001Hello everyone, I like to welcome you to the monthly Board of Education meeting for Wednesday, April 16th. Um, meeting comes to session at 6:30 p.m. May I have a motion to approve the March 2nd, 2026 Board of Education special meeting minutes? I'll make a motion. Second. >> Can I get a second? Thank you. Any discussion? All in favor? Aye. So moved. May I have a motion to approve the March 12th, 2026 Board of Education regular meeting minutes? I'll make a motion. Second. Any discussion? All in favor? Aye. So moved. Ava, just you today? Yes. Okay, our student representative, Ava Barone. How are you? Great. How are you? Very good. You have that that blower going today, so you're going to have to face it up today. >> [laughter] >> All right. So this week, the
002third marking period concluded and the fourth marking period began. SATs were also administered successfully and preliminary score reports are positive. AP registration is underway and we may have a new high number of students taking AP exams as a part of an ongoing upward trend. Two North Haven High School students were recognized as SCC scholar leaders in a dinner ceremony held at Anthony's Ocean View. Congratulations to Valerie Adams and Gavin Knopf. Additionally, two North Haven High School students were recognized by the South Central Area Superintendents Association for overall community service and involvement. Congratulations to Leanna Liu and Jack Segna. The winter sports scene at North Haven High School was highlighted by several successful seasons, namely the boys basketball team finishing the regular season with 19 wins and one loss, additionally getting to the CIAC Division III
003semifinals, and the fencing team's men's foil squad winning their conference title. Great. That's awesome. Thank you very much, Ava. I appreciate it. Does anybody have any questions for Ava? Come on, let's fill her up on some questions. >> [laughter] >> Well, okay. Can I actually just make a quick statement >> You certainly You certainly can. So a few weeks ago, North Haven High School hosted the FPS um state competition and our student rep uh I know he's not here tonight, but Ragav was uh won and he was state one of the state champions from North Haven High School, so just thought I'd mention that. That's fantastic. Very good. >> [applause] >> No pressure next year, Ava. >> [laughter] >> You're all set. Okay, we're going to move on with the public comment. Uh this session
004is reserved for non-agenda items. We're going to have 5 minutes per topic and what do you have anything you'd like to bring to the table? Hello. Hey. >> Susan Duda, Ashit Road. Um I I get bombarded with questions after I come to these meetings Okay. and then I'm up half the night trying to figure out answers. One of them is the health insurance. I thought I heard that you were self- insured, but then I also heard that you use Anthem. So I had a hard time trying to figure that out because they wanted me to explain the big number. I'm a nobody, but I want to get the numbers from you guys, so how does that really work? So they are they are part of our providers, but as opposed to a set fund, they
005project what our claims, so Anthem basically we are in charge of the funding for all of those pieces, so what happens each year is they project based upon their actuaries over a 13-month back look what they're projecting for our medical, dental, and pharmaceutical claims and say, "You should plan for X amount of dollars." What then happens is we when place that into the budget and monthly that goes into what's called the medical and dental reserve account, our self-funded account on the town side of the books and then as those charges come through from Anthem, they pull those out. And so we have over a longer period of time, it does fiscally make much more sense for us to be in control of that mechanism and allows us to monitor how that is impacting our overall
006reserve. And so when we say this is what we're projecting, you know, obviously this year is a good example, those costs go up, but over time it's a cost-saving mechanism that we benefit from as opposed to a fixed insurance cost over an annual rate with Anthem. I like your answer cuz that's pretty much what I told the person, but I I just you know, I give an answer and then it's like I need verification. >> Sure. Um cuz I don't want to be giving out false information. Uh the other thing it's going to be touchy, I know. Pre-K, when did North Haven start having pre-K in their elementary schools? I don't even I saw 2021 was one of the It's been a while. I saw 2021 was the >> 2021 and that was for the
007full-time kindergarten in 2021. Pre-K. I don't know. I tried to look it back and I don't have your facts. I get what Google wants to give me, which doesn't really >> Yeah, no, I wouldn't Yeah, I wouldn't go on that. >> But okay, now do the people who have their children in pre-K, do they pay for that? I can answer that question for you. Yes, so some students who access the pre-K program have an IEP because they have special education services that they receive and then there's also students that we call neighborhood peers, which are their peers in the classroom and the families do pay a fee monthly for the services for 3-year-old and 4-year-olds. Okay. All right. No, I was just curious if the Board of Ed picked that up and then we're paying
008for other people's children to go to pre-K where I had to self-pay. Absolutely understandable. Yes. The last one was on the scores. Uh you guys got numbers all over the place. Um it's the caps in the elementary schools were always 81% to 86%, but the middle school drops down to in the 70% and there's no score for high school, so I don't know if they even get the testing or where they're rated. Uh how that would go. Um but it seems like it's going the reverse of what it should be. You know, I thought that we get better and that's what the whole idea of a better education was. It's because I don't know why people are moving to North Haven for schools cuz I didn't I did for taxes. And seems like we're making
009the schools more attractive to them to bring them in here. But I've heard many take them through the elementary school and pull them out and put them in some other school. You know, and it's supposed to reverse, but mostly goes that way. I I was just curious. I can answer a little bit of that for you. I don't have the numbers right in front of me this evening, but we are really tracking the students as they progress through the grade levels, so like a cohort as they go from third grade to fourth grade to fifth grade to sixth grade and we're starting to see a a more positive tracking as they're moving through the middle school. They only take the SBAC assessment in grades three through eight and then when you get to the high
010school, the state-mandated assessments don't come into play until 11th grade and they take the SAT at that point and they also take the 11th grade version of the NGSS, which is the next generation science assessment. So we don't have 4 years of um assessments in that same way. We do administer the PSAT um as a predictor and to help us to fill gaps if necessary, provide additional um courses, and set direction now. Um so I I actually the last thing on my report, um but I can I can do it right now. Um so I was going to say, lastly, congratulations to our North Haven High School juniors like Ava had referenced. Um we just literally got these um within the last few days um for their strong SAT scores in this spring's Connecticut um
011school day SAT, that's what they call it. Um the students achieved an average math score of 514 and reading and writing score of 524. Um uh an overall score of 1037. This score represents a 19-point gain over last year and a 20-point gain over our prior recent average. I know those two numbers don't equal the 1037. I just want to point that out to the audience because they use a rounding system at College Board and the State Department. We don't have all of the details yet, we just kind of have raw data at this point, so more will be forthcoming and then that ties into our performance um reports on each school. So we anticipate to see um an increase in that performance report as well because of this nice uptick. 1200. 1200. Right, they've
012changed it. It's like a new version of scoring. So I I know I'll just finish my if you don't mind, I'll just finish my last part. I wanted to give it a thank you and shout-out um to all the students for their really hard work on that and for our teachers for their amazing work in preparing our students. So, once we get more information, we will share that out. But, as I said, we just got that. Okay. Yeah, the only other thing I did find was uh That's the math I'm sorry. That's also the highest in the last 6 years. Okay. that we've had. >> Oh, all right. Okay, cuz it I'm You know, I told you where I I asked the question and whoever wants to answer me Listen, you can ask any question
013you want. I mean, Google answers like you have to sit down and try to find a real Okay. No, because it said that the math scores are higher than 67% of the grade and the math and the reading scores are higher than 54%. >> And it is 1,600. I'm sorry. I apologize. There are both in different bands. Um I'll get all the information and we'll report it out next month cuz I don't want to just talk off the top of my head without all the numbers before me. Um but, it's a really nice growth for us and we'll know what the state average is and our other third information soon. So, we'll be able to know how we're performing against our peers, right? And the only other point to just say about that is it's
014never like when we look at um AS BACK over grades 3 through 8, we're following the same They're different cohorts, but we we follow a particular cohort all along, right? So, that's the same children to see if they're holding their performance, growing in their performance, or for some reason going the other way. In 11th grade, we don't have any comparable measure except for our own um PSAT testing, cuz you're not Last year's 11th graders are now 12th graders. They're never comparing the same group of children on that measure. So, that makes it just very different. Right. And the last time they were tested was in eighth grade. Exactly, on a different assessment. Right. Okay. All right. I'm sure I'll have more questions after I go to the presentation tonight, but thank you for answering. I
015appreciate it. Thank you. I don't think I just think so, either. Yeah. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Um I had a couple of questions about capital as it relates to budget reform. Uh you heard several times through this budget cycle from Mr. Stark the other night, Mr. Babcock earlier this morning, how this budget doesn't currently have any capital. And you made the example that if the weather were to go down, then the board would have to fund that. What is the plan for capital moving forward? We heard the presentation about the four new schools. I think you have to take that right now. It's low. It's low and and it would be years out, I think. So, what is the plan for capital? Is the town ready to entertain any capital? Some of these projects
016that at least you have as placeholders are reimbursable projects through the state. Roof replacements, HVAC, life safety. You have 1.2 million for a lot of the elementary schools. On 1.2 million, you're getting reimbursed at a rate of 38%. You get back 456,000. Given that that number is is accurate according to this. So, can you just speak a little bit more about what the capital plan is or what the town has told you? Well, the town the town the town hasn't really told us told us anything as far as capital. And and they and they won't because we just deal with in a uh in a bulk number, right, with with the town. I mean, they they go through and they decipher how we told them we were going to try to spend that money to
017justify what we're asking for. It's just like they say, you know, we we don't lay off teachers. We only approve a certain amount of money and then we decide how it go. So, it's the same way those issues. If something breaks, we have to find a way to fix it. Not that we necessarily have money put aside for that particular issue if it comes to to fruition. We just we have to take from somewhere else and and put it in there. So, it's Every Every year we try to add capital to the budget. And it's just it's a function of you know, it's a function of total number with the town and with the with the people of the town with us, you know. It's We started out at a much higher budget request for
018a reason and it just didn't quite work. I mean, we're thankful that it is where it is, you know, that we can work with what they finally came up with last night in hopes that that passes that referendum and then we can continue to provide a good educational process for everybody. Um so, when next year rolls around, we're going to talk about it. We're going to look at what our needs are again. And I and I understand that, you know, the the appetite for new buildings is low. I mean, and I get why. I've been here 56 years. I I get it. I'm a homeowner here for 39 years. I I get it. All I All we can do as a board is address the town and address the people of the town, telling them
019what we think we need to move forward. And then it's up to the town to decide, especially on something as large in scope as the schools. I But, some of these some of these things some of these capital projects, they're in a state of catastrophic failure. Some of these roofs, some of the HVAC >> I I'm not going to disagree with that. Right. And I'm and I'm not Yeah. But, at what point, right, does it does it become where a school is uninhabitable for a certain period of time because you had a boiler go down or because there are, you know, some other type of issue? Uh it just seems like some of these capital there needs to be a at least some type of long-term master facilities plan or some some some type of
020conversation continuing conversation with the town at least at the elementary schools, not only for restoration uh or improve as new, but even preventive maintenance. Any preventive maintenance plans for the new high school, for the new middle school. Uh and it just doesn't seem like any of that is there. Well, Well, let's let him talk. >> And no. No, that's not >> And I'm not saying that I I know. I know. It's an overstatement. I get it. It's an overstatement, but there are maintenance plans in effect. There are maintenance plans that are mandated by the state that you have to do. >> Right. Whether it's your quality, um the fire marshal has to come in and look at elevators, fire extinguishers, the roofs. All that stuff, you know, we have uh grounds people who are constantly
021checking and making list of, "Hey, the tennis court may need this or that or you know, this part of the building needs attention." Um and we always figure out a way to get that done. And we have conversations um in particular, Mr. Mr. Flynn, Mr. Stark, and/or myself at times with uh Rich Manico and the selectmen every month. And we talk about the state of the state, basically. And they're they're well aware and, you know, they have their own issues like that. I mean, they Do they have a capital fund? Yes. Do they have some money? Yes. Really, if a couple of things broke down, they'd be in the same boat that that we're in. So, we're just we would, in the worst-case scenario, work together to get that situation resolved and move forward. You're
022never going to see a time I I can't see where we have an issue where we have to close the school down for X amount of time to raise money to fix a problem. But, there are opportunities, especially when you know, budgets are tight and there are opportunities to the state to get some reimbursement to to start to chip away at some of these We're We're always trying to get We're always looking for either a grant or through our state rep, um you know, Vinny Di Acerno and Paul Ciferella. Vinny does a great job. He's out there. You know, he's rattling the bushes all the time trying to get us more money. Um Mike Mike Frieda's We We can. You don't need capital I I can. But, if But, if the roof replacement comes in
023at a million two and I can find a half a million, I'm still 700 short. And I have reimbursed on a million dollars, you're going to get reimbursed 38%. So, so O- Okay. So, so that'll be 400,000 short. Right. And I And again, I You're closer though, is my point, right? Close? Yes. But, close only gets you so far. You still need to find that last step to go. I'm telling you, if it was a situation where that roof had to come off, it would come off and we'd figure out a way to do it, whether we did it by ourselves or in conjunction with the town or the town took it. Whatever happened, it would be done. Yes. There always monthly conversations through through people who are companies that are on state contracts. I'm
024I'm also curious on the the capital. One of the listed things I know the issue with this uh earlier in the fall heading into the winter and the basketball season was the gym floor at the high school. Mhm. And there were some repairs done and it needs apparently needs to be more. And a placeholder is in there for $650,000 for the gym floor. Yeah. Why Why is that number so high? That seems to be That floor needs to be replaced in whole. Replaced in whole? All of it? Everything? Or I'm not talking about a strip, sand, paint, buff. Complete replacement. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. >> Appreciate it. Appreciate it. Anybody else? Okay, seeing none, I'm going to move on. Is there anybody else? Okay. Um moving on to the consent agenda. The resignation of
025Lawanda Walker, paraeducator at North Haven High School. The resignation of Cody Medolo, uh security guard at North Haven High School. May I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? Make a motion. Second. Second. Any discussion? All in favor? Aye. So moved. >> [clears throat] >> Um okay. So now we have to come in we're we're going to come into the part where I have to read off the names uh Do you want me to start with it? No, I I can do it. I just it's the name of the non-tenured teachers that are uh subject to layoff due to budget constraints. So I I just want to say a couple of words about the budget before before I read this all off and a couple of words about these teachers before I read this
026all off. The budget process, as everybody knows, uh everybody's well aware, was, you know, contentious at times. It was very difficult. It was difficult on both sides. The town has, you know, an expectation that they need to deliver to to the townspeople. We have an expectation that we're trying to deliver to the townspeople and the students. They do not always mesh. The intent to provide the best educational system, we both agree on. How we get there sometimes is is debated. Sometimes it's debated uh in a very passionate manner and and sometimes it's not. Um some may say that uh I'm too passionate at times, but I depends on who you ask. So I'm I'm going to I'm just going to leave it at that. Um I've had many difficult conversations uh along with other members
027of the board with uh Mr. Frieda, Mr. Monaco, um the chair of the Board of Finance, uh and in the end through our discussions, you know, we were able to meet at a place where I think we can succeed and I think a place where we didn't originally think we may be able to get to. Anybody who's at the meeting the other night saw that uh they were gracious enough to give us an extra $500,000 to to make this thing work the best way possible. And I would just like to uh say to them, thank you very much for that consideration. Uh that is something that does not normally happen. Those meetings are usually um already decided upon from prior meetings and that is just a matter of a motion uh in most cases, but
028as we were able to have discussions and move forward, uh we were able to get an extra 500,000 and I know the police and fire also were able to get some extra uh mechanisms into their budget, so I'm I'm happy for them as well. Um it's like anything else, you know, if if whatever you get, you you always want more. I'm sure the town wanted less. So in my mind, that's a successful negotiation because not everybody got what they wanted, but everybody can function and and move forward. With that, we have to prepare for the possibility that the referendum does not pass. If the referendum does not pass, then obviously that money uh the money that were agreed upon the other day are shifted away and then we have to reassess how we move forward.
029And because of that, we need to by statute read off the non-tenured teachers who are um subject to layoff. And we have to read it now even though we don't we're not sure that anybody is getting laid off. So this is not a scare tactic. This is not Believe me, this is not something anybody wants to do. If you If anybody thinks I was I got up early today thinking, "Today's the day I get to read all those names." You're you're you're incredibly mistaken. This is uh a miserable set of circumstances that we have to deal with. The reason the names are read is in case the budget does not pass and we have to readjust, we don't know even at that point who or how many may be laid off. But you are subject
030to read all the names of the people that are available. So I just want that understanding uh out there. The thing I would like to say to these teachers um of the names I'm about to read is we appreciate everything you do and the way you care for the kids and the way you take your um career so professionally and and work towards a better environment for everyone. And it does not go unnoticed. And again, this is a matter of course, not a matter of want that we that I have to read these names off. So with that, I'm going to read off these names. I believe there are 52. And again, I don't want this seen as a scare tactic. Oh, you know, Chairman Bathroom read off 52 names just so we can get
031everybody scared and make sure they, you know, that's not the case at all. And I want to make sure that everybody understands that is not the case. With that, I'm going to read off these names. Do you I'm sorry. Okay. I'm sorry. Would you like to share something other? I just wanted to share No, no, go ahead. Tomorrow, Christian Anthony and myself, and if Christine so desires, um we will go and meet at all six schools with all of the teachers impacted by this. Um we did the same thing last year and explain the process and just make sure that they know how valued they are and how much they mean to us. And hopefully, um the day after the referendum, um we will be back and without on and we send this letter and
032give them a letter renewing their contract for next year. So that is our plan for tomorrow and and our plan for May 29th. Thank you. And I apologize ahead of time if I butcher anybody's name here. I do. Uh all right, the names are as follows. Daria Agu, Milana Bartolomeo. It's Bartolomeo now, so sorry. Um James Ben Giovanni, James Boddington, Colleen Brumlevy, Emily Cabal, Jennifer Crandall, Lauren Chaza, Christian Daley, Brittany DeFreitas, Stephanie DeLucia, Michelle DeLucia, Macy DeCarlo, Grace Donahue, Michael Ferraro, Lauren Gauthier, Richie Gold, Melissa Grego, Carolyn Hanley, Avery Hill, Monica Germain, Emily Guzzerni, Anam Khan, Kate Kylie, Andrew LaDuco, Hayley Langevin, Christine Ladonna, Jordan Lynch, James Manzo, James Macaloney, Alexis McDonough, Rachel Mayer, Janice Mirakhinan, Susan Mitchell, Cara Moore, Joshua Mazacato, Gabriel Moschinsky, Christina Potts, Marissa Rossino, Mingwen Ren, Jessica Romanello, Melanie Socks, Michael
033Severino, Athena Singh, Sheryl Stugley, Mingwei Sunquist, Marilyn Trawick, Alicia Thiede, Gabriel Thompson, Rachel Tyrrell, Gina Sammataro, and Alexis Zitoni. Just double check. Move that the contract of employment of the read names not be renewed for the following year due to budgetary reasons upon its expiration [snorts] at the end of the 2025-2026 school year and that the superintendent of schools is directed to advise such persons in writing of this action. Can I get a second? Second. Any discussion? Um I'm with Ron on this one where this is like my least favorite meeting of the year. Okay. Um it feels terrible to to have to listen to the names of these teachers who make a difference in the lives of our kids every day being put in this situation. And if we didn't have to do this
034by state statute, I don't I don't I can't speak for everybody on the board, but I highly doubt we would be doing this. Oh, no, we'd never do it. Yeah. Never. Um I once again, like I just think this whole process it it feels like it's not one that allows for the dignity that has been earned by our teachers every day. These folks helped us get to a Blue Ribbon School, helped us get to several schools of distinction. They help us outperform our peers from a scores perspective within our district, and they help us keep costs at a reasonable level. I want to say thank you to all of them. Several of them have had direct impacts on my kids personally, but it's not just about my kids, it's about all of our kids. And
035I really appreciate these people, and I'm so sorry. Anybody else? I'm sure we all agree word for word with that last All in favor? Aye. >> Aye. Aye. So moved. >> [snorts] >> May I have a motion to add an action item concerning the removal of the 181st day of the 2025-2026 school year? I'll make a motion. Second. Second. Any discussion? What is this? I can't Removing the 181st day. Oh, okay. I I That thing is so loud. I It's difficult hearing you. Any discussion? No. Okay. All right. I get it. Sorry about that. All in favor? Aye. >> Aye. So moved. So that makes the last day of school May I have a motion to remove the 181st day of the 2025-2026 school year? So moved. Second. Second. Any discussion? All in favor? Aye.
036So moved. So that puts the last day of school at the 17th. Wednesday Wednesday, June 17th. With graduation being Tuesday June 16th. >> So graduation day will be June 16th, last day of school June 17th. We're going to do reports from standing committees. Uh Marty, do you have anything for ACES? Um Yeah, uh ACES has been discussing, and many people know they're in the process of selling some of their buildings and real estate, um and that was pretty much most of the last meeting. Um the only other major thing that went on is uh they did name a new director. His name is Dr. William Rice. Uh he is a a current uh employee of ACES. Um and uh Uh we're look We're looking forward to having a good year with him. Excellent. Any questions
037for Marty? Curriculum, instruction, and planning? We did not meet. Any questions? >> [laughter] >> Finance and operations? Yeah, thank you. We met earlier tonight, and I I want to just start by echoing Ron in acknowledging and thanking our partners on the Board of Finance for their continued engagement throughout this process and their very hard work. Last night they voted to restore $500,000 to the BOE budget request, and I am personally very grateful for their nearly unanimous support. Uh our superintendent spoke and said that people could come and get some clarification on a few things that were stated, and I'd like to just run quickly run through a very partial list. Um Uh there was a statement that we had a buffer of 10 additional paras in the current operating budget. I wish we did. We
038do not. Um that likely refers to the registered behavioral technicians or RBTs, which are funded through a grant this year, and these grant-funded positions actually resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings to the district that should not be interpreted as excess staffing capacity within the operating budget. Um There was also some discussion about administrative positions. I do just want to clarify that um we do have an administrative position that has not yet been filled that was recently vacated. And then we had an assistant principal um position vacated last year, and funding for that position was reallocated to support special education services. Um I also just want to spend a quick minute on what the definition of a surplus is, cuz that word has been thrown around quite a bit. Uh a true surplus
039occurs when all obligations have been fully met and funds remain. I want to just assure everyone in North Haven that that has not been the case within the Board of Education for quite some time. Um our like unspent funds do not account for the significant backlog of capital projects um and underfunded insurance reserves. So when all of our obligations are considered, it's really clear that the district has not experienced a true surplus in a long time. Um there was also just a comment made that the the Board of Ed unanimously voted for a 6.3% increase. I just like this is very similar to the vote we just took on the teachers. Um these are things that have to get done, and it would be bad faith if we did not vote uh for them. The
040decision that we made at our last meeting, I feel and I feel very proud of this board for acting in good faith. Um and I think that everyone up here expressed some clear dissatisfaction with the initial proposed funding level, and we are I think everybody is very grateful for the additional funding that came. Um Rather than rejecting a mandated figure, we engaged in thoughtful discussion, clearly articulated the impact of the reductions, and submitted a formal request to our partners on the Board of Finance to restore the $500,000. [snorts] And once again, truly appreciate them for coming to the table on that. Uh workers' compensation, uh just a quick note about that. It's currently projected to end the year with about $35,000 remaining in that fund. Uh the proposed budget in 2026-2027 does not rebuild this
041reserve account, unfortunately. It does continue to leave uh very little margin for variability. So overall, um I I just want to say that the the budget that we sent forward does reflect difficult trade-offs that have um that have been made through a continued effort to operate within constrained resources while maintaining our essential services. Um We're committed to transparency over here and responsible decision-making and continued advocacy for sustainable funding, and I want to again thank our partners on the Board of Finance for coming to the table. As this process moves forward, community input will play a critical role. I encourage residents to stay engaged, to attend the upcoming meetings, and to make their voices heard as these decisions are finalized. That's it. Thank you. Um just for a point of clarification, Amanda, if you don't mind.
042We talked a little bit about um the the mention last night about the paraeducators. Um the the the grant paid for the training Not the RBTs. not their actual salaries. So I just wanted to clarify that. >> Thank you, Randy. Yeah, good point. Anybody else have anything like that? No. >> [clears throat] >> North Haven Education Foundation? Unfortunately, Mr. Sterk was unable to attend this month's meeting. Policy? Approval of um 1400.9 discrimination. May I have a motion to approve policy 1400.9 discrimination, community board operations? I'll make a motion. Second. Second. Discussion? All in favor? Aye. So moved. May I have a motion to approve policy .113 / 4218.113 non-discrimination, personnel? I'll make a motion. Second. Any [clears throat] discussion? All in favor? Aye. So moved. May I have a motion to approve policy / 4252,
043family and medical leave, personnel? I'll make a motion. Second. Discussion? All in favor? Aye. So moved. May I have a motion to approve policy 5145.4, non-discrimination, students? I'll make a motion. Second. Second. Discussion? All in favor? Aye. So moved. May I have a motion to approve the 2026-2027 district calendar as proposed? I'll make a motion. Second. Any discussion? Yeah. Um I [clears throat] don't know if it's proper at this point, but seems to go in line with this. So the only thing that I would say is one of my favorite things about being on a board like this is when the community gets engaged and can come and speak, and this community has been very engaged and has spoken quite a bit. But what I would like to see happen is I would like the
044board to adopt some sort of policy that makes it clear to any group in town um what needs to be done to petition for a day off, whether it be a holiday or whatever the reason. I don't I don't think we have anything that speaks that right now, and I think that would make it easier or make it harder. I don't know. I I think Or at least it would clarify. Yeah, make it easier, but that's that's a good way to put it. It would clarify what needs to be done if a group is interested, so that's my only two cents on this. We can put that on the calendar committee. What was the calendar committee? I think that's you, girl. >> [laughter] >> That's you. So, yeah, that's that's a good idea. We can
045uh get something together over the next little bit and then present it and, you know, have a conversation about it and then enact it. Thank you. I have no problem with that. Any other discussion? I just want to point out a quick typo. Um on the staff development days in the yellow, it says January 5th when it's really January 15th. Um I know not everybody looks at the calendar, some people only use that list, so I just wanted to make sure they don't get their days mixed up. Where where is that? Right here. Oh, on the calendar. Okay. >> Yeah, um where it's listed. Thank you. I'll type that. Good eye. Good eye, I'm a nerd in me, I can't help it. Thanks thanks for catching that. Any other discussion? I'd also like to suggest,
046I said this before in years past, um that we think about holding school on Veteran's Day. Yeah. Um there are a lot of It's not a mandated day where we have to close. There are a lot of districts that do hold school on Veteran's Day to actually teach our students the significance of why we recognize Veteran's Day and um I know that a lot of families struggle with when we have days off, whether it's their work schedule, whatever it is, and I don't know, I think that there's a a lot to say for holding school on a day like that. So, just for future consideration. And if I may, I just want to thank all the kids who came and spoke to us about um about what was important to them. I'm so impressed. >>
047And they were good speakers. >> excellent, super super sharp, and I I think it's just an excellent example of um great schools and a great community. >> [applause] >> Any other discussion? All in favor? Aye. So moved. I'm not. Who's opposed? I'm a no. I'm sorry. You're opposed, one opposed, okay. That's fine. Thank you. Um Assistant Superintendent's report? I have covered everything already. Thank you. All right, yeah, right. Director of Student Services report? Great, thank you so much. Good evening, everyone. I just have one quick update this evening. As I shared last month, just a friendly reminder, we'll be hosting our second annual special education community resource fair on April 29th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at North Haven High School in the gym. We have over 35 vendors that will be in attendance, ranging
048from state agencies, community organizations, local universities. Information ranges from post-secondary programs to mental health community access, transition transportation access, inclusive sports opportunities, ABA programs, and higher-level education opportunities. Please don't miss this opportunity, and a big shout-out and thank you again to Laura DeSanto for creating this event. We just need lots of families to come and enjoy this wonderful opportunity, so if you're able to do so, please stop by. And that is all I have this evening. Any questions for Anthony? Any um last time you made an announcement, there were schools missing. Any change? There were no community colleges that were able to attend that evening, which is Okay. we were bummed about, but we're going to continue to reach out to them and provide those resources to any students and make those direct connections as
049needed. Okay. We good? Thank you. Chief Operating Officer's report? Uh good evening, everyone. Um I apologize I didn't get to skip around like Melinda, >> [laughter] >> but I'll try and be brief. Um current operating, we're we continue to move forward in a budgetary freeze. Our projections right now are looking uh solid that we will make the end of the year expenses, but we will maintain that budgetary freeze through the end of the year. But, one thing I did like I would do want to point out that's on the grant report as well is during the month of March, North Haven Public Schools received notification regarding our allotment for the district repair and improvement, or otherwise known as DRIP grant. The district was informed that we were to expect $144,081, and so these funds are
050to be utilized to address unanticipated expenses in our operating budget for emergency building facility maintenance that we have already or most recently incurred this year. I think while $144,000 sounds like a lot of money, to give you perspective, that was either already earmarked or moved forward for expenses within about 30 minutes of receiving that grant. Um the good news is it's going to replace things such as um our HVAC repair at the middle uh middle school, some of our uh repairs, excuse me, on some of our water pumps and our boilers. As you may have noticed, the lighting in the uh high school auditorium looks much better, so that was a nice project that we were able to get done there. We were able to shift expenses for the basketball gym refinishes on the high
051school in Green Acres, as well as the chiller repair over at the high school. So, uh that amount has basically all been spent, but it does leave a little bit of weight off the operating budget expenses for this year. In your report, you did receive where our our reserve accounts stand. Currently, our medical and dental reserve account stands at just over 1.6 million, and our workers' compensation at 147 uh 307 uh thousand dollars, excuse me, in cash reserve funds. Regards to transportation, you did see DATCO's transportation report attached to your uh monthly report. You would have also noticed on March 30th that we sent out a communication to our community that the bus patrol program has gone fully live and started with actual paid citations beginning this past Monday. We also sent out uh links
052to uh that's both on the town's website as well as ours with a lot of visuals and important videos if anyone needs to refamiliarize themselves with appropriate laws in regards to not passing the bus when the stop arm is out. Please note that it is a $250 fine that any citizen would receive if they are found in violation. As Chairman Bathrick said last month, we want to really stress that we do not handle the citations. There is information, should you receive a citation either on that actual ticket or the website, on how to pay that. We are the the really the liaison between DATCO and bus patrol in the town. However, it is a strong safety enhancement for our students, so we are proud to be part of this program. And the money that that
053is received based on these feet that based on the tickets goes to the town. Goes to the town. Town. But, thank you. Not a revenue-generating source for us. >> Right, thank you. Uh to the board chair, I do have to apologize. It's that time of year where we get the mouthful of the healthy food certifications motion. I apologize, Ron. Thank you, Ron. Uh but just as a reminder, this time each year, [clears throat] the healthy food certification statute requires each local board of education or governing authority for public schools participating in the National School Lunch Program, which we do, must certify all food items sold to students separately from reimbursable will meet the Connecticut nutrition standards. And additionally, if should we choose, which I am advising we do, we would also make that same certification
054for the beverage certification as well. Finally, this evening, um a generous supporter of the school is once again offering a generous grant, Mr. Thomas or Tim Wingardner. Mr. Wingardner is once again offering a donation of $1,000 to make sure that it is utilized under uh Mr. Giordano and Mr. Liftig in supporting North Haven High School's the theater spring play. So, he has offered another thousand dollars. Just a reminder, uh he did this last year as well, and he is a generous supporter of the program, and we are most grateful for that. >> [clears throat] >> Okay, are you ready? Bear with me here. There's a lot of reading going on. May I have a motion to approve the healthy food option for the 2026-2027 school year as stated, pursuant to Connecticut General Statute Section 10-21
0555F, the North Haven Board of Education certifies that all food items offered for sale to students in the school under its jurisdiction and not exempted from Connecticut nutrition standards published by the Connecticut State Department of Education will comply with the Connecticut nutrition standards during the period of July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2027. This certification shall include all food offered for sale to students separately from reimbursable meals at all times from all sources, including but not limited to school stores, vending machines, school cafeterias, culinary programs, and any fundraising activities on school premises sponsored by the school or non-school organizations and groups. Can I get a second? Second. Any discussion? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? >> [clears throat] >> So moved. May I have a motion to approve the beverage exemptions for the 2026-2027 school year
056as stated. The North Haven Board of Education will allow the sale to students of food items that do not meet the Connecticut nutrition standards and beverages not listed in section 10-221Q of the Connecticut General Statutes, provided that the following conditions are met. The sales in connection with the event occurring at the after the end of the regular school day or on the weekend. The sale is at a location of the event and the food items are not sold from a vending machine or school store. An event is an occurrence that involves more than just a regularly scheduled practice, meeting, or extracurricular activity. For example, soccer games, school plays, and interscholastic debates are events. But soccer practices, play rehearsals, and debate team meetings are not. The regular school day is the period from midnight before to
05730 minutes after the end of the official school day. Location means where the event is being held and must be the same place as the food sales. Can I get a second? Second. Any discussion? All in favor? Aye. Against? So moved. May I have a motion to approve the monthly financial report including the recommended transfers? I'll make a motion. Second. Any discussion? All in favor? Aye. So so moved. May I have a motion to approve the donation of a thousand dollars from Mr. Thomas Wingardner to support the North Haven High School spring play. Motion. So moved. Second? Second. Discussion? Can I just say thank you I just want to send a thank you out to him again. I know I did this last year. I um I wanted to thank him for more than just
058this donation. He is one of um you know the theater parents behind the scenes. I work closely with him and so many other dedicated parents behind the scenes and I could personally attest to the countless hours and effort that he's also put into helping build with these students these amazing sets that I swear are like Broadway quality. Like they are so good and so not only do I want to thank him for a donation, but also for his time and efforts for the countless years that he's put in so far. And hopefully many future years. I know we all I know we all agree with that. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? So [clears throat] moved. We're going to move on to the public comment session. Uh this session is reserved for agenda related items
059only. Uh does anybody have anything they'd like to say? You know what? Look it doesn't matter. Come on up, young man. Go first. Yes, my name is Sam Lewis. I'm in ninth grade uh here at the high school. I've spoken here before. Um I would just like to thank every member of the Board of Education for allowing me and everyone the opportunity to speak regarding adding Eid as a day on the 2026-2027 calendar. So thank you. I also like to clarify whether or not Eid is going to be um in the 2026-2027 calendar as a day off and as a day of celebration. Um I would just like to clarify that. Yep, we'll watch tonight. Yeah, we'll watch tonight. All right. Thank you. You uh >> [applause] >> Thanks. Play basketball for the school? I
060play varsity soccer. Get this kid to basketball coaching right away. >> [applause] >> He's a good soccer player. Yeah. HE'S REALLY GOOD, YEAH. ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? YEAH, COME ON. I I got to thank you for a couple of things now and not speak. We love when you shout. We like it. Um Christy Cathcart, 14 Governors Drive. I just wanted to take a moment to first sincerely thank the Board of Education for your continued support of our students, our schools, and our teachers throughout this entire process. Your thoughtful comments and the work you put in and the challenges you've navigated have not gone unnoticed by the teachers. Um we recognize the complexity of the decisions before you and we appreciate your commitment to advocating for what our students and our educators need to succeed.
061Um we also would like to take a moment to encourage all members of our community, especially our parents, to continue to stay involved and informed and engaged throughout this process, especially as we head towards the referendum. Um we encourage everyone to continue their participation and make sure that you encourage your family, friends, and neighbors to go out and vote um at the referendum. Okay. In addition, I just did have a couple of questions that I wanted to have answered tonight. >> Um have we received a number from Mr. Fida or the Board of Finance at this time? Um should the referendum fail, what level of cuts would you think? Negative. Not yet. Um Do we have a timeline possibly for a failed referendum and would that kind of coincide with the last day of school?
062Well, the the referendum comes with the the vote the town vote. Yeah, I know. And as soon as that if the vote does not pass, it'll be an immediate moving forward of trying to determine through the Board of Finance what the number will be. >> timeline look like between the first referendum and I you know, no. I feel like it was close to like two to three weeks. It was like early June. Correct. It's less than a month. For sure. I would say two to four weeks. I would that's what I would say, two to four weeks. Um I just had a question since the Dattco buses were brought up. Um the expenses for field trips have gone through the roof since we switched to Dattco and I don't know if the board's aware of
063that piece. Um they've doubled. Like doubled the field trip bus cost um to a point where it's hard to even take the kids on field trips um because of the cost. So for example, every year we take the eighth grade um to Lake Compounce. Uh it's their big end of year end of eighth grade at the middle school kind of celebration um and the buses last year were $2,200 and this year they're $4,500. >> Oh, yeah. So it's really been it's difficult to to kind of host field trips with that cost level cuz now we're not just asking the the families to pay for the the cost to get into Lake Compounce, which is a reduced rate since it's an education day, um but also the cost of the buses, um which means the trip
064like this year at the trip is $48 per student. Um and we we have been raising funds to kind of help. The PTF Middle School has been great. They've kind of cut our bus cost in half, um but without fundraising, I don't know if as we move forward with Dattco, if it's something we can discuss with them, um especially for local trips. We've even um Montowese Elementary School had a couple of trips and even the bus just to go from Montowese to Connecticut was like $600. Um so that was like a quick trip. So we're just trying uh just wanted to make the board aware that the the bus costs for those trips are getting almost unattainable for us. Yeah, the bus the bus contract was an exhausting exercise to go through and it was
065the prices were um more than we thought they would be. So even though like I know you said it was 2,200 last year, twice that this year. The low number from last year was not the low number this year. So it regardless, I I understand your plight because it's all of our plight even for the regular school day to pay for the buses back and forth, but the short answer is yes, we can always talk to Dattco and try to resolve some something. Thank you. I appreciate that and I just have one final comment and question. Thank you for the 181st day getting back. I think everybody appreciates that piece. And I just wanted to ask the board to consider at the next meeting the possibility of the removal of the half day PD from
066staff on May 22nd. I know this is something we've done in the past. Um this year, especially with the budget, it's been a very arduous spring for a lot of staff members um and that half day is the head of Memorial Day weekend where a lot of people spend time with families and travel um and if staff would be allowed to be alongside their students so after spending um I think that would be a a special thank you. That's something we're doing. Um to consider possibly I'm sorry, what day was that again? It's May 22nd. Yeah, we'll be there. It's right before Memorial Day. We'll take it up at the next meeting. Thank you. Thank you. Ruby Dudley again. First of all, I want to say Ron, I'm sorry you had to read those [snorts]
067names. I know you had to abide by law, but I really hope that May 20th all those teachers get the good news. Same here. It's going to be a long five weeks for them, but at least it was done. And then as far as regards to the bus violation thing, WTNH actually had it on the news that it's going into effect and I was very happy to see that. I think the $250 violation fee for one first offense is good. I sure hope that they increase it per offense like they would if you were a drunk driver. I think they increase it to severity, too. Was that correct? So with the bus patrol program it's just 250 per violation because it's an AI camera. If you get caught by actual law enforcement it's it's more
068it's over 500 if you're actually And if you're caught by actual law enforcement on the side because it's a camera based system. >> Right. Because if you're caught by an actual police officer the driver is getting fined as probably as well as the car owner. But that's what you know like you know what I guess that's something to bring up with the police department as far as impounding the car that third time. You know because you got to stop it. You know I mean drunk driver gets away with it and these people shouldn't be doing they're they're going to kill our kids. Okay. And the other thing um because that probationary period over 300 cars Right. in that lousy little I mean wasn't 30 days they had probationary period. That's horrible. Hundreds of violations. Sorry.
069>> That's horrible. Okay. And And speaking of that bus price now I hope maybe remembers that the bus drivers now are getting paid a lot more because you were losing school bus drivers. Plus their insurance has skyrocketed because of all of the accidents. Just saying I mean that's just like There's a lot of considerations like yeah. >> deal with that but that's Everybody's dealing with it. Right. Okay. All right. Well thank you for what you do. Thank you. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. Anybody else? Want to Oh. Hi. I'm Jordan 6 Brown Hill. I was hiding in the corner. Sorry. Hey. I didn't see you either. I just wanted to know if you guys can tell us when the first day of school is. August 31st. >> August 31st. And April break is up here?
070April 12th to the 16th. >> It's connected to Good Friday. Okay. And I will echo on the but the field trips I was here at the first Board of Ed meeting. Um they the bus company acted like they wanted to talk to me and then help us with the costs for the PTA but nobody returned my phone calls or my emails after the first handshake he did when I was here. Okay. Okay. I I would say this if you have some conversation and you have that person you converse with let someone here know. Okay. Thank you. I'll talk to you then. Move forward with that. All right. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. >> I have to correct myself. It was not connected to Good Friday. It's a PD day that I saw. Good Friday is
071actually in March. Our spring break is in April but it's connected to a PD day. Sorry about that. Yep. Sorry. Yep. >> [snorts] >> Hi. Tim Gabriel Renee Lane. Thank you everybody on the board for all that you've done to get the the budget to a place where it's ready to be voted on I think that we all can agree on. We talked a lot about the referendum but I didn't hear the date. So I just wanted to say for the cameras that the referendum will be on May 19th. All voting is usually in this place here at the Rec Center. It's not at your usual polling places if you don't usually vote at the Rec Center. So make sure that everybody gets out vote and support this budget so that we don't have to
072come back and have some of these terrible conversations again. It's really important that everybody goes. The reason that they have it in one location is because usually turnout is pretty low. So let's get turnout to be high and everybody come out and vote. Thank you. This is the one and only location. Yep. 100% correct. Um Alex Johnson Fallon Drive. Before I have I have a question um but before even that I just want to give one more round of applause to all the student organizers. I've never been so proud of my community and if they keep continuing fighting as hard as they do for our community our country is in our communities in a much safer place in a better place. So I just want to give them another round of applause if we could.
073>> [applause] >> I just had a quick question for the extra $500,000 that were given to Board of Ed. When and if I stepped out I'm sorry if those chairs are hurting my back and I missed it. When will we decide where that exactly amounts to cuz I'm so excited to hear about it and this is all enthusiastic positive I promise. I'm just excited to hear back. The superintendent and his staff are going through that right now. Okay. Um you know cuz we just got that approval tentative approval yesterday. Um so there are many options that we have to go He's got to go through that and then if it doesn't happen so there's a lot there's a lot of mechanics to it but those answers will be coming up. Okay. All great things. >>
074Sooner than later. It's like a wonderful happy thing. Yeah. We're all very happy about it. Um But it has to pass first. >> Correct. >> Agreed. So please go vote for it. >> [laughter] >> Um and then also this is a slight request I I requested this at the Board of Selectmen meeting. I know we don't have a million equipment and I know we can't control I'm going to call it the blower thingy I don't remember what you called it Ron but just even not just even here just any official town meetings if we could have some more microphones. We do have people with hearing difficulties. We do have people who are neurodivergent where if you have like ADHD like me you hear sound but if there's a lot of noise going on or there's
075a big echo it's hard to make up what people are hearing. So if we could have microphones so we can hear people more clearly that would really be greatly appreciated if it's a possibility. I got Thank you. Anybody else? Yeah. Good evening everyone. Kush Upadhyay from Maple Avenue North Haven. On the behalf of the Muslim community in of North Haven I just wanted to thank you everyone. Thank you so much for your patience for all the great discussions that we've been having for the past 10 to 11 months. It's been a great great great experience and great time that I've had with all the kids and all the families here. Um I apologize for the kids who actually were prepared for their speeches that were supposed to be before the calendar discussion. I mean the
076calendar yeah the voting but I apologize for them. I told them to wait until the end. So that's my mistake but thank you so much for coming all the families and the children thank you for your time. And we are we are so happy to be in North Haven as as our with our families. So this is a great town and we're going to make this town even better and stronger with all our kids and families. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Although he didn't get to speak tonight they they've done a great job over the last 6 7 months speaking every month about um their desire for the holidays. So we we appreciate that. Is there anybody else? Seeing none may I have a motion to adjourn the
077April 16th 2026 regular meeting of the Board of Education? Motion. Motion. Second. Any discussion? All in favor? Aye. So moved. Thank you. Oh good job. Good job.