001Hi, I'm Andrea McKnight. Hi, I'm Bethany Kraxton. Hi, I'm Jory Arzamnian. Keep watching GPS 19. It's the only way you'll catch us. Oh, good evening. Tonight's a little different format because first meeting in in November we hold an election of the officers. So let let me start by asking everyone please stand for the pledge of allegiance, please. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. So let me start by soliciting nominations for chairman of the board. Would anyone like to make a nomination? >> to nominate him. I second that. Tim Watson seconded by Rita. Any discussion? No. Hearing none, all those in favor of Chairman Watson remaining Chairman Watson, say aye. Aye.
002Aye. Any opposed? Abstentions? So ordered. Chairman Watson, one more year. Um one more year. >> At least one more year. All right. Um and so we're now on I didn't want to be presumptuous. Um so I um so I will now take over and I will be taking nominations for the election of the uh vice chair. Are there any nominations? I technically second her. For secretary? Are you interested, Andrea? Yes, yes. I'll I'll entertain a motion to nominate Andrea Ackerman. Second. Second from Lee. Any discussion? Are there any other nominations? Okay, hearing none, all those in favor of the secretary or vice chair, Andrea Ackerman, please say aye. Aye. Opposed? Abstain? Motion has carried. It seems that Andrea, you and I have done enough of a job that they're willing to kind of keep us
003along. All right, so this is now we're moving on from the comments um portion of the meeting um and this is where we will receive comments from citizens regarding the agenda item and other subjects of of concern that lie within the jurisdiction of the Board of Education. This is this is where the board welcomes comments from citizens. Each presentation should be limited to 5 minutes or less and citizens should, if possible, submit written comments. Presentations should be related to matters pertinent to Groton. Board members will only ask questions in order to clarify the speakers' presentations and cannot respond during the comments from citizens portion of the board meeting. Citizens should make their presentations from the podium and state their name and address for the record. On my sheet I have Kevin Trejo. Kevin Trejo, 536
004Shennecossett Road. Good evening all. Congratulations to chairperson and assistant chairperson or secretary, as it may be. Vice chair. Vice chair? Okay. Uh I came here tonight basically just uh I guess inform the public in case they didn't know that on December 11th this year coming up in the there will be another referendum. Another referendum. It is about the 2020 plan on building new schools. Well, we already voted on that 2 years ago. What's going on right now is there is an amendment to the old vote where we can build two new elementary schools rather, and that's the key word even on the ballot when you read it, rather than renovate as new. The 2020 plan was originally to build new schools on the on the middle school sites once the new middle school was built
005and those students were taken out and moved to the middle school. Due to cost analysis it was a little bit cheaper to renovate as new and to get this thing passed in the town we figured the best thing to do back then, along with the state's guidelines on what they were going to reimburse us with, it was the better to reim- re- renovate like new. >> [snorts] >> Well, over the time and I will say I'm on the permanent school building committee and we will do anything that the voters tell us to do in the sense of how to build. So I'm not pushing anything for the permanent school building committee. >> [clears throat] >> But cost-wise by the state they realize cost efficiency it is better to build new and they would allow us
006if this referendum passes, to build new elementary schools at the same cost that we were building renovate as new. So and some things, you know, why not have two middle schools? I was kidding around with some people and saying I have a '64 Chev let's say a 2004 car. It's going to cost me a hundred million dollars to fix that old car. >> [snorts] >> Or they can give me a new car. I'm going to take a new car. So right now go out to vote on December 11th on the new referendum. I hope you will vote yes to build amend the old one and say build new schools instead of renovate as new. That's all I have to say. Thank you. Enjoy your meeting. I'm going out to dinner. >> [laughter] >> There is
007no one else on the list but Miss Rosanne, would you like to come up? Please feel free. I didn't see the list back here. Oh, it um I don't know. Sorry, I'm not in charge but you are more than welcome to come up. Okay. Rosanne Kotowski, 24 Ann Avenue, Mystic, Connecticut. Tonight my comments are regarding my concern about superintendent political involvement in the recent referendum question. At the October 10th, 2018 RTM meeting during the superintendent report section of the RTM meeting, Dr. Graner enthusiastically commented in favor of one side of the referendum question. The next day I called him and let him let him know that I believe he should have commented during the citizens petition section of RTM agenda regarding his support of one side of the referendum question. We also discussed that it
008was not appropriate for the superintendent to take a political position during the superintendent report of the RTM meeting. He agreed. As a perspective, all RTM members who commented on the referendum question at the October 10 meeting commented during the citizen petition section. So imagine my surprise when Dr. Graner wrote a guest opinion in the New London Day supporting one side of the referendum question. In the guest opinion in paragraph five it states, "As superintendent of schools" and then goes on to make a point. Recently I spoke with him about this and he said he wrote it as a resident. I then referred him to the fifth paragraph that says, "As superintendent of schools" and then goes on. It is clear that Dr. Graner was speaking as superintendent of Groton Public Schools in the New London
009Day guest opinion piece. I don't believe this is appropriate that the Um I I don't believe this is appropriate and hope that in the future Dr. Graner will refrain from political activities as superintendent of schools. The superintendent must not be political or show political bias in any way regarding town politics. Dr. Graner clearly stated political position regarding the referendum question at the RTM meeting and in the New London Day. Considering the fact that there are many Board of Education employees who are town residents, what pressure did Dr. Graner's RTM comments and guest opinion have on how these people voted? Of course we will never know, but the point is we should not have to ask the question. At the Board of Ed meeting last Monday, November 19th, it was stated that the Board of Ed,
010as well as another organization, reviewed Dr. Graner's guest opinion. How could you all have missed the opening sentence of paragraph five, which states, "As Groton for of schools"? Clearly he was speaking as superintendent of schools. Unlike all of you and myself, who are politicians, Dr. Graner is an employee of the Board of Ed and should be neutral in Groton town politics. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Attached for your review, I have my November 7th letter to Chairman Watson, Dr. Graner's October 29th guest guest opinion, Carl Perazzini's letter to the editor, as well as Dr. Graner's 2017 and 2018 political action committee contributions. After careful consideration, it is my hope that the Board of Education will instruct Dr. Graner to discontinue his political involvement in Groton town politics. Respectfully submitted, Rosanne Kotowski. Thank
011you, Rosanne. Is there anyone else? Portia. His name is Graner. Okay. Point of order, please. I I don't know anything about it. I didn't even read it. Portia Bordelon, 159 Shennecossett Parkway. I come again to speak in regard to the Promethean boards at the high school. I have spoke at I think two other um meetings and hoping that the funding will be put into the Promethean boards, which are utilized to teach our students up at the high school. Most teachers up there have curriculum that is based uh upon using the use of the Promethean boards. And just to back note, um after the open house, um that's when I was made aware after attending over six of my son's classes and the Promethean boards weren't working. And speaking to other students, as well as other
012staff, um it seems like it's been an ongoing problem with bulbs. Um I know that we did get a grants to um install these Promethean boards, but we must not only take the grants and make new technology in our schools, we need to maintain them. So, I was curious as to where we stand at this point. I've yet to receive any reports or anything regarding the status of the Promethean boards at Fitch High School, and as I'm finding out, possibly in other schools as well. My next point um would be regarding the mold at Northeast Academy. I'm hoping that we're moving forward with that. I have attended Northeast Academy four events and the roof was leaking at times when I was there on rainy days. Thinking of the the building of new schools up and
013coming, which is exciting, I just hope that we really are looking at the demographics and the lay of the land when constructing new buildings and making sure that we're making uh proper decisions on placement, style, and maintenance choice for buildings, especially when we're choosing a wetland like Northeast Academy. As far as the lead water, once again, still moving around with that. Um I did speak at the RTM uh meeting as an RTM uh representative. I spoke and asked for uh detailed report of all the allowable levels. Where were those numbers? Um what were those allowable level numbers or ones that were a little under the allowable level? Anything that was um bringing any form of lead out into the spigot. I think we we in all fairness should give a report uh throughout the building
014where those locations are and uh where the ones that were working, kind of a map of all the schools and the ones that have been tested and the numbers. Why is this important? There are people in our district that are sick with different things like cancer and other items and drinking lead water, especially when people are going through treatment, even though it's an allowable level, they do not want that in their system. I'm hoping that Groton would take the approach of zero lead, which would be our allowable level, or making sure that our number is much lower than the allowable level. We can do that as a district if we chose to do that. We hired a contractor for Northeast Academy, but we did not hire a contractor yet for the lead water to my
015understanding. I feel, in my opinion, it's slow moving and I'd like to see this closed out along with the detailed report, as well as what is our long-term plan on all the allowable levels spigots or fountains that we found. What is our action plan? Are we going to check twice a year, three times a year, monthly? Because once you have an allowable level, it's a day away from being unallowable. So, what is our long-term plan in in in proper properly monitoring those uh areas in our buildings that are at allowable levels or or or or or at this point any lead that's coming out at all. I I none of that information I can find and none of that has been given. So, I really encourage for a report of all of the the fountains,
016the numbers, as well as the long-term plans on any of the fountains or tap areas that are currently at allowable or giving out any form of lead water. Once again, it's important once you find it, if you're going to if our district's going to stick with the allowable level, then we need to know where those exactly are. As a parent, I might tell my student not to drink from that allowable level and I know I would not utilize that fountain um for my own consumption. Um so, those are things that I'm I'm really hoping we can start to resolve and have a much more detailed uh map of what's going on and what we're actually doing. Thank you. Thank you. Bonnie. I wasn't going to speak, but um after watching this presentation, I feel compelled
017to say something. I um I'm Bonnie Nault. I live at 41 Pearl Street. I support uh the comments that Rosanne Kotowski made and I don't do think it's inappropriate for the employee of the school to be making political comments and it was incredibly disrespectful to watch you, Ms. White, during Rosanne's um presentation. That's all. I I would like to say something. I would like to say something. >> Point. No. I can't No. I can't. All I'm saying is No, excuse me. Point of order. Okay, fine. Anyone else? Carl Perazzini, 69 Noble Avenue in Noank. Uh I'm just a citizen and a taxpayer. I'm not a political official or an employee. But I too find the comments by the superintendent of schools unfortunate. And I believe I described them as being highly inappropriate. Um this was
018a very important referendum in this town. And I don't think it's appropriate at all for elected officials or their employees to use the leverage of their official offices to attempt to sway voter opinion. I'm not accusing anyone of attempting to sway voter opinion, but it would be inappropriate for one to try and do that. I will admit myself that I have written letters to the day. And my motive was to attempt to sway voter opinion, not to read the words that I had written cuz it makes me feel good. And I am 100% in support of Representative Kotowski and I hope that you will take into consideration her points. I mean, it's really amazing to me that an elected body approved these comments prior to their publication. It uh inappropriate is the only word I
019can use. And again, I offer that as an opinion as a taxpayer and a voter. And I hope that you will heed what she said and do something. She suggested that you change a policy or advise people to change their behavior. I'm not aware of other town employees that attempted to insert themselves into this political issue by virtue of their official positions. And I think it's in the best interest of the taxpayers and the voters for those people to refrain from using the weight of their official position to attempt to influence voter behavior. Thank you. Anyone else? I have a clarification. Yes. Um we, the Board of Education, did not review or see ahead of time Dr. Graner's letter. That it's true. I I didn't. Okay. I just want to let you know that it
020did um it was sent to us in an email, as which is what was said in in our meeting last week um um to make sure that people knew that that's what was um that was um said. I was just I was just made aware that there was going to be something. I I didn't see ahead of time. That's my fault. Sorry. Katrina. Um um I missed the meeting um the Committee of the Whole meeting, the beginning of it, first 10 minutes. I thought it was mentioned that Dr. Graner talked to the Elections Commission Yes. about the letter and they gave us a they gave They said it was fine. Wait. Okay. Also, I think I asked Ms. Bordelon at the last regular meeting she said that there were districts in the area that have
021um zero lead in their waters and I still haven't heard back. If you could get me that data, I'd really appreciate it. You can just if you could just get to her through an email, that would be great. What what the comments she's saying is not exactly what I said, so I'd like to defend myself. Well, let's clarify that after the meeting then so we can move on. Thank you. Um so I just want to reiterate sort of that at the just for people who are watching um the meeting is that in our committee of the whole meeting we as a board discussed um the editorial comment um that we felt that it was not a swaying that Dr. Granier as a private citizen um and as a resident could write um uh a letter
022of editorial. Most of us did see the editorial before it was sent to the day. Um and that it was clarified um once again um thank you Katrina um with the elections um committee that it was not going that it was not inappropriate um and to remind people that the editorial also had a guest editorial person um who was supporting the other side. Um and um I do know that um Rosanne did um call uh Dr. Granier the following day after the RTM and had a conversation um about her concerns and so and I think that that was heard by Dr. Granier um but once again um we are there is a balance between um someone who is a resident of the town and a private citizen um and also um an employee of the
023district. So um I think that there is there is that line and I felt that the board um had felt pretty comfortable and that um Rosanne had spoken to Dr. Granier and they had a private conversation. I wasn't part of that conversation. So I don't want to give a lot of airtime to that, but Katrina, do you have anything else? Okay. Um uh to address um Porsha Bordelon's concerns, um I do know that we did have in the committee of the whole Porsha we had a um conversation last week um in the finance and facilities um about uh about the Promethean boards. Maybe I'm making it up. I think we did. Okay. Um and I believe um that we're about 60% um getting there in terms of correcting the boards um and that um my
024understanding um from the finance and facilities is that the Dodea not the Dodea. Well, we're actually doing a study to determine whether we're going to replace them with active boards or just large television screens. So we we've we've replaced several of the pens, so about but 60% of the boards are all set uh and we have a report from the IT director coming. I remember that conversation now. Also, this is kind of ironic. Apparently pens have been missing. The teachers have lost pens, so What? Well, I could Some of the pens have gone missing. Oh, the pens. Which we have no control over. However, those will be replaced. What are They have to use the >> that you write on the active board. Okay, so it's an actual pen, but it's one that you write
025on the active board. >> pen. Okay. I I'm now with you on that. Um and so Porsha, but to say that we have not hired a contractor to address the lead levels, I do believe that we have hired Mystic Air um and that we have been working diligently at the pace of the health department um and um I uh a detailed report um We we should have that by the end of the week. Well, we had it. We we've shown it before, but I'll I'll I'll get I'll get a copy out. All right. So that's um on that. All right, I'm going to move us on um to the student representative report. Hello, you two. Hello. Hello. All right. Couple updates from uh last meeting. Uh we did the Veterans Day luncheon on November 9th.
026Uh we honored Lance Corporal William Hart. Uh he died in the Beirut attack in Lebanon uh 1981 and he was recognized. Dr. Granier came and presented the plaque. Uh his family was there. It was a very nice time. And uh we honored some Marine Corps veterans and other veterans of the military and then we had a luncheon for veterans uh of all branches of the military. Uh so it was a very nice time. Also, uh girls powder puff uh the annual girls powder puff game was held last Monday night in the freezing cold. Uh and after 3 years uh my class, senior class, after being runners-up every year uh we finally won this year. So it was >> [laughter] >> an exciting time in my grade. Uh and also on to uh Fitch football, uh
027they defeated Ledyard uh 48 to 15 uh in the annual Thanksgiving game, but they did it on Wednesday night because of again freezing temperature uh on Thanksgiving. And uh my good friend Nick Kelbec was named the game's MVP. So I was excited about that. And now on to Addy with the class councils. Uh for seniors, they are uh on December 8th, 2018 from 10:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Fitch High School. They're um participating in the Groton Public School Food Service Vendor Fair. Um and for juniors, we're currently finishing up our candy and chocolate sales around the school. Um we're finishing selling that and we are also finishing up a No-Shave November fundraiser where participating teachers have um agreed to grow their beard out and then shave it in whatever style the students choose. So that'll
028be fun. You'll show pictures once it's over. >> [laughter] >> Um and then on Tuesday, December 11th at 6:30 p.m. we're having a movie fundraiser at Mystic Luxury Cinemas showing Polar Express. Uh and then sophomores are also planning a movie night sometime in December. Uh the Humanitarian Club is having a coat drive. Uh it runs until uh this Friday and there is a box. It's just past the security desk at Fitch High School. Uh so if you walk in and check in with the security guard and tell them you're there to drop off a coat, uh security guard should place it in the box and uh it's till the end of this week. Uh the Random Acts of Kindness Club is also collecting canned foods uh starting Monday, December 3rd and the collections will end
029Friday, December 21st. Uh the Renaissance Crew, which is uh the organization uh that is in charge of changing school climate and culture uh they handed out thank you bags uh to teachers uh last week as a show their appreciation. Also, they are hosting on Wednesday, December 5th from 9:00 to 12:00 they're hosting a uh a school culture and climate conference. Uh this is through Johnston's Johnson's does our yearbooks uh and they do other pep rally events throughout the building. Uh and they're hosting the conference. It's uh from 9:00 to 12:00. Please uh email Ms. Maguire uh if you would like to attend. Uh and uh they uh schools from across the state are coming also. So it's going to be kind of a kind of a cave thing, but at Fitch for uh to discuss
030school coach culture. So that's pretty exciting. Could you could you tell us the date again? Uh Wednesday, December 5th from 9:00 to 12:00. Uh Fitch Amphora, the journal uh at Fitch High School will be hosting an open mic night on Friday, November 30th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the cafeteria. Uh this is where you can share writing, poetry, students music and other things like that and you can or students can sign up during lunch waves. Oh. And for Fitch Music Department um the annual winter concert is on Tuesday, December 11th at 7:00 p.m. in the Fitch High School auditorium. And uh then the next day uh the 12th it will be the choral and orchestra concert. So they're back-to-back both in the auditorium. Uh and each ensemble will be performing the repertoire we're playing
031in London. So we'll get to show that. >> can you tell me again what what is it the date? Oh, um it is December 11th December 12th at 7:00 p.m. 7:00 two nights. Yeah. Yeah, the first night is uh band, so it's jazz ensemble, concert band, uh wind ensemble, which is percussion. And uh also and then the following night is chorus and uh the orchestra. Uh and athletic update, winter sports uh officially official practices start on Thursday and the final sports records were football was 7 and 3. Uh boys soccer was 6 9 and 1. They were eliminated in the first round of the conference tournament, but they were the last seed, so they were happy to get in. Uh girls soccer 2 and 14. Uh they had a new coach this year and a
032lot of young players and I don't they're not losing many players, so hopefully they're they're going to get better each year. Girls field hockey was 8 and 8 and it was their first time they ever made uh in the school history. They made the ECC tournament. So they were eliminated by Stonington in the first round. Girls volleyball made it to the semi-finals of the conference tournament. They were 11 and 7. And boys cross country was 7 and 2. They got third at conference championships. That's their best finish in 7 years since they won. So they were excited about that. And girls cross country was 4 and 5 and they were ninth at the conference championships. Wonderful. Thank you. I I have a question. Rita. Did you mention that the the Amfora was going to have
033an open mic? Yes. And who what Mrs. De Santis has retired? Could you tell me which teacher is going to be Yes, it is Mr. Giovanza. He's a newly hired English teacher. He was hired in the middle of last year. And he's actually a published writer. So he's running the program now and he actually worked with Mrs. De Santis at the end of last year before she retired. So >> great. And did the Fitch football team make states? No, they did not. Thank you. All right, let's move on to the superintendent and administration reports. The the one thing I want to report on is Wednesday night the [clears throat] naming committee for the new middle school will meet have a first first meeting. The the the board policy uh calls for two citizens, two administrators,
034teachers, students and parents and we we have we have all those slots filled. The two citizens are going to be Jim Streeter, the town historian, who I think is really interested in helping. And and Jean-Claude Amboise who's been involved with the schools. And we have uh two middle school students both uh Mr. Martinez and Mrs. Porter are going to be the administrators and two of the PTO chairs essentially the presidents of the PTO be will will be part of that. So they'll meet on Wednesday night and then I'll I'll make a report as as the as the committee progresses. Um but that's that's it for me. Okay, great. Thank you. I just wanted to make the public aware as I've made the board aware of some of the highlights in curriculum instruction and assessment. Um
035we're actually wrapping up the English language arts but it's will be an ongoing process but we presented K-12. Um and how we've re-aligned some of our curriculum work and I just have a couple pictures to share with the public so they're aware of some of the changes that are occurring. And also mathematics K-12. We're still working on our science and our social studies and we will be beginning world language. So we've been very busy with the curriculum instruction council. So as you know we have staff site which has a whole pacing guide and everything at the teachers' fingertips as well as the the board of education update on the curriculum that's still based on the common core. But we've just re-aligned with some new resources and books. And we want the public also to be
036aware that in the language arts writing workshop that we do include we have a whole pacing guide around phonics and grammar and conventions. So that part of the editing and revising process is has been implemented this year. So we will be reporting back to you on how that's going. And just you know a picture's worth a thousand words. What you find is a teacher will do a 10-minute mini lesson of specific instruction in reading and writing and the teacher then will have time to have off you go readers and writers where they really spend some quality time doing that work and the teacher does conferrals. The kids might be using their laptops. So you see Amy McKenna there at high school doing one-on-one conferrals. Um the teacher will often have the chart paper with big
037post-its telling them what the specific strategy in reading or writing is. And so the children continue to gather those different strategies and then use them in the reading and writing process. And the teacher is reviewing, conferring, bringing in small groups and really assessing all along to see how the child is doing. Or the children are doing. One of the things that comes from Richard Allington who is an expert in the teaching of reading is what's the impact of reading and writing. But the impact shows you on this slide that 20 minutes per day matters. So if you look to the left you see students who read 20 minutes per day will be exposed to 1.8 million words per year. And they tend to score in the 90th percentile. A child who reads only 5 minutes
038a day is expected to gather 282,000. A big number. Um but is only scoring in the 50th percentile and this is research based. And the child who reads a minute a day or not at all hardly reads only is exposed to 8,000 words and is only in the 10th percentile. So our mission in Groton Public Schools is read read read. Read at school. You know we have a 90-minute block and the kids are doing the work of the reading. And and then the discussing and the comprehension. And read at home. Homework is really based on reading and keeping their logs and really enjoying reading. So I think that's pretty powerful slide. That's the whole purpose of this. And then the math workshop very similar to reading and writing. You can see Dr. Grenier on the
039floor playing a math game. And I was very interested in a domino game that they had that used all different kinds of images. Um and then card games, dominoes, dice. So game playing is essential in the program but so is performance task and a lot of um work with students in in think tanks and groups but in small groups and also individually. So you'll see that the workshop is again 10-minute mini lesson. Kids off you go mathematicians to do the work. Um the same is true really K-12. So in both English language arts and mathematics whether you're elementary school, middle school or high school we're really seeing that shift in instruction. It gives it more personalized approach and the teacher really gets to know how the kids are thinking and what they're doing and it
040informs their instruction so they what know what to do next which is powerful. We have technology like DreamBox in math and Lexia in ELA. And at the high school level you see game playing happening at the high school. There's Caitlyn Kennedy who is our department chair in mathematics. Um and you know she brings back to her staff and works with her staff on really engaging process and strategies to learning mathematics in higher order and using the tools for mathematicians whether it's using the Chromebooks, whether it's using high performing um Texas Instruments or you know computers and and calculators. And really preparing them for PSAT and SAT and that's all built in to the core common core curriculum that has been updated and revised. And you know this approach to inquiry-based instruction whether it's in math
041or ELA really offers that differentiated approach and a deeper understanding with rigor and relevance in all areas of English language arts and mathematics. So I just wanted to highlight and capture some of those things. You've heard it. You've been at the COW and you've heard from our teachers which is really the powerful you know approach that they really have come to the table and have talked about as much as they're taking on they're realizing the benefits in the classroom. So I just wanted to brief you on that. The other thing I just wanted to say a regional PD day was a success. It was regional so our a lot of our special area teachers um went either to learn or to other districts or to our district and they collaborated beyond Groton. For our middle
042school and high school we had the MYP launch and work around the MYP planners. And for elementary we did a trauma training day. So it followed up with the mental health summit which was on the fifth where Janine Fitzgerald spoke to the community. We had over 100 people attend that. And there will be a report that I will submit based on the discussions that were happening. And then Janine came and talked to our teachers and all of our paraprofessionals. And then learned it a follow-up on that on some specific trauma training. So just wanted to brief you on those two things. Thank you very much. Thank you, sir. Um and as you mentioned we did have a pretty extensive we actually had 10 people from your math curriculum come and present and talk to us
043a little bit about that. We did see the slideshow with some video clips. Is that accessible for the Um I'm going to check on that. It is I have shared it out with the staff on Google sites, but one of the things that Mark Russell, shout out to Mark Russell behind the scenes PS by the way, he went with me I think for 3 weeks into every single school to take pictures and video clips. And what he has suggested is that we do a form where I bring teachers together to talk about this and to go through some of those slides that we could then put up um those um a picture's worth a thousand words. So between those pictures and the videos, I think families will understand better how what's happening in the classroom.
044And we definitely want to do that. I can't speak for anyone else on the board, but I what I loved about the presentations, the last two that you did on both the reading and the math in our community the whole, the whole bringing it alive, like seeing it in the classroom, seeing the pictures, seeing the videos was just it it it it it it helped bring meaning to what you were saying. Um and it was it was neat to see the excitement of the teachers. Um Well, we have um the board curriculum board meeting and Dr. Ackerman leads us with that charge and that was actually her recommendation that she's been meeting with teachers and talking about the work. And she said wouldn't it be great if you could just show us what it's like
045in the classroom. And actually a teacher today said, you know, if any of the board members want to come and see it, I would be happy Okay. That's great. >> So they were really happy to share. Nice job Andrea for recommending that. That's the word. Okay. All right. So we're now on to the business manager report. Hello sir, how are you? Good. How are you? I am dandy. Good. Uh so attachment one is our updated object code summary. Um this object code summary shows that we are trending very close to budget. Uh we are having anticipated unexpended balance of 36,907. Uh so it's a really tight margin uh but uh I think we're we're on track. Um it's the same uh scenario as we spoke in previous meetings. Uh there are some accounts like uh
046salaries and transportation where we are uh positive to budget. And then other areas such as uh uh diesel and heating heating oil where where uh either under budgeted or we've we've accounted for that. So uh Okay. We're getting there. Okay. Thank you. And then you're next on to your health insurance report. Health insurance report. Um We had this So this is uh through September uh 2018. Uh the month of September was an extremely good month for us. Uh Uh you know, we uh only spent uh 73% of uh the budget. Uh so um year to date we're at 85.7% of budget. Last year at this time we were at uh 90 93.7. So we're trending better than last year against the budget. So I think we're in good shape. Once again, uh this particular uh
047uh HSA plan uh folks tend to uh hold off on some of their uh uh medical claims till later in the year when um it's no longer uh within the HSA amount. So um we should expect to see this uh deteriorate, but uh crossing our fingers and hopefully uh we stay within budget on this. Okay. Thank you. Any questions on that? Now moving on to the budget schedule. You got it easy today. >> Yeah. So the budget schedule uh we are in it. Um today is November 26th. Uh we have received uh budget data from principals. Uh And we are in the process of laying all that data in. Uh Dr. Grenier and my staff and myself met today uh to lay out uh uh the plan to to get that together so that next
048week we can start as the uh calendar shows uh reviewing uh with the administrators and discussing and coming up with a draft that we will share with the finance and facilities committee uh on December 17th. And then uh share with uh or present to to you come January 7th. And then we'll have some meetings. Yeah. Looks like we will be with each other quite a bit. We become our new best friends for 2 months. Um I just want to make a just a note that um May 20th uh the last date in the end it should be the 23rd 19 uh 2019 not 2018. I'm assuming that that's what that is. >> That is a typo. Um and that also um and maybe Katrina if I'm stealing your thunder you can just send me a
049very dirty look. Um but that we also discussed in the committee of the whole that we are going to have a new budget um look format. Okay. Okay. All right. Off to Mr. Kilpatrick. Unless you don't unless you want to wait. No, I'd like to do it now if I may. Good evening. >> [laughter] >> So I'm going to report on the 2020 uh Graton 2020. And uh as you probably already know, uh there's going to be a presentation made to all of us on December 10th. Uh the architects and uh uh I believe Rick Norris and Bob Rick Norris from public works who's our uh manager of the project and Bob Austin LeFrance uh from the permanent school building committee and Jack Butkus who is our uh He's our owner's representative. Uh I I
050believe they'll all be here to make that presentation and explain the plans to you. And uh the importance of this is the fact that the next thing one of the next things that the board needs to do is to actually approve the final plans. Uh the project manual for the for the plan. And also the professional cost estimate so that that can we can move on to the state on the 15th of January. So um Well, the presentation will be made on the 10th. On the 17th we plan to answer any questions that you have regarding the presentation. And then there will be a vote I hope to approve on January 7th so that on the 15th of January we can move on to the state and uh uh make the submittal of the project.
051Any questions? I have I have a question. I thought we were going to um have the presentation um about the plans at a regular board meeting so that it would be on camera as opposed to a COW meeting. I I thought that's what we had talked about when we when we had our retreat and we had the presentation. It was just Well, the permanent school building committee You're you're right. We we actually uh had had a a little plan to have a special meeting on on the 28th. Uh they they uh they the architects weren't ready. So what what they wanted to do we are going to do something on camera on the 17th, but uh we the architects are going to come in and and really give the board an opportunity to study the
052plans and the final project manual and so forth. Uh then we will make presentation on on the 17th and get questions answered. The whole point is as as Sam said is to uh prepare the board for a vote on the 7th of January because I think the town council is voting like maybe the next night the the 8th of January. Uh and then we're we have to take this to the uh to the state department uh of administrative services. I think it's 15th is our day. So this is this is the big really huge drawdown of of the money that we're we're we're tempting, but they they won't uh they won't do anything unless the the board and the town council approve the final plans. So we we actually wanted to give you Well, actually
053it's it's it's going to be the better part of 4 weeks to sort of think about this before the vote. Will the town council be invited to the presentation on December 10th? Yes. It So will the RTM members. And where will it be? Well, it's going to be in room 11. Uh but we we we think some of the town councilors will come and some of the pro tem education committee for the RTM will come. Uh We thought that was probably in terms of technology that was the best place to to show it and and to allow the board to interact. Got you. Is there a time on it? 6:00. 6:00. Just trying to make sure I have every ducky in the water. Yep. Got it. Any other questions? So I think we to your
054point I think that we wanted to make sure that we got to see it as much as possible and with at least one of the times being viewed um on camera. So that so that we it's another way of getting out the information to people. So I think um and um but we also have to sort of move with other people as well who are in the permanent school building. So Any any other any other stuff? That's all I had on the agenda to report on. >> Okay. Thank you. I'm sorry. I had one I had one correction. The board received the volunteer hours and uh and June and I uh normally work on this but the but the hours came in a little late from uh from the high school. But but the hours
055the hours are pretty huge at the high school. Uh for the month of October 508 hours for the band 108 hours for athletics and 500 hours for robotics. Wow. They are really churning and burning in all of those areas and How cool. Yeah, so it's uh 1,116 hours actually plus the 80. But I can't do that in my head. Nor can I. So we'll move on from that. All right. Um we're on our um committee reports. Lee for policy. >> Policy. Yeah, we um had some schedule problems at the beginning when we usually meet. So we met today. Um and it took us almost an hour to just do one thing in particular. Okay. >> But we will be ready to bring it to the board the last one in December. Awesome. Thank you very
056much. Um curriculum. Well, curriculum hasn't met. But now we're going to have a quorum. And I think we're going to change our our hours to 5:00 instead of 3:00. I think that'll make it better for all of us. So good things to be expected. Okay. Um and Katrina my understanding is that you will be presenting for finance and facilities. Yes. There was a lot of stuff. Some of it will be has been discussed here. Um the only reason I'm doing it is cuz Jay is out of town. So everyone knows that's why he's not here. Um we reviewed the budget schedule. Along with that as you had um previously mentioned, we um reviewed the budget format. It is going to be a little more expanded which is basically going back to the way the budget
057was presented prior to Dr. Grenier getting here with a couple additions. Okay. >> Um let's see. Oh, and the budget I counted we're supposed to be attending 11 meetings for the budget deliberations not including subcommittees for the RTM. It's a lot. Well, I I I think that we put that much in because it's easier to say we don't need that budget meeting versus um to say that we do need um cuz it becomes a special and you can't do anything to it. So I think I think that we wanted to get that on record so that um so you know, if if it's do if we do our due diligence and and we only need seven of those 11 meetings, then that's all we need. Um but we I I also didn't want to create
058a space where we needed 11 and we only allotted six. And I think we've used them all before. I think we have. Yeah. Okay, we also reviewed the impact aid that just arrived one of our payments. Um we reviewed well, we looked at Tree House which is our child care before and after school program versus other providers and let me tell you we are the biggest deal in town significantly which is really great for us. We also discussed the possibilities of a scholarship which we will be finalizing shortly hopefully. Okay. Um we then reviewed the high school athletic event admiss- admission report summary and the basics of that were that someone had um made a statement from the podium about the cost and so we looked at all that stuff and also I did not
059realize that there's an annual pass that you can get for $40 for two adults and that students can get an annual pass for $20. Is that for all the athletics or just volleyball? The season. The for all Yeah, I think it's the winter season the indoor season plus the football. And the Ledyard when we have the Ledyard game between that it the admission is split between Fitch and Ledyard. Mhm. Okay. Um we also looked at the IT schedule and priorities for the whiteboard repair replacement program and there was further info that we wanted um and which will be coming to us at the next finance and facility. We talked about the DOD supplemental grant and I think that's it. Does Does the finance and facilities come up with a recommendation about how we to go
060to further with the athletic um The athletic the athletic admissions cover basically everything except one third of the high school athletic program. Everything from um police to um like CIAC membership um event security if it's separate from the police. So and then other So I I I hear you investigated which I'm so appreciative of that you guys got into the weeds with that. Um but is will you guys be coming forward with a recommendation about that? No, you No, we just wanted to review it because someone had asked us what had made a comment citizen had brought that up as a concern that the tickets were um too expensive if you have a big family. Right. Yeah. So there was no um we wanted to look into it and that citizen was told that we
061would be discussing it tonight where I would be giving a report and if he has any further questions, he's free to come in on and or contact us. Okay. The big picture I Mhm. I'm not sure I heard you say it. Uh out of all the events for all the events where we collect fees the the uh the district collects or the sports program really collects $28,000 uh for those events not not not count salaries of course it's about $44,000. So uh all of that money goes to pay for those those events. So I think I think what the what the committee looked at is if we we change all or part of that structure we we would we would have to add that to the budget be- because it does pay for officials and
062buses and staff security that that that sort of thing for these uh so I think the committee felt that uh adding an additional $28,000 to to the budget would be uh would be a hardship. We'd have to get rid of something else. Right. >> And this is help partially self-sustaining financially. >> did not make a recommendation to change. Okay. All right. Um moving on to LEARN. We had a presentation by the New London Public School the new superintendent Cynthia Ritchie which was very interesting. Um New London is an opportunities district. It's one of the few in the state and because of that they receive quite a bit of um extra financial aid. Um uh we also um had a round table discussion about the start date for children entering school. Um right now Connecticut is
063the only state out of all 50 states that has a January 5 before January 1st start date and um we will be writing letters to the state and asking for that date to be changed. >> [laughter] >> We discussed how there's a skills gap of those students entering without pre-K experience and the need for a regional pre-K offered district wide which would be wonderful. [clears throat] I would love to see four-year-olds in our schools full time. Um it makes such a difference for the children. So I know the CEA has often has had a lot of writing to the state dep- um to you know, the state senate and the and the the house because it is so important for that date to be changed. So especially with all they need to know now in
064kindergarten. It's al- almost overwhelming. And we had um let's see. What else did we talk about? A lot of things. Oh, um Dr. Hawley shared with some of the samples of the LEARN professional development for the region that the regional multicultural magnet school hosted a two-day International Baccalaureate training and that the Marine Science Magnet High School partnered with the Groton City Police Department for an active violence training experience and that was really very interesting to hear and and what a great partnership they have. They're they're in such close proximity to the city police so as we are to the town police here. Um and LEARN Support Services also did a an in-service workshop regionally on dyslexia. So that's about it. Thank you very much. Um oh, sorry. Go ahead. >> No, I just and I
065was also at two, um, negotiations committee for, uh, their teacher negotiations, which has been finalized. It was just an opening for salaries. And I'll be at a meeting tomorrow morning. Yay. 8:30. Oh, Casey making them breakfast? No. No. No. Um, the next is the Board of Ed, um, and the Town Council and the, uh, City Council and the RTM liaison, and we met in in November, the first, um, the first Wednesday in November. Um, once again, it's a great time, um, just for the the the the bodies to kind of get together and kind of talk and to, um, understand sort of what was going on. We did it, we spent a lot of our time talking about the 2020 plan, um, and I think that that that feels like that was, um, it. Um,
066trails, uh, liaison, Gretchen. >> I look forward, as I always do, looking to improve trails for people so they can continue to enjoy them. Working on the areas to make them more animal-friendly, and and sort of like find that little balance because it's very difficult in these green zones. Beaches. >> [laughter] >> Well, it depends on the dog. No. Okay. But >> [laughter] >> I I won't go into my personal feeling on that one. >> [laughter] >> Thank you. >> [snorts] >> You're welcome. Um, so they're working hard. Okay. And what about the Brown scholarship? >> up after your dogs. That would be great, too. Brown scholarship is continuing to move forward. I don't think we're having a meeting in December cuz it's usually the Christmas party, so I usually skip the December meeting. Um,
067they move forward, they're collecting money, get your money in before December 31st so that you can get a tax break. All right. Awesome. That's a good That's a good, um, word. Um, and the one that's not on here is negotiations, and hopefully tonight, um, we will be able to finalize our end of that in terms of the fact that we will be voting on the teachers contract, um, that the negotiation team worked on with the teachers, um, union, um, for then for it to be then sent to the Town Council. Um, we are now at the actual Katrina. I had a question for you. You said you mentioned, um, IB training. Was that for their primary year program and for their I'm sorry, you mentioned IB training. Yes. Was that for New London's primary years
068or high school or what? >> Primary. The regional multicultural magnet school is going to be an IB primary primary school, which would be wonderful because then it would just go right, you know, the students, especially the Groton students, will then just sort of matriculate to back to our to our IB programs. Great. Thank you. Um, we're now into the consent agenda, um, and I will take a motion for approval of the consent agenda. So have a second? I'll second that. >> So we had a second it, Andrea first did it. Any discussion? No. Hearing none, all those in favor of the approval of the consent agenda, please say I. I. Oppose? Abstain? Motion has carried. We would like to say, um, thank you to Your Cause LLC trustee for Pfizer annual giving campaign, um, which
069was actually Su- Susan Cole, um, and there has been a donation of $125 to the CV Hiking Club. Thank you very much. Um, there is no old business, new business. Um, I am just not going to read, um, read that for any further just because of, um, the potential of conflict of interest, so I'm asking my, uh, vice chair. Discussion and possible action regarding the Farm to School grant application. We would need a motion. A motion. You have to read the motion. I thought you talked I thought >> Okay, that's fine. Can we have we just have a motion for that? I'll make a Gretchen. Have a second? I'll second it. Sorry, I made this clunky. I didn't need to make it clunky, so I apologize to Andrea. I profusely apologize to you. Um, I
070made that clunky. Um, we had talked about this in the committee of the whole, um, about the program. In fact, we had a great presentation about all the stuff that they wanted to do to extend it out. Um, I was just not wanting to be part of the conversation cuz I didn't want to show any undue influence at all in the fact that I have people who are involved in that who are members of my family. So, um, but we had a presentation, um, any other discussion? No, it was wonderful. So all those all those in favor of the motion to approve the Farm to School grant, please say I. I. Oppose? Abstain? Motion has carried. [clears throat] Sorry once again about the clunkiness. Um, Katrina, could you read number three, please? I'd like to
071make a motion to approve class size guidelines. Have a second, please? Oh, well, um, could you do two instead of three? I would re- move my motion for number three. Okay, I'd like to make a motion to approve the 2019-2020 proposed school calendar. The, um, agenda says 2010. Right. We have to modify that. Well, she did. Oh, goody. Look at that. It does. Can I have a second? Second. Okay, so Leah seconded it. >> [clears throat] >> So this was also something that we've had some major conversations in a lot of the committee of the whole, um, meeting. Um, Dr. Grenier, can you just orient us to what this looks like? Well, we also consulted with the teachers union, the administrators union. Uh, we've had some, uh, good talks about this. This calendar is, uh,
072very reflective of the regional calendar. So I'll just go through quickly. Uh, it would start with the teachers on the 26th of August. The children then the teachers would have three days of PD. Uh, children would come in on Thursday the 29th, uh, and have school the 30th, and uh, Sep- September, of course, uh, we would be off for Labor Day. In October, the the big change from prior years to try to pick up one flexible snow day is that there will be school, if this calendar passes, on the the 14th of October, which is uh, typically, uh, celebrated for Columbus Day. So we would have school on Columbus Day. Uh, in November, uh, the 27th of November, which is to say the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, I received a lots of really positive comments, by
073the way, today, uh, for people saying what a delight it was to have the whole day off be- before to give to give a five-day, uh, Thanksgiving break in in instead of, uh, just just having, uh, early release that day. But anyway, so this calendar would have the whole day off Thanksgiving Eve. Uh, Christmas is right there, as you can see. Uh, January, uh, Martin Luther King, uh, holiday, February, the two-day February break. Uh, the 13th is, uh, regional PD day. I should have mentioned November 5th is a regional PD day. So we are in lockstep with all the other districts. April vacation, everyone in the region is celebrating the 10th through the 17th as our the 10th is is Good Friday, uh, through the 17th as our April vacation. Uh, May, we just have
074Memorial Day. And then this would have us ending school on the 11th if there were no snow days. So it gives us the calendar gives us six snow days, and of course, if the board so desired, there could be that 181st day that could be turned from a student day into a into a PD day. So this calendar would have seven, uh, and still have graduation on the 19th. Um, you know, who who knows. So the major change, um, has been has been the October 14th. Correct. Which was something that we all sort of agreed to that kind of gave us that time. Okay. Any other conversation? All those in favor of approving the school calendar for the 2019-2020, um, school year, please say I. I. Oppose? I'm opposed. I would prefer to have to
075start school after Labor Day on September 3rd. I think it's a hardship for families. I think it was successful this year that we did do that, and I'm disappointed that we're not going to be doing it this year. So I would rather go to school a little later in June. Any abstentions? Hearing none, the motion has carried. Leah, would you be willing to read number three, please? Discussion and possible action regarding the class size town line guidelines of attachment number seven. The motion is to approve the class size town town guidelines. Easy for you to say. >> [laughter] >> Yep. All right. Um, can I have a second to that? Second. And that came from Jane? Okay. And so once again, this was something that we had been working on in the committee of the
076whole. This actually is something that we should be doing every year cuz it helps set the stage for our our parameters when we think about staffing and such. And so, do we have any other questions about this? All right, hearing Oh, Rita. Yes. Um I'm still looking for in the special areas at least having 20 students in the technology education class and 20 students in the consumer science class. 18 is not enough. There um and I know that there are space limitations, but I really think we need to focus on this. It's been years that we've had this and um there are so many students at Fitch that need electives. And with these limits to 18 students in a tech ed class and 18 in consumer science, it's a hardship. We don't have enough electives
077as is and I would like to see that somehow changed to 20. Can I ask a question um based on that? Uh and I don't know whether Sue or Dr. Grenier would know the answer. It says preferred maximum class size. So, once you get to 18, does that class get then shut off or does it >> No. Oh, it does. It does at the high school because they it it This is for us, but if you look at the Fitch they only have 18 and the consumer science is because they they said they don't have space. So, this we got actually right from the high school. Well, this is what I would say. You're right. Unfortunately, we do turn away students from family and consumer science classes or or now culinary arts classes. Right. Uh
078but it it really is a kind of a safety issue. We have a certain number of of stations for for technology education, for example. It's more of a problem in culinary arts. You're right. We we unfortunately have to turn children away. Uh but they are working with stoves and you know, and all that sort of thing and the state guidelines would encourage us to have about 18. But I can tell you if there was an opportunity, I mean we can certainly look into it. And you're right about the preferred if if we could we are always trying to get more children in in in these classes. So, I wouldn't I don't see this as the gospel that somebody would come back. And if we could in fact I'll I'll pursue it. I'll I'll I'll talk
079to the culinary arts people. Is it worth I mean, now that we have such a large culinary arts, you know, it's such a big program. Would it be worth having another classroom dedicated to this, you know, and having another stove put in because it is a very robust program at the high school. Right. Well, we would need another teacher and and you're you're right. There there are obviously the students that rotate by semester, but it is a very popular class. And for good reason, you know, it's good nutrition and and and it's good for male and female students to know a little something about cooking. Uh Uh we could we we could look into that. But but I I I wouldn't worry about this. I I think your larger issue is that that we we
080could use more electives. Yes. So, that's not about that. And also and and we also have the the the preferred maximum sizes. So, for me it's it's that It's the qualifier. Right. >> the right word? You are. The preferred. Okay. Um so, that to me feels what's in important. Do you have any more conversation? So, hearing hearing that >> have one. Oh, I'm sorry. Gretchen, thank you, Lee. I still feel strongly that grades four and five should be treated as elementary students and not lumped in with the middle school and high school students for classroom sizes. They're still little kids. I'd like to see sort of all those numbers go down, but that's a perfect world where we don't have budgets and classroom size and certain size spaces. That's just In the future if we
081ever win the lotto Well, in reality we're actually with you. Yeah, I know that. >> We we really want 22 23 to be the absolute maximum. Right. Unfortunately, sometimes well, we talked about this last time. As we consolidate schools and we have more than two two fourth grades, that's that's the real problem. When When you have 49 kids show up for for two fifth two fourth grades, then you you've got problems. >> Joyfully, we're not a system that says for every kid you take over 21, we'll give you a 100 bucks a week. Right. So No, we're not doing >> a lot of teachers in other districts that are very happy to take 27 kindergarteners. >> [laughter] >> Thank thank you. Thank you, Gretchen. Is there any more [clears throat] Is there any more um
082Praise for the Christmas conversation? Okay. Okay, hearing none, all those in favor of to approve the class size guidelines that have been um that have been presented, please say I. I. Oppose? Abstain? Motion has carried. Thank you, guys. Um Rita, have I asked you to read? No, I'd be happy to. >> Thank you. Number four, please. Motion to approve the purchase of fifth grade Chromebooks using the DOD supplemental impact aid grant. Thank you. Can I have a second? I'll second that. That's from Seconded from Katrina. All right. And I think we have an attachment on that. Ken, you want to talk a little bit about this? So, we received for FY18 261 a little bit more than 261,000 uh in for the Department of Defense supplemental impact aid. Uh we have expended to date 111
083for the grade nine Chromebooks and for CAB and NSBA dues. Um so, that leaves a balance from that 261 of just a little under 150,000. Uh and so, this this 40,000 for these Chromebooks would leave us with a little bit less than 110,000 for just this year's um grant receipt. So, this would give us a 30 Chromebook cart for each of the six elementary schools and the the fifth grade Chromebooks are starting to age out. They're not It's not that they're not supported. What is it? It's like the the the just software. >> they won't be able to handle SBAC, but it does we can recycle them back for lower grades, but we just need to have more updated technology for fifth grade and any of the SBAC um you know, graded. Thank you. So,
084we're leaving assuming we only use the money from this year from the supplemental impact aid, there's there's about 110,000 dollars that's being left on the table. And and that's the the either the repair or the replacement of the of the interactive whiteboards that were um we're waiting for the high school to we the active boards that we are now getting are quite expensive. They're like $4,000 a piece. So, we're not sure we need interactive boards as opposed to large screen televisions. So, Dennis and the high school folks are are working that angle. Uh we're we're going to be able to fix and repair a a lot of it for for 110,000 district wide. But that decision is not yet been recommended. >> Okay. Any other question? All right, hearing none, all those in favor of
085the motion that's on the floor um to approve the purchase of the fifth grade Chromebooks using the DOD supplemental impact aid grant, please say I. I. Oppose? Abstain? Motion has carried. So, thank you. Our next item is actually something that we are going to go into an executive session for. I would entertain if people would be so willing that we just we hold that to the end of our meeting um so that we can do um parts of our agenda and then people can then go so they don't have to stay around for that. Um we'll do our executive session which once again is about the teachers contract and just making sure that the whole board is aware of the hard work that was done by the two parties. So, if that's okay. Yes. Okay,
086it looks like I've got full approval. All right, so let's go on to information letters of communications and comment by board members on meeting items and any other items in their jurisdiction. Katrina. Uh no, I have nothing. All right. Gretchen. Wait a minute. Did I do mine already? I'm sorry, what? Where are we? We are um >> communications meeting. >> Oh, did you receive any communications? Nothing that didn't come through the board on the first place. So, I've been rather insulated this last week. Yes, I know that you're working really hard on getting your masters. Very excited about that for you. Jane. I'm just back from an extended um health vacation. >> [laughter] >> Surgery and lots of fun things. So, nothing yet, but I'm back in town, guys. >> And very welcome back. Thank
087you. Yes. Andrea. Well, I didn't have anything until tonight. And then um I've never had a board a communication bring me to tears until tonight. I I received through you a letter from a student that my husband and I had 50 years ago. And he talked about how warmly he was welcomed to into our school by Keith and me. And then he had he had come here under very difficult situations. And then he he became an artist and drew for our school newspaper, the Tattler. And I I just want to thank Carrie Tilton for writing this letter. And Carrie, I will never forget that you are the kid who liked to pop wheelies on your bike. >> [laughter] >> Oh, how cool. Is that a good >> And he he he congratulated me on my
088my CAB recognition, but that has that doesn't even compare in any way to this letter. So, thank you, Carrie. Wow, Andrea. How cool. That to to be recognized 50 years later. That's neat. My friend, Lee. Your turn. What about you? Oh, I go that way. Oh, all right. Sure. Um I went to two veteran I went to one at West Side, which I think is wonderful. I go every year. I also went to the one that we had at Fitch. I also went to the mental mental health summit. I thought Janine was just you know, people said that she was not as radical as she usually is, but I thought she was divine. I really did. She was very funny, too. Yes, very funny. Rita. Oh, I I had the pleasure of attending Fitch's Veterans
089Day ceremony, um which was very moving. And I received a lot of communications um from people asking about the referendum December 11th. And I wanted to say how much we appreciate people coming out to the board meetings and speaking speaking to us. I mean, that it does mean a lot that take the time to come here for our monthly meeting, so. That's about it. Good point. Um is someone willing to talk about or maybe could we make sure that for those for people who went to the CAB conference, which was just recently, um but that I think that that would be really kind of um interesting for us to um have that. And maybe I'll put that on the Committee of the Whole just So, if you guys could just pick up a couple of
090highlights of things that you picked up, that would be great because um uh CAB, which is the Connecticut Association of Board of Boards of Education, um has their annual conference the Thursday before No, the Friday Saturday uh before Thanksgiving. Um and it's uh luckily always in our back door, um which is in Mystic or it has been in Mystic for the past several years. Um and I know that uh some of us um attended as a board member. So, it would be nice to kind of hear and Dan. Nice job. Yeah. Um and so, for me um I just had lots of uh lots of communication around the referendum um both the current the one that's coming up in December uh 11th. Um and my understanding is that if people wanted information about that referendum,
091that the information is on the town website and that that they could access um that information, at least the explanatory text. >> The explanatory text is on is on there. Um Katrina. I meant to mention something during my report for Facilities and Finance is that all of those meetings that we will be having on budget will be posted and we really would like the public to come. That's it. Okay, thank you. Um and so, just that's um the next part of our is just a calendar of events that are coming on. Um so, our next one it we will have um we won't be spending as much time together in December, but we'll make up for it in January and February. Um but we'll have the Committee of the Whole and then we'll have the
092Board of Ed meeting um on the 17th. Um and I believe Policy is meeting on December 17th. Where exactly is the meeting? It's Friday. Okay. So, we will have something to say. >> [laughter] >> I'm sorry. Again. There's a conflict with Finance and Facilities, so if we could have some email and talk about that. Thanks. Um and then um we do have that we're having the the town body meet on December 5th, but I'm actually um thinking that that will be um canceled just because there's so much stuff going on. Um but I guess I need to get get to people. Um Oh, that's the Teacher of the Year thing, so I can't make it and Sue can. You're saying that we're not doing liaison? >> I'm not this month. Not the the December. And
093I will make sure that that that message gets out um tomorrow. Cuz it's next It's next week. Right. Right. All right. Um All right. Is there anything else in terms of suggested agenda items? I had one. I'd like for the Committee of the Whole I was going to I don't know if I need to do a referral, but about the the Fitch High School the early dismissals every Tuesday. I think that we need to review that. It's time. Okay, that's it. And I'm going to put that in a COW so we can have um a full conversation about that. Super. Thank you. >> in January, whenever. Okay, thank you. Anything else? All right. Hearing none, I will entertain a um motion. No? No. >> Please. Um I I Right. I'm I am going to make
094a motion to move um the board to move into an executive session um and that we would have guests of Dr. Graner and our business manager and Susan. Can I have a second? I'll second. All right. As long as I get to strike while I do it. All right. All those in favor of moving into executive session with our two guests, please say I. I. All right. Um opposed? All right. So, >> stay here.