001Thank you everybody. Let's go ahead and get this meeting started at 7:06. If you would please rise for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible and for all right welcome everybody Dr. will acknowledgements. Yes. So, we are very fortunate tonight to be able to do some amazing acknowledgements. We have teacher retirees this evening. We have CAB student leadership award uh recipients here this evening. And of course, we'll be recognizing our TIS artwork um efficient here as well. So, we're going to start off with our Talon Public School teacher retirees. And tonight we're fortunate to have um our administrators here uh to help us with that. Tom Foland um Zahiki um and uh Jim Denine will be helping
002us this evening with all of these awards. Specifically um the retirees be the first one we start with. So uh why don't I just kind of start by throwing the retiree out there and have the administrator come up. So we'll do TA ths first. Mr. Poland, if you want to come up. Um, and we'll start with with Miss Evangeline Abbott. We used Mr. Yeah. While you're doing that, I'm gonna get I'm gonna get all of your We have We have what do you call it? Swag. Great. All right. So, Evangeline is first and foremost just an unbelievable human being. I I think I want to start with that. I'm going to call her a beacon of creativity and kindness who's connected many generations of students here at public schools to her. She's really very much
003about building community around her and that is really exemplified in her classrooms every single day. So, I'm going to give you a little insight into what I see on a daily basis in her classroom. Um, so she's tucked away now in the art hallway. Um, you know, as I walk in, there's some light music always playing, right? Really creating the vibe in the classroom for students to just be calm, express creativity. Um, the lighting is always perfect for the creative process. Um, and you always see Evangeline just circulating the room. um being positive with all students and uh really providing feedback and positive praise on a consistent basis so students can excel. You can tell the rapport she has with every single student. She knows what trouble with, what they love, what they like, why
004they like being in her classroom, why sometimes maybe they don't, but that's okay. Always um but the big thing is that she has a rapport with each one and she really built a community in her classroom. I think when I walk in, I always see her mantra which is on her whiteboard which is kindness is the expectation, you know, and um that that has shaped the students in her class and that's built her community in her classroom. Um and so I think with that, you know, all of the students that have had the opportunity to have Miss Abbott as a teacher have really been connected to art and felt like it was truly a community in her classroom. And that's because of who she is as a human being. first and foremost, like I said,
005but also all the skills she has as an art teacher, right? And just building community around art. So, we're really going to miss her, but I know that it's time, you know, and she she's always nodded her head to me with that to to spend more time with family and friends. You know, her husband has the same name as me, Tom. So, that's great. you know, go for a walk on Monday morning at like 8:45, you know, after your first cup of coffee, second cup of coffee, 8, you know, um drive a big pickup truck, whatever you want, and not have to worry about parking me in the tea. Just park visitor visitors, and it's really just an important time to enjoy everything that's important to you more often, right? Which is the best part
006of retirement. You're such an authentic and beautiful person. Um there's many reasons why we will miss you, but your authenticity, your kindheartedness, um is really one of the main reasons why our community, our public school system here, we miss you. We're grateful for everything you've done for our students and for our our town, our school community. Your dedication. Congratulations to Mark. Thank you. That sounds good. Um, and if Mr. Deine would come on up. Yeah, Miss Bus, you come up, please. So, I just want everyone to know that these I'm going to talk about three people and these are three of I know we're not supposed to have favorites, but favorite people in this entire world. And maybe I should admit this. I'm going to read something I wrote because uh sometimes when I get
007up to speak in front of a crowd, I don't remember what I said afterwards. So I want to make sure I cover everything I have in my in my heart. Uh so today we honor this extraordinary woman, a beloved fourth grade teacher and a foundational part of Talon Intermediate School since its very beginning. So Mrs. Blackus was at Parker School and then in 2007 2008 we moved over to Talon Intermediate School. Jones the epitome of what all educators should aspire to be. Kind, dedicated, and deeply committed to the success and well-being of every student. Her tireless work ethic and compassionate spirit have made her one of the most requested teachers by parents year after year. So, I'll give you a little insight. So, uh class placement time, we ask parents not to request specific teachers.
008We cannot honor requests. Joan makes that very difficult for me. go beyond the classroom. Joan has Joan has been a trusted voice and a guiding light. I often, probably multiple times a day, seek her opinion out on things, knowing her insight is always rooted in wisdom and care. Joan is truly one of my favorite people. And while her daily presence will be deeply missed, her legacy at TIS will continue to shape our school for years to come. Congratulations, Joan, on a retirement what's Mr. Be interesting. You hear his voice? Because that's the last line in my statement here. voice. But so today we recognize and celebrate Ken Downing, our incredible PE teacher who has been a steady positive force at Talin Intermediate School since our inception. Prior to Talin School, Ken also worked at Parker
009School. How many years in Talon? Okay. Does it feel like how many words? Uh Ken is a man of few words. His actions speak volumes. He shows up every day, does his job, and does his job with a quiet consistency and is one of the most dependable people I've ever worked with. In nearly two decades, I can count the number of complaints I've received about Ken on one finger. And that one time, the parent was mistaken and really wasn't Ken's fault. So, it's going to be uh Ken is kind, funny, and genuinely cares about the well-being of both students and colleagues. His calm demeanor sets the tone in his classroom. He never raises his voice yet commands respect and admiration. And boy does he get admiration from everyone. Let's not forget. So for those of
010us who work at TIS, Ken is without question the greatest bus duty person in the history of his voice smooth and unmistakably Ken has delighted the TIS airwaves and become part of our school's identity. I have been in Dr. Willlet's office a time or two when Ken is on the walkie-talkie or talking at bus duty and I see even Walt kind of stop and look with a smile. Ken, thank you for everything you'll be most can say. Enjoy your retirement. Mrs. Williams, would you like to come on? I'm going to get smiling at me and I can't I guess I don't have to say anything. That that is the origin of Harvard Williams right there. Okay. So, it is with a mixture of immense gratitude and heartfelt sadness that we gather to celebrate the remarkable
011career of this lady next to me as she embarks on a well and well-deserved retirement. Barbara is the quintessential third grade teacher, a master at making learning and adventure and fostering a classroom environment that is both incredibly organized and bubbling with enthusiasm. Barbara has a running joke because I aspire to be Barbara because she is the most organized person I have ever met and I I am not. Indeed, she is what all educators should hope to be and I must say she's always been one of my favorites just like Joan and Ken. As the steadfast leader of our third grade team, she has not only excelled in her own teaching, but has been instrumental in in mentoring a crop of new educators, transforming them into an amazing cohesive unit of teachers that have fun together
012and work together and accomplish so much in the name of kids. Barbara's dedication knows no bounds. She will stop at nothing to help a child. I mean, nothing. I have experienced her wrath a time or two when she felt like one of her students wasn't getting enough, but she doesn't stop. Um, she she ensures that all children receive every resource they need that's needed to support them. A quality has made her highly respected by parents year after year. So, here's another person that makes my job difficult at placement time because I have to say no to so many parents when I say we don't take requests. Sorry. Uh Barbara is truly woven into the fabric of TIS as as is her amazing laugh. On a personal note, uh I have relied heavily on Barbara's insightful
013opinions in making decisions regarding our school and I always respect her willingness to offer an honest and thoughtful perspective. Barbara, your impact is immeasur immeasurable and you will be profoundly missed at TIS. Why don't we have all the retirees and administrators come up and we'll take a break against the the amazing insignia. Be careful of the wires. Do it all together. Smushing. Smush. There's always one. All right. Try not to get my snapping on three. Okay. Okay. Don't my kids. One, two, three. Okay. And now portrait. Don't try. Two, three. Thank you. Um, do any board members have any uh anything you want to throw out there? Any questions or statements? Before we move to the honores, our catered honores. I just want to congratulate our retirees. Jim three. I don't I don't What are
014we gonna do without you all? Um just thank you. Thank you for everything that you've done um for our students, for our schools. Um and personally, I you got I mean, Mrs. Bakus, you got my son through the pandemic. And Mrs. Williams, you know, Ryan came home the other day after volunteering and you still had a book report of his. um or report on Legos I should say. I should have it right and you couldn't believe it. Um Mr. Downey, you've had both in my voice. So I just um all of you just thank you so much and I'm very happy for you. I'm very sad for us but I'm very happy for you. Congratulations. Just to add on to to that, I had I think the only one of you I had throughout my
015time in school was Mrs. Abbott back there. And I I think I had you I think at the intermediate and then possibly middle and then I believe uh later in high school as well. I'm so I was one of the one of the fortunate few who got to experience Miss Abbott at every level. And then the other three of you Mr. Downing trust me among students your voice man it is it is legend. So you know Miss Bakus I remember seeing you in the hallways and we were always jealous of not being in your class. I mean, the whole the whole thing, Miss Williams, you were just at the Harlem Wizards game. You were an all-star for that that staff team. And so, we've got a great bunch here that I'm I'm I'm sad to
016lose, but I'm so happy for you guys. And I I admit again, I can't thank you for what you did for me personally, but um students in my position as well went through the school system um who benefited greatly. So, I can't thank you enough. This is I whispered over here um when I just kept seeing one after the other after the other. is a part of my childhood. No, it's just I I can't thank you enough. So, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Then, uh, Miss Balkas and Miss Williams, thanks for all you've done for Noah over the years that you've known him and TIS and Mr. Downing, son Noah. So, be glad to miss you all and move forward to the next generation. So, thank you. Yes. Tell Chris and Kevin
017I say, "Hey, not sure if you recall my name, but I didn't have anybody else." But very, you know, and just for me, you I'm working on putting my my third kid through the Talon Public School because she's third grade right now. And all of your names are familiar to me. And just personally speaking, thank you so much for deciding to change lives the way you have that your your every day leaves such a mark that propelled its way into our future. You're doing so much. And I said, I I can't even describe it. I just from the bottom of my heart, thank you all. And to your families, thank you for letting us borrow. You know, I'm certain we took more than, you know, our 8 to 10 hours a day. Be it nights,
018be it weekends, be it having to listen to stories and fussing. You You gave you gave too. And you know, my kids, everybody's kids up here are blessed because of each and every one of you. So, thank you. Now, we have the very special honor of bringing up our cave our cave student award recipients and they there's two from the middle school, two from the high school. So, just so you know, out of the hundreds and hundreds of 500 each, 600 each uh in that building, it rose to these two these two from each building. So, it's amazing. It's quite an achievement. And we have Miss Hickeyi for Tong Middle School to present the K award recipients for Tong Middle School. So I can't attest to the fact that I was at a staff meeting
019and I said the word Google form and it kind of grumbled with staff and they're like, "Can we just vote now?" And I said, "Sure, give me your like top 10." Um, and I said, "Raise your hand if this is one of someone that you think would get this award." And it was anonymous. It was quick. like this is a very quick decision from an entire staff that has had these two eighth graders for the full three years. So, um I'm going to read on behalf of the staff because I asked for statements and then put it together. Um they have already heard this um so you get to hear it again. And I know no one knew about it because I accidentally forwarded to him an email when he was presenting his Eagle Scout
020project which is going to be at TMS this summer. Um which is also just a wonderful thing. So Gwen, you will go first. Um before I start, I will say that Gwen is the first student that made me cry. Um I recently just shared this. Um, there's a poetry contest in seventh grade that would have happened last year. And Gwen got up on the stage in front of all of her peers, which is very brave to do, and read a poem um on identity, individuality, empathy, courage, and got a whole ovation from the seventh grade class. And I was the principal hiding in the back that happened to walk in at the right time and silently cried by myself because it was that moving. and powerful to see someone do that and to also get
021that level of pride from the students um or one. So little tidbit of how powerful this human being is that doesn't necessarily love the spotlight um but we'll do it um when it's necessary. So Gwen is an outstanding student who exemplifies leadership through relentless positivity and rel willingness to take on challenges. Their kindness inclusivity are evident in their interactions with peers, whether in advisory, at the lockers, or in class. Gwen's ability to treat people as you should I call Gwen up here. Can I call Gwen up? Gwen, come. I'm reading this to you across the room. Gwen's ability to treat people as unique individuals and their readiness to help others with difficult concepts highlights their concern for others and their collaborative spirit. As a quiet pillar of strength, Gwen bravely speaks for their morals and
022beliefs, demonstrating their capability to make difficult decisions. Moreover, Gwen's commitment to projects is unwavering as seen in their highlevel French work, which you were you were going to another award banquet with Mrs. Hu um for French um and flawless presentations on TMS news and media despite available preparation time. Um Gwen's polite and professional demeanor make them a role model for peers and a deserving candidate for this award and we could not be more proud to have you as part of our talent community. Um and it is worth saying as well that not only are teachers retiring but they may um be like readers of the future because they had predicted this idea way back then. So here is an exemplary student who embodies the essence of leadership through his willingness to take on challenges and
023capability to make difficult decisions. His politeness, patience, and thoughtfulness in communication demonstrate his concern for others and ability to work collaboratively. For example, for many examples, as a leader in the Lego Robotics Club, LL, Noah ensured that every team member's input was valued, fostering a collaborative environment. The teacher actually reached out to me to tell me about how Noah just had that teamwork spirit about him. His commitment to projects is unwavering, as seen as his perfectionist approach to assignments and creativity. Noah's respectfulness, hard work, and ability to honor commitments are evident in his classroom leadership where he brings diverse interests and insightful analysis to discussions um both in whatever text they're reading and personal examples that I've heard when in the classroom. Um his enthusiasm for learning is infectious as evidenced by your work on
024math theorems. During connect time, Noah and two of his friends wheel out a whiteboard into the hallway and may get like a Nobel Prize in the future. I don't have determined to solve this theorem. Um, and furthermore, Noah serves as a role model for peers beyond those that he's in contact with, which was displayed when Chief Frates and other veterans in the community joined us for veterans assembly. I put it out there of who wanted to be the student moderator on stage for the panel and there was Noah um able to ask questions not only to his father but three other veterans in that veterans assembly. That was very memorable. Um, you exemplify a take on approach. You handle responsibilities with maturity and diplomacy and you have multiaceted talents um and unwavering dedication that make
025you deserving. And as I said as an Eagle Scout, no one just presented that he could have just come into my office and said like this is what I want to do as an Eagle Scout project. Instead, he made an entire presentation, went to the secretary at TMS, made an appointment with me, um, and then made his entire presentation while standing in my office, which was completely unnecessary because I fully trust you, but very No. So, congratulations. Now, Mr. forward to introduce our team to address and come up at the same time. Sure. All right. So, it's an opportunity here tonight to recognize both these students for the K leadership award at the high school. So, I'm just going to throw out a couple accolades and a couple leadership titles that they currently have at
026our high school. Just some of them. Okay. So Ash is a class of 2025 officer, president of the National Honor Society. Um student manager of our two ths school store. Um Ethan, co-president for Smith, our student managed investment fund, varsity baseball captain. So I throw those titles out because um they're titles, right? And they've earned those roles and through the work that they've done over the course of their time at THS. But for me, it's not the title that makes both of you students leaders, right? And I think the whole school community would would say that staff, the students, it's who they are as people. Um, you know, it's it's the details. It's the little things every day. It's how they consistently have overcome adversity in their life, right? Whether it's within school, outside of
027school. um you know really being able to just sustain excellence regardless of all the circumstances right around them whether it was societal circumstances co anything that happened in their families in their lives right they sustain right and I think that's a testament to who they are as people and why they are great leaders because not only do they lead locally but just by example and the day-to-day work that they do at the high school and beyond. Um they're truly disciplined. I think they recognize and understand that that will likely separate them from everyone else in the future, right? The the day-to-day discipline that they've chosen to engage in from a from a habits and routine standpoint has really provided them the opportunity to maximize all of their opportunities at the high school and beyond. And
028I think um that's a testament to who they are as people. Again, they do not shy away from criticism, right? They welcome it. They want to hear it. They want feedback because they know that that feedback shapes them and makes them better as people, as leaders, as students, as community members. Um, they are selfless. They are compassionate for people. And I think they balance that with a truly competitive ad spirit that really drives them. They they strike that great balance of being able to care for people and understand what people need, but also be super driven and understand that while I'm going to care for you, I'm also going to outwork you if I have to. Right? And I think that's an an important part to being a leader and who they are as students
029at our high school. um top of the class academically and I have no doubt that they're going to navigate adulthood the same way they're navigating young adulthood right now with fearlessness and a drive to succeed. And I want to thank their parents and their families for fostering all of those traits over the time um here in Talon Public Schools, but just generally through their young adulthood. I know it's going to help them be successful and I'm really looking forward to all the all the greatness they achieve in the next steps of their lives. So congratulations Ashward recipient and I apologize Congratulations. Gets to be in there with you. Right. Same rule on three. I'll do a couple of them. One, two, three. Congratulations. No, no, no. And um same thing. Board members, do you have
030anything to write? Thank you. Congratulations. She was very when I was looking at the agenda. Wait, what? There's more. So, I mean, that's something to think about. One acknowledgement meeting. Just one. Well, we we we acknowledge everybody. That's what I'm saying. I mean, we've got one semester, too. That's fine, too. Yeah. So dedicating, you know, something something because we talked about it last week. We did. We have more we have more acknowledgements today full day of without the Here we go. And then we went into that's what we were saying to be nice on the high. So I made the mistake of saying to our students that I was just about to give them public accolades. They they want to put me on the spot and they're coming back in. So, what I was going
031to say is that I have known these two since they were this big and they have always been great great kids and I am personally so proud of them. Everything Mr. Poland said is true. They're kind. Um they're they're smart. They're role models to their peers. Um, I've been in their classrooms throughout the years. Um, my son is graduating with them. My freshman just started baseball and Ethan made sure that he made him feel comfortable. And, uh, I'm just, I'm really, really, really proud of you. It is so welld deserved. I hope that was worth up. A heck of a PTO event, too. back in the day. Hi guys. All right, Dr. Willlet. Item B3. I'm just going to share the screen so people at home can also see what we are talking about here.
032So, our last acknowledgement of the night, but definitely not the least, is that, as you know, we have our artwork and our artists honored each month at Taland um at the Talon Public Library. And this month, the honores are from Taland Intermediate School. So, I'm going to give you a quick scroll through of the artwork that um that they have posted at Taland Intermediate School. Uh, this thing always fights me. So, I'm going to just kind of scroll through a couple of pages of the artwork. You can see some pretty amazing stuff that's been posted there. They have an evening event where the artists are honored and um, you know, each month we'll send out the notifications of that as we have in the past. So, um you can see that the artwork is consistently
033amazing and the kids have ma amazing imaginations and we're so proud of them and so proud of the art program itself. So, I want to honor tonight the artists Elena Asenov, Dominic Fiori, Jack Brunson, and Emmy Cahill, Isla Fallon, Lilianne Fedek, Caleb Punk, Emerson Herd, Scott Hajinski, Ellie Huff, Elise Herlbert, Sophia George, Lucy Lawler, Lana Lock, Nana Lazus, Olivia Longo, Lexi Mitchell, Kelsey Morris, Kelsey Morris, Kentov, Benjamin Posey, Fallon Percy, Gabrielle Rodriguez, Amelia Shidel, Amelia Scolanar, Cadence Stroka, Julia Vanderbull, Leo Renard, Laura Woo, and Joselyn Zeinski. Congratulations to our TS artists. You've done an amazing Yeah. Okay. All right. Thank you. Of course. Do we have any additions to the agenda? Additions. All right. Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion for the approval of the April 9th and April 23rd minutes. So moved. Second. Discussion.
034Hearing none. Let's go to the vote. Rainy. Hi. Right. Hi. Dan. Hi. Bill. Hi. Hi. Jim. Hi. Jaden. Hi, Katie. I Dana I. Motion passes. Public participation. Members of the Talon Board of Education welcome the members of the public to share their thoughts and ideas at this time. When appropriate to do so, members of the board and the administration may respond to comments during the 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. If you would like to speak, be it in the room or online, please raise your hand or your Zoom hand. As always, please give your name and address for the minutes. No pressure awkward. Thank you. Anybody else uh
035online? All right. Hearing none, we will close public participation correspondence there. We had three emails come in. One was a student residency. One was a Hoya request and um one deserves an explanation Dr. Willlet about cookies. Yeah, about cookies. Teachers cookies. Okay. Staff all staff. Gotcha. It was just a thank a thanking email for the cookies. Teacher staff produce staff. points of information. Would anybody from the board like to speak? Yeah, really quick, actually. Um, I had the pleasure today to go over to Birch Grove. So, well, that uh was great. Um, it was kindergarten readiness. Um, Suzanne and uh Tom did a great job uh with everything there. I guess there was a shift um in how they're doing it. There was two larger groups. I guess I was in the first group. It
036went well from my perspective. So, it was awesome. They did everything great. Um, bus ride was obviously a big hit for my daughter. So, that was awesome. But all the staff were awesome. Thank them for us cuz they stayed late. Um, obviously in addition to Tom and Suzanne. But, uh, thank you to the PTO as well for sure. They put together like a signing day presentation where they all got like their letters of acceptance to Birch Grove. And my daughter held us a big pencil. She was happy. She got a t-shirt. It was 18 sizes too big, but she'd probably wear it to bed. So, she loved it. Thank you. So, it was great. Sad day once that t-shirt. Yeah. Not happy. Trust me, it seems far away. Dana, um, I just quickly wanted to
037say uh thank you to the team at ths. uh I was able to go to the rounds with co-eing and uh we were in a mathematics classroom and um I wish I could explain I the only word that I can use to explain it was the vibe between these two educators. You didn't know which educator was the the main educator in the class in the room versus the special education special ed uh in teacher in there. It was very fluent. Um their class was uh quite engaged. There wasn't one student that didn't get um connected with by the teachers. Um there was several students that I recognized that I made sure I made good progress reports to their parents and how they were engaged and getting involved. Um but I did appreciate Mr. Poland and
038his team um hosting and having a wonderful insight on co-eing. Um Dr. B, I don't know if there's anything that you'd like to add to that. It just was it was a great morning with them or great afternoon actually. Yeah, appreciated Miss Bin being able to make it that day. Uh co-eing has been a really important program for Talon Public Schools and it's uh helped us in many ways narrow the achievement gap. One of the things in our accountability scores that we do very good do very well on, but there are sometimes achievement gap between students special ed and students um in general education. Um and kids that have been engaging in the co-eing programming as they go through some of the grades, we're noticing that more of those students are getting to a level
039of readiness for college preparation than otherwise have been the case. So that's a very powerful um and positive aspect of co-eing and we're very happy about that. Um you know there's always new things to learn and some ground to cover but um thank you Miss Filman for coming. I think as Felvin saw some amazing things in a classroom where you know for mathematics for an example uh we uh sometimes remember in our own experiences or at least in mine you know we were in rows and there were maybe 20 25 kids in a class and you know you looked at the odd answers in the back of the book to kind of get a sense of things and the class you know that they see in code teaching everybody's up at the boards they're all
040up at the boards they're working collaboratively um they're working together. Uh it was a it was a really amazing experience and um you know I'm just thankful that um it was it was hard. Just one last thing I wanted to add Dr. Willlet to that because you had they said students at the board and you had some working in pairs, some working in groups of three, some some working independently, some at their seats. the teachers really, you know, honed in on what the the best practice is with for each student on how to do it. And there was one point I saw these two young ladies, they couldn't they were they were stumped and they went to these two these two gentlemen at the front of the classroom and sought their assistance to help, you
041know, get them to where they needed to be. Um, so they definitely had a good pulse on each and every student. Um but again the big thing that I noticed is they they engaged with every single one and they were just very fluid. So um co-eing it was phenomenal to visit. So please extend my thanks Dr. Wullet. It was a wonderful experience. So so thank you. I just put up a display of the documents that were used. please. Um, unfortunately, I couldn't go to the co-eing rounds, but um, as a parent of um, a child who has had co-eing um, especially in math classes, it was it was instrumental. I mean, it was life-saving. It was it was I I don't you know, speaking about graduation rates, like I don't know where he would be
042without um without having the opportunity for co-eing. So, um, I'm really glad. I wish I wish I could have gone. I'm really glad that Dana got to see it, but again, as a parent, I I can't really say enough about the ability for us to provide this for students who who need it, you know, and just let me on a slightly different subject. You know, Friday night when my my daughter's football game was canceled to rain, she popped up and said, "Oh, that means I can go to the ice cream social at Birch Grove." Okay. and we go and and you know in addition to we've been many years before and it is always an amazing just wonderful experience and totally put on well by the staff by the the the parent and the teacher
043organizations but what what caught me this time that just it brought a tear to my eye is as we're walking through Birch Grove you know of course my daughter's in fourth grade now so she's she's older you know it's her first time going back back to Birch Grove and she's walking through the halls and telling me about when she was young her top favorite people in here. And you know, numbers number number three and four were of course teachers that she had had. I would expect that number one and two was a custodian and a secretary. You know, that a year passed as she's looking back at this time, you know, that meant so much to her. It was the custodian that would call her by a nickname and make her giggle every time she
044passed. It was the secretary that whenever she was confused, she'd just go find her and made it all right. You know, it I know we talk about it in here, but it's something I always love to remind myself that we truly have no idea who is really making an impact on our children's lives. And I'm just thrilled that as a district, all of them. Thank you. All right. Anybody else? All right. And thank you to the PTO for Tepo for a successful ice cream social. I did not win a basket. Well, you're not thanking them. Well, you know, I glazed by it to put it in. Oh, my phone. Coffee machine was amazing. All right, student. There was no student representative report. Moving on to the committees. communication yet this month. That's me. Well, we
045haven't met. But you looked at me and you captioned and it was just an automatic response. It was a test. You know that, right? Communication. We haven't met yet. She can just keep the same thing. Correct. Different. Same. Uh same thing said. We haven't met yet. FT. We're also next week. Policy policy D I do not have any updates at this time Tony. Okay. And negotiations. We did meet this month and we are ongoing with custodian negoti negotiations. Good. Thank you, chair board. So, you know, before the meeting, I was talking with Lisa about my my tendencies to to find some obscure quote to try to start in, and I had one. Uh, but during our acknowledgements, I was just I was caught by something that was said about one of the students, and it
046was just that that line that they treat people, they always treat people as unique individuals. And you know, I looked at my other quote and said, you know what, that one isn't moving me quite as much as that. I mean, if we could all teach people to do that, you know, we've we're we're going to have some tough conversations tonight over the past couple of weeks. Um, we're going to talk about some some things that we have to and some hard things that we're going to have to talk about. We're going to have disagreements and we're going to try to work through them and we're going to figure out ways to do it for the best of our students, the best of our neighborhoods, and we're going to do it together. But I think all
047of this becomes easier, becomes less painful if we can simply go back to that and treat everybody as a unique individual. I'm actually going to cut it short and just end with that. Sounds great. their eyes superintendent report. Dr. Willlet, wow us with that monthly financial. So um as you know at the beginning of every month we have our monthly financial report. Share the screen [Music] here. We can't get it. Okay. So, a couple of just highlights for the monthly financial report. We're heading into the end of the year at this point as you are aware. Um, substitute line as I had kind of talked about you know these are things that you have heard a couple of times as we've gone through the year. So, I'll try to keep it brief. Substitutes are over
048budget by about 102 due to the par educator vacancies. This is as of April as you recall that the monthly financial report is always for the month prior. So, you know, as we've discussed, we we still need to cover those human being spaces in the classroom. So, when you don't have the parah, you do have to pull in the subs. And so, um that subline is significantly over by 102. Uh overtime is over by 37,000. Uh as we talked about before, it's custodial subs. The lines 130 and 139 are for overtime, and we will still have summer uh summer maintenance within custodial staff that we'll talk about. That's object 136137 and custodial sub code 139. These are all places to look for some of this. Um we are going to fiscal year 26 change and
049move the substitute codes 120 through 129. Um so it'll look a little different as we transition. That's just to get some um upon you know better alignment for these lines. So you can they'll make it a little bit more clear. um overtime line for teachers and extra duty has also been over spent because we have to rely on um individuals to fill in for others when we have uh these kinds of vacancies. So that's generally what's happening there. Stipens over by 72 and we talked to that in the past. We've talked about that that there's special education um and then there's transportation club um and things like that that have been going on. um health, life, disability insurance over by um 287. Last month was 73. This amount will continue to change based on vacancies,
050retirees. Um prepayment of 200,000 was made in April and this is part of what we talked about in our prior budget iterations. So that was acting on the board's um board's budget at the time. Um professional educational services code 320 is over by 329,000. Last month it was 254,000. This is mainly due to special education needs and contract services to cover the psych psychologist vacancy. They tend to be more expensive. Um we have uh filled that position now. So at least that will stop but that did impact us this year. Um and those are things that we have talked about for tech services code 350 over a little bit. Well over by 52. Um it's down a little bit. Um and tech online service increases, power school increases. These are things that we talked about
051changed from um previous programming to the new programming when they issue a new you know a new license a new year and powers school is what we use for instance for all of our kids and all the communications. So it's what we're locked into unless we wanted to go find another product which would be very difficult you know right now. General supply code 600 is over by 36 due to the additional custodial supplies that needed. Also, keep in mind that we underbudgeted that um you know over previous years there's been pre some pre- purchasing. So that budget was actually kind of low artificially and we were going to probably overspend it. Um you know that's those pre-investments kind of times will swing back around on us in that way. So those are the big um
052kind of over over lines. A lot of the others are kind of under and they will help offset the ones that are holding. Um we are going to get um some money back from the state of Connecticut on um you know excess costs but we still have not received that yet. State of Connecticut um is putting giving some money back to school districts um for special education. But with that we expect at this time to possibly end you know I was looking at it today somewhere in the zone of 129 and you know it was 129 but without excess cost credits back so it'll be probably higher than 188 somewhere in the 188 plus 200 something at the end of the year and we need to have 188 to offset the TMS auditorium se we're
053talking about so we should come right in around that line and we probably won't have a heck of a lot beyond that. We'll have something in that zone that 188 will keep that up. So that's um that's just the basic fly over. Dan, did you want to have any comment for? Uh no, we can follow up in FC next week. I'm dig deep in and circle back to board and my report the next comments. You got a question? Did I did I catch that? We've hired a school psychiatrist psychologist. Psychologist. Yeah. Okay. Um, when we've got a position like that that we've been talking about for a long time, is it maybe just a heads up when we hire someone that you could shoot something out to us saying, "Hey, this is a win. We
054finally found someone because the information all year that we've had was they're extremely difficult to get." And, you know, that should be a celebrated win for us to finally to finally get one. Um, and I'm just wondering, you know, if that's something or something like that, we should just have a a quick blast out to us saying, "Hey, we got one. This is who it is." Yeah. I mean, if I know what you want me to blast on another. So, uh, announcing it here was kind of where I thought maybe you'd get that. It just happened recently more, but um, can you tell us anything about her and her? I don't know. Yeah, her. But, but, um, I can give you more info a little bit later right now. Okay. We're just very happy that
055we were able to embrace the position with a very competent individual, you know. Have they started? Yeah. Yes. Transitioning in. We have the person that we've had as a consultant transitioning out. And is this very recent? Is this somebody that's going to be here for years to come? This isn't just for the end of the It's the physician filling the position. All right. And Suzanne Waterhouse has been working on it really hard. And so this is all happening actually at very recent time. Now that line item is $329,000 over because we've been having to utilize the service. Had we had this person guesstimate where would that line item be? Well, that line is also special education. It's just that that contracted service falls under goes under there. Yeah. I mean it it's contracted service is
056more expensive by tens of thousands over the span of time. So it's it's been more expensive for us to do that, but you have to you have to have a school site to do the uh PPT testing of the children. So salaries would probably go up, but that line item would probably go down. The you wouldn't be using as much out of the yes, the consult the contracted services. Okay. But are they covered under the ECS still? Like do you still get cost sharing or for for Yeah. I mean that position you can't access cost funds. It's not Yes. Okay. You get that for and that go in for kids basically kids. Oh okay. I wasn't sure if you all done on that topic but I I had brought this up a few months back.
057I just wanted to recheck. This is all the way through two weeks ago, August or August April 30th for the uh textbook line item. So, we're going to have looks like potentially a 42% left over. I know you said I think it was back in February or even January, you had some faculty ordering some books moving forward, but now we're within six week window of school closing. I assume this line item is going to be have about 75 grand plus potential um spent. Well, and so this is at the end of April. Yeah. Two weeks. Yeah. I would give another, you know, again 30 next 30 to to 40 days. We have inter reading version three. We have other things that we purchasing. So that's going to go down. Purchasing after next year. Is that
058what you're doing? And it align, but you'll also see that um is that that's that's for next year. Little offset. D3 would be for next year. Yeah. I mean, it would roll over to whatever we could provide this year of it, but we're looking to invest in those new programs. Uh D3 is the the it is basically interreading. We got a grant for the original interreading. Now we've made a version of inter reading that everybody needs to transition to euphemistically called V3 or version three. So that's that's where some of our textbooks though they are all kinds of materials text guide book they've gone from three guide books to one guide book teachers there'll be various things that probably eat away at that line before we get to the final number in June. Okay. And
059you know that'll these will still post against it. Um you know we're doing the best we can to offset cost of next year as well. So we'll see some of things posting against that. Okay. Yeah. Now, I just remember that there was around I don't I want to say around 100,000 from the last time that we had talked about this many months ago. So, I was just going to curious that we still had 77,000 still unspent like six weeks to go. So, I'll just keep following this line item then. And um All right, that that that's good for now. Thank you. Any other comments? All right, Dr. Will item two secretary contract? All right. So, as you know, and we do have the negotiations chair here, Miss Scout, as you know, the um secretary negotiations
060did finish, which um we're thankful to their representation and the secretaries. They're amazing people as we all know. Um and uh you know we were happy to have been able to do a good faith negotiations with them. It went very very well. There are some basic changes that are highlighted here and then of course I'll hand it over to Gallochant who I'm sure has quite a bit to say about it but the process well um the duration is three years from July 1st through June 30th 2028. Um probation period basically adjustment of insurance start date and pay holidays. Um we modified the probation period a little bit. Removal of some outdated wording regarding medical um notifications. Wages uh current salaries for secretaries would come up 3% for next year and 3% for each year year
061thereafter of the contract. uh insurance premium costs medical dental vision for the fiscal year 26 17.5% fiscal year 27 18% fiscal year 20 um 20 28 18.5% um they removed some language that was outdated from union membership paid leave of absence removal of outdated language with respect to um paid leave of absence there's no remaining members that would have this applied to hours of work and overtime updated the days to show 180 school days because um the number of school days if you recall from the past couple years was modified to 180. Um there was an addition of extra pay for teachers with respect to sub time. So if a teacher is actually going to sub in a classroom, teacher gets compensated take dollars for that per hour or more uh to to step into
062a classroom to assist. Um there was also um certain other little things that we did. Um but that's really the the JX of it. I don't know if you wanted to. Well, you know what I like to do? I like to give my little spiel when we do negotiations on on the staff. So, um I want to talk a little bit about uh what our secretaries do for us at our schools. So, they play a key role in keeping our buildings and the people inside them safe. They are the first people that any visitors to the school meet when entering our buildings. They monitor and screen all visitors to the school each day. They help monitor cameras. They do not leave until all students have safely made at home or have been picked up by
063a parent, even if it means staying well past their shift. They manage school and classroom volunteer approvals. They help with the scheduling of and check all students and staff during fire drills, lockdowns, and secure buildings. They are our community liaison often acting as a bridge between parents and school staff. They handle comm they handle and communicate early and late arrivals, early dismissals, bus changes, after school activities. They compile and finalize digital backpacks and principal updates to parents and students. They work with our PTOs and booster clubs. And I can personally attest to not being able to get anything done, any fundraising for our students, um any events without their immense help and support with every single activity. They are part of every event planning. They assist in organizing in school events, after school events, graduations,
064parent teacher conferences, and all celebrations for staff and students. They manage the afterchool usage schedule with custodians so people have building access. They are the problem solvers for both staff and students. They track down lost items. They handle last minute schedule conflicts. They troubleshoot office equipment. They communicate with custodial staff, nurses, and teachers for emergencies, illnesses, and bathroom cleanup. They are a constant support for our staff and students. They recognize staff efforts. They celebrate achievements and contribute to a positive school culture. They make themselves available to our students. They walk them to and from class when necessary. They sit with kids inside at recess. They sit with students waiting to be picked up or even just those who need a break during a difficult or exhausting day. They handle substitute coverage which can can continuously
065change but they ensure that all classes are covered at all times. They do so by making themselves available to staff in early preschool day mornings, evenings, and over the weekends. They issue morning memos to staff with all attendance schedule changes, links to important information about the day. They communicate with buses before, during, and after school. They manage the schedules for principles and schedule meetings for principles, teachers, and staff. They order all necessary supplies, coordinate deliveries, receive and distribute mail deliveries. They plan field trips and compile and distribute field trip attendance information. They help with grading and power school and work report cards in the younger grades. They handle incoming kindergarten registration and orientation and schedule screening. They track lunch and office detention. They handle the SAA and the club accounts. They manage students in and
066out of the guidance office and the communication with the teachers and guidance staff and so much more. Um, our secretaries are really, um, the brains of our district. Um, they are the backbone that everything rests upon. Um, I think anybody here who has been in school, visits a school, has kids in school, volunteers in a school, if you have a question, you ask the secretaries. Um, so I just think it's important. I think sometimes we don't, you know, realize all the nuances and things with with everything that our staff does. And I just wanted to highlight some but not all of uh the responsibilities that I that I could come up with. This was a very um I did miss one of the um the secretary meetings while I was away. So thank you for
067the team for handling that um for me. Um but I I feel like it was very smooth. I think that um what we have here is very fair. I think it's very competitive and I think it's well deserved. Thank you. So to move on to to discussion question I just have one Dr. Willlet uh I think I got confused when you were briefing on the uh substitute time. What is that again? So if if a secretary goes in to fill in for a teacher, they get eight additional dollars per month. So do we we regularly use our secretaries to do substitute? Uh I would not say regularly, but I would say it happens. And I co with what you were saying. I think I talked to our building secretaries almost Dr. Willer in a given
068week. No doubt the importance and Mr. Mr. Bod and Miss McNelte are also on the negotiations team as well as yourself to us. Let me turn I guess Bill would you like any comments? Yeah, it was uh it was a it was my first negotiation. It uh it seemed pretty easy. Um you know they certainly came in with um requests that we didn't necessarily agree with. So, you know, I thought it was a very balanced contract. Katie, I would agree that it was very balanced. I don't know if you can hear me. Can you hear me? Okay. Yeah. Um, it was very balanced. And I would add to to Jen's um words that the number of times that I've not understood something and and had to ask a secretary and had had it answered has
069like been countless. Um there's, you know, it all seems in good standing to me. You open it up to the board then. Any uh comments or discussion? Go ahead. Um reading through the contract, I mean, I understand, you know, the negotiations. I've been on several of them. I my concern and I'm not sure that you know there's necessarily a lot we can do but my concern is around the cost sharing um going up you know 1% or a half a percent. Where I work our insurance went up 21% in one year and for the higher plan it went up 28%. We we know that after this last you know during this year part of what is driving some of the increase for next year is the additional medical and I just am concerned about how
070this is sustainable when you know the staff takes on a percent or a half a percent and then the the district maybe is looking at 15 or one just because medical expenses are going up. It's no one's fault. I'm just concerned about that. That's what I'd like to. Well, from my perspective, what I can say and what we reviewed is again that this was competitive. you know, based on other secretary contracts in in the DUR, um I think we'd have a very hard time retaining if we were to um bump up a significant amount um considering, you know, again, this is what is competitive for this field. Walt, I don't know if you want to add anything to it. Yeah. So we get data, you know, we get information um with from shipment and they
071that's utilized in the negotiations and so you know places um comparison pl you know uh to us would be something like Bolton and they started at 16.5 you know then they went to 175 and um 18 and 18.5. So, we're not, you know, we're we're actually a little bit lower than say Balden's sub completion. Um, and as you scroll through, you see similar statistics. Stafford has 12% 13%. Um, I think they went for two years. And so, their sharing in some of these other districts comparatively are actually lower than the sharing that our secretaries have. Um, so I think generally our contract is a well negotiated one considering areas that are around us that are similar to us or at least geographically within the workspace of where these people would be traveling for other work.
072Willington 17.5% but it seems to be for a year. Um, you know, so it's uh it's Vernon is actually 20%. So Vernon's a little higher, but um, you know, there's more here that are lower than higher. It's just uh it's part of the process and um you know it does go up and each each negotiation cycle it's going up um but it understandably these are things that are challenging and um so the point is well taken to you know it's all part of the same picture but I think this was competitively negotiated based on the rates around us and that was that was what came out we were having those conversations there union will also have that data and we'll put it out there. So, I was not suggesting that I wasn't competitive. I was
073just voicing a concern about the overall costs of the education and that type of a thing and how will we be able to kind of be sustainable. I was not suggesting that this was out of line or any kind of thing. I'm just concerned about how medical costs have are increasing at such a rapid rate and how we can respond to that. I I I'm not criticizing in any way, shape or form. I'm just concerned about, you know, we're already facing a lot of budget issues and so how will we manage that? And I didn't take it as a person. Okay. I I wasn't suggesting that you were but is saying it was competitive and I'm I'm certain that it is. I just it's just that you know again from being on negotiations you know
074that you know we're running a business and we have to look at the employees and we have to look at the competitive you know with competition and we have to you know we like Dr. Dr. Willis said we're dealing with unions. They will look at this information. They will put it out publicly and you know when you know these things can go into mediation and into arbitration and that will be based on the fairness of of the contract based on what this particular position is paid and again the state average etc etc. So that's just that's just part of the process. Brian, you Yeah, I have two points. I like to piggy back with the ringy I said about the insurance. Um, I have a problem and I thank some people in town over the
075last last year and this year um with the ability to pay with taxes and I wonder with only increasing the employee contribution 1% to where we're getting hit with the 10 to 15 to 18% increase in insurance just in this one year alone. the sustainability of providing this and still keeping the same services for the students in the town of the school system. It's a big big concern. Um, so I don't know if there's I would I would like this percentage to to be raised and I would also if this percentage cannot be raised that we do something to where you're only covering the employee at this percent and have an additional fee for some sort of workound for the any other family members that get added on beyond the employee. It's another idea or
076option regarding this. And then the other line item, not line item, but other point inside the contract. Uh, sorry, I'm scrolling down to just give me one. Um, is the the 3% pay, which I know it's so probably comparable, but we're having issues. Like I said, it's mainly the same aspect that we're having financial issues in the district with taxpayers wanting to pay the large increases sustain the schools. I don't want to lose other services or teachers in a three-year time, but getting a three a three% raise when looked like the last contract was 2.25. So, I would once again raise concern over this. amount that we're lock locking in just I don't think it sets a good precedent moving forward with having continuous raises when we have people in the community they're absolutely concerned
077about even paying their light bill. So I just want us to really be cognizant of that when improving a three and three% increase and only increase in the insurance 1%. So, it's not a negativity on anything with negotiation. I just have a very difficult time voting for something like this, putting this on the community and then them not coming down hard on us, saying it's our own fault. So, I I'll leave it at that, but those are two two two main points that I'm very concerned about. And that I'm glad you brought those two because I guess and Katie, I see your hand. I'll get to you in this minute. You know, I was looking at those two things and actually I guess, you know, I was looking at them went to a different conclusion
078I was going to make a comment about the, you know, the overall benefits package and saying that well, you know, I understand what he's saying and concur. You know, insurance is going up significantly that we're able to compensate. we're able to keep a moderate modest 3% increase in raise but still compensate by taking on and keeping our insurance how much we absorb you know so the only going up 1% there at 2 3% I think is is it's a thank you know putting those two together uh so I guess you know I was actually going to say for negotiations committee I think it's a it's it's a good job in keeping numbers relatively low. So we are looking at it from a fiscal perspective while still recognizing the work and the importance that we have
079out there. I think there are ways to do both and it's done by looking at the complete package such as this. Katie, uh thanks Tony. Um I guess you know working in the private sector and having worked for the government as well these are really sort of typical amounts that are going up and I just I guess with this want to caution the group that these are not jobs that are only done in a school system right these are competitive employees they don't have to come do this job at Taland and we're lucky that they do come and do it for us and that they do it with the skill and the attitudes, the positive attitudes that they do do it with. And I agree with Tony that it is about, you know, adequately compensating
080for someone for the the wonderful work that they're doing. Um, and I think that when you kind of look at what the actual numbers are as the committee did, you could see that it's really not an unreasonable request. Yeah. Yeah, I guess I'll just say, you know, though I understand the points and obviously from where we're sitting, especially tonight during budget season, we're looking at something a certain way. But, you know, to your point, you know, people struggling, these are also people who have to keep their lights on and and therefore, you know, deserve a fair and competitive wage, too. Um, as we've talked about many times, taxes are going up everywhere. Um insurance is going up everywhere, right? Inflation etc. And again we have to in order to retain our staff and to provide
081the service that we provide at the end of the day this is a business as well. We need to we need to prepare employees competitively and fairly and I don't think that and especially when we've had the loss of positions and we have more coming up. We are asking our staff to take down additional responsibilities. um we can't we can't expect that we're going to ask them to do that. We can't expect that they're going to provide an excellent service to us and our students and there are things that we can pay them less than you know what their colleagues are making as well. So as Walt said, you know, in a lot of the things that we looked at when we did negotiations, we're we're not falling like way at the top. We're falling
082falling in the middle on a lot of this stuff and we're taking all of this into account during the negotiations. We're looking at all the numbers and we're looking at all the numbers across our district regional group too when we're making these decisions. I just question is there is there some sort of um way to [Music] measure Taland relative to other districts you know close to us. So not just you know the wage increase but in terms of the insurance conversation is there some way or would we have to go through those towns individual but just when we talk like we can see what the settlements have been that have already been decided this year and recent years and that's where we know we are competitive with them. Sue their their union sees that data
083too. Everybody brings the data to the table and as you can imagine that's the kind of thing that your body well that's what influences what ultimately you choose you know they'll say but I think we have to you know we have to keep be cognizant of when we look at these numbers or we talk these numbers we're talking one variable in and otherwise you know in a very complex web here we're talking about the insurance increase and our insurance increase compared to these other times it's this and then we were talking about wages uh and then we were talking about you know probably staffing and those kind of things u but just and I was blessed to sit in you know one of the negotiations meetings to get a vibe for it and seeing how
084they're trying to talk complete picture and what this actually means not only what this means to put us in a competitive position not only numerically but with quality of employees influence and how do we how do we find that point that matches up with also like we have 18 secretaries is not a giant well mediation arbitration cost money too so you really have to evaluate against well like for instance for insurance if you have others that are getting lower you know and you go into another you go into mediation arbitration you might get you might they come out of that you might actually be handed more expensive situation than the one that you started with. So you really have to, you know, really balance that carefully whether or not you're going to come out of
085something better off than you went in. And in this case, I think we were the team, you know, has heard everything. They talked with the secretaries. They know what the secretaries were saying. I think it, you know, seems to have gone amicably and it it probably saved you a little money. You have tried another attack with this might across a lot of ways. Yeah. Have we seen any drop in like the participant rate participation rate within this plan like over the years that we've negotiated it? I would imagine like at a 0.5% increase on the insurance side I would never leave that like are there are we losing staff at this point out of the 16 or is that actually an issue that we have to worry about or people yeah leaving the job and
086or leaving the plan like if they have a spouse that works uh I don't think there's a ton of people leaving the plan. Yeah. Um I was just like curious. I mean it could be something good to explore um as you're reviewing competitiveness of it and the dire need to save someone but um was this kind of approved unanimous talking. Was this approved by everyone uh in the subcommittee and moving it up to the board? Yes, it was. Okay. Thanks. Right. Ready minutes. And they do just so yeah I mean this is the way it works and most of you I'm sure know this so I'm stating the obvious but if you have a family membership it does cost you more than if you individual you're paying for you family you're paying for three member
087four member right so you do pay more for but it is but is that so I two thing I'm going to go back to the insurance one is more or less question for the people on the committee so I'm just saying that they had whatever a 1% increase in all these years that or or one last one's 1.5 from 17, but you get half% every year. Was there discussion saying, "Hey, we're getting hit with 15% insurance increase, but we're only going to ask for whether we're only going to negotiate 1%. Was there a discussion regarding that? How the district was going to eat the other 14% of the increase? If if we jump up to 25% increase from those medical calls, we're going to arbitration. We're gonna jump up to 20. We've got to be
088careful about the specifics. Just a reminder. Well, then that's a how do we discuss if we can't get into specifics? We have the numbers, but asking what you know necessarily we we spoke in negotiations. I'm just trying to be careful. It is a confidential process. So to just say like the words we some of us said or the words some of them said would just be a little tricky. So I'm just trying to make sure we follow the rules. That's all. If we go too high as Dr. Willis said it goes to arbitration and because of where we stand in the areas around us where we are on some of the you know some of the higher ends. You know we said Stafford's at 12%. Well, and and and I know no one likes to
089hear this and I'm not saying it to agitate, but what happens is they also in arbitration look at ability to pay and Thailand is looked at as a as a community that has with the data and the statistics about it. They look at the ability to pay stats and it works against you. So, have they seen our list of cuts this year? Well, like they don't they don't look at that. I wish they did, but they look at other data to determine ability to pay and then they use that again. So a staffer has So those were those were things that were considered when we when we put this together and and agreed to this. You know that if we go to arbitration, what's the likelihood of getting a better deal than this? And it
090was slim to none was what our discussions led to. And arbitration itself costs there's a cost to that as well. Well, I understand. Yeah. Did you? Yeah. Yeah. So, the other the other part to what I was saying. So, these other districts are we is it apples to apples like the insurance that they're you're saying, you know, Vernon's at 20, this one's at 15. Is it apples to apples on the same sort of coverage plan? Are they in paying more for employee coverage versus non-emp employee like as a family plan like Malt was saying? Like I don't even know what the uh are we I don't even know what this insurance even covers as part of the family plan. Are we b we still picking up the other 80 something% of the family plan or
091we or how does that work? How does that distributed out? Yeah, it's just if you add you're paying percent of each of these people you there's a dollar figure that goes with each of this for every human being you add and there's the board share and the you know and person's employee share of that for every person you add. So you had made a comment before about do if they add people yes you do we do charge them for every person. Well, no, I understand that. But what I'm what I'm I guess more or less what I'm saying is is there's a a thought process of covering them at the employee, single employee, we're going to pay 80 something% 82.5 and they'll hit the 7.5, but then if they want to add on four or
092five other family members depending on the the size of the family that that'll be at another prorated price. It's at that percentage. Well, that's what I'm saying. Can we not negotiate? What I'm saying is I I think we have to have a thought process regarding this because I'm I'm I'm just I'm not really comfortable voting for this. So, what we'll do in a minute after we're done with uh with discussion is we will entertain and vote on whether or not to accept this one. If the vote is no, then it can go back to committee. But negotiation committee has brought this one to the table. Thumbs up or thumbs down this one and see what happens there. You said some any other discussion. All right. I will entertain the motion to move this to board
093action. So second discussion. Hey Tony, I had my hand up before we go to a motion. Oh, my apologies. I didn't see you. Go ahead, Dan. That's okay. Um, Dr. Willlet, what what are the what's the cost of the district when we go to arbitration later on? 10 grand. That years ago was 10 grand. It would be more than that obviously with inflation. And um we have a bipartisan um negotiation committee. Yes. And our negotiation committee felt comfortable with what they were bringing to the table. Correct. Okay. That's all I have. Thank you. Okay. Motion came from Jane. Second came from Jen. Thank you. Discussion on that. Okay. So, the vote is to move this to board action. Apologize. I'm in the middle of a skit order. N1. N1. Thank you. Reie. I Brian. I
094Dan. Hi. Bill. Hi. All right. Again. Hi, Jaden. Hi, Katie. Hi, Dana. Hi, All right. This is moved to board action item N1. All right, Dr. Willlet, new business, summer meeting cancellations. We get the whole summer up. Is that what that says? There you go. It's right in front of you. Wow. Amazing. So, my understanding is we currently have the first meeting in July. Yeah, there's nothing up there. Possibilities. [Music] That one is already cancelled. Yeah, I think you're you're actually your July one is because you did that way back. Okay. So, that's on there, but that shouldn't be. You you would be looking at June and August. So, I'll open that up to discussion. Personally speaking, uh, while I think the July one makes sense, I do believe we have Yeah, July, sorry, July
095one is off there. July, July 23rd is still there. I I think the July the June 25th to July 23rd, the August 13th, I think we have business to do and we should keep those on the calendar, but I'll open it up. Are things put on? We we normally at this time of year discuss cancelling the July one. Uh however, when we did the school calendar or that not school calendar, the board meeting schedule for this, we leaned forward and already cancelled that. Uh so we thought, okay, that we put this on here just to have the discussion. I'll be in a short discussion. Please been doing this thing for this is my fourth year and I what comes up during that time of year in terms of you know decision making I guess is
096the best way for me to put it are we I can't remember year or year I can't remember what I did this morning I'm more so asking for more on your opinion of why we should have those what what in that time span is captivating our attention hopefully not the budget at that point. Um, so I didn't mean to No, you're good. But absolutely the budget and as you see, regardless of what happens today there or Tuesday, there are going to be changes that have to be in installed during the the summer. Uh it's also our opportunity to sit and look and discuss many of those things we hope to work on some of the curriculum questions, some of the the pathlings, some of the uh portrait graduate conversations, those those overarching schemes that we've
097wanted to spend time on but got caught up in the firefighting. The slower time in the summer is when we get to look at those where we get to spend time in those. Now recognizing and that's why Reie can attest, you know, I vote no to cancelling the the first one in July for that very reason, but I understand the taking a break. I do not condone taking the summer. By cancelelling these, how does that affect the superintendent evaluation schedule? Does it affect the superintendent evaluation schedule at all? Well, it would back we we have to plan around that. superintendent schedule has hasn't been finalized yet. Sure. Uh but as you recall from previous ones, it requires a certain number of meetings, right, that we have to lay out and we have to we're contractually
098obligated, albeit Dr. Will's been been gracious in previous years uh to do it a certain period and to get that done. We need meetings to do that. Okay. Um, I guess my point is is that um, the June one makes sense, especially because of the um, superintendent evaluation. Um, I'm okay with omitting the July one. July is usually pretty quiet and if we know about something, we've got four weeks in July to plan a special meeting. [Music] Um, August one usually good to have to have a jump on the school year, but it's usually a short one. That's my opinion. Any other comments? I'm traveling in July, so I'm okay with it. Can't wait that one. I already know. I'm going to wait 23rd that way. Zoom. I might be traveling on the June 25th
099and August 13th, but I'm not 100% sure those exact dates that I'm traveling. But I know the June one's I believe the June one I am, but I'm not 100%. I'm not homeless. But I will be back in. I just I I go I go away. I don't care. Yeah, I mean I can zoom in, but like literally when I say I'm might be traveling in those two days, I literally might be traveling just because if I'm not, then I'll hop on the Zoom. Other comments shows. All right. Oh. Um, like I said, my recommendation is that we keep those and if it looks like a light meeting, then we can cancel it as we get closer. I think this is far too far in advance to make those calls. That being said, if there's
100disagreement action, if you want to move it forward action, if we're not going to do anything, then that's not an issue. Um, I'd like to move um possible cancellation of the July 23rd meeting to board action. Discussion. Okay. Make sure there I Bill. This is a movement to board action. Move it to board action. Hi. I Jen. Hi. Hi. Katie. I Dr. Willlet. That will be item N2. All right, moving on. Old business. In case anybody is not aware, we are in budget season. Yeah, I hate to be the bearer of good or bad news. Uh, Dr. Willlet, item one. Yep. you uh you are now um well I mean I'm going to do the best I can to kind of describe sort of where we're at. I think as as you noted I posted
101on the BOE dashboard um my understanding of where things are with respect to the figure that has to be reached. Um overall the figure as I understand it is [Music] $449,650 which would leave uh 1.9% increase for the board of education as determined by the town council as I understand it. Um that determination was finalized last night May 13. So uh what I had done and is on the dashboard as you are aware is I had sent out the working document that the board of education was using before. There's three tables with respect to this. Table one gives you sort of a general historical of where you know the progression of the budget from iteration to iteration, the percentage and the amount um related to that percentage. Um table two has additions and reductions. Example
102HVAC inspection requirement that is an addition. It has to happen every single year now part of the wonderful unfunded mandates that came from the state of Connecticut. That's one of them. So that's been in there as an addition. And those reductions and the reduction part of the table are the reductions that had been made thus far. And the tabs, if you see something that is in those reduction list, it says C tab, the tab is along the bottom. This is the working document of the board does not represent um everything at this point because you would be needing to make reductions to get to 1.9. And that brings us to table three. Table three are the items that have been part of the conversation along the way. Um, if you want certain items of these
103reduced, then I move the items from table three to table two and the account, you know, and the amount in table one will adjust accordingly. So for instance, if you take a look at table two, let's say I put in, let's just say I put in the figure that we have to reach. would say there was one thing we could cut was49,650 449,600 oops on keyboard 449,000 650 you'll notice that in the uh table one area um that brings you down actually because I because we actually did have a little bit more I'm taking a little more than we need but um the 1.8 that would bring us to 1.87 87 just to give you an example. Uh one thing that um just to note we did get pura savings and that is why that
104figure now is 400 what is it 7,000 if you look at the table on the left we did get puro money back um public utilities regulatory authority uh we were able to get a net decrease in our overall rates that uh we were able to then reduce the budget by 41,678. So that's why that original 449650 is now 407972 and you can see that in table one. So I gave you an example that brought us to 187 which would have been lower than what we need but that's because I used the full figure. You really only have to find I mean not only but you have to find 47,000 um 972 because we already found 41,000 out of pura. That's all reflected in these tables. So table one shows you the history and where we
105are. And you'll notice amount needed to get there. 407972. Table two is your additions and reductions. Table three is what could be moved into your reductions. And this is a you know this is the setup for the conversation. One thing that I will point out you see the bolded items here. And I I just randomly for purpose of example, uh if you look at the bolded items, these bolded items, um these add up to Oops, I'm hitting the wrong keyboard every time here. I apologize. These bolded items add up to 401,55. So if the bolded items were taken, that would get you almost all the way there. I can make up a little bit of difference in supplies. to something like 6,000 I could probably make up in some supply. Okay. So, that being said,
106we'll start. Um, I can come back. Sure. Come back. Okay. Okay. Um, Yeah. So, I'm going to get this over with at the beginning rather than wait until last time because I know everybody wanted me to to do that last time after the couple hours. I heard the rumblings. Um, I'm not going to rehash too much of uh or or there's an elephant in the room. Um, so, but I I feel we have to mention it in order to have this conversation. At least I do. So, um, as you're all aware, I sent an email today to the town council. I made sure that everyone on the board was on it. Um, basically the, um, the town council's May 6th approved budget motion, which allocated unassigned funds towards the DOE budget and, uh, and then
107their agenda item last night that revisited the 56 motion. Um but decline to honor the unassigned fund allocations is very concerning to me. Um several counselors present said that this um this was not their intent when they made the motion or um voted on the motion. We've asked for a legal opinion on how to proceed. Also, to my knowledge, we have my email has not been answered. Um, nor was the one sent for work from Chairman Holt the other day asking for clarification. To my understanding, I think I was the only one who happened to be on the meeting last night from who I've talked to. Staff baseball. That's fine. But we have received no official communication on what the reduction amount is. Not one since 56. Not to Dr. Will it not to the
108chair, not to the vice chair, so we don't even have an an amount except for maybe what I hopefully heard correctly last night. Um, so based on all of this and much more, which you guys can decide whether you want to talk about everything going on or not, but um, I appreciate the work Dr. Willlet put into this, um, with no time or information to really do it. Um, I I can't agree to any of these reductions given where we are. We've gotten to a really concerning place from my point of view. Um, I don't know what to do here, but I I know I can't do this. Um, I really feel that these reductions directly affect the safety, the academics, and the physical and mental health of our students and staff and our buildings
109as a whole. If if we're going to be cutting these, you know, teachers, I need to know what the class sizes will increase to next year. I need to know what courses are going to be lost. Um, if we're going to talk about sports and clubs and activities, I want to open that up. I want to look at every single one. I want to know the participants of every single one. I want to know the cost of every single one. And I want to see where there's opportunities to self-fund if that's something. We deserve to at least give our kids and our parents that opportunity. Um, we received an email from the nursing coordinator uh with concerning statistics in the face of eliminating a nurse from our district. definitely need more data on that before
110I risk the healthy health and safety of our students. We have an SRO on here. I think we're all in agreement that we want more safety in our schools. We're already not adding anything to mental health. are custodians and I can say this because I I asked if I could um discuss it publicly but generally they're concerned about the the impacts that um reducing the custodians is going to have on their safety as they perform tasks um as well as the cleanliness of our buildings. So, you know, our superintendent hasn't been given any time to be able to provide this this data. Last night, councelor Udichek gave a very passionate and lengthy um plea to assist the fire department because like us, there was an allocation of 60,000 that was supposed to go to um
111the pitch study for the fire department. And the result of that was the chairman said that it was something that they could look at again in the future. They could put on the agenda. Um the, you know, I'm not going to get the exact words right and the video and the minutes weren't out yet, but the feeling was is that they wanted to look at it, see what they could make work. What about us? I I've got things on here. I'd still ask them. I'd ask them to help with our security costs. Why can't the town help us with SRO's and our additional security costs? Uh, we want to talk about insurance. Let's open that and talk about our 91 versus 9 proportional percent there. You know, what about taking maybe the TMS seats back
112into capital and letting us use our our ERF I just I don't where's our opportunity to look for more options. This is a deep cut and it was clear and I received some emails back today that said that they wouldn't have made that cut. That wasn't the vote that they voted on. That wasn't the motion that they thought they were voting on. So I I don't know what to do. I don't have a motion like last time where I asked for another joint meeting. I don't know what else I can do, guys. I mean, I did push for another joint meeting. I pushed like hell to try to get this referendum through. You saw anybody who's on social media. I pushed out as much information I can. I text, I email, I call, I emailed
113the chair of the town council. I am being ignored. Um, so I don't have all the answers. This isn't a political play. I don't care about that. This is about like this does not feel right and I'm here to do what's right and I I can't do this and this process has been questioned from the beginning. I mean you guys heard just as I do that all the meetings and the discussions and the administrator rounds and all of our numbers aren't really taken into account when they're preparing this budget. So I don't know I don't know what we can do. I don't know what you want to do, but until seven board members of whatever whoever happens to sit in these seats at at the given time really starts to push back on this process.
114I I just we're we're just we're in the same boat and we're going to get this is if this stands it's going to be another 1 point something percent to us this year. I don't think that this community can run an exceptional school district on that. I don't think they should. So, I know that's where I'm at. That's how I feel. I wanted to get it out there before the discussion started. Just a couple of points and we'll keep going. I know everybody. Uh so around 5:30ish tonight uh I was on the phone with Chairman Mari from the town council because as as many of you know there it's been a flurry of emails today uh going from the town council to to various legal staffs uh to to some of our people talking about
115last night's vote talking about was there similar I want to say mistakes of challenges made in the process was there possibility of deferring this referendum to a later date where more could be figured out. And at the towards the end of my conversation, I said, "Okay, Jacob, what has been determined? What are you guys doing?" And Jacob's response was the numbers that came out of last night. And Dr. Willlet help me. It's a what do you say? 4 453,590 449,6 44.9 uh that reduction in the subsequent down to 2% is what is going to rent. Uh that they have determined based upon their conversations that it was a a legal and legit whole process and this is what they're going to put forward in the town. Uh, I'll be honest. I told him, I said,
116"Jacob, just speaking as myself, I abhore these numbers. I think you made an absolutely terrible call and that it's a kick in the gut for the school districts, but that's still what they're planning on taking to. So, while I understand the concern and I completely agree with the concern, I think we as a board have a responsibility to take a look at these numbers and be able to articulate what we think that reduction is going to be because like we were talking about just a few minutes ago, assuming this goes to referendum, assuming that this passes, then there's work to do to figure out how, you know, how we implement that. I I think we say every year that, you know, that this doesn't stop, but we're going to be trying to figure out how
117we how we self-fund, how we move things around to keep things how we keep this district running given the the the hole that that we're being put in. Uh we're going to be looking to to Dr. Willlet staff to figure out how to turn stro gold. But in the immediate on Tuesday, our town is going to referendum. And I think the best thing we could do is explain to them what these reductions mean to our classes. Does that mean reduction of stat? Maybe we don't completely know because to Dr. Willlet's defense, you know, we've been talking almost every day saying assume the number is this. Sharpie pencils. If it becomes less than, oh, that's easy. Start doing racing. Start doing the hard work now. But he's still got more that he's going to have to
118do that. If it's figuring out how we bump clubs around, how we do those things, we've still got to talk about it whether we like it or not. Keep going around just we'll get to everybody and then we'll discuss give you a chance to speak. So, we're just going around to speak our mind, not talk about this. But you could you could do about my intent here was for everybody to get a chance to talk about what they thought and things that were important to them before we start negotiating. I see. Well, I mean, nobody nobody likes to talk reductions. Um see it uh you know we went from a from a high of having all the acknowledgements the other way uh the other week to uh to now having to to discuss this and
119whether it's a a small reduction or a large reduction reduction. Nobody likes to discuss. So that's what I'll say unless we want to start getting into specifics. I certainly have questions for for Dr. Willlet but keep going. Um yeah just as far as like procedurally if we have to do something by branch I guess classically what we do get right before we start talking about billificate a bit more drag but classically the council gives us a number it shrunk six give you a wiggle ball. He's got the chair that the council gives us the number. Yeah. And then we look at it and we determine what those reductions would be. That way the voters are going in is what the actual effect is. If we did nothing, if we came out of this discussion and
120we didn't say yes to those other reductions, they still the voters still go. they vote based on the information we provide that there's value in the conversation. We can also and that's important. We can come through and say you know what these are the reductions that we decided today that go to referendum it's approved and then that next meeting Dr. Willlet comes and says I found this I did that we can adjust it there but it's it's an information problem. Okay. And then um just as the 47,000 that we keep, is that including like the potential prevailments that we're able to make? Uh just wanted to make sure. Yeah, that was clear. All right, cool. I'm go okay for this, right? Yeah, I just was trying to I wanted my one question was a clarity
121and what I just brought up. We don't necessarily have to make any decisions on any of this this evening. Okay. And then the other my other point of clarity is I'm hearing that we didn't hear from the town on the precise number but then we have a number. So how is this number coming about if we didn't hear you haven't heard from Brian Foley is on the record? Yes or no? Have you heard from him? An absolute no. The direct communication but the but the councilman or the council yesterday didn't discuss this. No, I know they discussed they had a figure that they discussed and that was the figure, but I I didn't receive an email, but but then they specifically said in in the the board of education is being reduced. Yeah. 400. That's
122what I believe. That's what I communicated to Dr. Willlet. That's the number Jacob P. That's that was from the council meeting. All right. I just want to make sure we're not dealing with hypothetical number. That's a number that you heard and then the panel council chair verbally told you. All right. All right. I'll leave it at that for now. Thank you. Great. Um, yeah. Um, I just want to first express, and this is completely off topic, but the aggravation that I cannot use this spreadsheet and add some things up because it's viewable. I can't print it. I can't add anything. It's really annoying. So that's an off-topic thing, but nonetheless, I find that often times with the budget stuff, and it would be nice to be able to kind of work with the document. So
123Jen is saying maybe we don't want to make a decision about what we're coming up to the 397 407. I added up the numbers here. It looks like it's about 397 in the bolded numbers. Um the golden they are 40 I mean they're 401. Oh 40. Okay. Well again because I can't do it over here. So but nonetheless it's supposed to be for you to do as a collective not as any one individual. So that what you're getting the four from the four from the amounts that you had to cut 449 650 super that's bringing out. Right. Right. Right. Anyway, um I I there was a part of me that kind of agrees that I'm not really keen on making a specific decision because I would like to dig into the clubs a little bit
124more and how how could that but but again I also understand the potential importance of the voters knowing maybe what what they're looking at when they go to poll. So yeah, I'm a little ambiguous on that. Um I have done a little bit and kind of understand now how we got here but you know with regard to the town council and all of that. Um because it it has been a confusing process a little bit. Um I think we have to work with you know where we're at. They they kind of said we're reducing the overall expenditures by 1%. We were at 3%. We got to go down to 2%. you know, 1% is 470. We're kind of at 407, so maybe we're to the good a little bit. I don't know. I you know,
125it it and I don't know. That's just what the town's people voted on. And I think we just have to accept that that was what the vote was. It's not the town council. It's not us. It's not directed to anybody, but this is this was what we've been handed and we have to work with it. Whether, you know, we think it's good, bad, or indifferent. I am not sure that that is the most material piece of it other than that's it. This is what it is. So, just want to clarify the town did not vote on board that budget. The town voted on the overall town budget, right? It is what the town council handed us in terms of their choice in how to manipulate the reduction but that so get so we'll work with
126it. So anyway, Katie, thank you. Um, yeah, I'm kind of infuriated by this to be completely frank. Like I I understand the optics, right? But this list we have in table 3 is now about people's lives, the instruction that our children in this town are going to receive. You know, the benefits of being a student at Tomand. And I'm like listening to us all these 18 months that I've been on this board talking about like, oh, we need advanced notice to make these enormous decisions about thus and so. I need more notice to talk about a letter that has to do with, you know, gun safety going out to the community. But we're going to sit here 2 and 1/2 hours or I'm sorry, my math is probably wrong on that because you said, Tony,
127that you heard at 5:30 from the town council chair. Um, and talk about reducing anything in the budget. I mean, that just strikes me as incredibly absurd for like members of this team who talk about like, let's make sure that we're making really careful, cautious decisions about what is occurring in the town, and this is our responsibility to make sure that the kids in the town are getting the things that they need, but we're going to talk about this now. I didn't even understand what's going on. Like, this is completely different from the process that we had last year. Like I went back through the emails to see like, oh, we had warning. We had ample warning from the superintendent and from Tony talking about this is what we're going to be looking at and
128here's what the the projections might be. I'm deeply uncomfortable having this conversation and I think that like I don't know if we need to hold a special meeting or whatnot, but actually like absorbing what this means and to basically everyone's point understanding what these reductions cost us as a community is really important before we start talking about let's get rid of this and that. That's where I'm at at this point. again like completely understand the optics very important but but to like kind of level set we have what 12,000 registered voters in our in our town and 3,000 came out so that's a quarter of the people in the town right and what 23 said I don't like this budget so now we're down to what 15% on a good day saying this budget's too
129high to me. I hear that and that's the dog wagging the tail, right? Where's your like confidence interval with that? If I tried to put those statistics into any of the work that I do, I'd be hearing, yeah, you know, statistically invalid. That's not going to work out. So, I'm just really concerned about having this conversation tonight. I need more information. I'm I'm confused. I don't understand. I don't understand how we can be talking about this tonight. Thanks, completely understand Katie and respected you know I'm I'm hearing what what saying and as we you know as we we mentioned earlier there is nothing that says we have to come out of here with a decision uh recognize that Tuesday the town will come the town will make a a decision thumbs up thumbs down if
130it if it's approved then we have to actually put some put some of these decisions into action and based on certain timelines possibly going to uh and we can schedule meetings. The special meetings are always an option and additional meetings are always a good thing. Yeah, it's if it if it is voted down then this cycle is going to to to return itself again. We're going to go back. We're going to have these conversations. So I I respect and in no way am I going to push for any decision out here. Uh, I did feel and to to everybody's point this week, knock on wood, knock on whatever these boards are made of, I hope was a special occurrence in that the council could not did not make a solid decision until literally last night
131and during depending on who you ask possibly today. One more just again clarify it's not that they didn't make a solid decision. There was a motion that was approved and passed on May 6th. They decided to question a piece of that motion and only revisit and vote on that motion last night 5:13. Understood. Thank you. My point being that ability to give us a valid number was not presented until today. We can really work. Hence the rush and the goodness. So this is where we are. Uh my intention here is to give us a chance to talk about decide if we can but if not talk about these reductions and what they mean to provide information. Dana you didn't have your hand up but did you want to say anything? Um I didn't have my
132hand up. Uh I appreciate you reaching out to me because this is an important subject. Um, I would just without extending the conversation longer, I would agree with 100% wholeheartedly what Katie had to say. Um, this needs we need more information and in any what Katie had to say. I I'm I'm right behind with her on that. Thank you. I get 30 seconds. Let me finish since we skipped. I apologize. Okay. Um, this was strategic because last few months, I know Jaden's been a little irritated, so Jaden likes to, you know, but, uh, you guys have made some great points tonight. I, uh, what Katie just said most recently that added on to Jen's point a little while ago, um, I hope we don't overlook it. There was a number, there was a motion. Um,
133I'm not even going to get into it. What I am going to say is this. I have said for years since I've been on this board, procedurally something is wrong. Whether it's the whether it's the referendum vote itself, whether it's the process between the board and the town, whether it's whatever it is, procedurally over the last few years, we have been uh I guess not as sharp between the board and the town council that I would like to see. And uh not knowing, no communication number one. Not okay. Not okay. This is this is and by the way this is on the town council. This is on the town manager. This is on his office. This is on everybody impacting uh this decision because at the end of the day some form of formal communication.
134I'm sorry to be the the but you got to imagine how frustrating and I won't speak for Dr. Will. I won't speak for any of you on this board. I'll speak for myself. You got to imagine how frustrating this might be to anybody who's you know everybody's working, everybody's doing these things and we're all looking when we when are we going to get it? When are we gonna get it? When are we gonna get it? And we're working off a list that has no technically official number communicated to the board of ed. This is this is this is where again I think we're losing the plot here a little bit because this is now becoming a town versus board of ed problem again just like last year, just like the year before that and just
135like the last however many years. I don't know. You guys can tell better than I might know. And so um without knowing without knowing to Jen's point the data behind the decision making I can't pos I can't possibly support any of these reductions today May 15th or 14th whatever it is I can't why to Jen's point again the point of even a custodian at 28,000 right a summer position what is that doing when I hear folks mentioning their safety that's the red light for Let's stop here for a second because I don't do that job. I don't know that job. I wish I knew that job. Unfortunately, you can only you only have so many hours in the day. So, what do they mean by say I want to look into that a little bit.
136What about the nurse uh uh piece that that you mentioned earlier, Jen? I want to know more about the the data that the nurse uh provided. Um seeing two world language uh teachers on here. And by the way, I do have legitimate questions. Like we were at a 2% contractual obligation uh uh uh um I guess rate standard 2% of the budget that was proposed was contractual obligations. Am I wrong on that? That it was 2% 2% of what we proposed originally were contractual obligations that we we we must abide by. Yeah. The that Well, I mean, did you say 2% much more much? So So what was that? an increase that the lower your budget goes the higher the percentage is contractual obligations of that budget yeah if you look I can I can
137pull it up the board of ed I'm saying if we had an increase of 5% for example 2% of that 5% was contractual obligations a good chunk I'm not saying the entire the 2% of the budget was the contractual stuff I'm saying of that 5% increase that we proposed or whatever it was 2% of that increase was contractual obligation So I have questions about we are not how how in the world are we abiding by these obligations in the eyes of the state in the eyes of the employees that work for the district. How are we holding true to our word? Uh you know I I don't know the answers to that to those questions tonight. And so confidently I cannot vote in favor of anything on this list at all. And I'm not even
138to be frank with you all. I'm not even close. And I appreciate you all giving me some time to sort of think about it here because again this is this is a little frustrating. This has been the last you know I'm leaving work and now I'm seeing all these things come finally come through and it's you know and yet we still didn't have any formal communication. I you know I'm frustrated once again we're back in the same seats. I'm frustrated with the council. frustrated with the town manager's office and I look forward to having this conversation the next time I get an opportunity to with those people directly because this is you know I think we've got to be able to advocate for the board of ed budget the day that stops being our job
139that we advocate for the board of ed budget whether we disagree or not on what's in the budget what not that's irrelevant but advocating for the budget that we pass as a group uh I see that as as as crucially important and and and I just I I am not there I am not there. There's a lot of questions that need answers in this in this document and and I I'm so sick of the, you know, I'm so sick of going from acknowledgements like we had today, acknowledgements like we had last meeting. DECA wouldn't exist under um under this under these cuts unless people came out of pocket and paid the full amount. So, this is where I get frustrated. We're being hypocrites in this own room or the council, I should say, are being
140little hypocritical saying, "Let's support it. Let's acknowledge these people, but let's slash it. Let's go behind him. Let's slash it. I don't support it. I don't advocate for it. 81% 81. So 81% of of the whole board. Yeah. Okay. That's contractual obligation. Contractual obligation. So I want to look further into what those numbers look like. Now again, I got a lot of questions on contractually what we are obligated to do. I'm just not there yet. I I I the procedure, the process, and how we even got to tonight. I just it's it's uh I'm not I I don't have words for anymore because I feel like I'm saying the same thing every year, but especially this year, I am I'm I'm not disappointed with the people well with the with the with the council and
141the town manager. So, um happy to get into questioning. I'm happy to get into that conversation of the contractual obligations. figured I get my thoughts across that this is this is not we somebody mentioned precedent earlier and I can't remember but it was it was related to a different subject. Let's bring up precedent again. We can't be the board that sets the precedent that that this form of of of diplomacy between the two boards is okay. I'm not going to be a part of that. And uh you know that that's my piece. But there are questions to be had about the numbers and this and that. But I I I can't we can't overlook that side of this argument tonight. We can't overlook that this process has been supremely disturbed entirely. And so and I
142can't speak on it better than Jen Katie did. I I can't speak on it any better. So I'm not going to. But I am going to tell you the problem. That's all. And rest assured we'll start doing questions. Uh one of the things I did articulate to chairman Mari is that throughout this process but in this past week or so particularly communication has been a bit horrible. Uh you know in previous years there are multiple layers to the communication. While it may have been weak on some lines there was communication on other lines. Brian Mr. Foley and Dr. Will it may talk or you know different things. Um but this past week what we've seen is radio silence. We've had to get our information from you know people that were in the room from conversations
143and not through direct communications and and if nothing else and don't get me wrong the elephant in the room I think somebody mentioned it we certainly have to deal with uh but if nothing else we failed. We we as a lead not as a leadership but we as a a council board of education we failed to pull together at the very base level and communicate well to be able to for this process to have not even certainly something we have to deal with. So moving on now what I'll open up for questions on numbers. 30 seconds to Jen. I do want to piggy back. I would like to explore at another meeting whether this is included in this or not. The um clubs and the costs and the attendance of the clubs and which ones
144are work and which aren't working. What can we add? I think a boardwide discussion on that one evening uh maybe in July or something like tickle your fancy. But and then the other one that I would like to also comment just to note on that real quick. What I am doing as we're talking this is I'm noting the things that people specifically say we need more information uh and it will fit in that. I'm not even talking budget. I'm talking just a chance for me to to fill in the and then I think also some of the class sizes whether we have lots a few kids what they are and what the historical maybe averages how many we are still interested in this talking about electives yeah not electives or whatever class it might be
145like you know so I I think we would it's just something that we should explore it doesn't have to be tomorrow it could be four months from now but I I think it's something we should put in a future exploration. Got it. All right. Thank you. I'm I'm all set, dude. Yeah. Um, so if the town says we need 400, let's just call it 50,000 and we we don't make a decision. I'm sorry. Just keep going back to like thought process here of what happens. So if we don't make a decision tonight, we go to referendum next Tuesday. Historically speaking, if we get a no, the town is going to be like, "Okay, now we don't need 450. Now we need 600 from so if we don't make a decision tonight on something and we're
146only potentially losing like eight of the 10 proposals here and we have to go down further and we lose all 10 of the proposals. We're just digging ourselves further, right?" Well, so the only clarification I'm sorry to be fair. No. So regardless of if we make it, let's say we went through here and we picked the eight, we said these are the things are going to be reduced on Tuesday. If the town votes down the referendum and then the town council leads and reductions are increased, so we owe more or we have to get more out of there. We have to come back together and we have to figure out how we bridge that gap. And if the eight we picked are still applicable. So if it's a no, what we decide tonight here has
147to be is yes. Uh if it's a yes, here's where things get so there are certain obligations that that have to be done as far as notification as far as work that has to happen in Dr. Willlet's office. uh if that that just have to happen quickly. If the town votes yes and this is our reduction at some point we have to rotate very quickly so that after Will's office start doing those things. So if we make that decision today, we've got them the decision they can start working. If we don't make the decision, then what that means is after the referendum vote, if it's yet, we have to make that we have to come back and we have to do it. So then he gets your only dis I mean a disadvantage in not
148talking about specifics tonight because people going into the referendum will not know what you are. They won't know what's at stake. The list is right here. They don't see this. They don't see this. This is Well, we could talk specifics. I I can speak specifically like social media or whatever like that thing. They don't have this document. Well, for instance, if you don't if you're not clear on the public. Yeah. Sorry. Well, you know, for instance, it's it's all theoretical. So like unless you're you're saying okay to get you know you there are some things that have already been decided that got you to one point or 2.99 those are in that reductions column the the things that have you know are not part of it are table three and so if you go into
149referendum with people not knowing specifically how you're getting to 1.9 what's the motivation I mean they don't know what you're they don't know what what they're voting for that's your downside to not they but I think that could also be said for the town side as well because I never hear them say what they're cutting it just manager says oh we'll work it out good point they actually stated it last night in the meeting oh did they okay five hour meeting I was at no they didn't state I was going to say what they stated but I just wanted to say I I wasn't saying they did state that I was saying that they actually the the town manager actually said he didn't want to be held to um specifics until after the referendum passed
150more or less. And when they talked about they talked about the possibility the very upsetting possibility the one person might lose their job. They talked about that for a while. I think I highlighted that in my email. Um but then the town manager said that if he cuts a trooper that trooper actually won't lose his job. They'll just they get absorbed back into the system. So assigned someplace else. That's that's that's like he won't lose his job. Why? Because they get assigned somewhere else like Phil said. So that's what we're talking about here. We're talking about removing all of this and the town is very upset that they might have to absorb one back. I Yes, it does. Thank you, Katie. So again, respectfully, you know, with keeping in mind the optics and like looking
151at will people vote no because they don't know exactly what they're voting for. Um 93% of the people who answered whether or not they voted yes or no because the budget was too high. They voted no, 93%. And I don't think it had to do with listening to what it is that the board of education was cutting or what the town was going to have to cut. I think the 70 people who voted that it was too low were probably the ones who were paying attention. So again talking about that confidence interval and thinking about like why people are doing what they're doing. If we look at it that way, it is just the numbers and I am again deeply uncomfortable talking about people's jobs and the way in which our children end up getting
152educated without additional information about what these cuts mean. I don't think that we should be talking about should we cut this and that at this particular meeting when now we're going on what four hours since the town chair has been informed that yes your cuts the 467 and with Dr. Willlet's you know miraculous work which he always performs it's now 407. Thank you. Thank you. Any other questions, comments? I just want to point out again, just so that we know as we make decisions, there will not be two questions on the ballot. Again, if anybody pick that up there just No, there's not. I confirmed it. The ballot's already printed. So, there is not a question that says if you vote, no why. So, there will not be a place for people to write that.
153That's kind of odd. They wouldn't use the same process. I just thought that just kind of mumbling this seems odd that they wouldn't use the same process as the first time. I totally agree with you, Brian. And go ahead. Go ahead. To that point, you know, I think last year when we went through how many did we go through? Four. Four. Three. Three. Pass on the pass on the four. is it would have been extremely helpful on the third at that point because now people have voted twice over and now people who voted yes for it are now getting frustrated because now the board of ed budget's getting brought too low and this is more of a town council discussion but we're going to I'm going to have it here why not and so people
154who who supported the budget are now voting no because well no I'm not going to vote in favor of things that I don't want to get rid of and so even the I'm not sure what whatever. Well, and that's correct. Like it seems so backwards to me that this this whole process the last I mean the last four months but really just this last week and the decisions that have been made by the council we are held to a complete different standard. So you just mentioned how somebody last night manager mentioned that he didn't want to you know reveal all that is being lost and blah blah blah blah until after the process. So then why are we being held to the same standard? You know, if we don't have enough time to have this
155discussion, we don't have enough time to have this discussion. And that's not based on any objective thing. It's my opinion. If if you know, just like in previous weeks to Katie's point earlier, you know, when we don't have enough time to review this or that to me that applies here more than anything. I mean, this is this is this is the freaking budget. So again, I'm not I don't think I'm at a point right now that uh I'm comfortable getting too much further into the weeds here because I again I've got an obligation. My my whole life for the last six years has been dedicated to children. That's not stopping now. And this is I'm not reviewing this without without some more dedication to I'm not the numbers guy in the room. I'm not the
156smartest guy in the room. I'm probably laugh. But also, but also it's about it's a matter of it's a matter of due diligence. I'm going to do my due diligence and look through. If I have a question, I'll ask. If if I don't have a question, I won't ask, you know. So, I'm just not I'm not I'm not there tonight. I'm not there tonight. And I'm happy for everybody to ask their questions. This number, that number, that number, this number. But again, how we got here tonight frustrating. and we're being held to a different standard than the council and it's it it it's routine. I I completely agree. Folks aren't necessarily always looking at specifically what's what's going from the board of ed budget as much as they're looking at, you know, you know, we're
157getting rid of a fire truck, we're getting rid of this, we're getting the things that they see every day, right out on the roads. We we don't have a town truck anymore because we wanted to eliminate it from the town side. That that hasn't happened recently, but you get my point. So, um we're held to a different standard. I don't like that standard. I don't respect the standard and I hope at some point um that we as a board come to the conclusion that you know even if we disagree right it's the idea that you know we've got to do right by the people in these buildings and not just sort of shoe this off as a well what we have to do is let's let's just get it done tonight. That's my hope, man.
158Because these people, the people we just saw tonight, again, the four teachers who we just saw tonight, we've got an obligation to help their co-workers and those students and their classmates, too. So, um I am not I'm nowhere near uh ready to make any final determinations tonight. Although I would respect if you guys are completely completely respected and completely understand it, but I have to get that across because uh for the fifth time question. Go ahead. So I just I just got a question so that it can be clarified. Are you against discussing or are you against voting on these things? Probably more so voting. Okay. So a discussion maybe can be had but I don't think a discussion can be had without acknowledging a complete discussion can't be had. Correct. So if we're having
159an incomplete discussion, do we really want to, you know, how many times have we have we experienced this in the last two years, never mind the four years where we're we're able to have this discussion, but we don't have all the pieces, so we got to wait till next meeting. And again, we're just I just in my opinion, the entire discussion cannot be held without acknowledging the first piece. But you're okay with with, you know, asking individual questions if we have questions about specifics on this list. Absolutely. You're just not in favor of voting on on what we're choosing to reduce. Correct. But I think there needs to be a conversation. You know, now can I control what questions you ask? No. And nor would I nor would I ever ask you. In my opinion,
160though, this is why I say more subjective more than objective. because in my opinion I think the conversation needs to be around how we got here tonight first and then we can get into you know sort of the numbers and this and that and where do we want to go after that conversation. So that's the best way if that answers your question. That's the best way I can I can break it down and sort of explain. I just don't want the wrath of Jaden if I ask a question about keep just like I'm puzzled right because this motion passed 6 to1 the allocated funds to the BOE and that motion has been questioned by multiple parties. We don't have any kind of legal opinion in writing or anything in writing from anyone, right, including the
161town council. And regardless of that, we're trying to like honor the intent of what we think has occurred. I just I'm really confused by that, right? And I'm also confused because I have lived a life where I'm responsible for rolling out programs that have come from legislation, right? And it was not up to me to interpret what those things meant. And if I were to do that independently when I worked for the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, right? So like after Sandy Hook, all this stuff came out that we had to do because the legislature said so. If I was to interpret those things on my own and not take into account what the legislator's in intent was, that would have been incredibly problematic. And I just touching on what Jaden just said
162and Bill just said, I'm not uncomfortable talking about these things tonight, but I definitely feel like I don't have enough information about what the impacts of them are. So again, like, yeah, we can talk, but I can't vote on anything tonight for sure. Thank you. I just wanted to answer Bill in a sense. Um, it's not really an answer, but I just wanted to point out that just so you're aware, the town manager explained last night that the reason why he didn't want to talk and talk about specifics and even put possibilities out there was to be sensitive to his staff and not, you know, have people being concerned that they're woring for their job or not. So, and you know, there may be time to massage it was the word used. So, um I
163do back up Jaden's point that we are maybe not being held. Maybe some people in the room are holding ourselves to a very different um principle here. And um and then you know to Katie's point again um I just because she used the word intent I just wanted to say that exactly there was a motion that was passed that allocated funds towards the board of education um and the counselors that voted on that were unaware of what the cut would be. The cut showed on the spreadsheet that was being viewed in the meeting meeting as a $153,000 cut to the board of ed after the 140k allocation was utilized. And then there was also a part of that motion that stated that another 200k would be used towards um offsetting the insurance relief which again
164or offshuring the insurance increase which again would therefore provide us relief given that we carry 91% of the responsibility on insurance. That is what the council voted on. And in the meeting last night, councelor Buckler, Moran, Udichek, and I forgot um councelor Bey used the word that it was not the intent of their motion for the calculations to have been done otherwise than that or their vote. I'm sorry. It was not the intent of councelor Udichek's motion and the all of their corresponding votes. They use the word intent. So, it's not being honored. and councelor Nunan who also voted on that was not present last night to weigh in on this. Other comments questions clarifying comment on this retirement differential please. So I just I know this was many weeks ago that this government table
165two u um the uh of all the retirements including the ones that were here were any were all those inside of this the first line here the 153 for retirement differentials. Was there anybody new that has been since or those people that were here this evening for retiring are in this number? Is that correct? All in there. Okay. I just want to clarify they're all in there. We haven't had any. We had an incentive, you know, at the beginning to do it. Most of them came in by January and I'm all in by April. Okay. No, that's fine. Something could happen in the next couple weeks, but and if it did, I would throw it right in like Are you pure stuff? Yeah, I'll throw it right into that reduction list to try to prevent
166you having to take anything else if I if we get Okay. The only reason I met because they were there and it kind of triggered me on that last line item we discussed. Yeah. Can I ask one more question? Absolutely. I just want um what can you touch base with this the transportation club at BGP? I know I'm probably you've told me twice before and I apologize for the third time. what that specifically is. Um, so you have stragglers and uh you have buses that return and you have a couple of, you know, when they when the contractual day ends. Oh, this is those are the the layover stuff. Oh, okay. Okay. Okay. And it's that basically the club kids who are left behind just temporarily. They're they're the club. They're the club and they
167have people that have to staff the club for those kiddos in the base. Okay. Okay. That that that that's clarifying. Thank you. You're okay. I don't want to cut the nurse. Um I'm okay with my questions for right now. Thank you. Yeah. No, I I also don't think I like could go to the polls like to vote yes on a budget that I approved today for sure. like based off of the information that they have, I'm just really nervous that next meeting is going to be ball because if it's another no, we're just going to have to have a longer list of items to be considered. So, it's unfortunate for sure, but I guess that's currently where we stand. We're not going to it's just it's awful not to to look at this list and
168then to have like clubs and activities just add be bolded next time because don't need to be bold next time. maintenance and then maybe eight more things. But I agree with the the rest of the team to that extent. It's just yeah nice couple questions. Absolutely. So I'm going to out of respect for everyone going to refrain from asking some of the position questions. So I don't want anyone to think that those aren't important to me. But I just don't want to just like townside is doing drive up any uh concern before it's necessary. So I'll ask um clubs and activities. Um and really it I know it's not it's not bolded on this list. Um is there I know a lot of the clubs did not even the fees that we were charging they
169didn't meet the stipen that was being paid. And I know the stipen $12,500 something like that for each club. $1,200. Yeah. Um that depends. Yes. You know, one of the one of the thoughts that I would have is, you know, a club doesn't go unless the stipen is covered. So if you don't have a certain amount of kids sign up, you know, the the club probably shouldn't shouldn't go unless we're we do that, but then people don't tend to check. Say it again. What? So we generally have that rule but then people don't pay. Gotcha. So they can if they're not sorry let me keep going like a ban. So the um the TMS athletic program that 29,000 is that basically stipens or is there a little bit of transportation in there? No, it's um
170it's it's everything. It's everything. What what goes in when you say everything? What goes into that? Because what are stipens for our middle school coaches? Are they about four or five grand? Yeah, there's article 38 specifies roughly what those are. So, it's four or five grand. And I'm just thinking of the of the of the the middle school athletics. You've got baseball, you've got softball, you've got basketball, track. Is there middle school volleyball? Is there middle school soccer team? Cheer. Soccer cheer. I mean, yeah. I mean, right there, that's six we just rattled off. If those are four or 5,000, you're in the 24 to $30,000 range right there. Um, so it it doesn't seem like transportation is eating really much of that. at the TMS paytoplay, it takes the u the amount of revenue
171you get 17 minus the cost of of the coaches, the transport, everything, and the differential is the amount that we can produce 29,000. So if you took out the the coaching stipens, what would be left for CMS athletics? Well, I mean, some of that is paid by the by the paytoplay. So not I mean not much. Well the transport and the coaching is is is most of that but you would you would put the pay to play toward all the transportation. The full cost of it is 46,000 and the amount you collect generally is 46605 roughly and then you collect 17,500 for the differential of 29,000. that amount 46 is the coaches, it's the transports, all of those things. And then um I did put tabs here even though it's not perfect. Um if you
172look on the far right side, clubs, you know, roughly the participation, it's about 672 kids. Those aren't all paying. And then uh and then club this is roughly the cost of those clubs if you consider the stipend being the driving cost of the club and like you said we generally will say you have to have x number of people to run the club you'll actually get written commitments and then only a certain percentage will actually pay um and then there's a tiny you know at the bottom a little differential there that 115 basically comes from there is a set of clubs that we don't charge for because uh you know for instance the transportation club we're not charging kid sure so it's there's things like that that's the differential so you can really if you
173were to eliminate all clubs in which we charge what we pay these advisors for it's 115,000 and if you try to eliminate something that we don't pay it you know that we aren't collecting money for it's a cost avoidance issue because if you don't cover them one way. You have for instance like transportation club if you're not covering them that way you have to cover them somehow because someone has to supervise them and you're better off doing that in a club than the other methodologies doing that. Yeah. So like you cut that, you're basically creating a cost for us because we have to apply more expensive scenarios for that, right? With the um with the concern for the middle school athletics and the freshman athletics, is there any title n concern or are we still
174staying compliant with that? Well, we're we it just cutting freshman flat out means you still have the the JB and you know varsity is but you'll notice that that when we did have that presentation about athletics, the more of those that go, the fewer opportunities there are. I don't think we'll get on the title n bad list, but it's not a great thing. Well, I I can't speak to girls volleyball, but I can certainly speak to freshman baseball and and freshman basketball. There's not enough kids to fill three teams, a freshman, JV, and varsity team. You've got half the kids on each team floating up and down between. Um, so I don't think we would for for baseball and basketball, I don't think we would lose any kids at this point just because there's enough
175u with the two. There's not enough kids for the two teams. They may you may have to not have as many on a team. You have to cut some kids. You have to do cuts because you're right that they go up and down, you know, because there's some kids that may not be quite ready yet. Some may never play another sport after that in high school. You know, it's it's just how that works. But but there is a figure there. I think that came up. What would happen if freshman was reduced? So, I took that figure and I added it to this. So, Not asking any other questions. That's where I'll other question. Sorry. Go ahead. Is there some way you could um when in years where the referendum's failing, is there some sort of
176way to figure out how often how much the board of ed has on average been reduced by sort of after or is that too in the weeks you got to go through each year individually? Well, you uh we can there definitely is numbers like that. There's the superintendent proposed to the board to the action pass. It just takes some time to put it. But one one figure roughly is that if you consider about a 3% maintenance budget, you've probably gotten 5 million less than that 3% of the first 10 years. But I guess J, are you trying to predict what would happen to the budget? Not only that, I'm trying to compare this reduction to years past. So that's number one. The reduction we received from the town council, which still technically isn't official, but
177whatever. um the the reduction we received to vote on tonight, but also the reduction that if it fails, I'm trying to predict, not predict ahead, but trying to use uh real data from years past to figure out where we would end up. So to like Dan's point earlier, you know, would it just be a matter of some of these things in this table three end up just sort of fitting into that whatever number that is that we would get we would get reduced by next. So um that's more so the way I'm asking. curiosity question to figure out, you know, if this doesn't pass, you know, looking ahead because if we're not going to vote on anything, which I don't know, you all, you know, um if we're not voting on anything tonight, the next
178time we meet, we're going to have quite a list to to vote on whether it passes or not. Whether it passes or not, we have a lot to consider here. So the reason for the asking was to try to look ahead and and and try to map out our best scenario our our best case scenario possible. So if that's available, I I'll go I did the comparisons between another town and our town a little while. I'll go I'll go take a look. So you don't have to pull that up. So well we I have I think on the FAQ there is a comparison of us to five other towns that are like us in ter in what sense? I'm looking for the redu if the referendum fails how much the town council on average reduces
179the board by it'll be a similar number and then it tells you that you know out of those similar towns is at the lowest percentage of those five towns Rocky Hill Ellington I don't think you're going to find no but if I go south if I go digging and I do and I average it out I could find it which is why I'm saying don't worry about it you know I I'm just interested I'm curious because I uh I'm curious. That's all. That's all. All right, Randy. The only thing I was going to say just in relation to that is I I feel like the there's this is a different year because of the rebal and that's what is I think in a typical year 3% probably would have just passed but because of the
180rebal and then the movement of the commercial property taxes onto the homeowners and all of these things that have happened I just think it's like a different animal than maybe in years past and that's what people are to some degree. I don't want to speak for anybody, but maybe people are reacting to that's what I've seen a little bit is, hey, my taxes, you're saying you're going up 3%, but my taxes are going up 10 or 12. And that's where I think the rub is a little bit. So, I don't know that pri all I'm saying is based on that, I'm not sure that prior years and what happened if the budget failed is going to be the same response from the town council as it has been in the past. The same reason we
181can't ne if I can the same reason we can't necessarily compare our district to other districts because we all are in different circumstances. I completely agree with completely agree with you more so just curious that's more so what it was it was just out of curiosity trying to trying to trying to map it out. I would love this to pass to be clear. I would love this to pass and let's not cut any more from the kids. You know, that's that's that's my instinct. But but no, I appreciate you. I appreciate the insight here. All right, Katie. Right. So, again, respectfully, if that were the case and people were really that concerned about the reval, I think we would have had a much higher turnout during the referendum. Thanks. Nope. Um, I'm listening. I hear
182what you say. I think uh in light of all the coms that we've had tonight and the questions and still I'm going to move on to the next item of the agenda. Uh what I would ask each of you to do uh is over this next few days take a look spend some time with this table if you have specific questions if there areas where you want more information respectfully uh shoot those in an email get those over to Dr. Well, let's see Jenna myself. Uh because as we've discussed one way or another, this conversation is coming and it's coming quickly. So, let's just make sure that the information we feel we need and you've all made incredibly valid points that we had at that point. I just piggyback on your statement. Is it possible
183to get like 10 other um items that maybe choices move around? Keep that request. 10 or 15. You want me to email? Send that an email uh CCF and and we'll make that happen. I think that'd be easier than just having this and this is what there's not really a choice. Understood. Thank you. Okay. So, moving on then item N1 uh which is board action the secondary contract. I will entertain uh the motion I believe and this is printed here. I can put it up. Motion read. Motion to accept the bargaining union agreement. Go ahead. I apologize. That's all right. Motion to accept the bargaining unit agreement between the board of education and the Talon clerical employees extending from July 1st, 2025 through June 30th, 2028. Thank you. Second. Second. Yeah. Okay. Discussion. We have
184any discussion on the motion? Okay. Hearing none. Rainy abstain. Brian. No. Dan. Hi. Bill. Hi. Lemon. Hi, Jen. Hi, Jaden. Hi, Katie. I Dana. Hi. All right, Dr. Will. Will that motion passes? Negotiations committee. Thank you for all the hard work. All right. Item N2, board action, conversation to cancel the July 23rd board of education meeting. Do I have a second? Um, discussion. Sure. Just to clarify, please can you clarify which dates? Uh, so if this passes, both of the July meeting dates will be cancelled. We will still have the June and the June and one June and one August or one June and two August. Two June and two August. Oh, I thought we got rid of one June. We got rid of July and July. Oh, one July. And this is the second
185shot. Any other questions, comments? Okay, I run. No deni Bill. No, no Jen. Hi. Jade. Hi. Katie. Hi Dana. Hi. What was that? Please repeat. Dana, we had some back. Hi. Okay. Thank you, Dr. Willlet. Motion passes. We knocked off. We knocked off the second. Okay. Get back up here to my agenda. You only have six minutes. Public participation. Please. Items should be limited to the items on this agenda. If you are in the room or online, feel free raise your hand and be recognized. Point of information. Anybody from the board like to speak? just uh the co-eing um I want to just compliment uh Miss Dier and lock here. I forgot to mention that they were teachers that were the co-eing teachers for the construction. So they did an amazing job. I apologize I
186forgot to mention them by name. Excellent. Anybody else you'd like to speak? All right, Dr. Will it future summer? We won't be. All right. Thank you all. Motion to move. Second. Discussion. Rainey. Hi. Ryan. Hi. Dan. Hi. Bill. Hi. Hi. Jen. Hi. Jaden. Hi. Katie. Hi. Dana. Hi. Thank you all. Have a great night.