2-24-20 Groton Board of Education Meeting

001the meeting I think 6:00 it looks like. >> Yeah, >> exactly. >> So function. >> Mrs. Johnson, would you lead us in the pledgece to our flag? of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> So the first order of business is the recognition and participation of visitors and delegates. Do we have anybody, Mr. Johnson? No. All right. So we'll move forward from that. >> So it looks like the superintendent report. >> Well, I think the students can hear you. >> Oh, the student report. >> Well, we we should read about the Oh, you already asked about the comments, so we're not going to read the whole spiel because nobody's here. Okay. >> Sorry, >> Addy. I apologize.

002>> Starting with updates from last meeting. to celebrate Black History Month. Each week during morning announcements, we heard a short biography about a black person that has made a difference um in the community and in the um in the entire world. And that's been very exciting to um get to class and be able to hear about all of this black excellence. Um so that's exciting. Uh last Friday, February 21st, was Fitch's unified dance. Uh so students came from other uh schools that are near here like Ledger and Stonington. Um, and they had a great time getting dressed up and um, playing board games and just dancing with everyone and it was a great time. Um, and it was, yeah, it was a fantastic thing that happened. For class council updates, uh, freshmen are meeting this

003Wednesday to discuss fundra fundraiser ideas. Sophomores are continuing to plan for future fundra fundraisers. Um for the juniors, the juniors are planning um for their mother's day breakfast with the help of Ernie Cash Miter which will be on Saturday, May 9th. They're also getting ready for the junior prom, which is Saturday, May 16th. Uh seniors are planning for Mr. Falcon. Uh so contestants are currently um making their videos and uh getting everything ready and it's coming up and it's very exciting. Um and the Mr. Falcon will take place in the Fitch High School auditorium on Friday, March 13th at 6:00 p.m. Uh, pre-sale tickets are $5 for students and $8 for adults. Pre-sale tickets can be purchased during school lunch waves and tickets will also be available at the door for $8 for students and

004$10 for adults. um for more than words. More than words members are going on a field trip this Thursday, February 27th to Project O uh to speak to Cutler and Westside 7th graders about the consolidation of the two middle schools. Um so at this field trip, students will be able to um or seventh grade students specifically will be able to talk about concerns they have and um different problems and solutions that they can come up with um for different problems that might arise. and concerns and just kind of have a conversation on how to make sure that the school is um unified when we come to it and just get uh students ready for that and excited for that. Uh the Renaissance Club is helping to put on the Sandy Hook Promise say something week.

005This is going to be next week. They are working on some new activities in uh new anonymous alert posters that feature QR codes for easier access to the anonymous anonymous alerts website. Uh and also the week before spring break in April is going to be the Caremore spirit week. There's going to end in a pep rally focused on recognition. Uh focuses on things like attendance, GPA improvement, clubs, and etc. to kind of just um get the school ready for um the second semester and everything's to come. For Fitch Athletics um in track and field, senior Thomas Joiner um finished 10th in the state open this weekend. He finished with the season PR personal record. Uh in fencing at the ACC tournament, Gabe R finished first in men's EPI. Ben finished second in the men's foil

006and Julia Z finished fourth in women's epi. The men's eb and men's foil were tournament champions. Co- captain um Aia Brown joined the 10,00 point club last Friday in the victory against New London High School. Um and this is a special shout out to Jingu Santaia. Um she's currently a junior and she's a student artist at her school. She's been um working on a large mural um that is located outside the caf cafeteria doors next to the library. It's a big outstretched um wings of a falcon. So, if you're going through, you can see her working on it very diligently. Um and it's going to be a very cool thing to add to our um list of our um great artworks at our school. So, it'll be exciting. Um a lip-sync battle is happening. This

007is put on by the Falcon Theater and the Gay Straight Alliance Club. Um they're teaming up to put on a teacher versus student lipsync battle on this Friday, February 28th. Doors open at 5:30 and it starts at 6:00. Tickets will be $5. Uh the Triam Music Honor Society is putting on a student and faculty talent show on Friday, March 6th at 7:00 p.m. where um teachers and students will be able to put on their own talent. Um and so that will be a very interesting and fun thing to see. Um and um there will be a mattress fundraiser on Saturday, February 29th from 10:00 to 5:00 in the small gym at Fitch. Mattresses and accessories will be available at the event for sale and music students who refer customers. Um will earn money for their

008individual student accounts which can go to um future music um trips um and all of that kind of thing. >> Andrew, I had a quick question. >> Addie, could you just explain to me a little bit about your first bullet um about Stonington students and Ledger students coming to Fitch and the board games? Yeah, >> I couldn't quite catch all of it. >> So, that was um the Fitch's unified dance um for our special ed students and also um National Honor Society was involved and um the unified club was involved. So, it was just a bunch of students who were able to get together um students from other um schools also and it was just put on into the in the cafeteria um and there was lots of food, there was lots of dancing, Mr.

009Marcel was the DJ u which was really good. Um, and everyone just had a really, really great time. >> That's wonderful. Thank you. >> Yep. >> Thank you, Annie. >> So, I see that we have >> we have an honored guest. >> Melissa, why don't you come on up uh to the podium? Uh, so you want to do the introduction? >> I'll I'll introduce >> Yeah, please. >> Melissa to the board. >> And I see Melissa's parents are here. Mr. and Mrs. James James and Jessica Manuso are here with her and I'm sure as proud as they can be because we all are at Fitch High School. Melissa is has earned an academic letter and an academic chevron. She has maintained high the highest honors every marking period since she began her career at at

010Pitch High School. She's a member of more than words of the student council and she runs indoor and outdoor track. All of her courses are either honors or AP or Yukon early entrance and she owns a black belt in martial arts and that had nothing to do with her being chosen at all. But if you were at the ecumenical service, you heard Melissa's powerful voice. She's just wonderful. Melissa's schools of choice are Harvard, Yale, John's Hopkins where she intends to study neuros neurosurgery. >> So Melissa, >> hi. >> So I was going to say uh perhaps you could uh tell us uh when when Dr. track me said you you have a strong voice. Uh I suspect you you you meant uh a singing voice because Melissa is like her mother. So I understand and

011her father uh is is is really a phenomenal singer. uh with I didn't I didn't know before the ecumenical service but she also has a very strong voice and Addie and I have the pleasure of working with her in the more than words program and she is a formidable young woman and when you hear about her plans uh you can you can rest assured uh there is a driving force behind that. So maybe you could just talk a little bit. I I know you've got some real concrete plans uh about your career. So perhaps you could talk a little bit about that. >> Well, um you know, everybody goes through little phases on what you want to do in life. You know, be a princess, firefighter, ballerina, you know, whatever. But um there was a

012moment in time where I decided that I well I was always really interested in medicine and like human biology. But there was something that happened that just made me realize that I want to be a doctor. Like it's my calling. It's what I'm meant to do in life. So out of all the things you could do as a doctor or in the healthcare field, I really want to be a surgeon. typic well most likely a neurosurgeon. Um, I'm also debating cardiovascular, but yeah, so that's definitely what I'm gonna do. You know, go to college for four years, then go to med school hopefully at NYU cuz it's free. But um yeah, and collegewise, you know, you heard those three reach schools, but um you'd all probably be glad to know that I got a full

013ride to Yukon with the Day of Pride scholarship and it covers literally everything, which is amazing. But um yeah, I've gotten accepted to a bunch of other schools so far, too, um with Early Action. But >> yeah. >> Do you have any questions for Melissa? >> I just want to say congratulations. You've come a long way since nth grade. Awesome job. I'm very proud of you. So congratulations. Congratulations, Mom and Dad. Very. You have a wonderful daughter. >> You said it. You said it very very quickly, but there's a a special scholarship that University of Connecticut has called the Day of Pride. Could could tell us a little bit about that? >> So, basically, they give it out to 20 students out of 37,000 applicants, I believe, and basically your um your guidance counselor has

014to recommend you for it. And one day, my guidance counselor called me down and I was thinking, what did I do wrong? and she was like, "So, I am going to recommend you for this Yukon scholarship that I heard about." And I was like, "Okay." You know, I've been thinking about Yukon. I was going to apply there, but it was the application. It wasn't that bad, but Yukon is a regular decision school, so usually I would have to get it in by January, but I had to do all of this by November. I had to write an extra essay, um, get some extra letters of recommendation, turn it in early, and just a whole different application. And from then on, I think maybe a month later or so, I got a call about an interview

015at stores. So, I went. That was a whole another story. I couldn't even find the place for like two hours because they forgot to send me the email with directions. But um right before Christmas, I got a letter in the mail and it said, "You're a Husky and your entire tuition and room board and everything is covered." >> Wow. >> So well done. Well done. >> So when she says she has a full ride, that that includes books, tuition, room and board, that's how much University of Connecticut would >> automatic admission to the honors college. Um right. Yeah, it's pretty solid. >> Very impressive. Very impressive. >> Wow. Well done. >> I did have a quick question. So, the Martin Luther King scholarship that you received, which was $20,000 for four years, how is that

016used towards your education? >> I was curious. >> I probably could answer that better. >> I figured you would. the um we have a lot of scholars who receive the scholarship but never request the the funding because they because it interferes with their packages. So that that those monies then just go into to the next year's scholars so that they they're applied to other scholarships and sometimes you know we we'll have a a case where oh if we only had another scholarship and that would do it. Yeah. So so many times that's what happens. >> Oh good. And then and then if um if a student who didn't request the funding supposing they had to take extra courses in the summertime >> then they would request that and it would be honored. >> That's great.

017Thank you. >> So thank you Melissa. >> Good luck. >> Thank you so much. >> Thanks for joining us Melissa. Appreciate it. Now, >> now, uh, I I just want to do a couple of quick updates. Uh, the Grten Middle School schedule. Uh, I I can't say enough about the work Susan and the tech staff and the guidance, the middle school. uh we we are still students have registered have uh I think the the incoming sixth graders, seventh graders, eighth graders were pretty stunned by the number of elective offerings that that they can select uh and we are in the process Susan and staff are in the process of putting the schedule together. So I think by but certainly by the next meeting we'll be able to report out on that. Um, we have a

018couple of committees in terms of the Graten 2020 program. We have a naming committee. We're trying to figure out the names of these two middle schools, one at Cutler site and one at the uh Westside site. And uh we will be also uh Susan and I and and some of the principles are going to be holding meetings to explain to the parents what the potential themes are. So we have we will have five magnet elementary schools. Two of them already have themes. The steam at at Kolnowski and the uh and the performing arts at Northeast Academy. So we we need a theme for the Westside Elementary School, the Cutler School that will be at the I mean the elementary school at the Cutler site and one for Charles Barnum. So we're we're working on that.

019So it's it's all uh actually coming together in in the middle of all the the the budget season. Um, and I'll let Sam talk about the physical as aspects of it. And Rick is here to keep an eye on us so we we don't say bad things about the Rick Norris is the one who's actually building the school. So sort sort of literally. So it's a delight to have him here. >> Yeah. >> So that's it for me. >> Okay. So, we'll move on to the assistant superintendent report >> and I'm going to um follow up with the timeline that might help orient you to all the activity that's happening. I've shown you this timeline before, so I got rid of last year's information and started you out. The middle school scheduling um went really

020well with this marvelous consultant that we had. Um it's not complete yet, but we're working on it. And um we're really excited about the opportunities. Um 800 middle schoolers wanted to take the fitness class. I mentioned to our high school music teachers that we had um probably at least a hundred or more students for each of the bands, the levels of the band, beginning, middle, and advanced. Orchestra, same thing. Um chorus was a big hit. I think it was like 600 kids want to have course and because we have those half blocks and full blocks, they really will be able to do all these things. So, it's really and also get SRBI or resource along with that. So, um we're really quite excited, but we're still working very hard on it. And um in the

021past students really didn't have their schedule till the first day of school, but my hope and and promise would be that they will have it before they go off to the summer. So they'll have their middle school schedule. I think that will alleviate a lot of concerns. So that's exciting. You also Mike had mentioned a couple of the different meetings. We have a stakeholders meeting on the third 13th of March where we'll be able to talk to some of those people who really are going to be very involved in moving things out of the old schools and into the new some of the you know real you know the secretaries the custodial staff those people who are going to be in charge of that. Um Mike is going to um have another joint middle school

022staff meeting on the 17th of March. Um the they'll have several opportunities to have site visits thanks to um Tammy >> Ham Hamel and she will be able to give um tours for our staff who are very anxious to see what does their classroom look like, what does the lab look like. We also will be meeting with um middle school parents and students on the 25th of March and giving them a virtual tour of the building and giving them some um answers to some of those frequently asked questions that they're putting up on our website. So um you know we're finalizing staffing you know hopefully through April and we want to give people information sooner than later. Um, so that's coming along and you know, opening day September 1st and probably a little before so

023they can you know get into their classroom. So Rick has more on that. My second um topic is about the um Grten early childhood collaborative grant that um we worked on with Children First Graten and the school readiness council. As you know, we've been in a community collaboration over with early childhood. Graten public schools serves as a fiduciary, and we're able to um receive about $500,000 each year for many, many seats at Riverfront, TVCCA, and some of those community preschools, which is really important to us as we get kids ready for, you know, public schooling. Um and this collaborative has been working together for a very long time. I think since 1998 and they had received some grant funding um originally their their mission um is all graten children are safe, healthy, successful learners connected

024to strong families and community that value diversity. So, I just wanted to say that um when the call went out that there was this $30,000 grant, um people from around the town, the um you know, the town council um has a member that's going to be serving. We had um parks and wreck there. We had the libraries there. We had Graten public schools. We had children first graten. So, you know, it filled up room 11. So, that tells you about this community when the call goes out. And this grant is really um more of an administrative grant and it's really getting us ready for a bigger grant on a federal grant that gives out millions of dollars to communities on preschool development. It's called the PDG B5 grant. So in taking this one on, we're

025setting the stage for a future grant that the community can look and I know this board of ed is just so interested in preschool and you know this could be something very exciting. The other good news is it's a community grant. So it'll go through the charter aspects if we receive this grant, but it's a community aspect. So it's the town, it's the city, it's the um wonderful, you know, the all the different um departments and we will serve as a fiduciary again. So I just wanted to give you that information. It was really fun to work with this group. And last but not least, it's getting that time of year. I hope you'll all have books ready to go and visit our schools. This is um the year of the Lorax and an earth

026friendly. So the this is our one book for the one district and the one problem will be making a promise um to reduce, reuse, and recycle. >> So um we're really excited about that and kids will be making a promise and we'll count all of our promises and we'll really talk it coincides with Earth Day in a way. you know, in that next month. So, we're really looking forward to learning the lessons of the Lorox and how we can keep a greener community. >> Great. >> Not giving up. >> I told God >> and you too can push we're going to have a little um on the website we'll have a make the promise. So, we'll collect um all the promises from around the community and the kids will make their promises in school and

027we'll count up all those different promises from around the district. >> Great. >> Okay. >> Canvas. Yeah. >> Wonderful. >> I think you're up, Ken. >> Hello. Uh so we're looking at the updated object code summary. Uh we're still on track uh as we have been for the past uh few months. Uh we are over budget in salaries and in property services uh for reasons that we've discussed before. We can again if if you want to go over uh but we are under budget in uh under in benefits uh tuitions and supplies. So overall we are looking at a a projected unexpended balance of 84,593 at this point. >> Pretty stable. >> Yeah, very stable. >> Are you going to talk about the health? >> I can certainly uh the health insurance uh report uh

028through December 83.7% of budget. So you'll recall last uh month we talked about the report there was an error uh that had been detected that error has been corrected. Uh this report is uh is is complete through December. Uh so we're at 83.7%. This compares to last December where we were at 86.5%. So we're a little bit ahead of where we were last year. Um and last year we ended up I think around 90 93 94%. So I would anticipate we'd end up uh somewhere in that that region again uh this coming year. >> Alliance Grant. >> So uh I don't really have uh an alliance um funding report to share. Uh Susan and her staff and I are still working with the uh with the state uh the turnaround office uh on our budget.

029Uh we've made a number of different tweaks. Uh made another tweak this morning. Uh we'll hopefully have that approved. the the funding is there. We just have to finish the uh the budgeting process so that we can uh get access to those funds. But we are uh uh ready uh we have started the hiring process for the uh for the EL teacher, the social worker that are on that uh on that funding. Uh and so once we get that funding, we'll be able to to go. >> Good. Thank you. >> Buildings and grounds. Good evening. So, I'll give you a report on Graten 2020. Um, regarding the uh Graten Middle School on President's Day, uh Tom BBE, who is going to be the uh arranging the moves of uh the two middle schools to the

030new middle school. uh met with Rick Norris, Tammy Hamlin, and myself, and we started at Cutler Middle School, went to Westside Middle School, and ended up at the Graten Middle School to uh see uh the uh totality of what is going to be moved and where it will be moved to. So, that was a nice visit on uh President's Day. Um the maintenance staff uh our entire maintenance staff made a visit on Friday uh to the site uh and uh all were impressed. Needless to say, and uh it actually worked out pretty well. There were some uh the gentleman uh who's the head of uh uh all the mechanicals uh in the building, heating, air condition, all that stuff uh was uh part of the tour and he uh was able to speak with our

031uh personnel that are involved in that. Bill Johnson, uh Jamie Anderson, and so so on. So, uh it really turned out to be a really uh um positive and uh helpful event. Um this week um uh the food service department Ernie uh Marge Fondulus who's going to be the uh head uh at the at that kitchen at the new Grten Middle School and I will visit and we're going to be uh checking out the space and seeing how that's going to lay out and have a plan for uh as the uh equipment starts to arrive later on. And uh there's an FFN uh meeting uh at the OCGR on Wednesday which I will attend uh along with um the uh our representative so the architect and so on. Uh, regarding the elementary schools, uh, April

0321st, uh, we hope to, that's the plan to start the site work at Cutler Middle School and I believe on the 13th, about the 13th, um, we plan to start, uh, the site work at Westside Middle School. So, uh, that is, uh, coming faster than, uh, we anticipated. I think, >> can you repeat that date again? Did you say April 1st? >> April 1st. Yes. Yeah. Okay. So, >> middle school and then about the 13th will be Westside Middle School. >> So, mid midappril we're going to have to make some moves uh at at Westside visa v the the portable. >> It would appear >> Rick's going to answer that question. >> No, no, you won't. Oh, good. What what we're looking at and what what we discussed previously with with your staff is that

033the middle schools would remain active. So the the sites will be partially fenced off that you can see that on the town's website. It's also been on a couple of Facebook pages that show areas where fields and areas of the of the sites would not be in use after particular dates. So what would happen for example at Cutler we would put a fence up that would bifurcate the site. We would leave the portables inside the school side so they could be used through the end of the school year. And similarly on on the west side with the with the one >> one school. >> So those would remain in play until >> you know we give you that drop that drop dead date when everybody has to be out of every place. >> Y that's

034terrific. >> Thank you. I know that before the end of the week, Dr. Grineer is going to make a prediction that uh March is coming very soon. So, um April is not too far behind it. Um and then the last item that I had regarding the elementary schools is that there will be an FFN meeting uh with the staff uh Rick, the owners rep, the architects uh also on Wednesday while the other group will be in Hartford. FF and E for those uh uh who remember or don't remember is furniture, fixtures, and equipment. So that's uh it's a little bit earlier for the elementary schools. The architects bringing this up earlier than the than the last group did, but so uh earlier certainly won't hurt a thing. I don't think I think it's going to

035be good. So that's it. >> Oh, go ahead. >> Sam, I have a question. What is going to happen to all the furniture fixtures that that are presently at Cutler and Westside and then the the two elementary three elementary schools? >> Well, it it's still being determined, but um there as we made the walk through uh those two middle schools the other day. Um we saw a lot of furniture that has just been purchased recently and is in excellent shape. we'll be able to use um some of that furniture at the new middle school and be able to apply the money that we would have spent on that to something else. Um so that's one thing. Um and then the rest will have to uh it'll have to be determined by the uh purchasing agent

036for the town. Usually it goes out to auction. Um maybe the town might consider um offering it to other districts that might want it if it if it's not of use to us. There may be some things we talked about a few things that we can use in the elementary schools. Um so >> for the high school >> or in the high school as well any other schools in the district. So >> bring it to the high school >> but but there will be leftover things that are obsolete or of uh no longer use to us anyways and we'll have to work that out with the town. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Any other questions for Sam? Well then we'll move on to the committee reports. So policy >> um policy continues to meet. Um

037today we're going to have two policies that we will talk about today. One on what is that the the conflict of interest which is new >> and the other >> and just a couple little changes on the first aid emergency. >> Yes, we'll do that under old business. >> Okay, very good. >> New business >> curriculum has not met but we are planning a meeting. We have um we have a question now for um some information from the state and that's and then we just want to talk about things in general. Yes. >> Okay. Finance and facilities >> uh finance and facilities did not meet in February. We will meet again on March 2nd. >> Okay. Negotiations are beginning on March uh 10th. We have one set of negotiations to enter into >> with the

038custodians, >> right? and learn >> learn. Um we had our uh learn board of directors meeting at the Ocean Avenue Learning Center. Um and we had a tour and um had the proposal which is going to be the second floor is going to be redone. Um there is such a demand for students to come to the Ocean Avenue. I think there are 60 or 80 students on a waiting list. So, it already needs to have the second floor um addressed. Um let's see. Um Dr. Ericson included her um her goals and um did her midyear um presentation to the executive committee and that was about it. Most of it was the tour of the Ocean Avenue Learning and how wonderful it is and how happy the students are there. >> Thank you. Wonderful. >> Board

039of Ed and town council RTM. Leah, are you going to report on that? >> Uh, it has not met in four months. >> Oh, well then >> although I do think >> maybe March >> March 4th is >> March 4th it will. Yes. >> Okay. >> The board of ed we met last month and so we'll meet again in March. >> Very good. Thank you. And Graten Scholarship Lee. Um, they have not met yet, but I tried to find out who's on it and where we meet. I was sent something that has to do. It's a a certain something that I couldn't load. >> Um, so I went down and talked to Adam and Adam said he doesn't know why it was sent at all, that it's not a dangerous thing to be scenting. So,

040all I know for sure is that I see it is meeting in March at Vitch. I don't know where. I'll find out. I have no idea yet, but I will be there. >> Very good. >> Matt Brown. Thank you. The vice principal. Matt Brown, I think it might be. >> Does he was he? He's the person. I think >> I think it was Aaron who said again I'll find out. I'll be there. >> Maybe they switched. I'll be there. >> Gretchen Trails. trails. Nothing. >> Nothing. Okay. >> Okay. All right. >> I did not get all that lost on the way here. >> Okay. All right. So, we're going to move to the >> we're going to move to the consent agenda. If I have a motion, >> I have a question. Under consent. Um,

041they talked about who is at the meeting where we all were together. I'm not sure that Rita Schmidt was on town council. I'm sorry, I can't get it to stop. Okay. Um, but in any case, it said that she was here at that meeting, but I think she didn't run this year. >> I don't think she's on town council. >> We're talking about the minutes of the >> Yeah. Mhm. >> Okay. >> But, you know, I mean, that's I just looked through the names and I know that you didn't wrong. >> This was >> Oh, I see. Rita Schmidt >> under the town council present. >> Yeah. So we'll we'll we'll fix that. >> Uh >> right. >> We we'll figure it out, John. >> So let's consider that an amended >> Sure. >> consent,

042but we but we still need a motion. >> Okay. Do I have a motion to accept the consent agenda? >> So moved. >> Okay. >> Second. >> Yep. Any discussion >> other than the >> other than that I guess approved as um we will when we approve it we'll approve it as amended when we do that. >> Okay. Any other discussion? Okay. >> In favor >> I have it written down right here. >> But you have to take the >> you you have you had to be there. You have to be in on that joke anyway. in all in favor. >> I oppose abstained. >> Okay. >> Accepted as of amended. Okay. >> If you'd like, I'll go through. >> I would like that. >> Okay. So, the board uh wants to acknowledge uh in

043the approval of the gifts, Cindy Hollow Farm has made a donation of 150 pounds of beef valued at $628 to the Fit High School Foods and Culinary Program. That's a kind of a farm to farm to school initiative. Uh, Servel has made a donation of $100 to the Clutchester breakfast bag program. There are two donations from your Claus LLC trustee for Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign. Uh Michelle Eel Atkins has made two donations actually of $140 each to the Quchester school and Crayola has donated 72 bucks valued at approximately $100 for use in the theater classes at at Cutler Middle School. So thank you for that. >> Okay, thank you. Okay, there's apparently there's no old business, so we'll move on to new business. and um new business. The first item is a discussion and

044possible action regarding the approval of a field trip request to Spain and Portugal. So scheduled for June 25th, 2021 through July 6, 2021. >> And I I think uh I bet is here. So uh this is a projected trip uh for >> is it next summer? Yeah, it's in the summer. Yeah. >> Uh and so we're just getting that get ahead of uh the curve. So so that uh this is >> but not this summer, the following 21. Yeah. >> This is Iet Morales uh uh who is a Spanish teacher and and uh so she's before she really gets into the fundraising for this program, I want to be sure the board feels feels comfortable with it. >> Hi. So I'm I bet Morales. I am a Spanish teacher at Fitch and um I already

045um took a trip with my kids few years ago to Peru. It was very successful. The kids really enjoyed it. They were immersed in the language talking Spanish. I wanted them to talk the most Spanish that they could when they were there. Uh and I thought, you know, I love the company that that EF tours that we used. And you know, um they approached me again for to see if I wanted to do another one. And that was since it was two years ago. I said, "I think we're ready." And uh and this one is really nice cuz it has two countries, Portugal and Spain. Half of the time in one and half the other. I usually like doing in the summer so that the kids it doesn't conflict in April vacation and you know

046or anything like that or with sports. And um a lot of children, a lot of students are very interested in the parents too. And >> my name is Aaron Pascada. Hello. Good evening. >> Come to the mic please. welcome on this wonderful um spring-l like evening. Yes. Um so I'm a French teacher at Fish High School and I am very interested in going with Evet uh if not as a chaperoon as a paying customer. Um so I am just here to lend my support and I think the kids are really excited about potential travel. It really aligns with our with our IB. It's real world irrelevant experiences, hands-on use of the language. It will give me an excuse to really get going with my Spanish, Portuguese not so much. Um, but I am 100% behind

047her as a colleague and if not a chaperone, a traveling paying customer. Thank you. >> Could you tell us how many students um would be going on the trip? Well, they um >> so far about 10 kids are interested. So, it's you know, I would say 12 to have another chaperon with me because it's every six kids is one chaperon. So, we're just waiting for that. And um >> yeah, I mean it could be more because if I if I put it out there and it's one more year. >> Yes. >> Actually, more than a year because it's uh it's not until June, the end of June of 2021. So, um, we'll have the opportunity to get more kids in and probably another shop. >> I really appreciate you planning so far in advance. It's

048wonderful for the families, for the board, you know, everyone. Thank you. >> It makes it it makes it affordable. Yes. >> Because it's not for another year and, you know, a year and a half and makes it affordable for the parents and and the kids, you know, the ones that are interested. I I I just give it to everybody, you know. I show I ask everybody, but the I usually it's my kids because I don't have all the kids, but the ones that I have in the class and then they spread the word. If one goes, the other one wants to go, if their friends, it's it's really exciting. I um and I've been talking it to the kids and they're they're all really excited about, you know, knowing if they can go or or

049if can get approved to go. >> Yeah. So yeah, could as it gets closer, could you um share with the board the brochure also? >> Yeah, I think I shared the PowerPoint that I p that I uh was going to that they sent me from EF um to Joyce, I believe. >> I can I can put that in in board. >> Yeah, we didn't we I didn't >> or I can I can forward it. >> I can just give those to >> Yeah. Okay, great. If you don't mind if I approach I can just get to you. >> Oh, that has itinerary and everything. Yeah, you can actually give it to Joyce and then she'll put it in our board packet. That would be wonderful. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Sounds wonderful. This is

050Porter. >> Um, in fact, is this this trip is it also open for families to go? >> Okay. So, it's not just the students, it's the students and their families and the younger children that are going. That's great. >> Well, I have I have a I have a student that I don't have this year, but I had last year, and she's interested. her cousin's interested, her sister. So, it's it's many people are interested. So, not only and and I'm putting it out there for families, too, not just the students. Yeah. >> Great. Thank you. >> Great. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. >> So, you need a motion. >> Yep. So, do we have a motion? >> I make a motion to accept um to approve the field trip request to Spain and Portugal scheduled for

051June 25th, 2021 through July 6, 2021. Of course, those dates are still are those hard dates or are those >> um it could be 4 days before the 25th >> or 4 days after. Okay, so within four days of each of those dates. >> Very good. >> I'll second that. >> Okay, good. Any discussion? >> Approved. All in favor. >> All in favor? I >> I >> oppose. >> Abstain. >> Good luck. >> Thank you. Okay. So now >> now we have another trip and my two music colleagues are here Andrew Lefave and John Pascarelli talk a little bit about a trip uh to uh to Toronto actually next next spring not this April but next April the year 2021 >> 2021 And again, it would have been nice if in the emotion we should

052um include that it's about a music trip. And there's like no information. It's just a trip, a field trip. It needs to have a little more detail than that. >> Yeah. >> In the motion. I mean, we should have ended >> to approve a student. >> Am I on? >> Am I live? This is live. Oh wow. Okay, you're on. >> We're back again. >> Um so our trip that we've put together is to Toronto. It's April 29th um 2021 to May 2nd. >> Um the students would take part in Toronto's Heritage Music Festival. So it include other high school programs. Um there's clinics, there's performances. They would see other performances from schools in the United States and Canada. Um, with this you can see that as I put um as we put the whole

053thing together, it's open to uh concert band, jazz ensemble, percussion ensemble, orchestra, treble choir, concert chorus, chamber choir. Um so basically any of the students that are enrolled in one of the classes uh for next year would be eligible eligible to participate. Um the trip, let's see, we don't have an exact itinerary with activities. Once we move forward, um, we'll be working with a travel agent specifically in Toronto to help organize those things. But I listed some things that we've already talked about. Um, something was doing an extended master class where they would work besides the festival, they would also get to work with possibly like a college professor um, on the music whether it's at McGill or York University. Um, other things include Niagara Falls. There's lots of things in Toronto's entertainment district including

054the Toronto Symphony. Um there's the famous CN Tower and there's I named the Museum of Contemporary Art, but there's lots of museum options. So we have yet to kind of put together a a finalized itinerary. Um it shows the range of the cost which ranges between 725 to 800 and that really depends on how many students um and what extra activities we choose to do. All breakfasts and dinners are included in that price um along with a complete insurance policy um for each uh student that is attending. Um, let's see what else. I've got some of the fundraising information on the bottom. I'm happy to field questions. Everyone's looking through it. I know. >> No, I think it's a great compliment to the to the um England trip that you all that you went on.

055You know, you're it's sort of, you know, it's all sort of part of what went on when you went to England and to London. And >> yeah, we thought of we've done Virginia Beach, which is very similar, three nights, and we were trying to think where where do we take the kids that's somewhere different and somewhere that they may not usually go and yet they still have a great musical experience and visit, you know, a city that maybe not everyone has been to. So, we said, and it's actually shorter to Toronto than it is to a lot of those places down in Virginia. >> And they'll get their passports and >> Yeah. >> Right. >> It's wonderful. >> The British Empire. >> Yeah, the British Empire. Yes, it is. So, do do I have Well,

056we should Yeah, we have to amend it though to maybe to approve a field trip >> music program. I was going to say to approve the music program trip >> to Yes. >> Fitch High School. We should say Fitch High School, too. Not because it could be any >> to to approve the Fitch High School music program trip to Toronto, Canada. How's that? >> Perfect. I hope you've had poutine before. >> I have. I'm happy to say. >> Oh, we should finish the So for April 29th, 2021 through May 2nd, 2021. >> so I think we made the motion. >> Oh, you moved it. >> I made the motion. Okay. Second. >> Okay. All right. >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Question. >> Oh, discussion. Oh, sorry. We should have said discussion. >>

057So, the fresh kids who are freshman in London will be seniors in Canada. >> Wait a minute. Last year. So, this Hold on. Right. Is that correct? >> That would be correct. Liam Ziggler was a freshman. >> Did you go last year? >> Will now be a will be a senior next year. I >> think Virginia Beach. >> No, cuz we went last year to London. >> Oh, they they'll be juniors. >> Children who were freshman last year. We'll be juniors this this >> trip sophomore. Did you That's still cool cuz you'll have some of them. >> That's actually I was I was going to mention this. Um Ted said to mention it to you and and see what your thoughts were. John and I have been trying to the parents have requested a little

058bit more of an organized um kind of a trip roll out because sometimes we plan these things and some kids are there for four years and they get one trip. Some groups have missed out on a large trip. So parents said, "How could you even that out?" So, we did present to the boosters and I've explained it to Ted that we tried to put together a four-year cycle. Um, so this year is just a day trip. We're going to see Dear Evan Hansen in New York City for the day. Next year would be um this trip, three overnights, a smaller trip. The next year would be another off year, maybe a day trip, something like that. And then the other year would be a larger trip, whether it's to Europe or something of that nature.

059And therefore when a kid um is in the music program at least once they would go on a big trip in four years um and then a smaller trip and then you'd have off years. So we haven't really thought about too much 2022 2023 which would be that that next um time but I thought I'd kind of put it into your mind that we might be thinking about Europe a location unknown. I just wanted to mention it because in case you know the music booster said you know are we able to host fundraisers and things like that even if the trip is so far out. So I just wanted to kind of if that's something that rotation is is okay even though that hasn't been approved 100%. >> Makes good sense. >> Thank you. Um,

060I just ask that you do organize the parent chaprons a little like so that parents can be with their children instead of having parents end up their kids going one way and they go another way. Just a little more organization than in London. >> It it was stressful because I think I we discovered that a lot of families kind of thought of it as a personal vacation and that were left John and I, you know, trying to help to understand that it was a school sanctioned trip. So, I think we'd have to revisit the chaperrons because we had a lot of parents wanting to just take their kids out and it was difficult for us to track because of the amount of parents that wanted to have a personal vacation rather than follow our itinerary.

061So, it was it was rather difficult. Um, this trip will only be chaperons. It won't be open to families for Toronto. >> Oh, I I have a suggestion for your 2023 trip. The Salsbury Music Festival, >> the Sber Music Festival would be a wonderful trip for your 2023 by checking that. >> Yeah, you could explore that. >> You want to be a chef? >> Any other discussion? >> I haven't. >> Okay. >> So, you ready for all session? >> Okay. >> Did we I don't think we did. >> We voted. >> No, we don't think we voted yet. No, >> but she she called for it and then we had the discussion. So, I think we have to call uh favor. >> All in favor? I >> oppose. abstain. So moved. It's >> Thank you.

062>> approved as amended. Mrs. Johnson, >> thank you very much. >> Good night. You're welcome. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And I I know that we have um we have several we have at least well, we have two um policies to to um consider, but I'd like to move Mr. Norris up. That is um number five. It's number six. No, six. >> Number five. >> It's five. I'm sorry. It's five. >> This is a followup to >> Wednesday night's presentation, >> right? >> That Rick uh came and and Christine Hopkins. >> Christine Hopkins and Amy. Yeah. I'm happy to be here tonight. The the reason I'm here tonight is to receive approval of the drawings which I have on the table, the specifications and the budget and I'll give you the budget figures on on the

063middle on the middle school uh furniture fixtures and equipment. So, um basically did a presentation there's been really no changes to that presentation. We may have a couple of additions based on usable other materials that are at the at the other middle schools and we'll look at that as we go by. But right now, um the budget for the for the FFN is 225 million. Um, and the FFN right now is going to be handled separately from uh the technology which has the same budget, but we'll have to deal with uh the next time I come visit you folks. But our budget right now or our estimated cost is uh one uh,237,000. So, we're under budget at this point, which gives us some flexibility on what we are, but we won't know what all the

064costs are because the majority of the items will be be bought on state contract. >> So, we'll see what what we get on the state contract. There'll be two or three items that need to go out to bid like there's some pianos, electronic pianos, a couple other things that will require to go out will will be required to go out to bid because they're not available on the state through the state contracting portal. So, we'll be moving forward as soon as we get approval and start with our purchase orders uh hoping to get all the equipment uh starting to order in in uh April, getting it delivered in in May and June and getting it in place. So, July or the end of July, early August time frame, uh a lot of the furniture will

065be in and uh early August potentially teachers could come in. I'll work with the building official to get a a whether it's a temporary uh order or or a permanent co will be working on that. So what I what I need is for you folks to approve those documents I described. I need the superintendent to sign them. I need also the chair or if the chair is not going to be available maybe the co-chair would like to sign them. >> The vice chair will sign. >> Yes, I will. >> Okay. and uh we can go forward with there. I'd be happy to answer any questions beforehand. So, please feel free. >> So, let's have the mo motion first. Yeah. So, Rita, you want to move that? Yes. I make a motion to approve the Grten

066Middle School furniture fixtures and equipment plan. >> Second. >> Okay. All right. >> Discussion. >> Um discussion. If any leftover money, does that go towards like possibly solar panels? I mean, can it or does it have to be used towards furniture? >> The the any leftover money will will fall back into the town's contingency funds, which we have some now. >> Solar panels, what we're looking at is not costing the town because we're working with the green bank and it's no cost to the town. It'll be a cost to the board of education for electricity. So I see cost of the cost of the solar panels at least for >> Cutler and and uh the middle school, Cotton Middle School will be virtually at no cost to the town other than than the utility bills

067that will be uh applied afterwards. So it'll be a power purchase agreement. >> Okay. But if we save money, it could conceivably be redirected to >> some other purchase like for a nylon or whatever called field. >> Well, what what we'd look at is then we'd have to take some things back to the permit school building committee because they're oversight for our spending. I mean, we could spend it, but that's not what we're supposed to do. So, if there's additional materials that are required, we'd probably need to take it back to the permanent school building committee just like we did the uh turf field, which we've got approval for funding. So, we're moving forward with that and uh we've got a nice infill for that field. So, the monies that's going are going to be

068left at the end, we'll see how we can apply those to other things that may help the educational process, >> but they they'll be reallocated. Yeah. Um are the the fields going to be on the right when you're coming down um Longpoint Road? Is that you know where they have a lot of like equipment right now? >> Yes, the fields will be there. >> Those are the fields. >> Uhhuh. They'll be accessible through the uh high school. >> So through the high through the high school parking lot or coming up the hill from the bottom. There will be a not a driveway where the current driveway is for construction. There'll be a walkway, a six foot wide break in the wall if you will, for pedestrian traffic to come into the fields. And there'll be

069another pedestrian walk off of Fort Hill Road where they can come and also access the fields in that direction. >> But you'll be able to see them >> um >> on the road. >> Yeah, potentially. Yes, >> potentially. Yeah. How many fields are there? >> There's one softball field which will be way up in the corner of Gro Longpoint Road and uh and uh Fort Hill Road. Um, there'll be a a smaller multi-purpose grass field. Both the ball field, baseball field, softball field, and this multi-purpose will be soded with with grass, real turf. The multi-turf uh the multi-use turf field will be closer to the high school entrance. So, if you come in through the high school entrance towards the schools, it'll be on the right side as you come through. So that area where

070you see all the trailers and actually if you if you walk over to Fitch or you happen to look in there and see a bunch of 6 foot fence posts thickening up. >> Mhm. >> That's where the turf field is going to be. It's about 106,000 square ft all in all. So it's a fullsize soccer field plus 10 ft runout all the way around the field and it's all going to be this artificial turf that we've got approved. And it's it's very nice looking turf used used. It's FIFA. One of the FIFA fields that they use for professional soccer is use this this infill and this material. It's not rubber. It's a uh organic infill. So, we won't have the problem that people >> keep telling me about that we have rubber pellets everywhere, you

071know, and we don't have to worry about them getting on the grass, getting washed down into the into the brook down below. So, >> so we're looking forward to getting that installed, which will probably be toward midsummer. >> Yeah, that's great. Very exciting. Any other discussion? >> Okay. Approved. >> All in favor. >> Say what? >> All in favor. >> Oh. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. N. >> Anybody else? >> Restrained. >> Restraint. >> Abstained. Okay. >> Go with restraint. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> It's proven. That's perfect. >> So, if I could impose upon you to come around and sign the documents, then we can uh >> Oh, we have to walk down. Yeah. So, he could leave. >> So, Susan, while we take a minute, could you explain a little bit

072uh to the home audience about the Super Bowl event on Thursday night? >> On Thursday, yes. It's really to honor um our police departments in the city and in the town, our community. And um it's a farmtotable event thanks to Ernie Kosher and come and have a bowl of soup. There's actually if you go on to the grantschools.org website, it automatically comes up that you can register and I think it's a a very economical price of $5 for the meal. Um what's the date? >> And it is Thursday night which is um >> 27th >> I think. >> So um come one come all and >> I think it starts at 5:30. >> 5:30. >> Yep. 5:30 to 7. >> So it's a wonderful event for any of you who've been before, you know. and

073delicious soups from all different um restaurants and vendors and um and even our own food services farm to table. So, >> I've got tickets. >> And don't forget to bring the reusable bowl that you can bring home. >> Yes, that's right. >> I've got four of them. >> Thank you. like listening to music going on. [Music] Okay. Okay. So the next thing is uh a discussion and possible action regarding the first reading of policy P 4118.13 conflict of interest. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Thanks a lot. So, does somebody want to move that? >> Well, we have to read. Somebody have to read it first. The motion. >> That's what I meant. That's actually what I >> Well, she read the the discussion. She read this. >> Right. >> Congratul. Thank you.

074>> Motion to approve the first reading of policy P41183 conflict of interest. >> Somebody want to second that. >> Someone please. >> I'll second. >> Thank you. Okay. discussion. >> No. >> Okay. >> It's pretty cut and dry here. >> It is. It's very >> And you know, we usually like to present you with um the regulations, although the board votes on the policy, but the regs usually come along, but we wanted to spend a little more time really clarifying that. So, we'll bring you back the regulations or send them out to you, but we wanted to get the policy in place. >> Very good. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Yep. In favor I >> I >> opposed. Abstain. It's passed. It's approved. Okay. The next one is discussion and possible action regarding the approval of

075a garden. Oh, I'm sorry. >> Just tell >> the use of automatic external defi defiills. >> Yeah. So >> you'll move. Okay. >> Motion to approve as a first reading policy P5141.27 use of automatic external defiills. >> Second >> discussion. >> Second. >> I'm sorry. >> Second. So, actually this policy was written 12 years ago when we all had the defiills put into our schools and we just we we've been reviewing several of the different policies and noticed that this one um needed to make sure that we um we removed Fitch High School, Katherine Kolowski, and Northeast Academy because now it's on all of our school grounds. And we also um changed the wording. Um such AEDs are not intended and to and do not replace the assistance and we just took out the the

076language are not intended to and just said are not do not replace the assistance of qualified medical professionals. So that that disclaimer is in there fully. Okay. >> Any other discussion? Okay. In favor? I >> I >> opposed abstain pass. Mr. Johnson. Great. So I think we came to we're now in the big one. So M Mr. Whitlock, would you? >> I'd like to make a mot a motion to approve the fiscal uh year 2021 budget in the amount of $77,934,550, which is a 64% increase over the current budget. >> So move. >> She I think she second. >> Okay. I'm not sure who didn't. Jay, didn't you move that? >> She moved it. Can you second to it? >> I I think Do Do we need an amended number? >> Oh, we don't. Okay,

077good. [Music] >> Great. >> Mr. White, you want to talk about that? >> Well, I just for those who um might be watching at home, I just um would like to say this is almost a year round process definitely for Ken Knight and Dr. Grineer, this this budget process. And it looks like we're um we're taking this motion tonight, but it it represents uh many meetings starting in finance in the fall. And then the board meets uh several times a month during January um and February uh to go through every line of this budget um and determine, you know, where our priorities are. So even though we're taking this vote tonight, it's the culmination of a lot of work on the uh part of administration and the board. Um in fact, we we really don't

078have time to discuss a lot of other things. Almost everything's a finance meeting during January and February. Um and I wonder if Dr. Grineer could just share with us um some of the highlights of what how this is going to support uh the district. Well, when we finished the the meeting on Wednesday night, uh I I was I was asked to kind of take an overview of what what's in this budget, which which has a projected increase of um under $500,000. So it's a about a 6% increase which over the last nine years would would would keep us again under um about a.7% increase that that we've averaged o over the over the nine years. But when when I looked at this budget and Ken and I went through it and and Susan and we

079we looked at some things that really jumped out. Number one, maintenance of class sizes. That's a kind of a foundational aspect here. We also looked at the academic, athletic, and extracurricular. And we're really pleased that the board essentially maintained all of the sports participation, all of the extracurricular participation at at both middle schools. So, we're bringing double programs there in in effect. Um we uh have a proposal here that will bring instructional coordination and supervision to the campus. We we've added a u a few part-time administrators although since they are they will remain part-time teachers. It actually comes at a a very reasonable a very tiny increase to the budget. The budget supports our international balorate program 6 through 12. We we are in the process of implementing my middle years program uh in grades

0806 through 10. We already have a a robust diploma program in grades 11 and 12 and we will be applying next year to begin a career related program of international baloria. All of these things require initial funding up front. The budget does that. We we we will be upgrading our technology infrastructure. Uh we have lots of technology devices um and the the kind of the back office that keeps it all running, hubs and switches and servers and so forth. Uh that will be upgraded as well as continuing the onetoone initiative at the high school with one computer for each high school student. And I'm happy to add that the Graten Middle School will now have a school resource officer, a full-time school resource officer, plus plus some additional security personnel. But when I when we

081finished meeting the other night, we kind of stepped back and said we've come a long way with Graten 2020. It's was originally formulated in in early uh 2014. And so what we have now, 6 years later, is a modern, state-of-the-art facility that that's uh going up uh on the top of Fort Hill. Uh we will realize about $1.5 million in annual operating costs because we will Graten 2020 will have us well, we're going to close two schools and operate one, but we're going to close what will turn out to be four elementary schools to be replaced by two. So again annual operating uh just in the last few years we will have gone from 10 schools to seven. Uh when I looked at it o over the last 20 years uh from uh 2001 to

0822021 we will have gone from 14 schools to seven schools. So if you know if you just do some quick math you see we we've we've we've had some significant cost avoidance with administrators teachers we we've lost we've lost about a hundred excuse me we've we've lost the enrollment has been decreased by about 1100 students uh but the but the teaching staff has been reduced by 100 teachers so that is a huge huge sum of of cost avoidance when when we started If you remember, in in 2014, the idea was maybe we would fix the the schools and not not not build new, and we estimated that it would cost about $65 million to do the just the CIPs that were uh had been listed, that is to say, the heating, ventilation, the boilers, the

083roofs. Uh so I think we all agreed that after build after spending $65 million you'd end up with 50 60 year old schools in some cases 70 year old schools. Um and so that's a a huge benefit for the the community and then the whole issue of trying to achieve racial balance without constantly redrawing neighborhood lines. That that is a key feature of of of what's going on here. So, so when we look at the cost of what is for this year alone, it's uh $885,000. So, the teacher account that typically goes up by about 2% which is in the $700,000 neighborhood is actually down by 1.5%. It's it's a significant decrease because of the consolidation, but we've kept class sizes the same. We've actually uh we don't have the exact number yet, but we

084know that we have greatly minimized any kind of layoffs that will be needed uh because of the teacher early retirement incentive. Uh and and and lastly, what I did is I I went back to 2017 when when uh when the Magna Schools of South Eastern Connecticut had been approved uh uh for uh New London and and so that that was in in 2017, I compared the Magna School tuition uh to what we're projecting for next year and it's $610,000 less. uh we knew we were spending a lot of money on uh on magnet schools and certainly we want to support the the learn schools and uh there there's some fine choices but we wanted to be competitive and as Susan knows uh the middle school has has has really forged us ahead uh learn unfortunately

085had had to move its middle school I think we're getting 12 of those students back there are there our students who are um leaving uh Bennett do the new our new middle school is obviously very attractive and and for for lots of reasons not just that it's a new facility but it's an international balorate program and so I think our our our our programs are are having great success and and and and one of the things that we see with increased enrollment is that the school system is obviously driving people's decisions to move to Graten. So, we really see this as as a benefit for the community uh to maintain house prices and make this a desirable community to uh to to come to. And um and we suggested that the economic development folks include

086this in in their information and they they contacted me today as as you know and and so the whole Graten 2020 is having a very positive impact first on our children but but but secondly on the community and and and the I I hope to articulate this during the budget hearings but GRE 2020 in my mind was always driven driven by excellence, efficiency, and equity. And and and I think we're seeing >> we're seeing evidence of all three of those things. And and um and and and for me, the budget is of great value and and I want to say publicly that we have spent the last two months, at least once a week, if not twice, going through this budget line by line. As I I said to a reporter today, I've never seen

087a board have such total comprehension of what's in this budget. And I think the other night everybody felt uh the our last night of deliberations, everybody felt this is a budget for a a very small increase uh that provides an enormous amount for our school system. So I'm I'm usually enthusiastic about it. >> Any other discussion? Okay. So, >> all in favor? >> Opposed? >> I abstain. >> I'm sorry. Did you say something? >> I don't think people heard it. And we should raise our hands for Joan for this one. >> Yeah. >> Oh, all right. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Abstain. >> So, is that an abstain or opposed? >> We'll go to >> I'm sorry. Anything else? >> We'll go with opposed this time. >> Opposed. Okay. So, two opposed and

088the rest in favor. And um I I will give my thoughts on why I voted. Um even though we worked really really hard on this. I had asked Dr. Grineer if he could get a little closer to a 0% increase this year um in light of um the consolidation of our schools and the taxpayers needing to start funding what we did borrow for for the school. Um it it is a very modest increase. So it it it took me a lot of thought whether or not I was going to support this or not, but I'm hoping that we will maybe find some additional savings and I had asked Dr. Gineer that if possible we could get this down even a little bit lower. So but otherwise, you know, I I'm I support education and usually

089the budget to the fullest. Well, one of the things we talked about today is we're we're carefully monitoring our impact aid. If you remember, >> last year the impact aid came in at $2 million more than projected. >> Uh right now we we already have about 3.2 that we projected. Um typically more money comes in in in the spring. Uh so that that would be an opportunity for the for the town to support the budget without having essentially take it from taxpayers. >> And the other thing is we're I want to get a little more clear about exactly how low our tuition amount is uh >> from the other towns. Yeah. and and and if we uh if we see like Susan said, there were 140 something students that had come to the middle school.

090If if those students are are are coming from tuition based programs and as certainly some of them are, then we would be able to do uh exactly that. >> Um so I think I think we will we will be uh within striking distance. >> That's great. And I and I and like I said, I think I think there's an awful lot here to like >> at, as you say, a modest price. >> Yes. >> Jay, >> um I just wanted to mention that um I I hope people understand that the Graten 2020 plan was primarily um a a plan which would reduce the the future costs of of all these CIPs. Like Dr. Grineer said spending 65 million to basically um renovate uh a 60 70 year old uh school but it will still have

091issues um in some cases unfortunately with asbestous maybe PCBs uh different things that really can only be solved by building new um and that that primarily is is what the 2020 however along the way um there are going to be operational savings every year um But uh the budget if it if it weren't touched would be going up 2 and a half to 3% just through due to contractual increases. >> And we're also while we're consolidating into smaller buildings, >> the number of students didn't go down. In fact, it's going up. So we're educating more students >> uh than we even anticipated in 2014. In 2014, we thought that it might continue to go down and we're hearing now that it's going back up due to a variety of reasons. Um and yet, you know,

092when you put two schools together into one building, um while we were able to save uh through the the um disbanding of the team concept, you still want the students to be able to have the same extracurricular activities and things. So, it's not as though, you know, you can just maintain that as if it were just one school community. You're bringing two communities together. So you want them to have that that equity and you'll end up with safer much more efficient um buildings in the end. Um and while there are some operational I I think it it always the the the focus of 2020 was to to avoid the cost of all these CIPs um which are quite substantial when you talk about roof replacements and boilers and security systems, fire suppression systems, removal asbestous,

093PCBs, all these other things that that will really cost a lot in the long run uh to bring the building may look beautiful for the next hundred years but it's not going to be functional as an educational um uh institution. >> Any other discussion? >> I suppose I should explain myself as well. We're explaining I would actually like to see it higher so that we make sure that we meet our contractual needs with that 2% for the teachers and make sure we keep everybody that we have a contractual agreement with. We have more students coming in. I want to make sure we can if we need to supply an extra teacher, we can hire one. I want to make sure that needs of the students come first and the needs of the teachers come second

094and then everything else falls in after that. But I want to make sure we have enough space to do what we need to do because we don't know. So there are a lot of unknowns at opening a new building and I want to make sure that we have the flexibility to cover that. >> Very good. Okay. Thank you. >> Anything else? >> So there's your the irony for you. >> So say that again. >> The irony. >> Okay. I think I think >> we we appreciate your ironic comments. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Well, think about I'm the Republican, she's the Democrat and >> I want to raise the budget >> and we're all in this together. So, so I think we're all done. >> Not quite. >> Well, we have >> we have letters

095and comments. >> Oh, no. I meant with that. >> Yeah, we are. Thank God. >> Those were just comments. Okay. >> Thank Thank the board. It's been a long tedious process. >> Thank you. >> And and Ken and Ken very well. >> Yes. Thank you, gentlemen. >> Thank you. And >> Mr. Whitlock, do you have any communications or comments or whatever? Um, I just wanted to, we don't always take time to go through this, the volunteer hours for the schools. >> Um, and I wanted to point out Fitch had 476 uh volunteer hours uh in um uh January. Um behind that was Northeast Academy at 224. So some um this is parents that are donating their their time. SB Butler at 124, Cutler Middle at 134, um Charles Barnum 84 hours, Kaskki 77 hours, Clark

09690 hours, uh Mary Morrison 17 and a half, and Westside 89. So, thank you to all the parents who give of their time uh to help support our students. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Robertson. Uh I attended the Serenity Ball Galla this month which was just wonderful and quite a success and almost 600 people attended. >> Nice. >> Um big success which covered Gasp um Graten Alliance for substance abuse prevention for those who don't know and um community of hope which is a sober house for women in graten and community speaks out which is a support group. So all three were plus I just attended a wrap-up guest meeting so it was it sucked a lot of my time. >> Very good. Mrs. Boy >> um I went to uh Ley Hall at Coast Guard

097um because there was a marvelous discussion on how to be an anti-racist >> and it was filled. It was it was just over a thousand people there and how to be an anti-racist. >> She couldn't be anti-racist. I didn't hear. >> You went and I also went all not the same time to the Holocaust. Um they was at Avery Point >> and it was it was an incredible speaker gentleman's. >> Yes. Very. He he was actually >> a child at the time >> and he he lived through it. >> Um also I finally went to a real basketball game. It was it was at at East Line. >> She's going to become a cheerleader. >> We did win. We did win. And I was right in the middle of a bunch of our students. >>

098I was so proud. >> They behave so incredibly well. I'm just >> There you go. It was just, you know, people who say, you know, the kids today, the kids today are pretty darn good. Anyway, that's all I did this week. >> Months. Um, I'm I'm going to mention that Graten Recreation Department is holding a fundraiser uh Friday um at the Hilton Garden in at 6:30 um to support our fields and our programs. Um I would like to ask Dr. Grineer as soon as possible. You mentioned holding the meetings for the consolidations of our um new elementary schools next year because even though there there will be some redistricting because we're closing Claudechester, we're we're closing Butler, we're closing Mary Morrison. So where do the kids go from? So as soon as possible, the board

099needs to see it and parents and families need to see those charts, too. So I just thought I'd bring that up. We're working on it and I'll get the information to you. >> It's easy for the Graten Middle School because everybody's coming together so we don't have to worry about that. >> Mrs. N. >> Oh, Gratton has an amazing talent for hiring phenomenally adorable bus drivers. Wonderful with the kids, wonderful with the parents, safe drivers. I mean, I've let my kids go home on the bus because I was afraid to drive in the snow. And for about 17 years now, a retired Grten bus driver has writes to me every year and he comes up and sometimes we have coffee and I just really want to thank Graten bus drivers for what they do because

100they are fabulous and they keep in touch with you. I mean the kid my kids bus drivers that's we're going back some now. >> Very good. >> I was just love hearing from Frank and I hope bus drivers that retire in the future feel free to write me too. usually important people in the lives. It's the first staff person that they see in the morning and the last one in the afternoon and they have an enormous impact on my kids love this man and I just can't tell you how tickled I was to get another letter from him. >> I know that Mrs. Juliani can speak to that too and and I agree 100%. The supporter >> I have two things. Um, first of all, uh, in two weeks the first middle school students will

101go into competition for Connecticut History Day at NFA. So, I'm wishing all of them. We have 12 students from Cutler. Um, and I'm hoping that we can bring this to the entire middle school. I've already had conversations with Mr. Bass about um because it is a 6 through 12 program that we could possibly get it into like different levels and he and I are in a preliminary discussion on that. And I'm also offering my services for professional development at no cost to right for training teachers. So I'm I'm well I can do a one and a half hour to six hour workshop. So there you got it. So all right. Um and the other thing I want to do is say thank you to Dr. Grineer um for the his putting out the information about

102the census. The census is such is coming up and the first mailings will go out in about 3 weeks and we really need to have a good count. We need a solid count. I'm going to ask everybody who's watching to make sure that they respond to the the census because it does impact our funding and you know for no other reason this funding goes to Grten kids but Graten seniors, Graten Graten community. So there will be a couple of events. I know that they're planning something at Fitch High School um in March for the u from the riverfront the TVCCA. Um this sat this Thursday, excuse me, at 11:00 I'll be at the senior center. I'm doing and I am available to come and discuss different parts of um the census at any group. I've

103been um to the RTM and it's really something that we need to be informed about and we need to um we need to respond. Yeah. >> So, I'm really hoping that everybody does do their civic duty. This is easy. It's uh you can do it online on phone or you can wait for your paper >> but you know your paper form but it's very easy and it's very quick. There's only seven questions and >> we get a portion and the thing that the one thing I want to say is that last census in 2010 graten was underounted by 20 to 30%. Now, this year, if we lose people, for every person who does not respond, it's $2,900 a year times 10 years. >> And so, if you, you know, 35 people don't respond, you're talking

104millions of dollars. Yeah, >> talk about and if we know with the 7,000 people who did not respond the last time over 10 years, think about the money we are losing just because we don't want to fill out a paper or make a phone call or get online. So, I'm I'm encouraging everybody to please and I'm asking the board to continue to support. Thank you, Dr. Ger, for sending out the letter and there is information um that has been put out, flyers and hard copies are available. I can as soon as uh my grants come through. >> Thank you. Fabulous. >> I just um are people going to be going door todo? Are there census takers also? >> Yes, there are. But only only after the that's not going to happen until you've had um

105the opportunities to self-respond. Okay. And they don't want they really don't want to have to do this because you know people are are it's not as safe as if people feel very uncomfortable knocking on doors. >> So if you want to avoid that just give them a jingle call up >> because it's a it's a toll-free number. You get a live person at the other end. So it is you know it's simple it's easy and it's also very secure. And we've been assured by the US Census Bureau that our our information is secure by increased IT support. So it is something that we need to do. >> Okay. Very good. Thank you. >> The tale is very different. This is back to kids. Um at Graten Rotary, we had a guest a few weeks ago.

106Um his name is Connor Hall and he is from the um the um Aluminum Falcons. >> Oh. and he is not a member of that team because um he is he is homeschooled. He is an AP senior dual program, extremely bright kid who is very well spoken and loves what he does. So he is the mentor for the kids at the high school. His brain is way beyond what we would think average to say the least. Um and he explained u the history of the Falcons um where they are now, how many kids are involved and the energy that goes into it. He he this is his life. He eats it, sleeps it. He's being offered scholarships of course to major colleges, but he has that huge enthusiastic team of kids with him. >> Um

107they are right now New England champions. Um there are 20 out of 68 towards the world championship. Um they have received innovation gr uh um awards, industrial design awards. They know what they need to do to improve their robots from last year so that they can do different tasks this year. And u he showed a PowerPoint which was so helpful to me to see what actually was going on and what they get these things to do. It's absolutely amazing. Um they are involved in uh summer camp and I said, "Well, how old are the kids?" he explained um from grades 4 through 8, ages 9 to uh 13. And this year, as far as outreach goes, those kids have been working with other kids now um for 57 days or 115 hours. They do the

108camps programs in schools during the summer. >> It's absolutely amazing. Things go on in Grten that the rest of the state even is not aware of. These are just extreme white kids, serious helpful adults, and it goes under the radar of what kids are doing. >> Amazing. >> I tell you, if you ever get a chance to see an actual competition, >> I have to do that. >> It's like a pep rally. They're screaming and and the robots smash into each other. Never mind that they throw balls and everything, but you get to smash the other guy's robot. It it's it's pure chaos. >> And it it it is I I was stunned. I mean, they talk about going to a basketball game, it it was really really >> exciting. Yeah. And the reason they

109know what expectations are this year is that the international uh group understands they're one of the best in the world. >> Yeah. >> And they've received more awards than any other team in the world. >> So, this is headline material though. Good things Graten yet again. Yeah. >> Because they were invited, >> right? Yeah. >> I I really enjoyed the um celebration of kids art again. >> Powerful parents are there supporting teachers are there. I It's a wonderful evening. And what what I walked away with after actually seeing the teachers of art in Grten, it's very talented adults inspiring kids >> to find their own uh talents and they do >> and the relationship >> between adult and student is just so positive. You could see it throughout the evening. Really good. One more thing.

110Yesterday there was a concert at the senior center um to support the survivors of the bush fires in a in Australia. >> The senior center was absolutely jammed. It was donations only. They brought in close to $2,000 and lots of families from Graten were there. Um the New London Jazz Band was there >> and then um the the Graten uh swing band. So, what a wonderful afternoon. >> Wow. >> Yeah, that's great. >> But I also want to thank Mark for putting it on the website, the art show. That was lovely of you. Thank you. >> So, I saw you at the at le the anti-racist. I saw you sitting with Susan in the center of the >> Yeah, I I got there. I I had to walk a long way >> and it's not

111easy because my academy is >> But it's okay. Oh, it was it was >> I I I'm going to give everybody a piece of advice that I got from a Coast Guard um uh wife maybe 30 years ago. She said, and this happened to me at Lei. She said, "Always go down front because everybody thinks there's nothing there and there's always a space there." And I got it. >> At anyway, >> she saw me looking and said, "But what am I going to say?" >> At any rate, I went to um I of course went to the art um opening. It was magical. I mean, every time it's been wonderful, but this time it they really did outdo themselves. And you you're so right, Jane, about the the relationship between children and teachers and and

112tomorrow, Mrs. Porter and I are going to the high school and we're going to judge the life poetry contest. Oh, nice. So, at any rate, >> I'm going to ask somebody to do what I always do >> to move to ajourn. Second. >> Okay.