001Good evening. The time is 7:30 and we'll call the special meeting of the board of education to order. Uh we'll start with the pledge of allegiance. If you could please rise. I pledge allegiance to the flag 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. >> Amen. >> Thank you. Would someone like to make a motion? Okay. I I'll make the motion. >> I would like to make a motion to amend the 2025 2026 school calendar as presented to change March 9th to a school day. >> Do we have a second? >> I can second that. >> So, we'll now open up for discussion. Uh shall I hand it over to Dr. Jones to give us
002some background on this first? >> Sure, I'm happy to do that. >> Um so in the calendar every year at the end of our calendar in Greenwich, we build in five snow days. This year, five snow days takes us almost to the end of June. There are two days before the end of June if we had to use all five. Um, a little bit of the concern this year is we've already used three days and it's still February. That's early. So, there are very few opportunities to recapture days if in fact we need to. Um, and March 9th is coming up very quickly and that was a day that was going to be conferences and professional development. And so we would like to take that day, make that an instructional day so that um we
003can gain one of those back. And especially given that if you're watching the weather right now, next week there are three different days where they're saying we could get more snow. And again, it's just the beginning of March. So, um, if we go past March 9th, the only other days you have in the calendar to capture days if if we end up using because this has been a tough winter is April break and people do not like you us to touch April break. So, I just thought I'm going to bring this to the board, see if we recapture March 9th. We are still going to do our conferences. Um, so we're not losing those. The professional development, the curriculum team's going to reorganize. We won't do probably everything that was planned. conferences will still be
004a priority. Um we will have an early release on the 18th which is a new early release but that captures um again another 3 hours and 30 minutes back for conferences. Um and then we also have another early release day that was already on our schedule um that we'll be able to also capture for conference time. So we are going to make the adjustment on our professional development and stay committed to the conferences for parents so that they don't lose those. Um but again this way we will only we'll be down to two days instead of three going into next week. So I I I have a quick question. >> Yeah. >> Um so uh because March 9th is coming up very quickly as you noted and it is a Monday. Um if there are
005families who uh already had something scheduled for that day um you know or how will we be able to handle that for them if you know if their schedule can't be revised uh will we you know be making sure that we're not marking them necessarily as missing it because we have added this we are looking to add this back in is a last minute thing and then I would say the same for the half day um if there's parents that can't they have stuff scheduled with work and they can't get home um will we be able to provide something for students students uh to be there until later in the day >> on the early release day on the 18th. No, because it would be just like any other day if we had to release
006early for weather. You know, people have to kind of figure that out, but I think they have enough time to do that. Um on the 9th would be treated like any other. Let's say we did have to make up days in April break, which again we'd never want to do. Um we definitely would have conflicts in April. Um so you know when that happens and the same way happens at the end of the year you know we have families when we run all the way to the last week in June we have families who and students who are already going to p summer camps colleges all kinds of things so we just have to work with those families >> right so I just wanted to ensure that you know if if we add this back
007on because it's so last minute there are families again it would make it a long weekend families may have already had some plans especially with the snow I guess maybe some people may take advantage um I just want to make sure that we ensure that if add that day back that there's no tests uh given and or you know things like that for some of the students just just so that they don't miss it if there's any chance. >> Yeah. I mean I think one of the things about adding a day back to and that I just want to mention is that you know like for our AP students we already start almost a month later than people in the Midwest to get through the AP curriculum. They've already lost three days. So if we're
008going to add the ninth back we do want it to be an instructional day and we >> instructional. Yes. I just meant as long as there's no like exams. >> Yeah. I don't think they're going to, you know, go and give a major exam if they think that their students are, you know, going to be there. And even if again, we always have to work with families and work with students if that's the case. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Uh Veronica, >> thank you. Sorry. Um can you confirm I have two questions actually. Can you confirm what is if we add back in March 9th, what is the last day of school? I apologize if I missed that. >> Yeah. Well, we don't know when it will be until we get all the way, you know,
009through the end of the year, but um as of right now, our last day u was supposed to be the 26th if we used 5 days. Um so, if we've only used two, that would back us back down to um the 23rd. So, it'll depend on how many more days we need. So as so if if the schedule I just want so if the schedule if we don't have any more snow days and we add back in March 9th our last day of school would be Tuesday June 23rd. >> I'm just counting right now. No I don't have >> I was I've got the calendar in front of me if it's helpful. >> Well I was just going to say the board just because I know that you're new and I I figured I would
010just ensure that some of our new members understand that we then uh >> it's voted on in April. >> Yeah. So, we can't even I mean, we can give you an idea of what it might be, you know, but we I don't want any parents out there that are listening to this to hear this discussion and think that's a definite for the last day. Um, our last day isn't decided until the board votes on that. >> Yeah. >> Okay. But calculated based on 180 days for the students, 187 days for the teachers, 180 days, a state minimum. Correct. >> That's correct. >> Yes. Okay. >> And we're not allowed to have virtual days because that's a big question that I've also received. >> Yes. And that is a Connecticut state level decision, not a Greenwich
011board of ed decision. >> Correct. That's correct. >> So just to clarify so I understand our different options. One is we make March 9th a school day which then leaves us three snow days effectively built into the calendar. which has which has the student last day as the 24th and the staff last day as the 26th. >> The other option is we roll the dice, cross our fingers and hope we don't need more than the two remaining that are built in. >> Well, we have five built in. So, >> but you use three though, right? >> We use three. So, if you approve tonight, we will have only used two >> because we'll gain one back on the ninth, >> right? Sorry. But what I mean by roll the dice is if if we don't
012make the 9th a school day, we still could have two more snow days and not have to push the calendar back. >> That's correct. >> But the risk is that we end up having three and then we're looking at either spring break or the end of June when kids are leaving for summer camps in college. >> Yeah. And you're really looking at spring break. You're really looking at April break >> because of the AP situation. You only have the 29th and the 30th left in June and we have to be done by the end of June. >> So it kind >> the students though would have been done the 24th. >> The staff would be done the 26th. Is it the staff has to be done by the end of June 2? >> It's in
013their >> contractual the number of days that they have. >> Yes. Okay. Yeah. And I and I don't think the 9th is hugely impactful for, you know, in general. And it does gain gain a day back. And this is, you know, it's been an unusual winter so far. We're getting a lot of snow. And again, it's it's just now the end of February. So, it's a little concerning. >> Oh, sorry. I don't know if Karen can see my hand up, but >> Oh, sorry. No, that's okay. And Wendy. >> Yeah. So, I was looking at Wendy's is yellow. Yours was a physical hand. So, Karen Hers and Wendy. >> Oh, no. No. I was just gonna say I you know, I know there's maybe some other questions. Um but uh I realized that since you
014mentioned um making the 18th a half day. Um Sophie, I know you made a motion, you may need to amend it because I think you only mentioned uh adding the 9th uh back as a an instructional day. >> Yeah. And it's the calendar that's posted. So if you say >> Yeah. No, no. So the the the motion didn't include making the 18th a half day. So I think we just with early release I mean so I think we just need to once we get to that point that's all >> Wendy. >> Uh I was just going to say thank you for um your quick thinking Dr. Jones because I think that this is a good idea. Um, and I think I think as long as you're going to reshuffle the professional development for families and
015um and I'm I'm sorry, the professional development for the staff and also the conference days for families. I think that I'm I'm I'm okay with this. >> Great. Thank you, >> Veronica. Are you adjusting your camera or raising your hand? >> No. Sorry, I was putting my calendar back. >> Very good. >> Above me. >> All right. I mean, these are always difficult decisions, right? They're always going to uh frankly some parents may be relieved uh to not have to scramble for child care on the 9th. Uh and others others have plans that we're interrupting. So I think to uh to to Karen's point about asking teachers not to give tests, exams, have papers due given that uh a lot of families may make decisions and and the the students may not have a have
016a vote in that. So as long as we make sure they're not adversely impacted by something that's likely out of their control. >> Okay. Yep. >> Okay. Any any other discussion points? Um, oh, >> just a quick one. Um, to Karen's point about about no tests and quizzes, if if you could also say maybe projects are aren't due that day either um for the families that are traveling. >> Sure, we can do that. >> Thanks, Veronica. Um the if I'm not mistaken so just the elementary school had conferences and middle and high school had PD. Is that correct Dr. Jones? >> K8 actually do conferences in K. >> K do conferences. Is there any >> PD? >> High school has the PD. Is there any feedback from the teachers in the K through 8 if
017they have any concerns about having like not having a full conference day? Um versus them not having a full conference day and having to integrate them with the shorter, you know, with the half days and including on the 18th. Um or do they not or do they not really mind? >> Well, the you know, it'll probably depend who you ask. >> The good answer. Yeah, the curriculum team has gone in though and they've calculated how many hours we normally have. They're putting those hours back in onto the schedule. And as a reminder, we also have those extended Wednesdays if somebody wants to go, you know, a little slower or faster. And a lot of the teachers do that anyway. You know, they'll have a few in before school in the morning just because they don't
018really want to be there all day. It gets exhausting. So, um, you know, we we'll still be flexible like we always are for with the teachers. >> Perfect. Thank you. And it gives them more of a break, too. I was thinking for those who teach ESY or the summer school program also if we uh don't extend the school year. So, thank you. >> Yep. You're welcome. >> Okay. Last call for comments. Okay. Uh, I think to clarify, do we want to um amend the motion that was made? >> I mean, Sophie made it. I I can ask >> Sophie, do you want to >> second? >> Sorry. >> Yeah, I I think Veronica seconded. >> Veronica seconded. >> That needs to be done. >> Yeah. So, I'll make a motion to amend that we approve
019the revised calendar as posted. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. Bob Cheney. >> Bob. Okay. >> Uh, we'll take a vote. Uh, and I think since we're video, we need to do a voice vote. >> That is correct. Roll call. >> All right. So, I'll just do a roll call vote. And I'm I'm doing these just in the order they're showing up on my screen. Uh Veronica Cavoli, >> uh yes. I'm in favor. >> Paul Capi, >> yes. >> Bob Cheney, >> yes. >> Uh Karen Hirs, >> yes. >> Me, Karen Krauss, yes. Wendy Walsh, >> yes. >> All right. Uh seven to zero. The motion passes. >> So >> wait, Sophie. >> Yeah, Sophie. >> Oh, Sophie, I'm sorry. your your vote your right your I'm so sorry Sophie >> yes I'm
020a yes thank you >> okay I'm sorry your your camera is off because you're driving >> I apologize >> no problem >> okay so the motion passes 7 to zero do we have any other motions >> I make a motion to adjurnn >> uh before you guys do that you since you amended the motion now you have to vote >> on the motion >> that's amended so a first and a second and then another v vote sorry >> okay so we we have basically those yeses were to amend the motion. >> Now we vote on the motion itself. >> Correct. >> Right. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Robert's rules. All right. We'll try that again. Uh so now we are voting on the motion the motion as amended. Veronica Cavarelli. >> Yes. >> All right.
021Bob Capi. >> Yes. >> Paul. Oh, I'm so It's been a really long week, guys. >> It's a privilege. >> Privilege to be associated with Mr. Cheney. No problem. Paul Cap. >> Take that as a compliment as well. >> Paul, I need an affirmative from you. >> Yes, that is an affirmative. >> Now, Bob Cheney, >> yes. >> Sophie Coven, >> yes. >> Karen Hersh, >> yes. >> Wendy Walsh, >> yes. >> Karen Krauss, yes. Sorry guys. You'll be very happy to have uh Mike Mercanty Anthony back next time. Okay. Now, would anyone like to make another motion? With the motion passes 70, would anyone like to make another motion? >> Happy to make a motion to adjurnn. >> I'll second. Bob Cheney. >> The motion passes. >> Oh no, you got to take a
022vote. >> Oh my goodness. I'm sorry, guys. >> All right, we'll do a voice vote on the motion to adjurnn. Veronica. >> Yes, you did a great job, Karen. >> You are all >> Yes, you did a great job. I agree with Veronica. No, we're voting on to adjurnn though. Paul, >> it is is it affirmative to a journ? >> All right. Bob, >> yes. >> Sophie, >> yes. >> Karen Hirs, >> yes. Also thinking you did a great job. >> Wendy, >> yes, you did do great. >> And myself. Thank you. I'm sorry, guys. It was a very last minute change to the plan. So, apologies to those of you who are watching online. >> Thank you so much, Karen. >> All right. We're >> good night everybody at night. Good night. >> Thank
023you. But