001[Music] all right good evening welcome to the Wednesday July 19th 2017 regular meeting of the appropriate Board of Education like to call the meeting to order and will you please join a device for the Pledge of Allegiance education miss merrova passed the last movie she has no car and miss Cavell villas on vacation this evening John would you okay yes we had the tragic passing of our math teacher here before high school dr. Ben Gordon on July 3rd and I would like to observe a moment of silence [Music] what of course moments suppressing regarding silhouetted from super terrible doings regarding 21st century library make an animation at the world it's listed below is recommended the regular rhythm of 620 117 any comments under the ers we should hide all right thank you mr shikou so
002i just want to let everybody know and the viewing audience know that this is the very first night that we mounted my streaming with youtube on using YouTube for free as compared with our vendor from the last couple of years so we're excited about that and Cathy and Erica sure via the things and Susan that things will be working there so let's hope it all works out well I just wanted to go through a few items that have been going on keeping us busy since the summer began we kicked off the summer with a beautiful high school graduation ceremony at the O'Neill center of Western Connecticut State University truly wonderful ceremony very set on the celebratory mr. Blandings team did incredible job organizing things and the students speeches and the like were unbelievable so it
003was just well attended event and we wish the graduates all the best kyt women just to keep everybody abreast of what's going on we are right now counting on 139 students registered at center school last month I reported that we anticipated 141 based on the count we had at that time right now a definitive count to count on 139 we've looked into trying to see if there are some patterns of students moving in students moving out the last month of the summer we don't have any hard data from power school and the reason for that is the students aren't completely entered into power school in the summer until the whole packet is received by the school from the parents so we're having a little trouble trying to get hard data and patterns on that but
004with eight sections planned we're looking at 17.3 students for class right now our range in kindergarten is 17 to 20 students with a target of xix so even if tens of 16 students move in we'll still be at around 19 to 20 at the most in class so I think in six weeks 16 students moving in is probably not likely but it could happen so we're continuing to monitor and we'll let the board know as things change in the next couple of weeks I'll keep you informed prior to our next meeting on August 16th hiring update you'll see later on the consent agenda we've been very busy in the human resources office and I need to thank Terry Cavanagh and the team for and the principals and their teams at each school as everybody knows
005we had a number of administrative changes and hires in the last few weeks of the school year leading into the summer we also had 12 teachers retire and so that along with internal transfers there's been a lot of movement going on and principals are really excited about the the new people they're bringing on board we're about halfway through in the I believe the news Times reported that we had 21 openings it's actually down to I believe 18 at this point I have a couple of final interviews as well the remainder of the week so that that number will continue to continue to whittle down in terms of the munis update um it will we had a press release out and it was in the news times and I shared with the board that we converted
006to munis for accounts payable we have one last piece human resources and payroll training upcoming for the fall and we plan to finalize all immunise implementation by January 1 of the coming year 2018 I have to thank Ken for coming in new to us this past year and really coordinating the effort working with with John Reynolds has been unbelievable our accounting supervisor and Eric Conklin and our new technology director has been fantastic not only in the planning and troubleshooting but also in training people at the building the secretaries of the building I've talked to two of them directly and they told me things that couldn't have been smoother and actually lisa has consider self of eunice mama she it's really it's people are really excited and it's going well so what we're we're happy with
007that and then just a couple of things going on programmatically just to remind the board we've talked about the revision learning and mr. Patrick Flynn who's been working with the administrators on leadership supervision and feedback professional development and our leadership advanced we had a two-day training the end of June and Patrick worked with our team not only on this continuing on the the Supervisory feedback training for the administrators on the first day but the second day we really got into data team training that's becoming all the more important with our strategic coherence plan goal of assessment literacy and the implementation of power school assessment and analytics modules that will be implemented for the coming year so we really didn't need to be on our game for that so our administrators are trained and ready to
008roll and work with their teams and a lot of focus will be K through 4 to begin and roll up as we go on in the years dr. Ruby myself mr. Renda and dr. Cipolla our new special education director attended a three-day training at Yale last week at the Center for emotional intelligence and we learned about the seedlings ruler program we're essentially learning about how to manage your emotions and recognize your emotions not only for students but for adults really can be a culture changer in your district as I've reported before we've had the asset survey that has been supported by Brookfield cares and there's a lot of data there that tells us our kids have some struggles and we were trying to address that in addition my anecdotal data collected going around with the
009teachers the teachers from k12 a majority expressed concern about anxiety levels and other other emotional concerns that children are bringing with them to school and before they come to school so the teachers have really talked about their care for the kids and wanting to make sure they're ready to access curriculum and learning when they come to school so amanda with the training is really excited he's worked with a number of teachers already it sounds like a lot of teachers are on board and to kick off the school year they will get the adults trained first so T parents won't see right away a difference with the students students won't be learning some of the new ruler program and ruler tools but the adults will be learning and then a slow roll lot will begin over
010at whisk in year this year well we're going to train on August 21st I think we're going to do an overview for the remainder of the administrators to share with them and see where they're at and where this might fit with with their school culture program in addition to that dr. mark Brackett who is essentially the founder of the Yale Center for emotional intelligence internationally known author he is actually kicking off our school year by being our guest speaker at convocation and we partner with Brookfield cares who is actually supporting providing resources to ensure that mr. Brackett could be with us so we're really excited about the beginning of the year and then the last piece is just mentioning that in terms of curriculum facilitation just want to extend again to the board that on
011I believe it's August 23rd and 24th 23rd and 24th dr. Murray Alcock who is going to be working with us on spearheading curriculum revision and development she will be with us and we invite the board to attend those training sessions don't be turned off by the fact that it's two days since you're not getting officially trained you can come whenever and if you don't have to camera worried but I would really encourage you know if you have any time at all to drop in and see what's going on because I think it's very eye-opening the the level of training that it takes to really develop curriculum people I'll get PhDs and curriculum development and yet school districts kind of put teachers in rooms and pay them the hourly some rate and expect them to develop
012curriculum and if you heard me say it the first years here we won't do that because we need to provide the training for the teachers to be able to develop a product that we feel is worthy of our teachers time and our students time so we've done substantial work with teachers during the spring of this year and this training that we're doing is for the administrators because if the administrators don't have the training and the background that the teachers who are actually doing the work have then we can have that coherence and that's that's what we're we're looking for and we can't have that the principals and the other supervisors really knowing in depth to the depth that we need them to know what they're looking at when teachers are actually implementing curriculum through instruction
013and so we've worked with dr. Alcock and we really felt that two full days of training you know I don't to tell you how important the foundation is we have to lay a very strong foundation if we want this we want to have a strong program so please I'm kind of begging you actually to just come by for as long or as short as you can if you're gonna come for the whole day please let us know so that we can feed you because you'll have to stay awake that's about work and then and then thank you dr. Ruby and then the only other piece there is I wanted to remind the board that dr. Ruby had forwarded the school climate surveys for your version for your viewing and that's all I have right thank
014you very much thank you question tires that you have had and that you're anticipating and the interviews are there any positions that you're finding or difficult to fill or difficult to attract good question see see okay the center support position okay sensual Spanish position and right now the we're still we still SCBA oh yes yes the BCBA the fourth department chair is MBA so I'll be sharing some some more about that with the board okay yeah so so those right now are the the two that are difficult to find quality candidates and we're brainstorming you know in anticipation that we still coming up come up empty I mean dr. Ceylon and her crew has been they've been interviewing people and it's just not working and we've made a commitment to it to the schools and
015to the taxpayers we're not just gonna hire somebody to fill a space because you're bringing somebody into your family and it's because it doesn't work that way so we're I think are you meeting with them tomorrow we have a meeting set up to talk with the two elementary principals to try to brainstorm you know though the what-ifs and you know the plan B and C and D but it's very difficult okay and also a big thank you to both your cares for helping us actually board members always invited but I've invited the profile cares folks to actually come to complication celebrate the kickoff of the school year was fantastic thank you all right that's a good news yeah a lot of good news a lot of good work and I'm really proud of the team
016and they've done great working very hard this month great progress and forward progress of that yeah I just want to add that it's you know we appreciate the fact that we were able to start the hiring at the interviewing a lot earlier I mean we'd have to go through what happens so you know start early and we're getting some really amazing new teachers and in this yield so it's really exciting great ok subcommittee reports because the Cecilia's subcommittee 5:16 and 6:12 just a national go through the 6:12 BNF and give it update because we're learning at our July meeting as well so we went through the financials through check registers on owned business we had the water project the water project is actually moving forward weekend when we're sending contracts out at this point and
017hopefully we'll get a good portion of that done during the summer if not we're looking into some temporary water services and if it extends it to the school here that is what move forward with a project is other than I can say the roof is moving along going to spin and you can please somewhere close to a week before school starts given that we have summer weather and rain that's always kind of you know and I see th but the TI expression right yeah I was trying to find the right words not in the words I don't use when it's you know we're get it done and if it needs to extend and then walks out with on weekends but other ripping all done at that point which is what prohibit students from being inside
018this building it right here smoothly there's notion of their portables when you have all architect reviewing some possibilities for us at this point and insight were giving them one day even that we have an interim director facilities where nobody in the current projects or unfold before we take on anything new at this point we heard about the McGinnis conversion are one of the big things that we took go through and in June had to do with how other boards and committees and people in town community support of Education communicate back we discussed that we would like a protocol that sort of filters everything if across on the board of our debts of the finance members should be going to their chair who's into our chair who carelessly response from our administration and then back we've
019had a lot of people over the last four years who will go directly to a business record leadership compelling or assistant supergirls and demand information it takes away their time during the day I've been doing what they need to do and we get multiple people asking the same questions so we thought following down from chair a chair would be the best way we don't know how or if other boards in town although a techniques have been simpler will encourage them to do so I think streamlining the communication absolve that's evolved and also controls the flow of information and in kind and respectful way which is what we expect mostly motivations again is the same as the off the table when I scope of work document but we're kind of taking a little bit of a
020backseat right now once you prepare us we're getting that some additional quotes h1c to experimental things that have been put on the back burner right now Shakespearean was a something that came up from the palette we got ticks when they've had at the power field or fields are under the most special parks at work they provide the maintenance some the magenta partially connected to address the same facilities directors probably won't as of late that we've received a number of resumes we're still in the process of collecting those and looking at them right now in the process is called ANOVA process that were evaluating we're not going our string just like you're when I watched a fella see that just for the sake of filling up will I make sure that we have the proper person
021in place so there's no floor we have follow-up on a game emailed me today for the specs on an activity with the other accounts was the other big question that we have and if you did maybe what if you ever steal that candy gave us a lot whistle now we're continuing this process or it's a continuation and process as well second we handled the big picture how many budget how we break again transition communis Student Activity and that's an improvement you know it's nobody needs to worry about its own in seven with the ends the accounts everybody stands at the amount of money that's in it is staggering but when you're dealing with every you know everything from third grade field trip to down to be a class of 2016 funds and every little sub
022organization that happens inside it really is speaking about that all right policy so we know between person we also had part of meeting this evening and discussion the narcan policy really very good discussion tonight as well as looking at the old wall administration of medication and the policies surrounding that of the school my dog in contact about a few parents soon University and narcan you should also be taking a look at up a pen policy for students that have food allergies and other kind of life-saving measures that you got from them you may have the vacanze in some instances so the good the overall discussion and overall work at our general medical administration policy that we have and after much discussion we're going to be consulting with our board attorney in regards to how best
023to implement what we're working together of American policy and the find a way to kind of implement that into the General Administration of medication which is stressful you know transparency purposes we also did take a look at the EpiPen policy and we found that only a couple years ago we updated that and there are specific requirements in to in regards to storage and there goes to administration and we're working kind of to do the same exact thing with an arcane policy possibly tacking on to the general administration of medication and to address some specific issues who want to address with narcan it's obviously a growing epidemic and we certainly want to address it in the unfortunate instance we may have to use it to possibly save a life and that's what we're saying I think
024I know in 21st meeting we discussed a little bit about the 9000 series and how we did that and a to go but there were some underlying policies we did not approved in fact they were in contradictory or they you know redundant so we're trying to clear that up and I'm hopeful at the next policy meeting we can address those issues and Steve I'd like just to add in talking about the medical administration that policy was reviewed and approved essentially updated back in 2015 so it's very recent recent legislation and so forth so that so the policy committee is on top of this and it's important for the public on our silver just a point of clarification the policy is not just EpiPens luolian reference that as um extreme all medications and encompasses everything from
025diabetes to new you know any type of food allergy so it is all policy any questions 20th of June which was actually the day prior to our last warning we spent majority the time discussing and talking about the teacher evaluation plan which you all heard about at the last board meeting so I'm not going to review that the other thing we did discuss was the makerspace curriculum at middle school mister cereth spent some time presenting it and i had spoken about this a few months ago actually regarding introducing this in the sixth grade curriculum about six weeks in the unified arts it will be a kind of mini capstone preparing the students for capstone in looking at the curriculum mr. Sayle mr.radha were so impressed that they would like to expand at six through eighth
026grade and it really sounds fabulous sixth grade will be centering on school seventh grade at unit local community and eighth grade the world so not only spring storm in the nation and design and creation of projects but then you're also having overlay to social studies to literature it's going to move into virtually every subject I believe and also prepare the students well for capstone in high school so all of capable is in agreement with that that was pretty much our discussion we actually had a meeting tonight before our meeting Tara was our chairperson I am now taken over that responsibility for her where she left off we had sent out RFPs for proposals for the building conditions study to support our ad hoc committee work we received seven proposals back we've reviewed them tonight while
027we were reviewing them we found that we believe our original RFPs were a bit broad so we are in the process of working on an addendum for clarification purposes and we're going to be getting those that out again to have people take a look at it so it's just to you know again to clarify so everyone is on the same page the proposals we got it seemed that there are broad ends of the spectrum and that wasn't really what we were looking for so we're hoping to have that done soon and it is our goal to begin perhaps interviewing certain funds but you know mid mid August or so so that's where we are right any questions on that doc recommend a motion that the board approve the items in the consent agenda is recommending
028consent agenda I just have two quick comments yeah until the we're gonna miss all who are leaving but two more special near jazz maca burner who I not only had the pleasure have my three kids there while she's there but I went to high school with her and the mark Boggy we played basketball all caught up through his kids yeah we played middle school basketball against each other in high school and he he is really going to be missed that that just the leadership he brought and the way he interacted with the kids I know two of my three had him and you know he just is he's going to be missed and I just wanted told both of them how enjoyable it was working with them for 14 years absolutely and I just I
029just add to that Harry and thank you for for saying that both Jonas and Mark for a total of 40 years at Brookfield so that's 80 years eight years leaving the district we are certainly sad to see both of them go and just wish them nothing but the best and thank them for all the years of services that the students they've just been great and when I miss them but they're gonna have time on their hands to really enjoy now so good for that this is important that we in order to make fun of Steve Steve how do you feel best on your elementary school Perry I had miss Mack mr. Daaga obviously there he was there when I was there but I didn't teach mom Jesse I think mr. Bogg is great his first
030thing any kind of book place the kids at him you walk in he says I'm under the dirt so you know that was his opening line think the edge off the students but he was the right person I tell you what when we talk about communications and websites before we even had our school he had something his own website when she continued to use and it was probably one of the best and most interactive attending the most information out of any future websites throughout the district so I give them a lot of credit for that any other discussion on consent agenda I'm just going to make one comment on financials in your package here today object summary and in June 30th again those Europe members are preliminary we're still collecting invoices and processing on certain
031items so don't take that year on number as being anything but fluid overload a document at this point we will give you an update awfully at the all cheering yes so any other discussion sorry none all those in favor of accepting the agenda nine oh they just sneak upcoming events in here first the studio information update annular consent and review is taking place now through July 28th our parents should logon of parents portal didn't even update the portal then we have been in August but only for those accounts that have completed this information so please PLEASE parents get into the public portal review update get that information in there no go ahead August 4th is the sunset sizzling with 5k 7 p.m. here at the high school this is their native fundraiser for the purchase
032all sports Booster Club there is a tremendous amount of funds that go directly back to all the sports so please participate in the 5k if you're so inclined and if you're not so inclined then sponsor and athlete who is running out or just and donate to it and that would be much appreciated and that's it next Newton is August 2nd 7 p.m. here at the that's right next meeting is are the 16th 7 p.m. BHS Media Center this incessant at 7:00 p.m. yes that is it right recommendation at the word enter an executive session for the purpose of discussing strategy and negotiations concerning collective bargaining and pending litigation so at this point this ends the public portion of our meeting we're going to move into executive session after which we will come out a visit
033in a session back into public leaving just for the sake of adjournment [Music]