001Well, we're up to 12, so that's pretty good. >> Okay. Kim said she was at uh worked till 6:00 and would join us at 6:30. So maybe Andrea has to start the meeting. >> Okay. All right. Believe it or not, Andrea, I think we have everybody. >> Well, I'm going to open the meeting at 6 o'clock and trust in Dr. G to get us started. >> Okay. Well, the first the first agenda item is a update regarding our our response. Uh so uh and and the first thing under that is our online instructional program. I'm going to ask uh ask Susan who's done a a huge amount of work to get all this uh up and running. So Susan, can you explain a little bit about our online program that we sort of finalized today?
002>> I would be happy to. Um, also Denise um, it dittle is on the phone and she's done a lot of heavy lifting with the special education piece which is really very comprehensive and Lori Leine also ensuring that all staff have a plan. Um, every member of our staff is really included. So um, it's really been an awesome team um, process. We as we started we we talked to you about our motto is go slow and grow. So our mission is always teaching and learning but it was really important that we did this right out of the gate and we took our time to do it right um and make sure that all the securities were in place for our students most importantly. Um so the first phase as you know when we we thought
003we were closing the school for two weeks was something called supplemental learning and on the teachers PD day in March they put together some wonderful plans for kids very engaging and the kids have really been working on that for the past two weeks. It was not a graded thing. It was bonus and extra credit work and a lot of kids participated as we launch this distance learning. We have a distance learning plan and a brief um which is going to be posted on the website should be posted has been sent out to all staff. And in addition to that, we've worked really hard this week with attorneys, with teachers, with the teachers union, the um administrators to make sure that when we go live with what we call video conferencing, we do this in a
004really safe and secure way. So um a ROOC call or a school messenger is going out from Dr. Grineer um with the help of Joyce and it will be it will include a parent letter for the parents to understand this whole process with video conferencing which would involve it could be one child, a small group, it could be a whole classroom and it's very interactive. It's an optional piece for our teachers to be able to do. Many have already done some pre-recordings. Some of you even saw the wonderful messaging from our Fitch High School staff going out to families is so encouraging. And so I think each school is planning on doing something like that. Um we have to be role models in this social distancing thing. So as much as we'd love a parade,
005we just are afraid that it would bring kids out of their homes and into the streets and with each other. So that's something that down the road might happen, but we definitely are sending them our love and cheers virtually. So, um that is going to take place. So, um we're very excited about this. Um it's a way also for all kids to be able to have that connection with their classmates and their teacher, but especially for our special education kids and the kids receiving tutoring or SRBI support to have those small group and to have their speech language um lessons, you know, through um video conferencing. So that's where we are right now. Um included in this plan for this phase two which we are in eventually will include things like um professional development, professional
006development for our paras, our tutors, um our student teachers, our you know a lot and even our our teachers. So that but we're going slow till we get there and we're starting a little bit at a time. And I think by the end of this month we have a few schools participating in teachers college embedded coaching with Michael Ray Grant who's fabulous and all of our teachers college staff developers have sent out information for teachers on distance learning and what they can do. So right now it's really good that kids are getting on and we're watching and monitoring participation. I don't know if um Denise would like to add anything to that or Lori would like to add anything to it. they are on and they've been instrumental in helping and assisting me along with
007all of my colleagues. Um you know the compacting of the curriculum was another piece that I felt was done so well and we're doing it you know week to week and they're meeting with the um with the you know the groups that are in place whether they're departments or grade levels and so it's been a really thoughtful process I have to say. Um I'm very proud and proud. So Denise or um Lori, did you want to add too? >> Sure. Um I'll go first. Thank you, Susan. Um it's really been uh an interesting couple weeks, but I feel like every day we're getting closer and closer and we are trying to do our best for our students. Um it it's going to look different for different students depending on their, you know, their needs. Um
008but we've been working on some distance learning guidelines that are for staff, parents and students and we really believe that this will be the foundation uh from which our distance learning program will be launched and will be successful. Uh it's very important that everyone know um some of the online etiquette in terms of how to participate in a virtual lesson. Um, and there's obviously some information we need to share with parents in terms of students being uh grouped together into a small group. Um, so we're we're we've been working really hard on that. It's ready to go and um we're really looking forward to the next phase. >> Yeah. Go ahead, Rita. >> Um, I have a couple of questions. Can you hear me? Yes. >> Okay. For Denise, are Paris being involved um with
009the students to give them extra help? >> Um we actually have a subcommittee that's working on developing a plan for the paras and Heidi Haly and our treehouse um staff are are in the the committee. Uh we're we're focusing right now on developing a professional development plan so that the paras and the tutors skills that they need to support the students on the virtual uh lesson plan or on the virtual lesson. Um paras won't be interacting independently with students because we do need to have that supervision in place but paras will be joining lessons with teachers to provide support and to provide uh encouragement and um you know and and some redirection with students. >> Okay. So are all the paras still um online with the students? You know in terms of here let me
010take this up um I would say in terms of we haven't laid anybody off. No, none of them have been laid off and we are in the process of doing professional development and assigning them via case case managers and um it's you know there there are 100 195 PAR so it's a a bit of a a chore right now but we're we're making our way but no one has no power professional has been laid off. >> Okay. Yeah, Rita, we're trying to ascertain who has a device at home and who has internet so that they can start to participate in these activities. So, we have another meeting tomorrow where we'll get an update. uh but we're definitely working uh to involve the paras as much as possible because we feel that that's very important for
011the students and the paras and and there are things I I was talking to an ABA teacher today who's using um a a website called screencastify and she's going to have her paras record stories so you know to really help her get some of this done because it's you know they need help. So the the paras will be recording a story and then they'll be sending the recording to the teacher so the teacher can preview it and approve it and then upload it to Google Classroom. >> Could we um could the board also receive the guidelines you're going to be sending out for distance learning >> and the and Dr. then Susan the parent letter that's going home because we don't get those recorded calls at all. >> So we wouldn't know about them. So
012>> sure >> the letters and so forth. to see you tonight. >> And I actually talked about that, Reed. It's funny that you mentioned it because we were saying, "Oh, we need to get this out to the board." >> Yeah. >> Right away. Because I want all this. >> When students um need speech and if they're having their speech teacher, do they work in a group to do that or is it onetoone? >> Sure. So right now it's onetoone because we're using Google classroom and the students cannot be together in the same Google classroom because of confidentiality issues. >> So FURPA as you may be aware has been um relaxed. There's been flexibility given by the federal government to relax the FURPA guidelines. So part of the letter that Dr. Grineer is going to be
013sending out is a is a a notification to parents that we would like to proceed with grouping students together and that uh we feel it's very important though that we notify parents first and give them the option to opt their child out if they would like their child to remain in a classroom by themselves or be seen individually or if they'd like us to deliver the instruction via alternative means. We will have that discussion with the parent. >> Wonderful. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> So, >> if does Lori want to add anything else about ensuring that all staff is um you know has their roles and responsibilities? >> Hi. Sure. I'll just um add on to Denise's feedback. Um we've really spent the considerable amount of time just going through group by group of
014employee um employees making sure that we have laid out a work plan for them that we have assignments laid out that we have professional development lined up for them. So we've really been um certainly last couple weeks the priority were the students first but the staff know that they were just as much of a priority for us. We're working on that simultaneously and in collaboration with a lot of team members. A lot of um people are participating in those discussions um making sure that those plans get identified. We're sharing those plans across various virtual platforms whether we're having virtual calls, we're circulating documents on Google Doc and and engaging the union leaders and they've been wonderful as well as far as how are we going to engage all these individuals and I think we've come
015up with a lot of really good ideas and a lot of really good plans and how to accomplish this over the next several months. >> Thank you. Yeah. >> So, let me uh I know that Kim Kim, can you unmute, please? >> Okay. Can you guys hear me? >> Yes. >> Okay, Gretchen, go for it. >> I had a teacher contact me and she spent from 6:00 last night to 9:30 trying to get a parent online on in her so her computer would go. Um, I don't know if that's common with the parents, but we need to make sure that our teachers are not spending million hours getting their parents squared away so kids can learn. >> Yeah, it this has been a difficult journey. I I I can tell you Dennis, could you talk
016a little bit about the computer business distribution, hotspots and the hotline, please? >> Sure. Um we've rolled out approximately 2500 Chromebook devices to um students over the past basically two and a half weeks. Um we've developed an online form and an online um a phone number that parents can call and leave a voicemail that then uh is picked up and then created a work order request for it. Uh today we finished establishing a remote uh support tool system that we can reach out to teachers to help with um you know redoing installations or installing software that may need to be happen. So we are working to get everyone up and running. We also have approximately 130 hotspots on order. Uh when we receive those, those have been indicated by building principles and their parents who
017do not have um sufficient internet access at home. And we will start distributing those um as soon as we get them in as soon as they arrive. Unfortunately, due to the demand on these devices, there is a little bit of a lag about a week and a half, two weeks to before we do receive them. Um and we'll start distributing those as quickly as we can. Uh yeah, we have uh also staffed the central office. Dennis Dennis has um and we have continued to give out Chromebooks. Uh pe people come in to the vestibule and um the tech staff has has packaged up Chromebooks and we continue to give them out. I I was a little amazed to hear that we gave out 2500. This is uh really quite remarkable. >> On average at central
018office, we're on average about 25 per day uh is what we're still handing out. And we have like Dr. said, we have a tech on site um between 9 and 11:00 a.m. to support anyone who maybe have a damaged device or needs to replace a device or it needs an additional device or hasn't received one yet. Uh it's a pretty simple process. They come in, they fill out a quick form so we can track it um and we assign it to them in our inventory system. Uh and then they're off on their way and they log in and go home. Uh one of the areas we did struggle with a little bit was with our um special the special grade levels like prek, K, and first grade. Um mostly because those students were not logging
019in in school. Um so we have worked with the media center people to reach out to them to help instruct them to log in. Um, so they are providing information and support if need be. The parent can email that building's media center person if they require some assistance. Uh, we we're using that process just because they're already familiar with the media center person in the building and they usually takes a little bit longer uh to walk the student through it for the first time, but they're picking up pretty quickly and that seems to be pretty successful um as far as getting those students logged in. And if I could just add that we have also handed out iPads to students who can't access their learning on a Chromebook. Um the principles have been great because
020uh we're using the newer iPads because they're able to run the apps better than some of the iPads that the students are using for a reinforcer. And we've also contacted every single out of district placement to be sure that every single out of district student um has a device and has a distance learning plan. and several of them have picked up devices as well. >> Denise, I have a question for you. >> So, Denise, >> yes. >> Um, how are you? It's good to see you. >> Good to see you. >> Um, so h those um those IEPs for I mean we've got some pretty difficult students and virtual learning is not it's just not accessible. Um what is what is the plan? what is the federal plan around that and how cooperative has your
021team and parents been around around some of those more um challenging kiddos and I'll go off the line. >> So the guidance we've received is that we need to provide um access to the students to their IEP to the greatest extent possible. So with that said, that has been our mantra and we've been very fortunate that so many um programs are providing free access during the period of school closure. So there's a program that's put out by Teachtown. It's an at-home ABA program and we do use the Teachtown program in our transition academy. We have the transition to adulthood program that we purchased with a grant last year. So, I do have a connection at Teachtown and they've given us 45 free licenses for at home ABA programming that the ABA teachers were really um
022on board with. They took a look at the platform, they liked it and it's launched. They actually had it launched before today. So, that's working very well. Um we have a documentation log because part of um our world uh revolves around documenting supports that have been provided and and monitoring progress. So the teachers have a Google sheet um and they have a tab at the bottom in their folder for each student and they're going in um and they're recording contacts that they've made with the parent or the student. It could be either depending on the functioning level of the student. And they're recording a summary of the contact and then a brief progress note. So those are logs that we'll use when school opens to review whether or not a student was able to uh
023make progress on all of their goals and objectives. We know that there will probably be some that they will not be able to make progress on and we're waiting for guidance from the state in terms of what that will look like. Um, so they're they're asking us not to use the term compensatory education because that really means that the district has either not done something that they were supposed to do or uh made a mistake. Um, so we're not sure what it will look like when we come back, but um, we're working really closely with our leaders at the state um, to be sure that uh, we have a plan for for moving forward in terms of when we when school resumes. >> I I had a quick question. >> Yeah, we can I just
024make sure that there's not there's other people from the board that also would like to ask a question. Are there other members of the board who have questions before Rita goes? >> I do. >> Okay. Besides besides Gretchen because Gretch and you both have um have had a chance. >> Liz. >> All right. Rita. So Rita >> my my question is um how is it working for the 18 to 21 year olds? What are we doing? Are we doing something different for the 18 to 21 year old population? >> So, luckily all of those students have a Chromebook that they use every day. Um, and their teacher, uh, both Miss Yino and Miss Hagerty have reached out, um, to each student. They have a Google classroom. They have a schedule of activities that they do
025every day in the classroom. Um, a lot of them revolve around uh, Time for Kids, CNN News, they have the transition to adulthood. um program that they're working on and the teachers are also assigning additional lessons through Google Classroom. So for them it's been a little bit easier because they use the Chromebooks and they use these programs um you know daily. >> That's great. Thank you. >> Hi. Yes. Uh I know the high school has a 1:1 Chromebook. I forgot what the ratio for middle school is and then we have the elementary kids. Are we using like last year's senior's Chromebooks? So, the the graduated Chromebooks, are we using those? Where are the extra computers coming from? I guess >> Dennis, could you answer that? >> Yeah. Uh, we've been building to a 1 one
026K through 12. So, some of the Chromebooks that we did hand out are still viable Chromebooks that the seniors had used at one point. Um, but they're still perfectly functional units that we uh then distributed them out to uh the the other schools and the other children who are looking for them. >> In answer to your question, Gretchen, we have we are prepared to give virtually every single student in the district a Chromebook. >> Excellent. Just checking. Thank you. It is amazing to me that the what has what you guys have been able to do in the past three weeks. Um and I and I also want to make sure that there are board members who have questions um to please speak because I think it's important um this has really been our first time
027to kind of be together um go virtually but be together. Um but I just um I just am amazed at what your staff is able to do. Um, but I'm just kind of wondering and maybe you have already talked about that, so please uh move me along, but what are some of the things that haven't worked or unexpected places where um you're finding it's been kind of clunky? >> Well, let me I did I had today we we finished elementary meeting. Yesterday we had a secondary. But Kim, if if I if I might uh if anyone has a question, just send it in the chat in in the upper right hand corner. There's a looks like a little thought box like from a cartoon. If you send a question, uh I'll I'll I'll cue you,
028Kim, when any board member wants to uh chime in. >> Dr. Yeah, on an iPad. We I don't have that. >> Oh, okay. Then just yell. >> Okay. So, in answer to your question, Kim, uh when we when we had the meeting today, uh with the uh the elementary folks, the the overwhelming majority, it was uh very very positive. The overwhelming majority of of the six principles said in their school, the roll out yesterday was very successful. The glitches have been uh there are some students who have not signed on yet and so the principal and the teachers have reached out to those families and in most cases they they they were they were able to uh uh at least make contact with the family and and make sure they were all set. I I
029know there are 20 families at at Claude Chester and 20 families at Kathern Konowski that that need the uh the hotspot and as soon as those hotspots come in uh we will we will give uh give them to to the families and and get them online. there there are about maybe a dozen or so paras that are going to need uh computers and and and and even fewer of those need need hotspots. So we're we're working on that. Uh but I would say o overall uh is really quite remarkable uh or the hard work that we've done as Dennis said building to the one to one uh we we are 90 95% I I won't say 100% word but 95% there uh towards this whole online learning and and then Susan has been heading up
030curriculum compacting teams and so I know that's that's been going out uh and the teachers are getting this information and you want to talk a little bit about that compacting Susan? Well, the shout out goes to the administrators and our teacher leaders because they were the ones who got on with me in the beginning and we actually, you can see it in the plan, the design of the curriculum compacting. It's it's really goes along with Renzuli and Reese's work at Yukon. It's what do we know that they have already? What are the important things that kids need to know before the end of the year? and um how are we going to streamline this so that we are able to instruct around those major priority standards and make sure all have access to this learning.
031So that's when the regular ed teacher works with a special ed teacher and they're able to support their classrooms or their um whether it's an elementary classroom, a middle school classroom or a high school classroom. So, their plans are um appearing on these curriculum documents that we have, these compacting documents, and they're tweaking it along the way. I said they didn't have to fill in the whole thing to kind of get an idea of what those priority standards are in each discipline, but then to start laying it out. We have like three-week chunks of units. Um, you know, three weeks and then another three weeks for a six week period and then that'll complete phase two and then we have another whole section to do for phase three should we need it. So um and
032they they keep meeting every week to kind of adjust. So whether it's a department at the high school or the middle school or an elementary grade level and those are headed by our principles and assistant principles. So I'm really proud of the work that's getting done and I think it's going to be the essential work that needs to get done for all our kids. Kim, the other the other thing when we when we went through both the secondary meeting and and the elementary administrator meeting, I specifically asked people about how it was going in their home with their children. And that that's the other that's the other point that we have to be very careful with that uh some of some of the people are are being you know sort of pulled in so many
033different directions uh that we know especially having scheduled online meetings where we're not quite ready with that but I I I I can tell you from my own family it's it's difficult when the teacher says I'll be on at 10 and and then 10:30 and then 11:45 five. In some cases, it's it's impossible because kids have to be in two places at the same time. And and uh for example, Ted Ted Keller was saying his his children uh they they they were supposed to follow their regular schedule. So they had nine o'clock class meeting at I mean a they had a math meeting at 9. Say that was their first period class and second period class was at 10:00. and he said they did that for two days and the whole thing fell apart. Uh
034what what we're we need to be more flexible and and I and I can tell you also from my family, my grandchildren, the teachers have been very accommodating. So they they call, they send uh emails, they they they do what they need to do. There there's a lot of a lot of quality tutoring going on and and and and assignments are going out. And then I'll just end with the the probably the biggest glitch of all. Schooly crashed yesterday nationwide. >> Oh my gosh. >> And so did Seesaw uh the elementary program. >> So uh Dennis, do you know what's the status with Schooly? >> Um the last I checked Schooly is back online. Uh everything is green checked. Um but of course it's sort of after hours. The only people who are still online
035were the West Coast folks at the time. that was green. >> Um, so I'm hoping that they fix their problem and we'll be fine for tomorrow. >> And that and that, by the way, is why we couldn't have a Zoom meeting today. We were all set with the Zoom. Dennis had the the the right information, the credit card information, and when we called Zoom, they said, uh, we we'll we'll get back to you. Dennis was thinking that meant like a two-hour delay. I I think obviously it was more than a two-hour delay. >> I'm still on hold. >> Yeah. So there are uh there are there are issues. Uh but I see that Lori wants to weigh in. Kim, is that okay? >> Yep. >> Lori. >> Hi. Yeah, Mike. I just wanted to add
036another thing that we've been thinking about and planning for is which hasn't really started yet is what are we going to do when individuals start to become ill potentially. So we've been planning for that. We've had a lot of conversation. and we've been following the new requirements that have come out. So, I just wanted to put that out there. While we haven't really experienced that yet, it's definitely on our radar and we we've given a lot of careful thought about it. We've been making sure employees aren't feeling well, that they're staying home. Um we've been doing rotational schedules. We've been doing a lot of things to limit exposure to one another during this time. So, um there's a lot of um plans in place for that as well. It it's uh one of the we
037had a conference call today with the commissioner and he he asked us all to put a a a continuation of operations plan together like what what's the plan when I get sick and what's the plan when the principal gets sick and and and and all that sort of stuff. So we we'll we'll formalize those plans. You're right. When teachers get sick, we have subs. And >> when Dennis gets sick, if Dennis gets sick, we we need backups for, you know, none of us are indispensable. Uh that's for sure. So, >> can I just follow up on that conference call that we had with the commissioner? So Mike and I have been meeting with the commissioner on a regular basis and his whole staff from the state department of education, the governor, and each time they
038give us so much good upto-date information. And one of the things that's actually on the agenda is talking about state testing. So many things have been waved, relaxed, changed. Um, and so I would say this whole accountability system is off for this year. Even um Azjit spoke about attendance and he said the attendance is only for when the child is sitting in the seat in the school. So we are not documenting the way we're taking attendance in graten and we took a little while to decide this but this is why it's good to go slow is to monitor students participation and then to reach out to kids to find out what is the reason that what's holding them back from participating. So um you know and getting their feedback and seeing how they're doing and
039monitoring that along the way. So the way we understood taking attendance in powers school the way we understood giving an ESPback test or an NGSS um it's going to be a boring year next year because I won't have all those slideshows to give you. We'll have other ways we can monitor kids. But um so everything has been truly relaxed even AP and IB and SAT and we're holding off on SAT till we know everybody can come together and take a a test like that. >> So Susan could you answer um Gretchen had some questions that were somewhat related to that. So um one of them was a way for how we monitoring um success and grading the students. I think he kind of answered that. And then also her question is how are subs trained?
040Well, I can go back to um to Gretchen's question about monitoring it. We have some wonderful programs that we had pro purchased like Dreambox and Lexia and in those and New Zilla and in those programs kids are asked to read or to do some math and the software itself gives feedback to the teachers. So the teacher can see what lessons have been completed, what's been accomplished, what kids know, what kids don't know, and they're able then it informs their instruction. So and then there have been many softwares that have been provided for free. It still goes through me with curriculum and Dennis for um you know monitoring the compliance, but even the compliance has been relaxed a little. So, um whether they're writing in a a journal or um they're doing something online, the feedback
041is given back and forth to the teacher and the teacher's able to see what the child needs help with and what they already have, what they really understand. >> Thank you, Susan. >> Was there a second part of her question? >> Um subs. How are the subs being trained? Please. >> So, our building subs are with that group of um paras and um tutors and they are really essential. So, they're getting some professional development. They're being invited into classrooms. Should a teacher experience something in her family or with themselves um health-wise, then that building sub will be familiar with the the programs we're using in the classrooms and will be able to um take that on. And there might be tutors too. Many of our tutors are retired teachers, so they could also play a
042significant role in that as well. >> Thank you, Jay. >> Yes. Yes. Hi. I just want to uh make a quick observation. Um so I happen to um uh have a student in the in the district and um I noticed that some of the teachers are actually taking attendance through Google Classroom. Um if they link Khan Academy, they can see the progress and parents at home can have their child invite them to to um to look at their Khan Academy progress. So, I know there's a lot of ways that they can monitor um how all this is going on. And I know that each teacher might do it a little different way, but there are a lot of tools out there. And I've just been uh overwhelmed with uh the teachers that are using Remind,
043Schooly, Google Classroom, and the the level of communication that's going on. Um and obviously the the hard work being done by everybody um from it provisioning all those uh Chromebooks and all the teachers everybody's really pulled together uh for you know what is uh I don't think anybody had a plan in place for this. >> No we've talked about it for 20 years but it really didn't happen. Kim >> questions from the board. >> No, I have a question. >> Could people say who they are when they're talking? >> Oh, happy to. It's Gretchen. >> Thank you. >> Um, now I forgot what I Oh, is there any way we can see the lesson plans and like get a feel for what they're doing? Like is there any way they could like give us a
044lesson and we have to do it so that we can get a feel for it? It's a teacher coming out. >> Some examples of them, you know, at a CO I could show you what a Dreambox lesson looks like or Alexia lesson or you know what the teachers are asking. They have a compacting guide so I can um share with you some of their thinking. But um you know for every single I could show you kind of an elementary, middle school and high school. Um >> anything would be great. I just kind of want to feel for it so that you know it's the teacher and me. I need to play I need to Yeah. Never mind. Yes, please. Thank you. >> This is Kim. Is there any other questions for the um from the
045board on this topic of um our distant um online virtual learning? >> I I have more stuff. Kim, >> uh I I would appreciate it. Sam, if you could uh explain a little bit number one about the food service program, the the meals program and number two about the cleanliness in the schools and what what we're doing. >> Yes sir. Uh good uh good evening all. So, um, uh, food service has been, uh, uh, serving meals or delivering meals, uh, in bags, uh, at three different sites, uh, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the last couple of weeks. Uh, and last Friday, for the first time, they actually packed meals for the kids for the weekend as well. Uh we're averaging about uh 17,800 kids. Uh 17-1,800 uh packets a day. Uh Friday's uh count went
046up close uh closer to 2,200. So uh Friday was a a pretty popular day. Um so those things are going on on uh at those three sites. Uh uh the library, um Westside Middle School, and Mary Morrison School. I did hear that uh uh I believe it was last Friday as well that um the police had to go to Mary Morrison because the line was so long it extended from the school all the way out to Route 12 on um >> Oh gosh. >> Wow. >> Tollgate Road. So um >> Wow. >> The staff's really working hard and that's that program seems to be running really well. Uh in addition to that um the um we we've party previously but um uh the uh custodial and maintenance staff have been uh through through the buildings
047uh cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting uh continuously as we've had staff come in to uh uh pick different things up uh for their programs. Uh they've gone behind them and and uh uh continue to sanitize and clean. So, the buildings are in excellent shape and uh we'll continue to uh monitor that. >> Hey Sam, I got a question. Um back to the food um distribution. >> Um how is how is all that being paid for? I know it's an enterprise fund, but I mean that what how is that how is that happening? How are we able to do all that you're doing? It's uh it's all going through the same uh uh uh programs, the federal uh u and state program. So just as if it were uh handing out that food at school, uh we've been
048able to uh get the uh congressman to agree that uh normally they have to be onsite to get those, but uh Congress worked a deal so that the kids can get them remotely or uh picked up offsite. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Um Kim, >> yes, Rita. >> Um I was wondering could we have a fourth site so the lines aren't so long? >> I mean that's >> I was at Mary Morrison today. It wasn't bad today. So um I think we'll probably uh we we'll take a look at it again this uh this uh coming Friday and pro we may have to double up the line uh coming into Mary Morrison or something like that if if that a problem. >> Right. Um, thank you. >> I see that Addy, this is Kim. I
049see that Addy has a question. Mike. >> Oh, good. Hi, Abby. >> Hi. Um, yeah, I just had a quick question um whether video chats um between students and teachers are allowed or possible. we your your your parents and you will get a ROOC call from me this evening. uh we are in the process of setting it up and uh we're going to uh there are some uh privacy concerns but we're asking the parents we're telling the parents what we're planning and there are some parents who may not want their children to participate uh in in a meeting like that but unless they opt out then we're going to we're going to start doing it. >> Okay. Um also I have one more question while I have the mic. Um, will we still have final
050exams for students? Um, so not AP or IB, just regular classes. Will they have finals? >> You know, we we we talked about that today with with the commissioner. Uh, the we're trying to get statewide uniformity on on grading. And uh I I know that the colleges at least the state system uh has agreed that they will uh accept pass fail grades which is you know not not exactly the best way to do it but we're we're not really sure and we're trying to we're trying to have a state statewide solution but I I think I think the answer is the the classes will continue and there will be some sort of grading and we're trying to We may even we may even be able to get some sort of nationwide agreement that this is
051the way we're going to especially for seniors. This is the way we're going to grade and report the transcripts of of students. So, um I think we're we're we're probably about two weeks out if I remember what the commissioner said from from having at least a strong recommendation of what to do. My sense is there'll be they there'll be there'll be final assessments. I'm just not sure what they're going to look like. >> Okay, thank you. >> You're welcome. >> This is Kim. Any other questions? >> Thank you so much, Dr. Grineer. Um, keeping us updated on that on all that stuff and I know that it's it could look very different even tomorrow just because it seems that this is still moving so quickly. >> Yeah. Kim, this is Jane with a question when
052you have a second. >> All right, Jane, please. Go for it. >> Yeah, I'm just concerned with some of overly conscientious students right now who are um concerned about whether or not they're meeting expectations while out of school. Um would that be a consideration when they get back? >> If I can uh I'm I'm very concerned with that, J. I I know like everybody else, I think there are parents who are home uh juggling their work and and and trying to help their kids and there are kids at home trying to trying to juggle at the high school eight different courses online. And uh but part of what we're trying to say Susan's idea of of let's take this at at a slow pace and and and and grow. Uh I I I we've we've
053tried to make that very clear to people that this is uh expecting students to sit there. In fact, part of our guidelines is we're saying don't don't don't think about uh more than three hours a day. But we should not be expecting students to spend uh and I know some of them are 8 10 hours a day trying to do this stuff. And we're trying to get the word out to the teachers and to the parents and to the students. I'm going to I'm going to send a a note to the parents tomorrow similar to the one that I sent yesterday to to the uh to to to the staff that I think you saw that we we we we just need to we need to be patient with with this whole process. And uh
054man alive, this has been a a lot of a lot of new learning. And even for kids uh I'd be interested to hear Addie or Zay weigh in on this. Uh even for kids who are pretty good with social media stuff, they're not necessarily good with a lot of some of these other distance learning things. It Eddie or Zay, do you have any comment about that? >> Hi. Um, I I don't know if Zay wants to talk about this after, but I can just say my experience really quick. Um, we've been talking to a lot of my friends uh recently uh just about like what we're doing. We have a lot of group chats right now about what the homework is for different classes. Um, and I think it really depends on the teacher a
055little bit on like the style of how they're um giving us this information. So, some teachers are really good about um making everything um easy to understand, easy to see where you submit it, when it's due, all this other stuff. I do know there's some teachers who are kind of new to this um like using it on this level. So, sometimes it's kind of unclear when something is due. Um I think teachers are doing a pretty good job of when you reach out, they'll um talk to you about that. Um I do know a lot of people also though who are having who were having I would say some trouble with their class before are now having more trouble. Um I have one friend who's in physics and she was struggling with this a little
056before. She was getting some tutoring in school from other students um which is now harder for her to get. Um, so she actually contacted me and was wondering about whether she could drop it now because it's it's definitely been difficult for her since she has to teach herself part of it. Um, so I think there's been a couple concerns about that. Um, and I know for a lot of other class, like specifically math classes, um, there's a lot more teaching yourself and also, um, using Khan Academy and I think some students have been having trouble with that. Um, and also I think some students aren't sure whether um, they can contact a teacher and be like, I can't do this. I don't know how to do this. Um, so they've kind of been maybe overcompensating
057and doing a little more than they have to. Um, so those are some concerns. If Zay wants to add anything, >> I think you're exactly right that that that's pretty much what I'm hearing. And when we go to this live on inerson tutoring, small group tutoring, I think that's going to help a great deal. But I'd be interested to hear what they think. >> Yeah. Um, can you guys hear me? I don't Hello. >> Yes. >> Okay. Sorry. Sorry, I've never done this before. Um, it it's very different. I'm not I'm not used to the whole online learning stuff because normally I print all my things to turn it into my teachers. So, it's like a different type of atmosphere. But, um, so far it's okay. Like, we're getting stuff in on time. We all
058have group chats. Like, for my classes at least, I don't really know about other kids, but for like my classes, we all have our group chats where we're like, "Okay, so this is due then, this is due here." And then we're all like, "Okay, so let's do this now." So then we're all like on the same page and if we all either have a question or something, we contact the teacher and they're really good. Well, like like speaking on my behalf, I know my teachers are really good about responding back fast enough, but um is there like I just have a question real quick for Dr. or like anybody else that possibly knows, but is there like a way that we can try to have like all the teachers make like an agenda or like
059a specific schedule for what they're expecting for like the next couple of weeks out from here on? >> So like because I know from my English, Mr. Mor, Christopher Mor, I don't know, you guys probably know him, but he like set out a list until April 29th just in case anything does happen. So like every bday that I have him, he has specific things that are due and that we need to have for our next class. Whereas some other teachers are just posting it the day of and sometimes it like gets confusing because then we don't know when it's due or stuff like that. So I think that would kind of help things if we like have all the teachers set out a calendar where like things are due here and there. >> I'll I'll
060pass that on Z. I think that's a great idea. >> Me too. Thank you, >> Kim. When um I have a question when when there's free time. >> Go ahead, Rita. >> My question is to Dr. Brener or Susan. Are the physical education teachers providing any type of um learning so students can maybe do some things and relax a little bit in between? >> I can answer that. Um yes, they have their classes especially at the middle school and high school and they are giving kids um workouts or ways that they can kind of de-stress as part of the elementary classroom. The elementary teacher invites in the art teacher and the music teacher and the PE teacher so they're able to structure that day. And that's all part of this three hours of student learning.
061It needs to be broken up into breaks and time to read and time to do math and um there might be a little homework component to it like a little extra reading or a little extra getting ready. I do like Zay's point about um kind of giving even if they could do a week in as a preview. So on I think this week once we muddle through this day because I'm talking to you and um that I think that we'll be better at this and we'll be able to to give kids a little better idea on what's happening for the week at least so that they know exactly what is due and what's expected. >> So I will pass that on with Dr. Grineer when we have our meeting. >> Thank you. >> I think
062it's a great way for students to get used to having syllabus. I mean because if they go to school or further on their education that's that's how it's going to be done. So I think that that's a great idea. Say um any other further questions from the board about this topic? This will not be our last time talking about it. Um but I just I know we had sort of like a flyby um last week um but I just wanted to make sure that we are kept up to date as much as possible because I know all of us are getting phone calls or whatever about how to handle things. So um Liz Porter, her hand is raising. >> Oh, Liz, I'm sorry. Thank you. >> Thanks, Susan. Um, I just had a quick question.
063Can you hear me first of all? >> Yes, >> because I'm on my phone. >> All right. Um, I've had a couple of people who are not district people who have asked, "What are we doing, and can they access it?" For example, my grandson does not have any schooling at all. Been going on since the 13th of March. and his mother has asked, "Is there a way that we can see what Grten's third graders are doing and so we know which way we're going?" Is that a is that an option or or is that just not in the in the realm of possibility, which is fine either way? >> I actually um have an answer to that question. When we started our supplemental learning, every school has a platform at every grade level. And you
064can see the plethora of lessons and ideas to keep kids actively engaged in learning. So tell your daughter and your grandson to get on on our grtenchools.org website and they could go to any of our schools. And there's actually some um websites that are free of charge to families that are being highly recommended, books that are being highly recommended, digital books. So, it's really um it's something I want to keep up with, you know, all along even when we get back to face to face because I think it gives parents a lot of different options and kids a lot of options of interesting things that they can learn about. >> Thank you. Good question, Liz. >> Kim, I tried to do that. I when I clicked on um the school, >> the school and the
065um grade level that I was interested in looking at, unless you had um an ID or having a child in the classroom, you weren't able to access that information. So, I'm not >> you can't get on the classroom schooly site, but there are all these supplemental learnings by grade level that you can access. Anybody can access those. >> Okay. >> I can bring you samples though as Gretchen had recommended and show you some of the things that are happening. >> Yeah, thank you. >> That would be great. Any other questions about this topic? >> All right. Um, let's move on to the update on the Graten Middle School. Dr. Well, >> is that Sam? >> Yeah, I I I can give you the a quick and then Sam maybe give you get some details. The
066quick great news is uh it is continuing and they are on on schedule and are in fact they're so on schedule that they said perhaps in the summer even if the furniture has not yet been delivered like to the to the principal's office and to the guidance office. They'll move in the old furniture and then swap it out when the new furniture gets there. But they they believe they're going to be ready by June. >> Wow. Yeah, >> that'd be awesome. >> The, you know, please guide the the the work will continue, but I I I actually said to the to to the to the chief engineer, Tammy Hanland, um you know, like what if what happens if we're not ready? And you know, knock wood, she said that's not a possibility. We will be
067open on September 1st. But maybe Sam could chime in a little bit with more details if if you know any. >> Yeah, as a matter of fact, I uh took a site visit yesterday. Uh, and the first thing that we had to do when we got to this uh to the job site trailer was to fill out a qu answer some questions regarding our health uh and how we've been recently so that uh if there were any indications that we were not feeling well um that then we wouldn't be allowed on the site. Uh in addition to that um because um the numbers are down of workers are down a bit over there but it's mostly due to uh parents having to do child care swapping off with their wife or husband or or partner
068and doing child care but the work is uh moving forward uh and and as Dr. Grineer said it it is on schedule. Uh it it really uh looks terrific over there and things are moving along very well. Wow. >> Wow. >> They're actually hoping to start if we get if we get the word that school is out for the year, which I I wouldn't expect too soon, but uh if we get that word, they would actually like to start the the work at the demolition work at the middle school sooner than later. So, we're Sam and I and uh Susan and and and and the element uh middle school principles, we're meeting with a moving consultant and uh because we may we may in fact have to pack up everything and like the the kids
069have stuff in their lockers and we would have to pack that up and we'd have to pack the teachers belongings up. This is uh the moving aspect of it is is become much more complicated unfortunately but uh but but the building the building is uh right on track. I am very pleased and amazed. >> Any questions from the board about that? Rita, >> um I drove up there yesterday to see if I could see some of the brick work and yes you can from the parking lot at Fitch which is wonderful. It looks great. Um my my question is I heard the governor today um may make some further restrictions in terms of construction and um some of the different things. So I'm hoping that that's not one of them. >> Yeah. >> But um
070I had a a a quick question for Sam. When I was driving out, I glanced over at Fitch. I know this isn't middle school, but it's all part of that area. And Sam, there are these long black lines on at the high school. Like it looks like it's coming off the roof onto the white the concrete parts, not onto the brick at all. I was just wondering if you knew what that was. And it really looks terrible. So when I was when I was driving in and looked and then I saw it again coming out. So I don't know if you know anything about that, Sam, or how they're going to fix it. I I don't know what you're talking about, but I'll be more observant tomorrow and I'll get an answer to you on
071that. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> Is there anyone else who has a question about the Graten Middle School construction project? >> All right. So, um let's move on to our um 21 budget review. Um I don't know how many of us had the pleasure of attending um the meeting and um the Saturday day meeting and um though I don't know all the specifics but I think that the town council um was really gotten got very concerned about the co 19 and its impact on town employees, town manager um town staff um and worried about budget and making sure that there was a budget in place and all that good stuff. So, um they moved the budget process into um into a almost like a marathon run um and where they did last week they
072did the um we got to do a presentation and then on Saturday um we um had a conversation with the town council and they met for I think about 12 to 13 hours that day. Um and for those who don't know, um they uh they they being the town council were really very concerned about um what the COVID um 19 was going to have on next year's budget um and the economy and really was asking for us to um take a look at any savings that we were make being that were being made um because of some of the things that we were not using um or utilizing um and asked if that would um whether we would have it so that they could bring our budget down to the minimum budget requirement or um
073MBR um and though um what Dr. Grineer and I both said um we have not been able to meet because they had they were speeding up their process um which meant that we were not able to um meet to have a conversation. Um but it did end up being that the town council um has voted to bring our budget down to zero. Um, and you know, if you talk to Lita, VA probably would have told you that they were going to do that anyways. Um, COVID. Um, but they, um, but they have. And um so that really kind of leads us into having some conversation um and I'm going to turn it over to Mike and to Ken um about what what we want to do and how we want to move from there which
074then moves us um which really kind of moves us into um our other meeting that we're going to have which is a negotiation meeting. And Rita, I know that you tend to like it to go to negotiations first and then to the um committee the whole I just feel like >> fine. >> I just really feel like this is an issue new times that we need to have that. So um it's the non-meating is really a negotiation meeting and that we're talking about some contracts which will happen after the end of this meeting. Um so um Dr. Grineer, if you would like to take um on the conversation about the budget review, that would be great. >> Sure. Sure. Well, Ken, Ken, you're here, right? >> Hello. >> Yeah. >> Uh, I went I went
075out and came back in, so >> good. Good idea. >> All right. Sorry, >> Ken. Do you have that spreadsheet handy? >> I do. I do. I'm going to present it now. Let's see. >> Oh, great. Perfect. >> And right here. Okay. So, so the request was uh to look at the current year FY20 to determine what kind of cost avoidance we might experience uh due to this uh this uh crisis. And so what this first section right here is doing is uh is trying to quantify what that would be. >> Um did did you want to say anything, Mike, or should I keep going? >> No, just go right through it. Basically Ken Ken and I looked there there was a $495,000 proposed increase in our budget and in anticipation of the the thought
076of a zero and and frankly we are not going to expend some of these funds we we did a we did a proposal to go down uh by 496 but to identify those things that we could purchase this year which would take it out of next year's budget. So go ahead Ken please. >> Exactly. So uh possible cost avoidance for this uh fiscal year is um there will be some substitute teachers that we won't uh need to employ. Uh we are paying for building subs who have regular schedules, but for those subs that don't have a schedule. Um that that we quantified that to be about $150,000. um the remainder of the salary account we anticipate we're going to need but we we'll have a better idea after this payroll of this week um once
077we see you know what the de when the dust settles but um uh there may be additional cost avoidance there but at this point we're we're not uh anticipating any more uh from salaries. Uh uh we're pretty close to the end of the snow season. So there's some additional snow removal um funds that we don't think we're going to spend uh we're anticipating a reduction in some of our utilities at our buildings in that they're not being utilized um uh for for heating on natural gas and for electricity uh for diesel and heating oil. Um those are those are both contracted. So we contracted a certain number of gallons for each uh and if we don't use them we will have to pay a liquidation cost which will be less than the contracted cost but
078um so there could be some savings here but it's not going to be very big numbers unfortunately. Um uh so the spring sports will more than likely not happen. So there will be some uh cost avoidance on on the stipens and the expenses. This is a this is an estimate of what those could be. It's it's a conservative estimate. Um so this might be more. Um we did talk about uh um professional development in that we don't have folks uh going off to the to the the different um uh uh classes that we had anticipated. So uh but uh we may or may not have any savings here and that that's why that shows zero at this point. Uh we had in our last uh review of the object code uh summary, we had 85,000
079of uh un unexpended funds anticipated. So uh we captured that 85. And then just to bring it up to 495, we threw in a line here for uh underfunding health insurance reserve. This would be done at the end of the year if if need be. Uh, but we could do that um to bring us up to 495. Uh, we do have another line in here for curtain transportation. We we have a contract with STA which more than likely we're going to have to pay uh according to uh the uh the the federal act that that just came out. Uh but a question on curtain in that uh we don't contract uh buses, we just contract routes. And so, uh, that may or may not result in some in some cost avoidance. >> I have a
080question, Ken. Wouldn't we have I I see in the heating oil and diesel, wouldn't the diesel be a savings? >> So, we we still have around uh 50,000 gallons of contracted diesel that we have not used, which we anticipated to use for the next two and a half months. Um so in order to uh the contract uh if it gets terminated without us using it there's a liquidation charge. >> That liquidation charge is less than the contracted charge but it's not uh it's not a lot less unfortunately. >> Could you explain that to me? So let let's say that we have of the 50,000 gall $50,000 worth of diesel. Couldn't we just use that next year? Well, no, that the contract is for a period is for taking th those those gallons within a certain
081period of time from from July one of 20 of 19 to June 30 of 2020. So, if we can't uh take delivery of those within that period, um uh it has to be liquidated. >> And what would we get of from the 50,000 let's say what would we get? Do we get like a reimbursement? >> No. No. Uh we would unfortunately we we have to pay a liquidation charge and we wouldn't get any of those gallons. >> Oh no. >> So yeah, it's a it's a it's it's a it's a not it's a not win on on that. >> Yeah. >> Can I just add with the PD? Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Yep. I just wanted to say that much of our PD expenses are occurring in grants and um we have
082fewer professional development opportunities in the actual budget mostly for our district-wide professional development which has already occurred in the year. So that zero amount is probably pretty accurate that um you know but with the grants we can kind of continue those on most of those so that we're not really losing anything. Okay. Well, anyway, those are those are the the potential and I think that's very conservative. There will be other >> Yes. >> So, then the next part of this is is how can we help >> how can we help uh next year uh with this cost avoidance. >> Uh and so we've come up with a list of some items that we could that we could um uh pay for this year's that would help out next year's budget. Uh, one of the one
083of the uh, easiest ones to do is is all of our our retirement severances are scheduled to pay in July of the new year. Uh, and we did this, I believe, last year. If we just u um accelerated those into June, we we could pay them we pay them early. The retirees don't mind that. Uh, and um uh we can take that out of next year's budget. Uh, so that's 150 to about 160,000. And that's actually a conservative number there. Um there's a piece of maintenance equipment um and we did this before a couple years ago I believe with a truck uh where we could purchase that uh that equipment this year with this year's money uh and take it out of next year's budget. Uh we have we could we could purchase custodial supplies
084uh this year uh and then alleviate our uh uh need next year for uh an amount. Um about 50,000 from next year's budget. >> Yeah. Yep. >> Okay. >> Um there are the bid list items, you know, the the the pens and and and crayons and all that. Uh as well as the copy paper. Uh that's that's about 120 to 130,000 that we could pay for from this year. Uh thus alleviating next year's budget. Um and uh once again, we we could reduce our health insurance funding. I I think um the number that we are anticipating um we there's room in there to reduce it another uh1 to $200,000 uh perhaps. So we redu we figured out what we could reduce if we in fact purchase uh the these things that are all legitimate. They're
085not services for next year. Right. Ken was Ken was uh really careful with it. Uh I if it if it's if it's uh equipment or supplies or materials that you actually get in a fiscal year, then it's legitimate to pay for those things in that fiscal year. So pretty much that's what this is. >> Yeah. And if we did this plan, the budget would be reduced to zero, but it would be no reduction in goods and services and personnel uh for next year. >> That's right. >> So I not that I'm a cynic. Sorry, wait. I'm going to jump in. It these are >> these are rough estimates. I mean, it looks it looks pretty nice that you were able to get the 495 on top and the 495 on the bottom. it looks kind
086of um um planned. Um and so I just want to make sure that the people in the public who are listening on realize that this is that this is just your beginning sketch um around trying to find um ways that we might be able to help the current um from our current savings because of um the co 19 um that we were able to kind of think about it for um the next year. Um once again, uh Ken, this is not a knock on you at all. This is just kind of making sure that people realize who are watching or listening to us to know that you are just really kind of roughly saying we could get pretty close to what we would need to kind of cover the um zero or NBR. Um am
087I correct on that? >> You're you're exactly correct. Yes, >> Jim. the the the two numbers that we we we need and and over the next couple of weeks we can do this. Uh the top number you might remember there was $95,000 from health insurance and the bottom number Yeah, there it is. Thank you. $95,000 for health insurance and the bottom number 134. Those are those are the numbers that that we essentially use to make it come out correctly, Kim. But we can we could get more precise uh as you know I want to take a look at spring sports for example. Uh the CIA has in fact canled spring sports. Uh so we can we can definitely move forward with that. I' I'd want to I'd want to talk to Ted and Mark Romano
088to see what sort of money is left. There's there's typically money left in the in the athletic supply account even from the winter. So, uh, we could we could do a more precise job in answered your question, Kim. >> This was this was >> it wasn't about it being a precise job. It was just that I think that what how I'm perceiving um this document um is is that this is sort of what the what the town council has brought us down to >> and we have the RTM to go um and they might give us our money back. Um I don't believe that that's going to be true. Um but that you were just saying that this is the 495 that we would need that brings us down to zero and these are kind
089of ways that we could bring it that we could bring it to that. So I just um then I uh I uh I just wanted to I just wanted to um have a I just wanted to have a thought about that. Um Gretchian does have a question. Um, I'll just read a question, but you add on to it is um how will staff um being very safe from CO 19 affect our health insurance account? >> Well, of course, we don't know. We don't we don't know the answer to to that. And you know, I I I don't want to be too dramatic, but or or calm people down too much, but the we've we've had some staff I know uh that have been ill with uh with with flu-l like symptoms and they've been I
090know in one case tested and it was negative. I I I think you know we we will have people uh who are who are going to be ill but I think moving forward I think we should uh we we should be able to handle this within our you know those teachers who need to come offline for a while will be covered by substitutes and Susan has land for that and uh I don't think that will negatively impact the budget. >> Um Jay has two questions. Yes. Hi. Um Ken, um you referenced something about a federal law that um is going to come into play with the bus contract. Um so the bus company completely laid off >> um as far as I know all of the drivers. >> You're right. >> So obviously they're not
091carrying a payroll. Um at first I was not too happy about that. Um, but I guess with what's going on with Congress, you know, they're going to get some some extra reimbursement through the the stimulus payment. Um, but I guess my question is um why wouldn't we be entitled to uh some relief um given the huge payroll that they're saving? >> Yeah, that makes sense. >> Yeah. Um, so the what we understand so far is that there's language in the uh in the CARES Act that uh states that uh we must continue to pay our contractors. Uh but uh you're right there I I think there might be some opportunity to negotiate what what that payment is. Um uh but you know at this point it remains uh a question. Um uh but I I
092would think that we're going to have to pay u STA something um for for the remaining contract. Just don't know what it is. >> Well, again, this is Jay speaking. Um I know that they obviously have made a huge investment in um in buses that we require them to replace every few years. They obviously maintain a um uh you know, buildings uh and that sort of thing. But um you know uh the fact that they took immediate advantage of um of putting everybody out uh on unemployment um you know I I I certainly would be hope that they'd be open to that. the the other my my second question was um so the government should be reimbursing for some of our supplies uh if I understand correctly um so when we start looking at these
093these savings um for this year are we maintaining some sort of separate account for what we know will be reimburseable um >> or can we expect to see more savings in the um uh cleaning supplies and and other things that that will be reimbursed by the federal government down the road. >> Yeah. when when we identify items that are uh that we're purchasing uh in response to this uh we are identifying them in our GL with with with COVID 19 so that we can pull out you know what what are we uh incurring uh due to this so that if there's a reimbursement uh we can we can uh we can show what what we have uh incurred that that is not that's not represented here at all >> I know this is a changing
094thing but I I I thank thank Thank you for all the work you're doing. >> Thank you, >> Jay. I just wanted to say that uh our department is keeping track of all the uh supplies and equipment that we're buying uh that is directly related to the COVID 19 uh situation. >> Okay, perfect. Thank you. >> Do we have um questions from other >> Rita? >> Well, my first one was um Gretchen asked it. My second one was is about the bus contract. I know that um at Learn some of the towns were discussing that it would be better just to pay out the contract till the end of the year till June. Otherwise, you'd be helping to pay unemployment through the summer. Is there anything about that in the new act that came out?
095[Music] >> I I don't have so I've only gotten a a brief on what that uh act is. I don't have that level of detail. I'm sorry. But I I can look into that and uh and and report. >> Okay. And I have another meeting with learn tomorrow. So I'll ask them what you know there was a whole group of towns that were also were part of STA. So we'll see what this is also part of our phone our meeting for the negotiations looking at that contract as well. >> Right. >> Thanks. Um Liz, I know that you just sent me a chat and that you're losing um power. Is there any question that you have and if you do um and you and you uh lose um you lose power and you can't stay
096on, feel free to give me a text and I will read your text um to the group. >> Okay. Thanks, Kim. >> You got it, my friend. Any other um any other questions um from the board about um the topic of the budget review? Um, if you if you do and and you're I'm not able to hear your voice, feel free to chat if you can. Um, and then I will try to pick you up. All right. Hearing none. Um I I believe that this is from uh came came out of the finance and um building committee. Um so uh Mike and Jay, I would love to kind of hear um about this with um from you guys. >> Um I think we have to do the CIP first, >> didn't we? Oh um I
097VA. >> Yes. >> Thank you very much. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you very much. Um, so this was also part of our Saturday um, event with the town council. Um, and um, I'm going to let Sam and Mike I think that there was a there's a there's a couple of changes that they made with the CIP. Um, and I uh, I I'll let you and um, Sam Mike take over the conversation. >> Sure. Uh so there were four CIPs that were proposed uh by by the town manager. The the the first one had to do with uh moving the portables and uh we explained that the we were hoping that the portables uh would be uh would be left on site. the at least the Cutler one Cutler two portables and would be stay
098on site at Cutler and the one at at Westside would stay there. The the architects for the new school said that was not possible. So the so the request that looked like 125,000 we actually we had to add on uh some additional money uh for moving them and uh so we we we explained that we we need these portables and if and if if we don't move them they're going to be demolished. So, the board, I mean, the the town council approved the the construction. Sam figured it cost about $125,000 to uh uh to build the the the foundations for these u and the the cost of moving them was picked up by the by the town as part of the building project for the two new elementary schools. So, they approved 155,000 and that
099will that will cover the cost of moving and setting them up uh probably at at the central office. We have to work on the details uh for this, but we'll work on it relatively quickly because uh they need to be moved by July. We need to we need to get this thing going because otherwise they're going to be demolished. We have the the at least the town council approved $155,000. The second one had to do with Northeast Academy. Uh there was a engineering study that recommended $104,000, but Sam had already cleaned out the duck work for 20,000. So I told the town council we only need 84, not 104, and they approved that. Uh the third one uh was uh we we asked for the dishwashers so that we could switch over to uh uh
100using uh fiberglass trays and and metal utensils. Uh they approved all of that for for the high school. Middle school already have new ones. The two new elementary schools will have them. So it's just for the high school. Uh, Charles Barnum, Katherryn Konowski, and Northeast Academy. And the last one, Sam, was help me out, please. >> The last one. >> Video surveillance. >> Oh, the video surveillance. Yeah, they approved the video surveillance uh for the high school and the uh three elementary schools that will still exist because the new middle school already has it and the two new elementary schools will will have the video surveillance. So, we actually got all all four items. And and and by the way, my note says, although I haven't seen it published yet, that Saturday the 4th, the
101RTM is going to have education committee meeting. Saturday the 11th, the full RTM, and then Saturday the 18th, the final vote by the RTM. That's what they said at the meeting. So, I'll as soon as I get the word, I will publish it. So that's So the fourth is when the RTM meets with the education with the education committee meets with the um board of ed. >> That that's what I thought I heard John Bert say. Yes. >> Okay. Well, that will be that will be an interesting um yeah virtual meetings >> because that's such a large body. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's going to be a real problem. >> Yep. All right. Any questions about the CIPs? So, actually, I do have a question about the CIP, Sam. And we did get um Oh,
102good. Liz is back. Um, we did get the dishwashers, but none of that CIP covers the equipment and the labor for that stuff. So, how do we go about having dishwashers and getting the necessary dishes and glasses and silverware, etc. My my thought is that we ask Ernie to to to put a proposal together because we we have to staff this out. We haven't we haven't done that yet. >> Okay. >> Actually, we we do have an estimate on what it would cost to do that. And um I sent it to Jay the other day. I was trying to find it on my phone, but I don't see that at the moment. Um yeah, tray trays and silverware were estimated about $9 to $10,000 and uh labor uh the additional labor that it would take
103um to do the dishwashing would be uh between 96 and 100,000 per year. Oh, >> yeah. >> We might we might want to tell that to the RTM because we we don't have $100,000 in that enterprise fund extra, >> right? So maybe maybe I don't know board members how you feel about that, but um that that's quite a cost. And and um Sam, could you talk about what they are using for more environmentally um friendly products at the present moment? Yeah. Uh we had to we had to stop using the styrofoam trays. So uh Ernie has gone to uh a paper product uh a paperbased product and that is going to cost us um in the uh range of about $30,000 a year if we continue that. So some of these other uh numbers uh
104will be offset by uh the cost of doing the paper products too. [Music] So if I So that's I think that that was your question, right? Is how um how do the disposal equate with getting um the water and the the um >> Yeah. How much does Yeah. How much does it cost us per year for the disposable plates and how does that equate with the cost of washing washing the new plates etc? I just lost myself. >> We have a Do we have a question or is that Sam? Did you kind of answer that when you said for paper? >> Yeah, it's in the $30,000 range that we're we're going to be paying now for the paper product versus the paperbased product versus the styrofoam. Uh again, um just to repeat that the numbers
105that I gave you before, the uh9 to$10,000 number for the uh trays and silverware, um that's a one-time cost. Uh whereas the labor additional labor in the kitchen uh doing the additional work would be about 96 to $100,000 a year per year, >> right? Yeah, I think I got that. Jay, do you have a question? >> Hello. >> Yes. Hi, this is uh Jay speaking. So, um I I believe um you may recall I brought this up at the last meeting and so I was surprised that the town council so blly um approved this CIP without any discussion um because I was concerned about the the purchase of the equipment, then the maintaining of the equipment and then the supplies. uh and not only the initial purchase of the trays and the flatwear, but obviously
106it was going to be shrinkage, >> so replacement of that. And do we know if if all of that in terms of the uh the cost of the labor, does that include um you know all the taxes and uh other employee benefits? I Jay, I think that that's a really good question. Um, and I think that that's I actually um am in favor of uh Dr. Grineer's um suggestion, which is to let the RTM um let the RTM know that we're not ready to staff or fund the dishwashing program at those three schools. However, that would be in violation of the town council's ordinance. So, I believe they would have to be requested to wave us. >> Well, I think we could do paper products, can't we, Jay? We just can't do styrofoam and and
107plastics, >> which is my understanding as well, but maybe we need to get clarification, and I'd be willing to do that. >> Okay. Uh this Ken um and maybe we should do an analysis because according to my uh records, we spent around between 95 to $100,000 for the styrofoam in 2019. >> Uh so the styrofoam and then the the paper is an additional 30,000. So, I think I'm looking at a at a $130,000 that's going to be offset by uh this this labor number, which we do have to understand if it includes uh um uh payroll taxes and uh and anything else. But, uh you know, this might be a um um a wash. >> No pun intended. >> Yeah. Yes. But I think an analysis should be done. Um I I I'll I'll reach
108out to Ernie to to get uh that that total analysis done. >> Great. >> I would appreciate that. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Any other conversation about about the CIPs? >> All right. Jay and Mike, um you guys are on about um the Malone and Mcro. >> Okay. Well, uh you want me to start, Jay? Uh oh yes please. >> What uh one of the steps that we need to take of course with the three schools that are closing Claude Chester SB Butler and Mary Morrison. Uh we we need to uh establish neighborhood catchment areas for for those three schools. And uh we started we started to I started with actually with the with the transportation staff and I and I realized that I I didn't I didn't have good enough demographic information and I
109and I remember that uh Mike Mike Zuba who had done all the work uh uh uh Mike Zuba from Malone and Mcroom he had really specific information about residences and so forth. And so I called him and I asked him for a proposal uh because I knew we had he has all the demographs and he has the demographic information uh and uh he gave me a proposal uh that basically well it was going to be a two-month timeline. So this whole this whole thing has come to a screeching halt. But he would be able to allow us to draw neighborhood catchment areas because uh we are not allowed to assign children on the basis of race, but we have to have racially balanced schools. And uh I I remember when he was talking about his
110earlier work, he had very specific information that way. So I called him and and so he gave me this proposal uh which I wanted the board to consider uh and I will uh email it uh to you uh that basically he he would be able to uh make that study draw maps and and uh reestablish u neighborhood catchment areas for those three schools which which would then become two schools. Uh and and the total cost was uh he estimated it'd be be an hourly thing, but he said it it could add up to like 15,000. Um I I I think this is important work that needs to be done carefully because the the Cutler the school being built at the Cutler site of course is is a diversity school and uh that's why we're getting
11180% funding. So it's it's mandatory that that school will be racially balanced but again federal government the US Supreme Court ruled against assigning children on the basis of race. So somehow we have to achieve this racial balance but not not use not use uh uh student racial data but by assigning but Mike has a way of doing it by neighborhood by address and um so I I'm I think it'd be very important for us to uh to work with him. Plus he knows the district and he knows the he knows the neighborhood extremely well. And that's basically what I explained to the finance committee. >> J, could you weigh in from your conversation um as a finance? >> Right. So, obviously it's the um prerogative of the board as a whole to to make a
112decision about this. But the I would say the consensus at the finance committee was that given that he already holds um all of the historical knowledge and detailed information, he would be able to come up to speed much more quickly than um bringing somebody brand new in. Then we'd have to completely bring them up to speed on on the history of this. Are there board members who would like to weigh in on this? >> Can you see me, Kim? >> Yes, Rita. >> I'm in the dark. um he you know we we probably have a lot of um a lot of that information already but I agree that I think it's very important that since he does have all the layout of the town that um we go ahead and approve that study >> now.
113>> But I do think we have some of those maps. I remember, you know, all that information that he presented and to the town because he did it to the we would do it at the town also, the town level. >> He did it at the 2020. So, I think that the 2020 had a lot of that had a lot of the of those maps, >> right? Liz, would you like um Liz trying to talk? Liz, I don't know if you're unmuted. >> Here I am. >> Oh, okay. >> Sorry about that. I was just wondering if any of that information is available through the Census Bureau. I know the data then would probably be kind of old. I just thought about that just a second ago. Never mind. I was just wondering >> if
114you didn't answer it. I would have said talk to Liz Porter. She'll give you the answer. >> Well, you and I have to talk later, Dr. Gr. Okay, I'm good. >> So, one of the things um that we're getting a lot of feedback and so if you are not talking, feel free to mute your microphone um because um we're getting all the outside information um all the around surrounding sound of your house and it just it helps with the feedback. >> I have something to say. >> Oh, Gretchen. Hi. If we can't if we have to make racially balanced schools, but we have to do it without knowing what the race is of the the the trying to find a way to say it politely. How do we balance the schools if we can't do
115it >> with knowledge? >> Well, let me let me explain. you you you can't take a group of children and say these these five children are going to go to this school because of their race. But what you can do is do it by neighborhood. And you can you you can say the children uh well the way we do it we we draw neighborhood lines. And what I'm suggesting is that the neighborhood lines for Northeast Academy, Charles Barnum, and Katherryn Konowski would not be changed. We would just re we would take the three schools that have three catchment areas and draw them into two catchment areas, making sure with Zuba's help that we would end up with two racially balanced schools. So you would take say you know where the Valero gas station is >>
116right >> on Route One. >> That's behind my house, >> right? Or >> so my house is there. You'd send my kids all the way over to >> Well, your kids >> instead of the middle school, >> your your kids would go to the Cutler site. >> Well, then you're changing the lines. >> You're changing the line. saying, >> "Wait, wait, wait. Your kids go to Northeast now?" >> Yes. If I had >> They would stay They would stay in Northeast. We're not changing Northeast boundaries. >> So, my kids could walk Cutler. >> Well, they would be eligible to I didn't even talk about the lottery yet. They would >> The conversation today tonight's agenda was just to see whether we wanted to move forward with the study by Mal by Malone. um that that's
117a huge conversation, Gretchen, that I that we need to have. >> I'm very aware of that. That's the third time we've this we've been here 25 years, so it'll be the third time this house would have changed districts. >> Um I'm very aware of that. But tonight, the agenda topic is whether we um will move forward with um McLoon because we do have to have long conversations about what does that look like because I think Rita could speak to it even more. um is that how many times since I've been a board member um have we had to change a district? So, I think that's why it's so important for us to go with someone um who can kind of help us do that in a thoughtful way versus in a willy-nilly way. Um if
118that's even a word. Um any other question any other questions um in regards to whether we want to move forward with a a demographic study with um Malone and McBrroom? um because then we'll bring that up for a vote at our um regular board meeting. >> I don't see that we have a choice. >> So, yes. >> All right. Any other questions about that? >> No. >> All right. Thank you. Um Jay, do you um you I think you wanted to have one more piece of conversation. >> Yeah. I'll try to keep this quick. So, um I didn't mean any disrespect when I said that it seems like we went through the CIPs a little quickly that I I realized the town council was in a marathon session and um uh I just think that
119um all these facts weren't brought forward and and I realize that maybe we don't even have um the the total facts on. I just think it's it's worth um studying further uh doing the factf finding and determining what um I thought all single-use plastics were going to be uh banned. So, I thought they wanted us to get rid of all of the uh plastic uh knives and forks and spoons. Obviously, I've got a little more studying to do on that as well. Um so, I'm hoping maybe we can bring that up as Dr. Gineer suggested with the RTM. >> All right. Um any other any other conversation? Once again, this was a really kind of a special committee of the whole once again just to guess get the get the board together um because this
120is such changing times. Um but we will we will start next week having um regular uh um board meetings um or committee of the whole meeting starting on Monday at six o'clock. Um, but if I don't hear any other further conversation, I would love to >> Kim, >> before we just jump off, can can is it ever possible that we could reschedu in let's say sometime in April the AGSA GA board leaison committee just to hear from the teachers, you know, I I I and the administrators just to see how things are going with them. I I think the reason why we res we took it away last week was just because >> Oh, yeah. Last week. I just meant if we could have one in April sometime if we could reschedu it. >> All
121right. I'll get to um >> pass Beth. >> Yeah. All right. >> Thank you. >> All right. So, um at this point, um Dr. Grineer, what I am proposing that we do is once we adjourn the meeting to all get off and can you then send us another invite just to the board and to the um people who it's necessary to be part of the conversation who I would assume would be Ken Knight and probably Lori Leine and Susan >> and Susan. Okay. Susan Ken Lori. Okay. Done. >> Okay. So >> what I'm saying is I'm going to go for an adjournment. We are going to then get off of this and then Dr. Grineer is going to reinvite the board with Ken, Susan, and Lori Leine so we can go into our negotiations. >>
122Does that make >> second? >> Okay. So um for those who didn't know, Andrea made made the motion. Rita seconded it. Um, all those in favor, please say I or just >> Yeah. >> Hi. >> Thank you. >> Thumbs up. >> All right. >> Be helpful to have Sam invited, too. >> Sam, please come along. >> Okay. All right. I'll do it right now. >> All right, guys. See you soon. >> Bye. >> All right. >> Bye.