In-Person Special Meeting of the Bridgeport Board of Education Mon 7/28/2025

001Good evening. This is a an inerson special meeting for education. Today is Monday, July 28th. It is 6:32. We are at city hall 305. In attendance, I'm Jennif board chair. We have uh person uh Albert Benz online cashmere Joseph Kovich and Robert Traver and Andre Woodson. So we'll begin um there first item is public speaking and no one signed up today so um next up we have um Dr.'s presentation of his end of the year report. Thank you madam. Thank you madam chair. Uh can you get me on full full mode already? Sam again I want to you know uh take this opportunity the first to thank the board of ed for giving me an opportunity to uh lead this district back in November. Uh I was selected to be the acting school superintendent and

002moved into the interim school superintendent after a couple of you know weeks. Uh it's it's been a an an opportunity for me to kind of, you know, really sit back and understand the makings of the district, figuring out, you know, what's what's going good, what's going bad, what what you need to do to change things. And so, uh, I have I've had, you know, approximately about about eight weeks to to really assess and understand the makings of the district. And and I can tell you it's been a a a joyful ride. It's been a tough ride. I think it's been a an opportunity for me as a leader to kind of showcase some of the things that I am capable of doing. But I also want to, you know, again emphasize and thank again the

003board of board of band for giving me the opportunity. But I also want to kind of emphasize my executive cabinet uh the people that are around this table here uh you know have have done an remarkable job of supporting the work uh taking the vision and then you know and applying those things uh in the work that we've done over the last eight months. So I do want to thank you guys for that support. Uh always there long hours, tough calls. Uh been right there behind me and and supporting me and the in the work that I've done. Uh again also uh I know my wife's at home watching this too, but uh she's been a a a huge supporter of me as well. Thank her for standing by and and working through the the

004crazy if you want to say. And so again, uh it's been a great ride, but I'm going to start my presentation. Uh it it is just basically a highlight of over of some of the the things that has happened over the the the eight to nine um months of of me working as the entry school superintendent really just you know starting off with the executive summary because it talks about you know I was appointed November the 12th uh I brought clarity structure and bold vision to the board of education ation grounded, you know, in the district mission that every student, educator, and leader can rise above challenges and own the path that they that a path to success. Uh my leadership prioritize equality, transparency, and equitable pro progress. I embrace the values of learning and

005community where ownership replaces excuses, solutions replace blame, and every action aligned with our vision of equitable outcomes for all students in in Bridgeport public schools. You know I think it's important that as we you know you know took this journey it was all about you know that we believe in every student every educator and leader within that they have the power to you know rise above the challenges and and and create their own pathway for success. I think that's important as as as a district starts to evolve and learn, you know, from the things of the past and and moving forward. You have to be able to challenge the individuals within the system to be able to do the work. Uh we foster the learning community where we own again the ownership replaces excuses. So

006we can't just say things are going to happen without having someone to say okay why did that happen or giving you excuses that it happened but we need to fix things, right? uh we have to find solutions and instead of having to blame everybody for everything that's happened. Uh this district has done has been through a lot of different you know changes over the last 15 20 years. Uh and we can't just sit back and blame the state, federal government, the city, you know, the board, the families in the district. We have to figure out and come up with solutions to keep things moving, right? And I think we've done a good job of of that over the last eight months to try to make sure that we come together as a community, as a

007family to figure out how we're going to to figure out, you know, the next steps of what's going to happen for the children of Bridgeville public schools. And I think that's important really looking at, you know, all the equitable outcomes for everybody within the district. And uh and I think it's through those lenses that we will, you know, empower our schools and our leaders within our schools, you know, with the courage and and to to act with integrity and to deliver results that really truly matter. And I think I think the community got a little bit of taste of that over the advocacy periods that we have. We're going to talk a little bit about that. We went we went up to Hartford and we made a difference. uh this community got together, we rallied

008the troops, and we took bus loads of kids and parents to to to Hartford. Uh and we made a huge difference. And so we're going to talk a little bit about some of those things that took place as well. When I started this journey, it was all about, you know, what what I call the theory of actions. Uh and the theory of action is all about, you know, the change process within the organization. if you do these things, you should get these results, right? And so that that whole premise of um developing a a a a theory of action and creating accountability for the you know as a foundation of what we're what we're doing and what we forward is really really key and clear for progress moving forward district. So, we started that. Now,

009we're going to we're gonna continue um in the next couple of background noise. >> Yeah, Mr. We'll mute your mic. >> Oh, sorry. It must have came off. I was moving something in the car. Sorry. >> Thank you. >> So, we talk about strategic pillars of action. And so I think one of the things that's important as we we we continue this journey is it's it's clear, you know, having clear roles and responsibilities for the people that doing the work within the district, understanding exactly what their roles are and how they how they add value to the organization. And so really making sure that we're clearing things up about who's doing what and how and when and who's communicating throughout the system in order to make that clear. Uh building capacity through professional learning. We

010have a lot of new people in the district. So, we have to be able to provide those professional learning opportunities for not only new board members that's coming to the table, but new community members that are just engaging. They may have had just become members of the of the our community. So, we have to teach them and train them on how we do our business within the district as well as new teachers, administrators um you know uh throughout the district. Uh I think I think the third point of of these action pillars of actions is establish establishing a feedback loop. We got to make sure that when we when something happens, we have to learn from it, right? So we have to have that feedback loop and we've done a great job using thought exchange

011to really kind of grasp the the the the input from families and community members and really trying to kind of, you know, do some uh checks and balances across uh across this district. Uh and then we talk about datadriven decisionmaking. We have to look at the data and let the data drive the decisions that we're making across this district. And so we're going to be doing a lot more looking at the data before we act on the things that we need to act on. So I think that's important as we move forward uh and looking at you know data decision uh making opportunities across the district. I'm going to start out with the or organizational management because I and and I think you know this is one of the proudest pieces that that that I

012could that I can emphasize. Uh we balanced you know in fiscal year 20 uh 2025 we b we had a $ 37 million you know projected deficit. Uh, and we work through, you know, trials and tribulations, cutting staff, adding staff, removing staff, replacing staff, shifting staff around, looking at programs, looking at curriculum opportunities and things that worked and didn't work. So, we we we we we came together, uh, the board, myself, the community, uh, you know, to really look at what we need to do to kind of get that deficit down. Uh and then, you know, in in 2026, we've balanced a 26 million projected uh deficit as well. Again, it's it's just such a a pleasure to really fight through the the difficult times that this this district went through. Uh and we're here.

013Uh we have we have a balanced budget. I think that's there's something huge to be proud about. But I think the other the other important piece of this is that the state of Connecticut conducted a forensic audit. Uh and I think a lot of you know uh the precursor to this audit was that there was some you know uh fraud or some misuse of dollars that was happening in this district. And so I and I'm proud to say today that there was no evidence of fraud presented in that audit. Uh and it there's a lot of procedural and and and process procedural things that we have to sum up and and and you know because I know that's what we need to do. there's 34 uh opportunities that this district is is going to, you

014know, clean up the things that we that we've done in the past, make sure that we don't do th those things again. And so that's important for me as a leader. Uh we're going to we're going to we're going to microscope those those 34, you know, you know, recommendations and we're going to make sure that they're implemented in this district and everybody follows suit and making sure that we follow those. So that is that is a you know another huge challenge but I think that's something that we're welcoming as a district. Uh I know my staff we we've had a brief conversation about it. We have our you know our leadership team meeting on Wednesday. We'll we'll work through a little bit more of that as well. So that's that's truly important for for leader

015but but the finances guides all the work in this district. And so we're there. We have a we have a lot more challenges ahead of us, but I think it's something that we're going to be able to kind of work through and improve as we move forward. We talked about, you know, due to the fact that we we had to reduce the staff, you know, by 7 $37 million, we had we I had to go back and reook at the central office and how the central office works. So central office departments were reorganized to maximize efficiency cost savings. Uh you know we looked at you know personnel were reallocated responsibility were consolidated um you know and the redundancy was eliminated through everything that we worked through. So we have a brand new um organizational chart

016that will be presented to the uh the community here in a couple weeks as we roll out our new um web web page as well website. uh and really making sure that you know uh we have sustainable internal savings that we can make and continue to make to have throughout you know the upcoming months. The other part of of of the focal point was the community and and and board relationship. Um I think I've done a had a really good opportunity to kind of grow with the board over the last nine months. uh the board has an opportunity to grow with me as well and I think we've learned a lot together and I I'm very very excited about what the future holds for uh the the team of 10 you know I think have

017nine board members and myself so I look forward in being able to continue the growth and understand how that all works out I think the other big part of that we had 15 plus forums over the last nine months engaging this community for all aspects of making sure that we get the voice of the community. Uh from special education services to we have a district budgetary, you know, overview with the community. Uh the district strategic operation plan all together. We had a couple safety forms for parents. Uh we we did a several meetings with um talking about the master facilities plan uh from George's office and PJ's office combining that facility studies and the demographic studies together. Uh and then you know at the heart of you know the new year we have uh several

018opportunities to engage the community around uh immigrations and related concerns that our families had. So we went out to the community to engage them in that aspect as well. But that that has been a huge aspect of I feel the success of what we're doing because they the the community understands and knows what we're doing, how we're doing and yes there's many many more opportunities to to get better at that. uh and and we're going to re regroup and figure out how and how to make that better as well as we move forward. I think the other part of that is just really talking about you know stakeholder engagement. Um we myself and the board of trustees you know we participated in a mandatory training of of different aspects of what we need to do

019differently as a commissioner you know put out those per those I think there was four or five meetings that we had to do that was required uh we we the board and I we we were embraced those meetings and we we went through the training and I think we've learned from those you know collectively together and I know each individual board member has mentioned to see how it had impact them as well. Moving forward, uh I've done I've done a lot of changes when engaged principles. We we had principles meetings on Fridays where I had groups of principles over the over the months uh spanned where I had principles come in in groups of five and six and really talk about what's happening with with their campuses and how they're engaging with central office opportunities

020as well. uh and really just making sure that we prioritize stakeholder stakeholder voice uh and and we've done a lot of that with the thought exchange and uh opportunities and really just meeting parents where they are. We've been out to housing housing authorities and housing projects to really kind of meet the parents where they are. We've done a lot of community member uh engagements as well. So again, it's just more of making sure that uh you know, I have an open door policy, making sure anybody that wants to come see me uh will be able to step in and come see me. Again, you talk about community and board relationship and it's all about the advocacy. Uh I think this this this year I was told that again Bridgeport was was was the loudest and

021the proudest when they went up to Hartford. This is the first time in a long time that the city of Bridgeport, the Bridgeport delegates uh and the board of ed and the community of Bridgeport rally together to make an impact in what need what what is needed for the children of Bridgeport. And I can tell you we're going to be asking this community and the board and the delegate and the city to step back up again uh to make it count one more time. There's a special session coming in in September. Uh and and I think we still need to be able to have have an opportunity to advocate for a few more dollars to make sure that we that in 2027 we're going to be able to find and have the dollars that that's

022going to be devoted to this district for our kids to be able to succeed. And so work from there. Again, we um uh you know, at at the advocacy group that whole time of the legislative session, uh there was 50 public testimonies. Many students came up to to testify. uh you know uh we in favor of Senate Bill 1511 that that's focused on equitable schools uh funding although we didn't get all the funding but we did get some of that special ed funding and so I'm very and I'll talk a little bit about that here in a little bit as well but it gave me an opportunity as a school leader to uh to really you know engage with state leaders that I haven't met before and so we had face-to-face conversations about the needs

023of Bridgeport and really making sure that I had a voice for this community at Harford to make sure that they understand that this is this is serious and so we need to make sure that we our voice is heard and so it's it was a great opportunity for that and I'm very very proud of that as well and then you talk about partnerships and and I think you know uh been being in this district for you know about two years now again just in in the last year we've we've re you know repurposed and really kind to re-engage over 30 new partnerships in this district, community members really wanting to step up to help Richport public schools and the children that we serve. And so it's been remarkable to, you know, uh like organizations like

024LifeBridge and CT State, Mnt Bank, the Rotary Club, Cal Ripken Senior Foundation, the the Hall Department. I mean just a lot of different organization guys that that really wants to make sure that we do what we have to do uh for the benefit of of Richmond public schools. So the partnerships and what we do is really going to help us to think outside the box. The Bolo you know foundation has provided you know tons and tons of of dollars to support this district. So again, we've got to make sure that we we we engage the partnership and making sure that we can revitalize our foundation that we have in the district and that we're doing some things there where we're having to reorganize the the board of of the foundation and really enhance the uh

025you know the ability to go out there and and ask for additional dollars to support uh the things within the district. One of the biggest things with, you know, with with with the partnerships is with the with the um the partnership with CT um Husatonic. Uh they have given us an opportunity to engage in the first ever district central lodge registration center. Uh we're very very proud of it. There's a picture on there. It's it's not fully, you know, decorated with with Bridgeport, you know, paraphernalia on it, but it's going to be an opportunity for us to really do a one-stop shop enrollment opportunity for for kids within the district. Uh we have multi we're going to have multicultural, you know, uh individuals there that can speak Spanish, Portugal, some other languages. We have special

026ed services there. We have health services there. Again, just get really gonna have a a one-stop hub to be able to have that first and know getting parents exactly what they need in one spot without having to go to campus to campus to campus to get there. So, we're really really proud uh and and really thank you know uh CT State for giving us the opportunity to engage them uh and also for our kids to engage with in in the postsecary educational opportunities that Houston has as well. So, I'm looking forward to broaden that partnership by giving our especially our high school kids the opportunity to step right into the Houston, you know, uh um educational environment. Again, we talked about budget and so I'm going to read from my screen here. Uh we secured

027over $19.4 million in new state funding for, you know, fiscal year 2026. Uh that was about $2.6 6 million in sped development funds. That's that's where we we look at excess costs and being able to bring those dollars back to the district so we can use within. So that's about a $2.6 million uh you know reimbursement. And then $5.8 million is is is a seed grant that we got for special ed funding and that is to expand new special education programs. uh because one of the things that we are in um in in in the mix of doing right now is transforming how we serve special education children within our district. And so these funds are going to be very, you know, integral in helping us to uh continue the effort and work through and

028enhancing the programs that we have. In addition to that, you know, we have an additional 11.8 million uh increase in ECS and alliance grant funding as well. uh and that really is is from the state level providing those additional dollars uh you know through legislation to give the district and and then weate that within our budget as well. Uh again, you know, we achieved a a $35 million cost reduction. Uh and we also did a lot of budgetary things within the district. Nester and uh and his staff really kind of help, you know, our staff and and cabinets really kind of fine-tune what we're spending and how we're spending and making sure that we can cut, you know, along the way as well. So it was a combination uh transformative capital investment. We also through

029this whole advocacy piece we had an opportunity and and and it's really amazing to get a $75 million um finance, you know, opportunity, grant opportunity from from the state for to secure the first ever special education center. Uh that is in the works right now. We're still working on the details of what that's going to look like. uh it's going to be able to impact almost 260 students uh and hopefully reducing our out of district placements in about about $20 million over over the span of the probably the first 10 years with with with the building come into place. So that's 10 that's 20 plus million back to the district as we get this building up and running over the next couple years. Uh again, we had the uh facility master plan uh you know

030funded by the city of Bridgeport. Again, that's that that's that partnership making sure that we get the things that we need to really look at the facilities that our children are are being housed in throughout this district. Uh and looking at what we need to do to kind of, you know, rightsize these campuses in order to make sure that they're safe, secure, and providing best an educational environment for the children of Bridgeport. Um and again so that is really intricral in the things that we're doing uh when it comes to the financial pieces of it. Uh moving on from the budget uh we talk about growth growth and and student achievement. Uh one of the things again I mentioned briefly earlier about the special special education transformation. uh the University of of Arizona back in

0312022 did a study in this district about what we needed to do to kind of right side and fix accountability for special education uh students within our district. So we've taken that uh myself and my staff over the last nine months and we we prioritize the things that we needed to be able to do. Uh but we didn't just you know prioritize, we got input from other people and we're working through what needs to happen. So back in January, we launched a special education task force and that's a group of central office parental community leaders to really look at and have a voice about what changes is needed in special education. And then again back in March, we launched a special education advisory council. uh and that's where we try to get more parents involved

032with and advocating about what's happening with their own children in the different programs within the district and really making sure that the voice is heard. Uh so because this is a very very complicated and uh large um transformation uh in special education. So, I think we need to make sure, but we're I think we're once we do this, it's going to be an easier transition into a brand new facility that's going to have an opportunity to impact more children across the district. Um, and in addition to that, you know, we have the state department of education. Uh, they performed a special education audit in the programs and services that we have. So, that's going to help us redesign some of our self-contained programs and restructuring some of the programs. um working through how those are

033going to be structured in the four quadrants across the district. And so we're going to be looking at how that's going to actually look over the next year. Uh and figuring out making sure in each quadrant we have the same type of services so that kids don't have to be transferred over transported over to different quadrants of of of the city. So making sure that we have, you know, the four quadrants wherever the kids live, they will be able to have services within that same quadrant because right now we're busing kids from one quadrant to the other quadrant. And so we want to make sure that we can stream that, streamline that a little bit and work through some of those as well. The other big thing that we've done that we've done thus far

034in special education is that we're looking at our out of the district placements. Those are individuals that the district has placed out of the district because we could not service them within the district. Uh and so as we look at re revi revitalizing our special programs, we're looking at making sure that we can bring those kids back into our district because we can now service those children uh you know in their neighborhood schools and and and saving the district tons and tons of dollars. So that's really the important piece of the the transformation of special ed of being able to do those things in house and make sure that we do and we do them with fidelity as well. So those are the important pieces of um and then in addition to doing procedural manuals

035not only for special ed but we're going to be doing the same procedural man manuals with with our budgetary processes along with some of the the um the recommendations for the audit as well. We need to be able to somebody to be able to pick up the manuals and understand how to do it without having to to to just go off off the cuff and do same things differently. There's always procedures and procedural manuals that really fit what happens within a division. And so we're going to we're going to start we're going to start we're starting with special ed, but we're going to also do uh the budgetary piece as well along with some do some other uh areas as well as we as we move forward. Again, we talked about the district special ed

036center and and I do hear I would like to um thank the delegates. Uh I want to thank you know the mayor uh the city council. They've done a tremendous job of advocating up and for us as well. I think the board of ed we we we we collaborated together. uh and the the outcome of that is a $75 million state funding opportunity for this district and no other district in the state of Connecticut received these dollars, right? So, it is it's going to be the first of a kind in Connecticut and we're going to be the first district to kind of roll that out there and that is something to be proud about and we are proud about that. So again, I can't thank again the delegates enough, you know, um the the city

037council, the board, the mayor, uh my cabinet, the community. We we had students up there advocating. It was it was just the best feeling ever for for a superintendent to to really feel that, hey, this is this is why we do what we do, right? To make sure that we can advocate and get those funding. So um so more to come about that that new district special education center uh that's coming. One of one of the other pieces that I think is important um because as as a district thrives academically they have to have a a robust curriculum to be able to do that with. And so, um, with the help of of of Mars and and Bella and and their curriculum department, uh, we we had an opportunity to, well, I had an opportunity

038to to engage with teachers. Um, the teacher union has been and and administrative union have been great with supporting the work that we're we've done. we've done a a great job of reaching out to both the teacher union and administrative union about what's happening and getting their input on what's what's going on and and when I went out to talk to um to teachers they were talking about curriculum and that they didn't have input in in the writing of that curriculum and so what what we've done is given them an opportunity to go back in and help create and write curriculum. Uh it has been a a a a great opportunity to get their voice uh in and being able to align K12, you know, the different, you know, subject areas to make sure that

039we we create um pacing guides, you know, align with the state standards. We bring in special ed and bilingual services in into those plans to make sure that no kid in this district is going to not have a robust, you know, academic experience moving forward in this district. So, we're very very proud of that. I'm hoping to see great things, you know, come from that because I think again it's it's all about that partnership, right? The partnership in the classroom and being able to, you know, work through and and move through and drive through to help the student achievement piece. Uh again, we talk about the multilingual learners and sometimes they're left they're left out. So, we want to make sure that they're part of this whole plan, right? uh because we are we have

040almost 6,000 multilingual learners across this district, a huge, you know, a huge percentage of the students that we serve. And so we have to make sure that we stay true to making sure that we we go through and we we we emphasize and support uh those kiddos as well. Um we're going to be introducing the K5 Biteracy pilot program at at Cedar Cedar Baya. uh and it's a dual language literacy and cultural responsive uh perspective. It's going to be new rolling out next year. Uh we again we have the new handbooks and and procedural models and and and guidelines that that we're going to be following as well. And then we restructure the high school a little bit when it comes to supporting uh the ML you know MLL you know learners as well. So

041very excited about engaging those two things in the core curriculum as well. assessment and data systems. We are going to be doing an online, you know, school improvement planning process with our principles coming up in the next month or so. Uh, and it's an opportunity for them to to, you know, highlight their their their campus and district improvement plans across the district. They're all going to be electronic, you know, uh, generated. Uh so if if one principal leaves one year, the next principal can still step in and still be able to see exactly what was put in motion and change as needed and kind of work from there. But this is all about the datadriven instructional support that we're giving campus principles. uh they they they'll set their goals and they'll kind of you know

042articulate their goals and drive towards making sure that they do the things and the central office gives them what they need and their teachers what they need in order to make sure they they they close that achievement gap. That is the important piece of the instructional assessment data analysis uh and working through to make sure that you know we use P school as as a as a student data system and utilizing a new component of P school to really make sure that we don't miss the kid and some of the issues that kid may have. So it's all embedded into what we do on a day-to-day basis. So very excited about that as well. Uh and then it's all about learning, the professional learning that our that our uh staff is receiving across this district.

043And I'm I'm real proud to say that our MT our multi-tered system of support is going to be integrated into a power school this year as well. It's gonna we're gonna do we're going to be doing a district-wide, you know, um uh focus on school improvement planning, datadriven instruction, special education, different I mean multi-tered system of support and the differentiation of services across the district. Again, I think one of the biggest things here for us, again, the state of Connecticut and the state technical assistance team is working with our district to help us create this robust, you know, professional learning schedule for that we'll be rolling out to our teachers and administrators uh in a couple weeks. Uh and they we we've been working, you know, behind the scenes, changing dates, changing presenters, and and

044and and over the last, you know, four weeks, five weeks, longer than that, probably. Uh trying to make sure that we have when we start this school year off in August, we're going to be able to have a a well-trained, you know, system of of professionals that's going to impact our kids greatly. So, I'm really really excited about that. making sure that we can support our new teachers. We have a lot of new teachers in the district uh this year. Making sure that we got the mentoring thing, you know, happening. Um mentoring shifts with our principles, really making sure that we we we we put them out there to to do their best uh day one of of of working in this district. So that's important for us as well. Let me kind of, you

045know, emphasize academic achievements. This is this is the embargo data and what that means is that it's not necessarily I can't go into detail with it because the state has not released it but I want to kind of share with you guys a little bit of what's happening within our district with all the the the different changes and things that are happening within our district and all the the uncertainties about who has jobs and who didn't have jobs throughout this whole budget process. We did we did fairly well and I and I I I kind of want to brag a little bit on some of the things that the district has has done thus far and I've done I've generalized a lot of it so that you can see and I didn't I didn't want

046to be real specific with it. 71% of elementary schools increase achievement from 23 to 24 in ELA. 79% of elementary schools increase achievement from 2023 24 in math. 100% of all high schools increased percentage of students meeting graduate grade grade level standards in ELA. 86% of high school increased percentage of students meeting grade level standards in math. Uh 86% of high school decrease percentage 86% of high schools decrease percentage of students not meeting standards in ELA. >> So no that would be low. >> Well below. >> Yeah. 21% of high school decrease percentage students not meeting standard uh in math. So those are very high level you know achievements things and we're going to go we we will be presenting uh this data to the board in detail over the next couple of months once

047they once it comes out um official from the state the you know my team will come back and present that to the academic committee and then to the full board and then to uh to to the community as well. So, those are going to be coming up uh here in the next couple of weeks. Again, it's it's really this is just a snapshot of some of the things that that happened over the last, you know, uh eight months of of my my tenure as the acting school superintendent. Um again, it has delivered measurable progress across every major domain. uh public schools and the Bridgeport public school is no longer viewed through the lens of of of of def of deficit or dysfunction but as a district rising with urgency accountability and student centered leadership. Under

048my leadership, Bridgeport is re rebuilding with purpose, reimaging what's possible and placing student at the heart of every decision that we make. Uh and Madam Chair, that will conclude my presentation. you um I'll take questions from the board members before that um we're going to um complete the evaluation um next week in executive session. The reason for that is because when you look at the evaluation form, it does require the board to like look at the the presentation first and then make their um basic recommendations. Thank you. Um to the superintendent. So, we're going to do that next week executive session. I've emailed you the um and it's in the portal the updated um form. It's the same form that that Kate originally sent us. I just changed um slightly changed the language from mid

049year to end of the year. Um uh so you'll take a look that you'll have some time to look at the questions and um and kind of sum up your ideas. But before we do that, if anybody has questions about um the presentation, you can ask now and see Mr. Travers up. >> Yeah, just a a minor quick correction. you misspoke quickly at the end and I know we're not dwelling on the the accuracy of the data because you called it um embargo data um but you said 21% on your last fact Dr. Avery and it was 71%. >> As you said >> I just misspoke. I'm sorry you're right. Thanks for your question. It's much better as 71% than 21%. >> 71%. >> You're right. 71% of high school schools decrease percentage of students

050not meeting standard in math. Thank you, sir. Perfect. >> Yes, Mr. I'm looking here. And for the time I'm here, I'm going witness everything you do in that program. It will not be easy this eight months. You never give up and you stay there day there there you know to the end and be almost 20 years in the district. See so many minister Bren going and back. You stay and you say I want to do the best thing for our children, for our parents, for our staff. And I really appreciate that. But at the same time, I have to thank you for the cabin. Thank you Mr. Garcia, PJ, Marabella, Michelle, John, Carlo, N, um, Danielle and Alia, everyone. I would say thank you guys because I know it was not easy. You guys stayed

051there. You know the situation with the budget and you went, you know, the situation of the budget and then you accept the offer and I know that. Thank you for that. You know, if you was another people, you guys stay back. You know, you leave say no, I I cannot work like that. But you stay because you care. Thank you for all the staff you know they stay here and they say they support Dr. and he say yes Dr. I'm going to work with you. And they make the decision to leave. Trust me. Then I know that another town they say I give you 50 $20,000 more. They say no, I won't bridge. And I appreciate that that everything you do, you know, and I be witness and I challenge whoever come to say something

052negative. I would challenge I challenge anyone because I be proud and I send that with honor and proud of you. You never give up and that's what we need in our district and you are and that's what the parents want that what the students want and the most important doesn't matter what time and I know Saturday and Sunday parents call you and you answer the people they don't do that you know and I appreciate that especially everything you this um presentation everything I'm in shock I'm very proud of you and thank you thank all of you and everything you know and this I know this is the beginning we're not going to give up and you know guys always are going to be here you know for oppos you know and not a lot of

053people with us you know they because they want the best nothing is um easy things go up and down positive and negative but when somebody throws something negative we throw five positive and that's what I would call team >> and thank you for thank you >> so I do have some questions but I do second everything Mr. Benahan said. I know it's been a very difficult few months school year alto together and I really appreciate your diligence and your perseverance and the entire team just to keep at it for our kids. Um so in terms of questions some of this is more so because I would not be familiar. So, some of my questions um on slide 14, we were chatting about procedural manuals. And so, anytime I'm thinking about any type of suggestions or

054anything like that, I'm thinking, you know, long-term um really building something that will outlive us being on this board um in our positions. Um, so is the gold for all the departments that have a procedural manual or just some of the departments? >> The goal is for for everyone. A lot of them have them already. They just need to update them, you know. Uh, I know with with specifically for special ed, special ed changes every year. And so if you and they hadn't been changing or updating them, you know, and it and it drives how work is done within that division. So Michelle and her staff is they're they're they're putting that down and there's going to be update things and that's part of the organizational you know procedural things that we're doing. HR should

055have manuals that that specifies how things are done within the HR. Every every division needs to have that and so we're going to check that. So from cabinet perspective with all the other things we got to do that's one of the things I think over the year we'll give everybody the opportunity to kind of look at their manuals and and and how they do their business to move that forward. So yes we will be updating all of them. >> Perfect. Um that's perfect for sustainability purposes. For question um slide 15 I had a note on here. It talks about the district special education center. And so one of the things that I've been kind of toying around in my mind is how can we make money to try to make ourselves as sustainable as possible.

056I know it's not it it's not going to be like 100% possible, but we should strive to do that at least at least to cover our transportation or something like that. Have that goal. So, with the special education center, can we make money off of this? >> Yes, eventually that's the but we have to build it first. We have to figure out and get our our place in order before we get there. So, that's kind of why we're the transformation thus far. We have to, you know, make sure that we do all the things we need to do to get there. Once we once we once we build it, then we will know how to go from there. But we're going to start small and then we'll bring our kids back. And then from that

057point, once we kind of figure out and get our rhythm, then we'll know how to be able to bring other districts into play to work out trying to figure out, you know, we may have maybe 20 spots open for other districts to, you know, send their children to as well. But again, that's the that's the goal is to make sure that we're self- sustaining and then we can kind of make sure that we take care of all our our internal you know issues that we not issues but internal you know you know opportunities that we can to get better within the system and then we can as we build it it'll grow and then we'll be able to use that as a a a financial impact uh opportunity for the district. >> Excellent. That's awesome.

058My thought process was let's make the best special education center in Fairfield County to the point where the surrounding towns will want to be here and want our services. But yeah, briefly um the theory also is that we're going to build it to the current level that we've addressed within the current spec. But the way we're going to set up that parcel is that in the future if we need to build another portion of a building, we'll have some centralized common area that we'll be able to build onto. So we're already thinking ahead that if there is if we have successful transition into this that we can build capacity into the future. >> Um my last questioning make sure it is my last question. Um Slide 17. When it um multilanguage learners um the program

059rolling out a bit um is that a program to teach our children a second language? >> This is a excuse me this is a program where for our Spanish speaking students who they're currently in a dual language program which really wasn't clearly defined at the school. So now they're going to get those dual those biiteracy classes are going to have an hour of uh ELA in English, an hour of ELA in Spanish. So with the goal of the end end goal being getting the seal of biiteracy so that they they are truly beritate in English and Spanish. >> Okay. Is that will we roll it out there or is the goal to pilot it there and then roll it out? >> Yeah, it's it's a pilot this year. So we'll see see how it works

060and the response we get from parents and students and then from that point we could >> next year we're looking at six uh this year is by K5 next year 68 and then looking you know learning from our mistakes learning from our our success and then rolling it out to other schools. >> Thank you Scott here. >> Yes. Uh thank you. Um, first of all, I want to say thank you, um, again, Dr. Avery, for everything that you've done, for the challenges that, um, that you have pretty much rustled through. Um, as you know, I don't just thank you out on this public forum when there's cameras rolling and and recording, but when you and I meet and you are very accessible. So, I appreciate it because there are things sometimes that I miss during

061board meetings because the meetings just have to keep rolling and every time I ask you for a meeting, you always always show up and you're accessible and that's something that I think is so important in a superintendent. Um, so I appreciate you and I thank you for that. >> Thank you. Um, so I think it's important to thank you behind the cameras as well as thanking you in front of the cameras. That's the point I'm trying to make. Okay. Um, so under the assessment and data systems uh slide, I have one question about that. Will this new system that you're envisioning um keep a running? This is the only way that I can kind of say this to to my understanding. Okay. So, will the new system keep a running list of every year of

062math and reading scores >> in each individual classroom of each individual school? That's what I want to ask. >> Yes, it does. It does that. Yes. So, so then if five years go by, we can go back to this year, right, that it started and be able to see a trend. That's what I'm asking. >> And that that we talk a little bit about the data driven decision- making that is that's part of that whole concept of having and using it and but making sure it's accurate enough to be able to use, right? Because data is data and sometimes data in, data out may not be correlation to being good data, right? So, we got to make sure that is set up that way to be able to utilize it in a in a way

063that's going to be meaningful. >> Okay. Thank you. And and uh I have a couple questions on academic achievements, but I yield those questions and I'll wait until we have a one-on-one meeting just so I can wrap my brain around it. But um again, thank you so much for everything that you are doing and that you have done at and that you are to do. Um I appreciate you. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Thank you. Thank >> you, Mr. Traver. Yeah, I wanted to ask uh I can't see Miss Hughes, but I I wanted to is there uh going to the the uh program at Bataya? Um bilingual ed the program you're you're establishing. >> Yes. >> For difference. We used to have a program there. Are we reestablishing something that we used to do?

064>> I know there's a dual language program there. >> However, uh it had the way it was being rolled out was not in the purest of forms so so to speak. So what we've done is we've created this biiteracy model where the intent is for students to be uh biiterate in both languages ultimately going at the high school level getting the biiteracy seal of approval. Um so what we've really done is really clarify we've got resources that are in Spanish and resources that are in English for the teachers to use. We're setting up uh uh foundational skills both in Spanish and in English which were not always in place historically. >> I did misunderstand. And we're what you're talking about is that more like what we used to do and I hope are still doing

065at multiling uh multicultural. >> I I I think because we were we were not here when when that when that used to happen. So we don't we're not real clear. And I think a lot of people that was here then, Mr. Chber, may not be here now to to have that correlation between the two, but it may be similar to what you're talking about, but I'm not 100% sure. >> Uh we we have multi- or bilingual classes K2 in many of our schools. However, when when you go to the schools and you're doing walkthroughs, you can see diff there's different versions of it. what you know there wasn't clear structural guidelines on what percentage of time was English uh taught what percentage of time was Spanish uh content taught there very often the the language

066was mixed and there weren't clear guidelines and what we try to do just overall the program is establish clear guidelines and expectations so that whether I'm at Roosevelt or whether I'm at another school with a with bilingual classes I'm going to see the same Okay. Well, then I guess I would say that that's something I' sometime in the beginning of the year, I'd like to see us uh spend some time on the uh ISS committee looking at what we're doing in different schools and what you're doing there that makes that unique >> because >> and beforehand we can walk you through the program if you'd like to. I mean before then walk you through the program. sit down and look at what's being done in different schools and then sort of begin to chronicle what

067we're doing there that's different than what we are doing have done in the recent past >> different schools >> and and Mr. Trevor I would recommend also when when school gets started I think taking taking your committee to to the site to kind of to to put your eyes on it I think would be a good opportunity as well. No. And I my recollection is that Paya was one of the last schools where we did a we did some things and so now you're going back to doing things and that's what I got to sort of wrap my head around what what what has changed in the most recent past and and even I don't know what the answer is to that. So I need to do some research myself. >> Yes. starting with you

068but starting also talking to people I know um to find out um the other thing I wanted to just sort of make sure that we're all clear on the the questions that M Casemir was asking about tracking data tracking data five years back to a class in a classroom has relevance to a very limited degree um in the sense that students change and staff changes in that classroom I mean we, you know, we we I don't know what the current uh phrasiology terms that are being used, you know, but for a while there we were talking about cadras of students. Um but you know we want to track the students and as students move from school to school and place to place data tracking data in classrooms is not as relevant as tracking the students

069and where they are to see what progress we're making. So that all becomes affected. You know, yeah. Affected by, you know, where the students are and who it is that we're talking about, not just the classroom. >> The data management system will have that ability that we can track our cohorts, which I think is what you're referencing. >> Cohorts. Thank you. I said, >> so I just wanted to mention that. >> Thank you. >> Seeing no further questions, um we will move on to the next item. Board members, just take a look at that um evaluation and and we'll do that in second session next week um for next week's meeting. >> They haven't this is in your portal. this uh presentation. Um yeah, on the next item on the agenda is a discussion of

070board recommended priorities for reinstatement of budget reductions pending potential additional funding. So, um, with with this, um, there, you know, that the state does have some additional dollars, um, that I know that they're going to work on with Dr. Avery to, um, you know, see where that money would be most effective. Um, and then a recommendation from a board or board member was that we create our own list of um, items that we'd like to see as board members back in the district. Um, so the way I I'm looking at this, I think what we can do is um I give everybody time to kind of list off their uh five top five top five items they'd like to bring back. Um, I will make a little list here and we can kind of tally

071off, you know, if everybody wants item number one back, you know, we make a tally and then kind of give our our recommendations to Dr. Avery um based on on on that order. Miss Casmir. >> Yes, thank you. Um, what I'm wondering is as I am thinking about my top five things that I would bring back or I would like to have come back, should I not also consider continual funding for that item? So, let's say if I wanted to bring back the arts programs or the librarians, you know, all of these controversial and and important um programs that we need, is it is it going to make a difference if I say that I wanted to bring back item A, item B, item C, item D, item E. Is it going to sustain over

072the years? Like that's what I'm kind of confused about. >> Yeah. through to through the chair. Miss Casper, great question. I think that's a valid question to ask and I that's one of the things that you know you know my staff has has is trying to consider as well as we make our recommendations. But that is that's a true fact you because these this is a one-time funding opportunity by from the commissioner. So if we don't have the dollars to sustain it, then we're not going to be able that it should not be considered. Uh and so there's other ways and other opportunities to kind of you know you know consider things but when you cons when you look at when you're looking at the things to bring back you also got to look at

073okay how do we sustain it because a lot of the things that we put on there are things that have to be funded every single year moving forward. uh and so uh we just have to be able to figure that out and uh and have that discussion as a board if that's going to be you know viable or not to bring back. So again this exercise is just really looking at which thing we want to do first and then decide on from there is it sustainable or not we can just go through another exercise with that I guess. Yeah. And this isn't like a final list. It's it's kind of what our priorities are and then as we as >> as money comes in >> um we can we can look at you know whatever

074our top priorities are that we want to see back um and kind of implement that way. Um and yeah so I um we'll start with Mr. Sakalic. >> Oh yeah. as we as we uh frame the conversation, we've got to um I just want to address this first. Um we've got to consider tiers of money, too. Like if we get $1 million, do we want to bring back a piece of a program? If we get two million, do we want to bring back a whole group program or a piece of one or a piece of another? and and and and I would like to address also the sustainability that um the sustainability doesn't necessarily mean that the body remains because o over the course of co when we addressed all of the um trauma the

075students were taking the students that benefited from those psychosocial services that are no longer available they're carrying that throughout their career so that's some throughout throughout their education and it's affecting them every year the kids who had the par profofessionals that were added on they got the introduction to kindergarten with help and that's going to sustain them throughout the years. So it's it's not just can we sustain the body is the service that's going to be provided. Is that going to be beneficial to a certain number of children that it wouldn't have been beneficial to before? That being that being said, I'm probably ready to release my five priorities. Uh and they're they're basically interchangeable depending if we get money. It doesn't make sense to h have like one librarian, but librarians are pretty much

076at the top of my list. um followed by par professionals, preferably high, preferably permanent par professionals, but barring that back to uh the the um PDMS followed by the arts program, followed by transportation. What's that? Four. One, two, three, four. Four is all I got actually for right now. Mr. Traver, >> um I um I I would uh make a similar point uh as has had been made. One is uh there are pieces. It's not a whole um and so it depends on the money and it may not pay for the whole pro program. That could apply to the distance children are walking. That could apply to the number of some of the staff, not all of the staff. Uh in some schools have maybe one kindergarten pair for more than two classes. Um, so

077I I think that there are ways that you can look at that differently than we have been. Um, and um, so I I I agree with the points that have been made on that. Um, and two, I had this discussion uh with uh the technical advisory team a few weeks ago. Uh, I don't agree with the notion that anything that we put the money into has to be sustainable. Um, we because we made the decision to cut kindergarten paras, we lost two kindergarten teachers within a week. Um, and that's simply because we made that decision to cut paras. Uh, if we had not made the decision to cut the paras, we wouldn't have lost the teachers. Um, so I, you know, and there's always the god knows where, god knows how, but there is the

078possibility that the money will come from somewhere. Um, and as a poor district, we hope the money will come from somewhere. There's going to be, you know, we just saw the sudden reversal of the federal decision to cut by the the huge amount of money that was going to cut and hurt us in all kinds of ways uh in this past week. uh that dramatically changed our outlook on in in all kinds of ways. Um we know there's going to be a special session of the state legislature in September which could dramatically affect our look uh in all kinds of ways. Uh I uh was at the Cape Verde Festival yesterday. Uh Governor Lamont was there. Everybody's wondering whether he's going to run for office again. The fact that he was at the Cape Varian

079Festival yesterday tells me he's running for office again. That means he's suddenly worried about votes from cities. That's why he was at the Cape Verde Festival yesterday. So maybe suddenly Governor Aman's going to start worrying about more money for cities. Um, so God knows if more money might become available to help us that wasn't available in the last legislative session because he and the legislative leaders weren't interested in putting the money into our cities or into the poor districts because I know it's not just cities. Um um so I just you keep pushing and pushing and pushing and sometimes the money appears. Um, and it could happen, even though next legislative session is not a uh financial or funding session, it could happen that exceptions are made to the rules. Um, and so I I

080just I I think that, you know, if we were to put money into kindergarten paras or arts program or librarians or any of the things that were just mentioned that are not, you know, that were are continuing needs, um, we may find the money to continue those. So, having said that, I don't happen to agree that it it's it's it's not it's not a good thing to put money into staffing positions that we're going to need the money the next year. Um, and I would push for um the uh kindergarten paras, the arts program, I mean kindergarten paras, the librarians, the arts program, and uh the social workers. Oh, wait. I guess I got one more, don't I? In that um >> was that last one? >> Pardon me. That was four. >> That was

081four. >> Yeah. So, and then I guess I would add the counselors, too. >> Miss Cer, again, if these programs are sustainable, that's just me and my take, right? Um, mental health services is number one for me, librarians, number two, transportation, three, arts programs and science programs. And I just want to give a little caveat to that, Madam Chair. Um because if parents do research and they find an arts program or a science program or a music program that is within the city or or cities outside of Bridgeport that if they offer those programs. You know, when I was a single parent and I was a struggling single parent all those years ago, I used to actually pick up the phone and give a call to those programs and say, "Hey, listen. I don't have

082the money to pay for the full tuition. Would you be willing to give me a discount? Or do you have a program where you have a scholarship? Like sometimes it really takes us parents to be proactive and calling and asking because if you don't ask the question, the answer will always be no. But if parents find a program that they feel like their children can benefit from, they can contact those programs and see if there's any money there or if they can get some type of discount. So, um, in case arts programs never comes back to Bridgeport Public Schools, please be an advocate for your child and and think about what I said. Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm sorry, did I finish? Oh, arts programs. And then my last one was paraprofessionals. Professional. Thanks. >>

083Social workers. Um, Mary Menace. Um, so I want to preface my list by saying, um, I do agree in theory it would be nice if this list was sustainable and we would get this funding um, all year around, but I think in we have to kind of deal with what we have at this point. And I think we just based on our priority list um push forward with whatever we find is most impactful and then we go back to the state and say, "Hey, we've already cut these positions once. We need the the funding for them." Um so I I do somewhat agree with um what Mr. Rock Traver was saying with that. I will say I did um pitch for the list of P5, but in reality I have eight. Um so and I

084will say that I did seek um feedback from some parents because I wanted to make sure that my list also considered community members as well. So my list starting with kindergarten paras um librarians, transportation, social workers and guidance counselors, the performing arts programs, interventionists, and then ending with assistant principles. >> Mr. Ben. >> Yeah, thank you. Share. Um I agree what all my colleagues said but I'm going with what my list has but I would love to have the par professional back because I know par professional help a lot a student especially in special education you know so it's not easy what one teacher they don't handle p professional it's hard for her include when they have a lot of kids transportation is my second one because it's a issue that we talking about this

085and everything you know it's so the winter is not here yet it's not here yet. Imagine it when the windows here all this kid and start have to walk especially sometimes we have uh the sidewalk people don't respect when students are crossing you know it's it's bad it's bad and we need to fix that reputation um arts art for me is so important you know I know a lot of student enjoy and they so much art and they focus and they let it go when they use art they enjoy like they you relax when they got kids they got depression, stress, depress everything they enjoy and I know kids love to do art. Um sport is another one that we all know how many sport you know we have here in this public school especially

086the high school and all these poachers they do amazing job when I say they do amazing job it's like all these um coaches it's like a second parents of the students they support they help a lot and the other ones they're like very like very have to um have it back because it's very important how to read in all the school especially when they start the kindergarten on you know 8th grade and especially now that we have a change a lot of things for the new schools high school kids we using a lot of library you know and especially when u I know Miss Vag bring us and Jeff about how they can do it in our in the form library get information you know we we talk about that so that's one of my

087five time right now thank you madam chair >> Mr. Woodson. >> That's my hand up. Where where where's where is Bliss? >> Oh, this is the one that um Nester brought before us in June. >> Yeah. >> Um where we had to make those cuts for um from like starting with Paras. I'll send it to you. >> Okay. >> Out of here. only only thing I could I can say about it, you know, I think I think that you know like personnel matters and stuff like that that those those those should come from we should we should hear directly from you know assistant principles and stuff like that because you know I I mean I' I've been in the community too and actually you know assistant assistant principles and principles have been the ones that

088have been you know the the in my ear the most. You know, uh um you know, just just just uh uh not complaining, but mentioning how how they're losing their staff and how their job is is is is is going to be impacted and how much work they have on how much more work that they have on their plate because of losing assistant principles and and and even office staff, you know. So like I said, I would, you know, I would hope hopefully we direct, we direct, you know, not not only community members, but our assistant principles and principles, ask them about their input because, like I said, a lot a lot a lot of the the the cuts that we were making. Those are the people that are going to be impacted the most

089besides the students, you know, the principles and, you know, they're they're they're going to be the ones who who who get the brunt of the work. So hopefully you know while like I said we listening to Dr. Avery he said everything you know everything is important. So I mean we should try to at least at least you know like I said every like everything is important. So we should kind of, you know, it, you know, show where we could make the most improvement, you know, something something that that that could show with statistics and data to show, look, this this is how it was last year when we added a added a little money from from the state or whatever and this is what happened on the next year. So, if we could show where

090we're where we where we're impactful and where the data could show that we we're where we made the most impact, you know, I think that's where we should add the money. But like I said, I think librarians are to me are the most important. Librarians, um, uh, principles, assistant principles that, you know, those those are those are those are pretty important to me. But I think all of it is a very very important. That's it. >> Thank you. Um I'll say madness. Now I'll go back around to you guys. Um number one would be Paris for me kindergarten Paris. Number two would be the library med library media specialist. Um and if if like we said we have to bring back parts of this and not all at a minimum for the high schoolers. um

091the library media special are integral in like helping with research and and you know just preparing for college and so this will help get our students college ready. um transportation. Um if we and if we can't do the full whole full whole thing at a minimum elementary transportation um our chronic absenteeism is only going to go up after this and you know this is that that's that's going to happen if we don't um provide transportation for students um especially in those winter months. um uh social workers post post pandemic. We got the co babies coming in. So going to have um I think there a continued need for mental health workers. Um and then lastly the arts will be on my list. And so I'll I'll go back around for questions. I do want to

092say that um it you guys heard it. A lot of our our bring backs would be the same thing. A lot of the same items. You know, there's a few here and there um that aren't on the list. APS were on there twice. Um but for the most part, we're all looking to bring back librarians, transportation, social workers, arts. Yeah, that's kind of like the the the commonality there and APS as well. There was there was two for APS. If I could add another one I did, I'll say APs as well. So, um I know we can we can probably name this whole list um quite frankly, but um you know, this was just an exercise to see if if we're kind of on the same page and and and kind of work together on

093um prioritizing things should we should we see that money. Um uh we'll go back around Mrs. Kovic. >> Yes, thank you. Um, yeah, I would like to add my fifth, but I would like to tear it back on top and push everything down after listening to Miss Casemir and that remember the social psychosocial services and the impacts I said they have and I think that's that'll be very impactful even even if they just last a year and we don't receive the sustained p funding like I said before it will be in it will sustain the children throughout their tenure had they not gotten those services and I said just squish everything down please. >> Gotcha. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, his top one is a few. Any other questions? Did you have anything else? Then

094Mr. Cher. >> Yeah, I wanted to clarify just to be clear. Um the uh kindergarten paras I wanted to be clear that I meant paras not contracted out service we had before. I heard one other comment to that effect and I've heard people say paras but I wanted to clarify that my preference is for the real paras to be used too. Yes, Mary. >> Um, two questions. The question that are coming, do we know or have any idea about how much money we can proceed? >> The allocation is 5 billion. You know, it's a one time five million set aside account for the commissioner and on behalf of the board of ed. So uh the the exercise is for giving giving her the opportunity to say if we have you know input in this this

095is what the board is wanting. >> Um thank you. My second item was about the librarians um wanted to know if we can consolidate positions. For example, there were some STEM position and computer computer literacy positions and wanted to know if we can merge them and have basically the librarians do that role and then maybe we can reallocate money for the STEM and computer literacy for um other items. >> Not 100% sure you can do that due to the certification purposes. I mean they're they're under different certifications and so those that's math science social that's that's math science engineering piece is under a c a different certification than librarians so I don't think you can do that and uh you know I think the purpose of this exercise is we cut these positions what could

096we do I like to I'm favor I'm in favor of if we could bring back half of what say high school are, you know, you know, the high the high school media specialists and half of the the pre the kinder pairs with with a million dollars. We're still impacting and it'll make a good impact for us as we move forward. So, those are the things that we're going to be able to do and I and I'll have the opportunity to have those deeper conversations with the commissioner and and how this money is spent. she will probably have a or the or the technical assistance team that's in the district will have an opportunity to have some influence on what we really truly need, you know, and making that recommendation to the commissioner. Got >> as

097well. >> Are there any more questions? >> Mr. Benahan. Uh Mr. you're unmuted. You can >> um >> thank you >> Dr. Avery. If we trying to see in a whole we got this position you know the most important I know you will take and know which one we need uh and the fund that will come from um from the state city say okay and we're not going to have some just in case the state give it to us we're not going to have some issue they say oh you have to give this back you know sometime you know I want to know like they're going to help us because we need it >> right I want to be sure I don't want down surprise. >> It's a one time. It's a onetime set aside

098account for the commissioner to support the district and uh you know and then working with us to decide on how to prioritize that and this is what this exercise is for to be able to say okay so board collectively got together and here are their top five things that they would like to see happen you know and hopefully you know she would be able to kind of give us a little bit of you know finesse to say okay if we have you can if you can use this money for this or this for that and go from there. So, I'm sure we're going to be having those meetings over the next couple of weeks and then we'll have a little bit more clarity as to how it's going to be spent and then I'll be

099able to get with you guys regarding that. >> Thank you. Thank you, Misha. >> Mr. Chamber. >> Yeah. Um, have we figured out how to use the bond bill money? >> You I think it's the same. I think it's the same dollars, Rob. My understanding is that the money is coming from the um call it is it OPM side or >> OPM, >> right? That that's that's who that's who set aside the dollars. But when you when you start in my conversation with the state technical assistance team is that that's where me I think you and I had the conversation about the mayor has to have some input in and the whole financial thing with with the board. It was tied to the mayor and the OPM having something to say as to what happens.

100But technically, I think it's with the commissioner and she's getting these the state technical assistance team to to guide the work in the district. And then I think there there's going to be a meeting with the mayor with those three gentlemen to talk about how that's going to be spent. I think the rule is that the mayor has to chime in on this, you know, and that's why I think the recommendation needs to we need to get the recommendation solidified so I can get it to the state team so they can get it to the commissioner and the sooner the better in order for for the board to have some impact in that. So that's the important piece. But I think the exercise is going to give us a it's going to you know the

101top three or four are going to rise to the top and I think we'll be able to to have a you know a strong effort to say hey here's what we want boardwise as a district if I answered that correctly. Yeah, I I Okay, I'll um I'll do some poking around again because there for a while it looked like there were two different $5 million amounts floating around there. Yeah. My understanding because I I think we both had the same we we both had the same perspective and I'm like they said no it's the same thing but the commissioner had hers because because she she she presented like it was hers >> then they did too. So I don't know. >> All right. Seeing no further question, we can um we'll we'll put together this

102list and I'll um I'll send it to you, Dr. A broke down, but I'll put it together. I've already broke it down. I'll just >> put it I already put it together. >> No further question. >> All right. discussion and approval of the hotel and cost for the 2025K tax convention November 21st, 22nd, 2035 at the Mystic Marriott Hotel in Grant, Connecticut. So, um just I wanted to throw this out there because um the early registration for the uh Caves C convention is the 22nd of April of August, second back in time here. Um, and so I wanted to um just get a gauge to who would like to attend this. Um, the um I have some costs broken down here, but I just want to look at the flyer. Um, the flyers in our

103emails, but um through K, but stationary. One of the things that um Cape's doing this year because it is an election year is we can register on board board member one, two, three instead of um putting names down. Um so my thought process earlier on was um open this up to the board members who will absolutely be here in November. Um given that there's five of us that may not be here. Um, so but but given that they are allowing board members to register as a board member one versus your name, um I I I will open it up to see I wanted to see what the board thought about um allowing us to register um board members for this um event. Um I'll break down the cost that we paid last year and then

104also um what it would cost to to send um the two delegates. I'll break down the cost and I don't call on you. Um there there is a uh opportunity to go for the whole weekend or uh Friday, Saturday, a two-day registration. Um and that would require whole well it would require hotels but we're voting on um to stay at the hotel for nine board members. That would be 6,500. Um, and that includes two board members who stay an extra night for the delegate uh the delegates. Um, if we decide we're not paying for hotel and people just want to go for like the Friday session, um, that would be half the cost would be 3,200. Um, the hotel cost is 221 per night with with taxes and stuff. So, those are some of the

105numbers I threw out there. Um, Mrs. Calder. >> Uh, yeah. Uh, we could we could always replace board. We've always been able to replace board members. That's always been a um pretty much a thing. Um, as far as um the hotel, I don't think we should incur the hotel cost personally. Um, it's it's a drivable distance. Yeah, it's an inconvenience, but everybody else is tightening their belts. I think we ought to as well. Set an example for the district. And we're definitely in an austerity budget and I think we need to set the tone. for asking everybody else to make sacrifices and I think we need to make that sacrifice as well and just all all register I would register to go and I'd be mindful if one of us are not elected or not

106going to run again um to leave that spot open or even capture that spot and because by by the time that happens the election will be hap happening and we'll know who's coming and we could invite the newly elected person there so they could get hit the ground learning. >> I don't know if that makes sense. >> I I understand what you're saying. Um I I'm actually in agreement about um omitting the like the hotels and if you would like to go for two days, have a nice ride or cover your own cost for the hotel. But um I'll I'm I'm going to listen to what says I'll go with Thanks. So Mr. Medina. >> Yes. Good evening all and I apologize for my tardiness and my lapse in timing but yes I at this

107subject I've been uh highly advocate to uh advocating to get registered ahead of time that way we can uh take advantage of the savings and stuff um and I know that's been kind of like uh installing uh as far as me being also uh an advocate uh you know I'm looking forward to staying up there for the the time to take advantage of the sessions all sessions So, you know, um, and you know, I don't have a vehicle to be going back and forth all the time, but, um, I'm, you know, I I I'll do what the team wants to do and but I need to be there early because again, I am one of the delegates. So, I would like to make sure that we can, uh, get together as the board, figure out

108what anything that we would like to recommend, uh, changes, policies or whatever it might be that way we can present something as a bridge board. As you guys know, last year, you know, we were recognized as being, you know, a full board attendees and uh I look forward to having everyone join if they can. I understand some people are, you know, dealing with uh elections or whatever, but um like we said, we'll have time to, you know, uh change the names if necessary because of the elections, but I'm looking forward to being part of the whole thing. So, that's where I stand. Thank you. >> Um Okay. Go ahead, Mr. Marian. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I agree with Mr. Medina said question. Uh they they everything is still the same. They changed now something

109different from last year or everything is still same process. >> Delegates go off Thursday. >> Yeah. Okay. I'm part of the >> So the three delegates that we have are um Albert, Andre, and Willie. Okay. Um that's who were assigned earlier this year. Um the Friday session of the full day. >> Yeah. >> Um I think it starts like at 8:30 or something. >> Yeah. >> Saturday the same thing. Saturday not the full day. Sorry. Saturday ends at lunchtime. >> Yeah. >> So registration would be the early registration that that we're deciding on paying off right now for is due the 22nd of this month for the early registration fee. If you want to register after we can is just going to be like $100 more per person or something to that effect. um actually

110registration u $50 more until October and then after that it jumps up $100. I'm saying I'm saying this like Medina said anytime Bridgeport goes they love Bridgeport they start and trust me they love to see Bridgeport all the board members over there are able to be good to have us everyone >> yeah I I think we should go I just I don't necessarily think um the district should cover transport um hotel expenses it's an hour away so um a lot of us commute to work that much so like I I don't I don't necessarily think you need to pay for the hotel stays. Um I do think we should we would all benefit from the conference that we have in the past and there's a lot of workshops there a lot of inspiration. So that's

111my personal a lot of other time. >> Anybody Anybody else have thoughts on this? If you're are you guys interested in attending? I'm sure you are, but or the board members. I see Joe's interested. Joe, are you interested or you just asked a question? >> Yeah, I'm I'm interested. And I think we should break this up to two pieces because it's it's obvious everybody's leaning towards um registering. >> Yeah. >> But it's so far not so obvious that everybody's leaning towards the hotel. So I I would like in that vein I would like to make a motion to take advantage of the early registration for all board members for the Cape conference alone. >> So second by Mr. Banahan. So the the first motion is to um register board members. I I I wanted to

112say not all board members. Um I may not be in town that weekend. I don't know yet. So, I don't want to register until the last minute, meaning the day before the early registration. So, all board members who are interested, >> correct? >> Um, >> I'll accept that friendly amendment. >> If if I'm on the board in November, that's on um so uh but I don't I don't want to um uh put my name in just yet. So, um just wanted to know that. Um so, so yeah, let's vote. Well, I mean, if we decide to pay for the hotel, we just do it on our own then, right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Well, no, we're voting on that, too. >> That's a second vote. >> Sorry, that's going to be a

113second vote. >> Gotcha. >> This vote is just to register for the conference by the 22nd. Uh, Mr. Tre, do you have a question about the current motion? You're >> muted, sir. I said I withdrew the question. >> Um so see no other um questions. All in favor uh say >> I. >> Any opposed? Any extensions? All right. So by August 22nd, um Danielle will reach I'll have Danielle reach out to everybody to make sure that they're going to go or not. Um, and for those of us um who are on the fence of being here, we'll be registered as board member one, two, three, four. Um, and that's that. Um, is there a second motion for the hotels? >> Yes. Second. >> Another motion. We need another motion for the >> to cover the

114cost of hotels. Mia, go ahead, Miss B. Okay. Um, what I make a motion to um, >> do you have a writing to say or I make a motion to allow pay of the hotel >> for the district to pay the hotel? Is there a second? >> Second. Second. >> Second by Miss Came. Um, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Discussion. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Is there discussion? >> Yeah. Yeah. I I would just like to re reiterate that uh we are in austerity measures. Um I I believe we're asking staff to do any conferences remotely and not incur those costs as well. Dr. Avery, am I am I correct in assuming that in my recollection that staff is not going into overnight conferences that are pretty much local? >>

115They're very limited. Right. And I don't think we should be placing restrictions on staff that now we're not willing to replace on ourselves. >> And that's all I got. >> So, any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? I'm opposed. Uh, >> can we do a roll call because I'm not too clear. Roll call. Okay. you say what you're voting. >> So yeah, the the the motion is to um for the district to cover the cost of the hotel for the K convention. >> Yes. All right. >> Mr. Andre Woodson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Driver. >> No. Justice. >> No. >> Paris. >> No. >> Yes. [Music] >> No. >> Yes. >> Can you please repeat the motion please? Let me check >> for the school district to cover the

116cost of the caves caps convention hotels stay. >> No. >> Two for five now in three years. >> All right. That one fails. Um we'll consider car pools, guys. Um, with that said, so just get your um Danielle will reach out to you or reach out to Danielle about attending the conference. Um, please review the the evaluation. They'll have a meeting next week. Um, we'll also have reached out to the state so that they can present the audit to us. Um, so I'm hoping that they can do it next week. I'm still waiting to hear back. I try to try to condense as bunch of things we can in one meeting so we're not meeting every week but it's hard. So uh Mr. favor. >> Yes. I um I appreciate that. I you had said

117you were going to do that and I just want to express formally at a meeting that I noted in the state's press on the uh audit that uh they had planned on meeting with a whole raft of people except us. Um, and I find that objectionable. Um, you know, they were scheduled and ready to meet with the city with the city council and the state delegation and all kinds of other people, but they weren't planning on meeting with us. Um, so I appreciate your effort to get them to sit down and meet with us. I frankly think they should have met with us before they uh blasted out to the world their report. Um and it whatever inaccuracies it contains um before they uh you know they met with us to sort of sit down

118and explain it to us and answered our questions about it. But I just wanted to say that on the record to the public whoever is watching or will watch this. Um and um so I appreciate that. I also had a question about tomorrow night's meeting in the south end and how it came about because my my awareness of it is uh um three city council woman um people uh and a minister announcing a meeting that we're having in the west in the south end. One of those city council people works for us. >> So So that's not our meeting. That's city council. >> City council person says it's our meeting. >> The one working for us >> on the flyer says it, but it's not. We We're not We're not during that meeting. >> They

119they approached me with with concerns that the community had and that they couldn't answer. And so they wanted me to to join their meeting to answer questions. So that's how the meeting came about. and uh and so I'm just going to be a participant in that meeting to clarify the things that we're we're our our our um transportation is is ready to go for the start of Bassic High School, you know, but they're all worried about the community piece of it and we don't I don't have anything to do with all that. So, I'm just clarifying >> perfectly perfectly legitimate, but that city council person who works for us has no business announcing that the board of ed they're suggesting even to the public is having a meeting and that's exactly what she's doing. So

120that means >> I will I will clarify that in the morning and making sure that that because I I wasn't aware of that press conference had being held. Um >> it's a little three, you know, her and the and the two city council people from that district um and the minister in the church announcing the meeting and posting it on Facebook or I don't know where else they may have posted it, but it's saying the board of eds having this meeting with them. uh and was news to me when I >> we'll have it clarified in the morning. Um >> I think that needs to be worked out. >> Yes, sir. >> Mr. Medina. >> Yes, I have my hand in before this discussion has changed topics. Uh but Madame Chair, would you be able

121to send me the information of the hotel and what prices they were uh given cave or us? uh that way I can figure out, you know, my options for that uh for that venue. Appreciate it. >> Yes, I I'll look forward to the flyers. Um one last thing in regarding the fiscal audit that I meant to say is I'm I'm not really saying anything to the press until we actually see have a presentation. So that's what um Dr. A and I have decided in in the statements that we release. Um so um I know we we read some of read the document but until we have a full presentation I I don't believe we should be making any comments on it um as a board. So um I just want to let you guys know

122that um I will not formally make a comment until we have a presentation for the state >> to the chair. Yes. >> And I want to I want to clarify and emphasize your first statement Mr. Traver. I have a face-to-face conversation with the deputy commissioner and the technical assistant team about when that report was going to be released and you know we were somewhat guaranteed that we were going to be able to get a precursor to that that audit report that we did not get. We got it the same time it was released to the media and I made my point known to the deputy commissioner as well and I didn't get a response back. So again, you're correct because that's what I was told that we were going to be able to have access

123to that report before it went public and it did not happen that way. Uh and so uh the clarity is is I have a question I mean a question out there to to the state regarding that but I have not got a response back for that yet. Well, then I note and I note u if you will that um as opposed to when they decided that we were searching for a new superintendent incorrectly and the chair got a letter on a Friday night at the same time as the press with nobody else getting an email. Um this time the email went to her and you um and the press. Um I don't regard that as cooperative. Um, and I thought we were trying to be cooperative and the team. >> Yes, sir. >> Um, so

124>> five minutes after I received that, five minutes after I received that, I got a phone call from the media wanted my wanted my response. I'm like, I'm not giving you a response because I haven't even read the thing. >> I saw channel I saw it on News 12 and then went and checked my emails and saw that the sher had forwarded it to us um about 10 or 15 minutes before that. Um, so I knew that this was all happening concurrently and it's distressing if we're trying to work as a team. Uh, >> so I we we all agree. >> So I agree. Thank you. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I agree what Mr. Chairman said about the meeting tomorrow and this is what happened with they don't communicate with that and now he's

125the interest of preend school. They're supposed to come to head first anything but principal public school. So the information go wrong when they don't talk to him. So now they got consequence. So this is what happened. So I agree what u thank you man. >> They they they they did they did talk to me about you know the concerns that the community had. I I volunteered to to to go to a meeting but it's not my meeting. It's their meeting. >> So I will I mean the community has concern about school transportation. I'm the person that needs to get in front of it. So I I'll come I'll talk to whoever. We we got ours in the room. We're good. >> You are interested in the school. This comes to come to you first. >>

126Make it happen. >> Yep. >> Thank you, M. Final question, Mr. Woodson. >> Never mind. Never mind. >> No, it's not your question. Everybody else got theirs. >> Yeah. >> Going once. You sure? All right. Is there a motion to adjourn? Someone >> second. >> All right. All in favor? >> I Andre, please email us so we can clarify and thank you.