001ing. Hello. Uh, good evening everyone. It is 5:56 p.m. on February 9th, 2026. We are going to call this meeting to order. [snorts] Um, we apologize for getting started a little late. We were having internet troubles, so getting everything up and running. We are going to um just begin with the budget overview to the public and then we will adjourn that meeting and get into our regular board meeting. So the superintendent and I will go ahead and present All right. Good evening. Um, later in today's meeting, we the board will be adopting the budget, but right now as it stands, it currently stands as the superintendent's proposed budget. So, so far in the process, um, the superintendent and the admin team have met with the board, gone through their budget. Then the board had a
002special workshop where we had several questions um and we reviewed questions from the board of finance as well as from individual board members. Everyone discussed it and we had time. And then last night I sent an email to the board with several questions just having you guys think about some questions so you can um you know make some of the best decisions. And I'm going to just share those questions really quick before we start this meeting because I think it's important to frame where where we're at in the decisions we are going to be making. So let me pull these up um if I can from my phone. Let me see. Oh, here we go. Okay. So the questions that I had asked and you know I think as we get into this and talk
003about this, I want you guys to continue thinking about it and I wanted to be on the record for everyone here, everyone watching um that this is what the board is thinking about as we go through this process. When supporting or proposing a reduction, have you explored multiple perspectives and asked enough questions to fully understand the impact? If a reduction is made, what are the short-term and long-term impacts on students, staff, and programming? [snorts] What are the potential unintended consequences of that cut? Are there alternative approaches, efficiencies, or phased options that could reduce impact? How will we communicate and justify these decisions to our community if there is concern or push back or if NBC Connecticut is filling our boardroom with a hundred upset community members? 6 months from now, if there is significant community
004concern over p or public scrutiny, will I stand confidently behind this decision? Would I feel the need to reconsider or reverse my position later? and have I truly considered as many perspectives as possible to ensure I can stand firmly and confident behind my decision. So though they might seem a bit redundant, it's just really important to frame that because you know where we are headed in the decisions we have to make. Um everything we do as a board is centered around what's right and best for all the students of Burland public schools. Um, and we want to remain an attractive district where people want to work and educate our children. Um, so we are going to kick it off with um the mission. So our mission statement, we empower our students to be enthusiastic, curious
005learners and kind, compassionate leaders in our community and the world. Our core values are purpose, passion, and pride. The goals are to provide quality education, prepare students for multiple options and opportunities, maintain favorable class sizes and course offerings, consistent support for students, staff, and technology, and a commitment to a safe learning environment. And this is the Burlin vision of a graduate. We can keep going and some student achievement highlights. [clears throat] Um, so I'll let the superintendent talk a little bit about those because this is all the fantastic work that the students and the staff are accomplishing. Um, so >> this year for the first time we've had four schools recognized by US News Report. Um, our AP honoral recognition, we received that. That's not for just a number of students taking AP courses. It's
006a number of students increasing as well as those scoring um, fours and fives. Um tonight you're going to hear for a Lemson MIT invention team grant. Um we're one of [snorts] I believe eight in the entire country. Um you're going to hear them from tonight at our board meeting. Two national merit scholarship semi-finalist national scholarship commended student 120 presidential award recipients national honor society members roappa community service citation sealed by literacy capstone exemplars. We have districts still coming to Berlin every year to check out our capstone as it um has evolved over the years. um co-curricular programming 40 intercolastic sports. I'm not going to read through them all, but we have tons of co-curricular for students. Um school day does not end at the end of the school day. We know that school is much
007more than just the end of the school day. Um 70 plus viable clubs, K12 and district highlights, average elementary class size 19, average secondary class size 21. Some of the programming that we have that's unique to Berlin. So when I show you these last three slides, I show it as representation of what the budget allows us to do. Should the budget not be adequate, we would not be able to maintain the class sizes at the secondary and elementary school, may not be able to run as many programs, may not have as much co-curricular. It's just an example of that makes Berlin an exceptional school district is all that we do beyond the school day as well as within the school day. >> So now we're going to get into the budget and the superintendent's budget
008request at a glance. So I'll let him explain the stack bar graph. >> So the stack bar graph is usually representation uh that we have this year. We're at 5.4% increase. In other years we've come in much higher than that. Um really did some work with the budget meeting with all administration and our uh finance and operations director Ashley Dorsy really honing things down before bringing it to the board. I think what's important to note here is 3.81% 81% is salaries and benefits of staff. So in order to maintain the current programming, the programs I shared with you, the class sizes, the number of staff that we have, we need 3.81%. That does not mean it ends at 3.81%. You look at the contractual obligations, they're at point can't read from there, whatever it is,
009it's point >> 1.5.15. >> Those are our buss, our contracts with various vendors, our power school, all the different systems that we use. typically go up anywhere between four and 7%. We're able to hold that down. We did a re-evaluation of them, looked at which ones were being used, which ones weren't, and consolidated prior to bringing the budget forward. Our transportation at 0.55% um negotiating fuel rates and things. And we won't go through every slide later on, so I'm talking now. Negotiating fuel rates, when we purchased the fuel, um we really locked in at a good time. Fuel was at a good price. That's also our contract with MBT um as our bus company. Um that's why we have a 0.55% increase there which is nominal compared to many. And the last one is supplies.
010Our supply accounts at each building are held at zero for the fifth year in a row. Um equipment is roped into looped into that. Our equipment budget typically you'll hear many say including the board of finance and town council that we have a surplus at the end of the year. They are correct. We do have a surplus at the end of the year. Absolutely correct. Everything I am not a I'm a math major. I'm not a finance major. But when I do talk to CFOs and companies, if you come in between 1% and 3%, you did a good job in the budget. We usually come in around between four and 500,000 in our budget with a surplus. That surplus being used for equipment. Equipment being servers, laptops, technology in the classroom for students and things
011that we normally do not have in the budget. We do not have a replacement cycle for any technology in our budget. So without having those funds that are considered surplus, it's really end of the year funds that that goes to the board. It's all printed out. It says what we purchased and it's used for technology. So when you look at our budget, we do have some equipment here. Um typically that's where we usually reduce from if we don't get that budget number. Um but what I want you to walk away with is our average, which is that red line. Our average is at 3.28% over five years. That's what the average budget was. Last year was the highest budget that we ever received from the board of finance and the town council. It was at
0123.9%. And they gave us additional money money for a mandatory reading program that was initiated. So, we definitely appreciated the funding last year by the town and the board of finance. And we're we're hoping that there is uh as even more so uh giving to the board this year. So moving on to the next slide is the [clears throat] percentage of special education in our budget. So as you can see um that pie chart up there represents our overall budget. 25.9% of our budget goes towards special education. Um and the requests, you know, the thing about special education, if you do not understand, we are very limited and what we can and cannot do. Like we are required to provide services to students who qualify. Um and we are happy to do so. And Berlin
013does a fantastic job at keeping students in districts, providing students with what they need here so we don't have to send them to schools outside of Berlin because we're required to pay for their tuition and transportation. So I think um Linda and her special ed staff have done a great job at looking at ways to keep students in district and really reduce the costs. Um so that is the percentage of our overall budget >> and we really show this to you just to note that special ed does play a major driver in the budget being a quarter of the budget. Um we have roughly 20 students that are outplaced meaning that we don't have the education that those students need to be educated here and we send them out place. The minimum educational outplacement is
014roughly $100,000. That's the minimum. We have students that require over $200,000 of funding per student to educate them outside the district. This is a overall of the entire um all of our lines and the budget packet is online. It's all colorcoded. There's rationale why we're at the percentage increase. There's great explanations there. We'll show you a few, but I don't think we're going to spend the time going through it this evening. Um, it's really laid out in a manner where you can go through and link back to this summary sheet to each item and there's a rationale why the increase is what it is and and you can see what the numbers are here as an overall and you can see the I want to just draw your attention to equipment down the bottom. Majority
015of that is technology um and the way it works now in the budget. It used to be 10,000 then it went to 20,000 now 25,000. So anything under 25,000 now goes into the operational budget. So if we were to purchase anything for the classrooms, any type of technology and it's under 25,000, it does not go against the capital. It goes into the operational which does drive the operational budget up. Oh, Julie, if you want to add anything. >> No. So [clears throat] if Thank you for that. So I think as you go through each slide, we can just kind of go through them very quickly because I know that we have a lot of students here that are going to be recognized and we would also like to get to that. Um but if you
016know if online if you access this presentation you can see what the increase is the percentage of that increase um year overyear and what changed. So this is the administrative salaries. Can you move to the next? And then we have our certified staff and you can again you can see what has changed. So it's all laid out clearly. Um this is non-certified salaries. This is like par profofessionals, clerical, custodial, so on and so forth. It's listed there. Now, employee benefits are a huge driver in our um budget and that's another thing we don't really have control over. I know that we try and negotiate to the best of our ability, but when insurance is going up everywhere, insurance is going up and that's just that. [snorts] And then these are contracted services. Um, and again
017it lists out what they are like operational and educational systems, professional services for PPS, that's like um effective school solutions at Berlin High School, uh legal services, transportation for athletics, professional development. We have power school, frontline, all those things. It explains what changed, what the drivers are, our utilities. Uh, everyone's utilities are going up and it it just says what changed the rates. Um, and then transportation. So, again, it's listed out there and then you want to add anything. >> Just with transportation, we typically go out, we've had a 5-year contract with MBT, which is local right here in Berlin. And compared to other districts, MBT does a wonderful job for Berlin of ensuring that they have buses, ensuring that they have adequate buses, ensuring that they're on time and very responsive. Um, so for
018tuition, um, what change? Anticipated 3% increase for all outplacement facilities as we see everywhere, including, you know, the grocery store or anything we're spending money on, there has been a huge increase in prices across the board. and our um outplacement facilities have also increased their prices. Um so the tuition for this includes special education, outplacements, public and private independent studies, magnet school tuition, vocational school tuition, and those are things that we are required to pay. If a Berlin student chooses to go to a vote school or a magnet school, um Berlin pays the tuition. So that's why we want to keep our courses, our opportunities and offerings competitive. So students want to stay in Berlin and not go to the magnet schools or the vote schools or the aggregate schools because um once they leave,
019we're still paying that tuition. So the next one is supplies, textbooks, and materials. Do you want to add anything on that? >> No, I think that it's it's definitely scrutinized. Um, there's certain textbooks that we have to purchase in order to offer certain courses at the high school. If they're AP courses, ECU, ECE courses, or other college experience courses, they require certain text. So, we purchase those. The new reading program at the elementary requires certain text and consumables. Athletic supplies need to replace every year and graduation obviously. So, just some of the ones that we really need to purchase. Just one comment that was made. Just want [snorts] to make sure it's clear. There is adequate money for supplies for classroom teachers. I know some teachers put out last year to ask for certain items
020from parents. Um it's not that they're needed. If parents do choose to supply certain things to the classroom, that's wonderful. We appreciate it. But the teachers definitely have adequate supplies and and paper and pencils and things in in the schools. And that's the equipment one. That's the line I spoke of that typically this is the one that get reduced. And then we use end of the year funds. I don't like to say surplus, but end of the year funds to purchase the equipment that we normally can't have in the operational. You can see technology, projectors, Chromebook, iPads, laptops, servers, etc. But regardless of whether you're going right into the secondary workforce or you're going to um postsecary school, technology is everywhere and it's important that students have the ability to use the technology integrated in
021normal learning in the classrooms, not addition to. And I think we do an outstanding job here in Berlin um of doing that. So it's just a matter of making sure we have the technology for students. So all other expenditures um you know there's been these are professional organizations cave cas um superintendent network um all the different professional organizations um and there's an increase in those athletic tournament fees and minor building improvements um and you can see that's gone up and then armed security department there's an increase of $2595 you want to speak to that a little bit >> sure the armed security budget. We show it here. This is totally on what's called department 61. It's on the town side. It's not in the operational budget of the board of ed. And we want to
022thank the mayor and for do years ago requiring security, armed security. Each building has at least one armed security. The high school has an SRO, SRO. We have security festivals in each building. We have a new alert system um as well as Raptor. This is where those funds are. This is on the town side. Um and so there's definitely as we said in the first slide, the priority is safety and security. This is the budget that represents that and it's definitely a priority to have a safe and secure school district. As you were greeted this greeted this evening when there's an event, we have security staff at the high school after hours also with usually one door to enter the building. Um it's important that this that students feel safe as well the staff feel
023safe in the building. This is the budget that supports it. So, >> so we're going to just wrap up and I'll let the superintendent talk a little bit about this. >> Okay. Additional funding sources. You can go through this. We won't spend time on it. It just talks about where our funding is, what's changed, new grant, special education expansion. We have a seed, which is a development grant. Roughly $70,000 is is funded. That's for new positions. Open choice funding is increased. The open choice account. We have roughly 92 students in open choice um program. Open choice is a program for students from Harford that apply to go to other districts. There's probably over 20 open choice districts. Glastonbury, West Harford to name a few, Avon, Simsbury. So we've been in the program for a number
024of years. Our model is typically to take students at the K level. And you might say, well, how do you do that? It's more teachers. Typically, we take 10 students a year at the K level. Having over 10 classrooms, we divide the students out in the classroom, usually one to two students per classroom, so it doesn't increase the numbers. And the state then gives us a reimbursement for taking those students. We used to be at 4% as many districts 4% was the max. When you have 4% choice students, they reimburse you at a rate of $8,000 per student. That goes right into the operational budget to pay for staff, not to pay for choice staff. It pays for Berlin teachers teaching students who reside in Berlin as well as the students the choice students. So
025that budget we found out after the year increased we were at 3% for a number of years. We were at $6,000 per student because districts can no longer reach the 4%. The state decided to make 3% the threshold for $8,000. So there was some additional funding that came in from choice and we're expected to receive that next year. So that's in the budget. And if you look if you go through the packet, you'll see that the choice funds are expended for staff. They're listed which staff are paid with the choice funds. It's not additional money on top. It's additional money on top of the operational, but it's calculated into what staff we have. I'll cruise right through this and you can look through. It's more about the choice the open choice budget, how it's spent.
026I won't spend time on it, but those are the positions I talked about. You can look at that. Um the excess cost reimbursement and there's more detailed which I which we could go more into but I know we're going to present again with the town. So once the board sets the budget we can go more detail and not spend the time tonight. Federal funding as you can see increasing decreasing here. Prek tuition revenue this past year we started offering prek on a full-time basis for role model students. we used to do on a part-time basis. There were half-time programs. There was no fee for the students prior. Now, because it's full day, we do charge a fee for our preschool. Um, and and within that fee structure, it's how we pay for the program. And
027this just breaks down to see what fees we anticipated collecting and anticipated revenue and how it's going to be spent. Uh, we assume that we can we will have 40 peer volunteers. Um this year we're below 40, but we're hope our max is 40 and it funds five positions with those funds that we raised through the program. Um so that's just a little about our prek program and funding comparisons. This just goes back and gives some history of what was asked for by the board by the superintendent and what was then received by by the um the budget after the referendum. This just talks about not all same towns in our um DUI, but it talks about similar towns that Bron often gets compared to. It just takes a look at what the adopted budgets
028have been on a five-year average and what they've been for the last five years prior. Um just to give you a threshold. And one of the comments that's often made is, you know, give us a competitive budget with other towns and we'll do a fine job providing a quality education that that the community expects within our DUI. Um, the state doesn't use a DUI, but it's still used by many. It breaks down towns that are in our DUI, which are similar demographics on what budget we received and what budget other towns received. I think it's important to compare what other towns are receiving and what we're receiving. um net expenditure that's our per pupil expenditure our durg you can see where I are compared to other towns and then back to the the bar and
029then the questions >> so the board is going to be discussing this and voting um after all the exciting parts of our meeting we have we have a great meeting that we want to get to so we are going to wrap it up here um so we can move on and recognize the students but I just want everyone to know that the board has been tasked with answering the questions that I sent out, you know, internally and thinking about them, but also, you know, the board is committed to continuing to provide the best possible education to all Berlin learners, but also make this a place where people want to send their kids to school. People want to educate their kids. People want to work here. We want all staff, teachers through custodians, clerical, you name
030it, to want to be in Berlin public schools. Um, and that's what our budget supports. So, thank you. And we will adjourn this meeting at 6:19 and then we will start our next meeting. Do we have a second? >> So, the motion by Jen, the second by Vanessa. All those in favor? >> I Is Peter on yet? >> No. Opposed? So, the vote carries. 8 Z. All right. Um meeting on February 9th, 2026. And this meeting has been called to order. We will begin with 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. >> Okay, so the first order of business um we have a special recognition for Berlin
031High School football team and thank you so much for all sitting there patiently. Uh it may not have been the most exciting presentation to sit through um but you guys were so respectful. Thank you. Um so we are going to I'm going to turn it over to the superintendent but we are very excited to recognize you guys and your accomplishments this season. So >> thank you. >> This time if I could ask Let me get to you. >> Yeah. Thank you. At this time, if I could ask the coaching staff of Berlin High School, Coach Capid, you come down front and all the Berlin High School football players that are here seeing to come on down front, please. If we could have a round of applause for before they get here, [applause] You guys get
032to go front and center. Come right across the front. Come on down. >> Go. Come on. >> Perfect. Thanks. Right there. That's great. Thank you guys. >> So, I'll speak on behalf of on behalf of the board of education. We could not be prouder of your effort this year. But as I said to coach Capidis throughout the year, it's one thing to go 13 and0 and win all the games. But what's even more impressive is over 50% of the students were on honor roll. There wasn't one student in academic trouble the entire year. I don't know if that was because coach if they got heard from coach Cap, it might have been even worse than what you guys would have gotten on the football field, right, coach? But it truly is an honor to have
033Berlin since 2009. We've never won a state title and to be undefeated is a true accomplishment. So on behalf of the board, I want to congratulate all of you and thank you for all the hard work both on the field and off the field and representing Berlin so well. So thank you guys. Thank you for everything. [applause] Oh yeah. Um if the board members could reach behind their behind their seats, there's a white bag. And coach, I'm going to Coach Capid wanted to to get you guys something for this. So behind there, Go ahead. The microphone's yours for a minute. You got to take it. Go ahead. Whatever you like to say to the board, John, >> I see everybody. Well, >> okay. Uh, thank you for having us. We really appreciate it. We had
034a tremendous season this year. Such a great group of guys and coaches that are here tonight. Just uh nice these guys to take time off from their day and their work to come out and and be a part of this here tonight. We're very thankful for the community uh the support we had this year. um our superintendent Benigny Ad Franco and our principal Miss Amenta were so supportive as we went through the journey and again the biggest things that we're proud of as well is 50% of our team made the honor roll. So we're really focused on developing student athletes and we did that this year and when you do everything right the scoreboard takes care of itself and this year it did. Uh these kids went out and won 13 football games and winning
035the school's second state championship since 09 was a tremendous accomplishment. Um but again we're we're most proud of the things we did in the classroom with things we did in the community um and then the things we did on the field as well. So thank you for having us. We're really appreciative and thank you for all the community support as well. It was a tremendous season. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Thank you so much. [cheering] Good job. Thank you. >> [applause] [applause] >> All right. So, now we're going to move on to bat things. That's I'm excited. All right. Um, you ready to move on to baddy things? >> Go ahead. >> Okay. So, we have students from Berlin High School. Can you say the name of it? I don't want to mess it up.
036>> Copy. Knock them. >> Yeah, I would I would have messed that one up. Um they are going to present a mid-year technical review and the pres presentation is going to highlight studentled research and invention work focused on developing a conservation system to help mitigate the impact of white noise nose syndrome on bat populations. So I'm not going to keep going but I've been looking [snorts] at your posters especially during the budget presentation and I am very intrigued. So would is there anything you would like to add before we turn it over? >> I've heard a little bit about the presentation because Mrs. Amenta had a chance to give a little preview and so I'm very excited to hear from hear from all you this evening. I think the board will be very impressed. So
037looking forward to it. So whenever you're ready, you have our full attention. And there he is. He's in. >> Good evening. >> Am I on? Good evening, members of the board of education, Superintendent Benigny, and of course, our esteemed guests here in the audience tonight. My name is Katie Amena. For those of you who do not know me, I am the very proud principal of Berlin High School. In 2025, a group of young scientists here at Berlin High School set out on a mission. A mission to solve a major biological and ecological concern growing across our country. Where did the bats go? With that, our carpum was born. This team proudly representing both Berlin High School in the state of Connecticut is a team that is one in eight schools nationwide to receive a special
038grant funding through the Lemlson MIT invent teams program which supports high school students in identifying real world problems and developing inventionbased solutions through hands-on research design and collaboration. Tonight, I am honored to introduce the Berlin High School Invent Team team, Carpey Noctum, as well as their esteemed leader, BHS science teacher, Mr. Wiznooki. [applause] Hi everyone, thanks for joining us tonight. As Mrs. Amenta said, my name is Chris Wnuski. a biology teacher here at BHS and proud adviser of our carp knock them invent team and I'm really excited for board superintendent Bedign staff everyone to see and get to hear a little bit of what I get to see on a regular basis daily and weekly with this team those of you who are employed in the district or familiar with the inner workings with high
039quality instruction vision of the graduate that's going to be on full display tonight like what you're about to see is is very much a graduate level research project like this is not just a little high school small time science project like this is this is very much a next level project and I'm excited for everyone to get to see it tonight. We've been working for about a year and I'm going to let them speak for the majority of this but for about a year and this even though this is the halfway point of our time together we still have a lot of cool things coming our way and I'm excited to see how this all continues on. So I'll just give a a quick introduction to everyone who's here with us tonight and then we'll
040continue on with our slides. So we have Kalin Stein, Michelle Louu, Hannah Bednaric, Toby Yner, Sadel Holland, James Berio, Marco Mangelo, Angela Tinses, Monica Berbulla, and Ava Barbagallo. They they've been working so hard again for this past year. Give them a round of applause. A round of applause. They deserve it. [applause] And with that, I think it's about that time. All right. quicker. >> Oh, sorry. >> Which one? This one. >> So, first let's talk about Lemlson MIT. Lemlson MIT is a partnership between the Lemlson Foundation and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and they're also the grant program that we have gone through to receive this grant. Let's talk about the Lemlson Foundation. The Lemlson Foundation was founded in 1992 by Jerome and Dorothy Lemlson. Jerome was an accomplished inventor with over 600 patents and
041together these two created the Lemlson Foundation in order to encourage innovation in other generations. MIT School of Engineering is an internationally recognized university famous for its technological enhancements and and invention education. Together, this partnership forms the Lemlson MIT Foundation. This foundation runs the invent team program which we went through to receive this grant. So, let's talk about it. Hundreds of teams across the nation applied for this program. Only eight were selected. These eight teams receive $7.5,000 in order to make their invention a reality. And at the end of the year, each of these teams will come together and make their own Eureka Fest to showcase their innovations and to discuss their procedure. We are also really excited for this opportunity and very excited to announce that Dr. Lee Esbrooks, who oversees the Invent Teams program,
042is here with us tonight. We've had the chance to meet her and she's been an amazing resource in our invent in our invention journey. We should next talk about why we decided to do this in the first place. Hello. Okay, so some of you guys might be wondering how did this team come together? So this all started back in the fall of 2024 when I had started a small independent study group uh between me and my friends. We were all interested in research and we actually wanted to do hands-on work and that's when we realized that in order to do some all of those things we would need support and funding and that's when we started looking into grants around this time uh a year ago and that's and we have to thank Mr. Wasnki
043who found the Lmlson MIT inventing program for us and at first I was really skeptical it's a national grant are we really able to do this and we all decided to take the shot anyways and we devoted an enormous amount of our time even in the summer of 2025 coming to this school in the library to work on the application and I believe if I remember our final document or submission was like 12 pages long with like lots of deep research about bat physiology whiten no syndrome and the real world importance of this problem. Eventually, we submitted the application in early August and we got back from them uh I believe late September and that's when we found out that we were one of the eight high school teams selected nationwide and uh when we
044found out funny story if you guys uh Mrs. Amenta Mr. Vignney you were CCD on this email when Mr. of you told us. I wrote in all caps, "Yippies, I can't wait to go to Chili's, let's have a party with lots of exclamation marks and celebratory emojis." And um I did not know that you guys were CCD on this email. I I found that like it was really embarrassing, but I'm glad that you guys found it funny. [laughter] And yeah, and since then, we hold weekly team meetings, continue refining our research, and bringing our invention to life. And now I will be passing along the microphone to Hannah Bart uh Bernardek who will be talking to you about the problem. So before we jump right into our solution, we're going to talk about why bats
045matter. To date, whiten no syndrome is the greatest ecological uh disease that has decimated populations of bats across North America. It works as a fungus that spreads across a bat's body. It disrupts their torper, which is akin to hibernation. These periodic arousals result in a depletion of fat reserves, meaning that bats will likely face a early death before they reach the end of winter. Bats are a keystone species. They protect crops, they control insect populations, and they stabilize our ecosystems. When they disappear, there is a ripple of effects. Farmers are now forced out of using bats as a natural form of pesticides into chemical pesticides. This cost the agriculture and lumber industries millions or billions of dollars. and it destabilizes our ecosystems. Across the last 20 years, which is the length of this disease since
046it was discovered, there have been 8 to 10 million bath deaths bat deaths across North America. Yet, there is no real viable solution yet. This is not due to ignorance. This is due to the complexity of the problem. It is called a novel pathogen hypothesis. Novel as in new. When this fungus came from Europe and Asia to North American bats, their immune systems were not prepared. They had no resistance or anything to fight this fungus and prevent the deaths that decimated their populations and have caused serious declines in their populations. Specifically in Connecticut, 95% of the little brown bats have died. There are two other factors of whit no syndrome which are important to consider. The fungus itself is cold loving and does not require a host to survive. Meaning that it lives on the
047walls of caves and other bat hibernacula. This means every time a bat goes home, reinfection occurs. Secondly, lab cures are not viable in situ or in other words in nature. It is not feasible to distribute a cure to the millions of bats across North America. Although some states have research and have been working with with live bats, we've taken a different approach. We shifted our focus from a cure to support and survival where our where our goal is to increase a bat's fat reserves before winter in order to compensate for the energy loss they will experience and give them that final push past winter and into spring and allow them to repopulate and reproduce to their best of ability to help their populations bounce back. And now I'll pass it on to Toby who will
048discuss with you our solution in more technical terms. Thank you. Um, our solution to this problem is called the Carpay Noctum Conservation System. It has three parts. The Noctalure, the Nocta Haven, and the Nocta Sentinel. The Noctalure is a device that uses ultraviolet light and insect pherommones and other biochemical attractants to bring insects to natural bat hot spots like lakes, forests, so they can fatten up and get the extra energy they need to survive the two to three months that uh through to spring when they can when there's more bugs about. The noctah is a self- sanitizing bat box. So when bats when the infection is transferred to the bat box and bats go back to it, they won't get infected. We use a 222 nanometer UV light to sanitize it and kill the fungus
049along with a probiotic diffuser system to disperse probiotic bacteria onto the bats to further protect them. The nocta sentinel is the final part. It is essentially a bat robot that mimics certain physiological traits of bats like heat, size, mass, and more to allow us to test our other inventions and also um promote supporting bat research in other labs across the country. Uh yeah, you'll you'll learn more at our stations. So everything that we've talked about so far isn't something that just came randomly from our head. Every decision and every action that we've taken towards this project was based on existing research. And at to date and fun fact we have read over 20 plus peer-reviewed articles since we started this project. And yeah, it's been a hefty read. So we're pretty good on this subject.
050And some we would like to give a quick shout out to four of the key research themes that we were uh that inspired or like built the foundations of our project. Verant Kun uh Frick and our adviser Christopher Wiznookski. And out of these uh four research papers, the most important to us was uh Frick and Wiznookski. So Fick's research paper was heavily uh based on the data that proved that light attraction is a viable mechanism towards uh increased bat foraging and that is very important to our project which is basically fattening up our bats in in order to increase their survival through winter and Mr. Wiznooki's project who is also his mentor Dr. Dumbbar, a professor of biology from the Southern Connecticut State University, who's actually sitting up at the front, is also here with
051us today. And their work, well, their work around BAP communities around the state of Connecticut and their meth methodology behind it is going to be very important to our field testing that will be happening this spring. And um next, I will be passing along the microphone to Ava Barbagallo, who will be talking to you about our outreach. Hello. So obviously our project is the main purpose is making something bigger than ourselves. So how do we make something bigger than ourselves in a small community like Berlin? Well, first of all, we have community outreach. So we want to make this project bigger than Berlin, bigger than the high school, bigger than the whole Berlin Ed Foundation, but Connecticut because we're here to represent Connecticut. Now, community outreach can look like writing a tons of emails in
052a classroom at your Chromebook or it can be looking like reaching out to high level executive officers. For example, Miss Paresi who is out here in the front, she came in. She is um the Connecticut State Department of Education chief academic officer and she came in and she listened to us present and she gave us so much feedback. It was so refreshing to hear someone instead of saying great job giving us actual feedback that can help us innovate and grow our project. It helped us with more community outreach with innovating how we're going to present. And furthermore, she also helped us with our new slogan, which you might see soon enough around Berlin called where did all the bats go? But more on that another time. Um, we also have an Instagram page, so it'd
053be awesome if you guys could follow that. We're trying to get more followers. There you can see more of our updates, what we have been doing. And then also, I'm not sure how many more of you watch the news on every evening, especially Fox 61, but um a couple months ago, we got interviewed by Joe Monty on Fox 61, and we got interviewed on our Carp Noctum on literally everything we've been doing. And this coming up Wednesday, he's coming back and Wednesday night, we'll be airing a interview about us. So, we're very excited for that. Um and next will be Sadel Holland talking about what comes next. Thank you. So we've done a lot of work so far but uh the next logical question is what is the future for Carpay Noctum and where can
054this project go from where we are now? And we've done so much already but our work is not done. Currently we are working on completing the bills for our inventions. This will include identifying problems, innovating solutions to them, and then testing again to make sure that there are no new problems and that our old problems have gone away. Uh we should be finished with that by the time we hit April where we can pivot from innovation and engineering towards a more biological and researchbased approach as we start our field study. In the top right corner you can see a map with the places that we hope to start uh testing and deploying our invention. We will then uh scientifically connect uh collect and analyze the data that we receive and by October we should be
055attending the North American uh society for bat researchers conference which is the biggest international bat conference. Uh we would love this year will be held in Colorado and we would love to be going there as presenters to present to a super large group of bat biologists about all the work we've been doing. By January of next year, we hope to have completed a process we've already started in applying for our full utility patent. Currently, we are patent pending as we have filed our provisional patent application, but by January of next year, that will have run out and we will be applying for our full utility patent, which will give us much more protection. In the future, we uh would love to write an academic research paper and uh we are super passionate as a group
056about expanding invention education, our community, and Angie will be telling you guys a little bit more about that. Thank you, Sidel. Well, now, how does all of the outreach, research, and engineering that we've been doing really matter towards education? Well, we've set some perspective goals that we hope to accomplish moving further with our project. By addressing real world issues, we hope to inspire other students that achieving great things could be possible through the influence of STEM education and student motivated learning. Additionally, oh shoot, I'm sorry. Um, additionally, sorry about that. We hope to create our own legacy here at BHS as we are so proud to create this amazing team here and we hope to inspire other future students here to have the similar opportunities that we had so that this way they could go
057achieve their own dreams and hopefully make an impact on our world. And now we are happy to have you um the Berlin Board of Education um school admin and other Limlson MIT guests up on the stage to um see the work for themselves. Thank you. [applause] Okay. >> Yep. >> Yeah. So, at this time of when they're going to get situated at their stations, they invite board members and then our guests who are here from Lemlson and from Miss Perezy, of course, and Southern to come on up and see the work um and engage for a few minutes with our students. We would love to invite everybody up, but we're going to just for the sake of some congestion on the stage, we're going to start with board members and then our guest um from
058Lemlson and and abroad. Okay. So, come on up and we will reconvene in just a few minutes. It's very Okay. You >> want to tell me I'm so this this presentation is so they've been working hard on this. Stella. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> I I was saying to Chris's parents who are here >> even most of these things on the football team in the national This is such a thrill. >> Well, congratulations. [laughter] >> Hi, my name is the group, aren't you? >> I was told I must meet you. >> Oh, okay. >> Yes. >> Certain things. And then we I have a degree in marketing. So like it's just totally slipped in. We're sitting there like, "Oh, you can do this, you can do that." Like the >> And once that was said, I'm
059like, "That's magical. I I don't recall their deadline. Will they continue this through? >> Yes, they'll So they actually So they just submitted their provisional last Friday. So they have a year to do. >> Okay. >> Until they have to take it up to we have a lot of >> So something I'll pass to you after if they want to do continued summer work. There are pirates of opportunities for summer outreach programs where they like nature centers and conservation societies are purposely looking for young people to do their program. >> This is my third Good job. different. If you So, we know it's a little crowded on the stage, but we don't want to keep you from coming up at this time. So, if anyone wants to come up to the stage, feel free, parents,
060family, administrators, anyone if you want to head up, um, feel free just to peek in and and listen to what the students are sharing. Also, you might get a glimpse at the prototype. Is it fun? Super big leg. That's a perfect put up. probably Yeah. >> Yeah. Everybody's happy. Nice to meet you. And then now I I don't have Yes. You took a ride to get here. Yeah. >> Okay. >> No, it's not. I feel I think you're moving around. Yeah. >> Yeah. Like I said, Me, too. Okay. Your UFC career on hold. >> Yeah, that's right. I don't know. Yes. Is it like the How are you doing? Yeah. >> You have seven. about Massachusetts. Is that another defense? About another minute or so at the stations on stage and then we're going to
061have everyone come back down to their seats. He's an I got so good. I know. >> Yeah. So next I really do that. But they're going to come in. I like the music. facilities are zoom. Julia, Julia, Julia, >> nice to meet you. >> I want to like steal the show. This isn't my thing. Thank you. >> I brought them too. Oh yeah. >> Run the ball. Nobody here. They started so many years. New York. really I >> similar. No, I didn't. I was like every district has a chance. Right. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. There was a time like it's gone after that now. very [laughter] >> did a switch in might be calendar. Yep. All that stuff is fun. Like it's the macro system all like you know forward a bunch
062of times. I'll make an announcement. >> All right, everyone. At this time, we are going to resume >> with our regular meeting. So, we're going to have to have everyone come on down. Massachusetts. >> Thank you. data first take off. >> Thanks, D. >> Do they need to wrap everything up right now or do you Okay. So, as our students are wrapping up their stations, um it goes without saying just in that 20 to 25 minutes of of workshop time, the amount of conversation that just happened and the community outreach, the intent of the student group coming here tonight and having the opportunity to speak um to a live audience and the networking that it's already happening in the room is is thriving. Um, you know, I've heard a bunch of comments passed around from
063our our district administration team and and some parents and guests in, you know, what's right in education. That that example of student passion, there's no grade attached to what they're doing. It's based on pure passion and curiosity um through the inspiration of one of their teachers and probably multiple teachers. Uh, we could not be more proud of that representing Berlin [clears throat] High School. So, I know they ran off stage, but let's give them a round of applause [applause] and a special round of applause to Mr. Wiznooki who uh has provided them the opportunity in the space and the time beyond the school day, weekends, summer holidays. They have not stopped. So, um special shout out to him. Thank you everyone for being here and supporting them tonight. I'll turn it back over to you
064all. you. Um, I don't know if the board has anything to share. I just want to say I'm so incredibly impressed with the level of work, the level of rigor, and the what they were able to produce that is is in fact graduate level work. And it's really impressive. Um, as a high school teacher myself, I know getting students from where they are to that level is rather impressive. Um, and it's it is not easy. And that is um you know, credit to Berlin High School and everybody involved. Um their passion is so inspiring and I'm so happy that we had this opportunity with them tonight. Even though, you know, it's 7:16 and it's been going on for a while, it was worth every second. So, I don't know if anyone has anything they would
065like to share, but I'll give it to you guys. Well, you know, I've been following them for a while, so they know I'm a big fan of theirs already, but I just um I I am just so impressed with this. This is this what they're doing in their in their free time. They were doing this over the summer um when they could have been doing so many other things, but they chose to do this. It's very impressive and uh it's just speaks so so much to the caliber of education we have in Berlin and um and to Mr. W's work as well. Um, I know they they all think very highly of him and um and he's done a great job with this project. Anyone else? All right. So, they will be on Fox 61
066on Wednesday morning. So, make sure you tune in. I'm really excited and thank you everyone who came out tonight for them. Um, you can stay if you would like. don't feel obligated but we are going to shift into the regular part of our meeting. All right we are moving on to report of board members. Do any board members have anything they would like to report? Um I will share. So um as you know I serve on the K board of directors and um from February January 30th to February 2nd I had the opportunity to go to DC and attend um the board leadership and advocacy institute at CAB's expense. So that was great. Um, but it was really great professional development, learning more about um, you know, the legislative priorities at the federal level and
067I was able to um, I didn't get to spend the day on Capitol Hill with them. That was on Tuesday because I had to go back to school, but then I ended up missing school that day anyway, so I should have just stayed. But um I was able to write letters to, you know, our our federal Congress people and uh I focus on the expansion of CTE funding with the Perkins grant um for all populations. And you know, we heard from a number of different guest speakers and congressional staffers from both sides, which I thought was really great that they brought in bipartisan voices and it was a lot of learning and it was a really great use of my time. So, um, that's what I had to share out. I also um Cabe also
068made me like the chair of the state re resolution committee and I got to meet with Senator Looney two weeks ago and the education committee two weeks ago as well and we talked about our priorities. Yes, his name is Looney. He's from New Haven. Um so it's been really great being part of the process. So, um, that's all I have to say on that. And any other board members like to share out. [snorts] Okay. The next one, report of our student board representatives. From March 6th to 8th, the BHS performing arts department will put on their phenomenal rendition of Frozen. The show will demonstrate the diverse talents of all students at BHS. Tickets are now on sale at BHS. Visit singingred redcoats.ludis.com to purchase tickets today. Congratulations to Brooke Walker who achieved her thousandth career
069point. She is the eighth lady red coat to accomplish this. Go red coats. Congratulations to our Carpet Noctum Invent team who successfully filed their provisional utility patent on January 30th. They now have one year to finalize their full utility patent with the US patent and trademark office. We wish them the best of luck and are excited to see their final product. >> That was it. Sorry. Uh any questions? None. Okay. Committee reports. Do we have any committee reports? Defin committee met, right? >> Yeah. Does someone want to share out about that? [snorts] Jen, Gina, one of you. >> I mean, I think we're gonna we're getting into like budget stuff, so probably don't need to report out on that. [snorts] >> Okay. Uh, any other committee reports? No correspondence to the board. >> No correspondence
070to the board. >> Okay. Audience of citizens. Uh if any resident would like to approach the board, please um come up to a microphone, state your name and address and uh you will be limited to three minutes per resident. Hello. [snorts] >> Mudria, 115 Skinner Road. Um, honestly, all I have to say is that that presentation by Carp Noctum was just absolutely stellar. Uh, it's the reason why good budgets produce good results. Uh, as we're going into budget season, keep that in the back of your mind. Um, this entire auditorium, much of what you see at BHS is a result of education spending. Renovations at BHS were consequentially positively essential to the success at this school and the continued elevated experience for students. Keep that in the back of your mind. Um, I would also
071ask the board, um, in that same vein for facility, please advocate for science lab renovations at McGee. Those those labs are over 50 years old and if we want to be able to support modern science curriculum, we need modern labs. Thank you. >> Would anyone else like to approve support? Okay, moving on to our um we have two there are two items that need to be added to our agenda and um I need a motion for consideration. >> I move to accept the retirement of Thomas Benolino. Falino. >> Franelino. Y >> um Franalino inschool suspension at McGee School effective with the close of business on Friday, March 6, 2026. Also to thank him for the 27 years of service he has provided for the youth of Berlin and wish him a good healthy and happiness
072in his retirement years. >> I'll second. >> This is a motion by Melissa, second by Brian. Didn't we need a motion to add it to the agenda? >> So, first we need to make a motion to add it to the >> two items. >> So, make the motion to add two items to the agenda. >> Okay. Make the motion to add two items to the agenda. >> First item is retirement of in school suspension. >> First is the retirement of inschool suspension. The second is the appointment of PPS director for B public schools. >> And the second for the appointment of PPS director of Berlin Public Schools. >> So we have a motion on the table. Is there a second? >> So the motion by Melissa, the second by Brian. Any discussion? [snorts] All those
073in favor? >> I opposed. >> I >> Okay. Opposed. 90. Um, now do we have a motion for consideration or the motion the item that we added? Yes. >> Oh, okay. Um, I move to accept the retirement of Thomas Fran Kolino in school suspension at McGee School effective with the close of business on Friday, March 6, 2026. also to thank him for the 27 years of service as he has provided to the youth of Berlin and wish him good health and happiness in his retirement years. >> I second. >> So we have a motion by Melissa, second by Brian. Any discussion? Okay. Hearing none, we can move to a vote. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Okay. 90. Moving on to the next item. Um, so this is a anticipated administrative appointment, director
074of pupil personnel services. Do we have a motion for consideration? I move to appoint Michelle Joyce to the position of director of per pupil personnel services for the Berlin public schools effective July 1st 2026. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> All right. So the motion by Melissa, second by Vanessa. Any discussion? So, we met right before the meeting and um I just before we vote, well, I don't want to say congratulations too soon, but um it was great meeting with you. And does anyone else have anything they want to add to this discussion? We're going to move to a vote and then we can say whatever we want. All those in favor? >> I I >> opposed. That vote carries 9 Z. And congratulations. >> Congratulations. >> I wanted to say congratulations before
075we voted, but I was like, "No, you can't do that." Um, so, you know, you have big shoes to fill. So, she's going to fill them. There's no doubt in anyone's mind about that, but we will miss you, Linda. Um, but we're happy that Michelle will be taking over. Um any anything else anyone wants to share? Okay, moving on to the consent agenda. Do we have a motion for consideration? >> I move agenda as presented. >> Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> So we have a motion by Melissa, second by Gina. Any disc what? >> Jenina. >> Okay. So the motion by who? Jen. That's what I said. >> I thought you said >> maybe I did. Okay. The motion by Jen, the second by Gina. Any discussion on the consent agenda?
076Okay. Moving on to a vote. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. 90. Um, moving on to new business. Uh, Ashley Dorsy, the director of finance and operations, will provide us with a report. >> Hello. Um, so the Berlin High School Flooring Project, preliminary bid work and design questionnaires [snorts] are underway for the Berlin High School flooring project. The town council approved $900,000 at their meeting on Tuesday, January 6th for phase one of this project. The project is moving steadily and bid packages [snorts] are being prepared. We're hopeful this project will start as early as this summer. However, a definitive timeline has not yet been established. This is really good news. There's some movement on the McGee Science Labs. Um I know I've been reporting there's been nothing for several months, but we're finally
077getting there. Um funding is in place to award the architectural and engineering contract for the McGee Science Labs. The next steps are to seek approval from the town council to award the bid. After that, it then goes from the town council to the board of finance who will appropriate the funds that we have established for this particular contract. Um the this agenda item has been submitted for the town council meeting that's going to be held on February 17th. So I'll keep you posted on that. The Griswald HVAC project is making good progress. Uh they started to replace the fan coil units in each of the classrooms. The facilities department is in the process of getting the state's approval for the necessary abatement procedures that are on the horizon. Pending the state's approval of the schedule,
078asbestous abatement will likely start as soon as the second week of March. Abatement will be done on the second shift. At that time, no persons under the age of 18 will be permitted in the building during active abatement. We're coordinating with the YMCA to afterchool care program to be moved to Willard during that that 3-week period. Um, and the YMCA will be coordinating directly with those families that are going to be impacted. The Hubard HVA pro HVAC project is gearing up to start removal and installation of the classroom FL fan coil units in the next couple weeks. The date to date a majority of the work has been contained most of the hallways in preparation for the unit removal areas over at Hubard were also tested for asbesus. Lab results indicated that some there were
079some trace amounts in the mastic. However, due to the low levels of asbestous, the plan for Hubard is to encapsulate rather than do a full abatement. And that's all I got. Any questions? >> Did anyone have any questions? No. Okay. Brian has something. >> So, why don't I just stay? We can do the tech school transportation. Sure. We just move. We're just going to move the order just because Ashley's at the podium. >> Welcome to the Ashley Show. >> Okay. Okay. Um so back in October I did a presentation um on the writership and the cost of tech school transportation. So currently we have the model of we transport to [sighs] whatever tech school students uh are attending. Um by law we're only required to transport to one technical school and one vocational school. We
080did a survey of the different dur of of districts within our dur and a majority of them are doing the one in one. uh our thought process is a way to kind of start to alleviate some of our costs when it comes to textual transportation and also to kind of take the strain off of our existing fleet. We're looking to modify for next year how we're going to transport uh moving forward students moving forward who decide to attend the tech school programs. So, we would like to propose an agenda um or a revision to our current practice to include transportation to EC Goodwin Technical High School located in New Britain and Southernington Vocational School uh located in in Southernington. So, that would be our one-on-one which meets our legal requirements. And then um as far
081as the other students who are attending Willox Vinyl um Prince Tech I believe they would be grandfathered in until they graduate their program or they leave their program. So essentially we wouldn't see any actual cost savings as we grandfather some of these students in. But the language we have actually in in the motion and what we plan to put in place um will kind of make very clear lines as to how that is going to look for their students moving forward. Um, it's in front of you today because we need to make this decision so we could notify our families how this is going to change. Also, for our eighth grade students who may be considering tech school, um, we need to let them know if they're not planning to attend EC Goodwin, they will
082likely not have transportation. Um, we are required by law to also fund the first $6,000 of transportation to and from a tech school. Um, so any student who elects to go to a vinyl tech or a Wilcox Tech will be entitled to that up to $6,000. Um, in the next couple months, we'll have another item on the agenda as to how we would have that reimbursement actually uh move forward. There's several different ways to do it. Some districts just cut a $6,000 check. Other districts do it based on a reimbursement program based on attendance. Some districts do it by mileage. So, there's a couple ways that we could fulfill that $6,000 requirement. I do know that some of the schools that have the uh reimbursement program in place, they do not expend that $6,000. >>
083We got to just cool >> then I'll take care of the other two. Ash. >> All right. So, um this is just general housekeeping. We received a quote from this one is from uh CDW uh for the purchase of the grade nine Chromebooks for next year. Uh CDW is on state contract. So I'm just seeking approval for the purchase of the Chromebooks. It will be 225 Chromebooks for the 9th grade incoming class. Total amount is 73,10250. new Chromebooks for middle school and then we do it again in ninth and we hope our hope is that they last 67 8 and then 9 through 12 at the high school. >> I have a quick question. >> Sure. >> Okay. So those that are going to EC Goodwin And where's the other one? >> Southernington. Vogue. >>
084Southernington. Those are the only two that our town is busing to that school >> for next year. That's like that's what we'd like to put in place. >> Yes. >> Cuz for today, where are they having to get the bus? >> Uh today they go to Vinyl Tech, they go to Wilcox Tech, and I believe Prince Tech is the third is the fourth. So they're going >> So we're trying to minimize >> We're trying to minimize the number of runs. Okay, >> really quick. Sorry not to interrupt. Could we actually just have a motion for consideration and then we can open it up as a discussion? >> Oh, sorry. >> No, that's okay. I I didn't realize it either. >> So, under C technical school transportation, do we have a motion for consideration? I move
085to revise existing transportation practices effective with the 2627 school year to only provide technical transportation services to EC Goodwin Technical High School in New Britain and Southernington Vocational Agrical Agricultural School in Southernington. Notwithstanding, students who are currently enrolled as of October 1st, 2025 in the technical school program and registered with the Berlin Public Schools will continue to receive their existing level of transportation services until graduation or exit of program. >> So we have a motion by Jen. Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> Second by Melissa. Now we can open it up for discussion. So I know Vanessa, did you get the answer to your question? >> Yes. >> Okay. I thought so. I just >> before more people came in after. >> So if this gets approved then >> so they'll need
086to find new new Britain transportation would provide transportation services either through bus or van services to EC Goodwin and and VOAG all. And then of course if we the kids that are already enrolled at at Vinyltech or Wilcox Tech, they we will continue transport transportation services until they exit the program or they graduate. For any incoming student, so a student that is going into nth grade decides, I don't want to go to Berlin High School. I want to go to one of the other tech schools, they will be part of what we would consider the reimbursement program. So, they would be eligible for that six up to $6,000 reimbursement instead of actual door-to-door service with um New Britain Transportation. So, essentially, they would be responsible for for providing their own transportation to those schools. Okay.
087Okay. So, any other discussion questions? Okay, we can move to a vote. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Oh, there's Peter. Sorry, Peter. Opposed. Okay, the vote carries 90. Okay, let's go back to item B, though. No, we didn't. Okay, we'll go to D. Got it. Do we have a motion for consideration for grade nine Chromebook approval? procures to purchase 225 Acer Chromebooks and Google Chrome licenses from CDWG through the PEPM cooperative purchasing 2022 catalog agreement for it is in the best interest of the board and to authorize the director of finance and operations to issue a purchase order not to exceed $73,12.50. >> So the motion by Gina. Do we have a second? >> I'll second. Second by Jen. Sorry, people are quick. Any discussion on this item? Okay. Any discussion? Discussion. All
088let's move to a vote. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. The vote carries 90. Now, thank you everyone. Are you up here for B2? >> I think parents square is the other one. >> What? >> I have one more. Parent Square. >> One more. Parenting. >> Okay. >> Parents Square. >> We can call you up if we need you or you can go home early. >> No, don't. I'm teasing. >> All right. So now um I'm going to turn it over to the superintendent to talk about our open choice program participation. >> So we have the open choice uh map. We're asking for next year we want to offer 10 um kindergarten seats. Um one of them would be at Hubard. Um and then with that you can see what we typically do
089if a student is taking a seat we offered to their siblings also. So when you look across the sibling here there there is um one additional student in first grade which would be with the huburn student and then there's one in uh sixth grade 10th grade sorry 10th for a total of two. So there'll be three. So the same family, the idea is that if a family is coming, we'd like to let the whole family come to the district so they're not sending their children to different schools. So that those would be and then we'd offer in 10 new seats. I believe our number if if we we've not in years past we've not been able to fill the 10 seats. We've been around seven or eight. Um and you can look at the years
090past, but we'd offer 10. That would put put us around 3.7 um which would qualify us as we've done this year um in the same same threshold for number of choice students at about 3.7%. >> All right. Before we talk about this, is there a motion for consideration? I move to approve the superintendent's recommendation regarding the level of participation in the open choice program for the 2026 2027 school year as presented. 10 kindergarten seats and a priority sibling seat in grade 1 and grade 10 for a total of 12 new seats. >> So the motion by Brian. Do we have a second? >> Second by Christina. Um any discussion? No discussion. Okay, we can move to a vote. All those in favor? >> Opposed? Okay, vote carries 90. And now we can move to item
091E on our agenda, parent square. So, um, the superintendent will talk a little bit about it. Then we'll have a motion for consideration and then we can open it up for discussion. Paris Square is uh probably the premier communication tool being used by districts at this time and uh we liked it for a number of years but in this year uh credit to um administration Lori Cara and Ashley for working with the consultant um they they've made it very attractive for us if we go to a three-year contract with them and that's what you have in front of you um we would be doing away with school messenger Seesaw and some of the other u communication tools used in athletics Parent Square will allow us to have messaging down to classroom making groups. Teachers will
092be able to use it. It's more universal. The other part that parent square now has we'll be revamping our website and parent square communicates directly with the website. So when posting we post something or something sent out now we have to have a posted website automatically go to the website. It's a lot more robust. Um many of the administrators in the district they use it in their their children's schools. Um on a personal note, my wife used it for the last four years in her district. Fantastic. Um it is the premier communication tool and the cost of it when you look at what will be um eliminated and parents grow take the place of we're probably doing a little bit less than what we're currently paying when you group everything together and we'll be revamping
093the website which definitely needs an overhaul. So um I think it's a a good move for us um in the right direction and I think it'll enhance communication. Do we have a motion for consideration? I move to approve the three-year master services agreement and square for a total contract amount not to exceed 64,000 86 with [snorts] primary service term established as July 1st 2026 through June 30th 2029 with annual payments of 18,762 due on July 1st of each fiscal year to authorize the director of finance and operations to sign the agreement and all related ated documents including provisions for implementation services effective from the date of execution through June 30th of 2026. Do we have a second? >> So the motion by Vanessa, second by Jen. Any discussion? Okay. No discussion. I know we talked
094about this at our last meeting. Um, and we've continued to kind of talk about it, but I've been using this for about three years and I do love it. I think it's really great. Um, and I've used other platforms before, so I'm happy to see that Berlin is moving in that direction. [snorts] Any other discussion? Okay, we can move to a vote. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Okay, the vote carries 90. All right, moving on. So, we I know we're slightly out of order. All right, [snorts] >> we're back. Now, we're on item F, um review and anticipated adoption of the board of education budget for 2026 2027. So the board we have gone through the process where um the administration has presented and the superintendent presented. We had our budget workshop
095that we presented again tonight. We've had several FNO committee meetings um and here we are. So um the FNO committee met on February 5th to discuss the proposed budget. An informal meeting was held earlier this week to provide an overview of the 2627 proposed budget to the public and receive feedback. So, we need to take action. Um, before we have a discussion or anything else, I need a motion for consideration. The second then we can open it up to discussion. I move to adopt the board of education operating budget 2627 in the month of [snorts] 57,481 059. >> So we have a motion by Jen [laughter] >> 57,481,59. >> Good job. >> So we have a motion by Jen. Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> Second by Brian. Let's open it up
096for discussion. Um, if for any reason you, you know, have concerns or questions like I posed in the email and read at the beginning of the meeting, please, this is our time now. Let's talk about them. Let's have these discussions if like that's how we're going to accomplish, you know, and it's okay if we have opposing views. We can respect one another's views um and still sit at the same table. So, go ahead and I'm going to open it up and give it to you guys. Um first of all I just want to say thank you to all of you that contribute into this whole process as I know it's grueling and time consuming um you know and there is definitely a strong effort to think of reductions that were that can be made with
097as least impact as possible but just being fiscally ally responsible especially with a large sum of money you know of the taxpayers um I understand where the increases are coming from um as we've heard from all the reasoning and you know from getting our answers from our questions in multiple meetings um I personally the one thing that just stands out to me I understand where it's coming from but the increase of the equipment at $41,000. Um, like I said, just stands out to me in this budget. Um, I understand we don't have a line 90 for technology, but just speaking as I support people and staff over one-on-one equipment. That's all. Anyone else like to share? over the years. I know that we've been given what we've requested um and what we actually end up
098uh it looks like there's like a 3.15 uh percentage difference between what we always request over what we actually receive. um you know and just trying to figure out I would love to be able to give us like a seven 8% instead of what we actually end up at. So you know I've been through this packet multiple times listening to the presentations. Um but then we get back to reality of what will the city actually give us and it always seems like we are falling um like I said at least 3% that's all we get three to maybe three and a half%. So, um, even as we're looking at the budget and hearing all the presentations, we don't want new staff. And I think at least from my point of view, we want to be
099able to keep the staffing as is, especially when it comes to classroom sizes. Um it's tough to be able to look at this budget and then take into consideration the fact that we're fiscally responsible to our taxpayers um and say you know we're utilizing this money um in the right way. I agree with you Melissa. Maybe, you know, that one-on-one, especially in the uh lower grades, elementary, maybe doesn't have to be one-on-one, but most of our money really just comes from staffing, and I know I don't want to lose staff. We want to retain the people that we have. We have an amazing school system. Um, I think the question is, how do we get from what we really want to what we're really going to get? And uh I don't know if that means
100that we have to present a budget that is lowered to the city in order so we don't have to go into referendum or do we actually present it as is? Um just I want to just put it out there like is that the best thing that we can do? I would love to be able to give the school system, like I said, seven, eight, nine%. I want the school to have everything that it needs, but realistically, when we bring this to the city, every year on average, it's 3.15% difference between what we present and what we actually get. So, how do we meet them in the middle? Well, anyone else can chime in here, but I think you know though we obviously want to work together and you know have cordial, professional, respectful communication. Our
101job, you know, as outlined in Connecticut General Statute is separate. We are separate to do what's best for the school and to put together the most fiscally responsible budget while maintaining the goals, the shared mission and vision of our district. Um, you know, [snorts] I personally uh do not think cutting it further at this point, this is just me as one of nine. I don't think cutting reducing us further at this point is going to you [snorts] know fulfill my obligation when I am sworn in to uphold you know and focus on the school system um you know there's different boards you know and councils right we all have our respective jobs to do and so here I am focused as a board member as a parent a community member taxpayer, you know, thinking and
102an educator thinking about what is going to be best for our schools. Every year we are faced with this decision. Um, but like I've said before and I'll say it again, when when the community is upset because cuts have been made, are you going to put your head on your pillow at the end of the night and be confident in the decisions that you all made? And and this is just a question to each and every one of us as individuals. And I know when I make difficult decisions, I can rest peacefully at night when I've thought about it and know it's a right possible decision. Um so, you know, at this point with the cost of everything going up, this is not an anomaly to just the Berlin Board of Education. Everywhere you go,
103the cost of everything has increased. to come in, you know, at a 5.34%. 5.34% when we all know our household budgets have gone up far more than that. Um, everything everywhere is just so expensive. So, that's that's my two cents. Um, I'd love to hear from others. >> I agree with you, Julia, but I also feel like it's not even what's being asked. It's sometimes where the money is being appropriated. So, and it doesn't mean that it's necessarily wrong. Maybe it could be amended in some way in order for the city to be able to understand that these are the things that we that we necess that we need and maybe not want. And I think that's what piece gets missed in all of the transaction is, you know, it looks as though, you know,
104our our budget is bloated and we want all these bells and whistles. Well, to some degree that's true. I mean, we do want, you know, state-of-the-art technology. We want our kids to have the best so that when they get out into the workforce, they're not, you know, foreign to what it is that they need to do. So, I agree with that. But I also think that we have to be again fiscally responsible and what can we really do without and what do we really need? And it's those wants and needs that are that's the the difficult piece. We we want it all. I mean, you know, we're of course we want the the best school system, but sometimes it's it's just not what what the town can afford supposedly. Um, so we have to look
105at all of that. I think I don't think it's just a uh, you know, a black and white, well, this is what we want, so this is what we should get. It's hard. It's it's one of the hardest I believe one of the hardest facets of of being a board member is this budget because you just can't make everybody happy and you and you want to you want to make the teachers happy, you want to make the board happy, you want to make the town happy and it's and you just can't do it. So, it's very frustrating. But I I think looking at wants and needs um maybe a little bit deeper is is something that we we can do and we should do. Yeah, I don't think the 5.34 is um is really asking
106for all we need. I think it's where we've come. We've had several administrators, staff go through this and and the process to get to the 5.34. Um it's it's a basic budget right now and and we're not getting any extras with this. So, um, do we need those extras? I think there there's definitely things that we could do better with more money, but is it realistic at 5.34? Absolutely. >> Sorry. To the point that was just made and that was also mentioned during audience of citizen like think about what we sat through tonight, right? like with the bats um and all that f phenomenal work. Um also the football team, you know, like we have so many great options and opportunities for our students. Like I will guarantee that with reductions, these are going to
107start going away. Like we're going to have larger class sizes. Um maybe technology might be reduced a little. The board is going to have to direct the superintendent on that. But again, that's going to have to be a a collective board, right? Like we're going to have to vote and decide. Also, with the parking, that was so confusing for so many board members. So, if the parking was a difficult decision and an afterthought, like afterthought for you, like the decisions that are going to have to be made are going to be even bigger than the parking with 10 people coming out. So, just just things to consider. Um, Peter, do you want to share anything? >> Yeah. Um, I'm fine with the budget as presented, assuming you guys can hear me. Um, you know, I
108think the superintendent and, uh, Ashley and the rest of the administrative staff have done a a good job assembling the budget. Staying at the set number we have as proposed is fine by me. I don't think cutting back is a good idea. Our job is to set a budget that we, the nine of us think is good. If we think it's good, great. If the town wants to cut it down or do whatever they're going to do, that's their job and that's their decision and they can think and calculate the potential impact of those things. We know what the impact is here at the board of ed. We know what we think is best for the district. It's on the town and the board of finance to take it from there. and I'm not going
109to give any thought to what they may or may not do. That's their own role. >> Who else hasn't shared yet? >> Um, I agree. I think that what we have what they have presented in the budget is chiseled down to what we need to to keep going as we are. Um, I really hope that it it stays that way. That's really all I have to say. >> Brian, >> I agree that the budget as presented is a is a budget that's functional with uh no additional real increases worth um you know any concern. Uh I know that when the principles reported they they came with basically zero asks even though there is not zero needs. So I think it's been a a fiscally responsible process and uh you know budget process. I can tell
110you you know in my day job right now we're we're getting uh we're getting programs that are about 40% more expensive this year than they were last year. Um, I mean, and that's, you know, it's not apples to apples, but they're it's pretty darn close with just the increased cost to operate and to function in today's community and to pay people somewhat living wages. So, um, you know, so I I don't think the 5.3% ask is is unreasonable at all. >> Did anyone not share Okay, we can move to a vote. So, uh, we already have the motion and the second. So, all those in favor >> I >> did Peter vote. >> I >> Was that a vote? >> Say it again, Peter. >> I >> Oh, cool. Thanks. opposed. Um, anyone any abstensions?
111So, it is an 81 vote. Is that correct? Is that reflective of everyone? Okay. So, the vote is 81. So, we will be moving that forward. Um, moving on to the next item in our agenda. We are there is an executive session anticipated. I'll turn that over to the superintendent. >> So at this time everyone is free to leave so we can go into executive session. Thank you all for coming tonight. This will take second session will take no