001Good evening everyone. I'd like to welcome you all to our April 21st, 2026 monthly meeting of the board of education. Um, I will start the meeting with a roll call for anybody who's new with us this evening to know who's sitting here at the table. Starting with board members, I'm Deborah Chute. I am the chair. We also have Dr. Thage Sing, our vice chair. >> Present. Deb, thank you. >> Nicole Russo, our secretary, >> present. Thank you, >> Sarah Heath. >> Here. Thank you, >> Suzanne Zakaris. >> Present. Thank you. >> Jessica Gilletti. >> Present. Thank you. >> Dr. Kevin McGary. >> President. Thank you. >> And Lynn Katz and Chris Campbell are not with us this evening. They are traveling the globe. So, we wish them well. Uh, moving on to administrators. Um, we
002have Dr. Carnomola, our superintendent. >> Thank you. >> Mr. Medic, our assistant superintendent. >> Present. Thank you. >> And we have Miss Sardinskis, our executive assistant to the superintendent and board clerk. Miss Russo is joining us virtually this evening, so we are grateful to have her at least in any capacity we can get her. She's our business manager. Um, now if you will join me in the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> I have it. >> Yes. We knew it was near us, so that was good. >> All right, before we officially start, I always like to read our mission statement just to remind us
003all of the work that brings us here together. Our mission is to inspire in each student a joy and passion for learning and a commitment to excellence, personal integrity, and social responsibility. And now I will throw it to Dr. Carnamola. >> Thank you. I should have said sooner, I guess, so that we could have remained standing, but we'll we'll get back up. As you know, March is board of education appreciation month, and we had a meeting with the board of finance and the town council in March instead of a board of education meeting. So, we pushed forward our board appreciation, and I know how much you all love this and love the spotlight being on you instead of on the work. I'm kidding. I know you don't like it at all, but still we wanted
004to take the time to recognize you um for the commitment, for the hours, for the uh lowpaying, no paying uh role that you have all um stepped up for. We appreciate your advocacy. We appreciate your work. We appreciate I personally very much appreciate um your willingness to work with us to do what's in the best interest of the students, faculty, staff, administration, parents, and entire community of Avon, which sometimes means making some tough decisions, which very often means making tough decisions on your part. And um it it doesn't elude us that you spend a lot of your personal time not just in this room or in other rooms with us, but out there in the community talking to constituents, um showing up at other meetings and uh taking on a large amount of responsibility. So,
005we can't give you a paycheck, but what we can give you are is the appreciation of u all of our faculty, staff, administration, and students, which you see some of the the giant cards that are on the table, like in front of Jessica. But if you open up your bags, and every year I try to find you some um some sort of swag to put the logo on. And Christine, this was a great idea. All all uh props to Christine because you have the Chromebooks for the district. We thought these might be a nice way for you to carry those andor your agendas and finders and all the sorts of things that you have to continually bring to meetings. So, I'll just pause there and show you a few of the things. This was made
006by students. Nice little coaster for you that has the um Falcon on it and Avon Public Schools Board of Education. and they are chalk full of beautiful cards and letters from the students in the district. I want to pause and and say thank you to all of our building leadership and uh faculty members out there who helped us to get those in time for you. We actually did have them in time for March and with time to spare, but nonetheless here they are. Likewise, um we try to showcase both the um curriculum and the talents of the curriculum that you have helped to put into place and the funding that supports it and also the talents of our students and expertise of our faculty. Thank you again for being here with us tonight, all of
007you. And I'm going to pause here and ask that you rise again for our national anthem. Heat. And for good measure, no pun intended, they have another song to do for you. Heat. Heat. Heat. get a picture of you before. >> Sure. >> Let's join. >> I want to acknowledge you for coming here. Come in front of us again. All right. >> Okay. Ready? >> Thank you. >> I know. Wait. >> So, still a couple more things. >> I believe we have a video, right, that one of our schools put together. Thank you again. Thank you very much. Yep. Can everyone see it? Yes. Yeah. Okay. That's why we have it. Uh what? Everything always works beforehand and then not when we're actually in it. That's what it is. Yeah. Susan won't mind if you
008dump her off the Zoom. She'll get back on. I I'm I'm doing the report anyway. While we're doing that, one more thing I'll point out to you. These chocolate roses were done by one of our uh programs for students with special needs at uh Avon Middle School uh where we have a number of our kiddos this year uh doing very well uh working with faculty member uh Kate Carson and numerous para educators. Um they were very excited. You can see some of them here in the photo that they took for you. Um, some you may know some of them. I almost asked for them to come tonight, but then I thought we'd be here for a really long time recognizing you because they would have had a lot to say. >> So, um, they are
009pretty excited for you to get these though. >> Ready? >> Hey everyone, my name is Shaylee Archer. I'm a first grade teacher over at Roaring Brook School and we are so deeply appreciative of all of the hard work and the time that you guys put in um not only on scene but behind the scenes uh for everything that happens here in Avon Public Schools and specifically for my classroom. We'd like to just give you a little video to show our appreciation um of all the things that we are so thankful for. Enjoy. Yeah. Really old. arrow. Now Oh my goodness. Thank you. >> Thank you. Few of highlight a few of the things. Thank you for making sure we were able to do that. Some of the things that you may have seen in person,
010but you don't always get to see that you can see across the school district that they made sure to highlight for you here. Um the interactive games that you saw are part of the math and the English language arts curriculum. some of the manipulatives that get kids to work together and applying the concepts that they're learning uh particularly in math. The whiteboards you saw the small ones that they utilize. You also saw what we call the vertical surface whiteboards in the rooms that students have been working on. These are all parts of uh the building thinking uh classrooms concepts that we have been uh introducing over the past few years. So just a nice way to show a little bit of what we've been doing and we've been talking about in very long budget meetings.
011For example, the ELA workbooks, the English language arts workbooks you saw um you know the statemandated program that we ended up embracing and taking in uh you got to see there too. So thank you Burrowing Brook for putting that together. And I know you'll take more time later on and go through all of the beautiful letters and cards that were sent from throughout the district. And again, I appreciate all of you and all of you for helping us to do this for the board. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. This is, as much as we love it, it is awkward for us to actually, you know, have eyes on us in this way because I know it's an honor for me to work with each and every one of you and the work that
012we do does make a difference. So, just knowing the heart and the energy that put you all put into it on every single building is just so kind and so sweet. and we really do go through every single card when we get home and I get choked up, you know, just looking at it. But, um, you're all so worth it. So, thank you. All right. Now, we move on to approval of the minutes, guys. >> Business. >> Yes. Thank you. Um, do I have a motion to approve the board of education regular monthly meeting minutes of February 24th, 2026? >> So, move, Deb. >> Thank you, Sage. Do I have a second? >> Oh, I took Nicole. I heard her first. All in favor? I passes unanimously with seven. And now communication from the public.
013Do we have anyone signed up? >> No, >> we're good. Okay, we'll move forward our student reps. Um we have Madison with us this evening. >> Hi guys. So I'll be doing mine and um Saras's. So um for Rowing Brook, it looks like their annual state testing for third and fourth graders is going to be next month. um for Pine Grove. First graders are going to winding trails for team building activities and in school field and an in school field trip Friday um to learn about rocks, minerals, and gems. On Tuesday the 31st, Pinerove hosted a special family heritage celebration. Many students and families volunteered to host a booth and like allow people to learn about their different cultures. for Thompson Brook. The Northern Region Middle School Music Festival um happened where 12 students partic
014participated in the festival. Um the TBS Friday Night Globe Party in February was a really big success. The PTO sponsored the musical sponsored musical Descendants took place March 27th, 28th, and 29th. And it was super amazing. It said that we had a visit with an alumni who is now a director on Broadway. So that's cool. Um >> also the night we had to evacuate. >> Had to evacuate. >> Some of you know, but yeah, we had a little alarm go off there. >> Oh goodness. Okay. Well, um for the middle school, April 9th was the last day of quarter 3 and report cards are going to be available on March 4th. Four of our talented AMS artists are being featured in a multi-dist artist showcase at a farms April 23rd to May 3rd and the
015show is open for public viewing. At the high school we're c celebrating military children month and the color for that is purple. So on April 22nd local communities are invited to take part in purple up. By wearing this, you display rec recognition and strength for the sacrifices of our military children. And in spirit of Earth Day, the Climate Action Club is hosting their third annual fundraiser at Ben & Jerry's on April 22nd from 4 to 9. >> Thank you, Madison. All right, for our financial report, since we don't have Susan with us in person, Dr. Carnola is going to speak to it. On page seven, you will find the one sheeter. >> Thank you. And this is just followup to our last finance committee meeting uh where this was discussed in more detail. U some
016this is the time of year where although we are working diligently to continue preparing for 2627 we also have to uh continue to the downward slide into closing out the current fiscal year which is quite a bit of work in in our office and uh for Susan and her assistant. So, just an update on what where we are in terms of our encumbered balance. Um, our salaries, we've had to make some changes in the lines. You've seen that. Um, we've had to uh pay for some deficits we had for coverage for FMLA leaves. In other words, people that are out on medical leave. Um, we've also had some savings due to some of those medical leaves being unpaid. Uh, nurses we've had to utilize for some field trip coverage. And so we transferred some funds
017to cover those salaries. um other expenses and I I believe Susan spoke to this at the finance committee meeting but um some of this is just also cleanup as you know Susan goes through line by line every year um ensuring that things are lining up so to speak so that as we project forward and also look at past years we can do so in a manner that continues to support us in our budget uh expenditures and next year's proposals. So this first one for example the telephone telecommunications uh Susan created these new lines um because that's the way we did it in the 26 27 year to make it cleaner as we would say um we put the telephones in the IT lines instead of facilities for example which makes more sense as we are
018trying to uh project forward in terms of expenses and now by doing it now and not waiting until 26 27 where it already is that way in the budget we'll have we'll be able to have a year-to-date comparison as we're putting together the 2728 budget. Um, we've said this before, we've had, of course, some unbudgeted repairs all over, including an HVAC. We are uh still waiting to be able to utilize those drip funds. Um, and we'll move those expenses there once we're able to do that. So, so Susan will do some clean up on that accounting to cover some of the repairs. we knew we would use that money for, but for the time being, um that's not all finished. Um again, some variances we see every year for supplies because students needs changed. Uh
019utilities, obviously, we've seen a different winter than we had hoped for. So, we've had to make some transfers uh for those negative variances. and um special education, we are usually still moving money around right until the end of the school year and we still have the pause and spending or as in some ways allout budget freeze at this point. Um we're hoping to be able to release that said that numerous times this isn't how we like to operate. uh in in part it has been very tight because of the winter and the expenses related to that however and we're trying to make sure that we can land the plane in a net zero or positive way. >> Thank you. Are there any questions? >> Great. We appreciate that and does such a beautiful job of
020putting it yes which we appreciate. Okay, moving on to committee reports, curriculum and professional practices. Lyn is not with us, but the next meeting is on April 28th, 20126. I don't need to say that, but is coming up this coming week. Um, for finance, that would be me. You'll see that our discussion from our meeting on the 7th is included in your packet on page 8. Our next meeting is May 12th, and that's right after we have the town budget um hearing again. And so the final meeting presentation of the budget is believe May 3rd and then the referendum is the 13th. Am I correct? >> Yes, I can look. >> I'll double check, but I believe I believe >> fourth. It might be the fourth and the 13th. >> Fourth and 13th. Yes, >>
021I was close. Okay. Thank you very much. >> All right. Negotiations, Suzanne. >> As far as I'm aware, we don't have a fourth >> meeting scheduled for negotiations right now. >> Nope. We're in the thick of getting up and running, but nothing's settled at the moment as to the meeting. Thank you. >> Um policy page. >> Yep. We had a meeting March 3rd and the minutes of that meeting is included in the packet as well as new under new business. We'll hear more about those policies. Uh the next meeting is May 5th, 2026. >> Thank you. They as far as the Capital Region Education Council, um Chris did share with me that the next meeting is on May 20th, so he'll be attending that. Um, as far as as the board chair update as I
022sit here and I think it's already the end of April. It's kind of wild. You're on You're just cruising now, everybody. So, just keep what you call it. >> Yes. Just cruising. Yes. >> You make it You make it look so easy. >> They said it's called drowning. That's That's >> Yeah, you're just tying >> We won't We won't actually admit that, but >> just tying things with a ribbon. It's all pretty. It's all great. But keep it up. You're doing fabulously. Look at it's still light outside and we're sitting here together so that's progress too. So I will leave it at that and move on to the superintendent report. >> Thank you. And we will start with the hiring report. Mr. Matic, >> good evening. Uh as the board members uh have in their
023packet, we have provided a copy of the hiring report for March and April. Um pleased to welcome eight new hires to the district. Uh Kim Ciola joins us as an interventionist. Isidora Levitton and Heather Nyberg join us as student support assistants. Christina Rogers joins us as a long-term substitute occupational therapist. Priyanka Goyel joins us as a food service worker. Shane Drum joins us as a licensed practical nurse. Zachary Zenoni joins us as a long-term substitute teacher in grade 5. And Jessica D. Tomaso joins us as a long-term substitute English teacher. Uh in addition, we have one resignation. I'd like to thank Miss Pastor for her service to Thompson Brook School and to the district as an interventionist. At this time, we are currently working to fill some of our summer openings for our extended school
024year program as well as numerous long-term substitute openings for this school year and next school year to cover several medical and maternity leaves. It's the hiring report tonight. >> Thank you. Just also want to express my thanks for Cindy Pastor. Worked with her in numerous different ways since I started in Avon. Uh first as an interventionist, later on the Avon Education Foundation. She's very active on that board with me and then finally in this role. So we're sad to see her go, but I believe they are moving if I remember correctly or >> Yes. Yes, I do have that right. All right. Sometimes I remember something. Yes. So good luck Cindy. We we will certainly miss her. Um in terms of the enrollment report, we are steady. We are we have two months for you
025because we were not together in March. So you see in in both March and April, um we are still at a a difference of a negative number of students from uh one year to the next, but we have continued to grow from the start of this school year. So by the end of March uh we had a growth of 24 students since August and by the end of April we were up to 28 additional students since August. So holding steady and still projecting forward what those class sizes look like next year. Um, one of the things that I'll I'll say now since we are talking about enrollment is we are looking at a couple of things related to the high school and the middle school which we already we already knew that we may need
026to do some staff shifting uh in the coming school year to relieve some of the class sizes at the middle school. And uh it's it's both an enrollment in the coming year. there's both an enrollment piece but also a scheduling piece related to the teams and and how we are uh running the middle school. So we had consulted with both AHS and AMS. We've been talking about it for a few months already how we might be able to share some staff between the high school and the middle school because obviously we were not looking to add on any staff. Um and it might these bubbles come up and down and so from one year to the next sometimes as you know we have to make some shifts. We haven't done this in a while. We've
027done it more in the younger grades but we are looking next year at um splitting some staff between the high school and the middle school in the core academic areas. And that took some time to figure out from both a sectioning perspective to not impact the high school running its the courses it needs and that students have signed up for. And also on the staffing end as you know I I I and we would would much rather do it in a way that staff are comfortable faculty are comfortable with also so that we are not forcing people to do things that are not necessarily in their area of expertise or making huge changes to someone's schedule that impacts other facets of their life because there differences between the two schools. So, it took a while
028kind of behind the scenes to settle that and we finished 95% of that before we left on break. Part of that, just like I do with the non-renewal letters, is we look for people to volunteer that make sense. See, it's a little more complicated too at the high school because and the middle school we're talking about certain courses, certain certifications in particular areas like science. Not that they need the same in middle school, but we need them here, etc. So, it was a lot of baby steps and we looked for volunteers that might be able to work in both places and we I'm happy to say that actually that's exactly how it went. Um, we were able to do that by people raising their hand and saying I'll do it. Maybe not forever, which the
029ask is not forever at this point. We're going to look at this again at the end of the coming school year. But we have um English, social studies, math and science uh for individuals and and actually also world language um which is just moving full-time down to the middle school. We were splitting it, but we needed a full-time person down there. So um that was already the case this year. Person's already working there. They're going to um stay down there entirely for next year. Um and I'm missing someone else for the world language. And there's someone else. Who am I missing? >> Okay, I guess that is it. So, there is one more person. I say 99% because two more things have to happen. One more person I just want to sit with for a
030few more minutes tomorrow because they didn't get the opportunity to actually sit and speak to me because of the way things went before break and people being in and out. Um, and then we need to get the letters taken care of. Alongside of that, one of the other things that we've been looking at for a couple of years are the school start times and end times both at the high school, the middle school, and Thomps Brook. You know, we've had to change this a few times already. In part, it was because of the pandemic. Um, years ago before we had to make some of these changes. Uh, the high school and the middle school ran on the same schedule and the same buses. And some ways we thought that was working. in more ways than
031not to be honest it has not worked that well something that we continue to look at and I think we've seen numerous issues on the buses as a result of it is different having um fifth and sixth graders with seventh and eighth graders than it is having seventh and eighth graders with really mostly nth and tth graders because a lot of the upper classmen don't ride the buses anyway. Um so developmentally five six seven eight believe makes more sense number one and number two so we were already exploring that with the bus company and then number two knowing that we need to do this as we have in other years because we've been lucky for a number of years we've really not shared much staff between the high school and the middle school the way
032the enrollment has been and the courses and so forth that is not the case right now so for two reasons I will most likely be bringing back to you some changes um that are to line up the school start times with the middle school and the high school again and then Tom Thompson Brookke going going back to really staying where it is right now. And so it's it's a middle school that it impacts the most. Um it impacts, you know, faculty there, it impacts staff there and so forth. So we need to still work through some of those levels and make sure that everything is going to come together before we really put it into motion, but I wanted to be able to at least tell you that tonight because just before uh the break,
033Susan got word back from the bus company that they not only could make it work. You would assume they could because it has been done before, but sometimes there are changes by the number of routes, the number of buses that they use. In past years, for example, when changes had be made uh because of the pandemic, they needed one more bus to make some of the routes um work with the changes in start time. That's not the case this time. They can do it and they would prefer it that way. It runs easier for them also to stay on time and also with some of the issues that they have managed on the buses. So, they are in favor of it. They are hoping that we do it. This is kind of just step two.
034Step one was that behind the scenes making it could happen. Step two, I wanted to bring it to you. Three, we need to go back to working with the faculty and the staff primarily at the middle school and make sure that this will all line up, but it has been talked about. >> Um, still me, right? >> So, let me just tell you a couple more things. Still my report. Um, I just wanted to uh say the capstones of the high school were done really well. That was great. really appreciated being able to come and see them. It's hard as I think some of you know, especially if you've had seniors come through. We can't see all of them because of the way that they are scheduled and coming in and out of them while
035they're in session is is tough. Also, I have here and there tried to see more than one in a block of time. Um, it often doesn't work. This year, it did not work, but u, Miss Russo and I both had the opportunity. We we were here and stayed behind to do we were here for something else and stayed behind. And uh one night I caught some capstones. The other night she was able to come with me. We caught a couple of uh great ones here. U two of our um students with uh special needs um who really did a fantastic job. Had a had a full room. Um one was was Kaylee Murphy. And I I bring that up just because it it was it was really great. The coaches were able to come and
036so forth. you may remember that she was featured on television our s alongside of our team and uh that was a it was a nice thing to say. It was a great night and they were really well organized. I want to thank the high school um they made some changes this year and I think it went really great. So, thank you. same night I lucked out and was able to Susan and I actually both went over to uh the family heritage night at Pinerove and um we were able to see it during the day but we also stopped in at night and it was really well attended, really well done. Um thank you to Mary Labowski who I know does a lot of that work behind the scenes and also obviously building leadership and all
037the faculty and the parents and the grandparents and the aunts and uncles that came out. um it was a really nice night to go around and learn about um a lot of different backgrounds and I think the kids really enjoyed it and learned a lot. So, thank you. We we enjoyed being able to be there with you. There are a couple of field trips on the consent calendar tonight. I know you've seen them already. I just want to um say a couple of things. First of all, the NASA trip that you are approving, yes, that is for 2026. If you look on the field trip form, I think it it just says the dates in April, but not SL26. Yes, it is this month. Um, this was one of those times where we had to
038use discretion and give them the approval to move forward before it could get to you because otherwise they wouldn't have been able to go. And you may remember last year we spoke about this too. Um we had some students uh that work with Matt Dadona here at the high school to um do which was really kind of a contest I would say um related to design for NASA and they did it was their first time doing it last year they did very well this year they did even better and so as you can see we are asking for them to go to Houston um it is really exciting that's actually another one of the capstones I got to catch while I was here Susan and I got to catch uh we saw the students who
039are who designed this piece for space for NASA um which was also their capstone and it really was phenomenal. I will have to find another time. I didn't I didn't want to do it tonight because we hadn't had a meeting in March and we already had the board recognition but I talked to them already about coming to show you what they have done and it's it's really timely and exciting also with obviously Artemis 2 just having done uh the lap around the moon and they they are really impressive and I don't want to give away too much because they're so excited to tell you about it but you can read about it anyway. I I'm going to be sending something out. They designed a if you think about say you're going out on a canoe
040and actually or on a boat and one of the people in the audience actually asked this question and you've got electronics with you say that you don't want to get wet and you have those uh they sell the bags the waterproof kinds of bags and so on. This is um it's about this big and it's a device that closes tight is airtight and is can be utilized to bring biological samples back without them being contaminated from space. So >> yes, so our our students work to design that and then to actually make one. It needs some different level of production most likely as they would tell you because they did the majority of it utilizing the equipment we have here which is also very impressive as you know we've been growing that tech program um
041with the help of both the board support and in the budget and AEF and our PTO we've we put quite a bit of um resources into this program and obviously it's paying dividends so we're excited they they used primarily a 3D printer to do And so they got it as good as they could using that, but they have big plans for it. So they were asked about patenting it and a whole number of things. It was it was also great because I know a lot of worlds collided that night. Um they were using it for capstone. they had already won um this opportunity to go to NASA and one of our mentors who many of you would have met at not this I think it was two internship showcases ago um from an aerospace company
042who had a student in one of these students intern with him was able to come and watch this presentation also so was just really excited and the students are really excited and we're obviously very proud of them the other field trip new thing that we are trying um I I know it's all there so I won't bore you and say all the details again but a Europe trip but that's based in um STEM science technology engineering mathematics I know we have one of the folks here with us tonight in the in the audience hoping that this is approved I don't think see it as an issue they have done everything correctly they have all the paperwork lined up it's all been vetted by Susan and I this is a great tour company that they're working
043with and we're really excited to start another tradition uh next year at the high school. That trip is for next school year. I think that's all I have for you right now. >> Want to mention why >> Sorry. Yeah. Oh yeah, the school calendar. Sorry. So another thing that already had to happen. Um so we have the school calendar revisions. Um, this is kind of past tense as you know because I had already sent it out to all of you because again there was not a meeting to be able to approve this but it was in the best interest of our students, families, faculty and then the district as a whole to make this change so that we could have a half day um at the on the last day of school and uh we
044swapped that with March 20th should have been a half day and instead we utilize that day as the professional development ment day and students had the day off and thank you to everyone who was able to make that happen. Jod, Elizabeth, um, Tiffany, Roberto, Lori, everyone because that was also a lift to pivot and make sure we were able to have the professional development day on the 20th uh, as a full day. So, thank you. But technically, you approve the calendar. So since this was a change I wanted to bring it back to you even though I understand the point is moot but for the last day of school being changed to a half day that still obviously has not happened yet and people will not be very happy I think if that that changed
045it's happening. So that one's probably a no-brainer >> but May 20th is still a half day >> or it's not. >> I'm sorry. >> Yes, >> it's May. >> Yes. Thank you. >> I keep saying the wrong thing. >> That's okay. We already had to pivot. We had to pivot in March because of the May day, which is why I'm saying what I'm saying in the wrong manner. It's May. It's a what we did in March is already moved. But May and June we are swapping. Thank you. Sorry, not the last day. >> Yes. Sorry, I'm totally off. Apparently, I've I can't see the calendar in front of me. Yes, it is graduation day for Pete's sake, not the last day of school. And that is also because we need the buses. It's it's we're
046we need to bring the buses to bring the students to um the Bushnell. We've done that for years. It works well. They are able to practice a little bit that day, which they can't do before then because of the show schedule at the Bushnell. So really, when you come and see graduation, they have only practiced here and then they've gotten there once and seen the actual setup and walked down one time. So we do that with them before everyone arrives that night. They're settled. They take their pictures and we make sure everyone's on time and ready to go. So, we need the buses and the bus company was not able to do that because of the way it worked this year with the snow days without having graduation day as of a half day. Yes,
047the last day is a half day. Also, that is reflected in this calendar. So, several things and May 20th is a half day or is not a half day. >> No, it is not a half day. >> Okay. Because it's on the calendar as well. That's why I just want >> I >> my understanding was a second no longer a half day. >> Yes. >> So, sorry. >> And the 11th and 19th were just >> correct. >> Yes. Right. Okay. So, thank you. I I haven't totally lost my mind, but yes. No, it is not. Yes. >> No half days in May. >> Got it. ready for everything else. And that apparently not that one. >> It's all good. Makes you feel. >> You know what happens when I talk about things? I already told
048you all of this. I move on 10. I'm 10 steps in front now. That's it. I explained it one time. It's gone for me. >> No worries. Makes us all feel >> Everything's totally fine. Nothing to see here. >> All right. >> And yes, we will fix that. Thank you for pointing it out on the calendar. >> Perfect. All right. Any other questions? All right. So, before moving on to voting on the consent calendar, I do want to acknowledge how grateful we are for the donations that have been made. Whether it's instruments or books in someone's honor, we are grateful for the donations. Um the field trips both sound absolutely amazing. Um I'm thrilled for the students and again the school year calendar, it'll be fabulous. It's all good. accept. >> You know, I actually
049another thing that I'm realizing as we had this entire discussion, you actually should make a motion to take it off the consent calendar and put it on the >> under new business. Yes. Because it's it's on um here you are taking action on that and with as much explanation as we just went through that would keep it >> all right >> cleaner for it to not be on the consent calendar. So I will make a motion to amend the consent consent calendar by removing the school year calendar revisions to new business. They will be the very last item under audit report at the end of the meeting. We can take action then. So it'll be 252652. Right Christine? >> It will still be 44, won't it Christine? Because that's the original calendar number. Is it
050original action number on the calendar? No. >> No, it's not. >> Okay. But so it would >> I'll fix the numbers. >> Don't worry about the numbers. Okay. Yeah. Just >> we'll just add it to the very end though >> because we change the numbers if it goes down after there. So it's fine. >> We Yeah. >> Okay. >> That's for our record keeping. It's okay if you don't put it in motion. >> All right. Do I have a second? >> Thank you, Sarah. All in favor? I. And >> I didn't understand that. that was >> the calendar revisions are going to be taken off the consent calendar. We vote on those as one grouping. So rather than lumping it into the group, we're just going to Yep. We're just going to move it to
051the bottom of the new business. So it's still on the agenda. It's just no longer under consent. Nope. >> No. I'm glad you tal it through because that makes it clearer for everybody. >> Absolutely. >> And just generally speaking, Jessica, it's because of what I said. If we're really having a discussion about something, then it doesn't belong on the consent calendar. It should actually be under business. >> All right. So, all in favor? >> I passes unanimously with seven. All right. After that, do I have a motion to approve the consent calendar with the remaining items? >> All right. Thank you, Nicole. Do I have a second? Thank you, Suzanne. All in favor? I passes unanimously with seven. Thank you. All right. Now, no old business, just new business. Our first item is discussion and
052possible approval of policy 3543.31. On page 50 is where it begins. Um, retention and disposition of electronic records and information. >> Thank you. This we as we talked about in the policy committee meeting, these are minimal changes uh the that have been updated by uh board legal council to this policy to uh both have a modernization if you will even though the policy is only three years old or two years old the last time we revised it. This when we're talking about technology things continue to change. So for example, you know, we're saying computer systems specifically and instead of network um we are saying systems andor devices. That's really a more accurate version of how they're referred to this day these days. And uh there have been a few changes that need to be uh
053reflected because of the law. If you look on the last page on 53, um some of the language has changed in those areas too. So the records disposition authorization that we follow for the state of Connecticut has been updated and therefore we are updating the citations but really you can see it's not any changes that are very are substantive. >> We are changing the number correct. >> Yes. >> Okay. Any other questions? >> All right the would you like to make the motion? like to make a motion um to approve policy 3543.31 retention and disposition of electronic records and information >> and changing it to 2260. Correct. >> Correct. >> All right. Thank you. Do I have a second? Thank you, Sarah. All in favor? I passes unanimously with seven. Thank you. Our next item
054is discussion and possible approval of policy 5125, student records and confidentiality, which you can find starting on page 54. So this was last adopted in 2015 and has not been revisited since. And 11 years in a for a policy is a long time for any policy, but particularly one such as this one that is very highly regulated by both state and federal law and regulations. So this is it's not this is an example of it's not worth redlinining if you will or highlighting in yellow whichever it is that we do in in the particular moment um because the policy that you see here is one paragraph the the can you go to our thank you in the current um policy. So we are asking to delete this and replace with the model policy because the
055model policy from Shipman and Goodwin is the one that makes us legally compliant in 2026. And so it is a lot longer as you can see. Um these are the rules and regulations that we have been following generally speaking anyway because we have to follow the law and the regulations. But the policy hadn't caught up yet. We also had regulations that went along with the policy that you're looking at and some much of what's in now the actual policy was contained in the regulations but not all of it and not updated in quite the same way. So this is the cleanest way to do it. Adopt the model, make sure that every piece of it is correct. We've gone through it more than once. We talked about this also at the policy committee meeting. happy
056to answer any other questions, but what we would be looking for tonight is to delete the old and replace with the new in its entirety. >> Thank you. Any questions? >> All right, Lea. Oh, go ahead, Jessica. >> I have a question. Just definitions under C biometric record. Um, >> what page is that on, Jessica? >> 55. page 55 of the shipment um proposed. >> Hang on. Just give me a second. I know >> get to it. Okay, go ahead. if you could explain just a little bit more so I can understand with this biometric record um definition um especially when it comes to like a DNA sequence just I'm not very familiar with all of that and I would just like I'm curious and would like to know so we are not taking biometrics
057of students we do have biometric time clocks for adults for example with with thumbrints. But this is reflected because it is in the law that if you have biometric records that are related to educational records, the way they have to be maintained and allowed access to. Um sometimes there might be something in a student's health record, for example, that might contain some biometric information, but it's not something that we are generating. >> Thank you for that clarification. That makes sense. Anyone else? >> Excuse me. One of the questions I had during the uh policy meeting was around on page 58 um section L around the change for parents are entitled to to may receive access to students educational records. I think it's maybe it'd be good to go through just the change and and the
058why behind that as most parents >> don't want to have a may receive but want to be entitled to the educational records of their children. >> So if you I won't read it all to you but well maybe I should because if you're if you're watching from home for example you're not probably not able to see this on the screen. So parent defined as a parent or parents of a student including natural parent, guardian, surrogate parent or individual acting as a parent in the absence of parent or guardian. The parent the rights of a parent shall transfer to an eligible student. So that means a student who is of age they are 18 or over or in some cases they are not 18 or over but their parents still maintain rights. Very often that happens
059for example um in speents with special needs whose parents still um have rights and so the rights of a parent shall transfer to an eligible student. However, a parent of a student who claims that student as dependent under the IRS code may receive access to the student's education records without the students consent. it is now may receive instead of entitled to because that has been legally what has transpired in court decisions over the years. So if it's an eligible student, it was a given that without that person's consent, that student's consent, if you were claiming as a dependent, you could have their records. That's not necessarily the case anymore. Does Would you most likely get them? Yes. But it becomes an issue between a legal issue when you're dealing with a student who's of a
060majority age or whose students no longer I mean whose parents no longer have control for any reason. An emancipated student might be an example of that which then means you're not being claimed as under the IRS definition anyway. >> Thanks. >> That's not Yeah, that's not us making that up. It's just in line with how it has transpired since I appreciate it. >> Right. Thank you, Kevin. Anyone else? All right, I'd like to make a motion to approve uh policy 5125, student records confidentiality, >> the model >> model policy from shipment. >> Yes. And do I have a second? All right, Sarah. All in favor? >> I passes unanimously with seven. Thank you. All right. Now, on page 85, we move to discussion and possible approval of Avon Board of Education meeting dates for the
0612026 2027 year. We are already at that point. Um, if you've hopefully had a chance to look at your calendar, um, are there any dates that are glaring to anyone? As long as we have a quorum, we're able to hold the meeting. Um, but does anybody notice anything? Otherwise, I encourage you all to add them to your calendar so that you have them in there after this point. But we need to be able to send this to the town so they can announce the meetings. So once they are sent to the town and they're announced, they if we ever change a date, it becomes a special meeting um versus being a regular meeting. But if we are comfortable with it, I will make the motion to approve the meeting dates for 2627. Do I have
062a second? >> All right. Thank you, Jessica. And do I all in favor? passes unanimously with seven. Thank you everybody. Just put them on your calendar now. Then you won't have to worry about it. All right, these next two items, we have our director of nutrition services, Maggie Dreer, with us this evening. This is your moment to shine, Maggie. Um I feel like every time you come, there's somebody new for you to explain it to. This is very regular course of order. Every single year, we take action on these items by law, we must do so. So, I just I'm appreciative that you come so that you can explain to our new members and to anyone who might be watching what these two um pieces of law pertain to. >> Okay. So, it's the annual
063vote for the healthy food certification. So, uh federally there are regulations for alle cart sales outside of the school lunch and school breakfast. Um they're called smart snacks. Connecticut has its own regulations that are a little bit stricter and if you certify to comply with that then the school nutrition program receives 10 cents per lunch sold to support that tends to be those items may be more expensive to purchase um but they are healthier and there so the first vote that you'll have is to comply to certify that you agree to certify and to follow the healthy food certification regulations. Then there's three exemptions. That's what the second part is. One of them is that you can uh serve whatever you'd like at an event, say a football game or a play or something like
064that. The booster club sets up. They can sell what they want. It's very clear that it's a game, not a practice, a play, not a practice, that type of thing. Also, it should be sold at the event. And the third thing is it's not sold from a vending machine. So every year um we usually you usually vote to comply with these regulations. >> Thank you Maggie. Do you have any questions? Otherwise you have to just endure me reading the whole thing for you because it has to be read into the minutes. Thank you Maggie. >> You appreciate it. >> Okay. So I will read the first one. So I move pursuant to Connecticut General Statute section 10-215F, the Avon Board of Education certifies that all food items offered for sale to students in the schools
065under its jurisdiction and and not exempted from the Connecticut Nutrition Standards published by the Connecticut State Department of Education will comply with the Connecticut Nutrition Standards during the period of July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2027. This certification shall include all food offered for sale to students separately from reimburseable meals at all times and from all sources, including but not limited to school stores, vending machines, school cafeterias, culinary programs, and any fundraising activities on school premises sponsored by the school or non-school organizations and groups. Do I have a second? Thank you, Suzanne. All in favor? I passes unanimously with seven. Thank you. Bear with me. Here we go. I move the Avon Board of Education will allow the sale of students of food items that do not meet the Connecticut nutrition standards and beverages not
066listed in section 10-221Q of the Connecticut General Statutes, provided that the following conditions are met. One, the sale is in connection with an event occurring after the end of the regular school day or on the weekend. Two, the sale is at the location of an event. And three, the food and beverage items are not sold from a vending machine or school store. An event is an occurrence that involves more than just a regularly practice scheduled practice meeting or extracurricular activity. For example, soccer games, school plays, and intercolastic debates are events, but soccer practices, play rehearsals, and debate team meetings are not. The regular school day is the period from midnight before to 30 minutes after the end of the official school day. Location means where the event is being held and must be the same
067place as the food and beverage sales. Do I have a second? Thank you, Nicole. All in favor? I passes unanimously with seven. Thank you, Maggie. We did it again. Yeah. >> All right. Now, moving on to the TV val our discussion and possible approval of the teacher evaluation and developmental uh development model. Mr. Medic, >> good evening everyone. Uh as board members have in their packet for this evening, uh I provided an executive summary of the 51page plan to you. Uh and for our newer board members, I I went back and gave some historical chronology of how this plan came to be developed. Uh this plan serves as our observation, evaluation, and feedback framework for all certified staff, both teachers and administrators. Um, as the board's aware, we took a comprehensive review and revision of
068our existing plan uh back in 2024 and developed a new plan which aligned with the requirements of Connecticut Public Act 23159. The model that we developed and that the board ultimately approved for implementation in 2425 was an evaluation uh system that shifted away from compliance-based measures and more towards a goal oriented growth system which focuses on continued improvement incorporates and embeds our professional learning that we engage in and focuses on positive educational impact to student learning. The model aligns with the district's blueprint for excellence as well as the district's portrait of the graduate. After a highly successful implementation in 2425, we refined our plan last year to better align the single point competency rubrics uh to evaluate educator practice. The plan that we approved for this current year has had a positive impact on our
069educators, including both our evaluators and our observed staff. As we initiate a review of the current plan for possible revisions through our CPDC PDC committee, the feedback from teachers and administrators is that the plan works well and the various components allow us to capture effective practice and provide meaningful feedback through CPDCP. No recommendations for revisions were proposed for the 2627 plan. The only updates are technical updated rosters of membership on the first few pages which Dr. Dr. Carne Mullen and I also realized there were a couple um errors in titles and schools that we'll correct. Uh all aspects of the plan as presented tonight meet the requirements of the state department of education through the public act. Overall, this model helps build educator capacity strengthens our instructional practices and allows us to work collaboratively to
070improve student learning outcomes. It reflects a system where educators are supported, empowered, and accountable. ultimately ensuring an exceptional experience for our students. I'm happy to take any questions from board members regarding the plan. >> Go ahead, Suzanne. I'm just curious how you receive the feedback from the teachers on the success after it was implemented. So um we utilize members of our uh curriculum professional development committee which also serves as our PDC committee and as part of their role on that they go back and speak with their colleagues solicit feedback and bring that to us in a formal meeting that we held back in March. >> Any other questions? I know you said there aren't a lot of substantive changes to it. Were there any new ideas that came up? >> Uh more technical utilizing uh
071the system in which we capture all of the evaluation um writeups and feedback our perform evaluation system. So there were more um ideas generated on how we could better streamline those processes within the system uh for workflow and output. We do utilize AI to assist us with um reviewing some of the data that is captured in there and also uh for someone like me who doesn't type as quickly and has very uh uh chicken scratch notes it definitely brings it into more modern practical English. So >> any other questions? >> When you look at the um evaluation, how are students performance uh incorporated into that for you know the ability for for educators to you know enhance the experience for students or test scores? >> Part of that comes in the goals that our teachers
072design and submit as part of their plan. they're growth oriented and we ask them to either focus on instructional practices or relevant professional practices that they can in uh incorporate in their daily practice to help benefit students. So there are some goals that are tied to specific academic measures and scores. There are some that are rooted in uh implementing certain instructional practices or new curriculums or new programs that we've implemented. So uh the goal of those plans and those goals that are submitted by teachers align with our school goals which our administrators submit as part of their plan. So the focus is at least one aspect is on student learning outcomes. Anyone else? Thank you for summarizing it so nicely for us as well. um this just gives us a nice um synopsis of all
073of the packet that you provided for us. So, we appreciate how forthcoming you are with all the details. Just when you pass it um keep in the motion that the uh minor revisions to the um committee names and titles because we need to change uh on on just the leadership angle. Uh we it was just missed when the packet was redone. It should be obviously uh Mr. Gnome Stern is back to being the principal of Roaring Brook School and Miss Susan Orbath is no longer with us. So we just need to take Susan's name off and put N G N G N G N G N G N G N G N G N G N G Nome's name in back home and and Mel's name in for uh Thompson Brookke. Okay. Excellent. Normally I
074would ask Lynn as the chair of CPP, but would anyone else like to make a motion? Go ahead, Jessica. >> Okay. To um accept the TV val with the changes that have been mentioned. Okay, perfect. Thank you. And do I have a second? >> Thank you, Sarah. All in favor? That passes unanimously with seven. Thank you, everybody. We'll make those changes, get the clean document to you all as well, and then we'll work to submit it to the state um within the next window of submission. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Medic. All right. Next, we move on to our audit report, which we had the pleasure of hearing about in our finance committee meeting. We wish we had Susan here with us in person, but again, very impressively, she is just the consmate professional
075and keeps Avon getting excellent remarks. we never have an issue. And so I guess Bridget, did you want to speak to it at all? >> I will just >> page 140 is when it begins. >> Echo what you have said already. Um and for everyone's sake and and the public's mentioned that this happens every year. It is done in collaboration with the town. The audit is done on both the town finance side and specifically on the board of education side and other town departments also. Um a report is produced every year. It is for the previous year. So you see this is for June 30th 2025 uh fiscal year end. And we are happy to report again that there there are no what would be referred to as deficiencies on either the town or the
076B board's side. there were actually not even any recommendations for possible changes or better practices. So, um I want to thank uh Susan and I know at least she can hear us say this even though she's not with us tonight. For those of you who may not know, Susan uh had some knee surgery and uh is still going through that recuperation. So, thank you Susan for doing as much as you can remotely because we appreciate that and we appreciate you being here with us tonight. She joined obviously to be a part of the meeting in case there were any questions, but we didn't want to have her on screen while she's recuperating. You're lucky Susan, we're she's home right now saying I can't even believe she's bringing it up. Um, but Susan and the entire
077team in our office and really it's it's the entire school district because it's it's start to finish. it it's from people doing inventory in classrooms and closets and producing um purchasing orders that are in line with our the standards that we have to meet. And it it it starts there and it it ends with um Susan reconciling all of the books and the accounts with the state, the grants, the finances and so forth between she and I. There's checks and balances there as as I think most of you, if not all of you know by now. And it is a tremendous testament to the work that's being done in the school district and particularly, you know, under um Susan's Susan's leadership as the business manager. As you know, I I often say to her, Susan,
078you you only have one job and it's to keep me out of jail because what are you going to get fired for more than anything? As you all know, as board members, you hear Fina fin say it at every board of finance meeting. You're all personally liable. So am I. And so making sure that someone who sits in that seat is as fidious and detail oriented and honestly easy to work with to make sure that we get what we need to get for our students and our staff is imperative and very appreciative of Susan. So thank you. >> Yes, it's an incredible undertaking done with such perfection and it's a daunting task. we are so grateful um for your attention to detail and just how well you do and you always have a smile. So,
079we appreciate that. Um I think that deserves a round of applause quite frankly. >> You don't need us to approve it. It's just more conversational to know that it >> Yep. It is just an FYI and I'm to be honest, I'm glad we were able to do it tonight because if she was here with that much um as Jessina used to say, if a cat bath, you know, it took me a while to get used to that saying, but someone giving that much praise um over something that was done, she'd be very upset to be sitting at the table and very embarrassed. So, I'm glad we were able to do it without you here, Susan. >> Well, I'm proud that she didn't come in cuz she normally would anyway. So, we're glad that she's taking
080care of herself. So, thank you. >> All right. Now, we move back to our school year calendar revisions. Um, we're switching. >> Yeah, go ahead. >> Oh, yes, please. >> I I just had a question. I do not read a lot of independent auditors reports, but I did actually go through this and read it. Thank you. >> And just out of, you know, wanting to make sure everyone is is covered. um with this I felt the wording you know um it's of course to the best of their ability that they know but I kept seeing the um the responsibility coming back to management is responsible for compliance and I just want to make sure I understand that correctly. Does that fall back to like who is defined as management? We are We are >> Yes,
081Susan. >> That's what I thought and I just wanted to make sure I had that >> correct. >> Yes. Susan, >> just to clarify are are in the day-to-day responsible for compliance and if there were an issue, you would have to manage us managing it. >> Yeah. No, I I understand. But I know again we're asking more out of curiosity and to understand >> we yes we have to be responsible for the dayto-day because we can't possibly be. However, if >> there were a large amount of of malfeasants that resulted in um financial repercussions for the town. That's when, as Houston says, it is possible that people that are on the board of ed are are held personally legally responsible for the funds. Um, do you see that happen very often? I No, I'm I'm
082not sure they've ever seen it happen, but we are told that it that it could. >> Okay. Thank you for the clarification and thank you for all of your out of the poor house in jail and Susan's job is to keep me out and kind of down. >> Thank you to you and Susan. We we love Susan and what she does for us. So, we're grateful for that. Were there any other questions? Okay. Thank you. All right. So, now moving on to our school year calendar revisions, the switching of the half days. Um, is there any other wording you want us to have? >> No, I just want I want to I want to having taken a deep breath and pulled out the correct version of the calendar because that that's the other issue. I
083I did not have that in front of me and I I can't see it on the screen from here even with my glasses on. >> Oddly, I I put the wrong one in the packet. I actually did do it correctly. I went into my files and I did it correctly. I just >> Yeah, that's Thank you. So, so I was about to say I'm looking at the one that's in front of me saying March instead of May and then obviously you know the rest of what happened. So, I want to make sure that we're clear on the record because, as you know, we already made these changes as a district and we already communicated them. So, to be clear, Wednesday, May 20th, now a full day of school. And part of the reason we wanted
084to send this out was so that people could plan accordingly. Um, Thursday, June 11th, also the day of graduation, early dismissal. I already explained the reasons for that. It's because of the busing. One of the other pieces that as an aside, it doesn't impact people's schedule in the same way, but we also communicated that we were able to change our dates for standardized testing and th those are reflected in the calendar. you're not approving those dates per se as a board, but uh we thought it was important that with given the amount of snow days we had, six I believe, uh we pushed for those days, six full days of instruction is is a lot, especially when it's been interrupted as many times um with the weather. So, or the non-weather that we were told
085would be weather, which whichever way it went. So we have new dates uh for uh smarter balance and non uh national uh next generation science uh assessments and also even in house our as web reading and math. Uh that's pushed forward now starts May 12th for uh the smarter balanced ALA tests 12th 13th and math is now the 19th to the 21st. So I want to thank Jod also for working with us closely on that and reaching out to the state. um to try to get that done because it wasn't automatic for you to do it or be able to do it. And it was in part um Avon's advocacy that changed it uh for the state that if you wanted to move the dates, you could. So, if that upset you in another school
086district, we're sorry about that, but we thought it was important. Any questions? Now that we're clear, March 20th came and went. We had our PD May 20th is a full day. >> I do have a question on the overall uh calendar. >> The last day of school is Junth. It wasn't really kind of brought up as far as a discussion of when the last day of school should be. It's a federal holiday. So, I want to just understand why are we having a last day of school on a federal holiday versus a nonfederal holiday. So Junth was never adopted as a day off from school in Avon. When the law was passed, we had a discussion about it. And as as both a school district and and a board and made the decision because you
087were given the you were given the option. Some holidays we are allowed quote the option which is also why we are in school on Veterans Day for example. Um there are some holidays that you have to be closed. Some they allow you to remain open. The state allows you to remain open if and it's in conjunction with the federal government if you utilize the day or really any day. The point is that if you are in session on that day that you have developed specific instruction and programming to recognize the significance of the holiday and make ensure that students understand it. And so as you know that's what we do with Veterans Day for example and we do it on Veterans Day. Junth we knew you know in in a good year we're not in
088school by the time it gets to be June 19th. So the decision was made to put um curriculum instruction and programming into place every year whether or not we were here on June 19th as by working it in with curriculum while we are in session. And we have typically designated a day where we ensured that the instruction took place districtwide or we have done it as it made sense. for example, in the US history curriculum at the middle school or the high school. Just depends on how it fell. So that's our plan. We'll do that again this year. Um Mr. Haynes and uh building leaders and faculty members have been working together on this this year since we are actually in school on that day when we never have been in the past that since
089it's been the law. Um much like we ran the America 250 committee, we have been doing to put things together to recognize Junth. So we're recognizing it as the law requires, although we're still in session. Um all we we made that decision. We could make a different decision at some point if the board wants to revisit it. Um, but at this time we never added it in officially as a holiday and which is also not reflected in any of our district contracts for employees. >> District contract has a holiday. >> It does not have it is not a considered a holiday for Veterans Day. Um, that change was made at a time many years ago uh well before my time and I think even before the superintendent previous to me. Um I'm not even certain
090what year and I actually tried to find it after thinking about this with someone's question. Um in the contracts at that point Veterans Day was already a holiday and school was closed and everyone was not here like is the case in many other school districts. Not all some have. More often now we've seen them come the way that Avon does it. But that said, because that was already the case, into everyone's contract went a floating holiday if you were already working that day. So those are 12 month employees. So faculty members and pair educators, for example, uh school nurses, folks that would be here only 10 months, they had veterans day off, but they still only were worked the number of days they worked. So people that worked 12 months and had Veterans Day off
091got a floating holiday to be used at another time. >> Does that make sense? >> It does. >> And so we did not do that with Junth because no one ever had that day off. >> Mhm. I think I just look at it from like the board as we look at school calendars going forward. If we had followed federal holidays, we'd be out of school a week earlier because we've got five days off at least probably within within the calendar that are uh not federal holidays. And it if we followed the federal holiday calendar, the school year would end sooner. So we would be out on >> We probably out on >> Veterans Day, right? We would be out on Junth, but we would be in You're saying on >> I'm saying >> the school
092year? Yeah, >> but the school year would end much before. >> Right. I'm just I'm trying to work through what the other three holidays are. They are right. It's Dvali. Um >> Good Friday. >> Well, Um, >> MLK. Yep. Rashashana. Yam Kapoor. >> Yeah. Yes, that's true. On the flip side, when those holidays don't fall on a school day, they're not observed. So, to your point, we might be even out even earlier on some of those, but it all depends on the way the the holidays fall. Yes. >> I don't think there's a year though that >> Sorry. >> I don't think there's a year that all those fall on the weekend, though. I think you're probably right. Yeah, >> I haven't actually looked to figure it out, but I would assume you're right by
093the way they fall. >> Yeah. >> Again, >> just something to think about as we go forward in school calendars. >> Yep. >> To look at and >> federal holidays. >> If that's something that you want to have a discussion about, we can we can map that out at another time. Yes. >> We'll see if there's interest among the majority of the board for that. >> Okay. Any other questions? Okay. Then do I have a motion to approve the school year calendar revisions for this school calendar? >> All right, Suzanne and Sarah. We'll second. All in favor? I passes unanimously with seven. Thank you. Any communication from the public? All right. Any communication from Avon board of education members? >> I have a few unrelated things I just wanted to comment. Um, I'm just really
094glad that we have a focus on healthy food. Thank you for being here. That's sometimes I think, you know, I don't want to say in the background cuz it's not. It's every single day. But just echoing what Deb was saying, so appreciate that very much. Um, shout out to Miss Morgan Hotellers. Still to this day, I'm amazed at how you handled the fire alarm going off at the TBS musical. It was kind of incredible to see everyone under control, and you were just there to see the show. But, I mean, other reasons, too. But um no, truly it was it was um an amazing display of leadership and just keeping not only students but families, you know, under control and and happy and we still had the show. So that was that was amazing. And
095then just want to say thank you for the cards and the um the strings and the video. Uh I always tell people it's I think this is, you know, not easy work, but it's easy working with with everyone on the board. So it's always a pleasure. Um, I think I now have a mug, a towel, a bag. So, thank you for Thank you, Christine, for all the thoughtful gifts. Appreciate it very much. >> Thank you, Sarah. Anyone else? >> Jessica? >> Yes. I also wanted to say thank you. I did not expect any of this and it meant a lot to me personally and um I was very feel very humbled by by everybody's words and I can't wait to go home and read my cards and everything. So, thank you for that effort. It
096means a lot personally to me. >> Yes. Thank you. Anyone else? Go ahead, Nicole. >> Sorry. Uh, yes. Again, thank you so much. Um, just looking at the cards, I see some familiar names, so I'm excited to to read through um all of them. Um, it is an honor to sit here and support the wonderful work that everyone does here on staff day in and day out. So, thank you. Um, I had a question. I don't know if you have an answer to, but I believe I saw on the news. >> It's not about calendar. I don't >> It is not about the calendar. It's about the ECS funding. Yes. >> Um believe I saw on the news that Governor Lamont is creating a committee to re-evaluate how that is. Have we heard how that
097may affect us? >> No, not yet. Anyone else? All right. Well, without Chris, Sarah, do you want to make a motion to adjurnn >> on Chris's, you know, in honor of Chris? Um, uh, make a motion to >> Thank you. >> You're I'm seconding or making a motion, whatever. Okay. Making a motion to >> Do I have to second that? >> All right, Suzan. All in favor? I We adjourn at 8:28 p.m. Thank you, everyone. >> Thank you.