001Heat. Heat. Heat. Um, are we waiting for some logistics to happen or can we go? >> We're good. Okay. All right. We'll begin uh this the evening with a silent prayer. >> Okay. Okay. Okay, >> we have a special presentation tonight. We'll stand for the pledge, but we're waiting for the uh students to come in. They come in. >> Oh, you want you want to speak first? >> No. >> Oh, okay. >> All right. I thought they were doing the pledge of allegiance. >> Sorry. >> It's okay. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. Stage production. >> Okay. Good evening, President Brown, board of education commissioners, board of ed
002student representatives, superintendent Dr. Schwarz. Uh, in honor of Board of Education appreciation month, we would like to begin our presentation with the Waterberry Career Academy drum line. HEAT. I don't know. Heat. Heat. Heat. Woohoo! Wow! Heat. HEAT. WOO! All right. Amazing. Woo. You want me to say it? >> Yeah. Amazing performance. Wow. Thank you so much. >> Thank you, Mr. Pont and uh the entire career academy drum line. >> Absolutely. Wow. >> And before we uh begin our presentation of administrators, we have a student who is going to read something to the board of education. >> Okay. One second. Thank you for your time today. For those who serve our schools, you may not stand before a class or write art upon the board. Yet, every student's path is shaped by choices you've explored. Through
003budgets, plans, and careful thought, through questions asked with care, you helped create the learning spaces which where futures can repair. Long evening spent in service work, decisions weighing deep in your carry hopes of families and promises to keep. Not always seen, not always praised, yet steady, you remain. guiding schools toward brighter days through challenge changing game. So today we pause to thank you for vision, time and heart for strengthening our schools each day and playing such a part. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> That was Jonathan Eupray, senior here at Waterberry Career Academy and we have just a little token of our appreciation uh board of education. Thank you for everything that you do. >> Where we going to take that? >> Thank you. Wow. >> I can't take it because I can't.
004>> Do you have our sign? >> You can take them on. Who cares? You only got a few months left in Wil. So, you know, almost >> Well, now that we're all energized, Mr. Harris. >> Okay. I'm gonna >> Thank you for having us. >> No. Thank you, President. She can have mine. >> At my table here tonight, we have um assistant principles Jennifer Francis Kino and assistant principal uh Peter Flamia. We're going to go through a few slides, highlight some of the things that are going on here at Career Academy. Um and you know, entertain any questions you may have upon completion. Uh the first thing we the slide we talked we're talking about is uh collaboration with Cormier Consulting. Uh David Cormier I know does a lot of work within the district. uh
005he and his staff have been tremendous with us and I I have to thank Dr. Schwarz and um Miss Frenis who who've really backed the support of Cormier for career academy which we really needed um some work with lesson plannings things like that raising rigor in our classrooms and we we that was through a NEAS uh request so we thank the board and Dr. Schwarz and his staff for the support. Um we have prioritized the implement implementation of the school climate team and MTSS. They meet weekly where we are discussing students who are at risk and um we've had a very very good impact on students trying to catch things early on when when a student is struggling. So uh with the implementation of that with Miss Franciscino and Miss O'Brien, it's been a tremendous
006addition here at Career Academy. Um, our dual articulated courses in AP continue to rise. Uh, this year we have 161 students enrolled in ECE courses, 73 students enrolled in NVCC courses, nine students in post university, and 175 students enrolled in AP courses in various content areas. So, I know last year we were the number one high school in the state with the highest percentage of students enrolled in ECE. We haven't received anything yet, but I have a feeling we're still going to be in the top five or 10 in the state of Connecticut with that uh fast foot completion. Last year we finished number one in the state and again this year we're number one statewide presently with 91.7% completed. I know Dr. Schwarz is aware of this. He um shared the information, but our
007school counselors are well aware of it. They they take a lot of pride in it. Um what we are happy with is the students or the number of students we have compared to the students who in other schools in the top 10 we're we're almost two two and a half times the size of their 12th grade class. So our 91% we have a large large number of students who are completing this and we hope to get as close to 100% as possible before the end of the school year. Uh 2425 the graduation rate here exceeded 98%. Um we believe we're going to hit that again this year. Uh we're just um couple couple concerns right now, but we're doing a great job with our school counselors, our MTSS, making sure we're we're getting those students
008on track, making sure they're ready to go in June. Uh for our incoming eighth graders, this year was one of the top uh applications that we've received, over 675 applications. uh this past week or actually end of last week we started sending our acceptance letters, our weight list and our denials out. So um hopefully within the the next couple of weeks we'll be able to get our class set our goal is to have two upwards of 220 students um to to balance this off couple of our low our juniors and seniors that are a little lower than 200. So we we still want to get to that threshold of over 800 students here. uh as of the end of February, our crowd and absentee uh rate stands at 10.5 10.56% which is a decrease from
00911.22 a year ago. Um we had a meeting today our CAT team we have three students who have more 20 or more absences and when you have over 700 students and you only have three that are out over 20 days it's it's a very good thing. uh we're going to work hard and keep the number of students who are approaching 20 under 20. So that that is a focus of um our CAT team. And finally for what I'm going to report, uh I know Commissioner Van Stone, Dr. Schwarz, Mr. Morotti, there's been many uh board members, but our robotics team, which just started less than a year ago, achieved their first uh first place victory competition this year in in the fall. Uh they're getting ready. We have some competitions coming up in the uh
010upcoming weeks, but I know that it's been a big support from you, Commissioner Van Stone, uh Dr. Schwarz that's really taken off here. So, in the next couple weeks, we will be competing and I know we'll be up at Willby and I think we're going to Springfield and Hartford as well. So, some good things happening. And I'm going to turn it over to Miss Francis. >> Good evening, everyone. We continue at career to build strong positive relationships with our students and student engagement and a positive school culture throughout the year. Um just wanted to highlight a few uh things that we did so far. Um students attended Hamilton on Broadway. They had a fantastic time in New York. Um juniors and seniors already have toured many many instate colleges with our counselors. Student Council has
011hosted our fall and winter pep rallies. The school has celebrated our Hispanic Heritage Month in a big celebration back in October. Spirit week and homecoming dance were held in November. A college and career fair took place in October. Students participated in the Save of Life tour, the safe driving presentation. In November, we did a holiday door decorating contest. In December, students participated in many charitable events such as the Operation Shoe Box and our crochet club, crocheted blankets for local dog shelters. A Black History Month celebration will be taking place tomorrow. Grades 9 and 10 will be taking the PSATs on April 21st, and our grade 11 students will be taking the SATs. We have a student talent show planned for April. Our seniors are starting to get excited as we they begin to plan for
012prom, awards night, their Holiday Hill class trip, and graduation. And we have a schoolwide field day planned for May. We just wanted to highlight a few um pictures of some of our past celebrations. We have the college and career fair, our Hispanic heritage month celebration, just some student life pictures. Uh we have our blood drive that our HOSA had sponsored. Um last year's field day and also the pep rally. >> Mr. Flammy is going to talk about the career pathways. Good evening everybody. uh in our engineering and manufacturing group pathway uh students in the introductory courses are completing an introduction into CAD and using on shape and generating 3D models. The advanced students are working on the protra and CNC to work on milling applications. Our IT and computer science the students are working across
013business and IT. They're engaged in many career explorations as well as resume development. The advanced students are working with uh leadership opportunities in Unity and Blender game design as well. Here's some pictures of our engineering and manufacturing students on the machines working with our instructors and in our IT academy as well. And our next twommies are education and community services. Our education and community services students are working with various elementary schools close and all around the city on various roles in internship experience. Uh and our students will be competing in the Ed Rising State competition on March 17th at SCSU. For our health sciences, we have a Yukon Allied Health Partnership. 80 junior health students will be visiting Yukon Waterberry campus on March 26 to attend a public health class and they will be participating
014in a panel discussion as well as talking with other various professionals there and in workshops and our uh leadership and career readiness portion of our health sciences. Uh we will be hosting a large HOSA competition on March 14th with over 500 attendees, 15 competitive events and workshops featuring partners such as Hartford Healthcare and Georgetown University. some pictures of our education and community service students working with various students throughout the district and our health sciences students working on various different activities in their classes. And lastly, some sports highlights for our fall. Our football team qualified for the state playoffs for the third consecutive year. Cross country team, the boys were crowned city champions and our girls finished city runnerup. soccer team qualified for the state tournament for the third consecutive year. And our girls volleyball made
015their first ever NVL tournament and qualified for the state tournament as well. Winter sports highlights, our boys basketball reached the NVL final for the fourth consecutive year and will play Friday uh tomorrow in the state tournament. indoor track. All four boys relay teams qualified for the class S championship, first time in school history. And our cheerleading team finished in the top three in multiple competitions and will also also participate in a state competition this Saturday. And one last thing before we conclude our presentation, I just think it is um important to recognize um our education and training. The last couple years we've had students go to compete at nationals down in Washington DC two years ago. Last year they were down in Florida and this year they're going to we have a group that's going
016to be going out to Portland, Oregon. Um Miss Erica Bhutad, who is the teacher lead there, has done a tremendous job and we're continuing to grow the program, but I would be remiss if I did not recognize this year's uh education rising administrator of the year, Mr. Peter Flamia from Waterberry Career Academy. He will be honored on September, sorry, March 17th at uh Southern Connecticut University. I know Dr. Schwarz and I plan on attending, but if we can get a round of applause for Mr. Flamia, everything he's done is greatly appreciated. >> Thank you very much. Uh any questions from the commissioners? Commissioner Van Stone. >> Thank you, Madam President. Through you. Well, you do know that I'm the same age as this school. Well, in schoolboard years, that is. Um, this the first year
017I was a commissioner is the first year this school opened. So, I uh I don't plan to be here when it closes. But um you you know very well that this school is the academics here are so so special to me and since day one not just because I you know track along with the years but I was here before commissioner actually I sat on a group of folks that we sat down and over looked over the curriculum we had planned to use and and put into place and and and it just has taken off. Uh the numbers are fantastic. Um, I know last year you talked to me at graduation to say that any student that was in the building on day one was also in the crowd that night for graduation, you know,
018and that's I told you that night that it's that's amazing. >> Unheard of. >> It's just absolutely amazing. And in the other numbers, I see your attendance is getting better. >> Um, and you're you're focusing on where you need to do some uh help with students on that. uh this year's graduation, you're focusing on the students that need some help to get to uh to the Palace Theater in June. Well, maybe June, might be September, October, but um you know, it the I just have such a love for the the what we do here at this school, you know, and then of course you brought this guy on over here who I've known for a very long time. Um, and I'm so proud of him and he's doing so well. And um, I even got
019to see his mom a few weeks ago, which was very, very good. I hadn't seen her in a very long time, but um, I won't say anymore because I'll embarrass him, but and he got an award and he's going to go. Okay, I'll stop. But, um, this this school is making Waterberry proud. Thank you. >> Um, I was interested to see, you know, all the work you're doing, especially in engineering. Um, but the health services of course too, but engineering. Um, it didn't mention a 3D printer and I know we have one, right? So, we're doing stuff like that. And are the kids going back and then inspecting the what they're making on the 3D printer to see how it did to their their drawings and what what they were supposed to get out of
020that? >> Yes, they are. >> Okay. Great. So, and that's what it's about for these kids. um you know well maybe they don't go on to be an engineer but learning those skills being on the machines and of course you got Bridgeports which being from Bridgeport very proud of that that's where they came from many years ago. I'm not sure how old we are ours are but um they're they're probably pretty old. >> Yeah. Some of the original Yes. that we >> Yeah. So it's great. Um, and I definitely ask any of my commissioners that have not seen the specialties in this school to come. Uh, if you go up into the health services area, you'll think you walked into a doctor's office. It's everything. Uh, it's amazing and, uh, you really need to come
021see this building. It's it's it's really great. So, um, I appreciate the good work you guys are doing. Thank you, >> Commissioner Orso. Good evening. Uh, I want to add on Commissioner Van Stan saying I just uh I'm just so proud of of the administrators and all the teachers. what a great job they do and this is a a great school and uh continue I I have the question and the engineering and manufacturing how many students are in that area offhand >> around 75 >> 75 because there's such a shortage in in that type of area and these kids learning this stuff here because I did I was up in the area before and and and just there's just a shortage in the area for for kids it's just a good path for them you
022I think one of the things that's is helping us and getting us stronger is one is um our our teachers getting the students on the machines. I know that was a lot of we issues we've had in the past, but um the partnership we have with CT State or you know NVCC the way we we we've done over the the pathway in terms of curriculum and what the students are taking. So we're getting students on those machines earlier as opposed to junior or senior year. They're getting on they're in the exploratory. are getting on uh the machines in the the 10th grade and you know the foundations and uh with the help of Mr. Marati we really and then um CT state we've really we we did away with lathe one and milling one and
023lathe two and milling two and benchwork and gr grinding now it's advanced manufacturing one advanced manufacturing two and we're utilizing all the machines on any given day at once so we we don't have students just waiting around waiting for the lathe or waiting around for the the miller now we because of the projects that they're doing and they're submitting to NVCC um we could have kids on four different mach different types of machines every every class period. So, we've kind of re retoled what it is we're doing, but I think we're getting better. And then the cost or lack of cost to go to CT State is really flowing more kids who may have used to want to go out and do the um job shadow and and go on and become an apprentice. Now,
024they're going on to CT State and they're doing the advanced manufacturing with them. So, we're seeing a lot of positives there and hopefully that'll continue to grow our numbers. >> That's great. and also the drum cord that was here tonight. They were fantastic. I won't be able to hear for about a week but they were fantastic. >> Thank you, Mr. Pontto and the students do a great job and we will be adding that as a class uh you know for our next year as an elective so a half year or so to really increase our numbers in the in the music um department. >> Thanks. Well, I think we're all here amazed at the progress the school has made and the innovation and we really appreciate you and the staff and just uh as Tom
025said uh shining light in Waterberry Public Schools. So, thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Uh next we have the uh public speaking. We have a few people speaking. Uh >> Sarah Adek, if I'm killing that name, Prospect Road, Waterberry, suspend the regular order. >> You have to suspend the regular order. >> Let me make a motion. So, I don't think we have to. >> It's a workshop. Okay. You have to do it. >> Okay. Make a motion. >> Think we do. We need to make a motion. >> Okay. Go ahead. I motion to suspend the regular order of business to hear from the public. All speakers are encouraged to submit prepared written statements to the commissioners. Comments shall be limited to a maximum of five minutes. There will be no responses this evening
026to any questions or concerns raised. They will be referred to the administration for review and response. >> Second >> discussion. All in favor? >> Opposed? Abstain. Motion carries. Good evening. Uh the first speaker is >> Good evening members of the uh board of education and superintendent. My name is Samir and uh I'm coming to you today. I'm a student at Waterberry Career Academy. I'm a junior and I'm coming to you today not just as a student, but as a young person who lives with the reality of street violence. For many people, violence is something they only hear about on the news. But for many youth like me, it's something we think about every day. Sometimes we plan our routes home around it. Schools should be places of safety, support, and guidance. Not just academics. Prevention
027matters more than punishment. That means counselors, after school programs, mentors and adults who listen before problems turn into crisises. Young people are not the problem. We are the solution if we are given support and real opportunities. Street violence isn't just a youth issue. It's a community responsibility. When you invest in youth, you invest in the future of the city. Other cities have already shown that youth investment works. In Baltimore, youth safety and prevention programs give students safe places to go after school. Mentorship and activities that keep them engaged and supported. That's something that we could bring here. So today, I'm asking the board of education and the superintendent to work with our schools and community to create open gym nights and structured after school spaces where students can come together in a safe environment. A
028place where we could place sports, express our creativity through art, build friendships, connect with uh mentors, and stay away from negative influences. Sometimes prevention doesn't start with a big policy. Sometimes it starts with simply simp simply opening a gym and giving young people a place to belong. Young people don't need to be pushed away. We need to be invested in. If we invest in youth today, we build a safer city tomorrow. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next we have uh Brianna Lee Owens. Good evening. My name is Brianna Lee Owens. I'm a sophomore at Waterberry Arts Magnet School and I live on Fox Street here in Waterberry. Today I'm here on behalf of LI Let Youth Lead to address an issue that continues to impact many young people in our city. Youth violence. Youth violence
029has been an ongoing problem in Waterberry for years. Many one of reasons many young people struggle is because they do not always have healthy outlets for their emotions, stress, and experiences. When students don't have safe spaces to express themselves or positive places to spend their time, it can lead to conflict, frustration, and sometimes violence. That is why we're here today with a simple but powerful idea. If schools like John F. Kennedy High School and other school buildings across our district provided more afterchool programs and activities, we believe in we believe the number of youth involved in violence could decrease. Providing students with opportunities after school would keep young people engaged, supported, and off the streets during the hours when conflicts may occur. It also gives students the chance to spend time with friends in positive
030environments while participating in activities like art, music, band, theater, sports, or leadership programs. All of which are healthier ways to express emotions and creativity. The good news is that our school buildings are already there. Spaces exist. What we are asking for is greater access and investment in programs that allow students to use those spaces after school hours. Another important part of preventing youth violence is ensuring that students have strong behavioral and mental health supports within our schools. Across many schools in Waterberry, there are positions that remain unfilled that focus on supporting students emotional and mental well-being. Though through LIL, we are taught that young people can be leaders and advocates for mental health awareness. But we're also we also recognize we cannot do this work alone. Students need trusted adults, mentors, and trained support staff
031who can guide us as we navigate challenges both inside and outside of school. That is why we're asking for a greater investment in behavioral support programs and partnerships with local nonprofit organizations that already work with youth in our community. When schools partner with community organizations, they create strong stronger support systems for students. Our hope is that our schools can feel more like community homes, places where students feel safe, supported, and connected, not only during the school day, but beyond it as well. By investing in after school programs, mental health supports, and positive adult mentors, we can help young people build healthier coping skills earlier in life. Doing this work now can help prevent violence today, but also reduce violence in adulthood and in the future. Some changes, some small changes can make a big difference.
032Giving students more opportunities, more support, and more safe spaces can truly change lives. Thank you for your time and listening to the voices of the youth. >> Thank you very much. WOOHOO. UH, next we have Sanja Grub. Senia, it's >> good evening members of the board. I'm Sia Grubs and I am a junior at Kar Technical High School and a resident of Waterberry, Connecticut. I am here tonight to share idea for a program that me and my team would like to develop. In recent years, food insecurity has become increasingly present in Waterberry and across our state. In 2022, 14% of adults in Greater Waterberry and 22% of adults in Waterberry reported that they were unable to provide enough food for their families at some point in the year. According to CT data haven, even more
033concerning, current data shows that one in four students in Watergate public schools experiences food insecurity. Across Connecticut, the Connecticut Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity, and Opportunity have reported that food insecurity is at an all-time high, impacting more than 500,000 families statewide. Even if our efforts improved to the level of our neighboring states like Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Connecticut would still be facing significant challenges because our state currently spends less than half per student on addressing food insecurity compared to those states. Limited access to nutritious foods often force families to rely on inexpective inexpensive pantry staples that are high in processed fats, sugars, and sodium. Over time, this can increase the risk of chronic health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. That is why promoting healthy eating and nutrition education must
034be a priority for our schools and for our community. After extensive research, my team and I have developed a solution called Healthy Meal Mondays. This weekly program will be our online cookbook that celebrates diverse cultures of Waterberry while promoting nutritious and affordable meals for families. Every Monday, a new recipe created in partnership with local Waterberry restaurants will be released across multiple social media platforms to expand our reach. These recipes will be healthier versions of cultural dishes that families can easily prepare at home or choose to purchase directly from participating restaurants. By partnering with local restaurants, this cookbook will not only promote healthier eating, but also stimulate the local economy by highlighting small businesses and encouraging community members to support them. At the same time, it will strengthen community connect connections by celebrating the many cultures
035that make Waterberry unique and bringing people together through food. In addition, I encouraged the Waterberry Board of Education to think about how we could continue investing in healthy meal programs within our schools. One idea me and my my team came up with is to explore the creation of community gardens at every school where students can learn about nutrition, food systems, and healthy eating while growing fresh produce that can support school meal programs and local families. Programs like these will provide both hands-on nutrition education and a sustainable way to increase access to fresh, healthy foods within our community. After the initial launch of our program, we hope to produce and sell physical copies of the cookbook. The proceeds would then be donated to local food banks and farms to further support further support families experiencing food
036insecurity. With your support, we can work toward improving the health of our community while strengthening local businesses, expanding nutrition education, and celebrating the cultures that make our city home. Together, we can help make Waterberry healthier one meal at a time. Thank you, and have a wonderful living. >> Thank you very much, Madison Harris. Good evening, members of the board. My name is Madison Harris and I am a student at Waterberry Arts Magnet and a proud resident of Waterberry, Connecticut. I'm here tonight to speak about the importance of nutrition education and healthy eating for young people, especially in urban communities like Waterberry. Across our city and across the country, many young people do not always have consistent access to healthy, nutritious foods. When that happens, it affects not only our physical health, but also our ability
037to learn, grow, and succeed in school. That is why I am asking the Waterberry Board of Education to consider expanding nutrition education opportunities in our schools with a focus on teaching students about healthy eating, food systems, and how the food we eat impacts both our bodies and our communities. Recently, my peers and I had the opportunity to learn from Shaun Johnson from the North End Cooperative Market, who taught us about the seed to seedling program. Through this experience, we learned how food can be grown locally and how students can play a role in understanding where our food comes from. It showed us that education about food and the environment can empower young people to make healthier choices and become leaders in their communities. We also recognize that across the country, we are seeing less investment
038in locally grown foods. Even though local agriculture can play an important role in strengthening communities, Waterberry is uniquely positioned to be a leader in this area. Our city has several farms and across the regional food hub and access to a regional food hub, which means we can we already have the foundation to support programs that connect schools with locally grown food. That is why I am asking for partnership and support around food justice and environmental justice initiatives that will help change the lives of Waterberry public school students. One important step could be in could be investing in healthy foods in our schools and creating a small pantry at each public school so that students and families who may be experiencing food insecurity can access nutritious food when they need it. By partnering with local organizations,
039farms, and community leaders, we believe we can create programs that not only improve student health, but also stimulate the Waterberry economy by supporting local farmers and food businesses. Programs like nutrition education, school pantries, and partnership with local farms can teach students lifelong skills about healthy eating, sustainability, and community responsibility. They can also help ensure that every student has access to the healthy food they need to thrive. I truly believe that when we invest in healthy food and nutrition education, we are investing in the future health success and leadership of our students. Thank you for your time and for your commitment to supporting the students of Waterberry. >> Thank you very much. >> Next, we have uh Joseph Jo. Okay. Joseph Burton. That's right. >> Okay. >> Good evening, members of the board. My name is
040Quisa Thomas and I am a student in Waterberry Public School. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak tonight about an issue that affects many students across our city. Safe and reliable school bus transportation. For many students in Waterberry, getting to school safely is not always guaranteed. Transportation plays a critical role in whether students are able to attend school consistently and arrive ready to learn. When students do not have the access the safe way to get to school, it directly impacts attendance, punctuality, and academic success. Across the country, research shows that transportation barriers are one of the leading causes of chronic act absences among students. And Waterberry is not immune to this challenge. If we want to address absences in our cities, we must start by ensuring the su that students have safe, reliable,
041and accessible transportation options. In many neighborshoods across Waterberry, students are expected to walk to school and from and when the conditions are not safe. For example, I attend Gil Martin School and in my neighborhood, there are streets without sidewalks and several back roads that make walking dangerous for students, especially during the winter months or when it get dark in the morning. For students living in neighborhoods like mine, walking to school means navigating busy roads, poor lightning, and unsafe walking paths. Situations like this make it hard for students to get to school safely and on time. Providing safe and accurate school bus transportation is not just a convenience, it is an important investment in student safety and academic success. When students have reliable transportations, they are more likely to attend school regularly, arrive on time, and
042start the day prepared to learn. Before I conclude, I will also like to highlight that transportation challenges impact many students across our cities. Next, you will hear from a student from the Boost community school who experience similar challenges in schools that do not always provide transportation to all students. Ensuring that every student has access to safe transportation is one of the most important ways we can support attendance and success for all students in Waterberry. Thank you for your time and consideration. >> Thank you very much. The next Jayla Swain. >> Good evening members of the board. My name is Jayla Swain and I'm a student in Waterberry Public Schools. I want to talk about another challenge many students experience across our city. Late school buses. Across Waterberry, hundreds of students rely on school buses every
043day to get to school. While there is a bus tracking app that students and families can use, it is not always accurate, which can make it difficult to know when the bus will actually arrive. Every morning, I wake up early and get ready for school so that I can catch my bus on time. But many days, the bus arrives late. I understand that sometimes delays happen, but lately it feels like it has been happening more and more often. At first, the bus would usually only be 1 or 2 minutes late, which can be manageable, but now it is often 3 to 7 minutes late. That might not seem like a lot of time, but for students trying to get to school on time, it can make a big difference. When the bus arrives late, students
044may arrive late to school. And even when we make it on time, we sometimes have very little time to eat breakfast before class starts. Breakfast is important because it helps students focus and have energy for the school day. Reliable transportation is a big part of making sure students are ready to learn each day. I hope we can continue improving the bus system so that students can count on it being on time and accurate. I truly hope that the average delay we are seeing right now does not continue to increase in the future. Thank you for listening and for supporting the students of Waterberry. >> Thank you very much. Are there any other members who didn't have a chance to sign that would like to speak? I'll go. >> I got you. >> Good evening, distinguished
045members of the board of education. My name is Amari Brantley and I serve as the youth development coordinator at Waterberry Bridge to Success. And amongst that role, that means I get to lead and guide these amazing young people behind you. For the past two months and for the next three months, these young people are going to be working on projects that need your assistance. Projects focusing on food and environmental justice, transportation, and youth violence. Not only just street violence, but the violence that goes on through our individual classrooms. Earlier today, we got to talk with Commissioner Ireland around what he can do in his role as a CEO of the Y uh the YMCA and how we can collide. We need more investment from all of you commissioners and would love to meet with you
046and gain your support as we continue to work on projects because the young people that are behind you are the future leaders who hope to be in your seat tomorrow. We thank you for listening and hope to meet with each and every one of you and come back to your May meeting when they finish all of their projects. especially Commissioner L who I knew uh growing up and he led me in an exact program just like this. So we thank you for your time tonight and look forward to working with you in partnership with all and thank you for all that you do for Waterberry Public School students. >> Thank you all very much and uh definitely we'll we'll try to uh partner with you and learn how we can uh move your agenda forward.
047Thank you. Okay. Make a motion. >> I motion to return to the regular order of business. >> Second. >> Discussion. All in favor? >> I. >> Opposed? Abstain. Motion carries. Thank you. >> I I have another motion. >> Okay. Go ahead. >> I move to add to the agenda item number 2A, discussion concerning the 2025 2026 school year calendar. >> Second. >> Discussion. >> Let's do it. Okay. All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. Thank you. All right. Okay. Community school partnership update. Bridge to success. Althia Brooks. Before I start, I want to say it's just coincidence we have the same initials. There's no relation. >> We feel like exactly. >> Okay. Good evening um to Mayor Perooki in his absence, President Brown, commissioners, student representatives, and superintendent Schwarz. Thank you for the opportunity to
048share the work of BTS and the Boost initiative. So tonight, I want to just give you an update on the great work happening in our boost community schools. For some of you, the concept and what the work is may be new. So I'll give a brief overview of what that is. Community schools are coordinated ecosystems of supports for students and families beyond the traditional school day. It's before school, during school, after school, evenings, and sometimes even weekends. Our goal is to strengthen the community so schools can function more effectively. Why this work matters now? Many students face attendance challenges. You heard some of that from our youth. Families need support navigating barriers to learning and inequities to access resources continue to impact student outcomes. By addressing these challenges holistically, the whole child, the whole school,
049the whole community, community schools ensure all students have the tools and resources that they need for success. To date, we have invested since 2023 about 2.25 million in our boost community schools. Say that again. We've invested 2.25 million in our boost community schools since July of 2023. It's a mix of public and private resources from the federal government, from private philanthropy, and from Waterberry Public Schools. These funds support critical areas, including staff, our site coordinators. We have a school-based staff person at each of our boost community schools. We currently have five. If you're not aware of what the five schools are, they're Reed, Dugen, Gil Martin, Wendel Cross, and Roberto Clemente are our five schools. So, we have a a boost um site coordinator at each of these schools who really serves as a connection
050between the internal and external supports and needs of students, staff, and parents and caregivers. It also provides critical assistance around attendance support strate strategic planning retreats with principles as well as the critical student programming supports that we provide. The core areas where the investments are made is as you see there attendance and student engagement, family and community engagement, early childhood education and wraparound supports and basic needs. First around attendance, I want to celebrate that in our boo schools, if you look over the last three or four school years, we have outpaced the rest of the district in our attendance. So, I take pride in saying that. Um, we've seen a three point in three point increase um in community school attendance rates since 2023. It's on the next slide. Our coordinators work closely with students,
051families, as well as the principles and school um staff to identify barriers early for students. what some of the challenges are as we heard from of our youth from from some heard from some of our youth just before um I spoke offering support and guidance before absences become a pattern. Some of the things that are done to address that um are our nudge letters. Over 1,600 attendance letters have been sent since September of 2025. Some of the additional assistance are phone calls. Also some cases we do home visits. There were seven attendance events held since 2025, serving roughly about 650 650 students, families, and caregivers. Overall, community schools have seen a 14 point decrease in chronic absenteeism since 2023. 14 point decrease in chronic absenteeism. If you look at the chart there, in some cases,
052one of our schools had a rate of about 40% chronic absenteeism, and we're seeing it now just at about 20%. It's huge, huge change. In addition to that, 670 plus students have participated in Boost programming um across all Boost community schools. 38 programs including academic, social, emotional, creative, and physical, fitness, and wellness programs have also been provided since 2023. Our key partners are listed there that are currently delivering programs in the school totaling about 27 plus hours of enrichment and support across all sites since 2023. Second impact area is family and community engagement. You heard some of the students me mention some of the challenges that are happening to our families. One of the key things is the issue of food insecurity and we've begun to do food popups at our booth schools once a
053month. Each booth school has a popup there. With regard to one in particular at Dugen, we are there actually every other Tuesday out front. And you know, it's been fairly cold these last several months, and we're still seeing anywhere from 90 to 120 people show up every other Tuesday at 9:00 in the morning to access food. Our programs meet families where they are, offering meaningful opportunities to connect, engage, and provide feedback. By actively involving parents, caregivers in the community, we help to remove some of the barriers to learning and directly support students and families. There's been 23 family engagement events and 600 plus families and caregivers have been served annually through those particular events. One of the most exciting ones is the kindergarten canvas. I think engaging children before they come into the building, getting
054to meet their principles and teachers and show the excitement about we're so glad to have you come for the fall has really made an impact on the little ones and and their parents. The next area of impact is early childhood education. Our ECE initiatives help to strengthen early connections between families and schools, build school readiness and caregiver confidence, and really help to reduce some of the barriers before they impact the attendance and achievement of children. By investing before kindergarten, we lay the foundation for long-term student success. One of our key initiatives is our sparkler initiative. Um and that particular initiative one that really partners with engaging parents, providers and um educators around the needs of students. So our sparkler initiative currently we have all 17 schools that have pre-k classrooms are onboarded to sparkler and
055every early care and education provider in the city is using the tool. Um 4.5 out of five is the average satisfaction rate um with regard to the rating of our early childhood programs, the sparkler app, and parent and prenatal support. Of the 2300 plus ages and stages questionnaires, we've seen that communication, motor skills, and problem solving, personal, social, and behavioral, social, emotional development has been positively impacted. On the next slide, you'll see sparkler. Is that feedback? Okay. >> Um, with regard to the sparkler initiative, it is a partner with the state office of early childhood. Waterberry is the largest administrator of this app. We currently have 1500 actively engaged adults utilizing this tool, the ages and stages questionnaire. I see the superintendent smiling because he has his children on the sparkly app. We have 1,700
056plus um children who are served through the app. 100% of the parents report that it's helpful. We continue to have events evening swimming with Sparkler at the YMCA which is a huge partner around that. We know we know swimming safety is a huge thing but it's a great thing to support gross motor skills in children. That's our early childhood work. And we also have a great partnership with Yukon Waterberry through their CAP lab which really helps to address if there are any identifiable neurological issues that are showing up in the app. We actually work with them to support children and families around those issues in addition to the social emotional um component called feel your best self. The last impact area is a wraparound services and basic needs. Um I mentioned about the food insecurity.
057I I won't belabor that. I think you all as leaders and volunteers and individuals invested in this community know about the challenges that families are experiencing when it comes to food insecurity. But I will mention we've had 41 food giveaways impacting over 1,600 families um over the last year. Um yeah, just move on from that. And then lastly, our capacity building and systems growth work. Um, our network of community partners has grown, enabling coordinated support for attendance, enrichment, and family engagement. 33 partnerships with organizations spanning arts and culture, community and social services, health and wellness, leadership and civic engagement, some of which you which you witnessed tonight with our youth, and STEM and education. Um, additionally, um, one of the things I think that's hugely important is the partnership with the district and working closely
058with the assistant superintendent and really being in collaboration with our principles in the schools. Not doing this in isolation, not dictating what needs to be done, but really collaborating around approaches, strategies, and the actual initiatives um that we engage in. All some of the partners are listed there on the slide. Um and then I think one of the really exciting things that's happening is the work with our school governance councils really supporting the schools and building the capacity of the school governance councils so that we can see the impact not only within the schools but in our kids and families. So really developing streamlined principal report templates to support transparent strategic school governance meetings. supporting consistent documentation and shared agendas, engaging parent liaison and community leaders to strengthen recruitment and sustain participation from parents and
059other individuals, and providing turnkey toolkits that have been developed by our key partner um Dillinger Research and Development to clarify bylaws, roles, decision-m processes. And so there's some additional information about the learning as we go relative to the school governance councils that we will approach it with a shared vision, clear role clarity, and practical tools that support principles and families alike. Looking ahead with our continued investment in community schools, it allows us to deepen relationship driven and focused on attendance work, expanded meaningful family engagement. Parents really want to be involved. They want to be active participants in what's happening in their children's schools. And then strengthen data informed programming across all sites. That's something that we do. Data drives everything that we do. It tells the story in ways that which some of the more
060qualitative or anecdotal stories don't tell. But we are data driven. With sustained support, we can build on current momentum, tracking long longitudinal outcomes, conducting pre and postprogram comparisons. All of our programming partners know that you get an initial evaluation. There's an interimm check-in and every program that comes into our boo schools gets an evaluation. there's a direct connect with the providers in the schools so that we can actually improve upon the impact. Um, funding ensures that this integrated holistic model not only continues but grows while strengthening communities so schools can deliver lasting academic and social emotional success for every student. I'm excited to announce and I've gotten permission to do that. I'm excited to announce that we've been invited with Waterberry Public Schools to participate in the New England District Community School Consortium, which is
061is an initiative funded by the Nelly May Education Foundation and the Great School Partnership that will provide coaching and multi-year funding support to Waterberry Public Schools and its partnership with with Waterberry Bridge to Success. Thank you. Good evening everyone and thank you for the opportunity to share some comments from our principles about the impact of BTS in their schools. So I'll start with uh Dugen. Great support from the site coordinator. Attendance incentives, parent engagement have all improved and they've even had a great attendance breakfast with uh many additional incentives at Gil Martin. The site coordinator is a great help with attendance and school activities at Roberto Clemente International. B economy is a well-liked program and attendance documentation and incentives and parent workshops are are taking off at Reed School. Huge support with attendance very helpful
062to staff and students during lunchwave support. And finally at Wendel Cross uh the PTO and BTS partnership uh for activities is partnering uh with BTS for activities at all meetings. The site coordinator again is a is great at communicating with admin and programs are running very well. So hopefully what you hear from that uh is an appreciation for the site coordinators as well. So thank you. >> That's great. >> I didn't hear you mention Carrington. Is Carrington uh not involved anymore? >> Carrington is not participating this year. >> Okay. We'll have to look into that. Uh thank you. Extraordinary uh presentation. Uh any comments from the commissioner oro? Quick question. I probably should know the answer to this question, but how are these schools picked? >> I turn that over to Dr. Schwarz. >> Yeah,
063I was I was there actually in the room. So, that was that was interesting. This is before in this seat. Um, but we go, you know, back this this idea of opening up the schools, which actually links to the presentation from the students earlier about making sure that schools are serving not just the students that are in that school, but the community that surrounds that school, which isn't always the same thing, right? And so, um, at the time when it was being discussed early on, it was, uh, we were trying to find locations that were, uh, located around the city that weren't bunched up in one location, but equally dispersed around the city. And at that time, we were kind of going through different options. And it just so happened that the preK seemed to
064be n naturally situated at different points around the city. and it had an expan expansion of presk students all the way up to middle school. And so it was just a natural fit rather than randomly picking elementary schools. Uh it was uh and if you recall it was a a goal of the boards to expand prek aid to make sure they're successful. So it was it was about location but also the span of the grades at the time. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions? Commissioner Ireland. >> Thank you, Madam President. What? >> Um, I just want to share that I', you know, I've had the opportunity to to grow with BTS and, you know, I've I've started maybe I think 2022. Um, and it has been a a great partnership and you can really
065feel the the effects of these kids, right? Like when they come and you know, the site corners do a great job of just the camaraderie and the togetherness and you know, these kids really need that that access after school and before school. So, it's something that I was able to see in real time and see the effects and um and to build a relationship and to build connection with these kids and it's and it's and for me it's been nice to see um the growth of the kids right like and now I see them you know they're se in seventh grade eighth grade nth grade and see them at the Y and you know but it all started from those BTS um after school programs but you know I I do want to give a
066a huge shout out to to the site coordinators Terrence um Nadia Hermy um and even um Akia Yeah, even though I know she's the key is no longer no longer with us, but she does a little bit um here and there, but um and then and then the the the the most important piece that is the feedback in in the data, right? Like the Dillinger data data company um you know, there's pre-erveys, post surveys. I mean, it's really, you know, it's really impactful and you can really feel the effects and um it's something that that is obviously data driven and and the kids love it, right? And um you know now that you know being at the YMCA we've continued that partnership and um you know I'm just I'm just you know super super excited
067to see the growth of BTS and um you know wanted to continue that partnership. So kudos to you and your team and let youth lead and you know you know I love Amari's energy and and what he's doing with the kids. So um you know kudos to you guys everything you guys are doing. Thank you. >> And again shout out to the site coordinators. If we could have the site coordinators just There you go. >> Yeah. There we go. >> Hi. Congratulations. >> You get them in take a look. They kind of have a little display for each school and some of the things that they're doing in their buildings. >> Nice. >> Yeah. Commissioner Black. Go ahead. >> Thank you, Madam President. Just had a quick question. Um I see you have students from
068Wham's career and KER Techch. Are there any more students that or those high schools involved in BTS? said on the chart you only showed the schools the community schools so Dr. Martin, Robert, Reed, stuff like that. Are there any charts showing the numbers in Wilby, Crosby, Lieutenant >> right now? Boost is only in the preK8 >> and then how so how do the >> So let youth is okay. Yeah, let youth lead is open to all high school students. Yeah. >> Um in Waterberry, we do open it up. >> And how many students do you have from the high schools aside from the two that presented or three? >> What's the number one? How many high school students do you have from will be Crosby? You had three today from K. You had one from
069Kainer, Williams and career present today and read and public speaking. Do you have any more students that are involved from those schools and also will be Crosby? >> Yes. >> What what are the numbers like? >> Yeah, >> we have two students from Crosby and there are 20 students total through the program >> through the program. Okay. And then I see the partnerships here too with the rec. Samir had mentioned something about open gyms and stuff like that north and rec center. Do you have any program like that at the rec centers? >> So yes we do. So one of the things that the site coordinators has developed is actually um boost basketball for that purpose um because our our preks don't have sports teams. So um the site coordinators again data feedback from students.
070So we do have a boost basketball initiative and that is taking place at the north end recreation center. So, in addition to the booth schools that are participating, we have, I believe, four community um basketball teams that will be a part of that as well. So, we are utilizing the rec center um and our community centers even for our food popups in addition to being at a school every fourth Saturday of the month. We're doing food popups at the Berkeley Community Center, the Wild Community Center, the North and Wreck, we'll be at Washington um school the end of this month. So, we definitely try to expand the touch and reach for all the things that we do. But yes, we are trying to utilize the gyms for um at least basketball at this point for
071because some of our kids are not involved in that way. They don't have >> So what we do they do offer schools because there's a interal posting for one do cross for boys basketball or basketball whatever they're doing there. So there is there's basketball there. We also have basketball pal east mountain >> any community group in the city wants to do basketball. Um but the south and red stuff like that, Chase Park House, Washington Park House, are those gyms being utilized? Those spaces being utilized for these open gyms, for these safe spaces, for these programs that they want to do >> if they're open and available. Yes. I mean, as far as what we're doing, I'm sharing with you what we're the space that we're utilizing. >> Okay. >> And then uh >> and I
072think probably answer those questions. >> So, no, Rihanna lease had mentioned safe space for like arts and stuff like that. The proteins that match the museum. Can you tell me a little bit about that what you're doing there? >> So the Matitechuck Museum program is arts in the school. It's an afterchool program. Currently we have them at Gil Martin. They'll be serving about 15 students at Gil Martin um in during our spring programming, but it is currently only at that school this in in the spring for us. But as far as the high school students, um our pre we're only in the prek8s right now. We are not serving the high schools um at this point, but it hopefully maybe at some point we will end up in a high school. So unfortunately we're not
073there at this time. >> Okay. And then just I'll just ask you take a look at the greenhouse in Toronto Park right on East Liberty there. I know they do some type of farming stuff like that. And I know the PAL also have a greenhouse there in their program and they do farming. Um and they al also offer nutritional education programs like that. So there's a lot of programs out there. I would just ask that just gets in involved with them just to try to utilize those spaces the resources whatever they have because we want to it's nice to have it for these schools but we want to get every school right. We want to involve every student, every water public school student. We want them to be involved and have opportunity to participate in
074the bridge success program, right? We want to make that reach and touch everything we can. So, I'm just asking that, you know, we can just make a huge effort to get everyone involved. You got to be a knock on the door and, you know, I'll fully support you guys and do whatever you want to do um with your programming and stuff like that. But, I just want to see more involvement at least with the older kids, too, because I noticed that, you know, with the safe spaces, the youth violence, even when I was that PAL, we had trouble keeping 15 to 17 year olds in the gym. It's something to do. Keep them active, involved, and engage with us aside from choosing the streets or this or that. So, I just ask that you just
075do that and just extend your reach if you can. >> Thank you. >> Any other comments? Commissioner Van Stone. >> Thank you, Madam President. Through you, uh, a lot of data, a lot of info, a lot of activities, a lot going on, good positive feedback. Um, and with that data though, the all but two of the schools you mentioned go to eighth grade. So, we have students that have gone through boost and are now in the middle schools because they've aged out of the school that they're in. >> Mhm. Do we have any data that shows if things like the attendance uh culture that is trying to be brought about is carrying with them into the middle schools and soon at some point Boost is going to have high schoolers right because it's getting four
076or five years now. How long have we been about that >> with the >> how long we do been doing the boost program now? >> We did the asset mapping in 2016. We actually launched our programming, but that was the asset mapping. Our first program actually uh was administered in spring of 2018. >> So we're eight years old now. So you actually have kids that have gone through boost >> that are in high school at older schools, you know, K8s, pre-K8s. >> So it it would be nice to hear if that culture that you're trying to >> bring home y >> uh is carrying through and that their attendance is still >> being a success. Yeah. >> As they keep going, right? Because you're saying it's data driven and and but it'd be nice if
077the data followed the child, I guess, is the best way I could put that. >> Yep. So, we look forward to the board approving our data sharing agreement that we've been asking for so we can get that data. >> Well, I don't know the privacy rules on that, so I can't answer that one, >> but u >> So, yes. Um, so that's been about Yeah. So, so if we if we can get access to that data, we can do that. But what I will say in a as a positive to that point, we held our first um transition um program for youth graduating from 8th grade going into high school last summer on the campus of Nontech Valley Community College in partnership with Higher Heights Youth Empowerment Program. So we will be following up with
078those students for that very reason to see one to reinforce all the things that have been invested in during their time in their preK and then as they then make this transition >> because they can be lesson learned for you. >> Absolutely. And I'll be glad to share that with you. >> Absolutely. >> Well, seeing you asked us for something >> uh >> Oh, >> it's budget season. >> And actually, we're going to be talking about our next year's budget >> in a few agenda items from now. >> And we do have in budget money to BTS. >> Wonderful. Wonderful. >> Right. Well, we It's there. Mhm. >> I want you to tell me when we have to do cuts in our budget because we are under probably the most challenging year in my 12
079years on the board >> to put the budget together because we had our finance meeting the other night. Why should we continue to give money to BTS? >> I think the data tells you why. We have better attendance rates. When you look at the attendance rates of students attending our prek8 schools, and that's no shade to any other school, we are showing the impact that these six site coordinators are making in these five schools by seeing that kids are connecting not only to the the adults that they've come to know in the building, the safe that safe space that's been created for them, showing up for school, parents deeply engaged and more involved than we've seen um in several years. So, I think we have a demonstrated track record that we are getting the outcomes
080that I know you all want to see for students and families. >> And I know I kind of put you on the spot with that question. >> That's okay. >> However, we at the bud at the finance meeting the other night, we know we have some extremely difficult decisions to make. >> Mhm. >> So, probably once we make that budget final, >> the couple friends that we still do have, but we probably won't have because there's not there's going to be a lot of people that probably will not be happy with us. So, um, we need to ask these tough questions and we need to hear answers like these to show, >> but I am very interested in what I did ask for in that data to follow. So, I'm glad you're at least starting
081now with the group that you're that you're saying we're going to, but it'd be nice to know if we could. I know you said you need the data. However, it would help us, but again, I don't know the privacy and why maybe it's not happening, but that's up to uh other people. But uh I if if it's if it's able to be given, I hope we give it. >> But I can't promise that. >> From that data, we found for every dollar you invest in a community schools initiative like Boost at BTS, there's a $711 return for every dollar you invest. So if you need that part, you can have that too. >> That's to make the case. >> Helpful. Thank you so much. >> You're welcome. >> Any other questions for what you do?
082>> Thank you, Commissioner L. >> Sorry, madam. Thank you. Um just quick question in the chart here it says 670 students from 2023 to 2025. Is there any way we can get that information that uh Commissioner Vansstone asked for? Can you split it up? >> Which one in particular? >> Uh core impact areas attendance and student engagement. >> We have that >> you have it split by year. >> Yeah, we I can get it to you by year. >> Yeah, if you can just get that to us as well. And because the attendance rate >> I know you no shade at school you all it's only 1%. >> But it's 1%. That's significant. You're talking about a district of almost 19,000 students. >> Absolutely right. But everyone is growing at a steady pace and it's
083a 1% difference past four years. A 1% difference. So I'm just saying to make that case if we can just get numbers so that way we when we go in there we can say oh we need this is very this is you know this serves our students. We need them here compared to >> we don't know. >> Do you want us to break it out by quarter or you want it by year? What would be better for you? >> The more the better. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> We'll do. >> Okay. Okay. Well, thank you very much. And I I would add that the boost is more than a program. The boost is a vision for Waterberry Public Schools that has been part of our strategic plan going back eight or 10 years. The
084idea is to it's part of the foundation for a new way to look at public schools. our our urban areas especially uh and this is by state statute and I happen to be in the legislature when this bill was passed allowing districts to become community schools because the research was there that our students thrive when we have community partners when we have afterchool programs everything our eloquent youth in the back of this room said when we have you know engagement so it's not a program. It's the way we're trying to do business in Waterberry public schools in a fundamental manner and we'd like to expand it to all of our schools because that's when we succeed because I've been on this board since 2011 and and we struggle because we haven't changed the paradigm. Boo
085schools, community schools are changing the paradigm and we have to embrace that and invest in that or else we're spinning our wheels. So I am thrilled that we are moving forward with the community school model and we've been recognized by the Nelly May Foundation and we're working with the Harlem Zone people uh to kind of really uh even delve deeper. And so I think we're really in an exciting time when we've got we've got leadership among us as a board, the mayor, the superintendent, our community partners to really make Waterberry a model instead of just just really staying in, you know, kind of the same, you know, place. We're trying to move forward and we are moving forward with these community partners. And I would say that without these community partners and these programs, we
086are going to go backwards. So I will fight for this funding. And I think that if we really are serious about educating our children that, you know, we will, you know, make sure that these schools are expanded because we we can't afford not to. I'm off my soap box. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Madam President. Thank you. Okay, next we have uh Wendy John's uh special education pupil services and company. Good evening, President Brown, board of education commissioners, student representatives, superintendent Dr. Schwarz. We are I'm joined with my assistant director, Mrs. Menses, and we will be presenting special education and people services updates. The special education department is comprised of one director, one assistant director, and 11 special education supervisors. Miss Rodriguez is our data manager and supervises CT sets. We also have
087support staff within our department that work with our out ofd district team. Our supervisors work closely with each of their building level administrators. We are deeply grateful to our dedicated teachers, speech pathologists, school psychologists, social workers, and therapists for their unwavering commitment to our student success and for their vital role in the special education and pupil services department. This slide shows the special education enrollment and prevalence rates. You will notice even though the student enrollment has decreased for the district, the number of students receiving special education services has increased. In a future presentation this evening, you will see a different count for special education students of 3,925. Since October 1st, due to students transitioning into the district and initial evaluations, the number of students now receiving special education services has increased by 258. Sure, that's
088right. Hispanic Latina students represent the largest group in both general education and special education in Waterberry public schools, followed by black African-American students, indicating these two groups comprise the majority of our overall district enrollment. White in two or more races represent smaller but notable portions of both general and special ed population while Asian and American Indian Alaskan native students make up the smallest enrollment group. The racial, ethnic distribution of special educ special education closely mirrors our overall enrollment pattern where Hispanic, Latino, and black and African-American students make up the largest percentage for special education. These are major factor areas for the 2526 school year. CT saids implementation and monitoring that is a primary focus in ensuring district compliance in CTIs. We monitor IEP in evaluation timelines and follow up with buildings that need to finalize
089documentation. Culture and climate. Our supervisors focus their efforts the yearly on the climate and culture of their building level teams by meeting monthly and provide ongoing support. New staff support and transitions. The department is prioritizing the transition of new supervisors and the onboarding of new teachers including tracking assignments and providing necessary supports to all the case managers in the buildings. Evaluation and reporting standards. The pupus service goal is ensuring indicator 11 timelines are in compliance which monitors students throughout the evaluation process. Professional development is ongoing for our staff. Administrative effic efficiency and accuracy. The department is focused on maintaining accurate records such as quarterly summaries and updated teacher assignment sheets to streamline operations and reporting. Here are some ongoing efforts to address special education vacancies. You'll notice on this slide that the department wants to
090thank the continued efforts of human capital for their assistance in the recruitment of special education teachers and staff. We extend our sincere gratitude to the human capital department for their heavy recruitment efforts which successfully reduce special education teacher vacancies from 37 down to 25. There is a focus on flexible pathways to long-term employment opportunities for future teachers. The department is hyperfocused on fiscal responsibility through various systematic changes and monitoring efforts. There is a team dedicated to visiting students attending out placements and completing a rubric to determine when they can return to district. Under the direction of our superintendent, we completed a transportation audit and removed students from our buses that no longer took advantage of special education transportation. We follow all city purchasing guidelines for seed, which is special education expansion and development seed grant
091that's new this year. We're taking advantage of the $2.5 million that was granted to Waterberry Public Schools to open new classrooms, hire new staff, purchase new curriculum, and muchneeded supplies. Finally, a nocost in district expert staff trained pair professionals this year. Now, we're going to transition to the pupil services side of our department. Mental health partnership. The Connecticut Junior Republic CJR Partnerships provides me behavioral mental health clinicians to support students and staff through case load management, crisis intervention, and comprehensive counseling services designed to improve attendance and remove barriers to mental health care. Um, we are located in four schools, Crosby, Willby, Northn and Wallace. Community Mental Health Affiliates. Waterberry has a long-standing relationship with CMHA. They provide mental health services to our students in different grade level groups. In addition, Smart Recovery is offered to
092support students going through addiction. It is offered in all three comprehensive high schools. Sandy Hook Promise say something anonymous reporting system. This provide is a program that teaches students how to recognize warning signs, signals, and threats from individuals who may want to harm themsel or others and to say something to an adult, a trusted adult. All schools are grades 6 through 12, comprehensive middle schools, comprehensive high schools, magnet high schools or middle school, grades 6 through 8 only in prek8 schools, enlightenment and state streets. Clingberg mental health partnership. Clingberg is is another mental health partnership that pro provides inschool clinicians at no cost to the district. It supports all seven schools. It supports seven schools within the district. Dugen, Reed, Westside, Carrington, Wilson, Wendle Cross, and State Street Ex and Expulsion Academy teleaalth referrals. The
093primary mental health grant has four core purpose areas. The first is early intervention and detection. The program identifies students in grades K through three who are experiencing mild to moderate school adjustment difficulties aiming to intervene before these challenges escalate into more serious emotional or behavioral dis disorders. The second enhancing school adjustment. The core mission is to help students learn how to school by fostering social emotional competencies, improving self-confidence, and strengthening their ability to focus and succeed in a classroom environment. The play-based model, this is conducted by trained child associates that help students express their feelings and resolve internal stressors. And finally, proactive wellness focus. This grant focuses on the atrisisk population rather than those already identified for special education, thus filling a critical gap in the school's mental health continuum of care. And this is
094at two schools within our district, Dougen and Wendell Cross. We also have another grant support for pregnant and parenting teens. This focuses on four main areas. First, holistic academic support. It increases school retention and graduation rates by offering flexible schooling, credit recovery, and intensive attendance monitoring. Second, comprehensive case management. It provides a coordinated one-stop support model, including individual counseling, home visits, and specialized parenting and life skills education, health and wellness linkages. Ensures critical access to prenatal care, reproductive health services, and pediatric care for children to improve long-term health outcomes. And finally, barrier removal services eliminates common obstacles to attendance by providing access to licensed child care, transportation assistance, and diapers and basic supplies. The Connect 4 partnership is a federally funded nocost collaboration between Waterbury Public Schools, Child Health and Development Institute and DCF designed
095to build a sustainable traumainformed no wrong door mental health system through staff training, datadriven improvements, and strengthened community provider connections. Four schools in the district are currently taking advantage of this grant. Crosby, Kingsbury, State Street, and Enlightenment, and all schools are open to take advantage. District crisis team. The Woodterberry District Crisis Response Team consists of volunteer school social workers and psychologists who have handled three cases in the 202526 school year to provide essential support to the school community following a tragedy. That concludes our presentation. We welcome any questions you may have. Thank you very much. Uh questions, Commissioners? Commissioner Lopez? Yeah. Is is CJR still involved in enlightenment? >> Not CJR is not involved with enlightenment at this time. Um however, we do have clinicians that support enlightenment. >> Okay. And then um for the
096teen um pregnancy program, the parent, how does that work? The the kids still can come to the students can still attend class and they're they're able to have a what is it? Daycare. So within our schools, um oftent times um teens that are um benefiting from the grant will work closely with school personnel, whether it's a school counselor, um and receive different academic supports. Um they might work with the school nurse and receive different supports that way. And then through the grant, we're able to not only support the mothers, but also the fathers um to provide them the necessary supplies and care that they need. We're also this year partnering with Woodbury Police Department um because they have the safe car seat initiative. So, we'll be supporting that program and making sure that our teens
097know that they're supposed to use a car seat and use it properly. >> Is there like maternity leave? Like how does that happen? So, we ensure that students um during the time that they need need to be home to care for their child are receiving homebound instruction and we work with school personnel to set that up. >> Okay. Um, and then for the special ed, um, so we hired 12 special ed teachers this school year. Yes. >> Yeah. Wow. Okay, that's it. Any other questions? Commissioner Ireland. Thank you, Madam President. Duke, um, for the mental health partnerships for the behavioral health clinicians, I see there's Crosby, Willby, North End, and Wallace. How are those schools chosen? And will there be any more schools added on? So, actually we have a meeting um I believe it's
098tomorrow um because um CJR was actually able to receive some additional funding um and we'll be actually adding on to that partnership. Um the nice thing about that is we try to keep the campuses together. Um students tend to metriculate um so it keeps the clinician care. Um I do need to say even though these um clinicians within the schools are only at certain schools, we do have community- based partnerships where we offer referrals on our website. Um so we have community organizations we work with. All of our school counselors, social workers, administrators have electronic referrals that we can offer at any time if a student is experiencing a mental health crisis. >> Okay, great. So they don't have to just go to this school. >> Correct. >> Thank you. And then next year based
099on the meeting tomorrow, but it sounds like it will be at all six comprehensives, middle and highest. >> Correct. >> Thank you, >> Commissioner Van Stone. >> Thank you, Madam President, through you. I know it was either last year or the year before, probably the year before. It was one of the few times I fought to put something back in the budget, right? You showed your staff on your early slide and there was thoughts that we could through attrition in retirements get down to I think it was eight or nine would have been on that slide and I pretty much said hell no and it was I think maybe one of the few times I put something back in the budget and I'm glad we did because I if anything we probably need more in
100that as well because that group that you're showing on that chart um they're pretty stretched out and I know they they have a diff, you know, some tough days. It's to to handle their workload. >> So, um I I have a great appreciation for them as I do for your whole department as you know. >> Thank you. >> I have the passion in this this area. Um especially seeing it it touches home like it does in so many homes. Um, and I'm looking at the chart that you had with the breakdown um, you know, um, by race or ethnicity. And if the chart is to scale, I know we have the greatest number of students are Hispanic in our school system, but if that chart is really I know sometime powerpoints could get a little
101>> Yes. But that's telling me Hispanic there are 2500 Hispanic students requiring special education u to some some degree. That's a big number. >> It is. Commissioner, >> is there any research into why we see so much in that community? >> No, but I'm happy to do more and work through Dr. Schwarz to get you that information. It just seems like a big even though it's I mean it's the biggest bar because the biggest number of students whatever we're at 68% or wherever we're at now but that still seems like such a big number. um and maybe some are temporary and are going to, you know, go back into regular education, what have you. But for that kind of number to have some piece of a special ed requirement, um to me is I'm not
102going to say it's disturbing, but it's something I think we need to look more at and see what may be some drivers. >> Sure. >> Um maybe on the national level, etc. >> Of course. Thank you. Um, Commissioner Van Stone, do you mind if I comment on that as well? >> I'll get I'll let you. >> We'll get you uh we'll get the exact breakdown for you. Uh, if it's 2500 out of the 4,200, it's 60%. >> And our Hispanic population is actually above 60%. So, that would show it's actually lower than the typical, but I I'd rather instead of going off a bar graph, I'd rather just give you the exact to your point the exact numbers. I think one of the things that we've noticed in the past is making sure that our
103um especially the the teams working with the youngest students, making sure that language barriers aren't being perceived as special education, you know, issues. And so, you know, that's something that we've consistently professionally developed on and our our teachers are doing a great job. What's happening? Yes. >> Yeah. So, so and and I think we've reduced that over time, but uh I'll give you the I'll get the whole board the exact numbers so we can compare the prevalence. >> Okay. Cuz it just jumped out at me. Correct. >> Y uh one of the other things you mentioned uh was uh pathways. You know, colleges are starting to do it thankfully. It's one of the things I said a long time ago, if they really wanted us to hire more special ed teachers or any kind of
104teachers, maybe the colleges need to put more out there on the streets for us to hire. >> Yeah. >> Um and they always blame us for having the shortages. >> Yes. >> We can't hire if they're not there. pathways, maybe even especially this school we're in. Why don't we think about pathways in high school level and we could do it ourselves? We do it for any regular teachers. >> Why not do it for special ed teachers? And this is probably the perfect school to do it. >> So, I think Dr. Schwarz has something to add to that. >> Sure. He always does. >> I always Well, typically I do. Um it's a great great point and you saw the um educator rising students and how prevalent it is here just so you know um I've
105visited that clo classroom a few times and I was I was uh pleasantly surprised by how many are interested in going into special education. There is a Yukon course here being offered that is specific to education and special education students. And so we're trying to get students interested early on about special education, trying to build that 12th grade to 16th grade pathway back to Waterberry. Um, so we are seeing an increase in number of students interested here through the educators rising program that you heard Mr. Harris and uh Mr. Flamy is getting an award later this month on it. Um and so uh you know that educator raising program is a big uh pathway for us. It's a long-term plan. We won't see the success of that tomorrow uh or next year, but it's a
106you know it's a long-term 5 to 10 year plan to get students interested. But I also think what we could do uh to your point, Commissioner, is uh you know talk to Waterberry Promise who does have that program for students going into education or going into Connecticut colleges. Um maybe there's a funer out there, maybe somebody's interested to say they're willing to give a little bit more for those that are going into teaching. And so there's other ways we could also incentivize because it's not just what we notice is if you're interested in going to teaching and you're from this area, you tend to come back to this area and give back. And so some of those long-term pathways are things that we can look into. But the Educators Rising program has uh continued to
107be a successful way for us to get students interested into teaching and to continue that pathway on. >> I actually met a teacher today at Roberto Clemente that is a Waterberry student. >> So it it does work. It does come around. That's right. >> So, um that's how much and then the last thing was and some questions were already asked on the SPT grant. How much actually is that? >> So, we received um 200,000 this year. >> Okay. Yeah, that could I mean it's it's that's a very difficult piece of our educational programming >> to um to help out those students that they still need to do their academics. >> Correct. >> Right. and um they have a little bit more on their plate than maybe playing on the basketball team. And uh so our
108help there is uh only could help them get back to school, back to doing what 16, 17, 18 year olds are supposed to be doing and uh and helping their life get back on track. So >> correct. >> It's a beautiful thing to have a child, but we have to help them because in some ways they're still children. So that's uh 200,000 probably does a lot. I mean, we always say more, but um that's a great program. I'm glad we're doing it. >> So, thank you, Madam President. >> Thank you. I had a question in terms of how many uh teen parents do we have in the in our school system at this point? >> Um I can work with Dr. Schwarz and get that information. >> I'd be interested to know. >> Obviously, it
109is an ongoing. Yeah, I understand getting >> because I uh we used to have a bigger grant from the feds. I remember and we did a lot more for the teen parents and the fatherhood. There was a teacher I believe in this school, Waterberry Career Academy, I think he retired, but he used to have a fabulous fatherhood program years ago, which I which we obviously don't have now, but again, funding, right? Correct. >> Uh all these all these great things. The other area I was interested in is I I don't know if it's specific or that's your purview, but uh the preschool programs in Waterberry and the special ed services they're receiving. Is that your purview or is that >> does that come under you? I didn't see much information on them. So, um preschool
110special education does fall underneath the people services department. So we service um students from birth once they come out of birth to three all the way to age 22. So our department does um provide services all throughout >> I so when you're you're saying the the number that we're seeing for students in special ed that includes preschool. Yes it does. Okay. >> Yeah. And um number one happy birthday Wendy. This is exactly what you wanted to do on your birthday night. >> Happy birthday. So maybe maybe >> you're going to say it >> exactly what you wanted. No, that would not be a birthday present if I sang it. Um just like real briefly, I know we've started up a couple meetings uh regarding this and President Brown, we've talked about, you know, kind of,
111>> you know, moving forward. We know we're not going to solve all of the problems that we have in terms of space and area and solutions for what we need to do for three four year olds in the district, but just a really brief conversation of what we're trying to accomplish there and in those those meetings. >> So, what we've done is we've started a preschool to kindergarten transition plan roll out. Um we've identified um students that are ready to come to kindergarten. Um not only on the general education but also special education side. Um we're also having some of our school staff that are doing both from the preschool annex that are going to observe um in a kindergarten class to actually see what is expected in a kindergarten class. Um, and then we're
112also having kindergarten staff go to the annex and see our special education students as well as at Maloney and Sprag and Kingsbury where we have satellite preschool um, classes. Um, so we've started discussions to make sure that we're setting up our in elementary schools for success. Um, that was something that was um, extremely important to Dr. Schwarz, but also as well um to all of our elementary administrators um to make sure that they have the necessary supports. Um but for our preschool students, we recognize space is always something that we have to identify. Um, but we're also working closely with our community sites to make sure that they're doing um what they need to to support students and we're making sure we're providing the necessary training um so that they're being identified if they need
113services and if not they're staying in those interventions for as long as possible. >> Good. I think we have to be creative and innovative in aligning the services. And one last question in terms of uh I did see see a statistic at one point where um uh chronic absenteeism in the preschool programs was high. Is that something is it do we know is it a special ed issue or is it just across the board? >> I mean I might be able to answer that a little bit better than than Wendy because it's it's not just about special ed. It's about our programs across the district. Um, you know, as our preschoolers come in and as a father of a preschooler, it's usually the So, there's a couple things that happen. There's it's the first time
114parents are away from their kids and the kids are away from the parents often in a large system. So, it's also educating parents about when to keep their child home and when to send them to school. Um, a lot of times our students are building their immune systems during those preschool and kindergarten um ages. So unfortunately sometimes you have more absences in those areas. But a lot of it's also about setting and that precedence of coming to school is important in making sure that you come in regular and have that student have the routine. It's not daycare anymore, you know, cuz now it's now you're learning and you're you're actually getting into the you know their standards for preschool that we want to meet um for every student to meet. And so it's a little
115bit of that transition also for family at that time and and and so one of the things that we're we're going to be working on as well uh through some of these meetings because the it's not just the special education department. it is uh the early education supervisor in her department being a part of this is also what are we doing for parents to be consistent for them on that transition from um really daycare to preschool or maybe a prek3 program now to the waterberry public schools. So it's a heavy lift but a lot of it has to do with our own coordination in conversations with parents early on uh when they when they register. >> Great. No, I think that's really important because if we get them young, we know that they have a
116better chance of success. So, thank you very much. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Oh, did you have a question? Go ahead. >> All right. >> Hi. >> Yeah, give it to them. >> Hello. >> Um, unfortunately, I don't know very much about your program. However, I was pretty interested when you mentioned what you do with handling addiction >> and like your program regarding like the >> um older students and I was wondering firstly like how many like quantitatively how many students you're reaching with um your program and like what it actually entails like when that occurs. >> Sure. So, with uh the program offered through CHA, it's at our three comprehensive high schools um and it's called Smart Recovery. Uh the nice thing about Smart Recovery is students um self-report um when they feel
117as if they are addicted and it's not just to substances, it can be addicted to anything. Um and they then receive the support that they need by clinician um from CHA. Um so they rotate their days and they go to the different schools and they provide groups for students. Obviously there is parent permission that is required. Um but I can work with Dr. Schwarz and get you the specific numbers with the RCHA partnership um so that you're able to be provided that. >> Yeah, Milan, that's a great question and I was just at Kennedy yesterday and there was a student who came up from Kennedy who asked is there anything we're doing for addiction? So there's something that's also I think that we could leverage your voice and student voice to make it more wellknown
118because if I hear the same thing in two days then I know that it's it's it's more prevalent. So, um I think part of it is just kind of expanding it out and letting people know. And um what we found out through my superintendent advisory council last year is a lot of times um students can be the biggest advocates for programs, but sometimes they're just not aware of what's happening. And so I think we need to do a better job of also just getting it into the student hands. Uh and and so uh I think we can certainly do that more. >> I would love to amplify something like this. like I'm sad to say I didn't know more about it. >> Thank you. >> Great question. >> Sounds good. >> Yeah, very good. >>
119Any other Okay, great discussion. Thank you so much. >> Okay, moving along. Uh school calendar. Um >> Dr. Schwarz. >> Yeah. So, it's right at school calendar on everyone's mind right now. Um, so if I count up between the water days and the snow days, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 uh days we've had off this year. Great start for my first year as superintendent. Thank you very much. A lot of sleepless nights. And Nick and I have great 400 a.m. calls together. Our wives love us, don't they? Um Nick um but Nick's just as awake at 4:00 a.m. as he is at 10 p.m. when we call. So he's he's he's always up I guess. So the reality is um we've kind of gone back and forth. You know
120we you know you know there's a threshold of 180 days uh for schools and the teachers contract is 186 days and then everybody else's contract with the you know seven or eight other unions that we work with. It all kind of says some different things. you know, for right now, um, we're working on some things to see if we can mitigate, uh, you know, some of these days in at this at the state level. But, you know, the reality is is that right now our our last student day is June 25th. And then on top of that, that would give us um that would require the the teachers to come until uh not just the 25th, but the 26th of June, which is a Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and then on Monday would be the
121teachers last day because if they work 186 days, it would be June 29th. And then we start school the next day for the next year. So, you know, I feel, you know, and and I'm I'm also thinking about quite frankly summer school. Um, if they don't have that little break there, am I going to get enough people to teach it? You know, so I'm I'm getting worried because it's obviously getting to June 29th now. We'll continue to work the different pathways that we can work to be able to support pushing this back a little bit. But one thing that we could do and one thing that I you know and spoke briefly uh with the team today about was one of the things that we've done over time is um honored Eid for our Muslim
122holiday which we want to obviously continue to do. We want our students to um be able to take that Muslim holiday and be able to um celebrate with their families as well and and honor that. Um, but just like other holidays, whether it's uh Jewish holidays or other religions, we don't typically either have those off or we uh have staff work those days. So, uh, one of the things that actually was supported and brought up to me uh by the unions today uh was would we consider having that as a teacher work day? Um, obviously any teacher that wants to celebrate that holiday uh would have the opportunity to take that day. um and in terms of using their um their time. Uh but they were asking instead of going around to that Monday to
123June 29th, this would at least bring it back to June 26 and allow them to not have that whole weekend and then that Monday uh be for uh professional development. So um it was brought to me by the unions. I thought it was a good enough idea to bring to you all tonight. Um I also realize it's March 20th. So um in terms of you know my conversations with central office and uh representation from saw and and and WTA they would be willing to um work extra to get make sure that day is uh is worthwhile for for teachers. Uh we met with the supervisors. Jan met with the supervisors today that's already started putting together in case the there's a u interest in this from the board to put together some opportunities for for
124teachers uh and administrators that day. So I thought it was a good idea, good enough to bring it up. You know, you know, I saw that June 29th date could be something that we do uh to help relieve this um unprecedented number of days off. >> Thank you. Okay, discussion. Yes. I actually was wondering about this. Um, >> and I'm gonna say the most unpopular thing to students and teachers and everybody in the world. >> What about spring break? Would we ever cancel that week? >> I've been asked that question a few times. >> I know. >> Um, I think >> you said the same thing. >> Yeah, I think if we kept if we if we hit just like one or two more, I would have no choice. like I would I would have
125to my issue is and some of the issue I'm running into that last week of June even though when I was you know told when I was a you know a teacher they said don't schedule anything in June you never know and that's kind of what we went by we used to have winters like this back in the day I think people have gotten used to not having that and so I'm yeah I would I my problem is this in April we have so many people who have already hit booked vacations And even if I say we're having school, they have opportunities to take those days off, whether it be sick, personal, or whatever. And so I'd be nervous about uh without more due time uh for for taking away the April break uh my
126ability to staff all the schools. And I can just imagine the attendance rate, which we are judged by with chronic absenteeism. So, at this point, right now, in my conversations with a broad breath of of folks, Milan just voted you down. Um, >> my kid did, too. >> Yeah, I wasn't. >> It's not It's not popular, but if if I had to, I would. >> I just think right now we're still okay >> for right now. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Will there be any This will be on our agenda for a formal vote on the on the our next meeting, which is the 19th. Yeah. >> So, just to give us a consensus, would this be something that people would think is okay? Any objections? >> Okay. So, thank you. >> All right. Uh,
127request approval of amendment one to the agreement with ESS Northeast LLC for substitute teachers and paraprofessional staffing services. Jean. >> Uh, good evening, President Brown, distinguished members of the board of education, uh, student representatives, Dr. Schwarz. Uh, tonight we human capital office requests approval of this amendment. It comes to you after vetting through the, uh, city purchasing office as well as the corporation council's office. Uh it is a basic change, some wording changes, but mostly to come in compliance with the state uh law, compliance with state minimum wage law that went up slightly on January 1st, 2026. Um I'm happy to answer any questions that you might have. >> Any questions? Seeing none, thank you. >> Thank you. Have a great night. >> All right. Monthly expenditure report for January 2026. Dorene Yeah. Thank you,
128President Brown, commissioners, student representatives, Dr. Schwarz. This is the uh seventh month of the fiscal year. So this is the January expenditure report. Um honestly there isn't that much of a difference um from the last month other than you know closely monitoring and making some adjustments other than the last page um below the line where we have our contingency our surplus um the 3 million625. I'm very confident that we will not be we will not be needing to use those funds in this fiscal year. So, this will help us in fiscal year 27 our budget when you as you'll see um in the next agenda item that this can help offset um our increase. So, really there's not that much um of a difference um other than does anybody have any questions concerning this month's
129>> commissioner? Oh, sorry, Commissioner Vanstone. >> Thank you, Madam President. Through you, um I know we're you and your staff are working very hard to make all this tie together and I mentioned it last month about the such a large projection. Um I'm speech pathologist and we just last month also approved to go out for three contractors to try to help that. And what that did was that made me start thinking about the burdened rate for ours to see if what we're going to going to spend on the outside is going to help us. I'm not sure if that he disappeared. He knew I was going to ask this question. Uh because that that's a big number to project, you know, for speech pathologists. Um it's it's actually an amazing number to that we're projecting.
130Um, you know, it what was it a $2.4 million budget? >> Yeah. And and we're projecting to go over $700,000 over that. >> Yeah. >> That's uh that stands out, >> right? Yeah. So that's why I'm so interested in that burdened rate that I asked about because if we look at that, >> maybe those three contracts we just approved >> makes that $735,000 come down so we can project it and have a better bottom line in the end. >> Yeah. >> Right. Um, >> so we may be seeing a difference, you know, with the February because this is the January report, >> you know, >> and that's why I brought up that burdened rate because, you know, we're projecting this, it makes us all not look so good, right? Um, but if what we're doing
131with those contracts, it could prove the point that it's a good thing to do. We're doing it out of necessity in this case. However, if that shows us that it's a good thing to do, then it's a then it's a tool we should use more often because possibly we're saving money even though it look like, oh, $100 an hour, well, that's not going to the person. >> Um, but if we're spending 120 an hour burdened, >> then we're saving money and maybe we can adjust that number. Yeah. >> So, that's the only thing on this one. Um, >> it's actually better than we've seen at the January in quite a while. >> Um, as you know, this is when I start really digging into these. >> I I don't get too concerned about the first
132three months um until things really settle in. >> But, um, I think we need to dig into that one. >> Okay. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. >> Any other questions? Okay. Thanks, Mory. And I'm sure we'll you're up for the next big presentation, the proposed 2026 2027 general fund budget. Oh, let me pass these out. Big water. Mhm. The average teacher. >> Oh yeah. Are we ready? Oh, are you waiting for me? I'm sorry. Like, why aren't they talking? >> Good evening. Welcome. >> Good evening. It's been a while since I've been at this table. I just want to uh you know, thank the uh Dorene and her office for putting together this budget presentation. As you can imagine, um it's quite the task with a budget this size with so
133many moving parts. Um and on day one, our budget's always already off. So when the first teacher goes on, uh you know, has an absence. >> Yeah. >> Uh you already have a substitute line that could be hitting. And so it's constantly moving, right? Whether teachers come or go, retire, leave, and uh whether we can get RFPs done in time. and and so it's a it's a constantly moving uh bouncing ball for a budget. It's such a large district. Um but obviously Dorene's been doing this and doing this for a long time and she's a she's a fantastic part of the team. Couldn't imagine doing it without her and I know she has a equally fantastic team behind her. So I want to thank her for that. Um you know the first uh first few
134slides are generalities about the district but just as a reminder the reason we put the mission and vision in the in the budget presentation because it's about students and when we create a budget we think of students first. Our mission is uh for the waterberry public schools is to inspire and prepare every student uh to be successful in and beyond school and our vision is to prepare every student to uh graduate and transform their world. And as you know, uh, those are the things that we hold in high regard here in Waterberry Public Schools, including our core values. One of the things I want to kind of, uh, run over with you is the student enrollment. As you can see over time on page four, uh, our student account has hovered between, uh, around 18,500.
135It's dipped a few times, it's it's down about 300 students this year. Many of uh, a lot of that is due uh, for the last two years due to kindergarten registration change. uh for uh student counts, our English language learners has remained uh somewhat constant uh uh from the last year to this year and our students uh who receive special education. Uh again, this is based on the October 1st date uh has continually gone up over the years. We continue to have a wonderfully diverse student population. But you can see the trends over time uh from 2019 2020 school year to the 2526 school year. You can see uh the the change over time with the major increase of the Hispanic or Latino population increasing while uh two or more races continuing to increase and
136major drops in our black or African-American community including our and our white community as well. Part of being a fantastically diverse community uh also comes with students who speak uh a a first language that is different than English and uh the first language is different in English. Uh, Spanish is uh the largest population and we've seen an increase over one year of 379 students up to over 5,000 students as Spanish as the first language. Uh, you can continue to see uh some of the other Portuguese, Albanian, Erdo, Haitian Creole, and Arabic. And that Portuguese has been increasingly Brazilian Portuguese to be specific. Um, as we create this budget, uh, we are thinking of academic excellence, safe and healthy schools, financial stability and sustainability. And we're keeping those five guiding principles of the strategic plan of
137the portrait of the graduate in mind as we uh create this. The budget process is uh is is is a short one. Uh but it's an important one to remember that from uh January to creating uh these uh these documents to early June where the board of ed makes the final light item changes and adopts the final budget. It is a uh constant give and take. And one of the most important parts that I think I can convey to the board is that we are a district that um that spends one out of about one out of every seven dollars and we're going to talk about this comes from the city. Six out of the seven of the budget that we're talking about comes Yeah. six out of the seven not six seven six out
138of the seven uh comes from state or federal funding. And when you think of it that way, that means we're heavily reliant on what the state decides to do and the feds decide to do when it comes to our um our educational funding. And so we won't know if the state what they do with ECS until a few more months, you know, and so we have to create like plan A, B, C, and D based on what ends up coming our way. And so I just want to make sure you're you're aware of that. That's why we can't just come to you tonight and say this is exactly what we're doing. Unlike some other towns who are heavily reliant on their own property tax and they already kind of know what they're getting from the
139state that's not going to really change and the feds they're already moving forward. We are so heavily reliant we have to wait to see what happens on a year like this could be the force year like this uh where we don't know the predictability of what the state's going to give us. whereas the last 12 years, we knew exactly how much we were going to get from the state. >> And as we uh I'll let Dorian take over in a in a moment, but again, part of our fiscal responsibility is aligning our budget to our strategic goals and consolidated long-range planning for facilities such as adding a boiler to the career academy so it's not 55 degrees here right now, uh which I know Mr. Albini and team is working on. So, um, with that
140being said, uh, I'll let Dorine take over and then we'll both be here for any questions that you may have. >> Thank you, Dr. Schwarz. So, as Dr. Schwarz mentioned, this was um, a different approach than we have had in the past several years. Obviously, because we had um the ECS grant, um, we had some additional funding coming, which we no longer have. We also had a reprieve when we had the ESSER funds which really took a lot of burden off of the general fund budget but now we're faced with no state aid uh increase. So it has made this a little bit more of a difficult budget for us. So what I want to do is just um discuss the education cost sharing grant. As everyone hears it's called ECS. So what is the
141education cost sharing grant? So, the education cost sharing grant is Connecticut's primary education equalization aid program and it provides state aid to Connecticut towns and cities to help cover costs for public education for our K to2 students. It helps to balance educational funding across the wealthy and less wealthy municipalities based on a state formula. So on page 12, the education cost sharing grant formula, what are the factors that determine that formula? So it's around to three different factors. The number of students that we have in the district and adjustments for our special ed, lowincome status and multilingual learners. Second factor is town wealth. It's measured the property and the income levels and it's a state aid percentage. That's the percentage through the state um based on those measures. Then there's a foundation amount. The foundation
142amount is the state's estimated cost of educating a student. Right now, which this amount has been unchanged since 2013, it's $11,525 per student. So, in 2013, that number has not changed. Waterberry has been underfunded historically um by more than $60 million in state aid under the ECS formula. In 2018, the state implemented a 10-year phase in to gradually bring these underfunded cities to their full formula funding. But in 2526 when the the state decided to accelerate that phase in formula because if it started in 2018 was supposed we were supposed to be fully funded in 2028 but in 2526 because we were losing the esser funds and they didn't want to avoid you know financial hardships on districts and this fiscal cliff they accelerated our amount of what we were supposed to receive in 2028.
143So in the current year we're in now, we are fully funded based on this 10-year phase in formula >> it at the 2013 level. Yes. >> Okay. >> So if you go to page 13 and we're going to talk about this foundation amount again, this 11,525 that didn't change since 2013. It does not reflect any inflationary cost over this past decade. So this amount that is being provided to the districts to the towns and to the districts ultimately to the districts does not increase and and take into account our student needs have increased over the years. I mean obviously cost of teachers, services, um utilities, I mean special education, I mean transportation, it does not take into account any inflationary costs. So, because we're fully funded at this point, it we're really still behind because
144it's we we're fully funded of what we should have been in 2013 and now we're in 2026. Um, so without that, Waterberry will continue to face structural budget pressure despite technically reaching their maximum allocation. And to be adequately funded with inflation, the ECS formula is essential to educational equity, municipal stability, and taxpayer relief. So on page 14 and 15, I'm just showing you the allocations of our ECS grant. So from 2012 2013 which is when alliance was instituted by the state the total ECS to waterbury was 118 million 113.6 is what goes to the city side the municipal side that makes up the amount that they provide to us and the alliance grant at that point was 4 almost 4.4 million. So as you move on to um if you look at 2018 so this
145is when they started to accelerate that phase in well actually 2018 2019 the total amount was 136.2 2 million of total ECS. The city again got 1136. So not much changed on the city. They can they've remained flat and the increase was then going to the alliance grant. So you'll see that that keeps growing. So when you go to page 15, so in the current year 2526 that we're in now, the city received 113.6. The alliance grant which comes directly to education in the form of that grant is the $87.5 million for a total ECS for Waterbury of $21 million. And when you look at 2627 it's the same as 2526 because there is no further increase in ECS from the state. So we would assume that the city obviously the city's been flatfunded. Um
146the increase is going to alliance. So we're facing a budget year of 27 with no state aid of an increase of state aid. So I want to discuss um something called the minimum budget requirement on page 16. It's called MBR. The MBR is a mandated. It's a legal mandate that municipalities to budget a minimum amount for their education, ensuring that educational expenditures do not decrease below the previous year's budget. So basically, the city cannot fund us below the $158.4 million budget for the general fund, or else they would be in violation of this state law. So the only exception there could be to MBR be for only very specific circumstances such as a a large decrease in enrollment or some type of approved reductions. But Waterberry Public SKU School's MBR has been 158,375,000 every year
147since 2016 2017. So on page 17, we went back 10 years and you see that the approved city budget to education is 158,375 and then we add in the alliance grant the 19.9 in 2016 2017. So that yearly combined budget was 178.3 million. If we move to the current year where we are now 2526, the city's approved budget the 158375 which is the minimum budget requirement plus the alliance grant at the 87.5 we were at 245.8 yearly budget. So in the current for the for the fiscal year moving forward, we're still assuming the 158 minimum budget requirement by the city and we know we're going to be flatfunded in the ECS. So we know the alliance grant at this point is still the same at the 87.5. So that's what we're looking at our yearly
148combined budget to be. However, that's not going to suffice to the needs and the increases that we're facing. for next fiscal year. So on page 18, this is our proposed budget summary. So we have um four columns. The expenditures in 2425, audited expend expenditures in 2425, our approved budget in the current year, the proposed budget for next year, and the difference between the current year and the proposed budget. And we have them broken down in categories of the salaries, health benefit expense, instructional purchase services, property expense, miscellaneous, and new items. So if you go to the gross budget proposal in fiscal year 2526, we had a gross budget proposal of 233.6 million. Our gross budget proposal that we are putting uh ahead for our proposed budget in fiscal year 27 is 247.5 million. So that's
149an increase of 13.9 million. But I have to bring you down below now. So in fiscal year 26 where you see the approved budget of 233.6 6 million 71.6 million of that is moved to the alliance grant. Okay, we show this and we show this 71 million in our 233.6 6 number because every year that we have not had an increase by the city because they've been flatfunded in ECS, we have to move our operating budget to the alliance grant. So we want to make sure that we show that this 71 million is what we really need in this operating budget. But because the money goes to alliance, obviously that's where we have to budget it. But I want you to show we want to show that it's really should be up in this number.
150Okay? So we reduce that off of the 233.6 million. And then the contingencies that I spoke about when I gave you the January report that we are have been unchanged and we haven't used offsets that as well. And that is how we got to the 158 million 375 in the current year budget. So if you move to the next column for the proposed, our gross budget proposal is 247.5 million. Again, there's that 71.6 million that was moved to the alliance grant. Another two almost another 2.1 million is going to be moved to the alliance grant. And that is because of the 71 million you see the contractual increases. That's the increase of that 71 million. So the alliance grant will be picking that up. And then again, you're going to see the contingencies that we
151haven't touched. So that now is bringing our 247.5 million gross budget proposal minus the two alliance amounts and the contingencies to our proposed budget of 170,175 for the general fund budget. that is now an increase of 11,800,000. Okay. So you look at the last column where we said our gross budget proposal increase was 13.9 million. Okay. The difference so the we're going to have the alliance grant wash out from year 14 and 15 but the 2 million the 2.1 million is also going to be moved to alliance. That's how we got to the 118. So that's how we went from the 14 the 138 down to the 118 just so everybody can understand that. Any questions there or what she Okay, I just want to make sure. All right. So page 19 is kind of
152just our major account increase decrease. So our proposed budget again is the 247 247.5 million. We will assume that our approved budget, this is an assumption of 158,375 because that's basically what our our budget is our minimum budget requirement amount. The difference is 89.1 million. 71 million that's going to be reduced and go to the alliance grant. The 2.1 million that goes to the alliance grant and the offset is the remainder contingency that we haven't used. So we were able to offset the budget is getting us to the 11.8 million. So now what's driving the 11.8 million? We have contractual salary increases from all our unions. This is saw would be the administrators um school administrators our WTA who just entered into a new contract. Uh blue collar uh their contract ends. So we we
153had to do some estimations on some of the contracts that are ending that we don't know exactly where they'll end up. The management union, our white collar union, and the crossing guard union that totaled 7.7 million. However, I am going to reduce out the two million the 2.1 million of the increase that's in the teacher line because that portion is going to alliance. Other driving factors um we put a projected we budget for projected resignations. So we budget for attrition in the budget. It's a total of like 3.5 million which is an increase of 844.7 million from the previous year. pupil transportation. We have entered in we're going to be entering into a new 5-year contract for special ed, regular ed, and medically fragile. Um obviously um the costs were quite significant, especially in the
154first year from um what we're seeing from our RFP um submissions. So that's an increase of 5.6 million. Out of district tuition, close to a million dollar increase. That's also for special ed and regular ed school choice. So in the governor's um presentation of this year's budget, he made a change where our risk so when students want to go to a school choice to other risks like ACES CRE or CES or others. The last two years we only had to pay half the tuition because the state had given the rests the remainder of the money. That has now changed. It's now back where the districts are now going to have to pay full tuition if a student wants to go to one of these school choice facilities or schools because it was right. So, it
155was about $12 million that the governor has taken from from the rest that he used to that the state used to provide to the rest to pay for half the tuition and I believe it looks like 12 million is going now to free breakfast and program for the entire state. So, that's a little bit of what that that burden is in that line item. um purchase services for special education. Working with the sped department, we feel we need to increase that by another 130. Professional services, this is our substitute coverage. We're looking at a $300,000 increase there as well. Um utilities between electricity and gas, we're looking at a 285,000 increase. And miscellaneous items. Um, and you'll see throughout if you look in the back where we have more specific line items. We're going to
156see a little bit of a reduction. We tried to cut some of those areas. So, that's a budget increase of the 13.9. Um, but that 2.1 million was moving to Alliance. So, that's where our net operating budget increase is 11,800,000. So obviously up to this point it doesn't provide a lot of opportunity for us to be innovative uh for the upcoming year until we know what we're dealing with. Um one thing we know we're what we're trying to do uh obviously we continue to expand Roberto Clemente. So that's going to be two additional teachers for grade six there. Two other items that you see uh that was discussed at the finance committee was the assistant director of human resources and an athletic director for the district. You can see the proposed budget being a $0
157change for that because we were able to find positions that we've cut over the time. Um for example, an office manager that was at central office that was, you know, $60,000 uh was cut this year. uh somebody moved on. We haven't filled it. And we also have a few positions from across the district. Uh for example, in some of our elementary schools, uh um the the um population has decreased. So maybe they had four kindergartens. They were budgeted for four kindergartens, but now it's three kindergartens because there's there's not enough students to even fill four. There's not even 60 students to be able to get into those classrooms. And so, uh, we've been able to consolidate some of that to be able to meet the needs of some of our, uh, requests from not only
158board members, but also just from what we've seen so far in terms of supporting our human resource office and specifically our sports programming that does not right now have a district lead for it. So page 21 is just showing um the salary line. So on the on the summary sheet, you saw the 6.6 million. So this just breaks it up between our instructional payroll, special ed, all the way down to the overtime accounts, uh extra police protection. And then you'll see where we provide for um where we reduce our budget because we project out some attrition for the certified and non-certified staff. Page 22 is our benefit expense. Um, so that would include the health benefit contribution that we um provide uh with to the city uh to help with the benefit costs. again I
159because have you seen they have not been increased in the ECS on their side um and we were getting it on our side in the form of the um alliance grant um we have been budgeting this over the last few years but I do just want to point out that the city does pay for full benefits for most of our um employees to a total toal of like a four-year average was around $62 million. So that's in their budget. So this is a contribution to help with that. Um page 23 is the instructional expense line. Uh really there's nothing um really that different in here. Um it's all our supplies, instructional and so on and so forth. Purchase services. So this is the increase. Uh this is the area for the 7 million. Again, you're
160going to see for the professional services for subs, the uh pupil transportation at the 5.6 million. Uh the out of district tuition as I spoke about between special and regular ed. Um and that's where the driving that $7 million increase. Uh property expense uh increase of 184,000 overall. You'll see our electricity account is in there. um miscellaneous um is just an increase in the 45,000 and then that's due to contributing to our athletic revolving fund um with a few more sports intram murals or um more is needed into into that line item. So on page 27, um our proposed budget again is 170,175. Um we're assuming a minimum budget requirement of 158.4 million. That's a total increase from the previous year of the 11 of 11,800,000. That is a 7.45 increase to this budget. And
161again, we're just reiterating what we feel that we would be getting um on the city side as the minimum budget requirement and that we have 11 million $800,000 issue. Um and we will be working on a budget mitigation plan if we do not receive any state any additional state aid. Um and on page 29 um ways to mitigate our our um deficit um if we do not receive any other funding. We examine all areas of the budget through a responsible and student centered lens because we really don't want to affect the students as much as we can as much as we are underfunded here. Our approach is to balance uh with fiscal stewardship and commit to maintaining highquality educational services. um central office has begun to pursue a very comprehensive mitigation plan and obviously we're
162going to review all areas and whether it's staffing adjustments, freezing, hiring freeze on positions, program priorities, long-term plans, etc. um want to work closely with our board of education's finance committee and the committee of the whole to make um be very transparent and to make very thoughtful decision-m um cuts if need be and to really just um minimize any disruption to student learning is really what our goal is. It's really all about the students and it's hard to do that and and to have anything extra when we're really just trying to maintain what we currently have. >> So, uh, one one more piece that came out of the finance committee meeting that I want to give to the board and then obviously open for questions and answers. One question was, what is the uh, typical
163per pupil expenditure in the state of Connecticut? that was discussed at the finance committee meeting and I misspoke per pupil expenditure in Connecticut. If you take out um we just did districts we you know charter schools are considered districts in Connecticut. We took those out. We're talking about districts, towns, cities. $25,000 average in the state of Connecticut. >> We thought it was 20. >> I thought it was closer to 20. Um so we get 115 then we add in there's some weights to that 115 and then we get additional funding and things like that but in the end you know waterberry with with that 115 and all the additional fundings that we we we get um in the weights that we get uh we are one two three four five six from the bottom in
164the 8,654, which is a difference of approximately $6,500 per student in the state of Connecticut. So if we were if we were even with all of the support that we know our students need, if we were even at the state average, we would have a budget with 117 million more dollars in it just to get to the average of the state for what we do here. And so obviously a tremendous gap. Um, obviously, and I agree with Dorene, you always want to look and try to try to create a budget that doesn't impact students, of course, the most, but I find that it's it's very hard sometimes in education to say this doesn't impact a kid because the whole system is built around kids. So, um, there's really no good way to find $11 million
165in a budget that's already underfunded and do it in a way that isn't going to impact kids, teachers, culture, climate. So, we are really advocating with the state. Our representatives are advocating with the state. I've wrote I've I've written testimony um and provided that to the education committee. President Brown and I have talked about that and I've I've submitted that actually earlier this week um we've had uh um at the morning of the governor's visit. I was going to be in Harford at the education committee to discuss the need for increased funding especially in our cities and deputy Mendoza was able to go there and represent Waterberry uh and and the education leazison Bob Haxi was there to represent Waterberry to ensure that we stood side by side with the New Havens and the Bridgeports
166the Hartfords to talk about how important this is because we are so dependent on this funding. Um, so with that, uh, we'll be happy to answer any questions, uh, that you have for us, but just know that we will continue to advocate until, uh, the state passes their budget. >> Okay, just before questions, I just want to clarify. I'm looking at >> Oh, yeah. >> the slide on page 15. >> The city is 113 million.6. That's the ECS formula that goes to the city side and then gets transferred to us. Correct. >> That is that is correct. So >> on page 17 it goes up to 158. >> Yeah. >> 3. So if you could just explain. >> Yes. Thank you. Thanks you for that assist President Brown. Um so President Brown's exactly correct. So
167you have 100 There it is. So you have 113 million. We can pass this. So state ECS funding, right? So that means that the $44 million difference between the 157 and 113 comes from your local taxes here. It's it's the it's the um it's the difference between what the state gives the city and then the city gives us. So the state basically says here's $13 million Waterberry and then Waterberry says our minimum minimum budget requirement is 158. So they make up that difference between the 113 and the 158 and that's what we get from the city, you know. So sometimes there's major confusion that the entire budget comes from the city. Sometimes there's major confusion that the 158 all comes from the city. Technically it does. What a lot of people don't say after that
168is well 113 went to the state to the city and then went to went to us. And so really we're getting 44 million from our local contribution. I think it's an important distinction. Thank you president. Any questions? Commissioner Lopez? >> No questions. >> All right. So, just so the there there was a lot of numbers thrown out here and I got lost a little bit, but I just want to clarify that I got it correct. >> So, to stay the course as to what we're doing this year, >> we're 11 million and some change >> in the whole >> 14 million. Yeah. What did you say? >> I mean, yeah. I mean, if we didn't put the $2 million and cover it in the alliance grant with some of the things we could change and
169with through attrition and fit in there because there's no increase to alliance. So, we're taking that $2 million in additional and finding different ways to support it, whether it's programs that are phasing out, whether it's um positions we couldn't hire. If you really wanted the honest number, you had the two million to that. I mean, but we're finding ways to to do that in alliance >> for the for what we're asking the city and what in in terms of what we think we can operate because we we think we could do that. >> Um, yes, that is to open the doors and only be very similar to what we are this year. It is that that number. >> All right. And today we heard a lot about our families and students >> having an increase
170in needs. >> Um, and we won't be able to meet that. we can't do anything differently than what we're doing today and that's not effective for our students. >> Yeah. So absolutely correct. I think you know we that's why we continue to leverage you know grants um because one of the things we're fighting for just so you understand too is that um an increaser that's tied to inflation is really important. That's something all the superintendents, Caps and Cab were all fighting for because that alliance increase over time, we knew that was coming. Like that was predictable. We knew that was coming. It helped us create solid budgets as a as a board and as a city. We we don't know what the future holds right now because there is no 10-year plan from the from
171the state. So, if we knew we were getting 3% a year or 4% a year or whatever it is, then we could then think, okay, then I could plan >> and then I could I could say, okay, let's divert money from over this area, move it over here. um let me do some long-term strategic planning about leases and different things like that that I can re which we're doing anyways but it that without the predictability of what we're getting it makes it very hard to say in the next two to three years we're going to be able to do that for families if we don't know and so um you know unfortunately and and and again we're talking about 2013 numbers >> nothing costs the same from 2013 and so what we're trying to do
172as best as possible. In the meantime, until we get some more predictability from our biggest funer, which is federal state, is leveraging like what Althia talked about earlier, which is Nelly May Foundation, which has huge ability to be able to pay for certain programming to expand things like community schools and supports for parents. It's working with CJR, who's going from four schools to six schools next year. You know, that's in a good way. we were forced to work with community a little bit more to get things done. But on the same hands, it feels a little it's very interesting to sit in my chair to know how much our students need and that we're constantly trying to find creative ways just to get what they need. And so you're absolutely right. >> Um so I
173know that we we did the legislative breakfast that Tom did a great job organizing and we we did a couple of those. Um, we did that virtual one and and we really tried to make sure that our legislators knew before legislative session how important it was that our money was increased. >> When did you say that they would make that determination? June. >> So, it's earlier than June. I believe it's early May. Early May. >> Early May would be enough. >> But when do we have to submit this to the alderman? >> June. >> Wait. June. >> So, that's why we have to have plan A, B, C, and D. I mean, so one of the plans is obviously we need a budget mitigation plan. So you got to prepare for the worst and then
174you you create a budget mitigation plan if all 12 million doesn't come. you create another budget mitigation plan that if it's you know you about half that and say let's well maybe we get some of that and then you you go all the way through what if we get more you have to think that too because I don't want to be stuck in May and June with a good problem though is what if they give us more than 14 million because then we have to be sustainable and think hard about how we want to then commit those extra funds to support the things we know we have to do for our kids. So, you also have to have that plan as well, which I I'll I'll have a lot better time creating that plan than
175I will the other plan. >> I was gonna say if we we have that problem, we should be creating programs that would keep our kids in our public schools versus going out >> to another city. Absolutely. Right. So, we're not paying that. When was the last time we asked the city >> for an increase in their side? >> Why y'all laughing? >> Every year. >> Well, we haven't. Not that I know of. I mean, we need to ask. >> I mean that's because we had we were have we had the increase that when that phase in formula was going to the alliance grant. >> So we had the alliance grant at that point. Um that helped us to you know offset any increases to our budget. >> And just one one thing that I I
176do think gets lost because it's we're always a little different. This time it's a good thing. I'm one of the very few superintendents who goes to meetings with other superintendents who says the city takes our fi um healthcare. All the other superintendents I talk to, except for maybe a a few um are independent of the city. So they're eating those health care costs every year. So when they go to their boards uh to ask for money, a big portion of that has been healthcare over the last 10 to 15 years. So although we do have a healthcare fund that we have been giving the city increased amounts as Dorian said that's at 11 million right now um but they're picking up over 60 million of the health care costs that continue to grow as you
177probably all know and so it does get a little so when we say they haven't given us an increase Dorian's right we've gotten the alliance increase and they've picked up all the major increases even the money that we've given them hasn't covered the cost of the healthcare increases over time. But it's a really good question. I will try to find the answer for you when the last time the education department asked for an increase uh uh to the alderman. >> Yeah. And I'm really curious to know the percentage of what other cities and towns are investing into their public schools. >> It's a great question. How much of their local funding is going to their total education? It's not educational funding, as you can imagine, is is sometimes hard to get from all the different
178because they they it's all different. We could ask the uh state school finance project to maybe help us out with finding that that information because they probably have it a lot faster than we will. So, I'll do my best to try to get that for you as fast as possible. >> Commissioner Van Stone and then Commissioner. >> Thank you, Madam President. through you. >> Sorry. >> It was a difficult finance committee meeting the other night and we and we didn't even really dig in and you're right. We did discuss making sure we needed to have plan A, B, C, D, and hopefully we don't get to Z. I I do want to say that there have been not to the alderman, but this package really is for the mayor. This is through our obligation on
179dates. If you in the beginning, you saw the chart. This is for us to send to the mayor. We have had a bigger number in this package to the mayor. It quickly came back taking everything extra out like within an hour. Um, so going to the alderman, it's always been this amount. Going to the mayor, we definitely have sent it over with more money. Uh but it it it didn't it it it went back to this figure um every time and that's every year I've been on the board. So I just wanted to clarify that piece just so you know and a lot of what I wanted to talk about is uh a little bit of clarification uh only because after 12 years I finally understand this presentation. So, don't feel bad if you're uh
180>> you know you you got pins in your eyes at this point. >> They'll come out some year. >> But um >> I want I wanted to talk about when we use >> uh the alliance grant to show the big picture. >> Um and someone may ask, well, you get $87 million from the Alliance Grant and you're moving over two. Why don't you move over that 11? You're missing two. Well, the Alliance grant has some very strict rules and this is probably one of the biggest numbers we've moved over actually because the state has to actually approve anything we use in the alliance grant. So when we do things like this, we have to actually get approval from the state because there are definite strict they've loosened them a little bit over the years. Years
181ago, we you didn't dare try to detour a little bit on the alliance grant. So, I just want to clarify that that it's 87 million and we're showing it in the big picture, but that is not the operating budget. Alliance is not the operating budget. We're using it here for $2 million to help offset, but it's not really an offset. It's paying for services that meet the requirements of Alliance. So I just and I I'm not even sure that clarified it but um it's it's difficult to understand right away but you got to understand that the alliance is not the operating although we do use it for operations. So I don't know if if I need if you need to clarify that better during for me go right ahead but I wanted to bring that
182out. >> Yeah. No you're you're absolutely right commissioner. So really what we're saying next year is we need 73 million of the 87 million in alliance for the operating budget, >> right? >> Because there's no increase, >> right? And and the city can't increase when their ECS is also at 113.6 and they're they do have the bigger burden of the benefit cost and we're just trying to contribute because some of that increase in ECS is coming to us. So that's the reason why health benefits was never even part of our budget before and that is the only reason really why we were starting to put a little bit in there. >> So that's >> because we don't want to one of the things is we just you know I mean we'd have to >> I
183mean we don't want to put the burden on taxpayers either. >> Yeah. No, no. We we say all the time when we do any sort of even uh uh teaching negotiations. I was >> almost slamming my fist down saying we are not agreeing to anything that's going to affect the mill rate and thank god we didn't. Um I mean that looks like a big chunk there but that was one of our mandates actually is not to affect that that city side. So I just want to go through a couple things on slide 19 as well. Um, you know, some of the things actually we discussed in the in the committee meeting the other day when we see the uh the number for the WTA that you you mentioned that that includes 70 vacancies just so
184we have the money prepared to try to fill vacancies we have. Correct. When we budget this, we always try to show vacancies. >> Yeah. So, this would be the cost of all the positions um and the increase. And what we did was the vacancy amount um we finally brought up to so the average I think we put 70,000 per vacancy but the average cost really of hiring a teacher has been around 78,000 >> but we've been putting 55,000 for the last we went to 63 now we're at 70 >> so you know vacancies bother me but it would also bother me that we're I know we're lowballing that number >> that's you know reason for that six million a little bit So, um, we do have 800,000 for attrition. I hope attrition means attrition because
185that says you're not back filling the job. So, um, hopefully those are areas we can do that. The rest thing really bothers me, you know, because I deal with aces on their board. So, I, you know, sometime I have to let them know that I'm putting my Waterberry hat because I'm not real happy with what they're doing. Um, but this one is for the governor. you know, we're going to move all this money over so the kids can get free breakfast that they're going to throw away because they don't eat it. So, that that's going to be money well spent, Governor. Thank you very much. Um, and let's see, did I have another? In slide 25, I wrote a note. Um, building rental you mentioned quickly. um you know building rental uh that includes the
186money for the palace. >> The palace Harper Avenue which >> supply and um >> Harper Avenue needs to go. Um >> there's hardly anything in it. Nick and I have been trying to find a date we can go up there and walk through it and so I can really tell you we don't need it. plus the part on the line items. Well, we don't see line items just yet, but where we also pay the person's like a third of his property taxes um because that's the way the contract was written whenever. Uh that's how the lease is set up. But, uh there's contracts that we don't even see anymore. The Palace Theater contract hasn't come before this board since my first year. Um and it just keeps getting resigned. I I don't even think gets
187signed. It actually is signed uh by Mayor Mike Jargera who hasn't been our mayor in a very long time. And that's whose signature is on the contract and we send them $200,000 two 200 or 250 >> 250 250 but 200 in this budget and the Williams grant >> the Williams grant. So we get some out of the magnet school funding. So um we have to look at that contract and see exactly how that's working out. Uh but on our properties we really need to get out of rental business rental be in rentals u you know because that's that's a half million dollars. Now am I poking at a half million when we're looking at 11? Yes. But we also have to look at what we call our inind uh you know grants or not grants
188but funds that we use like on page 26. Um you know I I get it. Waterberry Promise is doing a great job, but it's a nonprofit. We already give them office space down the hall from our main office. Um, I looked at their latest paperwork and they currently have taken last year they had donations of $2.5 million. Um, you know, so I think it's time that let them be on their own. Let them do what they're supposed to do. Go out and get their own money. And uh I don't see why we should be giving them 500,000. Um and plus last year with some uh extra ARPA money we found a way to get them $250,000 more. So last year we gave them $750,000. Uh and I think it needs needs to end. So I
189mean we'll get into the the weeds when we you know get through this piece, move on to the next piece and I things are itemized. Um, but we we have some uh tough work ahead of us. And as I said the other day, uh everything is on the table. And that's not to scare people, but everything's on the table. It's not easy to find $11 million. So, I've done some yelling and screaming over the years on our proposed budgets. Um, I may not need the microphone for everybody to hear me this year's budget. So, it's it's going to be tough. It's going to be tough. And there's, like I said to the B BTS folks, I mean, um, they show in their slide that we gave them over half a million dollars. >> Now, they're
190doing good work. And I think that's out of alliance also. >> No, it's not. It's um, originally was with um, the ESSER funds. >> So, now it's in title one. Okay. >> So, we pay for the coordinators out of title one, but there's not in this budget or the alliance budget. >> Okay. One more thing to confuse everybody. We have a series of title grants that come from the feds >> over 100 million >> that we use in different manners. Uh, but it also has strict rules that it only can be used for certain things. However, it's still money that comes to us from the feds that we're going to be sending out to a a secondary organization. But we do have to keep everything in mind. Um, and it I I was sorry I
191asked such a tough question directly. Why should we give you the money? But you did give me a good answer. So I you know, but that's what we're going to have to do with everything. We're going to have to ask those tough tough questions. Why should we do something? We it I mean the days of just writing checks is over. Uh because there's no money in the checkbook. And just because we have checks doesn't mean we could write them. Um, so it's gonna be tough. And in the next few months, you guys are going to know more about this than you uh probably care to. So, thanks, Madam President. >> Commissioner uh Ireland. Go ahead. >> Oh, Commissioner Munes. >> Ireland. >> Thank you, Madam President. Through you. Um, so, uh, Dr. shorts, you saw
192me like looking at you like uh like big eyed. Um but I guess um my question would be is that I understand that this session is a short session and it's also not a budget year. Um what is the strategy that we can at least us as a board of commissioners can assist you with? And also later on um I think that like you know it it like I I don't think that the burden should just lie on just the finance and and you and Dorene. Um so I I definitely feel like there has to be a way maybe we could like come together. >> Yeah. Thank you. That's uh I appreciate that very much because obviously we're all in this together and um I'll talk to President Brown for sure and I know she
193advocates she's constantly sending me like you know sign up for this and we're both hitting up those uh every time you give a testimony every time you do that but maybe we can have a more coordinated response as a whole whether it's with the board of education and any community partners that want to join us because I know um being organized will also send a stronger message than individually doing it. So, I'll talk to President Brown for sure. We'll come up with a with a plan to to do something collectively. >> And just so that you know, okay, we are a member of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education and you know, we are in contact with them. They're lobbying for us all the time. I and I think one thing we can do
194is to call our own if we have a personal relationship with our own legislators. I mean, they're they're all on speed dial. I call them all the time and they're very aware of this and they are fighting in Harford for us. And uh the other thing is there is a lobby day March 11th uh sponsored by Cave at the Capitol uh we start off at the Bushnull at uh was it 8:30? 8:30 and then we march over to the Capitol and that's an opportunity uh to do that. Uh but you know I've sent in testimony as a board of ed I mean I think um I think it's all about personal relationships now it's an election year uh so I think people are putting the pressure on so there are organizations but I think uh
195anything we can do to uh augment that is great >> right >> um thank you for that and then um more like a comment Um, but I do agree with um, Commissioner Van Stone that I think it is time that we nickel and dime things cuz I was looking at um, the miscellaneous which was page 26 and I'm seeing on mileage and then coaches reimbursements like what I understand that athlet I used to be a student athlete myself, but it's just I'm curious as to the the mileage. What does that look like? I know we'll get a better understanding about that. Also, the coach's reimbursements, what is that looking like? I mean, I know that these are small numbers in a big pool, if you will, but I think that every cent counts at this
196time and it's just like especially when we have our special ed students who their needs are high and we need to fund them. >> Yeah, thank you, Commissioner. I think I know the mileage is contractual in some cases for people to be reimbursed for mileage for their positions that require them to um >> Yeah. And so uh uh but we are 100% with you that there is and to Commissioner Vanstone's point um everything is open and we have to look at all items because the last thing we want to do is try to take away as much as possible from students. Like I said, that's very difficult to do an education budget, but um it's a good point and we'll continue to look at all of these items and continuing to look at those two
197specifically. >> Okay. Uh Commissioner Ireland, Madam President, and I'll be really fast. I don't want to uh belabor the time, but as um what Kay was mentioning, I was looking at um instructional expense. Um clothing is that for culinary uh what is that for? I know it's a >> that's for our maintenance department and so it's contractual. We have to provide them um with clothing uniform allowances. So, it's in it's in the blue collar contract. >> Okay. And just one question. What about cars? Just who has cars? What? >> Oh, you mean car allowance? >> Yes. Cars and allowance. >> Yeah, that's also contractual. So, when our maintenance department goes from school to school, they either can get Yeah. Okay. And then one more question. >> I know we spend a lot of money on
198the bus company, >> you know. I don't even know how to finish this, but the services aren't that good and we do spend money on our transportation. Um, is there a reason why we're using Durham? I mean, are they cheaper or I mean, just asking as a parent and as a commissioner. Yeah, I don't want to get too far too because it's in the middle of of finalizing that RFP as well, but I could tell you that >> we're trying to balance how much it costs which alo which with with quality um obviously. And so those are things the committee is considering for sure. Um and yes, the costs are going up regardless if it's >> right >> regardless of the company. Um you could see that with the astronomical rise in just the one-year
199cost of >> a couple million dollars uh from one year to the next. That's the numbers we're getting in on average from all the companies. So um but that process is is is being completed uh within the next week or so. >> Quite frankly, I would honestly wouldn't mind spending the money on the service if we get good service. >> I would agree if we have the money. That's Commissioner L. >> Thank you, Madam President. Yes. Just want to say uh great job to the education and finance department. Um just just perspective. This minimum wage in 2013 was $8.25. It is now $16.94. So great job to you all to making all this work all these years. You're talking about over 10 years of just crumbs, right? And doing the most you can with nothing.
200Um, but with everything being on the table, like everyone said, you mentioned a athletic director position. How much would that save or how much would that hurt the budget? >> Yeah, it's a good point. I mean, so it depends on how you look at it. If we're if we're reclassifying positions that uh people have left and we're not going to fill, you know, technically zero, but then if I don't even fill that athletic director, then I could use that funding towards something else, right? So, I guess to the point is is that we've we've either um had vacancies where we we we we don't need to fill. So, we um are reallocating that. But I think a better point that I could make is um because we don't have one independent person looking at all
201the athletic funds and revolving accounts like so that we don't have one person leveraging all the jerseys and and purchasing of jerseys to get a better discount. We don't have one person buying all the basketballs for all the kids. We don't have one person who's looking at all the sports and seeing what's the participation and do we need to continue that? What is the value of inter murals and could we have students just join a league that's right down the street and you know is it worth the hundred to 150,000 a year to do that. Um so you know this person's job would be to not just strengthen the program because sports are so important sports and arts and robotics all those things that we all bands we we constantly hear kids want after school
202programming we also want to have after school programming for kids that's effective and growing in the right direction. It's just not left up to each school to do the best they can. And so um part of their job though is to be efficient. tell us what they need to to have effective programs and to grow their program so more students can participate. And so, you know, I hate to say that they're going to save us x amount of money, but I just know without one person watching over all of it, um there is money to be saved, whether it's just the the power of purchasing together, but then also working with each athletic director to make sure that the funds are being expended properly and then looking at programs like inter murals and other things
203that we could possibly save money on or collaborate with, you know, different entities, the north end rack, the Y, whatever it is to say, hey, these students may not have an inter mural. program, but can we do something? And I'm pretty sure we have the ability to do that um within the city uh to make sure that students are still getting something um and it's not necessarily costing an exorbitant amount. >> Commissioner Orso, >> a quick question. Maybe this question should have been asked to Wendy, but bothers me every year. I'm sorry. The out of out of district tuition, >> $20 million. >> Now, the last time I remember it was 18 students for that $20 million. Is that correct? >> I know Wendy left. I don't want to give you the I don't want
204to give you the wrong number because out of district uh um this is just out of district tuition and then there's purchaser, but this also includes the out regular ed and special ed. So, this is every kid that goes to ACES. This is every kid that goes. >> And don't forget, going back to what we said, we used to only pay half. Now we have to up that because we have to pay full amounts. Um, I can I can tell you that the number for out of district placements has somewhat stayed steady. Wendy's kind of gotten a good handle on that. And if you recall, I talked to the board last year about making sure we have people going out to the programs, making sure we're looking at those programs, making sure they're effective. So,
205we are still doing that. the the the the the number has stayed stable, but again, it's based on student need. You know, if a student comes in and we just don't have the proper program, we got to give them their least restrictive environment. And so, it's a number that consistently we go back to the state and say we need help. Now, I do want to talk about, you know, just really briefly, we do we did get a seed grant for the first time this year. Two and a half million. Uh so $2 and half million dollars for the seed grant to help us fund uh programs for special ed students. Again, a grant that comes but it did come from the state because they realize that these costs are exorbitant. 2 and a half million
206doesn't cover the increases. But what it one of the things we're fighting for, Commissioner Orso, if you remember, is to be able to use that money for purchase services because we need that so much uh for our students. So I do appreciate we did get two and a half million. We are getting 1.5 million for the drip grant as well from the state uh moving forward and that helps us for district repairs or boilers that need to be installed in schools uh such as career academy. Um so we do have um the state has provided um some additional grants last year and they it looks like they're going to continue that for the upcoming year as well. Um but that's not going to cover our our costs. Thanks. >> Any other questions? Okay. Thank you
207very much. Now that we're all depressed, let's go to All right, moving right along. Mr. Albini request approval of facility use agreement with American Cancer Society, Inc. >> You know, Nick, and if you don't mind, I just >> after what you went through, this is going to be piece of cake. >> I know. >> Good evening, President Brown. >> I approve. Oh, sorry. >> Board of Education Commissioners, Superintendent Dr. Schwarz. The education department respectfully requests your review and approval of a facility use agreement with the American Cancer Society to hold their relay for life event at Waterberry at Crosby High School's track and field on Saturday, June 20th, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. to 1000 p.m. This is a function that's been going on for a couple years. uh and I've been involved with them up
208there in organizing it and uh it's a real professional event, well attended uh great cause and uh they're they do a really good job of understanding our uh concern and requests and demands about facility use and making sure that there is no damage to our football field. Is is that our Nick >> any questions? >> Commissioner Ireland >> and then Commissioner >> just a question. Are they using just the track or the facility inside as well or just the track? >> The track and the in inside the facility as well. Uh they do understand that they can't put any stakes in the ground. Okay. It's artificial turf. >> Uh no food, no drink. uh um anything they put there uh they use sandbags, they put weights so nothing goes into the ground. Uh they're very
209careful with and they understand uh our concern with that. >> So >> and they use some areas outside as well along around the track as well. >> Okay, >> Mr. Orso, >> he answered my question because I thought there was artificial turf up there, but I wasn't sure. Yeah. >> Yes. Yes. >> Okay. And they're they are waved. Their fee is waved. >> That's what their request is. Yes. >> Okay. >> All right. >> That was I'm sorry, that was actually approved uh at a previous board meeting. >> Okay. Okay. Number seven, use of school facilities by school organizations andor city departments. The education department has received 13 requests for building and school facilities use by schools, school organizations, andor city departments as listed in your packet, and they request board of education approval. >>
210Okay, any questions on those? Okay, next. >> And lastly, uh the education department has received two requests for building and school facilities use by outside organization and request a waiver of fees. Uh they are the Waterberry Islamic Cultural Center for Crosby High School, Nest, which is formerly the neighborhood housing services of Waterberry for Reed Cafeteria. And the education department has also received two requests for building and school facilities use uh and request a waiver of fees as they were granted waivers in the past. That's the Connecticut Rebound for Willby High School Gymnasium and Connecticut Royalty for the Bucks Hill Gymnasium >> and those are sports events. >> Um, >> obviously >> I'm sorry. >> They're sports events. Correct. >> Okay. Any questions on those, Commissioner L? >> Yes. Thank you, Madam President. Did you >>
211just for the Crosby gym? I noticed that he the Islamic um community, they put down 500 people and I think 200 children. Are they 300? Are they required to hire police to kind of be in on the facility for that? That's a lot of people at one time. >> Uh that I don't know if they're required to do that. I can check for you. >> If we're going to do the waiver and everything, they have to hire some officers just because this is that's 800 people in one spot. You know what I mean? Just safety wise, that would the best thing to have some police on site >> and the fire department on site just in case anything happens. >> Police and fire. >> Yeah, please. >> Yes, >> I will check on that and
212and >> Okay. And then we're going to work together. We're going to figure out this uh facility used for the waiverss for the the pastor people across the board. We we um have pulled a couple of different uh area um request forms and we're starting to put some things together and then we're going to start a committee and we can review some of these requests and waiverss and guidelines. >> Yeah, we're we this is too much especially when everything's under a microscope right now and the funds just we can't afford it. >> Yes, sir. Point taken. >> Commissioner Irely thank you madam president and just one question Mr. Albany for when these uh gyms are used. Are the janitors working? >> Yes. >> Is this overtime? >> Sometimes it could be. So if it if
213somebody uses a gym, we'll say for instance 6:00 to 9 at night >> uh Monday through Friday and there was school, the custodians already on the payroll. So they just go in and and do a final clean. if they're renting the facility on a Saturday or Sunday. Yes, that is time and a half. >> So, that's just something to look at while we're talking about expenses. >> Again, we agree. >> Concur totally. >> Commissioner Lopez and Commissioner Mason. >> Yeah. Um to to Latoya's point and to everybody's point um Lot's point um just curious what's the total amount waiver request >> they're in the packet so everybody asks for a different amount because it depends on what they're renting for gym is it hours is it a room >> is it a weekend so it
214does depend on on the type of function >> our overhead everything. >> Yeah, cuz I I didn't I didn't I saw them but I didn't add them up myself. >> Maybe what's our overhead including janitors facilities. >> So you you always will have electricity. We always have you know porcelain facility use water cleanup >> garbage uh time and a half depending on the number of uh participants could be two maintainers could be three maintainers uh depending on on what is requested and when it's requested. It it does add up and and I'm I'm glad we're having this conversation because this just used to be just okay here it is and it's approved but this is fruitful conversation that we want to really bring up and try to discuss some of these costs. Some of these
215functions are very worthwhile. Youth sports organizations, um, you know, they're benevolent organizations, uh, community organizations, very valid, but we need to have something contributed in my opinion. I know I'm >> pontificating a little bit, but but we need some of this money to offset some of our costs that isn't really uh hurting their cause either. Commissioner >> Runosu. Thank you um through Madame President Brown and thank you um Mr. Albini and also it'll be sad to see you go. So I do want to mention that about you. Um and happy retirement. I hope you're going somewhere warm. Um but I do want to remind everyone as well what the last time we had a facil like something like this came about. We allowed over like $1,000 to walk out that door. I do want to
216I want us to remember that. And this time, um, who's coming up, for example, like the Crosby Wallace gym that is about to be used, the fee is $840. Nest is charging is is asking for $2.49. These are all like now rain in in a bucket type of thing. But I think that like this is why it's so important that we that we actually go through this item by item because last time we allowed for this to go through, right? Um and again, thank you Mr. Albini for always bringing this up and um but I think it's important to bring this up again to not allow this to just go through because we are currently seeing how we are needing to make up almost 11 million now at this point. Um so I I hope
217that this time around our colleagues will allow us to start charging because it's it's it's essential. Um, but thank you, >> Commissioner Van Stone. >> Very quick. Thank you for noticing that the price is there that they're asking to wave, but if you notice below where they've had a previous waiver, it does not have a price. We on this form here, we it's the actual committee on building and school facilities, uh, that lists, you know, each group. um that it used to have a year-to- date total on there. We used to have a year-to date um on the form, but this form here um in our packet it's number page 127 and it used to always have year-to date in the past. So, I don't know if we could look to see if we could
218put that back. >> I know these forms have not been updated and >> Well, no, it was just it was like a typed in note at the bottom. >> Gotcha. >> Uh that just said year to date. I will I will ask about that. >> Okay. And that would answer some of the questions that came up tonight as to how much we're waving. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Darren wants to say something and then >> Yeah. I just want to make sure I think the the best place to hash out like the details. We set up a school facility uh meeting and then at that point, you know, Mr. Alvini can gather some things. uh we could take these examples and then we could just hash out the details so that when we come
219back we actually have like a a working operating protocol procedure that I think works for everyone. So >> the sooner we could do that so >> long overdue. Yes. >> We'll we'll work that out with carry to schedule and you know I think we can get that on the books pretty soon. >> Commissioner Orso >> just one just one quick thing. I know that we have to charge for whatever we have to charge for. I totally agree. What bothers me is a liability. >> Someone gets hurt. I know they sign insurance waivers, but they always go back they always go after the big boys. So that's that's my biggest thing. If somebody gets hurt and yeah, we might not be liable because they sign an insurance waiver, but they're going to sue us anyway. >>
220Deep pockets. They call that, >> right? Deep pockets. Thank you. >> And you will be missed, too. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh number nine, uh superintendent update. >> Oh. Okay, President Brown, make it short. I got you. I can do that. President Brown, commissioners, and want to just cover a few things with you tonight. The district currently uh operates want to shine a little highlight on the 21st century programs at 14 of our schools. Um just just a little reminder that these programs provide students with enriching academic and extracurricular opportunities beyond the school day. you know, so we tired of that a little bit that that wasn't planted. Uh, obviously this is created before tonight, but we do have 14 schools. And just remember, um, these are finite grants. We can't get them from
221every single school. There's only a certain amount of funding through federal and state. Um, the 21st Century Advisory Council made up um of uh various uh various uh uh teachers, administrators, vendors, parents. Commissioner Lot um offers unbelievable valuable learning experiences at all of these schools and um just happy to see our students. If you go to any of these 21st century programs, you could really see them and how excited they are. I know I relied on after school programming as a kid. It was usually the reason why I went to school because I was really excited to do the 21st century program. It's the fact uh because I had so much fun in it. It's the thing I remember actually the most from many of my days in elementary school. So these are really uh
222essential. I just wanted to shine a light on them and how important they are for our district. Governor did come uh to Kennedy High School and spoke to uh a group of about a hundred students uh who asked some really uh tough questions of the governor, but good questions as well. um uh ranging uh from how did he get into politics and how was he uh and how's he uh what is he thinking about funding for education and different things like that that the the school um you know uh was engaging with the governor and the mayor asking him uh some questions as well as that. So, Commissioner Ireland and uh Commissioner uh Hayward Bone were also uh there to to be present for that. Kennedy band also uh went to Dugen and they performed
223for the students there. >> And uh >> they also were given at that at that moment a a check uh from uh the Dugen School to help them support them with their upcoming trip to Hawaii. So >> um also a little encouragement. A lot of our dugging kids go to Kennedy. So it's a little recruiting tactic there to to get that going. So you know don't forget that. I had a great night at the Superintendent Student Recognition Award last night. I thought it was a lively event. Congratulations to all the students who uh earned the award. Not were given, but earned it. Uh great night. I love the red carpet and the DJ and the the Crosby culinary and everybody that helped put that together. Amazing amazing job. Thank you so much. Um and our
224own student representative on tonight was there receiving the award. Congratulations to all the honores. Read Across America. Many of us were able to go across the uh district and read uh to our students, which is definitely the best part of the day, no matter what day it was, for sure. Mr. Mendoza wanted to point out he was reading in Spanish, you know, just in case anybody was questioning because sometimes, you know, I think his uh his wife might be a little bit better than him at it, but he he got through it and uh he did a great job. And obviously you could tell that the kids were excited to have him in the room as well. Um, and I saw Commissioner Brown. I saw you earlier today at uh, Roberto Clemente reading. >> And
225the school is decorated. Unbelievable. If you have a chance, we had a vote >> on the decorations. I mean, it was phenomenal. Wasn't that tough? >> That school is is something. And uh, we're going to continue to support it. And uh one of the really excited you I'm sure you all remember from one of my previous reports that we were applying for a grant to bring NEASK to the middle schools for accreditation. I'd like to say we're one of very few districts that was accepted into this cohort to bring accreditation to our middle schools. Middle school principles are on board. So, uh, more information coming our way, uh, as we wrapped up Black History Month and I know we had a few snow dates and so we have some more coming out, uh, tomorrow as
226well. Uh, just wanted to highlight the NEMS empowered to be me and the Crosby Apollo Theater talent show. Uh, district did a wonderful job across uh, uh, all grades to celebrate Black History Month and it's women's history month in March. And uh just a reminder uh it's school board appreciation month. We saw a little something today with the poem from the student and we saw the drum line, but we're going to have a nice >> we're going to have a uh and I and what >> and we're going to have some letters for some students that were provided to you. Uh and then we'll have a uh another opportunity to celebrate you all at WAMS in two weeks and so looking forward to that. But I wanted to say uh happy appreciation month to all
227of you. And uh before I tell you to all follow us on social media, which I know you all do, I want to congratulate the Wallace Lions who I ran from there to here. Uh I witnessed their 24-point win in the NVL Middle School Finals. And so they 24-point win on a championship is a resounding victory. So congratulations to all the Wallace Lions. I know the mayor had talked to him right afterwards and I said we're going to have to pony up for some pizza and ice cream for the for the champions. So, we will certainly do that and invite the board uh to celebrate those students. >> Uh I'm sure there's no interest in high school coaches on any of those players as well. By the way, um and I just uh two more
228just want to uh say welcome home to uh first lieutenant >> Joseph Britain. All right. >> Absolutely. as he as you know he uh he has went to JAG and he has conquered JAG and so he has come back as first lieutenant you were sorely missed we appreciate uh everything you have done and thank you for your service to our country >> thank you >> and I just want to echo we'll have more time to do this near June uh but I also want to say and thank Nick for everything he has done uh not just for >> me personally, but for the Waterberry public schools and more importantly for the students. He does not want to make a big deal of this. So, I'll just say thank you and we'll we'll talk more. >>
229Absolutely. You're still going to be in my speed dial. >> Okay. Uh superintendent's notification to the board. Any questions? Could I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Second. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Discussion. All in favor? I opposed. Abstain. Motion carries. >> And we have a >> real quick go right into our >> special meeting. >> Our special meeting >> really quick. >> Unless you want to stand for a minute. >> No, go right in. >> All right. We're going right in. Okay. Let's go. >> Okay. Good evening everyone. Welcome to the Waterberry Board of Education special meeting. Uh we'll begin with a silent prayer. Commissioner L, if you could lead us to the pledge to the flag of the United States of America to the reps, one nation, indivisible, liberty and justice
230for all. >> Your call Commissioner >> Commissioner Anthony >> President Vice President Ireland >> here. >> Jackson >> here. >> Commissioner >> here. >> Commissioner Manstone >> present. >> President Brown >> here. >> Quorum has reached. Committee on finance. Commissioner Orso. Item 4.1. I move that the Waterberry Board of Education approved to authorize the Superintendent of Schools to submit the 2026 2027 Department of Education's budget request in the amount of 170,175,000 to the mayor. >> Second discussion. >> I have a discussion. >> Is this what we're sending yet? >> This is what we're send. But we're not finalizing this. >> No. >> Okay. It's just so >> the beginning the beginning of a dance. >> We're dancing. Okay. >> All All those No discussion. All >> those in favor? >> I opposed abstain. >> Okay.
231Motion carries. Can I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Motion to adjurnn. Second. >> All in favor? >> I abain. Motion carries. That's okay.