0017:01. I'd like to call the regular meeting of the Thompson Board of Education, July 14th, to order at 7:01. First item on our agenda is the pledge of allegiance. Would you lead us, Mrs. I pledge 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. >> Chairman update. Well, again, we are going back out for another referendum. A lot of unpleasant things in this town. Um there's a board of finance meeting this Thursday night 7 o'clock the town hall and uh it's not going to be a pleasant one. I urge all of you any of you who can attend, please attend. And uh you know we're the soonest we can take a vote on the budget would
002be August 19th. uh that and then we'd have to have a town meeting prior to that, but that's you know just to go to referendum because of the time timing of things. soon as we can have another vote. As you as you know, 21 town employees have been um furled. Restricted hours on the um transfer station, the library, DPW, and it's level funding. I just don't know how you we can emphasize enough that that means the same tax rate as last year. Um and and I know this is affecting the town. They don't have a slush fund. They have very and Bill can attest to this. This is we don't have the money to pay town expenses. The school is in hiatus, so there's really not much we can do. We can't furlow people because
003the teachers are gone. The cafeteria people are gone. We've got a skeleton staff um for the janitors are here, but we didn't hire any summer help. No, >> no summer help, which we usually do. Correct, Greg. >> Well, we have a couple that we had enough money to cover a couple of summer workers. Okay. Well, maybe that's what we need to do to show solidarity with the town. I don't know. But that's um because you know, we're all in this. We'll discuss this later. Um anyway, it's we there's got to be some way that we can get parents out to vote. Parents, this is their school, too, because their kids come here. And we had actually for a budget vote it was you know it was a it was a good turnout was 30%. Typically
004budgets somewhere between 16 and 20% of the people come out to vote on a budget which is pitiful. Um 30% was a pretty good turnout but it's you know still not enough. I mean, this is how you're supporting your town, and that's it's not not good. But I urge you, everybody, uh, please, and obviously all of you could went out to vote, but get your friends, get out and vote. We need to support our town and we need to support our schools. It's our future that is at stake and the 19.29 mil rate is level funded adjusted for the revaluation. It's all I have to say. Thank you. Any citizens comments? Okay, moving on. Approval of the minutes from our June 9th meeting. We'll have a motion. >> I'll make the motion, Kathleen. >> I
005have a second. >> I'll second. >> Okay. Thank you, Heather. Okay. Any discussion on the minutes? Hearing no discussion, I'll put the motion to approve the minutes of June 9th to the floor for a vote. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any nays? Any abstensions? Motion passes. It's time. Okay. Motion passes. Eight to nothing. Okay, we have on here a referendum discussion possible action. I'm going to skip through. >> Hey, um I put that there because I didn't know when the board of finance was going to meet, but meet on Thursday. >> I think some if you don't mind, Madam Chair, I think a comment is warranted on that. Melinda, the letter that went out today, I think was pointed and uh well written. I think um I hope Winnie is going to
006pick it up and publicize it. I didn't see it yet. >> Yeah, they did. >> Um I hope Northeast News reel and Quiet Corner and everybody else is going to pick it up as well. Hopefully they'll they'll get that and and move that along. Um, I it it's interesting to me and I hope there are people who are on both sides that are listening in the room and and on the Zoom um that as soon as a town service was cut uh people went up in arms. our students, our staff, our building have suffered year after year after year with cuts and when it went up in arms from the students or from our perspective, it fell on deaf ears. Um, so I hope now that people are realizing that there's a little bit and
007I a little bit of pain on the on the town side specifically that it's a little bit more obvious that we hear it at in the public school and we here as a board of education have worked hard to balance a budget that makes sense. Um, I think there's a lot of opinions that are being had on social media. uh close the high school, turn into a v vocational school. Well, clearly you're not paying attention to what we're doing up here because we are bringing in vocations. We are bringing in pathways. And although we haven't called it vocations, they they are pathways for our students other than the college pathway. >> And um Heather has done a great job on the communications committee putting stuff out, but it's falling on deaf ears. Um, so I
008think as we progress to the next referendum, um, hopefully we've now caught the attention of some individuals and, uh, we can start having the conversations uh, about where we actually have come as a district in the last few years and not just that, you know, it's some fiscal black hole in the town of Thompson. Um, so I I I applaud the letter. I think my next editorial is going to be around test scores um because that seems to be the thing we're getting um criticized about um but yet we've made some good progress um and that needs to be out there in a positive way. So that's my next um communication out is um around our progress. Even though I'm not supposed to talk about ESPback scores because they're not they're embargoed, um I I
009can at least say that they've gone up. >> Yeah, I think we can say that they've gone up by a rate. I think the other thing that needs to get out there is how we've transitioned, especially with what TJ's done in the high school this year. I think the high school is taking a lot of the brunt of of the abuse that's coming out of the public right now. Um, and I think identifying where we've gone in the high school in in the last five years with pathways and everything and then as well as where TJ took it in the last year. >> Well, we have a preliminary um NEAS report that was given to us, right? We wish you could kick that out. Um, we are going to have a NEAS visit in March.
010Um, and I think that will come back very favorably. Um, I can't imagine it won't. Um, so that report need will really be something we can use as a real foundation. >> But there is the preliminary report that we can put out there. >> Yeah. I I just think identifying that we're we're turtlot is not just a single pathway high school. It's it's not just collegebound that there are other opportunities that we have. And I think throwing the stats out there that we've had students that went through the welding pathway that had now have jobs, certified jobs. We have culinaries that have certified jobs. We have CNAs that have certified jobs. Like these are certifications that these people are walking out of high school with >> contributing to society right away. So, I think it's
011funny because when I had I had a few conversations at the transfer station on Saturday, which I got yelled at and got kicked out, but it was just a citizen speaking. Um, but when I identified pathways and that there were programs that were created at the high school, there were light bulbs that came on. So, I think somehow that needs to get out a little bit more because it's not out enough. >> Yeah, we have a nice video actually. Yeah, we can get that out there again. Thank you. Any other comments? >> I think the other challenge is too is that sometimes we do put that information out and just people see what they want to see. you know, the the rose colored glasses are definitely on and you know, we have to it's a
012tough year because we had re-evaluations and I think that the re-evaluations and a housing market that's increased faster than people have probably seen in decades and then they get the new tax bill and then they hear increases at the school and increases in the town that our first referendum I'm saying like it just caused panic and chaos. So, it's I know we're doing everything we, you know, we've been steering the ship in the right direction and we have been for years and we've been putting the information out. It's just it's just not getting to where it needs to land, I guess you would say, because people have those rose they're in panic mode. They have the rosecolored glass and it I've never seen our community in such an uproar like it is. And you know,
013the the letter you did send out was a fantastic letter, but the comments on social media were just ripping it apart. And it's like I I I don't know how we get this information out. Is it just falling on deaf ears? And you know what the the right direction is for that aspect of it. Um, you know, and we as a board have to look at, you know, the student population change, the the special education increases, like we have we have a lot of work we got to do, too. So, um, you know, and I want the taxpayers to know that we'll be working on that. The truth of the matter is that the average increase to the housing through revaluation was 60%. >> If your house went up more than 60%, yes, your taxes
014will increase. >> Now, some of that increase is going to be offset by your vehicle tax. >> If your house didn't go up 60%, your taxes are going to decrease, >> right? People just see their houses going up like 40 50%. >> Right? >> That's a lot, >> right? >> But that means your taxes are going to decrease, >> right? So that's not that's what that 19.229 our t our miller rate was 27 something last year. That's what that >> you know change in the miller rate was. >> Yeah. So that was factored in, >> right? >> How many of these people live on the lake? >> A couple. >> Yeah. >> That's what who was going to get hit, but we were sub. Yeah, I know. You chose to live on the lake and
015I subsidize the fact that you lived on the lake. >> I >> over the years. >> I I I >> should I say thank you? But I don't >> I don't I don't think it was so much subsidizing as >> they were valued. They were valued at what they were valued at. The value changed, >> right? >> That's where it's at. I think when it comes to our jobs here as a board of education is to make sure we're putting together a fiscal package that makes sense for our students populations that can support the superintendent and the staff at the school that can give the students of our district the proper education that they need to get. >> And we've done that >> year after year. We've we've been conservative, very conservative in our budgets
016year after year. We've taken things out when we know that we won't have the pieces of that budget year after year. What frustrates me is three years, four years ago, we got chastised upside down, left, right, for not putting away for a rainy day fund for the HVAC, not putting away for a rainy day fund for for the track, not putting away for a rainy day fund for the roof. And here we are barely trying to educate a population of students of which we're 16th in the state for special education cost or special education uh population. >> Right? >> And the tax the tax base once again there's a tax base and it's 60 or 70% of the 30% that voted that said nope you don't deserve more money. Nope, we're not giving you more
017money. But those same people are not sitting down with us from January to April exactly >> to have the discussions to see where that money is going. They'd like to Monday morning quarterback after the first, second, and third referendums to tell us that a 90,000 $90,000 health teacher doesn't deserve $90,000 when they don't understand that entire line item. That line item is taken out of context and thrown right under the bus, right? just like a a superintendent salary, just like a high school principal salary, right? They're not paid on population. They're paid based on their credentials. And if you can find someone to do a superintendent's job in any district for less than what we're currently compensating our superintendent for to deal with what our superintendent is dealing with, then sure, bring them to the
018table. >> Right. Right. I >> bring the health teacher to the table. looked that up and Melinda is median the median pay rate for superintendent in the state. >> Yeah. >> So, >> she's paid less than Putnham. She's paid less than Woodstock. >> Um >> I'd also like to note that Woodstock's new superintendent because it was a comment on one of the lovely pages in town that you're retired and you're collecting a retirement. their superintendent, their new one that's coming in is retiring from the western side of the state and is taking a position making $10,000 more than you are right now >> for K through8. >> So >> the salary thing >> the to remember the longer I'm here >> um so superintendent shelf life is is short really three to five years usually
019that's average. So the longer you're here, then your salary goes up. >> Well, and I don't want to I mean, the salary discussion aside, we've done what we've done as a board. We've gone line by line through a budget. We were accused at the and I know it's coming up in in item B. We were accused at the last board meeting of not being trust. We were accused as a board as a whole >> of not being trustworthy, of hiding money, of hiding finances, of playing shell games. And I have noticed that that individual >> not here >> is not here today to apologize >> or even correct the record. >> So for that for those individuals for those citizens the last time they were up here to say they were not up here to
020give you an I gota that's all they were here for. >> Exactly. We have spent countless hours, individuals contacting the superintendent, the finance director who took personal attacks in that >> board members who were told they were not being trustworthy. >> I I think, you know, we have done what we needed what we needed to do. Heather has done a great job with communication, but I I just think we're we're in a year where it doesn't matter what that mill rate is, there are going to be,00 people that are going to say no. >> And the goal at this point is going to be to get,00 people on top of the 500 that are already there to say yes. >> Yeah. No, I agree with you, Justin. I I certainly do. We've got to get
021more people out to say yes. I also want on the record too like the the drop in enrollment has nothing to do with the school system itself. It's a issue across America. There's just less children. >> Yeah. >> You know, like and and that is another thing that's used against us and it's like people are living longer in their homes >> and your baby boomers are staying home longer and young adults are either waiting longer or having less children. So there's just less children period. And all school districts are experiencing this. All school districts are experiencing a decrease in their enrollment. >> Yes. >> Um except for maybe Canterbury. I did do my research and Canterbury is increasing. But you know, so to have that used against us is is is frustrating because it's not
022in our power. But we can acknowledge. Yes. And we're working on, you know, plans and ideas >> moving forward. Um, and the other thing to kind of piggy off piggyback off what Justin said about the um uh the what people are paid and it's uh our teachers in the state of Connecticut, they have to have a master's degree. And um to say that they're not getting paid enough when they've done five and a half, maybe six years of school to have this degree. Um and is and and to ask them to be paid peanuts is preposterous. who would who would work somewhere and force somebody to say that? And also for Melinda, she's a CEO. She's the CEO of the school. She's overseeing thousands of people. What CEO makes $187 of company for thousands of
023people, you know? So, I people need to like break down what it actually is, right? And I just wish that in the the emotion of the anger, we can just really just get down to like it it's it's not what they're blowing it up to be. It really isn't. >> You're right. >> You know, >> if I may one more comment, I and I want to piggyback off something Melinda said about posting test scores. Um I I put this out a couple years ago. We don't get to resume our students. So, anybody who compares our students to employees at a company and if the company was failing, you know, we would we would get different employees. Well, >> we don't get to choose what students come and don't come to public school. First off, um
024this morning on the news, I heard that there is a 21% increase year-over-year in youth crime. I mean, if that doesn't say anything about the youth that our our student or that our other students that our staff that our administrators are dealing with, I mean, we know behavior is an issue. For anybody who says that, you know, put 30 kids in a kindergarten classroom, they haven't been in a kindergarten classroom in the in the last few years. Teachers, these these educators are no longer just teaching writing and and arithmetic. they are now having to somewhat parent the children at school >> just just to get the behavior under control. So I I implore people to open their eyes to where we are nationally, but even more so we're in a small focused district and there
025are children in our district that desperately need help, that desperately need parents, that desperately need role models. And this back and forth that's going on on social media that just continues to bash the the Thompson public school systems doesn't bring up the morale of anybody. We have a high school principal who has literally flipped that place around in 9 months to the point where I you can talk to students that were there 9 months ago who are ecstatic about being there. They want to be there. They love the branding that's there now. They love the education they're getting. So for this this negative rap that's been going on on social media every time about, you know, it's a $22 million failing system. >> Uh, no. >> Come here and and participate >> and see what's
026going on and then still tell me it's failing. >> So, Melinda, again, thank you for the letter. I think it was it was well pointed. It was needed. I really hope that the town through pain that it's currently suffering sees that we do have a chance to do something right and and move forward and progress. >> And we'll keep on top of our state reps about advocating for proper funding for mandates and the challenge of a lot of federal ma mandates being financially cut as well. >> That's a scary scary >> Yeah. So, you know, that's another hurdle that we'll be facing. Yep. So, okay. Uh let's move on, please. Um briefly, the Medicaid update, please, Bill. So, um I asked Bill to put together a presentation, uh in response to a lot of misinformation
027that's out there about the Medicaid reimbursement that the district receives. Um, Bill has done I can't tell you how many manh hours he's put into uh responding to foyer requests and other information that he's had to put together for this. Um, and I thank him from the bottom of my heart because it threw him off closing this the the year end and we're kind of behind at this point. Um, so um, he's going to make this presentation and then we're going to put this topic to bed. >> Thanks, Blender. Uh just a quick update to to bring everybody up to speed on on both the the the work that happened prior to the last board of ed meeting and then since then. Um so as many of you know in in April we we received
028a foyer request asking for our Medicaid reimbursements uh for the last seven years. Um actually there there you go. Thank you Danielle. Um uh this data was promptly provided to the requester. Uh this this data outlines 2019 through uh at at that point in the year in April 2025 claims year to date. Um uh that rep that and these numbers agree to um the department of social services u public payment data. Could could you go to the next slide please? Um after providing this information uh uh the requesttor uh filed a similar foryear request with DSS. Uh unfortunately DSS provided the requesttor uh gross claims data in response to his request. Uh that led to some concerns that we had under reportported the amount of Medicaid reimbursement that we had received. Um, in seeing this,
029uh, I had, uh, quite a lengthy back and forth with DSS to try to get to the bottom of the discrepancy between the two sets of numbers, um, and was able to demonstrate to them using their own, um, payment data that's actually posted on their website, uh, that indeed um, the amounts that they had provided to the requester were the gross claim amounts, uh, not the 25% reimbursement payment that we receive. Um Melinda while all of this was going on actually reached out directly to the DSS commissioner and asked for confirmation that that indeed this was the 25% uh and we can see that email we did receive confirmation uh that we get reimbursed at 25% at the gross amount um for it wasn't actually from the commissioner I believe it was from their legal
030counsel. >> Yes. >> Next slide please. Um, following resolution of the gross claims matter, concerns were then raised that we were now over reporting the amount of Medicaid reimbursement we received. Uh, in response to this, I provided the requesttor the detailed reconciliation of the DSS uh, provided payments. Uh, and in a nutshell, what it boils down to is that the reimbursements that we receive as a district are made up of three main components. Direct claim, which is what you would think of. We submit our claims and we get an initial payment on those claims. Administration related costs. These are costs that the reimbursement payments that we receive to help offset the fact that we have staff. This takes I cannot tell you and and finance is not directly involved in this, but I can't tell
031you the amount of work that goes into gathering this data and filing these claims. Uh to tell you the truth, I'm glad I'm not involved in it because it's just not a pleasant process. But those payments in in the middle column there uh represent those administrative payments. Cost settlement is the third component. Um these claims have a tail if you will. You get that initial initial payment in the direct claim bucket and then over the next year or two these claims ultimately settle out and those flow into our reimbursement through that cost settlement payment. When you add those three types of payments up, you get our total. Uh, and that actually ties back to the Medicaid reimbursement payment information that we provided in response to the original foyer request. So, in conclusion, um, the Medicaid
032reimbursement data that we provided was accurate, uh, and is directly supported by DSS's payment information, which I'd invite you all to go check out the spreadsheets. They post online. Bring a magnifying glass. they're extremely difficult to read uh and to decode, but ultimately when you do parse them apart, um our numbers did hold up and we continue to use that. I think our looks like our fiscal 2025 amount was excuse me somewhere around $26,000 and we're treating that like we've done in the past. we set that aside and at the end of the year we use it to offset um costs that essentially help drive that claim activity. So it's a little bit of money uh that does help the BOE budget out in the end >> and we did provide this information to the
033person requesting it. >> Yes. >> Um and a correction has never been posted on any of the um social media sites. Can this be posted to our >> We can put this on our website. >> Yeah. As a follow up Facebook. >> Yeah, I think that would be great. So >> posting it to our website with within that budget information tab, board of education, whatever within our notes, our meeting minutes, >> right? >> Okay. Website. >> Yes. >> Well, M first. >> Um, Bill, is there a reason that we only get 25? I I know there is a reason. Do you know the reason we only get 25% of that claim? >> Yes, I know you know that's actually how it was set by the state. The actual the actual formula is that we get
034this the not just we all districts >> get um 50% of the federal share of the Medicaid reimbursement. >> The federal share is 50%. So we get 50% of 50% which is 25% which is all extremely clear. That's how it >> So where's the other 75% of that claim >> to the to either to the state or to the federal government >> and unfortunately all the districts have 25% >> to take it back. >> It's it's frankly it's very >> because those costs that are being reimbursed were incurred >> here >> by our school district and paid for by our taxpayers. >> Right. >> Thank you one. Yes, >> Mr. Sheriff, if I may, uh, I'd like to commend Mr. Steglitz on his professional handling of this situation. It was not easy. >> Um, as
035I mentioned previously, he he fell under personal personal attack by name. Um, >> for for the supposed uh accusation of what was going on, it would have gone had to have gone on between three finance directors and at least two superintendent. >> Um, but the way that Mr. Steglets handled it uh was professional in every aspect. Uh even through the frustrations I I witnessed personally um attacks and I commend him 100% on his professionalism. Uh this man here uh in front of us today is beyond reproach when it comes to this specifically this topic. So thank you very much. >> Thank you Bill. Can I cut anything real quick? I wanted to say the same thing. Thank you, Bill. And then just to like let everybody know publicly. So if you own a med like
036medical stuff is build differently than a school district's Medicaid. All right. Because I think that was also like the >> it really boils down to DSS administers this school-based child health program. >> Okay. >> And it really has its own set of rules, right? And and to be clear, they are they are challenging to decode and and follow, >> right? So >> if it was a doctor's office or a medical, they would feel differently. So I can see where that folk person was confused. >> Yeah, >> I know we didn't get a public apology. Did you get a thank you? >> Uh I did hear from him. Yes. Um and he did thank me for the for the um the table that we provided. >> Right. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> But I have
037directed Bill not to spend any more time on this. Absolutely. >> Because along with the thank you like 15 or 20 different questions that he wanted to answer the time. >> Thanks, Bill. >> Yes, Bill. >> Anyway, moving on. Food services update. De um I want to introduce Deb Ma if you haven't already met her. Deb is our new food service director replacing Lisa Durand after her retirement. We are very fortunate to have her in the district, but she's got a couple of topics she needs to bring up. Um, one about the free watch the cord free um breakfast and lunch program that we qualify for but we may not be able to afford. Um, and then uh we do need to raise our meal prices. >> Yeah. >> Did we ever get a settlement?
038Sorry. Did we ever get a settlement for last year where we stood? I didn't see the end of year data come through. >> So Deb >> has reduced the um so we ended the year around $6,000 in the poll. Um and Deb actually whittleled that down to a little over 3,000. >> I'm looking at about 34 today. >> I sent letters out again today >> um electronically and um the ones that undeliverable um by mail and next week I'm hoping to send them all out certified. So, we have until the start of the school year. So, I'm just going to keep pursuing and making phone calls and sending emails and trying to get more money. >> Okay. >> Can we get the I'm sorry. Can we get that end ofear data? >> Sure. >> Gathered
039and then so that we can capture this is important to capture especially because we're in the middle of this budget season. >> That was going to be 6,000ish dollars that was going to be on the taxpayer that we have worked to recoup >> 50 50% of it. >> Yep. down to $3,000. That goes to show that we're still doing every every nickel and dime we're trying to recover here in the district. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Sorry, I didn't mean it earlier. >> No, no, no. >> Yes. >> If we were a wealthier district, we could just >> write off right off the and and you know, kids should have a free lunch if if they need it. And you know if but and even if they don't if if it if wasn't paid if
040it was $6,000 we could afford it we would be nice to just be able to write it off without having to worry about every nickel and dime. >> So but thank you for the effort. >> It's hard because I believe there are families that would um qualify for the free and reduce but getting them to fill out the application is another >> you know just one of them called that an infill had lost their job. I you know said I'll send you and they said oh I already have it just don't have time to fill it out. >> It's just like the repercussions of not filling out the form >> making you qualify. >> So um maybe just going forward you know especially as they get into high school because the free reduced >> um
041can give them a lot more other advantages from reduced athletic fees to SAT testings you know wavering some of those. So maybe just you know communicating those type of things. uh my hopes were going forward and then you know really staying on top of it with um emails up every week um and then phone calls at $15. Um and then I was reading through the Connecticut um state uh guidelines and their recommendation is that when a student is um negative 30 meals that your um homeless liaison gets involved. So that could um help maybe with some reduced applications. And >> are you working with Teague on any of this currently? >> No, no, >> no. As far as what? >> Just a lot of that goes through a lot of the forms and letters and
042whatnot had gone through Teague in the past, right? The >> Oh, no. Not free and reduced. No, I think you're thinking preschool tuition that goes through Teague. Um but not free and reduced. um they help us out when we have situations where there's food insecurity in the home. We will contact them to help the family out and they're right there for us. Um but um I I think reaching out to Ashlin and having her, you know, you're going to have a list probably, you know, in August and and sending that out to Ashlin to see if she can connect with those families is a good thing. >> Yeah. Plus providing information about Teague. Um, are there other resources for them? You know, just looking into I mean, there's going to be a lot of SNAP
043reductions this year, too, which is going to probably increase the amount of money owed. >> So, just uh I did um a quick um well, so anyway, so regarding the um the numbers. So there's a price equity um formula that we must complete for the state when we're determining how much we're charging and we need to become um part of the re the required average price which would be $3.36. So I've projected to increase the elementary school by 10 cents and the high school by 20 and we would be at that 336. The difference for the higher for the high school and the middle school is because we're serving more food to them. You know, for example, a pasta for an elementary is going to be 6 ounces. The high school's going to be 8
044o. They're hungrier. They're going to take more fresh fruits and vegetables. So, I didn't do it even across the board. And they weren't the same price to begin with, in case anybody was wondering. >> Yeah. So, for just a summary of this past year, um we served 72,380 lunches. And of that, 60% of those meals that we served were free and reduced students. >> And then we served 52,270 breakfast and 54 of those meals that were served are free and reduced. You don't have kids. So, regarding the C, we do qualify for C, which we could do free breakfast and lunch. The issue is that um we're only going to receive 44 cents for every meal for a paid student. I can't feed a student on 44 cents. >> We would just We don't have
045the funds. We would just >> belly up. We would >> Yeah. >> So, you're telling me earlier that our rate has to get our reduced rate has to get >> speaking with our Yeah. It's it it you know we're best to be in the low 60s but to you know try to run at it we would have to be in about the 50 percentile for free and reduce. So the more applications we can get completed the better off we would be. So in case you're just wondering I did um say so for a free meal we get $443. For a reduced meal, we get $4.3 and for a paid meal, we currently get 42, which is basically like the new program. So, that's basically all you're getting. >> So, in the past, what was what's
046the procedure to getting the applications out? Is it just in the beginning of the school year packet? my understanding it's part of the the handbook which is why I'm here tonight so that we can get the paperwork going to create the changes in the handbook for >> so so initially um the application will go out with uh via via US mail >> uh with my uh newsletter um and that'll come out the beginning of August everybody gets a physical copy at home it's accessible on the website so all the school websites um and they can fill it in right online and submit it so that it's confidential. Um and um then the food service director starts to make I mean we've got direct directs from the state. So there is a portion of those families
047that don't even have to fill them out because they are already directly certified. Um but then the next layer is that teachers usually or principles usually ask uh food service director to make that outreach again. Um, and we send it out two or three times a year. Um, and then when parents call me or we start to ask them to pay their huge lunch balances, I will tell them, I can wave this for you if you would just fill out the form. So, it's really making those personal connections, but there's a lot of time and effort. During the COVID years, it was great. We didn't Everybody was free. Um, and we didn't have to spend a whole lot of time on that. We're back to spending a lot of time on um collections. >> Yes.
048Christian, >> does it affect so like I had somebody ask if they are like a higher income family in comparison to the district and wouldn't qualify. They don't fill it out because they don't want to hurt. Is that true or does it not matter what you're making? >> Yeah, it doesn't. I mean, it doesn't hurt us by having them complete an applicate and not get approved, >> right? I think they're thinking that that makes it the percentage, >> you know, I mean, total less. So, they don't do it because they don't want the other kids to not get >> So, that's not the case. >> That's not the case. >> So, my question is partly from my knowledge, but mostly not. So if you fill out this form and you get the free or reduced
049lunch, the person the child going through the lunch line, >> nobody else knows. >> No. >> Exactly. So it's >> and it's always my rule of thumb. One, it doesn't appear on the the screen anyway, so they can't see it. If a student was to ask me, do I have money in my account? It's always, oh, don't worry, honey. Your mother and father paid for the whole year. We we don't share that information and we don't share it with teachers unless you know there are certain people that do need that information but they do have to sign off that they're not going to share. It's a formality to Yes. >> So that that was my that was my question to you to make it public to that. So your kid going through the line nobody
050else knows nobody else knows. Please fill out the horn. >> Nobody else knows. >> They're just not allowed to buy alakot items. They can buy a meal, but they can't buy a cottage. >> Yeah. Unless they have cash in hand. So, yes. >> Yes. And I just, you know, because I've only been here a month, so going through the different softwares that you use versus the past and there is a report that I can run too that I can identify students that are free and reduced that aren't using it. So hopefully we could feed more students even though they're already and maybe they're not aware of it or they're afraid to go through the line. So, I'm going to reach out to those parents, you know, at the beginning of the school year saying, you
051know, Jimmy's free and reduced, but he's not coming through for breakfast or lunch. Is, you know, is there an issue? And kind of, you know, go at it as a one student at a time type of thing and maybe we can. The goal is to feed the kids. So, >> yeah. >> So, please please fill out the forms. >> Yes. >> There's a lot of kids that bring home lunch, too, and their parents don't fill them out because they don't eat, so they don't see the how this could be necessary. Yes. >> I just >> Yeah, I was going to bring this up next month, but this seems like a perfect time to bring it up. >> At the beginning of the year, the amount of forms that come home for each student in the
052district is astronomical, >> right? There's the medical form, there's the this form, there's the that form, there's this contact form. We've got Tyler >> or had Tyler Power School, whatever it is, right? All that data has been captured year after year after year. Is there a way and this goes for free and reduced lunch to either prefill the forms with the studentu at least the students name at what what we have on record for that same thing goes and I don't know if it's the law or the rule or whatever but same thing goes for medical forms we fill out the same medical form every single year this emergency contact information that emergency contact information and it's can we send just send it home verify it and send it back versus sending a blank form
053home to go Oh god, what's Kathy's phone number again? You know, it's just it's one of those things where I think if we can make it I hate to say this because it frustrates me at work. If we can make it easier for the person to send it back, it's probably going to come back faster or at all than if we don't. >> We can we can look at it. I'm just thinking, man, I was especially looking forward on some of the potential reductions. That means secretarial stuff. Then who's going to do it? Um, that's a worry to me >> and I completely understand if it's something where like we can it and I would look to Heather, but Heather's not here, but is it something that can pop out of P school where hey,
054here's a two-page thing for your data. >> Let me find out what's going home. >> Yep. >> And let me see if it's redundant. I think that's where where to start. And if I can reduce that, that might help. That little >> It's the same, but it's Yeah. So, and this is also going to our medical system, but just kind of piggybacking on that, like we have computers. This this information should be following us through from elementary to middle to high school or from year to year. It's it's all there. Let's just Yeah, it's the same. I haven't move I haven't moved in 23 years. I >> the problem I know on the the medical forms, the emergency contact, um often um those those do have to be updated because god forbid we have an
055issue. Um great and the contact information isn't accurate. >> And it also just if you have multiple children in the district, you have to fill one out for every child even though it's the same data. >> So it'd be nice if we could use these computers to our advantage. And I'm not, you know, it's it's it's it's obviously we can't >> Yeah. Yeah. >> It has to be updated every year. >> Yeah. Which is, and I'm not I'm not disagreeing that it has to be updated, but sending a >> blank versus a pre-filled copy that says verify this information and sign it. >> And that's not to put all the work on the admin's shoulders, but more work on the computer that has the information >> the information. >> So, I don't know. Obviously, >>
056as a dumb old geologist, I don't know. I I'm not asking. >> I don't know the answer to that, but I will talk to Heather and see if there's something that can prepopulate some of these documents. And I also don't know a classroom teachers asking for another sheet of paper that's already powered up. >> So, um I'll look into what's going at the beginning of school. I send my stuff via the mail because I want that free and reduced lunch application back. But and usually >> they do need to be updated, you know, carries them through the end of October. But if a new uh application is not completed, then they go back to a paid student as of 11th, >> right? >> But that date is digitized somewhere at some point. Correct. >> You
057can they can fill it out digitally. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> That's what I did last year because I more carrots. Yes. >> Fill it out on the hard copy. >> Interesting. >> Thank you for hitting the ground running though. >> I appreciate it. >> I have one more question. So if you if I have five kids in the district, I only need to fill it out one because it's a household >> one for household. >> Is there a like a student population that's less apt to bring in their applications? Say maybe like high school students. Like >> it's being sent in by the parent or by the parent. The student's not going to know the annual income. >> Yeah. No. Like are they is it getting ma it's getting mailed to the house right? Yes.
058They're not bringing it. >> It's being mailed mailed to the house emailed to the house to >> the parents and it comes with a letter and guardian of not to the student not >> and explaining all of >> not to the student. >> I don't I'll admit I was one of those parents who didn't send it in. Um question. >> Thank you very much. >> Oh yeah, we have to approve the >> Yes, you do have to approve the um price increase. I don't know if we put it under old or new business possible action. So >> So okay, new business. >> We need a motion. I'll make a motion to move >> to approve the price increase for the lunches. We'll put that under >> business. >> Second. >> Okay. >> All in favor?
059>> I. Okay. So, the next thing under my report um is part of actually um the negotiations with the secretary union. uh we have a position um who is the secretary to uh Dr. Jones uh people's service director and over the years that particular position has evolved out of just being a regular secretary's job and so um there isn't anyone in the current union that could bid into that position. Um and it's problematic because there is specific skills and training that that job um now is requiring and it has changed in the eight years that I've been here and that particular person has to do more and more writing uh you know figuring out reports uh doing training for for teachers um and keeping on top of CT saids data Medicaid reimbursement data. April's the
060one who sends it off to. And so the job has evolved and um there is a confidentiality piece to that particular position, right? And so the concern is that it's evolved over time and it is no longer a secretary position and we can no longer allow for just a bidding system into that job. Um and so really this is taking the position out of the union um and making that position an executive assistant to the people service director um similar to the position that Danielle holds for me. Um, and so before we can move forward to take this position out of the union, I have to negotiate with the employee, have her accept it, and then the union didn't say that they would fight us on uh taking it out of the union, which is
061a a rarity. Um, so um, you know, I'm I just wanted to bring it to your attention. I don't know if it needs your approval, but I thought before I we move forward, I wanted the board to be informed that that's not going to be a secretarial position anymore. It's going to be an executive assistant position. The same person is going to hold the job. I have to sit with her and negotiate her contract. Um, she will be an atill employee, similar to how Danielle is paid and some of our non-certified people. Um, but I needed to bring it to your attention and I don't know, Kathleen, if it needs approval or not, but I wanted you to know it's not going to be um a secretary's position. >> You're creating a new position. So,
062it does have to come through the board and which is fine because I agree totally that it >> should be a separate position. >> Okay. So, may I have a motion? My only comment on that would be similar to the way that Danielle's role is going to change with the changes to the budget. >> We need a motion on the floor before we can >> I'll make the motion to for the executive assistant to the people services director position to be moved out of the union. >> I'll second that. >> I need a sec. Bill second bill. Okay. Now we can discuss it. Okay. Um, I would just I think we need updated job descriptions. >> Correct. >> Right. That identify how it's different just like Danielle is going to need an updated job description
063because taking on the HR pieces. Right. All of that. We need to make sure that that's captured as part of whatever this is. >> I had sent and I don't know if you gave that to the board members. I have a copy of it, but I asked um April to jot down the duties that she does that is different and it's like two pages of different duties now. So we need to add that you're right to an updated job description. So we will do that and we will do Danielle's >> I don't like job description is one it has to have what certifications are I think it has to have what certifications are required what what that person's expected to do from a training like you said they they train teachers what they're expected to
064do from a training perspective so that you know if the person decides that whatever you negotiate for their salary is not enough and they want to go someplace else that we have something to hand to a candidate for the next person >> we're living that right now with um accounts payable So yes sadly. >> Y >> so I think as long as the job descriptions are captured and like I said similar to other jobs that are changing because of consolidation of roles. >> Yep. We'll update them and send them out to you. Take a look at them. I >> think that includes you, right? >> Y is going to need an update as well. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Any other discussion on this matter? So, pending a job description. Um, we want still want
065to move forward with the the bulletin. I don't the superintendent will have the job description and the superintendent can approve it, but we need to move forward on this now, right? >> Because that certain person is representing the secretaries in negotiations and now she'll have to step back because she'll no longer be a secretary. >> She's recusing her. >> So, >> they'll have to find another person. So, we really have to move with this and >> Okay. >> I I suggest we do it right now. >> Okay. All right then. Then I will there any other discussion on this matter? No. Okay. Right. Um, so then I'll put the motion to the floor to approve the creation of an executive assistant to the pupil services director. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any
066opposition? Any abstensions? That >> the motion is approved. 8 to zero. Okay, we have any old business? None. Then we'll move forward with new business. May I have a motion to approve the increase in the price of of um lunches? Motion to increase the price of lunches as per the uh food services letter that was submitted to us July 14th, 2025 identifying that grades prek through 4 was $3 moving to 310. Grades 5 through 12 was $3.25 moving to $345. >> I will second that. Okay, a motion and a second. Any discussion? Hearing none, I'll move that motion to increase the um the lunch price as per the recommendation of the um food services director. Um to the floor for a vote. All in favor say I. >> Any opposition say nay. Any abstensions? Motion
067passes. Any citizens comments? >> Oh, good. George. George. >> Yes, George. >> Okay. >> O'Neal. >> Okay. Um, thank you. Good evening, members of the board. I want to thank you all for your work you're doing under the really difficult circumstances. I'm speaking tonight and respectfully ask the board to take a careful and honest look at what non-essential programs might be reduced or eliminated from the fiscal 2025 school budget while still meeting all state education requirements and fully funding special education services. I know these are not easy choices, but our student population has declined by about 20% over the past decade, and in the school budget, it now make takes 70% of the town's spending. Voters have also rejected three budget proposals this year. I think that reflects a real concerns about what our community
068can afford right now. I'm asking if the board could help the public understand what options exist for scaling back in areas like advanced programs, extra electives, athletics, extracurriculars, non-essential transportation, or staffing not tied to mandated services. I'm not suggesting these programs aren't valuable, but I do think we need to show taxpayers that we're willing to make tough, thoughtful choices given the town's financial situation. I also note in during your earlier discussion that you've enumerated all the reasons why these are necessary, the demographics, the reduced population, increased costs, etc. And just like any other operation, when their costs go up, you have to cut back somewhere. So, I want to thank you very much for listening and for your commitment to our schools and students because I don't envy your position. Thank you. >> Thank you,
069Mr. Okay. Any others? Greg, >> I'm good. >> Okay. >> No other citizens comments and we'll call for a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion to. Okay. >> I'll second that. Right. >> Thank you all for being here tonight. Um