Weathersfield School Board Meeting - June 9, 2026

001Hello everyone. I'd like to call this um Weathersfield School Board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Start 6:31. Sorry, can see the clock. We pledge of allegiance by Miss Kendall. To the flag of the United States, one nation and justice. Are there any changes or additions to the agenda? would like to add something to the agenda. Um, and something that was that we've talked about before, but bringing it up again, and it would be um merger discussions uh with Woodstock. >> Okay. >> Executive session at the end. Yes, we are going to have an executive session one BSA 313 A four. >> Yes. >> All right. Anything else? >> All right. We'll have approval of the May 12th minutes. Approve. Don move to approve. >> Second. >> Okay. All those in favor? >> I I >> It's

002okay. All right. >> Is there Is there any public participation? >> No. All right. Next up is our administrative report. Brian, you're going first. >> Yeah. go first and then >> Okay, she said >> the video said it was paused. >> No, it's back now. It's back. Okay. Am I I >> was You want >> Yeah, I'll go first. All right. So, Ken and I'll go first. We're gonna talk a little bit since this is Ken. Kendall's last board meeting until she moves on to Windsor next year. So, we're excited for us for her accomplishments and we want to put our board report together. Okay. So, we had a pretty lengthy list of items that happened since the last board meeting. Um, just a few things. We've been a little busy here at Weatherfield School.

003So, first off, we had K3 in per informances. So, it's a small concert that they do here in the music room to make it a little bit more point for our kindergarten through third grade students. And then we had a new program this year that we got for our fourth and fifth graders through King Arthur Bakery called Bake for Good. And so our fourth and fifth graders got the opportunity to learn how to bake loaves of bread. And then it became then they got a little kit where they got to take they had flour and like a scraper and a bag and a recipe book and they got to take those home and then they had bags and so the hope was that they were going to bake a bake a local bread with their

004family or bake two and then keep one for themselves and then share one with somebody in the community. So they got to do that all through King Arthur. And then we also had um Panther Cup night on 519 which is an opportunity for our incoming kindergarteners to come in and see the classrooms and do a little bit of playbased education and get to meet the teachers and some of the other staff members. So I know a couple of our board members were there that night. We got to participate with their incoming kindergarteners. And then we had our Weathersfield concert um with choir and with our four through eight bands which is pretty awesome. And so they got to play some ensembles together. Um both the choir and the band they got to sing and play

005together plus play on their own which is really nice to incorporate that huge band and choir that we established. And then we had leadership day. Oh we talk about this one first. I forgot. I skip over that one. >> Which one? >> Eighth grade. Okay. Sorry. >> We had dinner like a fancy dinner. And then >> were you dress fancy? Okay. >> We had a fancy dinner and it was like a book of food that you could get um eighth grade dance. >> And was anybody invited or was it just eighth grade? which is great. >> So, it was an opportunity for you as a class to bond a little bit more together before you all go your separate ways in high school. And that was on May 15th, and it was a pretty great

006event. Um, it's always interesting how the kids arrive in different lots of the kids arrive in fancy cars. We kids arrive this year in limos, some older cars, some fancy cars. Um, so it's always a lot of fun. And our kids definitely get dressed nice. >> Some kids were cheetah prints. >> Yes. So, it was quite the uh >> Yes, it it was it was pretty cool. Um just the variety of outfits that the kids wore and um I think it was a great time for all the kids and for eighth graders to be able to spend that last opportunity together. One of the last year like we all made who lives for people to guess each gra like things you like to do, activities you like to do, sports, stuff like that. People, they

007were advanced that parents could go look at. >> And then is the decorator really nice on there too? >> Pretty fancy. And we actually get a DJ, a high, we always have a DJ, but we get a hired DJ. It's usually DJ CJ. Um, and then one time it was DJ me. Um, and that didn't work out so well. So, I was glad >> he kept walking away from the speaker so his phone would disconnect. >> I did it once. Okay. >> Okay. >> He kept walking away to the door. I'm like, I can't kill. >> It was It was like I said before, it's very stressful to be a DJ. >> But you got to make sure people are dancing though. They're not dancing. You got to change up the music a little bit

008so they do dance. And then I didn't know you guys would have liked limbo that much. I had to play like 27 times. Um then we had leadership day on the 22nd. Um and I know lots of you were there for leadership day. Pretty awesome day. Um really student driven which was nice. Um the kids did a fantastic job and we were able to celebrate them throughout the day. um in our arts um room and in here in the music room instead of the jungle art room was set up as a um aquarium. >> It was really cool. It was like glow in the dark stuff. It was all neon and different things and like jellyfish too. >> It was awesome. And the kids got shared. They ran the whole thing which was nice. And

009then we did have when we came back from Memorial Day weekend, we did have a Memorial Day assembly because we thought it was important to differentiate between our leadership day and our Memorial Day because we're celebrating and then we're remembering. And so that worked out really nicely and that was all student again having them run the entire assembly and be able to do that. And then we had baby shark tank that was the So we had a new um elective this year for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade where kids could sign up and they had to come up with an invention that they had to create a business plan and how they were going to do it, what the cost was going to be. And then the PTO was generous enough to donate some startup

010costs if the students were choosing to get to do their um invention or their creation. And so we had a first place, second place, and a third place winner. Vince was one of our judges being a business owner. Um, and then we also had >> Yeah. And we also >> Travis Conole from Legacy Plumbing that was here to judge too. Um, and it was really nice the way that the the kids came up with some their presentation was great. They were able to come up to a plan and the winning um one of the winning projects was a water bottle pillow which serves a couple purposes. The kids could actually use it as a pillow if they need to take a little bit of a nap. But the idea was to go on the bottom

011of a metal water bottle so that when they fall to the ground because they never fall to the ground in class. >> Never. He's being sarcastic there. >> They don't they don't back the chair. >> So it made it so that they wouldn't fall and make that loud sound. So it help them. >> Um and then of course the band went to Six Flags um to do music in the park. It was called Trills and Thrills and that was on March 29th. And then you want to talk about the Domino Challenge. >> We collected >> 184. >> We collected 184 cereal boxes that we're going to donate to charity, but we took like all the diamond boxes and lined them up in the hallway and knock and had a kid knock it over. >> So

012yeah, we donated them to the Weatherfield Food Pantry. So 184 boxes there. We shut the wall in the car and I was in the news earlier last week which was pretty awesome. And then Kendall and I both missed it because we were on this eighth grade trip, but we had all of our graduating seniors walk through the school last Friday and for all of our students to be able to graduate. They made posters and got to see what they the students look like in their caps and gowns. And then you want to talk a little bit about our trip. >> Yeah, we went to exit 8 for breakfast. I mean, there was like a breakfast cafe and we went to Oh, we went on Ethan on Ethan Allen boat. Um, it's like a tour of

013like the lake and different stuff that's on the lake. >> Ch. picture. It was And what else did we do there? >> We went to a champion park. We all played it pretty awesome opportunities for kids to be together. It was great. I mean, I was >> there's like nobody else there other than us, too. >> It was nice. We had fun. And then we came back and did our thing. And then what did you do last night? >> Graduation. We had our eighth grade graduation last night which was really fun. Um, it's always great to be able to hear the the speakers, the student speaker group partner involved did a great job. Really good. Sarah spoke, she spoke. So, it was nice to havebody there. And to celebrate our students, 26 eighth graders are

014going on to high school miss. So, it was sad and bittersweet, but it's great for them and going to different high schools. And then um today kindergarten and first grade, the K1 class and kindergarten class had bubble day was pretty fantastic. I missed it because I was at a meeting, but that's okay. And then we did a really fun thing. Um actually it wasn't fun, but it was for safety. We did what we call a relocation drill. So we had our police chief here, we had our fire department here as well. Um, we did a scenario with the kids that we were having that we needed to evacuate the building and first we walked out to our normal area where we do for a fire for safety and then decided that we needed to move

015them farther away. So, we moved them all the way back to um the back stop area, the edge of our property and then we decided that we needed to relocate and we needed to get on their buses and go to an alternate place to make sure that the kids were safe. Um and so we all loaded up on four buses, found the buses, drove right through the um bear campground area at that area, used that as a safety point to be able to check off, make sure that every student was accounted for. then got back on the bus and then came back to school and released them back into the classrooms and then the staff um spoke to the students about what happened, why we did it, clear that thing, everything, the whole scenario, everything

016for the relocation drill and that was in the newsletter last week so parents can see that this was happening sometime this week. Kids knew that was happening this week, just didn't know the exact date and time. And then we have a field day tomorrow and our eighth graders get to come back. Um once they graduate they get the choice to come back or not but we um but we strategically planned it where our eighth graders do come back because we do field day after graduation and they run field day. So it makes it nice. They help out at all the different stations and gives them that leadership opportunity. >> Year seven. >> Yeah. You probably beat me maybe. And then we do have one last one um student that we want to recognize, one of

017our alumni who graduated from here four years ago and now is graduating from Woodstock High School. Um Daxon Redmond. Um he want was the recipient of the Mario Bakqua scholarship. So he will for that and then we will get money after his second semester in college to be able to honor um Mario and for him to further also further his occupation. That's true. That was my speech. And then I one thing for you to say, two things for you. So, so this has become sort of a tradition here. First off, here's still a little piece of Weatherfield. So, you you know, when you're riding the car, there are earbuds. You can tune people out or listen to your music. And then here is a Windsor sweatshirt since that's where you're going to be attending high

018school next year. Yay. Okay. She's been a great addition to our board and we will miss her. And we are actually looking at we're trying to be ahead of the game and we've had multiple applicants for next year's board position and for the leadership roles in the morning. So, we're going to be interviewing those students this week. >> Wow. Nice. >> Prior to the school year starting. All right. Now, >> don't talk about data. >> All right. We have finished our spring assessments. So, we're going to um share the results with you. Uh first thing we want to share is our dibbles results. We give dibbles in kindergarten through third grade. It stands for dynamic indicators of basic early literacy skills. So we're looking at the different pieces that help children read. >> And there'll

019be a quiz on that. >> So in the middle of the year we had uh 58 of our students proficient according to the doubles and at the end of the year we increased that to 62. So we're pretty excited about that. um and hoping to to get to see that grow next year. So, STAR reading is um a computer-based test that third through 8th grade takes and it it measures reading skills and comprehension skills. So, we're going to kind of break into two grade bands. Our 3 through five is our first grade band. In the middle of the year, they were at 54% and they increased to 60 by the end of the year, which is pretty substantial. And our six through eight, they were at 75% which is huge in the winter and they

020dropped down to 71%. We did give the STAR test after the state tests. So there is a little bit of that um in springtime when you're you're a middle schooler and you're done taking tests, you don't always do the best. So we're hoping that next year we can get them to focus a little more and see those scores keep going up. And then our math. This year was a little different for Star Math. Last year we did not give the Star Math assessment to our kindergarteners. This year we did. So um our K5 band we had 53% proficient in the winter and that increased 55%. And our 68 went from 55% up to 59%. So then in looking at some of the demographics with our star data, we um this year we've compared the data

021um the students who qualify for free reduced lunch to students who don't qualify. And so for our star reading data, the students who qualify for free reduced lunch um went from 61% up to 64%. And the students who did not qualify for for free reduced lunch did right about the same. But it's nice to see that increase with that one subset. And with math, the students who would qualify for free and reduced lunch increased by 2% from 40% to 42% and the students who did not qualify still increased from 61% to 64%. So we also look at students who are um this is for grades three through eight for star reading. We had 39% proficient in the winter and that dropped to 28%. That's something we're going to keep our eyes on. Um, a lot

022of times in the spring we find students eligible for an IEP. So, it's a different number of students from the winter to the spring. Uh, so that could play into it. Um, but we'll keep our eyes on that. In the students on the increase from 26% for 28. So then the other piece that we wanted to give you, this is new um for this report, the longitudinal data. This is showing students who were in third grade last year and how they're doing this year. So this is end of the year from third grade to end of the year fourth grade. So if you look at the chart, our our current fourth graders stay about the same from last year to this year. Current fifth graders stayed about the same. Um our sixth graders made a

023huge jump. So when they were at fifth grade at the end of the year they were 70% proficient. This year they were 80% proficient. A lot of that is maturity. Um they have two ELA teachers in middle school which helps their reading in all content areas. So um that's just an interesting interesting little piece of data. Our seventh graders stayed about the same and our eighth graders once again a little little but they're they're tested out and they're ready to graduate and go on to high school. And then in math, last year's first graders, um, our current second grade class, there was a huge dip. We are keeping our eyes on that. I was just talking to Mrs. Hughes about that, who's a rapid interventionist. Um, and that's definitely something we're going to watch to

024see what happens next year. Our current third graders increased quite a bit from the end of last year. Our fourth graders increased. Um, our current fifth graders stayed about the same. The sixth grade increased as well. Seven stayed about the same and our eighth graders dipped just a little bit. Do you have any questions about the data? Before I hand it off to B, do we know why there was like looking at that last slide in math or the ones above it when they drop? Do we know why? >> So from the first to the second grade is that we were talking about it. Um we do know that we've had some students who transferred out at the end of last year. We had we had it's a different configuration of students this year. Um

025we're not quite sure why. We're just we're it's something that we are definitely going to track because that is a significant drop. So that's that's a group that we're going to be keeping our eyes on in the fall and hopefully we're going to see a lot of growth. And then I I could be wrong here honestly because I thought at one point we looked at goals surrounding what we wanted to hit for the year. How did what we wanted to hit stack up against where we're at? So most of the grades met the wig um for both reading and math. There were some some grades that did not. All of the grades did make progress from the beginning of the year which is which is really really good. So it's next year for after they

026do the testing. Are you going to switch the do this test before the state test or you just going to have no control over when the state decides we're going to take the test? And so probably not probably this this is going to be we're going to be taking the star assessment again next year. >> And then sorry guys, last question. Um, is it normal to see a jump in reading from that fifth to six because they're doing so much more? Is that a normal trend or is this kind of the first you've seen it? >> No, no, we definitely do see that um quite a bit. I think there's a lot of developmental readiness that happens between fifth and sixth grade. They're switching classes. Um, they're more mature. They do have, you know, their

027reading in social studies and in science and the two ELA classes. So, I think it it does impact their their scores for sure. and third grade starts more reading to learn instead of learning to read as great. We are however um next year our third grade teachers are going to be getting a skills component which is a a phonics based component to CTLA which we have never had before and we're kind of excited about that. We have that for P2 and Amplify has now come out with the third grade skills. So we're really hoping that that's going to help our scores as well. And in mid we're also um we have this wonderful resource that Bridget was able to get for us called number quarter and that's going to be in the classrooms for the

028teachers to use to help spiral review. So right now with the Eureka um you know they teach a unit and then they move to the next unit and there's not a whole lot of backwards looking at. So with number corner we're going to be able to review throughout the year. So even if you learned fractions in February, you might be reviewing that in March and April before you take the the >> I have just quick question. So will that be part of all the teachers like daily use or will the teachers pick and choose if they're using it or not? >> So with number quarters, what we are what we are being asked to do is to play with it. Um, in October, we're going to have a a meeting with the K staff to

029decide what parts of it we would like to continue to use in the classroom this year, this next year. It may just be one or two pieces. There may be teachers that go all in and want to embrace the full thing. We don't want to overwhelm teachers, but we do want to review piece. I was thinking with with the second graders that will be third graders that could be huge for them because it will be reviewing going back and reviewing >> yes >> all that they've learned in second grade but it seems like they also struggled with so it would be to me in my non-educator opinion would be really useful for that. Now with the reading uh explain the other thing again sorry um >> of the skills. >> Yes. So right now our

030kindergarten through second grade they have what we call the knowledge units but then they also have skills which is phonics based. Um the company that has produced the ka has decided that they wanted to try third grade skills as well. So we are going to be piloting that next year with our third grade teachers >> but it's just a pilot like it's not complete implementation. >> It is we have digital access. >> Okay good. >> Yeah I was just that's why I was like are we cherrypicking it or are we actually putting it into it? Okay. >> And honestly, our third grade teachers have been using third grade foundations. Um, so they are doing phonics with their kids that this will be a seamless transition with what the kids know and have done and moved.

031>> I'm happy to see that we're piecing together with our for our new, you know, the new curriculum. It did have holes. So, it's nice to hear that >> Bridget is helping that. That's great. >> Wonderful. >> Good. >> One quick question. When are the goals established for next year? >> Generally, what we do is we take the spring data y and we look at that and then we decide what we want to grow into next year. >> So about that. >> When will you when will you let us know what the goals are? September. Okay. >> We do we have data for long term longer term uh trending. Um I think that would be really useful to see. >> Yeah. because we're still seeing the group that went through co now u let's say

032they were in second grade now they're in fourth six now sixth grade and it would be really useful to see whether or not that group is still showing the effects of co and it would be nice to know what our trending uh happens to be anyway >> we can certainly look into that for next year >> thank you All right. So, I'll review our spring attendance and behavior data. All right. So, average daily attendance is 95%. So, we have 5% typically that were absent. Um, parties is still always a issue um because we have lots of students that are are late still every day. Um, we have 48 unexpedies, 221 excused parties, and so that was for that spring semester. Um, still too many working on getting kids here and and remember unexpect. But that

03395% of positive attendance in elementary school is something to cheer about. And then on the next slide, >> is that 8 a.m.? It's like anything after 8 am. >> 8 a.m. Yeah. Anything after 8 am. >> Better late than never. Mr. Nurt is don't want them to miss out. >> I know. I'm just picking 95%'s pretty good for attendance. So >> 95% and then looking at middle school as well, 95% is pretty phenomenal at middle school because lots of our students once they get to middle school start to get disengaged a little bit. um they don't have that excitement as much usually, but our kids want to be here and 95% of them to middle school. It's pretty phenomenal. And then our tardy um ratio here is much better. Still have unexcused parties, but most

034of those kids are also being proactive at home, making sure mom and dad or however they get that or to get a bus or whatever timeies with that grade level is quite a bit relaxing. All right. So the next one is our average logs per session day per day. So middle school and elementary school. So for the last couple months we've averaged between roughly since March 2.5 to three and a half for elementary and 2.18 to three. Those are the average logs of behaviors that get logged into our data management program, the power school on a daily basis for grades three through five, four, six through eight. And then you break it down to time of day. Um, and you look at that one right there in the middle for the up for elementary 169

035is the high one at 11:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. is luxury hungry. >> So that always is a larger amount where you look at middle school and it's a little bit more leveled out still that their lunch time is 12:00 p.m. to or 12:05 to 12:45. So, it's still a little high there, but that's their highest one. But still, it's not as extreme as the elementary school. Then if you look at locations, so elementary 323 classroom, and these are logs for almost any type of behavior. And it it is basically just we want teachers to log everything in there so that we can track the behaviors for the data. So 323 for elementary school and then the next largest one playground. So because the playground is where they spend most of their day

036>> and then classroom for middle school 269 and then playground there smaller hallway middle school hallway becomes sort of an issue. >> Who would love? >> There's a lot of kids going back and forth in the hallway. There's things that happen in the hallway. we we work on those. >> So, we've got a little inside information there. >> And then if you go down into type of incidents as well, um there go. >> Yeah. >> So, disruption and disrespect are the two highest ones. We don't have a lot of physical aggression, physical violence, physical contact. And then no subtype is the largest one. That means there wasn't a specific thing that they wanted in there. Destruction defiance are usually the two big ones like they are, but I know sometimes it's not >> questions on

037behaviors. The teachers have been doing a great job about logging them so that we can track the data and see where we need some extra support at. And it helps us when we are doing like duty schedules as well. If we have a particular area, you know, it's nicer with the six swings now instead of the four swings because we have less um swing arguments because there's more there. But we look at those different target areas to see if there's anything specific to do. we need to add more support in a certain area at recess lunch or you know help out in certain classrooms or such >> one for cell phone it's pretty >> yeah our knock on wood on that and our policy for next year has gotten even more stringent >> but we

038do not typically have the issue with cell phones here the knock on wood um just because our students very respectful about that they know the the expectations we have we talk to them quite a bit about that. Make sure they're aware they have access if they need to use a phone and our kids at school follow directions. >> Thank you Brian for getting the charts available before the meeting >> and even a few more days before the meeting that I would find helpful like the middle of the week. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Anybody have any questions for him? Thank you. >> Yeah, I was going to say Christine, do you have >> a little bit >> a report for us? >> Hopefully you can share some Vermont month feel. >> Share a little bit.

039All right. Um, so, um, adding on to the data conversation, we as an administrative team, um, do what we call walkthrough. So, we're walking through classrooms. We annually create a Google form with areas that we're looking to see teachers And then those forms get sent right to the teacher so they have feedback in the model which is which is like it. Um so what we've noticed across the SU is that there's inconsistency in the implementation of the curriculum and what we're hearing from from um Melia around curriculum and the work that uh the secretary and her team did on their listen and learn tour was regarding curriculum. Um and they they just recently produced a report. Um it was in relation to act 173 and I'm just going to read it because it says it

040all. Um the AOE places a strong emphasis on improving tier one instruction. That's that baseline instruction that every student should get at grade level instruction uh which can reduce the degree of necessary additional tiered intervention and expectedly a reduction in eventual identification for special education services. Tier one, a quality tier one instruction requires careful selection and implementation of high quality standards aligned curriculum and instructional materials, programs, and practices. So, we are ahead of the game because we have a coordinated curriculum across the SU and our teachers are using it. They've gotten over that kind of first couple year um hump. It's hard to learn a new curriculum. It's a lot of work. Um but they're there. They spent this um this past year in grade level teams mapping the unit. So um they uh looked

041at the parts of the curriculum that they didn't feel you never get through it all to be quite honest with you. So they picked the the units that were the most important they felt um and and spiral. Um they've aligned their assessments parts of the assessments that we're using and uploading to power school so parents can see how student and students can see how they're doing. So that work happened this year. Um, and as a as an administrative team, we've really from our walkthroughs and our conversations with staff and teachers and and our results, we we know we feel like we have to really clarify the expectations around curriculum implementation. I was happy to hear you say, is there is everybody going to be doing that? because once you have >> somebody drifting or doing

042something that they want to do instead of what is grade a grade level expectation um students don't get what they need essentially. So we um we actually created uh a document together as an administrative team with a presentation with the very clear expectations for staff for next year in terms of curriculum and the uh what we're expecting to see when we walk into rooms. Um, and so it feels really good actually. Um, and people have been, um, I think appreciative and thankful uh, because it doesn't feel good when you're a teacher following what you're supposed to be following and and there are others that aren't. That doesn't feel right or fair. So, I think people are appreciative of the expectations and the accountability that goes along with it. Um, so we've been working on that.

043The other piece um this is from the AOE and it just confirms the work that we're doing and it was a study that um from the new teacher project followed uh 4,000 students and reviewed 5,000 assignments across five school systems and their data showed that 26% of the time students were working on grade level content. And if you're not working on grade level content um you're never going to catch up. So uh the the study showed that 500 hours per year were lost to the low grade grade level work which was equivalent to six months of class time per student. So really if if students are not receiving grade level instruction, they're not going to catch up or make the grade that they're expected to make. So, that's another reason why we're expecting staff to

044use the the coordinated curriculum um next year with with with Fidelity and um we'll keep you posted and we hope to see additional growth in our data um based on that. And this is obviously an SU wide initiative, but >> I would like to say only because I >> worked >> fairly closely with the teachers the last couple years and our teachers >> were doing that. >> They are good. >> Um that >> and in fact that was one of the issues was that they were such rule followers with the curriculum that it was hard when you get all data for all SU and it's so all over the place. But here we were kind of a steady a steady go. So I'm glad to hear that they're being backed by that and that there's

045other programs coming in to help with the new curriculum and the training. I was that was the thing I didn't ask I don't know if she knew the answer but so that would be my next thing is the two new things are they what's the training look like for that because I know sometimes there was a lag with that. >> Yeah. So, number corner, I know that there were um teachers in WSOR elementary piloted number corner this year and there were I think two teachers that um came over that came and and >> gave a little bit of a overview of how to use number corner. Um it's a great program. I used it when I was in the classroom. So, I'm big advocate of it. Um and if they need more training and we

046can ask, then we'll make sure they get it because that is critical for success, >> right? they need to know what they're doing and they need to feel confident in delivering the the curriculum. So, it's number corner. Um, we've we've definitely seen at Windsor in the classrooms that we're using it pretty significant increase in student achievement about that. Good. Yep. So, more to come. Um, in terms of professional development planning for next year, it's it's been underway. Um the elementary focus is going to be math and implementing principles of UDL which is universal design for learning so all students can access the grade level curriculum and EQS which is um educational quality standards almost and in the new EQS there's a lot of um there's a lot of work around implementing a culturally relevant curriculum.

047So making sure that in the curriculum programs that we're using all students are represented and we are accessing stories and scenarios um that represent people instead of just one. So that's going to be their work at the middle and high school. We're really going to be focusing on advisory um making it um stronger uh implementing restorative practices in advisory and that you know oftentimes people think restorative practices is uh repair when some harm's been done but really what it is it's about building up a positive community. Um and you need that first so that if harm is done it's a safe place for repair to happen. So middle and high school are going to be working on on um really honing in on advisory at the high school level. It's called swarm and making sure

048that uh there's consistency across the board and what we're doing in those realms and making sure that students uh helping kind of drive some of the topics and themes that we're working on in advisory along with working on their ELPS and all the things that are required by the agency for students to do. Um, and then just a quick legislative update, which I'm sure if you've watched the news, you've heard uh both the Big East H955, which was the transformation bill and 949 yield bill passed. Um, not signed by the governor yet, uh, expected this week. Um, he's he's expected to sign this week. So the yield bill um in a in a in a nutshell includes $101 million property buy down. So all of the money that the governor said it's going to go

049to the buy down went to the buy down which as you know will create issues for us >> following years probably tax >> unless there continues to be buys but who knows. Um there uh there's a bond exemption until July 1, 2026. So that means those um don't count towards your excess spending costs. There is uh a phase reduction in the excess spending threshold. This year we are at 118. Next year we will be at 115.5 and that will continue to decrease by a percentage point over the next five years. for Weathersfield. That means next year to stay under the threshold, you're going to have to reduce by uh 313,000 I think it is. Um Artland has to reduce uh $1.2 million and Windsor 900,000. So it's pretty significant. Um and um then the House

050and Senate agreed to cap annual tuition increases paid to receiving schools. So those are high schools we pay tuition to. uh no more than one no more than a year overyear percentage increase in statewide education spending that's in effect from 28 FY28 to FY32 that is a 3.8% 8% increase. That will be the So that was the yield bill. Um the 955 the education transformation bill uh creates voluntary mergers. So it replaces force consolidation with an aggressive timeline for voluntary mergers. Study committees will convene this fall and residents will vote on unified community districts um on meeting day in 2028. So that means that each district board needs to designate one board member to your to the merger study committee. We have to do that by I think September 15th. um that uh those there'll

051be a facilitator um and the board whoever whoever agrees to be on that committee will will be in a lot of um meetings around what towns want to do, what Weathersfield wants to do. Um it it's not uh it's complicated and we're going to find out more as we go. But from what I've, you know, been learning, um, we are designated in a merger area with Mountain View and Hartford, um, that, you know, I've asked the question, okay, what if um what if a district wants to merge, let's say, with Hartford? Does Hartford have to accept that that or not? And the answer is not sure, but they could probably say no. Um, right. >> So, there's a lot of unknowns that are going to get worked out over the next the next few months.

052Um, the foundation formula is part of that bill paves the way to transition to the state uh foundation formula model. There are things that have to be worked out within that foundation formula, the weights, etc. how CTE is in but really in a foundation formula you get a certain amount of money per student and uh that's what you get. And there is a provision I believe you could um a district can increase that by a certain percentage for the first couple of years like you can spend a little bit more if your community votes to do that but the money um follows the student and it it will be significant which is really why um we have to think about merging because I think it will be very detrimental um to elementary school by the

053way we don't do something. So there's that to think about. Uh and then there's the CISAS which is cooperative education service agencies replaces the Boseies which went into legislation last year I believe um with seven of them across the state and it's a it's not a governance model it's a shared services model. So, we are already in a seessaw and so um I was in a meeting yesterday with superintendents who are very confused about what this means and what they have to do and they have to appoint um their boards have to appoint a representative to their regional seesaw by I think next month. We've already done that so we're ahead of the curve. Um and they have to figure out what that means. articles of agreement and hiring a director and um so it

054feels good that we're a little ahead of that curve anyway. Um and then and tuition caps which I already shared with you um part of that as well. So that is where we're at. We do um we do uh I have one more slide board retreat was on there. Um so August 17th at 5:00 pm as you heard we're going to do a all board retreat. We will do dinner. We will go over board roles and responsibilities. We will I will send you after this meeting the annual board self- assessment survey for you to fill out so we can help us set goals for you. And then I put legislative debrief. Um we should know a little more by then, but uh we'll have some information, some numbers to share with um at least what

055it could look like um within our SU if that if that the board entertains that. and um I think you're going to have to make some decisions in August about who you would consider merging with. So, and I don't know how much your community is paying attention. Personally, I think it's important to get some community input on what your community thinks about um merging as well and who who they would like to play in the sandbox with. So that is um what I have for you this evening. >> Um Christine, sorry not to jump around, but can you just go back to um the staff training for a second >> professional development? >> Yep. Thank you. >> Good. I wasn't thinking about it. Um I just I was thinking one more I think. >> Oh

056jeez. Uh, is that the right one? Yes. >> Yes. Thank you. Um, I just thought of something as you went on. So, I'm curious >> with between the new literacy law and just our literacy numbers in general, which is statewide, but also within our own SU. Why is the elementary focus on math, not literacy? >> Our math scores are worse than our reading scores. um we focused on reading this year more >> right I know this year it was but >> um and and looking at the looking at our math scores across the board just um so that's the doesn't mean there won't be work on >> No I know yeah I was just >> okay hopefully it will make it will have an impact on student success in that subject area but it is

057an issue across the state across the country. >> So that'll be >> okay. >> And circling back to the yield bill, um Larry did a calculation on our tax rate and I didn't write it down, but I'm pretty sure I got it memorized. 2.06 $26 and the increase on it comes out at 5.46 and change. So, um, it's a lot better number than we ever saw. >> Yeah. >> Uh, but a lot of it is is a result of the buy down number cash that was thrown in and that is going to go on indefinitely. >> Yeah. >> Thanks, John. >> I mean, we're talking about making decisions around mergers. Be good to know like we're engaged in the community. You just spoke with that. you know when we see merger instantly sound like okay

058well is it the school is it their school is it just resources so what you know what is and I know right it could be anything but I think it would be really helpful you know when we're talking the community about this because August is going to sneak up fast that like we >> communicate what that scope is and maybe it is it could be any of the above um but like how we're phrasing that to the community I think would be really important Because right now we've been talking about sharing resources and we could be talking about sharing buildings to school. >> We could be I think you know there will be a facilitator who's going to help with those conversations. I think preliminarily, you know, when whoever particular board members on that merger

059study committee should have some idea of the will of the community because you're going to kind of be talking about those things in those in those. So, yeah, I don't think it's a bad idea. >> So, we're kind of up against the gun here to actually do something about that. We have no meeting in July. Uh so how do how do we plan how do we plan a survey or you know an event or something to borrow that information? >> I mean it was on my topic like we probably are going to have our own board retreat. I mean I I think I think it was clear last time that people want that still. So um especially with all of this coming ahead I think we're going to still need to have a special >>

060meeting regarding that. Um >> yeah because that sounds like you have a lot of work. Yeah, we have a lot of work >> to do that we didn't expect over the summer. >> Well, I don't I don't think it's a I think you need to survey your community before >> right which is which we know is difficult to do here in field. So, >> we probably need some kind of planning meeting >> pretty soon. >> Yeah, >> we can talk about it. >> Yes. Well, that was on my notes to talk about it. Yeah. >> Great. All right. Uh was that Christine? >> Yes. Thank you. >> Okay. So, items for discussion followed by motions if needed. Um board engage engagement check-in. >> Feel like we've all been here every day for the last month.

061Um >> I don't know like >> leadership day. >> Yeah, leadership day is my favorite day. I love >> for me which is really cool. um graduation class. >> Yeah, >> I don't know. >> It's been busy. >> Yeah. >> Thank you foring those things. >> Much appreciated. >> I think everybody's ready for summer though. >> Let's not lie. >> Anybody else have anything? >> Okay. >> You were in a lot of stuff. I saw you. Well, >> yeah. >> Graduation. >> That's your That's your second night. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> All right. >> And the art room was particularly dramatic. >> Oh, it's awesome. Yeah. Love it. >> All right. So, next is the Truan officer and we have our new Weatherfield Police team, which is who is Craig Wattress. Um and so

062he's been he's here today again with us for all the education drill. He's been here several times for lunch to be able to meet the students walk around and just have that interaction. So >> I got to meet him on leadership day and have lunch with him and he was very personable with the kids and so I think it's going to be great. >> Yeah. So, do we have So, we should we're voting to have him as our truency officer. Okay. >> So, now >> I'll make a motion to >> take a motion. >> Yes, I'll make a motion >> to approve Craig Wattress as our TRE officer here. >> All in all favor. Sorry, I'm used to doing the other. We're a second. Whatever. Okay. Yes. >> No, we don't have to do a

063second. >> Okay. So, John just touched base on the yield number, but we want to review that or we >> Yeah, I think we already did it. >> Y circling back to our Toron officer. Keep in mind he's the police officer in the school now. We only have one. >> So, don't expect much. >> You don't have that much. Right. >> We don't. And and his I mean his number one priority is the school because we are >> Yeah. >> But he's already feeling kind of stressed. >> Yeah. >> And and spread really thin. >> I mean, they're trying to hire one more officer. Um so is every other town in Vermont. So >> it's okay. You can keep coming. >> Okay. Um, so Brian, we had asked you just to kind of give us

064an update where we're at with the beginning of the year. Yes, >> if you know anything right now, >> I know a little bit. So we u >> I mean just thinking about the end of the year now. We're starting to think about the beginning year, but that's always on our mind. We're already three steps ahead. So beginning of the year, um, we're still looking for um that SEI position. Um, we started the interview process. Um, and so we'll continue that. >> So we have had applicants. Okay. >> And so we will continue that process. >> That was our local. >> That's our local. Yeah. She will be one of our special educators. With that being said to Erica Gambling who was one of our special educators and it was she's now going to become

065our breeding specialist. So she's taking that list. So now we are looking for a federal educator to go. So we do have applicants and we have interviews this week for that position too. That is an SG positional education needs. Well right now you never know things change could get a new job and somebody else but who knows. Um and then we're already planning um all of our staff development. We're coming back for the teachers first day. I want to talk about too because teachers are really excited about summer right now. I don't want to scare them off. But we do have trainings for leader and me for new staff starting on the 17th of August and right there that sort of kicks off our whole session of new trainings for new teachers, for returning staff

066to have them be able to get ready in their classrooms. And then once again, we're planning our welcome barbecue on the 24th. such as that ease into able to get students and families here and have that community opportunity. So that would be a good opportunity to set up a table what we want because we do have a precaptor audience that day. Um lots of parents and community members are here. They're excited. They want to see what's going on in school. So just to add that there and then the first day of school is the 26th and we have that school roll out where we have three days to start off with. um environment on Sunday and we'll be in school. So >> yeah, I want to bring a little bit before we get all that,

067but we're already we're already in that process to get those things done. So we have our calendar set up, preliminary calendar set up for the year. plug everything in and of course there's a little bit of adjustments here and there but it's work for us long see a year in advance of what we're doing and have those important dates in >> okay does anybody have any questions okay hopefully we have some more good news in August >> yes hopefully so Okay. Um, next is a letter from a concerned citizen. Um, got this a little while ago actually and we forgot to read it last time. So, or I forgot to read it last time. So, um, a grandparent um, wrote a very nice letter and even included a drawing um, of let's see. Oh, I

068got multiple here. I just Sorry, I didn't realize there copies. Okay, I'm just going to read it quickly so everybody knows. Um, it says, "Attention school board members. I'm John Lavoy, seven 79 years, a retired home builder in Springfield, Vermont. I've had the pleasure to be in this trade for over 62 years. This winter I wanted to attend my great-grandson's first first grade sorry Saturday basketball. I refused to walk on the pathway. Obviously due to the ice and snow, I walk with a cane. This situation is an accident waiting to happen. Snow ice slide off the high roof with speed and weight. For those trying to keep this path safe and clean, it is a challenge. This is absolutely nonproduct productive labor and cost to the school. Should there ever be a dangerous situation when

069an emergency of a student, parent or anyone disabled to leave or enter your building, um this oversight by the architect, school board, and others could be a major issue. I have submitted to the school board a detailed drawing showing a very simple solution which makes this a very cost-effective upgrade with a continuous shed roof protective walkway. Please consider this solution. Um, and then he went on to kind of explain um his thoughts on how we could rectify this um and said, "Thank you for your time." So, I just thought it was important to acknowledge his um letter and his idea and just kind of chat about as a board if we want to possibly look into this more. >> Is that over here? Is that really >> Yeah. So he's saying like this is the

070entrance to the gym. >> Yep. Yeah. Right. Like in in here. >> Um >> so he's looking for more of an overhang. I mean I know nothing about construction. So I don't know if this is something you can pass that on if you want. If this is something that we weigh in with Jim. Um, I mean, I just want to make sure that we're at least taking the time to I see his concerns. I mean, I know that there's a lot of overhangs. Um, with ice and um, walkways, there's more than one spot in my opinion, but um, obviously when the school was built like So, anybody has any thoughts? I mean, this idea has merits. >> Yes, of course. Yeah. >> This logistic problem of the fact we have metal roofs and stuff comes

071off the roof onto this roof. >> Mhm. >> Um, I'm not saying that's insurmountable, but nonetheless, it would have to be. >> And it would probably have to be engineered >> so it doesn't create a problem, >> a further problem, >> right? And then that snow is still going to >> go off somewhere, you know, it will still create a different might not be on the walkway, but like that would still create a movement of snow. So, and ice, but >> I I would ask the chair to respond and thank you very much. We'll take we're taking your concerns seriously and um maybe we need to use more salt. I don't know. I was going to say I mean I guess in the meantime because obviously this project is not um h you know can't

072happen at this moment or um who knows down the road with um anything with >> I mean we could if if he I mean >> yeah I think that would be helpful um in the response and then Um, yeah, I'd like to reassure him that I mean, I want our school to be accessible to anybody at any time of day. Um, whether that be the sidewalks, the lighting in the parking lot. I mean, these are minor things that we should be able to keep up with on a daily basis. So, um, that's the least we can do, I feel like, for the community. So, um, however that looks here. But I'll ask >> Does that roof slide with the solar panels? >> All the roof slide, don't >> thunderous. >> What is it? >> Thunderous.

073Oh, I'm sure. So >> can we in addition to that price ballpark of what it would take to put this over is there a price we should be thinking about for labor to clear it off before basketball games better um increase all and looking from Jim for those numbers too >> because this really could be that we need to >> simple yes it could be that simple before we built I mean I know yeah I mean >> we had a heck of a time drop off line that was very icy >> like a week with the snow coming down. >> Um so it's multiple sections >> and the problem is if it's a certain temperature the ice isn't going to do anything but it's the point that especially at night look we have beautiful lighting

074now so it's like much more lit up um against the building. But yeah, maybe just making sure that any um events or games that were really paying attention to those areas on a maintenance side of it. >> So I can we can >> after you give me that number, I can write him a letter and then also say that we're going to really work on keeping everything safe as safe as we can. >> Prioritize, >> right? Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you guys. I just wanted to make sure we acknowledged his letter and tried to do something even if it's not the construction right now. >> Nice sketch. >> It's gorgeous. Yeah. I mean, >> I wish he wasn't retired. Build it. >> To build it. >> Yeah. All right. So, next is the LED uh

075lighting and the crosswalk update. Uh John has some updates. The LED project has been a kind of a hiatus because the majority of the work's been done. Um I haven't talked to Woody lately. This room and the art room still need to be done and then the stairways need to be done. Um starting next week we'll be in the AP room and that should be done with easily in a week and then we'll be in the gymnasium. Uh we're able to borrow u a scissor lift from Daniel's Construction at no cost. And that'll make that work go a lot faster than the man lift, which is really a pain in the butt. >> Nice. >> The uh crosswalk, we met with two representatives from from Vrans. Uh Brian was there, the uh Ray Stapleton on

076the highway. Borman was there. Um the land use administrator was there. There were two people from regional planning there. So it was quite a crowd down there. And basically in a nutshell, she said no. Um she said you can do this, you can do that. She suggested putting out temporary signs when we have an an issue. Um that may be a a help. But interestingly, yesterday I went to Woodstock and I was going through Re and there's a crosswalk with no sidewalk and doesn't meet their criteria. >> So I'm not done. >> Good for you, John. And I have reached out to uh one of our senators is on uh transportation and I'm going to keep after her to see if we can move the needle a little bit. >> And Lindsay and no because

077there was not a sidewalk that like what was why was it known? Just curious. >> Yeah. What what was the >> I don't >> there were ways within their criteria where it could go. I she just just she was wasn't very cooperative. Uh she came in ready to say no and she said no. Um and she didn't offer well if you did this we could do that. There was no back and forth like that. It was basically put your signs up, send somebody out there in the dark putting up cones and erecting a sign on a temporary basis. Some of it we Yeah, we were honest. Um we don't have a lot of students crossing there but nonetheless it it allows you to get to the other side of the road for a few kids

078that go to the library after school. Uh it's really too bad and explained that a Scotty is a designated village under straight state criteria went through all that process. So it's really a shame that uh we haven't been able over the years to put in sidewalks to make our community more walk friendly. But it isn't. And and I don't blame people for not walking along Route 5. Uh people don't obey the speed limit. And uh with distracted driving, what it is, uh it it has the potential for something horrible to happen. >> I know we had talked about um I'm just saying it out loud while on while we're talking about this. I know we had said out loud after um losing track which event it was where we rode the bus over. Oh, uh,

079there's a concert here. >> It was the holiday. >> So, and I know that I had said we've got to do something like make sure that we're proactive about um, you know, maybe calling the chief um, of police, making sure he's down there as people are crossing. There's a lot of people in the road that day. Um, and so I know pod drop is a huge thing for us and people that's the overflow parking and that's also sometimes in the dark because it's fall. Um, so that may be something to think about even as a school. Um, maybe like some sort of for now, you know, some sort of flashing type, >> you know, temporary cones that flash >> for leadership day because we weren't sure if we were going to be over parking or

080not there at the church. We did borrow the town has signs that they set up to center church able to borrow those. We set those up prior to the start of leadership day so at least people were that people could be crossing and and those signs actually are pretty effective and calming traffic in many respects probably more effective than a paint on the paper. >> Yeah. >> Or having four school buses pulled over side of the road usually helps too. We have lots of people slow down through our relocation drill too. So >> yeah, >> she was really annoyed when she just >> I have no doubt. Nope. >> That's unfortunate. But again, it's kind of like the roof thing. We have to just >> figure out what we can do >> in between. So,

081um, we'll have to just kind of look ahead to that and make sure that we're being as safe as we can. And if we have to get some cones somehow, we'll >> strum that up and just >> Yeah, because right now we can >> and let him know about >> certain events, you know, we can give him a heads up like, oh, we're going to have, you know, 300 people here on Friday or whatever, you know. Um, then maybe he'll know to kind of be posted down there and >> and maybe like lighting, right? Yeah, I'm thinking the lighting. >> There's so many people walking down this >> road, crossing the road to the church, but there's no lighting. No. >> I know. I know the PTO. I mean, I can speak to that that

082we have every year this is a concern of ours and we've talked about making sure that it's safe and you know, god forbid anything ever happens. So, um, in which we had, you know, the sheriffs were really good about being there, but we still feel like we need some sort of lighting or something for people to walk down our little street. Like, there's not a lot. So, we'll have to >> that's definitely on their, you know, everyone's radar for that event. But that's not the only event that that one just happens to be into the dark. So, yeah. Um, but even that holiday one was it was sketchy. There was people just coming and going. >> So much traffic and people the bus stood still for like a half an hour before >> you know

083we could move. We were often really late. >> Yeah, we actually >> so a lot of people kept getting out of the bus to then walk which was like a little >> it was it was it was a little nerve-wracking but anyway um so I think we again we can do things in the meantime and hopefully John I'll keep at it. Maybe >> I'll find out with with our uh with Raymond, our highway guy, and find out what those signs cost. Um they're fairly easy to put up. I just f having one of us >> I know the community out in the room five putting up cones and taking them down. >> Were those the big orange event? Okay. >> Yeah. >> They I mean I you do you did see them? >> They like

084I said they they and and they wanted us Brian, what was >> permission to go about? >> Mr. Learner, I'm talking. >> Sorry, I was having a conver. >> Okay. Um, what was the event that we immediately came up with? That was the um leadership night, wasn't it? >> Yeah, because it was >> they wanted us to put in a per to do an accelerated permit. They put signs up. We just put them up anyway. No, we got permission. We went through the We went through the appropriate challenge. That's what I own too. >> You did get a permit. >> I did. >> Wow. >> Where does that permit come from? >> Like our >> the state or our town? >> VR. >> We we have some connection with VR. So we got approval. >>

085Great. >> I I just have to say uh for a long time I was say the school coordinator and we did walk to school and we've always had a presence. We've even put down temporary crosswalks using chalk which were approved and we had a chalk line coming up um schoolhouse road >> to offer like a crosswalk when we did those safety events and those were approved by the town. >> Okay. >> Um that road schoolhouse road is a narrow road. It's not it's not a approved width road. So that really limits what we can do on that road. >> Yeah. >> And then of course we have a state. So that is another edge that we have to work. >> Yeah. >> Very fortunate that we are full of agency transportation for that coordinator there.

086>> Yeah. There's no it's not a wide road. I mean even the kids in the morning like walking to school and biking to school like we should as in a lot of other towns do and that's where we get up at like for P. >> Yeah. >> And walk at lunch around the school. I mean other around that. Y satisfying that we worked real hard on to find something. >> I know it's how much we can do work with what we got, right? >> Okay. Um, next is evaluation of lead learner and um couple of things um I've been asked multiple times I feel like over the last few years just does our lead learner ever have an evaluation? Who does that? who's responsible for it. Um, so I asked Christine to kind of explain

087the process um, publicly and to board members members, excuse me. Um, and then we can definitely ask her questions or give input for sure. >> So um, the cycle for evaluations for administrators is uh, as follows. So, if you're a new administrator, you are evaluated in your first two years consecutively. And then um once you've been um with us for two years, it's every other year you're evaluated. Um in the off years, I call them performative years, uh you are still required to set goals. Um and each administrator sets a goal annually around academics. So an academic wave, a culture wig and then a professional leadership role. And uh we review those >> every month as a um administrative team um because we believe that we're not going to not going to ask our teachers

088to do anything that we're not doing ourselves. We ask our teachers to set and um review and students as well. So we do that as a team. Um in the uh summit of the year which is the evaluation year um we're still setting goals and you are uh doing so the goals are related to there are 10 leadership standards in Vermont that leaders are held to and so the goals align with some of those leadership standards and um each administrator has to there's a rubric they have to score themselves on those 10 standards. We look at um those together. We talk about them um in relation to their goals and they're doing on calls. They're also required to send out a survey to staff annually even if it's not summit of year which will be

089titled um how am I doing as your leader? So ask questions um to staff members about how they feel their administrators doing and look at those results. they do inform goal setting um and they inform the evaluation itself as well. So that's every other year. Um your lead learner is not in a summitive year this year. He will be next year. It's an informative year this year. So the goal setting um survey but not the annual the by annual review of the leadership standards. So that is the process. that we meet regularly. I meet with each administrator week with and sometimes one of my goals is to make sure I'm checking in with the principle on their goals. So that's there. So that is the process that we go through and then we sit down

090and go over when you're when Brian or any other administrator is reviewing their um the leadership standards, we look for evidence of how they're moving those standards, talk through the things that they're doing to help meet those areas. That is the process. Okay. question. So for you being the supervisory person for the principles, are you um using the anonymous surveys and things like how are you obtaining your information other than just doing it on your own >> about the princip? Yeah. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Okay. Yes. >> So there's no there's no other stakeholders involved. >> There hasn't been. No, it doesn't mean there can't be. Right. >> Yeah. That's the process that's >> Yes. So that's >> how would I mean so how would community members, parents, you know, guardians, how would they have

091input? Would they reach you directly? Like are you using somebody reaches you directly? Are you using that information in a survey? Are you developing the survey with that information? >> Uh let me make sure I understand. >> Yeah. So I I'm saying if you're developing a survey, which is great, but if you have stakeholders that are interested in that information, um they have to come to you directly, right? >> To receive information on the survey. >> Yeah. No. Yes. Correct. >> Um well, I have not Yes. I have that I haven't shared that publicly now. >> Okay. Yeah. Why not? >> Please. >> Yeah. Is it is that like RSA VSA issue that you can't share that publicly? >> Um, >> that's a great question. Um >> I think you can and personnel >> share

092an executive session for sure. >> I know like >> we just did um Christine's um on at the SU um board and that was shared in an executive session like the the response to that >> request that and you could do that for us. I I thought we had to share it with the greater >> Well, obviously that'd be nice, right? But I realize that's option. >> Yeah. So, we can we can start to >> Anybody have any other questions? Okay. Thank you for clarifying that. >> Yeah. And and we survey the staff. I mean, the board could be surveyed. That would be I'm thinkers of staff >> and probably your team like your administrator. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> All right. So, what do we have? Oh, um Vince >> Oh, >>

093yes. Uh Vins had added the merger discussion. Um he has some info. So back in hold up back in uh I believe it was March, but we this was before the board reorganization that we were approached by Woodstock um or Mountain Views I should say to discuss uh you know I think we all saw this coming so I think to discuss what a murder could look like for us. Um, at that time we had voted uh for the for the chairperson and the vice chairperson to attend that meeting. I think Brian >> Yeah, >> we never we never got it together. I think we were all really busy with budget. We actually, you know, we all um but they have reached out again uh to have that discussion. So um I'm not sure whether anyone's

094interested in doing that. Um and if so, do we need to take a vote? uh to allow a an individual or two or whoever wants to be part of that discussion to do that. Um we already authorized it I think in a vote. So I think maybe we don't need to take it to that level but um I I'm willing to uh talk to the not supervisor union just I think we should know what our options are um and because we have a lot of students that go there um you know you don't know 955 requires that. Uh I think I got the number right. >> And so it's going to happen regardless and and then it becomes a question of uh when you read the language in the bill >> how extensive it is

095um >> whether it goes as far as view because actually Elizabeth Burls had a meeting last winter um and with Stock Hartford and us were were there Now, there was supposed to be follow-up meetings. It never happened. Um, I >> I don't think my opinion is at this point, I don't think it'd be productive to re They reached out to you. >> They reached out to us wanting to >> to this board. Yeah. >> But that just this week. >> Yeah. They want to do it again. >> Initiate that conversation. >> Who's that? >> Uh, it's uh Carrie, >> the chair. the chair of um >> you want to say Mountain >> View Mountain. >> This is I'm jumping the gun a little bit, but keep in mind that they are proposing $110 million school

096>> and if we jury go down, we might inherit some of that debt. >> It's veryformational. I think that it's we we would do that with another school or another estimate that >> and and I think when we meet all of us um in August uh I think a lot of this will become more clear >> so that's the goal yeah >> hopefully >> I question on the table is not >> right right we yeah we have to meet. It was an invitation. >> Yeah. >> Uh >> which we have already talked about it >> which we agreed to do before. Uh so >> I I'm more or less being transparent that is occurring. So um and I yeah it's it's more or less I think just information. I don't believe that there's not decisions

097that will get made for sure. So we approve chair and vice chair and the last chair vice chair. >> I think it can be anybody who wants to spend the time and make the trip or whatever to to do that and who's interested in learning about mountain views. >> What what about Hartford? I I haven't heard anything. Okay. >> They haven't Yeah. I mean they've been reaching out a long time ago. uh Mountain Views. I mean, they were reaching out like over a year ago >> initially, I think. >> Um so, >> I mean, I'm fine to go and gather. >> Yeah. I mean, I think more information is >> there's no harm in that. So, >> that's okay. >> Sure. Was it sure there? >> I have no idea. It was It was just

098the board. >> Yeah. I can get more detail and share. >> It would have to be a meeting for that to happen. So, I think it was just Yeah, >> we that's why we can only have two, >> right? >> Yeah. So they're doing pretty small. One thing that I'm sorry, one thing that really bothers me about this merger of um and possible force mergers is the fact that AOE, nobody has sat down and looked at a package of three or four existing units, what it cost to run them independently, and put together a package of what it would cost to run them as a unit. Nobody. It hasn't been done. That should have been the first thing they did before they passed any of the legislation. >> Well, there's a lot, >> my two

099cents, >> there's a lot that's going to go into it, right? You're going to look the teacher contracts because >> somebody's going to take less money. So, you're going to have to looking at different um districts spend different money on those contracts. We're looking at debt, right? Fortunately, understand it's going to be done with it. any you any data >> but there's all kinds of variables that go into figuring that out. Um, but I agree with you. There should be some modeling that >> Yeah. >> should at least an example >> and this is why you're going to save money instead of Oh, believe me, >> we we've seen quite a few bills come out of Montilier that were going to save the world and haven't done quite that. >> Okay. So I think we'll

100give Vince like a second. >> No, I'm >> sorry. Go ahead. >> No, I think it's great. Yeah. Okay. So, Megan and Vince will meet with them and just hear some input of what they're thinking and again learn more about their district. um or the SU or their SU. Okay. Um, and then yeah, I mean, we need to discuss I guess I didn't realize that we would possibly need to make certain decisions by I mean, I knew in at the board retreat for the SU that we were we were talking um merger numbers and lots of information, but I didn't realize that we would have to I mean, we do we need do need to plan for our community like but I don't know if we do that after we have that because then we'll

101have some numbers >> we've got so you're you're going to have to appoint someone to the merger study committee >> that person is going to meet with the facilitator and other board members I haven't done this yet either but um >> and you know it'll be important to know if your community is interested in merging with Woodstock or merging with you know Southeast or merging with Springfield because you know the community conversations revolve around >> that's not to say that they could revolve around all these options. I think the facilitator is going to have a lot of work to be able to figure, >> you know, if you don't go to the table with some idea, you're going to have to figure it out pretty quickly once once it's a merger study. Talk about this

102stuff, but you had some idea of what your community is presented >> and we have a map. We have a map out now, so we kind of know where we're going to be. You know, it narrows it down a little bit for us. >> Well, I was gonna say, is that even But is that map even I mean, they didn't really end up pushing that at the end, right? >> There's a map. >> I mean, there's a map, but like suggested map. It's not >> It's a suggested map. >> Yeah. If you're there's a district that's not within that um area, they can ask to join. Right. I think um it it you know it's complicated because we're you're district so >> or at least some preliminary things to think about to take into the

103conversation >> and and the timeline in the legislation is pretty aggressive. Yes, >> you got to sign one person, not multiple, one person by >> uh September >> and they have to be going from memory in October. >> And then there's certain reports that need to be into the state. The state is going to furnish or or find uh facilitators to uh hopefully >> facilitate not have it turn into a cat and dog fight. >> Yeah, exactly. Yeah. >> So, okay. So, that makes me feel a little better about our timeline. I mean, there's no sense in blowing this up to the community right now without we still need information basically. We need numbers. We need information. Um, people need to educate themselves. I mean, I'll be a squeaky wheel with it. Like, they need

104to get involved and they need to understand that a lot of this is going to be out of our control. So, they need to educate themselves on these decisions because we're not making them like the state is making them and then we're going to have to work with them to figure something out. So, um I the information can and will be out there, but I think we're going, you know, we need to also hear about it ourselves before we can speak to it and make community events about it. >> Yeah. because >> we may need to have some financial information what this looks like, what this does to your your school budget, your tax rate, right? >> Well, and maybe these facilitators, I mean, my hope would be that they help you >> facilitate something

105in your community to deliver the information because that's how I see it. It's like we we're not the experts in it. like we're going to need to be >> in the know and then someone is going to help us >> facilitate conversation and events leading around it. So >> that's what I envision for it and that's not going to happen in August because that's not the timeline. So >> the timeline October >> the committee starts to meet October. >> When is the timeline when facilitating the facilitators facilitate >> they would start I mean I would imagine they meet with the the board members who've been designated the superintendent who be there assisting getting information. Um and um the community conversations will happen. >> Sure. >> Yeah. So that's what I meant like we just we've

106got a little bit of >> a little bit of time. >> So we would beating our person. >> No, probably in August. >> We don't have August. >> I I think that we're going to talk about it. >> We have a retreat and then we can schedule another. >> Okay. That's how do we do that without a meeting? >> No, that that's why I was saying I I think that we should talk about that. That's why I had I added that. >> Um >> you talked about that last time. >> We did. Yeah. Um >> are we adding like a chunk like an hour or so before August 17th or we having a separate retreat? Do we decide because I know that was >> that's what we're going to decide tonight. Yeah. Um, I know

107that not everyone was comfortable with just that meeting and especially now with this like we have work to do. So I think that we should >> which we can't do in a retreat. >> So we're still going to have a separate >> we do a mix. >> Yeah. If we're communicating with Mountain View, are we communicating at the Weathersfield School District or are we communicating with them at the Windsor or the Southeast? This is just >> and on on a positive note, this area because of the castle that has been formed is is probably farther ahead than any other part of the state. Um it it the castle is pretty huge. I don't anticipate anything coming fruition based on those borders. But nonetheless, that's one of the things that the state is pushing for these

108cooperative units for purchasing and and services. And the fact that we already got one going and the only one in the state, I might add, uh is important. >> Regular is fantastic. So fortunate. Yep. Um so so we do we need to >> discuss yeah >> hybrid >> now a regular board meeting we can't have on the can we have on the agenda that we are talking and working on mergers things or merger like community >> have discussion >> yeah we can have discussion, right? >> Yeah. >> Um, >> so it what is the benefit of calling it a I mean public retreat or not? So it doesn't really >> a retreat. We usually have dinner together, >> right? But that's >> um I mean >> you could do that and then do that the

109meeting for a half an hour prior to our time in our our retreat time. Do we think a half an hour is enough? >> I mean, that's the only >> I mean, the only I don't want to really do it before because I don't want to do it before the SU retreat. >> Well, we have I mean, >> we're 18, the next day, which is a Tuesday. >> Yeah. >> School starts on the 26th. >> That's our school. Yeah. That's our That's our back to school. >> Yeah. >> 19th or 20th. And do we want to have it the same or do we want to have it like the beginning of September? >> Is there anything that needs to go? >> Well, we wanted Brian was just mentioning we want to maybe have something ready

110to do, you know, when the opens, right? >> If you want to use that night on the 24th. >> Oh, yeah. We we should know what we're doing. >> We can also use the night on the 18th. Well, that's even more of a community event as you walk in. >> I don't think we get to pick just one. I think we're picking more than one. >> I think it's been it's flexible. They're not It's not forced. It's it's a numbers game. >> It's a numbers game. Yeah, I was going to say when you see the numbers, you might change your mind. >> So anyway, >> all right. So >> yeah, >> for us that was Wednesdays and Thursdays. So, the board went on Monday. Um, >> are you around, Christine? >> Yes. >> Started with

111I know >> I'm saying I'd have to client edit. That's easier. I don't need >> That's my late night, too. It's okay. >> Uh I'm usually unavailable Wednesdays and uh Thursdays, but I can I can move people. Um >> it's more about Yeah. the staff. I don't know how that goes. >> Well, they want to be done by five, right? >> Yeah. >> Oh, yeah. >> That's what she was asking is will they? >> Yeah. No. >> No. No. The 19th is a new teacher day. The 20th is a teacher prep day. So it would be they have the day to work in their classroom. So either >> you want to do the 20th then. So it's not the new day. >> No, but on the new day you have to smile a whole lot.

112You're going to walk away with headaches. Let's do the 20th. >> It's always harder meeting. >> What's the 21st? Oh, yeah. >> He's got right the 21st. He's on all day. >> Okay. >> 19th or >> 20th, right? >> It doesn't matter when >> I would prefer the 19th. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> You're gonna ask. Okay. >> Are you free? >> Is it a retreat or is it a meeting? >> Are we just discussing meeting? >> I know. >> Then retreat >> since we have I mean we have to warn those. >> Oh, you're saying move our >> Okay. about an hour like 45 minute meeting and then like 45 minute retreat and or longer for the retreat >> because we took away the 11th because we were doing the 17th. >> So now

113we're actually having a regular I think it might be better to have a regular meeting right with news and >> yeah because we were going to use the information from >> potentially the 17th. >> Yes. >> To then formulate a plan for us to to have something done on the 24th. Right. >> Yes, we can always we want after that's over. >> Well, no, we really can't keep gathering after it's over. So, >> I just want a meeting that we are able to talk freely and and work basically. Okay. >> So, the 19th. Yes. And what time? Okay. Your calendar agenda will be partners. >> Yes. >> And community going to be community planning engagement information. Yep. >> Okay. We'll have >> see was there there was nothing else added. I think that was the

114only other thing. >> Okay. >> Setting the next agenda. >> Yes. So >> mergers and mergers. Um do we want hopefully Ryan has some hiring updates or how the summer should count. >> How one month should um Okay. Is can anybody think of anything else that you want? >> Okay. >> All right. Now, I'd like a motion to enter executive session. move you into executive session under 1BSA 313A4 personnel. >> Thank you, John. All those in favor? I >> I recordings.