Thompson BOE Meeting - December 8, 2025

001board elections. Um we're going to turn it over to um former chairman uh Kathleen Harbor. >> Okay. I guess as you know at this time I'm going to announce that I'm not seeking reelection as chaired to the board. I've served six years as the chair and I feel it's time to pass this honor on to someone new. Um, with the leaving of Bill Wakowski and Tom Angelo, there is no one left on the board from when I first joined 14 years ago. I'm the oldtimer here, so it's time for a fresh outlook and new ideas. But if I might have a few minutes of your time to reflect upon some of the highlights of my tenure as chair. I was first elected chair in December of 2019. I barely got my feet wet when in

002March of 2020, COVID hit. That was a catastrophic event, but with Superintendent Smith and Miss Grower and the rest of the staff here at Thompson, uh, we managed to weather the storm and came out stronger on the other side. Talk about trial by fire. The next major initiative was when portrait of a graduate and the implementation of a single vision and mission statement throughout the district was implemented and finalized. All three schools schools are now working from the same playlist. Then pathways were implemented and they are now recognized statewide and we've been recognized and complemented. And as you know, Superintendent Smith has made uh several visits to the state house in in um in Hartford. Again, at the suggestion of several of the current board members, we finally established a self-evaluation of ourselves for the

003board and we set annual goals for the board and I hope this will continue because this is a very valuable exercise for for the board. Also at the suggestion of some current board members, I developed an orientation for new board members that was implemented this year focusing on the Thompson board of education itself rather than the overall boards of education and how it operates. And I hope you new board members found that that helpful and useful. So although I'm not I'm not leaving the board, I would like to thank Superintendent Smith for six years of a great partnership and we continue to work together and Danielle for your kind assistance. >> You're welcome. >> I have still four more years here uh to serve. It's like a sentence, I guess. And I and I was

004going to give this to the school when I left the board, but it's just kicking around the house and it's been there for a year. So, I'd like to give it to the school now. Get it out of my house. I hooked this last year. Oh god, I can't get it out of this. Come on, come on, come on, come on. And it was a project from my one of my studies. I belong to a guild and they give us a give us um patterns. >> Oh, that is awesome. So, I'd like to give this to the school. >> Maddie and Dylan, would you like to accept it? Beautiful. It reminded me of the turtle tigers. >> They're like a handoff thing. Maybe I can get a good picture of the >> three of you

005with the tiger. >> Tied me. Thank you. >> Yes. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> Oh, Kathleen, that's beautiful. >> Thank you, >> Danielle. You're going to have to figure out where we're putting it. >> Some job for you. >> That's easy. >> In my office. I got it. There's >> space. And with that, I will turn it back over to Superintendent Smith. >> Kathleen, thank you for six great years. I don't think we would have weathered the storm without Shannon Grower and Kathleen Herbert and Bill Burch back there. Um, those were some trying times. Um and we we started our partnership together and um we weathered the sto storm through a lot of different initiatives and I am ever grateful for all of your guidance. Thank you. All right. So at this point on the

006agenda, we have to have our board of education elections. We're going to begin with the election of the board chairman. Do I hear any nominations for board chair? >> Kristen, >> I'm going to nominate Jess for chair. >> Okay. Um, nomination for Jessica Boly for chair. Are there any other nominations? >> I'll nominate Matt Pski for chair, please. >> Okay. And Matt Pski, are there any other nominations? I'm supposed to say this three times. Are there any other nominations? Finally, are there any other nominations? We will be using a paper ballot. Danielle has given you all um a ballot. So, if you could please vote for either Jessica Boly or Matt Pski for board chair and then Danielle, you're going to collect the ballots. Once the ballots are collected and tabulated, whoever is board chair

007is going to change seats and then continue on the elections. >> Okay, I will give Danielle a few minutes. Shuffle. Shuffle. Do you like like me to read them out loud? >> Your whole music. >> Um, you can just tell us how many you Yes. as you open them. I'll take a tally. >> Okay. >> Go, >> Matthew. Okay. Jessica. Okay. Jessica. Matthew. Jessica. and Jessica. >> Okay, so the tally is Jessica Balty, six votes, and Matt Powski, three. So the new board chair is Jessica Bolty. Congratulations. Thank you. >> I have some of ready or not. Kathleen doesn't have big feet, but she's left a very big She's going to leave a big hole. >> Kathy, do you want help moving yourself? Do you want some help? >> Move this down for her. >>

008There you go. >> Am I swapping? She's swapping with her. >> We all have to move down. >> Kathleen, you're taking my seat. I'm moving over. We're all moving in once. >> Okay, >> for now, is that you? >> Oh, yes. >> I'll put those on the back. Thank you. >> All right. All right. >> All right. Moving on to vice chair. Do we have a motion for vice chair Heather? >> Yes. I nominate Kathleen if you would accept that. >> I would. Yes. Thank you. >> Any other nominations for vice chair? >> I'll nominate Matt. >> Okay. Any other nominations? Any other nominations? All right. So then you will vote either for Kathleen or Matt as vice chair. >> Sorry missed. >> I'll go back. Okay, here you go. Okay, we have Matt Holski.

009Okay, we have Matt Pski. We have Kathleen. Kathleen Matthew Kathleen Kathleen and Matt Polski >> closer five to four. >> Okay. And then moving on to secretary Do I have a nomination for secretary? >> I would like to nominate Heather. >> I was going to do that. >> All right. Any other nominations for secretary? >> Any other nominations? >> I'm voting already. >> All right. Do No. All right. C Heather, you Here we go. All right. Take those and give those to Danielle. Thank you very much. Thank you. >> I thought I grabbed it on my way to the car, but I didn't. Citizens comments. >> All right. So, then we will uh start with citizens comments. We'll start with start with the Zoom since there's a lot of faces in the room. I don't

010see any. Okay. All right. Citizens comments from the room. Please state your name, address, and we're limited to three minutes. Anybody going once, going twice? >> Sold. All right. Start with the uh Director reports start with Mr. Stletz. Quick update on year-to- date medical results. The revised budget is unchanged at 21.8 million. Year-to- date spending at 8.3. Uh 38.1% of the budget was actually is actually a little lower than where we were where we were at this time last year. Uh year-to- date incumbrances actually are running a little bit higher at 13 million, 59.7% of the budget. At the moment, our projected spend for the year is 21.3 million or 97.9% of the budget. A little bit ahead of where we were last year. Again, this doesn't reflect any uh special ed excess cost payments

011for the year yet. Uh that payment will probably the first payment will probably come in in a couple of months. Uh, two departments are currently projected to be over budget and I need to make a little clarifications on the pupil services budget. Um, I had projected a $549 uh,000 uh, deficit for the year. However, um, while going over the results, I noted that my second bullet point under this section, the special education uh, teacher salary line, we actually had a classification hiccup of of some payroll dollars in ununice. So that 212 is actually going to come down not quite to zero but almost to zero. Uh so the good news there is pupil services uh is trending a little bit ahead of of where we have been uh projected for the full year. Um we

012have a call into munis to try to figure out what was going on there. It's it's a bit unusual because these folks were coded at the beginning of year of the year and and something within the system caused uh two teachers coding payroll coding to shift. that includes both their year-to- date salaries and the related incumbrances. So, it almost makes up that entire 212,000. Uh the other department was ESY uh at 5,000 and and just like last year, uh that one's not going to change for the remainder of the year because ESY is is has wrapped up. Uh a couple other things to update you on. Uh the auditors were out the week before Thanksgiving. Uh an extremely productive visit. Uh we actually had um three of them out here for two of the days

013and the partner actually came out for Wednesday. Uh so it was a full house down at the town hall and and the questions and the audit fund were flying. But um kudos to the finance team despite the fact that that our our audit prep period was squished a little bit by extra budget referendums. The team stepped up and and we went into this audit probably better prepared than we have in in recent history. We had essentially all of their schedules requested uh to them and we also had all of their selections that they had provided us ahead of time pulled. Um having run a lot of audits in in another life that's absolutely crucial to success and we kept all four of those guys hopping for all three days. Um there's been a steady stream

014of as you guys know the audit is much more than the three days that they're actually out here. Uh so we've been in touch with them pretty much on a daily basis since then working through uh the remainder of their questions. Um everybody's favorite topic, budget. Believe it or not, the templates were due back from the schools and the directors on Friday. Everybody met that deadline. Um which is really an incredible feat when you think of the underlying volume. Um, so Tina Nolan and I are right now trying to roll all this up so we can get a look at where we stand uh for a first crack and then Melinda and I will be hosting all the directors and principles up uh to the 1909 building uh early next week >> to go through

015their budgets and make our initial set of adjustments, >> right? >> Not necessarily cuts but adjustments. Uh I wanted to take some time to update you on the cafeteria. >> Uh as you guys know, the cafeteria has faced a number of challenges since co um decreasing reimbursement and grant revenue, the need to hire Witson's following Lisa's retirement, uh steadily increasing food costs, and as you know, we had shifted $70,000 of benefits uh into the cafeteria budget. I think it was three years ago at this point. uh a cost that historically had been covered by the board of education. >> Um with DEB now in place, uh we met last week to discuss operations going forward because I unfortunately given the headwinds that we that we just discussed there there's some challenges that we need to

016address at the cafeteria. Um, we made the decision to no longer charge the cafeteria the $70,000 in healthcare benefits because unfortunately it's just not sustainable. Um, we will be using the board of ed dollars that we had set aside. Um, you might recall when we did the FY2026 budget, um, we were at a position where we didn't know if we would have deb for this school year. So, we had actually budgeted um I think it was $40,000 um for the just in case we had to extend Witson's into this fiscal year. >> Fortunately, we hired Debb that that money is largely intact. I think we used a piece of it to pay the overdue lunch balances. So, but it's largely intact. So, we'll be applying that >> um to this deficit position. In addition, uh

017Deb is taking a look at there's really only two things you can look at in the cafeteria from an expense perspective. It's payroll dollars and it's food costs. When you when you look at their P&L, that's really what it boils down to. So Deb's taking a look at both. Uh come to find out, there's sort of a standard industry model for cafeteria staffing. She had done this work in the past and had arrived at what I believe to be a pretty lean personnel position right now, but given what we're dealing with here, she's taking another look and and seeing what can be done on that front. She's also re-evaluating food costs to see if she can move to even cheaper meals. As you can imagine, we're not exactly serving filemen in the cafeteria now. Um,

018but this is a reality of the situation. So, she's taking a look at that. So that's really where we stand. Oh, the other thing, uh, we would be moving to a more a more concise cafeteria report going forward. Now that Deb's in place, I want to return to the monthly reporting cadence >> so that there's a little bit more visibility there. So that's that'll be new, too. I think I think Deb will be here actually next month. So any questions on the financial report? >> Yep. That cafeteria report does not include unpaid lunches, right? We don't have that on here right now. >> No. Okay. >> No, I believe >> that that's on the data sheets. >> It's on our data sheet, but it's not >> right. Is there >> It would be It would

019be reflected in that top line, lunches sold would be lower. It's lower because of the unpaid because of the unpaid. Could we could we possibly get quarterly >> an idea what that is? We I mean we got caught a couple years ago in a real bad spot. >> Right. You get that every You get that every month on your >> I get it in the >> Oh, you mean cumulative >> as part of the report. >> Like we we get it in the data reports as to how many or or sometimes it's a dollar a month, sometimes it's how many. I if we're going to be really if we're looking at 45 right now, >> right? >> Now, keep in mind that 40 because because it hadn't been discussed yet, that 45 does not reflect

020the u the money we had set aside for Woods. So, that will flow in and should should knock that down. Hopefully, that combined with with anything we can do in terms of staffing and and food cost can get us on the right track. Oh, one thing I Thanks, Justin. I I I did want to mention that I think >> what's that? >> Thanks. Um, >> FY20 >> for FY27, >> we should I I think I just want to float this into the board's consciousness now that we should probably consider putting a line item in the BOE budget related to the cafeteria. discontinue permanently the the the um the benefits allocation and then consider now this would obviously be a budget item just like every other budget item that we will have in the budget and

021you guys can debate it and consider it. Um the the fact of the matter is over the longer term if the if the cafeteria fund were to run a deficit over you know a period of years ultimately it's the board of ed that is responsible for that. So, I think it behooves us to try to nip these deficits in the bud as soon as we can. Now, I know we're still in the honeymoon period of the 27 budget and everybody's got great ideas of things to add in, but that's something that will probably come will come up for debate. >> Jeez, the next time I get a thanks. >> All set. Cool. Um, so when I had looked through our data reports, it looks like currently we between all three schools are $2,500 owed for

022lunch balances. Um, can we find out if >> Deb is reaching out how she and all the things and then >> she's my understanding is we then pay for that, right? We just >> that comes out of our budget at the end. >> Okay. So yeah, I mean right now and one of the schools, I'm not entirely sure which one, it like tripled from one month to the next. >> What hap like I'd like to know what happened there, why there was such an increase um from month from the first month to the second month. Um and then you know get get some more information just to see what happened here, why um >> I'll talk to her. I'll talk to her and put it in my my update at the end of the week.

023>> But I know Justin, you wanted to know price and that's where we're looking right now about $2,500. >> And then if you could add that that I think that's what Justin's asking to add it into the report. >> Yeah, I think quarterly is fine because it it fluctuates because people pay the bill, they don't pay the bill, sometimes they pay holidays, sometimes people hold back. Right. >> Right. or you ignore the 10 emails from my school books like I forget to push them. >> The other thing that I guess I should mention um and I mentioned this to Melinda today, you know, if we were talking about a restaurant, the first place you would look is is are we pricing our meals appropriately? and and Deb has assessed that and >> our pricing is

024sort of right where we're charging the going rate at the moment >> and I don't I think all of us would agree that >> there isn't a lot of appetite to uh to increase prices for lunches. Obviously, it'll be something that's considered for next year's budget. I don't think we can even do it midyear even if it was decided to do so mid year. So, so that'll come up. But that's I think I think probably the first lever that a lot of folks listening to this conversation would think of and it is something that that Deb has considered at length and and there's there's not a lot of upward room there either. It's so you're it's you're kind of trying to manage this enterprise with with one hand tied behind your back because you can't

025really raise your revenues. >> I have a question for Manda actually. Um, I know you know the form for free and reduced meals and all of that. Have we had a good turnout with people? >> We had a good We had a good percentage of them returned. >> Um, Deb told me just last week, it is heartbreaking when someone doesn't meet the criteria by three or four dollars. and she sends it back to the families to say, "Look over the numbers again just to make sure you might have, you know, transposed the number incorrectly." Because when it gets down to that amount of money, and she said there are more than several that miss it by a very short window. Um, and um, she's concerned about that. So, she has reached back out to the

026families. She is on the phone all the time. And then of course the system generates email uh to let people know that their uh lunch balances are um in the negative. So um there's a lot of effort placed on um you know trying to get that those unpaid lunch amount down. Um but last year we ended the year up over 6,000. She spent the better part of the summer uh contacting families and we got it down to what 3400? >> Yeah. it was in somewhere in >> there. So, she did she did uh do a good job, but you know, this board um over time has um directed me and the food service director, we don't refuse students lunch. They can't buy alakat obviously items, but a student can get a regular menu lunch. >>

027Um actually, Amanda had a comment. >> Hi. So, have we ever reached out to local businesses to see if they'd be willing to sponsor lunches? I just feel like I I second what you're saying, Melinda, about not refusing a child to have lunch because at the end of the day, are they going to be able to focus on their schoolwork because they're hungry? So, I think, you know, families are having a hard time. And I think that we just have to think outside of the box and see if there's other ways to get this balance these balances paid. Kristen, >> I'm just going to throw out this seems like the appropriate time we talk about special education, but you can also petition your legislators for free lunch for all children in the state. So, I

028would recommend you all do that because every child should not have to worry about what they're going to eat today. >> All set? >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. >> Stlet. and just someone positive. >> Um the new menu and like the changes, >> she's doing a great job. Like I don't want to all be negative. The new menu is phenomenal. Um I've had, you know, her positive feedback and personally I like to see the new the change on the menu. Um Thanksgiving they did in the elementary school was great. So >> yeah, let her know like >> keep up the good work, but look for bargaining the middle school trying it out quesadillas and things like a lot of positive feedback I'm hearing. So >> uh Mr. Birch. So I guess the hot topic uh

029this month and last month and really for almost the last year is the HBAC project. Excuse me. The uh the project is it is progressing pretty much as we expected. There were extensive delays in equipment this summer. uh equipment that we expected to have in July didn't show up till the end of October. So, that put everybody behind. That equipment is all on site now. It's all in place. Uh we actually have the first startup folks coming out on Thursday to start looking over that equipment to see where we are as far as getting it all online. Um, daily we have hot spots, cold spots, something works, something doesn't work. It worked yesterday, now it doesn't. And there is there's not as much visible activity as there has been over the course of the summer.

030But I do have I have pipe fitters, electricians, insulators, um, control people here every day. Uh most Saturdays I have someone on site trying to tie up the loose ends, but you know this is a 400,000 square foot building and there are a lot of ants. Uh but all I can say is that day by day we get one or two more and things are improving. So the project deadline by the state was extended to next year at this time by December 31st next year. We have to have the work completed and it has to be substantially complete and accepted by all of you and I fully expect that that will be done. So, we will spend the rest of the winter getting the heating equipment straightened out and then that'll be just in time

031to start trying to get the air conditioning equipment straightened out. But in the end, it's going to be a much better system. Um, I expect that we are going to probably see some increased electricity costs that I have added into the proposed budget for next year. We've air conditioned a third of the school and that's going to cost some money when it gets warm. Fuel oil, the jury's out on that. There are going to be some there are going to be some efficiencies that are going to be obtained through the new controls, but again there is also efficiencies in the overall system which in the end energy it takes energy to run the system. So we're not sure where we're going to end up with uh fuel oil, but that one remains to be seen.

032Other than that, you know, as far as uh we're ready if it snows, we've got concerts this week and next week and all of those other things, as far as I am concerned and know are going according to plan. >> Any questions, Miss Burch? Matt, >> how much hardware are we still waiting on? >> Uh just about everything is here. >> Okay. >> Just about all the major equipment is here and in place. And as I said, we're going to be starting to work on startups of that equipment this week. >> Thank you, >> Justin. >> Goes to probably Mr. Burch and Mr. Stiglets. How are we on grant reimbursement? >> Want me to handle that one, Bill? >> Yeah. >> So, I I wish I had good news there. The I think I had

033mentioned to the board last time, we literally submit for reimbursement the day we pay the bills. We last did that on October 25th. That submission has not moved off of the submitted classification on the on the state system. Believe me, I've been following up about every other week. The problem there is you can't submit the next bill until they pay you for the prior bill. So, they sort of have their they have a bit of a strangle hold on that. Uh at this point we are I believe three airtemp invoices deep. Um so I'm exploring an alternative to how we could do the funding in terms of uh potential bans um I'm sorry bond anticipation notes um because although the the state had uh had confirmed prior to the start of the project uh that

034the reimbursement would be in the 3 to four week range um I I think they hit that mark for the first one. Um, but they but it's the tail's getting longer and longer and longer and I I wish I could tell you I was surprised. I'm not. Um, but it's something we're going to have to manage to. >> But that said, ultimately the reimbursement percentage doesn't change 67 or 68% if I remember right >> which was part of the vote. So that that will hold true. It's a it's really a matter of timing making the cash flow work. >> Any interest on that? >> Yeah. Well, the right now uh we've only borrowed you guys probably remember but the audience probably doesn't. There was an attempt to limit our borrowing to our portion which is

035$4.2 million. Unfortunately, that plan will only work if we get somewhat timely reimbursements from the state and that's what we're stubbing our toe on right now. So any any additional borrowing will will drive up um interest costs. Although I will say there'll be lower because we will we borrowed a lower amount uh that'll be lower than what's in the budget and that was the intention to try to save the town as much as we could in interest. >> Thank you Madam Chair. Since we're ultimately responsible for this >> I'd ask that we at least do a quarterly update on where we sit. make sure we're getting a reimbursement. If not, we're >> we're aware of where we're going to sit for interest payments. >> Okay, >> good job. >> Good. >> All right. Uh, next

036item is approval of minutes. >> Motion to approve special meeting November 10th. Regular meeting November 10th. Special meeting November 7th. I'll second it. >> All right. Motion by Justin's, second by Kathleen. Any comments, concerns? >> All right. All those in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Any opposed? Extensions. Passes unanimous. All right. And then subcommittee updates. Oh, Amanda. >> Yes. >> Okay. Any >> we did not have um a policy meeting. We pushed that off and we're working on the dress code policy which we're going to address next month. >> Okay. >> All right. Superintendent reports. Okay. Well, I am pleased to introduce our new high school uh music director, Juliana George. You may remember that Mrs. George was our music director at the elementary school. She has asked to address the members of

037the board this evening. So, I'm going to ask that you come to the microphone and speak to the board. Good evening board. Thank you very much for having me this evening. Um I am thrilled to be at the high school after two years at Mary R Fischer and it has been a wonderful fall of transition. The students have been so patient and enthusiastic about the direction um of the music department. I have also been coordinating all three levels. So, I've been um assisting the elementary music teacher, Mr. Dennis, and the middle school teacher, Mr. Anteneelli. So, we've been having meetings all together, and I've been coordinating those, and we are all a wonderful team. Um, and we are working towards increased vertical alignment in the music department. And it has been a wonderful fall, and

038we look forward to a great rest of the year. The high school and the middle school are putting on a combined winter concert on Wednesday at 6 PM. This is one of the first times that the high school and middle school have done a combined concert, but we wanted to increase collaboration and um fill the auditorium with more excitement for the holiday season. So we are really excited to bring that event on Wednesday. So this evening, members of the TMHS concert choir um have graciously come to the board meeting to give you a little concert preview. So we're going to sing for you um just one of our songs. Um, so this evening we have Keon and we have I'm nervous so I forget um McKenna and we have Noah and Billy, a Stella, Tyler

039and Dylan. >> So if you all want to come >> Dylan, would you like to introduce the song that we're doing? Do you want to tell them what song we're going to do for them? >> All right. Today we'll be performing one of our songs, Remembering December's. Um, it's one of our three songs that we're going to be performing at our concert following our Christmas themes. Songs about remembering December. very reverent and calming and I think all of you will enjoy it. And if you do, you should come to the concert on Wednesday. >> 6 p.m. Don't be late. Dece. members in the quiet of the evening. I'm recalling winter moment long ago. I saw life through the eyes of a child then playing games in the snow with my best friends and now how

040it warms my heart. Life was at the start. I'm remembering Dece Dece and joy in the All things I can still feel it now when the bells ring. They ring like they did before. Just like my heart is filled once more. The candle lanterns glowing in the sky, >> shining like the stars at night. >> Ignite my memories, leading me back home, >> leading me back home again. >> The seasons turn with lessons learned. As life unfails it in it own way. I remember this December. I'll forever hold it closely when I look back on the season. I'll recall >> time with you by your side. spend together in my dreams. These are days I will treure. So now come and join with me. Join with me. Make a mey So again, thank you very

041much for having us this evening. We really appreciate um Superintendent Smith giving us time in her report. Um and I'd like to extend extend a thank you to Mrs. Smith for her unceasing support of the arts here in Thompson. Um and thank you to the board also for supporting um music in the lives of the children of Thompson. Thank you very much. Please excuse our transition as the students are going to leave. >> Please excuse our transition um before the next section. >> Thank you everyone. So good. >> While they're transitioning, can I just tell Kathleen I did I did send a letter to all of our um representatives about the free lunch at the beginning of the year and I got nothing. So, and I even cornered Maylexer at an event and she still

042blew me off. So, I did I have contacted all three of our legislators about the free lunch. So, >> communication can >> Yeah. >> All right. Are you ready? >> Oh, okay. >> Ready as I ever can be. >> So, um I'm going to um kick off um the presentation of Thompson Public Schools reconfiguration study. Um this study began in September of this year. This is probably the second or third study in my tenure looking at uh districtwide reconfiguration. Uh this is the first time we've done an indepth comprehensive report. Um you can see on the next slide Danielle if you can move it up. Um these are the members of our committee. they were internal educators and uh directors. However, who knows the district best than the very people that work here. So, we

043took this challenge on uh to look at this uh very objectively um and look at all aspects of our reconfiguration design. Next slide, please. We broke up the uh committee into some subgroups as you can see here. And those folks did a lot of research, site visits um and other kind of pedigogy um background information uh to determine uh what the outcome is of this particular study. The reconfiguration purpose which is the next slide. Um a request was made by the members of the board of education in the summer. Um the board is always looking for cost-saving measures and one of the things that did come up was is there some efficiencies that we could um anticipate if we were to reduce the school campus from three full schools down to two changing the entire

044configuration and pedigogy of the district. So that was our charge. Our charge was to take a look at that and so we have been um since the beginning of September. As you know our current structure has three schools Marriott Fischer Thompson Middle School and Turtle Memorial High School. If we reconfigure the district, we would be looking at a prek to6 model at Mary Officer Elementary School and then we would really have to play around with the title of the school, but it would be a 712 school and Turtle Memorial Secondary School came to mind as we were putting together this presentation. So, we're going to first take you down the road of why middle schools exist anyway. what is the research on middle school education? And I'm going to ask Rebecca Palachic to come up.

045Um her committee did a uh delved into the research behind middle school. She's going to give us a little summary of that. Um you all have a copy of this presentation. You also have a copy of the narrative report that we put together. uh Becky uh for the people here and the people on Zoom which there are many um if you could share that information. >> Absolutely. Um good evening everybody. Um one of the key things that you will see when you read the report or the PowerPoint um is the word unique. Middle schoolers or adolescents are really unique. It's their developmental needs, their social needs, and their cognitive needs. So if you look at page five really quickly, I won't read it to you, but that second bullet um that talk is from the

046Association for Middle Level Education. That one bullet really sums up pretty well what a middle school is. Um, in order for a middle school to be effective, you need teachers that are also unique, that have learned their trade and taken classes that will help them to meet the the again unique needs of their students. It's not your typical sit in front of the classroom, teach, have them take notes. There are a variety of things that really come into play when you're teaching a middle school middle school student and you need to look at them as a whole and create those important relationships in order to meet their needs. Um, middle school teachers still set the same high expectations for their students. They still um create lessons that are going to meet the district's goals. the

047state standards, but they have to do so in a very different way. And it could be a variety of things from project-based learning or, you know, there is still some stand up and teach. There's still note takingaking, but they have to really create a variety of lessons that give student choice. Um, and they we still want our kids to succeed, but it's just done in a very different manner. And you have kids aged 10 to 15 that are really the younger ones are still really young, but they're a little bit on the cusp. And then the older ones, some of them are ready for high school, some of them are not. So, it's really dependent on the student. And if you take a look, I could read this to you, but I'm not going to.

048I know you can all read. Um, if you really just take a look, a lot of the research, the middle school model is the newer of the models, but that came to be because of the realization of how unique our adolescence needs are. Okay. Anyone have any questions on middle school pedigogy while we're in this section? Okay, we will move on to staffing and scheduling. Can Stacklet come on up? >> And you're also doing facility use. >> I am. I am. So, it's across the board. So, um the group that I was with, we were charged with taking a look at the high school schedule and seeing whether or not incorporating those seventh and eighth grade students into the high school, what would that look like the high school schedule? The first part is what

049is it going to do for our academics, right? We have our reading, our not our reading, but our English, our math, our science, and our social studies. What does that look like? That's very straightforward. We can take those kids, divide them up by the numbers, all that kind of stuff. Get a good class size, and we're good, right? Straight across the board. And it shows us that we can operate with four or less teachers, one within each discipline. But then it got a little clunky because then you start to look at all the electives, right? We still need to offer these electives. Some of these electives are required by your high school um for a Connecticut um diploma, right? You need to have a whole elective of fine arts, a technology, a world language. These

050things are still needed. So when it came time for that, there is no loss of staffing within your sometimes as clinically known as your specials or your UAS, high school level as your electives. There is no loss of staffing. um it actually becomes more complicated because if we were to take our staff, our current staff, then we'd have to have some of them running on a high school schedule and then they'd have to go down to the elementary school and run on that schedule and it's complicated to share staffing in that point when you're running on two different time frames. Um it just becomes very complicated. And then you also think about that staff member, right? they're going to be up in the high school and they're teaching in this and you know in this

051mindset then they're going to go do the other one. They might work three days, they might work four days. There's just a lot of nuances to it when you look at it like that that um it becomes more complicated. So the answer the short answer yes it can be done. However the cost that comes to that of the of the difficulties um it just becomes more difficult. And then you're looking at also taking these seventh and eighth graders who to to um expand upon what Becky said, they're now going to be sitting in 90 minute blocks, right? And 90 minutes is a long time to ask anybody to sit for you guys have been sitting for 90 minutes right now. I'm sure you want to get up and stretch your legs, right? Um it becomes

052long. So asking some, you know, kids of a younger age to sit and do that, it becomes um a little difficult for them. So that's pretty much where we came for Sathy. I mean, could I say the facility side? Um, long story short, on the facility size, there there really is not um from the facility perspective, there really is not much of a change. Uh, we still need this building. Um, basically, it would come down to um changing some coating on some doors and possibly um we still got to use the cafeteria for what's needed. And so really, there's no savings for efficiencies in space. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any questions for me, >> Melinda? I do. I I have one for Melinda actually. >> Okay. >> She saw the questions

053I gave Bill. So, um we're already I thought last year we were already playing with seventh and eighth with pathways with high school. >> We do already play that. Okay. I just >> So, there is um a period that doesn't rotate at the high school. that's identified for eighth grade students to go up to the high school to take some of the highinterest classes like finance, construction, um music in some cases. Um so that does exist and we do have students doing that. Um and but it's got to be a student who has good grades, who has good interest and can manage some of the demands of high school uh courses that we're offering them. I'm I guess what I was trying to get is the the last one moving to block scheduling seventh and

054eighth. We are the kids who can handle it, the students that can handle it are already >> correct. >> We're we're taking those advantages and efficiencies because we are a unified campus here. >> Yes, >> thank you for bringing that up. >> They don't see the full block. >> Yeah, so we have advantages to new structure. We got Lisa Rice who is a first grade teacher at Marriott Fischer. Good evening. Um, first I will say the elementary school had the opportunity to attend the middle school and high school concert today and I strongly suggest if you can that you attend the concert. It was absolutely amazing. Um, we did miss the band portion so I'm hoping that I can make it Wednesday to see to see that part. So great job to all of them.

055Um I have the opportunity to tell you about the advantages of a reconfiguration and one would be the community optics and hopefully they would see the effort that the school is making to make changes to the budget and it would make passing a budget a little easier. Um we can also see that there will be extended time for more vertical alignment especially within the fourth through sixth grade where they would be on the same schedule. We are not right now. Um hopefully as the eighth graders would get to be exposed to the pathways that more of them would would stay and see the advantages and all the fantastic things that we have going on here in our little school with big opportunities and that the enrollment would stay more consistent as they go up through

056the high school. And um finally, the one-time cost savings of just shy of $300,000, which is 1 and 3/10% of the budget. And that's what our committee came up with for the pros of a reconfiguration. >> Matt, >> I have a question. Why Why is it a onetime savings of $291,000? the one time savings and perhaps I can go >> I hope YOU love >> especially with money >> because it's only a onetime savings because we'd lose those four teachers that first time and then >> the budget is >> once once the budget is set and >> Yep. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> The tax rate >> stays correct. >> That's it. Yeah, I >> told you I'd help you. >> That's what we do. We work together. Well, >> teammates. >> So, Louise Nursson

057is here to talk about disadvantages. >> Okay. So, you have the disadvantages listed. Um, one of the big ones would be the bumping, which is rifting, reduction in force, which would then cause um the way the contract is written, it goes by seniority and um degrees and certifications. So then we would have to go through all of the things and we may lose some of the new teachers in the high school because we have more seasoned teachers, more experience down in the middle school. Those teachers would bump high school teachers. So that was a big that's a big disadvantage. Um, another thing would be athletes. The way that we looked at the schedule in order to keep some of our middle school teams, we would need fifth and sixth grade players. um those kids would

058be on an elementary school schedule and they would have to miss last period to go to games because unfortunately the other schools all play, you know, they leave at 2:30. So those kids would miss last period to go to games. Otherwise, we would lose our teams because we don't have enough seventh and eighth grade athletes. Um I think that was the two really big ones that we wanted to bring up. And um once once we do this, there's no really going back. You know, if we if we switch this around, we're really kind of stuck with it. So that was the uh and the other thing we would be adding one. So Kim said it could be done. We in order to make it work, we would have to add in a world language teacher.

059So although it says we lose four teachers, we actually have to add one back in. So, I'm not sure if that's a negative or a positive, but we would have to add one more world language teacher in order to meet the needs of all the kids. >> So, and the seventh and eighth grade would have to sit through 90-minute blocks. So, >> and if you with um I look at my little sixth graders right now and they they could never sit through 90 minutes, you know. >> So, that's all I have. Does anybody have any questions? >> Yes. Would we have to bump one of the principles too in the middle high school? >> No, because so here's a good Thank you for asking that question. Say that to me. Um, so in or because

060we would have only two schools. We would have two principles in the high school and two in the elementary school because you still have disciplined and all that stuff. I really think a disadvantage to this reconfiguration from my standpoint being in the middle school is if you know the building seventh and eighth grade is here. The high school office is way over yonder >> and the fifth and sixth grade is here and the elementary school is principal is way down there. So it really leaves you know these kids stuck in the middle. So >> your question >> question. So the next slide is can the model work? And so I took a site visit out to North Stonington, Connecticut who actually has uh this similar model. I spent a better part of a day there

061with a superintendent Hopkins who was extremely generous with his time. Um and we looked at I took with me all of the um when we first started doing this research, we listed all the pros, we listed all the cons. I took that all all that information with me. I had a in-depth conversation especially around the cons on the list to find out how they manage. So believe it or not, North Stonington has a population which is extremely similar to ours as far as the number of students. They run two buses, two tiers of of buses. Their faculty and staff numbers are very comparable. However, they use some of their faculty and staff differently. Um, their administration is um on the slide and you can see how they uh divvy up their administration. Um they have

062some lead teachers that uh fill in with the elementary. Um and then there is an assistant principal at the secondary level and another lead teacher which um those lead teachers get an additional stipen for being in that role. Um which I did not add, you know, monetarily in here. Um, and then the nursing staff is as follows. Two nurses and an assistant. Um, and then you can see the elementary. One of the things we had a question about, and we asked Deb to do some behind the scene, uh, research was I was told that fifth and sixth grade students leave school early because the last period of the day is an intervention block for them. And so for those students who have good grades and that they fall into that block, it would be easy

063for them to leave and go and participate in sports. In reality, we find out on the backside that that's not necessarily always true and students do miss some instruction and they do miss some projectbased learning opportunities. So um students have to decide is it a sport or are they going to be possibly in band chorus or participate in some of the extra projects. So there is a rub there but when you look at both districts um they're very comparable. What's not comparable is the intensity of needs of the students. And that's what you're going to see when I call principal Granado up. is going to talk a little bit about that because there is a discrepancy between the students that go to North Stonington public schools um versus Thompson public schools. And remember, we're almost

06450% poverty. And with poverty, there is a direct correlation to uh title one students, students with disabilities. It's just a national norm. And so we know that we have a higher percentage of poverty in Thompson public schools. Um so principal granado yes >> that 750 students do we know what that mix is >> elementary elementary versus their >> very extremely comparable to the number of students >> 175 the high school >> just about a little bit more in their high school um but just about a comparable split >> and do we know where they sit on the overall so we sit >> their budget is very similar. >> Uh I was going for Dr. Jones's report. I think we sit >> that's on the next um >> 40th. >> I think that's >> I don't

065know the ranking on that list, but I can tell you that they have 14% um >> special ed population. >> I was just wondering where they sat. I I assumed we were higher, but 40th out of 169, I'd just be curious to see where they sit on that. >> We're 24%. >> Right. So, so we're >> almost double. Are they in the, you know, are they at 169 out of 169, right? >> I wasn't so concerned about that number um when we were doing the comparison. I was concerned about the percentage of special ed kids um which is significantly lower. >> And they have less students >> in out of district placement. >> Well, good evening everyone. Um so I speak on behalf of all the committee and um I'm just going to read the

066final findings. So the district is finally experiencing recovery from the COVID slide. That is one important feature to remember. Uh Thompson public schools has a high need population of students that being poverty, special education, uh diagnosed with dyslexia and ML ML services requiring additional support services. Our current configuration is meeting the needs of our students and test scores. Our test scores are improving. They're exceeding the state average in ELA and we are at a state average in math. Changing the configuration will negatively impact student outcomes due to transition in student and staff schedules. Research indicates a loss in learning from utilizing with new curriculum most impact on vulnerable students. The savings does not away the negative impact on students. Reconfiguration research committee unanimously agrees that the current configuration best supports our Thompson students and should

067not change. Reconfiguration committee urges the board of education to maintain and support of the current configuration and to table any further discussions to eliminate the middle school model in Thompson. Thank you. And so, uh, in summary, really, you know, does saving $291,000, is it worth impacting, um, the entire district? And I think after four months of in-depth research and discussion, we as a committee do not feel um and myself included do not feel it's the best thing for Thompson public school students. Can it work? We saw it work. I saw it work and it can work. Is it right for Thompson kids? I don't think so. And the committee supports that. Um, moving forward, um, we brought this before you for the December meeting primarily because, um, we have to wait and get some information

068from you all tonight as to what direction to go because right now we're paralyzed as far as building our budget because we don't know how to build it. Um, and so I'm hoping uh, Chairman Bolty that uh, there could be some discussion and some directive so that we know what to do next. >> Okay. Do we have a motion to discuss reconfiguration? Matt, >> I would like to make that motion to discuss this right now. >> And may I speak? >> Matt, you may have the floor. I personally think I I appreciate you all spending a lot of your time to go through this exercise on behalf of the board. I really think it is not the right move to do this. Um to save 1.3% of our budget is just not worth the disruption.

069And like you said, if we get rid of those staff, we're not getting them back. It's not in this town, not in this budget, not in this budget environment. It it's never coming back if we change our minds. So, there is no changing our minds. And for one 1% of the budget, it's it's ludicrous in my opinion. And that's my opinion. Um, I do appreciate you guys taking the time and it's not a trivial amount of time, I'm sure. Um and uh we are here as a board to uh further, you know, to get the best education we can for children of this town. And I I think we're we're doing the best we can with what we have and to to do that would be the mistake. >> Anybody else? Kristen. >> Um, I

070think that I agree with Matt that it's not in the best interest of the district for one thing. Anytime you make any kind of changes, there's going to be backslide and we just put so much effort into increasing our test scores. If we were tested right now, we wouldn't even be an opportunity district anymore. And I would really hate to see all that work go back because that that's what's going to happen. I mean, anytime you change anything that significantly, there's a period of time to recover, and I really don't want to see that happen. And for that amount of money, it's in my opinion certainly not worth that level of disruption either. >> Justin, >> yeah, I so I I think the committee did a great job. I think it's a very thorough uh

071investigation and discussion on on what could happen. Um, I think finding a district that would that looks like the model was a great idea and it was great that we have some eyes on knowledge of that. Um, I would agree with my fellow board members that the one-time cost savings is not necessarily uh does not necessarily justify the move. Um, I would like to think on a positive note that through this level of research from our staff and from our superintendent that we did learn some things that we can take and potentially apply to expanding some offerings down to the middle school like we're already doing, expanding some offerings up. Um, and I think those in my opinion in Thompson, those are the best ways that we can start making some unique offerings to our

072students as well as trying to save some budget dollars here and there. One of the just to respond to that, one of the things that we kept batting around was that in um North Stonington, those middle school kids are getting um languages where and we're one of the few middle schools that do not offer a language. Um and we really should be. So, that is something we really got to stop wrapping our heads around. Well, and I think if we can if if I may continue, I think if we can leverage some of those resources from our high school and potentially offer a custom offering down in the middle school during academic access or something like that for those students that would wish to do it. I think that's an incentive in itself and and

073worth budget dollars for that. >> Does Amanda have a comment? She's on Zoom. I just want to make sure she doesn't feel left out. >> Thanks, Jess. Uh, I feel I feel that I feel that it's it's not the right move for the town either. Um, I feel that, you know, the kids that are in middle school, they're dealing with a lot. You know, you're dealing with, you know, you're getting up, you've you've got more responsibilities in your normal morning. You've got to go and you got to switch classes. And then you've got to deal with all the physical and mental things too as being a teenager. So I don't think that saving that 1 point something percent of our budget is worthwhile. I think we can combine our resources and I think we can

074work together and work together as, you know, a campus and see if there's other things that we can work together on and offer those special classes for the seventh and eighth graders to get them, you know, excited about going to heard a lot. >> Uh, to piggyback on the on the language question, I we have just one awesome Spanish teacher, correct? >> Correct. when I back when I was a boy, >> when I when I was in middle school, it I I distinctly remember in eighth grade, so we only have one language that we offer here. >> Um, and adding more languages would obviously cost more resources, but I distinctly remember when I was in the eighth grade, we had um it was intro to languages. So, we had one quarter of German, one quarter

075of French, one quarter of Spanish. And then when you got to high school, you say, "Hey, I really like French." And >> yeah, >> so obviously that requires another other language teachers, but it gave, you know, and the earlier you learn a foreign language, the better off you are. And obviously in the United States, we're not going to start teaching elementary kids languages because we just don't. But that'd be great, too. >> So thank you. >> You know, Kathleen, >> yeah. Back in the stone age when I was in school, we we had the the junior high system, but it was still a three school system. >> You didn't put seventh and eighth grade in with the high school. That was just the seventh and the eighth grade. And um elementary went through one through

076six. Then you went to junior high school. And then you went to the high school. So, and we did have languages in seventh and eighth grade. >> It wasn't That's kind of a unique idea. Intro to languages. I like that. >> But in high school, we had three. We didn't have Spanish. Nobody cared about Spanish. We had French, Latin, and Russian. We had >> just because one of the teachers was Russian and she spoke it. Heather. >> Um, I just also want to say thank you to everybody who took the time to do this. I know it was probably a little unsettling and um, hard to do. Um, but I think it was a result of a very challenging budget season and we were really trying to um, leave no stone unturned as to how

077we can kind of think creatively to um, deal with some of those challenges. And you know, obviously through all of the research you've done, it's clearly not the right fit, at least in my perspective. Um, but it was definitely intriguing on the, you know, a more global scale without digging deep. Um, so thank you, um, for doing the work. Um, but I think it kind of solves the problem for me. >> Yeah, I'm in complete agreement. There's too many concerns in regards to development of students coming in from an elementary level. I from my current sixth grader there is absolutely no way with him going into seventh next year he would be no he would still in the phase of if his head was not attached it would be somewhere else. um that and just

078it doesn't make financial sense either that less than 300,000 we eat that in a change in the cost of insurance in one >> one year. So we would be right back to where we are now. Um at least that's my my personal opinion. Um >> so we open for discussion. >> Just one more comment. >> Yes. I think the lack of an undo button >> is is also the very scary part, right? There's there's a lot of things that we can undo when we make certain budget decisions. This is one of those that >> you can't >> I mean, everything's possible, but it would probably cost us more to undo it >> than it would really truly be worth at the end. I mean, you know, we might save a quarter million, but at the

079end of the day, it might cost us a half a million to fix it if we broke it. Um, >> so I think that's the probably the the biggest piece that >> Yeah. >> stares us in the face. >> I I think from my perspective, if I may speak >> Yes, ma'am. >> Um, and Kristen touched upon it. you know, since COVID, um, we have put a lot of money, a lot of time, a lot of effort, and I'm going to say blood, sweat, and tears into revising curriculum, changing instructional practices, uh, making some really bold decisions like putting in language-based classrooms, having 15 career pathways for a small high school. Um, but we pulled it all off. And so to have any of that disrupted after all of that work that has happened, um

080I agree with you that it will slide back. And no one talked about this one thing. We have teachers that are committed to teaching middle level. If they're displaced and have to go up to the high school or have to go down to the elementary school because that's what their certification is, they will leave us. And then we're going to lose the best educators that we have been trying to recruit and sustain. And I know Justin talks a lot about sustaining our staff and having them stay. And I think that we're in a good place. We're not seeing a lot of staff turnover. Um, and uh, we're pretty proud of that. But I think that if you start changing teacher assignments, we're going to have that. >> Justin, >> one more discussion comment. Sorry. Melinda

081just brought up a great point. Right. A couple years ago, I harped on retention. I mean, any of the administrators in the room will know that I was hard up on why we kept having such a turnover and what was going on. I think Melinda speaks to the point where we finally fixed that. Um to that end though, I would look at our staff and our administrators to look as creatively as we can to being that unique district that we try to be offering those offerings because that's what's we we have to set ourselves aside and and we have to use the budget dollars that we currently have to do it. We're doing an amazing job at it every day. We just need to stretch that next that next little bit. >> Jess, I think

082Rick >> Yeah. I thought kind of coming into this new I think the concern is the outsers's view and I would think that the folks listening andor critiquing what was done which I tried to do is that you're missing the details. um the reports and the what the folks presented made me go back to think what did I get in elementary junior high school education and I forgotten the details and quite honestly what I brought out a few months ago is our kids are in a different developmental stage across the country as well as what we were as the youngsters so I appreciate what's presented here because I totally missed it. It's not just dollars and cents, it's children's lives. >> And so I I don't think the change would be beneficial. >> And and

083the folks got to stop thinking I don't want to pay for kids education. That's it's what we're here for because that's our future. >> All right. So we're gonna call for a vote. to move >> move the motion to the floor. >> Oh to move the motion to the floor for the reconfiguration. >> I'll make a motion. >> Danielle makes the motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Matt will second. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Wait a minute. >> What was the motion? >> Moving it to the floor. >> To the floor to vote. >> To the full vote. >> Yes. To make the vote. >> Yeah. No, no. You just need a motion to >> Are we going to reconfigure or >> or not? >> So, what is

084your motion, Daniela? >> My motion is to not reconfigure. >> All right. Matt seconds that motion. >> Yes. >> All those in favor? >> Not. >> I >> to not reconfigure. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Any abstensions? I did hear Amanda. That was unanimous. >> Okay. No reconfiguration. Good work committee. >> Thank you for your work. >> All right. Enrollment report. >> Enrollment report. Um we don't we have uh one increased enrollment from last year uh last month. Uh that was at Turtle Memorial High School. We enrolled an additional student. We have 327 students at Marriott Fischer. 280 at Thompson Middle School. 167 at Turtle Memorial High School. one student in transition for a grand total of 775 students in our district. And if you can take a look at the report every after

085every meeting, um Danette does listen to the board report in case we're not presenting the data the way that is answering questions for you. So she is keeping on on top of that and trying to keep that fresh um from meeting to meeting. >> Yeah, I noticed that that started to include the grade level breakdown which >> anything. Yeah, which is very much appreciated >> and she's very good at data. So I mean I thank her but she you know but I came in on Tuesday morning after the last meeting and she was already she was on it. Uh so I thank her for staying on top of that. Um the next thing under my report is D approval to post a hire associates facilities director. Um so at last um last last month's executive

086session I had to bring forward to you some personnel information about our beloved Bill Burch. Um, Bill has graciously, and I use that word, um, given us or given the board and myself a full year, uh, to let us know that he is ready to retire in another year. I think right when the HVAC project is finally complete. Breaks my heart to even say that out loud. However, I think we can all appreciate that um this man for 22 plus years knows this complex better than anyone else and he is the only one that knows this complex. And so one of the conversations that I would like to have is an approval to post in January because my fear is we're going to come up against the same situation we had when we were looking

087for a food service director. There's not many skilled people out or another unicorn that I don't know we're going to find. But we would like to post the position. Bill Stegllets and I have been talking about obviously this is an unbudgeted position and so where are we going to find some funds to cover the cost of whoever we hire whenever we hire which I know will be after March by the time we go through the process. So it'll be at the latter end of this school year and then the remaining salary will go in the FY27 budget. However, there was a science teacher position that we weren't able to fill. We left it vacant. We have our current teachers giving up their prep period, which is not ideal to cover classes that we ordinarily offer

088under the science at the high school. I'm not cutting that position next year because I cannot because we're already not offering some electives that these students need, especially if they're going to graduate. But for this year, we put it on pause, right, Kim? And so, um, the money is there, um, for to cover the cost of hiring someone to get a leg up so that Bill can start to train someone and start to organize the finance office so that the new person coming in won't have um, a gap a gap time and things won't slide back. Um, so my request of you all is to allow me to post for the and then possibly use the funds in that particular line for this year to hire someone. Um, and I I'm going to say we

089won't have anyone on board even if I got a flood of applications before March. I'm looking at more toward the latter part of the year. But we've got to start looking because it's going to be challenging at best to find um a facilities director manager. And we're not even sure the skill set that is out there is going to completely cover the duties that Bill does. Now remember, he came to us. He's an engineer. He's he knows how to fix a boiler and get knee deep into things. I remember uh Deb saying, you know, if Bill ever left, we're all in trouble. And and that really is true because he knows this complex so well. Um, so that is my plea and I'm hoping that you will give me permission to do so. >> Matt,

090>> I have a couple couple things. >> Do we want a motion first? >> I'd like to motion to discuss. >> No, no, motion and then stop doing that. That's my fault. >> Like to make a motion to post this job. >> Okay. Do we have second? >> Justin had the second. Okay. All right, go ahead, Matt. >> Sorry, I should know better, too. >> Um, question first is the science unfilled science position that is from the full year. So, there's that much money, the full year's worth of this salary that we have access to to do this. And to follow that, that is correct. Yes, >> that is correct. It's $78,000 with benefits. We do need a little to offset some other costs like we've been paying the science teacher along the way. Um

091but >> okay. So, and if we hired somebody and they didn't start till April, >> that wouldn't even come close to using that. However, I want I do want to say going forward in our budget that we should be looking for two people to replace Bill Mr. Burch. Um it's if not three, but two two is re two two is realistic. um and or um any of the any of the a lot of that knowledge that Mr. B has will be very difficult to replace. And I I have a feeling that we're going to need to go out to get external help even after we do hire somebody, you know, for maintenance for somebody to fix the things. Not so much the maintenance, but to fix the things um when you lose that kind of

092a knowledge. So um we're going to have to budget for that upcoming. That's not. So that's it's yes, you know, >> not only should we post this, we should, you know, we should have posted this yesterday. Not that it's going to change who's going to apply. You know, if somebody's looking, they're going to see it and they'll apply, but man, it's going to be have not just a posting, it's going to have to be a search. >> Um, it is a a needle and a haststack and a unicorn combined. >> Heather, >> um, and also just to dubtail is is I think we were talking possibly having a part-time or some kind of admin, whether that was a half person or something to deal with payroll and purchasing of materials and supplies and all that

093PO stuff. Um, so I don't know if that we want to think about that too. Um, and then is the building department going to also review this job description, our building committee? >> If you give me permission to post, I'm going to put that on the agenda for the next building committee meeting. But I think I have to ask the selectman so that I can ask the building committee. >> I see. Okay. I just figured the more eyes on on the description in case we forgot something, you know. >> Yeah. >> Anybody else? Justin. >> Um I think Mr. Burch is irreplaceable as a single individual. Um, I also think that when we discussed this, we discussed this as potentially a three-year two to threeyear bubble, right? Where we were we were we we have

094this bubble, this hump that we're going to have to get over. Um, and and although we say one year, I I truly think that it's going to continue for a couple. Um, and I had suggested that we even offer Mr. Burch a consulting fee after the fact um because of his uh intimate knowledge of this facility. Um my only concern with where we're getting the money from is is that a bargain for position and does that do anything to us? >> So it's not a union position. >> Okay. >> Um it's a director position. So outside of the union. >> Okay. >> Kathleen. >> Okay. These are all very good points and I think we please take very uh Danielle please take notes of these because these need to come up at the budget. >>

095Absolutely. >> Um at our budget discussions because we need to put these at least put them in the budget. probably put a backup worksheet to this, please bill so that we can present this to the board of finance so that they have a detailed um uh um outline of these costs and the reason why they need to understand and you are absolutely correct Justin that this is not a one-year um process to replace bill uh A consulting fee is very great. It's great idea, Bill, if you're willing to do that for us. >> Um, a part-time administr assistant, a secretarial position to get to wait through some of the paperwork that Bill now does. That would be too much for this associate person while they he she are getting their feet wet. Um also um

096what what is the um region pay scale? >> We don't know that yet. >> Yeah, we don't know that yet. Um you know, Bill may be to fill his shoes. We may have to pay a premium. Uh we don't know. and we need to to discover that. Um these are things that we need to do to look into prior to the budgeting season and we have to make sure that the budget does cover this and that the board of finance before they go hack hacking and slashing at our budget needs to understand this. That's my two sense. So, Bill, please prepare a worksheet or a um yeah, a worksheet or a covered statement that that highlights this for us, please. >> Amanda, did you have any comments? >> Okay. >> Any other Justin? >> Just

097one more. My only caution and and we're I think we have to find a way to state it >> factually and actually is oh look the board of ed found money for something again, right? We found it. It's like it was laying in a corner. And we know we know all of us sitting around this table, those of us who are intimately familiar with what we do, we know we didn't just find money laying in a corner, right? So when we have this explanation to the world, we need to make sure that we are very explicit in where this money came from this year >> and how it is not just going to be able to be found over the next three years. It's something is going to go from A to B so that

098we can pay B because we need to keep part of A still going. So, how we didn't fill that position is because we have another teacher giving up his prep uh to cover the to cover a needed class. And secondly, we're not offering necessary electives in science this year because we punted it to next year. So, are there students up at the high school that aren't taking an elective that they would have preferred to take this year? Absolutely. um we had to make a sacrifice and the sacrifice was that um some of our seniors weren't going to get those electives this year and that's what happened. >> Matt, >> I I know it's a sidetrack now at this point and please forgive me. What electives are we not offering? >> Do you know off the

099top? Yes. >> So, we're not So, what it is with science, you have to take three years of a science to graduate from uh from high school. So, the way I was able to manipulate the schedule um it gives a little bit of room. You don't need to do all four. So, some kids aren't taking some sciences right now. Um, and then I remove things like marine biology. Um, yes, scuba. Um, zoology and botany. So, that third science for the typically how it goes, you go physical science, then you go to biology, and then you go to your third science. And there's room there. It can be chemistry, it can be zuad, it can be I can use that marine biology. There's the movement. Unfortunately for those kids who are willing to, they were stuck

100with taking um chemistry >> which is a challenging class >> for um for our students where that zoo bought it kind of it's a different interest area as opposed to chemistry. So um I mean we have two juniors right here. >> So um but these particular you're both in AP bio, right? >> You're not neither one of you are. What are you taking for chemistry? Yep. They're both in chem. >> So um >> they were willing to take the chem. They could have stalled though and not taken it this year. This was an option that I talked to a lot of the students about. They could have stalled and moved their science to their senior year with the idea that we'd be potentially hiring a science teacher again in offering more electives. >> Okay. >>

101And then anatomy, we ended up having to put anatomy back into the schedule, which we took out of the schedule as an elective because so many students were upset, especially those going the medical track. Um, so that's where Mr. Bruce, uh, thank you Mr. Bruce out there. Um, uh, stepped up and is teaching that class. >> Sorry. >> Let me ask this and then right back to you, Matt. I promise. >> Are do we have now currently because of this because we had to do this, do we have students who if we're not able to get a science teacher next year, are they going to be in jeopardy of not being able to graduate? No, I would never do that. >> Okay, I'm not I just want to make sure that >> we're still good.

102Okay, >> so if any student paused it, they're they're in Ken next year. Okay, >> you know what I mean? Don't >> go a different direction. They're in K. >> Or they could take anatomy and physiology because I don't think we'll ever cut that again. They could do that as well. >> So, I mean, yeah. No, we're >> Matt. as somebody with a double science major, >> um, chemistry is the root of all >> science and root of all evil also. Um, but, uh, um, so everybody needs to take that regardless and you understand so much when you have at least a very base knowledge of chemistry. Um, but yeah, that's that's all that's just a comment and sorry for the side. Is it is it true then that that because we are temporarily not

103providing them these other electives or science electives this year that is it a state mandate that some of these have to come back or are these just ones we >> so from a science perspective the only class that needs to be offered in order to not offered the one that they have to take get past is biology okay >> outside of that there is movement and that's why I want to be sure when I say this If a student posited it's it was their choice, I can't think of anybody that actually did. What we're lacking is that enrichment. >> Do you know what I'm saying? We're offering what we need to offer. The kids are fine. Um but you're you're lacking that enrichment in that that tickling of the interest. Maybe I want to go

104this way. Maybe I want to go this way. That's what we're losing. Um since you came to the form, I say one other thing. Um language. Back to the language real real quick. We when I first started here um we had a middle school language teacher. >> I had Spanish in middle school here. So absolutely right. Seventh and eighth grade it was off. >> Yes. And that took care of Spanish one or whatever one. Right. That took care of your first one. Then you're going to go on to the high school. You need one year of a world language to get in order to graduate from Connecticut High School. >> After that um you need two years to go to a four-year college. Um, however, your colleges of um an upper echelon college, they want

105you to have three years of of a language. We're we're offering it, but we're not very rich in it. And because we're not starting it at a at a more um at a more basic level, right? An earlier age, let's say. Um, without having that, you're not seeing that growth. You know what I'm saying? Where a lot of these kids, too, they'll take this, they want to be able to test out when they get to the college level. It's not happening. It's just not because we're not offered enough enough of a basis um in order to do something like that. So, that's my little plea for that. It just I know that we're not um competitive in that. >> Okay. Any other discussion? All right. All those in favor to post for the associate facilities

106director say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? >> Eyes have that. All right. And then um next is the co-op. >> Lots of co-op discussion. I'm going to ask Deb to come to the microphone. Uh come on Deb. Uh we want to talk about uh baseball and softball. uh golf girls fall soccer co-op approvals. We knew we would come to a place right where both Putinham and some of the surrounding schools as they lose numbers we need to combine teams and Deb has been an advocate for that uh for quite some time now. Um and she's going to give you a little background on why we're uh asking to co-op these sports. >> So baseball we are in our second year with Putnham. Um last year we had well it ended up with

107uh three kids started. We ended up with two finishing for baseball from here. The rest were at Hutton. So we're in the we're going into our second year with that co-op. So that co-op solidified for this year. We have a larger group of freshman going forward. So we have we possibly will have I'm guessing eight kids this year from our school, but that's not enough for a baseball team. And Putnham will have about eight. So, we're co-oping again, but the I push to make sure that many of the games and probably most of the practices will be here because our facility is much nicer uh what we have to offer, especially when early spring when we're inside. So, that's good. Soccer, girls soccer for the fall. Our two-year uh co-op with Killingly is up. Putnham's

108two-year Killingly with Ellis is up. So, it makes more sense for us not to hate kids traveling down that way. Instead, we're going to come this way and they're going to come here and be a part of our our group here. We have about eight kids and he has about six or seven depending what comes up from the middle school. So, we'll have a a small group, but we'll have a group to be able to play uh here. And we're going to play under Valley. Okay. the kids are we've learned with our girls going to killingly wearing Killingly colors with it just being stipulated that particular school did not go over well like our valley football team all four schools we go on to Valley so we've decided the groups that co-op together when we

109do a co-op we're going to call it valley so uh then we have boys golf boys golf that we were given a one year last year um a one-year co-op again this year last year we only had two. One of the two was a senior. This year I have his brother that's left over and two other kids. So I have three golfers and Putnham has three golfers. So we're going to combine there. It's plays. We're the host school. It'll be played at Thompson Raceway. And what was the other one we had there? >> Softball. Softball. We were in really in trouble last year. We only had one kid that decided to play. Um this year I beat the bushes. I really wanted to get the team back here. I surveyed the kids two or three

110different times and Payton was really beating the bushes trying to get people to jump in. And even with that happening, we only ended up with like five kids, six kids at the most. >> So, we're going to Putinham. Um, and that again, he's going to buy the varsity uh shirts for home and I'm going to buy the away. So, that says Valley and so we'll be playing in Putnham. So that's how that's how that all uh played out. So that's where we're at. And >> the way it's not even just our numbers, our numbers, I guess, if it's the kids that are not playing. We've had we've had similar numbers before, but kids are just not coming out to play or they have something else to do. And so as a result of that, our

111uh we're just maintaining what we have right now. We're up. >> How's the track looking? >> Track team. >> Right now, our indoor for the high school, we've got 16 kids. So, when we go to outdoor, we pick up a few more that are playing basketball. So, I'm going to guess we're going to have about 22 for the high school. For middle school, last year we had 50 kids. But that was a big year because it was a new track and it was exciting. And a lot of those kids, seventh and eighth graders, the eighth graders are either with us or going to another school. So the numbers are going to drop. I think we'll probably have maybe 30 kids for middle school rather than good. >> So that's where we're at. >> Any other

112questions? >> Yes. So our per our our ask is to um co-op for the baseball, softball, golf, and girls, soccer. >> I actually have a question, Deb. Is there a way where we can make maybe an allowance for those kids that may not make the team who are may not be game ready but to have like them be able to be part of maybe a practice squad for them to build their skills so that eventually they >> co-op you cannot cut. >> Okay. Right. But like um even like at the middle school level, would we be able to maybe do something like that to help build our numbers and maybe get those kids to >> we didn't have a middle school softball team this year >> because with that group, Payton's group, that was a

113large group of kids. Think about how many kids in that class played. >> So well, a lot of them did it just because they were eighth graders. >> Yeah. Well, my number's here actually because it was in case you asked me from a previous >> I know it was >> so softball for um right now we would have nine kids playing. >> Oh, for middle school. >> Yep. You need that's that's if every kid that's it kids that played last year decided to show up again. That's not counting the eighth graders that are already up there. >> Okay, >> that's the leftovers. So, that's really tight. And for baseball, baseball's on the bubble, too, because we've got eight and two graders last year. >> We we got like 10. When you play baseball, you have

114to go to a senior league size field. And to put fifth and sixth graders in that, it's too too big of a throw for them. And it's can't put them in the infield at all. It's dangerous for them. They're not physically big enough to handle the ball coming. Softball's a little bit easier. You can stretch it, put the fifth grade out way on the outfield, but uh baseball. >> Heather, um so for these co-ops, is this just a yearly arrangement? >> Depends how it depends how the the uh state. This is this approval is just for me, you say yes, then that application goes to the state. >> Okay. >> And so when the great magicians at the CIA look at it, they say, "Okay, well, we think their numbers are close enough. Maybe we

115should just do it for a year." Oh, >> like our football. So, they make the detate like the time. >> So, um we'll have a discussion probably the next meeting because football's over and our co-op for football for the four-way four schools was only given a year co-op. So, we're going to have to come back and get the approval again next year. So, it should be interesting to see how that all plays out. Just to let you know, I don't know if you were watching our football team, >> but we lost 61 to nothing in the quarterfinal, but let me explain what happens when you put four schools together. The male population of all four schools are calculated together and we get stuck in that particular part of the tournament. >> So, we may not

116have the skill level, but because we have the numbers, we got went to double M. >> Killingly, >> you know, how good they are. Isn't it? I know. I just don't understand. >> And so it's all based on population on the population on the male side. >> You're also an eight seed playing a one seed for that state game. >> Well, that's how that's how you bracket 27. That's how you >> The Thanksgiving game was awesome. >> That's all right. My grandson's team played them tonight. There was a time. I don't know what the score is, but >> I probably the same >> question. So, um, with these valley uniforms and stuff and I know you said one school will buy the OA ones and one Do you have the budget for that covered for

117this time and should we build in budget for >> Oh, don't worry. I already did. >> Okay, very good. >> My budget that I put in, I I included that, but I anticipated that happening this year. >> Okay. Okay. Perfect. >> All right. Do we have a motion for co-op? I I motion to give director Spinelli whatever leverage and and leeway she needs to to co-op whatever team >> whatever whatever to co whatever team she needs to do we have a second >> I second that motion >> Amanda seconds all in favor >> I >> any opposed >> okay I'll be done >> all right >> thank you >> old business I >> I'm Justin, >> did you last month you had bullying questions? Did you get that? >> I I did not like I

118have the we got the breakdown of the different reports, but I didn't get a chance to fully dig into that. I know that I had some questions in regards to the numbers that were provided in those reports. Um, hold on. Because I had notes on it. Do you want to look? I have them printed. Oh, sweet. and I may have to get back to you on the answers. >> Just wanted to make sure we covered it. >> You can look through that's like all that. >> So, >> I think it was covered and I think you gave an explanation last month. There was a little bit more questioning that happened and I just wanted to make sure we had that one nailed. >> Yeah. >> So, although if you look at Becky's historic data that

119is typical >> Yep. at this time of the year. >> Yeah. So based on actually the note the 18 matches the 18. So >> did you have anything further now that we were both kind of on the >> All right. All right. New business >> two items. Justin >> um one was uh and I don't want to send another wild goose chase committee >> but my thought is is we had been looking at the high school from a uh is it feasible to outsource right now perspective we've been looking at that we've had study and study after that one of the things that I questioned was what's that magic number what's the magic enrollment number that makes it make sense at today's current numbers that sends us out. >> So that is >> and when

120we find out that that's and and on a general education basis and we'll put the special education icing on the cake after the fact. So if that's 25 high school students is where that puts us to fiscally make sense to outplace it great. And this is by the way I'm suggesting this. It's up to the entire board as to whether or not we want to commission it. But I think maybe a bottom up approach at this eventually might be worthwhile to look at. I think we've been looking at it as well if we sit here today with 174 kids that really if we outsource that, let's just let's shove a number. If it's 25 students in the high school and that's where it finally makes sense to outsource, then that's where if if we can

121do this and and I'm saying that from a general education perspective only. We've still got to keep the facility heated. We've still got to keep the local admin staff to to deal with certain things. But at what point do we get there? And I I think we're going to end up with 25 or 50. And that's where we're at. Um, my second thing was um, and I had asked uh, previously, but I'm going to kind of pop it up again because it came up a couple of times tonight. Um, and as we head into budget season, I think it's more important with us not getting regular administrative reports read at the meeting anymore. Um, I think it would really be helpful if we had one highlight and one I don't want to say issue, but

122one board of education concern that we brought up monthly for us to discuss. I think it comes up naturally throughout the meeting, but I'd like to see one hit the agenda so that we can talk about it. Um, I think one that came up tonight was languages >> and sciences from the high school. something like that is realistically something that we can talk about and as we head into budget season that's stuff that we can consider. Do we want to consider asking during budget season for another lang for language in the middle school? I think those are fair discussions for us to have on a monthly basis. I just think we need to be aware of them without having to get into some intimate discussions about them. So those are my two potential new businesses

123that I'd like to potentially see us get moving forward. Um, and I I leave it to the board as to whether or not we want to commission them or not. >> Uh, Principal Melon is cued to do something next month as a discussion. Um, and this month I just didn't think it was time prohibited because of the reconfiguration study. >> Right. >> Kathleen. >> Yeah. Um, I'm all for offering another language. We have had this issue come up uh frequently. I think prior to you being on the board even, we talked about offering French or offering um we offer some uh Spanish now, right? Yes. Spanish is important. Uh French um >> and I think one of the problems was finding a teacher to teach it. Um, and that is our major roadblock is to

124get a teacher to teach the language. And Chinese would be or Arabic would be a great language to learn. And we talked about um um partnering with Marianapolis to teach Chinese um because they they have that ability and or to have uh using an online program. like Rosetta Stone or something like that and then have one of the come down once a week and and then talk uh having a student talk or >> conversation piece of it which you lose on those online programs. So, we we've had this discussion before, Justin, >> and and it would be very helpful to restudy this to see if we could get that in here. Um, because having multiple languages is very important in today's world. Um, so I'm all for that to do a study to offer whether

125we offer it online and then have someone come in to do the conversation piece once a week with whatever student is doing the online. I know myself I've tried those online programs and you're not going to get fluent with those. Yes. Well, >> it's going to be a hard gonna be a hard habit to break. Just a question about like the seventh and eighth. Um, and I know obviously that for the eighth graders, we do have some select classes that are there eligible to move up to the high school to utilize. Would it be a possibility to have Spanish one be one of those possibilities or no? >> No. Because we don't run on the same schedule. They're 43minute classes or 90 >> even on that flex that flex one. Okay. Danielle, >> my question

126is, are we looking for a middle school language arts or are we looking for an additional in high school? And then >> Right. Well, Kathleen talks about an additional. So, is it >> I was kind of flexing more towards what Heather was asking, which is can we >> can we figure out a way and I'm not saying we do it now, but can we figure out a way to flex that leverage that high school asset and flex it into 8th grade somehow? >> So, I understand what you were asking earlier. The problem with that, Justin, is that you're looking I have to get 175ish kids through Spanish one at some point. So, her class sizes are pretty they're they're in the 20s. Yep. >> Because I need to get that done. And you want to

127build it in so that um the kids who are going on to a four-year college get the one right away. So then I'm you know pausing one for those kids who may not be going who may only looking be looking at community college. So there's a lot of uh moving parts with that truly though as I'm thinking right because I know we're going to go down this road today obviously but uh even if I got a half teacher >> do you know what I mean? I have a teacher. That way I could dabble some here, right? And use it to enrich >> up there. That's possible. >> That's actually what I was going to ask is >> be even more tricky to find. >> Oh, yeah. >> But maybe you could find like a retired

128I happen to know a retired French teacher that would like be willing to work >> one period a week or something. You know what I mean? Like >> instead of a full-time teacher, if you could just get one. >> You had your hand up. >> I did. Um, and this is changing the subject to Justin's other comment. >> Um, >> is yours about this? All right, let's do language first. >> I guess my question would be if the students take the language in middle school, does it count when they graduate? It's part of that. >> Yes. And so I have not been the school counselor in that situation. I'm going to though put this out there and say yes. And here's why. If you take algebra one at this level, I can count that. So,

129I'm going to say yes. >> Would it make sense to have another Spanish teacher where you take one here in middle and then an advanced class in high school? >> Ideally, yes, because >> so not looking for a different language, but trying to maybe be consistent with the same language because they do need it benefits the student to have two years. >> It does. And I know we're talking about finding unicorns out there, right? Uh but with that being said, you can find world language teachers. It does not necessarily have to be Spanish or French for the level that you're looking at. Do you know what I'm saying? >> I did an in middle school we had sixth grade was intro and this one teacher taught four languages. Each quarter you change your next quarter

130you picked one then you did like an advance and then if you went to high school you could continue on. That's just how I remember it being um so coming here and knowing my kid doesn't have a language I was like oh okay. Okay. >> Sorry. >> Nope. It's all right. Um, >> so your other thing. >> Oh, yes, your other thing. Sorry. >> No, it's okay. Uh, just to kind of follow up with the other issue that Justin brought up. I I don't want I I know where you're coming from and we're trying to answer questions to the town to get them off our backs essentially. Um which is I don't think is ever going to happen. But I I don't want administrators chasing if it's going to be significant amount of work. I

131just I just don't know that they have the time. But I understand the principle and and where you're going with it. I really do. And I If we had time to do all these things, that'd be great. But I just >> Yeah, >> I don't want to ask chasing that rabbit hole. >> My concern is they already don't believe that our 25 times whatever equals what it actually does, whether it's in the calculator or you do it on a napkin, >> right? >> Will they actually believe that number too? Because we're the ones that are providing it is would be my is my only concern because they already don't believe the reports that we're providing. I I guess my thought was if we're going to do the exercise internally ever again, right, >> let's do

132it from the bottom instead of the top down. >> If yes, >> if we're going to do that again because I think that number is so ridiculously low >> that it's just going to be okay. That's the number we'd ever have to get to from an enrollment perspective. So there we are. >> Right. >> Okay. >> Makes sense. That's all I got. >> All right. Correspondence. I didn't have any. No correspondence. All right. Oh, last round for citizens comments. >> Yes. Sorry. Name. >> Name address. >> She looks she looks dirty. >> Employee ID number. >> Louise Morrison uh Thompson Education Association president. I just want to let you know that on January 13th, Senator Jeff Gordon will be joining us in the trenches for the day. It is not a meet and greet. It

133is come teach with the teachers for a day. >> No. >> So if you hear about it, um we will be doing a wide range of activities, but I told him to wear his comfy clothes because it's not a meet and greet. So I did offer it up to all of our representatives. Um you know, they're sick of hearing from me, but >> I do want to let you know that I do advocate um on behalf of the teachers and the students. Um, I am very upset with the whole lunch thing. My children go to Brooklyn, they get free lunch. Brooklyn had a uh $1.4 million increase in their budget. Explain that to me, you know, and that's how I brought it up to May Flexer and I cornered her in an event and she

134was like, "Oh yeah, I remember your email." I'm like, "Yeah, you didn't answer it." So, um, we do send teachers to the legislative breakfast to meet with our representatives and, um, we are very active. So, we are bringing as much as we can. You know, we had the president of CEA come out to our um what was it? New teacher. >> Yeah. >> And um she's actually running for NEA president. So, uh >> thank you. >> It would be amazing if she got it because she's quite dynamic and really supports teachers and education. >> So, that's all. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else in Miss on the Blitz thing real quick? Um, one of my favorite phone calls, just so you know, alumni will call and ask me for negative kids. Balance says I obly

135no means, right? I'll be they'll send me like, you know, a check and then it's like, you know, godmother right here and kind of wipe out this one or that one. So the alumni, you're very generous. It's one of my favorite. >> Mr. Donah, >> Nick, down your 15 Buck Hill Road. I want to leave you with two stories of positivity. We hear a lot of ups and downs, right? So first story of positivity. I've been out in the community and communities abroad over the last 30 days a lot and more than one town administrator has raved about the good work that you guys are doing. They're asking what we're doing, how we're doing it, how can they be involved. So, there's a buzz and I want to let you guys know that in good

136job. Second is more of a personal story, parent story. Someone reached out to me this week at the town hall and they just simply wanted to tell me how that they came from a private expensive school system. They decided, I think because of probably lifestyle changes that they wanted to come to your system and they made a switch. Two children, one's in the elementary, one's in the middle, came this year. Not only they are happy with class sizes, they're ecstatic about your your personnel, your teachers, the the changes they've seen in their children. one of the children had an auditory learning we'll say struggle. One of your facil your one of your staff members not only identified it but made some recommendations and it's made a notable change in their education. So those are just

137two stories that I I just simply wanted to pass on of amazing work and thank you from my office and the entire town hall and and we really look forward to keeping it keeping it going and pushing that needle. So thank you. >> Thank you. Anybody in the zoom? >> I'm calling. >> That's probably the first and last time I'm going to get that motion. >> Now that everybody's learned it.