Board of Education: December 08, 2025

001All right. Excellent. Um, folks, this meeting serves as the board of education's annual organizational meeting. Uh, I have the pleasure of residing uh as uh the uh temporary chair until a new chair is uh appointed each year. Uh I'll ask everyone just start by recite their turning to the pledge of >> allegiance. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. The first uh order of business uh which is always the highlight of all our board meetings is some uh some student and uh some staff and coaching recognitions as well. So, Henry, why don't I turn it over to you first? Sure. Um, >> sure. Thank you. >> Go from there. Okay. >> Good

002evening everyone. I'm here on behalf of uh Mr. Maru, our athletic director for a couple of spec special recognitions. We had a fantastic um fall sports season, which I know you heard a little bit about a few weeks ago. Um, but tonight we have members of our volleyball and our swim team. So, I'm going to start with volleyball. Our East Lime High School volleyball team is just a fantastic group of uh young women to watch them um play. um just amazing uh the teamwork, the spirit, um the collaboration, um just fantastic to see. Um they had an incredible season, one of the best in school history. They won their third straight ECC tournament championship, defeating Woodstock 3 to zero on October 29th. I think they had to play Woodstock what, four times this year? Um

003senior captain Finley Wilson was named the tournament MVP. They finished the regular season ranked number one in Class L and went on to win the Class L state championship with a 3-1 win over Bristol Central on November 14th. Binley was also named MVP of the finals in that tournament. This is the program's third state championship in volleyball, having won in 2010 and 2011. after um falling to another state championship team ran back on September 3rd. Uh the team never lost a match for the rest of this season, winning 24 straight games, only losing three more sets for the remainder of the season. Um and not one to uh not one set to any ECC teams. Um head coach Bigs was named the Domino's ECC coach of the year. It is fantastic to watch Jack coach.

004um you know, never um never shows at least um on the exterior. Uh Eddie Banic, just some quick time now. Let's talk about this a little bit. Um so fantastic to watch. Congratulations on that, Jack. Um and other captains of the team that we have here tonight, I believe, are Kachinsky and Jordan Skinner. Um assistant coaches, uh Mr. Shoemaker, Mr. Rudy Beos, and Skyler Bell as well. Congratulations to you all on a fantastic season and another state championship. Nicely done. >> We bring you all up and just get a quick picture. >> I need Okay, >> great. Congratulations. >> So fun. >> Hey, on three state champions. One, two, three. And here it is. That wasn't very good. One, two, three. All right. Congratulations. Right. Um, Tim, do we want to >> Sure. We can

005move on to I'm just going to roll my pony back. >> Back up. >> Yeah. All right. >> Um, on to the girls swim and dive team, which um I don't know, haven't not won the ECC championship in the 21st century. I think 25 straight um ECC championships in our home pool. This most recent one being November 1st with a dominating score of 571, well ahead of second place Fitch's score of 469. The team was led by Ella Pape and junior Sylvie Otter. Ella won the 50 freestyle in a school record time of 24.62 62 seconds as well as the 100 free and was a member of the winning 400 free relay team. Sylvie won the diving competition and was also named the most valuable member as a result of earning the most points at

006the championship. Sylvie went on to win the class M diving state championship. The first East Lime diver to accomplish that since Jazzy Bassinet back in 2015. Again, a wonderful group of young women. um just an honor to kind of watch, you know, to watch them compete. It's not just in the pool, but it's how they carry themselves around the school as well. Um the volleyball team and the swim team represent the best of our student athletes. So, just a joy to watch you all this year and congratulations on some fantastic accomplishments. We couldn't be prouder of you. Okay, having a voted on the swim team had the pleasure of watching these student for quite a few years and see >> and I'm not going to make you say something that failed the measure of life.

007>> Congratulations. more roll, Mr. Kid. There you go. >> All right. All right. I'm going to introduce Mr. uh Justin Daly, our band director for uh the next set of recommendations here. >> Thanks for having me. >> Well, Mr. Daily. >> All right. Uh this next set of recognition is um is a musical one. Uh, so back on November 15th, um, the Connecticut Music Educators Association hosted over 800 students here at East Lime High School to audition for their region festival. And that is a, um, it's an honor festival selected of all the best students from the region. And they're all afterwards then able to audition for All State. And of those students that audition, we had three EON High School students that received the highest score on their instrument in the region. >> Wow.

008which is um just truly remarkable. Uh we had 20 students get in, but of the 20, three of which got the highest score. So we had um Grace Drillo who got the highest score on obo uh which is such a difficult instrument. Don't ask me to ever play it. I'm a trumpet player. It's a little easier. Uh we had Tyler Shantrell getting gave high score on snare and accessories as a percussionist. U and then we had Isabella Val gave high score on piccolo. um all amazing and uh selfishly and personally it's cool for me because I all I taught them all in middle school back when I started East Lime six years ago next year uh like for example I started grace back in fifth grade so um >> it's all because of me I'm

009sure like I said I don't know but extremely impressive and um they're all able to audition for all states so we're wishing them best luck with with that so Yeah. Congratulations. >> Yeah. >> That one looks like an [laughter] congratulations. >> Congratulations. Good work. Good work. >> I want to do that. Congratulations. >> Okay, you all can go ahead and go home. Yes. >> Congratulations again. Thank you for being with us today. >> Thank you. Thanks a lot. appreciate it. >> Our next uh order of business is uh public comment. We >> public comment. Uh public comment one third time. Any public comment? Okay. All right. Moving on is election of uh board of education chair. So we will open it up uh floor to the floor. Um floor is now open for any board

010of ed members to nominate for chair of the new board of education. I'd like to nominate >> Jeff. I'd like to nominate Eric Bman for chair. >> Kate called it first. >> I'll second. >> So we got a first and we need the second. So we have a second was to Eric. Okay. So person a second. Are there any other nominations for chair of the board of education? Any other nominations? Time. Any other nominations for chair of the board of education? Hearing none. I need to close nominations. >> Do I have a motion to close nominations? >> Second. All in favor? >> I opposed. >> Moving on. Um, we now will need a vote. Uh so um all in favor of name Eric Bound uh as chair of lean board of education please say yay

011and raise your hand. We need two/3 majority vote on this. Two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Okay, congratulations. Enjoy vote. I'm going to pass the chair over to uh to you and thanks everyone. Um the next order of business is the election of the board of education secretary. So I will open the nominations for board of educational secretary. >> I'd like to nominate Jill Kings. >> Bill's nominated. I hear a second. >> Second by Vic. Any other nominations for secretary? >> I'd like to nominate Jamie Barry. >> Do I hear uh Jamie's nominated? Do I hear a second? Second I Lee. Um any other nominations? Any other nominations? Hearing none. Need a motion to close nominations. Do I hear a second? >> Secondly. Um all those in favor of closing nominations say I. >>

012I. abstain. It's closed. So now, uh, having two nominations, we're going to, um, >> ballot. We're going to pass out ballots. And if you can, uh, put your name and the me uh, your name and then who you're vote who you're voting for. And for the victim and Alisa, they're going to text. >> Yep. Text my phone. They have both have my number. I don't know if you have Anisa's phone number. >> I don't think so. >> Oh, I do. >> Well, read it publicly. >> Yeah, it's okay. As long as it's >> Yeah, it's gonna be right. We're going to read it publicly. I will read it. >> Just go ahead and Mariana and I'll be right. >> Just text my uh >> my phone. >> So I I um Jeff, I just have

013your number. I don't have Anelise. >> You You can text Jeff. I have this. >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. >> I texted you an Elise. Did you get it? >> Oh, got it. Yep. >> We'll make a note and we'll have >> Got it. I wish I could go. Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you asked extra. >> I'll come and collect them in just a second. Not for long. Le and Mariana will tally and read off. Would you want me to read them out loud or just give you the tally? You have >> the board of ed member. >> Okay. >> Who voted and what they vote who they voted for. >> Okay. You ready? Bill Barry Jill Corini, Esteban Garcia, Jamie Barshelburn, Kate Steel, Jill Karini, Steve Lubber, Jill Karini, Jamie Barshelburn, JB

014Bar Shelburn, Eric Bowman, Jill Karini, Joe Karini, Joe Karini, Lee Janakis, Jamie Barelvin, Alisa Bradley, Joe Karini, Vic Pur, Joe Karini. So that's a tally of seven to three Joe. So congratulations, Gil is the secretary. Okay, moving on. uh for special reports. We have S and Davier here uh to give us the high school special reports. >> Thank you. So um I'd like to start off with upcoming events. So on Friday, December 12th, we will have the pajama day and benefit for Connecticut Children Medical Center. On Saturday, uh December 13th is the uh puckitz from 9 to 11 p.m. at the common cafeteria. Tuesday on December 16th is the winter concert from 7 pm and it's at the auditorium. Tuesday, December 23rd is the extravaganza. It's also half day school for the students. December 24th

015to January 2nd is our holiday break for students. Monday, um January 19th is no school. Wednesday, January 28th is a half day for the students. And Friday, February 6, is the alumni concert from 700 p.m. and is at the auditorium. um Anaise Mazuli and Ruby Thompson. Um want to congratulate them as they received the American Legion Auxiliary Certific uh certificate of appreciation. Um 13 more amazing students have now been accepted into the National Honor Society this fall. Parent ads are in the yearbook now and they have a due date from uh which is February 1st. ES High School is now um has a school-based therapy with a licensed therapist who can help with anxiety, depression, communication, anger, and more. Uh you can learn more about this and sign up to a QR code on the

016December 5th, 2025 newsletter. In cooperation with uh EAN High School Pathways and their partner with Bakis Hospital, they're now seeking applications for the 2026 junior volunteer summer bridge program. And the deadlines and the applications are um the application submissions are February 13th. East youth basketball has released their game dates which can be found also on the December 5th, 2025 newsletter. And the East Lime Youth and Family Human Service has a food drive now in progress with a drop off location at the East Center. Um care and share also started a food drive back in November 10th and back to Islam youth. and human services. They're now accepting applications for the holiday support for the 2025 season. So, families experience financial hardship um or encountering uh can apply for this to ensure like timely assistance. Um,

017the 2026 ski club is starting on January 9th and it's going from January 9th to February 6 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and is open to grades 1 to 12 and the registration will be found online also on the December 5th 202. >> Hi guys. So, >> oh yes, >> quick question. Yes. >> Because we changed the format for the ski club this year. I'm just wondering if you've heard any feedback about how we're not doing buses and it's going to be parents or people driving themselves. Have you heard anything? >> Not formally, but I have heard something about um having buses. I have heard something about that. >> Pro, con, good, bad. >> Um for personally, I well I can't do it this year. I wasn't last year. So I've been out of

018ste procedures due to ACL injury. stretches. >> Yes, it's my um second time tearing my ACL. So, >> yeah. Uh very unlucky. Um so, last time I did it was sophomore year there was bus and it was very good because you just parents would drop off at the center and every get to the bus go at once. Um this year with no bus is what I'm pretty sure. Um it does make it harder to find rides up. I've then heard from a lot of people um not sure how that affects registration because usually when I was um registrating um it was a rush because a lot of people want to register as fast as possible. So I'm still I'm not sure exactly but I was still sure a lot of people are rushing to sign

019up and are still interested even though >> just because our I know our thoughts around it were that they would be more family event than setting instead of just going having your kid go up by themselves that it would go up as a That's where when we made the decision that's when we were back. >> Yeah. Um personally being on a bus it was fun to communicate with your kids a whole lot. It's like kind of like a field trip where you can like walk bond get together peer related on bus. >> So I I personally found that experience um enjoyable. I mean I definitely see your thought into this as well side of it. >> Um not sure exactly. >> I this is the first time doing it so I was just curious if

020you had heard anything about it. Um, I've heard some, but not I won't say it's about. >> All right. Yeah. So, circling back to earlier this November, we had spirit week. As some of you might know, we normally do that during kind of earlier in October, but due to PSATs and kind of a weird football schedule this year, we changed those dates to Veterans Day. And in that we also switched our maroon and white day to Veterans Day just to demonstrate unity which was great. Originally a lot of people were questioning that the change and not being able to take pictures as we as we normally would during advisory but it was great and I think a lot of our veterans definitely appreciated that we made the effort to do that. Um during the prep

021rally seniors won, juniors second, freshman third and sophomores unfortunately lost this year. Um, following on I think I think it was Saturday, we had our homecoming which was absolutely amazing. This year we we switched things up again there too because we ended up selling tickets at the door which one was great profit-wise because uh tickets at the door were $20 in comparison to the $10 if we were doing permission slip and um yeah, so that boosts attendance, boosts profitability and I think it's definitely something we're going to keep moving forward with in the future. And I thought it was really fun this year. I actually had the opportunity to DJ for first hour which was great. So it was it was really cool. >> And then yeah after that our pro our pro club at

022school peers reaching out just kicked off their peer mentor program. I know you were there Mr. Newan. It was it was great. We talked about um mental health and how we're going to prepare the rising freshman of next year to assimilate to the environment of the high school and that was great. And then following that we had our powderpuff game on the 21st. The seniors won that. That's the uh senior girls, junior girls football game, black football game. And then uh moving forward now, recently boys and girls basketball has just started. I think tryyous just wrapped up last week. And also just to touch up, me and Z are are both on the soccer team here. We finished up an unbelievable season. We're one of the only teams East High School to go undefeated in

023the regular season. Won ECC's for the fourth year in a row and made a great run run all the way to the state semi-finals. And then we just had our our bank. I think we're the we were the first fall sport to have their banquet. And then uh ahead of the next couple of weeks, it's going to be pretty busy for a lot of students at school just because a lot of the teachers are looking to fit in their tests and quizzes, wrap ups and units uh between now and the holiday break. And then of course when we get back, midterms and all those things will be starting too. >> I had a question. >> Yeah. Um just you you mentioned you were talking about how to best onboard the incoming freshmen as a did

024were there decisions made or was that a brainstorming session? If there was a decision, do you know? So, yeah, it was mainly a training because what the program does is identify students who are I guess have been recognized as their teachers as like rock risk or mental health risk. So, that meeting was more of a training to assess when there could be warning signs of possible suicide attempts and such. So, that was the initial training. I know there's maybe a couple more meetings coming up, but there was no there was no decisions made where there's going to be a um I think it's referred to as like a buddy match meeting where mentors will match with their mentee based off interest, but yeah, like I said, that wasn't really a decision-making meeting, more of a

025training. >> I enjoyed spending time with >> I'm a junior. Um this is a this is a um a program that's growing from last year. You remember >> Yeah. It's great. I think that's >> super excited about this. Yeah. >> I think there were about >> 15 mentors in that. >> Yeah. I think maybe a little less because some of the people there were seniors just returning to last year but I think it's around now anywhere from like 11:15. >> Yeah. So we're hoping to grow it [clears throat] more and more >> over time. Question. So you said that students are identified ahead of time by the faculty. How's that communicated to students or just >> as in communicate to like us like the mentors? >> I assign Johnny Smith to you and that type

026of thing. How does that roll out? So Lisa, Miss Bile works very carefully with a staff member at the middle school. Okay. Um, and then each student, the mentors and the mentees will fill out like a personal interest form. >> Okay? >> And they use that form to find commonalities and match peers to peers, mentors to mentees. Um, and then there's a couple of different activities that happen um over the course of the next month or so. So they'll they'll actually um come together and do a a meet and greet um where they'll we'll have we'll run through some expectations for the the peer mentor program, but also they'll we'll do some game playing. And then um there's also some pen pal stuff that's going back and forth which uh surprisingly was the one of

027the most powerful parts of the entire program was act I've never >> it's been a long time since I've seen kids open up written letters and get so excited to read that and then write >> notes >> and then they'll schedule they'll identify sort sort of an experience that they want to have at the high school. Um, and then the mentor will host them at the high school for half a day and take them like if the student is really interested in art, maybe they'll join them in an art class or, you know, if they're interested in athletics, they'll meet maybe Mr. Maru. And so, it's all it's all individualized to >> the teacher. It's maybe I misunderstood. I thought you were saying faculty identified the students and then >> Okay. Right. And they helped

028to match them. >> Yeah. >> Le curious about how many students participate in pro and is it grades 9 through 12? >> It's grades 11 and 12. It's upper class and it's a teacher nominated program. So I believe actually no, you don't even have to fill a permission slip. The teachers are given a form. I think it's like nominate two to five students that you believe would fit a certain criteria in leadership and service and then I think if you are nominated by two or more teachers that induct you into the program. >> Okay. So students can't opt in. >> Yeah. And it's after your sophomore year. So go through your junior. >> And about how many juniors and seniors? >> There's definitely a lot more juniors and seniors this year. I think there's like

029I think there's around 20 anywhere from 15 to 20 juniors. And then I think around 8 to 10 seniors. >> Oh, I was just going to say when CA last week I know I lost track of time two weeks the students from Eio Smith High School and Rocky Hill High School do a similar program. Um but it's all the freshmen get a mentor from the upper classmen that they follow around for the whole year and they're like their mentor. the junior well junior seniors they take they adopt a freshman everyone gets an upper classman doesn't matter if you're meditating risk everyone gets a mentor and they mentor them through their whole freshman year so that I thought that the kids just raved about that program when they talked to us that sound like a really

030good thing because I remember last year our one of our students from the middle school was raving about that program y >> but then the kids at Smith and on hill talked about it how what a great program it was. But they did the whole freshman class which I thought was a really good concept. >> Thank you guys. >> Yes. Thank you. honestly like what >> it was the kids with the Rocky have so much things to say that they do >> we can Thank you. Next we have a >> we have a special report from selectman representative. We um obviously all know well uh no Candace want to welcome her. She's now our permanent exeicio to the uh >> when I come here it's like coming home. I remember how cold the room is

031even layers tonight. >> Yeah. >> Uh so and Candace will um having a permanent will allow for Candace to provide us insights on what's going on in town and keep us updated on what's going on in the town and then also listen to what's going on here to report back to the board of select so if it helps the QA communication. So >> yes. So as usual it just it's going to be more consistent. It will be you will see me at every meeting for sure unless there's exception and I think that that will help consistency for sure. We are having conversations uh at the London level on automated ticketing coordinates. I'm sure that some have been up to date in the paper. Um although the best form of communication is to get in or

032come to meetings hear uh what the members are actually saying view the minutes online sometimes the articles aren't as accurate. We appointed two board of selected members to the CIP. So that will be Rosie in theme. So that that's um become pretty useful this this CIP committee for their budget. Um because I know going on to that board it's completely overwhelming with all of the budget uh conversations and you want to ask a lot of questions. That's that was that was my struggle. I want to ask a lot of questions. I really wanted to get a lot of information and we're limited on time. So the development committee has really found to be useful. Last year was the first year and so very uh the for a cell tower has come in also um in

033the Flanders district uh that's been discussed. There's very little time. So, we've developed a link online where people can go read about it, actually read the application, see photos. It's quite lengthy. Um but most importantly, give feedback. Um so very similar to what we had established when I was here um for the school development projects that type of thing. That way we can keep doing communication of community members and any comments uh that come in added to our specific comments uh and suggestions that go to a committee um that is going to decide whether or not I was here or not. Hopefully we can have some uh negotiation on that. looks like where is looked at that type of thing because they are looking right downtown Grady's right in the back parking lot. Um but

034that parking lot for myself in memory I thought that it was actually quite far back and then I took a ride over and it's really not. It's it is really cemetery. So I think there's going to be some some more discussion on that. Let's see the notes. This weekend we have Jingle Bell 5K. Uh hopefully everybody comes down. You don't have to run. You can walk, jog, do whatever you want and you can actually join Jamie and I tea or up to 13 people is nice and of course that benefits the women foundation. We also have night life parade. I suggest you dress warm, get down there early um and really enjoy everything that our town has to offer. people flood in, you know, take your patience pills and enjoy every it's going to be

035great. Um, oh, we have numerous drop offs throughout town locations for care and share. Um, I know the school is one community center is one the town hall fall. So, that's supposed to be an ongoing effort. We also have um energy assistance through youth and families. So, there's a lot of different programs that are running through our human So if it's a need or if you know of anybody, please just refer them to Sarah and uh she can questions for um just in the paper I talked about them being in the school zones or something related to school zones. Is the thought process each of so you know high school blenders high school somewhere around >> they'll do a survey once that survey is done that will prompt the need and where and once that

036happens then we would have uh open forms for people to come and have communication uh of whether or not they're going to be but that is the goal is public safety for sure and Some of the um information that's already come forward is that the um some of the things that have come up that the numbers are quite high in versus in so that's what would prompt >> okay moving on we have a consent agenda item want to make a motion >> I'll make a motion um accept the consent agenda as presented. >> A second. >> All those in favor say I. >> I opposed saying it. >> You can physically here. >> Yeah. If you read them that you agree with them, then you can vote. >> Yeah. So, it's really up to you.

037You can for this. You can go either way. Whatever you want. >> Okay. >> Thanks. >> Wow. This good. >> So, for those of you at home and here, the consent agenda was just the meeting minutes from our regular board meeting from November 17th. Next discussion action we have uh for discussion or annual review of our board of ed code of conduct bylaw 9271. Um this is every year we we keep this on the agenda to just refresh everybody's memory of what our uh our code of ethics are and if you ever have any questions or concerns you can reach out to myself and you know reach out to somebody if if there's something that you feel that we're um or if you're uncertain if we're doing something incorrectly you know just just bring it

038up. So worth the read. Um and just you know always keep that in top of mind. Next order of business is discussion action the proposed board of ed 2026 meeting date calendar. Remember we had a discussion last meeting. This was then um the table for this meeting. Oh no is this. >> Oh this is the meeting date round. Oh. Oh yep. Sorry. Uh yes. Sorry. This is uh for the jump of the gun two calendars. Um the board of ed 2026 meeting date calendar. So uh any thoughts of how >> question um there's four CCI and four FFO but only three policy meetings on here. Do you think that there's going to be less policies for next year or >> just I was just wondering what the last >> that wasn't that wasn't the thought

039behind it. We might have to work one in the variable. Just kind of play that. Definitely add >> just because I didn't know if there was something going on that you knew about that we needed less. >> No. >> Okay. >> You think you and I will want to discuss the CCI meetings due to some feedback that we got from our membership. >> Yeah. And having them off. Exactly. So we again this is in draft. We left this >> as is. But Right. start those off. I think where we've left with each of the subcommittees should where we I think agree each of the subcommittee should work with your subcommittee to figure out what's best. Some it's good to do it at 4:30 or 5 on the same day as board me. Some it's not

040uh getting you know getting here at 4:30 or 5 is is difficult. So work with your groups chairs work with your groups and and figure out what works best and if you need more frequent we can add meetings as well. >> Perfect. >> So can I ask a clarifying question? So that is the role of the chair of that committee to reach out to its members on that committee to make sure that they get time and all that. >> I think I mean I think that's what Yeah. I mean, I think that's what's best because we found that >> I think what we found is everybody's schedules are different. Um, and so it's probably so sometimes we miss on attendance, right? >> Um, so I think if we can >> and it's small groups so

041we can customize those. So I think that's what we agreed to do uh to have the chairs reach out. Anyone want to make a motion to >> motion to approve the meeting dates again? >> A second. Further discussion. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppose. Stain. Motion passes through. Um then we have the board of ed committee assignments for next year. So um if every maybe this week or something if people want to change or want something that I mean we can. So one option is we somewhat keep it the same. Steve substitutes in for where Olivia was, which actually those are good committees for Steve to be on for for a new person. But if anyone is interested in changing or doing something different, >> reach out to me. Uh and

042we can, you know, see if we can we have some, you know, where we can mix and match. Um otherwise, you know, we'll probably keep it the same and have Steve substitute in um for the open positions. Um I have just clarifying questions. The school building committee, is that the facilities asset management committee? >> No. >> Are there so there two different committees? >> Yes. >> Just because I didn't see the facilities asset management on here. >> No, we we basically Yeah, we haven't. >> Yeah, they're they're one and the same. >> So they're the same. >> Sorry, they're the same. Yes, we because the same members are on. So we had taken that uh >> so is the school building community changing to the facilities asset meeting management is that their new title >>

043if we wanted to put it on um good >> sorry which one >> so building committee which is Alisa and Bill >> yeah right we also have the facilities asset management committee which is not on gone yeah basically that's those members >> that's gone >> that school building committ And then >> you have a person on the town cop CIP plan, right, >> Jill? Yes. >> Should that be board leaison to other committees on here? >> We could. We haven't had that on there before, but we could add that >> because it's new, right? >> It started last year. Yeah. Yep. >> So, and then do we have a board member on the DEI committee? >> Yeah. >> That's the student. >> So, that's different than the DEI committee. Okay. So that's now here >>

044that is student. >> Exactly. Okay. Getting all my committees too many committees. Okay. So the DEI is now student belonging. The FAM is now student school building and town CIP. >> Okay. >> So we had just heard agreement with CIP. >> Yeah. I we were talking about the school building committee, but >> I think the reason part of the reason we got rid of the other one is that because the finance, facilities, and operations that wasn't there overlap in that area >> and high school vision committee too. >> A little bit I know different members but >> similar. >> No, but yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. So, >> and we weren't we weren't finding ourselves meeting I I don't I don't think there's a need for it to be honest with you. >> No. >> So

045I think what we we formed it my recollection when we formed it is you know three or four years ago I thought it was the pool roots >> and we started talking about those wings or whatever and Bill you know it was speaking that language and I'm like I don't really understand what they're talking about. So, we're like, hey, should we have people who are on our board who are asking questions? And and I think Alisa and Bill volunteered of when there's a little more on the technical side of the construction engineering, whatever that we have someone who can kind of speak the same language and then report back to the board on what they found. So, that that that's my recollection of why we created it. We also found I I think we haven't

046really used it. >> No. Some of those other projects that were already accomplished here in this this building as well. that we >> well I think is that >> I think the point what you're talking about Jamie is maybe consolidating to some extent and verifying because previously we had the stars to stem for the planetarium and then we've got that but I'm almost wondering if we need to I feel like there's no communication with with that whole um component the 501c3 that's in house in this building. So, >> the planetarium. Yeah, >> the planetarium, right? You know, so I I think there's a disconnect at some points and there's I I don't hear anything about that anymore. So, just just a point of >> Yeah, there's nothing really. Their their operation continues at the same

047thing kind of month after months. The office shows signs are out, but there's no other changes that are occurring. So, we kind of we haven't met and uh have taken that taken that off and the skinnies aren't reading well. I think that's what happened with >> Yeah. I I was just going to say I wonder if you know if a committee doesn't have to meet for a year a full year >> there's nothing that but then we I it seems like we should >> move it. We can always add them back if something comes up. So, so maybe that's kind of the good rule of thumb, which is yeah, as far as I don't remember the last time we met needed to use. So, um I mean I leave it a little bit to Lisa

048and Bill. I think if if you're not feeling that there's something that's pulling into you that you need to meet um or there's something then we can pull this off and then we can always add it back in. So, >> how does the school building committee interface with the town building committee? >> The Yeah, because right now all the projects are schoolbased designated as now school building. There's no town projects that being talked about in the town. It's also school projects though it's hence they named it the school building it still has all the representatives that are part of it particular meeting but we'll speak here next week the latest >> you think we should have like if she's interested in going to the She does. >> She does. >> She's part her bill. >>

049Oh, good. I'm glad you >> So then I guess my my recommendation is to add the town CIP board leazison to the other committees as a standing here person. >> Yes. That didn't seem changed. Yeah. That's just >> just so that it's there so people know. >> Yeah. Yeah. That's good. Thanks. Sorry, question. >> Any other thoughts? >> Good point. >> Just let me know if anybody wants to change committees or do any difference. Um then we'll try to we'll finalize these next we have a meeting next week uh next Monday which is a committee of the whole for the budget but we also will have a meeting as well. um hopefully a short meeting and then we'll go with our budget. Okay. I sometimes can't get back to it's the actual >> I know.

050Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So the next order of business is the what I thought the previous one was which is the um >> the proposed here it is you have the proposed lean district calendar for 2026. Remember we had Scott come in and give some comments and then Jeff and Anelise went back to the >> national development >> um to get feedback. So maybe Jeff feedback from what they >> we we met with the group again the come back together um shared the input from the board of education in relation to snowflake days the start dates um basically everything we've talked about here um Pedak was pretty adamant that they they like the calendar the way it is the structure of the calendar they do not want a change to the calendar um they didn't feel

051they had a lot of input into any discussions about possible changes or recommendations. Um and uh they uh they came forward with not wanting to do changes to uh the calendar and has to send it back to it as so let me preface to they >> how many meetings maybe two or three meetings met discussed on the calendar at at mixture of teachers admin. Um there's professional on there anybody. That's it. So, and all levels, teachers from all levels, >> some of the teachers, also parents of kids in the school system. >> Yeah. Yep. >> Would that make a good representation? >> Yeah. I think um you know I think the members see themselves as repres representatives of their buildings or andor levels and um speak on behalf of their constituents. Um, and the feedback

052that was shared around the PDF table from the PDF members was that they felt as though the snowflake days actually create an opportunity for um more structure throughout the school year, knowing that these days will either be a day off or not based on how the snow goes. and also that it helps to um uh keep us from having these like major interruptions from snowtorms that might happen over the course of time. So they reference those two as um >> reasons for keeping the snowflake days. Um also many families really like knowing when the last day of school is going to be because they plan for high school graduation. Some people are having family in from far away and it helps to set a date and be consistent there. Also, planning vacations for families after

053school's out is a little bit more um easy when we have a a better sense of when the last day of school is. We know that that can change, right, based on beyond the three days. Um, some other notable points uh were I think Jeff and I mentioned this was um starting the school year off because beyond the snowflake days, but starting the school year off with a slow roll in um with the three then the four and the four. This that's how it's rolling out for next year really supports our youngest learners in transitioning kids into kindergarten. And it's unfortunate that in order to do that, staff members have to start on a Friday. um but um they recognize the importance of that for our lowest learners. So those are some of the things

054that >> yeah everybody took note of you know the Friday component. Um and it is nicer to get a solid block of you know three days in a row obviously. Um little wonky next year with Labor Day being so late. Um you know that will begin to shift and just was also I think concerned with you know how far out we go in June. Talked a little about you know that one year we had nine snow days and there was no snowflake days in the calendar at all. that pushed us out until late June um for the last day of school. So >> that's awesome though that that Friday start some people really like that actually the Friday start date you come in >> it's convocation and then um they get some time in the

055afternoon and then they go home for the weekend and come back. So for them some of them noted it as a sort of a slow start for them as well by just coming in on the one Friday. Others noted that they've heard that you know that is that interferes with a week worth of vacation school starting on Friday. So there were you know conversations of both sides but >> good conversation. >> It was it's been really good conversation. The the PDA committee takes their job very seriously and thinks about setting the school calendar from a variety of different perspectives. So um I'm impressed with their collegiality not not only like in representing their buildings but they also work amongst the group like the levels. So I I had mentioned to you we had we had

056a very long conversation about the three half days in March because that really is was done for the elementary schools and their conferences and there was a lot of conversation of not wanting to pull that day back if it would impact teachers. we came up with an alternative plan, you know, so there's a lot of good conversation happening around the table and a lot of respect for where everybody's coming from. >> If my feeling is I'm just looking at this and saying both ends of the calendars, you cut into a week of vacation. You cut into the first week of summer and the last week of summer. And you know, just for my head, if I was on that committee, I'm like, do I really want to do both ends of the calendar and have

057them say you got to come back and then and then at the end of the year, you got to come back for that Monday. I I'm if this is what teachers came up with and you feel as though that that's good represented, I'm not going to, you know, vote against it. But if I were on that committee, I would be questioning doing that to both ends of the calendar to have them come in for one day and then come back for one day. >> But see, the odds of that Monday staying where it is are very slim. See what I mean? >> So there's some of that conversation too that >> they realize that that we will good chance that that Monday will not be the last day of school. We'll be able to move

058to Friday potentially or additional snow days beyond three will push us out. That's the beauty of snowflake days. It gives us room to be able to move things around. We can make it a school day and move the last day if necessary. It's just it provides some flexibility Jamie. So, um I guess my first thing I'll start at the end and if we already are preparing to move the last day of school to another day, why don't we just do that instead of making it the Monday so we're not coming here halfway through the school year and moving it. Um, so people can actually plan >> talked about that. >> That that would be my first. >> If we were going to plan on moving it anyway, then why don't we just move it? Why

059make it the Monday if we're going to move it to the Friday? >> We're planning on. >> No, I know, but it's an option. It provides an option. >> And then I I know I've talked a lot about the days off and I thank you for looking at it and taking off the one in March. I really appreciate it. It's a lot of half days. And as a parent, it is so hard to schedule three half days in a row. >> Yeah. >> On top of the other three days that they potentially have off. >> Yeah. >> The half days as a parent >> trying to work and what you put. I know we're not here for a care for kids, but it's really hard for parents to structure their work home balance with all

060the And I know we talked a lot about snowflake day. >> I kind of yielded on this >> and how us some of us parents forget about them until we get the email like the day before that there's no school because it's a snowflake day. It's it's a that's a that's a really really tough one. >> We can ramp up the communication around too. >> It's a good one. Um >> yes >> and I I just I don't know know what the disconnect is between the pen committee and the teachers union >> there are teachers >> and that's why I said I don't know what the disconnect is because Scott came here two weeks ago three weeks ago >> as the president of the teachers union of the calendar and how the teachers union didn't

061like the calendar, but then if there's teachers on the PDA committee, are they not communicating with their union or are they going against their union? I just don't know what the disconnect is because if the unions coming to us and saying they're not in favor of the calendar, what's the disconnect between the membership? And I know you may not have that answer, but I'm just curious on what the disconnect in the membership is. >> That's probably maybe something for them to >> No, I understand that, but there was definitely we heard two different things. So, um, >> I just don't know to >> the union's coming to us with one thing and you have some teachers on the committee that are saying another thing. I don't know without being able to have a conversation with

062them. I don't know what the disconnect is between some being in favor of and then Scott coming to us and saying they're not favor. I just I I I'm curious to what the disconnect is between the union membership. I I Does anyone want to make a motion? >> I do. I'd like to make a motion that we approve calendar. >> Um, further discussion. All those in favor say I. >> I. uh opposed and abstain. >> It's me. >> Okay. Calendar has passed. >> Uh one of bill. >> Okay. Moving on. So discussion action items for instruction. So um next is discussion administrator structure and professional development. So you may recall or not um it was probably six months ago we had a discussion to kind of understand a little bit more of what Jeff is

063doing to uh develop his administration team and what he does. And I think Lee had brought that up that um you may not even remember. No. Okay. You didn't care. You didn't care. >> We we've been trying to get this uh into an agenda uh somewhat unsuccessfully. So we we have uh been able to get this into an agenda now. Um so it' be good for Jeff will give us an update. >> Yeah. But um we've got a couple buckets here which we cover to share. Thanks uh for you bringing it up. Sorry it's taking a while just so things wanted to make sure we've got this in front of you because it's a good conversation to have. Um this is something we haven't really talked about in you know many many years. Grant can

064you share the screen up there with u the uh four slides or five slides I have. >> Thanks just so u can see. So first let me just start with kind of how we break down our administrative you know structure. And let me preface too, you know, 11 years ago, this looked much different. Um, you know, when I had come in and our meeting structure was much different. I'll say that, you know, we basically just had when first came in, you kind of pick up where things left off and we had one monthly cabinet meeting all of us together once a month and that was that was it at the time. So a lot has changed over the years but for the purposes of you know evaluation direct support you know overview um both analis

065and I are in constant communication and principles directors you know they reach out to you know both of us we reach out to Kim at times special ed related so we keep a very open um flowing conversational piece and at least and I talk a lot as to if you talk to so and so okay I did I'm sharing you know we share back and forth so we're all on the same page but the breakdown of evaluation you See, I I evaluate the directors and oversee uh all of the directors and also you know Stacy who's not a director but Stacy oversees our data system. So um they report to me the principles uh and Andrew Scott the program manager report directly to and base. Um so just for reporting purposes and direct evaluation that's

066the structure of how we've we've laid that out so we have communication across. So now when it comes to working collaboratively, you know, we have flip to the next page. There's an element of individual meetings and this is more um on my side with with a meeting um weekly and or bi-weekly, you know, with directors pending on topics. It doesn't go any longer than than two weeks. So for instance, Don and I um we had a meeting today turned into our budget uh meeting. Um but we uh meet with the directors no no less than every other every month and Lisa and I both go meet with the principles together. Um and that is monthly. Um so we are both on site you know with them with them monthly. Um and that leads to one-on-one

067conversations and support are happening every day through the week um multiple times a day. I think you spoke a couple times today on various topics sort of thing. Um, when it comes to the principles, if you look to the in the middle of the bi-weekly group meetings, so this is where both Anniss myself and some of our other directors join too. Every other week, we meet solely with the elementary principles and the middle school attends. Um, Claudine, uh, assistant principles, uh, attend that meeting. And then that's on Tuesdays. every other Tuesday. Then every other Wednesday we meet with the secondary, the high school and middle school attends that. So we have that bridge with the middle school going between and hearing both sides of what's herring conversations at the elementary level, what's occurring at the

068high school level. Track of all of our meeting minutes. Um agenda items get put in both on our side as well as on um the administrator side and we work through those uh those agenda items um during those meetings. Then on top of that we have the monthly cabinet meeting. flip that for one second. >> You can leave it there. This that's the narrative basically about what I'm kind of breaking down. You can leave it there. So the monthly cab meetings happen once a month. The full advent all of our directors, all of our principles, assistant principles, coordinators, we come together. um those are engaged and used for region collaboration professional developments um trainings title n training um beginning of the year. So that's our full our full cabinet group. So a lot of meetings

069are occurring across um the course of a uh a week every two weeks you know a month um and a lot of that stem too from postcoid during co we ended up we were meeting weekly >> um and we got a a flavor of kind of liking that. So two years ago we changed those elementary and secondary meetings to every other every other week that that so um communication is essential. So we make sure that we're engaging in that communication with our teamm that next slide is just more kind of a narrative um discuss a little bit more that you know we rotate those meetings across the schools that for inance the elementary and secondary meetings get rotated um tomorrow morning um we're uh engaging in uh we actually combined for tomorrow's Tuesday but we're

070doing the data review tomorrow both elementary and second elementary is first and second is second so Um it's pretty much the structure of the meetings. Then you go into that other bucket of professional development and uh and leadership support extremely important. This is an area we continue to join and grow. Um everybody obviously has all of our team members have their goals. Um we match and establish those goals for the year. mid years. Um we pretended year um the directors and principles uh are associated with you know outside organizations, state organizations learn is a big one the regional um group that we work with professional learn meetings that they will attend and are part of um zooms um principles also meet. This is the second year in a row we have done we started this

071last year principles meet monthly with an assigned trained mentor coach who visits their respective building to talk openly about their leadership and practice here in the sun. This is a person that doesn't talk to and lease and I about those conversations. That's outside entity. Um he's former superintendent retired trained um and he comes and has those conversations one-on-one. Gives principles an opportunity to dialogue about things that you know they just might not want to roach with Anthony or bounce out families tonight as a third a third party to have some discussions uh with. We've gotten some good feedback that that is uh that is compositive and we'll continue to check with the principles to make sure that's effective and efficient and when it doesn't become so then we'll look at other avenues but so far

072that's been needed frequent practice. Um also our leaders have access and engage in other professional development conferences association public schools independence um CAS Connecticut association of schools NASA NASP um and so there's a lot of other affiliations they're part of um I talk about the goals process continue to foster positive relationships positive growth and keep that key to I think and I feel that I I can turn actually we can I didn't tell the principles other than I let Henry know um I was talking to them just before that day policy that we were going to talk about this tonight. So we're happy to ask them questions too about my feelings about the structure but u it's all about providing them with support and growth and I think that we worked hard to to do

073that. We've got a real nice group that works well together, which is a sound. So, uh, I can answer your questions or turn to our leaders that are online, too. And Henry's here, here, Don's here, um, to get any feedback, too. Joe. >> Okay. First of all, and I believe I think it's great that the principles have a coach. I think it's I wish I had a coach, but it's going to sound my position. So my question is, is it part of our budget? >> Yeah. Yeah. Okay. >> Cost. Yeah. It's he goes once a month for now. >> Okay. Believe me, I'm not Yeah. Try to get meet all with all of them on the same day. >> Okay. So that's good. What about for you? What do you all have >> to support

074you? Plus the uh Yeah, you guys. I'm saying I would like to see that happening for you. >> And we do. Yeah. has her assistant superintendent network um that she partners with as well as in >> but that's not an individual coach that's >> no we don't we don't necessarily have coach I mean >> we have mentors and colleagues that you know I'll often times reach out to my neighboring districts we have legal we call legal a lot in terms of legal but >> I serve as a friend touch local even not so local I have a group of superintendents we have we have a list serve and if we have questions or thoughts Okay. Or something's bubbling up, we all share and chime in and >> No, that's great. That's so good to hear.

075>> Yeah, there are other superintendent networks that I have not been affiliated with, but it's on my list of things I would like to do um now that I've sort of settled in and thinking about what's that ne next level of work. Um it's just uh not something I've gotten to yet, but it's on my list. >> Is there anything for your I'm going to call them senior team? Um let's say like Marianne or Kim, do they have access to something too? >> Yep. They have their organizations. Marian Park Casbow. Um so >> Yep. And I have um a network of colleagues that I, you know, reach out to each other, you know, bounce ideas off each others as new things come up. You do about that, etc. I was thinking you guys are under

076a lot of pressure. You know, sometimes you have to let out st Yeah. >> Yeah. Thank you for for asking Joe about us. So, as well >> Oh, well, first of all, thank you so much for putting this together. It's a really helpful kind of overview and snapshot. Um, I don't know if this is a conversation for today or potentially down the road, but I'd be curious to learn a little bit more about the process for goal setting. Is that I mean, are we talking student achievement, culture, and climate. I imagine that's probably related to the specific building plans and all of those things are essentially lading up to one another. But >> having some examples of what those what those look like and kind of how all of this PD is in service of

077supporting leaders to reach those would be a good kind of next uh >> lens. Yeah. Right. from you know the board of ed school goals down to the district plans to the school improvement plans to the individual boards that are set by >> well yes I think I have good visibility into like the top of that funnel but was wondering what happens kind of a few layers down just recently we we just revisited and updated our administrator and teacher supervision and growth plans um I'll link those into this weekly's update so you can just get a sense of what that looks like >> but then we'll an opportunity to sort of highlight that at maybe one of the administrators updates because the work they're doing is clearly articulated in the in the goal. It's just

078sort of formally captured in that goal setting for >> but I'll I'll share that this week. >> Yeah. Henry down here too. >> Oh yeah. I'd love to hear what any questions think. >> Um I um I feel incredibly um supported um from a variety of different um angles really. Um I have two um supervisors um bosses um that always pick up the phone. Um and you know I don't have a if I don't know something I don't feel like I can't can't ask them. Um uh and that goes for my um colleagues that have more experience than me in the other buildings as well. Um so the other principles um I've really enjoyed um working with um uh the mentor uh since I started last January as well for some of the reasons that

079Jeff um outlined and I also have a group of area principles that I collaborate as well uh with uh basically the ECC principles roundt group um which is a great uh group of people that we just have an email um uh lister go going basically ally where um what do you guys do about this? Um and we kind of collaborate and network that way as well. Um but I think it's really great that we come together as a group of um administrators, both the secondary group, so myself, Claudine, and our assistant principles to meet with Jeff and Emilies and talk about um building and or grade level specific um uh collaborative opportunities and initiatives. Uh and then as well getting together with that full admin group um I think really helps us all feel connected

080um as a group of people. Um it can be an overwhelming um job um but that connection um and that you know team collaborative spirit really helps. >> Thank you other principles. Anybody else? >> Yeah. I don't know if you know again I didn't put you I didn't inform any of you on the excuse that we're talking about this tonight but uh Brian Cladine or Jeff any Danielle anything else you wanted to add >> yeah no I'll just I'll just share you know echoing Henry's sentiments I feel the same way uh incredibly well supported by um my administrative colleagues and you know anybody quite honestly at central office is uh is always very quick to um to respond and to support uh and it's a main reason why um I'm here in East Line. You

081know, I was looking for that and I'm really grateful um to have experienced it and I and I agree with everything else that Henry said. >> Thank you, Brian. We did survey the administrators in the last year looking for a little bit of feedback. So, circle back around feedback on policy more information and follow up after policies. That's one area still working. >> Oh, just quick I just wondering do you still do evaluations and observations and that process and then formative? >> Yes. all part of the evaluation plan. So we'll connect it into the weekly upload Friday. How long is the whole thing? >> Thank you. >> So, so when I think about this I I have kind of three buckets and you have like support and professional development. I'm going to also add this

082third bucket which is personal development. So support I'm going to put as your kind of daytoday operations. Hey, something's going on. I need What do you think? What should we do? Um, how should we run this program? Whatever. You guys, looks like you have plenty of meetings and stuff to align on that. Um, the professional development, it does sound like you're very well connected. um which helps you sol again it's solving problems but it's probably bigger things or how would you handle this situation or what did you do and or how are you approaching something or someone's doing something new so I think that's sounds very good I just want to just touch on the personal development so are there and maybe the mentor is doing it some but then maybe not for Jeff and

083Anelise and I'm not sure but who's having a conversation like if one of the princip says, "My goal is I want to be superintendent of a school someday." And who's having the conversation? Well, what does it take? What do you need to do to get there? Other than obviously there's the whole 93 and surv there's lots of personal things you need to develop and create and stuff. Is that that come from the mentor? Does it come from your peers? Does it come where does that piece come from? So that's the piece that I'm not seeing when how that happens for. >> Go ahead. >> I was just going to say I can speak to that a little um just as someone who is pursuing um you know other leadership opportunities. Um, so Jeff and Annelise

084uh have done an amazing job um mentoring me and being able to um you know bounce ideas off um connect me with opportunities um other you know people in leadership positions in other towns. Um I've had opportunities to engage in professional learning. I was able to go to the CAB conference recently um and also step up in leadership positions in our own district. So, we've had lots of conversations about things that I'm passionate about or maybe things that I really don't know a lot about and want to learn more. Um, so, >> [snorts] >> uh, they've allowed me to step up and take on, you know, positions in that sense, too. Like being part of, um, the vision at the graduate, that's something that really interests me and how we're bringing it alive at the

085elementary level. So, um, I'm able to participate on, you know, a a committee, a group, and we meet monthly with other, um, groups around the state to talk about the vision of the graduate. So, I feel like um you know at the leadership level in the district um they're just really open to um our ideas and growing our leadership and supporting in any way possible. So, that's just been something that's been really helpful for me to learn more about myself as a leader and just um various opportunities in the district and outside. >> Great. Thanks. Thanks, Danielle. That was really informative. That was good. Other thoughts? If uh anybody as you think if there's other things you want Jeff or Jeff and Anelise or whatever to kind of bring forward what we're doing just you

086know let us know and we can add those to the agenda. We'll try to make it quicker than six months uh to get it on the agenda. But thanks >> yeah it's not something we've we have done much of. Um so I need to do it more too and uh just keep us make sure focus on these individuals here soon. And the next item uh for discussion is uh strategic school balancing. So, uh, last meeting, a couple meetings ago, you know, Jeff had mentioned, I think, just looking at the three elementary schools and that their total attend total number of students per if you remember when we did when we renovated the elementary schools and we redistricted, we somewhat were pretty close between the three schools in terms of the numbers per school. We're not,

087you know, things change. Uh, and we're not anymore. Uh, we're we're somewhat unbalanced. Um, and I'll turn it over to Jeff to talk a little bit, but I think we have some potential options. I see. >> Yeah. I think, um, you know, we last couple you kind of talked about that every, you know, maybe every five years, six years, we should be looking again at, you know, that idea of are we balanced? Are we not balanced? Should we should we get some redistricting? Um we're at that point uh again it's been seven years six seven years now. Um, yeah. >> 2019 got the the list of where moves when we redistricted >> seven years ago or >> uh 2019. >> It's very tricky. So >> we're going to get younger people to to stop doing

088this is we start doing it. >> My daughter stops. >> But um you can see our numbers are once again out of bounds. Uh where Lily has grown um to a much higher number of people. >> Yeah. Which just poses that problem like we try and we try of trying to balance class sizes. It's very hard with just two teachers at a grade level, which is that excitement. >> The development that's going inited, >> you're right. Yep. That's that's another piece to it. >> Lopsided development. Stacy, the one that's on that research. >> Yeah. Stacy Musilla does she pulls all that together. She does a little testic job of it keeping the boundaries understand. We've got maps. she have any preliminary numbers of new people coming into the school system and from the >> it's

089once one leaves one comes in it's if there isn't been any like growth or declined a little bit um but I think we we have options here one option you know you could say no it is what it is we're going to keep monitoring and work best we can second one is some pockets potentially of the district finding or identifying areas that potentially you know out with Lily B could be maybe moved to um Magic Center. Uh the third is you go all in and you do a whole another round of of redistricting, blow it all up again and look at the boundary lines maybe to the point of even having a consultant like we did last time come in um along the room did last time and yeah, they did um and and do

090it, you know, that way again. So there's there's three kind of areas there. Um which wanted to get your feedback as to kind of what we're thinking starting the can here of really I'm kind of so the guys we need to maybe do something here because the numbers really it's not changing. So I think it's better. I mean, I know when we initially went through this process with Malone McBrroom, I mean, we did very much approach it and set the expectation that this was not going to be something that we were only going to do every 30 years, that this needed to be something that we would have to revisit. And I remember being very clear about that because we didn't want to get to the point where we had to do a full overhaul

091again. We would rather kind of monitor and courts correct along the way. I think I mean it was a while ago, but we said every few years we might have to make some micro adjustments. I don't know if you've gotten in the weeds with this yet, but is it possible to do some course correction without having to >> blow everything up? >> It could be. Uh I've not gotten really into the we have done some preliminary reviews looking at some different areas across town. Fox said those publicly right now, but uh you know there there is the possibility of doing some of that um which could help offset numbers uh and balance it better than than it is. So that is definitely an option. Um, I think it's it's that was that line of, you

092know, do you want a firm to come in and kind of oversee that and do it be the front when you you know, you're going to have a line of parents coming to you or do forms and so forth and so on with some upset parents because they don't want to necessarily move and some might. Um, but it's just a lot of those pieces. to I guess to answer your question, yes there are some smaller pockets um that we could look at um that better balance >> and I imagine if we were to do it that way. I mean we did it with Malone and Mroom the first time and it needed to happen in the way that we did it but it was a very >> full I mean enrollment studies like very indepth

093and >> expensive >> undertaking. I imagine if we were to leverage a firm maybe let's say we'll use Melodical Room again would I imagine if we were to only try to do some minor force correcting we would not be looking at that price tag and I wouldn't even want to know what that would look like today >> seven years later but >> yeah I >> would I imagine that would be a less expensive endeavor to bring a mermaid >> to do yeah to do more of a a minor endeavor just clarification what Are you thinking do we need to have some like if let's say we were going to do two or three pocket neighborhoods we'll say we could do that do you think we need the ex >> I think there is a obvious

094that's a good question I think if there is an obvious and clean solution then no I think we handle it internally in house if as we are starting to peel back the layers of this process and we realize oh well we didn't think about impact on siblings because we're not going to have you know >> y >> I I think I think if we realize that it is complex and then I think it makes sense to sort of affirm that point but not at not to the extent that we did previously. I would my personal point of view is to avoid doing that full >> overreaching reset again. I would rather just invest in small changes as we're responding to the data which Jeeoff I appreciate the fact that you mentioned this trend is not

095improving. It's continuing. I'd rather take action now >> than wait until we have to >> overall everything. Well, I'm just >> I'm just wondering if this is something that we should have a conversation with with either planning or zoning and if we know that there's some buildings that have been established there are two, three bedrooms. So, signs new constructions are housing. Where are those kids going to school? And if if they're all in the same local, if they all got bus to one school because really nobody is a neighborhood school, right? Everybody pretty much is either dropped off by their parents or takes a bus into school. Nobody. We don't have a lot of walkers, right? So, it's almost like we could probably manage it. I'm thinking by looking at what housing is and what

096planning and zoning would say, then thinking about where those kids could go without being too disruptive. >> Completely agree. Jeff, just correct me on that. when there's new developments that come on like Brook. >> Yeah. North >> you you decide because that's a >> we do like North P is a great example. We told that group, okay, that group would have been the little district, but no, they they go to those elementary kids go to music center. >> There's not many of those. >> We thought there'd be a more than than is actually there in most of those developments. So, >> but when new neighborhoods come on, when there new construction, you we deter you can obviously there more and more Flanders, you're not going to set them down. Exactly. Exactly. Yes. Point. Yeah, we

097do. >> But then also, do people have school choice? Is that No, you do not. Okay. >> No, the boundary is the boundary and >> Okay. >> the line is >> Thank you. >> Bill, >> I had a couple questions. First one, I I wish I had memory that held all this, but what did the numbers look like when we originally established this? There was always more at Lily B because the big the facility can handle more, right? So we but where were we with the >> Yeah, Lily V was always the biggest, but Flanders was up just over 300 or around 300. >> Um closer to to Lily B was down around that 300. Nicer was I think around 270 26 27. I'm going off of my memory of data. That's not I gathered

098for the exact numbers. We have what I can pull. >> Yeah. Um but it was much more aligned in that sense where we were 20 to 30 kids off versus you knowund I I can't pull that information for >> yeah this might just be a new question uh but Bill's this dubtales with that is are there optimal numbers like do we have sort of goal how distributions rated especially based on facilities and square footage. >> Yeah. And all the buildings will you know will fit um because we do have plenty more so many classrooms. So we can we do have room to expand and we we bas basically rebuilt those buildings or renovate those buildings to be able to fit that. So to optimally have you know three to four or four teachers in each

099grade level is the most conducive um to be able to do. You can see the discrepancies where they don't really at that four five and one are much lower. That's the problem. That's the sweet spot of a major problem especially with two because you either go one way if you reduce or you go the other way when you add a teacher and the numbers still it's just too much to scrap. And maybe with Steve a really good example and you'll we'll get to the budget you're going to see this happen. But if let's say in her grade there's 40 students at an extent. If we go with two teachers then there's 20 which is above our guidelines. Our guidelines are 15 to 18. But if you go with three teachers you're at 13 or plus.

100So you're below our guidelines. So when you have two it's really hard. We have guidelines and it's very hard to stay within the guidelines when it's two. So that's the kind of driver is if you can get to three, you can generally hit our guidelines. Not always, but you it's much easier. Well, I I just have one more question. Now I'm just thinking about it. All right. So [clears throat] we did this and Lily B continued to grow and just keep keep and you're saying it can continues to do that. What's the do do we know what the driving factor is of why it's happening there? I I think one of the biggest ones though is the Orchard neighborhood. Um because we I think we maybe I don't know if it was underestimated or they

101just I it seems like every house is built their families are moving into those and it's generated more students. Did we move them from Flanders over to Willie B when we did renovation spring wrap as well? Um that's what I've heard is the biggest one with most number of kids. We have the neighbor development. We're still I think before we do some shifting I think it'd be better to kind of understand what the driving factors are and it there must be something about that way we where we drew the lines that you know I don't know are there more rentals in that area or is there less rentals you know something is it what or maybe it's just the orchards like you say but it'd be interesting to to understand why that continues to grow

102year after year and try to understand it so that we have a better when we do redraw lines we have a better understanding of maybe okay we got to break it up so that the rentals fall equally or the the certain kind of neighborhoods fall more equally or what whatever it is that makes that if if we could find that I don't know I'm just wondering what it is >> yeah y so I think an important question there's kind of three parts of One important question is are we open to something what we talked about is looking and saying can we look are there some pockets is there something that we can do and if there was something we can do whether we might need somebody or we might need whatever whatever um we may

103need them that's a kind of secondary but are we are we entertaining opening this discussion because this is a big discussion, right? This is these these are and take lightly um and we preface that with timing too because we didn't talk about you're doing a much smaller scale. There's a potential maybe of pockets that could be notified in January that as a next school year you're going to be moving to such and such um school sort of thing. you're going a little bit bigger, we probably best better served to really study it the rest of this year, gather more data, gather more facts, be able to present inform that and then do a potentially file um 2728 not next year and as we get into the budget season comes to play into play a little

104bit more as we try to optimize uh this fiscally as well. Well, I'm just thinking Village and Spring Rock, those previously were Flanders, would they? >> Spring Rock was. Yeah. >> Right. So, it almost seems like I mean, depending upon who would have all this information, the bus company like >> Yeah, we we know we've got the maps of where everybody got, you know, a listing of every every street that was moved. you know, I've got uh you know on here the big ones were spring rock and the orchards which move from groups landers was kind of busting at the seams. That was the other reason we had done this. Uh and it was actually a good thing we did it because there's no way Flanders could have continued to um fit you or especially

105with the growth that's happened. >> So we just need to take some of the weight off of Lily B and then distribute to Diana and >> Exactly. >> Yes. So, are we good to ask Jeff and his team to kind of come back to us with some the next level of detail and and see where we are? >> I think if there's any lowhanging fruit, simple adjustments. >> That's my next question. Yeah. We want to look at that those smaller pockets first to see >> that's what I would >> what some options might be. >> Yes, I say yes. >> Yeah, I do. I think >> slight hesitation. >> PTSD. >> Maybe a little bit. >> No, I think comes off your face. >> It's a good school counselor here. I think it's worth [laughter]

106I think it's worth digging into and I would anticipate the more we dig in the more we are going to realize that I mean even looking at these numbers now it's not just clear-cut by school it's by grade like there are several grades at NCS and Flanders that also cannot afford to have more students and so if we're talking neighborhoods we're going to have a lot of families in neighborhoods that have kids that span multiple grades So all this to say I think the more we dig in we realize there's I am I am hopeful but not overly optimistic that we are going to be able to find a easy pocket to dig into. Um, so all this to say, I think it's worthwhile looking looking into, but I would not >> spend so much

107of your very precious and limited capacity trying to go down lots of rabbit holes. Like if you're reaching the point where it's it's you're coming up against a ton of kind of barriers and and realizing that there's a lot of nuances here, I think maybe it makes sense to think what plan B would be. It's a great point because you really do have to dive deeper to say okay well how many fourth graders are there you know third graders right now that >> pretty complicated be great if it was clear that like okay NCS has room across all of our grades but we actually can't have any more incoming fourth graders in NCS >> because then that's gonna so I I think I think we are going to find that it is going to be

108much more complicated that we are unfortunately >> not to be a Debbie Downer I No, I there's a there's a lot it makes you think about all everything we went through um and the studies with broom six six years old. Six years ago >> six years ago. So >> yes. All right. So we'll we'll we'll do a little bit more digging and then we can bring that that back for some more thoughts. Um see what we can find for some potential pockets. Okay. How quickly do we want to do this? Do we want to >> Well, I think >> especially if it's just pockets, maybe I'm I'm asking a question prematurely, but >> yeah. Um >> January, we should have next meet first meeting in January, I think on the uh 8th or 12th. January

10912th is the third. >> So, are we planning for a change to go into action possibly at the beginning of next year? I mean, I'm just I know this is all conjecture, but >> yeah, based off of maybe what we find, I think we'll know if it's even feasible because we dive into those find, you know, neighborhood or um again, how many fourth graders, how many third graders, you know, we have to look at all of that to see um it makes sense, I guess, because we got a majority of them that are third graders. They don't know it makes sense to move third graders, you know, for next year for one year. Fourth grade gone to middle school. Now they got two moves. It just doesn't make a lot of sense for kids. That's

110not in the best interest of kids. So, um, those are those are the that's the leap or we have to take. I just wanted to kind of open up the back the onion a little bit here and see what your thoughts were and then take we'll keep taking some steps. And something we've heard people to think about as well is let's say there was a neighborhood they're like oh that kind of works well we could do that for next year but there's also more comprehensive work we have to do on the others would be be open to doing two or doing one I don't know where I am personally on that I I have to think that myself but that's just something else to think about is are you willing to do this in you

111know two phases or something as well. >> Okay. Um that closes our discussion action items for tonight. Uh moving on to administration reports and yeah, um just I know we've got executive session and there's just a couple quick ones. Um we circled in last year about yearbooks. Um just a count which I didn't get to Henry um how many board members want yearbooks. They're in the process of ordering those right now. So if you want a yearbook, just give us a hand up. So we have one, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Good. Okay. So seven number >> all good with yearbooks. >> Okay. >> Which way was good? >> They didn't. Okay. So yeah, just want to get that count going just because of the cost seven. >> Um, thank you. Um, we're starting

112legislative breakfasts are coming up. We've got one uh going to uh Norwich coming up. We I was going to ask you if >> Yeah. Um because we hosted one last year, middle school, well attended. We'd love to do another one here. Um and bring in uh Okay. Oh, you you got you're gonna talk about Oh, okay. Great. All right. So, I'll save that. Um, and then just a reminder, yeah, next year, next year, Derrick already mentioned it that we'll have a a reg brief regular meeting, then jump into the uh budget workshop. We'll make it an actual workshop and we'll kind of combine the first workshop agenda. We're working on um some information today. Um we are continuing to engage in our budget discussions. We've got more tomorrow. We have a sit in today. Um

113so we'll we'll get through everybody by next Monday. All of the departments in schools um that number and we plan on bringing information forward. >> No, you know, we can share you can share where it's at right now. We did. >> Yeah. Healthcare. Um we did up the healthcare percent increase. Um, originally when we last spoke, we had it at 12%. Um, there was conversations in a Zoom meeting with the state partnership plan. They were recommending between 12 to 15. So, you know, so we put it up to 15% or an increase. Now, now each percent is a little over $90,000. So, we'll start to drop that down. Um, you can kind of do the math with that. I'm hopeful that they're being very, you know, high-end, but you know, we don't know. Um, us

114as we all see. So, a 15% increase pretty big hit. We wouldn't have that in a long time. Yeah. So, that's that's one of our drivers today. Hello. >> Yeah, it's a a busy couple of weeks here coming up. So, we have our DEI cohorts meeting. Um, one last met last I'm sorry, student blogging experience cohorts. Um, and we have two meeting uh next week. We have our play PD um coming up. We've got play curriculum writing happening. Um, and I have my district-wide technology committee coming together tomorrow to do a deeper dive around AI. Um, we've developed the generative AI guidelines sort of broad district perspective. We're rolling up our sleeves tomorrow to really get into the nitty-gritty. What does that mean for students? What does that mean for staff? And what will be

115our professional plan associated with that? We'll be making a final decision on our student facing AI platform. and um additionally sort of doubling down on an AI AI framework that we'll sort of resort to when we we start looking at some curriculum that big things. So, lots to do tomorrow. Um I told the committee to get ready to roll up your sleeves and get to work. So, they'll have some deliverables to me that will be due by the end of the meeting tomorrow. I'm really excited about it's all good stuff. It's changing so rapidly every day. a little hard to keep up with, but um you know, we're doing our best to do that. Um Henry and I will be heading to the leadership AI institute through um and advance on Friday and Shane Anderson

116is joining us from the middle school as well. So that's more geared towards leaders in implementing um best practices associated with AI. So we'll go to that on Friday. Um I'm excited about that. Uh but we're continue to work on the work. I'll keep you guys updated along what >> we have anything working on the budget and >> okay >> thing and we're nearing I'm on calls with the town with the audit and hopefully we're nearing getting a little bit closer to end 202 24 so we can start working on 25. They're still behind but >> I ask if that clears up the line by line item budget. >> No. Well, no, it's still Well, once we're done with 24, then yes, they can close 24. But >> if they close 24, do I get

117by line? >> Yes. Thank you. I'm a push. >> Thanks, Lauriana. Um committee report. Moving on to committee reports. Uh FFO had the meeting a little bit >> and we're still we're playing with the numbers still doing some estimates of of what we want to do. Our biggest well my just my opinion I think all of us our biggest concern is we want to be sure that the finance board is on target with us. amount if I understand is not too much. We also clarified what we would and wouldn't spend it. It would probably would be pretty much anything that was a one time incident. Let's say like the boiler or we had a bad snowstorm and there was a leak. So that's what the the type we're looking to spend our money on. It's

118just not to hire a teacher or something that will be reoccurring. So, it's just for those type of thing as a sidewalk or whatever, but we're still working on it and should have >> either next week if we can fit it in the agenda. If not, it'll be early. >> But it's quite exciting to be able. It's just so exciting to have a savings account. It's not really a savings account, but for in my mind, it is for us to deal with some of our stuff. Okay. Um, policy met. >> Yep. We met um just before this meeting tonight. Um we reviewed a number of policies. Uh I'm not sure exactly the the number, but um uh across um some different categories. The majority of them are um administrative type changes. We didn't have our

119meeting last time. So those we rolled into reviewing this meeting and those um policies will be coming for a first review I think at our next meeting. [clears throat] >> Alisa Jamie K. So, um, tomorrow is the new board member orientation and leadership conference. Steve, I will see you there bright and early in the morning. Um, the next thing is 2026 legislative issues and advocacy webinars December 16th. Um, the legislative breakfast is in Norwich on January 14th and I will explain that. So we are area 9. The area 9 area director is in charge of the legislative breakfast. For two years, area 9 did not have an area director. So as the associate director, it fell on me to schedule the legislative breakfast, which is why they were here. Area 9 director is Mville Carol

120Burgess. Susan Lassard from Norwich reached out to me to schedule a breakfast for area 9 in Norwich. So I asked Carol if that is something she would be immuneable to and she said yes. So the area 9 breakfast is that is why it is there because there Carol is the new director. If anyone would love to co-direct with her she would love to have a buddy until she gets a buddy. I am her co-director and the associate no longer associate. I am now the vice president of professional development, which means that um I will be in charge of the cave convention. So, if anyone has any ideas or thoughts on that, I'm open to hearing them because it's going to be a big undertaking. With that said, Kate, Alisa, Danielle, Jeff, and Analise, it was

121wonderful to spend a weekend with you guys. Um I hope you learned a lot and got to experience a lot. Um, it was a great great week at Freeline. For those of you who don't know, Jeff got superintendent of the year. So awesome. You I think you've had the biggest contingent of people that I've ever seen for superintendent of the year. Was so awesome. >> And then uh Dave and Mary Dulo and Mary Toronto presented the pathways program and I think Dave left that with uh Montville giving us students. So, [laughter] so it was a very good weekend for Eastwag at Cab. Um, >> it was a it was a great weekend. Um, learn I learned a lot, took a lot of notes, talked to a lot of people. I know that we spoke and

122you did stuff. Danielle, you were in the student voice with me. We learned a lot. I told you I was going to put you on the hot seat [laughter] to talk about how awesome those students were and how we should bring back some of their ideas. um because their idea was to have K to2 voice at the board. Um they said that their voice isn't the only voice we should be listening to. We should be listening to the children at K through 12. Um and it was very meaningful from the students at that but I don't know if any of you guys have stuff to share um out but that was my perspective. >> I really enjoyed my learnings. I just and it was nice to have the connections and I really enjoyed the vendors.

123There were a number of vendors that I was able to have conversations with. >> It was very rich. It was very rewarding. So, I really appreciated it. So, >> the learning bus was pretty impressive. >> Oh, I forgot about the learning bus. >> The learning bus. >> I want a learning bus. >> Yeah, the learning was amazing. >> Windsor has a learning bus that they spent their ARPA money on, but in this it's a classroom in a bus. I took tons of pictures and it was on the news. They It's a class full size classroom in a bus. It's got the screen uh what are the screens called? Touch screens. >> It's got the screens. It's got a wheelchair lift in it. It's got little desks. It's phenomenal. But in the summer they use it

124to go to neighborhoods uh neighborhood schools to do learning with kids in the summer. Like they do like a day and they do learning in the summer. I want one. I want their boardroom and I want their bus. >> I just you know I have to find the money for it. But it was it was a really really good learning inspirational rejuvenating weekend. But it should be that's what I got. Inspirational is a really good word. I um have attended since I've been a board member. It's always been a really um great uh great day or day and a half. Um this year it felt um like there were more people than in previous years. I don't know if that is true or not, but it it it felt a little crowded at at times.

125But um it was uh you know you could you could feel the engagement in the you know in the room. It was uh you know however many people were there all kind of focused around you know common common objectives and just the engagement and learning kind of you know what others are doing in their district. And uh I I attended like the policy and the legal seminars which were really great. As dry as they sound, I thought they were done really well. Um but it's, you know, definitely something I'll continue to um plan to attend. I saw some new vendors this year. Um you know, we I think there are some that we see, you know, year over year, but I did see a number of new ones this year as well. Thanks, Alisa. >>

126Oh, Eric, I did run into Rocky Hill while I was there. They said if you want to speak to them, give them a call. >> Great. Thanks. >> I'd like to make a motion that we go >> real quick. Uh learn there, my learn meeting, that's okay. My learn meeting is on Thursday. So, I'll report to that. And then we do have a need for an executive session. pick the motion to enter into executive session including superintendent Newton, assistant superintendent I cannot say her name I apologize and security director John Paul for the purpose of discussion to discussion to consider security strategy or deployment of security personnel and devices in accordance with Connecticut general statue uh one- 2006. >> All those in favor say I. I >> I opposed abstain. We are in executive session.