001of the town Board of Education at 7 p.m. Please rise for the pledge of >> allegiance of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Kathy, can you please call the role? >> Yes. Cindy Palen here. Karen Hosking here. Don Gavales >> here. >> Christine Paraa >> here. Jason Malagudi >> here. >> Karine Bellica >> here. Mindy Davidson >> here. Elizabeth Lawen here. >> Sherry Martino here. >> Okay. Item D, approval of minutes. Board members should have received the meeting packet which includes the minutes from our meeting dated November 24th. Do board members have any questions regarding the minutes? Okay. All right. Do I have a motion to approve the minutes? >> Yes, Mr. Chair. I make the
002motion to approve the minutes of the regular board of education meeting from November 24th, 2025 as presented. Do >> you have a second? >> I second. >> All right. All those in favor say I. >> I. Opposed. Abstensions. Motion carries. Right. Moving on to uh student council report. Hunter and Nicole, please. At John Tromo Primary School, they're proud to support the Connecticut Children Medical Center with PJ Day for the kids on Friday. Students, teachers, pair of professionals, secretaries, and administration will participate by wearing pajamas to support the cause. Second graders are working on solving word problems involving money and time. Developing strategies to calculate the total value of mixed coins, applying these strategies to two-step word problems, learning to tell time to the nearest 5 minutes, and solving problems using an analog clock and understanding
003AM verse PM. Poke Elementary School. There's an ongoing partnership with I Ready instructional coach to strengthen math instruction in grades 3 uh 3rd through 5th. continue focus on the try it, discuss it, connect it framework to deepen mathematical thinking through collaborative problem solving, structured academic discourse, and strong connections to core math concepts. These strategies aim to enhance student learning experiences, and improve math outcomes. In PLC's, teachers are using the focus framework to identify key instructional practices that support student growth. Team analyze data, align strategies to students needs, and develop action steps. This work strengthens instructional consistency and aligns schoolwide improvement efforts with students achievement goals, staff and staff and student recognition. On November 26, Pulk had their pulp turkey trop students in each grade ran for 30 minutes and over $600 was raised to purchase
004new recess equipment for each grade. America reads program school will participate this year uh this year through New Opportunity Inc. supports pre uh preK through third and stu students with fun supportive literacy activities led by trained volunteers at PULK. Volunteers will work with selected third graders on Wednesday to build oral reading fluency through poems, passages, and books. A valuable learning experience that strengthens community partnership. Some upcoming events for Pulk Elementary School is Pajama Day to benefit the uh Connecticut Children Medical Center on December 12th. December 16th to the 18th is the PTO holiday sale. December 22nd is the dojo destination day. December 23rd is the pause assembly and uh December 23rd is also holiday spirit day. Judson Elementary School curriculum and instruction PLC's are focusing on instructional priorities aligned with the district's goals. Grade three
005is strengthening vocabulary instruction to improve comprehension. Grade four is using the Smarter Balance tools for teachers to help better align instruction with assessments. and grade five is implementing fast lane acceleration strategies to support grade level progress. Special education is studying overcoming dyslexia to enhance research-based reading supports. These combined efforts promote literacy achievements, datadriven instruction, and inclusive practices that help all students, especially those with learning challenges and access to rigorous learning. School community, the Shrek kids performant. Shrek kids had three successful shows, one per one school's performance and two evening shows for families. The cast and crew demonstrate talent, teamwork, and months of hard work. There's a special thanks to Miss Borbis, Miss Seemet, and Miss Peg Germaine for leadership and choreography. December character theme, empathy. Students and staff are focused on understanding others perspectives and
006practicing kindness. Classrooms are engaging in discussions and activities centered on compassion and positive relationships. Judson wanted to send out a warm holiday wish and gratitude extended to the school community for the ongoing support. Some upcoming events at Judson is December 9th they have their PTO meeting the Judson Library at 7 p.m. December 12th they also have the Connecticut Children's Medical Center PJ day. December 15th to the 19th is student council spirit week. December 15th to the 16th is the PTO holiday sale. December 23rd they have early release and from December 24th to January 2nd is winter recess. As for Swift Middle School, highlights include the Swift Snow Day Challenge is back for its third winter. It is a winter activity based on weather prediction. If winter weather is on the horizon, students have the opportunity
007to participate in a Google form, which allows them to guess whether Swift will have a closing, delayed opening, or standard schedule the next day. The most accurate guesser by the end of the season is crowned the snow day champion. Students may choose to follow whatever prediction strategy they want. Mr. Paradise is responsible for tabulating all of the predictions. So, thank you to him. Curriculum and instruction. Grade 8 social studies is currently studying colonial America with a focus on regional differences as a result of the varying industries and occupations the colonies took up. It is also being explored that these variations are a result of geography and natural resources. The students will soon begin to explore the various acts and accords set in place by the British that led to patriots initiating the Revolutionary War. To
008test for content retention, students will create diary entries from the perspective of a loyalist or patriot. They will be assigned these roles. The third trimester will wrap up this learning with an analysis of the founding documents, specifically the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. As for school community, Swift held Soaring Eagles awards by grade this past week. Teachers nominated students for the Be Ready, Be Responsible, Be Kind, Be Respectful, Be Proud, and Special Shadowed Awards. Approximately 15 students per grade level received awards. As for upcoming events, on Tuesday, November 25th, the trimester closes. On Wednesday, December 17th, band concert at 6 p.m. And also on Wednesday, December 17th, there is a strings concert at 7:15 p.m. On January 21st, there is a chorus concert at 6:30 p.m. As for Watertown High School for
009curriculum and instruction, the Watertown High School departments are currently finalizing the 2026 to 2027 program of studies. Final course proposals as well as existing course items are being analyzed and assessed for matching with the WHS vision for a graduate and academic needs. Teachers and departments are working in tandem to ensure that proposed additions or revisions meet school improvement goals and strengthen academic opportunities. As for the school community, the WHS World Language Honor Society has been busy. The students made over 400 sandwiches on Tuesday, December 25th for the Greater Waterberry Interfaith Ministries soup kitchen and food pantry. They also helped distribute Thanksgiving necessities to families in need in the area. Also, students visited John Tremple on December 4th to teach the second graders French and Spanish. This is a tradition that students look forward to each
010year. The students have their yearly holiday party and cookie decorating contest coming up on the 22nd of December and are working diligently on fundraisers to help the community in the spring. As for upcoming events from November 10th, 2025 to November 25th, 2025 on December 9th, 2025, there is a grade 9 on track community meeting during flex in the WHS auditorium. There's a cookie baking with Mr. Keepics at 20:05 in the foods room. On December 22nd, 2025, Judge Dan Shabin, a guest speaker for the WHS civics class, will visit the Watertown High School from 1 to 2:00 p.m. in the WHS lecture hall. On December 11th, 2025, there will be a WHS winter concert at 6:00 p.m. also in the auditorium. School safety and security meeting will occur at 2:10 to 3:10 p.m. in the principal's
011conference room. On December 12th, 2025, there is a PJ Day for Kids fundraiser as part of the National Tech Honor Society. On December 15th, 2025, there is a National Athletic Director Day, a new teacher meeting from 2:05 to 2:30 p.m. in the principal's conference room, and a WHS winter concert for the snow date at 6 p.m. WHS auditorium. December 17, 2025, there is a WHS student diversity advisory council during Flex in the WHS lecture hall. On December 18th, 2025, there is a principal student advisory committee meeting during Flex from 9:36 to 10:08 a.m. in the WHS lecture hall. As for upcoming athletic events, the winter sports season has started. Thus, on December 5th, girls basketball, there will be a game, varsity versus Northwestern at 5:30 p.m. home. On December 6th, there is a boys ice
012hockey game, varsity versus New Milford at 7:30 p.m. Also home. On December 9th, there is a girls basketball varsity game at Kennedy at 5:30 p.m. On December 10th, there is a boys ice hockey game at V for the varsity at 7:45 p.m. Also at home. On December 12th, there is a boys basketball varsity game at Pmparog at 5:30 p.m. And there is two girls basketball games. The JV at Crosby at 5:30 p.m. and the varsity also at Crosby at 7:00 p.m. December 13th, there is a boys ice hockey game for varsity versus Fairfield Ward in Lello from 7:30 p.m. at home. On December 16th, there is a boys basketball game for the freshman versus the Seymour team at 3:30 p.m. There is also the JV as part of the boys basketball team versus Seymour at
0135:15 p.m. Girls basketball on their JV team will verse at 5:15 p.m. Also here at home, boys basketball for varsity versus Seymour will be at 7:00 p.m. and girls basketball varsity versus senior will be at 7:00 p.m. home. Also on December 17th, boys wrestling, varsity triatch, Bumparog, Ngatuck, and Watertown will all play at New Milford for 6 PM. The boys ice hockey team will have a game at varsity versus their Spartan hockey team at 7:45 p.m. also home. And on December 19th, the boys swimming will have their varsity versus Northwestern at 400 p.m. home and their boys basketball JV versus Wilkit at 5:15 p.m. home. >> Right. Thank you. Moving on to item F, superintendent recommendations or report. >> Yes, this evening there are some appointments and transfers that are noted in the agenda just
014forformational purposes only. >> Okay, moving moving on to item G, public participation. In accordance with policy 9050, participants must state their name and address for the record and limit comments to three minutes. The board encourages speakers to avoid defammentary remarks about personnel or individuals associated with the Watertown Public School System. Does anybody wish to come up and speak? >> Oh man, we got a new >> If there's nobody, >> someone impromptu want to come just so we can >> All right. Good evening. My name is uh Katarina Dvito from 106 Pine Ridge um here in Oakville. I just wanted to take a moment and welcome. Oh, we're on the clock there. Um I just want to take a moment and welcome um new board members, old board members that were here. Um great to see
015some of you here. Great to see the faces all working together and um definitely welcoming uh the new youth members here on the board. Both Hunter and Nicole, welcome and uh wishing everybody a wonderful holiday season. >> Thank you. Is there anyone else from the public? >> Moving on to item H updates. >> And that's back to me. Um, so starting off with just some events. Last week I had the absolute pleasure pleasure of going to see Shrek at Judson. It was so adorable. I don't even know how they fit all of those kids up on that stage for that performance. and it was so organized and wonderful and just the level of the singing and the acting it was it was really fantastic, very impressive and so much fun. Um I know this coming
016week there are several concerts happening um at the schools. I will try to get to as many as I can. On Wednesday there is the concert at Watertown High School at 6 and then Swift has their coral concert at 6:30 and then Thursday Swift has their instrument instrumental concert at 6 o'clock. will do my best to make the rounds there. Um, this week I do have a couple of school visits planned. I will do a half day tomorrow at John Trumbull Primary School um, in the morning and then I will be off to Poke on Thursday for a half day in the morning. Um, so those are my two school visits for this week and my intent is to spend a half day in each school prior to the winter break. Um, and finally, just
017really quickly, I would like to say, uh, happy holidays to all of our amazing students, staff, families, the board, and our community members. Um, we live in a very special and wonderful place, and I am very thankful to be here, and I hope everyone has an amazing holiday filled with whatever it is that brings you joy. And that's it for me tonight. >> Thank you, Lisa. Moving on to item I, items for discussion, increase the minutes for public participation. So, I know during the last meeting we had public participation and uh Kathern Chimera brought up about increasing the time from 3 minutes to four minutes and I said we'd address it and have a conversation as a board. Um I do know that originally we used to have a longer timer back in the day
018but that was shortened during the I think what was it during the 2020 period. >> Yeah. Mostly during the co there when we just had some meetings that would run out to 11 p.m. >> Yeah. So, I I wanted to open up to the board to to have a discussion if we wanted to entertain um adjusting the time to be a little bit longer. If we don't, there's going to be a night that's going to be a little bit longer due to the sheer amount of people we may have depending on what the issue or circumstance may be. I know our current bylaws allow us to vote to amend the time as is. So, that could potentially be carried over, say we did ex uh expand the time uh to to shorten it if need
019be. So I just wanted to open it up to board members to have a discussion about that >> through the chair. >> Yes. >> I I think one of the other differences there used to be public participation early and then later in the meeting and so there was more than one opportunity to provide feedback, ask questions etc. And so I think the time was shortened but then that second time was also reduced. So I don't, you know, particularly given trends in in public participation, I I don't think that the extra minute if we went from three to four would >> make a huge difference in the amount of time that we're here. >> So are you saying are you supportive of extending it? Yeah. >> Okay. >> Uh through the chair. >> Yes, John. >>
020Uh I'll make my comments about this. I little bit of a first of all and when I look at the other agendas from other meetings >> uh police commission which I serve on zoning council >> uh the very first thing you have the pledge of allegiance and public participation I never understood why we two or three items to have public participation but that's okay. Uh I have been uh to council meetings way back in the day many many years. People got up and they had public participation. There's no time limits, no restrictions for years and years. And now all of a sudden we're not all of a sudden but in the last few years we've got two minutes, three minutes, four minutes. Uh personally I don't think there should be any limit on it. How
021many people get up there and go on and on. If you want to have some kind of a uh a rule, perhaps it should be public participation, the time should be at the chairman's discretion. So, if somebody gets up there and they're going on for 10 or 15 minutes, you shut them down at your discretion. How many people go on that that far? Uh I I think we should all know as leaders that when people have a complaint or they come out with with some kind of an issue, you try to let them vent. I know when I was police chief when somebody came in with a complaint or they had a problem, go ahead and talk. Get it off your chest for 10 or 15 minutes and we'll talk. I I don't think we
022need any uh time limits. That's just my opinion. >> Uh let them talk at your discretion. So there is a back door for you to say, "Okay, that's enough." >> Yeah, John. I think the reason why there is a limit to some extent as from a point of fairness just because I feel like if you're dealing with a very contentious issue and say somebody feels like they got a bit more time than the other person, it could lead to some animosity. So I think that's why we have a time limit though we do in our rules allow for if the board votes to expand that time to so I think it's up to 15 minutes in our bylaws. >> Yeah. But again, if you're doing it at the chairman's discretion, you control it. And how
023many times do people get up there with that would go on and on and on and on unless it's a real big issue. And maybe then it's important that they do. But, you know, I just say we're public business. We're elected. Let the people come up and tell us what they want to tell us. That's just my opinion for sure. Uh Karen, >> I I think that um and obviously with the addition of the clock and I don't remember if it was a cape workshop or if it was a different workshop, but one of the things that was stressed really had to do with what you just said in terms of it always being equal and all. And so to make it the chairperson's discretion then opens you up to well, you let somebody speak
024for 10 minutes and then you shut me down. So, I don't know. I don't know that it would be harder without a time limit. I have no problem with extending the time limit, but I do know that it opens us up to discrimination >> um allegations if in fact we which is why we've tried to be so careful about keeping to a time limit. So I think the piece is then keeping it consistent and and that's the only thing that that I would say to to your comment, John, in terms of, >> you know, if we're going to extend it longer, it just needs to be unformed in how um, you know, not just Kareem shutting somebody down. >> Well, I would say through chair again, then if you let someone talk for 10 minutes,
025you got to make sure everybody gets that same length of time because you're in control. So you would have to monitor that so that the next person you can't shut them off at 5 minutes if someone talk for 10. >> Yeah. Well well John well the thing I was saying from earlier is that like we have it in our bylaws to where like say we have some people who are coming in we know that are going to need that extra time. We technically in our bylaws if unless I'm mistaken can vote as a board to expand that time for everybody. So that would already be kind of a thing. So it's the board as a whole voting to expand that time and allowing for those people to be able to speak more. So, I feel
026like it's a little bit more orderly and uniform and especially with the climate that we're in now to give that fairness to to the people who, you know, take the time out of their day to come out and speak in front of us and for us to be able to hear their issues. >> You mentioned 15 minutes before. >> I think it's 15 minutes on the bylaws. I'm not sure. I'd have to look. >> So, you could allow someone to speak for 15 minutes. >> Up to I believe we can vote as a board to do that. Correct. >> But I would have a problem with that. I mean, I think 15 minutes is very very adequate. That's that's what we go up to. I mean I mean if if people prefer 3 minutes 30
027seconds or four minutes we could do that. I mean does anybody else have an opinion on the matter? >> I I do through the chair. Sorry. Um so I think this last year this last election season has taught us a lot about public participation. Um not only through the board of education but through the town council and the different boards and commissions in town. I think it is extremely important to give everybody the same amount of time and to keep it fair. Number one. Um, number two, we have to remember sometimes who our audience is. >> And I'm not sure allowing contentious people to speak and let it get heated sometimes, you know, like it to say that you are going to be able to shut it down when you may need to. I'm not
028sure I would want students hearing some of the things that might, you know, need to be said or and and that, you know, I know sometimes public participation is after our students leave, sometimes it's before. I just want to make sure that the things that are said are appropriate to the audience that are in in our um building at the time or in our meeting at the time as well. I have no problem extending it to four minutes if needed or if you know I would I would also say to the general public if you think you need five minutes just ask us right beforehand. You know it's just a matter of you know some people can't speak that fast. Some people get too nervous when there's a clock running down. Just say hey I
029I you know I practiced this. I I might need four and a half minutes. would that be okay? I don't think that's that's a problem either again through you, but >> I I don't feel it's any there's any reason not to extend it to four minutes, but I do feel like I mean I don't think that anyone realizes how long 15 minutes is and if we allowed everyone that wanted to do 15 minutes, we'd never get through our >> very long meeting. >> Yeah. >> So chair, >> oh, just real quick, Christine, go first. >> Sure. Sure. >> So through the chair, um, so ditto to everything Mindy just said, she took the words right out of my mouth. Um, but we also have another option of sending, you know, anyone can send in an
030email to the board or send a letter into the board. So, your voice, no matter how long or whatever it is you need to say, can still be heard and, you know, it goes into the permanent record, so to speak. So, that can happen. I think based on being sitting here for four years, 3 minutes is more than enough time. And it's a very rare circumstance where we're cutting people off and usually it's for other reasons, so to speak. So, I don't I'm either way about it, but I think three minutes is accurate or adequate, I should say, is the word I'm trying to use. But I think we're forgetting the fact that people can still be heard to the fullest extent. They may come up and make a statement, make it quick and to
031the point, but then I'm going to be sending an email with, which people do all the time. So, that's it. >> Yeah, I I kind of agree with you. I don't think there's a problem. I I don't think there's a problem with uh people going way way overboard. So, I don't know. We got to why we have to put all these restrictions on them. It's not a problem. >> In my opinion, >> so that's okay. Whatever. >> I just have one other comment again with what um Christine said that they can send in whenever they want for I had something to note during my communications update but >> um we used to read into the minutes what came into the board of education and we stopped doing that and I don't know the behind the
032scenes of why it was stopped but it might be something we need to really look into again is if someone sends us a letter or someone sends us an email it's not just a one sentence synopsis of Miss Davidson had a comment about the budget. >> It's a better synopsis or a longer one of what they said because they're they're they're only seeing that possibly I've read it and I've reported to you and what where did it go from there? The public doesn't know what they said. The public doesn't know what they sent in. >> Okay. >> Well, you used to read them into the minutes. It's it might be something that in I can do a synopsis, but then Kathy can get copies and put them into the minutes. I don't know how. Well,
033there's just a thought. Mhm. >> No, there there's definitely ways you can look about it just so we have more avenues for people to have, you know, their voices heard. I mean, we are a democracy. We we are here on the behalf of the people. >> So, you know, we want to make sure they're, you know, able to be heard. So, um, when it comes to the time, I mean, do we want to expand it to four minutes and say that's a fair number and say for any reason, again, it's written into the bylaws. I'm pretty sure the way it is, we're able to expand that further. say somebody needs that extra time whereas we said you know the public could always speak to us beforehand. Um and same thing with you know talking about
034reading it into the minutes or having it attached as you said. Um to to have those different avenues for people to be able to have their voice heard. So do we feel four minutes is okay? >> I don't think we need it but that's my opinion. >> Fair enough. Um I I mean it what do you think Jason? >> Um well Mr. Mr. Chair and I had spoken about this. We met with the specity. I I'd like to acknowledge what we've heard there and I think it's one of these situations where people know they have four then they'll vote to five. >> Um so I think the question at its core becomes do we feel that is ample time for most of the people that speak to express themselves. >> Uh I'm fine with a
035compromise of four. I do think it's something each board member should speak to. That way we kind of know where we're going to fall on this. >> U but I'm okay with a compromise to four. I'm also okay with Miss Fesa's words too of keeping it at three because I believe in kind of cutting to it. I know you'd hope the most prepare before they get up to the podium as well. >> Yeah. I mean the the other estimate as as um as Mindy mentioned is we could have it you know read whether it's you know reading people's you know emails to the board. Yeah. In into the record or just having it attached and then maybe keeping it at three. But if people want to do both expand both then we can do that.
036Or if we just want to expand one we can keep it to that. So, I mean down the line, I mean, Sher, what do you think? >> I think 3 minutes is plenty of time. >> Minutes. >> Yeah. I I >> Okay, >> I would say three minutes is >> And how do you feel about the uh suggestion by Mindy when it came to the the minutes? >> Neil, he may get a he might get an email that goes on and on because that person doesn't have to speak in public now. >> So, I don't know if we we really want to be reading unless they ask us to read that for them. Well, I think it opens up very good synopsis, but I think it's just more than so and so sent something in
037about the budget. It's it's they're for it and this is why and >> okay, >> you know, I can take the bullet points of it and then say you can read the full >> email. Okay. Yeah, that works. Liz, what do you think? >> I I like the idea of um attaching them to the minutes. I think we've tossed that around before um because they do kind of go into the the nether. I don't think increasing to four is unreasonable. I know there's, you know, some of us have spoken in other meetings or I can see people in here who are just coming up short. As much as you can try to be concise, I mean, I don't think four is unreasonable. I think it's a a fair um kind of common ground. But I
038do very much think we need to be consistent just to limit exposure to us as a board of any >> um you know um discrimination. But I like the idea of four. I a lot of people probably are not going to use it, but it's often it's like that extra 15 or 30 seconds, just a little bit hair over. So, >> what do you think? >> I I think that at this point we haven't seen many people go over three. I don't think there's a need to extend it. And if someone asks for it, then we can do it. >> Um I just think that I do agree with the fact that if we say four, then someone might say, "Oh, I only need 15 more seconds and we'll go to five." I I just
039I don't it's working for us now. I don't see a need to change it. But again, like Jay, I'm I'm hoping to either one, but I don't see the need at this time. >> Jason, >> fine with keeping it at three for now. I haven't seen it. And again, if you know, if we have to revisit it in the future, then we do have the ability to change, but I'm I'm okay with keeping it at three for now. Okay. Steve >> three. John, >> uh, I'm I'm uh not in favor of any time limits at all other than uh your your opinion and I certainly hope eventually we get involved into filling out these forms if you want to speak now public participation. Uh, but I'm just for uh letting people get up there and
040speak and at your discretion. But no, that's just what I feel. I I also agree that three seems to work. If we extended it to four, can we say up to so recognizing that we're not going to and I know that human nature is going to be that it goes over. Um, and the the the second thing that I wanted to say, and it kind of goes with Mindy's point, and I know we give the little thing about, you know, defamatory comments and and and whatnot, but I also think that sometimes people expect an answer right there. Like I wonder if one of the things we couldn't look at is that >> we're here as a board to listen >> and you know any issues raised someone will get back. I mean I know sometimes
041the chair has had to say that or whatever but kind of that same idea with you know where does the if somebody writes a letter what happens to it? How comes there's not a response? I think sometimes that happens >> sitting here during public participation too. >> You're the chair. I I watched the um Plymouth Board of Education meeting and in their blurb like we read, they say as a reminder each time that um public participation is is for you to share with us. And we don't typically respond to public participation, but we will follow up with you with a response should your comment. That might be a nice thing for what it's worth to add >> to that. >> Okay. >> Um I I actually noticed that and I meant to bring it up.
042I I noticed that when I went to the Plymouth Board of Ed education meeting. I thought it was a nice way that they did it. >> No, that'd be a good addition. continue. >> Um, I'm fine with keeping it with the three minutes and with the option of having the if most people I see most of the speakers do come up and they have their notes with them so that they can hand in their notes if they're not able to finish what their speech was >> and that could be then added to the minutes. >> Okay. Okay. >> So, I mean I'm fine keeping at three minutes and if you know if it becomes an issue we can always bring it up in the future. I know that we you know we had some people
043bring it up especially you know at the last meeting. So, I thought we'd have the conversation and, you know, do our due diligence and see kind of what the rest of the board felt. And I feel like even though, you know, saying we're not going to be adjusting minutes, I feel like we came away with some other great ideas, um, you know, when it came to adding the public participation section and what we read out uh, to what Lisa brought up and kind of what Mindy brought up when it came to, you know, having them uh, attached for minutes or, you know, a bit more of a synopsis read out. So, we will keep it at 3 minutes moving forward for now. Moving on to item unless anybody has any other discussion relation to the
044matter. Okay, moving on to item J, finance report. Please, Marie. >> Good evening, everyone. Um, it's only been two weeks since uh my last finance report. Um, so I'm going to keep this one short primarily because there's not much change in terms of the same lines that were running a little bit hot are still running hot. Um the greatest shift in funds happened on the employee benefits line and as I've explained um before this is primarily because benefits um the majority benefits cannot be pre-enccumbered. So most of them are incurred when payrolls hit. So if we had two payrolls hit in in a month's period you're going to see money shift from you know available to suddenly used and expended. Um the lines that continue uh that we tend to uh monitor closely are uh
045as usual um transportation and tuition and then we also are watching over our legal counsel line and our surf bright staff line has not shifted as much as well and that is again um as I mentioned before Miss Becketty and I um do intend to do a deep dive into salary but we have multiple things going on right now at this time of year. I'm not trying to shift um you know the responsibility but trying to close the budget and uh just get everybody's numbers just so we have a first draft for that and I'm also working on fiscal year 25 audit. So, this is like peak time and two weeks really doesn't give me a lot of time to delve into too much, but I'm happy to answer any questions anybody has on the
046budget um or any particular lines. And um if there's ever even a time where there's information that you might like me to come and prepare with, please just you're more than welcome to send me an email and I'm happy to pre-prepare. And the reason I'm mentioning that to you all right now is if um not to shift your attention from this because I will take questions. I did prepare uh a memo that I attached to the back of this and it's actually in reference to solar um it's a solar analysis on the uh facilities for Judson Swift and uh Watertown High School. Um I think during my tenure here the topic has come up at least two or three times about do we have any numbers? Do we have any numbers? And so, as we
047mentioned earlier in one of our subcommittee meetings, um Luigi and I just had to uh go out to bid for the co-gen uh the fueling that is involved with that. And the um the gentleman who oversees the bidding for our co-gens was one of the um the people who helped us with the solar. And so I had mentioned, of course, they know that we just completed two roofs. So you can imagine they're like, "Oh, are you interested in solar?" And I'm like, "Well, we're never not interested in looking at anything that could generate savings." But I had said to them, you know, what would help me is if I had some some analysis. Would you be willing to work with me on this because I'd love to know a better way to report it. So,
048this is what came of it. And I'm very grateful um to the the uh Adam at um Titan Energy who um asked me for one year's worth of electric bills, which I was happy to produce for the three schools that have solar. So, as you can see, um I I on the three additional pages to the memo, attached to the memo, you will see the actual breakdown by month, by school on what the cost savings is by us having solar at these locations. Um I'm happy to report that um when you look at all three schools, uh Judson um looks to have a financial benefit of about $32,000. So, that's what we saved by having the solar at Judson. At Swift, we saved about 19,453 um by having solar there. Watertown High School is now
049fully under solar. We only have several several. >> Yeah. Okay. Just a few a small section, but even that school um you can see with the implementation of the solar program there uh averaged about $18,490 for the year. So, and the year that we used, the period that we used was November of 2024 through October of 2025. So, this is very recent data. Now obviously some months are going to generate more because it all has to do with how sun how strong the sun is that month and how much you know were we able to um the winter months are going to produce a little less weather uh plays a part. So there are some shifts in months and times that we would see greater savings than others. Um the good news is is that
050um they also provided me again very excited about the fact that you know we might be interested in possibly considering solar at our other schools. Um they gave me an estimate and this is a very loose estimate but of uh the schools that were remaining could possibly generate another $80,000 in solar savings. So I have already put that on our cabinet radar. Um there is some incentive to possibly move sooner on this than later because um there are incentives to the municipality and the district. um if we were to do it before I believe it was April of uh 2026 um you know a lot of those benefits or incentives that the government is giving are starting to kind of fade away because uh so I did ask uh Miss Becketty if we could start
051having conversations with Mr. Luigi and of course while we have Titan who's um worked with us on this and given us this it would certainly be something that we went out to bid on and we would uh report back but I wanted to give this information because I know it's been asked before. Um, it was nice for Lisa and I to hear as well because I had always heard murmurings that we we didn't think we were getting what, you know, as much as we thought was, you know, originally um, estimated, but of course that was before my time. I'm not even sure what those numbers were, but I thought that this was a substantial amount. I certainly wouldn't want to have to come up with $70,000 more for for electricity. And if we could possibly
052save another 70 or 80, I think it's worth looking into. So, I just thought I would mention that. Um, but going back to um the budget, if anyone has any specific questions, >> Sure. through the chairs. >> Um, going back to the solar piece of it, is there an opportunity? Does the town need any solar on any of the buildings? Like, is there a >> possible possibility for the town of Watertown to work with the board? Like, >> um, I I know that when we had to sign these solar agreements, they actually the town was the one who actually signed off on them. And I think that that is because >> uh we actually we do bid our electricity our rates with the town. It is the only thing I think that I know of
053as of now that we do a joint bid on and actually our electricity is up for bid again um with the supplier. You know how you can uh bid for the supplier rates? I think we have Constellation Energy at the time. They keep calling me telling me that the contract's coming up and I don't have the authority to go out to bid. The town needs to do that. So um I don't know. I'm not familiar. I have to be really honest whether we do have solar in any of the buildings. I was just curious because it just makes sense if we were to have more buildings getting solar probably a deeper discount to have the solar to do things. >> Absolutely. I know that there's always um emails coming through where I'm being asked for
054a contact name at the town side because of the uh electric charging stations because that's you know the EV stations where all the electric hybrid vehicles and whatnot and I think that there's some area room for that as well but of course that doesn't affect the board of ed um so I usually just give them a contact name up at the town side. Um, but I don't I don't know any more than than just what our savings is on this. And I'm I'm sure that there are other incentives that are probably kicked back to the town. It's a win-win situation, right? As long as our our town is is receiving a benefit, but certainly for the board of ed, if we're seeing it on our bottom line for electric um on our utility bills, I'm
055all for looking into it and seeing what we can do. I'm always looking for pennies anywhere I can. So, >> Lisa knows. >> Not you. >> No, one second. >> Chair. Um this question is for Marie but it might be for Alyssa also. So last board meeting you shared that we have the grant which is the Connecticut smart um grant smart start grant for fiscal year 26 it was stayed at the 75,000 towards operational cost. Will that go to object code 111 which is certified staff or >> so any grant funding that we receive goes into our special grants fund and instead of it being the general fund which starts with 0 and 010 and that's just the fund account number the object code if you will it goes into 045 but anything we pay
056out of 045 or any of the other like pay to participate um account codes because they all have their own account codes obviously is a savings because it doesn't hit the general fund. Does that make sense? So, if there are items that we were looking to implement, um, because I know that the grants are very specific on what you can use them for and what you can apply them towards, and we do always have to report back and usually, um, submit documentation of of proof of all the spending, which is how it should be. Um, that is pretty much how it works. So, it's not necessarily that, you know, you're going to see $70,000 come off of this, but you're not going to see 70,000 or $75,000 hit the line because we have an account
057to offset it and then we would report back to the state. Wasn't that grant specifically though? It was and I don't if you don't know offhand but I thought it was you couldn't use it for salaries like you have to use it for right which I think is right but the good news is that >> if you don't have to buy those things right you're still saving from your bottom line right >> fiscal 27 it was material but for fiscal year 26 it said operational >> so fiscal year 26 is both we got 75 for operational and 75 for instructional >> okay so >> and then the operational one year and then fiscal year 27 we get 975. >> Okay. So operational what would that cover then? >> So we're putting in in the shared
058space we're looking into putting in like an indoor playgate >> All right. Okay. So that's considered the operational. Okay. All right. Thank you. I was just uh going to say, Miss Kashub, it's amazing the magnitude to with uh which inflation has impacted our utilities there that even with these savings from the solar panels and thank you for providing the breakdown because I was on the board when we voted to put those into play there. Well, I was heavily involved with that there and you know I I hear the same things. Are we getting a benefit? So, this finally puts it to sleep there that yes, we are receiving a good substantial benefit from it. >> And I think because we've seen such incredible rate hikes, right? Like I mean I know what my home electric
059bill I'm about to put solar in my own home right like as we speak. Lisa knows we were talking about this but anyway you don't see the effect for the years coming down because as basically you you lock in a rain right for with the solar and it's producing energy and it's offsetting that. But as the electric bills start going up or the electric company's bills go up that's when you start seeing. So you really don't reali uh realize the actual capacity of how much you can you know save until you're years down the road. But, you know, if you can tow the line and keep the rate at what it is or at least minimize how much the increase is because that's usually what they do. They minimize it can only go up 1
060cent or whatever it is as opposed to, you know, a 15 or 20% hike. I mean, we're constantly getting I just received another um notice in the mail from Eversource that one of our one of one of our bills they changed us from a I don't know, it wasn't even a re I have to look it up. I've never heard anything of it. It was like they changed us from a category 10 to a category 30. I'm like I don't even know what this is. So, I'm going to have to look into that. We really just got that in the mail this week. There just seems to always be shifts with the utilities, electricity especially. Um, and it's hard to even stay on top of it and to know and you know, I'm in the
061middle of budget season right now and uh Lisa and I have talked about utilities coming out of Luigi's budget and actually being something that because he can't control the rates and so I understand that he should only be accountable for what he can control with with his staffing and um, you know, the job that he does. But I literally looked at her and said, "I don't know that I'm going to do a much better job with, you know, predicting electricity because honestly, it's, you know, we we pick a percentage based off of whether it's a letter that I receive or something." And we cross our fingers and hope that we're right because it's just I I can't believe how much it has impacted. And there's there's nothing we can do to control it. I mean,
062we've tried things like this summer like we have reported. >> I like that. >> Yeah. And um you know >> it I'm just going to mention this too because we were talking in the subcommittee meeting about um the equipment like you know I how many times as Mike said he went into the auditorium and the equipment was left on like you know like I don't think people realize you turn something off it saves money. So in the summers and the weeks off I'm sending out an email and I don't care if people think I'm foolish but I'm like could you just unplug like just unplug everything. You're not going to need it. You know what I mean? like and um because the the outlet the plug being in the outlet draws the supply and they
063charge you for the supply whether you're using the electricity or not. That's a portion of the bill. All things that I've learned, you know, when doing this. So, you know what? If we can get our employees to unplug, spend two minutes to unplug it. Obviously, don't unplug the aquarium if there's fish. You know, let's be logical. I don't want any animals dying. Um but, you know, just little things. I mean, I I don't know what else we can think of. Believe me, if I hear somebody saying something in another district, I bring it right to Lisa and say, "You're going to think I'm crazy, but what do you think about trying >> the 23rd? We're going around every classroom." We're not going >> We're unplugging it all. >> Unplug it all. >> Even the aquarium.
064>> Take the Aquarius. No, I'm kidding. >> Are there any other questions for Miss Kushuba? >> I I actually have one question, but this is a little bit more for Luigi. How I mean I don't know how often solar panels need to be maintained or how easy the maintenance is for it. Would you be able to I guess educate me a little bit on that? Like is it cumbersome? The maintenance for it is just the company coming in and the space that they put the solar panels in is keeping it maintained from you know >> okay five years they've never been here just on a couple issues that we a lot was missing off of one of their cells. >> Yeah. I think right after COVID um I think it was in my well one
065of my first years here we did have uh where we found out that um one of the solars were they were down for like four months and so of course we didn't obtain the savings at that point and but neither did they right because >> the they they also received um benefits from providing the solar to us but that was um a supply chain issue they couldn't get the part that they needed and and we actually um after that happened because I I was upset that I wasn't aware that the solar had been down like nobody had told me you know our custodians, you know, were told like, you know, that there was a supply chain. Um, they did give us access to a site now where I can go in and monthly and and
066check to make sure. And so I I do I don't do it monthly, but I do check it every so often because now we we know that if the the custodians work with Luigi, and if if something's down, we want to know. It's as simple as sending me an email, send me a call, just let me know if something's down so we can, you know, follow up with it. But, um, you know, we're always we're always doing things to make things better. And I I'm really proud of all the work that we do. I mean, honestly, I don't think we leave any anything unturned. Um, my husband has said I take better care of the finances of Watertown than I do with my own, and I will agree because I spend a lot more time.
067>> And and my final question, Luigi, is how far along are we are in the lifetime of these panels? >> Do we know or >> I I can't I'm I'm not too sure. I know I have solar panels on my home and they have a 20 to 30 year lifespan. >> So, I'm thinking um that I don't know the exact contract. I think our contract is at one point someone had said 30 years but I think it's 25. I think we're at the 25 year. >> We could check too or ask Adam certainly and get back to you. >> Yeah. Just curious kind of where we're at with that. All right. Thank you so much. Moving on to item K communication secretary. >> Um we have not had any communications come in. However, I did
068want to point out to the general public that um I have heard that my email um has changed which obviously I knew that. though people are might be trying to communicate through an the old email. Um so I just wanted to point out that my email has changed. It is still my last name and it's the first three letters of my first name instead of the first two like everybody else's. So it's um m i n and then that atwatertown PS. So if anyone has had it kicked back and they can certainly um send in any kind of communication as needed through and it'll come out to the board. Moving on to item L, committee reports, uh, curriculum and instruction. Missoski, >> yes, we had a subcommittee meeting just prior to this board meeting where
069the administrators from Swift reviewed um the current uh schedule. Miss Becky also read kind of a little bit of background for us to to help us remember and understand how we got there. Um but the big takeaways were that there is a committee in place that they are working hard and have definite dates to both address the concerns of the staff um at swift but also to look at what feasible changes uh can be put in place for next year. So looking at, you know, what are the positives, what are the negatives, how do we and work it within um the power school deadline to to you know have it have it in place. >> Policy and labor. Mr. Aludi. >> Uh yes, Mr. Chair. Um just briefly during u m Miss Davidson's facilities and
070operations subcommittee meeting, we spoke about the need to revisit policy 1500 use of school facilities. So that'll be up on the radar for a revisit at our uh upcoming policy labor subcommittee meeting budget and finance. Mr. Gavales. >> Uh yeah, just a couple of comments about Mr. Chair. >> Uh our fiscal 27 budget process is beginning and our thoughts and collaboration with the superintendent and our business manager will be an important part of the process as will our collaboration with the town council who will ultimately bring a number before the voters. It'll be critical that the town council understands what we're asking for and why Watertown Public Schools needs those resources. So, I just like all to keep that in mind as we move forward and uh so we can bring the best possible budget.
071>> Thank you. >> All right. Facilities, Miss Davidson. >> Um yep. Prior to the meeting tonight, we had a facility subcommittee meeting. Um we talked about the RFPs for the field lights at Watertown High School along with the sound system. um for the theater at Watertown High School um and Swift Middle School. We talked about the status of the equipments in some of the buildings. Um we talked about the turf field and how there is damage done to it and what we might be able to do going forward with um other um town sports and other people that use our buildings. And again, as Mr. Mr. Mal Goody noted we need to revisit policy 1500 um the use of the school facilities and possibly bring in charging for um the use of our facilities to
072offset the cost of maintenance >> governance community engagement law >> uh Miss Becket and I spoke earlier so we can anticipate in the near future there will be some information coming out um about garnering some um getting a group together to garner some input questions open lines of communication and get input on the work of the the district moving forward from both parents and community members at large. >> Awesome. Thank you. Moving on to item M, future agenda items and board member comments. I'm just going to start by saying happy holidays to our Watertown families. Um, this is going to be a, you know, much needed rest for our our staff and our students and I hope everybody has a great time off and then when they return a good second half of the year
073as we push towards, you know, the summer and for all those who are, you know, our seniors and our eighth graders and all those who are, you know, looking to graduate, move on to their next schools. So, just want to wish everybody a happy holidays. Any other comments by the board? Okay, moving on to item N, executive session. Uh discussion concerning the superintendent's contract. Uh do I have a motion to move into executive session? >> Yes, Mr. Chairman. I make a motion to go into executive session for the purpose of a discussion regarding the acting superintendent's contract. Attending executive session will be John Gavales, Cindy Failen, Karen Hosking, Christine Feressa, Jason Malagudi, Karen Bellica, um Mindy Davidson, Sher Martino, Lisa Fecky, and myself, Elizabeth Lton. Do I have a second? >> I second. >> All
074right. Is there any discussion? All those in favor? >> I >> opposed abstensions. Right. Motion carries and we are officially