001I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands nation under God indivisible with liberty and all. >> Well, first order of business we have some special recognitions. the first one. >> We're recording, right? >> Thanks. >> We'd like to recognize National Guard and I'll turn it over to Jeff and Dave. >> Yeah, Dave, I'm gonna go right to you. >> Okay. Hello everyone. David Fulo, one of the assistant principles here at East High School. So, for some time now, the uh National Guard, Connecticut Army National Guard has been exceptionally supportive of the Pathways program. They kind of started off with um do a military vehicle repair class at the uh TASM Genie and Rotten. It's the theater aviation support group. Getting better at my acronyms with
002these guys. Um but it's a incredible facility where they do all the helicopter repair in the northeast. Um the National Guard invites um students from East Line High School to participate in a military vehicle repair class at that facility. They provide the transportation at no cost. Um they provide all the training uh by the professionals at no cost. There's also another division that actually provides a vehicle for us to work on. So they might strip down a Humvee, they might work on some large vehicles and they put really put them to work, actual work that needs to be done on these vehicles. Um from that we also have an internship experience that happens at TASMG. Students rotate through different um sections of materials, testing, that type of thing. Um we also have um just track.
003So, one of the things we do with an Army National Guard as well, uh, Army National Guard will come in and do a cyber security class for some of our students. They also do an offsite training day for cyber security for students. That cyber security piece actually um morphed into an actual cyber security class that we have at East Lime High School for semester. So, that's been a great collaborative. Um, we also now do our adventure PE program. Uh, uses the Stones Ranch facility for one of their trainings, which is great. And what I really like about that, it's um the role models that the National Guard provides. All these trained personnel. Um, they're just great people to work with, polite, professional, and the kids really um seem to enjoy the experience around these people.
004Um we also do as part of our um EMT uh certification class. So we do an exceptionally high-end training day. So um the camp net we have um it's a mass casualty combat medic training day. So we started that off last year. Uh Mr. Kidd and the principal um of Waterford High School graciously um volunteer as the victims. So the kids have to, you know, put these guys in these sleds and put them in these military ambulances and do all kinds of other activities with them. And so that is a great activity. So it's done with Waterford High School students and Lyold Lime High School students who are involved in our program. We also work cooperatively with New London High School. So New London High School students come to that. We do some work with
005those guys back and forth. So it's one of the more interesting events honestly in this area. So, the National Guard at no cost has done all this training for us. Um, so we're really happy to be partners with those guys. Also, uh, one of our students, Leah Taylor. So, Leah Taylor, every time you mention her name to a teacher, they just light up and say, "Oh, I love Leah Taylor." Um, so Leah Taylor has been um, uh, in charge of the cadet. She's one of the cadet programs, the cadet police program. She's very involved in that. She's involved in East Line Fire. Um she's involved currently in our EMT program. She went through her basic training um junior to senior year. So she's currently involved in the National Guard. She's here with us tonight uniformed
006and everything. So um so anyway, the National Guard is one of our, you know, I think our best, we have some great partnerships, but they're one of my favorite. Then you know we've had other students who Aaliyah has taken advantage of the benefits. We've had students who've gone through um our internship program they wanted to be engineers. So you know the if you cooperate or you collaborate with the National Guard National Guard pays for your Yukon experience. So lots of good things good collaborations that students are starting to take advantage of here. So again, East Lime Schools is very proud to be a partner with the Army National Guard and um they prefer not to say a few words. I think um and right now Staff Sergeant uh Foljon is our recruiter for East Lime
007High School. She's been great. She's been a mentor to a lot of students. Uh never pressuring, just having really polite conversations. Um she's been great to work with at East Lime High School. So, um, I think that's about it. So, I think we might do probably a photo with these guys with Leah Taylor, with the representatives from the Army National Guard, and if we have Dr. I go to tap surgeon. >> This is not >> Thank you. Everybody >> Yeah. Yeah. One more. [laughter] >> Proud of everybody. >> Probably a long moment right now. >> It is a long moment. >> Oh, fantastic. >> Thank you very much. selfies. >> What? >> Thank you again. Have a wonderful night. >> Thank you. Thanks, Mr. Vulo. >> Thank you. >> So, we have another uh special
008recognition. We go from National Guard, some great students uh who we have a chance to recognize. Thanks for State Representative Nick Met here. He's gonna uh introduce um the recognition. Thank you. All right. All of our students here tonight. I know Dr. Randelle who had kind of set this up for it. He was unfortunately not able to be here tonight but that's all right. But I did I had a wonderful set of I don't believe all of you guys are back here for that one. That's okay. There are one two three four five six seven eight students who have all had essentially work. So in case anyone did not know they have all been able to work with Viking play of four which is supposed to be a group that kind of is active in
009the community. And all of these u students have been well in it since the beginning. I believe they are all now seniors. >> Yes. And so we want to be able to take a moment to be able to recognize all of them. So if it's all right and if someone is not here, please just let me know and I'll read you because I see there's only five of you guys here right now. But I want to be able to read these up and be able to give these to you and then at the end we'll just do a picture with all of us all together. Does that sound good? >> All right. Great. So, [clears throat] so on behalf of the General Assembly, introduced by myself, uh, Representative Nick Menipace and Senator Martha Marks, be
010it hereby known to all of the Connecticut General Assembly, hereby offer sincerest congratulations to Xavier. >> Oh, it's all right. We'll still get Stephanie in recognition of your exceptional role as a founder of Viking Play It Forward, demonstrating leadership and compassion in providing opportunities for children in need to engage in sports. Your tireless efforts to promote inclusion and volunteerism have made a lasting impact on the East Lime community and beyond your uh your dedication is a true testament to your character. The entire membership extends its very best wishes on this m memorable occasion and expresses the hope for continued success. Given this day the 17th yes okay 17th of November uh 2025 the state capital of Hartford Connecticut by Martin M. Looney, president prompor, uh, speaker of the house, Matt Ritter, and Secretary of the
011State, uh, Stephanie Thomas. All right, so I know Xavier's not here, but congratulations here as well, Alex Trenell. All right, that's the president. Congratulations on behalf of myself, uh, Senator Marks, as well as I said Martin Looney, Senate Prom of this, uh, the prom, Speaker of the House, Matt Ritter, and Secretary Stephanie TS. Congratulations, Gabe Henny. Congratulations. I have myself, Senator Martin, Senator, Senator Prom, Mark Bloom, Matt Ritter, Speaker of the House, and Steph Thomas. Congratulations again. >> Thank you. >> Um, Juliana Ger, I'm sorry. >> Sorry, I met people get wrong. You have something like I said myself, Senator Marks as well as the Senate Pro Mark Looney, Speaker of the House, Mer and Steph Thomas. Congratulations. Thank you so much for your service. All right, Em Senator Marks as well as Senate Pro
012Mark Looney and SE Speaker of the House Matt Ritter as well as Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas. Thank you so much for your service to our community. >> Thank you. >> And Patrick. Hey, Patrick, like I said, on behalf of myself, Senator Marks, as well as Senate Prom Looney, Speaker of the House Matt Ritter, and Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas, thank you so much for your commitment to excellence in our community for volunteers. Thank you. Max is not here, but um Max here. Okay. Okay. No, it's all right. We'll get everybody up. We'll be able to take a photo. I'm just here. >> Lisa, >> you guys appreciate sticking with me pronunciations. Oh, and if you guys want to is like since like to hold it open like that, but you do whatever you want.
013Only get everybody this way a little bit. That looks nice. Thank you. 73. Thank you so much. >> Representative, thank you very much. >> It's good to see you. >> Have a good rest of the night. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome to stay as well. Next order of business is public comment. So any public comments, good evening everybody. Uh my name is Scott Mayan. I'm here as a representative of the East Teachers Association. Um just really quickly um and I want to kind of preface this uh as saying I do not believe that um calendar was uh created in in any way to uh to uh not thinking about uh teachers. I think you know the calendar is a difficult thing to put together. Um I know there's a lot of uh uh things
014that you have to balance in order to come up with a uh um a calendar that works for everyone. But I did want to say that um I've had enough uh uh my constituency come to me and and ask to to speak to you about the uh um especially the beginning in the winter. Um uh last year was was troublesome to a lot of to a lot of folks. Uh having starting on a starting on a Friday um ending the uh the summer or starting the school year on a Friday as opposed to a Monday. Um again I want to say that this is perceived um kind of a lack of consideration as I I think they understand deeply that uh that it isn't that it's something that um you know is is taken into
015consideration but I think we can avoid that. Um we uh we lose a day that's typically we we we have a day that's typically the end of a work week and we're starting our our school year. Um and um teachers need to shift into teaching mode um a little bit sooner than they normally would. Um I know that a lot of teachers are working that weekend um on their uh on their plan um and that Friday can solve some problems. So uh it may be a small thing but I think it would go a long way. Think about maybe adjusting that. I know maybe next year that that might be a little easier. Um, and talking again with some of my other colleagues, snowflake plate days, coming from a uh a teacher perspective, again, we're
01610-month employees. Um, having those in in the uh calendar, especially connected to uh long weekends. Um, we can't plan for those. So, they essentially become time that extends the year um without us being able to make any kind of plans plans for that. Um, and then the last part was I really don't understand why we would end on a Monday, especially when last year we specifically adjusted the calendar so that we wouldn't end on. So, I don't understand why we would put that uh put that Monday in. Again, I know some time was spent on this and I appreciate the time that was that was put into it. Um, but I' I'd like you uh to think about, you know, what are some things that maybe we can do uh to adjust those. Um, so
017I'd like really to think about not starting on Friday. Um, we're fine with not having snowflake boots and um end on Wednesday instead of instead of a Monday. >> Thank you. I appreciate it. >> Thanks. Any other public comments? >> St. manip 38 Oak Street, Niantic. Um, I just want to have because I know that we have a lot of new people and some people who will be entered, but I just wanted to remind everybody that we're going to be entering into the next legislative session, February 6th. Uh, I really want to make myself as available as possible for all of you guys. I serve on the finance committee and I serve on the education committee. Both committees that are very relevant to a lot of the things you guys do. And if there is
018things that are happening in the school that you want, I know some of you guys have reached out. Um, but when it comes to specific legislation, I know know Jeff has asked me about ones and I believe Bill Derry is one of the other ones who has asked me about specific bills, but if there is anything that you feel like I have this one, I've come to your your cave events. I've done that one. I do want to hear about it and I want to be able to be of service. We're all partner in this one and I know that a lot of the other reps, you know, if there's things you guys are submitting that you're looking for your state rep to sign on for or your state senator, make sure you're out reaching
019out to me. It's something you as individual board members would like to hear about. I very much do want to hear about it as well. All right. So, I'm always available to contact me. I do I am still teaching as well, but email is always the best time to get a hold of me or best way to get a hold of me. So, please do not hesitate to reach out. Thank you. >> Nice. Appreciate it. Other public comment hearing none that closes public comment for the night. We'll move on to special reports. We don't have a select representative. Okay. So uh moving we do have a consent agenda item. Make a motion for the consent agenda. >> I'd like to make a motion to pass the consent agenda as posted. >> Second. >> All those
020in favor say I. >> I opposed. Dict. Yeah. Good. Thank you. Um for those of you here or at home, there were two items on the um consent agenda. The first was just our approval of our meeting minutes. The second is a proposed donation to the uh EMT program from the Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board in the amount of $1,485. So really appreciate that. Every dollar is near the EMT program is phenomenal uh by each line. So every dollar that we can get to help that uh programs stay place is great. So really appreciate that. Um moving on to discussion action items in finance facilities and community and we have the first items for discussion and we have our first readout of the high school feasibility study presentation and I'll turn it over to >>
021yes we're uh excited to welcome our architects. I'll let uh Dr. I'm going to give a quick introduction Chris while I pass these uh out of our folks over here and then we can uh pull from there >> sir online. >> I have it online. Yeah, thanks. And so um we've been working for some time now on uh the statement of the high school and the future vision and as we discussed in previous meetings we have our consultants joined are glad they joined us today from sodellia associates and as you may recall our project has been broken into two phases. The first phase which we're going to talk about tonight deals with the current state of the high school for allowing the know what is the condition and how is the state the space laid
022out and with that I have to turn over to I'm not sure but maybe I'll just um for those of you here and I know first thanks to the number of finance members who are here to to listen into this is our first um well all of us hearing this output. So there will be a lot of introductory basic questions. We haven't had a chance to really so just for find out to understand what kind of where we are because we're first hearing this as well. But appreciate that you can hear us kind of from the ground floor in the first uh moment. So we really appreciate if you come. >> Thanks. One second. Oh, and we have a whole bunch of our high school vision committee members, which I should I'm sorry. Um, who
023are here as well. So, I appreciate that you guys are here supporting us. >> Thank you. Good evening everyone. My name is Tanya. I'm a silver tech facility associate. Um, I'm a project manager and this is Justin who has also been working on this project with me. We've been working on this since about July, August. And um, as you mentioned, we Um the first phase of the project is to look at the existing conditions of the pool. You all have a copy of this when I was. So the first phase is um task one was the existing building conditions report to look at the existing conditions of the school as it stands today and space needs assessment of looking at the allocation of spaces that you currently use. So today I know we have limited
024time and we're going to talk real fast and move through it. It was a lot of information. Um, but we're going to kind of walk you through how we, you know, collected the information, who collected the information. Um, kind of go through the existing building conditions assessment, but we did a very lengthy report that was done, which I believe just circulated. And we're going to kind of, you know, go through some highlights of that report and um then we're going to kind of touch on the space study and how we came about that and our immediate observations of things that kind of bubbled up to the top. that stuff. So, um so this project um was with um East Line Public Schools. We met with faculty, their staff and works with Christian and Diane closely
025and um the vision committee. We had a meeting with them and on our side we have the architects ourselves. We have a mechanical plumbing engineer team that did come out visit the school and documents it and has included that information. And we also worked with Michael Horton Associates um for the structural engineering analysis. Um and we took several site visits to document the existing conditions. We did update the floor plans which is a report tonight um electronically just to help us move into the next phase of Oh, you can't hear me. Sorry. [laughter] >> [clears throat] >> um um into the nitty-gritty of the the actual spaces and what we might do with those either adding or or building fully. Um we did review a lot of information that was shared with us um different
026studies and reports and drawing and we spent a fair amount of time categorizing the space used by meeting with the team and walking the school and the staff at one time. This is an image which Diane shared with me from the original drawings of the 1967 school where Jonathan's going to kind of walk you through the different [clears throat] iterations of the school, but this was the original design which included the athletic wing, the central lower part of the A-wing and the music Bwing. Um the next one is is taken in 1973 but there was another addition put on which expanded which added the south gym and added almost the A link to the north of this this looking at plan will reference throughout our report and we've assigned uh different letters to the wings
027they've done we need to identify the different areas as you can see the red band represents the earliest building 1567 which contained the D-wing aa wing where the academics were and then the gymnasium athletic wing which we identify as E-wing and then shortly after a couple years later the green area 1973 was added expansion of the gym area and also additional classrooms to the north of the Awes And then in 1999, the V-wing was added and I believe at the same time as the pool area. The pool area is not in the scope of this project assessment as it's a kind of shared building. So that was not in our report. So with the information that we had, we did develop a plan uh especially 3D model that we have started which is allowing us
028to get spaces of the services to help us further in our studies uh with square footage of projects. Um again you can see the A-wing, B-wing, B-wing and athletic E-wing. And again part of the report that was on that previous slide is the different sections that we looked at. That's a way that but we looked at architectural, we looked at interior, exterior of code. Um we looked at structural, we looked at mechanical and fuzzing and part of those points of observation and documentation. Um upon um a request we did put together the highlights of of the the uh items that were cited as a priority list and cabinets you'll go through and kind of prioritize what was important what was less important just so it's a lot of information we understand that so this way
029the creat of the level of importance as we need but overall I want to say I don't I think you all have that priorities within the report I have copies of it too if like to see it after Okay, overall there, you know, your school's in really good shape. So, um, you can see there was on the high priority on the red only like there were four items priority list that were considered urgent. Um, and you know, we type here and there, things that, you know, we get immediate attention. There were a fair amount of things that fell into a high priority. Um, but nothing you know, urgent, you know, it was just, you know, that mostly by code and whatnot. Um, and I'll go through in the next couple of slides. You can see
030I I kind of put together some of the highlights. Um, yeah. So, like I said, the school is a very well-maintained school. We're very proud of it. As it gets old, old is me. It's very well maintained and it looks great for the age of it. But it is old and dated and as you can see, you know, this is dated, but it's an excellent condition. So um overall I've even the systems some of them are you know are original the water systems coming home the original pipes um a lot of the um you know the the heating and cooling systems have been replaced over the years but they all kind of fell into the category of needing to be replaced. um the electrical panels there were some you know things that needed to be
031addressed codewise it's all with its code and most of it has to do with energy code a lot of it you know you would replace all the units now they require a large amount of fresh air intake especially after co upgrades and whatnot so that would be part of that you know renovation if you choose to do that but for what you have now it it is the Um, >> um, so we did have a search structural engineer look at the building. Uh, visual inspection and overall it's in fairly good shape. Uh, there are some, you can see, you know, you walk around the building, there are some cracking. There are some areas of concern. Those can be patched, can be fixed. some areas would warrant further investigation or demolition to to to look at
032that, but overall there's there's no strong concern for the structure. Um, again, looking at the roof, the roof is old on the majority of the building, but the solar system, the solar array is up there, and that only has a few more years. And once that ends, through the plant or at that time, a new roof would be advisable. and also looking at adding oscillation or the 71. So again was flashing some of the flashing on the roof redone. There's some drips on that but not also looking at the windows a lot some of the windows have been replaced on existing buildings but the majority of the windows have not. We'd be looking at upgrading those windows more efficient windows. Looking at accessibility, ADA accessibility. Um there has been some attempts uh to make the
033facilities more ADA accessible. Uh the elevator needs to be upgraded uh based on mechanical lines and ADA lines. Exterior egress doors in the A building. their steps out of that. Accessibility, that's an issue. Also, built codes, that would be an issue. uh main entrance looking at maybe putting more of an accessible paddle option automatic door option on those toilet rooms. There have been some improvements to those but majority of the room toilet rooms A and athletic wings uh need to be upgraded to meet ADA accessibility signage around building the Bwing is pretty good with signage but old signage uh evaluation for accessibility would would should be undertaken. [clears throat] Auditorium designated same with auditorium and gymnasium uh ADA accessible spaces should be designated in those areas also and locker rooms again lock rooms and so
034on should be upgraded for 88 accessibility. Then the roofs, not ADA, but more codewise with accessing the different plates of the the roofs and stuff. There should be more ladders for maintenance and also some railings. So workers up there close to the edge for some of those machines railings should be added to these are just things that don't spoke about. But then the locker room you'll see these images again. Um so that is kind of a summary of the uh facility assessment existing conditions and then we looked at the space need assessment and this kind of broke it up into two major parts. One was we we did a lot of listening um to what the spaces are used for now and hearing everyone's um you know opinion not everyone's but fair amount of people's
035opinion of how the spaces were working or not working. And so things that kind of rose to the top were uh you know in looking at the overall plan of the building and the use of the building um you know how we could accommodate maybe in the future the flexibility and the alternative ways that students are learning today and I know that there was you know some interest and even tonight with the presentation you know with that their kids are interested in more than just academics and your school has a lot of that and see the later slides the um percentage of usage of spaces and how their act career related and pathways program was good pieces also wellness was something that kind of the top this in the slide that we're going to talk
036about a little bit further that that was something that you know wellness and counseling and nurse and security and attendance and those things but you'll see in the plan they're kind of scattered everywhere and to the the staff um at the school it felt like that should be more cohesive piece and important to students. Um some other things that were cited were security. Um the ABA which Justin spoke about is also rose to the top. So a lot of things that don't need code will also rise to the top in the space study. We're kind of seeing this overlay of concerns. Um so security was one ADA. Um storage is a big one as you I don't know if you all took your tour of the school if you haven't been in there but you
037have some of the right slides of alternate storage methods. So that goes to the top. um your your enrollment. We did look at the enrollment and it is about flat and I know that people have studied going out and if you know and that looks to be about the same. So that's something that we'd have to look at you know in the next phase really look at that and see where makes sense to say what you have versus buildings and what those are based on the enrollment. Um but the flexibility and the adaptability, the technology piece, the special ed, um those were just big for Tom. All right. So this is the plan that Justin mentioned. We did do we documented it to put it in Revit, which is a model. So after we move
038to the next phase, we'll really set the volume, the spaces, and how it might fit into the site. Um this study this this colorful plan you see here shows us the the first level on the left there the second level on right and what we did is we pulled out we identified all the spaces and we pulled them out as by category and the three colors. So you can see how those um categories fit within the school um the wellness that I was speaking about you see in the orange those kind of those orange spots that you see spattered um particularly on the second floor level there and then there's a chunk of it at the administration at the entrance. um on the first level. That was a big piece. And also that light blue
039color is um special ed. So you can see how that's kind of spread out significant part of of the layout. The green teal green color is the academic which is the majority of the space which school but competing with that is athletics which is the salmon club left. So that's all the gyms and the lock opera rooms and that was another big piece that we discovered had a lot of discussion as well as the the music and drama area which is the green color like green color to the right. Um I'll go through some of those as we identified them. Okay. So this is kind of a breakdown of of the colors you can see and and the different categories that was assigned to them. These are related to the state of Connecticut's category of
040space. So that's why we've gathered this information now. So as we're moving forward, we will have that. Um and if you go to the next one, this is a lot of numbers and calculations of the different spaces, how much you have, all the square footage. And then this produced this um praph which indicates how much of each um category you're going to. So you can see that big green piece of the one:00 is academics and the seven one is athletics. The gray colors are circulation and the you know support infrastructure spaces like toilet wells and high tea custodial storage wells and whatnot. So that overall there's a lot of square footage. Um the life skills that we spoke about the career and pathway different alternate programs other than the standard academics is in that blue
041color about eight plus. Um, so you can see that's a significant part of your program currently. And the purple is the food and cafeteria and dining spaces. We did put the common space in that cage. I know that is used during lunch and study hall also. But it's also a piece that came up that was kind of something we might want to look at in the future about how we utilize that fate because it is from a security standpoint, but also just for a use space because it's a lot of space that's not necessarily being utilized as well. Um, had. So, some of the priorities that we looked at um [laughter] we're tagging in here. Um some of the priorities that came to the top that I mentioned already with the ADA the ADA um
042and security um at currently at the front door most people know who have been in the building there isn't a secure vestibule um at the entrance. So, that is something that definitely goes to the top of the space study as a priority. um the central wellness I already mentioned um the athletics and the use of the um the main north gymnasium as a central gathering place for the school that that is the only space that the entire student body can um assemble in and the different there was also some code things that that we noticed in the as well as as as mentioned about the food the code the circulation spaces around the bleachers and the accessibility of the bleachers and storage storage storage. There's like storage issues at every part of the school, but
043in particularly the um the athletics and we all know about all the storage sheds whether they're parked outside the back how those might be utilized or moving to gather ultimately shed but then storage and storage that's being used in spaces that are maybe not fully utilized like the lock rooms and different offices and whatnot that are within within the athletic space. Um there's some more on the next slide. Yeah, there. Oh, that's the locker room. So, even in the study, they always talk about the the utilization of the locker room, how the lockers are, you know, been transformed over the years, but they're not, you know, used particularly as well as they look at. Um the music program came up too as far as accessibility and also acoustics and and the space within that those
044activities have. I already talked about the common space, cafeteria space. Uh utilizing that um maybe expanding the the administration office into the old cafeteria area looking at what what student population could possibly fit in the in the large the two sort common space or and then also with media center it's kind of dwindled in size less less uh storage requirements. some areas have already been moved over for other uh academic areas um further. So there's some space there possibly going to storage or if there's need more classroom space. Um again talking about the locker room wing. Uh there's couple couple additions couple renovations that have happened over the last 50 60 years. Um, looking at all that space, it's a highly under underutilized space because it's so broken up. Um, it's kind of like a
045maze to get into certain spaces, but there is area there to reconfigure storage, make it a properly flowing athletic area. Again, we looked at some of the size of the classrooms um and what's in them. uh science room, single cramp based on how the island, the lab island situated and what furniture is in there. And then looking at the bathrooms, some of them are oversized where you could probably put more testable soligure spaces and then again Talking about storage areas that we can free up in storage could clean up some of the other states is uh Jim Jim Fer's office and one of them uh some of the electricals took one more storage about a summary of of what we have done today. Um the the next step is uh phase two will be um
046the task three which is looking at the property and the advanced opportunities the school in the town only and the fourth t part of phase two which will be really look at you know renovating versus adding additions to the existing school we're looking at new school open it up for questions Thank you again. >> On the priorities slide, um what would you say because you know you've got urgent high, moderate and low within the next, you know, five years or so, how quickly does like moderate priorities or high priorities? Is there any indication of um the timeline on on that? I guess as for looking out ahead when you're looking >> Yeah. Well, some of them I think you want to look at like the big picture to see what you might be doing down
047the road because you don't want to, you know, spend all this money just redoing the entire HBAC system. You might be phasing it out way. Um, but like the rooms, you know, just when the the the solar panels are complete with that lease agreement or whatever it is and they come off that that might be something that there were a fair amount of, you know, a lot of the divisions noticed that's leaking and some flashing deficiencies like that and that's just to keep the building and it is so that would be more of a priority and something that's probably but a lot of them were were code things that are current code but not necessarily So I I think that those some of those things could wait. Like I said, it's been well maintained. It
048continues to be well maintained. It's time, but there were a few things that were a little more of a hard out there that were and that's something you could dive into. I think it's kind of decision on going forward. >> Yeah. And I think that that the two priorities can be done over five year. They all have to be done at once. It's easy meal. When you have the smaller fundings, you can get that done. Especially as we done installment stuff, those two priorities handled over five years. They happen at year five, then it's also okay. You could do a like so we have these auditions and and is there some type of dollars that could be the numbers of what it would take to modify? >> That was not part of our study to
049have have estimates. But yes, that's a to do that because that of course is going to dictate what spent, you know, dollars of this versus >> and then in terms of your a lot of things say feeling and so I'm just trying to I guess assess what feeling means in terms of it in good shape and everything that I want to say it's not in good shape. So that's not but my impression is that you know it is a 60 year old 50 something 60 year old building and um we do have some issues and but so can you kind of define what when you talk about good is it good for 60 years old is it good because you know big decision we're going to have to make is well if it's good and
050there's some things that you know there's a few urgents and there's some high priority that we can do over some time and know is the answer say sunset our team the vision committee because let's just get him we'll fix a few things and we have a lot of years left on this this guild >> I would say it's good for his age >> that that kind of that was kind of the sum that we have >> yeah and different it applies differently in different sections Also like we do kind of a good fair or good like you said you don't have to worry about 10 15 years but depends on finishes. Finishes are good. Those are going to last you 10 15 years five years where you got to replace right away. Um like I
051said each each section it varies but depending on what it is. >> Yeah. A lot of the MEP um pieces were within within five years if they were meeting their end of life expectancy. So you could you see you kind of have this window of time where things are going to start to break down. Sort of like you know you're going to have a car if it starts to break once you fix it. Like that's getting to that point. >> You have time to act. But but for its age in particular the finishes because when it's built it's built >> this might be more I guess bucketed into phase two but based off of these findings and observations do you have a general recommendation as far as kind of next steps from Um I would
052say just we we really want to look at I think the space that you have you know based on the old I think that's a big piece because the school is a good size school right for the amount of school in it but how you know kind of thinking grant how it could be utilized better we have and can that be done and is it worth it to take the money to renovate to make it work versus starting over. And I think the study of the site, we said for the next phase, the study of the site is going to tell us a lot what might make sense to to add or to relocate. Is it even feasible? We don't know that yet. I have one follow one followup and I'm just trying to understand
053if this is kind of within the scope of what you would be doing, but in thinking through ways to utilize the space better or you know potential renovations, do you provide recommendations or look into um kind of like I guess like best practices like current day. I think one of the things I'm chewing on is like renovating our existing classrooms. Like obviously education has changed a lot since the, you know, this was built in the 1960s. The way learning happens in a classroom is a lot different now. Um, and I think we are gearing up for a p uh, you know, a phase of extreme change in in education. So in thinking through like phase two, you know, do you bring recommendations around what learning could look like in the next 10 years and what
054space would best enable that? >> Yes. Yes, we we would do that. So professor does a lot of schools throughout there's a lot of depth of knowledge of what is current thinking. So, I'm wondering about storage because that seemed to be a recurring theme with you. Do you have some easy low hanging fruit that can be fixes in that regard? >> I said possibly carving out some media center. We'd have to explore further the media center use that space and then some of the terrible locker room space. People don't use the lockers though. >> Well, classroom lockers city but these days. >> And then the other thing is the acoustics, the lighting and the airflow. Which of those is your biggest concern? >> Lighting or I would say it depends on what part of school
055you're talking about. You know, obviously the the lighting in the auditorium was a was a big one that's not working and the sound system. Um, but the air quality, I would think that's throughout the school. So, I would pick air. >> Yeah, probably air quality. And air quality does have an effect on acoustics also. So, >> Jeff, this might be for you or Eric. I'm not sure population of the school is going down now. Do we have a trend as to where it's going to like going in the next 10 years because what we don't want to do is renovate and then have it not fit the population. >> Yes. Yeah. Um >> that flat. >> It's it's Yeah. Supposed to be pretty flat now where it went down a little bit. It's hovering around
056900 just under 900. It's really not supposed to change at least in the next 10 10 years. We only go out so far with you know what those numbers look like but each year we get an update but it's staying flat staying flat. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> I think one of the things you know a couple things we're grappling with too you know dollars earlier I mean we capital plan we've got a rough estimate of upwards of about 20 million that this building would need in fixes in the next 5 to 10 years. Um, we also have a large solar array on this building which is due up 20-year um, agreement is due up in 2028. Um, and there's costs associated with we've been removing that. We're buying that. It's old. So there
057there's some other other components to, you know, that are factoring into some of these decisions too, just so we can put those out publicly. And I think I think the timing and the reason we we started this a year ago give or take is the longer we have to think and plan the more time as a town and the board of finance can make is whatever the decision is and hopefully trigger that decision that times well with the island's finances or or um what's needed. I I it is um it's definitely um challen I I I think I think he was pointing to it a little bit is is when we look at with singers back there is is if we look at our science classrooms they don't work very well right now and the
058question is what do you do with those uh and things like that that that that there's functionally that the world has changed and how do you what do you do for those um the point that Jeff made in terms of you know the roof we were just talking roof $7.5 million about 20 million over you know over boiler or there's a lot of big costs that are going to come down on this building uh in the next just say five seven years or so you don't want to put a new roof on a building and the bones and everything else are not very good. And now we've just spent seven half million on the roof. So these are the big decisions that we have Mark and Deb and Singer and the the high school vision
059that we're kind of trying to grapple with of how do we move forward which was why we had this study done of saying well let's get an independent group that's knows uh school buildings very well to get some assessment of what does our school look like. I think Lee made a really good point in relation to you know so much has changed in the world of education that you know just outlets for instance every every student has a a laptop and there's nowhere to plug in in classrooms other than a couple wall outlets you know new newer room newer classrooms have those spaces for for charging um that's just one component many changes in the education >> lots of components I think >> so I guess my only question would be is has anybody gone
060out or planning to go and look at like some other schools that are more modern and have been like renovated so you can kind of see >> you know >> yeah the high school vision committee went to six other schools in Connecticut we've also done research at other schools outside of Connecticut without visiting them >> y to get some ideas >> um you know some of the price tags on some of these buildings if you look them profits and we're they're in the hundreds some of them are in the hundreds of millions of dollars that some towns have spent. So it's it's which that is not what we're we're considering but just as you look at the scope and you say wow that looks great it's like yeah they spent $300 million on that you
061know it should look great. So um these are the challenges and we're ear we're still early in our days. It's the first we're getting to see this report. So you know I think we need to absorb this and discuss more as a committee. Um but we see >> yeah thanks Eric. Um just those are the kinds of things that I'm thinking about. I'm looking at this needs assessment with the blue pies and you know they're they're cut into equal slices, right? But they're not created equal. They all line up have a different context. I mean um I think you started to talk a little bit about what some of these you know tied to but you know security is a fine and so forth this completely different you know method to use and I'm kind
062of thinking about them in terms of you know what is the feedback and the context of their feedback in terms of are we are we um you know what does it look like today what is the needs what is the need today what about you know overlaying like what do we think we've would you know need in the future? why, you know, why are we identifying this um you know, as a need kind of almost, you know, kind of put them into different buckets and be able to, I don't know, analyze our our space needs with a little bit of a >> Yeah. Yeah. that additional context to have that lens. >> You dive deeper too that fuller study. I think there's some components in that further study that that outline a little bit more
063on some of this if I remember correctly, but um diving deeper into these areas. >> Yeah. And I mean I guess like what what would it take right you know there's different levels I think of themes to address right some of these needs and just to kind of have that data in front of us to you know kind of understand um better understand the need. Um and you know we'll be looking at dollars, we'll be looking at prioritization just to kind of help with that um the activity that process. So why don't we um so I guess this would be good to go back to the high school vision committee get some spend a little more time on this um and work and kind of understand I think a little bit more and then we
064can discuss kind of that next step. So, um, thank thank you, uh, for providing the forward and thanks, uh, for coming. This is kind of the first step in a long journey, but we we're starting to get some information, um, that will help us ultimately make this decision. Obviously, in partnership with our with our panel, just some of our board of finance and board of selection members in our first, we'll send uh the fuller study. Um, it's 137 page uh, full study, lots of pictures, but a much greater detail. This is a you know poweroint looks like it was part of a spreadsheet here but we don't have the whole >> cover that important >> yeah can I just ask one question for um so in big picture um >> what do you see as
065the time frame of when any of this begins as studies are done phase one phase two when do we really get down to actually putting a shovel in the ground and and doing some >> I'll [clears throat] give my thoughts a lot. Yeah. So >> the only thing that's pushing the time like we could say we could take a lot of lot of time take our time in this because there's nothing that's imminent. We heard from this there's nothing like urgent and these things aren't working. Um, I think what our biggest challenge is over the next five, seven years, let's just say it's $25 million of investment that we need to make, not to improve the school just as you're it needs a new roof, it needs a new boiler, it needs a So, we're
066a little worried that we start spending 25 27 million whatever on on these items in the next few years. So, the biggest one of the biggest is the root. So the roof is like 2028, 2029 that it needs a new roof. So to get here, we don't now could it last to 2930? Yeah, it's probably not last until 2035 or something. So what we don't want to we want to make a decision hopefully so that we're not putting a new roof on this school if we're making a decision to not renovate this school and to do something a little different. So I think that I mean is I'm kind of looking at Mark or any of the other ways I let me let me just >> Yeah. Let me just add two some other components.
067One being um our electrical large electrical panel box correct Chris that >> switchboard is of great concern. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Um and that goes we could be that's probably a million dollar items. So, some bigger ticket items that if they go taxpayer concerned about spending or dumping money for thinking, you know, so I guess yeah, I'd like a we could do a a quicker timeline that'd be great aligned with the roof projects as Eric said, which you know, 28, 29, 30, but um I just don't want to get stuck starting to dump money into a building that we're eventually potentially going to do something with too. >> Well, that's the dilemma as I did. And you know, one of the things that Lee said that I thought really kind of summed up a lot,
068you know, the way of the way learning happens is has changed a lot from the 60s and when this building was built and you know, we're in the age of laptops and AI and um you you spoke of the labs, how they're no longer adequate for the type of learning that students need to do. So um my concern is that you know what what adjustments can we make to to make the building more functional to accommodate modern uh learning and curriculum concepts and at the same time not throw money away uh needlessly and I think that's one of the criticisms and you know in the past that u people have been critical of how we manage the town not board of ed necessarily but in general that look uh you got buildings that haven't been
069maintain properly and I think our first duty is to maintain what we have and um before we go on to a big project but to do that in a smart way as you have said you know do we put a roof on if we're going to just you know rehab the whole building and and so I think that's one of the key uh decisions that has to be made and perhaps you know the next phase uh of of this study will help us get that answer and um and make an informed been a good decision. So, uh, this was very helpful. Um, we got one of the copies of it and, uh, >> we'll send you the full studies. >> Yeah. Thank you, K. The invite. Sorry, we were like another meeting. >> Here's here's
070a copy of the presentation. >> Each have one. Then we'll uh we'll send out so everybody has the 135 page document but >> it's it's really 20 30 pages >> of of reading. Yeah. >> Yeah. But the pictures I think were pictures. >> Yeah. Exactly. >> But you're not sitting down and reading 135 pages. But it does it does take some time. I don't know for also like the way the school is really well kept the facilities does a really good job compared to some of the other schools that we've been in stuff. So they they do do a good job. >> We'll pass that compliment on then. >> Yes. >> Infrastructure is getting very >> Thank you so much and for the board of select from the board of finance. We're we have a
071quick item on the calendar then we are going to do the budget roll over top. So thanks so much. Um next item for discussion action the 2026 public school district calendar. >> Yeah let me u let me just give a little context to the calendar as a reminder. Thank you. Um so the PDA committee the professional development and evaluation committee. Okay. Thank you very much. Um the PDA committee um which consists of teachers um parents some admin um you know it it makes decisions on our evaluation plan but it also makes the decision on the calendar to which longer. Um so hence they review that um and they uh get the feedback they meet. We had two different committees on stuff >> on this calendar. So just to give some preface you know and I
072didn't sit in a corner and we put the calendar together and say we're moving it forward. The feedback committee does. Um so we modeled uh and started and modeled you know last or the current year's uh calendar. Um, again, some feedback we've received that it it works well. We like the flow. Everybody's going to have a different opinion on the count. Believe me, they're going to look at it and they're going to say, "I like that day. I like that day." So, I know we go through this each each year. We did take off one half day for next year. So, there's one less half day next year because I know we've had questions about, you know, half days um over the years. Um, so we wanted to preface that we did take one half
073day. Well, >> I don't have to go to that. um the PDA committee um you know large consensus on you know starting off and trying to have um at the beginning of the year three days then four days then five days um it's an ease into uh the school year that's why we kind of kept that same thing as we did this past year with the first day on Friday for staff um for teachers and then Monday Tuesday for the contract we have to have those as ED days and and kids come back on the 20 come back on the 26th and there's the three days of school for kids for that first week that has just been very popular. So we try to replicate that and keep it the same. Um the last day
074of school just to kind of speak that because I know it's wonky. Um this year our school year is supposed to end on a Tuesday not much better. A lot happens over the course of the year. That's what we kind of came to a conclusion with Pak was there's there's options. you know, this past year, I think we we had kids come to school because we didn't use all of our snowflake days. Um, so we graduated. So, we can do that if we don't use all the snowflake days. Um, if we have more snow days, it's going to push the Monday beyond the three snowflake days. It's going to push the Monday out. Um, the board, we have 181 student days. The board could decide, you know, we want to have 180 versus 181 and
075graduate on Friday. So, there's varying options to the calendar in relation to that last day of school. Hence why we kind of left it um and decided as a committee, you know, too, but certainly that last day on Monday. Um we always still try and kind of follow and replicate the same schedule as learn even though there's no more original uh across districts, but we do know we're pretty tight groups out of cranking the same same schedule, especially with obligations. So I'll leave it at that. Not a big change from this current year at all really other than you know that uh that half taking away a half day for next year. Um and again we're ending on a Monday rather than a Tuesday you know and again I don't odds are we're not going
076to end on a Tuesday this coming year in uh with so that's kind of where we're at. Um, happy to take feedback thoughts. Um, but just wanted to kind of preface how that's how it's put together. >> I won't I won't there. Um, I'm curious uh to kind of Scott's point earlier around snow late days. I know how I feel about them as a parent. Um, I'm curious. Uh, I don't know how to say I was gonna say I'm curious who likes them, but that's not the right way to say it. >> I just I'm curious. >> It's a fair way to say it. >> It is a fair way to say >> My brain's a little tired right now. I can't think of a more eloquent way to say that, but I'm I understand
077the reason why we kind of have been and I get the purpose, but just in in practice, they feel really challenging for multiple stakeholders, teachers, parents. >> So, I I don't know if there's someone that's advocating very strongly for them aside from >> PC. >> Yeah, [laughter] >> I don't think anything came up to Pakist. >> No, we don't. I mean, okay, snowflakes days did not surface in discussion. Most of the time, the main drivers of the discussion at PDK are the three-day, 4 day, 5day start for kids. >> Yeah. >> Because they the committees, the members of the PD committee, especially at the elementary level, feel like that's a really nice transition for kids >> to start the school year. Um, another driver this year of the conversation was around that um reduced half
078day in March. So, we spent a lot of time talking about that um and the implications of that for elementary conferences. Um and so we did we really talked a lot about weighing options and um coming up with some alternative options for teachers who might have a number of conferences that they can't fit in those two half days. That was really the bulk of our conversation. Um there was >> nothing that I can remember about, you know, um some concerns with snowflake days or starting on a Friday and ending on day. >> The snowflake days came about, is that about seven years ago, maybe eight years ago, because there was a year we had like nine snow days. Yeah. And it pushed us so far in June, which you know, we we're always trying >>
079end the year earlier in June. >> Yeah. Um because it's way late. Um, >> I yeah, I get them in practice and I think I'd almost be inclined to not have as many and not end on a Monday and then take the risk of potentially needing to adjust if we do have a crazy winter. >> I'd be slightly indexing for that option. Um, >> do you do you know or I mean how many snow days we've had each year for the past two or three years or so. >> Yeah. I mean we we've been very lucky the last uh last two or three years. We've only had I know last year we had two um year before that I think we had two or three and even the year before that it's been minimal. Um
080we've had a good string of uh or I'm just doing a really good job calling snow days. >> Well it's a gamble in the morning but I would knock on something right. >> I know. I know say that. But uh >> is there a difference between a snowflake and a snow day or is that just >> Well, we embed the snowflake days in. So, um we if we have a snow day, then the next the first snowflake day is in February. So, if we have a snow snow day before now in February 17th, then February 17th becomes a school day. So, it doesn't get tacked on to the end of the year. >> Nice. >> Yeah. That's how we That's how we embed it. Man, we're getting too many days tacked on here. I hadn't
081heard that term. >> If the weather cooperates, you know, you could you could lessen the snowflake days. Um, and then you're just going to add more days on the end of the year if you if you have >> um I don't have a a strong opinion about snowflake days. I'll start with that. But there's one in February and one in March. And I'm just thinking like the chances that we get a snowstorm in February or March feels pretty high to me. Like what if we already have had the two snow? Like I'm thinking like well what if it just snows on it snows on that day it's a wash but like we're going to come in maybe the week before and then make up the week like >> no anything happens prior to that. Like
082if anything happens before February 17th, that becomes a school day. >> School day. >> And if anything happens between 17th and March 8th, that March 8th becomes a school day. >> Okay. But if you get a big snowstorm on March 15th, >> Yep. >> then and we miss three days then >> so then you lose the May 28th day. >> Yeah. Exactly. That's how it works. >> Okay. >> Yeah, that Yeah, that makes more sense. It was put in seven, eight years ago for that reason because we had a year I remember we had nine snow days and of course we had no stuff like this. So it was nine days on we were like June 27th I think is like the last day >> and you can only go until June 30th you can't
083go any further without special state permission to go past June 30th. So >> I just have a quick question. So in essence, yeah, we have no snow. Let's just say by midappril we could collapse the May 28th snow weekend. Never mind. >> Last one we did a couple years ago, right? We >> we gave one back. >> We were fun on Monday. We gave a day back and we graduated on Friday which is very easy to do especially for seniors. >> Typically have to certain amount certain amount of days >> you have to have 180 school days. >> Okay. >> Yeah. By law we have 181 in the county. Just it's always good to have an extra that situations where one school has had to close because of whatever reason of boiler no whatever it
084be. So um you know we have a there >> what was the discussion in the committee about starting on Monday on Friday? I mean nothing at the beginning of the year because again the community liked the three days. There was some discussion about the Monday but for those reasons I kind of gave and they're all kind of well the odds of it actually landing on a Monday or you know something. I mean we came down to the board could easily say 180 days rather than 181 and kids don't have to come. Seniors can graduate on Friday or seniors can still graduate on Friday and we can have a day for our younger students and adults from school. maybe like two three plus >> that's way too much at the beginning >> again I just this
085is what the committee would have the committee was pretty strong on that so you know uh so for the what about if instead of three snowflake days so if we went to two snowflake days then we end on a Friday and if we have more than two snow days we end up pushing to the next week anyway by the start would be a Friday end. >> Um I mean that I didn't know there would I guess my kids didn't have snowflake days. I think they were so I don't I think there's no I didn't realize that there was the negative thoughts on the snowflake days. So I didn't I didn't know that. So >> at least you know ahead of time. >> Yeah, but you don't. The other question you which is a valid point
086that you missed the the window to sign up for, you know, child care. >> Well, I've been there. >> Scott Scott made a valid point about where the snow snowflake days are located. Like we tried to kind of tack them on to either a weekend, a long weekend sort of thing. The committee um that could be I can see that has been a little problematic because people do try and make you know plans but we always have to tell them look that could become a school day. So, um, they could be wrote, they could be moved, they could put middle of the week. So, it doesn't ever tag on to a, uh, you know, a long weekend of sorts. We were trying to kind of I think was thinking about families as well. I'm trying
087to support families and we want to even with that game, it is a bit of a game. There's Yeah, I we did talk about sometimes though just the way the days fall these past few years it's been a little wonky where the start and end days are on a Friday and a Monday but I think when we look out to next year and then over didn't we do that I can't like a couple in the next couple of years it's not an issue but yeah as we move forward you know it sort of cycles through falls >> extremely yeah Yeah. So, >> I'll just wait. Someone else. >> No, no, no. I was going to try to move us to >> No, I just, >> you know, my feeling is it I don't know that
088we need to keep any of the snowflake days, but if we're going to keep, maybe just keep one. If you get rid of two of them, that pushes us back for graduation to what, the 10th. >> The 10th. >> And then if we use that one and we have to go on another one. So what we we move to Thursday? What what's I mean or we move to Friday? What's what's the difference? It's still that same week. So I I would vote for getting rid of two of them. Leave the one at the very end, but that's your big safety net because some who knows? We get snow in April anyway. So if you're going to keep one, that would be the time, I think, to keep it. And the start day for kids is
089really a Wednesday. the the morale booster might be to move that 21st professional development day onto another spot maybe where one of those snowflake days are. And that way teachers feel as though they're getting a little bit longer summer and there's only two PD days before the start of school and then still getting out without that extra time. feels, you know, I'm just throwing out there from a perception >> 20 that first one is convocation. Um and and um that's kind of our opening. The other two per the contract have to be in place >> at the beginning if they have to be in the beginning. Okay. So I guess that's you know I guess the compromise between then maybe just not getting out on that one day. But I I I think, you know,
090getting rid of a couple of the snowflake days in my What difference does it make get you get rid of two of them, you get out on Thursday if you if you only have one snow day and you you get bump to Friday if you have two and if you you know, mother nature throws you a curveball. It is what it is. Just just one caveat to lease I think made a good point that this is just a wonky year next year too with how far Labor Labor Day is on you know September 7th. So that's going to change. So we'll be able to easily get rid of the Friday piece. Um starting on a Friday um we should be able to site it back to starting that next uh that next week um or
091having everything together earlier. So I get that uh you know um coming in on Friday and then having um said yeah >> I'll try not to repeat anything that people said. I am aligned with um looking at the snow days, the snowflake days a little bit more flexibly like getting rid of one to three and um I I I you know I think what you said seven or eight years ago they were implemented and we haven't found that you know things can happen right but it's kind of like we derisked done one, you know, on the far end, it's maybe it's time to dial it back now. Um, and I think, you know, when the calendar gets approved, you have that orange box like stamped on your last day, knowing that it can be flexible,
092but it gives you, but when it's not a Monday and you back it up to the Friday or the Thursday, it's um I don't know, there's a perception that it's a little bit um cleaner. um a little bit I don't know something to kind of you know anchor the start of your summer to or you know knowing and as the school year moves on you have you know you have a better idea of of how true that is but you know you kind of have that flexibility within the same week of kind of still ending within the same week knowing you know things can All right. So, I'm gonna echo Lee on the snowflakes. They they they're scheduling nightmare [laughter] coming from the pair perspective because they do they just kind of pop up and
093you forget that they're there because you don't really plan for them in the calendar. There's no way to plan for them. >> They don't have a solution to it. I just know it is a scheduling nightmare. I don't have a solution. I don't like the Monday on the last day of school. I thank you for getting rid of the half a day. [laughter] >> Um can Mike the Pep committee >> I do have an offering of a solution to that first day of school. Could you maybe bring that 19th 2021 down to the next week and have that an entire week of PD and then have the first day of school be the 31st? Well, it's the it's the it's >> it's the same three days, >> right? You have the one, two, three, four,
094five days. >> Staff, new staff, complication staff, professional staff, professionals. Instead of starting it on the 19th, if you started it on the 24th, first day of school would be the 31st. And then they wouldn't be starting on a Friday, they'd be starting on a Monday. The >> 30th. >> No, they'd be starting on Wednesday. complication would be Wednesday. >> So you're you're pushed. The only thing is our PD concern was >> push it to the 17th. >> You're Yeah, you're pushing graduation now out to the 17th. A lot of other districts are earlier. Um >> is that with or without the snowflake days solution? I really don't >> snowflake days then pushes people late potentially later into >> but it solves the Friday. It solves the Monday. >> Yeah, >> we do have then
095the students are >> the students are going >> 54. >> Oh, they're going 445. This goes against what Ped was for yet >> because they have no varieties are really dismissing and then so four and a half and five four and a half four and five it's just a >> you could take it back to to >> recommendation back to let me ask this given I think we hadn't heard Scott's feedback and looked at this and from that is that some do you need an answer tonight on >> No but we need to make sure that this gets done no later than >> till January out in >> if we go to the December >> have this on. >> Yeah, you could do that. Um we we'd have to pull Pet together. >> Yeah, I'm
096looking >> you guys just maybe >> it's just >> I mean there's no place you could get rid of them all. you just make it then the uh whatever the Thursday whatever it is >> and but as snow days come so the only challenge believe that they need to take into account is the senior um >> party organization committee who needs to know that that that date moving around is not good for them. I know. So, no, just take that into account that they are trying to plan a graduation party and the more we've done better with giving them a good date. But yeah, if you can have them talk about the feedback from Scott to us, that would be helpful. And maybe get Scott and a few others. >> Yeah. To have a conversation.
097Yeah, >> my suggestion every year is putting the parent on the >> um >> well >> that is set by but >> it doesn't have to be the ped committee but add a parent to the calendar committee >> just so that you have parent input >> you don't well >> like we could use like our parent advisory >> council there we've done that in the back. >> Yep. >> Okay. So, we'll look at the we'll look at the snowflake day count and then we'll look at the start date um piece. Is there anything which would adjust the end? Anything else that we want to bring to PETA? >> Snowflake, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. Snowflake suggestion. I don't think any of us do, but they are a scheduling nightmare. >> That's time we say goodbye. >>
098I don't know. Uh, we've had them for seven years and you've gotten feedback. Well, I'm not opposed to, you know, it just we just have to remember it's going to tag on the end of year old. >> It's the old school way. [laughter] >> Okay. So, >> I noticed a lot of squirrels burying acorns. >> Making me nervous. >> Okay. so much to see. >> Appreciate you guys staying for that riveting conversation. Yeah, riveting indeed. >> Uh so moving on uh discussion, we have the initial review of the budget roll over for the 26 27th year. Just so everybody is aware, this is the first time we're seeing it and how we typically run this process. We get a first look where Mariana and her team have come together and roll things forward. Say if
099nothing changes and you roll everything forward with some assumption, what would it um what would the budget look like? It's typically the past two years has been over 10% I believe. Um and so just and this is the first look that we've had as a as a board. So I'll turn it over to >> perfect time. Yeah, let me I'll start it off and then Mariana chime in. >> Bless you. Um, so um at the very top, let's just kind of walk down this a little bit and give a little bit of context. We got the 2526 adopted and then the 26 uh 27 uh adjusted. So we are at right now uh as Eric said roll over all in haven't this is like fresh as of this morning really we were Midtown was still
100working on this because all the schools all the departments have pushed up their budget so we haven't even had a chance to cross check there's things that are duplicated in here between school and central office all in 8.57% uh increase um that's every position um so we'll we'll walk down in more context. So, um, going across to looking at looking looking at salaries, uh, and Mariana laid out with a major budget thrive. So, they kept it broad again because it's just just a roll over. So salaries um you could see the uh adopted budget from uh 26 department requests you know for 27 where we're at the variance the increase um percentage and then that last column is um where it says 43.36 that is the percent of the overall increase um that uh reflects
101in the 8.57. So salaries obviously is your biggest driver of the 8.57%. Now, benefits is important because we went back and forth. You know, what should we put our percent increase for benefits on? We were going between 10 and 12. We put in 12% for benefits. So, we kept it on a higher end, [clears throat] not knowing, you know, where this we don't know where the town is going to be for their number because I know they're not there yet, but we are at a 12% increase for insurance. We're absolutely hoping that number is going to come in lower. Last year, we started off with a 10%. So we decided to put it at 12%. So getting a very good closeup. Sorry about that. Um so that's uh so benefits >> minus sorry on that
102every percent 75,000 >> $75,000. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> $75,000 a percent. >> Um then there's uh contracted services. So um a chunk of that is you know some special education um services that uh that they provide um supplies, equipment, transportation um and tuition uh transportation. We got a new a um you know bus contract. Um so that uh is is up. It's about a 7.55% increase um for the uh for the buses. Um higher than what it's been in the past. And then tuition, um, a chunk of that is the special education, um, tuition. So, there's obviously some, uh, you know, some expenses in there, some continuing to outplay students, um, which makes up a, you know, a chunk of that that increase. Um, Mariana is still looking at utilities. Um, you know, we're
103we're guesstimating we went on the higher end with the utilities. Um, and then repairs, maintenance, software. A lot of those are your, you know, the standard rollovers. Um, we're down in uh leases and uh rentals. Um because with the acquisition plan mentioned earlier, we don't have to pay uh the money to the uh town acquisition plan anymore. It's done differently at the town level. We used to pay yearly amount for the uh the acquisition. So um so there's kind of a broad overview. anything I'm missing or you want to make sure we capture or mention >> that I didn't mention? >> No, I don't think so. The the the health insurance does also include in addition to the 12% an estimate of two uh two new like um enrollings because we we did have a
104few more uh that have either either waved or weren't taking insurance um mom this year unexpectedly. So I added a buffer of two. >> We right. >> Oh, I was just um couple things. So one is as we after last year's budget in all the discussions and challenges that we've had. We have built in a little more flexibility into the budget as some of our positions we hire one year position. So we have um flexibility as we hope at as as we decision. >> Yeah, we've got 16 one-year positions right now in the budget at the elementary level. Um we have so far we have two retirements that have come forward just so um you know it's clear. Um but that's am I going to say that's it? That's it. So, two retirements that we
105know of and twoear positions >> and then I think so our next budget workshop is December 15. >> Yeah. >> Um and for that if we I know you you then bring us to the next level. It' be good to kind of a list of some of the assumptions that are in here and then also um the class the rollover kind of class obviously kindergarten Kindergart is not populated yet. Y we'll have >> but rolling over the others just so we can get a get a look for class sizes. >> Yep. >> Or just a quick reminder for myself. uh the stipen for waving benefits. What is >> contract? >> The only the pair of professionals, the PAR educators have uh it's $1,425, but it's only um those that were hired I think before 2020.
106So anyone hired after July 1st, 2020, there is no uh second. Um and then I believe the custodians have that stake in can't remember off the top of my head. I think maybe $2,000 they may also be involved but that's not positive if everyone else does not get >> as per contract. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> And then the administrators have a percentage. >> I see. This is I mean probably obviously a longer term conversation um given it's a contract piece but have we tried to revisit that like this is an option you can take it you don't have to >> we had um you had done the analytics so one of the challenges is if you offer a stip number don't take it currently you're now paying them even though they weren't taking it
107anyway. So you have to overcome that. So if there's 40 people who don't make it currently and you pay them 2,000 $80,000 right off the hook. So that we did look at that when we did the teachers to say that hurdle was pretty high to say it was going to change a lot of people's minds and we we came to probably unscientific conclusion but just you know it seemed like wow that's a big hurdle we may end up costing ourselves money >> from the teachers that >> that was our analytics at the time I mean we can definitely look at it more and maybe there's there's more to to think about but that was I do remember that conversation on the T >> context. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Maybe >> I mean if just it
108makes him feel any better too. I mean we started last year over 10% when we did this. So we shared that 10%. So when we're starting off lower again everything in and I don't you know don't thank our admin members and and the teams departments that put these you know together because they do a great job with their budget substances >> I just want the clarification >> when we do our budget it's zero waste budgeting >> I'm sorry >> this is rolling over >> this is yeah that's what we have that clarification is made to zero based. So they're going to be two completely different numbers. >> Exactly. That's why >> clarify go down. We have um scheduled our meetings with each high school with each school principal as well as each department and we
109go through their entire budget. I'll have that done before all by 15 December is looking at the the title of that heading. It says department request, but really we're just looking at keeping what we have though, right? >> No. Um >> under salaries are we're talking >> salaries. Yeah. every every single position is is in there under salaries. Um our one year only positions uh all of them. >> Yeah. So but maybe I title week. >> Well, the department request is the first level of whether I we can certainly change. No, I just I I think someone who's not sitting at this meeting and gets this document, it's like, oh, they're asking for more, you know, more positions, more whatever, but really it's that number is just reflecting keeping what we have. >> I don't
110know. I just I'm looking at that and it appears as though it's, oh, we're requesting more all across the board, but we're we're really just keeping what we have, but that's the new cost of it. >> Yeah. Right. >> Yeah. So, I don't know how you put a title that says that, but it just appears as though we're asking for more the way that is worded. Yeah. I don't know. Someone else looking at the document. >> Yeah. >> Whatever. But I don't know. I don't know what word I would replace it with, but it it appears as though we're we're asking for something. >> Great question. >> Yeah. >> Have a uh comment and clarification. So for the transportation said there was a new contract that was uh >> new bus contract >> new contract.
111How many years? >> Five years. >> Yep. 7.55 a year. Oh, okay. >> That that number is not is inclusive of um for student but it also incorporates other you know special ed bands other things that >> too. Yeah. I just wanted to clarify like out loud we know that because I hear a lot of comments about buses being half empty or whatever but like we legally believe we have to offer the bus and they have to run even if Jews don't choose. So that's not something that we have flexibility on. >> Uh but I do have a question on uh and that new contract and we know that there state law that the buses have to be all electric by 2030 >> 2030 for East, >> right? So like I'm assuming this is not
112factoring that into that calculation. So that's more down the road, right? >> Yeah. I mean that legislation has to change because that's a $25 million price tag. Impossible for us to afford. Um, and you got to move the whole bus lot because it wouldn't be big enough stations and we don't, you know, find the location. And we've started, we've been having conversations for years for the in the bus, but they really, you know, don't find one. So, >> that was one that Nick gear and asking for things that we want him to work on. >> I was in touch with him. Electric buses is one. We need this. >> Oh, everybody else is 2040 and there's like 32s, I think, that are 2030s. We're one of them. Um, so that needs to change and I
113think it will it's impossible unless grant funds are going to not come back and cover entire policy. >> Just uh yeah, anything that people want to see for our December 15th meeting. So we'll get some assumptions, class sizes, >> um, and then >> will we also have admin kind of requests and priorities at that meeting as well. >> Um, like school for the specific school. >> Yeah. Um, we have a breakdown of >> all have all of their requests have it prioritized though. So I mean I guess that be a question for them like what our priorities are. No, >> it's just they submitted it unless >> we could we usually given that at the the January presentation. We could bring forward that earlier. >> Yeah, it's fine to have the January presentation. And I
114think I'd more just and obviously there's enough to tackle here, but I would like to have visibility sooner than later as far as kind of what you know >> building teams are feeling really urgent about. >> So more like the the urgency um I mean I can there's not not a lot of requests if any right now as to you know like we need to bring more teachers or need that. I mean there's we're having those conversations to look at so we'll do now as we move forward but there's not a not much sale request that we're seeing right now but again yeah so we got to have those conversations >> my request is also for January to see the line items this year not again this year multiple pivot tables and spreadsheets to create
115something presentable that at least we can look at for I have no reporting capabilities >> and that's until the town on it is >> and the years >> many years >> there's too many years >> okay >> I guess um I'd like to say the positive side Maybe it' be good as if there's a list from the administration or whatever of like potential things we could do differently that might save some money and then it be really nice although we never can do it but are there a couple things where we'd want to invest like it's really hard to get that one but it's are there things that oh could we invest in this other technology I think Kim had something year that I don't think we were able to do >> we were able
116to work out another pilot group of small a small group of teachers using a software tool. >> Yeah. >> Okay. But things like that I think are good for us to understand. >> Yeah. >> Uh to come forward that if it's good best in something that could really have big impact um you know what that's >> am I? >> Yeah. I mean I mean I don't know who >> but uh I just you touched on something that I'm I'm very and I don't want to speak out of word here but I'm very concerned about this electric bus issue and uh I I think we should maybe have a special strategy meeting at some point should be part of that u but uh you know we It's not what we should already be panicked over but
117really thinking hard about it and anything that I can do whether it's politically or otherwise that I mean to get that if we can get out to that 240 day that's what we really need and we had the unfortunate circumstance that we're one of the 2030 of municipalities so I really want to work closely with you and um you know have a subset of the board committee to try to figure this thing And I can tell you that yes, I agree and for student these bus companies aren't even this isn't even on their radar. Um they won't even be equipped to be able to do this soon. We have to find an entirely structured issue. There's so much a lot. Um maybe one thing that would help because this came up at the learn board
118meeting was there that Katie just came up and we brought that up but be good to get the number the towns that we that or especially these area towns that are required and maybe Dan you can work with some area you know yeah send something to uh to say hey you know we're collectively uh concerned about this Um because I does seem like when we do the oneoffs we just don't have >> the power to to influence but if we can collect it we'll do something >> and get Martha marks and I think we got all >> got to get lined up and because the issues are really >> we're on their deep because you know you're talking about lithium batteries >> uh you know it's one thing to have uh you know 50 gallon
119diesel tank on top of your aquifer but if you have a lithium battery that starts and fires. Uh, God help us all. I really would just uh buses lined up and that starts. I don't know what we would do. So, there's a lot to think about and I want to start thinking about it now. Not I'll work with you in any way. >> Y do you have a SEC meeting coming up or you could talk to some >> ones together? I'm going to raise. >> Great. >> Thank you. I'm great. No, that was good. >> Yeah. Thanks. >> Okay. Um, thanks Mariana and to your team and all the administration for pulling that together. Um, moving on. Um, so you're more than mot to to leave. Uh, moving on to administration reports and yeah. Um,
120nothing. I didn't have any major report. >> Thank you very much. Um pretty much everything was in the booth last Friday and I you know was preparation projects and talked to the board of finance about roof um that's underway uh more will come on some of those in the future um pass this Friday is Thursday but so yeah I don't in light of you know we got executive session this Okay, >> one just one update. Satchel pulse um survey went live this week. So, um we'll be working on communicating that out. I know that we're already got some responses directly, but for the um you know, next few weeks for >> always. Yeah, just one quick say it's quick, but um I just wanted you all to be aware that I am starting to look
121at a third party vendor for payroll. Um I have had um nothing but issues with the conversions and the trainers. They trainers I've had do not have any school uh payroll expertise and I don't even know if they have expertise in the payroll system. I know more than they do at times and I have produced in 25. So it is a concern for me. I just so you all know I didn't make this decision lightly. I'm just looking into it. I put out a survey to Casville members that have UNUNICE and it was nothing but uh just not good issues, not good support. Um one woman had to redo the payroll three times. Um, I went to a town that has um, munice. They do a lot of things manually because they just weren't educated
122on how to set things up, right? And when I ask questions, I don't get good answers. So, I just I'm looking into it. Um, and I just want you to be aware of it. >> Can I ask why why is it so difficult? Is it because white people Yeah. schedules are so varied or what is >> No, I don't think they have the people >> that have they don't have the capacity. Thank you. I just said that's the word I was looking for. They just don't I I I and payroll is such a very complicated there's a lot to it and I even looked into maybe even just staying on our current system. currently import the information but they will not let us stay on it because it's also a Tyler product and there's well
123you know so um I can't answer that question but it has been it has been I have had three different trainers it's just been um a nightmare uh the financials was a little bit like that but I am I was I've been using the financials for years and years so that wasn't big deal for me, but payroll has changed so much. I used it when I was in Norwich. That's 25. >> So when when when faculty when staff comes, do they fob in and is that like their time card? Is that how that works or hourly people or hourly employees bought in and out, but that's a a different system. We import that information. >> That's uh different. I'm talking about the processing, the taxes, the deposit. I don't want to spread. Thank you. >>
124It's my some things can be 8020. Payroll has to be on bank. >> Exactly. >> Yes. >> Right. >> Exactly. >> Uh okay. Moving on. Committee reports. You had an FO. >> Yes. You know, we discussed about the the account that we want to open and put our message into, but we're going to do is we're pretty much decision made and we're hoping to present our ideas at the December 15th meeting. So, >> or the nonlapsing account. >> Yeah, non sorry, nonlapsing account. So, uh just that's really what we did. Went over some of the projects that in. One of the things that you spent the most time on was probably uh the solar panels, what we should do, should we turn them over? Should we get rid of them? Should we have to bring
125in new ones? What should we turn back? And we are planning to replace so that it was more of a discussion unless you have any concern you would like to know my words. So anyway, or just decided how to spend time over. >> Thanks, Joe. Um Katie. Oh, it >> we did not meet. >> I think we have another meeting scheduled. >> I thought you okay. Yes. I didn't think you um >> caps this weekend. Um I haven't heard from anybody about delegate assembly, but they have some added change. subtracted. Uh can you get back to me sooner rather than later because that's Thursday and I'll need to write up whatever it is to present. Um that's see you guys there. >> Great. We did have a learn board meeting the electric buses. Um it's
126interesting. It's there's a lot of concerns. Seems like there's a number of districts in this area. But >> I think it's what if you live within a 20 mile radius of a city. There's some kind of formula that they came up with. A community justice city >> a distressed city within 20 miles you need to go to electric buses. It's it's a the verbiage is very odd. >> Yeah, they say distressed community. >> What's that mean? >> I don't know if it has something to do with air pollution and money of obsessed air city. We need to go to their buses. >> Very complicated. >> It's very weird the way they worded it. The other deadline here is a little relevant although I'll turn to the panel at least probably more maybe I don't know.
127So B um has come up with this like multi- language learner platform to help submit. I didn't really fully understand but they seem real excited about this. um that simplifies some of the administration of what forms you have to submit or something. I didn't fully understand what they're doing, but they came up with this software that they develop and it sounds like there's a lot of interest and they're even thinking of kind of making it a companybased that they would sell this product like and create the company um to do that. So maybe one of you could reach out to the to Kate or something like that and and get more information. I didn't fully understand. They seemed excited and others were excited. I didn't know what the challenge was that they were facing that
128they solved the problem that they solved, but it it seemed crystal. So >> yeah, we can talk. Yeah. >> Um >> and that is just >> for moving on to board comments and future agenda items. First leave me a board comment. We want to thank Olivia for her time on the board and really appreciate all your contributions. So thank you be from the board. So >> yeah. >> Yes. And I'll turn I think wants to say something. >> Also wanted to thank everyone. This has been a tremendous opportunity. Um, one that I'm very appreciative to have had. It's just it's it's been a wonderful experience all around reading to the kids for read across America and just getting to work with all the community and um all the different committees. So I really from the
129bottom of my heart cannot express how appreciative I am to have had this opportunity. Yeah, this whole system support um I just our future agenda that the the I want to understand the solar panels on the roof because they're talking about being gone. What is the what is the expense going to be and what is the change? I'm assuming they're producing electricity up there. What is the change going to be in our cost if they're gone? So that's that's not something we haven't really talked about. >> No, we just literally just talked about it. All everything you just said, we literally just started talking about it. So it' be good to get I think there's more need to get but I think that would be >> we can make and yeah we have some we
130talked about some of the cost versus fixing numbers but we could we could easily make it >> and we should firm up the what the savings are what the increase costs should might be depending on if if yeah options we can lay Yeah, the options. Yeah. Associates. >> Uh, so I wanted to send a a shout out to the Eastline youth cheerleading team. Uh, this past weekend, they participated in the Southern New England youth chip competition and East Lime came first in all the divisions. >> Yeah. >> From like first grade all the way to 8th grade, they came in first in all the divisions. So, that's kudos to them. Uh and also the youth football team and seniors won Super Bowl, right? So I think I bro recommend like for the cheers in the
131football to maybe some kind of Viking recognition or something upcoming board meeting, right? >> I think they make us to look good at one of the other portfolio. So and they use our facilities a lot. So like that's good recognize him in the future. Great. Our high school talked about that today. >> Yeah. >> Young and old. >> Yeah. >> I just really liked the presentations on Veterans Day. I thought that was just so tastefully done. And it's just and Mr. Kid, you did a beautiful job. I just have to say. >> Hey, you did a great job >> at at the high school and it was just so heartfelt. And you know, I remember those days. my brother was in Vietnam. So that was very very um honorable and memorable. So thank appreciate that.
132And um the importance of being earnest I saw in Friday night. That was a fabulous production. And really I I just cannot believe that these are high school performers. The kids are just stellar performers and take their lines so seriously and their nonverbals are just so powerful. The acting is phenomenal. So, if you get a chance to see a show, see it. It's only $10, so go to Barth. Thank you. >> Great. Thanks, Kate, Lisa. >> Yes. Um, echoing a couple things. One, uh, sat with Kate on the importance of being earnest. It was um, it was a fantastic um, performance. So much talent, so much memorization. There's it was a heavy dialogue performance. I was kind of um blown away. But aside from that or um I was actually when we walked out um
133it was the football game was also happening at the time >> and it occurred to me we had a conversation with Kevin when Kevin was here last time presenting. We were talking about attendance at multiple different games and all of that and you know I think he's going to come back and talk to us about it some more but you know it occurred to me we have a lot of different activities going on you know at you know they have some competing activities some timelines and all of that um which is fantastic but I wonder kind of from as a data point standpoint where that kind of you know feeds into people having to kind of pick and choose for being involved with something and um you know I guess kind of just trying to
134understand the process a little bit better and then um thank you to his school administrative employees Veterans Day invitation. I thought it actually was super validating of us holding school for this purpose on those days. um they were um different and and so equally moving. So, thank you for the really great engagement and just >> we appreciate being there. We thank you for the board members that are there. Thank you. >> Thank you for the shout out too. That was really nice. >> Okay. Um we do have need for executive session. I would like to make a motion to enter into executive session for the anticipated focus of discussion to consider security strategy or the family security importance of general 1-26 um to include superintendent assistant superintendent and security director >> spoken. All those in
135favor say I. And I pose.