001okay if I could have everyone's attention the call to order of the second regular meeting for October or the Bridgeport Board of Education today's date is Tuesday October I'm sorry it's the first meeting of October today's date is Tuesday October 11th and the time is 6 38 pm please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all this is Mr secretary would you call the wrong one okay John Weldon president Bobby Brown Sybil Allen Christine Baptiste Perez Albert bennahan here Erica Castillo Michael macaron Joseph sakolovic president and Joseph Lombard present okay first up is minutes only one to consider those are the minutes of the September 27
0022022 regular meeting is there a motion to prove don't move Mr moved by Mr sakolovic second second by Mr Lombard is there any discussion or edits to be had all in favor aye any opposed any abstentions Mr skalvik abstains student representative reports we don't have any here in the room are there any of them online oh so please have a seat at the table we have two here we have two here okay if it's turning around it's okay yeah all right principle yeah I wouldn't get hung up on that that's right yeah okay so I'll let you introduce yourselves and if you have anything to report on your school please feel free to press the button so it says yeah the button so you see a green light I'll start with the gentleman who's furthest
003towards the audience which is you America America okay I'm a student at aquaculture Regional High School representing okay I don't know nothing else to talk you don't have to she got nothing to report okay and you uh I'm Evan Arroyo I'm a secondary representative for Bridgewater Military Academy okay and thank you alrighty thank you uh we're gonna open up the public comment we have one two three four five individuals the first is Joanne Kennedy [Music] both of you so I'm representing aquaculture Regional High School I'm Erica uh Angie's seafood market had a successful opening this previous Thursday as always the market is open Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m Aqua has also been collaborating with the associate sound keeper Emma delorey and with two nurses from Bridgeport Hospital we also held our first stakeholder meeting
004previously known as The Advisory board meeting I am also a new member to this meeting to offer a student perspective and voice from aquaculture lastly the rvk Williams is delayed another six to eight weeks per Building Company thank you thank you uh I'm representing Bridgeport Military Academy there are many new events happening this month to jumpstart beers May VMAs partnership with the community members the first ptso event on October 26th during this night parents of seniors will have a college financial aid Workshop the BMA staff look forward to meeting with the parents of these Cadets to create positive Partnerships for those for the next four years BMA is hosting a Harvest Dance for all students the student council group is hosting the event on practicing their leadership skills when organizing the event testing season has
005begun Cadets are completing the Reading Plus assessment and this week they will be using Khan Academy Khan Academy to practice their skills for the pts ptst and the SAT later this month lastly recruitment season is still continuing BMA is hosting our open house in November and the recruiter has plans for the whole school y project to evolve all cut Cadets in this event okay thank you we're going to move on to public comment first one is Joanne Kennedy oh and let the record reflect Ms Baptiste Perez has joined the meeting what yeah is it on red light's not coming up I teach to the rescue foreign I just want to remind you the scripture says suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not for such is the kingdom of heaven come
006to the Board of Education means a lot and this is kind of the first time that I've never seen any have ever seen any old business or new business to be transacted I think that is a disgrace I think that is problematic because we have children here in the district that have needs students parents teachers everyone that that works in the school district there has to be problems that we can solve so what you're telling me that we're okay we're in Utopia we have no business to transact that is pretty sad um in reference to the interim superintendent and the superintendent I just still want to emphasize that we need transparency we need a interim superintendent and a superintendent that reflects the community you guys already know what we mean by that you I read
007the letter um into the record and all the people that signed onto it we're still at that stance just a reminder okay and Mr testani I don't have anything against you we should have best but I do we do not need your advice on the superintendent search the nine board members that is their charge you guys have to do that with the committee that you with the entity that you decide to do we just want transparency and we want the Board of Education the nine member board to have this discussion and agree to disagree agree and get a person in here for our students I don't move them forward God help me I don't ever want to see that we have no business to conduct in the school district of 20 plus thousand students that
008to me that's incredible and totally and completely you can stop beating me because I'm gonna stop in a second um and I think that's really disheartening to people that love their children here in the City of Bridgeport Byron Jackson uh good evening everyone um I'm hearing representation of Hardin football and I just wanted to go off of reference of superintendent Mr testani she's here to thank you for all the help and everything that you provided for the football team with the Iran statement of Coach Eddie Santiago and uh some other things that were done as far as providing an opportunity to have two coaches inside of the building which is a great help the numbers are not really showing it right now as far as I record but it's really helping our kids out and
009they really appreciate it we really appreciate it as a staff um they just uh they just need it and we needed that representation and the building and as far as on our football team with Eddie Santiago being back the kids really gravitate to him and they relate to him and they just you know they they understand of having that diversity and that kind of male figure around them and I just want to show our appreciation just here to say that thank you for and for the future superintendent hopefully they can fill the shoes and provide that same opportunity for the rest of the programs at Bridgeport thank you thank you Mr Jack wins will come Sam utzler hi my name is Sam Muffler my children go to Discovery magnet school I also wanted to thank
010superintendent tostani um they've been going to Discovery for eight years so we've seen a few superintendents uh come and go and we appreciate all you do for not only the kids but also the school district the second thing I wanted to address is with the student Representatives it's only my second board meeting but I'm not sure if it should be like maybe a little bit more interactive I mean they're taking a lot out to come and speak here not only their time but I'm sure their nerves and to only have you know like one representative last meeting question whether it came from the children or the parents you know it's a little bit um it's not really encouraging so probably just like a little bit more interaction so that they can really see like how
011things happened and bring their parents along next time thank you thank you Steve Nelson hello board um fellow bridgeporters um thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak for a second um I'm here just to say some um encouraging words about our friend our former superintendent who will soon be leaving us for Fairfield uh Mike I just want to take a minute and say you know I remember I go back with you all the way to when you were a guidance counselor I remember when you were assistant principal I remember when you were at Wilbur cross I remember when you were at basic during my 30 30 plus years of service as a school police officer but I worked side by side with you and I want to tell you that you in my
012perspective you've done a good job you were good to the kids in Bridgeport um Harry Bell sends his sentiments we had a camp we had programmed today couldn't make it he was going to bring kids here but uh from River Cross but I talked him out of it but I just want to you know wish you well on behalf of not just my family but our constituents up in the north end and hope that you uh do well wherever you go and you have left a good Legacy back here we really appreciate every everything you did for us and I want to just tell you good luck Keith Pierce Steve is good y'all hello my name is Keith Pierce I didn't sign up Steve signed me up just want to let y'all know but just
013like Steve said a lot about tassani Mike I we go way back way back at Harding when he was a baseball coach baseball coach and you know he um yeah it's been quite some time what is it 38 years now it's still there but I just want to say thank you man you know I know you get all that Ruffles and everything that happened and stuff like that but a whole lot of people don't understand the magnitude that you did have don't know the things that you did do people that you did help so you know I just want to say thank you and I wish you well and whoever is coming to replace you I wish them well too and bored y'all take care of that thank you so much thank you Mr Pierce
014that concludes public comment uh I'm gonna dispense with the Chairman's report we'll move to committee reports and referrals um superintendent search committee as you all probably read in the newspaper the board re-established that committee clarified some parameters that this committee will only be charged with um reviewing resumes and screening initial initial screening of candidates we will make regular reports as you do these things and in the end finalist candidates will be brought to the public so I just wanted to clarify that for everyone since the last meeting next committee is ad hoc District white branding initiative Ms Brown um Mr chair we have not met in the interim however we should be meeting next week on the 19th I'm still trying to figure out the date but I'll let the time I'll let you let
015our committee know are there any referrals Beyond any that have already been made I think I noticed a couple of students behind oh the students came online yeah okay so we're gonna uh pause this for now and go back to student representative reports for those students that have joined us online I can't read them very well let's say the name again Jalil Stewart hey Jalil do you have anything to report what school are you from and do you have anything to report [Music] if you're talking we can't hear you got kicked off Nikki State your full name for the record and what school you're from and do you have anything to report hello bye um okay do you have anything to report from your school yes I do go ahead Guidance with swearing team will
016be participating in their first big events a 5km place which will be taking place on the 14th of October devices on October 28th is the production of from the Mississippi [Music] and if any parents are Guardians they should at least contact the student Home Advisor is pushing for more student involvement in the council and finally celebrated is to win over dangerous over the week that's it thank you thank you um Ms Brown I'm going to rely on you to read these names because I can't see them from my angle And Jaylee excuse me excuse me Julia yeah um State your full name for the record and what school you're from and do you have anything to report from Harding High Schools and we have an upcoming pink out for breast cancer awareness we also have
017an upcoming Fall Festival of music games arts and crafts best cozy fall look contest artwork displays and more debate team is participating in the annual Hispanic heritage debate event on October 12th students are studying for the upcoming PSATs and the SATs through Khan Academy that's it thank you thank you um cesarina State your full name for the record what school you're from Illinois Central High School hi my name is La Cruz so we have been having we did our back to school cookout we're basically the whole school comes out and like eats um some pound burgers or like some hot dogs just for the kids to enjoy we also have our we also did our meet the teachers afternoon for parents um plus I've started doing meetings recently uh we also have initias events recently
018so it's just like um breast cancer walk and raising money for the breast cancer awareness we also do our morning announcements highlighting different Hispanic heritage when when a student discussing their country okay Michael thank you thank you an icy building and um first off our students will be visiting University of New Haven this Thursday as a field trip um we also tonight we also have a National Honor Society induction for most of our students and uh we also had our first PTO meeting last week and uh the officers were established and we are also planning to have many fun nights this year to educate families and build community at our school for example College and Career night uh stem night to Showcase student work and um free and Screen free night with games and activities
019that's it thank you is that it okay all right so we're going to move on back to committee reports contracts committee has not met since the last board meeting are there any referrals beyond what have already been made okay educational diversity equity and inclusion Ms Castillo is not here but it's my understanding she's floating a date of October 18th tentatively I don't think that's been finalized though has it I didn't think so so we'll we'll see facilities did not meet since the last meeting are there any referrals beyond what have already been made Mr chair um I know we don't meet but I just want to know when it's going to be our next meeting because you know I don't want things it's tough because we've been trying we've been we've had other special meetings
020and other committee meetings and but the meetings relative to finding an interim superintendent I'll say I'll try to fit one in next week got a few things stacked up that we need to address so I'll find a date that's clear that nobody else has already taken next week and we'll use that okay thank you Mr chairman okay finance committee Ms Baptiste Perez I'm sorry I don't remember a finance committee met before the last regular meeting yeah okay any referrals for finance okay governance committee did not meet since the last board meeting any referrals beyond what have already been made we do need to finalize the field trip policy Colonel that's lingering out there health and safety committee has yet to be populated I'll ask if anyone has reconsidered whether or not they want to share
021it okay Personnel met this evening at 5 30 we interviewed for the position of director of special education that vacancy has been a tough one to fill but we had some some decent candidates that we interviewed this evening and Mr testani will make that final decision do you have a sense of when you will do that within what time frame yeah by the middle of next week we will finalize the three candidates will be interviewed in a final decision made as you mentioned It's been a year-long search it's a tough position to fill Statewide so I think we have three formable formidable candidates at this particular time okay students and Families so far Mr chairman everyone at 6 30 at Central High School and Library we're going to meet so what date you were you
022were garbled in the beginning what was the date it's all about 20 sir October 20. okay teaching and learning 30. 6 30 Central High School got it yeah teaching and learning uh we haven't met since our last meeting that one I know for sure was before the regular meeting for that yep okay superintendent's report do you have anything just a couple of items just a reminder October is anti-bullying month schools across the district have a number of activities going on throughout the month to raise awareness on bullying and so we just continue to do that a couple of personnel announcements that I'd like to just acknowledge a couple that were done late summer I don't think that were announced um through some school Improvement grant money um Barnum School hired dean of students Mr Ronald
023Jones a formerly formerly of Reed school was hired as the dean of students Andre Houston um from clater school was hired as the dean of students at basic high school Harding High School hired Louis Jackson formerly dean of students at West Rocks Middle School in Norwalk he's now at Harding High School and a Central High School hired Lizette Lopez as dean of students at Central High School I want to congratulate those folks also Christopher Johnson was finalized as the principal of Fairchild wheeler I.T uh Bez with Channer uh principal at uh Fairchild wheeler biotech and zoology Christine Nary a principal at BlackRock School and dean of students at Fairchild wheeler Margaret oquenda was finalized this past week as well so congratulations to all those folks as they join and take on their new roles uh
024and lastly I think it's important to um on Thursday Bridgeport Public Schools has been invited to the performance matters conference being held at the Connecticut Convention Center uh we were asked to curate a round table to share Bridgeport Public Schools systemic approach to attendance teams so that was an honor myself Miss Reyes and Miss Stevens will present at the conference and then be part of uh Roundtable discussion with other districts on how they can create a systemic approach to reducing chronic absenteeism so for Mr testani Ms Baptiste correct uh my question for Mr chestani is more in regards to the superintendent's report from our last meeting do you know if all the directors of the different departments would be available to present that to Bridgeport city council Finance the committee because um while it was
025a staffing presentation yeah the staff presentation because while it was informative to us as a board we didn't get any additional funds from the city and so I I know as you're preparing to exit uh probably working some way to coordinate or at least have everyone's information ready so we can plan to present to the city the need for in our district um each department the fact that each department although certain roles may be filled everybody's plate may still be overfill are overloaded um I think that's going to be real pivotal and so if you uh could do that I think that would be helpful to explain it to the city because we don't get too many City Council Members attending our committees we do make our plea to the city for our finances um
026but when it's presented directly from the directors and our recruitment efforts or in our attempts I think that's going to be critical so do you think that's possible that it could be done start the coordination and maybe an exit plan if it's not done before um you leave oh I'm sure it can be done I'm not sure if um the budget process at the city level hasn't even come close to the beginning um but I'm sure there'll be more than willing to present some of the challenges I think the the presentation created I think two challenges number one the retention component which is based on um non-competitive salary schedules um which is a budget issue but also the recruitment end which also is based on the national tier teacher shortage um the number of folks
027entering the pipeline and graduate programs and undergraduate programs on it's related to education and that has trickled all the way up even through um the 092 Ed leadership programs and I was sharing with Mr sokolovic prior to the meeting even Bill 93's superintendent certification but um I think the lack of competitiveness and you know Joe degroats here from the Bea is definitely contributing to our ability to compete especially in lower Fairfield County they'll be more than I think the the city council should hear it from a number of voices not just mine or any of the board members I think that's a component that they've never heard from yeah I and not to pass any judgment or criticism on anyone on the council but I think it's compelling to that they hear the financial situation
028with us being able to retain attain and keep the staff members of various different levels so nah if we can get that on their agenda and everyone I spoke to say they support education maybe defining clearly what it means to support education in Bridgeport would be helpful anyone else okay Mr chair yes I got to double check the dates because I held finance and teaching and learning so close together yeah so I do have a report for the finance committee we met on September 29th the last regular board meeting was on the 27th uh we had a discussion of the budget variance report which uh for somewhat skeptical reasons we were able to end the school year in a surplus we did have discussion and approval for the final operating budget for the 2022-2023 school
029year um I'm not sure why that didn't make today's agenda but uh we can get in contact with Miss Siegel so we can have the next at the next meeting with that as I recall was that specifically on the agenda yes the FY 23 budget yes uh we had an update with some of the ARP esserfund expenditures a discussion of any facility costs that may have Arisen from Summer 2022 and an update with some pending contracts for the Board of Education approval for this school year okay any questions or referrals for Miss baptiste's press okay all right so you you moved forward uh proposed balanced budget for this fiscal year you're ready to move that to the floor yes okay all right we'll put that on the next meeting all right there's no old business
030or new business to conduct is there a motion to adjourn Ed by Mr sakolovic is there a second second second by Mr Lombard all in favor aye any opposed none the meeting is adjourned at 7 11 pm have a good night