001Mr. Woodson. Okay. Mr. Pippen. Thank you. We're going to start with the student representative reports. We have our Harding representative here. Um good evening everyone. Um throughout April, we had a successful spring dance hosted by the student council. We also had our parent report card conference, which was on April 22nd. And our Medical Career Academy hosted an incoming student night. Incoming ninth graders were able to learn about the program. They toured the school, and they met with upperclassmen currently in the medical program. And they also got to meet with the future teachers. The seniors took a 26 field picture on Friday, May 1st for the yearbook. And they also made some teacher appreciation videos on um last week as teachers appreciation week is coming up soon. This was a great way for them to show
002their appreciation to our amazing teachers. We also have the seniors who are also having a commitment celebration on Friday, May 1st. Um we will have an alumni from Harding. Her name is Bobby Brown. And there will be a senior slideshow, food, and a DJ for the celebration as well. The Harding auditorium is getting renamed on May 18th at 6:00 p.m. It will be soon named Leichman's Dubois auditorium. Parents, teachers, um students, alumni, and they can sign up to be able to attend. Students from the medical program are taking their CNA certifications exams this week. And our students will also be taking their AP exams next week. The exams will be for chemistry and government and poli- politics. That's it. Thank you. Thank you. Um do you have any births online? I don't think they have
003one. Thank I don't see anybody. Okay. So, we're going to move on to public comment. Um we're going to start with Lisa Balzano. Um you'll have 3 minutes to speak. And um once you you can turn the microphone on too. Okay. Oh, thank you. Good evening, members of the Board of Education, interim Superintendent Avery, and members of the executive cabinet. I stand before you today as a concerned faculty member, a delegate at large of the Bridgeport Education Association, and a proud Bridgeport resident. I'm here to express my deep concern regarding the uncertainty surrounding the location of the Bridgeport Military Academy for the upcoming school year. As of today, we still do not know where our school will be. That uncertainty is not just inconvenient, it is deeply disruptive. It creates real stress and anxiety for
004our teachers, our students, our staff, and our families. At BMA, our mission is to develop young people who are committed to service above self, students who grow into leaders in their communities and beyond. And we are living that mission every day. Dozens of our graduates, which I have listed here, are serving or have served in the United States Armed Forces, law enforcement, in emergency medical services, and in fire departments. Three of our own alumni are currently serving as Bridgeport police officers. And we have one former student here tonight, a Navy veteran and current New Haven police officer. This is not just a school, it is a pipeline of service, leadership, and pride for the city of Bridgeport. And yet, since opening in 2013, BMA has been forced to move three times. That level of instability
005would challenge any school, but for a program built on structure, discipline, and community, is especially damaging. In recent years, we have also been forced to shrink. Our freshman classes have been reduced dramatically, resulting in 175 fewer students enrolled, and nearly 1,000 students who chose BMA but were never given a seat. These are students who wanted this path, this structure, and this future, and we had to turn them away. So, I ask you, how can we continue to build leaders when we ourselves are left without a foundation? Tonight, I'm urging you to provide clarity regarding a stable, long-term home for BMA. Our students deserve consistency, our staff deserves stability, our families deserve transparency, and our community deserves the continued growth of a program that is clearly making a difference. Please do not allow another week to
006pass without a clear plan. If BMA must relocate, we should be moving together into a facility that is comparable to our current space. One that reflects the same standards of cleanliness, technology, and modern learning environments. BMA deserves more than uncertainty. Give BMA a home so we could continue building the students who will serve our own community. Thank you. Thank you. Uh next, we have Arun Kadam. All right. Good evening, members of the Board of Education, Interim Superintendent Avery, and members of the executive executive cabinet. As a faculty member at BMA, I'm also here to express additional concerns about BMA's future. There's been no communication since September regarding our location for the upcoming school year. While I understand that decisions related to a potential relocation to the Fairchild Wheeler campus are dependent on legislative action, the
007absence of transparency with staff, and more importantly with our students and their families, is deeply concerning. At this time, our students and families believe that BMA will be located at the Fairchild Wheeler campus next year. However, this is is a promise that can currently be made. And that misinformation has gone unaddressed. Why have there been no direct conversations with BMA families regarding building plans and contingencies? At the time I accepted my position, I was also explicitly told that 160 Warren Street Avenue would be BMA's permanent location. Unlike other schools that occupied the swing space, BMA's name was prominently displayed on the building and students painted murals on the walls to commemorate graduating classes. This understandably reinforced the belief that the site was permanent. Therefore, it was profoundly confusing and unsettling when they were told when
008later we were told that we would relocate to the new Bassick. Despite these challenges, BMA has continued to excel. Our color guard has participated in numerous graduations, parades, and ceremonial events. Our NJROTC teams have competed and won tri-state competitions. Additionally, we are the only school in the state of Connecticut that has a drum and bugle corps. Our students were recently recognized by Khan Academy for their academic achievements and BMA was honored by Magnet Schools of America as a school of distinction. While attending this national celebration, I was struck by just how unique Excuse me. Unique BMA truly is. I could identify only one other school in the entire US with a model comparable to ours. Given these accomplishments, I must ask, why is BMA being treated as an afterthought? Our staff, students, and families deserve
009transparency, consistent communication, and respect. We have earned it. Thank you very much for your attention. Thank you. Travis Brewster. Good evening, board members. My name is uh Lieutenant Commander Travis Brewster. I'm the senior naval science instructor at Bridgeport Military Academy. I'm here to speak as a senior representative for the Navy side of the school and we are the largest pathway at the school with over 1,500 complete uniforms and averaging over $300 per uniform, multiple multiples of 625 separate uniform items, 98 drill rifles, seven swords, three classrooms with over 300 textbooks, and two gun safes, the Navy footprint is quite large, and the majority of which was provided for and supplied by the Navy since 2019, whenever I came on board. Navy funding accounts for roughly $34,000 in uniform replacement purchase that the city Bridgeport does
010not have to pay for, $3,600 in field trip money we get reimbursed for, and 90 $9,500 per year in alterations and dry clean. That's annually, and they've also paid over $550,000 and half of our instructor salaries. That's a total, since I've been on board, of $836,000 in direct payments to the city Bridgeport, and that doesn't count updated textbooks we get every 3 years, supplies, and curriculum. If we continue to drop numbers from our student population, the Navy will remove one instructor authorization, which means we will have to pay for it either out of pocket, or we'll have to uh terminate that person. And if one of the And if the numbers do not improve, the Navy will pull our funding and give it to one of the 10 schools awaiting funding in area one. That's
011not nationwide, that's just our area. Since I've been at BMA, we've gone to numerous field trips to different locations, including Groton Naval Submarine Base, the United States Naval uh United States Coast Guard Academy, the New London Coast Guard Station, the Janus House for Battered Women in Danbury, where we do uh cleanup uh as part of our community service. We've marched in six parades, presented the colors at six college graduations, seven BMA graduations, five of of the Bridgeport public school convocations, and several 9/11 memorial ceremonies, and we've participated in over 10 drill competitions, and we win awards every time we go. Now, for the second year, we're being told to pack up all of our equipment and uniforms to relocate to a new building. It is nearly May, and we do not have a definite location
012or time for executing a move. The Navy instructors were on an 11-month contract, meaning we're not working in July, and we're expected to fit cadets with the Navy uniforms in August during our new cadet orientation week. So, as we have to unpack everything. Planning such an evolution takes time and effort, not just on our part, but also on the part of our cadets who volunteer over the summer to help us. Where we go does matter, but what matters more is we have a definite decision as to where we're going as soon as possible so that we can make a coherent plan to execute the relocation. I wanted to point out that the Navy does not allow for certain items, specifically the rifles, the swords, and the safes to be moved by non-Navy personnel, as if
013one of those items gets lost, I get charged with a crime, and I can be charged with a felony and go to jail for it. Therefore, I implore you to make a decision today and announce the decision as soon as possible so we can plan accordingly. The NJROTC is an award-winning unit, and every student attending BMA is in our unit at one point or another, and so the entire school is counting on you to get this right. Thank you. Thank you. And lastly, Vanessa Arroyo. I am reading a letter on behalf of Captain William Glass Jr., US Navy Retired, who was our former instructor for the NJROTC program. To whom it may concern, I am pleased to submit this letter in strong support of Bridgeport Military Academy's request for space for the 2026-2027 academic year.
014By way of background, I am a retired US Navy captain with 26 years of service and was recruited to join the BMA staff in the fall of 2013 as the first naval science instructor. During my first 5 years at the school as head of the Navy Junior ROTC program, I witnessed the transformation of dozens of students into confident young leaders who are ready to graduate and serve their community and their country. Many went into the military, and some are still serving. And without the opportunities given to them at BMA, this outcome would have not have been possible. In the years since I have left, I have followed the school closely and have seen its academic offsprings strengthened, its reputation gained recognition, and the Junior ROTC program achieved full funding status from the Navy. We need
015the kind of young people who are attracted to and graduate from BMA to go into our community and our military as well-educated and dedicated leaders. Please, do not deny current and future future students an opportunity of a lifetime to experience what only BMA can provide, service above self. Very yours truly, William O. Glass Jr., Captain, US Navy, retired. Thank you. We're going to move on to the chairperson's report. That's me. Um >> [laughter] >> I just want to say last week our city council, virtual city council, had a public hearing on education funding and I just want to um uh thank all those who came out. A lot a lot of our executive cabinet and and staff members in in the in the district came out and a a lot of our students came out
016and it was just uh seeing the students and hearing from the students was an amazing um experience again cuz our students have been uh consistently speaking on behalf of this budget and so I just want to thank everybody who was who came out and submitted testimony last week. Uh we're still in the waiting game but um well, you know, hopefully we'll have some answers soon. Uh the virtual Board of Education has issued an RFP for superintendent search. Um that has gone out and uh the uh search committee will be in a few weeks to, uh, discuss any candidates we have once we have them. And, um, do you want to acknowledge a staff member? Yeah. Give me one, uh, moment to get him in the room. I love Louisiana. All righty. Um, while we wait,
017anybody have questions for me? Mrs. Kalogridis. Yeah. Why Why is the agenda agenda so scant? And they're concerning with They've got all these things going on. There's like no agenda items. You got 20,000 students, over 2,000 employees, and basically got nothing to talk about. We have the budget update we're going to be talking about today, and that's the, um, actionable item we have. Or, there's no actionable items today. But, we have a budget update that we're going to be talking about today. And this >> We haven't had, um, committee meetings in the past 2 weeks. Yeah, but they should be >> So, uh, All right. Good day. Just something still 20,000 students going to Yeah. Network company. Do you want to find it? I got Uh-huh. You want to put it on the map? This
018one. I got >> We're doing something else for him. All right. All right. Thank you. You'll see. Hi, Mr. Hatchett. Hello, there. Um so, if you want to come I'm good. on up. Uh we found out that this is Mr. Hatchett's last week here. He is a facility here at Aqua, but has been in the district for 25 years. Um he is 23 years here at Aqua. He's kept this building open for us. Uh keeps it spotless and sets it up for our meetings. Um we know that you're a graduate of Harding as well, so you're invested in Bridgeport, you're from Bridgeport. And uh we just want to thank you and acknowledge you for all the years of service here. And Happy Happy retirement. >> [laughter] >> Please, Albert. Thank you so much. Can I
019get a group picture before I get in there? You guys want to get in the picture? We'll all fit in the middle. >> [laughter] >> Are we ready? Let's meet right here. Down here? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Yes. Yes, sir. Thank you. Yeah. Uh Mr. Traynor. Yeah, I I just I mean, you said all these things, but I just I have my own little anecdote here. I got stuck here one night with a car that died. And I just Everyone else had left. And he took me home. That's commitment. I was I was not on the board. I was still still a teacher. I was These were the meetings went till 11:00 or 12:00 at night. And I had no way to get home, and he said, "Just hang around. When I lock
020up, I'll give you a ride home." That's the kind of guy he is. Just a wonderful >> enjoys his retirement. >> example of of Bridgeport's employees. Uh we will uh move on to committee reports. Um the operations committee will be meeting next Wednesday, May 6th at 5:30 at City Hall, room 305. Um expecting some budget updates um by then. I believe the state legislative session ends that week that that that day at midnight. >> that day though. Um you know, we'll see what happens. Um but any referrals other than the obvious budget um talk. Um I have a referral. I don't know if it's appropriate to operations or the personnel committee of the whole. Um but it occurred to me on reading one of the letters that we received about uh Bridgeport military uh that
021um we had discussed over the last year reinstitute reinstituting um a report we used to get at every board meeting on new hires resignations and retirements. Um and we don't I I would like to refer that >> Mhm. to the that committee, operations committee, I guess. I was thinking is that policy? Is that operations? Is it personnel? But we used to get that at every board meeting and we could see what was happening within the district. The movement. >> With regard to staff staffing. Mhm. And we sort of feel like we're operating in the blind. And when I read that that letter, I realized, "Wow, I have no idea what's going on there." Um because and that that just encapsulated it at every meeting. You could see who retired, who resigned, and who's who's leaving
022us. >> Mhm. Um who's been hired on. And it was just a quick snapshot of what's happening in the district at every board meeting. And it was public. It was out here for everyone to take a look at. And it included names, schools, salaries positions. Yeah, just I know what you're talking about. I remember. So I I would like to refer that to that committee to see what we have to do to make it so again. Mr. Chair. Uh Dr. Evans. >> Do you have you have a sample of that report? That'd be great. Uh >> Well, I'll send it to you. Or There's There's some legal things that's changed about what you present. So, we have a big pencil, but I'll look through and get legal on that, but I I think I kind
023of know what you're talking about. I've done it seen it done in a in a different way, but for sure. If if you know I could produce a sample, that would be great. >> Yeah, you used to come here and you'd go, "Oh my god, look, she's leaving us." You know what I mean? It was sort of like you could see who's leaving. You Okay. You you We'll get it to you. Well, I mean, I see all the old-timers head shaking over there. They all know what I'm talking about. It's not just me. Everybody knows what I'm talking about. Okay. It was sort of like how you kept track of of who's leaving us, who's not, who who moved, who switched. Okay. Um any other referrals to operations? Okay. Instructional Support Services Committee? Um we
024uh If if if anybody didn't notice, did not meet last week because uh we were it was Bridgeport Day in Hartford, and we decided that by the time anybody got back from Hartford, it would be 7:00 or 8:00 at night, and too late to have a meeting, and there was nothing critical on the agenda. Um we just uh learned of a field trip on Friday that was too late to get on this agenda directly, so I guess it'll appear on the next board agenda. Okay. Um but uh and there are some things uh there is a uh we are going to be looking at the next the sped reorganization at the next uh ISS meeting, and we are going to be looking at um uh a um idea I have on how we take what
025we've done with the student participation in the advocacy committee this spring and try and build build on that in the fall starting in the fall, so that it becomes part of what we do uh throughout the year uh because we will again want to rely on student help in the spring next spring, but it also should be part of what we do as a district, in my opinion. So, I want to build on that. Any referrals to instruction and support for business, Mr. Yeah, um thank you, Madam Chair. Um Mr. Chair, I will email you, but I like to get in some information because um about the PAC PTA so and budget is things that behind, and we got a deadline so the PAC leaders and they have to spend, you know, the money and
026so few things that I have to bring it to the committee. You want a You want a financial update? Yes. Mr. Hughes, did you get that? He's He'll email to you, he said. >> I'll email. Do And your meeting date is what day? Look, it's the third Wednesday. Third Wednesday? Could be the fourth Wednesday. Fourth Wednesday is the 27th, sorry. So, I may actually call a special meeting before that if necessary, but right now the next regular meeting would be May 27th. Okay. Any other referrals? We'll move on to uh the policy committee, Mr. Woodson. He's I just thought the policy committee has a special meeting scheduled for a Wednesday, April 29th at 6:30. We'll be uh We'll be talking to um either Jody or or or um Nick. And um they will be uh
027talking about some recommendations that they made about um our uh 2000 series policy. So, hopefully all people go over any questions that they have for when they Wednesday special meeting. Thank you. Referrals? I none. Um, we'll look at our ad hoc. We'll go with Mr. Benham. Facility master plan committee. We will meet um Wednesday No, not Thursday. Sorry. Thursday um this Thursday to get a the update with Mr. David Garcia. And also I believe Dr. Avery correct me about the BSC and BMA. We'll do that tomorrow on Wednesday. Wednesday. All right. Then the policy committee? You can do it on yours. Yeah, Wednesday. >> Let's do it Thursday. >> Thurs- yeah. Thursday, sorry. Thursday. It's going to be at 3:05 to 5:30. Fine. 5:30. >> 5:30. On April 30th. Any referrals? Mr. Medina. Um please
028board, you guys can correct me at any point in time. I just wanted to speak. I shared a letter with Dr. Avery months ago and also with the Bassick chair concerning a possible um uh naming a the gymnasium um the Bassick High School. Um I'm here in behalf of Peter Shanas Jr. Um I've tried to do this collaboratively, but now I'm going to just, you know, throw my the fire in the my own self. Um this is Peter Shanas Sr. He was born in 1943 here in Bridgeport. Elias Howe graduate, Maplewood Junior High School graduate, Bassick Bassick High School graduate in 1961. Um played basketball, baseball, tennis, taught from 1967 to 2010 uh in here in Bridgeport. So, I want to figure out if that's where it should be in his committee with uh it
029should be under operations. So, thank you manager, that's what I was here. So, if we can start opening that conversation, I have the family ready uh to come and speak in his behalf. I have uh got some input around of what can be possible. Uh I tried to reach out to Mr. George Garcia also to try to open that dialogue and um so, here I am making it public that that's what I'm requesting that we can get something planned uh behind this. Uh Okay. Um we could look at it at the operations committee. There is a specific policy on naming um that includes uh if it goes through the committee and three names have to be presented. Uh um there's a specific policy that I don't have it on top of my head, but we
030could talk about it in the committee. >> Yes, work on it. Thank you. Good sir. Dr. Avery? Naming what facility? I I didn't catch the facility. Oh. Bascik something? In Bascik. So, we have a few options to to to bring before the board itself that I spoke to the family and I've been trying to get information. He worked together in uh Bascik basketball and baseball and everything with um Give me that last name that we just named uh the the the basketball field Bascik. Bernie. Uh Lofton. So, it might be the gymnasium possible to actually have the gymnasium. There's other there's a fitness room because he was high into other sports. So, so I've talked to a few people to try to get options of what can because the family just wants his legacy to
031move forward with Bascik and everything that he's done over the years and everything. So, uh they've waited long enough um and I think that I just want to make sure that I I'm going to speak about it every single meeting until we get this rolling. I appreciate you. Um any other items for the policy committee or the um ad hoc committee for fiscal year's master plan? The ad hoc committee for committee for advocacy, Mr. Drayer. Um yes, we we've had a busy few weeks. Um we had an extraordinarily successful meeting with the legislative delegation, I think. The turnout was good. Uh the legislators were um yeah, in a good frame of mind. Um they agreed with our positions on both full funding of the ECS and the need to establish a new source of revenue
032to sustain that funding. Um and agreed to work with us. I think they enjoyed uh the meeting themselves and were motivated to go out and fight for uh our our needs. Um which was our goal at the meeting to to sort of get them fired up. It was a pep rally of sort of, uh if you will, to sort of get us ready for the last few weeks of pushing up in Hartford. Um subsequent to that meeting, um it was absolutely clear that the leadership up in Hartford and leadership I define as the governor and the leaders in the house and the leaders in the Senate are scrambling because they're feeling that kind of pressure from Bridgeport and and our uh sister cities and towns around the state who are being being active, uh that
033something needs to happen on this issue in this short session. Um and they're trying to figure out how to make it happen. Um we uh then had a good hearing, public hearing before the city council. Not as big as I would have hoped, but a good hearing. Um and I think a good response from the city council. Um and I think that uh reflects the uh collaborative attitude that we've worked I think Bridgeport has been more uh unified than it ever has uh in its message to do something for the schools. And I hope that part uh you know works to getting a better offer out of the city. Uh I think it will, but we'll see. Um, and we need to keep pushing there, and I think that um this week's focus needs to
034continue to be on the state, but we need to turn our focus after that to our city council people. Um, and uh make sure that they're uh so inclined to increase their offer, too. Um uh the um so uh but our main effort last week and starting last week with the state has been, and um I was thinking about it as I listened to the uh report from the uh folks from the BMA that spoke to us tonight. Um all of these things depend on resources. I mean, we do have a a sticky relationship with the State Department of Ed, which impedes some of the stuff that we'd like to do. Um, but the primary problem we have is a lack of resources to do the things we want to do. And um you know,
035in the last week we've asked people to make three phone calls to the governor, the speaker, and the president of the Senate and to post something on social media. Now, there are a few troglodytes like myself who may not be particularly adept at social media, but even I can get on Facebook and make a posting to the governor, the speaker, and the president of the Senate saying that you need to do this. Um, and so it's that sort of one-two punch. Make a phone call to the governor, make a phone call to the speaker, make a phone call to the president of the senate saying this is important. Um and then post something on on social media saying this is important and tag them. And if that's happening from people all over the state of
036Connecticut, they get the message. And it reinforces what they're already feeling. And that's what we're trying to do starting last week and continuing through this week. They had said that they wanted to have the budget done by the end of this week, by May 1st. Now, there's a possibility that we may want to do something to nudge them at the beginning of next week if they haven't gotten it done by the end of this week. And that will be reviewed and discussed depending on what we're hearing in Hartford by the middle of this week. But so far, our program is working. Um it won't be what we want, but it'll be a lot better than we thought. So, um I think that um uh it's been a successful campaign as far as that's concerned. And
037so, we really just need to get you know, did all of these people make three phone calls? Did all of these people post something on social media? Because that's going to do more to help them than anything else they can do. You know, in the short in the future. And just I'm willing to bet you most of them didn't. And that's what we need to get through to people is everybody needs to like get on that horse. And we got a week and a half to finish it. That's when that session ends. Thank you. Are there any referrals? Seeing none. I do need to acknowledge that Mr. Daniels and Ms. First Gen has joined the meeting a while ago and I didn't have them in the attendance, but they joined the meeting. Um Is there
038a key report? Ms. Esther Merinos? No. No, it's the same as 2 weeks ago. Um Okay, we'll switch over to Dr. Ray Green, the superintendent's report. Thank you, Madam Chair. Good evening, everyone. First of all, I want to acknowledge what Rob talked about. The advocacy piece is strong and and moving. We need to keep that effort going. So, I I want to kind of thank everybody that had, you know, some input into trying to drive this and we've done a really good job of uniting, you know, from the city council to the delegation to the board to staff to I mean, everybody stepped up and came out and I think that's really the important piece. I have five areas I'm going to just touch on them briefly and and I'll have a principal here that's
039going to come and and talk a little bit about some student awards that was received at Bridge Academy, but first of all, I want to talk about parent engagement. We have parent workshops launched this month to provide families with resources and strengthen our partnership with parents to keep students engaged. That's always been a part where we want to make sure parents are connected to the things that we're doing across the board. So, the sessions that have been given they're given every Wednesday at the enrollment center at this Housatonic Community College campus in the partnership with all our community partners. So, we have different partners coming in and providing those training for them. So, parents out there, we encourage you to attend, stay connected and take advantage of these supports. Student learning, we are kicking off
040the state SBAC and NGSS testing officially began today. These assessments will help us understand how well students are meeting the grade level expectations in English, math, and science. This data shows our teachers the adjustment that are needed in instruction to better suit students' needs. That's grade three through eight participating in SBAC for English language arts and mathematics. And then in grade five, eight, and 11, we'll be participating in the NGSS science assessment as well. We got a couple of accolades across the district in attendance. Bridgeport Learning Center was recognized by the state of Connecticut for reducing chronic absenteeism. We are now at the lowest level in chronic absenteeism at BLC, dropping to 56% in March. This is a decrease of 61.2% from in February and reflects a steady progress over time. And and that's that's
041being done by a variety of different mechanisms that we have. We have a leap program in the district that supports that work. But we just with the seed money that the board allowed us to use, we've expanded the chronic absentee program at BLC with hiring someone specifically to address the the chronic absentee is in that building. And as you see, that support that we've we've given BLC has helped to strengthen making sure that we connect those kids that already have difficulties you know in school environments, learning environments to come to school and to connect. And so very very excited about that. The school environment and facilities, as you know, last last couple of months we talked about you know building operations beginning on the playgrounds. The Reed playground and the Masden playgrounds are I think
042pretty much complete. The [clears throat] board also gave additional fundings to get the the playground at Dunbar, Hooker, and Park City Magnet. That should be all completed by the time we we start school. Again, it's just a great opportunity to really make sure that our little ones are getting the environment the play areas spruced up as well. At this time, I'm going to have Mr. Christopher Johnson come to the podium. He's going to talk a little bit about, you know, the the NCWIT inspiration for computing awards. So, give us a little bit of background behind that, Chris. I know some of your students were in Hartford in the morning advocating and then they went right back over to your awards ceremony that same day. So, give us a little update on that. Let's recognize those
043students in the want to make sure that we inform the board of what great opportunity this was to showcase your campus. Yes, thank you. And Dr. Eady, thank you for your your leadership and your kind words, especially over the last, you know, year and a half. It's been, you know, your steady hand has really helped the district and appreciate everything you've done. Want to make sure I acknowledge that. You know, to your point, those students this award they won through the National Council for Women in Technology, it speaks to a couple of different things. It speaks to their academic achievements, particularly obviously in the area of technology. All the students who won this award have earned industry credentials whether either through the AP test or through our CompTIA exam. So, they've expressed or showcased a
044high level proficiency in the area of technology. Another component of that is the community service aspect of that. So, all of these young ladies have all, you know, gone down to the Beardsley Branch Library. They presented cybersecurity forums to the community. So, they've been doing a lot of that work. In addition, they all have post-secondary plans including couple full scholarships to Colby up in Maine, Sacred Heart, HCC, and UConn just to name a few. Uh those students um Ellie Archie and Jumanah Choudhury Treasure Idowu Iara Silva Pereira and Tafumi Diani. So, I'm extremely proud of all of them for their accomplishments and you know, unfortunately, they got they messaged me a little while ago that they weren't going to be able to make it, but they all were up in Berlin last week to get
045an award. Um the the state recognized 82 girls across the state for this award and there were about 2,000 applications. So, it did it was a pretty competitive process and uh we're extremely proud of everything that they've done. Thank you. Mr. Choudhury is on the spoke last week at the city council hearing and in Hartford. Yes, and she'll be our valedictorian as well. A lot of lot of impressive. Any other Thank you. Congratulations. Um Mr. Medina. Dr. Avery, you have a budget update. The budget update. Uh that's just going to come and give a brief uh budget update. I'll go ahead and I'll go ahead and kind of lead a little bit. I think one of One of the things that's happening is that there's a lot of moving parts behind the scenes on number
046of negotiations. There is a couple of uh different um uh financial runs by state finance group, whatever and >> Lisa Hamersley, Lisa from the >> Lisa Hamersley, we've been kind of dealing with her today because we're trying to make sure that we get accurate information out. And so, can you kind of explain to what she told what she told you today, Anesta? Good evening everyone. Like Dr. Everett said, we've been talking around trying to get financial update as to the budget for next year. But nothing has been coming. The only thing Lisa provided us, she works with the school state finance. The number she has is between 100 and uh 120 million to 100 and 170 million dollars. And if you divide that number, the range she threw out for Bridgeport is between six 6.6
047million dollars to 16.6 million. That's not enough as to what we need. But she did indicate that there's another part of money that the legislators are working on. So, with that, we don't know, nobody knows exactly how much we're talking about in another part of money that Bridgeport delegation is pushing, aggressively pushing. My understanding is, of course, Hartford will be taken care of first and Bridgeport will be next. That's the truth. Yep. Mr. Treiber. Yeah, I I mean you I'm not saying anything that's not floating around in various newspaper articles. So, it's not some deep insights that are like uh you know, the the word that's in the press and sort of out there and is that there's 170 plus 80 uh floating around and the 80 is for the hard-hit, worst-hit Bridgeport, New Haven,
048Hartford, New Britain has fallen into that now. Um Meriden, uh Hamden is falling into that. So, there's those cities and towns for that extra money. So, how much each gets, you know, it's all fluid. Um and so, none of that is enough. And that's sort of what we need to get our state reps to keep saying. And all of this, what what's happening is the governor had allocated five 500 million for his $200 tax rebate right in October, right before the election, so that he could you know, you know, make the voters want to vote for him. Is that a polite way to say it? Um and um that's the money that they're now using for ECS, um early childhood, and um I'm blanking on the third issue, which has got them all in a
049knot. Um but there are three issues that have got them tied up in knots, and he's sort of lost hope of being able to send out any $200 rebates. Um but they're also still discussing other ways they might bend the rules to create more money. So, it's all So, there's there's no wonder you you nor I can figure out exactly what's going to happen, which is again why the more pressure we put on them with anything that we can do, the more they feel the need to try and find money somewhere else. Thank you. Dr. Eady. I I I I want to make sure that, you know, I think I want the board to know that as soon as we can confirm numbers, I will be making sure that I'll pass those numbers to the
050board chair and then we'll get something out to you guys. I mean, everybody's is on pins and needles trying to figure it out and I don't want to put any false narrative out there until I know definitely when and how. And my understanding by Friday, they're they're they're hopeful to be able to get something, but again, I I don't I don't know that number and I'm just going to hold my breath until I know. Um Madam Chair, Yes. That was their plan. They wanted it done by May 1st. That's Friday. But, given the complexity of these the dynamics that we just discussed, they're beginning to think they might not make their deadline and they may have the usual uh midnight on Wednesday, May 6th, where they're still arguing and then talking and wheeling and dealing.
051So, it it's it's every I'm in and and the people that, you know, work those fields, are beginning to think it may not So, that's again, I I'll have a better idea Wednesday when I hear from the people who work those fields whether or not that's happening. Mr. Colbeck, Yeah, when when we started this process, we talked about contingency plans for shortfalls. Where are we on those? Good. Through Madam Chair, where is mapped out initial plan scenario one, two, three. Um I just I mean, we can go scenario four or batch up scenario three, but I think it's better to tear it up into one, two, three, four. When you get to four, I could tell everyone four is not going to be pretty. None of it's pretty. As far as far as the order
052of magnitudes, we had discussed like I can't remember the exact numbers, like 10, 20, 30, something like that just with contingency plans to show what that would look like. To have some idea before like May 6th and before the city wraps up their budget because if we're scrambling at the end of May coming up on the June 30th deadline to have our budget. Tight. I don't want to be making rash cuts if need be. I want to just have some idea of where we're going. Uh through Madam Chair, permit Mr. Mr. Sakolski, the board members, please, whatever the board members feel they can vote on bring their ideas. You you you know, board members are the ones who are going to make the final vote. If you want to school If you want to close
053schools, please send it to me and we will calculate it. Um again I don't know. I'm just The board members have the final vote here is what I'm trying to say. Absolutely understood, but the board members traditionally throughout the last 20 years when cuts were made, they were presented to us as in a menu that we could have a starting point of what to cut. What you guys as the professionals think would be the least damaging and then we go from there. That's okay. Good chair. That's the game plan. We're going to put We have all that ready for you, but as as long as I can when I get numbers, when I know where we need to start, my job is to advise you where to get it going. And so that's we're we're
054on it. But but it's still we're in that little gray area right now of not knowing exactly how to plan it, but when we lay it out to you, you're going to be able to see the different phases and it's going to and and then when I recommend based on 40 million, 60 million, 100 million, you know, 100 million we don't have to cut any of that contingency. We just do what we need to do. At 60, we don't have to do that either. 45, we don't have to do that. But anything less than 40 million dollars, we have to come up with a plan and we can take option one, two and I think we'll be able to come up with the the surplus that's needed to reduce the budget. Yeah, and I and
055I would that would be great, but um for advocacy efforts, what does 10 minute 10 million dollars look like if we don't receive 10 million dollars? I mean, for them to find to find them to find out and get mad afterwards and we're 10 million dollars short, it's a little too late for them to start coming up here and screaming. They need to know what 10 million dollars looks like. And I think at the last committee meeting we had those numbers. At the last budget committee operations committee. Um we we did present those some of those numbers. We didn't we didn't go all the way to 40, but I know we did um and we did like 20. And you we stopped at 23 million. Which wasn't pretty. Mr. Woodson, you had your hand up
056earlier. Uh I'll keep my comment. No no, thank you. Okay. Thank you, chair. Raymond. Also board, I want you to know that we are doing some internal work with the state technical assistance teams to also look at reduction within the system and right now we're we're totaling around 6 million dollars with the things that we can do within the system with the within the current budget to reduce the current budget down at least 5 to 6 million dollars. So it may be 5 million dollars that we have to come up with a contingency plan. So, that's kind of what I'm trying to wait to do. Then, I'm going to I'm going to roll Soon as I know, I'm going to roll it out to you guys, and we're going to be able to talk a
057little bit more in-depth about what where we are, what do we need to cut, what we don't need to cut, and then have a game plan moving forward. And that should go pretty quickly. It won't take a long time to to debate. It's going to be pretty clear and straightforward. Mr. Gallop, do you have Mr. Trapper? Yeah, is that $5 million still floating around anywhere? Yes. It's a serious question. Good here. Dr. Avery? Great question. We're still in limbo on all the all of the second request items that were requested of myself and the city was submitted to the state, and now we're waiting on them. I also last week had I mentioned to Dr. Deputy Superintendent Dr. Hughes that could he provide some guidance in figuring out what they're doing up there. So, I
058think he has a a way of going back to see where they stand, and hopefully this week I'll hear something back. I meet with him on Friday, and so I'll hopefully get an update on him as to where we are with that on Friday as well. So, I'll I'll follow back up with you. Thank you. Seeing no further questions. Do you have your hand up? Yes. Mr. Medina? Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, in the discussion with Mr. Sakalaukas, you guys said there was something else that was presented on operations. So, those should be in the minutes. That way we can go back and look at that data that you guys just spoke about. If not, if somebody maybe Danielle can email the that report to us. Uh, that would be great. >> It's in the
059portal. >> Okay. Yeah. That's what I wanted to ask, and It was in presented at the last committee meeting. Yeah. Perfect. Thank you. Any other questions? Um thank you, Mr. Nuflo. And thank you, Dr. Avery, for the update. Uh the next item is the consent agenda. Is there approval for Just the consent agenda. Is the motion? The consent agenda is the the motion of the consent agenda. And put your microphone on, they're saying. Move to approve the consent agenda. A second. Second by Mr. Ms. Esther Manheimer as any debate on that? All in favor say I. I. I, LaMonica Daniels. >> I. Anyone else online, I? I. All right. Ms. Berkowitz Stenning, can we get your vote? On the consent agenda. Okay. I'm sorry, could you repeat that? >> Uh the motion is on the
060consent agenda to approve the the consent agenda. Yes. Okay. Any opposed? Any abstentions? All right, that passes. Um I Mr. Manahan had a um he wanted to bring something up before we adjourn. Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. Um it's point of privilege and I know everybody know it, so I just like to get a um minute assignment is for the pass away of one of our staff, uh Mr. George Garcia. His grandmother passed away, so I did a packet of minutes for that for, you know, for his family. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Thank you, Madam Chair. Everyone, too. Um, any other points of privilege? All right, seeing none, uh, there is nothing else on the agenda, as Mr. Skalvik pointed out. Is there a motion to adjourn? Motion to adjourn by Mr. Bennehan and second
061by Mr. Medina. All in favor? Aye. Meeting adjourned at 7:31. Good night, everyone. Good night. As, uh,