001is 6:00 p.m. I'd like to call the East Line Board of Ed regular meeting Monday, October 20th to order. >> For those of you who stand for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay. At the beginning of each meeting, uh, we read the mission statement. And for those of you paying attention, you'll also start to notice there are three words in there that we're starting to include in a lot of our branding, our PowerPoint slides and things, which is inspire, engage, and educate. Um, East Line Public Schools will inspire, engage, and educate each student to become a contributing citizen and a responsible, independent, and critical thinker. We do have a
002special recognition tonight, which we're gonna turn it right over to Mr. Fulo. >> Yes. >> And uh, recognize our guests. >> Okay. Thank you everyone. So um over the past three years we've had an incredible collaboration with electric boat. So it kind of started off with our collaboration with boat per nextgen. So in the spring electric boat um train students um in three in six uh fields. So we do three nights at Graaso Tech and three nights at the community college in Westerly. They have um trained um electric boat personnel which is great for the kids. It's kind of a live different attitude there. Um and welding, electrical, pipe fitting, all these different disciplines. Um it's a fantastic student uh opportunity for students to explore these disciplines. As we kind of talk about the other
003opportunities, um we also have a hiring day. So we collaborate with electric boat with uh Westbrook High School, Old Sabbrook High School, Valley Regional, Madison High School, and we have a collaborative hiring day just for high school seniors. And one of the things is if you participate in the boat for boat the next boat program, your resume really goes to the top of the pile. So at this point um haven't had a lot of kids, a fair number of kids, but the um percentative percentage of students who are hired that day in April to work an electric boat directly upon graduation is 100%. Um and these kids really like the opportunity and the families appreciate the opportunity. So not only at the high school, the high school piece also has the uh ship program. So
004it's the summer internship uh program juniors to seniors in high school. Uh many times it's in drafting design and those type of fields. Electric boat comes in talks about the programs that are offered some other aspects of electric boat. We do a nice presentation at auditorium. Each year it seems like you know lime kids are selected for this opportunity. It's a paid internship throughout the summer. It's a great opportunity for students. Another thing the electric boat has afforded us. Beyond that, electric boat also provides a fantastic program under elementary schools, the boat for kids program. So each elementary school has um STEM instructors from electric boat come in talk about boat design. There's the classic welding of cheese and crackers. It's a big hit. And as I understand it, talking to the principles of the
005elementary schools, it's very wellreceived students and staff. And at our middle school level, we also have a sea perch program where students um in that particular club build a submersible um during class. So electric boat has just been a steady fantastic asset to the East Lime school system. A partner we're going to see moving forward, a partner when um so part of the pathways piece when a kid wants to look at this type of activity, welding, what have you, is building their resume. And when employers see that the student took the opportunity to work with like a vote for NextG or something along those lines, those resumes go right to the top of the pile. It puts our kids in a different space in the hiring space. So some of the leaders in that uh
006realm have been out of the box, Mr. William Barber, um also Elena Sylvester and Courtney Murphy. So, I'll probably have one or all you guys come up and just chat a little bit about maybe some opportunities for like 30 seconds or whatever you wish. >> Yeah, I definitely have Corgi. She's an alum here too. More exciting. >> Come on up. >> Yeah. >> Cordy Murphy. >> Hi everyone. Um Murphy. I graduated from Elime in 1999. So we're in the section of the building that I never got to be in. Um, I just really want to say I'm proud to be an alum of the slime that this school gets it. Um, we are really excited with the growth that we have. We're going to be hiring thousands of uh people in the trades especially and
007in engineering. So, the work that you're allowing us to do with you is really in um going to be a gamecher for your students and for the community. So, um, our high school internship program, the kids who come through and they get qualified while they're on their internship, they can co-op throughout their senior year. And when they come on full-time, we have a 15% increased retention rate of those kids over anyone that comes in off the street, even skilled workers. So, um, so that program is really setting kids up for success. When I graduated, I remember I went on the college track, but a lot of my friends were going right into the careers and they weren't celebrated like the college kids. So, our application days and then we highlight it with our signing day
008um where we have everyone across the um New London County come and we've hired over um 400 people last year um in high school signing days, a total of over,00 over the past four years and that's growing. We're hoping to have about 800 kids between Rhode Island and Connecticut sign on at Electric Bo next year. So that high school signing day is really saying, you know, this we're celebrating you choosing a career. College isn't for everyone. Don't take on that debt if it's not the right answer for you. And so having that pathway for kids in high school for the ones who aren't going to college is as important as going to college. So, we really um appreciate you recognizing that that pathway is important, giving that pathway to the schools and allowing us as
009an employer to come in and and have a foothold here and really make sure that people know that electric boat is a great place to work and um and so I just really appreciate what you're allowing us to do with you and we want to do more. So, um, and that's Willy's department is he's the the right person to work with to expand what we're doing. So, if you're in, we're in and we love to do more with you. So, thank you so much. >> We have some awards for you guys. >> Our tech kids, the best tool. Thank you so much. >> I didn't overly mention too, so we have a um a fantastic CAD 2 program. Students get solid work certifications and that is a direct hire an electric boat. So students could
010leave our CAD 2 bro program a direct hire into their design program since it's such a rigorous program here at East Lan High School. >> I get a photo. Yeah. Yeah. a couple EB colleagues who on our board of educ Oh, I'm gonna ask them. We're gonna [laughter] >> Perfect. >> Thank you. >> The partnership going and I mean she's kind of just to echo like I mean Courtney's kind of the >> started this years ago and she's a Eastline grat so I think that's really pays dividends to your system. Thanks so much. >> It's vague. >> We will be in touch. >> Well, thank you guys. >> And you guys can >> Yeah, you bet. >> Sneak out of here. >> Okay. Okay. Got it. Thank you guys. You have a good meeting. >>
011Appreciate it. >> Okay. And I guess we can probably move into pathways update if you wish or whatever you >> stick with the agenda. I think >> you like to have students first. >> Yeah, but we got to go with public comment and stuff. Hold on, Dave, for hold that thought. We'll we will get to you. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Next order of business is public comment. Any public comment? Any public comment? Public comment. Hearing none, we'll close public comment and move on to special reports. We have a new we have a new East High School student representative. Anna, do you want to introduce yourself a little bit and what year you're in and whatever else you want to uh tell about? Um, so my it says Anna on my name tag, but you can
012call me Annie. Um, I'm a senior here at East Lime High School. Um, I'm really involved in community service. Um, I love to play tennis and I love to do theater and sing and dance and death. Um, and yeah, I'm super excited to be here. >> Great. >> Well, thanks for joining us. Welcome. Yeah. And want to go ahead with your update? Yeah. >> Um, so just touching on the school climate and culture a bit. So, um the overall energy and climate at Eastim High School this fall has been incredibly positive. Students are engaged and supportive of one another and extremely welcoming um to our freshmen and our school environment's been very positive. Um the studentr run Spanish honor society and cultural awareness club has led impactful programming for Hispanic heritage month including bilingual announcements,
013cultural displays, and reciting the pledge of allegiance in Spanish every morning. Our custodial team is also celebrated on National Custodians Day, reminding us how much their work matters to the daily safety and function of our school community. In terms of academics and learning highlights, students are learning to take ownership of their own education. We're encouraged to self- advocate, check in with teachers about our progress, and use home room time for extra support. Authentic hands-on learning continues to be a focus. For example, Miss Helder Brand's catering students recently collaborated with second graders from Flander School to teach basic kitchen skills and make apple muffins, which I've heard amazing things about. Um, and it's a fun real world lesson in leadership and communication. In terms of our arts and activities and student leadership, um, six students were
014inducted into the Triumph Music Honor Society, which I've been a part of all four years except this year because I can't take choir. Um, celebrating leadership, scholarship, and creativity in the arts. And our library media specialist, Miss Barber, was nominated by the American Library Association to serve as a law for librarians trainer, expanding her impact just beyond the LHS. And in terms of athletics, the unified sports soccer team embodied the spirit of inclusion with the motto, if we had fun, we won, showing that success is more than just the score. Um, in terms of service and citizenship, students continue to make a difference in the community. U members of National Honor Society recently volunteered at the American Legion breakfast serving nearly a hundred guests with professionalism and kindness. Um projects like class act sportsmanship initiatives
015and community service partnerships are giving students opportunities to lead and represent ELHS in positive and meaningful ways. And lastly, our 10th annual Veterans Day tribute Assembly will be held on November 11th, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War and honoring veterans from our school. >> Thank you. >> And I heard that you are doing the IP project with my friend Melanie Greenhouse. That was really exciting. >> What does that regenerational poetry doing that? Um it's it's I think it's a fourmonth thing. I think my person is Roseanne Hardy. >> I know. I heard >> she used to be a social studies teacher. That's what I've heard. She used to teach my mom actually. >> She's taught everyone right there. >> Yes. So, I'm excited to >> A great opportunity. So, thank
016you for doing that. Yeah. >> You're not alone. There's >> Thank you. Great. >> Thanks so much, Andy. >> Okay. We do not have a select representative tonight. It's deeper than we haven't had one for a while. Just saying. >> No, you're right. >> Happy to make another >> Yeah, we fall down to invite them again. Um >> I would like to hear >> Yeah, I know we do. We haven't had great success. Um >> I'll happily number last time they were here. We haven't had one >> since end of last year. >> In like June or July, I think she >> Yeah. Nothing over the summer. want me to call right now [laughter] >> the number >> that would be >> and we should also maybe we can or that it's on their we
017have it on our calendar I don't know that they have it on their calendar so we could just >> rotate who comes >> they have a schedule >> you have the name of >> is supposed to >> every six they have like December >> it'll be something up Rosanne really appreciate what their points. >> Yeah. >> Okay. We have a consent agenda. >> I'd like to move the consent agenda as posted. >> Second. >> All of those in favor say I. >> I. Uh opposed. Abstain. consent agenda passes. On the consent agenda, we had a meeting minutes from the October 6 meeting. We also had a donation to the Pathways program from the Home Depot, sorry, Home Builders Institute, um, which in the amount of two $2,000 gift cards to Home Depot to support ELHS
018advanced construction class. So that's really cool and thank you to to them for doing that. Uh that's great. Then we have discussion actions instruction. We have the high school principal report and we have uh Mr. Kit. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. Excuse me. [clears throat] Good evening everybody. >> Um I'm excited to come here before you and share some progress on the work that we have done so far this year. And it's a nice opportunity for you all to have to interface with not just me but all our entire administrative team Mr. Fulo, Miss Chvetz and Miss Bell who um are going to help me with tonight's report. Um and the way I've kind of outlined this is we are going to stick to the three pillars of the improvement plan and just give
019you some highlights underneath each. Um so high impact teaching, student belonging and experience and culture and climate. And so far, I'm really proud of how our faculty, staff, and students have really begun to move forward, to charge forward with this work. Um, and this is an opportunity for me to kind of take a moment before we dive in to recognize a lot of the hard work that my two assistant principles, um, Julie Shvetsz and Lisa Bell, um, uh, have done this year, really kind of leading a bunch of initiatives that are making a real difference in classrooms and in our overall student experience. Um before I turn it over to Julie, Julie's going to uh cover tonight the high impact teaching uh uh portion of the report, I do want to highlight the enormous amount
020of work that Julie has done um to strengthen the connection between our vision of the graduate um and what's going on in our classrooms. Um, so Julie really has done a lot of work over the course of the last couple of years to streamline how we are collecting artifacts and streamline how um, uh, our advisory teachers are managing that program. Um, so that it's become a lot more meaningful to our school culture and just much more a part of the language of the overall um, building. Um, and that that work has really been a credit to a lot of what Julie's been doing behind the scenes. Um, and those soft skills that that vision of the graduate highlights are a big uh part of what our teachers are focused on in the classroom. Um, and
021are a big part of our high impact teaching goals this year. So, um, I'm going to invite Julie up to first talk a little bit about our professional learning arc this year, which falls under the high impact teaching portion of uh, our improvement plan. >> Thank you, Mr. >> You're welcome. >> All right. Good evening, everyone. All right. So, I am going to talk about our high impact teaching pillar. Um, this year our professional learning is centered on building classrooms where every student is present, challenged, and inspired. On September 4th, we held a half-day PD session called uh the engagement effect, which launched our year-long focus on high impact teaching strategies. And that's really going to be our arc for the whole entire school year is focused on that engagement piece and really have that
022in all of our professional development and really try to piece that together throughout the school year for teachers. So that particular day on the 24th, it began with a shared definition of engagement and an exploration of research linking engagement directly to student achievement. Teachers participated in interdep departmental and departmental breakout sessions to examine what engagement looks like, identify barriers, and explore strategies to deepen and elevate engagement. The PD that day has already begun to shape teacher thinking and practice. Departments are in the process of drafting goals that directly tie engagement and belonging to student outcomes. Here's just one example of the type of department goal language emerging from that work. We want students to feel comfortable and have a sense of belonging in the classroom, which we believe will encourage deeper engagement. Each quarter, we
023will survey students to gather their perceptions of engagement and belonging. Using this data combined with our observations, we will adapt our strategies and follow up with students who report low engagement or connection. What's great about this particular um PD topic and why we want to cover this this year is this is something that every department, every teacher um can really dive into and explore with what kind of strategies can work for them. They can reflect on what they've already done in their classrooms and really again can dive deep into this and explore this more with their departments and in their own instruction. So every department this might look a little bit different but it is something that they can um explore and learn from this year as we um go into that with all of
024our PD sessions. In addition to our professional development days, we are also working to improve how we engage our teachers through our use of Wednesday meeting time. This includes being more intentional and creative about how we structure professional learning opportunities to ensure they are purposeful, relevant, and responsive to teacher needs. A key example is our approach to professional growth and collaboration Wednesdays where we've developed a menu of options that offer flexible, meaningful opportunities for staff to connect, learn, and innovate. We've worked with our staff to develop a wide range of offerings um including a grade nine expectation summit to work on shared norms across disciplines sessions on student health mental health support opportunities for honor society collaboration and technology integration such as orbit note notebook LM Gemini and magic school AI and that's just a
025few as we talked about today there are so many opportunities for the AI that we can explore throughout the year um in addition to that other options for staff include planning for the upcoming backs for vets assembly as well as other crosscurricular initiatives like the EMT world language collaborative project. This flexible approach allows teachers to choose sessions that directly support their roles, goals and student needs. And like I said, engagement is one of those things that really encompasses everybody, every teacher, every staff member. And doing this where teachers can really choose what works for them, what supports their learning. This is what we want to try to do with those Wednesdays and make this work and support what teachers are doing in their classrooms. While teacher and student learning goals are still in draft form
026um and we continue to work with departments to finalize them for year the year, we look forward to seeing how these goals translate into classroom practice um using observations and feedback cycles to track the their impact. We very much look forward to sharing these results in the spring with you all um and to share the exciting work that um our teachers do in the spring. So thank you everyone. Appreciate it. Turn it back over to Mr. Okay, so we're going to jump into the second pillar on um student belonging and experience and Miss Bella is going to handle that. But before I um introduce her and have her come up with a few of her friends, um I just do I just do want to pause and um uh again to recognize her for her
027leadership this year. She's jumped in and she's been a really incredible partner in continuing and expanding initiatives that make ELHS feel like a place where students belong. Um one example is the club fair. It was something that I really love being a part of when I was assistant principal. Um, and Lisa has kind of jumped right in and continued that work. We had over 30 clubs. We use our lunch waves and it's an opportunity especially for the freshman to cycle through and see what um we have to offer for clubs and find their people. Um, Lisa made it a little bit more cute than I did. Um, she had better signs. Um, but um but uh with Yes. Yes. I'm gonna invite Lisa to come up and talk a little bit about our peer mentoring
028program, Miss Bella. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> Hello to everyone. Hello to everyone watching and zooming in. If you don't know me, nice to meet you. I've had the honor of knowing a bunch of you for several years. I've been a school counselor in the district since 2007. Um the CIL of the counseling department since 2017. And then another role that I actually can't wait to highlight is I've been the adviser since 2010 of peers reaching out, which is a teacher recommended but studentled service club that specifically focuses on the transition into high school. Um, through my roles, I've seen our students crave connection whether it's transitioning to high school or any other time throughout their high school career. And so, especially that transition into our high school, we all know that
029not in your stomach, you get I think I have one right now, but um you all know that when you get on the first day of school and the outfit stress, right? It's so real. I know my scrunchies were tight, my hair was was crimped. Um I needed to have everything in order. That stress happens now, but in 2025, which is it its own obstacle. Um but we know this connection is actually key to student success. Research shows that students who feel connected to peers are less likely to be chronically absent and less likely to show symptoms of depression. In fact, our satchel pulse pillars um indicates just that. So, one of the pillars is I like school. It's a student pillar specifically indicating students who report being happier are more engaged. Engagement in fact,
030shout out there. and both in terms of how they behave in school and how they feel about school on an emotional level. Um, one of our student questions on the special poll survey actually was asking the students that they agree with the statement, I belong in this school and we do have a lot of students that truly feel that way. We have a notable number that are neutral. Um, so now what do we do? We have to put some findings into action and we need to build intentional connections that make high school feel smaller and more personal no matter how many scrunchies you're wearing on your first day of school. Um, our district actually has a a mentoring program that pairs adults with younger students. So now it's time for studentto student mentoring, a space
031where high school mentors can help younger students navigate the transition to high school with empathy and real life advice. They've lived through it. Uh I have to admit I got an email from Anelise last year and I was like what does she have up her sleeve? And if you know how I dress, I'm like a big sleeve kind of person. Um but actually was up her sleeve was very special and necessary. And that's what peer mentoring is. It's an extension of the mindset that every student deserves to feel seen, known, and supported. So, we started very small. Um, eight students were identified by both middle schools, Salem and Elms, um, who might benefit from an added layer of connection. And we wanted to give these students a teammate already, um, as they navigate this time
032into high school. I personally think as we move forward we could be purposeful in that using attendance data, academic data. Um the fly has entered the chat. Um just so they could have clear parameters not for a label but for opportunities to close a gap that is recognized in the district at the high school level. I worked with some members of peers reaching out rising seniors. Um, and I have to shout out Annie, who's here to rep support her fellow here, which is wonderful. Um, and they wrote a one-page reflection on why they'd want to be a mentor and how they hope to make an impact. We then train them in active listening, um, QPR training, which is question, persuade, refer for suicide prevention, and effective and appropriate communication. After that, I personally paired the
033students with a mentee from the middle school based on shared interests and I gathered that information through some surveys. It was intentional because let's be honest, connection thrives when people have something to build on. Now, are all matches made in heaven based on my Netflix queue right now? No. Um, my reality TV says no, but our programming says that we actually stand a good shot at it. Um before the meeting, the pairs exchanged handwritten letters, a little old school pen pal, um which I thought built comfort, um curiosity, and then they met in person at the middle school. We had some team building, some minute to win it competition. I was very competitive. I found out I was not supposed to be. Um and then later in the spring, they came together again at the
034high school for a high school experience to be purposeful. walk the halls, envision that I'm gonna be a future Viking and watching them find their rhythm was one of those this is why we do this minutes. Um, and I I loved every minute of that. So, even in our pilot phase, we're seeing some real encouraging outcomes. Um, there's been consistent attendance with our middle school participants, an increased sense of belonging, and the high school mentors actually got to grow their empathy, patience, and leadership as they worked through a process for an entire school year. Um the best part some of them are they're still in touch. They're checking in with each other and it's the organic connection we were all looking for. Um I've always believed that relationships move the needle. It's why I went
035into the field that I went into because when students feel connected, everything else follows. They show up, they participate, and they truly believe they belong. So tonight I have the privilege of introducing I feel like this allstar pair, a match that really clicked right from the start. Um their relationship has grown into something authentic, lasting, and meaningful. And it's the perfect reflection of what this program stands for as we continue to evaluate and grow it. So if you can help me welcome Samantha Rhodess and Natalie Berg. They're just gonna share their >> Hi everyone. I'm Samantha Rhodess. I wanted to become a mentor because I wanted to help someone younger than me feel welcomed and included when they transition to high school. I don't know if anyone remembers, but going to high school from middle
036school is really scary. It is so you have so much anxiety. So, being able to help Natalie have a better and easier transition really brought me the joy and it gave purpose to the work that we do and peers reaching out. The experience became real when I received a letter from Natalie telling me how excited she was to meet me and be my mentee. From there, I was able to go to the middle school and spend some time getting to know her. We hit it off right away and already we were forming a great connection. We also were able to connect through other school events like the rising Vikings night and orientation. Our connection is still strong. I see her in the hallways and we frequently catch up about what's going on with sports in
037school. I am so grateful to be a part of this program because it has given me the opportunity to step up and make a change in my community and also make a friend. >> Hi, my name is Sylie Berg and I'm a freshman at the Eastam High School. My experience with the mentee mentor program really calmed my nerves and helped me ease into the transition from middle school to high school. I think it really helped me with being more comfortable and feeling more included in the high school community. One of my favorite parts of the program was probably being able to visit the high school and get a feel for the schedule and what it would be like when I eventually got up to ninth grade. When Sam and I when Sam and I, sorry,
038heard Sam, I felt like we had an immediate connection with each other. We were so in sync. When I came up to the high school, we were wearing the exact same outfit. Me and Sam built Me and Sam built such a strong connection together, and I think others could, too. I'm so grateful to have been a part of this program and I can't wait to hear from future mentor mentees about their experiences as well. >> Again, thank you so much. >> All right, and I will thank you all very much. Um, I will wrap things up here by just touching a little bit on our our last pillar, culture and climate. um which obviously the the peer mentoring I think um is a is a part of as well. Um we are in the process
039of building a new culture climate action plan. Um we've had our first meeting with um the district umwide culture climate committee. Um and a key part of our focus this year I think as you all know is the conversation that we've been having to get more anecdotal real time feedback from from students and from parents. Um so one of the things that I'm working on doing this year is launching a student advisory board um for myself. Um so I have surveyed the faculty and asked um for faculty nominations um for names of students that represent a cross-section of our student population just so I can have my ear to the ground um more frequently. Um my goal was to have seven students. Um the faculty has nominated over 45. Um, so now I have to
040figure out what to do um with that. Um, so I am in the process of ironing that out, but I am very excited about the the nominations. Um, so I will keep you posted there. Um, and I was just sharing with uh Mr. Derry and Anelise before the meeting um that I have added a new section to my weekly newsletters, a little QR code, share your feedback with Sven um so that I can get real-time comments, compliments, and concerns from parents. And hopefully um as those comments, compliments come in, I can even address those things in in my newsletter. Um so I hope um that might be a window into how parents are feeling about things. Um what's going right, what's going wrong, so on and so forth. Um we've also taken a lot of
041steps this year to make our physical environment um safer. Um in collaboration with the new director of security, Mr. hall and uh our school nurse. We have installed vape sensors in all student restrooms to include the nurses um office restroom as well as the gender neutral restroom upstairs. Um so the whole building as far as student restrooms are covered. Uh those vape sensors detect um excess noise uh tampering as well as um vape as well. So, we are hoping our students are noticing slowly but surely a little bit of a difference um in the physical environment around the building and comfortability in you know going into restrooms. I don't think it's perfect. I don't think it's overnight. Um but it's something that we really have focused a lot of our attention on this year. um
042and have empowered teachers as well um by um giving them radios when they're on duty so that they can see say something when they see something um and help us make everybody feel comfortable here um being able to attend to their studies. Um lastly, um uh the culture and climate for our faculty is important as well. Um we we're building up to our first little faculty camaraderie event. We're doing a little harvest festival in a couple of weeks um with some pumpkin decorating, cider donuts, um and maybe even maybe even an undercover faculty spirit day, but I can't say too much because we don't have students here. Um um but all all of this work together um you know what Julie talked about really with educating empowering teachers about their craft. um what Lisa highlighted
043with that student belonging and experience uh and the collective work that we're doing together to um focus on our building culture and climate. Um I'm very excited about where East Lime High School is right now. Uh the team I have uh and the energy that I'm feeling from our student body. Um so I really appreciate you guys giving us the time to just spotlight some of the work that we're doing so far. uh and I'm excited to share out further progress uh when I give my report in the spring. So, thank you all very much for having us. >> Thank you. >> Any questions or >> a comment? Yeah, I just this made my night because this is exactly what I wanted to hear from from your report starting to this kind of thing where
044mentoring the new kids coming in. Perfect. >> Beautiful. >> Thank you very much. questions. >> Well, just a quick question. >> Well, how what is the process like if there's somebody that's an outlier, somebody who's maybe not slipping through the cracks, but maybe somebody who's kind of off on his or her own and what do you do? How do you mitigate that? How do you >> I mean, I I think there's a lot of systems in place that are trying to catch that. And we're we're trying to make sure that between um our multi-tered systems of support um our early warning system that we're able to then test the data um using my peers reaching out um our service clubs or student clubs. Um you know we're trying to to mitigate anything that we can
045um the the best thing that we do I think what what I am proud of is we respond immediately. So if anything is brought to our attention, we also make sure that we have the right support staff in place. We have wonderful school counselors, school social workers, school psychologists, we have school-based mental health. So we we've been more active than ever in making sure we're also transparent with data, case loads to make sure we're reaching as many people as possible. >> I appreciate that. And the reason I ask is because we're talking a lot about um I'm not supposed to say security. I mean, you know, just the environment and helping to support and make sure that everybody's feeling welcome. So, as part of us thinking about that, I think that that is probably like
046the most difficult. I mean, of course, the learning and all of that is so important, but thank you for that >> passion project as well. Yeah, >> passion project. >> I think overall we have a very um I think we have a very kind and welcoming student body. the overwhelming majority of kids, obviously every community has its um issues. Um but I think we have a lot of students like the ones here in front of you that if they see somebody on their own or if they see somebody having a tough day, um they find an adult um and they they know who their go-to people are in the building. Um we have probably more supports in place for students than we ever have. Um you know, our our issue right now is all right,
047you know, we have all these supports. How do we maximize and create efficiencies to make sure we are um catching any of those kids that might you know be a little bit under the radar? >> Perfect. Thank you. I appreciate that. >> Oh, Vic and then J. >> I didn't have a question. I just had a comment. Um wanted to thank you for that. I thought this was a really great update and I know you presented as kind of three independent pieces of the pillar, but I think what really came through very strongly was that they have touch points across that you guys are recognizing those opportunities and um kind of keeping that interdependent. I mean to kind of weave together in a in a um whether it's deliberate or not I think there's some
048deliberate aspects to it but that came through strongly and I appreciate that. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Appreciate >> it. Vic can you hear me? >> Yeah. Just very very short comment. Uh um and I just want to kind of call out the >> We're having a little trouble hearing. When you speak loudly, we hear you pretty well. So >> I'll try try I'll try to do a better job. I'll keep my voice up. So just wanted to thank Mr. Kaid um for for the great presentation and update. I really appreciate um that. And um wanted to specifically call out Miss uh Miss Balile for uh championing the peers reaching out program. I I had heard of that program when my son went through high school. Looks like the scope of the peers
049reaching out program has been expanded and that's great. I welcome that. Um I only know a little bit about the peers reaching out program from what my my son told me when he was in high school. And as you know, teens don't share much. But even what little I heard, I was very impressed. And I'm I'm I'm very happy to see that this is this program scope seems to have been expanded. And it's giving more opportunities for students both both to serve as mentors and and and develop, you know, responsibility and is actually another opportunity for kids to learn about leadership. So thank you very much for for championing this. So that's all. Thank you. And >> the only thing I would add there is that um it couldn't happen without um the the partnership
050with the middle school. Um and and I think that has been great too um at you know just creating more of a just a unified approach districtwide and that that connection that we have to the middle school to support that transition um for the students is is really important. So I saw Miss Kelly on the line there. Just wanted to make sure that she she got a shout out there too. >> Thanks Jill. Two questions. First of all, where can I find our information about systems you have in place to reach out to students that are say standing alone in the hallway and where do you is it anywhere on the website that I can go or >> Well, I think some things are informal and some things are a bit more formal like so
051for example, I like I said, we have students who if they see somebody, you know, um in the hallway having trouble or having a tough day, they'll find a counselor. Um but you know we have weekly um we have weekly um [clears throat] SEB meetings um where school uh where well >> It's an acronym um really what it is it's it's a catchall um for students social emotional um >> okay got that one. Okay. So, it's a catch-all really for um our school counselors, our social workers, our school psychologists to problem solve, troubleshoot students who are dealing with attendance issues, behavior issues, uh engagement issues. >> There's no policy or anything. It's just done what you've done and you all know what you've done to create to rescue students or to be inclusive for all
052students. >> It's a part of our overall MTSS program. Um, so you know there's there's students that we provide interventions who are struggling with reading, but we're also trying to catch kids who are struggling with school avoidance or attending school or engaging with class or having behavioral issues as well. >> And the last question is I >> sure >> with peer peerto-peer or whatever when they wrote notes to each other, did they handwrite them or were they typed? handra and I just think it's it's so much better. >> We couldn't wait to see each other's >> handwriting. Kudos to you all. Goes to all of you for doing that. Handwritten is so important. >> Okay. >> Thank you so much. Oh, Olivia, sorry. >> Um, so this is from when we were discussing high impact
053teaching. I am interested in more information about um the crosscurricular programming that you're doing especially I think I heard EMT and world language. >> Yes. >> What is that? >> So so well what we're trying to do we have a Wednesday meeting set aside every month for professional growth and collaboration. Um, and what I am trying to do is formalize that as much as possible, but gives teachers the freedom to use that Wednesday truly to do what its title professionally grow and collaborate with one another. So, one of the collaborations that came about last year, Dave can speak to, was a collaboration between the EMT program and some of our global language teachers, Miss Garcia's ECE class, I think, um, where we had students who were the patients speaking in Spanish or Mandarin, and the
054EMT student had to figure out how to communicate with that patient who didn't speak the same language as them. So, you know, uh just a really exper experiential learning. So, that Wednesday meeting time can be used for those parties to collaborate and plan this year's event. Um that Wednesday meeting time can be used for our um global language honor society advisors, our music honor society adviserss, and our national honor society advisors to get together and create norms around the application process. So things that teachers don't necessarily get the opportunity to network on during the school day because they're in their department or they're working with their PLC group trying to set that side um time aside um at least once a month for them to be able to do that. >> Wonderful. Thank you. >>
055You're welcome. >> 40 kids. I'm just gonna I know I I'm not an educator, but be could we have two groups of stu two groups of students that basically give you feedback about what's going on if you have that much interest? >> That's what I got to figure out. Jill, I'll take any Miss Greeny. I'll take any um Keep going. >> I'll have I'll take any advice you have about because originally I was like seven to nine kids on this student advisory board. That would be a good number. Um but now I'm like well I have 45 um students nominated so maybe I just maybe I take and do two listening sessions a quart you know so um I have to iron that out but certainly open to any um ideas you might have because
056I was very excited to have that number of students um nominated >> just be sure it's a diversity >> yes >> students >> whatever you do I know we have some really high achieving students in our school so be sure it's a diversity say that please. Sorry. >> No, no problem. Yeah. >> So, speaking of ideas, just let me think of something. So, I I work at Southern and we have a really strong peer mentor program and one of the things that we do is place some of the juniors and seniors with a freshman class like introduction to college class. So I was wondering maybe you think maybe you've thought about this like putting some of those juniors and seniors that are the mentors maybe in the advisory sessions for for freshmen and get that
057those connections going that that like >> what we do uh you know in my class I teach one of those at the college level is we have the peer mentors talk about like time management and study skills and things like that that they learned over the years and it kind of it sits better when it comes from them and not from me. >> Yes. And um Miss Kelly invites um each well uh I can't remember we've done it a few times at the middle school the past couple of years. Our seniors group of our seniors will go down to the middle school to do Q&As's on the high school transition. Um but similarly um we certainly could use some of these upper classmen to help out and our advisory group is a great idea. Thank
058you. Thanks so much. >> Thank you very much. >> Thanks so much. >> Very nice meeting you. Nice to take care. >> I'm feeling depressed. I'm going home. >> No, I just think it's wonderful because when I was in high school, there was nothing like that. You figured it out on your own. >> We cleared a room, huh? >> Dave and Dave. Crowd's gone. So, next on the agenda, pathways program update. >> It's a positive subject. >> Okay, I'm back. >> Be excited to hear what you have to say. >> Um, so I gave a everyone has a handout of more detailed information. Way too much that amount of detail. I guess out of the box I'd say that because we have such good uh representatives from East Lime High School, um, that's why these
059relationships uh, grow. So out of the box we start off with EV in one program before you know it we have a full complement of programs because our students have been such good representatives of East Lab schools. So just to go I know just a few um so something that's really interesting it's an interdist intra interdist collaboration which seems to be um gaining a lot of attention at the state level honestly. It's how um East Lime is working with Waterford and Old Lime. So, as you know, our EMT program probably one of the best in the state. We're bringing in students from Waterford and Lime Old Lime on a tuition basis. However, when we looked at data the last two years about pathways, the one thing that pops up all the time, the students want
060to see an automotive class. That's what they all want to see. So, we partnered up with Waterford High School. So in the morning we have um first semester three students participate in their um automotive class in the morning and second semester will be the same thing. So we kind of have a little tuition swap going on in that respect. U we provide transportation for the students returning to East Lime High School to get there that early in the morning. Um they themselves or the parents drive. Um but it's great honestly it's something I think the state is looking at is you know looking at hub situations or just as a model for other districts to look at and everyone's cooperating in this process their um attendance people everyone has cooperated it's been just a win-win
061so far very seamless such fun so far um talk a little bit about the EMT program so I sound like a broken record but I've been an EMT certified for over 20 years. I write some books on technical rescue skills. Every two years you have to research your EMT, so I have to see a new instructor. Um there's no one better than um Mary Toronto. And the program that we have now is honestly one of the best in the state. um a little data. We'll get more data at the end of this year, but right now the um percent of students who pass the national uh registry EMT class is higher than the than the national average. Most of those um people participating in that class or test are um students who already graduated high
062school. So, we're above that national average for the pass rate right now. Um we have some great collaborations coming up um with the Army National Guard and all types of things. Um for me what's really kind of interesting this year is our global collaboration. So again we've talked a little bit about it but to see um our students um try to assess students who are uh non-English speakers and it was something that a lot of prep went into Mrs. Garcia and Mrs. Toronto collaborated. They had all kinds of visuals and cards for the students utilize that show different uh ailments and and issues. Um we'll probably more than likely have New London High School participate with us and maybe some other districts. Honestly, it's a model program that I'd like to see some high level
063state recognition this year. Um along those lines, uh Mrs. Toronto and I um consult with different school districts and workforce boards who are interested in this program. One of them was with uh West Hartford public schools talking with the West Hartford Fire Chief. We got this idea of a statewide summit. So um it'll be at the Connecticut Fire Academy. Mrs. Toronto and I will be one of the speakers and we're hoping to get some more public safety pathways opportunities going on. I'd love to see like an afterchool firefighter one class. Again, it'd be collaborative. Um, forgot to kind of mention with the EB opportunities. Um, I invite students from Limeo Lime. I invite students from Waterford High School to come with our cohort as we go to those opportunities. Same thing, we invite surrounding districts
064because it's always a win-win situation when we do that. Um, cyber security. So we started with the cyber security um program with the Army National Guard. This year we piloted a cyber security class. Um 17 students enrolled out of the box. Um Mrs. Pritco was given time for the curriculum development. It's another program that I see in the next couple years. Ideally we could be like the forefront of state as far as program. Um, Adventure PE this year collaborated with the Army National Guard over at Stones Ranch. Um, you know, these are nocost experiences and also these are really good role models, the people they have facilitating the these experiences, youngish people, um, polite people, professional people, and I just like the collaboration. So, it's it's a great win-win thus far. um because of what's
065been going on in East Lime in terms of pathways, I'll again I'll be presenting in November at the Connecticut Association of Board of Eds. Again, kind of looking at some of our interdist initiatives and some of our successful collaborations. Um last year into this year, I work on a state committee for industry recognized uh certifications. Uh the kind of important piece with that is um I also do the Perkins grant writing. So this year the IRC's the industry recognized certifications um are in the Perkins grant funding starting this year. Meaning that um for instance there's the serve safe certifications. So our um honors culinary class we can pay for their all their serve safe certifications through Perkins grant. We have um that I have our our edrising club and other students who are interested in
066educator educ educator prep. Uh we can pay for the parapro assessments and then offset some of the EMT costs like a CPR certifications. So um and we'll see how our education pathways kind of pans out over the next couple years. I think we have a lot of capacity again to make one of the state's best programs. Um, so we we're collaborating with the Patagansit Art Center. They were here today after school. So we have their lead artist. Um, some really high-end artists working with students in the building who want to look at building portfolios, interact with real professional artists. These guys have amazing portfolios. They do all kinds of murals, all kinds of high-end work. They bought the Girl Scout camp property over by Patagansit. So, they're remaking that into an art center. They've been
067very gracious um about inviting us over in some of our specialty programs over or um individualized instruction. No cost. So, this is a great opportunity. This current class is no cost as well. Um Mr. Breing. So, uh, after some work, some curriculum work over the summer in consulting with some other school districts, we're we started to initiate the home builders association curriculum this year. Um, we got grants to fund the curriculum purchase. Mr. Breine was trained up on that curriculum over the summer. This curriculum is a collaboration with the state department of labor and Home Depot. So now students in his advanced construction class can count some of those hours as pre-apprenticeship work. So if they're looking to be an apprentice in some type of um industry, um they can start counting those hours. And
068it's a great collaboration with the Department of Labor. Home Depot just kicked in $4,000 for any tooling we need to um use at that class and materials. So that was another win-win. um more curriculum. You know, we kind of keep an eye on our dual credit offerings. Um just trying to keep them up to speed. Again, East Lime's a leader in the area. There was an article a couple years ago, one of the newspapers that talked about dual credit opportunities and East Lime was at the forefront. Um we added another class this year with Mrs. Green. Um it's a Three Rivers College Career Pathway financial literacy course. Um, it's a year-long course, more comprehensive. Um, there's a credit offered through through Rivers and when you work with a college and career concurrent offering, again, that
069opens up Perkins funding. So, a couple years ago, um, Three Rivers gave us a large amount of funds to redo our CAD 2 lab. So, just opens up those type of funding opportunities. So, those are kind of the big ones. There's a whole list of other things going on. Um, some collaborations that will continue. Um, you know, look at the Yukon pharmacy that more or less East Lime School started and now that's kind of a regional thing Yukon does. Combat medic collaboration we did with the National Guard with Mr. Kid is one of the victims was very fun. Um, but we'll increase that more than likely too this year. Um, last year we invited New London schools. will probably invite another school and have more opportunities and more access to those sites. So that's uh
070the short version. Uh there's a lot of stuff going on. I think there's a lot of good opportunities for kids right now at Islam High School. >> Jamie, >> I just want to say thank you. This is amazing and I love what you're doing. I just, you know, cannot say how much I appreciate it and admire it. Um, I love the regionalization aspect of it that you're using resources in the area, sharing resources, that kind of thing. And then, um, I loved what you are doing with the EMT program. I know Ed Wido was really proud of that and that was really, um, impactful. Um, my question is, how many students, um, like >> in EMT? >> No, no, no, no. In the entire Pathways program, how many? What do we have any idea? >>
071Count last year, it was kind of in the hundreds. maybe start to look at the field trips like uh this week going I think to the Lee company a group of kids from advanced construction last month we had groups of students going to the manufacturing fair at Dodd Stadium um the senior academy went some construction students went we just had 24 students at the EMT expo there's 24 students in the T class um we have our career concentrations program we currently have actually 70 students applying to that program. Um I guess it's hard to say. I know there's pockets everywhere. I feel like in the spring the seniors start clamoring to my door where you know and tell them about electric boat and all these different opportunities and then you know March they're at my
072door you know trying to sign up ahead of time as fast as they can. We have the Ferman's garage early bird going on. We've got the We just had the um this week we finish up two more nights at the National Guard um TASM facility. That's where they repair all the military helicopters in the Northeast. So I have a group of students uh taking a military vehicle repair class this week as well. Um >> phenomenal. So it's just grown so exponentially. Three years. Is it like three years? >> Only really solid three. >> Solid three years. >> Not that long. And >> it probably took two years to get through the door with the electric boat, but once we got in the door again, we had good representatives that we brought. Um, and they, you
073know, just welcomed us from there. >> Kudos to you. Thank you for all that hard. That's a lot of >> kids welding cheese and crackers at the elementary. >> Yeah, >> they started early. Thank you again. >> Thanks, Kate. Katie, >> I just want to say I wanted to exactly say what Kate said. what this program has just flourished and grown and just become like a like this model that all the other schools want. I hear them chitchat. They try to steal you and that they want you and they want your programs [laughter] because what you've done is just phenomenal for kids who want to go to college, kids who aren't collegebound, just the student population in general. What you've done is so amazing. Um, I'm gonna flip over just because I work at EB.
074So, I'm just going to say that they just put out their Rex for the summer >> for all the um the interns, the high school interns. Ebcareers.com. They're due the 31st though of this month. So, it's a quick turnaround. >> Current or summer? >> They're summer interns. >> Okay, we'll put that out. >> So, but they're due the 31st. It's a very quick turnaround >> because usually we have in the spring they come and do a big presentation because there's another open >> there is another open period but this is for summer internship for the current juniors. They'll be seniors in the summer. So this is for that. >> Um and I I know I can speak for the se this the student we had last year in my department who's a senior this year.
075They did offer him a job at the end of the summer. This year well he's a senior. um see if he could do like a co-op. I I don't know what came of it. I'm not going to say the student's name. >> Oh, the uh to do a internship this year. >> Yes. Well, he's still a student. >> Yeah. So, I mean, they he did phenomenal. >> Um they all the managers and supervisors were talking very highly about him and so were the other workers about how well he was. >> Yeah. I know. So, as I understand it, East Lime High School is the first comprehensive high school, meaning not a trade school to be offered internships for students. >> Correct. >> So, um, whenever our students actually have to go there's an English class
076and >> that's what I said. They're like, Jamie, can you do anything? I'm like, listen, they have to go to school. [laughter] >> They want them there next semester every day from like 8:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. >> I know. That's what they told me. And I was like, I don't know, guys. swingable. Um, but it does it says a lot from what we're we're putting out, what you're putting into our schools. So, it's it's great. >> I think it for some students, I think it will be reasonable moving forward. Some students are way ahead of the game. So, we also have our cooperative work experience program that that's going as well. Um, one of my favorite interns, honestly, is an internal one who works with our tech person, Mr. McCarthy. She's meant for the
077job. Anytime EB comes in when I do presentations, she handles all the AV equipment. She's my go-to person. This is what the student really wants to do. It's really connecting her to the building. So, I was up with her today, Molly. She's just fantastic. We have external ones, too, but this internal one to me is just such a winner. >> Thanks, Jamie. Olivia, >> sorry. >> Thank you so much. Um, yeah, this is really amazing program that you've put together. So, I was curious about the automotive class. What What are they doing in the class? Is it >> There's a picture on the very back of them. >> Yeah, that's what they're doing. >> They do it. What is that? >> Um, changing oil, I think it happens. So that's an Islam student, Christian, who
078is one of our students over there. So Christian um took advantage of the military vehicle repair. I'll see him tomorrow night or we leave early. We'll be there tomorrow. He took advantage of our Ferman's garage early auto class. He has a strong interest in auto. He's considering electric boat. So we'll see. But he's just uh perfect for this program. He's been fantastic. >> Is it? It's from the at the garage as well. That No, that one's at Waterford High School. So that's um >> different Waterford High School. They've got the car lift. They've got Yeah, they've got equipped space. >> So that's a Waterford high school teacher, Mr. Bono, who teaches the Waterford uh automotive class and that's one of our students interacting at class. >> Followup question is that is it all like commercially
079available like cars you would buy that they're working on? Are they learning about like >> Well, my wife's car has been, you know, something [laughter] A lot of times it's honestly student and parent cars that need work and it's actually kind of authentic. It helps out when a student, you know, need some work on his car. One of the best things to me about um Burman's Garage is one of the big life lessons there for a relatively little sum. They will um go over a car you're thinking of purchasing. So, if you're a student who's looking to purchase a used car for like a $100, they'll go through the whole thing to let you know if it's a good idea or bad idea. And that really saves students. >> I was wondering, you grew up
080in Pennsylvania, so being a mechanic that works on diesel equipment, farm equipment, small planes, maybe here it would be applicable with like boats. Um, so that I I didn't know if that was something. >> I'm obsessed with that. So, yeah. So, our last year we brought in um spacing his name, he owns one of the marinas uh locally. Um, we have some students who've worked with him. >> Was it Todd? >> Um, Scott Bodin. Scott Bowden, the owner. Um, I'm a big boater. Um, I I think there's lots of um interest in the marine space. uh Three Rivers has kind of a marine certificate at this point, but Scott, if you're willing to work with him, it'll take you and and these folks, there's pros and cons of Electric Boat. You know, a pro is
081they're great. We love working with these guys. The con may be if you're a local business person, maybe they're taking some of your folks. And so I've learned that the local folks like Scott, if you show an interest, they will they'll subsidize all your training for diesel mechanic, Cummings engines, all the certifications to be outboard mechanic certified fiberglass, all that stuff. So if you're willing to put in time with some of these locals, um same with Ferman's Garage, they will really treat you well and they're they're willing to invest time. Um, our a student was just hired to EB this year. He wasn't 18 until this October. However, he worked at Ferman's. He he took a Ferman's class with us in the morning, so they took him on for that bridge time. He's a very
082hard worker, but he'll be going to EB soon as he turns 18, I think was last week. So, so the locals have been great with us and they're willing to put in a time with East students. I think EB as well because I think part of it is so we do a lot of welding experiences with like Porter and Chester. Sometimes we work with Carpenters Union in Wallingford. Um we're probably going to do a collaboration with Westbrook High School this year using their facilities. Um but in my mind, you want to be a welder. Um and you go to East Lime High School, which is a more comprehensive education. um you're going to get the taste of welding and then from there they're either going to train you at the facility or you do a
083Porter and Chester collaboration for six months and now you kind of got the best of both worlds. You have the skills to maybe be the manager of the welding department. Got just to in my mind a greater level more opportunity if you take advantage of a comprehensive school in what they offer. Yeah, it's a really amazing program and beneficial in a lot more global context and community context than just students futures, but I think it's beneficial to the whole community. So really really appreciate it. Thank you. >> Sure. Love it. >> Thanks. Jill, >> are you working with any of the unions like the electrical union, the um I'm going to say pipe fitters? Uh >> mostly the carpenters union. they were kind of easiest to work with. >> But I think the training for
084us has been the electric boat partnership, the Porter and Chester partnership. >> You haven't contacted We haven't contacted you. That's just not your cup of tea. >> I think it's a great opportunity. It's just off and on how it works as far as training opportunities for kids. Certainly, we'll give them the education. >> Journal of Construction, I think you went with that. during construction, like I said, the Lee Company, some other local companies. Um, >> I know some of the unions are clamoring for young people, >> but again, I don't know how that I may be a bad suggestion. >> No, no, we I I went down that road a few times. And as far as just the free training opportunities that were offered to us, um, other avenues seem to be a better avenue.
085I think once you're trained, you want to join the union, go from there. We have great conversations with the Carpenters Union about all the benefits of joining the union as far as medical. >> All right. Just cur Just curious. And you deserve a Viking balance. >> I'll take a coffee. Olivia is taking another bite. >> Question. [laughter] Um, how do you find the partnerships? >> Runing around um off and on. you know, I've had a lot of lot of nose. Um, I found that so that we for years we did the C.WE and I used to be in charge of the coastal program. That was part of the program and I'm I'm finding that our high impact partnerships like electric boat, like National Guard, and these type of folks to me have more bang for
086the buck. Um, it's a little tricky to match the student with exactly what they want. the student approaches us with an interest in any local business, we support that student. If they wish to have a credit opportunity, we have a a C.WE program, cooperative work program. So, we'll reach out to those companies. We trying to put the onus a little more on the student as far as looking at those business opportunities and then I kind of take the onus on National Guard, electric boat, that type of stuff. So, >> so unlimited options really >> and we do have people reach out often on so often on put out a mass email about a company locally who's looking for a student employee. We'll put that out there. Whether the student wants credit or not, it's up
087to the student. We'll support him either way. Alisa, >> I I just had a couple of questions. The first one maybe is more of an observation. Um, thank you for this update. It sounds like this has grown like exponentially since we first started hearing about the initial partnerships and I I think I heard you talk about um and I think some of the partnerships are established as that. So the students will then kind of have a program to follow. Um there was a class I think where did you move to the adventure PE class where it it sounds like it wasn't designed sort of as a partnership like these kids are taking the class anyway right and I think this was a opportunity for kids not in a partnership per se right but kind of
088putting it into the classroom or am I >> kind of a big national guard partnership that we have so you know we have a ropes course on site um for the adventure PE students, but it was quite kind of a unique opportunity to have professional folks like the National Guard have the students go to Stones Ranch and have these guys facilitate that opportunity. So, that was part of our partnership and that was just a bonus of that partnership. >> Gotcha. Okay. No, that's fantastic. Um, thanks. Thanks for uh um explaining kind of a little bit more in depth. And then my other question for you was in terms of um are you seeing interest kind of across you know equal kind of interest across grade levels across you know boys and girls kind of looking
089to get involved in the different offerings. >> More and more I'm getting requests from like eighth grade students, ninth grade students. I typically meet with them a lot of times one-on- one seeing they're curious about what the high school has to offer them ninth grade students and parents who are curious they're looking at a different path and maybe they're looking at maybe not particular college path but they want to know about the opportunities that we offer here at East Lime High School and I'm kind of big about uh resume building so I kind of sketch out their four years and this is the first time honestly I started taking freshmen into the military vehicle repair class because we have students I used to wait until they're seniors because I thought they'd know a little more
090what they want to do with their lives and such. But now these freshmen really want to get these hands-on experiences early. I think it helps them connect to the building and they get more in my mind a little more motivated to be part of East Lime High School. So I think I definitely see the the students and parents asking at a younger and younger age. It's really encouraging and um you know and I think probably equally important because you know you have of have your college track kids that have like literally planned out every single semester that they have going through you know going through high school. So I think it's kind of um you know looking at it from that lens kind of to broader population of students and getting to them earlier. >>
091Yeah, it's kind of different. We are planning out their track but just a little more in the pathways realm. >> Interest from what you're seeing or >> it goes back and forth. I think more males maybe in EMT last year. Now it's mostly female. I think the nursing thing is really attractive to some of these students. It sets them up so well. Flip side, we have one student who's going to be an EM, he's going to be a ski patroller, know he wants to get the EMT shirt for that. We have premed, we have nurses, we have potential PAs, we have people want to be lawyers in the end, but they want this experience. So, I've seen all kinds of >> Thank you. >> That's great. >> Okay. Anything else I can answer for you
092today? >> Thank you. I mean, >> thank you. Great job. Appreciate all you're doing. Thank you very much. >> Thanks, D. Um that was for Vic because he just dropped off. Oh, we did. Um in case you need to leave. >> So uh we do have for executive session. So we want to >> I would like to make a motion to executive session for the purpose of discussion to consider security strategy security personnel or devices in accordance with Connecticut General Statute 1-200 parentheses 6 to include Superintendent Newton, Assistant Superintendent Basiano, Security Director Hull. That's it. Okay. All those in further discussion all those in favor say I. I opposed abstained. We're better serve to get up and go to next New York. Yeah. So we can lead the and you know because Chris is going
093to stay on. We're going to send the principles on their way. Uh Henry's going to go home. Um go home. That was cute. or discussion of the aquatic center roof project. Yes. So, we're bringing this back around um because we had submitted everything to the state um the Department of Administrative Services and they got on a call with us after reviewing all of our information and they denied the reimbursement of 40%. because they consider the natiatorum, like they're calling it a natiatorum as uh similar to a turfield or a tennis court facility. Um even though it's attached to the building, >> does this take place in there? >> Even if classes take place in there, we we asked the questions. Um they said if you were doing the entire roof, bicycle roof, then it could
094qualify as far >> not due for another four or five years. And we don't even think we're going to do that if we're going to do something else with that high school, this high school building. Um Chris, what am I missing? Anything? Uh uh I had the you know, depending on what everybody's questions may be, I have the full timeline, but you know, just synopsis, I guess you [clears throat] you're pretty accurate, Jeff. The only other thing is, you know, you mentioned at the end there, you know, we do have the vision committee, you know, is ongoing now to see what the high school is going to, you know, the future of the high school. Uh, if we weren't going in that process, the first time that a section of roof is due is 2028,
095uh, which is the, uh, B-wing and other portions. So, that would be another three years out that we would be looking to do additional roof work at the high school. So I just want to make sure so just to ground everybody the what we had approved or discussed was 2.4 million to replace the roof. >> Remember we had put it out to bid to fix the roof. Nobody bid. We put it out again. Nobody bid. I'm I'm just shortening the timeline back for more money >> and then we went back for more money and and all. We ended up um with 2.4 million. But the 2.4 million we thought was going to be more like 1.8 1.9 whatever 40% of whatever qualifies. So >> eligible cost. So we were >> in the lower amount. We're
096now at that it's 2.4. Now Chris correct or Jeff this is what we think it would cost. We you know we could put it out to bid. One is no one could bid or two people could bid but it could be much higher or three someone could bid at 2.4 but also have things well if things happen it could end up growing from there and it could end up 2.7 or 2.8 or or whatever. >> Right. All three of those are possibilities. That's correct. Yeah. The 2.4 four is where we sit right now with the opinion of probable cost from the architects that did the work which includes some portion of contingency but like you just said Eric it could be could be more could be less you know tariffs right now are driving steel
097prices this is a steel roof um so all those options are indeed possible >> so what you're looking from us is do we have an opinion on >> what we should do. Should do people want to push forward knowing it's going to be have even funding to cover 2. >> Yeah. 2. Yes. Because you have to fund the full amount and then the reimbursement. Exactly. So it's fully funded, but in all transparency, we need to go back to the board of selectment and say, "Oh, by the way, >> you've approved 2.4. However, you have to know that you're not going to get reimbursement on this." um and see how they react to it. But really, the board of ed should make a decision first. Um do you want to delay? Do you want to look
098at other options? See, you know, I mean, stuff is falling from the roof. It's it's not the prettiest site. Uh maybe >> I hate to ask the question because Mariana is not here to answer it, but we had a the big gym, North Gym, is it called the North Gym? um done >> 15 years ago >> the roof done >> and I'm assuming we got reimbursement when we did the gym roof 15 years ago >> even though I believe >> the gym roof and not >> if I can jump in Jamie I I believe that there were other sections of the high school were done at the same time so that um and that was the state's issue is if you're doing this in addition to other work, it would very likely and they wouldn't
099commit, but it would be very likely um eligible for reimbursement >> roof at the high school to get done at the same time. >> Show that you're doing Yeah. some other portion of it. >> And no, well, that's why I said, you know, the next time that we're due for additional roofing work is in 2028, which is the same time that the PPA runs out on the solar array and we're taking it off. So, um, that is the next time that we have high school roofing work currently planned. >> So, a few options just to kind of throw out there for people to think about. I don't know what Chris or Jeff think about these but so one would be kind of complete oh extreme complete um I don't know how much a new building
100is but $3 million is a lot of money to spend on a roof ridiculous amount >> you know if you think you're building a warehouse a little better than a warehouse warehouses go up pretty darn cheap I don't know how much it would be to demo a building and just price out like building a whole new structure >> On top of the pool, keep the pool. >> So, that's that's kind of one extreme that we could do. >> Makes sense. >> And the other extreme >> would be um buy a lot of cement, fill in the pool, knock it down, and not have a pool anymore. I'm just giving kind of these are extreme options, but those are are options of of filling in. Then we get into the in between. I will tell you
101where and and Jamie, you brought up a good point. I don't know if there's some option of part of a roof that we could do that then would I mean >> does the auditorium need a roof? I I don't know if there's something that we can research. It's something and and when we look at the high school committee, >> you know, we may keep >> Yeah. >> Well, if we're keeping if let's say the new wing kept >> that's I don't know. That's that's hard to Yeah, that's hard to So, I don't know. I don't know if there's anything creative that way. My p well lastly, my personal concern is I'm worried that 2.4 turns into three. Uh and and once you start taking something off or renovating us, you don't really know what you
102get until you start doing stuff. >> We couldn't do it too. We'd have to go back to the town for more money. >> Yeah. Yeah. We could an option is for us to defer and just work. There's a window now that we'd have to put it out to bid because we can get someone who can then replace it and put it in the if I have this right. For the summer to actually do the construction if we miss that window and that window is closing in weeks probably >> a little bit of time. November we were >> November's >> we wanted to we wanted to have it out for bid and have bids in right after the holidays. So we're looking to award by end of January. >> Yeah, November December. >> Yeah. So it's
103you have a month or two. You don't have a lot of we can def and if we miss that window it's not getting done this summer. We're we're kind of into the next summer anyway. >> So an option is defer as well. But those are that's what I had saw as the you know potential options. Um Kate, I'm sorry. Yeah, Kate, go ahead. >> In Nebraska, um there was this woods complex center and I can pass my phone down. I just looked it up. It's kind of cool. It's like this tennis center. It's like this big. >> It is a big bubble. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Is there And Dr. L, maybe you can speak to that. Do you know like what I'm talking about? It's kind of a cool concept where they just have
104this great big huge giant bubble and maybe that could go over the tennis courts and >> some of our outdoor facilities if that would be something that would be I don't know. I'm just I I do know I I am familiar with what you're talking about and actually Diane when we're looking through some options she brought that up as well. Uh other than being familiar with it I don't really know too much about those types of systems. I I do know back in the day I did look into at one point for like soccer, lacrosse, putting in a turf field and if you bought a place and you put a bubble in and how much it would be but that included everything and this is dating myself. It was probably like four million but that
105also included that was kind of all in of other stuff. I don't know how much because we're just asking for the bubble part of it. I don't know if that's a million if that's a million dollars that would be great, right? Um there's something we can >> so I think we need to to your point are there other options that we could cost of demoing the existing structure too >> size and material can we change those things >> they've the issues the steel um question was you know changing the material and uh there was there was an option for doing a shingled roof that you you would that would you wouldn't want that but the moisture that comes Um, >> yeah, that wasn't considered an ideal solution. It was an option as well, but it
106wouldn't have the same life expectancy uh as you know a either a glue lamp type of structure, which would be much more expensive, or returning to the steel. Um, and the problem is either way, you know, what again started the whole issue was not the exterior of the roofing system. That's just a unfortunately a casualty of the process, but the internal structural supports. So either way, we have to remove the outside to get to the inside structural steel, which is what was corroding and rotting out. Um, so we'd still wind up having to do most of that work regardless. >> The the primary steel structures, not the crossmembers, are they were they intended to stay? I'm assuming because that's >> um so the if um the large uh support columns are remaining in place as
107are the end walls but it's the plland that run between the largest members. Those are the ones that are and uh >> the main big arches the big arches of steel would stay. >> They stay correct. It's the plland that run between them that are the ones that have the damage to them. And a lot of that is because the roof is fastened through that and then the fasteners were, you know, are basically pounded through those and the coatings were damaged as they normally would be um by, you know, having a nail driven through them and then when they're they're recoded. But unfortunately uh normally you would have dehumidification installed at the beginning so that the coatings wouldn't have be as perfect as I guess to say and we did not have that. So there's
108a lot of that chloramine chloromine damage from the the chlorine in the pool as well as the moisture until they put the dehumidification in in 2019 I think was a year >> and by that time a lot of that damage was already done. So, um, it's really to the point now where those structural supports are, you know, and you've seen the pictures, you know, you can see holes through a lot of it. The paint chips fall on people, you know, and that's why I was looking back through my notes before, you know, first thing I had in my notes was in March 2021 was a patron was swimming in the pool and got hit in the forehead doing the backstroke. So that's uh that's when we started doing this this project sort of came up
109at that point in time. >> Yeah. And I think Chris you've had the full support of the board of the original um >> air trying to repair and then we went to all the way to the 2.4. >> Yeah. >> The expectation it was going to be whatever 18 or give or take whatever we get reimbursed. Um, I think that's I think what we as a board have to decide. Are we okay with 2.4? Because if if we're not okay, they need a I think you need a decision at this meeting or next meeting to say it's kind of this meeting, right? I would say this week's meeting. Yes. >> They bring it back to the board of select men. Do they need to appine or >> do they appine or is it for information?
110>> I I have to research that because it's been approved but it's just the it was approved under the premise again that reimbursement was coming and now it's not. >> So I don't they would >> change their tune on that. We'd have to research that probably with the town attorneys. So I guess what's are people ready? Do you have opinions? Do you want to make decision now? >> If we defer then we're talking it would not be done even if we move forward until the summer of 207. >> I think it's a liability and I think the longer that we procrastinate or put it on the back burner the more vulnerable we get. And people swimming there's people there all the time. If somebody gets clobbered with a chunk of whatever falling from the ceiling,
111we need to keep it structure safe. We need to move ahead and the board of selectman know the state is not going to reimburse a separate and a conversation. >> Option five is a hurricane comes along and rips it off and then we get insurance. >> Well, you can't count on that. Gosh, [laughter] we're almost past hurricane season now. >> Others thoughts and we have I think we have to make a choice because it is a liability. If someone gets hurt on it, it's been going on I feel like forever. >> So just >> it's not going to get any better. Can can we do a dual path is approve this and go to the board of selectman but also look at what it would cost to place the whole building. >> We have started
112looking at some of that Eric you know just very rudimentary um trying to get a sense of what that would be. >> We don't I don't have any numbers now that I'm comfortable. >> Okay. Okay. But we could do a dual path potentially is moving forward this getting approved while looking because we can always back off this. You know, we if you come back and said it's $3 million and we can replace the whole have a brand new building. We might the board of ed board of selectman might say, you know, for three million and you get a whole new structure that might be worthwhile. I have no idea. It could be 8 million or 12 million or some big number. Then >> I I would certainly be confident and say it's going to be
113five or more at at least probably more >> without looking into like the system that that Kate mentioned. Um we could look into that as well. See if there are some other you know alternative options for >> into that. Not's building one for 12 million. >> The bubble. Yes, >> it's a lot bigger though. >> Yeah, >> sure has a bubble too. >> Has a bubble too. >> Million floating to the bubble. >> Expensive piece of plastic. >> Seriously, >> you know, I wonder what insurance would say if you know we live along the coast. I don't know if they would have an issue with a a bubble, a plastic bubble. >> Getting a bubble. >> True. >> And they're closer in a way. >> Yeah, I would want to research that piece. >> Yeah.
114>> So, do we want to move forward? >> Yeah. Make a motion. Can I make >> Yeah. Yeah. Please >> make a motion we move forward with the group project. I second whatever I need to write down what he says. >> I don't have the words in front of me. >> What's the What was the motion that I needed to put? >> There's not basically you're making a motion to move forward with the cost of the two approved 2.4 million absent reimbursement on eligible um eligible costs. >> Yes. Because there's no >> Can we just hold it? You're running for reelection since >> absent reimbursement. I'm eligible. >> It's going to cost me my department services headaches. >> Yes. So, bill moved to forward the roof project at 2.4 million absent reimbursement of eligible costs
115from DAS. >> Thank you. Just for a second. >> A little over there. >> Oh, did she? Okay. Sorry, I didn't hear it. >> No, that's fine. >> Um, further discussion. All those in favor say I. >> I I >> oppose saying passes. We will get to the board selectman and hustle that one through and see where >> go to board of finance as well. I no typically it's it's board of selectment then it goes to town meeting and but I just we have to check with the town attorneys to see if they're going to want us to go through that whole process. So the board of selectment will just say >> we've already gone through the process. >> Exactly. We've already been through the whole process. So um >> we definitely would at least
116then >> yeah we can uh we'll talk with all authorities. >> That closes discussion action for the night have administration reports. Jeff, >> I could throw things into the weekly update. Um, one that I would will just mention because we haven't talked about it in a while is the community health center. You know, in this building, we've got that that health center. We haven't talked about it in a while and at least myself, Henry, Kim Davis. Um, we we met with uh them today because, you know, there's still talks trying to get that down to the middle school. So, we had a good conversation with them. U numbers are a little low. They're sitting on 14 >> 300 >> students. Three in referral three in referral. They they would like to be upwards what 40
117I think they uh >> 14 students. >> I mean her team students or family >> could be 60. That seemed like a very high. >> Yeah. She changed her tune. >> What? >> 14 cases where they're complicated and involved. That's >> it might. Yeah. But that we didn't we didn't get that far. >> She said 60 where you it could be one case is term you're seeing once every couple of weeks. So health or like >> yeah counseling services where >> you say health center and I'm thinking you're gonna fix my big toe. >> No, this is where they they reach out in charge of parents insurance and go through insurance. I know that's why I said that Joel because you brought that up before. So um so long story short um we're looking for
118expansion. We want to bring it down to the middle school. They were actually excited. >> Oh center >> community it's it's that's the name of the CHC. >> Okay. Okay. not doing health, >> but they're they're still alive and well. They're here. Middle school's got a much better space, too. It's right next to the nurse's office. So, they were kind of seems excited about that, but you know, we haven't talked about that in a while. It is still up and running. I >> appreciate hearing. >> Yeah. So, >> I think it's just lends itself to the conversation that we had with our high school and what we had in our conversation. >> That was uplifting. That whole thing, both of those presentations were uplifting. And then we move into the other room. >> Roller coaster,
119Jill. Roller >> roller coaster fun. So, um, >> encourage them to move laterally and do some of the leg work that some of our staff and faculty are are our our teachers do like having them do some of the I don't know what it would be. They're creative and smart people. do some of that stuff that if they only have 14 and feel like they don't have enough on their plate, say, "Well, how can you better serve our community? Put it back on them." Like, what can you do so that >> everybody feels welcome? Everybody feels like >> Yeah. the the counselor's going to come and actually present to the faculty, talk about the services, uh what makes a good referral. Um she's on the list of staff that um teachers can refer to. >>
120Perfect. >> So, um And we're gonna connect her with Sarah Ferman. >> Free up some of Sarah. Exactly. >> Yeah. So, >> so you're not busy. Why? >> But then she's still part-time. The counselor is parttime with us and in the district part-time, but we'd like her to go between high school, middle school, and be full-time in East Line. >> So, uh, yeah. So, it's still it's still thriving. It's just the numbers are lower than I thought. I think we ended last year on at 17. >> Really? >> Yeah. >> Right. They're lower. It seemed like that there our >> well she had a waiting list last year but I think they're you know if they're they're reorginging the way they provide the services to make a little bit more room for her to have
121a bigger case load. So um because she was full I remember she had a little weight list last year. So >> exactly >> beginning of the school year >> early so it could grow >> and we see increased referrals around the holiday time from kids. That's really challenging time for for a lot of kids. So, >> how >> I'm confident she'll, >> you know, she'll get I don't know if she'll get 40. That seems to be quite the increase, but we'll slowly increase it over time. >> So, all right. Uh >> yeah, we got we have this as a separate turn into a conversation. Yeah. Um the the other just the other thing non-lapsing account will uh >> we'll bring we we have to continue the conversations um on that at the next FFO meeting
122which is um in November. So uh that will be back for further conversation and then a recommendation hopefully at that point will come to the board too in the month. So uh as to what we recommend uh apps we should have or we will stay tuned further discussions there. Yeah, >> that's well I'll throw the rest please. >> Um I don't know do you how much of an update you want to provide with regards to the network work and you know some interruptions. I don't know if it's bubbled up to the board level but it's been really challenging for staff over the course of the last week. Um we've had some fluctuations with our network, our service. It started with a power outage or fluttering here at the high school which took our system down.
123it went back to um the default settings. So that was a challenge and now we're having some global uh >> Google >> we have not fully resolved the situation um and it continues to be a challenge. >> Well, you know, we'll we'll see what happens. We we >> tomorrow morning we'll be telling >> yeah we might have made some fixes but you know again tomorrow morning when got thousands of people that are logging on between you know seven and nine um you know thousands of devices so just it's been slowing down the middle >> it looks stable when nobody's on it and then as people log on over the course of the morning it just slowly sort of wears off and and so >> you get the spinning and it's just >> still they're still
124working through it Other districts are having problems last week because we thought maybe CEN our internet provider um was >> the seal by literacy assessment being interrupted by students that impacts 22 students. We had to postpone the PSATs which we haven't rescheduled yet. So, and College Board just um >> notified us late afternoon that their system has been down. So >> something something in retrograde >> just in the air >> something in retrograde. >> Yeah. So in case it gets to your level. >> No, it was in it was in Henry's update. >> Yeah. And I put the blurb that we sent out was in the weekly update too Friday. So if you wanted >> Okay, moving on. Report me cape. I don't think we have any other Jamie cave. >> Okay. So, I do
125have some good news. The state board of ed last week approved $2.5 million grant to assist schools in eliminating unpaid and unreoverable meal charges by families facing economic challenges. >> So, I don't know how that will be impacted by us. I don't know what their grant process is going to look like. >> I just know that came out. >> Yeah, we were just surveyed uh >> million. I don't know if it still has to go through a budget cycle. I really don't know how it is going to work, but they just made this announcement. Um, there was a school climate and restorative practices webinar today at noon. Tomorrow there is a superintendence administrative professionals in person and Weathersfield. There is a digital well-being in the age of social media and AI on 116 at noon.
126Delegate assembly is 11:20. KPLAPS convention is 11:21 to 11:22. New board member and leadership is 129. Legislative issues and advocacy is 1216 at noon. UNH is offering a public school finance management v virtual 7-week course. It starts the 23rd. Um and then I have personal news that I um was nominated to become the vice president of professional development for CABE. at our last Monday meeting. I got the call. So, I just wanted to obviously wanted to announce it during the executive session, but that came through on last Monday night. So, >> exciting. It's going to be a >> big task, but I'm excited. >> You're going to Cape Caps on a new >> I will be going to Kap. [laughter] >> So, it's really exciting. I'm excited to start that new adventure. >> Congrats. Um
127learn we had a meeting I'll be real brief. We had the superintendent four that valley >> Essex. >> Yeah river >> Essex deep river Chester >> different >> they have five boards of ed. Yes, they do. >> It is >> nuttier than a box of >> So, what I was thankful for intending that is our sale slime relationship >> is much cleaner. Uh you can say things may not work well exactly, but they have five boards. This superintendent is bouncing and they have different boards of finances and different budget. Each town has their own budgets. It is so complex what they've created. It's Right. >> I don't know why they don't unwind it. So anyway, our sale slime is actually gave me a new reflection of like, hey, this isn't this isn't pretty good. And
128also when you hear um Dave talk about what we do with our partnerships with Old Lime and Waterford, we don't need this big structure of governance and everything and adding these boards and stuff. We let our students go to the automotive class. I have students come into our EMT. we don't need all this governance and we can just make things happen. So that was my biggest takeaway is I I didn't realize how complex region 4 is. It's insane. >> They're not it's I've gone to a couple meetings. >> Sorry. But yeah, it's >> it's crazy. >> Here we're like it's like a party. >> Yeah. >> Me too. >> Their superintendent is say had 33 budget workshops in the year or something like that. >> They have like one of the most complicated >> anyway.
129So, so that was my um brief thanks to our structure uh listening to that and saying, "Hey, maybe you know when you think things are maybe we could do things different." Well, it's better. It's it's not that bad. It's it's it's not bad. Um that that's a tough structure. Um that's the most part it district ad hoc. We do have a vision committee tomorrow. school reord this week. >> Language next week. >> Next week. So, those are coming up. Uh, board comments, future agenda items. >> Can I make a quick one? I know everybody wants to up, but um I don't know if anybody saw the Connecticut Post this week. Kaylee Roberts, who was an East Lime alum, was in there on her posts, high school college plans. She's been doing really cool things and
130it was a really fun article to read about all the fun stuff she's been doing since she graduated for us. So, it was fun. >> That's it. >> Do I hear a motion? >> So, moved. Second. >> Second. And all those in favor say