9-19-22 Groton Board of Education Meeting

001All right. Good evening everyone. Today is September 19th and it's the committee of whole of the whole meeting for the board of education and it is 6 o'clock and Miss Joan I have a quorum present. I see it as well. >> Okay. And did you see that we had our student rep, Isaiah, come join us? >> I did see it. >> Awesome. And it looks like Beverly has just signed on as well. All right. Um, so I have called the meeting to order. The first uh order of business is the approval of the committee of the whole meeting minutes that occurred on September 12th. Do I have uh a motion for acceptance? >> I have Andrea. Do I have a second? >> Thank you. Um any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor of moving

002the committee the whole meeting minutes um of September 12th um uh forward, please say I. What was it say? All those opposed abstain. Motion has carried. All right, we are on our way back one. All right. Okay, so the um so what for those of us who are not aware what we tried to do for our chief committee of the whole meeting minutes uh or excuse me for the whole meeting um is we break them up. one tends to be heavy on data and curriculum and the other one we try to have finance and facilities. Um and uh sometimes like they do get mixed but we try to keep keep them as sort of separate as possible. Um and uh Jay, my understanding a lot of this has come out of the finance and facilities

003committee. Um and so I'm looking forward to having your input on this stuff. Um, but I believe the first thing that's on our agenda is the food nutrition program pricing. Um, and I know that we have a um I know that we have an attachment on that, but I don't know um whether Jay you would like to start the conversation or um to pass it on to Ernie and Sam. What is your preference? No, we did discuss this in um plans and facilities and basically really just curious as to how numbers will arrive. I think our default position is we don't ever want to raise lunch prices. However, we also know the inflation was for coming to these numbers and I see we were we still don't have microphones for everybody. So, >> so I

004checked in. Um, so the question that Jay had was that we still don't have u microphones. Um, my understanding is actually we're going to try to be back into the annex at least for the regular board meeting starting in October. Okay. And that's with our the fingers crossed, but that's what I heard from uh from uh >> we were getting a lot of feedback from having individual microphones that really wasn't working out that well. >> Can people hear us? Rita, can you hear Jay? You want to say something? Jay, >> or actually Phil, you've been on. Have you been able to hear everything that Jay said? >> Yes. Jay Jay's a little quiet, but I could hear him. >> Okay. All right. So Jay, >> I can hear him too. And thank you, Matthew, for

005pushing the mic closer to Jay because initially I couldn't hear him. >> Yeah, that seemed to help. >> Okay, great. Good information. So if people who are online and you can't hear, um just have that happen so that we can uh make sure that people on uh uh um on that land, whatever we call that, um can hear as well. So, >> I that's about as far as I can do, bud. This is a short leash. All right. So, um so, so do you want to just kind of start talking about this or anything? >> Let me just dive into it. So, um hello folks. Good evening. Um so every year the USDA sets um reimbursement rates which is the the reimbursements rates we get for the um paid students, free students and the um

006reduced students. And every year we're supposed to be um following what they do um with their increase in reimbursements. We're supposed to be looking at our pricing and and we should be very comparable in pricing, which um comes back to Jay's question. What was our methodology to this? So, our reimbursement rate for a um um a full pay student is $4.33 for a lunch from the USDA 267 for a breakfast. So, we should be within 40 40ish cents of that is is what's an acceptable amount. Um, we don't have to be right at it because we're fortunate enough we do um some outside catering, inside catering to help offset that cost. So, that's acceptable to the USDA to add that in to that. So, um, in theory, three years ago, we were charging $1.50 for

007breakfast at the elementary, um, and $1.75 at the middle and high school. So, in reality, should we have raised our prices two years ago? We probably should have, but it wouldn't have meant nothing because we were operating on the USDA waiver, so there was no cost to any student at all. So, we could have gone through the motion of raising those prices, but it wouldn't have meant anything. And that brought us to this point where now you're noticing there's a little bit sharper increase because we didn't do anything over the last two years because we were operating on the USDA waiverss. So, our proposal that Ken and I uh put together basing in it on that reimbursement rate and everything is uh $2 for breakfast at the elementary and 225 at the uh middle and

008high school. Lunches were going from 280 to 325 and from $3 to 375 for the middle and high school. Again, 375 is still a little bit away from the 433, but we're able to use some of our outside income to be able to keep that amount lower. We never want to raise prices on our on our kids and our families. We never ever do. Unfortunately, we are we're forced to, if you will, um USDA gives us that mandate and we have to put in the reports and stuff and what we did. So in essence it comes out roughly about 24 to to% that that we're we've gone up. Um and as we all know the cost of goods, paper, raw materials and stuff, we've seen our cost anywhere from 25 to 35% across the board

009for fresh produce and stuff. And this year is no different with the extreme heat and drought and uh forest fires out west. a lot of our produce and stuff comes from comes from the west coast and the cost of diesel and stuff just putting it on a truck getting it here. Um so we're seeing huge increases on everything. Um that's why we thought we would just kind of settle in that that middle of the road while still being reasonable to our families and stuff. And I think uh just real quickly the one other caveat is is um you know we were able to get four out of our seven schools on C. So there is no cost to those families which is huge. So we're really talking only of three schools. It's still three schools

010I understand. Um but it's um you know three of our um two of our elementaryaries and our high school. Um so the applications are going very good. When I say very good, we have stacks. We seem to be a little bit heavier than we have been over the last couple years processing. So hopefully we're going to shake out where we got more SNAP students, we got more free or more reduced. Um, so that's where the pricing comes into play, um, with all of that because I feel that at this point when we get to the end of the school year, the uncollectible meal balances is certainly going to be a lot lower than three years ago what we ended up uh, the district um, ended up having to pay. So um, that C was really

011a win-win for all of us. Um, and uh, that's where we've come up with the pricing. Um, and if I missed anything, Kevin, >> so C stands for >> community eligibility provision. Um, >> we're hoping to do even better by collecting these. We're hoping that it the potential could possibly be that all of Catton schools would be C. You know, that's really a goal. But the board did ask me to check to see what would happen if you know our free students they get free lunch. Our reduced though do have to pay and it can be really hard for them to pay um especially in this day and age and what they've been through. So what would it cost if brought in public schools use their our best monies to pay for the you know

012families that are reduced and then the people who can afford to pay will be paying but at least we've covered our basis for the families that might need this and so that segus into what this total would be and Ken can talk a little bit about that >> that that's the chart at the bottom of uh of attachment number two and u basically We took what we anticipated the reduced uh uh price student count to be based upon last year's numbers uh times the reduced price that they pay and uh uh because uh all the the entire district is free through uh November 10th we're calculating November 10th it's like 75% uh so our worst case scenario is that that far right column on that bottom chart which is the 15,612 that's assuming 100% partic

013participation. Um, as Ernie knows, you know, it's not always 100% students are out or perhaps they don't they don't take that breakfast or lunch. So, it is something less than that, but that was uh that's your that's your worst case scenario for this year, just for this year. So, if you know the board wanted to do that, I think we probably have to go and take a vote on that um you know, at the end of the month sometimes, but I'd like to secure that information for families ahead of time. So, if we're not waiting till November and letting them know, at least that would be encouraging for those families. It would also make sure that people are filling in their forms because it really is going to offer them the opportunity to have breakfast

014and lunch for their kids. And and honestly, just real quickly, Ken's number um of that 15,000, you know, does represent, you know, 75%, but I'm confident that that the number to this board would only be in the 10 to 115 range. I'm very confident in that because most students don't have breakfast. Um they'll they'll do some will have breakfast, the majority will have lunch, but it's not 100%. I think your number there, which is really great to know that that's the extreme it would be, but I'm telling you it would be between 10 and 115 is what my gut's telling me. >> So, I'm going to recognize Rita and then William and then Matthew. >> Hi. Yes, Ernie. Um, is it possible to supplement the full price for our schools that are paying full price

015for their meals to supplement those children and families and not only the free and re reduced lunch ones? I mean, are you saying that there are 72 in elementary for breakfast, 92 for secondary, 72 for lunch, 92 for breakfast? Those are the only students in the four schools, wait a minute, that the three schools, the two elementary and one high school that receive reduced prices >> at this time. But if more people fill out these forms, we might find that there's more kids that would be involved. But but still, is there a way then for us to supplement if it's really not going to cost what it says here for the 75% of days to somehow offset the cost of the full price meals for the three schools that do not receive the federal funding?

016>> No one wants to answer that. Are you asking, Rita, how many uh students number of students who are paying full price? Is that what you're driving at now? >> The ones that are paying full price, is it possible that we could supplement those as we are going to probably do for the free and reduced lunch students at those three schools? Maybe not go up quite as much as we're going up or um I I don't know. It just doesn't seem equitable to me. >> I mean, like I think what you're saying, Mrs. Vulman, that I'm proposing the 375 lunch for the high school. So, if we were to say $3 for lunch, are you saying that is it possible that the board could pick up that 75 cents for anticipated amount? >> Yes, that's

017what I'm saying. >> Okay. So, Well, you know, not only are um the reduced lunch cost for students for those meals, but also our other students because it's going to be a burden for families whether they meet that goal or not to be on free and reduced lunch. >> Yep. And I and I I hear you. And I know you know, Superintendent Austin um she's very adamant. She wants as many kids as possible. We've looked at every possible option. I know this board has two. The reason that the 375 is there is because if you fill out a meal application and on paper you're supposed to be able to afford those meals. That's why that's there. Um, you know, supposedly these folks are able to afford the breakfast and the lunch. I know there's so

018many circumstances that that we can't factor in, you know, because they don't put it, but it's certainly an option to think about if you did if the board wanted to consider holding that amount at 3 or 325 and paying the difference going forward. I don't have the exact number of how many kids that could be. I could work on that for you and get that information sent over, but it's certainly a possibility. Yeah, we could definitely calculate uh something um figure out what what that would cost. One of the things that we did calculate um it was a few months ago, but we calculated what the cost of the nonC schools was uh for the entire population and it was something close to a million dollars. >> Yeah. Um, so I don't know. I I

019don't I I I can't really put into context what a what a a reduction here would would amount to, but we could certainly calculate something. >> Well, maybe for the public, could you please tell us what the two elementary schools are and the population of the combined two schools? What are the two elementaryaries that do not >> The two elementary schools not covered by C are Northeast Academy and Charles Barnum. Yeah. Uch. >> Yeah. And the Fitch High School being the third school. Um the the two elementaryaries is a combined population of around around 600 I believe 300 or so piece. Um and then at the high school about a thousand kids. >> Yeah. You think so? Yeah. Yes. Do we have data on how many out of those 1,600 would be covered by would

020be full pay students? >> We we have we have last year data. Unfortunately, we haven't processed this year's forms. We >> need to process this year to see what we're dealing with. >> Yeah. >> Last year we're about 48 and change percent free and reduce at the high school. >> We're very very close at the high school. 50. >> What's our magic number? >> Uh, all I got to do is get to 50 50.5%. >> Yeah, we need 50.5% Rita for each of our schools to be able to be full C. >> Rita, that's a um that's an intriguing question. And so maybe we can get that data and during our budget time we can take a look if that is something that the board wants to sort of pursue. Um and then what are

021we not pursuing because of doing that? So that's an interesting >> do we have to vote on these proposed price increases >> um this month >> or do or can we wait till the um November 10th deadline. >> We want to communicate to our families and give them enough time to know what we're dealing with. But I I don't know that we have to vote next week necessarily. We still have October. But I do want to get the information out ahead of time and communicate with them so that they can be ready. >> Okay. >> I'm going to recognize Matthew. >> So I'm hearing two different issues. The one is the immediate approximate issue of what we're going to do this year. And I see that as discreet in the second issue which is I'm

022not imagining inflation is going to go away next year. So the the larger question which I don't think we can address tonight but which I'm hoping you may feel worthwhile to consider is come up with some kind of strategy that we can anticipate that there'll be some level of inflation and figure out if we can't do some more catering or if we can't do some kind of workaround so we're not caught at the last moment next year. because that's not a reproach. It's just an observation of inflation. >> I'm gonna recognize William and then you Beverly. >> So, um I think something that might make make everybody really comfortable is knowing that the assessment that that we do to see who can get the reduced or the free lunches is a fairly robust process. >>

023And I mean, I have the form at home. My son keeps telling me we have to fill it out, but I said, you know, I don't think we do. But, um, so what are the financial, you know, markers that individuals have to hit to have to pay full versus reduce versus free? And if and if that is kind of very clear then I mean I would be comfortable knowing that those that have the resources to pay will be paying for the full lunch. Um so I mean if everybody I I haven't really looked into the form that well but you know if if it's uh you know something that uh will really help those to get the reduced or the free then we have to look at you know how do we spend the money

024you know do we use the money from whatever resources or from something else to pay for those that can pay for their lunch. You know, that's that's a budgetary thing that would be a challenge because, you know, there's probably a million other things that we could be using that money for. >> So, >> and I I know that the process is such that use their badge. So, there's no identification if you're paying for your lunch or you're not. And we don't even exchange cash. They would have to go to the cafeteria um I guess to load their card if they want extras. Extras cost a lot of money. Ice cream, chips, I guess that stuff, right? Um, so one of the things we always have been concerned about, that's why it's been so wonderful to

025have everyone to have free breakfast and free lunch is there's no wondering who, you know, has it and who doesn't, you know, and so that it's that's what I call equity and that they only have to use their card to show that, you know, to really for our headcount more than anything. >> Correct. >> That's really nice. So I used to have to go on a separate line for for my free meals. >> Yeah. >> In school. >> Or you weren't handed a meal if you didn't bring in one. And that doesn't happen. >> I used to get the paper >> Beverly. >> Thank you, Kim. Um >> Ernie, is this um the 15,000 that you're proposing that the board has to spend, is that in this year's budget? And if not, where are we

026going to get the money from? >> Um so that that 15,000 is not in the budget. Um but it is um so there there are two things in the budget. We have a fund for unfunded uh lunch balances at the end of the year. That's in the board budget. Um and it's approximately I think it's 20 20 23,000 I believe. Uh and then we also have the possibility of using RSER to to fund this 15,000. And is it possible like Vita is suggesting to use ESSA to reduce the cost of the price for the full lunch? So instead of going up 375, go up to three and a quarter or 350 and the board would pay the difference. >> We'd have to work those numbers. If it's a million dollars, I would say no. >>

027Can you work those numbers? Okay. It shouldn't be a million dollars because we're only talking about 2550 cent. So, can you work those numbers for us and send it in board notes so we could see them what those numbers look like? >> Yep. >> Thank you. So I I believe one of the reasons why it was in the finance and then came to the committee of the whole was then for us to have a vote on the setting of the price. >> So we are now looking for some new information which is absolutely fine. How does the board want to move forward on the vote which would be next week? Well, how soon can they get us the information that we requested? >> Point of information. >> Yes. >> Is it possible? Is it possible?

028Is it comfortably possible for us to accelerate the effort to get people to sign up whether we have the the form that uh William alluded to and note that we are 16 or 30 people short in the high school or 80 people short in the high school. Please look this over if you qualify. Get it in now. >> We were going to plan on doing a reminder anyway. Yeah. But I mean, if we're able to demonstrate how close we are and that no student is there's no nobody's going to know who's getting one thing or the other, maybe we can push ourselves over the top of one or more of these schools. My my concern about using um RPSR um funds is that they're time limited and then it would be done and then I

029would be very concerned about such a huge increase because I it >> it's a from 3 to 375 and I would hate for it to at 350 and then once the the um those funding places go away, the families are then going to have to adjust to a ve to a much larger adjustment. And so my concern would be that as well. I just want us to kind of take take some thought about that and maybe and maybe you can take a look at um a couple of other stones, Ken, and seeing what it would look like if we had a little bit of art. I'm not pronouncing them right, so I'm not even going to pretend. The funds that come to us through the federal government because of the pandemic. Um, and then other

030funds from other places where we might be able to join to join that because once again, I would hate to have it, that's just me. I'm just one person, but I would hate to have us um use just that and then have our families face a huge increase um in in in in terms of having their kids lunch and supper, excuse me, breakfast and and and lunch. um with with what um Matthew has been talking about and what Susan Sus Susan and Ernie were talking about prior to the um to the the meeting starting was um did Susan need to do another robo blast to get people excited about getting the forms in? I'm not quite sure excited is the right word, but >> that motivated >> motivated. Um, I'll recognize Rita and then William.

031Sorry, she just is right in front of me. You're in my corner. >> Sure. Um, I would like to wait to vote um till October, but I think a letter should go out to parents that these are the proposed increases and really stress the um, you know, encourage people to fill out those forms that maybe we wouldn't have to do these increases if we, you know, if everybody turns in their forms and do a robocall for sure. Um they have to be in by October 1st. Correct. >> Yes. >> So the you know let parents know the these are proposed increases but it could possibly change and we'd be voting on at the end of October. >> William and then Beth. So I I just want to make sure that when we if we do

032decide that we're setting precedent for people that have resources to pay for things that will then have the voice to say well we don't have to pay for anything. >> You know if there's if somebody else who's can't afford something and we support them then I don't have to pay for that either then because we get free lunch now you know the school board the school the town is paying for that. So, I want them to pay for everything else, too. So, I don't know, you know, and again, I'm new to the team, but I don't know if we pay for, you know, those that uh are economically challenged to, you know, for fees for, you know, sports and and things like that because then we're setting precedent that regardless of how much money you

033have, you know, the school board will and the town will pay for it all. I don't think that's >> we do base scholarship and other things on free juice lunch even the Chromebook insurance for kids who really have that need but we can't do that for everyone. I'm just saying >> and that's what I'm worried about setting a precedent. >> Yeah. >> You know for them >> it's a good point but let's get the information and see what that looks like. But William, that's a really good point. Beth, >> Susan, are the forms are the forms cumbersome and that's why the um parents don't want to fill them out. Are they easier to fill out or are they very detailed? >> They're much easier than SNAP forms. SNAP forms are the ones that families, lowincome

034families fill out when they need insurance from the state of Connecticut and other things. And those forms are really helpful. The only problem is our military uses Triricare so they don't get that benefit. >> Um, but these forms that Ernie has produced, they're online now and they are much simpler than and we have offered support in filling them out. So I know conferences, well that's October one. They won't be able to help after that, but um, >> open houses. >> We've been at all. >> Yeah, Bernie's been at all the open houses to help families who might need some help. and I can add that to my letter that all they need to do is call central office or call us and we can help them. >> Okay? And I'm not suggesting um for me

035I'm not suggesting free lunch for everybody. I'm just suggesting a reduction in the prices of the lunch for the people who have to pay the full price. That's all I'm suggesting. >> Thank you for the clarification. >> That's how that's what I'm suggesting also. Okay. All right. Good. >> Okay. >> Two quick questions. Um Ernie, do we know the status of the uh community eligibility program and possibility could be extended? >> So our status is we have um the um four schools, >> right, >> certified for the next four years, >> okay, >> started this September. So we're good for four years, breakfast and lunch. Um, we always have the option to add a school or another block um, by linking, which is how we're able to gather the four. Like I mentioned, we're super

036close to Fitch High School. Super close. um if everything shakes out by October 1st when we submit all of our data to the state and everything, we have the option to go back in again and um Tom Londale and I will will see where we're at. If I can grab another school and add it, we know we'll have, you know, we start the cycle over. So, the four would now get kicked out because we're adding a fifth, but it would start the four-year clock again going forward. So, um it's good. It's not a bad thing. >> Um you know, if something were to go wrong, we always have the option of backing out of it as well. You know, this ain't working out. It's costing us a lot more money than we anticipated. Um which

037it won't. Um we we have the option to come out of that. C at any time during the school year, not just have to wait till the end of the year. But Jay, we can certainly add a school or two as we go along. >> Okay. >> And a lot's going to depend on these uh >> forms forms coming back. But then we're currently under a 100% uh paid lunch program until November 10th, even for schools not in the C. Have we heard anything about whether Congress is considering extending that program or is it is November 10th the drop dead? >> So, right now it's um November um 10th is it? Um you know, it's it's when we've anticipated when our funds will run out. We have to notify the public October 10th. Hey, 30-day

038notice. You know, we'll do some more robo rooc calls, you know, letting folks know, hey, here's the cost and everything. this is why we're why we did this. Well, we didn't, but the state did. They they used their um emergency money towards this. Um so that's you know the the only thing that uh we heard this morning was that um there was 55 representatives um Democrats and Republicans that are uh proposing a bill for um universal school meals going forward because of the outcry over the all the states. you know, we're all in this, not just us. Um, and a lot more school districts have bigger issues than we do. Um, so they've all been um lobbying their congressional delegates. Um, and right now the the discussion has opened that a bill is being produced

039and should be proposed. So far, they got 55 to sign on what that means and when, you know, it still has to pass. Okay. And then because Susan mentioned the fact that our military families uh are not evaluated at the same level because they get try care. Is that something we could look at in terms of you know are the military families being evaluated improperly because they're using um husky standards. >> The form that we're asking them to fill out for us. Okay. >> So, I think it is fair. I have talked to Miranda because, you know, our military tends to be very proud and and they don't think they, you know, will get it. So, we're saying that just fill it out because it could help you, it could help your neighbor. >> Um,

040if you know the housing sometimes goes against them, they add that as income, I've heard, in certain circumstances, which they really should not. So, >> so I was wondering if there was some way we could look at making that more equitable as well. >> There's something organic about superintendent lean meeting this week. So, I >> there's there's something in that process that's working against them. You know, we need to really look at that as well. >> All right. So, I I hear some of the action items is that Ken and Ernie are going to get together with some more numbers. Um, we will not put it on for a vote this this um next coming meeting. We don't have to necessarily wait to the end of October. We can always have a very um quick

041uh special meeting just to vote on on that issue. So don't feel like it's going to wait. >> Um >> well I have concerns if we're off we need to communicate to families that's by law >> October 10th >> and when by October 10th and we need to tell them what we're charging >> correct at that time. So you might be on a little faster pace than I had. >> So the first Oh, >> so the forms come back the first, >> right? >> And we have to send a letter by the 10th. >> Well, no, we'll have some good information by then, >> right? >> But that won't necessarily impact how when we put the vote, though. It would be nice to be able to communicate with our families ASAP. Not just nice. We'd

042have to do it by it before 30 days prior. >> Yeah. >> So, you know, we can certainly wait. Um, we'll have to prepare the message and get you the information and, you know, maybe add it, tack it to a special meeting or something, a special meeting t because our first committee, the whole meeting would be October 10th. Right. Because the third we normally wouldn't meet, right? >> I mean, I think that we know that we're going to have to raise these prices. Is that right? >> We can't hold off another year. >> No. I mean, it's I wish we had a choice. We just don't. >> So, that's that's different than what we can afford to pay. So, I think that we probably should I mean it's up to the board, but move that

043vote forward because it's something that, you know, is expected to happen within that plus or minus range and at least we would know what that's going to be and then we can work with who you know how many have come in and and what that other number will be. So, we do a reduction on. So Susan, at what stipulating that that's the right path to go, what are your thoughts on what level we should be setting prices at since there's been discussion about going with the price other than the tentatively proposed price? >> Well, I I understand that it's really based on the number that you're given for the price of food, the reimbursement rate, right? the 267 and 433, right? >> So, we have to be within a a close range of that and

044it looks like we're less than that on all our situations because we feel like we can take care of that through other funding. >> I sort of feel like we're having two conversations. We kind of need to vote on on the on the prices, right? But then the second conversation is about reimbursements. >> How much can we subsidize? how coming from >> right >> so why couldn't we go forward am I making sense why couldn't we go forward with the vote on these two things because that's what we got to do anyways but then our second part of the conversation is do we subsidize how and for how much am I do I understand this the this the thing >> oh Andrea I'm sorry I thought you were just waving at me but I think

045you're doing more >> no we've had the present all of the data to us. And as far as I'm concerned, I think we should vote tonight. >> No, not tonight. That would be next month. Next Monday. >> That's what I >> Okay. >> But I think we should we should go on on what we've been presented. It's been well thought out and I I agree with Dr. that if you've been successful, why would why wouldn't we want not want to to recognize that success and pay the share that you're your own? That's that's why you go to work and and and become successful so that you can support the community in that way. And why deny anybody that opportunity? Interesting briefly. Any other question about that? So, um, so we should be anticipating something board

046notes at least. I would imagine saying we couldn't get we couldn't get the information um about what the what funding sources or what that would look like in terms of the price. Right. Okay. >> But we're still going to go for a vote. I'm going to recognize Beverly and then >> Okay. So, are we voting on these prices here before we find out if there's a possibility that we can reduce um the full price lunches by a quarter? >> What are we doing here? >> Yes, we we have to vote on the increase based on what the USDA is expecting on based on their reimbursement rate. So we we are charged to do that anyway, but we can get you information to help you figure out what would be the cost if we were to

047then take and reduce that for just one year. >> Okay. U my other suggestion and um this isn't a I don't want it to sound like a negative but we shouldn't be voting on this stuff at the last minute. this stuff should come to us, you know, a little little sooner so we don't have to feel rushed that we have to vote on it and pass it right away that we have time to think about it and discuss it. So, because now we're in a we got to do this. So, um if we could try to get this information, if we know there's a deadline, try to get it to us in a timely fashion. That's all I'm Well, I think that the USDA, we've just gotten that number. So, we've tried to bring it

048to you as quickly as we could. We do bring it through finance first. Finance and facility, as you know, you're on that committee, but we really felt it needed to be discussed with everyone and then go, you know, next week was the the hope to bring it. Um, so that gave us a month before we really had to notify everybody. So, if we're looking at 75 cents for breakfast and lunch, that's a buck 50 a day, right? And we're looking at about 700 students that would be paying the full price. That's about $200,000. So, actually $189,000 for 180 school days. Is that the data that we're looking for? 180 days of buck 50 for 700 students. That's $189,000. >> If we stuck with $3 instead of 375, >> you have another 500 kids at the

049high school. >> So if it's not 700, it's more than 700, >> 700 would be for Oh, wait. I'm sorry. If we're talking just about the full price students, >> the full price students, >> um I guess 700 is rough. >> No, I mean it's just a rough just so everybody has a rough number in their mind, you know. It's it's >> participation would be something less than 100%. >> Uh so we'd have to calculate you know but uh >> but it's what do you give up to get what you get, >> you know, economics 101. And I think that those RFvesers have been very carefully planned. So any shift that I make in the RVs funds, I have to I'm held accountable for those funds with the state department. And we have things like

050HVAC systems and I know there's a new HVAC grant, but even with the grant, you have to pay 20 at least 20% >> of the funds or more. So, let's say we hit the jackpot and get the HVAC partially taken care of, we're still going to have to use some of those HVAC funds and because we've had some HVAC issues, we've had to do additional Hback work. Right, Sam? >> So, I just have to be very careful that the things that we've identified that are coming in this five, three, four year plan I can cover. >> So, it's not like that that it's not like >> can't be temporary. Those are temporary funds. We don't want to build. >> Those are temporary. >> We don't want to build a whole structure based on shifting sands.

051>> Right. Right. That's >> I understand the focus on the issue at hand, but speaking only for myself. The RPasser funds are designed to help those who are been impacted by CO and the major thing that is the board I think we've addressing is the educational loss, the social impact. and to expand our pester funds to feed people for a year. We give a break for a year. I think we could use those funds to try to alleviate some of the academic and social impacts. It's just a personal opinion. I I think we're going to move forward um for the and know that we're mo that we're um going to move forward on the vote um but then also getting some information about whether we can um uh decrease the the the price number, but

052I would much rather have it be that way versus saying a smaller number, but and not being able to do it and have the families jump to a higher level. So, um I think that we need to move forward with the vote. Let's get some more information about where we would get those funds, what what that would look like. Um this has been a good conversation. Appreciate that. If there is no further on this, let us move on to transportation update and the cost of the small buses. Ernie, thank you so much for coming. >> Thank you. >> And I'm so glad that we were able to get you at the beginning. All right. Talk to me about cost of small buses and I believe that this also has come through the financing facility as

053a first law. So the co the cost of of a bus uh for 2023 is per day. Uh so for 181 days the annual cost 66,375 approximately. Uh I believe it's two buses that we uh require. So the the total additional cost that we're looking at is 132,750 approximately. And again, that's regardless of whether it's a full size, >> I get. And one other cost that that's not included in here would cost of course be the cost of uh the fuel to run the bus, which which we pay for and we're actually going to be talking about in the next point. Um but, uh there if if we do have additional buses, we may be able to reduce some of the run sizes. So it's not definitely a one for one increase but uh there

054there' definitely be an increase in fuel consumption >> is the drivers salary. >> So the 36671 we paid to the bus company is for the bus as well as the well as the salary but we pay fuel separately. >> We pay for the fuel separately. It's >> the bus the uh maintenance and the drivers. Right. >> And we need these two small buses. >> Okay. >> Ken, are you saying we pay for the salaries of the drivers? >> Well, we do through the contract. >> We pay a rate that that to the bus company. They pay the salaries. >> So, uh, so what's the rate that we pay for the drivers? Is that $19 an hour? >> Uh, all we have is a rate that we pay the bus company. How they how they allocate

055that to the to the to the drivers and the other costs. >> The rate comes through the price per bus. >> Per bus. >> Per day. >> So, you said we pay $366 a day for the bus and $66,375 a year per bus. Yes, that that's what 366 times 181 is. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> And would this be coming out of our this year's budget? >> This year. >> Okay. And did finance and facilities kind of talk about where in our budget this would come from? >> They asked. So, uh there is a reduction of one FTE at at Mystic River. uh one teacher reduction um that will partially offset that. Um other savings uh in um salaries for unfilled positions uh possible review of the site budgets and our passer are the

056other uh areas we're looking at to fund this uh shortfall. >> Beverly >> can can you tell me again how many buses are you talking about? two >> two additional. >> And why do we need these buses? I must have missed something here. >> The number of special education preschool little children who need car seats and um you know we just had an increased number. So um and they don't you know they don't carry too too many children. What about 15 I think >> um for the small buses 15 15 children >> try to stay less than that because you have bus aids on there too so that would be that would be maximum we had we had well over that and you need to spread them out more than that on the bus. Okay,

057>> Jay. And then Rita. >> And uh my understanding is we have displaced students in temporary housing all around town >> and outside of town as well. >> And outside of town that we are responsible um and rightfully so for picking up and that those actually change sometimes >> in 15 minutes. >> Yeah. So, I've heard >> I assume we're using some of these more agile vehicles to to go to these temporary housing locations. >> We're trying to grab them on routes that already exist for the most part. Yes. >> Oh, okay. >> It might uh might be curtain uh >> delivery service at some point depending upon where they are. >> Okay. >> We had somebody in on the Stonington side of Mystic for instance that we had to get with a curtain van.

058Uh we were able to get the kids in New London on one of our buses that went delivered kids to the other side of the river. We were able to grab them on the way back. >> Okay. How many students do you think are in that status? >> Well, the the attorneys only showed me uh four to six families. >> There's many more than that. We think there's more than that, but that those those are how many have actually asked for the service or gone through the attorney to to get the service. >> And if they are displaced into another community like over in New London or Stington, we do work with the other superintendent and we kind of share the expense on those. >> So these are students, Rita, I promise. Um, these are

059students that have been displaced largely because of the incidents that have occurred over at Brford Manor. Are they are there other places? >> That's that's what they are. Brford Manor Brford. >> Okay. >> And so there may be more families moving out as they move through the buildings. Some coming back, some going out. So the numbers could increase or decrease depending upon where they're moving. So this was um for the mold and uh abatement that was being done in Brford Manor. I saw your inquisitive look. >> Rita, thank you for your patience. >> Oh um my question is what is our reimbursement for our students who ride buses? I know the federal government reimbures for our you know we get a reimbursement from the federal government for our students and our buses. Correct. we get

060a reimbursement for it out of out of district uh transportation to the schools that are in the New London district for >> but not not um but I always thought that we received some type of reimbursement for but for for children on our buses because when we would have parents that would come from Sacred Heart or other communities um you know they would tell us that You know, well, listen, you get federal money for the buses. >> Not that we're No, >> we don't get any form for the num money from the number of students we have on our >> No, the only reimbursement we get is for out of district graten students that are going out of district to the uh to the schools. Magnus Magnus. >> Okay. Thank you, >> sir. >> No

061problem. Um, I understood what the lawyer is going to be here later today. >> Did I hear that? Would it be appropriate to ask him whether he would look into whether the displacement of these families some might say due to the uh laxity of the management of Banford Manor that that would be considered a tort and we might be able to recover some of these transportation costs from the brand of manor ownership or management. I'm not asserting that. I'm just asking you this question. >> I have no idea about how to answer that. Could we ask him if that's a possible way to >> It's not on agenda item. We can ask him tonight, but I can definitely get >> get that to him. I wonder if there's a a lawsuit that is with um

062the town and whether we could be part of any reimbur or excuse me the city. Um I'm wondering if there's a lawsuit with them and maybe we could do that. But I will ask him. >> I have no answer. >> Yeah. >> Um but but to be clear uh this cost we're talking about here >> has nothing to do about men. >> Right. >> No. But but point taken that there is additional costs that we're incurring. >> Okay, fair enough. Thank you. >> I wonder that might be interesting information for us to have at some point about what is the what is the cost for the district. But um okay. So any other question about what about about the fact that we need those two um two small buses um at a at a cost

063of 13275. Am I somewhere close? >> Yeah. Um >> 750. >> Yeah. 132 750. Very good. >> Right. Okay. I can almost be taught. Um, and so that but that Ken um is working on finding the different places where we can get the money um for this year, but it looks like we're going to be needing to be thinking about that as you guys go into contract details. Okay. All right. Any further question about that? If not, I'm going to move us on to heating fuel cost increase. Having fun like a lot of fun stuff. >> Call this the inflation Right. >> So, I'm going to share uh the schedule I put together. Um everybody can see that. Um so when we when we set the budget last year uh for this year um in

064in it was uh December January of last year uh the costs of heating oil and diesel were not quite where they are now. Uh so we had used I think 285 a gallon for heating oil and for diesel. uh the actual cost coming in. We we uh we are part of a consortium for uh heating oil and diesel. It's the RSK Alliance heating oil and fuel consortium. Uh and it's it's us along with a number of other boards of ed as well as municipal offices such as the town of Graten is also part of that alliance. uh and they uh they last week uh uh decided that uh we should lock in at at these rates. And so you'll see that for heating oil $4.14 um and for diesel $424. Uh now folks will say

065uh such as myself I I I bought um heating oil this morning for just around $4. Uh it's it is true you can get uh you can get heating oil uh cheaper than that. I not too sure about diesel. Uh but what we're buying here is a locked in price throughout the winter. Uh it's anticipated that the cost for heating oil and for diesel is going to spike over the winter. Um with the colder weather, with the uh current inventories and supply issues, uh where it's anticipated that these costs are going to go up. Uh so the consortium um decided to lock in at these rates. Uh and so this is this is going to be a hit to our um budget uh by quite a bit. Um let me see the numbers. So for

066heating oil um about $100,000 more than what we had budgeted. Um I'm going to skip over natural gas for now. And then for diesel 140,000 more than what we had budgeted. Uh so these are these are scary numbers. Um but I think that if we had not locked in that we would be exposed to scarier numbers. >> Is the locked in number up to a set number of gallons? >> Yeah. Yeah. We had to identify the number of gallons. >> So is it for just the 80,000 gallons? >> Yep. >> And then after that it goes up to whatever market value >> whatever market. >> Okay. So, we're pretty confident though that the 80,000 will will be at or below. >> Yeah, we that that that that's what we typically run uh for a year.

067Of course, weather will play into it. It could be more or less depending on weather. Uh but uh with with the way So, we have we have new buildings. So, uh that's kind of where we landed. We'll we'll see this year if that uh if that plays out, but yeah, we feel pretty confident about the 8,000. >> Okay. So, was there a cost for us to lock in? >> No cost to lock in. >> Okay. And it's a lock. It's not a cap, >> right? Well, um, it's a lock, not a cap. Uh, yeah, that's that's the number. There's no up or down. >> Okay. Yeah, because some in some schemes you pay a fee. >> A cap. And if the market goes lower, you get the >> the consortium looked into that. 48 cents

068a gallon to have a uh have a cap >> to have a cap. So that's >> instead we got a lock for >> free lock for free. >> Sort of. >> Um Bev and Rita, were you able to hear the conversation? Both gentlemen that were speaking have lower voices. Were you able to hear? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> And then just quickly, I'll go over natural gas. Our three newer buildings as well as Fitch High use natural gas because the lines go right by those buildings. Uh and for those we actually have a contract for the two newer elementary schools that was in place. Uh the middle and high school had to have new contracts put in place this year which is why the cost is so different uh from from the elementary

069schools. That's that's what that's what happened over a six-month period. It's crazy crazy. I will probably be working with principles on their site budgets, just making sure that they are very cognizant of these increases and we'll probably say hold off on spending the whole amount whether it's 25% 30% that I hold on to just till we make it through the year. >> I'm going to do Andrea then Matthew. >> I just wanted to know how how long the cap is for. Is it one year? >> One year. Yeah. Through next August. >> Matthew. >> So, I'm display my ignorance once again. Do we have technology in the schools that automatically lowers and raises temperatures lowers them say 45 minutes after we expect them to be vacant and raises them an hour before school starts so

070we can control our usage? >> Yes. We have a building management system. Yes. We have a technician that looks those over each morning uh and each afternoon. So that's a thank you is underlined >> and we get reminded when there's an open house or something with parents. >> Yes. >> But we have to keep the heat going. So, not only are these these numbers kind of sobering, but it does drive our thoughts about our budget year and thinking about um and thinking about what's that that we're thinking about having to put a lot more money to operational costs versus what we do really well, which is the education, >> right? And we might want to start thinking about what we want our thermostat set at our temperatures in our rooms as well. So >> if

071we want to make a cap on what we set the high end and the low end of those numbers. That's for another day. >> Right. For Andrea and I that would be 90. >> Yeah. >> Makes you think of the 70s. Remember when federal federal law >> setting the >> the temperature? >> Dr. doesn't like that idea. >> I can remember going to school and having my arms out like this because I couldn't bend them down. Any further questions about um the fuel? All right. Hearing none, I'm going to be moving us along to the fieldhouse study recommendations. And Jay, was this also part of your You guys did a lot. >> Yes, we talked about this quite a bit because there's a few pieces to this. >> Could you just set the stage and

072then um for the people who need to please add on? >> Um well, I mean, we we have two two structural issues up there. We talk about a fieldhouse, but we have the 1957 fieldhouse, right, that's currently being used as a public restroom. visitor team, >> concession stand, >> and a concession stand. Visitor team, changing rooms and concession stand. And then we have the the newer building uh which has the uh issues uh you know of equity with there just being changing rooms um you know for uh basically the uh the football team, the male members of the football team. and um the concern that came up a few years ago when we had um a female football player and didn't have facilities. So there's there's two buildings we need to look at and there's

073a few different issues that we need to um to address up there. And on top of all that, we have a town uh athletic fields committee that's charged with kind of with a unified plan for how all uh sports facilities are going to be um looked at and how they their um their renovations are going to be funded. And we also have those on the committee that that sort of want to reorient the football field which could totally change where these structures, you know, would work. So, there's a lot of pieces to this puzzle. >> Can we tell if Mark Romano is on? >> I thought uh the athletic director was going to be on tonight. >> Mark, are you on? It doesn't look like his number to me. moved on. So Sam, do you

074have >> Yeah, I have an idea what uh um the architect uh made a prop uh made three versions of what could be done in these and the uh group selected uh the version that would essentially um remodel the existing concession stand. I'm sorry. Remodel the the existing fieldhouse, have a connector to it in another section so that you would have both male and female locker rooms. Uh and then uh redo the concession stand, >> redo like demolish it and build back up. >> Either either demol depend upon which they they didn't do a study on which would be cheaper right now. But uh so it would either be demolished and rebuilt or just uh reconditioned. So that was what they selected as their choice as the committee's choice. >> And who who selected that?

075>> That's Mark Romano and the group that was working with the architect on it. >> So did that plan include uh the completely unacceptable substandard public restroom facilities? Yeah. Would it would do lavatories too? Yes. >> And would it also provide for visitor changing rooms? >> Yes. >> For both? >> Yes. >> Genders. >> Where do visitors change now? >> In the concession stand is a what used to be the the locker room. >> Oh, >> section of that building. >> Okay. >> That that building that we look at that's covered in graffiti. I guess that was the 1957 >> fieldhouse, right? >> Yes. >> Am I getting the vintage correct? >> Yeah. It was mostly for the football team. Football team, varsity and JV actually changed that building back in the day. >> And

076the building, >> the building behind that, the twotory building behind it that many people call the fieldhouse is like a 70s >> 1971 I believe, but I had already I was out of country when that was done. >> Rita, >> hi. Yes. Um, I had a question about is is this also used by the track team or >> Yes, the track Yes, the track team does use the fieldhouse >> because I remember um when my daughter was on track, the girls had to go all the way up to the high school to use the bathrooms and the visiting teams um and that and yet the boys were able to just run up to the fieldhouse. So you're what what is the timeline of this like this proposal to redo the concession stand and bathrooms and

077so forth for everyone? >> Well, we'll need a price in the CIP. Yeah, I I I think that I I think the next step is actually to bring it to the uh facilities committee and then to the board so that they can determine exactly which plan they would prefer to go with with the one that's been selected or uh an alternate one. And then uh once we determine that, then it would go into uh a request for a CIP project. >> So, have we missed this cycle? >> Not yet, but getting close. Yes. >> Well, correct me if I'm wrong. This whole thing would then have to go to the athletic fields task force created by the town council for the overall town project which is anticipated to require a referendum and and a bonding.

078So, I don't think I know one of the numbers figured one of the numbers that was uh bandied about just for this portion of the project is 15 million and we're not going to do a CIP for 15 million, >> right? that has to be bonded. >> Has the architect given us any numbers at all? >> It was in that it was in that range that J >> I don't have that 15 million doesn't include the football field, >> right? >> And it doesn't include all of the other field improvements including Clchester. >> That's just the building structures those. >> Yeah. So once the athletic fields task force puts all of its plans together, which they met for like a year straight, we have no idea what that final number is going to be. it'll

079it'll blow any CIP out of the water. It's there will have to be another townwide referendum and bond. >> So, this is not something that will be happening next year. >> Um Jay, could you tell me how what you were talking about about repositioning the football field? Well, some of the members of the athletic fields task force had suggested that they want to rotate uh the football field uh 90 degrees and put in new bleachers and a new approach. And they were concerned about how that was going to affect well concerns me too. How how does it affect things like the the tennis courts and the other buildings that will be there? >> The track >> and track. >> Yeah. >> So, and again, this is the committee has met for well over a year

080and it's it's been completely at a standstill for about six months while they uh come up with a vision for the Clark Chester property. Um, so this is all at this point it's all just proposals. They haven't made a final recommendation to the town council, >> right? One of the proposals would be to do an artificial field uh at the high school. And if they did that, whether they rotated at 90 degrees or not, uh, when you do an artificial field, uh, you would do it for three or four sports at the same time. So it would actually change the shape of the track. The track would actually get uh uh maybe wider space, shorter but wider. So the entire track and the field would be done at the same time along with the new

081bleachers. >> Yes, we need those for sure. They're dangerous. >> The ble the bleachers are updated. Yes, >> Beverly. >> Thank you. Jay, what would be the or Sam, what what would be the reason to reposition the bail? And would that cost extra if we did that? >> I don't know what their reasoning was for that. I I didn't we Oh, it was just reported to us that some members were thinking about turning the field 90 degrees. >> Jay, are you on that task force? Jay, do you know the answer? Yeah, I you know to be honest with you, I don't remember the justification that um the um the gentleman who proposed that what what his justification was um for why that would be a good idea. And I certainly am not saying that that's

082going to happen. It was just a proposal. >> Yeah. >> And of course I think we should have a say in that. >> Yeah. Sam, when you give us the numbers for the um the fieldhouse and the concession stand, are you going to give us numbers um renovate as new and new? Are you going to give us like those two type of numbers? >> Yes, we build new or if we renovate. >> Yeah, I'll talk to the architect. We'll get those numbers to you. >> Okay. Thank you. But Beverly, to your point, I'm like sort of hearing that it's still going to be way above what a CIP is talking about, right? >> Yeah. And then it'll go on to athletic fields and then it'll ultimately be decided by the town council. >> So I

083I guess my question is um how does the board want to proceed? It just seems like we're talking in a vacuum. Not to say that you guys don't are not giving us information. That's not my point. But I'm wondering is at some point do we meet together as a town council with the with the athletic field and to have like a conversation about because we're stalled right >> and and we and we have a football field that continuously is being marked as not safe or needing to be what's that word >> rown compacted >> doing something with it because >> oh crowned recrown I knew it was Um, >> but Kim, I would go with your suggestion that we should meet with them because and with the town council and the athletic field task force

084because first of all, >> Go ahead. >> Because because to put forward I mean our our CIPs around the the football field and athletic field have been pushed aside anyways since I've been on. So, I will be more than happy to reach out to um Juan uh Mayor Mayor Melendez and um town manager Bert and see if there's any taste um for the bodies to get together. >> Mark Romano actually suggested that we get together when the task force sort of reconstitutes, but as I said, everything's on hold. But maybe this task force needs to know that what they're thinking about or what they're doing has large implications for us doing our budgets for the town doing their budget and that to come up with a plan because it sounds to me that this package

085is a large pack. What I've heard you say is that this is a large package and it's not going to be a CIP. So, let's let's do that so that the community knows that we're not just we know what our state of our fieldhouse is. We know what our state of our of our football field is, but we but it's part of a larger mission and which is how we got how we worked so hard to get our two schools and our middle or three middle or three schools um is that we were able to continuously talk about the need of why. So I will be more than happy to do the reach out if the board um is >> I think we were waiting on this study. >> Okay. >> Uh in order to

086have something to talk about. >> Okay. >> Because right now we could meet and greet but we needed this study to go to the task force and have a discussion >> and I architects have numbers too. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Because we didn't know what we were talking Well, would it be wise then to have the architect come before you uh and bring all three proposals and the numbers with her at that point so that you could determine whe what you want to go forward to the task force with the other I I'm feeling that it would become unruly but then or does the architect come with the numbers so that every of the three bodies they have knowledge of it at the same time. Ultimately, it's going to be is it ultimately our our

087approval of it? >> I think it's town council. >> I was going to say, so it's not even ours to own. >> Yeah. I mean, we certainly have input, >> right? But the town council has created this athletic fields task force to have a unified townwide plan that covers every athletic field and facility. >> Okay. >> And they did prioritize Fitch High School as their number one priority in the beginning of this whole thing. Yeah. You recall >> and the board did take on the cost for the planning, right? Both this >> and also culinary arts. We kept that on oursel. >> Right. >> All right. I will I um I'm gonna recognize Andrea, Matthew, and then >> Rita. >> Oh, your question then. You were just waving at me. Andrea, >> I know this

088is a little I feel out of sort of I'm going to reduce it to a surgery, >> but I understand all of the high ideas that are that have hard implications. But this is a question for Sam and I'm wondering really if we can put away all of this until it, you know, it goes through all the proper channels and just get a a can of paint to rectify that building and that is such a damning statement to all of our our our teams and our visiting teams, but we need to to just clean that up. How much of a of a cost are we talking about? It was about $6,000 a year they were spending on the paint in order to do it. But uh I think we could we could do something for

089less than that. But then we have to uh uh the agreement with the senior class a couple years ago was that we would trade uh um the graffiti on the on the concession stand for allowing them to paint their parking spots um when Dr. Grineer was still here. So that was the agreement with the senior class and uh there hasn't been a lot more graffiti on that building although there has been who could tell really but I mean there have been a couple items. So if we paint it uh then we will have to be a little more um assertive and and going after people that uh put back on it if we paint it again. >> We have a senior right here. We could actually talk to the senior pots about that. >> Maybe

090we could have the seniors come out and help paint it. I was precisely thinking that if the seniors and the juniors, next year's rising seniors were engaged in the painting with adult supervision, they would have ownership of that much more ownership than we needed. >> But I I would agree that >> all by yourself, sir. >> Yeah. No, no. I'm ready to speak to the class >> or did you want to say something to us? >> Uh yes, >> that actually sounds like an undertaking that would be great with our student athletic advisory committee which I'm part of. Um it's a group that Mr. Romano runs at our school and we meet once a week. I think it probably would be an initiative that you'd be interested in. >> How do you feel about it?

091>> Um about painting the concession stand. >> I don't care who paints it about getting rid of that. Um, I know that at one point it was a fun tradition for the seniors, but if I were a visiting team or just visiting spectators and I witnessed that on a concession stand, I don't think it would give the greatest atmosphere. >> Yes, I think it was definitely worth it to have your own parking spaces. >> Yeah, me too. >> I'm gonna recognize Rita and then Beth. Hi. Yes, Sam. Um, haven't our bleachers been deemed unsafe? >> Have the bleachers been deemed unsafe? >> I haven't gotten any because of >> No, I haven't gotten any report on that, but uh they are outdated and they should be upgraded for sure. >> They should have. >> I

092thought right. Not only that, but I thought the space between them was too great and you know the bleachers and people or small children could fall between. I I thought we had a report on that a few years ago. >> Uh I haven't had any report on it, but uh they they definitely need to be upgraded uh with backs. >> Yes. >> On that. >> So I mean why why would we want to wait to do that? You know, I just thought we were, you know, that was supposed to be done years ago. The bleachers that can't be a separate CIP. We have to wait for the athletic fields. I would say it would be part of the overall project. >> Yeah. The town has not been entertaining any uh CIPs revolving around athletic fields

093until the athletic fields task force comes back to them. Um that's why they are not doing the crowning of the field. Um and um you know we we need to to really nail down whether they're going to flip that field. And again, I'd like to know I think there needs to be a really compelling reason why we need to do >> one of the reason one re one of the reasons may be if they do the artificial field and it gets wider that pushes the track further out which would push the what are now the visitor uh bleachers down the hill further. So they probably were thinking if they turned it the other way, they're on level ground at both sides of the field. Then probably >> I'm going to recognize Beverly and then Isaiah.

094>> Um I know um Dr. Acriman talked about the outside of the building of the concession stand, but what about the inside and the bathrooms? >> Right. They were the the the the concession stand bathrooms were painted uh not last summer but the summer before that just so I don't it would have been two summers ago that the uh concession stand lavatories were upgraded or at least uh re uh scraped and repainted. >> And what condition are they in today? Have you checked on that lately? >> Of the what? >> What condition are they in today? Have you checked on it? >> Uh, I haven't been in there this year yet, but I can do that. >> Thank you. And what about the concession stand? Uh, where we give out the food and prepare food.

095What is that like in there? >> What's the question? >> What is it like inside where they're preparing the food? It's not a very large space and it's mostly taken up by cabinets and countertops, refrigeration, freezers, those sorts of things. >> What What kind of changes do we need to Can Can you hear me? Is that >> Okay. What kind of changes do you need to make to upgrade that concession stand? Well, I I think if you talk to the uh to the booster club, they would like a larger space with more modern and more convenient uh uh appliances, more space to prepare foods because they do take uh they they can't cook inside that. They do have a stove in there and a microwave, but they usually take grills outside to do the cooking

096for the most part. >> Yeah. and they'd probably prefer to have it inside if they couldn't be serving out of a serving window of some sort. >> Did the architect do design that in her? >> I have I have to look at that, but I I don't think it was a full design. It was um >> an idea Isaiah and then William. >> Um just to add to Mrs. both sense of urgency regarding the bleachers. I know that like last game against or last Friday, no last Thursday against New London when we try to get a student section on bleachers and like a big crowd of people all together in one area. Many people complain about how the bleachers feel like each plank feels wobbly when there's a lot of people on them and I

097can feel them moving. And as for the space in between the bleachers, I know a lot of items fall in between. >> Hopefully not people. >> Not people. I've heard of so far, but >> do we need to have some type of safety check now that it's out public? >> I don't know. I do really. So um last year my daughter miss she's in 11th grade when we were went to a game and we saw all the graffiti and everything that you know another school had so what they did was each grade owned an area of that and did their own art design you know and so students in any art program in the ninth grade the 10th grade I think you separated it out the building out and they owned that and they would

098design it each year. They would do their own, you know, thing based on whatever was going on in their class or things like that and come up with ideas with the art teachers and they would make uh, you know, it would be a project and they're currently my daughter's IV art class or whatever. Right now, their project is going around Fitch and looking at things that need to be upgraded by art design. So there's pipes that are exposed and they're doing designs with art to make the pipes look nicer and things like that. So we have, you know, students that are very interested in things like that and would be very interested in possibly updating that. >> Don't lose that idea. >> That that's a great idea, but don't lose that because I don't know

099if that is our solution to that small building, but don't lose that idea. That that would be kind of cool. >> Matthew, >> if I'm understanding Jay correct, the project is stuck with variety town committed moving forward. So I would offer for a question. Would it be appropriate to have a board member go and look at the facilities with the facilities and then based on the assessment perhaps invite the town council and the RTM to come and see the bleachers, come out and stand on the bleachers, feel the bleachers move, expose, explain what the liability is, and perhaps that would uh incite some movement forward. um >> just >> and it's an interesting idea and I think that um but it sounds to me like this is all part of the project. I think I

100would much rather have it get embedded in the conversation with the town council and the field study um and to talk about the fact that the longer that we waiting we're having an unsafe bleacher situation. What about the safety of our football field? I mean, I just I think and and also the the structures that we have that are supposedly what our our flagship school is supposed to look like and they come down and they see our concession stand in Fieldhouse. It's >> and also equity issue too, Kim. >> Absolutely, ma'am. You took the words right out of my mouth. Thank you. >> Equity. It's an equity issue. and the the town council and the athletic fields committee has talked for many years about the conditions of that entire space from the field to the

101bleachers to the concession stands to the >> lack of equity as we mentioned with the changing facilities. And uh so this is >> the biggest open secret you know that there is and nobody denies it but yeah >> it's tied up in this process that's been set. Yep. Thank you guys. Another really great conversation. The action item that I am leaving with is that I'm going to get a hold of the mayor um of the town and to see if we can have a joint meeting between the town council, the field studies. We'll have more information from the architect um and ourselves to kind of see if we can help people move forward on this. And can we get copies of what has been done so far, the proposals so far? Yes. So we can

102be familiar with them before >> absolutely >> we meet and sort of get an idea of what we want to support. >> All right. Um going to be moving us on to the referral tracking sheets. Um and also part of that would be also the suggested future topics. So looking at the committee of the whole some of a lot of this stuff is actually ongoing or at a different month. Does anyone see anything that we need to be either taking off is putting uh the issue of possible cost recovery on transportation due to the Brford Manor situation something that should be on the cow or is that something you just want to take make some requirements? >> Um I I think um that probably is a staff issue um saying that we kind of want

103them to kind of see if that is and I that's on ongoing at least that is my thinking about that. um suggested future topics. >> And where where do we put when the principles are supposed to come to the committee of a whole and we're supposed to have a discussion with the principles? >> Yep. Does that go on this tracking sheet? >> Um we could absolutely put that on the tracking sheet. We're talking about this happening on a on a regular basis. Is that what that that's what you're referring to? Well, they're they're going to be ready to go with action plans based on our data very shortly. So, that possibly happen there to >> Okay. >> So, I think Beverly um that also kind of comes off of our um where we have monthto-month

104convers um like some of the topics that we're supposed to go through >> the board template. >> Yeah, the board template. And so >> I just wondering though, have the new members seen the board template? >> Um I believe actually I think um I know that with William I went through the board template. Um but I think >> like this >> but it um carry it wherever I go. Um, but I think that when we talk about data, it should it should include um, school personnel, necessary school personnel to talk about that because I think Beverly, you are correct. We need to make sure that we have staff coming in to share that with >> also talk about the the climate survey that we did. >> Remember the climate survey? >> I do remember the

105climate survey. >> Yeah. They'll be prepared. They'll be prepared to talk about that in October. I think we're looking at October, right? >> Susan. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> So, I'm going to put that down as a future topic. Um, don't know why it didn't get down there, but it it's on mine and it looks like we're going to do that in October with some data for both climate and also for action plans. Um, I have a I have a two that I would like um for the board to consider. um is how did our snack shack do over the summer? >> Um I just when I saw Ernie I was thinking about that and I don't know if we just get a report out but I would also like to hear about what the

106future plans are like how we moving are we going to move forward and continue to be at Eastern Point Beach. Um but so I I guess I would love to hear about that and maybe we could tie in school summer lunches. >> Yeah. Yeah. How did that >> Yeah. How did that all >> go over the summer? >> Yeah. >> Right. >> Summer meals. Summer meals on all on all levels. >> I know that every every camp we had a camp in every school and everyone got breakfast and lunch. >> Very nice. >> And then an additional place to sit with. >> You're right. >> And then the other thing is one one second. The other thing that I heard was that the school I think Rita you talked about this last meeting is that

107the state has um um taken away the ban on magnet schools and I'm just wondering if we need to talk about that as a board about what that means um and finding out whether we have what's our space capacity on that um and what we could offer. find out more information. But often times when you have an interd district magnet, they build you a school and they make it an interd district magnet. So I have my eyes set on that. >> Okay. So maybe so maybe um we need to have more information about that. >> My friend Kate Ericson at >> Okay. So maybe Susan if you could at least at the beginning keep us in um in in um in in the loop. Thank you. In the board notes. I have no idea where

108my my thinking is. >> Ma Matthew, did you have >> Yeah, it it says for discussion on career pathways that that's going to be bianial. I don't remember how that happened. Is there some rale? I think we just wanted to make sure that it was on it it was on on a regular basis to talk about how that went. >> Once every two years. >> Oh, I thought it was twice a year. >> It was twice a year. >> Okay. My bad. >> All right. >> Okay. So, any anything else for that? If hearing none curriculum. Curriculum I'd like to uh make a referral to curriculum that >> so what do you well actually we're going to discuss it and to see if it goes to the committee of the whole or curriculum. So Matthew

109go ahead. >> Okay. Um months ago I uh made a presentation on electives through uh where kids could get college credit or certificates at any rate uh through National Fire Academy and uh the Emergency Management Institute. Um I'm not quite sure. I didn't make a referral at that time. I sent a note to everybody today by email just kind of as a draft idea. Could we refer that to the curriculum committee to take a look at? >> Yep. >> Did you hear that, Phil? >> You got something coming your way. >> Oh, yep. I heard Matt's leading the way, though. He just referred it to himself. >> All right. Anything else? >> Motion to adjourn. >> Second. >> All those in favor, please say I. >> I. oppose. Abstain. The motion is carried. It's now

110um 8 uh excuse me, 7:40 and I would like to call the board of education in >> you are more than welcome to leave if you would like to. Sure. He has other things. Thank you very much. >> Isaiah, thank you for coming. >> Congratulations again on >> Andrew. >> All right. I've lost my quorum. One, two, three, four, five. No, I have one, two, three, four, five. I have a quorum. I am going to be calling the seven um it's 7:40 still and I'm calling the special uh meeting to order. It's September 17th. Once again, it's 7:40. Um I am going to entertain a motion to approve the the DODIA which is the def department of defense education >> activity world language grant that we spoke to on the committee of the whole. Can

111I please have a second >> from William discussion? Do people have any other questions or concerns? I think I have um placed you guys on all the emails that I sent to Jill Rusk who is the RTM moderator, John Bert, and to um Mayor Melendez um saying that we need to kind of move forward on this sooner than later. Um but do we have any questions about this grant? Because once we approve it, the reason why we're voting on it is that it's then we have approved it and then it goes to the town council and the RTM. Hearing no other discussion, all those in favor of the motion that's on the floor to approve the Department of Defense Education Activity World Language Grant, please say I. >> I. >> Oppose. Motion has been granted.

112All right. Um, >> Granted to the grants. All right. Congratulations um to the Grant public school for that. I'm looking weirdly on the board just to see who we have present for our upcoming meeting and do we have Kate U. Caitlyn, do we have um our attorney on yet? >> Do you know what what his number would is it the number one right here? I do not know. >> All I have is a Veronica and Lori Le Pine. >> Well, >> and that number is gone now. So, no, >> she's Ted Keller may be joining us. He's got open house. Um, okay. So, the dilemma is is that this next agenda agenda topic which is the uh of around the robotics, we need to have legal counsel and he is not signed in yet. Do

113we um >> is gonna come in at 7:45? >> He has three minutes. >> Um I just don't feel comfortable going into executive session until the reason why we're going into executive count uh is is have legal counsel. So I am going to just hold us until Floyd is there. We're adjourned from the regular meeting. Correct. >> We're in a special meeting right now. >> We're now in a special meeting. >> Special meeting now. >> We've already had the vote for the uh world grant. >> Yeah, we did the Dodia that can go to town. We're just waiting for >> Oh, my parllet. Could we go into an executive session so that we could start as soon as he comes in? >> So my concern is is that we are going into executive um session

114for c for legal counsel and so in terms of freedom of information not to to go into executive session prior to our legal counsel um gets to us feels not um not as comfortable for me. So my recommendation is that we um hang out for a couple minutes. Um before that in the special meeting, Robert's rules. Can we take a a two-minut break? >> Yeah. >> So um can I just have can I have >> if we take a recess for >> a couple >> Four minutes. Do I have I need to have majority um approval of that. Beverly or Rita, do you have an issue about that? >> No. >> Okay. All right. So, thank you. So, we will be back and forth. >> Okay. >> All right. We're back from our recess. Um

115I The third item is discussion and possible action of the robotics. Um and I would like to make a motion that we go into, please wait until I finish my invites. um is I would like to make a motion for us to go into executive session inviting uh Lori Le Pine um board of education lawyer um Floyd Dugis, Ted Kellahare, um S and Susan Austin. >> Do you want >> um I was gonna um and and Phil Piaza Can I have a second to that? >> All right. Any discussion? All right. Not hearing anyone. All those in favor of going into executive session with the with the people that were above mentioned, please say I. >> I. >> Oppose. Abstain. And I have an ascension with Matt. So that goes into Jones notes. All right.

116Kate, can you put us into a breakout room, please? >> Yep. And Rita goes as well, right? >> Yes. Yes. So I actually um it is Rita, Floyd, Beverly, >> Lori, and Phil. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Um and Kim, if I may. >> Yes, please. you need to state the basis for the executive session and I believe it's to discuss an opinion of councel. >> Um Floyd, thank you. So do I need to redo the me uh the motion? >> No, I think you just need to state that as the reason. >> So um so the reason why we are going into executive session is um for um for >> receive the opinion of council. Thank you for receiving the opinion of council. Thank you. >> I'd like to change my vote to

117yes. >> Excuse me, Kim. I heard you say Matt abstain it. >> He's now changed his vote to yes. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> Bye, Joan. Bye, Miss Joan. Thank you. All right, Kate. >> Okay. >> Thank you. I would like to make a motion for adjournment. >> Motion to adjourn. >> Second. >> All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Oppose. Uh motion has um carried. Good night, everyone. >> Good night, everyone. >> Thank you.