001Mazenski, could you call the role? >> Um, unfortunately, he couldn't be here tonight. Unfort he's got a imminent death in the family. He sends his regards. Sorry. >> Here >> you could all stand and join us in the pledge. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. So first on our list is we will hear from our student representatives. We'll start with Dodd Middle School. Uh, we have Whitney and Silas. Who's starting? >> Um, um, I just wanted to say that it's great to be here again to represent Dodd. Um, we have some important new announcements. So, without further ado, um, let's begin. >> Hi everyone. So, this week, Dodd is participating in the Cheshure High School orientations. So,
002the eighth graders at DOD got bust to the high school where members of Link Crew um gave them a tour around the high school. In addition to this, we got a great we got to watch a great video on information and ask any questions about our next few years at the high school. >> Um, I want to say that the DOD student advocates are a group of seventh and eighth grade students determined to build a positive community at DOD. These students oftentimes provide help to teachers in various ways like helping organize events. Our student advocates have been very busy this year like leading towards in the sixth grade orientation for incoming sixth graders or raising roughly $700 on BJ day to support Connecticut Children Medical Center. >> Um recently Dodd had their spring sports triyouts.
003So students in seventh and eighth grade got the opportunity to try out for spring teams at DOD. Um the dur the girls boys and girls track team had their first um meet at home today and their next meet will be Thursday um April 23rd um at Berlin High School against McGee Middle School. The Dodd softball and baseball team had a game yesterday against Apollo. This March our student council made up of students all across DOD hosted two events. One of which being a hygiene proc drive and the second was completely planned by students and was hosted and that was Hats for Hope which raised money for cancer. Hats for Hope was extremely successful raising almost $400 for children in need. Furthermore, student council is also planning a sneaker drive in which they will collect and
004donate sneakers to the Cheshire Riding Drive. Coming up soon is um the townwide art show. So, it's going to be hosted at DOD and it's Friday, April 24th. The townwide art show um is where each student from or each educator uh art educator around the district chooses a few students who have shown exceptional art and they got the they got the opportunity to have their work shown at the art show. >> Um our Dodd orchestra and chorus are thriving this year, both having gained a huge increase in interest these past years. Um, chorus in particular has gained nearly double the amount of students than it had last year, while orchestra has had its first string bass player in many years with more on the way, I hear. Furthermore, both our DOD orchestra and course hosted
005their very own concerts tonight at DOD. Students in the orchestra and chorus put in a ton of hard work and determination, and I'm sure that it shows with the concerts. Um, the Cass Scholar Leadership Award will be presented to two students at a banquet dinner on May 18th. And the criteria for this prestigious award includes leadership, citizenship, dependability, responsibility, character, integrity, along with a minimum of a B average. The winners, congrats to the winners. It's Isabella Pio and James Fitzgerald. On April 29th, May 1st, May 5th, May 8th, May 12th, and May 14th, students all throughout DOD will go through ESPA testing, an adaptive test, and the perfect chance to showcase what they've learned this year. Students in the seventh grade and eighth grade will both take their respective ELA and math tests, while students
006in the eighth grade will take the NGSS, while seventh graders will take the practice for it. Practice tests are on Friday, April 17th for ELA and Tuesday, April 21st for math. We encourage students to get a good night's rest, eat a healthy breakfast, and come to school on time with a charged chrome a charged Chromebook. Though it will take a ton of hard work and practice, I'm sure that our DOD students will do just fine in these upcoming assessments. Dod's chapter of the National Junior Honor Society will be making decisions about inducting the upcom or the upcoming eighth graders. After report cards come out, there will be an invitation to apply um if your grades qualify. The current seventh graders who would like to be in National Junior Honors next year um will have to
007complete five hours of community service, have a recommendation letter from a teacher at DOD and an extracurricular activity, a leader of an extracurricular activity outside of school if they would like to participate in National Junior Honor Society next year. Um, our eighth grade is very excited this year for the upcoming May or for upcoming May because as May 20th and May 22nd, students in the eighth grade will get to visit Washington DC. Students will get to not just learn about but experience historical monuments such as the Gettysburg National Military Park, the United States Capital Building, as well as many other monuments will be open for students to experience. Our dot eighth graders have put in a ton of work throughout their DOD careers. So, I'm sure that in the end they'll be just fine. >>
008That's it for us today, but I just wanted to say thank you for having us back. >> Thank you. We always appreciate hearing from the students. Uh are there any questions or comments anyone on the board would like to make? >> Miss Fitzgerald. Thanks. Um thank you guys. Always wonderful to hear from you. Um, Silus, you mentioned the sneaker drive and I couldn't quite catch. Um, the funds are going to to where? >> Um, the funds for the sneaker drive will be going to the Cheshire Ride and Drive organization. >> Oh, cool. Thank you. And is that Can we send our sneakers now or >> when does that open? >> I don't know exactly when it opens, but I think it will be soon. >> I'll be on the lookout. Thank you. >> Uh, thank
009you. I wanted to ask about the townwide art show at Dodd. Is that open to the public? >> Yeah, anyone can go >> and it's is it all day long? >> Um, I think it's just in the afternoon. I think >> the hours are on our social media if anybody's interested. >> Yeah, I don't do social media anymore. >> Facebook and uh Instagram. >> Thank you, Carol. >> I read How to Break Up with Your Phone and I I'm not on social media anymore. >> Okay. Thank you very much. You're welcome to stay and listen to your your elders or you may uh take off. >> Next we will hear from Maline Taber and Connor Rayall uh our high school CHS representatives. >> Hello everyone. It is so nice to see you all again and
010we hope that everyone was able to have a restful break and enjoy it as well. As we get back into things, you may have noticed that our April showers are bringing May flowers and we are excited to share a bouquet of fresh and exciting updates for all of you. >> Yes. So, sports are in full swing up at the high school. We had a very successful day yesterday with lacrosse, baseball, and softball all earning home wins. Uh I'd like to give a little shout out to a personal friend of mine, Dylan Scaliz. Dylan pitched five shutout innings yesterday and not only did he pitch five shut out five shutout innings, he was three for four with a run scored. So, he really had a a big hand in baseball's win yesterday. But not only did
011we have wins on the field, we took the time yesterday to recognize eight athletes who will be continuing their careers in athletics next year at college. In total this year, Chesher High School had 28 athletes who committed to play at the next level. So, we would like to take the time to acknowledge them all. Speaking of big milestones and exciting next steps, April also means prom season. Juniors will be having their prom the last Saturday of April at La Bella Vista and the seniors will be having their prom two weeks after that on May 9th at the Aquaturf. >> In preparation for prom, like every year, seniors will be attending a assembly run by Choices Matter. This organization is sponsored by Highway Alliance and its mission is to educate high school students on potentially life-changing
012decisions. April at CHS wouldn't be complete without recognizing the outstanding performances from our choir and band. Our spring coral concert and band concert will both be happening during the last week of the month with the band concert on April 28th and the chorus concert on April 30th, both at 7 p.m. We would also like to congratulate seniors Riley O'Brien and Matthew Johnson who received the CAS High School Arts Award on March 30th for their great talent in performing arts and music. Cheshure High School students continue to serve their community. And I know Whitney touched upon it already, but we'll talk about it again. So on on Monday and up and up through the week, we have had our peer advocates and our link crew members running tours for eighth grade students from DOD. It's a
013great day. They get to come and see what Cheshire High School looks like on a regular school day and experience the passing period. Uh, I hope our tour guides told us told you guys what side of the hallway to walk on because I know that's something all kids complain about when we get incoming freshmen. But in addition to that, we had on Tuesday Cheshire High School students went and visited Chapman Elementary School as a part of our community building initiative. Uh, I've been lucky enough to help oversee it and I've been really, really impressed with all the students that participated. We actually have two of them here with us tonight, Levven and uh, uh, Piper. They've all done a great job and I've been really impressed with the way the students have gone about not
014just learning our themes, share a smile, be aware and get involved, but also the the energy and enthusiasm that they've approach approached the initiative with and the the great work that they've been doing. >> Uh Brit students will be hosting the British Literature's annual fair which will be on May 21st from 9:30 to 1:15 in the library at CHS. All year, senior students in this class have been working hard to make sure the fair is both informative and creative and fun. Um, each participant will be dressed and fully immersed in this event. We hope you can all make it. And if all these spring events weren't exciting enough for CHS students, the CT SAT school day was today for all grade 11 students. Um, and judors will be continuing the second half of the state
015testing on Tuesday, April 21st when they take the CT NGSS assessment. And that's all we have for you today. Thank you for having us and we hope you have a great night. >> Thank you for your report. Uh are there any questions or comments for Maddie and or andor Connor? Um, yeah. I just want to acknowledge Maddie for the incredible job she did in Pippen and um, YEAH, >> and the rest of the cast and crew with you. They were remarkable. It was like going to Broadway. So, thank you. And the teachers and the directors um, and the orchestra and everyone who put that together. I also had the pleasure of seeing Suzaku at Dodd. And again, great job um at Dodd. And today was the spring concerts tonight at Dodd. Again, a nice job.
016So, thank you for the students and all the work that you put into those extracurricular activities. >> Thank you so much. >> Yeah, I was going to mention that, too. Um I thought you did a terrific job, Matt. >> Thank you. >> And everybody did, actually. It was It was a good show. >> It was Congrats again. Um takes a village. Um, but you are one of the ones on stage, so front facing, so it was excellent. Thank you for that. Um, I just had a question. It's Earth Month and then Earth Week coming up. Is there any Does the high school do any kind of acknowledgement or No. Okay, just checking. No, maybe it's something to consider. Um, Huh? >> Maybe we should. >> Yeah, I was just saying it might be something to
017consider in future years. Thanks. I think they have in the past. I feel like it. >> Yeah, I thought I've got stuff from him before. >> Not this year. >> Okay. Um once again, you are welcome to stay for a little bit if you want. There are many awards being presented tonight. Um we have a full house here and um we'll move on with our agenda. Thank you very much for your reports. We also have posters for London Alive right here in case you want to grab one before you leave. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Okay. Next on the agenda. Um I'm calling up Principal Hanlin. Kevin, are you in the house? >> Uh to make some presentations tonight. and we we have an opportunity to recognize um great group of students tonight in a
018variety uh for a variety of reasons. We're going to begin with our German student recognition. I'm going to invite Frahaza up to the uh front with us. >> Okay. So, uh, the National German Exam is sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of German is a prestigious assessment taken by more than 11,000 students of German across the US each year. It not only measures German language skills, but also encourages cultural understanding and inspires continued study of German. This year's exam was administered during the last week of January. And tonight we are proud to honor Cheshire High School's students outstanding performers. Their hard work and dedication to language most certainly uh deserves this recognition. So I'm going to call you up. Uh many of our students are able to attend tonight. Some are not, but we'll
019call uh everybody by name. If you're here, come on up. Receive your certificate from Dr. Solen Frahaza, please. Bismarif Travis Dailyaly Piper Deico Simon Delvisio Diane Duong Sadi Icebach Colin Harkkins Quinn Hayes Lucas Huvong Meredith Wang Sely Heiska Camila Marin Holtz Jamie Milton Mittton sorry Nina Motino Zoe Ranker Katrina Ruka Levin Scalleti, Carter Wang, and Hayden Wang. Congratulations to all the students on their outstanding job. National Jerma exam. I just wanted to make one comment that I hadn't mentioned to them yet, but Hayden Wang was number four in the state of Connecticut this year. So, that was wonderful. picture. between you guys. You can Ready? One, >> two, three. impressive. Congratulations. We're going to switch from uh world language to science. I'd like to invite Miss Barker up to the podium with me to recognize
020some outstanding students in science. We'll begin with uh the 78th annual Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair which took place in March at Quinnipiac University. Students in grades 7 through 12 developed solutions to real world problems and presented their research project to panels of scientists, engineers, and industry professionals. Congratulations to these four students who receive recognition. We'll call you up one at a time. Second honors for her project, how different clothing items that compressed skin affect a person with hyper mobile Eller's Danlo syndrome. Grade 10 student Bella Salamini. Second honors for their project phytolanton adaptation to acidity. Grade 11 students Emily Janidi and Niha Tataconda. Congratulations and multiple recognitions for his project toward faster material simulation GPU optimized neural networks for inner anatomic potentials. grade 11 student Ray Ma. And those recognitions include third place for
021individual physical sciences senior high in $150 award for the Connecticut Science Fair Association Physical Sciences Award with CMF CMS Dorothy Mavino. First place in a $250 award for excellence in engineering high school from the anonymous friends of the fair family awards. Senior high finalist and medallion winner for the Infosys Foundation Computer Science Awards, third place and $100 senior high engineer recognition from the PepsiCo Engineering Awards and a $30,000 four-year scholarship in computing to Quinnipic University. Congratulations, Rain Ma. We're going to let Rain make the rounds, but ask him to come back up here. And we'll also invite Echo Margari up to uh the podium. >> Congratulations. That was a long list. >> Rain, come on back up here. We got one more. Take two. Uh Rain and Ekko, uh both grade 11, were among a
022group of students who participated in the 2026 US National Chemistry Olympiad, which is a multi-tiered chemistry competition for high school students. Ekko performed in the top 12 and Rain was the overall gold medalist in their regional exam and those performances earned them an invitation to take the three-part national exam which took place on April 11th. Congratulations to both Ekko and Rain. >> Congratulations. pretty amazing uh student performances and thanks to their teachers who obviously uh did a lot of work to help prepare them for this and obviously all the family members in the room who help support their students each and every day. >> Congratulations to everybody. Awesome work. You ready, Heather? Yes. Next up, we have our um board representative to Chapman school. Uh Miss Heather Fitzgerald will be presenting the school partnership award
023for Chapman. >> Oh, and Dr. Burns. It's okay. Thank you. >> Hello. Um, so the Cheshire Senior Center is the recipient of the school partnership award for Chapman School. Um, I'm happy to give this award and we're happy to honor Laura Gravel, program supervisor at the Cheshure Senior Center with this award. Principal Burns and Chapman Elementary School are proud to recognize this Cheshire Senior Center as the recipient of this partnership award. Dr. Burns is very proud of their partnership with the senior center and it's become a very special part of the Chapman experience. Throughout the year, seniors visit Chapman's classrooms to listen to students read, share stories of what school was like when they were young, and join them for author author's tease and classroom celebrations. Each visit brings smiles, laughter, and a beautiful connection
024between two generations. For Chapman students, these visits open a window to the past and remind them of the value of listening, kindness, and shared experiences. And for our senior friends, these moments bring joy, purpose, and the simple happiness of being part of a vibrant school community. It's truly a win-win partnership, one that fills Chapman's Halls with wisdom, warmth, and heart. Together, we're building a bridge between generations that strengthens our community and reminds us all that learning and connection are truly ageless. So, on behalf of the entire Chapman community and the Cheshire Board of Education, we thank the Cheshire Senior Center for their partnership, friendship, and the lasting impact they've made on our students and staff. I mean, it's good. >> Got it now. Congratulations and thank you for all that you do. >> Thank you.
025We'll do a quick picture if you don't mind. Thank you. >> Next up, board member Tim White is our uh board representative for Norton School and he will present the school partnership award for Norton. I believe principal is Norton principal is here too. You want me to? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Good evening. Mrs. Emily Dhan is a recipient of the school partnership award for Norton Elementary School. Mr. White, the board of education representative Norton School, will introduce Mrs. Dhan. >> Thank you. Jod Rhoden, principal at Norton School, says that Miss Dhan truly exemplifies the meaning of partnership through her work with Norton Elementary School. As the mother of Andrew and Evan, she collaborates closely with Norton's teachers to provide PTA sponsored afterchool club opportunities for students in kindergarten through sixth grade during the school year.
026She thoughtfully organizes staff, coordinates clubs, manages student enrollment, oversees publicity, and handles logistics, creating opportunities for our Nighthawks to explore new interests such as knitting, running, Lego, cursive, and more. Miss Dhan's time, dedication, and patience are deeply appreciated. Because of her efforts, our students are able to continue exploring their creativity in a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment. On behalf of Norton Elementary School and the Cheshire Board of Education, we thank Mrs. Dhan for going above and beyond for the students of Chester Public Schools. And I I just want to add, so I'm a Norton parent and my kids do the programs and they love them. They're fantastic. So, thank you very much to both of you for helping make it happen. Congratulations. Thank you for all that you do. You can't make fun of
027me. Welcome to tuberculosis side of the >> That concludes that concludes our presentations tonight and we've made uh some progress clearing out the uh audience. However, we've come to the audience uh portion of our agenda. So, if there's anyone who would like to address the board of ed um please feel free to come to the podium uh state your name and address and we will hear from you. Hello, I am Hayden Wang and I'm a student at Treasure High School and I would like to address the board of ed on the matter of the deportation of Rihan. And I would like to ask why an official statement has not been made yet and why uh and why you have not made an example to defend Rhan against this kind of attack and why you have
028not done more about the situation when his rights and due process have been violated. I would say thank you for bringing this up tonight and um we have made several uh public statements on uh on this regard. So, um town council members and board of ed members, myself included, Miss Cullinin, um Miss Fitzgerald, we were up at the Capitol when um when uh Senator Blumenthal gave his press release, as were members of the town council. So we were there in support of and our the chair of the board of ed uh Sam Rosenberg made you know she made a statement publicly. Then there's also a joint statement that's gone out from town council and board of ed in um support of standing behind Rhan and and um I'll let the superintendent add anything that he
029wants to because I know he's been working tirelessly to get us the information as it comes in. >> Yeah, I issued a statement last week as well. Tomorrow I'll or tonight even I'll email you the various statements that have already been issued. Um and they date back to last week actually. But um you know obviously we're all concerned uh about his status. The latest update is that uh he's been issued a bond hearing uh which is directed to have taken take place before I guess end of day Monday. Uh it's our hope that he will then be released at that point. Um so we're all, you know, very sensitive to what's happened for him and all of our students, our school community, and uh we're looking forward to him returning back to Cheshire High School
030soon, >> but I'll send you those statements. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Sure. >> Thank Thank you very much for coming forward. >> Appreciate you expressing the concern. >> Yes, Mr. White. >> Yeah. Yeah, I just I just wanted to add that um based on what I've seen. Yeah, based on based on what I've seen, I consider it to be a complete travesty and it needs to be uh remedied immediately. It it should be today. I don't even know why we're have to wait a week if this is a clerical error. It's just absolutely awful and I I don't understand why it can't be remedied quickly based on what the judges said. So anyway, but thank you for coming to speak tonight and it it really is something that needs to be addressed ASAP
031because it's it's just wrong. Thank you. >> Mrs. Many >> Miss Mankey who is here in the front row tonight. I believe she's the town counselor who is the representative to the board of ed leaison. >> The board of ed liaison on the town council. Exactly. She also uh joined us in Hartford along with others. Okay, we will go on with some committee reports. Uh finances first and you have in your packets the financial report for the 202526 board of education budget reflecting expenditures and incumbrances through March 31st of 2026. And I will pass this report on to Miss Emily Taylor. >> Great. Thank you. Uh so as of March 31st we've spent $85,930,94 which is 92.3% of our budget. That is has been encumbered and expended. That's a slight increase from last month where
032we had spent 89.4% of our budget. Um what you will see in that first table in the the actual narrative not the not this guy but right here is uh that there is some variance across the major budget categories. So, we are at a point in the school year where we are offsetting certain expenses where we're going over such as outplacements and student transportation with other line items. So, we have variances across accounts. Um, I would say that's unusual for this time of year, but we do have to be conscious of the areas where we're overexpending uh because we have to make up for that by underexpending in other areas. We still have a 60% hold for our accounts, including our school expenditures. Um, for any non salary transportation accounts, we still have a 60%
033hold in place. Uh, and that is certainly helping making sure that we're accounting for those line items that are over budget. In the narrative, there is a second table. Um, there were some questions last meeting about like where did we compare with this overexpended line item last year. So I just took the line items where we have the largest uh like over expenditures the tuition outplaced textbook software transportation and capital equipment. I took the information from the the table above but what you can see is in the column at the way right it has the projected year end balance in 2025. So you'll see there is a variance within 2026 and 2025 but it just kind of gives you an overview of what it looks like. I would say the landscape is a little bit
034different where we've um where we've spent. You can see the tuition outpaced. We had a projected year-end balance March of last year at negative 37. It's negative 526,000 this year. Um costs are rising. And like I said, that's being offset in other areas. If you're wondering where that's being offset, that's where you can get the detail on this report. And if you're looking at those bold double lines where you have the positive account is where we're projecting having uh more in our accounts. And if it's negative, that's where we have the overexpendures. So, I realize I've not like necessarily walked you through this uh actual table if you're you're unfamiliar, but wanted to provide some information. This is a bit of a lengthier uh financial report than I've I've done in the past, but there
035are some some updates. Um, one I want to talk about is energy procurement. So, this is something we talk about with price locks. There was a conversation last board meeting uh about our prices. I wanted to give you an update that our fuel oil price lock expired at the end of last month. Our rates are protected through June 2026 or if we use all of the gallons that we've allocated. So at the end of last month we did that. We had an anticipated 35,000 gallons of heating oil use. And so the rate lock of 2.2509 per gallon expired. Um hopefully we really don't have that many more expenditures uh you know if we get many more 85 degree days moving forward. Um, and you can see I also put the locks in place for diesel
036fuel, which we have not hit the $50,000, but we will be very close. And the unled gasoline, um, where those prices, we are either if we hit $50,000 or June 2026, whatever comes first. Um, so the other things with energy procurement, we are under a separate agreement. So not related to the uh update I gave above for our electricity usage where we have about 10 cents per kilowatt for supply and you know that provides us some cost stability through October 2026. Um you know there's a lot of obviously current economic conditions that are playing into some of these prices going into next year. We have not been able to lock at this point. We are meeting with an energy consultant on Monday to evaluate the current market pricing and evaluate potential options for securing future
037fuel rates and also electricity. Um but you know there's a lot of uncertainty in the market. So usually we like to lock in April. I just don't know if that's a re realistic target for where we are right now. Um so that's energy procurement. The next is the insurance advisory study group. They presented at the town council on Tuesday with some of their findings. If you are not able to watch the town council meeting, I just put like a very high level overview of their recommendations for the town of board of ed. Um they noted that the members are taking appropriate care to catch conditions early and that the overall cost performance was favorable and you know they also acknowledged that we had important differentiators including preventative care utilization, annual wellness visits, dental cleanings and
038preventative cancer screenings. the recommendations they had for moving into next year and also more long-term was transitioning from our healthcare management. We have a basic low model with Sigma um to a basic standard. It adds some pre-certification for select procedures. It's no additional cost to us. It impacts about 10 members, but it will help us save costs. Um they also recommended enhancing visibility of on-site resources, strengthening communication regard regarding existing services like virtual care, nutrition support and preventative care outreach. Um considering point of sale rebates and reducing reliance on unpredictable rebate revenue. Um, and for property and casualty, assessing excess umbrella coverage, confirming inclusions and exclusions in writing and determining if higher fiduciary liability is needed, and then considering going out to an RFP for broker services. We currently use USI for medical and acure
039for property and casualty. So, those are some of our uh their recommendations. Um, so we were looking into that. There there was not a recommendation to move from Sigma for next year. There was a little bit of talk about the state partnership plan. I will say um that I have reached out to the state partnership to get a cost analysis of where we are with self-insured and the state partnership plan and it is still um from a financial perspective we are still well under if we go for a self-insured model. That is also due to our fairly low compared to others uh renewals for next year where we have about 6.9% increase for medical insurance where other people are seeing 20 to 30% increases. So the self- insurance model is still working for us. So
040that was that was some pieces of the insurance advisory study group. If you're interested in more, I do have their full um their full write up that I can share with with the board. Uh the other items is the capital expenditures plan. So we met this evening. You'll hear about that in a bit for that um that committee update and you know we'll hopefully present later in the spring for approval. and the facilities department. We had issued a request for proposal for districtwide cleaning services for next school year. We needed to go out to RFP because we're RFP. We're adding about 72,000 square foot to um our interior space and we are currently under contract with SMG for these services. Our contract for this year is $859,000. We budgeted um $1,30,000 for next school year.
041Uh yesterday the director of facilities met with three v vendors who met the criteria to move forward with the RFP process. You will see below uh those c companies are ANA, SJI and SMG. to all um you know acronyms and what I have included here is their they were asked to provide a couple different models but their base proposal um plus the cost of cleaning Human um that was part of you know some of our our budgeting staffing shifts but I've included that here the purpose of yesterday's meeting was to see if we could refine the scope so that we are getting closer to the amount that we budgeted so you can see that right now Um, all of these are significantly over what we've budgeted for. So, we really need to uh sharpen the
042pencil there. And that is it for the financial report. So, before I go into the medical benefits, um, any questions from the board? >> Miss Cullen. >> Yes. So that's the cost of um we we added an additional alternate for cleaning Hummeist in the event that you know part of the conversation we had uh in the initial budget workshops was about the potential inclusion of another building maintainer inside maintainer. The inside maintainer was approved. That's again the trades person. The building maintainer was not. So, because we're adding significant square footage at Barnum and Norton, um we need to reallocate our building maintainers and we are trying to prioritize students and schools, but that leaves Human out. Um so, what that would mean is that we don't have someone at Human, but we have nightly cleaning
043service happening. So, that's what that plus is. That's the additional cost of cleaning Human. >> Emily, I have I have a question. Um aside from the you know increased square footage >> what so that would that I understand is a difference between like the current contract at 859 and then the budgeted 1 million plus but like if that's what we budgeted and then what's coming in is like 1.2 to is it cost of labor, cost of materials, cost of like >> Yeah. So, there's a few things happening. One is when we do an RFP, we're asking for like the platinum model. Like we want the schools in tiptop shape, like excellent care so that we're always starting from the top when we're negotiating. So, that that's one piece of it. This is the platinum model
044for cleaning these buildings. Um so, we have room to work with here. We we likely have to refine the scope. Um the other piece of this that creates a little uncertainty for cleaning companies is the most of these have unionized labor and uh I am forgetting the union specifically that does the labor here but their contract is up in December 2027. So it's really hard for them to estimate um potential labor costs beyond that point. So I think people are being very cautious about what you know what's driving this cost is their labor. Um you know so I think that that plays into it as well. Um and yeah just just costs are going up in general. But those are kind of the two drivers I think that are pushing this well above because when
045we budgeted what we are budgeting for is okay if we're increasing our square footage by about 10%. >> Let's increase our budget by about 10%. Um, and obviously that is way over what we we we thought we were going to see. >> Yeah. Thank you, >> Mr. White. >> Thank you. Um, I just want to um look at the energy procurement update and just try to understand a little bit better. >> So, we're talking um so the first bullet point for an anticipated 35,000 gallons 225 per gallon. Uh so that is what we will consume through wait with pricing held through June 2025 >> 26 I realized the title. Yep. >> Okay. So that goes that goes through June. It's the end of the school year. First of all the 35,000 gallons is that for
046building heating buses. It's not clear to me based on >> Yeah. Sorry. The the first bullet is that's heating oil and then I just included those sub bullets are about fuel and gasoline. Um but if you're looking at that first when we are talking about the 2.2509 25509. That's heating oil only and that's for the 35,000 across campuses. Um so and it's whatever happens first, right? So June 2026 hits or you hit 35,000 gallons. We hit 35,000 gallons in March. Okay. >> So that that he that price lock it is expired. >> Oh, it's >> so we're paying market rates. >> Oh, I see it. Sorry, I missed the word expired. Okay, so and what is market rate right now? Uh I think it's like sub$ five dollars for heating oil, >> but we're at
047the point now where Yeah. So >> And are those drops basically just for Dittle or do >> and Darcy? Darcy. >> Okay. So Darcy's closed soon. So we'll have Dittle on oil. >> So just do little. All right. Um so the diesel fuel and the unled gasoline, those two 50,000 gallons is what I'm assuming that is. Is that uh that's what we expect to use for the final three months or is that like an annual number >> to that is how much we we did a price lock for is 50,000 gallons for June 2026. Yes. And we have not hit that yet >> for either. So it's 50,000 50,000 gallons diesel fuel 50,000 unleted. So both 100,000 gallons. >> So are you basically expecting both of those to run out sometime like between late May
048and July or August? I hope they make us till June 30th so we get the price lock. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um All right. And uh with regard to I don't think you mentioned the energy performance contract. >> I didn't. No. >> I'm just curious in terms of uh next year's budget. Is there a possibility of that having an impact on next year's budget if you're I mean I'm not sure if you know what the like the Gant chart so stuff actually comes online. >> Yeah. I would have have to ask Vin about that. >> Yeah, that um we've been working on that uh spending a lot of time Vin and I have been kind of okay um doing that work and um I shot out an update earlier. We're working with Connecticut Green Bank,
049the governor's office, and the Department of Administrative Services to expediently as possible um have this the 17 items that the town has put forth for this energy performance contract approved. Uh there's a lot of state uh grants and federal grants in terms of the inflation reduction act on the table. if we can get this resolved uh in the next month or so. And so, um if that's the case, we could initiate work. We actually have to initiate work before July around July 1st. >> Okay. >> Uh we have to have 5% like of the material on site and stuff like that. Um it's ambitious to think that it'll be installed and actually having an impact next year, but there is a possibility. >> Okay. Right now, I'd say it's slim, but there is a possibility.
050>> Sure. No, stuff has to stuff has to >> Yeah, a lot has to fall in place right now. >> But it is possible that projects could be getting done and >> Yes. >> energized before >> this summer. Yeah, we're shooting for at least some solar this summer. So, there there's a shot. >> Yeah. Yeah. No, I'm just The budget for next year is a Yep. >> It's a big deal. Wild card. Yep. >> If we could get that'd be fantastic. And I know that there's the big hurdle that Yep. popped up. But thank you for >> sure continuing on that path. >> Any other questions for Miss Taylor? >> Great. >> Take us into the medical benefits. >> Medical benefits. Uh so the medical benefits fund budget is $15,958,339. We have a monthly contribution
051of about $1.2 million, which is an increase from $1.1 million last year. Uh, as of March 31st, we are in a notable position with a balance of about $2.9 million compared to $2.7 million in March 2025. Uh, we had about $1.1 million in claims, which was a 69% increase compared to March 2025 when claims were $660,000. So, uh, but I will say March 2025 was the lowest claim month out of the 12-month period last year. So, it was it was very low claims. Um, but what offset the increase was obviously how much we're contributing on a monthly basis. We're also seeing an increase to our stop-loss reimbursements. Those are people are starting to hit that $175,000 stop-loss limit. And when we hit 175, we get reimbursed for anything beyond that. Um, so we were up
052$292,000 from one um $195,000 the prior month. So, we saw about $100,000 more in stop-loss reimbursements this month. And RX rebates were also up a very considerable amount, about $200,000 from the prior month. So, you know, we saw those help offset um some of the increase from March 2025. We're in a stable position, very stable position with 2.31 claim months in reserves, which is above our target of two months. and it's on par with the 2.3 claim months in March 2025. Um, and like I said, the contributions that we budgeted for are really helping us offset some of the increases. Um, and our medical benefits budget for next year is currently in a favorable position. Like I said earlier, uh, the claims funding is set at 6.97% with a net budget just north of $17
053million. We have uh, budgeted stop-loss coverage at 16.1%. We are meeting with our broker USI on April 24th. They have an RFP out now to uh evaluate our stop-loss options. We are currently with CT Prime. The number of members, it is a captive. The number of members has uh gotten less and less every year. So, it's just smart for us to kind of look and see who else is on the market and what rates they're offering. Um, so that will happen on April 24th. So, I should be able to give you all an update for our next board meeting. So, that's the medical benefits report. Thank you, Emily. Anyone have questions on medical benefits reserve fund for Miss Taylor? >> Yeah, I just have a clarifying question because I'm still learning. Um, when he says
054stop-loss coverage has been budgeted at 16.1%. >> That's 16.1% of the >> current. So, it's increase. >> So, it's an increase to what we're paying currently. So the 2 point in parenthesis the $2.1 million there is a 16% increase to the premium we pay for our stop loss now. >> Ah okay. >> And that is not um you know that's that's fairly conservative stop-loss um budgeting but you know it's also kind of a tough market with stop loss especially when you're trying to switch vendors. So you know I'm I'm hopeful we can give you an update on the 24th. >> Oh wow. Yeah that's a big Okay. Thank you. Just to to build on that point though, um Emily mentioned the uh group that she was working with from the town. I mean, I think
055everybody on the council was surprised to hear like we manage our insurance incredibly well as a community, both the board and town side. Um and that we're actually doing better than our peers. Um it's it's a function of how astronomically fast prices have risen in this market uh postcoid. It's it's ridiculous. And so all of us are feeling it. And I think it's because you know we see our numbers and like oh my god this is incredible. It is but others have it worse than we do actually because we're managing it so well. Um it it is frustrating though. I just had this isn't actually a question. Go ahead. I'm just um >> flagging or like raising verbalizing the um deeply increased costs in the outplace tuition. um just you know that we're so in
056the hole a bit there and it's just another plea to like the state to be funding what it is they should be funding. So I just want to raise that again. Um this is you know obviously it's unsustainable. Um I just wanted to call that out. >> Thank you. Does that wrap up the financial report? >> That's it. >> Thank you very much. Um, next committee report is planning committee and I will call on Mr. Ekki to report on the meeting held earlier this evening. >> So, we started our night with a uh field trip down to the high school to look at some of the uh capital budget uh items that we're considering uh bringing forward to the board. Um, we started with the loading dock uh that went through referendum last year and
057I think there was some confusion on the uh nature of the project and people read it as we're replacing the south parking lot and that's and the loading dock was secondary to that that this the loading dock is priority. It's uh it was kind of eye opening to to get and see underneath the uh the loading dock to see that there's scaffolding holding the loading dock up. Um there is uh exposed rebar that is rusting out. It's it's something that that needs to be a priority. We we're going to talk more about that. There's there's other items along with that whether we're going to try to divide that into two projects or or encompass the the parking lot with that. Um we also looked at at windows um some some work that needs to be
058done in the maintenance garage. Um and obviously the uh the the turf field. Um, but overall we're we're trying to figure out which which things we want to bring back to the board to uh to talk about moving forward to the town council for for our capital budget. Um, right now, you know, we're it's kind of hurry up and wait. We we wanted to get this thing done, but we're waiting for more guidance from the town council. Do you want to add something to that, Miss Taylor, or are we good? No, I just I want to thank uh Tim and Mark for, you know, on this lovely 85 degree day, you know, indulging, you know, me and walking around and actually walking the whole the whole high school. So, we did it. Yep. For the
059walking challenge, which is part of our medical, you know, preventative day. So, >> um Mr. White, you have a question? >> Just going to comment. Um, yeah, I uh with regard to the projects, I appreciate everything that I appreciate everything that you did, Emily, to pull this together. Um, I'm still I still am a believer that the turf is really a maintenance project. And although it went out to referendum last year without the direction of the board of ed, um it did go to referendum last year and it failed, but I do believe that it uh it is something that should happen. Um I feel similarly about the loading dock uh at the in the front part of the high school off the cafeteria. Um I did I am asking questions about the sort of
060directly related aspects of flooding and parking that are really uh not particularly easy to to detach from the loading dock. But I do see them slightly differently than the loading dock itself. And I say that specifically because that was sent to referendum last year and it failed too. Uh beyond that, the one thing that um yeah, there's a number of projects that are below the referendum threshold that I I do think are important to move forward. Uh one that comes to mind for me is the Dodd stage. Emily, you were talking about literally the stage has large splinters coming up. Um, and the way it was described to us by the facilities director, I'm not sure what his title is, Rich Clev. Um, is the Dodd stage is so old it's just been uh refurbished
061year after year after year and it's just getting so thin it doesn't hold up anymore. So, I do feel like something like that uh is probably urgent. At the same time, there might be other aspects that it would make sense to do in conjunction with it. Um, so like you say, like a lighting system. Is it urgent? I'm not sure. The reason I'm saying this is actually to Deb Mankey in the in the town council because we're just looking at this the capital budget and looking to I'm recognizing that there is likely a large tax increase this year. And I'm not sure exactly when the new revenue will hit like from the north end or anything like that. So in the next year or two trying to minimize um increased spending and increase taxes the
062capital budget. Basically what I said to Emily is where there is stuff that can be delayed reasonably responsibly for say a year or two, let's just try to push some of that stuff out. And some of it that might be like you know repaving. We repave our roads on a 20-year cycle. we should be repaving our parking lots on a 20-year cycle if you just assume it's, you know, that's how long it would last. But at this particular moment in time, I think it might behoove us to push out some of those projects that are not necessary at this moment in time. I'm just offering it up to the council as some options for trying to minimize spending in taxes right now if the council is so interested. That's all. I think that's it for
063me. >> Thank you, Mr. White. Um, Mr. Eki, you alluded to people not understanding the perhaps uh the loading dock project. Um I'm one of those people and I'm wondering if somebody could explain so what is the loading dock specifically used for? >> So it's it's on the uh the south side of the school adjacent to the cafeteria. This is where all the food comes in and out of the building. So ideally the the goal is to replace the loading dock and expand the loading dock so we can uh in a future time add some exterior refrigeration as well. So because I I learned all kinds of stuff tonight like we don't >> that would be heavy equipment, right? >> Yes. But we we don't have the capacity to keep all the food necessary to
064feed the high school students at the high school. So we have we have outside maintenance people who are regularly moving food from one school to another. And eventually the ultimate goal will be to replace the loading dock, have the storage facilities on site so we can eliminate that. But the the loading dock at as it exists is at its useful life at the end of its useful life and there's literally scaffolding. So when and and this was new to me as well. You look at the loading dock and you think that that's at ground level. It goes down another five feet underground level. So, it's literally they have steel I beams propped up by scaffolding to keep the thing afloat. >> Thank you for that. A a picture paints a thousand words. >> Yeah. >>
065Thank you. >> Um sorry, I'll >> go ahead. Go ahead. I mean I can't when I listen all this I just can't it's you know the penny wise pound foolish or an ounce of preventions or the pound of care like I just feel like we let things I just comment we just let because of budgets or cuts or what we let things get to a point where it's like emergency and then you know it's more expensive it it's and I it frustrates me and so I would like to I don't know whatever it takes get to a point where I don't know we can I don't know if it's a money thing or a m like an attention It's a money thing because we're looking at the the windows on at the high school on
066the science wing. So that that is on the uh the north side and the west side >> and the windows are 50 years old >> and the windows don't last 50 years. And that >> is going to be a roughly $2 million project. And we're wondering, you know, how much of that do we put forward to the capital budget? Because it's not just there that needs windo windows. Dod's windows on the addition are now 25 years old that need to be replaced. I mean, so it's it's a constant >> it it's a constant fight. And you know, how much can we go to the taxpayers for, >> right? >> Because everything is a big ticket item. And you know, we've got all the other maintenance issues of fire alarms and and you know, our maintenance
067garage doesn't have fire fire detection in it, CO alarms. I mean, these are things that we have to do. >> Yeah. >> So many you got to prioritize and and that's what we're trying to figure out is what are we going to do in year one and you know how what can we kick down the road and that's what we're you know we end up kicking a lot of stuff. Yeah, we're in a series of kicking. Um, which is again, I've mentioned it before, I'll say it again. It's so frustrating. It's a rubber band that's going to snap at some point and it's horrifying. Um, the scoping of the turf field, we talked about that, I don't know, two meetings ago. Did we >> didn't we like kind of sign papers or I'm just wonder
068that was for design >> the status? I'm wondering. >> Yeah. So, so they did the initial design work that came back at the $2 million that's reflected here. And that includes the turf field, um the track and the track replacement. So, not just the top layer, but the asphalt underneath as well. Um so, SLR, who's the company that did the design work, they if we moved any further with them with the design, you know, we'd want to in include it in this capital project. So, like that $2 million is included like for any permitting and all of their oversight of the construction management, but I think that um there isn't really like a next um step with them until you know we move forward and get this approved. >> Okay. Thank you. Yeah, another safety
069issue that's on my mind as well as um parents of their athletes. So, thank you. And one of the things that we discussed is being proactive with the public and and getting the word out and, you know, trying to explain why it is that we need to do the turf and and and the track um and just have it in everybody's face before the referendum. And >> I would agree >> educating people out there about it. >> Mr. White, go ahead. Yeah, thank you for that. With regard, particularly with regard to um the turf and the loading dock, I uh I am generally supportive of it, but I I definitely am going to want to hear from the board of ed, the town council as well. Um if the council is interested in moving it
070forward, I would like to hear a plan for increasing public awareness. I think it's I think it'll be really important because these both they both failed a referendum last year and I think people are going to be pretty annoyed having to um vote on it again. Like I said, I do generally support both of them, but there's got to be a real plan to explain it to people. And then um one other thing um Mark had mentioned just to explain this a little bit further to the public. Mark mentioned I think you mentioned refrigeration. >> Yes. >> Going on the loading dock. So just so people can envision this a little bit um better maybe is the loading dock. The plan is the loading dock is I literally touched the rebar that's exposed now where
071there was cement and it just crumbled. Um so I'm not an a structural engineer but that's bad and I was told even the unexposed rebar is uh also degrading inside the concrete. So I do really believe that it needs to be um it needs to be replaced if not right now but in the near future say a year from now. Um, one of the things that's proposed for the loading dock is to actually expand it to take it out a little bit further with the idea being that that new space um would it first of all it would cover up the driveway that exists there now and then also it would allow for outside outdoor refrigeration. One of the things that came to mind for me as a local Yokal um I graduated in 1990
072and the student population what was it 2005 it's probably around then when it hit peak maybe 2010 for the high school >> 2005 5500 so >> yeah and specifically for the high school it's anyway it's lower now than it was say 15 or 20 years ago. >> Yeah. >> So I wondered why do we need more refrigeration now than we did back then? It didn't make any sense to me. So why would we why would we be adding refrigeration? Well, number one, there's more food offerings, more requirements for food offerings as one example, more healthy offerings. And another thing that I just saw in the newspaper is it looks likely that school breakfasts will be required. So, I don't recall when I graduated, when I went through school that anybody got breakfast at school, but
073that is just a whole another meal that would be at least a lot of it would be getting refrigerated. Okay. And so that's what's sort of driving this in part. I I thought for me that was an important part of the important part of the conversation. And with that, uh, I think I'm done. Thank you, >> Miss Cullin. >> Oh, okay. And, um, so Mr. Eki, I'm not sure if this comes under you. Um, and I know I know the, um, budget issues and everything and we're talking about loading deck and the maintenance garage, but what about HVAC? Is that anywhere in the planning? I mean, I was at Dad's school today. >> Tonight, it it was incredibly uncomfortable. And I'm thinking of um 12, 13, and 14 year olds and that heat trying to
074learn algebra. And I know I know the money thing, and I know maybe there's some other monies coming, blah, blah, blah. But I mean, where is that in our planning? Because I think I heard someone say like we just get kicking it down, kicking it down, kicking it down the road. We have a problem with that at the high school right at DOT. I know we have two new schools coming on. Some of our schools have some air conditioning, but I don't think it's a luxury anymore. It's a necessity. It's a safety issue, you know. I mean, there's so many other pieces of it. M >> Taylor, this the school building committee initially designed a plan uh a successive plan for addressing facilities and um given the enrollment growth we had and the uh additions
075at Highland and things that's why the they prioritized the two new elementary schools the energy performance contract that we were discussing earlier includes air conditioning at Dittle that would mean all four elementary schools have air conditioning then um is part of the school construction uh planning uh the school you know remodeling planning the next school to be addressed the next phase would be the middle school even if we started that tomorrow that's multiple years out it's not starting tomorrow obviously but >> um there is there is part of a plan I I don't know that it would make sense to try and retrofit Dodd per se um but you know that's kind of the next phase in the process I think once we get through this year and start to we open these buildings and
076then we can start to look forward get the AC at Dittle obviously. >> And how much AC is there at the high school? >> Limited classrooms. Um usually because a student uh who has identified health issues, we might put a mini split in a room or something like that. Uh beyond that there's air conditioning in the nurse's office, the guidance office and the uh administrative offices where we have 12 month employees. >> So not much >> not limited. >> And just the the capital plan, all of the EPC potential projects were removed for the from consideration for the capital plan. They may need to be added back at some point. Um, if you look at Dodd, like the overall value of everything, including the removed items for the EPC in the 5-year outlay is in
077excess of $20 million. And so, I think there is a consideration point of like that's a lot of money to invest in a building, even with the window replacement. The way that DOD is built is the structure of the windows is tied to the aluminum frame, you know, like the red panels at DOD. And so, that becomes very, very costly to replace. the capital plan currently, the window replacement is budgeted at $3.8 million. Um, so there's just a lot of items at DOD and it's it's growing uh year by year. >> Okay. Does that conclude your report? >> Yeah, I'm good. >> Yeah, I'm a little depressed now, but let's move on. Um, Mr. Can you report on the policy committee meeting held uh Monday? >> We had a very uh quick meeting to discuss
078the uh proposed policy on undocumented students. This is something that we've been talking about. You know, obviously it's very timely right now, but uh we're we're pushing about a year. We've been going back and forth with this policy. We've made some uh adjustments to it and we are bringing this policy for a third and final reading uh to the board tonight. >> So, would you like to make a motion? I will make a motion moved that the Chester Board of Education give a third and final reading to policy number 5111.3 undocumented students and direct the superintendent to put said policies into immediate effect. >> Do I have a second to this motion? >> Second, >> Miss Cullinin. Thank you. Um any discussion, further discussion because as Mr. He stated, "We have been talking about this
079for a long time and at last month's business meeting, we actually had a robust uh com discussion amongst us on this policy when it was up for a second reading. Um, but if somebody has something they'd like to add tonight, Mr. White. >> Thank you. Yeah, I I won't be supporting this policy motion tonight. I the I feel like this runs a real risk. Actually, before I even go this go here um to Jeff, do we have anyone in the schools who you're aware of is not here legally, is undocumented, >> just if you're aware or not. >> We don't ask, but yeah. So we do. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um All right. So the the basic concern that I have here is uh President Trump uh so my concern is we end up getting
080labeled a sanctuary city. I said the same thing last month. Um President Trump literally ran his campaign on retribution. And this, I feel, just sets us up for um for being targeted uh and being told we're going to lose $2 million in federal funding, which is a conversation we had a year ago when Doge started. Um so I'm not I'm not amendable to this. Uh also, my understanding from last month is this this doesn't change any action that you would conduct as superintendent, right? No, this is the board making a statement, which totally fine. I get that. But I feel like it's a statement that has uh a real risk associated with it, and I will not be supporting it. >> Other comments under discussion. >> Go ahead, Miss Fitzger. >> I'm just like, how
081do I phrase this? I mean, yeah, I understand your concern, uh, Tim, but sometimes I feel you need to make a statement just because it's right. And and I back, I don't know, last month I was like, okay, I understand. I don't want to open ourselves up. But sometimes I think that putting yourself out there is somewhat the right thing to do. And there's just so much happening now that I feel we have to display integrity um, and do what might be seen as a risk but feels right. So I will be in support of it. >> Miss Cullinin, >> I also will be supporting it. Um I know last month we had a lot of discussion about it and this discussion has gone back to last spring I think. Um and I don't think
082I'm supporting it only because of what's happened here um in the last few weeks. It really brought this issue out in the open to all of us. um on on whatever side you are. It you know um it was a horrific event that happened and not just to that family but I think um to lots of the other students and families that live in Cheshure like understanding like the young man who spoke tonight like understanding like what are you doing about it? Are we helping? Are we doing anything? Do we understand the significant loss that many of the high schoolers are feeling right now? Um, and then what came to mind is what Jeff had given us last week on you belong here. You know, just those words to me signify um that we are
083committed to protecting you, you know, physically, your physical safety, your emotional well-being, that you have access to education. Um, and it's free. and that we are reassuring our staff, our students, our community, our parents um that this reassurance really matters deeply to us as um elected officials. And I could go on and on, but I am definitely um supporting this motion. >> Thank you. Um, I also am supporting this motion for this um this policy. I've been on board with this policy for the whole time that we've been discussing it. I think it is important that as a board we show um our support for undocumented students and all students quite frankly. There is a lot of fear out there right now. And I think I I don't have the qualms about being exposing ourselves
084to retribution. I just don't. As Heather said, you know, when it's the right thing to do, it's the right thing to do. We had a student speak tonight, a student who expressed who's looking to us, the board of ed, what are we doing about these cases? How how are you, the board, reassuring families and students? There's a lot of fear out there and this is a small step that we can take in addition to other steps um to communicate to our families that they are valued members of this community and um we're here to support them. We do already follow the law, but that's what our policies are, right? They're they're showing us that we are committed to following um stat state statutes and federal law and that's what we're doing in this case. So
085I for one am happy that this is coming up for a vote at this point. Mr. White, >> thank you. Yeah. No, I appreciate I I I agree to the point that it's um this is a really big deal. um the student he was here tonight asking about you know what we've said and I spoke directly to him because I felt it was I do feel it's that important what's going on. Um but I do I just want to clarify something. What we're talking about the name of the policy is undocumented students. So if you're undocumented basically that means you're here illegally. And I'm not passing any judgment. I'm just saying >> not necessarily true. Well, that's so that's what I'm asking the superintendent. Is it that's like a immigration law? That's what is that
086>> if if you're here illegally, does it mean you're undocumented? >> No. If you're undocumented, are you here illegally? >> Um, >> according to immigration law, >> I I'm not an immigration law specialist and nor do we ask we we if you live here by law, we educate you. We don't ask what your you know your immigration status is. That's Plyer versus D. I mean that's the that's the heart of like the latest Supreme Court argument. So we don't know. So when you asked me before, do we have students here illegally? I happen to know that we may, but um we don't ask. So I couldn't tell you definitively. >> Yeah. No, I'm not I'm not asking. Let me try to reframe the question. And so the immigration status like I'm not really an expert
087on immigration status. >> Okay. So I guess my simple point is I my understanding is if if someone is undocumented, they're in violation of immigration law, which is civil law, not criminal law. I'm no attorney. I don't know this stuff. I was hoping that you had a better idea on this. Um so um My point is that undocumented, my understanding is that there is something being broken, a law, an immigration law that's being broken. And my point that I just want to add here, I guess, is what happened in the high school with our student that someone spoke about tonight. As far as you know, has has he broken any laws at all? Because my understanding is he has not, and this was a clerical error. That's my understanding, but you know, the federal government
088doesn't have communication with us uh to clarify that. Uh the information that I have is either available through media or family contacts. >> Yeah. >> Um so I don't have anything official. >> Okay. I guess my simple point is that I I don't want to uh my understanding is he hasn't done anything wrong. He was picked up off the streets. >> Yeah. >> And like I said, it it's a travesty. That's what it appears based on what I know, what I've seen in reports. And I don't think that we should be associating someone who is totally law-abiding with something where there is a law that has been broken. And I'm not judging, you know, the 2-year-old DACA kids who come here or anything like that. I understand that completely. But I do think it is
089I do think there is a distinct difference um between based on my limited understanding, and I'm not an attorney, but I do think that there is a difference between undocumented students and his particular situation. And I just want to clarify that. >> Are we not bound to educate them regardless? >> Huh? >> Are we not bound to educate them? Provide education to them regardless. >> We're legally bound to >> legally bound to provide education to them regardless. And that is what the I I just want that's >> Yes. >> To me, right? So it doesn't matter Danny of that to to what we're doing. I would just I would just clarify what you're saying, Tim, to be there is a distinction, >> but that distinction doesn't matter so much because Rehan's family has done everything
090the way they were supposed to do it. And he's still sitting in a prison today. So, in so far as that, we can give our support to all students and make all families in our school district feel more secure because we are following policies. We're paying attention to uh to the legal ramifications of what's going on and that we are in, you know, we're going out publicly in support when things go ary. Um, I think that's important for all families, not just undocumented families, because documented families are being picked up off the street these days, too. So, I'm in support of this um, policy on a really broad terms because I think it sends the message that we want to send, which is we are supporting all families and all students in our school district.
091>> Yeah, absolutely. And I I mean for the past year since uh President Trump took office, I've I've tried to highlight the concerns that I have particularly with the superintendent about making sure that we're following the laws. Um because I I do think that it's obvious there's people that uh there are federal agents who they at minimum they're not trained um not trained adequately or properly. No, I I I agree with that 100% on following the law and I do think that we have the policy in place. Um, so that's federal the state law as well. We do it's a state the state law requires everybody whether you're uh whether you're documented on whe whether you're a citizen whatever or if you're homeless we teach homeless kids who live here in town. I I understand
092all that completely. I just was making a point that I don't see a I don't see a relationship between the undocumented students and our student because he did absolutely he was doing everything correctly >> and yet he's in jail. >> Well, yeah, absolutely. Like I said, that's a travesty. >> He's sitting in a jail has been for 10 days more. It's >> now you're getting me riled up, Tim. Plus, it's like, is it 90 degrees in here? >> Isn't there a motion on the floor? >> There is a motion on the floor. Any more discussion? With that, I will call for the vote. All those in favor of policy 5111.3, undocumented students. Um, please signify. >> Can we have a roll call, please? Yes. >> Yes. >> Mr. White. >> No. >> Thank you. Okay.
093Um, >> are we finished with policy? That was our only >> That was the only policy we had this week. Thank you. Are there any other standing committees that any board member wishes to report on that we didn't address? >> Great. Let's move on to approving the minutes of our March 19th business meeting. Do I have a motion to approve the minutes? >> Yes, I have it. moved that the move that the Cheshire Board of Education approve the minutes from the business meeting held on March 19th, 2026. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Eki. Uh, any discussion? Any changes, corrections? So with that, I will call the vote for um for approval of the minutes of from the business meeting um held on March 19th, 2026. All those in
094favor, Miss Fitzgerald, are you in favor? >> It is unanimous. Thank you very much. Um next is correspondence. Mr. White as secretary. Is there any correspondence be to be read? >> I defer to the superintendent on this. >> I don't have correspondence. >> All right. Thank you. >> Sure. >> Does that sound right, Mr. Jazenski? Because we know who the boss is on when it comes to things like that. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Um, let's move on to the superintendence report, >> Mr. Solen. Dr. Soul. >> Sure. Um, so I'm going to try and rip through uh we were honored as a gold recipient for the 2025 healthy workforce designation uh through Sigma Healthy Workforce uh assessment. Um proud of that. Uh some personnel updates. Uh if you're looking at our HR page,
095you may see some uh openings potentially. We're currently working through the hiring of a elementary supervisor for special education. As you know, Christina Sherwood was promoted to PPS director with Robin retiring. Um she'll take over July 1st and we're currently working through the 70 plus candidates we had for that position. Um the uh we have a few job openings posted that uh are budget contingent. So, if you see them out there, we try and um collect candidates in the event that the budget gets approved, we can then pull the trigger quicker and hopefully get in the best people um right after it's finalized. Uh we recently hired a new supervisor of technology support services. So, um Mike Papa is the director of technology for the district. His um second in command was uh Mark Brusso.
096He uh resigned in January because he was appointed uh as the director of technology for the Nagatuck public schools. Congratulations to him. Uh so the position's been vacant for several months. Uh we're excited that Kyle Kohl's who was a technology specialist at Cheshure High School has been with us for 12 years uh and has been appointed to this position just in the nick of time as we start uh state testing which is online um next month. So we're excited for for Kyle. He does a great job. Um the promotion and graduation schedule will be published tomorrow. Just a sneak peek. All of our elementary promotions are uh during the day on June 9th uh on June 10th at 8:30 at Cheshire High School. We'll hold the um Dodd Middle School uh promotion ceremony. Hummingist will
097be at 1:30 at St. Peter's Church. And uh it's 6 p.m. Cheshire High School uh on the 10th. So, we're excited about that. It's uh you know it is spring when we're talking about those ceremonies. Um, we're in the process of trying to figure out how to move uh about a hundred teachers from their current classroom to a new building. Um, it's extensive uh particularly given the fact that we're going to demolish Norton shortly after it closes. Um, and it looks like, you know, my hope was to be able to pay people extended hours um to do that, but unfortunately, uh, given the snow we've had this year, it doesn't look like, you know, we're going to be able to cover that. Um, so, uh, I'm going to seek to do an early dismissal day
098on Monday, June 8th, uh, for the elementary schools only. Uh, so I'm going to want to get that information out ASAP um to try and help our teachers facilitate uh the biggest move that we've ever had is for sure um uh the school budget. I just want to update everybody uh that yesterday we um presented to the town council. I gave a brief presentation to the town council a quick overview. This was the um 12 slide presentation. Um the one thing I I do want to kind of highlight, obviously I talked a little bit about uh the painstaking efforts that you have made uh throughout the month of January to reduce uh the the proposed budget by $1.2 million and the numerous uh reductions that came with that. Thank you. Um, and obviously there was
099a proposal on the table to reduce our uh our budget by another $300,000. Uh, one of the things that I pointed out is on page five, the top slide talks about medical benefits. Uh, you heard Emily indicate that we're 2.31 months of claims available at this point. Our target is two months of claims. If we were to reduce that balance by $300,000, we would still have in excess of uh two months in reserve. That's a calculated gamble. Um you know, it's it's hard. We we swore let's let's not do that again uh several years ago, but uh when we reach real pain points like this, uh I think everything's kind of on the table again. Uh so you know that was one potential but the next slide indicates how lean we are. Uh there isn't
100flexibility anymore in other areas to make significant reductions. If if we were to forego the medical benefits strategy and look to reduce another $300,000. These would be areas that I would be um looking at um with, you know, earnestly looking at because there really isn't much else to do that that won't impact classroom activities. Um and those do impact student experiences and classroom activities obviously. So, um the council's still deliberating. There'll be a meeting next Thursday uh at 6:30 which I will attend. Um, and we'll we'll hopefully um they'll start to get a clearer picture of what the budget will look like and we will um they'll they'll determine a budget April 28th or 29th. Um the plan is the 28th, but if they can't, they'll do it on the 29th. Um excuse me. The
101last item here, excuse me, is a article that read uh ran in the OMG newsletter. I think we've talked before about Excuse me. I've been sick for a week or so. Anyway, the uh OMG builds program at Norton School. Our students um get to engage in a variety of different um construction activities. It's been phenomenal. Thank you. And uh so this is the most recent where they did electrical work, life safety systems, and it's just so cool that our kids get to this exposure. Um we're going to continue our work with the trades and I know Marlene shared that, you know, we're working on aviation as well. So continuing to look at at broadening our our scope and and exposing our kids to different uh opportunities. So that concludes my report. Thank you. Any questions
102from the board for Dr. Soulen? Seeing none, let's uh move on. Let's bring it all home. Um there is no old business that I'm aware of. Uh new business. Um I believe I've said my piece um on the policy. So, I will announce upcoming meetings. On Monday, April 20th, there is a curriculum committee meeting at 7 p.m. On Monday, May 4th, a policy committee meeting at 7 p.m. Those are both at the Humon boardroom. On Thursday, May 7th is the high school showcase meeting. Uh, do we know what that is? >> Yes, we do. And I cannot remember We do, but we're not going to tell you. We want to keep the suspense high. >> We're afraid you won't come. >> I'm so sorry. That's That's my bad >> to be surprised. >> Look, a
103good lawyer never asks a question he doesn't know the answer to. Right. >> Sorry about that. >> What it was, but I didn't want to ask the question. >> Um, on Monday, May 11th at 7 PM is curriculum committee meeting in the Human Board. Thursday, May 21st is our 7:30 business meeting right here in Town Council Chambers. Uh Thursday, June 4th is our June business meeting right here in town council chambers. And Monday, June 30th is our last day of the fiscal year meeting. And that's at 7:30 a.m. >> Donuts will be served. Now, if I could really quickly, I just steal you for one second before we wrap up. Last month when we were here, it was board member appreciation month and um we were recognizing the incredible efforts of the board. And as
104I was sitting here, I got a text from a friend, Emma Canali, who lives in town and former New Haven administrator who's now a part-time superintendent out east. Um, and she texted me like shocked but offered me uh she had ordered candy bars for the board of education where she works and she received them and they said, "Thank you, Cheshure Board Member Appreciation Month." >> So, how did that happen? >> I swung over to the house and uh Bobby and Emma gave me the candy bars. And so, uh, from Bobby and I and Emma, we want to thank the board again. So, sweet month. >> Is that because they live in Cheshire? >> I don't know. And she didn't know. But hey, free candy. We're taking it. We're taking it. >> We'll take it. >>
105It has our name on it, so we we get it. Thank you very much. Thank you. >> Thank you >> to our benefactors. Thank you. >> That's nice. >> And text and thank her. >> Okay, almost done. Cheshire public schools are closed on May 25th for Memorial Day. June 10th is the last day of school for students. June 11th for teachers. And with that, Mr. White, >> just one point that I hope the board and the superintendent are still actively considering adventure playgrounds at the two new schools. >> Do I do I have a motion to adjourn? Thank you, Mr. White. Second, Miss Cullinin. Thank you. We are adjourned.