Torrington Board of Education Building Committee Meeting

001education at 5:30 p.m. I appreciate everybody being willing to join us virtually. Um, when we cancel school, it can be difficult to do evening activities. Can everybody hear me? Okay. I haven't used this laptop for this in a while. Okay. Um, all right. So, then I will start us off uh I guess with the pledge of allegiance. Um, it's a little bit funny to do it remotely, but it's on the agenda and well, we all love America. Uh, so pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. Um, we have next the roll call. Um, Marissa, do >> I have the Sorry, I didn't see everybody. Yeah, Kristen, do you want

002to just uh mark it off instead of calling out everybody? Uh, absolutely. >> Okay, perfect. Um, for what it's worth, uh, we have all the administrators and most of the board of ed and the roll call will be published in the minutes. Um, we next have the approval of the agenda. It looks good to me. Is there anything anybody's looking to add? Uh, if not, uh, I'll hear a motion to approve the agenda. Were we doing recognitions tonight or are we going to pass by the recognitions and modify the agenda for that? >> No, we said yes recognitions are going to be pushed, right? >> Yeah. So, we just we do need to modify our agenda for that. That's right. So, I'll hear a motion uh with that amendment. Um they are going to they're

003just going to be pushed. They're not canceled. So, we will recognize those students and employees uh at the March meeting. >> We probably don't have the student representatives with us as well. We can probably push those as well. >> That's right. I'll so move to those amendments. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Uh any further discussion, amendments, changes? >> Who is the uh who is the second on that? >> Patrick. >> I'm sorry, >> Patrick, sorry about that. >> Uh all those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. Our agenda is adopted. Um, school community service and public participation. Do we have anybody? No. Okay. Um, there was a letter received. Um, it's kind of lengthy, but it's also the only thing we received. They did ask that

004I read into the record. I don't really love reading long letters into the record, but um you know at request uh we will do so. So um the board members have probably received this and read it, but bear with me. Um this is from the department heads at Torington High School. All of them with the exception I believe of the history department. Uh, I did get a list um to the Toan Board of Education and Superintendent Wilson. As department heads of Torington High School, we're committed to supporting the continued academic growth, well-being, and success of our students. For that reason, we respectfully urge the district to maintain the position of a third assistant principal rather than replacing it with a disciplinary dean. This role provides an essential and irreplaceable leadership capacity that supports teachers, strengthens

005school climate, and advances student learning. Torington High School currently serves more than 90 certified staff members across 10 academic departments, each with unique curricular and instructional needs. In addition, excuse me, the high school serves four grade levels and faces significant organizational complexity, including graduation requirement verification, credit monitoring, post-secary planning, and increasingly complex social and behavioral needs among students. These needs are best served by a unified administrative team as we have seen and experienced with the structure currently in place. For the past decade, ths has operated with three assistant principles and we have seen meaningful progress in both student outcomes and school culture. Over the past four years in particular, the administrative team has worked collaboratively to develop systems that support teacher growth and student engagement initiatives such as the MTSS framework, new teacher workshops, instructional

006rounds, uh, aspiring administrator workshops, and student centered programs like Eday and student focus groups have strengthened our professional culture and improved our ability to meet student needs. Many of these initiatives have been heralded by the district as models to support school culture and student growth. Test scores and disciplinary data have shown the success of the work through this leadership structure. Maintaining the third AP would help sustain the progress the district has made in strengthening instruction, supporting teachers, and improving student outcomes. This year, we've seen the impact of operating without a full administrative team. Having been down one assistant principal all year, THS has functioned with reduced leadership capacity. While administrators and staff have worked hard to maintain momentum, the effects have been noticeable. Meetings have been delayed or rescheduled. Evaluation responsibilities have stretched administrators thin

007and time for classroom visits and instructional support has been reduced. These challenges directly affect school climate, teacher development, and student success. While the proposed dean position may address some disciplinary needs, it cannot replace the leadership capacity of a third AP. Consider the broader context. Torington Intermediate School serves three grades and is staffed by a principal and two assistant principles. The high school serves an additional grade level and faces substantially greater academic and organizational complexity. A few years ago, ths operated with three assistant principles and a dean. The dean position was eliminated. Replacing an assistant principal with a dean now seems like a step backward while maintaining three assistant principles is equitable, reasonable, and necessary. Uh, educational research reinforces the importance of assistant principles. A 2021 qualitative grounded theory study conducted at Old Dominion University found

008that APs serve as content focused instructional leaders who supervise instruction, support teacher growth, and help shape the teaching and learning process within high schools. Positioned between teachers and the principal, assistant principles serve as a critical link in supporting curriculum, professional growth, and school improvement efforts. A dean may provide operational support, but is not positioned to provide the same depth and breadth of student and teacher supervision as an AP. For example, deans may assist with lower level behavioral issues, but the role does not carry the authority to process higher level discipline and does not include the instructional leadership responsibilities of an assistant principal. As a result, the administrative team would still manage the most complex disciplinary matters while losing important leadership capacity. This suggested position is not a lateral replacement for the instructional and behavioral leadership

009provided by an assistant principal. To be frank, a dean cannot provide us as provide as much bang for the buck as an AP. On the contrary, maintaining the third assistant principal strengthens the district's overall leadership capacity. Assistant principles gain experience working across departments, supporting school improvement efforts, and sharing administrative responsibilities. This strengthens the district's leadership team creates a broader pipeline of experienced administrators. Creating, excuse me, uh assistant principles also help advance district initiatives such as the portrait of a graduate working alongside teachers to ensure its competencies are embedded in classroom instruction and student learning experiences. Turn public schools have built meaningful momentum in recent years through intentional systems, strong leadership, and visible administrative support. Maintaining the third assistant principal position at Torington High School preserves this leadership capacity. We respectfully urge the district to preserve

010this position so that Toan High School can continue supporting students, strengthening teachers, and advancing the broader goals of Torington public schools. Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration. Uh and again, that that's a it's a list of the department heads. Um I can read them out if anybody cares for that. This was sent in by Matthew Grenfell who is the uh math department head but um again it was sort of all of them. So uh now that we have gone through that uh there was no one else on let me just get back to the agenda. So we have um the superintendent's report. Take it away Mr. Wilson. >> Good evening. I just wanted to first uh recognize and give a shout out to our boys and girls basketball teams for making the state

011tournament this year. That is no easy feat. So, we wish them the best of luck. Um I wanted to do a congratulatory message to all of those who participated in the Frozen Junior production. Uh it was a wonderful performance by all and those are not easy to do. Our students are very talented. It takes a lot of time, effort, and energy from both our students and our staff to put on such a wonderful performance. Um, and that was a good one is what I was told. Um, our staff and students celebrated our 100th day of school this past month and I know they had quite a bit of fun doing it and it was broadcast on the several different Facebook pages for the representative schools that did that. uh tomorrow if any board member would

012like to come and cheer me on. Uh I am going to be participating in the student faculty basketball game at the middle school tomorrow. So I'm looking forward to that. That should be a fun day, a fun afternoon, I should say. Uh last week I had a great time reading to Mrs. Lopez's kindergarten class. For anyone who's seen the pictures on Facebook, it was a wonderful, wonderful day. The kindergarteners and I had a great time reading. I don't know who had more fun. Um but definitely it was a blast for me. Um as we all know uh mother nature has not been kind. Uh definitely does not like us does not like the northwest corner apparently but maybe the state. I don't know. But with today's closure, we are now at June 22nd uh for

013our last day of school. Uh I wanted to make it known that we will allow for an additional two snow days. Hopefully we don't have to use them. hopefully that this was the last storm, but that would push us till June 24th. But in the unfortunate event that we have to go past that, we will have to look at taking days away from April break. So, I wanted just to kind of make that public service announcement. Hopefully, we don't have to do that. Hopefully, this does not come to fruition and hopefully that the storms are behind us. I know Mr. Pragola feels the same. I know everyone I think on the call feels the same, but I wanted to just make that aware. And as always, uh, my cabinet and I have been around to

014each, uh, and every one of the buildings, and we want to give, uh, thanks to all of our students, teachers, administrators, and the entire staff for their hard work and dedication that they do each and every single day. We couldn't be prouder of that work. Uh, and that is my report for this evening. >> Thank you, Mr. Wilson. Does anyone have questions for the superintendent's report? Just Dean's going to be the coach on the other side. >> I don't think Mr. Pgola was actually asked to participate, Mr. Putnham. I I think they know that he's past his prime. So, I don't know. We'll see. >> Shot of winning then. All right. We'll let it go then. [laughter] >> All right. Um, we next have human resources. It's all yours, Kim. >> Good evening. So, you

015have the board report uh in in your packet. Um, our vacancies continue to be about where we were trending at this time last year. We actually have one more certified opening and one less classified uh, vacancy. So, we're right in the same uh, wheelhouse with that. Our sub rates and our absences continue to be our success story for the year. We are trending once again. Our year-to-ate numbers for our subfill rates are 88% for teachers and 68% for paras. For context, we were at 68% year-to date for teachers and 41% for paras at this time last year. So significantly better. And then with the absences, same thing. This time last year for teachers, we were right around the same percentage, but for paras we were at 11.3 year to date. So we are two percentage

016points less for Paris. So our bill rates for teachers are at 88% with our absences trending right around where they were, which 7.6 six is a reasonable number. So that's [clears throat] really a huge success story for us. Um with respect to our ESS percentage, just to give you context on that, um you can see that of our jobs that we've filled, 33% were filled by Torington employees and last year it was 38.4% at this time and for paras it's 14.6% and at this time last year it was 22.5%. So what that tells us is that ESS is definitely continuing to build the pool and provide us with more substitutes um to be able to meet our needs which is helping to drive that number um for the 88%. Um our turnover uh numbers again

017very much in line with where we were actually a little bit better. So uh all of our numbers are slightly lower than where they were at this time last year. So um so we're seeing just positive results all around with our HR information. Um what I did also provide for all of you at Miss Cleo's request was some information about substitute retention. I know at the last board meeting had asked about um some substitutes that we had lost to Oliver Wilkott. I did find out that they are paying more on their daily rate. So that is really the driver of why we might lose people to Oliver Wilcut. Um they do have less needs. So there might not be as much opportunity to work. So that is kind of the the catch 22 on that.

018But that is the driver as to why we might lose people to Oliver Wook because their rate that they pay for the Connecticut Technical System is higher than our rate. Um but what you do have is some information that ESS did provide for us just to kind of talk about what they're doing. Um and just some highlights of what they've provided. Um, if you look at the bottom right of the first page of their report, it says that 12 ESS substitutes have been hired by Torington Public Schools. So, what that tells us is that the substitutes that are being hired by ESS are quality subs that we are then converting into Torington Public Schools employees. So, we've been very pleased with that. Um, on the next page where you can see retention and incentives, you

019can see some of the things that ESS is doing to retain the subs. um because I know that was Miss Cleo's question. So, I just wanted to share some of those pieces of information that they do with the raffles and their um extra pay for Fridays and their surveys and things that they're offering and their referral bonuses. So, that's some other good information. And then on their pipelines and recruiting, I just wanted to share where they are out and about continuing to recruit for us um and find quality candidates for us. And then I did want to give you a comparison of the fill rates by districts and the pay rates. Um, obviously they can't give us specific districts, but they gave it to us by county. And you can see that our teacher substitute

020pay rate that we have. Um, which just for your context, we're paying 135 a day for our daily subs and 145 a day for building subs and certified subs. So that's what our rates are. And you can see on this um chart that they've provided that we are very competitive with our rate. The the few districts that are paying more than us are not necessarily all in our geographic area. So I do think that that is helping to drive our numbers as well. And then our rates of pay for our parah subs we're at 1750 an hour. So that you can see that we are also competitive there. There are a few more districts that are paying a little bit higher on the PAR rate, but still we are very competitive with that. And then

021there are some photos just of some of the events that they've attended. And that is it for my report. I'm happy to answer any questions. >> Great. Um I just have one really quickly and then I think Miss Cleo probably had some I saw you on mute. Um, just I'm looking at it and I feel kind of dumb, but I don't see the bit about uh the technical system. What's what's the technical system paying versus us? >> Yeah. So, because they're not ESS, they're not on their chart, but they they're at 155. >> Okay. >> I researched it and I found out what they were at when I looked into it for Miss Cleo's question and they're at 155. >> Okay, cool. Thank you. Uh, Miss Cleo, it's all yours. >> Thank you. Can you

022hear me? Okay. Yes. >> Okay. Thank you, Michel, for getting all of that information. Um I think I was looking for why why we were losing um our good people and you mentioned last board that you were unsure why we lost them. This was the first that you were hearing it and I think um it was either you or Ed that mentioned exit interviews. Um, so I understand that there is a little bit of a pay difference at Oliver Wilcut and I know that we aren't allowed to speak of specific personnel and I won't be doing that tonight. Um, but I just want to go on the record of saying I I know there are qualified subs who used to be subsist who have applied who have either stopped being called or never received a

023call back. Can you possibly respond to that? Um, if you could, you know, maybe not in this forum, but if you want to provide me with some information, I can, but I wouldn't. The only explanation I could have if they're not being called is that their areas that they're looking for might not align with with what it is, but without having specific information, I couldn't really tell you why somebody might not be called. Cuz if they were taken off the list, they would have been notified that they were taken off the list. >> Yeah, that's not happening. That's that's one of my concerns. It's not happening. They're just um no exit interview, just no calls, and they're not sure why. So, the exit interview I, you know, I can't answer that because that would be

024an ESS thing, but what I can tell you for sure is that ESS has no record of people resigning to go to Oliver Wool. So, my guess is >> these are our people. These are our people, not ESS people. >> Okay. I'm not you're they're substitutes. So, so we would need to get a little bit more information and and I can certainly get that from you if you want to send that to me so that we can find out. But um I I do send the exit survey to people who officially resign, but if they didn't officially resign, I you know, I don't know what that might be. So I'm happy to look further into that if you want to provide me with some information off of. >> Okay. And um is it is it

025your job to decide building subs or the building principles? >> Building principles hire the building subs. They would they would go through my office for onboarding, but they make the recommendation. And then whose job is it to get back to them >> on if they've been selected? >> Yes. >> Well, they would be hired by my office. >> Okay. >> They were recommended they'd be hired by my office. >> Okay. So, I think there's a breakdown. Maybe you and I can talk about that later to >> get, you know, get even more qualified people who used to be in the district who just kind of were thrown by the wayside. >> Okay. Thank you. I appreciate you doing all that um data and following through. >> Sure. Thank you. >> Anyone else? Okay. Uh thank

026you, Kim. Uh it's Dr. Baker. It's all yours for the special education report. >> Good evening. Um in the report that you guys have in front of you, it is for our February numbers as of February 1st. You can see in each of the categories um starting the overall number in district and outplace we are up 15 students new to our district. In our district that are only K through 12 students we were up by 13 students. Our in district prevalence rate is still on track um only up by.3%. Uh the indist prek students have gone up by three more students. Our in district 18 to 22, the Torington Transition Academy is up by two more students. We're at 13. Our continued outplacement for the 18 to 22 year old students has remained steady at

027three of those students. Our currently outplaced by PPT, K through 12, is down two students, down to 66. Our agency place students by DCF or a core placement is down to five students. And our magnet parent choice and our VOAG programs is up by one student at 40 for this month. Our 504 students have increased from the 335 students. We are increased by six students and currently at 341 students. Those are the February numbers and I don't mind answering questions. >> Anyone have anything for Dr. Baker? Uh, go ahead. >> We had talked about maybe getting a trend line versus the state uh versus the state average at one point. Any chance we could get that at some point in the next maybe next month's meeting? Just a where we've been over the last few

028years versus the state average. I know that a lot of people are identifying more people. We do it internally based on the the three and four year olds. I mean, all normal stuff, but just to kind of track how we're doing versus the state average multi-year period. >> Totally. meaning the prevalence rate or the number of students identified. Okay. >> Well, I would go with the pre I go with the prevalence rate. I mean our our student body shifts. We've had a increase in the number of students but a decrease in um number of students in district. So >> how they [clears throat] go with the percentage? Yeah. >> Yep. Absolutely. I can do that. >> Thank you. Anyone else for Dr. Baker? Okay. Thank you. Um Sue, you are up for office of teaching

029and learning. >> Okay. Hi everybody. Can you hear me? Yeah. Okay. All right. Good evening. Um, so spring testing, the spring testing window has opened. Um, we are busy administering the loss testing at the moment. And to be honest, with all the weather interruptions, it's been a challenge, but we will get it done. And believe it or not, in just a few weeks, we're going to be starting ESPA testing. Um, everybody's favorite. Stay tuned for more on that as the time gets closer. During this month's PLC session, which was last week, the teachers engaged in a continuation of our uh year-long PD on high quality instruction. Our math teachers focused on the instructional strategies that support productive student discourse. They also focused on task analysis. Um, in other words, looking at the tasks that we

030are assigning our kids and ensuring that the tasks are demanding enough. Our humanities folks continued the work around what high quality assessment looks like and also work to build a shared understanding of cognitive demand um in task selection. So again, are we asking enough of our kids? on March 23rd. So just in a few weeks, our alliance reps from the state will be visiting. The format of the meeting uh which is the monitoring meeting this year is very different from in years past. This year they're focusing on only one school. They've chosen the middle school. Uh we've been instructed to assemble a team of teachers and administrators. The meeting, we're told, will last approximately 3 hours, and the focus will be to demonstrate where the school is in the cycle of continuous improvement. On the

031agenda for discussion will be student achievement, chronic absenteeism, instructional quality, and progress toward our alliance goals. The state reps will accompany us on a walkthrough of the school, and there will be time afterwards to debrief. So, there's quite a bit of pre-work, as you might imagine, leading up to this meeting. Uh, and we will be sending all of our documents, all of our completed paperwork to the state this Friday for their review in advance of the meeting at the end of March. We will be sure to update you all after the meeting, um, probably at the April board meeting. And that's all I have for tonight. If anybody has any questions, >> great. Thank you. Anyone have any questions for Sue? No. Okay. Uh, next up we have Kristen with the Food Service Report. >>

032Good evening everyone. Can you hear me? >> Okay, perfect. Um, so food service is operating um, right on track. Um, I did our halfway report financially and we are exactly where we need to be. Um, for our forecasting for the remainder of the year. We have currently one vacancy and if we stop having snow days, I'll be able to get the plenty of applicants that we've had in to do interviews and fill that position. Um, but right now we're really gearing up getting ready for next year. I'm part of the executive committee for our purchasing co-op which we just formed. It is called Raft and we are going to be going through the process of creating the bids for next year for all of our new products we'll be bringing into the cafeteria. So, it's

033kind of an exciting time for food service. Um, another positive thing that has happened, we were also given more um funding from the state for local foods. So, all good things happening. >> Great. Thank you. Um, real quick, who else is involved with the purchasing co-op? >> So, it is at Advance Craig, um, Torington. There is a woman from Simsbury. I'm trying to think where the other members are from. The other two smaller districts. Um, we make up the executive committee and then there are currently 27 other members of the co-op and hopefully we'll keep growing next year so it makes the cost even better for us. >> Perfect. And that's uh like unified purchasing for like suppliers, right? So you're going to put out to bid like food. >> Yep. It's um dairy which

034is the milk supplies. So, our paper products and then food and ice cream and produce. >> Great. That's all I have. Does anyone else have questions for Kristen? >> Yeah. >> Uh, just a quick question. Is that state funding in addition to what you talked about a few months ago when we had we had the whole meeting about the e the purchase local, the locally grown things? Are we supporting the the purchase local with that extra money or is that already in, you know, in in the account and already accounted for? >> That's more money going towards our local purchasing. Yep. >> Did you get a feel for what percentage of local purchasing we were going to get up to? Last time you were really excited about the upcoming increases in percentage of purchase local.

035>> Yeah, I can tell you um right now it's really kind of a low um for us as far as purchasing locally. We do give them a big bump in purchasing ground beef which obviously costs quite a bit but um with all the funding we're able able to do that. I would say I can get the exact number for you but my goal is to be between 30 and 40% purchasing locally for produce. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, we're doing a really great job. >> Thank you. That's really exciting. Actually, I didn't I didn't think that we were going to get that high for the local food, so that's really good news. >> Yeah. >> Anyone else have anything, >> Kristen? Okay. Thank you. Um, liaison reports are next on our agenda. You have them

036in the packet. They are available to the public in the packet. You received them to your emails. Uh, and the only site administrator who's here is Mr. Scott. So, if he wants to add anything for the high school, uh, he can, but he doesn't have to. And otherwise, uh, we will move on to the monthly financials. Donna, tell us a little bit about those. >> Hello everybody. I'm going to piggyback on Kristen and just let everybody know that we're in good standing with our budget. Everyone's received the the budget up to January 31st, 2026, and we're right where we need to be, where we are in the fiscal year. Uh we went over a few line items in the budget committee, some over, some under, and we're still, you know, cleaning it up. Um but

037for the most part, we are in wonderful shape. I didn't know if anyone had any questions. >> Questions related to the monthly financials. Hearing none. Uh I will hear a motion to approve those. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Great. Uh, any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Okay. Any opposed? Those are approved. Thank you. >> I don't think you can hear me at all, can you? >> Now we can. You might have been muted for a bit. I could hear you earlier, too. >> Jesus, I've been fighting this thing. All right, never mind. Carry on. >> Okay. Uh, we now have the committee reports. Mr. Kisco, if you want to start us off with the school improvement committee. School improvement committee met at the beginning of

038this month and heard a report on the middle school. all is well. And we discussed uh the possibility of of an ad hoc committee to further look into policies and and other district uh other other district uh intervention if you will uh into uh artificial intelligence in the Torington schools. This coming month is Fast Academy, uh, a new new, uh, thing to the Torington public schools, and Kristen and I will be visiting on Friday morning, Friday morning at 10:00, and we will hear that report at the committee meeting at the beginning of the month. And Mrs. Ferguson, do you have anything else planned for the uh, the agenda? >> Any courses, for instance, or any visitors? I haven't received any new course proposals for this month and I do have an email out to the

039gentleman uh that you sent to me earlier. Uh so waiting to hear back from him. >> Okay. >> The community guy. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So I guess that's the report questions. >> Was that the Western Connecticut coalition? >> Yeah, >> that was right. That was something you had forwarded from uh >> people you are in touch with. >> Okay. I know him so I will bother him to get back to you to set that up. >> Uh anyone else have anything for >> Oh, you don't have to bother him. I literally just sent it. So give the guy 24 hours. >> Okay. Okay. >> Anyone else have anything? Okay. Thank you, John. We have the policy committee next. Who wants to take that? Kristen, you usually do if Gary's not here. >> Yeah, sorry.

040Gary's dealing with a emergency right now. Um, so [clears throat] we had um some discussions um regarding uh the use of AI and computers in schools. Um we did hear some wonderful feedback from um some of our staff members. Um we had a nice panel and they um you know contributed. Um however um we um didn't really come to any sort of understanding quite yet. So more discussions to come. Um as well as we started to look at the student dress code, although I was shut down pretty quickly on that one. Um but I'm not giving up. So more to come on that hopefully. >> Thank you. And I thought we had we do have an AI ad hoc committee discussion further down our agenda as well. Um so we will continue on this journey.

041Does anyone else have anything related to the policy committee? [snorts] Okay. Um oh lost my agenda. There it is. Uh, we have facilities and technology next, Mr. Cronin. >> Yeah, facilities and technology. We met last week. Um, we went over the expiring contracts, which we'll be voting on later. Um, we went over the solar, we had a solar update, and Dean went over his project updates. And then the technology side we um social media is strong. Social media is strong and we put in uh new security at the fast academy. It's about it. >> Great. Anyone have any questions for that? A lot of that stuff is further down the agenda as well. Okay. Thank you. Uh budget committee, Mr. been >> uh yeah, we had a good meeting. We had the presentation from central

042office on this year's budget presentation that was shared with the group a few weeks ago and then again publicly. Uh so we've got some started work on that a little bit. Donna did her annual monthly presentation, went through all the details, answered my litany of questions as usual. Um things are going well in that department. We've scheduled follow-up meetings for the budget and just had a general discussion about, you know, what was going to be reasonable to go to the city with. It's going to be a tight year as it always is in this city. Um so we have a couple of those things to discuss, but otherwise things were in pretty good shape and uh we're going to march on forward towards next year's budget. >> Great. Thank you. Um any questions for the

043budget committee? Okay. Thank you. Uh and the building committee, they've met I think since we last met. Mr. Wilson, you wanted to say something for that? >> I just received the hot off the pressed information from Mario. So, I will gladly read it in if you'd like. Um, punch list work continues inside. The auto lift was uh relocated uh last Thursday. The shop teacher was present for the relocation. The autolift electrical will be done this Saturday, which is great news. Uh, as will the outlet for the game cameras in the high school gymnasium. Those are the huddle cameras uh when they do the online broadcast for anyone who wanted to know why there's the cameras there. Balancing the balancing uh in the gym is ongoing. There are some floor repairs minor in the school gym

044that will need to be done once the balancing is all done. Uh outside work has no changes at the moment. Um and the mayor has appointed a building committee for the concession/bs storage building. uh tentative bids should go out when the next uh within the next week and there will be a three-week bid period when bids will be open and the mayor is hoping to have a low bidder approved at their April 6th city council meeting. So that is hot off the press information from Mr. Long and Buuko, >> right? Uh I do have one thing. Uh so we've talked about this a little bit like when it comes up when we have to visit central office and stuff. Where are we at? uh on like the access control stuff for the elevator over there

045for when the board has to come in for meetings, guests, etc. >> So, I can definitely hand this one over to Rachel. Rachel has been uh persistent is not a strong enough word. Um she has been beyonding at this point. Um and she has been working with OMG and she's been working with the elevator contractor. Um and I know Rachel can speak to that as terms of time frame. I know she was originally looking for April break uh but I believe and I don't want to speak for Rachel that the company could not guarantee that work would have been done uh in one week so that it had to be pushed till uh once we get out of school. But Rachel, if there's any more info that you can share, I don't want to definitely

046don't want to steal your thunder, but Rachel has been working tirelessly on this one. >> Yeah, so you pretty much got it, Michael. Um, I basically said, you know, if we can't have this elevator in a functioning state by the end of April break, then it's going to have to wait till the summer because that really is our main entry and exit to central office. Um, the staircases at this point are only for emergency purposes. Um, as well as the pass through to the fourth floor, um, where the classrooms are. So um it's really important that we have that elevator you know working for our daily operations. Um so I made it clear that you know if any of the vendors felt that you know they couldn't guarantee that the work would be complete and

047we would be operational for the following week um that it would need to be pushed back. Um so that's kind of where we're at right now. >> Great. Thank you. I appreciate your work on that. I I actually am interested over in the staircase thing. Um uh you know recognizing of course that we need we want the elevator to be available for anybody who wants or needs it. Is there some kind of access issue like access control issue with the stairs that make them only available for emergency use or are you just saying that they're generally not well used but they are available? >> So um our staircase connects to the rest of the building. Um, so in an effort to keep our schools secure, uh, we do close off the staircases for emergencies only,

048um, if we were to have guests of some kind in central office, uh, we don't allow them to have access to the stairs because it does lead to other parts of the school. um as does the elevator, which is why we're in this predicament at this moment of, you know, having the elevator programmed properly to ensure that the um public can only reach central office and then exit without having to enter the building. >> But you you guys have access to the stairs. Like if you want to take the stairs to your office in the morning, you can. >> Right. Right. And they're they're always open for emergency purposes. Um, so it's not like they're they're locked to the point where, you know, it would be um like a safety hazard. >> Okay, great. That's

049all I had related to the building committee. Jeff, >> if I may add, uh, [clears throat] Glenn may have something to add to, but Glen, Gary, and myself probably beat up the building committee and Slam and OG a little bit about this access control issue at the last meeting because there's a sizable change order associated with it. >> And this goes way back to the beginning um, as to when this was all talked about. So, just for the group's information, there is a disgruntled group of us who are about this $50,000 change order that's been passed through. So, they're supposed to go back to the B drawing board a bit on the cost. It did obviously it's been approved. It's moving forward, but there is a sizable cost with this and Slim and everybody knew

050about this way back in the beginning. Glenn, am I missing anything there? >> No, you're right. Um, but the the change order they're requesting is not just the elevator. Um they're putting some delayed egress locks on the stairwell and those doors at the end which was also brought to their attention long ago that hey someone comes off the elevator they don't have the same I don't want to talk about and go into too much detail but the that change order is just not the elevator. There's other stuff that I guess someone requested at some point. Um they're putting a door contact on that stairwell door that you're talking about um and so forth. the camera is that couple cameras added somewhere. So the 50,000 is above and beyond or in addition to just the elevator

051card reader. Now our problem was that the sequence of operations specified in the bid requirements says hey it's supposed to work this way and I don't even know why the architect nor the security consultant doesn't take ownership of it not working the way it was specified or designed. It shouldn't be our problem. But apparently it is >> even if it was just for the elevator programming part that was a 10% of that bill just on the elevator vendor. So neither here nor there but you asked for the update and there was a sizable enough discussion we thought the group should know about it. >> Yeah. No thank you. I mean uh you know if they were required to do it in the bidspec um then I agree with Glenn that we shouldn't have to pay

052for it. Even if we have to pay them now and then you know sue them later. I'm really ambivalent to that at this point. I I feel like there have been enough petty problems um with this project that if we lump them all together, it would be well worth the legal bills. Now, the project overall, don't get me wrong, was fine, but there have been a lot of petty issues that have cost us little chunks of change here and there that add up. Um this is one of them. And it's frustrating. Um I know it's frustrating for us when we have to get in there. I can imagine it's frustrating for all of you guys who have to be there every day. Uh, granted that you know, you may have the access cards, but the

053people you're meeting with do not. Um, all right. Well, thank you for that discussion. Does anyone else have anything to bring up related to the building committee? Okay. Um, we next have the board of education minutes. Um, so I will hear motion to approve the board of education regular meeting minutes from January 28th, 2026. Anyone? >> So moved to kiss. >> Is there a second? >> Second. Okay. And that was that was Jo. Okay. Second by Joe. Uh any discussion, additions, deletions, amendments? Hearing none. All those in favor, please say I or raise your hand. >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay, those amendments are approved. [clears throat] We next have the special meeting minutes. Uh and barring objection, I will hear one motion to approve the special meeting minutes from January 27th, February uh 3rd,

054February 10th at 6 p.m. and February 10th at 7:30. >> So move. >> Is there a second? >> Second. Was the first one Glenn or Joe? >> It was Glenn. >> Glenn. >> Okay. Any adjustments to those? Any discussion here? None. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Okay, those are approved. Uh, we next have the subcommittee meeting minutes. Um, as long as there is no objection, I would hear a motion to approve them all together. So that's facilities and technology and budget on January 14th, school improvement and policy on January 7th, and building committee on January 15th. >> So moved by them. >> Is there a second? >> Second, Kesco. >> Okay. Any amendments to those minutes? Well, I mean, okay, hearing none. All those in favor, please say I.

055>> Opposed? >> Those are approved. Uh we next have the consent agenda. So I will hear a motion to receive the consent agenda. >> So moved to Kusk. >> Is there a second? >> Second burger. >> Thank you. >> Any discussion hearing? Hearing none. All those in favor please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? That is done. Okay. We now are on to the new business. We have field trips. Um Sue, are you telling us about the field trips? >> I sure can. I know that Paulina Kaki is I think on the call to speak about the trip to Boston. Um Brian Scott is also here. So Brian, please feel free to jump in. The one that Emily Murphy submitted, which I think is the first in the packet, is the Museum of Modern

056Art. Um that's the trip that goes annually. So every year the kids go on this trip. Um, and I know she has been to board meetings before to speak to the beauty of literally the beauty of this trip. Um, Brian, I don't know if you have anything that you want to add. This is a trip that the board has always supported. >> Yeah, it's just a great opportunity for the kids to to go in um and see some amazing artwork. Um, but you're correct. It it's the same trip we do we have the art department do every year. And then the I don't know do you want to just jump on to Paulina's the the this is a new request I believe Paulina the trip to Boston that you have proposed. You want to talk

057about it a little bit? >> Sure. Yeah, we were going to do it last year but because I went on maternity leave we didn't have enough time to like put it together but >> um so I reached out to a few places just to see like what was doable in one day. Um, we kind of just want to take the students out for an experience where they would get to learn more about like the history topics. We have a lot of students doing a lot of unique history topics this year for National History Day, which is something the TAG program participates in, you know, every year. So, we have the upcoming competition on March 14th at the intermediate school. Um, the intermediate school is hosting the history day this year. So, I thought going to

058a freedom trail and seeing all the different landmarks would be a nice kind of addition um for the for the students to learn more about different history like the Boston Tea Party and some of the topics students have chosen this year to study. And in addition uh we could just fit in a trip to the aquarium. We've done a lot um with like animals in the past, so I thought it would be just great for the sixth, seventh, and eighth graders to kind of get both of those experiences in one day if we're already going out to Boston. And I did ask Michael Klein for one another certified teacher if it was possible to send me since we would have sixth, seven, eighth grade and he did agree. Um, so Miss Archark who's a sixth

059grade teacher in intermediate school has offered to go. I know it's out of school hours. It's like 6 to 6 and she says no problem with her. So in addition, I would just have to find four more like parent um chaperones which we've had good luck in the past finding really good ones from our tag parents. >> Thanks. Anyone have questions? Anything to add? Okay, these both seem like worthy trips to me. Um, so I will hear a motion. They are listed as one agenda item. So as long as there's no objection for expedience, I would hear a motion to approve both. >> And just one more thing on the tag one. It's a tag in NJS NJHS, but it's just tag. We do have NJHS students in the groups. maybe got mixed up with

060another uh proposal we were planning before, but it's just tag students sixth, seventh, and eighth grade. >> Okay. All right. So, uh I would hear a motion to approve them together with the caveat that it's just a tag trip to Boston. >> So, move to Krisco. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Seconded [clears throat] by Miss Conway. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor, please raise your hands or say I. >> Any opposed? Okay, those are approved. Thank you for that. Um, >> Paulina, >> yes. Thank you for telling us about it. Um, okay. Contract renewals. These are also one batch. Um, Dean, do you want to start with those or is that going to be Mr. Wilson, who wants to tell us about these contract renewals? >> Uh, I could

061do it. Um, so the first one, Innovation Playground Services, um, you have in your packet. They had to adjust um the name. Uh, we still had um, Avenue on there. So, they adjusted the name. You should see that in your packet for our playground services, which they're doing the inspections of our playgrounds. Um the next one is Yale Pest Control. That's we've been using for years. Um the the number C is Hussy Advantage. In your package, you'll see a um a um proposal that uh we had, but I did I included the wrong one. At the facilities meeting, my apologies. we put in the correct one that shows the high school uh 50 major Bessie Drive um um both high school middle school uh inspection only uh not maintenance. So you'll see a change in

062that from the facilities meaning uh that is included in the packet. Also um the Jesperson contract we're still waiting to hear back from our uh from the lawyer on that whether a an extension is acceptable with that. Um um so that takes care of those contract renewals. >> Was there was there a fourth one or did we cover all four? >> Well, we have a solar project. That's not really a contract renewal. I didn't know if we should just do contract renewals first. >> Oh, yeah. I see. We did we did do all those. Okay. So, um >> it was four. Yep. >> Yeah. Any questions for members of the board related to that? Um, so I'd be seeing a a motion for the first three innovative playground services, Yale Pest Control and Hussy Advantage,

063but not for the Jaspersonson contract. Um, I also bothered the board's legal council about this today. Um, frankly, they've been a little bit slow lately. Um so we will update you when we know but in the meantime if there is no further questioning for this um I would hear Oh >> I just have a a question. >> So is the proposal in the packet the incorrect one? Is this the one we're approving? >> For uh for which for which uh for which we talking about? >> We're talking about the the Hussy Advantage. >> The Hussy Advantage. Yeah. the the one that says uh it says the um it is the second or how do they word it? It says it is the uh I just had >> it just says gym bleacher maintenance at the

064high school. >> Yeah. So in the packet it's the service order is different. It's a $500 fee um for inspections um and um instead of the um maintenance which was in the neighborhood of 1300. >> That maintenance one is still included in the packet though. >> Yeah, but it's not right. I put that in the packet but what what what I'm looking for is to eliminate that one and I wanted to show you that one that the second one was also there. So, >> weren't we going to check with the like cuz when did the high school gym get turned over to us? >> Uh, high school gym got turned over in uh January. >> This past January. >> Yes. >> so this is >> the other thing we're supposed to ask is that don't

065do we really have to do any maintenance or inspection because we're wondering if it just got turned over to us. Usually they have one year from date of substantial completion or the time it's turned over for the contractors to take care of their own stuff. >> Yeah. As far as repairs um on it, but as far as inspections and seeing that was it was used this year, I did talk to Hussy again, this was before the last meeting um and they recommended to go through an inspection on it just to make sure there's nothing there that needs to be repaired. But does the current bid specifications with the school require an annual test and inspect or any kind of maintenance for the first year? >> Maintenance? Yes. So if anything goes wrong with it in

066the first year, they have to repair, but not inspection of it. So >> we we verified that with the building committee. There's no they don't have any they don't have any inspection during their first year. No, >> they're only going to do maintenance. >> They the only thing they have is maintenance. and they did the maintenance or they >> in other words I think it's a one it's when I say maintenance is if something goes wrong within the year they maintain it >> which would make the inspection you know that the point of the inspection would be to catch anything going wrong >> while they're still obligated to fix it for us. >> Yes. >> Which they are no longer would would base because it's that would be January of 2025 to February of 2026.

067So then when when was the turnover on the middle? The middle school is the one that actually matters here now because the high school is technically outside of the one-year period from a warranty standpoint. If in fact that was the warranty according to the bidsp spec. >> Well, actually the middle school one is the one that would be out of warranty. That was handed over first. So that was handed over. >> Right. That's right. I'm backwards. So middle school is the one that's out. This one here, the high school one was January as in and you know I made a mistake. The high school one was turned over this start of school year. Um the middle school one was handed over last July. That's my fault. La last January. Last January. >> Right. So the

068middle school's out of warranty. >> Yes. >> Uh the high school they're still obligated for the maintenance until about September. >> Correct. >> Okay. Sorry, Jeff. >> So we would want them to do the m the inspection of the high school bleachers at the very end of the one year. So that they we maximize the chance of them finding something there would be they would be responsible for and that would be the idea right Glenn Matt inspect it right before your obligation is up. >> Whatever Dean thinks on that. I just don't want to pay somebody for work that someone else is obligated to do. >> Yeah. Yeah. It'll be it normally gets done in the summertime. So that will be right around that air, you know, right around that time. And the actual heavy

069use of the bleachers is is you know coming to an end now. basketball season, we got volleyball season. So, you know, during the summer, they'll do their inspections. >> Thanks, D. Okay. >> Okay. Any additional discussion? Uh, okay. Then I would hear a motion to approve and to authorize the administration to execute the contracts proposed for Innovative Playground Services, Yale Pest Control and Hussy Advantage. >> So moved. >> Well, not as proposed. >> Oh, well with the amendments for the Hussy uh proposal. Right. >> Is there second >> with the with the amendment, Jeff? Second burger. >> Okay. Any further discussion on that hearing? None. All those in favor, please say I or raise your hands. >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay, that carries. Um, like we discussed the Jesperson contract, we just have some

070outstanding questions. So, that uh will stay as a pending matter before us. Um, >> and can we ask were we able to get the we asked in the last meeting for a breakdown of the cost per school on that contract, Mr. Perola? Were has just even if it is allowable, even though all the dates in the contract [laughter] seem to suggest otherwise, if it was allowable, did they get us a breakdown? Mr. Burgerer and I were discussing that in the last facility meeting. >> Um, um, yeah, hold on one second. Um, so no, I haven't I have not gotten to the breakdown uh of that, but I did I did um talk to to Chase about the scope of work um that he bid originally in 2022. um because you did have a question as

071far as the square footage of that school as opposed to let's say the Torren Intermediate School at this point and what it was like and um at the time he said that that construction had taken over uh a majority of the property. Um so the you know when he bid it in 2022 um it wasn't as much as let's say 2020 because the construction hasn't taken over. So, um, he did give me that explanation, but I didn't get a breakdown from him, um, on on the schools as of yet. >> 2022. >> Yeah. So, so, so this contract here, I'm looking at it, is is is 2022. Um, >> yeah, that's when it was first executed. We were still in the old building in 2022 and the field. >> Yeah. But the site was taken

072over pretty much. So his sight work, you know, his his cutting of the grass and cleaning up at that point, you know, between the fields and and the construction zone really when he bid it, he was bidding it off of, you know, not having that stuff to do because it was in it was in construction. So So this was awarded January 23 uh January 23rd of 2023. >> No, that was that was the first addendum. Yeah, the Yeah, that was the addendum for Yes. Yes. The >> original contract was 2022. >> 2022. Yep. Yeah. So, that was his explanation on that. Um, but I did not get the breakdown. I will get that to you as soon as I get a phone. Okay. Um, now we next have the solar project at the high school,

073middle school. um tell us a little bit about what the proposal is there. >> Um so we had a another um we had u um um this the solar company come give us a a description of the change uh uh as far as this the the the rebate goes and he answered quite a few of the questions that we had. Um, and I guess it's left uh I guess it's left up to the board to approve it to go to the city uh to to see if uh you know see if they are interested in moving forward on it. >> And this is this is to install this is one of those deals where they install solar at no upfront cost and they take your savings until they're paid back. Is that right? >> Yeah.

074This is something that you're not paying upfront for. Um we don't own the panels. um they you know they own them. Uh there was there was a there was a questions and answers that I g you know that I put together as far as you know what happens you know when you have to repair them end of life use um you know uh things of that nature. So I did compare it a little bit with our Forbes that we did back in 2012 or 14. We have solar panels on air. The big difference was we own those uh at Forbes. you know, a little bit of change in the philosophy, I think, of how they're uh going forward with solar panels. Um so, um yeah, he it was a very insightful, um um meeting, so

075he was able to to answer a lot of the questions. Everybody seemed to, you know, be okay with it. Just waiting to uh you know, bring it to the city to see what they have to say about it. Now, was there a I I I I arrived late to that meeting, so I missed this part, but was there a guaranteed um like savings or, you know, some sort of scheme where we don't have to pay them more? Uh I what I don't want to do is raise our cost because these things aren't as effective as they're promising they will be. >> Can I can I take that one? >> Yeah, go ahead, please do. >> So, this is a little different, Ed. You're you're talking about a an agreement [clears throat] where you they basically

076put the system in, you pay them a lease, you pay them a price, and then you save money. That's what you're talking about. This is what's called a PPA. So, this PPA means we don't owe them anything. All we're doing is promising, guaranteeing we're going to buy the electricity produced by the panels from them. So, there is no risk to us in that regard. We pay them 3.79 cents per kilowatt all the way through. you know, it goes up like one 1% a year, but the 3.79 cents is our price. There's no loan payment to them. There's no way to be upside down. There is even there's a performance guarantee in it as well for how much, you know, how many kilowatt hours it will produce. But there's no risk to the district other than

077what Mr. Burgerer and I have been talking about, which is, you know, roof warranties and things. And it seems, >> well, that was going to be my next question actually is, uh, what happens when they bolt a bunch of stuff to our brand new roof? So the most of it's not bolted. Most of it is weighted down because of the way the panels are. The only ones that would have fixture points to the building would be the ones on top of the auditorium. Uh there's a bunch of specs back and forth between GAF and Green Skies. Uh there was a question that went back and forth. Mr. Pragola can expand on if everybody actually agreed on it, but it seems like these guys work together and there was going to be written guarantees in both

078directions. There's even fixed pricing for if the roof leaks and it's not the solar company's problem for removing the panels and putting them back. I mean, there's there's a whole intricate document on how this would work in their approach called the performance guarantee. So, in the actual PPA agreement, you'll see all of that stuff and it's contractually binding. So, if the board votes to approve this tonight, is that binding that these people are going to fix our roof if they screw it up? >> It's that's how it's written. Yes. So he says >> that's what he says. Obviously legal review would be required, right, Mr. Burgerer? But I mean, that is what they're telling us. So if we approve it and the city approves it, I'm sure everybody would have their attorneys look at it

079before anybody fully executed it like we do with almost any of our other contracts of much larger values. >> Now, correct me if I'm wrong. Didn't we also want some type of approval from the city? >> It's really a city building. Yeah, that's the idea where if we approve this tonight, then we'll bring it to the bring it to the city. >> I think it's got to work the other way around. >> No. Uh, no. I I think it's right that we go first saying we want this. Um, especially because we're the end customer and then we ask the city if it's possible to put these on their building. Um, I So, I'm I'm like somewhat familiar with these schemes. Uh and so what happens say if this company goes belly up from whom are

080we purchasing the power at that point to whom does the ownership of the panels transfer? Was that discussed at all? >> Um it was not discussed specifically but generally speaking in PPAs um they're backed by large private equity firms. So that's who finances the installation of the panels. Uh, so Green Skies, I'm sure, borrows the money over a 20-year period so that their cost is lower than what they're getting paid from us. But when these types of things happen, generally any energized system gets bought by somebody else. You know, it's pennies on the dollar for those guys. No impact to us besides who we'd be writing the check to. >> Well, that's how it, >> right? It's important that the the agreement be entirely transferable, right? What whatever blood sucking private equity firm buys this

081up if they go bankrupt needs to still be obligated to fix our roof, to fix the panels, etc., etc. So, is the agreement durable? >> Uh, should be. And there's even a bond uh there's a bond for repairs of things as well, I believe. Right. Right. Right. In the final version. Correct me if I'm wrong on that one, Mr. Burger, but we did ask that question. >> I was reading something, so I'm sorry. >> Yeah. No, we we we did we we asked him for, you know, for a bond for replacement. Um and they said yes, that would be in the agreement. >> Okay, that's all the questions I have. Does anyone else have anything? >> Okay. Um I will hear a motion uh to authorize the administration to to go through the steps to

082execute this agreement, including uh approaching the city of Torington for its approval. So move to platinum. >> Is there a second? Perhaps Mr. Burgerer wants to second it. >> You want to second this, Glenn? Somebody. Anybody? I >> was on mute. >> Thank you, Joe. Uh, any discussion on that hearing? None. All those in favor, please say I or raise your hands. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Opposed. Okay, Glen. >> Glenn voted. >> Okay. >> Any abstensions? Okay. So, that does carry. Thank you. Uh we next have new course proposals. Uh Yukon ECE physics and a course proposal from the fire chief. Uh Sue, are you going to tell us about those? >> Yeah, Brian Scott's going to jump on and talk about the physics course in a second. For those of you who

083are at the school improvement committee meeting, you will recall that uh Mr. Rick Dubois was in attendance and he did a really nice job of um explaining the physics course um and the rationale behind uh this proposal. But Brian is here so we're going to make him earn his his keep tonight. Right, Brian? >> Yes, absolutely. Um yeah, so this is an additional physics course. Um I believe the one that we're talking about tonight is the physics 1201Q general physics. Is that right Sue? >> Yep. >> Okay. Um so this uh physics course [snorts] would be um an additional physics course. We would still continue to run our advanced physics course, our EC or early college opportunity physics course. Uh this one would be more targeted towards reaching a greater um group of students. So,

084not quite so um specific or difficult as the uh early early college opportunity course u but it would go over many of the same basic parts of uh physics. So, the course would include the laws of forces and motion applied to mechanical phenomena concepts such as work, mechanical energy, linear [snorts] angular momentum and energy conservation um are all explained within the course. Um and the physics laboratory offers fundamental training in precise measurement. Um all of the concepts that are featured in SAS standards physics. >> Great. Anyone have any questions regarding the proposed physics course for Mr. Scott or for Sue? Okay. Thank you. Um these can be bundled. Um so do you want to tell us a little bit about the proposed fire chief course? >> Yeah. So again if anybody was in attendance at

085school improvement you will remember that we had a very um exciting community partner join us. So the fire chief was in attendance with a colleague um whose I'm sorry whose name escapes me right this second. Um but they did a great job with u Mr. Andrew Marshand. Uh the three of them had and one of our guidance counselors, Ryan Dickens, had attended back in the fall a summit on fire science and fire safety along with many other representatives from school districts across the state and across the northeast. Actually, um I had been approached by Fire Chief Trip over the summer about the opportunity to potentially partner with us to develop a course that would be taught by the firefighters in town. They would sponsor the course. They would come onto our campus. It would be

086offered as an elective for our 11th and 12th graders. And it would serve a couple of purposes, right? It would really align beautifully with one of our pathways. And it would also so it would give from our perspective, it would help us to give our students some of that real world experience and some hands-on opportunities and sort of to dip their toes into something that would give them perhaps some insight into a career choice um when they leave high school. But it also helps the fire departments in the state that are really um having difficulty with recruitment. So they really want to come into the comprehensive high schools across the state and offer these opportunities to kids. So that was kind of the conversation that we had at school improvement. Um, we don't actually have

087a course proposal in the packet because the committee asked that we bring this to you folks as a full board before we go down that path and really put more effort into this. Is this a partnership that our board of education really would like us to pursue? I guess is the question on the table. Um, >> right. So we are approving a concept when we approve the fire department's proposal. Mroy is the name of the fire or the board of public safety commissioner, former fireman in >> and uh so we're we're approving the course. The physics course is ready to go. >> The fire course is going to require some discussions about staffing, about credits and things like that. Uh but I I think we should approve it as a concept just to know if

088we want to go forward with this or not because it does have all the benefits that Mrs. Ferguson outlined to to uh us and al and to our students and also to the fire department. Keeping them happy could help too. So >> hi everyone. So yeah, I was actually there at the school improvement meeting obviously um and I got a chance to hear this um this proposal and I was really impressed. um not only was it a really thoughtout um program um but also it gives um just another opportunity to our high school students. I I think that what we offer at the high school is is just amazing. Um but this is yet another something. And what's so funny is literally the next morning I got a phone call from my best friend and

089we were chatting about where her older son is going to to school as as he's a a senior this year. And I said, "What about Vinnie? What is what does he want to do?" and she's like, "Oh, he wants to be a fireman." I was like, "Wait a minute. This is amazing because we just heard a proposal last night." And she said, "Oh, that would" and I was telling her about it and I said, "You know, it's still in the works and we of course have to approve it and get get a concept and you know, all that." And she was like, "Oh, that's amazing. He would love that." So, I mean, it's just the and she even said, "This is something so many boys and and girls would would love to do." So, I'm

090super excited about this and I I do hope the board chooses to move forward with it. such a good program and it just offers yet another amazing opportunity for our students. >> Thank you. Um Britworth, I I'm in support of this. I just want to quickly ask uh so structurally would would we have to get this firefighter certified as a teacher or I know there can be like exceptions if they are teaching what's effectively like a technical education class. So I just kind of am wondering about the mechanics there. Um, before anything else, maybe I'm getting too far ahead of myself, but >> So, Kim, I'm gonna ask Kim to step in and talk about that a little bit because I know what you're talking about, Ed, but it wouldn't just be the firefighter as

091the only educator in the room either, but go ahead, Kim. So there I I think what you're referring to Ed is the trade and industry certification which with the trade and industry certification uh you can uh become certified as a teacher for for different kinds of you know it's construction technology for auto mechanics uh you know culinary things of that nature. um you can become certified in those areas if you have worked in those functional areas for more than three years full-time, you know, so there's requirements that they have to meet ultimately to take like a special ed course and other things, but but you can become certified in those areas. So, you know, if that's the route we want to go, but to Sue's point, I think we have to kind of have a

092conversation about what it looks like. So, if there's going to be, for example, a certified science teacher that's going to be the the teacher on record for the course and the firefighter is just kind of going to be our community liaison that supports that course, then no, the science teacher would be the certified individual in the room and and it would be handled a different way. So, I think we'd have to figure out the nuances of the concept before determining what we would have to do. >> Yeah. Thank you. One more thing I just forgot about that I'd love to add is, you know, we have the benefit of having that beautiful fire training school right here locally. And the two folks that joined us, uh, Mr. Mroy and and Chief Trip were talking about

093bringing our kids on site to the fire training school to do, you know, to really get them in the thick of what it is to be a firefighter. So, this would not just be theory in the classroom. this would be actual handson, you know, on the job kind of experience almost right from the beginning. >> Great. Um, and for what it's worth, sorry, I do see your hand. I'm almost done. For it's worth too, I think even for those students who maybe go through this and don't want to be professional firefighters, um, you know, some kind of partnership to pipeline those kids over to the volunteer department, >> um, could be useful. I mean, volunteerism in firefighting is really down, but it's I think pretty essential. Um, especially in a city like ours where our

094only water tanker uh for areas without city hydrants is volunteer man. Uh, which would be quite the problem if you live in rural Torington and there are no volunteers available. Um so my only other question again it's sort of mechanical is um who in this concept is paying the fire over time for this because it's not cheap and I'm again okay with it. I just want to know, right? I want to sort of be able to plan ahead from the board of ed side that if we have to pay our firefighters overtime for x amount of days uh per school year, that that's something that we have put a pin in. >> To be honest, we didn't even talk about that, Ed. So, I think it's a really good question and I'm sure that that

095will come up. But before we even started having those conversations, I think we wanted to get a sense of whether or not this board really wanted to to explore this for us to move forward >> and I most definitely do and that that's the last of my questions. Uh Jeff, you wanted to jump in. Just to add that uh one of the other big things out of this was somebody would graduate if they finished successfully the course. >> It's like a 6040 inerson or on hands-on versus um book knowledge or you know taught knowledge. >> We have to figure that was the biggest hurdle was how do you get the how do you get the actual hands-on training that was a logistics thing we had to figure out. And secondly, when they graduate this program,

096however long it ends up taking, they have a firefighter one, you know, certification which let them walk into any volunteer fire department and immediately, you know, step on a truck and go help, you know, respond to an emergency. So, it's a it's a great skill build whether they end up being a full-time fireman or not. That's a it's a great thing to offer to any community and a great one for our own our own city. >> Thank you. Uh Kristen, did you were you starting to raise your hand a minute ago? >> Yes. Um, so I did want to just touch on a couple of things in terms of the the hands-on training. They said there would be some weekends um that the the kids enrolled in the program would have to to attend. Um,

097not every weekend. Um, but they did say some and they did say something about a fee. I want to say it was 265 or 235 per student. Um, and there was some discussion whether or not that would be paid complete like if would it work like a like a Yukon course where it's paid 5050 by the parent and the board or if it would be something that would be completely on the the parent or student to to pay and that we you know that was still very preliminary but I want to say that was the cost. So we could say roughly two 250 for now. I don't remember which which number it was. I'd have to look back at my notes. >> And that was for the material the the materials the book and the

098required materials. That was not labor to your question earlier. It was just just the materials to conduct the course. >> Correct. >> Okay. Uh you know I think I think any course that we're offering we really shouldn't be charging people. Um you know as a public school we offer a free and public education in accordance with the law. I don't think that we really ought to start making exceptions for that. Um, so I I am firmly against charging our kids to learn anything in our buildings. Uh, we already have pretty significant expenses associated with athletics and other extracurriculars and field trips, etc., etc. I really don't want to put a cost on any other educational opportunities. Um, so I hope the I hope the board would agree with that and that people would keep it

099in mind um, as we plan ahead for this that if we're going to do this, I want to pay for it. um or you know somebody who's not the family has to pay for it. Um I don't want to put this really important coursework behind a payw wall. Um is there anything else on this matter or can we hear a motion to approve it to authorize the administration to start the process? >> So move to platinum. >> Is there a second? >> Second. Burger. >> Okay. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor please say I or raise your hands. I >> any opposed abstensions? Okay, that passes. Wait, did I see a hand go up just now for abstension or something? No. Okay, I thought I did. Um, all right, then we last

100have the AI ad hoc committee. Um, I know this was discussed at length at policy. I'm not sure if you had anything to add outside of the report you gave Kristen. Um, so I think you know we've discussed this a lot. The committees have discussed it. I think we all agree that we want to do an ad hoc. Uh John was taking the lead in some part on this too and I saw he just unmuted. So did you want to kind of kick off what your thoughts are for this John? >> Uh first of all to clear up something the discussion at the policy meeting was the use of technology in the classroom far more than AI. AI was discussed at at school improvement. Um, I short answer to your question is yes. I I

101wouldn't mind overseeing the process if that's what you're asking. Um, or at least continuing to have a part in it. I'm I'm not I'm not sure. That's why the whole board is talking about how we want to do this. Um maybe we should have a committee to come up with a proposal for a committee or at the very least I would suggest and I'm sorry Gary isn't here because he is def he's definitely a part of a part of this and there would be implications for what he's thinking with his device use policies and things like that. So, uh, maybe what I would like to ask the board for is permission to, uh, engage in discussions with Gary and anyone else who wants to volunteer to be a part of this group just to bring

102a proposal before the board for an ad hoc committee. And I know it sounds stupid to have a committee to talk about forming a committee, but I think this might be the way to go with this. I we don't need to have anything in place until the beginning of the next school year. It'd be very useful, I think, to have something in place for the next school year to have it be able to be incorporated into student handbooks and and faculty handbooks and things like that. Uh, so I I don't think there's any necessity to do it right now tonight as opposed to next March, but in between I I'd like to get together with other people who might want to form the core of a group to to look at this that >> I

103think that sounds good. I I think you've taken the lead on it through your committee thus far. Um, and like I said before, I'm certainly really interested in and invested in this issue, but I I don't think this is a a committee that I should chair. Um, so if you want to take the lead um on sort of what you think it should look like structurally, we can also ask that anybody who's interested uh in participating um contact you. And that would go for of course um our employees as well as our administrators and and um and us. I know you were thinking about keeping it small and I think that's the right move for this. I don't think we need 30 people. Um but I'm going to stop there because Glenn also has his

104hand up. >> Just a quick question. I know I know we have committees and meetings at Nauseium about various things. John, what do you would you be opposed to rolling in the classroom technology and AI into one group discussion since they're kind of related? >> Well, I I see I see these as two separate areas. The technology facilitates artificial intelligence and and this is you may be right. There may be reason to do that. I haven't thought in those terms. In fact, when I have thought of it, I've come to a different conclusion about it. But it doesn't mean that it wouldn't h happen. Uh, one of the things that happens when you start talking about device use is that people get their backs up on this. And that's what we heard in policy. Some

105of the people who came before us were assuming that the board of education wants to pull devices out of the classroom. It's not Glenn, you were there, right? You you saw it. >> Yeah. Yeah. That was the >> That was their perception. You know, it's But >> right, >> it wasn't accurate. But >> so I I wouldn't want to set up a lightning rod if if if we're tainted with that particular uh misconception. Uh but volunteer to to you know, we we can do this all together. Send me a little text or an email or something saying, "Hey, I want to be part of this." >> And we'll all have a chance to talk about it. What I will do, what I propose doing if you know if the board wants me to. If not,

106that's fine too. But what I would do tomorrow will be to get something out uh get an email out to or the day after to the board uh and then uh depend on probably Sue or or someone else to uh get the word out to the faculty that we're looking for just a really small group to talk about what we want to do to form a committee to to look at this. So, but if someone doesn't think that's a good idea, please let's say it now. >> Yeah. No, I I think, you know, if we move quickly on the structure, because I don't think it it has to be too agonizing um to determine the structure, um you know, we can we can really sort of set this up as a board at our next

107meeting and then you take off running through the spring. Um, so I'm personally um fine with that. Everybody who's interested, reach out to John unless someone has other thoughts on how we ought to kick this off. >> My only thought my my only thought was that I would be careful about combining the topics because each has its own polarizing viewpoint. Somebody may not think that the classroom should have a computer in it, but that AI has a place for, you know, education delivery. I would I would try and keep them separate. Maybe they have to come they have to combine or converge towards the end, but that lightning rod aspect is probably pretty accurate to John's point. And I think they will be those goalposts will not be sitting on top of each other. They

108will be a little bit further apart in my opinion. So I might start separate. >> Okay. Yeah. I mean I I think that's probably right. Um anyone else have anything? Okay. Um so we don't need to take action on that. Um we have items for the upcoming agenda. So we uh will have at some point in the next uh month the hopefully something to do with landscaping. Uh we'll have of course the AI ad hoc stuff. Um not sure if you guys think you can have something ready for the fire fighting class in the next month, but maybe um if not, you know, we'll do it when you're ready. Uh we'll have budget related matters. Uh, anyone else have anything that they think we ought to place on next month's agenda? >> Any chance of

109an update on the audit? >> Oh, yes. Um, so I'm not sure if we'll be able to place on the agenda at that time. I did follow up uh with the board's legal council who engaged the auditor on our behalf. Um, they simply reported that it is ongoing. um they were going to touch base with the auditing firm that they've engaged to see if they've determined a prospective end date. Um but we have not heard one yet. Um so I hope so and I will I think we can definitely give an update even if it isn't a conclusion um next month. [clears throat] Anyone else? >> Okay. Uh, >> I just have some information for for Dean. Um, it looks like the bleachers have a fiveyear warranty, >> just so you know. >> Okay. Well,

110that changes the game on what we have to pay for as >> include maintenance. Maintenance isn't included in that, but it's the warranty. >> Warranty. Yes. >> So, you know, they come in and they're greasing the wheels and they say, "Oh, yeah, this is busted." Well, >> yeah, >> was on their proposal it says any equipment outside truck stock is will be quoted separately. Um, that's not quite the case. >> All right. Thank you. Uh, >> and if you want to know the the document where it is, I can give that to you. >> Okay. Uh, so that's that. If you guys need to connect on that after this, you can. Uh we next have future meetings uh Wednesday the 4th um school improvement 5:30 policy at 6:00 March 11th that's also Wednesday um oh

111and sorry the ones on the fourth are fast academy um facilities and technology and budget on the 11th that's at the usual place in the TMS cafeteria um then we'll have the p public budget workshop um you public hearing whatever you want to call it on Monday the 16th at Vogle in the library. Um and then the regular meeting of the board on the 18th of March, Wednesday in the TMS cafeteria. Um comments for the good of the order. Um this is you virtual meetings are a bit funny and I'm sure we're all eager to get off of this uh program. So I'm not going to call on everybody's name. If you have something you want to say for a comment for the good of the order, raise your hand or just start talking. And

112otherwise, I will hear a motion to adjurnn. Oh, John. >> Only to say thank you for setting it up this way. It was good that we could get the meeting in at our regular date and happy to see everybody here. So, good thinking. >> Yeah. Uh, you know, I figure we're not going to make everybody drive in um on a on a snow day. Uh Kristen, >> hi everyone. Uh great meeting. Um just want to say um thank you Mr. Wilson from for mentioning um all those great achievements by our our students and staff members. Um did want to add one quick thing. Um although I'm biased, um the Torington High School cheerleaders um did place third in the Brookshire Invitational on February 19th. Um so that's great for them. They did bring home a

113trophy. Um as well as um the Frozen Jr. production was amazing as well. Mrs. G always does such a good job with that with with Mr. Skinner and all the the staff members that help, but it really is a student production. Um, you know, the students do everything. There's a lot of staff members behind the the the scenes helping. Um, and kudos to them for their hard work. Um, but really those students deserve a huge round of applause because they not they do the lights, the the music, the acting, everything. It's it's just really really wonderful. So, so kudos to all of them. >> Thank you. Um, Glenn, did you Was that hand raised on purpose? I see you, Rachel. >> No, that was a that was a that was a clap. >> Oh, I

114was clap. I'm sorry. Okay, [laughter] >> um, thanks. I just wanted to mention one more time that the St. Jude's Tellathon is this coming weekend. Um, so just wanted to put that out there one last time. Um, so just so that we can show them our support. >> And that's Saturday, Rachel. Uh, let me double check. I believe it's Sunday. I believe it's March 1st. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Great. Thank you. Um, and I also have a reminder because Miss Clackey reminded me when she touched she mentioned history day. Uh, from what I understand, they are still looking for judges for the regional contest. I'm on their website. So, it's Saturday, March 14th. I don't see the time right away, but I I've done it before and it is fairly early for a Saturday. It's

115like 700 a.m. you've got to get there. Um, but it's really worth doing. Um, I'm trying to finagle my schedule so that I can judge it. Um, I think they're pretty short on judges this year, so if anyone is able to judge History Day, you might get lucky and get to judge something fun and interactive. I always get unlucky and get stuck with the papers. Um, so I read hundreds of pages of history essays. Um, the website is historydayct.org if you want to sign up to be a judge. Anyone else? If not, I will hear a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. Cusco. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Opposed. We are adjourned at 7:03. Thank you everybody. Have a good night. >> Thanks. Take care.