001um and we are ready to begin our community relations meeting uh we've got six things on the agenda here board members assigned to school PTO budget projections superintendence ADI advisory Council Family University update acmy of danburry upcoming community events and National family engagement month of November so Mike do you want to take it away is he back I am back thanks let me pull up my agenda so I have it here um where did I put it okay all right well we're waiting for Kevin to jump on um you mind if we jump around the agenda here [Music] Michelle that's fine but Kevin is on he's in the car but he is on oh okay I'm here yeah I so whatever you whatever order you'd like to go and sure okay well uh if everyone's
002here I think we could just take it from the top so number one was board members assigned uh to school PTO um I can pull up the list let me share this with the group here so Kevin you won't be able to see it but I know you you've spent some time with this list already right and and it's really just an update uh for the board um as leaon to schools um I've asked Cara to include two lines in there so it should be updated uh with not only the PTO president um but also the name and um address of the uh family liaison as well uh we did learn uh through Tim that we do have a couple of schools that do not have an active PTO yet um and so if you
003see a blank space in some of those schools that is the reason why and and again that should be shared with you um in a Google doc so you can everyone can have access does everyone have uh have the link to this I can I can send it right after this meeting to uh to all the board thank you Mike that'd be great okay all right and and that's that's all that was for me Mike it was just really an update for everyone so you can have access to access school people PTO president and family Le okay great the next one is budget projections I think we have two different programs and do you want to lead off with with your department Mike one second you don't mind we do we put this list in
004the welcome packet will we be putting something like this in the welcome packet or is it already included when somebody comes to register I'm just wondering I think it would be helpful um I don't know if we talk through that uh and Kevin do you have any thoughts on that I think I think the family liaison are part of the welcome packet and could confirm um the PTO presidents I think they changed so much we may not have it at the time of print um but but certainly the liaison if it's not in there it should be but I I think it is but I I totally agree with Michelle it it should be if it's not but I see Ann's face just I can follow up on on that so um when warri connector
005does the last part with the families she does give the um perspective of the newly registered families a sheet to their school that they're going to has all the contact information on it uh principal assistant principal um social worker nurse school psychologist and family leison um we will update the pto's now that we're closer to having a more solid list for this year but that parents do get that um you know that's part of the pass off um to having parents know who to contact the school when they get there um and have yeah no I was just wondering if we wanted to include the Board of Ed members maybe after the new after this next election obvious something like that that way you know we just keep them closer hand at it but okay
006thanks perfect absolutely sorry thanks Mike all right Madam Chair by me my hand is up oh I didn't see that hi Al hi uh yes that the list Mike posted uh we we will have access to that yes I'll share it right when the meetings ever okay yeah just uh for a little closer connection with with Miley aison I attended uh the PTO for King Street last night and uh yeah it was interesting it it's something that fell off because of coid but it needs to be reestablished over and out all right so the next item up here is um budget projections so I think we have Adult Ed and then an do you have some from your department um for family l no I I I can speak to aison and Mike can you
007project the um the adult ed ones I can speak to them okay yes so so one um as the committee and board members are looking at the screen um You Might Recall last night um there was a conversation about the budget calendar for the 20 23 24 school year with a look ahead for next school year and so what I'm attempting to do with the team um through your meetings is make sure you have an opportunity to ask questions uh regarding any recommendations for next year's budget uh we were trying to identify what positions would be appropriate on the community relations and in this case uh the two big positions or departments that we thought were appropriate were uh adult education and the family liaison the family liaison it's a it's a little interesting turn
008that I want to update the board on so you're actually not going to see a presentation from them um so I wouldn't be able to speak to that um but regarding the adult that I did want to I did ask Rick to provide um an itemized look for existing costs for this year and what those projected cost would be next year um so let let me just start and talk about there are three positions from his Department um and then I think you will also see his the chief of schools also in there as well um and so it's him his assistant um and the secretary um and so going from left to right and then you'll also see Anna Rocco and I'll will explain that line as well um all of these positions are
009supporting um adult education and there is actually also a reimbursement associated with these positions as well so if you go north to south for 2324 you'll see their their salaries for this year in the cost um and then you'll see projected cost for next year um and these same items will be part of our budget book um when we collect all of these so we will be doing the same thing with car camiro um through her the curriculum department and then uh positions throughout the district um you'll also hear a presentation from Kelly trus and we'll probably do both of these big ones through uh the finance committee meeting on during sites and Facilities you will hear from Mike on behalf of security facilities and it and again these These are the positions or departments
010we thought were appropriate under um community relations so sorry just going back to you have on screen right so it's the director's position and his salary for this the same with his um with his assistant director and which is called the facilitator and then the secretary um and then at the bottom you will see Board of Ed funding and I just want to explain that a little bit Board of Ed funding and cooperating District support and so we have um meaning funding from us um it cost The District 3 uh $225,000 but you see those salaries add up to uh the salaries and benefits add up to 300 42,000 well some of those monies are offset by the fact that we receive tuition and fees from their participating districts and you'll see the below where
011it says Beth Brookfield Easton New Fairfield all of those districts pay into our district as cooperating districts because our adult ed program actually serves the entire region or western region of um of Connecticut for adult ed um and so that's why so you'll see one number and then you'll see a different number in terms of what the bill is for Danbury public schools um and so 3 325 for 2324 uh with the projected costs um staying flat for 2425 and you'll see some of the reasons why up top um yes the salaries are uh uh going up as you can see from R salaries and benefits um to the facilitator's position as well as a secretary uh but those things are offset uh by by tuitions and fees that we have coming in and our
012new arrangement in partnership with Milford is actually what's helping to to cut down our cost significantly um and so we you you'll see for next year anyway that we have a cost neutral number for 2425 but that's why it's because of this uh unique Arrangement that we have for milit that is bringing down our costs so I just wanted to uh review that with the board before we go on to talk about family liaison um but understandingly I understand it might be questions about here and hand happy to answer them if I can any questions so I have a question thank you you said that the chief um chief of schools was a line item for adult ed budget am I correct hello did I did you hear my question I think he might have
013gone through I did hear I did hear it I'm sorry I was muted I didn't realize I was muted but I did hear it so uh because the supervisor um is working with adult ed for a small percentage of the time we're actually getting reimbursed um a couple of thousand dollars for that as well and so obviously we're not able to en charge the entire salary to adult dead U but we are able to charge it is eligible to charge up to 5% because of the supervisor in there and so that's another reason why we're actually seeing a little bit more return and again it's bringing down the cost for the grant um also Rick is quite frankly because he's growing the program we're bringing in um you know more monies and more tuitions and
014fees uh through that work um so we're we're really are benefiting and and this is one of the reasons why it's cost neutral despite the fact we have you know the despite the fact that the salaries are going up awesome thank you no thank you laen good question um Kevin so you mentioned Milford like once or twice but I don't see that on the line item is that because it's a new um relationship or partnership or is it just it it may have been miss I mean it is a new partnership but it should have been there um and you know this is one of our celebrated new Partnerships if you will because it's allowing us to get uh new online programming through this partnership um of Rick and a facilitated salary because one day
015a month and I'm sorry two times a month uh they are available for the myth Milford adult dead program and that's Fridays when typically our folks are not here in person it's it's actually working out really well in that regard okay I I missed a little bit of that because it was breaking up but it seems like you explained it Mich I Just sh a quick note to Rick about Milford I I do think what Kevin said it just it just was left off the list but I confirmation in a minute here from him yeah no because I saw typing going on in there so I just figured I didn't know if we just left it out or if it was just a new relationship so thank you all right thank you so next up
016is uh superintendent advisory Council um um Kevin do you want to take this one September meeting recap and future meetings for January March and June I think he's still driving we'll give him a second to get out of his his Zone there so Kevin hang on I have a meeting um with Community leaders if you want to call them that Kevin hang on a second you're you're you're not coming through is that is is this any better Mike I can hear you you guys can't hear me that's better yeah you were you were garbled there for a second go ahead you can hear me now Mike I just heard that part nothing before can you hear me now I can hear you fine the whole time can you hear me okay we got you yep
017okay great um so I'm sorry where did we leave off uh just start from the top Michelle you're muted too okay yeah if you could start from the beginning I'm sorry you were so no problem no problem so the community leader program and can you just give me some give us some background on the communities that they represent sure do you want me to talk a little bit about purpose as well too until you're inine no I'll I'll I'll I'll do the purpose you just yeah I'll do the purpose you okay so we were able to invite folks in from um uh churches and clergy Community organizations um others that Supply or provide services to our schools in the way of mental health parenting classes um different things like that some families are some uh
018representatives of different corporations and parents as general thanks Ann and so I I asked an to um begin to put together a group who represents uh the various members of our community so I can um find ways number one similar to what we try to do with Citywide PTO uh similar to what we try to do with Collective impact although a little different um and similar to what we try to do in any type of parent engagement uh but in this regard try to do it with some of our community leaders and uh we have and you'll see as you see on the agenda um a number of commitments uh with our community members that were calling coffee with Kevin um in this in in this regard with Community um and we had our first
019meeting in September and have subsequent meetings since then then um and so I am hoping uh that we can have a board representative at these meetings um I was happy to see the turnout and participation at the first meeting of the year and anticipate um some very strong and really good dialogue around some of the challenges we're facing here in the community um at our last meeting we talked about chronic absenteeism uh specifically we didn't even make it talk about quite frankly anything further um there was um a collective um kind of concern around what needed to be done to help ensure our kids uh success in this school district and um I would um love the opportunity to make sure we have as we continue to fill out this group have some rep representation
020from the board as well um you know understanding um understanding how important it is for the entire community so you'll see there in those dates uh for the remainder of the school year it looks like we have commitments from everyone and again with with with the hope that any kind of initiative that's coming across the district's plate we can share it with this group to not only communicate it but get support and see if we can help communicate communicated through our community leaders channels um chronic absenteeism it could be anything it could be Chism it could be you know issues relative to health and safety um it could be issues relative to the acmy of Danbury model um but we're hoping uh we this could be another vehicle for us to communicate and connect with
021our community so I just wanted to push that out for thoughts uh reactions and just the more people who would be who we think we might benefit from having at the table I think it's a great idea is there any board member committee members that um would like to comment on their thoughts well I myself Kevin I'm very interested in being a part of that I know that's uh January AR so we might be switching things up around here I think there's a couple of members that are on the call myself and and Lisa for sure maybe you know would like to participate but um I guess when we get a little bit closer to that part of the year we'll know you know who's in what seed and and who would like to participate
022but I know I would love to be a part of that that would be great okay I I will make sure I just continue to put it in front of the board and um and we can find out who will be the representatives for the for this because I I think there's a really good opportunity for us to continue to strengthen our Partnerships with community members I agree thank you anybody else any non-committee members that want to ask a question or make a comment okay I guess not thank you Mike you want to keep going yeah if if you don't mind I can jump back and answer the question about Milford so I just got a note here from Rick uh we have an agreement on file with Milford but they are not yet considered
023a cooperating District um by the state standards so we provide administrative services and have access to their programming but they're not technically yet a co-op District so that might be coming down the line so it's kind of a loose affiliation at this point but not officially a partnership so then that will bring in more funds actually than what we're looking at right now it's what you're saying potentially yeah yeah great than well I'm sorry I just want to clarify the the agreement is there so the the fees are still coming to the district as of right now um but I I think what I'm hearing as a formality they're not officially part as a member and that's why he doesn't have them listed as a member okay but the numbers reflect are you saying the
024numbers reflected although it's not um correct correct correct so the good news is the money's coming in uh but they're not officially a member and cooperating member yet but just not the name at this time okay good to know thank you all right um four five and six Ann I think these are all yours um you just want to just go through them oops here we go so let me just pull up my agenda here so the first thing that we have coming up is this Saturday is Our Family University we have just about a 100 people registered uh families registered for it so there'll be a track for parents to take uh two different workshops of their choosing and there'll be all kinds of activities um for students to do um this time because
025of the time timing that we have um for the parent University we're starting at 9: with a quick breakfast followed by the first workshop and then a break and then the second Workshop the workshops are about an hour and 15 minutes long we'll be done by 12:30 um we're not doing resource tables and a lot of those different types of things though we will hand out things to parents resources for parents um but parents really wanted this time um because of schedules that they have going on in sports they really wanted um a shorter day from some of the um uh feedback that we had received from last year so um feel free to come by feel free to come and see it um we'll be there by 8:30 to set up and breakfast um
026served by our food provider at nine o'clock and then we'll go into an opening Kevin will speak and then they'll go into the workshops um we have a uh wonderful lineup of workshops um my child is driving me crazy which is a way a positive discipline to work with your child there's a growth and development um let's see we have Rich Marsh coming down from the Woodberry Police Department to do his very special Internet safety workshop and then we have our curriculum coordinators coming in um from both the math and um English or literacy side and they will be working with parents to help parents understand their children's ey ready and Dibbles reports and then give them activities that they can do um at home um they'll also be given a tracking device and then
027we'll be able to track them um or the parents will be able to track the time spent um to to show that we know that the time spent um working with your child at home is a reflection in better um scores um you know we saw that last year so the workshops that we do around the literacy and math we really focus in on having parents partner with their schools partner with their teachers um to be able to um expand the work that's done in the classroom into the home environment so that's an exciting um piece um and then the last one on my part is the um November is National family engagement month oh go ahead yeah I'm sorry just Quicken is there a tutorial or something that the committee members or board members
028could utilize or see how that works like are you going to videotape that um experience with the you know parent and the we haven't videotaped it but you're more than uh welcome to come to it and sit in on a workshop yeah yeah I was was wondering if there was like any kind of tool that you know we haven't but that that's not a bad idea to tape some of those and then be able to add them to curriculum nights and things like that the schools are doing paring Square as like a tab like you know what I'm saying because then we even as committee members could really just kind of get our feet wet unfortunately I have a commitment at seminar at s in the morning that thing so I won't be there I've
029been to a few and I I think it's great if any board member here or Committee Member would go just to even stop in um I'm going to do my best to try to get there before the end but um I just was wondering when you had said that that might be interesting if there was some sort of a tutorial I yeah no I hear you I'll throw that out to the team absolutely absolutely um so November is National family engagement month and so um we looked at the different seminars that parents have asked for many of our schools through their parents Square have reached out to the parents and saying what workshops really interest you we also looked at things that are happening within the district and within the community and so we will
030be doing a set of four different workshops our first one the first week of November will be um stem and the relationship between stem and our careeres so since we have Career Academy um different things coming up in the public our day at the uh Dome and things like and events like that we figured this was a good Workshop to really get people thinking about um this the stem or this the steam Fields um families that attend will all get a kit afterwards they'll be able to pick up the kit for to be able to do things at home um our second week then is conferences in the school so we didn't want to um make people's schedules totally crazy so we don't have any Workshop that week but we really highly encourage families to
031attend their child's conference and I can tell through parent Square many of the schools have set up the online registration through parent Square for parents to sign up so um and it's also been a a wonderful way for any parent that isn't totally signed up our office phone has been ringing off the hook with parents requesting help on how to get um signed up so that they can do the online registration um our third week will be a workshop um that we are um been given from a couple other organizations put it together all on attendance and of course that's a a crucial need of ours right now and a focus of our awareness campaign and so we'll offer that Workshop I'm not sure whether we're going to um do it in person or online
032but that will also um be coming up and then our fourth one that week or that month will be one around social emotional learning and that will be done by the um Empowerment Center which is the um previous name or is the new name for the Women's Center they'll be coming in to do a workshop on that um to support families around that SEO so that is the kind of the rundown of what's Happening um in our office at the face Center any questions committee members um I have a question um hi Ann it's Lauren Hi how are you good how are you in the beginning you said there were a hundred families signed up so is that 100 like families are 100 people just so I can it's 100 it's 100 families right now
033and some of them you know it's a husband and wife or it's a wife with five kids a husband and wife with you know three or four children children so we'll have you know quite a rendition of children and uh families there for the day or the morning great yeah great yeah the one on April 6 that sat a Saturday in the spring that will be a day long one we'll probably go to 3:30 that day we'll do a regular keynote and many more different things but um families are finding it hard to be able to you know attend to something a full day with all their other commitments between sports and work and things like that so um and the schools have really been doing a great job on offering different workshops for their
034parents so we don't want to oversaturate our families but at the same time we know there's a need out there so having different days and different times and a weekend event um really helps families to plan um the activities that they want to attend and partner with our schools and can I ask you one question um what what age group are you marketing or like the for the stem and Career Academy are you looking at a certain like grades is it open to everyone because I know that's that's so the people that are doing it we met at a conference in Kansas City last week and they will do it for all ages because there's really no um perfect age to start introducing stem of course you know we know from when children play with
035pots and pans in the kitchen that's you know making noise putting pots together in Lids that stem right there um you know the whole visual perception what matches what doesn't match um and so we want to get our families thinking from a very young age around stem we also need our families or our families have said you know don't tell us about college and high school you know we're new to this we're many families are new to the American system or the system we have here in the United States and so they they want to hear over and over and over again about career opportunities um for their students so the earlier we can start that type of you know presentation and to get people really thinking about what their children want to do um
036Beyond high school or in high school and then beyond High School is always a good idea and certainly the research shows us um that the more parents hear about it and can have discussions with their children the better their children are going to do as well great I know that we were looking to try to engage them as young as possible about the whole idea yeah absolutely yeah yeah that was it for me Kevin did you have anything I think you're on mute you're muted sorry I'm on two different devices here um I just want to applaud an and the team for seeking out this opportunity for our families um and our kids obviously um but we're hoping this is going to serve as the type of um incentive and encouragement um that our that
037our students need to enter this growing field at an earlier age um and I'm hoping these these seeds that we will be planting in these programs uh willc encourage our families and students to do that very thing and that's to to to have a better understanding clear understanding of U the type of fields that stems offers and hopefully uh planting no seeds at an earlier age will will give us will yield in the type of um agent that we need as kids move up the system to middle school and high school so so thanks an and thanks for bringing in this type of program we really appreciate it thank you all right that's the full agenda um any last thoughts or questions all right Michelle turn it back um is there a motion to adjourn
038so moved second by Lauren and second and by Al thank you so much everyone par