1-27-20 Groton Board of Education Meeting

001All right. So, you ready, Mark? Awesome. So, good evening. Um, today is January 27th, and today uh it's actually the Graten Board of Education uh meeting. Um, and our first order of business is the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Lefay, would you be willing to um Where is It's right over here. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. I hope Pies. Thank you. Um and um we do have a recognition. um the person is not here and so my commitment is that um if she should show we will then go right into the the recognition of that. All right. Um I'm now moving on to the comments from citizens which

002is the agenda items and other subjects that concern that lie within the jurisdiction of the board of education. This is the portion of the agenda where the board welcomes comments from citizens. Each presentation should be limited to five minutes or less and citizens should if possible submit written um comments. Presentation should be related to matters pertinent to Graten. Board members will only ask questions in order to clarify the speaker's presentation and cannot respond during this portion of the citizen portion of the board meeting and citizens should make their presentation from the podium and state their names and addresses for the record. Miss Joan, did we have anyone that signed? Is there anyone that would like to offer some comments? Hearing none, we are going to go past that one and response to the comments since

003there is no one to comment. Um, and we're going to go into my favorite part, Addie, the student representative report. Hello. Um, unfortunately, our junior representative, Zay, couldn't be here tonight, so I will be taking all of the points. Um, and I'll also be talking about uh the middle school and elementary schools tonight because they've sent in information on updates on their school. So, we'll get a full a full thing about that tonight. Starting with updates from last meeting. Uh, midterms were completed today, Monday, January 27th. So, this marks the end of the second quarter and the closing of semester 1. Um, and more than words and amphora had a diversity dinner on January 10th. Students were able to bring in food from their culture and perform in an open mic and that was a

004lot of fun. I was able to be there. Um for class council updates, seniors are finishing up a chocolate bar fundraiser and are also planning for the annual Mr. Falcon um which we're very excited about. Um and juniors are preparing to buy snack boxes for a fundraiser. They are also starting to plan for their May 9th Mother's Day breakfast and for junior prom, which is scheduled for May 16th. Sophomores and freshmen are both continuing to plan and brainstorm fundraisers. Um, moving on to More Than Words. Uh, More Than Words is currently working with the administration and staff to schedule future professional development um, days at Fitch and Opportunities. Um, and there will also be an upcoming full More Than Words meeting in February, uh, where the More Than Word, um, groups from New London and

005Ledger all get together to discuss, uh, future opportunities and different things they can implement at their schools. Um, moving on to the student section at Fitch Sports Games. Uh, this is a very interesting thing. Uh so the seniors Max Gman, Molly Breznahan, and Will Miner um have taken charge to kind of organize a student section for um the boys basketball games. Um and this is exciting because uh we've usually had less less people go to the away games. Um and we've gotten a lot of compliments recently on how big our student section is at these games. Um so these students have created social media accounts to notify students on upcoming games and have also created different themes for each event. Um for example, the next game is on Tuesday, January 28th. Uh the varsity boys

006basketball is playing against East N East Lime and the student section is encouraged to wear Fitch gear. Uh moving on to Triam Music Honor Society. Uh, so Triumph is putting on uh Fitch's Got Talent, which is a talent show where students can show their special skill or talent. Um, and it's in the style of America's Got Talent, the reality show. Um, and the show will be held on Friday, March 6th at 7 p.m. in the Fitch High School auditorium. Uh, the Fitch Drama Club has casted their production of The Adams Family and has begun rehearsals. So, that will be very exciting to see um how they make that happen and uh we'll be able to go when they come up with that. And then for Fetch athletic updates, on January 25th, the Fitch Cheering Varsity

007Division won second place at a competition and the JV division won first place. Uh the girls basketball fell to East Lime 49 to 34 on January 24th. The boys basketball defeated Woodstock Academy 49 to 44 on January 24th. and the team is now undefeated 11 to zero, which is very exciting. Um, and on January 22nd, wrestling defeated Bacon Academy 66 to 12. Uh, moving on to middle schools and elementary schools. Um, starting with Charles Barnum, uh, Barnum participated in the Wter Strings concert, but postponed the band and chorus concert until January because of the snowstorm. Uh, students can participate in a wide variety of winter clubs at Barnum. Some of the clubs that are available are the club the cubing club, playmaker club, morning indoor soccer, hiking club, winter sports club, and also the opportunity

008to write poetry. Uh and staff will be participating in team building activities including playing beach volleyball at the sandbox during a February afternoon se uh session. >> The sandbox. >> Uh from Mary Morrison, Mary Morrison School hosted author Phil Bner as an author in residence on Friday, January 10th. Phil was a public school teacher in New York City and has written many books including um picture books and series and also a um book called Rip and Read. Uh that series that Mary Morrison fifth graders have been enjoying. Um our teachers and students in grade 3 to 5 enjoy a very energetic and enthusiastic presentation on what it is like to be an author. And the fifth grade workshop will also include a focus on writing. Uh Mary Morrison is also celebrating a communitywide ribbon cutting

009officially opening the school-based health center. Um this is a comprehensive primary care facility located on the um grounds of the school and they are licensed by the department of public health as outpatient or hospital satellite clinics. Um, our new SPHC uh assures that all of our students, particularly those that are uninsured and underinsured, have access to comprehensive health and preventative services needed to be healthy in school and ready to learn. Moving on to Westside STEM Magnet Middle School. Um, throughout January, the seventh graders have been participating in the Young Manufacturers Academy during some of their science classes. This program offers hands-on STEM activities and is sponsored by the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology. Um, also both the girls and boys basketball teams are into their seasons. The boys are currently undefeated. Um, auditions for Hairspray

010Junior took place on January 8th. Algebra 1 midterm exams are scheduled for January 28th. Sports day is scheduled for January 31st and students will be encouraged to wear their favorite sports hat or jersey and donate $1. Uh, funds raised on this day will also help build the Miracle League field in East Lime. Um, Westside has received excellent news from the state in early January, finding out that their physical fitness scores, particular particularly in grade 8, had exceeded the state average. And our advisory groups uh will meet every Friday um and were challenged with collecting canned and non-p perishable foods for the Malta Homeless Outreach Organization. They were able to collect a large number of donations from their students and it has been donated to Malta's food pantry. Um for Claude Chester, Claudechester has expanded the

011school garden. Uh the after school club called Sprout Scouts painted the garden beds which brighten up the place. Um Claude is hoping to create an outside teaching space within the garden area as well as explore the concept of making a smart garden. Um Claudchester has provided 186 breakfast bags to students who signed up over the December break. And Clchester is in the middle of a kindness challenge. Whenever students, staff or teachers demonstrate kindness, a heart is colored in on a hundreds chart which are posted in every room and office. The charts will be shared and celebrated at the February whole school morning meeting. Um for um the sorry the Northeast Academy Arts Magnet School, uh the fourth grade drama production of the the Grinch was a huge success. Two performances were held for families in

012the community. One performance was held for the entire school audience. Next on the docket is the fifth grade play which we will be casting in the near future. Um Mr. Cheney, Mrs. Stevenson, the strings teacher, and Miss Manachi Manacho, sorry, the art teacher, will be joining two fifth grade students, Alina Ahmed and an Angelia Scott, at the 21st annual elementary celebration of the arts at the Aqua Turf in Southernington, Southernington on February 11th. This Connecticut Association of Assoc Association of Schools event is meant to recognize students at the elementary level with outstanding ability in the performing or visual arts. And then finally, Mary Morrison uh Mary Morrison had Oh, sorry, that was actually already done. Okay, that was the whole thing. I hope you got a full picture of everything that's happening. >> Thank you

013very much. And that is helpful because what what's nice is is that um sometimes we do get the school calendars, but it's really nice to have it on on TV that people can see that we are actually a very active school community. So, thank you. >> Any comments, Lee? >> I was planning on going to the basketball game tomorrow. Um if anybody wants to go, I was right. >> I didn't know there was going to be a special section. >> And you need to wear your pitch gear, too. Mhm. >> When you're 11 and0, people start to pay attention, >> right? I'm pretty fascinated. >> Yeah. >> We have a we have a a young man, a a child who plays eighth grade basketball for us who is 6'4 >> and we're we're we're looking

014forward to him >> very much transitioning to the >> exact high school. >> So, the eighth grade basketball prospects are looking up literally >> literally. >> Any other comments from the student report? If not, we're going to move on to superintendent and administrative reports. Dr. Grineer. >> Well, I just wanted to give a little bit of an update on uh the middle school. Sam is going to talk about the facility. Uh but I just wanted you the board to know we are uh today we're about uh two weeks away from finalizing the the schedule at at the at the middle school. Uh it is a brand new schedule that uh Susan and I will brief the board on and soon as it gets ready and we'll be talking to to the faculty about it as

015well. Uh there's been a team that's worked. It's it's quite remarkable actually 30 40 hours a week. It's it's >> to get every child registered into each of these various elective classes plus all the core classes. Um we're working on the staffing. We uh Lori, Susan and I, Lori Leine, Susan and I are uh working on that and we also have set up a a series of outreach uh initially to the faculty and then to the parents and and Addie and the more words group will be bringing in uh next year's seventh graders uh to do a kind of a student workshop on what needs to be done to uh make sure the school is a success. Can I just add that in addition we have um on our website the Grten Middle School. So

016we have a whole um area on the website devoted to this. So that's where course cataloges will go. That's where the letter that's going home will go. So all that pertinent information will be right there at parents fingertips. And we're actually going to send out basically um an interest survey so that they'll have a chance to go through the catalog with their kids and be able to pick those things that can be selected and they'll know what are the core things that are already input. So we're really excited about using that site and you guys can go on it too. So it um it's a work in progress but it will be ready probably by next week. >> Great. Thank you. And Sam was going to give some facility details, but I I just want

017I spoke to Rick Norris a little bit before the meeting tonight. Um, and he uh he explained to me that uh because of all the sheetrock work that was done this weekend, begun this weekend, he believes by Friday the sheetrocking in the academic part of the building uh will be finished and they'll start painting. Um, so we are coming down the home stretch. Um, on schedule, on budget, and you know, those are >> those are four words that you like to hear when you have a >> nice >> nearly a million dollar project going on. Uh, but that's it for me. >> Okay. And then, um, Susan for the assistant superintendent. >> Okay. So, I just have um before I turn on the power um point, I just wanted to give you what they call

018the ESSA milestones for Grten Public Schools. So, in order for us to make that yearly progress, the tracker tracks how we're doing and we meet with people from the state department. And so, um, everything from our DPI or our grow our indicator for ELA and math to our our growth, which we've talked a lot about, to our EL support in loss links, all the way chronic absenteeism. So, I wanted to give you this chart so you could understand how we're being held accountable. Oh, the right one. No. [Music] So while while you're setting up so this is a a function of being an alliance grant if I understood correctly and by virtue of of being an alliance district u we we have to uh report these uh report these scores. So, so the first one

019is uh the district performance index which is a combination of uh several several variables. So, I'm I'm actually seeing this for the first time. So, so 1920. So, just to start, you remember two years ago when we were first announced as an alliance district, we were given $600,000 to put towards our plan. Last year, we did not receive any funding, but we still continued a plan from the year before. um not as comprehensive but and keeping track of the data as indicated to make those yearly you know increases and um or decreases in the case of absenteeism. So, this is really the wording from um the state department of education that they um alliance district plans are locally conceived evidence-based reform plans that propose detailed initiatives for improving student achievement. So I'm going to show

020you you've seen the the four quadrant um parts of the alliance and as I said talent is the number one or the first one that we have talked about and I had told you that they have boxes that you check off and I'll make sure that you all receive this um but the recruitment and human capital is part of this hiring and placement um professional learning evaluation instructional coaching and district school leadership development. And in ours, I really wanted you to see what went into the actual plan that I had to submit to the state because they have to look at it, authorize it, and I and I think Tuesday, tomorrow, I should hear something. Um, and once they've done that, the funds are ready for us. And of course, we'll be sharing that information

021with other um colleagues in the town. Um but professional learning for instructional leaders. This is really as part of our sustainability plan um that some of our other grants have initiated. We want to continue with the leadership that we have within our buildings, whether they're teacher leaders or administrators to to ensure that the plans will continue to roll out and so that they're given the professional development that they need in order to ensure that that happens. um recruitment and human capital, recruiting highquality staff is ever so important, increasing minority hires and um Lori Leine has come to you. She has quite a comprehensive plan that we have going on the central office and she has teams that are working in the state, at the state level, and within the district to support the hiring of

022um a more diverse staff. And um we'll expand the strategies. We've talked about recruiting a diversified staff and the grow your own scholarship programs for some of our um pair of professionals that may want to go back and get their teaching degree and um they have you do a rationale. So there's a rationale behind that of really creating a more diverse teaching staff. Um district and school leadership hire and retain highly qualified teachers. So we have um a plethora of team mentors that really support our new teachers and they are paid a stipen and but they also have to receive training. So we have um I think at least a dozen um new team mentors who are getting training that this grant will help support or these funds will help support that. And so here's

023the talent section. I think we've kind of gone through that. Grow your own tuitions is under the benefit section in talent. Um, understanding bias training is part of it and that's actually coming to our professional development. We have Valerie coming back and um I'll make sure you get invited if you'd like to come for our March 13th date. um other professional um services under teacher leadership and is 10,000 and mentor training for those team expansion of team teachers. Um and then also minority recruitment um that we'll use to kind of advertise and that whole section for talent is worth $55,000. Under academics, we're looking at common core assessment, SRBI, and SRBI. I want to highlight here. Those are our intervention practices. We have very good practices at each school, but we want to make sure

024we have systemic practices. So, what's happening in the elementary that's really good that we want all elementaryaries to have what's happening at the middle school because it's going to become one middle school. So, they really need to work together and create this thing. And then what's happening at the high school to ensure that our children that need supports are getting the right supports. Um >> so SRBI um and special >> Excuse me. I don't mean to interrupt, but is there a handout on this >> that you have? >> This is actually part of the plan that I had to submit to the um to the state department. So I will make sure that you receive that. Okay. >> So, I think it's good that you can continue to do that so that it can get

025taped, but to just understand that um >> we have nothing to look at >> that we're not see that we're not seeing anything. We didn't get it inance. >> Well, it was done this weekend. >> Okay. >> Because it was it was a you know, we couldn't I couldn't open it up online, so I had to do it this way. >> Oh, wow. Um, at any rate, so the SRBI and special supports in the way of bringing people together and paying them over the summer to put together this comprehensive plan as part of the funds that we'll we'll work on also to sustain our preK through 12 literacy initiatives, delivering that common core curriculum and adding to the preK where the units of study are coming out now um to continue that support and the

026initiative. ative and the classroom library. So that's all part of the ELA component. >> Can and how much is devoted to >> I'm going to get to that Rita. I'm going to get to that on the second page. >> Oh, all right. >> Instructional technologies, college career readiness and SRBI. So we need to expand the use of our school and district data teams and to examine and analyze current data. And we also have to provide software professional development and inquiry instructional materials to support the core and the tiered instruction. So when we look at that sheet now you all have seen the sheet multiple times. The other pages are just to explain the thinking because you have to explain the thinking and then you have to write smart goals based on that ESSA to show

027how this is going to make measured growth and what the expectation is. Um, so the S SRBI writing is um $10,000 for teachers K12 to work together. Um, we also have an EL teacher which we're going to hire hopefully as soon as possible um for the rest of this year. So for semester 2 in the secondary level is where we need it. Um we also need some analysis support with the academics and the requirements on on this alliance district plan to be able to do the tracking. And then um there are professional services related to aligning the common core. There are also inquiry based um implementation of PD. So looking at um you know making sure that teachers get the kind of professional development around common core expectations and then the supplies or software for

028SRBI expanding the libraries and math materials related to the national um science foundation. And so that part, the academics part is probably our biggest chunk in the area of $244,000 culture and climate. This is where we're looking at the attendance and the chronic absenteeism, the suspension rate, wraparound services, and family engagement. And the first bullet is around family engagement and expanding um the work of our community coordinators to assist in that. um family engagement piece um and to help implement or have the principles implement the SRBI interventions, family engagement wraparound services. This is where we've asked for another social worker at the secondary level, namely the middle school to help support um students who have attendance issues, students who might have um family issues or have academic um problems. and you know anyone in between.

029So to have that extra support, family engagement, community forum and conversation. We had um started six years ago our healthy development summits on mental health. We will continue and hope to have one this spring. I was just talking to children first graten and a whole collaborative um of towns people to talk about what that topic might be, but really an outreach to the community regarding student success. And there's some nominal expenses in there for that. So, community coordinators for 9,000, social worker, the whole salary, um health insurance, and then um community forum, $1,500. And then with operations, um we really are looking at the data support, the grant management, and tutoring. So tutoring and I don't know why that slide didn't take because I put that in there but the tutoring is um and I

030shared with you a list of each of the schools and what their plan is but basically it's around reading and writing and math and science and to give before or after school intervention so that we can expand an afterchool for the middle school and high school where there's a late bus is very convenient. So, it could be around some ESPback topics that kids may need. It could be around what they're studying currently. Um, and I know that the teachers will make it engaging as well, but it's that extra tutorial which we hear community members ask for often. Um, and the question was raised by our board of ed when we originally did it, can we provide additional funds? So originally it was about half this amount of money and now we've gotten it to 17,500

031and we're able to reduce the benefit portion. So thank you Rita. >> We were able to do that and then there's supplies needed for tutoring and the other big component here is the registration and lottery software that will tie into P school that will enable families to be able to enroll um at home or online or even at the office online. And there will be efficiencies and accuracies with this new system. And then the refreshment of the projection devices. And we talked to you about making sure that we have those starting with the high school which has been in in serious need. These new active panels, putting them in the libraries of each of our schools, but they'll be portable so they can go room to room and we can take them with us when

032we have new schools. So, um, Dennis has created a plan for that. So, the entire amount comes to 600,000 and, um, I think it's a really good plan. And, um, >> and you said that you're going to hear hopefully tomorrow about whether the state has said, "Yep, you've got a plan. Go." >> And sometimes they'll say, "It's fine, but you need to shift this or do this or, you know, maybe a different category for equipment versus supplies." So, but I'm thinking it's, you know, it's a good plan. So, >> thank you. >> Any questions? >> I think once again it'll be helpful once we once you send the PowerPoint so then we can kind of do that. Um, and one of the reasons why I know people are saying, "But Kim, we talked about this

033in the committee of the whole when we went over the alliance district. Why why aren't we doing it?" And I just um because this is such a um big thing for us at the present moment. Um, I just thought that it was be important for at least to also be on on camera so that other people can because they people are hearing alliance alliance alliance and so um there's now a sense of what that is. Um, and you made reference to the fact, and I know it was in our board mo notes, is that you are going to go tomorrow to talk to the town council around um the how the board um supports the use of the 600 the $600. And I >> that's also going to happen tomorrow and it was in the

034notes. Um I have a question if that is po. Yes, it is possible for me to have a question. Um, but I am just wondering, could you explain this because it makes unfortunately no sense to me. And what I'm the most confused about is not the color yellow, but what are the what are the yellow boxes? So, those are like benchmarks. >> Okay. So back in 1617 when we first began this journey you see that in ELA um we were at 68.1 for ELA for the DPI which is district performant index and in math 63.3 and if you go to 2021 which is the next yellow box the expectation is that we go up a couple percentage points in the DPI. Does it mean that in the the DPI on 2019 through 2020 that our

035benchmark was 69.7? >> That's for 23. No, where are you looking? >> I I'm I'm at ELA. The first column 201920. >> Well, that is their expectation. >> That is their expectation. If we're to get their expectation is that everyone in Connecticut, every town >> is their average is 75 by 2930. >> Okay. >> So if we're to get there, they're setting these benchmarks which you know we we're not there yet even at the benchmark but the benchmarks are the expectations in order to get to 75. >> So can I ask one more question on on I'm going to ask another question on this. So when it the district performance index, the smarter balance growth, the links, the chronic absenteeism 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate, the six-year adjusted cohort graduation rate, and the accountability index.

036Those are the things that got the 3231 >> school districts into the the um alliance >> alliance district. Is that correct? >> That's right. one of the not all of these indicators necessarily but something stood out. >> Okay. But that's the socioeconomics of the towns have a lot to do with it too. >> And that this this document that you gave us for a abbreviated document that you did the PowerPoint that is our response to some of the indicators that we are that got us right alliance. In order to receive the alliance funds, we needed to come up with a district plan. Got it. >> And it's really an alliance application that you're applying for those funds. Um it was kind of sent to us late later like over the Christmas holidays. So it was

037um an action plan that we've been discussing. So hope luckily we were kind of ready to go with our ideas. But then it took some work putting that plan together. >> Okay. And I just shared out with you kind of the big ideas of the plan and the rationale, but I'll make sure you get it. >> Thank you very much, >> Rita. Um, and and where are we chart for Grten's scores that line up with the states expectations? >> These are their benchmarks for us, >> right? >> Um, and I've certainly given you out the data, but I could make another column of where we actually are. >> That's what I have to do for the state. >> Yeah, I think in the track. Yep, I can do that. >> Thank you very much. >>

038Yep. >> Any other questions? All righty. Thank you again. And and once again, the more that you talk about it and what was helpful for me, >> it takes a while to think it it it is. And um I I really do appreciate your willingness to kind of because I know that you've been you've been sinking a lot of time into it. So, I really appreciate you willing to to share again with us. Um, we're now going to move on to the business manager report just because we haven't seen you enough lately. We just thought we would >> Good to see you again. >> Yeah. And again and again. >> So, attachment one is our updated object code summary report. Uh, this report shows that we are have a projected unexpended balance of $84,593. Uh,

039it's made up primarily of uh we are over budget in salaries as we discussed in previous uh meetings. Uh but it's offset by being under budget in uh uh essentially our tuitions and our supply counts. Um and we we we feel uh we will uh we should be able to hit these numbers. Um so we're we're in very good shape. I >> is the supply account is that because we've just have said we can't spend the money. >> Uh well it's it's a combination of uh we have supplies from prior years that we're still working through. Uh so we're we're in good shape there. Um and um uh both from uh instructional supplies as well as custodial supplies. So we're we're in good shape. Um but we are asking the principles to hold back uh

04025% of their site budgets um until we get further along in the year. We know that we'll we'll be able to hit this number. Lee, >> I um I had a question last week when we did the CO and when we did the budget um and someone asked a question because this is not the strongest my strongest suit, but usually we do the parentheses for being under budget, but a couple of times there was a minus >> instead. And I didn't want to sound stupid, but now I'm feeling stupid because there was a high there was a a dash. >> Oh yeah. Um in the in the budget work uh work papers. >> Yes. >> So it should be it should be a parenthesis. Um if it should not be a negative number. >> I

041wonder was it for money or staff? Because sometimes we say minus >> you know I don't remember right now but >> because we wouldn't put staff in parenthesis. It only be for now. >> No, it wasn't. It It was in the >> It should have been right corner. >> We We'll check it. >> I'll check it, too. >> Yeah. And if you tell me the exact spot, I can tell you exactly what. >> Thank you. >> But parentheses mean uh negative. >> That's great. Yes. >> No. >> Yes. >> Negative. >> Or in the case of a budget that we're we're under budget. >> Uh >> over budget. >> Well, over budget, right? >> Yeah, it's over budget. Under budget, we just Good. Thank you. Sorry. >> No. >> All right. Do you have the

042health insurance? >> Uh, so in regards to health insurance report, no, I do not have an updated health insurance report. Um, MDG uh they were reconciling our prior year uh claims to uh to a report from Anthem and they noticed some discrepancies. Uh so it turns out that the uh claims information, the reports that we've been going over from that come from Anthem and get processed by MDG um have been uh inadvertently uh uh leaving off certain groups. >> Uh so this was a concern uh and uh Anthem and MG have both been looking into it. I got a report back just the end of last week uh that it uh the the groups that were left off it affects the town side more than the board side but there is some effect on the

043board side um so they are reworking those reports uh as we speak um and we hope we'll definitely have one for the next meeting but um uh they were under reporting on the reports only so the actual actual activity it was all working correctly but on these reports that we're looking at uh they were under reporting if by two groups for the uh for the board and five groups for the town. >> Any questions about that? Jay, you look pensive. >> So, none of the reports that we've received since um last July were accurate. >> Correct. Yeah, there were groups that were um erroneously not reported. >> Were were claims left off? In other words, >> off the reports only. So, as far as uh the u the actual uh calculation, >> if we think

044we're $378,000 to the good, are you saying we're still $378,000 to the good, but the report didn't include the numbers were okay, but the but the reporting groups were inaccurate? >> No, the it did not include some reports. >> Oh. Uh I mean, sorry, some uh some groups >> some groups >> uh small groups luckily for the for the board's uh sake. uh small groups, but it it's going to have a >> so it could have been well if they were left off then we would have paid more claims. >> That's right. >> And I think Jay's point is that we we had an elevated sense in accurately high sense of how much uh to the good we were. >> That's right. Fair. It was it was overly optimistic. >> Yeah, that was my concern.

045>> But but I was assured that it's not um it's not large numbers, but I don't have the actual numbers at this point. >> Okay. But not alarming. not alarming. >> Thank you for getting that qualification. >> I think everyone's looking at our faces. >> I I think what's alarming is when when Ken says, you know, you're 84,000 right now, which is what, if my math is correct, is that onetenth of 1%. >> I mean, you're like on a razor's edge to begin with, >> right? >> The the impact for that will be felt in the in the reserve. uh basically. >> but if we had to fund more then yes, it could it could affect this. But I don't I don't believe it's going to have an effect. >> Okay. >> As soon as

046we get that report, we'll put it in board notes and then we can make a a full report at the February meeting. >> That'd be great. Thank you. Um director of buildings and grounds. >> Good evening. Uh I'll report on the graten 2020. Uh and so I'll report on all three uh projects that are ongoing at this time. Uh the Graten Middle School uh as Dr. Grer alluded to um they actually brought in about 15 to 20 extra sheet rockers this past weekend to uh to knock out the sheetrock and they really did a a bangup job >> literally. And they're actually and uh you mentioned that they're going to be paint they are actually painting uh some of the sheetrock uh really >> uh as well. So that project is uh moving along well

047as you can see when you drive up the street. Everybody I run into says, "Wow, that's really an impressive building." And uh >> I uh have to agree with that. Um >> we will be going uh to Hartford. The group will be uh heading to Hartford again on February 26th for phase three, which is uh to the OCGR uh to uh get permission to move forward with FFN and uh technology. and FFN is furniture, fixtures, and equipment. So, uh we'll we'll take a look at that stuff and uh be ready for that meeting on the 26th for the state. Um I we also have a meeting this uh coming Wednesday morning uh with Dagustinino who is the uh security consultant. Um they're doing the cameras and all of that stuff at the school along with

048our consultant Bill Leson uh and the police department. and we'll be talking about uh the security issues uh with the uh new middle school. So hopefully finalizing that on Wednesday morning. Uh regarding the Cutler site, uh on January 15th, we had a pre-bid meeting at uh at Cutler. Uh I had asked uh uh uh Principal Bass for a room that would hand uh could handle 30 uh contractors. Uh there were closer to 60 contractors there. So, I'm hoping that that might mean we might get it for half price if there's many people bidding. But, uh so uh hopefully that'll continue when we meet um uh on the Westside uh pre- bid meeting which will be February 4th. Um the Cutler bids are out now and those bids are due on February 4th. We'll also have

049the pre-bid meeting for Westside on February 4th and then the bids will be due on February 18th for the Westside project. So, uh, you can see it's about a twoe split right now. Um, they're hoping that it'll be close the gap a little bit and end up about a week apart when they, uh, when they actually start construction there this spring. So, >> will there be one um, manager for both of those sites? >> Uh, OMG will have separate uh, persons on each site, >> but it would be one management. >> Yeah, it's one firm, but it would be three different people on those projects. Yes. Any questions for the 2020? >> I do. I have questions. When you drive up and you go past the building um and you you see the four floors

050and then what is the structure behind that that's slanted that looks like it'd be perfect for solar panels. >> It might be. I I I think you're >> separate almost in >> you're referring to the gym roof. I believe the gym roof. Yeah, if if you're looking at the from the road, it's to the left hand side of the building. Yeah, that's the gym roof there. Um, also in the cafeteria, um, there are sawtooth roofs, which are slanted roofs above it. They, uh, they come up and it's slant down and those also point in a direction that might be benefit to get some daylight and also possibly get some more solar panels. But, uh, Rick Norris is now working with, uh, solar, uh, people right now. Great. to um see if we can get something

051done. It's not in the project right now, but if there's money left over or if we can do something um and pay for it as we go or something like that. Um so he's looking into that >> uh not only for these projects but for the high school as well. So >> that's great. >> That's still ongoing. Um can so just to get clarification um so tomorrow um is it just you and Susan that are going to talk about >> um the the Northeast um >> I'm going to give an update on Northeast Academy which >> really goes into the CIP. >> Okay. >> Uh and Susan will talk about the alliance business and then >> Right. So just to know that that there's there's like >> the data we we We missed the town

052council, you know, that the basic district data on on the aspect and >> Okay. >> SATs. >> Um and then also you you created a CIP for the dishwashers. >> Yes. >> Right. Under um under the recommendation of the town manager, correct? Um to help meet the sustainability. Um not that's not sustainability to meet um >> the anti-plastics ordinance. >> That's right. To go again to work with the plastic ordinance. It's going to be Right. So, I just wanted to make sure that people Gretchen, >> so we if I'm getting this comparing how the gray water created by dishwashing versus the disposal of all the plastics. >> Well, the the the town passed an ordinance that we're not allowed to use styrofoam trays, cups, and bowls any longer. >> So, uh it it Ernie Kosh

053meter estimated cost about approximately $30,000 a year to switch to paper products and straws. Um so we started to think about the possibility of actually using uh uh fiberglass trays and uh metal utensils. >> But but but of course we'd have to have dishwashers, >> right? So I mentioned it to John Bert just kind of last minute. It was due today. U so he said, "Yeah, you know, it's not I I don't even know if they're going to consider it, but but but I think they will." Um and so if we could uh we could have dishwash dishwashers are being planned for the three new schools. So, if we could get disruptors in the current and uh schools, high school and three of the middle uh three of the the elementary schools, then we would

054actually be able to sanitize and reuse the utensils and trays. So, that's >> we're looking into the cost differentials of gray water like like how the >> there's like three questions in there and I'm having trouble getting them out in one sentence. We'll we'll we'll look at the >> environmental look at the the environmental impact of the dishwasher, but um yeah, sure. We could we >> versus I water. >> I don't I don't necessarily think that your point is invalid. I think that that there is this um I think that what we were trying to do is is to kind of meet the need of the plastic ordinance. But I I think I do wonder what has been studied around the graywater um backlash. I I'm sorry. >> There's also the cost of heating the

055water and employing the dishwashers and repairing. So, I just was kind of looking at a cost. >> Well, we can we can look into that. >> It's all a balancing act. >> There's research someplace, I'm sure. >> Any other questions on the facility part? >> Well, is Sam done or is or could we ask a question? >> No, I'm that's what I'm saying. Is there any questions? >> 2020. >> So, >> well, mine wasn't either, so >> Oh, okay. So my question is that when we met with the teachers and the um administrators the other day in the liaison meeting they um had concerns about the phone lines um phone lines they they would like caller ID these are just some wish lists you know just something to think about um they cannot make any

056long-distance phone calls and since everybody now has cell phones that um you know people live all over the United States and they can keep their own cell phone number. People aren't having home phones anymore. So for a teacher to want to call someone's cell phone with a long distance number, they're not they're not able to do that to talk. >> Are there still long distance >> calls anymore? >> Well, from their >> from a landline at a school, you cannot call out. That'd be a long distance call. >> I thought that was >> Well, they can they can make long-distance calls. uh they just may not be able to do it from their classroom. They might have to go to >> that's one of the issues is that sometimes like if you go to the

057office there's a long line or other times you might be discussing something very confidential and you don't want to be in the middle of the office things going on. So that was and then also when um to dial 911 with the phones you have to dial nine nine and then 911. So they were questioning why we have why there is that delay. >> Right. So that that was just some of the concerns that teachers and administrators brought forward to us. >> Yeah. A couple of the schools have older systems where they have to dial 9ine before they dial 911, but I don't believe it's three 9ines. But >> two nines. >> That's correct. >> Two nines. So maybe we can have on it. One of one of the ideas was to actually put a label

058on those phones that had to do where you had to do that so that somebody would know that that's what they have to do. >> Yeah. But they said just doing that is slow. Takes time. Well, >> you know, and if you're if it's an emergency, >> it is slow because you have to wait until you get an outside when you dial the first nine. You have to wait until you hear the click, >> right? >> Which indicates that you've now got an outside line and then you can dial the 911. Right. >> We actually have this on the agenda for the principles tomorrow >> and we and we are looking into new phone system for the for the entire district. So that's that's something we're taking a look into. >> Good. And then um

059the lockdown protocol which I think is >> that's on the agenda too >> for tomorrow with the principles. >> Yes. >> Oh, okay. >> And Sam's committee. >> Okay. Right. That's what I thought in his committee. And it would be nice if the board had an update also. Sure. Sure. Okay. Any other questions for S hearing? None. Let's move on to community comm community reports Lee policy. Yes. And I am sorry we did not have a policy meeting and it was my fault because I had a chance to see my granddaughter. >> You took it. >> So, it's my fault, but we will meet again. >> We We all had a chance to see. >> You all got to meet her. I know. And um we're also having um the second reading of a policy

060of the emergency. All right. Um Andrea for curriculum. We met on last Monday >> and we we had Mr. Lefabe and Mrs. Donovan come to us along with Mrs. Miss Hajj. >> Okay. >> And they presented us with their with something that that Susan is going to talk about tonight. And Miss Haj is going to come back because we had questions for her that she had to research. >> Okay. >> All right. Finance and facilities. >> Um we have not met. >> All right. Rita learn this is this is a lot going on at learn. Um let's see where do I start? First um dual language um middle school will no longer be based in Waterford. It's um I could actually share a little bit of the letter that was sent out by learn to

061all to all the parents. Um so I have a feeling a lot of our students that attend dual language will be coming back to the district middle school students. So the seats are being transferred to Goodwin University which was Goodwin College and is now Good. So it's going to be in East Harford. >> So they are going to talk to parents. There will be slots for seventh and eighth grade students to be transported. They'll have like maybe two, one meeting place in New London and one in Norwich, but it is a long ride. So, um they tried for eight years learn to find another site because the building that an old school in Waterford, it needed a new boiler, it needed a roof and the state said, "We don't have any money for that. Look

062for a site." And they've never been able to find one. So the state agreed to give their seats to Goodwin University because they have a building that'd be perfect for and the students could take advantage of a lot of the programs there. So that that's sad that we'll be losing that school in our area. Um also Dr. Spear is um has resigned as principal of the Marine Science Magnet School and he is now head of school at Isaac. Um let's see some of the other things we talked about. Oh yes, Learn was not awarded their birth to three program. They will not receive a grant. So that program will be going away for learn. Um they have met with the state and there's going to be another phase of the Ocean Avenue Learning Center because

063it there is such a long waiting list. So, the second level is going to be done and the state will reimburse 80% and we'll have that in. I'm on that building committee. We'll have that in next June. >> Um for um K through 12 or it's preK. The Ocean Avenue Learning Center is preK through through 21. >> Okay. >> So, it'll be mostly the older students will be going upstairs. >> Okay. So they have more of their own space and they'll have culinary arts and you know the things like that there. Um what else is there? Let's see. Oh well, we received the you know the the fiscal report and she also did Kate Ericson also did a new board member orientation and it's wonderful to see how many districts are sending a board member.

064Sometimes the meetings um are small and this time now the rooms are overflowing. So all the districts are very invested and everybody is trying to do as much as they can to regionalize programs in our area. So it's very positive. So that's it. So um so the board of ed um town council the RTM and the city um the city council we have not met though we are going to be meeting >> February >> there is a fifth a February 5th and then that is followed by the if if in fact we're going to hold this meeting it's followed by the the joint board town council and GM >> right um and I think that that's going to be in lie of that it's we're going to meet but it just be a big joint

065media instead of just a little leas. >> Right. Right. Because I'm actually still waiting to hear from um one person about who is going to be serving. So um I am working on that and then I think the next step after that is to um bring it to hopefully Joyce to see if she would be willing to kind of doodle pool and find out a time that that works out for most people. >> Okay. Um and uh to to piggyback on sort of Rita's comments um from the board of ed, the AGSA and the GA leazison committee um there was a request from the uh leadership um from the GA um about the board reconsidering the school calendar um for next year. Um it it though we were very responsive to the people who came

066to speak to our board meeting um it did create um a a backlash that I don't think that we had anticipated. Um and so uh they did ask for us to kind of go back and um actually have a conversation about that. Um, and so, um, I told them that I would bring it back to the board and that maybe, um, maybe our next time that we come together, I know it's a more of a budget workshop, but maybe we can have that as an agenda topic because if we're going to do it, I think we have to do it sooner than later. Um, so, um, once again, just to just I'm putting that bug in your ear that that's going to come come back. Um, trail leazison. >> Oh, wait a minute. There were

067there were a few other things discussed at that meeting. One was the um teachers um and administrators felt that we have an awful lot of teachers being pulled out of classrooms and there are a lot of subs and not as much direct contact with students. So I will make a referral that we somehow um keep an eye on this so that our students really have their own classroom teacher and the teachers aren't getting pulled out so much. I know there's been a lot of a lot of different initiatives, but I think maybe slowed down a little bit. And I think the special ed staffing numbers are increasing of our special ed students. And it's difficult sometimes when they're pushed in to um classrooms, especially I think elementary, well, probably all levels. And you know, they

068some of them don't come with an aid and some of them do. And it's it's it's hard. So for for um the teachers especially when you have these little little little children coming in. So >> I I've invited Denise to to come back. We'll we'll review the special ed staffing. >> I think we have a meeting like on the 10th of February. So sort of like a wrap up. >> I I'll ask I'll invite her to that. >> Oh great. And also just uh to go back um that at that meeting we were given some assurances by Susan and Mike that they were going to take a look at the pull out um because you weren't made aware. >> Oh, it's already been done. >> Yeah. So I just don't I just don't want people

069to feel that that that people weren't being responsible for that. >> So um thank you very much. All right. Trail Gretchen. >> They're still marching along >> figuratively and literally. um and go out and scholarship. >> Well, I agreed to to be a member, but I have absolutely no idea who's in charge of it or when it meets. Um so, I would love to know about >> All right. So, I will um I will ask someone to get back to you about that. >> Okay. >> Maybe a contact would be Matt Brown at the high school. >> Do we know >> Erin Maguire who is head of guidance, she'll she'll help us with that. >> Thank you. That's exciting. >> All right, so I'm going to move on to the action items. Um, the next

070one is the consent agenda. Um, and so all matters listed under the consent agenda are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion um with points of clarification will be allowed. So I will entertain a motion to accept the consent um agenda. >> So make move. >> Can I have a second? >> Second. >> Jane has seconded it. Um, is there any discussion? All those in favor of the consent agenda, please say I. I. >> Oppose. Abstain. That's the other word. Sorry. All right. Motion has passed. Um, the board of ed would like to um thank you say thank you to your cause um for Well Fargo foundation educational matching gifts program um miss uh specifically Michelle Ezel Atkins who has made a donation of $120 to Claude Chester. Um, another um,

071thank you to Michelle Ezel Atkins for matching donation of 120 to Claudechester as well. Um, a special thank you to Mr. Mrs. Edward Johnson who made a donation of $10 to the Claudechester school breakfast program. The Noank Baptist Church who has made a donation of 150 to the Claudechester um, breakfast program. to Christine Johnson who's made a jo donation of $25 to the Clchester School breakfast program and to the Exxon Mobile Education Alliance program who has made a donation of $500 to the Charles Barnum School. So once again, thank you um the board thanks um all of those people for help supporting our school system in very different and special ways. I just want to add that this isn't their breakfast program, their daily breakfast programs by food services. This is when children go on

072a vacation. They're able to bring home bags of food staples over the holidays so that they won't be food insecure. And the whole school puts together these bags and different community members contribute to the, you know, financing of this and then families are able to take the food home when they're out of school for any length of time for holidays and things. >> That is amazing. Yeah. Thank you for um I think thank you for once again reminding us about that. Lee, would you be willing to read the motion for um all business number one, please? >> I will indeed. Um the motion is to approve as a second reading of policy P 5141.213, emergency administration of nlloxxone. >> Thank you for pronouncing that one. >> Did I get this done? I think Can I

073have a second, please? I'll second that. >> Rita has seconded it. I can't She She put a second to it. I don't know how else to say it. Um so, um is there any more information, Susan, from from our first discussion that we had about that? No, I think that the um the intent is to really make sure that we have um this available that our nurses can distribute at the high school level, but we didn't indicate just high school because you don't know in these times that you know if it wouldn't be something that would be necessary at other levels. But that's the intent and the police officer also has it. And then there's going to be a good Samaritan policy that's going to come out that would also open up for others to

074be able to do that if in case of emergency. I know that we have um under new business we have manufacturing program and update on teacher surveys but a number three and four and five I do know that we have people who have are coming in to kind of having a conversation. So I am just wondering folks if we here. >> Oh, she Well, okay. So, I'm wondering what we could do >> sitting right now. >> Well, they're not even sitting next to each other like across the aisles. But I >> said not in school. >> Um, so I'm actually just wondering then could we um do number two, which is the update on teacher survey results for the magnet themes and then we'll go into the manufacturing uh and then go into the other

075ones. Okay. Did we do a Did we do >> No, we didn't. We didn't finish the the >> Oh my goodness. >> Well, she's doing that. Thank you. >> Thank you. And thank you. I would like to um all those in favor to approve of the second reading the policy P5141-213 emergency administration of Nellax. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Oppose. Abstain. The motion has carried. Thank you friends for keeping me honest. >> You know, we also have a first robotics >> thing is here. >> Okay. So, um I actually what I would like to do because once again I'm just trying to be kind to people who kind of come out and um uh give us information. So I am going to ask that we go to number three so

076that we can do the robotics so that you're not waiting. though I'm sure you're loving every second about being here. Um so I'm just going to put the motion on the floor so that we can get to the discussion. So um Rita, would you be willing to read the number three motion under new business? >> I think that's >> Yes. The motion is to approve the field trip request to a first robotics competition in Ottawa, Canada scheduled for March 13, 2020 through March 16, 2020. >> Can I have a second on that? >> And Andrea has seconded it. All right. So, Dr. Yeah, I'm I'm going to introduce uh my my friend Martin Cloudus who has really taken over as one of the key adviserss to our uh aluminum falcons and they are about to

077begin their competitive season and uh Martin and I and others are hard at work trying to find an alternate site. Uh I I think I meant a meeting uh in my in my board notes. U but Martin uh Martin is here to to talk about and and uh a field trip that was that was submitted actually by Brian Chidley who is the faculty member associated with with the uh the robotics team. Uh, but this is and I I I I just saw this today and I u I thought I'd just highlight it. So, the Ontario District Carlton University event uh uh we have been invited to that and I I'll let Martin speak to it a bit. Uh but it's a it's a it's an opportunity for our robotics team and I I I I

078take it it's a pretty big honor to be >> yes. >> Uh thank you for letting me uh come in and speak tonight. Uh yes, my name is Martin Cladis. I am a a parent. Just give you a brief overview. I'm a parent whose uh son graduated last year uh was active on the team. I've been active with the team for four years. This is my fifth year with it. And um I'm also president of the boosters and one of the mentors. Uh in short, each year we look to compete outside the district to uh a get a better more practice in and uh let the students get or give the students an opportunity to see schools outside of our local out outside of New England. Um uh this the past few years we've been

079traveling down to Philadelphia and competing there. uh those two years uh we actually won that those events. Uh previous to that we went to New Jersey and competed there and we won that event as well. Uh we are currently the number one ranked team in New England. That's out of 260 something teams I believe. And uh this year as we were looking for a place to compete again out of district, we were looking to go to Philadelphia again, but uh that district is full of a lot of new teams now and so it got booked up. So, we were looking around for uh an alternate place to go and uh we just put some feelers out for for different places that we might be able to go or might want to go compete and um

080the Ontario district uh heard found out that we were looking for a place to go and uh asked us to invited us to come. They're looking for New England teams or teams outside their district to come up and compete with their schools. So, uh, it really offers an opportunity to see schools and ideas outside of our own district, New England. Uh, we do go compete worldwide or to the world district championship every year where we see uh, international teams there. The thing to remember that first is international. It's worldwide and this would be an excellent opportunity for our students to go up uh, and see other teams compete uh, with them. uh the process that we did this year to try to uh figure out who can go or who we'd want to take as

081we put a questionnaire out to the students or an application and really look to see what the students would would like to gain from from doing one of these things and uh we got some pretty good positive response from them um from that. Uh we I think we had 19 applicants. Uh we selected 11 students and uh one of the things that we're looking at is students that already have documentation to be able to travel across the border. Um I think all but one of on on that list actually has a passport. One is still waiting for it to come in. And uh at this point this event is part of what we as the boosters pick up and cover the cost of the students to travel up. all the mentors and parents that travel

082up with that they pay for their own way and welcome any questions about what we we else we may have going on. >> Rita, I want to thank you Yes, ma'am. >> for doing this and for all you're doing for our students, but I think this is so well documented that it's so it's it's easy to read. We can see exactly what they're doing almost every minute. I mean, you have it really like by twohour periods here. So, no, I I think it's great and I wish the students a lot of luck. >> Thank you. >> When do you start building your robot soon? >> Uh, we're actually the the new season got announced uh January 4th. Today starts week four of our build. So, we have >> oh, >> three more weeks that we

083can build before we start competing. Um, then there's a week zero, which is like if you think of it as spring training where everybody has an opportunity to go compete and officials have an opportunity to learn the new game and then starts the competition season. Uh, we're actually going to compete weeks two and four in district. We're already scheduled to go to Bridgewwater, Mass. Uh, we've gone there three years in a row. We're three-time champions there. So, we're hoping to repeat there. Uh other event that we do or that we're planning on doing is on week four. The previous two years we've been going to uh uh Rhode Island >> uh Smith University I think it is. Unfortunately, the district New England is consolidating some of its events and that that event is no longer

084being held. Uh so we're going to go to Worcester to WPI. >> Oh, that's great. that was a an event that >> prior to me getting involved with the team that they they've gone and competed. >> So those are our two indisted around this this event which would be on week three. >> Right. And Dr. Grineer had um written um a letter that sort of mentioned that in conjunction with the New London 4, they're you're helping or assisting with them to build to help out with their robot, which I think is just great. >> It is a it's probably my favorite part about first is uh what a term they call cooperition. uh when we go to events, we actually help other teams, less fortunate teams or less less um >> well, it's less experienced

085less experienced teams. Um >> yeah, >> I will mention the last three years that we've gone to the Rhode Island event, we've helped a uh inner city Boston team um who've showed up the last two years just not ready to compete. Um, so we've helped them and when it comes to uh it's kind of a tit for tat when it comes to uh selecting alliance partners for the eliminations. Uh we've had the opportunity to select them and we brought them a ch helped them get a championship or a banner last year. >> Uh previous events we've done that as well at we actually did it in New Jersey. We did it uh twice up up in Bridgewater, Mass. So it is something that we do as collectively >> at competitions. Uh this year, >> if

086I'm understanding correctly, >> New London's team used to be associated with the school >> and that association has ended and they they're now a 4 team. >> Being that that they're not directly associated with the school, they don't have the access to the school as they used to. and a couple of their mentors reached out to a couple of our mentors and said, "Hey, you know, >> we're fin falling behind here." >> So, we looked at it and see asked them what we can do and and working with Dr. Grineer is gave them a little room over at PV. They come over a couple days a week and they're able to to to work there. uh last two years that we've been over at at Pleasant Valley School, we've invited them over to do scrimmages

087and practice on on a field because that's that's one of the advantages we have in the facility we we're at is we're able to build a actual competition size field so that we can have a better aspect of of what we have to do when we go to comps. >> Wow. Well, I've always been very grateful to to Mr. Chidley for bringing robotics to Fitch High School. >> Yeah. Thank you very much. Is there any other questions about the um about the uh trip the field trip? >> Hearing none. >> Thanks. >> Those in favor of the field trip request for the first robotics competition in Ottawa, Canada scheduled for March 13th, 2020 to March 16th, 2020. Please say I. >> I oppose. >> Abstain. Motion is carried. Have fun in Ottawa. >> Thank you.

088>> And what a great thing. >> All right. And so, um, S, >> would you rather have me go at the end so that would be great. Thank you. Because that's what I was intending, but I can put it back there. >> No, that that you're you're making a whole bunch of sense. So, do um let's so let's talk about what what so where are you going? So I think if we go to the >> manufacturing >> and the pathways >> and then we can do the IB courses that are >> let me let me give a little bit of an introduction because Susan and and Aaron and some other folks at the high school really helped me because we have a lot of things going on and Aaron is going to orient you but

089u the the the clearest thing that I can say is that for our students particularly who are uh very interested in going from high school to a career not necessarily to college uh we have a big umbrella and Aaron is going to explain that big umbrella and that's >> the umbrella is coming >> yeah that that's called that's called our pathways but over the last couple of weeks sort of somewhat by coincidence We have uh learned and Aaron's going to tell you about some grants that are going to be able to support the uh these initiatives and they're my point is they're all under the opaces of the pathways which has been going on for a while but this is not a new initiative but a greatly enhanced and please God greatly funded because we

090we there's some significant multi million grants that could we believe will be very competitive >> uh for >> so six years ago at the high school we brought on the career clusters um and we selected 15 of the 16 career pathways and so students during their nth grade year they are taking interest inventories and they're selecting a potential um career pathway that they're interested in and exploring careers under that and then taking classes under those pathways. So, for example, if a student completes six classes under a specific pathway, um they're honored at a senior ceremony with a certificate and a pin to wear at graduation. And it was really just about um getting students to think about life after high school and how it all connects. So, this started six years ago and we really

091felt like it was important to kind of grow and expand and and make it um stronger. So recently myself and a few of my colleagues um joined a workshop over at Middle Sex College and it was put on by the NC3T which stands for the National Center for College and Career Transitions and they've partnered they're um out of Maryland but they've partnered with different states their um department of education to really ask schools to look at how they're marketing different pathways for students. And when I say pathways, I don't mean just career or technical. We're talking about a student pathway that could include college. It could include technical program. It could include all of these things, but it's really getting the students to focus on the end goal, which is where are you going to

092work after all XYZ happens. Um, and so we have been selected uh to join cohort number one in the state of Connecticut with a couple of other schools throughout the state to start to look at how we're really marketing what our schools are offering to our students and then to enhance them. So part of this conference was really about there's a high number of students that are changing majors in college and potentially transferring um schools. And what that's doing is costing students and their families money. um it's time. And they were saying that if there were more experiences at the high school level and at the college level with really them getting exposed to internships and career opportunities that they may have more of a focus when they get to life after high school about

093really what they want to do and so that uncertainty doesn't create cost and debt. So there and again our very first meeting with them official as part of the cohort will be this Wednesday and it's basically to look at how we're marketing everything to our students and enhancing opportunities for students both courses inside and out of school. Do we offer courses outside of the school? >> So currently um nope that's a good question. Um, so we have partnerships that are through some of the classes that we offer. So, um, for example, our culinary classes are teaming with local businesses. Our nursing program is teaming with local organizations. So, there are partnerships, um, but we're looking to enhance that further. This year um our college and career counselor with the help of our community coordinator at

094the high school level started to put together lists of internships, job possibilities so that everything was sort of in one central location for students to access. So we've started to work on this but this is going to kind of catapult us into um more opportunities and so forth for our students. So, a part of the NC3 um t was to really look at this was a sample from a school I believe in Minnesota um how they're they're framing um basically the four years that students spend in high school and really showing you how everything works together. So, it's English every year, it's math, it's science, it's social studies, and then the CTE course would be their area of um focus that they're working on, whether it's engineering, whether it's hospitality. And so kind of also

095working on our marketing and how we're really bringing everything together because Fitch has so much to offer, but we hear time and time again that we really have to figure out how we're getting things sort of in in one centralized locations, how we're informing parents and students in the community. And so this gives us an opportunity to really critically look at how we're doing things and and to improve it. And it so this is sort of the section one and then right below it it's important for our students to be aware of in the pathway that they've selected what jobs would look like, what training they're going to be expected to do, whether that's an associates degree, whether that's a college degree, whether that's a technical school, and kind of bringing everything together. They're really

096interested in something in high school and what that's going to look like after high school. Um, so Dr. Grineer kind of put together and kind of referenced this umbrella. Um, and so we're really looking at expanding our student pathways. Um, one of the things that I'd like to talk to you guys next about is the manufacturing pipeline initiative. And then you'll notice some of the other um, areas on this umbrella we have and then some things we'd like to enhance further. So this year we officially joined the youth manufacturing pipeline initiative. Um, and what that is, it's a program funded by the US Department of Labor Workforce um, in partnership with the Department of Labor and the Eastern CT Workforce Investment Board. Basically, what that is is that there are a lot of businesses locally

097that are looking for students coming out with experience specifically in manufacturing. And so, the high school's fortunate that we offer um, an intro to woodwork, a manufacturing one and two course. And so this organization has put together a curriculum that they want to see the students complete during those courses so that they are ready the moment that they graduate for employment. Places like electric boat are saying we want these students but they have to be ready with the skills that they need after high school. And so the focus has been uh Mr. Do is our manufacturing teacher and he's taken the existing curriculum and compared it to what this organization is looking for um and they very much align with the exception of a little bit of blueprint um in there that needs to be

098kind of inserted into the courses. So once the students go through these three courses they have the ability to take an assessment. So this group comes into the high school um during this junior year for the students and they take an assessment. When these students pass the assessment assessment, they go directly into the pipeline directly to employers. And so there are 70 different groups um of employers currently involved with this and they are looking so forward to having students ready right out of high school to join these pipelines. And so we really had all of the pieces um to the puzzle. We are looking as well, Three Rivers were partnered with to have students earn college credit when they take specific courses. and this last manufacturing class will also be one we would like to

099get paired up with Three River so that the students can also um earn a college credit. So, it was a really it was a no-brainer. We were ready to go. We were fortunate that we have a shop. We're fortunate that we have a teacher and and really almost 90% of the curriculum. So, it was just an opportunity for our students to be passionate about something in high school and then have it equal a career after high school. Um we've we've offered Project Lead the Way now um for quite a few years and and every year we look to get more students involved in the pipeline specifically of engineering. Um and students can take four classes at Fitch High School um along the Project Lead the Way uh program. And so again, it's getting our students

100exposed to classes at the high school level and then going on further to um pursue potential degrees in engineering. So, this was just an example of something that is existing at the high school that we're looking to still continue and and grow. Again, another thing that's currently at our high school is the nursing program where um 16 students every year um they take a class that meets every day and they go through the course. They have real life experience going out to different organizations in the community and they take an assessment at the end to get their CNA license. So again, a class they get experience, hands-on experience potentially to a career after high school. Um, as we just discussed, we have a wonderful robotics team as well. And so it's talking about also how

101we incorporate clubs into this whole idea of pathways. So not only courses, not only um trade schools, college after, but also being able to take that a step further with some of our clubs and activities. It's all about finding student interest and being able to really focus on that and find out if that's something that you love enough to do as a career down the line. We connected with um our friends over at New London. They currently have a uh Jerot program there. Um we just got some information about potentially what that could look like for us at the high school. And although there is a waiting list and so forth, we are looking to explore the possibility of um a JOTC or um just sort of defense and different leadership classes. Um if you

102look specifically at what the JOTC program does, it comes into a high school. Um for example, in New London, um they are two people representatives from the Navy. Uh at the time when I was at New London, they were both retired. and they come in and they teach courses, different ROTC courses and their leadership, uh, citizenship, naval orientation. Um, and again, it's just a wonderful opportunity. So, we are looking to explore what that would look like at Fitch High School and what the possibilities are there. Um, and just next steps, we are going to continue with this um, manufacturing pipeline initiative that we've joined now this year, continue our partnership with the NC3T to really look at um, our pathways and what we're offering to our students. Um, we are going to look at FAS

103and our personal project, our global citizenship course because that gives us opportunities to work with students to really learn more about their interests um and interests in general and potential career interests. Um, looking to expand how we're offering our career clusters. Um, looking into potentially um, ROC opportunities. Um, we have our IBCP program coming down the line. um looking to expand our culinary offerings um and just how we get more student internships, job shadow, community service, just job opportunities in general with the high school. >> And it was interesting because Aaron and I had been talking about this and Mike had been had pulled together a meeting. So, we all met together at the high school several times and at the same time we were um introduced really over the holidays again to a Department

104of Defense grant that both Val and Lori Leine had been clued in on a $3 million over three years for just this. So, these are all the ideas when we read through the grant carefully. All the things that Aaron has proposed would fit beautifully into this grant. So, Shannon's already on it. I've already sent my letter to them. Um, and also there's a $750,000 Department of Defense education activity grant that also is going to be STEM and careers ready. And um, and also health, which has the health component in it as well that maybe could be used for our nurse nursing course. So, we're really excited because as we're thinking about growing some of the things that are already existing, these grants came to fruition. So it could really spearhead this project and really help

105us to to really get it out to kits sooner than we thought sooner than >> anticipated. >> So the first grant >> 24th of February. >> Yep. >> But who's counting? >> And then the other Department of Defense education activity isn't until the spring. So, the the grant the the the Department of Defense education program, the $3 million program, u when I heard about it, I realized we were actually doing all of these things uh and we could simply use a million dollars a year to feed the manufacturing. And one of the things we really want to do is hire an intern coordinator, a full-time person that would actually get kids and provide transportation for kids to get to these sites, which would be phenomenal. >> Project lead the way we already have. >> It's

106already part of our proposed international baloria careers program, but we could add some equipment uh which uh is is not inexpensive. Uh we have the health program. Uh again uh that's part of the the larger umbrella potentially that's a DODIA. Uh cyber security was back to the department of defense uh defense industry workers. We we have AP and IB courses in programming and we thought cyber security would be something uh that would be terrific. >> Yeah. Uh it turns out the department of defense funded the original US first uh robotics competition. >> The Dean Cayman uh fellow >> who has house on South Dumpling Island right off the coast there. >> He's the one who started the whole thing. But DoD funded it. So we were going to we were going to provide some funding

107again just to make us more competitive. So uh and then the the the uh rati or or or probably they have something called national defense high school which we which we can get in. They're not waiting us for that. So what we're we're trying to do and you know we we we have we have an ace up our sleeve named Shannon Wel. So we we we we think all these thoughts in an excited brain, you know, some sort of brainstorm way >> and and she actually writes it all up. And so I think we're going to have a very competitive grant application here which will fund to a large extent $3 million over over three years and really help us get some of the expensive equipment, help us get going on on some of these

108internships. So, I'm I'm very excited. And then, of course, the Department of Defense Education activity that will help us fund some additional STEM perhaps more at the high school or at the elementary or whatever. Um, but Erin has been championing this for uh for years and when she explained it to me, I I I I really thanks to her clarity of her thinking, uh, I actually saw the big picture. So, I hope I hope this I hope this little graphic here is helpful because that's that's really what we're trying to do. And you know, school college and career ready, a lot of careers require college. So, it's it's not mutually exclusive, but but with the manufacturing pipeline, we're we're talking about very well-paying jobs that high school seniors who graduate step into. And uh >>

109uh so we we we want to support those those students as well. questions from the board. >> I just have a quick one. Sure. >> Do do we have any collaborations with Grassel Technical School with any of these? >> So, there was an article um in the day uh Graasso it was a a preview sort of of they're also in the manufacturing pipeline right now. um the schools are sort of isolated but Graasso um does offer sort of a this event that brings all of the manufacturing pipeline initiative groups together. Um we haven't had any conversations about sort of facilities and all that becomes a little tricky. Um but we are very fortunate that we do have our own wood shop and we do have a lot of great equipment there but um we're very

110new to this but um the team meets uh every other month and it's with all the schools that are part of the pipeline. So there's certainly um potentially possibilities in the works to collaborate. >> That would be wonderful. >> We've had a few teachers even go out on visits to see some of the others who are who've already incorporated this. So even that kind of collaboration, right, when they're right next door can be done. >> Yeah. >> Do we still have the club at the high school for um um students who would like to pursue teaching careers that they would go into >> the elementary schools? >> Right. Right now it's not a club happening after school. Um it's sort of embedded in some of our classes. We have our our children's lit um that

111travels down to the elementary our our athletes do. So it's happening in pockets but but not the way that you're talking about >> because I'm I'm wondering if that would make sense to somehow capture that if if it's happening even just a little bit where we have high school students going into like after school going into >> even in our unified classes. we have our upper classmen that may be aspiring teachers that are are helping out in these classes. So, >> once again, I mean, I I think to your point, Erin, is is that there's so many things that you guys do at Fitch that that go really really well >> and that you guys really try very hard and um unfortunately a lot of that time that stuff doesn't get acknowledged. So, I I

112would put it in there because I think it's really um it's important because I think there's this misconception that we don't offer anything for we can always do better. I get it, but that we don't offer students ways of getting um college uh um jobs after high school that don't necessarily require a four-year degree. So, once again, I really appreciate the efforts that you put into >> Thank you. Any other questions for Aaron about the career pathways? And I can't wait to hear more and more about the grant. Thank thanks for keeping us posted. >> All came together at the same time. >> I like it when the university >> does that sometimes does that for us. >> All right. So, let us move on to um the um the number four and five and

113then Susan, we're going to go back to you at at the end if that's okay. Yep. So, um Jay, would you be willing to read um the motion uh for number four, please? >> Um sure. I um move that we approve the IB Global Politics course. >> Can I have a second on that? >> Um Jane has second that. Um can we have discussion? >> So, I just want to orient you. This is really these are two courses that have gone through that 18month um timeline similar to what um Amy McKenna's ELA courses. So um we relooked at some of the courses that had been proposed and to see where they are. I've actually created a chart that I certainly will share with the board that has has to go through curriculum instruction council I

114mean curriculum board of ed curriculum meeting first. But um these are two IB courses um that we'd like to get into the handbook. And so the CO had you know looked at these and said go off and write and so they have done that. They've come to the back to the board of ed curriculum committee and they're ready to go. So um we're excited about that. So both um IB global politics course and an IB music course. >> We we'll just handle one. Um Andrew, do you have any comments about um the I because curriculum meant on this, correct? >> Yes. Only to to urge the board to to approve them. They're ready to go. They're they're um they were soundly and fully explained at the at the um cow meeting, CO meeting, and or

115I'm sorry, the Yeah, they were at the cow meeting and also at the um curriculum subcommittee. So, we're ready to go. Could could we have just a short like paragraph about what what they entail since >> so that's why I invited both Kelly come up and speak to that. >> Thank you. >> They brought their curriculum maps to the curriculum committee but they can certainly that's why they were invited to just speak to it. >> Well, I just thought that they wanted to kind of hang out with us. >> Where else would you want to be in a Monday? >> Thank you. So the I can you hear me with this? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. So the IB global politics course is uh new to IB. It replaces the what used to be their

116political science course. They changed the curriculum to make it a more global approach about two years ago. Um the course was put together by Sarah Norman and Carly Rising, two of the social studies teachers at the high school are interested in this area. And um our goal is to get more students involved um in terms of we have a lot of students who are interested in political things um political science and economics things like that and so there was some interest in some question from the students if we could have a course like this um by offering we don't have very many one-year IB classes so by offering a one-year IB class we're hoping also to broaden our offerings to give students more access to other higher level classes. Um, right now history is our

117required higher level class and it's a two-year course which ties up students for two years. Having a one-year course like global politics will give students an opportunity to take AP government along with the global politics class which gives them um, I think a stronger understanding for how government works both locally and globally. Um we also have quite a few STEM oriented students who would like to take more higher level sciences but they want to take computer programming things like that. So we saw this as a good fit for a lot of our students. Um and especially with the way the world is today, um I think it's good for students to have an understanding of what's happening on a global scale in terms of politics and um certainly um just keeping in keeping in touch

118with things in the news. >> Thank you. I think that's >> any other questions about the IB can can other um could any students take that course? Right. They don't have to be an IB student. >> That is correct. It's open to anybody who'd want to take that course >> and because it's standard level, it's pretty accessible. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Any other discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor to approve the IB Global Politics course, please say I. >> I. >> Oppose. >> Abstain. The motion has carried. Um, so Rita, would you be willing to read number the motion for number five, please? >> Sure. to approve the IB music course. >> Can I have a second? >> Second. >> I I saw Gretchen, so I'm gonna go with Gretchen. >> Um >>

119and um so if you would be willing to kind of give a oral paragraph. >> Okay. Um well, to kind of summarize uh how the whole course works, it's technically a one-year course, but they would need to complete a full year of AP music theory just to get into the class. um and it can be taken as a standard level or higher level um at the same time. It's basically taking everything in AP theory and putting it all into context. So there's a lot of composition involved. There's a performing component. So they right now this was a discussion but um they it tends to have relooked at it. They do have to have a background playing an instrument or voice to to be in it >> um because of the performance component. There's also a

120lot of uh analytical writing and it branches beyond western music. So AP theory is pretty much western music common practice period. It's taking that and starting to explore other cultures starting to understand relationships between you know you name it looking at jazz and Indian raas and starting to build those types of things together where they can also perform other different types of styles as well. >> Um and they can start to kind of explore those different areas. So, a lot of composition, a lot of performing, um, a lot of analysis involved with the class. >> Yeah, it sounds like a course Addie would have loved to have taken, right? >> I know. >> Any other >> questions? >> Any other discussion or questions? >> Sounds wonderful. >> It does sound wonderful. Yay. >> Yeah. I

121just I was on I'm on that committee and that is one of the classes I've been the most excited about in >> the entire four and change years I've been with board. >> Yay. >> Sounds wonderful. >> I think both these courses are really beautiful examples of of the integration of AP and IB. >> Um our teachers, you know, many of our teachers teach both. Um like Andrew teaches the AP, so he's really excited about this extension. So I think and it shows you all the different opportunities that our kids would have to explore both at the same time. So um they can get a diploma program but they can also they can be in the diploma program and they can take some AP classes or AP kids can take you know who have mostly

122AP in their background can also take international balari. So it's really a good example of kind of the marriage of the two. So >> thank you Susan. So, I'm going to go forward with the motion. All those um all those in favor to approve the IB music um course, please say I. >> I. >> Oppose. Abstain. Motion is motion has carried. >> Thank you. >> All right, Sue, you're not last but least. So, how many um survey results did we get from this? Thank you guys for coming. Thank you very much. So, um, this survey that I'm getting ready to show you, let me just open it up here, was given just to the teachers first. And we will form a survey very similar for the parents to send out. Oops. And actually Seth came

123and has stayed the whole time because he has been instrumental in getting us moving so that we can get this job done because our two new elementary schools will be um is he our two new elementary schools will come online in 2021. So, um, we need to really make sure that we have the right themes for our intra district >> magnets in the elementarymentaries. >> So, you can see that we had 186 responses. So, elementary teachers, I think K, preK through five were all encouraged to take it and I think they actually had time after a faculty meeting or at different times to take it. Um, you can see the red is the number of teachers. So 91.9 of those 186 um responders were teachers. You'll see in the orange is the administrators and then

124there's some other different um members too. I think some teachers answered as parents as well. So there might have been two or three of those. And then you know looking at the blue for the primary prek through two red are um teachers um 3 through 5 and orange is really teachers who might be specialist or teach across all the grades. And then you can see in the different colors that all of our schools are really fairly represented. And um these are um administrators who primarily work in the elementary schools. There were I guess a couple central office. So we really looked at um five or six different opportunities. So this um this is the first slide that asked them to rate one through five. one being their least preferred, five being their most preferred in

125the category of active exploration, play and ingenuity. And I think when I came to you, I shared with you what the survey actually showed and how there were links so people could go on and see the different examples of what that might look like or see a slideshow. So, um you can see that 103 um respondents were thinking this was the um you know, most interesting to them. And um and there were nine respondents that said it was, you know, of least interest and then in between. So, it looks kind of like a stair step. And then there was the we wanted to include our um our NEA and our steam Katherine Kolnowski. So for the arts, fine arts, dramatic arts, visual arts, you can see that um there's still great interest in the arts.

126Um so many people gave it a three four, you know. And then this was classical studies. So um one one would be least interested. So 55% it was almost like the mirror image of of ingenuity in play. So but 12 did give it a five. So 12 teachers did indicate that they were seriously interested in it. And then there's environmental marine life science theme and you can see that that also seems to be of great interest that we got a lot of um fours and fives responding to that particular theme. the Discovery Academy which included some of Renzulli and Reese's thinking around um you know whole school and schoolwide enrichment um and other themes that um would look to have creative problem solving and those kind of ideas was also very interesting to our teachers.

127And then the primary years program um kind of across the board I think that um you know some of the teachers have heard about the amount of planning and the work involved in my but I still think it's of interest to people >> and then the STEM leadership theme again more threes than anything else is kind of in the middle there or STEM did I say steam stem leadership >> and then this would be Katherryn Kolnowski steam So even though we already have one, there's still some interest definitely in steam. And then if you This is hard to see. I apologize. The I really was going to show you the real live active um on the web version just like I was going to show you the live alliance version. But when I heard this

128morning um that we didn't have we might not have internet access, I had to whip these up for you. So, I'll make sure you get them. >> Whip them up. >> I whip them up. >> Um, so if you see, um, this is active exploration and play. And in this case, we had to rank preference of magnet schools on a scale of 1 to eight. One being um your top choice and eight being your last choice. So, it kind of goes in opposite order. So you can see that play and ingenuity was um many teachers top choice and um you know very few was it the last choice and then the arts is kind of across the board. Um classical studies kind of has that mirror image to the ingenuity and play. um environmental studies

129um you know kind of is you see a lot of the middle taken up of interest. Same thing with discovery academy um with can't even read oh with the primary years it's it's kind of evened out across the board although you see slightly to the right which was less interesting. Um, and then you've got the steam. And then finally, we have the um, oh, no, I'm sorry. STEM leadership in Menstein. So, um, so I think that we wanted to send this same survey out to see what parents said, working with Michael Alves on how do we collect the data to find out parents as they respond where, what town, what side of town, what neighborhood are they coming from to kind of showcase so we know that when we go to put our different magnets

130on different parts of town that it would draw interest from other sides of town. So, I think that's the goal so that we can make sure that we have that socioeconomic balance in our schools. So, there'll still be neighborhood schools, all five of our of our elementaryaries, but they'll also have choice in a lottery system where they can select um the schools. So the next step will be to send it out to parents and to bring back the other data >> because if we don't get this we'll be back to square one where we were several years ago not having the diversity necessary to meet the state. >> So this is all part of the 2020 vision. I don't know Mike if you want to speak to this >> the big the big vision. >>

131Right. Well, well, of course, the reason the school which is being built on the Cutler site got 80% reimbursement was because that was a racially that is replacing uh Clchester School which is racially imbalanced. So the the big question is h how do we ensure that people from the west side of town would be interested in a magnet uh at the cutler site and conversely uh what sort of magnet on the west side of town would draw people uh from the mystic side and then I know Seth uh is super interested uh because his school Charles Barnum school will itself become um a magnet like like the others. And so, uh, we're going to have to, as Susan said, when we do the parent survey, we will ask them to identify their address. And thanks

132to the work of this demographer, Michael Alves, that we're working with, we'll know if teacher, we we'll be able to say, not by race, but by socioeconomic level, what sort of school on Cutler site would be of interest. uh because it will be a neighborhood school and uh and the nice thing about westside I think there'll be a fair number of walkers because there are a lot of children who actually go to Clarkchester who live they go to Clarkchester who live right there on Branagy. So um so we we want to be sure that we're getting the the kind of diversity that we uh that we we need and and that we promised the state we would have. Oh, >> so when does the when does the parent survey go out? Sorry, Rita. >> Well,

133I wanted to bring this to you first to show you what the teachers have come up with. So, as soon as we get the nod, we'll go ahead and send it out to parents. So, it's we've got a version for parents that has them identifying their address and being able to respond. Gita, I would love to see instead of classical studies, but a language immersion program at one of our elementary schools. I think that would be be a very big draw for for parents. Um, I think it'd be extremely beneficial because it's to wait until they're in middle school, you know, it's just kind of an introduction, but if it wasn't elementary, so I would love to see classical studies replaced with a language immersion. Well, you know, it when we when we describe them,

134uh, one of the advantages of the primary program, it it it must include world language. >> Um, >> so it is really a version of that. I think maybe in looking at the descriptions, I'll definitely ensure that when we fill in primary years that that families know that that is one of the big um, you know, opportunities is the language >> studies just doesn't I don't know. Well, the original the reason we put it down there, the original group that worked on the magnet themes for the elementary, these were the ones that they had really highlighted and then we wanted to include the two existing >> to see because one of the questions was, do you need two of those, >> right? >> You know, and so it looks like it's pretty stable. It doesn't

135really look like anybody's calling out more for it the way that the act play and ingenuity looks or the >> I mean if you could throw in another one my suggestion would be language >> and I would agree with that 100%. >> I I would excuse me I would agree with it 100% except as as Rita is painfully aware at the RMMS you can't staff it. >> The the regional multicultural management school started out as an immersion mean a total immersion school. I just meant at least they have a class every day of the language >> and that's what >> P is P. >> You just described PYP, >> but I'll make sure that it's stated there so they >> will make that clear. >> Mhm. >> Andrea. >> Well, since the classical magn magnet

136theme was my idea, >> I I I'll take responsibility for not making it attractive enough. I think if if I had done that, it would have been >> Oh, maybe. >> Yeah. And I'll I'll own that. But I think that your idea is is just a fabulous one. We're losing the the the dual mag or the dual language school. Yes. >> And this would would um address that that need >> and and I and agree I agree with you that it's very difficult to to staff, but I'm sure that there are ingenious ways to accommodate for that. Right. >> And I mean, if if it's just, you know, a class a day, it's really basically one teacher, >> right? But I I I can tell you uh that I I used to work with Jamie

137Gerardano when she was principal in Waterford and >> uh and I was there and we had children from from kindergarten to grade five and uh they were basically proficient walking out the door. If if they had from kindergarten just just the class just you know once a day. Yeah. >> And it started out pretty modestly, like, you know, a half hour kindergarten, but she she told me uh because she was there after I um >> she told me th those kids could speak Spanish uh by the end of fifth grade and it was it was it was terrific. So, I think you're right and and to me >> and Eastlime does it, you know, in their elementary schools. So, I think it's time Graten does, especially with our population is so diverse, it would be

138a big draw. it I think it'd be a huge draw. >> And this this is also part of of looking for teachers as mentors. Um and we're talking about Hispanic teachers. >> Yeah. >> Who are are also part of looking for more teachers who can then teach our young ones in Spanish. >> Yeah. >> I I I it'ss everything. >> Yep. >> Thank you so much for taking lead on that. So the nod comes from where? From us. Okay. So that that was why I asked the question. Um and but I guess for me is how are we making this available to our parents and how how like how are we um >> wow lost my words but how are we like what's the push out? Thank thank you Rita. How are we rolling it

139out? So, like all good things, we always do the messenger, the school messenger. Um, and we send it out to folks. We can also put it online for them to do, very similar to the cult, the climate survey that they do, and tell them how important. We were really impressed that 186 um, elementary teachers, so that's like almost all of them um, were able to answer this. I don't know that we'll get a 100% but if we could get numbers like that from our parents that would really be a good indicator. >> Will will there be access to this? Um because I think that there's also some some families who don't have internet. >> Yes, we could have forms also for them. >> Forms. Okay. >> Yep. >> Well, what what I was what I'm

140thinking uh is with uh with Mark's permission, Mark Russell's permission, we could get somebody and I suspect Mr. Danner could be that person to to to do some town hall presentations that we could tape. What is it? What does plan ingenuity really look like? And and give give somebody five or five minutes or so and I or somebody would do the primary years program and uh perhaps Susan could do the the Ren Zuli thing which is like super terrific. Um so so I think in a half hour we could tape and present maybe a couple couple of places around town uh what these and and then do a robocall to to all parents and say uh this information is available on our website uh the taped presentations and then we will roll it out u

141u what's today 2 I mean we we we could certainly do this uh by by by the end of February >> and we would know because this is a you know this is this is a topic that that has consumed a huge amount of our attention. We we met with uh Rick Kalenburgg. We met with Michael Alves. This is a very important decision for the for the future of this community because if we do it right, we will do away with redistricting of school neighborhoods and everybody in this whole community wants that to happen. And I see my friend Joan nodding cuz every everybody wants this. I think that that needs to be the selling point because I think that there's many people who >> are remember about what that's like because they might, >>

142you know, they might not they might not have had kids at that point in in the school or they have a spread between their kids and so they remember what that was like. So I think that that's important. I I feel confident that if we can do the town some type of town hall meeting and that you use as many of the opportunities that we have available to us to get that out. I I I say let's get it let's get her done. Thank you. >> And is it somehow going to go out to not just parents but the community? Let's say can board members take the survey? >> Absolutely. >> Other people go online to the Gen Public Schools website and take it. >> There is a drop down in the original one that

143um I designed with Dennis so that you see who you are. So like the teachers took theirs and the drop down was for teacher. There's a drop down for board members. There could be a drop down for community member. But in the parent section once they hit parent there's another one that leads them to say um please indicate what your address is >> so that we can use that for the AL study. >> Um Gretchen, I'm going to start um on your side for information um and communications. Do you have >> um I do know that I helped a bunch of parents and a few friends take that quiz using my phone. >> So I do know it's doable for outside sources. I've helped and done it. They maybe board ad member the one thing

144pop a line. uh really haven't heard that much um communication except for kids who've been coming home from college and saying how much they want to move back home. They don't like wherever they are. >> All right. Thank you. Um Jane, >> that's scary. >> I was invited to join the um Democratic Town Committee because of my long experience in education. um and did so. So, I was voted in um this past month. Um and I enjoyed very much the public hearing that the board did. That was extremely helpful for everyone. >> I think Gretchen has one more thing. >> Oh, Gretchen. >> I did enjoy my like six and a half month break off the RTA. >> See, but I'm back on again, baby. >> All right. Great. >> Good luck. >> Jame was

145there. >> No. >> Okay. Andrea, >> just that just that we had the Martin Luther King Ecumenical Service and our our scholars were just magnificent. >> You're here, >> Jay. >> Um, not surprisingly, I was asked by a parent when we um removed dishwashers and metal cutlery from the schools and and went to styrofoam and everything. Um, and frankly, I don't know exactly when that happened. I assume it had to do with um with cost because you don't have to have as many employees and as many costs. And in this area, we know that all that goes to the incinerator anyway, so it really wasn't going to the landfills. Um, and then interesting enough, someone else brought up, well, if you go to paper, you know, isn't this just going to continue to stress the

146rainforests and all this deforestation going on? So, it's an interesting debate, you know, and especially in this area where we're not putting the styrofoam into the ground to live forever. We're we're um um incinerating it. Um I did have a another parent who asked me, "What does the MyP program cost?" And of course, it's not in the current budget broken out because we're still under the um grant. Um and am I correct in that? >> Well, yes. the I think the the simple answer is uh I might not give you the exact figures but we've invested through the uh the MSAP the magnet school magnet school assistance program approximately $50,000 sending teachers out or or bringing in uh my um uh people to to teach our teachers. Uh and I think it's about $10,000 fee.

147So for the 3 years getting into it and we will apply on April 1st and have a verification visit probably early next fall. Uh we we will have invested about 60 60,000 a year uh 6 through 10. >> Okay. And then going forward it's basically just the fees. >> That's right. I mean >> it'll be equivalent to like IB. So we could >> see it in writing. >> We can continue to report on that you know and of course as new teachers come uh we will it for a teacher to go to a middle years international baloria training in in terms of travel tuition and housing it's about $3,000. So, we would probably have, you know, two, three, four teachers 6 through 10, uh, that will need to do that. So, it's, >> I guess

148I I I would round that off to probably $15,000 a year >> moving forward. >> We've had many more go because of the grant that's actually required because it is a train the trainer model. So, you can send, you know, on a regular basis, like let's say they have to do ELA training. So that's like once in four years, but it can be one person who goes out and comes back. And then there's the online training which is much less expensive. >> It's about $700. So um yeah in in in the in the international balorate program is very dynamic u as as uh as Kelly was mentioning new courses emerge, new new focus sometimes is provided. So it um in terms of the program it's dynamic and in terms of funding the program you have

149to sort of keep up. Um but you know it it it it is that state-of-the-art program that uh helps kids learn. And I I I was just reading something the other day that said in in a world of of of rapid change, uh the best thing we could do for our students is is to teach them how to learn because God knows things are changing so quickly, they better figure that out. And so that's sort of the bedrock of of IP. >> Thank you. Any other communications or comments? Thank you, Lee. >> Um I went to the St. James Episcopal Church. It was has always just incredible. >> Um and I knew where to sit this year so I could actually see the chorus which is the it was wonderful and I also went to

150the health office in at which was also >> Thank you. Thank you very much for going representing >> happy to do it. >> Sita um I have a I also went to the Dr. the Martin Luther King Ecumenical scholarship. Um their their service was beautiful and our Fitch scholar Melissa Manuso sang beautifully. She did two different pieces and also I I have to the the woman um I think it's uh Leica Bertrron who did the poetry reading. It it was amazing. It was just really beautiful. So anyway, that was that was just really lovely. I have a couple of other I don't want to lose sight of some of the people that came to speak to us at our public hearing on the budget. I'd like a referral on um the handicap upgrades that need

151to be made for to our football field. Um the band representative had come up and asked about lights on the back of the building. just because they're they can't um the band doesn't get to practice very often on the football field and they're practicing in the parking lot behind but it's very dark and um hopefully there won't be the issue of uh the mosquitoes next year because I know that that was a part of it where everybody had to be gone by 5:30. But they would they did ask for about lights maybe to be put on the back of Fitch High School and to upgrade our facilities. Um and I also would like there was another gentleman, you know, there's a big concern about middle school sports and not being able to have one middle

152school have one team. I'd like to propose having two teams and seeing what that would cost. We already have two coaches now at our two different middle schools and they can do they could scrimmage against each other, you know, boys and girls. Um I just think it's extremely important to develop um children at that stage to just limit it to like 12 students on a team or something when we have so many. It was hard enough going from three middle schools to the two, but then to think about one and um anyway, I was just going to ask if we could have a referral about maybe having two teams, two grant teams, >> right? >> So um I think Oh, yes. And I I was maybe we were asked about tutors in foreign language that

153students are required to take it in high school but sometimes they need some tutoring and whether or not we could use some of our alliance money for tutors for foreign language tutors. I think that was about it. There were a lot of things I thought it was great to have people come forward at our public hearing and speak to us and you know the things that we wouldn't you know necessarily know about. Um so anyway and the turf fields of course there's a big push to have a a turf field at the high school but it does cost about what $250 million. >> No the field itself costs about a billion. >> Just the field. >> A billion. >> A million. >> Oh a million. Oh >> no. I thought you said was it 250?

154>> No, no. What what I was saying was Ledger put in a track. >> Yes. >> And the field. >> Oh, okay. >> Uh and that came to 2.6 million. >> Okay. Well, I mean I'm both would be would be great because we'd be able to use that field for soccer and lacrosse, right, >> and so many other sports, >> right? >> So anyway, something to think about. All right. So my correspondence is um as everyone has had in terms of some concerns about the robotics. Um so um but I feel that we are um and I I I think that you'll share at some point sort of um more information but just wanted to let you know that um that as as you know we've been having those correspondence. I don't know why I'm

155not speaking. >> Just a footnote because it came up tonight. You you heard Mr. proud to say there is a 4 club >> and and a 4 club is not associated with a a school of course um and so any students from the region >> can attend that >> can can can participate in that and I I pass that information on to uh interested parties. So, um, you guys were included in the email, but I did as I was asked, which was to, um, after the budget to kind of do by fields. And so, we do have that information. Um, and I really appreciate, um, both, um, Rick and that Robert, um, Lef France was just really, um, very responsive actually that day. Um, so that was in there. Um, I'm also been asked by

156Liz Porter, who is a board member who is under the weather at the present moment. Um just just to let people know that there are 14 students from the Cutler Middle School that are going to be participating in the state history day that she has been going in at least once a week and helping um prep the students. So I am just I think that's great and thank you Liz. Um but al and also just to um pay attention to the fact that we got our volunteer hours um and that just for the just for the public to know that um as of December there is 5,671 hours um that have been given um by volunteers to support a um our graten public school system. So thank you very much for all of those people

157who um do that on a regular basis. Um, just want to move us. Um, Rita, I've gotten some of your referrals. Um, I I I've got some ideas and I am going to try to put that together with U. Mike and I want to see if that um that if that hits all of your concerns. Um, but we have lots of meetings that are coming up. Um specifically starting next week there is policy but that also we're having the joint meeting which is something that we did last year to support um just conversations with the RTM education committee and then also the town council so we can at least hear sort of where they're coming from um and what they are thinking at least in terms of budget but we also had great conversations last

158year about the CIP projects. So I thought that was actually very helpful. Um, >> just a footnote on the meetings. I'm sorry, there was some confusion. The February 5th town council meeting will be here, RTM, and it it will be at 6:30. We thought it was at 6:00 and we got some clarification. So, on your notes right there, it says 6, I believe. So, >> and then just remember that February, we do the long march into the on before the 28th where we have to approve um the budget. So, um, yeah. Uh, and then maybe we can get back to having regular COW meetings. Um, anything else, Andrea? >> I think that Mrs. Austin, Mrs. Austin told me that the the um art gallery celebration is on the 10th. >> February 10th. >> Great. >>

159I believe I think it's at five. >> At five. >> Really nice. >> Can we make sure that that gets out? >> That would be Thank you. That'd be great. All right. Anything else? >> Motion to adjurnn. >> I have a a motion to adjurnn on the table. Do I have a second? >> We have a second. All those in favor? I. >> All those um opposed abstain. Motion is carried. We are done.