001in our fantastic explorers program. Round of [Applause] applause here every meeting if that's possible because I really I need my popcorn and my water. But if not, I really appreciate it you guys. still um Thunder um the C students are here in our building once or twice a week um with their cafe um sometimes there's just staff here and sometimes there are other professional learning meetings there's other adults in the room in the building that have been to them and we enjoyed their presence here and we take a look at their curriculum and what we're trying to engage these students in is life skills and work skills and the ability to come in here and and operate a cafe and and interact with the professionals in this building. They are developing and and demonstrating tremendous
002skills through that process. So, it's enjoyable to have them in the building. And I'm also going to tell them that they came in at first place in the scarecrow class. Congratulations. Um, so today came into the district. Seems like she's been here all just a few months now. Um, she hit she she hit a grad so nicely since education been in all elements and just matter of days when she first started really think of her as a member of my team. Um, and I'm excited to see her. She's going to present to you. Thank you [Music] very much. [Music] But I just want to start to especially Facebook. So that is really a lot of what has been happening in special education I'm not going to sugar coat it all the program learning every day
003have to adjust to make sure that we are teach [Music] Um, I'm not sure how it was in the past, but last year it was 250 students. This year we're at 28 students. That's including students that are level as well as our district. We are seeing increased numbers of special education students being our preschool program also [Music] growing closer to last year% actually is at [Music] 50% program is at 41.5%. So just a couple more years and we'll be at that kind of state expected 50%. Um so we invested a lot of time prior to social emotional health. However, we have seen as well that we are working on our social workers. We still have the relationship center which is really helpful in terms of the crisis. Um but we are kind of in the
004process of and looking for other support. But that's something exploring through the budget process that we have the special education [Music] increase and we are right where we should be in terms of the budget for professionals. We are right. So it is a little bit different. We are seeing last year but we are part of the program. DT says um make sure that supports um so that we can develop you know very independent students and maximize our outcomes and page three of the report is just our [Music] current as well as our students disability is wrong we have 18 special education teachers but we do have school psychologists and we have we are working very [Music] hard school [Music] psychologist we are posting in many different ways but unfortunately that position and then we have
005three professionals that are special professionals [Music] kindergarten school. Unfortunately, we had [Music] to move. You can you can look we did it and then I students the student case the hours looked at many different ways and it made the most sense to the teacher from elementary to the middle school number of students. So a little bit more information on July 1 Department of Education and Bureau of Special Education. They call it was [Music] designed issues with [Music] its new So we're sharing that information 11 of our staff. So we have at least one of each building. We are also and that's pretty much what we're doing a lot of is going through and helping get the states. access. [Music] That's a great question. So actually if the trianguls it will go into the new system
006if they happen at the same time but all all new if it's not year will go into at the end so the new will happen at so it will take it will take year for this whole to be yes and we [Music] So yesbody. So in terms of support faculty to access this includes all the training [Music] videos. I also have get that immediately. So we said our calls [Music] together. So all of our staff are part and we just tested it. We're [Music] having families in the next week to schedule some trainings to access. [Music] The next thing I want to have a specialized [Music] [Applause] program that's really a lot of We help with developing communication skills to develop. [Music] The new program that I just [Music] mentioned right now student population, but
007they are working [Music] with services and their schedule instruction as well as our behalf. elementary program at the high [Music] school. So last year two teachers decreased the program to one [Music] special students instruction. And then the last program are joining us today. So they have jobs ready to [Music] go. We also just recently adopted [Music] Just to highlight some of the special education department that change through professional development. We're really going to strengthen those specialized programs and ensure that the appropriate things in place to be supported those programs through the various stages looking at curriculum and developing consistency instructions really wanted to continue services and not segmenting it there's this element we really want to across and then the other component to focus oning [Music] It's in a really great place right now and
008in terms of special teachers across support everybody and [Music] Today was the first day we [Music] implemented I'm going to be very soon sending an email about [Music] And [Music] then there are seen since July 1. We are doing really [Music] well. Increasing for our high school students. So that we are kind of working with actually see if there's opportunities that we have a lot of students transition that needs different job. for the [Music] basal supports are very [Music] questions investigate resources for men. So [Music] district But when it comes to resources, so we're seeing that there's a little bit of [Music] different. Would our um math coaches be able to help out with that or would it have to be um delivered by a special education teacher or maybe that's what you investigate? Yeah,
009I think sometimes I find some of these specialized programs. Right. Okay, that was my question. Go ahead, Nicole. Hi, thank you for being here tonight. Um, I had a question about page three. You have the chart with the students by disability and one of the lines is SLDD. I assume that's specific learning disabil disability dyslexia and that shows that there's 13 identified students in the entire district. I was always under the impression that just stat statistically that 5 to 10% of the student population is dyslexic, but it we only have 13 identified. Are we not checking the box or I'm wondering where the disparity is there? Yeah. So, I think the dyslexia added has been kind of added a little later on. So I do think we suspect some because they were identified before that
010component was available. Um so we it it is a process of looking at that multi-disiplinary evaluation report and making sure that are addressing all so when we're doing reevaluation making sure that we're looking at that. Um the nice thing too is that has updated those documents and it makes it a lot more specific for us to gather information and make that choice of whether it's actually staff or specialists are engaging the staff in training on how to move those documents and what data they're looking for. The reason I bring it up is because I know that we have two highly trained um Wharton Gillingham specialists in district and I know they're also in high demand. So identifying who needs that is probably really important and I 13 just seems like a low number to me.
011Yeah, [Music] thank you. Go ahead. I guess my question my question is thank you is uh is SLD part of this LD because there's 90 people in that category and I know the terminology that's dissociated also is there a separation there is that disability actually encompasses not only a reading disability it could be a mathematics disability So when we're suspecting specific learning disability, we have to determine which type of dyslexia is a little bit different because it does have its own category which is newer in the state of Connecticut. It's actually one of the only states that has that that differentiation between disability and not so we have to look at the different areas and determine which type of um disability is again whether it's reading math or writing. If it is reading we do
012have to dig a little bit deeper to write it's a mixed reading disability which is a mix between a phonics based ability and comprehension. If it's that based or it's a [Music] comprehens who do have a the code reading disability. I know that for any students that might have challenges with that. We have other programs to speak to [Music] that Those are the [Music] special sounds [Music] What's the best questions? Megan. Uh, she No, I'm sorry. Yeah, you can ask her personally. Um, so everyone's good. All right. Well, thank you so much, Megan, and thank you to our student. Nice job. Um, action item seven is approval of snow removal bid. So, we went out to bid for snow removal of our with nature's bed at the end of last winter. So, we were going
013to this fall or this winter needing to renew a contract with a company. So, we went out to meet with two companies um put an RFP in last week. We reviewed both of them. They are attached inside of the executive content inside of Fort Ducks. The recommendation that we are putting forward is for Nature's Edge, which is a three-year contract um valued at 88,000 year 1, 90,000 year 2, and 92,000 year three. Um, and that year cost a significant less than the other companies year cost. I have I have a question. I mean besides the dollar amount, was there a difference in service that the one comp the higher price company was looking to provide? I mean, it's a large difference, but so I'm wondering is it just not to me it's best exactly what
014it is that we're looking for. Okay. Yeah. Yeah, it's a huge difference. Okay. Um, so do you have a motion to or is anybody else have any questions about that? I just was thinking the same thing. Um, so this requires a motion, Robert. It does. It requires it's a formal require approval to accept the recommendation. So motion to approve and accept nature nature's edge bid recommenation first second second from Mike any further discussions or questions all those in favor I opposed abstain motion carries acceptance of gifts from parks and wreck so parks and w has requested it accept two gifts um one being a volleyball net um for middle school and the second for schoolboard installation at school. Um the value of these since they are gifts to the school they become basically profit within
015the school would require those sets of gifts. So bring it forward to the board approval of these two gifts. Okay. Okay. Does anybody have any? No. All right. Do you want to do the motion? Do we have a total about what the gift is? Um yes. So the um the installation cost for the um scoreboard is $600. The cost for the the um volleyball net is 33 is 3326 to $3,326. The cost for the scoreboard is $8,160. And that's it, right? That's it. 12,86 is my math. Maybe Ben can check this. I have some math for you to do, Ben. 12,69 10 4 12. Okay. Motion to accept the park and rec gifts totaling $12,86. Second. Any further discussion or questions? I just want to say thank you. Yeah. Thank you very much. Thank you.
016Thank you. AJ contribute to our facilities. We provide the facilities that they use and our students as to take advantage of their services. So student center there. So thank you very much. Thank you. All those in favor? Opposed or abstain? Motion carries. There you go. Good luck. Okay. Byebye. Um Dr. Miller, your report. Okay. So, uh this morning I sent out an invitation to um you for two events. Um first being Veterans Day um celebration high school on Friday morning which is Veterans Day. Um this is the same event that um our teacher um sister Becca has done the past couple years. Um it's going to be outside the school. So wear some jackets but veterans are inviting. There's um baked goods and coffee and teas out that the families put together. There'll be music
017from the students and it's an opportunity to mingle and um share our thoughts and recognition to the veterans that that come by. Um the invitation that was also sent to our first slide went into the board from the board would like to attend as well. But the invitation is open to all of you. I know some of you before but it invitation is open to all of you. Um and Stephanie and I have had this conversation um about our Thanksgiving um football game which this year is being hosted um in Derby. Um they traditionally have done an event. They traditionally have played against Shelton. Um this year they are playing against us. Um they typically have had a hosted lunch the day before for the students and then a practice the next morning before the
018game for administrators that like to go to practice together um before the game and then there's a couple invitation to the game afterwards. Um we would like not this year not to participate in the pledge beforehand but to participate in the breakfast that morning um and if this becomes a tradition we could um fold in additional events later on but just the logistics were just kind of getting away from the day beforehand. So I also included my email to you this morning invitation to um that breakfast. Um that invitation is also asked to get into the game um a little later. If you already to the email that's on that flyer I do believe that um will be said so to me um and the boardation board finance um and our administrative team cheerleaders and
019the two approaches are also that I don't go to and just and just to clarify um the this could have been a third event Because obviously it used to be Derby Shelton. Yes. Was the big game and it was the Derby Shelton Rotary that used to host the lunchon. So I think that's probably unless that was a totally different event. I think that and obviously because it's the Derby Shelton Rotary, they're not going to they're not going to host it for which makes sense. So I'm thrilled that we're going to this breakfast. I think it's great for our kids to um you know break bread. Our kids are not going to be there. Yeah. Our kids are not our kids are not there. Oh, no. No. So, it's just for the adults, the breakfast and
020the cheerleaders. So, they the kids are here on the game beforehand. Yes. Yeah. So, if it's become a tradition that we're playing in future years that we will grow this to a bigger set of students. Yeah. Yeah. That'd be nice. Yeah. Um and next Wednesday um evening I will be um in Harford for the state teacher of the year celebration superintendent at the district. Um teacher of the years are invited um walk across the stage recognized. So I'll be there with our from high school celebrating our teacher of the year for the district. [Music] Um, and next Friday's cave conference presenting on district communications. Um, so I'm excited that I was accepted to present at the conference district on that day presenting to superintendent and board members. So I'm excited about that. Um, athletically we
021have had a great great past week. Um our swim team, our girls um swim and dive team um they came at second place in and field tournament and are now competed at the state level. Our girls volleyball um they already won the playoff game. So I believe that they play again tomorrow evening and our girls soccer team won championships last week. Um they are further than the feet of their vaccines. They play tomorrow two six o'clock because it was interceding with the school day and also impacting parents that would like to games to give at 6 p.m. we are hosting it. We're provided a first round by so we didn't know until today who were going to be playing. We're going to be playing an accent. Um I talked to our teacher their coaches today
022and they are busy watching video team that they're playing against but they're excited. Um I do have two stage. This is the state tournament. This is the state tournament. So they they received the first one by um if we win the game tomorrow which we do. We will host a second our second state championship game Friday night for the next bas of arrest there. So that's exciting. We are charging admission. um for the game which is not traditional for soccer um but it's something that is typically done at this level for both the NBL tournament and the state championship playoff series. So um the next game the Friday game that's deterred by the state and we don't get any of that revenue the money that we take tomorrow go back into our program. Um, in
023terms of curriculum, um, I had let you know that we applied for the state science and reading master class, which is cohort number two. They first did this in this program in the summertime, which is funded through state grants, which is not program based, but around the concept of reading instruction. So, we decided we wanted to apply for limited in terms of what districts would apply the first round. We wanted to apply and get into know that we're changing the reading program for next year because a lot of districts didn't have K12, K5, 612 language arts specialists that are that are in the district that are working purely on either reading in some cases writing, some cases combined. We don't necessarily have that in this district. So I thought there'd be a lot of working
024at this level. Um and this cohort provides access to national experts on the science of reading. Um what it's going to be and we actually got accepted yesterday. So we are one of I believe 12 districts that are part of this cohort. They've taken districts that are similar to each other and mixed it and brought those cohorts together. So we're mixed with districts that are similar to ours. We working with them. So there's five days over the course of the year that will be offsite for a full day um working with the cohort um and then um online modules that we'll be asked to do in between those sessions. So the first date is November 30th and that's be focused on literacy um 101 for leaders knowledgeical awareness. The second date is January 10th which
025is around phonics and word recognition and then February 10th which is vocabulary and language competition. May 2nd which is skilled reading comprehensive fluency and then June 7th which is our collective um experience in the science of reading and then in between um that will be um work that we're expected to do. It's all designed around building the leadership capacity within and also there's supposed to be then sending people our way locally here to help us with um fun and embedded coaching with our our staff as well. So I'm excited about it. you know, our staff um have been asking for professional learning. This gives us an opportunity to go beyond what we're trying to do. And once again, it's not focused purely on a specific program, but more on how do we improve instruction in
026particular better assessment scores. There are things that we can do to help improve the work better results for our states and grow within the district. Um in terms of who's be involved with this process, this um is a requirement that it is developed. have participated in all the different activities. Um we will also be having the director of instruction special education. We'll be having um a principal or administrator from each school um between the elementary schools and the middle school all out on the same day. One of each means not everybody's out. Okay. One. So so the whole team doesn't have the whole team has to participate. So for five days you're up Megan. Yeah. The principles. Yes. The vice principles be there. Yes. When the principal out of the building there's a teacher in
027charge that's left the building. You'll be in charge. Pam [Music] Oh gosh. So we are 500 we still need it's a big commitment um but it's a it will really help drive our program and then the expectation is that so obviously sending those people then you would be the facilitators of you know helping the staff with whatever you learn from there then you would be right right we're expecting we set the final actual team that's going draft of the team we said but there also be a couple teachers that also involved in the process number 30 we're not telling anybody again. We're not publishing those dates. Yeah, I got them written down. I'll send it's it's a huge commitment. It's a huge commitment, but the the the outcome of it is going to be pretty
028substantial. We're able to do it. So, I'm excited that we apply that. Congratulations. Um and that is my report. Any other questions for now? my report and I am going to defer my time to Pam who missed audience of citizens and Mr. Homewood if he would like to ask a question. So I will give up my my um [Music] report for [Music] that. science program 10 passenger versus passenger because I think it's crucial to absolutely I can give an update to that absolutely I can give you an update essentially what happened is that the town realized on the day before school started that the license plate that they gave us the where the van first got it was not the right license plate. So the license plate needed to be pulled off and we needed
029to go through the whole registration process with the DMV. Um that required that he had to come on site and actually do safety inspection and they found some things that they wanted us to fix. We've addressed those. They needed to come back and um reinspect it. Um we've now gone through that process and we are supposed to have a schedule appointment out with the DMV. I believe it's the 30th of November where we next need to go to DMV and actually complete the registration process. We're really close now, but it's been extended process and some of it is getting the inspector from DMV out here and some of it is getting scheduled appointments that Sorry about the delay. We know how important it is. Yeah, of course. Yeah. Right. Right. Thank you. Thanks for probably
030one of the first ones that we really work well with all of our teachers and it was really important to our program because we have basically three new teachers in the district and for them to be able to sit with Bethany and I to get that virtual alignment also reassured that that they are fabulous teachers. They're already doing it. We just have to put it in the correct words and know that they're helping us in the long run teaching the kids by the time they get to high school. And the second thing is that you mentioned we're going to be doing the Veterans Day celebration at school. Unfortunately, um we had tried to get a hold of the American Legion for quite some time. We just kept on [Music] crisscrossing there and crisscross and I
031had been talking to Anthony about this in my heart and in Dave's heart we want to do something like that and the kids have been working so well. We have hosters hanging at West Haven Veterans Hospital now. Um and and we have people that will come to our that will be coming back to our celebration this year as they did in the past. Um but unfortunately Veterans Day is such it's one day and really veterans day. Um when I was talking about this, I would really like to see like eating dinner the night this way. invite and their families and they can enjoy a dinner. They can still all our kids singing. They can hear the poetry these kids are writing. They can see the art kids um create for them. So next year I
032hope that bigger and not as complicated and we have culinary culinary could do the dinner. Yes. and C can do the snacks. Yes. You know, it's like we can get more people involved whether it be the evening at the high school when we doing it and and also doesn't interrupt the educational day, right? You know, grab the kids out. Yeah. Yeah. No, it's a great idea. Absolutely. Of course. It's still right. But I just wanted to say [Music] good to hear. Thanks. Okay. Subcommittee reports. Facilities. [Music] The only thing that I think for facilities is that Deb and I attended the joint finance board finance and board meeting last night um to address two issues. One was the fire res but for the fire department and then the HVAC project for they approved the project.
033They approved the funding of the board state. They approved by approval of the application to the state. Um and then it's supposed to go back to the board of there's a special meeting that's been left for 400 p.m. tomorrow afternoon now to discuss the actual specs whether or not they want to go in the air temp or if they want to go in the Johnson control approach to develop the RFP. Um I may not be able to attend that meeting. Um, is somebody else able to attend if I can't go? When is it? 4 p.m. tomorrow. I think I'm washing my hair. Oh, no. I think I can go. I can try. And it's And it's at central office. It's at town. That's um Yeah, I can go. Just one other thing that came out
034of last night is um they talked about funding the $8,000 for the the schematics um and they want to take that out of the balance that's left for that was left in the great oak committee money which we asked and Rob mentioned again last night to not use that money for anything else but to fix our bathrooms. Um, and I don't know what how that'll pan out, but um, $8,000 out of 104 that's left over that we could use to repair. So that that that's terrible. Is that something that's going to be decided tomorrow or tomorrow is a special meeting? Tomorrow is a special meeting for them to talk again about fire and background. It's it's the same motion. It's the same same agenda they have for last night. They were supposed to talk last
035week. They were supposed to talk about it last week. They talk about it last night. Now they hunted it tomorrow. It seems like they're not taking um their actual recommendations from the building committee as to what they vote for. Now they want to discuss amongst themselves what direction they want to go. Why do you have a building committee and why do you then invite us to go to building committee meetings and okay well hopefully something happens tomorrow I'll let you know. Okay. Um is there nothing else Joe? Thank you for that report Joe. [Music] No I would like to welcome like yes absolutely look forward to that too. curriculum. So, we we moved our meeting from um this week to November 15th. Um we have um the middle school and the high school schedules to
036discuss. We are also going to talk about some website updates. So, if anybody has any suggestions with that, it's there. It's under the each school. you have to go to the school and look. Yeah, it's there. But if if anybody has any suggestions on, you know, website stuff, just pop me an email and let me know. But that's about it for curriculum. We'll meet on the 15th. Okay, Mike. Um, honestly, finance doesn't have an update except our next finance subcommittee meeting is on the 15th at noon. So, I guess we're just doubling up on the 15th. Sure. Um, but yeah, that that's all at the moment. And at the last meeting, the question is whether or not we add the [Applause] finanate to this agenda. Okay. Thank you. [Music] Policy. Sure. So, we had a
037policy meeting on Thursday. We covered a lot of ground in short amount of time. I which we're known for, but I think last week was the rocket docket. We covered a lot. Um so we have two um two policies to put forward for a first read. Uh the first one is exertional heat illness awareness. Uh last year the general assembly passed a public act and it's now been codified into law and beginning in the 2223 school year. Um the new law requires that any person who holds a coaching permit issued by the state board of education or who coaches inter murals or inter intercolastic athletics, they have to complete an exertional heat illness awareness educational program before the coaching season begins and they must review the program annually before the each uh coaching season. It
038also requires that the local and regional boards of ed implement a model exertional heat illness awareness plan. Um, and it further requires the boards to prohibit any student athlete from participating in the programs unless the student and the students parents have read or obtained um obtain attended a um training uh like a in-person training. So they also have to sign an informed consent form and that's issued by the board of eds. So this is the first step in um implementing that policy. So this is our first read. Take a look at it and we'll come back next meeting and if you have any questions, let us know. Okay. The second one is the emergency action plan for athletic events. Again, this was a public act that's been codified into law, and it requires us with
039the in consultation with our local emergency medical service provider and allied health professionals to develop and implement an emergency action plan for responding to serious or life-threatening sports related injuries that occur during um our athletic events. So, it requires the policy outlines the requirements of the plan. Um, but it's up to us to be district specific and we should be developing this with our medical professionals. And I will also add that we knew this law was coming and our athletic radar, but these plans into play so we added it to our emergency plan this fall. Oh, so we've already done it. Yes. Anything else? No, that's it. Thank you. Um, leaison reports. I have something for Oasis. Uh, the month of October was focused on taking part in opioid and prescription drug awareness month. Um,
040Oasis ran four ads in the Voices newspaper addressing these issues and encouraged participation in the DEA prescription drug takeback day and red ribbon week. Um, and Red Ribbon Week is hard to say. It's a movement to raise awareness about drug abuse. Um, Oasis provided resources to the high school and middle school including certificates, posters, and red ribbon week wristbands at each school. Um, they especially thank Steve Srais, Grace, and Sylvia Olette at um at the middle school for making it a very big event. The kids made posters, decorated the school and themselves for the week. I'm not quite sure what that means. Um this all culminated with um Vinnie Provenzano who is the leader of um of Oasis and his wife speaking to the uh to the each class individually on Friday and I understand
041that um the response was very good and the talk was um was incredible about students. So that's what Oasis is doing. And if you could thank him for substance abuse is obviously a critical issue nationwide. We're also seeing increased use center here. So coming in was that inves and put that together for us. Yeah, they're great. It's a great organization. I will I will extend that. Thank you. Deb, anything? PTO meeting on the 17th. I'll update at the next meeting. Okay. And I think that's it for our liaison. Okay. Well, without further ado, I make a motion to adjourn this meeting at 7:34. Second. All those in favor? All right. Wow. Nice job. Thank you. Good job. [Music]