001Does it work or is it >> or is it like a stripe across your head? >> No, that's all I need. >> That's all he needs. >> I'm a woman to begin with. I don't need that. >> It doesn't I think they're >> good. Lord, we're on live. >> We're on live. All right. >> Go live. >> Cookie. >> Okay. Going to go in the in the bathroom sandwich. sandwich that >> we don't have set seating that there's no set. >> Okay. We're going to go ahead and call the meeting to order. If we can all please stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge of 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
002all. >> Thank you. We open it up to public comment. And I don't see anybody, so we'll move on. PCO report. I don't either. So, we'll move right on to the student representatives report. >> Okay. From Hill Plane, they had a busy and positive season. Students and staff include activities that highlight kindness, respect, and community spirit, including Mondays, spooky reading night, the book character parade, and a successful Veterans Day celebration. Core value citizens and top dogs continue to be recognized monthly for demonstrating the school's core values. And a new second grade student leadership team is helping to strengthen leadership skills across the school. Undergoing coal cleanup brought families and volunteers together. All staff teams staff leadership teams continue to collaborate on in on practices. Finally, the school is supporting families through a holiday food drive.
003And then in Northville, Northville is off to an amazing start to our school year. The students and staff did a food drive at the start of the month and collected enough food to create baskets for 12. Additional food remains to fill those cups. On Monday, November 10th celebrated Veterans Day by honoring 20 veterans. The second grade sang songs to thank the men and women for their services. The high school color guard ended our assembly. They ended October with our annual book character parade. Their kindergarten, first, and second grade teachers are working hard learning the new reading program, Bookworms, and are doing an amazing job. And I was really like to thank the blue education education for supporting our program. >> And then at Sarah this past month they celebrated veterans day with three assemblies that
004included the SMIS band and the banding chorus from NHS. 35 veterans came to share their experiences with them. After assemblies a month to share their experiences which opportunity for students to learn about and thank them for their service. Additionally, this past month in a Additionally this past month had a month called breast cancer awareness coin and can drive. Students and staff raised more than $1,500 and on Friday they celebrated with a full school food day. It was great to see a sea of pink that celebrated what they can do as a school community. At Scatakook, they held a Veterans Day assembly on November 7th. Their fall sports seasons have wrapped up and winter sports have begun. The SMS SMS PTO hosted an amazing dinner for the staff on their full day of conferences. They did
005an incredible job and the scatter staff are very appreciative. And the book fair is occurring at SMS giving students the opportunity to visit and purchase books during ELA classes. And any of you guys had no report. >> What report? Thank you. >> Thank you. Thanks, guys. Penny and Mark, thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Are free to leave. >> Okay, we're going to move on. I need a motion to approve the following board of education meeting minutes. Regular meeting minutes from October 21st, 2025. Thanks, guys. >> So, move second. Brian, all those in favor. >> Oh, thank you. Any conversation? >> Superintendent report. >> So this evening we had a uh board of education workshop regarding our district performance for the 2425 school year. Uh and certainly we are pleased to note that
006we increased our score to 16 out of the 22 indicators that are used to uh measure our performance index. Uh and we know that in the six indicators where we stayed the same or we remained um we went down. We know we have plenty of work to do and we have a plan moving forward to increase our performance for every single student in the district. Uh second of all, what was I going to say? Uh congratulations to our uh girls field hockey team who got to the state championship. They got to the finals uh and although they lost a heartbreaker one zero to Brford um it is certainly a giant accomplishment to get to the finals in the state championship. So that was great. Um another notable achievement is our theater uh department put on
007the play the play that goes wrong. It was certainly wellreceived modern comedy that was so enjoyable for so many of the audiences that experienced it and I believe it was uh the highest ticket sales they had ever experienced. So that's a wonderful thing for uh that group and let's see that's about it that I have for today. How did band do? Didn't you guys and your and your daughter also they went to >> So yeah, the marching band uh participated in the national championships uh in class 4A. New Milford finished in sixth place out of probably 20 schools. So that's a a very significant achievement. Uh they get to go to Metife Stadium and uh perform on the field. Um, and it's a I could tell you as a person who walked out of the
008tunnel this year into the field myself as a chaperone, it's just unbelievable for kids to experience that to walk onto a professional into a professional football stadium and be on that field is something they'll never forget. So, yeah, I'm glad that we came in sixth place for New Muffford Public Schools and um, yeah, they're great. >> Thank you. Um, my report is brief. We're cancelling um two subcommittee meetings next month. Um we're gonna cancel policy and we cancel together. >> No, I was going to have to say I'm separate them. Have to put uh this herring in between the two of them. >> So, we're we're cancelling those two subcommittees. Um I want to thank Dr. Parlott tonight for the workshop. It was appreciated by everybody. a lot of good information and we're thankful that
009the mayor was able to attend it. Also, >> a lot of work that needs to be done. >> There is work that needs to be done, but I believe we have the right team in place. >> Sure. Just >> welcome our new board member. >> Welcome back, Joe. >> Okay. >> I thought he was going to go unnoticed tonight. Took care of that. It's like he slid right back into his old slack. You're welcome. >> Hold you right back in. >> We'll move on to subcommitteees policy. >> So, we do have some policy revisions um just for first three tonight and we also have some regulations that are for information only. >> That's it. >> That is it. >> Oh, thank you Tammy. >> Short and sweet to uh Sarah to begin learning. Uh we
010got a presentation from the various principles about some testing results um kind of combined in with um you know how to look after this tonight um and listen to their you know their strategies moving forward for this school year and how to keep going in the right direction with the students. >> Thank you. uh facilities. >> So, uh Mr. Cunningham has been hard at work um issuing RFPs for uh projects that were um to be funded by our recent capital reserve withdrawal. Um so, give us a update on those as well as the current status of the planning for the Northville roof project. So, that's all I got. >> Thank you, Tom. and we'll go to operations. >> So, ops, it was a great meeting, facilities, there's a lot of good conversation and I think
011the same for operations. Uh, when we get to the budget reports, obviously, we'll uh turn it over to Anthony if the board would like an overview. We're just basically breaking down some of the line items, some of the changes that you know in reviewing the capital reserve and some other things. So, I'll certainly leave that to him. There's nothing on here that, you know, is out of the ordinary with the monthly reports. >> Thank you. We're going to any anybody have anything to say? Anything extra? We're going to move on to discussion and possible action for the monthly reports. I need a motion to approve the budget position dated October 31st, 2025, purchase resolution D-800 and request for budget transfers. >> I have discussion. >> Who do I have? Wendy. Who who was first? >>
012Me and then Tom. And then questions. >> Wendy. discussion >> question page 16 Anthony right I'm looking at I'm just curious um the line that says salaries non-certified stipens um we don't have anything encumbered was 577,000 in that line what happened with that why aren't we using it >> we we don't encumber uh for payroll incumbrances we encumber everybody's regular pay, not any additional stipens that they may be entitled to. >> Um, sometimes those people getting those stipens will change from year to year, but we we've never done payroll incumbrances for stipens, >> but we've only used 1.12% so far this year. >> Yes, that is through October 31st. So, a lot of those stipens are associated with um fall sport activities and they're paid out. >> We only had, you know, we haven't had
013that many paychecks. >> I was curious. >> Yeah, it's a good point. some this is a timing issue and we don't capture it. But if I could follow up on that, I mean we did a great overview and I think Anthony did a really good job of explaining some of the um you know issues that arose at operations. Certainly you can all read the minutes. Um but if we take a look at page 404 which is where we are in the capital reserve account that has been noted because of our withdrawal uh through the town meeting that's been captured. Is that correct? Um, Anthony approved by town meeting on October 14th. >> And so this is actually what we have here pending a audit and deposit that'll come through in February. >> That's correct. >>
014Okay. You want to add anything to that? So just just as a general overview as chair fallen back mentioned um it's a fairly routine report the burn rate which is the pace at which we expended encumber funds is within 1/ half of 1% where we were the same time period last year. Um there are no transfers being requested at this time but there was discussion at operations about the need for a transfer in the next several months with regard to um salaries. We will be moving money from salaries to contract services. Covers some of the positions that the district has had to um go to vendors to provide. >> Paris, nurses, um I think there's one. >> Yep. >> And might be a psychologist as well. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, there's it affects several
015different bargaining units. These are positions that we haven't been able to hire for directly. So we're using contracted services for so some of the dollar amounts that you see in salaries for paras and nurses specifically balances that show is available are going to be required to transfer into contracted services in the following month. >> Thank you for that and the anticipation on that transfer would be from the salary account. >> Yes. So it would be >> salaries and contracting services and as per budget transfer policy the board needs to actually approve those formally. >> Okay. Anybody else? All those in favor? All those opposed abstain. >> Joe, are you seeing better? >> Thank you. shy. >> Okay, then we'll move on to policy revisions for first read. Any questions? >> Wait one second. Am I
016supposed to have a motion for this? No, these are just >> a first read. >> Okay. And I just have one other question before we get there to um I'll wait till we get there. Go ahead. I'm sorry. >> Again. So yeah, it's first read and um as you know we receive uh we received the model policies very late and so um only for some of them do you have the comparison documents um and so when we have policy again uh we will have the full set of comparison documents. Um and particularly when it comes to 411813, so the sex discrimination and sexual harassment ones. Um federally there was a requirement that we go back to the 2020 Title 9 uh regulations. And so that's why the that policy is changing. Um and then there's
017some language changes in the non-discrimination policy. And as always, they're broken up by community personnel and students. That's where there's the three different ones. Um, so that's that for those and we'll send those back to policy. And then 9125 we have a handout which I think Miss Ellard handed out. So do you want you say something about that? 9125 um attorney. >> Yes. And then I have something to say but but can we just for Joe's benefit I don't know if he realizes in when we're getting these the we're adding we're highlighting what's going to be changed. Correct. >> It's blue and red. >> Blue and red. >> Yes. >> So like it's blue. >> Okay. Because I will I have some comment on >> 9125. So >> Okay. Yeah, we're all I'm sure we
018there's a couple. >> So yeah. So any any policy that comes forward that is a current policy, you'll see the changes, which is very helpful to kind of see what's being changed. Sometimes there's new policies that come on that obviously we can't do that. So I think we go through those a little bit, you know, with a fine tooth comb because they're very very new. Um, but and that has been really really helpful. I know there's been many board members who have asked for that and I think that it's just much easier to track. You don't have to sit there and look at the old side, but it really is appre we really appreciate being able to see those changes. >> Right. >> So 9125 uh I received a request from Mr. Bray to um
019take a look at 9125 and summarized uh the revisions that he is suggesting which I think Miss Ellard has passed out to board members um and which is um you can take a quick read of and it was also in the no this was not in the packet we walked this one in. And so the essence of what uh is being suggested is that any board member can reach out to uh board counsel. Uh as we know 9125 in its current state says that any question or or request for written opinion has to go through the superintendent or the board chair. >> Um >> can you I missed your first sentence. Any board member can reach out directly to board counsel. Is that what you said? >> That's what the suggestion is. >> Oh, okay.
020I thought you meant that's what it is. Okay. suggestion. >> That's the suggested revision as you know. No, as you know, the current bylaw says >> Okay. Thank you. >> Our request for a written opinion has to go through the superintendent or board chair >> because there's a cost to >> to correct. We are build by the hour for >> Yeah. by the chunk by the six minutes. >> I'm going to change um >> I don't know if this is just in our regulation or not. change for it to say instead of saying they have to they have to include the superintendent or the board chair I think it should be superintendent and the board chair my personal opinion is and it's may not be members of this board and it may not be the
021superintendent but right now best practices is that she'll copy the chair in whoever the chair might be but that doesn't mean that it's going to that it'll be that way in 10 years from now or 15 years from now I mean I think this is a perfect opportunity to make that change to to add it that if you're going to reach out if you want to reach out to the lawyer, you just can't copy the superintendent. You need to copy the chair, whoever the chair may be. >> So, is your is your to be clear, is your thought process that a board member can reach out directly to the board attorney as long as they copy the superintendent or the chair? >> No. Okay. >> Because that's what I think we both heard. >> Oh,
022okay. Yeah. No, no, no. It stays but instead of having the word or here it would be and >> I'm sorry. Okay. So I'm looking at this one and you're looking at the actual >> regul I'm looking at the regulation >> languages or >> what page what page is that? >> You can't you can't reach out directly to the >> I think 136 not >> right all but you can but it has to go through the superintendent so not directly right so >> right that's what I meant you and I are on the same page. >> We have two different suggestions here. We have Mrs. Sarah's suggestion which is in the current bylaw 9125 and the the word change from or to and right >> that we have Mr. Blli's document where he is requesting
023we change it so that any member can reach out to board counsel. That's we have two suggestions >> going through right the chairman or the superintendent. >> Correct. >> Okay. I wanted to make sure I understood that. >> Go ahead Joe. >> And I do and I do think I'm so sorry Joe. Let me just preface this because this was a really this was a really difficult meeting that that that we had um uh what last week? No, two weeks ago. >> Capture some of that. >> Yeah. Um, I'm fine with with doing that, but I if it's if the board was even inclined to pass this would still have to go back to um policy. Um, but I just want to say that I really just think it's a very bad practice to allow
024a board member to just jump the people who are the chair and the superintendent and keep talking to lawyers about this that and the other thing. Not even from a from a monetary perspective, which is obviously something that we need to look at and that could be disastrous, but that would lead somebody to have information that other board members would not necessarily have. And and I and I just think that's really bad practice and I can't imagine other boards work that way. And and that was my biggest problem with this is that I just it just makes me nervous to think that anybody can just be like, "Oh, you want to know what I I would like to just ask the lawyer about that and just him getting all these phone calls." So, um yeah,
025that's how I feel. >> I I would be a no vote for for for that. And Joe and then Brian, I'm going to go right to you. >> Tammy, I know you're happy I'm back here. >> I am. >> I think this is a very poor policy and Perhaps some of my background is I think everybody knows I'm a practicing attorney. And if nine of us had the opportunity to call board counsel and speak perhaps with an associate or maybe say you want to speak with partner rates. Yes. Everything's built 0.1 through point uh nine. That's every six minute increment. The average conversation with any lawyer for a complex issue is going to take you 18 to 24 minutes, maybe 30. So, you know, you're talking.3 point 4.5 times 9 and here we go. And
026what where the problem arises, each one of us can speak to an attorney on complex legal issues and we will all come out with a different perspective. Then we take the nine of us plus the superintendent, it's 10 who are trying now trying to interpret and and and collectively come up with what the attorney told us. If we keep this information on legal matters with the board chair and the superintendent, what we've done is then we've developed a channel where there's a common message coming out from legal counsel. I can guarantee you if you ask me to explain to you approximate cause here in the state of Connecticut Connecticut um most lawyers don't know it most judges don't know it and if I sit here and explain it to you over the next hour everyone
027is going to have a different interpretation of what approximate cause is one can be negligent but if that negligent isn't the approximate cause of those injuries you don't get collect money on it in a civil world I can probably trip for a couple hours on it. You're all going to interpret it differently and we all interpret what attorneys say to us differently. And what h people think when an attorney tells us something that's written in stone and and what the law is, it it's it's interpreted. The only one who really can tell us what the law is are the courts, the judges. Um it will open a Pandora's box. We will not get a lid back. On top of the incredible cost, if you don't think for a minute, if you don't understand how law
028firm billing works and that these people are have mandatory billing hours and they start hearing from 10 of us, 9 plus one, the superintendent. >> It's Paul McConnelly, right? >> Yes. >> All right. I'll be there Friday in their offices. It um we'll make them the happiest people in the world. the associates and apartments will start meeting rates that they never had. There's there's a tremendous downside and you don't think that adds up fast. I don't know what the hourly rate for us is. >> I'm going to guess 225. >> That's higher than that, I think. >> Higher than that. They just raised it. >> 282 is less. 282 and that's that's low. >> That's for what? For how many? That's for >> hour. And your build in like is that true? Like 15 minutes.
029>> Six minutes and up. six minute. >> Yeah, it it can get out of control very fast. >> Talk to some a lawyer for two minutes, you will get build for six. You talk to them for 54 minutes, you're going to get build for an hour. Um, so billing is is a huge part that will add up quickly for us. The other concern I have is the interpretation, 10 different interpretations. So this is somewhere where we need to funnel that information to the two people who are the top of the administration and the board and that's where we need to gather gather our information. If we think we don't understand it or want more feedback on it, then we can ask Pullman Connelly to come down here in an executive session, give us some information
030on an issue. Um, yes, we'll pay for that. But we this this is I could not say how bad this could be for this this this school district, Board of Education. Um, it is it is just and maybe it's because what I do for a living. This is not good and we need this information come to us through the two people at the end of the table here. >> Thank you for your insight, Joe. Ryan, >> I agree with Joe and that's what I feel like the general sentiment is. We're one of nine and so we we shouldn't jump the other eight people and in my opinion and go I would Can I just um I would respectfully disagree with your change, Leslie, for one reason. Um I think that the current language uh that
031that we have I agree that we should work as a board and that we should have a um a conduit for that information. So I agree with all of you, but I'm not agreeable to changing it to and the board chair. And I'll tell you why. Um, at least for what I see, um, either the superintendent or the board chair. If I'm a board member and I have and I'm seeking legal opinion and it's about the superintendent, I'm not copying the superintendent. >> True. How about if we flipped it for the board chair, copy of the board chair and or the superintendent? >> What number are we on? >> We're just on the where the current language says either the superintendent or the board chair. And Leslie said, you know, let's change that to the
032superintendent and the board chair. If I'm a board member, if we make that change, I now have to copy the superintendent. And you don't know. I mean, no, you know, I'm just saying, we're all adults here. If if I'm looking for legal guidance and it has to do with superintendent contracts, anything to do with the superintendent, I'm not copying the superintendent. I'm sending it to the board chair to follow up a legal counsel. the same way that the superintendent contract by contract allows executive session with that right protected. So I think that we're giving that up in the policy by having it mandatory to both. >> That's just mine. >> So yep. So I'll go back to it. So what if we took the wording and we put the board chair first and took out
033either I don't know. I mean we can play around with this. It doesn't have to be >> 99.9% of the time it should be the superintendent and the board chair. I want to make that very clear, but I also am here to protect the board. >> And so, um, I I want to make it clear that there may be a a time where that is excluded, and I don't want that, um, management right to be lost in the policy. >> I can appreciate that. So, we can think about it. We can work on it, >> but I agree with everybody else's sentiment the way it's >> and if you leave it as or that doesn't stop someone from >> always include people. Well, I have a feel. So, Mr. Burrell doesn't want to copy me
034on things, >> but but if you leave and it says or it says the chair or the superintendent, I know it's best practices that our superintendent will copy the chair, whoever it may be in on it. But there may be a time that the and a superintendent comes in and they're like, you know what, no, I'm not going to copy the chair. So, I'm just trying to capture that. So, we're we >> that leaves the door open to do both, >> right? even though it says or. So, I'm just saying maybe you don't need to change the language because >> it already is there. >> Yeah. If I want to do but or you and I send it to both of you, but this board member is saying I don't have to copy the chair.
035He's saying it says or the chair. I can pick either or. >> And if you say and or it also means the same thing. >> And or. >> Yeah. >> I think we're almost there. But I >> We're there. I don't think >> Yeah. I I'm just I I just know where it's going and >> and what has been said. So, >> okay. >> You know, and and what's very interesting about this whole conversation, it's always been just something. It's it's not even a courtesy. It's just something that you do. If you are discussing something with a superintendent, you copy the board. Now, if it's something personal, no, you don't have to copy the board chair. But I think it's important, but our board works well together. that may not be the case, you know,
036years and years and years from now. So, you know, I I think that we we need to make sure that something like that is covered. I do believe that the board chair is very important in under because the board chair represents the board >> but the board chair also in the roles of the board chair and in our bylaws series 9000 it is incumbent upon the board chair that once the board of education asks for a legal opinion the board chair is uh must turn over that legal opinion to the board in its entirety. >> So that's part of the board chair's role. So if this board as an acting body, which is where our only power is, is at the table >> and we decide, hey, let's get a legal opinion on this. Once
037that legal opinion comes in and you reach out or the superintendent reaches out to our legal counsel, it now must be turned over to the body that requested it, the board of education. That's right in our bylaws. So we have the mechanisms in place. I think um I'm certainly open to conversations on how everybody feels validated to make sure that they get their questions asked, but I agree with Mr. Fya. I think it works well the way it does now. And um I think there's a cost. I think that there's a liability of, you know, everybody having, you know, let me email about blah blah. Um so I I just I'm comfortable leaving it the way it is. >> Okay. I think maybe we'll I'll we can send a a um an email to Mr.
038Sharon and ask for just his opinion on the language >> already done. >> Okay. >> Or we could use Joe in his legal >> According to Joe, we know what Sharon's going to choose. >> He's he's going to want the one, but I think we want a single point of contact. >> I think so. >> Single one. >> All righty. I think that's um >> thank you for that. >> Thank you everybody. We're going to move on to um for representatives to Chapag. >> Oh, there's a memo to that end. Where is it? Let me find >> 136 >> 138. So, uh, Superintendent Shells of region 12, which of course is Shepog, um, reached out to me and mentioned that they have an advisory board for, uh, the aggra science program and for sending districts,
039they must have some representation on there. Um, and so you can see the three individuals who are named there. Um, and they have expertise in food science, forge science, and sheep production. Y >> and environmental science. And I'm sure all of you know these people. Um, Miss Alice Wilkinson, Mr. Ben Weed, and Mr. Nick Powder of Apple Hill Farm, Rox Farm. >> Can I have a question on that? How do we hear back from this advisory committee? How's the information brought back to the board if they're representing the town of New Milford? >> Well, certainly we could ask for their minutes of their advisory committee. Yeah, I have never received those, but we could ask for them. I personally think like we used to have with um you know Ed connect and at the Magnus
040school, anyone who wants to take the time and represent our district if at least you know we could see the minutes or to you know thank them throughout the year maybe have them once come to do a brief update to the board on their experience because they are they're they are participating in a committee on behalf of the of the town. So I was just curious how that feedback was. >> Yes. May I ask how many students are we sending there? >> 28. Anthony knows exactly how many there are. >> Um >> 7* 4 plus maybe 29. >> Yeah, I think it's it's somewhere around 30. >> Yes, >> there you go. >> And we have to send so many like per year, right? Based on the average of the ninth grade class for the
041last three years ago, which is good. >> Yes, it is. >> I think it's a very good thing. >> It's highly >> people want to go there now. competitive. It's competitive now. >> It's really competitive. Yeah. >> For our district, anyway. >> So, is there a motion on this? >> Yes, I'm going to make it right now. I need a motion to approve Alice Wilkinson, Ben Weed, and Nick Powder of New Milford as New Milford representatives on the Chapagience Science Advisory Board. >> So, move second. >> And Brian, all those in favor? >> Thank everybody. >> Yes. and we thank them for their service. >> Okay. I need a motion to We're going to move on. I need a motion to approve the leave of absent request for Michael Ma >> Michelle Mat. >> Michelle
042Ma Salada. >> Sana para educator at Hill and Plane until February 18th, 2026 for medical re reasons. So moved >> Ryan. All those in favor? That's everyone. >> Um leave of absent request for Allison. >> Yep. >> Terra educator at Liftfield Hills Transition Center until January 10th, 2026 for medical reasons. >> Palm and all those in favor. That's everybody. items of information associated regulations for each of the policies in first read. >> Does anybody have any questions on those regulations on the policies? >> So these we're going to be getting a highlighted was change two documents. >> Yes indeed. And these are all pretty much legally dictated from the state these documents as they are. So it's it's more of a >> done deal. >> Yeah. Most of these have their uh roots in federal
043legislation. >> Okay. Update on transportation. Mr. Jibinone will uh give us a little update. There's a memo. >> Yep. Certainly. Um the minutes from operations reflect some of the key points of the memo and I I'll briefly touch on a few of them here. Um the number of alteration requests year-over-year have gone down. There have been no hearings uh that the board has had to take on for transportation requests. There have been no hearings required so far. >> There have been zero third tier late buses so far, which is great. And that's >> even louder and knock on wood to um the new for depotar transportation having more spare drivers allocated specifically to that depot. Um additionally three very critical positions within allstars administration at the new milford depot have turned over the rules there.
044Um, we also embarked upon some route revisions districtwide that were done um leading up to November 3rd and after those revisions were done, the bus tracking app functionality was then restored. It was basically paused for two weeks. So overall, this is uh a sign of good progress this year so far with some of the changes at Allstar Transportation and um the administration allocating more resources by way of to the new Milford depot. >> Can I ask a question, Anthony? Do they reduce the fleet at all? Are we still using the same number of buses? >> Same number of buses. Um, and we will take a look at this in next year budget >> to see if there's any optimizations that can be done further. Um, >> we'll look at that. >> We talked about that
045this week a little bit, >> especially heading into budget question. >> Go ahead, Joe. >> Do we know what's the longest bus route now >> in terms of minutes or miles? >> Minutes. >> I believe it's like four minutes. >> So, do we have a goal of keeping it under one hour? >> It's in the policy and the policy. >> The policy might be real life often interpreted. >> It's the if I could clarify, it's the intention of the policy, not the provision of the policy to have runs not exceed one hour. So, there are times due to traffic. >> Yeah. Oh, yes. work and stuff like that. There have been the run sheets that are posted. Um I believe the long is 53 or 54 >> on paper. Yeah. >> Especially this time of
046year, man. It's dark. >> I understand that's a challenge for the largest square mileage town. >> Yeah. >> Hills and everything else. No sidewalk. >> Easy roads. >> Progress though. >> Oh yeah. >> Well, it used to be worse. Oh, >> the last time I was here. >> Oh, yeah. >> No, that's an improvement. >> Appreciate it. >> That's Yeah, there's a lot of blood, sweat, and tears in this one. >> yeah, we know what a hard battle this one. >> So, this is really, really good news. >> Thank you for working so hard on this. You two especially because that got rough. >> Okay, we can move on to H 202425 student performance. Yeah, as I mentioned in the superintendence report, uh today we had a workshop regarding student performance and we're proud that
04716 of the 22 indicators have shown an Thank you. And then the next two I'm going to move on and I believe Mr. Cunningham will take over for these two RFP for facilities projects and the Northville Elementary School. >> Uh as Mr. O'Brien said, very busy time right now. facilities. We have four RFPs out uh one for the new high school tennis courts. That's a design build. One for the new high school culinary classroom. That's an A&E. Uh central office is A&E RFP. And the Northville hydrants is an engineering RFP that's out. We conducted site visits last Tuesday the 11th. Uh we had a really great turnout at all the locations we did these uh questions that arose from that were then address and addendums that went out here and they've been posted and then
048all of these will be opened at various dates here next month. So you should start to have some >> go ahead. See, this is fun having me back. The um may I ask is one of those four modifications over at the administration section of this building? >> Yes, that's the central office. Correct. >> Uh I was in this first time I've been in central office there. Um what you think >> it used to be. It's it's okay. >> Okay. >> But the one thing that that stood out to me when I was there the the old day is that um we don't have a room or a section or a building that allows for incredibly sensitive matters to be discussed with the administration and who whether it's officials or or parents and and we we're
049in a world where we understand federal law about student privacy. We understand HIPPA requirements and the fact that some administrators have to walk out of the building and have a conversation that sensitive nature, it mortifies me. Now, I know we had a move that that move was made quickly based on the East Street building. But >> so, if I can speak to that um on behalf of the facilities department, that's the main motivating factor for what um Mr. Cunningham is talking about. and and I I I've I've been led to understand that they were going to look to somehow within that build a room. Um the next question I I came up with is is soundproofing. Um you know, if we get uh these partition walls or these sheet rock walls with aluminum studs in
050them, you can hear thrown. Um you know, is it there's soundproofing sheetrock? there is soundproofing insulation to we make glass in law offices that's soundproof for meetings and so I don't that may not have come up with in the past I'm sorry I wasn't here then but I think it's something we as a board have to take into consideration and and it's somewhat tragic that that the administration got pushed into that balloon so quickly uh they've done what they can with it. Um at times it's almost like an open bullpen where everybody's around >> conferences. So uh it's it's somewhat tragic that's not there and I think that's something we need to focus on. >> We think we were all in agreement on those. Those are >> I I was just going to say you
051you we were talking about this when you were on on the board and you know we were talking about what if we have to move out of East Street in an emergency situation and I'm I'm just going to outright say we had a proposal. We had the plans drawn. It went to the town council. Our request was denied. So, and and I think I think it so and so we're well, you know, obviously we're well aware of the situation. it it and I'll tell you where we we just uh spite ourselves so some so so some so some so some so some so some so some so some so some so some so some so sometimes and uh miss fallenback can talk to this and my memory is not what it used to be at
052this golden age but years ago on this board we did a study to build an administration building somewhere else in this complex and if my memory served me right it was up at Northville a separate building attached that could be attached there and Tell me, Wendy, was the the the price $3 million, which is nothing? >> Yeah, we had actually >> that could have been 15 years ago. >> We we we had the the whole administrative office building has been going on for I would say close to 20 years. >> Um we've had six scenarios. Um, what Brian's referring to is kind of, you know, where we literally had to come up with off the back of the napkin moving into here because we're in a difficult situation. But you're absolutely right, separate buildings, annex
053buildings, you know, where we are now, renting buildings, you name it, we've done it, we've explored it. And so what I would like, and I agree with you a thousand% and the board shares the same concerns you have, is the confidentiality. Not only is it, you know, some of the privacy loss, but if you're in an office with someone and you're having a conversation that isn't necessarily about a student or a parent, there are still some issues that shouldn't be heard by a coworker. It's that simple. You know, you have two different roles. So, I appreciate that. But you're right, Joe. They've been into the millions. Which brings me to a point which I thank you for reminding me. I had heard a comment and we can't, you know, there was a comment that I
054heard recently that the board of education has been allocated $1.5 million for the for the use of a a new central. I don't know where that's never happened and I'm not going to go out and go after every, you know, something that someone hears because it just could be an error on their part. But I do think that moving forward since this has been a long-term project, it would behoove us to get our message out in front of the board. What have we asked for? What have we spent? Because it's been nominal compared to your $ three and a half million dollars. >> That was a steal. That's what I'm making. >> We are way below that and we're trying to make it work. >> How much? What was the money that we had put
055forward when we wanted to do the big project over here? It wasn't near. >> I think it got down to about 750. >> It was 1.5 with Miss uh the previous superintendent here. And then that was cut to 750. 50 by the time I got here. >> Elevator was at an unbelievable. >> All right. So, we cut that out. We got down to 750 and then we made some tweaks along the way and I believe the allocation I'm sure Anony's looking it up as we speak. That was taken out of capital. We did not use all of it. Correct Anthony? In the first goound, >> it was the central office move there was >> 130. Yeah. And then another 50. >> I think we only had about 8,000 >> and we had Yeah. But but
056to your point, we use like 100th of what we are looking at at the beginning. So we're trying to do the best we can with what we have. Um and and also the criticism, don't put good money after bad. You may not know if you're going to stay here, you know, but we have to do something. >> Yeah. Something else been done. And I do and I and I do think Joe that that the most outrageous thing for me is is to is was to find out that the superintendent and others are going to their car >> to make theseations which is which I just think is just ludicrous. >> We also have the situation and I'll put it out there where you know we also have to think about our little ones too you
057know that are you know at times we're coming close to um the superintendent's office. Is that fair? >> Yes. um and we love them, but you know, we have to have boundaries because of, you know, because of safety and and just knowing where everybody is in the building. So, there are some issues there that I think we're addressing. So, I'm looking forward to see what happens with that. And I'm excited that with a fresh set of eyes, even though you've had this conversation before, that that you're kind of in the same place that we are. We recognize it has to be done and we recognize the privacy and the safety concerns and we'll we'll do the best we can and get it taken care of. >> If I could Um this was a as as
058you recall at facilities this was a very um a much more indepth discussion about plan. So if uh Mr. Cardan doesn't mind um if you could say a little bit more about the RFP and the plans because I think we're looking at three stages the plans hopefully getting half of that plan done next summer and then half the summer after that depending on how the costs come in. But if you could speak to the privacy and especially the soundproofing which we've discussed many times. >> So privacy is the main driver behind this and so the expectation with the architectural firm that we would speak to is that they will work with that in mind. Um we're looking to break it down into three phases. One is the first phase would be conceptual for the entire
059central office suite the upstairs and downstairs offices. Then the awarded bidder would also then provide us with construction administration and bid package about the construction on phase one because we know that that area is being used all year round. So for us to just break down the entire central offices and try to relocate people would be quite a herculean task. So we'll look to break down and do a couple of offices this summer and then on based on that same construction bid we would ward we would do the second phase of the construction the following summer. So, >> and soundproofing is a >> I said the big driver is privacy. So, that could be soundproofing, that could be a myriad of things that you do to try to keep it so that when people in
060their office, they feel that they can have their meetings and zoom calls, etc., phone calls, and not be overheard. Yes. >> So, thank you. I appreciate everything you've done on behalf of this project. That's all. And just as a footnote in talking to the administration here, obviously some of the feedback was always if this ever had to go back to school. Um the school was originally designed as a high school as we know intermediate school. Two things. One is for the population to increase substantially to that point that you would need to use all those spaces in the classroom is probably not realistic in the near future. Uh secondly, they say that they like to have office space, especially as we see special education evolving going to think about privacy is now they can go
061to offices and they have some offices in there. We're not looking to we've only taken over about a dozen classrooms and of those we would be modifying all of those. Some of them are currently conference rooms in which we put no walls up. So it's an easy pivot. >> Great. >> Thank you. Anybody else? We're good to move on. >> Okay. >> Um, explain it. >> Report >> actually Northville. >> Northville roof. >> Nice try. >> The NES roof. So, uh, we supplied the, uh, the mayor and NBC with the N roof study that was conducted by Silver Petra last year. They will make a decision on which option. And there were six options if you recall prevents that report for various types of roofs. Uh if one of those options happens to be a
062granteligible one, then the town council will need to approve a resolution which will assign funds specifically for Northville roof and that would be the first step in getting the grant process started. >> Can I follow up on that? because we had some discussion at facilities and I just want to be clear because I thought I read something differently and then I had to go back and check the minutes of facilities to see if I heard you correctly. Um and the minutes from facilities match what I think I heard you say. So that's great. So the process is that we the board had um uh paid for um the design options. Correct. >> We paid for a roof study. Correct. uh two and one of the things behind that was if we did elect to go
063for a grant further down the road that that was something you would have to have it submit to the state because there's going to be your cost estimates which is going to then dictate how much money you should have allocated for that and obviously that has to be below what your cost estimates are and that's going to be the first step and that's called your local funding and that's going to be uh >> so the board did that in preparation for if we do go for funding and and and we did that and that was done some time ago and now those options have been sent to the mayor and the municip ible building committee. Is that correct? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, we're at that stage. >> I just want to be clear on
064this because this is by no way a fingerpointing session, but if we don't learn from the last process, shame on the town of New Milford. Okay. So, it is my understanding that those have been sent over and now the municipal building committee will make a recommendation or they will choose or they're going to choose the actual type of roof that we're going to go with. Is that correct or am I misunderstanding that? >> Correct. >> Okay. So, that's number one. They make that decision. They send it on to the town council. The town council then carves out publicly the actual identified funding source because we will need to do that in order to submit reimbursement to the state because the state will look for that at a public meeting from municipality. Correct. >> And that's
065the inception of your local funding source and that's what also is then going to dictate your reimbursement rate. If you had allocated $5 million for this roof 10 years ago and you went to get a roof now this year, they would go back 10 years. If that's the date and that's the rate, then you're set up for reimbursement. We're typically in the Mr. Gon. We're usually in the high 40 48 49 percentile. So roughly 50 cents on the dollar. >> So assuming that happens, we already know that the roof is in the bonding cycle. >> That's correct. >> Okay. It's already been carved out to some extent with the town. That's a great thing. So, if all of those stars align um and that happens, it is still incumbent upon the board of education, if
066we have to, we filed the paperwork to the state for reimbursement. >> Yes. Mhm. >> So if if if they elect to go with the grant option, one of the roofs that would that would land, the town council will not only look to pass resolution to allocate those funds and specifically for the northbound roof because I think when they first did it, it was painted with more of a broad brush and said it was for roofs, the $5 million. Now they have to say that we we got some clarity from the um DAS about this. They said no, it has to say Northville school. >> In addition to that, there are three resolutions they would need to pass. I think one is to say that the MPC would be the committee that does this. Another
067is to say we are allowed to go pursue the grants and I think the third was we can then start the process of getting drawings and the necessary information to go and present to DAS at that time. Then once you have those uh the superintendent only can go into the portal from the controller I think the first to the 10th of every month >> and go and submit the paperwork and that starts the grant process. And do we know the time frame on the roof by any chance or we just don't know? >> Do we know the time frame on how long the ramp process will take? >> I think you're talking about starting when starting the roof. >> Uh my understanding we're hoping for this summer but >> I it seems like >> it'll
068be very close. Yeah. >> Because one even if you have the grant now the grant part the grant process now they're going to set the guardrails for the bidding and the parameters for bidding. And so that's a process. And then you're going to have to go and have your architect and engineer develop that bid for construction. Needs to go the quote out the street for a while and to the public. And then by the time you get those back, you then make a decision of which construction company you're going to go with and then start the process. I mean >> to find one of the few reputable and large enough companies to do this in the in the time frame that we want would be difficult as we get further into the spring. The good
069side is when we looked at the roof study and currently at Northville not there are no leaks. It's not it is a roof is end of life and needs to be addressed but if we had to go to some roof 27 um in my opinion the opinion of silver was would not be the end of the world. >> I appreciate that and one of the reasons why because I thought I read something differently that it was the board's role to choose what type of roof. So I I just again we we we are very fortunate that we can have this expense bonded out. Okay. We're appreciative of it and we want to do better as a town than the last time around. It's that simple. At least for me. >> I think you read that
070in the minutes of the NBC of an MBC meeting. And that's that's a big part of the reason that um the superintendent scheduled the the uh virtual meeting with the mayor last Monday to clear up that misconception. >> Yeah. Tuesday. I heard it too. >> Okay. And we also just basically that basically we're going to turn it over to NBC. They'll pick they'll send it over and go from there. And it's >> like this is merely just to understand the process. >> Um that's all. Um, so I I really appreciate that and I'm sure we'll get updates on that. >> Thank you. Anybody else? All right, we'll move on to enrollment. >> Um, enrollment >> or employee I'm sorry, employment report. >> That's why I was. That's okay. Uh, let's see. You can see we
071have four certified staff appointments. We have um several non non-certified staff appointments. um two resignations and no internal transfers at this time. So, this is a nice report because it doesn't show a lot of resignations. Can >> I ask you a fast question? >> Yes. >> Um I I'm happy not to see any certified staff resignations here, especially on the bottom saying took a position in another district, which we saw a lot of before. >> Yes. Um, can I ask you, do you have a sense of how many positions we might have lost due to the extended time it took for us to pass a budget this year? >> Uh, if I were to I will give you a conservative number of in terms of what people said to me directly and Holly as well.
072Um, six. >> Thank you. That's um >> and some of those positions are still not filled. >> Right. >> So there's that. >> So that >> there's impact cost. There was a cost to that. Yeah, there's a cost. There's a cost to their learning now that we either have people teaching a six class or we have a sub in there. So, yeah, there's definitely a high high price to that. >> Thank you for saying that. >> You're welcome. If >> I may, since we did bring up the issue with the budget and everything, when we are doing the budget this year, >> yes, >> we got to do something different, right? We got to make sure we somehow we missed that one lone voice that just threw a turd in the punch bowl at that
073last meeting in the budget. But we how we we ought to start thinking now about how we're going to get in front of this with the town so that there are no surprises. Um not that it was our fault that came out of left field, but but still we ought to see if we can what we can do to stop that from happening again. Even even though it wasn't I don't think it was our fault at that. >> I don't think it's our fault at all. Meeting. Yeah. But nevertheless, it behoove us to uh to to try and make sure that doesn't happen if I think that we might be able to help a little bit with that. We ought to look for opportunities. >> Uh yes. Okay. Now, we'll move on to enrollment. Uh
074yeah, you can see that our enrollment uh projections are even though they're five years old, they're still pretty they're still pretty solid. Um and if you look at Northville and Hill and Plane and this um is particularly for Mr. Faila to understand the reason the kindergarten number looks that way is as we said yesterday the legislation uh changed who's eligible for kindergarten. Um it's and invariably have smaller class sizes because or than the enrollment projection because when they did the projection five years ago, no one thought that that legislation would ever occur. So >> that's the reason for that. >> Go ahead. I guess >> just in looking at our numbers right now, it was in it's interesting to see that 11th grade is the only class now with 300 students. >> Fascinating, right? Yeah.
075>> And first grade is down to 200. >> Yes, ma'am. >> That's that's very interesting. When I graduated from this high school in the 70s, I won't say exactly which year, but in the 70s, my class was 218. We're headed >> back down that way again, even though New Milford has grown so much. So, I think it shows how our population is aging >> and we don't have as many kids. >> It's just interesting to me. the current cohort of students, particularly the seniors, the current grade 12, um is one of the smallest birth cohorts in our state's history, interestingly enough. >> Um and so that that kind of five years on either side of that have been smaller birth cohorts. >> Um so that's why you're seeing some of that reduction, but yeah, >>
076definitely when you when I line up all the grades, you can you can see where >> Oh, yeah. You can see them. >> Yeah. Reduction. >> Yep. I think I read just recently that every district in the state of Connecticut but one have have a reduction in >> South Windsor steady else. Yeah, South Windsor and somebody else had an increase. Yep. >> It's expensive state of living. >> It is. Okay. We'll move on to um November >> fundraising. >> Yes. >> I don't think we recurring. >> It's occurring. We're happy about that. Yes. >> Okay. and field trip report. >> Uh just one uh the child development class is going to the Washington Montasauri school to see how Montasauri instruction happens >> and then they're launch Panera Bread. All in favor of that. Yeah. >>
077Exciting. >> Yeah. >> All right everybody, I need a motion to >> it. Tom in favor? That's everybody. Thank you. Thank you everybody. >> Welcome Joe. >> 6:30 start is sweet. Get out at 7:30. See