001Can I just do a quick check to make sure I haven't missed anybody for our records? I have Heed, Parker, Melendez, Franco, Bumgardner, and Borderline. There's a lot of us here. Thank you though for inviting us. We appreciate it and we look forward to hearing uh what you have in store for us. >> Yes, thank you um Patrice. And it is um 6:32. So um I'm going to call the board of ed body um to order. Um but first, Miss Joan, do I have a quorum? >> I have five. That's a quorum. >> We're there. >> All right. Um I do know that um uh Dean um has sent his regards um and uh and I think that if Jay is on, Jay will most likely be here. >> Okay. That he will be on
002um without the video um because he's not feeling so well. So he uh he that's what um my understanding of that is. So, I'm calling the board of ed uh meeting to order at 6:33 and town council to order at 6:33 as well. And we do not have a quorum for the RTM. I note uh in addition to myself, Representative Fitzgerald, Whitney, Forner, Casiier, and Thomas. If there's anyone on the RTM who is here and I didn't see, um please identify yourself now. So, we do not have a quorum and I'm going to treat this as anformational session and it would be great though if you could share your minutes with us. Thank you. >> Absolutely, Simma. We'd be more than happy to do that. I do know that um the finance committee of the
003RTM is meeting tonight as well. Um and so my sense is that that's probably where some of the bodies are. The people are their live bodies, not dead. Um and so, um I am going to start off and just with a um just an apology for the fact that there was some miscommunication and this was this went kind of kind of clunky. Um, and it was never my intent for this to be clunky. Um, that this is really the time period that the board has in the um, in the past um, met with the town council to just kind of hear from the town council about where they're coming from in terms of what they're thinking about for our not what our budget, but sort of what the monies are and the finances are. Um
004and um a couple years ago uh actually uh Simma and Patrice kind of had um mostly the education committee from the board of um from the RTM um meet. Uh but I uh were added to the town council and I just thought that they it was a much more fruitful um and uh conversation um and um I just am a firm believer in collaboration between all the bodies and so that happens with um communication and so um I I guess kind of simma I just kind of said so why not have all the RTM because we're on Zoom and and it's a little bit more easier in terms of bodies um to sort of manage even though our square gets smaller and smaller. Um, and so I'm kind of helpful for that to have happen.
005Um, so that's that's the that that's the premise behind this meeting. There's no I'm not there is no trying to slight anyone. Um, any miscom any miscommunication or clunkiness. Um, I own because of my humanness. Um, and uh, every every year I will try to make this better and um, can't guarantee it, but I'm going to try. Um but what I do want to do is that so the goal is is just to kind of have a conversation about the budget sort of what what's been going on. Please remember though um is that this is not the board's budget that we are still um marching through um uh the superintendent's um budget um where we have to on the 28th um be able have it voted and um on the town manager's desk for then
006the town council and then the RTM to then peruse. Um, so when we have the conversation tonight, um, it really isn't it isn't what the board has. Um, it is really what the superintendent and her staff are presenting to the board. And, um, we met on Monday. Um, and we're going to have two two meetings on Monday and went on Monday and Tuesday of next week. um specifically on bud budget workshop and um which is a great uh point uh that uh the mayor and Simma both have said is that if you do have like questions that might need more um information feel free to send that to me and to uh to Susan and we'll be able to kind of once again be able to look at it on Monday and Tuesday and get
007the information back um back to you from the staff. So, um, please, uh, know that, um, I think one of the ways that the board has been trying to see the budget in the past couple years is that it tells a story, right? That it's a story about our the educational process that's happening in the Grten district. Um, and one of the things that, um, I know Susan and her staff are going to probably present a couple of slides that kind of talk about sort of where our funding it comes from and also sort of where most of our money goes to in the budget because it's a because we see it as a story. Um, I did ask for her to kind of talk a little bit about um, what's happening with COVID, possibly
008the CARES Act monies that have come to us or coming to us. um also kind of talk about, you know, we've been talking about the Graten 2020 and we're in 2021, but we still, you know, to talk a little bit more about what's happening on the campus um for the middle school and the high school and that just because we're not going to want to be bored, we're also in construction on two ele elementary schools where we have the street um excuse me, the themes river um magnet elementary school and we also have the Mystic River Elementary School. That was my thinking of that. Um, and I'm willing to sort of think about as long as it is sort of on the budget once again, understanding that this is not the board's budget that this
009is um, Susan and her staff. At this point, I would like to actually welcome to Susan Austin, who is our new superintendent um, of Graten uh, as she started her job January 1st. Um and so this is her first sort of um townwide um budget meeting. And so Susan, I welcome you and take it away. >> Thank you. And I welcome all the participants. It looks like we have 29 people and I think that's fantastic. Um I would have to say that Dr. Grineer really readied us. We really started working on this budget in October, maybe even September, and looking at what the needs of the district um were and what were the real drivers that would um indicate what were the needs in our budget. So, if I could have your permission to share
010my screen, I have a couple slides that will help tell this story. So, as Kim said, this is really the superintendent's proposed budget. It's a preliminary walk out and um we are working really hard to go through all of our function codes and to really ask questions um honest questions. The board has um in our last meeting we have about five or six questions that we're looking at data and we're trying to answer so that we can fine-tune this budget and look for all the efficiencies that there could be. So as Kim said the story is this. You know, we started with a graten 2020 where we were building a new middle school on the top of Fort Hill aligned to our Fitch High School right next door to Graasso and we envisioned this international
011balarat campus bringing in a middle years program which was from 6 to 8 and then 9 and 10. We added a careers program and we're a candidate for that where we could really have pathways to manufacturing and get our kids really ready for the industry and the the STEMlike courses, the steamike courses. So, we're very excited about that. We've received the MSAP grant which is a federal um grant for the two middle schools when they were with when there were two and now we've merged into one. So it's one graten middle school with a steam magnet concept and pathways that start in the middle school and all the way through the high school with a vision that even looking at the elementary school and really teaching our young children what are the jobs that are
012out there and how is their work as um readers and writers and mathematicians and scientists what are those kind of jobs that they can look at in their future. um you know it's always been important for um to maintain that effective class side and the board kind of gives us the parameters and the ranges for that each year we've had the teachers college Columbia University readers writers project and we continue that it's sustained the grant has ended but because of the enormous um talent and the professional learning that has gone on and the resources that we've purchased anybody new to the district gets trained and gets supported by all of that work. So, we sustain it. Um, we also have a more rigorous and relevant math um curriculum and instruction. And of course, next generation
013science standards kind of came in right at the same time. So, we've basically changed all our K through 12 curriculum in the last 12 in the last seven years. Um again, we're going to have five new um elementary magnet schools that the parents in this district of elementary children can stay in their kind of neighborhood zone schools or they can select from any of the four other magnet schools with different magnet themes. everything from environmental science, marine life science at the themes magnet, river magnet to um you know to creativity and ingenuity um in the um mystic river magnet to the discovery at Charles Barnum which is really based on Renzuli and Reese's work at Yukon on enrichment triad model and getting enrichment types of um programs into the curriculum. So, you know, that along
014with our NEA arts program and our CK steam program gives parents a lot of nice choices and kids a lot of nice choices to select from. We also want to make sure that we keep our curriculum and extracurricular programs. Um, we upgrade the technology and infrastructure to support the technology now that we have so much technology. Um, and then we have the one-on-one um, at both the middle school and high school. And literally, we have the same at the elementary school as well. We might even have more because we don't like them having to carry it back and forth in their backpack. So, um, we have a treehouse program that has, um, really stepped up to the plate this year with, um, COVID and trying to make sure that our students who don't have a
015place to go have a place to go on those, you know, off days on the hybrid model. and they have a wonderful summer program and then the before and after school program. And we continue to have the support of our school resource officers who sometimes on Wednesdays go with the administrators and social workers and knock on doors for kids who need to come to school or might have other needs that we need to support them. So it's a wonderful community effort and especially during this time when the kids need us the most. So this is kind of a broad brushstroke of our budget. Mike used to always say, you know, every school budget's built on these numbers from 100 to 800. And the 100 are the salaries. And the salaries are the drivers. The salaries
016and the benefits tend to be threearters of the budget. And I've got a piece of pie or a pie chart that I can show you. And we see this each year. Originally, when we first did the contractual step increases, we saw more like a 3.1 increase. You see a 2.0 increase, and that's because we were able to find some efficiencies due to the consolidation of our elementary schools going from six to five. um in the 200s where we're talking about the benefits, we're talking about what we would assume would be a 7% anticipated increase in claims, but it's offset with the by a reduction in the health insurance reserve. And we're going to talk to you a little bit about that in more detail later on. um you know our purchase services where we really
017have to get services outside what we can provide internally in the school. The property services where um we've noticed a lower experience like less shoveling of snow and um you know less rigid temperatures although this week wouldn't have shown us that but we have had some efficiencies there as well. 500s are, you know, a lot of different things. Their transportation insurance, um, you know, it's also the tuition cost for magnet schools and, um, we really are looking at that bus transportation, looking for efficiencies there. Um, and it we no longer are paid for four buses through the MSAP grant. So, we've had to sustain that. Um, and and that's difficult. and going to five magnet elementary schools. We're really taking a very close look and doing some real research in this budget to make sure
018that we can sustain with what we have. Um there's increased cost in software and um partially because of the remote learning. We received um many grants. We received a car's act one at the amount of approximately 680,000. We received a coid9 relief fund at about 1.2 2 million. We're anticipating and it's come out publicly that we're going to receive a little over $3 million in CAR's Act 2, but those funds are all the purpose of those funds are a response to COVID and a way to really secure that our kids are making gains in all kinds of ways despite COVID. And they are really specific to that. They're a supplement to a budget. They are never to supplant a budget. So we can't take operational costs and put it in those buckets. But we can
019offer summer programming, tutoring, social work, all kinds of needs that we might have to help support our students with their learning. And then we have supplies. And supplies, you know, our principles were getting in their site budgets um early this fall and we were looking at supplies across the district. And you know that's everything from pencil paper journals. We had toolkits that we sent home through a grant. So the kids would have toolkit in school and a toolkit at home and you know anything that they really needed to um provided whether they were total remote or hybrid. And then um there were some there is something in here about electrical costs for the new buildings may be additional just because of the way the buildings are built and they're larger and um and also because
020at the same time we've got to make a plan together on when the town takes over the old three old buildings that we're closing. So, you know, that's something we're going to be having future conversations about and how we're going to afford those costs. Um the the um 700s really it seems like, you know, when you look, wow, 52%, but when you see the dollar amount, it's a $47,000 increase in a $90,000 budget. And that's really the networking that has to be done in our district. A lot of networking has happened in the new schools and then the older buildings. We have to continue to upgrade them so that we can really use all of the technologies that we have for kids and they're using them more now than ever before. And then um you
021know last but not least when you look at the 800s there is some um fee cost related to the my careers programs and pathways. And again, you know, it's a $14,000 increase in a $74,000 budget, you know, based on a $74,000 budget. So, that's kind of a broad brushstroke of the budget, which comes in at 1.1 at this point. Um, and you know that again, thanks to my team in central office and thanks to Dr. G for getting us going with this. Um, we felt like this was a good place to start with our board. Um, this is that pie that I was talking about where threearters of the pie, a little more than that is salary and benefits and all those other categories that I just mentioned fill in the other quarter. So that
022really the salaries and benefits are the driver. We also looked at the history of our GPS budget and there were many years in the past 10 years that we've had 0%. There were some years I think when Mike first got here that we needed to you know increase to you know as far as 2% I think was the 2.17% was the highest we were able to bring it below zero at one point in 201617 but when you kind of take an average and this is just a rough average so it statistically is about 64% um of you annually if you averaged all those years. And another interesting thing I think we need to keep in mind is that the town has revenues that come into the district to help support education. And the biggest chunk
023of that is really our taxpayers. And when you see the town needs 48 million,460,520 or 61.2.9% 2.9% um is paid by our taxpayers. The other revenue sources that come in are the excess cost, the um state grants, impact aid, and we're going to talk about that at a later time to give you more information about impact aid that comes directly to the town. you have special education excess cost, Medicare, Medicaid, and so all of those, you know, all of those revenues that come in from these other sources, whether it's the federal government or the state, amount to 29,778,510, [Music] which gives us that over $78 million budget request, our 1.1 increase that we're looking at. So, Congressman Courtney came and I don't know if you saw it, it was on Facebook, too, but he came
024to share with us um the impact aid um corona virus relief act that really started from graten and ledger. So, we actually had someone in our business office who was recognizing she wasn't able to get the numbers. It's all based on how many military military connected um you know on federal propert people who worked on federal property lived on federal property were in Graten and Graten really hosts the largest amount and we really get the biggest impact aid check in Connecticut and it came from our business office an administrative assistant who said I'm just I'm reaching out to people and I'm just not getting the feedback. I'm not getting people to respond or to fill in the forms that are necessary. And so she brought it to Mike's attention and my attention and um we
025also talked to the superintendent and ledgered and he was finding the same thing. So this relief act was based on um the influence of COVID and not being able to get the actual numbers that we needed. And so it went through Congress, it went through Senate and um Whoops. and it was approved in December and um so we actually have a framed picture and I just have to figure out where to put it um but it was signed into law and it allows us to use um the student count information from last year for this year's funding and we know in the past several years we'll talk to you about the specifics of that but we've really we you typically get about $3.3 million from um this impact aid that goes directly to the town.
026Past couple years, they've given us checks that superseded that and also go to the town. So, while we might count on that 3.3 or 3.4 annually, we we really the town was able to benefit from that. So, it's something that we take really seriously, we feel that this is what our military children really um help to support the town and those people who serve in the military help to support because they don't pay taxes necessarily. you know, they might pay taxes in other states and other towns. And so this is the way that the federal government takes care of those, you know, towns like ours. So these were some of the major things. And I've got Ken Knight here um and was hoping that he could um assist me with going through several of these
027topics. Um looking at the health reserve account, I know that um everybody's very interested in looking at that. It's pretty healthy this year because people haven't been able to take their ordinary um you know procedures or because of COVID you know um so we we do see um some efficiencies there and um but we know that they will after COVID they will be back and they will take care of those things. So we have to be very careful in using a health reserve account. Ken, did you want to um say something more to that or do you have a slide that you'd like to show? Um I do have a slide but uh I think what you said is exactly right. Um um that there was a lot of postponement of procedures and doctor visits
028uh that we have to uh be careful with the reserve and not um not uh uh use up what would have been uh spent on those procedures. So I I think you got it exactly right. Um I have I have a slide with a whole bunch of numbers. Whether or not we want to go over that, I'll leave that up to you. And the other thing is too that all this presentation along with the um other slides to back it up, we can send out to everybody as well. Kim, what do you think? Do you think it's important to look at those numbers? [Music] >> I don't Hi. I'm looking at faces. I don't see anyone who wants to see them necessarily, but we once again um we can get them sent out or we
029can actually make sure that they're on the website so that people can have access to them unless there's unless there's unless someone wants to see it. Patrice, >> no, I think it would be better to have them so we could take a look at them and examine them up close and then come back to you with questions rather than I like the broad overview at this point. Thank you very much for asking. Well, and I think that one of the things we do come back to the town council and we will come back with more details to the RTM and that's something that we can certainly look at, but we have used some of those funds um to bring our 3.1 budget that was driven by those salaries down to 1.1. So, but we're just
030being cautious right now because we feel like we have to be very careful in taking too much of that. We want to be mindful of that. And then um Ken, would you like to speak to the workers comp or Lori and the projected retirements? Right now we know there are three. Um there may be others further down um the line, but now we know that there are three. And often times when well most of the time when you have a retirement and a teacher who's been you know um you know a well-trained teacher has been with us for many years and is making a top salary when they leave we tend to hire back teachers who are younger and and newer um you know in those areas that we can so that there's a cost
031savings or a cost efficiency with that. I guess the only thing I'd add, Susan, is on the workers compensation. That that's another self uh we're another self-insured plan just like the health uh health uh insurance uh uh uh self-insured plan that we share with the town. Uh this past year we have very good experience partially because people weren't in the schools for a part of the time. Uh but we've been uh tracking a little bit better. Uh so we will have a reduction in the workers compensation um reserve amount that we have to pay this uh coming year in FY22. And is there a slide for that as well, Ken? >> Uh, not for workers compensation. No. >> Okay. Well, we could address it if people have questions about it. >> Okay. >> Now, I
032talked to John Bert. We were able to meet this week and he was asking about the CIPs and the town has all of our CIP requests from last year. We had reviewed it a while back with the board. So, we'll be talking to them more about that. But he actually asked us to prioritize and Sam and Ken and Lori and I met and we really looked at the the existing buildings that would be needed to, you know, that we needed to take care of. For instance, Charles Barnum needs a new roof and we can only go so long without, you know, doing that. I know that the town also has a task force looking at um the fields and the needs um really prioritizing Fitch. So there was this interest in lighting on the middle
033school fields, the new middle school fields and looking at the field houses and really upgrading some of those facilities. So that was there. I know NEA um Sam has done a great job with his crew really trying to correct the um air quality issue and um has put up a report from Fuss and O'Neal on the website talking about that but has really come up with a a good system that kind of heats the air and dries it and then and circulates it and conditions the air. So, um, that for both NEA and CK that was a good solution, but we're really monitoring it carefully. So, there might be some excavation work. I don't know if you want to talk to that, Sam, but there's something that we need to do because, as you know,
034NEA is kind of built near wetlands, so it it gets a little swampy. So, there are some landscaping things that we can do to make that better. Anything else, Sam? Did I do that? Okay. >> Oh, you did terrific. Uh if I can just uh address the uh excavation at Northeast Academy. Um yes, it's true that um the Fussenor Neil report regarding the air quality at Northeast Academy, the humidity problem there. Um we were able to address that as Susan described earlier. Uh but there there also the grounds around the building extremely uh wet and at c many times of the year uh the playground is actually not accessible because of the of of the amount of water that's on those fields. So um and they also thought that some of the humidity may be
035coming up through the slab in that particular building. So, they've uh given us some recommendations regarding uh uh doing some French drains or curtain drains uh around that building. So, that's what uh our um it looks like um $215,000 uh that we've asked for for doing some of that excavation work um this this uh coming year. Uh in addition to that, of course, uh the money for Fitch High School um is for um redoing the uh regrading the football field, putting a crown back in the football field. And um the reason that's on it may be on hold is because uh if if this field committee is going to be doing something with that um the question will be for the town council RTM will be uh do we want to spend the $200,000 to
036do that to the field if in fact something else may be taking place fairly soon on that field. Uh the Charles Barnum roof is beyond its life expectancy. Uh we do repair it often. Um and so uh that is again a state reimburseable project. We'd get roughly 50% back on on that project and that's $900,000 project. And the last item again is uh kind of uh in limbo and that's the uh request for uh the lighting project. $825,000 for the lighting project at the Graten Middle School to do the artificial turf field and the uh softball field there. Uh and and again uh in that particular case um there uh we're going to be sending a letter to the uh permanent school building committee requesting that they take a look uh at the unexpended funds
037uh from the Graten Middle School and uh see whether they would be agreeable to uh using some of those funds uh or or at least recommending to the town council that some of those funds be used to to put the lights on those fields. Um, putting lights on those two fields would increase the use of those fields. Uh, you could have uh middle school uh programs immediately after school and then high school uh games could take place later in the evening uh in the fall as it gets darker earlier as we go on into the season. So, uh those are the four items that we have on the CIP list. >> Thank you, Sam. And that's something else that we can um get you that specific information that he was referring to. We have a
038slide for that too. Um the next thing I I had mentioned the impact aid funding. Was there a specific number that had come in recently that gets to go to the town or has already gone to the town? Ken, >> so uh yeah, just last week we received another um another wire from uh the department of education for impact aid. So current uh right now we're sitting at uh for FY21 we received 3 uh 3.941 uh million uh and so we had budgeted I think it was 3.2 between 3.2 and 3.3. So uh we've uh exceeded the the budget for this year and it's actually a very similar number to what we received last year and that makes sense because they're basing this year on last year's numbers. So um I think that's uh I
039think that's all we should expect for this year. Although the way impact aid works is they continue if there's still funding they'll continue to um to look back at at years that haven't been finalized and we could be getting additional funding on some of the years that haven't been um finalized. I think 19 and 20 are still open. Uh but at this time it's 3.9 million. And then there's um something we call Department of Defense supplemental impact aid account and um that is typically in a check that comes for about approximately $250,000 each year. And that has really been the source of our onetoone initiative and our growth in technology. And seven years ago, I'll never forget um talking about pitch high school students having onetoone computers and creating a tech plan that would support
040that. And it came with infrastructure. And you know, we were hearing loud and clear from our community that the um that the front end um projectors weren't necessarily working as well as they should. So, we had quite an extensive plan to upgrade all of our technology and we've been doing it yeartoear using those funds. So, um you know, I think it's been a really good cause. I mean, that's really monies because we have the large military community and that's um those are supplies and technology and equipment that go right into the hands of our kids. So, and then um the review of January public hearing, you've already heard it from Sam. You know, he talked about the air quality. That was one of the questions that we had gotten. So, that kind of rounds us
041up um to our board's mission of teaching and learning and providing dynamic um with goals of providing dynamic rigorous curriculum, ensuring effective engaging instruction, embracing excellent learning environments. Um and then a belief statement that we cultivate an environment of diversity, equity and inclusion in this town and in this city and in you know Graten public schools. So very proud to serve and would really love to get people's feedback. >> Can you stop sharing so we can see people's faces? >> I would love to. >> Thank you. That's for Rita. >> Thank you Rita for the reminder. So, we will be doing Susan um and Ken, is it safe to say that once it becomes the board's budget, we will have a more formal presentation that we'll give to the town council and then give to
042the RTM so that um you'll have what we have done so that you know sort of where we where we land. um that once again um I we I think it's just important that you kind of hear sort of where Susan and her staff are coming from and um where the and where the board um has done. Also, um Susan, not only have you, um designated the magnet elementary themes and which school is going to be which, but um my understanding is that staff has already begun or have almost completed, you know, which staff goes to where and the board has been able to kind of look at sort of where we've been able to make some some adjustments or some efficiencies around that. And we've already done that part of the budget. We haven't
043voted on it, but we've done that part of the budget, right? Um, and also just Susan, a clarification, you talked about that we're going to have to talk to the town um eventually about sort of once we get our elementary schools up, our new elementary schools up and running to go through the process of of passing the buildings over to the town um townside is that it really is going to be SB Butler and Cloudchester that um that the board voted >> I don't remember when, but we voted um that we are going to keep Mary Morrison um uh alive because it it seemed to have been um Sam, I think we're going to use your words, it had the best bones. >> Um and um we're going to we're thinking about using that in
044terms of a more a more permanent location for the robotics because as you know, we've had um some hard time finding a place for the robotics um to kind of land um on a more permanent basis. And then also um if in case we got a influx of people um and most likely it would be on the military end we have a school that we could then open up for that. So, so just just a clarification is that Mary Morrison will continue to be in the opaces of um of the board of ed um where we would be looking at the two other buildings SV Butler and Clchester as passing on to the town. I'm I'm sorry I'm going to continue to talk. Um, so just to let people know, um, that we are looking
045at another grant. Um, it it has not been sent and so we obviously don't know if we're going to get it or not or has it been sent but we don't know. Um, and that is to look to support um, and if Susan if you can kind of talk about that for a second that would be great. >> Actually, we um, wrote two different grants last year with the help of Shannon Wel who supports us. Um, one was a Department of Defense STEM grant and in the tune of $3 million. They actually have two, one is three million and one is 6 million. And we received a lot of great feedback, but they only selected 12 different grants and only one from a a district and it was a district in Florida with, you know,
04610 times as many kids as we have. So, um, but we because we got that good feedback, we decided to resubmit and Shannon has put in the white papers. We've worked with learn, we've worked with the manufacturing pipeline people, we've worked with our staff and really is going to be a partnership, a regionalized grant that will support our kids going through the manufacturing pipeline and the STEM fields to support their um, growth. And it is a grant that really is for middle school and high school with these pathways and you know supporting with counselors being able to share information so our kids really know what's happening in Grten. I don't know that they always know all that is available to them and it's really important to me that families and kids know that what we
047have to offer so that they can plan for that. So um that white paper was sent in and we're waiting anxiously to hear. I'm feeling very hopeful, but you just never know with these things. And then the other is a DODIA STEM. And as you know, we've had a literacy, we've had a math, we've had another STEM um DODIA. So, this would be um a DODIA STEM. And it also looks at um it had a health and a nutrition kind of slant. You got 10 extra points for that. So, looking at our nursing pro program that certifies kids, not that many kids can can be part of that. So, we really want to enhance that and grow that program. And um you know, one of the the things in the first grant I spoke about
048was NOTC. And I've had students come to me and create surveys and through that survey found out we have at least twothirds of our kids who have spoken to be curious about having an ROC, you know, a naval ROC program. So, that first grant would help support that initiative as well. So very excited to hear more about this and I will keep everybody posted. So that's so that's where we are. We've been kind of busy. Um you know a little bit um also on our website um Susan staff has done a phenomenal job at doing frequently asked questions around um COVID stuff and so feel free to kind of do that. the board um both at our meetings and then also by in writing. People have been asking a lot about stuff that that that
049that's on our website. Um um but um and >> also can I add this? Can we've also posted our cohorts and um so there is a little bit of out of balance where a cohort hasn't been in person as often. So we are working on a plan to kind of adjust that and we're looking you know in our future to really grow our cohorts so that gradually you know we'll get everybody back in full. So, that is something we're working hard on and um we kind of took a tumble because um of the escalating numbers that happened in our area after the holidays and put us in kind of remote only, but um you know, we're we're really hoping to get back and get everyone back. And I know with the um promise of a
050vaccine and teachers being the next in line, hopefully um that's going to really help get our kids back to school in full full-time. So that's our mission. So I don't I I didn't want Susan and I to actually any of the board members feel free to kind of interrupt me and talk, but um so that's sort of where we're at. And and I don't know if this has generated questions or um does this help you when you think about what we're looking at. I mean, right now you see that the superintendent's budget is 1.1. Um we haven't voted on ours on it yet. Um but she's coming in at 1.1, which I think is um you know what I always am cautious about is the fact is that she and her staff have already done
051the lowhanging fruit. And so for us to sort of move to a smaller number, um it means that we are going to do some stuff. But as you can see, the district has um really been trying very hard to make sure that we're meeting the needs of student and looking at grants and looking at ways um at supporting an educational format. So I I will love to hear about what the other bodies are thinking about. Um I had just a quick question. Um the CIPs you mentioned four are those your top four the priority CIPs or are you going to go further into those four and pick one or two? >> Well I guess um we can prioritize even the priorities. So um you know we can certainly kind of rate them and we've kind
052of done that in our own mind as well. Um I think that roof is pretty important but if we had to wait a year we'd have to wait a year. um you know um and then certainly the town is I think very interested in getting our fields I think those lights on the field um are really going to give our kids more playtime and um I think you know we have this beautiful field we'd love to use it and I think that task force probably would support that you know >> I I also think that the the the board needs to kind of go back to the CIP that was a long time ago and we've done a couple of things since then and so I think that the board needs to kind of take
053a look at that as well along with the staff and I and I put it in our budget um uh calendar to kind of look at our CIP. >> We can do that certainly. >> Thank you. >> Um I see councelor Melendos has his hand up. >> Yay. >> Thank you. Yes. I I just have a clarifying question on the 200 account savings. is that you are using um like some fund balance that you had saved up from the past in order to achieve that. Is that what that is? >> Yes, it's the health reserve and so we've used a portion of the health reserve to help support bringing that budget down from 3.1 to 1.1. Um, but I was just saying this year it seemed to be um having extra funds in it, but
054I know that the caution is that it's because people haven't been able to to use those um you know that health savings account in the same way with COVID. So, we know that in the future they will. So, we have to just be cautious about using those funds. I don't know if Ken or Lori if you'd like to add to that. You guys are much more astute with that health savings account. I I think um you said it uh um well >> Lori's always our caution too. So Lori's always saying, you know, we have to do this with great care. >> Yeah. So we we anticipate an increase that will come at a later point when people are able to resume their procedures which many have put on hold during during the COVID period. So
055while it's been lower experience than what we had anticipated, we anticipate that that will come back at a larger scale in a future year, if not next year, the year after, or both. Um, so that's where we're trying to be extra cautious. While we've looked at using some of that excess this year, um, that is money that we will have to fund back at some point in order to shore up um, future claims. >> Okay. And and just one follow-up question. In your opinion, do you feel like the reserves is is in a healthy spot? Do you feel like you're historically low, historically high? >> I would say that it looks pretty, you know, really pretty healthy at this point. Otherwise, we wouldn't have even taken what we what we took. But Ken, did you
056want to add to that? >> Yeah, I I agree. It's it's um it's um the the the reserve if you I looked at the history and it kind of goes up and down. Uh I think we're at a we're at a higher uh spot than we would typically see it. Uh and so that that's part of why we're doing what we're doing. >> Thank you. >> I see another hand raised. >> Right. I didn't know if we were taking turns or do you want all counselors to go first then we'll go to >> I to be honest with you um I'm never that structured. Um but but but I know surprise um but um I you know I feel I feel really comfortable with um with the three bodies working together and so as questions
057come I would be more than happy to have them um get answered. >> Great. Councelor Bordlon, >> thank you. Um, first I just wanted to thank you for um, getting together tonight and definitely um, Mrs. Austin, I'm really excited to have you on board and excited to hear the words ROC that I've come many times speaking about that. >> Yeah, >> growing up here and my children being also military dependents um, the need for that and so I think it's the right time and the right town for it. So that is very welcomed and I'm excited and I'd love to be part of the process. >> Good. As >> far as your health savings fund, I I appreciate your caution with that fund working in the medical field and looking at the numbers. Our numbers
058are down because you guys have the money. So um colonoscopies, endoscopies and procedures are not happening. Preventative care um as we remember the state shut down and not doing those and now we're back up and running and it's been slow. Um but it's starting to increase due to the fact that people are getting their second shots and what have you. So um we're seeing the decrease because companies are holding um because people haven't had them. So that that is going to come up. Um so I definitely agree. You definitely want to air on the side of caution with that and um act later. So I I can appreciate that. >> Um as far as the title one funding, where where do we stand as far as those numbers? And if you don't have them tonight,
059um I was just curious. Um and a caveat to that was Westside was identified as a title one school at one point. How do we fare as um our new middle school? Are we still considered a title one at this rate or with the consolidation of one and which is one of the beautiful things that I um am excited to see in this town after you know living through the separation of three different middle schools and the merge to the high school. Um it's nice to have all the economic um differences, inequalities all in one building. So I'm just curious, where do we stand on title one funds um that are coming in? Um >> so title one funds typically are about a million dollars, sometimes a little less, sometimes a little more. And the
060three schools that are identified as title one schools are the Grant Middle School, Katherine Kolowski, and Claude Chester. But I always portion out um a good chunk of that for all of our other schools because we have children in need across the district. So while those three schools might get some um extra funds, I want to make sure that all of our schools have the opportunity to have um you know that additional title one funding. So we've done that for a number of years since I've been here. And um there's also a title two that really thinks about our or focuses on professional learning and especially in the area of social emotional learning. And we've had a Dr. Mari Writington who ran Hope Academy and she is amazing. She came to us when we were
061first restructuring our academy programs and she's worked with them closely. Um, and she's also reached out so that we have a a QBI quality behavioral response program in all our buildings. So, with her consulting, I feel like we're in a much better place today and we continue that. And title three is for our EL students specifically. Um and we receive additional funds in title 4 which has brought us um additional social work and in central office where we have our kind of alternative apex program. We've gotten some um arts and culinary and farm to school. So we've been able to really add some things that would really engage kids. Um but we we watched that and actually the car's act was based on the title one funding. the first car's act at 680,000 approximately and
062the second car's act which was reported in the paper to be 9 million but we haven't found that we think it's three million but I was hoping Ken would find that when he called the state >> and my last piece to that was um with that it's really great that we've had um free lunch for all >> yes >> and um one of the other things I've been very passionate bit been about you know with the ROC program I think rotten we could and we we should consider consider making um lunch and and food available to all students in this town um postcoid if possible. I know at one time you guys looked at the numbers and at that time you guys did not vote to fund it um several years ago and um uh
063well I see Lee shaking her head. I might be saying it wrong. I don't have my notes in front of me but whatever it was the number came before us and at the time it didn't move. We we did have it for certain areas and not for all. And but if we could consider looking at that and uh really um consider a way to continue to offer free lunch to all of our students in Grten. I know some of our neighboring towns have it and the need postcoid, you know, is is going to be just as great. And so I that's one thing I'd love to see continue to go forward. Um but with that what I want to thank you for all your hard work. Um and you know there is it's definitely tough
064to be a working parent with children home that are homeschooling. So um the devices um you know Ian and I both are working and we both have two kids attending and um I know the parents concerns from the financial aspect of making sure the kids have a good education. Friends have said you know uh well I have younger kids and I have to find a babysitter and I said I have teenagers who I feel you know need even more direction because they're not getting on to you know the things. So, I appreciate the work that you guys have put in and any more efforts um in collaboration to support working families that are not home and not able to um that are frontline workers that aren't able to um quarantine during this time um are
065needing the support um and help on how to navigate through this. Um, so any funding that you guys can get to support those families that aren't home during working and school hours, um, there is a greater need, let it be some online tutorials or other things because parents, I I think are finding they need the support and how to navigate the schooling. Um, before the the par the kids the parents sent the kids to school, the teachers did that and now the parents are having to work through um, this this curriculum. Um, and so I look at the income disparities and think of the families who English is not their first language or there's education um, you know, or income gaps where families aren't achieving and they're struggling. So, I appreciate all your help and
066and any funding in that area. Then we look to really grow those cohorts and to provide the additional tutoring and not wait till summer school, but we will have summer school, but we really wanted um make sure that we have credit recovery for kids who might have failed a course because they were disconnected or just needed more time or whatever. So, um we are absolutely looking at that and planning for that kind of in the immediate future. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I see Simma. >> Yeah, thank you. I can't figure out how to make a little yellow hand raise up or any kind of hand um for that matter. I just had a quick question uh which is about the GR the um the field lighting project which I think
067you had suggested might be in the $800,000 range. I didn't get the actual number but um I was wondering if that was going to be LED if you've had conversations with rotten utilities if there's any um opportunity to perhaps um have some cost sharing with the utility on that. I'll refer to Sam on that one. >> Yeah, we we haven't talked to Graten Utilities yet about that and uh we just uh our our estimate is based on uh a another school system within the state that had just done a similar project. But uh yes, we will use as energyefficient uh lighting as we possibly can if we're allowed to do it. Yes. Councelor Bumgardner has his hand up if there's no one else. >> Uh thank you, Madame Mayor and thank you so much uh
068Superintendent Austin for your uh in-depth presentation. Um I uh I know uh today is obviously your first um budget meeting and I just want to congratulate you on um your efforts. You're doing work um considering you're um taking the helm at a time when um we're kneedeep in in the pandemic. So thank you for your leadership and your uh as well as your outstanding uh support team as well. >> Yes, it is teamwork, isn't it? >> Absolutely. Teamwork makes the dream work as they call it. >> That's right. That's right. >> Um but I I do have several questions um with respect to kind of how Grten Public Schools is navigating the pandemic. Um obviously, you know, the pandemic did expose that there are significant inequities in our community. Um far too many students within
069our school districts um in our school district did not have access to high-speed internet, in some cases didn't even have a computer. Um, and I I know you uh and the board of education uh prioritized that uh early on on the onset of the pandemic to ensure that every student uh was equipped with a computer. So again, thank you for that. Um my question is obviously uh each school year uh new kids come into the school. Um and so uh does the school district um have the um resources and tools in place to ensure that in the case a new student comes into um a you know into our community that may not have the financial resources to acquire a computer or have internet that they have again have those tools to fully participate in
070the remote learning. Well, I think what you're referring to um is really the sustainability of what we've been able to do. You know, out of this um pandemic has come this silver lining of, you know, making sure that we had the best equipment, the best curriculum, the best instruction um during these times. And it's it doesn't look like the face-toface education that we've always known and loved. It's slightly different. But we want to take those things that we've learned that have really engaged kids and continue to do them. So the sustainability plan, I think because we have that DoD supplemental fund that we always know that we can really go back to that. So we typically use that for the nth graders coming in to, you know, have them take that Chromebook all the way
071through to their 12th grade year. um the hotspots were really valuable and I've seen some of the work you've talked about doing where maybe even neighborhoods can have more internet access um which would be terrific. The hotspots did um work, you know, but I think that I think every family if you have more than two, three, four people working on an internet, there are times when people freeze up and it can be frustrating for kids, it can be frustrating for teachers. So you know it's not a perfect science the whole thing. So um but I I do think we have to keep that in mind and we have to sustain the state provided us with over a thousand Dell computers at the high school and um we've used those um our freshman class got those
072computers this year because the Chromebooks were taking so long to get from overseas. Um, so I think we have to keep revising our tech plan and finding funds and like this year in operations, we're really looking at the network. So that was a one of the the big buckets that we focused on and that was the equipment cost that I kind of reviewed with you. So each year you kind of look at what you have and and where are the needs and in a five-year plan, you know, not just yeartoear, but in a fiveyear spread plan. So, thank you for that question. >> Oh, abs, absolutely. And thank you for your answer. Um, and on on that note, I know there are four uh CI four CIPs uh that the board of education will be
073requesting. Are there uh any that are not included in kind of this year's ask that um you know you that uh you may would you know obviously there's wants versus needs but um and I I think in some years even you know the board of education has um put in requests for needs that have not necessarily been funded. So um you know my my question is if you were to um make any amendments to your kind of your CIP asks are there any on this side of um you know technology and um you know software that could uh help close that gap um that you you've been discussing. Well, I think um that gap has really been supported by the state with this CARES Act and the COVID relief fund and they've really supported our
074work and and the software that we've been able to provide for our students. But I would have to say that, you know, Graten is in a really good place that Graten 2020, we have this brand new middle school on the hill, international baloria campus. We have these two new magnet schools coming up, you know, on the west side and on the Cutler side, but they're themes river magnet and the Mystic River. And so that really just leaves our Charles Barnum as one of the older schools built in the 60s. It was a blue ribbon school, you know, we're really proud of it. Um, but and then we have the Katherryn Kowski and the Northeast Academy that were just built, you know, a decade ago. So, I feel like we're in a really good place and
075the work that was done on Fitch High School that um those CIPs often are for really um buildings that have you know are older and need to have roofs and you know and new heating equipment or ventilation. So, I feel like we're in a pretty good spot and we'll monitor the ventilation and the air quality in both CK and Northeast. And if we needed something more, we would absolutely come back. >> Whoops. >> Last question. It it's partially budget related. Um had a lot of conversations with families and Brford Manor and Grton states who have inquired about um the placement of um you know, elementary school children for next year. Uh and many were wondering if it would be possible that um uh they would uh attend the new uh elementary school that was being
076built uh especially considering the close walking distance. So I wasn't sure where the board of education was at with um that plan, but um if uh you had any information on that. I know there there are some families who have been asking. So, we've really mapped out with the help of Malone and Mcroom um kind of a map that our an interactive map that is on the website so families can see where their designated area school. We said neighborhood, but the neighborhoods have gotten gotten bigger because we have fewer schools, but there are some hashtag areas that are those some of those walkers that can start coming to the new elementary schools if they so desire. Um there's also that lottery process. So that's a great opportunity that they can, you know, sign up for
077the lottery. And at this point, we need 604 students in each of the schools. So there's room in those schools for kids to come back um from magnet schools over the the bridge and come back to their, you know, schools in their side of town or whatever. So, you know, we do have room in that magnet process for kids who are walkers and want to go to one of those new schools and through the lottery process. Susan, to that question, um who should um any one of us um direct in the district about questions about walking or magnet schools if they're confused? Is there a person that be designated as as a >> I would start with the registar because in the registars's office they have that information but if the registar can't answer it
078she will find someone else who has more in-depth knowledge. >> Okay, that's great information I think for all to have. Thank you. >> No further questions. Thank you again. >> Thank you. >> Would you like me to recognize Representative Whitney? >> That'd be great. Hi, Mike. Hi, Mike. >> Right. Thank you. Thank you for the uh presentation. It's very informative as are the responses and the questions themselves. Uh I just had a a request. It doesn't need to be answered right now, but I think it'd be a good idea uh va be the care act to have cares act to have a companion narrative to the that goes with the budget that describes what the car's act uh has been used for this year. um what funds might be um I my guess is it
079all has to be applied to this current budget year, not the one we're we're budgeting for, but it does probably have implications in terms of equipment purchased or other decisions made for the current the the coming budget year. I just think, you know, much like you do with the DoD um grants where it's broken down what this is used for, right? How it's spent and and the amounts, I think that'll be very helpful with the CARES Act. um both of them uh because I think a lot of questions in the RTM are going to come up surrounding that and probably the town council too. That's a request need to answer it now. But that's >> what that it's all done. >> It's already done because that's because that's what we have um asked the whole
080time is is that if we're getting money from the CARES Act, how is it being spent? So, absolutely that can be done. >> Do you have slides on that? And actually, when you receive this slideshow, because we had used parts of this for the public hearing, there are slides in here that talk specifically to the CARES Act and to all of the different grants and what they were used for. I I think with any grants, the the thing that we have to keep in mind is thou shalt not supplant. So you really, you know, you really have to earmark those funds for supplemental funds that and in our case this year with that were really directly COVID related or based on this remote learning and accelerated learning. So providing extra supports for our students. So
081um but I think you'll see in the slideshow that those are really spelled out and I can certainly share that with um the group when I come back to the town council and the RTM. >> Thank you. We have another counselor with a question. Councelor Franco. >> Hi, thank you and uh welcome to the position. >> Um so uh I love the presentation and I just had to question at the end of it there were some pictures of like students in the classroom. Is that from the new middle school photos? >> Yes. Yes. >> Very state-of-the-art. I haven't been able to tour it, but it looks >> I want everybody to be able to tour it. It is like magnificent. >> It looks gorgeous and state art and it looks like a photo out of
082a magazine. I mean, >> I know. >> I'm very excited that our kids are learning in such an atmosphere. >> Um, so, uh, I'm one that sort of needs to see all the numbers in writing and we'll dig through it and make my notes and and then come back with questions. So, that's probably where I will be. I I'll come back to you later and maybe if I need to send um >> and we'll provide those budget books, you know, once this becomes the board of eds budget and we fine-tune those numbers to get them where we want them to be um that will go out and people will be able to scrutinize it and you know the board is doing that now and they're providing me a lot of insight and asking for some
083data and you know that's how we we make progress and we fine-tune and we make it even better. So, >> right. So, I'm gonna I'm just going to wait on that part for the budget to ask a lot of budget questions. I do have a CIP question and it might be for Mr. Kilpatrick. Um, I know that there has been still some asbestous that has to be removed from the high school. Um, has that been what's going on with that and possibly funding on that? >> Yeah. uh that project uh uh the funding for that was approved uh uh not last year but the year before that I believe and then we uh put both of those we had two separate numbers for the high school because we were originally going to do it in
084two years which uh makes it difficult to to run programs at high school. So we wanted to put it all in one year. So uh you were kind enough to uh approve the $518,000 to do it all in one year. So, uh, as a matter of fact, Ken and I, um, uh, Ken doing most of the, uh, most of the work, um, submitting this to the state. We were just, uh, submitting it as of the, uh, the second yesterday, we started to submit that. I had a conversation with our architect again today. He had a form that he needed to fill out, and I believe there was one more form that Ken and I needed to fill out to complete the package. So, that's in. Uh if that's approved by the state, we will put
085it out to bid and plan on doing that project this summer. >> And we have the new Bron Middle School that can host our summer program too and other things that we need. So to have both of those buildings, you know, um in limbo last summer would have never worked. You know, trying to get the middle school up and then have the high school shut down. So there's just too much that happens in the summer. So we're glad we're going to be able to do it this summer. >> Right. So when you're doing an asbestous project, you're not allowed to have anybody uh 18 and under in the building. So um our guidance department, those administration would have to move over to the middle school or or to the central office if it weren't this
086if we didn't have that building. They'll have to move over there so that the kids will be able to come in and do their uh uh summertime uh work. >> Okay. And then that's it for the asbestous up there. We're all good for now. that that that will take care of all of the areas with that have been identified with that asbestous containing uh floor tiles. Yes. >> Okay. >> There may still be some in walls in plumbing, things like that, but nothing within an area that a student or a staff member would be uh would be in. >> Okay. Um I also hope that with all our new schools as you had said um that many of the students will come back to Graten >> and um use these lovely schools and I'm glad
087you're you're applying for grants and I think that's wonderful. Um and uh I I do just want to throw this out there because we are talking budget and that's the purpose of our meeting, right? um our memory from uh our budget year last year when we had this conversation was um I we approved an increase in the budget and this is from my viewpoint um but we were told um and actually we had said or at least I had said that for next year um there wouldn't be an increase and it was agreed upon that if we gave an increase last year that this year that there wasn't going to be an increase. So that's just sort of a memory in my mind at the moment because of the middle school and all the cost
088savings that we would have. I do see some of the numbers you're sent you're showing and the board of ed's going to get it. So I'll still wait and but that's just I just wanted to reiterate a memory that I had. But on a final note, I just wanted to um state that this is the last year u my youngest will be in a f uh a Grant public school student. He's at Fitch and a senior and >> he's 100% virtual and it's the craziest year ever. >> Um, >> what I will say, I know some parents are having a very difficult time. >> I can only speak for myself and my child who is um very social I would say and is doing really well. So, because he doesn't have so many distractions right
089now. So, he's he's doing very well and I know the teachers are giving everything that they have to help everybody that's doing the 100% virtual and and I couldn't thank all the teachers enough for everything that they're doing. And I know it's hard to juggle both in, you know, the kids in school and the kids that are outside of school and um at least for my son, I can speak and say I'm delighted how they've handled this year. So, thank you very much. Our kids are certainly very resilient and our families have certainly supported them, you know, in all kinds of ways. So, we're appreciative, too. All right. Thank you. I don't know if there are any other RTM members. If not, um, Council Melendez wanted to speak. I >> I don't see any other
090RTM members at this point. >> Thank you, Councelor Melendez. >> Thank you. Yeah, I I remember um what councelor Franco was saying about we were it was it was a it was an increase um came uh when the budget came to us, but didn't we vote it flat in the end? Um uh we we cut it to where it was the previous year. >> Yes, that's true. Okay, >> that's true. Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. Was it wasn't the slide that was just up showing the increase for last year? >> Um I think the slide um I'd have to look at it again, but I thought it was zero the the last year or for FY >> flat. We've been flat. >> Zero. >> Maybe the previous year I'm thinking of. >> Yes. >> Zero.
091Well, Rachel, >> the chart is on there and I'll make sure you get the chart so you can kind of look at it. >> I get it. In the pandemic, everything is kind of blending together. So, I get that. But we but we've been pretty flat. >> Sort of is. >> I'm thinking of the previous year when we sat at the annex. That's what I can remember. I'm sorry. I I >> Thank you. Anyone else? I don't see any hands raised. Oh, there's one. Porsche. >> Yeah, I just have one more question. I know you spoke about the nursing program. >> I I I too had benefited from that program. Um, and it's a phenomenal program and it was a limited number of students. So, I am excited to see that you're going to fund
092and support that and expand that. with that. Um I know >> you were part of the meeting in the city and I I've often spoken about like having um you know some more readiness skills jobs for students who do not plan to attend college um or not are collegebound and they know that now um and that partnership with EB and getting them into some um apprentice type works like some of these seniors even now that are off have an offblock um you know could start to you know start to um look at some of these programs. And so any partnerships that we can do to really um fund and get, you know, these these students that may take a gap year or two, but are job ready and um have that readiness. They might not
093want to be a nurse, but something um in welding or or um manufacturing down there. I know they're short staff and in need. And so I just think that we could, you know, we could offer. And I, like I said, I did benefit from the nursing program and still in the medical field. and it was a great um you know great program for me to go through. So um >> well and it can only host so many because of the internship. So thinking down the road of really expanding that so that more um young people can get that certification because then they can actually do something with it even right after they take that course and are are complete. So um we are looking at partnerships and all these grants they really require the partnerships.
094So, we've talked to quite a few partners. Um, there's a few naval labs and the Thes River um project and we're coordinating with learn as our support person um our support because it's kind of an area that will provide for other risk um districts that host military students. So, we're excited about it. >> Thank you, Susan. I'm not seeing any other counselor's hands. U I I just would like to ask Susan to explain how we how it's determined whether or not a school um receives free lunches. Right now, everybody is receiving free lunches. I think throughout the whole country, but um h how is it determined? It's not it has nothing to do with a board vote. No, no, you really, we have to really fill out this application and it's the number of free
095and reduced lunch in a building. So, it has to be um and Sam, you might recall this. I think it was like 65% would be free and reduced. I know Claude was one of the first schools and Katherryn Konowski and Westside and they happen to be our title one schools too. So, it's kind of a similar formula that we use for title one. Um, but you know, I know that Ernie Kosher, who really runs the inter enterprise program for our school nutrition program, he really keeps himself a breast of the the laws and the funding sources. And our goal really is to continue down the road with, you know, that full um, you know, nutrition program for all. But it does it is an application and it is about the numbers and counting the numbers.
096So this year was wonderful because we you know families didn't have to fill out the forms. We were able to because of COVID have this program for all of our kids and he also does it as you know in the summertime. So we don't want our kids hungry. Our kids need the nutrition. That's how they you know that's a fundamental basic need. So >> Lee, >> um I I wanted to let you know that a couple of years ago when Katrina and I were very very much interested in getting free lunch breakfast for all our kids, um Patrice had worked very hard for Grat Graasso to do that and I learned a lot from that. Um and we are on that all the time. We do want that for all our kids. If I may
097just comment to that because that was a thing that I had brought up. What I was referring to is one of the meetings I went to and I remember them saying they're waiting on the numbers and the numbers had come back in Westside and the schools that were identified were the ones that um qualified at the time and then there was talk about what about the other schools that didn't meet those numbers in other districts. you can choose to as a board possibly to look and get a grant outside of that program or to choose to fund that program for the whole district. And that's what I was asking. Is there a way outside of that program that we could choose to fund it for the whole district or is there another grant we could
098go for? >> I think I think that's actually a really good question and I think you know what I agree I I remember that meeting and I can't remember sort of the details around sort of the monies. I think money was a big huge issue and you know and I and and one of the things that I want to make sure that we all understand is that the board has worked really hard at making sure that we give our students the best that we can and we are and they've worked really hard on getting grants. In fact, the board um we over this past year approved a data a data um person so that we could really get the information really quickly so that when we apply for grants, apply for programs, we have the
099information really quickly and we can do that. Um at some point if we all want all those things, people are going to have to understand that our budget might have to increase in order to be able to meet that need. But Porsche, I think we need to get that information about the um free reduced lunch and what does that mean so at least you know how we got to that information and I'll we'll I'll make sure that Susan and her staff get to that >> details. Sure. >> So currently in this budget though it's not included to fully fund it outside of the >> That's correct. >> Okay. Thank you. >> That's correct. Listen folks, thank you. >> I really just appreciate the fact that people are invested um in all that we do in
100the community. Actually, I wish I I wish people would realize about how many people are willing to kind of sit around the Zoom um >> all day long >> and think about our district. Um and thank you once again for partnering with the the board. We look forward we look forward to all the budget meetings that we're going to have with you. Um and also um I'm just really excited about the story to um to continue to tell you as we um put online two new brand new tech um savvy um elementary schools. Um and that's really because we all shared the vision of what 2020 um is and we all should be very proud of that. Um, if there's no further comments, I think that I would love to say this is not quite
101the Harry Watson meeting because it's it's an hour and a half. Um, but, uh, I am going to say that I think that a job well done. Um, and if you guys have any more questions that you think could be helped, Rachel, once again, I know that you like to have the numbers in front of you and do, but if you say, "Hey, could someone kind of give me information about that?" um that would be really helpful for the board that so that um our staff can be prepared um when we do meet with you um once once it becomes our budget. But once again, you guys, thank you. Thank you for partnering with us. Um and I really appreciate the collaborative approach. Thank you. >> I will still I will make sure that you
102all receive the slideshow and the backup data. So at least to have that to start with. >> Thank you. >> And and I promise to work better. I can't promise perfection. I'll work better on making sure that the meeting notices get out right and um we get them out on time. So um Lauren, I know that you had a finance committee meeting for the RTM and so I'm glad that you were here just for even for a second and I'm sorry that um my lack of communication to the rest of the bodies um didn't happen. So thank you for showing once again guys. Thank you very much. >> Thank you for inviting us. >> Is there a motion to adjourn? Town Council >> motion to adjurnn. >> Uh motion to adjurnn. Board of Ed motion
103to adjurnn. Say good night, Gracie. >> Second. Any counselors? >> All those in favor? >> I opposed. Any extension? So moved. We're adjourned at 7:53. You have the floor. Moderator Urban. Go for it. Oh, you didn't have >> We never convened a meeting because we didn't have a quorum and we still don't. So, okay. Um so, board of ed. Uh, all those in favor, please say I. All right, I got it. Good night, guys. >> Good night. >> Thank you again, Susan and Kim. We appreciate the invitation. >> We do. Appreciate it. >> Thanks, Mark.