NPS BOE Meeting - (6/17/2026)

001Perfect. Um, I would like to call this special meeting of the Newington Board of Ed education to order for Wednesday, June 17th. The time is 77:01 p.m. Please rise for the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Roll call, please. Here >> Sam >> here >> thank you. I was like that wasn't the right order for me. Okay. [laughter] Um first we have a presentation of our everyday hero. I will turn it over to Dr. Brummit. >> Yes. and hand me the plaque for a second. Tonight, we're here to honor Jake Gagnon from John Wells, Jack G, I'm sorry, from John Wallace Middle School. As many of you have

002probably already heard, he was featured um in a news story for coming home and seeing a neighbor um apparently had fallen and needed assistance and rushed over to assist the neighbor. And uh while this didn't really necessarily have anything to do with school, we really wanted to acknowledge your citizenship, your kindness toward your community member, going out of your way to help someone in need. You may very well, I don't know that all the circumstances, but you very well may have saved that individual's life because once an older person falls, having an elderly mother, there's a lot of complications from that fall. So getting that help right away is extremely important. So for that you are to be commended. So we just wanted to honor you tonight, Jack, for your work in the community and

003to spotlight a student of ours who clearly is already on his way to becoming an meaningful contributing member to his community. So come on up, Jack. Wow. >> So, Would any board members like to make any comment? >> We even have my hand raised. >> Well, you know, I'm going to say something. Thank you so much. Um, so, uh, for those who don't know Everyday Hero, we try and highlight a lot of the, um, staff or any of our our school community that, um, maybe isn't highlighted and has done extraordinary things. We've had a lot of everyday heroes that um go above and beyond just in their scope of their work, but a lot that have literally saved lives. A couple bus drivers and a couple um other staff members that have saved lives. So

004um literally I think you're going with the trend here, Jack. You are our first student to do that. Um and I think it's very fitting that you are a first student because um you literally I think saved a life and it was a real pleasure to watch the news story and to see the incredible coverage that um that you brought to our community. And I want to say thank you so much um for what you did and also thank you on behalf of the board and all of us um as an alum of Newington public schools for representing what I think we want to see Newington public schools students be which is great citizens people that look out for their neighbors and have um good values. So thank you to your parents too um and

005for all that you did. Congratulations. You are the first student everyday hero and I think what you did was um above and beyond every day. So, I know you're a hero definitely to him, but definitely to all of the community. So, congratulations, >> Miss Petus. >> Um, as Miss Weaver said, we are incredibly proud of you. Um, one of the things that I love about our community is that we are a community that's rather large, but we do look out for each other and we care about each other. And sometimes we don't always um believe that the youngest members of our our community either are aware or have the the knowledge or are too busy. But when I hear about and I saw the news as well, your very very very caring actions on that

006day for your neighbor, it gives me so much faith in you, so much faith in your family, but also what our community can become. You are now a mentor and somebody that other members of our community, young and old, can look up to. your actions really impacted people not just directly but indirectly as well. And when we as especially as adults or older adults as I am and we see the wonderful things that kids like you are doing and how caring and compassionate you are, it makes us so proud of you and proud of what you are going to do in the future. So thank you again and thank you very very much for your parents wonderful wonderful job. >> Mr. holler it. >> Nice job. Um, I know everybody said a lot in terms

007of this being the first student to get this award, which is I think a big accomplishment and you should remember that for a while. Um, and it's usually given for stuff that happens in school or we usually recognize people for academics or sportsmanships, but I would say that this is probably one of the things that matters the most of what we try to do with our schools, and that's develop good members of our community. And when you're in a community, you're going to have people who have ideas and opinions, and they might be different from your own. And you might have conversations. Um, and you talk about things, and you try to find the right way, but the most important thing to do is to help each other. And when you see something wrong, you

008did the right thing. You simply do that, you're going to be a really good adult. Um, I've got a daughter in John Wallace as well. Um, you guys are growing up so fast. Um, doing the right thing and you're going to be somebody to be admired. Thank you very much, >> Mr. Sharma. >> Yeah, I'm just going to keep it short. So, I just echo what everyone else said. So, thank you so much for going above and beyond, you know. So, congrats again, >> Dr. Stanley. Hi. Can I ask him a question? >> Yes. >> How do you feel now? >> Like accomplished almost cuz I knew I should have done that and like success. >> Yeah, you should be proud about that. Remember this feeling and how good it feels to help people. Um,

009and you just did a wonderful job. And thank your parents for the way that they raised you and the the way that they motivate you to live your day-to-day life. Um, because it's their um the way that they display and the way that they are, you know, has been passed along to you. So, a wonderful job. >> And Mr. Skibo. >> Hey, Jack. Um, again, I really appreciate what you did as a volunteer firefighter. Um, we do this all the time and without any action, you just jump in and do it and that's what you did and uh, a lot of people just turned their head and kept walking, but you you did the good thing and just want to commend you on that. Great job, Jack. Thanks, Yeah, thank you so much. Good job.

010Everyone said everything, but we really do appreciate you and and um just showing that you are a kind person because that's that's really all we need in this world. It's just kind people. So, thank you so much for being here. Sorry we had to postpone a week, but I'm glad you you could make it. And I hope you enjoy the rest of the school year and your summer. Thank you. >> Thank you. And now I'll turn over to Dr. Brummit for some introductions. >> Thank you very much. Uh tonight I'm pleased to introduce our two new middle school assistant principles, Amanda Meiser and Christine Gamari. I'll talk about each one of them individually. Um, Amanda has already served as an interim assistant principal at Martin Kellogg for most of this school year and done a

011phenomenal job. And I did I would like to share with the board and I know many of you were part of or offered to be part of the process. Um, that this was very competitive. We had a lot of very strong candidates. Um, but we were fortunate enough to have our two successful candidates be internal, which speaks highly of the caliber of folks that are working here in Newington. And, um, so I want the board to know that these individuals went through a very competitive process. Um, we didn't make it easy on them. Um, and but let me start with Amanda. Miss Amanda Meiser is an experienced educational leader currently serving as the assistant interim principal at Martin Kellogg. Um in this role she supports daily school operations, student discipline counseling services and the implementation

012of MTSS and school improvement initiatives. She also facilitates discipline subcommittee work and collaborates with school and district leaders to ensure alignment with equitydriven continuous improvement goals. Her leadership expands both school and district roles. As director of multilingual learners in Southbridge public schools, she led K12 systems for equitable identification, placement, and support of MLL students. While coaching educators in developing professional learning and SCOP strategies previously as an assistant principal at Southbridge High School, she led culture and climate initiatives, discipline systems, and restorative practices while also supporting MTSS development, instructional coaching, and teacher collaboration. Her earlier experience includes administrative internship focused on social justice curriculum, PBIS systems, datadriven instruction, as well as over a decade as a classroom teacher in Hartford, East Hartford, and Bridgeport. Miss Meiser holds a bachelor degree in psychology, a master's in special

013education and urban education, a master's in educational leadership, and is currently pursuing her doctorate in educational leadership at Central Connecticut State University along with her superintendent certification. Outside of education, she enjoys photography, reading, traveling, and spending time with her husband and children. I present to you Miss Amanda Meiser. >> I wasn't sure if I was going to be saying anything. Um, I'm very So, first of all, I want to say I'm very honored to be here. Um, I had the opportunity to shadow Dr. from it two years ago um in my superintendency and at the time I was transitioning from Southbridge, Massachusetts um back to the state of Connecticut and I knew Newington was a special place. Um I actually had told my boss at the time, my principal at the time that if I

014got a job in Newington, I would never leave. Um so when I say that this is a dream, um I'm very happy to be here. The year at Martin Kellogg has been exactly what I expected it to be. I believe in the work that Newington is doing. Um I think that you um young man are exactly what I see Newington produce and it is just been a very uh fulfilling experience to find a new community back in Connecticut because I felt so tied to my position in South Brbridge. that doing an hour drive for six five years was taxing. So I just am really w I feel very welcome. Um it's been a wonderful year. It's nice to be here in person. I've been to many board me online and I just thank all of

015you. Um Mr. Das, Dr. Bummit, Miss Freeman, thank you so much for the opportunity. Um and yes, it was a lengthy process, but it was absolutely worth it. So thank you. Thank you for for the honor. It is now my pleasure to introduce Christine Gamari. She will be the new assistant principal at John Wallace Middle School. After she is currently uh has been serving as an instructional coach at Newington High School for the past 5 years. In that role, she's worked alongside teachers and school leaders to strengthen instruction, support professional learning, and ensure every student has access to high quality learning experiences. Christine began her career as a middle and high school science teacher in Nagatuck and Torington, serving students for 13 years before moving into instructional coaching. She was recognized as a Connecticut teacher

016of the year finalist in 2021 and has experienced leading restorative practices and school climate initiatives that promote student growth, meaningful relationships, and a strong sense of belonging. Christine is honored to continue serving the New England community in this new role. She looks forward to partnering with students, families, and staff to support student success and contribute to the continued growth of the John Wallace community. So ladies and gentlemen, Miss Christine Gamar. >> Hey everyone. Um this is a little unnerving but not as much as the interview process was. So um I just want to begin by thanking everyone here for this opportunity. Um like Dr. Brumit said, I came here 5 years ago. Um it it was a change to come here and it was an exciting opportunity to pursue instructional coaching. I love this community.

017I've learned so much um from the students, from the families and from the educators that I work with on a daily basis that when this opportunity came up, I I really wanted to remain here and uh take on a leadership position. This is a very special place. Jack, congratulations. Um, you know, John Wallace, I spent a little time there yesterday and you know, there's always nerves when there's change, but it just felt so exciting to be there. What a wonderful place. Um, and I'm really looking forward to the opportunity of being assistant principal there. Um, so thank you and I'm sure this will be the first of many board meetings that I attend. [laughter] All right. And last, but certainly not least, um a last minute addition because I was able to hire him on

018Monday. Uh Mr. Christopher Zabbrinsky is our new assistant business manager. He will begin July 13th and he will work at central office. As many board members know, Miss Karen Seir, who's been with us for quite a number of decades, is going to become the town uh finance director. So we are now uh bringing in Christopher Zabensky. He has served comes to us with six years of experience from the area cooperative education services better known as ACES where he served as finance coordination officer. He holds a masters of business administration from Southern Connecticut State University and holds a Connecticut school business administrative certification. Christopher brings extensive experience in school finance, including payroll, administration, budgeting, financial management, accounts payable, and audit preparation. We are excited to have Christopher on our team. So, ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Christopher

019Zabrinsky. >> I'm more of a numbers guy, not a speech guy. So, I'm going to keep it as brief as possible. Uh, it's an honor to be working for the Newington public schools. Um, I love the community. I love everything about the schools. I'm really excited to work closely with uh Lynn in the coming days and years and just overall thankful for the opportunity to come be a part of the central office community. So, thank you guys. Any comments from board members? Mr. Hollerin, >> I'll keep it brief. Thank you so much for coming aboard. [snorts] You're I'm sure you're aware becoming part of a very special community. Standards are high. Um but at the same time, kindness leads the way. And I think that's important to know. Uh Christopher, it's nice to know there's

020a fellow MBA um somewhere within the ranks. Uh, and we will be putting you to work come next budget season. Um, [laughter] that's it. Thank you very much and I'm happy to have you aboard, >> Mr. Sharma. >> So, I'm just going to keep it brief, but welcome to our district and we look forward to your contributions. So, thank you so much and welcome again, >> Miss Weaver. Well, I'll keep it brief because we know it's going to be a long night. So, uh, welcome to all. Um, and uh I always say like as the uh youngest alum here, um it's always a pleasure to have gone through these school systems, but it's always a pleasure to see the new members of our community that come and the way you want to grow and build

021this um and continue to improve it. So, thank you so much for uh already I'm thanking you in advance for your service, for all of the fun that we're going to have next year. Um hope you have a fun summer preparing for next year. Um, but we appreciate all the work that you've put into the process as well. Um, so thank you for putting yourself in the ring and thank you for stepping up. Welcome, >> Miss Peters. >> Just very quickly, congratulations. Um, welcome and thank you so much for um continuing to stay within our district. You know, we love it when we can grow talent and that is so so so important. and I'm just so appreciative of the fact that you want to continue to to grow the work that we've been doing.

022So, thank you and welcome to all of you. Can't wait to work with you. >> Thank you all three of you for or [clears throat] yeah, stepping into new roles. Um, welcome. You have a lot of work to do with our budget. You just escaped our budget season, but it never ends. As you know, money is always a thing. Hot topic. Um, so thank you and we look forward to your work. And then Amanda, Christine, um, I was I was on the panel as you know. Um, the I believe it's a parent one, but um, it was uh I just appreciated your answers and all of the things that you said and and just appreciate your willingness to commit to the middle schools. is a a tricky age group and Amanda, I've seen you just,

023you know, having a daughter at Martin, I've seen you this past year just kind of fit right in and so I'm just so happy you're you're permanent and um and Christine, I know I have some friends over at the high school and and they're definitely going to miss you and um your replacement has big shoes to fill, but um but just hearing all the wonderful things that they've said about you, we're just John Wallace is also lucky to have you. So thank you and yes busy summer getting getting prepared [laughter] for the next school year and um yeah welcome. Thank you and thank you Dr. Bett for the introductions. >> Wonderful and special thanks to Mr. Diaz, Miss Foy who led a very as we said already a very rigorous and exhaustive process so that

024we could get top candidates um into these positions. So thank you to that busy office. >> Yes. >> All right. At this point, I would like to open up to um public participation on any matter related to board responsibilities. If you are in the room, can come to the head of the table and online, you can raise your hand to be recognized. And you have four minutes to um to speak. >> I don't Hey, Mr. Can you check if that door is locked? >> Yes. >> It's public meeting after all. >> No, it's just a door. >> Just uh state your name and address for the record. >> Name and address. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Uh my name's Lisa Barbagallo and my address is 84 Feeasantr run in town. >> Thank you. >> Um okay.

025Uh I'm a Patterson parent of two. Um, what brings me here tonight is the events that occurred last week with our lockdown. I did reach out via email. I appreciate those of you who responded to me. Um, I am not a good public speaker, so forgive me. And I'm also speaking about the two things that are the most near and dear to my heart, and those are my two children. And I think anybody who's a parent in this room feels the same. Um, when my se my daughter is in part-time pre-K, so she was not in the building at the time. She's in the afternoon program. But when my seven-year-old son came home and told me about his day, the feeling that came over me is unescribable because I wasn't prepared to talk to him

026about it. I was angry. I was sad. I thought about all my friends and their children. And I my phone just started going off like, "Did you hear any? Do you know any like what is going on? What happened? Why weren't we informed? Um I stated this in my email and I'll state it again. There is no valid excuse why that message didn't come through for 7 hours later and the apology followed it 40 minutes later. That to me, we are all human. We all make mistakes. But when you drop the ball there, the apology doesn't come 40 minutes later. The apology comes first and that is so telling of our leaders awareness and accountability. I understand we all are aware that our principal has resigned as of today. Um, communication has been a problem

027all year at Patterson and this was the straw that broke the camel's back for a lot of us. Um, but my question is where do we go from here? because what is the standard? I don't want to see this happen again. I don't we none of us as parents deserve to be in that position. We are all taxpayers. We are all, you know, we we deserve better. Patter I said this in my email. I'll say it again. Patterson families deserve better. Our kids deserve better. Um I want to know what the standard is. Who's upholding that standard? is the next person going to be held to a better standard? Um, this was one of many issues this year and I will say I sat back and tried to see if some of it would work

028itself out, if the morale would get better, if the feedback around town and on the sports fields and, you know, we're a big community, but we're also a tight-knit community, too. And there's been talk all year, what is going on? what you know so many things um but what drew the line for me where I had to say that's it I have to speak up it's communication and safety and as a mom when it comes to my kids safety and making sure that the people who hold my babies for seven hours a day are the best of the best in doing the best job possible. I think I have a right as a parent to demand better. Um, so again, I want to thank the board members who reached out to me and heard my

029concerns, but again, the problem isn't solved yet. I want to know where we go from here. And I'd love to feel and I'd love to leave here tonight with some reassurance that there will be improvement. Um because again the standard has to be better and whoever is in this position next needs to be held to a better standard. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh my name is Elena Overstat. I live at 64 Richard Street. Uh, my name is Elaine Overberstat and I'm here to express my concern and frustration regarding communication of the lockdown that occurred on June 11th at John Patterson School where my daughter is in first grade. My daughter came home extremely upset and frightened by a lockdown that occurred during school hours. This was the first that I had heard of

030the occurrence as I had not received any notification from the school. My daughter explained that she heard a lot of yelling, described how frightened her classmates were, and including one student who was so scared that he had an accident. Based on all of that that she explained to me, I knew immediately that this was not a drill and this these children's children felt like they were actually in danger. As a parent, I find it unacceptable that I was unaware of what had occurred. I strongly believe that parents should be notified in a timely manner whenever a lockdown is initiated. a technical issue, faulty email system, or poor internet connection is not an adequate explanation when student safety is involved. Knowing that my daughter was potentially in a dangerous situation without my knowledge is deeply unsettling.

031I want to be clear, I am not against the school going into lockdown if there is a potential threat. In fact, based on what my daughter told me, it sounds like her teacher handled the situation appropriately, followed protocol, and did everything possible to keep the students safe. I truly appreciate that and I'm grateful for the staff's response. What I'm not okay with is that the parents were not informed of what happened until 7:00 p.m. that night. Even if the situation ultimately turned out to be less serious than initially believed, parents deserve time timely communication anytime the school enters a lockdown situation. On Friday, June 12th, I wrote an email expressing my concerns to Dr. Brummit. Today, June 17th, at 10:30 a.m., she responded to my email. She explained that she forwarded my email to former

032principal Torres Ruiz and asked that she reach out to me directly, which she did not. Dr. Bremit explained in her email to me that the lockdown was initiated by Newington PD and that the lack of notification was an error on part of the principal. The principal did not verify her email to parent did not verify that her email went through and she believed that the internet failed. She explains she's working with the principal on protocol to ensure the verification of messages being sent, which I assume now is not happening since she's no longer principal. Um, I I'm sorry. I wonder though if the responsibility of sending this message fell solely on the principal, shouldn't her boss have made sure that her direct report did as she asked and completed the task successfully? Dr. Dr. Breummit

033wrote to me that she instructed the principal to send an email to parents when when the lockdown was over around 11:45 a.m. Shouldn't she have followed up to make sure the email was sent? Did it take Dr. Roman all day to realize email didn't go through? Why were we not notified until 700 p.m.? The principal made a grave error, but who was supposed to back her up? Why is the responsibility of notifying parents during a lockdown dependent on one person sending an email? There are more reliable emergency notification systems that could be implemented. West Hartford uses inform inform which is an emergency mass notification and incident management platform that allows schools to instantly send notifications at the press of a button which could be pressed by any trained or trusted staff member. The system is

034also built in with redundancy networks, so an internet blip wouldn't be an issue. This may be an option the board should explore with the current protocol. What happens if the principal is unable to send the notification because they're actively responding to the emergency in the building? What if the internet or the Wi-Fi service is interrupted during that lockdown? The principal resigning is not the answer here. It actually feels like she's the scapegoat for a bigger issue, which is the current protocol for the notification of a lockdown, and this has been exposed as a major safety issue in this town. I would appreciate a clearer understanding of the district's lockdown protocols, specifically regarding parent notification. I would also like to know what actions the district intends to take [music] to strengthen these procedures and eliminate the

035possibility of a similar breakdown, communication breakdown in the future. [clears throat] >> Thank you. >> Hello. Okay. Um, my name is Jordan Gangloff. Um, I reside at 23 Oculini Court here in Newington. Um, I'm a lifelong Newton resident. I, uh, graduated from the class of 2004. Uh, and I moved back into my home where I now raise my kids. Um, I have two children in the John Patterson school system and it's actually where I went to elementary school. So, it feels like coming home for me. Um, I want to raise two really important things on my heart. First and foremost, communication is incredibly important to parents in the current political climate. We know that school safety is one of the biggest factors when parents send their kids to school. These are our children. Uh, we

036spend our entire lives raising them. and to send them away for 7 hours a day. We need to know that they're safe at school, which isn't just about school security. It's about the security that the staff is going to be able to connect with us if there are problems that we need to know about. Um 7:00 p.m. to hear about a lockdown is insane. It shouldn't have happened and it happened a lot this year. Um, I had to hear from my son more than once that his teacher was taking a leave of absence. Um, when my husband and I reached out to the school to the principal, she told us that they just had to figure out what was going to happen, that we shouldn't have to hear about it from our son. And then

037what four or 5 days later, um we got a note in his red folder just saying that like she would be coming back. We didn't have an end date. Um this teacher was a friend of mine, so I reached out to her and made sure she was okay and she was. Um and then she was supposed to come back before the new year. And then my son was very excited she didn't come back and he was very disappointed. And when we reached out to the school again, we didn't hear back about when she was coming back. And then another week goes by and then we get another letter saying she'll come back after the new year. Again, in this entire time, that's the only form of communication that we received, a letter in a red

038folder after we had asked about what was happening. Um, on top of all that, we never got an introduction from their long-term sub. I didn't even know the sub's name until I reached out to the teacher who was on her leave of absence. So during her leave of absence, she had to tell me who was in charge of my son's classroom. There was no communication on when we could meet the teacher. The only time I ever met the teacher was during my son's um progress like report time. Um, and she was very lovely, but it the point was I shouldn't have had to reach out and ask. Um, and I think that ties into another problem is that there's not enough support for the teachers at John Patterson. The paras that do the work there

039to support the teachers are not being supported. These kids are 21 in a classroom to one teacher. And that's insane. If anyone has ever had kids, they know, especially in the elementary grade, they're incredibly high energy. It takes a lot for them to focus. They need more support than just one teacher. Teachers can't do their job if they don't have people to help them do their job. And so, I kind of want to know, what are we doing about that? This is a great town. I grew up in this town and I care about this town because I live here. my kids are getting educated here. I don't want to have to pull them from a school system and pay to go to a private school system so that they can learn in an environment

040that is supportive of their learning. And so as we move forward with the budget going into the next year, I really want to know [music] money from >> I want to know where that money is coming from to support the school system. my tax dollars go into the school and I want to make sure that they're being utilized for more than just I don't know projects like I don't know paint and stuff like we have really great teachers they're going to leave they're going to leave if they're not supported they will go somewhere else and that's not what we want we want good teachers in our schools to educate the kids that live and work in this town and will grow up in this town so that they stay in this town. And so I

041really hope that can be come into consideration for the new school year. >> Thank you. >> My name is Evie Nolton. and I live at 10 Hillside Street. As a PAR in the extension program at EG Green, during midyear and final year evaluations, I have been asked how we could be better served by our administration. In every meeting, I have reiterated that our main problem is our lack of staff. Not just me, but every staff member who works with these kids in this program. other paras, our teacher, our RBT, our BCBA, our school psychologist, our speech pathologist have all reiterated that we need more staff in the room to better serve these kids. And in every evaluation and in every support staff meeting where we are asked what we need and we are begging for

042more help, we are told it's not possible, that we'd only get more help if the number of kids in in the program increases. But that doesn't solve anything. We're told our RBTs count as two paras, but our RBT can't help a child in the bathroom and also ensure another kid isn't aloping from the room or climbing the countertops or disroing in front of their peers or becoming agitated and aggressive. And for much of the day with inclusion time and recess and lunch waves and staff breaks, it's only two of us in the room with six to eight kids. We all love these kids and we love our jobs, but we are burnt out. With each year, more kids get more inclusion time. We've stated we don't have the people to fulfill these inclusion hours. It

043would leave one person with the rest of the kids, which is not optimal for their well-being. In response, we were told that not having enough people was not a sufficient answer. In reality, these kids these kids need one-on- ones. During our celebration of learning assembly, one of my kids was too overwhelmed to enter. And so, I took him back to our room. In that hour where it was just us in a quiet setting, he displayed more success in academic goals than he had all year. He proved he had mastered the goals that we had thought he couldn't grasp. The issue wasn't his understanding. It's that we don't have the resources or people to give these children the fair chances that they deserve to show what they know. If the issue is we aren't finding people

044to fill the jobs to be paras, then the solution is to increase our pay and offer affordable benefits that would entice people to come to our district and stay. If the issue is the administration isn't looking to hire more paras, then it simply shows that the needs of support staff and the needs of these children are not being considered seriously. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good evening. I'm Danielle Rooney. I live at 20 Puritan Lane in Newington. Good evening, members of the board of education and superintendent. I'm a pareducator at John Patterson and I have a daughter who goes to school at John Wallace. We are here today because we love our students. We are the ones supporting them in specialized classrooms, managing behavioral crises, and quite frankly, keeping the school running smoothly. We need

045support staff. We need para educators. But I'm here to speak to you about a harsh reality. Rumor has it. Hooray. we will have benefits available to us. On paper, the offer of health insurance coverage sounds like a significant step forward. However, the hard truth is that our paychecks simply do not generate enough income to afford those benefits. When we are offered access to employer sponsored health insurance, many of us look at the premium deductions and realize it will swallow up a massive portion of our monthly pay. After paying for basic housing, groceries, transportation, there is simply no money left to cover those premiums, let alone the deductibles that will come with them. Offering insurance we cannot afford is a hollow gesture. >> [clears throat] >> It forces dedicated support staff into an impossible choice. Go

046without health care and risk our own well-being or pay for insurance and be unable to afford living. Public record clearly shows us how many six-figured salaries are paid right here within this board of education administration. Year after year, there seems to be no problem finding the funds to sub to to secure substantial raises for those high earners. Yet, when it comes to the frontline staff who interact with the students every single day, we are told the money just isn't there. And when we are given a raise, it's a percentage of income, a percentage of barely there. If hypothetically those making $200,000 incomes get a 2% raise, they get $4,000. We would get 40. Raises don't equal change in our household, but merely change in our pockets. This is all an obvious choice. It's about priorities.

047A livable wage for PAR educators and support staff is not a want. It's a fundamental need. Before we can even begin to utilize or discuss health benefits, we need a baseline compensation that allows us to survive. We cannot pour our energy into supporting the children of this district when we are constantly stressed about how we will pay for our own children, our own families, our own needs. We are asking this board to prioritize base wage increases. We need salaries that reflect the immense value and the heavy responsibility of our roles. After all, we are raising your children. You hold the power to change this. You can change this. We urge you to work to reallocate funds towards a true need within our public schools. Livablebased wages for all para educators and support staff. Let's make

048sure our support staff are financially stable enough to survive before [music] expecting them to take on additional health benefit costs. If you need me to contact other school districts for information on how they make it work and support their staff, please let me know. I have the summer. I would be more than willing to sit with someone who knows what they are doing. The constant need for additional support staff is ever growing. This is indisputable. Fix these wages and fill these positions. Thank you for listening and I hope you will choose to invest in the staff who are keeping your schools running. Thank you. >> Thank you. My name is Kira Wetmore. I live at 91 Windmill Lane. Um, I came here for the lockdown. I'm extremely disappointed in how it was handled. Um, but

049having sitting here listening to other people speak. Um, I'm now getting progressively more mad that our PAR educators are not taken care of. I did know that Newington schools was having a difficulty staffing the PAR educators. Um but as a parent of a child who does require a parah um and a onetoone um I think that it should be a priority for this school. When [clears throat] my daughter had her surgery, we were able to come bring her to see her friends for 30 minutes um once or twice a week just so she could socialize. And I saw firsthand what our paras did for these kids. Um, and if one parah had to take the child to the bathroom, there was only the teacher and one other parah and they're in a mixed classroom of

050kids with special needs and kids who don't have special needs. And that was a lot for one p for those even two people to handle. So the fact that we have 21 children or more in a classroom where other teachers are just dependent on themselves, what if one child needs help? what who else is giving the attention to the other children. We have already lost paras to other districts and it's going to keep happening. Like they said, they have to be able to feed their families, not just take care of our children. Their children are a priority just as much as our kids are. So, this district needs to figure out a way to take care of our paras and my child and all the other children, especially ones with IEPs, 504s, healthcare plans, cuz

051I will go to a different district if I feel my child's needs are not being met here. I grew up in Newington schools. I came back to Newington because I loved growing up here, but I will leave if my kid isn't being taken care of and her needs aren't being met. So, you're I'm not the only parent who's going to have that happen. So, thank you. >> Thank you. I'm not see Hi um Beth Minky Hot Vagner 32 Old Hatchery Lane. It's very weird sitting at this end of the table. >> We miss you. >> Um yeah, miss you guys. Some of you may or may not know I was on the board for four year four years. Um so it's it's nice to be on this side of the table too as a parent.

052Um I have two children at John Patterson. One is in first grade, one is in um preschool and will be in kindergarten next year, which I'm so excited about. Um and I'm also um I've been a teacher for 16 years myself, and I teach right now in West Harford public schools. Um as stated by many other parents tonight, I think the lockdown that happened last week and the lack of communication um was the final straw for for many of us as parents. Um, however, there were many troubling situations that occurred before that that unfortunately I experienced and I've heard from many other parents um and teachers that that have happened. Um, as an educator myself, I know that this is a difficult job. Um, however, the teachers that I know and administrators that I know

053do it because they love it, because they love the kids. Um, my concern is how did it get to the point where it got to? Um, it seemed as though there was a toxic work environment. There was a toxic um environment amongst parents and I just think that our kids deserve better. I think parents deserve better. Um, a lot of the people that have come up here to to speak tonight said that they also grew up in Newington. Um, and it always amazes me how many people grow up here and choose to stay here and live here and have their kids here. And I think that's because Newington schools truly, somebody said before, it is a special special place. Um, which is why I was on board of ed. I want to maintain that. And

054I think we need to be proactive so that um a situation where an administrator for whatever reason has has allowed things to fall apart and and fall into such disarray cannot happen again. Um, I'm not sure what that entails, but I hope that um folks can come together to do the hard work um to make sure that we do the best for our kids and that our kids keep having children and coming back and and keeping this district alive. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Is there anyone online that would like to speak? If so, you can just raise your hand. Anyone else in the room? Okay. Um, want to make sure there's no likely Okay. Um, so we don't typically respond to comments um at this point in the meeting. We have a portion

055later on remarks by board members, but I do just want to acknowledge and and thank everybody who took the time to come out and um an email and um state concerns regarding um uh the the lockdown and and other communication issues at Patterson and PAR educators um of course. Um so we are talking budget later in um the agenda, but I do just want to acknowledge, recognize, and thank everybody for coming here. And if you did speak and had a question, um Dr. Bummit will, um we'll get back to you as as per um our policy, but um but yes, we we hear you and it's definitely um Patterson deserves better. I'm not sure who said it, but you're absolutely right. I think all of you said a lot of very interesting things and and

056some things that we as a board can can talk about and and think about. And thank you for coming out, and we really do appreciate the voices. And I hope Haley is doing well. Recognize you. She is so cute. Um so yeah, that's what I'll just say now. Um and again that I'm sure we have a long agenda, so um board comments will happen later on. Um it'll be on YouTube and and or you can call in and listen or stay. You're welcome to stay for the the reading as well. So thank you. All right, we have our consent agenda next. I move uh the board of education approve the minutes of the regular meeting on May 27th, 2026. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> We have a motion and a second for our consent

057agenda. Is there any discussion? All in favor? >> Any opposed? Motion passed unanimously. Our new business. First item is a challenging behavior report. Dr. from it. >> Right. Thank you. Let me just click that up. >> All right. Um, effective this school year, all school districts in the state of Connecticut were required to institute a challenging behavior report system. And it is also required by the state statute that we report out on this once annually to the board. So in your packet as well as displayed on the screen are the statistics from uh our challenging behavior reports this year. It is our first year. I think uh we did a a strong roll out but I think as with any new system we'll cons continuously look at ways to improve it. I think there was

058some um need to further educate people on what constitutes a challenging behavior because we had some that were filed that didn't didn't um become or validated as challenging behaviors. But let me just quickly define what that is. I mean obviously our vision for the system is to have a positive school climate that focuses on prevention and identification and response to challenging behaviors. And part of this legislation was designed to uh make sure students who are in this situation receive a tiered response to these types of behaviors. So a challenging behavior form or sorry incident is something in which a student um is at risk of interfering with the learning or safety of the school environment and is a threat to a school employee or fellow student. This could include bullying. um it can which is

059defined as unwanted or aggressive behaviors um and we are required to monitor this uh grades K to 12 and bullying is also described as a power imbalance. So all of these things can come into play when we talk about the challenging behavior um reporting. And just so the board is aware, a challenging behavior report can be f uh filed by a student, a parent, the staff member. So those and we have received those reports from all of those stakeholders. And then it is the role of our school climate um committee that is run at the district level to review each and every one of those reports and ensure that the school followed the guidelines for how to respond to them. So, I have the statistics that I'm required to report out to the board about

060how many reports were received by school. Um, how many were verified because some reports were not verified. And then how many of those verified acts or even any behavioral issues required a tiered response. Um, and then there's also the report about how many verified acts required a tier response because you can get a tiered response whether or not it was a verified act of a challenging behavior. So, um, you know, I'll let the board just glance at the statistics. Obviously, the biggest referrals seem to come from our middle and high school levels. Although, as you can see, um that there are um at the end of the day, similar amounts of challenging behavior forms at the two middle schools with verification as well as those that require tiered responses. Um and then the high school,

061given that that's the majority of 1300 students, there are more referrals there as well. There were no referrals received from the transition academy which is considered a school in our system. It is housed here and that's for our students ages 18 to 22 with developmental delays. So these are the statistics. Um so we had a total of 310 reports [snorts and clears throat] and they of the total reports I'm sorry 310 were verified and 15.6% of the alleged challenging behavior forms were not verified. So the vast majority were and um 13% were for acts of physical aggression or violence and 16 61.4% were verified acts for challenging behavior other than physical aggression. So um that that is really the long and short of it. I believe that at the end of the day this process

062is a good system. It requires more even more attention to be paid to any behaviors that are interfering with learning and it requires the the structured tiered response. We were doing things of this nature before, but I think this just strengthened the recordkeeping and it certainly gives all of our stakeholders an understanding of how we are uh responding to children. So we are required under this legislation to provide a tiered response anytime a an issue arises where a student has temporarily required a classroom to be cleared. So the behavior is such that this the student doesn't leave but the other students do. Um it's desirable for the student that's having a challenging behavior to leave but sometimes it doesn't work out that way. um indicates a credible intention to harm somebody either through a threat

063or through bodily um movements and results in some injury. The interactions between the student and the other person uh resulted in some sort sort of injury. Um and that is very has to be verified by the school nurse. Um so 110 of our challenging behaviors did prompt that tiered response. the chart, which I'm going to try to blow up for you now because it's hard to see, shows you the spread by grade level. Um, so let me just pull this up even so interesting that there was some referrals at the kindergarten level, but I think a lot of kindergarten students are still finding their uh way in the world and how to interact with other children. So sometimes that physicality is a byproduct of being a new student. Um we did not the the referrals

064after grade one go much lower in the elementary level and you can see a good spike in grade five that is our transition year. So I'm not sure if that has anything to do with that learning how to be in middle school. Um and then it does taper off at the high school level. Um we did not have any challenging behavior referrals for seniors this year. So every grade level reported some except 12th graders. Um so uh based on the feedback I am getting from the folks that oversee this which is our uh Dr. Harrison and Miss Tamara Wang who is a coach. They are monitoring this. We are in full compliance with state law. I think we are continuing to refine how we respond to these behaviors. Um, we are also doing quite a

065bit and I believe the board heard some presentations this year on restorative practices where students are required to make right any of the mistakes they made as a result of these interactions. The restorative process is not always appropriate when a behavior escalates to that level, but it is something that we leverage. We also do K12 a lot of teaching around how to regulate emotions and obviously appropriate behavior. All schools have behavior standards and they are some of them are under revision right now but all schools have basic pillars of standards of behavior that are reinforced throughout the school day. So Millington is in compliance with this regulation. We continue to monitor it. I think we're always seeking to reduce these behaviors. Um, but we are doing what we need to do to respond to them

066and providing tiered interventions. I didn't get into a lot of detail about a tiered intervention, but that can be things such as going um having time with the social worker, the school counselor, the school psychologist. Uh it could be a behavior plan, it could be a social skills group. Um and you know those are some examples of a tiered intervention. So um it can vary by grade level, it can vary by the need of the student, but those are just some examples. So um I this does not have to be reported to the state. Um though we have to be in compliance with this which we are and every school has a school climate plan that needs to address any areas that are um in [clears throat] need of improvement relative to school climate. So

067each school has developed those plans. So I will turn it over to the board chair for any questions. >> Um I actually just have a question. Do um is there a formal way that parents or students can make a report or is it um just kind of informal? >> No, it's a formal there is a form that they can get online. Uh there's a QR code that all the schools have sent out. So it's available online. Um it would be available um in the student handbook as well. So um it appears that we've had based on the number that of reports have been filed and we've had like I said reports from parents, students and staff. So we do believe that people are accessing it as they need to but it is sent out um

068and our um school climate department is monitoring that. So any schools that seem a little low, they look into that making sure that they are capturing everything. Um, but yes, it is a form that can be filled out online and then submitted. It first goes to the principal and then it's also monitored by our school climate team. >> Right. Is it sent out to It's I know it's in the handbook, but nobody reads the handbooks. Is it sent out to >> It's also in the board policy manual policy that either Jessica >> I don't know what you're talking about. [laughter] >> It's accessible on our website. Um, it's electronic and that's makes it a little easier for folks to fill out. So, or a parent could request it. If they didn't know about it and

069they wanted to report it, they could request it and that would be provided to them. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, I'm sorry, I don't know who had their hand. Mr. Hollerin, >> thank you. Um, I know this report is a snapshot of this year. Do we have the same data to compare year-over-year? I'm curious to see if there's a cohort. um if we see a spike in fifth grade this year, are we going to see a spike in sixth grade next year and then seventh grade? Or if we don't see that trend for the cohort and we see fifth grade spiking year-over-year, I'd like to remove some of the fog of assumption around what's happening in fifth grade and try to dig down a little bit to see what's happening there. >> Yes, we have

070we do have some data. It won't be exactly like this given the new system that we put in place, but I could ask uh Miss Wang to run some numbers for previous years. We won't be comparing apples to apples necessarily, but I think we [snorts] could probably get uh the gist of what you're asking. >> Dr. Stanley, >> Jessica, did you have something? >> Are you sure? >> Mr. Dr. Holland just took my question so I'm salty about it. It's fine. >> Um, thank you so much. I just had a couple questions about this. So, it seems um do we have any data about when a case is not verified? Were these reports by more likely from students or staff or parents? Can we get some more details? I'm concerned about the um number of

071reports in John Patterson and it looks like only a third of them are verified. Um, so it just seems like a w a big discrepancy between those numbers compared to the other schools. Um, and then is there any more details about the high incidents that we have in certain grades? Are these always behaviors or are they not always, but are they behaviors reported on the same person multiple times or is this an individual person that gets a report? there's just a little bit lacking in details for that and maybe that allows us to have some commonalities that we can address or Dr. Harrington can address and I would like him to present an action plan to us on how to address some of these concerns that we have based on this report. Um cuz I

072again with Sean like is this because there is a kid or two or several in this certain grade that are reaching out and in distress and need additional assistance and how can we support them? Or is it the assumption that some people are making that fifth grade should not be a middle school or this is a difficult year and how can we as a community or or a public um school system make that transition easier? um because I don't think we have the flexibility to keep fifth grade in elementary school just on class size and room availability. Um so what are the details in that? Is it a is it the same kid that's just reported multiple times or are are these all separate cases? And what are some of the commonalities that we can

073pull from the reports that are being happened? And then just to reiterate when it's not verified, why is it not verified? And does that become from a certain place if that makes any sense >> and his action plan if he can present that in the fall that would be good. >> Is the action are you looking for action plan to revise this report or >> um not to revised report I would like a revised report um by the fall but I want him to present an action plan on how to support the results of that re of the report. Um so how do we address these challenging behaviors? What is our plan to reduce these behavioral challenges? >> Each school has to create their own report. Gotcha. >> Um and that is based on their

074data, this data, survey data. Um and I I do think we I can the purpose of this report was um what the state requires me to report out on. We can certainly parse it out a little bit. There are some schools or some grade levels in which it is the same student repeatedly. In other cases, it's just new incidents um each time. So, we can parse that out a little more deeply. Uh I think Miss Hang, who's our data keeper on this, can definitely give a little more detail on that, which I can present at our first meeting in the fall. >> I think even if the school has to make their own digital reports, I think he is the director and he oversees how the schools are all supported. So, I hope that he

075can help with the interventions from the schools. I think that's something that's actively being worked on that the right the um school climate the restorative justice all of that the behaviors >> every school has a unique plan based on their data so there's not an overarching district plan but each school has to have a school clim climate plan and then Dr. Dr. Harston and Miss Wang are monitoring that. They help each school write their plans to make sure they're looking at the data and the standards um that are each school typically focuses in on one standard of um it's called the castle framework. One standard that they are seeing as the biggest need for their school and it has to be very data driven. So not only do we look at the incidences, we look

076at surveys. what are the students saying through through surveys, parent surveys um and they do a deep dive into data analysis and then some of the other op which I didn't mention is some of the students go into what's called our multi-tiered system of support if they are in need of more intensive support. Uh what I've already mentioned some of the things that might happen but that some students may require more lengthy interventions and that would be reviewed by a team on a regular basis. So it does it has a lot of intricacies, but I can certainly shine a deeper lens on the data and I can also bring samples of each school's climate plan so people can see what those are >> articulating, excuse me, you know, what they are referencing, what do they

077look like and and the data behind them. So those are going to be revised for the start of the school year as well. And um just can you confirm how long that's been like that's been the process. This is a new requirement from the state. But that's not to say that this work hasn't been >> No, we've always been required to have what they used to call them as safe school climate plans through legislation. What changed this year was the uh challenging behavior reporting form and how that is managed. That was a new um requirement. And then some of the specifics around the school climate plans were also um mandated by the state department of ed through legislation. So a little bit more um definitive nature to that. We did revise policy to align to

078it. So yeah, it's a little bit different. We've always been addressing these behaviors. Now it's you know requires a slightly different approach and documentation. Um but yes, I I think it's uh certainly something I could bring to the board all of the school um school climate plans and how those are put together and what things are being worked on at every school. >> Swaver. Yeah, I think um the data folks are interested in the root cause problem solving that we can do and extrapolate from the data or what we can interpret and glean from um if there's trend analysis, if there's pattern analysis that we can do um to note that um so fully agree with the previous comments and just wanted to >> um there's a Good. >> Um, so I know um I

079think just for the question before it was um this is all result I assume from the legislation from 2023 which was the overhaul of the school climate plan which then changed our school climate policy which we updated in June 5th, 2025 which also then has two regulations which has the form and the regulation of each school climate policy. And I know if everyone's hearing this too, like we have all these required reports and all these kinds of things, but that doesn't mean that we weren't doing these things before. I think it's important to recognize. The other thing too is if you hear school climate, school climate committee, school climate specialist, those are all mandated by the state as well. Um but it doesn't mean like they weren't there in other names or that when you

080say, "Oh, we're like >> doing all this work or blah blah blah." Like they're just committees meeting all these things. Well, one they're state managed committees. But I know this was really I think out of the wake of COVID um and the [clears throat] challenging behaviors and I know we heard that when we went to negotiations back in 2023 and it's always been an issue but um not always been an issue but really I think since co so just curious to um as we look at kind of those trends I think we have data going back to that but obviously it was so hard to kind of do anything with the 2021s the 2022ers and that kind of stuff. Um, so I wouldn't ask if we did the trend analysis to do it all the

081way back probably like there would be helpful maybe, but I don't know how helpful given um I think we're trying to attribute a lot of different root causes to a lot of different things and we are getting further and further out from the co impact but can't say that it's directly tied to that event mostly just the wake of it. Um, so would just be curious to I don't know what committee it would be most helpful to to maybe do more followup, but it sounds a little it's not curriculum, but maybe it is full board, but just wanted to kind of note that this maybe um something like committee work could also be helpful with um just kind of having more regular updates like curriculum would with some of the scores and that kind of

082stuff. And I know we've had conversations I think akin to this. So, um, and maybe that means having an ad hoc committee as we revise our standing committee and other committee policy. I'm always going to bring it back to policy. I'm so sorry. But, um, we will be reviewing that policy tonight. So, just wanted to put that out there. Um, but just last question would be, um, too is um I know for that legislation, the school climate policy is supposed to be presented at July 1, 2025 and then by so we'll get one in June by June of 2027. Is that correct? Would this be a part of that report or no? >> I'm sorry. Could you repeat the question? >> Sorry, I didn't catch. >> Okay. So, the legislation for the school climate policy

083it or in our own policy it says starting June 1 or July 1 of 2025 we got the school climate policy report then and then thereafter it's a bianial report. Was just curious if this is kind of like going along with it. So, we'll get it in the the 2027 or is this kind of like a separate standalone report? This is an annual report specific to challenging behaviors, >> but the bottom line is the board can ask for whatever report they'd like. >> I can have um Tom Santoro, who's our power school data genius, um look at what data we've kept historically and how apples to apples it would be um to see if there's any way to start looking at trends because we're capturing a little bit differently this year. But I I I'd

084have to ask him about what he could put together that would be um you know meaningfully representative of the trends that you're u looking back at for maybe however many years. Um so we could I can check into that and provide that update to the board at our next meeting. It would really be what kind of data do we have we um collabed over the years. We we keep every amount of data that the state requires us to keep and more. We keep a lot of uh data on kids who are on behavior plans, our BCBAS. So for children who require something above and beyond what I've already mentioned, there's a very significant tracking system on that. But um I think what I'm hearing is really more how has this played out over the last

085several years if we can have some meaningful comparisons. >> Yeah. And I think ultimately I think we just want to get at why is this happening, right? And where are those pain points that we can address and how we can address them. So I think to to Dr. standing point just getting how we're addressing those. Thank you. >> Um and just just to circle back on Dr. Stanley had said like is you know the reporting the number of reports is do you know if there could be like the you know I don't know 68 at John Wallace or 84 at Martin Kellogg like that's a higher number compared to the number verified. Is that like multiple people reported the same incident or is there any redundancy taken out of reporting? You know what I'm what

086I'm asking if like multiple people reported a parent and a student and a staff member reported the same incident is that counting as three one but um I think in some instances at the especially at the earlier stages of this work in the fall when we rolled it out is some folks did not understand what a challenging behavior was. So they might have reported something that they saw or felt was challenging and it was not verified. So a lot of it had to do with education. So um Tamara and Dr. Herson would go to all the schools, meet with their school climate teams, review what constitutes a challenging behavior from what doesn't. Last summer we trained all our administrators and actually had legal counsel there to really help them to understand how the law impacts

087practice. So, we had attorney Ritter with us for several meetings to review that. Um, so there's a lot of kind of behind the scenes stuff that way. How I think I'd have to get a little more in-depth with Miss Wang about, you know, what what were some of the things that were filed that weren't challenging or what was some of her understanding of why that was. She went in and, you know, she goes in and looks at each and every report and then reaches out to the principal to discuss with him or her about, you know, what what would what was wrong about it or what was not verified about it so that he or she could then talk to the teacher or whoever filed it to um help them understand that. >> Thank you.

088Um, and I just um a few of us attended that um the hate crime um panel that was put on last week I think it was with the um Connecticut State Police um just kind of similar like the education piece that you're mentioning but also the reporting like they had said there's you know there's there is a form to report um a hate crime or a in a was it bias incident um but also the the definition of what hateful language is or hateful acts are. Um, so it kind of like ties into that is that you can only do so much with what's reported and if it's something's under reportported or not reported, that's also an issue. So I would um we can I'm sure we'll talk more about that as and how that

089kind of comes into the school system as well. But kind of along those lines of like the communication and the education, you said that the staff was educated, but maybe can we have some sort of like message to parents over the summer about this, you know, the challenging behaviors and the forum and just kind of making people aware that it does exist and and encourage reports just because we want to, you know, make sure that people are feeling like if there's an issue, they can and should report it so that we can address it because we're only able to, you know, we talk a lot about, we just talked a lot about trend analysis and all of that. So, if we can get more data, it's always helpful. Even if there, you know, if they

090are unverified, we can have a like this didn't fit the challenging behavior definition, but just kind of getting it more out there so that people are aware that exists so we can kind of get that full picture. >> Sure. And and just to confirm what even if it's an unverified as a challenging behavior, >> it doesn't mean that it's not addressed. >> Oh yeah, of course. Yeah, >> there still could be a tiered intervention, there still can be >> I think for school climate that's important even if it's not a defined challenging behavior as for the state of Connecticut, but you're right, it could still be an issue that >> issue that needs to be addressed without a doubt. I mean, the whole intent and purpose behind this is to create a better school climate

091>> um for students and teachers. So, it's really intentioned in that direction and to make sure kids who are struggling have the proper interventions. >> I was just going to say check out policy 5131.911. We will be changing that once we get to the 5,000. Yeah, >> the numbering is still off. It's not my choice, but we did update at least that policy in June 5th of 2025, so it's up to date. And the form is underneath because it's a regulation, but you can access the form. You can in our BOE policy manual that is read. >> You do have a very good policy manual online. It is very easy to Yes, >> it is easy to search. Thank you for that, Miss Whe. [clears throat] Any other questions on this report forward to the

092follow-ups? All right. Budget transfers for 2526. All right, I'm going to ask um CFO Lynn B to please report out on the budget transfers. >> This is my first time doing the transfers this way. So, I was wondering, do you want me to explain them line by line or what would you like? >> I would just say an overview and then if the board has particular questions, they can post them to the board. bigger ticket items or the things that stand out as like um >> yeah, >> this is >> don't read it and explain every single one. >> Thank you very much. Um this is our cleanup of where we take the the accounts that have gone over and under um the elementary education. This is the first year you're seeing the 1010. So

093when we did it, we um underestimated it by quite a bit. But the money that is coming from other places where we didn't take it out in the first round in December, that's actually E2. What you need to look at. >> You guys have that. >> Oh, we don't have that online. I'll get back to you. >> No worries. >> I'm sorry that you don't have this. I thought it was [clears throat] >> Thank you. Number two. Thank you. >> Just clarifying this is for this year's budget >> current year budget because it's the one we've >> Right. because we have to close out >> 2526. >> We're closing out 2526 budget. >> Yes. So the um the 1010 was the first this is the first year we've split elementary education. So some of the

094overages and the unders um all fill out to go back into the elementary education line. Um they come from the other big five that used to be the way we did it. There's um quite a lot of money left in special education that we will reallocate before the end of the year because um we have quite a few bills that are out. So, we were using that as a a marker which we might have to go back and do. there's a significant amount of money left in employee benefits that we'll use to fill the lines where we had to have um other salaries that were not in the right place and um the ELLLM where we had higher salaries operation of plant has excess funding that were moving around and maintenance of plant needed extra

095funding so the this just stabilizes is the lines and moves the money where it should be based on what we've spent for this year. >> The document that the board's reviewing is the projected balance sheet as I believe we've discussed at previous board meetings at the end of the year. This is still in flux as bills continue to come in. Um but this is our projection where we're how the school year will end. In a moment, I'll share that if there are realized savings at the end of this school year, how those might be applied. But right now, these are the in ins and outs of the budget. Um, and we still, like I said, we still get bills and right up until actually the last day of school and beyond >> through September. >>

096Yes. M. >> Yeah. I was just going to ask about the special ed billing. um with we're just it seems like a lot of overage but I anticipate we're getting a lot of those bills later than we had been. Yeah, >> they they're quite late in a lot of the billing and um also money coming back to us is quite late from places that we've built. So I think everyone is in the same situation of >> just trying to make ends meet. >> Understood. Thank you. Dr. Stanley, >> thank you, Landon. Sorry you had to get a place to give us handouts. Um, so for clarification for the special ed, so we're not reallocating this to cover the deficiencies. We're saving it for bills that are coming in late. >> Yes. >> So there's this

097this is a preliminary one. We're going to keep moving money until we're we get to a point where we have to say this is what's left. This is what we're going to ask you to do with it. >> Okay. Um as we've zeroed out somehow um where we're even on the budget for current budget. I guess >> that's what's done historically every year. I think we we move the we make the transfers to make it a zero. >> Okay. >> And then we keep moving >> aligning it. >> Okay. until we get to [clears throat] a point where we either have money left that needs to go into the 2% fund or we have to make transfers to cover CIP things. >> Yeah, cuz the money that we have left over. I don't know. I

098didn't get a chance to run these numbers, but it just has some concerning that our our surplus on the special education barely covers our deficit for the elementary education and I'm just looking up very large deficits. I just have some concerns that it won't. It's truly not a deficit. We um trans the in the past we had five big funds where the teachers were split. All elementary education teachers were split into reading, English, language arts, science, math, and social studies, >> right? >> The K5 teachers don't really teach that. They're elementary education teachers. So that split was silly. Plus, it made it very hard for everyone to be able to figure out the FTE count for people because there were 20% here, 15% there. So, we streamlined it to make it right. And when we

099figured it, we didn't figure it accurately. >> No, I totally agree. The way that you have it organized makes perfect sense. Um, I'm just concerned about the underestimate of how we did it and where the funds are going to come if we're not reallocating this surplus from special education to it. I don't know. Oh, the math. I will have to math later. Um, >> it's also the the the large negatives in the big five are from the amount that we put in from open choice. >> Gotcha. So, we haven't gotten the return from that or is that what you mean? >> Not all of it. >> Yeah. So >> there will be more on this year's budget um on new business item number five as well. >> Yeah. And I just want to um point

100out this is this is not um I don't want to say like concerning like it's not concerning. This is how budgets work where like other salaries is a big one where you're kind of estimating like for other salaries it might be you're estimating this many substitute teachers or this many incidentals and then that you know the coverage for a social studies teacher who's out on leave might be more than anticipated and that kind of thing. So it's not like we're not budgeting correctly. It's just you can't budget for things you or you have to assume things that you don't know are going to happen a year and a half before they happen. So, I think that's really also kind of how it plays into the this transfer. Like we you have to be able to

101transfer because you're never going to know like we didn't know in February, March, April what's going to happen next July for that school year, next June, sorry, for that school year. So, um it is always an art, not a science. And and that's why we do these budget transfers and that's why we or we get these periodic reviews of the budget and where everything stands. and then unknowns come up that um again you don't you don't know about it. So that's kind of just how we set the budget with what we know when we are doing it and then administration and and Lynn and everyone just figures it out and keeps us updated and and transparent about it. I think that's really what I'm trying to say is that this is a transparency thing, not

102a oh we did something wrong or or someone did something wrong. And just to take any worry off the table, we are not going to end in a budget shortfall. We are projecting that we will be fine. We are just showing the ins and outs as required. We are required to update the board on the ins and outs uh on a regular basis. And when the board when the board's budget is completely stabilized or reconciled, we would report that out to the board as well. But in terms of any worry that we're going to have more negative than positive, that is not going to happen. our projections are are in very good shape. The >> town side does the same thing with the >> Yeah. both both required to show the ins and the outs

103and throughout the course of the year you have to make some adjustments um in a budget that is $91 million. It's it's very common to have these ins and outs. But please don't let anyone around the table worry that we're going to end up in a def deficit that is not happening. Go ahead. And just to clarify too, we're going to get and do this again in September. Yes. Because we have to then reconcile all of the bills that come in post July, June 30 and July 1. And that's still so we're still reconciling the budget after the end of fiscal year. Um, so this will then be another sheet in September where we'll come back and then we'll get another one to say these are where the accounts should have been because we should

104be hopefully getting all the bills by September for the last fiscal year. >> Maybe October sometimes. It actually did not clo last year did not close until um last month. So, and you you see the new >> that's what Yeah. >> So, it it does sometimes take a very long time for the things that we've ordered to come in. And when you order it with last year's money, you pay for it with last year's money. And we just got our RDUs for the um the the schools and that was the last bill that we paid last month. So, we now have a clean sheet from the previous disclosure. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Any um other questions on this, >> Mr. Hollerin? >> All right. Yeah, just to oversimplify it, this is essentially

105just balancing your checkbook to make sure we don't overdraw and it's just moving accounts from one item to the next. This happens every year, multiple times a year. Right. The ultimate point is that we don't exceed the set on budget where the actual pennies and dollars go and fluctuate throughout the year. Um, but it's almost as simple as that. It's just a regular balancing of our budget to make sure we don't quote unquote overdraw. >> What? Oh, yeah. Do we have any motion here? I move that the board of education authorize the superintendent of schools to make the needed budget transfers which will reflect on an unencumbered balance of zero for fiscal year ending June 30th, 2026. Second. Thank you. Have a motion to second. Any further discussion? Vote, please. >> Mary Bees, >> yes.

106>> Lensing, >> yes. >> Timothy News, >> yes. >> Amy Parad, >> yes. >> Brian Stebo, >> yes. >> Sam, >> yes. >> Dr. Gail Stanley, >> yes. >> Jessica Wever, >> yes. >> Motion passed unanimously. 90. >> Next item is uh BOE CIP transfer. >> All right, we are a bit in flux about the BOE CIP transfer because and this will be something that we'll discuss later in the meeting as well, but we have not yet received the open choice reimbursement money. Um and we'll be talking to the board about that in executive session, but uh therefore we are unable to make a transfer or recommend a transfer at this time. Um more info to follow about that um in executive session. >> Yeah. >> Any questions, discussion? Go ahead. >> Just making sure

107it's an action item, but there's no action because we can't take it. Correct. Just want to clarify that. Thank you. We were hoping but can't. All right. So, we'll move on to um policies. >> I'll just turn over to Miss Weaver. Thank you so much. Um okay, so um we'll go over both uh its possible action and discussion. Um so the first set of policies, what we'll do is just go through them again for secondary review, discussion, and revision. Um those went through those already came to the board. Um and then we're bringing them back. We met on June 1st um to do that secondary review. Um and uh these are all ones where there was just some um small changes. Um I think with the one um this one we'll start just with 5144.1.

108This is um one that we just for a refresher for people. This one I've think I've looked at at least 20 times in the last 3 years, but um it's changed [clears throat] a couple times. Um Mr. dies. Do you want to just describe what we changed in this one? >> Yeah, so we talked about this at one of our prior board meetings. We just um had two policies, one dealing with um crisis intervention teams and one dealing with crisis response teams. So I worked with Shipman and Goodwin and our committee and just making sure that each of those policies is exclusive um to that. So this one is about um use of physical restraint um or exclusionary timeout seclusion. Um it has all the state legislation regarding that. There was some language about crisis

109response which doesn't belong in this policy. It's in a different policy. So, this is specific to crisis intervention teams. Our charge as a board um requires that we annually require um a crisis intervention team and that they do receive physical um and psychological management training which we as a board um are responsible for. That does happen in district. Um so this just clarified um that this is specific to um crisis intervention verse crisis response >> questions. >> Next one. Um and again that again as I always say doesn't change any of the material nature of the policy. It's just noting that if we did crisis intervention and crisis management training that would require a lot more people to do that. That will cost us a lot of money that we shouldn't have to do. There

110will be both different teams for different things. Um, next one is school calendar. We didn't um we brought it to the board for review before. Um, the only change we made since then is that we change the including graduation date for students in grade 12 because we don't actually put that on the school calendar. We then set that as a board. Um and then we had just changed the before um when we had presented last of the board we' said to take into consideration partner educational institution school calendars because um we don't just follow a correct recommended calendar that's just not practice questions next one will be our 900 ones we are cranking through them guys I promise um [snorts] the 50. Um, again trying to, for those who don't know, we've been trying to

111renumber all of them so they actually make sense when it comes to numbers because all of these are from 2001 or 1998. So, um, these were quite old. Um, but we just changed the standing committees. Oh, this was a 99er. Um, yeah, this one had been updated earlier or or more recently. So, we didn't really have any problems um with this one, though. I think just the only thing I don't know if I mentioned it already but the it says each committee may make a report to its chairperson at each regular meeting. We do every other typical so it's just like if a chairperson wants to they could request y as an agenda item but our typical practice is every other meeting. >> Yeah. We [clears throat] didn't want to just hone in in case

112like there was an extra report or those kinds of things. So from a broad broader standpoint. Yep. Makes sense. Thanks. Yep. Next one's board representatives. Changing this one to 9060 instead of 9140. And this is where we kind of like moved some things around as well. Um [clears throat] but we are not everyone knows how I feel about cave. Um I won't get into that. But um [clears throat] this was a pretty simple change. Um, also there was a um a policy reference to the chairperson which is not a policy we have anymore. So or had it at all. So other than that this was pretty much um the main uh part of this policy was just appointments questions Mr. Hollerin >> do we need to mention correct? >> Yes we do have a crack

113seat. Okay we did confirm that. Thank you >> Sammons on it. So this is updating and reflective of current practice. Next is 9065 board consultants. [clears throat] >> We'll get there and um we just kind of changed some of the language in the first paragraph because um it was ugly from time to time. um we just said as needed um because we know consultants are used for a broad array of things. So um and we knew that the first paragraph should really reflect um kind of the the stanzas below. That was just to kind of streamline some of the verbiage. We thought cost was a little broad. Yeah. Or nebulous. And that was the only changes to that >> questions. >> Yeah. >> Yes. Yeah. Well, we know it could be also an increase. It

114could be positive. I know. Uh and lastly is um qualification of members. Um, so this one we just wanted to let you know that this policy um has been moved to 9070. We already kind of or I'm sorry we moved this one the bylaws of the board of ed the qualification members to this pol or to the policy. I'm saying this right? Yes. >> Just saying it to consult. >> Yeah. A lot of these were a little redundant and we don't think it kind of made sense to have them in separate places. So, just wanted to clarify that. >> Okay, those were all of the ones for second chance for review. So, we would obviously um welcome a motion to adopt those. Um I don't know if we want to do that before or do

115you just want me to go through the other ones real quick on the >> do those first? Yeah. >> Which one? >> The motion first and then Sorry. As we just did or if you want to There's no real motion. >> There's no motion written. Just just say >> I move that the board of education uh adopt the revisions to policies in the 5000 series, 6,000 series, 9,000 series, and 2,000 series as presented. >> Not the 2000 series. >> Not the 2000. I strike that. I move that the board of education move to approve board policies within the 5,000 6,000 9,000 series as they were presented. Thank you. >> Second. >> Thank you. Uh we motion a second. Is there any further discussion? >> Hey, we're voting on the presentated present presentated presented policies. [laughter]

116>> Larry Beatress. >> Yes. >> John Holler. >> Yes. Senzi, >> yes. >> Timothy Newton, >> yes. >> Brian, >> yes. >> Pam Sharma, >> yes. >> Dr. Gail Stanley, >> yes. >> Jessica Weaver, >> yes. >> Motion passes unanimously. 90. >> Thank you. Thank you. So, the 2000 is this is first review. Yes, first review. Um, and I know we're at our last board meeting of the calendar year or of school calendar year, but I just want to preview that. If you look at that, there'll be a July 29th, the unprecedented board policy has never met through um over the summer, but my dream team of Dr. Gail Stanley and Mary Beatric and Mr. Das have agreed to continue this work. So, I just want to thank them um profusely for their time and

117commitment already and also what they will be continuing to do um over the summer as I just we try and trudge through this. Um so, yeah. Anyway, just wanted to say thank you for that. So, um, we've already started looking at the 2000s. We wanted to get administrative input for these. So, um, those have just kind of been on a recurring docket for us on these, but, um, we'll start with the 2221. And again, we will change these to be more reflective of better numbering so it's not as hard to understand why there's a 2221 221.1, what the heck ever, whoever decided this in 1998. So um so we asked for um teacher and admin input on these um and we strike a lot of it because we wanted to really reflect what the actual

118is. So what we did is copy and pasted the actual mission of the administrative council and this is in the administrative series the 2000s. There's also teacher council and other things. Those are in different places. Um so if we want to just go through again this is first read. So, if people have this, we um different councils and cabinets and committees have different members, but this isn't an all-inclusive list of who may be on one of the committees or councils or cabinets. So, instructional coaches are in some of them as well. And um we wanted to reflect current practice. So, meetings are held monthly given that those likely change and not publish them questions. Okay, next one is 2232. This is administrative reports. And again, I'll just re-emphasize um we're going to strike this whole

119policy cuz it was not it because um it's just about the like structure of the reports, not the actual requirement of the reports, which is in another policy requiring what we should have in reports. Um it just felt like not a policy. It felt like this is like a regulation that you would do and we can put this in a regulation um to say like how they could be set up or not. And we know that each administrative report would be different whether it be a finance one, whether it be um a school building one, whether it be overall attendance records. We know these are not always going to follow the same one. So it felt quite restricting and not reflective of what our current practice would be. Um there will be obviously other reports

120where we'll say or other policies where we say superintendent or admin is required to have these reports and those kind of things. Um, but those are in separate policies. So, this just felt like kind of a fake policy. >> Yeah, I agree with you. I think it's more of a it's not even regulation. Seems like a suggestion and it even says that the superintendent may, which also means they may not. >> So, this policy honestly doesn't have a regulation to it. It's not an actual policy, nor is it enforceable. So, I am in support of striking it. >> Yeah, the no wait really kind of hit with us. So, Thank you. And last one was u Oh, sorry. >> Yes, >> delay in the function. Yeah, I think may or may not it's just trying

121to tell people how to write an appropriate report or memo and I hope that they're all able to do that at this point, but uh yeah, it seemed very restrictive and not necessary. >> Again, it was a part of a cave dump from like whenever. So um last one is uh retention and disposition of records and information. This is a 2500 like recall right most of this a lot of this we had updated this in 2024 so this is just a review but we were said we're going to review every one of them so a lot of this is um up to date because we did um review this in 24 um and a lot of it is state statute so a lot of it is just mandated and strictly verbiage from the state statutes

122so We really didn't have any changes to it. Shout out to my 2024 policy committee as well. [clears throat] And that was all that we had. Like I said, we'll be meeting again on July 29th. My goal is to have I think we've gotten the 1000s, 2000s, 3000s, not the M4,000s, not the five or six, the 7,000s. There are no 8,000s. and we will complete the 9,000 series. >> Excellent, John. >> Thank you to my committee. >> Be finished by the end of next school year. >> That is the goal. >> But again, thank you to all of those. Um, and again, if you have any questions, feel free to email me, Mr. D, anyone on this policy committee. >> Thank you so much, policy committee. All right. And now we are at budget reconciliation

1232627. Um Dr. Bra, do you want to start? Yes. Um let me just get this up. So, as the board is aware, um, [clears throat] back in February, they transmitted a budget to the town and then there was the process of the town, um, making their determinations about what would be appropriated to the board. So, the board adopted a budget, and I'm reading from this uh, column I here. The board adopted a budget of 976,771-211. The town council then removed or reduced the budget by 1.8 million which gave us an appropriation from the town or an approval from the town of 94,971 which is the equivalent of a 3.67 3.67% increase. So that's where we landed at the end of the town council budget process. But as the board is aware, um during that time,

124the legislation was very active and they um there were additional resources provided to districts or actually to towns and then towns made determinations about how to allocate them. So, at a recent town council meeting, the town council approved the additional ECS money that was appropriate and it was meant to be used for educational spending in the amount of 928,230. So, that was um approved by the town to now be tacked back into or added back into the board's budget. Um it's important to note that that new budget is 95,899411. However, for purposes of starting off next year, we are actually looking at this as our starting point because the money that was additionally appropriated from by the state and ultimately from the town back to the board does not impact the maintenance of effort. And

125to quickly define maintenance of effort year overyear, a town cannot appropriate less money to the board than in the previous year. That's a state law unless there are substantial um population changes in the district or any other um significant incidences in the district. However, the legislator legislative uh body determined that they this should not be counted toward the meaning the additional $928,000. So, while it will help the board balance this year's budget when we are looking at our baseline for next year, it does revert back to the $94 million. So, essentially at the end of the day, the board received a 3.67% 67% increase from the town this year. So again with the ins and the outs of a budget process, the uh cuts required or the balancing still needed after those um the influx

126of the ECS money still left us with an 871,770 shortfall. But we were able to excuse me, we got some pretty actually very positive news um from a variety of sources. Uh first positive news is we received a grant from the state um that allows us additional resources to pay for the effective school solutions programs that exist at Kellogg Wallace and the high school. And the way this is going to be allocated is ESS will simply take $300,000 off our bill for next year. So that is $300,000 less that the the board would need to allocate to pay for ESS or effective school solutions. So that's one um area that we were able to reconcile. Um decrease of pair insurance needs. We weren't going to start pair insurance um until September when everyone returns. So

127we initially budgeted it to start in July. Um if we take away two months of the par insurance it reduces the board's um obligation by 266,667. Uh so that is another um reconciliation piece. We did receive a grant from the state to provide uh financial support for our school-based health center in the amount of $159,000. Many several board members were able to attend the check presentation ceremony at the event center a few weeks ago and that is direct result of our um state legislators advocating for us to make sure that health center were to continue because it would have been fully board funded this year because the original grant has uh been um sunsetted. We did write a grant for the norra academy. We weren't awarded that grant, but again, our state legislators um were

128able to advocate for us and that provided another $100,000 in resources to continue to fund the Noraster Academy even without the grant that we had previously um received. So, that was another $100,000 offset. And then the final um piece of the puzzle here is we did a small Red Rover software cut to balance the remaining budget and that's a $46,13 cut which brought us to where we needed to be 95,899441. In summary, this budget does allow the board um to continue the Nor Easter Academy, the school-based health center, all of our ESS programs, and to fund PAR benefits um beginning in September. So, that is the recommended reconciliation that the board can consider. Uh but I will turn it over to board chair for further discussion. >> Thank you. So, can you just um what

129is that red rover software? >> I'll have Miss Bware feels that. >> It was um a software that that was put in by the previous um assistant superintendent that where he was going to change from front line to Red Rover and we decided against it. >> Okay. >> Because it was a it was also a doubling of the expense. So, it was in our budget that we just didn't realize. >> We had Front Line and the Red Rover was there. And when I found out what the Red Rover was, it was an easy cut. >> Okay, perfect. Thank you. You're welcome. >> Question comment. Dr. Stanley, sorry. I think you >> What does Front Line do for us? >> Oh, the Sorry. Is that what you were asking? >> Yeah. And other things. >> A

130lot. >> Yeah. >> All right. Front line is our um absence management system. How we do all of our absences for all staff subs um take absences. So professional learning system as well where staff um sign up for professional learning where we post professional learning. Um it has all of our employee data. It's really how the human capital development office manages a lot of you know what we need. >> Got you. So it was a redundancy to switch over to Red Rover. >> Uh there was a plan to uh work with Red Rover phase out front line over time. it doesn't have to happen next year. Um, it's just there's there's some several competing software systems out there. There are some districts that are moving to Red Rover, just some of the features. So, we've

131been exploring that. I know the team prior to me coming in was looking at maybe making that move. Um, but we can, you know, delay that given the budget. >> Okay. >> Um, and then I did have questions about the um, Nor Easter and the healthbased center. So, um, there are no more grant just to clarify. So, there's no more grants that we can apply for the school-based health center. we we got the 159,000 that we were looking for from um Mr. Turo and our legislature. So that was the that was the grant that we were had been um counting on. But I believe um we also were pursuing other grants, but our grant writers um could not find any that we were eligible for. Um and the ones we applied for we did not

132get. So to answer your question, yes, we were this only came through as a result of our legislators advocating at the state level. The grants did not yield any um positive outcomes. >> Okay. And these legislators, they guaranteed money only for our district or um was this other legislators also being able to do something with policy as a more of a statewide that would be a consistently funded something. the ESS was um district 9, Senate District 9. So it was divided between the five um [clears throat] five districts >> and I believe that every legislator has the ability to make requests. Um and that's what um Gary had done for the schoolbased health center and I believe Mr. Leser did for the Nor Easter Academy. Um so your right is not a ongoing it's a

133this year um this budget upcoming budget um but we obviously continue to work with them and then our grant writer is also continuously looking for any and all grant opportunities that that we have. Thank you >> Mr. Hollerin. >> Thank you. Um a couple comments. Uh, first and foremost, I just want to go on record and thank uh, Representative Turo and Senator Leser for fighting really hard to get us those grants for the academy and the school bait health center. That was never a given. Um, they did really have to work for it. Um, so thank you. Um, I'm not super thrilled that to reconcile the budget, we're asking our parents to delay their access to health benefits. I understand why. I wish there was a different way we can come up with $266,000. Yeah,

134miss. Go ahead, >> M. >> With the late um with the fact that we didn't get this till now and you haven't voted on it yet, it is absolutely impossible to have the um insurance company get it all set up until at the earliest September. >> Understood. Thank you for the clarification. >> Um Miss Weaver. Yeah, I just want because I asked the same question last meeting and I was like why? Um and then Lynn cleared it up. So, um thank you Lynn for that again. Not a fan, but obviously I know. Welcome to bureaucracy. Um yeah, I just wanted to say to um again I think it's great that we can and I think as a board we really were adamant about funding schoolbased health center and the noraster academy. Um, and then you

135know, I think we I'll address more in the board comments tonight about career educators and how I think we've been talking about this it feels like for at least in my years many years. Um, >> and um, I think one of the things is yeah, nothing will be perfect and I think there will still be more. Um, but in light especially I know this was a very difficult budget year particularly on the town side of things and um, us having to absorb $1.8 $8 million cut um to our proposed budget. Um I [clears throat] think we are landing in an okay spot. I'm never really happy at the end of budget season because it's you always want to do way more. Um and I think that's probably reflective in the other side of the the

136blue there and on the screen of where we probably wanted to be at more um just from what we want to provide. >> Mhm. Um but I think yeah, we're going to have to we have to reconcile to have this and I really really want them to get any kind of insurance at the earliest. So um recognizing that um I think this is uh we do with what we got with what we have. Um and I think the other thing to note too is this um I think to Dr. Stanley's point and my concern always is what does this mean next year? Um what does this mean for the following year? are these sustainable um funding streams that we have and oftent times these are one-off funding streams uh with the grants that aren't they're

137covering things that I think are sustainable programs that we need to kind of one-off um so I think the concern is still that but I would say um next session I think will be interesting when it comes to state funding perhaps we'll be talking more and more about the education cost sharing grant once more once again it does not adjust for inflation so um I know many of us might be up there advocating again for um an actual and equitable ECS formula um because I think that could have done a lot more for all of our districts. But I do want to just reiterate to I appreciate the advocacy that was done both by board members, by Dr. from it and by our state legislators to make sure we at least got some additional um

138state funding that frankly still doesn't cover a lot of our ECS oblig or what I think should be covered by ECS. But just wanted to note that. >> Uh Mr. Newton, >> I I have a question for Lynn. If we had kept the full amount of 1.6 6 million for the amendment found $280,000 in cuts. Would that have made the benefits for the pairs more affordable to the employee if we kept it at the full 1.6 or is that not irrelevant? >> The um the costs are dictated to us by the um actuarials that do it for the locked in group. So it's based on the actual costs for all the groups and then it it could have happened that their co-pays might have been less but as it was built it was built at

139the 19% co-pays which is lower than some of the other groups >> um and so just uh under consideration and we are incredibly grateful that we have this funding to give funding to our health centers and our norer academy for this year. Um when we looked at other possibilities to cut, what were some other things that you considered or if you're allowed to share besides the software cut >> and and to balance the budget because you said that was an easy place to cut because it it's redundant and then it balanced the budget perfectly. Did you were there other areas um in our budget that you were considering as a possibility to cut? >> I cut everything so deeply this year. Um I don't see that there were other areas where we could cut unless

140there's breakage which we don't know of yet for positions coming in. >> Okay. And this Red Rover software cut, this was part of a expense cut or it cut Red Rover transition for this year or delayed it totally. It just balanced it perfectly. So I was like, did we just take a percentage off of it or >> it was a $50,000 cut and I used the 46103 to balance it, leaving the excess for HCD. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you for that. Um yeah uh I noticed too that it was like a perfect balance, but thank you for the opportunity to for Lyn to explain it because that definitely clears up potential um questions. I put a question mark next to that as well just to clarify why it was so

141perfect. But that's a perfectly acceptable answer and something that we would have done. Um any other questions? I just I just do want to mention because I know um a couple members of the public had talked about PAR educator um benefits but also salaries. Um Lynn, is there um I believe the state has a program for towns or districts that do provide benefits to parent educators as like a subsidy? Can you explain does that apply to Newington or will that apply to Newington? Yes, for the first time ever, we will be able to get the subsidy funding from the state of Connecticut, which will be based on um the Paris group costs. They um will send out a big thing every year. They send it out um why is my brain not working? I'm sorry.

142a questionnaire asking us for all the costs basis and all the co c co-pays and the plans and then they take that they crunch the numbers and send the money back to the to the cities and towns. So all the surrounding cities and towns have been able to assist their pairs because they had the benefits but since we didn't we couldn't >> now we will. So, we'll get that money, but then it'll go directly towards their share of what will happen to the money comes to us and we give it back to them as either funds in their paycheck, which are pre-tax, or they can be used to pay their co-pays on a bi-weekly basis. >> Okay. Okay. So, so they don't have to front the entire the >> So, if they were >> they're

143not having to pay the entire portion because the state will reimburse. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> And and the program has been made permanent as far as I can tell from the legislature that legislature that went through this year. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. And then um again with the salaries because I um Lynn I had asked you this um previously of our um PAR salaries compared to um other districts and I mean I don't I couldn't find out but we are comparable but maybe not starting but it increases year-over-year and then I believe there was also an increase again small but an increase um that was accounted for in this budget as well. So, um I think what I'm trying to say is and I just want to like assure um I

144think she left but Miss Rooney that you know we are fully aware and and definitely her statement at the council meeting was powerful and and tonight but um just in general we are well aware of um salaries and and benefits and all of that and I think that we're like you know excited to be able to assuming we all vote um on this this reconciliation, but we are excited to be able to provide benefits. It's not um okay, there you go. You got your benefits and that's it. It's more of a like we we understand and we hear everything that um and and we definitely appreciate and support. So, I think I just want to say like I feel like this is a first step. It's not necessarily like the end all be all like,

145okay, you should be happy now. I just want to make sure that that is something that is on all of our minds because we obviously do um value and and appreciate the support of of paras in the rooms and and we do have openings. I think we've shared several times over you know at one point 25 openings for paras that we're unable to fill um because of a number of reasons. one being we're losing people because they're not getting benefits or we're losing people other districts that might offer that or it might be a you know a better fit for their family. Um so there's so many reasons why but it's not for lack of trying. Um but obviously here the you know need for support. So, I think that this is just a step

146in the direction to overall ensure that we're supporting our students and supporting our staff and and getting everybody um what they need and and what's students are being supported in the classroom. Um so, I think that's I just wanted to mention that in my speech dress. >> Um just a quick question just to clarify. So, the subsidy from the state, will that be in place on September 1st or whenever the benefits kick in? like will it be available with that first paycheck? >> Most likely not. I haven't seen the um thing go out yet from the state. So, they usually do it over the summer and then it usually comes around October. When I last worked at a place that had it, it was around October the first check came. >> So, it comes to

147the town. Until I know exactly how much per person, I I couldn't front it to them. >> Okay. Okay. And then the other question that I had and I think you may have actually already answered it, but it goes to our paras in the form of an increase in their like flex spending account, that kind of thing to mitigate any uh pre-tax >> issues um or a health savings account. >> It comes to us and we pass it back on to them either as a reduction of the cost of their insurance on a bi-weekly basis. >> So the premium itself >> or we can give it to them for their HSA. >> Okay. And is that something that an individual can select or it's going to like crunch the numbers and whatever makes the most

148sense is what will happen. >> Usually the district decides whatever makes the most sense on on >> the collective. Okay. >> Because it's it's a lot of accounting, >> right, >> for for the payroll department >> and each situation is different as Okay. Thank you for clarifying that. >> You're welcome. Sorry, my mic goes off. Any other questions? Yes, >> I think I just want to add to um knowing that just to get the benefits, not even pay or other things was $1.6 million or that we got to 1.4 um and in lie of like that's on top of all the stuff we were just trying to flat fund. So to try and do this, I know there was a lot of questions at the beginning of the budget session about how do we add

149on an additional 1.6 6 million which we know will be an additional cost and then also do this um in [clears throat] a year like this with a reval. Um felt like a lot of like the worst storm um to do this but I I just want to applaud like that is and you know we then had to send the budget off and then have a town council cut which I understand too from their side of things. Um and that's 1.8 million. So 1.4 four of that was, you know, um and that's just a hard pill to swallow. So that we can do this and that we can get it. I just and mostly because of again the Steve doing more of their share. I will not say their fair share. Um I think that

150is a good place. It is nowhere near where I want to be ever, but that is how I feel every budget season. Um so I think as we kind of do this, this has been a longcoming conversation. There's been legislation about this. There's been more talk of this and I think in lie of us being in our DUR the only district who doesn't have who didn't have benefits. We were the only district in the state not to have benefits. The only district in our Durk I think too did to not have unionized staff. Um I think this is kind of a good start. >> That's and I will just note there's no motion on this and it didn't say action items. So I just didn't know what we should >> we have to make these

151adjustments >> how we want to do them. The board needs to make the adjustments. >> Yes. How to motion this? There's no >> um well, it's presented on the screen. So, I would think that we can if we all uh I think we would make a motion to accept the changes as pres or the reconciliated accounts as presented for a final budget of >> Mr. Holler. Sorry, I'm just trying to think. Would the final budget be 94th? >> The 94. Or would it be the 95, but we're starting the school year at the 94? >> So, our the the town next year is required to at least provide us that 94971211, which is our MBR, minimum budget requirement. This extra 928,000 does not count towards that. So what we've been saying is, you know, we

152want to do PAR benefits. We understand that this funding was one time. However, we still feel the importance of it and um well, we're going to vote on it. I still feel the importance of it. Um I'll speak for myself in this one, but um we just know going in next year, we don't want to take away pair benefits. So we're kind of at a deficit when we start because we have to account for >> understand. >> Thank you. >> So is there uh I would entertain a motion to accept the changes as presented for a final uh board of ed budget for 2627 of 95,899,441. Do I just say >> so moved? >> Thank you. Thank you. So >> second. >> Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Is there any further

153discussion? >> Okay. So, we're voting on our our budget. >> Mary, >> yes. >> Sean Hollerin, >> yes. >> Ruth Lindsay, >> yes. >> Timothy Newton, >> yes. Amy Peratt, >> yes. >> Brian Stebo, >> yes. >> Sam Sharma, >> yes. >> Dr. Gil Stanley, >> yes. >> Jessica Weaver, >> yes. >> Passes unanimously. 90. >> Thank you. Okay. Well, that was a fun budget season. >> Obviously, it never ends because we still we are always continuously talking about it. the uh >> the capital um >> is it did we have it on >> I had budget reconciliation. >> Sorry. But >> um yeah, I think we should probably we probably should have talked about it. I don't know. Um Right. Um, let me just There's >> I think it's I think it's >> Did

154yours die? >> Um, yeah. Um, Dr. Brema has something to share which is applicable to the budget. Um, we don't have to vote on it. Um, just an FYI for the board. >> Thank you. Let me just pop that up. As mentioned earlier, the um ins and outs of the budget are still being determined, but I wanted to keep the board um informed of some possibilities. Um the board did receive funding from the town to do the um the ca the kindergarten wing of John Patterson there. That was the one uh capital item that the board did receive in addition to the $125,000 that we are statutoily or by our town council charter supposed to get. We did get 86,430. So, the kindergarten roof is going to be completed this summer. If there were any

155realized savings, and again, the we won't know about this until the very end of the month. Um the possibility the board could consider is the John Patterson media roof, which would be um an additional project. But at the same time, um that part of the roof is not as in significant need as the kindergarten roof, but it is a recommended um project should we have resources to do so. Um I want to make the board aware as well that while we did not get money for the um Ruth Chaffy parking lot, we did get a drip grant this year and it was a little higher than expected. So the drip grant and again that was state money that came as a one time or actually it's a two-year let's continue one more year. Uh so

156that will cover the majority of the Ruth Chaffy parking lot. However, to make that project complete if we were to have any realized savings, the sidewalks do need to be replaced as well at Chaffy and that would cost $92,000. We did not get any budget money for our buses. I did share with the board um again our fleet is aging. We recently had a sign a sign significant but a notable breakdown uh while students were coming back from a field trip from Mystic. [clears throat] So, um, while we did not get any town resources for a bus, if the board, uh, saw fit and if we had any savings left at the end of the year, Dean has requested a type 2 minibus 29 passenger with car seats due to our everex expanding uh, prek

157programs. Bless you. Um, so those are some things that we'd like to consider if the budget permits. And at the end, the last possibility is any money left over above and beyond that could be transferred into the non-lapsing fund, which sometimes referred to as the 2% fund. Given the totality of our budget this year, 2% of the budget would be 1.8 million 32,267. We do not know where this budget's going to land at this time, but these are suggested uses of the resources should there be any at the end of the year. If the resources don't exist, none of this goes forward. Um, but we did not get um any meaningful capital money this year. So, some of these projects are pretty important to safety at Chaffy. Um the the roof at Patterson is on

158its, you know, last legs. Not as bad as the kindergarten roof, but it's getting close at the media roof. And as I mentioned earlier, we are um you know, not getting any resources for buses this year. So if we were to have some money left over, we wanted to transparently show the board that this would be an opportunity. So um this is something that is really unable to be voted on because it's not known yet. These are just possibilities. And I know the board chair had just thought we could get some feedback on these possibilities. Um so I'll turn it back over to the board chair. >> Mr. Hollerin. >> Thank you. I think one thing to consider um for Ruth Chaffy along with the wall parking lot, the sidewalks. Um they could use some

159shading in their preschool kindergarten playground. I've heard from several teachers at PTA meetings that there's nowhere to find shade out there. So, it just might be something we want to look into and consider is to provide some type of awning because we do have full preschool classes and kindergarten classes utilize utilizing the playground fairly regularly. >> Miss Weaver, >> just want to clarify too, we're just putting that 1.8 as a that's the figure would be up to 2%. It doesn't mean we have anywhere close to that or like >> we don't know that yet. Um this is just the possibilities and we do not have any additional board meetings this year so the school year. So these are thoughts should there be any resources. Um >> but it's not like oh hey just to clarify

160>> this is notable items. >> We're not doing 1.8 million to >> we don't know that yet. >> Thank you Miss Lindsay. I don't remember how much is in the land lapsing right now. >> I'd have to ask um Miss Boier, but I believe it's about 3.2 million. >> Yes. And of that money, we have allocated 2 million to next year's budget. >> So, could we use any of that for the necessaries like the roof and the sidewalk? We we could if there were no other resources. Yes, that would be something the board could consider. >> Thank you. >> Any other feedback? >> Is there currently any buses in use for this type two or is this a novel purchase for us? Is there any buses currently in use for this? >> Yeah. Is this

161to replace a current bus or is this to add a totally different type of bus to our fleet? >> We um we typically have some of these same type buses. We're just uh Mr. Barnes is requesting an additional one. We are running tremendous number of prek roots and I believe the board saw some requests from we've had to relocate Chaffi and Reynolds students to Patterson due to overflow for both those preschool programs. Um we still don't know if we can pull off that route, but again there's um with our expansion into preschool, there are more bus routes going around and they are it is helpful to have buses with car seats given the young individuals that are being put in the buses. >> Is um are you questioning if we're adding a bus to our

162fleet and not retiring one? I >> Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't understand it that. >> No, I think you I think you answered it. So, it is adding a bus because of the need to support our prek demand and services, but it's not going to necessarily replace um one of those aging buses that were still in in dire need to >> actually it would it will do both. This would have been in the bus replacement cycle request to be funded had had we gotten any bus resources this year. So, it not only will replace an aging bus, but it'll give us an opportunity for additional capacity. Um, so I don't know. >> It doesn't have to solely be used for preschool. It can be used, right, for other >> Yeah. It depends on the routes.

163I mean, Dean is developing them now. Each year they look different, but yes, he felt that that was a bus type that would be very helpful. Of all the buses that he asked for for next year in our bus replacement cycle that we currently don't have resources to uh purchase, this was the one that came into the top of of that request. >> May I? >> Yes, absolutely. This is the kind of bus that has seats that convert from a regular seat to a car seat so that you can easily pack them away and use it for any other transportation needs. >> We currently only have two >> microphone. Um I believe we only have two of those, right? >> You had to. >> Yes. So if you had to buy car seats and put

164the car seats in and take them in and out, you would never be able to cycle the children around the school district. So they're very important. >> All right. So yeah, again this is just FYI. Um doesn't sound I mean I don't know if anyone has any huge Go ahead. >> No objections. the roof chief sidewalks. This is not any like responsibility of the towns. I'm assuming that these are sidewalks within side, not the curb sidewalks or something. >> That's correct. The town did already repair sidewalks that are their responsibility. These fall under our opaces. >> Asphalt is incredibly more it wears down much faster than concrete. concrete would be more sustainable. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. Um Okay. So, we do have an executive session on our agenda and for that reason

165we um will go to now P yeah public participation on any matter related to board responsibilities. Um, same as before, if you're in the room, you can go to the head of the table. And if you're online, you can raise your hands to be recognized. >> You didn't have to raise your hand because you're [laughter] Mr. Nolan. Go ahead. >> Um, hi folks. Uh, at this meeting, do I state my name and address? >> Yes, please. Thank you. >> Jake Nolton, 10 Hillside Street. Um, first you did it. Congrats. Budget season is kind of over, but getting ready for the next. I do not envy you, uh, Miss B. Um, but, uh, congratulations. I think you guys did a great job. Sorry, couldn't be more of help. I'm currently focusing on SSPA 251, which is

166giving me a headache. Um but uh I wanted to um first uh say I'm hoping that from what I'm getting from this meeting is that we found a way to sustainably um fund parah salaries and benefits and Okay, fantastic. And if not um I look forward to figuring out how to do that in the future. Um I wanted to come to speak about nutrition today. Um uh I'm grateful that we have a doctor on the board. Um but I at the last meeting I was at I noticed that we said we did a great job and I agree we're doing a pretty good job. Um I know we meet state uh standards. Um but why not strive for perfection? Um, and so I uh just wanted to take a visit just because I remember when

167I was a student um we had blue raspberry applesauce and bread sticks provided and as my generation says side eye because they're still provided. So, I would just say um uh in the future um as the next year comes up or any other year whenever we can get to it um let's try to do a little bit better. Um especially when I'm hearing from our teachers that behavioral issues are on the rise and they're struggling in their classrooms. We should be um ex exploring all options and as an adult I understand how food affects my body, my temperament and everything. So, when I'm running on bread sticks with cheese and blue raspberry applesauce, I'm not going to behave myself. Um, and I don't expect any child to either. So, um, that's all. Uh, I look

168forward to hopefully working with you in the future. I don't know how much longer I'll be here, but I will be here when I am. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Any other participation? Nobody online. Just Mr. Nolan. Um, okay. >> Sorry that I'm actually Jake Nolton. I didn't realize that it was them there. >> It's mom. [laughter] >> Wait a minute. All right. So, Mrs. Go ahead. >> Yeah. It's a family affair at this point. No, please don't bother. fine for not ever changing my Google ID. So, >> um, it's been this way since he's in middle school and it's going to stay this way because I'm cool to change it. So, >> okay, go ahead, Miss Nolan. >> Tina Olton, 10 Hillside Street. >> Um, yeah, I, you know, I I sat this

169one out, but I do have a couple things that I wanted to say. Um, I appreciate all of the effort that you guys have made. I understand that and all the interest that you guys have shown in giving the paras what they need and our support staff what they need which in turn is what our kids need and what the teachers need. Um I am a little bit disappointed if I'm being honest. Um I've waited this whole meeting for Dr. Brummit to address some of the issues that the parents have brought. I understand this isn't a question and answer session, but I think the overall theme of some of the parents concerns was communication. And once again, none there's no reassurance. There's nothing offered to um the multiple parents that are online and that are

170have taken the time to come out. And I understand that this is not the participation you're used to seeing. And I think we've all come to realize that this is the participation needed in order to get what our kids need. And so we're learning something, you're learning something. It's great. Um, but you know, at the same time, the other thing that wasn't addressed during all of your concerns about how we're going to get these pairs, what every other district seems to be able to provide were the raises that were given to admins. And I think that that is also something that shows in communication. I mean, you guys are are, you know, giving examples of how hard it is to find the the money to do this. And nobody addressed the fact that you found

171the money to give raises to the non-instructional, not frontline educators who [clears throat] are not on the front line, who we are topheavy at a district already. I think that addressing the fact that the behavioral issues that Dr. Bromett had the report on and not once referencing asking teachers what they needed and I've heard teachers in in schools everywhere and it's not just here in this district it's everywhere saying that you know I if I get one more highde screen in my classroom I'm going to scream. That's not what we're asking for. I think that teachers have told you. I've been very vocal about what they really need. And I think I heard the word data more times than I heard anybody mention what the teachers are asking for and what they're telling you they

172need. Uh I think that if it's communication that's the issue. I think that's been the the running um theme throughout what the parents are here to tell you what they were so upset about. I think it continued through this meeting. I think that we would all appreciate a little bit more transparency and not just acting like it's business as usual. I you know you keep referencing that we've been trying to do this for years and it's amazing to me that you've referenced all these other things that seem to take precedence the roof of Patterson the bus the transportation that we need and yet still nobody mentioned the fact that with all of these needs that seem pressing and that seem to be of more of a priority in everybody else's eyes the board has found

173the money to give our admins these raises for the next four years and the fact that nobody is addressing that is very disappointing. So I hope that some communication comes out from Dr. Brumit from the board of ed that will further soothe some of these parents agitated and and rightfully so frustrations. You know, there's a there's I know how many parents emailed the superintendent's office and I know the handful that got responses and that's a disappointment as well. So, I think we can all have an opportunity to do things better and not just the way they've been done year after year. [music] Thank you. >> Thank you. Are there any other participation? Um I I um again we don't usually respond but I do just want to um point out that during this meeting there

174was no um appropriate time for Dr. Burma to address parental concerns and in the course of of her her job and her responsibilities sometimes um providing specifics is is inappropriate. not just want to put it out there that there's a lot that that is is happening and has happened that Dr. Burman's been a part of that um she's not privy to share for privacy and and furba um and parents that did email I believe have have gotten a response but um but Dr. Dr. Breman, if you don't mind just maybe double-checking and making sure that um anyone who did email has one and then anyone who spoke tonight um also would would receive a response. Um again, there there wasn't isn't an appropriate time at at this meeting at around this table for her to

175address specific concerns of parents. So, I would encourage parents to reach out to um Dr. from it directly and and and she will do the needful as they say. Um thank you though for your for your participation. Um all right, seeing no others um we we are now um going to look to enter into an executive session. Um, do we have a specific? We will. Yeah, we will. Chris might recess, but we just we'll just do the um I didn't bring in anyone. >> Yeah, we need to Who do we need to bring in for this? Um, >> yeah, it's just us. Okay, >> perfect. >> I move that the board of education move into executive session. >> Second. >> We're not ready to go. Can we enter in and then take a recess? >>

176We can just vote to enter. >> Yeah, we No, just all in favor. I I >> Any opposed? All right. Vote passes unanimously to enter into the executive session. >> We're going to take a Oh, I know. I'm sorry. I know. We were trying to let you know this is No, this isn't >> Oh, I know. >> Um, we're still going back into It's not We have a second meeting. >> Okay. Thank you. executive session. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Um motion to come out. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I heard I was like going like There's like this video I saw the other day was like [laughter] >> I can't just keep your head straight. You'll be drunk this time. I go to bed late. Just give me Beautiful. >> I think I'm >> All

177right, we can come after. Um Pam's not here, but um We're back. We're back. We're back into public session and we have new business. We have um uh renewal of superintendent contract. So, I will entertain a motion. >> I move to accept the contract as discussed in executive session. >> Second. >> Any motion? Second. Any discussion? Huh? Well, we can talk about like how much we love Dr. from it. >> Okay. I'm sorry. Um I won't drag it out. Uh roll call, please. >> Yes. >> Dr. Stanley, >> yes. >> Motion passed unanimously. 90. >> Thank you. And remarks by board members. Yes, M. Very quickly because we have another meeting to go to, but just want to on the record too that um do appreciate all of the comments that were made tonight. I

178know obviously this is um many parents reached out and um a very not ideal situation. Please know that take this very seriously. Um and obviously this has occurred and events have occurred. Um, I think it is important that um, I think we as a board to um, I won't speak for all of us, but I think we are in agreement that safety is of the book's concern and um, I know Dr. Roman will get back about that, but I think we will be looking at the communication plans and those kinds of things and the protocols that are in place um, to do that. I think there's without a doubt um, I know everyone on this board cares about the safety and knows that um, communication is vital and for our parents to know that. So

179just wanted to make sure that is acknowledged. Um it's not lip service. There should be actions to will remedy um not remedy but the situation happened but to move forward um as I think someone noted. And the other thing too is just our par [snorts] educators. We know that has always been on top of mind. Not always but has been a top of mind. Um and as I just kept saying you know we're the only district in the state that didn't have benefits. I'm very glad that that will be the step that we will not be the only district left in that. Um, and then we're one of the the few that don't have unionized um, staff for that. But I think it is a step in the direction and the fight is no longer

180is nowhere near done. Um, and I know just again given the constraints of the budget um, the revaluations. I know town council had a hard time with this. I know we had a hard time with this. Um, and I know that this the problems that we had this year will not go away next year. Um, so this is a never um there are never- ending challenges and barriers that we need to continue to try and face and particularly in this world of education in the state of Connecticut, which is unique and not having like a county system. There are always unique challenges here. So, I appreciate everyone um who came out tonight. Thank you for voicing your concerns. Please know they are heard and listened to. And please uh and and thank you to everyone

181um on the board, too, just for all of our discussions. I do appreciate all of our our dialogues um and these kinds of things. And um I would be remiss if we didn't once again just say congratulations and well-earned uh everyday hero. That was one of my favorites um to do. I think it was very emblematic of what our citizenry particularly our youth should look like. So thank you for highlighting that. And um congratulations Jack. You you did great. And as the last one school will be out we will see everyone hopefully all your board members will see many of you seniors and your senior parents at graduation on Monday night. We're very excited um to celebrate the class of 2026. Um thank you again for a great school year to all of our administrators,

182our staff, our our teachers, our parent educators. We will not be taking too much of a break this uh summer because we have teacher negotiations and policy. So I would be remiss July 29th, 6:30. Thank you so much. >> Thank you, Dr. Stanley. I want to thank everybody who came out tonight. Um the parents that send the emails, we do see them. We do read them. They we share the concerns and I appreciate uh all the support that the office in Marine has done to communicate with the parents and and try to round about round back uh on their concerns. Um some thoughts and and questions that I had or some suggestions. It seems like this was a very traumatic event for some of the children and some of the families that went through this.

183I'm wondering if there are support and resources that we can offer to debrief or provide them with the counseling support for these students and families that may be dealing with a traumatic event like this. Um, I think we should offer it for all of our JP families and our John Wallace families and districtwide in case there's been, you know, some difficult discussions that have happened. Um, I think that these resources are able to be activated and I just want to make sure that we know how to do it or we should activate it for the JP um, families regardless. Um, I think we were talking about this um, Sean had mentioned this as well in our session, but this really emphasizes the need to delegate the communication committee like ASAP. Um, so who's going to

184be on it? how can we work on this communication because there are layers of accountability um that need to happen to communicate such serious things like a school lockdown and so I think you know we need to make sure it's not a technical issue we need to identify who is doing the final checks to make sure that it went out to all the families there's lots of layers and and double backs that could be set up and and I think with a committee we can start navigating um these struggles to make it better for our families. Um, I also want to emphasize the that we need to communicate to our paraprofessionals that we are funding their insurance is a high deductible plan and to address the concerns um from the woman that was here earlier

185about being able to afford these high deductible plans. I looked up the resource that Lynn had mentioned about um supporting the par she's not here anymore but she she is home in bed which is good. Um, but I had no idea that this support existed and it offers I went through some of the um, uh, examples of how districts implement it and what it supports and it it is really can decrease their deductibles by half. Um, and it decreases their co-pays or or it's like an either or. Either the deductibles go down or the co-pays, but it is a really big benefit. But the parents have to enroll in a timely fashion because we have to report this by September or October and that's how we get distributed. And so if they miss that window,

186then they're not going to get this support until the following year. Um so we need to make this a timely communication um that if they enroll, this is a support system that exists. Um but if you don't enroll now and you decide to enroll later, you will miss out on this support for the year. Um I'm glad and it's unfortunate of what happened with our JP with our John Patterson principal and I hope that um we can work as a board and as a community to restore the faith of the parents in our school um and ensure the students that you know we will choose a principal that you know is highly qualified um but also is attuned to the students needs to ensure that the students are cared for that the staff are treated

187with respect um that they deserve and that they get all the support that they need. Um so I think that we can you know make a commitment to them that that's how we will navigate this. Um do we have an interm principal? Um do we know when it'll be announced? >> We are approaching um a few retired principles to see if they would be interested. So we will keep the board a breast [clears throat] of that. We're also going to move uh to post the position very very promptly. So yes, I will keep the board a breast of that information. >> Okay, wonderful. And then I think final um thought was just um there was um mentions about our allocation of funding um and I think it just highlights our need um and how we

188had to balance this very slightly with like a 50k cut here just to like finally get it. Um so we need to pay attention to how we're allocating these funds. Um, do we necessarily need these tech buys every single year? There's been lots of comments about that. You know, we spend a lot on uniforms, but maybe we have to have family and sports commit more to that cost because that's big. Um, we were going to be limited on what we can afford for new courses and programs because we were able to fund these benefits this year, but we're not guaranteed to have that money. So, we're going to have to make cuts in other spots. Um so um if parents are concerned that cuts are being made like that's because we have to weigh the

189needs and wants and if we need pair benefits then some of the wants of adding a new academy or at or having fully funding or uniforms for our teams is a want. So it's we're going to have to balance it. [snorts] And then maybe to the point of some of the comments, have we asked the teachers to pro to like with a survey or focus groups and in their teacher committees that they have in their staff meetings? Have we asked them what they need? Cuz that was one person, but is this a pervasive problem? Is there a survey to go out like what is the top thing that you would prioritize? What are the top three things that you would prioritize um that would help support your needs in the classroom? because I we talked

190a lot about PAR benefits and and their supports, but and what did the what do the teachers actually need? >> I guess does that make sense? I'm tired. I rambled. I appreciate that. And the contract negotiations went long because we care so much about our school and we care about you as well. So, we wanted to make it a right fit for everybody. So, we love you. But anyone else, Miss Vus? Just a very very quick um again thank you for the parents who've reached out for us both in person and and um online. Um we talked a lot about the PAR benefits. This is something that we have heard for years in our community and how important it is um to make our district a place where not only our students can thrive but

191also our our staff can thrive as well. And pro providing opportunities that are meaningful in a lot of different ways only is going to benefit our kids. And so I'm I'm very very happy to to see that we've actually accomplished this as a as a goal that's been on the table for a number of years. To that end, I want to thank uh Gary Turo, Kate Ferrar, and Matt Leser for their hard work and advocating at the state and Dr. Brumitt as well. um without their advocacy and their continued pressure um on our elected officials in Hartford, we would not have been able to provide funding for our health clinic or our noraster academy. And we know for a fact that that directly impacts our students in their physical health and as well as their

192graduation rates. And so that is a very very very important program um that I'm very grateful that they were able to um make that a reality for us this year and going forward into next year. Um now that the seeds have been planted hopefully um we will continue to to see those programs um continue and to grow. Um but it's a partnership and so we do what we can here in our community but we need help from our friends at the state as well and and um this is a good positive step in the right direction. Um, so it it was a difficult budget season. They all are. But I think that this year in particular um this uh board as well as Dr. Brummit and her staff were able to take a very very

193challenging situation and turn it into something that continues the strong um history that we've had with providing the our students the supports and that education that that they really need and that uh we are responsible for providing for them. So thank you for everybody involved in that. I'm just going to keep it short. I mean, I hope what everyone else said. Um, and I think I empathize with all the parents who showed up today and we're going to work on communication and now we're going to fix that. Thanks. >> Happy graduation, seniors. >> Yes. And thank you, Dr. Roman. I know you give a great speech um reflective of >> Yes. All right, back. Motion to adjurnn. Second. >> Motion second. Is there any discussion? All in favor? meeting at 11:18 p.m.