001Excellent. We have a quorum. Thank you. We're going to We're going to start with student representatives. Just a second. Um Bulldog personal will go first. Go ahead. Good evening everyone. My name is Shenoy Fraser and I'll be highlighting various events that took place in Warren Harding High School throughout March. So, Harding hosted its first school play in the last 10 years. It was called She Killed a Monster. This production was held on March 13th and 14th. Throughout the plot, it emphasized accepting differences, being compassionate, and anti-bullying. The play was a huge hit with a large turnout and is the start of annual productions at Harding. It was utterly amazing to see my schoolmates with the efforts that went into planning and coordinating this production. On March 14th, Harding HOSA Health Occupation Students of America traveled
002to Waterbury Career Academy to compete in Connecticut State Leadership Conference. Over 30 students were in attendance and competed in different events. We competed against many high schools in Connecticut and eight of our students placed as state finalists. These competitive events are first in epidemiology, second in health career photography, first and third in nursing assisting, third in nutrition, second in prepared speaking, third in sports medicine, and third in behavioral health. As state finalists, they can advance to HOSA's International Leadership Conference, where they can compete against other students across the country. For seniors, Harding has organized a decision day for students who are planning to enroll in a four-year university, community college, trade school, or the military. This will be held on May 1st, as this is dedicated to National Decision Day. Essentially, it is a celebration
003for whatever pathway that our seniors are embarking on for their future. Bobby Brown, who is the president of the Greater Bridgeport NAACP, will be the special guest speaker. There will be a special slideshow showcasing each senior's favorite pictures and their future plans. On Ap- On April 2nd from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m., Harding will host a spring dance with a theme of blooming. Tickets will be on sale for $5. The dance signifies the arrival of spring and allows students to socialize more with one another to build school spirit. Recently, Harding lost a dear teacher who passed away. Her name was Miss Maloney. Miss Maloney had a significant impact on our school. Our students have organized a memorial board to honor the memories that we had of her as we cope with the grief that this situation
004has brought. Also, a scholarship is being created in her honor. If anyone wishes to contribute, you can contact Harding High School. Thank you. Thank you. Uh we have Central High School. Okay. Good afternoon, members of the Bridgeport Board of Education and Interim Superintendent Dr. Royce. I am My name is Christian Bicker and I am a 12th grader representing Central High School. I'd like to provide some additional updates on current activities and progress at our school. Spring sports officially began today with students participating in baseball, track, and softball. We're excited to see strong involvement as the season gets underway. Academically, our school is continuing to develop career pathway opportunities for students with a growing focus on the arts and education. Particularly, this is being done in connection with public service pathways. Students and underclassmen are also
005preparing for upcoming standardized testing, including the SAT and PSAT scheduled for April 16th. We are currently looking forward to the University of Connecticut's Acceptance Day, which will be on March 25th. And that is in our auditorium. >> it's Joyce and then um sitting back down to look at priorities. Online, you're to mute. All right, and that will be our UConn Acceptance Day, which is on March 25th in our auditorium, when a representative and counselor will visit our school to personally congratulate and recognize students who have been accepted. On March 30th, we'll be recognizing two of our students, Yohalys Guzman and Donny Charles, at an arts award event in Southington for their outstanding achievements in theater and the arts. In terms of student leadership, we recently held class elections for the class of the class of
0062027, with positions like president, vice president, treasurer, and social media managers being elected. Additionally, we have launched a new student leadership council at Central to further encourage student voice and involvement in our school's decision-making. Throughout this month, we continue to celebrate Women's History Month. Alongside this, we have continued hosting presentations focused on the dangers of drunk driving to promote student safety and awareness. Looking ahead, on March 31st, we will be welcoming a group from the Hartford Academy of the Arts, who will be performing for our students. Their presentation will center around making positive choices and using the arts as a form of expression and education. Next Saturday, this Saturday, our AP science students will also be participating in the Physics Mock Olympiad at Yale University under the guidance of science teacher Mrs. Jill Vitale. Finally,
007our classes have been invited to attend an upcoming NAACP-hosted debate between Howard University and Yale University in New Haven on April 2nd. This provides students with a valuable opportunity to engage with high-level academic discussion and knowledge of civic practice. Thank you for your continuous support. Thank you both. Online, the Okay, I see Kishani Allen. I see Kishani. Good afternoon, members of the Board of Education. My name is Kishani Allen. I'm a senior at BMA and I am proud to share recent updates from the Bridgeport Military Academy. We are rapidly approaching the SAT and PSATs testing day, where all of our ninth, 10th, and 11th graders will be participating. Um will be participating. To help us prepare, BMA students have been assigned Khan Academy and Reading Plus, which we've been using consistently to strengthen our skills
008and get ready for the exam. Two weeks ago, we held our Quarter Two Awards Ceremony, where nearly 60% of our seniors of our students earned first or second honors. This shows how our cadets are working academically and how committed to how committed we are to excellence. On March 13th, we held our monthly company competition, which featured push-ups and volleyball. Charlie Company, represented our representing our Navy pathway, which is full of juniors and seniors, is currently leading all the companies and as we move into our next round. On Tuesday, March 17th, our BMA's band and drill team proudly marched with the superintendent in the Saint Patrick's Day parade. It was a great opportunity to represent our school and demonstrate our discipline and teamwork to the community. Last Thursday, we hosted a PACE sponsored multicultural night. There
009was great food, music, and nearly 100 parents, students, and family members in attendance. If you missed it, we encourage you to join us for our future events. Our school community always appreciates the support. We also have several important events coming up, which is senior picture day, Tuesday, March 24th, a save-a-life tour, which is also March 24th for juniors and seniors. Our next company competition is April 2nd, and we have a Navy military ball April 24th. Thank you for continuing to support the Bridgeport Military Academy. We are looking forward to share even to share to sharing even more accomplishments in the months ahead. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all. All right, we're going to move on to public comment. We have um The Crawford Turner Tyner, sorry. Tyner? Sorry about that. Um you can click
010the microphone and then you have 2 minutes. Uh Uh good evening, Bridgeport Board of Ed members, parents, leaders, and all who are here for the best concern for a better life for our children. My name is Diane Crawford Tyner. I'm a resident of Bridgeport since 1981, and I am a Bridgeport parent leader. I am a 1998 graduate of the Parent Leadership Training Institute, Bridgeport's first graduating class. I'm a proud parent of a Central Magnet and Aquaculture High School graduate, who's now a doctor. Thank you. I stand before you as a staff member of a community organization that is a strong partner with the Diaper Bank of Connecticut. That's CT AB. The Diaper Bank has a serious concern about the availability of menstrual products to our young people while in school. It is the law. Connecticut's
011menstrual equity law, PA 23-16, section 10, effective September 1, 2024, states requires public school districts to provide free menstrual products to to students in grades 3 through 12. Products must be stocked in all women's restrooms, all gender bathrooms, and at least one men's restroom. The staff of the Diaper Bank has done extensive outreach, three to four rounds of outreach in the city of Bridgeport, but there's still much to do. They have gone to the district level and to individual schools. Yes, the Diaper Bank has been successful in onboarding nine of the city's schools, but that's just not good enough for our children. Since this program began in 2024, they have partnered with over 400 schools across the state, and have distributed over 5 million period products. Some of the school systems they're collaborating with in
012our surrounding area are Stratford, West Haven, New Haven, Norwalk, and Shelton. This program is of no cost to the city. The program is funded through the Connecticut Department of Public Health. The Diaper Bank will handle the ordering, shipping, and delivery of all participating schools, and will assist each school with setting up. The goal is to have the following Bridgeport schools onboarded before the end of the 2026 calendar year, and they are Bassick, Central, Harding, Black Rock, Roosevelt, Barnum, uh Bryant, Columbus, Curiale, Hallen, Hooker, Madison, Marin, Read, Waltersville, and Winthrop. We We trust that you see the importance of this program, and look forward to get it underway as soon as possible. As you know, all aspects of our children's health care is important, and any reliable partner that will help us achieve it is a
013big positive step towards equitable health care benefits. I can provide the contact person information at the Diaper Bank of Connecticut, who will assist in the implementation of this program, important program. I respectfully submit this request into tonight's Board of Ed minutes to be reviewed and approved as soon as possible. I thank you for your time and your consideration. Thank you. Thank you. Leave it on. Okay. Mr. Joseph DeGrow. Good evening, Board of Education members, superintendent, central office staff. Um As you can tell, I do not stand up and speak often. So, it must be something very pressing. Uh the superintendent reported in a uh elementary uh round table that we had that there were 10 open art and music positions. As I am starting uh my 34th year here, I have tried to accommodate as
014many people as I can, but I have a full load of classes, and I don't have any power that a supervisor would have. So, I would implore you, please, I know it's budget crunches, I know it's this, I know it's that. I would implore you that that number of 10 is going to go up. If I am getting emails from other districts asking my 34-year-old body to be in their district, these younger stu- these younger teachers that are in our districts right now are going to be flocking to those places. So, I would implore you to think about putting a music and art supervisor back in uh back in place so that younger teachers have somewhere to go, younger teachers have somewhere to to hold on to. And uh I will continue to do what
015I can do, but I cannot keep the department afloat. I thank you for listening to me tonight. Thank you, Mr. DeGrow. Um lastly, David Hertz. Hi there. Um David Hertz, I live on Noble Avenue in Bridgeport. I've been in Bridgeport for about 6 years. Um I uh was actually substitute teaching a couple weeks ago. We had a lockdown drill. Um and it occurred to me that um our kids are probably much more likely to get hurt by a gun at home than they are by anything that happens in school. Um and back in 2019, as part of the uh safe gun storage act, the state of Connecticut said schools may um uh provide firearm safety uh to the their students. Um and I'm just here to encourage you to to consider doing that, is to
016actually let kids They're much more likely, I think, to see a gun at home and not know what to do with it and pick it up inadvertently, and and someone getting hurt that way than they are something happening in school. And I think it behoves us to think about just teaching them what to do if you see one. Tell an adult, go away. You know, always treat a gun like it's loaded. Uh you know, the basic safety that that um every gun owner knows, but uh our kids don't necessarily do. And I think it's a matter of agency as well. I think we we keep them in fear. Um and we need to give them some sense of control over the things in their lives. Um and I think this is one way to do
017it. So, uh I urge this board to consider uh whether it's it's a paid program or a volunteer program. Uh the difficulty is actually getting, you know, staffing cleared to to get into the schools. As you know, all of the things you have to do to just to be a substitute teacher, right? We have to uh get the background checks and the Even if you've got volunteers who want to do this, we need to give them a pathway in so that they can uh have a conversation with our students, um make them safer both at home and at school. Um and that's it. Thank you. Thank you to all our speakers for coming out. Um Next on the agenda is the Well, first of the um just put in record uh Ms. Burke-Jennings and Mr.
018Daniels have joined the meeting online, and in person, Mr. Traber and Mr. Benavente-Grahalis. Um Um the next item is the approval of meeting minutes from the regular meeting on March 9th, 2026. Is there a motion to approve them? Moved by Mr. Traber. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by Mr. Benavente. Um Um All in favor, will say I. Online, you have have to do a voice vote, so um I. Mr. Daniels, Ms. Jennings? I. Uh in in person? I. Any opposed? Any abstained? Eyes have it. Uh Next up is my report. Um I just have two uh things to [snorts] report that the board has uh completed. We are We had a training last Wednesday as a board Um with our new legal counsel from Shipman and Goodwin. And it was mostly um different scenarios
019that maybe this board has faced or other boards and how we as a board members can work can work to solve some issues that we might be having. Um I think it was a very informative um session and we look forward to working with our new counsel in the future. And possibly more training similar to that would be helpful as well. Um we also have passed a few items to move ourselves forward in kind of the guidelines that the state has required for us including um uh identifying what committees the board have has and also um creating a civility code for the board. And so some some of those uh policies have passed in the last board meeting on the 9th. So we look forward to continuing uh that progress. Um additionally I do not
020have anything else to report from the state but I know that the deputy commissioner um he did reach out to me regarding our progress and he's going to formalize um an email back to me um this week so I'll forward it to you once I got it have it. Um that's all I have for the updates. If there's any questions from board members I'll take that now. Seeing none we'll move on to committee reports. Um the operations committee has not met since the last board meeting. Our next meeting is on April 1st. April Fools' Day. No jokes on that day guys. All right. Um we're going to have a meeting on April 1st uh that's next month next Wednesday. So we'll meet at City Hall in room 305 at 5:30 as normal. Um I'll take
021any referrals at this time. Mr. Sikolowic, microphone on. Microphone on. It's already Microphone on. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, I'm what if it's not already being done I'd like to have at least a preliminary idea of some strategies to get this budget down. I mean this potential shortfall down. Uh seeing no other referrals I'll move on to the instruction support services committee. Mr. Traynor. Uh the instruction and support services committee is meeting uh Wednesday. Uh we did not meet last month so our next meeting will be Wednesday and um all I have to offer. Any referrals? Thanks. You still got the uh prior referrals I gave you. Thank you. Um the policy committee, Mr. Wilson. Uh policy committee met in March. We had a productive meeting. The next meeting is April 15th I think. And
022uh I'll take any referrals. I think you're next thing is the 8th second Wednesday, right? Second? >> Yeah, I'm sorry. I think you're the 8th. Okay, second second April 8th I'm sorry. Um any referrals? Mr. Sikolowic. >> Yeah, not not so much a referral but um whatever policies they bring before us could they be actually vetted to make sure we don't have to have a 3-hour meeting going through them to get them get them involved with the laws always we should if it was providing us with documents we shouldn't have to seek legal counsel. I mean it should be a given that everything is actually been properly vetted. >> Mhm. All right, seeing no other questions um we'll go to our ad hoc committees. I think the only one that's met is Mr. Traynor's committee
023on advocacy. Um the ad the ad hoc committee on ad ad hoc advocacy committee met last Thursday. Um we had explored a two dates for meeting with our legislative delegation. Uh we have settled on April 18th the April 28th and the March 28th date was not uh going to work for the majority of the delegation. So we settled on April 18th. Um we are meeting again this Thursday to work on the details of that meeting. Uh that meeting will be Thursday at 6:00 in room 305. Um we also have uh a couple other events happening coming up in April. Um not clear yet what's going to happen on tax day but there we're looking at doing some sort of event on tax day April 15th. Um I say it that way because we just learned
024today that the the speaker takes the week off that week. Uh there are some school districts uh out that week versus the week we're out and that happens to be the week his child's school is not in session so he goes away. Um so um we're looking at perhaps doing something locally for tax day. Um and uh there's also the following week Bridgeport Day up in Hartford. Uh and um April 22nd. Thank you. Uh so we'll be planning those events. Um and we have as I said the meeting with the Bridgeport legislative delegation on April 18th that's a Saturday morning. We're looking to do that at the central library at this point. Um we have almost all of the delegation uh committed to be there. Um one member of the delegation uh representative Stafstrom's child
025also appears to be on the alternative schedule for vacation. So I'm not sure he'll be there but I told him we would arrange a different meeting for him and his constituents uh which is the one third the Black Rock area. Um south end uh west end. So uh uh but um and uh we had a very good meeting this past week on Thursday with a good showing good turnout. Uh and we're still building on that. The um I think the most exciting thing has been that last week there were two different organizations proffering proposals on how to increase the amount of education cost sharing money. The first that opened on Monday was the speaker and the representatives of the house that offered 100 to 150 million dollars some say as high as 180 million dollars
026of the governor's money. Um uh that's that is to say money that the governor had put in his package for other purposes. Um uh the director of CCM suggested that they should have offered 500 million dollars of the governor's money. Um so obviously there's a great deal of leeway there. Um and then uh Mr. Sikolowic and I attended and I believe Mr. Nicastro uh uh is attending or has attended uh the um state and school and state finance projects uh webinar where they were proposing to take that same amount of money and spend it differently. Um neither of which is adequate at all for our purposes but it is a reflection that everybody and their brother and sister are trying to figure out how to get more money for ECS. Uh if you recall last
027year nobody wanted to talk about ECS. Now everybody wants to talk about ECS including the governor who said sure I'll talk to anybody about ECS. Um so now we just need to get them to talk about more money for ECS cuz it's not nearly enough yet. But it we're in a whole different environment than we were a year ago. Everybody wants to talk about ECS. Now we need to get them to talk about a lot more money for ECS. So we're we're in a good place. We just got to raise the stakes. And that's what we're trying to do in the next 6 weeks is raise the stakes. So good position we're in. Anything? Oh, referrals. Ready? Yeah, um you know agree just local portion. They're ready to drop the city budget any minute now.
028And I wish something around that. I believe that the we are getting the mayor's dropping his portion tonight. Um the mayor's presenting his budget tonight and uh we are expecting that once the mayor's budget is presented tonight the council will lay out its schedule which will include a public hearing. Um obviously uh our break is um the 5th through the 15th. No, not 15th sorry. Um I don't have my schedule right in front of me. Let me get my 6 to 1 friends. >> 6 to 1. Thank you. And so I would expect that the hearing would be after that. Um there was one year where the council tried to schedule it the same week as our break, but that was quickly shot down and they rescheduled it. I don't expect the council to pull
029us down like that this year. I think the council is trying to work with us, so I would expect the councils to be one of those two middle weeks in April. Um that we were just discussing. Um so that will also be It's going to be a very busy April. Um and uh that we will should know in the next week or so before I think our spring break, we will know when the council is planning its public hearing for at the education budget. Thank you. All right, seeing no other uh hands, um I do want to take back the thing Mr. Woodson, your committee should meet the 15th cuz the 8th is our spring break. So, um unless there's another day, but the 15th will probably be best. Um moving on. Um Ms. Estremera
030Jimenez, do you have a CAPE report? The CAPE report is not that much different than uh last um last meeting, but I will say that they do have an a training coming up. Um hold on, I'm just pulling it up. Oh, it's about the education committee bills. Um it's scheduled for March 27th at noon. And that is all the updates I have from CAPE. Thank you. I do have to go back to the ad hoc committees. We do have one more ad hoc and that's Mr. Benham Gallego for the facility master plan. I don't have a um report um right now, but I believe I'm having for a meeting Joe Sokolovic. Can you please um email me about uh your concerns? Can you um please let me know so I can, you know, uh start
031working with that your concern. Okay. Mr. Sokolovic? Yeah. Yeah, my my referral to the committee is a long-standing one to Since we've got the facilities master plan, we need to start looking at it and it's especially important now with the potential $30 million budget cuts because we need to know where we are. This It's so far it's only informing us of what's going to happen a couple of years from now. However, the last time we've had significant budget cuts going down in 2018, I believe it was, we talked There was talk of merging two schools that was barely averted and the budget deficit then was less than less than $10 million. So, we're three times that. So, school closures are potentially possible, so we need to be really informed about that and really responsible about
032how we go forward. I know it's going to make people nervous. I know people are going to get upset, but we've got to do it in a methodical manner, whatever we have to whatever we are forced to do to our children. Uh Mr. Traynor? It Going back to uh Ms. uh Estremera Jimenez's CAPE report. Wait, do we have anything else with the facility master plan? Sorry. All right, seeing none, go ahead. Going back to the CAPE report, um I I I mentioned the various offers that popped up last week on the budget. I should say that the School and State Finance proposal that was presented to us was a CAPE webinar. So, it would the the proposal emanated from the School and State Finance project, but the webinar was proffered by CAPE to its membership.
033Um so it had some informal backing from CAPE that it was offered to the CAPE membership and they and Lisa Hammersley, the director of uh School and State Finance project, said the purpose of the webinar was to um uh try and create some interest among the CAPE membership in their way of Now, they're spending the same amount of money as the speaker's proposal that was you know, announced at the beginning of the week, $100,000 carved out of the governor's budget. That's same range of money, but it was a different way of looking at it and had the tacit endorsement of CAPE because CAPE allowed them to present it. So. Thank you. We will move on to the superintendent's report. Thank you. Uh good evening, everyone. I have a couple things I'll just kind of want
034to emphasize. First of all, I want to um you know, uh thank our families, our staff, our students, and our community, especially students for their advocacy. I think the advocacy that we've done this year alone has made a true real driving impact on making sure Bridgeport is is heard. Uh we can't stop now. I mean, the momentum we have from our, you know, on behalf of, you know, the mayor's office, the the Bridgeport delegation, some of the state representatives, some of the senators, they're they're hearing us right now and we have, like you said, about 5 to 6 more weeks of of work that we have to do. Uh I do want to emphasize uh April 22nd is Bridgeport Bridgeport Day uh at the capital uh from 2:00 to 5:00. Um we're going to do
035a massive, you know, trip to Hartford on behalf of the children of Bridgeport and so um my communication staff is going to be emphasizing and getting some some additional information out to this community about how to get there. Uh uh we we we would love to have you join us that day uh in Hartford. Uh we have an opportunity for community organizations to uh set up tables um around a portion of the area uh at the state capital that we're going to be at to kind of showcase some of the, you know, great things happening within our community. Uh and again, just give you a chance to uh really interact with some of our legislators uh about the need. Uh and that's going to be right at the end of the session, uh but I
036think it's still a very impactful time of the year for us to kind of get together and work for their uh uh I've heard so many when I go out now to different, you know, meetings and organizations around Connecticut, uh you know, people are actually stopping and saying, "Hey, we're hearing Bridgeport. Keep got Keep doing what you're doing." And so I just can't stress enough, we're doing an outstanding job and we can't stop now. Um the other part of that, this month is board recognition recognition month and so I do want to make sure if you guys can join me again to to recognize our board of ed. Uh they've done a great job of trying to kind of keep the business the business uh and stay focused on doing great things for kids. So,
037I want you to kind of, you know, help me give a round of applause to our board uh for board appreciation. Uh and I And I'm going to end with, you know, uh I think board chair talked a little bit about, you know, the board workshop that we had last week. Uh and the board met with our attorneys uh to talk about policy and policy development. Uh and I think it was a really really productive meeting to talk a little bit about, you know, uh the policies that govern this district. Um and in that conversation, you know, she we talked about scenarios and things that that may have happened in this district or other districts and really giving the test of to our board to talk about their perspectives and how they felt about that
038and what they thought was good, bad, or indifferent when it comes to addressing those policies. Uh we have a a new uh law firm, Shipman and Goodwin is working with the board in uh making sure policies are, you know, um adopted, you know, uh and really made the recommendations of, you know, when you when we're doing the policy and policy development, to take those policy as a group and not individualize those policies cuz we have series of policies, you know, 200 series, 300 series, 400, and and so on. Uh but in order to really understand the nuances of what policy does for districts, uh taking that those policies in group perspectives and adopting them. And you'll see some of those things that's going to be on the agenda tonight. They come in large packages and
039there's all different types of policies within uh those uh those categories of of 2,000, 3,000, 4,000 series. Uh and again, it's it's it's so important, you know, to the work that we do or that my staff does, you know, on a day-to-day is those policy developments. And so again, I want to, you know, emphasize and thank the board for really taking that by the, you know, by the horns and really driving it forward. Our next steps, we're building timelines, you know, for policy updates for the community. Uh we're working with CAPE and our legal counsel to really and the and the policy committee to really streamline those things. Um and then we're going to be able to provide updates to the community and to our our leadership teams that governs uh so that everybody understands
040that the way we do our business moving forward is based on how we develop these policies and so uh a a process of updating policies and communicating what those policies mean and training of those policies is is what my staff my executive team is going to be working on moving forward as well so that everybody's clear on how that's done and so I will take any questions on those three areas. Anybody has any questions? Referrals? Any questions from board members? First, seeing none we'll move on. Quickly. All right. We're going to new business. Thank you, Dr. Aubrey. The first item of new business is discussion and possible action of the requested leave for pilgrimage for Abaca commencing on May 4th, 2026 through June 5th, 2026 under Article 612 6.12 of the BEA's collective bargaining agreement.
041Dr. Siano? Hi, good evening. Um we received a request from a teacher on March 11th that he has booked a trip to Mecca for a pilgrimage from May 4th to June 5th. Under the general leave in the BEA contract, this would be an unpaid leave. And if the employee wanted to use health benefits, the employee would have to pay 100% of the health benefits. So, um we're here tonight to answer any questions you have about the request for leave. Seeing no questions, is there a motion? Motion to Seconded by Mr. Kalb. Motion to approve the requested leave for pilgrimage of Abaca commencing May 4th, 2026 through June 5th, 2026 under Article 6.12 of the BEA collective bargaining agreement. Seconded by Mr. Benavides. I need debate on that. Seeing none, all in favor say I. I.
042I. And Miss Berkstennings? I. That passes. Thank you, Dr. Siano. Um next up we have discussion and possible action of creating an ad hoc committee regarding the lottery process. Uh this was talked extensively in our policy committee. So, is there a motion? Would you put my microphone on? Microphone. Committee regarding Yes, my microphone. Second. I move to create an ad hoc committee regarding the lottery process. Seconded by Mr. Benavides. Motion with me by Aubrey by Mr. Traynor. Seconded by Mr. Benavides Grajales. Um Is there any questions on this one? Um Seeing none, all in favor say I. I. I. I. And Miss Berkstennings? I. Okay. Um I know I have some ideas of who would like to be on that committee, but if you want to shoot me an email if you would like to
043be on that committee, I'll um I'll get that to you guys by the end of the week. Um That one passed. Okay. Moving on, we have Um item C is Give me time to read it. 13 items. Uh possible action to suspend bylaw 9310 for the purpose of immediate implementation of the following bylaws. One, time and place time place notification for meetings as amended, which is 9321. Two, electronic participation 9321.2. Three, public and executive sessions 9322. Four, agenda construction as amended 9323. Five, advanced delivery of materials as amended 9324. Uh six, public participation at board meetings as amended 9324.1. Seven, meeting conduct as amended 9325. Eight, quorum and voting procedures as amended 9325.1. Nine, orders of business as amended 9325.2. 10, consent agenda 9325.21. 11, parliamentary procedures procedures as amended 9325.3. 12, minutes as amended
0449326. And 13 electronic communications board member use of internet {slash} social media and social media etiquette. 9327 9327.1 and appendix. Is there a motion? >> So moved. Moved by Mr. Medina. Seconded by Mr. Sacalovic. Um Is there any debate on suspending the bylaw to permit immediate implementation? Seeing none, all in favor say I. I. Online? I. I. And Miss Berkstennings says I. Yep, I. Okay. So, now that's just suspending the bylaw. Now we actually have to take action on those same agenda items. Um So, the next motion would be a motion possible action of immediate implementation of the following bylaws. I have to do the whole thing again, guys. Okay. Time place notification for meetings as amended 9321. Electronic participation 9321.2. Public and executive sessions 9322. Agenda construction as amended 9323. Advanced delivery of materials
045as amended 9324. Public participation at board meetings as amended 9324.1. Meeting conduct as amended 9325. Quorum and voting procedures as amended 9325.1. Order of business as amended 9325.2. Consent agenda 9325.21. Parliamentary procedures as amended 9325.3. Minutes as amended 9326. Lastly, electronic communications board member use of internet, social networks, and social media etiquette 9327 9327.1 and appendix. Is there a motion? So moved. Moved by Mr. Traynor. Second. Seconded by Mr. Benavides Grajales. I'm going to love when we get to number 10, consent agenda. But is there any further discussion on these items? Just so everyone's aware, these have been um uh all amended for gender neutral terms as was discussed in policy committee and so Miss Estela Jimenez. Yeah, I did have um three edits um for consider for the board's consideration in policy 9321. Um
046time place notification of meetings. Um We did not get an opportunity to chat about turning on the cameras when we are uh we're attending meetings remotely. That was my first edit. The second edit was to 9324.1 public participation at board meetings. And we chatted about 1 2 3 the third paragraph removing comments at special meetings must be related to the call of the meeting. And this was around um folks who wanted to come and speak during public comment, they can do so um without having public comment really talk freely. Miss Estela Jimenez, let's do one at a time. Okay. Okay, so 9321? Um your possible amendment would be what? So, in we chose alternative version one for 931. And so after 1 2 3 the first line where it says Board of Education board member
047strongly encourages board members to attend and participate at meetings of the board with the camera on. So, it's just a reference to turn on the camera when participating virtually. Any discussion on that? Mr. Traynor? Um Are we proposing I want to be clear what we're saying here. Mhm. Um We're put proposing Miss Estela Jimenez, you're proposing this be put in? I'm I'm sorry, Mr. Traynor. Can you repeat? >> I'm confused about what you're proposing. So, basically when uh like for example, right now um I'm virtually attending the meeting. My camera should be on so that folks can see that I'm engaged in the conversation. So, my proposal is if you're attending the meeting virtually, you need to turn on the camera. No, you're proposing strongly encourages board members to attend and participate at meetings with
048the cameras turned on. Correct. It doesn't say you have to. Correct? Well, we can change that to say must put the cameras on. Is there any debate on that? I I Mr. Traver. Yeah, I'm I'm asking I'm asking because I I think strongly encouraged is isn't strong enough. Mr. uh Mr. Medina. Yeah, I I agree with Mr. Traver. I think she's focusing more I think we're going to add I think she's trying to add language and I you just correct me if I'm wrong Miss uh Miss uh Estermera. Um because it says though great importance is given to the physical presence of the board members at meeting the attendance and partic- uh participation of members by electronic devices is authorized whenever uh physical presence is not practical and I think that's the section we should
049put they act- they're added uh wordage or added uh requirements that they would require. Cuz the one before it's just saying the one before the line before it's just saying Okay, give me a second, sir. Thank you. I didn't say anything. >> I know but you're shaking your head it's kind of like disrespectful when you do that. >> putting words in my mouth. >> Yes. I just want to make sure the first line is just saying that it's strongly recommended that we'd rather have them in person than online. And then the second line starts talking about if that's not the case and I think that's where she should be adding that if that's what she would like to do in my opinion. Miss Estermera. Do you see that? Yes, I do and actually I I
050do agree with Mr. Medina where it's it's actually it makes more sense to put it after it's not practical. Add its own sentence and say board members attending virtually shall turn on their cameras. Danielle, are you getting this? Are you get- are you getting it? I'm sorry I'm sorry point of information, sir. Nobody should be getting anything cuz first of all there's no proper motion on the No, no I'm just asking her to write the the the language down that way when we do the policy >> until we get the vote I just want her to write down what you said that way we have it. Um Mr. SacalСвic. Mike on. Well, since board members are allowed to participate by telephone and some telephones do not have a camera I don't think this is we
051should put a must on it because if we put a must on there what happens when somebody keeps it off? Like I said you're not allowed to vote you're not allowed to participate? What if you're in a car accident and your face is all tore up. Oh. Do you want that on camera? Do you want the people to see that? What if you get in a situation where you can't be in a place that's proper to have on camera that would be offensive to some people maybe somewhere. Say you're outside somewhere and what somebody would deem a rough neighborhood and there's people in the background with crazy stuff going on and you don't want that on camera. You want to be able to use your discretion to keep those things off camera. We've got board
052members here who have um actually been in the hospital and testified and testified and um participated in board meetings. Will they not be allowed to join? Will they not be allowed to vote? Will they be restricted? And I'm not even sure we could do that under the law because the board members have the absolute right to participate electronically. It's by electronic means not electronic means with a video camera. I don't think we could put any more restrictions on ourselves than it's already there when the board members have an absolute right to attend under the law electronically. Doesn't say electronically only on a computer. It's electronically electronically could be a phone. Funny guy there. I don't think we would be in legal compliance with the law if we try to cut off anybody who does not
053have their camera on. But that being said I strongly encourage everybody. I don't mind the strongly encouraged language because everybody should be strongly encouraged not only to keep their camera on but to have their butts in their seat up here for every single meeting so that we can look at the people especially coming now we need to see the faces of these people whose lives we're going to be affecting with the upcoming budget cuts. You shouldn't be hiding behind the screen unless it's absolutely necessary. Thank you. Anybody else want to discuss that? There's no motion yet so um Mr. Traver. Yeah, I I I understand the extraordinary examples that Mr. SacalСвic just gave and I could counter that with some other extraordinary examples of people who have other people with them that we'd rather like
054to know who else is participating in the discussion that we're having as we continue to do this and we have had examples in the past of other people participating in discussions. Um so I'd sort of like to know who I'm having the discussion with um when I'm voting. So yes, I'd like to know um and I can't imagine that uh that's outweighed by the gross examples given by Mr. SacalСвic the rather the right of us to know who we're talking to. Um so yes, I think that having the camera on outweighs the um the rare instance in which somebody is in extremis um and we would rather not see it. So um yes, I think that they had should have the camera on um and if they're incapable of having the camera on then we'll
055cross that bridge when we get to it and we can allow that to happen. But these days with AI um we don't even know if we're talking to the person all the time. So I'd rather see the camera can confirmation too. Um Mr. SacalСвic has become a bit of an expert with AI. We may not even be talking to the right person so the more confirmation we have that we're talking to the right person the better. So I would I would say that we should see it the person we're talking to and it should be in the bylaws. Uh Mr. Benavidez before you go Mr. Daniels do you also have your hand up? Yeah, I just wanted to speak briefly. Can you hear me? I'm going to have Mr. Benavidez go and then you go.
056That's fine. Thank you. >> Okay, Mr. Benavidez go. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um this is my opinion. If you driving you got cameras on you're not responsible. That's the first thing I can say because in less than 1 second you look the camera you don't know what's going on in front of you or back and left or right. If If obviously you need to be responsible you can say I cannot turn on the camera because I'm driving. Um if you home or you wherever you are you know you have to know you have a board um a board education meeting. We are responsible to come to the board education meeting personal if we cannot do it if we cannot come or any situation I feel we have to respect what the situation and in board
057members. Because I have the experience and everybody who does SacalСвic know some people they know I was in the hospital. We have board education meeting and I had this tablet with me you know to let them know the people you know I was in the hospital and I because I was responsible I was place I can open the camera. But I'm sometime we got places we cannot open the camera. If you have a crazy um like I Mr. SacalСвic say a place that not look good. You're responsible to see where you're going to be open your camera. You know you are person unless official you're not going to do something crazy that you're not doing the correct way to come to the meeting or be in a meeting. So yes, you can open the camera
058but at the same time you have to be careful where you're going to open the camera. But the most important thing you are responsible you know I believe you are very educated to open the camera where it's going to be so the people they can see where you are. Of course we would love to have all the board members be present. But it just depends the situation what's going on with the board member. Thank you. Mr. Daniels. Thank you. Can I I'm not sure if I heard correctly before I do make my comments. So is is is the recommendation adding the word must? Am I hearing that correctly? Um Miss Estermera, can you repeat your recommendation? Um it was board members shall turn on their cameras if attending virtually. Okay, thank you. I wasn't sure
059I thought I heard the word must and I wanted to speak to that. I'm fine. Thank you. Mr. SacalСвic. Yeah. How's the word must is in there? We can >> Is it in there? I thought I heard that being talked about if I'm if I'm mistaken forgive me. It's not right now but it's seeking to be included through an amendment. >> no amendment yet for it. >> Okay, so that's so if that's the case if I can then that's the issue I think most certainly our bylaws they do set expectations but I have concerns about the word must. What does that mean? It can imply consequences that you know do we actually have the authority to enforce? So that word must is the word that if I'm correctly being considered I think we'll have to
060have a legal review of having that word in bylaws. Mr. SacalСвic. Yeah, and I'd like to pull from the candidate to get an exercise the hyperbole Say Say the hyperbole that I just Yeah, maybe in my mind it may not be impactful, but 100% we must follow law. Mhm. We shall follow the law within our bylaws. We cannot have bylaws that are contrary to law. And here's straight from the Connecticut General Assembly. Could go to another expert to legal reach out to legal. Any public agency other that conducts a meeting shall include a notice where the meeting will conducted solely upon by means of electronic equipment. Not Teams, not YouTube, not laptops. Electronic equipment which includes telephones. That's that limit right there. >> [snorts] >> Uh electronic equipment any vote taken which a member participates
061by means of electronic commitment shall be taken by roll call unless the vote is unanimous. Meeting shall reflect the members. Members should make attempt make attempts to identify themselves. Which would not be in a statute if their face was on the screen voting. So the intent of the thing is to have the ability for any board member or any person in any in any other legislative body that meets except for the Connecticut General Assembly the ability to participate remotely. This right was imbued by state public act. I think it was 70 I can't remember. 70 something or whatever. But I suggest um we follow Mr. Daniels' suggestion if there's a strong preference to add this into the add this into the bylaws that we get a legal review so we don't restrict the rights of
062the public. Not of the public who voted for the members in the seats who may not be able to participate cuz the public put people in there. Public put us in there. So we should not be able to take away the public who voted for the people to sit in the seat who may not want their cameras on those points in time. Even though I disagree with keeping the camera off anyway. There's been no motion to amend this. Is there a motion to amend it? I'll I'll I'll do the motion. Um hold on. Let me get the language. Um motion to add to bylaw 9321 time place notification of meetings language stating that board members shall turn on their cameras if attending virtually. Is there a second? Second. Okay. Uh any further debate? Um Are
063you waiting? Go ahead. Thank you. Um We'll do a roll call. Can Can you tell me who seconded the motion? Mr. Mr. Benehan. Okay. I just want to document it. Um okay. Roll call. Mr. Benehan Grahalis. He said yes. Yes, but my microphone's off so she can't hear you guys. Okay. Mr. Woodson. No. Ms. Perez. No. Mr. Sokolovic. No. He's a no. Ms. Burke-Jennings. No. Mr. Daniels. No. I vote yes. Mr. Drayer. I can't hear. Oh, he said yes. Uh Mr. Medina. Thank you. Yes. Okay. Uh that one fails. Um you had another one for number six you said? Uh sorry. Mr. I think we should work through the I'm sorry. Does anybody else >> I think I think we should work through the the list. The list one by one since it's going to
064be some we don't want to track what we approved. Okay. Yes. She has other amendments that were I know, but that's a different bylaws. Any Anybody have any different for two? Number three. Public executive sessions. Number four. Agenda construction as amended. Five. Advance delivery of materials as amended. All right. Six. Public participation at board meetings as amended. And number six amended >> sorry. I'm sorry. I was not quick on my on my You had it for number six, right? For agenda construction meeting materials 9323. Oh, no. Um No. I'm sorry. But you had you said 9324.1 you said Yes. I did. I'm sorry. >> now. Yeah, we're on that one. Um so this one was 1 2 3 third paragraph. Um striking out the second sentence. And is so the sentence is comments at special
065meetings must be related to the call of the meeting. Um the example I used during the committee meeting was that we had a grandfather wanting to talk about his um special ed grandson. Um but they weren't able to come in. A he said, "Well, I'll attend the next board meeting to talk through his concerns." and he never came back. Um so for those reasons I want to give our public, our parents, and guardians the opportunity to speak about anything that is troublesome. It's almost like meeting them where they're at. Um if there's an issue that that's a problem for them that we can help resolve. Um just hearing them out. So that's why I want that sentence or I'm proposing that that sentence gets struck out. Second. I don't know if she made a motion
066though. Did you make a motion? Uh no. I I can do that now. Um so motion to amend bylaw 9324.1 public participation at board meetings to strike out the sentence that reads comments at special meetings must be related to the call of the meeting. Motion was made by Ms. Estela Hernandez. Um that wouldn't do it, Ms. Hernandez. Okay. Um may I make may I May I take a shot at Sure. >> Yeah, I withdraw my motion. Um comments at special meetings do not need to be related to the call of the meeting. Second. Uh actually, let's let's try it a different way. Hold on 1 second. How about we withdraw it? Comments and questions >> it. I withdraw that. And let me try again. Comments and questions at regular meetings may deal with any topic.
067Um kind of I would amend this to say this paragraph to say >> Pause. Ms. Estela, can you withdraw your second? Oh, I withdraw my second. Go ahead, Mr. Drayer. Comments and questions at regular meetings and special meetings may deal with any topic related to the board's conduct of the schools. Period. And delete the second sentence. Second. Um Make it a motion. You have the floor. I made that motion. You have the floor. Do you have any debate? No. All right. I I believe the I'll allow other people to speak to this, but I believe the rationale is that special meetings um that this is a FOIA issue. I believe that's what we discussed in in policy committee. Um because uh special meetings are are specially noticed 24 hours in advance. And so um I
068I'm I can't recall the discussion that night, but we did discuss about FOIA. But if anybody else wants to debate this, you have the floor. Anybody? Mr. Sokolovic. Yeah, I'm I did I did bring up initial concerns about it, but I really don't see any further reflection really don't see any issue. Um But this as long as it's not us speaking on it, it shouldn't be a FOIA violation for the because the public speaking. But um Yeah, but initially initially it was brought up because it was being abused. There was no public comment allowed at special meetings. It was abused in the past. Uh so I was just bringing that up, but um Yeah, any opportunity we get to hear from the public is probably best, but I don't think this one will run in
069um contrary to FOIA. Um And I think I Uh what what was the amendment, please? Again, can somebody repeat that? Mr. Drayer. The motion was comments and questions at a regular at a regular meeting and special meetings may deal with any topic related to the board's conduct of the schools. period Delete the second sentence. Got it. Thank you. I'm good. Okay. Um No other debate on that? Mr. Sokolovic No. Going to vote. Take the vote. Uh let's do a roll call vote so we have folks online, too. Ms. Sherman minutes? Uh Mr. Benehan Grijalva is Yes. Mr. Woodson I couldn't hear him. Sorry about that. No. Okay. Ms. Perez I'm going to go with no on this one. Mr. Sokolovic I'm going to go with yes Okay. Ms. Burke-Jennings No. Mr. Daniels No. I vote
070yes. Mr. Traynor Yes. Mr. Medina Yes. Okay. Motion carries. Oh, Mr. Benehan He voted He voted yes, didn't he? No, he passed. Oh, I'm sorry. But I'm going to vote yes. Okay, thank you. Motion carries. Um Do you have that? Mr. Traynor, one more time. Say it again. Comments and questions at a regular meeting and at a special meeting may deal with any topic related to the board's conduct of the schools. No. Thank you. All right. Number seven, meeting conduct as amended. Eight, quorum and voting procedures as amended. I have an edit on this one. Go ahead. Um it's super minor. Number seven um is not gender neutral, so change his/her to their. And that That's all the changes I have. Which one? Um we don't have to really make motion on that cuz they're
071going to go back and we we Oh, actually We voted on that in committee. Right. >> We didn't vote on that in person, too. >> be coming to us, so we shouldn't have amended it. >> Okay. So we're changing number seven to read to explain their vote. Yeah. So now I'll make the motion. Motion to amend item number seven striking his/her and replacing with their. Second. Um we have to do roll call. Um You don't need to roll call. Yeah, we got We have people online. We have to take the vote that way. Uh Ms. Estremera-Grijalva minutes? Yep. Ms. Um Roll call that for us. Sure. Mr. Benehan Grijalva is Passed. Okay. Mr. Woodson Yes. Ms. Perez Yes. Mr. Sokolovic Yes. Ms. Burke-Jennings Yes. Mr. Daniels Yes. I vote yes. Mr. Traynor Yes. Mr. Medina
072Yes. Mr. Benehan Grijalva is Yes. Okay. Okay. Motion carries. Then order of business and set agenda parliamentary procedures as amended minutes as amended electronic communication for board member use of internet, social networks, and social media etiquette. Seeing none, any further debate on these? Uh You have one? Oh, okay. I we do have to make a roll call for this, but um the The motion was made by someone earlier. Mr. Those two, I think. Mr. Sokolovic and Mr. Benehan, I believe. Um the motion has been made already. Um Um can we roll call that as amended? Do we want to go through each bylaw? No, cuz we we voted it's just item D. As amended. >> D? Item D. D or C? We're on D. Have we passed C? Yeah. Okay. Um let me get the
073list. Okay. Mr. Uh Benehan Grijalva is Yes. Mr. Woodson Yes. Ms. Perez Yes. Mr. Sokolovic Yes. Ms. Burke-Jennings Yes. Mr. Daniels Yes. I vote yes. Mr. Traynor Yes. Mr. Medina Yes. Okay. Motion carries. All right. Um That's it. Any there a motion to adjourn? I vote. Moved by Mr. Benehan, seconded by Mr. Medina. Any debate? Just joking. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. We're adjourning at 7:48. Mark that in your record book, guys. 7:48. >> say it. >> [laughter] >> Woo! Have a good night, everyone. Good night.