001April 8th, 2025. And I'd appreciate if you turned off your cell phones as this meeting is being recorded. Ellen's not here to do the roll call. So, can we just start down there and we'll go right to the other end. Marjorie Kalen Carson present. Jim Riley present. Charles Kerry here. Matt Lacavoi here. Mrs. Kbabi Granado here. Janice D Roberts here. John Winer here. Liz Walters is present. Okay, thank you. And now we have our board chair here, kid chair Nia Quasi will lead us in the pledge of allegiance. I aliance 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, thank you. And for our student and staff recognition, we have our kid chair here with
002her essay. And I want you to meet the superstar who's about to take our schools to the next level. This future leader has the creativity and ideas to make every school day an adventure. So, let's give a warm welcome to our kid BOE cheer winner from Highest School, Nia Quasi. Okay, Nia, it's all yours. I believe I would make a great kid board of education chair because I possess the necessary leadership qualities of a BOE chair. This includes me being kind and attentive and able to listen to my peers. I additionally want to make sure that everyone gets a say. I want to be the kid board of education chair because I aspire to foster a safe, creative, and inclusive learning environment in Weatherfield schools. This would include the students, teachers, and staff. Something I
003intend to implement right away is making sure students are able to voice what they have to say. The way to do this would be a suggestions box outside the office of every school. Students can make suggestions for different activities or after school clubs that they would want to start. It may help our student body find new things that they like to do. This should include them being able to give feedback about what we do for our school, including different activities, and we would be able to create innovative ideas as a community. I also plan to make sure everyone gets the support that they need. This would include being able to talk to the school psychologist and school social worker whenever you need. I would also love to get more special education and tutoring for kids
004who are struggling as well as more enrichment for kids who are doing extremely well. Making sure everyone gets the material that they need is important. I would also have the school psychologists and social workers come check in with the kids more frequently because often our students have a hard time going to them when they have trouble. This will make everyone feel more comfortable. I want to focus mainly on mental health support because mental health in schools is especially important. Kids deserve a nonstressful environment in which they can thrive and putting mental health first can help with that. I'm also committed to studying peer support groups where peers could talk to each other about everything and anything from homework troubles to just general social anxiety. Our peers would be able to support each other and be
005able to better communicate with one another. we could be there for each other and maybe even associate better with our classmates. I feel that peer support groups would really benefit everyone because according to the National Institute of Health, stress factors at school such as unempathetic and unsupportive teacher student relationships and a poor classroom or school climate increase the risk for children. This shows me that feeling supported is important in school and who better to support students than students themselves. As the school environment is more supportive, then kids are less likely to have increased anxiety and depression. Having a safe and peaceful environment would be important for us as students. Also, this would help decrease stress and increase school safety. I would also like to advocate for multicultural days, which would be days where people could
006express themselves and would add a more diverse element to our school system. People could bring in cultural items such as headpieces and share about their heritage and it would make everyone feel seen and heard. This would be especially important because every student deserves to feel valued. We could also implement more diverse books in the library such as books about kids of different races, LGBTQ kids, and kids with disabilities. This would again make everyone feel seen and heard. In conclusion, I think I will be a great fit for the kid of board of education chair because I have a passion for fostering a supportive and diverse school environment, focusing on mental health support, and want to make our school better. Some of my plans are starting peer support groups to help each other out, having diversity
007days to celebrate everyone's culture, and getting more diverse books in our library. I believe these things could make our school a more welcoming place for everyone, especially our students. I'm just going to let her sit here. Okay, that was excellent. Thank you. Yes, let's get a picture. Actually, should get let her take this. Okay, thank you. You were excellent. Please stay. Okay. Stay for a bit. All right. That was our student and staff recognition. Excellent. Okay. Next on tonight's agenda is the approval of the minutes for our regular board of ed meeting on March 25th, 2025. May I have a motion to approve the minutes? So moved. Okay. A second. Second. Okay. Discussions. All set. All in favor? I I opposed. Any abstensions? Those minutes are approved. Now, is there anyone wishing to make a
008public comment? Come on up to the podium and state your name and address. And may I remind you that you have five minutes. And another reminder, board members, do not make comments immediately following a presentation. Thank you. Hi, my name is uh Megan Glenowski and I live at 24 Morrison Avenue. Um good evening. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. I'm here tonight to advocate for greater awareness, acceptance, and inclusion of neurodeiverse children, those with autism, ADHD, and other developmental differences in our schools and towns town programs. Uh these children are often bright, creative, and full of curiosity. But because their behavior may not always look typical, they are frequently misunderstood. A twice exceptional child who struggles with impulse control may be seen as disruptive rather than enthusiastic. A child who moves a lot or
009speaks loudly may be labeled defiant rather than simply needing support. A child who struggles with self-regulation isn't trying to cause trouble. He's doing his best with the tools he has. When adults expect these children to just know better or just stop without extra guidance, we fail them. When adults focus only on compliance rather than understanding the child's needs, we end up punishing kids for having a disability instead of supporting them through it. These kids are not trying to be difficult. Many are working incredibly hard to regulate their emotions and behavior, but it is a process that takes time, support, and the right environment. Punitive approaches, removing from them from activities, isolating them, or treating them as troublemakers do not help them succeed. It is heartbreaking to see children pushed out of classrooms and programs not
010because they are unwilling to learn or participate, but because the adults in charge lack the training, patience, or flexibility to support them. When those children are suspended, excluded, or shamed, sometimes repeatedly, it sends the message that they don't belong. And that message stays with them for a long time. It is especially disheartening when families who try to work collaboratively are met with defensiveness or even subtle retaliation for speaking up. Advocacy on behalf of behalf of a child should never be met with punishment. We can do better. I urge this board to prioritize meaningful diversity neurodeiversity training for all town staff, educators, program leaders, and administrators. We need inclusive policies and a culture that seeks to understand before it disciplines. When we build environments that support neurodeiverse children, we don't just help those kids. We create
011stronger, more compassionate systems for everyone. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? Hello, Jennifer Curry, 162 Straddle Hill. Um, with the budget not yet approved or finalized, I am here tonight to advocate for five SEC school security personnel, one for each of the five elementary schools. I understand that was an original intent that has been reduced to three in the proposed budget. I also understand that our current security director has thoughts or a plan for how to spread the three potential personnel across five schools. However, to be blunt, every school needs one. I'm intrigued that there will be some matrix puzzle design for which security will be where at what time and covering what. The long and short of it is every single school needs one. And we're talking about elementary schools that do not have
012assistant principles or potentially even other certified administrators in the building. Five would be an incredibly logical next step for our schools to ensure safety for all our students and for all our staff on so many different levels. So, I'm going to tell you a story about an incident that occurred at an elementary school within the last 2 weeks. A second grader was kicked and hit at recess unprovoked by another second grader. And this occurred at recess where there are recess aids. However, I'm not sure that a recess aid job description should include student physical altercations. When the recess aid asked the student to leave the area, they did not. A certified staff person was called to come outside. The student also did not listen to them. I believe another student was also hit and kicked
013in the process. This happened to be at a time when the principal was not at the school. Something that understandably must occur due to commitments of the role and within the district. So you have a recess situation where more than one student was physically hit and kicked by another and the staff worked hard to remedy the situation. Realistically, I think everyone here can agree that was not ideal. And I don't think that this story is an anomaly. Typically, a large task of an elementary school security personnel is to be a presence at recess. And as a trained adult supervising that situation, it could have played out differently. I am not naive enough to think that a school security personnel can prevent things from happening. But their response to when things do happen can be quite
014different from a recess aid. In many districts, this role is a retired police officer who has intensive training in deescalating situations. They also have a presence that would be known to students and I can tell you that's clearly a huge positive piece of their role. And I speak in front of you not only as a parent but as an educator who has been at all levels including elementary school for 8 years. When I comment I try to come from a place of logic and understanding. I think maybe sometimes I'm more understanding of what the whole system can and cannot do based on my own career. our elementary students and our elementary staff. Our elementary school families need five security personnel. One dedicated to each school to develop a relationship and a rapport with everyone in
015the building. Not only to be there during drop off and pickup, which at many of our schools is a process itself, but to get to know every student in the building, have that relationship with them, and be out there at recess. And then for those specific pieces, the custodial parent situations, the DCF situations, and heaven forbid, situations that are much more challenging, we are a district that is light on administration, and the support that security personnel could give is countless, especially assisting our elementary principles who are honestly flying solo in their buildings. They don't have an assistant principal. They don't have a second administrator in charge. When they are out of the building, another elementary principal is on call. We need to support them more. Additionally, I am looking forward to the data that Mr.
016EMTT was asked for from Mayor Leser about the local area elementary schools and their elementary security. I would venture to say that Weathersfield is not at the same level and standards as our area communities. We need to support our students and families more and I don't think that three patchwork together across five is going to work. I support five security personnel, one permanently residing at each elementary school. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Anyone else? All right. Mr. EMTT, you have some communications for us. I do. Thank you, Mrs. Granado. Good evening, everyone. Uh, it uh is my extreme pleasure to uh let everyone know once again that the Weathersfield Board of Education has selected the next superintendent of schools. It happened at the last board meeting uh coming out of executive session. Mr. Jeffrey Wibby
017will uh serve as the next superintendent of schools. Um want to talk a little bit about the transition process because it has already started. Uh Mr. Wibby is currently the superintendent of schools in region 17 encompassing Hatam and Killingworth. Um so in spite of that um he has already started the process of transition. So um we have met multiple times. We have talked on the phone and we have uh also texted. So, uh, my goal here is to make sure that the transition is as seamless as possible. Um, obviously I'm still continue to focus on the day-to-day operations. Um, it was mentioned by one of the public speakers about us being thin. We are extraordinarily thin right now. Uh, we do not have an HR director. Uh, our business manager is currently out on leave.
018So, quite frankly, there's a couple of us running the whole district. So, it has certainly been a challenge. With that being said, we're thinking ahead to the future. And the future is what will the structure of central office look like? That's something that Mr. Wy and I will be talking about. Um he has already started to come out and meet with um staff. He came over to the Stillman building today and was able to meet with all of the U office staff at Stillman. Um we have him coming to a um administrative team meeting and I know he will be coming to uh board meeting correctly. So for for a meet and greet. So we're certainly happy to have him aboard. Um, with that great news comes a bit of bittersweet news. I'd certainly like
019to announce uh and with mixed emotions uh the upcoming departure of our assistant superintendent, Miss Sally Dulli. Sally will be leaving the district uh at the end of the school year on June 30th to become the executive director of the Odyssey Charter School in Manchester. So, I can tell you full well and you've seen it. Uh Sally has done a great job in terms of curriculum and instruction and really ensuring that we are moving this district forward. So uh our loss is certainly going to be the Odyssey Charter Schools gain. So congratulations Sally Dulli. A couple of items on tonight's agenda. One of which is the cancellation of the board of ed meeting on June 10th. That is our uh graduation night. So we will say farewell to the class of 2025 and I can
020imagine that all of you like me would rather be there than sitting here. So uh that will be before you this evening. Uh the upcoming board the next board meeting we will u be bringing forward to you a schedule of next year's board meetings so that you know when they are. Uh that will be an action item for you. Uh next week we will be on vacation. The district will be closed on Friday uh the 18th. I do want to let everybody know that uh on the 21st of April, that is the townwide budget hearing. So that'll be right here in council chambers. Uh I will give a brief overview again of the uh board approved budget and then town manager Presley will then present the town budget and then it's your opportunity as residents
021to be able to have your say. Uh we also will have a meeting with town council on May 1st where we'll dig into some of the line items and answer questions that they may have with the idea of getting the uh allocation from town council no later than May 15th. So we're already looking at uh staffing for next year. We have a series of retirements. So um with that, we're looking to fill those positions. Right now we have started to post. However, these postings are uh pending funding. So, they are anticipated. So, we're going to wait until we actually get the funding before we move forward, but we want to develop the pools and get started on the interviewing process. Also want to talk a little bit about the building project. I am quite certain
022that Mr. Winer will talk more about it, but just want to let everybody know that um from a school district perspective, we remain partners with TSKP as well as Downs Construction. So, right now currently working on educational specifications. Um we're utilizing Hammer School as kind of the the foundation and the framework. Um our task is to shave off approximately 3,000 square ft uh to meet the space standards. So we're engaged in that. And then today um I received some data from NASDAQ who is currently doing the enrollment study portion of this work which is required for a grant application. So, um, in my spare time today, I was able to go back and find very specific grade level numbers dating all the way back to 2020, 2021. I'm glad I keep all of my old
023class size reports. So, we're getting that data together so that NASDAQ has what it needs to get the data out. Um, we are anticipating a grant application submission well in advance of the June 30th deadline with the state of Connecticut, which pending a referendum will hopefully get us on the priority list. So, um, again, it's a tremendous amount of work, but we remain committed to making sure that we do what we can to see this project forward. So, and with that, that's communications. Great. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Tonight, we have one action item. Liz, would you please read our recommended motion? Sure. I move that the Weathersfield Board of Education cancel the regular board of ed meeting scheduled for June 10th, 2025. Second. Okay. Any discussion? All right. All in favor? I opposed.
024Any abstensions? That motion is approved. Okay. And then we move on to Hold on. Um our reports, our discussion reports here. And we have our first one is on um both of them are on policy. So Matt, would you read to both of or speak to both of them? Yes, I can speak to both of them. Thank you, Bobby. So um on I'm sorry. Let me find my minutes. On Wednesday, April 2nd, the policy and planning committee met. Um we discussed a couple different policies. Um I'll go over the first one later under the section meetings held. Um in this section, I will just discuss the two policies that we read and voted on and are moving to you all tonight for a first read. Um that is the revised policy 1400 school security and
025safety and revised policy 1600 policy regarding visitors and observations in school. So these policies as per most of the ones that we implement and vote on and deal with come from public acts or general state statutes. Um there's not a lot of policy that doesn't come from those things. So again some of these things are considered state mandates. Um so these um policy updates that were brought to us from Shipman and Goodwin um they basically have to do with immigration enforcement activity in schools. specifically which individuals in our school district are designated to deal with or interact with an immigration authority should they appear in person and as well as the updating and submitting of our district security and safety plan which is currently being updated for submission to the state. Um those are the
026general concepts of these two policies. If anybody has any questions, myself, Marjorie, Bobby, Jim could answer. I don't know if anyone has any questions on them. Anyone? It is the first reading, too. Yes, this is the first reading. Any questions from that? Okay, Matt. Thank you. And you could go right on because you have the next policy. Yes. So in addition to those just uh two aforementioned policies that are before you for a first read, we also discussed the implementation of a new animal policy which was brought about by a proposal made by an elementary school PTO who asked for a therapy dog. We currently have no policy for either therapy dogs, facility therapy dogs, or service animals. We reviewed the current animal policies for three area school districts to see how we would like
027to craft ours in consideration of theirs and work on this policy is still ongoing. And um that's a first read we're going to have on that or no? Uh no, there will be we're still working on that. The only thing that is before the board tonight for a first read is the revised policy 1400, revised policy 1600 having to do with school security, safety, and the policy regarding visitors and observations in school. Great. Thank you. Yep. Okay. So, those are meetings held, meetings scheduled, you're on this one, too. Finance and operations committee before our next board meeting. Yes. Okay. All right. Is there anyone wishing to make a public comment? Come on up to the podium and state your name and address. And may I remind you public comments are limited to five minutes. Okay.
028Are there any board comments? Yes. Chuck. Uh, one thing I was thinking as we uh called on as Mr. Emtt mentioned, Mr. Winer is part of the building committee. Now, could we make a standing agenda item under discussion items to have the building committee so this way when Mr. Winer gives an update, we can have a discussion around it as opposed in board comment where there can't be a discussion. I think we should have a standing agenda item going forward. And if he has nothing new to report, then he just says there's nothing new to report. But this way there's an opportunity for the board to have discussion with the chair of the building committee and for the town to hear what's going on in a discussion format. So if that going forward is possible,
029I'd appreciate that. I just all want to piggyback on what Mr. EMTT said. We did um unanimously vote Mr. Mr. Jeff Wibby as our next superintendent. It was a tremendous process that we went through. Um being the only board member who went through the process about 14 years ago for Mr. EMTT. It was it was the same rigorous type of process. Um Mr. Wibby stood out amongst the candidates. I think he's going to do a great job. He brings a lot of background in buildings curriculum has a lot of diverse backgrounds. have been an elementary principal, have uh been the superintendent of connected technical schools, so overseeing high schools throughout the state. So, I think his diverse background is going to really help us move us forward. So, I'm excited to have Mr. Wibby here.
030And unfortunately, I don't have any ESPN highlights tonight for sports. So, I am all done. Thank you. Thank you. But go Yukon. Good. All right. Anyone else for board comments? Janice. Um just I went to the Charles Wright PTO meeting um on no uh March I was going to say November March 26th and um they are in the middle of selling yard tickets for uh Charles Wright night. Um the ticket sales close on April 18th and this year their Charles Wright educator of the game will be Dee Mahoney. She will be recognized on May 12th. Um but before then on April 26th, the same day as this uh townwide Arbor Day observance, the Charles Wright PTO will have a beautifification day or morning from 9 to 11:00. Um and they have some mulch that's being
031do donated. And also that same day, um, the musical Frozen, which is sponsored by Keen for Kids, will have a performance at 2 p.m. There will also be an evening performance of Frozen on the 25th, Friday night at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Um, April 28th to May 2nd is screen free week and during that time their PTO will hold a a second Scholastic Book Fair. Um, and I just wanted to mention too, I was able to get to the human library on the uh 30th I believe. No, the 29th. Um, and it was really remarkable and I look look forward to the historical society doing that again. It was really intense. Very very good. Um and the last thing I want to mention is that um coming up
032on May 10th is the Weathersfield High School walk for Val. Um it'll be um sign up time or check-in time is 9:30 to 10:00 and at the Weathersfield High School pool entrance and the walk begins at 10:00. I just wanted to it's not till May 10th, but I wanted to say something now in case people are interested and want to start thinking about it. For more information, you can reach out to Val's mom, Andrea Peralt, um, at 860-721-4741 or to Mrs. Russo at the high school. Val was a 2008 graduate of Weathersfield High School and then a a Quinnipiac graduate. She died of cancer in 2022. She loved the outdoors and had an adventurous spirit. The money raised will provide a scholarship um for a senior who exemplifies Val's spirit. Okay. Thank you, Janice. Anyone
033else for closing remarks? Jim, the uh career fair will be held uh this Thursday morning at Weathersfield High School. So, I'm looking forward to that. Good. Thank you, Don. So, I will give a building committee update. Thank you, Mr. Carrie for that uh introduction and I do agree we should have it as a standing agenda item and I'd be glad to answer any questions and discussions that we have as we move forward. Um there's a lot going on in the project. Obviously last week um actually the last couple weeks we've had several different meetings. Um as you now know or you should know now that the building committee has adopted uh the full attire master plan as recommendations to both us the board of education and the town council. Tomorrow here is a building committee
034meeting and it will be held in obviously town chamber. That meeting is going to go over preliminary cost information for the master plan. Um so I do encourage the public to attend. There will be public comment as well. Um that is going to again be preliminary cost. I want to make sure that people understand it's not the final cost. It's preliminary numbers that Downs Construction and TSKP have been working on. Um all of this leads up to a couple different dates. Uh the most important date for this board is May 13th. May 13th, our meeting, we will get a presentation from myself. I'll actually have to go over there and then come back here. And then TSKP will also present all the information uh in regards to the master plan. Um that it will include
035EDS specs that Mr. EMTT was just mentioning. That will be when we officially will adopt that uh master plan to then be sent to town council, which they will take to a June date uh for their referendum question to finally be voted on at the end. Uh, one last update non-building committee related is last Saturday I had the pleasure of attending the Hamner pancake breakfast. It's in conjunction with the Hamner PTO and the Weatherfield Dads Club. Um, it technically could be my last one where I'm flipping pancakes. Um, my my daughter is going to Saline next year. Uh, but they I think they're going to recruit me to come back and because I'm doing such a good job. Um, but it was a really great event. Uh, appreciate everybody coming out and uh participating and
036and I think the food was pretty good. So, thank you. That's all I have. Thank you. Anyone else? Marjorie. Um, I have a few things. Um, I just wanted to thank the building committee and all the people who've been working very hard on the building committee. They've gone had many meetings um and open the public to a lot of information and um I just want to thank them for all all the work they've done. Um, I also want to remark on um I attended the capstone presentations this past week where the junior class at the high school had to do each student had to present um some sort of either a passion project that they just a new project they did or they had to defend kind of their learning in in the high school
037and pick a certain subject for it. Um, and I was able to see five or six students in my group and uh I I was a community volunteer and there was teachers as well, silenc uh teachers and high school teachers. And it was just amazing how what the different things these high school students chose to present on the the variety, the maturity, um just being able to speak in front of people they don't know for the most part. Um and uh it was just a very enjoyable process and I I I'm really proud of these students. Um, and it's one of those things where they have to do it in order to graduate. Um, so there's a lot of pressure on them, but they did a great job that from my perspective. Um, I also
038think the uh just want to remind that the the white is it walk bike this Wednesday, Jen? No. No. May 7th. Oh, it's May 7th. All right. Forget it. I thought it was the 7th. Um, and I also just want to thank Sally Dulli for all her work in the district. And even before I was on the board, I was a parent who was kind of active and had questions and she would always be willing to talk or email and give information um, even when there was a dispute or a problem or, you know, whatever. Um, and I've really always appreciated you and um, and you're um, just a pleasant person to talk to most of the time anyway. and uh you're always really informative and and you've done a great job and and uh
039but I I hope you have a great adventure in your new your new job. Thank you. And Liz George, so I'd like to pivot off of what Marjorie had shared about the capstone project and also give a shout out to Kristen Misinskus who brought this program to Weathersfield, built it out and it is truly incredible. Um every junior in the CL um every junior has to provide a capstone presentation. There's so much that goes into teaching these kids. Um, from picking a topic that is meaningful, eye contact, poise, how you carry yourself, you know, what you're wearing to a professional kind of, you know, situation, how you're speaking, how you're reaching your audience. And I give these kids so much credit. I'm sure all of us can admit that we are nervous to even sit
040behind, you know, these microphones at time and to have these kids go up in front of community members and teachers. Um, it's just incredible and I applaud her efforts and I'm so happy that Weathersfield has this as part of our program. Um, in addition to that, I am excited as well as Jim for the career fair at the high school on Thursday. Um, I think it starts at 7:30, runs till about 10:25. Um, I will be there myself and I'm happy to say that I have a bunch of Weathersfield High School graduates who are now in the workforce um, at the company I work at who will be joining me back so that they can talk to the kids and kind of walk through their journey of how do you go from being a high
041school student to your college choices to your career choices um, and what opportunities might exist for high school kids rather than waiting until college to get into some sort of an intern program. Um the third thing I'd like to share is that we did um we are searching for a the principal for Charles Wright um for an upcoming retirement for our Charles Wright principal. We had our day one of day two search committee meeting last Friday. It's a very rigorous process. Um exciting and uh we look forward to um our next round of interviews. Thank you. Anyone else? Okay, Liz, I just want to piggyback on that. That was an excellent morning day of interviewing. We had some wonderful candidates. So, thank you for being part of that. And I too am incredibly proud of
042our juniors who are doing their capstone project. It really was amazing to see them and they they were a little nervous, but they get comfortable very quickly. Um, and they're explaining a project that they're passionate about. But not only do they have to demonstrate their knowledge of a particular subject, they also have to be thinking critically and they also have to share these ideas to us so that we understand them. Um it's wonderful to see and they are doing it next year in 8th grade too in the middle school which is very promising because that gives them a chance to do it again as juniors in our high school. Also, um, on May 13th at this board of ed meeting, but starting at 6:00, Jeffrey Wby, our recently selected new superintendent, will join us for
043a meet and greet. So, we will be here looking forward to greeting Jeff with a warm Weathersfield welcome. So, thank you. Any other comments? All right. Is there any unfinished business tonight? Okay. So may I have a motion to adjourn this meeting? Okay, a second. Second. All in favor? I opposed. Absensions. Thank you all. Good night. I saw you reaching for your mic.