001will lead us. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Okay. Um, are there any changes or additions to the agenda? I think we don't need the one addition because it's already been solved, right? The Zoe Sanders, right? Okay. We're just going to add algebra. Algebra. That's right. Um, where do you want to have that in the administrative report? Um, or items for discussion. Items for discussion. Okay. Okay. Um any other changes or additions? Okay, we'll move on to approval of the minutes from March 11th, 2025. Um first I'll take a motion to approve them and then I know we already have a big change to make. But um Okay, Vincent will make a motion to approve
002them. Um Megan, do you want to point out your teapot on here? Sure. We just need to add um Bill Goofy came to the last meeting for the SAS booster club um and fundraising. So we need to add a section um probably after athletic director Carrie Juel. I believe it went after Carrie. Um and then under uh items for approval, we did um vote to allow fundraising for the booster club. So thank you. So with those two additions, um I'll take a vote on approving the minutes from March 11th. All in favor? Oh, Becky, sorry, I missed that. I thought I took notes on it, but who knows? Um I remember that now. So that was for the um I just want to put down the right thing. It's the uh not the athletic committee
003but the the athletic booster club booster club. Yes, I do remember writing that. So I don't know how I missed it. Sorry about that. Okay, I got it. Okay, so it'll be in two places, Becky. Once after Carrie Juel and also once in the items for approval. Okay, thanks. Okay. All in favor of approving the minutes from March 11th, say I. I. That's unanimous. Okay. Um, up next we have public participation. Do we have any? Do we have any online? No. Okay. We'll move on to the administrative report. Yes, please. All right. So, let's get it up there. [Music] So, welcome to our lead learner report for April 8th. So, we'll start off with our mission statement. As I always like to, as the mission of Weathersfield School is to prepare and empower students to
004be leaders with a global vision by helping them develop critical thinking, communication, collaboration skills, and creativity. and then I'm gonna turn it over to Carrie who's going to give a PTO report, two brief reports tonight. Um, so just wanted to uh let everyone know that we did have our comedy night um on March 28th, which was uh so fun. Um it was a great turnout, able to raise some money. Um so we appreciate everyone that bought tickets and supported that event. Um we held an open house um type meeting last night. So it was our regularly scheduled board meeting and we just invited um the community in uh and staff were invited as well um to just come learn about kind of the inner workings and how someone might be able to get involved a
005little or a lot. Um we were very careful not to go the a lot route last night but we had um we did have about 80 people I think come um and we offered um some child care. Marley and her sister Natalie played with the the children in the AP room so their parents could just come and um hear a little bit about the PTO. So that was a great time last night. Um, we also stocked the staff lounge with snacks and beverages last night um to sustain sustain our staff through teacher conferences this week. So, at any time day or night, we can go up and get refueled um maybe some energy drinks were put in there, too. Um, and then we're gearing up for staff appreciation week, which is the first week of
006May. So, I do want to encourage anyone that might be listening or read this later um that it is staff appreciation week in May and um although we do a lot to celebrate our staff here, it's a time to acknowledge your child care provider, your teacher, your you know, para that you might have for your kiddos, um administrators, anyone in the kind of child care provider world. So, uh they deserve everything and more. can give them just a little bit of appreciation. That's all we have for this month. All right. Thank you, Carrie. And change hats. And now athletic record. Uh again, very brief. Um so our season is officially underway, although it's not outside currently. Um we were only able to field two baseball teams this year. So we have a third and fourth
007grade team and a fifth and sixth grade team. as far as travel goes. And then we have a kindergarten and a first and second grade T-ball. Um and then we have a very large track and field team. So I'm excited about that. Track will not get started until after vacation. Um but we have uh Laura Berry has allowed us to use the gym last night and then Wednesday and Friday just to get the kids started to um because our first games are that last week of April. So, we got to get two weeks in. Um, so unfortunately, we don't have the numbers um of interest in baseball and softball that we have the other seasons. Um, but we're going to make it the best for the kids that are doing it. Any questions for any
008of that? Thank you. All right. Now, I'm gonna turn over to Marley and she's gonna talk about a couple of events that have happened at the school. Yeah. Okay. So, we had the Peter Pan Jr. play um on April 4th and 5th. On the fourth, uh was a Friday. We had the preview. Um so, that was only a little skit of it. Um it was like the middle of the play that we did. And we also had a on Friday a 7 o'clock play. And then on the next day on the 5th, we had it uh we had a play at 2:00 and then there was an afterparty for the people in the fight. Um that was like I I loved it. It was like really magical and stuff. Um a lot of people came.
009Uh they were able to get waters and there was flowers. Um and also people could buy these like star wands. In one of the scenes, uh, uh, cast members would walk across holding like signs of London and like little Star Wars, which is the flying scene. So, it was really cool that the audience members could get little stars and like wave it in the air like also the flying scene. So, there was a few pictures. Um, it was so funny and I like loved it because I was um, which part were you? I was a pirate star and I was also the shadow. Oh, that was you. Yeah, I didn't cut it in the whole thing, but was like, "Sorry, okay." But it was really funny. I definitely definitely loved um Captain Hook and me,
010the two on my little hook. Definitely so fun. Like, it was definitely a blast. I'm a little sad, but it was a great opportunity. So yeah, I'd like to say that play was spectacular. Absolutely. Seems short. So short, too, but we did it. Um, eighth grade game night. We have been planning this like me and some of my friends have been talking about this since um the pod drop and this is what we got out to eighth grade game night. It was so fun. I loved it. It was in the gym. Um, most eighth graders uh came to it. We had some like chaperon chaperons. Sorry. Um, and it was definitely a blast. I loved it. Um, some like me, I know me and a little bit of my friends came up all dressed like
011like different onesies. It was so fun. I loved it. And it was just so fun. We had Mr. Marquez play some games with us. So then we had one of our teacher, our social studies teacher, Mr. S. He's so tall. So, uh, we tried playing a game and he just kept looking over the nets. So, like nets with hearts and he just kept looking over it. So, but it was so fun and I wish I could do it again, but I had a blast. And there's Mario Kart, a bunch of games, and I loved it. It was amazing. Yeah. Thank you, Martin. Yeah. Was one of the things that the students planned. came to me and it said that they wanted to do a lock in and that gave me nightmares and so we made
012some adjustments so we compromised and came up with a game night. So it ended up being four hours and I thought four hours was going to be too much. It was from 5 to nine. Um but it actually went by really quick and it was a lot of fun and the kids I mean the kids enjoyed it. There's such a small group of our eighth graders because it's our smallest class and such a tight-knit group. So, it was pretty awesome that they got that opportunity to spend together and they wanted to spend the time together and they had fun. And I actually some of our students that are very quiet, I heard that they have voices. I haven't heard their voice in four years. They've been very quiet the whole time. And they actually are
013I mean some of them like are pretty loud when they're out there with their friends and stuff. So, it it was a lot of fun. Um it was one of those things that and BJ was there as well. And then um Meredith Kelly also helped chat. So, we have four adults there. Four adults and like 18 kids. So, it was a good ratio and they did go home at 9:00. So, that was nice. Um, we also just hosted the town challenge. Um, so the Weathersfield Proctor Library always puts that on. Um, I think my team got robbed. EMTT might say nothing. I'm not gonna Yeah, Emtt might disagree with me because this team won. Um, so we got to the championship round again, but we had a not only we had a staff team from
014Weatherfield, we had an alumni team and we had um a current student team as well. Um, so it is a lot of fun. Um, everybody's there. John always does the music and he did do the music of theme show TV shows and movies. I gave you one answer. Well, yeah, you did. But that wasn't mine. That wasn't mine that you gave. It was somebody else and they but um it was fun. Um, but like I said, we did get robbed, but the historical society did win. Um, but that's okay. We'll get him next year. So, I've already been brushing up on uh actually we've got the Weathersfield history. I sort of got a ringer with the Weathersfield history. Our nurse Grace Knight is like amazing at Weathersfield history. She knows it all. And like she
015was going through the book and figuring out things and she's like, I think they're gonna ask this question. And then sure enough, they asked that question. It was some random thing. I don't even remember what it was, but she was amazing at it. And um I think even the historical society was a little bit stumped on some of those weather fields. You won't say that. I know I'm not the public. Yeah, I'm sure you did. But good job to them. So someday my name will be up on that plaque. Maybe I'll just join the historical society. So we'll see. There you go. Um BTF testing is done. Yes. Um exciting about that. Thank you, Kristen Hunner, who is our testing coordinator. She did a flawless job of it. Um really excited that that is done.
016We've been finishing up makeups, but majority of it, we might have one or issue makeup still, but major testing part is done. Um, and we'll have that all taken care of, wrapped up before we go to spring break. Um, speaking of Kristen Hubner, so we talked about it a couple meetings ago about having an instructional team leader. So Kristen is going to move from an interventionist to the instructional team leader. So remember our interventionists were halftime coaches, half-time interventionists. Now, our interventionist will just be full-time interventionist and then Kristen will be an instructional team leader. So, she'll be doing some of her normal jobs that she's been doing. It is ends up being a small cost savings to the district, which is nice. Um, plus she'll be able to focus a little bit more on
017that. And then Amy Cam and Christina Hughes will be just our full-time interventionist. Thank you for signing. Yes. Thank you. Um, mark it on your calendar. Steam night is coming up um May 1st from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. We've already planned out with River Valley Technical Center down in Springfield as well as Black River Innovation Campus. They're going to have VR goggles here. Yeah. So, it's pretty cool. So, we're excited about that. So, they're going to be working with us on that. Um trying to have that different communities joining together be able to help us. Plus, our teachers are involved and we did use some of our title funding for one of those family engagement nights of flight sacks and technology fund. So, we're excited. So, music March Madness. This is something we do in
018March and so it's the Marley explained in the last meeting that the students go headto-head with songs that they picked. Bye bye bye one. So, kindergarten is on a roll. That's two things this year. They've won two big events, but that's Miss Robinson's class and they were pretty excited. So, they have the trophy in their classroom right now and they have the bragging rights of winning March Madness. Not quite Florida, but that's okay. Um, they did it for us here at school. And so, InSync is our is our song. Great. All right. Never thought I'd say that. Um, so this month we broke up our um attendance. So, the way that our powers school system goes now is it's lovely for BJ and Carrie and myself because we have to keep switching back and forth
019between elementary school and middle school, elementary, middle school. So, you have to try to remember, but we've after this year, I think we've gotten it down pretty good. But, we went ahead and broke it up so you have a little bit more disagregated data. So, we have 168 total students in K through five and our average daily attendance is 157 or 95% attendance rating. So, not bad. And then for middle school, so 6 through eight, we have 76 and our average daily attendance is 73. So we only have three students on average out of middle school that are missing. Sounds great. Yeah, I think that's pretty impressive. So I think we leave that to our wonderful teachers, our electives, giving students things that they want to do because I don't think anybody else can break
020it down. So I wanted to really be able to share that. I think we had students in our great sense. I think today we had one student in middle school that was out. because we have that breakdown of every day of how it looks. So, always look for that to see. So, safety drills we did in the bus evacuation drills yesterday. Those were always fun to do. Um and so that happened yesterday morning. So, the kids get here and they get evacuated from the bus. Um and they did it pretty quickly. Um it's one of the things that we still want to work on though. We're talking with um our transportation department about how we can get the kids in practice a little bit more and have the bus drivers will be a little bit
021more aware. But um just because you know, God forbid we ever have to use it, but we want them to be prepared. We have to do it twice a year, but I think we're going to need to practice a little bit more. And then I do want to do the whole school, have everybody because not right now, not everybody does it because there's certain students that don't ride the bus, but just in case like my students hardly ever rode the bus, but if we have an evacuation drill, um we want to make sure that everybody knows how to leader and me focusing on that. As always, we're just finishing up with our um so we're doing our MRA. We'll be giving the students the week of May 19th through 23rd and the families and that
022coincides with our leadership day on May 23rd as well. So, it's a measurable results analysis. So, it tells how we're doing as well as a school with leader need. So, as families, you'll be able to take that. Um there'll be a short quiz survey that we're going to be doing here at school. Students will get it, teachers will get it, faculty will get it, and plus parents. And then leadership day is on May 23rd. It's a Friday before um Memorial Day weekend. Last year, you guys um were able to have us do a early release day. This year, it was already planned as an early release day. So, we're we're trailblazers. We started off. So, um we are planning that again. So, it'll be from 8:30 to 12. Um so, we'll find out, give you
023more information. We're talking with the leadership class what they'd want to do and we're working on that as we speak. And there student le conferences are going on. Um it was great to see some of the classrooms today and students going in there. They did student le conferences a little different. Megan, you went to one. Both you and Sarah went to one today. Um great opportunity. I think we do have a larger turnout of families that come to student le conferences because the students are truly taking the learning opportunities. Um, we did get some feedback about how some parents of older kids don't like them quite as much, but we still had quite a few older parents as well. Um, but the younger parents, not the younger parents, the students of younger children. Sorry about
024that. Um, definitely like them because they're able to um have their kids really take ownership of their learning and they go through their portfolios. They're some of the reasons why students in conferences are quite successful. But we definitely see a larger turnout from students and it's great to see them there, their families and they go down there, they don't need any direction, they just go down and lead it and some of the classrooms in small groups. So they the kids last year, some of the folks we got was they felt that all these adult eyes were watching them. Now when there's different groups in there and working on them together and simultaneously going on it makes a little bit less stressful for the kids. some of our upcoming events. Early release really day on Thursday.
025Students get out at 12 PM and then we have spring break. Super excited about that. Um April 30th we have the singo um which is bingo but singing. Um you don't have a sing along but it's one of the fundraisers that we approved in the last board meeting to help with our music program so that they can do their music in the park. Steam night. Um kindergarten registration always a popular event on main night. Our leadership students are going to be helping out on that as well on that day. It is a Friday during school time, but the students will be in shifts making missing a few classes, but they're going to be runners with kids. Making sure that connection with our older kids, with our incoming younger kids is always great to have schoolboard
026meeting. I put it on there May 13th. Hopefully that was the right one. It's a second Tuesday. I just went ahead and preemptively did that. Yep. Panther Cub Night. One of my favorite events always from 5 to 6 PM, which is where our newer our newest students, our kindergarters come in and they get an opportunity to play, spend some time in their classroom. It's an hour. Um, and leadership students are going to help with that as well. Leadership Day on the 23rd and then May 30th is our eighth grade dinner and dance. So, it's coming up quick. Like, we have 41 days left. Not that anybody's counting, but that was the number somebody told me the other day. 41 days. It has gone by quick for sure. When is graduation? It is June 9th. Sure
027about that? Yes, I'm positive. It's the Monday, June 9th. Yes, it's 6:00 pm. We're hoping for some We're hoping for a day. Waiting to hear. We're waiting to hear about our day. One day, one one day. What's nice is that the eighth graders still come back and they help out and they participate because we'll be doing um field day and they usually run field day and do those things. So, they don't really get a choice. They do have to come back so much they don't want to leave to go on to high school yet. Good answer. One more day. Yes. All right, that's it. They actually they actually like to come back when they graduate. It's interesting. Um before I get started, I have to shout out the play. Um, I know you all did,
028but it was incredible as always. Um, students were awesome and huge shout out to, um, Erica and Mark and I know Carrie, Elsie, BJ, everybody helps, but um, it's a lot of work and, um, it's just it's really incredible to to be able to come and watch. So proud to pretend it. Okay, I have um mostly some news from the legislature which is in, you know, still in heated session. Um so on March 28th, not that long ago, uh House Ed approved an education transformation bill. It's called H454. You probably heard about it on the news. Came out of House Ed with a 7 to4 vote. Um it is uh House Ed worked with the Vermont Superintendent Association and the Vermont um schoolboards association and really it was the governor's bill but they've massaged it
029and changed it. Um so it came out I heard um that it is supposed to come out of the house I I think this week. Um and it came out of ways and means today with a foundation formula um in place which um we got some news on that. I think the the base rate will be about 13,000 per student with then some added weights for particular um students that need additional supports. Um it means that uh our excess spending goes away the threshold and um I believe I believe um and so it'll um it takes care of the the issue of high school tuition affecting our our excess funding threshold. So that's that's good news. Hopefully it'll provide us with the money that we need to educate our students. We know we spend more
030than 13,000 per student for currently. So, we'll see how that goes. Um, it does offer some gradual changes. I think more a more thoughtful timeline for these big changes in the bill. Um, the recommendations currently there's some class size recommendations, minimums in K1 is 12, I think 2 through 5 is 15 and 6 through 12 now is 18. I heard talk of moving that to 20, but um I think it's currently 18, which which may have an impact on on all of our schools to be honest with you. We don't have we have some classes with 15 in 25. We have some with 12. So what that looks like, we'll have to figure that out. Um it does include some additional members to the commission and their charge will be to come back to the
031legislature by December 2025. So this year with um a a more um informative plan of where essentially schools can consolidate or SUS can cons consolidate. So they're putting some experts on that team that can like some retired superintendent um who kind of are in the field and know where things make sense to um consolidate. So, um, so that should come out of the House this week and then obviously moves to the Senate. So, stay tuned. I'll bring you more information. I I did just want to include this statement from the governor. You may have seen it. He is he has said that he wants to be upfront. He's not going to support adjourning the session without a bill to transform the funding system, establish the new governance structure that is the SUS um or the
032districts and includes the timeline. So he has made that statement. I I I learned um not a scutney meeting last night from Elizabeth that he doesn't get to decide that. So we'll see what happens. See what happens. Um, you've probably heard or maybe not. Um, I'm quick question. Sure. Any idea what's going on with the Senate bill? I have not followed it yet, Bill. There's substantial differences. There's substantial differences. They got a lot of work to do. They do. There's uh was I think the last one. I forget the name of the senator that sponsored the bill. The BO um it'll come to me. I believe that one had um I want to say 12 districts 12 districts um a more a aggressive timeline I believe not a plan to get there I mean there's
033a lot of things to consider when you are consolidating you mean we have leases we have a teacher contract we don't have a statewide calendar um you know there are lots of things that have to be worked through um when you do consolidate and that takes time and to be honest I I know I think they're starting to do some community input sessions but I don't know how how much people pay attention I mean people are busy and I hope people are paying attention because these these changes will impact everybody and I think some of their class sizes were a little bit large I think they were too yeah I think they were based on the picus report yeah so yeah we'll see um It's going to be an interesting couple of weeks. So, um
034the other thing that happened which was uh somewhat stressful over the over the weekend um we heard Friday afternoon from Secretary Saunders. We the superintendent got an email um that came from the secretary that came through the federal government that um is about certifying title six funds around diversity, equity, and inclusion. We were told that we we needed to individually certify that DEI according to their definition is not happening in our schools. Um I think there was a lot of push back and we were informed yesterday that we we would not be required to c to certify. I mean there are a lot of unknowns for what that means um for the districts for superintendents personally. Um but that was pulled back yesterday. The state is going to send a unified letter like some other
035states have have recently done um stating that um we already do certify that we are in compliance with title six and um we are following applicable law and reject conditions or assurances that are not supported by the current law. So that um I was in a meeting today with the secretary and there the federal government um gave 10 days which I think would have been Thursday to certify. They've extended that by 10 days. So we have a little bit of time for legal counsel to craft that letter and get it sent out. So I just wanted to update you on that. A lot going on daily. Uh quarter quarterly financials are in. They're linked here. Let me just pull them up quickly for you. They're in the portal if you want to look at them
036closely. Mary's really good about um putting them in there. See if this will Okay. Um it's not allowing me to scroll. Hold on a minute. Still loading. I will talk while it loads. Um, so the one thing that Larry wanted me to share with you about these are the third quarter financials. Not all of the revenue is in, which is always the case when I'm reporting to you, and it looks really bad, but it's really not. Um, so next year he is going to um we encumber expenses. So you'll see that that those um figures are encumbered. We can do that with expected revenue as well. So in his reports next year, he's going to encumber the revenue so that it looks it's more shows you a more accurate picture. Yeah. But um you heard
037him out on our walk. So um you know we don't have all the state tax revenue in but you are um currently let me get to the last page here. Yeah, those are all the details. Um, so currently it looks like you are um in the red by almost a million dollars, but you're really not. So he's expecting he's Sorry. I should print it out for you. I'll do that next time. So, um, if all of the revenues that we are expecting to come in come in, we are in balance is what he said, which is there'll be probably a slight surplus. Okay. That all works out. And where can we find this? Is it on the SU website somewhere? It's in it's in your board. Yeah. For this month's meeting. If we just click
038on the word financials here, it'll come up. Yes, it'll Okay. So that is I think that's my last slide. Is it? Yeah, that's my last slide. So happy to answer any questions if you have any. Anyone have any questions? Um there was another thing um with the legisl well the legislature with the uh the yield bill. Yes. So I it passed. So but it's not great news for us. It's not Well, it's the it's the buy down, right? So they um did approve a buy down with the lower the tax rates, but it just sets us up um next year to be not in a good place to start next year right from the ED fund. So but that did pass. Yeah. Go. The the joy of giving tax cuts to people was just too
039much to just like past five. So, we will end up being starting off in a deficit. Um, so with our budget with our budget next year. Um, okay. So, uh, if there are no more questions for Christine, I'll move on to items for discussion. Um, John, you wanted to talk about the cell phone bill that is currently in the legislature. Yeah, there were two bills, one in the House, one in the Senate. Uh, needless to say, both chambers a little bit busy with other things. And neither one of them made it uh out. Okay. Made it through crossover. That doesn't mean they're dead at this time. Next year they'll probably bring it up. The only part that that I was concerned with was not so much the capturing the the students phones, although it would
040change the way we do it. Uh was the lack the restrictions on the use of social media by the school itself. That that language I was a little concerned with. So keep I'll keep an eye on it. Okay. Thank you. There are a lot of people concerned about that. I know we already do have a we procedure procedure for cell phones and school. So I think we're doing good on that. Um then we have substitute pay which I believe we talked about a little bit last month but Christine was going to come back to us with some figures. Yes. So I did some digging just around the area to see what people were paying. Um they the rates are right around 125 to 175 130 when Southeast pays $21 per hour. So it's in that
041it's in that ballpark. Um I was asked to bring back kind of budget updates where you're at in your budget with subpay. So over the past couple of years you um in FY22 you budgeted 30,000 you spent 125 in FY23 the budget was 35 you spent almost 19 so you had it again a difference of 16,000 last year the budget was 266 and you spent 31 so you're over a little bit this year your budget is 27625 and you're at 185. So you've got about 8,500 which which will probably get you through the rest of the year. So that's that's where you're at um budgetwise. I think at the SU meeting last last was that last week um the request was for the rate to be increased to $150 a day to keep us competitive
042to attract subs. Um I think if you look around the area at um other jobs that people can do that are um probably subbing is hard. So um I think 150 is a is a reasonable request and that'll be voted on on the SU board. So each local board has to vote because it's their local budget that impacts. Um the hope is that everybody does the same thing because um it greatly helps payroll when it's you need us to take a vote here. Yeah. Yes. Um so and are we the first ones or No did last night and they did 150. So um would anyone like to make a motion to increase soft pay for this for next year? Yes. for next year to $150 a day. Did we budget the same amount for next
043year as this year? That's the one I'm writing. Oh, only because you know similar number. It's a similar number. Yeah. I mean your history other than last year and I don't know why what happened last year sickness or whatever. Um, you've had a a surplus or you haven't the line attendance is pretty good. Yeah. And every school has their subs, but also having one conducive rate would be that if another school needed, right, like we would all be paying the same all schools in our district. So that's another benefit. Yes. It is. I will say that subs like their buildings because they get to know the kids and staff and but we have we have shared in the past. Sure. And currently we're at 125 $25 a day. Yeah. All right. Would anyone like to
044make that motion? I can make a motion. Okay. Sarah made the motion to have subpay at $150 a day starting next year. Is there any further discussion? Could be district. Yeah. Okay. Um all in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Any abstensions? That was unanimous. Thank you. Okay. Um, up next we have the future of four winds. Um, I brought this up because I want to make sure that four winds stays around and so we're trying to make it a sustainable program and um hopefully involve some other schools in this with us. Um, so I don't I think we have some people that are here to participate in that. Yeah. And then I'm gonna I'll introduce M and EMTT um in just a second. And then also um we talked about it on Friday um
045about trying to include another school and what the cost was going to be for that. Um there is a little bit of an upfront cost. It's going to cost us about $600 to include a second school into it. Oh, really? So we're going to go ahead and front that money for this year with the anticipation and the hope that we're going to spend a little bit of money to make a little bit of money and save a little bit of money. Um so we do have another school with NRSU Windsor agreed to do it. So they're excited about it. I talked to their principal Tracy and she's excited and she's going to get a crew together and they're going to come here, get as many people as they can for our May 12th date to
046be able to train with us so they can actually see what it's going to entail. We'll go ahead and spend that money from our grant and then we'll work on it from there. But I want to let Ni and EMTT talk a little bit about four winds so that everybody's familiar with it. I think we're all pretty familiar with it, but I think it's good for them to be able to share a little bit information about the the program. Yeah, right. Yeah, you get you gota be at the podium. Yeah. Well, I don't want to talk too much about it. Is anybody not familiar with wins? Just people online might not be people online. Okay. So, I'll just give a brief overview. So, um this is a program that has been happening as four winds
047infield school since 2013. um and took a break for co and um we've been doing it for the last this is the third year we're back um and four wins before that I think it actually was there's been there was a previous program called elk that was also in the school I know one of our volunteers um was part of that or was involved in that when she was a teacher um So, Four Winds, it's a nonprofit. Um, I'll just read you their their mission here. Um, it's an organization advancing the understanding, appreciation, and protection of the environment through community- based natural science education and research. Um, and what happens is that the nature program, which is what we have in the schools, offers monthly, we do six throughout the year, natural science workshops in
048communities in Vermont, um, and neighboring states for adult volunteers to share nearby nature with school children. Um each each workshop includes natural science information, a variety of hands-on learning activities and um we often get to go outside and um just it's a change in the children's day um and their regular learning which I think is is very important. Um there are over 40 lessons that four winds have has and that's divided into five yearlong courses um which rotate each each year. Um so just as an example those those five courses are ecosystems, patterns in nature, earth which is the one we're doing this year, structure and function and cycles in nature. Um, and yeah, as I said, it gets kids looking at school outside in a new way. Um, and um, they also don't have,
049at least according to my son Ron, there isn't a lot of science curriculum in in the classes because they have so much math and reading to do. Um so it actually you know it it brings a significant you know percentage of their science curriculum um even just good six times throughout the year. Um so what do you have to say? What do I have to say for myself? H I suppose apart from you know the the learning aspect of it um I mean there's the whole community side of it you know that brings parents or you know members of the community or caregivers into the school um which is great for them to be able for us to be able to come into the school. You know a lot of parents never get the chance
050love to spy on their little kids. Um I think on the flip side is I think it's not a bad thing for kids to see their contemporaries parents or community members coming into school um you know good role model kind of you know thing um you know in a community I grew up in a in suburban Dublin where you you knew everybody who lived around you saw them every single day you know in a rural setting like this it's possible that you never see some of these kids, you know, you won't know them when they're adults. They won't know you. And I think, you know, it is important to to have that in a community, you know, because isn't that what a community is about? It's watching out. It's seeing it's seeing that 19year-old kid
051who's an adult now, you know, doing something stupid at the gas station and saying, you know, I know you already. know your parents, you know, remember me. Otherwise, we're all just floating around like little snowflakes and nobody knows who anybody else is, you know. Um, so yeah, anything that nurtures community in any way, obviously, I think we're all in favor of. So, what does it actually cost us? We did a little back of envelope kind of math here. We have 15 volunteers at the moment. It works out at around $19 per year per child that we affect, you know, cuz we only go to what? Fifth grade. Yeah. And then when you break that down to what that what works out as, you know, per session that we come in, it's $3.15 for that class,
052you know, for that hour and a half, you know, and the reason is is because we have 15 volunteers and counting hopefully with the other school coming in. So it's, you know, value for money. It doesn't get better because you have all of that the heavy lift. It's for free, you know. So it's it's not a bad thing obviously. So yeah, you know, less than $20 for the year and and and hopefully getting less if we bring in the other schools. So, you know, you don't get much for that. Yeah. Yeah. It's it's great um that Windsor is is interested. Um, I know it's hard, you know, we've we've worked hard to to re revamp the volunteers since co and we're I feel like we're at a fairly good place right now and hopefully we'll
053get maybe some new kindergarten parents next year. Um, I hope that Windsor is able to find the volunteers. Um, I think that's, you know, that's the hard piece to it, I think. um you know what as as you know it's it's a good value but if you don't have those volunteers then it can't work. So any questions? Um do you see any other ways to um you to involve even more? Like would would each school that joins on would they be another $600 like or I had to break I don't have it in front of me. It it the cost goes down when you add more schools. Yeah. the cost per school is less if you have more I'm thinking about like Reading Elementary like that's nearby. Um I've got a couple really good connections
054in a school district just south of us. So I know a principal there and a curriculum director really well. Um so we're also working on that school district as well to see if they're interested um and see if we can you know broaden it a little bit more throughout the region. So yeah. Yeah. Heartland used to do it. Yeah. Yeah. The hard part is the volunteers. I mean, we're just lucky to have a very committed group of parents and community members that do it, but I mean, H Heartland just couldn't keep the parents, enough parents, and they literally ended up with one and they had to shut the program down. So, I mean, we've just been really lucky to retain and grab a few new ones every year. But I mean it's it's not an
055easy I mean it would require quite a few committed people like twice sometimes some people do four times a month so it's a big commitment. They do have um in H Heartland um I was there when we had it and I was very sad when it left. Um as I was sharing earlier my husband when my kids are little the four winds volunteer so I know the value of the program. Um the their PTO is growing in Hartland. So that might be a connection I can talk to Lindsay about. Um just seeing the PTO might kind of help find the volunteers. So I'll check with her John to for the program to be successful to get the volunteers. We need to figure out some method to reach out to not necessarily parents. I think I'm
056the only one that isn't a parent that's in the in it. And I'm not sure a lot of people and we got a pretty significant retired community just across the belly over there. And um I think if you if we can top that resource I think including Windsor. I mean that that I think it's a resource that's underutilized. Yeah, I have I've wondered about that. I think last year I did put it in front forum. Um twist somebody's arm, you know. So, you know, we we a lot of it's word of mouth. We tried to put that that word out. But yeah, I mean definitely like if everybody can, you know, if anybody comes across people that would be interested in volunteering in the school, we would love to have more volunteers, you know. Oh,
057so the cost is about another $600 per and then I know we have a we have a grant now. Are there other grants that we're looking into for the future? Y. Okay. All right. Because I just I think it's a great program and I want to make sure it fits around. Okay. That's great. Thank you. Thank you both for coming here. Okay. Um up next we have a retirement. Yes. So we do have a retirement. Mr. A, our beloved science teacher, is officially retiring this year. He's not teasing us again. He's not teasing us this year. So, I I actually had my phone out just in case last year when we did this. He did send me a message and I didn't know who it was. Um, and we were doing some other things. So,
058um, yes, he is retiring for sure. We have it up on school spring as an anticipated opening because I was waiting to find out for sure get board approval that we're accepting his retirement um, so that we can get a new science teacher in there. So it'll be effective at the end of the school year. So you need the board to vote on to make a motion. Would anyone like to make a motion to post an official opening for a middle grade? Oh, to accept his Okay, we'll do that first. To accept Mr. Ba's retirement. You don't accept anything. Sorry. Um any discussion? I know we'll all be sad to see Mr. Vadone, he's like one of the when you think about middle school in Weathersfield, you think about Mr. Von. And obviously, I mean,
059our science curriculum is taught very well in I'm sure has something wind as well, even at early grade levels, but he does an excellent job on our DT BT cap testing with our fifth and eighth grade science and do a great job on that. So, he'll definitely be missed and uh we wish him good luck in his retirement. He does something with trees or something, right? He like grows trees. Christmas tree. So if you need a Christmas tree place to go, you just got to drive a little bit. Yeah, he unbelievably drives like an hour and a half each way to get here. A tree shoved in his car, too. He's got a little scoop, so it's pretty nice. Okay. Um, so all in favor of accepting Mr. Va's retirement, say I. Okay. And then
060do you need us to approve? No, because that's approved, then you can do this. Yep. Okay. Um then we have a parental leave. Yes. So we have one of our um wonderful newer teachers this year um Brianna Kvakus who is having a baby. So exciting for her. Um so she is due in the middle of May. Um so she plans on going out. She plans on working up until she possibly can't anymore and then she will be taking the rest of the school year off in the summer and promises maybe that she'll be back in the fall ready to go. So, she's excited. Um, she's having a good roll. I hope that's okay. I'm saying that. I think it's it's public knowledge. So, super excited for her. Um, that's, you know, a blessing anytime that
061anybody's having a baby. So, okay. Um, how do how does the sub situation for? So, we actually have a sub lined up Harley. We have this really amazing teacher that retired last year that is going to come in and sub. So, um, we are, so with our subpay, we obviously are paying her sub, but we're offering her a contract to do subpay. So, she gets since she's doing lesson plans. I mean, Mrs. Quacus has done general lesson plans, but Mrs. Fo will have to do more lesson plans. She'll have to do grading, all that stuff. We'll bump up her rate a little bit. She has to be certified. She's a longterm. Yeah. Okay. Um, so I will take a motion to approve. Not that we can deny her, but one more. You approve rental lead
062for Mrs. M. Mrs. Kamakus. Mrs. Kbakus. Megan made the motion. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. I. And that is unanimous. All right. Thank you. She can go ahead and have that basically. All right. Well, I'll tell her it's okay now. It does seem funny that the board has to approve that. on the contract that you can extend that approval. So that's why we do it. It can go up to I think it's like a year or she's taking she very well. I mean she could have planned a little bit better but she working on her skills a little bit better. Um and then we have a resident. Yes. So um we do have one of our teachers. So Miss Campellah who is new to us this year. um she's teaching first
063grade. Um she has the opportunity. She applied to go into the Peace Corp and was accepted. So she has a two-year stint in the Peace Corp and so she's having a reservation, but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for her. So I said, "Go for it." Um there, you know, you can always come back and teach later on. There'll always be a home for you here at Weatherfield. So she is officially resigning for her position for now. And and she was a first grade teacher. She's a first grade teacher. Yeah. And so um she's gonna be teaching English. Okay. With the score. Okay. Um, I will take a motion to accept Miss Canola. Miss Cano's uh hopefully temporary, but we'll say resignation for now. I'll make a motion. Okay, that was Sarah. Uh,
064any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. And we'll post her job. It's an anticipated one as as well right now. So, we'll post that officially. Okay. And then up next we have algebra. Okay, so algebra, it's perfect timing today because I've been doing a little bit of ground work on it and so we talked about it at our admin meeting today. So algebra right now are some of our eighth graders who are eligible to take algebra, they travel every day to Windsor and then they miss out on our um advisory period in a first grade class because that's when our math class has already grade math classes and then they take a bus and come back here and then still miss a little bit of times because our schedules don't totally align. So
065what we're proposing is we have an amazing teacher here that can teach algebra. Um, so what we would like to do is, um, because the research that I've done is that if you take algebra, then the next grade level, obviously the next class, as long as you're successful in algebra, high school will accept you to take geometry. You don't get high school credit for it. I've talked to several different schools. It doesn't matter what you took it or not. Most kids that are that driven and are going to be taking algebra as an eighth grader are going to take three years in math. So I Your son is in that situation. My kids are in that situation. and lots of kids are in there where they're taking three years in that. Um, one of the
066things though that we've found out through talking with some of the high schools is that because they're taking algebra now, they're missing out on some of those basic eighth grade skills. There's a whole geometry section that they're missing. It's building on their math skills to go on to high school. So, I had a really good discussion with the math coach um for high school at Woodstock. Um, what we would like to do is have keep our eighth graders here, take regular math, regular eighth grade math, so they're getting those basic skills, and then those kids that are eligible to take math or to take algebra, meet that criteria, would take algebra as one of their electives. So, it would truly be a choice if they do it. They're not going to miss out then on
067all the things we do in the morning. Right now when we have um late start days because we have a snow delay or we have testing or Windsor's doing something the kids miss out on class. So when you add up the days we had a student last year that talked to me an eighth grade student and said hey you know Mr. Mars I have missed like 34 days of instruction because of this this this and this that I would be getting at Windsor. So we wanted to try to alleviate that. What we would do is Miss Stilson would still be teaching and she would still have an intervention class. She would still be the teacher on record, but the and she would be there to support the students when they need it, but it will
068be would be a self-paced class through BTVC. So, it' be an online course which is accepted through all the high schools. So, they'll definitely be able to move on to geometry without a problem. And that's the one one way that they can guarantee whether they're going to Woodstock, they're going to Windsor, they're going to Hanover, wherever that the kids are going, they'll be able to have that skill and be able to do that. So what we would like to do is propose we would like to do anou with the union so that Miss Wilson will be teaching that she's still the teacher on record and she can still communicate and help with the kids but it would primarily be through VT and VLC. So she'd sort of be the guide on the side still be
069able to do intervention. Those kids are going to be self motivated. They still have a teacher through VTLC that they meet with. They can ask questions with but then they can get direct responses from Miss Stilson if they're having questions about the program. I've known two students, several students that we've had have gone through ETVC and been successful with it and then still have that eighth grade math to be able to get that skills. So, the cost is about $400 per student. So, it's a relatively low cost for us. We're anticipating looking at the numbers. I don't even know how many for sure because Miss Stilson, we're looking at those for how many kids, but the nice thing is we'll be keeping our kids here on campus all day long. We'll say about busing as
070well. It's save busing be saving a lot of things and kids aren gonna be missing out on activities and we try it for a year and see and you know Miss Wilson may decide that she it's too much and we'll go from there but I can't see her saying that. Um, and I think kids are driven, especially some of our math kids are really driven and want those higher academics are going to embrace having that as an option because we have we offered that online component last year when we were trying to figure out an alternative for Spanish in a foreign language and kids work really hard and then there will be a teacher there that'll also help guide them with it. So, I think it's a win-win situation, but I just need to because
071it was something was set up prior to me being here and prior to me. Yeah. I think the board vote I think the boards voted on it. Do you remember that? Yeah, I do remember voting on it. I needed to come to you. Yeah, there was there weren't any other options. It was either they go to Windsor or they didn't get it. They didn't get it. Yeah. This was kind of before the whole COVID thing when online school became much more acceptable. Um I my son took um well he took his while while he was here he took his geometry through BTBLC so Cooper and um he also took um during the co year he took um calculus AB through BTBLC math guy. Yeah he's in electrical engineering now. Um but uh yeah so um
072he really he did well with BTBLC. he did a couple other remote school things. Um well, I won't mention their names, I guess, but uh didn't he did not, you know, do as well in those because BTLC just seems to be really set up quite well for teaching. Yeah, for sure. Um so, have you gone to the teachers union yet or Yes, I already did all my homework, my pre-work. I was being proactive and talked to them and said, "This is what I'd like to do. How do we make this happen?" And so we sat down with Mrs. Stilson. We sat down with uh our board president here at Windsor or with Weatherfield, sorry. And we talked about what we would need to do and this is what we came up with. Okay. So they're
073on board. They're on board. Vote on we will. Um and um and then just financially so it's $400 per student. We still have we have that grant from the unanimous anonymous donor. So, we're going to go and use that money because it's was originally earmarked for those type of things. So, it fits right in there. Okay. How much longer? How much more money do we have? Um, we have we have some still in there. So, yeah. Trying to get it used for Yeah. I like the movie was or the money was slotted for that. I want to use it for that as soon as we the whole academic year. It's it's a good bargain. Yeah. Okay. Um I mean yeah I was there for the original discussion and you know we just main goal of
074it was just to be able to offer algebra for the kids. There was the bonus of with them going to Windsor that they did get high high school credit for it. Um but like Brian said it's very true like if kids are advanced in their math they're not going to like take two years of high school math and then quit. They're not going to need this this one credit. They're gonna take four years of high school. Yeah. And I'm gonna add Can I add most schools don't take it? Most high schools within our area. I think Windsor does take it and so they would only have to take two years, but places like Woodstock, they still require them to take three years. Yeah. So they would have to take algebra as a geomet. So they
075would be in geometry when they start. So it puts them at the next level of what? So, and I asked, does it matter if it's on a middle school campus or a high school campus? And they said, no, it doesn't matter where they did it. They're going to put them in the next level, but they want to make sure that they're academically strong in that because we've seen some gaps in that. So, um, we did talk, sorry, we did talk about the high school experience and right now where that classroom is positioned in a time that the students that are eighth graders aren't really getting that exposure to a high school campus. That was part of the rationale, too, because I spoke with Kate Ryan over at Windsor and she said where the kids are
076at in that class, what they're doing, they're not getting much of a high school experience anyways. They they shuttle in right as school starts. They shuttle out right after the first period. So, they're not getting that atmosphere of being out of high school either. Yeah. Okay. Um, so I mean I my feeling is is just that the kids should be able to take algebra if they're at that level and I think as long as they're able to take it. Uh, and BTVLC is a very good program, I'm okay with doing that and trying it out for a year. Um, so I'll take um I'll take a motion to approve um using BTVC next year for our algebra programs. So move. John made the motion. Any further discussion? All right, I'll take a vote. All in
077favor say I. I. [Music] Okay. All right. Um, do we need an executive session? No. Okay. We're setting the next agenda. As Brian already let us all know, it's May 13, 6:30. Um, let's see. What do we have? We had um on the work plan um a curriculum implementation update from the instructional coaches. Okay. Sarah, you've met with the teachers, but we've had that on the agenda. Yep. We can have see how they're feeling for as we head into the end of year. Yeah. Yeah. And we have um under items for discussion, we need to approve the tax anticipation note. so that we can borrow money if we need to. So that's on there. But that's that's it. And I also was thinking we should probably talk about our um our board retreat. Yes. Next
078month. Yeah. Figure out what we're going to do for that. And hopefully I'll have a hiring update. Hopefully by then. Hopefully no more resignations or retirements. And then we scheduled um I don't think I mean we were kind of iffy I don't think we'll be done the star by then and so we we do the student broke report in June or to have it ready. Um it depends on the window opens up um soon but that I don't know if we'll have it done but we can put it there. We don't have it ready. We can do it the next month. Okay. That'll be our retreat. Yeah. Okay. Great. Okay. All right. have anything else they want in there for next month. Uh we'll probably have another legislative update. Oh yeah, we will. Everything will
079be decided by not quite. I don't think quite yet, but we should know something. Our window opens May 12th. May 12th. Okay. No, we won't have a student. We won't do that in June. Okay. Got a message saying no way. That's weird. I think that happened last year, too. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. I will take a motion to adjourn. Madam sounds like before we adjourn like the opportunity for all of us to wish Mr. Maris a happy 50th birthday. Oh, I didn't even know. Just today. No, no, I'm not turning 50. I'm already past 50. Oh, what birthday? It's my daughter's my daughter's 15th birthday. That's okay. No, it's my daughter's 15th birthday tomorrow. So in culture big celebration it's like a mini it's a mini wedding. So that's okay. Thank you though. 53 I'm old.
080Okay. Um so I will take a motion to adjurnn. Okay. All in favor say I. I. Thank you everyone. Thank you.