2-22-21 Groton Board of Education Meeting

001One, two, three, four. M. >> All nine. >> That sounded like Mr. Russell. All right. If we're all here. >> Susan, are you ready? >> I'm ready to go. >> Miss Joan, are you ready? >> Yes, I am. >> All right, then. Let's get rolling. So, um, I would like to call the Graten Board of Education's regular meeting to order. It is Monday, February 22nd, and at 6:03. Um, and our first order of business is the Pledge of Allegiance. And Rick, since you are I just spotted your beautiful face, um, if you would be willing to lead us in the pledge, I would be so honored for you to do that. You might have to unmute though. >> And Mark, we might need a flag. >> Okay. Okay. I pledge allegiance >> to the flag

002of America >> and to the stand indivisible with liberty andice for all. Thank you, Rick. >> It was interesting. There's many delays. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> My favorite is when people try to sing. >> Yeah. I always I always thought >> I found that that was very interesting when it's not well choreographed. Um All right. And so, uh Miss Susan, do we have um do we have any uh uh any recognition of any any people No, I don't think so. We not for tonight. >> Okay. All right. And so, um, I'm going to move us on to comments from citizens. Um, and, uh, Miss Joan, did you receive anyone who wanted to comment? >> No, I did not. >> Okay. Um, all right. So, I I Yeah, I see you. Just one second.

003Um, all right. So, I think what I'm going to have people do, um, Mr. Frickman, I will absolutely recognize you. It's good to see you. I'm glad that you're here. Um, and, um, if there's someone else who wants to chat, if you could just kind of throw that into the chat box. Um, and then between Joan and I, we're going to try to recognize you if that's possible. Um, but Mr. Frickman, >> thank you. Um, first, uh, Tom Frickman. I live at 61 Warren Avenue, Mystic. Um I'm also on the RTM education committee and I am a teacher myself. Um first I want to say uh thank you to the board uh and all the educational members here and I really want to uh thank all the teachers for all their efforts and hard works

004this year. I understand everything they're going through as a teacher myself. Uh so uh today I speak again out of concern for the children's learning time and the request a review of the calendar and schedules educational days. Um especially my focus uh is on the Wednesdays. Um Wednesday should include instructional time for all students. At the middle school the students get 30 minutes of advisory and then can choose to attend office hours later in the day if they need extra help. For students who do not need extra help there's a zero instruction happening on Wednesdays. So, I'm I'm really unclear on how that can be counted as a school day in the eyes of the state. Um, and as a teacher myself, we we I actually teach 30 minutes um a class um on Wednesdays

005and I meet with my kids firsthand. We have instruction on those days. Um so, also I want to add the weeks with holidays. Um we use Wednesdays as inperson learning days. Last week there were two holidays, one half day and Friday was cancelled. Wednesday was the only day without a storm and our school remained closed again. Um, I would appreciate uh hopefully you guys will discuss this openly tonight uh to clarify Wednesday instruction as I know this has been asked several times. Um, and really I haven't had many uh clear answers on what we can do to increase instruction for our kids on Wednesdays. Uh, thank you very much for your time and that's it. >> Thank you. Um what I realized that I was so excited about starting the comment section I forgot to

006read sort of the very beginning and just for clarification I think I am going to go back and do that if you um will so allow me to do that folks um that this is the area of the comments section um and this is the portion of the agenda where the board welcomes comments from citizens. Um each presentation should be limited to 5 minutes or less and citizens should if possible submit written comments. presentation should be related to matters pertinent um to graten and board members will only ask questions in order to clarify the speaker's presentation and cannot respond during the comments section um comments of citizen portion of the board meeting and citizens should state their names and addresses um for the record which Mr. Frickman did. Um, do we have do we have

007anyone else that's on currently on the Zoom meeting that has an interest to speak to the board? So, I do I have um I do have one. Um, it was sent to me. Um, he was not able to make it and he asked that I read it for him. Does the board have an issue about that? >> No. >> Okay. So this is um for Miss um for Mr. Vincent Yoli. If I pronounce your name wrong um I am incredibly sorry. Um and it says I've been trying to attend uh regularly attend recent board meetings but unfortunately I'm unable to be present this evening. I would like to share a few of my concerns. And while I understand you have been in uncharted waters the last year, I am as I am sure you are

008extremely concerned about our children and not only their education but their mental health. I have a fourth grader who has the advantage of having both parents at home with him during this online learning days. I can't imagine what it must be like for families that don't that does not have that support. We must get our kids back in school and if it can't happen soon enough especially at the elementary level. All the students I've I've seen have stated this that trans transmission especially in the uh elementary level is very low. These are the most impactful years of child education and I feel that Groten is just not doing enough to get these kids back to school full-time. If you feel that you are then we are not hearing about it and we need to know

009more about what your plan looks like. It seems everyone around us has a plan to or is going full-time. Ledger North Stonington and other districts along the 95 quarter are full-time. GBS needs to provide that option for parents um who want their kids full-time and an option for those who don't. To get these kids back in school, why aren't we testing students, administration, educators once a week at a minimum? Is that an option? What can we do as parents to keep the help keep this moving? Um thank you for your consideration. I hope to hear more about GPS's educational plans to meet our children's academic and emotional well-being in the immediate future. Um, and very truly yours, Vince. Um, so that was from him. I don't know where he lives, so I cannot give you

010the address and I apologize about that. >> Tim, I had a question I couldn't hear. You read you read it very quickly and there was one sentence in there um that I didn't catch at all. Um, I think it was about testing. >> Uh, yes. Um, about um, COVID testing. >> Oh, COVID testing. I didn't know if he meant testing children where they are now. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And Miss Joan, I'll be more than happy to forward um the comment that I read. >> Are there any other comments? Hearing none, I'm going to move us on to comments from the comments that we've received. um response to comments from citizens and um Susan I am >> you gonna answer the question or >> um I I was wondering Miss Austin if you would

011be willing um uh to talk anything about what Mr. Frickman said about the Wednesday's instructional time because I know that we've had this conversation um quite a bit. So, I was actually >> not answering the question at all. >> I was actually going to be reporting on this on the strategic phased in planning. That's part of my superintendent report. Are we able are we moving on to that now? >> Um so, what we can say is that you'll be talking about Wednesdays and um the opening uh expansion of the cohorts then. Um so, Mr. Fickman, I see Andrea is there now. Um hi Andrea. Um, so what what what we're going to do is that we're just going to move that um comment um uh to um to when uh uh excuse me, Mrs. Miss

012Austin is going to um report out about that thing about about the about that thing about those two items if that's possible. Thank you. I need to slow down. Um so I am going to move us on to um student representative reports. >> Whoa, whoa, whoa. Kim, hold on. >> Okay. I'm sorry, Liz. >> Um, response to comments from citizens. That's what the next part was supposed to be. Correct. >> That's what we're in. Yep. >> Okay. So, I just want to reiterate I just want to u share something that I just read on my Facebook account is that that um starting March 1st, teachers are going to be eligible for the vaccination. >> I was going to report on that too. >> Okay. But I just, you know, so but in response to getting

013getting us back, you know, there are things that we're working hard to do >> and I just wanted to say that. >> Thank you. >> Kim, >> yes, Rita, >> could you please reiterate um Bor's responses to comments um of what our protocol is? It's only for clarification purposes, correct? >> Nope. Nope, that's not that's not correct. Um in the middle >> you changed it. >> No no no comments from citizens. We can ask for clarification Rita which is exactly what you did. >> Which is exactly what you did. We are now on response to comments from citizens. And so I've asked Susan if she could report on that and she stated that she is going to um that she's that she's going to report that out on her superintendence report and Liz followed up

014because they were asking about sort of vaccinations or can we get more testing done and she just noted for the Facebook. So, it was in line um with that, but usually, but Rita, to your point, usually we use that as a way of putting it back into the superintendent to see if they can follow up on any of those questions. Anything else? All right, hearing that. Um, can we go to student representative report? >> I don't believe I don't believe they're here. >> Okay, great. >> Mr. color if um I know that this is such weird time period, but um I I think that the board just really enjoys at least hearing something from them, an email or something about what's happening um from a student perspective. Um I I cannot wait until we can

015get back to the time when we're in person and we can hear we can hear them. But I'm wondering if you would be willing um to reach out to them um to at least to see if if they can give us a report report out. >> Thank you, Miss Austin, if you would be willing to start off your superintendent report. >> I'd be happy to. I just want to take you back to the spring of 2019. Um when we went remote kind of instantly um and um we're able to like in a day's time put up supplementary learning at first and then move our way into remote learning um full until the summer. And all the way through we've been meeting with um grade levels and departments doing some curriculum compacting and really using priority

016standards and assessments to know how our kids are doing all along the way. Um administration has been working with teachers. As a matter of fact, this summer we had over a hundred teachers and administrators and paras and custodians volunteering their time to work on different parts of the plan. whether it was health and safety, whether it was curriculum instruction, whether it was the technology. And I only say that because what we did was we uploaded all of these plans on the website and we continued to update and revise. As a matter of fact, I've just updated our spring so that you can see the elements of the spring in a hybrid way. At this point, we are looking forward to having more inperson learning. We're going to do that as we've done everything in um

017working with the committee, working with um Steve Mansfield. He's actually joining us on our first meeting um which is Wednesday. And we have some parents and we have some board members on there as well. Um but we're really going to be looking I've sent lots of documents, the latest CDC document. We've sent communications between some of my colleagues in East Lime and Waterford. We've sent out a template to look at what is it going to look like March, April, and May. And I would have to tell you, while some of you may not realize it, but we have been expanding our cohorts all along the way. In November, we began to make sure that um and even before November that all of our students with specialized IEPs were coming in four days a week. Preschoolers

018are now able to come in four days a week. We've had students who are English language learners, disconnected, and really based on each school's community, we've been able to expand those cohorts. But we really ultimately our goal is to bring in and probably in a manner very similar to my colleagues, bring in kids so that we are making sure that by, you know, in this springtime, we'll be able to get everybody in at least the four days a week. Um and then by the end of the year, 5 days a week. Um we'll be working out the details on that plan and um I just have to say that we did get very quick management. You may have heard the governor, but March one we are going to be able to roll out the vaccine

019and the the real desire is to bring the vaccine to our schools and to set up clinics in our schools so that it'll make it very convenient for our teachers. I know that in parallel they're also expanding the age for 55 to 64 as well. But teachers, pair professionals, all those people who are working with children will be kind of first online on deck. And I've always said with the promise of that vaccine, I think it really allows us to expand and make sure that our kids are coming back full. I know Wednesday's been a concern. As a matter of fact, I've written I've written all the teachers. I've talked to the teachers and the administrators. Wednesday was never to be a day off. Wednesday was always kind of a morning session or um actual

020office hours that included instruction, Zoom, it could be special support, it could be small group, it could be whole group. Um and there was supposed to be independent work done. I've heard at different levels different things and I don't know if it's teacher byteer but I have asked the administrators to follow up for me and just make sure it's been imperative though and every district has done this to have some planning collaborative time on Wednesdays because this job to teach kids right in front of you and to teach them remotely um as Mr. Frickman said is really something that is unprecedented. We've never had to do this and it takes a lot of time and planning to do it the right way. Um, you may have seen some pictures in the newspaper. I happened to

021be at Northeast when the reporter wanted to find out what it looked like and he took many, many pictures which I will hope to share with the board. A picture's worth a thousand words. To see the kids engaged in the classroom and on Zoom at the same time with their teachers facilitating their lessons and having them off they go, readers, writers, mathematicians to do some independent work, you know, is really something to behold. And I'm not saying it's perfect. It's not necessarily what we're used to. But I'm hoping that what we've learned through this experience, we'll be able to take into the future and make education even better. So, I know I have a great team that I'm going to be working with. We hope to get out information by the end of the week,

022at least something that will help to identify um the route that we're heading. And um but it will be very similar to some of the those other schools. And with the um vaccine coming by March 1st, you know, my my goal really is in March to start staggering those groups to come in and so that by April we'll have kids here so that we're um beginning the assessment process. We've actually used Wednesdays to bring in some of our remote learners for assessment um and to really encourage them to come back to hybrid. Some families are ready and some families are not and we respect that. So, um, you know, that's, um, where we are. We're, you know, a lot of people are concerned that we're so far behind the others, but I'm telling you, we're

023working very closely and we share ideas all the time. And there's some districts that have taken some of Graten's lead on things and are doing things very similarly. I've been asked to be on an assessment task force for the state because of the work that we're doing with um both remote assessments using the um interim assessment blocks and the ways teachers are using them to inform their instruction um is you know really fine-tuning their instruction based on what kids know and what they're able to do and what they still need to know. So, um, you know, please know that working side by side with CAPS, the Connecticut Association of School Superintendent, with the, um, learn districts, with the alliance superintendent, um, and the health department has been a critical piece of, you know, making sure

024that we'll have the right plan, the safe, secure plan that will bring our kids back. and then even looking into the future in the summer and the spring to re-engage kids whether it's a camp like a STEM camp or a steam camp for kids whether it's credit recovery um but we're looking at lots of different opportunities too so um you'll get more information by the end of the week does do any of the board members have any questions about that Susan, I had a question about Wednesdays. Um, in this plan going forward, I noticed that Harford, a lot of the other districts are going five days a week with a half a day on Wednesdays for teachers planning. Um, sometimes we have early dismissals on Tuesdays. I mean, to me, it doesn't have to be

025the Wednesday half day. It could be the Tuesday, whatever works into the schedule where the teachers have professional development. um sometimes in the afternoon on Tuesdays. Isn't that the case where they have half days? >> Yes. And I I envision that before we end the school year for sure. But I think we we what we want to do is we want to expand these cohorts so that we're doing it very safely. So instead of bringing out back 100% of the kids by next week, we're going to do it incrementally in phased um planning. Harford is al Yeah, Harford is also what I'm just saying is that I I'd like to see the five days a week with a half a day, one day of the week, whether it's Tuesday or Wednesday, what whatever lines up,

026you know, better with Grunt and um with the educators in Grime, but not to have a half day Tuesday and then a half a day Wednesday. >> Right. Right. When I'm >> And I'm glad you're going to be on the committee with me, Rita and Andrea. Thank you. I see Dean's hand up. >> Dean, >> yeah. Earlier you uh people noted that the student representatives weren't here and you'd love to hear from them. Uh you might hear something like this. I'm getting this from my kids. Two words. This sucks. They are grinning and bearing it. They put up with quite a lot. People are very fond of saying that kids are whiners these days. Well, at least in this respect, they're not. Uh some are cracking. Um I think the question that parents have is

027well if other districts are opening up are they being reckless or are we being overly cautious? Because the presumption is that the disease is the disease, the virus is the virus and there isn't any sort of magic shield over the other towns. What are they doing that we're not? I think that's that's the question and I think people are looking for a simple answer if there is one. Well, I don't think they are doing things differently. I think we're pretty uniform. We just have not um put the whole plan together and there is a difference between some of the smaller districts and the larger. You saw the cases that were escalated in both Graten and New London versus an old line. So, there there have been differences in the communities, but you know, we're just

028I mean, they the other superintendents have done this cautiously, too. um you know rolling it out and they're not all coming back full in March. They have a staggered every other week where a certain group is coming back more. So that's really kind of the plan we're thinking about. But um I'll be bringing the committee together to really make sense of what's going to work best for in Grten. So um and I'll be communicating that with everyone. Will you be um will we have like status report like Wednesday is going to be your first committee meeting? >> Could is does it make sense for to have to throw a status report on the website just so that people can state see that we are meeting and stuff? I think I mean it goes back to

029the fact that people have been looking for some communication and so if they at least know that we're meeting um and that you've had a meet and and obviously you know you're not going to have everything resolved on Wednesday, right? but to to at least state that um that we're meeting and that this is sort of what the journey is forward. >> We're actually going to have um a whole section on spring reopening and I actually already have a document that should be posted there and I'll make sure it is about what are what is some of the early thinking on this and what have we already accomplished um so that we'll keep uploading and um having that available. >> Thank you. I mean, I I I I know that this is that this is

030hard and this is hard for everyone. Um and um but like we're doing the best we can, >> right? And we're we're hope, you know, you can only hope and pray that this kind of thing doesn't happen but every hundred years. You know, this has been hard on everybody. >> Yep. So, Middletown and Bristol and Bridgeport is all over. >> Thank you. >> But Mr. Gunnar may want to put that in the chat box for us. >> He can, but um but we won't be responding to that. But that absolutely we can take um we can absolutely take um a uh to make sure that it gets recorded and um that can be part of um frequently asked questions. >> Yeah, that would be good. >> Yep. >> Good idea. >> Thank you. >> All

031right, moving on. It's our budget is our next topic and um we've done a lot of work as you know um with many many budget meetings and our budget actually began um the work on the budget began with the central office team coming together with Dr. Grineer back in September. we've never gotten such a head start and with our um administrators putting together site budgets early on and um and really working very closely with this board looking at different options. And so, um, I don't know if it would be helpful if you'd like to see, um, the staggered plan where we looked at the 1.1%, we looked at the, you know, less than half a percent and then we really got down to 0%. So that um, there there could be any discussion around that,

032Kim. >> So, I guess I'm going to ask the will of the board. We are going to have a we have a motion obviously because we need to vote on our budget tonight. Do we want to save those conversations um for when the motion is or do we do we want to see um do we want to do we want Susan to kind of give the walk walk through about where we've been where where do people land? >> I would like the walkth through so that when we get to our part we can just you know pass the budget or not pass the budget. Dean, >> I would like to walk through not for us because we've been through it, but for members of the public that are tuning in and and uh we're trying

033to figure out where we're coming from, >> right? And I think one of the best charts that um was developed was um the attachment that we really took time with last week um around the original superintendent's budget um which the original original was at 3.1 based on contractual and mostly teacher contract in steps. But on the 14th of January um there was a 1.07 07 budget and and then by February it was a 1.1 with some additions. So if um Ken, do you have that document that we cleaned up to include Department of Defense at the end? >> I do. >> Okay, >> I will share it. There we go. Can we see that? >> Yep. >> Okay, good. So, at the beginning of 2021, the superintendent budget was at 78 million268,81, which was a

0341.07% increase or an increase from the year before of $829,991. We had some a lot of discussion and we we developed another chart that looked at the retirements and what possible deductions we could have by having some of our um you know seasoned teachers who were at the top of the pay scale retire and then um you know replace them with jun more junior teachers. And so that's that $94,000 $890. Um and then we talked about the secondary campus needs in that both the middle school and the high school being an international balorate campus had some needs around an athletic director um to have a third um assistant principal rather than a dean and then to um increase a tutor in Apex to be a certified teacher. And those all kind of went hand inand

035and they allowed for um one of the assistant principles to actually oversee 6 through 12 counseling which is working on schedules and making sure counselors have all the updated information and can really inform our kids along the way of all the opportunities that they have in Graten public schools. So that secondary campus need was about $63,220. And then the elementary school, after working through this with the um with our board of ed, we were finding efficiencies with the closing of the three schools into two, but recognizing that those two schools were very big schools. the school at the Cutler site, the Mystic River Magnet, and the school at the Westside site, the Thes River Magnet. Our schools, they're going to be our biggest schools with 604 students. So, we haven't lost students, but we did

036have some efficiencies with staffing, including one of the elementary principles. Um, when we tried to cut back on the library media, it was suggested that we keep that person in to help with the library, but also help with literacy. And we figured out that that role could actually be taken care of through the car's act for at least the next couple years. And um you know there were a couple other the magnet um themed um coach or tutor for the the three new elementary magnet schools including Charles Barnum was an addition. So that was at the tune for the elementary needs at 63,711. So that's what brought us up to the 1.11 increase. After that, we actually went through the budget again with a fine tooth comb and you know, basically the central office department

037and then working with the principles and so with the CARES Act 2, which is going to be in in the amount of $3 million, we're actually the we're waiting for the ESRE2 application to fill in, but things like social work, anything related to remote learning, so hence the software, summer programming, summer schools, summer camps. Um, and so we were able to remove some items that were in the budget um or would have been in the budget this year. They had been in CAR's Act One. We didn't know about CARES Act 2. So, we're able to extend them through CAR's Act 2. So, there were some deductions there. There we looked at the travel for workshops. We really don't feel like there's going to be a lot of travel anyway um yet. And we've learned that

038we've been able to do a lot of professional development remotely. Our teachers have taken advantage of national literacy conferences. We have a national math conference coming up. We have um school psych meeting and social work. So really we've had more participation in these national conferences because of the um you know the compacted time essence and also the availability and the not having to pay for the extra travel cost. So, um, we also saw efficiencies with diesel fuel. Um, we're able to move some IT infrastructure to DoD supplemental impact aid. And then um looking in the future um at what had happened last year when the middle school opened and really gaining back some of those students of ours who live in Graten who are attending um some of the um magnet schools in New London

039and learn and we we found a cost um savings ofund about a h 100,000 and so we're very hopeful that that same thing will happen with the elementary schools. Um and then there's um electricity and natural gas assuming that the town will take back two of the three schools early on. So those efficiencies I guess Ken if you can move the screen up so I can see that. So those efficiencies brought us down to a increase. Um and then you know the next step was how can we get to zero? What would we have to do? Originally, we thought about dipping in more to the health savings reserve, but I think we're all very cautious of that and the recommendation by Jay Whitoff was can we look at the Department of Defense supplemental impact aid,

040which was very healthy, and look for future technology cost and we did that. So, we were able to um to do that at the tune of $324,436. And we in the same way we were able to add based on the board's recommendation a diversity, equity, and inclusion a stipen professional learning and materials at $15,761. Based on some of the work we've done this year, we were able to put those numbers as an estimate. So that brings us to a budget number that was the same as last year, 77,438,90. And that's um 0% increase from the year before. And I feel like it really is a good solid budget. It gives us a lot of opportunities with the Graten 2020 plan moving forward. And um so it's moving from the superintendent's budget now to the board

041of education's budget. You want to stop sharing or did anybody have any questions while we're on this page? >> I am so glad that eight heads are better than mine. Um and I'm really glad that we you went through it because it does help remind us about sort of how we got to where we were. So, um, my hats off to my colleagues on that. Thank you. >> All right. And so, one of the things that, um, when Susan and I were developing up, um, developing the agenda, we were really kind of taking a look at how we sort of need to be so much in the present in terms of reopening our schools um, and all of those discussions and also our budget. Um, but that also there's other things that are also going

042on because we're going to be opening up to elementary schools. Um and um and I just I just thought that it was important that we started to um put that into our um our hemisphere about thinking and so um Susan I was hoping that you would talk a little bit about that. >> Okay. So, the next thing on our lid list is to talk about those elementary magnet schools. And I just sent out um a message to families of elementary children and preschool children that talked about the exciting time here in Graten that Graten 2020 is just continuing with the opening of those two magnet schools and the Mystic River Magnet, which will be um really an ingenuity and play magnet school with discovery and inquiry. Um and then the Thes River Academy which will

043be marine life science, environmental science, um really another STEM kind of school. So um very excited about that. Um we'll have we have a whole website that we've launched. So I really recommend if families are listening to get on the website. It's got just enormous amount of information. Thanks to Rebecca Bea who's worked so hard on it and also Tom Lonsdale, our new student data manager. So, um, we are also sending out a survey. We thought if we could collect some information ahead of time, even prior to the lottery, we would see what families were thinking about. We're going to be sending out invitations to the students who are magnet school students across the river and hoping that some of them will decide to to come to their schools. So this always the graten 2020

044plan was to to balance our schools to make them have more equity, excellence and efficiencies. And so that was always the Graten 2020 plan with the building of the Graten Middle School, having this international balardic campus with Fitch and Graten Middle School and then to have five magnet schools. So we already have two with Northeast Academy and CK. Charles Barnum will be the discovery um magnet school and um Seth Danner, Principal Danner has been working with um colleagues of mine that I've worked with before, Joe Renzulli and Sally Reese from Yukon and looking at a schoolwide enrichment program that we're very excited about. So, um, teachers are excited, principles are excited, I think families will be excited about this, and, um, we're going to be gathering information now. And, um, and then we'll have a

045new online registration and lottery process that families will be hearing more about. There's actually a place on the website that if you don't know where your neighboring school is because you're either at Mary Morrison, your child is currently at Mary Morrison or at Claudechester or at SB Butler, you can go on to this map and find out what is going to be considered your neighborhood school in, you know, for next year. And then you'll get to see where are the what are some of the other choices that you might have. So um I think I think that's you know part of the wonderful thing that we are doing in Grten. So um any questions about that? >> And then the fin Oh, >> I'm sorry. So, um can you give us a timeline of what

046you anticipate to be able to um announce where kids will be going next year after the when the lottery is going to take place and and um when parents will be notified? >> So, the lottery will start to take place by the end of March. They'll have a survey this next week coming up that they'll participate in and we're really encouraging families to participate in that. It's going to give us a lot of information. And the lottery is a brand new process, a brand new um online software that we've purchased. So, we'll be rolling that out in the month of March um probably by mid March, third week in March. Lottery will probably continue for over a month, so into April. And we'll have a lottery drawing. We always save seats out there because we

047are a military community and we have students enrolling all through the year. and then in the summertime. So, we'll want to make sure that they have their seats in the schools um to do another lottery in the summertime and before school starts. >> So, will people realize where their kids are going to be going before the end of the school year? >> Most of them will. Yeah. Yeah. Register, they'll know >> um by the time the lottery is is drawn. And some people may just want to stay in their neighboring school and might not participate in the lottery. And that's fine, too. Okay, thank you. >> Yep. >> Any other questions? >> So, if I if I was a um some you know what this probably would be a really good thing to bring back

048to the committee the whole because I want to talk about we should probably board should be talking about um just the lottery system but also just to make sure that we are getting um the diversity that we need and the bodies to fill those two um those two new buildings. So, one thing we know because of the Malone and Mc Broom report that the students who are earmarked to go to the schools, um, we found that the balance is really very good. It's really mirrors the the balance in our community. So, we already do know that based on who's in the seats currently. So, um, we will pay attention to that to make sure that that continues. >> Did that answer the question? Yeah, but we'll Yeah, that's good. It's all good. >> All right.

049So, um >> I have one more thing. >> Yes, please. >> Hiring of assistant superintendent. I love both jobs, don't get me wrong. And I'm trying my best to do them both well. Um but I would say that we we've been involved in a process of over the past four weeks that has done a first round of interviews has done a really careful look at the talent pool. There were at in the beginning about 20 very viable candidates, you know, and and out of that there were 12 outstanding candidates, maybe 13 that came in for first round interviews. And we had some internal candidates, but we had a lot of external candidates as well. So with um a rubric and a design process through the HR department, we were able to find out who was

050coming back for second rounds and for the professional task that we'll have them do. And so that's going to happen next week. It's going to take us a couple days, couple afternoons. And um and then we'll have a final round. And the idea is to send two or three not just to me but I'll have um a team of about four of us in the final rounds. So um you know I I feel like our own committee has worked so hard on this. We've had representation from across the district. We've had par profofessionals and teachers um you know we've had um board member and um you know union representation. So I and we had over 17 18 people on the committee. So when you came in a Zoom room for your first round, it was

051pretty daunting and people did really recognize the diversity of the interview committee. So I was appreciative of that. Um so looking forward to it and I will just keep you continue to keep you posted and hope to bring you a candidate before the end of March for you to meet. >> That'd be great. Lee, do you have a question? You're muted. Lee, you're muted. >> Uh, not now. Um, when you Susan, when you say we, um, this is actually a job of the superintendent to find an assistant superintendent. Um, so when when you say we have done this, I'm just curious, there was a board member on that also. >> I don't know who the we are. So, it's 17 members of our school community. We went through um you know, we go through this

052process. This is part of our HR process. When I was hired, I came into a room of probably 15 people. So, it wasn't just Dr. Grineer. It was an entire committee and and Rita was there. So, it was >> Rita was there. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> And Jane is on this committee. So um you know we're following really the very same protocol but the final decision I'm going to have about three others with me in deciding and ultimately it is my decision but I really respect my colleagues and their input. >> Okay. >> And so um I'm appreciative of their >> for many of us this will be it was a first new superintendency. So for many of us it's a first assistant superendency. >> That's true. That's true. Yeah. >> Good question

053Lee. Yeah. >> All right. So, if there's no further questions to Susan, I'm going to move us on to um our business manager. >> Hello, guy. >> Hi. So, uh attachment uh number one was our is our um object code summary. Uh and this shows that on a budget of 77438090, we anticipate uh at this point to land uh at 77 uh 177933, which is uh a projected unexpended balance of 260157. Very similar to uh to last month's report. Um, you know, we we've had some um some some savings in the salaries uh area um offset by some uh additional costs uh under supplies um and with transportation. Uh but we are anticipating uh around $260,000 uh unexpended at the end of the year at this point. Any other questions about our objects code summary?

054And >> can I ask Ken if if that extra money, the $260,000 if that could go um towards summer school? >> Yeah. Um yeah, we certainly could do although summer school is next next fiscal year. So, um, it would, >> well, I'm hoping it just sort of continues in June. >> Oh, yeah, sure. If it happened in June, you're right. It certainly could use >> I think though the car's act would be a good way to support that. One of the things we had talked about is um maybe really being fiscally responsible and putting any funds towards OPED or even the health savings reserve. >> That's true. Yes. >> So, we'll we'll keep you a breast of that and have you help us make that decision. >> Thanks. But that 260 is just what we

055have for right now. It's most likely going to be lower by the end of by end of our fiscal year. >> Yeah. >> Ken, just a point of clarification. I just need a quick one. >> This is this year's budget that we're operating under right now. Correct. >> Correct. That's >> I just wanted to make sure. >> I know it could be confusing. >> It's just that >> look alike. >> Yeah, it does. It kind of runs together. And then because I was looking at the on 2-6 which is the backside of the of all the object codes. It's the summary. >> Mhm. >> Now I I'm I'm confused. There's a reason I was a social studies teacher for 30 years and numbers are not my friend. So please bear with me. Okay. So 260

056157 on the end of page 2-5 is the same number at the end of 2-6. Correct? >> But this says it's unexpended and that means there's it's under. Correct. >> Correct. >> Then why is it on this side it seems to be an increase. >> Do you see? because on the other side it says increase is not in parenthesis and so I'm confused. >> Um, so increase doesn't have parentheses. So increase what does the increase mean? >> Because at the bottom of the grand total, you see it. >> That's a good point. I I'll have to look at that. I I'm not too sure I spent a lot of time looking at that uh at that at that top. So you might have a very valid point. Um, but it is it is meant to

057it's meant to show that uh that we're under budget. >> Yeah. >> So, okay. So, you're going to tell us whether we're under budget or overbudget. >> We are under budget. >> So, that should really be in parenthesis. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah, I mean I I I'm going to look at it uh and I'll adjust it appropriately for the next uh for the next um report, but uh I think maybe the heading should change to be honest, but >> Okay. Because underneath it says 0.34%. >> Yeah. >> And what does that mean? >> That just means that's the percentage um from the from the original budget. So So what it's saying is we are under budget by 34%. Okay. >> You know what's confusing? Attachment one, if you look in the last column, under slash

058over is in parenthesis, >> right? Right. >> When you get to the back, it's the opposite. >> Increase. It says increase, decrease. Different words, too. Yeah. So, >> Yeah. That has to be adjusted, >> right? >> Yes, please. Thank you. >> I appreciate you pointing out. See, that's for people like me. >> That's what that's what happens when you have a whole bunch of people. I will own what Liz owns, which is not very good in in numbers. Um, is that we are going to look at that and we're going to try to understand it and that's what happens. But if there's no further comment, let's move on to the insurance report. >> Oh, Kim, I do. >> Oh, Dean, I'm sorry. >> Yeah, I've I've had a question. Um, I'm this is not the

059first time that we've gotten this and so it's it's it's me. It's it's it's not you. Uh but as I'm looking at this, I'm thinking, okay, uh under benefits, the largest single overage, if you will, is um now I've lost it because we got so engrossed in the other one is under benefits. I think it was retirement awards. I'm looking at page 2-2 near the bottom. >> Yep. >> Line 91, I believe. So, we had budgeted Wait, wait, wait. Yes. We had budgeted $1,600 and change. >> That's right. >> And we wound up expending $97,000. Could you just explain that? I know you I know you've done it once. I just don't remember it. >> Yeah. Uh so, uh retirement awards are are paid to uh whether it's a teacher or a parah that has

060is um uh retiring. Uh last year we uh we we paid for um the teachers that retired in FY20. We paid those severances or I'm sorry those retirement awards out in in FY20 itself. And so uh we made that adjustment to the budget last year. Uh that's why it's only 1657. uh throughout the year we did get additional retirements whether it was Paris uh I think it was mostly Paris that uh and we anticipate uh paying for retirements for this year's uh um uh retirees as well and so that's what that's what that represented by that 97,000 >> okay so is this normally ordinarily a predictable kind of an item where you can budget for the item and then usually you can expect that the actual number will be close to the budget figure. >>

061Yes. Yeah. Um but what we what we've done is we've we've tried to um uh pay for these uh in the current year um uh if there's any additional funding uh just to to to to make sure we have enough funds to to pay for those. Uh so yeah, usually we do uh have a number there and we we stick pretty close to it with the exception of retirements that come up that we're not aware of the the year before and that would be uh paras I think that mostly that occurs with. >> Right. So so next year we don't expect the same phenomenon. >> Well so next year we we have uh identified the three teachers uh that uh we are going to pay for the retirements out of this year. Uh so we

062would expect no uh retirement awards next year. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you Dean. >> With every question I learn something. So I appreciate that. >> Can we move on to the insurance? So, the uh health uh health insurance claims report attachment number two uh shows that for December of 20 uh the claims are starting to uh starting to come back a little bit. Um they're at 93% of uh of 93 and a half% of budget um and 75% year-to date. So, so the trend has been that the claims are uh are getting um are coming back to where we anticipated them to be. Uh our monthly budget is a little over a million dollars. Uh and in December uh 969,652. Uh so still under budget a little bit but um we anticipate

063this we anticipate this actually at some point to go over budget for some of these months >> uh as any of these postponed um procedures and and other avoidances that were hap that happened at the beginning of the year uh start to come to fruition in the the latter half of this fiscal year. Um, so this this is expected and um I think I think it's good. I think it's good news. >> Questions or comments? >> Thank you, Ken. And also, thank you for being such a good partner with us um the past um eight weeks. Um you have uh it is a thank you very very very much for your hard work and um getting us all the information that we have requested. So, I do appreciate the work that you put in for

064the board during the budget time and also for the district. Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Our next agenda item is Mr. Kilpatrick. >> Uh, good evening. >> Good evening, sir. >> So, uh, I have a couple items to report on tonight. I think I I'm going to skip to the second item, uh, the completion of the Graten Middle School first. And um we have a letter from the uh uh chairman of the uh building committee uh Robert Austin Lef France. Um and the committee has uh voted to accept the building as complete and I think Rick might want to speak briefly on that at this point. >> Thank thank you Sam. as uh as uh Susan I believe is has passed that letter from the permanent school building committee chair to everyone um we're a

065little kind of unique community where uh you know town builds a building the permanent school building committee is involved plus you folks. So, it's really a kind of a three-legged stool, if you will, that gets these buildings completed and meets the requirements. We did uh uh the permanent school building committee did go over the items with me. We at public works has written a letter to the the school committee, you know, citing several things that were remaining work, and I can uh read those to you real quickly. Um, one of them is the installation of the middle school sign at the bottom of the hill. One's the replacement of classroom entry door locks. Um, to that point, Sam has worked with us to and we've worked with the principal of not only the middle school

066but the two elementary schools to ensure that the locks were satisfactory, met their safety requirements, and they were consistent through the three schools, which is important for us and of course Sam for maintenance. The other item that's out there is really a certificate of site plan compliance. Um we have a a conditional right now there's several areas that have to be completed in the spring before the end of June which are receding the areas where the grass hasn't been established. You know it was too late in the season. Evaluate the trees that may or may not uh have survived the winter that need to be replanted. And there's a temporary sediment trap by the ball field. It's a pond looking thing that needs to be regraded. So those are the three major items if you

067will of or actually there's five three and a couple sub items but the uh and some punch list stuff needs to be completed and none of the punch list items are significant at this point affect the operation of the school or the ability to hold classes as required. So we're still working through a few of those. Some of them may be uh some painting touch-ups or replacement of a few tiles, some uh you know I guess uh fixing the school letters a little bit that are on the side of the building and get the spacing proper. They're all They're all sort of minor work things and there's about 25 probably uncompleted on on the list that we're working with the uh with the principal and the vice principal for access to the building to make

068sure we don't interfere with the educational process. Um so having said that we went to the uh permanent school building committee let them know where we stood. They uh again uh had written a letter to the superintendent which he believe passed on to you. We listed in that letter for the permanent school building committee a number of the upgrades. We were fortunate that the bids came in under uh under what our budget was. Our budget for the project was $70 million for construction. We're at about 69,500,000 at this point with a couple items left to complete. But having done that, we were able to not only take an alternate in the plans for $725,000 for the turf field, but also add $300,000 to that to get the turf field that we now have. So, we

069were able to uh spend our money. There was an additional skyfold door that we put uh in the music room in the music room between the music room and the cafeteria. That was a quarter of a million dollar cost. So, we worked hard with Sam and Susan got involved a little bit, but mostly Mike uh previously to add those items that we could that could enhance the building use and the education. One of them was the 85 in Prometheian boards, for example, moving up from 75 in or I think they're 86, whatever. But um so my report is basically that we believe the building is suitable for continue use should be turned over to the board of education if you choose to accept it. And I would be happy to answer any questions. I think

070it's a great uh moment for us all on this project. And I I'm sure the the board and Graten public schools get many years of use out of this building. >> Sam, before I ask questions from the board, do you have anything else that you would like to say about that? Like, are we ready to take it? >> Well, yeah. Yeah. just in addition to the uh the springtime work, meaning uh trees that need to be repl taken out and replanted maybe and grass that that sort of thing that can't be done till the spring and the punch list that Rick mentioned. Uh the the only other things uh that may come up would be warranty work and that would be our responsibility anyway. So uh there are very minor issues that need to be

071completed. They're all on that list and they're all being taken care of in a timely manner. Yeah, this this deals mainly with the uh facility, not so much the budget, which we expect to be closed out by the end of uh May, and be able to come back to the board and ask that you allow the superintendent to sign the 049F, which is the final. Right now, we're currently about $6 million under budget. So, um, with with Sam's help and the help, my help from Arcadus and that sort of thing and and the construction manager, they did a tremendous job of keeping the price down, if you will. Without uh, sacrificing the quality of the building. I know many of you walked through there. I continue to get comments from people that haven't been in

072there before. Even the uh the uh project managers from other projects come walk through the building and they say, "Hey, this building's tremendous." And it and I believe it is. So, we would continue to work on the finances. Like I said, we're in really good shape. Um trying to close that out. And uh that's we one one thing I should mention too is another thing we're able to afford is increasing the warranty on the roof from 20 to 30 years which was huge too for these kind of buildings. So >> so that makes it easy for Sam during his tenure there I'm sure if he's he may not be around when the roof needs to be replaced >> at that point. >> So yeah I'd be happy to answer any questions that you may have.

073I will open it up to for the board um if they have questions for either Rick or for Sam. Just reminding the board that we um we do have a motion later on uh in the evening um to take to take the Grten Middle School. >> I have a question for Rick. Does it um if when we if we accept this, when does the reimbursement from the state come into play? Does it have to then does it have to be after we accept it or >> Yes, it does. We Yeah, the building has to have been accepted. That process is the building will have have to have been accepted by the board of ed. Um the finance records will be closed that EDL49 uh Final will be will be uh signed by the superintendent and

074the construction manager and sent off to the state. that starts the uh process for the audit. We would request an audit at that time. The reimbursement would not occur until after the audit's complete. Right now, uh OSCGR really kind of uh uh really beat up the communities pretty badly because previously the retention was was uh 5%. They increased it to 11%. So they're holding, you know, $10 million that should be coming back to the town and the audit could take up to two years. So we'll be working hard and Arcadus has some inroads and they if we can get the building when we get the building closed out in June and the records, they think they could possibly get us into the audit by the end of the year, which would be tremendous, >> right?

075>> So that's kind of how the how the money flows, if you will. Thank you, >> Jay. I saw you raise your hands. >> Um, yeah, not so much a question, but I just I just want to thank uh Rick and the permanent school board uh school building committee. I mean, they they work tirelessly uh year round uh in meetings that uh um have determined both the middle school and and he's got two elementary schools going at the same time. I mean, it's just it's really an amazing amount of work being done all at the same time. And uh to then come in under budget, I mean, you know, we're we're used to everything going over budget. Um and uh I've been through that school. It it is amazing and um we just owe them

076a great deal of uh gratitude for um you know, what they've done for our district. So, thank you. >> Thank you, >> Dean. >> Thank you. Uh thanks Rick. Um the question I have is the the timing of uh when it comes to reimbursement from the state. You've laid that out. >> Yeah. >> The fact that we have retention uh retainer out there. >> Um can you say it's 11%. So currently the subcontractors for example are waiting on their last 11%. >> Um no retainage. Um and we we only required 5%. Which is all that's typically required for construction contractors. >> They're when they complete their work and completed the turn in of their documents, their warranties, their this that the other thing, we can reduce the retainage which we have in several occasions already

077and then ultimately um will take their retainage to zero%. um Arcada uh OMG that's uh comes in as part of their requisition if you will when we get to the final state change order. um OMG we hold until the end >> and typically when we close out the records all the retainage has been returned except the states retainage to us you know so that's that makes it a little bit difficult on the communities because they're holding so much money if you will >> I guess my my my ultimate question is is there going to be a period of time where uh Groten is going to have to if you will front a an enor enormous sum of money and then turn around as part of the process and get reimbursed by the state. >> Uh

078yes, we're we're we're submitting uh you know for reimbursements monthly which we can do. So we get say if it's a 47 47 and a half% is the uh what we're allowed for reimbursement on the middle school we're getting about 37% right now back. So that other you know 10 11% will will not be returned till after that. So we we have it in the bonds whether we need to do that or not. For example, if we're saving $6 million, do we need to do we need to bond that money? So actually that's money returned or not spent by the town that doesn't have to be bonded so we wouldn't have those interest costs. That kind of helps us on the far end for all us. I'm fortunately I'm a numbers person so if you

079have questions please ask about the numbers but uh that sort of ameliates that a little bit if you will. If we came in exactly on the budget then we'd be strapped with that full 11%. But we're probably you know not the whole 11% behind because we do have uh some money that was unspent under the bonds if you will. >> Yeah. I was going to ask you where would we be drawing this money that we would be as I said >> right now we've uh they've they purchase what they call bond anticipation notes if you will during the construction process >> the bands. Yeah. >> Yeah. The bands. So then when and Sal our previous finance director was really great at this on the last project because he he'd look at the bands. He'd look

080at when the proper time is to bond. They may put two or three projects together that require bonding and get the best interest rate and bond that money then. So ultimately we'd have to pay off the bands with with bonded funds, you know, because interest rate is is less, but we still have some money that the town has spent outright, if you will, from the bond that hadn't been reimbured to us. So we may have, you know, we may have $67 million that's bonded that when we get reimbursement, we could either pay off that bond or, you know, whatever the finance department decides to do on that particular case, >> right? >> At that point, I think I'm out of it. But that's okay. But this this procedure, you know, where where the trapeze artists

081are, correct? This has all been anticipated from the beginning of the project. >> That's correct. Yeah. Finance department has been in lock step with us all along the way. In fact, they're required to >> to sign and review all the state change orders to make sure that funding is available to pay those change orders and and that sort of thing. So, yes, we've been in communications the whole time with the finance folks and they're on board with that. >> All right. Thank you. Yep. >> Any other questions about the Graten Middle School for Rick? >> All right. If I'm if there are no more, Sam, please. >> Yeah. Uh, let me continue on. I'll go back up to uh the first item, which is the Grten Middle School field lighting. Uh, Susan and I will

082be attending a town council meeting tomorrow night to uh discuss with the town council that exact uh topic. uh and then it may uh from there go back to the finance and facilities committee and uh maybe the policy committee to determine exactly uh what we can do and how we can do it. Um there's a uh concern uh regarding uh whether we can uh charge for the use of that field um or the lighting uh or or both. But uh that those questions will all be answered in the near future. Actually, can I just um adjust that? We've already said that there will be no charging for the middle school lights. I think what we wanted to do is to look at the fee structure in that policy and update it. Ken says we probably

083should be looking at that every um every year annually anyway. And so really, it's the facilities um and finance committee that will take a look at that. The there's nothing wrong with the policy. It's, you know, it doesn't specify that. It's in the regulations with the fee structure. So, that will be looked at, but we have made that promise that we won't charge it. That's the only way we could get this to happen. >> Yeah. Through the bonds, >> right? >> We do as part of the project. I might add that we have put uh conduits in the ground and handles and whatever to try and prepipe that project, if you will, so we could spend some money that we had out of the project to do that. So, when it comes to the the

084bottom line, um it may be less expensive to put those that field lighting in even though we couldn't get it into the project based on the state's requirements. So, I did tell Sam that and Susan of course that I'd help you folks however I could to >> Thank you. >> kind of get through that process, if you will. Well, I know the community would be thrilled because that's really going to give us more access on those turf fields. Like any of our fields, people have to, you know, basically fill out a usage form and provide um you know, any insuranceances so that the town's not liable, but we we certainly um have that structure in place in our business office. So, >> and one thing I should make you all aware of, if you haven't

085thought about it, that that field doesn't last forever. Um, there we're told it lasts 10 to 12 years. Of course, the more use it gets, the less it lasts. So, at some point down the road, we're going to need as the town put put away three four $500,000 just to place replace the carpet on top. the way it was constructed. There's a a pad, not really a pad, but a a substructure underneath to surprise some of the string, some of the spring in the field. But what that allows us to do is simply roll up the old carpet, put the new carpet down without having to go to the subgrade and that sort of stuff. That will save some money, but still you just have to keep in the back of your mind that at

086some point there's going to be an additional cost to replace that that rug, if you will, >> right? And again, that's one of the items that uh was upgraded by the the by you and the permanent school building was that that pad underneath which also directs the water to the drainage and also gives a better cushion to the carpet. >> Yep. >> And those lights would be um financially supported by the um funds that were left over from the Graten Middle School. Isn't that right, Rick? >> Well, that's what that's what the intent was. I mean, we've back been back and forth to the bonding attorney several times, which is why I think the point came up that we couldn't charge for the field because it was built or for lights or the field because

087it was built with non- tax dollars or taxfree dollars, if you will. So, it has to meet all those financial rules, unfortunately. >> But, it's uh it's it's an interesting process and I hope it's it's not that easy to maneuver, but I'm sure we'll be able to get through it. Thank you, Rick. >> Sure. >> Uh, and then of course the elementary >> Wait, wait one second >> before you get back there. Um, I had a question for Ken. Um, our high school football field with the lights. It is not a turf field. I was just curious, has that been rented in the past? And have we received any income for for other you know agencies that wanted to come and use that field of lights? >> Yeah, we we have had some instances where

088uh folks have used the field. Um uh we haven't gone back to to to quantify how many or how much. Uh but we're going to do that uh in conjunction with this so we understand. >> Thank you. >> Sam continue. So I have a couple questions. So reading the padlets that were coming in, there's a lot of talk about lack of PPE and I know at my job I have to provide my own. None is provided for me to ask >> you please. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Um the uh there are other facilities within the district that people have rented too. For instance, the auditorium at the high school is is is rented by a dance group every every spring. So, there are some other places that we do get some uh

089some uh payback on some of the things that we put in place. >> Uh the third item is the elementary schools and uh I hope that you've all at least driven by there in the last few days because uh that progress continues to move along on those buildings. I do have a a meeting coming up with uh Kelly Nelly and technology. Uh so uh technology, phone, and uh cable and fiber will be talking about in that meeting the final connections of those items. So we're we're getting uh we're moving along pretty well on that on those projects. Right. And we are and with with Sam if you we are working to uh uh obtain the larger Prometheian boards there too. I just need to since it's an out of scope item I need to get

090the committee to buy in on that. Uh but it looks like we're we'll be on our way to do that. So you'll have the same size boards in the classrooms that you have at the middle school which uh we think is good. We're also looking at at soding the fields as we did at the softball field and the other multi-purpose field at the high school. So it'll be a I mean at middle schools will be available for use sooner if you will and irrigation too. So which will help Sam I know a lot keeping the grass growing right Sam? >> Right. Absolutely. Right. Um and so um that's the elementary school progress. They they are on schedule. >> I had a question. I've had questions from the general public about the layout of the school

091and I couldn't really explain it. Um you know how it almost looks it like the middle school where there's a separate >> building in the front and then the taller in the back, >> right? And I assume that that's the gym and and the offices >> so that you could close it off to use it so that people don't use the classroom. >> The portion across the road at both schools is the gymnasium, the cafeteria, kitchen, if you will. And then the little connector between the threetory wing, which is the classroom wing on both schools, is the admin, the health suite, those sorts of things. So, >> okay. I that's what I thought, but I just wanted to clarify it. Thank you. >> The public spaces uh are to the front and uh of course

092we can lock down the rest of the building so that when a public event is going on they uh cannot access those uh the classroom sections of the buildings. >> Yeah. Hopefully we could have a highlight of that like in the newspaper or something that that that explains all that that shows you know the progress. I mean it's just tremendous. They look great. >> Yeah. We do have Arcadia does have a Facebook page if you will. I can find out what that is that shows you all those things. >> Yeah. >> Um >> I'm not on Facebook. >> Oh, I know. Unfortunately, I was just going to say unfortunately we uh had our web page redone and all my stuff from the schools disappeared. So, I'm trying to get that reestablished to get that back

093on on at least the town's website. So, you have that. So, I was going to suggest like we did with Gruntton Middle School is to have um our buildings up and and showcasing them. So, I'll talk to Rebecca about that. >> Yeah, >> that's a great idea. >> Yeah, Rebecca has sent us some emails. I'll I'll probably hook her up with the people from uh Arcadus who has a PR person, too. So, um because it takes a lot of time for the project manager to send renderings and all that kind of stuff because she has to find them and send them. Let me uh talk to the Arcadus uh management. I know they're doing the one uh like I said Facebook, but we can if we can get them connected to you folks, I can

094provide more information that you can use to to showcase the thing also. >> Yep. Great. Thanks, Rick. >> Yeah. Uh and and and the other thing that's going on presently, we're a little ahead of schedule with it, uh is the move management uh of the um of the uh teachers and equipment that will be going over to the two new elementary schools from the three elementary schools that will be closing. So Tom BBE, who is the move manager for Arcadus, has already conducted three or four meetings uh and uh we're already sending boxes over to the schools this week uh so that teachers can start to uh to pack things up and and get ready for the big move. So that's continuing on. >> Great. Uh if I could just mention two other things because

095I I I mentioned these to you at at another meeting, but um we we did food services on on last Thursday. Um even through the snowstorm, uh we were handing out um the bulk of 1300 uh uh farm to community meals to uh not not just to students, but it was actually to families. So there was a a 33 lb box of of food which included two different meats. Uh it could have been uh fish uh in in some uh meats and in the other um vegetables, fruits, uh onions, um uh dairy products. There was milk uh yogurt and some. And so we got those out, the bulk of those out on Thursday. And then on Saturday morning, uh, we went down to the library and, uh, between 9 and 11 on Saturday morning at

096the library, uh, we actually ran out before the 11:00 period, but I think we're done by 10:30 to pass out, uh, the remaining of those boxes. So, all those went out to the community and um I'm happy to report that as of today um Ernie and I have uh uh hooked up to uh have one more community to our farmto community uh meal program which will come at the end of uh March. I I think it's going to be on the 30th, but uh don't quote me on the date yet. We'll we'll update you on that later on. Uh the other thing from food services is the uh uh soup and salad uh fundraiser that's coming up. Uh if you haven't seen it already, uh it's on the website. Uh sign up. Uh the funds

097for the the the fundraising for that, the money for that will be going toward uh furnishing the uh the greenhouse uh for that program. Uh and then of course um in transportation um we'll be meeting with uh with uh Tom uh in it along with Transfinder from somebody from Transfinder on Wednesday I believe uh along with uh my uh transportation coordinators uh Jenny and and Patty uh to look at any efficiencies that we can find as we move uh toward this uh intra district uh uh magnet. uh uh program that we're going to have next year. So, we want to get a handle on that as to how many buses going to take, how how uh well we can run those buses and and where we can find any efficiencies that we may find. So,

098that will be coming up this week and we report on that later on in the month. >> All right. So I'm going to move us on to the committee reports. Policy >> did not meet in February. We are meeting on Monday coming which I think is the 1 of March. >> Yeah, it is. >> We'll be there. >> All right. And um curriculum that would be Jane >> Jane. need to be unmuted. >> That's good because the phone was ringing. >> I'm sorry. I did not attend a curriculum meeting. >> I think we really all were focused on the budget workshops. So, we didn't have those sub >> just making just making sure. So, um Jane, as the curriculum chair, when will you guys be m meeting? I have not spoken to Susan or anyone

099yet about being curriculum chair. So, we need to regroup on that. >> All right. So, finance and facility. >> Uh yes. Um since all of our meetings every week have basically been around finance, we have not met either. Um but I anticipate we'll meet um in March. >> Or you've met a lot just with with the other grouping of us. Um uh Rita learn >> learn we have met I have met quite a bit with um learn because I'm also on the building committee for the Ocean Avenue uh learning academy second floor project. Um we had the pleasure of having for the superintendent's perspective uh Fran Marvinowitz who is the executive director of CAPS. She presented CAP's blueprint to transform Connecticut's public schools which I know that um Mrs. Dawson has shared with the board.

100And it's a 15-year plan. And the the amazing thing about this plan is that it um does not have a decrease at all to funding for all the different um towns in the in Connecticut. Whether or not the governor and the legislature will accept this is, you know, yet to be seen, but um because in his recent budget, Governor Lamont did have a reduction in the ed education cost sharing funding. So, I'm hoping that, you know, maybe with a lot of support from the teachers union, from people in all the different towns that they will accept this um blueprint that caps developed. Um we also um there's a really interesting project going on at marine science which I know we have a lot of our graten students are involved with. They are growing coral there

101now along with fish and we um had to um they're going to be selling the coral and it's quite profitable and the funds will go back into growing more coral and there are so many different um whether it's aquariums or whatever that want to purchase this coral. So we had to do a a special funding for that. Um, also let's see, we had uh Sarah Moon who is the learns director of related services is now working with the state department of aging and disabilities and she's developing a training curriculum for adults with disabilities to increase uh to increase their ability to work which I thought was fascinating. And we also had a report from Carol Glenn who was the director of uh young children and families for learn. Then there was a large discussion afterwards

102about um all the districts their plans for going back to school full-time. We heard from East Line and um also we had a discussion and a future discussion will be on how we we are going to help students with learning loss and an extended school year. So that was it. >> Thank you. >> Welcome. Um and so our town council RTM and board of ed leaison meeting um was really all of us getting together um and we participated in that and that was our joint meeting about um our budget um where people were able to ask questions for us. Um and then gosh, was it last week or maybe two weeks ago, the ASA um the GA and the board of ed um met um uh once again really kind of going over sort of

103um Wednesday actually what what we do on Wednesdays and also sort of opening of schools um vaccinations and such. So I believe I don't need to be cutting things out, but that's that's sort of seems to be the theme of that what we what we've been working on. Um uh Grten Scholarship Lee. >> Yes. Uh we met last Wednesday or Thursday on Zoom of course. Um the app the applications for scholarships are in. Um there are now going to be three readers. I am not one of them who will read all of the applications, the essays, and everything else. It's a big job. Um and we will meet again. I would say I'm not sure we're going to meet in March because that's when we're actually going to be reading all the applications. We will

104begin to meet again in April. >> Okay. Thank you, Lee. >> A nice group. >> Good. I'm glad. And Athletic Fields Jay, I believe. >> Yes. Um, so they met last uh Thursday. I was unable to attend, but they have published a website. um which displays the plan for the um the athletic fields um you know the proposal that the town council uh had requested that they come up with. Um I I can email all of you the the website. Unfortunately, it's nothing that can be easily said. You can find your way to it through the parks and web uh parks and wreck website. Um but I'll give you the the direct page. Um the town council has requested that the committee um basically remain standing um even though it's already um presented its its

105plan um to the council. Um I don't know how many of you were able to watch that. They are offering to come and do it all over again for the board or you can just watch it on YouTube. So um it's up to you. But basically it's to get a coordinated plan for what are the actual needs. um for fields across the town um both with parks and wreck and the schools and uh try to come up with a a coordinated plan. >> So Jay um Jerry has been reaching out to me um but I asked him for us to wait until we voted on the budget to at least got to get the heavy lifting for us done. Um and so he actually contacted me today. Um, and so I'm going to be talking

106to Susan about actually putting it on the committee of the whole um for him to come in. Um, and hopefully that would be March 8th. Um, I know Susan and I we have lots of things that we want to talk about um, at the committee of the whole, but I think it's important that we get this in um, so that the board I think that they I think all board I would much rather have him come in and and talk to us. Um, I'm taking responsibility. We should have probably been at the town council um presentation, but um wires got crossed around that. I'm taking responsibility for that communication lack. Um but I want him to come in um and so that the board of ed can hear sort of what the plan is um

107and what they're thinking so that um we can kind of um ask our questions and then also get behind um the work that you guys did as a field committee. >> Yeah, they did a excellent job um with this presentation. It's very comprehensive. Um and so you can preview it on the website and then you know we can ask questions when they come in. >> Thank you. Thank you Jay. All right. So I'm moving us to the consent um agenda. Um and so these are um all matters listed under the consent agenda are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion. Um and then we'll ask for a point of uh clarification. So I will take a motion um for I will take a motion for the consent agenda. I got Lee.

108Can I have a second, please? >> Second. >> I got Jane. Um, and then, um, is there any discussion about anything that's on the consent agenda? Liz? >> Yeah, just point of clarification. Um, for number five, the attachment seven, February 7th. Um, I don't I I might be wrong, but I thought it was uh it says down there under uh towards the bottom of the page where it says Mr. Whit requested the update on OPED that see that listing there. I thought it was me that requested the data on keeping the secretary slated um to be cut. Jane was I I didn't think it was you or did you support that? Was that you or was that me or >> It wasn't you. >> All right. So >> So it was me. >> So Joan,

109can we make that correction on that, please? >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> That's all I have. Thank you. With that with that correction, all those in favor of the consent agenda, please say I. >> I. >> Oppose. Abstain. The motion has carried. Um the board of education would like to um say thank you to Exommobile Corporation has made a donation of $500 to Charles Barnum Elementary School to be used for the maintenance and support of the math and science program. So, we do say thank you to that. Um and then there's no old business. That actually probably would be where the policy is, but I think um Lee that that is a policy we want to bring back to the committee the whole to talk about the social emotional learning piece. And so then

110we're going to get that on and I think that that's also going to be on the ETH. Yeah. >> Um okay. Just want to make sure um I'm I'm going to ask um whether we can um move our number two for the new new business um so that Rick does not have to be here. we've had the conversation and then go to our first one which is the the the ending of our lots of time that we have spent together budget. Um so are people in favor of doing that? I just need to have most of us say yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. So Jay, would you be willing to read um the motion for number two, please? >> Uh yes. I move to accept the Grten Middle School project as complete. >> Second. >>

111I've got a second from Liz. Is there any further discussion or questions that we have for Rick or Sam? >> All right, that's great. I mean, not that not that it's great that we don't have a discussion. I'm just I should be doing the woo after we vote. So, all those in favor of the motion that's on the floor, which is to accept the Graten Middle School project as complete, please say I. >> I. >> Oppose. Abstain. The motion has carried. Now, all right. Oh my goodness. Yay. Yay. Yay. >> Yeah. And I have to thank the board for for all your support, Sam, in particular, along during that pro process. It it was timeconsuming. We We'll have a couple more for you. toward the end of the summer, hopefully before school starts, so we

112can get those turned over to you. But thank you very much. >> Thank you, Rick. >> And I appreciate the board support during that project. It's a >> It's a tremendous site. It's probably going to be the jewel of uh the Graten Schools, I hope. >> It's just amazing. >> Thank you, Rick. >> Thank you. >> Good night. Um, Rita, would you be willing to read um the motion and I'm wondering if we need >> I actually have an updated motion for you because when we Are you talking about the budget? >> Yes. >> Because this was we did not have a number on this because we were going to be um discussing that on February 17th at the CO. So Joyce actually put together a motion that would say to approve the FY20202 budget

113in the amount of $77,438,90 which is 0% increase from the current budget. >> Can you do that by um by you know by uh memory there, Rita? >> No. Um, what I was going to ask too was why wasn't the February 17th committee of the whole meeting approved in our consent calendar? I was just curious about that. I mean, it seems like we missed one. >> Um, it wasn't a CO, was it? Wasn't it just a budget workshop? >> What? whatever it was, it it we approved all the other budget workshops. Um >> they were also C >> special meetings and we didn't approve that one. So it's in the future we need to do. >> But um Susan, if you um you can just say that and I can just say so moved and

114somebody could second it. Okay. If you want to if you'd like to repeat it. >> That's a great idea. A mo the motion is to approve the FY22 budget in the amount of 77,438,90 which is a 0% increase over the current budget. >> Rita, are you so moved? >> All right. Can I have a second, please? I got Rosemary. >> Is there any discussion? >> No more. Um I I I mean I still have um have my questions about um that haven't been answered yet. Um additional information from the high school about the dean's position moving to the vice principal that I had um requested as um see and there was the other one too about um the vice principal overseeing the 6 through 12 middle school um position there and I had asked, you

115know, what about the head of guidance taking over that instead of losing our vice principal to that, but you know, so I I just have a couple more questions. I'm fine with the athletic director 6 through 12 and I'm thrilled with the 0% increase, but in the future I would like to have a little more clarification about those two positions because we would be voting for them in this budget. >> Is that something you would like to bring back to the CO about how that structure of the campus is going to look? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Very much so. All right. I think that would be good to have a discussion and really to bring both principles um Bass and Keller together to describe how that's going to go >> and the vice principles

116and to try >> Yeah. I mean to try to understand this a little bit. >> I I'd be happy to do that, >> Dean. >> Yeah. Um yeah, who can argue against the zero increase, right? Um, >> you can >> if you give me time. Yes. Um, yeah. I mean, there are a lot of people that would call for something dramatically different and I'm trying to fend them off as well. But again, my my uh you know, as you heard, my big thing was, you know, why the $1.5 million swing in the uh um in the uh in the funding um for health insurance. But that was explained to me. That's an actuarial there's an actuarial basis for that and not a shall we say let's make the budget look nicer uh basis for that.

117So I'll accept that for now. Um I am cognizant even though I was not elected to this position. I'm cognizant of the fact that it's a board of nine folks from the town and that we are representatives in lie of a town meeting getting together in a church basement. we meet. Um, and so I think if you were to ask some people in town, they might say something like this. Great, it's 0% and we're spending, it's the single largest item in the town's budget. You know, it's $78 million. Uh, I'm sorry, $77 million, $7.5 million. A lot of money. A lot of people don't mind spending a lot of money when they get something for it. I don't want to boil down kids education into a commodity. Uh but people are willing to spend a

118lot of money when they feel that the kids whether it's their kids, grandk kidss, their neighbors kids or just kids in general are getting an education. I think a lot of people are thinking on the budget side it's business as usual. Even if it is a zero increase, it's business as usual. Whereas in reality, the kids are not being educated. I realize this is a budget going forward, but as we sit here, the kids are not being educated the way they normally would be for all different reasons and without regard to efforts being made to to keep things going. Uh so, um I I think people feel will probably look at something like this and feel like, yeah, you know, in some quarters of the world it's business as usual when in fact that isn't

119happening all across the board. This is not we're all in this together kind of thing. Just making a commentary. I'm expressing I think what a lot of people would be thinking. Not offering to change any of the numbers or anything like that. Uh just saying that it's it's good that it's a zero increase. Uh is it, you know, does it all sit 100% well on all tires when it lands with all people? No. So, um that's my uh that's my comment on that one. Thank you G. Any other discussion hearing? None. Susan, just for clarification, could you please just read the um just to make sure that we're um just consistent, would you please read the motion that's on the floor again to approve the FY22 budget in the amount of 77,438,90, which is a

1200% increase over the current budget. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Oppose. Abstain. This motion has carried. >> I'm I am abstaining and not so much because of the what's in what's in the budget. It has more to do with how some of the money is being spent with the vice principles, the ad the additional vice principal and so forth. So I am going to estain abstain until there's more clarification. Thank you. >> All right, Joan, did you get that? >> Yes, I did. >> Thank you. All right, so um moving on to information, proposals, letters, and communication. Liz, >> yeah, I've received a number of of emails. I'm sure all of you have too, especially regarding the return to school. And um I'm really happy to hear Susan that you're

121have your meeting is coming up to roll that plan out. The sooner we get information out to the to parents, I think the happier the community will be. So there have been a number of of communications. I've had some conversations with people in my neighborhood. Um but a lot of a lot of emails. Um the other thing I wanted just to tell you that is that um there was a competition this weekend that started this weekend for the Connecticut History Day and I just wanted to keep you apprised of that is the the awards assembly will be on March 6th, excuse me on March 8th at 11:30 and I will send out the link to all of you so you can see that Fitch Kids hopefully will be going on to the state competition. So,

122I'm proud. >> Thank you, Rita. >> Um, I received as well as everyone all the um comments, all the parents would really like their children back in school full-time as I think all of us do. And um I believe well now that the governor has moved up the teachers vaccination to March 1st. I don't believe it will take the whole month of March. I think it'll be very you know three weeks but even one one vaccine for whether you get fizer or madna even after one vaccination you're 92% covered. So the the three weeks the the second one is just an additional like a booster for a longer period of time. But um so I'm hoping we're going to get our children back extremely soon to five days a week starting with our preschool elementary

123students and working on up from there. Um thank you Rita. >> I think Susan I think Mrs. Lawson is doing a tremendous job and is working very very hard to make this happen. >> Thank you. Thank you, Rita. Jane. >> Jane. Nothing. Okay. >> No. No. But just be sure to understand folks that when you get vaccine vaccination number two, you will be miserably sick for a day that follows. >> Yes. >> Not everybody. I didn't >> Horrible. >> Yeah. >> See, do you have any um >> I I was had a really good time giving out the food um the food baskets baskets boxes and there's another one at St. John on Friday from 10 to I think 10 to 12 and I will be there too. It was great. Are you giving out

124autographs or >> if one single person asked? Okay. They can all have them. No one has ever. But thank you. >> All right, Rosemary. >> Uh, yes. I've also received quite a few uh conversations from people about wanting to um have students back at least full-time and um more so if possible um meaning activities and um I also um have met um with GASP and they have some interesting projects for students um that they're very um excited about um instituting and so I um I volunteered Susan and um they're also very interested in um at some point coming up with a a new um schedule for the mental health summits because they find them extremely useful. Um I also have been attending the um sound community services and I just have an announcement to make.

125If anybody has any extra diapers, the young adult services um at um Sound Community Services, which are kids who have um aged out of um DFC um and are getting services now continuing um they're doing a diaper thing um for the community and they will be giving it to the shelter. So if you have any extra diapers, send them over to New London. >> Would that be the sound community if people were interested in doing that? >> Probably not. The sound community or they will pick them up if you text them. >> So maybe Joan, if you could give that information to Joan, Joan could put that in the minutes so at least we can um that people can have that. That would be great. >> I would love to. >> Thank you, Dean. Yeah,

126I've gotten the same messages from uh from people that everybody else has gotten regarding uh uh desire to have the uh uh the schools reopen. I I the sense that I draw from it is that people are waters come up. Yeah. >> You know, they're they're'll take it but only so far. >> Yep. >> I Dean, I don't disagree with you. >> Yeah. >> Don't disagree with you. Andrea, >> I have also gotten the the letters and the emails and I deeply appreciate the thought that went into all of them and I'm appreciative also to be on that committee so that we can really move forward with this because I think Dean is is very correct. But the only thing I I received today an email from a student that we had about 30 years

127ago who's now living in Europe and he emailed to to tell me that Mrs. Dander, Mrs. Ellen Dander had died and she was a wonderful English teacher. He sang her praises and he had her 30ome years ago and I just wanted her family to know and the community to know how much we appreciated Mrs. Dander. >> Andrea, thank you. Um Kim, I I was going to mention that also about Mrs. Dander, but there was another lifelong educator in Grten, um Judy um Judah Ebing House, and she also had had passed away. So, we lost two very wonderful educators, and I did want just to have them recognized tonight. Thank you. >> Thank you, Rita. I was going to say that, but thank you, Jay. Yes, I received the same emails obviously about school opening as

128well as uh a couple of emails in support of the athletic director going full-time. So, um they'll be very happy to see that that happened. Um I also want to um uh say that Ernie um in our food services department did an excellent job last week with the distribution of the um uh farmtof family boxes. Uh, our own Sam was there directing the traffic because it got crazy. Um, Larry Croxton and his wife were there. Um, the Elks Club sent a contingent to to um to hand out boxes. Uh the municipal employees came over and um despite the the the period of heavy snow um people came out uh for that distribution and they really appreciated um uh food services uh providing it. >> Jay, thank you for recognizing that again. Thank you. Um I

129have also received um the same uh emails that the rest of the board has done about the athletic director to um reopening the schools. Um I have shared with the board about Jerry Lachland reaching out to me about um making sure that we um for the board to to hear more about the fields. Um, and then I also received an email in regards to um, he doesn't want to make it public yet because it he wants to try to do something really spectacular um, that I forwarded to Susan. It was actually from a town counselor um, about honoring an individual. So, um, I just wanted to let you know that I've had that correspondence and I just passed that on to Susan so that we can kind of take a look at that. Um, and

130I just want to um pay have us pay attention to um our meeting um there we're um there's a tenative one March 29th at the end of um next actually in a month um where we're going to be meeting with the uh our um friends at the town council um because we are now going to this is now our budget that we will be defending um and so we'll need to sort of just keep keep a keep a breast of when these um meetings are going to be. I'll make sure that we get plenty of notification, but at least I wanted to get that into our calendar for for future um agenda items. I have the fields, I have the positions um the campus positions, Rita, um that you wanted us to to have a

131more in-depth look at. Um I have um what what other agenda items? I have it written down someplace. >> What question? >> The cap. Did you want um the the CAPS blueprint? Would the board be interested in hearing from Fran Benowitz on that in in the future? >> Yes. >> I don't know if if March is going to be it. you know, she's pretty busy, but she does do an outstanding job kind of making us aware of that. >> Yeah, even even in May. I mean, you know, it's >> that would be wonderful. She is great. >> I also wonder if we need to and Jay, maybe this needs to be thought about in finance is that we probably should be paying attention to what this um the decrease in the ed educational cost grant

132and what does that mean? Does he try to is he going to try to fund it in a different way? Um which is what I've heard. I don't believe it it doesn't affect GR. Okay. >> Because we're in Alliance district, I think Ken was double checking on that. >> Okay. >> Any other agenda topics that I have missed? Uh Kim, >> I'm wondering if someone from the town could provide us with a um update on all the construction going on around town um and what the anticipation is for those projects to um be families. Um I think it's important for us to keep on top of um uh you know that project during the uh near the subbase. I don't know if that's completed yet. I know the one in Mystic is still very uh

133up in the air. So I I I don't expect we'll get any concrete information there, but like what's the statuses of Celely? I think we need to be aware of where the population centers are growing in town and which ones are anticipated to add students um you know to the district potentially >> and I think that that would be a great leaison um conversation because that's when the town council RTM and the board of ed come together. Um, so if it doesn't work there, then we need to we need to have a better conversation. But I would I would hope that that's where that that conversation would happen. So Lee, between you and I, we need to remember and Andrea, we need to remember to make sure we ask that question at the leazison um

134about where the where the construction projects are in terms of the apartment so that um they can be planning with us um around populations and because it does impact our schools. Um >> any other future? Well, Ken, you might want to just mention about we're going to be in negotiations with the our custodians and tech workers. >> Thank you. >> And I was going to ask Susan if we could have our new director of is it information technology? >> He's our student data manager. >> Yeah, we've never met him. So sometimes maybe at some future meeting it would be great to to meet him. I plan to have I plan to have them at the March um regular board meeting. I just going on tonight that we would have it. >> That's great. Thank you.

135>> Absolutely. >> Anything else? >> Yes. Motion to adjurnn. >> Night Gracie. >> I got Lee saying Lee saying second. All those in favor please say I. >> I. I. >> Oppose. Ajourn meeting is now over. >> Thank you. >> Good night everyone. >> Good night Mark. Thanks a lot. >> Yep. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right Sam. Bye Rita. Thanks.