001Anthony, I got my my ops box. So, >> we'll be on campus. >> You're also on campus. >> I don't have a woman. >> I know. >> I You know what? We stared enough. >> I know. >> So, I But I did bring my optocks because something. >> Thank you so much. >> Yes, indeed. can stand in. >> I don't know how we're going to get in there. Hold down there. There's a hole in there. >> Yeah. Okay. >> I'll just crawl into the table. >> Great. >> You know, you do what you got to do. >> What's going to happen now? Where's >> my agenda? Let me know when you're ready. >> Good evening, everybody. If you please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United
002States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you, >> Dr. Parvato. I'll hand it off to >> public comment. >> Oh, public comment. Anybody here for public comment? Nobody here for public comment. Thank you. Thank you. Uh this evening we will begin with our ideal employee recognition. So I'll say a few words first and then we'll do some honoring of people. Um and then we'll actually have the important part of having cake and um then we'll go from there. So celebrations are a sign of a healthy district and this evening we honor some of our exemplary staff members, the para educator of the year and the teacher of the year. These colleagues represent the very best of New Milford
003public schools through their dedication, service, care, and of course the ideas that we live by, focus, heart, collaboration, and creativity. who you will meet this evening are some of our most ideal employees. So we will begin this evening with our para educators of the year who you can see the slide of the school level. So we'll begin with the school level folks um and then we'll announce who our para educator of the year for the whole district is um if each person would come up I'll hand you your plaque and then we'll take a group photo once everyone comes up here. So we will begin with Katherine Fossy from New Milford High School. [Applause] Congratulations. You can stand right there. Okay. >> Next we have Barbara Marks from Hill and Plane. [Applause] Thank you so
004much. >> You're welcome. >> We stand next to you. >> Okay. >> Yes. Right there. >> All right. >> Next, we have Jill Shaylor from the Lynchfield Hills Transition Center. [Applause] >> Congratulations. Thank you. Next we have Connie from Scatco. [Applause] And the 2526 district parah educator of the year is Jessica Bates from Sarah Intermediate School. [Applause] Thank you. >> Right. We have our little group picture in charge of the my professional camera. Oh, let me get closer. Let me get closer. Things in here. All right, everybody say cheese. Everybody say new Milford. Yay. >> Thank you. Congratulations everyone. Next we will honor our building level teachers of the year and will follow the same exact process. We will begin with Cara Abraham from New Milford High School. Congratul [Applause] Next, Diana Bettos, Scatakoke Middle
005School. [Applause] Congratulations. You're welcome. >> Next, we have Carara Gray from Hill and Plane. [Applause] Next we have Megan Shibish from Sarinople. [Applause] And the 202526 New Guilford Public Schools District Teacher of the Year is Stephanie Pilla from North. [Applause] All right, everybody. Cheese. Say, "I love teaching." Congratulations. [Applause] So, Mrs. pill and baits will be entered into the statewide competitions. Um, and of course we we always stand a very strong chance with our excellent New Milford Public Schools employees. So, good luck to them. Uh, and congratulations again to everyone. And now we'll have a little bit of cake. >> Awesome. >> Congratulations. That means everyone can have cake. That's >> Yeah, let it be cake on up. Sugar wanted my last two were kind of quiet so I didn't really get to know them
006very well. that girl. [Laughter] Maybe we need to get >> your water. >> Send me the bottle. She's a teacher. I I couldn't >> Oh, you wisely. Give me the look to go back. >> Thank you. [Laughter] >> Now they're going to get in on it. >> Should I leave this with you? I was just increasing. >> Yeah. And then I was >> still thinking about it. Filling >> only the best. >> The biggest And then my sister, she was very she was one of her little friends to know that she wouldn't care. She text me, but she came back to that good shooting. So it was really the people in Minnesota. >> So that was very >> regional. We didn't post about it. I told you she's doing okay. I should have told you.
007>> Hi. How are you? upside down. Okay. >> She's in first grade. She's like, "No, I'm >> thinking I think everything." Okay. seem to be my mom. My mom's over there. She looks just like me. Me, my sister. My mom. They ask you guys like my sweet sister is here. I'll come back my daughter. >> Hello. >> This is the superintendent. I'm eating cake. >> I don't want to eat cuz you want me to tell you like that's we have a big divide >> and I told her like I don't want to know the reasons on Facebook but I've unfollowed her. So her might be the reason I did that cuz I don't want to see her. Where are you? >> Yeah, but I cannot eat another thing. >> Hey, Joe. >> I will in
008a second when I don't frosting my hand. That would be ashamed. This is our friend Joe. >> Our friend Joe and I have a lot of >> there's a bunch of them. went I went on there looking >> like so funny about >> I still use digation >> I don't even have like this Raspberry. [Music] >> I like this. >> Right there. >> I know. >> Yes. That's why I like this. >> Take a peace home if there's any left. I think there will be some room tonight. Yeah, dancing all day. >> I tried to stop eating by like 3:00. I know. I do. Really? I sleep so much better. It gives me a tough time. Oh, see >> when we were growing up >> now I know why I never >> they didn't know.
009What did they know? They didn't know. >> So we never were eaters and even with like little five or whatever and we were [Music] dessert after but that was really it and we never liked that. So then I started with >> well you were after everybody in the family started to >> wasn't me these guys know everything just there. So anyways >> now at like 4:00 everybody's just like walking around the kitchen looking for dinner. Where's dinner? Where's dinner? >> There's a list of something. [Laughter] Yeah. And the bucket we just went down and get everyone for coming. Thank you very much. >> Thank you very much. >> Okay, come my face. [Music] >> Live. >> Thank you. Okay, we'll go next to the PTO report. >> Mrs. Reese. Welcome Denise. >> You can you
010can introduce yourself if you want. You can introduce yourself. >> Um so first and foremost, we got um an amazing donation from Walmart with all of their um like back to school supplies. And we um split all of that up on this past Monday. And I mean there was so much stuff. Um whiteboards, highlighters. There was some pens and pencils and notebooks and notebooks and notebooks galore. Um so much stuff. And we kind of like just split it up five ways and distributed it to each school. Um, and they were so so appreciative. Um, it was it was really awesome. And I've been working at the high school, so like I brought a bunch of stuff and they were so ecstatic. It was really really nice. Yeah, it was so awesome. Um, couple things of
011each school. Um, at the high school right now they are doing a shirt a class shirt fundraiser. They did it last year. Um, they also have spirit week coming up and the homecoming dance and the PTO will be selling refreshments at Scatic Coke. Um, they just had a really successful sixth grade dance and I can attest to it because I was a chaperon and I was dreading it, but it was I I have to say the kids were amazing. It really was. It was so much fun. Um they have a fall fest plan for the 26th um at Northville. They just did a merchandise sale and they said that they are waiting on grant approval for a water fountain to be put in the gym. >> Um which is like um which is a gift
012back to the school. It's around like $2,400 which is awesome. Um they said welcome back cowz. We'll go with Oh, stuffy making from mommy's board silly and a movie night. They have their picture day coming up and the kindergarten class is taking a trip to Silverman Farm. Um plane, they just hosted their annual fall fest. It was well attended. Um they wanted me to thank Mrs. Calibre, um, Representative Buck B and PTO for getting dumped in the dump tank, um, and helping raise money for Hill and Plane. Um, we als they also had volunteers from Big Y, the high school, and Cub Scouts, and they are getting ready for their second annual color run, which is on Thursday. They said this is their second annual one, and they're hoping to raise $10,000 from that. um
013at Sarah Noble they had a great welcome back phone. They said because for Paws was there along with flag football um they are planning their Halloween and they said the booster thawn fun run just ended and they raised $20,000. Um and that's it. >> So thank you >> thank you for all you do. And then the student representative report. It doesn't look like anybody's here. They're still a little too new of the year. >> Yeah. >> Um we'll move on to the approval of minutes. Um I need a motion to approve the following board me minutes of board of education meeting minutes, the regular meeting minutes August 19th, and the special meeting minutes. >> Are you doing them the same? Are you doing them special? One at a time. I >> have some together. >>
014I have them together. I just know some people might need to abstain if they weren't. >> It's the same people who are absent for all three. So they should be able to do one abstension on the main motion. >> So move second. >> Eric and that >> all those in favored and abstaining is me Tammy >> and myself >> and Wendy. >> Wendy and Wesley. Superintendence report. Thank you. We have enjoyed a strong and positive start to the 2526 school year. Students and staff are settling into routines very well so far and we've already begun a lot of learning across all of our classrooms. Our school clubs and teams have started um and we have fantastic participation this year across all of our schools and all our grade levels. Um, I'd like to thank everyone,
015um, for not only our staff, but our students, our families, um, for all of their efforts. Um, especially, you know, when I think of how shiny these buildings were at the start of the school year, uh, certainly our facilities and maintenance staff did a beautiful job getting us ready. Um, and everyone is ready to accept our 3,500 kids um, on August 25th. So, we're um, really off truly off to a wonderful start so far. Um, and I thank everyone for for those efforts. I >> think that's it. >> And the chair report. I don't really have a report tonight. I'm trying to keep this meeting shorter than possible. Um, but I do want to thank the negotiation. I do want to thank the negotiation team who was here last night. Um, they were here from
0165:30 p.m. to 5:30 this morning negotiating on the behalf of the board of education and the teachers union. That's Dr. Parlott. That's Holly, Anthony, Wendy, and Dean. So, thank you. We appreciate it. >> And subcommittees. We'll start with policy. >> That's me. So, we have a couple of policies, well, not a couple, quite a few policies um on the agenda for third review and approval. One is adult education. One is a policy addressing enrollment and advanced courses and programs and challenging curriculum. Um, and then we have all of our bylaws uh that are that are up. Now, this was something that was on last month's agenda, but because there was a break in time, we decided to push it back to policy to take another look, give the board another month to to review everything.
017And, uh, so all that happened. So, tonight we will be voting on them. And, you know, this, as we know, is the meat of all that we do here for the board of education. This is what governs how we run our our business. So, um, yep, that's on for tonight. And then, of course, deleting the ones that are no longer applicable because they've been they've been replaced. >> Thank you, Tammy. Committee on Learning. We got an important update on AI and it's the act on students from Mrs. uh Hollander and Mrs. Andrews. We also had a K3 literacy update about the bookworms program and an update on the K to5 progress report. >> Thank you. >> And Tom for facilities. >> So there's one item on tonight's agenda during the action items portion. Uh we
018will be asking for a vote to um award the contract for removing the oil tank at Scatakob to the low bidder. Um, and you can find the list of biders and their bids on page 54 of tonight's agenda. Um, one other thing I just like to say is at last week's facilities meeting, I just want to show my appreciation to Mr. Cunningham who was a a 20-minute long slide pro presentation uh of all the projects they accomplished over the summer. Uh, it's a very impressive list including um a lot of um forward-looking projects. Um, so that information will be shared with the board. It's my understanding that that PowerPoint and then with the community as a whole. So, thank you and thank you to your team for everything you all did over the summer. >>
019Yeah, we're going to try to get that. I would like to see it. I mean, I I got a phone call the next morning from Wendy telling me >> fantastic. I'd love to see it. >> Yeah. And operations. >> Uh, so yeah, facilities runs into operations. We have um the financial uh for the tank on operations, the monthly reports, we have some conversations that go back and forth. You'll see on the agenda uh that under items of information, the ESG, things like that. They have anformational impact. They also have a financial impact. So, they may tie one into the other as we start to prep for budget. It's hard for me to say that, but it's true. Um, you know, we're trying to bring out as much of this information uh as we can. So,
020nothing really out of the ordinary and we'll take a vote on any of that uh accounting. >> Thank you. >> Okay, we'll move on to discussion and possible action on the monthly reports. >> Yep. >> Anything? >> Good evening. A brief overview. I'll relay some information. >> Excuse me. Can we open put the motion on the floor? >> Um, I can put it on the floor. Yeah. >> Just to open it up for discussion. Is that is that okay? Yeah. >> Okay. I need a motion to approve the budget position dated August 31st, 2025, revised purchase resolution D-798 and request for budget transfers. >> So move second. >> Appreciate that. >> Who seconded it? Eric. Eric. >> Just a brief overview on the budget position. This is dated as of August 31st. Um you will
021not see any payroll incumbrances shown here. We post those during the month of September. Payroll encumbering has started. The first paycheck school year staff was on September 5th. Um any comparisons to prior years or months percentages that I usually give, you really wait until the October report until payroll incumbring is completed. That's my overview onition unless there are additional questions. Um on page 404 there is our capital reserve balance. It shows the deposit of 2324 fiscal year end. What it doesn't currently show is our withdrawal of money to fund capital projects in the current year that is still pending. >> Follow operations we kept relatively short on on uh last Tuesday just to you know allow the board an opportunity. Can we just do a very quick I know it was a long night um
022overview of the page four of the capital if we could >> on the capital reserve. So um the 2324 is reflected but the 2425 withdrawal is not reflected. Correct. >> Correct. >> And then the 20 the deposit from our last end of the year B uh um end of the year uh balance has not been reflected as well. That's correct. >> So, but the carveout is there for our ESG payment. You've identified that. Okay. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, on the capital side, I guess my question is going to be and I'll I'll we can it's ESG is on here for items of discussion. I can wait, but it's really just a quick financial because I I you provided a memo at operations and um those payments that are due in December um are they're
023they're large dollar amounts and um I I hope that a couple of the unanswered questions that we have, you know, on the intent of the project and, you know, all the savings and, you know, infusing the capital um items into all of our projects at at a lower rate. I get all that, but I think there are some still open items and I I'm hoping that we have a little bit of clarity of that. Um especially coming into budget season. Um and some of mine and these don't have to be answered this evening. Uh one of mine would be um are we capturing and the last I knew we had a dash where we're doing all of that and I know we're working the town. I'm very appreciative. Are we capturing the savings? How are
024we quantifying the savings? and what are the expenditures that came in that are not contract related that we are going to possibly have to expect in building the budget next month. >> Sorry, >> I know that's a long question. >> Yeah, I can go into some of those now or would you rather under items of information whatever the board's pleasure is >> address it now question was asked we'll address it now. >> Don't mind. >> So on the um let's talk about the ESG items. Um so on Thursday of last week, Mr. Cunningham, myself and um Department of Public Health Director Jack Healey met with rep from ESG5 and that was to review a draft measurement and verification report. This is something we've been waiting for is a report that they do not issue until
025one year after the construction phase completed. They then have timelines from there. Um, PSG, just as a recap, is running the project. NV5 is our owner's rep. So, the draft report that Mr. Cunningham and I saw indicated that the project is meeting its mark as far as savings. They are going to be submitting a final report on September 30th. And I'm sorry, ESG will be submitting that report on September 30th. At that time, NV5, who is our owner's rep, has 30 days to verify that or point out any impact. After that, it's anticipated that once NB5 lesses the report, which is over a 100 pages, um an executive summary can be produced for the board and then if the board has questions about that executive summary, um we can relay them to ESG and NV5
026or even set up a presentation if necessary. >> And I think you briefly mentioned that the accounting is a little bit carved out on that as well, correct? Is there in other words there are some credits that both the town and the board will receive >> should have been identified. >> There are credits for what's called Rex and Z-Rex. Those do not go to the board of ed at all. Um there are credits for energy um conservation on demand response during high energy demand times where we ramp down vans, coolers, chillers, opening the blinds, that kind of thing. um that the board does receive credits for. We received uh one check during the 2425 year that just finished and it was I believe $5,800. >> Okay. So, I'm happy with, you know, waiting till the
027report and and, you know, running into it again. Um, you know, coming up with and and in the past sometimes we've had to make two payments in one year, I believe, we had to do or at one time it was a we had to catch up on payments uh in the month of December at one time. >> Well, that Yeah, that was because the the project construction window was delayed, >> right? >> The payment was still due on the bond. And what the town had done is the town had paid the complete payment in the first year. So when the board made its payment in the second year, the board paid its obligation in the second year and um we are going to compound for year one of the board's portion. >> Got it. And
028and so I you know as I said we'll wait for that and maybe do another followup and just do a refresher with the with the town and the board on where we are going on that because it is a large component and there's been three years of work on you know teasing out some of those numbers. So, it's it's good to know that the savings are being identified. Uh, that was always a concern. And then just kind of teasing out with the credits and things like that. I appreciate that. I just have one last question. If you just It's on the um it's actually on the uh purchase resolution. >> Yeah. That next. >> Oh, go ahead. No, I we're reading each other. So, go ahead. Um if there are no other questions on the
029on the resolution um on the purchase resolution, what you see in front of you is the revised version from what we're at ops. Two items on here that were not on the operations attachment that are shown here are there. We'll go by the dollar amount. It's about the fifth one down. It's a $50,000 item for NMH sidewalks. And a little bit further down there's an item $37,080.25 25 cents. That's to um seammens for HVAC um building automation. These were not on the ops document last week because these are tied to the 5-year capital money that we do not have at this point, but we need to get these projects identified, line up vendors to actually do the work and get them purchase orders in the meantime. >> That's actually what I wanted to highlight because
030that is a change. So, I appreciate that. So the intention is we need to identify these move ahead and try and and ensure that the funding from the capital reserve which has already gone to council and board of finance and kind of tease out where we're going from there um to move it forward in anticipation of those funds and not to hold it up. Right. >> That's correct. Perfect. >> Anybody else? All those in favor? >> Thank you. >> That's everybody. Policy for third read and approval 6200 adult education. I need a motion to approve policy 6200 adult education. >> So move and Tammy any discussion I just want to point out that we have an absolutely phenomenal education program in this district and we are very very lucky to have it and um it's
031led very well. We have very um loyal teachers um that that helped to make this program happen and an excellent director and so we really thank them for all their work. >> All those in favor [Applause] motion to approve policy 6141 policy addressing enrollment and advanced courses advanced course or program and challenging curriculum. Tom. [Applause] Any discussion? All those in favor? Thank you. [Applause] I need a motion to delete policy 6141 [Applause] policy addressing enrollment and advanced course or program and challenging curriculum upon approval of 6141. policy addressing enrollment in advanced course or program and challenging curriculum. >> Second. >> Brian and Eric. All any discussion? All those in favor? Everyone. I need a motion to approve the following bylaws. 2 0 21 22 23 24 25 26 and 27 >> and 28 and >>
03228 in second. >> Sarah, any discussion? >> Question. >> Sure. >> Please. Uh Tammy, it's my understanding looking through these these are really uh new item numbers. They're not in other words on these on these policies for the um our bylaws reumbered. So there's really no substantive language changes. I just want to put that out there because our actual bylaws going back they were re they were done in I think the last full time was you know 2001 some of these 2004. So the language you the same you know shipment and goodman basically they're just reumbering them. Is that right? >> Yes. Do you agree? >> Thank you. >> Yes. And if I may through the chair um so you'll see a lot of policies on here and I just want to explain why also
033third review. So, generally speaking, we approved that second review. Um, we wanted to because there was a gap of time because we didn't have policy in the summer, we wanted to send it back, as Tammy said, to policy um for them to take another look at it and for the board to take another look at it. Generally speaking, we we um vote on second review. Um, and just in terms of a scorecard, this gets us very close to having 99% of our policies revised. So, the only ones that are really left are any legislative changes that took place on July 1st. We've really cleaned up our policies. It's >> Yeah, it's a huge job. >> Yep. >> Then maybe we can get the policy sub commmittee meetings down to quarterly. >> Oh, boy. Got them
034apples. Like the way you think. All those in favor? Everybody. Thank you. I need a motion to approve the deletion of the bylaws below upon approval of bylaws in 10E. And I'm just going to let Lauren fill it in for us. >> So move second. >> Any discussion? >> Discussion B. >> All those in favor? >> Thank you. >> That's a little premature in the >> That's all right. Um, let's see. Bid award scatter middle. I need a motion to approve the bid award for the scatteroke middle school underground storage tank replacements. >> Second. >> Tom and Brian. >> Eric. >> I was looking that way. I figured whoever I was looking at. >> Anybody have anything to say about it? Questions? >> Quick question. >> Sure. >> Is this the same? We have another
035one removed. Are we using the same company? different company. >> We the last one we had removed this was a removal in installation of new one also. >> Okay. >> So this went out to a company American Petroleum Equipment and Construction. >> Okay. Thanks. >> All those in favor? >> Thank you. >> I need a motion to approve the 2526 board of education goals which everybody was handed a copy of. So moved. Tammy and I'll second it. Any discussion for the chair? >> Sure. >> What I handed you was um the discussion we had in our um goal creation workshop uh centered a lot around this idea of work ethic and persistence and and resilience among students. So I said that I would revise with that in mind. So, if you take a look at
036our first goal, which is uh the student achievement goal, you could see how it's rewritten. The original goal is right underneath in italics. And so you can see the new revised goal for student achievement has a little more oomph to it um in terms of some important language that will help move our district forward, but it also includes the emphasis on growing persistence and a strong work ethic for every learner, which seem to be the pleasure of the board and and the ideas that that came forth and certainly something I endorse. So that and the rest of them are the same as 2425. The rest of the goals are the same. I just want to say thank you Dr. B because that was a good session. I thought it was great for those of us
037that were here and I really appreciate you your receptiveness and and just support on addressing some of the underlying things that you know I think will be helpful and beneficial for us. >> Yeah. to your point, I will say in as we get closer to the going over our uh testing report in November, as I'm in my third year now, we're putting some stakes in the ground about what we stand for as a board and as a school district and and putting the words persist persistence and work ethic into your goals is a stake in the ground in a very good way. So, there's some things we'll talk about instructionally that we're putting stakes in the ground in terms of our curriculum, in terms of our school uh climate and culture. So, it's that's the
038the best part of being in a job for a little while is that you get to see, you know, what we stand for and the work that we do around that. >> All those in favor? >> That's everybody. Thank you. >> Second your goals. >> I need a motion to approve the 2025 26 tuition rates. >> So, move. >> Eric, [Music] any discussion? I had uh also asked for the um sent to the board the um Sherman tuition. So I appreciate you sending that along. All the board members got this. And uh this uh this revenue goes to the town, correct? >> Yes. And this is different than any per people expenditure you'll see um site. Um and the memo outlines why like special education, co-op and transportation are excluded from that category. This is
039not to be confused with the Sherman tuition. Correct. So, I just wanted to clarify that. >> All those in favor? Everybody. Thank you. And then we'll start with the items of information. We're going to have a nice presentation by the um fine folks from the McCarthy Observatory. So this evening we are very pleased to have with us uh Monty Robson, John Gayower, Elaine Green, and Bill Clutier. And they represent the John J. McCarthy Observatory uh which is on the campus of New Milk High School. and it is truly a gem of this community in terms of having an actual functioning observatory um with a beautiful new telescope um and community programming and student programming is something for all of us to be proud of. So this evening we'll hear from um the individuals from the
040the observatory about a new little project they're cooking up over there. So >> Thank you Dr. Parlado. Thank you members of the board. Um, my name is John Gabbower. Bill Cludier and I are going to double team on this. Uh, we came before you about 18 months ago and told you about a project that we're initiating to put a new telescope in. Um, we're going to tell you tonight what a success that was and also tell you about a new project that we are initiating right now. And I'll give you the punch line. We're not asking for anything from you. We're just giving you information. um and tell you what's what's happening. >> Great leading one second. Okay. >> Thank you. Uh my name is Bill Clutier. I'm a long time uh volunteer at the
041observatory. And sitting here tonight, I recalled how long it has been. Uh Monty Robson and I in the late 1990s were in this building when it was the old high school. We would come in before school and we would meet with students and book hook them up to a observatory on Mount Wilson so they could image the night sky in California where it was still dark. And of course we use a dialup modem. So you can probably still hear that noise in your ear that dialup. But I digress. So tonight we're talking about something new and more modern. And as John said, uh this is happening at the observatory down. So, just uh just let you know, we're going to be celebrating our 25th anniversary in December. 25 years ago, we broke ground and we've
042dedicated a facility that was built largely by volunteers with donations from the community. And uh it's it's been a tremendous ride, great success, and we've touched a lot of people uh in this community and surrounding communities. Our mission is to further science literacy. It's not necessarily to generate astronomers. Uh we want to reinforce critical thinking skills and we use astronomy as a tool for that. And as John said, this board was part of the success story last year where we were able to replace our original telescope with something uh more modern and it's a fantastic success. Um, and they always say there's a price to success and we've had a tremendous demand on this particular telescope from students, staff, from the public and from facilities outside of the Milford as far away as uh Simsbury
043and uh Stanford people who want to come and use this wonderful facility and it's generated a demand and sometimes conflicts So, I'm going to turn it over to John to tell you how we plan to address this great demand. >> So, we uh put together a plan to add a second dome. Uh the benefits of the dome are that we can uh support two sessions at the same time. Uh we can support sessions deep into the night with people at home. Um and people including students at home uh will be able to operate the telescope. So we we're going to double our capacity, maybe triple our capacity to provide uh for our mission to to our constituents. Uh we plan to make it fully automated uh and remotely controllable. Bob just uh Bill just explained
044uh a story from uh back in the 90s about operating a telescope remotely. I think technology has progressed quite a bit in the last 25 years and that is very attainable for us and there are some issues um that we're working through uh to make sure it's secure and safe but we plan to put that dome up. Um, in order to do that, uh, we submitted an application to the Planetary Society earlier this year, um, for a grant and, uh, we were very honored to be one of the 10 recipients of the the Planetary Society's Shoemaker Neo Grant this year. So 10 10 astronomers in eight different countries only only two in the United States received this grant and uh we put together a a proposal that called for reusing a telescope that we retired
045last year as a test bed to prove out that we can do this automation and remote uh observing program. uh once we're successful, not if, but once we're successful at that, we'll likely replace that with more uh up-to-date equipment, but we have this equipment that is good enough to to prove out that we can do this uh project. Okay. One of the reasons that we were able to win this grant is because of our new telescope and our new equipment. We have been ranked in the world um 23rd, 43rd, 21st and 33rd in four consecutive months. Now, this is a ranking by the European Space Ay's NeoDIS site that keeps track of what your contribution is to to planetary defense. That means whether when you're looking at asteroids that might hit Earth and helping to
046prove that they're not going to hit the so uh when we say we're ranked 21st in the world that is of every observatory including major institutions. Okay. Now I don't know that that really tells the whole story. So, if I take the the July rankings and I rank everyone by the size of their telescopes, well, we're down at down at the bottom, but we're within range of what other scopes do. But, you may have heard us talk about the brightness of the sky here is a is a detriment to us. And the altitude, we're we're pretty pretty low. We're only 250 less than 250 ft above mean sea level. Well, you can see on this bottom two charts, well, we're we're nowhere near what what these professional observatories are are dealing with. We're way on
047the the wrong side of those charts. Now, brightness, there is one one observatory in Florence that manages to stay in the top 21 and has twice the brightness in the sky that we have. Okay? But I don't know how he manages to do that, but you can see we're the we're the lowest, right? So this is this is meters above mean sea level and up on the mountains in Hawaii, they're 4,000 meter over 4,000 meters high and we're 76 meters high. So despite those we're able to produce results through processes that we've developed over time and persistence of our team. So we are proposing to not take up any more of the land of the high school. It's land that we already have. We call it the Sunflower Gardens. We're repurposing that um to house
048a new dome and first the old telescope and then ultimately a new telescope. Okay, this is some just some visuals of where that is and what it will look like um from the sky deck. Okay. So, as you know, we don't we don't stay idle too long and we've started construction already. We've torn down the the the area and preparing that for uh a new foundation for the the dome. Uh Matt Cunningham and his team have been very very helpful and supportive to us. So, we thank him for that. Um we've acquired a new dome. Um, Bill and I flew out to Arizona, put it in a container, and it's going to arrive here on the 24th of September. >> That's awesome. >> So, we are expecting and hoping to have this dome, which you
049can see a a better picture of it here. Um, it's compatible to with our needs and it's budget friendly. Okay. So, we are expecting to have this schedule uh as built to be done uh by our 25th anniversary on December 2nd. Okay. So, we're we if the stars align, no pun intended, uh we will we will be having first light at our celebration of the 25th anniversary. >> Nice. >> That's great. up. Um, again, we it's going to be a a near-term test, but long term, it's going to be really great for our our capabilities and the capacity that we have. And we want to thank you. We're happy to take any questions. Uh, I want to thank those members of the board that came and visit us. >> Thank you. >> Everyone else, please
050come and see us. We we have a lot to show you. So, thank you all. >> Thank you so much. >> Exciting. Any questions for them? >> I think we chatted your ear up when we were there the other night. So, thank you for having us hosting us again. Let's see. Item B 6141 um regulation administrative regulation regarding enrollment in advanced courses or program and challenging curriculum. >> Anybody have anything to say about that? >> ESG and solar update. Are we done with that or do we want to talk more about that? >> Thank you for the update. We'll report and see if we can tease out those numbers. >> Thank you. Jeff, do you have Jeff Cen connect community Wi-Fi grant? Any >> Jeff? I mean, you don't have to. I'm just >> in
051a box. He's like double duty. >> Double duty >> employment report. Anybody enrollment report? And uh the graduation date, which is everybody top of everybody's list. Uh so yeah, there was a a memo in the packet from Mr. Ma to me. Uh we took a look at the calendar and um we are pretty secure in saying that June 13th, Saturday uh would be a fine day for the Milford High School class of 2026. 10 a.m. >> 10 a.m. >> June 13th. We'll see you all there. >> Yep. >> Hopefully all the students will be there. >> AI district guidelines. Anybody? Um, I don't know. >> Oh, wait. Sorry. September fundraising. >> Yes. Yes. Doing that. >> It's happening. Field trips. >> Okay. >> They're going places. This is >> Silverland Farms and they're open. >>
052We'll move on to executive sessions. >> Everybody can feel free to leave now. See you later, Joe. I hereby move that the board of that the board enter into executive session for the purpose of discussion and possible action regarding a candidate for the position of assistant principal with Scatakoke Middle School. I invite into executive session the board superintendent Dr. Jun Parlado and the candidate. So move second and Eric I'm sitting in >> I don't know what time she entered. >> We have Oh, >> I have it. >> Okay. And we're returning from executive session right now at what time? >> 8:51. 754. >> Yeah, 7:54. Sorry about that. >> Is everybody's here? >> Is that everyone? >> Oh dear. >> I need a motion to approve Alicia Haynes as assistant principal for Satakoke Middle School
053with a start date of September 22nd, 2025. >> So move second. All those in favor? Welcome. >> Welcome. Yay. I hereby move that the board enter into executive session for the purpose of discussion and possible action regarding the memorandum of agreement between the New Milford Board of Education and the United Public Service employee local 424 unit 107 New Milford PAR educators regarding back check or I'm sorry check timing. Invited into executive session are the board members, director of fiscal services, Anthony Gina, and superintendent Dr. Janet Parlott. >> It takes you years. >> Yeah. Uh, so moved. >> I think I moved it, but that's fine. [Applause] Pressure's >> on me. Are >> we have to turn on the >> Yes. Yes. You have to vote. >> I just say, will those have no motion to
054vote? >> You have to have a motion. >> I would like Are we back in public? >> We're Yes, it's 8:03. And we do And we do this. >> Adopt the MOA as presented in executive session. >> Second, >> Eric. Eric, >> that's a guy down the end there. >> All those in favor? >> Thank you. And then motion to adjurnn. >> Oh, I need a motion to adjurnn the meeting. >> Tom hands. All those in favor everybody. No three. You didn't even make a plate.