001Yeah, there's not an extra table. Spread out. Thank you. Oh, here. No, but the changes different light. What kind of society we live in? Is it a light or is it a fan? It's both. Well, that is killing me. So, every time it goes off, squeeze. I should take a picture of the light light in there. Um there's there's a difference. So, when you go in, you So, with the one that's over the sink And then there's the other ones and then you hit the power. >> [laughter] >> I'm going to be texting my electrician. You got to come and get rid of it. >> [laughter] >> Look, I thought it was cool. I wanted it out. I mean, it's in the kids bathroom, so I'm okay with it. Ready? >> [clears throat] >> Okay,
002I'm going to start the meeting. If everybody would please rise for 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. Thank you. All right, I'm going to go ahead and open it up to public comment. I think there's some people here. I'm just going to remind everybody that it's 3-minutes per person. So, if you can make sure you get whatever in you have to say. And just in case you've never been here before, it's not a back and forth. We listen to what you say and then we move on to the next person. And Mr. O'Brien is going to do the pleasure of calling you by name. Please just
003when you come up to the microphone, just give your address. Name and address. That's all we ask. Angela Herder. All right. Hello everyone. Um thank you. Um so, my name is Angela Herder. I live at 207 Long Mountain Road and I come before you as retired teacher in this district. Um I spent decades creating a classroom that was safe, that was wholesome, where my students could learn. I am deeply concerned about the proposal to explore Turning Point USA chapter for our high school. This is not about politics. I did not come here to talk about that. But I did come here to say that our schools are not platforms for outside organizations to bring in agendas that risk dividing students and undermining the educational environment. We all know that schools should be places where all
004students feel respected, supported, and safe, regardless of their background, their identity, or their beliefs. Turning Point USA is not widely recognized as a highly partisan organization that has sparked controversy on campuses across the country. Many educators and institutions have raised concerns about the tone of its messaging and its impact on school climate. And we all know about school climate. Whether one agrees or disagrees with its views, the reality is that its presence often brings conflict, not constructive dialogue. And that matters because right now schools across the country, including ours, are struggling with teacher recruitment, retention. Educators are leaving environments when they feel unsupported and where the focus shifts away from teaching and toward managing political conflict. Introducing organizations that heighten tension makes that challenge worse, not better. It also affects your budget. When teachers leave,
005districts need to spend more money on recruitment, training, and substitutes. When school climate suffers, families lose confidence. And when trust erodes, passing a school budget becomes significantly more difficult. New Milford doesn't need that. We've been through many, many budget seasons. If students want to engage in civic discussion, there are already appropriate, balanced ways to do that within the high school, guided by educators who are trained to foster respectful dialogue. >> Ma'am, respectfully, your time is up. Thank you. Um Irene Squillaro. >> [clears throat] >> Um Irene Squillaro, 205 Pumpkin Hill Road. I understand that the Republican Town Council is in the process of setting up a high school Turning Point chapter in New Milford. This initiative isn't born of students. They're being recruited by your RT RTC. The organization specifically focuses on building student-led chapters
006in high schools and colleges, requiring at least three students and a teacher sponsor from the same school to start a chapter. They tell who are Republican. I don't see Uh Turning Point maintains a professor watch list. It claims that the purpose of the watch list is to identify professors who, quote, discriminate against conservative students and advance of leftist propaganda in the classroom. But most entries are not about instances of discrimination or propagandaizing. Many entries on the professor watch list concern faculty members' social media posts or scholarly publications. Researchers have found there's no rampant left-wing bias among public school teachers indoctrinating students into hating this country. In a number of instances, listings have led to campaigns of online harassment against faculty members. This is going to be happening at your high school. TP also promotes a
007school board watch list and has launched a private school network in response to woke curriculum in public schools. I'm going to ask all the BOE members to take a look at the next meeting. Some of those people may be driven out as a result of this system. To think that the RTC is supportive and instrumental in forming a TP Young Vote in New Milford is damaging to the town, traumatizing to our LGBTQ, black, and brown students and Muslim citizens. Not all Muslims are brown. And it's a lash and against everything that New Milford should stand for. This is not who we are. We're better than this. You do not People don't look to the Board of Ed to fix this. You have to speak out cuz they have to listen to us. You as parents
008and taxpayers have to take control of this situation and see that how damaging this will be. Thank you. Thank you. Carolyn Hyde. Where do I put these things? Here. Um Carolyn Hyde, 31 Brook View Lane, New Milford, Connecticut. Good evening, Dr. Carloto, Board of Ed, and Board of Ed staff. My name is Carolyn Hyde. I am the parent of three students in the New Milford public school system, one high schooler and two soon-to-be. Over the past few weeks, there have been online calls soliciting teenage children to join Turning Point USA chapter here in town by the Republican Town Committee. As you may see reported in local papers, people challenged the idea of soliciting minors on social media to join the club during a recent Town Council meeting. They were described as activists. I am standing
009here as a parent. Ms. Lynn Umberger, head of the RN the New Milford RTC, stated that the intent was not to start a club in the schools, but rather an opportunity outside of school. It should be noted that the teenage children will be asked to sign a constitution. In the constitution of the Club America, which is the high school level of Turning Point USA, it states in section C, "Purpose of this club shall be the purpose of this chapter is to promote and uphold the principles of limited government, fiscal responsibility, free markets, and constitutional rights on your campus through informed discussions and grassroots activism on our campus." If the RTC solicits three New Milford High School students through social media by May 31st, and it begins the TP chapter here in town, it will show
010up on your doorsteps of New Milford High School. The website for Club America will give the students all the information on how to get it established and the script of how to fight back if denied. Club America entices teenage children to gather information on students, staff, and Board of Ed by offering Patriot points. "Be a recruitment warrior by recruiting and collecting student IDs, conducting activities using weekly activism themes." I like that. "Bring in TP speakers to school, plus much more." And here are some of the prizes they can get. By clicking on the website checkbox, you agree to post videos, stories, etc. on social media by using the hashtag big gov sucks. Is this how New Milford High School creates an inclusive community or a divided community? The assassination of Charlie Kirk happened back in
011September. The high school community was more aware of what Turning Point USA represented than adults because high school students are the targeted demographic on social media for TPUSA. TPUSA Club America was established in 2012. This club wanted was wanted at school. The kids would have already asked to establish one. They did not, but now they're being solicited by adults to start a chapter who are not part of the Board of Ed staff. I understand that any student can start a club. It is their right. But this club will bring division to New Milford High School community that Mr. Menchaca has worked very hard in his tenure to create. Turning Point USA says Club America brings leadership experience and college resume building. Isn't that what Wingman does? Wingman leaders are being taught to bring communities together
012to create safer student spaces, not one that separates by political and religious ideas. I know this has not come to New Milford High School yet, but please know if this club gets off the ground by May 31st, that is when the three members have to be voted in by, it'll be greeting you at the door when students return this fall. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Jackie Hi, Jackie in Redwood Lane, New Milford. Um I've been a resident homeowner and taxpayer in New Milford for 24 years. I fight for our school budget whenever there is pushback from the town leadership. A good school system raises property values and elevates future generations. The opposite is a school system that would embrace a hate group like Turning Point USA. It would tell the world that the
013rewriting of history is okay with our town and that discrimination and intolerance are our values. I find it despicable that our RTC, a political organization whose many members are elected officials [clears throat] in New Milford and who hold vast political power in town, that that they are recruiting students for a religious-based hate group that pushes white Christian nationalism in an attempt to groom future generations into their America First ideology, intent on erasing people of color and non-Christians from our history. Among other things, the America First curriculum aims to erase slavery and the systemic and institutionalized racism that exists in this country. It is my understanding that a Turning Point Club America in New Milford High School would need to be student-initiated and have a teacher to lead it. I truly hope this is not who
014we are. We need teachers who teach factual, historical, civics and who do not buy into some whitewashed version of what our founding fathers intended when they wrote our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Don't be fooled. The adult political RTC launching a Turning Point USA chapter is the gateway to a Club America in the high school. And hate has no home here. Thank you. Thank you. That was the last name. We're going to go ahead and close public comment. And we'll move on to the PTO reports, except I don't think I see anybody from the PTO here. And our student representatives are competing. They have a meet today, yeah? Today. Good for them. So there would be none of that. And I'm going to ask for a motion to approve the regular minute meetings dated March
01517th, 2026. >> So moved. Second. Eric Tom Brian, sorry. Any discussion? All those in favor? I will abstain. Thank you. >> [clears throat] >> And we'll move on to the curriculum. Thank you. So hello everyone. We are entering our event-filled time of the year and you will see they those things are filled with milestone celebrations and anticipating the end of the school year. As a reminder, the last day of school for students is June 19th um because we had those eight snow days this year and that's uh that's what happens sometimes. Uh and a very important reminder for all families is that this Friday, May 1st, will start again with paid breakfast and lunch for um after 3 years of free breakfast for all students. Um and so the excellent budgeting by our food services
016department has saved New Milford public schools families hundreds and hundreds of dollars over those 3 years. Um and we're so proud and glad to have been able to do that for so long. Um but now the time has come for us to go back and transition back to paid meals uh beginning this Friday. And so I've sent out several communications and the schools have too so that families remember to upload um some funds to the MySchoolBucks account for students to to get their breakfast and lunch uh which will now be paid. So that's that's that. And so you will Only Tuesday, I've had numerous opportunities this week to visit classrooms and it truly is a joy to see our students and staff members in action. You can see our routines are so firmly established, our
017activities are humming along um and it's wonderful to see students interacting with each other um and certainly our staff members interacting with students. So that's uh those are happy moments when I'm able to do that. >> [clears throat] >> And we'll move on to the chair report. I really don't have a lot. First we just want to on behalf of the board thank Business Sullivan for her hard work. We may be one of the only towns in Connecticut that has been able to supplement families for 3 years. And it should doesn't go unnoticed for sure. That's unbelievably long time, yes. >> Unbelievable long time. Um That's I have a really short I don't really have anything to say um except that I am meeting with Dr. Carlotto on Thursday afternoon. We're going to be discussing
018um scheduling, policy, and curriculum to every other month. I'd ask the subcommittee chairs to keep that in mind. If we don't need to have a meeting every month, if it can be an email, let's do that. Work Tom, you can work, you know, with Matt. Wendy, I think you work with Anthony and Janet. But every month is fine. You guys are staying cuz I know we got a lot shaking going on with you guys. So that's coming soon. And that's it. Now we'll move on to the subcommittees. We'll start with policy. So um we did have our policy meeting. Um there are four policies for first read on the agenda that a little bit later on. Um we've got about five policies that are for second read and approval. And we also have um some
019regulations um that are for information only um regarding the policies. And so we'll be seeing those in a little bit. We will. Is that all? Yep. Thank you. Committee on learning Tearing Let me check my notes. It's been so long. It's been a long month. It's been a minute. Um we had a presentation from Mrs. Stover about the Cultural Connections program for eighth graders who are not taking a language. Very uh what they're exposing the students to. Um and talked about how it is a good option for students who are not quite ready to take the the foreign language yet. Um also heard about the navigator theory, which was very interesting, which is going to tie in with what they do with freshman and sophomore and so on. So it's a nicely um banded together
020series that helps the students in areas of uh executing executive functioning, digital citizenship, self-discovery, and career exploration, which I think is so so important. That's it. Thank you. Mr. O'Brien So as usual um during the informational portion of the evening, uh Mr. Cunningham will give us an update on the major projects that are either ongoing or in the planning stage. Um the only thing I would add to that is that at our most recent facilities meeting, uh we did have a discussion about the fact that um he brings the big picture projects to us, but on any given day they're working on dozens of other proactive projects, repairs, improvements, um that they don't need to bother us with, but just appreciate everything that you and your team are doing. As do we, Mr. Cunningham. Okay.
021So, that is good. So, I need a motion to approve the budget position dated March 31st, 2026 purchase What? Did I skip You did just Oh, I did it at operations and Oh. I'm sorry. >> [laughter] >> Crap. I know. That's going to cost you. But, um you guys you all can see by the minutes, um it was a pretty intense uh meeting. You know, there's a lot of and I'm sure Anthony will go through this in the informational. You know, our motions basically are on the monthly reports, but I urge board members to really look at the informational side when we're talking about our audits, our end-of-year balance, how it's designated, our ESG expenditures, how those are budgeted out, how those are parceled out, our excess costs, our reimbursement. Those are all individually very
022serious items that all tie together to our budget. Um and uh we covered a lot of it and I think questions we prepped for this at operations in the informational piece. There were some memos attached. Uh every board member's gotten them in the minutes will also be sent out. I'll send that conversation um of just kind of where we are and how we got there. So, um just like the normal budgetary stuff for approval, but uh I know we're ready for questions under the informational side and I and I hope we get them. You're going to go first next month. It's It's all good. It was on purpose. It was on purpose. It was always on purpose for me. We're going to move on to the discussion and possible actions. Here we go. Monthly reports,
023the budget position dated March 31st, 2026 purchase resolution D-805 and request for budget transfers. I need a motion to approve the budget position dated March 31st, 2026 purchase resolution D-805 and request for budget transfers. So moved. Second. Tom and Wendy. Any discussion? Sure. >> You want to do a quick overview on that because we we have covered a lot of ground as we start to close out our year. Absolutely. Joe, do you have a question first or can you hear Anthony out or do you want I want to hear Anthony out. Okay. Thank you. Um this as of this reporting period we're within within 1/2 of 1% where we were the same time period last year. Um the budget position listing on page four of four, you can see the top item for excess cost.
024The first payment received is a memo about that and we'll discuss Um for for while I'm here for for for you can see the bottom left box. It shows the program fiscal 2025 deposit of $1.2 million. There's a memo on that later we'll be going in more depth. Um so, the capital reserve balance as of today is $2,263,000 806. Um the purchase resolution and transfer report, uh several of these are end-of-year purchases for some items that were presented to Dr. Carmody when we started building the 2026-2027 budget that did not make it in. So, they're here for your consideration as purchase budget line And that is my brief overview and I would welcome any questions on any of the things before us. I was first. Joseph. I have to say how impressed I am with
025the good work of the Board of Ed and the help of Town Council that we have funded the turf replacement of $1.2 million. Um We're what? Seven years into the turf? He's looking at you, Wendy. And we're ahead of schedule. Right. And it's it's chemical and under budget. We made the commitment. We funded it. Only during COVID did we migrate some of those funds. The town matched some of it and we're ahead of schedule. On top of the fact that although recommended a 10-year replacement, that the quality of care we put into will extend the life of it. So, it was a tremendous accomplishment. Thank you for that. But, I think it's actually 10 years. My first year on the board Yep. Is it 10 years now? I think this is year nine, maybe year
026nine, year 10. We're coming into the 10th year. And and we had the goal was to have, you know, at least closer to a million dollars by 12 or 13 years based on the discussions. So, we we are basically ahead of that. And the turf is doing well. It's it it's it's kind of living past what we thought it would have to be >> expectancy perhaps has changed a little bit. I mean, Matt would know more about that. >> Beautifully maintained. the maintenance, yeah. May we ask, in your opinion Yeah, we had Sprinturf out actually last month. We're just kind of going over our practices. We've gotten new people in over the past decades, so we want to be up on the stuff what they we should be doing. They did a fill depth measurement,
027so how much of the fill we have there. They did a measurement of the actual height of the grass and the wear is out in front of like the goals and the seams and they said we were doing really well. We have a good few years still. Thanks. Can I just make a quick comment on Anthony on your commentary? Thank you very much. On our capital reserve page four of four, um so, noted that while that's earmarked, that's [snorts] after the audit, that those monies have been deposited into the capital reserve. So, we're quote as current as we could be right now. However, we're now going to start digging into our capital plan. And so, that number is a snapshot basically of where we're going to be going. Is that fair to say? Yep. You'll
028see the revised five-year capital plan at next month's meetings. That would draw back. >> Anybody else? All those in favor? Thank you. That is everybody. We're going to [clears throat] move on to revised policies for first read. I have a question. I tried to look at the minutes um from policy and I see 3160 is on here, uh which is budget procedures and line item transfers. Uh basically when I pulled out the the information, this is for first read because there's a possibility we're going [cough and clears throat] to adopt new language. Is that correct or no? No, we already have a non-lapsing account established in our existing policy. The difference with this new 3160, the revised 3160 is that there's new reporting requirements to this connected state board of education. But, we don't we
029don't we don't implement the non-lapsing account, but it exists in policy. Okay. So, the non-lapsing is part of our policy already. >> Correct. The red language is part of our policy? Yes. No, the red language is new. Exactly. That's my point. >> Yes. Okay. So, the the the red at the top of uh the actual, presentation, Yes. is the new narrative of why we're discussing this and what we may do to change it. Correct. So, the red at the top of each of the new policies, the revised policies, tells you exactly what the change is. But, when I read the policy minutes, I didn't get the impression that we're going to be making this type of compliance modification. Am I missing that from policy? Is there a thought that we we're doing this at policy?
030Are we Are we going to change some of this language? Are we going to ex- I mean, The only thing that we would add is the reporting requirement for the Connecticut State Department of Education >> [cough] >> to [clears throat] establish a non-lapsing account, which we haven't discussed yet. That's my point. >> Yes. So, you We haven't established the account. If we establish the account, we need to adopt the language that is consistent with that account because it's the law. Yes. Right? >> Yes. I just didn't see that reflected in the minutes, so it was confusing to me. So, that conversation >> [clears throat] >> of the actual non-lapsing account, while it we have to have a policy that ties the legal to it, we actually at the board have to decide if we're going
031to do the account. And do I have the order correctly? Is that absolutely correct? Trying to get it. Thank you. Through the chair, if I may. Sure. So, we are still So, the revised policies for first read and second read are still the July 1st, 2025 updates that we're doing. Um that's just where we are. We're not doing that wholesale revision as we have done in the past year. So, we're still catching up to the July 1st legislation. Do any of these impact our handbooks or anything like that? Do you know timelines? Well, we'll be fine. Uh certainly the social media one would be the 4131 would. Okay. Uh we'll be fine by then. Yes. >> Okay. Yeah, we don't really do those till July. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. Anybody else have any? >>
032[clears throat] >> And so, these first four See you again. They'll go back. Yeah. Okay. So, then we'll move on to revised policy for second read and approval. I need a motion to approve the following policies which are listed as item 9B in the agenda. So move. Tammy Second. We've got B 9C C I have it as 9B. >> I have it at 9B. For the first read. Oh, it was 9C. C See on the paper. Um yes, okay. >> policies are 9C. Okay, I'm hearing Okay, 9C. No, sorry. On 9C on the agenda. So Tammy moved it. Who seconded it? Brian. Brian. Any discussion? >> [clears throat] >> Question. I'm In the red, it says >> [cough] >> Excuse me, the US Supreme Court had some ruling and it mentioned >> Which Which Which
033number? Hold on for a second. I'm reading right above series 6000 it's on page 67. Which policy? Oh, that's my No, no, no. I'll hand it to you I'll hand it to you once I get it. No, that's fine. Are you on the 6000? Yep. Hold on. No, it's above it. >> Isn't that the Mozert v. Milford Board of Education? Yes. Yes. Curricular exemption. It mentioned of certain instructions like so I guess 6142 I'm sorry. I can't even see it. I got the wrong glasses and I don't have my laptop. Page >> we're going back to revise to the first read ones. Cuz that's on first. Okay, I'm sorry. I thought we were No, that's fine. You can go ahead. 6142 is the first read. Yeah, so it's not part of Mozert you can ask
034him. Yeah, I just had a quick question if you If you have the answer, if not it can wait cuz we're going to hear it again. >> [clears throat] >> Where it says the Supreme Court it ruled on certain in favor of the parents to have certain instructions that they can be I guess you can keep your kids out of those classes. Do we know what if it was outside of the four, technically five but we only have four of them. If it was outside of those four was it one of those four? Cuz it doesn't elaborate on what those certain instructions were. Do we know? So in really what it's saying is that if it places a burden on the religious upbringing of the children, that is now fair game for exemption. Which hasn't
035been true before. Okay, so there wasn't a specific ruling on a specific it was just saying in generalities. Correct. Okay, thank you. Okay. [snorts] That was >> So So now we're going back to and Tammy and Brian Any more discussion? All those in favor. Okay, so healthy food certification. So every year I say the same thing. I hate this particular policy but I vote for it because there's money attached to it and I brought my my reading [clears throat] glasses because it's a lengthy 20 pages The board wants to read it in its entirety. It must be entered into video and record. Word for word. >> Okay, ready? Here we go. I'm going to give it my best shot. I need a motion for the following for the following pursuant to CGS section 10-21 Q
036I'm sorry, 215F. The New Milford Board of Education certifies that all food items offered for sale to students in the schools under its jurisdiction and not exempted from the Connecticut Nutritional Standards published by the Connecticut State Department of Education will comply with the Connecticut Nutrition Standards during the period of July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2027. This certification shall include all food offered for sale to students separately from reimbursable meals at all times and from all sources including but not limited to school stores, vending machines, school cafeterias, culinary programs and any fundraising activities on school premises sponsored by the school or non-school organizations and groups. So moved. Tammy And who? Brian Tom Does it matter? Brian Any discussion? All those in favor. And I have to do the second one, right? Yep. Bear with me,
037folks. Yep. Okay, I need a motion for the following. The New Milford Board of Education will allow the sale the sale to students of food items that do not meet the Connecticut Nutrition Standards and beverages not listed in section 10-221Q of the Connecticut General Statutes provided that the following conditions are met. One, the sale is in connection [clears throat] with an event occurring after the end of regular school day or on the weekend. Two, the sale is at the location of the event and three, the food and beverage items are not sold from a vending machine or school store. An event is an occurrence that involves more than just a regularly scheduled practice, meetings or extracurricular activity. For example, soccer games, school plays and interscholastic debates are events but soccer practices, play rehearsals and debate
038team meetings are not. The regular school day is the period from midnight before to 30 minutes after the end of the official school day. Location means where the event is being held must be the same place as the food and beverage sales. Everybody got that? Tammy Could you do that again? I'm sorry. >> [laughter] >> You're out. You're out. I'll second. Tammy and Brian Tom All those in favor. It's everybody. >> [clears throat] >> Did you have a question? I I saw the word in there. Okay. I'm following. Okay. Items of information. Administration Administrative Regulations regarding social media Administrative Bless you. regulations regarding regarding confidentiality and access to education records and administrative regulations regarding student discipline. Does anybody have anything on that? We'll move on to the fiscal year 2020 24-25 audit report. Okay, so
039this memo accomplishes two things. Uh the prior memo dated March 3rd had a typo in it. The balance that would be transferred to our capital reserve account showed on that original memo as 1.3 million error with 1.2 million typo on the memo. And the other pieces of this update was um the educational cost share carve out that we participate in. We've agreed to give back to the town. Um it was not motioned It was motioned at the Board of Ed but it was not part of the motion by Board of Finance in June um on June 25th. So as such the town finance director has not posted that transaction so it will come from the current year fiscal year end balance. There's no harm with this, it's just a timing issue and in the future
040when we make those motions in June for the preceding year's fund balance where we decide to carve out an amount towards capital reserve or an amount towards turf, we will also be making a carve out uh to reimburse the town for the educational cost sharing if that's the intention of the board. So this won't happen again in the future. That was helpful. Can I just expand on that cuz I was I can't answer any questions on it. I mean basically um the the when the board made the motion, we had identified the 2%. That motion for whatever reason wasn't carried over to the other acting bodies and therefore the town fiscal director thought prudent to say, you know, we're going to let it sit into the capital reserve and we're going to have that fall
041to our bottom line and carve that out in the 25-26 budget. Is that correct? Um It's coming from somewhere. It's pretty close. The the um participation in the grant was known at the time but the dollar amount was not known at the time so it did not >> [clears throat] >> make its way into the Board of Finance. Okay, that's fair. Yeah, they didn't have the dollar amount but the the actual funding cycle we're going to see at the end of this year. Yes. Right. So we have to calculate 232,000, you know, 906 out of our end of the year balance so to speak to be already set aside towards the town. Yes. Okay, I want to make that you know, as we start to wind down the numbers and get closer, that is already
042encumbered. You know, so Yeah. That number will change, correct? Year over year it'll change and so we won't know the actual reconciled number until end of We We won't know the number by this June and the recommendation of the town finance director is that if the board is going to participate in this carve out again and also wishes to reimburse the town, we put an amount do not not to exceed dollar amount. >> Okay. Um and then whatever the true dollar amount comes in, that'll be revised. Okay. And just so the reminder [clears throat] to the board, we don't have to pay that 2% back. We opt to pay it back. >> Mhm. This is the really kind of the first time that engaged in this um and that for those that haven't been kind
043of following it I think it's been it's really worked well for the board because the the capturing of the 2% or the actual dollar amount is outside of our operational budget and which you already identified funds for. So during the year things happen and I believe you gave a beautiful example of what we use some of this for and had that flexibility not been there then we have to go through our line items and find that amount. And for a non-budgeted items if we [clears throat] have the funds and I think one of the examples you gave was the Oversee materials? >> much were they? Oh, $350,000. >> Thank you. So it's a win-win for the town and the taxpayers. These are already approved taxpayer dollars and if we couldn't find it in our line
044items within our budget it is possible we'd have to [clears throat] if that kind of example have a special appropriation. So it gives us the flexibility. I would hope the board continue to kind of you know, maneuver through this fund. What we do with it, how we pay it back, if we don't, how we work things out is is a different issue but I think it's just my opinion I think it's been successful. Can I ask a question? When do we vote each year on whether or not we're doing this? I think it would be by the end of this year. Wouldn't we? We have to we have to apply in July. The summer. So then by by our next meeting. We don't get the application from the from the state department. We vote on
045it, do we? To That we're going to pay it back? >> Yeah. We have not voted on paying it back. It's just a decision that's made internally. I I think it was more I think it was more vocal than internal. I think the first time around we had a discussion at this board. We certainly did. Gosh, did we. Yes. This is our this is year two. Correct. Yeah. And there I'm just like rechecking. And it does caveat how we can use those funds, too. And there they're for specific things, correct? It's not just Well, it has to be Well, yeah, it has to be for educational purposes and We're not going on vacation. >> No, that's what Absolutely not. Good try though. >> [laughter] >> I believe we had discussion. I don't I can't recall
046if we had a formal vote but I believe we had a consensus over you know, what we're going to do and the intent. >> Yeah, there may have been a vote. There may have been I I do And but the motion also in that motion as I recall and I'm doing this from sheer memory, that motion was to participate in the 2% set aside with the intent of paying the town back. It was a one swoop all. >> my understanding. So yeah. And so we don't we don't have to vote on it each year if we voted on it once? I I I think it was just year by year. I I don't I don't know the actual if it was it was designated to a year. And quite frankly, Tammy the board can choose
047to amend any kind of vote. So if the board chooses to not participate, if the board chooses to participate and not, you know, reimburse the town, you know, there's a there's a lot of variables there. It's just, you know, I just wanted to kind of put out there how successful the fund has been. I think it has been And it shouldn't go without mention even though the audit is here, our audit is something to be proud of especially when you see what other districts are going through. We the town and the board very good audit and that does not happen without a lot of work. So Okay, we're ready to move on to ESG ESG payment schedule. Let's everybody put their thinking caps on. I'll see if I can sum it up. Run with it.
048Yeah, if you'll do it. There's a memo to this idea. There's a memo and the purpose of this memo is we we voted a measurement and verification report from ESG in November. Page the good news on that report is that the savings for that year exceeded payment by about $16,000. What brought up many questions was page one of that report had an outline of credits that were designated through the process and a lot of internal questions here at the board bed staff administration staff as well as the board surrounded upon when those credits were received and what if any of them were not So the chart page to the memo the amount description is from the M&V report. This column the column over over on the right is by a 10. With Dr. Parlato and
049to to explain where these credits went. I can go the majority of them were built into the cash flow with the exception of the top one which is the ITC credits in the amount of $1,040,000. Which we see no part of. That's correct. So we haven't gotten any of them. The town has received that in the current year and recorded as revenue. They have not. They have. They have received. And they're holding it they're holding it in a revenue account. The second item part of that was built into the cash flow. Part of it was used to solve for the first year 2022. The L Rex and Z Rex are built into the cash flow mostly. Any additional amount that the town is receiving is being used to pay the consulting contract with the ESG.
050The demand response part of that was built into the cash flow. Same thing with the Rex and the pure buy down was partly built into the cash flow and partly used to satisfy the bill for year one. The take the takeaway from this chart is that the amount the only amount that wasn't baked into the cash flow and isn't being used as part of the project is the first one the $1,040,000. So can I ask a question? So cuz this whole program confuses me quite a bit. Um Does the money that does the savings go directly to the town and then the town disperses it? So when we're talking about the the these payment we pay less let's just say to Eversource because our energy rates are lower based on the installation of the projects
051that we went forward with. So we don't pay as much to Eversource and several other vendors because we have less energy usage. The difference between that we have to budget and use for the lease payment of which the Board of Education is responsible for 66 and 2/3 percent. The credits that are outlined here and specifically that million dollars was outside of that cash flow completely separate. The town became entitled to it by embarking upon this project. So if I could just speak up. We had a very detailed detailed discussion about this issue at operations and the minutes captured it very well. So I'm not going to talk a lot but for me the million dollars I don't understand. If we are liable for 6 for 2/3 of the expenses my understanding is it's it seems
052logical to me that we should be 2/3 of whatever revenue comes in should also be allocated to us. I was hoping the mayor would be here today and could speak to what cuz I just need to understand how the town they get a million dollars what what did they use it for and how does that apply to this? So I'm [clears throat] still confused by that. I have a bunch of other questions. I think Joe's not speaking but one of the something for total transparency this began at operations you know, a few months ago you know, kind of drilling down what credits came in and how they were dispersed. There was conversation then and you heard me be very vocal how do we after spending two years on the phone every Friday afternoon trying to
053figure this out how did it work out. So we did have bring all this paperwork over and have a meeting at the mayor's office and review these numbers. Certainly that's official here anytime he wants to and and and was invited to this meeting. I I don't speak for the mayor. But um I will say one of one of my goals on this is we have to make sure we have these funds set aside every year in our budget. You know, and we have the savings coming [clears throat] in and we want to make sure A of the timeline that was big for me because there was the project started basically what a year late a year and a half late something to that degree and there was a for me there was a question on
054when the clock started ticking and then all the rest of the credits. The savings in the energy line basically is just being transferred to our end of the year balance which is paying for this lease payment. Okay? So I think everybody's there. You know, on the credit piece I understood most of it you know, that it was being used and baked into the overall cost of the project. I [clears throat] I was unaware of the the the million dollars in the budget. And I sure wasn't trying to beat up on you Oh, I'm at [snorts] operations then or today. I It's all good. We are all confused by this. So so did you did we make some Did did we have like you you had a conversation with the mayor about this? So, did we
055address this million dollars? >> absolutely addressed it. That's what >> So, what was his The way that I recall his his response, and I'm sure that he will be eager to correct me if I um uh don't capture it appropriately, was that this um this was a revenue that was not part of the project. The town identified it, and that there are some financial obligations on the town side, and they um They they are holding on to it. Um at that particular time, I will say, and I'll go on record anywhere, publicly, privately, could care less, um I do think that it's incumbent on us, and I think the town was very receptive, that we're also being hit with some additional charges in this project that are were being put into our budget. You know,
056we don't know what future charges are going to be on solar. Those surprise expenditures can really hurt you. And I had made mention, and I believe that the the financial director, and I think Anthony, and Dr. Pearl, everybody there thought this might be a good idea, that we can capture a separate account, and put some money towards some of those expenditures that we're going to be expecting. Um [clears throat] I think that would be proactive rather than reactive, and you can't have it both ways. You can't have a budget at a certain level, and then keep adding all these layers of cost, and say, "Why is it higher?" It doesn't work that way. So, if we know that some of those expenditures are coming in, I think that they should We should find time to
057figure out a way to set aside account that can go towards those surprise expenditures. And to that end, if if I could I see where [clears throat] where we have some credits that were from 2022, and do we have a plan to recognize these credits cuz that could actually help with the cash flow as well? At least knowing if we're putting on the extra expenditure. >> [clears throat] >> It would be great to know what these credits mean. Um by end of year at least. Do they have Do we have a plan to reconcile before three years elapse? So, um all these credits that are in that top chart, none of them are received directly by the Board of Ed. These are all reconciled on the town side. The only credits at the bottom of
058that >> [clears throat] >> because this did come up uh several times, and we did meet with the mayor, um asked us to identify any demand response credits that we received, and we do receive them. Um Year one we received 2425, we received almost $6,000, and 2526, we received $72,000. We reconcile that on the board side. All the credits that are in that top chart, the one three the six credits that total $4.1 million, those are not reconciled on the board side. That's absolutely correct. Yeah, I think that has to be very clear in the minutes that that they What we have received it totals about $13,000. Right? Which we're using for preventive maintenance. Yes. contract. And those are those are demand response. Those are tailor energy during those high peak times, and some of
059that would have been taking place anyway even if this project wasn't going forward. So, to that explanation, because some of the conversation was, "Okay, well, how how where did the 970 go? Where did the 910 go? Where if they go if they come into, you know, the town in general, how are they dispersed? You know, it was one of my questions I asked here. You know, um so, they don't come to us. Um and I've gone through minutes for the last three years. I think that I've discussed this with it, and I've I've looked at everything that I could. Um The best that I understood it was that those credits that can everything else Take the one million at the top, and just cut that out for a second, and take a look at the
060rest. All of those actual credits were put into the program, do I understand it, to offset the overall payment schedule. Is that right, Anthony? [clears throat] Yes. >> Is that Is that how we understand it? Yeah, and some needed to Some needed to pay for year one Right. where the project was delayed. Right. Some is being used to pay the any L rec and Z rec uh credits above the cash flow for the project are being used to pay the um ESG consultant. 50% >> able to carve out everything else 50%. But to your question, if you look at $4,160,000, that did not come direct to the Board of Ed. But have we Has the Board of Education seen savings overall with this program, or are we paying what we used to in the past,
061and not getting and not getting any money back from it? This is what I don't understand. I thought this was supposed to save us money in the long run by doing this. However, the money came back, but it but I'm I don't want to misunderstand this, but it feels like we're still paying what we're paying, and the town is just taking the the the savings. So, the the project was designed to start generating savings, and in that first measurement verification report, it has generated $16,000 more in savings than if we didn't go down this road. The million dollars in the ITC credits look at as kind of the cherry on top that is completely separate outside of the cash flow. Because the town and the board participate in this program, they qualified for additional credits.
062I [clears throat] will say also, right? Tell me if I'm wrong. The savings that we may gain in our electricity line, right? Then falls to the bottom line at the end of the year, and then we use that from our end of year balance to help pay for the lease payment. Yes. That's how we do it. Yeah. Yep. That's how when this first entered into the budget, my very first concern was, "Anthony, show me step by step how one line item goes to the next cuz I need to understand it." It just sounds like a lot of brain damage for $16,000. I mean, I know it's not a small amount of money, but Well, yeah, compared to a four million, it it is. Your ROI on that is around 16 years. So, we're really It's
063going to be a while. I think Joe had his hand up. It's a long time. Go ahead, Joseph. A couple thoughts or comments. Uh this one million that that is at the top here. Was that the town that informed us that was there, or did we find that on our own accord? I was not informed by the town when we got the measurement verification report that has this same chart um without the use column, that's when we found out officially. We asked. And I will agree with you, sir. Uh 2/3 of that should come back to us. And And this has been a pattern in this town. It's just the way we've done things. Uh we educate uh st- students from Sherman. We do indeed. And yet all that tuition uh gets paid directly to
064the town, not to us. So, that's a loss for us there. Mhm. Uh this is a loss for us. And And we are often criticized for our budgets. We are more than 70% of this town's money. Um how about giving us that money allows us to make changes to our budget, and maybe they may not be as high as they have to be. Uh I think about how much discretion we have in our budget. We're little. And uh this I think, honestly, is a battle between us and town council, and you know, we're sending millions of dollars to them. Things that we're paying for. You can throw excessive cost sharing into that cuz we don't see that educational cost sharing. educational cost sharing. See that. What's that? 16 million? So, we are generating tremendous 13
065million? revenue for the town uh that doesn't benefit us in educating our students. I'll put it that way. On that second page with the payment schedule, Anthony, that first year the town picked up the entire tab. Is that possibly why we paid it back? No, that's second year. >> Very first year. First year we did not. So, I mean, is that part of why they they uh kept the one million 440? Mhm. It could be a reason why they're keeping the full million dollars, but um that was not um That was not It was not explained to us. >> Yeah, that wasn't part of the discussion we had. The year one payment as the project was uh a little bit confusing, [clears throat and cough] and had some delays. Um I um I know that
066in year two and year three, we made it up in one lump payment. Is that fair to say, Anthony? Yes, we paid our fair share in year three. >> 100% of what we owed year one. I think that there was some you know, there was some lag time in this and that, and it was It is my understanding it was paid out of the town general fund. Okay? Somewhere from the town. I I've looked for the minutes for that, and I I couldn't find it anywhere. So, um but I we it's been paid. We know that, and and and that's that. My only critique, and I'll go a little bit further, is we are partners. We are partners, and I wish it was a little bit more discussion on the disbursement of this. Um I'm
067I I I said it there, I you know, and I'll say it here. I I wish there was a little bit more discussion. I can understand some of the rationale, but after the fact is is, you know, it is what it is. The argument could be made that these capital expenditures wouldn't have happened unless this project kind of started. But And that's it. That's a valid argument. But but now by the time you get through the the payoff schedule to your point, it it gets a it gets a little challenging. Um I just think that that um when there's moneys that come in for our one town, we all need to sit down and have the discussion, and it shouldn't be after the fact. That's my personal opinion. I have one more comment. Can I
068summarize what we said as far back in that uh the town needs to work with the Board of Education. Work with them. Keep us informed. I don't want to put you in that spot. I'll take that one, but keep us informed, work with us, and and be a part of what we do since uh we have the greatest goal for this community, and that's educating our our children. Okay. We can move on from this. And excess cost grants. Um yeah, there was a memo with that. Go ahead. Yep. There's a memo on that, the first of two pages you received. Um it is short of what we expected, right? But the excess cost grant reimburses us for eligible outplacement costs, of which today we have not expended our full budget. So, when we project out
069the remainder of the fiscal year, we show a shortfall that will be covered by less expenditures through the end of the year. And when we get the second payment and sometime in May, I will provide a new updated memo to the board with where we ended the fiscal year. Um and I've identified the lines in the memo. If you go back to the budget position listing in the monthly reports, where the transportation and tuition lines still have a remaining balance. The takeaway being that we cannot get reimbursed on funds that we did not expend. So, it is not um it is not a surprise that the amount we have gotten back so far is less than we originally budgeted. Also throughout the memo, um there's a link to the State School Finance Project. Um if
070you look at the electronic copy version of the PDF, you should be able to click on that. And this is uh they have a paper that goes through the impact analysis um across all >> [clears throat] >> towns across the state of Connecticut, not just New Milford. Anybody? Okay. We'll move on to facilities. You're up, Mr. Cunningham. Mr. Gibbons, he's doing a GREAT JOB TONIGHT. [laughter] I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE BRINGING A RELIEVER PITCHER IN, BUT he's just throwing strikes. >> [laughter] >> I don't want to see him go, but He was ready. You're Sandman. So, uh yes, Mr. O'Brien said in the Facilities Subcommittee, we kind of gave a bird's-eye view of some of the larger tier one projects we're looking to do this summer and some capital projects that are uh showing up on
071the state. So, New Milford High School sidewalks, >> [clears throat and cough] >> we have a drafted contract for the sidewalks. I imagine that number's going to grow because Uh but we're looking at this stage set to do about 2,000 square feet. That's about 70 of the 5-ft by 5-ft panels you see around the high school. Um New Milford Central Offices, we do have we've provided stamp drawings from Silver Petrucelli. We've pulled several permits for in there. We've actually already started to do some of the uh work spaces, and we expect to go over last summer once school was out. And Matt, if I could just Sure. Jack. Uh my understanding is you're going to do most of that work in-house. So, it should come in under budget. Am I correct in that? I would
072hope so. Certainly, you know, the driver for there is that we're looking to have sound attenuation, so we're trying to soundproof some of the areas. So, those materials are a little more expensive, uh but certainly we're expecting to come in under budget. To your point, yes, we're looking to do the majority of it in-house. Anything fire protection related, we have to outsource. And uh actually flooring is just more cost effective to have a company come in and do the flooring or something like so much more expeditious at it. And there is a window we're working with. You know, we go live in August, so we want to get that done here and ready so these offices are fully operational by the time we're back to the school year. Thank you. Uh we have been working
073with the Innate Excuse me. Architects. Um they have they are providing the schematic drawings. We're working with the physical colonnade. Uh once we have those and some cost assessments, the Facilities Subcommittee will bring that to the Uh New Milford roof, we have a preliminary letter from Connecticut DAS. So, I think the town went to contract with Silver Petrucelli [clears throat] and A and E on this roof uh this past week. So, once we reach out to them, we will arrange them with the state to do a pre-bid conformance review and start to have a conversation about the technical aspects of the roof and going out to bid on the actual construction. They seems [snorts] that it probably happened this summer, but so You're still confident we can get this done over the summer? Not this
074summer. For the roof. >> [laughter] >> Yeah. No, I mean, by the time you go through but we still have to go out to bid for the actual construction. >> [clears throat] >> prior to that because the state has standards they want you to follow on this. They want to make sure that the insulation >> [clears throat] >> code. Um and then I think the real thing, too, is the wall panels are going to be a thing that there's going to have to be time those have to be fabricated. They're custom so unlike getting like an architectural grade shingle that you can get at a relatively big box store, it's going to be a little more involved in the in to get the materials. So, no, I don't foresee that happening. And I think certainly
075it's been the sentiment of the board that we prefer not to work on a live building, especially an elementary school that only has one floor to it and has river rock ballast on it. It's just a it's a loud, obtrusive uh project. So, no, I would expect at this stage we're in a good place to go out to bid this summer so we can lock into a company for next summer. Okay. I just ask for clarification. When you say we, the it's the the town goes out to bid or who does the bid who who's going out to bid? The Facilities Building Committee would technically be the organization that would actually go out to bid. Uh and finally, the Scatacook Middle School underground storage tank, uh I actually have a meeting this week with Weston
076& Sampson, so that's the engineering firm and American Petroleum, that's the company that won the bid to do the actual construction. We probably got about 10 submittals back and forth, so it's been a lot of activity. We're going to meet on site here so we can all uh for lack of a better word, get our ducks in a row. And we expect that project to start as soon as school gets out, so so we're looking to replace that Thank you. Unemployment employment report. Unemployment Sorry. Employment rate. Uh Oh. I have a quick question about the employment report. Yeah. Oh, yes. Mr. Peppin. Yes. I thought he started back in like January. So, yes. Uh he was an employee of our sub service first um while we worked on his official teacher certification. Gotcha. So, now
077that he's officially certified by the Connecticut State Department of Education, we're able to list him as certified staff on the employment report. That's great. Okay. Yes. Thank you. >> That's good. You are welcome. So, you can see there are no certified staff resignations, which is um monumental, actually. In a good way. Uh you can see we have one retirement, Mrs. Adicanes, who's assistant principal at Helen Plains. And next month uh during the May meeting, we'll do our retiree recognition for all the people who have retired during this particular school year. Other than that, it's pretty quiet. Enrollment report. And we And if I we we have somebody that's going to be running our building education program. That That's a big position. Well, yeah, that's temporary. That's temporary until the end of this year, but yes.
078Uh let's see. Enrollment report, you can see that um it's the actual's only 17 students off of the projected, which is still um nice. It shows that that projection is still pretty good. And we'll be talking to in May or June about doing a new enrollment study and school and um utilization study as well. So, there's nothing uh notable about that enrollment report. Um can I make a point on this? Please do. And this this is the It's not meant to be inappropriate, but I I just want to go on the record. It's my understanding the town is going to fund that report or help fund that report. >> Indeed. I just want to put that out there. Yes. Thank you. They're going to They're going to pay for it or they're going to Half.
079Yep. Thank you. I have a question real quick on that. Yes. So, the the existing enrollment report Yes. report out to Janico. They are always 10 years. 10 years. Okay, great. So this other one will pick up and we'll be able to compare it to the 10-year one. >> Correct. Yep. Cuz that one's been pretty darn accurate. >> It's very nice. It's very accurate. Yes. Well, that that way we'll be able to Indeed. gauge. All right, I'll expect to see that. Good. Yes. How much do the studies cost? Max. Well, we're we're going to show you what we got for bids. Uh anywhere from 19,000 to 75,000. Wow. Do you know what we paid 10 years ago? I don't know, but I could find out easily. Yes. I'll check. Yes. We all stared at Anthony.
080Yeah. No. >> [laughter] >> Go ahead, but I'll get it. We're not putting you I was actually waiting for you to tell us what I want TO SEE HOW MUCH QUICKER THAT IS. HE WAS JUST QUIZZING US. Once you put a number out there, it better be a >> [laughter] >> You remember it. I'm not saying a word. All right, let's April fundraising. It looks like there's There's plenty of fundraising. >> lots of money. Good. Good. Yep, very nice. Real quick. Uh yes. What about in the Good. That's that. That's that. Now we'll move on to discussion. Okay, I hereby move. [snorts] I'm going to move it. That the board enter into executive session for the purpose to interview a candidate for the director of human resources position. Invited into executive session are Dr. Janet
081Parlato, superintendent of Milford Public Schools, and the candidate. I move I move in All those in favor? That's everybody, and it is what's up. >> Mhm. >> Everybody's here? Okay. I need a motion to appoint what's his name, but I know it's Linda DeMeyer, right? DeMeyer to the position of director of human resources effective start date July 1st, 2026. Second. Who made the motion? Made the motion? I'll make the motion. Second it. Joe and Brian. Brian. Tom. Tom? Wait. Come on. I've already got Tom and Brian. I'm Brian. Is that what you have? >> Yeah. Okay. All those in favor? All those against? Abstained? Thank you, Sarah. Thank you. I think Thank you. Congratulations. >> [applause] >> Do you need a motion to adjourn? I need a motion to adjourn. I'll move. Who seconded it?
082All those in favor? I have Tom and and Dean.