BOE August 11 Zoom Meeting

001Leonard, are you remaining K president going next year? Is there somebody new taking over or >> Mag will be coming back? Me. Me will be the next president. >> Um and then um got some stuff at the national level to um take care of and then um I most likely will come back again. I've been asked to try it again. >> Right. >> So, good. It's good to hear. Great job. >> Appreciate that. You worked hard with the team that we've assembled. Okay, it is 6 pm get into the 6 p.m. I'd like to call the August 11th to 2025 Eastan Board of Education regular meeting to order. First order of business is pledge of allegiance. For those who can stand the pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to

002the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Wow. Next order of business is public comment. Any comment to me? state uh your name and affiliation. >> Yes. So it does live in town but affiliate. >> Oh or name or address? >> Name affiliation. >> Well, I will give your address for the record. >> Leonard Lockhart, 57 Columbia Road, Windsor, Connecticut. And I'm also on the Windsor Board of Education as secretary. Um I'm here in my capacity as K president. Um, as I travel across the state, I try to go to different board meetings in person as well as online. And I've witnessed your board meeting several times over the past two years online. And I have a board member that's a member of this board

003that I have not made an attempt to get to her meeting. So, she was not aware that I was stopping by today. Neither was I because I was at work. But, I want to say um, Mr. chairman um Jamie Shelurn. Um she's an amazing asset to the Connecticut Association of Board of Educations, affectionately known as CADE. Um she has briefly served as an area director under my administration. She currently serves as an associate director, which gives her a little bit more bandwidth to do any of the PET projects she would like to do under the Cave umbrella. Um she has traveled representing um Cave in the Northeast um regional meetings. She has traveled to the annual conferences of the National School Boards Association and she's just been a staunch advocate for public education not only

004for within this town but when she's at that state level she understands her role at the state level and really really advocating for every single child in the state of Connecticut for a high quality public education and help them find the genius, justice and joy in the process for both students and the educators. So, I found it not robbery that I was in the area that this meeting was happening today. So, Jamie, on behalf of the board of directors, I thank you for everything that you've done. It's my hope and sincere prayer that you will consider state leadership on the K board of directors. You are just a gem and you've actually gone above and beyond and done the job and you are a true representative of this town. So, this board I believe is

005quite fortunate to have you and we truly appreciate you at Kate. >> Mr. um Mr. Chairman, the board and um to um superintendent, thank you for allowing me a few moments to recognize her. >> Thanks for coming. >> Thank you. Thanks so much for all you're doing and and thanks Jamie for what you're doing for us. And uh you want >> a picture? Usually got it. At least you got it. >> Thank you for the in the favor. >> All right. >> Absolutely. M >> here. Here. Let's go. Do it in front of our sign so it looks nice and official. >> You can come together. Yeah, we just got to take a picture with the superintendent. >> Absolutely. Sure. Sure. Here you go. Yeah. for a half hour to go watch what you're doing

006and then I'll take off. >> Thanks. >> Appreciate you. >> Thank you very much. Thank you so much. >> Okay, next order is special reports. We do not have a selectman representative tonight. So move on. And we do have a need for executive session uh to interview finalist for the director of safety and security. Um, someone want to make a motion to move executive session >> for executive session to interview the finalist for director of safety and security and to include the superintendent >> and I invited Anelise and she should be >> assistant superintendent analyz >> and our finalist. >> Do we want to briefly go next door? You're probably I don't see any board members on. >> Perfect. do that. >> Maybe Mariana if um Bills um all those in favor say I >>

007I just we are now in executive session. And Hey Jill, can you hear me? They they went into executive session and then they'll be back. Okay, just so you know, I I I think you're muted, Jill. I can't hear you. That's what I assumed is that since there was no one there or there was a better party somewhere else, that's where they went. Okay. >> Well, the parties where I'm at, so >> Oh, yeah. Okay. >> So, they'll be back uh shortly. Okay. Can you tell me what it says on the agenda? What the exe? >> Yeah, it's um for the interview of the safety and security finalist. >> Got it. Okay. >> Got it. Was that person is he are they interviewing him right now? >> Yes. >> Oh, was he the tall guy

008you walked in with? >> No, that gentleman was from Cabe. He's the president of CA. Gentleman that I walked in with. The finalist is Don Hull. He's the resource officer at the high school. >> Yep. Yep. >> Um so I'm not sure if you're familiar with him. He was sitting in here. He had a suit on. >> Oh, >> that's that's the finalist. So he's an he's an East or was an East police officer and he was our uh resource officer here at the high school in the middle school. >> And he worked for East Lime uh police department. >> Yes. And then prior to that, he was at I believe Old Sabbrook ED. >> Okay. Oh, that that's fine. Okay. I don't think it really matters whether I meet him or not. >> Well,

009when they come back, I think you'll see who who he is. They're going to obviously uh make an appointment uh make the appointment at the meeting. Oh, they're all coming in. Okay. >> Right. Thank you so much. Thank you a great deal. I didn't know if she was on the phone. >> No, she wasn't. >> So, she wasn't. Okay, we have just exit um exited executive session where we interviewed the finalists for the director of safety and security. Moving on, we have a couple consent agenda items. want to make want to make a motion to approve the consent agenda. I'd >> like to make a motion to approve the consent agenda as posted. >> Further, all those in favor say I. >> I gave an I uh opposed abstain. Motion passes. consent agenda were um

010the board of ed special meeting minutes from July 21st and the board of ed committee of the whole meeting minutes from July 21st. Moving on to discussion action. We have discussion action proposed appointment of safety and security director. I'll turn it. >> Yes. Uh yeah, absolutely. Um it's you know my pleasure to uh introduce Don Hull um who u of our community knows and has a high level of respect for. Don has been an officer of the law for 37 37 years for Saber in East Lime. Um recently retired from the East Line Police Department just knows our town, knows our school district, our SRO, has done uh some marvelous things and uh you know through our process which was um involved. We had a great committee um number of candidates that we interviewed and

011uh went to a second round and Don emerged as our our finalist and uh I couldn't be happier to uh bring him aboard and part of our team. It's only going to strengthen our team and strengthen our commitment to the community. For your uh appointment and uh >> I'd like to make a motion to approve the appointment of Donald Hull to the safety and security director position for the East Line Public Schools. >> I'll second it. And further discussion, all those in favor say I. I of the end eyes opposed and saying motion passes unanimously. Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> You want to share briefly, Don? And then we're going to send you home and on your way. >> Yeah. >> Again, thank you very much. I'm really uh I I can't tell you how

012excited I am to be part of this team. I I want to get going right now. Um Mr. Newton sending me home and I appreciate that. But again, thank you so much. I will not let you down. I I will work hard and I uh the kids first and uh I again I can't wait to get started. But thank you very much for this opportunity. I really appreciate it. >> Thank you for joining. >> And just so you know, Don's going to transition with uh Chris Olsson. We got a fiveday transition window between now and the end of August when Chris's last day is is the end of August. So time. So >> we got a quick picture. >> Definitely. Yeah. You want to get Yeah. >> Okay. Cuz I got Mariana's water bottle >>

013and I got trying to see what was racing. I want my water bottle. >> You're on the committee. You want why don't you be in the picture? >> Yeah. >> Made another picture. This is like >> Come on. You were >> Wow. >> Jamie. So, come on in. >> Jamie. >> Perfect. >> Excellent. Thank you very much. Thanks. Thanks. All right. We'll talk to you soon, Dad. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, sir. >> Next order of business is discussion action items finance facilities community and we have discussion action the food trap replacement. I think Jeff you were going to kind of give a little >> Yeah. >> ground and explain important part is where the funding's coming from as well. >> Exactly. And that's what we wanted to make clear. So I put

014u a little bit information in um that Friday update this past week. And Diane is here as well. So Diane, let me just kind of give a brief and then I'm going to turn it over to you for more details um you know as necessary. Um so here at the high school um the uh grease trap uh and D I'll let you get into specifics on how it it's a it's a trap basically that uh has beginning to fail. Um, and if it fails during the school year, we will have a significant issue because the kitchen will be shut down for 4 to 6 weeks while they replace it. Um, the parts are available um through the company that we're used to uh to replace it so we can get it done now. Um, so

015uh we don't run into that issue which in all likelihood, you know, could happen um through the course of this coming year. There is an expense to it obviously um and you saw that uh you can see that in the attachment. Um, but the dollars will come out of the food service account. So, they're not out of the operating budget. So, they'll be coming out of the food service uh account to cover the uh the entire cost. Diane, any specifics you want to just kind of share on it or any questions that anybody has in relation to operation? Love it. >> Well, I don't know if you're >> probably item to discuss, but you know, >> I get the greatest product from Jellyfish to Greer, but it's it's an old unit that was installed part

016of the original school in 1966. So, it's not a contained. It's basically a hole in the floor that the water goes through and it collects the grease solids and then the they sit in there until the water rises and then goes out gets discharged. It has to be pumped out every three months. Um it has a extremely large um steel cover plate which is rather dangerous and the person that has to come and pump it out complains about that. So, the new unit is um I don't say some pictures, but I don't know if she loaded them up. Um the new the new unit's made out of a special heavy duty plastic. It's nice contained. >> If we ever relocate the kitchen, we can pick it up and move it because it's uh although part

017of the expense it's not just the unit itself, which is only about, you know, this big and it's u because it's in the ground. So they have to dig out the old one which was not very pleasant. Um have all road stuff, you know, that's part of it. And then they have to put this one new in and cut out the dirt floor, jack up the concrete, um connect the pipes from the three bay sink that's there and connect the floor existing floor drain to it. So that's what the labor is that. And then also retile the floor around the area that was disturbed. So that's where the costs come in. >> Question Jamie Esta. >> My question is the cost. Is it the two prices? Is it the 29,05 plus the 224 the 2426?

018>> No, the 24 is included in the the 29. >> That's I got a yes and I got a >> Oh, it is included. >> Yes. >> I thought it was separate. No, we were thinking about maybe buying it on our own just to have it on standby buy in case it was a long-term >> long lead item just in case you know >> I wasn't clear. So it is included in >> included in that definitely >> it's included. Okay. >> So >> all right so it's 295 for the labor and the part >> material is yes >> pieces is in there. Okay. >> Okay. That was my only question. Thank you. the other materials like the tile and the concrete and >> yeah, I saw that in there. I just was confused about the

019no >> trap part of it. >> So, I I have two questions. I have three questions. You already answered one. Um, what is what is the life of new wheel trap? >> Um, I believe 20 years, but I can really verify. So this is this is not at least every two-year item. This is >> Oh no no no >> this is this is this is for for a long time >> and I guess the next question is >> uh we have we have this code did we have competing codes or we are we are obliged to work with only certain vendor >> certain vendor um >> did we get uh did we put this out to bid get several quote yeah >> did put it out to bid last year and I put it out

020to bid recently and we did not get a response um because of the short time frame. But the plumber that the Terry plumbing has, he's our on call person. He's already um vested in the school system and we use him use the company quite often for miscellaneous plumbing things. >> This is fair price. >> In your opinion, this is a fair price, I guess, for the work. Yeah, it's a little higher that I would vote, but it's not it's a everything's high right now, but it's uh >> Well, we didn't get any other. There was noing bids that uh came >> unfortunately, but I priced out the um the actual unit from the company and I they helped design it and coordinate all that. >> That's a 2004. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Did he ask

021your question? >> Um, he did, but I So, but I came up with another question. >> Uh, so we're about twoish weeks away from the school starting. So, this will be done and there will be no disruption before school starts. Right now, >> we're ready to go. Uh, >> right. >> That's what I know from what I heard from Chris that they're ready to go and get this and it should >> Yes. It's sitting there in the kitchen right now ready to go. Okay. >> And how quickly >> how quickly he thinks it's going to be done. It'll be done by the 20th before they start bringing in items. Olivia, I just want to ask a clarifi. >> Okay. Um, it's already kind of been asked to answer, but do you know how many hours

022of work this is going to be? to install >> to install. >> How does it work? Um, >> depends on the concrete fry. >> It's three different trades people in it. I don't They didn't do it by an hourly rate >> or like Okay. So, I wasn't sure if they were going to be here like nonstop until the 20th or they come in do it like when they have time one day or whatever and then leave. >> Sure. They want we we'd want to tell them come in and get it done. Basically, come for the full day >> would be my message. But if it's different trades people, it's some something has to get done before the next person. >> I got to dig out the car >> and then retile. So that's >> I

023don't know if how much of that Terry plumbing does. I know he's pretty expensive. So I'm I'm not sure if he's got to, you know, one of his workers is the one who's actually doing the concrete around it or the tile or what it might be. So needless to say, we need to expedite it and we need to have it done before the school year starts >> and we don't have any other person. So we don't really have an option >> or out of >> Yeah. So I h So Diane, I have an email from Chris Lund. I'm looking at the quote that he needed the third both amounts the 29 and the 2100 for the other quote. So, is it possible 29,000? It includes >> Yes. that part. >> Okay. >> Is that Chris

024was in a rush because I get it to you to get the approval and I corrected him. Thought he'd send you a new one. >> Okay. >> As long as we have the right. Yeah. Because we got to make the motion. So, motion on the 29 29,000. We can do not Jamie's going is I think we're going to say a not to exceed because what we don't want to do is we don't have another board meeting until Septe. >> So it adds up to 31926. So I'm going to say 32 >> not to exceed 32,000 just in case. >> Yeah, >> that's good. Just >> in case it is. want to make a motion. >> I would like to make a motion to approve the replacement of the East Lime High School kitchen and food

025trap kitchen food trap to be funded through the East Lime Public Schools food service revenue dollars not to exceed $32,000. >> Second pick. Further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I chill and me said I uh opposed and opposed abstain. Motion passes. Thanks. >> Great. >> Thanks Dan. >> Thank you very much. >> Okay. >> Next topic uh discussion action is food service pricing for the 2025 2026 school year. >> Okay. So um last year if you recall, let's just go back to last year. We had some discussions on this and this is going to have to kind of come forward each year. Um, Mr. Urban had kind of recommended a bit of a higher price increase. The board settled on 10 cents, you know, for for an increase, which was the minimum

026that we can uh we can push forward per uh per the state. Um, Mariana and Chris have done quite a few calculations. Um, we did fall short and fall in the red for total revenue collected, you know, this year. So, um, we have a healthy balance, uh, which is well over 300,000. Yeah. Um, but if we don't start to kind of increase our our prices, um, and get them kind of aligned closer to what the state was, uh, recommending, um, we're going to have to start dipping into that. And we could have more on points come up like we just did tonight where that's a $30,000 item that's hitting um, the food service account. Um, so we don't want to deplete, you know, keep depleting that. Um, so with that being said, Mariana created a

027chart of some uh varied increases going from, you know, the 10 cents up to an increase of 40 cents. Chris Urban would be up like to be up around the 40 cents. >> Yeah, >> which is what the, you know, the uh the state is recommending. >> However, um, that's pretty high. So could we kind of find a happy medium potentially? But I think we don't our recommendation we don't feel we should be any less than 25 cents moving forward each year for for an increase. >> If we kind of or commit to like a quarter each year um then in 2829 we'll close to the required um pricing from the state. Now again those are estimates based on an average of the increases over the last five years. The increases may not be 5.3%

028um like the you know the average increase it may start down but um and as Jeff said this past year we were at a loss of 115,000. we have about 390 in cash, but if we keep So assuming everything stays the same when obviously this 30,000 adds to that, right? So now we're at $150,000 loss over the la next few years if we continue down that path. Then we will deplete funds and then that means the operating budget would have to start contributing because can't run at a deficit. So just so everyone understands what happens if funds that those funds are deployed >> ticket items too that come out of there like tonight's for instance there's been other ones along the way that we dipped into that uh those dollars. >> Yeah. Can you talk

029about how this impacts the free and reduced lunches? >> Um no there's no Yeah, there's no impact. It's it basically stays the same. >> So free is still free. Correct. Still >> same reduced amount based off our number. Yeah, correct. Does not change. The state will contribute more, but the student I think for said it's maybe 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents I think that the reduced student pays and then the balance >> and the state. I saw Jamie and then >> what are our free reduced numbers? >> 19 20% kids. >> Next question is, do we think it should be higher, but parents aren't filling out the paperwork? >> I think that's always been the case, Jamie. I think we do try and we send home uh every time we have a deficit.

030Um, and we owe us money, we send them the letter, we we attach form, try and be discreet about things, but some people they don't want to fill it out. Um, some people do, but um, not capturing, you know, everybody, I guess, uh, is how I could phrase that. >> Um, what was our unpaid lunch balance last year? >> 5,000. >> Almost 5,000 and the year before that again was roughly the same amount. >> Sorry, I'm looking this remind me when when you student pays nobody They It's knows >> nobody knows because they're using their car which nobody knows. >> Nobody knows if they have a negative balance on that. They still get they still get a lunch. >> Okay. >> They just don't get all the cart items. >> Yeah. They can't get all

031the cart items. >> Yeah. So I was I was also wondering about the free energy students. Do we think that increasing like let's say we increase this 40 cents will that and this maybe is how it works will that make the percentage of people who are eligible for free introduced lunch higher like are we >> based on in qualification? >> Yeah. Like we're not going to price people out of the ability to buy lunch. N >> all based on their >> based on their income. question. The one thing um this that I'm always focused on or concerned about especially because we've been low and Chris has done a great job and his team keeping cost down is I'm always worried. I don't want to have a year or concern that we'd have a year where

032all of a sudden we need to increase it a lot. And I think 40 cents for me is a lot. Like to tell parents, you know, one year to the next it's going up 40 cents. That That sounds to me that sounds like a lot. So incremental increases over time. You mentioned like a quarter a year or something. If we could tell parents and tell you know we're well below the state minimum. >> We're working our way back and the way we're going to do is you're going to see a quarter each year or something like that. At least kind of know it you plan for it and it's so that's my perspective. I I we went with 10 cents this year. Some year we're going to have a dollar dollar50 increase or something like

033that down the road which really be tough. So those are my thoughts. Others thoughts >> not it's just I worry about food insecurity and kids and I and being a kid who used to get free and reduced lunch. We had these little blue tickets that we used to get lunch with. So, it's the stigma has changed that kids no longer can make fun of each other and they don't know that other kids are getting free and reduced lunch. But I think the stigma still is out there. And I just I don't want to see kids go hungry because their parents are filling out paperwork and kid doesn't think they should they can have lunch. I just that it worries me. I just I don't want to see kids go hungry. What are thoughts about? >>

034Yeah. Anybody have thoughts on the number? What what comfortable with >> question the allocart? How does that how does that work with the these numbers? That's totally separate. >> Yep. That's totally separate. They they have money on their account. Um they can go up as many times as they want and get alle cart items. Um if they run out, that's that. something the school makes money on. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> There's a little profit. >> Yeah. The high school is our biggest profit maker. It really kind of supports the metrics. Um but uh alart is very helpful with all the other things that Chris is doing with you know sports programs and so it means you don't this is not going to be easy. We have to include it. It's everything is going up

035so we have to deal with it. Question is more related to the choice especially with with respect to those things that especially for kids that need the help when it comes to choice. If somebody's a vegetarian, somebody is a vegan say they may not be eligible for alakart but choice does it does it allow? >> Yes. Yep. It allows it doesn't block. Years ago, it used to be that student gets a peanut butter jelly sandwich and an apple and that's they don't get the gone. They get a regular meal. They just can't go use the alle cart in the other stations. >> Alakart is basically the other >> that's the other Yep. the other stuff. Exactly. >> Four meal. >> Core meals. >> The vegetarian choice vegan choice. You could have a negative balance your

036entire school and you there are choices for vegetarians and vegan. Yes. Core meal. Yeah. I mean again I think we as a board have to agree to a number and I think I think the proposal is 25 is kind of what we are thinking discuss on that number that we have no choice here we thought that was kind of in the middle um and like the idea of you know quarterly a quarter increment each year >> and each year I will rework the estim estimate the estimated increase and if it goes down then we can take a look at that increase but I I don't it's just seems like every year it just goes up quite a bit. We've been I mean getting Chris on board been phenomenal because this program when I first joined

037the board you were on these deficits that were insane. Uh and >> thousand dollar deficits but we also had a person who was taking money and going to the casino also. So that was also a problem at that time. No. Um, so anyway, so so we we need to be, you know, there's the fiscal responsibility of making sure that we can because that, you know, that 80,000 I remember the 80,000 one year. It's like that's a teacher's salary we just lost on lunches um and stuff. And Chris does a great job because I think he does have a good variety and he encourage he does he does so much and and it's really helpful and I think he's asking for 40. I don't think we can do 40. I'm comfortable with 25. That's >> I

038had a question. Chris seemed to kind of lock into every program that could in order to >> keep prices down. >> Are those programs federal programs? some of them and are they going to be gone? Like because I I there was one that I was reading about where, you know, the they were the whole using local farmers and stuff like that was supported with some sort of grant monies and then that's going away and I know we were doing some of that kind of stuff. Is is Chris going to find that programs that were he was taken advantage of are going to significantly impact >> I haven't heard the charge um >> I mean the grant funding that get USDA funding we get a state um public health initiative uh funding and then couple years

039ago there was uh because of COVID there was some funding Yeah, >> but he does I mean he takes advantage of all of like the USDA um free food and any any available like >> do we know of any of those things? >> I'm not a he didn't mention that any of them were going away heard those funds >> and things that were taken away have been reinstated um too. Absolutely not. And those are like the title >> title funds but um not necessarily this but I I had not heard through any discussions uh >> or caps or anywhere >> talked to him and he bank farms and steals whatever he can >> all the yeah local farms uh he's connected >> donations of produce from Costco like he takes will take produce from anybody

040that will give it to him. >> He literally takes it from anywhere in the state. >> Yeah. No, I I I >> I'm aware that he's always >> he'll try wherever he >> looking for everyone. >> I just thought that maybe some of those things that he applied for might no longer be available. I don't know. >> Hear of anything, but definitely we can let you know, but we have not heard. >> Apologies. He's not here tonight. He's on vacation. Uh just timing of this. >> Will the 25 cents increase get us to at least be a break even for next year? >> No. So that that projected additional revenue number, Eric, that's at the bottom there, that's based on what we served for paid lunches this year. >> That is the projected revenue. So

041we increase at 25 cents, our projected revenue would increase by 32,553 assuming >> the exact same number of >> So we would lose 70,000 next year. >> Yeah. That's why if we can >> I mean I know he's going to do everything to mitigate it and all that. So >> correct but if we kind of each year revisit it and preset like I think >> see why he's asking for 40. Yeah, I think like Old Sabbrook um they are at 375 for elementary, four for middle and 425 I think for school >> for high school and and some of the other schools are now off because their their deficit their balance that's owed is getting pretty significant. I mean, ours is 5,000, which I think is significant, but I mean, there's people across the state

042that own 20,000. >> So, people are all looking at figures and things. >> So, are people okay, if we said 25 cents, >> you look at it next year and see exactly what we did. What do those numbers stand? really understand like last this year his catering revenue is getting is I think going um it's a little much better like he had 25,000 in catering revenue versus I think 12 last year so I think that's starting to pick up so I know he's doing a lot of that >> we take any bigger project items out of the revenue or out of his overall uh like a freezer we need >> yeah he took he paid for this this here. >> His equipment, it wasn't as bad. I mean, we did so many upgrades over the

043past few years. There was um his equipment line was only like 17,000 in expenditures this year. So um there I think there was a freezer but again >> that that can happen any time but >> I didn't know if that came out of the revenue for the year that he had collected or if it came out of the pot of money. So is it reflecting in the 100? >> Oh yeah, it's reflected in that one. >> So it is. Yeah. So >> y >> what is the break even price? >> Break even price would be >> uh well 40 cents. Um 80 so like an 80 cent increase. >> So last year we only did 10 10 cents because that was the least we were allowed to do and we had a pretty healthy balance.

044So we felt pretty good but happening now is we're getting where that deficit is coming and costs are >> yeah costs are going the wrong way going the wrong way >> but our deficit Olivia was 115,000 this year so if you look at that 40 cent column if we raised it 40 cents we generate an extra 52,000 so 80 cents would be around >> 80 days in the year >> everybody's refrigerator. >> Put it in the refrigerator. >> Yeah, I I think you know that gradual approach and the more we can let parents know and try and maintain some consistency, but you know I I wouldn't want to jump I don't think that high. I think we give another year. Again, Chris is going to he knows this. He's going to work harder to do

045more, I think, you know, especially with the sports programs and and uh see if we can find some other ways to collect revenue dollars. We're bringing Rotary in once a month now to have lunch uh on site um with kids. So, >> we're going to mix it up. Yeah. So, I I just set that up last week. So, we'll charge them for lunch. Yeah. >> Um they'll pay us. So, >> that's kind of >> Love that idea. >> It's going to be neat. Yeah. We just got to get more a little more creative with different things to raise some dollars >> like that >> donations. >> Oh yeah, he always takes Yep. donations, >> write a check. So our recommendation is start with the 25 cents I think and then and then let's bring it

046back around next year and kind of see what that overall you know number looks like and hopefully it's u you know it's less uh and maybe closer to you know a break even type of ready for a motion. I want to make a motion. I'll make the motion. I'd like to make a motion to approve the increase of flight lunch prices in the amount of 25 cents for the 20 25 2026 school year. I'll second. Further discussion. All those in favor say I. I posted same passes. >> We'll send that out. I'm sending out a parent letter next week. I'll have that blurb in there. Those that change and then Chris will send another letter out right before the school year as well as the schools will send that out, too. So there's some way

047to I don't know if it helps but to let the parents know >> that we are below >> we're still below the Connecticut minimum or whatever that >> I think that's at least helpful that we're >> we are trying to keep them as low as we can. >> Yeah for sure. Next item for discussion action is proposed uh Lily B. Hannes Gymnasium bleachers. Okay. So um as many of you know the middle school and Lily B um because Lily B has two gyms and Lily has you know it used to be a middle school it's got a very large gym. Those two schools are used the most for um youth basketball the town's youth basketball program um as well as the travel teams. um many Saturdays and Sundays. Um last year um actually the last

048two years we've been able to the the youth basketball program has installed in lie of us charging them for Saturday and Sunday custodial time they've installed new side hoops in Lily B. Um there's two more to go. Um but what they've asked for is they install bleachers um which are have been all measured out. No impact on on the floor. Um, so people can even walk by while the game is in progress when they're fully extended. Uh, so parents have a place to sit. Right now, parents come in, a lot of these are travel teams. We have folks, parents, kids from other towns that are coming to Lily B, not knowing that they had to bring a chair and they have to either sit on the floor or they have to stand for a game.

049>> The best part of the basketball games is sitting all sprawled out on the floor. Many of them though are going into classrooms and and getting the benches in the hallway and bringing the benches in uh and setting them up. Uh it's becoming a bit of a problem because they're trying to get into classrooms and so forth and so on. So we thought you services approached um us this summer and said, you know, what do you think? Rather than installing another basketball booth, could we do this? Um and uh you know we will in the we charts in for uh Saturday and Sunday custodial services. Um I think it gets I talked to the low principal uh we talked to the PE teacher custodians down there. They're all fine with it. Um custodians are in

050favor of it too because you know it it will help with you know again trying to we talked about setting up chairs. It just it'd be cumbersome for them to to have to to do. So long story short we think it' be a win-win. They can be used during, you know, student plays so we can use them as well. So teachers will have a place to sit because right now they're kind of standing up against the wall. At least and I have had the pleasure of standing up against the wall watching some some plays. So um we think this would be a win-win. And they would only be So if this is the Lily Behings gym going, you know, the full length of the court, they would only be on that side of the wall.

051>> I'm trying that's what I'm trying to figure out. Which wall is that? >> It's it's the wall classroom side wall. Exactly. And in the middle of the gym, you can almost use this is the partition wall. So that sticks out about almost four to five feet. So it wouldn't even stick out that far less when they're fully extended. That wall still is functional. Close off. I can close off the gym to have two sections, two sides, two two side. So yeah, their cost, they're ready to pay for it, install in the in the fall, and uh you know, we'd have the luxury of of using them. We just wouldn't be charging them for the Saturday and Sunday. it it's about the same cost. Mariana costed it out for what we would get in dollars

052for custodial usage. Um so we looked at it as kind of a win and it's beneficial to them and beneficial to us is how we uh at it. >> Um one are we responsible for the upkeep on this? >> We would generally Yeah. They're they're metal bleachers so they're really it's just fold in fold out. I don't I could find out what that would entail. >> Just I just want to know if donation takes ownership of it. >> We would take ownership of it. Exactly. They become ours >> because we'd be using them during the day, you know, to or during assemblies. Not every day, but during assemblies. >> Just want to make sure that the $28,000 price tag is a donation, not a cost. >> Exactly. >> Okay. Just wanted to be clear because

053our budget's tight as it is. >> Yeah. Exactly. That's why Yeah. Yeah. So the reason this is it wouldn't be bringing this if we were paying for >> dollars on bleachers. >> Hold on. Vic and then >> Yeah. >> So what is our typical cost for custodial services when they come in? >> It sits between 15 and 20,000 a year. Yeah. >> Yeah. So this will so will this donation result in like an indefinite no cost custodial services or will we have a term limit to >> we go we go year to year with them. >> So year to year with them. So we won't charge them this year. Next year custodial charges will be back on the table. >> Exactly. Yes. And they're going to want to continue to do the side hoops and

054each hoop is about 15,000 14,000. So um they'd want to continue with those. So they we complete that gym because we have two very ancient sites. >> Even though this is it's not coming at a cost to us now. It's still a cost to us because we are paying for the >> Yeah, it's a it's a it's a swap basically. >> Well, it's a swap, but we still still we're buying the bleaches. >> Yeah, we're buying the bleaches to some extent. So, so I I I want to kind of understand a little bit about okay, do we absolutely need it, right? Did I see I mean I'm not questioning it. >> Oh, yeah. But we need to ask the question that okay because we are we are paying for the custodial services in the end.

055So it's not a one is to one in my my equation. Yeah. And I'd like to like maybe the board to discuss that a little bit. >> Yeah. And I look at as like we're tackling an issue because I I'm hearing things that you know people trying to get into classrooms. And personally I I I think it's a bad representation on a school district and a school that, you know, we're coming in from out of town and to sit on the floor, you know, carrying their chairs. Um just don't have the gym space to have them, you know, elsewhere, too. We abuse those spaces. So, um it's just, you know, lots of pieces to the puzzle. You're right. >> I had a question. Yeah. So last year we didn't have bleachers. They paid for the

056custodians last year. >> No, they put in a side hoop. >> So we paid for the custodians. We did >> last year. Previous year. >> They put in a side hoop. Yes. And >> years ago we paid No, they paid for the custodians. >> No, we we've been paying for them. We caught on to this. What was it, Mariana? A couple years ago. >> Yeah. And then co like I realized >> so essentially they've never paid for the >> well they were paying for Sunday. >> They were paying they were always paying for Sunday and then Saturday um when I realized they weren't paying I think we used to have like a years ago way before my time like a floating custodian if you will that we were already paying anyway as part of our

057budget. So, I think we weren't charging them because I think that custodian would go to the various schools, open up the buildings, do whatever needed to be done, and then shut it down because they pretty much use Flanders, Lily B, and the middle school. They don't use Nyanic Center so much for games, and that's what's on Saturday as games. I I was just looking at so yeah to Vick's point like if >> if last year they were paying or the previous year they were paying then somewhere along the line there's a discrepancy of $28,000 or $20,000 that we would need to make up. But if we've already been making that up >> our budget isn't going to change for next this year. It's not like we are losing. We've already we essentially we've already budgeted

058to pay for these bleachers >> Basically >> whether you go with charge and if we don't get the bleachers we would end up putting >> well $20,000 into our extra money account or whatever >> or I would recommend try I mean continuing the you know the hoops. Um we did do the uh >> Yeah. No, I'm just I So, but the point is we're not going to we're not going to see it. We're not going to be like, "Oh, shoot. We got to make up this 28." >> So, that's that's a little bit easier to swallow and that not trying to make something up. >> Your thoughts? >> Well, it's valid through August 4th. Yeah, I saw that, too. >> Yeah, I asked them about that. They they No, they checked on it. It's It's

059okay. I I noticed that too went down. So yeah, something although we are we are kind of technically paying for this. Is this the only quote we got? Is it is this a fair? >> They know they from what they said they looked at a couple different quotes. This was the one that Chris London they shared some with Chris Lond as well. Yeah. >> So Lee has a question. >> Oh yeah. Thank you Lee. just more of a kind of request moving forward because there's been kind of a consistent even with like the uh chat about the grease trap, but I think it would be helpful kind of moving forward with these requests just to get a sense of how many other folks bid and kind of just like a ballpark of what that came

060at just so that we can have the full picture on kind of where the quote that's being recommended to us kind of falls in the the broader kind of scope of what came in. Yeah, that's fine, Lee. >> Yep. I'll talk to Chris Lund. >> Cool. Thanks. in previous sports. >> I'm also hearing absent going forward in our communications with basketball is maybe we and if I'm wrong, but maybe we would prefer that they pay us for the services and then we can decide if we want to push the new loop in or want to put in or use it for something else. I guess is am I hearing that we want it as a two-step process rather than >> Yes. Because I don't know they decided that >> I just bleachers >> where where

061they decided that putting hoops in was their thing to wave custodial costs. Like I just don't understand that. >> I I I have a little background on that because I was on the youth board. But for so what happened? So there's a years ago there was a Saturday um which is what um Mario when I was on the board there was a so there was nothing to pay because he was >> he was working >> working already and then the contract with the custodians changed to be a Monday to Friday contract. And we got rid of the Saturday >> and we got rid of the Saturday which I think got with COVID and everything else I think got lost in the translation and then I think Mariana picked up on wait a sec they're here

062Saturdays we're paying for this custodian what the heck you know and then so then my understanding again I'm long off the board um was in a discussion it's like well you wanted I think it started with it didn't the the gym second only be gym where it start where we put in new hoops there >> during after the renovation. >> Yeah, they they paid for >> because it wasn't going to get done. >> It wasn't going to get done as part of the project. It wasn't in the project, so they paid for it. So, I think that's how it kind of all started is like, oh, is there something the schools need that we can use the money for? But I think we've gotten probably past the the needs and maybe we're in the this

063is maybe in the wants category or whatever and that if we just ask them from now you know going forward um do it for this year but also you know make sure we communicate like going forward you pay us and then we can make a decision. You could put a recommendation and say hey we're giving this money we'd like to see XYZ. I think that would be what we would make that >> so we have a gifting policy that says we can't accept gifts over $25 for teachers. >> Well, this is a donate. >> I understand that. But we also have a donation policy that donations have to come to the board to get approved. >> Yeah, this is kind of in lie of services. So it's like a third of all this is not

064even that's why it's here. >> This isn't in any kind of documentation. So I my question kind of is like two or three-fold I guess is was there a conversation where they came to you and said hey Jeff you don't really feel like paying the custodians can we bring in someone to put in new basketball hoops or did they just show up one day with some maintenance workers and put in new hoops >> I'm just curious then how this conversation >> it started back after the renovations they started replacing >> Did they have your permission? Did they have a conversation? >> They did. They did. Yes. Yes. >> As long as some kind of a conversation, >> those have come to the board and we've been in the past. Yeah. >> Like there was just

065like, "Hey, Jeff, we're putting in basketball hoops and we're not paying you for custodians this year." Like, >> no, but um this one kind of came up a little quick and that's why I said, "Hold on." You know, because I went to a place too of not to throw a little mic wrench in it too, but you know, during the renovations, remember Jim, you were here. We didn't put bleachers back in. Well, we used to have bleachers. We didn't put them back in because of the cost. >> Um, and so we put them in none of the elementary schools. They really wouldn't fit in the other two schools, but they they would fit here. So, it's just that question of, you know, >> be having bleachers because I used to sit on the floor for

066every basketball game in the corner with Charlie sleeping in my lap as a baby. >> Wooden ones. >> Yeah. >> Were they in the small gym? >> No, they were in the big gym on both sides all the way down. Yeah. Either side. They just didn't pull out and climb up on them. >> I don't remember any of these bleachers. I remember the pull out partition, but definitely no bleachers. >> So, where where are we on or people have >> a question related? So, other than the the youth basketball, do we have any other organizations that are we have similar arrangements with or like they use our facilities? No, there's there's no nope, >> there's no other uh >> order groups. They're the only ones that really are taking out >> they they use a

067bulk of it. The cheerleaders use it a little bit. Um but um most of the uh organizations use it at night when the custodians already is already there. We have you guys had voted that you know obviously the custodian's already there. So during the week, um, you know, they're out well before the custodian goes home. Um, occasionally I might have like softball or baseball and I fill them. Um, if like the weather's bad and they need to do something inside, but um, really basketball is up bulk of our gym space, the youth basketball, >> the football and like baseball fields in the middle school. Those are not ours. Those are the towns. >> Those are the towns. >> And we do have we do have where we use I think. >> Yep. We've gone back

068and forth years ago about >> we're using vets. >> we still use vets. Bri fields at vets. >> Still. Yep. Exactly. Um and then you know park and wreck uses you know uses ours. So you know it's it's we've tried to keep that amicable you know relationship going obviously. Um but for basketball it's far in excess of even exchange of of stuff. I mean they're in our gyms >> and during the week like every I mean it's you know >> and gyms are fully utilized this is a structure >> use Salem's gym for youth basketball. >> Yeah, you're right. And William School too has been >> I don't know if we still do but we did did when I was on the board for a little while. We do it. >> Um, but again, you

069talk about structural change. I put the brakes on this got to come this has got to come to the board for discussion. I remember the a little bit of controversy with, you know, we took them out after renovations. So, um, >> where where are people on this? So, options approve as is. Uh a secondary part of that is for next year we can also ask them to start just pay us for the usage. We can continue the process where they just keep replacing hoops um that are needed. Um that's kind of a going forward not necessarily with this but we should communicate what our thoughts are to the youth basketball like for going for this year and going we can also say no to this and say we're just going to take pay us for

070Saturday Sunday and then we um will have budget dollars to decide what to do with. Um so those are kind of the options. Olivia Jamie >> you said well my lost one I was thinking of two different things go to J come back >> rewinding have we thanked the youth basketball for making the upgrades to the gyms >> yeah and well they they know it's a you know >> I understand they know it's a give and take but have we thanked them for doing the work that they've done >> is there a plaque in a little small lily be gym by that one of the oops I I thought we again I haven't been in there much but I thought we had put plaque up there. >> I haven't been in there since co so

071I don't know >> and we would be memorializing this year to year. >> I understand that but I just if they've done all of this work maybe acknowledging that they've so done all of this work probably taking it out of their budget. >> Yep. Go ahead. >> Back to Lee. Um, all right. So, if not for a Youth Basketball Association, would we teachers in that gym? Like, if we said pay for Saturday, Sunday next year, would we actually budget for that? >> And I don't know, but I think that's something we need to think about like, do we actually bleachers? >> I don't know. >> I think my short the short answer is probably no. we would not do it. The longer answer is then we have to come up with some solution kind of

072safety and security at Lily B or the games. Uh especially when whether they're East Lime or out of town, but if they're starting to bring in benches and going into classrooms and taking chairs, >> that's bad. People are Yeah, that's bad. So, we need a different answer that um I think what's going on is bad. Um this is a sol this is one solution. But is there are there others? >> You don't have like a cart with folding chairs on it. >> Yeah, we didn't. >> We have we have them with sets of 10 chairs on them. They'd have to pull them out from side of the gym to This is where the custodians are like we don't want to do that sort of thing because there's they got to pull them out. They got

073to set them all up. They got to pick them up. They those out to set up for the bench for the benches for the teams. >> Uh so for the players and the coaches there are >> I don't know how many more chairs they actually well they have enough chairs for assembly. Oh yeah. Yeah. So they have enough chairs. So u yeah it's asking the custodians then to set up chairs and break them down Saturday. >> I don't even know fire code. That's a whole another question. I mean it could be set up on the wall and Do we are there games at other schools that we don't have room to have bleachers in? >> No, we only have them at the middle school and Lily B. >> Those the only place we have games

074does Flanders have >> Flanders doesn't do the travel. >> This is the travel teams. Yeah, >> it's it's a sometimes it's like I know my information is dated, but I think there's some grades especially um on the girls side can't get we don't have enough players. There might be two teams and so instead of playing each other every week for you know 10 weeks or so you might get old Sabbrook brings a fourth grade team in and old line brings in a four five team in or something like that. So that's where you're getting some of the even in the wreck um and nonravel you're getting a little bit of that just so the play different people at least um I think that's still going on. Well, that was going on when I was on

075>> Oops. Our left be upgraded. >> Left budgets are tight, right? Means at the end of the day kind of pressure test everything. Would we be be willing to offer updational services at a reduced price to kind of make this sense for us mean it. I'm not saying that it doesn't make sense for us. It's just that this there is a cost associated with it which we are not accounting. So, so you're saying for them to put in the bleachers and still pay a custodial fee rate of some kind >> if I'm them I they're not going to they would say >> but this is a big expenditure for a youth organization. >> I I I totally understand that and I'm I'm >> I thought you were going somewhere else which is you know is

076there an in you know so if the custodian on a Saturday making up number. I'm just going to use $100. We pay custodian Saturday, they they get $100. If we for Lily B, we offer and a quarter to the Lily B custodian because they have to do all this extra work that really wasn't part of their intention. I I don't know. And then you don't put bleachers in. You set up chairs uh and do that. >> Well, that's another way. I didn't go in that direction but I was kind of going in the opposite direction but that well but again from what I heard >> that would be part of a union negoti you're probably that would be a bargaining discussion and that would be an >> from what I heard from Jeff this seems

077to be a good solution security issue so that and that's why I've been we can consider this I'm I'm not I'm not I'm not opposed to this it's just does this make sense Hence from a town perspective where we we have these conversations every year, you know, budget is not going down and um then we put in bleachers because the optics optics do do matter, right? You know, as much as again we are very thankful for the youth football association to to bear the cost for it, but there is a cost to us as well. So I have a couple options. Well, one option is for this year. We approve this. We get some some safety security. We get a little benefit on maybe some when they have uh you know plays and shows and

078and stuff. But be very clear with East Lime Youth Basketball going forward is we're we want you're going to pay custodial fees whatever schedule we have for custodial fee custodial fees for Saturday and Sunday. We do not charge them for security. >> Yeah. >> No, that's the other piece. We don't have security there. >> We don't have security there. But if it was in a different group, if it was, you know, the Red Bull basketball club said, "Hey, can we rent your gym?" They would pay custodian and security >> and use of gym space too, >> rental. Yeah. So that Yeah. Exactly. So this is >> in our town and it's our our students for the most part playing there. So that's one option. Approve this, but tell them going forward, you know, you're just

079going to pay us. Another option is we just say, "Let's pay us. We're going to we're not sure about this at this point, and you know, we'll consider it." I guess um or not, casem I think we have to give an indicate. We have to tell them one way or another if they want to try to get this and have it installed prior to the season starting in that. >> Yeah, they want to. It's in the fall. I don't want to drag this thing down too much, but um Jeff, you were mentioned fire marshall. Is this is this potentially we put this in and he's going to be like you put that there because that's blocking. >> No, he part of the whole process. I I was referencing like setting up chairs and Okay. I

080just didn't know because you know chairs move, you know, I I wasn't feel about that. Sometimes you think, "Oh, it wouldn't be a problem. They to just put something here and then, oh, now you got a permanent fixture where there shouldn't be." >> I don't know. No. No. >> She's there. It was just the chair's component that I was just worried about. >> I would recommend the year to year. kind of looking at this year to year. We can continue to hone in on total costs too to see where is it lying. Are we making money or losing money too with this? If we start to get to there's a gap that that then put the brakes on it sort of thing. Sure. Uh we don't want to be losing the dollars with this. That's

081for sure. I just said, you know, in goodwill, good faith, collaborative approach. We've been, you know, collaborative park and wreck. We've been collaborating basketball. They've used their gyms for so many years. Um something they wanted to do. Um again, it just it needed to needs to come to you. Something this uh this nature. I'll make a motion. >> I'd like to make a motion to accept the gymnasium bleachers at Liby Hannes from East L purchased from East Lime Youth Basketball Association in lie of weekend custodial costs as presented. >> Second. >> Further discussion. I was kind of thinking originally likely other way and having them play us and then if we choose we would go by them. I'm not like super strongly >> or the other. >> Yeah. >> I just don't know how public

082you know that what that perception would look like district buying bleaches. I I don't I don't think that would be a good a good look >> public you know when again this is where >> if we do that we're probably not buy >> at all rather >> still then you still have the issues though of of what we've been hearing more problems we had last year especially there's an element of you're fixing a problem for safety and security too >> other thoughts discussion. You know, Lee, I was waiting for Lee. She kept I kept looking over like she's pondering stuff, but she didn't raise the hand. >> I know. I've been chewing on a few things. Um, and I'm apologies if I missed this or have we done kind of a like back of the

083envelope ROI kind of long-term on kind of costs for for this In what sense? >> What would the I guess what would they are? Yeah. >> In in like um basically what this will cost us in terms of those like custodial hours. >> Well, it' be less if if we don't do it. It would be and we had to put out chair. It would it would be more. I think this investment is Oh, I think let me just see. This cost is more >> this cost is higher. This one is higher than Saturday and Sunday cost would be if you add up the season. >> But it's but it's it's going to cover two years though. It's covering this past year and it's covering next year. >> Covering two two years. >> Two years. Okay.

084>> You look at it like that 14 to 15,000. That's about the mark. That's what we've we've costed out. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, we have a motion on the floor and a second. Um, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> She had her thumb. She did have thumb. Okay. Uh, opposed. Abstain. motion passes. So maybe let you know the import couple important things with this is you know passes and thank them you know but I think going forward rather go back to just you know be for service type arrangement. >> Yeah let's look at the the cost differential too next spring. I think it should be analyzed to see, you know, >> but >> yeah, we can definitely one year >> and then and then we can take that money and

085decide what to do with it. And >> yeah, there's a couple hoops that maybe but see that over. But if we go with the intention is going to be fee for service, we can always tell them you can go buy a hoop. You know, we can go the other it's much easier for us to go the other direction and say go buy a hoop and than to go this direction to say pay us. So the intention is pay us going forward. We can always make a decision to say hey we really do need that move but it's it's a problem you guys want to buy that next year. >> So the intent is always to pay moving forward but >> but so we're going the opposite direction. >> Yeah. Just kind of flip it. >>

086Yeah. Yeah. And flip. I would say to Lee's point too, are we looking at the whole picture? We're talking about cost of custodians. If it's a weekend, why are we heating the gym? Why are the lights on in the gym? You know that's that's a in winter time that could be well the electricity is electricity but I don't know what what does it cost to run the lights for a day and turn the heat on for a day in three gyms or >> so so you're saying a whole different thing of just shutting it down altogether not allowing them to use it. >> No, I'm just like if if going down the road that that just letting them know say, "Hey, you know, we we this program is a great program. We don't want to

087lose it, but just so you know, we're dealing with tight budgets now and we've figured it out. It costs us, >> you know, five grand a year to just leave the lights on and and x, you know, 10 grand a year for the custodians or what? I I don't know what the numbers are, but it's something. It's not zero." >> Oh, yeah. So, can we do this? I think it would be good. And Jill for FFO. Maybe Marian, we haven't looked at >> I did an analysis >> pricing and all that other stuff of gym rental anything with associated with that. That's probably a good FFO topic to kind of go through and we could talk about the full cost, >> fully loaded cost of stuff. >> You know, I I am not going down

088the road. I think that the comm community we're all part of the same community and we're trying to help each other out and I don't want to be the >> because then it starts to get well we do this and you're using those fields and we're but it's it's important to know >> when it comes time for budget stuff that you know this is what the school is providing for the community >> kind of wrapped into our budget. >> Yeah. Y good. >> Okay. Moving on. discussion action items other um so we have for discussion we have bylaw order of business um I think you were gonna >> yeah this was discussed at the um policy uh policy committee uh in relation to um the call to order um in reading the uh public schools

089mission statement um at the start of each meeting which is listed in here. Um talked about it at the policy committee meeting. Um we've had the mission statement you know put up behind us um obviously on you know on the wall here. Um the question that we wanted to the policy committee felt to bring to the full board was um is this something that you know we uh we want to make sure that we're doing um especially given in light of you know it's on the back wall here as well. So, um, Alisa, myself, Jamie, Son, we, uh, we talked about it and said, let's, you know, let's send it to the full board for some discussion whether or not you read the mission statement at the start of, um, meeting with it being right

090right here. So, that's kind of where we're we're at. um see what the board's feeling was uh >> and I think the crux of the issue was that technically that the bylaws are written we're supposed to be reading the the um >> the last two years >> the mission statement right so we haven't necessarily I mean I think we did it a couple times if I remember like here and there but we haven't so like the question is do we want to end by us. So we don't read it or do we follow it and it so I guess that's that's the discussion. Yeah, I remember when we went through that whole reviewing all the policies and everything. Remember that um our attorney's name, why am I >> Jessica? Um I remember one of the

091things she >> one of the thing I know but I finish one of the things she talked about is what's in your policies and make sure you're doing like if you're you have something in your policies bylaws and you're not doing it it shouldn't be in there. So make sure so that I think that's where this came up is we're not really doing it but it's there. So we we either need it stays and then we need to do it or it comes out and we don't do it. Um but kind of the having it in and us not doing it is not not good board practice. >> So when we redid everything um I made a suggestion to policy that we put that statement in there. um because it is a good practice to

092know why you're here. Um to know the purpose of what we come to each meeting and do. Um I think it is a good reminder for all of us to remember what we're supposed to come in here and do. Um I don't know about everybody else on this board, but I don't know that by heart. I don't know all those words by heart. I've come in this build room twice a month and I look at that board every time I come in here and I still don't know all those words by heart. I still have to look back during a meeting to remember. Um, I don't understand why this came up for discussion other than the fact that I did have it read at a board of ed meeting a couple months ago. Um, when

093I covered and after that it came to policy for discussion. Um, it has never come up two years that it's been policy. Um, I think that we should keep it. I think it's nice for us to remember what our purpose in is for coming in here every single time we come in here. I don't know why we would not want to know what our purpose is when we come in here all the time other than it is back there behind us for the public to see, but when we sit, we don't see it. It's behind us. So, it is a nice reminder at the start of every meeting for us to sit state our purpose and what we're doing every time we're coming in this room. Those are my thoughts. >> Did you call on

094me? >> I did. Jill. Sorry, Jill. >> Okay. I understand what Jamie's trying to say, but I guess from my personal experience, I take my position on this board very seriously. Uh, as a female, females typically do do this. I've cried about what's going on in this board and what we can do better and what we can't do better. Uh, it's something that for me I live with every day. And I know generally what it means and what I'm supposed to do to read it. I guess because I' I'm I don't want to equate it with the pledge of allegiance, but we've said the I mean I've been saying the pledge of allegiance since I was in kindergarten. So that's been something. But I guess is I don't want to make this something stressful. Uh,

095I think most of the people would not be on this board if they didn't believe and and I don't want to say live by, but believe in what that what our goals are and what we're what we're here to do. Uh, so to me it's if someone wants to make a policy, I certainly understand and and we can read it, but I'm not sure if it really for me personally if it really does anything for me or to me because as someone who's just like the rest of us, the other nine of us, we're very serious about what we do on this board. and the board. I swear I think more about this board than I do than my family sometimes and about what's the right thing to do, what should we do now in

096this situation. But again, this is my personal experience. If people feel we feel we need to read it because we can't remember word for word, >> you know, I I don't know if you ask me right now, I can't say the pledge of allegiance word for word unless I'm up there standing with the cover covering my heart and saying it. So again, what anyone what anyway what everyone wants to do. I don't think it's going to make me a better board person or if we do do it or less of a board volunteer if we don't say it. I think it's to me it's it's an emotional commitment. Sorry, that was my dog. >> Thanks. Thanks Lee. >> So I didn't mean to go on. I apologize. I'm off. >> Thanks Jill. Lee. >> Yeah,

097real quickly. I just I I really appreciate Jill's push around kind of making sure that we're not doing it just, you know, as far as like lip service goes, right? It kind of goes beyond, you know, that at a service level. And that being said, it feels like a pretty low lift way to just reaffirm our commitment to that at the beginning of a board meeting. So, I am in favor of kind of following the bylaws as they are written and and adding that into our meetings. thoughts. I'll give mine. I I I personally felt a when we added um I'm I'm really happy we added um behind us that I felt I do feel that that kind of does that it's there. It's stated it's it's pretty clear. Uh so I'm pretty comfortable that

098that meets I know what the kind of purpose of the mission statement and and purpose for us from a a meeting perspective also um from a meeting efficiency. you know, the other nine board members, I would say, have all pushed um at different retreats about the efficiency of our meetings and making sure we have time to talk. And I know it's it's 10 seconds or 15 seconds, but we've been pushing to have a lot more in consent consent. We've been trying to streamline the meetings so we could have time to focus on the key. So every everything we add um it's 20 seconds here, it's 50 seconds here. Um those are things that um I I feel like have it behind us, it's sitting behind us, everybody on camera sees it. Um I kind of

099line with Jill of I don't personally don't need to read it to know what the mission is. I I do feel like I know it, live it, breathe it. Um, so I'm I'm personally not in favor of of doing it on a for each meeting. There's thoughts on >> when when when we did did we adopt this mission like how old is it or like how often do we like review it? >> We reviewed it nine years ago. Okay. When we did the fiveyear strategic plan and had a lot of discussion on whether or not do we revise it, do we change it and in the end we kept it the way it was. Um so prior to that gosh modus I think or >> yes for the uh NASDAQ being statement >> it's probably

10020 20 years could be 20 years old it's close to 20 years old. >> Yeah I was looking at a a maybe some sort of slight compromise. I agree with you Eric. I think it we're that we want to streamline things and that's we're just going to read it at a quick speed and it's going to be um I think instead perhaps maybe in September or beginning of the year or something and just to you know maybe we have a reminder reading and say hey we're starting in the 2025 202 26 school year just to remind everyone we have this on the wall behind behind us. These are This is our thoughts. This is what we're, you know, maybe it needs to be revised, too. I don't know. But, um, >> we painted it on

101the wall. We can't revise. >> True. But anyway, um, >> a whole new students next year. It needs something to do. >> But, but if you if we did it and made it special and did it like and then and then it's there all the time, I think we've kind of played it played I don't know it's compromised that would be my thought or maybe it's couple times a year I don't know may I say one more thing >> uh Jill and then Lee >> oh okay >> Jill yeah Jill you go and then Lee >> I guess this this may be too strong of analogy but I'm thinking of the milit military and they do their pledge to the Constitution and and uh they swear to protect the Constitution and all and all of

102that that goes with that pledge. I guess I feel like I think that they don't do that every day. They just live and breathe it. And I think I still say that all 10 of us and even the staff pro probably live and breathe what is painted up on that wall every day or we wouldn't be coming we wouldn't be here to serve and we wouldn't have the commitment that we do have. And again the analogy may be too strong comparing us with the military but I don't hear them recommitting their commitment to the constitution every day or to serve and protect the constitution. Maybe they should, but I don't know. Okay, thank you. >> Thanks, Jill. Lee, >> yeah. No, Bill's comment resonated and made me think like, are there other avenues for us

103to kind of meaningfully bring our mission statement into our work more frequently? Whether that I'm thinking about like a lot of companies have like their set of core values and typically when they're giving out you know monthly or quarterly awards they will tag you know a specific so like in the instance of our mission statement right like a Viking valor award could be grounded in like the inspire part of our mission statement for a specific outcome. So, I don't have all the perfect answers here, but um Bill's comment in particular sparked. I I really like the push to making sure our mission statement is really like what we are living and breathing. And I think they're um I'd be curious to explore other ways to make sure that it it's front and center in a

104way that's going to resonate with with everyone on the board. >> Yeah. Oh, go ahead, Jamie. So for years with those comments in mind for years it used to be at the top of our agenda. Mission statement was at the top of our agenda then it was the shell and then it was our agenda. It's come off in the last oh god I can't even remember the last time I saw it on an agenda. >> But it used to be at the top the mission of these public schools is blah blah blah blah blah with the shell and then it was the agenda. We have taken it off of everything. It's nowhere except on the wall behind us and that's it. Not on the website, but it used to be part of our board of

105end meetings. I have tons of agendas at home with the mission statement at the top and the agenda underneath. It's nowhere in what we do every day. >> We switch over to boards. >> I don't know. But it used to be part of >> remember that >> part of our meetings. It used to be printed right on our agendas. It's part of everything we do and it's gone. So to build a little bit on the building on Bill is is can there's something that we add to make it kind of living and breathing and kind of so you hear it and I you know I wonder if there's something as as we have principles come in and give their updates and we give a different awards and recognition is as we're giving a recognition and

106awards or the principal giving updates If they can tie some of these that we can tie into our mission statement that does bring it a little bit more to life of, you know, here's someone exhibiting it or here was a group doing it or or something like that or a principal giving examples of what they're doing that you know and how that impacts our our statement. I mission statement. I have as as Lee was talking I I personally have seen it in different companies a lot more on the value like people come up with somewhere between three and eight core values. Um and then you tie everything is tied to those three to eight or values. um everything from performance reviews to every kind of line up with the things that you talk about whether

107it could be integrity as a core value or um whatever those are. So um but we can do something similar but tie it to the statement. Well, that's I think they so the thing for tonight it's for discussion not discussion action because this needs to go back to policy. So we need to tell policies either um no you know we're okay with this no change or we can bring it back to policy committee and say we're looking to do something different and then policy would can talk about some different options of things that we do um on this I think going forward forward unless we change it in policy. We just need to >> Yeah. I I I I will tell you from from my perspective. I I have it's small, but I'm going to

108I'm going to digress for a second. I kind of have a real problem of reading the mission statement before doing a pledge. I personally have a major I think you come call a meeting order, you do a pledge, right? You kind of set and then you do it is not the order that we have this in. Um but I if we were going to keep it in I was going to push strong is say you do your pledge then you then you can talk about your school's mission. The school's mission statement doesn't come before um a pledge. Um so that's my um personal view but yes we need to follow this policy I guess um but we need to make a decision on what we're going to do uh going forward and have policy bring

109something back to the board to make a decision or not if this is how we wanted to We need to give direction. So, we're not taking a vote here, but we need to give um I think some opinions at least like you know or most of the board want to keep it in. Most of the board does not and then let policy bring something forward. We need we're not taking a vote, but we do need something It's hard. I know. You guys know you guys know where I stand. So, it's hard to I I can't be impartial. I have a viewpoint on this. Um Vic and then Esta. >> So, I mean I'll I'll just say this again. I'm I'm open to all all ideas, >> but one thing that did did resonate with me

110and thank you Eric for sharing it. If we are going to we're going to read has to follow the pleasure of the lead. I think that part I I I agree. I think it does re you know reading it. It it just it takes a few seconds. It reinforces what what we are here for. I I do see value in it. I mean I think it's it's good but it if we do this it the pledge of allegiance comes over. That's that's how I see >> I say if you're asking for for where we're thinking I would say right now I'm leaning towards um you know uh eliminating it from the uh business. >> So what Oh god >> I saw the hand almost got >> I think that made a really good point. Uh,

111>> you as well. It has to follow the pledge of allegiance. I don't have a super strong opinion of adding it or not. I could be convinced either way. It reminds me like um it's like not a great analogy, but like the 4 program or scouts how they say their pledge like so we come in and you would say allegiance. You follow me order pledge of allegiance. then you would say your like club whatever statement. Um so like when I was in Girl Scouts like then you would say that Girl Scout and then it would be the meeting. Um so yeah I I don't know. I mean it's good to put us in the mind frame of why we're here but I don't want it to just become empty words. >> How about this? Can

112we Oh, go ahead. >> I mean, just to before opinions here essentially, uh I think Lee had built on something there and I I don't want to add some to to already long meetings and I know it's only a few seconds, but if you're just reading it without, you know, if you're just reading it, then depending on how you read it and depending on how you focus, it's just noise. Um, I don't disagree with Jamie though, having it on the document. If somebody starts with art, there's no reason it can't be on the document. They look at it, they have to go through it. But I really like Lee's idea that bringing it to life in a meaningful way. Like, you know, tonight's Viking Valor was for the students who cleaned up the the gardens

113at the W school. they're showing, you know, that we're really leaning into our uh contributing citizen or being respon or whatever it is. You know, I I I don't know that we need to turn around and point to it. But there I think it's I think trying to give it more value, more life than just noise at the at the you know because you know I I just think that that might be what it will become. It's it's something we're trying to get through to get to work. >> Thanks, Bill. So let me see if I can summarize and then please. So what we're going to ask policy and policy and say I think there's some mixed views I think to come back with some thoughts. One is and it could be could be multiple

114of these um so you can combine and and whatever but one is leave as is. Two is small modification is move it off keep it in but after the pledge it's read but it's after the pledge. Three is we read it but maybe only a few times a year fold it in at the beginning of the year and then maybe the beginning of a semester, maybe another time or something like that. Or and again these are not mutually exclusive. So you can mix and match some of these as well. Or is is there a way to this would go policy with culture climate committee. kind of is there a way as we do things and and think um as as we recognize people or um equals come and talk whatever and we reference and how

115that links to our mission statement the accomplishment links to our mission statement. Those are the kind of the four different things that I've heard. Did I miss any? Are we okay with then sending that to policy to to think about more? Maybe come up and on that last one, maybe it links to Bill and Anelise and the um CCI committee. Um if we're going to start doing that, >> you covered it. >> Okay. So, let's let's do that. Um in the meantime, >> one more question. ask one one more question. >> Yeah. Um isn't something written in each elementary and and in the middle school what their global or approach or what their goals are to educate our children. Or am I wrong? It's been so long since I've been in the school buildings. Just

116trying to recall that we have it here. the the high school has of a different statement, but um no, the the middle school elementaryaries more just have their flavor of like, you know, the Flanders Allstars, you know, the um Haynes bees. Uh so they kind of have their their themes, Jill, but they don't they don't have a statement. >> Great. Thank you. >> Yeah, I'll I'll bring this information back to Alisa. >> Yeah, we'll pull policy committee together in the near future and go from there. >> Okay, great. Okay. Uh moving on. Uh board of education goals uh for discuss discussion and potential action. Just so everybody remember seems like a while ago whenever it was in the July um we you know thought about some goals put together um some metric outcome metrics uh

117some draft and then we went back and appreciate everybody who was kind of went back and kind of took a shot at writing um some outcome metrics to bring forward to this meeting. We don't have another August meeting. So the next meeting would be September. So we did say the hope that we could get pretty if we don't finalize tonight, it's fine. We can finalize it in early September. That's what we did last time as well. Um we can't finalize. That's also great. But we have, you know, outcome metrics updated based on um well um each went off and and wrote or or updated those. And so that's kind of where we are. So we wanted to go through these. Now I think what we had have learned just in general is that three to

118four outcome metrics per goal. So remember we have our four goals. Those four goals haven't changed in a few years. Um the overarching goal and what we've changed is the outcome metrics of as we keep continuing to drive those goals. What are the metrics that we're looking for in those in those goals? And I think what we've seen for our board of ed goals is that three or four outcome metrics in general um or is is a pretty good number. or having too many is is might be hard to track of and and accomplish and having too few um you know having one outcome metric for if we only have four goals and only have one ma outcome metric that probably not enough uh that we're not measuring enough things. So that's kind of where

119we are. So in terms of um what we could go through this um and go through each section. So take each goal and go through. So the first is the pathways programming and uh we have three outcome metrics you remember um offering the broader range of pathways opportunities that we want to make sure that there's there's it's offered to broader number of students so we can get the breadth of students in that if if some of them when we're maybe more narrowly focused and and hoping that we can create more to get a a wider group of of students engaged um in these. Um we wanted to say the second one is about can we collect information to say how what was the longer term impact on uh pathways programming on students like did I

120learn what I don't want to do I learn what I do want to do going forward in that so something along those lines is the second one and then integrate and align the vision of the graduate experience to the pathways program so we have a lot going on with the VOG VG I don't know the Vogue >> um >> personal choice >> and have that link into the pathways program. So and those three do those three do they resonate wording good good or not good it's obviously good but good um uh happy we can take you know word smithing as well is there anything we're missing are these the right things that we should be focusing on this year for pathways Amy >> or bullet two, how it's the how >> how to how to

121create the baseline or how >> how are you going to collect the information on the impact the pathways program has had on student college and career planning? We we have to use our alumni channel and reach out to those individuals last for three years now >> as many of them as we can to see did they follow a career. So it's going to be a survey going to have to go through >> all their contact information. >> Yeah, they're all knows addresses. So um to pull them >> the students give you their email addresses. >> Yeah, we have personal email addresses in through Naviance when they graduate. >> You take that data. We do. >> Yeah. And who will be the person doing all this? >> We'll we'll tag team it with Dave Fulo mostly

122will be overseeing it, but they'll work with an at least myself and Henry. >> Yeah, the school counseling department really helps with pull in the emails from Navian for us. I'm going to move forward from P. Pathways was I think the one that we had the least comments on in the first discussion back in July. So I'm going to move forward on pathways. We can always go back. Um the next was culture and climate which has you know a number of things. So um so one is continued the recognition we're bringing people in like we've been doing. Um the second is and the these that second and third bullet are going to get consolidated into a single outcome metric. That's what we that's why I highlight them. Yeah. To talk about we want to consolidate.

123>> I think the third bullet is include or the third bullet is included in the second bullet. Yeah. >> That that's yeah we the approach that we were looking at that we we can eliminate that third bullet because it's embedded even if you have to tweak some wording. Yeah. Bullet number two of the Yeah. So, >> okay. So, it's highlighted. So, so then for our purposes today, we're going to eliminate bullet three and it's bullet two. That is the outcome metric. That chance to take a look at it. >> Question. >> Yeah. Go ahead, Jamie. Um for bullet two two >> y >> do we ever get to see the satchel poll survey data >> the districtwide data is posted on our website >> all those questions that we answer throughout the year all that

124data is up >> yes >> I will in full transparency the end of year data did not make it up um but we're I don't know how much you know about the new website but it will be up on the when we launch the new website October 1. Do we know where it is on our website? [Music] >> And actually just search satchel pulse >> survey data. It should come up. >> Um I can provide you with the link. >> That's okay. It's teaching the teaching and learning page. I know where that page. Yes. Yeah. Okay. >> Yep. Um we don't include uh the data from comments in there. >> Yeah. Okay. But we include the overall the overall pillars. Okay. >> Districtwide. And then the school improvement plans are posted in there too. >>

125We didn't confirm we didn't include the teacher >> back though either. >> That's correct. >> Yes. So there's no teacher >> families and families students too. >> Parent student family. >> Yep. >> Correct. made a um just an observation on the actual writing of the climate culture the board of edible support initiatives and I should have that's you but I'm reading that and as a staff member I don't see myself in that as a you know it's it's very student and it is we're here for the students yes but and climate culture. Should that should that read a safe and inclusive learning and working environment or >> I don't know just you I I don't know if there's a way to make it sound like it's for everybody because when I when I hear the

126word the way it's written to me it just seems very student. >> That's a good idea to build um learning and working. It's like a couple of reads, you know. >> Well, I just want to make sure that the everybody feels like they're part of the >> they're represented. Yeah, I agree. Sounds good. >> So, we're adding >> at the top >> the top at the top. The board of ed will support >> the district and school initiatives to advance a safe and inclusive learning and working encompasses staff students. Okay. So now um you're still okay with eliminating three then? >> Yeah. And then we're on four, which I'm still calling four even though we eliminated three, but in the words it's four. Um the foster a sense of belonging and greater student experience for

127each child across the district. This is very similar wording change a little bit but similar to a goal that we had um last year outcome metric. >> I'm missing something. Foster continued sense of belonging and a greater student experience for every child across the district entails supporting the continued partnership and engaged training taken through learn. Is that how it goes? >> Correct. Feel like it's missing something. [Music] that one was through unions and learn. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yep. We're in year three. Um we'll have three cohorts running on the number of participants uh perspective. And then the last two highlighted bullets are around um we have we've had a lot of discussion about the high school student representatives and uh trying to come up with um how we can have them more engaged

128or actively participate in our meetings or kind of change the the ask of what we're looking for from our student represent high school student representatives. Um Amy, did you want to go through? I think >> so. I'll go through it. Vivic and I um I worked on a draft and Vivic and I and collaborated on making it. We did a a statement. We actually did a how to achieve and everything. Um we we we liked the in at least one board or committee meeting a month idea. Um where the board of ed student rep will actively participate in one board of ed mini meeting a month. So either a board meeting or a committee meeting um and go into how we do that. Um and then Jeff suggested that it goes to three or four

129board meetings through the spring of 2026. >> Yeah, I was concerned with want to make sure that if we're going to have students um participating in a full board of education meeting that there's a little context of you know what their involvement looks like what the expectation is can they meet the expectation because you know they're going to sitting here for potentially you know two hours um and they usually stay for you know 15 20 minutes and then go home and do homework and so forth so I just want to make sure that that's that's crystal clear I thought my opinion was to kind of ease into it a little bit more try and tackle the bring with that piece, >> but >> it's your goals and I'll talk more re as we see fit.

130>> Well, I'm going to go back. >> So, our our suggestion was is that that the students um learn how to use the public domain of board docs, >> which is going to be changing too, >> but it's public. All of our agendas are public access, so everybody should be allowed to read them and know where they can be found. Um, but I don't and it was basically letting them be a functioning member. Like there are school districts that have fully functioning members. They just can't vote sit at the board of ed meetings and they contribute actively to all the discussions that are happening. Um, and they are allowed at committee meetings and board of ed meetings. So they would be able to go to the culture climate committee. they'd be able to go to

131the policy meeting or the finance committee meeting and tell us their thoughts and ideas and contribute because they live it every day. And as we learned when we interviewed Don, the student person on the committee was a very they had really great ideas and thoughts on what that position should look like. And I know we've talked about in the past um students probably know what a budget they would have great budget ideas for us and they would have great policy ideas. The policy affects them. We should hear from them. Um so that kind of think was made you want to say something that was our thoughts on it. Um my other thought was taking it out of culture and climate and putting it under high level learning practices because that's more student just student oriented.

132Um those are my thoughts on I don't know >> I'll I'll second what you said you know mean I I do feel these are high school kids these you know mean we are not expecting this of of the middle school kids we are you know high school kids again we you know in a year or two they're going to go into college you know this is not I I would not expect this to be too much of a burden if you are you are running Well, I know they they have elections in high school, right? You know, for for these positions you're running and you are you are interested in doing this work. U this level of commitment is not unreasonable in my experience. So, I would, you know, I'm just saying things in support

133of what what Jamie is is proposing because I I I do believe that's something that the students should be able to do. And and the biggest thing for me is there, you know, some of the student reports that we get, they're very narrow in scope. You know, I do think they have to, you know, unless they sit through whole meetings, they will they will never realize that the board is interested in a lot more things other than the narrow perspective that is being shared. And I don't mean to be critical of the student representatives we have had so far. they've just not they've not just been told what what our expectations are. So it's it's on us uh rather than the student rep. So that's that's how I would >> totally totally agree with what

134>> can I just for a clarification um so they're coming and it says at least one board meeting a month. Let's say they start what are they doing the opposite board meeting >> participating in at least one board meeting. >> Yeah. But what are they doing the other meeting because they're too >> they can still come in and just they can stay if they want but that the goal was to have them at in at least one a month participating. They can come and give their report and leave. >> That's what I want to say. The expectation is for them to still come >> is to act actively participate in one board meeting. >> That's like they can sit here for an AI presentation and give us their thoughts on an AI presentation. Uh they

135could have given us their thoughts on the I don't know food service pricing tonight on whether or not they thought that was too expensive or expensive enough. I mean it's just a they could give us the feedback on what they are living. >> We like kind of prompted that. So like we want them to give us feedback on an AI food service presentation, but they maybe wouldn't have anything to contribute to like this goals discussion. Do they need to stay until 8:15? in in what I >> one of my concerns >> in what I submitted to to Jeff and Eric, we had like thoughts on if a student doesn't have anything to give us feedback on, could they appoint somebody to give them in in their spot or we thought maybe we could look at

136how the student senate is composed and re-evaluate how the students are being appointed to our board. Does it have to be a school senate vote? Could it be a teacher pres? could be, you know, um >> and it was already in the process of changing looking at that. >> And then we um what else did we talk about? Um putting together a schedule of u relevant topics that the students can talk to us about. Um the main idea was just to get the different voices and have all the students represented at our meetings. Um, >> let me because when I looked at these two and I maybe right I thought that the why the what were the same is kind of the when in other words the active participation in all that in in both

137that's How I took it was the same. It's more of are we starting this in spring of 2026 or are we starting it in September? That that's for me that was the only thing that I I took is the difference of when are we starting this happening? And you know what I >> I I assumed it was a goal at the start of the school year. So we were starting our goals. I mean, if I don't Jeff thinks it has to wait till spring of 2026 to get things rolling. >> I don't think it has to. I just thought, you know, I think my opinion is that you just need I think you need to work into it. It's a it's a big change and it's a >> it's a huge change. >> Yeah, that's

138why I just thought, you know, September, we're telling we haven't Henry's got to find the student first, the next student that's going to, you know, the school year has to start. It's not going to happen the first meeting of September. That's for sure. >> And I and I and I thought it should take some time. know >> this is my >> I expect more than >> I don't know >> I guess I expect our students to want to participate. I would think that they would want to hear have us hear what they have to say >> if we get the right student that's >> but you're right that's what we have to find. We have to find that that student because you don't want them not showing up either. We want them >> I I

139understand that. I just >> commitment from them and need that commitment. >> I I had a clarification question. when you say we have to find a student, what's the process, right? I didn't >> I have to talk to Henry. I I you know that's where we haven't even established that yet. So, >> and I think the process we've used maybe >> I agree with you. I don't think we've been very clear on expectations. So, that's our our what >> we take our responsibility on that is I don't think we've been very clear. I also though, you know, we had one student in on the AI. >> Yeah. But like that's what we want, right? Uh very willing to voice opinions, come out. And so you need that person who is just very comfortable in doing

140that. um and and be willing to participate because we also don't want where it's you know they show up and sit for two and a half hours and they're thinking about oh man I got I'm I got homework I just you know I have x pra you know I just had a game I got back from my game or whatever or I have a game I'm missing you know whatever is happening or I have a play or I'm supposed to be doing my playing practicing my saxophone or whatever I'm supposed to be doing. um really want it to be meaningful for them too, right? We want benefit and we want them to like want this. It's like, oh, this is really cool and engaging. >> It could be a committee meeting like you're saying that's

141that's a good idea, too. That you know, maybe it doesn't have to be a it's a good experience to partakes in a in a committee meeting, too. If they can't make a board meeting a given month, >> they can stay after school with committee meeting a lot more easily than they can stay for a three-hour board event. The only other minor modification I don't really is my only concern about saying one a month if there's any way we can and maybe with the the committee meetings that makes it easier. My only concern with that is like if someone let's say plays a fall sport, they may or or they have a their play or whatever their activity is really busy in the fall, then they might not do as much in the fall, but then

142in the they know in the winter and spring they're going to come more. Uh, so they might do two in a given month because that works better for their and like if it's finals week or something like that, they're not going to if we have one meeting in a month and it happens during finals week, I don't want them coming like they have other things to worry about that like we can. So anyway, so I just want to make sure they it works well for them and for us that that they have some flexibility. They probably should also tell us if they're going to stay or we should also tell them, hey, we're talking about AI or we're talking about whatever that the student uh prices like, hey, can one of if we have two,

143can one of you two stay because we really would like to get your perspective on this. >> Henry could review the agenda with them ahead of time. Yeah. >> Oh, be one of the two. So, like looking at >> we can modify this. You do one of the two stays once a month or >> I mean we have two of them so they could >> I mean they might both want to stay one night and >> two times a year per person. >> Yeah. >> So my again my thought on this is you know mean we we have a a junior and a senior coming. >> My expectation is that the senior takes the lead on on these kind of things. Okay. And and I I'll uh I I you know Jeff's point that okay

144we need we need figure out exactly how we going to do this uh you know means yeah mean I think we we we need we need ideas on on how we are going to do this and how we are going to nominate this person and and I guess my question is does it need to be one person or could could be nominated by the Senate depending on what topic they want students want to discuss with us right and what what kind of of of of presentation they want to give to us like for example you know there are there is let's say there is there's an update on what going on in the sports you know all track meets and all that stuff it doesn't have to be one student rep it could be somebody

145from the track track team you have all these music festivals happening in the in winter semester or it is in the winter semester usually you know it could be somebody from the music department who is coming and having a chat with us. So again I I concur with Jeff on that okay this may take time to organize um the same time I I would like to see my only push here is we need to do it sooner rather than later. We cannot be sitting on this for a long time. This is a great idea. I feel this is a great idea. It's just that I think we may want to organize it around this sooner. >> Great. >> I just I saw uh Jill and then Eston >> I just wanted to say can you

146hear me? Can you hear me? I guess my only concern is all your points are excellent but one of the first concerns is what is the value for the student and when I say that what I mean is do they get some sort of credit some sort of credit uh you know because most of the students I shouldn't say mo the students that'll probably be interested in doing it are already spread pretty thin so I guess is what's in it for the student what's the student value there. I know with the interns we're working with, they have several steps they have to complete and then we're paying them at the end. Now, we can't do this, but we're paying them at the end of the summer. So, and I'm so to me besides making it

147a learning opportunity, what are they getting what are they getting back? And Joe, I what I hope I hope it's it's kind of two parts. One is I really hope that they have interest in how a board works and how local government works and they learn about the challenges and and making decisions that are sometimes, you know, sometimes there's decision that has to make be made. There's three options. They're all bad and you have to pick the least bad one and like yeah that's hard you know and we face that and so >> but can we give them h can we give them like half a credit I keep going back to Miss Hardy's class >> oh we lost you um the only other thing I was going to say is the student does for

148you know if they're going to go on to college and stuff like that this this can be a pretty good >> resume builder >> uh resume builder potentially getting a reference or whatever that they're not getting references from us now because I don't know them that well from what they but if they really participate um yeah one of us could give or if I whatever could give I mean I I do I mean what is in it for them other than learning and being a contributing citizen I think there is there is you know I leave it up to principal kid to decide if he wants to put put some kind a credit offering on that. Um um or you know your idea of maybe a recommendation letter for for help with college applications. I

149think we the entire board can support if somebody has really contributed. We can all sign off on a on a on a recommendation letter. I mean those things are are valuable. >> So there are there are very creative ways we can add. Um, I think what I think what what I'll I'll encourage the board is I think we need to get behind this. I think and and then we can come up with creative ways of of making it worthwhile for the students and I think it is it it is important for us to hear this. So >> So I think what I I'm hearing is there's pretty well I think we're we're actually holistically aligned of what we want what we want from the students, you know, what we're looking for and stuff. Maybe if

150Jeff can you work with um Amy and Vic um just come up with whatever and maybe with Henry whatever like what what can you do and by when in terms of we more the tactics I think we're aligned on why do we want this to happen what are we expecting from the students uh Jamie did a nice write up of that kind of did double click down from this outcome metric of what what it means and what are the questions we're going to have and all that but can Henry when can Henry you know think about this or and how is he going to find students and which students is in picking students and telling them what we yeah like that's going to take a little bit of time but to Vic's point is we

151can't >> we don't want we don't want it to wait till December before we have like >> in September we >> hopefully we can identify by students who are going to do this and and aware >> yeah I think by the end of September we'll have a a clearer picture of you know we want um the expectations I just need to clarify those you know with Henry and when kids come back he can start working with the different student groups whether it be senate or others or teachers to figure out you know going to be sort of thing and so by the end of September early October I would hope that you know we could have this >> and I make a crazy weird suggestion Um maybe the board of ed members themselves act as

152the mentor for the high school students and talking to them about what's on the agenda. Each board member has a month and that's their responsibility to reach out to the students and discuss the agenda with them and what's coming up and whether or not they'll be involved. I mean it's a way for to take it off of Henry. >> Yes, I think that's it. >> Puts it on us. I would still want them to talk to him. >> I understand that. But then we could just say, "Hey, >> the agenda this the agenda comes out on Friday. >> I'll send you a text or something this weekend if you want to talk about something." >> I think that's that's a nice that's a nice connection. >> Um 100%. Absolutely. I I just want to make

153sure Henry has a chance still to go over the agenda with with students. So students >> oftentimes they come to meetings with with inaccurate information, >> right? And I understand >> it's reported out in public and it's inaccurate and then we're trying to backpedal and correct because questions come. So we need to make sure if they're going to spend, you know, time with us, we're going to ask them questions that they're accurate with their information or we can help when they're getting opi their thoughts. It's not just their opinions. they've actually talked to at least some group of people um to get collect thoughts and they can represent they can represent their opinion and others and say hey my opinion is a but I talked to a bunch of people and they were thinking B

154that's okay um but is that shared but I do like if we'll get to know them >> like give us a month each board member there's 10 months and the kids are gone for July and August so that gives each board member a month to be responsible for talking to a high school kids about agenda items. I'll just take straws out of a hat and take a month. >> I don't know. >> So, if you hating out of the hat idea, >> I think the board is pretty aligned on this. So, I think if if we can just get that wording down to when it's going to start or whatever um and talk with Henry and stuff, I I think we be in good shape. We just have September. Maybe we look at starting in

155October. You know, September is our month to to to get it um together sort of thing. Identify the students, talk about the exit and go from there. >> Yeah. The only Yeah. Because the only thing I don't want is if a a goal that in September we're going to miss the goal in September. >> Yeah. You're gonna So, I just I want to make sure we don't have a goal that we >> we realize we're not going to make it in. So, if we can just word it um be say starting in October or something too. U but if you guys can just um get that we're not going to we'll sleep on this for a few weeks anyway and then come back in September and approve. But I think we're close on all these

156goals so far. So then if we move on to the high level instructional practices assessment growth development for stu growth development for students we have um so we have two um committees uh that we talked about one chairing the school realignment committee and estaban uh the global language committee. And so these were the um the potential the first two bullets are the two uh outcome metrics for those two committees. >> Okay. So remind me school realignment that that include the middle school considerations. So the school realignment includes prek. Now we do prek. It includes how we structure the ele I should let Lee answer this but you're on the uh how how we structure our elementary and if we have that intermediate school and the middle schools may be more like 678 and looking at

157eighth grade or it could be seventh it could be 678 but looking at that and how that transitions to the high school is do we have more of a junior high model for all three grades for just eighth grade. So, it's it's looking at kind of those the book ends as well as kind of the alignment in the middle. Lee, anything to add on that? Was that >> That was a solid summary. I think the only thing I would probably want to stamp is that the purpose of this committee is like truly exploratory. So, it's not committing that we are absolutely going to move forward with any particular plan. And it's really just kind of based on enrollment trends and feedback from all the different stakeholder groups. You know, is there just doing our due

158diligence to make sure that we're operating with the appropriate structure across all academy levels? >> Any questions on global language? Just a second moment. >> The wording That's okay. Sorry. Uh global language is again we are going to focus on what infrastructure we have in our ability to teach or are we trying to expand and I'm I'm open to it. I'm just trying to see what the scope will be. >> So also exploratory uh kind of reimagine. Okay. But we we know what would it look like if we were to reintroduce global languages back to the elementary school. So how would it fit in within the school day? Uh what resources be needed uh as far as staffing, training, all that like you know kind of putting something in during the day like what comes

159off or like you know what needs to be looked at and uh also what languages uh are we thinking of possibly you know reproducing. So like you know not necessarily what we usually think of but like globally and languages that are up and coming like but so again very exploratory kind of figure out like also to think okay can we how can we incorporate this into our budget and and all that like how would it what it what it would mean. So more of an exploration really and also consult with the uh administrators and teachers and like okay how do they how would they envision this in practice if we were to uh invest it and make it happen in 207 or you know whenever it is that >> and um as did double click

160down on this with a few bullets of what the team would uh be working. Um third one is around AI. So if you remember at the end of last school year um we had um a great AI discussion. It's probably an hour and a half discussion. It's more of those really. Last year we had a similar goal, but we're still kind of touching at the top or high level stuff. We're starting to really get into this a lot more and we're going to have this really on the agenda of most meetings uh this fall uh or once a month, the three board meetings like once a month. So this one I I like it and I know that how important AI is and it's how important it is for us to keep up with it.

161But whenever we have these AI meetings, our board of ed meetings seem to go very very long and we get really really tired and cranky at the end and we just kind of push everything else that's after it off to the agenda because we had done so much for the AI. Um, so like the student rep one, is there a way for we not hold it to three meetings by December? Maybe make it like five meetings by the end of the school year so then it's not so contained to just the next three months of meeting meeting about AI. >> Any thoughts? just because I feel like that's a a lot of long meetings right before we get into budget season. >> I als I will just piggyback and you know progress in AI takes

162time and so I don't know how much progress we'll be able to share in such a condensed period of time. So you know and I would you know want to engage the board a little bit further on what is it you know so that the presentations are very are valuable >> to you you know what is it exactly that you want to hear. >> Y okay people good with that change? So, we're gonna say >> So, we're going to say five by the end of the c uh school year >> because right now it just says three by December. Seems like a lot. >> So, we're going to increase it to five. >> I threw out five as as an example. >> I'm sorry, I missed that. >> I threw out five as an example

163of like end of the school year. So, that's >> three by December. >> It was three by December. I added two more on for the end of June. What if we did quarterly or looked at >> I like quarterly an AI meeting up >> quarterly update. >> Yeah, >> I like quarterly. >> Everybody's good with that. >> I just felt like three was a lot for the next three months because >> No, I appreciate that. >> It's a lot. And is it going to change? Like are the conversations going to change that much in three months? It >> might. You never know. Oh, I mean I say that but you never know. >> You don't. That's true. >> Okay. And then the last one is in collaboration with administration. Um, oh, this is um uh

164um to look uh to review and discuss a high school course establishing a median class size of 20 for the 2026 2027 school year maintaining high standard while efficiency means a focus. So in other words, I'll let Vic for you to comment is is what we're trying to do here is this year is is baked, right? That Henry's doing >> they haven't done their class schedules. It's probably happening right it's happening right now right now. So we're really looking at >> we can influence them school year and that gives us a year and Henry can start looking at classes from this year. We can analyze this as well and start seeing well what would it take to be a median class size of 20. We also yeah stop there and I you described it very

165well because I think >> we we have limited resources and we have to make maximize the use of those resources and and we have to do a deep dive on the curriculum and I I would focus on the core curriculum for these 20 you know this class size of median of 20 I would focus on the core curriculum because I've looked at the distribution that analysis has % you know means if you look at look at overall distribution we are fairly normal we are not skewed we are not you know we are not on the left or the right we are we are fairly normal so if if I look at the distribution I'm looking at the top top top of the class so and I I draw a line and which is a line

166in the sand at 20% those students are probably expecting something totally different in what courses and classes they take and you cannot expect needs of those students match with majority of the students and and classes that they may take may not achieve this 20s then you look at the if you and draw the same symmetrical line at at the on the on the lower 20% their needs are totally different and they are not looking at it so I'm looking at the more middle 60% of of the p uh student population and if if we can get gain efficiency in that 60% population. I think it'll do our district, you know, um, you know, a lot of good. Keep the standards high, but at the same time being efficient about it and we are not we

167not we are not getting into situations where even for a core curriculum like like an like an A-level English class, we have only 10 students, you know, does it happen? Probably not. But I'm I'm just g giving you that as a random example. So >> you're good with that meeting of 20 was that was the number. >> Well, that's kind of what whatise I don't have I don't have a hard number in my head because I'm going to let >> you advise us on that. >> Yeah. And that's where I felt kind of comfortable. Um and looking at we'll talk more obviously, but really you know taking the average. So we're we're going to be filtering out you know those class sizes that are needed for a reason um sort of thing. So, um, as

168an example, or special education courses or this or that. So, yeah, you're getting more of a the core like you like that's a good example like of the middle, um, components of of that graph. So, >> and I think that the way it's worded, I think, is we're not going to know the answer to this until it's already past the goal of completion. So, it's the goal of establishing that we're shooting towards 20, medium of 20. We're not going to have that answer until August September of six >> 27 >> 26. Yeah. >> 26. >> Okay. >> Any questions on that? Last um for the district branding and social media strategy, we have two very similar to last year, the 10,000, which we far exceeded, but that's still um that's still a big challenge. I

169I you know, Kevin was able to get a couple of the big ones come in. Um and then the second bullet, the Instagram, Facebook, central office, whatever, um increase followers by 10%. it is compounded. So we grew 10% last year. So 10% is harder because it's a now a bigger number and you got to keep growing. So that was the I think thinking behind those um goals and kind of keeping them as as they were last year. Okay. Um let's uh we'll get these updated and then we'll get them back out to everyone so that we can approve. I think we're in pretty good shape to approve them. September, I think we're close. So, great work everyone and appreciate everybody kind of taking a piece and and putting it back together. I thought I think

170that worked really well. Um next uh for discussion and action we have the the we had goals for discussing um but to approve the formation of the two ad hoc committees and we do um Jeff and I did we are going to add to this we did okay uh because we actually don't have the committees we're going to add um on the committee reports these these committees so that um they can we'll get reports in these meetings if there's something to report. Um but it's to form the ad hoc school reorgation or realignment committee um in the ad hoc elementary global language committee. Um, we did take volunteers just so everybody for the school reignment or reorganization committee. >> Reorganization I think reorganization committee. Um, um, Jill Elise and I volunteered for the reorgignment. Do

171I have that one right? I think that's right. reorganization for the elementary Olivia is going to join. So we're going to reorganization we're joining Lee will chair and for the uh global language Olivia honor will chair Olivia will join that. We want to try and get everybody back too, get out of the gate in September to I'm looking at you, Lee kind of I'm looking I was about to to to try and get those committees um you know uh formulated >> um and get some initial discussions going >> and they will include um non board of ed members. So we'll get other teachers, parents. >> Yeah, that's what we need to decide >> so that Lee and Estban kind of have to think about their the makeup of those committees and work with Jeff to

172do that. So does anyone want to make a motion to approve the formation of these committees? >> We have a charge for them. >> I haven't written yet, we talked about that, but um I I would like to talk with Lee estimate. be drafting drafting up the paragraph. Yeah. Because you had some input that you had shared that we said could go into that. So we want to draft that up Jamie. >> So we can bring that back. Um when we bring that back um it should be charged with doing. Anyone want to make a motion to form the committees? >> I have to read out like the whole thing. >> That's fine. >> Okay. >> Second. Further discussion. All those in favor say I. I. Opposed. thing passes. Um that closes our discussion and

173action items for the night administration reports. Yeah. Real quick, just a couple items. Um nurses uh had decided to unionize. So remember they were part of uh VNA this past school year. They were ours. We had hired them all um and worked up agreements. um they decided um that they want to uh unionize. So um I would like to have it's a small group. So really only need one board member who might be interested. Um I put in uh I think I actually gave a date in my that update Friday. So maybe if somebody could just let me know if they're interested. We have two more meetings. Um just did ground rules first meeting. I don't want to bother anybody with that. So but uh we will start proposals and discussions at the next meeting.

174So, if you're interested, you know, please uh just kick me a text or an email and um that would be great. Let me know. Um you can talk about Kaps in November. Uh it's out. >> Okay, I'll do that for you. Um parent letter I mentioned earlier is going out next week. So, we'll highlight these components, put in, you know, Don's hiring, um talk about food services, uh costs and changes. So, that will be going out next week. And then the last piece I have is health insurance. um a rep from Brown and Brown had reached out um with some information. We talked really with our rep because we're part of the state partnership plan. If we when we were self-insured, we worked with a rep all the time sort of thing, but not >>

175we still have >> we still do. >> Yeah, we still do. And the town still has a Yep. Brown and Brown is still the town and >> they still do. >> They do. They send us updates. Um, you know, Chuck u sometimes sends changes and different things, but many of them aren't applicable necessarily to us because we're >> he is um they do provide a resource for my office with regard to all the changes MLA laws. He very responsive. So, he does do that. He also assists our >> members reach out to >> yeah like if they have issues with claims that are getting denied he will work with the insurance company and help them um uh reach out directly to him. So he is so he does I think provide >> benefit. So just

176an FYI we really should probably it's been five years now and four or five years we've been on the state partnership plan. um wouldn't behoove us to have maybe they'll come in kind of give us an overview of you know how are things trending some information and so forth. So we're looking at maybe September to do that. So more along the lines just a heads up that they'll come in and go through some PowerPoint slides. It would be contagious for us and a good you know effort as we're talking about cost and so so forth. So, um, so just be on the lookout. We'll bring that up in September. And that was uh was for now. >> Just wrapping up our summer curriculum work. Um, we had our um pilot teachers for grades two, three,

177and four in um who are exploring play in their classrooms um today. Grade one will be a full roll out next year. Really excited about that work. some great conversations, some really great people involved in the work. Um, and I will provide the board a summary of all of our curriculum projects once we have it all wrapped up. So, that'll come, I don't know, probably first week in September or so for you. Uh, we have new staff orientation next week, one of my favorite events. Um, love onboarding our new staff and kind of showing them what East Slime's all about. So, we're gearing up for that and, uh, on vacation. to all of the things. Uh yeah. Um yeah, we have um admin retreat later in the week and so just >> vacations Friday the

17822nd gearing up. >> Yeah. If anybody wants to >> Yeah. >> join us for convocation in the >> Yeah. >> going to be a celebration. >> Good stuff. >> Yeah. Laura >> just kind of wrapping up the year end and working on getting everything order for the new year and start of the school year. >> Not lapsing coming forward in September too after we get this. >> Yeah. After we got the EFS done. >> Okay. Uh committee reports. Uh Kate >> Kade uh Thursday was the leadership conference. It was nice to see your faces. It was a really good conference. I thought um it didn't rain. It's like the first time in five years it didn't rain, so that was nice. Um there was a bunch of upcoming >> serve something good for dinner. I

179was kind of >> We had a brisket, >> chicken, cornbread, green beans. >> I'm hungry. Yeah. >> And it was a nice night. So, a lot of us just stayed and just sat down at the beach and just enjoyed the actual nice summer weather without the humidity and the heat. So, it was really nice. Um, leadership delegate assembly is November 20th. Cap's cap convention is November 21st to 22nd. New board orientation is December 9th. There is a webinar, two webinars coming up for the same thing. Um, if you have, if there are any board of ed candidates out there, there is a webinar on September 24th at 4 and a September 25th at noon. Um, basically on what does it mean to be a board of ed member um K is putting on that webinar.

180We are also doing a webinar on um September 17th at noon on understanding the 2025 change to state education funding. Um and all of their school finance webinars and their board chair webinars are on their website archived. >> That's all right. >> We leave it selected to present again at geek. >> It has been present. >> Okay. Uh learn doesn't meet over the summer. So on to forward comments and future agenda items. Um, well, I was thinking about the AI updates that we have in our goal and I don't know, we can maybe make one like family centered. So, what I'm getting at so like a lot of just anecdotally when I've talked to parents like they have a lot of questions about AI and they're scared of it. So, I was thinking maybe we

181could just work that approach into our board meeting. here's what we as a school are doing and here's how it's relevant to the parents and the families and then when they come they can get that information. I don't know if that would be practical but like if I was a parent yeah I think if I was a parent I would appreciate knowing that like there's an event that I consistently learned. Um, and then my other question was if we could go over the vision of the graduate in a board meeting at beginning >> I'm seeing some intern smiling. >> I think I 100% that families need to be made more aware of AI, its implications, what the school system's doing. I 100% agree with that. >> Oh yeah. family events, nobody comes. >> So, we

182have to be innovative. I I think it's about like I love the idea of maybe the board or >> I don't know. I I'm not sure, but I think we have to think innovatively about how are we getting parents that information. Um, but I totally agree that that has to happen. But Bill and I may I think that was >> I'm more with Eric. I'm ready for the brisket myself. >> It's like >> that's good. >> No, but I I I what you're saying is true. >> It it it is a scary thing. The more you read about it, it's crazy. But >> it's tough because nobody shows up for anything. >> We're meeting anyway. >> You know, at least we would have the information. If no one shows up, do an FAQ. >> I

183want to relate it more to family system because Yeah. >> with a QR code maybe on back to school newsletters or something. >> Yeah. I'm thinking even just some blasts on social media like like maybe a six week, >> you know, marketing. Yeah, exactly. We'll do it. We're We're gonna we're gonna do it. >> Yes. >> Cool. I love it. >> And people are going to listen. >> We'll draw them in. Amy. >> Um, one, I just want to thank everybody who came out to National Night Out last week. It was great night. It was nice and cool. We had a break in the humidity. We had a lot of people there. We had um Oh boy. We had the fire department, the police department. We had Lifar come. They were big of hit. We

184had uh Shell Shockers had a couple games going on in the back. We had the dog demo. We had the bouncy house. We had some sugar scrubs. We were They gave out journals for your mental health like so you could journaling. They did make your own essential oils. They gave out eight bikes. The officers I guess are allowed to not shave for $20 a month. And they took all of that money and they bought eight bicycles for the community and they raffled them off to the kids for free. No raffle tickets purchased. They just raffled them off to kids and families. So, it was really cool. It was a great event. So, thank you everybody for coming. >> My second thing is Jeff, can we get an update on student enrollment numbers and what they're

185looking like? >> Yeah, a lot of wholesale changes. That's for sure. >> Just didn't know. I know we get like a big push like at the end of August kind of for like all the people moving into um >> set out >> academic housing >> end of the week sort of thing just so you can see where it's at right now. Um, and then a uh Oyster Fest for the Miracle League is September 20th. It's a great event, a lot of fun. And then I am doing a celebrity bartending gig at ATY for SIFT and all the proceeds are going to go to the education foundation if anyone wants to come. Um, September 11th at ATY and Mystic. >> It'll be fun. >> The ATY. Sorry. Ty is Adam T. Young Bourbon and Bond Bonds,

186I think is what it's called. It's Cif's Bar. That's right next door. >> They do like a a bartending thing once a at once every Thursday night. They have people from the community come in and bartend for charity. >> And what was that? >> 911. It's gonna go my my charity is the East Lime Education Foundation. >> Anybody wants to come? It's from 7 to 9. >> I this I just have a book recommendation. If you haven't done your summer reading, I'm kind of boring when it comes to reading books because I like to learn stuff. But if you haven't read David Attenboroough, who's 99, latest book on the ocean, it is really, really cool because he he talks about how much we don't know and how much we're learning about the deep ocean and

187how all things are connected in many ways and how many thousands of miles that various creatures travel. um talks about is various really really cool things from the the deep water um life to how all the coastal things impact the ocean and saving the planet is pretty important piece of the puzzle. So it's kind of cool. There's also a documentary out. I haven't watched it yet because I want to finish reading the book. It's >> what's the title of the book? >> Ocean. >> Oh, Ocean. Okay. >> Yeah. >> VC, I just have a quick question. I don't know. >> You might. >> It's for Jeff or um I saw in the personnel um updates that there were a few resignations. How are we going to handle Are we going to replace them? are we

188going to what's what's the what's the plan? Again, I don't want the details, you know, >> want to kind of understand because again, we trying to an eye on the budget. Yeah. >> So, any any of the certified positions, especially uh we've already hired two at the elementary level, we've done one-year hires, one year only, so we can reevaluate next year. Um so, we're really looking at any certified position as do we need it need it? Do we hire for one year? Not like a special education position of some sort. Like right now we're struggling to find still two psychologists. We're going to hire two psychologists. We can lock them in sort of thing. But um we're just scrutinizing every position I guess is the answer to that. But if it's budgeted for then we're

189looking to fill it. Um but it's just a question of whether you're full-time. >> Just you know more curious and again being an eye on things the future in mind. >> Yeah I think thank you for that. I think that's that's exactly what we need to continue to do. >> I hear a motion to adjourn and get dinner. Where are we