001this regularly scheduled meeting of the Watertown Board of Education at 7:00 p.m. Like to start the meeting with a moment of silence for Raymond Swig, former principal at Pope Elementary School. I'll wait for them to Hello everyone. We're going to start with a moment of silence for Raymond Swick, former principal at Pulk Elementary School. We pause this evening to remember a longtime member of the Watertown Public School community, Ray Swick. Anyone who attended or had children attending our schools prior to 2000 likely has a story or a memory that includes Rey. Ray began his teaching career at Pulk maybe in this 1966-67 school year where he was also known as C5 for Swick fifth grade. When the new addition was completed at Judson School around 1970, Ray transferred to teach fifth grade math. While still
002at Judson, he was named principal and then led Pulk until his retirement prior to 2000. Rey remained connected and committed to Watertown Public Schools and served on the building committee for John Trumbull Primary School. A little remembered fact is although retired, the board of ed at the time John Trumbull was to be opening recommended Rey to be its first principal, an honor he eventually declined. It was shared by a colleague that Ry played basketball for the Yukon Huskys as an undergraduate and coached Watertown High School basketball for a number of years. After retiring, he was a realtor in town at Westview Properties. He loved traveling and spent many April breaks in the Caribbean as well as summer weeks at the Jud Summer Cottage in Madison. Ray was both creative and artistic. One parent shared that
003he was strict, but he was fair. He liked things in their place that easily translated to his running a smooth and welcoming school. Arrangements, an obituary, and a celebration of Ray's life have not yet been scheduled. Ry maintained a close group of friends throughout his life. >> Thank you, Miss Husky. >> Ray was a part of the retiree Watertown DND 8 a.m. coffee click. I met Rey as I slowly became a regular to the group. I quickly learned about him through interactions with people who would stop at our table and say hello to him. I could easily see how influential he was when people addressed him as their teacher or their children's teacher. The respect was evident from where I sat. Ray carried himself with a quiet confidence with little or no brag. He could
004make a point and move on, a trait many have forgotten. He loved his Yukon Husky sports and his dog. Ray was the only person who persuaded me to hit the golf courses on a regular basis. We never kept score. He'd say, "Hey, I hear Thursday is supposed to be nice, so we'd pick up a course. We'd pick a course and meet up. I am grateful for that." Watertown did well to have such a dedicated teacher and administrator. And even though I knew him for a short time, I did well to have him as a friend. Respectfully submitted by Henry Wheelahan. >> Thank you, Miss Davidson. Moving on to item C. Can we all rise for the pledge of >> allegiance? I pledge allegiance >> to the flag of the United States of America and to
005the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Roll call, please. Cindy Failen here. >> Karen Hosking >> here. >> John Gavales. >> Christine Faressa >> here. >> Jason Malagudi >> here. >> Kareem Bellica >> here. >> Mindy Davidson >> here. >> Elizabeth Lawton >> here. >> Sherry Martino >> here. >> Moving on to item E, approval of minutes. Board members should have received the meeting apologies. Board members should receive the meeting packet which includes the minutes from our January 27th meeting. Um do board members have any questions regarding the minutes >> through the chair? >> Yes. >> Just a typographical um correction on page 20. It says Ms. Balikica. >> I think it should stay say Mr. >> Yes. Please have that correction be made.
006Do I have a motion to approve the minutes? >> Yes, Mr. Chairman. I make a motion to approve the minutes with the correction of that um typographical error on page 20. Um the minutes that should be approved of the special board of education meeting minutes from January 27th, 2025 as with the correction. Do I have a second for the amended minutes? >> I second. >> All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Extensions. >> Motion carries. >> Moving on to student recognition. Uh, Connecticut Association of Schools Elementary Art Award winners. I'll be turning this over to Sher Martino for Poke Elementary School and Jason Alivi for Jetson Elementary School, respectively. Danny Maza is our poke recipient for CAS visual arts award. Dany demonstrates strong technical skills in drawing, painting, and other mediums. He is evident
007that he hones his artistic skills outside of the classroom. In art class, he works diligently to apply taught skills with great care and craftsmanship. No matter the assignment, Danny always goes above and beyond, adding his own style with unique detail that sets his work apart. Beyond exhibiting creativity in the art room, Danny always displays enthusiasm, warmth, and kindness to all. His classmates regularly express their awe when viewing his artwork and were generally thrilled to learn he was that to learn he was being recognized for his creative efforts. Stella Zeninski is our award recipient for Poke for music at Poke. Stella is an outstanding young musician whose talents and dedication shines in every performance. As a trombone tro, excuse me, trombone player in the Poke School band and after the afterchool jazz band, Stella brings energy,
008skill, and enthusiasm in every rehearsal. She's a natural leader in her music class and shares her beautiful voice in the fifth grade chorus. Stella has earned principal roles in the Poke School musical for two consecutive years and impressively accomplished. Beyond her musical abilities, Stella focuses Stella's focus, kindness, and respect for others makes her a joy to work with and a true role model for her peers. We are so proud of her musical accomplishments here at Pope and cannot wait to see what is in store for her amazing future. So, we have a certificate for both students if you want to come on up and get your certificate. Thank you. Thank you. Take a picture in a minute. So, >> Congratulations. >> Is Danny here? >> Danny here. >> Danny. >> No. Now here. Okay. Okay.
009We'll send it back to the school forum. Okay. And now we have Judson. >> Sure. >> And then we'll take a picture. We'll have everybody up. >> Okay. >> Oh, no. You have a That's right. You can sit back. That's fine. >> You're going to make her stand there. Um, >> usually they do have to stand there. >> Yeah, we'll make an exception. >> Uh, I have the privilege now of, uh, giving the award recipients from Judson, which I've had the pleasure of being the PTO liaison for. So, we'll start with Mr. Oliver Hurley. He is the award recipient for art at Judson. Since I have known Oliver, he has always gone above and beyond in his artwork. He takes great pride in his work with great attention to detail and good craftsmanship. In addition
010to his artistic skills, Oliver is kind, friendly, and respectful. He is always willing to help out whether it is in the art room cleaning brushes or assisting another student with their project. Oliver is an amazing artist, an awesome human being and I am so grateful to be his art teacher. Obviously, I didn't write that. So, on behalf of his art teacher, my privilege to write that. Um, so our next recipient is Carter Pizzazzolei. And I thank Miss Becky for the fin breakdown there just to make sure I didn't have a mistake with the name. Carter is our award recipient at Judson for music. Carter Cazolei is a remarkable young musician whose talent and dedication shine through in everything he does. As a chist, Carter demonstrates advanced performance ability, always arriving prepared for lessons and orchestra
011rehearsals. He models accurate melodies and harmonies with confidence and skill, and his outstanding role and rhythm reading allow him to play through any piece with ease. Carter is also a generous and respectful teammate, often helping his fellow musicians learn their parts or set up for rehearsals. His commitment to understanding music, his consistent, enthusiastic participation, and his encouraging demeanor make him an invaluable leader in a general music class every week as well. In addition to his instrumental achievements, he took on a principal role in our school musical Shrek, impressively memorizing all his lines and songs. Wow. Carter is truly a musical gift to Judson School. It's my privilege to call up first Mr. Oliver Hurley. There's your award. Congratulations. Would you mind standing right over here? We're going to get some pictures in a moment. And
012Mr. Carter Cazoli. Congratulations on bring Stella. Yeah, Stella. And I want to say that I see um some teachers and the principal out here. So please come up. You're going to come up and take a picture with the board. Yes. Please come up. >> We have music teacher here. Other teachers. >> Stay where we are or get a problem. >> I don't know. Whatever you think. >> Kathy, can we fit this way or you want us to come out and about? >> Come on up. >> Do you have us? >> Thank you guys for coming. Support the kids. >> Hello. >> Hi. >> I'm going behind. Bravo. Well done. >> No, it's always a great night when we can celebrate our students achievements. >> Always a great night. >> All right. families. Uh you do
013not have to stay for the rest of the board meeting if you'd like. >> You're welcome to stay, but you don't have to. >> We get it. >> I know it's for easily play. >> Thank you. Stay warm everybody. Moving on to >> I'll wait for a moment to have respect for those given the report. >> Now moving on to item G, student council report. Hunter and Nicole, please. Starting with John Trumbl Primary School, students in the preK3 and PreK4 programs have recently began to learn about social awareness during their uh SEAL lessons with Miss Schming. The unit summary and parent information letter for this unit can be found by clicking on the link sent that says social awareness unit summary. A wonderful resource for JTPS families to use at home to help with emotional
014and behavioral regulation is called mindfulness. There's a short introductory video about mindfulness that parents and caregivers are encouraged to watch with their children. In preK preK 4, they're learning about animals through readalouds, exploring the three basic needs of animals, food, water, and shelter, discussing different ways animals protect themselves, choosing an animal they would like to be, explaining why, and illustrating it for a classroom book. They're participating in a hands-on activity using sponges, droppers, and water to free frozen Arctic animals from ice. They're working in small groups on first handwriting strokes and syllable segmentation. PreK 3, they're learning about the winter season, including winter clothing and activities. They're exploring Arctic animals. They're practicing recognition of letters in their first name and developing developing skills in identifying numbers and shapes. In kindergarten, during skills, they have learned
01525 letter sounds and are blending words up to five sounds. During knowledge, they wrapped up learning about farms and worked on an opinion writing piece sharing one of the animals we'd want to have on our farm. Next, they will be learning about Native Americans. During math, they have been comparing numbers to 10 and are currently learning how to compose and decompose numbers to 10. Lastly, in kindergarten, JTPS can't wait to see what everyone chooses to show to show for their 100th day collection. In first grade in math, they are working on addition, subtraction within 20s, using strategies such as counting on and making tens, finding missing numbers and equations, and determining whether equations are true or false. In reading and word study skills, they're strengthening reading and word study skills. They're learning R controlled vowel
016sounds, identifying and reading two-cllable words, including compound words and words with a root word and ending. They're being introduced to past tense verbs ending in ed. and they are participating in regular spelling assessments to support accuracy and growth and knowledge. They are learning about the animals habitats and the animals that they live in them, exploring how animals adapt to survive in the habitats, and understanding how climate and plants help meet animals needs. Lastly, in second grade during math, they are adding and subtracting three-digit numbers by breaking them into hundreds, tens, and ones, deciding when regrouping is needed, explaining problem solving and place value vocabulary, solving and creating word problems, and using math models to represent thinking during reading and writing. They are learning new vowel spelling patterns. Participating tricky spelling to support accurate reading and
017writing. Reviewing nouns and learning irregular plural nouns. Participating correct capitalization, punctuation, and possessives. And using the writing process to create persuasive, friendly letters with clear ideas and strong word choice. At Poke Elementary School, curriculum and instruction. All classrooms have implemented calm corners to support students social emotional learning. Sorry. Com corners are provided tools such as fidget sensory materials and alternative seating to help students regulate emotions and refocus. Supplies were funded by the SBA DIE Schoolbased DE Diversion Initiative Elementary pilot in partnership with the CHDI Children's Health and Development Institution for John Trumbull Primary School. Oh, nope. Sorry. Family, community, and partnerships. Love of learning family night will be held on Tuesday, February 10th from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Families can enjoy activities in reading, writing, math, STEM, and social emotional learning. Book swap and hot
018cocoa is available to promote a love a love reading. Love of reading. I apologize. Family curriculum resources will be shared. A representative from Watertown's public library will be on site to help families sign up for library cards. The public PTO will be providing hot chocolate and treats. Lastly, Judson Elementary School curriculum and instruction when what I need groups begin last week following a review of mid-year benchmark data. Students group grouping were carefully determined based on individual learning needs. Judson prioritized acceleration fast lane rather than rude meditation. Students received targeted instruction in vocabulary and background knowledge before new classroom lessons. Frontloading skills will help build confidence and prepare students to fully engage in new learning. School community for family and community family community partnership. The ma annual mathon is underway with students participating math skills while
019raising funds and awareness for the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. Students are enjoying the tiny toy sale held before school throughout the month. These activities help promote responsibility, math skills, compassion, and school spirit. Thank you. >> Under Swift for curriculum and instruction, grade 6 ELA students are carefully reading The Secret of the Yellow Death, a story of medical solething by Suzanne Germaine. The text is set in the late 19th century and immerses students in the emerging science of medical diagnostics. Students will follow along and collect evidence with Dr. Reed in the book about the cause of yellow fever. Through this book, students will learn that sources vary in credibility, how to analyze facts, and will strengthen skills in explaining and defending their thinking. ELA and math co-eing teams had the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues
020in Glastonbury who are implementing co-eing and station teaching models. Teachers observed classrooms and discussed with students to discover successes, challenges, and learning strategies with high efficacy. Under school community play auditions are complete with 23 Swift students chosen to rep to participate in the high school musical junior which will take place on May 15th and 16th. 34 students were recognized in the Swift soaring eagle grade level ceremonies this month. The PTSO has helped faculty stay well with donations of tissues and disinfectant wipes. As for upcoming events this month students and faculty will participate in fundraising activities to support St. Jude's and women's heart health month under WHS for curriculum and instruction woodduck nesting box project. Students in Brett Hadorski's woodworking for wildlife class recently completed and installed a set of wood duck nesting boxes around the
021community. The nesting boxes locations include Echo Lake, Black Rockck Pond, Veterans Park, Silvin Lake, and Cresport. Students researched local wildlife needs, designed the boxes, and constructed them in order to support the wood duck, which is a cavity nesting water fowl native to Connecticut. These efforts connect classroom and re real world experience and environmental stewardship while benefiting the community. Wooducks are expected to return in mid to late March with their early life occurring along local bodies of water. The class will soon aim to study and construct batous and purple martin condos in order to continue the real world experience while supporting community engagement. This class demonstrates the capability of CTE classes at WHS and reflects student abilities to benefit learning and community engagement overall. AP Biology dual enrollment state approval. AP Biology at Watertown High School
022has been approved as a dual enrollment course, allowing students to potentially earn college credits from their high school experiences. Efforts by Mary Hathaway and the rest of the science department have established elevated instruction and college level standards that provide for this new course and thus more post-secondary opportunities for students. Under school community, on February 3rd, students at WHS started semester 2 with a warrior reset day. The schoolwide initiative is designed to relieve student stress, provide students with greater community connections, and strengthen relationships. Students participated in activities focused on teamwork, connection, and school spirit that established a positive and supportive atmosphere to bring students through the remainder of the year. High school senior Christopher Oul accomplished an incredible milestone on January 19th, whereby he scored his 1,000th career point in high school. This accomplishment reflects Christopher's
023dedication, hard work, and leadership that has been supported by WHS's faculty. Upcoming events from February 2nd to the 6th, there is a Carnation sale for WHS Technical Honor Society. uh continues at 5:30 p.m. On February 10th, there is a college and career accelerator information night at 3 p.m. On February 13th, Leo Club induction in the WHS auditorium at 3 p.m. On the 25th, there is a district coffee house in the WHS gym, auditorium, lecture hall, and main hallway at 5:30 p.m. And also on the 25th, there is a PTO meeting in the WHS library at 6 p.m. >> Thank you, Dr. Nicole. Moving on to item H, acting superintendent recommendations, reports, and updates. >> Okay, thank you everybody. Um, I just have a few very quick things to uh share today. Um, first I'd like
024to just mention kindergarten registration and the board. Um, you do have in your packet the uh press release for kindergarten registration I passed out to you just so that you have the information should you um have anybody that that asks you. Um, but it everything has been sent out. The press release has been shared with local media, distributed to current families. Um, and Miss Mecca has sent that to many community partners. Um, all of the details, the registration links, the contact information for central office secretary that is in charge of um, registration, it's all posted on the district website, so it's very easy to just kind of click in. The registration window is um, from February 23rd to 27th. Um, while you can register all the way up through the first day of school, it
025really does help us for planning and class placement and all of the logistics if people really try to register early in that window. Um, with respect to uh families that have students that are not turning five prior to the age of September 1st, um, if you're interested in your child attending kindergarten next year, you must submit a waiver by March 13th. and any students um that have a waiver submitted will participate in a screening that will take place in March at John Trumbo Primary School. And the screener will include academic tasks, social and emotional, physical, and some health readiness pieces. Um and then all early decisions are final and based upon the screener. And just to save the date, kindergarten orientation will be May 4th, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at John Trumbull. So, we're really
026excited to to have that window opening so that we can start to um welcome our newest students to our district. Secondly, also um for the board's information, I have given you um a very initial draft of some of the work that we're doing on the district's strategic plan. In um the packet that I have given to board members, there are two uh three actually specific pieces there. um one the administration um the administrative team and I cabinet and building administration and myself um went through and really had some conversation about we want to put forward a strategic plan that's a living and breathing document that's clear that's concise that's userfriendly um so we came up with a list of criteria of what we want that plan to look like contentwise and format-wise um so that
027it's really user friendly and clear and it really is driving us as a district so the first part of um that I've given board is that criteria. Secondly, um the second piece in there um we did um summarize the work that we did with ED advance. We started to work on strategic plan last year and then we talked about the priorities that we're working on this year and we worked together to synthesize and further prioritize what is meaningful to us as a district and what will drive all parts of our organization. So there are a set of belief statements there and then a set of priorities. Again, this is in draft form. Um, I'm very much looking forward to getting this information out to teachers and to the community and to parents for their feedback.
028We will likely um use our governance committee here through the board to elicit some feedback for parents that may want to come. We'll likely send surveys, but we're at the point now where we will be pushing this out for additional feedback. We'll collect all of that and our goal really is to push this out um for the beginning of the 26, dare I say 2627 school year. It's so crazy when you think of those um years. And then the final piece to share this evening is just a uh quick congratulations to the Swift boys who uh basketball team who won the 59th Invitational against Seymour. Um each year, for those of you who who may not know, Swift has a wonderful basketball tournament that invites other area basketball teams to come and join. It's run
029by Keith Bowski and his daughter Casey Bowski. It's a wonderful event. Um and we have had a good streak of luck with our teams um doing very well in that tournament. So congratulations to the Swift boys that won that 59th invitational tournament. Um and I too would like to echo a congratulations to Christopher Ul that is very amazing statistic uh a thousand points. So welld deserved and and he's an amazing player. So I'm really glad for him as well. That's it for me this evening to >> the chair. Yes. Uh just would like to speak briefly here. I I saw that they have the document for the stipens for uh some of the coaches that are hired. Uh just a few that I came across here just cuz I have a personal connection. Justin Guerrera
030and the reason I'm bringing these two up because these are students, student athletes who played on the Watertown teams, not only played but excelled to a high level and now have who have come back to coach these teams. I think it's commendable. Uh Justin I know has already been the coach doing a great job. and also Allison Stodto. She won a championship here in uh tennis when she was attending. Uh she is just she's going to take over the girls head uh tennis coach in the spring. Pay uh some homage to that. And just tell a quick story. I had been privy to a situation recently where I walked into a freshman boys basketball game and uh the score was 90- 50. And I look at the coach of the 90. That wasn't what was
031impressive to me. It was the coach of the team with the 40 points. And what was impressive was his kids were playing so hard for him and he was so upbeat and energetic and behind them and supportive of them. They played their hearts out with 10 seconds left. That coach was Luigi. And I it's a moment that stuck with me, sir. I just wanted to get that on the record that I am proud of you. That's true leadership, sir. And you're setting a good uh role model for our children to follow. >> I was very impressed. You're welcome, sir. >> You're here. There are several um students on here as well. And might I add that several of them were from Poke School, but I'm just saying >> over here. Just saying. But there's a
032few here um that I I recognize the names. So that's super exciting when our kids come back to us >> and share their talents and and kind of come back to the nest, so to speak. So >> and Luigi, you're the best. Yes. >> Coach, my son >> was great. Coach, >> do we have any questions for Lisa? >> Okay, thank you, Lisa. Moving on to item I, public participation. In accordance with policy number 9050, participants must state their name and address for the record and limit comments to three minutes. The board encourages speakers to refrain from making defamatory remarks about staff members or individuals associated with Watertown Public Schools. Please note that questions or issues raised during public comment are not typically addressed during the meeting. However, a member of the board or administration
033will follow up or respond as appropriate. Is there anybody from the public who'd like to speak? >> Oh, I did my thing. >> That's why I came. >> Is this even on? >> Oh, it is. Okay. >> Well, it's not the only reason I came, but I did want to see the new clock. I'll wait. Are you ready? >> I'll wait. Yep. Go ahead. >> All right. Here we go. Um, so it didn't start. a little technical difficult >> and it's really nice. I like the green. >> It was a good suggestion. It's great. >> So, um, you know, I I I haven't had a child of my own in the system, so you know, I do what everybody else does and you kind of just do other things and you don't worry about board
034of ed, but I have always followed the budget. Um, and I have come back to a couple of meetings. Um, I do have three great nieces in the system. Um, and one who was the soccer play a soccer player for Swift. So, they were here, you know, a couple months ago. Um, but you know, I learned at this meeting about the care closets. I would not know about that. There's no way I would know about that. And so, I'm starting to think, you know, we don't have a town times anymore. Um, and it's kind of funny. I always knew when it was Thursday, you know, if I forgot anything, there was a town times and I had every intention to try to go on and look at it online. I even wrote a couple of
035letters just cuz I felt bad for them, you know, and whatever. But it's not happening. I don't remember. It's Thursday. I don't I don't look at it. So, I don't know that that's an avenue. Now, someone mentioned to me and I thought maybe this would be a good idea. Um, you know, how are we going to get the word out about things that go on with with the schools? I mean, I guess you could do a newsletter once a year or something like that. I mean, it'd be too expensive to do it all the time. Um, but those uh electronic boards, there's one out on um over near John Trumbull. Um can something like that be put on one of the properties maybe here to get a message going? You know, messages about things that
036you want to know? I don't know how much they cost, but I just don't know how you're going to get messages out. And I will tell you, you know, something I worry about when it always comes to the budget is our town has turned into um it's a fight over the the people who support the schools, which is usually the parents and all. And then I I'm sorry to say this, but the older population, because when I talk to people, they're like, "I don't have kids in school. I don't care." And and I have this conversation. And I go, you were you were educated publicly, like, you know, what's the disconnect? But it's getting worse. I mean, more people that I talk to just feel like, you know, if I don't have a kid in
037school, then why should I support it? So, I worry about that. I worry about how you can get messages out. Um, and if I think of anything else, you know, I'll hit you up with a message, you know, an email or something. But that was a suggestion somebody had made to me, so I brought it here. Thank you. >> Thank you. Oh, she has her name. Oh. Uh, Katherine, could you come back up and state your name and address? I don't think that was done. I'm >> sorry. I was so excited about the clock. Um, Katherine Camera, 31, Cottage Place, Oakville. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. Is there anyone else from the public who would like to speak? All right, seeing none, moving on to item J, communication secretary. >> Yes, Mr. Chair,
038we receive communication from Miss Jacqueline Lawler regarding EC offerings at Watertown High School. >> Okay, thank you. Moving on to item K, committee reports, curriculum instruction. Miss Hosking. >> Yes, Mr. Chair. We had a subcommittee meeting prior to tonight's meeting where it was combined with um finance and well budget and finance committee where both Miss Gaelic and Miss Becky gave reports about um curriculum pieces for this year and looking ahead to 2027 and how that kind of um meshes with the budget in those beginning stages of looking toward um a final presentation both to the board then to the public and the town council. >> Thank you. Policy and labor. Mr. Malagudi. >> Uh thank you, Mr. Chair. Um so we have been diligently working on the federal portion of the policies and upon our
039digging there realized that the policies are actually uh updates and notifications there. So that was a huge hurdle for us. So later this evening, we're going to be speaking to uh all of the or most of most if not all of the federal notification and uh things that need to just go on to the website there. They do not require vote as they are simply notifications there that that that they get updated and Mrs. Feck will be speaking more. Then our next area of focus is going to be getting into the actual policies and really diving into probably the first one is going to be the 1500 and 1500R which is the use of school facilities along with a wealth of others. That's it. Okay, thank you. Uh, budget and finance. Mr. Kvales is not
040here, but >> but we combined it with curriculum. So, >> moving on to facilities. Miss Davidson, >> no update. >> Governance, community engagement. Miss Lton. >> Yes, Mr. Chair. I did outreach our senior center and the housing authority. Um, I got some dates for potential John Trumbull building tours. Mr. Ping you earlier today with some action items to collaborate on so we can get some of the other brainstorming moving. So, we are working actively to engage members of the community to feel they're informed um participants in our our education system even if they don't have children here. So, we're excited for that. >> Thank you. Moving on to item L. Report from the board chair. I do not have anything to report this evening. Moving on to item M for discussion. Notifications, forms, and regulations
041updated. >> Yep. Um so I'll start and then Mr. Mel Malagoodi, please feel free to to jump in because I know that um you or perhaps some other board members just had some some pieces of feedback for some of these um federal notifications. So, upon digging in um after our last subcommittee meeting for policy, and this is underneath um items of discussion, there's a bunch of colored tabs for the board if you'd like to take a peek at where I am. Um, so in digging in, um, we're we're kind of working through our entire repertoire of policies, if you will. Um, and we started with the federal, um, notifications and, uh, model letters. And so these technically are not necessarily policies, but rather they are, um, are models from Shipment and Goodwin that you could
042use, um, as mandatory notifications and um, form letters to send to notify people of some of the federal policies that are in our policy book. That was a long winded way of saying that. Right now, what you'll see in here is the old one. Um, if you go to each color tab, there's two pieces of paper for each color that Kathy beautifully put together for us. Um, and one is our old one that we had and then the second there um or the top one is the updated so that we are in compliance with the latest version from our attorney shipment in Goodwin. Um, so you will see each color tab represents um another either model letter or notification to um be sent out. Um, and I do know u, Mr. Malagoody, I'll turn it
043over to you because I know um, some board members had reviewed and picked up on some things that we we might want to change. Again, these do not need to be adopted or voted upon by the board. Um, it's just really for reference that these will be updated. However, I do want to mention that most of these do um go along with a policy that's later on in our policy book. And as we surface through, we'll be addressing those policies. And then we could always go back to these model letters if we want to add anything. Um which is super easy to do since it doesn't need to go through the three reads that it's just something that is a reference or a resource. Um so I'll turn it over to you. >> Thank you,
044Miss Fedy. And I wanted to uh pay a big thank you to Miss Failen there who brought me on to some of these things this morning actually yesterday there and once I researched them. So pretty minor um and one of them is the first one which is the notification concerning asbestos. So when you actually reference the federal document online there uh Miss Fen was able to find that there was a sentence added at the end of it where it says the school may charge a reasonable cost to make copies of the management plan. Minor yes but it could be a savings to the district there. and I saw no harm in implementing that as that is off of the federal website. Uh the next one as Mrs. Fecky had spoken to uh yes some of
045these do reference policies and and Miss Veilen also saw this uh this was the model letter parent and family engagement meeting. So that actually references our policy 6035 which we are going to be working on our policies afterwards for this uh to get that on update with that. Uh and then the next one that uh we had saw here was a correction to the uh remedies for sexual harassment may include cease and desist orders. Interesting that we were just able to locate, thank goodness for Miss Failen there, that the actual web link that they had listed here from shipment is incorrect. So we were I guess it had changed a little while back there. So we had gone in and researched what the proper portal is and we're going to put the updated one on
046the website and on a broader scope one thing that we uh and Miss Failen if you want to speak to it there and Miss Fecky about the ADA guidelines have changed. So now when you have uh things online there it's supposed to be a certain font and the font is actually different and they have recommended fonts that they would use. If you'd like to speak a little more to that. >> Sure. So, interestingly, tonight I gave the board um the criteria for success for our strategic plan and one of the conversations we we had um as an admin team was making sure that once we publish our policy that it's ADA compliant. So, it was just interesting that that came up. Um but yes, uh you are right. Um everything on our website and all
047of our policies um should be a particular font or a consistent font. There's different choices and sizes, etc. So, it should all be stationary and customary. So that is something that we will drill down and select and decide so that we are making sure that we are compliant with um that and we were we're also um it's a sum zero in the budget but we're moving to a different website to parent square and that will be another opportunity to kind of format things and make sure that they're all ADA compliant. Um and that website will be more robust. So it's a good time for us to be updating this. We'll have a new website and then a new strategic plan allin one. So it'll be a nice fresh start >> through the chair. >> Yes.
048>> I'd just like to thank uh Mr. Maligudi for working with me on this as I was coming through with this. It was a great planning session on hearing the different changes and you know working to how to make these an improvement just better for everybody. >> Yeah. And I'd like to thank both of you for all your hard work and you know getting this through and you know even you know Jason stressing on all of the uh the policies that you know we're going through and getting those first reads and you know trying to get us up to date. Well, we're where we'd like to be. Thank you. >> Um, so just as an aside, when I was speaking um with the board attorney about the policies, I asked if we could batch approve
049um some of the ones that we will get to that really don't have substantive changes. They're rather like typos. Um, and she said that she would revisit our bylaws, but I'm fairly certain that the board's bylaws say that we have to have three reads um for everything. Um, so there are two choices there. one, we could revisit the bylaws to say that policies that are just um not substantial um don't have to have the three reads. Or what we can do is simply have the three reads, but those I can try to organize and bunch together when they're just kind of, you know, type not type not typos, but like little bits and pieces um that really aren't about the substance or the content of the policy. We could try to cluster those as well.
050Um so that's something just for the board to consider. we can, you know, easily just cluster them or we can look at bylaws and change only for policies and just um our attorney said she would be happy to provide that language, but she was going to look at the bylaws first to make sure that that's accurate. So, I will get back to the board on that. >> Yeah. Lisa, would it be possible for us, I mean, if we did adjust the bylaws for this to make it to where like, you know, if the board votes by twothirds vote, we can kind of simplify that down to a one session. >> Yep. the the board would have to approve the change in the bylaws. >> But yes, it I mean I would imagine she would she
051would um provide us with language that >> that designates that some policies really are just changing some specifics um that aren't really about the content of the policy itself. And those all come through about once a year from shipment redlined. So once we're done going through all of our policies and updating everything, it'll be really easy every year to just take the red line, adopt them and and move forward. now is the work that will be mired in for a while until we get out the other side of it. >> All right. Thank you. Any questions? Moving on to item and action items. Number one, consideration to approve 2026 and 2027 tuition rates. Do I have a motion to uh approve the following 2026 and 2027 tuition rates? >> Yes, Mr. Chairman. And I make
052a motion to approve the following 2026 2027 tuition rates. Elementary grades K through 5 at $16,212. Middle school grades 6 through 8 at $16,212. High school grades 9 through 12 at $17,647. Just friends preK3 at 27 uh two $2,791 for four half days of programming. and Just Friends PreK4 at $6,663 for five full days of programming. >> Do I have a second? >> I second. >> All those in favor? >> I objections, extensions. Motion carries. Moving on to number two, consideration to approve donations. Kim Torres from Kasa Grillil donated $400 to the Angel Fund for Watertown Public Schools. Do I have a motion on the donation? >> Mr. Chair, I make a motion to accept the donation of $400 to the Angel Fund from Ms. Kim Torres of Cassa Grill in Watertown and the letter
053of appreciation to be sent to the donor. >> Do I have a second? >> A second. >> All those in favor? >> I I absolutely. Moving on to item O, future agenda items and board member comments. Seeing none, moving on to item P, adjournment. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Yes, Mr. Chairman. I make a motion to adjurnn at 7:46 p.m. >> Do I have a second? >> I second. >> All those in favor? I opposed session.