your board action for your policy. >> Motion to go past. >> Keep going. >> All right. So, I'm going to move on to board action. So, we have N1 policy 5400. So, this is a second read, I believe. Right. >> Correct. So, um, grab that. >> This one's a nice easy one, too. All right. >> So, this should be pretty straightforward. Um, this Well, essentially, we talked about it a little bit already, but
123this is connected. Um we do have uh the um state come in and they do an audit and what they'll do is they'll kind of look at everything and they'll say hey you know we noticed that you don't make a specific reference to the fundraising with food to be consumed during the school day must meet smart stack standard statement so F10 is not noticed in your document for instance and then you say yes auditor I will put this in the document because this is the right thing to have in the document and then we bring it to the board and the you know policy and then to the board um and here we are. So basically uh the language we are adding incorporates F10 as well as some other um notations. You can see that
124there in that paragraph. Um those those notations disappear once we put it into the policy itself. So if you scroll down, you can see, you know, that highlighting is just that added section we're putting in. And once we finalize this, we will probably take the little notations of the brackets out, but this is what we are adding. Um, and this was because we need to add this to um to be properly displaying the statement about, you know, vending machines and smart snacks in our wellness policy. So you are approving the healthy foods initiative but that is just uh that is language to allow us to say the board has approved that approach. The wellness policy needs to speak about wellness in this way in order to be in compliance with the state as well. Okay.
125>> So this is not really one of those things we can you know say no to or we'll fail the audit and that could have other ramifications. Wouldn't be great. When when was the audit last chance? Uh, it was the last couple of weeks of January, February. Oh, >> okay. Yeah. >> And now, oh, I'm sorry. Can I ask a question or no? >> You sure? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Is this Does this though doesn't sit in anything rolling into like I know like the uh graduation uh team was selling pizzas and stuff over for like the basketball games to raise money or anything like that. They at this point that still consider a school day. >> Nope. They they wouldn't be doing that during the school day. >> Um because that would not be
126good as part of that. So, but yes, to your question that this would pertain to such things, right? >> Okay. >> We would be saying that we're not doing that. >> Okay. >> And that we wouldn't do that. >> And and this codifies in our wellness policy that we also will not be doing that. Um, so great. >> Any other question? >> Statement. It seems well not word for word pretty repetitive from the paragraph directly above it. >> Yeah. >> I understand if they say we need to have it, it is what it is. Uh, you know, >> they they looked at what was there and felt that we need >> a section piece. Okay. Anything else? Or would anyone like to >> I will accept a motion to approve the amendment to policy 5400.
127>> Thank you McKenzie. >> Jaden seconded. Any discussion? >> No. >> Okay. Joel. >> Hi. >> Dina. >> Hi. >> Phil. >> Hi. >> Brian. >> Hi. >> McKenzie. >> Hi Jaden. >> Hi >> JP. >> Hi I have not. So that is approved. >> And now we have to jump back to N2 um which is the board action we added for the um healthy food certification. >> Oh yeah, >> we do have the recommended motion there. I can read it if you'd like, Lisa. Is that helpful? >> It's also right. I can pull it up for you. >> Okay. Do you want to make a motion then? >> I have it up in the board, too. Who wants to read the motion? >> You can read it. I'm just going to pull it up.
128Whoever's reading it make >> I can't make a motion. >> I got motion to allow the superintendent to support and authorize the 2627 healthy food certificate and to allow for the exemption of food and beverage items as well as other provisions as indicated in considerations one and two. >> Seconded. >> Any discussion? Okay, Joel. >> Hi, >> Elaine. Hi, >> Dana. Hi, >> Bill. >> Hi, >> Ryan. >> Hi, >> McKenzie. >> Hi, Jaden. >> Hi, >> Jindy. >> Was it a JP? If so, I >> and I have an I. That passes. >> All right. So, now we are at publication. Dr. Willlet, if you want to put two minutes up. have a moment. Okay. Would anyone in the room like to speak at this time? Would anyone online like to speak at this
129time? Seeing that there's very limited people in the room at Oh, just want to mention that. Mary Rose Deer 37, Ryan RH, don't forget the Phantom of the Opera. >> Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Two shows Saturday. Thank you. One of just on that, one of my co-workers, her son is is involved in that show. She is talking about it like every day. It I I can't wait. I can't wait. There's a big chandelier apparently and they built it themselves. And I mean, yeah, >> it is really incredible. People should >> at seven. Friday at 7, Saturday at 2, and Saturday at 7. >> I have my tickets for Friday night. Get yours. There you go. They are going fast. >> Thank you. Anybody could take >> anybody else from it's on their website. All right, Dr.
130On the bulletin. The superintendent bulletin has the link as well. >> We can close public participation. >> All right. Points of information. Any board members like to speak >> this time? >> Nope. I was going to plug Phantom of the Opera. that wi the Wizards game coming next Saturday. >> Next Saturday. >> I'm gonna be reing the heck out. >> And I can't wait for BGP rounds tomorrow. >> Oh, that was >> No, it's okay. >> There's just something I said to earlier the educational foundation for the month of March. They have some anonymous donors matching up $25,000 in matching fun. >> Wow. Great. Thank you. That's great. >> Thank you, T. >> So, >> thank you for mentioning that. >> Yes, sir. Um, I have a question that maybe you can respond. When's the
131can drive? Isn't it the 21st? >> Yeah. The can drive at the high school is the 21st. So, bring your recyclables and also the project graduation. So, a lot of fundraising happening and um so I would check the boosters page and the superintendent's page because we have the scramble coming up. Um, we talked about the wizards. So >> cornhole scramble >> the scramble and then the >> cornhole may which is always May 9th which is a great one. These are all fundraising opportunities for boosters and for for the schools. Um we talked about the the pizza that the boosters are there at night selling pizza at the high school games. >> Actually can very healthy sandwiches. Um but those are opportunities for fundraising. >> Can I actually fix that? Actually, the seniors uh the student
132uh senior officers came to the boosters to ask if they could sell. Um they they're the ones the senior officers did it. They're the ones that sold pizza and stuff and they did it to raise money for their senior activities. So gave them a little bit of money to start and and that was their project, their program and all for their class >> after hours. >> After us >> after hours and it was really fun. We do a lot of funraising already >> and I think what Dr. Willlet is trying to exhibit to us is that all of the things we just talked about and more can be found in the season which comes out weekly. Thank you Dr. Willlet. >> Just making sure people are seeing everything. >> I do love I do love
133that class officers. >> All right. >> So with that I will accept a motion for >> second. >> All right. We have to do a roll call. >> JP drop off. Joel, >> he's actually >> Oh, he is. >> Yeah, he's >> Okay. All in favor?