001[Music] [Applause] [Music] good evening everyone today is Thursday November 9th and this is a meeting of the Board of Education and we are at Waterbury Arts Magnet School first item on our agenda is a silent prayer doctor do you have any remembrances this evening yes president sweny in a moment of silence this evening let us remember former members of the bberry public schools education Community who have passed away Diane defier retired special education teacher passed away October 14th Dawn Horan former secretary at willby high school passed away October 18th Margaret marotti former cafeteria worker at Driggs Elementary School passed away October 24th hello beatric Pont landao former alternative education teacher passed away October 26th Lena sank former cafeteria worker at Kennedy High School passed away October 28th let this keep them in thought in prayer
002thank you everyone next item on our agenda is the pledge of allegiance to the flag commissioner nard DOI would you lead us in the Pres Allegiance I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for stands Nation indivisible sure commissioner Brown here vice president Hernandez here commissioner Ireland here commissioner nzi here commissioner Navaro commissioner O'Brien here commissioner Oro here commissioner Sano dorno here commissioner van Stone present president SW here okay next on our agenda is Communications secretary Sano Oona for the motion I'd like to make a motion to receive and place on file Communications as listed second motion's been made and seconded any discussion seeing none all in favor say I I opposed abstain motion carries vice president Hernandez we have some adjustments to the agenda could you
003start with the first motion yes uh motion to add to the agenda item number 10.3 Waterberry Arts magnic Su vice principal appointment second motion's been made and seconded any discussion seeing none all in favor say I I I opposed abstained motion carries the item is added as 10.3 motion to remove from the agenda item 10.1 Enlightenment School principal appointment second motion's been made and seconded any discussion seeing none all in favor say I I I opposed abstained motion carries and the item is added at is I'm sorry is removed 10.1 motion to remove from the agenda item 13.1 saw collective bargaining agreement second motion's been made and seconded any discussion seeing none all in favor say I I opposed abstained motion carries 13.1 is removed next up is our public address to the board commissioner
004van Stone where are we on there I motion to suspend a regular Ro of business to hear from the public second motion's been made and seconded any discussion seeing none all in favor say I I opposed abstained motion carries first Speaker represent representative Reyes good evening folks I brought a guest with me we don't know who that Senator Harley welcome yeah good evening boy r a real good meeting there just like that I like that President Sweeney board members of Vice President Lita Hernandez Dr Ruffin board members good evening it is Senator Harley and I pleasure to here to acknowledge uh the work of your president and Sweeney on behalf of the Waterberry delegation uh Mr Ron nley the only educator on the Waterberry uh Board of uh elected officials is uh driving his dad
005back to Florida so we'll cut him some slack tonight but he made sure that we were here and uh I'm going to let Senator Harley actually make the presentation I just want to extend my heartfelt congratulations and thank you to president Sweeny for your 18 years of service on this board Madam thanks representative reos um first of all it's an honor to be with all of the Commissioners at Board of Ed and I I want to congratulate the newly elected we we offer our congratulations to you um but most of all um representative ryos myself and the state delegation offer our thanks to you um this board you want to talk about boards that run the city um you could talk about Economic Development you could talk about Public Safety Board of Education is pivotal
006you guys are the Cornerstone of this community I thank you um personally for all of the work that you do it was interesting the other night I was with one of the Constitutional officers and I was introducing someone who um in another town was also running for the Board of Ed and um this officer who himself had started um on an Board of Education said are you sure you know what you're getting into um and you all know what that that is all about now um and so our deep thanks to all of you but we are here um to Mark a very very special um tenure uh and that is the tenure um and the work on this board for the our of our president right now and and Sweeney um she has and
007I have observed her over the years um dedicated herself in such a fullsome way uh to the work of this board to the mission of the Board of Education first and foremost to the students and yes to the faculty and to the staff um and so uh it it is with great with great sadness in all cander that we are here tonight um and I believe this is your last meeting Madam chair is that correct it to say a deep thank you um for the incredible work that you have done the service that you have provided you have led um with conviction and passion um and that has been noticed and and appreciated uh and your leadership quite frankly has been contagious to all I know all of the other Commissioners serving and certainly to
008um the community at large uh and so I'm going to ask representative reos to to read this I just came from the eye doctor and I'm having my own personal issues here representative R thank you thank you Senator Harley on behalf of the general assembly we offer an official citation from the entire Waterberry delegation let it be here known to all the Connecticut General Assembly hereby offers a sincerest congratulations to president n m Sweeny in recognition of your 18 years of service on the Waterberry Board of Education her constant work toward impacting waterburry schools has led to one of the largest increases in the waterburry school budget in many years she's worked closely with our state representatives and a at at a local level for purpose advancing education in our state her tireless effort has
009made a deep impression that will long that will last long after her departure the entire membership extends his best wishes on this memorable occasion and expresses hope for continued success given this 11th day of November 2023 seal of the state of Connecticut Harford Connecticut signed by President protm Martin uh Martin Looney Speaker of the House Matt Ritter and our secretary of state Madam SEC uh Stephanie Thomas congratulations President thank [Applause] [Music] [Applause] you number thank you and and we will miss your [Laughter] call we know the Alabama thank you thank you so much I did hear from speak with Ron na on Sunday um and he gave his heartfelt thanks and apologies that he could not be here tonight so um we'll miss him as well thank you so much thank you okay is there
010anyone else yes feels different standing on this [Laughter] side I have the distinct pleasure of um celebrating two of our commissioners this evening and um this is a my first time doing this because I think this is the first time that we've had such an occasion when we were alive and in person maybe the last one was virtual right um so bear with me as I I wing it on on this very special occasion commissioner Nord DOI um you have served so um brilliantly on this board of education and your dedication to the children of wry Public Schools your time commitment to this board to the issues to the policy um to um the current events and the the the many many uh Community um Community concerns and inputs for school boards today to to
011face and to to answer answer and to challenge you have done so honorably and um you came to this board in coid and you came with such experience uh as a nakat talk police youth division and also your commitment to Youth and to teaching and to learning and as a result of that you've been a great contributor to everything that this board of education has done um so valiantly over the last many years but during your term here as a commissioner it is an honor tonight to recognize you on behalf of the entire board um and to also uh I'd like for you if you don't mind could you come to the front because I'd like to present to you um Amanda K nordoy Waterberry Board of Education commissioner December 2020 to November 2023 honoring
012your service dedication and commitment to the students of Waterberry Public Schools in the city of Waterberry presented November 2023 congratulations to you and thank you for your [Applause] [Music] [Applause] service Commissioners I don't know if you want to say something now or after the entire presentation is pleasure of the board would you like well commissioner Nardo I actually remember the first time we met I don't know if you remember um speak up Tom yeah I know my voice is so low these days a little change there huh I didn't use a microphone years ago but um it was during coid when you were named to the board and I didn't know you and I was actually in um Spartans and I looked over and I said that looks like our new commissioner and I went
013over chatted you were there with your husband I think you had just got married almost right before that so it was like wow you know you tell me you're married I'm meeting for the first time you're coming to the board but not only on the board um you were you got I'm not sure I say this I needed some special help in ngat one time for my son and at that point we only knew each other a few months and you you took care of the situation and I will never forget that never forget that um and I think in this time frame we become pretty good friends and U I'll miss you on the board but I got your phone number so um congratulations I know you need to clear your calendar a little
014bit these days so but we are going to miss you because what you bring to the board is unique that I've never had on as a fellow commissioner in 10 years what you bring to the board it's just so unique so um I'll miss you here but I'll keep bugging you thank you anyone else anyone else look commissioner Brown Amanda I really enjoyed uh working with you and uh you're a woman a few words but the words that you do say are very insightful and meaningful and I I really appreciate it your insights into many of the issues that we discussed here and uh I really commend you in your new position uh and uh I know that's a labor of love for you because your so your commit commitment to families and children is
015is amazing so really it's been a pleasure working with you commissioner O'Brien anyone commissioner Rell Amanda um I'm going to mention she's my partner in crime sitting next to her all these These Years here she's not a woman of few words we could bit during the thing so she's not you know so I I'm going to miss you sitting here you know I I wish you the best and I I know and uh we'll be in touch in in the future good luck to you kiddo commissioner hernand vice president Hernandez Amanda you okay you will be missed I appreciate what you bought to this board especially with the youth and your knowledge of Youth and uh good luck you will be missed okay everybody else secretary sanon thank you Madame President Dr Nardo Amanda I'm
016going to miss checking you out your outfit and come and your shoes you going have to send me pictures where you're at um you such a great sense of style but overall I mean you bring such a unique perspective on this board that was very much um very valuable and appreciated so good luck I know we just talked about it doors are not going to be closed so we can't wait for you to come back when you're ready so you'll be missed commissioner Nardo I so appreciate everything that you have brought to the table here in your time here um you are fierce in what you know is right and and you have a capacity to make people see that way and that is just a unbelievable gift that you have but beyond that is
017the friendship that I think we have between us that outside of this board um that just fills my heart and I am so appreciative of of you letting me into your life so thank you so much for that and would you like to say a few words I am a woman of few words um I did come I did come in tonight and um I I said on Tuesday when I went to vote it was very Bittersweet for me um I struggled with with running um and wanting to continue on the board but my current position that I'm doing outside of here is very time consuming and my dedication to um my career there kind of takes me away from things that I am also passionate about which is the the Youth of the city
018um I don't think my work here is done I don't think that means that I'm done here so I don't know what the future holds but I'm hoping that it will be coming back here in some capacity um because I I do want to continue the work that I started and we started started um working towards fixing some of the issues with treny and um uh helping our youth to to not to keep out of trouble and stay in school so those are some of the the things that I had started long before I came to this board that were important um so I don't think I'm done I just am taking a time out for right now so I will miss you all very dearly I miss our our friendships and um I I
019definitely will be around town wearing a Blazer thank you all very much okay doctor president Sweeney having served on this board for 18 years is a statement that goes beyond just the 18 years but it goes towards your character and your determination your commitment and your vision for what you want to see and you have demanded to see as it affects children in Waterberry Public Schools um you're president of the board now but I've had the honor of serving with you as a commissioner and I know that as president you've developed a personal relationship and a professional relationship with every single board member on your own and collectively and as a superintendent that means an awful lot to see that and I learned from you in those 18 years you have fought tirelessly for appropriate
020funding for schools and you along with all of the Commissioners have never rested on this until it was finally done your commitment not only uh to Advocate to state legislators and education leaders across the state is truly commendable and I hope that you've seen that part of it come through fruition through a tough fight in many many years in addition to that you've always been welcoming to the legislators you've gathered us all in committees and you've advocated for student representative and student voice at the capital as well as student voice here on the board of education in addition to that you have been a very vocal voice in cre creating prek-8 schools supporting their existence in Waterberry and a vision for future buildings and current buildings that we've had here in the district Additionally you
021along with other members of the board have advocated for a very strong apprenticeship program which I'm very proud to say that we are bringing through fruition as a result of your commitment and members of the Commissioners here and U part of that is going to be seen as we um experience some learning in New Mexico next week but that came about through your commitment as well as Commissioners here who are dedicated to teacher quality and increasing a quality teacher pool for Waterberry Public Schools as well as throughout the state of Connecticut you've been a very strong advocate for career Pathways you've been a very strong advocate for all of the different programs that we've initiated in the district and you have not been afraid to be able to voice your opinion and to be able
022to advocate for children for teachers for students for par professionals throughout this entire time period you have never wavered and I'm so very proud and honored to have served as superintendent with your leadership along with the Commissioners and the fact that everyone is here to celebrate you tonight and to celebrate all of the board is truly commendable I could go on but I know that our commissioners have something to share with you but I want you to know that on behalf of all of our staff and the Commissioners we appreciate you your dedication your voice your leadership and your 18 years of service on behalf of children please come forward this is being presented to president Sweeney an Emma Sweeney president Board of Education January 2006 to November 2023 your legacy will continue to influence
023generations to come and your example will serve as an inspiration to all who aspire to support and Lead as a board of education commissioner influencing the field of Education presented this November [Applause] [Music] congratulations right where's the tissues I I look ATN don't be next say she said and you don't cuz you're going to make me cry don't look at me I'm got so just to feed off of what doctor said you have done so much in these 18 years I've been on this board now for I don't know 10 years four of those years I didn't speak to you which I'm really mad about the last six I've gotten to know you um personally and professionally and your heart has always been in the right place which is the students of this city so
024you will be missed very much the mayor um couldn't make it tonight so I'm going to read the citation from the city city of Waterberry citation be it here known to all that the city of Waterberry hereby offers a sincere gratit itude to Ann Sweeney and recognitions of her 18 years of commitment to the board of education on behalf of the city of wberry best wishes for continued success in your future endeavors given this n9th day of November 2023 at the city of Waterberry here take this m [Music] thank you all for being so warm and gracious um I spoke to my daughter earlier tonight and she said ma don't cry and I said I can't promise that it has been a most wonderful Journey my years on this board I came here and green
025just like everybody else does with Big Ideas things that I was going to do and you learn really quickly that there are some things you can't do and so I did focus on those things that I really thought I could do and that I really wanted to do and Dr enumerated most of those prek through 8 schools our connection to our um State delegation um to be able to advocate for the district and its students at the state level all of those things the career Pathways um my my favorite Ro Berry Career Academy that I push for for years before I could even get them to do to agree to do a career orientated school it takes work but it was good work it felt good to do and I know that all of you
026here all of my fellow Commissioners feel the same way it's good work that we do I know that there have been some Commissioners who have left the board and said lose my number that's not me keep my number call me whenever you want call me just to say hi call me ask to ask me how how hot is it in Alabama but call me cuz I intend to call you I do still have family in family in the area and I expect that I will be back on occasion and nothing would make me would please me more than to be able to get together with the friends that I have made over this 18-year journey so thank you for all the well wishes thank you for the beautiful gifts and recognition thank you for the
027wonderful cupcakes back there that are calling my name um and if it's it's okay with you I'll go back to my seat and get to business thank [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] you I'm not sure who's running the meeting but you are I can make it can't even name get name would anybody like to speak yes I'm gonna commissioner vanstone thank you I just wasn't sure if there's a driver at the bus up there so you what to do Pur too and president Sweeny it's funny I can't remember what I had for dinner but I remember when I met Amanda and I remember when we first became friends um um before I was on the board for a good five or six months I used to be at almost every meeting and that was when you
028were meeting or and we as it turned out were meeting every week and I followed you guys around I stalked you around the city and gradually I would talk to a commissioner and a couple more Commissioners and and before I knew knew it I knew the whole board uh and I'll tell you what anyone running for this position I would strongly suggest you get to some meetings prior to and I did that not knowing I was going to get elected I was running but I said I got to know what's going on here and you especially the Insight you gave me before I even was elected 10 years ago um I still use today I've had some uh difficult dark moments since I on a few occasions on the board and uh you never left
029my side and I will never ever forget that you were there for me um I think your time as President we have become such a well-oiled machine that um we need to continue um you have made this so that every one of us looks professional each and every week um you check in with us when you think you need to prior to meetings that's not a meeting so don't no one write that down um and it's all because you care you care about the students you care about the staff and I know you care about me and uh you've been there for me and I'm seriously going to miss you now I do have a couple Grandsons in Alabama so so who knows but um with everything we've done together cave working to get things
030done at the L you know in Harford um there's no replacing you in there's no replacing you we should almost set up a chair that just stays there um because we can't replace you and um on a personal note I'm I'm just so going to miss you and know or quick little chats or text messages and like I said you've been here for me and I I'll always remember that going to miss you thank you anyone else commissioner O'Brien Miss president an you're definitely going to be missed um I met you many years ago when I first got involved in politics never did I realize when I ran that I was going to win but from that day you became my friend you became my mentor you helped develop put together everything new the new
031handbook for new Commissioners we have to make sure that continues um I don't know how to say thank you and don't worry I won't lose your number you getting calls but not only have you educated me on the fundamentals of being on the board but you became a friend that I didn't know I needed and for that I thank you oh hell where do I start I agree with Tom um you have definitely pulled this board together um made us very respectful of one another's op opinion whether we agreed or disagreed over the course of the last 6 Years cuz the four I didn't talk to you you know um which I'm beating myself up about um stop it you have become a mentor a a book of knowledge that I don't know if we
032will ever be able to replace that your knowledge on things that you can pull up from 18 20 years ago and like it was yesterday I I I applaud you for that you definitely have um made this board a better board a more respectful board um and you will definitely be missed and I am glad that I can call you my friend come on I guess I'm going to try not enough tissues when you need it I thought about my friend Charles when he always writes his his thoughts down my board hubby yes where from the three Amigas to Charlie's Angels you have been such a great friend personal and to my family you have always been there for for me especially even when I just need to talk about other personal stuff you have
033always been there you took me under your wing and when when I ran for the first time for that I'll never forget I wanted to give you a heartful thanks for your leadership for all your years of service and commitment to our board your contributions of ideas energy and enthusiasm have been invaluable your wise councel guidance and friendship have been an asset to me personally and to this board and I'll always be grateful your guidance have helped us accomplish so much and we couldn't have done it without you thank you for all that you have done and all the best for the future I will miss working alongside you but I look forward to staying in touch with you for many years to come I love you re thank you commissioner Oro I forgot my
034tissue so I won't cry now any I've known you for years and uh I just wanted to thank you for all that you did for me I I just ended my first term and uh whenever I needed help um I think it's a tie or she called me I took her off the ledge I called her she took me off the ledge so um and also I I always remember to bring this if I don't bring this I get yelled at what we supposed to do so but uh Annie you'll be missed very very much you know again I won't lose your number I know you won't lose my number right not a prayer but again you'll be missing and just thank you for your friendship and thank you for your leadership God bless good
035luck in the future thank you amen I I don't know what else I can say that everybody here hasn't already said you you've been a leader you've been a mentor you've been a friend um we've gotten to know each other pretty well um even if we've not agreed on stuff we've agreed to disagree and and I appreciate that your professionalism is second to none um you run this board that you keep us in line we have a lot of laughs which I sometimes I go home I scratch my head and I laugh all the way home um you you've just been a wonderful friend and I am definitely going to get off the plane and on my drive to Tuscaloosa stop by all right we'll get you directions no problem okay let's get back to
036work my I have something to say oh I'm sorry commissioner Brown I didn't see your hand by all means that's okay and I I Echo everything everybody said but especially your leadership on on really um working on the state level I think Waterberry is on the map up there uh we've gone up to the legislature we've we've worked with our delegation got legislation passed and I think that's you know uh really something especially as the superintendent said you know the idea of the apprenticeship we ran with it we wrote a resolution for the delegate assembly got it passed and it became as well as the uh the other piece of legislation to allow uh non-certified teachers to teach teach the trades I mean these really made a difference and I think your your efforts and
037putting the time in and understanding how change happens uh is second to none and I do call you a lot we do call we do talk a lot uh so I I will miss that but I do have your number and um the other thing that I think as everybody said you brought to this board um I think a a true understanding of what it means to be a board you know making sure the bylaws making sure our policies are are set you know working closely with Carrie and and making sure you know the ship is running so that that that takes a special person to bring us all together and you are that special person so thank you friend thank you thank you okay we all good okay all right let me pull myself
038together here uh we need a um motion to return correct commissioner vanstone still business second motion's been made and seconded any discussion seeing none all in favor say I I opposed abstained motion carries uh next is our superintendence announ announcements Dr ruffen thank you president Sweeny vice president Hernandez secretary Sano adoro Commissioners or student advisers to the board it's a pleasure to uh share with you some of the highlights over the last few days and coming from the National Association for gifted children career center uh we are pleased that the center announces the 2023 javitz Frasier scholarship recipient um Brooklyn braa a social studies teacher at the academic Academy the recipients of the scholarship are a select group of leaders committed to ensuring excellence and equity for all gifted students the program's primary goal is
039to increase culturally and linguistically diverse students access to Talent Development opportunities through educator training and support related to equity and excellence in gifted education we are very proud of Brooklyn and I hope to visit with her very soon at the academic academ Academy congratulations all of the Commissioners uh uh we are so very proud of you well to serving receiving the 2023 C Board of Distinction award this award validates the commitment and hard work of all of you Commissioners in key areas such as student achievement board member professional development community relations policy and Leadership the award requires documentation that relates to board participation and accomplishments in these and other key areas I'm so very proud of our board and Commissioners for working collectively and tirelessly on behalf of the students of Waterberry public schools and
040this is a statement and a quote directly from president and Sweeny congratulations to all of you I look forward to being with you when this award is presented to you over the weekend Rotella School receives the 2023 arts school network award for Arts integration the Arts integration award is presented to a school that has demonstrated leadership in bringing Arts integration and strategies into the curriculum the recipients of the award demonstrates an outstanding record of supporting dedicating resources to bringing in outside professional teaching artists to complement the work of the STA of Staff Arts specialist supporting professional development on Arts integration for teachers writing into school Improvement plans or the like and commits to implementing Arts integration curriculum across different grade areas the teachers that are seen here along with the principal Mrs Parker Mrs Monroe
041Mrs stne they presented at the conference and the topic of their presentation was differences make life interesting using the harmony of Art and SE to promote Equity congratulations and we're very proud on your receiving this prestigious award board North End middle school is to be celebrated North End Middle School which was part of the commissioner network has demonstrated growth in the state's Next Generation accountability system that has allowed the Middle School to exit from being categorized as a turnaround school by the Connecticut State Department of Education in collaboration with Educators students parents and administration northin Middle School developed a turnaround plan that was approved by the Connecticut State Department of Education and since 2019 North and middle school has not been in the lowest fifth percentile of the Connecticut Title One Elementary or middle schools
042North in has demonstrated substantial progress on the overall accountability index and north in middle school has transitions from a category 5 to a category three which has allowed North End to exit turnaround status they are to be commended on this great accomplishment this is a testament to the work of uh of um principal Gilmore her teachers and staff and students and community at North End and uh and they all did an outstanding job and we're very proud of them this concludes my report Commissioners thank you Dr Ruffin next is um president's comments and I I will be extremely be brief because I have taken up so much of your time tonight um I just a reminder that um next when is this Wednesday is the 16th this November 16th there is a cab delegate assembly
043uh which is Then followed on the 17th and the 18th by the cabes Caps convention and uh several of the Commissioners are going to be there um commissioner van Stone commissioner Brown commiss uh vice president Hernandez myself commissioner Ireland okay so we'll see you all over that weekend huh oh and commissioner Marshall I'm sorry I should have gotten a list from Carrie see I didn't do my work I was getting worried I was the only guy it's the tears I can't see my friend here uh I also want to note there is a c new board member orientation and leadership conferences two conferences that are uh running at the same time um board orientation for new board members but also uh a a a conference for and training for um Commissioners who have a few
044years under the belt and look towards leadership at at their boards um so that is on December 6th at the Hartford Sheron South that is a inperson one it's not going to be virtual in Rocky Hill and and if you are interested please get your name to Carrie so she can set that up for you okay and that concludes my remarks and so we will move on to our St student representative remarks and we have with us tonight Den Destiny Langs and Tiffany Rodriguez and who would like to start good evening president Sweeney vice president Hernandez Secret Sano adoro Commissioners and superintendent Dr ruffen my name is Destiny Lings representing Waterberry Career Academy and I am currently in the 12th grade I'm going to give you a quick update on ourmes our Education and Training
045Academy has 27 students placed between State Street Reed and Wilson Elementary with Cooperative teachers in various grades to complete their internships last week our health Academy Juniors enjoyed a presentation by EMTs who discussed their careers as First Responders in and next month a Yukon Allied Health class will be participating in a medical lab experience at Yukon Health Center in Farmington additionally 13 students in our EMT class have completed training and certification at CPR AED and OSHA 10 our Manufacturing Academy is currently working close to nguk Valley on updating our curriculum Juniors and seniors are following the new course outline while sophomores just finished up the unit using micrometers in the it and Engineering Academy the new rot of it exploratory has started and students are learning binary computer language to introduce them to coding it
046essential students are also busy working in Cisco net Academy and preparation for industry Certification testing and now for an update on clubs and activities earlier this year we held a College and Career Fair for our Juniors and seniors our counseling department hosted a financial aid night to help parents and students with their fastfoods and college applications our AP government class took a trip to the state capital to participate in a mock legislative session with other Connecticut schools eight students from the business classes attended the Connecticut Deca fall leadership conference on October 23rd and attended leadership workshops and networked with business students from the entire state of Connecticut gab has taken our students to Southern Central and Sacred Heart University and Juniors were able to prepare themselves for PSATs as gab offers a PSAT boot camp
047we had an eighth grade open housee which was an opening presentation about the academic career Pathways and athletic offerings here at WCA about 50 current students volunteer to give tours and answer questions to students and families Debate Club had the opportunity to go watch the Yale and Howard debate and learn new debating strategies our WCA Spanish Department hosted a celebration with students in September for Hispanic heritage month and next week we'll be starting spirit week which will lead up to our homecoming dance where we have approximately 400 students attending on Friday November 17th 400 wow great my name is Tiffany Rodriguez I am also representing Waterburg Career Academy I'm currently in 11th grade and I'll be speaking on athletic and student accomplishments throughout our school our soccer and volleyball teams have qualified for the state
048tournament two students have been awarded the all NV and Brass award for volleyball as well as three outstanding soccer players won nvl brass and sportsmanship Awards we held our SPS volleyball soccer and cross country senior night a couple weeks ago and our school schol B performed to cheer on our teams the WCA drum line was able to participate in the walk for the gathering at library Park additionally in the months of October and September two students were recognized as students of the month and two teachers were named teachers of their respective month Educators Rising awarded a student to be under student cabinet as vice president of Engagement moving on to the student narrative students in WCA have been facing the concern of not being able to attend after school activities because of lack transportation and
049awareness students have started to believe that it's easier to stay home than to participate in school activities like clubs sports and social events because they don't either have a ride home or are unaware of the event this leads to to a lack of Engagement and social interactions between students because individuals won't show up to these activities and cheer or interact with their school peers very nice any questions for our student Representatives commissioner vanstone than M president through you um to continue on the an Sweeney show I would just like the students to know that the concept of having a Career Academy was something that President Sweeney dreamed of worked for and now you have a wonderful school that you attend um school special to me you opened a month before I was elected so we're
050the same age um that was special for me because the Career Academy was also very special to me after it opened but um I just want to let you know that President Sweeney was probably the driving factor to get that school developed built and opened so uh and it's a great place to learn it really is so um just want to let you know that about President Sween thank you thank you so much for your contributions to our school thank you I appreciate that so Tiffany we met I met you yesterday on screen so U Tiffany did her um student representative training yesterday uh myself Dr ruffen um vice president Hernandez uh our clerk Carrie Swain were're all um there along with um Tanya Dr refence secretary so what did you think I enjoyed it
051yeah I'm very happy to be here to represent our school as well so thank you so much for the opportunity great great thank you for taking the opportunity stepping up both of you uh to serve so um and as we go through our agenda as I said yesterday if you have questions about an item or you have a comment about an item just raise your hand and we'll recognize you okay thank you thank you okay okay uh vice president Hernandez would you take us into executive session I move to convene into executive session for the discussion concerning the appointment employment performance evaluation health or dismissal of a public officer or employee second motion's been made and seconded any discussion seeing none all in favor say i i i opposed abstained motion carries we are in
052executive session we will return shortly be [Music] right [Music] take it motion motion's been made and seconded any discussion seeing none all in favor say I I opposed abstain motion carries vice president Hernandez item 10.2 I item 10.2 ladies and gentlemen the committee on school Personnel moves at the Waterbury Board of Education approved the appointment of Hugh M A as vice principal of Crosby High School effective immediately second any discussion Dr ruffen thank you president Sweeny um it's a pleasure uh to recommend Mr arid as as the vice principal of Crosby High School uh Mr erid has served for over 15 years in Waterberry public schools and he has served as a science teacher at Enlightenment where he has demonstrated his passion towards education and commitment to high quality rigorous instruction he's also served as
053a leap school coordinator leap has been instrumental in reaching out to students and getting them to return to school especially students with high absenteeism uh he is also known and respected by all his colleagues he shows a tremendous amount of respect towards students and gains the respect of students in his interaction with the students and Enlightenment and all the students whose lives he's touched we look forward to his continued commitment in Waterberry Public Schools uh as the assistant principal at Crosby High School okay congratulations okay any other comments okay um all in favor say I I I opposed abstained motion [Music] carries you've been waiting all night I saw you back there it's it's been a beautiful evening just watching everything that St place for president sede so it's definitely hasn't been a disappointment um
054I'd like to thank everybody for being here uh Commissioners uh all of the cabinet members uh secretary adoro president Sweeny Vice PR vice president Hernandez and of course Dr ruffen um one of the people I people I would like to thank foremost are my amazing wife Evette my daughter disappeared I um my two amazing kids Robert and Christina uh without their love and support I definitely would not be standing here in front of you today um I'd also like to thank um my Enlightenment family uh they pretty much made the last 16 years feel more like going to a family picnic than actually going to work it's always been a very supportive atmosphere for me at Enlightenment does make this a bit Bittersweet but it it it is an amazing journey that I've been on
055uh I have learned a lot over the years from a lot of Amazing Friends and member and mentors uh that that has directly resulted in me standing here this evening and I would also like to thank you Dr ruffen for uh seeing things in me that even I didn't see in myself to get me to this position right now I am looking forward to this new Journey with my new Crosby family who has already opened their arms to me made me feel very welcome um I feel truly humbled and honored to be chosen for this position today thank you very much [Music] [Applause] everyone Sor oh go to much we're not is like the Royal we will we don't yeah we don't have much to do congratulations I'll be fast look at me okay vice
056president Hernandez item 10.3 ladies and gentlemen the committee on school Personnel moves that the Board of Education approved the appointment as of Daniel T Ferrera as vice principal of Waterbury Arts Magnet School effective immediately second motion's been made and seconded any discussion seeing none all in favor say I I I oppos I'm sorry Dr Rin that's okay I'm way off my game tonight that's we on it president sweee members of the board it's a pleasure to um to recommend Mr Daniel ferar as vice principal of Waterberry Arts Magnet School uh Daniel has over 18 years of experience as an educator and he started his journey in Waterberry Public Schools as a music teacher at Crosby High School and later became the department chair of fine artarts at Waterberry Arts Magnet he served on various lead
057leadership capacities including Encore summer arts program administrator 21st century site administrator and assistant principal in Norwalk Public Schools Mr Ferrera is also known for being conscientious a professional leader who's passionate about teaching and learning and um his trilingual ski skills have proven to be great asset in effective communication with students parents staff both in Spanish and Portuguese we welcome Mr Ferrera as vice principal of Waterberry ice Magnet School congratulations [Music] D any further discussion seeing none all in favor say I I opposed abstain motion carries good evening thank you very much and again uh congratulations and well served uh with President Sweeney and Secretary of dorno thank you for your service um and good evening to waterboard uh waterburry Board of Education president Sweeney vice president Hernandez secretary adoro the Commissioners superintendent Dr Ruffins Deputy
058superintendent Mr Schwarz and central office staff thank you for inviting me to say a few words I very excited to be here tonight I have been in education for 18 years with five of them being department chair of the Fine Arts here at Waterberry Arts Magnet School and want to express how much I love Waterberry especially Rams with all that we have accomplished over the years even though I did not grow up in Waterbury I have a close Affinity to this wonderful City I grew up in Bridgeport in an area called the hollow a coach for a diverse neighborhood I play drum set in Portuguese bands and would frequently perform at festivals here in waterbear at the Portuguese club and no Fatima Church on Baldwin Street in addition my family and I would visit close
059friends here in the city and I'm very familiar with the cultural nness of of this town I am honored and humbled to be recommended for vice principal position and look forward to working with wonderful Administration Mr N Mrs Dy and Dr socius together with our dedicated staff and faculty we will continue to make whams an elite school for our students during my time as department chair I have developed strong relationships with our students faculty and Community Partners together we will continue to uphold our school vision of the Arts achieve respect trust and succeed while also integrating Arts into the broad curriculum implying con uh concepts of our Waterberry portrait of a graduate I want everyone here to know that I am dedicated to the success of our students and I will work with all of
060our stakeholders to ensure that Waterberry Arts mag school will continue to be the special institution that it is thank you very much thank [Music] you you see that my wife so my wife Abigail uh my three daughters uh Elsa anakah and Marta the little one who's been making so excited [Applause] how fast can I talk what they like a donut I made a cupcake okay next on the agenda is the consent calendar does anyone wish to remove an item from the consent calendar okay with the permission of the board I will skip reading it tonight is that okay yes that's very okay did you want to move move something I'm sorry commissioner Vance okay all right commissioner Brown could I have a motion yes a motion to approve the consent calendar items let's see um
061132 no no 11.1 oh 11 I'm sorry I'm at the committee I'm sorry about that 111 11.1 through uh 11.8 as presented second motion's been made and seconded any discussion commissioner vanstone thank you madam president through you I just uh want wanted to make sure I don't want to take them off because they're just pretty much routine items you know uh 115 uh the the only thing I want to ask and be sure of is there was language change during the week to what was presented at Workshop yeah the clicker the board sent out something earlier this has to do with the um the election cycle and the overlap in in U mayor's but just with that section 44 which I know well um I just want to ask the question of if this should
062have gone back to Workshop that's my question no okay no no cor cor council's recommendation was just to add the language I'm only asking because it wasn't the same thing presented at Workshop yeah the language wasn't there okay okay thank you yep do we vote on that all in favor commissioner yep okay okay okay any other discussion seeing none all in favor I I opposed abstain motion carries okay our items of consent commissioner Oro 14.1 13 what about your committee got 14 I've got okay I apologize you're fired 13 you're fired what will I do I'm devastated come on Ora what about the 13 that 131 oh I'm sorry vice president Hernandez I would again can we start over no go 13.1 vice president Hernandez this was that humor you were talking about 13.1 was
063removed president Sweeney so I will go to 13.2 correct okay okay 13.2 ladies and gentlemen the committee of the whole moves that the Waterberry Board of Education approved the following to wit for the proposed 2024 Connecticut halfback I AQ Grant at Buck Hill Elementary School the project filing of a Connecticut havac indoor air quality program Grant fiscal year 2024 with the commissioner of administrative service services for the proposed Project B preparation of schematic drawings and outline spe specifications for the proposed project and C estimate of a building committee consisting of Latoya Arling Hector Navaro Maggie O'Brien Margaret O'Brien Roco Oro and Melissa Serano oono for the proposed project second motion's been made and seconded any discussion Mr abini you have this one right does anyone need Mr Albini at the podium do I have can
064I just say huh I have to say all can I just say the they all the same thing yeah yeah you want to take them all together the suggestion is to take 13.2 through 13.7 all right 13 we haven't voted on it yet okay let's vote on 132 okay okay any discussion seeing none all in favor say I I opposed abstained motion carries okay so this is the suggestion is to take 13.3 through 13.7 are all the same um vice president Hernandez just um make sure you note the schools yes um 13.3 is for Chase Elementary School 13.4 is for generali elementary school hold on 13.5 is for the international Elementary School 13.6 is for Regan Elementary School and 13.7 is for Washington Elementary School second motion's been made and seconded any discussion seeing none
065all in favor say I I I opposed abstained motion carries okay now now 14.1 commissioner Oro thank you Madame President ladies and gentlemen the committee on finance moves at the Waterberry Board of Education approve and certify that said contract is necessary to the normal operations of the city Department per section per section 4-4 of the charter of the City of Waterbury a Professional Services contract with education Advanced Incorporated for Cordic master schedule building and Staffing products subject to any non-substantive changes approved by the corporation council's office second motion's been made and seconded any discussion okay seeing none all in favor say I I opposed abstained motion carries 14.2 item 14.2 ladies and gentlemen the committee on finance moves at the Waterberry Board of Education approve and certification that said contract is NE necessary to the
066normal operations of the city per section 4-4 of the charter of the city of Waterberry an engineer agreement with the deblasi associates PC for whims settlement monitoring program subject to any non-substantive changes approved by the corporation council's office second motion's been made and seconded any discussion seeing none all in favor say I I I opposed abstained motion carries 14.3 item 14.3 ladies and gentlemen committee on finance moves at the waterburry Board of Education approve and certification that said contract is necessary to the normal operations of the city Department per section 4-4 of the chart of the City of Waterbury a Construction contract with Ferg Ferguson mechanical Company Incorporated for certain mechanical upgrades to the Waterbury Arts Magnet School in the Palace Theater subject to any non-substantive changes by the corporation council's office second motion's been
067made and seconded any discussion commissioner vanstone M president through you I do have some issues with this particular one and I I um made mention of it at the workshop for us paying for the work at The Palace Theater um and I would think that the addition of the comment about 4 point or 4-4 came because of my concerns I think um I don't think it's right that we pay for the theaters piece of this um the contract is $2 million I don't know if it's a 5050 Nick but uh it's a lot of money and I struggle with adding this section 44 to our agenda items um it it almost makes our vote just why bother that's not the purpose of the section the purpose of the section is to is to respect the
068the change in the passage of power between two Mayors and that hasn't happened in this city a very long time that's the last item in 44 that's but it doesn't say 44 paragraph something it says 44 and the other items in 44 are uh and it's the charter it's the type of government we have here in Waterberry where uh the mayor has some oversight and powers that um regardless of a vote of a committee would be able to negate that vote and change what we say so just as an example within 44 if we were all to vote no or enough voted no for this not to pass in 44 the power of the mayor could say I don't care that you voted no it's going to happen and that's the part of 44 that
069concerns me because it doesn't say 44 then that last paragraph which is the change of you know power um but the other items in 44 really could make committees invisible transparent be it would just take us out of the picture and um I understand why we have that section in the charter but I really object to it appearing uh in this manner on our agenda items unless it had said the paragraph it was referring to and and it doesn't do that um so I have a lot of concerns there my other concern is back to paying for the palace we already give them $250,000 out of our operating budget every year uh and that is a that affords a school whams to utilize that on as a number of dates that it's eligible to do
070so as well as any other City organization that would like to use the palace we pay that bill $250,000 and it's been that way for the 10 years I've been on the board I looked at the contract and it it really goes even Beyond um the mayor because it was actually uh signed off first by mayor Jura and I believe it was 2004 um and this board has been paying that 250,000 every year and now we're going to pay this which then brings me to uh my understanding is this is Esser funding correct so now now we are using our Esser funding for a third party and I went to the Esser site today and it didn't really detail out anything U for my concern but I still have a concern that a third party
071is going to reap benefits of exer funds we've received from Washington so I have a serious problem with this item um and obviously I'm going to be voting no so thank you would you like for Mr ALB to to uh address your concerns he's here if he has I have some started last week we yeah yeah so uh good evening president Sweeney vice president Hernandez secretary Sano adorno Board of Education Commissioners our two Board of uh education student Representatives superintendent Dr ruffen first of all if I may I would like to congratulate this honorable board as the recipient of the 2023 cab Board of Distinction award congratulations to this honorable board also I'd like to congratulate commissioner Brown commissioner Naro commissioner Oro newcomers Stephie Frias and Jacqueline Jackson as victories on Tuesdays on Tuesday and
072as well good luck to president Sweeny and commissioner nard DOI best of luck um so uh I research this as well uh commissioner I I appreciate your concerns uh but the palace and uh Waterberry Arts Magnet School they go together uh we have 30 dates um they don't have a facility there the facility is here we can't split it without replacing something so we're going from a a water cooled Chiller here which uses a lot of water uh to ear Co ear cooled which will be very efficient and that will will be the same over there um and so now all repairs any necessary repairs going forward will be born by the Palace Theater not by uh Board of Education not by the whams facility not by uh Capital funds the split is to increase
073efficiency uh many times the air conditioner is running to keep the hum hum humidification process going at the palace we don't need here so many times the temperature here is inappropriate to try to satisfy what is being done at the palace this is uh a once in a-lifetime Opportunity where we're getting to use uh eser funds where we're upgrading yes a city facility but also a board of bed facility as well as whams which uh one boiler does not function at all right now um if if you put in a new system here the palace will be left without a system so um this is something that to me is a win-win situation but I do understand your concerns but I do think this is best for whams and the Palace Theater um and it
074is a big project no doubt it went out to bid the first time we didn't even get any biders on it because it is a very cumbersome project uh this that did win the award was the only one that could guarantee that it would be done uh in this period of time Sr funds have to be done by Sr 3 funds have to be uh used up spent and project completed by December 31st 2024 nobody could make that except this company and they are guaranteeing it even much sooner than that um actually August of 2024 for and um with almost no check that with no disruption to the school process here nor the shows that will be going on at the palace may I continue president sweetie may I continue I'm sorry may I respond
075back um that's all well and good and I'm glad the systems are going to get upgraded palace here no problem my problem comes with the contract that when I read the contract this type of work is the responsibility of in the contract that's referred to as the palace theer group I believe group um and this type of work is their responsibility per the contract and that's where I struggle I struggle first just the fact that we're doing it but then when I read the contract they're responsible for this type of work um I I I'm not sure why we didn't proceed in that manner um you know and I I just struggle very much doing work that I consider to a third party yeah because they are their own group the group is not the
076city they they're the ones that are in the theater they have things that they must meet to you know continue to use the theater shows Etc uh and the contract was pretty clear that this type of work should be on them and um I I'm I'm really baffled as why we're stepping up to pay a million dollars if it's 5050 um and once one part you described sounded like it was unique to the palace and not Willams um no when it operates when the air conditioning operates it's it benefits that because it's needed it's only one system and it's located here but not that that's what's unique about this and great about this because there's a money savings going forward with water electricity and maintenance that part is fantastic but my concern is why didn't
077they pay their piece of this and we pay our piece now they didn't probably didn't even get any Sr funds or if they did it was probably very low they did not they had none but um you know like I said I checked the website and it didn't really answer the question because honestly Esther uh doesn't have a whole lot of rules these are approved these are approved projects though they are the yeser funds can be used they were approved Pro get that actually air conditioning and and air transfers was the most important thing that Washington said they use it for I know that that's not what I'm arguing for I'm arguing to say the Palace Theater group should be paying third piece of this and again I I don't know I'm going to look
078again I'm I'm worried that using a fund like this and including a third party I just can't see how this is even allowed by the uh Esser rules but I just haven't found anything to support my opinion I think a third party would mean totally uh disconnected from the from the city and and board of educ and Board of Education and they are but the building isn't the building is still part of ours but the contract clearly states that this type of work is the responsibility of the Palace Theater group and I think that would have been if there were two separate systems from the beginning which in their wisdom in 2004 they chose to make it one about the project M the project is fine it's about the money it's about the money the
079project wouldn't go forward without this though that's that's the beauty about uh what how we benefit here at whams and how uh that that recruiting of students showing that that connection with Palace that we pay them $250,000 every year we do and that's the connected to do that that's the connectedness between yeah it is but and we do it every year out of our operating budget the same place we have to pay teachers same place we have to get supplies uh the operating budget is so so tight actually about 10 years ago I tried to get this eliminated from the budget and in fact this's board actually voted to do so and when the when the budget came back from the mayor it was put back in so today's not the first day that I've
080been upset about the 250,000 yeah so again let's I'm talking about the money the project is fantastic I'm glad we're doing it it's the perfect use of Sr funds however we shouldn't be paying for the peace for the palace that's the only thing so thank you madam president thank you commissioner anyone else okay motion's been made and seconded all in favor say I I opposed no no no no roll call commissioner Brown yes vice president Hernandez yes commissioner Ireland no commissioner Nardi no commissioner Navaro no commissioner O'Brien yes commissioner Oro yes commissioner Sano dorno no commissioner van Stone no president Sweeny yes is a mayor motion does not pass on a tie okay and the mayor's not here to vote the only way you break is no there I mean yeah there was there was
081always the option for somebody to reconsider but that has to be done now so okay 5 five we'll handle it all right okay ready commissioner Brown item 15.1 thank you madam president uh ladies and gentlemen the committee on policy and legislation moves that the Waterbury Board of Education approve the revised transgender and gender non-conforming youth policy number 5145 53 Deputy superintendent if you could give us the summary absolutely motions been made seconded discussion okay well for the very last time good evening president Sweeney commissioner vanstone thank M president through you um get back to the correct page this policy um I struggled with even two years ago when we created it unfortunately we were um mandated by work that was done in Harford um to create this policy uh I fully understand the this this
082population and the need at this moment in time to have you know certain uh protections and and and the policy that obviously is working but up until this point um and I know I have it on one of my tabs here that uh it was one of the items that was added under definitions um that I really struggle with and I'm going to talk long enough for me to refin what I was talking about but um it it went into a description of relationships uh intimate relationships and it it was actually reading it it was disturbing that we would use that paragraph and I wish I could find it because I want to read it out loud but um I I really struggle with and I know we're mandated to put this stuff in and
083I know k a lot of times writes the words that we use um I I just don't see any place in school documentation even though it's only a definition uh it doesn't drive anything but why are we telling people about relationships and and intimate relationships in one of our policies why why do we need to do that it's it's very disturbing that that we go down that road again we're mandated so that you know Darren is just the guy that stands in front of us for this um you know and I just I I think we're getting way off track on what we're putting in our policies uh when we're talking about pre to 12 kids and you know we're going to have a policy but a definition to describe how you can have a
084personal relationship I I just don't get it I I really don't get it um Harford has lost their mind with the stuff they're mandating us and um I I just can't accept it and I know we're not going to have a choice here but um we're just going down a road that's going to be really disastrous so thank you okay there just Deputy superintendent if you could U just give us a brief description it's it's it's it's just a change so we're voting on just a change the one definition if you could explain sure I'll try again good evening president Sweeny uh vice president Hernandez secretary Sano ororo Board of Education Commissioners Dr ruffen and former commissioner Jason vanstone here in the audience um the world so so this is this is based on Public
085Act 23 145 it's an act revising the state's anti-discrimination statutes that were uh there was an update to the definition of sexual orientation in addition um to this policy we also added in addition to what commissioner van Stan referenced uh bullying bullying and harassment language which was uh from the cave model uh I don't believe that's what uh commissioner vone was referring to uh but we did also add that to this to this policy um sexual orientation um as defined uh through that Public Act and through the C model reads such as sexual orientation is defined as and refers to a person's identity in relation to the gender or genders to which they are romantically emotionally or sexually attracted including any identity that a person may have previously expressed or is perceived by another told
086that's the definition that uh is through the statute and that has provided to us through the cave model that I believe commissioner vanstone is referring to in addition to this policy uh president Sweeny if if you if you wish uh at the policy committee there was also a request for an update on where we are with General neutral bathrooms uh we have that information also for the board tonight if you if you please yes yes Darren could you list some of the other than other de other definitions that were you don't have to read the whole different definition but the other definitions that were defined in that policy um sure that that AR new but are defined yeah so there in this in this policy uh 50 51 45.538520 cisgender gender fluid gender minority and
087gender transition so these are all definitions of all definitions of protected classes under title is it Title Nine yeah it's all it's all protected class correct right so there one definition of a protected class was not there and that's why it's put into this particular policy y thank you for Madam president for the privilege to talk a second time I did find it uh as you were talking um and and the the piece of this that bothers me actually the whole paragraph bothers me refers to the person's identity and relationship to the gender or genders to which they are romantically emotionally and sexually attracted including any identity that a person may have previously expressed and then the final piece of this sentence I have no idea what they're saying uh or is perceived by another
088to hold so to me that's creating bias because I'm going to perceive what someone is that day um we should not be putting policies out there that are talking about sexually attracted thank you anyone else commissioner thank you president Sweeney um I would like to hear more about the gender um neutral bathrooms uh specifically during the campaign season um I had a terrifying testimony from some students and some constituents indicating that they so-called bathrooms were secluded away into the basement and some of the schools away from the rest of the students so I just want to um confirm if this is true confirm what we're doing to be able to implement uh policy and ensure that the schools are taking this into action thank you we appreciate that that question um a as you as
089you know uh Mr Alini and Mr kapka have been working hard with their groups to ensure that we have uh gender neutral gender neutral bathrooms in all the schools um I know when possible uh they try to make multiple uh bathrooms especially in the uh middle schools and high schools opportunities where it permits uh to be able to put those in different um locations that are not uh inconvenient to students uh and I know as of today I believe we're up to 19 uh schools and I have been told that every school uh will have a gender neutral bathroom uh before the start of the New Year in 2024 and Mr Alini has that list uh if you if you so please good evening once again um two signs were ordered for each school um
090identify find gender neutral what what the schools are doing are are taking uh what was a faculty bathroom and converting it into a student single use bathroom and identifying it as a non-gender so only one occupant would be in in that poron facility at one time at a time and to as of today we have 19 schools completed with signs than you would you like me to read the schools that are completed that makes a difference I would just ask if I may president are willby and Kennedy any of those I don't need you to go through the entire list no they are not okay so those were two of the concerning schools that I was like yeah and and our Carpenters is going from school to school meeting with the principal finding out which
091ones they want to identify and then changing the signage on it thank you appreciate it certainly anyone else okay motion's been made and seconded all in favor say I I I opposed no abstained motion carries okay item 15.2 ladies and gentlemen the committee on policy and legislation moves at the Waterbury Board of Education approve the revised bullying D safe School climate plan regulation number 5131 911 second motion's been made in seconded any discussion seeing none all in favor say I I I opposed abstain motion carries 15.3 15.3 ladies and gentlemen the committee on policy and legislation moves that the Waterbury Board of Education approve the revised High School grading QPR policy number 6146 point1 second motion's been made and seconded any discussion commissioner O'Brien Darren what are we going from two okay so this policy
092makes several different changes I'll I'll made a handy dandy list for you um we're we've updated home homebound instruction for uh to to um we've updated that to current procedures that we um just some minor things minor language changes there minimum GPA and numeric grades that match the student athlete El eligibility checklist no difference in in process just just to make sure the language is updated clarification on language for credits earned and that the passing grade of 65 regardless if it's a halfe credit or full year credit that's not a change in practice uh clarification on grade calculation for halfe courses it's not a change in practice just a clarification um there was language added back into the policy for a minimum grade of 50 to attend summer school um we added that back in
093um because we didn't want to encourage students who really chose not to even put effort in throughout the school year just to be able to get it in summer school uh we heard that loud and clear clarification of um how incomplete grades are actually calculated um if if a student does not complete the course uh how it's calculated in their GPA we also uh enshrined that parents and Guardians have access to that program of studies that we've created um excellent program of studies out there and then the big language change and this was really a mistake that we couldn't carry now we're trying to figure out how this happened um it probably most likely um a copy and paste mistake from someone who's presented policy in the past to the board um wasn't me and
094uh it was uh there was language in the board that class uh you have to had three consecutive semesters in Waterberry public schools to be eligible for academic recognition associated with class rank that was removed at some point um we want that back in and what that helps to do is if a student comes as a senior year and has just they might have Stellar grades from another District we aren't sure of that District we're not sure of what the criteria was at that District but we would hate for a student who's been here their entire High School career to have somebody come in at the even the last semester and become the valorian and so um we wanted that language back in and so that language is back in you have to be here
095for three consecutive semesters to earn academic um honors at your uh graduation thank you any other questions okay uh motion's been made and seconded all in favor say I I I opposed abstain motion carries item 15.4 ladies and gentlemen the committee on policy and legislation moves at the Waterbury Board of Education approve the revised individual education program special education program policy number second motion's been made and seconded any discussion commissioner O'Brien hi Darren my subject matter um are these changes due to the state going digital so this change is based on uh Public Act 23 137 um and it's it's a it's a basic language change that says um as you may know when students turn the age 22 uh say they turned 22 on September 3rd that would be their last day of school
096and then we would say thanks for coming for a few days um you have now graduated and you're off and running this uh new Public Act uh allows uh the district or um uh mayates the district to be able to keep that student to the end of the school year and so now anyone that turns uh age 22 throughout the school year is still allowed to stay into the end of the school year and that includes uh our students in our transition transition programs which is mostly the students we're talking about but it also includes our out of District students that we pay tuition for thank you anyone else okay motion's been made in seconded all in favor say I I opposed abstain motion carries 15 uh five ladies and gentlemen the committee on policy
097and legislation uh well this is the second reading so we can't really approve it right this is your this is the second reading and it requires two readings okay all right so the committee on policy and legislation moves at the Waterbury Board of Education approve the revised organization and methods of operation policy number 9010 uh just the changes are technical uh most of them and just clarification uh 910a D we just added the time of the meeting starts at 530 uh next change is 9010 C uh we added language to uh duties of the president D and as are required by the Connecticut General statutes and a new F clarifying that the president president shall establish a timeline for the annual evaluation of the superintendent of schools pursuant to the superintendent's contract uh or under
098order of business we added roll call and student representative comments that we do but it it was not specifically listed uh 910d under committee on policy legislation uh added F the committee chair and the superintendent shall arrange a legislative Roundtable with the state delegation annually between October and no longer than no later than December 15 we've eliminated under committee on curriculum uh B and we've clarified D proposals for field trips to destinations outside the United States shall be submitted to the committee for transmitt to the board and uh 910e uh under building committee a we've added with guidance and recom recommendation from the super inant and the Chief Operating Officer uh We've eliminated e under Finance uh We've clarified number a uh the committee on finance Shall Serve the superintendent in an advisory capacity in
099conjunction with the preparation of the annual education bu budget after careful review of the proposed annual education budget the committee on finance shall take action on the recommendation to the full board upon receipt of such recommendation by the full board either favorable or unfavorable the Board of Education shall vote to transmit the annual education budget to the mayor in line with any statutory or Charter mandates second and the last one uh is I'm sorry did you have a question no no no I just second the motion did you the motion was seconded already it's all one motion I'm almost finished one more 910f B under organization and methods of operation the committee shall have the discretion to review all grants and Grant funded contracts so those Melissa those are those are all the changes so
100okay did we get a second no no that's why I say okay second third and your fire again twice in one night oh okay so we have the motion's been made and seconded any discussion seeing none all in favor say I I opposed abstained motion carries okay this one okay all right uh okay commissioner Brown uh item 16.1 ladies and gentlemen the committee on grievances moves at the Waterbury Board of Education saw grievance 20234 heard by the committee on November 8th be upheld with the following remedy resent and remove from employee file the written warning and issue a documented verbal War warning consistent with the rescinded written warning second motions been Maiden seconded any discussion seeing none all in favor say I I opposed abstained motion carries okay we are on to item 17 superintendent's
101notification to the board commissioner Island can I have a motion for item 171 through 178 a motion to receive and place on file the superintendent's notification to the board item 17.1 through 17.8 as listed second motions been made and second dat any discussion seeing none all in favor say I I opposed abstained motion carries we do have on item 18 18 uh for further discussion on the School Safety and Security task force report um I don't think we have anything new at this point um so we'll take I will we hope that it will show up on the next board agenda again for any updates okay and with I have a motion to adjourn motion's been made in second and all in favor say I I opposed abstained motion carries for the last time who
102said no [Applause] Jason so I'm not sure I just is that Jason