001Okay. >> Okay. I'll call the regular meeting of the Thompson Board of Education on August 11th to order at 706. Kristen, you pledge of allegiance, please. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay. Well, it should be a relatively short meeting tonight as we all agreed that the um uh admin and directors uh don't have to be at the meeting. So, we won't have their reports and we have no student liaison for this August meeting. Uh we I will call on Bill Burch to give us a an update on the the HVAC system and um hopefully Wednesday, keep fingers crossed, we will have a a budget passed. Um so again, just
002you know, reach out to neighbors and friends and make sure that they're aware that there is a vote. I know that you put out a call, did I? Yes. Yes. So, um, basically that's all I have to say. Um, so the next thing on the agenda is citizens comments. So, we have no citizens in the audience tonight. So, anybody on Zoom would like to make a comment, raise your hand. Hearing none, we'll go to the approval of the minutes from our spe special meeting and our regular meeting of July 14th. I have a motion to approve. >> I'll make a motion to approve the >> I'll second that. >> Okay. So, I have a motion and a second. Any any discussion on the minutes? Hearing no discussion, I'll put the motion to the floor for
003a vote. All in favor of approving the minutes say I. >> I. >> Thank you. Uh and any ns? I think we have eyes from everybody. So the motion passes. superintendent's report is the enrollment. So, um, Chairman Herbert and members of the board, you know, at this time of the year that those numbers are going to eb and flow. Um, but currently um we have 323 students uh registered at Marriott Fiser. Uh, a number that I should bring your attention to is the K numbers um at 49. We anticipated honestly because of the age change that this year we would see higher numbers of enrollment. We haven't yet. Traditionally in Thompson people wait until probably the week before school. So maybe there'll be more enrollment over the next couple of weeks. Um but that number
004um is a low number for us to start. Remember that we reduced kindergarten from four classes down to three. Um so those class sizes will be um if that number holds true and we only pick up a few more students at least um the mission of the board has always been to keep kindergarten low um so those numbers won't come in too high. Um and then at the middle school we have 285 students. um at the high school right now 173 and there is one student we had a student graduate from transition um or segue out of transition and we have a new student going in but the following year we have several students going into transition. Um so the total enrollment is 782. Uh Dette has done what she could with the homeschool numbers.
005Um she pulled out um anybody that aged out um and took them off the census. So the numbers there are what we know but there could be people in town homeschooling their children that just never informs us. So uh just to let you know that number and that is the enrollment as of today. >> Okay. >> And it I'll try to give you a weekly update from now until the start of school so you know what we open with. Are the numbers for like uh transitioning uh into the high school, the Ellis 11, Millingly, Marianapolis, all those are pretty accurate, you think, or >> Yes. Okay. Yes, those are pretty accurate. Uh only because we had to send paperwork >> to those other schools. So, um the QMC one was just a recent um addition
006that came on. There are a couple of kids at QMC. Yeah. In grade 11. Um but I think once this this group of students, these two students move out, I think we're going to have probably one or two kids, one kid there. Um which is which is a good thing. Yeah. >> Killingly. How many had we had last year? Do you do you remember? I don't have that in front of me. >> I thought it was 19 we paid the bill for. Yeah. Right. Bill, >> I thought I thought it was on a downward trend. It is on a downward trend. Um my all-time high I think was 27. >> So >> yeah, right now there's 21 kids there, but I think we sent last year we had a bill of 19 bill. >> Okay.
007>> Because we only had one from this eighth grade class go. >> Oh, okay. That's 21 basically 20 out of three years. Is there a way to get a breakdown? I know just if there's any way to break it down like by grade level. >> I'll get it. >> So you can kind of see like where we're trying. >> They would like to see like where that downro trend is coming in from like 8th grade to freshman year. So we can kind of see. >> So we have to pay the bill by October 1st. So they send us an invoice with all the students names and their grade level so I can get that. Okay. >> Perfect. I'll probably get it midepptember. Okay. >> My problem with the hillingly lowang program has always been the
008fact that I really doubt that kids are going there for agriculture and most of them. I'm not not everybody but just so >> but every time I pulled transcripts they take at least one boag class per semester. >> Yeah. >> Um even if they're not related um they at least take one. Yeah, >> we need to do better lobbying to the commission about that. >> They need to be an agricultural major. >> Yeah. Have a need to be a pathway like they do at Ellis. You're committed to plumbing. You're committed to whatever. >> I I agree. >> And if you're not, then you're really not going there forever. >> For Absolutely. And and we're paying for it and that's not cool, >> right? >> Yeah. I agree. Plus the transportation. >> Yep. Yeah. >> Yeah.
009>> So, and but that's a that's a state thing. We have to >> I've argued the the um the inconsistency of the boag courses not having a pathway. Um and as long as they're taking a boag course because they say it's the years that students should be doing exploratory um the state supports that. Uh, so >> I think and to be to be clear to be on the record, I think it's a valuable program if that's what you're going to do. >> But if you're just going there to not be here, we should you can go, but we shouldn't be paying for it. >> That's my opinion. >> Yeah, but we have to fight with the state about that. >> Well, we have a lot of things to fight with the state and Harvard about.
010And maybe maybe something will you know something might shift over the next couple of weeks too depending upon you know the reality hits that they're going to go to a different school and maybe want to stay. I don't know why they wouldn't want to stay at our high school quite frankly. So hey any other discussion on enrollment? It's um seems to me that the you know if that kindergarten um number comes up that we're pretty steady in the middle school that high school number is dismal. >> Well, it's a little less than last year. Um so, you know, it would be helpful if we had a column for June 30. >> Oh, yeah. I have that on my desk. >> Yeah, >> we can add that. >> I will. just compared to where we ended.
011>> Yeah, that's I kept June 30th right on my desk for that very reason. Okay, I'll add I'll have Annette added in. >> That's my only Okay. Okay. Does anybody have any old business that they want to Okay, here I'm going to look for a lotion to add something to new business. I'll make a motion that we add the uh to extend the superintendent contract under due business. >> I will second that. Okay, >> that would be um 8 C. All in favor of adding that 8 8 C extend superintendent contract a year. >> I thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. So, the first thing on the agenda under new business is to approve the student handbooks. >> Um, >> I will tell you that I specifically had Becky and TJ sit together
012and go through their handbooks because we don't want confusion between two schools. >> The only thing I had was in the high school one, it still listed Lisa Durand, her food service director. Oh, so that's the only things that I found. >> Okay. >> Like on the actual food service director, like the food service. >> Okay, we'll fix it. Yeah. Although I don't know how many parents actually go into the handbook to find that contact information, but >> should be dead who is doing an outstanding job as much as Lisa. Okay. So, Mary Fisher has changed it and middle school doesn't mention that fact. Well, let's have a motion and a second to approve the so we can have a discussion, please. >> I'll make a motion to approve the handbooks. Second. Okay. >> All
013right. Now, we can open the floor for discussion. I will fix that. Directed to death. >> Okay. The first thing I have is why aren't they using a parent signing? It's in the Chromebooks. Why aren't they using that more? And this is for the >> she updated she updated it and I don't know why she's not here for is she on >> Nope. >> No >> um >> okay I question that. Why aren't we doing that to take at least to have some responsibility? I think there's another form and I think it's in the updated information she gave for uh Chromebook use. >> I'll be honest, I did not vote through them. I just looked at the check. >> I will ask for that question. >> That's fair. >> I thought they signed for them
014when they picked them up here. >> They do. >> So that's >> Well, if they do sign for them, that's fine. >> I wonder if there's something in power school she's done. So I don't know. No. >> Okay. That's just the only question I had on >> forms yet because I did the forms online. >> Okay. It's not there. >> All right. Let me double check with Heather and if we need to add it in, we'll stick it in. >> Okay. Any other comments from anybody on this? I mean, the only comment I had and I, like I said, I did not go through and check the changes. I assume that they those were the changes. They made those changes. So if you agree with them motion to approve them that everybody's happy with those
015changes and they Jesse, you've reviewed it and gone through them. I think the reason that she put the Chromebook repair course right in here. So when you sign off on the handbook, you're signing off on that. >> Okay, that's what I think. >> Fair enough. You know, we signing up things. I know. >> Well, we're trying to reduce forms. >> Okay, that's fine. All right, then. That's answers my question. And um so we've made a motion to approve. We'll second that. All in favor of approving the handbooks say I. >> I. >> Okay. I chairman says I. >> All right. Then they're approved. >> We have a staff decision. >> Yes. So we um we had terminated the um or laid off uh the as circulation specialist at Mary and the middle school which kind
016of left the libraries in limbo even though we have some vol wonderful parent volunteers coming in. Um I was really concerned about that. So when we went um I contacted May Flexer um and her assistant sent me the state budget because I could not find where it was listed that we were going to get that other $200 200,000 as you know um it that's a separate line item in the state budget but on page 232 of the state budget um there it is. So then I feel comfortable not only bringing back Sarah but uh looking for another student support coordinator. that posting is out there. Um, but Sarah is more than happy to come back. Um, and then she's going to work with those parent volunteers. Um, and we're not going to use her as
017a unified arts teacher at the elementary school because we reduce teachers. Um, the number of prep periods that need to be covered also reduced. That way, she is now a true circulation specialist and the library will be open more here at the middle school. um and then also at the elementary. So, I'm pretty excited about the fact that she's going to her goal for that um under alliance is to have kids increase independent reading time and you can't do that if they don't have access to the books. So, >> I'll make a motion to rescend >> second >> circulation specialist position. >> I have a second. Sorry. Speak up. Speak up. Okay. So, I have a motion and a second. All in favor of resending the layoff of the circulation specialist. Any discussion? No, we
018already had that. Okay. All in favor, I put the motion to the floor. All in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Okay. I. >> Motion passes. All right. Now, motion to renew. You understand that the contract is a three-year contract with the option to renew for another year. I cannot rewrite the contract with Steve Sedor yet until we have another special meeting to discuss pay, but we can at least give her the comfort to know that she has been renewed for another year. >> Thank you. So, a motion to >> I'll make I'll make a motion that we extend the contract for three more years. >> No, one more year. >> Sorry. One more year. >> Extend it. One more year. Okay. >> Correct. I'll second that. >> I'll second that. >> Thank you,
019Bill. Okay. I have a motion to and a second. Any discussion? >> I'd like to just say one thing. Yes, >> Melinda, I applaud you. I commend you for wanting to do this. Um, amongst all the adversity in town. Uh, but I will say under your leadership, I think the three boards have come together. We've all worked very amicably and we've always uh tried to do the best with what we had for funding. So, I commend you for wanting to go another year. >> Thank you. But despite all those challenges, Thompson is a great place to work. >> It is. Truly is. >> Okay. Thank you, Tom. And >> Okay. So, any other discussion on this? Okay. Um, I'll put the motion to the floor for a vote. All in favor of renewing Superintendent Smith's
020contract for a further year, say I. >> Okay. Motion passes unanimously. >> Okay, we do have correspondence. We have a thank you card from Mel. It says, "Dear members of the board, I would like to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude for selecting me as the recipient of this year's exemplary service recognition award. I truly enjoyed all my 43 years at TMHS and this was an unexpected honor. The ceremony, kindness, and the award itself will never be forgotten." Thank you, Merrill. that into the record. >> All right. Second round of citizen. Oh, you know what? You're not on the You're not on the agenda. >> No, back it up. >> You and Bill, right? >> We will put you on the agenda. >> The two bills. >> Too bad you lose. >> Sat over there.
021>> Add it to new business. All in favor of adding Mr. >> Mr. And >> I am Bill Burch to the agenda to review. >> They can be citizens comments. >> Yeah. Citizens comments. >> All right. I will call on Bill Burch first. The first bill. >> Little Bill. >> Billy the short bill. >> So many HR violations. >> No. So many bad places you could go with that. >> Wow. >> No. I'm short, too. So, >> no. At any rate, it's uh it's been a busy summer to say the least. >> We are uh we're we're progressing as well as we had hoped or could uh or could hope to. >> And at this point, we are on track to open school on time, provided that nothing goes wrong in the next two weeks.
022We uh the the high school is coming back together. The ceilings are going up. Most of the majority of the duct work is complete. The insulators are up there and the control people are up there now. We uh do have we have one uh fan coil unit that needs to be returned because it came in damaged, but it is currently in place and we will remove that at a future date either in the evening or on a weekend >> when we get the new one on site. Um the the the bulk of the major equipment, the last date we got on that is uh September 19th to be shipped. So we have no expectation that we're going to see that probably in place before the end of September at the earliest uh unless that date
023changes again because it's already changed several times. the the new boilers in the middle school uh all erected. The domestic hot water boiler is ready to fire. We put the oil pump system in last week. That's ready to go. Uh the only thing we're waiting on right now is we're waiting on a crane to set the chimney liner and we had hoped that he was going to be there today, but obviously he wasn't. So, uh we're we're shooting for tomorrow at this point. the middle school kitchen and cafeteria. We have uh two more roof penetrations that need to be done in the cafeteria area. Those were supposed to be done today. Again, we're hoping for tomorrow. And the ceiling is due to start going up in the kitchen tomorrow as well. The units are all
024hung. The uh line sets are in. I believe the electrician is done down there. uh we don't have any registers for those units. So again, we will have to put those in uh in the evening or on a weekend when they get here. Um other than that, I I would say we're in we're in pretty good shape. It's been busy and uh I have to I have to give our crew accommodation. They worked their tails off this weekend and they have got uh I believe it's 10 rooms in the high school uh back together. Well, not back together, but the floors are done and they're ready for furniture. So, uh we're making good progress up there and we're on track to open on time. We did receive confirmation that uh the extension for the project
025has been granted. So we now have until December of 26 to get the project done, complete and uh filed with the state. So that takes a little pressure off that way. >> Good. >> Great. >> Thank you. >> The other bill >> I'll just run I'll just run through the highlights. >> Okay. Um, as of right now, we are finishing in the black by the thinnest of margins, 20 25 to$26,000. >> Um, now that obviously is pending. You know, there's occasionally a surprise late bill that comes in. Um, but we also have a few purchase orders that hopefully we will be closing out and be able to bring a little bit back. So, hopefully that'll offset. Uh, but at least as of right now, that looks great. Um we did receive the final $40,000 of
026um special ed excess cost uh reimbursement. Um so that brings the the special ed excess cost reimbursement up to 224. Uh and that is that figures in to these numbers. Uh that's that's been baked in. Um good news on the reimbursement front from the HVAC. Um we did receive approval on Friday of the first um reimbursement submission. Um, so that was great news. That's that's a million six or a million7. It's it's basically up to pretty much last month's bill. Um, so, uh, it's going to be a race to keep up with that as as the project continues because the dollars are are amping up. But, uh, that was good to see. It's always interesting to get through that process. The first time they had a couple of comments back and forth, but it actually
027it they turned it around pretty quickly. So, now it's a matter of they they approved it. Hopefully, they pay it. quickly. >> All right, >> that's about it. >> Well, thank you. Thank you. >> All right. Any other citizens comments from the Zoom audience? >> No. Well, I have a comment to make. Okay. Next um the next meeting will be our September meeting and uh even though the admin doesn't need to be here, they still need to prepare their reports for our >> Yes. Right. Yes. >> And school will have started. I mean, I don't expect a whole lot from the September reports, but go going forward. Well, they can at least give you an update on what happened over the summer. >> Yeah, that needs to be part of the package. And um are
028are we going to have students this year? >> Quarterly, >> huh? >> Quarterly. >> Okay. Quarterly, we decided on that and then we'll have a student the spotlight. Oh, the spotlight quarterly. Yeah. >> Yeah. Quarterly spotlight and they will pick a lean for the board of finance also. I believe that's been done already. That has they already did last year. They had the elections, didn't they? Yeah. >> Yes. Was it one like Maddie? I think Mattie's >> Carl. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Good. I just >> I'll double check with Cindy. We get that to you. We've been >> just curious >> because that would be a monthly. Okay. We're going to have students quarterly >> unless of course they have something they want to bring to the board's attention. >> Yeah. I I know we agreed
029that they didn't have to come unless we were going to discuss or have a presentation that the admin need to be and that we were going to give them notice that we wanted them to be with. >> I think our first presentation is scheduled for October and that's um Kim Granado is going to do the assessment overview once the embargo is lifted. >> Okay. >> All right. And you you're charged to to please write that letter. I know you got a tons of stuff to do, so it doesn't have to be done. I know you You've got a project to do this month. >> Yes, project. >> And >> um but yes, I will definitely contact and see if there's anything any any leeway we can do to get that designation of an opportunity district
030um away from the district. >> I mean, just give it the old college try. >> I will. >> Yeah. And just like tell them it's like it's it's affecting our our funding and our and our you know and that will affect our outcome really you know if we make a vicious surf. >> Yeah. I would have Steve write it. I don't know if that has any more weight but >> No bad idea. >> We pay him a lot of money. Maybe it'll help. >> Yeah. I mean you can flesh it out for him and give him all the information he needs to put in it. But maybe have him sign it. >> Maybe he can petition. Yeah. Maybe there's something he can write to Mike McKenna >> um the legal counsel for the department of
031ed. >> It might not be a bad idea. >> Good point. >> All right. >> With that motion to >> motion to adjourn. >> Thank you everybody. >> Thank you. Good night.