001[Music] Okay, we can call the meeting to order at 603. >> All right, we can raise to say the pledge of allegiance, everyone. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Call Megan Wicks. Kathy Grant will be coming soon. Ara >> here. Miano >> here. >> Sarah Thompson is absent today and Christopher Wilson should ride soon. Also present Scott Federon and Lloyd Johnson, director of student services. Welcome everyone for our September meeting. I feel like it's been a little while since we had our last meeting. Don't don't really feels like that was a while ago. That was pre >> We were We were meeting like every Yes. >> I just missed
002you so much since February, right? Every like other week. >> You're right. >> We had We actually true. Had a five week break. >> Mhm. >> And we did go a week early for last August. So that's Thank you for setting my mind straight on that. I was like, why does it feel so You just missed us. >> I I really do sometimes. >> Um Okay. Well, the Volunte Board of Education mission statement is to provide our students the skills essential to reach their highest potential in a safe environment for learning as they aspire to become responsible, respectful, and civic-minded members of society. We commit to help educate, challenge, and inspire each child to excel as lifelong learners who can adapt constructively in an everchanging multicultural and technological world. Okay. So, our agenda looks pretty
003um we don't have any guests today, so no no comments that I've heard so far. So, um I think we have a pretty straightforward agenda and looks like we'll make this efficient. Um with that, do we have do you have a chance to check over the consent agenda? >> And do we have a motion to accept the consent agenda as presented? Motion >> a second. Sorry, cookie. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? None heard. Motion passes. >> Okay, we can move to the superintendent report. Welcome. >> Hi, Christopher. >> Just starting. Hi. Thank you. So, I'll I'll start with um some news we just received today that uh we uh DD shared with you a resignation letter from Crystal. Crystal um was it today was uh offered the job of the township
004fin is it finance manager? Is that what >> um >> Finance director and she has accepted. She will be with us until near the end of September. We'll be posting that job um tomorrow and uh see what happens from there. We'll see what our applicant pool looks like. Um we do have um experience in the office with all those tasks already. So Darlina um had done that job. So it is nice to have some redundancy um on how we'll do that. But we'll see who the applicant pool what it looks like and we'll take it from there. and um I'll come back to the board with some recommendations. So, >> didn't take long to have some significant change. >> I know that's that's news off hot off the press there. The way it >> goes
005September exciting for Crystal. >> Yes, it is. And she she she was really gracious today. She came and shared that she, you know, doesn't want to be forgotten in the sense of if there's a need, she would, you know, likes would like to still be able to offer support and training and um depending how time goes to fill in it. You know, if there's ever an opportunity for her to, you know, support the district, she's very willing and interested in doing so. So, that was a positive. You know, transition is difficult, but uh we'll get through it. We have good people, sound, we got we got this lady called Dei and we got Darlina who um I think has 14 or 15 different jobs I believe. So, um we'll be in good shape, but it
006is a loss the district. Um, on a more positive note, we have four buses coming next week somewhere between Tuesday and Thursday and we need them because our other buses are about done and they are each yelling at us each day. Retire me, >> retire me. >> Pardon me. >> So, we're we're working to keep the fleet going for one more week and it's tight. We have one bus that might need a two plus thousand repair or we won't have a bus. So, we're going to look at options for that um today. No, tomorrow and we start looking at today. We'll finish that up tomorrow. But it's an unfortunate situation. It's a little bit late for that, but um we we'll be fine. Just would prefer not to spend $2,000 on a bus we're trading
007in. >> So, I'll probably do everything possible to avoid doing that. It could mean a collapsing of two buses for one or two days, but um spending $2,000 on a bus you're returning is kind of like getting brakes on your car. the week before you're trading it in for a new car >> or your transmission dies. >> I'm not speaking from a trauma space. >> No, no, no. You can tell you have no experience with that. >> Not at all. Three cars all die same time. >> So, uh, anyway, we'll do that. Um, just so you know, our enrollment is 212 in the prek and we have 118 high school students. So, um, that is our today's enrollment and it's always good just to keep you updated on that. Um, so for for me, two
008new things occurred uh here. I experienced popsicles on the playground, which was great. And I think the great part I was just I was just telling Megan about that and back to school night. Um, we had, you know, ice cream after that in my other district. And we of course had back to school nights. And I'll tell you, this is this is just better. So, South Brunswick, if you're watching, do it like this. Um, but but but the big thing is the homeiness. It's it's the culture. It's the feel, it's the the smiles, the, you know, the kids just excited to be here um at back to school night and um it's just not that. It's just a different feel altogether and having the kids present, which is the biggest difference is no kids present
009the other one. Um it was great and you could tell how much everybody kind of just wants to be here. So that's huge. Uh that was both for the popsicles as well as back to school night. Back to school night was was fantastic. I was in charge of um the apples and they were good by the way. >> Apples and the peaches did pretty well the peaches were big and they're gone. >> There was some apples left. So we we used the apples though for lunch and that was also the board had asked about that and those two farms do supply our produce some of our produce for our kids on a regular basis. So that was pretty neat. In fact, I'll share a little more about that real quick is we um I met
010I met with someone today who writes grants. That's their job. They just write grants for districts. And um she was asking me questions about the district. And one of the thing I brought up was uh farm to table and the importance that would be. She was I think there's grants for that. >> So we're going to look into that a little bit and see. she's going to be sending me information for me to share with you at the next meeting >> to um see if this is viable for us to use someone like that. I don't know I don't know the rates yet or or how that would work, but it was interesting to at least explore what's possible to produce some uh revenues that could be uh used for programs. It has to be
011specific to programs, >> but we'll look into it and I'll I'll be able to share more with you guys. Um, the other thing I want to share with you also, uh, Kerma, our our insurance policy, they're giving us a $4,960 rebate check. Now, I think you guys know how I feel about this. That check goes to the town. Now, I got to be honest with you. I I don't like that. I told the town I don't like that either. Just so we had to finance me. I I told them the same thing. I don't like that. We laid out $46,000 for insurance. the the taxes that go to the schools. From that money, there's now a rebate of $5,000, which we don't see that that that doesn't fit in my brain. So, I'm looking into
012all this still. As I told you before, I'll still be looking into it, and we'll see how this all works, but um that >> same not getting not getting it. Um we'll see. So, I I think there's there's ways to work with the township in a way that we can figure this out and uh there there's there's some legal issues associated with all that. There's policies that could be created, but there's ways to look at this in a collaborative manner, not school versus >> but school collaboration with >> and uh I'm looking forward to that. Uh we started our first our first meeting was a few weeks ago and um I I brought up my frustration with this that my New Jersey brain doesn't work in Connecticut yet. It's trying. It's just not there yet.
013Um but anyway, the good news is we do have a $5,000 check. I did ask I'll be honest with you, I asked them I said, "Can you just apply the $5,000 to next year?" We dee and I were talking about that. De actually had a great idea. They said, "No, they can't do that because then that solves the problem. just reduces our $5,000 from >> next year. >> But no, just like we couldn't sell the buses and kept the money, we had to trade the buses. I tried to do the same with the money, >> trade the money back and get it off, but we'll figure it out. Um, another thing to share. So, as you know, there was a big change. We used to have Mike Cretor. Am I saying it right? What an
014awesome what an awesome human being. And he's now back. He took over for Jackie >> and he's teaching math and um I am going to have Jackie look at his lesson plans though just so you know. So Mike I found my um >> you already has her signed up for math talent. So he's already he's got it right in there. >> That's it. Uh what just what a great human but he's no longer the tech. And so the tech now um Adam put together a good plan. We have learn uh they've been on site. We have a technician who's here three days a week and we have an IT specialist here one day a week and um the IT specialist is very important. We also then have access to Wendy. Wendy works on our P
015school concerns which right now is our hiccup. So P school is currently our hiccup and um Shauna is working with Wendy to try and resolve this hiccup. That's really important because we're coming close to the time we have to report and that's important to be fixed. So um Sean is on it with with with um uh learn. Uh I haven't had to jump in yet, but if I have to, I will. But we have to have that resolved. So that is one of the transitional issues with that. Um and other than that, still having fun. So uh thank you again for bringing me over. And uh that's pretty much my report. >> If anyone has any questions, >> any questions for Scott? Um I I will ask the question. So you did the presentation at
016open house on high school. How how was the feedback? >> So very interesting. So um Amy and I had talked I was looking I was planning on doing more than that actually. Um but we looked we have not received any feedback. >> Okay. >> From prior to that to that. So what we did is we I I did a quick explan I shared with the board did an explanation of why the board did what the board did in a in a positive outlook. not not like oh my god we we've lost something because we haven't lost anything and and we shared that and um I've heard nothing I like nothing nothing is good um and so the community seems to be in a good place with it um and as we said um in two
017or three years if things change with the um basically Alice Tech for the most part >> then the board can choose to look back at their decision and see if there's a reason to change their decision not change the decision, but alter the way they they look at this. You're always able to do that. So, there's no loss today. We still encourage kids if they want to apply to LST, apply. And we'll see what happens with there's apparently some lawsuits. Um because Ellis Tech's counselor used to be our counselor. >> Yeah. Very nice. She was explaining that they're getting hit with Connecticut's getting hit with some lawsuits. >> Yeah. They're not so happy with this. So, that could change and if that changes the board might want to reconsider it. They might not want to
018but you might want to and that's just something we left open as we did with the board and it was well it seemed to be wellreceived. It was a nice group. It wasn't you know packed house but it wasn't it wasn't light. They were standing room only >> um and all that. So >> good. >> Yeah. I thought you did a very nice job with the presentation too. It was it presented the the information succinctly opened you know I think it was kind of come see me for questions because we had to move it was good but I'm sure people >> but yeah I mean at least you know just it obviously had like a transparent feel that you were you know for questions and and this is kind of like the first night for
019parents to even see you know information about different high schools so there's probably a lot moving in their you know their brains about decisions and so forth so I think It was just a nice way to frame our high school choices. Yeah. >> You know, from the perspective of the school, you know, and and and let parents know this is >> these are the choices you have and the people are out there for for you to meet. And it was connective. I like that. So I will say when you thank you when when you looked at so outside as you're walking in um that each of the high schools was present and I will tell you I felt it was odd and maybe it's different year to year but NFA was a packed house. >>
020It was a packed house and um >> was a wild cat there or I was supposed to make sure the wildat came. >> Was he supposed to be like a like a mascot? You have someone to complain about that. You >> I was going to say I didn't see the wild cat there so I failed. Yeah, it was a big fail. >> All right. >> Then I got then I as I spoke with some people about their, you know, options to be the wild cat and they said, "Oh, no, no, >> I will not step foot in that thing." Oh, thank you. >> Me neither. >> I was going to sign Dee. >> I totally would have. >> Next year, Dee will be the wild cat. >> Good luck with the smell. >> I know.
021I I will make my daughter do it. There's no question. I just didn't realize it was difficult finding the role the job. So >> the few other things I there in your packet but there those are the big topics for for those questions I conclude. >> Now um thank you and so I I know Amy had some some things going on tonight so I figured I would share the pass the baton over to director of student services Mr. Johnson. Welcome >> seeing you all. You know, I took the summer off. So, >> welcome back. >> We're back. We're back. Um I I think the department's off to a really good start. We are working with three special education teachers instead of four. I think Amy has done a very good job of helping to schedule
022kids, schedule classes, and uh um we'll be down one of those teachers for a few weeks. I've not seen will be on on leave for a while. She'll be back. But um we've u welcomed some new students and new families. Uh had a number of meetings and uh so pleased with how things are up and running. Uh, one of the changes we made and and in um Scott's presentation to us at our at our first administrative meeting, he talked about I'm not going to make a lot of changes, but if there's any lowhanging fruit, and it caused me to reflect. We've always had monthly department meetings. Um but at the same time uh for over a year or so we've started having meetings on Thursday mornings with uh the half of the team that has
023uh meetings coming up that next week and then the next week we do the other half. So I had a meeting with the with the staff um just the first week before the kids came in and they said why don't we do this? Why don't we all get together at 8:30 on Thursday mornings and we'll talk about meetings that are coming up and if there are issues of of interest or concern, we'll talk about them and we won't do an afternoon meeting on a Tuesday afternoon in the morning. We take care of that on an ongoing basis because I found last year we were doing it anyways. Somebody would have an issue that would come up, we would talk about it and then bring it up the next week. So, uh there's about um five
024people in the department, the student services council, the speech therapist, and the three special education teachers and myself. And so, that's an adjustment we made to continue to keep the com communications and flowing and and planning for our meetings with the kids. And also gives us an opportunity to talk about issues that might might arise for a child or whatever. and we got everybody there to just say, "Okay, let's do this or that." And uh so we won't be doing uh monthly department meetings. We're going to take care of them during the week. And uh we're off and running. We are we are engaging if you if you look carefully at the paragraph about who I interact with, we are engaging a new a new company. one of our um our 12 plus students uh
025has decided to look at uh a service rather than a program and uh um I think that's going to work very well for that particular student. So you'll see sharp training in there as an additional uh organization that I deal with. But uh um if you want I'll give an update later on in the year as to how it's going. But basically they're focusing just on the vocational education piece of the child's needs and this this stage of the game that's primarily what that student needs. And I think that's it. Any questions? You okay? Thank you. I guess on the question for I know Mrs. Nelson will be out. Are we feeling comfortable with like a backup plan for a >> veteran substitute for us and um any nuances that are necessary? She has a
026partner and a teacher that she's worked with for years, Mrs. Dander. So I I think we're going to be covering pretty well. Mrs. Rogers is going to do the uh substituting >> and uh so I I we'll be in good shape. Um, one thing, um, I do have a surgery scheduled in November. So, for about a month or six weeks, I'll be doing all my work from home. Once I've recovered from that hip surgery, then I'll be able to drive again. But that's coming up in November. >> Good luck with that. >> I'm trying to work on that. >> Hips go better than knees. >> My wife says two knees. >> The hip goes quicker than the knees. I the doctor that's going to help me help my my um ex son-in-law this year and
027he had a very quick recovery. So be good. >> Give your update. Any other questions for all right moving right along into some old business. Um well good news on central office building name. Um the town did get back and said that it was there was no no issues in terms of our decision to to make an honorary naming of our building after Mr. Burrow. So I think we at this point can um make a decision as a board how we want to do it if we're going to do the conference room or the building. But um take any and all suggestions what we think we want to do. Make a motion. I I like the building name because conference room is kind of just a room in a trailer, you know, and it'll be
028hard to get the name change from the White House in people's minds and stuff, but >> I'd make the motion if everybody agrees on the building >> first. >> Second. >> Which building are you saying? >> Yes. >> Yeah. Did you did you want to talk to So when Adam was here, he seemed a little bit like you got that too. Like >> Well, >> he felt a little >> humble. He was >> So I just didn't know do we want to like let him choose or do we just want to choose >> because we can also make the motion to have you talk to him and >> right >> decide what what he's more comfortable with. But I'm I'm fine either way. It's not >> I think he I think he was just being
029comfortable. >> I don't know. He just seemed very uncomfortable. >> They were joking with him calling it Adam's White House. >> Yeah. He seemed he seemed very uncomfortable. I just thought it might be nice to ask what he thinks. >> I think you need to take his personality out of it. >> Yeah. >> And do what's in best interest of his legacy >> and make a decision based on that. >> Don't give him the choice modest closet guy. Okay. written on paper. >> He can blame me for making the choice to >> to Yeah, >> that's my two cents. >> Yeah, I think we should just go ahead. >> He's uncomfortable. >> He did say what he wanted, I think, on the video. >> Oh, he did. >> Didn't he say conference room? I thought
030he said >> I think he said the B central office building. >> He wanted the building. Okay. >> I remember, but I go back and >> I remember his >> Yeah. Does he want S? I mean that we can we can figure out what the exact you know naming structure would be. >> You guys can pick to email them or call them. >> Yeah. And then she said the ABC building which was kind of cool out of her central office like ABC. >> I think that's cool. >> That's right. Yeah. >> You you could make a motion tonight to rename the building pending >> a small subcommittee discussing the specifics of that. >> Yeah. >> You don't have to have the answer tonight without >> Okay. Yeah. >> Do we have a motion for >>
031motion >> for renaming the building? >> I think Chris said it already. >> Awesome. Any opposed? None. Motion passes. Exciting. That's a that is a good news topic for for our board meeting. So, okay. Um item number two is transportation. So, you gave us a little preview on that. But, >> yeah, it's just it's just the um you know, we have a six-year loan at 92,000 a year and um we'll be done at that time. But the big the big thing right now, I I think I did share this with you, is the maintenance log because we have to know when it's time to not keep maintaining a bus. And so we've established that it's being backfilled now by Crystal and an a bus is getting ending of near ending life so that we can
032make a decision about that budget accordingly. >> Yeah. >> And um and in budgeting for next bus, how do we work with the township >> to look at that as capital before we just outlay money like this? So that'll be something that um will happen this year for future so that we can look at that the opportunities there with this the town funds. Um I haven't had much discussion. There's been brief discussion about that between Tracy and myself about the idea of that >> and so um my understanding was the township was kind of eager to work with us on these kind of things and would like us to um provide information so they can consider. So, that'll be future. This one's kind of a done deal. The buses are simply just being um etched
033and registered and then we'll have them this week. Next week. >> Next week. >> They're not here yet. >> I wish they were here right now. They'll be here next week. >> Yeah. >> Along the same line, the next bullet is Well, any questions about bus? >> The next bullet is the town garage. We shared with you the communication between um Tracy and myself. There's interest there. There's interest there. And there's a beautiful garage sitting right behind us. And we have a porta potty for our drivers. Um I don't understand. I'll be honest with you. I don't understand that. I don't understand that. I I personally don't like that. I'm just going to be honest with you. The idea that our drivers have a portaotty as as that that that to me is something we
034should be considering other options for. Um, I get it. That's what we had. That was what was there. That's convenient. Um, but there's a town garage that's right there. >> And there's water to the garage, isn't there? >> I'm sorry. >> Is there water going to the garage? >> I believe so. >> Yeah. I mean, they have soap. >> It's a It's a It's a nice I'm going to go on I'm gonna go on a tour of the garage with Tracy, but um >> the the idea is simple. How do we work together to maximize its use for the benefit of the whole town? >> Anytime we can save a dollar, the town saves a dollar. >> And that is you saw that in Tracy's response there. The thinking is the same. If there's a
035way to work together to reduce costs for the township, we should >> and all the money is the same money. >> So, um, we also follow the next I had a question on that one. The next area was the road signs. We talked about the road signs and um you saw the response to that. They should be showing the speed at those little the times that are there. If we want to adjust the times we can but we have to give notice and um but that's what we are with that. So I know when I go you had mentioned the dot. I didn't notice that until I have to mention it's a little dot. That's all it is. A little dot. Now does it come up 25? >> It come up at these times for
036615 to 645 >> 850. That'll tell you your speed. >> Okay. >> Yeah. But only for those window right for that and that's it. >> Um she rebooted Tracy rebooted them and you know they're synchronized again. So that was good. >> And um so again all good all good stuff just you know working through some things but good stuff. I don't know if there's any questions about any of that. But >> so when we have those conversations at Sunny's and they say that nothing works, we'll tell them, "Nope, you're just not seeing it at the in the window." >> Yeah. >> Fine. >> That's what I was I thought, but at the same time, I'm like, "It's not big." >> It wasn't working. It wasn't working like towards the end of last year, but the
037reboot the reboot must have worked because I did drive the kids to school on I think Tuesday and it was working. >> And if we ever see it's not, just let me know. I'll reach out to Tracy. Okay, >> I'll reach out to township and make sure that they get rebooted then. >> Y >> so it's in good shape >> and that is our old business. >> Thank you for checking on that though. >> Yes, turn around. >> You got to thank Dee because she she listens to these beans and she hounds me. Here's >> a followup list. I know you're trouble >> then yells at me for eating sugar >> cuz I want it from you >> as I bite this cookie. Okay. So, moving to new business. Um, item number one is personnel
038and it's the consent to MOA. >> Is that something that we need to motion or >> the MOA? It's it's it's an odd MOA. Um I did talk with the her name is Diana from the get the name of the um >> union. Yes, >> the name of the union. Um but she's the the union rep for volunteer. Yeah. >> Non-certified. They wanted a MOA for one person who's having a reduced hours. The person asked for the reduced hours. we are comfortable with the reduced hours but because they don't want us to be able to then change contract language by reducing people's hours they want an MOA which I understand that part so that's the MOA >> it's zero conflict of any kind >> the MOA is to reduce >> one person's hours by I
039think from 32 and a half to 28 >> oh I'm sorry agreement >> sorry yeah agreement >> between that that union and Yeah, that's fine. I just >> Then you have then you have um Crystal's resignation >> on there which we we discussed and then that would be the motions. >> Okay. >> For that. >> So just trying to think the the language for a motion. >> I know I'm looking for it. Draft on the top. I have it here. But it just says um um a motion to >> approve. >> Yeah. To to Yeah. approve the mo memorandum of agreement and >> yeah to a motion to is it separate? >> No, we can say both together. >> Okay. To accept the resignation with regrets to Crystal Snider as the accounts payable payroll manager
040effective 92625. >> Motion second. All in >> favor I know those motion pass. Motions pass. Okay. Sorry. Um policy. >> Yep. The policies. Moving on to our kind of a short list of policies. Um >> favor. She was she was also on us in terms of um getting some free reads done. So Megan and I have both um reviewed all of them at this point. Um, so we were comfortable setting up for a first read, but obviously this is the first time you're looking at it this this cycle. So, um, it's up for any questions and discussions. I know we have an outstanding one as well, but um, for the first one, did anybody have a question or concern? Library material review and reconsideration. I think I read, wasn't this in the cave journal? I
041believe >> these are mandated. >> Seems like I've read this before and was all right with it. >> Fortunately, we have not had many of these come into us, I don't think, >> that I've heard of. >> The importance the importance when it comes to mandated policies. >> Yeah, it is what it is. >> Yeah. It's it's dangerous to do too much manipulation >> because they're written in a way that follows law, case law, statute, >> so it gets a little complex to play with them too much. But there are some times where you do have some choices and options. >> Don't worry, Kathy. There's lots of policies coming your way. >> Yeah, I was going to say I've seen this before somewhere. >> Megan will review them first. >> No, we had that question
042about the 14 to 15. Yeah, it's it's certainly not a hill to die on. >> It was appropriate because you you you have no control or say over that, right? >> So, um what what Megan had brought up was removal of language um associated with high school book choice. >> Mhm. >> Because some of our books might be for like 12 to 16, right? So it's like >> you can decide here but you can't decide for NFA we have >> what books they're going to have or not have. You don't have the ability. >> Do we buy high school books? >> Well span that >> correct? That was my you might have we might have books in our library that are for you know 65 16 >> you can make it so the policy just
043covers what you do control which was the recommendation. We have a 15-year-old in our school. That was the question. I don't know. >> Well, I mean, realistically, like if you wanted to have a 14-year-old on that, you could have one in the high schools. We still have 14-year-old students. They just don't physically come to school here. We could still ask, but you know, I mean, with the amount that this is going to come up, is that right? >> Yeah. It's probably just easier to keep it as is. Not >> my thing. My recommendation was if we're going to have it in there, it should say that we obtain written consent from the parent for them to participate on that committee. So there's a committee that reviews whether or not the book is appropriate. So if
044we get a complaint that a book is not appropriate, there's a committee that will read the book and determine via like a checklist form whether or not it's appropriate. And one of the people that could be on that committee if they choose would be a a child of that age group. So 14 or 15. Um and so my my feedback was if we're going to leave that 14y old language 14 15 year old language in there that it should say that it's with consent of the parent for them to participate on that committee because it did not have that in there. >> There's still minors. right? Versus or we could just like take the language out completely because it's going to really not happen that much f at all. Right. So it's not a hill
045to die on. It's just whatever way we want to go. >> Yeah. So I think with this revision it's we took it out, right? >> Yeah. That's fine. >> Will we have a problem striking it out? >> No, that's fine. probably the easier path >> just completely remove it then >> make it >> Yeah. And that doesn't mean if it does end up coming up, we we could always put it back in there if we're like super pressed, but it's never come up realistically. >> I make a motion for policy. >> It's just a first reading. >> First reading and >> you're good with >> do motion and >> Yeah, we're going to just hold it on first read. We'll we'll do the motion next time. It's fine. That's why >> um it gives us
046an extra chance to look at it. >> Yeah. >> So, same with collective development and maintenance. There's I think we didn't really even have any changes to that. >> So, that's just for your reading. I think our final review piece was the um gifted and talented students program. So, we were g we just had a question for um for Lloyd really. Um what it's now that it's kind of a mandated initiative and obviously a policy that we we need to um abide by. It's just you know in the past has there been anything like this that we've like >> what we've done the last couple years is develop what I would describe as a screening process. The um old Otis Lenin school ability test is given to our now I got to remember fourth or
047fifth graders I think it's fifth graders and um we look at national norms and students that are in that upper two or 3% whatever that national norm is then our plan is that we would have a uh a team meeting to discuss u the child and their needs needs to make sure that what we're doing is challenging the child. Okay. And then um if we feel that the child meets the criteria, then we would have a PPT to identify the child. But my understanding at the this law still is you're not required to provide a program for that. But we thought that was ludicrous when at the time it was the three of us. So Leysa and Amy and I put this together. As it happens, since we've started doing this, none of our children
048have reached that top tier. It's, you know, you're only talking about the top one or 2% of the kids throughout the nation. So you get the test scores back, your score has to be above, I can put on the number 620 or 820 or whatever. And we haven't had a child like that. Now, we've had some students that are strong students and uh uh Amy's had conversations with the staff about making sure there's children challenged that uh our overall plan was that it would be um a curriculum modification rather than a new program. And I've worked in buildings where they had programs. Uh for instance, if if you know a student's very strong in math, you take the pretest and gee, they don't need that, then what what enrichment can you provide? So our efforts
049was always focused on enrichment to keep the student you want to keep the student interested and engaged. But my research in this whole area is the most important thing you do is create an atmosphere where the child does something with that information to teach others. Uh Renzulli had a uh model that I studied years ago and uh you just don't let a smart kid be smart and leave them alone. You have you challenge that child to take that that interest that intelligence and create a project or an activity that they enga engage other children in to learn something from what their rich interest has led them to have. So that's our plan. So, uh, but as I said, our test data hasn't shown that we've got a handful of three, four, five kids that, you
050know, we're a very small community. And >> so, you don't identify before fourth or fifth grade, whatever you like. So, we wanted to >> I didn't know if this sounds to like first grade. >> We wanted to make sure students go into middle school where everything's different where you've got different different sections of classes. Uh, you know, you have a um the math is in two sections, you know, grade level and close to grade level or advanced in grade level. Want to make sure that so that's what we chose to do. A lot of programs from my knowledge are middle school and above programs. Um I think I did have a question on the um the second to final paragraph the final determination in the identification of students as gifted and or talented must be
051done by a PPT. such PPT charged with the responsibility shall be composed of a group of certified or licensed professionals representing each of the teaching administrative and pupil personnel staff. Um the question was should we carve out so since we do carve out the staff? Should we also carve out that the parent is is participating in that or is that implied by the fact that it's a PPT >> by law? >> Okay. All right. So it's implied there. Perfect. >> It's inherently different. >> Okay. That's what we were assuming but we didn't want to. >> That's why it came to me. >> Perfect. Perfect. >> And are you all familiar with Renzuli? >> Joe Renzulli is a one of the most famed gifted and talented researcher out of what school? >> Yukon's program for gifted
052and talented doctorate was one of one of the highlights uh in the country. One of the stronger ones. >> Very strong. >> Along with Colombia. So it's a good company. >> Cool. where they they um what's the word they want? Tried out one of his newer ideas and was called light bulb program and it it was an exciting time in my career to be involved in all that. It was very was really cool. It was a very small um elementary middle school middle school right next door to your car in Wilmington. It was exciting. So just going back to the policy um we had suggested there's optional language that you know we're in we're shall provide a program for any gifted and I mean it's it's basically you know within budgetary um reason constraints or
053whatever that we will do it but that's optional. So, do you feel like our policy shouldn't have that in there and we'll just >> the option >> don't don't force the system to have to have a >> That's right. We will that was our I think >> we we can and we will but the policy >> you don't want to become illegal. >> Correct. Correct. Correct. Right. >> Okay. Well then All right. I think >> second dod second read adoption same night. >> Second read adoption same night. >> Yeah. >> Well, thank you for your feedback on that. That's that is very helpful. >> Um all right. Well, we crushed uh new business pretty quickly as well. I'm feeling pretty good about this. Um like a summer meeting. Um I know. So we don't um
054have anything for executive session as well. So our next meeting is Thursday, October 9th. Um same time, same place. Maybe a new maybe a new place to be named, but we will figure that one out. >> That would be fun. I know. >> Be nice. >> Exactly. >> Yeah. I was just looking at the cave stuff. I was hoping Dee maybe you could send where it says border bag candidate. send that to uh Sue Miller because she'll be coming and running. >> Susan Miller, she Yeah. >> as a Republican and if the Democrats have a candidate, I don't think they do. >> Yeah. >> Rachel Rardis. >> Oh, yeah. >> Okay, that's good. And uh >> I had asked, you know, >> give it to her. >> There is professional development through paid offered for
055new board members. This is there is a webinar that they can attend. >> This is before they run, you know. So, but the two of them maybe >> provide that to them. That's what you're asking. >> Thank you. >> Well, there's three. So, all three. >> Right. >> Just in general. I saw that. >> All right. >> Well, Sarah and Mal are already, >> if you count the new new runners, right? There's five all together. >> Four. >> Now, it's down to four because of the primary not. >> Oh, someone. Oh, >> yes. Tracy is >> Tracy got >> so it's just two new possibilities and then Bal and Sarah are trained. >> Thank you. >> Sarah's running. Rachel Ward's running. >> Who's running? And Val and Susan. Correct. >> So, how many openings are
056we going to have? >> Three. >> All right. >> So, there's four running. Whoever gets out of no matter what party they're a part of, whoever gets the top three votes on November election day will get the seats. >> Do we have a motion to adjurnn? >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you so much. Motion passes. >> 648. We'll adjourn at 6:48. >> Have you eat any sugars? sugar. >> Thank you.