Thompson BOE Meeting - April 6, 2026

001I'm going to call the meeting to order. It is 7 p.m. We are on a tight schedule because Yukon is playing tonight. So, we're going to move um forward. So, we're going to start with the pledge of allegiance. Uh Mr. Psky, would you like to lead us tonight? >> I pledge allegiance to the flag United States of America to the republic to its for it stands one nation one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Great. >> Wow, that was >> that was some >> Thank you everyone for coming. This is probably the most packed room we have and most of that is because we have students that are receiving some recognition. Um, I just wanted to make a comment. The open house that occurred this evening at both the high school

002and the middle school science show were extremely impressive. Um, if you missed it, shame on you. Um, Um, but this is this is the exact reason why. It's why we sit at the table. It's why we show up when there's town meetings. It's why we show up when there's a referendum to vote. Um, as a side note, there is a town meeting April 15th at 700 p.m. at the Thompson Public Library, which will be adjoining to adjourning to a referendum on April 29th at your normal polling places. I really do request that residents participate and pay attention to what's happening in our community and that they show up for those referendums. It can't be the same four or five people speaking out all the time. It has to be all of us. And that's where

003I'm going to leave it. So, we're going to go move on to our student liaison report. >> Comments. Oh, sorry. Citizens comments. My apologies. We'll start in the room. >> Going once, going twice, three times. And we'll start on Zoom or move to Zoom. Sorry. Going once. Going twice. Everybody's ready for Yukon. Okay. Student Lee is on report. >> Good evening. So attached I have a packet for the board members of all of our events. These are well publicized on our Instagram and it just kind of outlines all of the things we have coming up such as the mystery theater dinner, the car cruise, um all of our AP exams, big things going on within the high school that um are worth noting are a major accomplishments throughout the school and just events that we're

004going to be hosting. Um that outlines um up to the last day of school. So it outlines everything from now until then. We would like to spotlight local government day. Local government day provided turtleot student leadership members with hands-on look at civil uh civic leadership. The students were able to research government positions, participate in a mock election, and even had the opportunity to shadow their own town official. Then they concluded the day with a lunchon. This experience gave the students a chance to explore leadership within their community and to better understand their local government. A special thank you to the board of ed commission uh communications committee and the other staff members of our community who made this event possible. Um, I'd also like to spotlight our Willy Wonka play that turned out amazing and

005it was a tremendous success with a great turnout for the community. I heard most of the shows were pretty packed inside and I went to one my own and it was um packed. I you there was like no seats open so that was amazing to see our community show up for all of the hard work that the students put in throughout the entire school year. Um, our performers worked incredibly hard to bring this classic story to life. They delivered an amazing performance for all of those who attended and we would like to thank everyone who participated and the many community members who did countless dedicated countless hours behind the scenes to make this such a success. Let's see. Our cereal challenge took place and that was another huge success for the um community. We ra

006we got 3,645 cereal boxes which were donated to Teague and then they further distribute uh distributed them to other charities which was amazing. Um it was amazing to see all three of the school um schools join together um just to give back, an event to give back. That was an amazing event to watch and witness. Um the class of 28 hosted their annual midnight madness on Friday, March 13th from 6:00 to 12. Students were able to enjoy a night full of energy, fun, and most importantly, the memories. They tested their physical endurance with thrilling tournaments and also could relax while painting um to the soothing voice of Bob Ross. Students made memories with friends that will last a lifetime. So, thank you to the class of 2028, their adviserss and faculty and staff chaperoons for

007hosting such an amazing event. The National Honor Society induction also took place. We welcomed three new members into the chapter, Tanisha Patel, Madison Perry, and Gabby Santos. They were recognized for their commitment to scholarship, leadership, service, and character. So, congratulations to them on their outstanding achievements. Um and then just recently on March 31st, nine students from TMHS participated in our electric boat hiring event. It was hosted at TMHS and also attended by five other schools. During the event, the students were interviewed by electric boat staff and those interviewed in uh those interested in welding were assessed for their skill-based um pay opportunities. Two of our students were offered step three pay where um most of them typically start at step one. So that was an outstanding uh achievement that reflects their strong participation and um

008how our school prepare prepares them for such success. Eight out of the nine students were interviewed that were interviewed were actually hired on the spot which was amazing to hear. >> So and then our spring sports season has has officially begun. Girls golf is being hosted by Turtleot um solely Turtle at the Thompson Raceway and the boys golf is co-oped with Putinham at the raceway as well. Baseball's hosted at Turtleot and then softball softball is combined with Putinham and played at Putinham's home field and the boys and girls track team are solely at Turtle and they are hosting a few of their own um matches here at Turtle for the first time in almost 20 years. So, we'd love to hear um and see some of the community members and just people within the town

009show up to an amazing event. I mean, we have that beautiful track, so we'd like to put it to use. Um, and then I also attached, which is also posted on the Instagram, um, a sports calendar with all of the home matches and all the home dates, um, for community members to attend, which would be amazing to see. And then I just wanted to take a moment to highlight the efforts that the TMHS staff and administration took place during the time that we lost during quarter 3 due to delays, early releases, and snow days. There were quite a few among the days and with our Aday Bday schedule, it was kind of difficult to have to push back like AP, you can't push back pack the AP exams. So, we had to cram a lot

010of time in, but they dedicated their time to um helping us. They pushed off our Tiger blocks um made them solely co uh like workout based and not necessarily like the activities and things like that. They really tried to accommodate us as well as pushing back um our quarter 3 deadline by a week. So, it was very accommodating and they all stayed after school to assist us with our grades, which I know I I'm I stress myself, so I kind of understood the impact the teachers had on grading, too. So, I just wanted to take a moment to thank them for that as well. Um, and then also, we would just like to hear from the board ways we can improve our communication, concerns, feedback, or topics you'd like the student leaders within the high

011school to discuss and report back on. the information um the information you guys provide will be shared with our student leadership groups such as the uh school governance, student council, and the tutor lot student uh student leadership team. We'd like to use your input to help guide improvements for the upcoming school year as well. So, I attached a um feedback form just a little bit of like if you have any concerns or any like topics you'd like to turtle student leaders um or just the student body as a whole to discuss and we can report back on, we'd be more than happy uh happy to do so. And that also is our newsletter that we try to do month uh monthly, but we're right now doing it kind of like quarterly. So, um it's uh

012jam-packed with all of our events, pictures, and little blurbs on all the success that we've had within the high school. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Any questions for them? >> Put you on the spot. Um so NIA ask accreditation just came through >> and uh how do you as student part of student leadership and the student body feel about the recent accreditation? >> So I as a student leader on the student leadership team had the ability to sit down with them one-on-one and give presentations on some of my work that I've done throughout the past three years. And it was amazing to hear from them. They were asking us very in-depth questions and like things that I feel like people don't usually ask us about our work that we were completing and things

013like that. So that was very eye openening I think for them to ask us and hearing the feedback that they gave within the school I think was amazing to see and I am very glad that we were able to put out a report sooner than June for the community to see and just have the opinion that you know we have a lot to do and you know a lot of it is not seen but you know we want to highlight it and I think that all of the student body within the high school have talked about it and have continued to bring it up. It hasn't been something that's gone unnoticed, which I think is amazing cuz some students I would not have predicted to hear talking about the NEAS people. They were talking about

014how amazing it was to hear all the things that they were saying about the school. And of course, they gave us improvements to work on, which I think is amazing for us to continue our success, especially with our communication with the community and just the town as a whole. I think was amazing to hear that they like our improvements, but they'd like us to keep pushing forward. And that's just feedback that we're going to continue to take and add more bigger goals for us in the future, which I think was amazing. And so I think as a student it was amazing to see, you know, a little bit more recognition than what people give. And I think it was amazing to like find all the little like hidden things that we don't necessarily put out

015there that they found was different, which was nice. And it was nice to hear little comments that they were making. At one point, I overheard them uh talking about how usually when they come into a school, there's things that they um see different on paper than in person. And they were like, "There's nothing that we're finding. Like this is kind of weird." They're like, "We've got to find something." But they were they were amazed with everything that we had which I think was amazing to hear. >> Thank you. >> Quick just just an extra plug an extra plug for the uh the track meets. I believe we also have new bleachers for people sitting >> just to you know encourage attendance. >> Yes. Yes. And I mean like I said it was it was 20

016years at least that we haven't had one. So it would be amazing to see a lot of people show up for our our team. And it's huge too. We have a lot of students participating in track. So, it'll be amazing. >> Thank you, Maddie. >> All right, move on to student recognition. >> Oh, so um well, I'm going to um actually invite um there two that have been responsible in carrying out the sea perch program um at the middle school. Uh you know that this is a combined effort that electric boat funds the program for us along with Yukon. Um, so, um, Principal Granado and Derek, are you here? Mr. Vern here. Okay, come on up. >> And they can talk a little bit about, and I'm sure Derek can talk a lot about the

017C per You can remember last year when the students did place with trophies their first year. And now we have good news. They're moving on to nationals. >> Yes. And we should actually, can we get the students up here? They >> You absolutely can. >> Yes. Come on. Don't be shy. It >> certainly wasn't me. >> Yeah. Yeah. They're all here. We have one missing. Uh but everyone is here. They're amazing. >> So these guys, these kids all built the sea perches, competed in the regional competition and won first place, which was pretty amazing. Only their I think first year doing it, right? >> So it's our second year doing the program. second actually third semester doing it because we only did a half the year last year and um you know it's pretty awesome

018that the first year of of building VC purchase and competing in the obstacle course and then there's a challenge there's two different uh competitions and Amelia's team won first place in the challenge course and Russell's team won first place in the obstacle course and there was probably I don't um over 200 people there or so. So there was a lot of people. It wasn't, you know, it was a pretty big competition. It was regional. >> So Derek, can you explain what the sea perch is and does? >> Yes. So the sea perch is a submersible like um submarine boat type thing that's you know uh made out of PVC. So, they do a little pipe fitting and build the actual frames and then they uh build the controllers uh like solder. You guys want to

019explain some of the stuff you do? >> They did such a great job on winning. Go ahead. >> Tell me. Um, so we had to like we had the PVC pipes and we had to drill holes into them and we had to um we also had to solder like the boards for it so that we could connect it to like the batteries and stuff so we could actually be able to control the boats. Um, and then we also had to zip tie uh parts of a pool noodle and like this netting on the bottom to help it kind of float. And we also had to uh with the solder we also had to make sure that the um little like fans would actually turn properly and work properly. >> Yeah. So that they would work

020properly. >> So they built the engine. So they built every single part of the machine was pretty incredible. >> So Russell did the obstacle course. So tell them what the obstacle course. So the obstacle course is this giant at least 10 foot long course where you had to take the submersible and go through each individual hoop and not get caught on anything and you had to go back you had to come back at a very fast time and if you got the the lowest time you ended up you would win the uh obstacle course. So the main goal was just to go through as fast as you could and go as through as like as best >> without getting tangled up. >> That's the tricky part. And then the challenge cost that Amelia did was

021like they gave you a literally a list of challenges that you had to complete. Like pick this up, move it over here, slide this here, and you got a certain amount of points for each thing. And she did amazing at that, too. And she was nervous and didn't even want to do it at first. And wasn't confident. And I was like, "Oh, you can do it. You got this." And she did awesome, just like I thought. So, it was great. And we we wouldn't have been able to do it without um there's a guy Kevin load that comes from the Yukon URI Navy STEM team and they are grant funded by electric boat. So they he's come to the classroom I don't know maybe six times five times this semester and a few of the

022times that he came he's brought a few of his undergrads from Yukon. So, these guys get exposed to a a bunch Yeah. a bunch of different potentials for career opportunities and they get to hear what these kids do and what they're doing in college or some of them even have already graduated college and are there for their masters or doctor. There was a few uh graduates to that game. So, it's pretty cool. It's a pretty cool program and it's cool that these guys get exposed to all that. >> And I think we took home three trophies now. >> Yep. Three trophies. We took two first place and one event we did a first place and a third place. So, we got three out of the six trophies, which is pretty cool. Impressive. >> So proud

023of them. >> Yep. >> Did you tell them certificates >> for for you? >> Yep. Now May 30th, they get invited to the international competition in University of Maryland. >> Yes. And I I want to thank the parents. They have been amazing. Um they're all accompanying the children to so we can go. Um, so it it's going to be fun May 30th. So wish us luck. We'll let you know how we make out. >> But we're going to take home a Right. >> Absolutely. >> Before we do that, a couple quick questions. A, approximately how large was your submersible to do an obstacle course? >> Two feet. >> The obstacle obstacle course. >> No, no, no. The your submersible. >> Yeah, it's about this big. Maybe a foot or so. Maybe a little less than

024a foot. Probably. It's pretty much a cube. >> Yeah. Cube. >> Okay. And >> is there a followup program in at the high school level similar to this that will even accelerate what you guys are doing, the amazing things you guys are doing? >> So, as of right now, there's not. But it's funny that you say that cuz I was thinking that when they asked that on the Winnie radio, he he said something like that, like, oh, you guys going to continue on with this next year? Are you going to do it? You know, and I'm like, oh, we don't, you know, so maybe that's something potentially in the future. >> So, the idea of that program was a precursor to welding, right? With the soldering soldering. Yeah. That's a question we can certainly pursue

025um if they do have that competition be beyond grade 8. Um I would like to see it continue to um because it's successful and the students enjoy it. >> Um but we uh as far as I know it it stops because you know we have our elementary program where they come in and they do the engineering modules and I think there's six lessons that they teach fourth grade. Um, and they do the precursor to the soldering where they do the cheese whiz and the crackers and everything together. And then they talk about buoyancy and floating and it gets them ready for the middle school program. So, um, I'm not sure what's in between there. We'll have to we'll have to dig into it. >> Like robotics. >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> Thank you very much.

026>> Yeah. Big shout out to Mr. Bernier because he's amazing with his students and >> these guys are amazing. Yeah, >> we're a great team here at the middle school. >> All right, thank you for inviting us. >> We do have certificates for each of them. >> Yep. >> Don't run away. Don't run away. All right. Uh Brooke is not here. >> I didn't think I saw her. Sorry. Why am I fine? Uh Riley Parkin, she's not here either. >> Not here. Okay. >> I didn't see her face. Ava Plaza. >> Thank you. Gracie, I'm gonna leave you these two >> and then open them up. >> Jess, you can get in that picture. Maybe Melinda should get in the picture. >> No, no, no, no. Kim, could you get over there? >> Thank you.

027Everybody look this way. >> No, you're about the same height. One, two, three. Thank you. Yes. Thank you. Congratulations, GUYS. You want me to continue? >> Yes, please. >> Um, next on the agenda, uh, we have Jeremy Hellwig. Uh Jeremy, are you here this evening? Well, for everyone's information, Jeremy was a Martin Luther King Jr. essay challenge winner. Um and uh I think his essay went on to the states. Um so we congratulate Jeremy for uh his essay. That's wonderful. That's okay. Perfect. I don't know if you want to move anything around, but we have um we have students here from Mini Medical. We also have um a presentation from adult ed. If you wanted to move my report up, that way we could >> Do we uh motion to move superintendent report from 10

028to >> seven? >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I I Any opposed? obsessions >> and all >> and then subsequently move C and B before the enrollment update. >> Correct. Thank you. >> Sorry. >> Motion to move C and B before the enrollment update. >> Second. >> Any all in favor? >> I. >> Any abstensions? >> Any opposition? Good to go. >> Sorry, you're fine. My bad. >> So, we we have two presentations here this evening for um uh adult education. As you know, um we have been in um in a partnership with Eastcon, uh who has been providing our adult education. I I have been giving you some information about that program in my briefs. Um and so Killingly last year opened up Killingly High School opened up their own adult education

029program. And so in discussion with Superintendent Nash, uh we learned that um they their program is off and running. It's thriving this year. Um it's geographically closer than uh the Eastcon program. And so I invited both programs here to be fair. Um and first invited Killingly here to share about their program and could it be a possibility for Thompson Public Schools. So I'm going to turn it over to you Dr. >> Great. Did you want me to speak up there? >> Yeah, only because All right. Good evening everyone. Thank you for carving out a little time in your agenda for us. Uh I'm Dr. Nash, superintendent, and I'm joined by with Meredith Tuki. She is our director of adult education, also our director of mental health at Killingly. Um, so like Superintendent Smith just mentioned,

030we started our own adult education program this year. Um, we weren't really sure what we were in for when we started it. It was a tremendous uh, amount of work to kind of get up off the ground, but we have surpassed what I would say is the hard part of the job, and now we are cruising. So, I just wanted to spend a small amount of time tonight to explain what our program has to offer. Um and then really what it would cost. I think that's probably the most important part to you guys, right? All right. All right. So, um next slide. Thank you so much. So, what do we offer? So, there are four um mandatory um components of an adult ed program, GED, the adult basic education, which is a program prior to

031GED kind of to get you prepared for that next level. ESL, so English as a second language, and citizenship. Those are the four that we started with. Those were the mandated ones. We said, let's just start with the mandated ones, right? And so we started with those. Next year, we will be partnering um with other adult ed programs in the state to virtually offer the credit diploma program and then the national external diploma program. Those are just other types of diplomas. So, there are a few different types of diplomas in adult ed that one can acquire. Those are just two different types. They're not mandatory with adult ed, but students may want to explore those. And so we are partnering with other adult ed programs to offer that to our students virtually. All right, next

032slide, please. This is kind of the breakdown of our students this year. So we have adult basic education, it's about 25%, asse um so you can see many of those students 46% and ESL 29%. We did not have any students um that required citizenship or that reached out for the citizenship program. All right. And if you're interested just by age, like who shows up to an adult ed program, right? It varies. So we have students that um you know have left high school for a variety of reasons and have decided to pick back up or get their GED. Um, and then we have students that are much older and are looking to um, acquire the English language more proficiently, probably for employment purposes. Um, so we have a variety of students. Um, and that's how

033it's broken down. 24 in total. 24 students in total. All right. So, one of the goals or how you measure um, how your adult ed program is going is through something called a measurable skill gain. And these are assessments that students have to take throughout their time in the program. Um we have met our 39.7% which is the state required um score that you have to have that many students meeting it. So but we are now on track to exceed the goal. So more students will be meeting their measurable skill gain. What are the strengths of our program? I would say most of our strengths hinge on our small size. So, we have 24 students and they're located in our central office upstairs. Our central office is our old high school. Um, and we've remodeled

034a couple of those classrooms up there up there and um updated them, modernized them, got some new furniture in there. Um, and so the our program is small enough that we can really develop student relationships. like I know who these learners are because they walk past my office with their kids on the way to the babysitting room, right? Um so we know who they are. We know their stories. Um and we can really kind of um boutique the program that they have. What do they need? Our adult ed teachers are not just teachers. I would say they're kind of life coaches, right? So they will help our students in any way, shape, or form. you know, if they need help um getting employment, we have a career counselor. That person comes in, helps them with

035employment. Um if they're struggling with, you know, food or um heating, we have um in Killingly, we have our family resource center and that person partners with us to help our students with any needs that they may have. Like I mentioned, we have babysitting on premises. Um, so that's not a barrier for any student that has uh young children and uh we can really monitor closely how they're progressing. We don't lose track of anyone. No one slips through the cracks because there's not many students and we can keep kind of tabs on everybody. So I would say the strength is just our small size and the relationships we can build as all right. So now we feel firmly rooted. We we've got this right. um we've gone through all the trainings and we fully understand

036what a um an adult ed program requires. So, we're going to expand. Um so, what are we going to do? We have um a very robust career center at Killingly High School. It has multiple career pathways. Uh we have job shadows once a week, so over 70 a year. And we thought, well, why should they just be for Killingly High School students? Adult learners could probably benefit from those as well. And so our career center director and myself and Meredith are working on a partnership so that our adult learners can also benefit from job shadows. Um we also have our career center um sponsors field trips. You know the manufacturing road show at Dodd Stadium, the aerospace alley at the convention center. Our adult learners should be able to go on those as well. So

037now that we feel firmly grounded, we can start to expand and offer some of our career center uh perks to our adult learners. And um one of the things that we really would like to offer more of is adult uh sorry is a virtual or online programming. Um and so we feel like we're in a good place and we could start doing that for next year. Okay. Cost. So, this is a formula for killingly. I just wanted to explain how we figured this out for killingly. Um, because sometimes it's, you know, you receive some grant funding, right? You have a local contribution from the board, but you're never really sure what that covers. Now, we do because we experienced it. Um, and so prior to going out on our own all in the cost for

038our adult ed program was about $216,000. So we started off a little uh, you know, about 100. We thought, well, we could probably do it, you know, for about 120 after we did all the calculations and the worksheet that they require you to to provide to the state at the end of the day. Like so we just had to submit our final um year report for finances. We're just over 100,000 all in. So that is you know if you think about it kind of a 5050 split with the state funding. It's 50 from the board side 50 from um the grant side. So significantly less than what we were paying before. And I wrote down you know below here what does that cover? So we have a director um as a part of her salary.

039We have a career navigator, data administrator, GED registar. All these are required by the way. Um these are all um mandated by adult ed. So you have to have these testing coordinator and then a teacher for every one of those subjects. Right? So materials such as your GED textbooks um and your training and um online uh seats. So like I had mentioned we are going to be partnering with some other adult ed programs and they charge uh a small fee if you are joining their program for an online course and just general classroom supplies. Right? So that's what that 100,000 covers in killingly. So in the next slide, how do we use that kind of for Thompson? So I believe your all-in cost is about $100,000. If we were able to do it for 50%

040less, then I assume that it would be about 50% less for Thompson. Um, again, that would kind of depend on how many students that you have, but I don't think you have too many students. >> Seven. So, not many. Um, so it could potentially even be slightly less. So, once we kind of have a a handle on the students and what programs they require, we can get, you know, more precise, but just ballpark 50,000 should certainly cover uh what it would cost for Thompson. So, that's a $25,000 board match and then the $25,000 from the state and and there's a formula um and I think I clued you in on the formula and what the split was. Um but um and we have to make a decision by April 15th um because we have to

041we have to sign on. Uh so I've been holding the document until we have this meeting tonight. >> Yep. And then everything is there. you know what do the 50,000 you know our students are taught in person right now but they will also have an online option all of our career center um perks if you will babysitting that comes uh with the package deal um and all of our students have access to a Chromebook or a laptop so if they don't have technology at home they can use ours >> um two questions >> um are you marketing this to other districts as Well, beyond Thompson at this point >> if they ask. Yes. >> Okay. >> You were the only one that has asked so far. >> Okay. Um and then um you had said

042that it may um eb and flow dependent upon numbers. So we have seven now. If the interest grows over over the years and you know your program is something that maybe people latch on to um would the the number increase with enrollment or how does that work? >> I would have to say it would need to increase significantly. Yeah. Um, I don't don't think anything would change. You know, even if we went up to 20 students, I don't think that's, you know, a make or break kind of thing. Yeah. >> Yep. Matt. >> Uh, two questions. The So, kind of following up on what Heather He Heather said, these essential staffs. >> Yeah. >> They're not only for that. I'm sure they other functions within the school district, they get a little extra for doing

043this. >> Absolutely. So, um, most of the staff that you see on that page there also hold another role in district. Um, we do have a couple teachers that that's all they do. They're just adult ed teachers. >> And I'm sure every student's journey is different, but approximately how long does it take somebody to go through this if they're coming in as a as an adult, not a special ed, but a >> somebody who didn't finish high school? >> So, hard to say. Okay. because you know sometimes they can be all in for a couple of months and then they have to step out for a month or so and they can come back in and out. So it really depends. Um I think the the size of our program is um perfect for kind

044of making sure we don't lose sight or lose track of where those learners go and say what do you need to come back in? How can we help you to come back in? Um, so you know the last page of your slide because it's not just about numbers, right? It's about people. The guy in the center there, that's Mark, his son is graduating this year from Killingly High School and he made a goal to himself that he would get his GED this year and in fact he will. So they will both graduate together. >> That's awesome. >> Any other questions? >> Thank you. >> I have actually a question for for Melinda. Um so are the grant matching um as long as they are are providing all of the mandated s resources and whatnot that's

045guaranteed that no matter where we go for these sort of services that that match will happen. >> Correct. Okay. >> Yes. There's a formula that um is figured out. It's not quite 50%. It's 48 point something. Um but um yes um I did ask that question. So yes. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Appreciate your time. >> Thank you very much. Thank you so much. >> Okay, we're just >> we're just going to fetch the east co people from outside. >> Yeah, >> I'm trying. I'm rolling >> intermission. You want to >> Jordan? >> The kids behind you. >> Yeah, >> they we already gave them one. >> You You couldn't see behind you, could you? >> Yeah. >> Oh, there's >> Yeah. >> You want some more food? Sure. I'll pass it around. >> Just

046like a nutrition. If you'd like, I'll volunteer. What did she do? Are we good with that? >> You saw her at church yesterday. >> I'll put the motion in if you want. >> Listen, the cop's in Boston. Okay. >> She's going to be back in like >> I already see her shoes. So, my competition and I was like, >> it's in Boston, babe. Like, >> yeah. I was like, like well I'll have to reach out to your mom >> and this is our representatives from Eastcon. >> Good evening. My name is Kristen Hemple. Is this loud enough? Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. My name is Kristen Hemple and I'm the director of adult and community programs at Eastcon. Before I get started, I just wanted to say I get it right now. Um, budgets are tight

047and they're they're tough everywhere. And I wanted to let you know that we hear that, we feel that, and we're doing everything in our power to try and provide the best quality programming while at the same time reducing costs across the board. Um, so I'm going to talk to you about how we do those two things during this presentation. Um, so let's get started. We go to the next slide. Um, so what we're suggesting for FY27 is that Thompson go ahead and continue on with the commitment to adult educ education consortium at the $100,000 level. That comes with a state reimbursement of about 50% um, which would bring the total amount down to about $50,000. However, I what I'm proposing is that for next year, Eastcon subcontracts with Thompson for rent as well as potentially

048some staffing at about a $25,000 level. That brings Thompson's outofpocket expenses to approximately $25,000 for the full mandated programming as well as everything that I'm going to describe here. So I want to explain how we're able to do that. So there are a few pieces that that are really important to understand. And one is when I started this position, we were in a legacy rent situation that was very expensive. We are now out of that legacy rent situation. Um, which has allowed us to not only reduce the overall consortion budget by about 3% but also is allowing us to look at other places where we can invest in putting in satellites and uh with using some of that rent money towards rent in other locations. Um, and of course, as you know, that this is

049all while we're we're dealing with increased health costs and all those other kinds of things, but we we really are looking at uh putting the money back out into the districts. Uh, another thing that that we have going for us next year is we have um some grant funding which supports integrated education and technology programs. and I'll talk to you about that in a little bit. But that also will allow us to be out here alongside your welding program to provide some high quality programs that support that. Um, all right. So, let's talk about what the $25,000 actually buys. Let's go to the next slide. Um, so the first thing I wanted to say is, and you have the this one pager that covers most of these pieces. Um the first thing that I want

050to say is with this $25,000 you get a history of strong performance. So you'll see the proven performance box and our results. So you get high quality programming that meets and exceeds the state fed and federal targets. And these numbers are a result of intentional integration of department of labor and education grants which allow us to do more and with less and to maximize the results in the adults education space. The second thing that you'll see you get with us is accessibility and flexibility. So, adult learners are often some of the more challenged students in terms of the barriers that they're facing. They may be working jobs. They may be uh h they may have kids. They might have struggled in traditional classroom settings. So a regional program allows Thompson to not only offer the

051learners the statemandated programming which are adult basic education, ESL, citizenship, and a high school completion program, but we also are able to do a full range of programming that allows for personalization and flexibility. For example, we offer three different ways to get your high school diploma. The GED is a great program for some people, but high stakes testing is not the way to go for everyone. So, we have two other options, a credit diploma program and we have a national external diploma program which uh is a one-on-one program uh and portfolio competencybased. Additionally, we know that schedules can be challenging. So, we offer in-person classes and we also offer live Zoomed classes. Um, our classes currently in Thompson have been in the afternoon and that isn't uh that that has served a number of students,

052but it's not all that we want to do. We want to be bringing classes in person here to Thompson in the evening. Um, uh, part of what we have heard from some of our past learners is that they are going to be more available in the evening because their uh, partner will be home and with child care issues, they they can come in the evening whereas they couldn't come in the afternoon. It also works with people with different schedules based on their jobs. Um, so we we offer online and in person throughout the day and evening classes. We also have teachers, coaches, tutors, and counselors that are available at times and locations that are convenient for the learners. We frequently will have people like our counselor from Thompson over there, Melanie Rivero. um she will

053come out even when we don't have classes to meet with the student whether it's at Dunkin Donuts or where wherever in order to make sure that the student is getting the attention that they deserve. Um we also provide child care at some of our locations and that is something that we could continue to look at for Thompson as we move forward as well as connections that allow for access to transportation services and then that integrated education and technology piece I keep referring to. So the third thing you get with us is advocacy. So we do think that we need to be uh present in the conversations at the state and national level. So for example, there was a cut at the state level this year. We went in loud and hard and the the state

054legislature did put back $1.7 million into adult education for this year. It has been released. CSD has it and I was speaking to some of the our representatives there just a few days ago. Um and they are planning on how right now they're working on how they're getting that money back to districts. That's important. That's real dollars that are coming back. We're doing the same thing for next year. On the federal level, we're talking about money that not only goes to uh adult education directly, but we're also talking about those programs that really support our learners um our our adults um such as uh SNAP eligibility requirements and making sure that adult education participation is one of those things that counts towards it. as well as something like workforce pel which allows people to access

055training um uh using PEL dollars. So third that we what we offer that that was third I'm sorry. Um so I want to say some of the things that are coming specifically to Thompson uh in this upcoming year uh provided we move forward with all of this. So one is we are really excited about the NCCER. It's a construction certification program that we rolled out over the summer. Um, and we have Thompson on the books uh to potentially come out either in mid June or uh as early or in July if if you all are interested. Right now we're running it in Planefield and we're getting really positive feedback from their students out there. We've also run it in Willamantic. Um but that would be coming out at no cost to the town because we

056have we do have a grant that opens it up not only for um people who qualify for adult education but for any adult resident who is willing to commit to the program. It's a 90hour program. It's an entry certification to the construction industry. Um additionally uh we want to open that that evening class here um uh parallel with the welding program. what a a high school an HSSE or an ELLL program does is we would partner with them to provide those services. So, we've contextualized um the the education that they're getting in the the welding program. We have we'd be working with them around the appropriate vocabulary, the math, all of those different things. If they're HSSE to prepare for uh the the high school diploma options and if they're EL to prepare with the

057language skills that they'll need in order to be successful in that industry. Other adult and community programs that options that are available now or are rolling out in our within the next year include our middle school uh career readiness programming such as the mobile manufacturing program which I think we brought here a few weeks ago. Um health careers exploration and durable skills. We also have several elementary level STEM nights that we could discuss bringing out to provide some of that career or uh exploration all the way down to the elementary school. Um, so one of the things I do want to emphasize now, I think it's the next slide. I can't believe the next slide is. Why don't you go to the next slide? We'll just give it a shot. All right. Um, what I

058want to emphasize is that the reason that we can offer this programming at no cost is because we're of the combination of the way that we're structured as a department and the grants that we've secured. So, we have co-funded staff um across multiple funding streams. And so that allows us to be out in the communities and to bring in expert guidance, materials and resources. Then we leverage that expertise and we go for additional grants to reach uh to expand our reach and our flexibility. So yes, money is tight right now. We know that. But that is exactly why we should not leave money on the table um when we have opportunities to keep it and to multiply its impact right here in our community. Uh the state reimbursement is sitting out there waiting to be

059claimed. The grants we've brought in are already funded. So there's no reason for Thompson to cut back on services and opportunities for its residents when we can keep them going at that $25,000 mark. We're a community northeastern Connecticut. And if we keep working together, we can figure it out. we can make it through the tough times and we can continue to provide accessible programming that creates real opportunities for economic growth and for financial stability for all of Thompson's residents and your workforce. So, I welcome any questions you may have. >> Any questions? >> Yes, there might be another slide after that. I don't remember. >> Um, >> the um so currently Thompson students are going down to where? >> Teague. So we have Teague um >> so here in Thompson. >> Yes, we we offer

060them uh at at Teague a couple days a week um in the afternoon. Um and then we have our all our online options too. They also we have the next closest one is in Planefield and we have some morning and evening class not Planefield sorry Putinham. Um so we have classes out there. >> So they don't have to travel far currently. >> Traveling far I think is a is a matter of perspective. >> Yes. Yes. Um I think that was my main question. >> Heather. Okay. So I have a couple of questions actually. So um I know this is something for this coming year. Um is this something the a model that you will be continuing or is this just because of the lease situation? >> So the we're now out of the lease. So

061I I want to run it next year. I want to see how we can do and I want to be able to work with you all to build it out as we need to build it out. Um so that the grant funding that for my IET programs um continues for two years. I would expect I would be able to re-up it but I also think that we would continue to be in a conversation about what that looks like and how we make it happen. >> Okay. So and then my next question is I I know you're the math you you indicated over here. Is there any conflict of interest from a state perspective of us going um you know applying for the the that it's 100,000 getting the 49% back and then subcontract? >> No.

062Okay. So they won't that wouldn't be >> it's two separate. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um, and then would any of this evening type stuff proposed at our location be in conflict or an issue with the CT state agreement that we currently have? >> It could. It could. >> Um, it could um we use both sides of the shop now uh during the day, but that could cause some some issues um because they also want to be able to expand out um and that's taking priority, right? Yeah. >> And so I think part of what we'd be looking at is for our evening pieces, we would be what has happened in other situations is that our staff push in to the CTE um classes to do uh to like as an aid sort of

063supporting the teacher in there. And then we offer additional pieces in a in a non um lab setting. So in just a regular classroom. How many districts send uh students to Eastcon for adult education and overall how many participate? >> So I don't remember I I think this year we have about 300 separate learners so far. Um uh last the year before that I know that that equated to about 1,800 enrollments. Um we we did have more learners last year than this year. Um I I have some theories about why there's been some cutback in some of our ELLL students coming in, but um so uh so that that is part of it for us. But uh you know, so most learners do take about three uh classes with us at a time, three to

064four classes over the course of their their year. >> Right. >> And and I didn't answer districts. I think it's about 2021 now. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> Well, we thank you for coming in very >> and that was a lot in your short. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Appreciate it. Have a good night. >> Thank you so much. Yeah, we're >> with mini. >> Okay. >> Mrs. Stlets, you want to start? >> Yes, let's start. >> All right, let's go. We're on, kids. So, thank you for having us tonight. We're here to talk about the mini medical school that we ran at the high school this past calendar year, not academic year. And I'll explain how that went. Do you mind, please? >> I got the clicker. >> I'll

065get it up for you. I'm just Oh, I got to take this picture. These girls work. Yes, they did. Smile, girls. >> Get in there. >> I'm trying. >> Yep. >> Like that. >> You go. >> All right. That's the end, I think. So, >> like that. >> Um, >> do you want to just control it maybe? >> Sure. >> Excited by the fact that we're doing this. It's blurry, so I'm going to restart it. >> So, I'll start talking. >> So, it was the fall of 24 when Melinda came to see me about she was approached about a program. You know how Melinda is with her programs, right? So, she kind of looped me in as to what was going on. This is a mini medical school. So, I was part of the preliminary

066um wrote some notes. This fall of 24, Melinda introduced this program to me. I attended some preliminary meetings and it was run through Beth Israel um hospital and it was a program that was sponsored by Dr. Mallerie Keane. She's a resident at the hospital and she built this program to introduce medical real medical terms and systems to the high school students. And I loved it. I mean for me this is just so much in my wheelhouse and I was like I love this. Let's get this thing going. So I was tasked with finding my what I like to call my dad five. So um it was really important to find like the right fit, right? The right kind of student who had the aptitude to take on something like this and uh these young ladies

067were very open-minded to it. We had a zoom call with Dr. Kaine. um she kind of got went through the modules with us, explained what it was all about and you can see up here it's all the different programs, all the different um units, medical research, immunology, genetics and throughout these 10 units they would go through these um online courses and then we would move on to like a capstone project. So we were excited. We decided to take this on in January of 25. And um within their schedules, I built into their um schedule a block. So a 90-minute block every other day where they could tackle this particular um subject matter. Um it took care of their health credit. Two of them are seniors and two of them, three of them are juniors. So

068this way they could take care of their health credit by doing this. Is much more um in depth, right, than you would for a normal health credit. So, we took care of their health credit. We offered them a full credit with it could do it within one semester. At least that's how we started. I'll explain. And then um and we also gave it an AP weight, right? It's heavily weighted. This is a huge commitment that they took on. >> So, we start we start in January. It's going well. We're learning January, February, March, and I'm starting to learn like how in-depth this actual project really was. and it got to be April May and I could feel in my my gut that we weren't going to finish this. So, Dr. Kian was excellent to work

069with and from her perspective it was about 120 hour class. >> Now, semester what I had built for them was 67 hours. So, I was like, "Yep, back to the back to the drawing board." That's okay. That's what we're doing here. They were so good about rolling with it and they were willing to do it over the summer. But I these are high performing students who work who take additional tasks on and are always busy always busy. So we just paused it. I'm like enjoy your summer you know do your other things because think about the program right for me it's something that these kids are doing that sets them apart from their peers. excellent resource for me for college recommendation letters like crazy resource and the beauty of this is with their projects and

070as they were doing their different things they're published they became published in medical literacy magazines and that is something that you're not going to find other kids who are on the college track necessarily have that opportunity right every single one of these girls have been published so this is something that they can build upon and something that they could talk about and something I could write about for them for their futures So we paused it. Um within pausing it, Dr. King went and revamped the whole program. >> So that had a whole new portal, a whole new platform that they had to learn. So we did it. We started in September and they finished it in January and they did their capstones and their average grade was a 92.8. >> So all of them together.

071So they were fabulous. Fab five. They were they were so good about it. And One of the things I love that Jordan said to me, because it was a lot of work, but she's like, "I'm so glad I did it." So, in spite of it being so so much work and very like clunky, if you will, um, they just they they say they they did a great job. So, I'm going to go over here. Each one's going to come up, explain uh what they talked about, like why they took it and also talk about their capstone project. But before they do that, I just want to commend Kim because I come up with these programs when I come up with these ideas and then I find my way up into her office and say, "Hey,

072what do you think about this?" And she latched on to this program and actually because of Kim, figuring out the schedule, working with um the physicians that were in the program, and then certainly reaching out to you all and supporting you through the way. um especially by coming up with the pause I think um meant that you finished it successfully and I can't thank you enough Kim and for for this project and many others that I drop in your lap. Um so my pleasure. >> Hello everyone. Excuse my congestion. It's my annual sinus infection. Um, so I'm a senior at Twitter Memorial and when Miss Ste um brought this course to us, I was like this is perfect because I'm a very indecisive person and I have like explored all different pathways like culinary um

073I've taken construction classes all these different pathways that we offer and this was just another one of those pathways that helped me figure out what I want to do. Yeah, I love like the human body and this course has helped me in my anatomy class this year which I'm so grateful for. Um, and overall I have learned so much from the course um about like the human body and if I take those kind of science classes in college, I'm much more confident that I have all this prior knowledge going into the course and has helped me already. So, I'm excited to see how it helps me in the future. And um this course was overall just like a great experience. Um so I want to talk to you about my publications. So in um this

074course early on I completed my cystic this was in our immunology unit or no genetics unit um and cystic fibrosis was one of the topics that we had learned. So, I created a really great infographic on the disease, like the ways that like it mutates and how you get it, like the causes, the symptoms, ways to help. Um, and Dr. Kane reached out to me and was like, "Rion, this is amazing. It's so informational and I'd really like to publish it." So, that was a really great experience for me. And later on um near the ending of the course I um got my iron deficiency anemia paper published and this paper was all about iron deficiency anemia which happens um for a multitude of reasons um or anemia happens for a multitude of reasons but

075iron deficiency was one of the reasons that it happens. So I wrote this paper and it's veryformational and that is also published. Um the cystic fibrosis one is on their actual like medical literacy like blog and then the iron deficiency amia anemia paper is published on a partner blog called cell count which teaches like the public about hematology. >> Very nice. And then if you go to the next slide, my final my capstone I chose to do concussion awareness. This was during basketball season and I had gotten many hits to the head and I was feeling kind of all over the place. Um so I decided to take that personal experience. Um, and just like seeing other people around me who have had concussions. Um, they're very common in sports and a lot of people

076don't pay attention to them or like don't go and get um, checked out. So, I did a bunch of research and I put together this flyer that I ended up post like putting around the school building to inform people about the dangers like symptoms and signs and it's just very informational and I'm glad that I got to put it around the school and inform my peers. >> Thank you for listening. >> Um, hi, I'm Mabel. I'm a junior at Turtle and um I took this class because I'm very interested in healthcare and human biology. Um Miss Douglas actually got me involved in Day Kimble's junior volunteer program which is a very important thing to me. It's like my whole personality. Um but through Day Kimble I was able to job shadow in labor and delivery

077and I've seen two births now and my volunteer work has allowed me to discover that that's what I want to do. So, I'm not sure if I want to be a doctor or a nurse, but this class was really important to me to further progress into healthcare. Um, I last semester I took medical terminology through RCT state um partner work and I also took my CNA last semester and obtained that. So, I'm now working at Westview as a CNA and this semester I'm taking EMR. um just really trying to get involved in healthcare and learn more about it. So this is a really important class to me that was able to help me learn about that. So my publication through the program was my um infograph social media post on air pollution and how it

078affects respiratory health. Um, so that's in the top left, which is um really fun to make informational. I mean, I think it's pretty basic stuff, but then I also included my two of my favorite um projects that I did, which is about uh how poverty affects your health, mental health, and physical health. And then I did an infographic on Down syndrome. And then my capstone is I did a YouTube video of um like teaching kids about reproduction and genetics and how it all works. So I talked about how you get your DNA from your parents and um just how everything works. So, I included my write up of what I was going to talk about in the video and all of my plans for the video and a link to the video that I made,

079which was also shown in I showed a few of my classes and made sure that I got it out to the public as well, which was a big part of our capstone was important to make sure that you were getting public output. So, that was my journey on this. >> Hello, my name is Julie Le. I'm a senior here. So, I took this class when they all did, but um I have always been really interested in the healthc care field. Um this fall I'm going to UMass Boston for nursing. So, I think this class has definitely helped me get into all like the nursing schools that I got into. Um and it's definitely helped me feel a lot more prepared. I got my CNA license um last semester, so I got to also do clinicals

080at Mrilitis, which was also really nice for me. I'm planning on going into street nursing for a little while and then I want to get my um nurse practitioner license and then go into labor and delivery nursing. So, this has definitely been a really good course for me to kind of learn what subjects I like more um in what areas. So, yeah, a little bit about why I took it. Um my article on cickle cell anemia got published. So, it kind of explained like how genetics affect um cickle cell anemia, what populations are more likely to get it and why. And then just there's new um advanced treatments that are coming out. Um obviously it's not treatable or curable right now. So there's um right now it's called crisper and it's a genetic modifying tool

081that they're using to try and help cickle cell um anemia patients get better. Um, I got this published a little bit before my birthday. So, when we went to my birthday dinner, my mom wanted me to tell my grandparents, and she's my biggest supporter, but she's not the best on timing. So, when the waiter came up to like get our orders and everything, she goes, "Julia, you have to tell your grandfather about sickle cell." And the waiter looks at me like I'm dying. Are you okay? And I'm like, "No, no, I just got an article published." But it's been really great to make my family proud. Um, and my aunt is a nurse. She's kind of been my biggest influence on why I want to go into nursing. So, kind of doing something that's following

082in her footsteps and making her proud has been something that's been really special to me through this program. Um, I don't think I would have been published otherwise. I don't really know how I would go about that. So, it's been a really nice experience for me. And then for my capstone, my mom is a mental health um, coach. So, I kind of did my final capstone project on how different breathing techniques can help your like mental health as well as your physical health, how you sleep, how you you function dayto-day. Um, and then I hung it in the school and I had it up there for about two weeks just to kind of show people like it really does matter how much you take care of your mental health and you try to ground yourself

083and it's really important for not only just your mental health, but your physical health. It really helps you kind of do better in your day-to-day life and make you feel better. So, I wanted to show people that it matters. That's how I did that. >> Hello everybody. So, my name is Jordan Powki. A little about me includes my love for sports. So, I play basketball, soccer, and golf for the school. Um, I love spending time with my friends and family and praising God. Moreover, I want to start by thanking Mrs. Seglets and Mrs. Smith for this amazing opportunity to take this class. I was hesitant at first because Mrs. Segllets was telling us like what it would include, but so glad I took it. Um, while taking this medical class, I was also involved in

084the CNA course at here at Turtle and I was able to earn my CNA certification through my current job. Though my current job doesn't reflect my CNA certification, I hope in the near future to begin a career in the medical field. This is exactly why I was drawn to this course despite the workload, late nights, and good stress it brought on. While out at school, while out of school, I was able to go above and beyond and to reach my goals to help me in pursuing a career in healthcare. One way I did this was by volunteering at Day Kimble over the summer. And thank you Mabel and Mrs. Telas for sharing this opportunity with me. >> Some of my publications are linked there. So I did three articles. One was on coronary artery disease.

085Um cle cell anemia anemia >> and I think my skin cancer one was also published which was my capstone. >> So my for my capstone this is like a long process. We had to plan everything out but definitely prepared me for what I will be facing in college I guess. But I decided to write an article to educate the public about skin cancer. I chose this because I think many people often push the issue off to the side. Whether it's thinking you don't need sunscreen in cloudy weather or simply that you don't you tan but don't burn. I am also highly interested in dermatology. So I believe this topic correlates well with my future career goal. The topic this project was not just done overnight. Like I said, it was a process, but I learned

086more about skin cancer through this. And yeah, I was going to add that in. >> Hi, I'm Tanisha Patel and I'm a junior at TMHS. A little about me includes my love for painting and listening to music. I also like to binge watch shows and spend time with family and friends. I'm also on the golf team. I want to start off by thanking Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Douglas for giving me the opportunity to take this class. Through this program, I was able to develop my research skills in complex medical topics and my first publication was a research paper about hypertension which is high blood pressure. I researched about the cause and effect of high blood pressure on our mind and body. My second publication includes a presentation about the effects of stress on brain function

087and structure. I research about how stress can negatively affect our mind and emotions and also um the physical changes in the brain. And my final capstone it was an article about the science of sleep deprivation in teenagers. The reason why I chose to write about this topic was because it's an important topic especially nowadays teenagers don't get much sleep including myself and I thought it was important for everyone to know and through my art article everyone was informed about healthier sleeping habits and also I want to say thank you with this program I was able to apply skills in my health class even though this class did count as a health credit but didn't have anything on my schedule and yeah thank you >> the only word I have to say is impressive >> very

088did a really good job >> can can I ask >> yes request um is it possible to um the especially like the the graphics that you guys did um that were published um the onepage kind of graphical stuff. Is it is it possible to put like on Facebook um promoting this group the program and then definitely the the graphical like pictures um and say that these were solely created by stu our students not just information but also the aesthetic you know like the whole thing was done by them. I think they're pretty cool and the fact that they're published is amazing. So, I think we should be definitely putting out there to the universe. >> So, I want to give credit to Mabel. She was able to put our slideshow together for us, which was

089wonderful. Um, if you ladies are okay with releasing your information, I don't see why we couldn't publish that. >> Yeah. And I it doesn't even have to be the whole slideshow, but just even just a little blurb to set talk about the program and and the five individuals and it was a year long and and just some samples of what of what you produced. I think that would be impressive, you know. >> Girls, why don't you open up your little certificate >> and I and Kim, please get in there >> because without Mrs. Stelets >> this definitely would not be possible. >> The wonderful thing we have in Mrs. Stelets that all guidance counselors do not possess is the way to think outside the box and make it work. And when you have a guidance

090counselor like that, you can move mountains. >> Good question. Where's your certific? >> Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Great job. >> Kim, quick question. You you mentioned that it was um AP level class. Is there is there an overall test that they can take? >> So, no, their capstone was their they had a final exam y on all 10 units. Yep. >> And their capstone. So, when I say the AP level, when I when I refer to that, I mean the highest weight I could give it, right? Within the Thompson. >> Right. But there's no there's no college credit issued. >> No. no college credit, >> but it's quite an amazing uh set of classes. And you have a followup for a next cohort of students. >> So, just ask the same question. So, they don't

091know it yet. That's the truth. I have my eye on a couple kids. So, honestly, it probably won't be next year. They need another year, >> but that's where they're sophomores. >> They just don't know. Yeah. Excellent. Thank you so much. Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations. >> Enrollment update. >> Yep. Enrollment update. Um so we um uh last uh last month at Marriott Fisher there were 326 students. This month there are 325 that were down one. Um at the middle school there were 277 students. We now have 274. We're down three. Um and at the high school we have 168 students um last month and 166 now down two. Uh so districtwide we're down six students for a total of 766. And then of course you can see uh the movement on the subsequent backup pages that

092Dette provides for us. >> Justin, >> do we have an idea? We went through this last year. We saw the an uptick in home school and then we saw it kind of come back towards the end of the year. Do we have an idea why we went home school this month? It was four of them. I think >> um >> no. Um you know, parents don't really need to give us that information. Um one was um one single family that took two students out. I know that. Um but um you know I I certainly reach out to those families and ask if there's something that I can do to uh discuss it help um uh and um folks didn't reach back to me. So um I do know on the state level that is a

093hot topic u in Hartford right now in the legislature um trying to make uh more accountability uh around homeschooling. Um so um that should be interesting on how that all flushes out at the end of this session. But yeah, um, no, we're not specifically certain. >> Okay, thank you. >> Any other questions on enrollment? >> Okay. Uh, teacher non-renewals and layoffs. >> Um, so um I had um uh let you know that we had uh two non-renewals. Uh one specifically is because it was a grant-f funed position. Um and um that grant runs out this year. I mean there is some talk at at the state level about uh some funding around mental health services that funds a middle uh an elementary guidance counselor. Um so uh we knew that was a three-year grant. We

094knew that we might end up losing funding. Um we're hoping that over the course of the summer maybe we can identify some grant funding that comes from the state. We're not sure. um the teacher's aware of that. Um and then the second um what I'm withdrawing that request. Um so um it's just this one non-renewal. I will say this dependent upon what happens at the with the budget process moving forward um we may have to do some layoffs. So um let's hope that doesn't happen because as you all know it'll have a devastating effect on the district overall. Um, so, um, I hope I don't come back and you don't see this on the agenda again. >> Agreed. >> And you need a motion. >> I need an approval of the non-renewal. >> Kristen, I'll

095make to approve the >> second >> and seconded by Justin. Any discussion? >> All in favor say I. I. >> Any opposed? >> Any abstensions? Motion approved. >> Okay. Um, finance director, facility director updates. >> We'll start with finance. >> Hi everyone. Uh, no change to the revised budget. Right now, year-to- date spending is at 15.7 million, 72.3%, a little ahead of where we were last year. Um, however, incumbrances are behind where we were last year, which is encouraging. We have started the annual process of taking a look at our open POS and starting to close those. Probably recall I mentioned this to you last year. We can't get too far down the road there because it it may create double work and that sometimes those need to be reopened. Um, so we're we're doing

096it, but we're uh proceeding with caution. Projected spend 21.8 million, 99.9% of the budget. We are a little bit tighter than we were at this point last year. We have layered in these three items that we've talked about for the last couple months in a row. Uh and in April, I will be uh taking the the first uh look at draw downs for the grants. So that number will get a bit tighter and I maybe not tighter a little bit a little bit better quality I guess on that number uh when we have the actual uh grant results in there. Um we're we still have the same two departments projected to be over budget. Uh pupil services that has actually come down a little bit uh to $362,000 uh driven by out of place out

097of district placements and RBT spending offset by um special ed transportation as we've talked about in the past. Uh and ESY as we've talked about uh for the last few months. That's not going to change. As you guys know, the audit was completed uh and the financials have been filed. Um the EFS agreed upon procedures uh for king and king RCPA are actually in process right now. That's a that's a separate I guess you could kind of call it a mini audit of our financial filing that we do with the state that always happens subsequent to the financial statement audit. So that work is is going on and I'm thrilled to announce that the IDA grantee work maintenance of effort work also happens in April. This is probably one of me and Melinda's favorite things

098to do every year. Um but that happens >> you mostly. >> So that'll be uh that'll be underway. >> Any questions? >> Justin. >> Yep. Out of the 700K 693,000 for we know the number of students that that like how many didn't we budget for? >> It says it says out of district placements are projected to be 693.4. >> Correct. >> Right. I like I don't know the number from last year. Um and and it's not all about the number, it's about the intensity of services too. Y um so it could impact some of the services we deliver here on site um for the contractual services. I can certainly ask Dr. Jones for the breakdown. >> Unfortunately, we have had >> some >> yes >> new additions to that Yep. bucket in in just the

099last month and even in the last couple of weeks, I think. >> Yes. Um, so, so unfortunately, you hate to see that. You hate to see that any time of year, but especially right at the end. >> Yeah. I mean, this happened last year, too. I just want to >> I I don't, >> Madam Chair, I don't know how to start quantifying this. This seems to happen every year >> since I've been here where we have we budget a certain number and this is our number that >> I mean, granted, we're only 362, but it's 700,000 in placement. We've got to We've got to figure out how to manage this a little bit better either from a state standpoint, you know, getting getting the state to pay attention to these volatilities that we have. We're

100It's not and and I apologize. It's not the way that we're managing it. We're managing it the best we can. What we need to do is we need to figure out how as a small district, you know, 5% of our budget just gets nailed by one one segment of where we are. like we we've got to do we've got to figure something out to better attack this because the the taxpayers our our other students in in the district we've got to we've got to get our heads wrapped around this somehow and I know we're doing everything we can and I I commend the efforts that you're putting in with the other boards of ed but 700,000 >> I mean last year I think we were 600,000 at this time give or take >> I mean

101That's when we're talking 5% of our of our overall budget annually, it's crazy. We've got to get our hands around it somehow. >> Yep. Anybody else? >> No other questions for Mr. Staglets. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Burch. You have anything to add to there? >> Is there? >> Hello, everybody. Um, I really don't have too many things for you. I've got uh a couple of things coming up and that is going to be next week. We are hoping to do the final air and water balancing for the new HVAC equipment. We're also planning to uh do the evaluation on the diesel generator to see what the story is with the engine on that and what repairs may be necessary. We hung the last two air handlers last Friday. Those are the last two major

102pieces of equipment that needed to be hung for the HVAC project. And uh we're going to start the renovations in the kitchen. Uh next Monday, we're going to do the disconnect on Friday afternoon. We're removing the range and the Anel system. And we're going to put the new steamer in and move some convection ovens around to make a little more space and room for a couple more hot boxes in the kitchen. >> Any questions for Mr. Burch? >> Thank you. >> All right. Approval of minutes. >> Motion to approve >> minutes for March 9th. >> Thank you. All right. Um, any discussion on the minutes? >> All those second. >> I'll second. >> Daniel. Um, all those in favor say I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? >> All right. Sub committee update. >> Thank you.

103Uh, Tuesday, March 24th, we had a policy subcommittee meeting. We discussed the uh survey of students u policy which did not exist before and the suicide prevention uh policy and we had a presentation from Sierra that was uh very thorough. Uh we had lots of uh discussion amongst the committee and um so that's also brand new and kind of custom written for us by Sierra with a lot of input from our staff. Um it was very impressive the amount of work that went into that. Uh so we we've sent that we had we had a couple very minor uh revisions I think to both of these policies but just uh a couple I think capitalization or something very minor things very thorough policies and we uh >> they're here presented in our packets and we'd

104like to motion these to um full approval by the board. >> Okay. I I have one typo. >> Yeah. >> Right here. >> We already approved the minutes. >> Oh, yes. >> Oh, on the on the policy. >> Survey of students. The board >> that was that as we pointed out during the policy should have been correctly. >> That board is um >> BA. >> B A paragraph service by the B. >> I did fix put the wrong one in your pocket. >> Okay. Thank you. I figured Yeah, we we did bring that. Thank you for catching. >> We did have that. >> All right. That was there any others that I noticed. >> The old business. >> Sorry. >> Do we need to >> Well, it's under new business to do the >> correct.

105Thank you. >> Anybody have any old business? >> No. >> All right. So, new business policy approval number one, survey of students. Motion to approve policy as submitted for survey of students. >> I'll second it. >> Any discussion? >> All right. All those in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Any abstensions? Any opposition? Nope. Moves forward. All right. Student suicide policy. >> I'll make a motion to approve the student suicide policy. Second that. >> Any discussion? >> All right. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any abstensions? Any opposition? >> Starting to run out of gas here. All right. Um, approval of the adult ed program. >> So, um, you've heard two presentations this evening. Um, uh, one from Killingly, which is a new program. um and the other from Eastcon which

106has been well established. Um you know it's $104,000 um that is um the total amount of money that we pay to Eastcon. Um and I just want you to bear in mind that they're not asking for any less money to that 104. They expect our full $50,000 match plus the uh state match. um and and then will give us back to rent our space um $25,000 and that's how it ends up where the board of ed's contribution would only be $25,000. In both cases, the financial outlay is the same except that one we're going to have another entity at the high school at night um using space. Um and uh you know, as much as I would love to see um more adult learners here at night, um we haven't even evaluated what that's like

107um because the program hasn't started with um the welding. So I would like some time to be able to evaluate the evening program uh in the summer when um electric boat starts. It's during the day. I really want to see how it works when school's in session during the day and then what happens at night. remember then both sides of the shop are being used because the construction side >> um if they were to use our space >> you need a motion for discussion sorry >> sorry >> I'll make a motion >> I'll second it >> uh to to approve an adult ed program >> second >> all right >> which uh Heather you had >> Kathleen that you need to >> oh you need to specify which program >> right Yeah. No. Yes. No.

108>> Well, to have discussion. We're discussing. >> Okay. We'll I'll make a motion that we discuss the adult ed programs. >> Okay. >> Second. >> All right. Heather, so if the if Eastcon uses our space, is there any out I I know that they will lease it from us, but is there any further additional outlay from us from a cleaning and and security and >> utilities and all this other stuff? So technically we're still it's far less than 25,000. Really? >> Okay. >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> Matt, >> I don't have a fully developed fund. Sorry, >> Justin. >> Why now? Like why did come to us now saying that they could get us down to $25,000? >> Because I reached out to >> And that's a like that's kind of the answer I was

109looking for. like did they cuz even their presentation >> I'm sorry I I might be rudimentary at math but 100,000US 49,000 does not equal 25,000 no matter which way you slice it and yes it's lease of reimbursements or least reimbursements but like Heather said we're out of pocket for more than 25,000 if they were coming to us and saying 15 18,000 maybe but it's more than 25,000 out of pocket realistically >> plus all of the additional headaches that may come along with hosting a night program >> in the facility. >> And I don't know what they are yet because we haven't had the opportunity to host someone. I don't know what that's going to do to the teachers during the day. Um, as much as I certainly think it's a good idea to utilize the

110space at night and for our community. Um, but I would like an opportunity to see how that all works. Um, and I agree with you that there is other expenses um, just facility-wise. And remember, Connecticut State is paying for the security at night. >> Um, so that's a whole other complicated. >> Matt, did you I I formed my phone. Okay. >> Um, currently, not including what Eastcon's proposing for next year, currently, where do our students travel to? Is it all online? It's not all online, but I don't know specifically out of those seven people who are taking classes um whether they go to Putnham, whether they go to um they're online. Like I have no clue. >> Um so yeah, I just want to make sure that going to killingly I don't know, you know,

111these people don't have vehicles or all that other stuff with having child care on say it's great. I just don't want to create a hardship and and have people drop out because it's all the way down killing the you know 12 minutes away but uh it's as great it would be to have it on site it's I just don't want to create a hard >> and not all not all programs were they they they recommending on site here it was just the construction they need >> right so it's not it was not a cure all >> Kathleen >> um yeah now I'm forgetting my thought there is no guarantee that This 25,000 is going to continue either. >> Well, right right now the state is matching. It's a 48 point. >> No, no, no. I

112meant for Eastcon. >> Oh, correct. >> Right. This is a one-year deal at this point. >> Yeah. She said at best it could be two. >> Yeah, right. >> Yeah. Possibly next year. >> Yeah. What's the >> And then we go, you know, >> 25 killingly is for however long we choose to make the contract. We got seven students. They could increase it per student. >> Student, right? >> If they had to hire another teacher if we had more students, >> but she had indicated that if it was if it was even 20 that would necessarily change the price like we had so few students already, right, >> in the program that >> but she did emphasize the fact that there's a ve, you know, the the emphasis was on a small program. So if

113they start bringing other students from other areas in, it's not it's going to cease to be a small program. >> Well, so I originally got into this because I wanted to know, you know, would $104,000 be enough for us to run our own program. >> Um the answer is no. We're already taxed out with staffing wise. My staff couldn't take on another thing. Um, and so how she manages it is because she has these other positions already within her budget. Um, so I mean I couldn't replicate it, right? We'd have to be in partnership with someone. Uh, do we continue with Eastcon or do we um go into a program that is a new program? Um, quite frankly, um, I just don't love the idea of, uh, the the only benefit, well, the only way

114we get a a discount is if we, um, give them our space at night >> for East Club. >> I I do like I do like the fact that they have all of their people involved, the the the career counselors and those other things. it just seemed like it was already because it's already at that high school that I've been in that high school. They have a lot there. >> So, that's that that to me seems more comprehensive there. Um, >> and Easttown has comparable staffing and a good program, don't get me wrong. It's just that >> what our district can afford um and what we should be providing for adult learners. And I think that the Killingly program is a good program. >> Okay. Justin, >> I mean, if is was there any conversation

115with the Killing Lake superintendent where if that program did get too big, they could satellite here in Thompson? >> Well, I just talked to her on the way out and said we need to be able to link the evening welding program with the adult learners at Killingly and we got to figure out how we can do that, right? Because they could be whatever prerequisites they need to take, resume building, whatever. um we can make sure that then we get them into a pathway that they can train here because that would be ideal. >> I think as long as conversations like that are going on, I I would go for the killing program all day long. >> Good point. >> I I remembered my other train of thought. Um I know I I know I know.

116Um oh um so every year kind of like special ed every year the adult learning can fluctuate from 7 to 17 to two and so you know it kind of it's really >> yeah that's just a statement more than a question >> motion to approve killing le's program as the adult education program Thompson starts with >> second >> all right those in favor say I >> I I >> any of those opposed? Any abstensions? >> I'm not clear. >> It's enough to give you good. >> All right. So, that will be a wait. One, two, three, seven. >> Seven to one >> with one abstension. Okay. All right. Uh correspondence from Woodstock Academy. We all saw that. Yep. >> Yes, ma'am. Okay. >> Citizens comments round two. Start on the Zoom link. Going once. Going

117twice. Sold. Comments in the room. Going once. Going twice. Sold. Board of education comments. Going once. >> Oh, Kristen. I mostly just had a bunch of accolades this month that I just wanted to say that I attended the family stories night at the elementary school which was phenomenal and they had huge turnout and I got to hear Mrs. Rice's family story which we greatly enjoyed. Um, so kudos to all of them and to Lindsy Clark for that event. I went to the NHS induction, the musical, the showcase tonight, um, the leadership roundt event. So, I just think we're doing so much and I personally am really proud to be sending my children here and to be a part of everything that's happening. So, it just seems like a lot of good stuff. >> Anybody else?

118All right. Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. Great. No, we're moving into a >> right. It's a second. It's a a separate agenda. >> All right. So, call to order at >> Let's make sure we turn everything off. People need to exit. We need to invite