001Got you. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> All right. Um I think I just saw the recording started, so we're going to get going. It's uh exactly 700 p.m. I'm going to call the New Hartford Public Schools Board of Education regular meeting dated September 16, 2025 at 7 p.m. to order. This is a virtual only call. I'm seeing our membership on the call. We have Penny Miller, Eric Paratt, Tim Russell, Kristen Young, Frank Rodenberg. Is there anybody I'm not seeing on here? I know Tom Buzzy said he would be coming in late. Megan was uh caught up as well, maybe coming in late. And I just saw Dear Dree. I believe I saw a message from her a second ago. I don't know how to I don't know how to see what the messages
002say. Dear Jay, are you here? Can you confirm? >> I I'm here. I'm sorry. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Um, so the meeting is called to order. First order of business is the pledge of allegiance. If you are able, please stand and join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay, thank you all uh for joining virtually. Um this is a virtual meeting because our superintendent has uh sustained a sports injury um and is unable to drive a vehicle at this time to be able to join us in person. So we thought we would do this one virtually as he's working through um
003his uh many doctor appointments and follow-up appointments and uh trying to literally get back up on his feet. Um so again, thank you all for joining virtually. Um, next order of business, uh, next line item is the order of business. I have no changes to the order of business for tonight. Um, item number C on our agenda is communications to the board of education. U, we have received one um, one communication that I am aware of, Jeff, and that was a interest in the um, in the task force uh, from a community member. >> Two, >> uh, we received two since the last meeting. Yes. Yep. Jeffrey Linton and I'm sorry, Carmen. Um, >> Neil, >> you got it. Yes, sir. >> I do have both those communications. Um, anything else, Jeff, that I'm unaware
004of? >> Um, no. Outside of any additional uh folks that have just sent on um just their appreciation for a beautiful smooth opening for the school year for staff at Antelini, at New Hartford, in Bakerville. Um I did ask those parents if I could share. They said they'd rather not. So just sending you know well um those wishes to the the staff that just made the transition so smooth. One in specific stated that they came from a private school never felt so welcomed um at the transition at one of our schools and they just feel so blessed to be part of our community. >> That's great. That's great feedback. It's good to hear. >> Y right. Uh public comment. Uh we can open the floor now if there is anybody who'd like to make a
005public comment. please uh do so by raising your hand and then we can uh allow you to speak. >> I'm looking at the list and I don't see anybody. Jeff, can you confirm that as well? >> Yep, confirmed. I see folks joining publicly, but I don't see any hands raised at this time. >> Okay. Um we will have another opportunity for public comment at the um end of our agenda. Um so we will move on seeing that we don't have any hands raised. Next item on the agenda is superintendent report. I'll turn it over to you superintendent Susa. >> Thank you so much Chairman Kleps and thank you to all of the board members and everyone publicly. Thank you so much for um being flexible and allowing uh this meeting to take place virtually obviously
006with advanced notice. Um, as our chairman uh informed everybody, I did sustain a pretty significant injury. Uh, completely torn achilles, so my road to recovery is pretty significant. I'm unable to drive or do much of anything at this point in time. So, much appreciated. Um, in terms of being physically mobile, I can't do anything. Um, all the other day-to-day operations I'm certainly able to engage in. Uh, so I appreciate that very much from all of you and all of you that have also reached out just to check in to see how I'm doing uh, as a human being, not just your CEO of school. So, I really appreciate all of you very, very much. Thank you. Um, just to uh continue on the communications, just a great thanks. It is, you know, September 16th, the
007school year has gone off so smoothly. Doors have opened smoothly. Great thanks to all of our staff in New Hartford for making it so welcoming, so warm. um and just helping every child get to where they need to go to start to develop relationships with them. Uh reaching out to parents um to start to develop those trusting relationships as we work together as a family with the student, with our staff, and with our families at home to provide the best educational experience to all of our prek all the way up to sixth grade. Uh current enrollment numbers to date are 437 students and we had 21 brand new enrollments, five students in grades 1 through two, 16 students in grades three through six, and of those students of we have about five that have IEPs.
008So just again great thanks to the entire community um for their support and for having such a beautiful opening of schools uh this year. >> All right, moving on for our superintendent report. We have investment in our school infrastructure as I mentioned in our previous meeting. >> I don't know what happened. It's only got >> Sorry, did I hear? Okay, we're good. Did someone have a question? Okay, no worries. Um, as I mentioned in our previous meeting, I wanted to share with the board of education some of our infrastructure updates. So, that's item number one in investment in our school infrastructure. So, I am sharing a tab for folks to see. Um, Chairman Kleps, can you uh just verify that everyone can see this the investment in school infrastructure slide? >> Yep, we've got it.
009>> All right. Fantastic. Great kudos to my executive assistant Sarah Vogle and all staff custodians included uh for helping put this presentation together. It's a very quick sneak peek at what the investments in school infrastructure have so far over the course of the summer have um been highlighted. So we have two specific ones. The one the first and foremost is the replacement of the cafeteria which we also used for our gymnasium floor at Antalini that was experiencing moisture issues uh with our flooring coming up bubbling and tile that would literally be wet with uh underneath it. A moisture mitigation system that is the adhesive uh with the tile and the um epoxy underneath are all one system that was um implemented and put into place. The floors were um scraped down. If I could get
010this system to go here. Here we go. So, here's some pictures of the before which were not conducive. They were unsafe. You could see some of the bubbling of the floors there. And over 70 tiles were replaced by our custodian crews as they tried to keep up with it. Obviously, with heavy rains and moisture, it was very difficult. Here is the flooring as it was blasted down and sanded and the epoxy was then placed there to be the mitigating barrier. Here's some of the other materials that they put into place there at our floor um in Antalini. And here's what it looks like now with the full mitigation system put in there. It's a rolled out floor, not a tile system. Uh it's heat welded in between each of those seams. Um and we have
011our warranty in place. They did a phenomenal job working with our custodians to get in and to get out. And kids and staff are all very very uh happy and excited to see this floor. uh they think it's a tremendous upgrade and it really truly is uh for safety sake uh number one first and foremost and then obviously mitigating the moisture issue that we had uh at the cafeteria floor as well. This was uh funded again by the COVID funds that we had in a cafeteria account. So this was not part of our operational budget nor capital but just wanted to share that with everybody so that they could see all the pictures, the before and afters. Additionally, through our capital, uh, so again, we're thankful to our entire community for supporting us. We had
012a very, uh, rusty and outdated 2010 Dodge Mini Caravan, which runs all of our mail intra district from central office to all of our schools. Uh, it also helps our custodians move equipment from school to school, whether it's student equipment or cleaning equipment. Um, this van, there's some unders shots of what it looked like, was uh, quite rusty and every light on the dashboard was lit. it was very um unsafe to be driving uh very far distances or at all. Uh we had several issues that took place over the course of its lifetime. But again, thankful for the uh capital budget. Here's our new minivan that we purchased and we stayed under budget. We had $25,000 aotted. We spent 17,000 uh for capital to purchase this newer uh Toyota Sienna minivan to meet the needs
013of our custodians and to meet the needs of our district uh for again mail delivery and equipment. So just a great thanks just want to show some of those quick highlights regarding our infrastructure and I will return back to the meeting here out of sharing and I will continue with the superintendent's narrative. Um let's see here. Regarding the next agenda item, which is an update for our RFP tasks, yesterday was the deadline for companies to submit or firms to submit their proposals. So, we just received those proposals early this morning. We have received three from three different firms. I am still in the course of reading them as I just received them. They are all quite lengthy. And we will then schedule within the next week interviews with these firms that will involve myself, chairman
014KPS, chairwoman um Gilfoil and our first selectman Dan Jarham. So we will interview these firms next week uh and then we will proceed in the next step of selecting a firm and then we'll have obviously an opportunity to consult with them and then develop the membership of the task force. So, those are just some quick updates regarding the task force. Continuing on for other updates uh from the superintendent, uh one of our uh speech language pathologists, Mrs. Elizabeth Swanson, has accepted a position in a neighboring district, and we wish her absolutely the best in her next professional career move. We will miss her. And we also welcome our new speech pathologist, Allison Trfleti, to the new Hartford family, and we look forward to her extensive expertise and experiences in support of our students. Um, further
015updates are our building updates uh through the Department of Justice Grant. Our security camera project is in progress and should wrap up sometime this quarter, probably mid to late October, with all three schools having the fully outfitted security cameras and access controls all fully updated uh with higher definition um cameras and access controls. Um so that is one other building update to provide. And lastly, just to end with a quote as I wrap up the superintendent's report, to be successful is to be helpful, caring, and constructive. To make everything and everyone you touch a little bit better by Norman Vincent Peele. Those are all of my updates from the superintendent report. Open to questions uh if the board has or further clarification if I could provide any at this time. >> Uh Jeeoff, one question.
016What when when are the security cameras? What was the completion date for all three schools? completion date right now is mid-occtober to end of October. >> Thank you. >> And a huge kudos to Paul Carman for orchestrating all of that and making sure that it is all running smoothly. Sorry, chairman, I didn't mean to cut you off. Go ahead. >> I was just going to open it to any questions that any uh anyone on the board would like to have or would like to present proposed. Any questions for Superintendent Susa? All right, seeing none, we will move on to the next item on the agenda. Um, I will note I believe I just saw Mr. Buzzy join the meeting. >> Yes. >> So, we have one additional member on the call uh just joined. Uh,
017next item on the agenda is the board of education chairs report. I have one item under there which is community interest. Uh, this is in the task force. As I had said under the communications to the board, we have received two additional um letters of interest to be uh a community member on the task force. Uh that will give us that currently gives us a total of four community members that are interested. Uh those interested community members that we have are John Puzz, um our our PTO president Samantha Wald, uh Jeff Linton, who um some of you know from our solicitation and work with Jeff in the past, and then Carmen Neil is the most recent. Um just to remind everyone, current discussions for community member um selection is is is unknown. Uh but we
018we have thrown out as the board chairs um we talked about having one with school age children in the district and then one without school age children in the district. Um so we do have four and the selection process uh will be determined uh once we get a professional on board. um one of the three firms is hopeful uh within the next hopefully month or two we can get them signed up. Uh moving on, routine business. Uh first item under routine business is the approval of minutes of the August 19th, 2025 meeting. Um I'll entertain a motion to approve. >> So moved. >> Moved by Christian. Can I get a second? Second. >> Second by Tim Russell. Uh any discussion. And seeing none. All those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. I can
019see everyone except for Tom. Tom, are you on camera? >> I should be. I see myself. >> There you are. Now I see him. Um, are you in favor? >> I am. >> All right. So, that passes 8 Z. >> Tim. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Whoops. I think it was Eric Paratti that seconded that, not Tim. >> I thought I saw his hand go up. >> I Yeah, I just heard verbal. So, was it was it Eric? That's fine. >> Okay. And that passes 800. Okay. And next item on the agenda is the expenditure report end of year 2425. Uh this is pending completion of the audit. Can I get a motion to approve the end of year 2425 expenditure report? >> I'll make a motion that we approve the expenditure report. End of year
0202425. >> Moved by Penny. Can I get a second, please? >> I'll second. >> Yeah, I've got uh the first one I saw was Tom Buzzy raising his hand. So, I'm going to give that to Tom before the uh before the verbal. Um any any uh questions, comments, discussion on the end of year 2020 2425 expenditure report? >> It says pending completion of audit. When do you think that will be completed? >> My historical of that is we don't know. It's whenever the town completes their audit. So, I am sorry to disappoint Penny, but that's up to the auditors. You know them. you sit in the board of finance meetings with us and you know that they say, "Oh, we'll be done in January and then it's February, March, and we're still not done." So,
021my hope is by March. Uh, let's just throw it out there for the latest possible March. >> Sorry to disappoint. Again, that's not that's on them, not me. >> No problem. >> Yeah. Any additional discussion. >> All right. Seeing none, all those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. All right. Now I see everyone except for Dear Dree. I think someone pops off my screen each time till someone new comes on. Dear Dre, are you all set with that? >> I I voted yes, but I guess I'm off the screen. I see myself on the screen. >> Well, now you're back on. I can only see so many at one time on my screen. I need a I need a bigger TV, I think. Uh but that passes 800. Um and the final under
022final item under routine business is the expenditure report for the current year 2526. And I get a motion to approve. I'll make that motion. >> Motion by Penny. Second. >> I'll second. >> Second by Tim Russell. Any discussion on the 2526 expenditure report. >> I have just one quick note. Um so if you're looking over the items and you see some lines such as staff on the first page or looks like it's overspent by $139,000 for that particular item and others that are over spent, it looks like that. That is not a true reflection. Uh that means that the pre-k tuition monies have not been accounted for yet because we're still obviously in session and we collect those monthly. Uh additionally, there are others that the grants have not been applied towards that yet because
023we're waiting for those grants to arrive from the uh federal government and or the state of Connecticut. So if you see some lines that are overages, especially the staff one should be popping out as 139,000. What's going on, Jeff? That's what's going on. We're just waiting for the monies to come in from prek and also from the grants. Thank you, Jeff. Any discussion, questions? Seeing none, all those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. >> Who am I missing this time? Eric Paratt this time. I'm missing Eric. >> I vote yes. >> Yes. Thank you. That passes 800. Okay, thank you very much. Moving on to new business. Item G on our agenda. Uh we have some new policy reads. Uh looks like ABC looks like we have five. Penny, are you going to
024walk us through these? >> Sure. >> Ready? >> All yours. >> Okay. The first policy is 1312.3 library material review and reconsideration pay policy. I'm sorry. Um, we just had our initial read through on these policies. We're going to also once they're once we do start the second read, then we will ask our library media specialists to look at them. >> Correct, Jeff? >> Yes, that is correct. So far the policy subcommittee has met and um met to discuss these the first four and then the last one as well. The first four are mandated policies um and the last is a revision policy to provide flexibil flexibility but yes the library media policies. We are going to ask for additional input from our library media specialist. Um because one of such is the review of
025materials that are outdated and then having to fill a form out each and every time we're going to get some input from him. Uh Mr. Todd Milmore before we go ahead and make that effective. But a great thanks to our policy subcommittee for the work on that. But go ahead, Penny. I'll let you take over again. >> Okay. Um, these were all by CA. These are all through CABE also. >> So, um, that's our first one. The second one is 1312.4 library collection development and maintenance policy. That's similar to what Jeff was just speaking about. Like some of our books are outdated. Um, they're in sad shape. We don't want to have to fill out ask him to fill out a form every single time we want to get rid of a book. So, we're
026going to see if we can streamline that process. The last one is 1312.5 library display and program policy. It's just to make sure that anything that is put up around the library is um representative of what we have for guidelines in our schools. Nothing that would be out of place that would be that would offend anybody. Anything else, Jeff? >> Yes. Uh so these three policies are going to provide the standard by which library material complaints are evaluated. So if a parent community member has an issue with something, this is the process that we go through. So the library materials are reviewed, how they're curated, and then how they're removed. So this looks like on the regulation side, we develop a committee. It's very uh spelled out there that the superintendent's in charge of developing
027that committee. We review the materials that are presented. We ask for some feedback from the uh individual who is issuing the complaint or concern. Doesn't necessarily have to be a complaint as well. Uh and then we work together as a team to ensure that we are um having specifically age appropriate upto-date material in front of our kiddos. >> Right. There's also a form that the parents if you went through this policy um there's a form that the parents have to fill out or the the person that's doing the complaining, not necessarily the parent, but it could be a gu guardian or a student. There is a form that has to be filled out. So, we reviewed that and made some changes to it. Well, you can see what's red line through >> and then what's
028in black. >> Are there any questions over these three library policies? Yes, Tom. >> So, I have a one that's what what stood out to me was the I don't think I've noticed before. It says a mandated policy at the top of this. Have we always said a mandated policy on top of these things? We all know they are, but this one says it's a mandated policy. Is that is there a reason for that? >> Yeah, I'm making it clear that it's according to specific law. So, this is according to public act 25168. Uh, so it's found within there. So, whenever they're mandated, I want the board to know specifically what the mandate is from and then have the opportunity to discuss it during first read and second read if any other concerns come up.
029But yes, that's why I've issued it there and then wanted to make it public when we are discussing it. um as well that these new policies are mandated. There's a list of um approximately 15 or 16, don't quote me specifically on that, but we're taking them a chunk at a time to bring before the board by each month. So, these were the first ones on deck uh to be in compliance with current legislation. So, again, they're all mandated. We we've been dealing this for eight years now since I've been on the board that these policies come through and we we rubber stamp them through because we have no choice. But now there says a mandated policy. I was just wondering Jeff, you can tell me your thoughts on why you put that there. And I
030don't want to put you on the spot, but >> No, no, sir. No. And no, no issues. I again I I want to operate in a fully transparent manner. So when they are sent to me, they were sent to me in a large list from um the state this year and also from CABE and also from CAPS. So, as I was reflecting on our process of doing this, I said, "Well, if they're mandated, the board should know that they're mandated and why and how they're mandated." Um, so that's why I added that component there so that you guys would know about it. That's the only reason why it says that now versus a revised policy, meaning we have something in place. I'm just trying to be a little bit more clear and succinct with our
031policy subcommittee and also with the full board and the public all in one fell swoop. >> I I appreciate that very much. Is there a thought you have behind these mandated policies? >> Yes, absolutely. So, this provides the the uh uh an infrastructure and a method a procedure to follow should a concern arise. Prior to that, it was handled internally. Uh but I can't say and when we met as a subcommittee polic with our uh admin team, I asked, hey, do we have these concerns even coming up? And they said no. So this puts in a codified method of receiving concerns that something may not be age appropriate, something may be contrary to a family's beliefs, what we do with that material, how it's then processed through, which professionals have their hands on it, and
032then what is decided afterward. So these uh the first two specifically deal with that, all of the materials coming in and out. Um and then the other one is what is on display. So again trying to cover all the avenues trying to make sure that parent rights are considered. This was a very very strong push for parent right and student rights with this legislation in the state of Connecticut. So I am in favor of it because again it's just for transparency but it also is involvement of our parent community. So if they felt that they were voiceless before, well this is an avenue where if you are concerned with something, here's what you do versus I'll say just, you know, writing a a very opinionated email that doesn't then do anything. This makes sure that
033we follow the process, the procedure to eliminate the material, to review the material or to supplant it with something more age appropriate. And we are holding true to the values of New Hartford public schools. So when we receive a mandated policy, we have to put it in place, but then this policy subcommittee works very hard to craft it so that it meets what we want as a New Hartford public school system. >> Yeah. And I So to me, of all the policies we we've that have come across our desks in eight years, this one actually has a little bit of um ability for the board to make decisions that affect our town rather than being >> forced to do something. Is that correct? >> I I I can't speak to the 80 years historical, but
034since I've been on the board, yes, this gives again the policy subcommittee has a lot of say in that. And then how it's presented to the board, how you guys receive it, how you read it, and then to provide any other input. Yep. So, this is one of those really good like touchable policies versus the ones that are abstract. It's like, oh, we got to do this and Jeff, you're going to handle it kind of thing. Yeah, I see what you're saying. Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Of course, sir. Y >> Tom, if you look at that policy, trying to think 1312.3, if you look on the community and relations instruction, there's a whole list of people that might could be on the committee to review the complaints that are received. So it's not
035just the superintendent, it's not just the librarian making, you know, looking at the material that's been complained about or that they don't feel is appropriate for our children or their child. >> Okay. >> So it's a various people including the librarian. >> It's not just a I think before like we had had a complaint once before but it never got taken to this level. the complaint was made, but I don't believe that the board of ed members ever knew about it >> or were aware of it. And I mean, I don't recall Brian ever talking about it. >> Well, it seems like this one of the only policies that since I've been on the board that actually allows us to actually be a board of ed. So, I'm I'm kind of happy to read what
036I read today. So, anyway, I didn't want to take it for face value and not misinterpret it. So, thank you. Okay. Um, any other questions or comments? >> I have a couple of questions on the um, form that we would pass out to parents who are requesting reconsideration. Um, just just wondering why some of these questions were deleted. Uh, I feel like some of these might be pretty helpful questions for them to answer. >> Yep. So as the as the subcommittee met some of them seemed redundant in nature and I could of course let Frank Roenberg or Kristen Young also speak to that as they were there. Uh that's why and we wanted to get to the crux of the matter not really start to delve into more of someone's bias. We wanted to get
037to the the just the the the meat and the potatoes. What's going on? Why what's the concern? And we even added a component for more specificity because of age appropriateness with the grade level checkboxes you could see on one of those forms, but a lot of them seemed redundant or weren't going to give us the information that we wanted specifically. So, as a team, we work through all of those questions. I believe originally there were 10 and it just seemed like this is too much. We don't need all of this additional information. Once we know, we get to the bottom line of, hey, did you do anything about your concern? Who did you speak with? Now, where is it in process? give us the information and let's move forward with it versus it taking, you
038know, a turn into one way or the other. Uh we didn't want it to develop into a full-blown narrative. We really want to know what's the concern, you know, uh what have you done so far about it and then bring it up to the level that it's supposed to be uh with our policy um our our subcommittee for the library media. Uh Frank and Kristen, feel free to chime in if there's additional pieces that I missed. Um, I wasn't thinking about going through each question again, but we did as a group, um, as a subcommittee. >> There's also a chance for them to appeal if they don't like our like the decision of the committee. >> Well, I want to be very clear about the appeal process is that it's only the appeal process, just
039so everybody's clear, is not like questioning the merits of the decision. It's you can appeal to determine whether or not the process was followed. >> Was followed. Correct. Um, in terms of the questions that were deleted, like I think Jeff covered off on most of it, but like we really didn't want people like it's one thing for people to raise a concern, but another thing for other people to kind of come in and come over the top with our libraries or the committee. Like the committee should decide what age group the book in question is appropriate for. the committee should be evaluating anything from a literary perspective or critics like people putting that in did not seem to add any value to the work that we would still need to be doing there. Um so
040that was kind of some of the thought behind it. And I left questions just to kind of ask questions versus like narrowing it down to like get specific on what >> and we added we left in six as as we reinumerated everything just to be as the catchall to provide further explanation there. But asking a parent, you know, what age group would you recommend this material for? That's really not to be disrespectful in any way, shape, or form, but we have a certified library media specialist and professional teachers and an admin that are going to know the age group for that child. not necessarily taking the input in from the family member, not again not to be disrespectful and if they felt so needed they could add additional reasoning at the at the end as
041the catchall. So that's kind of again more of the intent. >> My only other concern would be the who did you ask change sounds a little accusatory in my view. >> Um >> who did you ask about the educational purpose of this? It almost sound it almost seems like what have you been told me is a little bit more um helpful, I guess you would say. >> It's funny that you ask about that because I remember talking about this one specifically and part of the reason like we didn't want someone to just regurgitate something that they had like heard from somebody else about the book. We really want people to be engaging with the material themselves before they're asking for an exception or a revision from stuff. And so what this what this was intended
042to get across was basically have you spoken to anybody at the school about this before you are filing a formal complaint, right? Like did you talk to the teacher? Did you talk to the librarian to kind of voice your concerns that way or did you just jump to kind of filing a formal complaint? >> You know, upon hearing you say what you just said, I think that might be a better way of wording it. something like who have you spoken to at the school regarding >> is that what you mean? >> No, the the way she worded it, have you have you had any discussion >> right with anybody representative at the school? >> Yeah, that sounds good. >> I think that is the question you want to ask. Have you had a discussion with
043>> I'm pretty sure that that was the intent of what we were getting at. >> I think that's a better way of wording it now. Um I hear you guys saying it out loud. That's it for me. Thank you. >> Thanks, Eric. >> Thank you, Eric. >> Okay, >> I'm making a note there to change number three to have you had any discussion about the educational purpose of this material >> subcommittee agreement so that we >> with anybody I think the point that Frank and Eric are driving home that have you had any discussion about any with anybody in the school district? Okay. Well, this is going to go back to the subcommittee. This is only the first read. So, does anybody have any any reason to reject that change? >> No. And they can
044always send their changes to Jeff and then we can talk about it at our next meeting >> instead of him trying to write everything down. Now, >> I got I got it here. >> Okay. >> I wrote down that change. >> Very, good. We'll move on to uh the next policy, Penny. >> Okay. >> Yep. Um the next one is students a policy 5118.2 students educational opportunities for military children. Um this new and mandated policy further supports military children who are enrolled and attending our schools to then have a family member be deployed. This policy supports the fam military family from disruption of their children's education. So, we would not, you know, if they got sent overseas, we wouldn't expect the child to necessarily, we wouldn't kick them out of our school system. We' allow
045them to finish out the year or whatever they wanted to do >> questions. >> Any any questions on this? Yeah, one of the changes that I see on page uh >> let me find mine. Okay. >> On page P5118.2B, the last bullet. I guess my question is is in red is nine excused absences per year for the purposes of visiting the deployed. Um I guess my question is where do we come up with nine? So that's reflective of uh state guidance uh with the 10 unexcused. So that was put into law oh my goodness I believe that uh families can excuse a child up to um nine absences for the following reasons and there's a bulleted list bereiement um illness things of that nature but then anything that crosses over 10 then triggers our attendance
046team to convene a meeting with the families to see if there's any needs or supports. So that's why that number is what it is. >> So they would be entitled not entitled but without reporting we have if they are a child of a of a of a military member they can get nine days here but again that if they were to get sick or bereavement or things outside of that they would also be able to get additional. So this is a >> not a total this is for specifically visiting a military member. >> Yeah. They we're going to be super flexible with them. Absolutely. The intent here is to protect kids from having disruption in their in their year once they're enrolled here. This says they could stay. >> Anything else? >> Okay, moving on.
047Our last one is Oops, now I lost my agenda. is a revised policy and regulations 5125 students confidentiality and access to student records. I mean any of the changes that were made um would have would be in the red. Are there any questions about this policy? >> I'd like to provide additional >> I'm sorry. Can I read my paragraph first? >> Yes. Yes, Benny, please go ahead. There you go. That's what I was going to expect. Go ahead. >> Okay. Um, our current policy is too restrictive and not in alignment with standard practice. The board's legal council recommends increased flexibility with school breaks, large volume of records to be copied and delivered. Our authorized only staff needs flexibility not to exceed 45 calendar days to deliver record requests. The board will always work to meet
048requests in a timely manner. So, I mean, they can't say, "Hey, we need these records and we need them in three days." That's not going to work. Now, we have up to 45 days to get everything copied. And only certain people can make those copies. It's not >> correct. >> Just anyone that can do them. Okay, your turn. >> No, you got it. I was just going to make sure I was going to make sure you gave the board the rationale for those changes. um and that we've also experienced this um within a legal proceeding just recently over last summer and this summer and it was again too restrictive and the board was not able to comply with that. We want to make sure that we are able to do so and in most cases
049we again provide them extremely quickly but a three-day turnaround over the summer recess is just unreasonable when not all staff is in. So we wanted to make sure we had that flexibility. Again that is just the standard across the board. Uh for many other school districts, we are just adopting the same type of flexibility and our goal is always to work as expediently as we can, but just to have it within reason uh going forward with all of our proceedings going forward. >> Any questions from anybody? We will take this into consideration any of the changes that you have suggested at our next um meeting policy meeting and then we'll bring these back at probably at the next board meeting for the second read and approval. >> Thanks Tim. >> Thank you Penny. Thank you
050Jeff for explaining that. Um and that wraps up our new business. The next item on the agenda is old business. Uh we have one item listed here which is the task force selection. So last meeting we did have a conversation about that on how we as the board of education selected the three again proposed three members u to be part of the task force. Um so I don't know if anybody has put any thought into that. I don't know if we want to use a nomination process if you just want to give your or volunteer um to be a part of the task force and then we decide as a uh as a board how we want to do that. So, I just want to make sure that is is on your mind. Um, and
051if you have a a a um proposed process for selecting three of the nine members that are on this board um to the task force, uh please just send me an email, shoot me a text, let me know. And if anybody wants to have any further conversation now or I can open the floor to that as well. >> Did you receive my email that I sent you a long time ago about this? >> Yes, Penny, I have you on Yep. I have you on the list. >> Okay. Can I also share with this group what um chairman Gilfoil said at her last board of finance meeting about their choosing the task force? >> Sure. >> Okay. She said anybody that on their group in the board of finance group could send her an email. She
052would put all the names into the hat and then she would draw from there. Someone suggested that she be on the committee anyways as the chairperson and she said no, she would rather put her name in the hat also so that it's all random draw if you want to call it that. >> Thank you. Um, Tim, I can send you an email on this, but I just wanted to mention that I think this was brought up at one of the recent board of selectmen, but the way that we're forming this task force may trigger statutory requirements regarding minority party representation on the task force. Um, so I've done like a little bit of research in this regard. This was an area where I was hoping that once we have the consultant, they could kind of
053like clarify this for us. But if that is the case, then whatever process we should choose like needs to kind of take that into consideration in some way, shape, or form. >> Yep. You're absolutely right. Yeah, we we've uh we've had that discussion. Um and we do want to bring on a professional who's who's gone through this process in the past and let them guide us um in the right direction. But we will we will uh we will keep that um uh in mind as we as we move forward. This is getting off topic very slightly because I'm not talking about board of ed members, but can you remind me of what the other makeup you were thinking about? Um the board chairs had discussed with our superintendent um doing two from the board of
054selectment, two from the board of finance, three from the board of education, and then two community members. Uh one community member with students in the district, school age students in district, and one without school age students in district. Again, we're just throwing around ideas, you know, discussing this when we had our initial meeting um to be able to launch this and get it out to to bid uh to bring in a professional. but we are truly going to use them to guide the process. If they've done something different in other districts, uh we definitely want them to help us through the process. >> One thing I was just throwing it out there and something to think about as we move in that direction is I think people that have showed up, people that go to
055board of ed meetings, people that have been engaged, I haven't been on the board very long, but I think that is worth something. you know, you we have some people that show up to a lot of board of ed meetings and so forth, and I think that should have some value when you're picking somebody. >> Thank you, Tom. I think I saw you had your hand raised. >> Yeah. Can you remind me of the funding behind this consultant? Is that a a town money or is that it's not from the board, right? Our board. No, >> we we don't have a budget for this type of a study. So, it would have to go before the board of finance for approval and funding. >> And that would be drawn from which fund? >> Uh, the
056board of finance would have to it would have to align on that and give us the the uh the funding source where they'd take it from. >> Do we have a budget uh number for consulting we're thinking about or just completely >> I'm going to defer again right now. It's it's the bids just came in yesterday morning. Um so the numbers are going to be in those envelopes that Jeff has. Um and until we get through the interview and selection process, I think we need to keep those numbers confidential. Okay. Any uh any additional questions regarding the task force at this time? >> All right, seeing none, we will move on to uh item I reports at advance. Uh dear, >> yeah, I mean uh I think everybody has um the sheet sort of that
057news from at advance. Um we just had another board meeting. I mean, essentially, you know, everyone's just coming back to school um and all the busyiness of that and then also coming off of a very um you know, somewhat of a challenging uh end of school year into summer. um you know, obviously they're still trying to figure out um the cut, you know, the cuts in the federal government and how that impacts the mental health um you know, student mental health grant that they're not they potentially are not going to be well won't be getting if it if they don't try to do something about it, which they've been trying to do something about it. Um but it would threaten the you know, basically 17 counselors up in the northwest corner. So um they sort
058of have been tackling that. um they had to close the workspace Connecticut. So that also um took up a ton of time for them. And then um because they sold the property. I don't know if you guys know that. Um and then they had to move their special educ education program to the new building away from the building that they were in that they that they sold. So those are kind of some of the big things that have been happening there. Um they wanted to delay the 2526 budget um until November. We just had a call, but they want to delay it uh for a variety of factors. Um, one of which, of course, is this um, you know, grant that could impact so many people and trying to figure out what they can do
059as far as trying to keep those guys on through spring. Um, so um, and then also the sale of the workspace. So, they're going to delay what the budget is going to be looking like for the 25 26 season until the November meeting. So, that's basically all that's been going on. they did have an all agency day um which brought a a ton of people together, all their staff and celebrating all their achievements and things like that. So that's kind of what they've been doing um kind of what's been going on um at ED advance. That's all I have to report. >> Thank you. Does anybody have any questions for Dear Dream on the Ed Advance report? Um Jeff and actually Jeff and Tim, one thing um uh one thing of note that I I
060wanted to bring up too um about the special session of the general assembly where they found miraculously found $190 million in new revenue that was discovered. Did you guys hear about that? >> No. >> Yeah. So they miraculously discovered it. I'm not exactly sure how that happened. and that was shortly after the 2025 legislative where the session ended. Um, so they're trying to figure out what that's going to look like um and where that money is going to go. But like I said, after the general assembly, there was $190 million in new revenue. So I don't know if we want to kind of explore that. Um, it was a special session by the general assembly to discuss 190 million in new revenue that was discovered shortly after the regular 2025 session ended in June, as
061well as revision to education and housing bills that did not make it out of the regular session. So, I I don't know. I can't report out on that too much, but I would just say I wanted to just bring it to our attention that we should probably look into that a little bit further. >> Um, and how that may impact some of the things that we're doing from our budgets and, you know, I'm just not sure. Jeeoff, have you heard that? >> No, I have not heard that, but I'm very sure that they will specifically earmark it for conditions of attaining any of those monies, whether they go into an emergency special education fund, which that has been created. They'll tell us where that's going to go and how to access any of those funds.
062Um, I don't know. I have not heard that until you just mentioned that that $190 million. So, I >> Yeah, I was going to send you guys these notes, but they're not approved yet. So, I didn't send them to you ahead of this meeting, but I did want to I I didn't want to I want to be remiss in not mentioning that we found $190 million somewhere. So, >> um, and I don't know how that may or may not impact us at all. >> Okay. Can I request my $57 back? >> What' you say? >> Can I request my $57 back? >> Yeah. >> So, Tim, I'll forward those to you once those are approved. I'll forward them on so you guys have them and you can we can discuss it further if you want
063to. >> Oh, definitely. Thank you. Much appreciated. Okay. Um, next item on the agenda is public comment for agenda items only. Um, looking here at the screen, it looks like we have eight viewers. Would anybody like to address the board? If you would please raise your hand. I'm not seeing any hands raised. Sure. Are we sure they're able to raise their hands being a viewer? being only a viewer. I'm not sure if that's an option for them. >> Are they able to type in the notes at all if they want to talk? I don't think you can actually. I think they're pretty restricted. Oh, John. John Puzz. >> So, perfect. So, now we know. Thank you. All right. >> They both And Mary Greenwood too. Mary Beth. >> John, do you want to speak or
064you just testing the infrastructure? Well, we'll never know. >> Well, I can only click on it and it tells me I can't remove John P. So, I can't remove anybody from the meeting. I guess I want to make sure this does work. So, we can raise hands, but we can't speak unless we give them ability. But I don't see any hands raised currently. >> They can't click on that little hand on the bottom of the screen. No, they don't have the ability to do anything. They're just viewers. So, we have to give them the ability to do that. >> Hold on. I'm going to make sure I'm going to connect with Paul. Paul, you're on the meeting. Can you just uh for uh sample purposes allow John Puzz to speak so we'll make sure that
065works. There he is. >> We have you, John. Were you trying to address the board? >> I was simply trying to help you in making sure that if someone did want to speak, they could speak. So, I wasn't going to raise my hand and then uh Jeff, once you had I think Paul unmute me. I got a message saying you've been invited to be a contributor. if you want to accept decline and then once I accept it I could then unmute myself and speak. So just for the knowledge of the process for everyone >> but you said just John you you said you were able to raise your hand correct >> I was able to raise my hand yes and then again uh had to be unmuted I had to ex by you all had
066to accept that im that invitation to contribute here in Google meet and then after that I could then unmute myself manually. Okay, great. Thanks, John. So, if there's anybody, there's seven viewers that are still listed as viewers and not participants. So, if anyone would like to speak, please go ahead and raise hand. >> What about Mary Beth who raised her hand before or was she just testing it? We can upgrade her. Paula, would you like to upgrade Mary? Mary Greenwood. >> And for the record, Paul is an absolute IT genius. This guy figures everything out. Everything. >> All right. So, Mary has been upgraded. Mary, would you like to address the board? I think you'll have to come off come off mute. Okay, I see Mary as a contributor, but she's on mute currently. She's
067reasonably techsavvy. So I assume if she was still there and wanted to contribute that she would not to speak out of turn, but before we sit here for five minutes. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um well, we don't have there's no public comment for agenda items only that came before the board. Next item on the agenda is adjournment. Can I get a motion to adjourn at 7 to >> Motion by Penny, second by Tom. All those in favor? >> Thank you all. Have a great night. >> bye everybody. Good night. What they told?