001Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Um We're excited for the Pledge of Allegiance, thank you. >> Pledge of Allegiance. >> So, we have some new members that uh address us. Want to start with Let me just take a moment to review the uh guidelines for public comment. I think most of you are familiar with it, but um so, I'll give you Thank you for signing the um sheet, so you know, give you a call and then you can uh speak for 3 minutes and Jim will keep track of the time. Um as you know, we always ask that you just conduct yourself calmly, respectfully, avoid any comments about specific staff or students. We do not address uh personnel or student matters. Um and um this is a portion of the agenda for the board to um to
002listen. It's not a discussion period. We but um uh your topic may at some point be added to to to the agenda for discussion and the superintendent uh you know, they they may ask clarifying questions, but there will be a response at any time at this point. So, um Colleen. >> Yes, hi. >> Hi. >> Um Okay. Uh last Tuesday we had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Gabriel, as well know. We discussed the ARC program review and I did leave that meeting feeling cautiously optimistic. At that meeting, I raised a concern that many families in this community share. ARC has declined a structured literacy review by the Reading League three times in 3 years. And yet, while continuing to decline an official review, the Reading League does make the rubric used in that process
003available as a free resource. So, I asked Dr. Gabriel directly, would she be willing to commit to using that rubric now? She said yes. She was open to it and noted that multiple reviewers are typically involved in that process. That felt like a step in the right direction. So, on Thursday, May 7th, we sent an email to the superintendent, the board chair, and copied the first selectman to follow up on this conversation. We made a specific request that a structured literacy expert be included as part of Dr. Gabriel's evaluation team when using the Reading League's rubric to assess Parks' alignment to structured literacy principles. We have not yet received a response. That is why we are here tonight to follow up on that request in person directly with the board. Thank you. >> Thank you.
004So we are preparing a response. >> Yeah, I think we sent it on Thursday. I'm trying to keep up. Obviously, there's a lot of messages that come in um pretty frequently, so I apologize if we haven't gotten a formal response back to you, but I know we are currently working on it. Part of the request was to work in conjunction with Dr. Gabriel, and she has said that I haven't had a conversation with her since the last week that she was So that's that's part of the delay, I guess. >> Appreciate it. Thank you. We'll check in with you. >> Um Casey. >> Good evening. >> It still remains true that last year ELA proficiency for our high-need students dropped 2.4%. Math dropped 2.3%, science dropped 1.9%, and third-grade reading proficiency was at 55.4%, while
005third-grade math was at 46.4%. And it still remains true that our most vulnerable students moved backward in every subject. Everyone here knows who we left behind. And my children are those who we left behind and my children's friends. We have $859,000 currently in discretionary operational funds available through June. Yet, we're losing three teacher positions through attrition. This is not constraint. This is a choice. It's presented as bound by circumstance, but it's theater. It's competent theater, but it's theater nonetheless. The truth is that constraints are choices, too. These funds could have been allocated. 400,000 of that 859,000 to the same teaching positions. What I could have heard from the board was that high-need students require intensive intervention and we're protecting the staff necessary to provide it for your children and everyone else's children. Or I could
006have heard, "We've known for a long time that too many of our students are struggling. We're hiring more teachers and support staff to help them." We're not told these things. Instead, positions disappear quietly through attrition, invisible, gradual, requires no vote, no explanation. Goodwin serves nearly 40% high-need students and we've been told that $300,000 is available for the nursing improvement. A new curriculum is being implemented. Both of these things require people, more people in classrooms. Yet, staff is shrinking. We cannot say commit to literacy improvement, implement the new curriculum, reduce teaching staff, and maintain credibility. We have to choose. And then it appears that right now we have chosen to seem committed while actually constraining the capacity to deliver. Old Saybrook spends 21.7% of total expenditures on special education, and the state average is 25.7%. Why
007are we not funding that gap? I brought this up months ago. We have a 4% gap that I'm asking us to fund, please. We don't need the system to be perfect. We need it to be coherent. So, I'm asking for a written explanation of how reducing teaching staff aligns with literacy improvement goals, and a staffing plan tied directly to high-need student support. Right now the choice to reduce staff while holding nearly 860,000 dollars should raise everyone's curiosity. Parents still need to know what will be concretely different in 2026-27, and what targeted interventions, distinct from what we've already tried, are going into the plan. That's what we're asking for, and that's what our children deserve. Thank you. >> Thank you, Casey. Colt. >> Hi. Um So, I guess overall, um the biggest issue that I have
008as a parent in this town is that when doing their research, Old Saybrook spends more than most other regions per student. And yet, the deficiency leads to almost double the state average of teacher attrition at 13.7% I believe. Um And on top of it, the literacy and math deficit exists. Now, our superintendent has pointed to potential implementation and the actual teaching as a potential problem. Therefore, let's throw in more money to hire a consultant instead of looking at the most realistic measuring stick, which is the scores. The scores of our students. How is it that we have this increased spending and these deficits? If it's implementation, then the problem is in the leadership. You don't even have a curriculum for our students on the website. I have spent the last week touring other schools, interviewing,
009looking to move my home because of this. As we now open up our third business on Main Street in this town right now, I am looking to potentially leave the town so I can get a better education for my kids going into kindergarten. The same town I moved to 6 years ago, the same town that I had my first job at 12 years old there, and came back to. I moved to as a Taft graduate, as a laude graduate of UVM, as a Johns Hopkins Medical School student who dropped out in pursuit of a life of cooking. I came back to this town because of the school. And in 6 years, I'm about to leave because of what has happened. And there's no answers. And I keep deep diving, and all I keep finding is
010a pattern of neglect and just, you know, protecting the inner sanctum of communication and not being clear, and not being blunt, and not being direct. How do you not have a curriculum on the website? Honestly, that's the easiest thing for parents to follow. How many other parents do I talk to who are being shielded from Devils Lake reports and all these other measuring sticks? This is This is not the way. The way is not, you know, the constant principal wall. We want to work with the parents. The goal is to work together. The goal is to be a team. You can't hoard the information, ignore the responsibility, and hide the answers to the questions that you're being asked, and call it teamwork. There's no part of that. So, at this point, we're just sitting here
011saying, "Maybe this isn't the right place for our kids to go to school." And that is not what Old Saybrook means. That is not what small towns mean. I spent 20 21 years between New York, Miami, and LA, living in cities where a lot of people in my demographic are moving to, more and more and more. They're not coming back to small towns. And everybody asked me why I came back. And genuinely, the answer was always the family, raising the family. It doesn't seem that way. So, I guess a lot of questions have been asked over the past 2 weeks. I've asked them. Personally, a lot of questions over the last 2 weeks, publicly on record. I haven't gotten responses. I sent out an FOI request to the Board of Education, to your office, to
012the whole group on Friday. I know, 4 days. I get it. But this is unacceptable. As parents, this is unacceptable. I do not want to sit here with kids going to kindergarten and wonder if the school we moved to be in is capable and competent enough to A, own their mistakes and fix them quickly, and B, teach our kids to read. This is not a very comforting place. That's how I'm feeling. >> Mr. Tanner. >> Uh Cara. >> Hi. I am Cara Donnelly. I am a parent of two Goodman students, um and an English teacher at Walter Johnson High School. I have kind of a related but different issue to talk about. Um I see that a new policy about library collections is on the agenda, and I'm curious to hear what it's about. I
013also want to take this opportunity to speak in support of school libraries and school library media specialists, and to raise awareness about all the great things that they do. Um their work is often behind the scenes, but they are uniquely positioned to support kids both in their literacy and in their social and emotional development. Um the library media specialists in our district are amazing. They maintain collections to engage interests of all kinds of kids, kids with lots of different backgrounds and reading abilities and interests. Our librarians do foster a love of reading and books. Just today at our high school, our fabulous library media specialist had a guest author come and talk to kids about his process of creating books. Um and this March, during the celebration of reading, the Goodwin library media specialists work
014with teachers, administrators, and parents to bring in multiple authors to bring books and reading to life. I also want to share the impact that physical library spaces themselves have on students. They are welcoming spaces where kids can access books and also find social outlets and relaxing activities that are not based on a screen. Um in the high school, our library offers puzzles, games, other activities that get kids off their phones, talking to each other, engaging with each other, and it's really good to see. Um I know that we are all sitting here with our I voted stickers on hoping that the budget passes. Um and I also know that libraries, both their physical spaces and the dedicated professionals who bring them that bring them to life, can sometimes struggle to quantify their impact in tight
015financial situations. Um that may be why the library program at the middle school, Nathaniel Wheeler, has been dramatically cut over the past few years and why the high school library program may be facing a similar fate. Libraries and librarians are so important and I encourage all district administrators and board members to support them wholly. Thank you. >> Dr. Kennedy. >> Welcome. >> Hi. I'm Amy. Um this is unexpected for me to be here this evening. Um I had no intentions of uh speaking, but on behalf of my child and every child in this district, I'm going to speak up. My child is kindergarten here in town, most good one, active IEP, he's on the spectrum. Um last week the assistant principal used uh what is called an unapproved PMT maneuver >> Yeah, please don't make
016references to children. >> No, I'm um on my child. I have asked for answers. I've asked for details of the incident. I've been given nothing. In terms of um being denied that I have sought the answers by filing a complaint uh with various agencies, but also letting the superintendent and principal I received nothing other than this afternoon a very short email from the superintendent referring Sarah Smalley, I believe, to be in contact. My child has been out of school since Thursday. Without a safety plan, he has no education that should be afforded to him. It is his right to have that. It is his right to have the supports, which he has none of at this time. I'm asking that this board in particular for my child who's scared to go to school with >>
017Excuse me. McKenzie? >> Yes. >> Okay, we're going to stop you there cuz this is we're crossing the line, but I this is I know very personal, very difficult situation for you, but we're going to >> Well, I'll just speak in generalities for the rest of my time. >> Please speak, yeah. >> The I'm asking the board Okay. to take ownership. Not um to ensure that all of our children are protected. And I want to be direct. Transparency and a collaborative plan are all that I'm asking for. And I think it's all that most parents would ask for in any situation. And it sounds like this is a recurring theme here that perhaps this board needs to impress upon the admin and the schools. Instead, this silencing and the stonewalling and it just really makes
018no sense. Forces our tax dollars to be spent unnecessarily when all a simple response a collaborative plan with parents who are active, who appreciate the educators, who appreciate the parents. Every opportunity I get, I'm at that school volunteering. I do what I can do for my child and any child that I come in contact with. I'm asking the school to show up and I'm asking this board to support us and support the admin getting the staff the training that they clearly need. Transparency will save tax dollars. You need tax dollars to afford a better curriculum, more library resources, more training. That's the solution right here. But, I appreciate your time and more importantly, I'm going to appreciate your individual action in ensuring my child is safe at school and every single child here is safe
019going to school and getting the education that we all hope that they're getting. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Now, is there anybody online? >> There are, but nobody has raised their hand. >> Okay. Okay. All right. Okay. We're going to move on to these correspondences. >> Yep. >> Correspondences, yes. The board received one email addressed to the board from a community member who wrote an email expressing their opinion on the art literacy curricula and the email was responded to by Mr. Evan Granit. >> Thank you. First okay, so we have our student breath. Of course, we had to postpone one of our bullying so far at Valentine's tonight. Thanks. All right. Starting with our April report. Um, APs are taking place at last week and this week. And for sports, we have outdoor
020track and field, crew, more and more commonly known as rowing, tennis, lacrosse, baseball, softball, tennis and golf. For outdoor track, according to a junior girl, said that the track team has been really successful so far. They've won all if not most of their meets this um, this season so far. She also mentioned that they have a lot of incoming freshman who have been working really hard and improving and they will be a very great addition to the team. Um, for our crew team, we started as a co-op this year. We had a scrimmage against Suffield Academy. And all, we did a really great job. Um, winning a lot of first and second place. Um, for girls lacrosse, >> Yeah, so I won't get too much into detail because we have the updated report of the
021May edition, but for girls lacrosse, they have a new coach this year and there's only one senior on the team. And for boys lacrosse as well, there's a new boys lacrosse coach and they also have a very young team. So, the general trend is a lot of our sports teams are are made up of young athletes. So, I guess that's positive for the future. Um, for girls softball, once again, a young team. And for for girls tennis, they have a lot of seniors, but their record is very good and they're competing for the Shoreline championship. Boys tennis is a much smaller team. We're co-ed with Portland or co-op with Portland, so only six boys play. And golf is a very large, very popular sport. >> And for clubs, most clubs are participating in or have
022participated in teacher appreciation week. That was last week. Um student um student government is holding elections for 2026-2027. Youth and um government um they are also holding elections for representatives. Um for Interact Club, they held a pickleball tournament at the high school, which was a great success with a lot of student participation. >> Now, DECA, which is one of our business clubs, they recently sent two members to Atlanta to compete in a in a worldwide DECA uh competition. So, that's sort of us expanding the club. And then, recently at the high school, the investment club was added. That directly aligns with our new Bram School of Business, and that's seen a lot of positive student feedback and a lot of participation in that club. We had teacher appreciation week Teacher Appreciation Week about 2 weeks
023ago, and a lot of clubs held events to show their show their appreciation for the teachers. And National Honor Society, uh like we mentioned before, partnered with Gladeview Retirement Home, so we're constantly doing events with that. >> And lastly, for clubs, Crisis Text Line, um which is a mental health awareness group, um prepared for wellness day at the uh at the Goodwin School and middle school May 1st. Um and for school updates, and um there will be the the SATs um took place March 25th. Um and the scores are released. Um Old Saybrook boys basketball was awarded with sportsmanship award for from the CIAC CIAS or CIAC, sorry. Um and so for our student opinion, we also um according to a junior classmate, they heard from a teacher that there won't be librarians and um
024at the middle school or high school. Um they said that in other schools they have study spaces with um friends. Um and for example, at the middle school there's a cozy like cozy chairs and all these places um to have uh studying groups and all that stuff. And they said if the librarian was not there, then students would not be allowed to go into the library um as part of just the rule of um a librarian at a high school or middle school or Goodwin school. And this is uh libraries are just cru- crucial for um all schools, especially in the high school because that's where they study right peas and honors. So, um it's very relevant and very important to have libraries. >> Now, transitioning from the high school, we talked to some middle
025schoolers and a lot of the students, not just in the middle school, but also in the high school, consistently, when I talked to them, they would bring up the issue of the lack of funding for middle school sports. So, I know it's a separate issue. Uh and during the SATs, many students felt bothered because there were a lot of students who didn't focus on the exam and who didn't really care about what score they received. So, they were being disruptive and not really being, you know, cognizant of um of the others. Also, a lot of students felt as if teachers and the school did not help them prepare for the SAT. So, transitioning into the post post course selection survey, I'm sure most of you remember the survey we sent out before the new updated
026course curriculum was sent out. Um and in March, students had the opportunity to pick their classes for the upcoming school year. So, once that was all done, we sent out a survey to every student in the high school and also the current eighth graders who will be in the high school next year. We wanted to see sort of what their opinions were about the Keep Updated course selection. So, the first question we asked was if the course selection met their academic needs, and 50 of them said that they somewhat agreed with that. So, that was an increase from from the uh the survey we sent before the course course selection came out. The next question was, I felt I feel the course options prepare well for college or careers. Once again, most of them said
027that they somewhat agree with that claim. Next was, I was satisfied with the new course offerings. And this one was split between strongly agreed and somewhat agreed. So, that one was very good. The next one was, students have enough say in what courses get offered. Overall positive. Some of them said that they somewhat agree with that. And finally, when students were asked which classes they wanted to see more of, they wanted to see more sports management, creative writing, law, and computer science. But overall, the feedback was that most students were very excited for next year. They were happy with the the new course offerings. >> All right, next for our May report, I'm going to skip the academics for this. It's just really reiterating that we had APs this week. Um but the school announced
028that students may um be able to take another SAT um at the high school during um month of October. Um I believe there's like a oops, there's like a $65 um entry fee, but um it's good um to have a SAT in the the fall. Um for sports, >> So, every year the the track team hosts the Running Ram Invitational, which is a big track meet with 30 other schools. Uh so, that that took place this Saturday, and it was very successful. And I'm sure a a lot of you saw how packed high school was that day. Baseball is 3 and 12, very young team. Softball is 1 and 12. Boys lacrosse is is one of the better of our spring teams. They have They are 9 and 3. And girls lacrosse is 7 and
0295. Girls tennis has a record of 8 and 2 and boys tennis has a record of 1 and 9. Now, our crew team is also very strong. The girls first varsity is undefeated and the next race is in the state championship state championship will be called I think. >> For clubs, Spanish and French Honor Society led a teacher appreciation teacher appreciation week fundraiser. Teachers were given goody bags filled with gifts from students. Teacher appreciation week is where once again every club did something very special for each teacher. Many clubs are holding end of year elections and planning transition meetings for the next year's leaders. And first one >> So, for school updates, as we're approaching the graduation date of June 18th, seniors are beginning to prepare for their graduation events and also their final events.
030And for the AP test which took place last week and are still going on this week, students are using the library to test their It's a nice quiet place. And then the half day that we had at the beginning of this month at the high school, there was a rowdy rumble which was great for school morale and a lot of students had fun with them. >> And next for the student opinion section, some AP students felt that um their teachers did not pay the course material correctly throughout the year forming a very hectic last month of classes. I can personally attest that some of the teachers were teaching units up to like 2 days before the exam, which it's hard. I mean, it's some of the courses are um very content heavy. Many students appreciated
031the teacher appreciation teacher appreciation week activities and the opportunities to recognize staff. And lastly, students have enjoyed increased school spirit surrounding spring sports and school-wide activities, especially during Rowdy Ram or Rowdy Rumble. That's it for our reports. >> Thank you, Ivy. >> I just wanted to do congratulate the board on delivering beautifully with public speaking and comprehensive to let you know many of us know what's happening in the school. So, my question maybe would have that answer is when they're going to start looking at the new student representatives that are interested because part of the criterion is that they need to come to a board meeting. And we don't have any left. So, I didn't know. I wanted to share that. Pardon me? >> They've been elected. They've been elected. >> been elected. But it's
032actually very funny. I I didn't see it on there. But Chris, it's part They come to the come to the board. That's part of the criterion. >> Yeah, all the students who applied met the criteria. >> But they didn't come to the the board the audience of visitors they should stand up and say, "I'm so-and-so. I'm here because that's part of the criterion." >> I I did not do our flying about it, but the the selection process The election has been ordered to repeat. >> Okay. Thank you. Two members We're going to go with seniors, you said? >> Yes, seniors. One boy, one girl. >> Okay. Thank you. >> It's a great report. So, I know all of your you know, the student opinion I think is really valued by the school board and we
033appreciate those comments. So, I know that that those comments do get fed to administration. They don't They don't just disappear. So, thank you. All right. Great. All right. Any other comments or announcements? Thank you very much. All right. We have some minutes to approve. So, I've got a motion, please, to approve the minutes with special meeting minutes of April 20th. >> So moved. >> Second. Joe seconded by Mary Hill. Those approved All those in favor, signify by saying "Aye." >> Aye. >> And unanimously, were opposition there? Extensions? I think so. Thank you very much. Uh we're going to check that this will be forwarded a second set of minutes on our special meeting on May 7th. All those in favor of those >> I'll move to approve those minutes. >> Seconded by uh Jordan. All
034those in favor. >> I I too. >> Uh any abstentions? Thanks so much. All right. Okay. So that's again unanimous. Thank you very much. All right, we're going to move on to the educational issues for discussion. The first one is the family medical leave act request. >> We have a staff member whose FMLA expires um and we're requesting a leave of absence um from May 11th when the FMLA expired until May 28th, returning right after that. Um so I've asked that information's in your packet, but I would ask that the board grant this. >> Any any questions on that? >> Yes. >> It's pretty standard. >> Make a motion. >> Second, please. >> Second, Jane. >> All those in favor of the leave request. >> I. Thank you. That is unanimous. Thank you very much.
035We're going to move on to the residency request approval. Chris. >> Permission. So as part of the board's procedure or policy, we have a student who moves if prior to the conclusion of the school year, but the family wishes to petition for that child to complete the school year. So I have gotten one of those requests from a middle school family with the understanding that transportation and having it be covered through the family. This does require the board's permission, but I would recommend that we allow this student to complete the school year. >> Okay, we have a motion by Jane and seconded by Jane. Yeah, my bad. It's okay. And a second by seconded by Mary Queen. I believe it was your question. >> Yeah, so I was reading that the write-up that you did.
036So I was just a bit confused. So does that mean that that student will complete um in June and be and then move on. What does that mean that it's going to be 2026? >> So next year they're not going to be here. >> Yeah, they can then move this year but they wanted to complete this academic >> to repeat end of this year. >> End of this academic >> Thank you. All those in favor of the motion >> I second >> I >> Did you vote? Okay, thank you. That is unanimous. Thank you everybody. All right, we're going to move on to the policy first reading of the library collection policy and where do you want me to go? >> Sure. So you you have the text of the policy called library collection development
037and maintenance, library displays and programs and library material review and reconsideration. So I'm just going to give you a little bit of information about this. This is the first reading for those of you who are visiting the the board reads the policy this week and again at the next meeting before we can approve it and that gives time for input and just taking a good look at the policy before we put it in motion. This this policy is required to be established based on Senate Bill 1271 passed in June 2025 which was is called the freedom to read act. It's essentially designed to protect the library materials and programs available to make sure that our students have access to a wide range of materials and programs through the school libraries. So there are many things
038that are covered in this policy and I just want to summarize those now. The policy covers library materials, displays in the libraries and and programs that are sponsored or set up by by our school libraries. The policy protects library staff from lawsuits and liability while doing their jobs provided that they're adhering to the established policies. Uh the specific policies on collection development and maintenance uh they say that they that those that the development and maintenance of a school collection should follow specified administrative guidelines and should be in alignment with professional library media standards. So, that's one of the things that will need to be developed once we we pass this policy. The the policy also requires a structured process for challenging library materials including the makeup of a review committee and timelines for the completion
039of the review process. And there's some stipulations with regard to the structured uh uh material review process. One, that formal challenges to library materials must be made by current parents, current students, school staff rather than outside groups. So, it protects towns from having people come in and request that materials be removed from our libraries. You have to be here and have a a a vested interest in the schools at this time in order to request that a that materials be removed. Um the policy prohibits removing materials solely due to ideological disagreements with the content or with the author of the content. So, really the only legitimate challenges have to be based on what's called a legitimate pedagogical purpose, which means there's um the person requesting the removal of the materials is showing that this is
040that the materials are not in line with the teaching and learning goals of the district. Um so, there's much more information in the in the policy about that. So, I'll just urge you to read it through. This policy does not preclude individual parents from making requests for their child to be exempt from reading particular materials and that would be in alignment with the board's policy on curricular exemptions. So, this is really about a the library collection and not about, you know, individual children reading individual books. Anybody on the committee want to add anything to the conversation before >> I have a quick question. >> Okay, so any anybody on the committee >> I agree with the summary. >> All right, your question. >> Yes, and my question is what's an easy way for parents to
041be able to look at that? Are there copies in the board office or how do they access this? >> I I believe it's it's included in materials for this meeting, right? >> Right. Yeah, I mean that's fine, but how do parents access it if they want to read >> They would go to the website and just click on the materials for this meeting. >> Okay, I was just asking. >> Yeah, and and you'll be able to review the policy. Thanks. Any other questions? Okay, so we'll review this policy again or discuss this policy in the next meeting uh at the end of May which is May 1. And um And it will come back and it will come for final approval. >> Yes, that would be May 1. >> Right. >> Okay. >> Oh, I
042just want to add I did some additional analysis of section 4A which is standards for reviewing challenges. We the committee itself we have some confusion or questions about that um and I can make that information available to you. Just would like to see some of the the deep digging that I did around some of the elements for review. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> It's a very clear brief summary. >> Okay, we're going to move on to um all the facilities updates at Goodwin Pam and Chris. >> Pam >> Tabitha okay. >> [laughter] >> Pam >> She did a nice job in our building. >> Would you like me to handle this one, Pam? >> No, I can. >> All right. Well, you I I don't want to >> Simple. >> Thank you. >> Pam
043did a lot of work on this and I want Pam to make sure every I want everyone to see how much work Pam has put in. >> Okay, so um as you know, we've been working on uh addressing the C wing asbestos in the flooring tile at Goodwins. Um so, we broke the project into three parts. First part is remediating the asbestos, which means taking out the tile, taking out the mastic, and the cove base. There is not asbestos in the cove base, um just in the tile. Um so, that's part one, which is bid one. Part two is during that process, as required from the state of Connecticut, is to have a state licensed um company come in and keep monitoring on the air quality so that it is a safe and working work
044environment um for the workers who are removing it as well as in the ancillary areas within the building. Um no one under the age of 18 is allowed to be in the building per state statute. Um however, we make sure that any of the areas where our regular staff will be, um are regularly tested as well as a work environment for the people who are contracted to remove the asbestos. Some companies who remove the asbestos um will offer air quality testing as part of it. Um we chose as best practice to have an outside company um to ensure that there's no vested interest in the outcome of the testing results. Um so, that is step two or bid number two and bid number three is once we have all the asbestos flooring tile removed, we
045need to put more flooring back in. So, it is what we call the asbestos project. It does involve three bids. I outlined those um bids, what we received for responses. Um we posted the bid, we put it in the paper, all three of them. We had a walk-through for everyone to arrive and walk through the space so that they could have their questions answered, and then we had bid response dates. Um we did have two bids we did not accept because they were not received in a timely manner or at the correct location um as indicated in the bid. The resulting bids that we did receive are outlined. The first bid had three companies um bidding on the removal of the tile. Um two The prices were very close. Another price was significantly different. Um
046we did reference checks on the companies and the different schools in similar environments that the company the low bid had worked with. We thoroughly vetted um their feasibility to complete the project in a timely manner. And um therefore recommending because we had no reason um to believe that they would not do an excellent job. Everything came back really well. That we are recommending that the board approve the bid received by Allied LLC in the amount of $89,350. So I >> Would you like a motion at this time, Madam Chair? >> No, I think let's go through everything. >> Okay. >> All right. So the second piece of the project is for the air monitoring. Um as I said, we did have some bids that we couldn't accept. I believe one of them was for this
047service. However, we feel very comfortable with Mystic Air Quality who is um located uh Stonington, Connecticut. They have done work for us for many years, and for other school districts for many years. Their references, which we did check um with other area people who have used them, still come back as being highly recommended. So we are very comfortable with having them do the air monitoring work for this project. Um so therefore, although we did receive the one bid, we do feel comfortable with that bid. This number isn't a flat number, so I should share that with you. It is all dependent on the length of the project, how many days they need to be there, the number of hours. So, this one will be dependent on how long the project takes, but it is estimated
048to be at that $19,900. >> Have you I'm sorry. >> Go ahead. >> Have you worked with them before? So, they're >> So, they have worked here in district. We have We're required every 3 years to have our asbestos um plan reviewed, which includes identifying which areas in district have been remediated, which areas in district are still either encapsulated or need to be addressed. That has to be updated with the state every 3 years. Um when the prior director was in place, they had done that work for us. They do our training for We have to have custodians who are trained in knowing where our asbestos is, how to handle it something needs to be addressed. And so, we've had very good work with them for a number of years. >> cuz you said they
049>> Definitely. >> Okay. >> Definitely, very reliable, long-term company. >> Okay. >> Um located locally, and not only our own personal experience, but other experience with other groups. So, it's not an isolated that we have an excellent relationship with them. >> Okay. >> The last piece is for replacement flooring. The replacement flooring will be the same type of flooring that is in all the other wings with similar design. We have um pops of bright primary colors, and that would remain the same, so it's cohesive throughout the school. So, no one wing looks significantly different than another. Um based on that we received two bids. Um also favorable that they are close in price, so it gives us the indication that nothing's amiss, kind of far-reaching, um perhaps bad information, some something we missed or they
050missed. That being said, we have actually had personal experience with both companies and had excellent results with both companies. Additionally, we did do reference checks for the low bidder to ensure that our experience was the same as others. Um they both have experience in public school settings. So, um that is also a plus for us and therefore that's why we are recommending um that you would approve the bid from R.D. Weise in the amount of $34,677.72. >> Okay, thank you. So, I know the facilities committee met for a good hour and a half prior to this meeting and a lot of questions were asked and answered. Does Does the board have any additional questions or items of some All board members were not there. So, is there anything else you want to ask at this
051point? Or are we ready to move forward? Looks like we're ready to move forward. >> Okay. >> All right, so we have four motions that we have to approve. Three. >> Three. Three and then >> one more. >> Yes. >> not >> the H-vac >> Oh, that's right. We didn't even talk about that one yet. All right. >> All right, so >> So, I would >> I mean, do you want to approve it >> I would make a motion to award the Goodwin C Wing Asbestos Flooring Abatement bid 26-001 to Abide LLC in the amount of $89,350. >> Second this. >> Second. >> All right, Mary Kate. >> Thank you. >> Any further discussion? Then all those in favor signify by saying I. I have very much. That is unanimous. Motion passes. Thank you. Next
052motion. >> I would um like to make the motion that we award the Goodwin C Wing Asbestos Monitoring bid 26-002 to Mystic Air Quality in the amount of $19,900. >> It's seconded by Jane. Any further discussion? All those in favor signify by saying >> I. >> Yes, again unanimous. [clears throat] Motion passes. Thank you very much. >> And finally a motion to award the Goodwin C wing flooring replacement bid R >> one's going to be 003. Type that up. >> [laughter] >> Thank you. >> I'd like to make a motion to award the Goodwin C wing flooring replacement bid to R.D. White LLC for $34,677.72. >> Hearing a second by Jane and no further discussion I presume and then all those in favor please signify. I I I I I I I I I I
053I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Next. >> Next. >> Ruth Earlock. >> All right. So, um, we also put out to bid. Um, we had Solutions Engineered for the remaining areas other than the week E wing or sorry the wing corridors at Goodwin School for the remaining areas at Goodwin to um, finalize air conditioning. That includes the two administrator's offices, the lobby, the cafeteria, the gymnasium, and two classrooms, and an office um, adjacent to the cafeteria area that were not included in the original project. Um, we had went through Steve Bid to have Fuss & O'Neill um, design the solutions for those areas which are very complex based on where they're located, the power sources, the fuel sources, um, structural designs, roofing
054allowances, and so that bid was put together. Um, we posted it. We had a mandatory walk through. No one showed. So, it was put in the paper. It was put on our website. It was put on the town website. It was shared with um, some local contractors. And so, unfortunately, no one arrived. We were planning The plan for this um, project was to have it completed while the school was closed, while our asbestos remediation project was being done. As no one was in the school, it would be an ideal time and be able to button up that project, so it was completely done. We had two options. Um, we could repost in hopes that somebody would show, but that would delay two more weeks. And um, timing is a consideration because uh, trying to get
055everything ordered and in place and completed during the summer. Um, Fuss & O'Neill did share that an alternative option to bidding the construction out is what they call a design um, build. They had already under state contract done the design. Um, and although they did not offer us this option until we really had no one um, step forward to be a contractor. The state contract does allow for a build perspective for design build that would have Fuss & O'Neill under state contract pricing, which limits profitability on their rates to 5% for the project. Would be that um, they would in essence act as the general contractor to work with the subcontractors to get this project built. Get it built and completed in the time that we need it to do. So, the request with this
056proposal is not to approve a bid, because we didn't get any bids. Um, but is to approve that this project be completed under a design build concept um, that would follow pricing that and pricing structures for different labor rates and um, materials that are pre-approved under state contract Um, and I believe I did call out the specific contract. >> You did. >> And >> It's there. [laughter] >> Yes, 18 PF DX153. >> Yep. >> Um to complete this project because um we still need more detailed numbers, um we have a high estimate of $750,000 to complete the final aspects of this project. As things go through, we will be able to narrow that project. There still will be a contingency as part of that. >> Huge project. >> Okay. Um any further questions on that?
057>> I have definitely a question, but definitely you go first. >> No, you go first, assistant. >> I made a list. >> Oh, I'll go first. My my only question being not knowing the HVAC and the cost of HVAC, do we have any way to determine if $750,000 is reasonable given the work that needs to be done in um today's economic climate? You know, if people had showed up to give a bid, do we know anyone in the industry who would say, "Yeah, that sounds about right." Otherwise, to me it's just kind of a number being >> So So strictly for the mechanical pieces purchasing, we had been advised before we put it out to bid that that just the big bulk components list price was going to be 200,000. That is not the labor,
058that's not the electrical, that's not the ancillary, that's not the the concrete workers who have to drill, you know, the roofing workers who have to work on the roof pieces. So, when you add all of those in addition to one of the things that's leaving that price higher because obviously this is a public process. They don't want to commit to a price that they end up exceeding. So because they're still waiting on subcontractors to get some finalized pricing, it is openly a conservative number. We also have to have the controls, the electronic controls priced out that are going to fit within our existing control system so that everything can be read at once. When you're trying to monitor different temperatures in different rooms and being able to remotely access those. So there is some pricing
059that still has to come in, but knowing that the base pricing was at the two and the labor which this is anything over $100,000 is um prevailing wage. Which means the pay rates for all the subcontractors, all the laborers have to be has to be set by the state and has to be paid equivalently so that no subcontractor is bottoming out their price by paying their their employees too little. So that they want to make sure that the employees get an equitable what the state has determined is an equitable. That's what the prevailing wage is. The state says with benefits and wages, this is what has to be done and they have to report those wages, I believe, on a weekly basis to the state for any project that's being done under prevailing wage. Jordan?
060>> Um all right, so pricing for HVAC, I recognize the engineering services will be state priced. What about similar kind of what Jack said, what about the HVAC? So if you have had no bids and they're just subs to the engineering firm, how do we again know that they're reasonable? Why didn't they come to us? I also appreciate being a project manager to keep the project. >> So, I can say one way or the other. I would have had to have had added project project manager to this project. Um this would not have been managed in-house. I don't have the skillset to do that. Um so, we were already talking with them about doing the project management if we if we had gotten a bid. Um because there's a level of expertise that has to
061be involved in a project like this. This isn't like, "Okay, so we're going to take flooring out and we're going to put flooring in." It they're very complicated, detailed schematics about, you know, we're calling this out. Um we want to make sure we have the people there who know what to look for and that whether a contractor is meeting that. Um they don't have their own contractors. They go out. Um so, it's not in-house Fuss & O'Neill con- subcontractors. I wasn't sure with the way your question was phrased whether that was a concern. So, they would they would go out um and seek out contractors who do this kind of work. And um like I said, it would be prevailing wage. So, as far as the equipment piece of it, how they determine, I believe
062um you know, pieces of that depending on what the equipment is, whether it's set that there's a percent over cost involved in it when when it goes through their hands. Um I can get you some additional information if we're going to, you know, move forward if you have like specific details about those those pieces. Um I cannot give us a concrete answer. >> Cuz we don't And I And And this may have changed, but my understanding is if you're going to basically general contract someone that is through the state bid, If that any services they produce to a public entity would have to go through that same process. So, they can't just decide, "Oh, I'm going to go buy the components from, say, Walmart because I can get it cheaper with market up." But, there's
063there is rules cuz all of it is still subject to state audit cuz the school's construction fund. But, I don't know if that's changed. I doubt it has, but that was always my understanding on a smaller bid. >> And that was And that was my understanding. >> Well, that that we can get back and confirm for you, but I I know that traditionally, those projects will go with if it's still going to be the design-build, they're going to have to follow those same rules that if we had gone out and bid in each individual component of that. >> Are you talking pricing or actual equipment that's spec'd on the bid? >> Pricing. So, the equipment, they're going to have to buy their equipment from somewhere that's on their the equivalent to So, the whole part
064about bidding is you have to Like, we can buy off the state list, but the state is essentially doing the same bid process that we would have to do with you just doing the earlier ones, put out three. Um there are other bids that we can buy off of legally, whether it be federal bid, public state bids. Um and my understanding is if they're going to contract with public entities that they would have to follow that that same proc- procurement process for any goods or services they're going to general contract from. So, we can we can confirm that. That's how it's been in the past. >> Um then, further what I also wanted to ask is if we don't have the skills in house to actually do HVAC design, to say, does this make sense,
065right? Cuz I'm looking at the schematics and saying that there's heating and cooling in the gas heat pump and the yard up. How do we know that this makes the most sense for our building? How do we know that's the right capacity? How do we make sure we're not heating and cooling the same building at the same time? How do we know that all of this is exactly what this building needs and is the most efficient or But, so if the possible reason to is design to do such that or to know that this makes sense. Cuz once you do this, we're talking a lot of money and we're doing it once. >> Clark, my understanding is that you're hiring just like if you're hiring a contractor to general contractor to build your house, they're
066going to be checking all the work out with pre-engineers that are in the department of facilities and all. They're designing and building. >> They're not going to have someone to help them out with their work with that side. >> That is not Well, they're doing the design work. >> And who's checking their design work is my question. >> Uh >> No, that it makes sense for the builder. Right. And they're also adding systems to the school to maintain. You're right. Two different types of all the systems in addition to the chiller that you have. >> You're talking >> Can I have a This is the completion of the initial plan. So, I just said and I don't know the design. >> And and so and so to be clear, the engineer who designed the project
067is not the person who is managing the project. It is a separate person who has put eyes on the design. There are some things that I think um he was going to be checking with them about some alternatives of like, well, I'm looking at this and I think that perhaps this may or may not work better. Um so, it is a completely It is helpful to know that it's a completely different person who's looking at it so that their past experience and they're fairly new to Fuss & O'Neill, but they have 35 years of experience in the field and have already said, you know, as we're looking at the design, we're looking at how some how some things may work better. Small tweaks as far as particular electrical um setups, which generally happens um even
068in small projects in your own home. You can have an architect design out your electrical wiring and your electrician gets in there and goes, I I think we might need to, you know, it doesn't make sense to put this here. Let's put it over here. And that will be part of the process as well. So, if it adds a level of comfort that there's a second set, it's not just, "Hey, I built this and it's perfect. We're doing this exactly as planned." There's other um experienced people with alternative perspectives to see as we implement if things are, you know, tweaked here and there. Um I know you had some questions about, you know, the specific callout for some of the things and um which I can reach out to the engineer um to get an
069explanation so that I can share that with you if you would like and um with the board so that you can um see the rationale behind it. Um it was shared with me because the there's certain things that doing having air conditioning set up in the gym and the cafeteria will allow Goodwin, if we chose to, be a cooling center. And because it's not connected with the chillers, which has a separate power source, which cannot be connected to our existing generator, this can be connected to our existing generator. Um so that um if power were out, it could still be a cooling center. So some of those forward-thinking ideas were put into that concept of why we did it certain ways because when they were talking about power and hooking it up and they were
070going to disconnect our existing heating in the gym and just have the new be heating and cooling, um I said, "If we do that, we need to make sure that it can run when we don't have power." Cuz although we can do without air conditioning without power, we cannot do without heating in a building, particularly in the winter. So some of the design is based off of, although we added power to Goodwin, it was out of added on a separate panel that is not currently hooked up to our generator. So, thinking forward about the impact of that is potentially part of the rationale of how they set some of that up. But, if you want to send me those specific questions, um we can I can have Josh, um who did the design, kind of
071explain the limitations that they looked at and and why we ended up with what we did end up. >> Okay. >> Um oh, I'm sorry, go ahead. >> No, last couple questions to our energy efficiency components of this. What have they not included they should? Um is there any money for it through Energize Connecticut? But, then also does the state give money because of the mandatory AC in the next few years? Can you submit for a grant for that for at least partial reimbursement? >> We I don't think for this project because of timing, um but I think we're looking towards being able to do that for the middle school project. In the timing of when the grant funds were allowed and for when our design was built and um having the design ready to
072be able to implement so that we can finish that that finish this for this summer. Um and get that project completed knowing that we're going to have a much larger project at the middle school that we can weave in um any state bonded construction contract reimbursement on that project. >> Is there going to be a certain amount we can get money from the state for? >> Um >> But, I assume DYS as project managers that can answer the budget if the truly is closed or not. I know they do have grants. I mean, that that part is accurate. Also same for I don't know if it's the same grant source, but >> Yeah. >> Okay, we might not even get from the state as much money that we have this done. >> Yeah, so it
073sounds like you want to you want to write these questions out specifically for Pam. So, she can have these these answers. >> Um Corina, did you count that question? >> I had sort of a quick follow-up question related to something that Jordan asked, and that is um uh the recommendation to have the gym serve as a cooling center. Um and you may not be able to answer this now, but is that in alignment with what they would recommend? In other words, is the level of air conditioning that they're uh going to be installing in the gym equivalent to what they would install if they were making it a cooling center, or would they over-engineer as a cooling center? Because if I would I would say we should be focused on making it a cooling center
074only if there is a a defined need if we're already at capacity for the other cooling centers in town. So in other words, if they're they're putting more into making a cooling center >> I I do not believe so. The The conversation was to um address the needs of Goodwin school be with the potential that if it were needed as it is designed, it would suffice to be a cooling center. >> the way it's connected, the generator. Okay. Yeah. Yeah, cuz I wouldn't I mean, that's just my opinion as one person. You don't want to again on a cost basis >> Right. No. >> not over-engineer it, just that it could be. >> It's my understanding that the gym area um with its controls um the air conditioning obviously will will if it's a full
075gym and it gets really hot it adjusts for that up and down. So it's not it's not going to it's not going to strike there. It's going to have its own individual control. It's it's not going to be overpowered and just run it one at one, you know, capacity. So they will have that variable, you know, because sometimes we have a class of eight and sometimes we have 150th of it. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Okay. >> Um when Pam responds to Jordan, you send the responses to the whole board so we can see the answer. >> Sure. You can see the questions in the answers as well. >> Yep. Thank you very much. >> Okay. >> Mr. Marsh, please. >> I would move to approve the design-build approach for the Goodwin HVAC phase
076two bid 26004 to Fossil Oil Purchase State Contract 18 PSCX153. >> Second. >> I All right, thank you. Okay. That discussion and all those in favor of the vote, please signify by saying >> I. >> Anybody opposed? >> I'm going to abstain. It's not like it matters. >> Okay. Well, I'm sorry. >> Yeah. >> I have abstentions. Are you abstaining or >> I'm going to abstain in India. >> Okay. So, we have Mary Beth, we have Jordan and Jane abstaining. There will be a revote. >> No, there won't be. >> Okay. I think we're good. All right. Great. We're going to move on. >> Thank you, Pam. >> I know you've been a long night for you because you did multiple meetings. >> Thank you very much. All right, we are going to move on
077to our final topic which is the new course offerings at the high school. >> This is just informational for the board. I know when we originally had this conversation back in December, the board was so gracious to do so with a blanket new course adoption. We ultimately offered 14 new classes at the high school next year and it looks like we're going to be in a position to run eight of them. I didn't think they stepped back in a short period of time to put put together eight new courses in a high school 300 kids. Um that's a lot of work that's been done at the high school level. Staff worked with them to make that happen, but you have a list of all of the eight courses that we'll be offering in the fall
078and I know some of it was referenced by our student reps Um, that's dependent upon what we heard back from for student feedback of what their interest were. And then they really put their money behind it because they actually signed up for them and we have enough kids to run these. So, um, we will and and they will hopefully by the next meeting we'll have as promised a more detailed explanation to that and we'll be able to we'll already approve the courses to give you an idea of what they actually are. We are going to have to spend obviously some time between now and over the summer drafting all the materials and we're working with the teachers that are teaching them. Um, but we wanted to make sure that we at least share with the
079board these are these are based on interest. These are the new eight new courses we will be offering next year at third grade. >> Great. The document lists 14 courses. Which are the eight that are being offered? >> That's right. I'm sorry. Did we send you the wrong one? >> It says new course offerings >> Yes, I have it here for the I apologize. >> It says updated 5 4 2017. >> Yeah, it came in after that. So, >> It's close. >> I'm going to tell you we will have business and marketing essentials, um, small business accounting which was formerly accounting one that's going to be redone, introduction to AI, um, drama is going to be year-long as a course that was just formerly a semester, uh, peer foundations which is formerly health one but
080that's what we had that conversation earlier um, in the year about sort of a freshman seminar type class for teaching 21st century skills. >> Yeah. >> Defin- definitively Yukon EMT and allied health, uh, ECE electrical applications for STEM, and then Yukon if you love it, teach it which is a teaching pathway course, um, and broadcast and print journalism. I'm not 100% certain about psychology. Um, that's re- doing a child development class. So, those are the those are the eight eight that are definitive. >> Okay. Um, Jack, yes. >> I don't recall hearing much of you you shared it. I missed it, that's my fault. Um, could you tell me a little bit about the EC electrical applications for STEM course? >> That was an ECE course that was offered through cuz we have the instructors
081to be able to teach it. In order to teach it, you have to be certified to do it. But that came up through the the survey and through the talking with staff about enhancing some of the experiences that we're doing. >> And is that happening totally on site? >> Yeah, everything is on site. >> That's awesome. >> That's good. >> Yeah. So, I'm seeing this actually and my question is um, under each of these categories did some of the courses that were currently in place no longer being available? So, some are substituting others. >> Substituting others. Yeah, so there might be So, for instance, we offer child development as a very specified teaching area. Um, but we're redoing that class as developmental psychology and encompasses the child development component, but also you have more flexibility
082and we're able to teach that based on certification. Um, >> And will these be then for students to look at them? Usually in course catalogs they explain a little bit of what um, can be could be expected of that kind of thing. >> That's already in the program of study. This was just a list to say the one credit. And I didn't I apologize if I sent you Mr. Plotkin sends me updates like every 7 minutes on this stuff. So, I may It may my mistake, I may have sent you one of the wrong updates. So, I apologize for that. They're very enthusiastic for the high school about the course. >> So, is there a way for us to get some details just you know >> In order to get it's on the program of
083study, yeah. It's already there. >> Is it on the website? I'm just asking where I can get it otherwise. >> If you go on the website at the high school, the program of studies is there and all the details are >> Okay, great. Thanks. Okay, and they're full full year unless no. >> Unless no. >> Okay. So, the ENT class at the end of it, do you get the certification? >> if you pass if you pass the test. >> [laughter] >> There's a rigorous practical and right. We have Yeah, very fortunate to have a teacher who is not only eligible and enthusiastic but has also taken on some additional responsibilities to get that certification component. Um We're not allowed to use names and embarrass the teacher but we're very grateful that a number of our
084teachers stepped up and said we want to take on this additional responsibility. EMT and Allied Health were I think the some of the more requested courses that came in this process. What do you got? >> Are they two separate courses? Allied Health and EMT? >> Yeah. Well, yeah, EMT is the You've got ECE. We want to make sure we also offered another CP level course for Allied Health. Um so kids may not want to commit to an ECE class um but still have an interest in exploring health care. So that's why we're able to offer both of those for for both. >> Actually, I don't know if you have a lot of information about the Allied Science course or Allied Health course. Like a lot of people are confused on that how like what that
085entails like that whole course. So that's just like a CP version of the anatomy and like >> Yeah, it's not the it initially designed to give kids an opportunity to try different things in the health care field so in in other places. Um the Allied Health course would be set up and every unit would be something different. So let's say you were working in an ER, let's say you wanted to do a radiology section. You kind of get a a potpourri of different opportunities to see if it's something that kids are interested in exploring. Um they're literally writing an entrance as we speak. >> Okay. >> Good timing. >> All right. But but are these um courses also some are freshman, some are sophomore courses, some are senior courses? >> Yes. >> And that's why
086the entire program is done. >> It's all in program steps. Yes. And then for some things have a prerequisite, obviously it's tied to the freshman year. >> All right, folks. Um if I'm not mistaken, that concludes our regular business. We're going to move into executive session. So, I do need a motion to do that. >> Move that we shift to executive session include uh superintendent Dr. >> second on that, please. That would be from Jordan. Thank you very much. All those in favor signify by saying >> Aye. >> It's unanimous. Thank you so much. It's 8:18. We're going to take a 5-minute recess. Thank you. >> And then you return to open session after executive session. >> You know what about that? If usually we just completely do that. >> Is that discussion with possible
087action item? Is that accurate? >> It is. session. We We have to do that by law, but if there's no if there's nothing um to talk about, we just adjourn. >> Thank you. >> Okay. But it will be in the minutes. If there's discussion, you'll see it in the minutes. It will be noted cuz open session discussion has to be noted in the minutes. Okay? >> Thank you. >> You're welcome.