001All right. Good evening everyone. Welcome to the December 8th Berlin Board of Education meeting. It is 6:03 and we are going to call this meeting to order. We will begin with the pledge of allegiance. United States of America to the standy for all. >> I really enjoy saying the pledge with all of them saying it with us. It was really cute. Um, okay. So, we are going to start out. We have uh the Berlin High School Magical Singers um and Boil is going to boil. This >> is one of our favorite uh annual events that we get to perform at every December. My name is Tyler Bole. I'm the fine arts supervisor for the Berlin Public Schools and I am delighted to introduce the Berlin High School Magical Singers. Uh this is an extracurricular ensemble.
002We meet every Monday night for rehearsals at 6:30 to 8:00. They're an auditions group and they represent our top singers that we have at Berlin High School. And behind me, we have high-flying uh academic stars and athletes, stars on our stage and a wide variety of students uh with a wide variety of interests that they get to explore at Brolan High School. And I'm happy uh enough to share their passion and joy for music in our magical singers and in our coral program. So we have Megan Snyder, we have Abby Jurgen, we have Avery Westgy, Charlotte Baker, Angelina Blair, Addie Gorino, Evan Deseralt, Austin Lauria, Ryan Tang, and Daniel Kakosa here. And we are delighted to give you a sneak peek of our winter pops concert uh program. Each day [singing] songs we [singing] always
003in the airscown [singing] [singing] amidst High [singing] everlasting peace. [singing] Take a step [singing] into [singing] singless love [singing] and lasting peace. >> [applause] >> Roasting [singing] open [singing] at your nose [singing] carol. being [singing] a turkey [singing] and helps [singing] with their [singing] eyes will find it hard to [singing] sleep He's [singing] loaded lots [singing] of toys and goodies on his sleigh. [singing] I'm offering this simple to [singing] [singing] many Christmas to Before [singing] [applause] we perform our last piece, I want to invite everyone, encourage everyone to come out to the Bron High School Winter Pops concert next Friday, December 19th at 7 o'clock in the auditorium. Um, and I have to acknowledge all of our other music teachers and our music students across the district. These students would not be here without our
004elementary music teachers, our middle school music teachers. Uh, we had a wonderful kickoff to our concert cycle last week with the sixth grade band and chorus uh concert on Thursday evening. Concerts continue throughout this week, next week, and into January. So, I certainly want to encourage everyone to come on out and support our music programs as we celebrate the holiday season together. Our final piece will be Carol of the Bells. Ding dong. Ding dong. [singing] Dong ding dong ding dong ding dong [singing] butter. [singing] butter. [singing] [singing] Merry [singing] Christmas. Merry Christmas. [singing] D. [singing] [singing] Merry [singing] Christmas. Merry Christmas. >> [singing] [applause] >> so much. It was It's always a pleasure. I always look forward to this meeting every year when you guys come out and perform for us. Um, all right. So,
005moving on to the next piece of our agenda. So, we have Village School here with us and I'm going to turn it over to Mrs. Selena. >> Good evening everybody. My name is Danielle Selena and I'm the dean of students at elementary school. We are so excited to be here with all of you tonight to present our demonstration on purposeful play. Thank you so much to our amazing K team mea Kelsey Goash and our fantastic math specialist Anna Bennett and Sherry Labowski for all of your hard work in putting this together. But the stars of the show are going to be our 12 kindergarten students. They are very excited to get started. So, we will introduce them individually after the demonstration. And with that, we'd like to get started with a quote about purposeful play.
006Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood. So, I've had the pleasure of working with our kindergarten teachers and incorporating play specifically into their math blocks, though they do it across the board, which they'll talk about in a moment. Um, one of the things that has been really important in this district is elevating instruction and a lot of talk around the high quality instruction elements and all of those you're going to see are embedded specifically engagement, feedback, student voice, and task design. So, let's take a look. Um, our kindergarten teachers are going to share briefly, and then we're going to play. >> Hello. How are you? Thank you for coming. And I know that the
007are eager to get started. So, they're going to be just starting to play until they actually do their play activity. But, um, we can go on and on about the importance of play, but I'm just going to touch on some key concepts that are most integral for kindergarten students. So, play helps students find joy in learning and the high quality instruction um that Mrs. Lavowski mentioned. Uh, you could see like belonging, engagement, and student voice is weaved in and out um different things. So they lead their own learning so they have student voice and engagement. They work with their peers so there's a sense of belonging belonging and they get feedback um taking risks and applying learning to real life scenarios. So that task design. So there's a lot that goes into play um more
008than more than they know and more than sometimes most adults know. So I just wanted to also mention that it's essential for these four key areas of development right here. development, language development, motor skills and skills. So play is absolutely crucial to holistic development students serving as the most effective path to high engagement, deeper learning and improve performance as a whole. Through play, children naturally engage in activities that foster cognitive skills like problem solving, critical thinking, and creativity, especially during imaginative and constructive play. Because play is intrinsically motivated and enjoyable, it automatically boosts student engagement, leading to longer attention spans, and a more positive attitude towards school. This hands-on self-directed exploration fosters deeper learning by allowing children to actively construct knowledge, test their hypothesis like little scientists, and solve real world problems presented within a
009playful context, which dramatically enhances executive functioning skills like working memory and flexible thinking, essential for future academics. Furthermore, play is a primary vehicle for developing social emotional skills. Te teaching them how to share, cooperate, negotiate conflicts, and understand others perspectives. Physical play enhances gross and fine motor skills and language development is accelerated as they verbalize their roles and ideas during dramatic play. Ultimately, this play-based foundation translate into improved performance as a whole. As students develop critical thinking, communication, collaboration, self-regulation skills needed to thrive in all subject areas and build a lifelong love of learning. It's definitely their favorite part of the day. So, we've gotten creative. I'm going to turn it over to Miss Andy Clemens here and she's going to explain what we did with the concept of play throughout our day. >> So,
010we started thinking about last year around it. We wanted to find a way to And this year we decided to math and we are so great but doesn't mean that we can't playecially children and we're already seeing a difference in our class and we're happy to see the results already next it even further into our day like to come join us to play, you're more than welcome. >> So, what what you will see when you come up is um my our classes here, we chose just a different a small section of what they might do. So, Mrs. Susa's class here has pom poms. So, a lot of times we'll just give them materials and see what they do with it and kind of gain um to see what they know. So, we name the materials.
011They kind of figure out what they can with it and then we'll like lean and just listen to them and like teach a concept. So here we have that question. One more. I know you're like, >> you know what I mean? Hello. I just wanted to introduce the stars of the show today who just played for you. So, are you ready? And I when we arrived, my student right here, Payton, said, "Can I talk on that microphone?" And I got a big kick out of that. So this is Kayenette. This is Charlie Ferguson [applause] from my class. We have Romero and [applause] Thanks for having us. >> Thanks for having us. >> Mr. Benign, do you want to bring the cookies out in the hall for them? Thank you everyone for coming. Thank you so
012much. Thank you. >> I love that. >> Now it clears up. eating today. All right, we're good. All right, so that was I really enjoyed the two student um presentations we had this evening. They were great. So, it was nice seeing the high schoolers and uh Willard kindergarteners. Um but now we're going to move on to report of uh board members. Do any board members have any reports that they would like to share out? >> I attended Junior play over the weekend that the Berlin Guild puts together. >> A couple people I know their children were in it. It was It was so cute. >> It was really cute. any >> last week's um talk with Stephen Hill who spoke with the high school kids during the day um and then in the evening had
013a small group of parents um and that was on mental health substance abuse very well done I I wish there were more parents that could have come out the evening one um you know it's it's great information and and appreciate that the um Portland social and youth services put that for us. >> Last Wednesday, December 3rd, at Willard, I um I hosted a family fun night for the PTO. Um and it was fantastic. One of our biggest nights that we've had. So, it's just wonderful to see all the family come out. Um yeah, it's great evening. Anyone else? No one. Okay. And report of student representatives. Berlin High School graduates recently were welcomed back and participated in an alumni panel for the current seniors. They were able to speak about their college experience and answered
014questions about college. It was a great opportunity for the graduates to come back to the high school alongside the seniors being able to have answers to their questions. Thank you to all the alumni for attending. Steven Hill came and spent the day at the high school and shared his powerful journey through addiction and recovery. His message about choices, resilience, and supporting one another left a meaningful mark on our school community. The BHS mock trial team will be competing at New Britain Courthouse this Friday in the fictitious drug case State of Connecticut vers um Nikki Vansenberg. This will be Berlin's fourth year at the competition. The Red Coats will be up against Cheshure Avon and Northwest Regional in their morning and afternoon trials. >> Thank you. Thank you for the report. Any questions? Okay. Um, so
015we're going to move on to committee assignments for the 2025 2026 year. Thank you for those who responded to my last minute email. Um, it's okay. So, if if you don't like your assignment, talk to me after and we can make some changes and put it on the next agenda. Um, this meeting really snuck up from last week, right? That's when I last Okay. It was two weeks ago. Okay. Well, it's been a fast two weeks. So, for community engagement, um, Vanessa will be chairing, Jess will be a member, and I will be a member. Um, for curriculum, Brian will be chairing. Melissa will be a member, and Christina will be a member. for FNO. Um, Peter will be chairing, Gina and Gina and Jen will be members as well as myself because the board
016share support should be attending FNO. So, um, any any questions because I'll happy if you're not talk to me after. Um, but that's what we have for now and if we make changes, we'll make some changes. Any correspondence to the board? Okay, thank you. Um, we did receive an email uh earlier today. Brian responded to it about parking, but that's on the discussion later on. Audience of citizens, if anyone would like to address the board, you can come on up and state your name and address. I wrote down what I was going to say because I was worried about the three minutes. Apparently, it doesn't matter much now. The crowd is gone. Uh, my name is Jennifer de Brandy. I live on Still Meadow Lane. I am here representing a group of parents against the
017opposition of the VHS parking. Uh, I wish that more people could be here, but they are at the semi-final football game and I do believe an email went out with a list of names. My question to the board is what are we doing here? Why is it December and this issue still on the agenda and not resolved? I have a few guesses. Since the October meeting, I have done my due diligence to review all the BOE meeting minutes and agendas from June to October. I can find no evidence of the issue on any agenda. Why is that? Why was it hidden in an apparent vote sometime in June and July? Maybe. Who's to know? I know it was discussed but can find no evidence of a vote. Currently, the Berlin BOE has a public relations
018issue and its lack of transparency. I've also done the research in area high schools up to including Watertown and Burlington. I can tell you who charges a fee and who doesn't. I can tell you why they charge a fee and what the fee goes to. Why can't I get an answer about that from my own BOE? I have written emails, had phone calls, and asked in public forums and still no answer. No response is a response. So again, what are you hiding? Could it be that this was a pure political stunt against a budget vote which you were deemed unfavorable, a ploy against the mayor? As far as I know, the Berlin BOE is supposed to be a nonpartisan by charter. You are elected officials who have officials who have the responsibility to work on
019behalf of us fairly and in good faith for the student population and not play political games. Your claim of significant increase this year isn't enough money to support operating costs. Well, I have right here a list of new staff hires for this year and it is quite extensive. Still, you want to supplement with 16 to 18 year olds money and some have paid and some say they were coerced into paying. Again, what are we doing here? As high school parents, we are continually asked for money, student dues, fundraisers, and other contributions, not to mention sports gear, and boosters, all on the shoulders of impending college tuition. I think enough is enough right now. Here's where I stand. I think the BOE didn't think this through. Not enough research was done on your part on how
020to impose a parking fee to high school students in this district. The ownership of the parking lot, the designation of money, the attorney fees. You threw at the wall and was hoping it would stick. I implore you to re-evaluate this decision and resend the parking fee for at the very least the 2526. You know where to reach me. Thank you. Just in the best interest of the board. Um I know you did your research. I appreciate the research. But one point of research that I would recommend doing, though we are a nonpartisan board, if you look up our affiliations, we are actually majority Republican board, though we're nonpartisan. So the political stunt doesn't work. There's only two Democrats. So during the election season, that doesn't even work with this board. We are nonpartisan. We don't
021talk about what our affiliations are, but going against the mayor isn't what this board is doing. So I I for for what's right and best for this board and us as a collective that needs to be put out there. So we will be addressing this. Um and thank you for coming out and speaking on behalf. So we are going to move on to the next agenda item, the consent agenda. Do we have a motion for consideration? Do we have a second? Motion by Brian, second by Jen. Is there any discussion? Okay, we can move to a vote. All those in favor? I opposed. Did Peter vote? Peter said I. So the we can move with a um 90 vote. Okay. Moving on to the next order of business. Berlin High School program of studies for
0222026 2027. So I'm going to invite uh directors of curriculum up Lori Jarpin and Cara Watson to talk to the board. Oh and Katie, I'm sorry I missed your name. So, everyone should have a copy or access to the significant changes. I I want to point out, you know, we presented this to the curriculum uh committee curriculum council weeks ago, just a few weeks ago. So, it's still fresh. Um certainly if there's any questions at the end it's a lot of content but I do want to add for those who were on the board last year there's a lot of similarity and pattern of our pursuit and vision towards career pathway and some of the new course design. Um but aside from some really exciting courses we do have suspension of a few courses which
023is typical when we cycle them through and we go into a bianual or triannual offering for students just so we're not repeating what we're offering each year. So when you see the suspended courses, it's not that they're deleted, it's that they're kind of on the shelf for a year or two until we have new enrollment coming in and new students. Okay. Okay. Okay. So I'm going to start with just quick summary of our capstone. Our capstone project um is a tradition at Berlin High School. It is part of the Berlin High School and Berlin public school graduation requirement. We have a transition. It's really an evolution that's coming to fruition for next year and that there will be three different opportunities to complete your capstone project. One will be the traditional capstone course which currently
024is in place. It will be a full semester course and students will receive a.5 credit for the traditional capstone class. The difference in uh next year versus the current model is that you will get a grade and it will go towards your GPA. Okay. The second opportunity complete your capstone project will live in the new AP seminar course which is a rigorous opportunity for students who have a particular uh depth and passion in research and they want to pursue at a full year's length um and receive AP credit for that and we'll talk a little bit about that in just a bit and then the last option which is the evolution of the career pathway program is that if you're a student enrolled in a career pathway you will have an opportunity to complete your
025capstone project independently because an extended learning opportunity required in the pathway where students are out in the field doing the hands-on work. Our goal is to open up their opportunities in their schedule so that they can take a 0.5 elective in their pathway. Okay. And then they'll have a mentor within the school building to pursue to help assist them along the way with their capstone project. They will also all three uh components all three options for students will deliver at our exhibition which a nice tradition that happens twice a year. No. Nope. So, so it's is currently it's a senior senior capstone. However, good question. We're going to open up AP seminar and the half year traditional capstone course to second semester juniors. So, if they want to complete it early. >> Okay. So, we're
026just trying to open a little access and make it um you know, really open their schedules up a little bit more so it's personalized. Any questions about capstone? Okay, moving on. You'll see that under the credit distribution because of that tweak. Because of that tweak, uh, with Capstone going to a 0.5 credit, it opens up electives to a a 4.5 credit distribution towards their graduation requirements. So, we added a 0.5 credit on electives. again trying to open access for students to explore our many course offerings. Okay, I'm moving on to my page here. Uh business education, we have a new course, foundations of business. You'll see that DECA is in parenthesis here. The goal of this course is uh to open up a business opportunity for students and get more and more students involved in
027the businessoriented uh club which is DECA where there are in the field competitions. It runs our and the business department felt really strongly about having that opportunity to live within the course and so our goal is to again open it up grades 9 through 12 and have more students enroll um as we have a lot of students at Berlin High School interested in the business field okay we are suspending the course but again that's just going on the shelf until we get more enrollment uh our ECE business law class and then our finance and investments class Uh so what it is is we have so many resources right we so we break our FT our teachers and how many courses they teach down each year and so so to enable them to teach more courses
028over right say take your student over four years we want to offer these courses as many times as possible but if we only offer the same courses your student well I took that last year I can't take that again next year right so we're kind of keep things on cycle. That make sense? >> Yeah. Any other questions for business? Okay. Moving on to uh family consumer science. This is just a resumed course. So, this is sort of the opposition of that child development too. It was a course for a long time, long-standing at high school. We have more and more students who are getting interested in the field of education and or you know, public service. And so, uh with that being said, we're bringing back child development too. And we're going to what registration
029numbers look like for next year. Currently have believe 15 students uh defined in a career pathway in education. So this would support that work, right? And then there's a quick name change there which is just child development to child development one to support child development two. Okay, moving on to technology education. Really exciting. We we actually put this course through last year. However, we offering it for the first time next school year which is our aerospace engineering and drone operations. This is a course that will be offered to students in grades 10 through 12. This falls under more of that public safety pathway as student is really interested in whether it's public safety and or um the tech field. Um this will be a great opportunity to even earn a credential. We're working towards adding
030more and more credentials to Berlin High School. So students graduating with certifications and such and this course students who will want to take perhaps the drone certification course. At the conclusion of that, we made a few name changes under studio and video one uh to use in production one and use in production two just to make sure students really understand what the courses are. And then you'll see we are suspending steam design for next school year. Any questions regarding technology education? Okay, I talked a little bit about the AP seminar class. That's going to fall under humanities, specifically within the English department to start. Um, again, we're going to offer that to students in grades 11 and 12. Um, and will fulfill their own high school's capstone requirement. Additionally, we are offering a new course
031to to our seniors who are not in AP class or seniors who want to fulfill that elective area um by taking communication and for college and career pathways. And so this course is designed again the more and more networking we do with other schools um and other professionals. We learned that um our students are leaving high school and you know truly needing more and more communication skills and different styles of writing and different styles of speaking. And so this course is designed to meet some of those um goals that we have in career pathways. We have a name change. Our sports lit class is being renamed to the power of stories, media and meaning. Any questions for the English uh we are also suspending just a note here in the next page we also are
032suspending and putting on cycle American voices and modern issues and then the foundations of peer tutoring. Moving on to fine arts, we just have a name change and suspended uh course under music and theater arts. So we're just naming renaming sound and innovation exploring music technology is now going to call next gen sound music and content creation. And then improv essentials sound and innovation and mastering the keys are going into the suspension mode and we'll offer those again um within the next threeear cycle. along with visual arts, our 2D art and design and 3D art and design as well as jewelry and metal smithing. Um, those will go into a suspension mode for next year with the goal to get them back in within the next the following year thereafter. Okay. Under math, we are
033offering another really exciting new course, our AP cyber security course. Um, there is a prerec here and this will be offered to students in grade 10, 11, and 12. Um, actually had a parent a virtual parent meeting just the other day. Jen, you were on that meeting and you know we had a few parents um just speak to the fact that their students are going off to college and you know well equipped but um you know where where are they using Google Sheets, where are they using Excel, where and the first you know thought in the moment was okay we we do that in you know in computer science we do that and so already had a conversation and we were talking about this new course in particular as well more and more opportunities and
034shared experiences for students but we don't believe every everyone take AP cyber security. It just speaks to that growing field in need and demand post high school. Um so again really exciting course not a common course taught in most public high school. So this will set high school students apart. >> We we'll know for sure February. Um for sure I would anticipate yes. I anticipate. Yes. So again to supplement that we're we're suspending AP compai a right because typically you have a field of students and also that growing career pathway this will meet some of those demands >> enough students to run it every other year. So >> and and car just pointed out too and this is another course that offers a credial right. So a converation we're having with lots of our students
035is that as they explore whether it's CNA, EMS, firefighting, drone, AP cyber security, these are credentials that students can graduate from high school from and um truly set them apart even in their application, you know, experience in in before they've graduated. um to say this is on my transcript to say this is these are experiences that I'm that I'm having in high school truly is cutting edge and you know strong network of principles high school principles within the state and we're ahead of the curve um for sure with this very very exciting okay moving on to our last section I believe which is our science section, our science department. We have uh two new courses also very exciting. Uh the first is a course uh through CCSU EC the dynamic earth. We made a sequence
036change three years back I believe where we have all of our freshman students take chemistry with the goal to offer more opportunities in science junior year. This course is offered to students in grades 11 and 12 um and will supplement student interest who perhaps have already completed chemistry or physics um in their junior or senior year. So um it's a great opportunity again for students who are are STEMheavy and really you know looking to get into the science field. Uh the second course here within the science department that we're offering next year is physics at work. This is uh this is driven by a passionate teacher who saw a need and pitched a course to me when I said no more new classes and she said but wait and she made a phenomenal uh point
037in that we are advocating for students in the trades and we're advocating for students to think about you know other options beyond a four-year college experience if that's not for them and she said all of those students need physics and she talked about the field of being um you know going into welding, going to plumbing, being an electrician. She said physics is required. So this course physics uh at work um would meet the need for for students in that particular field. And then you'll see uh the suspended course is chemistry investigations and chemical reactivity. That actually is just being grandfathered out because now that was for juniors who were not part of that sequence change when our students were required to take it as freshmen. So now out and I believe questions alterations to it.
038>> Yeah, I I I think it's not necessarily that the These courses are new right there. And so what we're doing is we're trying to stay just ahead of our students and what we're seeing trends in in what students are doing post high school. So we're trying to stay ahead of that. So these courses represent that. When I shared these with my network of principles throughout the state, they were, you know, you know, send me your link. I want to see your full program of studies. And so you know, I think this is more proactive than reactive within our current curriculum. Of course, students are evolving, needs are evolving, they're, you know, AI, like throw in all the things that we, you know, all the new stuff. So, um, I think this program of studies
039really represents Berlin public schools, um, and and what our vision, you know, within our our vision of the graduate. I feel as though this program studies represents the district as a competitive district, um, who prepares students for personalized experience post-secary. Since we aren't in a place where we're going to be adding more staff, especially for elective courses to run things on alternating years, that's such a great way to save money, but still give kids multiple options and opportunities. So, um I know we do that in my department too at my school and it just it allows us to offer far more electives to more students if you do it >> the way you guys are. I know that at the high school they also have workshops. So my daughter was able to take um actuary
040science. She was able to go into the workshop, explore it. So it really gives them an opportunity. Is that something I really want to do? So by changing it year by year, they're able to really figure out before they have to apply for college, does this fit for me? Does it work? So I think this is wonderful. >> So um before we get into discussion, do we have a motion for consideration? >> I move to approve the new course offerings and revisions to the Berlin High School program of studies for the as presented. So, the motion by Melissa, second by Brian. Any discussion? Okay. Hearing none, we can move to a vote. All those in favor? >> I. >> Peter, you voting. Peter, are you there? >> It is. >> Hi, Peter. >> Are you
041voting? >> Yes. Okay, opposed. Vote carries 90. Thank you everyone. Thank you so much for presenting and going through all those changes. Um I know we're trying to you guys were trying to move it along because Are you going to the football game? All right. Well, have a great time and don't freeze. Hopefully we'll see you there soon. >> Um okay, so we're going to move on to the discussion of uh Berlin High School student parking fees. Um, this is on the agenda because no reason other than I decided to put it on the agenda um, five days ago. Um, there hasn't really been too too much talk or concern that has raised red flags. Um, but Brian, would you like to start out first? >> Yeah, I just want to say that gentleman who
042came and spoke to the board wanted responses. I sent him responses last week. I actually called Mr. Phelps and spoke to him also and then sent him a letter. questions regarding, you know, has legal consult been taken on this? I shared with him that we did consult um our attorneys prior to putting the fee in place that when the mayor expressed concerns and drafted a letter that came from the town manager, the town council regarding who owns the parking lot, we again um contacted our legal shipment a good at this point. The legal issues and I think that's why things breaks were kind of put on it because you know it's not in the town not agreeing on something as our attorney shared that. With that being said, the town is a position that they
043own the parking lot. Our attorney said that we still have legal grounds as they stated from the beginning to put the fee in place. Um there are issues as Mr. Phelps brought up as far as the money has to be in a student activity account. It has to be clearly delineated. It is at this point. Um as I stated as Mr. Not that it's been targeted for a specific area, but it has to be put towards, you know, student activities and student use, which we talked about initially doing. Um, as far as the liability issue and so on, um, I did tell them we did speak to our attorneys and and it's contrary to the town attorney. Um, that being the case, our attorney did say to get in a legal battle with the town
044and to spend excess of taxpayer dollars to fight a legal battle is not the position that we should want to be in. Um but that being said, um I did speak to Mrs. V. Grandandy at um Mr. Mrs. Grandandy Jen at our parent council meeting regarding, you know, the the premise that things were done in behind the the curtain. And I explained that our budget was set. All of our cuts were publicized and that this is just one line in the budget. It doesn't take its own life outside of the budget to say we're imposing a fee. Um it goes in with the rest of the cuts and reductions um address as far as new positions um within the budget. Yes, we've hired new people, but those are positions that we've had in the district
045and so on or positions such as one that we've cut. We cut the social worker at Willard last year that was an actual position. We are bringing back a psychologist, not for the entire year the person can't start till the end of January. We never wanted to cut the position in the first place. We are hiring a psychologist. So, I don't think they're new positions. They're positions that were were vacant based on retirement, based on people retiring, based on people resing along the way. Um, as far as responses, I did get the email. I did respond. Um, it was Mrs. Lav Lavender, her son's playing tonight, and there were four five other names on there. I could share that email. Julia got it also. Um, regarding, you know, the parents are also supposed to I
046did speak to Mrs. Lavender on the phone, I believe, twice before about this. I did my best to respond to probably the 10 parents that reached out with concerns. and I've had multiple conversations regarding you know this at this point and um I just think it's important for the whole board to know where we stand and I think that the reason why the brakes are put on it and the question of where is the board I don't think the board would have the brakes put on if it wasn't for questioning you know when the town council questions what's being done by a board we are ultimately the town together yes we're a separate board of ed or yours board of but it is a town so it makes you think twice someone says you're doing
047something that's that's illeal to ree And that's my position. I don't know where the board sits, but I think I think that's why we're where we're at this point. >> Yeah. So, Peter and I as a chair of the FNO committee and myself as the board chair, we did talk to Jess Ritter about it. And um you know, that brought us back to where we were when we initially started discussing this last budget season. Um I know my position is is every year we are going to have difficult decisions we have to make. We as a board, I know Christina is new, but you know, other than Christina, we sat here as a board and we seriously consider what is going to have the least impact on the most kids. What can we do to
048continue driving Berlin public schools forward [clears throat] and not penalize students? Transportation was an area where students are provided transportation. This is an extra. So, we're not taking away kids of thing, you know, things that they are not going to get in school because they don't have at home. And that's the biggest thing as a teacher, as a parent of, you know, a student in Bland public schools. I don't want the kids to suffer. I don't want them to lose things. And going into our next budget season with inflation, we are going to have to have a lot more difficult conversations. And sitting around this table, when we put that in place, it was taken pretty serious by the board. This was not a surprise. We're sneaking this in. We had to look at it
049and we as a board collectively unanimously decided that that would have, you know, the least impact on the most students. But at the same time, you know, um we're going to have to continue to make difficult choices and they're they're going to be unpopular. But as long as we continue to make choices with the kids in mind and this was not political. This was not ill intent. This was not to cause problems in town. And that's why we didn't come running back and snapping back with emails and letters and putting it on the agenda and make we could have made this so incredibly political before the election. This could have been we could have had a blast with this. We didn't. We want to be professional and we want to keep the kids in mind.
050We want to do what's right and best for every student in our district. So, I'm going to turn it over to members of the board. I would like to hear from you guys, but we want to make sure we are making the right decision. Uh when the board decided it, that's what the collective board thought. Um and we're entering budget season now. So, what do you guys have to say? I did go to that meeting in October and I got to tell you from the outside looking in I felt like people were asking questions and I know that there's a time and a place for people to speak and then there's an answer. Their questions were not being answered and I could feel the frustration in the crowd because they're like we're talking we're asking
051we're getting nowhere. Um and the other thing I When I was in that meeting, one thing that it was not addressed is where is the money going? What is it for? So, here we are. We're like everybody's on a budget, parents, teachers, inflation has gone up for everybody, not just the school district. And now we're asking people who have to pay double in their groceries. Now, we want to want you to pay a parking fee. And the question, you know, even is what are we using the money for specifically because to add this extra burden to the students and to families. I don't see it as being fair. >> So it goes into a student accountability account in a line item we would normally spend 20,000 on gets reduced and then that money goes towards
052it. Specifically, I can't remember what we said specific it was going to because it's been a little while. Do you remember or Peter? I don't know if >> it would go against student go student activity account would go against student something >> graduation right >> we can't do graduation >> you can't okay be something directly at the school that would go against students so the whole notion of why the 20,000 we're looking at the budget at the at the end of the year and we're saying we had all the line items announced and the whole board was aware of the line items and voted on the last piece was the $50,000 reduction by the town council at that point the question was do we reduce staff further? Do we cut further supplies? So we that
053the FNO committee brought it back to the full board said let's take let's take 30,000 more out of supplies and equipment and let's take the other 20,000 is going to be supplemented by the parking. That's how it came in and that's how it became on the reduction list and then it came back for the entire board with all the other reductions. So it wasn't isolated out by itself. So in the totality of the budget that's where the 20,000 came. That that's that's have to cut staff. Did anybody get cut? I know that we rehired or filled positions, but did anyone actually lose their job? I'm just curious because I'm coming to the board, so I want to learn >> exactly. >> Yes, with retirements and things, I want to say was 7.6. Am I correct,
054Ashley? >> 7.6 initially that were reduced. Yes, 7.6 staff, not all certified staff, but staff in general. And that's what was brought forward. and then the additional 50,000 cut and we cut equipment. Our equipment budget is what pays for all the technology for staff and students. So without that our end of the year money like you know you'll hear people say you have a surplus at the end of the year but we don't have an equipment replacement plan. So if we don't have any surplus at the end we won't have technology for students or staff there. There's no there's no line item for equipment that that that is that is adequate to supply that. So that's how that's where the 20,000 came out of the parking. That's that's how it came about. >> So do
055any other board members want to um speak because I would like as many to kind of chime in and share their two cents. >> I can say the argument. Well, go ahead. >> Well, yeah. I want to just it was a tough decision. it um it reflected where we were with the budget and we did not want to cut any more positions. Um, so that's never easy and like you said, Julia, it's not a popular decision and we knew that um was probably going to be the case, but um I would rather see people teaching in classrooms. Um I also I don't love the idea of um charging the kids. I know after um Jen had spoke, it was really kind of heartbreaking to hear somebody using their birthday money um to be able to
056pay for this. I know other families were struggling to make the payment. Um also, um I would love to see it go towards something directly for the kids. I know that's what you guys were saying. I know we were unsure exactly [snorts] where that's going. So, I'm glad to hear at least the money is going back to the kids. Also another unpopular opinion um technology. I personally feel that especially in the elementary level we don't need a onetoone technology. So we could cut back there. >> Well really just before we kind of go off like let's keep it to high school parking. >> Okay. Brian did say that I'm just saying reduce the onetoone technology in the elementary school that that could kind of maybe hopefully help at least take care of some of that
05720,000 if not all of the 20,000 >> I feel as though It's not going to go away. You know, we didn't make the decision like just like I can understand Jula. deciding for this year this is what it is. So what's bothering me the most? Yes. I think it's things that you know people have to either say they can't drive to school or take the bus. bothering me the most when I've heard it from multiple people and there were friends of mine are like well my kids not paying well what are we teaching our kids then what are we teaching them like yes unfortunately we have to pay it but if you're telling your kid no you have to pay it you know and then that's when we have to put the brakes on things
058like well then you know you can't graduate or things like that so what are we teaching our kids by saying well you don't have to pay you know it's going to go away but it's not it's here to unfortunately for the rest of the year, you know, and I think that it will be a discussion for the next budget season and clearly we're talking about this a lot, but for for today we have to pay unfortunately and you know my friends keep coming up to me like am I paying this? I'm like yeah you need to pay it. So, you know, I'm I'm sorry it sucks, but what are we teaching our students by saying, "No, you're not paying it." You know, then they're going to get mad that they're going to get a reminder
059on their on their windshield wiper, you know, on their windshield. What are we teaching them also by that? and also to the rest of the board. I really want you to truly consider when we have bigger cuts next year, you're going to have to make your choices and vote how you feel empowered to do so. So, as we go into this budget season, really consider like it's okay to vote however you want to vote. It's fine. It's respected here. I encourage that. But when people aren't happy with us, we have to make difficult decisions. That's why we're here. So next budget season when things get even tighter, are we going to change them just because people aren't happy or are we critically thinking as we enter in each vote? So I just want to preface
060you guys with that. Um Melissa, do you want to sh >> I mean I could just discuss what I addressed originally. I mean, my thought process, um, once again, a tough decision. In no way, shape, or form do we want more money to be paid out of anyone's pocket, students, parents, etc.? Um, yes, we have a budget. That's what we have to stick to. Um, and like most board of pretty much every board member that spoke so far, people I want people in the classroom. So I know it was discussed before that this is like a specific targeted group but as a board we are thinking of the entire district and when we were talking about the ways in which we could figure out you know that difference of the $50,000 this is what came
061into discussion and compared to what other things were thrown out there including paidtoplay. LA, >> which could very well be next season. >> It could be. Um, this when I was thinking of transportation, and like you said, we're there's an issue with transportation. We've said it before where parents sign a kid up for transportation, don't end up taking it, but we're still paying because that's what we have to do by law is provide transportation. I said it in Farmington. I paid a fee of $100. That was in 2004. Um, do I know where the money went at that point of time when I was a senior? No. Um, but I paid it because I wanted the luxury of driving to school. And I do think it is a luxury. We do have the transportation that
062our district provides. And it is a luxury for you to want to take your your car to school. And that includes for, you know, going to sports and going to work afterwards because I was listening to the parents and saying we want them to be independent and in order to be able to do that, they have to have their vehicle available to them. So I I hear that side as well. Um, and then I did bring up, you know, the same thing that was addressed before was where's the money going? And it's still it's a I'll say it's kind of a generic student activity account. But if it is going back directly to and I want to say specifically the high school students because student activity account that could be you know prek to high
063school. >> Can you be more specific about that >> high school? I if it goes back to the high school then it's still >> it's definitely going back to the high school by the statute has to so the guidelines of how it's used are specified by the state. If we didn't adhere to that, we would be outside of compliance. So it has to go back to the high school and it has to be used for a purpose at the high school has to be tied back to students and the way that college earmark has to be for get audited also. Um you know so I to be specific we could be very specific. It really is a question of where does the board want to put the money and then put it back at. >>
064Well, wherever we cut from, it has to get put back in. >> Well, we're cut from the entire budget. That's how we balance it. >> So, it is $20,000 deficit of what we read in the original budget. You know, it's been a discussion and I've spoken to the mayor numerous times about this. It's been a discussion about, well, you have a surplus right now. You have money, so you could cover it. So, why not why not do that? And I've said to the mayor, to be honest with you, is there a possibility the town could pay for half and the That's an open for discussion to try to counter that. I know that others have asked the mayor the same thing, too. So, let's meet halfway on it. And yes, we'll find 10,000. >> We've
065brought that up. And then also, you know, side note, I don't know if Ashley got the recognition she deserves for this because I wasn't at that meeting. Um, but she applied for a state grant and we got it. And it was a significant amount of money that the town wasn't expecting. and the town got the grant because when when Ashley gets grants for our schools, we don't get the money unless it's choice. So what grant? >> So it wasn't a grant. So what it is is a reimbursement reimbursement reimbursement. I'm sorry. >> Many grants like the latest the latest is a reimbursement for the high school renovation. And so we are reimbursed at a specific rate when the high school is built. And so the town submits forms to receive reimbursement from the state. It
066was like 46 47% reimbursement on the cost of the high school. There was a part of the grant where you would denote a choice district that was not checked off. So Ashley caught that and all the kudos to Ashley. There's an extra $2.9 million that the town is receiving for reimbursement of the high school. >> So if we want to say that like people want to play political, it certainly isn't us. She's getting us money. It's going to the town. The town never expected the money. and there's still no discussion of meeting halfway. So, unfortunately, where I stand with all of this is right where I am because we're going to have to continue to make difficult choices. >> And I I mean, I brought up at the beginning to say about why we're here
067and why there hasn't been decisions as to why it's not direct, why it's not. I think the question was putting the brakes on it because the question with the town, there is concern. We have two attorneys represent the same organization given two different positions. We would never want to violate I don't think you I didn't want to put you in position. >> Absolutely not. >> But that being said, you know, as as as Gina, you very much said, where are we going with this moving it? If the board says it's staying in place, then we will act. Students have not received anything on their cars since the first week of September. So, if if it is going forward and this is the position the board, we will then get letters out to parents. We'll start
068to notify kids. We're not locking any kid out of entering school or coming in the parking lot. We're not doing anything of that manner, but then we'll move forward. It is definitely something with our attorney saying that it can be on accountabilities. That's where you'd put it until it was paid. If there was financial hardship of people, we could work with them on that also as we do with everything else. I just need the board to say this is where it is. This is where it is and it's and we're not motioned tonight, but this is where it is and this is where it's going because I've been said by several board members, we charged you to do something, you're not doing it. And I get that, but I'm not doing it because there were
069positions that were with the town questioning things that we were doing and where we are. And it puts it puts myself and it puts the principal and the administration in a position of a tough position to know where we're turning to be against parents and we're not sure where political things are with town. Yes, we work for the board, but as I said, that's not typical position. There may be disagreements, but to be totally you know, one attorney say one thing and another attorney say another. So, >> so at this point based on the last mo like the last action this board took on this item, where we currently stand is it stays in place unless somebody here wants to make a motion to add a motion for this agenda item. And then you can,
070if you feel so empowered to motion to add it, >> add a motion to the agenda, by all means, you can absolutely do that. And if you want to see if the board revotes on your motion, then by all means, feel empowered to do so. Um, but at this current time, if nobody does that, then the board stays where we were when we took action on it and it moves forward. So I will leave it up to anyone if they feel so moved to do that. >> Uh can anyone hear me? >> Yeah, actually >> for once. >> Okay. I just wanted to speak. I'm not making the motion. >> Okay. >> Um so the thing that frustrates me with this whole experience is the misinformation floating throughout the community which is unfortunately um in
071my opinion being perpetuated by people who do know better. So I do intentionally say it is misinformation and not a misunderstanding. A lot of the questions and talking points that come up um are things that have been addressed and have been discussed um not only by the board but by myself as far back as a May board meeting, a May finance and um operations meeting, a June meeting where we finalized and discussed it. You can go back to the videos, you can go back to the minutes, you can see the discussion among the board. And then even later when it came back up as as a as an issue again, we discussed in October and there's recorded video and minutes that elaborate on the topic. I spoke on the topic and my opinion really hasn't
072changed and I don't have much to add other than in October I said you know hey maybe if there's some surplus you know perhaps we could consider changing you know uh you know refunding or whatnot but you know really pondering and rethinking it it's like the surplus is an absolute necessity and is a sign of financial responsibility it's to cushion against mid-year unexpected expenditure which does happen so more in the most common issue who is outplacement students who may come into the district or may be in the district and then not uh be able to be managed by our internal special education services which then need to be outplacement. And that could be anywhere from a $75,000 to $190,000 unexpected um uh cost to the district. So it's it's financial responsibility to float a bit
073of a surplus throughout the year. And we don't know what's happening um until until the year's done because this could happen at any stage. And to make some type of snap decision only in December would in my opinion be fiscally fiscally irresponsible and you know we have sat here we've decided [clears throat] unanimously minus our new board member because she wasn't present at the time to make this decision and it wasn't an easy decision. Um, and additionally, when it comes to a surplus, um, I think I think we can all agree at least that it's far more financial responsibility to carry a small surplus to defend against unexpected costs and it's responsible to the taxpayer versus running a deficit and then at the end of the year going to the town and saying, "Oh, yeah,
074you know, that money you gave us, well, we need $500,000 more because we didn't budget appropriately." That is the far worse choice. and we are trying to do everything in our power to avoid that kind of conclusion which I think taxpayers would also favor in the um grand scheme of things. Um, additionally the surplus conversation always comes up um from the town side. The town also carries a surplus and we don't go to the town every year and say why are you carrying a surplus? That's reckless. We don't say that because it's not reckless. It's financially responsible. So, all that is to say, I'm fine with staying the course and I have nothing more to say on the topic because I've said it all over the past six months. Thank you. >> Would anyone Yeah,
075>> any more about the parking fees? I think you all covered that, but I do the mayor's opponent this last election at no time ever talk about this football at all. >> Thank you. throughout this campaign. I was super proud of this board meal as a board never came up with that election. Well, I'm going to suggest there's a lot of people at this table that were on the other side of it. They supported my opponent and I respect them for being part of the process. I respect their choice, but not once did this issue come up as a political football as an opportunity for anything. We didn't expect we didn't This was going to come back at us for us to even have the team never >> during the conversations about this very cautious
076to make sure it was responsible. >> Absolutely. >> No, absolutely. And I'm glad you said that because we as a board could have made this very political whether it was in your favor or against your like th this could have gone many many ways and we we remain professional what was right and best for the kids and so thank you for that. >> Are we going to continue to from these parents who are unhappy um continually agotic having this discourse Not to say that we should be, you know, acquiesing, but at the same time, how is this going to go forward? >> Well, Gina, think about when you first got on the board. It was on much larger scale. Things were like that, but there were things we had to stay the course on because
077we had to, and there were things where we were able to make changes. But I think one thing I've learned as being on the board, like every time I hear from someone that's upset about a decision that we've made, thinking back to my very first conflict on the board with high school graduation about nine or 10 years ago, changing from Welty Hall to uh state, no, BHS, and now it's that stage and everyone's so happy. But it the thing is is that was a difficult decision. We are going to continue to have difficult decisions. And so if you can put your head down your on your pillow at the end of the day and say I'm good with what the decision I made even though I might get backlash then that is the right decision
078for you but you each and every one of you have to make your own decision but going into next budget season we're going to have more difficult decisions and do we want to be the board where when we hear from you know 10 15 people who aren't happy are we going to change every single decision what is going to turn what's going to happen to the composition of this board if every time people are not happy so I think it has to shape how you're making your decisions and carefully evaluate every decision you make knowing what if this comes back and that's what I do from just from my experience um and that's why I stay confident in where I am but I you know encourage all of you to do that because We have
079to be un We have to make unpopular choices. That's why we're here. Not all the time, but that's the part of the job that's not fun. Was that Sorry. Would anyone like to make a motion to make a motion? You can if you would like. So, if anyone wants to take action on this and have the board revote, you just need to make a motion. If you don't know how to do that, um, you can ask. Okay. So, is anyone thinking about potentially wanting to revote. >> So to revote I >> Well, so >> yeah, I could do that. So since this is a discussion and not an action item, we're not voting on anything. Um, the only reason to put a motion out there right now is if you guys want to vote in
080opposition >> otherwise our past action we have taken as a board stays. >> But even There's one new person. We are a new board. So, just making sure we give that time and space. No, I agree with what you're saying. >> Yeah. So, I understand the motion, >> but if someone wants to vote it down and vote against it, by all means. Like, I want you guys not to feel silenced or say, "I was silenced because I didn't know Robert's rules." >> No, not at all. I'm just saying because if you don't understand the Robert's rules of order to get something back on here, like people just might not feel confident to speak up. Nothing else. Okay. So, we're just staying the course. Have fun. >> I understand. >> Have fun with that. >> Understand.
081>> Kidding. Sorry. No time for jokes. All right. Moving on to textbook recommended for adoption. We are inviting um our directors of curriculum back up. >> Okay. I don't know whe >> [laughter] >> I thought it was actually like it didn't seem textbooky, you know. Anyway, Debbie went to Debbiey's office. >> We're not sure where it may have ended up. We think you may have pilered it from >> your Christmas. >> So, but it's too bad because I think some people would see what I mean concepts, you know, and I know there's a lot of opportunity web of this book because it's a it's a a two-part course. So, you can take marketing one, which is one semester, and And then the marketing two is the second semester. If you successfully complete both, then you
082can get the CCSU college credit. >> You might know for sure, but I think it's three. >> All right. Do we have a motion for consideration? Marketing 14th edition by Charles W. Lamb, John F. Carl McDaniel and published by >> Do we have a second? >> So motion by Jen, second by Gina. Any discussion on this book? I'm sure there's a lot >> and we apologize for not having the copy. >> No, it's fine. That happened. >> It's marketing. So we thank. >> Any other discussion? All those in favor? I oppose. >> Uh, did did Peter vote? >> No, Peter Peter's off. >> Peter's gone. Did you get that? So, >> Peter's gone at 7:23. >> 8 Z. Moving on. There is no facilities update. Thank you, Ashley, for I think people want to get
083to the football game. It's almost over. >> Okay. Do you have a score? >> I do not have a score. >> Okay. Can I just comment on my high school record? >> They're doing phenomenal. >> You do you have the score? >> I don't have the current score, but I'm just saying their record. I'm very proud of them. Thank you. [laughter] >> Okay, moving on to policy review revision. This is the second reading in adoption. At our last meeting, we went over all of this. So, first we met um in an ad hoc committee to go over it and then we went over it at our last meeting. So Shipman and Goodwin has recommended these revisions and policies um new one based on statuto and regulatory changes, updates and best practices. Do we have a
084motion for consideration? >> 6163.1 as presented. >> Do we have a second motion by Jen and second by Jess? Any discussion? Okay, hearing none, we can move to a vote. All those in favor? >> I I opposed. Vote carries. 8 Z. Okay, moving on to approval of the prek tuition fee for 2026 2027. So, we'll turn it over to um Ashley and Brian to talk to us about this. >> Ashley, might share with you quickly. So, the current fee We have a sliding scale, but the current fee structure for our preschool is $800 a month. Um, and we'd like to increase it. So, I'm let Ashley give you more specific. She has the breakdown of full tuition, partial tuition. >> Um, so today I'm here uh we have to put together what our fee structure
085is going to be for um our budget presentation on in January. Um because some of the revenue that we're going to take in for this program is going to offset some of our general fund expenses by people out of the general fund into this revenue source. Um, as Brian had mentioned, our current uh fee is $8,000 for the program, $800 a month. I'm proposing a a standard 3% increase to absorb the staffing contractual obligations for teachers and pair professionals. um which will bring our revenue our anticipated revenue to four next year to three uh 311,525. Um and that will take approximately five staff members, two teaching staff members and three peer professional staff members out of the general fund into the subset account. Um in addition to that um we'll be paying for the administrative
086fee that is essentially our my school bucks fee. Um it's where we absorb some of the processing fees on behalf of the parent. Um and that just enables us to collect revenue very quickly without um any kind of having to chase people down. It allows parents to set up automatic payments. Um and then the additional $20,000 we're hoping to uh install some actual playground equipment in that area. Uh right now we just have some standalone movable equipment and we're getting a lot of feedback. that program and it's not enough. So, um if we could put together an actual playscape for those little ones uh there for people to enjoy then then we'd like to do that. >> Willard, there's an actual place for so there's a difference of being at the high school. Um if
087I could just just get you for a moment to look at the screen and just look at the yellow lines on the bottom highlighted portion. I just think it's important for the board to know, yes, there's revenue coming in from the program, but it's really self- sustaining the program. The revenue coming in is being used to pay for the teachers. So, it's [snorts] not as though we're having additional revenue. It's paying for the program. So, I just think that's important because this is new. It's going to be in the budget. It's going to be talked about. So, this to me, this sheet is a great snapshot that actually put together of $31,000 expected this we would not have that because we don't have the full 40 seats filled. We're expected to have the 40. If
088we do, then that's that's the in and out of what you're seeing and how it's used and so on. So, it's a complete breakdown. And it just goes to speak to, you know, you hear people talk about lack of transparency. That's not how any of us want to be. And just so you know that we've encouraged anyone on the board of finance that wants to come in and sit with Ashley, Ashley has two computer screens. She'll sit there and pull up anything they want to see >> because it's not transparency of of what we do or how we do it. So, I just think I wanted to just highlight that when put this together. I think it's great to see where the money comes in and where it goes out. It's all in one sheet.
089>> This [clears throat] tuition is less than what I'm sending him to. But I think to have certified teachers schools. This is This is a great deal. It's $1,000 less per student. >> Are would full capacity be 40 students? >> Yes. >> And we're currently at 33. >> Yes, I believe it's 33 because we have >> 33. So full capacity for the PR models, they're the ones that role models. So we pure models are the only uh u students that pay the tuition. >> Um yes, we currently have 33 paying. >> This program is not only paying for 40. This is 40 students are fee. So the revenue coming in only role model students have to pay for the preschool. >> Yeah, that I know. >> Okay. So yes, there'd only be 40 role model.
090It's not 40 total in the program. I'm I'm only asking because there was a lot of people talking about the fee and how steep it is and a lot of people that I know personally have turned away because the fee is so high because the other preschools in town are I I think I can't speak to it because I didn't look but I think they're about $200 less. Um >> well when we put it together we did look at other preschools in looked at other ones that are in school districts. We also looked at we a sliding scale. So if people's income is at a certain level, we reduce the fee. So you can see that there, you know, there are students that we give a discount to the discount for full payments. Pay the
091whole thing in one. It's a $10,000 10% increase decrease, >> but there are students on a sliding scale that have a reduced rate based on their annual income. So we do try to work with people, too. Um, so we didn't we didn't think it was high compared to others, but I I'm not sure what others what others charge. Melissa, can you speak a little bit about what you know? >> Yeah. So, I can just talk um for little blessings. But the thing is the difference with the programs within our town is the amount of hours. So, some of our programs are only 9 to 11:30 for like early threes. Or there's mine. >> Yeah. And that's only like three days a week. Or mine, which is like your pre kindergarten. So, I have the four
092four year olds that will be turning five by September 1st. I only have them from 9 to 155. And our tuition, I know it's going to go up. I mean, it's in the high 5,000s. So, and you're you're all day. You're until >> three. Yes. So, that's already an extra >> 9 to three >> five hours a week. No transportation for models. >> But but parents have to provide transportation if they go to Little Blessings or St. Paul's or anywhere else. >> Yeah. >> No, only the special >> full day. >> Right. >> Yeah. >> And we had 36 paying in the beginning of the year and we had two we had au two students move out of town. So we have 34 paying students right now. >> [snorts] >> I think part of the
093numbers we really anticipate being at 40. I think part of it was that we were late in the game signs and things they couldn't get out. I think that I think knowing that we have the program schools I would anticipate or close to it, you know, because there may be people that move out or need to switch or something. So, we can continue discussing this. But before, do we have a motion for consideration? >> Full day prek program tuition fee for the 2627 school year in the amount of 8.25 per month, 8,250 annually, an increase of 3% from the prior year. We have a motion by Jen. Do we have a second? >> Second by Vanessa. Any discussion? >> Yeah. >> No, like I don't pay because my son's special ed, >> right? essentially >>
094their tuition will just go up next year, >> right? Right now, nobody pays that fee. We have it set up so it is district absorbed. It's a contractal service that we are paying for on behalf to to offset the fee. Correct. >> And we have 100% of the people pay via credit card because they set up the automatic payment. And and the thought with it is Georgina that when it's automatic credit card, >> we don't have to call. There's not man hours. >> I was just trying to be extra but the 3% extra has nothing to do with the credit card. So the 3% extra that we want to go up for next year for the fee is only to cover the contractual obligations for pair professionals and teachers. So essentially it's just saying we
095know that their contracts are around 3%. So we go 3% we cover the increase in their salaries. >> So essentially what we can do um because the the all other expenses are about 35,000 we could offset general fund in contractual service and equipment and then move another pair of professional so it be 100% staffing. We have flexibility to to do that. This is just our first snapshot of where we believe this money is going to go. All right. Any other discussion? Okay, we can move to a vote. All those in favor? >> I opposed. >> Okay. So, all those in favor? Can we just vote one more time? All those in favor? I >> opposed. Okay. So, our vote is 71. Okay. Uh moving on to the last agenda item of the evening. Do we
096have a motion for consideration? >> Uh sec motion by Jen, second by Brian. Any discussion? Okay. All those in favor? >> I opposed. >> Yes. Did you vote? Yes. All right. 8 Z. So it's 7