001You're good to go. Awesome. Okay. >> All right. >> Okay. I call this meeting of the Canton Board of Education. It's our regular meeting for Tuesday, April 7th, 2026. And I want to welcome all the parents and students that are here tonight. One of the one of the highlights of being a board of education member is really to be able to recognize the achievement of our students. And that's what we're going to do tonight with the Canton celebrates. I want to thank Mr. Moore, our principal at CIS. Uh Mr. Defipo, our principal at CIS CMS, excuse me. You got two. I'll give you two schools. CMS. Uh Mr. Dipo and Dr. Kidwell here from our high school and welcoming again all our parents. We're going to kick off tonight with uh the pledge of allegiance.
002So, if you stand and join us and we're going to ask Jonathan to lead us tonight in the pledge, please stand indivisible and justice for all. Thank you. We're gonna go right. Sure. Okay. So, we have we actually have the high school first. So, um so I'm going to turn this over to uh Dr. Kidwolf and Mr. Dippo from our high school. >> Good evening everyone. I'm very excited to be representing Canton High School as part of Canton Celebrate to um honor many of our students. We're very proud of our students who are participating at such high levels to make positive impacts in our school tonight. We will be will be honoring students and their academics, arts, athletics, and leadership. And um in my mind, what stands out amongst all of our group is is
003their true leadership in our school. So there's a lot going on here with folks. So um I think the best way to approach it for all the high school students, you know who you are receiving award, maybe you could come forward and stand in this area where it's sort of open. And so again, anyone receiving a high school award, if you come forward, you guys are leaders. I just said that. Okay. So, um I have the honor of starting with our Kinton Mastery Project students. So, as most of you know, all of our seniors take our camp mastery project, which is essentially our senior capstone, um, which is a a class in which they pursue an area of interest, a passion, a potential future career, or something they just really want to learn about. Um,
004they go through a structured process to research, prevent uh, present a project proposal, actually create then or do the thing they set out to do to accomplish um, and then connect it all back to our camp vision of a graduate. So out of the entire senior class, we had six students who were recognized by the faculty for their outstanding projects based on their rigorous process, their creative outcomes, and their overall learning. So um unfortunately, two of the students, maybe three, um were unable to be here. So I'll just quickly acknowledge Mari Lane um who's not here right um she used her skills and passion as an aspiring architect to design an actual model treehouse, which is quite beautiful. So congratulations to Maria. And then additionally um Annabelle Cedor also couldn't be here and she took
005her interest as a future biology major to create her keeping Canton green project which was designed to research ways to reduce waste and perhaps more importantly teach younger generations how to reduce waste as well as part of her project. Um so we'll actually begin here now with one of our outstanding projects and Margaret Wiser. So Margot created a youth clinic for middle schoolers who are interested in playing tennis. She researched techniques to plan out and then facilitate a full day clinic to introduce basic skills that help to gameplay and scoring while developing her own leadership and coaching skills. Congratulations Our next here, Deborah Rafco, used his exceptional technology and creativity skills to create a working demo of a role playing video game. Try it. I will which was designed and coded by Decker using game
006maker professional game engine works through several different iterations programming and reprogramming creating visuals levels sounds and a whole lot more to ultimately create his live demo. Brook Robin took her inspiration and respect for our local veterans and police officers to create a children's book dedicated to and titled Heroes of Our Town. She took the many stories of our real life Camon community members to write their stories and created an actual illustrated book that she ultimately shared with our camp veterans and law enforcement officers, but also with Cherry Brook students who could be as newly inspired as she was. Congratulations. >> And it looks like Tyler just made it. Congratulations. Tyler Baldwin took his experience that began as an Eagle Scout who crossed on his own to complete the process of building chess and checkerboard picnic
007tables. He created three beautiful tables that are now placed in Bsentennial Garden, Hills Pond, and the Senior Center open to community members to sit, chat, and play. >> Okay, switching roles here. I'd like to continue uh honor our students tonight by mentioning some of our students involved in the arts. The Connecticut Association of Schools annually honors two outstanding seniors from each member school who excel in instrumental performing or visual arts. To be selected, these students must also possess qualities of scholarship and leadership. and Kent High School winners this year are Lillian Simon for performing arts and Elijah Hubbert Persie for visual arts. Each was honored at a banquet on April second at the aquat I like to call them both and say a few extra words about them. First speak about Lillian. Um, according to
008Miss Antinucci, Lillian is a remarkable leader in performing arts here at the high school and she has participated in choir and drama for four years and also um is a leader for our technical theater. Lena has moved uh through CHS uh in the arts and uh she's increased her awareness in the arts um both writing and producing prisms and also we'll do it solo next week at Disney. Um, so congratulations, Lillian. And I just want to mention a few other words about Eli. Um, Miss Cyper wrote something very touching. She writes, "Um, from the moment I met Eli as a freshman, his enthusiasm for art has been undeniable. I still remember his response to the beginning of the year survey. When asked if he liked art, he wrote, "No, I don't like art. I love
009art. Art is my life." And he really uh he has truly lived up to those words ever since. His dedication has pushed him uh beyond a standard curriculum where he's done several independent studies in art as he took every course available here at K High School and he will be uh working towards his art at University of Harford next year. So congratulations. >> So speaking about performing our next award is our theater arts award chosen by our drama director Mrs. terror for a student most deserving of recognition uh in this area. Uh this person uh I'm sorry, Miss Taylor annually chooses a student who shares a passion for the theater and use it um to just build on not just creativity but develop skills, develop skills in others and bring energy and joy to the
010entire community. Initiative's recipient is Anastasia Collins. So, a few more words about Miss Taylor has mentioned how dedicated she has been to the theater community since she was a freshman where she immediately enjoyed the drama drama club. In addition for the first play, anyone who's come to a play at CHS has seen Anna in action. Started with Alice in Wonderland and since then she has grown uh to be an amazing actress and singer and most of us may have seen her just recently in Freaky Friday where her amazing acting and singing skills called People Tears um with with their powerful scenes. Um she's an extraordinary member of the theater community and plans for students moving forward. Great job. this point I'd like to uh talk about a few of our athletes. Um each year the
011Connecticut Associated Schools as member schools similar to the arts um to choose two scholar athletes. These selections are made based on academic excellence with citizenship and high levels of integrity and self-discipline as well as having uh excellent personal standards which serve as a model for others. Um, and you need to do all this to be considered for this honor. And this year's winners, um, were both me and Willie and William Ryan. Congratulations. >> Well, for a moment, I'd like to speak on their behalf. Um, you know, this is scholar athlete awards and without a doubt we have amazing scholars here and they are not just scholars but they're highly dedicated to their school and their class. Both of these individuals have major leadership roles in honor societies and in student government and do great things
012for our school and that's in addition to being um strong athletes. Um, Billy uh is a four-year member of the Newington co-h co-op varsity hockey team and his coach, Coach Herowitz, uh said some really nice things about him. He mentioned that Billy um truly embodies the modern true scholar athlete, academic excellence, athletic commitment, and he is a balance in his leadership. and he spoke highly of police leadership skills saying they're exemplary and right mix of independence and motivation and putting people first for the Newington co-op team which is made up of six other schools. He actually won their team leadership award uh which is quite uh great recognition because most of the those students he doesn't attend school with. In addition to this, uh, Billy was named by his coaches for the Hopie Baker Character
013Award um, which is an amazing um, honor as well for that team. So, uh, he mentions that Billy's been a pleasure to coach for the four years, a true gentleman and a very strong hockey player and a great leader. Great job, Billy. Amen. >> Um he will be was a a very strong member of our volleyball team this year. Um for those of you who may not know, our volleyball team made it to the state final this year, the first time in the school history. And according to our uh our volleyball coach, Coach Barnes, he mentions that Mia is the most accomplished player in Kton's volleyball program history. She's an all-time leader in kills, hitting percentage, and kills per set, and has served as captain for the last two years. She has been the cornerstone
014of this amazing successful program. Uh not only did she solidify her athletic success as the most decorated player as he mentioned because she's a two-time all state player, she's two-time all league player, but most important in his words, her leadership has been vital asset uh to the program success. She's a positive influence, a role model to others in a program, as a player, as a leader, and as a student. She set a tone for the whole team the way she led and she did it with both enthusiasm and encouragement. And you mentioned no one's deserving of this award. Congratulations. >> So a few uh a few other quick awards but very important awards. Um, you know, we have many students on our athletic teams that u reach the level of all league or all state.
015Um, but every once in a while there is an historic accomplishment that happens during the seasons. Um, and they certainly should be mentioned tonight as major milestones. Um, the first person I'd like to recognize can't be here tonight. She actually had a basketball practice to attend, but this is about recognizing Ruby Furge um as a milestone for for our girls basketball program. She's the 13th player in school history to score a th00and points. Um she did that towards the end of her junior season, meaning she has one more full season um to add to that total. Um and just to mention a few words about Ruby, she's incredibly talented, competitive basketball player, but her impact goes far beyond her scoring. She's highly coachable. She possesses a great work ethic, and she really has set a
016standard for the program. So, we'd like to honor her tonight um for a thousand point um because she did such a great job for the team. So, congratulations. >> Yeah. >> And then two wrestlers um similar to the idea of a thousand points have entered our 100 victory club um as part of our wrestling program. This would be number 19 and 20 um in school history. Um, so it's certainly amazing. Um, to first dude, I'm not sure if I'm seeing here, but Tom Johnson. Um, he was an extremely u impressive sophomore and junior seasons and Tom worked very hard to reach his hundth win. Um, he was a finalist in five tournaments this year. He was he was a top four NC player um wrestler and he also um had three top finishes um for
017the class S. So he had an amazing season. He finished with 104 victories. Um and again four state tournament finishes. So congratulations Tommy. Um if you sit down congratulations. We'd like to honor George who is here tonight. George come forward please. George wrestling career according to coach Bristol was defined by cover overcoming u some great odds. Um he had a great overtime victories this year. Um and that was became sort of a hallmark of what he did. This year George fought to rehab himself through a mid-season shoulder injury in order to get back on the mat to notch that 100th victory. It was his second uh NC conference championship on that same day. That was truly amazing. George George has been an invaluable asset to the team since his freshman year. Consistently working to improve
018himself and his teammates. George ends his career with a remarkable uh record of 102 and 52 in two NC tournament championship times. Great job, Drew. Um, how about another round of applause for all of our board of education first? Let's everybody go on over there. If you want to take on over like A little first. >> All right. Everybody else, good job. All right. >> All right. Thank you very much everybody for being here. Thank you board of education for the opportunity to brag about some amazing kids and eligible students. We've had a really wonderful year and I'm honored to get a chance to or to recognize some of the highlighted accomplishments. Um I'd love to start with an athletic accomplishment. So our cross country runners have four cross country runners here. Can you come
019forward? I'll talk about you all as as a group. So um Lilian Okconor versa Bernie Gavin Lammy can you come up talk about what these wonderful athletes. So um I'm extremely pleased to honor these students for outstanding uh athletic accomplishments. This is our cross country team. were four members of our cross country team and I understand that cross country is a fall sport and we're here several months later but the championship race was after my fall board of education meeting and we couldn't let the year go by without recognizing what happened at Wing Park in November. So we want to shout out the entire cross country team who put in excellent hard work throughout the season setting personal records and improving throughout. But these four athletes uh performed exceptionally well at the end of season
020state middle school state cross country championship which is held at Wickham Park in November. Um this is out of a field of 300 as I tell you where they finished. Remember this is out of a field of 300 runners and I brought the top two runners from both the boys team and the and the girls team. So I want to first call up Luke de Mandy who finished out of 300 12 and also from the boys team Kevin Mullins. He finished third. And then from the girls team, congratulations to Marissa Burning who finished. And last last but not least, we want to offer a huge congratulations to Lillian O' Conor who won the whole thing. First, >> thank you very much. Congratulations to our to our athletes. I return Houston. Well, now my largest group
021of the evening, if I could have you do the same thing. The students who uh performed at the Northern Region Music Festival, if you could join me up here. Northern Region Music Festival. Thank you. So, as you know, um, Canton has a long and prestigious history of supporting music and we have some exceptional musical talent throughout the district and this year once again we were named one of the best communities for music education. I mentioned this to highlight that the talent pool here in Canton is deep and from um and from that pool these students uh have shown themselves to be truly exceptional. They decided to apply for the rigorous process of auditioning for the northern region music festival. So that is where they are given a music a complicated musical piece which they must
022learn and rehearse on their own and then auditioned uh after they have learned only the highest cal of young musicians are then selected to participate. The fact that we have such a large group given our school size like percentage wise we are blowing away neighboring towns we send a large group considering the size of our our town overall. Um, and that shows big case showcases the commitment of Canton, these students, their families, and our teachers to our music program. These students, you obviously dedicated a tremendous amount of time to honing your skills and your selection to the Northern Legion Music Festival is a testament to your hard work and you are among the best of the best and you should be very proud of yourselves. Um, I'm going to have each of you come up
023and the first group um is all for students who were selected for the choir, right? become for the mixed choir portion. All right. So, auditioned for were accepted and and performed at the Northern Region Music Festival Choir. The >> D'Angelo Olivia Angel is Victor Dantis and last from the choir, Dylan Kim. And then the following students again learned, auditions, were accepted and performed in the Northern Region Music Festival for the band. First, Matthew Gang. >> Also, Michaela Collins I don't see Juliet Greenaw not here tonight. Thank you. Please and card. All right, thank you very much. Um, your seats. Thank you. But Finn, congratulations. I had Ben Finn Carly stay up here because we're going to uh continue and talk about some individual outstanding musical accomplishments that he had this year. So um back in
024the early winter, Finn submitted an original instrumental composition to the intermediate division of the CTSB, that's the American School Band Directors Association. and um he submitted his original instrumental piece called Crack and Fire. He was the winner of that competition and it was performed his pre premier performance was on Wednesday, November 17th. A huge uh task that you undertook and to win is a huge honor. So we congratulate you for that. But additionally, this spring, our entire our jazz band, this is a Yukon jazz festival, uh performed in front of judges and professors and got feedback and the entire jazz band was uh shown to be exemplary and uh and outstanding. But f at the entire out of the entire Yukon Jazz Festival was recognized with the best soloist award. So for these musical accomplishments,
025congratulations Finn and Charlie. Congratulations. All right. Could I have Rihanna and Matthew up here? Rihanna and Matthew. So, we're now like to discuss the recipients of the Cave student leader award. So CAD is the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education and each year they solicit nominations for one of our most prestigious awards, the Cade Student Leadership Award. We take this recognition very seriously. At Kent Middle School, we have very high standards for it. Students chosen for this award must show a willingness to take on challenges, a concern for others, and the ability to make the community around them a better place. Rihanna and Matthew certainly demonstrate these qualities and are very deserving of this award. And so first congratulations on being one of our cage student leaders. Bi and Matthew again. Congratulations, Briana and Matthew.
026Return to your seats. Thank you. And if I could have Stella and please Stella Corbin and Anukica Olsson are being recognized this evening as CAS scholar leaders. So CASS is the Connecticut Association of Schools and each year that organization seeks nominations for the CASS scholar Leader Award. Another Cton Middle School's most prestigious honors. CAS scholar Leader Award recognizes students with the highest level of academic achievement all who also have a positive impact on the school of climate by showcasing dependability and integrity. Stella and Hanukkah are absolutely deserving of those compliments in this award. So, congratulations on being a cast scholar leader, Stella Corwin and Anal. over here. I just wanted to say thank you to the parents for all the work that you do because behind all these great students are great parents, aunts, uncles,
027grandparents to get them where they are. As you can see, we thrive and we excel at academic achievement. sports, arts, usage, all that is because of Vince Cuba people what you do as parents. I end all my correspondences now with can is a great place to grow and learn. It really is because of all that we have here. It's a great community what we do here. And in order to keep that going, I have to make one pitch for our budget that's coming up at the end of this year. I mean, at the end of this month, May May 14th, actually, is when we vote on it, we can really use your help with that because we want to be able to keep supporting the academic achievement that we have, the arts, the music, the
028sports that we have, and continue to honor our students. So, remember to vote, remember to support the budget, and let's go get a picture over by the wall. Okay, come on. What is it? >> Good job. I Good job. You're playing She said she >> Okay, I'm going to reconvene this meeting and um that's always a great thing that went on um with our kids watching what they've done and their accomplishments. So, now we're going to go to um we'll go to public comment and we'll open up to anybody in the audience that has anything to say for public comment. >> If you just for the record, we just name it. Sure. >> Hi, good evening at 30 South Street in Pollinsville. Um, as always, I'd like to thank the board for their service to
029the team on the stage. Um, I'll keep this brief because it's faculty Tuesday, so I need to get out early. Um, but I was so glad to witness all of that. It was so wonderful to see the students students are. So, I'm glad I glad I came in person. Um, for those who think that Canton is not fiscally responsible when it comes to educating them, know that statistically the median household income in Canton is higher than average. Yet our per pupil expenditure is below average. I think our children and our education professionals deserve much better than below average. And yet each year the board of education is asked to cut more and more. This is despite predictable increases for the next year that are not even included. I learned this year that part of the
030decision as to if there will be a two or three hour delay is due to resources for snow removal. More specifically, it has to do with the tractor at CIS. It was gifted to the school years ago after it was no longer needed by the town. So, in addition to fancy snow tracking technology and consultations, it's a little tractor that could albeit. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Thank you for your kindness. Uh, seeing no one else in the audience, we'll go online. Anybody online car that would like to speak for public comment? >> If you're joining us online, you can use that raise hand feature of Zoom and I will call on you by your Zoom name. >> We only have one person online and their hand is not raised. >> Okay.
031And I'm going to close public comment and thank you for those comments. I appreciate you. Okay. Uh, from the chairman's corner, I have a few things. Um, number one is we know that we're in the middle of the budget season and it's always important for board members to be to to be visible and to put yourself out there to answer questions to make sure there's no misunderstanding. So, I just encourage you um when you can, and I know we're out a lot, but where you can, you are the champions of this budget, and therefore I would ask you to uh to be out in the public, answer those questions, and the questions that you may not know, uh if you drive those back to the central office, we'll make sure those answers, they get answered
032so that nobody when they vote, they at least have the right information. Uh so, I think that's important. Um the second thing I want to uh mention that I've made a couple appointments uh going forward in uh Jordan um Tusant and Kim Sullivan have agreed to help us with our student rep selection process and uh they'll be be meeting with Dr. Kidwell. Of course Lucas will be graduating. Jonathan goes to the senior position and u and so we'll be looking to fill that with a junior. And I've asked uh Jordan and Kim to really take a look at the position itself and see how we might be able to shape it um and add more value to it. Uh the second thing is I've asked Michelle Kulich to be our um our liaison into the
033technology committee that meets Michelle being the curriculum chair. I think it made sense for her also to uh to be that liaison into curriculum. So I'm sorry into technology. So, um she'll be doing that. Also in appointments, um Amy Lance and uh Jordan Tusan again have agreed uh today from our finance committee meetings to uh help us with our food services study to take a look at uh how that's all shaping up, what we could do better, how the financial uh side of that should work going forward. So Amy and uh Jordan will be uh handling that. And then um I also want to let the board know that I've sent a formal letter to first selecting Wikos uh asking him to move forward with the building study committee. Uh it appears that any bonding
034project is going to be moved out uh maybe not even this year. And therefore the commitment was that they would move forward so that we could uh we could better understand the needs of the uh of the education side when it comes to our buildings especially as we look at charity work overcrowded what we have over there. So um I'll just mention that um couple other things. Number one is I have been appointed um as a board of director for the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education K. So I'll be on the board of directors going forward. I've also been asked to serve on the uh finance committee for the Connecticut Regional Education Council, which is correct. So, I'm also going to be uh doing that also. So, I think that helps K. It gives
035us more visibility, a little bit more influence on some of those issues. So, I'm thrilled to be able to do that. And finally, I I'll remind the board members and for the newer board members that the uh we do march in the Memorial Day parade that is coming up in um in May. and uh our our reps also uh anyone that would like to march on that day just remember uh that's my last Monday of of the monkey. So those are the things that I have any questions for me on anything that I just mentioned. >> Sure. >> Did we get a response on the letter sent to something? >> I have not. Yes. Thank you. I I am I am going to press that matter a little bit more. >> I believe you CC.
036I did I did send it to you folks and um I am hoping that the first select I made a phone call to the first select to see if you can get that moving. >> Okay. >> Thank you for that question. Yep. >> Any other questions? >> Okay. Hearing none, we'll move to the superintendent's uh corner. Super. Thank you, Mr. Daniels. It's good to see everyone. I thank Mr. Pipo, Dr. Kidwell, Mr. Moore, and our director of athletics and supervisor of health and physical education, Mr. win for coming this evening to present on athletics. There's a as always there's a lot happening here in the the camp public schools relative to student activities and specifically last two weeks ago now and I'm sure the the gentleman will speak about it. We had a terrific CMS
037drama production and I know Mr. Daniels was able to attend that last night. We had the kickoff to our children, high school students that are going to Disney World Orlando next week and they had a concert last night. I know those students are are looking forward to attending that trip. And then last week we did have a jazz up festival, districtwide jazz festival that the I'm sure the boys will speak about. So, it's exciting. But I know um you're you're wondering what I've been doing for the past month and I I give you the weekly updates. A lot of time has been honestly spent on budget meetings and staffing meetings in finance meetings and operational meetings and looking at where we are with our um facilities and the facilities in the finance committee. Uh received
038a a large update this morning on where we are and you'll hear that tonight in our financial report and our operations report. I know our students and staff are looking forward to our spring recess um next week. And next week when we come back on April 21st, you all have been invited to the Can Intermediate School volunteer lunchon. I would encourage you to go to that if you have not been to that before. It's a wonderful event that can intermediate school honors volunteers and you are certainly a volunteer. So I I would recommend that you would go to that. If you need any assistance, please reach out to Claudia. Um, it's very important, as Mr. Daniels has mentioned before, that on April 27th, you have the annual budget hearing. That's when Mr. Daniels will present
039your budget again to the the public. And my recommendation is for board members to be present that evening. April 29th, we have a curriculum committee meeting and April 29th at 7:30m. There's the CHS spring instrumental uh concert. And on Tuesday, May 12th, which we only have two board of education meetings left in the evening, we have our May and June. In May, we'll hear from Kinton Intermediate School and then in June, we'll hear from Cherry Brook Primary School. So, we're we're really getting to that. And I just want to remind the the board of our walkth through at CIS on May 7th. Please try to put that on your calendar from 8:30 to 10:30 at CIS. So, we'll have two meetings in May and we'll have one night meeting in June for a board event
040and then we'll walk around Cher Brook Primary School also. And I do want to let the the board know that we are monitoring kindergarten numbers very very closely. And as I mentioned this morning, we had 83 students that are currently um registered for kindergarten. We projected over a hundred through our projection reports. So I'll keep reporting back to you that that number and to the finance committee on what we're going to do with kindergarten. If we stay at the A3 and we have two open slots for open choice, we will go to five sections. That'll be different than what we have budgeted for and we'll have to look at that. If we go higher than that, then of course we'll stay up at 86. So we're monitoring that very closely. I'll take any questions out
041of superintendent's office. Questions for the superintendent? All you good up there? Okay. All right. hearing none, we'll move right on to the assistant superintendent, Mr. Bishop, please. >> Thank you, Chair Daniels. Uh we are squarely in the standardized assessment season right now as we step into uh spring athletics. Um we know standardized assessments that our students participate in are one constellation of student performance metrics for us. Uh and there are so much more than that, but we do recognize and and respect that that is a metric by which people view the district. Um again, Canton has fared extraordinarily well in the district performance index. Um I'll remind you that's the index of over 12 indicators that uh the state department of education utilizes to be able to uh measure the performance of districts. Um we're
042really excited to be able to celebrate the success of our students, our staff, and the community in this good work. My recommendation always though to students, wear comfortable socks. If your feet feel good, everything else gets better. Any questions out of my office? >> Very good, Bishop. Any questions? >> Thank you very much for that. >> Thank you. >> Um, we move to our student reps. Lucas Jonathan wants to go first. >> I'll take it. >> Go ahead, Jonathan. >> Thank you. Um, from Cherry Book, I'll start with Cherry Book. Um we had an u according to uh we had a recent all school meeting led by third graders um focused on our bare necessity trait of being a problem solver. This meeting kind of highlighted how students can think through challenges and make positive
043choices. Um uh cherry brick also recognized the jump rope for hard accomplishments and celebrated the efforts of I wonder participants. It honored student growth, effort, and community spirit. Tomorrow, April 8th, Cherry Brook Singers, a group of second and third graders um led by Cherry Brook music teacher Miss Card will have their spring performance for all families. Hopefully, you can be there tonight or tomorrow to support the Cherry Brook Choir. >> Do you have a time? >> Um I do not. >> Okay, we'll find out. Thank you. Um on Thursday, April 9th, uh Canton parent and bride life officer John Chigos will be at Cherry Brook to work with our third graders revisiting an annual visit where students learn about wildlife in Connecticut and connect to content covered in now moving on to CIS. Fourth graders
044had visited Serbridge Village and fifth graders vis visited the museum to support their social studies units on migration movement and Native Americans. Uh CIS had also welcomed Jana Marks. Miss Marks spoke with each grade level about her writing process and lessons as an author, helping expose writing towards our students. All right. Middle school. Uh just recently, the uh cast and crew performed the witches princess. They did a fantastic job. That was March 27th and 28th. CMS will be hosting a career day this Friday in the 10th where members of the community will come in and talk about what jobs they have and hopefully inspire some, you know, leaders in our community to go take initiative. And eighth graders will be heading to Washington DC for their annual trip on Wednesday, April 22nd. Moving on to
045the high school, the band and choir Disney field trip for all members who chose to participate is April 16th to the 20th over break. We had our sendoff concert last night for those of you who were able to make it. I saw a couple of you guys there. Thank you for coming. We're super excited to go perform and it should be a huge success. Now moving on to Jonathan's highlight for this month is going to be the multi-dist jazz concert which is a big expansion that we've done for the past years. So on Wednesday, April 1st, the CHS, CMS, CIS, a couple of bands from Moose Mills as well as professional band comprised of teachers from surrounding schools as well as professionals from the region all performed here at Kent High School in the auditorium.
046There was a packed out house. Students across the district showed up for skills and collabor collaborated with professional artists to make some amazing music. Events like these are integral to fostering growth their young musicians and they're it's a fantastic representation of World War II partnerships community engagement. One student uh who asked for testimony mentioned that it's really nice to have the other schools so we can branch out with people who we haven't met and our head of CHS music department and jazz band director Miss Antiduchi had mentioned the importance of exposure towards students to provide inspiration in which there's a power quoted by Miss A in a sixth grader to see their teacher play the guitar or their own instrument. the chance was or to have this type of performance was really special to have
047students from our all around the district and from three counts. Um, according to Mr. Pipo, he also mentioned that it affords younger students to envision possibilities while the older students can demonstrate pride in their growth while serving as outstanding core. >> Nice. Excellent. Any any questions for student reps? >> I I have I might have missed you might have said this. Did this this student teacher basketball game this week? >> Cool. >> It's April. >> I think I saw it Thursday. >> It's always entertaining. >> Um, check your schedule because that's that's that's kind of a fun event. Um, it's kind of funny. So, good. Thank gentlemen. Jonathan, you're excused. I know you're studying. We appreciate that. >> Want you to come out with good grades. You're our senior leader next year. >> Yeah. Bus
048out of the chair. >> All right. Hey, let's let's chorus the band sounded great last night and uh I wish them well. It's pretty neat coming up next week. Thank you. Good luck. Okay. Uh, Mrs. Robin, business financial report, please. >> Um, thank you. So, we are reporting on um financial results for the end of March. Um, the statement of accounts um the report on a forecast what the expected results might be by the end of the year based on what we are experiencing. Um at the end of March we are um unfavorable 191,287 which is worse than the previous month by 31,508. General education is projected to be favorable about $2500 which is 30 um1,000 worse than the previous month. Special education is forecasted to be unfavorable 193 747 which is 10,000 um worse
049than the previous month. So um we have some notes for the um some of the changes the bigger changes that have happened um in March. um our substitute line. We report on every month and um this month um um we did have experience an unfavorable um um movement. We I think we have one more month of that left. So um well we'll see what happens in April. uh central office staff. Um if you look at the financial flex of savings due to pro personnel changes and an anticipation of renement from the town to the HR benefits position. So this position was budgeted at the town in FY26 but then there were there was some reorganization and movement so that the board of ed um this position came down to the board of ed since they
050did predominantly board of ed work. Um and so we're still trying to work out how that affects the financials, but our financials um reflect um some type of reimbursement for that movement. Um custodial and maintenance salaries um gez after the snow is over and things have settled. Um we had um quite a bit of overtime due to the snow removal. Um also monitoring during severe cold and frequent emergency repairs and monitoring due to our faulty and aging equipment. Um we have also had workers compensation passes that have been covered with overtime and stuff. So that's uh that that didn't work great this month. Um and then although over budget, this category does reflect the anticipation of reimbursement for the town for the superintendent of buildings and grounds. Same situation budgeted up at the town for
051FY26. um tried predominantly a board of ed position, moved down to the board of ed, board of ed did not budget for that position. So, we're trying to work out, you know, how that, you know, financially how we're going to rectify um that um our employee um benefits maintained a positive forecast, but we had a reduction um for unemployment claims. Um and in other other areas other than salaries and benefits, we saw movement in regular education, transportation, um bo transportation and tuition, utilities, um which was a positive change in utilities um because we finally had eight month we had eight months worth of actual expenditures and um it's difficult to gauge the usage because we have a solar power aotment and we it's difficult to track. So I think we're going to be positive in
052that area based on that information. Um some movement in maintenance purchase services. We are curtailing expenses wherever possible given the fact that we are um still looking at a um an an overall over budget condition. Um and you know that that's what we do here. We tighten our belts so um so that you know we don't have to go >> curtail is another word for freeze. Correct. >> Yeah. >> Freeze. >> Yeah. >> Don't you like curtail better though? >> I want the public to know we froze. >> Um special education. Um actually um we were 10,000 worse. Um but that was a net of some very positive movement in a couple of of areas. and then um some increased student needs. So, special education is holding its own. Um so, it was um overall
053a lot of movement in the month of March. Um I expect um things to come down in April, but um I think it's going to be a a pretty um for financially and exciting ending. >> Exciting is another word for exciting. >> Okay. >> All right. Well, thank you. Thank you for that report. Any Mr. Robins mentioned a lot of things and uh I'll let you know that the finance committee thoroughly went through the financials this morning. However, any questions from the board members? >> I have a question and sorry I usually spend that in the morning. What's the the um elimination of consolidated transportation? >> So when in in special education whenever possible we consolidate transportation. So, let's say two students um get the safe transportation for the price of one. But, um every
054once in a while um if there's, you know, two or more on the bus um and then somebody needs to drop out of that transportation arrangement, then um there's the the cost. Um so, we know coming off that one. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Mr. Sher, this is my usual question. How are the staging particularly in the power area power? Um Jan, do you want to talk about Paris? >> So Paris were still where we were last month across the district seven. >> Yeah, >> seven. Short a lot at Cherry Brook, which that's one of the reasons that our sub account because we have to bring in subs or at least at Cherry Brook. >> Other questions? All you good up there still? Okay. Could I get a U board finance committee member to make
055this motion that can board of education approve the March 2026 financial is presented? >> I I can make motion. >> Thank you. >> I'd like to make a motion that we um approve the March financials um as presented. >> Thank you. Second. Thank you very much. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Hi Allie, you with us? Good. >> We have seven seven on. Thank you very much for that. All right. Uh we move on and uh last week we had a a great presentation at the uh at the middle school by Mr. Moore and some of the staff and u we saw some great things happening middle school. They continue to happen at the middle school. Mr. Morris here to give a uh quick update for continuous improvement plan uh at the middle school
056Mr. Mora. Thank you very much. Um so uh thank you to the board members for for coming to visit Kate Middle School. Again, it's incredibly proud of um what's happening around our school. Incredibly proud of our teachers and our students. is good to have you in participating in some activities and learning about how we have done with executing the plan that we set out to do at the start of the year and seeing some of the results that we have at this point of the year. Um we were very proud to to share those initiatives with you and again just kind of in summary report that as we look at our students we see that they are growing our strengths are getting stronger and our areas of need are accelerating in terms of their rate
057of growth and that's exactly what we can hope for. So I think that overall this continuous improvement plan that I can up that I will update on it is uh we have the data affirms that we are moving in the right direction and we remain committed to the work. Uh overall we're celebrating our growth taking steps to continue uh down this path. Our focus areas for the year were on curricular and instructional alignment with grade level standards. We wanted to make sure that students are thinking deeply and thinking independently. And some uh focus areas for the year was on classroom visuals and resources, the way that we design tasks and questions and scaffold the supports. Those were our professional development focus areas for the year and uh executing a revised school climate plan. I'll just
058on this kind of summary screen. Uh there was a question that came after the board walked through about just the increasing student needs and how we're prepared to respond to that. Are we able to respond to an increasing student need? And I'd say that this type of plan is how we do that. Schools are called, teachers are called to be more flexible and nimble than ever as we respond to everchanging student needs. Every cohort being different than the last. and with really great tier one instruction where we can know where our students are and meet their needs and then uh make sure that the school client with the school environment has the supports that they need. It is a challenge work that we're doing is how we're set up to to meet student needs uh
059but however they may present to us on a on an annual basis. So we're trying to prepare for all all our needs that may come before us with the work that we're with the work that we're doing. Specifically aligned to the components of our continuous improvement plan which is aligned with the board's strategic plan. We did a lot this year. Um we we did the steps that I talked to you about in the fall. Right? So I'm really pleased with how we are working together as a team. We we plan our work and then we execute our work. Some highlighted things that happened in the area of student growth and achievement are that we excuse me we did implement year two of our commissioners network plan. Uh we remain in partnership with the state great
060partners at the state department of education. Uh and and my apologies. Uh we have a three-year plan that we are currently in the second year of to make sure that we are doing great work on behalf of all students. So we are in the midst and succeeding with executing that that uh that plan and as I mentioned a focused professional development for all staff to targeting the focus areas that I just told you about. In terms of our partnership and community engagement, we have excellent relationship with our small but mighty PTO. Um our students and community members are serving on our school climate committee. That is new for us working on school climate work. There are students at the table and I got to tell you the best thing that's happened this whole year. The
061best ideas that we've had this whole year have come from students serving on that committee. They have given me honest feedback and they come up with the best ideas about how we can do better moving forward. We also uh planned for and have proactively communicated with families through our newsletters and websites. But I also wanted to while while kind of checking that box that we've done those things, we also have clear feedback from our community and those student reps that have said that their impact and their effectiveness is something that we need to work on. So, I want to continue to focus as a school on how we meet the community's needs. We do send those newsletters. We do have up-to-date websites, but there still can sometimes be, are they user friendly? Can families and
062students get the news and accolades that they need when they need it? That remains an area of focus even though we did what we said we were going to do. I want to do that better even next year. Regarding finances and financial uh planning, we have submitted a responsible budget based upon projections, making sure that we're being mindful uh of the the town's financial resources and and ask for what we need using a responsible approach and the utilization of commissioners network funds which are a part of our turnaround. Effectively planning for where those would best where we can best utilize those funds to uh improve student support and student outcomes. We're effectively utilizing th those funds to further our work. The the incred important work of uh maintaining a positive learning environment in which all
063students and adults belong. We've embedded the CMS way and vision of a graduate. We know the vision of a graduate with its components of what we are looking for students to develop those skills and attributes over time. The CMS way is kindness, respect and responsibility. Those have been a part of our school and school district for a long time. embedding them into communication with students, the work that we do, report cards, our advisory lessons. We're being more explicit about them. So instead of just having it be something that you've heard a couple of times, it's living and breathing throughout our school more than it has in a long time. And we're utilizing school climate data and student feedback to drive our climate works, especially the resilience activities. You've heard me talk about resiliency in years
064past. It's how we utilize occasional advisory periods to do activities together. you've done one of those, you've seen some examples. Um, but really trying to bring to life instead of just talking about what it is to be a good citizen, how do we bring that to life? How do we teach it? We're a school. That's what we do. And the students have really helped us come up with fun ways to um teach and and um bring those those character traits to life. And finally, last slide here, embracing equity. We're making sure that we continue to empower students and student groups to uh shape school events and action steps. You've heard me talk about voice of students being a major a major driver this year. And we're making sure that we promote instructional practices that engage
065and support all students. If someone needs support, if someone needs to be further challenged, we're positioning ourselves to do that for every individual student. And important workforce development. Our staff is doing great uh data team work. We have a really good understanding on a couple of key metrics that uh will they gave us both relevant timesensitive data about what we can do with our students tomorrow. This is where they are. This is what we're going to do about it. And then also some predictive uh measures of how will they do on the upcoming spring assessments that Mr. Bishop mentioned and uh what what can we do to best prepare them for success both on assessments and more importantly in life. The PD that I've talked about has been focused and on and focused on our
066target areas. We have good feedback. Oh, we're really working hard on feedback and coaching that teachers receive with our chairs, administrators, instructional coaches. We're training those folks, engaging in some good, thoughtful professional development to make sure that the people that can keep making us better are ourselves. We want to hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards and with good coaching and a culture that is coachable, we can continue to to do that for the for the long term. And finally, um we are documenting that grade level standards alliance curriculum with updated writing and documentation to make sure that we can implement that with fidelity again for years to come. So I thank you for your ongoing support. I'm happy to answer any questions. Questions for Mr. Moore? Would I make a comment? Sure. Uh, first
067of all, Jeff was a great visit. Appreciate it. The, uh, the chart you showed us with the various colors on it. Um, those ratings, if you will, weren't self ratings. They were outside people looking. >> Yes. >> And the progress quite dramatic when you look at that in the areas you identify for improvement. again, outsiders looking at it, it's easy to see why you're having visitors left and right from other schools who are looking to improve what they're doing because they're looking at what the results you're getting and they're impressive. So, thank you. >> Thank you very much. It's great comment. >> Thank you. Any other thoughts, comments? I I just appreciate the way that all our schools have been aligning to the strategic plan and giving us those updates and how things are meshed.
068So, we appreciate you doing that. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> All right, Mr. more. Thank you very much. We're fortunate to have uh our athletic director, Mr. Gwen, is here with us tonight. And I'll tell you, I've noticed as somebody that's in a lot of games, just better organization, just I think you're doing a great job on so I know you have a presentation for us tonight. >> Good evening everybody. Sorry I was all late. There was a match out there that I had to uh improvise which I was up to the beginning part where kind of presented some of the athletes and some of the achievements that happened in the fall and um I just want to start off my presentation just kind of like it's eight months that I've been
069around and just kind of going over five years sometimes it does. I got a haircut to get rid of some of the very um but yeah, year one goal is really to kind of like learn the job first and uh learn the people at the same time. So those are kind of my my two um main things that I was working on. I talked about being visible as being something that I was going to bring to the table and then enhancing the game day experience. Um that helped a lot with that. Um and it seems as though um good feedback when it comes to um getting people to come out to the games. The digital platform, the digital ticketing platforms that we've been using the last couple years. This year there was a dramatic increase
070in revenue. So to me that tells that there's more people that are going to games or maybe just my ticket collector is doing a better job of collecting. But either way seems to um we've been working towards that. Um the next one, my mission slide, that's should not be that foreign because I've used it a couple times, but really to develop this positive climate and culture to inspire our student athletes to grow up. My plan to serve, right? So working on building across relationships and that goes with tour that goes with parks direct that goes with our our youth leagues as well. Um but yeah, really trying to take a lot of time in developing those relationships because it's just myself and Ashley, my trainer. We're the whole department. We do need a lot of
071um hands to help out. Um moving on to the sixth of caring. So that's kind of like this entertaining my shle. Um that's really what I'm trying to do here is improve the culture, move the needle, and those are all the C's um that just work very collectively together. Um Some of these things I'm working on more than others. Next year there are some plans to work more so on the bottom too, but I'm going to help doing that. I'll tell what my plan is for that. Next slide. Some projects to identify. Um, revision of student athlete handbook. So, that's going to be something that I'll be taking on probably during the uh the spring recess next week and working on that because I I do want to be able to have that really shed
072up so when the fall registration kind of rolls out for next year, which I want to try to open up that window in June um prior to the end of school so that we can kind of like plan to see how many kids we're going to be having for junior varsity teams, something like that for fall. So, that makes scheduling a lot easier. But that's a project that'll be taken off the ground pretty soon. It'll stay on the track. That that's a big thing. I'm very glad um that that was going to be passed with the budget. That's going to really help out on a number of things. Um you know, having two teams practice at the same time across isn't going to have to chase the balls as much as they did today after
073miss shots. But that that safety aspect of things uh is really going to help kind of move us along in the right direction that we want to go to. U my warrior leadership council. This is going to be a lot of work for me to do. Um but I want to get our students more involved. Uh and with that bishop council I started this year we meet periodically but next year I want to make sure that it is a big focal point uh moving forward and that is really going to give opportunity for our student athletes uh to really get some experience with some leadership roles um in like states type of thing. So I'm looking forward to that um program events as well. So, our sports teams, I want them to take on um
074some ideas uh of what they can do to kind of reach out to the community. So, we got some sporadic things that teams are doing. Obviously, like the pink night, some of that happens quite frequently, but I want to be able to get things out there a little bit more. Military appreciations, we ran that for the volleyball team. That was a really, really big success. I'm looking to do that again this uh this spring with a couple lacrosse teams doing that. Uh, another big thing is our emergency temporary certified coaches. I want to be able to move them on to their five-year certificates. Seems as though that there's a lot of turnover with temporary pass. Um, you really you're only allowed to have two from a district. I want to try to cut that down
075to like one. Um, just because I want the our our student athletes to have a coach that's in that position for like a long period of time, even if it's just an assistant coach or a volunteer. So, moving them through that five year. So that's going to be more so pulling coaches into the office saying, "Hey, is this something you really want to do? Because if it is, we need to start playing this out." And then that's going to help with that last thing. It's really retaining our coaches. And if we do, we need to kind of recruit a little bit. I did put something out to my coaches in my weekly email this week about um volunteers. So with a small district that we have, typically it's only the head coach, varsity coach, and
076JB coach. But if we want to be able to kind of move things forward a little bit, we could need some more hands- on deck. Some teams are a lot better at than others. Like our wrestling squad, lots of assistant coaches, uh lots of volunteer coaches, all certified. Um I've done kind of right away. I want some of my other teams to kind of like follow that just so we just have more capable people to help out our student athletes. >> Um participation numbers. So we are up. Uh so that's a good sign. So that's the breakdown there in front of me right there. Um these are all up to last year and even from the year before. >> So can I just can I stop on that slide for a minute? >> Um so
077I see the middle school 20 at the middle school and my my thought has always been if we're going to be a town of champions it has to start young and I know CBA does a great job but we don't seem to have as much offerings with the middle school. Yes, we have we have wrestling. We do have wrestling. Yeah. So, that's where those numbers are coming. >> No basketball. >> Yeah. We got unified sports throughout as well. >> Okay. >> Um but not the traditional middle school basketball team >> because >> there's space factor as well. >> Right. >> We have one gym for two schools. So that might come into the the schools we could use but those get used as well. Thank you. Uh recap. So those are kind of our records
078and we had a really successful fall. Um you know highlighted by really two teams. boys soccer won a conference championship and then the ride that our girls volleyball teams of our whole community reaching the state finals for the first time in history of their program. Um middle school so we had eight weeks that was up cross country up from the year before and then the field hockey games that was up a couple games um from the year before. So we are looking to kind of like fill some schedules. I've already been reach reaching out to Phil for the fall. We already have our three field hockey games on the books. So yeah, fall it was really successful. It was really tough to kind of like keep that momentum going into the uh the winter that
079we had. We had 20 fall all conference. So you can see those uh these have been presented before. There was an additional uh they did theirs much later than last time maybe I spoke to. So did have a football representative on all conference two. We also had an all New England selection in soccer. Although Quinn Alexa um there presented at this soccer banquet his brother. So there's a kind of a family thing. His brother won the same award a handful of years ago as well. So there might be might be something going on in the household. Um next door maybe it's on the water >> middle school. So we had a couple of presentations uh earlier from Crystal Roar. So we did have two podium finishers at that >> and our winter recap. See our
080records there. There's no record for indoor track because when they do go there's multiple teams. So it's not really a a record. And then we had a swimmer for the first time in this year. We did a collaborative team with Granty. Um what a collaborative team means is really a team of one. But with swimming we actually could have like up to like five still at the beginning of the co-op. Um and we can still call like collaborators. So with angle like we're able to take them on. Um and then middle school wrestling uh they have kind of like individual kind of like matches in Bristol on Saturdays and Sundays. So it's really it's not a team. It's just more than um and our sole conference champion was wrestling for the second consecutive year for
081our winter sports. Nine allconerence athletes. They're all listed there. There are a couple from the fall and then all state we had between the fall and the winter. That's got to be a record, right? we ever had that >> I tried looking back um as far as powerpoints that my predecessor has but yeah 12 and the year is not done yet so there is some anticipation there'll be some spring athletes that will be all state as well >> acknowledgance so I want to thank everyone that support me over the first eight months there's a laundry list of you can put in front of me right now um it It's it's really been great. It's it's more than I expected. Um you know, every time I kind of pick up the phone and say, "Hey, can
082you help me out with this?" So, yeah, sure, absolutely. And things get done quite quickly. So, um I'm really really sometimes even people just checking in with like how things are going and like I'll give my honest answer like some days are better than others. Um but it's really been a joy to come to work. you can kind of like drive home. I'll be able to kind of call some of my mentors. So, there's a rolodex there and we kind of discuss some things. I said, "Are you enjoying your time here?" I said, "Absolutely enjoy my time. It's great. So, thank you for your ongoing support and I'm gonna be looking for more support as we kind of like you're doing a great job of building us into a candy town champions. That's what I
083open to any questions that you may have. Questions for the athletic group. >> Um, first off, great job all we've done so far. Um I'm just noticing a couple questions that came to mind were like are you noticing when you say move coaches five years are you noticing a lot of turnover because they don't already >> so in discussions at the AD conference that I had a couple weeks ago that seems to be kind of a trend that someone will come in and they're not sure if they want to do and they do a temporary kind of like pass. Now temporary pass is really just supposed to be like we there's a shortage we need some kind right away >> like a substant I mean trying to >> yeah so so the district is allowed
084to you know grant someone two of them but I want to be able to see that we grant one that that coach is working towards their five years and that's all on their own costwise hours wise and things like that I don't want to go through the revolving door of having to fill out a form bring it down to Dr. Roseman's office and sign it. Yeah. >> So, we want to be able to kind of shore that up. Andy Buck have been working um a lot and shing up the whole onboarding kind of scenario. >> And then another question I had, you mentioned um ticket sales. What percentage of have you noticed and what does that allow us to do? >> So, with the ticket sales, that allows us to kind of get some more
085bells and whistles types of things. So if say I run out of a line item of something, I can kind of dip into that to grab. For example, our wrestling team, they ran out of supplies, but they needed like body kind of um off the mat. So I can kind of dip into that bunk. Not a lot, >> but it does kind of help grab some coaches. Well, definitely I have a better system to get there tickets at sporting events, but what percentage increase have you seen increase by thousands that might pop down, >> right? >> From one platform to another. >> Thank you, >> Brian. I love the fact that I I noticed when I go to games, the attendance is up and I think that's important. Um it's it's great recreation for you
086know seniors to come out and see. I see more students coming in. So I think whatever we can do to help you fan that fire is a great >> Yeah. I think that working with a leadership council get them >> going with things and having like a student section like leaders. >> Yeah. >> Um some of my previous district kind of did a lot of success when we try to like model off of that. sometimes uh you know take a page out of the articles with their half you know all the shows that they bring on or the fun stuff that they to a game we get more people that >> well I did talk to the dancing umpire from Savannah Bananas but he's going to be booked up got a picture with them and
087everything too >> but yeah there's some things that we wanted but we wanted to have our student athletes kind of help out with that and I've talked a lot like you know we want our friends to come to the game and it's like well you have to go to their So there's there's those discussions as well. >> Thank you for all you've done this to share. Your goals are all intertwined. Your visibility helped you learn your job with the people and enhance the game the experience. They all they all worked hand in hand. And uh you were visible at a lot of events that traditionally are sort of invisible like cross country meets. um that those uh non notoriety sports are just as important to the kids they're you know playing on the varsity whatever
088teams and it was noticed it was noticed by uh by a lot of people like me who were there that the he was there something that we hadn't seen a lot of in the past and uh means a lot to those kids and to their parents frankly I think it helps you learn their job with people and enhance the game day experience. So, thank you for that. >> Thank you, Joe. >> Yeah, I'm a little out of breath. I'm still falling from the track. >> But did um I've noticed too visibility. I appreciate the visibility. Parents commented, you know, you're available and around at the events. um an increase in the communication, the clarity in the the detail in a timely manner in which you communicate to all the community in the sports and the
089very clear information. So parents, you know, we get questions sometimes, but we're not getting them anymore because you're you're putting all the information out there so people know what to expect, when to expect, when to sign up, what to do. So that's been I think a big big improvement. Um, and you're you're more informative, which has been helpful, I think, for for sports. And um, I've had have a question about like including non- studentent athletes, like some of the teams don't have managers and um or looking for like the track teams looking for um, anybody to volunteer and run some of the meets and you know, the coaches are doing their part to solicit and gather people. I didn't know if there was schoolwide in your your committee before. I'm just afraid because that might
090spin off into some other things. Is there any way to engage like the non- studentent athletes or get the the information to the to the whole student population so they know like hey we need some people to run events and maybe there's some non- studentent athletes who are like want to be a manager or want to do track events like yeah that's something I have time for. if I know the schedule, I'd love to run a trackment because the coaches are willing to train them. So there's just I wonder if there was something to tap into new because you're you're the right person to facilitate. It's just how much can you accomplish? You're trying to do a lot in one year. >> So that council I made reference here a few times. Um it's open
091to all students. Yeah. >> Not just traditionally like my captain. >> Yeah. Which of seniors um we can have >> a broad range of underassment. >> Yeah. They don't have to be part of they don't have to be an act of themselves. So we are welcome there. >> I know you're kind of improving the culture and the camaraderie which which we heard from um at the high school walkth through. Was that information shared with Mr. >> I'm sorry. >> Oh yeah yeah. >> No he's he's aware of all that already but we heard it firsthand. Um, which which I know you're working to improve that culture, but it takes time. It takes momentum. Some districts say they give out freebies, say that like first 50 students, but no, thank you. I appreciate what you're doing.
092>> We're going to let you get out of here and go home. So, thank you for great presentation. Good luck as we go towards the end of the year. Looking forward season much sooner rather than later. >> Thanks. Thank you, Brian. Okay, we're gonna uh we're going to fire through the reports at this time. So, the first is Mr. Bush cannot be here. I was in finance today. We had a a good meeting on from the finance committee. Um we obviously unpacked quite a bit of what Mrs. Robbins went over and we also had Bob Craig there, our um building supervisor, and he gave us a little bit of update of what's going on there. So, um, we're on track and, um, any questions on findings? Let's move right to policy. Um, okay. We have,
093uh, continue to work through the various changes at the legislature to effect that in July. You're going to vote on several of them tonight. Uh, some more controversial, important than the others. Some are just simple word changes. And we worked on several more of those today and be getting those. course in the next couple weeks. >> Thank you, Mr. Sher. M school on the curriculum, please. >> Sure. I have two. I'll try to keep from short. Um we have a special meeting on March 12th that was rescheduled from our canceled meeting in February to snow. Um it was a Cherry Brook ELA update. Um we heard about the Cherry Brook literary literacy journey from 2021 to the present. It was very good to hear that entire trajectory. Um but we focused on the implementation of
094the benchmark advance um which began we've had we began very slowly starting to implemented last spring. So we finally had um some midyear um data and we have noticed a general increase in the number of students at proficiency across all of the grades. We were also able to observe a third grade class which is awesome. Um and we will hear more about this at the walkthrough in May. And then we had our regular meeting on the 25th and um we had a summer academy update, a verdical committee update and we spoke briefly about our technology strategic plan which we will be covering in more depth um at our meeting this month at the end of April. And this was kind of a general update meeting and I think all the members of the committee were
095very happy. We had a really really good conversation. Um, and it was a slightly more informal meeting and a little bit more conversational and I think that we all really enjoyed that. Um, and then our next meeting is coming up at the end of the month on the 29th at 9:00 a.m. >> Great. Two questions about I I have one question. The summer academy, are we going three weeks this year? >> It's scheduled for three weeks. >> Three weeks. And then um those children who um they'll be notified when do they get >> uh the process is continuing on um with recommendations that students we'll start the sign up process uh leading into break and beyond >> and that's not a first come first serve right that that we don't um we don't turn anybody
096down is >> the the board has been very supportive in ensuring that students get attend >> okay Thank you for that report. Uh we go on to communication to Miss Jordan. >> Yes, excuse me. We met yesterday. Um just three points. Uh I talked a little bit about the students at the center. We've been working through various topics, student, staff, and the next one is community partners. So that'll be the next focus on the students at the center. Uh the newsletter will it's it's a work in progress, but it will be going out sometime in June. Just trying to figure out all the talks on the budget. I think that uh BOF is doing their own newsletter. In the past, we've done a partner newsletter. They're doing their own this year. And then as far
097as power school goes, we we're talking about the portalation. There's going to be a hub where can find more additional information where parents can find have a place to to go gather um some more information that can be found other places, but just so they have one separate location to find things and also place for different um district messaging. And then our next um communication meeting is Monday uh May 4th. That one. >> Thank you very much. Great report. Um from Crack, um I will say that CRE CRE's focus has been on on the uh $12 million that they they uh that the governor had cut from their budget. They've been spending quite a bit of time on that. However, at the next meeting, and I didn't want to do it this meeting, but I
098have a small presentation I'll make on PREP on the overall of what's happening with CRE, uh, a little bit of the history and then what they're doing, um, to continue to increase their membership there. So, I'll give a better report, uh, next time. Uh, insurance committee, Musan. >> Yes. So, we met um, April 2nd, last Thursday. We had our carrier rep there from USI as well as or sorry our consulting rep from USI there as well as our carrier um United rep team came as well. Um we were presented through February um claims on our medical which is the biggest piece and what everyone is focused on pretty much right now still sitting at a 20% increase. Um, however, our stop loss was presented to us from a 24 down to an 18, which was
099great. Um, a great win. We're waiting for March 26 data to firm up the 20% if that's what we're definitely going to go with for budgeting. We're hoping to have that information um within I would say the next week and a half. And then it was presented that we would be having a special meeting um so that we can have decisions made on carrier and and what we're doing prior to um the board's next meeting which is um uh before uh May 7th is what we're trying to do. And also we brought up open enrollment concerns and we want to make sure that all of this is solidified by May 1st is the goal. So, we're hoping to meet the last week of April, a special meeting when all of our claim data has been
100um up to date in the system and United is able to come with a firm uh number on that. >> When did you open enrollment again? When did that start? >> So, we don't have a specific date. I did ask that question at the meeting and we need to decide uh which carrier we're going with you. We need to solidify that and that's why we will be having >> for the stop loss. Our stop loss right now is with United. >> You're considering making a change to to the entire medical pro program. >> So I would say I mean I don't want to speak for the full committee, but it is looking like we will be staying with United, right? >> Um but that we haven't made a final decision as a committee yet to
101present to the board of selection. However, I would you know I don't want to speak out of turn. >> Well, we're behind April. we are and that and that was brought up and and we still want to make sure that we have enough time for open enrollment to hopefully start by May 1st. >> So I'd like to ask you to advocate on behalf of the board of education >> that at this particular point we don't feel that we can comfortably make a change without chaos. We have and I believe again I only want to speak for myself but I have >> you're also advocating for >> well I'm sorry I only want to speak for what's been talked about in that meeting >> for because we haven't voted on that but that has been the
102discussion. Okay. >> It is very very much leading like we will be staying with you with the incumbent carrier. >> Good. >> Yes. So >> I would be shocked if we Anna I see you over there like oh my god. >> I got you. I got you. No, we had we had the United Rep out. Um we Oh, the other thing that I wanted to add is that we were really looking at some programs and services to increase what we're offering to our employees as well as being conscious of um our claims and and what those are looking like. really looking for a win-win of what we can offer the employees on the plan as well as looking out for the taxpayers of you know 20% increases year-over-year is really not sustainable for anybody. So
103really a lot of the focus of that conversation was on how we can still meet all of the needs of our employees and also meet the needs of the taxpayers in town and and find that that blend. So >> thank you. >> Yeah. >> Thanks. Okay. And then uh Mr. Sparker, any update from the PTO's? >> I do. Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Uh, I'll start with Cherry Brook. So, they hosted the Scholastic book fair in March. Each child went home with a book and teachers had at least three books from their wish list granted and they were also able to fulfill the library's wish list and raise about $4,000 for the PTO. Uh, their hospitality committee fed staff during conference week, including a mobile soda bar, which was a big hit. PTO
104and volunteers assisted with the ReadAcross America week with decorations and a school readaloud with the theme blast off with a good book. Also, a generous donation from the Cranshaw family allowed the PTO to purchase the readaloud book for each classroom and the library. Um, at CIS, they uh provided a dirty soda bar for paraprofessional day. Apparently, this is a big thing right now. um planning they are planning to host a color run on June 5th. So stay tuned for more info on that. And this is kind of an answer to your question earlier, Lou. Tomorrow is the student staff basketball game at CIS at 6 o'clock. >> Okay. >> Um and they are looking for some more volunteers. There is a signup genius available if people want to volunteer to work that. Um, moving on
105to CMS, they provided lunch to staff during conferences from Pointe Pub, Pointe Pub, excuse me, which is owned by a Canton family. The date for Lobster Loop was approved by the town and that will be August 30th. So, put that on your calendar. Uh, they're currently recruiting seventh grade parents to help with the eighth grade promotion and continuing to recruit for the board for next school year. Uh, they're also planning for teacher appreciation week and field days that are coming up. Moving on to uh athletic boosters. Spring sports have begun. Um Kim can attest it's track and April is cold. Uh also the committee is being formed to review applications for the booster senior scholarships. Uh they give out six $500 scholarships to seniors involved in athletics. Um last but not least, CFA. CFA is
106also forming their committee for their new senior scholarships. This is the first year they're offering three $1,000 scholarships to seniors involved in the arts. Uh the Disney sendoff concert with looks like people were able to attend last night um was great. Um and there are about 105 students going on the trip this year. So a good turnout for that. Uh the inner district jazz concert was last week which will support guest artists throughout our schools. Um, they also supported the CMS play with concessions help and they're working to have the CHS choir sing at a yard goes to game again this year. And that's all I've got. Thank you. >> Excellent report. Thank you. Any questions for Mr. Parker on CPOS's? >> Okay, hearing none. Uh in your packet tonight there's a calendar of events
107as I said uh when we started earlier uh whatever you can attend and to be a resource for parents or constituents that have questions about the budget I encourage you to do that. Um we move on to the consent agenda and u the approval of the minutes. So um can I get a motion that the camp board of education approve the consent agenda? Thank you Joe. Second. Thank you Kim. So I have a first and second. Any questions on the consent agenda? Any modifications, changes, edits? Hearing none. I have a motion move that can board of education approve the consent agenda. All those in favor? I thank you. 70. Thank you very much. Next on the agenda, we're going to we're going to go through these motions. Um Mr. Shyman will make a motion and
108as chair of the um of that committee, we will not require a second. We'll make a motion. Any any discussion or questions? We'll go to that and then we'll vote. Mr. Sher, >> I recommend we approve the suicide prevention and intervention policy volume 8 to 7. >> Can I have a U any questions? Should say any questions? Make one quick comment. All of these policies were vetted by the policy committee and all unanimously moved to the committee as some hope to the board as a whole. The minor changes of this one uh updating the uh support places to call and contact is really the biggest gist of the whole change. Excellent. Thank you. Uh the chair's made a uh a motion that the camp board of education group the suicide prevention intervention policy. All those
109in favor? >> I 70. Thank you very much. Mr. Shley, >> I move we adopt the administration of student medications in schools 41 to 40 policy. Any questions? Any comments? The biggest change in this one is u instead of using epipins, you can use nurses can use uh the nasal substitute for that. Uh it's a very very long policy. That change comes up in several places. Really the only change. Further questions? Hearing none. Uh the motion is that can board of education approve the administration of student medications in the school. All those in favor. Thank you very much. >> We have Oh, Kim's here now. >> Yeah. >> I wasn't giving you credit. >> Don't worry. You're not even on. >> Okay. Thank you. 80. Okay. Mr. Shiver, I recommend we approve the child sexual
110abuse and assault response policy and reporting volume 4 to three. >> Questions, comments. Mr. Sher. >> Uh, John, you better take this one. I forget. >> I'm looking for uh that right now. >> And Lucas, you also have a question. I have a comment on this one. >> I'd just like to say that uh all students in the high school and middle school actually recently received a presentation upon about this policy specifically the reporting part of it from a former FBI member or cases in that division. I'd like to say it's been properly communicated to students the expected changes as well as um the other policies we've recently approved pertaining to child sexual abuse. That's >> so great to know just that it's very long. >> It's an excellent comment. Thank you. And the the
111change in that is um from child sexual abuse um that is adding in child sexual abuse uh material in place of child pornography. Further questions the motion is that can board of education approve the child sexual abuse and assault response policy and reporting. All those in favor I 8 o. Thank you very much Mr. Sh. I recommend that we approve the student records fur policy. The uh biggest change, it's a small change. The old policy said the IRS could require us to reveal information. Now it says we may choose to do that uh under the right circumstances. The policy it goes on to great length to protect student privacy. Questions, comments? Hearing none, the chair has moved that camp board of education approve the student records pera policy. All those in favor opposed 80. Thank
112you very much, Mr. Sh. Recommend we approves the approve the FMLA policy 15 to 14. Jordan wanted to explain this one since I couldn't. >> That says a first read, correct? three. >> So the family medical um leave act it basically the only change here was expanding who could be covered under FMLN um and what that definition is. There's no impact to it was discussed about maternity leave impacts um any form of paid leave that's not being impacted. It's really just the scope of who can apply and have FMLA in That was really it. So there's no financial impact or anything. >> Thank you for that explanation. Further questions. The chair's move for first reading board approve the FML A 15 to 14. All those in favor 80 again. Thank you. I recommend we approve
113as a first read the library collection displaying program and review and reconsideration 8131. Again, it's a first read. It's a very important policy um that that I would ask you all to take a look at between now and the second read. Uh it spells out exactly how something comes uh into the library collection, how something is taken out of library collection, and then some of the mechanical things when when is it time to dispose of stuff. Uh it uh it's important we have the policy and the procedures uh clearly explained for when something gets in our library and somebody wants something taken out of our library. John, you want to add anything to that? >> You did great with that. I would say it's it's not far off from what we already had uh in
114our operations. Um and so uh our our library media specialists and literacy innovation specialists have reviewed this as well. So just remind everybody this is a first read and I think uh Mr. Sher was correct that if you can make yourself more familiar with this it seems to be we get questions on this periodically and be good if board members are are pretty familiar with it. So um the the uh chair of policy has moved that can board of education approve the following policies as first read library collection display and program and review and re reconsider >> reconsideration 8131 all those 80 thank you very much and the last one is the first read the security and safety plan policy uh specific details as you know of the security and safety plan are not revealed.
115Those are for obvious reasons. Uh this in particularly spells out in detail uh what to do when a federal immigration officer should that occur arise at the front door of a school. So that's important stuff there as well. Well worth taking a look at before the second read next month. Thank you. So the chair of the policy committee moves that we approve the following polic uh first read the security and safety plan. Any questions, comments further? All those in favor? I it's thank you. The next one uh I'll ask the superintendent just to give you some background on this. Um nothing to get too nervous about just yet, but it's part of the uh part of the procedure that we have to go through and event policy uh the budget. So based on um state
116statute, state law with um non-renewal contracts of nontenure teachers by May 1st, we would have to notify any nontenure teacher that their contract is not being renewed. And in this case, with our budget being the way that it is, that we already have received a $200,000 cut and the budget hasn't been approved yet, it would be irresponsible of me not to um not recommend to you to not renew teachers that are in their their first year of areas that we possibly could reduce our our budget. and that would be increasing class sizes, things that we've spoke about. It's not a recommendation of this administrative team to do that, but if there is a massive cut and speaking to our district uh legal counsel and I did speak to our union president that I am recommending
117that um one of the teachers with Caitlyn Baker, she is a long-term sub for the year. So, state statute or state law says that we need to not renew um that. But with Tommy and Rose, Tanner Clark and Taylor Richardson, I did have a conversation with each of them to let them know that my hope is that this is formality and that they should not be out there looking for jobs that I will keep them up to date of what's happening, but this is it's not based upon performance as I told them. It's based upon budget. And that that's where we are right now. >> Everybody understand that? Then the chair will make a motion that the um the contract of employment for Caitlyn Baker, Thomas Ambrose, Tanner Carr, and Taylor Richardson not be renewed
118for the following year upon its expiration at the end of the current FY 2526 school year. And the superintendent of schools is directed to advise such persons in writing of this action. Questions or comments? So we have one that is in uh fourth grade. We have one two that are in third grade. >> Further questions or comments? >> That let me can I just clarify that doesn't mean that if these individuals are reduced that number one all of them would be reduced. That's number one. And I don't want the community to think that just because their names are on here that that means the grade level that that's where the reduction would be if we had to reduce because that that's it. It's it's just going we would have to go by seniority. So if
119we lost um one section, we'd have to look at seniority who was hired for different things like that. This is not a favorite part of my job just so everybody knows. So if you or John or the principal hand deliver these to the >> I already did. I already met with them individually and then tomorrow I'll have to visit them again and say the board approved it and then if the budget um passes on May 14th I will certainly go and um tell them that the budget passes. >> Great. Further questions, comments? Chairs made a chair made a motion that the contract of employment of Caitlyn Baker Thomas Ambrose Hander Clark and Taylor Richardson not be renewed for the following year upon its expiration at the end of the current year FY2526 school year and
120the super schools is directed to advise such persons in writing this action. All those in favor of public opposition. Okay. Um 6 to2 I can do that. 62. Okay. Uh we're about to move to executive session and uh I'll um I will make the motion camp board of education enter executive session at date 19 p.m. inviting Dr. Gman superintendent of schools John Bishop assistant superintendent schools Robbins business manager Mr. Peter Murphy legal council at shift goodwin and Mr. Dennis Dailo, legal counsel at Carson and Felberg. This is for the purposes of discussing strategy and negotiations concerning pending litigation in the matter of Holland versus Canton Board of Education HHD-C169743 for the purposes of collective bargaining for education association of K and the K Federation of Education Personnel. Questions? All those in favor opposed. We are
121moving to executive session. We moved across the hallway again. >> I don't think so. Okay. Oh, uh, Alan, we we're going to call you so you can listen in. How's that? >> Okay. We'll call you on the phone. >> Okay. I'm gonna close it. >> You can close it out. >> Good. We'll come back.