6-24-19 Groton Board of Education Meeting

001Hi, I'm Amanda Mcich. >> Hi, I'm Bethany Kraxton. >> Hi, I'm Jory Arsmania. >> Keep watching GPS 19. It's the only way you'll catch us. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Good evening. Today um is >> 24th. >> Today is Monday, June 24th, and we are at um the Grten uh board of education regular meeting. So, it's actually a televised meeting. Um and we're going to start off our meeting with the pledge of allegiance. So, if we could all stand and I'm wondering if one of >> if one of the members of the hiking club would be willing to start. And Mr. I would let you >> we already discussed this. >> Okay. >> Oh, how nice. >> I pledge alce to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands,

002one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. So, the first um item that is on our agenda is we are having guests today and is the hiking club and they're going to give us a presentation. And I just first wanted to say welcome. My name is Kim and I get to I get the really lucky job about being the chairperson. So, that just really means I get to run the meeting. And the other lovely people that are sitting next to me um are board members outside of Dr. Grineer um who is our superintendent. And what our job is is that we get to live in the town of Grten just like you guys do. And we get to have really long conversations and think think long thoughts about how we want our

003schools to look. What are some of the programs that that we think are going to be cool? What what are some of the things that our teachers are going to do? In fact, you have one of the teachers that are in the back of you. Um, and that is um, Miss Huller. Um, and so that's what we get to do. We get to be together um, quite a bit. Sometimes four Mondays, but most oftentimes three Mondays in a row we get to spend time and have these great conversations about um, about our kids. And so that's what that's what a board of ed does. Um and um so I am now going to pass it over to you guys so that we can hear about the lovely things you have done. >> Okay. So you

004thought you were in charge for a little bit. We'll see about that. So I don't have a whole lot to say tonight. They've gone through this a couple of times. I've got uh several fourth graders here and one fifth grader. And Jacob was here last year as well. He presented last time as well. So this is his second time doing this. We got out of school a little bit late, so we came here a couple hours early to practice. So, we're just going to go with this hurricane and hopefully everything goes well and we'll see how it is. I'm just going to run the slideshow and then I'm going to pass the baton over to these guys. Who's first? Hi, my name is Jacob and I did hiking club last year and I did hiking

005club last year and really enjoyed it. So, I wanted to join again this year and had a really fun time. >> Jacob, could you just make sure that you speak really close to the microphone? >> Um, so no, it's on. >> Is it Is it on? >> Yes, it is. >> My name is Jacob. >> Yes, it was. And I really enjoy I was in hiding club last year and I really enjoyed it. So I decided to jo join again this year and I really enjoyed it this year also and I am really sad that uh I can't do it in sixth grade. Whoever. >> Hi, I'm Lexi and I did hiking club this year and I really enjoyed it. >> Hi, I'm Jesse and my spirit animal is a komodo dragon. >> Hi, I'm

006Alana and I did hiking club this year and I plan to do it again next year and I really enjoyed it. Hi, my name is Chloe and I this is my first year and I really enjoyed all the hikes that we did. >> Yay. >> Um on the first day of New Hampshire, we had we had to hike up to Carter Notchut and it was a 3.8 8 mile hike, which sounds like a lot, but it was really not that tiring for some people. [Laughter] And we the we had to take the bus. We had to wake up at 5:00 in the morning and take the bus uh the five 5-hour trip to New Hampshire. And we got there at about 11:00. This is a picture of the us crossing a bridge out of many

007bridges that we crossed and and we also saw a couple small waterfalls. On day two, we hiked up Carter Dome, which is the ninth highest mountain in New Hampshire. We saw a lot of cool animals when we w when we hiked that mountain and we had we found a rock playground thing and it was we had a 5minute quiet time and that picture right there is a picture of me and it was in a rock cave that we found. This is a picture of Xavier who um there we post a lot cuz there was a lot of snow and it was very deep. Post hauling is when you fall into the snow in a deep hole and and it was very deep. Postalling is kind of like she's like Lexi said, like Lexi said, it

008is like when you fall through when the snow is not >> you're walking on top of the snow and it's not as pushed down and you go through the snow and you go pretty deep like Xavier did. And but if you stay in the middle where everyone walks, it's packed down so it like is it you won't go through as often. Oh, wait. >> This is a picture on the top of Carter Dome of most of the hiking club members and we were very happy to reach the top of Carter Dome. >> I'm going to add to it that there are some adults in the picture. You can see them. A couple of teachers went to school. You'll see one high school student. That's Patrick. He was he's been joining the group for the last

009three or four years as well. So you'll see one very large elementary student. That would be Patrick. >> This is the summit which is 4,832 ft high of Carter dome. And one picture is of Carter and he was feeding a bird in his hands which was very cool. And then the other picture is Mr. Sibilia and he was well he had a big block of cheese and sausage. >> Oh good. Here is a picture of the hiking club members in front of Wildcat and there's a lot of fog on the top. So it on day three it was really windy and cold and but it was we we did not have a good view when we got to the top because you it was so foggy that you could not see anything on the bottom.

010You were you all you saw was the trees around you and then white >> and that's too good. >> Here's our last day when we were eating a lot of ham and rice. And here's our And here's our lovely friend Jacob smiling really really big cuz he loves ham. [Laughter] Oh, wow. You did the dishes >> here. Here everyone, we have to um do dishes every day and morning after we have a meal. So, here are some activities that the hiking club has done. One of our favorites was scatter ball. Um, it's one of when if the ball was on the ground, the person could pick it up, whoever picked it up can throw it at somebody and everybody freeze. Another favorite was dodgeball. Dodgeball was a very, very fun game for most people. And

011one of our overnight trees castle was Devil's Hop and Pock Forest. And that's one of our favorites, too. And the book that we read this year was Lost on the Mountain of Maine. A boy named Don was lost um on a mountain of Maine and he was only 12 years old for about 10 days with no food. >> Wow. >> Mostly And this is the day when we were on Wildcat. And um as you can see, it's very foggy in the background and there's some snow and most people are probably very done with it. >> Are you in there? >> I don't think so. >> Okay. Oh. >> Um, this is on the third day. Last year we did a morning hike every day. But this year we did not have I'm so sorry. >>

012This year we did not have enough time each morning cuz we had to get on our hikes. But on the third day, the third day was the only day that we had a morning hike. And only four people went. Only four kids went that. and I I was one of them and I really enjoyed it. We did a walk around the lake. This is the last day we had completed hiking up two mountains and we were waiting for the bus to come. This this was on the way home and we stopped at this restaurant called T-Bones and everybody likes it a lot. Oh, >> thank you for the support. >> Can I ask a question? >> Yeah. >> Who was the one that got the bird on the finger? >> Um, that that was Carter

013and Yeah, that that was >> What kind of bird was it? Do you know >> at the hut? Um, Mr. Cabilia and Lexi and I were looking for the bird that landed on his hand, but we could not figure out what it was. >> Couldn't find it. >> He's a hungry. >> He probably didn't know who you were either. >> That sounds great. >> Boy, does that look like >> Oh, absolutely. We >> I have two questions. Was this the first time you saw snow when you hiked on your hikes in New Hampshire? me. >> Um, no. Last year there was a little snow at the top, but there was not a lot last year. There was a lot of more snow this year than last year. >> And could everybody tell me what your

014favorite thing was to eat? >> Good. >> I like the first Wait, no. Yeah, I like the ham and the I forgot and the rice. >> Okay, just so we know what to bring next year so Mr. Danner will know. Right. >> I like the ham, which it had rice and vegetables with it. >> Good. >> My favorite food was the spaghetti. >> The spaghetti. >> The what? I couldn't hear the spaghetti. >> Spaghetti. >> Wow. I love the ham with the and the rice. >> Good. >> I like the first meal of the night with Spanish rice, some sausage, and some vegetables in it. >> What about dessert? Did you make s'mores? >> No. >> Did you ever have dessert? >> Yes. >> Yeah, >> but it's a secret. We we had um the

015first night I think we had Scooby snacks, fruit snacks. Um and the second night and the second night we had or Oreo cookies and then the third night the third night we had pudding. >> They all tasted really good. >> Great. Gretchen, >> did you guys sleep in tents or in a cabin? >> We slept in a cabin. And there was a fifth grade boys cabin, a fourth grade boys cabin, and a girl's cabin. And there was bunk beds. >> Very, that's nice. >> Any other questions? Dr. B, >> I looking at all this food, I'm I'm wondering. You had to hike in four miles. who carried all this stuff? >> Uh we dis we distributed the f food uh between equally among the group the we had like each person maybe got a ham

016steak or a kilbasa. The fifth graders had to carry a little or the three returners had to carry a little more because we were a little more experienced and could carry a little more weight, but it did not really feel like it added a lot more weight. >> Good. >> How heavy was the pack? Any guess? >> Like 2 lbs. >> The bag was about 30 lb. Wow. >> Wow. >> That's a lot of weight for a little kid. Thank you. >> Wow. >> Well, I want to say Oh, did you have something to say? Did you want to say something? No. >> Um, during hiking club, we had a couple fundraisers and and the fundraisers helped us get our hiking club jackets and we got hiking club water bottles, which are those right there.

017Oh, >> and we got a hiking club hat. >> Cool. >> That's great. >> The fundraisers also helped us pay for the trip to New Hampshire. >> Awesome. >> That's terrific. >> Awesome. >> Thank you. I am just so appreciative of of you guys coming out and letting us hear about your trip. We're looking forward to hearing about the plans for next year. Um, and also to the moms and dads or or whoever brought you to say thank you. also for coming out and letting your um children share um their story. This is why we do what we do is to hear all the great learning and fun and adventure of the lifetime. So once again, thank you so much for coming. >> Thank you. >> Well, that's a way to start our meeting. >>

018Nice job. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Have a great summer. Fourth, >> fourth. Fourth and fifth. >> Jacob was the only fifth grader here. >> Yeah, >> he was the one that talked a lot cuz he's going to be in sixth grade next year. >> And he went last year. He's a two-year. Well, we certainly know how to clear out the group. All right. So, we're now at um the comments from citizens. Um this is the portion of the agenda 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 Graten. Um, board members will only ask questions in order to clarify the speaker's presentation and cannot respond during the comments portion

019of the of the board meeting. Citizens should make their presentation from the podium and state their name and address for the record. Is there anyone here who Absolutely. But you're going to need to take a mic with you. >> Just could have used my kindergarten voice. Good evening. My name is Beth Hler. I'm the president of the Graten Education Association. And I wanted to give a public shout out to the Fitch High School graduation committee and especially the maintenance crew that made graduation happen outdoors last Friday night. As you recall, it started out as a wet and dreary day and it was pretty iffy for most of the day. And the call to go ahead came with the outdoor uh for the outdoor ceremony came pretty late and then it rained again. And our maintenance

020guys did a fantastic job drying everything off. And I also want to give a huge shout out to Mark Russell and his crew for setting up in some not so tech friendly situations and uh broadcasting that wonderful ceremony live. Yes, >> we have amazing graduates and it was truly an honor to shake every hand after they walked across that stage last Friday night. So, I want to wish congratulations to the Fitch High School class of 2019. Um, the other thing that I would like to quickly um just say a couple words about, I am a strong proponent for trans transitional kindergarten. I think it is something that our town needs. We are the last state to have a December 31st cutoff. So we actually have on the first day kindergarten four years 7 and 1/2

0218 months in the same room with six-year-olds. And I think we need to give our kids a better start and a better foundation. So I strongly urge support for the transitional kindergarten program so we can do some awesome things. We do already do awesome things, but I think this can even take it to the next level. So, thank you very much. >> Are there other comments from the board? I mean from the All right. Um so that we could just if you could just wait one second so that we could just do a much better segue. Um since um our dear friend Beth brought up about transitional um uh kindergarten program, one of the things that came to the attention um to Mike and Sue after the agenda got um published was that there is

022no motion on here to approve the transitional um kindergarten program. And it is recommended that we do move forward on that for this coming year. Um, and if you can remember, we had um we had them come in and we've actually had every single committee, the whole meeting, we after the presentation, we've had conversations about it. So, we know that it's something that we want to have happen. And so, I am um I am asking um that we put um on our agenda um a motion to uh to go ahead and approve um the moving of the transitional kindergarten program. Um, and I do believe that when we get to that motion, so all I'm asking is for us for us to say yes, we can add this to the agenda. Um, and then when

023we get to that part of the agenda, >> we do have to make a motion to that effect. >> Well, to to add. >> Okay. I was going to do that. >> Good. >> Um, that once that once we make the motion um that and then it gets onto the agenda, then um Sue and Dr. Grineer um would would give us more information. um specifically we had some questions that they needed um to answer and I think that they are coming to this meeting with those at least um the um the answers to to to most of the questions. So I need to have a motion to add this to the agenda. >> So >> Gretchen, >> I motion that we move >> the transitional >> transitional kindergarten. >> Yep. Well, I don't know if

024it's academy, but transitional kindergarten >> section section >> to broadenes. >> Okay. Just a motion. I just need that to add that as a motion. >> I'm trying to get all the words you wanted in there. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. Um for the uh 2019 2020, >> I actually have a motion that Joe and I worked on discussion and possible action regarding the implementation of a one-year pilot transition K program for the 201920 school year. Does that meet people's needs? >> So, Gretchen, is that your motion? >> I think so. >> All right. And Joan, do you have that? >> Okay. Can I have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. All right. Do we have any discussion about the motion? >> Hearing none. >> Do it. >> Okay. Hearing none. All those in

025favor of at favor of adding this motion to tonight's agenda, please say I. >> I. I. Oppose. Abstain. Motion has carried unanimously. Maddy Addie, thank you for letting us do that. >> I don't think you're on. >> It's not on. Is there a little Is there a little button thing that you have to hit on that thing? >> Um Oh, that worked. Yep. >> Yep. On. Okay, good. Um, so my presentation is going to be a little bit shorter just because school is officially done. Um, so I'm trying to do an overview of the summer activities basically. Um, so updates from last meeting. The class of 2019 did graduate uh, Friday, June 21st. It was a beautiful ceremony. The um, weather eventually got good for the right moment, so that was great. um and beautiful

026speeches like Miss Horler said um graduation committee, the maintenance crew, Mr. Russell, everyone did an amazing job. And um I want to say congratulations to all of the seniors or former seniors, I guess, and graduates of Fish High School. Moving on to painted parking spaces. So, the class of 2020 is continuing class of 2019's fundraiser of painting the parking spots for seniors. Um, so this will be $40 $40 total, $10 for the parking space and $30 to paint it. The $30 goes directly to our class. And um, students wanting to participate have to retrieve the Fitch High School parking permit uh, from Mr. Diskin's office. Fill out the contract and the design request before Wednesday, August 21st. Um, and then the first painting day will be Friday, August 23rd. Um, from 1 to 5:00 p.m.

027And I'm excited about that because I love art and it's going to be beautiful. It makes the parking spaces very pretty. >> No pressure, but we can't wait to see >> Well, you'll see. Um, moving on to summer reading. Uh, so all students enrolled in an English class at Fitch High School this year have to do um summer reading assignments. So all students should have gotten that in class um before the end of the school year, but if not, all information is on Grten Public Schools website. Uh and then addition to the summer reading assignments, the um students who signed up for IB or AP classes, some of those courses require another additional summer assignment. Um so students can get in touch with their teacher through email. Um and finally, freshman orientation will be on

028Thursday, August 22nd and Friday, August 23rd from 8 to 11:00 at Fitch High School. Um, and this is also very cool because a lot of clubs and sports will also be coming to show freshmen, well to get them to join mostly, but also to show what we offer at Fitch High School and what they can be excited about. Um, that's where I end. >> So, congratulations on becoming a senior. >> Thank you. >> We're so excited. Yeah. >> And um I I do know that um you and Dan talked about the fact that you will not be the only one that will come to the committee the whole meetings or the regular board meetings and that person has been identified. >> So hopefully maybe in August we can >> Yeah. I'm going to invite Z.

029His name is Zay and he will come and I'm really excited. He's very very engaging and involved and he's going to be a great addition to this. So I'm excited about that. >> Yeah. I it sounds it sounds great and once again thank you very much for your leadership through the year. >> Dr. Grineer. >> Well, actually uh both Mrs. Horler and and and Addie Clark mentioned it. It it was in fact uh I thought a spectacular graduation. The kids were we just uh and I I think uh Sam and and Beth and and and Susan were part of the crew and I guess Rita and and Gretchen and the remarkable thing is kids look you right in the eye and you could see how how deeply appreciative they are. You know, it's it's just

030a it's it's so it's such a it's nice to give them diploma, but when they look back at you and really express their appreciation is really terrific. But again, as as Beth said, we started out with rain and Linda Branch and and her crew came out with with leaf blowers and blew the entire thousand seat stands down dry. And then it rained again. And they they blew the thousand seat bleachers dry again. And then it rained again. And then they did it for a third time. And when our guests showed up for this beautifully sunny day, you know, not quit, thank God that happened. Uh we had this uh phenomenal ceremony in on on a beautiful night. It looked like uh you couldn't even remember the rain and it was just it it was really

031really a special night. And then the kids went off to their parties and and so forth and it it was just uh really terrific. It was also the first year that everybody wore the same color, which was kind of nice. All the kids had red gowns with a kind of like a white sash to to it. And so that was that was really phenomenal. And now we uh not only has Addie begun her senior year, but we uh we've begun our summer work, and Susan's going to talk a little bit about that. A lot of a lot of stuff is is on tap for the summer, but actually and Sam will talk about his work as too many times the public doesn't have the right information. So, this is definitely newsworthy. Over the summer, a

032lot is accomplished and we have many teachers um helping out with um curriculum development involved in professional development um and some summer learning opportunities and the camps. So, I'm going to start with the page that you see in front of you, summer curriculum work. And this keeps me pretty busy too over the summer. But in all our five core areas, English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and world language, K12, teachers are reviewing their pacing guides. They're making assessments for grammar and conventions so that we can come back to the board and share the results of how kids are doing. Um, they're also looking at their assessments, making sure they're tied in with the Common Core and ESPback, the Connecticut CPS and ESBAC. Um, and social studies and science are really just getting underway. ELA

033and math have had a little more time to work on this. This whole week, world language is involved and they're actually going through professional development along with curriculum writing. So, we've really married the two. We think it's really essential we start with a curriculum kickoff and Dr. G and I have actually called it boot camp because it really gets our our yourself together and situated and we look at the um handbook the curriculum handbook and what the expectation is for the board of ed document what we want to accomplish on that um page that is for the curriculum writing for teachers so how they can design their lessons. So, it's been just wonderful so far and a lot has been accomplished like in 3 days already. So, I I just couldn't be more pleased. Um,

034and the teachers are really appreciative too. We had phonics work being done by K&1 teachers as well. And the hope is that when they go back in September, they are ready to go. They have everything at their fingertips on this website and we can share it with new teachers who come along. And we will also be reviewing all this curriculum work on our um date in August, August 27th, which is a district-wide day. We're going to take a half day to work with grade levels and departments to share this great work that teachers have accomplished. The other thing Addie had mentioned that um we have summer learning opportunities. She mentioned what's going on at Fitch and we actually if you go to the front page gratenschools.org org and you look at summer um Grten summer

035learning opportunities there's districtwide when you click on every school and it goes to the school phase page and it has all the opportunities it has we're really um using the governor's reading and um math challenge as our core and so are the library so we also have a community section you see um you the board had asked me to get the librarians together and to really have a task force of how can we share resources. Well, boy are they being shared because not only are our schools open in the summer, every single one um so that kids and kids know when to come in and exchange books, they were given a lot of books on their way out um you know going home for summer. And we're also um opening them up to the um

036camp programs and we're also we have um a knowing club that has um offered to give us books and we're going to be bringing them to the meal site where Ernie has camps and we have you know breakfast and lunch being served and we're also serving up reading and um so we're very excited and it gives parents even the Dreambox site and the Lexia site so kids can go on their technology and continue to use these great programs that we have during the school year. So, that was really quite an accomplishment from this group and some of you were on that group so you know and I appreciate it. Thank you. And then um today was day one of the summer writing academy which you've known about. This is our last year of the grant,

037our last year um doing the summer writing academy funded by the Department of Defense. Um and then we have the second part of the day for students can be a STEM academy. We have some kids just coming for writing. We have some kids just coming for STEM and we have some children staying the whole day and um Ernie has planned to have that as a meal site for this week. So the are we are able to transport them through the grant. They're able to have a full day experience with some of our um most wonderful certified teachers. Um, and I would say there's 350 students and I don't know the exact count. I can get that to you, but it's about a dozen in the STEM component and I think it's a double that amount

038for the the writing component. So, our teachers are so busy with professional development. Some of you even traveled for my for some of those conferences through the grants for IB. Um, AP AP is changing. So there's more coursework that they're having to travel to go receive. So it's a real shout out to our teachers and our administrators who, you know, will take vacations and will hopefully have time for reflection um in a very busy summer, but also are contributing so much to our school district by doing this work. So, I think um that's about it and then I have some information on transition pay for you later on. Oh, one other shout out. ESPback data is already back. It's still embargoed, but we received it back about a week ago and already I'm starting to

039put together some data charts. I've got um you know, the administrators helping me out. Um but it's exciting. So far, we're seeing some real tremendous growth that I can't wait to share once they release it so that we can share it with the public and parents will be receiving the information hopefully before the start of school. So, they've really moved things along now that it's digital. They're able to get us that feedback right away. So, it's very exciting. >> Wow. >> All right. >> Hello, Mr. Knight. How are you? >> Good. How are you? I'm Dandy. >> So, uh, we're looking at our object code summary. That's attachment number one. Uh, so on our budget of 76,485922, we currently have a projected unexpended balance of 14,143. >> Woohoo. >> So, that represents about about two

040100s of percent. So, uh, >> again, it's about 25 cents per kid. >> Yeah. >> Uh, but we feel confident that we'll we'll end the we'll end this year um, uh, with no problems. >> Wow. >> And there are invoices that come in some sometimes a little bit late. So, we probably won't end literally with 14,000. Probably end with like 6,000. >> Yeah. the final payroll is going to uh post on Wednesday. Uh and we're still uh running through some final bills. So uh but we're somewhere in this area. >> Any other questions for that? >> So the insurance report >> is exhibit two and uh so for the month of April we uh claims came in at 93.3% of budget. Uh year to date 90.4%. Uh this is tracking very much like last year.

041Uh last year we were at um 89.3% year-to date uh through April. Uh both May and June we anticipate uh to be uh over budget. Uh last year it was 117 and 123% um respectively. Uh I would anticipate that we'd end up somewhere around 95% of budget uh this year. What will that have you looked at the projection of the of the reserve then? >> Yeah, that'll that'll bring us right into where we thought we were going to be on the reserve. >> 580. Okay. About $580,000 would be added to the reserve. So we'll next meeting we'll we'll give a report on exactly well >> yeah next next we'll probably only have May's uh so June's it takes a little bit longer because it's the last one of the year >> but but by August

042we'll know >> where we are with the health insurance reserve and the board will remember we we use 1.3 million this year uh well actually next year >> so we have to >> yeah keep our eye >> we have to cover Yeah. Yeah. >> Mr. Kilpatrick. >> Good evening, sir. >> Yeah. So, uh, as everybody else has already spoken about, uh, tonight, the graduation went off without a hitch the other night again. And thanks to Linda Branch and her day crew of Bill and Will and also the night crew. Sandy Walton had all of her crew out there, as Dr. explained uh blowing off the bleachers and wiping down the chairs and so on and so forth. And that crew was Mark, Damen, Alex, Tyrone, Rhonda, Wayne, Cindy, and Ed. So, I wanted to make

043sure that I got a chance to mention everybody's name. We really appreciate all the efforts that they went through, as well as our electricians, uh, Joe Montgomery and, uh, Dan Strang, who worked with Andy Kidd, uh, and Mark to get all of that stuff done, too. All the IT stuff done. So, uh, thanks to all of them for a great job. Uh, a quick report on, uh, what's going on with the 2020, uh, plan, uh, with regards to the Graten Middle School. I I don't know if you've seen it, uh, but, uh, I reported it at the, uh, cow meeting at least, that there's steel, there's concrete being poured, there's steel going up. Uh, I took a walk the other day with Rick Norris. Uh, went around the entire site. It is really going to

044be an impressive site when you get over there. You're really going to be impressed by it. Um and so uh and and I was there and there were still two more stories that needed to go up on the academic wing. So it's going to be a very impressive building uh to say the very least. Uh we also have a meeting with uh our IT department, our security department this week with the architects to go over uh some of the IT and security issues that uh we'll be implementing in the new uh middle school. As far as the elementary schools, again reported at the CO that we will be doing a tank removal at Westside Middle School this summer as uh early work and I guess uh rerouting the uh sewer line at Cutler Middle School.

045Uh so those will be taking place. Uh the maintenance department uh maint custodial department has a few summer projects lined up in addition to the normal stuff that we do all summer long. It's a great time of year because it's our really our busiest time of the year because we get uh uh less activity in the buildings. Not no activity, but less activity so we can get a lot more things done uh without running without worrying about when the bell's going to ring and the kids are coming down the hallway. Um, number one is, uh, the waterproofing of the beams at both Northeast Academy and, uh, Kathern Kolaski. We're also removing an oil tank at Claude Chester School, which is required by law that we take it out this year. Uh, we have a big

046uh, HVAC uh, a coil replacement that would do HVAC repair at Katherine Kolaski as well. Uh, the water heater project at the high school will be wrapping up in the next week or so. uh a water uh heater replacement from the uh just 10 years old and uh that had to be replaced. Um and I'm hoping that um we will also get to you may recall that when uh the seniors uh wanted to paint their parking spots that we kind of made a deal with them that uh they could paint their parking spots but we would no longer um uh paint uh the uh concession stand. So, I'm hoping that we'll be able to get the roof and the siding done on that so it uh has a nice appearance for next football season. So,

047hoping to get to work on that this summer. And also what's coming down the pike very shortly. I am uh on a phone uh call tomorrow with Fussen O'Neal who is our consultant on the Northeast Academy issue. and uh they'll be um we'll be going over a uh a report a draft report anyways and they'll be making some recommendations on things that probably uh some of those things I'll be doing this summer too but um exactly what that is um I'm not at liberty to discuss yet but after tomorrow's meeting with them uh when it becomes a a a final report uh we'll we'll talk in more detail about that and uh of course You may have also heard that the Pleasant Valley School is going to be turned over to the town relatively soon.

048So, um, our guys have been down there already, uh, for the last few days, um, uh, cleaning out some of the stuff. Um, and, uh, the rooms that we can clean out ourselves, uh, we will do. And I have a an environmental company that will come down and clean out the rooms that have the, uh, the mold issues in them. So, uh, hopefully, uh, that will go smoothly and, uh, we'll be able to turn that over to the town. Um, there will be some use of the building once the town has it. And, uh, I'm sure we'll be cooperating and doing some some work with them on the building as as those needs arise. So, that's what I have. if there's any questions. I >> I'm just once again just the amount of work that

049your crew does um not only just behind the scenes like for the graduation and I'm really glad that there was a lot of people that recognize that but that also the summer Susan to your point that your our teachers are busy in the summer and our administrators are busy but that our that the people who who make the our our spaces as great as they are um are really busy. So once again, um I know I speak for the board. Thank you very much um to you and your crew for all that. >> Thank you. I'll share that message. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. >> So if there's no other uh questions or whatever, I am going to move us on to um committee reports. Um policy. I think Lee, we are going to

050be busy with policy tonight, are we not? >> We are. We are going to be very busy because at the last board of ed, we ran fairly late. that we're going to talk about the policies we were going to do in May. Now we're going to do them today. We continue to be busy. Thank you very much. Lee curriculum. curriculum has I want to say that we have endorsed the the um courses proposed by the high school and that we're recommending that the board the full board give its approval to to the writing of that curriculum. Uh I have to say that um I I really want to thank Mrs. McKenna for spending an hour and a half with me as she she defended the use of graphic novels because I was 100% against them.

051And I read the one book, one region, one book, Hey Kiddo, and all the way through it, I was in my car. It took me an hour to read it. And all the way through it, I was in my car saying, "You can't be you cannot be serious. This is awful. This is terrible." And I was nobody else was in my car and I was shouting at the top of my lungs. And then I said, you know, I got to the to the last pages and it was not even part of the book. It was the author's notes and reflections upon his writing of the book. And I said, as I said to the committee of the whole, this book will not teach writing. This book will not teach literature. This book will not teach

052art, but it will teach kids. So, I have to endorse it with full with my full heart. And I also want to thank Adam Diskin for sitting with me for a good hour and going through the apex uh curric curriculum that they're going to be using as supplemental this summer. And that's it. >> Wow. Thank you very much. um finance facilities both um Katrina and Jay are not here. Jane um we did talk a lot of things about the committee of the whole but is um and some of them are actually are going to be on the motion but do you have anything that you would like to add? >> My my love in life is not finances to begin with. That's where I come from. Um but I find it fascinating. I find uh

053Jay and the others on the committee teaching me um it's an extremely important group of people doing um important work. >> Thank you Jane. >> Just a footnote if I could. Uh the committee also looked at the community eligibility provision uh and we'll be talking about that tonight. Uh and looked at the salary recommendations uh >> and the lunch meal >> for the and the and the lunch prices. Um, so there's a there there's a a few things here that the finance committee actually reviewed and endorsed. >> Yep. Okay. Um, negotiations. Um, we are in we are in the midst of um uh negotiations with um our uh pair professionals and in August we'll be starting with the administration. So we are we we are actually we're going to be in the busy time of

054our for us. Um and learn Rita um learn's meeting was on June 13th. It was a very busy meeting. They celebrated um the results, outcomes and accomplishments of all seven of the learned schools. Dr. Grineer came to the breakfast which was so nice. You could have the board member as well as the superintendent. So that was wonderful that he was there. Um because Dr. Holly is um retiring as of June 30th, the new the new um director was also introduced. I believe her name is Kate Ericson and I think she'll be fantastic. Um the Ocean Avenue Learning Center had its grand opening on June 6th and that was extremely successful. Um what was so heartwarming about this was that the um a lot of the members of the former synagogue um which now has become

055the Ocean Avenue Learning Center um came to the celebration and they felt that it it is in keeping with the sacred space that it was I think with these students there and and the students are so happy there. Um the teachers are happy and the paras and one very positive thing is that none of the paras have left since it's opened in January. So you could tell that this is extremely successful. It's a wonderful space and now you have to start thinking about expanding it already because they want to move upstairs um the older children, the 18 to 21 year olds. Um let's see what else did we do? Um, I was uh reelected to the executive board again and I'll be serving as secretary this year. >> Congratulations. That's about it. >> Congratulations. >>

056Thank you. >> Um, so the board of ed town council RTM, we did have our meeting at the beginning of the month. Um, and I think there was a notice that got sent out that July 3rd is going to be cancelled because many people are out of town. Um, but once again, it's just a time for us to kind of all of us kind of get together. there was a new member of the city council who was just getting his feet wet in some in some way. So, um and I think it was RTM >> Reggie Stanford. >> Yeah. Um and so he was able to ask lots of questions about um about the board. Um and that uh our next uh leazison meeting with us and the unions are October October. um will be

057meeting in October and that continues to be a phenomenal group. Um and Gretchen Trails or Graten Scholarships? >> I have not been able to catch up the trails lately, but I have welcomed a few. They're very lovely. Um Grat scholarships, they did a great job, I thought, this year. They had a lovely ceremony. They gave out money and I know Mrs. Bulkman >> and her family donate very very generously to the graten scholarship committee. So >> super. Thank you. Um and the next is the action item is the consent agenda and I would take a motion to accept the consent agenda. So moved u first by uh Rita. I have a second. >> Andrea is the second. Any discussion? All those in favor please say I. >> I. Those opposed abstain. Motion is carried. The

058board would like to thank your cause LLC trustee for Fiser annual giving campaign has made a donation on behalf of Michelle Ezel Atkins in the amount of $120. The Mystic Women's Club has made a donation of a Cecilio violin and I apologize if I'm not pronouncing it correctly to the Cloudchester music department. Um, also a Ciccilio chromatic tuner, a metronome, rosin and bows are also included in the case. Uh, the Kate and Isaac Brody Foundation has donated $100 to help Miss Cesaly Westervelt defay the cost of her social language skills class field trip to the townhouse dinner on June 3rd, 2019. And the Kate and Isaac Brody Foundation has donated $100 for the Westside STEM Magnet Middle School for the 7th grade end of the year class trip to Ocean Beach Park on June 14th.

059And Louise Hoffman has made a donation of art supplies to Cutler Middle School. Tanger Outlets has made a donation of $4889.72 to Cloudchester for their math grant. Your Cause LLC trustee for Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign has made donation on behalf of Michelle Ezel Atkins to the Cloudchester school in the amount of 120. Um, and your cause so that there was three donations. >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> One is matching. >> Okay. Oh, and one's a matching. So, I apologize. And so, um, the same year cause a trustee for Wells Fargo, um, in behalf of Michelle Ezel Atkins to Clchester Schools in the amount of 120. Um, and that the Orthodontic Associates of South Eastern Connecticut has donated requested school supplies for autism awareness month to the ABA program at SP Butler schools for students

060with autism spectrum disorder. And Mr. Tom Goff has donated a digital piano to Fitch High School. and we thank you all and I am just so thrilled that that's such a large list that I had to read off and once again thank you to the community for doing that. So what I want to do is the next part of our meeting um there's lots of motions and there's going to be lots of discussions. What I do want us to just to pay attention to um and we've also added one um is um is I would like uh the 10 11 and 12 um the motion is very long but it is it is um >> it's verbatim about how we were supposed to read it um by the state state department I I'm assuming >>

061yes state health department >> state health department so that's the reason why the motion is so long um is that they required it to be in verbatim. Um without further ado, um Gretchen, can I please have you read number the motion for number one to approve participation in the community eligibility provision program at the title title at the three title one schools CK, CC, and Westside Middle School. >> Yeah. So that will be Cloudchester. Thank I think that's where Claude and Katherine Kelsey Westside Middle School. >> By time I realized that I was on the last one. Sorry. >> It's okay. Um can I um can I have a second to that motion? >> Second. >> That'd be Lee. Um and discussion. I believe that this is what um we were we had a conversation

062about at the committee of the whole where um our food service director came in um and talked to us about that. And I believe that that has um any oh that's right there's this huge grant >> as long as we in increase the participation by a minimum of 5% this uh this provision uh with the help of the US department of agriculture will pay for itself. So, we will be able to have three schools, the entire school, our our title uh title one schools. Uh we'll be able to have uh uh free free lunch. Uh and then we'll see where the participation leads us next year and we could potentially expand. But this is this is a safe first step for the board, >> right? And I there will be much more once this gets

063through if we get approved. this be there will be a lot more of advertisement or just um just to be said because it's very confusing. I think it makes sense for those of us who are sort of in the trenches and understand that it's it's regards to the title one um schools but that that's sort of um once again further information once we know that we are um we have been accepted >> and just for the information of the public the reason these schools are eligible is because they have a sufficient percentage of children who already have free and reduced lunch status. Uh the the other schools don't have quite that high. Is there any other discussion? >> Just to add that Graten is so fortunate to have these programs. I've never seen anything like

064it. Taking care of children takes on all whole new levels and perspectives in Graten schools. >> So if there is no more discussion, all those in favor of the motion to approve participation in the community eligibility provision program at the three title one schools, which would be Claude Chester, Katherine Kowelski, and Westside Middle School, please say I. I >> oppose. Abstain. Motion has carried. >> Jane, would you be willing to read the motion for number two? >> Reader number two. Um to approve the proposed lunch meal price increase for Fitch High School of $1.75 for breakfast and $3 for lunch. >> Can I have a second, please? >> Second. So once again, this was part of our long conversation that we had with um the our food service um uh director um and just in

065terms of the fact that there has not been a raise for the for the meals in a really long time and through the board discussion which I thought was great which is the reason why we have discussion is that instead of just piling everything on to the lunch that we added uh 25 cents um to breakfast Um and just a little bit 20 cents to um our lunch um to to to make it kind of feel a little bit better. Um so is there any other conversation about that? Hearing none. All those in favor to approve the proposed lunch meal price increase for Pitch High School of $1.75 for breakfast and $3 for lunch, please say I. >> I. >> Oppose. Abstain. The motion has carried. Andrea, no. Okay. No, it's good. Lee, would you

066be willing to read number um three, please? >> Sure. Um a motion to approve the close the closing of Mary Morrison Elementary School effective July 1, 2021. >> 2021. >> Oh, >> 20. >> I have I have the wrong one. You have the right one. Thank you. >> Right. So once again, this was part of a much larger conversations. We've actually had multiple conversations about this in our committee of the holes about taking a look at that with the building of our two new elementary schools that um we needed to be able to have um children to be able to >> so they can enroll >> uh to to be enrolled into the um into those two elementary schools. um with uh and this is just closing this. This is not turning this over to

067the town. This is really kind of closing. >> Who seconded? >> Gretchen did. >> Thank you, M. Joan. Thank you for keeping me on my toes. Um and that the reason why we need to do this is that it's all part of the planning process. It's right right from our maintenance all the way up to um admin um to be able to kind of consider that. So um that's that's what this is about. Is there any other discussion? >> And I met with the Mary Morrison School faculty and they were actually very appreciative to have something that they can concretely plan around. >> Okay. Hearing is there any other discussion hearing? None. All those in uh all those in favor of to approve the closing of the Mary Morrison Elementary School effective July 1st, 2021,

068please say I. >> I oppose. >> Abstain. Motion has carried. Rita, would you like to read number the motion for number four, please? to approve the finance committee recommendations regarding the central office staff non-union hourly and stipen position pay rates excluding the superintendent. Can I have a second please? Second. Andrea has um seconded it. So once again, this has been a conversation that we had in our finance and facilities um and their recommendation was to move forward with the um the pay raise um and um and we also had that conversation in the committee of the whole. Do we have a discussion? >> Just a few clarifying points. Maybe Ken can help me out. There are a couple of uh couple of figures here on on the bottom the bottom half dozen uh where it

069says 12 and we're actually going to recommend 1285 uh $12.85 u that would keep us in on pace with the minimum minimum wage requirement. We'll have to move it up about a dollar a year as we go, but this is the dollar. Um and then uh actually the community coordinators what we thought we'd move them to uh not 211 but to 1175 but but the the impact of this is is is actually relatively significant. >> Yeah. Um this would uh this would add approximately 30 36,000. >> Can you use the microphone? Yes. uh this would add approximately 36,000 to next year's uh budget. This this additional um uh increase that we're talking about here. >> So we we had budgeted for 2%. >> Correct. >> And then now there's what I couldn't really understand the

070last part. Who who is getting them? >> Oh, the well the the the the summer aid, summer school aid, part-time aid. We wanted to move them up to 1285 to so that they would uh they would be uh at the minimum wage rate for next year. And then the the the substitute power professional, actually the lowest power professional, it gets 1285. I think that that was the was that the >> that was the idea that we we we didn't want to >> pay a par professional sub necessarily lower than than that and then the other two uh we moved up to uh u uh 1175 was that >> 36 was that a little bit more or a little bit less than the 36 or you've actually calculated it exactly? >> Yeah, I calculated 30 36

071um uh on on those figures. Uh, and this will keep us uh uh the minimum wage uh goes up to $11 on October 1st and then up $1 every 11 months. Uh this will keep this will get us on the road to be able to keep up with with those increases. >> Could you also talk about substitutes because the board asked us to >> look at comparative substitute rates? >> Yeah, substitute rate. >> I'm sorry, that's part of the same thing. >> Okay, that's a part of the same thing. Okay. So, I I did take a survey of substitute rates in Connecticut. Uh on average, it's around $85. Uh some more, some less. Uh so, our 90 is actually um u competitive in the area. Um we're at 90. Uh Ledger is at 90. Uh

072North Stonington and Stonington are 85. So, we're we're we're we're in a a competitive uh uh rate. It's not it's not a great rate, but it's it's competitive. What what what is um do you have New London and East Limes there also? >> New London did not respond. Uh and I don't think I have East Lime either. >> Or Waterford >> and Waterford didn't respond. >> I got you. Gotcha. Gotcha. Um, just in terms of thinking about how much we're paying the subs, take the $90, divide it by seven, which is if they got there just as the morning bell rings and the kids are coming in and the time that they leave. >> It's not a lot of money, >> right? >> People were asking that bachelor's degree. >> You're right. And and we

073believe the state is going to make a ruling that substitutes really are hourly workers. And we o over the next few years we are going to have to raise it >> uh no matter what. >> It's great on a half day but it's not so much fun on a regular day when you're there an hour early and an hour late >> break down to under the minimum wage. >> So if we did if we did not go through the recommendations that you and Dr. Grineer um proposed for the changes of what are our the whole does that kind of get us to that cliff thing again where us to match sort of what the going rate is? >> Yeah, exactly. The the rates that we that the finance committee uh approved would would keep us

074within uh the the minimum wage for the entire next year. Uh but it's not going to get us further along as as the increases come. uh we want to be sure we're we're matching them or or moving along with them. >> And did you and Dr. Grineer talk about where the 36,000 would come from? >> We did. >> Yes. Um yeah, we um um we we've been able to uh um uh make some some purchases this year which might alleviate uh next year a little bit. Uh and so we're feeling like that that will be able to cover those costs. So, you're barely audible, unfortunately, because you're not talking to the phone. So, what I heard you say was that you've already done some purchases for next from from from last year's amount, and so

075that 36,000, you feel that you have that you'd have that to be covered, correct? Yep. >> Okay. So, we're not putting ourselves in the hole. >> That's correct. >> I just wanted to remind us that the community coordinators are paid for through title two as well. So, that's not operating funds. So their raise at least would be >> from the grant. >> Yep. >> Through the grant. >> That's true. >> Any other conversation? >> Hearing none. Hearing none. All those in favor to approve the finance committee's recommendation regarding the central office staff non-hourly and stipen position pay rates in excluding the superintendent. Please say I. >> I. >> Those opposed abstain. >> One. And I'll tell you why I'm I'm abstaining because I really feel this needs to come up earlier in the year if

076it is in our budget and if we budgeted this amount just like when we negotiate contracts um with our our all the people all our different people we negotiate with. I really I don't see why we have to wait till the last minute. These raises go into effect July 1st. So I would like to see this come earlier. whether or not the budget is approved, we're probably going to be giving these people some some type of raise and and I really I just I really hate doing it at the last minute. Last year was even later and we had to pay people retroactively. So, um I just would like to see this come to the board much sooner than than it does. Thanks. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. So, as as our good friend Lee

077has talked about, our next several policies um are going to be um are from our next motions are going to be from the policies and I believe they're all first readings. Is that correct? >> Uh correct. Correct. >> Super. All right. So, let's see what we can do. Um Gretchen, would you please be willing to read number the motion for number five >> to approve as a first reading policy P6141 curriculum design and development. >> Can I have a second to that please? >> Second. >> Great. >> Just cuz that's what I'm getting on. So, um this is um I uh so once again just to remind people that we um a lot of the work is done in our working meetings which is the committee of the holes. Um and that we do two

078meetings of this and so you're going to see us go through some of our motions rather quickly. Um largely that's because we have um we have done we have done a lot of the work prior to that. Um, and so the the curriculum design I believe Sue >> Well, I just wanted to add that this has been under review for 6 months. We've talked about it at the whole CO. We really wanted to give ourselves a little more time >> in looking at especially new courses coming from the high school. Um, so that we really had a continuum that allowed us to do the curriculum writing and to make sure that the board had approved the curriculum prior to putting it into, you know, a handbook for kids. So, um, and I would have to

079do a shout out because policy looked at this individually, curriculum looked at this multiple times individually, and then they came together as a a whole committee of both curriculum and policy members to really discuss it. There's still a few tweaks that we need to make because we want it to align um or we want the handbook to align with this design. So, we want to make sure everything is uniform. So, um you know, I feel like we're in a good place for that now that everybody's eyes have been on it. And is it safe to say that our um that what we did uh last week when we sort of told um the high school folks to go off um and write the curriculum is that we're sort of we already have begun sort of

080kind of implementing it. we're kind of implementing it actually, >> but that course will not even though they're writing this summer, that will go in and it needs to be finally approved when it comes back and then it will have to go um you know, so the board has to finally approve it before it goes into the Fitch High School handbook and kids sign up for that course and then it won't happen until the following September. So, we're giving ourselves that time to make sure we're doing it right. >> Is there any other discussion? VA um you have crossed out in in red um the board's ultimate approval authority over curriculum the super will present the plan for curriculum development so and so on but if a pilot period is necessary and I'm not quite

081sure why you took that out because there have been times in the past where we've um reviewed two different math books and um series and they like some schools did one pilot and other ones did another pilot and then you know then they then both committees would come together and you know talk about it and we would look at the books and you know and so forth whether it was foreign language it was all sort of and and I don't see that in here um where we talk about the cost of like textbooks the expense of having a new course um it just doesn't seem to be as clear writ >> we actually were trying to make it clearer because it we really wanted to outline the steps so that you could really read it

082instead of putting it all together. So the crossed out section, the original just had it almost as a narrative and we really tried to between the the actual document that does the flowchart and the timeline make it super clear and to really make sure >> see the books. I still don't see the >> so in the in the curric in this curriculum the Graten Public Schools curriculum handbook which is what we use all and as we've done the kickoff this year everybody knows what the template looks like they have a sense of what the process is and part of their proposal when they come to us is what are the estimated expenses right >> while they're writing the curriculum they're looking at what are the materials that are needed many times in this day and

083age They're working with the state core curriculum. They're working with, you know, using some online resources. Some of them are free of charge. Um, and then there will be times when a textbook or a workbook is needed. So then that would have to be added into the proposal, the budget proposal, and then come to the board. So when you do the final final okay, you would have all that information >> and it's actually spelled out in the handbook, >> right? But you still will have a pilot program when if we wanted to adopt a whole new math series, you know, I just don't see that there in here written in there. >> There are lots of times when you when you know for like the the different schools will pilot different programs. Um, I had

084questions about this myself and that was two and a half months ago when we went through this and of course remember what happened yesterday. >> Um, but I my original thought was exactly the opposite of yours. >> I thought to myself, God created the c the world in seven days. Does it really take this long? Yeah, >> I think that this is all the pilot that is necessary. There are so many safeguards here. If we we're going through seven, is it seven of the English electives that we >> um if if we don't have enough students who are going to sign up for it, it's not going to run. >> We don't need pilots be because >> you do >> so much work. I think you're thinking of you're only focusing on high school. You

085have to focus on the elementary and the middle school. So, let's say elementary. We we want to go a different way with our our our math, how we're teaching math. Something new has come down the line. We actually will adopt a textbook for the whole system to use and we have piloted for different schools and then they'll all be in the back of the room and the board of educ you know like you go there and you the >> I think what you'll see too though more often now is that it used to be that you'd buy a textbook and that became the curriculum. We're doing things quite differently almost the opposite. We're writing the curriculum and then we're finding what are the resources and and oftentimes it's not one textbook. There might be multiple

086resources >> but we still need to to see and different schools sometimes you know like >> they're working together. >> Our schools are really working together. >> Yeah. They really are. And so they come together like this summer for ELA and math. I think I must have about 15 teachers who'll be working on the pacing guide, looking at the materials, um doing the um standards for report cards. So it's no longer that one or two people are working on a curriculum and then hand it over. It's a pretty good group represented by all the schools working on this. and we're using the common core standards and we're looking at what are those resources. So there's multiple and um you know I've shown you the dashboard so you can see what the teachers see and everything's

087at their fingertips. So all those units are there at their fingertips and they um it's it's amazing work. I mean, I I would be happy to come back and share with you and kind of keep you posted on this curriculum work that's happening so that you can see for yourself that um the teachers are writing their own my unit planners and they're creating a lot of this work and lessons on their own based on the core standards. >> Can I let I just feel that this should be high school. I mean, basically this is the high school. This is how you do it at the high school. Probably the middle school, too. You could um but mostly this is really high school, not not all our curriculum that really it was designed because of the

088high school, right? >> But what you're going to find is that curriculum writing is ongoing. You don't you no longer have a binder filled with, you know, documents like this. you're getting kind of the board of ed is basically summarizes all of the work that's being done on the dashboard so that it really is in in layman's terms so it's for our community it's for our board so that you understand so what's that course all about what are they learning in third grade math you know >> I'm just wondering if this should be high school >> courses >> yeah I mean I think Susan said it it really is a course approval process >> as opposed to some of the student uh teachers I was working with today observing uh where they are revising curriculum

089but it's it's not from scratch and we come to the board and say we have this you know this this brand new English language arts curriculum it's more an ongoing revision process so we could >> I can see coming to you kind of maybe a couple times a year to show you what's been accomplished and what's been done along with showing you the assessment and some of the data that supports the work that's being done. >> Gretchen, >> I completely understand that we are now not given a textbook and a teachers book as the way we were when I first started teaching that we are now told here are the next generation science standards. Follow that and by the end of the year we hope you get that. But I hear what Rita is saying

090that there are things that come to us, the different computer things like the summer school class. If that doesn't work, this it gives us a way of saying, you know what, this is new. It is not working. We think we need to re-review it. So, I do think having a pilot program like the ebonio was supposed to have been and we were supposed to review it before it came back up. I think if it's something new, if it's something to fix something, we do need the chance to review. >> So, that still is happening. So, to your point, Is that an issue? >> Yeah, the Apex is, you know, was on the docket and it came to curriculum council and just to say, you know, we're trying um to expand it with tutorials and um

091we're going to get feedback like we did with the Apex summer program last year. So, those things are in the handbook at >> Dr. Bern. >> Well, I think tonight we have an example of of a literal pilot uh that we have a transition program, transition K. We're going to put it in for a one-year pilot because we want to, but the curriculum for that program will be written and approved by the board. It's so the the pilotness and the curriculum are are really two two different things. >> It's a it's a very different I'm sorry. >> If if if it's a pilot, it's a pilot and we call it a pilot and we come back and we evaluate it. >> You know, our our curriculum is going to be like that. I think that

092we're going to be constantly coming back to the board and keeping you a breast because changes are coming to us like every year annually, you know. So, I think that that's something that um will happen, >> but this is basically and I still think it should say high school. >> This is a way >> I would agree with you, Rita. >> Yeah, because >> it could be middle school though, too. >> Yeah, >> middle school, too. Well, >> they don't really propose because they it's so cut and dry in middle school the courses >> unless there are some electives. >> So, we're talking about the new course proposed time. That kind of makes sense cuz new courses cuz it's not like in elementary school you're going to have a course. You'll have curriculum. >> No,

093actually I just saw Beth she wants to teach several new courses in the elementary level. Um, so to Rita's point, that kind of makes sense. >> Actually, actually the chart says new new course uh new course proposal timeline. >> Yeah. New Right. >> Right. >> We know that. That's why I'm saying it's more of a high school thing than a >> Yeah. No, you're right. You're right. >> I got you. One second. So So to put that high school Gretchen, let's keep in mind that we have these new community choice schools, aka magnets. So, we will have new programs coming up to us in the elementary grades that that our different schools will have different programs. So, we might want to keep that kind of an idea going. Hm, maybe we should put the STEM,

094you know, let's focus a little bit more on biology because we forgot biology last year. We did all math and engineering but we forgot biology or we did all theater but no singing and no band or you that >> well that's very similar to what was done with when we magnetized the two middle schools that we came to you with those magnet dosage classes so that we had the arts and humanities courses happening at Cutler and we had the project lead the way STEM courses happening so that kind of thing happen when we have elementary >> in English right >> okay so um outside of what I here. We're asking for them to put the new course timeline to make that much clearer that it's the high school, middle school. It kind of makes sense

095to me. >> You have to do that. >> Yeah. >> Um and um to the point about the pilot, what do we call it a different word? Wait, I I I think pilots are pilots and you know, we're we're not going to if the board votes to have writing centers at the high school, uh my proposal would not be that it would be a pilot, but it would be a course that the board would be approved. But there could be, I guess, uh a time when, well, Transition K is a good example. We think it's a great idea. We're going to hopefully implement it, but we're going to come back throughout the year, monitor how it's going, and then come back for a for a final final vote to see if it achieved the results

096that we hope it would achieve. >> And that's what it says in the third sentence. Basically, if a pilot period is necessary, the superintendent will present the written curriculum and pilot plan to the curriculum. So, I I just felt that I crossing out all of that, I don't know, was necessary. The only thing that I see was crossed out was the bottom section, >> right? That's >> which we tried to really highlight up here in the green so that it would be more step by step and methodical and that it would correlate with the handbook and the timeline so that it would be in that order to make it a little clear. We were only trying to clear it up. >> Right. I know. Are there any other questions about this? No. All right. All

097those in favor to approve is a first reading policy 6141 curriculum design and development, please say I. >> I oppose. Abstain. Motion has carried. We're moving on. Um Jane, would you please be willing to be number seven the motion, please? >> Okay. Discussion, excuse me. Motion to approve as first reading policy P512.2 admission requirements. We skipped didn't skip the two. >> Yeah. Can you do six? >> Sure. >> Because I'm being silly. >> Okay. I marked down sixes. >> So, could you please read motion number six, please? >> To approve as first reading policy P 5112.2 admission requirements. >> Nope. The one above that. >> Okay. to approve as first reading policy P5141.3 health assessments and immunizations and regulations R 51413. >> Can I have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. So the discussion around

098this is it's really in response to the vaccinating of students and the measel outbreak. So, it really clears up the language um around that and that we are making sure that um families bring in their health records and immunization at the time of registration. There is a special clause, a 30-day waiver for our our students in the military based on the military compact and also for students um who are homeless. So, um recognizing that those families may need more time to be able to deliver this, but otherwise families need to bring these documentations to school in order to register students. >> Do we have any >> and just to be clear though, we checked and I reported it, we are 98 to 99% immunized uh as as of as of a month ago when we

099actually checked the record. So, we we don't have a we don't have a problem. The the the problem that we had was because of this 30-day waiver. When the state health department asked on October 1st uh if the immunizations have actually been recorded, the answer was no in in in many cases. So, we we had some low reports, but this will the nurses were very very happy with this proposed change. >> Any other conversation? That was much to interrupt, but I can't I I can't find the language, but I thought that I heard and I could be really wrong that religious exceptions were no longer going to be honored and >> legal. >> That that that's not true. >> That's not true. >> Not not in the state of Connecticut. >> All right. Okay. >>

100There are medical exemptions >> for students who can't be immunized, so they're really fragile. And then there are still religious um exemptions. >> Let you clarify that. >> I I spoke to the legislators. It it it was an in Connecticut it was an overreaction. We we don't need to do that. We have we have sufficient herd immunity more than 95%. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Any other discussion? All those in favor to approve as a first reading policy P5141-3, health assessments and immunization and regulations are 5141-3. Please say I. >> Oppose. Abstain. Gretchen has abstained. All righty. Lee, could you do me a favor and please read number seven? >> Thank you. Motion to approve as a first reading policy P5112.2 admission requirements. >> Can I have a second? >> Second. >> Jane has seconded

101it. All right. Can Sue? >> Yes. I'll orient you to this one. >> Thank you. >> Um these are admission requirements for resident students. um it shows that we have um we are expecting to have some kind of legal evidence of age of a child. So you can see that while birth certificate isn't the only form, there are other forms that can also be legitimate documents that are used to testify what is the true age of a child. So they're listed under documents accepted and um so that was really mandated by law. So that was came to us that that that we don't have to have just a birth certificate that we can have a variety of documents shown for proof. Any other questions? Hearing none. All those uh to approve a first reading policy

102P 5112.2 admission requirements please say I. >> Oppose abstain. Motion has carried. Lita, would you be willing to do eight? >> Of course. To approve as a first reading policy P3542 do 43 food service charging. So, um the board was very interested in making sure that this policy was updated to what the practice is. If our children don't have the finances to purchase a lunch, they're given a lunch and it's whatever the lunch is for the day, it's not an alternative meal >> um with an alternative price. So, I think we had some remaining language in there that um probably Dr. Acriman was able to locate. So, we made sure that we took that language out so that there is no evidence that there's um an alternate meal. that does not happen that kids go

103through the line whether they have the cash or whether they have the money on the card um they get their meal. >> Any other comments? >> All those in favor to approve as a first reading policy P3542.43 food service charging please say I >> oppose abstain. Motion has fully carried. Woo. We are doing it folks. Um, my dear friend Gretchen, would you be willing to read the motion for number nine? I can find it. It's on the next page. I got it. Thank you. To approve as a first reading policy P6161, equipment, books, materials provision selection. Uh, can I have a second? Thank you. Make sure second. Lee has seconded. All right. So this 6161 really coordinates with the curriculum development. So we do look at resources um whether there are additional money that needs

104to be taken care of in a budget whether it's a free resource. Um but we look one of the things we added in green was print or digital basic textbooks. So while I said we're moving towards things that are more digital, there still are times when a textbook is a main source of the learning along with other things >> and it can be a digital textbook. Often times we'll get both so the kids can look do their work on a Chromebook as well. Um so we've um taken out some of the language that was just getting things um to be more confusing like referring to textbook means that is the um main resource that covers you know most of the majority of the class. Um, and we do have language in here um that says

105that these textbooks, all new textbooks used as primary sources of information for courses will be reviewed by the curriculum subcommittee of the board of education. So part of that process is for that to be overviewed and reviewed by the committee. >> Any other comments? >> And then also presented to the board of ed. So hopefully this clarifies some of what you're saying, Rita, >> and that it has to be ultimately Yeah. approved. >> Two's approval. >> Yeah. So hopefully those two are in tandem and we might even link them so that we see >> that would be cool. >> Yeah. >> Gotcha. Um, I'm sure it'll make it to the curriculum committee eventually, but I I have a great deal of concern that students who have a harder time like you can't underline or highlight,

106even though if they are school text, we discourage our little darlings from writing in their own books. Um, but I have a terrible time functioning without a text like with a page. of and just >> that's one of the great advantages of digital textbooks because so you can underline and you can write notes right in your in your book >> the same I promise you >> no it's not the same >> any other any other discussion okay all those in favor to approve a first reading policy um 66161 equipment books and materials provisions and selections please say I >> oppose abstain motion has carried Jane. >> Oh, wait. We don't have to read this. Could I just intro this, please? We, you, the board, passed this on April 22nd. We we put out a motion

107that said to approve the healthy food certificate program. We had done that for the last few years. That was the motion and it was always uh it was always approved. Uh Susan Fiori from the state health department called me and said we you you didn't say about the specific exemptions and you didn't mention beverages. So she sent me the whole the whole law and so I just lifted 10 11 and 12. Um and I can I can brief you on on those provisions. The the the first one simply says that we will comply with the Connecticut nutrition standards. That that's >> why don't we just read it so that it never comes back >> to haunt us. I would much rather >> I just have to give them the minutes but okay >> but I

108I would just >> So Jane would you be willing to read >> this is going to be really intelligible. Okay. >> To certify that all food items offered for sale to students in the schools under its jurisdiction and not exempted from the Connecticut nutrition standards published by the Connecticut State Department of Education will comply with the connect Connecticut nutrition standards during the period of July 1st, 2019 through June 30th, 2020. This certification shall include all food offered for sale to students separately from reimburseable meals at all times and from all sources, including but not limited to school stores, vending machines, school cafeterias, and any fundraising activities on school premises sponsored by the school or by non-school organizations and groups. Can I have a second to that? >> Second. >> Okay. So we we know that

109this has been a motion that we've already approved. So I don't I don't think that this is something that we would have to have another have another discussion. So all those in favor of the motion that was just beautifully read by Jane please say I >> oppose abstain. The motion has carried. Um, Lee, would you be willing to knew it was going to be a motion to to allow the sale to students of food items that do not meet the Connecticut nutrition standards provided that the following conditions are met. One, the sale is in connection with an event occurring after the end of the regular school de day or on the weekend. Two, the sales sales is at that the sales are >> yes, they is >> at the location of the event. And three,

110the food items are not sold from a vending machine or school store. An event, quote unquote, is an occurrence that involves more than just a regularly scheduled practice meeting or extracurricular activity. For example, soccer games, school plays, and intercolastic debates are in vents, but not soccer practices, play rehearsals, and debate team meetings are not. The regular school day in quotes is the period from midnight before to 30 minutes after the end of the official school day. location quote unquote means that the event is being held. >> Can I have a second? All right. [Laughter] >> No, this is the law. Okay. So, all those in favor of the motion that was beautifully read by Lee, please say I. >> I oppose. Abstain. >> Oh, someone did. >> Andrea seconded. >> Andrea did. Got it. All

111right. I think we I think we got the vote, though. All right. So, Rita, would you please be willing to read number 12? >> Sure. Thank you. The motion is to allow the sale to students of beverages not listed in section 10- 221Q of the Connecticut General Statutes, provided that the following conditions are met. One, the sale is in connection with an event occurring after the end of the school regular day or on a weekend. Two, the sale is at the location of the event. And three, the beverages are not sold from a vending machine or a school store. An event, quote, is an occurrence that involves more than just a regular scheduled practice meeting or extracurricular activity. The school day is a period from midnight before to 30 minutes after the end of the

112official school day and the location means where the event is being held and must be the same place as the beverage sales. Can I have a second? >> Second. >> So either Andrea or Jane. >> All those in favor of the motion that was beautifully read by Rita, please say I. >> I oppose. Abstain. The motion has carried. Number 13. I am going to wait. I'm going to wait until the end um so that our technical people can um leave because we are it's we are going to be going into executive session. But I would like to um propose that we do um the motion >> um >> which is discussion and possible action regarding implementation of a one-year pilot transition K program for the to the 209-2020 school year. >> Um can I have

113a second please? that second either one of them I I was they said at the exact same time this gentleman and I was there to witness it first >> uh oh you know somebody should first I read it >> first okay so may believe she read it >> the thing that I read >> so the board had asked us a few pretty important questions about piloting and implementing the transition K and I had given you a budget summary and that was a summary that could be used for transition K or in the future if you wanted to do further preK. I had um talked about if there was a need for an additional teacher you know what that would cost and looking at our numbers there may or may not be a need for an

114additional teacher. So if there is um in kindergarten, our kindergartens are pretty full, but there is one school that looks like their first grade numbers are not what was expected. So there might be a teacher that we could have do this. But in the meantime, I did call my um specialist from the state department who runs Title One and um I asked him if we could carve out some of our district funds to use for early childhood. And I explained what we were trying to do and he said absolutely. So we have some funds that were district funds. So we have the three title one schools and they get their funds and part of that is for um social workers and tutors and a lot of intervention work. And then we have also district funds

115because we have children across the district that also have significant needs. So my feeling was that we needed to support the whole district through this title one grant. So we have carryover of monies that weren't spent. I think a lot of it was around PD because we have all these other grants. So I can use that carryover along with what's expected to come in next year and that will support everything that you see on this page. Um but we might not need that if that those numbers don't go up. So we might be able to use staff that we already have. So that's still not answered. I have worked with the um transportation department and um in really talking to Patty, she says to transport without added cost, it's better to use either the magnet

116schools or schools that have preschools in them. >> Okay. So, we our next steps and I've got a form that says transition K next steps upon approval of the board of ed um will need to create a communication plan to inform parents the transition K with preschool teachers, kindergarten teachers that have been meeting regularly took a look at all the data from the screenings and we have identified possibly 14 to 20 kids. will probably bring in we'll talk to parents and bring them in to do a bance on them which will give us added information and then we'll just have to prioritize because we're only doing one class and we want to save a few seats for kids who we haven't enrolled yet who will probably come in for that August screening to ensure that

117we have the right um talent pool for this class. Um so we are we have reviewed some data but we're going to do a deeper dive and review it even further. Um then with this communication plan have parents bring children in over the summertime um for the brigance assessment and then based on the enrollment data um determine where the program is housed. It might be that we didn't say that every school gets three. We're really looking at the whole group to see what are our priorities based on that. So, um, you know, and looking to see with transportation where it's going to be best fit. You know, if it happens to be at the school where they might have that extra classroom and, you know, less need in that first grade, that might work out

118just beautifully. But if that doesn't work out, then we'll we'll look at the magnet schools and we'll look at the um, you know, the enrollment. >> Just a footnote on the transportation, there will be no additional charge. In other words, we're going to we're going to do it. We're going to work with the transportation crew, Sam's staff to make sure that where the children where the program is going to be housed will have preschool pre probably preschool buses that would service that. So, the the the charge for transportation will be nothing. Uh and the staffing as Susan said uh we we know that we can this is certainly a remedial program and it is it is directly related to title one funding. Uh and then the the facility as Susan indicated there are a couple

119of possibilities and it really depends where when when we when we select the 15 or 20 children where they are coming from. that that may create some uh efficiencies for us and put a program there. But the the I I really appreciate the board entertaining this motion because if we go forward tonight then the selection process will continue. Reach out to parents do the burgance uh which is a little uh little more sophisticated early childhood assessment. Figure out who these children should be. Communicate all of that. H leave some spaces open for the people who are coming in in August. And uh and then we if we launch it with your approval, we will come back in November and then in February and then in May keep to tell you how the pilot is going.

120>> Yeah, I would love to hear you know as the numbers go. So, I wouldn't mind just having regular I'm sure we're going to have regular conversations, but um do do we as a board do we feel like they have come back and answered our questions in terms of of the budget and stuff? I I feel really satisfied, but I would like to ask our state representatives and our senators to propose that the state of Connecticut not be an outlier for all the other 49 states and change um to August 31st for the cutoff date, not December 31st. It is so necessarily mean we wouldn't have this situation. We wouldn't have to hold back children. um in kindergarten because they're starting so young, four year olds. Some of them have never had preschool and they're

121just they'll never catch up. So, the state really needs to put this on their docket for next year and come to terms with this and say yes, this is what's best for the children in the state of Connecticut. Thank you, Rita. >> Here, here. >> I was about to say here, here we agree. I would like to ask same question as Rita except move it to July 1st as the start as that they must be five by that way we have full 5year-olds >> starting school >> you know Gretchen there is a range with all the work that we did the research there are states across our country that have as early as July or as late as you know September one or the end of August but there is nobody else that has the

122January one deadline. >> Oh, I do know this. I've been following this for 20 years. I've been following this for almost 40 years and it's been one of my >> Yeah. >> And I've done the research and and just make sure that they're they are fully five by the time they enter school. If you have the September 1st, >> you're still going to get a couple in there that >> aren't five yet. >> So, now we need to contact our state legislators and maybe that would be actually a really great thing if we could remember that CABE when CA does its um handcaps have have a on this >> um but that when we have our state legislators that come to um Falcon Cafe, this would be a great thing for cuz they do like

123a listening tour um before their legislation starts. And so that this would be a great >> and I I would like to piggyback on that. The state has talked about universal prek. So in tandem with that, we can take care of our students much better when they're four years old if we have a universal prek that would have our early childhood standards rather than common core standards that are really meant for five and up. So if we can do this the right way, but we'll we'll do our our field test. We'll do our pilot and then I'll have information I can share with the state myself. >> That's great. Any other discussion? All those in favor of implementing of a one-year pilot transition K program um for the uh academic school year of 2019 >>

12420 oh I'm sorry >> no 2019 2020 please please say I >> I >> oppose abstain motion is carried go forth and do >> thank you we have some people in the room that have worked very hard on this uh >> this is like a dream come true this is probably I one of my babies that I have just so enjoyed working with this talented group of teachers. So, >> all right. So, we're we are going to move on. So, you guys, we have been doing some really good work. We still got some more work to do. Um, so um Lee, can you talk a little bit about the things that were on information and proposals? >> I can't even remember what I've done in the past month. You'll all forgive me. I can barely

125I'm on medication that I will be off as of Monday. I hope I would like to piece of information. Addie picks up her driving license tomorrow morning. So, we all have to be real careful about driving. >> Good for you. >> All right, Wita. >> Um, yes. I attended the military liaison breakfast which was held at the Coast Guard Academy. It was beautiful. Um, and the pitch cors performed and they were outstanding. Attended graduation. Um, I what I was impressed that the graduating class was really superb and so well behaved. I mean, no beach balls, no no distractions. It they were an amazing group of um students. But this year there was an added some of the students had like a silver satin stolen um besides all the other things that are on there and

126it was for athletics and I and I this was the first year that this was done for graduation for the athletes at the school and I was really impressed by that. I thought it was a great addition to the rope. Um I I would like to um say that I we need to have a conversation about graduation and the afterchool the afterevent party of graduation that I heard that only 25 students were attending it. So, and you know, we spend so much of our time on the board making sure that where our graduation date is so that we can have it on a Friday and they can have this party. But there were so few students going this year that the teachers that I was standing next to when we were shaking hands with the

127students said, "You really need to have an afterprom party, not the after graduation party." So, it's something that I'm hoping we'll we can discuss further. And >> so, I'm taking that as an agenda item um a proposed agenda item. And maybe we could and so John, I'm just going to ask that you write this down. Is that if we could have a group of um seniors um 2020 um seniors and parents and teachers. Um that would make and probably uh administration um that would be great to kind of have a conversation about that. >> And we have a student rep who ought to have a strong voice I think on that committee. >> Right. Yes. >> Yeah. So because and these were teachers that had graduating seniors >> and they said, "Oh no, no one

128goes to the grad party." >> What you're saying makes perfect sense. It would relieve the board and its superintendent of worrying all winter only >> that we have too many or too few snow days. >> Well, I mean every every good thing can run its course, right? And so it really served a purpose for multiple years and maybe maybe it's time for us to kind of reinvent that. So thank you for that and I will move that on the agenda. >> Very interesting. And I was very surprised because when my students when my children graduated from Fitch, everybody went the whole there maybe would be one or two in a class. But then when I heard they barely had 25 this year, I thought, "Oh my," you know, for us to worry so much about

129graduation. >> Well, it does make sense because so many families have relatives in and they're doing their family parties or they're doing a family dinner or something like that for that particular >> and some other towns have already changed around us. I know Guilford has to the after prom party as a >> So we're going to have it we're going to have it an agenda item. Do you have anything else? >> No. All right, Gretchen. >> Graduation was lovely. I liked the all red. I thought that made them >> just it was very lovely. They all came out together >> and I got to say they were so they were just great gifts. I'm so pleased and we've had great video and anything else. Jane, >> we're moving fast forward here. >> Well, >> it's

130away. I know. >> No, it's not late. You I'm not trying to sculpt anyone's voice. >> The um art gallery reception was wonderful. >> Um I got there a little late and I had a a bird's eye view from the hallway looking in. That was so much fun watching the kids and the parents. It's a wonderful celebration for so many kids. Um the IB uh ceremony and lunchon at at Fitch High School was great. Those kids have every reason to be proud of their accomplishments and uh it truly was a wonderful recognition. Um the the um meetings are on right now. Curriculum committee meetings, negotiation committee meetings. I'm I'm busy with both. Um and the uh the uh celebration that we all went to um for the faculty and staff from all schools was wonderful

131too. I'm using that word too much, but great celebrations here for good reasons. >> Andrea, >> I did all of the things that everybody did, so I'm just going to run through them quickly. I so appreciate the art gallery opening and I know that my husband does too. Uh it's a wonderful tribute. I went to the IB ceremony or lunch and that was fabulous. And of course at the Coast Guard the the um Fitch uh choir was just wonderful and that was a wonderful celebration of of all of our citizens who do so much for our our community. The scholarship night was wonderful. I have to tell you a little story. I know we're in a hurry, but I struggled when I was when I was going to give my award because I didn't know

132well I didn't know who was going to get the award. I don't know that until that that night. And I thought I was going to say that Sue Chase had come to me when when I retired and said, "We know that you don't want a party, so we'd like to set start a scholarship in your name." But when I got up on stage, I didn't say Sue Chase. I just said the teachers. And when I saw who got the the my award, it was Megan Clavy. And Megan Clavy is a second cousin to Sue Chase. Okay. >> So that is so wonderful. >> So u I I went to Dr. Howley's retirement. >> Yes. >> And u that was fabulous. It was just wonderful. Uh, and and then of course the graduation was just just

133beautiful. And I wanted to give a special recognition to Britney Tusant who was the class president for so many of those four years in at Fitch. And I think it it's her presence and her her just her her very being that contributed to the way the students behaved. And I think I've covered all the wonderful things. And I and I I'm going to take this opportunity to to talk about a very sad occurrence that happened just this past week. I I don't I I really want the community to know that our our one of our teachers at Westside, Lola Colette, lost her daughter, Shelby Olsen, to a car accident this past week. Shelby Olsen was a Martin Luther King scholar and she every year I ask the scholars to send me some little bit one

134big things that we can share with the board the Martin Luther King board and Shelby sent me from her her college where she was at Emanuel in Boston her one big thing was that both seme both semesters of her freshman year were four O's So there are there are going to be two two the the calling hours are tomorrow night at Neland Funeral Home in Niantic and the calling hours are from 5 to 7 and then there's a a mass of Christian a ma mass of Christian burial on Wednesday at 10:00 at Our Lady of Lords in Gail. Andrea, thank you for um grounding us um to to that and I really do appreciate you sharing that um because it was a um an unimaginable loss. Um I do want to share that I I

135um I did receive a correspondence from the mayor um looking for either uh the chairperson or a designate um to a committee that she's forming to look um at um buildings. And I think that that originated not only from the liaison but also when we had a joint meeting with the town council and the the RTM. Um and I have actually agreed to take on uh and to be part of that um committee. Um and I just that sort of piggybacks on the fact that um for those of us when we were having meetings there was a lot of confusion about Pleasant Valley. And so um Dr. Grineer and um John Bird and um the mayor and I got together for just a really short time just to kind of say, okay, so really what

136needs to have happen and and and why. And so um I think that and Sam, you mentioned that in the report in your report and I believe in July, we are going to have a meeting uh we're going to have an a motion to turn over our um the Pleasant Valley to the town. Um and that as Sam stated, um the town has requested that we get rid of some of the moldy stuff that has happened. Um but that we will be able that we will be able to have the robotic team continue to use Pleasant Valley um for the this the next year um and uh the task was left um to then identify after the year where the robotics could again temporarily be um to then to move into a more permanent place

137and there are some ideas about that. So, just wanted to let you know that things are really kind of moving around and I really believe that we finally kind of got to the same page around what was happening to Pleasant Valley. So, that was um really cool. Um I was not because of a other obligation able to make um the graduation that occurred on Friday, but I was um very honored to be able to represent us um to the adult education graduation ceremony that was on Thursday um at Westside Middle School. And what an inc was and I know that Dr. Griier talked about that in the board notes so I'm not going to repeat um but it was just an absolutely um inspiring um uh meeting of n was it >> 18 people got

138their earned their high school diploma. >> So it was just it was actually just really really cool. Um and Lee White I just wanted to say um go go in healing. May the universal light of healing happen for you. And I love your optimism and your that's what's going to carry you through. You're a braver woman than me. Um so I just want us to pay attention to the fact that even though it's summer and I know that Sue and and Sam have talked about that we're still busy. We're actually still very busy as well, but just know that the committee of the whole meeting on July 8th has been cancelled. Um and that July 1st, which is not on here, the board is going to go into executive session um to go over the

139the superintendent's evaluation that Andrea and her committee was able to kind of condense into a smaller version. Um so come to that as well. And I know that you probably will not be available for July 1st since that is your >> I will not evaluation will be. But I wanted to also say when I got my pat packet on Friday, I got a copy of M4. >> Yes. I wanted to say thank you to be just amazed at our kids. >> Yep. That just it was great stuff. >> It was beautiful. >> Great stuff. >> You have some stuff in it >> last year. I remember you did >> this year. I think so. >> Yeah. So, outside of the agenda, outside of the agenda item that um was about the graduation party, are there

140other things that we need to add to the agenda? >> If not, I would like to make a motion that the board goes into executive um session to go to Let me just read it to make sure that I'm correct. um to regarding discussion of the assistant superintendent's contract um and uh the person that we are going to invite into would be to Dr. Grineer. Can I have a motion? >> Second. >> Is seconded. All those in favor? >> I so so moved.