001This is approval of the minutes discussion. All in favor here for public participation. Anybody in the room? Josh, do we have anybody on the line? >> Moving right along. >> Jason's publication, then discussion. Next steps, monthly financials. Over to you, D. >> Oh, wonderful. Good evening, everybody. We're going to go over the July monthly financials first. I see that we have the June second on the agenda. Just have to jump to page 15 monthly financials. It's our first month out of the gate, so we're doing good. Um nothing really unusual to report uh or the negative. Um the employee benefits line um looks like it's over but that's because we've net budgeted it and we are expecting employee contributions >> questions >> anything you want anything else you want to point out before I open
002the floor for questions are we good we're in good shape anybody on the committee have any questions for >> I of course have Great. >> Um, question on the salaries line item. We'll hit this in in the other one as well, but the salaries line item. Are we going to be on track this year or do we expect to go slightly over? I see the half million dollar increase as we budgeted for for salaries, the contractual increases, and we have a few people who didn't rehire after they were retirement age. But do we have any issues with that line? We're over 1.2 million in last year's budget. Do we anticipate that to come back again this year? Uh we're headed in the right direction for this year and I have an explanation for how we
003ended June that >> perfect. >> Thank you, Don. Any questions on the July 31st? >> TS project expense. >> It's those were things that were moving, right? Just project expense for things that we had to move that were not included in the >> moving budget for the building. >> Yes. >> That included things from the middle school, right? That was all encompassed things that went from one middle school to the other. >> Yes. >> Is that right? >> Anything else? >> All right. The next one. So before I jump into our uh pre- audit year end close out, I just wanted to answer a few questions that the budget committee had at our June meeting. Um specifically, there was a couple line items um about the technician line item 5112.1. This was in the previous
004packet, but I could just speak to it. Um it's uh it was only 66% assumed it was because the technician was paid out of a grant. So that's why that line is low. There was another question for 5250 tuition reimbursement. I think there was a debit expense in the account for 281 and that's because the district um paid for a training but there was a credit so we received the credit back. Next line item was 5430.2 and that was a landscaping question and there was an incumbrance for 14,500 but the code was duplicated. the work had already been done. So, we closed that PO out. The other questions were around the student activities account and there was a question that came up about the balance of the Costa Rica chip trip and um I did
005find out by um reaching out to the school that they just didn't change the name to Bise. Um so that's why there was money in that line item. And then the last one was there was a question about 250 being in the CTE scholarship and this is in the ths student activity fund and that was because it's for a grant and they were just waiting for the grant to reinforce. So those are the questions that we had at the end of the meeting in June that I just wanted to fill everybody in. >> I very much appreciate. Thank you for taking the time to get us those answers. >> My pleasure. >> ready for the show. Okay. Okay. So, it's a, you know, work in progress. We're we're at pre- audit um year end balances.
006So, we're still we still have about $78,000 in incumbences that we're waiting for the invoices to come in. So, that's a soft close for those purchase orders. Um, we are looking, you know, obviously to be to the good about 1.5 million. Um, so you'll see that in the total objects food on page seven. um far right column and what we did is we put the 2% non-lapsing reserve below it and that is the ultimate amount that we can carry over into reserve. So like I said we're still doing a soft close right now. So, we can't really, you know, pin down the number exactly, but we're we're to the good definitely. We'll be having some 2% um reserved curios. >> Anybody have any questions there? >> Just that one or the entire year in summary?
007>> Oh, I did want to I did want to mention your question about the salary. Um this year we were able to hired a new accountant, a CPA and um he had recommended that we approve wages for the last pay period. So people who worked in June and got paid in July, that first week's paycheck in July should be approved wages to the June um pay period. So that is why you're seeing a little overage in there, but it's going to break itself this coming year. Um so that was um something that we did. We also in anticipation when we're hiring, we do um set it at teacher level two, step five. And sometimes when we hire people, they come in a little higher. So that could be also impacting that effort. Should anybody on
008the committee have any questions for Donna? Start my list. Question. 54. Sorry. 5342. Paras services. pages not certified here. >> Yes, >> I did. Yes, my question for was 35. Maybe this is actually from the last month, the last one. $35,000 in the last month of the year with only half a month of subs that was there a reason our pair of subs went that large in a month with only half which is a large number for pair of subs in the last two weeks of the school year. >> Yes. So I can look at >> or maybe the company bills us maybe there's a delay on the billing. I'm not sure how we pay them. could be on the bill, you know, for the prior month, but I'm gonna double check on that. >>
009Okay. >> And shout out to Dean and his team for the first time that I've been on the board. We did not go over on overtime in the uh >> Wow. I didn't notice, but good job. >> Yes. Nice job. Was close. I think you're close, Dean. >> I appreciate that. Everybody on the board knows that's been one of my things over the years, so I appreciate it. >> Yeah, that's right. I think it might have to do with sports here. >> No activities. Y that could have a very sense that makes sense. >> Well played Mr. >> Okay. 55801. It was administrator stipens. It was just Is this travel stipens? Is this the like travel or is it driving stipens? It just was over. It was one of I look down the list and
010see what's going over by a fair percentage and I ask the question. >> We have a lot of administrators and teachers take advantage of conferences. >> Oh, okay. >> And 5622 electricity. We've talked about this a little bit, but it was $216,000. >> Yes. So, I'm assuming that's with the new building expenses. Um, we are going to start tracking the electricity so we know what to expect moving forward with that. So, we'll look forward to that. It was just concerning the 216. That's a trap for a world of hurt in the budget line. I think >> it is. >> I think that is all I have that was important you haven't already covered. Anybody else? Glenn, you're looking for page. >> Yeah, I'm trying to figure Anybody else? >> Mr. Lafer, welcome to the meeting.
011Did you have any questions? >> No, thank you. >> Sorry for being late. >> No, no worries. >> I think that's it. Thank you very much for the update. When do you expect these to be finalized, audited? When do we actually have to happen to the city as finalized documents? >> So, we're in the middle of the audit right now. We're also in the middle of the EFS for the state. Um, usually the audit type though back in September for a visit and then the numbers are usually solid by December when the final audit delivered. So, but our soft close is going to be done probably in the next two weeks. >> When do we actually make the transfer to the nonlapsy for the actual dollar amount? I see the dollar amounts are shown differently
012because they're kind of in flux, but when do we actually decide to make that transfer? >> That's a good question. So, we're going to have to wait until the audit is complete so we know the actual number of that is agreed upon and closed out and that usually will be that transfer. Great. Thank you very much. Right. Topics for future needs the obvious ones, right? We'll talk about the electricity from the high school if we can. We'll talk about the monthly financials. Maybe a quick update on your audit if it's a spot where there's anything to share. Anybody have anything that's for budget? >> Whatever happened with credits from the electoral building committee went to the city? I believe the the grants from Eversource I think went to the city and then the city was
013going to disperse them as a part of the building project for some additional items was my understanding the building. >> Yeah. It was supposed to be in the fall maybe from what I >> feel it our our particular board's not going to see >> we won't see any >> any of that money >> the city was going to take it last I knew they were going to take the some of the permitting fees that we were in disagreement over the sewer expense one of those items was going to come out of it and the rest was going to go towards supplemental items for the building committees field projects the building and things like else for next meeting. Just anything else you want to just let us know and we'll coordinate next month. >> Great. Great.
014Thanks everybody. Next up comments for the good of the order. Start with Jason. >> Ready for ready for the new year. >> Yeah. Sad I couldn't get into the building today. I was not here but I'll be there tomorrow. >> Fantastic. Mr. tonight. >> Mr. Mr. Cron said, >> hey, good luck everybody on the school year this year. Everything coming together will be open soon, people getting back to work and we appreciate all the effort that goes into it. Look forward to starting another successful year here at Toronto Public Schools. >> Good meeting. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Great. Thanks. Good. I'm trying to break the record. >> Good meeting. >> Looking forward to the start of the school. >> Nice to have kids in the building. Anybody else? Rachel. All right. Need
015a motion for a journ. All those in favor. is journal 47. Anybody there? >> Hello So 4 p.m. that everyone could please rise for the pledge of allegiance. The flag is in the corner there to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> I call the role this time for a moment. Uh Mr. B >> here. >> Miss Johnson >> here. >> Mr. I'm here. Mr. Cron >> here. >> Mr. President >> here. >> Mr. Eupa. >> I'm here. >> Miss Hon is excused. Mr. Kisk >> here. >> Mr. Knight >> here. >> Mr. P here. >> Mayor Carbone. Dr. B >> here. >> Miss Ferguson >> here. >> Miss Le >> here. >> Mr. P
016>> here. >> Miss Shelton >> here. >> Miss me here. Mr. W here. That's that. Uh I have Sorry, I'm looking at the wrong agenda. Uh this is the right one. >> Okay. School community service and public participation. Is there anyone here online who wishes to address the board? >> Ah yes, that's right. >> So just I have to go backwards anyway. Uh because I missed the approval of the agenda. Um is anyone seeking any additions, subtractions, adjustments to the agenda? Uh okay. If not, I will hear a motion to approve the agenda. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Uh any discussion? All those in favor, please say I. >> We'll start checking these off so I don't miss them. Uh last call if anyone care to address the board. Okay. Uh so
017I'll skip the long paragraph and we will dive right into reports and information uh starting with the superintendent. So we've been very busy obviously at central office this summer. Um not having a July meeting to address this word fully but officially welcome welcoming Marissa in her new role at central office as the executive assistant. She's been doing an amazing job and worked around the clock. I want to thank Dean and Rachel and their respective teams for doing an enormous amount of work to get all of our buildings ready. Not only the two new buildings at central office, but all of the buildings to get the appropriate technology and to get everything clean and ready to welcome our students. We're really excited for this. I also want to thank uh Kim and her team, the HR
018team for doing what will be on boarding and to get everyone vetted and ready to rock and roll and that means all staff and I know she's excited to host her new teacher orientation tomorrow. Um so that will happen. So we're really excited about that. I want to thank Sue Ferguson and her team. They did a wonderful job with curriculum writing in this summer uh to ensure that all curriculum across all grade levels is really coming along and will be implemented with fidelity. We can't wait to see it in action. Um our summer school program was a success this year. Super assistant superintendent Ferguson will be doing a full report on that at the next civic committee meeting. We love those reports. So she will be doing that for you there. Um, I had the
019opportunity to attend Cal backpack giveaway with other members of the team. It really just showcased strong community support and strong school spirit as we prepare for the academic year. Obviously, we took some great photos and put those on Facebook for all to see. It was a wonderful day just to kind of interact and and really talk to our families and our students. And a highlight for me was when several students came up and actually said they missed me. They couldn't wait to be back and see me. So real excited and I I do miss them as well. So looking forward to that. Um another thing I'd like to share, I know I shared with the board and we put it on our Facebook as well. Um I was the guest on Fox 61 News last
020week where I talked about back to school and all things redistricting and everything great that's happening in Torington. It was a really nice um nice invite that I was glad that I took. Great. >> Thank you. Um, I'm also excited to share uh some really exciting hot off the press news. Um, as I shared with this board last year, I was honored to be asked to speak at the national conference last year and I actually received a call and they would like me to once again speak at the national superintendent conference in October. And what we are talking about is our success even while receiving a very very very lean budget. So they noted that and they want us to talk about it and I will once again represent Torington proudly and share our story
021and show our success. So real happy to be doing that in October. Today we had a wonderful admin retreat. All our admins came and we actually uh had a great PD for all. A lot of laughs but a lot of great learning and they are now starting to pass writing their school improvement plans uh after receiving all of the information. So really excited about that. Next week we have our convocation. I know all board members did receive an invite, but I am also going to formally invite you. Uh if you would like to come at 8:00 next Tuesday at the Torrenson School, we're also looking forward to welcoming not only our staff and convocation and PD, but all of our wonderful students on September second. We really can't wait. you know, we have missed them
022and I know all of the hard work and preparation we know is for them. So, we thank the board for their support. It's been a crazy amount of work this summer. Um, but it is well worth it. Can't wait to see their faces and welcome them off the buses. And last but not least, because the next time I will talk to you will be after that, but obviously we will be anxious and waiting to see them in their classrooms, our teachers, our students, and see everyone in action. So, we're really looking forward to a great start of the school year. I know the preparation has seemed endless for all of us at central office, but it will come to a culmination really exciting time next week. So, there's any questions, I will gladly take them,
023but I also wanted to thank you for for your patience and understanding as we try to get this thing rock and roll. Thank you. >> Thank you. Fortunately, I won't be able to make complication because I am the least senior person in my office and get last pick for vacations. So, mine's next week. Um, but uh I do want to touch on um as we get ready to go back to school. There's been some uh folks in the community um concerned about uh you know where they're going with the redistricting. I know we're doing our level best to communicate with folks. Um, and so I just want to kind of touch on that maybe here in the public meeting if there's any uh anything that maybe is forthcoming or uh you know adjustments that we've
024been delayed on just just generally uh where we're at with making sure folks get where they need to go on September. >> Absolutely. So all of the communications uh have been prepared. I was with the adetss today and all of those communications are ready to go out via parents where several have already went out um from certain uh from different administrators. Others were kind of just waiting on some pieces in terms of a scheduling issue. We did have which is a real nice problem to have and I don't even consider it a problem. I think that was a bad word used but we've had a real good influx of people moving into the community. So while we are trying our best to on board every new registration that we can that also comes with some
025scheduling concerns at our secondary levels. So, some of our secondary folks have just delayed um their message to make sure that it comes along with a schedule, but those will be out by the end of this week. >> Excellent. So, any you know, and I do know some people have received them because I've seen them, but anybody who has yet to receive a communication from their school will receive one very soon. >> Absolutely. Excellent. That's all I have. Does anyone else have anything for the superintendent? >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. >> Uh so, we'll pass it over to Kim for the human resources. >> Thank you. So you have uh you had already gotten the year end uh results in June. So what I uh provided for you this evening is kind of
026a recap of what we've done in the HR office this summer. Um so you can see that we had a total of 48 teacher vacancies, 18 paras and 37 classified vacancies. Some of that is because of retirees. Some of it's because of the redistricting. So that's just the total number of positions that needed to be filled. And then some of those were filled by internal people. So this just kind of gives you the total number of everything we had to do this summer. Um and then you have the list of kind of where we still are. Filled a couple of those vacancies and it's a moving target every day, but um we feel really good about where we're going to be. Tomorrow is going to be a very exciting event because we have our teachers
027and our paras that join us for new staff orientation. Now we have one day where we bring them together and everybody comes and speaks like every member of cabinet comes and shares what they do and what's going on in their department so that everybody has exactly what they need for the first day with students. So uh we have 28 total new hire teachers. We have 10 paras and then 15 other staff members. Uh my occupational therapists, physical therapists, uh we have an accountant uh secretaries, custodians. So the the 15 is just a variety of other positions. Um we do have three resident teachers that we are uh supporting this year uh at three different schools. So we're excited about that. And then I wanted to kind of give you where we landed for our staff
028turnover uh based on the resignations and retirements and things that we received over the summer. And what is really exciting is that our para turnover, our calf turnover, our teacher turnover, and our secretary turnover are all significantly better than in the previous years. So, we're retaining our people. People are happy and they're staying. So, we're excited about that. Is there any questions about the general HR report? And I'll go on to my second. >> I I have one question. Is that okay, everybody? >> Yeah. Go ahead. Yeah, Ken, I I've I think whenever I get a somebody in town who came back to Torington looking for a job, I pass them along to the the uh the chair people, but um the resident teachers is it and this really the board can could think about
029this too. I just always thought that we should try to have a some mechanism to to show preference to local kids who've come back to work in the school system and live in Torington. I'm just throwing an idea out there, but are the resident teachers that we we go through are they is it preferred for Torington grad high school graduates that come back to teach or is there no mechanism to to use that as a preference? >> The mechanism is that it's a preference that they are they're Torington employees. So there are paras or our tutors. Um that's the the group that we have right now. Two of them were paras with us and one was >> because they have to have a degree in order to be a resident teacher. So um I think
030he wait I think I understand >> she misunderstood you're misunderstanding. I think his question is more the resident teachers aren't the isn't a local resident Gary and I think that's the question that you're trying to ask about >> that's correct. Yeah >> consideration given to local right graduate that's that's where he was going. >> Yeah. No, no, no. I understood the question. I'm just saying it's not that they're the preference is given to Torington residents. The preference is given that they're Torington employees. So that's that's what the >> No, no, that's not the question. No, the resident program two different things. He's not asking about this resident program. He's not asking about this. >> Okay. >> I thought he was. He's asking No, he he's asking about preference given to residents of Torington for just
031general teaching positions or for the resident teacher. >> Yes. Yes. I'm sorry. Yeah, that's correct. >> Right, Gary, you're talking about the the graduates graduated certified teachers >> for all hiring or just for the resident teacher program. I'm sorry. >> Not I would say all I would say all hires for people who are residents. I mean, it's just an idea, but there's a lot of people and maybe it's just my kids are getting to the point where their friends and people. >> We do try to make sure I'm sorry, Gary. I don't want to interrupt you. Sorry. >> No, no, go ahead. You're >> grads. Uh, we always try to make sure that they get interviews. I mean, that that's what I can say that that they get they absolutely uh we encourage our staff
032to interview Torington grads. We always want to make sure that we're trying to grow our own. That's our whole goal. I mean, I'm working with that's what I was getting at child care development teacher to try to make sure that we're encouraging our um high school students to maybe go into education and then trying to work with them and keep them kind of warm through their four years of college. So, yes, I do think we do encourage them uh we do give preference to make sure that they always get an interview. That's the goal. >> Okay. But is it possible and again this isn't probably for tonight but to think about like we do with state contracts or city contracts and everything else give the lo the kids who come back that got their degrees
033some sort of preferential score maybe it's 5% or whatever I don't know if you use scores but something to think about it's it's for a future discussion I think >> but >> absolutely all right >> definitely look at that >> yeah Kim what's the state average for turnover in school district you happen to know or is there a report on that? >> I don't know it off the top of my head but I would say it's probably around the 10% range. >> So we're at about 14 then. >> Yeah. >> Do we do we have a lot of retirees? I'm just trying to figure out obviously it's been as you pointed out this is better than last year which is awesome. Kudos to the team for keeping the number down but if we're above the
034state average like we struggled years ago with our special ed we were above the state average. What steps are we taking to improve that turnover? Or is it just that 80% of that was staff who retired this year, which sometimes they they retire in batches. What What do you attribute to the higher than average turnover? >> Well, no. I don't I don't I think that we're in the range right now. Like I said, our teacher our teacher range, we were at 9.74% and that's under 10%. So, >> overall, we're about 14. >> You're talking about all staff? Yes. So, I don't know the average of that. I know teacher turnover is about 10%. That's that's the metric that really as far as the rest of the employees like if you include parah and calf turnover
035as far as a statewide number I'm sure it's much much higher because that's usually about 25 to 30% turnover in those areas they they tend to have very high turnover. So I I you know if I I could certainly look into that for next month and kind of give you an assessment but I would say based on our assessment we are significantly under the state average. So, but what we are doing is constantly working on our retention strategies. We're working on things like our wellness strategies and anything we can do that keep people here. Adding things like the recently negotiated attendance incentive, things that are unique to Torington that keep people in Torington because it is a better opportunity here when they stay. So, that's what we're doing to continuously try to keep that turnover
036number at a reasonable number. Um, is just working on employee engagement. How do we help people? You know, checking in on people, doing new teacher surveys to see what people like, doing our exit surveys and looking at that information. Like all of those things are things that we look at to try to make sure that we are retaining our best people. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> So, it's I just want to comment. Sorry, I was distracted for a minute, but I I do want to comment and to your point, you did clarify this, Jeff, but um in just the five years that I've been on the board, our I actually recall having heated discussions about the turnover in the district and we do not have that problem anymore >> and I just want
037to make sure that that's very clear that we have significant you're right 50% 48% is ridiculous. There there are districts right now that have 20 plus openings for teachers right now and we are just not in that >> respectful. >> Yeah. I mean to that point, not to bash my employer, but uh the city of Danberry's public schools have a pretty serious uh retention and hiring problem that is is crippling their school district. So almost all of their teachers are teaching six classes instead of five. they're right at their contractual maximum for class sizes etc etc so >> that we don't have that problem anyone else >> okay let's dive into this >> okay so uh Mr. Putnham had asked uh that I kind of look into some assessments for the um attendance incentive. So
038I provided with you with some information looking at those absence reasons uh that are the absence reasons that would impact the attendance incentive and you can see that in all areas except for one group um you know it definitely had a positive impact on the absences. Um, and I think you may recall throughout the year as I presented the absences, I had mentioned that our long-term absences for the paras, we had a an unusually high number of longer term absences and some of that is impacted by that because if they exhaust their FMLA, then the absences get coded as just sick personal or something like that. So, it kind of impacts this number. Yeah. So, so just I would anticipate that it's going to be different this year. So, I guess what I'm saying I
039I think we had an unusual year for the Paris. So, >> um >> 2425 was the first full year, >> correct? where all of our units had the >> correct. >> Um >> and then I gave you kind of um I think the other question would be how many people got it. So, uh I wanted to give you the total. So, you can see 201 people got it for just one quarter. 95 people got it for two quarters. 67 people got it for three of the quarters and 32 people received all four quarters. >> So with regard to the long-term absences for the Paris, um how many would we attribute uh to say? >> I would have to go back and get you the exact number, but I recall one month there was we had
04010 people out 10 paras out in one month that that were doable workers competition there's some stuff that happened that >> right well and that's kind of what I'm getting at is I think maybe as we think about absences and attendance one thing that affects not only our employees pretty seriously but also uh these metrics that we want to track I would say is uh terrorists being injured in you know especially program paras behavioral program paras um this something that that uh you know it's a secret that it's election season right so a lot of us are out campaigning including me and I talk to a lot of these paras out on the street um when I maybe wouldn't always >> and um it's something that almost every one of them will bring up to
041um and so you know I don't I don't know the scope right uh but I think maybe as we look at that in conjunction with absences it's something that could be helpful for the board to see is kind of how many of our folks are are getting hurt on the job and >> you know that's relevant for retention and also for our budget and attendance purposes how how many days are they off work because >> sure we can get that information um what I can tell you is that you know we recognize that that's >> been an ongoing pattern um and there are some really exciting things that I think are happening uh between the office of teaching and learning and uh the office of student services to be able to affect some of the
042things that are causing some of those interests. >> So I I think it's going to be see a different result. >> I I I certainly hope so for many many reasons. Now would you say just as I look at the rest of these are there other factors that might have caused say a 23.45% four or five percent drop in the secretar's absences in terms of you know say I'm speaking generally right I don't want to identify anybody but was there a lot of turnover and now there are a lot of new people who maybe aren't as absent as much as other people could have been or do we think that a lot of this is attributable to the attendance incentive or somewhere in the middle >> I think it's somewhere in the that would be
043what I would say I think I think um some of the groups really took the attendance incentive with a really strong emphasis and and and we're really attentive to it. So, I do think um I think it's somewhere in the middle. And my last question um is so we have the total cost which really is an astronomical 180,000 um do we have a sense uh you know let's say if we take the paras out of the debt because we think that there are some issues that really skew that >> uh if we were to look at savings on teacher absences as the largest group of employees uh left Um, do we have a sense maybe on like savings? Like what does it cost on average when a teacher calls out of work? We have to
044pay them their sick time, which they're contractually entitled to. Um, and then we have to pay this sub versus if we pay that teacher $1,000 for uh, you know, being being in school. We have a sense of what the savings might have been. Maybe this is costneutral. >> I I I think it's right for this year. You know, I would say it was cost neutral. Um what I can tell you is that we had um the number of absence requests for both uh the for the teachers for just the teachers went down um for the 2425 school year but the number of fills went up. So, so when we talk about the cost, right, like so if our cost, if our fill rates are going up, even if we're having better absenteeism, we're still going
045to have a cost of subs. So, so sometimes you're not going to see that as much. The other issue, you know, that everyone has to remember is that minimum wage has increased significantly over the last eight years. And so even if our fill rates are staying the same, you know, our costs might be going up because that minimum wage is going up because we have to raise our substitute costs because they were pretty much at minimum wage and and in order to be competitive, we've got to raise sub costs and then that creates an issue. So, so there's some other factors that affect it where I >> say we have to do a little more assessment on that. >> And and just to that end, one other thing that popped into my head. Um so
046with regarding fill rates and costs um you know anything not filled by ESS is often filled by another teacher who so remind me is there do they get paid extra if we take their credit period to make them cover class they do right so we can at least still try and re some you know not exact dollars that we might have saved but >> so overall for the year what I figured out for the number was there there was 153 35 less jobs available that were requested teacher and para total and 701 more subs were >> so that's that's the overall number >> kind of looking at that cost association that's teachers and parents together >> that's a good place to start so we can figure out what an absence cost and what a sub
047cost make those numbers >> yeah so I did look at those numbers just to kind of get sense of that Great. >> I would be curious at some point to see what the who what percentage of people what the number of people who would have qualified for the attendance incentive the year before before we offer it. It would actually be really good. It takes it takes out the variations, right, of you know the fill rates and all those things. Just hey, we did it last year and only Thursday 32 teachers decided they could do it all year long. Yeah. The year before it was nine. It was a huge impact. We got that's probably the easier way to make it simple number. What who would have qualified before we even had the incentive first once
048we offered it. And to your point, we had less days of absences amongst the entire group of educators out. So, I'll let you do the math on that one afterwards, but you can get a cost of what a sub would be run. >> Anybody else? >> I don't know if this is nitpicking or not point, but the Q1 number is half of your total attendance incentives. And make note that that incentive really starts Q1 is measured July 1, September 30th or something to that effect. Yep. >> These have to show up to work with the first correct >> something to consider. >> Yes. The next negotiations I don't know if the date >> should be Q1. It should be the first month of school. You know, we're not even I don't even know how you
049want to do that. But >> well, we can we can figure that out in the negotiating session and not negotiate agree >> that it's worth bringing it. >> What else? Okay. Is that it for you, Kim? Yes. >> So, yes. >> Uh, we have special education and student services report. Uh, Dr. >> Good evening. Appreciate the time this evening. The report that I'm going to have is just a bit about where we are in the first six weeks of on boarding. Um thus far to start we've begun collaborating with special ed supervisors and we're partnering with them to align our priorities support our onboarding and strengthen like our overall service delivery model taking a look at how we can do that best. Um we've been working very hard around staff recruitment and hiring. We're leading
050interviewing um procedures hiring teachers, nurses, social workers, pair professionals to fill our vacancies and ensure strong qualified staffing is in place for the beginning of the year. Um we've also been uh creating professional learning for educators. Uh we've developed and launched some onboarding sessions for new hires ongoing professional development for special teachers and for the pair of professionals. Um and lastly uh we've done a partnership with the office of teaching and learning in which we've been co-designing and implementing professional learning um to enhance our instruction practices across the board for high quality instruction for all students. Anyone have any questions, Dr. Okay, thank you. Office of Teaching Learning, Can you bring it up on the screen? I think you sent today. Hi everybody. My apologies that this did not go into the packet. Um I
051was all set to give you sort of a broad overview of the assessments of the state this spring when uh Michael and I received an email along with other superintendents across the state reminding us that they are not for public uh sharing yet. So, um, >> so we're not sharing any of the Smarter Balance or any of the state assessments tonight. So, we wait for those to be released hopefully um by the end of this month or early September. and we typically anyway. So, this is really just where we left off in the spring, but we thought that it really was something to kind of um I don't know to the district's horn about a little bit because if if you think about this, so this is our internal district uh progress monitoring assessments. So,
052we use something called the Dibbles, which is a state approved assessment in grades K through three. And it really that's a reading test for K through three. We also use star reading and math. What you what I'm going to talk about just very briefly tonight, it's uh K through 8. We did not administer those internal assessments, those particular progress monitoring assessments in high school last year after a conversation, lengthy conversation with our alliance leaison who felt that we were our high school kids were suffering from testing fatigue because of all of the SAT, the PSAT, these three times a year assessments, the AP test, the unit test, etc., etc. We are having a conversation about going back to the progress monitoring at the high school this year and just tweaking our assessment calendar to try
053to we still need that data. Um but honestly we weren't getting reliable numbers from our our high school kids because they weren't taking it seriously. It was just all they did was test. So anyway, some of the highlights here um that we're really excited about in kindergarten our kind and this is all kindergarteners. It's not broken down by school here. We can do that sort of thing at school improvement, but just for tonight's purposes in kindergarten, we had a 50 point jump from fall to spring. I mean, those kids are are primed, right? They're ripe and they're ready. you expect a a huge growth or a large jump, but that's something that we haven't seen in many many many years. Um, so we are so excited by that. First grade, 17 point jump. Second grade,
05412 point jump. Third grade had a a a miss of two points. That's I'm told not statistically significant. But we obviously we want to see growth and we didn't. They were they were kind of stagnant. But fourth grade nine points, you know, fifth grade 16, these are amazing um for Torington given where we have been in recent years where you all know we've seen a steady decline and as we go up in the grades, we're so excited because even though it's only a three point growth in six, seven, and eight, it's not a drop. And we've seen 10 15 point drops in recent years. So this is progress. We're very excited. In math, similar 14%. We don't test um in math in kindergarten. We don't have that test. Um 14%, you know, 14 points in
055grade two, nine, 14, 16. I, you know, we're we're pretty excited about this. We have a lot more to do. We have a lot of work to do. recognize that, but we just wanted to share. We're very happy and we think we're headed in the right direction, I guess, is the bottom line. Okay. So, I don't know if anybody has any questions about this. There'll be more to come. Um, last year, if if you remember, I gave you all a binder disagregated by subgroup. We can do all that again. Um, we have it, we're just not able to share it in public forum. Um, Yeah, I know we've implemented the new program. Um, when does that like when's the cut off for that or does that go all the way through? >> Sixth grade. Um,
056so if when you were saying because you've you've been with us for quite some time. Uh, when you were saying this hasn't happened in many years, would you say this kind of 50 uh% jump hasn't happened since we used to teach phonics learning correct reading back in the day? >> Bigger. Yeah. >> Great. No, I want I want to give the credit for that. I think that's important that we have changed to back to the model that we all knew work and that we all >> read with. Yeah. >> So, I just wanted to and anybody else have anything? >> I'm looking forward myself uh to I like I like binders. >> Yeah, it's very exciting. >> As a municipal bureaucrat, I think makes me happy. >> That's good. And then just um just another
057just little shout out to all of the folks who work so hard this summer. The summer learning program was four weeks uh July 8th to July 31st and it was all at Toringford school. We were very cozy at Torford school. We had 307 and I'll get into this more at school improvement too, Mr. Pisco, if you'd like. Um how many were invited? That sort of thing. How many actually showed up, how many got picked out. We could go into all of that. But what we ended up I what I have for you here is we have a total of 377 students who completed successfully completed the summer program and the breakdown was K to 5 we had 129 6 through 855 9 through 1280. We had an English language learner program that was spanned the
058grades from K to 12, which was predominantly for what we call newcomers to the district, many of whom have very little English. So that's geared toward really just keeping kids immersed in English throughout the summer. We had 43 students attend for the entire program. And then the ESY, the extended school year program, which is falls under the offices of student services, that was uh prek through age 22. We had 70 students attend. So a total of 377 kids. It was very busy. It was very happy. It was very successful. So more to come on that. >> Summer school. Um, of those nines as well, how many were grade 12 uh making up credits uh because they were unable to graduate in the spring and have made up those credits in our summer program and are
059now >> Yes, we do know but I don't have it with me but I want to say nine >> um >> but I but it was something like that that there were I think we had nine students who were unable to partic participate in graduation because of this >> uh and that that completed the program at our new um so >> we did also offer invited uh those students to an August graduation >> okay that was my next question was was there a plan >> there was a plan but but we made the option available to the students and families Can I can I ask one quick question? Hold >> on. Jeff, hold on a second. Gary, is this a combination of our younger kids who we try and help through the summer to eliminate
060the summer slide and some of those maybe they're not metric based, but they need a little bit of extra help through the summer. And then also credit recovery for the base. >> The high school is purely credit recovery. So the high school kids who come because they have to come because they need to recover credit, right? of six through eight students came because they had failed a class one or more. Um the K to five is a little bit more of what we first said. It's more of okay, we need to keep these kids the momentum going over this summer because they're kind of teetering or it basically it's that you know we wish that we had school for 12 months for some of our younger learners. Yes. >> How long have we offered this
061summer program? How many years we have? >> We didn't start. We only until I want to say five years. >> Prior to that, we just did ESY. So that was driven by IEPs. We've only been having a summer school and we did private recovery for high school. We've always done that, but we never did K through eight um till Yeah. I wonder how much has those test scores to keeping these kids who are sliding keeping them engaged over the summer. I wonder if that has also positive effect to test scores. >> Well, we would hope, right? Because this doesn't come without cost, right? Yeah. Yeah. So, the return on our investment absolutely. Yes. >> Anyone else? >> Oh, right. Gary, go ahead. >> Yeah. So Sue, um, I haven't seen you in a while. Um,
062a couple of teachers had good things to say about summer school. They felt as if, and I'm going to ask if you think this the case, but the fact that the kids knew they had to go and the parents understood there were consequences if they didn't this year versus some other years in the past. Not last year, I don't think, but other years in the past, it wasn't it wasn't it wasn't determined ahead of time that they needed to do X, Y, and Z in order to continue to move forward. It was they were let they were left to run and run and not show up sometimes. But this this year I heard from teachers that it was smooth. Kids seem to be engaged and and two teachers who are very senior said that the
063the attitude of the kids was different than it has been in the past and and they enjoyed being with the summer school kids because they were open to learning but or at least seem engaged in learning. Do you think that's the case or how did you read it or how did anybody else read it that was in the administrative level? Well, since the board adopted the the social promotion policy, it has we make we make sure that in middle and high school, students and families are educate educated about that policy right from the first day of school. They're told it, you know, it's it's communicated in many different forms. uh teachers, you know, kind of go over it with their students the first week of school and say, "Hey, just so you know, because as
064you said, it had been a little loosey goosey in years past, right? It's not like that anymore." I I can say to you, this year in particular, because we were all in one place, it was it was very tight. And I know Dean probably wasn't thrilled with the whole idea. It was it was a ve a lot of kids in one place. But one of the benefits of that is that we were able to very very carefully and tightly supervise what was happening. And I can tell you and I I don't want to take away from school improvement. We can really dig into this but every kids were not allowed to miss. If you missed a session, you got you got you were out because there were only six. >> That's what I heard. You
065were only 16. It was only 16 days. It ran Monday through Thursday for four weeks. And if you didn't make it, and you knew this ahead of time. Families knew ahead of time. My kid can't miss a day or too bad. So, so yes, there were very high expectations. It sounds like I'm being fresh about it. I'm not. But because if if you're going to make up, right, if you're going to recover a course that took a semester, let's say in >> in four weeks, it's going to be rigorous. The standards are going to be high. The expectations are are there. You're going to show up on time. You're going to sit down and you're going to do what you need to do to earn the credit. And and that's how it was done. and
066phone calls were made if there were behavior problems and we didn't have many this year I will say uh but those few behavior problems were handled as they would be handled during the course of the school year we don't in fact I think we were probably even stricter because we didn't have the time or the the resources to deal with that >> well it sounds like it went well because I've heard just positive things so good outcomes so everybody should be proud of. >> Thank you. Um I just wanted to follow up. I realized uh so you said nine seniors completed their credit recovery. I think how many we have to start or I say I mean how many didn't graduate because of it like 28 30 >> you mean to I guess. >> Yeah.
067So I close together, >> right? So, what I'm looking for is total seniors who didn't graduate due to credit deficiency, but seniors who were eligible to recover credits and then we have just nine that >> we can we we can bring all of those numbers to SIP if that's what we typically do. >> Yeah. Yeah. I I'm just interested because I think there is like you were just talking about that there's always an element of personal responsibility and familial responsibility that often goes by the wayside in schools. But I think in our schools we've made a concerted effort to restore it. Uh but you know some of the time too these are students who are struggling right we uh you know we have and sometimes still do um put obstacles up in front of students
068academically that uh really aren't their fault per se. So I I guess I just want to look at it holistically and say, okay, how many of these folks were even able to recover their credits and then how many did because I think this is a really good snapshot of that. Like we're we're removing us as any potential problem. Just saying how many of these kids showed up for 16 days straight and did the work and didn't cause behavior problems uh as a percentage. Right? So if it's nine out of 12, I'll take 75% of these students who were struggling and unable to graduate were able to get it together and graduate. That seems pretty good to me. But if it's nine out of, you know, 30, uh, then I I'm interested in maybe what we
069can do to strengthen the program. >> That's all. Anyone else? >> Thank you. Uh, I have next uh the monthly financials. And I know the budget committee just met, but I don't recall if you guys literally just went over this before I walked in. Uh, you did. >> Um, so I don't know that you want to go over them at length, but feel free to add anything if you feel like you should. >> Well, we closed out one year, we opened up another year. So, it's been busy times in the finance department. Um, and everybody received uh the July and the June budgets. And right now we're just trying to close out some of the purchase orders. We have soft and find out what our balance will be. >> Great. Anyone have anything related to
070the monthly financials? >> Great. Uh in that case, I will hear a motion to approve it. Second. >> Okay. Any additional discussion on the motion hearing none? All those in favor please say I. >> I. >> Monthly financials are done. Shop like this behind. I shouldn't. Uh, we have committee reports. Uh, let's talk more about budget. Uh, in Ellen's absence, you just did, but do you have anything else related to budget or can we just move right through that? >> We can. >> Excellent. Um, and anybody listening who maybe wasn't listening an hour ago, uh, the recording will be available of that budget committee meeting, um, building committee. Uh I know I asked you this uh just a week ago but uh tell us the good news that there are going to be students in
071the intermediate school on the second. There will be schools on the thing. Um Dean and I had a huge meeting last week with the folks from OMG. Um was concern on our part that we wanted to make sure that things were going to move a little faster and not close at the last minute because teachers were welcomed back today um to set up their classrooms and OMG responded wonderfully. It was a great meeting. They understood where we were coming from and they understood the need to speed things up so that I didn't have a heart attack nor did. So that was much appreciated. But they really stepped up um and got everything ready so that Dean and his group can go in there and rooms presentable and clean for our teachers who we welcome back
072today. um the punch list items or the punch list items you know Zach shared Dean and I at that meeting um prior to Dean and I having the meeting the punch list at the meeting week was a thousand items and by the end of that week was 257 I believe is the exact number so some of those um they are all going to be done which is the good news but those punch list items just have to wait and sometime be on second shift just from nature of the beast but it does not deter us from moving in u other piece that they were waiting for was something from the fire marshal which happened last Friday as well. So things have been moving. I give Dean all the credit. He's at that trailer meeting with
073friends daily but last week we did have that big meeting and proud to say they really responded. As you drove in tonight you saw the new laptop that was laid down. Funny though because we had no rain. Uh and then the day they decided to let his laptop. So I don't know if they fixed it but uh it was kind of funny. pretty good about they are. So that day was kind of funny. Dean and I had to give a good shuffle. But so that circle is now I think 90% complete. I think there's some edging that has to be done and things of that nature. So really excited. It's exciting times and to see everything happening and they had the crane out here again last week as well. I think the best view was
074pretty cool. So we are we're really excited. But yes, to answer your question, Mr. build. >> Speaking of new buildings, >> I have a couple questions. Um, punch list first. So, we set the table so everybody understands what happens with punch list. There's going to be a punch list. Every teacher needs to know that. Every administrator needs to know that it's the largest school project, I think, in Connecticut history in terms of dollars and probably size. Um, it may go on for longer than most people want, but it there will be things that a fellow from BL Companies will continue to come up with and the things that teachers will find and it's not going to happen and and it's not going to go away in a month. I can guarantee everybody that. OMG, I
075I give everybody Dean especially and and and the superintendent, but Mario and Ed, I mean, they're we're going to complete this project under budget with brand new fields, and I think the farfield has been turfed already, and that the tennis courts have been paved, so they're moving at a fast pace. Um, and they they're they're about to the end, so fingers crossed. I don't want to jinx it, but um I mean people do need to know the punch list is going to is going to be there and they're going to get to it. I I doubt very much ONG is going to let that drop given that they're less than a half a mile away from the building. But um I mean the guys did a great job and and I think so everybody knows
076and still doesn't surprise everybody. The building department's looking for more money to do more inspections. I don't know why and nobody seems to know why. I guess they they're coming more than they thought they would. that it's a $200 million project overall. Um, but they want another $80,000, I'm told. Um, hopefully we can avoid that. >> Pardon? >> My question. >> Yeah, the city always wants extra money from my surprise. >> Well, we already paid our we already paid our building permit fee. I've never heard this before in my life on 200 plus projects. I've never had a talent anybody come back and say we want we want to charge you because there's more visits than we have to take. >> That's a shake. >> Well, yeah. I I'm just letting everybody know it may
077come up. It's been Mario and Ed are working on it very hard with the mayor to to try to not have to pay it, but right now it's something that's that's and maybe the superintendent has heard on about that. I don't know. Or maybe Dean has, but um I think that's something that the building committee is going to push back on. Otherwise, it's it's I mean, I'll tell you, it's amazing that it all got done and we're not going to go over budget, it seems. So, and Dena is doing amazing job. He really is. Well, that's >> I was just going to add, this is why I let Eric go first. isn't that serious. But I will say I just toured the new Dbury High School West and uh they have a dedicated board of
078education meeting room in their new building. It's dedicated to and named for their current board of ed chair. Uh so I'm just throwing it out there. >> That's not for everyone's awareness. um >> the room. Yes, the naming of the room, not necessarily, >> but in in all seriousness, I really thank you for your work on this. Uh I know it's a massive project and everybody appreciates how much work you've done for us, especially coming in with our team midway through it. Um, and like the issues that arose with this half of the building, I think everybody understands what Gary said that sometimes you just it takes a little bit to fix these problems, but the folks who have built this building for us are going to fix any issues that come up from this
079construction. >> Yes, they will. >> Okay. >> Or Mario's gonna have to put his stool belt on. One or the other. >> Yeah. Um, okay. So, next we have some minutes. Um, if there's no objection, I would hear uh both the regular meeting minutes from June 25th and a special meeting minutes from June 10th approvals as a single motion. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion edits to the minutes? Hearing none. All those in favor, please say I. Any opposed? >> Okay, those are done. Um, I hear a motion to receive the subcommittee meeting minutes. Again, if there's no objection, I would hear them all as one. So that's facilities and technology on May 14th, budget on May 14th and June 11th, policy on April 2nd, school improvement on May 7th, and
080the building committee on July 24th. >> Any discussion on those hearing? None. All those in favor, please say I. >> Opposed? That's none. Uh I will appear a motion to receive consent to gend second. Uh seconded by Mr. Putnham. Uh any discussion hearing? All those in favor please say I. >> We are on to the second page flipped. Um so we have a relatively small number of items for new business. Uh but first up we have field trips uh both for the high school. One for the model UN uh and Yale in January and also for the high school ROC would like to go to campic in September this year. >> Both of those are trips that we do handling. um the uh the history department one at at Yale Maven in January they're over
081a multi-day UN where the kids are like student delegates and that sort of thing. Um so it's something that we do every year. So they just wanted to get as soon as possible. Um we don't have student lists or anything yet. who just wanted to secure the need approval and then the ROC campic they do that as well. They take all the vets and they go through the um training exercises and that sort of thing both overnight and state trips. >> Correct. >> Anyone have any questions? >> One question is are they going to have to uh looking at the model or Yes. The the cost, do they ever fund raise for that or is this is it? It's 330 per student. Is that normally what how it's run out? >> Yes, it is. >>
082Yeah. The principal there is a principal's fund that sometimes they can. Yes, >> that was the only question I got. >> Anyone else? No. Um I will hear a motion. I mean these are lumped together as nominally one agenda item with an A and B. Uh so I can as long as there's no objection uh here motion to approve that both simultaneously. >> There second move by Mr. Knight seconded by Sue. Uh any discussion hearing? None. All those in favor please say I. I >> I those are approved. Make sure you um and then we have the board self evaluation >> school improvement and something on the agenda tonight. I'm happy to hear. >> I think it was just yeah probably because we had it on there last year in August. So just um the
083carryover >> but if we're not if we're not prepared to have a discussion we can take table for the next >> Actually I prepare to as chairman of school improvement take input from anybody who over the next couple weeks before the school improvement committee meeting the beginning of September would like to say good things or bad things about the way we did it last year because by default I think that worked well enough to just look at that. I would agree. I agree. >> No, just as a member of the school improvement committee, I I like the way that we did it last year and how it all came together and really got everybody's >> everything. Yeah, I really I really think so. I like the way it was done. >> Further discussion at the
084school improvement committee meeting on September, whatever is >> But if you have input you want to say before that, please give me Okay, that was nice and easy. Uh, thank you, John. Uh, we have items for the upcoming agenda. We'll have all of the usual fair reports, meeting minutes, consent, agendas, budget items. Um, what else is anyone expecting or would like to dispense? Any committee? >> We're probably have some pilot. >> We'll have some policy stuff. Yeah. So, anything the committees transmit to us, we will also include. >> Great. Uh, and then comments for the bit of the order. >> Good luck as the first week of September arrives and the buildings are full of students. Good luck everybody with all the opening ceremonies and everything. We look forward to another fantastic school year. >>
085Looking forward to another very very school year. and uh the the diligence of of all the um new hires will uh who will be uh who will be join joining our >> Thank you. Uh two things. First, a pitch for the school improvement committee meeting in the beginning of September because we will be talking about self evaluation. We get into the summer school results and processes a little bit more deeply and if the state has taken the results off embargo, we'll start the discussion about the state results. The other thing is I did this some math before this meeting. This will be my 67th first day of school. Most of which as a teacher, half of which as a teacher, but other responsibilities too. It is a time for anyone hasn't been through it of
086great optimism of great excitement where the world is just going to open up for people in another couple weeks and I I will give my best wishes to the people especially the people who are new or who are undertaking new responsibilities and there are several of those in the system this year. I wish those people great school Um yeah, great great meeting. Um happy to, you know, be handing all the students coming back and uh looking forward to the new building. >> Everybody, welcome back. Good luck. Work hard. Be safe. >> You want me to go? >> Good meeting. Thank you everybody for Dean. All the work you've done over the summer, everybody. all the work we've done over the summer. The consent agenda is huge. And you know, I also just the the appointments
087far away the resations far away. I think there's a handful of resations over what's been appointed and that's great news too. Michael, congratulations on being asked to participate again in the national superintendent conference and representing Torington. Torington's never ever ever been involved in that level of education at the national level. And it's just incredible that we're on the map and and we have a great story to tell. So, thank you for getting us there. It's a good meeting. Hopefully, we'll see some of you in convocation next week. Mist go and is there with bells on this will be my last one. So, unless I get invited in the future, but that's all I have. Thank you, >> Gary. Ditto Sue, but also this might be anecdotal, but the reason I brought up the issue of
088locals, there there was seven girls that they do go to the gym and they come more or less often enough from Torington, graduated recently that really do want to come back to Torington. The new school, the new schools are a big deal. They've heard great things about what's going on. They they've been in and out of the schools. They want to come back now. They've all and they probably didn't have enough experience, but they're going other places. Two are going to the same area, I'm told. But they they've told me they still want to come back and they're going to keep keep putting the resumes in because they want to be back in Tarington. They all those six six graduated within two years of each other. Um and I know needed and and Mattello and
089some others kids are coming back and that's a good thing because we need to pack the city hall the people who live here that have a vested interest. Um, so we have a little more political clout as well, but the kids do want to come back and that's a good thing. So, everybody's doing a great job. >> Yeah, it's a good meeting and looking forward to the beginning of the school year obviously and just want to give a shout out to my crew. Um, custodians have really taken the level of what they do higher. as as a group, we're doing it. Individually, they're doing it. You know, it's uh one district, one team is our motto and really stepped up. So, hopefully you walk into schools, everybody's going to see uh you know, the level
090that I'm speaking of, but did a good job. >> Just to that, I'm sorry, the middle school um the intermediate school, the intermediate school, it looks amazing. That school is it. I don't It looks like somebody kind of just gutted the inside and like ran it through the dishwasher and put it back. It really looks great. It looks amazing. The bathrooms, the the hallways, everything. So, thank you. I forgot about that. >> Good job. >> Good meeting. And I'm just very excited for the whole >> Great meeting. Thank you everybody. everybody. Um, I do want to do a shout out to Pal and Jericho. I did have the pleasure of attending the backpack event over the weekend and they gave out over 800 almost a thousand backpacks and just to see those smiling faces and
091that that event that Mr. Kiso was thinking of as like the world is your oyster. Um, and just the happiness of parents, it was very exhilarating. So looking forward to a new year. I just want to reiterate what Dean just said. Thank you crew for all the hard work like the actual physical sweat that's happened all summer. Um the schools look awesome. World you walk like it's brand new. Oh my god. We have to go on a tour. >> You really do. It it actually sparkles. Like it's beautiful. It's make you cry. Um so thank you. And I want to just give a shout out and a nice big welcome to Michelle Baker. Um it's so good to have you officially at the table. Um we're we're rocking and rolling. Yeah. Excellent. So echo what
092everyone said, but I also mention this the board you guys are part of the team. Everyone knows that central office. Everyone knows that throughout the district. We couldn't do what we do without your support. And that never falls on any employer. years. We actually appreciate it. We need it. It's keeps us going. Uh and I appreciate appreciates it. So, it's a thankless job that you all do. So, I know we don't say it enough. I try to, but I know it's Thank you for all that you do for our students and staff. We appreciate the support. And I know they do as well. And I know the community does even though they won't come out and say it most times that we only hear the negative, but that's what we do. And we keep our
093focus on our students. And I will say that that is the main story and we'll stick to that story and I know all of you here as elected officials because you care about our students and the work that we do. Dean, Rachel, Donna, Michelle, myself, Sue. That's what it's all about and that's why we have been working. We really really can't wait to welcome every second. So I agree Mr. Kiso, it's always an exciting time. You know, I always get the analogy shining the shoes the night before, making sure everything is ready to rock and roll. So, I agree. It's an exciting time. So, thank you board members. Looking >> Thank you. I just want to give a quick shout out uh to to PAL for their backpack giveaway and also to Friendly Instrument Bank
094who also did a backpacking school supplies giveaway. Um I was there lots of happy kids and families. Um, I just think it's really good uh for everybody that our community has so many organizations and volunteers um who have the same mission to help our families and students um and they don't compete with each other and they're not territorial. They just want to make sure that all of the kids get all the supplies that they need. Um and with that, uh I will think uh oh go future meetings. Uh, Wednesday, September 3rd at Toringford, we have school improvement at 5:30 and policy at 6 or immediately after. Wednesday the 10th of September, also at Torinford, we have facilities and technology at 5:30 and budget immediately after or 6 pm. And then we have, of course, our
095regular board event meeting September the 24th right here. The TA uh Oh, sorry. It's not right. Or is that right? >> Okay. So, just down the hall. just down the hall. Uh >> that's your official meeting. >> That's right. All right. I'll I'll leave you when I see the side. >> That's a dean question. >> And with that, uh I will hear a motion to >> address someone. All this picture