001Okay. Okay. Um I'm calling the ad hoc advocacy committee meeting to order at 6:20. I'm Rob Traler. I'm the chair. Um I have a roll call. Uh Marissa Esmerz and Albert Ben Graphes are present with me. So we have a quorum. Um, I did not. So, I'm not going to move to uh approve the minutes from last week because personally I have not had a chance to look at them and so I don't know if anyone else has. >> You did. >> Did you? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Well, then I'll take a motion to approve the minutes from last week's meeting. >> So, move. >> Second. >> And uh all in favor? >> I'm going to abstain since I haven't had a chance to look. >> Um but the motion passes and the minister approved.
002Um and uh that is the business of this meeting. The public uh quorum section is to discuss the meeting we have tenatively planned for the 18th at 10:00 in the morning and the central high school library. Uh and that uh the agenda which we don't have an agenda here, do we? >> No. >> So that's not to go out my agenda. left out. Um, if you go to the bed website, you can find the agenda. Go to bed website. You want me to share it on the screen? >> Yeah, that'd be great. Sam, thank you. >> Not complicated. >> How are you? Wait, how are you? >> I don't know why I felt like I just saw you at Central. Well, you were >> I must I just saw you at Central. >> I just
003had a meeting at Central. >> It's going crazy >> in in the old theater >> where Sean used to have his place. That's that's how I know that that's where room from. >> Sean had his place in there. Yeah, Sean had great plans. >> I know. San >> I'm trying to um So, but while we're >> It won't let me zoom. It won't. That's all right. It's It's really not a complicated >> Let go. Let go. >> Oh, >> there you go. Perfect. Um, we have approved the minutes and we have a public forum discussion of the following. Planning the agenda for the meeting like I just said and that's it. Um, uh, we essentially I'm getting out my, uh, pad that I can take notes because I was forewarned by my, um, her in
004life to take five minutes. um I'm also going to pass around a pad for uh new sign. There's nobody here that we don't already have. So, I'm not going to worry about that right now. Um I'll just take minutes with with notes. Um we had set aside two two hours from 10 to 12 for the meeting. The first hour was without the delegation being present. Um and the second hour was with the delegation being present. Um and the first hour um I'm sort of outlining the rough outline that we discussed at the meeting last week. Uh the second hour was to the first hour was to uh spend time discussing and answering questions, discussing the issues. The essence of what we wanted to lay out was um you know what what we're fighting for um
005and answering questions people have um what uh Dave and I discussed afterwards um the details uh what the ECS is um what the issues are um and discussions I've had since last week's meeting um I don't know if people saw it uh uh I was very upset about a posting done by a local reporter uh saying which would you rather have $200 of money for the kids, right? >> Um like that was your only choice. Um that's a false choice. Um the state can do more than that. Um I have a a really pretty good fact sheet done by the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities that spells out um the state's revenue has gone up uh well over 50% in the last in that period of time whereas uh you know the money they've given to
006us hasn't gone up that much. Um, you can look at a variety of to lay out some of those facts to people to make our case for why we deserve the full funding and why the state can afford the full funding. and not just the full funding for us because we're part of a coalition that's arguing for um um uh higher ed, that's arguing for affordable housing, that's arguing for mental health care, that's arguing for early childhood, that's arguing for all kinds of issues. And we're not we're not saying us, nobody else. We're saying us because us is important to us and that's our issue, but those other issues are also important. We're not saying us to the neglect of anybody else. The state is in a position to be able to afford a lot
007of things that we need to make the case for that. >> We're already seeing Kim just pointed out to me tonight there's an article in the Mirror. Do you think Kim? >> Yeah. Today >> basically uh the state you know we used to call this u well we used to call it inoculating till we organized the hail school of epidemiology and public health and then told us it's really im it's really immunization not inoculation but getting ready for your opposition's counterarguments is what it effectively is um and clearly the state is already beginning in that article to point out, oh no, we don't have enough money for all this because we got to take care of the early childhood stuff and we can't afford early childhood and K to2 and this and that. When in
008fact they can. I it's not a matter of here's our limited resources. >> Um you saw with the speaker's budget a week ago um or a week and a half ago, they defined their budget as we'll carve it out of what the governor has profered. But the governor's profering was his idea of how much he wanted his comfortable spendings. And so the speaker spent out of what he offered. The CCM director's response to that was we'll take all 500 of what the governor was willing to spend, not just 100 to 150. He redefined it within the parameters of the governor's budget, but by taking all of the $200 in rebates. The Republicans have been redefining it. give us $18,000 a student, but lower the property taxes commensurately. >> You know, that's the way they're getting
009up to those higher ECS numbers is by saying lower the property taxes in the equivalent amount. So, you can play around with it. We just need to get out there and explain to people that there's a lot of ways you can play with the numbers, but the bottom line is the state has an unlimited, if you will. I know it's not truly unlimited, but a large way, many ways to get the money. It's not just the budget that the governor has defined. Um, and that unlimited way comes from what we raised on raising the taxes on the wealthy and the bending of the guardrails, if you will, which is two different guardrails, to be clear. There was one bill in that finance hearing which was to bend the guardrails like they did last year to
010allow them to come up with $250 million for special ed money. Um and that was creating an a source outside the budget in a special way. Um, the second way to bend the guardrails is the the guardrails say that in order to raise the taxes on the wealthy, you need a 60% vote. In order to raise the taxes on you and me, you only need a simple majority. In order to raise the taxes on the wealthy, and this was part of a deal that was cut way back when, wer poured gasoline on a fire. Um and then because the wealthy were many of them working in New York and already paying an income tax, they offered this protection of an income tax on them. So it there I'm giving a very simplistic history obviously, but
011that guard rail was there and so you can that guardrail can be has to be eliminated too. in order to do some of these guardrails to to raise taxes on the wealthy, you need a higher vote. And so that's the other guard rail to bend. Um, and if you bend those guardrails, you can raise a lot more revenue for the state. Um, and in Massachusetts, I believe they're pulling in two to three billion dollars a year in increased revenue when they they have the option in Massachusetts of the voters voting. um to raise taxes. We don't have that option in Connecticut, but we never have. Um what do we call that? It's a referendum. >> Referendums. Thank you. >> Get one. >> Uh no, you'd have to change the constitution, I think. >> No, you
012can do it. It's just it's a it's a >> I've seen a vote, but at the state, >> we just did it for vote uh absentee voting. But it takes first you have to go through the legislature for a year, then you have to go through something else for a year, then you have it takes like three or four years before it gets put on the ballot. Let me ask that question because we I think um I because I was online as a week prior I think um one of the questions uh that were posed or something to consider was um what happens after right so if you don't we don't necessar if they legislators don't necessarily need the moment what are our next steps right so like what what how do you continue to
013uh make progress even though it may feel like it got solved a little bit because you know people tend to I didn't do what I want I'm going to walk away and you know come back five years later. So that I'm sorry that's why I asked that question because it mean when I say no what Kim think is a more complicated process. I was referring to the ability of the public to petition straight onto the ballot and California for instance the public can petition a referendum straight onto the >> in Massachusetts and in Massachusetts they can too. you can't hear it. So, >> takes three or four years. >> It's multi-year process. >> So, by the time you get it, if you win, you know, and then it's a year to get the money, >>
014you know, and people will be out. >> Well, but you also have to go through the same body to get there, which is the legislation, >> right? the sort of same choke point exists >> there versus a public referendum where you can get a million people to sign a petition or take it down and sign a petition and get it on the ballot right >> next year or this fall. >> Um that option is not there. Um >> yeah, >> so I I'm going to come back to your question about what what's next there in a second because it's it's a question worth talking about. Um, but the idea of they're saying there's a limited pot. That's what the question, you know, of $200 for this. Clearly, everybody looks at the $200. The Republicans say
015it, others say it, that it's Governor Lamont's, you know, bribe to the public to get votes. Um, and, you know, there's no doubt that everybody wants to get reelected and they're offering up their their effort to make themselves seem to be the best candidate. Um, so we need to make them all think that our issue is an important issue to getting reelected. That's our push. We're we're all straight about that. Um, so that's that's the essence. And so the in the first hour, we need to spend the hour educating the people who are there about how the process works, answering these questions, making sure we have all the right facts. So I wanted to talk a little tonight about what facts we want to make sure we get out on the table. and that first
016hour for the people to come to the meeting and then you know the second hour how we're going to run the interaction with the delegation when the delegation shows up. There is a important point that Kim brought up to me uh earlier this evening um about how we handle if delegates come if members of the delegation come early >> which some of them will at least in my experience doing this in other cities. Well, >> in meetings I've had too. You just what if there are these things you need some paper? >> Oh yeah. I found you got something. Okay. One of your own I saw the on there. Um so we need to cover what ifs and one of the whatifs would be what if the legislator show before 11? What do we do?
017But first off, let's talk about what do we want to cover. We want to we want to do an educational presentation at the outset. Once we start the meeting, we do want to have some sort of refreshments. Look at Marissa because she's the pizza person. So whether it's donuts and coffee or something >> at the outset >> uh central library be said at the meeting um and I'm you know unless somebody's got a reason to change it. I'm still comfortable with the central library capacity 100 people. Yeah, >> a little more if you had to. Might need more chairs, but it's it's a big enough space. I think the actual physical chair table situations would be the bigger issue. >> They still have the chairs. They have another room. >> We have the side room.
018Yes, >> I got some chairs there. We can use them. That's true. Is this I don't know the new space. I don't remember the old space. But is it space is not chopped up is it into little >> No, it's one big space. It's not a big square like this. >> It's sort of like >> open but it has think of um like a lounge because it kind of has like a lounge fil. >> So everybody wherever they sit can see. >> Yeah. They can see >> for the most part. Yeah. If they go into that smaller room that might be getting challenged a little bit, but it's >> like this visual. >> This is the corner of the building. >> Yeah. >> Big tall two, three twotory corner, >> you know, it's not it's
019not a low ceiling. >> Yeah. And then the room goes back and then they're saying, you know, here's the desk back here >> and there's a room back off of here. So, >> but there's that big space. It is a big space here and so people can be sitting way back there and still see >> and hear >> and you can hear. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Cool. >> You know. >> Yeah. >> So we can we can play around with the space and the table set up and the chair set up. >> Yeah. >> Depending on how many people and you know we can be >> you know the old organizer's nightmare and the space is too small. >> Right. That's perfect. >> Perfect. Yeah. company by Chris Rosar and Lady >> the only the
020only no was Steve Stro whose son must go to a school who's on vacation that week by the speaker written because they're not in session that week. Um uh and some school districts are on vacation that week. Most are in town. >> Did we hear from Gaston? >> We never heard from Gaston. So those are the two >> those are the two. Um uh Andre Baker is uh absolutely unless business pulls me away um being in the funeral home business. Um and um uh uh McCarth V McCarthy McCarthy McCarthy um said yes, she may have a conflict, but she thinks she'll be able to make it. Um and Marcus was yes, G was yes. Um Sugatada was yes. Uh Chris Rosario was yes. Um uh and Antonio never really answered later in the email. >>
021Yes. Yes. He answered after the fact and said yes. And did I leave? I I feel like I left somebody out there. I think that's it. So we should have minimum five or six maybe seven. So that the question is sort of we should have a seems to me two or three people who present these basic facts. Um and you know I thought Joe would be here tonight. So, I figured Joe should be one of them because he has, you know, presented himself as an authority and he's good at this stuff. So, figured that would be a role for him. I thought you might be another one, but you're apparently, not just a board number. >> That's true. >> But I didn't know if there was somebody else that wants to be a fact. Dito
022is a mathematician or somebody else who good on facts. So when you say educational presentation because going back to the CT mirror article um it >> oh sorry >> no go ahead >> elaborate for those of us that haven't >> it it it focused it centered on early childhood education but it kind of did bounce all over the place kind of you know just talking about our you know need to pay down our pension debt so it's kind of like putting the boogie in if you will on to retired educators and others that you know be committed to funding their retirement. Um and it just kind of talk about members and saying this might be the first year Governor Lamont has a budget deficit and so um as you you kind of pointed out that
023could um they they could already be practicing defense, right? And um so the opposite of defense is going to have to be offense. Mhm. >> So um so my questions from here are going to be centered on that. Um so when you think about the educational presentation and as I was reading that article but also understanding the number of bills where everyone is asking for money. So we had an increment about that. Um are we going to be a student enough to be able to communicate how early childhood education through postsecary how it all matters or you know is it or do we have opportunity to um you know look at it in kind of a strand if you will like early childhood education we know that it needs this it you know whatever the
024case may be but I just wanted to get clarity on that first before I commit myself to say I'll do and like >> can I just say something about the child child early child education because that is a will differ than everything else in that it's not coming out of the budget. If you all remember last year, Lamont made this grandiose plan which sounded phenomenal, right? which is we're going to do this uh every child by every three-year-old in Connecticut by 2028 is going to have a free enrollment free child, you know, child care. Um a full day program if their family makes under I can't remember if it's 150,000 or 120,000. It was like a pretty middle class family salary. Um, and we're going to fund it by taking um basically outside of the
025budget. It's not in the budget, outside and we're putting $39 million into I think it was million. I don't think a billion um into this fund and we're going to grow the fund and by um a private fund and by 2028 we're going to have enough money in that fund and we're already we've already done a thousand um um placements or whatever you call them. Uh and so we've done a thousand this year. We're going to grow that more. it's by 2028 we're going to have so much money and it's going to keep building more and more money in this fund. We're going to keep adding placements. So it it when they talk about that in the article even they're saying look that's not in competition with for instance K through ECS money right it's
026coming we want out of the budget or anything else that's out of the budget so I think we should just make sure we explain that in also in the um in in the day that we do that uh you know in in the section of the meeting that we do that in the 18th Um, we don't have to do it in great detail, but I think a lot of people who read the article weren't really schooled in where that's coming from. Although it does say in the article, but that's not at all in competition with what we're talking about. There's lots of other stuff. >> Yeah. No, but yes, >> that was like you just talked about that was a one time power up. I'm assuming it's a one side power up. But it it
027seemed as if some of his >> uh other legislators, particularly his Republican legislators, >> if you're going to do that, put it back in the budget because they I think they use terms like gimmick uh and something about like false budgeting or something like that. I forget the term. >> Yeah. But they're all against that program. They don't think children should have free. >> Exactly. But I I bring that up because you're you're going to have like your early childhood education programs. They're going to be present hopefully this day, but they're also going to be at the capital in the table and rightfully so because that is the foundation before our kids get to our schools and I know that some of our very poor public schools had that early. So >> I think that's
028where I have a bit of a >> Yeah. >> Let me give you a short and a long answer. a short and a longer answer I should say. Um, one my recollection and I'm I'm not not an expert on this is I remember last year when this was proposed there being a reaction that this was providing that that service I'll call it that to people who some of whom could afford their own service and weren't doing it because there was already uh federal funds providing early childhood care education available that weren't being fully utilized in urban settings like ours. This was providing that daycare for suburban areas that wanted it where there were two people working with jobs and that this was a a giveaway to a section of the voters that the governor wanted
029to cater to. And part of that was in conjunction with the sped money last year which was providing extra spend money to suburban districts. they were complaining about needing more money for sped when in fact they had the ability to raise more tax money in their districts but didn't want to. Um and so there was there was a reaction last year to this whole program being the governor taking care of wealthier um communities that didn't really need this service but it was a a good political move on his part. So, I'm not commenting that we shouldn't, you know, that we should be because that would be a stupid move on our part. But that's there. But we're not saying anything should be done. We're simply arguing that what's out there is out there. It's don't
030take away anything. You have the ability. And what they did last year was spend money in districts that, you know, completely ignored a district like ours. And there are many that desperately needed the money for the sake of districts that didn't desperately need money, whether it was for early childhood or special ed or other things that they funded last year in the bianial budget, whether they used the gimmick like they did for spending by bending the guard rail or how they funded this one, which I don't claim to fully understand, but I remember the discussion that Kim's raising you're mentioning. So, how are they did it? We're not proposing anything be taken away. We're saying you've got the money for early childhood through higher ed. You've got the money to do more affordable housing support.
031you've got the money to do more of these other needed services in poor communities that where it's raining in the rainy day fund. You have $6 billion in the rainy day fund and it's raining in these communities in multiple different ways, not just K to2, but we're pushing for K to2 because the ECS formula is in particularly egregious uh you know uh debt that you owe these children. Um, so you should be spending and the surplus is a short-term solution. The surplus allows you the ability to bend the guard rail for a short-term solution that will help you address these problems in for the next year or two at most. And that is what I took Senator Looney's comment to mean at that legislative breakfast I attended a few weeks ago. The long-term solution requires
032you to establish new funding sources or you won't be able to deal with all these problems. That's that's where you need to establish new bend the guard rail that allows you to establish new wealth taxes uh to raise that same amount of money. You can take a billion or two or three. I don't know what you know I don't know what the amount is. I can't claim to know nor do I think any of them know how much the bill is and all that. Um, I know the bill the bill is about a billion to fix the ECS formula, but I don't know about all those other things. But you have the ability to take a billion out of the the the the surplus the rainy day fund and you know another billion or two
033to address these other problems. That'll take us per year, maybe another billion for next year. But next year is a long session where you'll have more time to address a long-term solution. So you may not pass these new taxes this year so you can pass them next year. You may only pass the bill that went through finance that says you can bend the guard this year. And next year you may need to address the long-term solution. You know what I'm saying? >> Taking it making progress. You can't you can't get anything. >> But you do need to address this now. >> You need to get >> you can't ignore this now. You can't say a thousand will do it this year as a thousand ECF formula with a cola and >> this year >> and
034but you can't you can't you can't fix the problem long term with the surplus with the rainy day fund >> right >> yes so so what I hear you I hear you saying is uh we don't know exactly how much the increase will cost we don't know that yet I don't know state. >> Well, the state. Yeah, I said >> I think the increase is about about a billion dollars >> because I think 100 million and I see 545 million. Where do you see those two numbers? There was an article in March, >> right? And they said 800 million. And I think that 800 million is close. I I round up to a billion just to not be, you know, but you know, they they will have a number for what it would cost. Um
035and you know, frankly, um they will all do their number crunching. They can they're quite capable of it far better than I am. But as to how much that number is, they'll that they'll have those numbers. Um it's safe for us to say that it is going to be you remember last year when CCN was pushing it they were saying they wanted with the um the DIO plan the um >> opportunity was the name of it the trouble youth the >> opportunity. >> No it wasn't it was >> No that's what they called we don't call them trouble. know that they called him something else in the >> yard like it was what disengaged dis >> disengaged disconnected but >> disconnected >> whatever they had this study they issued and CCM was using it and
036backing it and the bill on it was 550 million >> are you talking about the 19 commission >> yes okay >> yes and that was that was the bill on that was 550 million that they were pushing and then it just went just disappeared CCM disappeared it disappeared. Um when I was attended the uh school and state finance webinar last week, um I said something about you know uh 500 million in the governor's, you know, they're taking this 150 million for the speaker Ritter's proposal. Um I said, you know, they're taking that out of the governor's 500 million, which is how much it's going to cost to give everybody $200. Um, I said, "Why not take the whole 500 million?" And and the cuz that's what uh the director of CCM said, "If you're going
037to take 150 million from the governor's giveaway, why not take the whole 500 million?" And Lisa Hammersley, the director of school and state finance, said, "Yeah, I'd love to put 500 million into the ECS formula. That would go a long way to fix the problem." So, you know, it they're banning about numbers and I don't know what the exact number is, but what I do know is if they gave us 500 million, it would go a long way to fixing the problem. Maybe it wouldn't be 100%. Maybe it would only be 80% next year. But if we got 15,000 per student next year instead of 16,000 per student, we'd be, you know, the the 16,500 per student would put us at 95 million. So, if we got 15,000, you know, we would be um we'd
038be around 60 or 70. I mean, you can crunch the number there for a second. If we got 1,500 less per student, um we would be um 15 million 20,000. >> Well, I I I've been using 19. I haven't used 19, but it's somewhere between 19 and 20. So, you know, it just depends on which number you choose to use. 19 is probably a safer number because they said we lost 700 students. Um, 25, >> huh? 25. We'd lose 25 million. If we had 15,000, it was uh 285. Guess what? If it's 15,000, losing 19,000 students, it's 28 285 million. 15,000 >> 1500 >> 15,000 per student >> times 19,000 19,000 is 285 million yeah I'm just thinking how how much we need >> yeah but I'm trying to figure out what's the increase then
039what's the budget >> $11,5 525 $11,000. What's the student? >> Oh, I don't know. I just include the first student from 11,575 by 25. >> So, you're increasing it by 3,500 singly per 975. Oh, while he's changing 66 million. Yeah. So, if we got 66 million, we would have 22 million over our break even to spend on new things. Is it as much as we'd like? No. Is it a lot better than breaking even and just living where we are? Yes. That's really, you know, I mean that, you know, would we shout that out as a victory? Yes. Would it be satisfactory to what our kids deserve? No. But but we would be dancing in the street because right now we're looking at a $20 million cut. >> Yes. >> That's what we're looking at
040right now. Right. >> So, how do we I just want to bring this back. >> Well, I want to bring it back. >> How do we How do we set this up for our meeting? Because we do have to get through. So, but let me let me just make one comment to wrap that up, >> which is that >> we used to have an expression um in in organizing when you're dealing with this stuff, you can't answer every one of their questions, we can't respond to every, well, what about this, what about that? The fact is they have enough money to deal with all these problems. That's our assertion. Their assertion is oh my god, we might have this deficit, we might have that deficit. Our assertion is you you have enough ability to raise
041revenue and you have enough money in the rainy day fund now to deal with the short-term problems to deal with everything that might happen. So you could deal with the short-term problems immediately in the in this with the rainy day fund and you can deal with the long-term problems next year in the long session if you had to by raising new revenue >> and you got away for 13 years without ECS and we're not letting you get away with it. >> Absolutely. And getting they're getting tax breaks from the federal government as well. >> Yeah. Oh no. Well, but we're we're we're but we're pointing our finger at the government here. >> No, no, I get it. the government who has allowed this policy to exist at the expense of the of the poor members
042of the of our of our state. >> Yes. >> At the expense of our children in this case. >> Well, for 13 years it wasn't just this government, right? It was >> I said the government. >> The the >> I said the government. I was not saying the government. No, I agree. It's the government the the government because frankly the reason the guard rails were extended. I mean I'm not going to go back through it but the reality is that there was a very shady deal cut by the Senate leader the house leader and the governor in a back room. >> There was no vote. >> It was a shady deal cut by those three parties. And I don't know whether it was Malloy or Lamont. >> And I don't know whether it was Looney
043or his predecessor and his predecessor. I know, but I'm just not trying to I'm just saying those three leaders cut a shady deal to extend the guard rails another five years, >> six years. No, 10 years. >> Five and 10 years. >> So that's why we're waiting for the guard rails to expire still is because they made a shady deal to extend them without any vote of the legislature. So, we're just going to assert that the government has been irresponsible and it's time for them to stand up and be responsible to the community, to the to the residents of the state. And that's our position. And our legislators, we want them to be warriors for the people in Bridgeport. That's what we're meeting with them for. And you know, Speaker Ritter is not a warrior
044for Bridgeport. No matter what he stroke their ego and said, "I've been getting tons of phone calls, you know, which is featured in Chris Rosario's presentation." You know, that's what Ritter does is he he he makes them all look like they're doing their job, but we we need to say, "You guys are doing great, but go back up there and kick their butts some more because we need more." and and and that's the tone we're taking with them in this meeting is great job so far but you got to do more. It's not enough for the kids and they're going to say there is no more and you got to say yeah there is here's where it is get more. So we lay out the figure the the information in the beginning of the meeting
045going back to what Kim just said right and so we have a few people that lay out why there's more and why they can get more. So when they say there is no more to be had, our folks say, "Oh, no, there is." And you you got to be up there, you know, fighting for us. >> And we have nine legislative members, right? Or delegation or 12 reps and two senators. Okay. And they're out of that 187 total box, right? Both. >> Yes. Someone asked the chair of this meeting. Is that you Rob? >> We think it should be him. Go ahead. >> Yeah. >> Since it's the board calling it probably, but I'm hoping for discussion on that. I don't think we can put it on Royce. I think it's got to be the
046board. >> Yeah. >> And then, you know, you're the chair of this community. You know, probably be, you know, >> shared tweeting. Yes. >> Yeah, but I take a co-chair too. >> No, >> I thought you talking about you part. >> No, I was thinking about somebody like you, Fate. >> But you may be a good You may be a good data presenter, too. >> You don't have to control me. >> No, Fate may be a good data presenter. She She's a She's a detailed person. Because for me like I try to get at people's heartstrings, right? Because um to everyone's shattered sugar, we've suffered for more than 30 years, right? So, I'm trying to figure out what what's the approach that's going to get them to literally say, "Wait, let me think about this
047a little bit differently because we may have our nine, like I said at the other meeting, we may have our nine, but there's still 187 or 178 out of that nine that will vote on this budget, right? So, how do we are we giving our our legislators enough firepower to go at it or um because I see that you all have been going into different communities as well. You're at those board of ed meetings. You're at their some of them are going to council meetings. I've seen that. Um but again, just even think of how votes happen locally here, right? like you can win a seat here by five or eight votes. But again, when you're talking about this big of a body and something this huge, I again, I just want trying to think
048of what's the most direct, but I don't want to use the term hardening, but most compelling hard >> um to say this is why like 13 years the the form was flatunded, but for well over 30 years our district has been ignored, underfunded. >> Yeah, >> that's a term I like that as an educator, but as a community labor person, I'm g say ignored because the needs of our youth from birth or cradle to career, right, when we don't have the resources to help build and support them. Why are we holding them to such a high standard when we know there's a body that literally ignored those cries? Because and I I say that because as a youth that was me going there going to city council. So it's kind of like I I want
049to keep saying the same thing. I'm like listen I spoke at those city council meetings tried everything I could actually face truth. >> Yeah. I know and that's why I'm saying like that that's why I was like after you know twatting right doing the way we always did it is there an opportunity to not abandon what we already know can work well but how do we give more brevity to it how do we give it some more I'm sorry I'm stop >> No what you're saying is exactly right that's what I want to say but no it's exactly right and what um what what this is too that you can bring that information. Um the CCM I think it's from where's it where was it from? >> It was a CCM then >> yeah because
050they had they had they had exactly what you're talking about which was like here's here's the amount of money money dollars that the Connecticut budget has increased in the 13 years. Right? Here's the billions of dollars and yet nothing's gone through the education system. Not only here but everywhere in the whole state. They I mean it was just amazing looking at it. I mean those are the kind of things that right you're talking about that you can say to our legislators but that also we can say to every legislative because that's the same in your town in your town in your town and um and it just seems to me we don't have to figure that out tonight because we got three weeks to go but that somebody ha or a few people have to
051figure that out right that's what I think we have to to do is we have to say a few people have to figure that out. Um, and and there's other things at the meeting like I'm an organizer and so I was just saying to Margaret because she's an artist, right? One of the things that I I every successful meeting I've ever put together has to have is you have to have really good visuals, right? So if we want to say, okay, we want to ask every legislator, um, do you agree that we have to have, um, the ECS fully funded right, next year? and also an agreement that it will increase cost of living every year, right? As a short-term demand and that you find the money, the money has to be there, right? That's
052your job. ECS fully funded cola, get the money short term. That's our short term. We got to have a great visual for that, right? Because we're going to be asking that boom. We got to have we got to have it on the screen too obviously for people at home, but we want a great visual for that. And then we got to have a longterm visual, right? Which is long-term. Here's three or four or five, right? different ways that you can increase the amount of money we're going to need for that long-term um to to do I'm sorry I'm particular >> to do the long-term pay for this right and we want to know if you support that because we're we need this money and these are ways to get it because we can't do a
053referendum we're not done tell us here in this meeting we'll prep everybody the hour before if they say referendum oh No, NO, NO, NO. RIGHT. BUT, and so I want to, you know, there's different things. There's figuring out what you talked about to get those facts and figures and just bump, right? Boom. We could even have Ron told me today, well, we could have a score sheet. We could give the people on the media score sheet that says, oh, aund, you know, a hundred, well, I don't know what it is. Let's say it's $350 billion since in the 13 years, right? That the budget's gone out and we haven't gotten any. Nobody any other school ECS there that gets ECS funds got a single dollar of that money. Oh, check it off. Yeah. You know,
054right? You you've educated people there. We got a little check off sheet. Oh, yeah. I know that. So that when they go into the legislation session, oh, guess what, right? >> They're informed. They have >> I got on my sheet, right? And I know it. Never seen Nigel. I know this. So I think we need some folks who are going to put that together. And there are facts that you know are there. We can help you find them and you're going to find them yourself. We need some people that are going to do visuals, right? Because we got to have good visuals. And we can have good visuals of if you get great facts, we can have great visuals on the facts so that when the legislators come in, they see that fact, right? $350
055million. We didn't get a set. Where were you? >> We've been, you know, having people with their signs on their lap, hold them up around the room, young people if they bring their kids. Um, >> yeah. >> Because for the year that we have it, the appropriate funding, >> the meth for me, the message I I wrote is that's another student, another generation of high school graduates who we have let go into the world under. Yeah. >> Not because they don't have the skill sets or can't be upskilled, but because you all lack the political >> if I'm sorry. >> Oh, no. Well, >> I mean that that's saying truthful. >> Yeah. >> Yes. My mama told me my mom was going to get me in trouble one day. >> Congratulations. But but that is
056exactly what the discussion at the very end of that uh school and state finance project thing when I asked the director about the money and she and I went back and forth about the need for fully funding next year and mentioned the 500 million and the whole thing and she said she'd love to see that kind of money being put into K to2 and you know why was it a problem and I said there's not the resources need to be and she said, "Look, it's not a matter of the resources. It's a lack of political will." Exactly the word she used >> is that's what it is. There's not a political will. And and I do do want to say that it's not the the the the the showing up at a board of ed
057meeting and testifying that you're from Bridgeport and doing this. That's not what's moved. It's the, you know what Katie pointed out, the Meridan meeting where they had a hundred people with the Meridan delegation and other meetings that have been happening like that in New Haven and Danbury and New London. So these are all starting to happen around the state. And so as these happen and we're, you know, we're going to see more and more of that, you know, and and look, uh, Chris Rosario is our delegation leader. Antonio Felipe is the head of the Black and Puerto Rican caucus. I mean, he should be moving the faucy delegation and building that. So I I think that we can mag you know grow our support >> and that that was my point that I was talking
058about at the other meeting that we have to build beyond our borders. >> Jim, you wanted to say something? >> Yes. I'm sorry to bother. U so um I just >> Yeah. So, so I I just wanted to um to second what Faith was saying um and just on a communication side and this is this mind you that that that I'm learning as we go, but is there things or ways that we can message that can can be utilized to to get the votes or get the the the amount of like that message where it can be brought to the Puerto Rican caucus where other members of that caucus can can be open for it. Is there meion that we can do on our end that can connect people in a sense so that because
059because I think I think this is something that is that in my opinion this is something that for regardless if you're Bridgewart or if you're Harford or if you're a rural city in Connecticut it can benefit you and I think sometimes we we we put these messaging out where sometimes people when they hear it it can cause a divide or or or like like they they they they'll pause when I think overall they are this is this is a message that everyone would want everyone wants, I think, education to be equity equitable for all kids, especially with for those that are not equitable. Um, and and there's rural cities, there's there's there's urban cities, there's there's there's enough cities uh in Connecticut that are that are not uh getting the funds they deserve that I
060think that there could be messaging uh uh that we can collectively do that uh that that can unite people. In my opinion, >> that's correct. It's it's critical. >> Yeah. And so so so my my question is how do we do that? How appropriate how do we make when we're referring to the uh uh the whether it's wealth tax and we're trying to get you know that because because there's more individuals that are not going to be affected by that tax than they are that that are like you can I think or we talk about revenue for the for the state of Connecticut or uh ECS. I think these are things that would we can get more people to to to to buy into in my opinion. >> That's correct. >> If we have the
061correct messaging >> and and and as you pointed out and we have done a good job of making sure that we're reaching out to the rules too >> and >> Yes. >> because of the importance of Kathy Austin. >> Yes. >> So I agree. No, that's absolutely correct. Okay, so we need um we need two or three people um to work on facts. Faith, you want to work on facts? >> I was I was still listening, but I just wanted to see how many other districts you want to work on facts >> in Connecticut are facing. >> Well, I think I think it's creating a fact sheet that you think will be persuasive. Um, and uh, you two can start and we'll see if Joe wants to join you um, to create a fact sheet
062that's persuasive. Um, and uh, I'll see if Tito wants to work with you all too. >> And Tim, you want to work with them on facts? >> Yes. Yes. You you include me as well. >> I have a five person committee on facts. The idea that I had mentioned that Kim referenced a moment ago was if we had a a a fact sheet on one side and on the other side there would be a checklist. So when the legislators come in you can you know check off you know each legislator. Did they agree with us on funding fully funding now and did they agree with us on long-term funding? You know the fully funding now requires the short-term Marine Day fund. The long-term funding requires some sort of uh creation of new new revenue stream.
063And we don't have to be specific. It doesn't have to be you support the four bills that are before the legislature this year. Um it could be those bills. It could be other bills in the future uh in the next session. But you know, it would be that you know, we would lay those out as examples of the kind of of funding that you could do. But the idea of creating a new revenue stream that it it creates wealth taxes. There are four before the legislature this year. You could support or you could create new taxes next year, but you'll need to create long-term funding. And we want to know whether you support that. And then so they could turn over their sheet and they could check off what each legislator says as we check
064off some sort of checklist in the room as to what people's answers are. And the idea would be that we would we would meet that first we're not going to have an hour from 10 to 11, right? We're going to have, you know, people show up at 10:00, they get the coffee, they get their donuts, and by the time we get started, it's going to be 10:15 or >> 10:20. So, we're going to have maybe a half hour to 45 minutes chat with people. >> You know, you just got volunteered to work with Fate, Tim, and Marissa. >> Maybe Joe >> on the on the fact sheet commit on the fact sheet. >> Sounds good. let me know. We have to go. Um, okay. Well, we're going to wrap up in just a minute anyway.
065So, um, and then so that committee would create this fact sheet >> and I will make sure that you all have each other's numbers. Uh, I'll send out a text tonight, right? >> Yeah. And then the so we would then have you all lay out figure out how you want to lay this out in this first section about uh and in the in this we then for the next part of the meeting we want to have somewhere between three and five we were thinking a student couple of parents a staff person and a community person their stories to the legislators. >> I think that's important. >> That makes sense. >> They're going to hear from us. They'll hear from you that child that's being attacked. >> Um well, you're you're correct and I have focused
066the students that spoke so eloquently up in Harford. They are the gener, if you will, the lost generation. They're graduating after 13 years in the school system. Well, >> that's they're the co Well, no. Not because of co they're 13 years in the school system. >> 13 years ago was about >> they're the frozen generation. >> I've talked to them about it. They're the ones who have not seen an ECS increase in their entire lives as Bridgeport public school students. A couple students clearly a whole >> We have a couple students speak. They were so amazing. Oh, no. I love the idea of students. I love I love putting youth at the center because >> Chad is not. >> Yeah. Listen, I I'm I'm fine if we do a couple of students and one parent
067and one community and one staff. I think the staff would be happy to step back and let student I mean because the students are so eloquent they'd be okay with being very brief speakers. You have you're going to have Chad and and um uh one of the students from Fairchild either um probably the kid who who who manhandled that state rep >> but then you'd have to remember any from because right now we have who's gone up has >> we have a bunch we had a bunch of Um remember uh Steve asked us that question. >> Yep. >> And we have had uh Harding and Central and Bass also speak. They weren't all in person. Some testified online, but they all spoke. Uh so I don't I mean I would leave that to Tim and
068Dr. Avery um to decide. Um, but I think all the students have been part of that speak like that one like that they all stand up >> and one or two speak. >> No, no. I I I think that's I think that's the case and that's where I was going too is it should only you know we there was in the four that spoke that was three fair child wheeler and one BMA. >> Um and so you would not want to have more than one from Fairchild Wheeler. You would, if you did three students, you would do one of those BMA kid, not one of those stretch wheel kids. John, if you did John and then you would do one do one from one of the other schools. Yeah. >> And there have been some
069really good ones from the other schools, too. >> Yeah. >> Um, and in that case, it if you did the one that manhandled with state rep, um, you would then have to find a female student to be there to to balance. >> You know, the other argument if we have a pretty incredible recent alumni. Joe Dro suggested that and I'm just thinking, you know, we have some pretty incredible I mean that would be drawing somebody new in of course to write a speech and and um testify. But >> when you say recent alumni, you mean just graduated from the high school? >> Yeah, I mean I guess >> I guess I'm just thinking my daughter's class would be you know >> he said that he was my daughter 20 years ago. Yeah, I was thinking
070>> David, he's not like five years, but um Reginald David, he works for the CT mirror. He's the reporter. >> He's a local. >> He graduates. >> He graduated from Warren Park High School. >> I'll be Denver. >> Wow. >> And so, um he has a story. I I don't know if he's willing to. Well, >> I mean, I I think he'd be great. The question is at that point he becomes he becomes a buyer. Yeah, >> I'm sorry. I'm I'm heading on to Yeah, I keep hearing. Hold on. >> Go ahead. >> The con the connection is bad. I'm sorry. I'm actually on the training. >> I noticed that when you spoke before, but go ahead. >> Yeah. Can you guys hear me? >> Yeah. >> Now we can't. >> After you said, "Can
071we hear you?" We said, "Yes." And then then you stopped. Your your blue light went out. Keep dialing in. Few >> questions. He calls in. >> Um I'm a planner. So I'm thinking breakfast, bagels, coffee, um tea for people. How many people should we be planning for? >> 100. Yeah. >> 100. Okay. And this is all stuff that the communications team would set up. >> Okay. Um we'll also need flyers because ideally we want to >> distribute them. >> Yeah. >> Um among all the schools and I'm also thinking so the presentation you said you wanted three presenters for this lap 10 to 11. Ideally, if we're only going to what 30 to 45 minutes, everyone would have to speak for a minute max of like 10 minutes. >> Yeah. I don't even think they
072need to speak that long. I think they they're going to speak because you want to let people ask questions. >> Yeah. >> So, five minutes. >> Five minutes. the crew of five people are going to plan what they want to put on that fact sheet and maybe only one person or two people are going to lay that out. >> Okay. >> And they should decide that. >> So then the presentations for those three people are contingent on that fact sheet. >> Yeah. What you want to lay out to the you know give people an overview and then you all may feel questions from people. Um, but you want to make sure that the people attending have a chance to ask you, "What do you mean I don't get this? What about that?" >> Yeah. Yeah.
073>> Type stuff. >> Okay. >> Right. >> Okay. I do have some topics that I that I wrote down that should go I'm thinking of people who have not been paying attention and just kind of like level setting. What is the ECS? What are the guard guard rails? Um, we should have Bridgeport stats. What are the new revenue sources? Um, >> those are the ones I've just >> Yeah. >> written down for them. >> New possible revenue sources. >> Yep. Yep. Um, with all of that, I think at the end, you know, how can I help call or email >> Yeah. you're the delegation and this is how you do that. >> If there's a next event, I don't know after the 18th. I don't know what comes next, but there's I'm sure there's going
074to be something. >> There's four days. >> Oh, yeah. What day is that? >> 20 >> 22nd. >> Okay. After that, >> Tim, you can't. It's just echoing no matter what. >> He's off now. He has >> No, he's right there. >> I know, but he has it shot in his head. >> Well, he's texting. He texted us >> um that he's having an echo. That's his problem. >> Can he type what he wanted to say and then you can read it? >> No, he said he'd call me after the meeting. >> Okay. >> Um All right. Can he can hear us? He just can't talk. I I can hear you guys. Yes. >> Okay. >> Oh, you just clear there, too. >> You didn't echo on our end. >> Yeah. Try it again. >>
075I hear echo when I when I take it off mute. I It's not an echo on your side. I guess it's cuz I'm on a train with bad connection. So, it it replays several times with what I'm saying. So, it goes me me like over and over again. >> Get sick of hearing yourself talk. >> Yes, I'm hearing myself talk a lot. It just seems like no >> the people on the train are probably tired of hearing too. >> I will talk to you later, but listen to the rest and you know keep notes and what you need to ask me. Um okay. So did you have anything else? >> That was it. >> Okay. So are we go two three students the frozen generation? >> I like falling from that too. >> Yeah. Yeah.
076That's great. >> That's some size. >> I mean at least >> 187 or zero. At least at least one of them, I think it was the kid who went after the state rep has a younger sibling and spoke specifically on behalf of a younger sibling or two. I don't know there was just one or more. Um but not surprising that they would have younger siblings. Um uh and so having them speak on behalf of their younger siblings is important too. Um uh I know John spoke the other day to me about his older sibling who was one of the leaders of the move to get Eid out >> as a holiday which we just had on Friday. And so he and I were talking after last Thursday's meeting as his sister helped me fight to
077get that holiday. Um, so >> I thought he was particularly moving too. I mean he >> Yes. >> You know, very strong. >> Yeah. He was unquestionably. >> Yes. >> And and loud and articulate. I mean, not I don't mean loud. I mean just of a good volume. >> Yeah. >> That you could hear him clearly. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Exactly. >> He had a good presence. >> Yeah. >> The other one that I had been thinking of and he's not here anymore, but I didn't mention to him is Tito. And the reason is that everybody knows Tito in Bridgeport. Everybody and knows his family. His mother was a parah. Dearly loved parah. That's that's that's who I knew first before Tito. She and Tito. Um his brother's a principal. Dearly loved principal um
078at least one of the spouses of the teachers. >> Yeah. Um, now he he said he's not sure he's going to be there, but I think he's going to change and make sure he's there. Uh, but I thought he he and he did he did very good. He did great testimony. >> One of the one of their >> legislature >> is a teacher. >> No, I don't think >> I think they're both teachers, but I thought one was a birth teacher. >> I'm not sure. >> I know. Yeah, he's married to a teacher, but he's been a teacher. He's been a parent. He's been an administrator. you know, he's he people know him in all different roles, so he kind of covers everything, but you want to speak. >> Yeah. >> Um pointing up there.
079>> Wait, I went to look through the screen. >> Um I know the last time that we have a meeting, they come with about translate. Are we going to have all in case? >> Oh, thank you. one coming when we got the appointment. So you can so when you know we can have that >> there horse comes somewhere so that can translate but unice pass. Yeah, but we have Yeah, she's good to death. >> She had that. >> No, we have to we have to have that. >> We can't be relying on on you guys. >> No, no, no. >> We have great. >> Yeah, they have the instantaneous stuff that you used to have, right? >> I Well, I can get it. >> No, they have >> Oh, you have to I've seen it
080in meetings right now. >> No, they have they have everything. >> Do they have enough? >> Oh, okay. I saw a box before. >> Yeah. Let me know because if you need any extra headphones, you need I have stuff that you can do with more than one language. >> So if we find out you need Arabic or any other lang Portuguese, let me know if it if the systems combined or if we have it in two the organization I work for before um do we have the equipment in multiple languages? that you can do it. >> Hello. >> Yeah, we hear you assistant. Yes or no? >> That sounds like a mic. >> I thought I could get a quick answer. >> You can ask them. You can ask them. And 60. We have six
081We have 60 phone earphones. >> Um, so April 19th is only like two weeks away. >> Three. >> Yeah. >> Um, when do we want to have the fact sheet flyers out? >> Um, well, it's a >> He said yes. >> That's a really good question. >> He said yes. Okay. So, >> is next week the week off? >> Yeah. No, the week after. >> Yeah. >> Friday through Easter week. The week after Easter, I mean, sorry. Uh, is the week off. >> Maybe we should meet again. >> I think we are going to have to meet again, but that's going to be the week of the meeting. You either meet either meet next week, which we did this to not meet next week because next Thursday would be the Thursday before Good Friday. And
082so if people are going away etc. We're going to have a working committee on the facts um we can have a you know working committee with uh the details of the meeting um like who the speakers are and put that together so we can do some you know working committee skim to to work on that stuff and then have a meeting to review everything the week of the meeting. Now the here's the the question. As an organizer, I'm loathed to put out a flyer two weeks before a meeting. >> Yeah. It's too soon. >> Um because there's too many things going on. >> Yeah. >> And let me just be clear, two days before that meeting, the mayor just announced he's doing his fundraiser with the governor in town, which I haven't figured out how
083to respond to. Um but it's a reality that we have to deal with. The governor will be in Bridgeport. Um, and so how do we respond to that? Um, well, maybe, um, maybe just a silent demonstration along the boardwalk where they can see you through the windows with people holding pictures of their kids, >> kids, >> maybe kids, >> you know, who knows? That needs to be thought about. I don't have an answer readily. um and think that we should think about it. Um there's also uh the day before that is tax day and we had been talking about doing something on tax day, April 15th. Um in conjunction with this concept of raising new revenue um and there's no longer going to be anything up in Hartford because the speaker's away that week and
084not holding session. So there's not going to be anything going on in Hartford. So, it's a question of do we do something locally. So, there's there's there's just a plethora of things happening. Um, and uh the week after that is Bridgeport Day up in Hartford. >> Yes. >> Um, so, and I already have it was given to me last week and I didn't want to hand it out last week. of a birthport day preliminary file >> and it just gets confusing when you hand out. >> Yeah. >> So the reason why we don't want to meet the week of April 6 is because our kids are up. >> I'm happy to meet I think we can vertical committees can meet. I'm not going anywhere >> because I was going to say just week we >>
085Anybody going anywhere to the office? >> What day are you talking about? >> The week after >> I guess right to go anywhere right now. >> Well, watching the news who wants to go anywhere three or four hour waiting lines at the airports >> and don't even know if you're actually going to get on the flight because they don't cancel. I heard that. You get you spend four hours in line and then you get on the plane and they say your flight's cancelceled. >> I spent 12 hours in the Charlotte airport >> last week. >> Oh, yuck. >> 24 hours of traveling. >> That sounds good. North Carolina. >> It was No, 24 hours. I started off in Oklahoma City at Got in the cab at 4:00 a.m. in Oklahoma City. Pulled into my driveway
086in New Haven at 3:00 a.m. Oh. Oh my god. on the next day to work and you will take off. >> I I slept through a staff me along the way was crabby, right? >> Oh my god. >> Oh, they were crabby. >> I commend here. >> I I'm happy to meet that week. Plenty of meeting a meeting that week. >> Yeah. All right. So, we'll meet in two weeks. >> What? Tonight? The Thursday? >> That Thursday? >> Yeah. >> You're not working, are you? Are you working that week? >> Well, yeah. >> We don't get time. >> It was an honest question. >> Yeah, we don't. >> What day you guys are working? >> I know you work a lot of the holidays, >> but I didn't know about that week. You guys just
087are you guys at the end of your use it or lose it with month? >> Uh, April 1st would be >> Yeah, use before April 1st, right? >> Correct. >> Yeah, that's what I thought. Danielle said she was taking the the week off and I said, "Oh, use it or lose it. This is March." I lost track of that. >> Yeah, April 1st is the worst time to do it. So, you're talking to me April 9, Mr. >> Yes. >> 6 p.m. >> Where are we meeting here? >> Yeah. >> That should be a smaller meeting, right? It's more finalizing, messaging. >> Yeah. >> And then >> easier up here, right, Sam? >> We could meet during the day. Everybody's off during the We could meet during the day. Well, no. You're still working, aren't
088you? >> You can meet during the day. >> I can meet during the day. If you give me a time, I can >> You can't be during the day. >> Yeah. >> Oh, that's okay. Good. >> He's the ma'am. Your point. Do you want to move it up a little earlier though or do >> you want to keep it at Could you do it? >> If they let me, I could I could come up too. >> Okay. Who's Who's today? >> Jeff, my boss. >> We can take care of that. We'll talk to Jeff. >> What's his last? >> You're confident that people >> So, what time? >> What time you all want to have it? That's the question. I don't care. >> We'll say the exam. What's the earliest you think that you would
089be able to get? Maybe that's the best. >> It's like I said, it's up to them. If they say anytime, it's anytime. >> So, we decide the time in >> I can do um free after 1. So, I can do >> work, don't you? These are the two working people, >> right? I forgot. >> Huh? Well, look, I know I know I know you have a flexible schedule. I get that. >> And she does too for something free. >> Um, so I'm asking and hers is flexible for something. >> This is my work, >> right? So the work day, >> right? >> Three. >> Yeah, >> that's good for the teachers because they get out of work. >> Well, they won't be working. They won't be working. >> Oh, right. They're vacation. >> They're on
090vacation, >> right? Well, some of them will be here. >> Yeah. >> Some of them are like me. I didn't go anywhere on April. So, some we'll see. All right. Well, let's meet. What is it? April 9th. >> April 9th. >> 3:00 p.m. And we said we're going to meet again, right? >> Yeah. >> I have to tell you, I did ask um Margaret because she's an artist if she would help figure out >> I heard visuals. Did I say that before? >> Well, you did. You mentioned Margaret in particularly as an artist. >> Yeah. >> And I thought that was a great idea because >> she's like gifted. She used to teach a black >> Yeah. before she >> elementary side up on the up down there at the end >> maybe now I
091forget I think >> yes fair child now she was at the multicultural high horizon for a while after she left black right >> I think so now she's at fair child >> works out the daycare works out easier that way >> I bet yeah >> you know you can know the child right No. Yes. Out of nowhere, having pretty much decided they need to know. >> I realize I realize. >> Yeah. >> Um, all right. So, we have I'll send out a text to >> Tito and uh and Faith and Tip tonight about the working on the fact sheet. I will send you all a copy of the CCM fact sheet so that you all can take a look at that. Mhm. >> Um and then of course there's the the one that Tinman and
092John Carlo did that's on the Bridgeport Public School site, >> which is good, >> which is ECS, which is a good simple uh explanation of ECS. Um and uh I'll look to see if I have any others. >> I I'll have one I did last year. Um >> okay. >> About this time, so it might need to be updated. Yeah, >> I can get that to you guys as well. And so send it to me and I'll forward it to the to the thread. Um and uh then we need to think about Tim I'll talk to you about students. Um we uh do we have a a community leader? Anybody in in in mind? Ego would be a staff person. >> Yeah, he would. Um, every question >> no um a pastor if we have
093one if >> well Eric is a possibility in that sense but I'm just thinking that you're then I think you would want to have somebody representing another second of the community. >> You have Tito and there you're I don't want to offer on Bobby Brown. >> Be great. >> Oh, Bobby Brown. >> That would be perfect. That's >> She would Okay, Bob's a great >> She would be good, I bet, too. Um, >> let me just write these down. Eric. >> Yeah, >> Bobby. Um, >> Bobby would be great. >> Um, any other suggestions? Well, if you think of people, send them to me. would be >> um and and oh we were we before we got interrupted we were talking about u the recent graduate uh mirror reporter >> oh yeah Reginald my concern
094would be that that would unbias would would bias sorry >> and that he would want to maintain some objective >> that might affect his professional >> and I find him to be very >> said that because you know put him in the bias. >> He might have ideas of friends who speak. >> Well, >> he might have connection. >> I know him through the NAACP. So that's that's >> I know because he was in our program when I was at Har and when he Yeah. when he came back to Bridgeport, you know, said I'm here and >> well there >> he's been doing great. He's been doing great community forums. >> Yeah. And and that's why I said and like I said, I know him through the NAACP meeting. Yeah. >> Um, but as a
095reporter, I would think that he he doesn't want to be in that. >> He doesn't want to be the star. That's objective. He wants to be in that position. He wants to do reporting. Um, so think about it. We There's the We all sit down and take a look at our list. We're going to come up with somebody. >> Yeah. >> Uh, that would be good. Um, and it either community and or community parent. Um, >> who's the president of the world right now? Do you know that spot over there? >> Somebody I know just went to the Rotary meeting, too. John Carlo. >> John Carlo was just at Rotary meeting. >> Swimming program. He was doing the swimming program. >> Lives learn to swim. >> Huh? >> Swimming is a life skill that I
096saves lives. Oh, kids. We used to have we used to have a pool of bl So anyway, um and that would be the idea then. So we have the half hour to 45 minutes educational part where people can ask questions and we talk about how the funding and the the ECS works and then the legislators come in. Um Kim asked the what if I want to just answer. >> Well, I did talk to I talked to um Jay before he left and he said, you know, I'm happy to take it apart, but you know, I don't Bridgemore above us. I said, "Well, listen. How would you feel about being the one that greets you know until 11?" And he said, "Perfect." So, yeah, there is that back room which Albert mentioned in the library where
097we've done executive sessions when we were interviewing candidates. Um, it's sort of a side room. There's windows are there. You can see um but you can just escort them into that room, close the door and say, "You're a little early. Can we offer you a cup of coffee or debate? >> Yeah. And I said get a bunch. So there would be two of them that could just I can I'll check with my GR colleagues if one of them is available to come and then that gives it an easy distraction like go and chat with live work. >> Yeah. Like they would know it would be a very easy transition and great. So it would be, you know, that would be a good um, you know, it's an easy thing to do. It's just, you know,
098can we, you know, >> just sit over here for a minute while we shut the first part of our program. >> Folks that aren't used to >> we're, you know, in the beginning of the program, we're educating people about how these issues work >> and then, you know, at 11, we're going to have you all come in. It would also give a couple of my members a chance to do some advocacy without taking their time from the community. >> Yeah, >> that'd be great. >> Yep. >> Um and then uh well, your members can still come and be warm bodies, >> but if they're not speaking and we're giving their their space to students at parents and they like their voice would still be in the room without being >> but let's let's be clear,
099>> drowning everybody else out. your members are an important part of the community in so far as you know there are there there are lots of ways and it's and it's really got to be clear um you know we were just talking about it at ISS last night I think we're at what 40 45% of the teachers have less than five years experience in the district and it's just you know that's people just don't understand how shockingly banned it is. Oh. >> Um, so >> I have an idea of actually of a member who >> reach out to specifically and if we are looking for a teacher to speak, she is an alum >> from Central. It's year six maybe teaching at Winro and J if we end up let me know if we need
100>> yeah there's a number of really good Britport >> graduate slashteers in the system >> in the system >> yes she's another possibility but I would not put her in that position yet um so I I think that there there's a number that are really good Um the um and then when the legislators come in, we're going to have this three to five. Um I like the idea of having a few more students um from the frozen generation that uh can speak. And so I'll talk to Tim about that and then we want to add one or two more on top of that community slash staff. And then it seems to me we need somebody to ask each legislator. Or are you going to do that as the moderator? >> Um, well, we should think
101about who that would be. I don't know that it should be me. I'm going to be >> moderating. I wouldn't think it should be. I don't >> I think having somebody else put the questions to them would probably be a good thing. >> Yeah. myself >> asking like questions to the delegate the legislators. >> Yeah. Who who uh who asks >> you need somebody tough. >> It's got to be somebody that holds them to an answer. >> Yeah. >> It it's it's like saying so is that a yes or is that a no? Is that you know are you >> making the commitment? You know is how did you say it? >> Yeah. It might be faith if she's feeling >> I as soon as I saw you look over I said I know he's
102about to say I mean >> well no you used the term earlier you were saying you know who wants to make sure that you you get the the answer and that's what I was looking at you about was I couldn't remember the exact term you used earlier >> right Brown could also be a closer indeed So it would be somebody that that that says so is your is >> yes or >> can they get your commitment on? >> Yeah. And >> we have a clear commitment here. Is that a that's really which one? You'll get so there. See, that's why that's why I looked at you faith. >> I'm gonna stop talking. I'm doing this. >> No, no, no. I listen. >> I used to be outside. He would see me all the time. We
103we we we we have been to many things and and and for those of you that don't recall, Fate did a you know was brought in to coordinate meetings. She's done this a long time. Yeah. >> So she's a good at it. >> I appreciate it. >> So any other questions? I appreciate everybody who showed up. We'll see you all in two weeks and you guys will be sitting down before that and I'll send out the stuff like I said >> and so you got to share emails and right so that way when we have the data we can share it through our emails. >> Yes. >> Yeah, that would be great. So we're not duplicating efforts. >> Okay. And then we know that one is already working on this source like maybe someone else
104will work on another vehicle source. >> Perfect. >> Works for me. Well, I I will I will um Yeah, I get the the emails off the signing sheets. >> Okay, thank you everybody. >> Oh, right. I I have enough for take a motion to move. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I got I The meeting is closed at 7:52. Sam, thank you.