001is 602. >> Well, we can get started. >> We could get started. That'd be great. Thank you. >> I'll call the meeting to order at um at 602. Um and the first order of business is the approval of the the committee of the whole meeting minutes of April 19th. Do I hear a motion to >> I make a motion to accept the minutes? Is that Rosemary? >> Rosemary and Lee. Okay. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Abstain. Okay. >> The motion has passed. And so now we're ready for the um Garden Middle School and Fitch High School campus update. So I don't know whose hands that go to. So I invited I invited both Peter and Ted here. Um we had given you a list of a lot of
002the different activities and things that are happening at the end of the year. So they wanted to kind of chat with you a little bit about that. We know that that position of the AD will go through our negotiations with the board. So we'll be looking at that closely here shortly. and um I thought that they could shed some light on some of the wonderful things that they're planning for our kids that are back to normal or back to better than normal. So, so I'll let um Peter, do you want to get started or however you guys have it set up? I know you're both going to be chatting about these things. >> I'm fine to begin. Good evening everyone. Just to give you an update on where we are with our planning for endofear
003activities. Uh as Susan said, uh really trying to make things be more normal or even perhaps in some cases better than normal. Uh you know, part of the tradition at the middle school is to have some activities for all grade levels and then with special emphasis upon the eighth grade as they get promoted to high school at the end of just next month. And um so we're planning for full days uh on on two Wednesdays or the sixth grade on uh shooting for the 2nd of June and the seventh grade on the 9th of June. And then um looking at a field day from midday to the end of the day for 8th grade on the 10th, which is a Thursday. And then we're planning to uh have an eighth grade trip to uh Ocean
004Beach outdoors. Very nice. Um, and that would be on the 14th and then we'll cap the year off, you know, with a couple of partial days to go with we're planning a promotion, a live promotion ceremony on the turf field on the evening of the 15th at 6 p.m. with a rain day of Wednesday at 3. Uh so uh that you know we we um you know this this definitely beats where we were last year and we're so thankful for that and uh to be able to to utilize the the new facilities is fantastic and um we really look forward to to closing out the year on a high note >> and several of those dates are Wednesdays, right Peter? >> Yes. The second and the ninth are are Wednesdays and those will be the
005days that we're running our grade level field days, sixth and seventh grade. >> So one of the benefits of having that extra time with kids on those Wednesdays I had said it's really for the purpose of teaching and learning. Some of our assessment is being done on that at that time with ESPback. Some of the afternoons are to bring in kids who are remote and the parents aren't comfortable enough to have them in a building with all the other kids. So, we're doing that across the district um in the afternoons on Wednesdays. Um and then I think these special events, we really wanted to our purpose was really to engage the kids preK through 12 and really get them excited about coming back to school and teaching and learning. And with that too, I know
006Peter and Ted have worked closely around some summer opportunities as well. Peter with a more of a camp experience. And then there's the Apex program that will be for 6 through 12 and then a camp or um more of a course um with teachers for the high school courses. So we're really h we're really so excited about that campus feel and that collaboration. So I'm going to let Ted take over from here to talk a little bit about the high school plans. >> Yeah, thank you Susan. Um, yeah. So, I think that, you know, as we've gotten u closer to the end of the year, you know, we we were excited to see some of the guidance and and what we were able to do uh for some of our end of the year events.
007And, you know, we've been working very hard to to put together as the the best opportunities we can for for all of our students. Um, and so, you know, just going through the the list, I know you got the list, but I'll be able to talk a little bit about each of the events. uh you know it starts with uh tomorrow night uh we have our national honor society induction and and what we did was um we were able to split up the auditorium so that families will only sit together and that the everybody will be spaced apart. Um but we broke the the induction into two different ceremonies. They're completely identical. Uh we won one ceremony at 5:00 and and one ceremony at 6:30. We allowed families to sign up for whichever ceremony uh
008they wanted to attend. And that way that allowed people to bring their family, but we still can do some distancing between families in the auditorium. Uh the ceremony will be essentially the same. Uh there will be a little bit of a difference. So, you know, normally in the ceremony, the kids kind of are all uh standing together to to get the pledge. We're going to be do doing that a little bit differently. Uh but we're really excited to see that, you know, that it'll be uh allow both the juniors and the seniors to give them the proper induction ceremony that they deserve. So, uh, so that's going to be running tomorrow night, uh, at 5 and and 6:30, and I'm really excited to be there for that. Um, the next, you know, we just started
009talking about, uh, events, especially for our our our upper class students, uh, just ways that we could get the class together and and allow them to celebrate uh, knowing that they've missed so much. you know, uh, last year's senior class certainly missed a lot. And this senior this year's senior class has lost out on so many of those opportunities to get together as a class. And so, um, that's starting on May 28th, we're going to be having the senior class cookout and movie. Um, so basically, it's a it's a a long event. It's from 6:00 to to 10 p.m. Uh, it's going to start out with just the class getting together and we're going to have some games and and uh uh some kind of activities for them to do as a class. kind of
010like a field day, but you know. Um, and then, uh, that's going to be followed by a cookout. Uh, and then, uh, they're going to be going up to the turf field to, uh, we have like the inflatable movie, uh, screen and and we're going to do an outdoor movie for the kids. So, um, you know, they're really, they seem really excited about it and and really want to participate with that. So, certainly if anyone wants to stop by, you know, we're excited. We're still putting together some of the details on that, but um, that's what we're looking at there. So, um the next uh event uh June 1st uh the underassman awards starting at 6:30. Uh now this event we are going to be keeping virtual this year. Uh we got a lot of
011great feedback last year that they really uh did like the event um virtually and we're going to keep it virtual just because the number of students that are involved with that event. We want to make sure that we give everybody an opportunity to watch it. um and we would have to very severely uh limit attendance if we wanted to do uh you know any kind of distancing in the auditorium. So we felt the best thing to do was to keep that event virtual and we're working on that right now. Um June 2nd is the junior beast beach bash that will be a Wednesday. Uh so once the kids are out of school uh they're going to be heading down to Esker Point uh and we got some activities down there for them uh or if
012they just want to hang out and just uh just a an opportunity for the juniors to enjoy themselves uh on uh on uh uh June 2nd. Uh the athletic awards 6:30 again that that actually will be in person uh and uh we are currently planning that to be an inerson event at 6:30. It's a a fairly short award ceremony, but we want to make sure we uh we recognize all student athletes on that days as well. Uh again, June 9th, uh the honor court senior awards and scholarship night. I know that's one event that um while we had to do it virtually last year, we wanted to bring back in person. Uh and so we will be uh having that event in person this year uh on June 9th. I believe that's a 6:30 time,
013but if that's any different, I'll let the board know. Uh but I believe that that is at 6:30. And then the uh the big one's June 11th. So, uh you know, one of the things that we really were waiting for guidance on was the the senior prom activities and and you know, there's been a lot of ways that that um that uh uh schools have been handling this and we wanted to make sure we got the latest guidance from the state before we we really started planning this out. And there were there were things that were a challenge and and how we were going to be able to handle this. Um you know, how exactly uh do we keep the students safe? Um, and you know, we really tried to follow the guidance as closely
014as we could, uh, especially in regard to having the date a little bit later than normal. Um, which is definitely, uh, having it in June is is definitely fairly late. Um, and we wanted to make sure we did that. Um, but we are going to have an outdoor prom at, uh, Filaminas, uh, in Waterford. uh and that uh we do have some requirements that our students are aware of that they know that they're already starting to follow through on um that uh you know we will be allowing uh having dinner. We will be allowing some dancing. Um we will be uh um you know allowing guests to to attend the prom. Um, but we're also going to be asking that anyone that attends the prom uh either has proof of vaccination or a proof of
015uh a uh COVID test 72 hours before the the event. So, we're going to be doing everything we can to to to follow the safety measures that are in place that that the state has recommended. U but we want to make sure that the students are able to enjoy that event and they really seem to be looking forward to it. they, you know, they think they right now they seem like they they do anything but uh you know I think they're really looking forward to this especially and we've got a lot of interest uh for the prom. Um again it has to be outdoors so we do have a rain date of June 13th. It's a little odd. It is a Sunday u but we wanted to make sure we we we have those rain
016dates set up uh for for our students. Um lastly, uh much like mo many schools, we're not going to be uh having formal final exams uh uh this year. Teachers can give an end of the year assessment in their classes. Um but we don't have set times for final exams like we normally do. So that is why the schedule just showed uh the different uh uh dates uh for the end of the year being A days and B days. Uh that we won't have those final exam days. And then um the graduation uh so June 18th is our our date for graduation. We're going to be starting graduation at 6 pm. Certainly we hope that that all of you can attend or many of you can attend. Um but the the diff biggest difference for
017graduation this year is that we will have to limit the number of people that that can come. Uh we want to make sure that we can we can have proper distancing. Uh and the um you know so we're we're hoping to have about four uh people attend. We're still working out those numbers, but uh per per graduate. Um and then uh instead of an option for the graduation to be held indoors, we will have a rain date uh because uh we cannot we uh the state does not recommend that we hold any graduation ceremonies indoors. Um so we will have a rain date set uh for June 19th at 6 PM. Uh and we just want to, you know, if we get a monsoon coming through and it's going to last a couple days, we'll
018have to figure that out. But um but we want to make sure that we can safely hold the the uh the graduation ceremony outdoors. So uh and then um you know the uh the safegrad uh committee does hold a graduation party which uh last I've heard they are planning for the subbase. Um and uh uh but I think that's still a little bit up in the air. Um but they hold that uh that night of graduation. So uh and I know they're they're working on what they would have to do if they if there was rain as well. So that that's pretty much it. Uh but we got a lot planned. Uh we have you know I I do want to make sure that I I recognize that a lot of teachers have been working
019on this. Um you know we've got the different groups and the different uh adviserss are working on these and I think they've done a fantastic job in trying to give as much uh uh opportunities for our students to get together in groups uh safely uh but in you know in in the best way possible. So I think that's about it. Definitely an improvement from last year where we were sitting. Every little bit counts and helps. Thank you. >> Well, hi. >> Hi. >> So long since I've been at a board meeting, so it's good to be back. Sorry about that, guys. Um, and I actually chose the board meeting over my class because I had it's been such a long time and I've actually missed all of these friendly faces. Susan, when we put together
020um and I apologize if this has already been said so you guys can kind of cut me off at the chase. Um but when we put together the agenda um we had that was part of the of the wish was to have you know just a campus sort of kind of gathering around what's going what was happening what was not happening. I know in your board notes you've mentioned the fact that we're that the negotiations had met or will be meeting um to kind of talk about sort of the the um the athletic director's position if that's correct. Um but that there are other things that the board really wanted um more conversation about but I I think that um it's just too soon for the board to kind of hear all the things that
021were going on. So, so for those of us on the board that we we we've been wanting to hear about the class sizes, we've been wanting to hear about the assistant um um the assistant uh principal, not superintendent because we had Phil. Um uh all those things um that that that we will we are going to catch we're going to be caught up on those, but that at the present moment there's just there's just too much flux and um it's not it doesn't seem like an appropriate time to do that. Is that correct? We are we're actually working on a transfinder transportation report that looks really promising to bring both the middle school and high school in together um which would give the high school about a half hour extra time um and wouldn't interrupt
022the middle school too much with their schedule but would also give us magnet time. So that would also be very helpful. As you know, we're already sharing a project lead the way teacher and should we get this grant or even if we don't and we're able to expand our offerings in world language, that could be some efficiencies with sharing of staff. So, there are some things that we want to look at in the future. But even having this um transportation audit and being able to look at that possibility and we're going to actually get this Transfinder group to start with middle school and high school as soon as they can. So we'll really be able to then send this out to the public and let them know how this is all going to work. And
023that's another thing that brings us to a campus, you know, environment where there could be some efficiencies and I mean just the efficiencies of transportation for one. So um I will keep you posted as these things unveil themselves and you know certainly can come back to you when we are finding those other opportunities. Right. Right. But once again, um because I know that many of the board members wanted those conversations, all those other conversations and I just felt like we were not at a place where we could um that it it not enough meat had been on the bones and >> we need a little more time to work some of these details. >> Yeah. Just because you know busy enough as it is. Right. >> Right. >> Um >> I mean even the sharing
024of facilities and looking at these endear events has been really helpful too. Y so >> and and my hat goes off to um um Ted and Peter and your crew for really doing as much of a developmentally appropriate sort of end of the year experiences for these kids for the past um 13 14 months have not been able to have that. So my hat goes off to um to you and your your crew for really allowing that to happen. Um I really I really really appreciate that. Um, thank you >> and a shout out for all the work that's been done through, you know, by Sam and his department and Ted and his team to get those vaccines. So, between the ledge light, they're offering their second Madna coming up. So, we were able to
025do a community vaccination clinic right at Fitch. And then we followed up with um Hartford Healthcare, as you know, and had a very successful vaccination clinic at Fitch High School again with the second rounds, which is really affording us this opportunity to have kids come back and do these wonderful things at the end of the year. That along with a negative COVID test, you know, um it ensures a little more safety around this terrible COVID. So, >> are there any other questions from the board um about any of the campus or high school, middle school updates? >> I have a question, Kim. Uh Jen, will we as as a the as board members be able to attend any of those um experiences? Kids, >> you are formally invited to any of those events you would
026like to come to. I I uh given you a list every single time and times and places. How would that >> Thank you. We accept with pleasure. >> Especially prom. I'll take any adult I can talk to at prom. >> And Andrea, I would love to see you at the at the senior prom with a with a prom gown on, please. >> Only if we can w you and me. Not you and me. >> All right. Um if if there's no further comments, um let's take it on to our next agenda topic, which is the DEI. >> And thank you to Jamal Davis and Ada Allen and Naen Mlin for coming out to talk to us a little bit and update us about this wonderful year that they've led us through um with the DEI.
027So, um I and also Lori Le Pine is here to talk about the hiring process and what we've done to be more inclusive and to really see that we hire more people um you know who are representative of our community. >> Good evening everybody. Jamal, do you want to start off or you would you like me to or >> Oh, go ahead. uh and I'll I'll fill in afterwards because I know you want to discuss uh specifically with regards to the recruiting, hiring and retention. So go ahead and then I will share the other subcommittee's um initiatives. >> Okay, great. Thank you Jamal. So good evening everybody. Um so I'm going to uh you know uh focus on the minority teacher recruitment update portion of the DEI. Um and Jamal feel free to jump in.
028Um I see na uh ad aa and naen are here also. So um so there's been a number of initiatives that we have worked on the last several months um either through work that's been done within human resources or through collaboration with the DEI committee the recruitment retention and hiring um subcommittee. So I'd like to just take you through some of those initiatives so that we can bring you up to speed on all the good work that's been done. Um, we have expanded our focus of our grow our own initiatives. And I'd like to just talk a little bit about what those look like, um, and the steps that we've been taking to foster, um, and encourage our own employees and our own students to become teachers and educators in the workforce. So, um, we've
029started out, we have had a district, um, grow our own initiative where we have encouraged non-certified staff members to become certified teachers. We've been running that for a couple years now. Um we've recently added the teacher and residence program. So um that is a program being um run by uh KREK out of Hartford and um basically those are um placements of non-certified staff members that we will take into the district next school year. The district has agreed to take two placements and it's really designed to encourage individuals to come forward, pursue a career in education and then um complete their studies and also uh on-site uh work in the classroom for a full school year. So um we will have two of those placements next school year. We've been in the process with CRE and
030working through the selection process and hopefully we'll have names and be excited to share those placements. um soon with the district. Um in addition, we've actually started some work at the student level. So, we've been collaborating with the high school. We've been participating at uh with events at the high school. So, at their um college and career pathway event, uh we actually set up a session where we could talk to students about their interest in being educators. Um, so we actually participated in that virtual event and we'll continue to do those types of events going forward in con in connection with the high school. The high school um Jamal's going to speak to some of the um curriculum initiatives at the high school that tie into that work, but um our focus has been being
031sure that if we have students who have an interest in becoming educators that we're supporting them kind of along that path. Um there's also um the DEI committee, the recruitment committee has also talked about holding additional virtual sessions with students throughout the school year kind of on a voluntary basis. They could pop in and talk about their interests in becoming an educator. So we're looking at that as well. Um we continue to participate in um numerous uh you know DEI driven recruitment events such as um diversity career fairs. Um we participate every year in diversity and education along with the state diversity um virtual recruit well recruitment event. Lately they've been virtual and they've been actually quite successful virtual. So that's been good. We've seen um great participation in virtual career affair events. Um we
032we did award two students last school year with scholarships that we had received a grant for from the minority um teacher recruitment consortium. Um that was through learn. So we had two high school students at Fitch earn those um scholarships last year and they've gone off to their start their schooling. um and we are um also connecting with those students as they start their programs. So as those students move forward on their path to teaching and start their um their college course university coursework as well as their ed preparation programs now we're starting to stay connected with those students throughout those initiatives so that they can um stay in contact with us. We can provide them support and resources. We've had individuals offer to um be kind of informal mentors for them as they work
033on their coursework. And the hope is is that we can support and encourage them throughout their pathway so that when they reach the point of certification, hopefully we can get them to come back and work in the school district, which would be great. Um talked about the events. Um the the DEI committee is doing um the some of the subcommittees have been doing quite a bit of outreach. So um they're spending time reaching out to colleges and universities where we can make connections um as well as for possible student teacher placements in the future from historically black colleges and and um universities that better represent the population that we serve. And we continue to support initiatives such as troops to teachers. We've been participating in troops to teachers since 2018. Um a as you know,
034these are individuals who come from all over the country and work in our local area. And when they're ready to um either retire from the military or they're a current military veteran, um we want to support them if they have an interest in becoming a teacher. Um so we continue to support those initiatives. We host those events in the school district. We meet with prospective um veterans and active military members who have an interest in becoming educators and um you know we foster those relationships as well. And then I just want to talk briefly about we've been going through some process redevelopment that Susan had mentioned when she did her introduction. Um the committee has been working collectively to basically review all of our hiring practices, our application process, our interview pro, you know, screening
035and interview processes. And we've actually been um we've come up with a set of recommendations on how we can make that process uh more inclusive and also look for candidates who bring more diverse backgrounds and experiences um to their teaching um practice. So, we've actually made a number of changes to the process, not officially, but we've been piloting some changes to in this spring hiring season. We have a small number of teacher hires to make. So, it was a perfect opportunity to pilot some of the things that we were thinking of, try them out, see how they work, get some feedback, and then learn from those experiences, and then take those processes forward and formalize them u for the next school year so that we can take them forward from there. So, um, so there's
036been some really good things that we've been piloting around asking questions about a, uh, diverse experiences. Um, you know, taking a look at our committee and what makes up our committee and and what does that representation look like, talking to the committees about our goals and objectives around DEI and how it relates to the hiring process. So, we've actually done some education of committee members before they serve. Um so um so we we are piloting that. We're we're looking to have some feedback um towards the end of the school year and over the summer. We've already started the feedback process with individuals who are either serving on the committees. I've also spoken to a couple of applicants who were interviewed so we can get feedback from them so that we can understand, you know, how
037they feel about the process and if they have any suggestions for changes. Um, so we're excited to kind of see that through and um kind of get to the other side of that and enhance the hiring process that we have in the school district. So um we're excited about that work as well. Um, anybody else want to jump in? Anything else that either Ada or Naen or Jamal? Anything else you can think of around minority recruitment that I may not have touched on? >> Um, we also um specifically with retention, we're coming up with questions that we can sort of um ask once an employee leaves the district. So, just to sort of get some feedback um as to what may have led them to leave and if there's anything that we can do better.
038So, nothing has been quite finalized yet, but we just thought that that would be a great addition um to have feedback on as to why employees leave our district. >> Thank you, Ada. If I can add just a couple more things. Um obviously when you are trying to develop a plan to increase or diversify uh the workforce there there is um a fine line there where you have to be very mindful of with regards to um ensuring that um when you are actively recruiting that you obviously are fair for for all um applicants. And so part of that process um that I hope to uh share with the team or the subcommittee is um from the alliance group that I work with um has worked with uh some some lawyers on um appropriate language that
039needs to be um thought of and written into uh the policies and again so um equity is uh you know fulfilled for for all groups and so that's one area I know I know a lot of people have had questions on uh what does that look like what's the language need to be how do you center it around let's say you know the term of affirmative action uh so those things uh need to be looked at um as well as we move forward >> are there question before we go into the more of the DEI um in deeper in the DI DEI stuff is there any questions that are specific speifically related to sort sort of the stuff that um can I say stuff one more time? Um the items that um Lori presented from
040the board. Lori, I'm just really excited because there's just so much more depth um to when I can remember we were sitting in oh goodness, I don't remember what number that room is. um room 11 >> 11 >> and um having us kind of talk about like how do we you know how do we do this and and it and it just seems such a like a process and and and to just to hear the breath of detail of the fact that you're doing a pilot program and getting feedback that we can do that we can finally take a look at why do employees leave um and is there something and and having those policies and and having our policies and procedures be much more clear and um and and concise and and um dare
041I say appropriate if that's a a neat or an okay word to use. But I'm just really excited about grow grow our own um and hoping people will come back into the district um that educated them. I just I'm really excited about that. Um very excited. >> Yeah, there's some good stuff happening and thank you Jamal for clarifying that. You know the uh there is a you know diversity takes on many shapes and forms. So it means lots of different things. It means you know representation of you know young um you know representation for our young male students and you know who they connect with and you know um there it takes on many shapes and forms and and you're right we we have to look at them all. It's not just one focus area.
042So thanks for pointing that out. Um so that's it for me. I'll I will turn it over to Jamal and he will take it from here. Uh thank you Laura Lori. I I want to first begin by saying that um one of the things that we've been able to do with the DEI and I think uh this is a great example from the work that uh Lori um has done um as well as the group that she's working with is is really looking at the the hiring retention and recruitment. Um but what we were realizing um is that um a lot of fabulous things that are happening were kind of happening in kind of in silos and what the DI um has done is created some coherence and alignment between what we're doing. So it's
043under one umbrella that we come back to and thus we are obviously you know um sitting today at a board meeting discussing all the things that we've done um collectively as a district um also individually as school and and I think that's something really to kind of really think back to step back and really think about because as you just said Kim um is it is about the depth that we've uh established in the district but also the breath and it also kind of speaks to that we are on the forefront. Um I do believe and I think we all should be very proud that we have become models for other districts um in the groups that we've been involved with with other districts. Um many districts look to uh Graten at this point about
044what what is Graten doing? What are some of the initiatives that they're doing? How can we help them? So again, I I think it really speaks to our commitment and it aligns uh directly with our um DEI statement. And so I I I think again this is a great segue because we started off about almost a year ago when we established a DEI really not knowing um where we were going to go but very passionate about addressing uh social justice and inequalities and realizing that we had an opportunity uh in front of us to uh move forward and not back. I know people have talked about returning to normal. Uh but for for many that's not what we want to return to and I think we have um 100 plus people who recognize that who
045have joined the DEI and who are committed and they have really committed to phase one. If you recall, phase one of our five-year plan is educ an education plan which centered on becoming informed and in building awareness. And from that, our awareness and action committee developed a DI statement that was presented to the board that several members of the board um as well as um DI members worked to create a statement that um met who or embodied who we were and what we wanted to become. And it also spoke directly at the issue. Um and I know other districts um have looked at our our statement and they are looking to create a statement of their own but they use that as a benchmark. Again something we need to you know acknowledge and be very
046proud of. With that being said uh we focused um through our subcommittee education on professional development. We uh focus on building critical consciousness where um I personally um led professional development with our leadership team uh centered on building critical consciousness and then critical consciousness is is recognizing that inequalities do exist and then taking actual actionable steps to uh fix that and and I think um we all have moved in that direction at all levels elementary, middle and high We've also done unbiased unconscious bias training and again we were doing that before the DEI committee established but we continued that and we offered that back in the fall for those who wanted to participate in that. We also offered um professional development on structural inequalities and white privilege in which the whole district participated in um
047and partnered with CREP. And then we um centered our focus on the individual recognizing that for us to really push for systemic change, we have to really focus on ourselves. And so we offered up a book club uh with the book So You Want to Talk About Race? And it was an an excellent experience where we had over 50 participants in that where we talked about concepts such as race, racism, uh white privilege, microaggressions and and the purpose of that was to build a equity uh or equity literacy so we can have deep conversations about it. Then um currently um several of us um Christophanes uh Aaron Maguire Lori uh myself and I might be missing someone else and if I do Laura you can fill in are currently participating in a um professional development
048that's been going on on for about uh six to seven weeks with New York uh leadership academy and it's coaching for culturally responsive practices and so um we are going to you know be able to be coaches centered around um responsive culturally responsive uh pedigogy. In addition to that, we really centered on our focus on curriculum and instruction. we are in that industry and um you know I'm I'm pleased and in the board has done a great job as well as people like u Kamita Hajj who has worked to um ensure that the African-American black and Puerto Rican and Latin studies is going to be at the high school and is approved for the fall of 2022. We've worked with Connecticut Center of Change. Um, currently GMS is working um with them in and um
049establishing an equity leadership team. Susan um again recognized uh the importance of our work and um has um you know purchased books forwami Alexander uh where we did you know read across Mary one district one author one problem we've also um once again uh had the pleasure uh and if you haven't had the opportunity I recommend that you uh ha do read uh Cornelius Miners, we got this again. He came and spoke to us and it we talk about a powerful powerful message that he shared. Uh it it was great for for all of us and it really I think uh solidified why we are doing what we're doing. And then you know Lori spoke uh about the recruitment and hiring um and how important that is and what we're doing there. But we also
050look to move beyond just that of within the school and recognize that we do possib that we can have an influence in the community. So we we partnered with the town of Grton's DI committee and out of that came Grant in action as many of you know uh that we went out and um went to several neighborhoods um in one in um this the city and one in the town um and really promoted uh tried to to create some advocacy and also awareness centered on the vaccination. Um the families were excited to see us out there. Um were happy that we were um advocating for them and as a result of that um you know we we are starting to see some popup um clinics in air obviously the one um that's going to be
051there at Fish High School on on Wednesday. And so again, it really again demonstrates that we do have influence and that we need to use that influence to uh push for systemic change. We're also currently working with Dr. Lichmore from Connecticut College who has been working with uh several um teachers as well as u families to to help um in providing us some guidance um about how we can obviously continue to improve um as we consolidate um our schools. In addition, um we have um worked with uh as Lori was saying with the uh minority teacher recruitment customium. Um I'm an active member of the um alliance team. So I represent learn obviously at our district uh as we meet with the other risk. And what we've been able to do there is really kind
052of center our our focus on how do we best utilize the guide book. There is a guide book uh that we participate um that can help us increase our our practices centered on um hiring and recruitment. So we're excited about that. And so you know at this at this point um for year one I believe we can we have evidence that shows that we have achieved our year one objective becoming informed and building awareness. Um, we're moving into year two and this is a two the to three-year commitment and it's focusing on solidifying buyin and initial dismantling um which we could basically coin the microlevel um injustices. And so we're looking to start to collect some data and we want to position ourselves as agents of change. And what we're hoping to do uh with
053that or uh an actionable step is the cultural responsive pedagogy and leadership um professional development um which we are going to start to plan and we want to present to um both Phil and Susan um about you know what we can start to do um as a district again to create that that depth and breadth u but really centering on the students themselves. um and eventually moving towards possibly an equity audit and also a multicultural calendar where we have you again evidence that again constantly demonstrates our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion >> and that all happened in a year. It's just absolutely amazing. I just can't thank you Jamal for your leadership in this and with Ada Allen and Naen Mlin. I know the time and energy that went into this and Lori and
054all the members of the team, you know, we had about a hundred people who signed up originally and have really stuck with us and um and then I sent out the books so more people can read the books because we bought enough so that we can now start other book clubs in the school. So, um you've given some really wonderful examples and it it is um a labor of love and it's something that you know I thank our board for um really helping to support it and to even add into our operation funds support for this initiative. So, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And um you know with the SR3 funds they talk about social emotional learning and diversity, equity, inclusion that their focus really is on equity. And so we haven't even started
055to talk about the data but as we dig in the data we want to encourage our kids to take some of these higher level courses in the high school to tap kids on the shoulder early on and say you're really good at that. You should try this. So, I think um we have a lot of um great avenues in Graten and I look forward to to joining you in this work. Um I don't know Kim if you wanted to say anything, too. >> I do know that there's a couple board members that have questions. So, absolutely, but I'm in awe. I'm in awe of this district. Jay, I know that you have a question. >> Yeah. I just wanted um to uh clarify a little bit. I'm not on the um minority recruitment uh committee
056of DEI, but I've I've talked to to folks who've been involved with it. And so my understanding is obviously we we're concerned about the the staff and faculty more um uh um matching uh you know our our student base um uh more closely than it is right now. And some of the things I've heard about is reaching out to um historically black colleges uh and that sort of thing um to to recruit um from those campuses. I don't know if that will be physically or virtually, but my understanding is that that the idea is we want them to know that we're an open um district that that's looking to to increase our equity. And so is that something that um will be taking place this year, next year? What what and is that what what's
057going on with that committee? If if someone else wants to speak to that, you may go ahead, but I'm happy to to address that if you would like. So I I think that's a very good question. Uh and and again I think it's important that we we recognize that we have to be intentional in our pursuit. Um many districts um and many boards uh begin with the question is why are educators of color not interested in in our district? We have a lot to offer. Um, and I would always argue that we want to probably rephrase the question. What are we failing to do as a district to really demonstrate to these individuals that we are a place in which they want to work? So, one of the things that we have done, again, I
058think it's all cyclical, uh, one of the things that we've done is that we've established a DI committee. So, just think about a few years ago um a potential applicant who would be great for our district who happens to be someone of color looks at our website and uh goes through it and they don't see anything centered around uh diversity, equity, or inclusion. Um and so how do we how does that differentiate ourselves away from someone who does have that? It doesn't, right? So what we're what we're saying is that we have to do is we have to think um kind of globally in in recruiting. So we can go out and um partner with and I I do recommend that we do do that. We do partner with um institutions um to get you
059know the best candidates that we can for our students to meet our students needs. But we also need to recognize that when they come and look at us they're recruiting us as well. So that is important piece of it Jay that we need to do that but I would argue that we have to go beyond that and really look at ourselves and we have to make ourselves very appealing and I love to use the analogy when I was coaching football for a number of years at the collegiate level. One of the things that we had to do as a as a college coach we had to go out and we had to recruit athletes. So that means we had to go into those communities and you know and say we want you to come to
060our institution and so other people are doing the same thing and how do we get them one we want to get them on our campus right so we want to bring them to our to our to our district uh but we also want them shown what we have to offer and so we again we have to actively recruit and we've got to understand who we are recruiting and what are their interests not what our necessarily our interests are what are their interest and appeal to them if we feel that they are going to bring a value to to our district. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> Um, it's Liz. I just was um thinking we were talking about and Lori, you know, correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't we working on a
061wasn't the hiring committee or the recruitment committee working on a pamphlet to identify what the um the assets are here that would entice people to come to our area? So, is that still in the works? >> Can I talk to that a little bit, Mrs. late. >> Sure. >> Um actually Rebecca Bias um who's our communications person is working on she has a lot of ideas. she's working on a brochure and and things like that that we can then give for instance to uh a guy at EB who's on the and his committee camp his campus he has a friend who's on the fizer and we're looking at the spouses of people who come to our area and are looking to be teachers or pair of professionals or whatever and and Rebecca is working on
062that the literature even as we speak. >> So there's a lot of other things that are, you know, I just I think what my point was is I I I'm so glad to hear that, Lee. It's so cool because, you know, we need to look at our own assets we have here in Grten. And we do have a lot of Navy personnel. I'm hoping that that uh pamphlet goes out to the the Navy, you know, and and the Coast Guard and all because we there's so much here to offer and we just have to market ourselves better >> and I think that's something that is really um the recruitment committee subcommittee is working hard on and the hiring subcommittee and I also know that because I'm heading up with um I'm co-chairing with Reita Casey
063the retention committee and Ada and Naen. It's so nice to see you guys. Um but you know with with Jen Belmonte and we're talking about okay we're talking about getting an affinity group together and starting to work towards what do we do to keep people here and so there are other things in the works as well. So, I just wanted to to, you know, talk to you, tell you about that. And, um, but also just to clarify that there's, you know, we're people like like Lee are out there actively working to get, you know, qualified candidates here to really consider Groten. We are >> I think one of the things that I was most um I'm most honored about watching the process is the group that came together for the vaccination. I mean talking about
064just sort of a community effort and doing the and just really kind of doing the the work around and the walk around like you can you can we can talk a big game, right? We can talk about how we're trying to be more open and more available and more inclusive and really kind of think about what does that all mean and what does it and and stuff but to say that you know one of at the current moment one of the basic needs is to make sure that all people get access to a vaccination so that they can go back to work that they can be at school that they can be that they can feel more free around doing around that I mean that's just for me and then for it to be a
065communitywide event And you know there's always that and the and the children will lead them right um and so here here are the adults that work with the children and here we are leading. So I'm I'm very honored and and just what what has happened in a year um and and what has happened in a year in the world but what has happened in a year that this how this how the district has decided to sort of respond to that. Um, it's pretty darn cool if I don't say so myself. But any other >> This is just one year of a five-year plan. So, this team has really thought about this not just for a year, but thinking ahead for five years. So, they'll be coming back to us and we'll we'll watch this grow.
066We'll nurture it and >> hopefully we'll we'll see diversity, equity, and inclusion take root. Any other questions? >> Um, I would just like to make a statement. Um, I am just so thrilled with what we're doing and how much we've done in one year in a five-year plan. So, um, this is remarkable and and just makes me it warms my heart and and I know we're in the right direction. That's all. >> Thank you, Rosemary. >> It's good to hear your voice. >> Thank you. So without further ado then um Jamal thank you very much Ada as always it's such and Naen it's such a pleasure to see you guys um and thank you very much for kind of coming and um and and being here and and kind of helping the board kind of
067grow along um with the with the district on this stuff. So thank you thank you so much >> and thank you Lori for helping us to action actionalize this too. How do you >> put it into action, >> Lori? I'm sorry. Like that was that's a I I just I tend to see your face so so much more often than I do um some of my other friends. So um but uh so Susan, I'm wondering if you could lead us into this conversation about my very favorite topic, the calendar. So Mike actually left me with this thought to look at the calendar. We actually did some leg work together before he set sail. And one of the things that he came to me about that he thought was very important was that we take the
068spring break and really um make sure that it was based on the regional calendar so that we like all the learn districts and our neighboring districts um you know we share kids and teachers and it's always good to have that big spring break at the same time. So, I had sent out the calendar a couple times, but in April, it would start, spring break would start on the 15th, which is a Good Friday, and go for that next week. Um, we always knew that our school year would have to start after Labor Day based on two new schools being constructed, three new schools closing, and all the movement. On top of that, Sam has come to us about all the other tasks and challenges that we have facing us between asbestos in the high school
069and fire alarm systems at um Charles Barnum. So, we really did need that summertime to get all of these things accomplished. So, that means that like last year, we would start after Labor Day in September. Um, and that puts us like we are this year. um at the 17th of um June for ending school. But one thing that we have as a benefit that we didn't have last year was that we didn't have the option of snow days, snow day, remote days. I mean, so now that we've gone through a winter where we really virtually turn snow days, I think I gave the kids one snow day, we turn them into remote learning days. And it might not look like the remote learning days before, but we can certainly have teachers have some planning time
070to develop those kind of snow day, remote day plans ahead of time and um really go shift right into a remote learning day so that we wouldn't have to worry about a week of snow days should we have that kind of inclement weather. Um so I think we're we're kind of in a better place in that regard than we were last year. But I, you know, that's the thing that kind of sets the calendar apart from um, you know, certainly wanting to shift that spring break. We always had it in mind to start after Labor Day for that intended purpose. And then um the graten teaching and learning I've said this a few times has really stated that with all the initiatives with the my careers program with the new magnets with the um teacher
071work that needs to go into accelerated learning and the need to collaborate more than ever before on prioritizing standards and really looking at data together and seeing where our kids are and making sure that they're growing like weeds and we're really attending to all of their needs. needs, including their social emotional learning needs. So to build in the TLI days that we've always had in the past, but to add two additional ones and then to put it together with the department meetings, which is an extra hour after school, which would give teachers three hours of of really good work time together to really accomplish some tremendous goals. Um I think would be of great assistance to them. So, those are kind of the the three things, you know, the start date, the um certainly the
072spring break, which would align to learn, and then the TLI days, which would give us department and grade level time, as well as other things that are we're really working on and concentrating on this year for next year. >> I Susan, I have a couple questions. So the um so the snow days. So um I I understand that we're going to we're going to grab hold of a pretty great opportunity for us not to go really late into the school year because of that. But my guess is there's got to be some wiggle room because some of the storms that we're getting have high wind and there there are many of us who live in a pretty um dense area where power tends to or even for our teachers where power kind of goes out.
073So um I'm I'm assuming that that's going to be part of part of the discussion. Is that correct? Well, we can always go into the next week, but I have to say that we're looking at both asynchronous and synchronized learning. Back when we first started talking about snow day remote days back in, you know, a decade ago, we talked about take-home kits that would be snow day kits. So, I think you can send home some of those print things as well, whether it's the math workbook or whether it's a journal for writing, so that kids would have the option. And so we wouldn't be relying like we were in the past on being on a computer all day long. It would have to look a little different. >> Super. And thank you. And that those
074are the two words that I can never pronounce the as >> asynchronous and synchronous. >> Yeah, I just learned how to spell curriculum like last year. So um I'm behind the the the the thing. Okay. So, but my guess is is that if I as a board member um don't understand that, my guess is that that's going to have to be when we when this calendar goes goes back out to the district um that that needs to sort of be described for parents that if if there is like a snow day or storm day um because we we live in an area where we can get storms >> throughout >> at any time or power could go out. You know, we had a a situation at Northeast where they were without power and we had
075to use generators for, you know, part of the time and we all worked together to figure out how to rectify it and Sam was right there. So, it does get solved, but it does put that panic in you. Do we have to send kids home because things aren't working? So, right, >> those things do happen in schools. >> Yep. And then my other question and then I'll open up to anyone else is um is okay. So we're opening those two elementary schools. Um my understanding is that we also have um we also have um kindergarteners come in beforehand and are we able to do that with these new schools? like are have people thought about that or am I am I just trailing into a different trail? >> Well, we what we did last year
076because of COVID, we weren't able to do spring screening and I don't think we'll be able to do that this year either. But in the summertime, kindergarten teachers came in and we looked at our youngest group of learners, those are those four-year-olds, to get them in a little bit early in the summer, okay? >> And give them those experiences so we could screen them and they could kind of get a little taste test of school. And then it helped us in um figuring out enrollment for TK. So um you know, we can do something like that. And then when they first get back, we always designate the first few days of the calendar for both preschool and prek screening and also kindergarten screening. And last year we did the four days and that worked out
077really well because we were able to get them all in. Remember, we have to social distance in a a little bit different way. There aren't vaccines for little ones yet. So they're wearing their masks. They have to be socially distanced and you know, we're working with them. The adults are probably very much okay because they've had the full vaccination, most of them. But for little children, we're still going to have some of those safety measures in the fall for sure. Um because they won't be fully vaccinated. So, we'll be with, you know, working closely with the health department still to make sure um we can move forward. Yeah, I was just thinking about the school building and and availability and readiness and right before the school starts. Not that I want us to get a
078certificate of occupancy on September 6th. Um, >> right school to start on the >> So, like I said, it might have to happen in that first week of school when everybody else is in and then they'll be screened like we did last year. >> Okay. Thank you very much. I appreciate that, >> Liz. Um, I'm going to put right out there that I really I I sent my comments in to Susan when she put first put out there what you were talking, you know, what do you think and ask for questions and or concerns and I just want to voice my concern again. We have high stake tests for kids that have been out out, you know, remote now for 14 months and now they're going to go back to school. And I really think
079personally that they need to be in school before Labor Day. I you know seriously at the high I understand the the the problems but I really am very concerned about our AP and our IB kids. The whole month of May is all testing. And so that cuts us back with all this the uh of all the vacations and everything else, all the interruptions. We're not giving them the best that we can do. I don't think that's my opinion. And I really want to um ask you know that maybe relook at this maybe not this year if we can't do it this year but for next year we I really think we need to go back to school in August because kids need especially the IB and the AP kids the Yukon kids testing this May
080it's that's it I mean you start testing AP I mean IB starts testing at the very end of April I mean the last like the 28th of April is usually the first date for testing for the business group and we really I think cutting them short. So, I really think we need to relook at this calendar or future calendars because let's face it, the end product is our seniors, you know, and I really am very passionate about this and I really think we we're had kids come to talk to us when we were in session. Um, Deja and she was a uh going to be a junior or she was a junior at the time. um she came in and was very happy to see her and she was like we really want to come
081back to school earlier than the day after Labor Day and we talked a good talk and then COVID hit and now all of a sudden we're back to not considering those those requests and those concerns. So I just felt I needed to voice those concerns again. I understand I do understand the need for the asbestous and everything else. My question is, have we ever considered a staggered um opening? High school goes back two weeks prior to the And I I see you, Beth. I'm sorry. I'm just trying to think outside the box. Okay. I'm just trying to think that, you know, can is there something we could do? >> I I couldn't agree with you more, Liz. I think that after this year we certainly the regional calendar does start in August but because of
082the graten 2020 which goes into 2021 as you know these two years were really important even our graten middle school really wasn't ready remember we had to go full remote for the kids that first week they really weren't ready to open and and we thought they were going to be ready and we we have information that the two elementaryaries are going to be ready to open you know for the beginning of the school year after Labor Day. So, you know, I'm very hopeful for that and I do look forward to the day because I do agree with you that we want to get in that that instructional time as early as possible. Um, and I I just think that this was kind of an anomaly and part of our Graten 2020 20 plan when you're
083building three new buildings and you're closing down four or five, you know, we've taken on an enormous challenge. So, this was something both Mike and I really knew about and we were hoping for it to be this limited two-year summer, two summers. Um, and then we can kind of get back to that better than normal. And looking at the regional calendar, which does start prior to um, you know, you know, prior to Labor Day and in August, at the end of August. So, that's definitely something we want to commit to. And I agree, you know, um that instructional time is very valuable, >> but the professional learning time too for teachers is also very valuable because that goes right to the students. >> Absolutely. Better instruction. I I totally agree. I just wanted to make
084sure that that put on doesn't get put on a back burner and forgotten. >> Yep. No, have not forgotten it. >> Thank you. >> Once we get this one settled, we can start looking at the next one. So, so are there more questions on the calendar? So, Susan, does this need to come on the 24th for a vote for? >> It probably should because we are changing April break. I think it's really important though to get the information out to teachers and families for their planning purposes because we are shifting it a week. The start date does not change. Um the TLI days are linked with the department days. So I think as long as they have that a year ahead or you know prior to the start of school it should be fine. And
085the one nice thing is our um treehouse program does offer offer kids that are in the program after school care and so that that can be part of whatever parents sign up for. So on those TLI days they can go right into the treehouse if they are part of that program. Okay. So the so really the the the difference is the April break and so the the shift is is when one to when >> it starts on the 15th of April on Good Friday instead of being that week including Good Friday. So it gives everybody that extra day. That's why we go all the way to the 17th to the in June at the end of the year. >> Okay. All right. So, um, so Susan, is it safe to say that if, um, people
086have questions, um, to kind of float them to you before the 24th? If not, >> absolutely. I would appreciate that very much. >> Okay. All righty. So, the next thing is the review of the referral list. Jay, I have a question for you on the referral list. Um did did was there any answer given to to yours about the how many students are coming from the the new construction from the town. >> I know that it was discussed at a um liaison meeting. >> Yeah. >> Um but it it seems to me every time I turn around there's some new proposal. So, I'm just wondering, you know, could could we ask the the the town manager to um maybe update us quarterly? Is that possible for staff to like just just keep us in the
087loop about these large developments and where they are in town? >> Okay. So, can I take that off finance and facility if we can get that? And Susan, oh, you've >> just wrote it down. Um, but you meet with John on a pretty regular basis. >> Yeah. >> So maybe that that would also be helpful, too. >> Yeah. I just think we need to know where the population changes are taking place in in town. And it seems like there's a lot of activity planned right now. >> And there's a committee on the town that might even be more helpful that is really monitoring the selling of properties and the and the, you know, the growth aspect in the town. So I'll reach out to them as well. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, one of the
088things I noticed that's on your um, meeting that's going being forwarded um, from finance and facilities is the tuition. Looking at the tuition and there were a few other things. So I know the next CO is going to be around finance and facilities with some items that you've been asking to look at. >> And I and I know that um, Rita is not here. she's visiting um her kids I think probably for the first time um since the before the pandemic. So good for her, but that she had the building substitutes for the the 2021 2022 and I I don't I don't know if I could remember and Joan I I know that you're here. I don't know if you remember sort of what she wanted to have a talk about, but maybe Susan we
089could try to figure that out. >> I think she was asking for how many we had increased by this year and what we're looking for next year. So that that I think we can certainly bring up. >> Okay. >> So I'll I'll talk to Ken about that. >> Okay. >> And Lori. >> And it looks like um the DEI stuff I think I would like to kind of continue to have on just so that we don't lose that. Um, but that looks like we did get some information about sort of recruitment and and stuff from the committee of the whole >> ready. >> Wait, wait, wait. I know. I know. I know. Andrea, when you do it, it's like an hour meeting and now it's an hour and 15 minutes. I'm just trying to just
090want to smoo for a second. But but but um policy Lee, when you look at the policy part of the tracking, um have we are there anything that needs to come out of that? >> You're muted. We always have questions about some of the technology, you know, have we done this, have we done that? Um maybe we can talk about it at the next policy meeting. >> Okay. Yeah. just to look at the tracking sheet just to make sure that's up to date. >> That sure will. >> That would be perfect. Thank you. >> We will indeed. >> All right. And then um suggested future topics, >> Liz. >> I have two um the my status of the my visitation, was it last week? And I was wondering, you know, if they've, you know, is
091there any update on that? Maybe we can talk about that. And uh the other thing was handbook revision for the board of ed. Um there are some things in there that uh need to be updated. So you know >> so how about if we um establish a committee? Um >> that sounds wonderful. >> That um is there anyone else besides Liz who would be interested in I got Andrea. Um >> I will I will do it with Liz. That would be good. Glad to. >> Okay. And Rosemary, are you waving to me or or are you stating that you're interested? >> Well, you you're muted. >> I'm interested. >> Okay. So, how about if we um establish the committee of those four people um to get together and revise the um board of ed um
092um H. So, the purpose so Okay. So, I am I'm establishing a committee and the committee is going to be Joan, if you can help me out, Liz, um, Andrea, Rosemary, and Lee, um, for the sole purposes of looking at the possible revisions and updates of the of the board, um, specifically the board's handbook. Um, that would be great. >> Good. How is that? >> Terrific. Are you ready? >> Wait a minute. Leave Jay's got his hand up. >> Uh Kim. >> Yes. >> I just wondering when was the last time that we reviewed the board template. I I went over the one from 2016 the other night and I'm I'm I I just have this feeling that we're not catching um some of the reporting. Obviously, we're not we're not having all the testing
093and things, but for example, you know, do we still use the graten yard stick at all? >> Um, and >> that unfortunately, um, we talked we had a we had a really big talk about that and then, um, probably about nine months before the pandemic. >> Okay. >> Stop talking about that. But no, and because I'm also thinking that we needed to look at revisions around the board policies, too. But um but Jay to your point um I'll just make sure Susan that we'll have the template with us when we have when we set up our agenda. Um >> we've been actually reviewing it but some of the data as you know Jay those assessments weren't given. So we haven't been receiving information from the state this year the way we had in the past
094>> but we are certainly giving the SP back now >> and we've certainly given the um interim assessments and we have a lot of data around all of those things so or will have a lot of data. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Are you ready? >> I'm ready. >> Bring it home. Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> I got Rosemary to second it. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. I. >> Abstain. And the motion has carried. Good night, everyone. Good night, Tracy.