8-15-22 Groton Board of Education Meeting

001Hello everyone who is on our Zoom. Rita, it's good to see you. Matthew Jay, it's good to see you. >> Um it is six o'clock and the board of ed does have a quorum and so I'm going to start our meeting. Um and the first so um it is my honor and privilege to start the Garten board of education committee the whole meeting August it's August 15th and it's 6 and change 6 o' um and the first order of business is for the approval of the uh committee of the hall meeting u minutes on August 8th. Can I have a motion? >> So I have Andrea. Do I have a second? >> Rita, >> I have Rita has the second. Thank you, Rita. Um, is there any discussion? >> All right. Hearing none. All those

002in favor of the approval of the committee of the whole meeting minutes of August 8th, please say I. >> I. >> Oppose. Abstain. That motion has carried. Um the next order of business was uh the review of the new board member interview questions. I received um thoughts and comments from or a question from Matthew and Liz and Bev. Um and um I have them here. Um and every every one of them including mine um the one of the questions was around um why do people want to run? What is their what what is their hope? What is what are they thinking? Um uh priorities I guess is the word. Sorry, I lost that for a second. Um and Miss John, I don't know if you see, but it looks like Beverly has um joined us

003as well. Uh >> yes, I did. Thank you. >> Super. Um, and uh, so what are your priorities? And then um, another question that Bev asked, which is very similar to what mine was, uh, what what motivates you to serve on the board of ed? Um, Liz Porter said, explain what you believe is the primary role of the board of education member, which I thought was interesting. Um, uh, please elaborate on your strengths that you feel will best benefit the students of Grten. Matthew, yours was um uh um I had this um but sort of what is once again it was your priorities um which was I think questions that um people had asked of you Matthew I'm really short shortening what you had stated so you're more than welcome to add to that but

004it looks like priorities is one of the themes that came through for four people. Um I don't know if Jay or Rita whether you have other ones that you want to have, but I think I can actually um ascertain about five of those from from the questions that I got. >> Um I do feel one of the things you should mention is the time commitment >> and um whether or not they have the time for all the meetings we have. And that might not be that might be something you would say to them, not ask them about it, but explain the time commitments, the committees and so forth because the last thing we want is to have someone serve on the board and not be able to, you know, attend the meetings and so forth.

005I I had two other Rita, to your point, I had two other people that had called me to ask about um the position. And when I told them that um about what they would be looking at in terms of time commitment, um actually both candidates said that they their family um life was a little bit too hectic to be able to throw that into the wrench. So that to that's a good point. Um, one of the questions that I had asked um or that I had jotted down is please uh uh talk about themselves but talk about them in terms of how they feel that they could fit in as a team member of the board of ed. Um so once again finding out a little bit about themselves but then also seeing how they

006feel like that would put them how how they would put them as a team. So that's what I have. um gotten so far. Maybe between Andrea and I, we could word smmith what we have and if people wanted to that they could send it to us and then I would just send that back out to you guys again. Um just just to let you know. Um and uh once again to thank you very much for realizing that Monday we have that fifth Monday in this month and I would like to use that as our interview time. Um and maybe we would gather for 15 minutes before the first interview so that we can just make sure that our stuff is together and then we and like maybe assign questions um to people. Um so if

007there's if if there's eight of us that are attending then we should have eight questions. >> Um I don't know if we should have eight questions but everybody I think five questions is really good but I think maybe somebody else could talk about time commitment. Another person could could say that even though this is a democratic thought, this is a very a-political board. >> I think that's very important to mention. Um, so I don't know if we need to have more than five questions. >> Okay, that that's a good point. I guess I was just looking for >> anybody who's there could always just talk a little bit about their experience as a board member. >> I think Matthew has his hand raised. >> Thank you, Rita. I was about ready to say he got

008to it before I did. Hello, Matthew. I hear you better if you're not muted. >> Isn't it amazing about technology? It only works when you follow the directions. Um I I think it may be worth considering uh having a quote sixth or ninth or what having an extra question at the end to ask the people what questions they have for us, what we didn't ask of them that they thought that they expected us to ask of them and use that as an opportunity to let them carry the ball for a bit and give us another perspective on their candidacy. So, sir, what what did we not ask or is there anything else that they wanted to offer? Is that is that what you're talking about, Matthew? >> Sure. Open open the door wide. Open the

009door wide for the person to present him or herself. >> That's a >> beyond beyond the introductory stuff. Now that we've gone through the process and we're almost done, we don't want to close it off without giving you a chance to perhaps there are some questions you hadn't thought of asking. Now you've heard us. Please. >> That's perfect. That is perfect. Thank you. All right, for those um who were able to give me questions in advance, thank you so much. Um and um even even before Miss Andrea knows, she's being asked to word Smith some more questions. So, >> all right. So, I'm going to move us on to the review the request for the ARPA funds, which is attachment number two. Um, and I don't know if the Sam if this is Sam or

010both. >> Sam and Clint and Shannon was there. Um, Dr. Piaza also and Ken Knight. It was really a team effort. Um, I wrote about it in board notes that we were um we I the town manager let us know that it was due like a week away or a week and a half away. So, we had pulled together. These were some of the items that we had identified in our schoolbased district safety committee as things that we really felt we needed um for school safety. And I think that when the shooting in Texas happened, it kind of it really put a jolt in all of us once again saying what can we do better? And so Sam actually runs our safe safe school um committee, our safety committee, and we meet with fire department,

011police department, administration, um you know, Clint, I think you've been on that committee as well, um with technology. Um Phil and I join in. I think the student data manager, I think he goes to everything, so he's probably there, too. Um but it it really is a time when we showcase um you know what's happening in the schools, you know, how the school plans and the district plans align. And out of that um I'm going to let Clint talk to you a little bit about the the cameras and also um Sam is here to kind of fill you in. Um, while we don't make those plans public, one of the things that we've worked really hard on this whole summer is to do a nice easy flip chart. The plans usually come about two inches

012thick for each school and they're, you know, they've really been thought out and they align to the district plan. But it's really important that in an emergency, whether it's your secretary, you know, who is front and center or your teachers, anyone can just really flip to the guidelines. So, we're really excited. That has been a big project this summer and we're excited to see that one through. So, I'm going to turn it to you, Clint, and Sam, and you all can add to this. >> Great. I I'll I'll launch. Hi, everybody. Uh so I'm going to talk about two main items that were kind of fell under my purview. Uh camera system cameras and security and access therefore as well as uh additional connectivity between Fitch High School and GMS. Uh I will talk kind

013of big picture what the purpose of this was, what the process that we we did to come up with this. uh in an earlier meeting I know there was some discussion as far as getting into the very fine details and the appropriateness of sharing you know exactly what the tech that goes in whether that becomes a concern a techn a security vulnerability or not. So I don't mean I'm going to share big picture and certainly answer any questions uh but can certainly follow up as needed. So we currently have uh security camera systems in all of our schools as well as central office. uh they are kind of unique islands if you will where they're all their own systems. Really the intent of this project is twofold. One to build capacity both internally and externally

014for security cameras so that we can fill the needs of school administrators, teachers, uh graten police department and so forth, but then also unify all of that so that these are not unique systems that require access within an individual school building. We're trying to get to the point where we can have appropriate and secure access anytime, anywhere by the appropriate uh people who need access to this uh ongoing to investigate uh uh issues that may take place or god forbid a real- time incident where school administration, police department, fire department or others need real time access to our schools. I can't provide that to them currently any time anywhere. Uh with this system we will be able to get to that again in a secure fashion and an appropriate fashion so that only those who

015should be having access to it indeed have access to it and that is tested and provided ahead of time as opposed to in a crisis when it's needed. So, this laundry list, I'm looking at the budget page of this really includes uh cameras again, inside outside mounts, additional video storage, licensing, and then the ability to unify all of these cameras into one system, secure system that can be seen. So, that really is the intent of this project overall as to meet the needs of those requirements that came out of the school safety committee that I am indeed part of. So, that's that's kind of part one. The second one much more quickly. Uh currently there is no connectivity uh fiber optic connectivity between Fitch High School and Graten Middle School. With both of them being

016on the same campus, uh I'm looking for two things. One, uh um some redundancy in the system because those two buildings are so close and fiber optic cable is charged by the mile typically. uh but also two uh should this take place we could look in the future where instead of bringing external internet access to both schools we can bring it to one and then offload to the other. So it gives us opportunities and choices down the road uh when we start talking about budget and reliability and the like. So those are really big picture the two projects. One squarely require from requirements of the school safety and security committee around cameras and access to those cameras and the other is a fiber optic cable that we would string underground from Fitch High School to

017Graten Middle School. That would be a very large data pipe that we would have options on how we use that uh immediately as well as in the future. Does anyone have any questions on the cameras? And I think that in lifetime the police department would be able to see into all the buildings which is really um one of the things that I think we've needed for a long time and it would be very very protective. Um when we do our drills we usually have fire department come out um which that really is very helpful. They give us honest feedback and it helps us to do it better the next time. But for those folks who are our safety um you know community members, this would really be uh a plus to have a look into

018our buildings to see that everything is okay or not. >> Yes. Andre and I sorry Andre if you can't answer this that's fine. >> Sure. But will both the town and the city police departments be able to see into the school? >> I am building a I would build a system with these dollars that would allow that to happen. >> So both the city and the town police departments would be able to have access. It would tech be technologically feasible as a feature of this to do that >> from a squad car from headquarters what >> for instance river is really in the city sure >> side and they're they're the ones who do respond as well as their fire department so we have to make sure >> and testing for you >> I have

019Rita and then Beverly >> um could you tell me I just want to lower my hand um what is the timeline line for um installing it things and I know because the funds cover from what is it March 3rd 2021 to December 31st 2024 so what is your timeline in terms of will we get everything all at once is this going to be spread out over time >> so Rita on page eight >> yeah I didn't I was looking for exactly how it was going to be done but I couldn't quite understand it >> okay so on the bottom of eight. So maybe Clint, can you speak more to that? >> Sure. The the and and Susan, if you could please jump in because the latest update I got uh in response to when we

020might be seeing these funds should be they be granted to us uh was October, correct? >> Oh, >> I believe September to October. Again, this is a town decision on how these will be will be uh dealt out and so forth because this was an application that anyone in the community could do. When I spoke to John Burke, he's hired for um the town an ARPA coordinator. So, he has a full-time employee that's doing this work and he's looking at all of the applications. Um and he said he received a lot of them um and that it was taking longer than they thought expected. So, um, >> I know that we handed it in right before school ended because we we didn't we had limited time, you know, to get it in, but we did.

021>> So, if if I could expand on that just as a hypothetical, let's say that dollars were allotted to us, say October 1st, and I'm just making that up, but let's say that's the case. We would then go through the process of selecting a vendor through the appropriate rules of purchasing and so forth. Um, this these this type of equipment has come back in stock quite a bit uh over the last six to 12 months. So, I'm less worried about getting that in. Um, I I'm hesitant to commit to a time frame, but if those dollars available October one, I would love to be working on this immediately and having some, you know, a threemonth time span to get from start to finish of that project. >> That's Thank you. And if I may, at

022the bottom of page 12, it does say, similar to what Clint was just talking about, if if the uh project start date, this this lists September, but if even if it's October, it looks like it's about a year out to total completion. It it lists December 31st, 2023 as the completion date. And that includes cameras and the fiber optics. And >> what is your priority though in terms of what you would do first? I would leave that to to Clint. I'm not sure of what the process is for the fire. I would assume the camera installation might be easier. Is that correct, Clint, or am I way off? >> Yeah. No, there's there's the the lowhanging fruit, so to speak, would be for us to immediately start populating some of these schools where we've identified

023and again, I I built this list in collaboration with all the building principles, uh, and their own security committees and so forth. So, we could start at the same time that we're actually installing new cameras both internally and externally within schools. We could be working on the back end that we're standing up this unified web management system and so forth. So those can be done in parallel, if you will, as we stand those up. Again, assuming things don't change and there's a run on cameras and I'm being told that there's a four to six week delay or what have you. I put this together for purposes to adhering to the requirements of the grant and then we follow the purchasing process and go forward from there. >> Thank you, >> Beverly. >> Thank you, Kim.

024Uh, so Clint, I understand that you're going to start with the cameras first. Is that That's what I'm hearing. >> I I would want to start with cameras first. Absolutely. >> Okay. Um, what's the lifetime use of these cameras? Do you know? And do they have a warranty? >> Uh, they do have a warranty. Depending on how much we want to purchase them for, there can be the traditional warranty, which is three to five years standard. There's additional warranties that could be added on top of that. Uh uh Sam, please double check me on this uh because I'm still here a year. Uh but we have cameras that are new as of a year or two ago and we also have cameras that are still in service from uh you know seven, eight, nine years

025ago. Really the difference that makes this system work well is you see the term IP. IP camera is an internet protocol camera. Meaning that it runs on the same network cables that we have Wi-Fi access and we plug computers into. We now have our phone system on. So, it's one network that can run all of this data as opposed to having to wire a parallel separate network on top of that that's dedicated just to a security system. So, it's easier for me to put more of these in and leverage our existing network and what we've spent as a town over the many years to build these networks. Uh, anything new that we purchase here, I would expect to to last, you know, seven to 10 years. and we will we will continue to utilize any

026IP based cameras that have already been put into the district uh over the last five to seven years. >> Okay. Thank you. Do you think um the the price for the two I know it's coming from a fund, but do you think the price for the two-way radio $3,000 each is that expensive or is that the normal price? >> I'm gonna hand that off to my colleague Sam. I guess a expensive is a is is a um matter of opinion, I guess. But uh if you want uh units that are going to talk throughout the town, you have to spend that kind of money for those those kind of radios. >> We have regular walkie-talkies that'll go from uh a couple hundred feet. Uh but we really want to have communication throughout the district. So

027it does this kind of money for those. So that would be like um for kind of your central crisis center usually in the principal's office to have the kind of system that could talk to police department, fire department on their same line um so that if we needed immediate attention we would have it and that was actually the police department's recommendation I believe or fire departments that we >> it was from the police and the uh dem department of homeland Homeland Security uh also use those same radios. So, uh they would be uh they could be used uh if you change the channel, you if you switch the channel, you can actually talk between buildings or if you're on the same channel if there's an event, you could be talking to the police, fire department,

028uh Homeland Security, or anybody else who would be on that band. And one last question. Can you explain the merit film installed by Electronic Security Solutions? What is that? Is that the film, Sam, that you were talking about putting on the windows or is that something different? >> Yeah, that's that's the film that we've already installed on part of Thes River and Mystic River Magnet School. So, it's a reflective film. it uh uh makes this uh it makes it more difficult to uh to break through the glass uh to get into the building. It's not impossible, but would take somebody a very long time. And of course, it would give uh anybody inside the building that much more time to escape uh and uh to a different direction. >> Thank you both. Beverly, I think

029though your question um is pretty important when we think about if we get this, it's the upkeep, which I which I believe is sort of what you are alluding to in terms of in future years, how do we continue to support that in the budget, >> right? That's what I was >> Okay, good. That's a That's a good I mean, obviously, we want to continue this on because it's the security of our school district, but it is important for us to think that this is amazing. I'm glad that we're going to be moving forward with this, but we are down the lines. Um, the board's going to have to be thinking about that. >> And so, the uh the last item that I can think of is the flip chart that was developed by uh

030Adam Diskin at the Pitch High School. uh Ted Keller uh brought in a flip chart from his old high school and there was a flip chart that was developed by the state police uh shortly after Sandy Hook uh a colorized flip chart which uh gave you um instruction on what to do in certain uh emergency situations. So uh Adam has really taken the uh bull by the horns on this. he's developed it and and we're going to use it throughout the district and uh we should have some samples here pretty soon of those and once we have the samples we'll get them into you uh at the board meeting. >> Yes. And I would say a subcommittee including Sam and others um central office and building administration have worked on this and reviewed it over

031and over again to make sure you know we have it accurately so we can actually roll it out virtual. It's going to have a virtual rendition as well as um a published version um in print. So, we're going to be able to speak to principles before the start of the school year about this. I know that we had some basic conversations um about this in about a month ago, but I just feel it was so important for us to take a look at the completed um grant request um because we have been talking about what security is. So, um, I think that that was it was it was good to have Clint and and Sam here to kind of talk about that. Beverly, >> well, I just want to say that this security, I know

032for probably most board members, is a priority in our school district. And so, I want to thank both of you, Clint and Sam, for putting it. And Susan, my bad, Susan, you too. No. and the committee >> and whoever else is involved for putting this together to keep our students safe. >> I mean, they might not be 100% safe, but at least at least we're close to it. So, thank you >> here. Here. >> Yeah. >> Is this in? I'm sorry. Has this already gone? >> Oh, yeah. We had like a week to turn around time and so we got it in at the end of June. >> Waiting for the response from the town. Yeah, we're just waiting for the town. Beverly, do you have another question? Oh, I guess not. Where does she

033go? Oh, there she Sorry. You travel everyone, when you put your hand down, you travel within the the screen. Um, so it's that time of year >> where we talk about, believe it or not, CIPs. >> I don't think we ever stop talking about them. >> Well, but when they come forward to us to take a look to be put into our next year's budget, Sam in. Bye, Clint. Thank you. >> I'll be across the hall. >> Well, Sam put together this nifty little chart that you found in your packet and I'll let him speak to it. >> Yes. So, um we have uh these projects that we submit, we've been submitting to the town for a few years uh now. Uh and some of these items uh we've decided to uh fund ourselves uh

034with funding that Susan has found. So uh the first one is the fieldhouse renovation. Um, you may recall that uh uh we are interested in taking a look at the old fieldhouse or the uh what I call the concession stand uh and the uh main fieldhouse and uh trying to develop space in there uh for uh changing rooms, showers, etc. for female athletes as well so that we have a little more equity between the sexes regarding athletes. So that one is being um that one is already underway. Uh Amy Samuelson who who designed the middle school is the architect that is also working on that project with her um organization SLAM SLAM. uh the culinary arts renovation again at Fitch High School. Again, uh SLAM is also working on that project. Uh they have uh

035taken some measurements and they're developing a plan presently for that and again uh we agreed that the board of ed expenses operation would pay for that. So that one is also ongoing. Uh we have um a a study on uh HVAC uh heating, ventilation, air conditioning at in the vintage part of Pitch High School and also Charles Barnum School which Fussen O'Neal uh will uh um provide to us. Uh they're working on that project. Um and those will come from uh some of the ESR funds and the football field recrowning which we have asked the town about on numerous on I think probably five or six years we've been asking about that. Um the last time I went I I I spoke to uh the uh the town planning department when we were talking about

036CIPs. um they were concerned that the field task force uh was developing a plan for that field and um I believe that uh not only planning but probably beyond planning into town town council although I don't want to speak for them but my understanding is that uh most people felt that we should wait to find out what that uh study uh provides us with to determine whether We want to spend a quarter of a million dollars recrowning a field that may be upgraded into an artificial field. I know that the field committee task force is also thinking about turning the field about 90 degrees and uh upgrading the bleachers and and and the track uh all at the same time. So those things are still in flux and uh so that's where we are with

037that one. Um, Northeast Academy. We were approved for um some uh drainage work at Northeast Academy. Uh we just received the plans for that. Um and our plan is to uh do that. Uh we'll be talking to the contractors and determining whether we'll be able to complete that during a um spring break in the next spring. Uh and if it can't be done during that week, we will do it uh next summer. So that project would be going on next summer and of course a roof replacement at Charles Barnum. Uh it's been approved but we uh need to select an architect. So we're working on uh interviewing we'll be interviewing architects in the near future to determine uh who will lead that project for Charles Barnum School. In the meantime, we continue to uh well

038actually we haven't had many problems on that roof in in in about a year or so. We we did make some repairs over there about a year ago and we haven't had any complaints since. So, um but uh by the same token, I'm looking outside because the sun is shining again today and we're not expecting rain anytime soon. So, uh but uh we'll we'll be looking at that as we uh determine who the architect will be for that project. So, I'd be happy to answer any questions if you have any. Jay, did the CIPs go through um the finance and facilities? >> Uh yes, they did. >> Okay. Um was there a um Bev, I got you. I promise. Um did did the finance and Wow. whatever your committee that you do. um did that

039have um recommendations um about about the CIPs that the board that they would want the board to really pay attention. >> We did not make any specific recommendations because that was our first look. >> Okay. All right. Thank you Beverly. Um um Sam, as far as the football field recrowning, is that a uh because it's being held up, is there any safety issues and letting that um go for a while? >> Well, some people are concerned about that. Um, I I think probably the best thing to do before the uh football season actually starts is to get out there and uh take another look at it and have uh public works out there with me and take a look at it. I think that um well, first of all, the the recrowning itself is more

040for drainage than it is for anything else. But, uh some people are concerned that there are divots and and things like that on the field and that that could be taken care of with a a large roller. So, I would talk to public works and see if they could roll the field before we start the season. >> Which is going to start soon. >> Yes. >> Okay, that's good because it might get held up again because of what you're saying. They want to do everything at the same time um with the athletic field task force. So, if we can do anything to minimize students getting hurt out there, that would be great. Bev, I'm going to just tag team on that for just a second. Um, Jay, who was the who's the uh chairperson of

041the task force for the fields? >> It's a um Mr. Noski. Um, and we are actually going to meet on the 18th for the first time in many, many months just to, um, see where everything is at. Uh, it's all being held up by the Claude site visioning >> project. Um sadly the public works uh representative who has been shephering this through is um leaving Grten. I believe he's moving to East Lime. Um so there's going to be a little more um transition there. And yes, we've brought up this safety issue every single year. Um and um it it doesn't seem to have moved the the council. Um I believe one of them actually said, "Well, it's a dangerous sport anyway." >> Terrific. >> So, um yeah. Okay. I I don't have a question for

042him yet. So, Matthew, >> uh thank you. These the items that we've just looked at are ones that we've heard of before. Do you folks have any ideas that there'll be any new additions to this list as we move into budget season? or is is this the totality of our needs for the coming year as you see them? >> No, it's not the totality. Susan and I will be meeting uh probably early fall to discuss what we want to submit in the next round. >> Thank you. >> I think I think we were prioritizing Matthew our needs like the the things that we were having plans for were three of the most important things that we've been hearing about. um the fieldhouse and um culinary arts and then the HVAC. So those were really three

043top priorities we kind of want to see through fruition. Um, and we know that, you know, if you put too many things on the list, they kind of get pushed to the next year and pushed to the next year. >> And when will we have Matthew? I'm sorry. Um, when will we have the information about um from the architect about the fieldhouse and the culinary arts? I don't have a date on it, but I'll I'll check into that and get back >> because that's was Slim. Was Slim doing both of them? >> Yes. >> Beverly, I'm sorry you asked my question, Kim. I should have lowered my hand. I'm sorry. >> Oh, okay. Um because I guess we we're gonna need to know that if you're going to put that as a CIP, >> right?

044>> Um and cost of plans funded. So that that we've just we we've agreed to pay for the plans. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> And and once we get that, they will slam will also give us an estimate of what it will cost to do that and then we could submit that for the CIP. I'm sure it's going to be well above a number that we can handle in house. So Okay. Any other questions about um the the CIPs? >> No. Right. Continuing on with it's that time of year. Um update on transportation which we thought we should begin to talk about the bus contract and also um bus routes. >> Okay. First item is the bus contract and um Ken and I uh have uh uh selected Mike Kennedy as a consultant to uh

045work with us in looking over the existing contract and coming up with bid specs for a new contract and we're hoping to go out uh in early November uh with the bid package to uh provide new services. So, uh, we'll be looking at all the different aspects of of of the contract. Uh, for instance, the 6:00 a.m. the 6:00 p.m. the 12 Oh, Ken's there. I didn't know Ken was there. Um, that's the 12-h hour use of the buses. Uh, the number of buses that we have, the age of the buses, when they need to be replaced, etc. Uh, fuel. Right now, we pay for fuel. Is that the best way to do it or should we have them pay for fuel? So, we're going to look at all aspects of this contract uh with

046Mr. Kennedy. >> And who is Mr. Kennedy? He's no relation to to Clint Kennedy. Um he he's a consultant. He he owned a bus company. He's worked in the bus field for many many years. Um and um he actually worked in Grten back when Hugh Hunter was here on on bus contract uh bus contract. So um he's familiar with our town uh and uh is ready to go. So, we sent our existing contract off off to him the other day so that he can get a look at that and we'll be talking to him in the uh near future. You want to add anything to that, Ken? >> I think you covered most of it. Uh but uh he's the one that um uh has led us towards uh November being the best time to

047go out to bid. Uh and and I think that's sound advice. So, uh we're looking forward to doing that. Yeah, we were we were thinking September, but um as he pointed out uh everybody including our teachers are all even bus companies are still getting their feet wet and uh a lot of things going on in September. So if we could give them a little more time to get settled in uh November would be a good time. You want to do it uh before the new year uh so that uh you get uh lots of participation, lots of bids hopefully uh because these companies uh line their work up for the following year as soon as possible. So if we go out in early November, we should be should be in pretty good shape. >> I'm

048going to do Andrea and then you Beverly. >> I just have a comment for Sam and that is if Mr. Kennedy worked with Uncle Eenezer. He'll get us >> I hope that's what she calls >> Beverly. >> Uh, does the attorney look at the contract also? >> Yeah. When once we have a um an idea what we're going to do, we'll have our attorney go through it and make sure that it's uh all legit. And how many how long is the contract good for usually? >> Well, uh we uh this contract we've re renewed a couple of different times apparently once since I got here, but it was renewed once before I got here. So, uh but they're usually three to five years. I I believe most contracts are three to five years. >> Yeah.

049>> And how much are we paying, Mr. Kennedy? Um, I don't think I've had a final uh number yet, but uh we're in the uh $5,000 range. >> Okay. And probably services. He's worth every bit of that. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Hi. Yes. Um in the past the negotiating committee had looked over the um bus contracts and um last the the last time we were not involved and I'm hoping that the board will be involved this time um helping to select in years past the board has been involved and I think it's very important that we are and also my other question is, have you thought about um going with some of the other towns in the area and maybe pooling so that you might get a better deal? I know sometimes

050Learn has some um towns that they've gotten together and they've been able to negotiate um a better contract. >> So, answer to that. Yeah. >> Yeah. I know Graten has, you know, we're a large district. some of the other districts are smaller, so it behooves them to merge with other districts, but it does help, you know, and I just want to stress that um it's very important when we do go through this that we talk about whether or not their buses will be electrified by the date that the state of Connecticut has recommended. That's all. Thank you. >> Ken, do you want to answer some of um Rita's Um yeah, we will reach out to uh to learn uh and and and and find out if there's um if there's any way that we can

051um um uh team up with other districts. Um uh I know that there are a number of STA districts in our area, so perhaps they're also looking at the same time. >> Well, I I just hope we don't just look at STA. I mean, >> no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I'm just saying that um I was just mentioning that that there's other districts in the area that use SDA that um that may be looking to to to redo contract. Yes. Thank you. >> And we will definitely um uh include that in the in the contract about electric the electrified uh uh bus fleet. >> Right. And I know we've talked about seat belts in the past, but that doesn't seem to ever it's never going to happen. But who knows? I keep saying

052navigation systems >> and they say there's a law against it which I cannot believe but um we did get our cameras. We did get new cameras on on those buses. So that was quite a feat. >> Actually the learn when learn had their vans they did have the navigation and they were able to track whether or not a driver was speeding. Well, we have GPS on on we can track them, but they can't use the information to get from one place to another. So, it's not like the GPS that we use or even their phones. >> Oh, that's awful. >> It's awful. Especially if it's a new driver. >> They have to follow a piece of paper and they have to be stopped to look down at their paper. >> Yeah. Well, let's hope they're

053not they that they do stop that they don't drive and look at it, >> right? Or ask the kids, "How do I get there? the long way. >> Yeah, >> Matthew, >> I will show my new new member diapers yet again. Um, I'm hoping we will >> That's a visual I really just don't need. Matthew. >> Okay. Training, whatever. >> Ah, you're making me laugh, my friend. Um, is there any possibility? I mean, I don't know what you've done in the past or what we've done in the past, but are there any instate providers either existing? I know there's one company up in the New Britain area that does some school bus areas up there. I don't know if Curtain or Joshua would be look at this as a as a possible way to expand

054their businesses. Um, I leave it up to you. I just throw that out that if we can get a Connecticut based company, we'll be helping our state and ourselves. And finally, I do hope that we will try one electric bus at least. Whenever we do go electric, we'll have problems. Let's try them on a smallcale basis first. Thank you. >> Uh this will be going out to public bids. So there are there are four or five different bus companies that will probably bid this. At least that's what we're hoping for. Some are Connecticut companies, a couple of Rhode Island companies. Okay. Matthew, are you done with your questions? >> I'm done. I apologize. >> Don't I I don't apologize. >> Um Beverly, >> um Sam, at the finance committee meeting, you gave us the cost

055of an electric bus. Uh maybe you might want to talk about the cost of the electric bus. And another question is for curtain transportation, who negotiates their contract? And and another question is, is it feasible? I I see Waterford has small bands and Stonington also has a small van, a couple of small vans where they must do some kind of transportation of their students. Do we have anything like that? >> No, we don't have anything like that. In order to do that, you have to hire employees too to drive them. So, uh, that would be a question for you, the board, to determine that we wanted to go that route. I I think it's been asked before and probably looked at before, but maybe it's time to look at it again as a possibility. Um,

056but the the curtain curtain rates uh we will be looking at too uh coming up later in the fall. Is it on the same um contract cycle? >> No, they're they're separate. >> Um is it a yearly contract? >> Uh no, I don't believe it's an annual contract. >> Ken, do you know the answer or do the rates change annually? >> I I don't know the answer to that. I will I'll have to I'll have to look into that >> because that's a really that's a really good point. And what's the cost? Um Beverly now has me curious. What is the cost of an electric bus? $400,000. I went to a learn electric bus meeting and I asked some of those questions and there are grants available but um you know they come with a

057lot of stipulation but there were quite a few districts seated around the table you know interested in how do you get started just like you said Matthew and um but I think the biggest um challenge is to make sure that you have um the actual electricity hubs or whatever they're called for the buses to charge. And so that was also a question that they were contemplating. >> Yeah, you have to have the infrastructure in order to have the buses. But it and again the buses uh at this point unless the contract changes would be purchased by uh whoever the contractor is that wins the bid. >> So it would be up to them whether they would >> but I think the district goes for the grant. So there has to be some collaboration in >>

058right. So Jay is do you think that the finance and facilities um would want to ponder um the the feasibility of of doing the small van transport and what that would cost the whether it would be costefficient instead of going to Beverly I'm assuming like instead of doing like a curtain to have our own like small transportation Was that did that make sense? >> I know we've discussed that before. In other words, taking on that burden of buying our own fleet, maintaining it. So now we'd have to hire our own mechanics. We'd be doing a lot of things in parallel with what with what Curtain and STA do now. We'd have to have our own garage space. We'd have to invest in that. And then, of course, we'd have to we we'd be competing against

059Curtain and STA for the drivers. I I would think. Um >> so yeah, I mean we can certainly look at that again, but um it just seems to me that we've made a decision, you know, we're going to uh contract out certain things that are not really in our wheelhouse and do we want to make that investment, you know, like where would we put the garage? What what land do we have? Do we want to keep one of the other schools? You know, I mean, there's there's a lot to think about by taking on a third fleet. >> There are some districts that do that, but they're usually very small districts. >> I know that try to do that themselves. >> I'm going to recognize Beverly and then Rita. >> Yeah, I was only going

060to say what Susan said, like Waterford does it. Stonington, I mean, and they don't they don't transport all their students. Uh it's mostly the special ed students I think that they might transport. Um but you know we could find out for them how they do it also. >> Yep. >> I mean they still use a bus company and they still use curtain. >> Right. It might be worth looking at whether we might even just have a couple for special occasions. Um, I know we've had to hire a taxi to come and uh pick up kids or move parents and stuff uh for special needs uh over the last year. So, something like that might uh come into play at some point, but again, the committee can look at that. Rita, >> um when Stonington purchased

061their vans, uh small vans for special ed a few years ago, they saved quite a bit of money, but they um are a much smaller district and I believe we did some research on that and it didn't cost it wasn't cost effective for Grten since we have so many special ed students to transport. But I would agree with Sam that it would be great to have a couple of small vans ourselves. That's it. And also the bus company, whoever we do arrange, I hope they have some smaller buses because so so many of those buses, you know, I think it would be good to have some small buses, especially when we're transporting across town to a magnet school. >> Did you want to >> That's a Well, no, that's a great idea to to to

062talk to Mr. Kennedy about adding that uh feature to our our contract, potentially looking at having a couple of small vans. They call they call the shorter buses vans in the in in in the bus trade, but um we be talking about minivans essentially. >> So that's an excellent idea. So I think we'll include that when we talk to Mr. Kennedy next. >> Great. Thank you. going back to like whether we should have our own a couple. I would want to see if there's a way that we could partner with Park and Rex and Graten because they they have vehicles themselves and I'm wondering if there's a way that we could um you know if we know that a group of parents or kids need to get from point A to point B, there is

063a couple transport um vans that they that they have that maybe we could senior center too. Yeah, we had called them, I think, in the heat of everything last year to see if we could partner, but I don't think that worked out. >> We run into situations sometime uh where we have to pick up one child because they're homeless uh uh that might be slightly out of district, but they're one of our our students, so we need to go and get them. And there are times when curtain is not available. So >> I guess that would be important for the board to have record about how often those um needs are there um because at what point what's the tipping point between paying um a transportation and um versus owning our own vehicle. Um so

064to to Rita and Jay's point I'm not saying that that we should discuss that again. I just always feel that sometimes we should at least kind of say does it make sense for us to look at it? Um I I am not married to that idea at all. It doesn't seem like that would be feasible for us because we would need to go I think the whole shebang and I'm not quite sure we want to be in the business of owning a transportation um system. But um thank you for your input Jay on that. If there's no other questions um about the bus contracts, can we go to the bus routes, please? >> Sure. And uh so uh the bus routes uh Jenny and Evelyn have been working non-stop around the clock over the weekend

065uh so on and so forth. They uh unfortunately each year um they have to wait until we get a roll over and get all the names in and it it seems to take a very long time before that happens. So they got them last week. They uh completed the roots as of today. They got them to STA. Uh we've asked STA to do their dry runs this week and return uh the information to us their their comments uh by Friday uh which will give uh Jenny and Evelyn an opportunity on the 22 Monday the 22nd uh and possibly the 23rd depending on how many corrections or adjustments we need to make. Uh so we're hoping that it'll only take the 22nd so that we can post it on the 23rd. Uh hopefully the latest it

066would be posted would be the 24th. and students will not come until the 30th for for first grade through 12th. >> And we'll be screening our preschool and kindergarteners and they come in the following week after Labor Day. So, it allows our transportation um team to and the bus drivers to get our older kids in and out and um we're able to orient the the littlest ones and then they start arriving the following week. Yeah, there there is a uh freshman orientation and we've already uh arranged uh uh those bus routes already for or freshman orientation. That's all set. Uh which I think is Tuesday of next week. Is it Tuesday? >> It's I don't know. It's it's pretty soon. >> And Tom is on here. He's actually done a lot of work. Um and

067he's great at answering questions and helping out. Um, did you want to say anything or add anything, Tom? >> No, I think Sam did a good job, but if there's any questions that Sam would like me to jump in on, I'm happy to do that. >> Well, um, Jay, how about if you start off? >> Thank you. Um, first of all, I just want to say I I really appreciate that um so much hard work has been done over the summer to get these routes uh to s to to SDA uh early this year so they can do these dry runs. I think last year given that you know the new schools were opening this was not uh feasible and I think um that may have contributed to some of the confusion at the beginning

068of the year. So I think this is just fantastic that this team has come together and put these roots um together. However, I'm not um uh unaware that these routes will change daily between now and the end of the school year. Uh I do realize that students come and go in and out of district, in and out of town. Um and um I do know that some of the magnet schools do very delayed um invites to students when they realize that they've got space and it's very important for them to to to fill those spaces to get their state aid. So, I realize it's a it's a neverending uh project to keep uh these roots up to date and um so I don't want to act as though, you know, this is this is final

069and I realize they work um you know to to to make all those adjustments and uh then there's also the issue that uh you know even if the student um you know is is we have to leave space on every bus to to take every student in that uh in that neighborhood even if maybe they change during the year uh maybe due to custody changes or whatever. So I realize it's a big puzzle and uh I just want to uh say thank you to everybody who's involved with uh with bringing that together. >> We have tried to streamline some of the magnet school and they are mostly in hubs with Ledger. There was one bus that only had three students. So, I know Tom was reaching out to the families on that bus to see

070if they were riding or not. Um, if we could save a bus so to actually, you know, opt out or to have some kind of a hub system, they can always opt back in, but at least that would um help us with some of those magnet runs and other runs. So, >> Matthew, >> yes. I was wondering whether it's Susan or one of the other folks. Uh do we have any sense of when uh new boats are going to become uh coming into the uh subbase or at least crews and training for new boats and and what that might mean and when? >> Well, I wrote about this in board notes. Matthew Miranda is actually on with us. She's wonderful liaison with the families and with the schools. Um but one of the things um

071I had mentioned was this year many people on the boats came with orders to Graten but they some families many families are waiting to get their orders to leave Graten. So we have this anomaly where we have kind of a overflow which is fine. I hope they stay till October one for our impact aid numbers. Um, I don't know. Um, Miranda, did you want to add to that in any way? >> I really don't have anything to add. Um, I don't Unfortunately, that information doesn't come. If a vote comes, we don't it the families don't always come with it. They come at a schedule on where their transition points would be. So, it's a trickle in. So at this point we aren't aware of any mass movement increasing or decreasing students in the district. >>

072Okay. >> Matthew, do you have more to that? >> Nope. >> Could I just make one more comment? You know, Jay's point was excellent and and I just want to uh reiterate that um his point is that when uh a a a new student comes onto the bus route or one is uh taken off of the bus route, it changes the times uh if it's a a house-to-house stop, it could change the time of everybody else in front of or in back of that student on that bus. So, uh, that's why, uh, Jenny and Evelyn are, uh, are updating these routes all the time and sending these things out to parents as as soon as possible. So, uh, it it may be just a few minutes. Uh, but, uh, when parents are waiting for a

073bus, it's it's critical that we get those, uh, those time changes out to the parents as quickly as we can. So, >> we also communicate to parents that we usually give ourselves a day or two to get that work done so it's done properly and it gets communicated. and um they're usually very agreeable to that. >> And the other thing that we're asking parents to do this year specifically is if they have a bus issue to call us here at the board of ed rather than STA, the bus or any other bus company that we may have in the future, they should talk to uh the transportation office and uh we will resolve those problems right here. >> We're going to make sure that information is loud and clear on the website. um you know

074on our Facebook page so that they know that number to call because there's always someone here that can answer it. Um and I think they do a really nice job um in really listening to families, especially if a a parent calls and they have concerns about a child not arriving, they stay with that parent and they get it resolved at our end. So, I'm gonna recognize Beverly Jay. Before that, Tom, thank you for um bringing in your newest family member. I love that. Thank you, >> Beverly. >> Um Susan, do we communicate with the parents way in advance that the bus routes could change if a student comes in or if a student leaves so they know? I know you said you do it if that happens, but do we let them know in advance

075that that could happen and the bus route might change? >> That's a really good point, Beverly. I think it should be somewhere on our Facebook and maybe even in my intro, you know, as I'm communicating kind of every other day now getting them ready to come back to school. I think that is a good point to make. I know that when um Joyce started um getting the calls and we worked with the bus company and when we knew that there were bus drivers not there and new drivers coming in and they were you combining some routes, we would at least let the parents know in the morning and in the afternoon so they could be aware that the times would be different. And I think if we had a a major uh change in times,

076we'd actually do a uh an all call to the kids on that bus or to the parents. >> Yeah, we were communicating through school messenger and they appreciated that. That made a big difference Jay. >> Thank you. And um I do remember uh receiving communications that uh school bus routes were subject uh to change at any time and I believe they used to give us like a 15minute window on either side. Um, and uh, so you know, um, I forget exactly how that was communicated, but it was kind of like a a thing that everybody knows that if we say the bus is going to be there at 7:05, it's not going to be there at 7:05 180 days a year. Um, but yeah, to your point, I think that, you know, for especially for

077newer parents, that that messaging is going to be critical. Um the other thing um that I wanted to mention was um the um do do we have any insight yet from STA about their hiring efforts and what they expect their uh staffing levels to be because I know that was a a major issue last year. Yeah, they they reported that they're fully staffed. Um >> plus three at this at this point. >> I think I had put that in board notes as well, but we've been checking in on them on a regular basis and um it it looks much better this year than it did last year. >> Oh, just real quick, Susan, I can't get board notes because I can't get on to Outlook. So Beverly, thank you for saying that because um Clint

078asked me to make a list of the U board members that were having difficulty. So thank you. Can you give um Joyce your actual address that she should be sending it to? If anybody I know I know a No, is sitting next to me. So, we've had hers and I think she's actually listed as a board member on the board um you know chain that goes out. So, if you have a different um email that you use other than the Grten Schools, then please send it to Joyce and she can fix that right away. >> I think she knows that. I I I sent an email today saying I was having >> All right. I'll double check with her tomorrow morning. >> Okay. Thanks, Susan. >> Thanks, Beth. Right. Are there any more questions um

079around the bus >> buses stuff? All right. If not, um it's that time of year. We're gonna talk about a moment. >> So, I put that in board notes, too. We have a lot of kindergarteners. >> Um and there really a lot of um kindergarteners coming in. Um you know, military children. Um, Charles Barnum is almost really at capacity. You know, I always use what the board's recommendations are. You know, we would like to see 20 in K1, 22 and 3, 4, and 24, but there are times when we have more than that. Um, this time we had 38 students, as they said in the board notes, register, completed registration. And um so Tom was really working with families and um you know trying to fill as many of them in the neighborhoods that are

080going either to Thames River or Charles Barnum in those school districts. But then there are separate streets that we could take really a whole group of them to Northeast Academy which really only had 141 15 per class and they have four tiers. um and then also um CK. So he really did a phenomenal job and talked to families and they really accepted those seats, excited about you know the different um you know possibilities of the themes in the magnet schools that they're going to and the fact that their neighboring kids are going to be together. So um and then any siblings that had to go with so we really try not to separate families. Um, we try to keep them together. Um, at one point I was thinking I might have to use the FTA

081that was saved in a third grade to use in a kindergarten, but it's really hard to find a place to put them because our schools are really filled. And um I think between this and this plan and also we're taking in 18 to 20 transition K students um at Thames River will be able to draw and they're really coming out of all the different schools including CB. So that's really good news that um you know we have another classroom another FTE with the transition K. And so some of those very young four-year-olds who had kind of limited preschool, they'll be able to go um to the very successful transition kindergarten program. And we'll just wait and see how many more. I think there were seven more that registered today. Gigi gives me a a morning

082announcement every every day to tell me how she's doing with it. So, Beth, Beth, were you lying? Okay, there you are. >> Yeah. Thank you, Kim. Um, Susan, did you say you had one grade that had over the number of students um that the board recommends? >> The kindergarten is coming in in several schools with 21 >> instead of 20. >> Okay. >> And it could be 22. So we're just monitoring it, you know, across the district. >> At what number do you decide to split the class or at what number is do you decide to put a par professional in that class or is there one already in there? >> So per the teacher's contract, we actually have marching orders and it's usually up to um 27 28 I remember in the upper grades.

083So I would have to um you know check to see. I don't foresee anything like that. I'm just monitoring those K classrooms. You know um we do have K aids in the morning and in the afternoon and we do have par profofessionals working with our special education students. Um but it's something we're trying to keep right on top of. But it's it's coming in fast and furious as we continue to get closer to school. And we started this process so much earlier this year. So we thought we were really ahead of the game. >> And and do we have um parents who are trying to make their own decisions about what's what kids what schools their kids are going to? So, we've had a lottery process and really um parents um are able to go

084to the home school that they um are districted to or they were able to sign up for the lottery. Um so, the lottery has really been fully run. There are some military um seats in the lottery so that um you know for kids who might be coming in now. Um, but really the lottery process has been closed other than that. >> So, >> Susan, did did you say you can have 27 kids in kindergarten? >> No, 20. We had Pleasant Valley the year I came had 27 in fourth grade and we had to get a pair of professional for that class. >> Okay. And you said that's per teacher contract. >> Yes. But that's not >> We really haven't had something like that lately. >> Okay, good. Because even though it's >> even though it's

085per teacher contract, it's not an ideal situation. >> No, no. The ideal is really the board recommendations. So, we try to we try to really do it within that with that frame. So, how many how many students like roughly how many students that were to be going to X school is now going to go to Y school to meet the to help with uh with help with staffing. >> I'll have to get you those numbers. It's still a moving target because they're still coming in. Okay. And um so I I can get you those numbers though. >> So so maybe that would be a really good question for us to have like the end of September where you got where you could just fill the board in um about how many you know because that's

086going to impact transportation. I would assume >> it does. That's why we're kind of working with these neighborhood groups to come directly to the magnet school so it won't extend their travel time. So, do people feel good about um hearing about this again in the end of September? >> Yes. >> I I like to also hear about staffing at another meeting. Um what's the staffing like in our schools? Do we have enough staff? No. Yes. How many people did we hire? Blah blah blah. >> Yep. We can do that. That sounds like a Lori Le Pine trip presentation, >> especially if we can have the blah blah blah. >> Yes, >> that that was my question also, the staffing. >> Yep. And actually, it's on my side note board um is to do staffing and

087enrollment in a little bit later. And also looking at the diversity of the staffing, >> right? Perfect. Um, back to school. If there's I'm sorry. Is there any more questions about enrollment? We just want I think Susan just was um wanting to make sure that not only was it in the board notes, but that also that the board here I think that Susan is presenting this as as this is well I'm sure that this is just another day in the life of a superintendent, but that this was that this is pretty big because it it's a it's like a moving parts and so she just wanted to keep the board updated um about like like all of the transportation and movement of children and families. >> So, if not, let's go back to school. >>

088As always, back to school is always about health and safety. And after our several years with a pandemic, it's still really not in the rearview mirror. As many of you know, um over the summer, I certainly had a few family members and friends who still were getting COVID 19 in the summertime. So, we have had um continued our our talks with health department um the Connecticut State Department of Education. Um the CDC finally came out with its recommendations and I tried to put it as simply as possible in a back to school message that's going out to staff and families. Um I worked with my central office team and the principles. We actually developed a flowchart in talking to um our physician um Graten Public Schools physician on, you know, who helps support us. Um

089Denise was able to put together this really cool flowchart that we're going to review in a couple days. So, I'll make sure you get a copy of that. But I'm trying to keep it as simple as possible. It's kind of going back to when I was a kid in school. You monitor your health. If you don't feel good, you stay home, especially if you have a fever. Um, and we're hoping to get more of our students and staff back 100% by this monitor, test, and go. So, if you're not feeling good and you really need to take the day off, you need to take the day off. But if you're just feeling like an allergy or some of the symptoms but not all of them and they're very mild and you're feverfree, you haven't been

090around somebody or lived with somebody who's had COVID 19, um you might want to wear a mask, it's optional, um but if you are able to test negative and you feel well enough to come to school and there is no fever, you can come to school and then we will be giving out test kits. We're going to ask people to monitor it for a couple days. Um we have a a number that um we're going to call. Sam made sure that we had enough test kits for the start of the year in the building. And then we're going to be um receiving more kits and more masks. And you know, people still have the option to wear masks if if they feel like that would be a safer solution for them. um students and staff.

091And um now if if you have a fever, you can't do this monitor test and go to school. You need to stay home. That's part of our health policy anyway. Um you know, it's been known that sometimes kids will have a Tylenol before and they usually tell us and then all of a sudden they spike the fever later on during the day. So we're really going to be, you know, communicating to families. It's so important that if your child has a fever over the 100 degrees um that they should stay home and um and it's a 24-hour period. That's also in our health guidelines um without without medication. And then students who live with a person who has tested positive for COVID, that's another indication that you should really test and stay home. Um and

092then in the cases where students and staff um should stay and in these cases they need to stay home until they've tested for COVID and the test of negative um is the result before they come back to school. So we will be um working with our principles. There won't be the contact tracing that we had last year that consumed them fortunately. Um, but I think it's going back to kind of the basics that monitor your health. If you're not feeling good, take the day off, test, check to see if you have COVID. Um, and certainly if you've got a fever, you must stay home. or if you've been in contact in a home environment with someone who's been positive, please stay home, take the test, and only return if you've been negative and continue to

093take it. So that the idea is to get everybody back to community, back in our schools. Um, and you know, this is and we'll be also monitoring how our community is doing. So remember the red light, green light, yellow light. you know, when um districts um like ours in New London County, I think spiked at different times with the yellow and then the red, when the community is struggling with an outbreak, we have to really pay attention. And Tom, you I do know that you'll be um also making sure that cases are reported. Is that right? >> Yep. We'll be reporting cases basically in the same manner as last year. And we will also um have kind of the same public display of those cases that we had in the past. >> So that way

094families if families want to track it at the school level, they can. >> We have backtoback Tuesday meetings. One is on health and then one is on attendance. So uh many staff especially at central office and some of the principles in the building pay attention to that too and they give us updates and then we make sure everybody has the updates. Did anyone have questions? And this new flowchart that's been designed, as soon as we've tested it out and reviewed it, we will make sure you have it and it'll go up on the website, too, for families. >> Beverly, >> Susan, can you talk about the cleaning of the schools? >> Yes, we still have our ARSER funds, which has um provided um additional custodians in the schools. So they are wiping down multiple times.

095We really um are looking forward to our children kind of returning to the cafeteria for lunches instead of being in the classroom so that the work will be done in the cafeteria instead of all over the building. Um with snack time though, it's really good to have that additional person who can then wipe down in between. So there be hand sanitizers in each room. Can you talk about stuff like that? Um, I'll look to Sam for that. Hand sanitizer. >> It's It's really best for kids to use soap and water to wash their hands rather than the chemicals that they have in the hand sanitizer. So, we encourage everybody to use uh soap and water in the laboratories >> and teachers still >> classrooms have sinks. Teachers still do teach that, Beverly, especially for our

096littlest ones, and remind them to sneeze in their arm and, you know, not to use their hands and to wash their hands. And they've really, I think, in the past couple years, um, they even sing an alphabet song. They have to sing happy birthday song, um, as they bubble up with their soap and water. And um so we take it pretty seriously keeping um you know clean and safe from these germs. >> What about on the high school level, Sam? Um they can't use hand sanitizers. >> I don't encourage anybody to use hand sanitizer. I I'd prefer they use soap and water. It's the safest thing to use. But um we do they do have uh hand sanitizer in both the middle school and the high school. But um we still try and encourage them

097to use soap and water when they can. Hand sanitizers when there's long lines waiting to get in somewhere. I think they use them there. They have little um units that stand out in the hallway. >> Really in all of our schools, they still have those units that you can put your hand under. Especially if you've got an adult coming into the building, it's right there so you can't miss it. I know what you're saying, Sam, that soap and water is better, but a hand sanitizer is better than nothing, you know. So, >> agreed. >> Any other questions? >> No. >> All right. Um, so we're at Nice job, guys. We're at the um referral tracking sheet. Um, and I think one of the things that we talked about is that each committee would kind of

098take a look at uh each of their own um tracking parts. That's not at all what I meant, but we're we're there. Um, so that we would then look at the committee of the whole. Um, and Rita, I see you have your I think it's interesting. Your hand is kind of blending in with your wall, so I can't I can't see. >> I see a yellow hand. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Do you have a question comment? >> Yeah, I have a few questions about the tracking sheet. If if you notice, if you go down to finance and facilities, I asked the same question about purchasing a van van to transport special ed students, a smaller van um last year in June. And then again in April, we talked about obtaining new bus contracts and

099having board member involvement. So that has been on on the table. But I had a question about what is the review the use of PayPal that's for finance and facility. >> We were trying to find an online component for um students and parents to pay different charges. I see Tom up there. I know that um Clint is gone, but um can you speak to that? I don't know that we actually got PayPal, but we have some other system. >> Uh to my knowledge, we don't have PayPal currently. The only thing that we've gotten online at this point is that parents can use credit cards uh to pay that ra we prefer that over cash or check. Um to my knowledge, we don't have a system in place where they could use PayPal or Venmo or

100anything like that. Um that is something we may look at in the future, but we haven't put anything like that in place. >> Okay. >> But what system do they use to pay like the lunch? That must be one system, right, that they would pay. >> So that's that's my payments that's my payments plus uh that is that is specifically for just food service payments at this point. Um we also have a separate vendor which is a company called Veno. Um and that integrates right into P school. So parents if there's like accountabilities or other fees they can pay directly through there using a credit card. >> So should we something like that? Because I've heard a lot of negative things about PayPal. Should we just take that off? >> Well, that's >> Jay. Whatever

101Jay thinks. >> Yeah, >> we did discuss this with Ken, not specifically PayPal, >> but one of the parent groups, I believe a PTO, wanted to know um whether or not they could use one of these online services for their fundraising. And uh apparently they were turning to Ken for some advice. Um he would have to really speak to what his final recommendation was. Uh it's just something we sort of discussed, but it it was not that the district itself was going to use any of this. As as they mentioned, the lunches are being done through a a long-term vendor that we have. Um, this was more for PTO's asking for advice on on what they could use that would be safe. >> Oh, that's great. Okay. >> And then I had one other question

102going up to R2022-5, what um Beverly had mentioned about minority recruitment. We're supposed to be having a review monthly about AA and an update on staffing LP. What? AA and LP is the second to the last one under subject. >> Are you talking about discussion regarding minority recruitment? That was um Katrina Fitzgerald. >> Right. I know that. I didn't know what review monthly >> Andrea Arian. >> Okay. So, she suggested that and an update on staffing. >> Lori Le Pine. Oh, no. Who's Lizzy? >> Miss Porter. Oh, >> quarter. Okay. But I don't think that's happening. >> well, I I do know that we're going to um we're going to get to the minority recruitment to I don't remember why you wanted it monthly. I I think just for an update but you're correct because

103we haven't been we haven't been meeting about that in DI because I'm on that >> okay >> I think this was pertinent though specifically to finance and facility >> um >> I don't think so >> okay >> well it's under there yeah >> so I'm think subject, >> right? I think I think in September we should get to the minority recruitment and I'm making a note um to see how we then want to proceed um our conversations around recruitment um recruitment for um diversity recruitment, >> right? >> I know that Lori and Jamal have presented the plan. Yes. >> A couple times. >> Yep. And then number um three um underneath subject impleation of one card one community it's Lee White and legal issues under review by Clint. Maybe we could change the LW to

104MS since Lee is no longer on the board and Matthew is on the board at the library representing us. >> And do we have any new >> You wrote about it last month. >> Yeah. Is that under cow? Is that under cow? >> Yes. Oh, yes. So, it's on that same It's on page two, Matthew. Um, >> yes, I've got it. I've got it. >> Okay. All right. >> Miss Joan, are you following us? >> Yes, ma'am. I am. >> I love her. She needs to be in my life forever. Um, and do we do we need any um where are we going with the educational rising club? Who knows? All right. >> I could I could get an update from Adam over at the high school. >> All right. I think we did when

105we negotiated stipens though with the GA. I think that was one of the new ones listed. >> Yeah. >> Beverly. Um Jim, how are we doing with the ad hoc committee for naming a um part of a school? Well, just so Beverly, >> it just so happens that that is my number one thing down to suggested future topics is that I plan to institute an ad hoc from the board because remember we did the policy um or I sent out the policy that we don't it it can be an in >> it can be an inhome um or inboard uh thing because it's not just one library. We have lots of we have three new schools and so just to have a group of people together to kind of talk about you know people what

106rooms would we want to um dedicate um etc. So it is on my list. So Beverly I hope that answers your question. >> Do you have a time frame for that? >> Um I'm hoping >> sooner than later or what? >> Oh oh oh please. because this has been this this is kind of like the review of the 900s. It is it has been it it has been on our agenda for way too long and it needs to be there are people in our community that have worked really hard for our district that need to be recognized and we need to get moving on that. So I would prefer it to be sooner than later. But I think that that would be the that would be the work of the of that ad hoc committee

107to determine how long that they would want to do that. all of a sudden we got really much bigger. >> If I could add this, >> we're working on that in policy, but we're um advocating that you use the old policy and just move forward with it until we get the new policy. >> Yeah. I mean, it's the one that's always been your view though to name parts of facilities. >> Right. Right. I I until a new policy gets placed, we always it always goes to the old. So, all right. And also um are 2021-14 the evaluation of the magnet themes are they working? That was supposed to be a discussion this summer. >> Well, we're not done with the summer yet. >> Well, I'm just saying, you know, it would be a good thing

108to talk about, but this is supposed to be under committee of the whole and I think we're just about out of those. >> We are out of those. Thanks for the reminder. Um, >> but I think that would be a great thing for the September when the when the principles are back and teachers and they could present how they feel about this >> and putting a star beside it. >> Yeah, I agree with Rita. I think >> Yeah, >> I think that's a great September topic. They can come back and tell us what they accomplished over the summer and how that led into their plans for the new year. >> And also to have Emma Emma who is our the the magnet themed coordinator. >> Yep. to come in and and talk about that, >>

109right? >> As well. >> All right. We >> to hear suggestions about if they feel one theme isn't working, what would they suggest instead? Anything [Applause] else, folks, as we're reviewing this? >> Hey, Rita, can you go back to page one >> underneath the committee of the whole R 202021 and 26? They have been on so long. Yeah, you could take them off because obviously there's, you know, we haven't had that diversity discussion about STEM masters and STEM residency. That was to have um I well I we might be doing something about that. Do we do that at Yukon at Avery Point, Susan? We have hired um candidates from Avery Point in both the STEM field and also special education. >> Right. Right. So yeah, we could take that off. That's fine. >> I'll just

110mention that to Lori um as a topic because she could highlight some of the different hires that we've had and how we've >> um been able to either cultivate them ourselves or have them come in through these different programs. Beverly >> um to be a suggestion of having the principles come in and talk about how the themes are working. Um, this was with no disrespect, but do they feel comfortable enough with um the board and with the administration to come in and have an honest discussion about it that they could tell us their true feelings and not feel like, oh, I better not say this because that has happened in the past. They don't want to say anything because they don't want to get in trouble and blah blah. But I I really like to

111have an honest discussion about it. Beverly, that's a really good question. Um, that's a really good question. >> I would say that they would be very honest with you and tell you even what, you know, in this I mean last year was the first year that they all got on board as magnets. So they might tell you some of the challenges they faced with that, some of the the pleasing parts of it. I know the schoolwide enrichment and these enrichment opportunities during the day. Um they've gotten very excited about. Um so they'll they'll they'll give you kind of the good, the bad, and the ugly. Um I think they would feel comfortable. >> Yeah. I think if we open that door, we task them to come with what they found success with and and what

112they're struggling or or what the teachers might >> be uh struggling with a little bit, >> they'll come they'll come ready to talk. >> Yeah. Could we also have a couple of teachers? I mean, not just a principal. >> Yeah, we sure could. >> Yeah, that'd be great. Future topics. Um, I'm going to start off with um uh um the ad hoc and are do I have people who are interested in being part of that? >> I have. I have Andrea. >> Beverly, would you be willing to be part of the ad hoc? >> Yes, I will. >> Thank you. >> Is there another person? >> I bet you Liz would. >> Jay has a hand up. >> Yeah, >> Jay. >> That's good. Jay's >> Yeah, I would be interested in being on it.

113>> All right. So, I have the three. So, I have Andrea, Beverly, and Jay. Um, and Andrea, I'm just going to task you with being the person that gathers the group together. >> One gathering. >> Okay. So, I'm not saying that um that Andrea has to be the person in charge. Um I'm just saying that she if she I'm tasked her with the starting of the group. >> Okay. All right. Jim, can I just add Jim Streer has certainly been a helpful person in the past when we've had committees. So, >> he might come in as a guest. >> Yeah. Just I've certainly appreciated his understanding, his historian view. >> I um I would like an for for me for a um suggested future topic and it's also on our attachment sheet. That's not the

114attachment sheet. That was fun to look at for a second. um is our uh is our our mentoring program and if we could just have a status and also the plan of action about how we're moving forward on that and then I've captured um staffing just to get an update about where we are on staffing. So, in September, that feels like that's another good chunk of things to talk about, which would then include um our our diversity. How about if that also um talks about where Lori Leine is is finding where she's um cultivating? I also would love to hear about um grow your own um that part of the program. That feels like that would make a lot of sense. And then also talking about how does enrollment look in September in terms of

115how how those missing pieces. Did I hit that? >> All right. Other topics, please. >> Um I just had a question about um the last one under policy. Has has that h has that happened? eligibility to participate in inclassic athletics at the Groten Middle School. >> It's a work in progress, but we're getting close. >> Okay, great. >> We are really laboring over I shouldn't use the word laboring. We're really delving into policies that we have on board now. And that's one of them. We want to make sure that every kid who wants to do to participate has an opportunity to do that. And we're looking def we're looking at recommendations because not all not kids who want to do something participate in in something don't always look like they do on paper. So we're

116not looking at what somebody else thinks you can do. We're looking at what you think you can do. But when I think of this policy eligibility, I thought it was more like the high school's policy that that a student that maybe was receiving a D or F. What what Mark Romano spoke about last time he spoke, it was more the eligibility and that to me is different than having enough um opportunities for students. You know, my question is with the anybody that received a DRNF, not to have them not but have that help after school, the homework club like they do at the high school, >> right? That's that's >> we actually put that in regulations along with CTL which is being slightly restructured so that kids will really it's not going to be a

117glorified um study hall that the kids need the help the teachers will reach out to the students the students can reach out to the teachers and we're really going to push for that period every day. Yes. And it's only like a 25 minute period. I think there's one day of the week that they're going to try to extend it. Um but that period is really used for kids to get the extra help from their teacher. >> Right. But that's different than participating in athletics. >> No, but I'm saying that's the support we're going to give the kids who have the lower grades and need to keep up with >> that's for everyone. But this is specifically for athletics. And I I thought it would just be the same as the high schools. you know, anybody

118that's participating in it. If you fall below, then you automatically in order to participate need to go to um extra help. >> That's right. We've got it down. We'll be bringing it to you all very shortly. >> Okay. Thank you. >> We're also going to be looking at the middle school >> in terms of this as well. And I have to say that Beverly is the one who really um is behind this 100. we all are, but she's really the one that that keeps it right in front of us to make sure that, you know, the kids are um held accountable and um and also so they can participate. >> Yeah. >> Any other future topic? Amen. Wow. All right. Motion to adjurnn. I have a a motion to adjurnn on the table. Do I

119have a second? >> Second. >> I have a second from Jay. All those in favor. Oh, any discussion? Oh, I don't have to do a discussion. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Um, oppose. Nay. Thank you guys. Good meeting. >> All right. Have a good night, everyone. >> Everyone.