001Good evening. This is an in-person special meeting of the George Board of Education. Today is Monday, July 21st, and it's 6:30. My name is Jennifer Perez. I'm the chair of the board. In person, we have Joseph Kalivic and Albert Cunningham. Online, we have Kesha Casemir and Andre Woodson. Uh we'll start with the approval of the minutes from the special meeting on June 18th. Is there a motion? >> So to Benan there a second. >> Second by Mr. Solivic. Any discussion on that? >> All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? >> Any extension? >> One extension. All right. That passes. All right. The next item on agenda is approval of the agreement of the fiscal year 25 catalyst Connecticut assessment at Bassic High School. I am Marge Hughes and I'm presenting the catalyst. There
002are two contracts for work that was performed in the 2425 school year. They should have been brought up to the board when the other catalyst contracts came up, but they were not. Um the first is for 35,000 which is con uh catalyst conducted a comprehensive schoolwide assessment to develop recommendations for schoolwide interventions to improve the school climate of ASIC. The second contract was for 58,000. For this contract catalyst coordinated and carried out self programming at FAC High School from March 1st to June 30th. >> Any questions? Is there a motion? >> I have one question. Master, >> I'm sorry. Seel, what does that stand for, please? >> Social emotional learning. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Any other questions? Is there a motion? Motion to approve for fiscal year 2025 board I mean catalyst
003CTS programming at best >> the motion to approve the agreement for the fiscal year 25 catalyst connected assessment at Bastic High School is seconded by Mr. Medigan. >> Um, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Any abstensions? That passes. Um, the next item is the approval of the agreement of the fiscal year 25 catalyst connected seal programming at Jackson High School. >> I included that. >> You did. Sorry. Motion. Is there any questions on that item? >> Um, any motion for that? Motion to approve the agreement for fiscal year 25 kctal programming at bassic high school. Second a motion made by Mr. Scaldic, second by Mr. Ben. Any further discussion on that? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Extensions. That was passive as well. Thank you, Miss. >> Thank you.
004Um the next item, the approval of the position of assistant chief of special education. >> Good evening. Um I am requesting to add the position of assistant chief of special education to address the department's needs related to IUP compliance uh overseeing charter schools out of district placements and to address chronic absenteeism in special education. The need for this position was created due to needing to maximize our focus on specific areas related to compliance. Uh while working with the state technical assistance team, we've identified specific areas of compliance within the special education uh department that require more focus and supervision. This position will assist me in addressing those areas. we would eliminate two positions to create this position and those positions have been vacant for the last uh couple of years. Uh therefore it would not
005be an additional financial impact on the district and the anticipated savings in sustaining this position would uh likely be seen in a reduction of legal cost. um also compensatory services that are being accumulated and owed to students and also in addressing to bring students back into the district. >> Have any questions for Miss McKinley? Um record show Mina joined online. Any questions for Miss McKinley? Mr. Schmid? >> Yeah, I got get quite a few. um how do we get so far behind in convents? >> So there was a systemic complaint in and the we have been addressing those compensatory services. So the compensatory services are actually accumulated due to the vacancies. So whenever there is a class that does not have a certified special education teacher, then that's seen as that student not receiving their
006services. So the more that we have vacancies, the more that those services are accumulated. And uh just recently we've started developing a plan to address the compensatory services whereas there has not been a plan in place since they've addressed the services in 2122. >> Okay. So how would adding a position to central office decrease the amount of service hours if we're not increasing the amount of staff on the ground that provides those service hours? >> So it basically be a a combination. So that individual again what is inspected gets done. So right now there hasn't been a lot of oversight. So this individual would be responsible in continuing to work with campuses because it should be tracked uh on the campus level but ensuring that we're also working with administrators to be very proactive and
007intentional in hiring certified staff. And if we aren't hiring certified staff, ensuring that we are addressing those compensatory services either before school, after school, or during the summer. >> And if if there's no staff to carry out those compensatory services, what what what then? because I can understand if this person was actually going out into the field and providing these compensatory services and getting it down. But what what I'm hearing is they're not being supervised enough to provide these hours, but they're short. We're expecting them to do more or less or well no not exactly. And so first we are we have >> instituted a and implemented and are implementing a lot of efforts to ensure that we are filling our vacancies with certified teachers. Um I have also sought input from our current teachers
008as to who's interested in providing compensatory services and I have teachers that are very much interested in providing it's going to cost us so it's you know it's a cost either way it's either cost legal wise or in providing the supplemental pay to teachers to provide those services. So we do have teachers who are interested in providing those services uh before school, after school and then during the summer. >> Chair I think to add to that Mic, I think one of the things that's important to know that part of the evaluation of the whole special ed program in the district is the boots on the ground. This person is going to be boots on the ground. they're gonna be inside those those charter schools inside the schools making sure things are done the way they're
009supposed to be done from the start. Okay. So, it's it's more of making sure that you know if if a charter school doesn't have a have a certified teacher in the classroom, what are we doing to help them hire a teacher, you know, make sure that person certified enough to be able to provide the services to our children, not only to our children, but the other kids there as well. So it's it's a it's a long drawn out process. The state has has has looked again since 2021 and here we are going into 2025 20 256 that the district has had this void. So this person is going to be able to help to to really put a focal point on those things to try to help. Uh one person in that division cannot do
010all that all all of that by themselves. She has supervisors that are also going to be on the field doing the same thing, making sure there's a a check and balances, uh, protocols that were put into place to sum up that. Uh so it's it's important that you know from a systems perspective we have to be able to do the things that you know sometimes miscreate change and make sure that things are being held people are being held accountable to providing those services for the kids and being able to let central office administrators know or myself know what do we need to do to help them help the kids. So it's it's just a sometimes when you pull that onion back and you really live deep inside to that root cause. There's a lot of
011root causes that debate while we're in predicament that we're in. But how do we fix those things? And that's my job and my supervisor's job, my cabinet's job to really dig deep into that and come up with a plan and figure out how we can get better at it. So that's this is our getting better at process, right? So, it's important to be able to oversight and look at that as well. And sometimes we have to have that the higher level oversight to be able to to pinpoint what needs to be done because sometimes one person can't get it done, but the assistant can actually get in there and do a little bit more hand coaching, mentoring, or whatever needs to happen. So, that's that's the hope for what we're trying to uh put into
012place now. Uh, and I think it's a really good plan. the state uh technical team has helped us really understand where we are and even the state agency based on the complaints that have been happening the compliance pieces they're working with us and giving us ideas of what other districts have done to mediate those issues and so I think it's a win-win from my perspective uh to be able to kind of work through this special ed is huge in this district and there are so many you know uh It's almost what they call um you know a whack-a-ole. Every time you get one name down, something else pops back up. And so we got to really be focused in what we're doing. And I this is a way that we're we're going to be able
013to do it. Uh a lot of training is involved. We have to retrain our people. So that's that's one piece of that as well. And this first that address my addresses my programmatic concerns but sufficiently and that remains to be seen in my mind. I got to digest that. Um, now to my favorite portion of the dance, learning >> funding and how are we discovering that there's two jobs on field that all of a sudden haveund about $150,000 something like that. I can't recall the exact number was at the last meeting. This does cost money. It does impact the budget here. the last two consecutive meetings. Well, this is going to be probably a half of $550,000 added to the budget in one way, shape, or form. Money can only be spent once. The 400
014change that was sent put the physicians back for six months at the last meeting. In addition to this potential $150,000, we have about five $550,000 just for the sake of arug money is fun. It could be spent on anything. It cannot be spent. It can be put in ISF to keep us from making more cuts next year. So there is an impact on other portions of our budget and even on the special education because if we and I would like to know how many other positions are currently unfunded that we could bring back some other positions because we're we're approaching we already passed where we could brought back the arts. We're approaching if we approve two more programs or two new positions that we could have brought back what was long areas and the board
015has not yet sat down to set its priorities and what they would like to see the district bring back. And I would like to see that conversation happen sooner rather than later because we are in control of the budget. We are in control of what comes and what goes. And so far the only desires that are being brought to the table are the superintendents and we saw how that worked out. Not no disrespect in the currency front end. Not saying it's the same thing, but we saw what happens when we take our foot off the pedal or hands off the wheel. That's all I got. >> Any other questions? >> Just a comment. Madam Chair, >> Miss Caser, >> I feel just the opposite. For many many decades um we have been um our test
016scores have been challenged in reading and math. Special education is a huge problem in our district. A huge problem. This is our first step toward showing the state that we are serious about changing um the status quo in this district. And I am behind this 100%. It needs to be done. Miss Michelle can't do it all by herself. Like Dr. Avery just said, there's help that's needed in this district. And if we're serious about changing what is going on and not just keeping the status quo, this is what's needed. The superintendent is telling us this. All these people who have higher degrees than we have that have been doing this work for years are telling us what they need. The teachers when I ask them why have we been you know the kids test scores
017have been low for so many years like what do you guys need to help the teachers are saying they need support. This is an example of that support. That's all I wanted to say. Thank you. >> Thank you. Yeah, >> I want to say something at the fair. >> We can't come public comment, but you can sign up for public comment um future. >> Okay, I will because I'm interested in special education and she can do it by herself. >> We we can also speak with you after the meeting. >> Yeah. Um Mr. K has joined the meeting. I'm seeing no other questions. Is there a motion? Madam >> Chair? Yes. >> I make a motion to approve the position of the assistant chief of special education. >> Is there a second? Second. Thank you.
018So, Mr. Chair, got the second. But, um, any further debate? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? I >> No. No. With just because it's unaffordable. Not that it's not not necessary, but it's just unaffordable at this time and budget times. >> Any extensions? See none. All right, that passes. Thank you. Um the next item on the agenda is approval of compensation and agreement um terms of various individual positions. Um this does qualify for executive session. So is there a motion for I'll read the positions. Sorry. Um, assistant superintendent of curriculum instruction, assistant superintendent of human capital, chief financial officer, chief of special education, chief operating author, excuse me, chief information officer, assistant chief of special education, executive director of school turnaround, executive director of school leadership. There motion to go in
019director session. >> I executive sessions discussion >> compensation. >> Yes. Is there a second? second. >> Um all in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Any obstessions? >> All right, we will go into the next session of the board with um Dr. Avery and >> just Dr. Avery. Um uh board members will send you the link um online. We are back from executive session. It is 8 o'clock. Um is there um during executive session we discuss compensation agreements for various executive level additions? So is there a motion? >> Yes, madam chair. Motion to authorize Dr. Agree to enter into the compensation and agreement terms for various executive level positions as discussed in executive session. >> Second, Mr. Ban. >> Mr. Ben second. Is there any further debate on that? All in favor say
020I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? All right, that one passes. Um, the next item agenda is public speaking. There were no public speakers signed up so we can move on. Um and the last item is a motion to adjurnn. >> So move second. >> All in favor? >> I thank you.