11-22-21 Groton Board of Education Meeting

001All right. So, I um I am going to call uh the Gotten Board of Education regular meeting um to order. Today is November 22nd and it's 6 PM um and um yeah, that's what I'm going to do. Um and so the first thing that we're we'll do is uh do the pledge of allegiance. The flag is in front of us. And Damian, would you be willing to lead us? I would like to thank you for the flag of America which stands >> under God indivisibley and justice for all but um all right so um the first um order of business is um in um the town charter. Um well, it kind of talks about sort of the um new boards and um elected members. And today um we are going to um because this is

002our regular board meeting um for Lee, Rosemary, and Jane. Um you don't have to be done with us yet because you still got December 6th because we normally don't have a committee of the whole meeting. >> So I have two more meetings. So, um, but this is our this would be this is going to this is your last regular board um board meeting and so um what I um what what we'd like to do is just to honor um your um service and Rosemary we would love to honor your service as well and my understanding is that Jane is not able to be here tonight um but we would also like to honor Jane Giuliani. Um but Lee I am so excited on behalf of the board of education to give you this plaque that

003says Lee White, that's you. And it has the Grten seal and it says uh this is presented to Lee White Graten Board of Education 2015 to 2021. Wow. And so in recognition of your loyal service, dedication and commitment to the children in the garden public I I thank Lee a lot um for her um incredible guidance. Um, specifically, um, I think our your passion around food, um, coincided with how our our food service program evolved and, um, your passion for food, um, allowed us to think about the snack bar at Eastern Point Beach, um, and how you were such a champion of that. um and um took a really great idea that Sam and his staff had and to really kind of work through that, but just to always be thinking about um about the

004kids and about our our district. Um for that, I thank you very much for that. >> It has been my pleasure. >> Thank you. And uh >> I did an email for those who did who weren't on the email. Um, I did put in that Lee, I am really gonna miss your my food. Yes. >> Um, because she would come in with some really great treats. But, um, I hope that you're not a stranger to the district and I know that you're still very active in the community. So, thank you very much. >> Thank you, >> Rosemary, come on down. >> So, Rosemary, uh, I would just to also u make sure that we get this sent to you. you also receive a plaque that has your name on it and that your um years

005of service was from 2016 to 2021. And so, um, the board of education would love to thank you, um, for your dedication, um, to the district and how you really, um, worked really hard at, um, giving us those, um, connections to the gasp, um, as a board member to act and also your just work in the community um, with um, in services. So, I just wanted to say thank you very much for your always thoughtful comments and and great puns and I I just wanted to say thank you um and on behalf of the board of education, thank you for your service. But remember, you still have the committee of the whole meeting on December 6th. So you're not >> and I'll be there and you're very welcome and it has been a a real

006honor for me to to be part of um the group and um I I like promoting health especially. >> Yep. And your thoughtful conversations and bringing that to the forefront I think has been very helpful for the district. So thank you. >> Thank you. I thank both you and Lee for all your help with policy. We really cranked it out, girls. A lot done together. So, thank you. >> J is not with us. Um she also is um receiving a plaque um and she served on the board of education for four years. And so we'd like to recognize Jane and her um steadfastness to the district. So once again, thanks to Jane got me summarized. All right. All right. Um so this is the the next section of uh the meeting is um comments from

007citizens. Um and Joan, I don't know if there's anyone on our chat that has asked to speak. Um but this is the portion of the agenda where the board welcomes comments from citizens. Each presentation should be limited to five minutes or less and citizens should if possible submit written comments. Presentations should be related to matters pertinent to Graten. Board members will only ask questions in order to clarify the speaker's presentation and cannot respond during the comments to citizens portion of the board meeting. Citizens should make their presentation um on Zoom or if you're here there's not a podium um and state their names and addresses for the record. And Miss Joan, I heard you say that we don't have >> No, I'm looking at screen. >> Okay. And and is there anyone here? All right,

008hearing no comments from the citizens, we will not have a response from the citizens. And we're moving um off to our student um representative report. And so this young man next to me um is Isaiah. And I'm going to have you introduce yourself. This is I know you've been to other board meetings um by Zoom, but he is here in person. And so I would love to welcome you. Um, and as I mentioned to you, um, through my email is that, um, this board very much, um, uh, really respects and, um, you guys have helped move us in different directions, um, because of your youth voice. And so, um, you sitting at this table is not just because we want it to look good, is that we really appreciate the voice that you hold. And

009so, um, welcome. And I don't know if you had anything that you wanted to share. Um, oh, and then we're gonna move a speaker closer to you so that you can be heard. >> Okay. >> I have a few things. I just have like a list on my phone. >> Super. >> So, just update you guys on a few things that happened at our school so far. We just had a tailgate for the football game and it was actually pretty successful. We had a bunch of different like garden variety games and there was food and we had our homecoming dance a couple weeks ago which is also great success and the senior class really planned it. I'm a junior but they did a really great job and I think they sold over 500 tickets. >>

010Wow. >> And it's all outdoors. >> Yeah. >> Nice. >> We were able to get enough um like volunteers to help watch the event. And also right now we're in the middle of our spirit week for our pep rally that we're doing tomorrow which is sort of like a pep parade on the football field. And the first day of spirit week was Thursday last Thursday and it was trying to draw blank. Um oh throwback Thursday and there a decent amount of people participate including me and then Friday was country Friday. Today was neon Monday and then tomorrow is just like fitch colors. So each class has their different colors they wear for the pep parade. >> Oh, another exciting thing. I don't know if you guys are aware of this, but our boys soccer team

011played in the state championship over the weekend. And even though they didn't win, they played amazing. I think one of the players they hadn't won a state game ever before this year, which I thought was really amazing. Actually, am I allowed to ask a question? >> Absolutely. >> Okay. So, my student council advisors and I were wondering if would it ever be possible for us to be able to use online programs, not programs, but apps such as like Venmo or PayPal for fundraisers instead of just using cash money. >> We could look into that. We have some technology folks who might be able to >> get things up to the 21st century, you know, make it a little easier for you. >> Yeah. So, I've got just a person I can talk to and ask

012>> his first student representative report and we're going to make a referral and it's going to go to policy. I would assume it needs to go to policy because finance >> and finance facilities. Yeah. >> So there. So, so that's actually how the board works is that oftentimes there are topics that happen and we um we get what's called referrals and then it goes um either to a committee um at the present moment Jay um who is on a video he is the chair of the finance and facilities Lee is actually the chairperson for the policy committee and Andrea has been acting as the curriculum um uh um chair. So what what we're going to do is because we don't know what the policy implications um is to have PayPal and Venmo. So that should

013be looked at by policy, but also if there's any financial sort of things, we're going to send it to the financial facilities. >> Perfect. >> Okay. All right. Stop for a second. >> Okay. >> Um any questions from the board for Isaiah? And I looks like I got Rita and then Lee. >> Oh, I don't have one. >> Oh, you were just waiting. Okay. >> Hi. I I was just wondering if you would introduce yourself to everyone in the audience, you know, the the people at large. >> Okay. Um, hi, I'm Isaiah Anderson. I'm a junior at Fitch High School. >> I'm the class president for my class. I play baseball and I'm also part of the athletic committee that planned the parade and spirit week this week. >> And do you still collect do

014you still collect pennies? you know, each class to see how many pennies I I mean, that was sort of a big deal at one time and then it was donated. Do they still do that for spirit week? >> They don't, but we've talked about doing it for our next spirit week. >> Yeah, that's great. Okay, thank you. Welcome. >> Hi. Thank you. >> Oh, I'm supposed to introduce myself on Zoom. I'm Rita Bman. I'm a board member. Sorry. >> Nice to meet you, Rita. >> Nice to meet you. Any other questions for Israel? >> All right, here we go. >> I actually have one quick one. I think the football team is still in the playoffs. Am I correct? >> So, their last game is Thanksgiving, >> right? >> If they win Thursday, they have

015a chance to make it to the state tournament. >> Yeah. >> But a few other teams have to lose them to make it in. >> Right. I I I remember reading that. Well, good luck to them. Thank you. >> And uh Madam Chair, >> yes, please. Jay, >> so uh hi Isaiah, my name is Jay Whitoff. I have a senior at Fitch. I just want to welcome you aboard. >> Nice to meet you, Jay. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions? Okay, hearing none, we're going to move on. >> Thank you. Is Allison I think is it is it Alison? Is your other >> Ally? Yes. >> Ally. Is Ally on? >> I do not see her online. >> Okay. Thank you. >> She said today she had >> she did have a cheerleading. >>

016No. Okay. All right. So, she might pop on later. We can say hello to her. >> That'd be great. >> Yeah. >> All right. Um, so we're now moving on to the stu student stu. Wow. I'm gonna try that one more time. Moving on to the superintendent and administrative reports. So, Susan, >> I'd love to be able to start with um acknowledging two principles and an assistant principal who really are the recipients of the blue ribbon um that was awarded to Mary Morrison, the the whole staff and students and families. And when we closed Mary Morrison, we really moved the most of the um students and staff over to um Thames River Magnet School where Jamie Gordano is now the principal since Kathy Miner has retired and Ada Allen and I were able to go

017and receive the blue ribbon on behalf of Graten Public Schools. And I'd really like to invite them up here to talk to you a little bit about the blue ribbon and why this is such an exciting um opportunity for us. >> Okay, you just slide up. >> See you. >> Yeah, slide one back. Sure. [Applause] Yeah, >> there you go. >> So, I actually this has just been a thrill and honor obviously to start a brand new school and then receive this amazing honor. It really, as I said to Susan and Susan's been saying it as well that it is an honor for all I've gotten in that our teachers have gone to different schools in the district to Mystic. Um, some have gone to CK, we obviously have them. um some actually I think

018might even have popped to the middle school but the students as well have spread out throughout the district. So, as I said, it is an honor for the entire run um community and um we do have a wonderful plaque that was hung and it's hung so well. I wasn't able thanks Sam to bring it here today, which is fine, right? Come and see it at the at the school. It's absolutely stunning. Um but I did get a an official um citation from the attorney general, state of Connecticut. So I can read it if you would like to or I can pass it around. Um but it was sent on October 12th and it's the office of the attorney general official citation. Be it hereby known to all that the attorney general offers his sincerest congratulations

019to the river magnet school in recognition of being named a 2021 national blue ribbon school. The attorney general extends his very best wishes on this significant occasion and expresses his hope for continued success given on the October 20 or 12th, 2021. William Tong, Attorney General. Would you like to look at it or see it? I can read. >> You got it. You can read it. >> But I'll also defer obviously to Kathy and Ada who put um timeless, you know, amount of or endless amount of time rather into getting this moving. Yeah. Well, we were delighted uh last February when Susan got the word from the state that we were one of four schools being selected to be recognized for the national blue living. Um there are two ways you can achieve that. One is

020by whole school improvement and the other is by um reducing and eliminating subgroups um that gap um in our subgroup. So uh the second one is how we qualify um based on the state testing from the previous year. Um so we proceeded in February to start the application process which they do do require and if you had a chance to look at it it's pretty lengthy. Um, one of the things I've said to Susan is if you read through the application, what you see is really a more global picture. Almost everything we wrote about Mary Morrison and what we did is kind of reflected across the district. There's many things that, you know, we start with the district's uh mission, teaching and learning. It's that simple. Um, and we go from there. Um, and I

021even, you know, sent a copy of it to Dr. Geneer and said, "Do you see what I'm seeing here?" You know, that that this is really reflective of all the work that's been done in the district, um, at least at the elementary level that we're most familiar with. So, um, we were just delighted and the teachers were proud to be part of the process. every question we had to answer, we pushed out to the teachers and they sent feedback back and we get into the weeds of writing it. Um, and we're successful. >> You said it was like a learning opportunity, you know, to be able to take time to reflect as a group on what went right when you close an achievement gap and especially at a military school where there's so many transient

022students and the second time in five years is really something to be proud of. there weren't many national winners there that had two of them under their belt and they and they said Val Nelson said some of the same things you're saying that you know in a military community those teachers have to really get to know the kids right away and so we had to really reflect on you know what we did that made this happen um that made our students successful and you know we really uh decided that a couple of the things were the the schoolwide schedule that allowed us to um make sure that the resources were very equitably distributed among all students. And with regard to the transient students, whether they're military or some of our low socioeconomic students who move

023a lot, um some of those practices really um really helped the process along with working together on data team and intervention team and uh you know making the process work and keeping that school improvement plan really dynamic. data. So, in addition to what Kathy and Jamie shared, I you know, it was an honor to be able to go to DC, but to all of my colleagues across the district, we were there and we were accepting the award for you because without you, none of this would have been possible because your excellence with teaching really had an impact on our student achievement. So, it was an honor to accept the award, but I just want to, you know, spread the love to all of my colleagues, teachers, staff who really help make the difference in our

024students learning. >> And I would also say a shout out to students and their families. you know, it's really a whole school community, a whole school district community that um you know, has put forth a tremendous effort, you know, and then to receive this kind of information in the middle of the COVID 19 era was really quite >> parents had to be a big part of it. So, um, I thank all of you and we just have to pick a date to, you know, put the official banner when we order the banner and see the plaque and welcome the community >> and the staff, you know, to receive it kind of formally at the Thes River. >> Be fun >> magnet school. >> So, thank you so much. [Applause] Are there questions from the board?

025>> I'd just like to say congratulations. I I I've know these ladies very pretty well, but I know that the staffs that you have represented really appreciate your collaboration and that you have, you know, you've taken the lead, but you have included them all the way. And that is extremely telling and how well your group works together and how well you come together for Graten's kids. And that's what our purpose is, making sure our kids are all taken care of. So, thank you very much. And I'm so proud of all of us and all of you and of our kids especially. So, >> thank you. >> Lots of love. >> We'll send you out to date with this. >> Absolutely. Please let us know. >> Official official >> lovely to see all >> that. It's

026been wonderful. I love you everyone. Take care. All >> right. Oh yeah. [Music] If >> Mark, do you have permission to share the screen for us? >> I do. >> Um, can you get on to the website >> um, Bill um, for attendance matters? I could do it if I >> I'm passing out some magnets for you that say attendance matters. They went home to all of our families and I figured you might like one for your refrigerator too. >> Um this is part of our attendance matters campaign. Even though we're kind of in the thick of things still with um tracing for COVID and making sure our kids are healthy, we have a new what we're calling screen and stay which allows kids to stay and learn um as long as they've had the

027mitigating circumstances um and you know they haven't been really designated as close contact especially with our students that are vaccinated. We look forward to having a vaccination clinic, the eighth one at Fitch High School on December 3rd and it's full. Although it you can still try to go on and register if someone um does not show up. So um and then we've talked to the state of Connecticut about having mobile clinics for our five elementary and Graten Middle School. So they will come in I think second week of December. first or second week we're trying to get them and we're trying to find a date that they'll come back so that our kids with their parents' permission would be fully vaccinated and I think that would be a real advantage to the community. We certainly

028noticed that by offering these eight times to Fitch High School, we saw that our staff um was up to 96% fully vaccinated and um faculty and staff and many of our students. As a matter of fact, the middle school and high school principles say contact tracing is much easier when your child when the students are fully vaccinated because we know that they have that protection. So, we look forward to the day that all of our children will, but of course, it would be required that parents would have to sign off a permission slip. So, we will give you more information about that. Are you able to >> I sent I sent the link to Mark if you I emailed it to him. Okay. >> If it's easier for him to share because I'm not in

029the meeting in the Zoom. >> Okay. Can you share um with us the Zoom link? We'll open up maybe the elementary version first >> in in the meantime. Can I ask question? >> Absolutely. Um >> 96% is free. >> Um >> is that what you want? >> Yes, that's it. >> I'll ask for your >> Okay. So I think that the answer is that we keep encouraging people. Um the question was what happens with the other 6% that aren't fully or 4% that aren't fully vaccinated and the the best we can do is encourage make it very accessible. So that's where we are with that. So, if you can see um on this website and I will be sending out the link to families so that they can get on and see it, but it

030talks about how important being in school is when you're healthy, when you're sick. It's really important these days that the child stays home and gets better. And sometimes it might be a sniffle or a cold or a flu bug. It might not be COVID related, but it's still important with a fever and not feeling well that a child is able to mend. And um Mark, if you just go back up to that because I want to show that just two days a month adds up as part of whether it's excused or unexcused, it goes towards missing 10% of the school year if that happened every month. So, it's really important that um parents are kind of keeping track and we can help you. We can it's all on powers school so we can let you

031know how the child is doing. Um but you know we we we learned in the past 18 months that having children in person learning is the best way for them to learn. So we do um when a child is quarantined however we do provide work for them and um you know we have substitute teachers who can actually make connections with the children to make sure that they understand the work and we help them through the process um virtually. So and so this just tells you some of the parameters. Um 18 days or more in a year is chronic absenteeism. 10 to 17 is kind of a warning sign or a yellow light and green light is nine or fewer absences. Um, you know, it's kind of the goal. Green light is the goal. And so

032we have a section or a link like this for every level. This one was for elementary. We have a middle school level and a high school level. So, um, with more information. So, I will be sending out the links so families will have them. It's all under the student and parent tab on the Graten Public School website. >> Yep. So, if you look under student and parent, you see in the red highlighted attendance matters and that's where you go to. >> There we go. >> And there we are. It's floating here. >> Um so, um is it true that the reason why we're talking about this is that it kind of leads into your next sort of agenda topic which is the alliance? >> It does. >> Um because >> here every once in a

033while I can do it. Um because in order one of the one of the >> I'm slowing down. It matters. It matters because >> the alliance wants us to >> because our attendance That's right. Because we got paid. Thank you. Lee and I can finish each other's sentences. Um so it is um that it's not just the scores that our students have in terms of academics and and and the data collection that it's actually also the attendance. And my understanding is that that's going to become our new push. not our new push because it's always been a push but we really are organizing around that. >> So we actually as an alliance district um really we are able to gain certain supports from the Connecticut State Department of Education. We get supports financially that help

034support us. We get all kinds of workshops free of charge and our whole data team really goes several times a year to um and works with the performance offer office at the state of Connecticut. Our alliance grant has come in this year for $200,000 and next year for $200,000. And the parameters that they use are in an acronym called taco. So T for taco is talent. So looking at our staff and making sure we have a diverse staff is really important in an alliance district. We really want our teachers and administrators to mirror our school communities. With the Graten 2020, our schools are beautifully diverse, really almost perfectly diverse. We have still a little room to grow with the elementarymentaries, hence the lottery and the intradist magnet. But we really want our, you know, pair

035professionals, our, you know, all of those people who are working with our children to mirror the community like our kids do. So that's something that I know um L that um Lori Leine has worked so hard on in HR and our teams have worked to um create a process. So the A is for academics. So there's all kinds of academic supports in that. Someone had mentioned tutoring last time and there are through all of our ARBs and ers and alliance. We do have support for um our students with after school during school with the SRBI process so that we have intervention happening beyond the core curriculum. So whether we have them in school or before and after school, we're really trying to give all um the kids what they need. Um, and then with the

036C, that's culture and climate in our buildings. We want all kids to feel like they belong, all teachers and staff to feel like they belong. And so that's um, you know, a real um, support. We have community coordinators. Um, we have social workers who help support and, um, I think we put a couple things in culture and climate to address attendance. We've actually looked at it across the taco to make sure that we're looking at attendance from different venues and supporting it. And then O is for operations. And um you know certainly in the operations side um we also um you know are really cognizant of the things that are needed for kids. I would say that this last visit when the state department of education comes and visits you, you know, you're kind of

037ready to share some good news and other news that you want to know so that you can watch. So, as an alliance district, we have a monitoring tracking sheet that we do monthtomonth. And at first, it looked like the first couple months were up to 27% absenteeism. So we we brought the team together and we looked more closely to see what's really going on and we put out the charge for the the schools to actually look and dig in. Now 27% could be two days, three days each month that a student is absent. So doesn't sound much when you say, you know, two or three days, but it all does add up by the end of the year. So we really want to make sure that our kids are there when they can be. and

038um you know and are excused in their absence. Um so I had sent you uh uh the board of ed a a one sheet that really described the talent academic climate and operation goals that we had. And so you did receive that in your board pack. But it has everything from professional learning, recruiting human capital and um diversifying our staff um to looking at our leadership and um under academics ongoing review of SRBI processes across the district, making sure that we're having intervention during the school day and before and after school. And then the family engagement and having wraparound services, hence the social worker who can help out, hence community coordinators so that we're really reaching out to our families um and and identifying what struggles there are so that we can help support children

039during the school day. And then under operations was really some technology that we're looking at. And um you know, we've been meeting about the technology plan. We're going to come back and bring back some ideas adjusted slightly to finance and facility and let the board know ultimately what we think in the next couple years two three years would be a good plan and some of that is supported by EOD supplement funds some is supported by our besser funds and some are supported by alliance funds so that's kind of the quick overview of being an alliance district and I certainly appro appreciate the networking that I get to do with the with the superintendent and the support I get from the state of Connecticut. So, >> take questions from the board or from Isaiah. Don't feel

040>> I I didn't c I didn't catch when the um visit was going to be from the state. >> We just had it this past week. So, it's all done and they don't come back again. >> Oh, no, no, they come back. >> I mean, how often? >> Um, usually three times a year total, but they're actually coming back because we have the Blues and Beyond presentation of the seventh grade. And Iris White and Greg Dreco are coming back just to see the presentation and they want to go and visit the schools. So, we're really excited to have that level of support that they would take time to come down from Hartford to see students um you know engaged in their learning. >> Thank you. >> Anything else? >> All right, we're going to move

041on you. >> Yeah, I guess that's me. Um, the next agenda item was brought up a few weeks back, I think, in regards to our school counselor positions within the district. Um information was provided to the board back on October 29th um in your board notes uh which were compiled by uh Erin McGuire who's the director of school counseling and included a detailed outline of the daily and monthly tasks of our school counselors uh with a brief description of what those tasks are, how much they entail, and the hours um involved in that. Um, if you don't have if you don't have I did bring extra copies if uh if you needed them. >> Um, >> okay. >> If you can pass it down, >> you can pass those down. Um, included in your packet

042for tonight uh was actually a great little quick synopsis of the changing face of counseling over the last 5 to 10 years. The sheets entitled guidance counselor versus school counselor. It kind of takes you through the evolution of the position. Um, of course, this is not in any way to slight what the counselors have been doing for the past, you know, 20, 30, 40 years. Um, and I say that not just because I'm married to a school counselor, but because I do believe it. Um, but um, it's really to highlight how the POS how the modern school counselors have really uh, changed and what and all the stuff that they're doing. Um, it's really moved, as you could see on that sheet, it talks about moving from reactive services um to just a to just

043a portion of the student body. Uh, sometimes we're working in isolation with the results primarily measured by um feelings and perceptions to the current position that's really proactive. It's data driven. Counselors are working side by side with school administration towards school improvement. Um, also included on the sheet that I that I just passed around, I I also asked um, Mrs. McGuire to include the number of students who currently have IEP and 504 individualized plans. Uh, though, as you may or may not know, those are students who often require additional time along with the day-to-day um, in the form of team meetings, PPTs, 504s to discuss goals, accommodations, and uh, data. Um, so I mean really looking at the breakdown something like that, it's sort of like when you sit down to put your resume together

044where you really don't realize all you do um until you sit down and try to account for it um on paper. Uh so the breakdowns really attribute to the great work that our counselors are doing um especially in light of the pandemic and the increase in all the social emotional support and needs of our of our students coming back to school after being home for for so long. Um, I did invite Erin Magcguire to to attend tonight's meeting and I do see her on uh virtually uh joining us in the Zoom. If there's any questions regarding uh the information that's provided, um I'm hoping everything's clear, but if you do have questions, uh please don't hesitate. >> And can we make sure that these get um uh emailed out to Jay and Rita? I don't

045think that they um have these as well. >> Okay, absolutely. And I did check, they did go out on October 29th with the board notes. So if you if you I definitely will send them out again, but if you check back in your email, you might be able to find them as well. >> Thank you, >> Rita. You're muted. >> Yep. I know. For some reason, I have all the board notes, but not October 29th. So I I'm thankful that you um said that you would send that to us. So, I don't have any questions for Erin at this time since I don't have it in front of me. But, thank you. Thank you for the presentation, Phil. >> I'll send them out tomorrow. >> Thank you, >> Erin. Is there anything that you would

046um like to add to this discussion? And it's good to see you. >> Hi there. Nice to see everybody as well. I just I think it's important that um we just spend some time really talking about the the role of the school counselor because they do so much during the day um in so many different ways and I think that it's a position that people don't truly understand um all their responsibilities um and hopefully that that chart can kind of illuminate some of their um daily tasks and their important daily tasks. Um and certainly this year students are struggling to get back into the swing of things and their role is even more critical. And so um you know their their case loads are um in the I believe it's 177 per counselor and that

047is a few under you know the recommended per the state. However, um if if anyone spends some time in the school counseling suite, you understand that um 177 students per counselor is quite a few um with all the the things that that go along with helping students um in a productive way. So, I just hope that everyone takes the time to kind of review it and if there are any questions, I'm happy to come back and explain. But, uh the school counselors are certainly a hidden asset uh in schools. >> Thank you, Erin. Liz, Erin, how many counselors are currently at the high school and how many are at the middle school? >> There are six at the high school level and there are six at the middle school level. And that and then at

048the high school level, Jen Allen is part-time and she is working specifically with um career and college and helping families and then organizing college visits and military visits as well. She's on the scholarship committee, too, by the way. She's terrific. >> Thank you. >> Thank Thank you, Erin. This was um part of our sort of our um walk up to or build up to um our budget conversations. And so we really wanted to, you know, kind of hear about what to remind us and to also learn about all the things that um the school counselors do. So thank you. Any other questions? Clearly, we'll be having this discussion not necessarily again, but we'll be talking about them as we go into our budget, our budget signs. Absolutely. >> All right. And so, Phil, I think

049that that was what we had on yours. Is that correct? >> That's correct. >> All right. And so, um, we're moving on to the business manager report. And Lori, no. No, that would be Ken. >> But I am >> But it's Lori Lori. >> See, I knew that. Lori, you have a new title. >> It's that because you you forgot to wear your tie. >> Nice. >> All the ties fall. >> All right. So, you want to touch on minimum wage proposal? >> Yes. >> Okay. So I think everybody has seen the minimum wage proposal that we've had um at the last town meeting and it was um referred to thank you referred to the board of ed meeting today for action. Um there have been no changes to the proposal as presented and um

050it is on the agenda for a vote later on in the agenda. Um, so I guess just we would take any questions at this point if anybody has any additional questions regarding the proposal. >> And you did reach out to their the union about um you know the possibility of >> I did I did I met with them um they are um supportive and agreeable with meeting with the board about the matter. So, um I would recommend that if the proposal is approved, it's also approved that if we would enter into negotiations with a pair of professionals as well. >> And just to clarify, Lauri, this is to take effect January 1, right? >> That's correct. January 1st, effective date. >> 2022. And Ken had mentioned that with some of the cost avoidances this year

051in positions we haven't been able to fill that we really foresee that the amount of money I think was 125,000 that we do have in the budget to provide this >> and we have to make sure we had it in the future. >> Yes. Yeah. We'll talk about that in a second. >> Yeah. >> So Lori, I just want to make sure that I am um understanding the comment. >> Sure. Um so just to for people who um are listening to this conversation for the first time, this was on our last week's agenda um it was brought to us by by our human resource director Lori Le Pine um about the fact that it's been very difficult for us to m um to to hire and also to retain staff. That's correct. um because and

052one of the um main reasons is is that our um salary rate for um the pair of professionals is a lot lower than what's around us. Um and so your proposal was for this um for the the district to look at it um moving to a more minimum wage and also higher level. Is that correct? >> That's correct. >> Okay. Um, and that when you talk about going into negotiations with um the um the um union, are you talking about before the January 1st um 2022? >> That's correct. >> Okay. So, this is just a this our vote tonight is on just on the proposal, but it would have to get finalized through um the union. Is that how you're seeing that? So the the vote tonight would finalize all of the non-union rates on

053the schedule. >> Okay? >> And it would agree to enter into negotiations specifically with the PAR professional group. So that is one group on the schedule, but we would vote to finalize all the remaining job classifications that do not require collective bargaining action in tonight's vote. >> So maybe that would mean that we should have two votes, right? One for the non um the non-union um right and then have another vote for us to for the board to enter into negotiations. That would be my I think that would be my preference. But >> that makes sense. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Do we have questions about um the table that is um being presented? >> Kim, does that mean that we have to amend the motion? >> Yes. I mean, yeah, when we get to

054it, we can amend it. Yeah. >> I was just curious. And And will we be negotiating with the custodians as well as secretaries? >> We will not because uh we just completed a contract negotiation and they are not um their pay rate is not in the group that we're trying to address here. They make >> I think about the subcustodian. >> Yeah, >> the subcustodians aren't part of the bargaining unit. Rita, was your question about the subcustodians or the custodian maintenance? >> The custodian maintenance. I know we just finished, but I just saw that their hourly rate for next time starting January 1 would be different. Is that not the case? That's >> Well, I think what you're looking at on the schedule, Rita, is sub substitute custodians. So, they're fillin. They're not part of

055the bargaining unit. >> Okay. I meant the little the part below union hourly. >> Yeah. >> So, I just don't understand why we're only bargaining with the Paris. I know we're adding because we're adding in another level. >> Yes. So, we're only bargaining with the pairs because their rate of pay is not competitive to the marketplace. The other groups, their rates are competitive. So, we're not suggesting to uh bargain with those groups at this time. >> And we're actually increasing their entry level. >> Yes. Yes. >> I realize that >> I know that learn I think they they did a little different take on their pair of professionals. They're actually going to have four different uh tiers depending on the jobs being done. So, I mean know we're doing two, but I just, you know,

056it's just something to think about if we ever wanted one in between depending on the duties. >> Oh, someone needs to touch the panel. >> Sorry, we had to um touch the panel. >> Just does not sound. >> So, you couldn't hear me, Kim? I um we can hear you. >> We can hear you. Yes. >> So So your what is your concern, Rita? >> Um whether or not we need another paraprofessional rate in between the entry level and this new registered behavioral technician proposal. >> I think that's something we'd want to talk about in negotiations. >> Good. Thank you. >> Yep. Thank you, Rita. >> Glad you clarified what you were asking. Thank you, >> Lee. But the the par profofessional entry rate is not going to 15. >> It needs to be negotiated.

057>> So, we will. Correct. We will negotiate. Uh we have some thoughts on on a proposal to share with them. We just have to wait until the board engages in that negotiation with them. >> Good. >> Yeah. >> Questions? Dean, do you have any questions? Not yet. >> Okay. Sorry, my phone went asleep. >> All right. So, I think you're on. >> All right. Moving on to um I'm gonna share if you don't mind. Erin wrote something up there if anybody. >> He says, "Wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving. Good to see you tonight." >> You as well. >> All right. Let's see. We Oh, that. >> Um, you can minimize that box, right? >> Yeah. Mark can minimize it. >> So, um, a little bit slow. >> When I minimize it, it only affects my

058screen. You have to do it there on your screen. >> Let me see. I think we're good, Mark. Thank you. >> There you go. Yeah, that's right. >> There we go. So, um, >> this is this is a preliminary, uh, review of where the FY23 budget could land. Uh we took a quick look at this last week. Um and uh we wanted to just review it again uh uh this week. Uh you'll see at the top we have the current year budget 77,438090. Uh I have two columns here. The first column being all the changes that we are going to propose. Uh and the second column is uh what uh it went a few of these uh proposals are going to be funded by by grants. So those are highlighted in yellow. Um and I

059I'll just go through these uh quickly, but uh the majority of the uh of the increase is coming from salaries as it has in the past. um administration administrators. This is based on their current contract, a 2.1% increase uh for FY23 uh which equates to about 76,000. Uh we are going to propose uh as uh Susan spoke about last week uh adding another uh assistant principal at the elementary schools to to help with the the workload there uh and to even out um all all the work and the the students that that need additional help at those schools. Uh the teachers uh contract u has an increase of 3.1% uh next year which equates to a million63,000. Uh we do have uh uh we're hoping we're going to get six retirements. Um I think we're

060coming up to that number hopefully. U there are a couple of additional ads. These are in yellow here. uh a BCBA, a uh a prek K social worker, a special education teacher. These are going to be funded by uh a couple of different um grants that we've received, the ARA, IDA, and then the IDA recovery grant. And these will be uh um funded through FY23. Uh and then there are two and a half teachers that we had funded on the MSAP grant that we uh uh we intend to fund through the RSER grants for FY23 and 24. >> So um can ARP is >> Oh, I'm sorry. ARP is American Rescue Plan >> and IDA >> is I don't know exactly >> the individual developmental education act. register for special education, right? >> Um, and

061what is the MSAP? >> Uh, it is the middle school assistance. >> Magnet school assistance >> national. Right. >> Sorry for the acronyms. >> That's right. >> And Esser is elementary and secondary school emergency. >> You win. Uh and then uh the power professionals uh we we have there is a 2% they don't have a current contract but there is a 2% uh built into the that we going to build into the budget uh to in case there's increases there as well as tutors. Uh the school clerical and the custodians they do have a 2% in their in their actual contract. So that's built in here. Uh there is a proposal to add another a second uh or another elementary school secretary to the two uh uh bigger uh new elementary schools. Um there is

062the non-union uh co as well as non-union other um we put a placeholder of 2%. And then the minimum wage impact which is what that schedule we're looking at. This is going to be the full year impact 253,000. Uh so the fullear impact of of that uh the deep love of that and so total for uh for salaries is uh a little over 2.1 million uh before grants but after grants it's it's still a very large number of 1.7 million. Uh there's a couple other things that we took into account. Um a 5% increase on health insurance uh which we haven't met with our agent yet, but I've been told that this is the relatively uh uh good percentage to to uh to estimate on at this point. Um Social Security and Medicare based upon

063the increases above. Uh and then increases in our contract with STA and Curtain. and just a really rough estimate on an increase on some out of district tuitions and uh and and an increase to the site budgets we we paid to that 2%. And just just a note there on the inflation rate which is currently around 4.6% as of the October report. Uh so um as you can see you know the these increases aren't really uh aren't really getting there but uh just information and so what this works out to be is in the second column um it would be a 3% increase to to the budget preliminarily based upon these very raw estimates >> and I was reminding Ken that I remember sitting in the seat last year when Dr. Reneer was here and

064that was the first number that we were remembering the 3.1 on the teacher side the 3% if any of you all remember that too when we first launched what the outlook could be. >> Yeah. >> So it's very similar. >> Mark can we have the screen of our um our folks back? >> Thank you. Do I have questions from the board about this? Once again, oh, sorry, Lee. Once again, this is just about getting us prepared. >> The three the four in yellow. >> Yes. >> Those are grant those are grant. So, if if those are new people, will they understand that it could be a one or two year grant? We may not be able to sustain that. >> Yes. And we probably will look for cost efficiencies too, especially now that we have

065a campus with both middle school and high school sitting together. >> We might be able to have more opportunities for sharing STEM. >> Any other questions? Rita, Jay, Rosemary, those present. All right. Hearing none, I'm going to move us on. So, the next is the director of buildings and grounds. >> That's close enough. >> Close enough. >> And he's off camera, too. >> Well, good evening. >> Good evening. So, uh, I'm going to give you a a couple of brief items that I'm going to talk about and then I'm going to introduce my friend that I ca that came along with me tonight to, uh, to address some other items. So, uh, the thing that I'm going to talk about is the clearing out of the schools that we've closed, uh, in particular Claude Chester

066and SB Butler, uh, which will not be opened again. And uh last week uh we uh entertained the principles as they came through those two schools to pick out any more items uh that are left over from those schools to see if uh they could use them at their schools, meaning bookcases and all those types of things that uh some people tried to order, but Kent said maybe we should look and see if there's anything left. So the principles came last week. Today uh we opened up uh from 9 to noon at Claude Chester School and the town departments came today through Claude Chester School. Uh and we will uh have the town departments come through SB Butler tomorrow to see if there are any items that they're interested mostly file cabinets uh office chairs

067things like that is what they've picked out. So those will be happening over the next two days. Uh once uh the town has been through tomorrow, then Tom BBE, who is with Arcadus, will be taking photographs of the items that are left in the classrooms and putting it on this on the town auction site uh through the uh the town through the finance department. Uh and then uh for I think that goes on the auction site for about two weeks. uh and anything that is left over after that not that that does not sell uh will then be um disposed of uh in the final cleanout. So uh hopefully within I would say within the month we should be uh done with uh those items that are uh left in those two schools and we'll

068be able to move on to um turning those over. Um, and so, uh, second, we have, uh, our report on our on our, uh, new buildings. Rick will share with Rick Norris is here with us. Uh, he's off camera, too. I I stayed with him because he's a little bit shy, but uh, Rick will talk about the new schools and also he wants to speak about uh, the solar pan. So, so just to to bring up the to speed on on the new schools, we do have a final cost plus or minus like6 or $7,000 for the middle school. 81 million56 or 30,56 um out of an 86 million budget. So, we save 5 million just over five million on the budget. school, the town doesn't have to necessarily bond that amount unless something else

069happens. Also, if you recall, some of you may recall, there was a $4 million uh ad in in the budget for the purchase of property, which the state removed at the very beginning from the project. So, the original budget, if you will, would been 90 million, $90,000. So we're also saving like 375 or 3.75 million out of that right now, but there will be some additional bonding costs that will come out of those funds. So that so that's really good news. We're getting ready to submit the final documents to uh the state. We'll be able to provide you the board along with the permanent school building committee and our and our council uh some final numbers. I've submitted them to the to my department head to to review and he will review those and we'll

070get with finance and then be able to provide you a cost on those. The elementary schools um are still continuing. We had some delays obviously with the materials, that sort of thing. Um everything right now looks like it should be complete by the end of December, actually the end of December. Um those may include some minor items. The big items are still a vestibule which had some ballistic doors and glass installed if you will that those had continued to be delayed and we're expecting those to arrive very shortly. Um and we have been able to work with the principles for example to shut down one entrance to work on that entrance and and then shut down the other entrance but this is this will be the main entrance and uh we'll work with the principles

071to complete that the tile work at west side should complete after the Thanksgiving weekend west Cutler there Cutler or Mystic River they're still waiting for materials to arrive so that would extend a little bit further in in there. Those two schools um currently the estimates are $2 to3 million under budget also. So, so the the rough figure I have right now is town cost for all three projects would be about $79 million. The state um and this is all very confusing sometimes, but the state also uh holds 11% retainage. So depending on and that money will not be returned to the town until the audit's complete. So right now they have to take as long as two years or so to do the audit. So whether we have to buy notes or bond for that

072money, we're not quite sure, but that's about $18 million. So initially we're looking at 97 to hund00 million for our share. Ultimately we'll get reimbursed about 100 million from the state. So, you know, it's kind of back and forth initially for now. We are um nearing a point and I can work with Sam and we'll uh make a proposal probably we'd be able to come to you at your next meeting or maybe you the whole to discuss the turnover of the buildings to the board of ed. Um I'll talk with Sam and he he can talk to you Susan figure out what we can do. We still have a little bit of work to do, but we did turn over the middle school, if you recall, with with a few outstanding items that were kind

073of minor to continue working on. So, um, we would we would look at potentially uh July January as the latest for that. So, maybe at the January meeting, we can bring that up. But, no, I've had time to work with the Burn School Building Committee and make sure they agree that buildings are ready to go and we could turn those over to you. Um, solar. Um, I'm here to talk about solar a little bit. We are expecting a power purchase agreement with the green bank for the middle school brought middle school and Mystic River magnet here within the next few days. I've uh sent Sam a copy of what they call their uh template for the power purchase agreement which your attorney should should get a look at. Once um we do get those numbers

074uh if possible we could uh come to your committee of the whole or andor finance uh and facilities committee probably in mid December and have them actually do a formal presentation on what it is. you can all understand what what the actual implications are for that. Um, right now we are having sort of a problem with the Mystic River area because the price of steel's gone up. So, the the numbers aren't quite jelling, if you will. So, we may have to do a rooftop uh installation there where we're looking at a kind of a not a carport really, but an awning installation over part of the portion of the parking lot, which would have been uh interesting and and could have uh had application all over the district in the town. So, we're we're still

075working on that part of it. once uh the timing that uh the green bank's looking at is potentially approval of the PPA by the end of January. So if this information becomes available, we'll provide that and if we have to come to one or more at least one, but if we have need to come to one or more than one committee of the whole, we can certainly do that and and have those discussions. Um that's where the two schools that are in the Eversource area. The one school that's in the GR utilities area I was I was tasked to ask and I know it was different kind of different thoughts earlier on that neither the board of ed nor the town wanted to own the panels. Um, the question I was uh supposed to ask

076was um would the board of ed consider owning the panels at uh Fames River? And if that were the case, we could potentially use some money from uh the project or the the bond to purchase those panels. We do have a group uh that's working with us. Um, one of one of the fellows is Rob Cle. He was the previous director of Deep and and his his counterpart who does the technology end of the business um who also is working with the green bank. But what we would do is is look at a project, see what a project cost may be, what kind of project could fit there. We have less roof there because the chiller for the air conditioning system is on the roof. Um, but that would be something that I ask you

077folks to think about. I of course don't need an answer tonight. So, um, and there may be grants available for that also over at uh, Westside, but Fames River, but it's a different kind of situation because uh, it's a different utility and they don't have to comply with the pure regulations that the Eversource does in the state. So, I I'd be happy to answer any questions or or provide additional information or whatever >> you think. >> Um, just for your knowledge, um, we only have two meetings next month, December. So, it's the 6th and the 13th. So, I just wanted to that's as late as we're going to go in in December. >> Oh, I' I've looked at your schedule, so >> fine. Be helpful, >> Kim. Yes. >> I have a question for for

078and that is and maybe I should know this but I don't. The the money that is unexpended does it go back to the state is going >> there. There there is no money that's unexpected. We have no money in hand right now except the reimbursements we got from the state. This is bonding. The ability to bond for money. So the council sometimes has the same thought that we have money in hand. It's a bank account. It's not a bank account. It's the ability to bond. So, anything we don't bond, for example, if we only bond what we need to pay for the schools, then that rest of the money never gets bonded and we never get taxed for it. So, so it's not really I mean, a lot of people think it's it's money in

079hand. It's not money in hand. It's money that we would have to go out and bond for 20 years for. >> Okay. Thank you. So when we say that we're out we're under budget by a couple million, what you're saying is is that we then only have bounded up to that. >> Yes. We've only spent that amount of money out of what the budget has come out. >> But correct. >> But we have the potential of a opportunity to bond more money because we're under budget. >> Correct. >> Okay. Thank you. I understood it. >> A million million. >> But if we can avoid the debt, we will. >> Yeah. >> Right. Right. Now I I did ask the question you know it's like 3.6 million is a mill to our to our budget right

080now. So >> yeah Rick 11% retain >> is there any possibility of negotiating or was there was negotiating like a mid project. >> N okay I just >> no we get we get uh we've got reimbursements of about 69 million right now. Yeah. >> Um they they were told 15% to uh to 11 the number is supposed to be 11% actual retainage but we've had those discussions with where are they getting the budget on anyway. So so they're holding what they're holding and and I mean we're kind of stuck with that. It is a it is a large chunk of money for towns. You know, in the previous project, it was a 5% retaining rate and why it was increased. I don't know the time. We've already suffered because somebody else didn't do what they

081were supposed to do. >> Yeah. That's that's really what that what that's about. >> Yeah. So, >> yeah. I'm just thinking about the early contractors. Yeah. >> The original site contractors, the people that originally plowed the ground did all the >> They're still waiting on their >> No, they Well, we only we only held 5% from contractor or from the prime contractor. if you want to call him that. >> Okay. >> Uh Coen G who's the construction manager. So, >> right. >> So, he's held that. There's also a small piece that they hold for the uh CHRO, the uh human resources uh plan that they have to have and that sort of thing. >> One thing that we were able to do, you know, people were concerned about uh local labor. We had a a

082fence change we needed to make over at at Westside or at Things River. So, we were able to tell them to hire a local fence contractor, which was great. We're going to use the same contractor at at uh Mystic River to finish the enclosure around the place gate. Yeah. >> So, we did over also at uh Fames River, we needed to replace the sidewalks because they were pretty decadent condition along Brandy Avenue. So, they also had uh hired a local contractor to do that. So, we're trying to take advantage of of the local labor also, you know, and it bodess well for the community. You know, they do good work and they're very responsive. Thank you. The >> the retainage was uh increased, I'm told, by the uh OCGR um by some of those people

083up there. Um partly because uh towns were uh uh school departments were taking many many years to apply to get their change orders in. They weren't following the regulations and that. So they they uh increased the retainage and they also reduced the amount of time that it takes now that you have to uh get the change orders into the state. So I think people are uh following through and probably >> yeah to get change orders >> when it does when the money does come when it's all over. >> Yeah. It's going to come in one trench or are they going to make >> uh Well, each project's a separate project, so they'll at least come separately. Yeah. >> Thank you. I got Are you done with your question? Okay. No. Um Jay, >> yes. Uh

084hi, Rick. Um I just want to uh say thank you again. Um you have now overseen one of the largest, you know, school construction projects in the state. um with the completion of this 2020 program and the fact that we're under budget um you know is is kind of a a minor miracle I I would say especially in this um in this economy. Um so thank you and also all the volunteers on the permanent school building committee who have um shephered this for so many years um which is going to be such a valuable um asset to our town. Um, having said that, and at the risk of sounding like a broken record, do we have any more information about um the status of lights at the middle school and any other um additions there?

085I know the town council had had floated a number of ideas if there was any money left over. Has there been any other discussion on that? >> Sam can answer that. >> Yeah. Yeah. Sam will answer the lights. There's only one thing that has been taken to the council right at this point. >> Okay. >> I know they had they had discussed a number of things amongst themselves when that was brought. >> I understand they've only approved one. >> Okay. >> Also really the minor the minor miracle is having all the schools open when opening it. That's it. I'll let Sam talk about lights. >> Yeah. Regarding the lights, uh that's on us now. the board of ed and uh we need to put out an RFP RFQ which I am uh investigating and researching

086presently and hope to have uh ready uh for review uh within a few weeks. So uh we'll be going through that uh very shortly. But uh thank uh thank you Jay for mentioning and thanking Rick. I I also don't uh very often get to thank Rick publicly, but Rick really has been a champion for the Grten Public Schools. uh he's uh he's uh not only in charge of the money, responsible for the money uh and the project itself, but um when every every decision he makes um he thinks about the schools first and and and the operation of the schools and how it's how it's going to affect the schools and the operation of the schools and uh so I I would like to also personally thank Rick for uh all that he's done for

087us. >> Thank you. He loves being complimented to when you do that on a daily basis. >> And for me, I really appreciate that. I mean, you folks have made it so easy to work with to to work with on these projects. Sam has been there, you know, all through all throughout and questions come as to what you really want to see because you guys are ultimately the customer. I'm just a builder. I got plans. You approve the plans that build in the plans. But there are some things that we're move along um that may be a little different. So we always make sure that that that Sam's cut in and I know he talks with Susan, but you guys being the end customer, that's that's our job. Total quality management used to be the

088the key phrase. And that's still one thing that uh we do or I do because I'm your customer, you're my customer. So we uh >> Thank you. >> try and work that out. We really appreciate the support throughout the project. >> Thank you. Sorry. Um I I don't know about the rest of the board, but I think I'm going to need a lot more information about the the buying and owning solar panels and what does that look like? And so um and um we always um >> let me own my stuff. Um I find it much helpful if I have the information before before the meeting so that I can look at it. Um but you're talk you're going to be talking to someone who knows absolutely nothing. to remember the audience, >> right? We'll

089we'll provide a presentation. We'll provide great >> presentation ahead of time. I'll have I'll have uh >> I'll have the experts come and speak about it so they can speak about >> um one fellow can speak about the green bank which is really pretty easy or we can bring the green bank in but we could also bring the other group to talk about >> Yeah. I I also I also think that we need to have the information about what does that mean financially to us about if we own the solar panels like and what is that what does that all mean um so that we can go into Yeah. So we can go into that. So but there's no further questions from the board. I'm going to move us along. >> Kim, I had a

090question. I'm sorry. >> That's okay. I had two questions for Rick and maybe Sam. One is I was wondering um if the new ovens had been um installed at the at the new schools they needed to be I guess there was an issue or repair the ovens. Well, there's there is an issue at west things river. The oven is seems to be working satisfactory. Doesn't seem to be an issue there at all from what I've heard recently. The uh one at Mythic River, it looked like there was a gas issue to start with or a pressure gas pressure issue. Right now, that's been resolved somewhat. One of the ovens is working satisfactory. the lower one, the upper one had a had an interlock switch or whatever that was indicating the door is not quite uh

091closed or wasn't quite closed, so it didn't allow it to operate. So, we're working through that. I still have uh I'm still trying to get those replaced. If this repair doesn't work, then they got to get it in. So, what's happening is it's like a 12week lead time. So we we're trying to provide something that works and if it ends up not yeah it works now so so kids can get the the hot food medicine have to be shipped into the school >> but also look at the long term of how those things are performing. >> Okay. And my second question was Rick um I know that the that it's very warm very hot on the playgrounds um at the schools because there's no no awnings were built in. So, if you ever thinking about

092putting an awning rather than over a parking lot, maybe over the playgrounds so the children could have some shade. If you were ever thinking of solar panels, it was just a suggestion and we can ask that when we have our presentation. >> Oh, yeah. That's that is an interesting concept. probably not the two green bank projects initially, but I think what the goal here is to get our foot in the door with the solar business, see how it operates and how comfortable uh the board of ed is with it, and then try and expand the program outward. >> Yeah. And I was very pleased that the state put in the charging stations at both eight at the at the Graten Middle School and four at each of the um new elementary schools. >> Yep, we

093did that. We made the change at the middle school. There was only four called for. I said put eight in. >> All right, I'm gonna Jay, did you have another question? >> I had a small >> Sorry about that. Um, so what I what I think I hear Rick saying is that um even though the town council has discussed these additional um items at the middle school that we would need to actually formally go back and ask about it. Um I think what was holding them up was the final accounting. So I'll just put that as a bug in in our ear. Uh because I'm I'm told that the um definitely the bleacher situation up there um you know could uh um could use some work. >> All right. Thank Thank you Jay. >> I

094have a very small question. I heard um Sam I heard Rick mention playscape and the last time I went by a podcast was a a playscape there and I'm wondering if if there are any others in around and what's going to happen. >> Um I I moved that playscape once already. >> So unless the chairman of the board tells me to move it again, I don't have any plans to move it again. >> It would go back to the town at this point. The the new schools have fantastic playscape. So >> I don't think we'd have any use for it anywhere else. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions? Hearing none. Rick, thank you for um joining us. Thank you, Rick. Thank you. >> So, we're gonna be moving on to pol uh committee reports

095and policy policy. We met on Monday. >> Um we today we're going to be talking um um >> curriculum. uh we met on the 18th and we talked about um accepting school a state issued curbul and not just accepting it as it is and not doing any other work with it. And the other thing we talked about were the implications of midterms and finals on the carrying out of curriculum >> finance and facilities. day. >> Yes, we met on November 1st. Uh we discussed the minimum wage proposal that we're going to be voting on tonight. Um that also was um as um uh Kim mentioned uh thoroughly discussed a week ago tonight. For anyone that wants to go back and review those, the whole um minutes. Um, we also went over um the enduser device

096proposal um that we discussed at last week's uh CO um and we got an update from Ernie Kashmir about the food service finances and preparing for the discontinuation of no the potential discontinuation of no cost meals for students in 2022. And that was it. We ran out of time. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Um negotiations. Um well, we've just signed off as a board on our last two negotiated items, which was the custodians and secretaries and teachers. So, we've done that. Um and it looks like tonight we might be going back into negotiations. But I actually kind of would like to think about that as a board movement that the whole board serves as a negotiation team to meet this need. Um uh learn that would be you Rita. >> Yes. Um we at Learn

097the meeting last week we had a presentation from the Guilford Superintendent Dr. Paul Freriedman. He presented on Guilford public schools equity and social justice initiative and um about the confusion and misconceptions regarding critical race theory and that how it is not being taught in local districts but it beca because it has become very politicized and also a very emotional topic. So he shared his district's outreach journey, you know, consisting of parents, teachers, student focus groups, equity professionals, and so forth. So that was very interesting. Um the New London planning and zoning um committee did not approve the Ocean Avenue Learning C Center's uh request to have a 100 students in the for the addition, but only 85. So that's um unfortunately only um 25 more more slots for students which is you know that was

098going to be more students um would be able to attend that school. There was a long waiting list but they felt that um there maybe were some parking issues. So rather than a hundred that was requested it'll only be 85 for the next couple of years. And let's see. Oh yes, the teacher residency program, TRP, which is the alternative route to elementary certification that um embraces a different approach to attract and retain teachers of color in Connecticut. Has 45 residents this year and next year. So I'm sure um some of them are from our town, right, Susan? >> That's right. Correct. >> We have four. >> Three. So that's wonderful. So that that's about it. Thank you. >> Thank you, Rita. Um the town council, the RTM, the board of ed, um leazison, uh we

099need to put um Graten City town council on. Uh okay. Graten city council should be on there. Is it >> city council? >> Okay. All right. Um so um that has not met. They did not meet last month um just because it was just right around the election time period. Um and I guess it's scheduled for this coming Wednesday. Um yeah, I think it is at the same time as the other task force in the community. Okay. >> Um so I think a t a different time may work. >> Okay. >> So I just want to make a note. It it is meeting next Wednesday. >> Um I I don't know where the that group stands, Lee. Um but >> when am I done? >> The well the new board gets sworn in on the

10013th. The your term ends the the second I would be willing to be on. >> Thank you. >> And as for the Bratton scholarship which is next. >> Sure. I had one of those too on Wednesday. >> See, you just take >> and then you're gonna have to find someone for January. >> Yes. Thank you. Um the AGSA, GA and board of ed leaison, we were not able to secure a date for this coming month and so I think that we've pushed this up into the holiday after the holidays. >> We've heard from the Grten scholarship and athletic fields. Jay, is there any new information? >> No. Uh they have not been meeting. Everything's basically on hold until the new council decides on a uh uh on what they want to do with the Claude

101Chester site. >> All right. Thank you. Um and then the state council for military children, >> We'll meet in April. I'm still going to keep that on there. >> Um and maybe we can may is it a is it a by year? >> Does it meet twice a year? >> Yes. >> Okay. So maybe um Joan, we could even put that on percent parentheses that the state council of education opportunities for military children and just like uh twice a year so that we keep it on there but people realize that we're not we don't respond to it because it's only twice a year. All right, I'm now moving on to the action items which is the consent agenda which all matters listed under the consent agenda are considered to be routine and will be enacted

102by one motion. Um points of clarification will be allowed. I will um accept a motion um uh for the acceptance of the consent agenda. So move. >> Okay. I have a second please. >> Second. >> Is there a discussion? I have two things. Um under Dr. Acriman noted the second one says that she reviewed the scholars at the GPS hall of fame, but I I reviewed the um the inductees, not the scholars. And the other thing is uh Jamal Davis's name is misspelled on the on the page. >> Sorry. >> Maybe your notes. >> Yeah, I'll give you my notes. Okay. Any other >> I have one page two underneath um um committee reports E learn it was um says the executive learn board met that that is it's just the learn board meets um

103the second Thursday of the month and the executive is on the fourth so this one executive should be crossed out that was the regular learn board thank Any other questions or comments? Hearing none. All those in favor of uh the approval of the consent agenda, please say I. >> I. >> Oppose. Abstain. That motion has carried. Um, the board of ed would like to uh say thank you to the Westside Junior High Middle School reunion committee um which has donated uh $920 to the Groten Middle School student council. So, we'd like to say thank you for that. Um the next on the agenda, um Lee, would you be willing to read uh the motion for number one? >> I would love to do that. Uh the motion is to approve policy P5141.3 health assessments and

104immunizations as a second reading. >> Do I have a second to that? Second. Thank you. Liz discussion. >> I don't think that there are any changes to that. No, >> this is the second reason. Nothing else. Hearing no discussion, I'm going to take it to a vote. All those in favor of the motion to approve policy P5141-3 health assessment and immunization as a second reading. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> We have one opposed. Okay. >> It was opposed last time. So >> abstain. >> Sorry. >> Keep it consistent. >> That motion has carried. Thank you. >> Dean, would you be willing to read under new business the motion for number uh one, please? >> Uh motion to approve policy P4118.239 COVID 19 vaccinations as a first reading. Can I have

105a second, please? >> I got Rosemary. Discussion, please. >> Wow. >> Well, this policy is really for staff, you know, hence the 4,000 and it really has come out of um you know, protecting staff and students with the CO 19 mitigating um situation. So, I'm going to turn it over to Lori because she's been instrumental in, you know, taking care of faculty and staff. >> And so, um, so this policy was recommend, if I recall, recommended by K, correct me if I'm wrong. Um, and all it, um, its intention and what it is attempting to do, I don't know, can they hear me? Okay, you just um so the intention is to just clarify the um COVID uh vaccination requirements of the staff and this policy is um essentially the exact duplication of the executive

106order. So, all it does is takes the executive order, formalize it into board policy, um, and it follows the order exactly. I'll just add one last thing. It will only remain in effect as long as the executive order exists. It will automatically sunset um, when it is no longer required. And we've actually already implemented this with the executive order. I know um Mory did an outstanding job communicating to staff what the requirement was and you know and making sure that um we were following through. So, um, anybody who had, um, opted out of a vaccination at a certain time period, not the new hires, but the ones who were existing, um, do have to check on a regular basis >> weekly. Yeah. >> Well, my first question was going to be whether or not this

107tracks executive order 13D and and the others. And you've answered that question, Lori. Thank you. Um, shocker. I'm not going to be voting in favor of this. I take I take issue. >> I know. I know, Lee. I know. Um, I'm really taking issue. Well, one thing just sort of, you know, housekeeping, which is I'm not crazy. Even though this sun sets, I'm not crazy about >> crazy. >> Yeah. I'm not. >> So, so Dean has the floor. >> Yeah, that's okay. Yeah, that's okay. I can take it. >> But I just want to give more more time for feedback here. So, I'm not crazy about policies that track uh existing law, whether it's statutory, regulatory, an executive order, or anything like that. Again, notwithstanding that this thing sunsets, uh if the if the governor

108wants to order whatever through an executive order, that's the governor's business. Uh, I won't be party to that. I think it's something that we don't it's that's needless. The executive order is very clear what it's what it says, but I'm not going to take part in that. Uh, second, I I I have an issue with the fact that the executive order does not take into account people who have acquired immunity by having had COVID. My eldest son is an example of that. Okay? He is never going to be, as far as he, you know, as he can help it, never's going to be vaccinated. He's had COVID. So, scientifically, he should have at least as good protection as I do. It's not perfect. I've had my shots. He hasn't. So, anyway, so there's that. Also,

109I note that in the executive order, the policy parrots it uh which is uh there's testing allowed, but only if you were a hireer or existing existing hire from before uh September 27th, 21. Anybody hired after September 27th, 2021 doesn't have the option of testing. So, the only way you can get out is through the very limited religious exemption, which isn't even going to be in place anymore. And if a doctor says, "Well, you're going to be uh you know, this is contraindicated uh for very narrow purposes." I don't think that the contraindication would include the person's had COVID. I would like to have seen something like that. Uh I'm not certain. I'm not a doctor, but I would like to seen something very explicit that says if a doctor says that my patient does

110not need a vaccination because they have achieved immunity as far as I can tell by having had COVID, I was there for it. Uh that's my that's my take as a doctor. They don't need vaccination. That's not provided for. So I think this is this is uh is it's it's more than more than what we need. Again, it's not a not an objection of the this particular policy. This just a parrot of the EO. I'm not gonna have any part of it. So that's that's long and short of it. That's my no. >> Thank you. G Liz, um I was just wondering why we have to have policy if there's a law if there's an executive order which has the force of law. Why we have to have a policy that that mirrors that? What

111is it? Why do we need to do that? We don't we have a lot of policies that >> do we because the state and the fed requires us to >> Oh, okay. I I didn't know that. >> Many many many >> Okay. And I >> I think the regulations are important too, like how do you implement this kind of thing? This took a lot of work in how to implement this in the district. >> Um and so that was helpful as well to get, you know, regulations that and guidance on that. >> Okay. I just I did not understand and I wanted to clarify because I did not realize that um this because if it is a paring you know it is it's coming right it's just a um >> taking the executive orders and

112just putting it into our lingo here then um but if that's required by us by law then by by the governor or by our our charge then that's what we need to do and I understand that. Um, also I don't think Never mind I'm not going to make the other comment. Thank you very much. >> I I just want to at the bottom of all the policies that you see >> um there are all the numbers of the Fed and the state and things like that, >> right? >> Usually what we do is because the state of the Fed's signature >> and that's why we do it. Okay, >> we'd love it if we didn't have to do it. >> Any other um questions? >> Rita, I'll do Rita and then Andrea. >> Thank you.

113Um, I just wanted to um discuss the fact that when someone has COVID and you have some immunity, no one knows yet how long that immunity lasts, but if there was going to be um, you know, an exemption for that, then I think what needed to be written into the law is that you need to have an antibbody test to see whether or not how much you know how protected you really are and um you know it's it's limited that immunity once you've had COVID the same thing I can see Rosemary nodding her head it's the same with vaccinations you know it's not going to be forever so um as an exemption if somebody wanted to be exempt because they've had COVID 19 and were very sick with it they they would need I think

114then to have an antibbody test to see how strong their immune system really is. That's just my comment on on what Dean was saying about his son. So >> I'm not a doctor but I have done a lot of reading. >> Thank you. >> Um I got Andrea and then Liz. This is just for fun. Is is the language consistent like board and board? >> Very good. Okay, thank you. >> So my question is is that was a good point, Rita, because my daughter's had COVID twice. Okay, >> but the thing is is that if there's an antibbody if that can we add that language into our policy? >> No. Okay. I don't know. That's why I ask. >> That's good. Okay. I I appreciate you asking because if someone was just hearing it, they

115would be wondering why why couldn't we just do that. Um but but we um I I can't no I can't remember what I was going to say. I am going to recognize Lee because she has not spoken yet and then I'll go to Dean. Um actually I tested positive in April of 2020. The next month I checked on my antibodies. They worked. I checked in three months. were born. >> Okay. So, I'm not going to get into a conversation about the medical field about what all the science is out there in terms of of of antibodies and such. Let's stick to the policy piece. >> Dean. >> Yeah. Again, I was read true of the vaccines as well. As far as the requirement goes, I didn't read anything in the executive order that says boards

116of education shall adopt a policy. The executive order is operative on its own. It refers to state workers. or refers to school boards etc. Um so at least as far as this policy is concerned there's nothing in the governor's executive order that requires us to adopt one. So now again you said would we be allowed to uh add or modify? No, not for my reading of the executive order. Executive order says this shall be the case. So anything that we do that says well we'll allow this or we'll allow that strays from the executive order and violates that. So, >> thank you. Any other conversation? I do have a question. I'm sorry. Where does it say where do we get the charge that we have to take this a policy like this and make it

117board policy? Where does that come from? Is that from the genuine statutes? Is that from um the CDSC the state Connecticut state department of education? Where is that chart? >> So that's a good So let me make sure I hear your question. Okay. >> Is why we taking an executive order making it into a policy? >> Right. Okay. So is there is there an answer to that? >> We've had to do that actually throughout COVID because we had things that changed due to our regular policies. So we had to make adjustments during this time frame to make sure that we had taken the law and made it a school board policy. That's really kind of our charge. That's what a board does is they have to look at the law. As a matter of fact,

118one of the workshops I went to at the Cape Caps was all the new legislation that's out there. >> Yeah. >> That needs to then be put into policy. So keeping up with that is a very gigantic job. Um >> Okay. I just wanted to know if that's I I'm just wasn't sure of the process, >> the procedure. Okay, the the governor comes down with these types of things. Okay, now how you implement and that goes out to the >> down to the boards out to like the council, town councils or whatever and this and now you have to decide how you're going to implement, >> right? We have to clearly thank you for clarifying, right? Any other discussion? All right. All those in favor to approve the policy P4118.239 COID9 vaccination as a first

119reading. All those approved, please say I. >> I. I. >> Oppose. Abstain. So, do you have that, Jen? Okay. So, I have one absention and one oppose and the rest was there. Okay. I'm just making sure that I got that. All right. >> So, that goes on to a second meeting. Okay. Because we just haven't had this one on our agenda enough. Um, this was tabled from last last time. Um, can I have Liz, would you be willing to read um the motion for number two, please? >> Motion reads to approve the preferred class size guidelines. >> Uh, can I have a second to that? >> Second, >> Rita. >> All right, I got Lee. Sorry, she got there before you did. And discussion. So once again, this is to um one kind of help

120set the parameters as when we begin to take a look at our budget um in coming in January and to make sure that we have the class sizes that make sense. Um and um I guess when we So yes, so here it is. Um and I know that there have been some questions about our guidance counselors with that 200 to one ratio and I I guess I heard um a discussion around um the fact that she put down that the counselors there's six of them and it's about 177. Right. >> Right. That's what Yeah. >> Okay. because of population. Oh, Sam, could you tap the panel? That was better, right? >> Okay. Isaiah would beat me to it. >> So, any So, any questions or uh questions or concerns about this class size and and

121stuff? I'm going to be obnoxious. Go ahead, Liz. I just think 25 students is just I I would like to see it down to 23 22 23 max >> where >> I know physically for the high school fourth grades 4 through 12 I know in the high school even the physical looking at the physical plant those classrooms are when you have 25 students in there they are wallto-wall um it's very very tight so and that's just speaking from the physical plant Um, you have you cannot have rows. You must have desks that are you have to organize your classroom. It's just a lot of bodies in that room. And I don't I haven't been to the elementary schools, but I have been into the middle school and I've been into the high school and I

122do believe I I personally would like to see between 20 and no more than 22 in a middle school high school classroom. That's just me. Thank you, Liz. Rita, did I see you, V? >> Uh, um, I didn't, but I'll I'll speak to that because these are just preferred class sizes. >> Sure. >> And it and I think if you averaged out the class sizes that Fitch, they'd be much much lower than 25. There are a few that are. I mean, when my son was in middle school, he had 30 in his algebra class. So I mean those are just these are just preferred. I mean we don't set the you know we don't do the scheduling. >> I understand. I get right. So that means when we say preferred that means that we're just

123saying that no more than 25 or up to 25. >> Preferred. >> Contract says something different. >> That's right. Always. Yeah. other questions or comments. >> I guess sort of Liz, to your point, I think that when we get into the budget, we're going to see what the what each of the schools has in terms of the numbers of bodies. >> I just say it. >> All right. I've >> been there, done that. >> I I want I want you to say it. So, all right. Um, is there any more discussion about that? Awesome. All those in favor to approve the >> Oh, there. Oh, thank you. >> Um, I don't really have an opinion on it, but just to support what Liz was saying during CTL since the way we're doing it, the way

124we did in the past was we've been combining two CTLs for those 50 minutes. And depending on what room you're in, it does feel packed at times. And I don't know the exact number of kids in the room, but it definitely either more around 25 during the those 50 minutes. So I don't think it's the wisest decision to have that many people in CTL, but they're changing a little bit now. >> I think they are going to make a change. >> Yeah. >> CTLs are like the advisory or the um home room type of thing if if you didn't know what that was. Thank you. are I didn't >> something teaching and learning. >> Yeah, I don't I don't remember what teaching is something teaching and learning, right? I don't remember. >> I think that

125we need to have the right class size for the right learning experience. Also understanding um whether we would have space if we wanted to um do a lower ratio from student to teacher and also whether our budget could afford to add more teachers um to the budget. So that's um I think that that once again it will be interesting once we get closer to looking at the budget um and seeing what each school has in terms of class sizes. I think that that's going to be um useful. Once again this is just a guideline. It's not a this is not a must. It's preferred. Any further discussions in my mind? All right. All those in favor to approve um the preferred class size guidelines they say I >> I >> oppose I >> or nay.

126>> Okay. That motion has carried. >> All right. Um >> thank you. So this is um to the question I think um Rita you gave which is are we going to have to change um the motion? Um so I believe we need to have a motion to discuss the possible action regarding the minimum wage proposal that was presented to us tonight and then also a motion to go enter into negotiation as a whole board um with the um pair professional union. Does that make sense, folks? >> Yes, >> it does. >> Okay. So, um Liz, >> I think we can we can keep to approve the minimum wage proposal. Does that sound like that's an okay motion? >> Okay. So, Liz, would you be willing to read that? >> Certainly. To approve the minimum wage

127proposal. Can I have a second on that? >> Is there any further discussion on that? Were you just saying second or were you waiting? >> I was second. >> Okay. Just want to make sure that I understood. Any further discussion? >> All right. All those in favor um of the motion to approve the minimum wage proposal, please say I. >> I oppose. Abstain. The motion has carried. All right, Dean, you don't have to look so soreful and down when you >> That's my look. >> That's That's your look. >> All right. All right. Um the other um motion um this or the second part is uh uh a motion to approve um the total board um going into negotiations for the pair of professionals. Can I have a second to that? >> I'll second it.

128>> Thank you, Liz. Any discussion? >> Yes. Do you mean is this going to happen at the CO on December 6th? >> Um I I think we're going to Susan and I are going to have to look at the calendar and see where we can ek out some time to have a um negotiation meeting and we would notify the board. >> Oh, I thought we were going to try to do it um with the present board. >> Executive session negotiations a non meeting. >> Oh, okay. >> Yeah. So we No, we would have a non meet we would have a negotiated meeting which is a non-me. >> I was just I was just asking if it was going to be at our next time at the next CO >> which is next Monday >> which

129is no two >> two. >> Yeah. Um I Rita I don't have the answer to that. Susan and I are going to have to get to the calendar and also we have to extend a um uh uh hello to the union. That's not the word, but that's what came up. >> An invitation. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Any other discussion? >> Hearing none. All those in favor of the motion that's on the floor for the board to go into negotiations um with the pair professional union, please say I. >> I oppose. >> Abstain. That motion has carried. I say I'm just going to look on this with you because my phone and I'm just proud to say could you just look at this and fix this for me. All right. I'm on the

130last the next part of um our agenda which is letter and communications and comments by board members on meetings items and other items in their jurisdiction. That would be Rosemary. What do you have? Um, I have attended GAS and um, uh, sound community services board meetings since we have since I'm since our last meeting. >> Thank you, Rosemary Rita. >> Yes. I wanted to send out a large congratulations to the all the fall sports teams at Fitch. There are numerous um teams from starting with unified soccer, volleyball, football, girls swimming and diving, girls soccer, boys soccer, fall cheerleading, and girls and boys cross country. I think everyone's done a phenomenal job this year, but I'd like to do a special call out to the field hockey team, which won the ECC's beat Stonington, which is

131quite a feat to do, and also to the boys soccer team for reaching the finals for the first time ever, ever at the states. and to send I think all the other teams are finished but to send good luck to the football team and I had one other thing while I was on the website and there was something that I didn't know anything about it's called the seal of bi literacy um I read about it I listened to you know the senator speak and what it's about I understand what it's about but I didn't realize that we have that and so I was wondering if sometime in the future we could have a discussion about it. >> I spell an agenda item. >> Yep. >> Seal seal of bi literacy which is it's a it's

132very interesting and I I just happened to be looking over the website and saw it and didn't know what it was until I read about it. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Jay, >> yes. So, I just wanted to again thank Lee, Rosemary, and Jane for their service. Um, I've I I've learned a lot from each of them. Um, and I appreciate their their service. And I know that we haven't heard uh the last from them. Um and and I have to say that earlier this evening as we were going through what um some people um call educ um our late great board member and how she requested that we issue a glossery before each meeting um so that we get the terms down. I used the word I used off-handedly in a conversation

133the other day I used CTL and someone asked me um you know what it was and uh you know I had to explain it and they said well why isn't it just called study hall so um there is a lot of you know there there is a lot of um um a lot of abbreviations um the last thing is I received an email today uh from the state department of ed in in response to my question about why the Graten public schools are not listed uh our students are not listed as eligible to apply for the $20,000 voice for change grant um which is part of the ARP esser program and I was told that there was a website error uh and some districts uh did apply and weren't approved. So, I sent that um

134letter to Susan hoping we can follow up and maybe um you know our students uh would be able to uh come up with an idea for that grant. >> They actually that was one of the workshops at the cave caps and so I did make some contact so we're working on it now. I forwarded some of the information to the administrators at the high school. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> High school is here. Uh yes. Um we received a board I assume we all received something about the baseball coach who was looking for me. >> Yeah. >> Oh. Um and and it had to do with the baseball coaches asking the baseball players to ask their friends and family for $400 each. to what I call play to pay, pay to play.

135I I uh wrote a note to all of the members of the board saying that we should never never be asking our students to ask for money considering the fact that we have students who are in the 40% who whose parents do not have $400 and neither do their parents. I think we should not be doing that under any circumstances. So, I can write about this in board notes, but it is not a payforplay. I think it's a goal that was set and it might have been too extraordinary a goal. I agree it was a lot, but just instead of selling candy bars and other things, they do these fundraisers where kids will go out to family members and ask for donations or magazines or whatever they're selling. you know, a magazine or Girl Scout

136cookies or anything else are fairly inexpensive. As parents, we all went to wherever we worked and tried to sell cookies. Um, our kids didn't actually do it. We did it. But the idea of considering any amount that even comes close to $400 to students and, you know, is is incionable. So just to um absolutely Lee if that was what it was and so >> well so the athletic director did respond to to us about that and so he did get some clarification about that but it sounds to me that there's more work around that in terms of is it the 400 but our understanding is that no one is going to be denied playing if they don't raise the coach know >> I'm sorry what >> oh I'm We have a baseball player right here.

137>> Um, yeah, I could speak more on that if you guys want. >> Sure. So, we had a meeting for it last Friday in the small gym. And what was basically told to us was that we have this link to the website where we share it with other people. We get like emails and phone numbers from people that we know. And the goal is 400, but we're not asking anyone for specific amounts. We're just asking to donate whatever they can. And it's not like a paytoplay thing. It's just we're as mostly because of how hard we got hit because two years ago we didn't have a season and we're able to do fundraising. So they're really pushing just trying to get as much as we can for our program this year. >> Have other sports

138teams I feel like I was told that other sports teams have done it this way but I'm not sure. So maybe in your board notes, can you I'll find out. >> Can you also um have us go back have um Susan do some look into that um and see what that is about that. Isaiah once again told you your voice is really important um to have here. >> Yeah, >> because we're not sitting in that not knowing um and can have some information right away. Dean, >> I've said enough. >> You've said enough. You never say enough. >> All right. You want something? I'll give you something. Okay. My daughter still takes a school bus or tries to take the school bus. That hasn't been ironed out. That's all I'm going to say. >> Okay.

139Good to know. Actually, that's important for us to know. >> I actually got a thank you note from one parent today and he was thanking the whole administration team about how things have smoothed out for lots of families and his family in particular. So, we continue to work on that to to make sure that, you know, it is smooth sailing. So, >> and Sam is just smiling. >> No, I'm not just smiling. I'm writing down a note. >> Is that why my daughter's bus doesn't show up? >> I want to see what's going on with these daughter's bus. >> All right. Well, I have some news. I had a parent come to me and say, "Thank you." Because for the first time since the beginning of the year, bus 26 finally did the route that

140was posted. >> Oh, well there you go. >> And they were like thrilled. >> Well, I threatened to ride that bus if you didn't. >> All right. Oh, that's pretty cool. And also, I just wanted to say my first experience with Cade um conference was was very good. Um, I was very intrigued by a lot of the stuff they were talking about with the Facebook and I really I I I know that we are on but I would like us to be very cautious and I just um there were a number of us were there and I just I'm just a little concerned um about us becoming t how that Facebook page is going to be set up. So I just wanted to say that. Thank you. Andrea, >> I have four things. The first

141thing is the guidance counselor versus the school counselor and I just wanted to say that the guidance counselor by any other name would smell a sweet. So I just like to take that stance. Uh the second thing is I also went to cave and I was delighted to see Susan and and Dr. Grineer as a team again speaking about without words. That was really wonderful. Well, the third thing is Juliet Parker put me in touch with um with Bobby Willard who was a student at Fitch Junior High School and he came he was here in town uh doing something at the naval base and he um he came over and visited for about a half an hour and I just wanted to talk about how grat students stay connected with our system throughout their just

142a wonderful thing. And finally, yesterday in lie of because we didn't have a Martin Luther King dinner this year, Mystic Seapport welcomed the scholars and their parents for a a reception afternoon and it was just wonderful. That's a wonderful. >> Oh, that is >> very cool. Um for those of us who went to CAB um be prepared that probably one of the committee the whole meetings um to give a short synopsis of the workshops that um you went to and since many of us went to the same workshop because there was not there was a limited amount of workshops because of COVID um but we should be um sharing with people about what we have learned. And then my other attend attendance um was at the Grant public school community meeting around the busing um

143I attended um on behalf of the board um hearing I think we've gone through all of our communications um so uh just to remember we've got some the dates coming up um and that uh we have a we have the committee the whole meeting is on the 6th and then uh December 13th uh we'll have a special board meeting about 5:45 where um the town the town clerk will come and um do the oath of office to our new board members and to our um current board members that have uh continued on with the term. Um and then we'll go into our regular board meeting on the 13th and then we're off for uh winter um break. Um and suggested items. I just wanted to say um I've got the seal seal of the biiteracy

144um and also um I'm going to refer um Isaiah's to the policy and to the finance committee. Um and Jon kind of to do that that would be great. Um, are there other agenda topics that we need to get on to the docket? >> I think we were looking at a finance and facilities meeting to Jay and Ken. >> Was it the 7th? Maybe >> Tuesday. >> Uh, Tuesday. >> So to get one of those in too before the end of the Yeah. >> So December 7th. So >> a day that will live in. >> Yeah. >> Any other agenda topics? Hearing none. Motion to adjurnn. I have a second. In favor, please say I. Good night. Happy Thanksgiving. >> Tracy. Happy Thanksgiving.