Voluntown Board of Education Regular Meeting 7/10/25

001Okay, now that we have everyone present, it is um we call the meeting to order at 611. Welcome everyone. Welcome Mr. Federer. He's on the line and will be joining us shortly. And welcome guest Tom Connor. Okconor, sorry, Tom O' Conor. We can raise to say the pledge of allegiance. I aliance 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. >> Roll chair, Megan Wicks, vice chair, Kathy Grant, secretary, Colorado, Sarah Thompson, and Chris Wilson. Also present virtually for now >> I'll say the board of education's mission statement as we do each month. The Volunt Board of Education's mission is to provide our students the skills essential to reach their highest potential in a safe environment

002for 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, with that, we have a pretty um it's not a too not too ownorous agenda with us, but we do have a special guest, Tom O'Connor, joining us, head of our food, director of food services. So, welcome. And >> thank you. >> We always enjoy hearing from you and seeing you in person. >> Yeah, it's been another year. It goes by quick, doesn't it? >> That's right. I know I only come typically in the summer recap of the year and kind of some of the focuses and challenges for the next school year. So, um

003there is a financial report that was part of the packet, I believe. >> Um but but if you have that in front of you sort of gives you a year-over-year in terms of of of finances, but the number we're looking at is meal counts. And um and you could see if you if you have it, you know, we hit COVID uh went to the hybrid type learning. for our number for meal counts were way down and you're looking like 1920 and then as we transition back meals were all free. So our meal counts were were really high into 21 to 22 and then um 22 23. We did transition back last year to have um breakfast be free, but lunch we paid for and then this past school year everything was back to full pay.

004And the numbers reflect that uh as a decline based on on people having to to pay for meals. Uh so some of the challenges we're seeing one is now um less participation based on the meals not not being free anymore but also um we're kind of experiencing a a census drop too in terms of enrollment. So um the the challenges we're having also to start this new year coming is we get a commodity allowance for USDA foods. Essentially that's an open checkbook register for me reimburseable meals. you get an allowance to be able to pre- purchase those items. I purchase all those items usually typically in February for the newest school year, but because the meal counts continue to drop, the allowances are less. And that lend that allowance is also based on inflationary number.

005So could be a case of ground beef used to be 200, now it's 225. So your dollar like the grocery store just doesn't go as far either. So we're hoping um that reimbursements kick up. you know, we're seeing inflationary numbers go super high. Um, I am here to recommend that we increase the paid lunch price from 375 to four. Um, that advice is typically comes from a tool that the USDA gives you. It's called the paid lunch equity tool and it basically takes all inflationary indexes and the theory is is you're free. the kids that qualify for free meals are free and that that finance covers them. That money in theory isn't supposed to pay for a full paid kid, right? It's sort of you have to look at it three different demographics. A paid

006kid should pay what it costs to make a meal for a paid kid reduce. We get the funding for that paid the same way. So, the new tool has us um recommending that we go to $4. Um, Briswood's already at four. Um, I do do work with other districts and everybody's getting this the same advice to consider going to u four dollars. Now, if you don't, you don't have to. But if you do not, then in theory, the board of ed is supposed to pay the difference. So, in theory, they're going to try to help offset the cost for families that are paid. But the board's also going to subsidize the lunch program that difference, right? So, um, at this point, you know, it's probably not telling you guys anything you don't know. Food is

007expensive. You know, our labor has really increased since co, you know, minimum wage has gone way up, which is a good thing, but, you know, there's a cost to those things. So, um, that's what I'm basically here to do. Have you consider raising the lunch prices to $4 for for the new school year? >> What about breakfast? >> Breakfast, you don't really have to. They don't have a paid lunch equity breakfast. >> So, we're I I wouldn't recommend raising that. Um there is some incentives from the state of Connecticut to run breakfast. So, even though you get a reimbursement from the federal government for breakfast, you also get an incentive to run breakfast program. It's a few thousand. So, our breakfast counts aren't so large that one, we it's it's an area growth. We just

008really, you know, need to focus on possibly promoting breakfast more. Again, some families like to feed their kids at home. You know, it's that that's a parental decision for sure, but we want to make good quality things available. Um, but you you we do get about $2,800 at an incentive just to run breakfast. So, participate in the breakfast program kind of helps offset some of the costs. And breakfast, the way menu components we do is uh two whole grain items, a half a cup of fruit and milk. Um, milk runs us about 33 cents a piece. Fruit, if you utilize government or quality stuff in season, you're looking another 30. And then a bread items could be like, you know, 40 cents. You're looking raw food cost to be like above 10. So, if we

009can keep breakfast around 225 and and sort of allow that. We do have some labor costs, but they're also doing lunch. So, I think breakfast could stay at the price that we're at now. Still want to encourage people to >> how much of free lunch do we have of of people that qualify for free lunch or reduced is it like 20% >> probably about 20 28 to 30% which is every year >> that's free and reduced combined >> that dropped a little there was uh at one point um Husky if you're on Husky insurance you automatically qualify the states kind of downplayed that benefit now so we did lose a few people that Medicaid reduce or Medicaid freeze. That's that's across the state. It wasn't just around. >> So they're not letting kids on Husky

010get the free lunch anymore. >> You can in certain levels, but it it used to be a guarantee. It's no longer a guarantee. I think it's income based even with the Husky. So >> because this year we really got hit with the with the food and dietary. We underestimated had to take money from other parts of the budget and move it over cuz we want to make sure we're not in that place again taking 20 30,000 have to figure that out where we're going to pick it up in the rest of the budget. >> Yeah, there's definitely some challenges. You know, >> we're really hoping the feds the Fed rates help offset a lot. You know, the the Fed rates aren't going up as quick as some of the inflationary rates. So, uh, those rates

011typically come out closer to the start of the school year. >> Does our money come out of where you ask? >> Oh, do we come out? >> No, we get we get a majority of our lunch money from the federal government. >> Yeah. Does it come out of the education department or does it come out of the >> I couldn't tell you exactly honestly >> because they're breaking down the education department. It's just not going to happen. >> It's going to be USDA you think, >> right? So the food will come the money will come from the USDA. How it gets from the USDA to us, I'm not exactly sure that path, >> but um the state of Connecticut, we do HFC, which we voted on right prior to so we could have it done

012for July 1. There's an incentive to be healthier. Uh we get an additional uh revenue per reimburseable meal. So that would be state money. and the some of these incentivized pieces to um to do like um breakfast programs that money comes from the state. So there's some state match money as well, but majority of the money is coming that I don't I think we'd be foolish thinking we're going to get more from the federal government. >> A higher rate for sure. Um but you know then then it starts to be the challenge becomes you know we don't have a lot of free and reduce and that's typically those are your everyday eaters right so and and if you have two or three kids >> a quarter does make a difference for sure but >> where's

013a quarter going to come from that's the hard part >> how much does it cost like all in to make a lunch >> it depends uh so the it's always been the formula to try to utilize the most amount of your government commodities, keep the cost down because in theory we're working off the credit and allowance. So if we creatively do that, but you also sort of have to give those items that the kids will eat, too, right? You're trying to get them to eat every day. So you might have to do a give and take, right? I can't get away from pizza. You know what I mean? I can't get away from chicken nuggets. There's certain items, but those are the days that the kids will buy, right? But yeah, >> um without doing

014the the labor component, you know, we try to run lunch about a buck 75 for raw food cost and breakfast you're around like a buck 10 to a buck 20 if possible, you know. So th those are the targets you shoot for. And when we were shooting for that previously to this year, we came in where we're supposed to because we're not supposed to make money. We're not supposed to lose money. >> It's hard to give. >> But last year, we didn't make money at we had a big loser. It came out of other parts of our budget. It >> It's hard to give you a food cost per person rate because it really determines people, right? There's efficiencies and numbers, right? So, you know, if I could do a 100 people versus 50 and

015it's the food cost full cases, right? You're going to still assume that inventory. You're the efficiencies in is in the numbers for sure. I think right now we're, you know, where we're at, we're already, you know, the the board is subsidizing that extra, you know, it's probably already at four bucks, but we're we all year long have had to subsidize, which is dump money into, >> which is, you know, which makes sense for how how it's gone. You you had said like they they made the order early and and then all the everything went up after that. So, >> yeah. Sadly, this is the challenges for for all districts. This isn't just unique to Valentine. >> So, you're hoping that pendulum, you know, we we sort of saw CO come and we all experienced CO

016money like like no like no end. >> And you knew that pendulum was going to swing back and it's a matter of how far back does it swing to go from so much to nothing. >> I feel like we're sort of need to write that shift and get back to the middle. But we're going to need some help, >> right? I think it's just a it's a matter of what our you know our board feels that we can stomach if if it's whether we want to put it back on the parents for 25 cents or if we want to you know put it on what we've been doing which is >> we don't have anything in the budget this year to be covering >> how much subsidized last year or well last year >> I

017mean it's hard to tell exactly but it was like >> 18 to 20,000 >> yeah you know because of how things sit shook out and the cost of things going up and the the low numbers that was not what was expected. So I don't with the budget we're presenting I don't think we have the money to say we can pick this up for people um you know that's just my opinion on it you know because we had to take a sizable chunk here and there. >> Would the 25 cents even cover the the difference? Because if we if you're still not going to make up the deficit in theory, you could argue you could lose a little bit of participation >> possibly, but you know, it's >> be as bad because the budget wasn't made.

018It was more back, but what we what Adam had figured out in it was more back to when we were on the free and reduced and hoping that more would be coming. and I don't see any more free and reduce coming. So, but no, a quarter is not going to make up all that and stuff. >> I started with you guys here in Mtown like 2008. So, there was >> there's been a lot of shifts over those years, right? It used to be that maybe part of the benefit or salaries came out of them in. But then COVID came and we had so much money that we're able to like subsidize so many things that weren't always subsidized by food service. So by default, sometimes that money then goes to be allocated for somewhere else.

019And then when it swings back where you were paying Peter before, you know what I mean? Now you're back and like, wow, we have this huge, >> you know, so it's a it's a house of cards and a little bit of >> we're not going to have money in the grant that comes to the preschool to pay for lunch. >> No, we're not going to we're not even going to have that this year. So we're going to have to be paying for that for the preschool kids. that's only going to cover salaries, the amount of the grant we got. It's not going to cover the food, you know, happen. >> Uh they have like a little sit down meal all together. >> Yeah. I think I think this year and what we discussed before is

020um parents are going to be responsible. So they can either send in a lunch >> or they can buy lunch just like any other normal >> child going through the lunch. So we might get some more frame reduced numbers, but only a handful. change your percentage for your kids. >> I remember how how terrified my first child was to the school. >> They was like, I refuse to step foot through that line. Never. No way am I going through the lunch line. Nope. And I am at that point she was six, you know. So, it's like I can imagine the three-year-old. >> I I think we might do that. I think we might because there it's going to be a small number like 10 to 12 who actually want to buy lunch. Kids are picky,

021too, you know. So, um, >> yeah, >> that's something we used out of the grant >> and that was always at a reduced rate. Tom and I always worked out a reduced number for that amount. But even that amount still cost us >> the grant cost the grant at least $20,000 just to feed 44 kids times 225 times how many days. And um, it was expensive. >> It does. It adds up. >> I think we should pass on the quarter because we don't know what's coming down the road. which could make it even worse and would have a bigger deficit to make up. And it is in 25 cents. It's not negligible if you added up all the school days. However, it's kind of the reality of the situation and you we can't >> you

022don't think we ought to discount that. >> You don't think we should do the four? >> No, I think we should do the pass on the four go away. I hear that correctly. That was like >> I noticed you're looking at me stud. >> I think we should raise >> I think I think they're right cuz we got hit this year. >> Tom, you think it's going to get worse before it gets better? >> H I wish I could say I wish I could say honestly. It really is going to be contingent upon what the fed rates have to come out at. You know, you know, we're doing some summer meals and Grizzled and some of those reimbursements are hitting five. we're going to get $5 back. So, that's >> a number we need, honestly.

023So, we're hoping now, you know, think a free was, you know, $438 fed, I believe. But >> now, is reimbursement rate $5? It will their school year rate be $5? >> No, they usually incentivize you to do summer meals because they know it's a way it's out of out of the norm. >> Yeah. But, you know, if we're talking that that rate was, you know, 438, whatever it was last year, but now this end index is telling you that the paid lunch is going up 38 cents that you have to hopefully believe that the Fed reimbursement rate is also going to mirror that somewhat. So, >> how is the kitchen equipment? >> Kitchen equipment is really knocked on wood pretty good. I mean, during CO, we did a lot of upkeep upgrades. You know, we

024have the new freezer box and we've gotten new ovens since then. And I say Brian facilities does a pretty amazing job. Paul was great before, but you know, he he did not miss a beat. You know, what he does, he does a lot of work, right? So, the kitchen couldn't be in better condition than what we have. >> I think with this budget, we don't even we don't have a space to really absorb anything either. So, it's just so tight that if we don't raise it to $4 and then we have to absorb $15,000 into the budget, like it's just not going to work this year the way that it's been cut. >> Um, did we do it increase last year as well? >> We didn't. >> Okay. >> No, it's been a little while.

025>> Right. Right. I remember >> it. It was typically you could almost get used to those, you know, coy, you know, co was a whole different thing because of the reimbursement >> prior to you could almost, you know, >> 25 cents. >> It was like 9 cents a year, you know, >> it was so you could always raise a quarter and and get four years or five years if you already had to do it. >> But now you're talking, you know, we in the last two years, you're over 55 cents in two years. So >> yeah, >> that that's the crazy >> just yeah that's just the beast of it all. Yeah, >> you know and you wonder too, right? You start to see like where are you going to get this money you know

026there there is some districts through some of the forums that were belong there you know districts considering dropping out of school lunch because the requirement of what you need to serve and what you know what you're doing. >> We didn't always have school lunch here. We had bag you know bag lunch and that was it. Right. >> 1990 they put in the kitchen. That's probably when it started. That was >> I think when those things are coming, those realities, I would think that the government >> would want to somehow incentivize you to at least break even. >> And I think even if Connecticut may want to incentivize it, they're going to be facing all these cuts also in within things. They're talking about another session. I don't know what will happen with that. So I

027kind of agree with Chris. I think we need >> gonna say does Scott do you have any questions about it? >> Uh Kate, I am pulling in right now. >> Okay. >> We'll wait. We'll give you ourselves. >> It'll be uh one. >> That's fine. Like that that like I call like the fun stuff like Yes. Yeah. like outside of like your lunch >> a little. Right. We >> start. >> Is that I mean something that would be worth like doing every day or like three days a week or you know you don't want to sugar up the kids all day. >> I mean they could I mean we sell it on Friday um only because that's when we have to sell you know we can do it any day. oxid [Laughter] wearing this, but

028this is what you get. >> Oh, it's summer session. >> You want the bathroom? >> Couple of quick questions. Is that all right? >> Yeah. >> Perfect. >> So, new for me. Can you explain how it would work? You said if we don't pay if we don't charge the parents >> we have to pay the 25 >> in theory. Right. >> So explain that. I don't understand that. >> So they and and that's a good question because this government I think we agree will tell you every single thing you can do or you're supposed to do. But here they give you the flexibility to set your lunch prices. Right. So, there's a pay lunch equity tool that we use from the USDA that tells you if you can serve this lunch under $41, which is

029the new one, and you can round down to the closest nickel, $4. If you can prove you can sell it cheaper than that, then you're you're all set. But if you can't prove you can do it, then in theory, the board's agreeing to subsidize that difference. But based on the the amount of meals we do and our labor costs with food, we're over the $4 based on the tool >> the cost of what we spend on a lunch. >> Correct. >> Right. So we're we I think we spent 28,000 last year on food service. >> And that was was supposed to be a break even, no win, no loss with the food. And we ended up having to keep moving money throughout the year because the change from the co lunches. Connecticut had the free

030breakfast and then that disappeared. >> But uh >> now that we're back to fully paid if you don't qualify for the free meals, >> yeah, >> our meal counts are back consistently with >> what we had before. >> But also when they reduced the amount of students we had, right, the enrollment sort of helped >> 20 kids. Yeah. >> I'm not adverse to shuttering the kitchen actually. >> What? >> Just closing. Oh. Oh, >> I'm not adverse to that at all. I mean, if we have this, we do have a consistently declining enrollment, lower numbers for meals. >> I don't know if we're at that point yet. No, I >> I'll say I mean I think we use it for a lot eas that that is their access. Yeah, it's about 30 20 to 30%

031in that free and reduced and Scott in previous years we had enough covering the preschool program from the grant we got for preschool. We don't this year's grant is only covering salary period and that's all that's left. Amy has made some arrangements can buy lunch and whatever. So >> I can't be sure to your point either that possibly in uh the government incentivizes you to run the lunch program by linking participation in the lunch program to other grants. >> The grants we get we >> never get rid of it completely. It would just be like is it instead of like a hot lunch is it like a bagged sandwich >> one with like that's cuz >> one question like we have to make sure the kids are eating. I'm sorry. When we sell alocott, can

032we sell whatever we want? You can't sell chips and crap. >> You can sell things. We can sell things off the list. There's a list that the state provides. >> Yeah. >> It's a list of healthy snacks and chips that you can sell. That's what we do. >> We had sold We had sold quite a bit of that like during co >> like more so. And then we found like they didn't really buy it. A lot of kids come with their own chips. >> Sometimes we would sell drinks. They didn't buy the drinks. you know, it's like, you know, right now chips don't go by go by. >> Yeah, we sell ice cream on Fridays, but it does it's not a it's not a revenue source, right? You know, it's very limited. >> So, um

033>> yeah, >> always encouraging the lunch first sales. >> You know, kindergarten will eat the entire ice cream first. >> Yeah. >> And then and then throw away their lunch that their parents just paid $4 375 for, whatever it is. Too bad you couldn't like do something with snack too. >> I know. That's what I was like to not have it impact the actual like lunch meal and there's something we can do with like fun stuff on the side that >> because of that. You got to be on that list otherwise >> Yeah. You have to buy >> Yeah, you have to buy the brands and everything on that list >> and whatever. that they don't want to buy that goldfish. >> Yeah. Tom, do you need a decision on this tonight or is it

034>> I'm only proposing that. I mean, if it's just something you guys want to table for the next meeting. I mean, we could we could table it until I was talking to Darina this past week and I know that she was putting in the um last, you know, like it's the end of the time, so putting in some last stuff um when I send out my announcement to f, you know, for families. I'll just leave that blank, >> you know, when they get the menu, they can see the inc, you know, >> increased price. I hate tableling too many things because then >> Yeah, but it might be good to let Scott take a look at the numbers and decide if that's where he wants the money to come from. Like, you know, >> yeah,

035lunch and food is important, you know? >> I mean, it might not be a significant amount, you know, like I just said to Megan, when you add up those numbers for lunches, it's so like 17,000 lunches, but that also includes free and reduced. just off the top it'd be about times 25 cents $4,200. So maybe it would be more like $2700. I don't know. Um but >> it might not be a sign huge significant amount if it's >> I think it's for me it's not so much the covering the 25 cents, it's the additional money that we had to float. Yeah. >> So, it's it's like 5 grand to cover the >> plus. >> And I just did fuzzy math to get to the five grand. You actually just average two 2,000 whatever it was

036a month. And um >> and then would then see additional money that we pull more money in. That's going to be the >> So now we're at a 15 to 25k, >> which is what we said 28 last year. >> Oh, 28. Okay, never mind. So then we're at 33, right? So that's the problem there. And that's why I asked the qu like I'm not sure actually that $4 is enough. >> It's but that opens up other grant. It it connects with other grants. >> I know. But I think one of the things I think we should give some time to figure out is like should does it need to go to 425? And I know that that's even more expensive, but given where we are with the budget, like we don't have we don't

037have >> Yeah. I hate to go 50. >> You're going to just lose I think you're going to lose >> I think would really annoy parents. >> Yeah, you'll just lose and >> I agree. 3.99 more kids the deficit 100%. >> You know, you want me to give back pennies? >> I was going to say four is a nice penny. >> It's just kind of like when you're looking at items that's why the pricing's $3.99. But people's proposing a number that starts with three. So they're they haven't come up with that number but >> but I was just thinking you know >> some of the conversations relate on that same topic in terms of casino money >> impression for just kind of it's like the difference between getting shirt for three bucks or five bucks

038you know I got two bucks >> students that need it is more of a convenience for parents. So $3.99 $4. >> It's not I've seen people cash in the hallway. >> I've seen that. So >> the $4 meets the paid lunch equity to recommendation. >> Okay. >> 401 routed down to the closest. >> So now how do we allow cash still or is it only the the check that comes in or the the online balance? >> I get all kinds of payments. >> She does. I've seen people hand her money and mail the whole >> I see that but like I put them in my pocket and I get home and go whose money is in my pocket that I have >> the kids pay it though at the like or >> so Sha takes

039everything from them. They'll come in and pay her a dollar. My mom said to give this to you and so you know she'll take it and put it and apply it. So people can they some people pay by the day like the kids only allowed to get once a week and they just come in with their $4 or they put $25 on and >> you know she'll apply it that way. I thought so. And I that that makes it a little more palatable to do an odd number just because it's right, you know. >> So, you know, making sure your pocket check if it's like any the closest thing to 401 then >> and we're using the least expensive accounting system for lunch. Correct. Remember, we looked into that cost attached to trying to figure

040that out. 425 would go a long way to your money. I would say based on the reimburse the amount of aid the meals we get it wouldn't it wouldn't >> 425 >> I mean >> I would agree. I think 425 probably makes sense. I just think people would have a probably a hard time with 425 like 50 cents >> again and it's probably because we didn't go up like if we went up last year maybe we wouldn't have felt it as you know >> you know you hate to go up on people >> if you don't go up then you end up with a bigger >> if you don't go up next this year then I think we have to think about okay then what's going to happen next we got to go up I

041mean I don't know >> that would be more popular than my idea to shut it No, that doesn't sound popular. >> People would rather pay. >> I mean, it rots like all across the board. And it really rots that we're sitting here discussing food for students like this. >> And for some, even if they're not on free and reduced, for some kids, this is like the meal they're getting. >> Yeah. >> They're not getting something else at home. they're getting poptarts or something, >> whatever for evening meal depending on parent schedules and whatever. >> Um, is there is there an alternative or have you looked at an alternative to a hot lunch just on Megan's question or suggestion? So, >> alternative such >> like sandwiches, I don't know. >> Is there is there one I

042should ask? >> Um, >> there could there could be any any um there could be a variety of options. Trouble is is deli meats typically proteins on a bun are so expensive now. So we're still trying to utilize the government commodities. We do get, >> you know, cooked chicken. We do get cooked ground beef, raw beef. We we do get some >> slice turkey though. >> We do offer a sandwich as an alternative. Continue to try to offer multiple things to maximize the amount of kids that attend lunch. Um, but were you talking like possibly going to a modified service of of just >> cold brown paper bag lunch? >> I guess. Yeah. Or like is there from a menu perspective? Right. So one way to solve this is to change the price. The other

043way to solve this is to look at what we're serving. So my question is have you in your opinion is there any opportunity within the menu to make any changes to what is like if we keep the menu the same we have to raise the price. Well what if we change the menu? Could that two cheaper than lunch one? >> Yeah. I I think the government commodities that we menu as our main are already your cheapest option because we've already in theory purchase those things at a discount from an allowance we acrew from reimburseable meals. So the peanut butter and jelly is offsetting the >> it's more like pasta meat sauce. We're able to get government sauce. We're able to get government ground beef. So it's really the cost of a pasta and a side

044salad or a dinner roll to go with that. So to follow the meal patterns where you have to offer five components, you could you could do it, but if you're going to get the reimbursement, you need to make sure that your five components are offered. Then you just run the risk of of repetitiveness if if you're only offering sandwiches. and then that in theory might hurt your lunch count. So variety is a little something we focus on hopefully maximize those. And you know unfortunately some of the busier days are the ones that we we invest in a little bit. Amy will tell you like the brunch day, the pizza day, the chicken nugget day. Those are the popular days. So >> does anybody ever do like demand pricing? Well, we we have a cooperative. We're

045part of the Eastcon cooperative. So, what we do is we submit a list. Every district kind of goes by usage reports from vendors and we try to get bid pricing. You know, East has a bunch of little schools in this area district. So, we we sit on the as a cooperative and we try to go to vendors and say, "Hey, as a cooperative group, we're going to buy >> this this nugget." And we and those prices you are seeing I use the term flatline but they've already they're elevated but you're not seeing the continued heavy spikes that you were seeing. >> So have you already done this year's ordering? >> I did for government commodities. So you get your allowance your allowances come in around January and by Valentine's Day typically. you get a list

046of items that the government's going to offer and then the trucks come in any from time from September of this this year coming and they come in through there. So because we have to offer fruit and vegetable every lunch those typically we make sure we hit those items because we have to offer them and then we try to go to center of the plate proteins and the beefs and the chickens and stuff. >> Are we are we hitting any of the farmers with the fruit and vegetable stuff? I >> a little we had an op opportunity to do a grant. We didn't we didn't participate. It it it was a grant and in the in the word grant, but it was really a reimbursement. I didn't choose to do it because you had to buy

047all the money. You had to pay up front and then wait for the reimbursement because there was a grant set and then the USDA the government cut that whole grant back. So if you wanted to participate, you had to pre purchase it. It was a grant that was supposed to link schools and farmers to to schools. It it got a little convoluted. It was basically um some corporations in in my opinion that have popped up calling themselves farms and then charging a higher than normal price. You know, a good example is somebody who's trying to sell lettuce locally at like $135 a case. the same case of lettuce that I could get from a Cisco or Thirsten or another distributor for like 50 bucks. But they're like, "It doesn't matter. You're going to get reimbursed."

048You know, it just didn't make good sense. So, it's the one grant sadly that I did not go for. It just didn't seem to make good sense for us. Um, but there is some incentives to buy buy local, but they're not quite set to be good for everybody. Thank you for keeping us. >> Yeah, thank you >> for sharing. >> I wish I had better news. Honestly, >> this is how everything is now with everything coming in. >> Yeah, I think like I say when we started this journey years ago a lot of there was some some years the board will pay some years the school will pay and it's been a shuffle of but now >> everybody know how to get commodities when you started. We weren't even getting commodities. >> We have a

049freezer to store. >> It's a pretty nice freezer, huh? >> Can I Let's see if maybe maybe you know, maybe you don't know the answer. Maybe Amy, maybe you know the answer. Dei, maybe you know the answer. >> Maybe anyone here knows the answer. >> It doesn't seem like we budget for almost anything for food service. When we start the year, >> Yeah. >> we're budgeting virtually no money, $6,000 for the entire cost of lunch. >> Yeah. And then what happens is we get a revenue which offsets our obviously our expenditure. So does that is that >> okay different I'll get all this I promise but >> can we budget revenue can you budget and in other words we we should be able to estimate predict to a degree >> the first year we've ever

050had to pay anything out bund things we've always come out even. But for a future idea to help us >> just the idea would be if we know how many kids we can get a we can we can we can get a close estimate of what we should we should get therefore we can determine how much we should spend >> therefore not being in that situation hopefully. But here I'm just saying if anyone knows the answer we only budgeted a total of $6,635 for the entire lunch program. it cost, you know, uh, net net cost was about 34,000. So, the net cost, right? So, we're in the whole 28ish,000 on that. >> Do you know if that's >> typically in the practice to budget, but we also had excess funds and I think Adam sort

051of I wasn't always part of the budgeting. >> I would think you would be. I just didn't know if >> we would maybe have to talk to the accountant because with the expenditure only budget if we end up taking in more than what we're spending that I think that has to go to the town. >> So I think we'd have to ask the accountant if like >> and that might that's what that might just be the strategy. >> Yeah. Right. Right. That's what I'm thinking is so then >> flip a coin and hope you get >> reimburse himself with the revenue versus it going back to the town. >> But in this case you're out. You're out. >> Right. It's a right. It was a roll of the dice. And >> is that probably how

052it's been then? We roll the dice. >> It's been here. >> We had 401 and it was little profit. Little profit. >> Yeah. We never had >> And then it's you know like the propos not budgeting not budgeting expenditures. >> Right. Not budgeting expenditures. And then it jumped to Yeah. The difference is suddenly the 30 grand you know the 28 28 when we had been up six grand. So it was like minor negligible year over year forever. >> It was negligible for the last this year. >> Okay. Happy. >> Do we know what the difference? The the main the main difference. >> What was the main difference that this year we went in the whole over 30 grand? If we were up four last year and down 28 this year in the whole 32,000. Do

053we know >> a lot of it? One is um everybody back to full pay when everybody was free for breakfast which was so we transitioned from co co came hybrid everybody free then we were everybody free for another year then it went to um lunches were paid for breakfast for free. We were really aggressive about sending kids home with breakfast. Our breakfast reimbur you for that. Our breakfast reimbursements really carried us until this past year when we were back to full pay everywhere. >> 2425 was the first year back to normal. >> Everybody back to full pay and in a district where we're only 20 high 20% free and reduced. >> You know, it's it's >> I say when [Music] I'm sorry, I don't know if I should talk or not. when they were budgeting

054for last year's budget, it was still very unknown whether or not they were going to cover lunches and breakfasts. >> Yes. >> So, I think it was not put in the budget >> either out of the state >> and that's why there was such a >> I think it's pretty clear they're not going to give us free breakfast from the state or feds or free anything this year. >> It seems to be the case. >> Yeah. If you go back to like the 16 to 21, we always were breaking even. It was just with the co we were breaking even making some money and we got new refrigerator things like that and um it's just now that we're back. >> We didn't look into the right numbers. >> We haven't touched our prices long enough

055to compensation. >> Yeah. We didn't raise prices last year. We probably should have and then we could go to 425 this year without people choking. So, are we going to table this for next time? >> Um, Scott, what do you think? Do we Do you need a couple more minutes to ruminate on it? I'm not. >> If your enrollment's down again and you're going to fund another quarter per lunch, you're going to be down more than $28,000. >> Unless something else is significantly different, which it doesn't sound like you're expecting anything to be significantly different. The only thing that would have been different if those ovens you were talking about before, if those were purchased this year and part of this was a very high, you know, capital expense. That doesn't seem to be the

056case either. So, your capital is in good shape, right? You don't have to worry about that. That's good. Um, you're staffed. I'm sure we're staffed >> appropriately. We're not overstaffed. >> And so, if you don't raise it, um, regardless of what I still understand that other part about we have to cover that. That's new for me because we don't, again, states are different, but >> yeah. >> Um, we can choose our own rate and charge the rate and that's the rate. >> Yeah. >> It sounds like you can do that here too, though. I'll share the tool tool with you if you'd like. It's a paid lunch equity does come. It's a federal tool that that we do use. It comes from the state department. But um >> you have any idea when we might

057get the race if we're going to get a raise? >> I don't know when they re they announced the new reimbursement rates. You know, your first claim really for August, September isn't due until October 15th. You know, usually you see those new fed rates somewhere late August typically. I would hate my first things out of my mouth to say charge parents more money. >> Yeah, I know. >> So, um um I guess um >> um selfishly maybe be punt let me look at this a little closer and get a little bit more under under it >> before I can make a recommendation. Is that that's okay with you guys? >> Amy already said that was okay to just start out. >> Okay. >> So, you don't just send out something that says >> when they

058get the menu? >> Yeah. the prices are on top of. >> Do you send that out before our next beat or event meeting when because depends when you have it? That'll have forms on it. So, we have an August meeting. If you have an August meeting, we might be right in there. >> We'll have to have an August meeting depending on the referendum up or down. Regardless, we got to have a meeting. We can't skip August this year, which we have in the past. >> Right. Thank you. >> Well, thank you very much for for the detailed discussion. Always always a pleasure to >> you this year. >> It's a tough year. You know reality honestly it's it's it's actually a tough year. >> So everybody else in the area >> everybody else is pretty

059much raising. >> Grizzled went a year ago. They were they've been at four and >> the rest are in the same discussions of what they're going to >> they're still discussing. you know, when the state department of ed uh comes to review, that's really when they really dig deep. So, Grizzled was we anticipated and did have a administrative review. So, we did proactively raise it prior to so >> we're not new here yet for probably another year and a half or so. So, we're hoping it's fun. Certainly if Scott if you want I'll share you that I'll up forward you that pay much equity letter that comes out typically second week of June it comes out of the year in theory gives you a chance to make the adjustments before >> great thank you very

060much >> okay so item number three um any public comments um I've hard seen anybody coming in at this I think Jen has something. >> Oh, Jen. Oh, no. >> I just want to I know you guys are discussing what's going on with the high school thing. I just want to because I have people asking questions, but particular drivers who need to know everything about everything. I just want to information. >> Yeah. All right. Yep. >> Okay. >> All right. We'll move to item number four, consent agenda. Um, everyone's had a chance to look at that. I know with with Scott being new here, he um looked at a few of these items. It's more of interest to him at this point. Um, we're all we all look at it monthly. But um if we're

061comfortable with those items, do we have a motion to approve as presented? >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Unheard. Motion passes to approve. Move to item number five, the administrative reports. So this letter July is typically slow, but we started um summer school. We have seven students who are in summer school. We have two teachers um teaching that. It wraps up actually next week. So they've been in about five weeks. So four or five weeks already so far. Um we are preparing for the abatement on the 17th. So that is coming up um right as soon as summer school ends. They come in within that next hour and they'll start um preparing classrooms for those last four classrooms for the full abatement um of those rooms. One thing

062about enrollment I just wanted to let everyone, you know, just kind of know, we probably have enrolled um or going to be enrolling between preschool and kindergarten probably about 10 10 to 15 kids. Um but we are also losing every time I every time my you know Facebook comes up somebody else has posted a house for sale and volunt um break even with enrollment if not uh maybe a few less. There are quite a few kids who are moving transferring. Um so you know those numbers are always a ride in the summer but we're kind of working through that right now. Um, I have not gotten I meant to ask Darlina any high school enrollments yet. Um, which is interesting for us because typically people want, you know, not so much even transferring but within

063district but transferring from, you know, Canterbury, Stony, wherever, um, and moving here. And we, um, oddly enough, haven't gotten any. So, um, that was pretty sad. >> We talked last time about teachers who have gone away. I had shared with Scott, um, Val, Sarah, and Tula made it to Austin, Texas. They went to the Elevate conference. Um they met people, you know, like Jerry Brooks was there, you know, that that guy. Uh he was there. He was great. Um a couple other full accent, >> I believe. So she got me a signed copy of the book. They're like, "We got you a book." I'm like, "Thank you." Um he was there. A lot of people that you see on like TikTok, you know, they do these conferences. So um >> hysterical. >> He's hysterical. So

064they met him and and the people at this Elevate Conference, a lot of good things that they um have. and Karen's away right now doing that intensive with the Native Americans down at Moheagen Sun. So, that'll be interesting to hear and see, you know, what's, you know, happened for that. But other than that, um, >> we've got we've got an African safari happening at the school. >> Lauren has been away in Africa. Yeah, that's like that's amazing seeing some of those pictures. I'm like, "Wow, you really like went all in." Like she was out there. >> Yeah, of course she did. Of course she did. Um, out there in the jungle. So, that was pretty cool to see. Incredible. >> Um, >> I think that I mean for me that's it. >> Six years achieved.

065There's all sorts of stuff. It's just incredible work. >> There's a lot of good stuff. So, >> yep. That's great. >> Okay. That's it for me. >> That's it. >> Okay. Well, thank you. >> It's number two. We have to welcome our officially the official welcome at your first board meeting in July and your your sojourn from New Jersey to Volunt Connecticut on time squeezed to Sunday. >> When we map when we mapped this out, this week was the week. This is it. >> So, but we're good. Um, so one of the things right off the bat that I'm diving into is the buses. So, we have that actually was brought up at the town meeting as well. Someone asked a question about that. We um have provided a purchase order to a company to

066purchase the four buses, but at this moment we do not have a plan for payment. There's no approved loan. There's no lease purchase agreement. There's just a we've ordered buses. So, I'm in the middle of uh two things. One, um getting a getting a loan. The way you do that, the best way to do that is to make sure you're getting a few quotes so you're getting the best rate. So, the person who's selling the buses, Scott Davis, is also going to provide us a quote >> for that. Um, and we have a Wells Fargo quote. I don't know if it's still in play because it's a little old. >> Yeah, that one, >> but I'll I'll I'll I'll go through a process to get at least one more. So, we'll have three quotes to

067get the best rate. >> Um, the big deal right now, Scott Davis was here today and he is giving us his offer on trade value for the buses. >> So, we're going to hear what that is. Uh the original numbers you might have seen was an expectation of 30,000 per bus >> in the trade. So it would offset so the loan I think would have been $389,000. Um and you had a five or six year choice. The rate was pretty similar for five or six years. Um and it was about $100,000. So that's currently in the budget is $100,000 lease payment is budgeted. So that money's accounted for for next year. Um and just just when you realize when you do this, you account for it every year. So, you know, that's not that's not

068going down. >> Um, so once we get the uh quote on the buses, which you should have tomorrow, as well as the um loan, we can then actually budget the appropriate amount uh and make any adjustments to the budget at that point. But that's that's the deal. Now, if if I will say if the quote doesn't come in >> high enough, um probably get more quotes on the trade in value of the buses. Selling buses, yeah, >> depending on the age and the mileage is not hard. >> Um because there people would rather buy, you know, a $20,000 bus than a $120,000 bus as long as it has enough life. >> So you can determine the value by the life that you have to sell buses after 12 years. >> You can't use them, so

069they're worthless. If you're getting rid of bus in 12 years, it's scrap. Sell us for $2,000 for the whole bus. It's a great opportunity to buy a bus and make a van out of it or something, but it has no other value to a school district after 12 years. And then um mileage is not know is that but looking at at at the budget process for this um you had a high maintenance cost because cost went to maintain these buses. So by buying new buses, you reduce your maintenance cost and add that to the p lease purchase cost. So um we do this currently where where I am, we do every five years. Our entire fleet is we have 67 buses. Our entire fleet is 5 years old and every 5 years after the balloon

070payment is about to be paid, we sell the buses and we get five new ones. That's just how we do it and it's been very effective and uh we'll see if we can get into a rhythm in the same in the same way if if it's cost effective enough. So we'll see how long you know what these buses finally come in at and I'll present that to the board. Um I should have that for the next meeting or even before I'll send that to you and um we can go from there. But you've already committed to the buses. >> Yeah. So, the buses are being purchased. They're not in yet. Uh, August 15th, I believe, is what Scott said. So, wow. Before day one. That's That's all I wanted you to say. I was having

071>> a road by day one. >> You're right. You're right about there because August 15th, they come in, but then that's not that's not here, right? So, then here they got you got to do things to the buses. Yeah. So, you're going to join our transportation planning meeting. So, you're welcome. And that's when we will discuss. >> Actually, my question, did you get a chance to see the um transportation consultant report out presentation? >> Yes. >> So, one of the things that he had mentioned, I like skimmed slightly. Um, one of the things he had mentioned was potentially working with the town hall to see about having like could we make an arrangement with somebody to come and actually maintain the buses at the town garage right over here. >> Um, because that was is

072heavily underutilized and we're spending a lot of time and money sending two bus drivers. >> It's the ultimate shared service. >> Yeah. Any thoughts on that or >> if if if it is cost effective. >> Okay. you know, um, >> they have no maintenance. They send all >> No, we would have to we would have to have somebody an agreement with a No, no, we could have an agreement with a mechanic that could come and utilize the town garage. Like it could be on a monthly rotation or a >> bi or whatever. >> One of the districts I worked for, what we did is we we ran transportation for four districts and we ran the maintenance department for our district, the township, the local school district. We we serviced all the buses and that was

073that's how we offset our costs. >> So if we can if we can do a shared service with the township at a minimum then that's something to absolutely explore. >> Correct. >> I don't know if it's going to be effective but we should explore it. >> Yeah. No agreed. And even if you can have somebody come if we have to create an you know some sort of service agreement consultant agree consultant but for buses you know um to have somebody come out so that the bus drivers aren't having to bring you know two bus and all of that it would even probably I think be helpful even if the town doesn't have a resource >> that would certainly help the transportation coordinator has somebody she could speak with right in person across the parking lot

074>> about issues I have heard that the town does not have the mechanic for their vehicles that they're all under warranty. So, we would either need to find somebody to come directly for the buses. Um, I don't think I I don't know what the bus who who uses who who services them. >> They have them garage. >> They have them all under warranty. Clarels does it buses and Gary's does work on the vans. >> Um, and but to get I don't know if Emo is allowed to freelance. He's our mechanic that we've followed from place to place. If he's allowed to do work on weekends or set up a monthly schedule, >> we can work we can work and see what's possible here. >> Yeah, >> because there's a way to show >> but we

075had said that the last meeting after that after the great presentation that we need the >> was a great >> It was great. Just we needed it to like condense but timing with the budget stuff was just going to be >> so I think between now and >> a month from now we should get that on the docket. the software tracking as well for the >> right the track. >> That was a strong recommendation. >> Is it called ref tracking >> how we collect money? >> That only cost like00 >> if you're able. Can you can you send me the four buses the year? >> Yeah. >> And the mileage? >> Yep. I can tell you right now they're all 2017s. Um but I can get you the mileage for >> You said 12 years.

076I have some life. Yeah. >> so 2017 is the model year. I think they were purchased in 2018, but >> yeah, if you if you just send me that, I can. So, >> yeah, I'd love to work with the committee and see if we come up with some ideas to cut a little cost but keep the buses rolling. >> Yeah. Great. >> Thanks for volunteering. voluntary volunteering volunte one of the other things that uh it'll be it'll be like a year-long probably process is um policy practice and protocol and just looking at um that >> I love and and >> there there was we we said yay Um, so that that was all inclusive. I'll give you an example of one that I'm not suggesting a change. I'm just suggesting um something I'm going to

077keep looking at. So the agenda, and Dee knows this is probably coming. She probably wasn't expecting it tonight, though. But the agenda has motions >> um and under new business. So when we get to new business, the t9 coordinator and homeless liaison, someone is going to make the motion. Is that what's going to happen? >> Yes. >> Right. So as part of a consent agenda, >> if we want to I mean if we deem it >> there's usually conversation first. >> Yes. >> So that and that's what DD shared. So that's going to be interesting for me to watch. So um a consent agenda could have all that done already. And then the only uh time that you would have a discussion would be when someone wants a discussion on the certain one. So >>

078you can pull it off content consent to have the discussion for it too. >> You don't even have to pull it off. That's the beauty. You can leave it on the consent agenda and then you can simply say discussion. I'd like to discuss um 72 and if if everyone agrees it's already on the consent. Then when you vote for the consent it's done. I'm not suggesting we make a change. just as I see things, if it's okay, if that's what you're hoping I do, I would keep pointing stuff out. And then some of them might be Scott, that's a horrible idea. Don't do that. So, that's interesting. We can explore that. Um, that's on on but on the policy side. Um, looking at um I'm looking at the purchase orders and one of the things

079I noticed was a purchase order for a company and when I exploring just a little bit, I wanted to know how the company came to be a border proof company. If it's not a board approved company, just just do the worst case scenario. You have someone working on the building who's not a board approved company and something horrible happens. That's that's one of those really bad things, right? Um so I'm trying to look at the policy to see how do we actually do that? How do we ensure that anyone who works in the buildings has been vetted through the Connecticut state protocols >> and because that protects the board that protects the town >> from that and so um >> I'm just going to keep looking at those things >> and do a policy manual

080probably overview >> um uh as we go and u if there's any I bring it up because if there are any that you already know of like you're interested in just some let me know as you come across them yourselves. Um, also systems and structures just that's what I'm supposed to do. So, I'll be doing that, but not to change things in all honesty. It's just to look and see if there's efficiencies. It's a new set of eyes. You just try that and you see if it if it if it if it takes. If it doesn't, we move on. Um, and um, I hope that's why I'm here to help with those things. Um, but that's that that for me, this is fun for me. Like that's really kind of sad for my life. But

081that's actually like like >> not it's sad for you. It's sad for >> Oh, it's very sad. >> This was a five and a half hour drive and most of the drive was on the phone call dealing with a very complex issue. Um right now um and she's going another drive, another >> complex issue >> like you she sometimes you realize I'm here. I'm sitting next to you. So um but yes, I I get into this. This is going to be like entertainment and um uh I'll present as I find and >> you might see some numbers like 87 198. >> Yeah, I did see some of those that we've been working on the 90s >> and then how how regulations occur. Yeah. Right. So board owns policy in traditional sense board policy admin owns

082regulation but some boards like to own both and there's no there's no right or wrong to that just those are the things I'll so that that's caught my attention if that's okay um the buses um now the food service that's that'll be um >> and you've seen the committee like the committee assignments of like all the >> the subcommittees and people that are on them so you know you've friends everywhere and you can obvious viously welcome to join all of them. So >> I think that was was that volunteer. >> Thank you very much. I should I should stop talking. I mean >> you just welcomed yourself to two. So >> I did. >> Um but yeah and also anything you can do to help our our our principal make her her life. >> So

083I did want to say that I said the other night but um you know Amy has been wonderful. So, thank you. Thank you. Um, DD, >> I mean, he did bring me a donut cake, guys. >> You know, from guys, well played. >> It is right by the house, so I can write right by the donut cake. They open at 5:00. It's a beautiful thing. So, I can do that. >> Um, but um and then Dee, Darlina, and Crystal, everyone has been wonderful. Um, it's been a great a great start. It's not that many days in yet. I think four four days maybe we did four days so far but um I'm thrilled. So thank you again and um just going to keep going to keep plowing away at all this and uh keep trying

084to do whatever they can to support the town and the school district and uh ultimately whatever the kids need. >> So uh the other the other part which we'll talk about soon and old business is going to be the high school. So >> that's another big one. >> Great. S got me started on that during the interview process. >> You're welcome. >> I was I was volunting before I got here. >> Annoy him too much. Right. We'll try. No promises, though. >> This is the dark side, right? >> This is the This is the dark side. Okay. Can we switch sides? >> Oh, >> a little buffer. >> Yeah. >> That on Tuesday. So, >> anyway, um Okay. Are you are you happy to move on now? >> Yeah, I'm going down to just let

085you >> I can babble a lot so keep going. Yeah. >> Okay, we'll move on to old business then. Um Okay, then that that opens for high schools. Yeah, high school option discussions. So, um I know we um we made some decisions last well, we've had lots of discussion since February at at this point between um our high school choice committee, the transportation committee, then turned into high school choice committee and through our discussions in um in um combination with our overview of the transportation discussion and consultation and things that we have had more research done. Um and again that presentation last month that really brought to light kind of findings from a from a official perspective quite helpful. Um we've made decisions around um the the high school choice. Um and so we just

086wanted to open that up to you or at this point we've made some decisions around which choices um we want to offer transportation to based on um lottery system decisions and other you know fiscal choices of transport transporting certain amounts of school and dimining diminishing enrollment to those schools. Um, and now it's a point of um, bringing that forth to families and and and bringing the community in to discuss that. I know we talked about that a little bit as well and I don't know if you want to share your thoughts on that. >> Um, what what's interesting about the high school options is um, the transportation and how many high schools you have. Obviously, that's pretty unique for 119 high schoolers with currently eight or nine high school options, but that's pretty pretty awesome

087for kids to be able to have those choices. Um, with the financial situation the way it is and that that is a bleak situation nationwide, not not just Rolling Town, um, being fiscally responsible as well is important. So I think when you were looking at the Ellis for example, um the interesting thing about that that decision is no one is kind of hurt by it. It was really like a nice way to look at that. And in speaking about that the other day, it's not a decision that's that's etched in stone. It's a decision you make, but you can you can revert it if it if it's meaningful. So I asked I asked I asked Ann to give me the the uh date the the annual cost of else. I think it was 30. >>

088Yeah. >> To to run the bus to Ellis is $30,000. It's a one round bus. It just leaves from here to Ellis, Ellis to here. That's it. Um so a tuition student in any one of the three high schools um Norwich, Griswald, Wheeler. >> Yeah. >> Um is an average of 14,000. One is around 13, one's 14, one's 15. So it's almost two kids is a break even. on Ellis. If they don't go to Ellis, um then they're going to go they most likely will go to a paid high school and so >> or they go package. >> They could go they could go to another one. We don't know where they're going to wind up. >> We don't know what this lottery system whether have any. >> But the beauty of what you designed

089was that in three years if six kids get into >> Ellis Tech, you're not overpaying for the transportation. and you would be able to look at that and make a decision in the best interest of students without making a fiscally irresponsible decision. It would be a fiscally responsible decision and it's a really nice safety net. So, what we talked about was um I mentioned this briefly, Amy, the other day, but um I would love to work with Amy on on getting this out to the public in September in a in a really positive way um and really talking it out and talking about these high schools in this way. And um I think we can do a really nice job in explaining this in a way that people understand and even can appreciate the board's

090thinking on this um how we best support kids in a fiscally responsible way and still provide opportunities. And you know if you if you have one kid and we can't afford to bus the parent at least still can make the decision to go there because if you don't designate a high school you can't you can't provide funds to it. So, you have a series of designated high schools, the policy 511, I believe. So, if you if you don't have it on the list that I want my student or my child to go to high school Z, but you only go through Y, you can do that, but you're you're disenrolling from volunte. That's how that would play out. And you're going to that school on your own. You're you're 100% on your So for a

091technical school that is free tuition is through our state tax dollars. Would that still be considering like deenrolling from >> you have to choose to have that school as a designated school? >> Okay. So we have to bus there in order for do we have to bus >> I'll double check. I don't mind this. >> I would think in my world of this if if it's a school I've designated, then I'm responsible for that >> transportation. >> So, um that's what you have to watch in the designation list. >> Yeah. >> Because if you leave it on and you say we're just not going to transport and a student gets in, you might still have to transport. >> Yeah. But I'm I'm gonna I'm gonna really get under the skin of that particular issue because

092that was something I dealt with when I when I had a K8 school district where um it was a it was a contentious issue of should transportation be provided by by a district. And it works out that we wouldn't have had a choice if we designated a high school. But states are different. So I'm gonna spend a little time on that beforehand. But um we can work on that with with Ann, Amy, myself, and the committee. I'm assuming that's part of the committee. You were like on all the committees. I think you were on every committee. You had 45 to 50 different abbreviations. I didn't know what one of those abbreviations meant, but Amy was like had every abbreviation in Connecticut. >> Doesn't mean I was go to every committee, right? >> I just like

093getting the minutes on building committee. I don't know, but I just I'm not there. >> Yeah. >> Brian go. But if if we if we can get all of those answers. >> Yeah. >> So that the board has all the facts. >> Yeah. >> And then we could we could really do a nice job presenting to the community on on why some of these decisions are being made in in a clear way, opportunity for public comment and questions and answer, but really spend time with the community on this. And um that's how I would approach it. And I think I think with the forethought already put in, you kind of gave me a running start with this. >> Yeah. So, thank you for that. And and Sarah put me through this on the interview process.

094So, um I I did have a little bit of a head start understanding some of the challenges and complexities of the high school um in here. So, again, geek I am. This is going to be entertaining and fun to do this and I think the community would um appreciate that level of of effort from um us. >> Absolutely. Yeah. I think that's a >> Yeah. Um, I mean, despite what you know, what decisions were made, that's fine. It's just more like I think I I think that's one of the greatest parts about welcoming you into the community and and introducing you to the families is going to be that that collaboration piece of it of of having opportunities to have spotlight nights or whatever, you know, that is of interest to the to the families

095and and we can have conversations like that and it'll be I think that'll be a warm welcome. >> I just think before so to send out. Yeah. >> Um well, I think there's a two things. One, in September, September 9th, we invite high schools that are designated to come. >> I know it's quick. They come >> right. >> I do have, you know, I have to email them at some point and say, "Please put this on your >> um we have Killingly, we have QMC. Um QMC." >> We took QMC off. So, I'm assuming, but but then the policy needs to be updated if that's what you're saying. We need to take So policy is big. >> So if you don't update the policy and my kid gets into that you said I'm thinking QVC

096but I don't >> think >> you have a policy that says you designate that as a high school >> right now. So if you don't adjust that policy which is a first read second read adoption it's two meetings. Do you already have did you already do a first read on that change? >> They were given the policy to review with no changes on it. It was never like >> so so that's >> but they made the motion to conce but there was never a first reading. I don't so I don't know. >> Yeah we were we had from February on we've we've had discussed the policy it's been included into the packet. That's a first read then. >> So, so it sounds like we need a second read then. >> We can do a second

097adoption same night. >> Yes. So, we need to do that for August. >> We should probably do that for August. And because these applications, so um just so everybody knows, applications start in potentially October. So we take our kids to schools which the public schools we we take them to NFA and we go to the Griswell day and we do that. Um >> but the application process will start in November for them. So it's kind it's fast because then they you know especially for like lottery system they don't get back to you until after the new year you know so it's it's almost a full year by the time you kind of figure out um what you're doing. So um and the open house that we provide on it's like the 9th of September. It's

098really early like they go back to school and then like 10 days later we have an open house which is great for the families to meet their teachers and like you know understand like the the um junior high does a big you know >> presentation on their like their agenda for the year and things like expectations >> and that's where people start and we encourage them starting in sixth grade you need to start walking through these high school selections because there are a lot you're not just saying one you know so we start hopefully when they're younger >> um So that on top of all their other open house items, there's also the sending schools that come with it and they hand out flyers and information and then those sending schools then they have their

099open house. So then the families can be like, well, >> yeah, >> there's a lot and it happens. >> So we we get that done in August. >> We need to get all done in August. >> Sorry. What about the second policy? because we didn't know there was another policy that lists the designate mentions the designated high school list as well. That's not so do you want them both? >> You've already discussed both of them. So, in a first read format. So, we're going to go with they've already had a first read. >> We only knew the one I didn't know there was a second one. >> You I have I have them. So, um I will look at that and if we need to do a a first and second, we can do that.

100But >> let me look at it first. We got to figure out all of the no schools by August. >> Well, it's the second week, so it's already it's already what we established, but we're going to read it again to see if there's any changes. >> Probably have to be a few more changes. >> There might be. Why not? Yeah. I mean, it's from what what we amended the first time around. >> We only amended once where we had nobody really going. QMC QMC >> QMC and the Boag is not a problem that nobody was right that's when we wanted to go to Ledger and we had gone to Ledger. >> Yeah. >> And I but I think to your point about explaining to the community I think Ledger's another good example of pointing out

101that the thought process for the board around why was because of the expanded educational offering that that school had. and and Jackie Balanc Court who just retired but she was um really supportive of the Ledger program because it offered more than Kelly >> and no one's in the other one >> and no one years of knowing. So you're you're you're making a decision to hopefully attract give kids another option of VOAG they might want to go to. What do we see about the fish school? >> Marine science. >> So that one is was phased out transportation. >> So again for the so >> for the >> not being designated. >> Yes. So for the upcoming >> recycle it through >> school year >> QVMC is non-desated. Killingly is not designated. Ellis and we are adding

102Ledger. >> So we're taking Ellis off definitely >> as not phasing out transport. So Ellis is phasing out transportation. So there are currently students enrolled at Marine and Ellis and we will be phasing out transportation for those currently enrolled high school students. Um and starting for the incoming eighth grade school year >> of which nobody got in. >> Sorry. No, but for the in the this year class, right, they will have Yes. >> NFA, uh Norwich Tech, Grizzled, Wheeler, Ledger, >> Ledger, Boag, >> Boag. >> And that's it. That seems to know. Yeah. And students can apply to any magnet stool theor magnet school theoretically anywhere in the state. We just don't provide transportation. No towns really do. We have >> Yeah. >> But we're curtailing that. >> Yeah. >> Especially because of the the

103lottery system. It's it's a huge and the cost. I mean >> doing the cost study of what made the most sense and where we're sending >> any other town transports to magnet schools. >> I think I think it depends their proximity to the school. like I think our area uh peers what we saw when we uh did the case study um was was a look at you know what what some of the practices are of our surrounding town. So what does Sterling Canterbury Griswald even do? Um and they are phasing out transportation to things like Mary Science. So you have to drop them if >> you're pretty sure they phase out the transport. We got to drop them as >> well. I mean it's and the our the um the tenor that we are discussing

104this with is the lottery system is really a huge you know >> cluster that nobody has control over. It's really limiting and kind of disappointing for kids you know that set their hopes on it. go visit the school and then they're given a big no. And that's happening over and over in the past like four years where they're getting completely locked out of schools. And you know, for for our purposes, you know, if we're trying to look at things holistically, that's that's just it's unfair to all of us to to then and then you get one and then you have to transport them and it's just so limiting. If we have five or however many our total is, that's a really solid educational course load that we can send to our, you know, Yeah, we

105have a decent number of those this year. >> Yeah, we have 26 between the two tech schools. That that was actually my question that I had is are are there any organizations or anything around that like you can keep in touch with other superintendent or I mean I know there's cave and things like that, but >> to see because I mean 26 students over the next four years that's a lot of tuition. It's like 15,000 a person. So, I'm just wondering if there's a way that um we can keep like in touch of what's happening with >> with the lottery if I know some people have talked about um reaching out to our local representative who is Brian Lenu to see if there's any chatter on the floor. I know you said you've had people

106that have >> freedom of information stuff. So, >> um I wonder if the formula trying to >> Yeah. So, I'm wondering if there how we stay on cuz that's I mean 26 I mean right now I don't think Norwich is at the lottery yet, right? >> But what's going to happen is once all the Ellis kids can't get into Ellis, they're all going to move over to Norwich and then the same thing's going to happen. >> So for us to have to plan for another 26 tuitions, that's >> really scary. It's it's very scary. >> And we might get nobody into a tech school. I I was at a dinner not long ago for somebody become an Eagle Scout and there was a whole group of I ended up sitting with a whole group of

107teachers from Melis department heads. Uh one of their kids was the uh Eagle Scout. So um and they were saying they have no idea and they were told often you may get no students ever from a town. It could go on for years. >> No matter how many apply it could go on for years. It's a simple lottery. And then of course now they're they were they were worried about that now special ed almost full special ed can apply and they'll be dropped into this lottery system. There won't be >> but that doesn't mean that it can't be changed. You know if enough people >> we can make a lot of assumptions when we >> Yeah. I mean, they could >> put the the tenor of us making this adjustment now. It's not that it's,

108you know, it's not >> that's why that's why I'm hoping Scott has a way to at least keep in touch with the other superintendent. >> So, we do we we have a small school >> superintendent group like Yeah, I've been invited to join them already. So >> no Adam went like every like >> I remember him saying that they were talking every single month he would talk about the meeting that >> Adam would go every month or whatever >> stuff. I think the nice thing about the five school consolidation is that you're not going to have kids that are applying for schools and applying for this lottery and waiting to see if they get in and then the disappointment comes in January and now they're scrambling to figure out what they want to do next.

109By giving them these five where none of them have a lottery, the kids, the parents can actually make a decision going forward that's best for their family and not hinging on some lottery system that we have no control over. Yeah. >> So, all right. That um any other thoughts before we move to um we'll see see what the second reading Well, we'll look at that next month and plan for that for August and then um get right into that discussion whether it's an adaptation to the open house when you've got the the um not adaptation but addition to the open house to kind of gather people while they're still there. I mean, you might get most eyeballs for that. ears for that. But >> okay, great. >> Old bit business item number two is the

110central office building name. Um oh I uh we did I did reach out to um to the town hall on that just to to get their their thoughts on on a public building and what we could do. So I have not yet heard back but it's out there. we can um know well we won't rush on it but I'm sure that's being >> busy over there right now. So um anyway I thought that would be like a little bright spot in the in the email train they're getting >> glad to note. Um okay so that's the update there and then it we have faculty and staff updates. Um I don't know if that >> it's in there. >> I know. Is it >> you all? >> I believe she just provided you the >> the

111copy of the um >> the assignments. >> Oh, okay. >> I just think it was updated. So it was provided >> not committee is the other one. The other one. >> Oh yeah, it's on the back side. >> The last one. Um, >> well, we have the new third grade teacher. >> Um, are there like different >> Yeah. So, the addition would be Scott >> and then um Megan Black. >> Command. Okay. >> Megan Black should be added on there and then we'll we'll get another update in August because the resignation you're going to accept will then come off and then if anybody else comes on. >> Scott, feel free to join the Youth Service Bureau as well. Those meetings are all virtual. >> Four times a year. Yeah. Right. >> Five o'clock. >> I'm

112on that one. I'm volunte. >> That's a fun one though. That's a plenty of money. We said kids sailing. >> Yeah. Fish out here and they all have an educational component. that then I think they do. >> This is a oneoff on that. You might know this Christopher, but um the choice and Amy might know the choice of Mondays. >> We should not break that. >> Um YSB days for kids. >> Here's why. Because people who teach YSB are teachers. >> Yes. >> And our faculty meetings are usually on Tuesdays. Yeah. >> And then so because of that she did Mondays and then because of sport programming we typically play games especially basketball season that's like the biggest >> game on a Monday >> something always happening and that's why YSB goes you know typically

113she has done some offset days based on like Mrs. Cipphert's schedule Mrs. you know who'sever else's schedule. Um yeah, Mondays are hard. Kids forget members. >> But sometimes it is so consistently Monday that people just know to like they can do it, they can do it. If they can't, they can't. But >> and that might actually I mean Mondays might be the best day also for Melinda in her actual real time job. Um that also could >> No, no judgment on days. I guess it was like was there like a in a way >> ISB also has something called the JRB in Connecticut which are the juvenile re review boards >> and what happened was the state kind of took truency and juvenile matters away from themselves and gave it to the towns and the

114juvenile review boards meet. We've never had one. >> We've never had one. We do have one >> and you meet with the parents and student and or youngster and put forth some directives, things that would help them that they actually don't have to follow and there's no teeth in it. It's uh kind of an interesting situation. We've never had one here, but that's something we have that's kind of unique to Connecticut. >> It's more like kicking the can >> to the local. >> Yeah. No, I get that. Yeah. Yeah. >> And it does help in a lot of cases in other towns depending on the issue and >> and others. No, >> we don't have any never. >> Our kids are good. >> Um Okay. Well, that was a that's our latest update on on

115faculty and staff. Um, we also obviously we had five retirees, so it is, you know, we'll have some transitioning teachers to different um different roles. I know Mike's working with, you know, with within his technology role and helping learn, so that's a, you know, he'll be doing that this summer. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, that'll be um that'll be an adjustment just, you know, having, you know, learn versus having him on site. But we still have Mike, which, you know, hopefully he's not wearing two hats too much. But it is it is good to still have somebody here that knows the the role. Um and other than that, we'll see what comes um for new business. Moving to that, the CAB and CAPS convention, that's our annual conference. Um that is held in Mystic. Um so

116it's local enough. Um all board members are encouraged to go. Um I know this will be a big year since introducing Scott to all of our friends there which will be um I'll be talking a lot. So um that's November 21st and 22nd. Um the big day is Friday which is kind of the the hardship for working folk. So um but if if you can mark it and it's a it's worthwhile. I think um Cardo is the the lead speaker this year. So >> Oh, who is Cardoza? >> Oh wow. The guy last year was very good. He explained AI to >> that was incredible. Yeah, he was. But he was just he's a slip in kind of like they had to like >> change out somebody. >> They got some, you know, he was

117incredible. He could make you understand how AI and how it develops and how it codes out, you know, for people who didn't understand. >> He was an MIT professor. So, >> he was very >> he knew how to tell the speaker tell this tell the story. So, um, okay. And then for item number two is the, um, Title N coordinator and homeless liaison. And that's, um, Rachel Sahu. Um, so we, um, need a motion to appoint Rachel as the coordinator. She's been our second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Unheard. Motion passes. Thank you, Rachel, for your support there. Okay. And then um personnel. So um we did receive receive the letter from uh Kathy Stickman. Yeah. >> Wow. >> Retirement after 27 years um as a par professional here and her dedication to all

118the kids of all town. And um we'll certainly certainly miss her and we accept the resignation with great regret, but we certainly hope that you have a wonderful retirement in your next chapter and and um enjoy those grandkids. >> Um do we have a motion to accept? >> Motion with second. >> All in favor? Any >> opposed? and heard motion passes. >> Okay, we're done. >> I know we're close to being okay. Upcoming I know. So, um obviously we have the um the town referendum is on next Tuesday, July 15th. That'll run from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. I got caught by that. I tried to go in the morning and I was like it was like can't I can't go like what the heck it starts at 12. So, just so you all know,

119it's 12 and um yeah, and please tell all your friends and all the parents out there, please um please come out and support our budget um and and use your right to vote. So, then our next regular board meeting is Thursday, August 14th, and that's um is during my vacation. Do we need a meeting if it goes down again the the fourth Jul the 4th Thursday of July? >> Are we going to wait in a whole almost five almost five weeks before? >> Yeah. The town will probably want us to have a meeting to put a proposal together. >> So the second special meeting date is the second the fourth Friday. The 4:30 >> the 14th. Good for you. you had mentioned. >> Yeah, it'll it'll it'll I'll I'll just I'll be driving. >> Sorry.

120>> If needed, you could set up a meeting one agenda thing. >> You're bringing up something different. We're talking about August being a top >> our board meeting. So, yeah, I know I won't be here. So, or you won't be here. >> We need one in August. >> No, we will not be here. Yes, we need a meeting >> of schools >> in August to do the policies. >> Will we even have a court? >> Well, I mean I can call we can call in if if we want to do it that way. That's not a problem. I just >> as chair I wanted to let you know that I'm just here in person. >> Can we use our second July? >> Can you do it in Connecticut? Can you have a a member count

121if they're on Zoom? >> Yes, >> we do in this group. I was >> New Jersey session. I was going to bring that up. I don't think we have a policy that says >> the state the state would overrule policy anyway. >> We do have a policy that says you can help in >> Yeah. And we've talked to the lawyer about it. >> That's great. >> I can't remember his name, but >> we went through it. >> But some people had to amend their policy to do it and I think we didn't have to >> we don't it doesn't happen much. >> Right. in effect >> which has that wording in it. >> I'm thinking should we have the one the fourth Thursday of July meeting set aside and the only thing I guess would

122be budget >> or policy and policy. >> We could do a budget and policy and get it done that day. >> So the fourth you're talking about >> in meeting if the budget doesn't pass. >> Yeah. >> Should I think there's there's two things. I think there's a contingency plan if the budget doesn't pass. And then the second question is should we have our second July meeting and uh do the second reading of the policy so we can square that high school piece away so Amy can >> Yeah. I'm wondering if we could do the August 14th on the 7th to give you guys like three full weeks. supposed to have a super mandatory agenda and >> like the second reading >> 24th I can't >> any personnel issues >> the 7th or the 31st

123>> is that August >> Thursday August 7th it's just that Thursday before our normal meeting >> we get I can do that >> if the budget gets shot down there'll be statutory >> requirements that Tracy would have to leave >> and now we can do a special meeting any day for that which sign we were using the 24th That's the >> motion. Do you probably But do you want to do this the regular meeting on the 7th then or is that >> Yeah. to change it from the 14th to the 7th. >> So August, but I can >> I might have to call in, but >> that's a motion probably would be a motion. >> Motion to move our August 14th meeting to August 7th. >> Second >> at 6 p.m. Right. At 6 p.m.

124Okay. All in favor? I I any opposed? Unheard. Motion passes to move the regular BO meeting to the Thursday of August. So, okay. And then we'll we'll just keep everyone posted on budget status after after next Tuesday. Be waiting for the for the update, you know, just spend a whole summer. >> Um, great. Well, do we have a motion for that? >> Second. >> I can foul. I can foul. I get the foul. Second this time. >> Who gets second? >> I will. I didn't. >> Yep. I'll favor you. >> Motion passes. >> I think every meeting is I'm literally just a motion to get out of here. Oh, wait.