BBOE: Regular Meeting (6:30PM 12/8/25)

001for the Bridgeport Board of Education. Today's Monday, December 8th. It is 6:37. We are at Aquaculture School. Um the first item on the agenda is the pledge of allegiance. Can we all rise for the pledge? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Mr. Mayor Jimenez, can you take roll call? >> Mr. Albert Benahan. Graales Mr. Andre Woodson Miss Jennifer Perez present >> Mr. Joseph Sakalovic >> present >> Miss Joanne Burks Jennings Mr. Lamont Daniels >> present >> Miss Maritza Estster Himenez I'm here Mr. Rob Traver >> here >> Mr. Willie Medina >> present. >> Yep. We're going to start with uh student representative reports. We'll start with the students in

002person and then we'll go online. So, >> good evening everyone. My name is Shanoi Fraser and I'm a senior at Warren Hardin High School. I will outline the accomplishments that my school has made and described how we have fostered a sense of community and school pride. Hardin students have excelled tremendously in sports. On October 18th, the girls volleyball team played against JM Wright Technical High School and won a vic another victory of three to zero. This match secured our spot in the state tournament. Additionally, our boys soccer team made it to the state tournaments as well. On Thanksgiving Day, Hardin had their rival game with Central High School. The presidents won by 37 to 30. Nonetheless, it is evident that Hardin athletes have continually reaped the rewards of their hard work and education. Not only

003have we excelled in sports, but we have also maintained our school spirit. On October 31st, the student council hosted our pink out fall fest. This theme was chosen in collaboration with a school organization called Elf Occupational Students of America, HOSA, to bring awareness about breast cancer. This event was definitely a success. Students made braids bracelets, pumpkin decorations, did fall crafts, played board games, participated in raffles, enjoyed baked treats, and many more. It was very exciting, and I had a blast there. On November 7th, a movie night was organized by the senior committee of the class of 2026. Students were gathered within the auditorium and they watched a movie called Caroline. As a fundraiser, they had a raffle in which two winners were awarded with sweet treats baskets. After the event, many students praise them for

004their amazing work in leading this project. Harding CNA students organized a blood drive in collaboration with the American Red Cross on November 21st, 2025. This was held in the small gym from 7:45 a.m. to 100 p.m. These students educated our school about how important it is to donate blood. Students and ta and staffs who participated scheduled their appointments once they met the requirements for donating. Donors were given either Patman socks or a toy after their donation was complete. Donors were observed before their return to classes and were given snacks. Overall, 18 pins of bloods were donated. Harding has established a freshman committee. As students get accustomed to the transition from middle school to high school, it is very important that they feel a sense of belonging and understand what Hardin stands for as they begin

005their journey. This community, this committee has facilitated team building, school spirit, and a sense of responsibility. Following this, Harding held it spirit week from October 19th to the 25th. Students and staff participated in twin day, pajamas day, character day, decades day, and pep rally. During the pep rally, students embrace their school spirit by participating in games, watching performances from the cheer team, appreciating our sports team, and embracing Harden school color. Lastly, Hardin's health occupation students of America, HOSA, hosted Friendsgiving on November 25th. This event was intended to help students foster deep connections with one another and break any awkward feelings that they had, especially the freshman members. It was a success and students were joined by a few alumni of HOSA and Hardin's medical career magnet. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> chair. >> I

006also want to kind of extend a huge thank you to Harden campus. Uh there was an amazing article in the paper yesterday that talked a little bit about how you know the students, the staff and the community has embraced the great things that's happening at Harding. And so I wanted to kind of extend that a huge thank you to you guys getting it together and showcasing it across the board. Uh it was just amazing just to hear and and get a feel for what's going on in the building. So uh academic growth is happening, graduation rates happening, and so that's what it's all about. So, I love that you guys collectively get out there and and try to get that promoted through uh social media uh just the press in itself. So, thank you for

007that. Awesome. >> Christian. >> All right, that works. Hope everyone can hear me. All right. Good evening to our Brisport Board of Education members and everyone in current attendance. My name is Christian Bea and I am a 12th grader at Central High School's magnet program. Here is an overview of the amazing work our students, staff, and clubs have been doing over the past few months. Recently, Interact and HOSA hosted a turkey drive, raising money for 30 turkeys and an additional $320 to help families purchase affordable meals. Our food drives were also a major success. We delivered 77 bags of food to the rescue mission on November 1st. And back in midocctober, we collected three car loads of food for the Morton house along with a $490 check for more food to purchase. Two classes even

008won a pizza party for bringing in the most canned goods during our nove our November Central High School's food drive. In my current capacity as co-president of Interact Club, we are running a Toys for Tots drive until December 17th. Earlier this month, we also volunteered and held a very successful multicultural night on December 4th. There was a strong turnout from students, families, and the community. We at the central community also hosted literacy day on November 18th in the library where classes visited a take-home free books with support from the Bristo public library. Report card conferences then followed on November 19th and 20th. On December 5th, we hosted our rescheduled harvest homecoming dance thanks to the class of 2026 senior class advisors and officers. Additionally, our student ambassadors assisted during parent teacher conferences and guiding parents

009and we at Interact shipped 220 personal care packages each with 10 to 13 items along with non-p perishables in an attempt to aid Jamaica for hurricane relief. This was an exemplification of Interact Club's global service project that we all came up with and managed to come together to finish two weeks ago. Regarding clubs, HOSA and Interact are yet again launching a winter clothing drive. And we at Interact also have a a December scholarship raffle underway to provide for scholarships for the class of 2026 Interact Club members. Both groups, we recently all ran a community service raffle as well for our classes. NHS also held a blood drive two weeks ago and Central Community Club and Outdoors Club hosted a cleanup day for our school. We're also excited to share that the Central High School gym

010has officially reopened. Thank you to Jorge Garcia and the Bristo Public Schools maintenance department for their wonderful work. We'll hold a brief ceremony at the first girls basketball game on December 18th to celebrate the occasion. Winter sports are underway as well. Girls and boys basketball, indoor track, bowling club, cheer, and wrestling which are doing good so far. We also offer a late bus every Tuesday and Thursday at 400 pm for students who stay after school to do these sports and clubs. Thank you. >> Thank you. We're going to um turn it over to those online. So we I see Kashani Allen. >> Hello. My name is Kishani Allen. I'm a senior at Bridgeport Military Academy. This is DMA's report since no November 10th. For academic focus, students have have continued weekly reading plus in Khan

011Academy. Juniors and seniors will finish SAT math by early April, while freshman and sophomores will complete Get Ready for SAT prep by mid-March. For our uniform update, all students have received one Navy type 3 uniform, which is worn on Tuesdays. After the holidays, the full shipment will have arrived. So students will have three sets for Monday through Wednesday. And then on Friday, we'll have our dress uniform. And Fridays are our PT days. For our Navy Pathway, our [clears throat] JOTC completed two field trips to the subbase touring training simulators and equipment. Our Navy drill team competed at BEL High School against 14 schools, earning first place in inspection and second place in code breaking and sportsmanship. We had the pleasure of having a guest speaker, Bridgeport Native, Air Force War hero, Chief Chief Raone Lopez.

012He visited and spoke with students. He spent an hour inspiring and motivating our students. For our company competitions between October to November, we had events. Alpha Company and Charlie Company are tied for first place, while Fox Shaw and Bravo are are are at the bottom. Our next competition is no December 13, 2025. For our events and up and updates, our school had a dance that was held December 5th. For our recruitment, we had four 416 applicants. So for first choice BMA total, 9th grade 67, 67, 10th grade 11, 12th grade 4, and 12th grade 11th grade 4. And lastly, for our upcoming events, we have quarter 1 awards this Thursday and Friday with paired attendance and live stream. We will also have a toy drive on December 16th and our goal is to fill a

013small bus. Thank you. >> You and we have Omar Rayashi. Um hello, my name is Omar Ashi and I attend Fair Trier Arrow and thank you for the opportunity to present on behalf of my school. Uh in recent AROW news, we held our first quarter awards ceremony before Thanksgiving. First and second honors were earned by 40% of our student body. Students uh with great attendance and those who received teacher awards were also highlighted in this ceremony. We also had our first pep rally of the year the day before Thanksgiving break. Each class had teams of students competing against each other in various games with the freshman class really showing up and winning the class battles tugof-war. My junior class looks forward to a rematch. And academically, a students are working hard with many eyeing our

014upcoming steam expo night in January. This is the biggest uh event on our campus with student projects, science fair projects, and capstone presentations all on display. We cordially invite all members of the board of education as well as the superintendent and his exe executive staff to come experience the evening on Thursday, January 15th, starting at 5:00 p.m. Uh, we still need a few more judges, so anyone interested in helping can reach out directly to our principal, Mr. Henry. Next week, we will be holding our winter semiformal dance on December 18th. All grades are welcome and students are getting excited for this fun event. Thank you for the opportunity to share these updates from Arrow. Uh we appreciate the continued support of the superintendent and board of education. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> We're going

015to move on to public comment and Angel Resto is first >> for public comment. You have two minutes and so we'll start once you uh state your name. >> Good evening, Boore. Um staff, good evening. I'm here to to hold you guys responsible for start the search for the superintendent. Even if we have the guy here already, but I know you got to go through a process. So, I'm holding this board responsible to start that process. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> So, next we have um Albert Benales. Good evening everyone. I'm Ben Gales. I'm going what Mr. Inesto say. It's time to search. I know it has a protocol. It's a a policy everything we have to do. But we have Mr. Dr. Ever here. We have to you know start um working with

016that situation. I know the state say so many things. People say so many thing and every time every time something happen it's a policy something new and we don't want surprise that later say oh you don't have the time or you don't read this you don't receive this you have to do this and you have to do that we I'm as a taxpayer as a parent and as a board member I'm tired to be holding and waiting and waiting it's time to have Dr. at the superintendent school. You know, of course, it's a process. Whoever want to apply, they're welcome. But we have a gentleman here for the short time. They do a lot of things that formers superintendent, they don't never did. And I have women in that challenge who ever say this not

017true. Also, I'd like to say thank you for Central High School. They do a multicultural day. Um, amazing, beautiful. It was phenomenal. You know, uh, it was very, very nice. I had to say thank you for all teachers, um, principles, the students. It was amazing. Amazing. And the food was very delicious. Um, also last thing I want to say, Mr. R and Vzano, they always gave turkey for our community. And I have to, you know, people they don't see that. And I always forgot to say it that I had to say thank you for Bill, one of the director. Uh, everyone was there. They give Turkey to all the community and they always support Basset High School. And the last thing I'm going to say for everyone, not only myself, what a great and I

018always say this, remember what a great communication and respect we had successful always. You know, we're not perfect, only God. But together we can make the difference. Remember, we're not here to get a title or who we are. We're here to bet for the best for our children's. You know, they are watching us. Not only God, everyone. But one big thanks I have to say for the show for everything is the cabinet. Thank you cabinet for everything you do. We pr proud of you especially you know George Garcia for everything you do. That's not easy but thank you for everyone and God bless you all. >> Thank you. >> All right we're going to move on to the approval of minutes from the regular board meeting on November 10th, 2025. Is there a motion to

019approve those? >> So moved, Madam Chair. >> Is there a second? >> Moved by Mr. Media. Second by Mr. Chber. Any debate on that? All in favor say I. I. >> Any opposed? >> Any abstensions? Mr. Daniels abstains. >> Um, all right. We'll move on to uh the chairperson's report. Um, so I just want to um uh pass out some uh last week I worked with Jody from Cave for about five hours um on [snorts] reviewing our bylaws and um looking at I'm going to get through this without coughing guys. um get we're g looking at um the model bylaws from CABE and um best practices across the state and going through each and every bylaw to see what we need in ours and what we can like improve on. Um I want to pass

020this out to you guys to give you some time to look at them. Um we're not we're not moving on this today. Um this is just for you to take a look at to see where pass that down and you can pass that down. um to take a look at you could compare to our current ones. Sorry, can you pass that down? And um sometime next month um hopefully the first meeting of the month we'll be um bringing this for um for discussion at board meeting. Um, one of the reasons, you know, uh, there was some comment on, uh, superintendent search, um, the state, um, in my informal communication with, uh, deputy commissioner Hughes. Um, one of the the reasons, um, they haven't granted us permission to go forward with, uh, the superintendent search is

021because we still haven't adopted um, some of the, uh, changes that they want to see in our bylaws. So these are um model there's a lot of um bylaws in here that we haven't had in ours including um bylaws on student representation advocacy that I think if you take a look at um you'll you'll find um helpful for us as a board. Um these in no way are like the final bylaws. This is that's why I'm giving it to it now a month ahead of our next board meeting where you guys can go through them and at the next board meeting we can come together and and see what we want to adopt from this um and and go forward there. That's all I have for my chairperson report. I see Mr. Sakalic has a

022question. >> Uh yes questions. Yes, we are we are under this help of the state board of education. The state board of education is preventing us from look. No, we're allowing the state board of education to prevent us from looking for a superintendent. They never voted emphatically to say we cannot look for our superintendent. That's something that they inferred and later tacked on. If you go back through the minutes and all that, the only power the commissioner was granted is to approve or disprove our superintendent beyond what they have. Not to stop the search, not to get involved. I say it's not fair to the district. It's not fair to Dr. Avery to sit in a seat without either approval or without looking for a board looking for a superintendent. And just delaying this further

023and further brings us back out to March, April, May, June when all the other superintendents and all the other districts are going to be finding their superintendents. And once again, the state of Connecticut is putting us at a disadvantage. I would like to see us move towards the superintendent, form a superintendent search committee. We could maybe put it on the agenda next time to discuss uh moving forward with superintendent and if they want to stop us, let them take us to court because enough is enough with the state stopping the city from moving forward. Thank you, >> Travers. >> Um I agree with Mr. >> Can you put your mic on? >> I agree with Mr. Sakaliv as you know. Um we the city attorney is here tonight herself and we did get that letter

024I believe on a Friday night. Uh the only other people that got you got that letter on a Friday night. The only other people that got that letter from the uh state board attorney was the press. I don't believe our city attorney got that letter. I don't believe the board attorney got that letter. It was uh that's not what I call good faith. um and uh a fine example of the sort of lack of good faith that we've experienced um that that checkers the uh the the the effort to collaborate. Um and it isn't fair to Dr. Avery. Um we are fortunate that he has stayed on and worked with us because he has been a blessing to the Bridgeport uh public schools uh in the work that he's done. Um, we were fortunate to

025have him and to have him stay with us for the past year. Um, and uh, you know, if he ends up being the the candidate that makes it through a process, but at the time we had a free search. I don't believe we have that anymore um because it is expired. Um, so now we're going to have to pay for a search. Uh, I understand how they want us to get our bylaws in order and I'm all for that. Uh, and I think that you've done good work with Jod and we should move expeditiously on this as you have suggested and I support you on that. Uh, not because they want us to, but because it's the right thing for us to do. Um, but in the meanwhile, I don't know why we can't do

026what Mr. Sakalovic has done suggested which is to move uh expeditiously to get ahead of the curve um with the rest of the state who may be looking for new superintendent which will start after the holidays um to uh start putting together an RFP um for a search and I think that we should do that. >> Thank you >> Mr. Benahan. >> Thank you Madam Chair. I know he will not but I cannot say he's he would not do it not do it but we don't want Dr. say I'm done I'm out here because he only got a contract and we don't want to lose that so now that I agree what Mr. Jo sucker send me the traver so what we waiting for something happened and they say we cannot have it we cannot

027do this we cannot do that because they always tell me something new you know guys have talked straight on it now that we lose that uh free um service that Dr. Trevor said because thank to the state. So let the state pay for that service. Let the state uh uh get that money because we lose that opportunity because he hold it. So madame sher you as a chair now we you're back again. I hope you let them know the state that we ready and we won you know do the process you know whoever come welcome that is there. I hope he stay because you know like I say and I'm going to repeat it short time. This gentleman do a lot of amazing job in the cabinet. It's not easy. If he was another person,

028he say, "Oh, no. I'm out of here. This is a mess." But no, he stayed because he want the best for our Bible public school, for our students. It's time, you know, enough is enough. At the the college say, it's time to move on and say because our kids need us. So, please, thank you. >> We're going to move on to um there's there's no committee reports or referrals. We we don't have established committees right now. Um so uh at our first at our first meeting in January we will have a committee established. Mr. Sakalic >> may do referrals anyway for so whoever is sitting in their seat has an agenda to start with. >> Um I I could take refer what what do we like to refer? Um the fin well the finance committee

029needs to get on board with the recent $9.5 million potential deficit we're facing for the end of the school year and find ways to work around that. We need to come up with a we need to come up with a formal advocacy strategy for the board for fun for funds. That's what I got for finance instruction and support of nothing policy and personnel. I'm going to pause you right there because I actually did have something else for the chairperson report. It was actually next Monday we're um we are going to have a special meeting that meant to announce day on the budget uh budget uh workshop and so that a lot of that might um whatever you refer next uh might work into next week's meeting. >> Okay. >> For finance >> and then um

030the facilities committee we definitely definitely definitely need to get working on a facilities master plan. We have an facilities master plan suggesting a couple of schools closes, a couple of school buildings. Um, it's been sitting there for a while. We haven't had a thorough discussion, a thorough debate about it yet. And we need to start getting moving as a board if we're going to own it, if we're going to amend it, we're going to keep it. What are we going to do with it? We really had the study commission. The city graciously paid for it. But right now, sitting on the shelf collecting dust, doing nobody any good. >> See, no other referrals. I'm going to um turn it over to superintendent for his report. >> Good evening everybody. Uh I would like to welcome

031the new board members uh Mr. Daniels and Mrs. um Jennings. Thank you for uh being part of this this this team. We're we're looking forward to you adding value and your expertise to uh the conversation. Uh we're looking for great things to happen over this next year or two or three. Uh, and so feel free. I mean, I know you're learning. I think we start tomorrow and our um, uh, cave training for new board members. I'll be there. I think the board chair will be there as well with you guys. So, looking forward to kind of engaging a little bit more and uh, getting to know you one-on-one. You we'll add you to uh, my one-on-one per month with the board members individually so that we can either do that in person or virtually, however

032you choose to do that. So, uh, again, we just want to kind of thank you and welcome you to uh, uh, to the team. So that that's good. Again, it can congratulate um Mr. Traber, uh Mr. Sakovc, and Miss Perez for your reelection. Again, your added value, historical perspective is going to be valuable to this team as we move forward. So looking forward to that. U again, it's just it's really exciting to have a new perspective, some new individuals in in uh a part a part of this uh team. uh and on behalf of the the students and families of this community, we look forward to uh your engagement. So, thank you for that. Uh my next part, you go to the next one. Uh we're going to talk a little bit about the attendance

033milestones. Uh one of the, you know, the things that we've really focused on this this school year is attendance. We want kids to be here. We want to make sure that we have uh the data around, you know, uh attendance and absenteeism. So, uh, I do want to point out that, you know, one of the lowest chronic absenteeism in rates in the last 5 years, and that's a good thing because kids are wanting to be here. So, they're we're connecting and doing the things that we want to do to make sure that they stay in our buildings. October 25, uh, October 2025, 226% on the attendance rate. October 2024, we were at 32. So you look at the differences in in the years, it's a great thing. This is below preandemic levels. So when you

034look back when uh when when we when when COVID hit this district, being able to go back to those numbers is exciting because we can still keep uh moving things u you know forward. Uh this data is coming from the um the the connect the Connecticut State Department of Education. Uh right now ongoing since October I mean since December the the 8th through January 16th we have a 21-day attendance challenge across this district. Uh and so we got little motivational things happening across the district to truly enhance being in schools. And so uh it is a district-wide initiative to strengthen and sustain attendance momentum. We want to kind of keep it going and not just attendance one day or every other day. It's it's all year long trying to make sure that we we keep

035it uh in front of parents to making sure parents uh if your kid has a doctor's appointment, you can take them to the doctor appointment but bring them back to school. We still need them to engage, right? Uh so that's very important to be able to do. So uh students with perfect attendance, you know, are entered into uh you know, awards uh you know that the campus and district will be providing them. classroom with perfect attendance also are entered into district sponsored pizza parties across the district as well. Just a little motivational opportunity for them to be able to uh you know stay connected uh from a attendance perspective. Next slide. Uh we started our kickoff with the breakfast with the superintendent uh this past uh Saturday uh at Harding High School. uh really to

036focus on, you know, just having conversations with our parents and community members. Uh and so that gives them an opportunity to meet with me uh and on a on a very informal basis. Uh we provide breakfast for them. Uh coffee, danishes, those those types of things. Um uh we had a a minimal turnout, I would say, but I think one of the things that we're doing is as we're encouraging parents to come next week, we're encouraging them to bring a friend with them. So, we're going to make sure that we keep this keep this going for the next, you know, two additional Saturdays. So, that our next uh session is at Bassic High School this Saturday. We want to kind of show off the new school so parents, all parents across the district can come

037and uh you know, be with me that morning. You know, board members, family members, uh you know, district employees, come on out. You have questions and concerns, come talk with me uh from 10:30 to 11:30. uh again December 13th uh at Bastic High School. The other piece that we're really embarking on is that budget process. Uh one of the things that the district has done over the last couple years is not really engage our campus leadership in the budget development process. So when we got our audit report back from uh the audit that the state u um department of ed provided for this district out of the 34 recommendations they recommended that we make we have this budget process more transparent. Uh being uh keeping principles involved with the day-to-day operation of budget development within

038their buildings. We wanted to make sure that the board and myself get out and and get into the community and talk about the budget process. Uh and so we're we've set up a calendar to be able to kind of engage the community a little bit more in that area. So uh part of the new budary process we started last week uh at our our district admin council meeting where we gave the principles a little overview about what that's going to entail. Today was our first, you know, day with with the individual principles and having that conversations with me, uh, the finance department and the executive staff, really talking with principles about the new process where they're going to have add to have add value to how they want to spend the dollars in their buildings.

039And that's that's really uh budget 101 that principles should have been done been given the opportunity to do that a more a more inclusive uh process in the district although they they were not because the district provided that budget for them and they didn't really have any really wiggle room to do what they wanted to do with their budgets in previous years. So this next year, they're going to have an opportunity to take the allocations that we that the district provides them, provide line items to where they want to spend their money, and also look at staffing within their buildings to be able to look at the possibility of changing how they they're going to fund different staffings within their buildings or not. So again, it's just really making sure that uh as principles develop

040their budgets, it's all based on how do they how are they going to add value to that structure to make sure that the dollars that they spend is going to be allocated to areas that they feel is most you know uh important to them within their building. So uh looking forward to that. We had five different meetings today. uh and each day this week for the next two weeks we will be engaging and having those conversations with principles and so uh and department heads. So we're looking forward to engaging uh had a very um you know I think encouraging conversations with them today about it. So I'm very pleased. Uh and then on Monday uh at at a board workshop, we're going to give the board a little bit more detail about how that process

041is working at the campus level a little bit more. So you'll have some insight in that as well. >> [clears throat] >> Uh in addition to that we um we have created a a uh thought exchange uh next slide uh that we launched uh this this past week as well about to go out to the community to talk to ask the community a little bit about the the budget process what they feel is important to uh the community around budget. Uh and again that was another aspect of the audit findings that was uh revealed to us uh that we needed to be able to do as well. So as you see the QR code there, it went out to all parents and uh community members uh to be able to engage in this thought exchange.

042So if you want to take a picture of it, you can uh get it back to John Carlo. changed it. There you go. Uh if you if you take a picture, you can go to the thought exchange and and answer uh that there's like two or three questions that you can answer to give us your input for for budgetary processes. Uh lastly, one of the things that you know Mr. Sakovic brought about the advocacy. One of the things I think is very very important as we do as a community, as a school district, is to advocate. Uh, and so one of the things I've done, I've tried to get ahead of this in order to help formulate an advocacy plan for this district. Um, I have already reached out to the US the former US

043Secretary Miguel Cardona. Had an opportunity to visit with him to pick his brain a little bit about how and what we could do differently as we advocate. Uh I had an opportunity to sit down and have a conversation with with Senator Austin. Uh she was very instrumental in really, you know, putting out there that Bridgeport public schools have been um you know, underfunded for years. And so I had a chance and my staff had a chance to sit down to talk with her a little bit. She's g given me some really really strong recommendations of things that I can do. Uh and she said, "Don't wait until the legislation session comes. get out there now to get out in front of this. Talk to people in appropriations at the state level, other senators in the

044state level, bring in your your superintendent from across Connecticut and talk with them and pick their brains about what they're going to do and then collaborate with some of them as well in order to advocate a little bit more. So to me, it's it's very very important uh that we strategize around that. I think uh the the chair is wanting to make policy around the advocacy piece as well. Uh so again, I think it's it's time for us to do it. We have the momentum and not let's not slow down on making sure that we get every single dollar uh that this district and our children need in order to make sure that we uh you know stay focused on the challenges but also stay focused on fair funding and student support and support for

045all children in this district. So again, I I look forward to um you know, upcoming meetings with uh the delegation. I'm also looking at the the state delegation, the Bridgeport to engage with the board members. I think it's important that you guys have that relationship because for for the first time in a long time, I think our state our our delegation has some very powerful impact in Hartford. Uh, and so we have to make sure that they stand proud and and and and and say from the from the mountaintop that Bridgeport Public Ed needs the funding and they need to be able to advocate for. So, I think we're in a position to be able to do that. So, again, I'm hoping that we're going to bring it together. I think we have a good

046the momentum, like I said, uh, and we're going to make sure we put some things on the calendar. Uh, not waiting till the legislation session start doing the advocate advocation now. That's what that's what we're getting getting ready to start doing. So that's my that's my report and I'll take any questions. >> Mr. Sakalovic. >> Yeah, just as you're speaking an idea come to me that we never really utilized before. I we get this in a lot of advocacy groups now like exit questions like maybe we could use thought exchange possibly to poll our parents like lay out the little budget picture once it becomes pretty much known. What are what are you willing to do to advocate? And then give them a little checklist of what they could actually do. Call your senator, call

047your governor, call your mayor, etc., etc., etc. And just have some contact information attached to that >> and empower them to reach out through the thought exchange. >> That's a great idea. Thank you for that. >> John Carly, you got that? >> Perfect. >> Any other questions for Dr. Avery? >> Thank you. >> All right, seeing none, we're going to move on to new business. Um, we're going to go with Fair Trail Wheeler first. Um, request for approval of the Fair Trail Wheeler Aerospace trip to Walt Disney World. >> Can you click on the microphone? >> Hello, my name is David Viestto. I'm here representing the aerospace school at the Fairchild campus. Um, we are seeking approval to go to Walt Disney World with our students. Uh, we have about 29 students for three chaperons.

048Uh, it's not just a fun trip. They have educational programs that we're going down for that tie into our STEM themes that we have on our campus. Um, we're taking kids, we would like to take kids from more than just one of the three schools on the campus. So, it's not just localized to Arrow, but it is three AOS teachers, myself included. Uh, that would be chaperoning the trip. This would be our third year going. Um, so far it's had a major impact on the kids that have been able to go. Um, so we're hoping to be able to go again this year. >> Any questions? No, Mr. Chber. Can you microphone >> since this didn't come through committee? Um I'm just going to ask the pro for questions. We've gone through the checklist. >>

049Yes. >> Muse. >> Yes. >> And everything's been taken care of. >> Okay. >> Is there a motion? >> I second that. >> All right. There was a motion um by Mr. Traver, seconded by Mr. Medina, Mr. Sakalic. Just just a couple of quick questions. All the insuranceances and everything in place. All the checklist has been taken care of. >> That's what Mr. Chber >> Okay. I was a little distracted. I'm sorry. [laughter] >> No. >> Any other questions? All All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Mr. Daniels. >> Um, have fun again. >> Thank you. We look forward to >> I would I would like for you to come back after your trip to come back and present, you know, either a slideshow or the positive. I want to

050make sure we connect it to the academic growth of where you are. So tie that in in your in your next presentation coming back. I think that's important. >> Definitely, we can definitely do this. Uh since we're planning to go to March, it should be easier. Last year we went in May, so it was like tight to the end of the year. So this year we can definitely come back and and give a report what happened and uh what the kids were able to learn from it. >> Absolutely. Wonder and have the kids come and present to you. >> That's even better. >> I agree. [laughter] >> Thank you. >> Um Principal Thompson here, but I can present on this. I think Andre, can you help me with it a little bit? Um the next

051item is an update from the committee on the naming of Harding High School's auditorium request for approval. So um earlier this year um Principal Thompson came to us uh requesting to uh rename the auditorium. At the time he had one name in mind um and we approved that he start a committee. So that committee um met throughout the the year. Um it was community leaders and they followed the bylaw uh not the bylaw the policy uh and they came up with three names including um kipping dubose and sap and the committee um decided to um they voted um to rename in that committee um it the auditorium dubose sap the combining you can't hear me >> I'll start over sorry I won't start over but >> um everything else. >> King dubose and um zap

052>> you're just using the last. >> Yes. >> And I don't have the full um I do but it's in my email. Um the committee voted to uh use two of the names and combine it. So um they would like to see us approve um the Dubo SAP auditorium at Harding High School. So um that's Did I miss anything? Was that kind of it? Right. Um, so if there's a motion to do that, >> SAP SA P SAP just turn your mic on. >> It's not on there. >> Make a motion to approve the name High School Auditorium. >> Name it. Dubos >> for naming naming the name of the auditori. >> Is there a second? >> Second that. >> Okay. So second by Mr. Traber. Any uh further discussion on that? Mr. Traber. >>

053Yeah, just >> I got I'm trying to get the name right now. >> Can anybody speak to SAP? I can tell you that >> for those of you at the >> John >> I do have it. Uh, for those of you at the swearing in last week, Jonathan Dubose >> was the guitar player >> that lives in my neighborhood and has played and is internationally known for his work on the guitar. played with Harry Kik for years and years. Played at an NBA All-Star game with Harry Kik has played, look him up on Google, you'll see all kinds of things about Jonathan Deose. And beyond being an extraordinarily skilled guitar player, he is also an extraordinarily wonderful human being >> who runs the church over by the across the street from the post office on

054Boston Avenue. U so a blessed man and a wonderful man. Uh, and his son Pierre is an equally gifted musician but hasn't achieved the fame of his father yet. So, but can you >> Yeah, I can I can speak to Sap. Um, >> Lan Sap Gooding um is an accomplished American actress, singer, and dancer with a remarkable career in musical theater. A graduate of Harding. uh uh she won a Tony Award uh for best actress in musical in 2006 and um I I can send you the full it's it's kind of a long bio, but I can send you the full um >> to give to give us some idea here at the meeting. >> So um Danielle, I just sent it to you. Can you just forward that to them? Is there any um

055other debate on this? This is chosen by the community. So this is Yeah. >> at all. I just I know about Jonathan Devos because my daughter went to school with Jer. So I've known him a long time. I don't know SAP and I assume SAP is equally >> well regarded. >> SAP is equally well deserving. I I just think when we do this we should say why. It's just >> No, I get it. >> I don't want to not give the second person the same recognition. >> Any further questions? Um, we'll take a a vote. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Mr. Daniels abstains. All right, moving on. Um, we're going to table item number three because uh Floyd Dugas couldn't be here tonight. So, can somebody uh move

056to table that? [snorts] Anybody? >> We're table number table item number three. >> Second. >> All or any debate? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Any extensions? All right. Um the next item, uh at city attorney Toms is going to present to us um updates on our legal services. You click the And actually, I'm going to give this one out. This is okay. So, over the summer, we went out to uh bid for or actually issued an RFP for legal services for the board of ed. Um, typically, I mean, I I assume this is how you all typically do this, which is a little unusual um for for me because I would think that with the city attorney's office, you just select the council that you want and then we retain

057that counsel. Uh, the city attorney does not have to go through a formal solicitation process to retain legal counsel, but um, in any event, I was asked to do so. So, we did follow through with that. Um what we decided essentially or at least my recommendation will be that you select two of the three firms that responded. So we received responses from Shipman and Goodwin, Burchin Moses and Pullman and Comy. Uh I'm recommending that we select Shipman and Goodwin uh for some services and then Bertam and Moses for others. I'll explain why. Um, Shipman was I think for the most part most people can agree that they are the most experienced uh and probably will have you know they they cover most of Connecticut as general counsel for many boards of ed. Um, but because

058of that uh type of expertise they're also quite expensive. So based on your financial situation, we thought it would be best to share some of the legal services with uh a law firm that is better priced, which would be Bertam and Moses. So, I'm recommending that we use Bertram's office for personal injury, uh employment work, and um and employ in labor, which would include uh negotiating your collective bargaining agreements and any sort of labor issues that uh come down the pike. Uh they do that work fairly well. We use them quite a bit on our side for it. Anyhow, when we have conflicts currently and you're currently using them, but in and in a situation where we would normally take the work, if there's a conflict in our office, we would give it to Burchham.

059Um, shipman were recommending or I'm recommending them for general counsel. So attending board meetings, uh questions relative to meetings and um policies and that sort of stuff like just general that would be shipment and also for special ed services that would give you all some variety in the sense that you would have a different uh law firm coming to speak with the board as opposed to, you know, we thought that it would be time to change the face, right? changes the the face of the law firm that the board deals with most. uh you would still have uh Burman and Moses in the background kind of doing the work that you don't necessarily see and the things that they do really really well which is you know their their personal injury work and their employment

060work and then having shipment for their expertise which would be general counsel policy development um general advice and because of their expertise a lot of research isn't typically needed from a firm of that size for for a lot of basic questions that they could probably answer off the cuff without a lot of research. So, we thought that that would be the best way to manage that. Um, I did call Shipman's office and try to negotiate uh even cheaper um rates than the ones that they previously provided because they do have um a public sector billing rate um which was all also expensive. It was quite a bit more than what we would get from Bertam's office. Just for comparison, for instance, Burham's office is charging $35 an hour for a partner. Uh they're charging $2.95

061for junior associate junior partners and senior associates, $245 for associates, and 160 for parallegals. Just for a basis for comparison, uh when I graduated law school in 2007, the firm I worked for build me at 285 in ' 07. So I mean those rates are really remarkable. Uh shipments at uh two is at 415 on their discounted rate and that's the low end of their partners. It's 415 to 595. they did agree to hold all partners to the 415 for the first year of the contract and then the subsequent year you would be contracting for whatever the rate is for their public sector next year um and then I think there there's one associate that they have assigned to the file that person would be 340 and then their parallegal rate is 250 to 350

062uh they don't have a distinction between junior in junior partner, senior associates, and and other associates. It's either partner or associate. So, they they did offer that as a discount. They also agreed to wave uh $4,500 in their initial subscription fee for their model policy service, which I think is a phenomenal service that they offer. They stay current on policies. They will update you regularly. I know that you get a little bit of that from CAB and you're doing the work yourselves, but they could do that for you. Their renewal rate is an annual $2,000 which they would charge if you decided to keep the service, but they've agreed to wave the initial year. So, um I guess you all will have to vote on who you'd like to retain and how long you'd like

063to retain them. I don't know if you want to do a five-year contract or if we were doing, you know, um, annual contracts or bianual contracts, however you'd like to handle it, we certainly can take that up with them. But, um, yeah, that's all I have. If you have any questions, >> Kick. Yes, thank you. Uh, stops. Um, yeah. As far as the routine legal matters, the city would still be able to handle those routine matters because usually the only thing we really supposed to be leaning on for outside council is education specific items that the city can't handle like the >> So, we've had a brief conversation about this internal. When I suggested that the city attorney's office take in more board of ed work, it was with the understanding that we would be

064retaining a full-time attorney on staff to handle board of ed. That didn't necessarily work out that way because you all wanted to retain outside counsel. So, we do the best we can. We always have. Um, and I have kept my word in that regard because we are handling all of your transactions and that is something that we didn't anticipate bringing in without bringing an attorney. Like when I me when I mentioned that to my staff, I sold that to them with the idea that they would be getting some help. And so while I've increased their workload, I have not increased the staff because we did not get another attorney for that. So we do the best that we can. um if if it's something that's large and it's going to take up quite a bit

065of time, it's going to have to go out and uh Burton's office has been pretty good with handling transactional work for us when we need to for the board of ed. But currently on litigation, if there's a matter that comes in and something that we're very familiar with, for instance, if a child is injured on a playground, for instance, we have an attorney in house that does that work really well. We will give it to him if there's no conflict. if the city isn't also named as a party. Um we'll also try to get the city dismissed as a party when we can and then handle the board of ed ourselves when when we uh can take those things in house. So we do we we try um but I just don't want to overpromise

066and underdel. I mean, we we'll do the best that we can. The agenda item is um listed regal request for approval of legal services RFP. But what we are in fact considering today is considering reward awarding the contract. Yes. So we could add that by 2/3. I make a motion to add the awarding of the contract solicited by RFPB B001267 to shipment and Goodwin and with a purchases. >> Is there a second to that motion to understand which you're rephrasing? Put your microphone up. willing to consider I'm more than happy to just second what we're doing here. Um but I need to understand what it is. I basically what it is um is we're going to satisfy foyer requirements because it's foyer require what we are what's on this agenda is approving an RFP which

067is usually done for the initial presentation of RFP. What this is is an RFP coming back where we're awarding the contract. in the RFP was for a a legal contract and I understand that uh attorney Toms is making a proposal that we had put out the bid for one for a new legal agreement and I sat in on part of that. Uh I missed one time because I was away when I was away. But we we we we deliberated, we evaluated um and now she's presenting her final recommendation uh based on the deliberations and everything that that occurred. And as I understand it, we will use one of the firms and another firm in the way that she just described. I get that. That's not what the RFP was. So that's where I'm looking. So

068we're just saying that based on this request for proposals, we're going to do a a modification of that >> described. >> Well, all of our RFPs go out with the caveat that we can select all or none of the people who respond. So this is consistent with the RFP and the way that it was uh advertised. >> So within the RFP, we have the ability to do all or none or something in between. Yes. You're saying, "Okay, that's what I was." >> Yes. You don't you don't have to you don't have to select one >> something in between. >> Okay. Yes. >> And that's fine. I I I'm willing to >> and through the chair. >> He just He's just because of the way it's written. He's just making sure that the motion >> I

069understand what he's doing. I didn't understand how we can take an RFP and say, "Well, we're doing it a little different." >> Yeah. >> Because I didn't read it. I didn't understand that you could modify it that way. So, it does need two/3s to be added to the agenda. >> Yes. >> So, um we do need a vote on that. Is there any uh further debate on that? >> I don't know if this is appropriate. I'm looking at you two and you madam chair uh for the record because I'm employed by one of the firms who's our corporate counsel. I just want to make that noted. >> Partner. >> Okay. >> You know what I'm talking about, right? >> Yes. >> So, I'm going to state for that reason. >> Okay. Okay. So, um, >>

070get it. >> You got it. >> Yeah. >> Mr. U get a call. Call the vote for the adding it to the agenda first and the >> all in favor to add this item to the agenda say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Mr. Daniels abstains. Mrs. Madam make a motion to approve the awarding of the legal service contracts the shared between Ship Shipman and Goodwin and Burch Mosers. >> Is there a second? >> Second by Mr. Traber. >> Any further debate on this? >> Mr. Maker the motion. >> Yeah, actually actually um we didn't uh discuss the length of the contract. >> Yes, actually >> that was going to be my next question. >> What would you what would you recommend? uh three years. >> So I would like >> the purchasing

071ordinance allows up to five. >> Right. So I'd like to I guess I got to amend my motion. >> Go ahead. >> I'd like to amend my motion to award the contract to Burch Moses and Shipment and Goodwin as presented by the city attorney for a period of three years. >> Second by Mr. Chamber. Any further discussion on the amended motion? >> Just one one more. I'm sorry. So, with regards to the years, I would do one year with renewal options with two one-year renewal options because if they increase the rates in the second year to an amount that you're not happy with, you need the the ability to get out of the contract, right? So, because we have the rates established for shipment for one year only, and then after that year, they're going

072to go to their public sector rates, which at this point is between $415 an hour to $595 an hour. So, should that end up being closer to the 595, you may want to reconsider whether or not you want to add them for a second year. So, I would recommend a one-year contract with two one-year renewal options at the board's election. Okay. Right. Your option to renew. >> Can I ask can you can you take back? >> Right. The clean the cleanest way would be for me to withdraw. >> Withdraw your motion. >> Withdraw my motion for the amendment. And the person with the second would withdraw their second. >> Withdraw. You have to say it. >> I make a new amended motion. >> They don't say it. >> Do you what? >> I withdraw. >>

073Yeah. Make a new amended motion to I move to award the contract of legal services be shared between Shipment and Goodwin at Burch Moses for a period not to exceed three years at with one year like one year was right to renew two for two further years. >> Did that make sense? >> No. >> Uh I I would say I would may I >> Yes. as described by the city attorney. >> I think we got the flea cab that do >> that'll work. >> All right. >> As described by the >> Say it again. >> L we we move to amend our original motion for to to uh enter into this agreement for the length of time as described by the city attorney. >> And I'll second that. My second >> any further debate, M.

074Medina, you had your hand up. >> Yeah, I just had a a question in regards to is is it normal to have two firms the way we're dividing this right now? Did anybody see the cost >> difference between what we spent last year and what we're doing this year with this as far as cost? >> That that's hard to determine because cost will be determined by use, >> right? So, it it matters how much you use them, what you use them for. It's it's difficult to compare as far as whether or not this is normal. It is abnormal for the city attorney's office to contract for long-term for any legal services. It's just not something that we do. But I it wouldn't be unusual to retain more than one vendor from an RFP situation. That's

075not unusual. For sidewalks, for instance, we we've retained multiple vendors. >> You're welcome. >> No further questions. We could take a vote on this. Um, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Mr. Daniels abstains. Um, >> thank you. >> 2/3 is established. >> The two is established. The amendment is established. And we got to go back motion. >> We amended the motion to make it to you. Okay. So, the main motion now is to approve uh the contract. So all in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Mr. Daniels abstains. Thank you, Miss Thompson. Next item on the agenda is uh from our facilities department. Um approval of the district refuse and recycling. Mr. Garcia, it's your turn. >> Not. >> Yeah, I'll take that. Um this

076good good evening everyone. This item is basically to uh put out the bid and issue an RFP for the collection of garbage and recyclable materials for all of our school buildings. The uh the current uh services contract expired in June. We agreed to have the current vendor uh maintain the current rates and go monthtomonth, but it's time that we need to um enter into a new agreement. We uh we'd like to put this out to bid to see what uh what the market will bear in terms of the um providing the services. >> Are there are there any questions for Mr. Pyres before we a motion? >> Uh make a motion that we uh put this out the bid. Uh >> I'll second um any of questions says to make it a motion, Mr. Sure.

077Any questions? The debate? >> No. >> All right. I I I got some question. I got a couple of questions. Uh Mr. Pyres. Um as far as any discussions with the city took place. Uh city city also got garbage providers. Is there any chance the city will try to pick that up for us in order to lessen the burden of an expense that some of the work that they're doing away? We did have preliminary discussions with the city leadership and the suggestion was to to put a value on the service is to go out to bed and and figure out exactly what the market would bear. Um there is a startup cost there's additional cost that the city would have to incur and they wanted us to go ahead and do that analysis prior to

078making a friend decision. uh it'll be premature to read to talk about numbers here because I don't want to, you know, influence any of the any potential biders as to what values we're talking about. So, um but yes, there was a discussion. >> When was the last time there was an increase in the price? >> Uh I'm sure there's going to be an increase price. Yeah, this price has been locked in for the past five years. Um I don't know exactly how much, but there's my my my guess is yes. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Any other further discussion, questions, debate? Hearing none, all in favor of approval of the send a garbage to refuge recycling RFP out to bid. Signify by saying I >> I opposed. Motion carries. >> Thank you. You're welcome.

079Next up will be request for the approval of the following playground contract is Tapman Incorporated. Dr. Avery, who's presenting that? >> Oh, hi. >> Good evening. It's on, right? >> Yeah. You can hear. I'm here once again to request approval for four playgrounds. I don't know if you want to vote on them separately or all in one. Um each of these playgrounds is funded with capital funds and we are using a cooperative contract through compan. Um with that the city attorney does draft an an agreement on top of that cooperative contract and that's what we're asking um for approval for for um Dr. Avery to be able to sign those agreements. The four playgrounds will be at the following schools. Reed, Park City Magnet, Madison, and Hooker. Reed's playground is um a total cost of

080$174,886. There's a safety issue um currently at Reed and it's due for a new playground. Park City Magnet. The existing playground was hit by a car over a year ago. The insurance company um gave us a check for $25,000, but the playground is going to cost $249,955. Madison school playground is $156,000 and Hooker is $195,000. This will be a total of $776,47.36 for the four playgrounds. Um, these prices include bonds that we require and the prevailing wage rates. the chair. Go ahead. >> May I ask I know you got these four playgrounds, but it keeps coming to my desk about the playground at Dumbar. >> So, Dunar School will be getting a new playground. We are waiting for the funds that will be through a grant. Okay. >> And that's a state grant and that'll

081be coming in February, but we are already obtaining quotes and renderings for a playground at Dunar as well as um Bryant School. Okay. >> Playground, which at Bryant School, we also have to do some site work. So, we're um going out to bid for that. >> Thank you for that. I because I I told the parents that I would go out there this week to put my eyes on it. But now that I know that there's there's >> it's in progress. >> In progress, that's going to be a good thing. So, I appreciate that. >> Mr. Traver, >> Mr. Medina, sorry. >> Um, just to follow the path, um, with Dumbar, I know they have two playgrounds. So, we're talking about only one or two. I know they have two. I'm actually not sure because

082I'm not in the field. >> No problem. >> So, for the Dumbar grant opportunity, that's going to be the prek playground out front. >> Thank you. >> The rear playground needs um the rurai surfing surfacing. It's $140,000. We haven't find those uh those funds yet. So, our intent is in the spring we'll be tearing up the rubber the rubber fabric and putting down traditional uh play uh wood chips to make it safe. >> Yeah. I I think I think that's where the community is having problems because of the way it looks. So either you may need to just close it down because even last year when I saw it, it was pretty much damaged then. So we may want to kind of do some shifting on that here. >> So So we we've tried to

083do some repairs with mats and some other methods. They haven't been holding up. So we we have uh we're in discussions with Sarah Jane >> at this time about the place. Another question if I may as the floor. Um you mentioned um some of the pricing um in particular real quick on Park City Magnet. I know there was an accident and I knew about that but then you what's happening with that playground. We're doing a brand new playground when we talk about these four schools. >> Yes. All all four schools will get brand new playgrounds. >> So my question would be because I know that Park City Magnet and that's where my daughters all went to school. So, my heart goes, but I know that playground was fairly brand new already until this accident. Um,

084and don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say that we don't need it, but I was just trying to figure out at that cost of 4 over $249,000. I was just trying to figure out what So, there'll be some elements that will be left as part of the playscape. So, we'll be adding to it, but the damage was substantial uh during the car accident. >> And the only thing we got was 25K. >> 25,000 >> from the insurance company. >> We need to make it awesome. Thank you, >> favor. >> Um well, so let me start with Dumbar because um there's the security concern and are we addressing the security concern? So, we've met several times with school administration on the security concerns on site. Uh we've made those provisions that that were requested.

085So, at this point, all keys that were needed were issued. Uh additional locks have been provided for certain specific areas. We want to discuss too much about that, but uh right now the the building has been um we've all met with building staff and administration to ensure that they're comfortable with their current environment. That's correct. >> Children and the staff at play are safe. >> Yes, sir. >> I'm not talking about safe, right? Okay. So, when they go outside to play, they're >> Yes. Okay. So, that that's regardless of the actual playground. >> Yes, sir. >> And conditions of the playground. That's been taken care of. >> Okay. So, then you're going to take care of the playground for the little kids. You're still trying to figure out how or what to do with the

086playground for the older kids. >> Yep. So, we have we have a contingency. Obviously, the $140,000 is something that we're not going to be able to find. We've exhausted the grant dollars that uh were afforded to us. So, we're going to tear that rubber surfacing up and put wood chips down to make it safe. >> I heard I heard Yeah, I understood. I'm not >> So, shortterm, long term. >> Yeah. Um, and the Bryant one will be the playground inside the courtyard there. >> Yes, Brian is a little more it's it's it's a little more involved. Brian has um some sight issues. There's a retaining wall on the back side that's failing. Um you know, we got to bring engineers in. Our team's been working on it over the last couple of weeks. >> We'll

087we'll close we'll close a loop. The intent is to get all of this approved and and in process so we get these things done in the spring. Um the February date for um >> Dumbar >> for Dumbar. If we can get it approved early in February, uh we should be able to get that done over the summer. Is >> it intended? >> Is the Park City one just the one that was just was because it really I'm I'm with I'm with Mr. Medina. I you know my my my granddaughter plays on that one now. >> Yeah, it's it's >> the kids dismissing play on that one now. >> So there's a few elements that are still good. um and several that have been uh run over. >> It's a challenge to get out of school

088without you know get her into the car without playing on that playground. >> Yeah. And that's a very large playcape. So uh you know hence the cost, >> you know. So it you're going to make you're not going to make it any bigger. You're just going to fix it up. >> Going to fix it up. New servicing, new subservices. I mean >> they have other playgrounds there. >> Yes. >> They play on. They don't they don't normally play the young ones on that one. They have their own playground somewhere else. Yep. >> Okay. >> 250,000 for that. >> Very expensive. And these complete uh resub all the subsurfacing has to be torn up and redone. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Any further questions? >> That's it. >> Is there a motion? >> Mr. Chabber. >>

089Um so on this cooperative contract, what is a cooperative contract? You you described to me a cooperative contract. They saw that it's this company down in North Carolina. Um, do we have like a normal contract with them or did we put it out the bid and we got a contract with this company from North Carolina or where where did we >> see the attorney? >> You want help with that? >> I can explain, but if you'd like to >> understand I heard that term cooperative contract used and >> yes, so cooperative >> skimmed all the contracts quickly. >> Didn't know what that sort of meant. So cooperative contracts are contracts that were publicly bid for other places. It didn't necessarily have to be Connecticut even, right? So we can get things that were out went

090out to bid in other municipalities or other states even. And if they're on a list because they were part of, you know, a a public process, then we take those contracts. We will use those contracts. We add addendums to them to make sure we're including provisions that are, you know, important to us. Um, but we will accept, you know, publicly bid contracts from other sources either uh through the state of Connecticut or any other specialty source. >> Okay, I understand. Thank you. >> Is there a motion? >> Move to accept. Sorry. I move to accept the school playground contracts with comp. >> What comp? >> It's uh incorrect on the >> Is it typed incorrect here? >> The M after the P is not >> Oh, comp. >> There is an M after the P

091here. [laughter] Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Second by Mr. Sakalovic. Uh the motion was made by Mr. Traber. Um further debate, Mr. Sakalic. >> Yes. How will we be assured when we're using these cooperative contracts that we're getting the best price? >> We do also go out to other contractors and get quotes from them. We recently went to u a vendor that provided grants for playgrounds and um we got quotes from them and their quotes were substantially higher than compounds. >> Just one other one. Thank you, >> Mr. Traver. >> Where does the money come from for this? >> This was capital. >> Capital. It's all >> already in our budget. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Any further questions or debate? Seeing none. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any

092opposed. >> Any abstensions? >> Thank you. >> All right. Miss Hughes is going to present on the agreement with Bridgeport Prospers to carry out activities associated with administrative programming for Bridgeport's 2025 2026 early start local governance partners program. >> Good evening everyone. This contract is a subcontract to Bridgeport Prospers in conjunction with the early start financing from the state the office of early childhood education. Um the services Bridgeport Prosper serves as our leazison for community and family engagement. They have parent ambassadors. They coordinate parent activities and uh family engagement with pre around preschool. Does anyone have any questions? If you remember, we had another contract earlier this year that was approved that was a a subcontract to them uh for se another 75,000 to for them to get set up to do this work. And

093this is the the cost for the work actually starting. questions. It's a motion. >> Motion to approve the agreement with Bridgeport Pro Prospers to carry out activities associated with administrative programming for Bridgeport's 2526 early start local governance program. >> Is there a second? Second by Mr. Medina. Any further debate? >> Seeing none. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions. Mr. Daniels. >> Just put your mic on. >> I'm standing for the purpose that I do serve on advisory board. So I think it best interest that I disclose that to the board. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Um that passes. Thank you. Um next we have the request for approval for the alliance and priority grant. >> Yes. Everyone should have gotten in your pack, your board packet, a summary

094of the alliance and the priority by the major um components of it. So I'll be referencing that. The alliance grant is for 48.6 million dollars, the majority of which is going to academic improvement in literacy and mathematics. Specifically, we've designed the the grant funding so that all K3 uh teachers districtwide are included as part of the grant K3 reading programs and interventions. Um, another another component of this is that our uh bilingual uh and literacy teachers, the grant will uh allow for enhancements to our multilingual learner programs. and we included our bilingual teachers, program assistants, TE-OL teachers, and the director of the bilingual uh um education. We've also included in this category the assistant superintendent, executive directors, and content area directors for math literacy and a class link annual license. There's also a component in

095the grant under um other purchase services where we purchase additional curricular resources specifically the hill for literacy which you've previously approved um ed uh renewal of the egeneuity which we use for credit recovery at our high schools effective school solutions contract which you pre previously approved. uh we we also have the component that along with the egeneuity which is this software uh funding for the high schools to have afterchool programs for credit recovery. Um and there is also a component of um which I'm very excited about as a program that we're going to do inhouse for transitioning our eighth graders to high school over the summer. Any questions on the alliance component? any >> I'll move on to the priority. There's no questions. >> Well, you did a part. >> It's all one, you know,

096they calculated in different ways, but it's it's part of the same under the priority grant. We have um we fit we've worked in the um numer component of that grant. So all of our math teachers at BASIC VMA and Harding are included in the grant. Our director of mathematics, our director of literacy. Uh we also have supplies for the early reading success the summer and the sped summer programs included. We have our wonders renewal. Wonders is our uh K6 um re curricular resource for literacy. This is a renewal for three years is included and also un the contract with the university school which you already previously approved. Any questions on the priority? Moving next to extended school hours. Extended school hours are for after school programs. Our schools apply to the grants department and uh

097BMA, Bryant, Classical, Fairchild, Wheeler, Johnson, Walters, Waltersville, and Winthrop were all approved for funding for the uh extended school program. And the final category in the grant is for summer school. This is our early reading success program. It's for students in K through third grade, which we have every year in in July. your motion, Mr. Medina. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Uh move to approve the alliance and uh priority ad grant as uh presented by Miss Estimenez. Any further debate on that? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Thank you, Miss Hughes. you >> right >> through the chair. Thank Thank you board. This this really gives us the internal workings to keep things moving in the district academically. So, thank you for getting this. Uh we've been kind

098of, you know, waiting for direction from the state and uh we finally got a little bit more direction that everything's going to be we have to tweak a a few things within the grant, but I think we feel good. Uh so this approval is a great opportunity for us to keep it moving. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Um the next item agenda is a request for approval to establish the following standing committees. Policy committee, instruction and support services and and the operations committee. Um just to speak to that a bit a few months ago. We had a workshop with Cab and we discussed committees and we've been discussing committees for a while now. Um looking to establish what standing committees we'll have and um eventually ad hoc committees as needed. And um so this

099uh this uh agenda item is to establish for this coming year the standing committees for the board. Um you'll note that operations done here that's a a newly titled committee that would encompass facilities and finance. Uh one of the rationale is um you know one of uh we we talked about this how um the uh we look at capital budget and facilities but it's not really um linked in the audit. The audit found that uh there's not really too much communication with finance. So we want to make sure that we're looking at um everything together in that committee. I'm I'm I'm tired. I'm sorry guys. Um, but I'll answer questions. I'll stop there. Mr. Sakalic, >> I I got a quite a few things. This is really, really troubling. We were discussing this on a

100committee level, talking about adding committees. Um, we are in a point in time where our board needs to be working harder, not putting less committees to discuss things. As I said before, we are facing school closures, millions of dollars of deficits. We've not learning from our mistakes. The mistake was made last year. Everybody was in uproar when we combined facilities and finance. And now we got more work than ever. A little bit of a history lesson for everybody. Under um Joe Lockbeck and Brand Robinowitz, under Wellin and Dr. Johnson, under Bobby Brown and Testani and Miss Perent, we had a larger administrative staff and a minimum of six committees for each. So we can do the work. We still had the same board, nine board members, but we had more administrative staff. Furthermore, that would

101leave us as the largest district with among the fewest committees. Average committees is about six or seven throughout the state of Connecticut. Waterberry has six. Hartford has five. New Haven has six. Norwalk got five standing committees as three subcommittees to do all this work. We cannot sleep on a job. We are entrusted with the public dollar. We are entrusted with our students safety. I mean, we need to be adding one more committee because we have a we have no way we don't communicate about our parents and our community. I came when I was doing this a little bit of research, I came across one of uh the one of these districts, I forget which one, they have a great committee uh community and family engagement and communication. And that covers a wherewithal of a lot

102of stuff that could come up between board meetings. I mean, our community is not really represented before this, but there's nowhere to come. So, we're going to go down for the three committees. So, I suggest that we go up to five and add one. Definitely, under no circumstances should we repeat the failure of combining facilities and finance. >> Any further debate? Mr. Medina. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Yeah, I was taken back. Um, I agree with almost everything that Mr. Jose said, "I think um this took me by surprise because I we've been working with K, we've been working with each other. Uh now we got two new board members, so we want to hear insight for them. So I think we should I would like to entertain a motion to uh to uh sorry

103to uh postpone this one to put it to the side because I think that we need to have more discussion. Um, I think I I was trying to get that your uh your insight on it and I think you were going to land on that these are the staining ones. I know that was a big discussion with us when we were talking about committees. What to define what is staining committee, regular committee? There was all these different names before the word committee and I'm like, okay, what are we going to do? So, I was hoping that I was going to get more clarity from you in that part. So, I thought that you were going to lay it on there that these are the staining ones, but we are going to have those IHOK. So,

104I'd rather have this discuss it and table this item. Um, >> table it because you postpone earlier. >> I'm sorry. I would like to entertain to table this item. um that way we can talk about it in another meeting to make sure what we need to do because I agree that we should have more and I thought that's what we were landing on when we were meeting together uh on our meetings with Cab and when we had the foreman I believe Miss uh Marissa uh Himenez you know was taking those on those actual committees that we were proposing to have together when we met with uh Cape and I would love to review uh those uh minutes that way we solidify those names of what we're talking about and establishing. >> So, can I clarify?

105So, the standing committees, these would be standing committees. >> We would still have opportunities to have ad hoc committees added in. So, if we need a committee on um I know somebody recommended diversity. Um we had another one u somebody um thought about an advocacy committee. Um those would be ad hoc committees. Once the purpose of those committees are done, they they terminate the committee. The standing committees will be um throughout this year and and if needed years up years to come. So they'll be established. Um that cave workshop that we had if we go back to the minutes we actually were talking about the functions of those committees that we currently have and how we can combine some of those how some of the the issues overlap. And so, um, I know what I

106took from the meeting and and the conversations I've had with Cabe because I I do have conversations with Cabe regularly, um, about this was that that meeting we talked about having three committees. We never agreed to it. We never uh, voted on it. That was more of a workshop, but we talked about going forward and then using ad hoc in the future. >> Well, that's why that's why I was surprised. I thought everything would have been bundled in together. That way we can know where we're going because >> the bylaws they um if you when you review them, they'll be they'll be defined in the the new bylaws if we decide to vote on these or if we want to amend our current bylaws with with standing committees. Um so this is just step one

107so that when we come back in January, we have committees to like I can assign you guys committees. Um I can assign the current ones but um this is kind of to streamline the processes together. Mr. Treyber >> Oh, can you put your mic on our court online? >> Snetting our uh standing committees versus ad hoc. Um uh I would be interested in seeing what else you came up with, Mr. Scalovic, but um the what little I saw from what you were sharing the other day. Um you know, one one district had a nutrition committee. I don't think Yeah, we don't really need a nutrition committee. New Haven did. Um and uh one district had a committee on uh labor relations. Um, and I'm not really interested in having a labor relations committee. Um, and

108so I think that it sort of depends on what, you know, we're really looking at. The numbers don't mean anything to me. It's what the committee is about. Um, and so I, you know, what it is going to be about, what we're thinking about, and to me that we can handle that with ad hoc. I certainly don't see an ad hoc committee. I mean, an ad hoc committee can handle either of those two things if we felt there was a need to look at those two subject areas because those are not standing committees to me. Um the um and as to in in in the as to facilities and finance, which was the one thing I know you that you were raising a concern about when we were discussing it with Jody and uh um

109um >> Nick, thank you. uh at the you know when K was here um when we tried it I I would hardly call that a try. Uh it was uh delayed for two to three months before we actually had a meeting of the uh facilities and finance. uh and then the person who was chairing the facilities and finance committee meeting wasn't really allowed to even do it if that person could have done it. So it was really hardly a what I would call a really good faith effort to have it done. So I I think that we we didn't try it in the two and a half years I've been on here. You referenced some other efforts that you thought were I'd have to go back and and do research to find out how those

110efforts went. But the one effort we tried to have facilities and finance be one committee here in the two and a half years that I've been on this board uh was not a good faith effort to try and combine those two committees into one committee. Uh it was a u a joke of an effort. Um it was not in good faith either by the administration or by the the board itself trying to combine those two into a productive committee. Um, so I think that we really need to see if it'll work. Uh, I support the idea of having it uh be together to see if it'll work. Um, so I I you know, when I joined the board, as you know, you all had trimmed it down from nine to, I believe, seven committees at

111the time, and we were going to committee meetings all the time. Um, and so I'm in the in the vein. I do think this needs to be as Mr. Medina just said a discussion that we have um and that we're having um and I believe that's part of what this is too is a discussion that we're going to have. It's in here I assume is a section on committees and structure standing committees and ad hoc committees. So we are going to resolve how we do this because one of the things that did happen was there was an understanding of how we arrived at committees in here that because you and uh Miss Brown chose to merge two committees into one in an effort to be more efficient. That was the hole that somebody drove a

112truck through to take our seven or eight committees down to three. um and exclude two members of the board from serving on any committees um for a year and that we don't want to have either. So I think that we need to make sure that we do it right and we do it through a process that we all get to participate in and we make sure that all members of the board serve >> on committees because we have been neglecting in both areas for the last two years. So >> Mr. Mayor >> Yeah. Thank you. Um so I just wanted to chat really quickly um about the CAPE um training and I do recall them chatting about merging facilities and finance into one and I believe Jod suggested it should be called operational. So I

113do recall that. But I I'm also somewhat worried about our financial situation and having a deficit of 9.5 and $9.5 million. And I want to make sure that we don't lose sight of that. So I think so what I'm trying to say I'm trying to propose here is can we have this operations committee for a period of three months to see if it works out. If not, then revert it back. What are board members thoughts about that? Give it like a fair shot. >> Yes. >> Now is not the time to experiment. At the very last finance meeting, we got a surprise. Surprise. You're $9.5 more million in debt. We have to address that. We keep getting information at the last minute with four meetings. If we miss one finance facilities operation meetings, we're missing

114agenda items from the facility master plan which is proposing clo proposing school closures which we got to have meetings with the community and schedule that and thoroughly vet that out. Are we intending to is this going to be an intent to meet more than once a month or twice a month because then it's this a point anyway. Why not have finance and facilities meet separately on their separate issues? I mean, the public deserves us to put in the work. None of us are drafted here. Those of us who volunteer to be here are not employees. Those who are employees, they signed on with the understanding that they're here to do the work. There's a lot of work to do in this district and we need to get together and we need to do it. We

115cannot be the largest district in the state with the fewest committees and even even having three committees. I mean, now's not the time to experiment. You want to experiment after we get through this budget crisis. We're coming up with $37 million potential cuts in the future. $37 million in cuts. So, we're going to discuss that and school closures and everything all at this very same meeting. You you think a three-hour meeting is long, you put all that on the same agenda and we're all going to get tired. When we get tired, we make bad decisions. We don't debate thoroughly. We just rub a stamp. We need to have these conversations for our people. So, I like Mr. Medina's motion to table and I will second that with the understanding that if this motion fails, we

116still have the same four committees. Um because if we don't have the same four committees, if we put it on for discussion later and approve the three, we got to put five people on each committee for everybody to be involved or an even number. But through most somebody's not going to be on and this is is is just not the right time to experiment. See if it works in three. What happens if it work if it doesn't work in three months? Then we are in March. Legislative session is already underway. Um, we're getting closer to getting bonded for the new Harding, the new East End school. And then those school closure discussions have to happen before we move forward with that. And all of this is going to take place in one giant meeting. I'll

117let you know now. It's going to end in disaster if we approve this. I I can see it's it's not gonna it's not going to be very efficient. It seems it seems like it's going to be efficient, but we're gonna have long long meetings. This meeting we missed. Look at look at what happened when we missed one one meeting because we didn't have any agenda items. Surprise. We got 13 agenda items tonight. And that doesn't happen when you're meeting regularly and have a separation of state. The city council for crying out loud. They got How many committees the city council got? Like seven or eight. Mr. Rick, your microphone. >> I um >> I uh I think we're conflating two different things here. Um we have uh for the first time in 10 to 15

118years a facilities master plan. Um and pardon, >> sorry, disappoint information. It's a proposed facilities master plan because we did not approve one item in that yet. >> We didn't have to approve it, but go ahead. >> We certainly got to approve school closures. We certainly got approved. >> Yeah, you're being uh we have a facilities master plan. I didn't say we had approved any particular step. >> I just said we have a facilities master plan for the first time in 10 or 15 years. And so I I I think that you know you are rhetorically using that one way. I'm not trying to rhetorically use it anyway. I'm just saying we have that and the implementation of it is a not your normal facilities operation. It is an extraordinary uh operational uh need and

119you're raising as uh you you and I both know uh a particular immediate need which I would consider to be an ad hoc need >> uh which is what are we going to do about this idea of a new east end school um and the impact of it the ramifications of it Um, and so that's really an ad hoc idea and we, it makes perfect sense for me to have an ad hoc committee on making sure that we do that properly per the policies of this board. Um, and I want to do that, as you know, more quickly and more completely than just about anybody because that's my neighborhood. Um, and so I want to see that get moving. I've been asking for it since last year and I raised it at the beginning of

120this year and then of course we all get caught up in the election and now the election's over. We have the new board seated and I want to see this. Now, this discussion that we're having now, the first session of a new board is a discussion that I've never seen happen until after the holidays, which is what committees are we going to have and who's going to be on. So, we're already a month ahead of normal schedule, which is a good thing. Um, and so I'm hoping that we can move faster before the holidays to get moving on the finance question that you're raising and the facilities question, especially this special one that we've all I've been itching for to see done in my neighborhood because when I door knocked my neighborhood, I had this

121discussion all the time. But again, it's just anecdotal. Now, I know you didn't door knock my neighborhood, but I did. But I had anecdotal evidence. It still needs to be done properly. Um, and that's what I want to see happen. Is it done properly? But I still continue to assert that I have yet to talk to any person in my neighborhood, even after door knockocking it for a month and a half that's opposed to the new East End school. So I would like to see us make sure that we do it properly so that nobody can say that it hasn't we haven't done our job per the policy of the board of ed. So that's an ad hoc committee that should be set up per the policy of the board of ed >> and I

122um just to clarify that was discussed at the K workshop we had when we discussed committees like there's items that might be pulled for ad hoc such as a facilities master plan and um I agree that that's something that um we can definitely look at sooner than later because we we need to have those conversations but items like tonight where we're approving playgrounds that can definitely go through finance committee um and and and go through that uh sooner the process sooner. Um but I'm not going to continue because you kind of said what I was thinking but Mr. Sakalic. >> Yeah. Just just so please begin with a point of information. We are not ahead of the game on a committee. The assignments committee committees are always standing unless there's a change in the committee

123and by the next meeting we should have our committee assignments and be setting the schedule. So we're not ahead of the game. We are going to be moving beh back the game. Um, again, I'm going to second Mr. Medina's motion to table this um because we need to have we need to have these four committees. We need to have people assigned ready to start doing the work. And if we want to make an ad hoc committee for everything else, if there's no ad hoc committee for the plan and no, to be clear, nobody's opposing the new Harding trying to do is schools will have to be closed if that new Harding is built. And that's the discussion we got to have. That's the hard part we got to have and that's the part we got

124to stop avoiding and that could be done >> have that conversation ad hoc committee >> right or the facilities committee. >> So so we could I mean we could say okay so let's have an operations committee the other two committees and let's form a standing ad hoc committee for the next five or six months until we get this sorted out. It makes no sense. Just keep the facilities committee to deal with facilities. finance got so many things to deal with if they so choose. $37 million in cuts. Do we think that's going to take 5 minutes, 10 minutes? No, that's going to take hours and hours of painstaking work. We're finally getting around to doing it right because the state is suggesting that we have the department heads, they come to us before the board

125and the board be involved early in the process. The finance committee is going to be taking on more work and you want to pile facilities work on top of the finance. It's not doable. So, I second Mr. the mo the data most and if you want to visit it at another time after we're through this crisis after we decimate our system with these 30 million plus in cuts I'm more than help more than happy to try it later but definitely not now is not the time for experiments >> through the chair madam chair >> y >> um in the interest of time there has been a motion on the table there's been a properly second if there's any discussion so be it on the motion but if not I would like to take a vote

126um but Again, respectfully, if anybody wants to speak on the motion, please do so. But I just >> The question hasn't been called, so if there's any further discussion, we can do it. If not, I was going to take the vote. So, I don't see any further hands. Um, there is a motion to table. If it uh passes, then we'll come back to this. Um, if not, uh, we we take another motion. But, um, >> information. >> Yep. >> If we table it, when would it come up again? >> The next meeting will be January 12th. >> The next regular meeting. It wouldn't come up at the special meeting next week. >> No. >> Okay. >> Um is there's a motion to table. So all in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >>

127Roll call. >> Opposed. >> Roll call, please. >> We're going to roll call that. >> Okay. >> Mr. Andre Woodson, >> can you clarify the motion to table the item? We'll look for further discussion which will be in January. >> Mr. Woodson. >> No. >> Miss Perez. >> No. >> Mr. Sakalavik. >> Yes. >> Miss Joanne Burks Jennings. >> This is to table. >> Yes. Yes. >> Mr. Lamont Dan. >> I vote no. >> Mr. Traber. >> No. >> That is five. Oh, Mr. Medina. Sorry. >> Yes. Making of the motion. >> So that is five of the nine. >> No. >> Fails. Is there another motion? >> Well, Albert Benahan is here. >> So, five of eight. >> Five of the eight. >> Would like to make a motion to approve the following committees.

128The standing committees. Facilities finance. facilities, finance, instruction and support services and policy and personnel. >> Second >> that four committees. >> Yes, the same for existing committees. >> The motion to approve the four committees for the second. Um all in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppos. >> Uh roll call. >> Roll call. >> And can we speak to the motion please? >> Yes. Sorry, you can speak. Uh would make a motion like to see. >> Yes. Thank you. Once again, we've got more work to do, not less. I understand people have jobs. I understand people have work and they don't want to meet as often and they're trying to consolidate and make this easier. For my first five years on the board, I had a full-time job. I'm not just doing this now. And

129I had a full-time job with seven committees. Like I said, there was superintendents and boards that were able to manage their time well enough to have seven to nine committees and work got done. Sometimes work was a little bit much and when it was we we shouldn't have nine committees. I'm never going to advocate for nine committees, but the largest district in the state of Connecticut should not have the smallest number of committees. It did not work last time. When we miss one meeting, we miss two meetings because all the items are together. Um I mean this is this this is horrible. It will not end well. We can always come back and consolidate later, but if we drop the ball on this coming into a potential $ 37 million deficit, we will not be

130able to separate the conversations and between facilities and finance. And that's not the only thing. The school build uh we got to approve a new building. We got not one new building. One, two, three, three. M Harding and uh and um winter. They're going to be doing new building. They bring stuff before the facilities committee to be approved. They bring a lot of things to the facilities to pre-approve. Facilities isn't just closing things. I see some shaking of the heads because everybody is referring to the last year and a half which was a disaster. Things were not done right. People need to look back beyond that to see how things are used to done used to be done because that was we we used to get specs. We we approved the ed specs for the

131building. We approved sometimes furniturees, fixtures and equipments for the building. We have we used to have children come in and teachers come in and look at the furniture being proposed being bought. But we gotten away from that in the last year and a half. We'd never seen that. And I implore this board, please, please, please do not merge facilities and finance. In my experience, there is too much work on both to do responsibly in one big thing. And and we've also learned that concentrating power in too few hands is al also a recipe of a disaster. We'll have only three chairs instead of four of committees. Only three places to bring items instead of four to bring committees. Four is already too few in my amendment. We should have between five and six. >> The

132board can refer items to the the committees. So it wouldn't be the chair of the committee having ownership of the agenda. It items have to be referred. So, can we um amend amend the motion to include any item referred to a committee must be heard? >> It is heard. We we have a every board meeting, >> Mr. Chamber. >> Um this motion is essentially to lock us into the existing committee. Um and um as soon as we vote on this motion, I will move to uh approve the uh item on the agenda, which is the three committee structure. Good. >> Um because I I think that the chair has made a uh a proposal that she wants to explore. I think that we can uh address Mr. the Kalivik's concern with an ad hoc committee

133on uh operations to deal with the the concern about how we implement the new master plan um mass facilities master plan, excuse me. Uh and it's not a Harding High School, it's a East End uh ele uh prek to 8 school uh proposal is the next item on the agenda. Winthre is already approved and in motion. Uh there are elements of it that he thinks uh we should look at more closely and I don't think that's a bad idea. Um and it's certainly worth us doing uh as much as we can to get parents involved and we're all for that. But I think this spring our fight is uh over our is an existential fight. It's not a uh a fight along those lines right now. um but um of getting the money to keep

134our schools open. Um so uh I think we can handle that with an ad hoc committee and if it proves that the committee work of the facilities is so significant then the ad hoc committee will effectively become a standing committee um and it'll function that way. Um and that will be what it end up ends up becoming and we will realize that and next year when we do our organizational meeting then we can uh restore a standing operational I mean u facilities committee but you have proposed that we try this and uh I support your effort to to do that um for the reasons that we've discussed out in item Um and um so I am going to vote against this motion and then I am going to make the motion to approve what you've

135got on the agenda. >> All right. Um there's a motion that was made by Mr. Sakovic and seconded by Mr. Medina. >> Mr. S, can you make me stage motion? Motion is to keep the four committees as present as is on our agenda right now. Finance and facilities, instruction and support services, policy and personnel, and a facilities committee. Item was seconded by Mr. Medina. >> So there's four >> finance instruction. You you go through fast. >> Yeah. See no >> started. No for the debate. All in favor. >> Roll call. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Woodson. Yes. Miss Perez, >> no. >> Mr. Sakalavic, >> Miss Burks Jennings, >> can I abstain? >> Yes. >> Are you going to pass? >> I'll pass. >> Okay. >> Mr. Daniels, I vote no. Mr. Traber, no. >>

136Mr. Medina. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, we have Oh, go back. Miss Joanne Burkings Burks joining. Sorry, I messed up. >> That's okay. >> Um, your vote. >> And this is to keep the four we have now. >> Correct. Yes. >> So, it's split four and four. >> Motion fails. Mr. Chamber, you have to put your mic on. >> I move that we establish the standing committees of policy, instruction, and support services and operations. >> Is there a second? Second. Second. If I miss Mario on favor >> discussion >> of discussion further debate on the motion Mr. Chber do you have anything to further say? >> Really think that we've discussed this enough so no I'm willing to go to a vote and have roll call >> Mr. Mr. Kovic not um this motion like

137the last motion if it comes to a 44 tie again it fails and it does not pass. So we do not establish four committees. So we got to default to what's there now, our current bylaws and our current structure because these committees are right. So roll call vote >> and I will and I will now speak. >> Okay. having since he's decided to go that route. I will point out that as I said before on the previous motion, there is nothing that prevents us from doing an ad hoc committee on operations um in this structure and having a standing committee of op I'm sorry a standing committee of facilities an ad hoc committee of facilities in this structure under operations uh as a part of operations to deal with the concern is expressed so eloquently

138by Mr. Mr. Sakalavik um and uh have the operations committee deal with most of the things that come up under fac under finance and facilities this past year. Um and we can do an ad committee to deal with the kinds of issues that Mr. Sakalic raised that we do need to deal with. The most immediate being uh moving forward with the next proposal and the facilities master plan of getting the East End uh getting the public feedback on the East End uh proposed East End new East End uh prek to 8 school. >> Roll call. Uh Mr. Woodson. Okay. Miss Perez, >> yes. >> Mr. Sakalovic, Miss Burks Jennings. >> This motion is for >> the approval of three committees, policy, instructional, support, services, and operations, which >> are the four that we currently have.

139>> Correct. >> Yes. Mr. Daniels, >> yes. >> Uh me I say yes. Mr. Traber, >> yes. >> Mr. Medina, >> nobody should have discussion with ourselves figure out what is the things then I would have been fine. But that's why I won't say no. >> Okay, that's a 62 vote. That carries. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. >> Um, item 10 is next. Um, this is the board meeting schedule next year. >> I did. >> Did you get one? >> I did. I have some changes. >> Yeah. So, I was going to ask if anybody sees anything that needs to be changed. Did you get a copy? Okay. Um, we took we did take a look to see if um anything major holidays. So, but if you see anything that uh you would like

140to change um please let us know. Now >> yeah, on Tuesday it's because of their it's a holiday the day after. Um >> I'm sorry I didn't say it here. >> Yeah. Go ahead. >> I have two changes. Um, all the years need to be updated to say 2026 and then [laughter] >> so are the dates right though? >> The date [laughter] schedule >> I didn't catch. >> Um, but the date for March 29th is incorrect. That's actually a Sunday. That should be March 30th. >> Um, and that's all for me. >> So the dates are right. Just a year. >> Correct. Except for March 30th. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> All right. So, um, let's change all the dates to 2026. We don't want to live in the past. Um, anything else? We

141thought we did it really great. Um, yes. Okay. Any further changes that you see? Um, this isn't if you're with um school breaks or anything like that. Um so so we'll have um so like last year there was only one meeting in April because of a um April break. This year we'll have two meetings in April. Um so is there a motion as amended to group it as amended? >> Mr. Ch Mr. Chber has moved to accept the calendar as um amended. >> Second by Mr. Medina. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Any extensions? All right. Um, there will be a special board meeting next year. Uh, next year. >> I need I need to take a nap. Um, >> there will be a special meeting next week. Next Monday. Um, >> going

142to garbage. >> Does 6 o'clock work or 6:30 better for um what what do we For those >> 15th >> for next Monday the 15th? >> 15th. >> It's going to be on the budget. So, we're going to look uh do a budget workshop with Dr. Avery to look at the timeline. 6:30. >> All right. So, next Monday at 6:30, we'll notice it tomorrow for you guys. Mr. Scott, >> is there um answer this question first? Maybe. >> Um does anybody observe it here? Any less observe it? No, we're open. >> Are there going to be any actionable items on there? I I think we should leave I think we should make leave room for action items just in case something comes up that we need to move on pretty quickly. I mean just to

143cover our bases. >> Um so I I'll wait to notice it till Wednesday, Thursday >> if there's but but it will be next Monday. >> Is there a motion to adjourn? Huh? >> Through the chair. >> Yes. >> Motion to adjourn. >> Is there a second? >> Oh, 305. 305. >> We'll notice it. And [clears throat] [laughter] >> Motion to be too hot. You may want to kind of turn the fan. >> Mr. Medina made a motion to journ. Um, second. I >> second by Mr. Romera. All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you. >> We're joining at 8:44.