001Um, let me >> um, so the first item, well, I guess I'll do the sentence first. Um, Jennifer Perez, committee chair, uh, committee member Marissa Ashimenez is in person. Joanne Burks Jennings is online. Um in person board members Benan is here online we have Rob Trey Andre Woodson. Did I say Albert Ben? >> And then Willie Medina. >> Can you mention hear us? >> Can you hear us online? >> Yes, we can hear you guys. >> Thank you. >> Yes. So, first item on agenda is the approval of the minutes from September 3rd, 2025. >> Motion to approve minutes dated September 3rd, 2025. >> I'll second it. Um, any questions on that? Committee members, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Um, and the next item on the agenda is
002the referral to the full board for approval of the contract for the elevator mod uh modernization project at JFK 66 school. Um, >> Jamie's in Jamie. >> We have a contract for approval for like you said the JFK 66 magnet school elevator modernization project. This is capital funded. It is $300,000. The vendor that we awarded um the contract to is a lined elevator. They are on a cooperative contract which we piggybacked off of and then the city attorney um created a contract to go along the cooperatives. or members have a question. >> Um, in this co-op um situation, were more than one bidder considered or was their pricing evaluated? If so, how many biders were evaluated for this job? >> That's not necessarily a requirement of a cooperative, but we did get another quote from
003another elevator company that was higher than this elevator. >> Okay. So, we uh we had the standard elevator we've been using and we sort of been struggling with um and then we had the new proposal came and lowered and we're excited to work with that. >> Is this the shared building? >> Yes. >> Any board members with questions? >> Okay. >> Was it? >> Thank you. You say how much is the amount? >> 300,000. That includes bonds and prevailing wage. >> Yes. >> Including when they they say $300,000 and you know that Mr. Garcia can anything situation happen will be covered. It would not take it forever you know sometime because they already know the situation happen. >> So so this is a a new vendor that that we're working with now. Uh we've done
004assessments throughout the whole district. uh new assessments for all of our elevators throughout the new district. We're looking at the potential new contracts with this vendor. Um the we've done a lot of uh research and analysis on this group and they seem to be solid. All the references check out well. So we're excited about the new prospect. As you know, we've been struggling at times parts. Um this vendor has uh substantially more uh substantial amount of resources than we did to help in shrinking the time frame uh to include manufacturing manufacturing parts. >> That's good. You know they know any if not you know $300,000 you know any parts something is done they know where they come from so they don't take forever. >> Yes. Question man >> Mr. Traver. >> Yes. Uh Mr. U
005Mr. Garcia uh so I think you just answered part of my question if not all of it. So by doing business with a new vendor this would be extend possibly to other elevators and other schools. Would that be something that would be bid on? Would that be automatic? >> Um it' probably be through the cooperative. Um we're still uh we're vetting the numbers hopefully the beginning of uh next week. Um they have come in lower than the vendor we were dealing with previously. Um so we just have to go through and just gut check everything. We always triple check everything before it's out the gate. Um, but once again, the the uniqueness of this vendor is the fact that they've got several resources that can manufacture parts, including doors, which has been one of the
006the the biggest issues for us, as you know, with the delays we've been experiencing with the former vendor. >> So, um, by agreeing to this contract, that wouldn't automatically, uh, commit us to anything. That would just be this contract. Any future decisions would still be uh reviewed by us before any commitment? >> Yes. Today you're just voting on this body of work. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Any other questions? Is there a motion? Um motion to refer to the full board for approval of the contract for the elevator modernization project at JFK66 Magnet School. Second it. Um any further questions? All in favor say I. >> I. I. Any opposed? Any extensions? That passes. Next is the referral to the full board for the approval of the HVAC control contract for Bridgeport Military Academy. >>
007This contract is for HVAC controls at South the South End um location which we also call Birchport Military Academy. HVAC controls help us um control the temperatures and air flow remotely. Currently um the controls at this location do not work. This project um has come in through a qualified purchase. So the vendor CTC is one of two vendors that we use throughout the district for controls. We used to have seven vendors. During CO with the ESER funding, we were able to bring it down to just two vendors. So we only have to view two different systems to control some of the temperatures in our schools. CTC um has uh at least half or more of our schools with the HVAC controls. The contract is for $495,290. The funding for this is two different pots of
008money. We're using $300,000 in capital and the remainder is from the DRIP state grant. So, trip is a new um grant that we were awarded this year. All districts throughout the state were awarded. It's the district repair and improvement project. And we have been given over $1.3 million this year to do capital type improvement projects throughout the district. >> And this falls in line with our effort to continually be able to control our buildings at the optimal level. Um BMA southen swing space is currently on under ABS which is the spare system. There was a one we had in the district. We haven't had control of that building in several years now but the cost was precluding us from being able to get there but with the mix of capital and then the blessing of
009drip were able to get there. Um right now they're experiencing overeating uh it's either feast or fing in that building. So now it'll be in line with everything else. Michael will be able to look at everything remotely and we'll be able to start to adjust things as needed and get that building finally under control, provide the proper environment. >> Good question. >> So to clarify, part part of this project is going to be covered as capital investment and then the balance would get covered through DR. >> Yes. going to happen. >> And we'll be bringing several projects in the near future to you guys to prove through DR and we're excited. Um it may potentially be a multi-year thing. So uh you know this is a blessing for us to continue to move the ball
010forward. So our efforts are on safety and making sure that whenever we can blend safety and efficiency, those are the projects that are rising to the top right now. >> Any other questions? Miss Burst Down Standings, do you have any questions? Any board members? Is there a motion? Motion to refer to the full board for approval of the HVAC control contract for BMA. I'll second discussion. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? It passes. Thank you guys. All right, I'll give you a second. >> So, refer to the full board for the blue host here. >> Yeah, >> good l. >> Thank you for the opportunity to uh present our proposal for the special education expansion and development grant. This grant represents a critical investment in strengthening our district's ability to meet the diverse
011needs of our students with disabilities. Um, as the complex needs of our students increase, um, this is going to help us build the capacity of our special education program by providing staff, tools, and resources for our students. Um this is a special educ this is a special appropriation from the state and funds uh have to be used for new special education purposes such as uh direct provision of special education and related services uh to students. Tier 2 and three interventions, academic and behavioral interventions um can hire staff and special reading or behavior specialists and but they have to work directly with the students. Um, we're looking at expanding our social workers, expanding preschool teaching staff, uh, mainly because, you know, we're seeing the mental health needs for for our students. We are seeing an increase
012in three to and four year olds that are interim. Um, updating our instructional materials and supplies. Uh, one of our biggest goals is to make sure that we're getting a supplemental curriculum so that when students change from campus to campus and with programs that they're not losing the the instruction, our teachers will have the same curriculum throughout the programs and from campus to campus and uh improving access to essential technology. uh some of our evaluation to require the evaluator to have a computer with a touch screen as well as the students. So, it's going to allow us to expand um that technology and ensuring that we have an evaluation tools as well for for our campuses. Um, and as you could see, we're also looking at an IEP development program. Um, because one of the
013things that we're seeing is, you know, making sure that our I that our IEP goals and objectives are also measurable and that there's a way that teachers can progress monitor with those as as well. Um, you have any questions or does you have a question? >> Yeah, I have a question that kind of dubtales into a concern. So, the seed grant it this is like a one-time thing, right? It's it's for two years. So, we'll we'll get it for the 25 26 school year and the 26 27 school year. And that's a great question because we're making sure that whatever we put in a grant that it's not something that's going to later on become, lack of better word, the burden on the districts having to to maintain. >> Yeah. And that's kind of where
014I was going with I'm thinking of Esser and how we hired a bunch of people through it and then the money went away and then we had to lay off a bunch of people. So my question is around that. So with using the funding for guidance counselors and stuff like that, is there a potential for them not to have jobs in like two years from now with the plan? >> So in all honesty with the social workers, yes, that that is a risk. uh with prek teachers. I doubt it because every year we've had well the last two years that I've been here, we've had to add one to two additional prek classrooms. So, you know, as long as we're seeing that increase with the prek students, the district will have to fund that regardless.
015>> But with social workers, there is that possibility. >> Yeah. No, I like the plan of insurance. whatever we add is sustainable. Um cuz certainly don't want to see, you know, a program all of a sudden disappear because we don't have the money to pay for it. So, thank you. >> And I can have more contact to the financial sustainability part of it as well. So, um what's interesting about the C grant is it's written into Connecticut law um for two years with the option to renew. So, they can't promise it that we'll have it in the future because the legislators have to vote on it. um they have confirmed so this year it's a little bit over 2.6 million um next year it will go down 15% to about 2.2 um so what's great
016is the staffing are covered for that second year um but we do have a lot of um supplies resources curriculum materials baked in the first year that will be purchased already >> okay thank you um more question that was Dr. I don't know if Johnny had her name. >> Okay. Okay. >> Your last name. >> Dr. Whitley. Um any question from board members for Mr. Bingham? >> Yes. >> Correct. How much is it going to be grant >> this year for fiscal year 26 is 2,624,295. >> Thank you. One question. >> Are there any questions on the line? Um motion to refer to the full board for approval of the seed grant. I'll second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Any obstensions? That cares. Thank you. We'll see you Monday.
017Um and the last item is uh before that we'll see Monday's going to be virtual. I'm going to be got that notice shut in. Um motion to adjurnn. Second. All in favor? I adjourn against 551. Great. is now.