10-22-18 Groton Board of Education Meeting

001Hi, my name is Kylie Naws. >> Hi, my name is Seth Packard. Hi, I'm Kylie from Y. >> Get into the swing with TBS 19. >> [music] >> Good evening. I see. >> I welcome everyone to um the Groten Board of Ed regular meeting. Uh and it is October 22nd and it's a little bit after 6 o'clock. Um and as we always do, I would like um to start with the pledge of allegiance. And I have not yet gotten used to the flag over there. And Mr. Suzuka, would you be willing to lead us? I allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. >> All right, [sighs] Dr. Grineer. Um I

002am wondering if you could lead this next part of our agenda which is the recognition and participation of our visitors and delegates. >> Yes. Uh and I' I'd ask if Mr. Aarisa could come up to the podium because we I hope I see her here. We we have a special guest tonight uh that uh Mr. Ar is going to introduce and hopefully she'll come up and at least say hello. >> Thank you. Tonight I really have an honor and privilege to u uh introduce to you u probably one of the most beautiful people. Uh that I've come associated with and in my years in education. Um not only is she just a like I just mentioned a wonderful human being she has a contagious smile uh contagious laugh which you you'll see hopefully when she

003gets up here. That is um senior Kuran Connor. So would Karan and her dad please come on up. [applause] Kurana is going to tell her story. I just want to give you some background about her. She is a senior at Fitch High School. Solid A B+ student. She's going to leave us in January. That's how well she's done in her studies. They're moving to Maryland, but she will be coming back to graduate with her class and uh participate in all the senior festivities. I told her today she uh will be majoring in social work and she eventually wants to get a doctorate in developmental sociology. Is that correct? All right. Beautiful. She's involved in more than words, uh, the Renaissance club, which has to do with climate at the high school, indoor outdoor track, and

004she's part of student leadership. But what she's here to talk to you about tonight is she's just a recent recipient of the Northeast Regional Military Youth of the Year. Wow. >> So, here's Kuran to talk about it. >> [applause] >> I'm really short. Um, [laughter] so as Mir said, I'm Karan. I'm the Northeast Regional Military Youth of the Year for the Boys and Girls Club of America. Um, I started my journey out at local. the local level, I didn't really have to go against anyone because um after the process, the lengthy process of doing the application, filling out four essays, getting teacher recommendations, and just a lot of lengthy stuff, a lot of people kind of drop out and give up. And [laughter] I stayed for the long haul. Um, so I won local and

005then I moved on to state and because we're the only military affiliated Boys and Girls Club in Connecticut, I automatically won state. So that was $5,000 a $5,000 scholarship for college. And um that allowed me to move on to regionals, which was in New York City. It was my first time ever going to New York City, and it was in June. It was my birthday, too. Um, so I went there and we had to speak in front of judges. I had to have a three minute speech prepared. Um, I had to speak in front of judges and we also had an interview. So they asked us questions about how the Boys and Girls Club impacted our lives and what have we done to like impact other people's lives. Um, and so yeah, then we went

006to this beautiful place. They set it up. So, um, it was it's for wedding venues, but they used it for these of the year gala. And we went in and yeah, we saw it. It was really beautiful. And then we had the dinner and there was a lot of people there from like big companies. We actually had a bidding for the Boys and Girls Club of America so people could donate and then they said the winner and it was me and it was my birthday. So, it was really exciting. It was the best gift I could have got on my birthday. And then I moved on to Nationals. And Nationals was in Washington DC. I got to speak at a VIP event at the Pentagon in front of a lot of service members, men and

007women. And I also got a tour of the Pentagon. We were supposed to go to Arlington to lay Reese, but that wasn't we couldn't do that. and we had a lunch in the next day and that's when they said the winners. We also did the interviews at um the Pentagon. So, we had a lunch in which was the next day and although I didn't win national military youth of the year, it was still an honor to go and be there. And do you guys have any questions? [laughter] [laughter] >> How exciting. Yeah. >> And how honored. >> Oh. Oh, I didn't even say that part for the regional. Um, so the regional scholarship was $40,000 on top of the $5,000. So I have 45,000s from $45,000 from state to regional. And then at national, although

008we didn't win, um, sorry to say, someone passed away, but he donated $2,000 to each runner up. So in the end, I have $47,000 towards school. >> Congratulations. Thank you. [applause] WOW. >> Are you going to the University of Maryland? >> Hopefully. Well, I have a lot of schools. Um, that's the top two. So, Howard University and University of Maryland. >> Fantastic. >> Good luck. >> Thank you so much. And we are and thank you for making us grat and proud. >> Thank you. And we did just one we had a did a big every year we have a big volunteer breakfast the military superintendence leazison and and we were very happy last year that our keynote speaker was Karan and it was just it was it was really a delight to to see her

009shine and I I've seen her uh I know I know Joe said it before but th this is this is the this is the the real Quran because I know her and this is exactly who [laughter] she is and more than words. She's just a bundle of energy and and and good positive thoughts and she's contributed so much to our high school and I just want to thank you. Congratulations. >> Congratulations. [applause] >> And now our our our second presentation, we'll have a another treat. Uh maybe I'll introduce Mr. Chidley if if that would be appropriate and >> we we've got some uh students uh you are here representing the team now. >> Yes. Um I have been here before and it's good to see you all again and again I personally thank the board

010of education for the great support of the robotics team at Fitch High School, the aluminum falcons. I am that's almost all I'm going to say tonight. Uh we have definitely the largest team this year. Our success of the past couple years has uh h has made uh our inspiration going down to the uh uh the elementary school and the middle schools uh much more obvious and we have students that are looking forward to being on this team by the time they arrive at Fitch High School. So uh a lot are here but this is not even the whole team. So the all the black and silver and red shirts in the back. Uh this is maybe twothirds of all we have. Now we do have a full team meeting that is going to continue later

011tonight. So if you'll excuse right after our presentation, we're all going to mass leave all mass. But um uh to start with, we want to demonstrate the robot of last year which won three events in the New England district and went to the World Championships. [laughter] We'd like to drive it up, but it's getting old and cannot drive straight anymore. >> Yeah. >> Oh jeez. >> But this is Steven Cloudus uh operating. Wave, Stephen. Stephan, excuse me. He doesn't recognize that name. Stefan, wave briefly. He can't hear me. [snorts] >> [laughter] >> Now, I would take a long time if I were to explain the rules of this past season's game. It is one of the more complicated ones to uh explain. Uh so rather than talk about it, our uh students we got more

012demo. Is that >> Yes. >> Is that it or is there more demo? >> That's it. Okay. Yes. All right. So, uh, please welcome Anthony, Juliana, and Ingred who are going to tell you a bit more about this past season and our upcoming season. >> Okay, I'll start. I'm Juliana. I'm the mechanical assembly lead on the team. And >> hi, I'm Ingred. I'm on the marketing and media sub teams. >> You think we'd have this stuff down? That's Anthony. He's our marketing lead. >> Okay. >> Sorry about that. >> So, I'm here to tell you, give you a quick synopsis of our team and our 2018 season. We are Fitch High School's first robotics competition team. Uh first standing for for inspiration and recognition of science and technology. They are the nonprofit organization that hosts

013our competition and we are celebrating our 11th anniversary. Our mission is to grow the passion for STEM and first robotics and to help develop students for success. STEM standing for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. As many of you may know, first Robotics Competition, otherwise known as F FRC, is known as the high school varsity sport of the mind. We pursue our mission year round. Our challenge is revealed in the first Saturday of January, and we have six weeks to build, design, program, control, and learn to operate our robot. emphasis on that six weeks with March to July being our competition season. We are well recognized and respected team in first robotics with professional level mentors from EB, Fizer and Grant Utilities. Our team strives to impart STEM and life skills to elementary, middle and high

014school students. Aluminum Falcon students place into prestigious universities such as Clarkson, WPI, RPI, Yukon, Drexel, Brown, RIT, and the list goes on. And here's some photos from our 2017 pancake breakfast, which was during our preseason. I'm going to shamelessly plug our pancake breakfast this year, which is uh Saturday, December 1st, um in the cafeteria at Fitch from 8:00 a.m. to 11. if you're interested see me. >> So, um, this was our robot this year, as you saw. That's Bruh. So, there's Bruh. He's kind of cropped. Um, so the game this year was called First Power Up. It was video game themed, kind of like 8bit style. Um, so Bruh is about 120 pounds, has six wheels, two motors per side, and a two-speed transmission. There are there's a DOI driver station for real-time feedback and

015sensors, onboard compressor for pneumatics, multiple autonomous programs for situational match play, and spring assisted climbing and cube lift. So, basically, [clears throat] here's the rundown of the game. So, that's scale. See, like the kind of like seesaw thing. Um, they So, the robot manipulates those cubes you saw. They're actually milk crates like from school lunches. Um, so those are covered in those yellow coverings and we have to stack those on the scale and the switches. The switches are just lower versions of the scale. So you get points for every second your team has ownership of the scale or the switches depending on that. Um, there's also a power up system. So kind of like in video games how there's power-ups. We have boost, force, and levitate. um they just manipulate the point systems on the

016scales and the switches. So, and at the very end of the matches, we have to climb on a bar. The robot basically does a pull-up and it's and our robot is actually capable of lifting another robot about a foot into the air to score points at the end of the game. So, the first event we went to which was in district. We are part of the New England district was in Massachusetts. We actually won that event which is out of so out of around 40 50 teams we were the first alliance and we won the competition with our team friend team 88 and they're the host team that we won with the same competition with last year. So it was really great to win again with them. So now we're really close and it's awesome.

017So our team since we are such a big team at this point we go out of district. So we're in the New England district and we go to the MAR district for one for the next competition just for practice and we get more time to work on the robot outside of those six weeks that were already allotted. So one so we went to MAR and we won MAR what >> oh MAR is the Mid-Atlantic region so right below us. So MAR this year was in Pennsylvania. It was we don't take as many students since it's farther, but it's still a great practice and great experience and we won it. So, that was cool, too. Um, the third event [snorts] we go to was in Rhode Island. So, we actually didn't do as well in placement.

018So, there's a qualification period where you're randomly select, you're randomly paired with people and you have to the amount of matches you win ranks you. So, we were picked by one of the captain alliances and then we won with them. So, [laughter] um that was cool. We were actually really good friends with them now. They're they're a much younger team than us and so it was really great to help them um win and be awesome. All right. So after that, we had obviously enough um uh district points to get in to qualify for the district championships in Boston. So we didn't actually do that well at Boston um comparatively to how we had won the three events we'd already come from. So we were quarterfinalists. So we did well, we just didn't do as well.

019So it was kind of a shock cuz it was it was weird. Um, but since we had won those three other events, we had plenty of points to be qualified for World Championships. So, we went there. That was in Detroit this year for the first time. So, Worlds is um split up into six different divisions and we ended up qualifying 20th out of 68 teams in that um division, which is awesome because Worlds is like all the best robots. So, it was really cool to be there. We were quarterfinalists and yeah um at the Rhode Island event we won the innovation in controls award which basically means um the control system and how we operate our robot. It was the best at that event. So we're actually the team with the most innovation in controls

020awards in the world. I think we're tied up at the top. So that's really cool for us. Um so we strive each year to have better and better control systems. So because that's one of the things we specialize in as a team. So after Worlds, that's when our official competition season is over and we move on to the offseason. So we actually hosted Connecticut Championships. It's it's just an offseason event where we invite as many Connecticut teams as we'll come. And we hosted that and that was the first time we had hosted an event in since 2014. So that was really awesome for us. We were a finalist there. Semi- finalist, my bad. um that was really good for like outreach and helping other teams and lots of other things. So then we went to

021Battlecry at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. We were a semi- finalist there. That's a really fun competition because like we prank another team. It's awesome. Um then we go to IRI which is Indiana Robotics Invitational which is in Indiana. Um Indianapolis. So that's in the middle of the summer. We only take about 10 kids. It's really prestigious. It's one of like it's all the it's a lot of the best teams in the world. And we actually won that this year which was one of the most amazing experiences. I went it was like amazing cuz we we went with two of the best robots this year like in the world. We got picked by them as their third robot and it was just amazing cuz we already know one of them since they're in the NE district and

022it was just it was just the best thing ever. The last event we go to is Bash at the beach. That's a um that's in that was just in October like was that a week ago? >> Two weeks ago, whatever. Um so we actually won that. That was really fun. Uh a lot of the team we know most of the teams that go to that. So it's really good to like hang out with like friends we know from around Connecticut. >> Yeah. So this year um our success we a credit to our access to Pleasant Valley. So thank you so much. Um, the reasons that it was so beneficial to have Pleasant Valley is we have time flexibility because at Fish you have we had to leave at like 10:00 cuz the janitors kick us

023out even though we wanted to stay later. So this year we were allowed to stay as late as we can. We're trying not to stay that late anymore but um so we could also leave the field set up. I don't know if we're we're going to show videos later of how the field is set up. And so we could just leave that there instead of having to put it up, take it down, put it up, take it down in the main hallway, which we'd always struggled with before that. So then we could just practice whenever we felt like it. And it was really great for testing the robot. Um, we could also leave up our computers and we wouldn't have to worry about anything getting like deleted or anything happening to our tools and we

024could it was much safer because everything is like spread out because it's in the cafetorium. So, it's just like a giant space instead of a tiny little um essential like giant closet. So, that was really great and we really appreciate it. >> Okay. Okay. So, um, we do a lot of outreach with the robotics team. I'm taller than you. I have to change it. Um, one of these is the Grten Town fall festival, which is in the fall, you know, [laughter] um, at Picquonic Plains. We have a tent set up and we're there all day and we have a robotics our robot set up so children can go and interact and see the robot in action and parents can learn more. So we really try and get the younger generation more interested in robotics and

025in STEM. We also have the city day which is very similar which is uh >> it's at Washington Park um in the middle of the summer. It also has we have a tent set up and the kids come and sometimes we even let the kids operate the robot. They can move >> the little we have a little um >> just drive >> just a drivetrain. It's the bare bones bottom. It has some wheels and they can drive that around. So that's fun for them. We also go to the random hacks of kindness where some of our programmers go to teach kids how to program apps. just very basic programming and it also gets kids interested in programming which we have a programming team. Um in 2017 and this year we're going to the Crohn's and

026colitis walk which is uh this weekend the 27th [clears throat] uh I think we're going to have a a tent set up and we're also going to speak to families and children interested in robotics. We visit some of the Graten public schools uh like Kathern Kolnowski, Charles Barnum, and Northeast Academy. We have a couple tables set up. We teach kids about what the robotics team does and how fun it is. And then we show off our robots. So, one year we had a robot that shot frisbes and we would shoot the frisbees and the kids could go out and grab them. And then the next year we had a robot that shot little whiffle balls and the kids had fun with that too. So, um, and just this summer, we had aluminum falcon robotics camp,

027which is when we Anthony, you can. We had a bunch of little kids play with the Lego EV Mindstorms, which is like little Lego robots that they could program and build, and they had a lot of fun with that, too. It lasted a week. >> So, this is just some pictures from the events. This is Graten City Day. This is um, everyone who went to the fall festival. with our robot. Um, a big thank you to our faculty adviser, Mr. Chidley. Um, our lead mentors, Kevin Harowell and Josh Miller. Um, we have about 18 team mentors. So, I would like to thank each of them, not personally, but them as a group. Um, and all the parents and boosters that help make this possible. Also, our sponsors. >> You're right there. >> Yeah. >> Kind

028of propped. Yeah, you're you're right there. You can't really see you, but you're there. Thank [applause] you. [applause] >> You got it. >> So, we're gonna show a quick little video. Um, it has some of our matches, ones that we've won, and then some pictures from our outreach events. 3 2 1 we have another little at the end of the night. [music] >> I love you. That's what you say. They told me, "Baby, baby, please don't go away." But when I stay there, this is what I say. [music] >> [music] >> away, baby. Yeah. Well, let me let me [music] [music] eat it out of my hand. There's only one carrot and I got to share it. >> I love you. That's what you'll say. [music] Tell me, baby, baby, please don't go away. When

029I fly, [music] every girl that I meet, this is what I say. [music] >> [music] [music] >> YAY. [applause] >> If you wanted to, you could turn the lights back on, I think. Yeah, thank you. >> So, um yeah, [laughter] >> one more thing before we have to rush out. Um we do have an award or well a thank you plaque for you presented by all the students or the senior students on the team. >> A thank you >> to go get that Kim. [laughter] >> Oh, thank you so much. That's wonderful. >> That's fabulous. We'll put that up on the wall. >> Yes. Yeah. And it will go up in central office. >> Can we get a picture? >> Sure. >> Yes, we will send the Oh, picture. >> Yeah. Okay. >> In front

030of the whole board. Okay. Yeah. >> Oh, absolutely. >> Susan, get up. >> Can you stand behind us? >> Yes, you're allowed that. [laughter] These are all the seniors that are working hard on essays, finding a college. I'd >> love to know what they're doing. >> I know if they're sort of scrunching between us. >> Yeah, >> we're on wheels. >> Yeah, we're on wheels. >> We're almost robotic. [laughter] We're almost robotic. >> All right. >> One, two, three. >> Amen. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you guys. We are so so proud. >> Thank you. [applause] >> I just have one quick thing to say. I really love the phrase high school varsity sport of the mind. I think you should put that um in bigger letters someplace because I I I think that's

031wonderful. That's a that's a that's a first robotics competition phrase. So it's it's well received by all the First Robotics people. >> Right. Right. Wonderful. >> Y thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you guys so much. >> Once again, thank you for making us glad and proud. [applause] >> But I am going to um introduce our next section of our meeting which is the comments the comment se section. Um, and this is the agenda items and other subjects of concern that lie within the jurisdiction of the board of education. This is the portion of the agenda where the board welcomes comments from the citizens. Each presentation should be limited to 5 minutes or less and citizens should, if possible, submit written comments. Presentation should be related to matters pertinent to Graten. Board

032members will only ask questions in order to clarify the speaker's presentation and cannot respond during the comments from citizens portion of the board meeting. Citizens should make their presentation from the podium and state their name and addresses for the record. Um, and on our speaker list, I see that we have um, Mr. Chazuka. >> Chaz, >> I have a I Chaz, come on up. I have a I have a dental device in my in my mouth because if I didn't then people would see this big huge hole in the middle of my front. >> So, it's either you get to look at the ugly hole or you get to have meal. >> Well, that's a better pronunciation [laughter] than I've heard through my life. So, don't worry. Uh my name is Chazelker. I am from

033U 58 Magen Road in the uh Noank section of Graten. And for those of you who don't know me, I just want to share a couple of things with you to uh support the validity of the statement that I'm going to make. I I have the honor I've had the honor of serving on the Graten Town Council for 10 years and then I was on the RTM for four years where I u was the majority floor leader and then I was on this August body for 12 years uh uh working for our school system and I've also served on uh two charter revision commissions. So I'm sure some of you know of the writer Reid Kipling and or poet or writer and he and he has a poem called if and I just quote uh

034if you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you dot dot dot yours is the earth and everything that's in it unquote. So here are my five ifs for our community. If you live in the city of Graten's districts two or three, you should vote no on the charter revision uh changes that um I I've lost my place here already. The charter revision uh because you lose much of your representation by abolishing the RPM. If you believe the Graten public school system has been growing positively under the current governmental structure encompassing a nationally recognized high school, then you should vote no on the charter revisions. If you believe that our municipal and board of education budget budgets should be examined carefully line item by line item and

035not by just a gut feeling that they are too high or even too low, then you should vote no on the charter revisions. If you know that a toothless board of finance will be elected with no real power to vote on the budget and it is only advisory in nature, then you should vote no on the charter revision. And my last if, if you know that budget referendums will cost in excess of 22,000 each time they are held, that people requiring absentee ballots might not have a fair chance to vote again, and that some Connecticut towns have had to have three or more referendums to pass the budget, causing uncertainty, then you should vote no on the charter revisions. Just remember, a vote of no helps Graten grow. A vote of yes creates a mess.

036[laughter] Thank Thank you for giving me this opportunity. >> Thank you. >> Um Mr. Strider, >> I was able to say your name. Fine. >> Well, I'd like to see I'd like to see without without >> Yeah, I know you No, [laughter] you wouldn't. >> Thank you for having me. Uh my name is Jim Strereer. I live at 64 Pleasant Street in Groten. uh as a form of background uh for over 40 years I have been giving back to our community. Uh eight years I served on the town council, two of those as mayor. I've been serving on the RTM on and off for over 16 years. I served five years on the city council, two years as deputy mayor there. I've been on various committees, including several school committees over the past 10 to

03712 years, and I'm presently serving as the official town historian. Based on my involvement, I believe I have a a good knowledge of our governmental system and our budget [clears throat] process. On November 6, voters in the town of Grten will be voting on a referendum for proposed changes to our town charter. After personally reviewing these changes, it's my opinion if approved, these changes will be detrimental to our community and our local government. Unfortunately, the individuals in favor of this charter revision proposals believe that the changes to the charter is the magic pill that will lower their taxes without any impact on services that are provided by the town. They desire to do away with the RTM and replace it with a superficial board of finance which will have no authority. The charter changes will

038replace the RTM with a board of finance. The proposed changes will also provide a yearly referendum for voters to either vote yes or no on both the operations and educational budgets. Doing this will eliminate the checks and balances of the town government and take away the board of education's second bite of the apple should the council cut your budget. Let me give you an example of what could happen. The approved education budget in for 2019 was 76,648,239. The approved 2019 mill rate was 24.17. If the board of education budget stays status quo for next year's budget and those in favor if the referendum is passed if they have their way and vote against the board of education budget and request a 1 mil increase in our taxes, here's what will happen. you will have to

039cut $3.7 million from your budget. That will bring us back to the budget of year 2011. This does not take in consideration the 2,000 or $2 million loss from the state funding for each dollar that is cut below the minimum budget requirement. This could also result in an additional $7 million cut to the board of education budget. The average voter has no idea as to what is included in our budgets. Only the bottom line. That folks is not good government. Yes. To me, with this particular referendum coming up, the sky is falling with the proposed changes. And because of that, I am asking, better yet, I am pleading that every one of you on the board of education contact your friends, neighbors, teachers, and parents of children in our schools to not let our quality

040education suffer and to vote no to these proposed charter revisions. Thank you very much for your time. >> Thank you, Jerry. Thank you, Jim. That's what I have for a list um portion Porsche Bordalon 159 Chennas at Parkway. Uh for full disclosure, I am an RTM member uh representing district 2. And I just want to thank uh Mr. Strereer and Chaz for coming out uh today um in support of the vote no. Um I also agree and second pretty much everything that they have said that it will um this town. Unfortunately, I'm here on other business though. Um I have some other concerns. looking at the proposed CIPs that were presented um the the middle the two middle schools were the 110,000 I believe was proposed under the CIP for painting the exterior of the

041front of the buildings. Moving forward I hope that we are looking at our infrastructure and making sure that after 10 years such things wouldn't need that much repair in such a short time. Um I'm not sure the exact design of that front exterior or what I'm reading as the proposed um repair, but that seems to be a bit high um for um only after 10 years of um of building. Um my other concern still is the um at the high school the Prometheium boards. Once again, I'm speaking about it because I have not been updated if anything has been done or changed. When I spoke at your last meeting four weeks ago, there were uh six out of my son's uh classes when I went to open house did not have working Prometheium boards. I'm

042in full support of education. I'm in full support of technology, but I'm not in support of not putting the funding to maintain the structures in our district. Also, I see that the all these items are on the agenda. Speaking of the lead, once again, speaking about that no level of lead in any water should be acceptable. I spoke with some other districts um where where friends of mine live where they had the issue and I feel as if we should be presented with a map of each spot that's been tested. What was the outcome of the level and what is that allowable level number that you guys are getting from the state legisl? because in my opinion no no a level is allowable and that was what the dis their district went with. So I

043think in full disclosure we should know what faucets are spitting out allowable levels. I think that's fair for parents to know as well as the students. Looking at the ESPback scores recently I received those and um they're concerning. Unfortunately I can't see the elementary scores because I was looking at my son's on the middle school level. If you're not familiar, there's below the level uh working towards or whatever their wording is and you know meets or exceeds basically or there's meets and then maybe even exceeds. I don't have it in front of me. We were barely in the approaching level in some areas at at Westside. Very concerning. Um as a district we were a little bit higher but we weren't in that upper level of meeting. So my next question is what are we

044doing again as I'm advocating for support services in our district to make sure our children are college ready? I'm fully aware of the IB program up at Fitch High School and I'm all for accelerated education and college college readiness, but if the middle school level is not producing college level scores, I'm concerned about the progression of our district with all these accelerated classes. when I am also a graduate of Fitch and we had AP and did just fine. It's great to have accelerated programs, but you have to fund the lower level programs to make sure children are able to read and write at the level on grade level, not meeting, not not approaching grade level. So, I just encourage the district to to look into that and make sure that we are putting the money

045where where we think that we should be putting it in the appropriate areas. Back to the lead issue, the fieldhouse and the concession stand. Once again, I spoke at the last meeting and I have not been contacted as of yet as to any of the status of any of these >> just a minute left. >> Yep. Any of these um structures or any of these items. Um but uh it is very frustrating and concerning and according to some students at Fitch the Prometheium boards are still today not working. Thank you. >> Is there anyone else? All righty. Um Rita um Dr. Gir, could you um maybe find out from the high school how many Prometheian boards are working or not working? >> Sure. >> And what is going, you know, what is the plan to

046get them all up and running? >> Sure. >> Thank you, >> Katrina. >> Yes. >> Could you email me? Um you referenced other districts regarding no allowable lead level. Could you email me those districts and the contacts, the people you spoke to? Thanks. Also, >> I'm sorry. I can only ask. I'm not supposed to have a conversation. Also, um you mentioned the CIPs and I know those haven't been distributed to the public just yet. So, I'm wondering if perhaps if you have any other concerns, you could um write the questions up and send them to Sam and also save your >> I understand that. Yeah. >> Yeah. Um, also I think that there's a board of ed meeting with the RTM education subcommittee where we discuss the CIPs in particular. So I look forward to

047having that conversation at that meeting. And in the meantime, I'll um look forward to maybe you could see CC on those questions to Sam. Thank you. >> Any other any other comments? All right, moving on. Student reports. >> Hello, sir. >> Good evening. Good evening. Am I on? >> I think I'm on. I'm assuming I'm on. All right, here we go. So, updates from last meeting. Uh, Thursday, October 11th was parent teacher conferences. Uh, a parent had the option to go to any of their child's teacher they wanted to. They go to their room and sit down and have a quick conversation with their teacher. Uh, also last week was spirit week. It was my last spirit week at Fitch High School. Uh, it was a very good week. It ended with the pep rally

048where I'm glad to say the seniors won the class club for having the most students dress up throughout the week. Uh, but I was very disappointed because the sophomores beat us in the class tug of war at the pep rally. So, congratulations to them, but I'm still very disappointed. And this past Saturday was the marching band competition. It was their last big fundraiser before London. And also on the senior class, we are currently selling homecoming tickets and they are $25. Also, uh, we are going to be doing our annual butter braids fundraiser with a couple order forms. If you know anybody that would like to order them, please feel free to reach out to me. And I'll send it over to Addie about the juniors. >> Uh, so the juniors are going to sell fish

049sweatshirts until this Friday and I designed it. Just saying. So, if you want to buy if you want to buy it, that'd be cool. Um, we're also selling bells at upcoming uh Fitch home football games and we are selling chocolate um at the beginning of November. Uh sophomores are also selling chocolate during the end of October into the beginning of November and freshmen had their first class council meeting this past Wednesday. >> All right, student leadership uh student leadership is sponsoring an event. They are going to have a bus supply kids to go to the NFA the Fitch NFA football game at NFA. Uh the ticket is $5 to go and is being chaperon by Miss Korazaka and uh Miss Estreasia. So they are very excited. They're pumping it up. Also, uh the annual men's

050volleyball brawl uh tournament. There has not been a date yet set for that, but the girls powderpuff game has been scheduled for November 16th. Uh the homecoming dance is going to be this Saturday and it's um by the senior class as Dan mentioned. The theme is harvest moonlight. >> Yes. Okay. So that'll be fun. >> The ASVAP test will take place this Thursday. Uh students are asked to please sign up in the career center ASAP. Of course, uh the test needs to be ordered. Any student looking to attend the mil uh join the military is encouraged to take it. >> There will be a blood drive this coming Wednesday and it's put on by the kett so any student who's 17 or older can participate. >> FAFSA night will be held on Wednesday, October 24th.

051Uh this is where parents and uh their child can go uh get information about filling the FASA form. Uh it is by appointment and you sign up on the appointment uh via the Fitch website and they will tell you all the things you need to bring in order to help fill it out. >> Uh the quarter is going to close uh November 7th, so a bunch of students are going to be very quickly doing all the homework they missed. [laughter] Uh on November 9th, uh that is a Friday, uh it is the fourth annual Veterans Day lunchon. Uh this year they will be honoring Lance Corporal William Hart. You are asked to RSVP by calling Miss Hodgej at 8604497200 extension 117. Leave a message by November 6 to secure a seat. And the lunch times

052are 10:50 to 11:18, 11:18 to 11:46, and then 11:46 to 12:14, 12:14 to 12:42. Those are the four lunch ways. So it goes along with the students lunches. So there will be student volunteers there. Uh November 10th there is going to be the sixth annual music boosters craft and vendor fair where local artists and vendors can come and sell their uh supplies or art in the Fitch cafeteria from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. >> What was the date on that one? >> What the date? >> Uh Saturday, November 10th. And uh an update on athletics. Football is 4-2. Boys soccer is 661. Girls soccer is 1-1. Girls field hockey is 8-8. Uh girls volleyball is 9-7. Boys car cross country is 7-2 and they place third at the conference championships. And girls contra cross country

053is 4-5 and they finished ninth at the cross country championships. And also a congratulations to field hockey player Zoe Pur. She became the school's all-time leading scorer this week. So Well, >> yeah, >> that's it for us. >> I just wanted to weigh in Dan on on November 9th. Actually, Dan has been part of planning the ceremony. It'd be a very special Veterans Day. I was contacted last year about a member of the class of 1981, William Hart who joined the Marine Corps uh was subsequently uh stationed in in Beirut, Lebanon and there was a terrible terrorist attack as you might remember. It blew up the Marine barracks and Mr. Hart William Hart was killed. So the students have and we just found out I found out last year that he's a member of the

054class of of 81. He actually [clears throat] has some very good friends in the district. Uh Mr. Gaston uh who is a custodian at Northeast Academy was actually his best friend. It was just a kind of an interesting research that we did. And then Dan helped plan the ceremony and we had some students who who have researched the event, the 19 1983 Marine Corps barracks uh terrorist attack. And so we are going to honor Mi Mr. Hart who was member of the Marine Corps. Uh and we're going to try to get as many friends and relatives as possible. But I I think help me out Dan. 10:20. Uh well, I I'll get the details out and board notes it, but uh it'd be great if some board members couldn't come because this is really a

055special and we we've had a plaque that we're going to mount in the hallway where there's some other service members who who gave their lives while while serveing the military. But it' be a it'd be a really an interesting event. And then please stay for uh for a nice lunch at Falcon Cafe. >> Yes. Thanks. That's all I have. >> All right. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> All right. Let's move on to the superintendent's report. >> I I just wanted to uh assure uh members of the public that the work is continuing uh on the consolidated middle school. Uh Mr. Kilpatrick gave a report on Gratton 2020 overall. But we have been working actually Mr. Kilpatrick and I and the two middle school principles, we've been meeting regularly with with the architects. And so

056that that planning, the the design planning, very specific design planning has has been uh has been continuing and we we are on track. Uh and as as as far as everyone is concerned, we believe the new middle school will open in in in the fall of 2020. Um, the second thing is, uh, the board knows about this, but I don't think we've spoken publicly about the the last Department of Defense education activity grant that we received. So, I'm going to ask uh, Miss Austin to talk a little bit about the elementary and high school aspect and then I'll talk about the IB. So this is actually our fourth Department of Defense education activity. The first one we received when Mike and I first got here on technology. The next one was the million-doll literacy grant

057which we continue to do our work with teachers college at Columbia University. Um and then the third one was in mathematics and this is with STEM and science. So we're very excited about it. One of the overarching um pieces to the grant is to be able to have embedded coaching and professional development around the NGSS standard science standards. We've been working with the Dr. Rekenberg at crack and really she has been instrumental in bringing teachers together around the state even a couple of our own have worked with her to create this dynamic um curriculum. And so that will be part of the grant. A major part. Another major part is outdoor STEM. Um and we'll have after before and after school enrichment a summer program and that's really to facilitate at the early elementary level

058that real desire that you know excitement around the area of STEM and also um the idea of outdoors and all the things that we can do outdoors from the gardening and to you know rocketry. So we're very excited about that. And the third piece was actually Dr. Grineer's um idea. So I want him to be able to talk about the third idea which is um for the high school >> we we uh we proposed to institute the the career related program through the international balorate which would allow students uh not necessarily collegebound students uh to participate in in a really a terrific program in either engineering, nursing, business or culinary arts. And so we are training our teachers and we're going to we have to like all IB programs we have to apply. Um but

059we're pretty confident that we we'll be uh uh we'll be awarded uh recognition and then what will happen is students will be able to take a four course sequence and and then just two international baloria classes and get an IB engineering certificate uh an IB nursing business or culinary arts certificate. uh which would be a really a nice entree into the world of work or or or into colleges, technical schools if they choose. So uh we are very excited about that and uh we're we're just uh getting started. We're hiring a grant manager and we'll give updates as we we go go along. So that's that. And then the last thing is uh I know we we we sent the calendar as I hope we did uh we sent the the proposed calendar to the

060board. I >> hope we can spend two hours on this >> just just for the just for the information uh of the board and the public. Uh there is a regional calendar that put out by by learn and we have followed the regional calendar with just two exceptions. The first one is the the regional calendar has students starting school on the 28th of August. We are proposing certainly Miss Austin and I are proposing that there be three days of PD to begin with. So the students would actually begin on the 29th. So that's that's one deviation. And then the second one is uh this year and I think last year uh instead of having half day before Thanksgiving, we had the whole day off before Thanksgiving. Uh those are the only two changes. Uh so

061if we if we do that uh the school year would end on Friday the 12th of of June. uh and we would have five days I say with some trepidation uh five days be before uh before graduation but you know if we had to change graduation we'd have to we'd have to change it but uh so but it is the same regional calendar in other words regional PD days are the same April vacation is the same Christmas vacation winter vacation uh is is is the same uh so In every way, we would conform with all the other schools in southeastern Connecticut, uh, with the exception of starting students a day later by giving us the the, uh, three PD days and then, uh, Thanksgiving. So, we can I thought we I would just put that

062out there and then uh, next month vote on. >> Okay. Rita, um I remember last year we we received this and I made this suggestion since Labor Day is so early and it's even earlier next year that the students come back to school on the 3 and not go to school on just for two days and you start your the PD day. I believe we did it on a Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, >> right? >> And I would like to see that change again. And I think uh it was very positively received by teachers and parents and students to start the day after Labor Day. There are some times when Labor Day falls later in September, but since this is so early, September 2nd, I'm making the suggestion that you revise this and then revise the

063end of the school year again. And I know we we did this last year and it was a little different than the learn calendar, but I don't think it caused any problems. >> So So if we did that and I share your desire to start after everything, um it would mean that the the last day of school would be the 16th. >> Yes. >> Um and then maybe we would just make graduation the 26th. Or you could have graduation the 23rd or have it on a Monday rather than a Friday or >> Yeah. >> You know, as long as it I believe the community was that it's connected to a weekend. >> Yes. >> So whether it's a Friday or a Monday, people family would be coming in, >> right? >> Um so that it's

064my suggestion only because I know how well it was received this year. We received a lot of very positive comments about that not having the students start at the very end of August just for two days. >> Yep. >> One day. >> Gretchen, >> I I agree wholeheartedly with Rita. I think having the three-day weekend come up, it gets really Oops, sorry. A chance to have that long weekend with their kids before putting them in school. I always found as a parent it was difficult to get them in that day and a half before Labor Day and then three days off. And I think it's more consistent for the children. >> Yeah, >> I think I would be in favor of that. I I don't want the 26 as a graduation date. I wouldn't run

065the 22nd, >> right? Me, too. >> Um, which is a Monday. So, it's around a >> or even the Saturday morning. Some of the towns do Saturday morning. >> Well, Saturday doesn't help us in terms of the days. We We need to pick up because you would end on the 16th. So 17, 18, 19 would be snow days. >> The way his winters have been going, I I don't think >> I don't think three is sufficient. >> I think I think the 26 I I'd actually be pretty comfortable with eight days. >> We had eight days last year. Mhm. >> Um I just want you to know that if if God forbid there were more than those days, we cannot go into July. Um you know, so >> yeah, I I'm I'm with you. I

066I uh >> Well, would this be a way for us um to rethink like whether do our kids stay in school for Veterans Day and have ceremonies? I mean, that would be another way of adding a day. Um, I mean obviously I think election day we can't >> Well, we we could do election day if some of the polling places were moved, >> but I think that would take a longer effort than just the 20 19 2020 um calendar. >> So, >> yeah, you you you could you could do that. You you could certainly do uh there are school districts that uh have school that day >> on that day. Yeah. In the >> and Columbus Day. >> Well, indigenous people day. >> Day. >> Yeah, they could. Both of these are a little bit

067dicey because written into contracts, but we could work around that. >> I think Dan had a comment though if you're willing to recog. >> Yeah, I'm looking at the if I'm looking at the calendar right now. I know it's like this this year, but April break is during Good Friday this year. And I don't know if you could move April break to the previous week, that would get you a day right there. >> That's that's the problem with the regional calendar, >> right? >> That all the other school systems in southeastern Connecticut will have that particular week off bit because we we've all sort of agreed that the third week of April, but but you're right that that's a day. >> Yep. Um, is it my understanding that um the Connecticut um statutes now say

068that you don't have to have regional calendars? >> That's right. >> It's just it's expensive because you have to run the buses, >> right? >> We still have to get the kids to Ledger and all the special kids and >> so >> that that's a financial thing. >> And for for parents who teach in other districts, it's nice to have the same week off. >> I'm just saying that we're we're not no longer mandated. Not that all correct schools do that. We're not >> um I guess I wouldn't mind to have people kind of think about those two days, a veteran day. Yeah. >> And the Columbus Day and what what does that mean? >> Maybe bring it back to a CO >> and bring it back to the CO so that we can have

069like long thoughts about that. >> Okay. We're going to bring it back to the CO. So just write down your comment >> suggestion. >> Okay. If you can make a if you can make a note of that because we'll we'll bring it back to the committee the whole evening. >> Yeah. Once again, let's um make your um you know, write that down and and let's bring it down to a committee of the whole. >> All right. So, we are now on to Miss Susan Austin. We have discussed as a board at the CO the results of our ESBACK Smarter Balance Assessment um consortium assessment that's given to all students in the state of Connecticut grades three, four, five, and six, seven, eight. Um, but I wanted to give you kind of an overview of our

070results as a district and also that of the SAT because I know you're very interested in how did we do compared to Connecticut, how did we do compared to our local neighbors, how are we in our DUI and um as an alliance district now. And I thought this could set the stage prior to our principles coming out on November 13th for elementary um with their action plans because it's not just how did we do as a measure, but we actually drill down to each and every student to see how they did and how they actually met their their growth. Did they all grow? And that's what we want for our children to do. So um the principles will be elementary principles will come to the CO on the 13th of November and then the middle

071school will come with their action plans on the 19th. So we will drill down in the data. This is just going to give you kind of a broad perspective to take a look at and to share with the community. So in this first slide that I have you see the um blue represents Connecticut and the green represents Grten. the ELA is on the top and the math is on below. One of the interesting things that we noticed was that in the eighth grade um both in that grade level, the eighth grade from last year who are current ninth graders were above the state goal in both ELA and mathematics. It also happened in fourth grade and they were pretty neck and neck in fourth grade. In some cases, you'll see they'll um the state they'll

072outperform the state in ELA, but they do a little less um for math. So, it's not always that you see a cohort of a group of kids who outperform in both areas. So, that's we look at kind of the shape of the data and and how the kids um are performing in relationship to the state. Now, the next slide that I show you is about the cohort. It's a rough cohort. I've talked to you about how the state now really matches kid forkid and looks at their growth and we're kind of waiting for some of those results to come. Children have been able to receive their targets and parents have received information regarding ESBAC. So, um, if you look at the rough cohort, this group here in ELA where your eighth graders and you look

073at the stair steps, this is the kind of growth we'd like to see going through the middle school in, you know, all cases. And if I move this over just a little bit, the same things happened in mathematics as well. So, from the time they were sixth grade, seventh grade, eighth grade, they made growth. And that's what we want to see. It doesn't always happen that way in these rough cohorts. And I say rough because we do have transient children. We have military families that come and go. So it's it this is not an exact match, but we will be getting that kind of data to have a better look at that. And you just kind of look at the shape of the data. you see some in some cases in this group where you

074have um sixth grade and this has happened to us periodically um that sixth grade whether it's that transition year or whatnot both in ELA and math they did they went down so that is of a concern and we certainly um look at that we look at the individual students and that's where the um principles work with their data teams to create their improvement plans and their action plans Now this is the DUI resort results for ELA for ESPback. So if you notice um in this case that we outperformed all other um school districts in our DUR in um ELA. So you can you can see that with the results of 58% of our students meeting and exceeding the goal in mathematics. We were up at the top as well in our DUR. We actually came

075in second and someone came in right with us in second place. So um you know we are looking to really be competitive in our DUR. Those are other district reference groups that have similar economics, you know, similar um, you know, I guess um, >> socioeconomics. So, we're going to shift over. That's why I changed the color. So, we're going to shift over and look at SAT. Whoops. Um, and this SAT result for ELA shows that um, Graten is very competitive in our DUI. Um, they actually came in second in the DUR for the SAT results and we've noticed that our SAT averages have increased each year, too. We would like to say, and I know that um Matt Brown and Joe Ar have come to you with this, but we'd like to say that we're

076so starting to see some significant improvement in this area and we do know that by dropping the basic classes and expecting more rigor for all kids. I just did a walkthrough where I walked through honors classes and um I would say that um those classes mirror our community and kids are really doing quite well. So that has really helped support I think the growth here and in mathematics with our DUI. We actually were to you know were really um a leader in our DUI um and the results were um you know the first in the in the group as an alliance district. Now this isn't all the alliances. There are some alliance districts, there's a chart that kind of looks like this that's quite quite amazing. There were a couple smaller districts that outperformed us

077in the alliance, but these were ones that were more like ours. So, you can see we're in the red and the pink looking at the ELA and the mathematics. Um, and so again, very competitive as an alliance district. And then, um, local SATs. I know you're interested in communities that are our neighbors, so we wanted to take a look at those. Um, and you know, we're kind of neck andneck with Killingly. Um, we've outperformed places like um North Stonington and um I'm looking to see and Norwich Free Academy. So, um Oops. So, do you have some questions? >> I do. >> Susan, I would really like rather than these charts with the percentages, I'd like to see some of the the numerical scores, you know, out of 800, what what is the average? What are

078the students scoring? >> Yeah, I'm sorry. >> I think we did present that, right? But I meant for for the general population. I think more people are used to thinking of it as as being, you know, an 800. Um, are they scoring 540s or >> they're above the the state average >> and I'm I don't want to mess this up, but it was like 512 in mathematics >> 504. >> So, if you look at your SAT chart here, >> and it says the number of the percentage of students, right? >> That would be the percentage of students who scored at least 504 >> on the on the on the on the verbal portion. And um >> I think it was 512 on the math. >> It was higher in math. >> That's unusual. >> You

079know what? I I'll get that too. But yeah, that that's that's a probably we should have put at the bottom. We'll make that clear >> that what the what the so-called meeting the expectations >> and for the state. >> Yes. >> And so they are no longer um the essay is optional. Now the >> the spring one. Yes. No, it's not optional. The spring one is the one the state pays for >> as part of the statewide testing and it's only math and verbal. >> Right. But the I thought the essay was no longer they >> it's not mandatory. So they take it at other times that they can do it. >> They can do it. >> That's right. >> Right. >> And there are many schools now that are not even requiring the submission

080of the SAT and next. >> Yeah. Graduate schools are not even doing GREs anymore. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, um Thank you. >> One more thing. >> Oh, please. I'm sorry. Oh, yep. >> Um >> no, we have Let me just get this up. In collaboration with um Children First Graten, the town and the city of Graten, we are going to have our fourth annual healthy development summit on infant children and adolescent meth mental health. And we have a guest speaker um let me just see if I can pull this down a little bit. Janine Fitzgerald who is going to do a talk from cradle to career teaching children to cope. And then we will be having breakout groups so that parents can have focus groups, parents, educators, the community can have talks around what

081does it look like for preschoolers, elementary students all the way up through high school students. Um and so we're really looking forward to that. We'll be getting the word out. There's going to be a registration right on our new website and um we're hoping to have many people come out November 5th and um from 5:30 to about 7:30 and part of the presentation will be from this um Janine Fitzgerald and part will actually give us time like we did last year for safety and security to really have a two-way conversation with people in our community about helping our kids to cope. So >> once again, thank you so much for your leadership on these on these summits um and really kind of beginning to really kind of talk about the the issues around mental health

082and how they impact our families and our students and how it impacts our children's ability to be able to perform in schools. and beginning that conversation about how to what are the tools do our teachers, our administration, our district needs um in order to help move all kids forward. So, and we certainly do appreciate the support from our board of ed. This is not just a graten situation. This is a state and national um phenomena that we're all very concerned about. And um I just the alliance being part of the alliance districts, we are provided a lot of free professional development. So I took a core group of educators from around this district on um Friday to um building trauma sensitive schools and there were excellent guest speakers there um and the group met afterwards

083to talk about what are our next steps. So we really um are on to something there to help support our teachers, our families, our children better so in dealing with these things that they deal with. >> All right, moving on to business manager. How are you? >> How are you? >> Good. How was the vacation? >> Oh, it was great. >> Awesome. >> Could you show any slides from the >> I don't have any prepared. >> Do you have So this is attached. uh 101. >> Yes. >> So, our object code summary um through October 11th is showing that uh we are on target to to hit our budget. Um 43,142 is our current uh uh unexpended uh budget amount. >> WOW, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY. >> I was going to ask if I

084was reading that >> less than 0.1%. So we're we're really close. Um uh the main drivers on that number are u from a positive standpoint, uh replacing some retired teachers uh and uh reduction of one bus. Uh on the negative side, um uh the addition of the Apex software and uh our underbudget on propane and diesel fuel brought it down. So uh we're currently trending pretty close to budget. >> So you've accommodated all those unexpected deficits that we have. >> Yep. Yeah. Jay. >> Um, so with regard to the diesel and the the propane, is this the what you project will be over through the end of the year or is this okay? >> Yeah. Yeah. But based upon our uh the price that we locked in at anticipated use, >> it is okay. >>

085I thought the whole idea was this propane was going to save us money and I see we're already trending in the wrong direction. Well, uh I think uh we we didn't anticipate uh I didn't anticipate uh the additional school coming on the west side came on just this year. Uh and so that kind of threw things a little bit out of balance. >> All right. Any you want to move on to the Oh, Katrina. >> Um what is the our our site budgets are being funded 75% correct? Uh well, they're they're authorized to spend 75% of their site budget. >> Excuse my We're not >> we're not planning to touch the other 25. >> Okay. [clears throat] >> Planning. >> They're authorized to spend 75% of their site budget. >> That's right. >> What is

08625% of all the site budgets? >> Uh >> I know we had that number at some point and I'm sorry I can't remember what it is. Uh it is around I just had it this afternoon 1 1520. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Not a lot. >> Yeah. I was just seeing if there was >> way I don't know. >> Yeah. Okay. And do you want to go um through the insurance report? Do you have anything to add? >> Uh the insurance report that's attached to number four. >> Yeah. Mhm. >> Um so this one is it's through August. Uh and it shows that uh our total cost of million898695 in comparison to a budget for those two months of 2,61,000. So we were currently trending 8% below budget which is good. Uh to give a little

087perspective last year for those two months uh we were at 1,964. So we're we're trending a little bit lower than last year at this point. Uh but it they don't they don't move line linearly. So uh it's not necessarily going to continue in that fashion. >> Could you repeat that? The total cost last year at this time was 1 million9 something. >> 1 million 964 316 >> and that gave us an overage last year of of the is it the same amount? >> Uh the variance in other words. >> Yeah. Uh I don't have that. We we had a lower budget. Uh so we were actually trending um we were trending a little bit higher uh last year as a comparison of budget. >> Okay. >> Uh so we're we're in a little bit better

088shape, but at this point we're about 163,000 to the good >> to the good in in that account. >> That's right. >> Okay. So >> another rolling in the >> Please guide that. >> That's correct. All right. If I don't have any questions, let's move on to the director of buildings and ground. Hello, Sam. How are you? Very well, thank you. >> How's your vacation? I'm sorry. I just thought of that. [laughter] >> So, um the first thing that I'm going to report on is throughout 2020. As Dr. Grineer already reported, we've been meeting continuously with the architects on the middle school project. And uh our last meeting, it's getting down to details now. And our last meeting was actually on classroom layout. and uh that sort of thing. Um so that continues on and

089of course with the uh stalling of the elementary schools waiting for the referendum uh to come up. I believe it's December 11th, >> correct? >> Yes, >> 11th. um on the uh elementary schools as to and I don't exactly know what how they're going to phrase the question but uh basically it's a a question of whether uh the public wants to support the schools uh built as new which is less expensive or renovated as new which was in the original referendum which is more expensive. So, uh, we'll find that out when December that I hope. >> And by the way, that's on the agenda tonight. I have slightly different language than the town has asked me to make a motion. >> Okay. >> Um, the second item is the water test update. Um, I I

090went to the uh to the Department of Health on October 10th uh with the uh August and September results that I had received. uh and on that meeting uh some recommendations were made by uh the person that I met with at the state level. Uh for instance, the uh one item at Claude Chester School is the fountain that's in the back wing or the furthest wing in the building. uh that tested above the limits and it was secured or shut off uh previously and it has remained that way and her recommendation is to uh actually remove and replace that fountain and also the line that services it from the main line that's in that section of the building. So uh our cut our plumber will actually be working on that. Uh in addition to that

091at Fitch High School um there is a lavatory uh that has a sink with and that sink is not turned off. if it's for used for handwashing. So, there is a sign on that that states that it's uh not drinking water. And uh the second uh place uh was the uh concession stand uh uh which is the old fieldhouse. And um while the second test that came back on the fieldhouse were uh um below the um the action levels, um we decided not to turn that back on yet until we uh actually change uh some faucets in that area and some piping that is exposed to reduce it while it's below the level. We want to reduce it as much as we possibly can in that area. So we're going to do both of those.

092the concession stand, uh the uh fieldhouse and the laboratory um in the 2800's wing. Um and then once those things are done, then we'll uh retest and get back to the uh state uh and uh get uh her her reflections on that. Uh the third item is the indoor air quality issues at Northeast Academy. As you know, um [snorts] it was reported that we had mold in in the building. Uh we've had uh I actually met with um Legislate Health District on the 12th of October with regard to the lead uh in the water issue and while I was there, we also spoke about the Northeast Academy is uh issue. Um and at that time uh I I briefed her on uh the steps that we were taking with regard to hiring a uh engineering

093firm to look at the HVAC system and of course uh um Mystic Air Quality to do any uh air testing that may be necessary as we move forward with this process. Um the person at Ledge Light was u um as as a matter of fact I I met with her again this morning because uh a letter went out on Friday I believe to the parents at Northeast Academy and I had hoped to see her before that letter went out to see if um she had any comments to make with regard to that letter, but she was busy that day. though. Uh we we met this morning and uh she thought that uh um that the uh results of the test that Mr. Gair had done were captured in that letter that went out to the

094parents. Um she also uh indicated to me that uh she's had a couple of phone calls from concerned parents from uh from Northeast Academy that she was going to have returned calls um she was going to return calls to them in the near future. Um, I am presently waiting for a proposal from Fuss and O'Neal uh engineering firm in Manchester uh to determine uh uh what they want to do with the uh HVAC system. They're also going to look at structural issues uh and also look at the site meaning looking at uh the topography and how that uh um flows. Most everybody's been to Northeast Academy, so that flows downhill to uh where the school is. And they're going to make some determinations uh as to what we might need uh with regard to uh

095additional uh drainage perhaps with the HVAC system. Again, um it it's too too early to say, but um that HVAC system is not taking that the the biggest concern is the humidity in the building. Um, mold can't grow uh in less than 60% humidity, but we've had humidities uh quite a bit higher than that. And the HVAC system uh does not take the humidity out of the building at a rate that is uh acceptable to uh accept acceptable to any of us. So, they're going to be looking at what we might be able to do with regard to that. Um in addition to that, I've had meetings with the custodial staff. Uh they've done some cleaning um in Mystic Air's uh Mystic Air Qualities report. They've made recommendations with regard to cleaning a particular room

096in the uh storage room in a library. Uh our custodial staff uh did that uh following uh EPA um recommendations. Uh in addition to that, the HEPAC that which is a very fine filter system uh so that we don't spread the mold spores around. So, um, also, uh, in working with the the the cleaning staff is really the nighttime staff in in the schools, and I I met with that custodial staff at Northeast Academy and, uh, ask them to um, call me directly um, if they find any conditions that they think might be mold. Um and so um uh they they uh they they weren't really um they were a little surprised by that. So they asked the custodial supervisor, "Is he serious? Does he really want us to call him?" And uh the custodial

097supervisor said, "Yeah, if he if he told you to call him, he means to call him, whether it's at 6:00 or 10:00 because I want to uh if if we find any more u mold, uh we want to uh I'd like to observe it personally and also take photographs of it as as we find it. Uh and then we can clean it, which is uh the recommendation of the EPA." >> And are there any questions? >> Um Jay, the question So, I know we discussed at the last I believe it was the full board of ed meeting about the um our disappointment with the way that Northeast Academy and uh Konki were designed and built that was alluded to earlier in the evening. uh echoed our concerns from the last meeting about as beautiful as

098they are that that decorative wood uh is going to yield a $110,000 uh refer job after 10 years. And I know you said you were going to talk to the um architects to make sure that that sort of thing doesn't occur in the future, that we're building buildings that are sustainable, but and not just an architect's dream that then we get saddled with the um the cost later. Um so I I hope that they're going to keep that in mind as we're, you know, I know they're they're coming to a close pretty soon on the middle school. Um, in terms of NEA, the air quality, as we sit in a room here, which is relatively new compared to the town hall at the bottom of the hill, we have an industrial strength dehumidifier because this

099room every summer becomes unbearably uh uh moist uh yielding uh at least mildew, if not mold. Um, and this this building has not been uh repaired even though this has been going on for many years. But at this point, I guess I don't understand in in with all the technology we have, why we can't have sensors determine where the, you know, which rooms are the worst and why we can't at least put auxiliary uh dehumidifier such as this one. Um, I realize the whole system needs to be checked, but when we look at the results from Mystic Air Quality, we realize that there are pockets that are above limit. And so, couldn't we address that with >> that may be a solution, >> individual units to take care of it, >> right? >> That's one

100of the things the engineers looking into. We actually have uh Jamie [snorts] Anderson is our HVAC person and he actually has reports that he's put together for the engineers to take a look at and it will tell them what the uh humidity levels uh are on the return side of the system. Um air conditioning actually doesn't take humidity out of the air. It's kind of a byproduct of of air conditioning, but it's not really designed to do that. So, >> right. But the fact that you've got systems which are covering large portions of the building and yet you have inconsistent readings within there indicate that we we we must need some some boosting until we find >> we actually put a um dehumidifier in one of the classrooms at Northeast Academy and even with that

101dehumidifier which is emptied uh every morning I believe um it we've still had uh uh humidity levels in that classroom of up to 88% I think was the highest that I saw um with the dehumidifier running. So >> And so you believe that that this is because of the way that the the drainage is. So is there something that's opened up in the foundation? I mean is this been a problem since day one because the building isn't brand new? >> No, I'm I'm I'm told that this has been going on since the building was opened. question. >> I was also going to suggest dehumidifiers. I know we just live up the street and this is the bane of living in coastal New England. You are going to have humidity. That's something we have to take

102into consideration. Even in this room, I can't breathe. Um, so humidifiers also have little dial like ours is set so if it comes over 48% ours kicks off. >> Yep. Thank you. >> You can have them dump it right out the window. Thank you. Um I Rita No, go ahead. No, please. >> We have feedback on our microphones. I am wondering >> Yeah. Is there can fix that? >> Thank you. Um my concern, and I've gotten this from quite a few people, is whether or not there's any black mold. When you find the molds, I guess there are different types of molds. [snorts] >> So, is there black mold? Uh the report from Mystic Air specifically stated that no black mold or toxic mold was found in any of the samples that were taken. >>

103Okay. And is it possible to go back to the original architectural drawings when that school because there are the same drawings as Katherine Konasi but Kathern Konaski is not having these issues. So basically it's more the topography of the land. >> Wow. >> And >> that's a suspicion, >> right? I mean when Freeman Hathway was there and my children went there, it was the same thing. And the fact that the architects didn't take into account that when they built that put in a basement or put in a 4ft [snorts] crawl space because it's on a slab. Is that correct? >> That's correct. >> Yeah. So it really goes back to the original drawings and the way this was built. Yeah. So that's that's exactly what the engineering firm Boston will be looking at. They can

104determination exactly what's going on there. >> Yeah. And it's it's really such a shame because they knew that from the beginning. I mean the playground always had water on when my children were there. I mean it's just been >> Well, the playgrounds now don't drain either. >> They what? >> The playgrounds uh behind that school don't drain very well now. >> No. Yeah. We we added a couple of uh swing set a couple of swings to the early childhood playground last year or the year before and the we we couldn't get our bobcat in there. It was so wet we couldn't uh couldn't finish job as timely as we would have liked to because it was too wet and too muddy. >> But I'm all for having the um dehumidifiers put in place as soon

105as possible just as you know at least like a band-aid. Yeah, it it may um it may come to dev adding some sort of dehumidification to the system >> to the whole system. >> Again, that'll be >> sort of an industrial one that certain building. >> Thank you. >> I I appreciate um how responsive you and your team has been. um that this is not a situation that obviously has happened for a long time and that um you have been able to respond very quickly um once it was um once it was brought to your attention. So, thank you very much to your team and I know that this is going to be an ongoing kind of like the lead testing. This is going to be an ongoing um thing and it's too sad really

106sad that you know it's a 10-year-old building and and we're dealing with this. Uh, one of one of the good things is um that the time of year now will actually bring the humidity down because the heat is on in the evenings uh in the in the daytimes and so we've had humidity levels down I've seen all the way down to 32% which might be a little too dry for some of us. Um but uh so it's drive the heat is driving the humidity down. >> Okay. Okay. And the building, right? [snorts] >> Um the drainage from the roof when it does it come down and the gutter just ends at the end of the building keeping you >> No, they're under No, they're underground drainage system. >> How far they run from the building?

107>> They run out from the back of the property beyond the >> So >> that was checked. That was one of the first things that we checked um um when we when we started looking at uh in more depth at this uh at this issue. >> Okay. >> We were actually we had we had techs up on the roof in the in the heavy rainstorms making sure that the drains were draining and then checking to make sure they were working properly. >> It solved the problem at our house. So >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Anything else? >> Next challenge. >> Thank you. >> All right. So, we're now on to committee um reports. Lee for policy. So, policy uh continues to meet. We will be talking today about first readings um today. And I

108think that we have someone who's going to talk to us about that. >> Yes. Thank you for waiting, Denise. I appreciate that. >> Um and curriculum, >> no reports. Um finance and facility. >> We haven't met since the last meeting. >> Okay. Awesome. >> So, yeah. >> Okay. But both you'll be meeting soon. >> Yes. >> Awesome. Um, uh, learn. >> Yes, we had a meeting last Thursday. I have another one on Friday. Um, we had a a presentation from the learn director of the office of innovation and development. This is Jack Cross. He was a former superintendent at Clinton. And um our focus is on the Ocean Avenue Learning Academy which will offer districts a school for students with highly complex needs as well as a diagnosis and wellness center. Um there's been some

109asbestous found. So things have been pushed back a little bit. We're hoping maybe the end of November, beginning of December it'll it'll open because there was such a need for it, a waiting list and um it it couldn't happen sooner. Um, there are some new partnerships that learn has with the National Coastg Guard Academy Museum, the new one that hopefully will be built, their educational programming, the Vera International Academy partnership with China. Um, they're focusing quite a bit on regionalism and we had a the beginnings of a regional transport transportation study. Unfortunately, Graten, we have a five five-year contract, so with our bus company, so we wouldn't be part of the initial phases, but hopefully something will happen at least for special education. That's it. Thank you. Um, and we um I was not at

110the board of ed town council RTM leazison meeting. Jay, were you there? No. >> I was there. Lee, were you there? Um I I don't really Somebody took >> notes. I know we had minutes. Okay. >> But no, it it was good. We didn't have anybody from city. >> Okay. >> Um so I'll see if I can get somebody at city to come and visit our meetings. >> Okay. And our next one is November the 1st. >> Seventh, I think it is. Okay. Um Trails and Leazison. >> Um Trails I haven't been able to catch up with them again, but I will eventually. >> Okay. and graten scholarship >> and scholarship is always always looking for donations and new scholarships. >> Okay. Um and that we're also in the in the uh still in the

111process of doing the teachers negotiations with negotiation committee. >> Um and so I'm now going to move on to action items. Um this is the consent agenda and I'll entertain a motion for the acceptance of the consent agenda. >> So move. >> Can I have a second? >> Second. Okay. Any discussion? All those in favor, please say I. I. >> Oppose. Abstain. Motion has carried. Um the the school board would like to say thank you to Applebee's restaurant um for the $415 donation to the Garten Public Schools for school supplies. And also um a big thank you to the Mystic Woman's Club who made a donation of $500 to the food service department. Um and now we're going to move on to new business. Um, Rosemary, would you be willing to read the motion for

112number one, please? >> I'd be delighted. The motion is to approve as first reading of policy P 6172.3, preschool special education. >> Can I have a second, please? >> Second. >> Can we have discussion? And welcome. How are you? >> Good evening. Thank you. I'm fine. Thank you. So this um policy that we have in front of us um I'm assuming since you have now sat in front of a microphone that you are going to describe and um discuss for us this new policy. >> Sure. >> I'm just making the leap. So uh [snorts] the um special education preschool uh policy is a new policy that we have not had in the past. So that's why you don't see anything crossed out. Uh this is a policy that outlines our um procedures regarding our preschool

113students with special needs who are referred to the district through either birth to three or through parents or daycare programs in the local community. The program the policy also addresses the district's responsibility under child find. Childf find is included in federal law of IDEIDA and it requires districts to locate, evaluate and identify any students in their district who may have a disability and require special education services. Our district um carries out or implements child find for our preschool children with our early childhood assessment team. Um, it's a pretty dynamic team of a full-time speech and language pathologist and a full-time specialed teacher who actually used to both work for Birth to Three. And they work very closely with our birth to three liaison as well as local daycare centers, nursery schools, and parents to offer

114free screenings to children who may be at risk developmentally. And then obviously an individual evaluation if they feel the child u may have a disability. They also um coordinate the child's enrollment in a preschool program if the child qualifies. They hold the planning and placement team meeting at the receiving school. They conduct visits. Um, parents get to meet the new teacher and they walk the parent through all aspects of the IEP, which is really beneficial because this is the parents first opportunity or first chance working with the school district and learning about the individual education plan and the process to develop it. So, it's a very collaborative approach and they do a really nice job. Our preschool programs, as many of you know, um have a 50-50 ratio of non-disabled peers or typical peer role

115models and students with special needs. And we do um implement all eight steps in the policy related to developing the IEP, uh organizing transportation, maintaining records, um fi filing state reports, and ensuring a smooth transition from the community programs or the home program to the school program. And while we usually have um regulations, we actually added an addendum of a brochure that goes out on child fine that really specifies the details of how this all works and that >> I'm not sure that you said this one one second, Gretchen. Um and then after um is that um was this is this just required through the state for us to have a policy and procedure? Why? >> Yeah, it's recommended by CABE. >> Okay. Yeah. Just just want to make sure that we know why we're

116doing it. Gretchen. >> Okay. I think this is marvelous and one of the most important things our schools can do is reach our youngest members. My cons question is how do we support the typical peers if you have one that's in there that probably is is above level in reading and writing. Are they going to be given what they need as well through this program? >> Okay. So I'm going to stop the conversation in that this is we're here really kind of talking about the policy not necessarily how we do the program. >> I was just trying to figure out what reverse mainstream role [snorts] model. >> We could bring this back to us for detail. >> Right. >> I would also just like you know this this thing that you see here is a

117free try try whatever it's called and Denise you came up with that. This is and it's everywhere. Right. Right. >> Yes. We that's our child find brochure that advertises the services that the district provides and we do ask local pediatricians, the public library, um places in the community where parents are likely to see the brochure. We have them posted in all of our schools and the foyers so that parents are aware of how to access the services. Any other questions or discussion about the policy? hearing them. All those in favor of the first reading of policy P6172-3 preschool special education, please say I. >> I oppose. >> Abstain. Motion has carried. Lee, would you be please be willing to read the motion? >> If I can find it. Yes. >> The motion. >> Discussion and

118possible action regarding the first reading of policy P5125.11 health medical records. Attachment 8. >> Motion. >> The motion to approve of a first reading. >> Thank you. Can I have a second? >> Second. Katrina has second it. >> All right. Are you here for this as well? I am. >> Aren't we lucky? >> I am. >> So, um, I coordinate the nursing services with the VNA and our school nursing supervisor, Leah Hendricks. Um and this policy indicates that we comply with the HIPPO requirements that govern the uh privacy and protected health information in children's u health records. The policy also addresses the educational records and that act is governed by FURPA. And in the pupil personnel office, we have the official copy of children's records who have a disability either through special education or section

119504. And this policy indicates that those records are confidential and they are protected under FURPA. So those records are only released with written consent from the parent. Uh the last paragraph of the policy indicates that uh the district um seeks uh reimbursement through Medicaid for students who are eligible. Um, and what that means is that students who receive um a service through their IEP or 504 plan that's deemed medically related, that includes counseling, social skills, speech and language therapy, OT, PT, and transportation, special transportation, are eligible to have those services reimbursed through federal Medicaid program. And we work with a vendor uh who provides a software program that the teachers who teach those subjects OT, PT, speech, school psychologists and social workers and transportation. They submit or they log those services in the program or

120the portal and our vendor works with the Department of Social Services for the district to receive reimbursement for those services. and th that reimbursement is included annually in our budget under revenue generated for the town. Um participation in the Medicaid program used to be voluntary for districts. This is the first year that it's required for every district. and policy indicates that we cooperate and we um we we work uh collaboratively to be sure that the students medical records are protected by HIPPA and FURPA with our vendor whose comp you claim. >> Any other comments? >> I just have a quick one. Um at the learn board meeting we just approved a policy the student records confidential policy and it prompted a discussion that um the records follow the students. So anybody that's enrolled in a

121learn program then the the all the records go back to the district. Are those the records that are kept for 50 years? I mean is there isn't there a time period that we have to keep these records for 50 years? There's a there's a document in the Library of Congress that specifies for different types of records how long they're required to be retained. Um the medical records through Medicaid are required to be retained for six years. >> Okay. >> The special education records are required to be maintained for six years after the student turns 21 or graduates with a high school diploma. So we have a process that we go through annually to, >> you know, collect the records of the students who have left us within that time period. We post an ad in

122the newspaper so that parents can come in and claim the record if they'd like before they're destroyed. >> Okay. >> Um but our records are six years after the child turns 21 or graduates. >> Thank you. That's a great question. Thank you. Just for clarification, so the 50 year time period is is waved as gone. >> I think that refers to transcripts and general education, >> especially transcripts. >> This is special ed records. >> Yeah, >> transcripts are retained for quite a long time. >> Yeah, I think it's [clears throat] 50 years. >> I think so, too. >> Fitch Middle had huge [laughter] boxes, right? >> Tones. Okay. Any more discussion on this policy? Hearing none. Um, all those in favor of the approved meeting of the first reading of policy P5125- on health and

123medical records, please say I. >> I oppose. Same. Motion has carried. >> Thank you, Jen. >> Thank you. >> Good to see you. Good to see you. >> Is this different than the one that came out? All right. Vita, >> would you be willing to read the motion for number four? Yes. >> To approve the appointment of committees. >> Oh, wait a second. >> Oh, you know what? Excuse me. >> I need a number. >> Excuse me. It is slightly different. >> Okay. I need number three. >> We made one little mistake. >> So, this one doesn't count in this. >> So, the so the maybe finish. That one doesn't count. >> Number three. The motion is to approve the 2019 board meeting schedule. >> Can I have a second, please? >> Second. >> I

124got Gretchen. >> Discussion, please. the the one the one issue that Joan and I found today was uh October the the uh the first CO meeting needs to be October 15th because the 14th uh is in fact Columbus Day. Uh other than that it's the exact same one. And so as you you can sort of uh walk your way through this essentially it's the same same format like in December we have a first CO meeting and then we move the the the board meeting itself to the third uh third Monday so as to avoid Christmas >> if you wanted to also I think sometimes we have the learn meeting is the second Thursday of the month. Sometimes we put that on here because underneath we're for information. >> Whoa. Whoa. Okay. >> If you wanted

125to add that. It's always the second Thursday of the month. >> The learn board. >> Mhm. >> Learn board. Second Thursday. >> Yep. >> Of the month. Okay. >> And also Lee, can I just do one more description? So Lee brought to my attention um just make sure that we're not confused um the second and third Mondays of the month there is a five o'clock um or could be the five:00 meetings for either the finance and facility and and curriculum and student data and that's noted for information purposes. But what's up top is is that this is part of our discussion that we had was that we have two committee of the whole meetings. We're trying to kind of keep information like for curriculum and school data in one and then finance and facilities in

126the other so that we're not cross referencing. So that's just um just so that we're not going back to the old pilot um that we're staying with um our current format. Katrina, >> we can go to learn meetings anytime we want. Is that why you're putting them on here? >> Pardon me. You wanted to note learn board meetings. >> Yeah. Just like >> does that mean we can go to those >> the graten scholarship fund the town and city council? >> Yes. >> Does that mean that we >> it's a public >> can look and can go to the learn book board meetings. Is that why you want it on here or is it just >> um Yes, you you could go. Okay. I was just curious why the point of putting it here was

127if we >> but we can go if you want. Well, just like the Graten scholarship fund, we have one representative that attends that. Anybody could go to it. >> Okay. >> Any other further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor of the board of education scheduled meetings for 2019, please say I. >> I oppose. >> Abstain. Motion has carried. >> Could I explain this year's schedule? We have a little problem. and and if I could explain it now, you'll see exactly how I made the mistake. >> Okay. >> If you look at this year's schedule, 2018, you'll you'll notice that in December, it says December 10th, CO canled. The the problem is we meant to say December 10th, 10 spaces over CO, which is exactly what we did for next year. You see that? >>

128Yes. Say that again. >> So Joan and I were racking our minds today to figure out why the heck did we cancel the December 10th meeting? Because we didn't mean to. So what I'd like to propose when we get to the future meeting in business is that we in fact have a CO meeting. It would be a special one now on December 10th. We move as as is stated that December 17th will be the board meeting which we'll have here. Um and so if you just sort of scrunched that CO canceled over, you'd you'd see the mistake I made. So basically as always in December the board of education would have two meetings, right? Yeah. Not >> one CO and then board meeting. Yeah, >> that's right. >> So I I just I thought it'd

129be helpful to explain that took us about a half hour to figure out what the heck we did. >> So when we get when we get there, maybe we could vote to have that meeting. >> Mhm. >> Does it have to be a special meeting? >> Well, it just has to I think we just have to note it as a special meeting. We don't have to vote on it. It could just It just says December 10th special meeting. >> We'll do it. We'll do it. We'll We'll >> Where will that be? >> It would be in December 10th room 11 >> in the gallery. >> Central office gallery. >> Katrina, would you be willing to read number four? >> Thank you. Um here Mike to make a motion to approve the appointment of committees to

130name the new middle school to select the themes of the new elementary schools and to develop a collaboration plan with the Gruntton Public Library. Could I have a second? >> Second. >> So this was this came out of our retreat um of the development of these committees. there not to be a of one committee that's going to do all th those three things. Um and we pushed I got I got you Katrina. Um >> um and we um and we did state a couple names, but we wanted to just kind of make sure that people knew that we were doing this. Um we're moving and we're moving forward. Katrina, >> I guess I have a problem with how this is worded. I feel like it should be three separate motions. So should I amend can

131I make an amendment to make it into three separate motions? >> Absolutely. Unless there's a reason it was written this way that I can understand. >> Um I I think it was just a matter of saving space would be my guess. >> Okay. >> So, absolutely. >> Okay. So, I'd like to make a motion to consider each of these >> separately >> topics >> separately. >> So, Mr. So, how would we do this? Because it's a totally different motion and we would have to then have to create >> withdraw this current motion. >> All right. I'd like to make a motion to withdraw the current motion that I just made. >> Okay. >> And now, can we vote on the withdrawal of the motion that's on the floor? >> Yes. >> All those in favor,

132please say I. >> Oppose. Abstain. Motion is carried. >> Did Katrina need a second? >> She already had the second. She had Katrina. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. >> So, >> Katrina had question. >> If you like, I could say the first new motion, Joan, >> is going to be discussion, possible action regarding the appointment of a committee to name the new middle school. >> Can I have a second on that? >> Second. Could I have any discussion? Was that appropriate making the motion? >> Yeah. Oh, okay. Yeah, >> absolutely. Okay. >> Um, all those in favor, please say I. I >> oppose abstain. Motion has carried. >> So >> we want to state some names for that. >> Um >> we're talking about the naming >> naming um in terms of people to go to that.

133Do we need to put the people? I don't think we need to put the we're just establishing the committee and we're going to find the people >> populated. Right. Um, >> so the second motion >> was is to develop a um >> discussion possible action blah blah blah >> to select the themes of a new of the new elementary school. Can I have a second to that? Rosemary. >> I saw her first. Any discussion? All those in favor, please say I. I. >> Oppose. Abstain. >> Can I We need to change the wording on that. It's not to select the themes. It's to create a committee to select the themes. >> Yeah, I think he said blah blah. >> I mean, >> well, I know that was the intention. I just [clears throat] didn't hear

134committee. >> Sorry, that wasn't the [laughter] best articulate. >> Sorry. I know there are people that like things done correctly. I >> them. >> All right. So, that motion has carried. Okay. So the third motion is to approve the appointment of a committee to develop a collaborative plan with the Grten Public Library. >> There's a name for it to look into what's the name of it, Jay? The one card system. >> I I think it's how to do the collaborative. And I think it's part of that collaborative is that you're going to that that they're going to do that because if we just say that then that's all that they're going to be able to do. >> We we get some other people who want >> Okay. But yes, that's absolutely could be one part

135of that. All right. And second. Thank you, J. Any discussion? >> All those in favor of the motion that's on the floor to approve a committee to um develop a collaborative relationship or plan with the Graten Public Library, please say I. I. >> Opposed? Abstain. Motion has carried. All right. Um, did you pass them on that side too? >> All right. Is it different than what's in here? >> Yes. Because I think I think he had a conversation with um so I'm actually going to um I'm going to read the motion. >> Okay. >> Um and then Dr. Granero. Um after it's get second, then we'll have discussion about why the motion looks different than the one that's in the packet. Okay. So, the motion is resolved that the board of education of the town

136of Graten approved the following project. Design and construction of a new approximately 155,000 square foot consolidated middle school to be situated on the town owned merit site known as a former Merit farm. Um, and it has the pin number and I will I will mess that up, but that's on it's in the written form between Elgrasso Technical High School and Robert E. Fitch High School and replacement of the existing Carl C. Cutler Middle School at 160 Fishtown Road and the existing Westside Middle School at 250 Bneegy Avenue with two new preK through grade 5 elementary schools each of approximately 75,000 square ft. Can I have a second? >> Second discussion, please. in order for the town the to put forward a referendum which is going to be scheduled if it goes through on December 11th.

137the the original language that was that the voters voted on in December of 2016 was to renovate the elementary school and the bond council insisted that this be the language that the voters would approve uh the big words here are uh new uh to new prek through grade five. Uh this this exact motion is going to go if it's approved to the town council tomorrow night. Town council is going to uh take action on it. It will then go to the RTM and then off to essentially to a referendum on uh December 11th where uh where the voters would be asked if if the motion fails. Well, if the referendum fails, uh the schools would still be built. Uh it's it's just that they would be renovated as new. And as the board knows, uh

138the most cost effective solution, which gives us the greatest value, uh is to build new schools. But that's not what the voters voted on in in November nearly two years ago. So th this is the language that the town council has requested and the bond council has insisted on. >> Katrina, >> I and Dr. Grineer, I'd like you to for the public state the reimbursement rates and why now it is um a better reimbursement rate to build new which was before it was the opposite. So now I think Lee for Carl Cutler the school on that property would be 80%. >> Yeah. The reimbursement rate remains the same 80%. >> But for the second school >> for for the second school the reimbursement rate is is actually uh 10% less. It's actually 47%. It's not

139the reimbursement. >> I thought it was 57. >> It's 57 if you renovate, 47 if you build new. But when the architects did the estimate, we they realized that because we could build it a year earlier, that that in itself would would save $2.5 million. Uh and then when we looked at the details, when the architects looked at the details of the Westside site, uh we realized there were some structural problems that they were going to have to work around because to to convert a a middle school into an elementary school, some of the classrooms have bathrooms and so forth. Uh it really proved to be quite expensive to do it that way. So even though we're getting technically the town would be getting less of a reimbursement rate, the total cost to the town

140for that project would be less. >> Hence, it's more cost effective. >> And wasn't there a number associated with this referendum? >> Yes. >> And and that did doesn't need to be put on here. >> No. The the $184,500,000 that's already approved that that we are actually In fact, on Wednesday, uh, Mr. Kilpatrick and I are going to Hartford because we're going to we're going to file under the new system starting to draw down on that that money has essentially been deposited. We're we're drawing down on it. Uh, so the money won't change. It's just purely the question of are we authorized to build new. >> Okay. So, why is it that we have to talk about the middle school in there? Why isn't it just about the elementary schools? >> I think be because

141uh this is a a a a rewarding of the of the fundamental referendum question that the voters voted on in uh in November of 16. >> I don't believe it said on the merit site >> because we didn't know that. >> Right. We didn't know that at the time. Now it's now it's been determined. Uh yeah. So this is this is as as as clear an intention that we want the voters to know as possible. >> And also can you explain to the voters why we would save $2.5 million because we could build the schools a year early? the I if if we if we needed to renovate the schools, uh obviously the the the new middle school would have to be totally finished before we could even begin to work on on on the

142two existing middle schools. Uh but if we could build new uh the architect's intent to to build the new elementary schools adjacent to the current uh middle schools. Therefore, we could start the construction project about a year earlier and the the the increased cost of of of waiting for that year or or potentially more uh result in millions of dollars. So, >> right. I I I think that's really important to somehow make the public aware of this. >> We uh we have a graten 2020 political action committee. We're not I actually spoke to the elections commission and uh we we we can't we can't advocate nor can they nor could they advocate even in the question to say >> would you like to be able do which is more cost effective uh we can't do

143any of that but but we have a political action committee and so >> you need to have the background. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Katrina. So is is this the question or is this the text? This is this is the text. Uh my understanding is this is the text to change the ordinance. >> So what's the question going to be >> the I I think this is going to be very close to the question to to design the new middle school and and build to design and construct the new middle school and the merit property and and >> so they're done with amending the first thing and all that stuff. >> They're not I I don't think >> okay so this is explanatory text. The question itself will be determined by the town council. >>

144I don't know this is explanatory text, but yes, the question will definitely be determined by the town council. >> Okay? Because this is just we're approving this project that is defined in this paragraph. Yes. Right. >> That's it. We are not determining how the question is. >> That's right. That's not that's not that's not our that's not our job. >> Once upon a time, >> we don't build the schools, >> renovate as new because that's what we thought. >> Okay. When when when does the town um has there been a public hearing on >> That's going to be tomorrow. >> Okay. >> Tomorrow they're going to vote to change the ordinance. Then they'll have a public hearing. Actually, then has to go to the RTM uh and then uh on to uh the public hearing

145and then to the referendum. >> So, the public hearing isn't tomorrow. It first has to go to the RTM. >> I thought that that tomorrow was the 23rd. I thought that John last week told us that it was going to be a very >> it's on the it's on the agenda tomorrow for sure. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> so that's when we will be able to see the actual question that will be on the ballot tomorrow. >> Potentially. I >> I don't I don't Katrina, I'm sorry. I if I was to say something and it could be wrong. Um I don't know when when when we're going to be able to see the question or the text. For tonight's purposes, the board of >> vote on this tomorrow night. Well, I'm not sure what this

146is. That's >> Let me let me let me try for for the purposes of being able to move this project forward. The the state the town needs to show the state >> to go to the referendum that the board of ed supports this project. That's all we're doing tonight >> as new. >> So, we have to reupport the project >> As new as if the >> there's there's been a change. And does the board still accept this project with its change? That's really that's really what it it it is for tonight. >> Okay, Jay. >> Okay. So, um yeah, just so [clears throat] there's to make it clear, there's a ordinance the town council is going to pass and then there's a referendum question which will [clears throat] reference that ordinance and that's not our

147concern. Our concern is to approve the project and then the town council does what they do. We're not writing the ordinance. We're not writing the question. Just for those that are following along at home, the one or one or two people. >> Now, um, Mayor Kulpa, um, I questioned at a meeting why it was written in such a way that we would have to go back later and do this all over again. And, um, just to make it clear, >> so the state regulations at the time that the the referendum were passed were that we had to renovate to new. >> That's right. That's right. the rules changed, right, >> at the state level after the referendum was approved. Um, and so that's why we're going back to show that that we're authorizing it to

148be new. I had raised a question with the town manager about whether this is still flexible enough that if there were a change in Hartford >> to the administration uh which one way or the other there's going to be uh whether this is flexible enough say they decide you know we've decided that it is less expensive but apparently the b the bond council is insisting that we go one way or the other. They're not allowing us to be flexible and they're not allowing us to include language >> that would lead the voter to think that this might be the less expensive because it's >> it's more about value. But I think one of the good things about this is we are not inheriting the plumbing, the 50 >> lead year old plus plumbing that is

149in these old buildings. We're getting a new building. We are not inheriting the PCBs. We are not inheriting the asbestous, >> right? >> We are not inheriting all of the the baggage that comes with using an old foundation in an old building. Uh somebody even said you have to scan the bricks and you might have to remove sections of brick and then rebuild back when you're when you're building renovate to new. So, this obviously is a and and correct me if I'm wrong, if the referendum goes down, we automatically revert to renovate to new >> and the town is at risk potentially for what the state is going to reimburse and what they're not. So, that I don't know that. Well, my understanding is the hundred million from the the the state and the 84

150and a half million from the taxpayers that won't be threatened. What will be threatened is we have to do all the things that you said remove the piece. You don't get a nickel more than $184.5 million, >> right? >> Hence, if you have to do all those things, you're going to get less building. So the people at Northeast Academy know that they have essentially twothirds of a gymnasium. That that's the sort of that's the sort of thing that we would be forced to make or the actually per building committee would be forced to make. So we we we believe building new would be by far give us the best value for our dollar. It would give us the best buildings for our dollar although the dollars won't change. question. >> Um, >> would it be

151possible to take it and turn it into two questions? I mean, is that possible? >> No, this is not our debate. >> All we have to do so I can't >> All we have to do tonight is to say we know that the the project has changed from renovate to going to new and we as a board supports this. That's what this motion here's for. Any more discussion? >> We just need to make sure that people know. One second. We also need to make sure that people understand that we had a very lengthy conversation about this conversation um and about the buildings and about sort of where we are last week. So, we look like we are with with the town manager and with um the gentleman who's in charge of the construction project. So,

152we look like we might be passing this through really quickly, but we also had a very intense conversation with the with the people. Jay and then Gretchen, >> just [clears throat] because please >> just because um there have been so many things where we find ourselves painting into a corner. Is it necessary to say two new preK through grade five elementary schools? Does that take away flexibility for the use of that building? >> I am not willing to change this motion that this kind of came from the town attorney and the town manager. >> Oh, this came from the town attorney. >> I am. >> It came from the bond council. >> From the bond council. So, I don't want to change this at all. >> And really, once again, people, we are just saying

153we get it. The project has changed and we are we're approving of it. >> It's not our job to I think to get into the weeds. >> Question. >> I gota have Greg I have letter. >> Okay. Any further discussion? >> All those in favor that with the motion that's on the floor, please don't have me read because it's really long. Um for the motion that's on the floor, please say I. I. >> Oppose. >> Abstain. Motion has carried. Rosemary, do you have anything to talk about in terms of what you have done? >> Yes, I board. >> Yes, I do. >> Okay, please. >> Um, somewhere um I have attended the sound community services board committee meetings the past month. I've also attended GASP and um uh as um the regular meeting as as

154well as um sat at the Grtenfall Festival for their um table to dispense information and give out plastic jewelry. And um I also attended the Martin Luther King dinner where I um got another injection of hope for the future. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> And I love this every year because I need that. And I attended the safe futures 4K walk at the Crystal Mall with sore feet after Wharton at Yale. >> Of course he did. >> Lee, I went to the Martin Luther King scholarship pro. It was better every year. It was wonderful. And then on Saturday, I sat in a cold bleacher seat [laughter] and watched the bands. >> Oh, >> and it was phenomenal. and all >> including Addie. >> Including >> Were you there, Addie? >> She was performing. [laughter] the synthet

155um I've had a lot of conversations and people have contacted me about the December 11th referendum um about the proposed Grten charter revisions and also um the Northeast Academy concerned parents contacted me about the um problems there. So that's about it. And I was I gave up my seat at the Martin Luther King dinner because they had so many people that wanted to attend. They needed >> 700. >> Yeah. They needed people to give up their seat their tickets and we had negotiations anyway with our teachers. So I did that instead. They treated But I'm going to watch it on channel 19. Um the only thing I did was went to uh I was invited up to Fitch during the um start with hello week and participated but helped out in the um mix it

156up day in the cafeteria. That was really cool. Um and I had a question for Dr. Ger. Do you want me to save that till the end? >> Sure. >> I'm not asking you. I'm asking her. [laughter] you probably don't want the question frankly but >> um well I mean if if it's a question that you need to direct to Dr. or you can do that offline or if it's something that you want um to be as part of the the record you >> I want it to be part of the record and also um make sure I'm saying I'm asking the right question because I'm >> okay um back in June we had you and Kathy Wilson come in and there was discussion about the um lottery >> yes >> magnet lotteryies um the

157preference priorities and there was some confusion about that and I understand because of the funding we have two different ways we have to do lotteryies or one way we have to but then another way we haven't quite figured out yet at least that was my impression from the meeting >> um and I have a note to myself that you guys were going to come back in late fall so that we could discuss those preference priorities and be more part of that. >> Do you remember that? >> Yes, I do. >> Yes. >> Okay. We >> So, can we put that on the schedule because I'm very very interested in that. >> It's there. >> It's what? >> Actually, it's already on the I think it's actually already on an agenda. >> No. No. >> So,

158Kathy will be coming. >> Yeah. Cath Kathy will come. >> Awesome. >> Thank you. >> To a committee of the whole meeting near you coming soon. >> And if I hadn't said anything, it wouldn't be. >> No. So, it's been on there. >> Okay. I was delighted to be he by did to an out of district trunk or treat. So it was really fun seeing how other school districts do their thing. It's kind of fun to be involved with that. >> Um but the kids are cute. >> The trunks are cute, too. >> Um I'm getting a lot of phone calls about Northeast humidity. Obviously sometimes I just I'm going to give up walking around the block. Um, the other one is some parents are starting to go, "Oh, we might get redistricked." So, that's

159another question that's starting to come up and I've also gotten asked three times, "Why are we having problems with a new building?" >> So, and most of them I've referred to, let me get to the next CW meeting or let why don't you call the superintendent's office and they'll direct you to the person who knows. >> That's a good plan. Thank you, Bud Jay. >> Um, I also [clears throat] was able to attend the the beginning of the Martin Luther King um dinner. Unfortunately, we we did double book ourselves into teacher negotiations that night. So, but um I just want to acknowledge um Dr. Acriman's years of um assisting with that and organizing and it's a real testament to uh to you and also to Dr. Mitchell. >> Yes. and um and the entire committee

160um the uh publisher of the uh day was there that evening and um uh it was capacity >> um and people were still coming in and trying to buy tickets unfortunately that night and were being turned away. I I parked uh about a half mile away and and and hiked in. But anyway, um unfortunately I missed the um the the marching band uh due to uh my day slashnight job. Um but in any event u and that's about it. >> I just want to thank everybody who came to to the Martin Luther King dinner. It was fabulous. The our our three scholars, Jaden Leman, Lette Perez, and Britney Tant and all of the scholars were just electric in their remarks. And I thank everybody for everyone's support. And there were 700 people. And Dr. Mitchell

161keeps saying I had to really explain what no more attendance means. [laughter] >> Say that. >> Oh, 12 $20,000 scholarships. And thank you to the community for that. and Ken Hitchings of the FA the Kitchenings Family Foundation upped it to four next year and Fiser matched them. >> Wow, matched them. >> They did. Yes, they did. >> Wonderful. >> So wonderful. >> So um speaking continue to speak um about Andrea. Um I just want to lead read a letter that sent to um her and to um actually myself and to the superintendent. Dear um Mrs. Acriman, congratulations. You have earned CAVE certific um certified board of education member designation. Very few other Connecticut board of education members have earned this prestigious honor. With your attendance at numerous CAB and K um Kass conventions, CA workshops

162and programs and other events. You have acquired a wide variety of skill, knowledge, and abilities. This is a great accomplishment and you are to be commended. You have earned the required 20 credit in the areas of board relation policy, curriculum, school finance, school labor, um, labor law, and labor relations, and board operations. Enlo is a press release in, um, in case you would like to use on behalf of the Cape um, Baldwin Media. Um, but your commitment to public education and to children in your community is admirable. Again, congratulations on accomplishing this difficult and timeconsuming um, feat. Um, and it's signed by the executive directors. Um, and so congratulations, Andrea. They work [applause] hard at that. Um, and just, um, I also went to the band concert um, on and I did get to see

163you and I waved. I don't know why you didn't wave back. Um, [laughter] maybe it was because you were a tad busy. Um, but just a little bit. But you guys sounded absolutely amazing. And I know I'm biased, but you were the best ones on the field. Um and um but also just remember um folks that we have all those meetings coming up um in the cave convention for those of us who are going to be um attending um please contact Joan. I don't know if Joan knows this, but please contact Joan um so she can tell you where because we have also been designated. >> We won the award. >> We >> Joyce um contact because we won the award for board distinction. Um and so >> I don't remember. It's the highest one

164I think. Good. >> Um >> and um but there's like um like on th on the >> photo op. >> There's like a photo op and >> usually Friday around 5:00. >> Yeah. So wear by teeth. >> Wear your teeth. [clears throat and cough] >> Oh motion to adjourn. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I oppose. Stain. Motion is carried. It's 8:33.