001We need to call the meeting to order. Mrs. Johnson, do we have a quorum? >> Yes, you do. >> Great. So then calling the meeting to order at six o'clock, excuse me. And of course we want to be invol with our our mission statement which is teaching and learning and our board goals which are in a richness of culture and with a respect for all to provide dynamic rigorous curriculum to ensure effective and engaging instruction and to embrace learning and Mrs. is Austin. If I lose my voice, I'm turning some of this over to you. >> Okay, I'll pick up for you. >> Thank you. So, um I emailed Mark and asked him to ready our flag for the engine if we would all rise. And I don't know who's here. So, Mrs. Austin, thank
002you. Austin. >> Okay. >> Our new superintendent would >> pledge allegiance. Flag of the United States of America and to the republic >> for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. So our first order of business is recognition and part of participation of visitors. Do we have any visitors? >> No visitors. >> And then comments from >> I am for um um Boy Scouts. I have to join a student council meeting. So I'll be attending this meeting. >> Welcome. Welcome. >> Why? >> That's fabulous. Thank you. Are there any others in that case? No. Yes, >> I've had something to say. >> Good evening, Board of Education. Um, I'm Beth Hler. I am the president of the Graten Education Association, and it is nice to see you um in
003our Hollywood Squares moment here this evening. Um, teacher appreciation week is next week and this year has been a year like no other as we all know and teachers have done extraordinary things that our teacher prep programs could never have imagined. We have taught in person, distance, over Zoom, pre-record, on the phone, you name it, we've done it. Hybrid, high flex, dual teaching, whatever you want to call it. It has been an extraordinary year and our teachers deserve um a lot of praise and high fives and um accolades for what they have been able to do in the 14 months uh 13 months since the p pandemic began. We do have a request though of the board of education. As our teachers have moved to all-in with children with us, not just hybrid anymore. We've
004got full classrooms. We do have some kids at home. So, we are continuing to dual teach. But we're asking that the board of ed in solidarity and as a symbol of leadership that you move your meetings to in person again um as we are moving forward and with vaccinations and everything. It would be a fantastic moment for your teachers and your staff to see that you too are willing to go in person and meet. um you could do your guests or whatever via Zoom, but this is something that is important to our teachers and and we do feel that it would be a moment of solidarity with us. So, it's something we ask you to consider and um perhaps your next cow meeting or your next um board of ed meeting uh to do in
005person. And we thank you for your continued support and um we look forward to a wonderful spring. Thank you very much >> for your comments, Beth. >> Thank you, Beth. >> Are there Are there any other visitors? Are there any other citizens? >> I'll do it. >> What we'll do. >> I want to be in person. >> Oh, I see. Well, at this time, >> we can't talk about that now. >> Yeah. This is not the time for responses. So, are there any other >> I do not see anything else in the chat box except that Beth had asked to speak, but I don't see any others. >> All right. Thank you. And now I I have on the agenda the response to the comments at this time. Okay. And the student um um representative
006report. Do we have a student representative? I don't think we do. And I don't even think I got a report, but let me see if I can reach out to them to get a report for the board notes. >> Oh, thank you. So, that means that the superintendent and administrative reports are next, Mrs. Austin. >> All right. So, I would like to start by talking a little bit about the elementary lottery process. and I'm looking to see if Tom Londale has joined me, but I don't see him. So, I will fill you in to what he's reported to me. So, I'm glad that we were able to take that extra week to give parents the opportunity to fill out the lottery to be able to apply for the lottery. So, it closed last Friday and
007we have close to 400 applications in the lottery, which is outstanding. >> Wow. Um, so we're going to be talking to the principles tomorrow. Tom is going to present to them um some of the information that he has. We have not started to draw on the lottery, but we're going to be doing that at some point between this week and next. We're going to probably do it in phases. So, our two brand new schools that can hold at least a hundred students a piece, those will be the ones that we're going to be drawing first and foremost. And then we'll go to the other schools once we have um finalized. They have to accept and we have to know where the kids are. So then we'll know how much room is in the other schools.
008Chris is here. So she has been the longest leader in the magnet system and knows very well that there's lots more room in her situation in kindergarten. But even with that, we have to be careful because a lot of kids move in and out of her school district. So we have to make sure that there's enough seat for the children who are in the districted area and then we have to see what is left over so that we can take on more students and in the upper grades you know because we have four tiers in kindergarten and first grade at both Northeast Academy and in CK then we go down to three tiers which means the class sizes go up in those upper grades. So, we just have to do this very carefully and it's
009going to be based on enrollment to decide how many she can take on. And I don't know, Chris, if I didn't, you know, ask you to do this ahead of time, but you're really so good at this. You know the system so well, if you wanted to speak to that at all about the lottery process and and this time it's going to be done in a new system and it's going to be done for all five elementary schools. So students have the ability to stay in the school that they are and they didn't have to go and apply for a lottery if they wanted to stay where they are or they had to apply for they could take up I think two choices um in the lottery. So did you want to add anything Chris
010or a little on the spot? I'm not quite sure what to what to add um except that it will be a little more challenging this year to to try to figure out exactly what our openings are. We'll have to see how many students might be um I'm not accustomed and I'm sure Northeast either to having students leave our building to go to um the other schools. So working out those numbers, but it is very critical that we keep our numbers um within a range in kindergarten and first kindergarten so we don't overload our first grade. And then looking at first grade so we really that's the tough one so that we don't overload our second grades. Um and then those numbers mellow out as we go through third, fourth, and fifth. So it's that military
011population moving in and out. um and some of our high transient students >> and especially I think because of co 19 around the state it's a real hard thing to predict the number of kindergarteners and first graders the younger look you know children some have been homeschooled some have been held back to you know thinking that next year is a better year to start so um you know there's a lot of predicting going on but I think after this this lottery, we'll we'll know more about, you know, who has applied and where they want to go. And then once they have accepted, we'll we'll have uh more certain numbers and we'll go from there. And we know there is another submarine coming to town from Hawaii. So, and I'll just throw in traditionally we have
012had difficulty getting our kindergarteners enrolled in time. Um, and that seems to be an even bigger problem this year. >> The last I saw of our enrollment, we're even further behind than what we usually are in trying to get our parents out and get their children enrolled. >> Right. So, there's a lot that's been done with Rebecca Beas um helping out with some communication. We're getting ready to do an orientation and some screenings. We still have to work out on the details on that, but that should also bring people back to us. So, so we will keep you posted as this process unfolds. >> Um, Andrea, I have a question for Susan. >> Yes, by all means. H >> how many um spaces slots are reserved for Navy families that will be coming in. Usually
013they're they're set aside so many seats. Are we doing that for our Navy families? >> We we do. What we do is we have the first goround of the lottery and Chris has been very involved in this and always leaves a few seats that she can draw again later in the summer. So, you know, looking at that to make sure that we've reserved several of the seats um especially for um you know the younger kids because we tend to have more um of the the n the military having younger children. So we we often will try to make sure that that's available. So there will be another drawing. There'll also be a waiting list. So if parents don't get their choice that they'll still be on a waiting list so when we do that next
014drawing they have that opportunity possibly. >> And do you know have you reached out and found out when the submarine might be coming to Connecticut? >> Well yes that was the latest information that we got from the base. We don't know exactly when. They haven't given us that, but they did say heads up that it they're thinking summertime. >> Summertime. Now, Susan, I had a question about that. Does when when they transfer a submarine, are there two crews? So, that there's it's just one crew that will come. >> It depends on the submarine. There are submarines that have a golden blue crew. I know that because my father served on one. And there's other fast attack submarines where there's just one crew. So, it could be either or. And I don't know too much about
015this one. Um >> Okay. >> But yeah, >> thank you. >> As much information as she can give us, she usually does try to give us that heads up which is really >> really valuable. >> So, >> thank you. >> And then the other thing that I wanted to brief you on is um the ESPback and NGSS assessment plan. So, we have a team of test coordinators that really have been meeting throughout the year and um everything from implementing some of those interim assessment based um assessments that I think Tom Londale had briefed you on and actually shown you some test questions that um you know how smart you know are you as smart as a fifth grader? These are some of the fifth grade kinds of questions and and that kind of thing. So
016those have been rolled out and we we're actually going to review that with the data team. But even with COVID, our teachers have done an outstanding job with using them instructionally, really preparing kids to be able to take this assessment. And what we've noticed over the years is using that as kind of our assessment protocol. It helps inform instruction because it's directly related to the Common Core standards and our curriculum and the ASPC assessment. So instead of doing all these other outside tests, we really stick to what the state testing format is. And we will be giving um we've already been giving some of those interim assessments to remote students. They come in on Wednesdays to the school to take the assessments and we we've continued to encourage that. We'll encourage that during ESPback time.
017Having that half day in the afternoon um on Wednesdays is a great time for the remote learners to come in and be assessed if parents aren't feeling comfortable with having them come to school. There is a way to do remote testing and our staff is has been on the pilot process of this. So they had early on we're learning ways to do it. Um but I think that the best way to take an assessment like that when it comes to the um endyear ESPback or NGSS for science is to really be in school. So that's what we're really going to be encouraging and um and we're really waiting until May um you know the windows from March until you know June now they've extended it into June. So, we really each school comes up with
018their schedule and um with their test coordinators, but we're we're really holding off until May to start those assessments at, you know, grades three, four, and five, six, seven, and eight. And um for the NGSS, the grades are five, eight, and 11. And so that will roll out, you know, at the end of the year. So, perfect timing to really get our kids back on those half-day Wednesdays because we might be able to do some assessment in the morning and then bring some of the remote learners in in the afternoon to do some of those assessments um and still have plenty of instructional time built in. So, um does anyone have any questions about that? Rita, >> Susan, how are the students being assessed that are not the grade level for ESPback? >> So, we
019have a variety of assessments. Um, one of the assessments that we use in literacy is from Fontis and Panel. So, we still are doing reading assessments and I think I brought to your attention that we are also assessing through Lexia rapid assessment Lexiles for all of our middle school and high school students a couple times this year. So, we've built in assessments in reading, writing, and math and some of them formative assessments for the grades that aren't being tested. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Are there any other questions? And then um student vaccines. Um a shout out to our doctor William Han who is a parent in our community and he's in charge of the Hartford Healthc Care um vaccine and he had given me a cell number and I called upon him when I
020knew that Lechite wasn't able to give the Fiser drug and I needed to find a partner and I said will you be my partner and he said absolutely and within the next 24 hours he had a date for the first vaccine for our Fitch students who are 167 171 18 and they're coming to Fitch High School setting up a mobile vaccination center on May 7th and then May 28th for the followup. And my whole goal in this, my quest was to make sure our our juniors and seniors could have proms and and seniors have their graduation and be fully vaccinated so it could be back to better than normal. So So that's the plan. And um the group that went out um this past weekend, Grten in action, I joined them at um Brford Manor
021on Sunday and was delighted to see a lot of our kids peeking out the window and waving and um and delighted to hear that many of them were fully vaccinated and there had been vaccination clinics right there in Brford. Another group went out to Pauquanic and when they heard we were from Graten schools and Graten community, they were very grateful for the information. Some were a little nervous about taking the having the vaccine. So, they did appreciate getting the additional information and we were also looking for obstacles that might be in their way. But I did tell them that if they had high school students to be on the lookout that, you know, there would be there was information that was already sent out by Ted Keller right away. So that and there's a lot
022of children or students really interested and they'll have to get their parent permission to be able to do that. But we've got we're already planning. Sam's in on the planning like he was for our last Fitch vaccination clinic. So, we're we're we're really glad about that. Lee, is that you asking a question? >> I know Rita is. >> Yeah. I I just wanted to know, Susan, that the proms then would take place um mid, you know, two weeks after May 28th. I mean, usually the junior prom is in May. So, this would all be pushed out to June. Well, I think I'm I'm not sure the dates, but I I understood that the prom for the seniors was very close to the graduation or within a week or so, but I can get you those
023dates, >> right? I mean, that's very important if we're doing this, >> right? We we we don't have hold any events until, you know, June. Well, we might have to hold the events, but there might have to be other security, you know, there might be other events that take place before they're fully vaccinated, but they'll have to have other safeguards in place. So, all the learn superintendents have discussed what kinds of other safeguards they can have. Um, we're one of the well, such as having testing done, you know, for COVID COVID testing. Um, some schools aren't going to have dancing, so some are limiting the festivities. So, you know, I'm working with them at the same time, but I'm trying to, you know, have it be as as the best it can be for the
024kids with safeguards. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. May I ask a question? >> Go ahead, Lee. >> Um, May 28th is Memorial Day weekend. Are you aware of that? Yes. Okay. As long as it's okay with everybody for the second, you know, the the vaccination date. >> Okay. >> Well, it's a Friday, the 28th. >> Yeah, that's it's it's often a long weekend for a lot of people. Yeah. >> Well, are there any other questions? Then we'll we'll move on to the assistant princip assistant superintendent report. Well, good evening everybody. It's it's great to see everyone again. Um I was pretty happy and excited to begin my job as assistant superintendent last week. Um I tried to jump right in uh to begin some uh committee work uh through various meetings including curriculum uh committee
025of the whole and um board of ed meetings. Uh most importantly, I think along with uh Superintendent Austin, I was able to get into some of the schools this week, uh last week, uh including Fitch High, I got a tour, uh from Principal Ted Keller, and his assistant principles, um Aaron McGuire, Matt Brown, the dean of students, Adam Diskin. Um so I'm also I also got to see uh the beautiful new Grten Middle School uh and was taken around by principal Peter Bass. Uh as someone who went through a new building project in my former district, uh I was tremendously impressed uh with the building. Um various unique spaces uh like the black box theater, uh the library and media center was very impressive with two classroom areas. Uh the TV studio um all very
026uh very impressive. Um, and finally, I got to visit Claude Chester Elementary and got a great tour uh from Principal Geodano and her assistant, Principal um Megan Bby. Uh, it it just felt great uh to be in the schools uh have some good conversations. Uh see the energy uh from seeing, you know, from having kids in person again uh and hear about what's going on in each building. I look forward to visiting a few more schools uh this week uh and continuing those visits, getting into classrooms, getting to know more about the cultures of all the buildings uh and all the work that needs to be done there. So uh so it was a great first week and and I'm just looking forward to keeping it going. >> Thank you. >> Move on to the
027to the U reports from uh the first is the business manager and I don't think I'm going to make it. You're doing just great, Dr. Acriman. So, Ken, you're on. >> All right. Hello, everybody. Uh, so the first uh first thing up is our object code summary, which was attachment number one. Uh, it shows that we are predicting an unexpended balance of 305,671, which is about 0.4% of the budget. Uh, being driven by under being under budget in salaries and out of district tuitions. Uh it's uh it's similar to a previous uh previous report. Uh a little bit little bit better. As we get closer towards the end of the year, our uh our our view on on where we're going to end up with the out of district tuition amounts gets clearer. So that's
028the reason for that. >> Are there any questions? We can move on to the object to the health insurance >> health insurance report. I I apologize but I do not have a report at this time. Uh MDG, our um our insurance uh agent uh did not provide the uh that information uh for me to share with you at this point. Uh but I I will have one at the next uh board meeting. >> Thank you. >> And they Oh, >> and um there's just a Can will you have that information before our negotiation session next week? the where where we are with claims. >> Yes. >> Yeah. I anticipate I actually ant I was hoping I was going to get it today. I anticipate getting it this week. So yes, uh I would hope I
029would have it before uh negotiations. >> Thank you. >> And I and I'll forward that off to the group so everyone is aware of where we're at. >> You want to talk about OPED? >> So OPED other uh post-employment benefits. Uh we've talked about this a few times. We did get the report for uh the period ending 630 2020. Uh our reserve is at 611,566. This is uh versus a deficit in the prior year of 273,464. So we are making some progress in our oped reserve. Um there are we there are a number of questions that uh uh both Lori Lepine and myself have and we need we need to um uh uh have a discussion with the actuary. Um Milman uh they they have a a substantial increase in the um in the actuarily
030uh determined contribution uh which we need to understand better. Uh but uh at this point uh we're in a much better spot in OPED than we have been in the past with a with a positive reserve balance. >> There any other questions? Then we'll move on to buildings and grounds. Mr. Go back. >> Uh good evening. Uh the first item on uh my agenda is the uh summer facility use and slash projects. So, um this is uh going to be quite the year in our buildings because we are closing three buildings uh moving to two new buildings as you all know uh and still finishing up the middle school at the same time. So, between parks and wreck uh programs, our summer school uh camps that we're going to have, the move management taking place,
031uh we're also doing a phone project in the district which will require us being in some of the buildings, and we are doing a new fire alarm system in Charles Barnum School. So, um, we, uh, last week we were able to, uh, work out a schedule in the, uh, Claudechester and Mary Morrison schools for, uh, parks and wreck to be there while the move management was going on. uh they'll be in one section of the building while the other section is being moved, packed, and moved and then moved to that bu uh section of the building once those uh those items are moved out of the building so that we're not uh uh in close contact with the movers uh and and to keep the uh campers and parks and wreck uh kids safe. Uh
032and we'll be doing the same uh for the rest of the buildings as we move forward here. So, I don't have those uh completed plans yet, but we're working on them daily. Uh the second item is uh the uh elementary school move management. We had another meeting with Tom BBE this past week. Um uh during vacation we sent the uh plastic bins out to the schools which are being used for uh moving uh sensitive items uh meaning records with kids names on it personal uh information so on. So those bins have been delivered to the three schools. Uh and uh some will be delivered to the other schools that may be needing them to if uh some uh teachers or specialists might be moving out of those schools to new schools. So once I know
033that, we'll get those uh out there. Uh Mr. BB did get cardboard boxes out to all the schools so the teachers are able to start to uh pack what they're going to pack and of course callull as much as possible. now. And uh hopefully that will limit the amount of uh callulling that they will do once they get to the new school. Although every move that I've ever seen over the years, uh you still do more when you get there to the school in addition to what you've already done before you leave your old school. Uh the uh third item on my list is food services. >> Um um Sam, I had a question before you leave that topic. What is our plan for the excess desk and books? Um I know at times we've
034um donated them. Um I think we work in conjunction with the town on this project, >> but since the new schools will have new desks, I was just curious if >> we have to follow town protocol. Um >> right. >> Anything that's uh left over? Well, first of all, once the uh move is completed, then we will allow uh uh teachers or administrators from other buildings to take a look uh in those buildings to see if there's anything there that they might use in their own in their buildings. Uh then we would offer it to the various departments throughout town to do the same. I know this last move we gave a lot of stuff to the senior center and to the library. So, um I don't know if they'll be looking for more, but
035uh we'll offer it to town offices next. And then the third item, uh third way, uh that it will happen is it will go on to the auction block through the town's website. So, it'll go down a website uh and the town determines how long it has to sit there on the website. If it's purchased, they they'll have a x amount of time to come and pick that uh item up. uh and if it is not sold then it would become uh uh equipment or uh furniture that is not usable anymore and might be offered to I I know that uh in the buildings and grounds uh association throughout the state they've asked they just asked at our last meeting last week if there were any schools that were closing that other schools might be
036able to get some furniture. So I would offer it there or to other school districts in the area as well. Uh and then of course the final thing would be if it if it isn't taken by anybody else then it would be discarded. >> Okay. I I know in years ago we actually had um sent books to Africa. We were part of an initiative and um it was we we filled part of a truck as long as many other school districts in the area and it was sent off to a Africa um to to use. And I was just hoping that, you know, we could do something like that if we have excess, especially with, you know, new books. Not so many books anymore, but there are so many countries that would be so grateful
037for what we have in Grime. >> One of one of the things you may be remembering is that the Rotary clubs uh used to do this, too. We would uh Yes. >> And I'm a Rotarian as well. So, uh, we would, uh, pack up these books and then send them off to Haiti or other places that could use those books. Uh, unfortunately, the shipping costs got to be so great because of the weight of these items that uh, it became uh, very difficult for clubs to do uh, without having large funds. But again, we would check with them and see if there are any other groups that might want to do that as well before they were tossed finally. That's for sure. >> Thank you. Are there any other questions? Sorry. >> Okay. And then
038I think it was on the food services. Um I I think um did did uh did a few things go out into the into your packets on Friday regarding food services. Okay. Well, they'll go out this Friday if they didn't go last Friday. >> They did go. >> The the first item is the uh greenhouse ribbon cutting on May 4th. So we'll have a grand opening of the greenhouse. Ernie's going to have a ribbon there and a big set of scissors to cut the ribbon on May 4th. Um, and also May 4th to May 8th, there will be a flower sale at the greenhouse to help raise funds for furnishings and stuff in the greenhouse or equipment that might be needed in the greenhouse. Um, and so uh, and uh, that's Mother's Day coming up
039at the end of that that time frame. So, uh, everybody should come and get their mother's, uh, mother's day flowers there at the greenhouse if they can. And that'll be May, uh, 4th through 8th and, uh, Ernie will get that, uh, in the paper, I'm sure. And then the third item is, uh, the community dinner. So, the next community dinner, which again raises funds for um uh Ernie's uh food services things that he uh supports, which he's also supporting some of our uh classes uh at the high school this year because they haven't been able to raise as many funds as they have in the past. So, he's going to support some of those programs as well, graduation type programs. Um and so that will be on May 5th. Uh, and I believe that's going
040to be taco night. Uh, so, uh, make sure that you sign up for that and, uh, get your tacos. Pick them up at the Fitch High School at the front entry and, uh, it should be a good meal. >> Sam, Sam, it's Liz. What time is that ribbon cutting on May 4th? >> 3 o'clock. >> 3 p.m. Thank you. >> Yep. Are there >> any other questions? I think we're set, Sam. Go ahead. >> Okay. My update on HVAC. Uh during vacation, we put uh all of our maintenance people on the roofs of our buildings and we changed all of the filters throughout the district. So, all air filters and all of the equipment were changed uh over the uh over the break. Uh we also did some duck cleaning at Fitch High School um
041uh in the uh gym area. Um, and so, uh, we'll, uh, do more of that coming up. I think I've got somebody coming back in about a week to do one more section over in the gym area and that will be completed, >> questions. Go ahead, >> Sam. >> Uh, and and the last item on my list is the Fitch High School asbestous project. Um, and as you know, there's something on the agenda uh uh uh a little later on tonight's agenda regarding the SCG 042. Um, so that that uh will uh need a vote tonight, I believe. And uh Kim is signing that form. And then uh Susan, I believe, is already >> signed signed, sealed, and delivered. >> Ready to go. Um the our our architect on the project, Al Jakunsky of Jacuny
042Humes, uh is uh meeting with the fire marshals and other officials throughout the town along with Steve Mansfield at Ledgeite Health District to get the rest of the uh signatures that are needed in order to conduct this project. Um in addition to the uh SCG042 uh the plans and specifications along with a map uh should have been supplied to you already. Uh and of course the project cost the estimated cost professional cost estimate uh which was provided both by the architect and by mystic air quality who do these projects throughout the state. So, that's all within that uh item that's later on the agenda. >> Uh Sam, >> yes. >> Um I don't know if you or Susan want to >> I'm looking for you, Jay. I can't find you. >> I'm here somewhere. Um
043I don't know if you or Susan want to address uh under the the um subject of food services, the latest announcement. Has that been official? I did not get the official, but uh the unofficial word is that uh it will be um uh again the ex the free uh uh meals will be extended through uh next school year. Um I think Ernie was still waiting for the actual final official word, but uh very very likely that will be official in in the coming days. >> Yeah, that's very good news. Very good news. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> We knew we had it all the way through September, the end of September. So, this taking it through another year, I think, will be so helpful for all families. >> I think we can just pretty tough
044to do it for 30 days in September and then tell the kids now you got to start paying for the rest of the year. So, >> right. Well, I think you know it's time that it become permanent. I think Joe Courtourtney has been pretty uh um instrumental in getting that through for us. >> Right. >> Thank you. >> Are there any other questions before we move to committee reports? >> Then policy Jane. >> Uh it's actually Lee Andrea, but >> I'm so sorry. >> That's all right. Um we will be meeting on Monday. Um, and we're also going to be discussing the possible action on another policy under new business. Um, and we'll find out that in maybe about 10 minutes. >> No, no. Jane is curriculum. Yeah. No. Jane. >> Okay. Are you there?
045>> She was here. Susan, can you speak to that? >> No, she has mute. >> She's just on mute. >> She's muted. So, we we heard from Do you mind, Jane, if I go ahead and say we heard from um Ted Kellerhur came and presented to the curriculum team about being able to expand some of our courses so that they had ECE credits, which are Yukon credits, which was really exciting to hear. So, if you're in an international baloreate class, they're going to marry that with this Yukon program. So the kids not only get the certification but they can also get the college credit. And so this was done for about four or five courses. He did send me a chart that I will um send out in the board notes on these courses so
046that you'll be able to see that. Um, and then our next meeting, Jane, I know you were asking, we tend to have the special curriculum meeting on the third um, Monday prior to the CO. So, that's what we were looking at for the next one. I think it's the 17th. >> Are you able to speak now, Jane? >> Sure. Jane can hear us. J seems like she has some technical difficulties. >> Oh, there you are. >> Yeah, you can't see me though. I have a problem here. >> I can see. >> No, we we can see you. >> I can't see you. I see the top of um one head, but I'll figure out what to do with a computer. Um on March 15, um three high school girls from um the career pathways group
047did a presentation. If we think back to our college days, I think we would raise our hands if um we had changed programs back then and decided, oh no, I really don't want to be a a biologist. I want to go into education. Um these days that is a problem. Um statistics show that 66% of students in um enrolled in college um of the 66% 34% um decide to change what they're doing and that becomes very expensive. So, the career pathways at the high school give students a chance to explore uh courses of study um to learn about different programs and follow their interests and passions while in high school um before heading off to college. This is yet another ex really exciting different um oh my goodness opportunity for students to um really get
048a head start before they head off to college. And now I'm gonna fix what's going on with this computer. Thank you, Jane. >> Jay, finance. >> Yes. So, we met just before uh tonight's meeting. Uh we discussed uh uh policy 13:30, use of school facilities. Um however, we are going to um make some more revisions to that rate schedule. So, we're going to table that um item on the main agenda tonight. We reviewed the end of year unexpended funds. We also reviewed tuition for outoftown students. Um that's another thing that we're going to discuss one more time um in about two weeks uh before we refer that to the full board and u then Sam uh discuss the HVAC uh upgrades. >> Thank um we had a meeting about week and a half ago. I
049have another one on Friday. Um is currently hiring because of retirements and also expansion of their leadership team. They attended uh rest minority recruitment job fair as well as the Yukon job fair. Um Ocean Avenue the renovation project. We've selected Tecton um and as the architects and OMG as construction. Let's see. The Magnus schools are back, you know, four days a week, soon transitioning to five. I'm trying to think of what else. Oh, we had a wonderful presentation by the deputy executive director, Bridget Gordon Hickey, who um is and the and the human resource director, Christine Peton, about strategies to address recruitment, hiring, retention of support service staff. So, and if anybody would like to see that PowerPoint presentation, I could share it with you. >> Um, >> that would be great. I'd love it.
050And to pass it on to Lori, too, because we're doing some of that same kind of work. >> Oh, wonderful. Yeah. >> Yeah. Very good. Yeah, >> it was it was very, very good, you know, helpful to see. They've also received from learn has received $450,000 from the state to assist Norwich and New London to reach out to disengaged students through more home visits and training with additional re to support groups um to re-engage them. And there's also another $10 million the six Connecticut rest have received to expand their summer programs and to promote reconnecting students with their communities and um you know to really excel um accelerate student engagement. I think a lot of students are just not that engaged. They might they might be on Zoom but they're not really there. So anyway,
051so it was a great meeting and I have one Friday morning at 8:30 also with the executive committee. That's it. Susan, you can you help me out with the next one and the one after that? My voice is not going to do it. >> Thank you. >> So the TCC RTM board of ed leaison meeting um I will have to check but I can put that in the board notes when that on the calendar when that's coming up. But we do have the the RTM meeting for the education committee tomorrow night at 6:30. And so Ted, I mean, um, I'm sorry, Ken and I will be attending, um, and Sam because we have a CIP for the two CIP priorities that we talked about, which were the oil tank at SB Butler before it closes
052to, you know, take that out and put in something temporary. And the other one is for doing that project in the wetlands of NEA to help with the dampness. So that's more of a a dredging landscaping. I don't know if I'm saying that right, Sam. You can, but you can correct me. But um that was something that was really recommended from that um report that was done, the Fostal report. So that is on the um docket to discuss. So hopefully that will go through the RTM and the education committee usually asks questions around our budget. Ken and I have a couple um charts and graphs that we want to share with them. Um and another $106,000 came from impact aid that goes directly to the town. So they have over $4 million now in impact
053aid funds that help support our budget. So, we want to really bring that to light to the education committee and be able to speak to that to the RTM because sometimes they don't think they really understand, you know, all of those funds that come to help support the education budget. >> Would you like um some support for uh when you attend those meetings from board of ed members? >> It's always good to have board of ed members to come to that. So, if you are able to, I'll make sure that everybody gets the Zoom link. Susan, Susan, I intend to be there. >> Okay. >> Um, Susan, can I ask or ask you or Sam why it's recommended for us to take out the large oil tank at SB Butler? Maybe Sam? >> Yeah. Well,
054it's actually not recommended. It's required. >> Uh, really? >> Yes. Uh the oil tag at SB Butler is 30 years old and it's required to come out by September of this coming years of this year. So um after 30 years underground storage tank uh is required to come out. There are some uh very few exceptions that are made and uh our consultant uh crop environmental uh tried to get us a waiver uh for a year or two uh but they weren't able to get one. Um, and so, uh, the town was kind enough to, uh, put the, uh, the money into the CIP for for that for us to get that done this summer, which is another project that I forgot to mention in my earlier report. >> Oh my. >> But I mean, I
055if the building was sold, you have and knocked down, there'd be this new oil tank there. >> Well, no, we're not going to put another underground storage tank. What we're going to do is we're going to rent a an above ground tank that they will connect um and so that uh once the town takes it over, they'll pay the rent on it. >> And so they can keep the building going. >> Uh and then uh if the building is sold, either that person could take uh take over the rental or uh put in their own tank or demolish the building or whatever they decide to do. >> Thank you. Um I can add that the RTM um PCC board of ed liaison committee is meeting May 5th on Cinco deayo on the taco Tuesday. So
056if you order your tacos you can get them and you don't have to cook dinner. Um so that's happening at 5:30 and I don't know Beth can you Beth or um possibly >> May 20. Yeah it's May 26. >> May 26. Thank you. >> Yes for Yep. Was that shorthands? >> A GSA GA. >> What's on the 26th? >> That's a GSA Ga. >> Okay. >> Next on the agenda. >> I thought I had 4:15. >> 4:15. Whatever. It says 4 on our sheet, but 4:15 is fine. >> It says 4:26 on my calendar. >> No, no, not date. I'm talking time. >> Oh, okay. Um, >> 4:15. It's good. Whatever time you want. >> 4:15. >> Whatever. >> I have four, so I'll be there on time. >> I do that. >> I also
057have four o'clock. >> Okay. >> I'm good with 4:15. >> Okay. >> Scholarship. >> Yes. Um, the scholarship committee is such a good organization. Um, we have not let the students know, but we were able to find some scholarship money for everyone who applied, which I think is just magnificent. Um, we will be told for sure um who gets what by the May meeting. >> Oh, that's wonderful. >> Yes, it is. It's a good organization. Oh my wow. Are there any other questions? And we'll move on to athletic fields. >> So fields met last Thursday. Um we had a Facebook um campaign to try to uh garner questions from the community um about the project. Um the project itself is in the hands of the town council and the RTM for um determining whether they're
058going to commit uh CIP funds uh to it or a portion of it. And um so we're just trying to raise uh awareness and uh gain community support so they can contact their counselors and representatives um if they support that project for for renovating um our fields and facilities. That's it. >> And we're moving on to the consent agenda. >> All >> Yeah. I make a motion to approve the consent agenda. So >> I is there any discussion? The f the first item, pardon me, item is the uh approval of the March 22nd meeting minutes and I have something on that. We have Gana Foster Mur's name is spelled incorrectly and I'll be happy that to you. >> Okay, Joan and I will get that. What is that? Which name? >> Kiana Foster Moore. Any
059other discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Stain cars. The second one is the approval of of special. What's the matter? Jane, would you like or Andre, would you like me to read that? >> No, I I think I >> the ocean state. Okay, good. >> Okay. >> Or the approval of the special meeting minutes of April 6. Motion to approve. >> Yeah, I we don't have to do them separately, Andrea. >> It's one group. We We just We all We've approved it. And I think now you just have to um thank the >> the Ocean State Shop. >> Lee, go ahead. >> She's ready. >> I would be so happy to um to the Ocean State Job Lot in Grten has made a donation of two pallets of PPEs worth $26,000
060to the school district. And we thank Ocean State Job Lab for that. Definitely. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> And it came right at the right time when we were bringing more kids back and we needed more PPE. So we appreciate it very much. >> So old business and new business. Rita, we've done that. >> Yes. So now we're on to new business. >> Okay. So >> you want me to read the motion? >> Thank you. Oh, wait a minute. Jay is I think this >> Jay is going to read this because it's been um >> Oh, perfect. >> Yeah, it's been amended. >> Yes, >> there's a revised motion. So >> Oh, so we're just going to scrap it. >> We're going to uh I'm going to read the revise motion if that's all
061right with everyone. >> Oh, you already have it? >> Yes. >> Oh, that's wonderful. >> Joyce took care of him. >> Yeah, great. >> Uh I didn't write it. Uh I'm hoping an attorney wrote it, but I do have it. Um, so I make a motion to approve the final plans and project manuals as prepared for bidding and dated May 29th, 2020 and the professional cost estimate completed in accordance with level three of ASM International Standard E57 standard classification of building elements and related site work uniformat two for the Fitch High School asbestic project dated April 30th, 2020. >> A second. >> Second >> discussion. >> So >> I just So the only thing that was changed was the dates. >> That's right. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> Okay. That was my question. >> Yeah,
062that's right. >> All in favor? I >> Oh, so I we needed a second. I'll second that. >> Oh, I thought we'd do that. I'm sorry. >> I don't second that. >> Dean Oh, Dean seconded. Oh, okay. Thanks. Doesn't matter. >> And my understanding is, of course, this has already been funded by the town council. >> Yep. Right. >> And our vote tonight uh is basically so that Kim can sign uh these documents to >> That's right. >> to move the project forward. >> That's right. Exactly. Let's do it again in favor. >> I The second one is a motion to discussion and possible action for um policy P1330, the use of school facility rate schedule. I move that >> and we are we are tableling that >> I move that we table this motion
063uh pending um adjustments from Ken Knight >> point of order. Does the motion have to be moved and seconded first before someone can move to table it? >> Question. >> We're in Mrs. Johnson's territory >> now. It was noted before it was voted. Um, the motion was made to table it. So, that's the end of it. >> Right. >> Thank you, Joan. You're welcome. >> So, Rita, would you be willing to read? >> Oh, sure. >> Well, why don't I c I let Liz read this one even though I was a teacher also and I'll read four. >> Thank you so much, Rita. >> I appreciate that. You're welcome. >> To recognize May 4th, 2021 as National Teacher Day and to direct the superintendent of schools to send a letter of appreciation to the teachers.
064>> Second. We'll second that. >> Second. >> Wait a second. >> Is there discussion? >> All in favor? >> I And a big thank you. >> Huge thank you. Yes. >> Yes. >> You're here. >> Huge. Thank you. >> Can I read number >> Oh, wait a minute. >> Oh, yes. Rosemary, you read number four. >> Don't we have to? >> Oh, all in favor? Did we say I? >> Yes, >> we did. Opposed. Any anybody opposed? Abstain. Motion passes. >> Sorry. >> Rosemary, you read four. >> Thank you so much. It is a real honor to recognize May 12th, 2021 as National School Nurse Day and to direct the superintendent of schools to send a letter of appreciation to the nurses. >> A second. >> Second. All in favor? I I oppose. abstain. Motion
065passes. Um Lee, would you read the next one? >> Transition the one about transition K. >> Sorry, um I unmuted. Um to accept the transition K program as presented. >> Second. >> Thank you. Discussion in favor. >> I >> opposed abstain. >> Motion passes. >> We had a big discussion on that during our at a CO meeting. So it's not like we're just passing it on. So we did we did have a real discussion previously. >> Huge. >> That's why I think we called it as presented because we wanted to make sure people knew we presented it. And I see Meg Walker who presented it, our teacher for transition K here. So good job, Meg. >> Thank you. >> Well done, M. Letters and um letters and communications comments by the board. So let's go
066through. Lee, do you have any Jane? Rita. >> Um, no. Um, I received something from a gentleman about um, Graten Little League about using the fields at the marine um, magnet school, the marine science magnet school. That really doesn't really pertain. I assume I received that because I'm on the learn board for Grten and hopefully that they've um, answered him, but I will check on that for them. Um, I think they're in desperate need of fields. So, that goes right along with everyone in town supporting the athletic field plan that has been presented um by Jay and his committee and that that committee. But otherwise, I've had questions about the lottery um and you know, how people go about it and people are concerned that they stay in their home district if they can, if
067they're able to do that. I assured them yes they can. So that's about it. >> Thank you Liz Jay. >> Yes. Um actually during the meeting I received a communication. Um the uh young gentleman the boy scout uh who is uh joining our meeting this evening. Um would you be able to share your name and the troop you're with? Um, >> my name is Gil Moody and I'm with um church 76. >> Okay, joining us tonight. And his question was, can we offer more gluten-free options for >> um school lunches? And I will definitely be bringing that to Ernie to see if we can investigate that further. >> Thank you that. Thank you for that. We will. Yes, I have a granddaughter that's gluten-free that has ciliacs and so I totally understand how important that
068is because she can never have the school lunches. So, it'll be interesting to see. >> The other question that came from his household was are the summer meals um or school meals and it will include summer meals and school meals for another year and the summer meals we're going to link in with all of our camps. So, look out for a STEM camp. um you know, middle school's going to have a steam camp for four weeks and there'll be breakfast and lunch. So, um we're really excited about that. So, not only will you get a good meal, but you'll get some exciting times this summer. So, keep your eyes open for that. >> Yes. I also wanted to um add on to what Susan had to say about the DEI committee and their work over
069the weekend. There were uh eight teams each day of uh DEI uh members. That's our diversity, equity, and inclusion uh team um who went doortodoor through Ponic Bridge and Brford Manor uh doing surveys and and sharing resources about CO 19 vaccinations. I just wanted to there there's there's so many I can't mention them all but our school nurses at the high school Heather Lamire and uh also at the middle school uh Rosita Corm Giles were involved uh Peter Bass Erin Maguire um and um uh we had uh members from Graten Middle School just about all levels >> Erica Watson who's on the call was there too both days, I believe. Yeah. >> Yeah. She was one of the the leaders of it. Yeah. >> Um along with uh Miss Hajj was there. >> Um uh
070and and obviously Susan. So anyway, >> Davis. >> Yeah. I just want to thank them for taking the time to reach this community. And I must say that the the community members were very appreciative um that even if they had been vaccinated that people were reaching out and cared about um uh their community. So, um, kudos to, uh, DEI for that. And just another quick sort of personal note for the board, you probably know that, um, Kim's not here because Harry's in the hospital. So, uh, prayers for Harry. >> Yes. >> And Kim, >> thank you. >> Oh, thank you for telling us that, Jay. >> Sorry. Jane, did you have any? And did I miss anybody? Because I can't see. >> Oh, Rosemary. Rosemary. Yes. >> Um, I attended a GASP meeting and um
071Carolyn has some interesting projects for students if they'd like to participate in prevention week, which is coming up in May. And um uh I also attended a sound community services meeting and um they're co-sponsoring a smoking session. I hope none of our students need it, but um anyway, that's some of the stuff within the community. So, >> thank you, Rosemary. Did I miss anybody? In case we'll move to advanced planning. Please look at those dates. Susan, is there anything there that you want to talk about? >> No, but I found the dates. I had to look through my calendar. They were right here. I guess that's the reason we do that. And the the town meetings in town bodies are May 5th is a town and city council and RTM. Six is the um permanent
072bu building committee. 12th is the tenative RDM budget review and again on the 20th is permanent school building. Are there any suggestions for the agenda? um just summer summer school for me. Uh you know um now that we have even more funding from Governor Lamont, whether or not we could expand it and in, you know, make it really helpful to the students that have, you know, have been disengaged. >> Get that on the agenda. >> I added that for my notes. >> Andrea. >> Yes. >> Liz. >> Yes. Um, we had talked at one point about, you know, the handbook, uh, the the board members handbook. It needs to be revised and I I would think that's something we need to do in committee. So, um, you know, I I just would like to put
073that on the agenda to to look at that formally because I read it and it's definitely needs some revision. >> Yes. I I shouldn't say I read it first time, but this was like I reread it after last week and I went we need to do some changes here. Adds make some additions. >> What we all >> Yeah. What usually happens is that there's an ad hoc committee appointed by the chair. >> Okay. >> Three to four people who want to work on it and then they revise it and they bring it back to the board. >> Okay. So >> Susan, I'd be happy to serve on that if you >> me too. >> Okay. Right. Is there anything else for the good of the cause? And we want to welcome again Mr. Piaza and
074I with with apologies to to both Susan and Mr. Piaza. I should have asked you to lead the pledge and I that was I wasing that the next time I will do that. >> Well, that's >> Thank you. Thank you, Andrea, for doing this with a bad voice. >> I know, >> right? I know. >> And in an hour and five minutes, 7:05 and >> I think I >> really that the article in the day was wonderful, Mr. Paz. I thought they did a great job and it was it was a wonderful thing to wake up to this morning. >> Yeah, it it was done very well. I really appreciated it. Yes. Thank you. And Dr. Aman, thank you for continuing to spoil me with with short meetings. >> Yeah, this is unusual. >> Unusual.
075>> You're really spoiling me early on. >> Motion to adjurnn. I can't >> I make a motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Say good night, Gracie. >> Good night. Good night, everybody. Thank you. All in favor. Thank you. >> Good night.