1-7-2026 Regular Board of Education Meeting

001Test one, two, test three. It is now 7 o'clock. I'd like to call the January 7th, 2026 Board of Education meeting to order. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of the Please join us in a moment of silence in memory of Estelle A. Rehea, age 80, of Bristol, who passed away on Sunday, November 30th, 2025 at Bristol Hospital after a brief illness. Estelle was a lifelong Bristol resident, a dedicated educator, and a beloved Spanish teacher at Bristol Eastern High School. She will be remembered for her commitment to education and her lasting impact on generations students. Thank you. As a reminder, please be sure to turn on your microphone when speaking closely to ensure those online can you and please silence yourselves. The next item

002on the agenda is staff and student recognition. I will turn staff and student recognition over to Miss. >> Thank you, Chair Ponds. Good evening everyone. Happy new year. I have hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. Um it's my honor to begin today's meeting by acknowledging and recognizing the staff that were awardees of the Bristol Education Foundation mini grants. Uh we just had a lovely reception over at Imagination. Um and so we thank again the Bristol Education Foundation for their support. Um during the um the reception, each of the awardees that was present was able to share a short summary of of what their award was about. So very exciting, innovative ideas that will really benefit our students and so we're thankful for them and I look forward to visiting the schools and seeing the

003projects in action. So I'm going to call each awardee. Um we'll then say the name name of the project um and the amount awarded. Um if you will please stand so we can recognize and we don't have to give a summary. We just really want to recognize you and thank you um for um applying for this grant. So our first awardee is Bridget Gola access program community collaboration awarded $400. Congratulations Bridget. Next we have Terry Grant from Baines awarded $300 for the scientific art show. Congratulations, Terry. Uh Lindsay Ditro, the living museum sustaining students high quality public work from beans awarding $1,590. Congratulations, Lindsay. Next we have Shelley Blank from also from Baines. Um the Echolab hands-on sustainability projects awarded $400. Congratulations Shelly. Next we have Crystal Rusman and Karen Bedl from Bristol Central High

004School. Led Lear Reed building a bilingual library awarded $700. Congratulations. We came, we saw, we created. Kelly Manahanoya, Bristol Central High School, awarded $660. I was scared. I read the English. I didn't read the Latin. I was afraid. I would have been able to pronounce it correctly. Uh, Sarah Mallaloy, Bristol Central High School. Can you hear me now? Headphones for the world language department awarded $250. Congratulations. Next, Jennifer Pard, learn whiteboard, flippable tables, awarded $1,719. Congratulations. Next is Cara Banda from Bristol Central High School, sustaining success, awarded $992. I think Cara couldn't make it, but congratulations to Ramos. We shall see. A window into the Spanish speaking world. Kathy Archerald, Bristol Central High School, awarded $750. Kitchen Creations Pilot Program. Katherine Riddick, Bristol Eastern High School, awarded $250. Empowering student innovators through 3D printing. Boda

005Alamemed and Rodney Ellsworth Chipper Middle School awarded $900. Win with Books Daily Book Club. Jennifer O'Donnell, Mountain View, awarded $200. Inclusive innovation, empowering all learners through multi-entury access. Jillian Kelly and Mitch Rossy, Mountain View, awarded $2,000. Congratulations. Kindness Club, Inspiring Change through Everyday Acts of Kindness. Beavenon Parent, also from Mountain View, awarded $740. Igniting curiosity and celebrating steam week. Leandra Peron Southside awarded $1,127. Congratulations, Leandra. Building communication and collaboration through STEM bins. Nicole Seier Southside awarded $600. Congrat. >> Congratulations to all the awardees. >> Superintendent White. >> Yes. Should we maybe do a photo with the >> I think that's a great idea. >> What does everybody think about that? I don't see anyone jumping up. I don't see a lot of excitement. >> Thank you, Leo. I was going to try to make a

006connection between Barbra and the Eastern cooking person who won. Is she still in the room? Katie was going to try to make this connection. if she can, that'd be great because when she got her award for $250 to start a bacon cook at Eastern with Avid and um other students, she said she's looking for like a sustainable kind of process to keep this going on the long term. And I said, well, I know a board member whose husband is a baker and cooker. Oh, this business. And I thought, well, we could fund raise and try to figure that out. So, I wanted you to meet Barbara and maybe we can, you know, come up with a, you know, >> networking. Yes. >> I mean, all of the ideas and the and the awards and to

007see people write grants who are so busy doing the work and then they have to figure out how to fund additional work on top of the work they're doing is so motivating and inspiring and exciting. And I know it brings that next level and layer in the classroom for the kids. And when she said looking for permanent funding, I was like looked at Cara. I go, we got to make the connection. So maybe this could be something sustainable and they could write a big >> I like it. There we go. Okay. And so the next item on the agenda is student readers. I'd like to introduce Mr. Alan Bariel, citywide enrichment coordinator, who has three students with him this evening. Each student will be reading their sixword memoir backs um for having us here. We

008so appreciate it. And there's an a legend that Ernest Hemingway was asked to write a story using six words and he wrote for sale baby shoes never worn. So we started by analyzing that saying what could he have been talking about? Then we dove into a whole lot of other analysis and then I wrote six backtories and asked kids to give me titles for them. We just basically analyze this sixword memoir. The idea behind it is that anybody can write six words and everybody can feel successful. We had a lot of successful writers. Leic even shared some stuff that he had done with this in the past and it was really really appreciated. Um so I selected these three students. There were so many fantastic students but these three really really stood out and I

009hope you'll enjoy hearing them. So the first reader is Natalia a seiz from Swiss. >> My six memoir is called comfortable finding the book. I've been playing soccer for as long as I can remember and honestly I cannot imagine my life without it. Over the years I've had many different companies because their own coaching styles, personalities and values. I've appreciated her all of them but none have stood out to me in my current. Not only has his coaching impact on the field, but the way he carries himself and approaches life has also left the lasting touch. Coach Kyle has been dion. He had to fight for everything he has and was extremely hard to be bullied. His dedication and love and soccer pay off because by the age of 15, he was already playing. Hearing

010his story motivates me because it reminds me that not and that perseverance is essential. My coach has student non discipline, respect and dedication. He emphasized these values in everything we do both on and off the field. He has shared many meaningful lessons with me but one piece of advice I will never forget is you never want to be comfortable because bad news and do not learn. For you to be comfortable, you must be willing to these two sentences have completely changed the way I think. I've applied this lesson to my life by realizing that it is okay to make mistakes or mess up as long as I learn. I've learned to be more patient and understanding and understand that good things take time, effort, and hard work. Not everything in life can be perfect. So,

011it is important to adapt to daily to grow and improve or reach your goals. You must go through moments that feel awkward but comfortable or when you pursue those moments and eventually certain moments. This lesson means a lot to me because I've never heard something as powerful or actual coach as a coach, but I have learned so much more than just soccer during these past months and myself. I've never had somebody who cares so about me and looked after me outside. These past months have seen them life changing and defining. I do not know who I would be today. He had never started coaching. His motto is I'm a very important person in me. I must always respect myself and others. As of my perspective on life has completely changed and now I see the

012world and no one positive service. Our next reader is Jace Melesio from Northeast Middle School. and Natalyia, Jace, and Olivia. The honesty in the writing is what kind of made me want to bring them along because this is not only Paul, but very honest. But this is Jace. I watch it life altering opportunities pass hardly. I want to be something significant but I haven't done them true. I can't simply expect that my dream come true. I want to be something that people want to graduate college. I want to be something but because I don't do anything to make for example many person I don't want to worry about I greater fear but I felt my heart and then the regret that I I'll start whatever I do that I I feel that I feel that

013if I could think that I'm not but I also know that our final reader is Olivia Lou also from Northeast. For most of my life, I was always an outcast. It always upset me being left out. But it wasn't others people's fault. It was mine. I tried so hard to talk to others to communicate that speak for once. Yet the words wouldn't come out. The words would instead be the place that familiar feeling sensation felt in my throat and not letting me speak. I wanted so badly to just talk to others. I wanted it so badly yet the words never came. Countless nights I spent wondering what was wrong. Countless nights I cried wondering how my voice was coming and why. I didn't choose to be like this because she just and I conferences were

014the worst. You just would always say the same few things about me. But Livia is smart yet she needs to talk to her as well. It hurting that being smart. If I'm not smart am I? I just play the point. Death off me now. Raids were my only source of comfort and self worth. I'd watched the numbers go higher and higher, feeling the sense of comfort me. Yet, when those numbers went down, I didn't know what to do. It was like everything was slipping against me. I felt so hopeless. How could it feel for myself? The worst part, I couldn't talk to anyone about it. If I can't talk to anyone normally, how could I talk about my feelings? I'd always just bear the overwhelming stress. I'd gotten used to it. Even if you found

015anyone, I need to talk. I needed to be better. I've gotten better now though. I realized I was more than a number and I've gotten better at talking. I still get that trophy feeling sometimes and I still get all nervous. Yet there are no more nights where I fell over my voice. No more nights where I wonder if I'm here. Walking is still difficult, but I know that my young freaking proud even I know that one day I'll be as >> All of those were so wonderful. Wow. I mean, so so brave, so so intelligent, so much wisdom, so much courage. I mean, I feel like you all three of you have very very um amazing careers ahead of you in writing, film writing. I don't know. I was imagining feeling like I was in

016Does anyone remember a movie from like I think it was the '8s reality bites >> and when and the gentleman was speaking I I was like taken to those characters and but then it was so real that you you're just such in the moment and and honestly I just can't compliment each of you enough for how much you being so honest and sharing and vulnerable kind of helps us to see the realities of what you all are going through and thank you for that. Really appreciate it. >> Chair, can I add? Yes. Um it's kind of really emotional listening to all that >> and um I'll try not to get emotional but and not make it about me, but when I was in high school, I was painfully shy. I had a few friends but

017not was not popular at all. smart, but and I I knew I had something in me, but it just never manifested itself in high school. I just want you to know um Olivia people can't stop me from talking now. They say I start >> story. So for me, it happened in in college. I went to all female college and I don't know if that's what kind of helped me, you know, all women going class in pajamas. No, no voice to worry about listening to you. But I could never have made those kinds of speeches, those kind and I was a very good writer, but I could not have said any of that. So you you know kudos to you guys. You you can do it. You have it in you and how very very very

018brave of you to do that. And that's also you know you're not only smart, you're brave. And not a lot of people say that. So, I applaud you. >> And Commissioner um Simon Spieler wants to speak, but I just want to say one more thing. Natalia, where were you a year ago? I really needed that pep talk that I needed to be uncomfortable and I get through it and it was all going to be okay and I could make mistakes. I mean, I was sitting here going, I know your mom, but she didn't tell me your wisdom and that you could have really pulled me through some tough times. But amazing that you have all of that knowledge at your age. It's just amazing. It's Commissioner >> just wanted to share uh Natalia, Jace, and

019Olivia, you shared perspectives tonight that sometimes take a lifetime for others to to learn or to uh reflect on. and just thank you so much for sharing your words. I truly think that if you continue to be vulnerable and grow, you guys are going to change the world. So, thank you. >> Beautiful. Madam, I'd also like to thank um Alan Thealt for giving me the gift of letting me read these and sharing um this project because it's all I've been thinking about for the last month and I appreciate everything and I appreciate you all coming after a long day at school. So, thank you very much. And yes, Jay did go to my three year. I may have influenced it somehow. Okay. So, the next item on the agenda is pales in comparison to what

020we just did, but it is the approval of the minutes. So, the December 3rd, 2025 regular meeting minutes. You've all received a copy of the minutes in your packet. Are there any corrections or abstensions? Hearing none. Can I have a motion to approve the December 3rd, 2025 regular meeting minutes as written? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> Seven yeses. Uh December 17, 2025 special meeting minutes. You all have received a copy of the minutes in your pocket. Are there any corrections or abstensions? Hearing none. Can I have a motion to approve the December 17th, 2025 special meeting minutes as written? >> So moved. >> Motion made and seconded. All in favor? >> I >> motion passes unanimously. Okay. Next on the agenda, uh committee reports. reports. Yep. >> Okay.

021So, we only had two committee meetings meet this month and we had >> student achievement and outcomes. Um, so our last meeting we had a presentation from the physical education and health supervisor Sarah Pale on the 2025 uh physical fitness data for Connecticut. We had 95.8% participation rate. 50% of students met the proficiency. Um, currently officials are monitoring the impact of the reduced PE credits from the last year and also focusing on new strategies to increase scores in challenging areas. We also heard from Laura Lanza on two um who presented two revisions to curriculum for AP biology as well as ECE biology which is of course connected to the Yukon. She will be presenting those tonight. So we motion uh we approved them to be presented tonight to the full board. >> Thank you. And

022the other committee was finance operations and we >> Yes. Thank you. Um finance and operations was pretty standard. We um reviewed where uh our budget is to date knowing that it's not always a full reflection as things are fluid. Um we also we we reviewed um special education budget uh and looked at cafeteria reports. We looked at appropriation transfers over $10,000. Um we looked at student activity accounts. um also looked at um future projects and the impact that future projects might have on our funding and budgeting. Um our next meeting is scheduled for January 14th, 2025 where we will continue to have updates and we will be reviewing the budget update through December 31st, 2020. Thank you. Next, we have our student representatives. Uh first we'll start with Bristol Central, Amelia Grant. Hello. Good night

023and happy new year to you all. This past month has been pretty common at Bristol Central. Winter sports have started such as basketball, indoor track, swim, and wrestling. Recently, there was a basketball game against Eastern that was pretty neck andneck with a crazy buzzer beater. Moreover, even with the day off before the start of break, we still had our Christmas celebration pep rally named Festivist. The day we came back, the administration gave out gifts, pencils, toys, and festive shirts. There were many fun games as well as a performance by the Bristol Central Dance Team. Furthermore, while some of the senior class has been busy with college applications, others that applied early action are just getting back their decisions. On that note, I'd like to shout out some of my dear classmates. So, we have our

024validictorian Emily GA who committed to Yale University. We have Avery Phillips who committed to the University of New Haven on I believe a golf D1 scholarship. And we have Megan Souy who committed to Yukon. And we have many more. We are all very excited for them. And nowadays, the Bristol Central College decision page is slowly becoming active and announcing everybody's college decisions. Lastly, in the upcoming month of January, US Rams seem to be very busy with event planning. Our volunteer club, Interact, is planning on bringing back a male beauty pageant named Mr. BCHS for late spring, not late spring, late April. It has not happened since 2019. In the pageant, male students come with talent prepared, a speech and they have interview questions. They wear suits and they perform a dance and many more. There

025is a club called Get Psych, which is a psychology club that is collaborating with our guidance counselors and school psychologists to plan a mental health day for the students at BCHS. It is scheduled for February 13th as part of PSI Love You Day, which is a day bringing awareness to social and human connection and its prevention of mental illnesses like depression. The event will have Zumba instructors, various booths, a podcast station, as well as a TED talk and more. Also, the senior class of 2026 is trying to plan an event that highlights the parents of seniors, which allows them to purchase t-shirts that say like senior mom and things like that and take pictures with their graduating children. And our theater program is also casting and getting ready to put on a production of Guys

026and Dolls. I believe the last day of auditions was tonight. Um, this new year is bound to be a fun one and our students are working hard to possibly bring new traditions to Bristol Central. Thank you and have a good night. >> Thank you. >> I am told that Bristol East Eastern's student representative page is not available, but that we have Principal Higgins online to do the report. >> Good evening, commissioners. Thank you. Yes, Paige sends her hells and greetings for the new year, but she is at a track meet tonight. Uh so I'm happy to share her report that she repaired. Um on December 18th, several students attended the youth empowerment and equity symposium hosted at CCSU. At the symposium, participants were able to learn how a variety of students were being leaders at

027their schools and were raising awareness around important topics such as colorism and social justice. After hearing different perspectives at this event, be students in attendance are hoping to incorporate some of these ideals into our school community, such as setting up a meditation room for students to observe Ramadan, a fact a day for Black History Month, and possibly an extension of culture day as some of the topics discussed. Model United Nations has been preparing for their 4-day New York conference in March. At this conference, students will have the opportunity to present a country as a delegate to debate world issues against students all around the world. Members are working on completing position papers this month. Science National Honors Society committees have been hard at work completing their respective tasks. Real world science committee has been working

028on preparing a field trip for Science National Honor Society students to the Boston Museum of Science. Fundraising committee has been coming up with ways to fundra for the trip. Recycling committee has been keeping up with collecting cans and bottles weekly. Courtyard and compost courtyard and composting committee has been working with Bristol Public Works to hopefully set up a composting project within the school. And beautifification committee has been preparing their next project within the school as well. Midterms will begin on January 22nd. Students are required to attend during their midterm period unless they have received prior permission for absence. If a student does not have a midterm during a period, they are not required to come to school during that time. Once midterms end, the spring semester will begin on January 28th. Finally, for sports news,

029track and field has a meet tonight at the Wesleyan track. Wrestling was also at home against Berlin, which I just heard they beat Berlin along with a hockey game against Hall. Boys basketball will play their next game on January 8th away at East Harford. and girls basketball will play their next game on January 9th away in Enfield. All winter teams have gotten off to a great and successful start and we wish them luck through the season. That's all for tonight on behalf of Paige Ansa. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next item on the agenda is the chair report. I'd like to begin with an update on instrumental music instruction at Green Hill School and West Bristol School. We are pleased to welcome Tim Duben, a recent graduate of Central Connecticut State University who has assumed

030responsibility for the instrumental music program at both schools. Am I saying his name right? Is it Dubin? With Mr. Dubin in place, students will receive the full program for the remainder of the school year, including both instrumental lessons and encore classes with encore classes resuming later this week. I would also like to thank Don Tada Tada said it correctly for stepping up during this transition period and ensuring continuity for our students which allows them to continue benefiting from consistent arts instruction that supports engagement, creativity, and overall academic success. Turning to the budget process, the board of education has begun its annual budget development cycle. A meeting scheduled for Tuesday, January 13th at 5:00 p.m. will provide an overview of the laws, timelines, and procedures that guide how the board of education budget is developed. This

031meeting will be facilitated by attorneys Mooney and Ritter of Shipman and Goodman, who serve as legal counsel to both the city and the board of education. They are supporting a joint effort of the mayor and the superintendent who have been meeting monthly to strengthen trust, align long-term priorities, and establish a collaborative budget process that supports students success and fiscal responsibility, ensuring transparency and shared understanding across all governing bodies involving and serving Bristol students. This meeting will be of the three governing bodies. So the two elected which are the board of education and city council as well as the appointed board of finance. And so it'll be all three meeting um on Tuesday. Last I want to provide an update on the superintendent's upcoming budget workshops. Budget workshop number one will be held on Saturday, January

03224th from 900 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at city hall. council chambers. At this workshop, Superintendent White will present her proposed budget, highlighting key priorities, staffing considerations, and programmatic needs. This is an important opportunity for the board to review the superintendent's recommendations, and for the public to learn more about how resources are being allocated to support our students. Budget workshop number two will take place on Tuesday, February 2nd from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Bristol Board of Education Auditorium. This meeting will allow for the continued discussion, questions, and public input as the board reviews and refineses the proposed budget. Participation from the community is encouraged, helping ensure that the final budget reflects both the district's priorities and the needs of our students. This concludes my report. Next we have the superintendent, superintendent White. >> Thank

033you, Chair Ponds. Um, I wanted to begin my superintendent report with giving an update on school strategic reviews that I had mentioned at my last at the last board meeting where I talked about the my data transparency and datadriven decision-making goal. Um, actually beginning today, uh, we had our first school strategic review. Um the Green Hills administrative team presented uh virtually to our central office team. Um and I want to thank them for going first. Um what was very evident from the review is that school principles and their leadership teams are regularly reviewing um academic data as well as discipline data and attendance data. They're reviewing those with their teams. They're looking at their goals. Um they're having regular review cycles. They're collaborating well with their teachers. Uh and they're really doing a wonderful job

034of doing any midyear corrections and they were very transparent about what their needs are. um and the central office team had the opportunity to provide feedback and guidance and there's going to be some follow-up support um from the CIS office as well as from other offices and central um office. So I I want to emphasize and make sure the board is aware that the school principles are doing their due diligence and reviewing their data regularly. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to hear about the progress that they're making and what supports they would need. It was also an opportunity for me to share with the board as we go through the reviews. Are there any trends that the board should be made aware of? Um are there policies um that may need to be

035looked at to strengthen supports for our schools? Um as well as any budgetary considerations. Um we have had obviously a reduction in supports to schools which the board is very aware of and concerned about. Um and during these reviews schools are able to share the outcomes of of losing that support. Um so there's budgetary um items as well that the board needs to be aware of. So, I'm hoping at the uh next meeting I'll be able to share some of those trends and certainly before we finalize the budget process. So, it'll be important to share that information with the board of education as well as the board of finance in terms of making decisions about the budget. So, I wanted to make that um clear to the board. Next is the superintendent's parent advisory council.

036Um, I was able to reach out to the presidents of each of the PTAs at each school and invited them to uh participate in an advisory council. Um, I've been told in the past that there were opportunities for the presence of the different PTO's to come together and share ideas, bright spouts, what's happening in your school, um, share ideas, best practices, and also it's an opportunity for um, me to receive input on district priorities and initiatives. um you don't have to be um PTO or PTA president to participate in the advisory council, but I did start with those folks and I'm hoping that we'll be able to expand um as we move forward. Um these are the dates that are scheduled so far. They're all all Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. here at

037the board of education office meeting with the legislative delegation. I wanted to acknowledge the Connecticut Association of Urban Superintendent or Cause U. Bristol is a member and um I attend meetings on a quarterly basis and Bristol is not alone in budget challenges and certainly looking to the state to provide more funding. Um, one of the focus areas is on the alliance district program. Alliance district program funds, as you may know, are a carve out of ECS and superintendents have been saying for years. ECS has been underfunded and so Alliance district program is also underfunded. Um, the amounts that Alliance District have been receiving has not caught up with inflation. It has not caught up with the cost of running a school district, especially if you want to do work that is considered reform or that's

038considered innovation, which was the original um idea behind the grant. And so we are lobbying our legislative delegations to help us advocate for increased funding for alliances program in particular, but also excess cost funding as well. And so, um, each clause superintendent was asked to share, um, a letter that we worked on collaboratively with each of our individual, um, senators, district senators and representatives. Um, and I did send those letters out. I shared them with the board. I also shared them with Mary Mayor Ellen Zabo Sassu. And so I'd like to thank Representative Hawka who uh responded and said that the delegation is interested in meeting to learn more about Bristol's challenges and how they can be supported. So look forward to hopefully we look forward to having that meeting shortly with their delegation. Any

039questions before I turn over to Jeff Super? No. Good evening. Thank you for the opportunity to speak about the kindergarten readiness and the importance of a gift time. Research consistently demonstrates that waiting until a child is developmentally ready, typically at age five, supports stronger long-term academic and social, emotional outcomes. A widely cited gift of time study out of Stanford University found that students who delayed kindergarten entry showed improvement in self-regulation, increased confidence as learners, and sustained academic benefits. This is not a question of ability. It's a matter of development. foundationally psychological milestones such as midline crossing, which is crossing your arms across your midline, and eye dominance, bilateral coordination, and core strength are all directly linked to literacy, including tracking print, letter formation, stamina, and comprehension. When these milestones are still emerging, academic expectations can

040exceed a child's developmental readiness. In Bristol, our local data reinforces this research. We have seen an overwhelming percentage of four-year-olds in kindergarten recommended for significant interventions. at more than double the rate of the five-year-old peers. In response, the district has established a kindergarten task force to closely examine these trends, review best practices, and ensure that our kindergarten entry recommendations are developmentally appropriate and instructionally centered. Beginning this year, we are also enhancing our kindergarten screening process. This will include a full day visit. The student will at the age of four come into the kindergarten classroom. The occupational therapists, physical therapists, and school psychologists will all play a role in looking at the child and if it is developmentally appropriate for them to uh enroll in kindergarten when they're only four. Prior to making any recommendation um

041for placement, the team will come together with the teacher and discuss everything that they noticed within that day, which is a difference from uh prior years where the assessment was approximately 45 minutes. Finally, it's important to consider the long-term implica implications. A child who begins kindergarten at four by the end of September will often see with next to a six-year-old classically. They will remain the youngest in their cohort throughout their years in school. This gap can become more pronounced as learning becomes abstract. Also during athletic participation, they will be the youngest freshman trying out for the Tulu. And as students navigate uh an increase in their independence in high school, they will be the youngest child who may be exposed to what older children are due typically. I'll leave it at that. The final thing

042to consider with a four-year-old entering um kindergarten is that they if they choose to go on to college, they will leave home at age 17. Providing the gift of time is not about delaying learning. It's about ensuring readiness, equity, and long-term success of our students. Thank you for your continued commitment and thoughtful researchbased decision making on behalf of the Crystal 2. My second topic is not quite as glamorous. Um, but that really I'm very passionate about that. Um, I did want to make the board aware that um, uh, we did make the decision to close Bristol Preparatory Academy for a day. The water main break in front of the building um, was severely damaged and we weren't able to get clean water into the building. Um, so we did ask that the staff didn't stay

043out of the building because there are no facilities for them. Um, they will still have uh, learn for 180 days which is what the state uh, requires. Um, so we will not have them come back for that one day because if it's just a single area, it's so I just wanted to figure it was a um and now I'd like to tell you a little bit about my student redistricting committee. This committee was created to ensure that student voice is not just heard but valued during the important transition of our district. Our students have shared their hopes, their concerns, and their ideas with honesty and thoughtfulness. They've talked about what makes school feel welcoming, how friendships and traditions matter, and what supports help students feel confident when starting somewhere new. Their insights have helped round

044the world, and it and it truly matters, the student experience. What has most what has been most impressive is honestly their leadership. These students have shown empathy, maturity, and a genuine commitment to making the tradition smooth, making the transition smoother, not just for themselves, but for all of their peers. As we move forward with redistricting, their voices will continue to shape our decisions. We are grateful for their time, their courage, and their partnership, and we are proud of the example that they are setting as leaders here in Bristol. and each one has dedicated themselves not only to coming to the meetings but also to going on morning announcements and letting all their classmates know of ideas that they shared and things that we're going to do to make um this transition really great. So very

045impressive. This was a volunteer. They had to apply for it and it's a great mix of kids. That's all for >> I I just have one question. Um when you were speaking about kindergarten, it made me think about when um kindergarteners are five and they are eligible for kindergarten. Is there any kind of assessment that happens similarly to determine the classrooms or you know how if if there's four kindergarten classrooms in a school and kids are all at different abilities would that same model of assessing students before we before classrooms are decided be beneficial? So we we actually used to have a night where we could really get to know the kids and actually I can have a kindergarten teacher right in front of me. Um uh that practice was changed a few years back

046with the idea of um everyone just kind of having a fresh start. Um, you want to talk to that how it affected or given the effect? >> Um, yes. And I'll do it in the most positive way I can. Um, we changed from doing uh assessments with the kids while they we used to bring the kids into and I I think most schools did it kind of kind of this way. Bring the kids into the classrooms and have them do um, you know, they read a story. they did an activity and while they were doing that we I know at Hubble we would use our literacy um coaches and instructional support people to do um a little assessment of them on number shapes see how they draw a figure um and that kind of but

047um quite a few years ago now seems like a a while ago we uh stepped back from that and were kind of guided not to do any kind of assessment just to kind of do like maybe an anecdotal uh anecdotal refer on what we observed with the kids in uh when they were in the classroom. Um I think that a lot of teachers felt it wasn't enough information to guide um forming those groups when it came to September or well earlier than you know as students are added to your roster you're asked to um you know disseminate the kids into groups and different schools had different processes in doing it. Um, so what happens in September is sometimes it's a little more challenging to end up with a balanced classroom. And the the other problem

048to take into account too is that um some schools and you know I remember a couple years ago in August having to place I think 15 kids in the middle of August. So, they were not even involved in any kind of orientation or assessment. And um like I said, I'm aware that different schools do different things. Like some I think Southside maybe brought kids in for the day. But it's it's difficult when there's no assessment. But then again, think about the fact that you're doing an assessment usually in the spring unless you have people coming up in in the summer and they could still have considerable growth during those few months. But not having any kind of data does kind of limit how you're forming your classrooms. and then you get a classroom that may

049have um lower uh achievement or a higher um behavior support meaning. So those kinds of things are helpful when you're seeing but you need to see the kids in the classroom with with their peers, not just like a one-on-one coming in with their parent because we all know their behaviors can be very different when they're with their peers. But just making little notes on that just from perspective of um making those groups for the fall. So I don't know. I think you'd have to chair pass. I think you'd really have to consider all the positives and potential negatives from from doing that again. But um you know I think there needs to be >> the reason why it triggered me to ask the question was because I served on an interview committee at an elementary

050school and one of the people who was who were applying used data from four kindergarten classrooms and one classroom's data stood out drastically from the other three and not in a positive way and which led me to ask questions like what why do you think this is? And it was the placement of students and their readiness and it just happened to fall that way. And so of course I asked more questions about how students are assessed in kindergarten. Um and this was recently about two years ago and so there was no assessment at the time. And so I I mean maybe we could ask our teachers, maybe we could look at the research to show, you know, but I just if we're doing it to determine whether a four-year-old is ready, it makes sense to

051see where 5-year-olds are to make sure that we're not putting all of the strongest or the the, you know, any any level all in one classroom accidentally because that's hard for their peers and it's hard for the teachers. Sure. But for everyone, so I I like data. I like to look at it and kind of make informed decisions. This isn't, you know, our decision. It's just questions. And, you know, I trust that the district will make good decisions. >> Yes. And I think that especially for people coming into the district in August, there should be some kind of meeting in the school for that to happen because we we found that um if people are moving at the end of August, it's not always the case, but it's often the case that it's we have

052very transient demographic here and um sometimes that doesn't lend them lend itself to the children having the stability and the time to learn and be prepared for kindergarten. You know, in an ideal world, you you know, you'd have the month of September. In an ideal world, we'd have kindergarten camp the summer before the teachers and everyone together and then that's how you know I know and we did we did years ago have a approximately six week >> orientation period for kindergarteners to learn routines like in the class learn routine at the beginning of the school >> at the beginning of the school year before we actually transitioned to doing literacy groups and things like that. And at some point that was determined, you know, not really necessary and we could start academics on day one

053of kindergarten. The other thing >> I love that idea though that they did that. >> Yes. >> Not doing not doing academics day one, but >> I mean we did academics, don't get me wrong, but we did start with, >> you know, absolutely everything at it >> considering for some of those kids it was their first school day. The other thing is too when I um when I originally started in kindergarten when the board approved there was board approval for the full day kindergarten curriculum. Well, there were part of that included time for choice centers and as the years went on, excuse me, and we uh built in more academic periods, the intervention periods had to take the place of choice center time because uh there was little time in the day to put it

054elsewhere. So, we've really moved away from like 10 years ago on what the full day kindergarten was supposed to look like. And when I was a teacher, I always thought we should keep adving that just because we doubled the time that kindergarteners were in school, it doesn't mean that their um uh what's the fact that they could sustain learning. You know, we doubled the math time. We doubled the literacy time. We added writing in there. We threw so many academics in there that that wasn't necessarily development correct for them. So, I think that that's there's a lot to be said and I know Mary said about having a kindergarten task force and I think those are things that really do need to be looked at in the district to see how we can balance that

055off with kindergarters. kindergarters at the end of the day in se in in September are falling asleep. If they're not sleepy in the classroom, they're falling asleep on the bus. And it's a lot for those little bodies to have so little play time and so much learning time. And not that all of them can't um sustain that, but it's I think it's a disservice to kindergarten students coming in with that too high an expectation for learning. And with the legislation that um happened last year or the year before with um programs having to provide a play period, there was there were there was some loose interpretation of that. legislation and I I fully expected to see um every school doing more integrating play into those um classrooms when it wasn't the fact for every school.

056So that's another issue as well. >> Looks like the kindergarten task force has a lot to talk about. >> As I always say, there's no research that says less play is better. >> Nothing. Show me one piece. Do the chair. Yes. I'd be interested I know it would it change from year to year but I'd be interested in the percentage of pre student like how the percentage of the prek students in the district that make up I think that the majority of kids >> um I think it's at 280 right now, but I'm not 100% sure if Sugarman is on them. >> And then just one five kindergart not a whole lot because it's interesting to me if we were in the sky in the class today. I think there's a waiting list for people

057who are pregnant literally who don't have the space and majority of prek tend to transition into kindergarten or do they go different they majority stays with Bristol majority stay with Bristol um and the nice thing is that some of the prek teachers were in the elementary school so they have a really good barometer for the kindergarten teachers because they worked with them for five or six years when they were in in that building. Um, so it does help a lot with the transition because they will text each other and say, "You're getting this one and oh my gosh," you know. Um, so it is a very very u nice transition. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Okay. The next item on the agenda is the consent agenda and I have a motion to approve consent

058agenda which will include items 81A to 81D. >> So moved. >> Seconded. >> Motion's been made and seconded. All in favor? >> I >> Motion passes unanimously. Did you not hear someone? We had missed an agenda item about the student redistricting tab. >> Oh, no. I >> did you go over that? Okay. >> Okay. >> I definitely put it in the um next item is grants and I will turn it over to superintendent. >> Thank you. I believe um you have information about these grants in Florida. Is that correct? Yes. So we'll be looking for a motion to approve the consent enter which will include items a 2a to a 2.3. >> So move >> second. >> Motion's been made and seconded. All in favor? >> I motion passes unanimously. Do we have any public

059comment? We have Alex Hamy here for public comment. Thank you. If you can just >> Yeah, if you can just state your name and address and then you can address the board. Thank you. Hello. here to thank all of you and appreciate that you accepted after my son made the late Alex. Uh he was a good kid. I mean, yeah, he's my son. Shouldn't be talking too much about anything, but uh I know people and I grew up with only 12 people when I was only 12 years old. And uh we had nothing. We had to go to school in the morning. And luckily my uncle get he cheated on me when I was eight. He hired me as a security guard. So I used to go to school in the morning about 4:00 in

060the afternoon take a bus to take me to work not and uh struggled a lot. So I I kept mentioning that with the son to me and I found out 34 years old he was a hardwork he was in school but I didn't really push push him too much and uh he became when he wanted to apply said he said is that what you like to do said yes that's what I want you know I do a lot and we have a lot of friends in this school so they did a lot so highly like to show this is you everyone. So, I appreciate you and uh I thank everyone and I I'm sure uh a lot of people in this town uh that I can, you know, put years they appreciate the spirit, you

061know, so many so many people uh just keep up the the good work that you guys are doing and uh I'm sure those sticks they grow up and they successful and thanks again and I appreciate the >> Thank you very much and it's an honor that we will be able to put your son's name. Um the board unanimously voted and the community uh adores your son and we're just very grateful to you and your family um for sharing him with Bristol and thank you. >> Thank you. >> Happy New Year. >> Thank you. Any other public comments? Next item on the agenda is deliberated items, district leadership team reports and we have Amy Martino. Anything commissioners? As of December 1st, 2025, 1,779 of the 7,874 students are identified as requiring special education program. This enrollment

062reflects 22.59% of the total DPS population. As of December 1st, 123 students require out of district programming. We have 88 students that require special education programming at other public schools. that would include them in schools. During the month of November 2025, 68% of the newly registered students were identified as requiring special education programming at the time of registration. I did highlight that uh that was 19 out of 28 students because it's such a high percentage of students that particular. And then lastly, during the month of November, there were 33 211 calls and six 911 calls. Okay. In terms of the budget lines, I know that Miss Bonds typically shares with you what has been encumbered and as of our last finance meeting, she had noted that we are over the budget in special education. This

063really reflects what we spent here to date. And the reason I share mine a bit differently is because, you know, as Commissioner Simmons had mentioned, our student enrollment and uh fiscal responsibilities change throughout every given month. So, I do think it's important for us to know our expenditures or what has been encumbered, but also what's going on in in real time. Uh, so this is where our lines stand at the moment. Um, they're really where I would expect them to be. What um has not have been included yet is we have not received the excess boss. We're still waiting for Medicaid payments, reimbursements, etc. I think Miss Bond and I would both think at the moment with what we're perceiving to expect, we do believe that we're still right in the line with our budget.

064Are there any questions on the budget? So the purple is what's been appropriated and the line is what has been expended, but you're saying we're in a deficit. >> So yes, when Miss Bonds does her report, she is uh reflecting everything that has been encumbered all the way through June 2026. >> I am doing it month by month. So as of December, this is what we actually spend, but it's not highlighting what we actually have that could be out there >> committed to. And the reason I do that is even our out of district numbers, they eb and flow so much that I think it is nice to let her see where we're encumbered. I'm going to show you every month what we actually said. So you just have two data points >> uh through

065the chair if I may. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Thank you. Um Amy and I I apologize. Uh I just want to make sure I I understood this because you know the audio was a little garbled. Um I I heard it was clarified that right now you believe that the uh right now the budget is currently over but that um we are still waiting for uh certain um purchase orders and other other reimbursements to come in. So that may change. Is is is that an accurate summary? >> Yes. So what we're expecting with excess costs, tuition reimbursement, Medicaid reimbursement, etc. We would expect that all of that will actually put us back into balance. But because we have not yet received that, we can't talk about, you know, that being actualized. >> I I I think

066that what um Jodie Bond had reported was that even she did account for all of those things and that we are still predicted to be in upwards of a $3 million deficit by the end of the year. even if we receive the highest reimbursement rates for access cost. Um, but I understand what you're saying at this point because we are not at the end of the year, we haven't expended all of what we anticipate that we have to expend. >> Correct. >> Yes. >> So, Russ, I think just to clarify, even with all of those reimbursements, we're still anticipating a deficit. >> Okay. All right. That's what I thought. That's what I thought. I just wanted to make sure that that was clear. So, um, if we're if we're still looking at heading into a

067deficit, um, what are the main drivers, uh, that are pushing that? I believe you said it was, um, um, uh, private uh, private place tuition and transportation. Right now, those are the the two main drivers of that. >> I would have to defer to Miss Bonds for that. >> Okay. So, yes, it would be those two lines and then the professional services line. >> Okay. about um about what um dollar amount or percentage do you feel that uh that u you can gauge to the best of your ability right now that we are currently looking at overages or over budget? >> Um Miss Bond did say that she believes it could be approximately 3 million but it could be a million less than that. There's no way to have an exact number at this point.

068>> Sure. I get it. We're still kind of halfway. So hopefully it's more like two, but it could be more like four because we don't know if if kids move in the district and have and we and there's unanticipated costs, but if she were to predict this minute, it would be three. Joe, do you want to come up? >> Sure. And I just want to mention, you know, while we do our best to budget, there are things, and we've highlighted this each month, even with the city. for example, of why I want to say by December 1st, we had already spent $600,000 just in nursing services. That comes out of our professional services line. Um, but that was not what we would have expected looking at the trends across time. So, it's it's a bit

069challenging to predict what our students might need in any given moment. >> And no one's going to hold Jod to this. Like, Jody, we know that there is no magic ball here with this. I I do just want to say that everything that is encumbered so far is everything that we truly know of at this point. So all of our outlay students, all of those tuitions have been encumbered. I don't believe we're really waiting on anyone um to still enter purchase orders for. So we do have everything reflected. It's just a matter of movement at this point. So students leave or they may require more services. Some students move in. So those type of shifts can happen but we do feel very confident that we have everything reflected right now. >> Okay. Um let's say

070that you know uh we do wind up going over you know by whatever whatever amount that might be. Um are there other are there other uh budget line items that we have within uh within our school budget that we could move to uh to prevent those overages? I just want to make sure that, you know, um we're trying to uh to avoid the uh you know, some of the uh uh the uh difficulties that we went through with the last um budget uh process. So, is it is there um is there room there to uh to move budgets? >> So, not definitely not within the special ed budget. So those particular lines that are over budget right now, they're over budget even with any savings, potential savings that are in those other lines, um any

071savings would potentially come from the general education side and that side is very very slim this year. So I don't think there's going to be really much room if any to absorb those overages. You're the chair. I think this is some of the um conversations that we've had, you know, robbing Peter to pay Paul that we certainly don't want to take from regular education or general education because the impacts especially in the wake of losing so many really valuable positions last year to the budget cuts, it's it's already impacting students um really dilariously and it's going to be a compounded effect, I think. So, I I hope that by being really transparent and open uh about where we are with the budget each month and not that we haven't been in the past, but I

072think really being intentional with where we are knowing that there's going to be a deficit. Um and and asking in the budget season, you know, the ask is a is a real ask that it's that it's >> reflective. Yeah. that's really reflecting what the needs are so that we can build a budget that meets all student needs. Not we don't want any student to go without. >> Any other questions? >> Um through the chair one last time I just wanted to congratulate Dr. Martino. Um she did receive her doctoral degree which is an amazing accomplishment. So I wanted to make sure that we uh acknowledge that accomplishment. Dr. Martino. >> Yes. >> I'm sorry. Before me pull up Laura Lens, I did want to recognize our two supervisors from CIS who started um Zachary Mayor,

073I'm sorry, Mar Zachary Maher, I got it. humanities and then STEM is dead Patel. So >> welcome to welcome them. >> Welcome. So next we have curriculum revision AP biology Laura Lanza. >> Good evening commissioners. It feels great to have a full team. So welcome to Dev and Zach. Um AP biology. So, this course builds off of students previously acquired biology knowledge, specifically the core high school biology course that all students take. There is a large lab component. The college board requires 25% of the coursework to be in the lab. Students will design their own experiments to test their hypotheses about biology. Um, there is a good balance here between new content knowledge acquisition and general science and interdicciplinary skills such as making predictions, collecting and analyzing data, applying math concepts, and developing explanations and

074communicating outcomes clearly. Um some of the revision goals here. Um we did purchase the most recent edition of our core college level biology text this year. It's called biology and focus. The college board also published a new course exam and description which was effective in fall of 2025. So this curriculum revision process allowed the AP teacher the time to marry those resources together and make sense of them with Bristol students in mind. And this was also done collaboratively with the Yukon EC biology teacher and I'll present that curriculum revision after this one. You have the units listed here. There is some independent work for students to review their prior knowledge on ecology before the course starts. There's then a unit to prepare students for the lab experiments which is called experimental design and data analysis.

075And then the new content launches with seven core units focused on molecular biology, cells, heredity and genetics. And last natural selection and its effects on genetics. So, a special thank you goes out to Zoe Mandel at Bristol Eastern High School um for this curriculum revision. There was no formal curriculum previously and we now have a robust document that outlines the content required along with implementation suggestions to meet a range of learner needs. That's AP biology and I'll take any questions if there are any. to the chair. Um what what is the anticipated year that students would take this class? I >> Yep. This is normally a junior year. >> Yep. >> Thanks. Sounds great. >> Next you current. >> Yes. Do you want to do a motion on this one first? >> Okay. Doesn't say

076there's action, but absolutely. So, can I have a motion to accept the policy revision AP biology? >> So, moved. >> Seconded. >> Motion's been made and seconded. All in favor? >> I I I >> I >> Motion passes unanimously. You >> um All right. So, ECE biology is through Yukon. Um another way for students to earn college credit through a biology course. This course also builds off of students previously acquired biology knowledge. There's a la large lab component of this course as well, but you can also expect students to have more hands-on experiences with the dissection of animals as this course has a large focus on animal physiology and the impacts that science and technology has on nature. This course uses the same core text as AP biology. Yukon lists the topics to be covered

077and has approved the biology and focus text as a core resource. However, it's up to the high school teacher to make sense of the college topics in tandem with the textbook. So, this process allowed the teacher the time to do that. And again, this was done collaboratively with the AP biology teacher to ensure continuity between both high schools. You have the units listed here. Students are introduced to biochemistry, molecular biology, animal physiology, homeostasis, and it ends with how natural selection can lead to genetic evolution. So, Sandra Roar at Bristol Central High School worked on this curriculum for us. It was a very similar process as the AP curriculum um where there was no formal um document prior to this and now we have a great one in place. Um and so I thank her a

078lot for her work on this. So, any questions or a motion >> question? And we have a motion to approve curriculum revisions to Yukon Biology. >> So moved. Seconded. >> Motion's been made and seconded. All in favor? >> I. >> Motion passes unanimously. >> Thank you, Laura. >> Next, uh we have the Mary policy revision. Good evening. We did not have a policy uh revision meeting this month. >> Thank you. >> Um new business. >> Uh the first item is school calendar updates. So, at the beginning of this school year, we looked to solidify um the half-day schedule from a two different time schedule, which was confusing to families, to a single time schedule. Um what we have found is we had we had hoped that this would help with the busing and it did

079at the elementary school level. However, it created a problem at the high school level. So we are still proposing that we keep just one schedule but that we keep the um parent teacher conference schedule. Currently we're running the snow day half day schedule. So it was the other schedule that we had released and 26 27 CIP review and adoption. Are we voting on the calendar? Can I through the chair? >> Yes. I that was a little confusing to me. So are we So we changed the uh early dismissal for conferences and that messed things up. Is that what you were you were getting to? It was a little >> Yeah. So historically we've had two different half-day schedules in Bristol. One was an inclement weather uh schedule and one was a half-day parent teacher conference

080schedule. And what we found is that on those days um several families um would get very confused as to do I pick them up at 110 or do I pick them up at 1:30. Um and especially for families who have children in multiple schools. Uh so we were trying to combine it down to one specific time and we had move made a motion for it to be the one pickup at the elementary schools is the one I'm most familiar with. However, what we've noticed is when you run that and you run parent teacher conferences, the 1:30 of the elementary schools and the regular dismissal time of I believe it's 150 at the high schools caused another bus situation that we hadn't anticipated. >> I see. And so the high school students, it did help the

081elementaryaries a lot, but the high school students then were um struggling, the buses were struggling to do the full elementary school route and then get to the high school on time. So we do know that historically when we run the 110 dismissal, that does give the elementary runs enough time to do their run and then they can get to the high school for 150. So, it's because not all the schools have conferences that are all in line with the other schools, which then puts us a little out of um whack. So, so is there a recommendation on on how to address that? Is that what we're talking about tonight? So the only thing that we are ready to talk about tonight is just this one conference in um the end of this year so that

082we can rectify that situation. However, we h are in um conversations with union leadership about looking at how the um conference dates are chosen and there we may be coming forward with other ideas once we're able to discuss it um thoroughly. Uh we've only had one thorough discussion with them and we'd like to follow up with all units. >> Okay. So tonight we're just talking about addressing the springtime conference dismissal time for elementary school >> for all three grade levels. But the impact that we're hoping to um have will impact the high school and elementary school times being having a larger span between them. >> Correct. If I may to share. >> Um, sure. In one second, Russ. So, is this just information or do you need us to weigh in on this tonight? >>

083Just information. Just uh uh just looking to ask a question. >> Okay. I was asking Mary actually if we were voting, but I appreciate that you just have a question. So, yeah. Um Mary, are we voting tonight or is this just for information? Did this go through student achievement? Did this particular I'm just because I know we talked about something similar some time ago. Um but this seems a little bit different. I don't know if this was discussed through student achievement or if it's just coming to usformationally or is this something that we need to >> make a decision? >> Yeah. If there is it an action item. >> No, this is just the beginning. Gotcha. Yeah, we do we need to have a decision by >> when are spring conferences? >> March. March. >>

084Next month. >> Yeah. >> So, next month we'll put it for a vote. >> Is the conversation that is the the conversation being um entertained about when conferences are going to be scheduled or has that already been determined? So currently there is a schedule out with conference times. However, um one so we were brainstorming with the union. Here comes Joe. We were brainstorming with the union. You know right now the system that we have wasn't working very well. Um so we had a meeting with uh BAPS and BFT and really listened to a lot of their thoughts and their ideas. Um, but I also wanted to bring it to the board so that you're aware that we're having these conversations. Um, and take it away, Joe, because you were >> Well, um, so historically, the

085superintendent reserves the right to operationally change the start times, uh, the schedule, if you will. Um, the calendar has been a board decision. However, because the board voted already this school year to adjust start time, the board should technically vote again to revert back to the schedule that Mary is discussing currently. And then next month, if our discussions go the way we anticipate them to go, there'd be a secondary vote to adjust the calendar because we'd be changing the conference days. Is that to um in response to some of the challenges with having conferences being Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and then going back on Friday? I know that was a conversation area without getting into details because these are ongoing conversations. um if potentially we stagger potentially elementary and high school conferences in the same week.

086Um and that's been done in the past is that then you would have both schools running on half day schedule. So you wouldn't have one school running on a regular day schedule and one running on a half day and that would completely solve or at least help substantially um the busing situation in addition to the schedule change. So then you want us to vote tonight or you don't? I >> I would say vote tonight for to revert back and then the February meeting will have an update regarding the calendar, the specific conference dates >> because either way we still need to vote to have the elementary school get out at 110 versus 1:30 regardless of what day it's on. >> Yes, at that point it's a board preference. If you would rather just have thisformational

087in nature and then do a combined vote next month, that would work, but next month would really be our deadline through the chair. >> Yes. >> Uh just a quick question on um so how late were the buses getting to the high schools with this setup? >> Um It it it varies. I I heard between 10 to 20 minutes depending on the run and how far that bus had to drive to the school. We have some runs that you know if they're like in the far northeast section um that can be a pretty far ride to the high schools or on the far like Chip and Tillil areas like on Perkin Street the very top over there going down to Central that would be a good ride. I also put a formal plug in for

088and this is some of the feedback that I received from teachers who were working obviously very very hard on conferences this last session having conferences Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and knowing that you have a full day Friday. It was, I think, challenging for students because they're you they just came off of three half days and, you know, and also challenging for the teachers who were just working tirelessly to support families and uh students during conferences. So, I don't know if that's a conversation, but I know that was um So, you're saying have them end on a Friday? >> Yes. If it's possible to conferences on a Friday, is that the problem? That's just feedback that I got. We did that last they were they were switched to Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. So a lot of um a

089lot of people I know teachers question why it went back to Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. I don't know if there was ever a like a group form that asked opinions, but pretty much the general consensus was very difficult to go back and have a whole day of learning after three half day conference days. >> It's been Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday for so long. Is there a reason that it was originally planned that way or just >> Oh, hey. So I could speak to the development of the parent conference schedule in particular. There was a lot of discussion about that last year just so that the board's informed about the process that we take. We do have a committee of any interested administrator who meets in the spring. We develop parent conference schedules two years in advance to

090follow the school calendar schedule. So with that we look at a number of different things including teacher input. So that answers your question a little bit. But we also look at participation of families. That's what the parent conferences are about. Who is coming? And Friday has really terrible attendance uh from our families. They're not able to come on Friday afternoons. And so um there's that. That was a factor that prohibits that. There's also new contract language that prevents teachers from staying late on any day that is prior to a non-working day. And so that also then influences when we can consider having a shortened day uh in a or potentially with parent conferences in the evening or in the afternoon on the day prior to a non-working day. So those were some of the factors

091that we considered. Also in looking at the school calendars for uh this particular year it was a little bit tricky because of where holidays fell. uh and that's why we had some that were starting earlier in March and then a little bit later and trying to adjust those dates uh around that moving holiday posed a challenge this year. So we did have multiple conversations with that committee uh back in the spring of last year before bringing it to the board of education and you might recall that we even had to change one of the dates on the parent conference schedule in response to some of the changes that were in that contract around that Friday afternoon conference. So uh just to provide the context around the development of the parent schedule. >> Very helpful. Thank

092you. So would the board like to vote tonight on the time change or would you want to do both next month? >> My preference would be both next month. >> Okay. I I think when we have all the information, it'll probably be better to make a decision. Agreed. >> Okay. Thank you. So, the next item on the agenda is we're going to bring Pete back up. Sorry, Pete. >> CIP review and adoption. >> Okay. Uh, I'd like to talk about our capital improvement plan as we set out over the next five years. Uh the ask that we have for 2627 is in line with what we've already asked for. The roof and mechanical project is what we were asking for in the past. We did get the acknowledgement on the roof last year, but now

093we're looking for the soft costs to start. So that will be the ask of 2,210,000. with the thought that if we get that money this year, we can move to construction in 278. Uh, also this year the ask is going to be soft cost money for Eastern High School mechanicals. Uh we're going to try to go at this with the soft costs of 3,328,000 this year and hopefully if the city will allow us to do that bond. The anticipation is move forward as following year with $29,952,000. That's a lot estimate right now. Uh but that's what we're looking into doing. We would do hopefully both of these two NFOs followed there and not separate them like we would have forced to do in central. Last but not least, this year we're looking for $1,350,000 and

094that would complete our security upgrades districtwide if that would give us equity across the district because as many of you are aware we have a multimedia security grant that was geared towards Bristol Central High School, Eastern Chip, Hubble, then decided it was going to be West Bristol and Green Hills. this money would carry over and take care of a million schools, Ivy, Mountain View, Stafford, Southside. Um so that those are the three big asks this year. It'll be 6,888,000. That's what I went over to the city west. Um I don't know if you folks had a chance to take a look at this. I can do the out years or I can just answer questions as we go in the out years, but it's pretty straightforward. A lot of what you're seeing is stuff that

095has been on our radar screening for quite some time. And I only know that because I look back through the at a glance and going back a couple of years, a lot of these jobs are in Wayne. With that being said, you have any questions about the outliers or any of the stuff I just went over? >> The chair. I just wanted to thank Pete Fusco for his um presentation of this material at the last finance and operations meeting. Um I failed to mention that that was a pretty big component of the meeting and you provided a very comprehensive overview of the asks. Um so I would encourage folks also to you know take a look at that recording. I thought that you you know did a very uh you had a very skillful approach.

096>> Thank you. I mean, if there any questions tonight for anybody on the line or here, uh, more than happy to I can go into this. I can go 20 minutes. I don't know how long you want to stay here, but I can't talk about this at home. So, I have a >> I was also um on at that meeting online and you did do a very comprehensive review of all of this for those who were there. But if anybody here has questions >> um through the chair, >> yes, >> I would remiss be remiss if I didn't ask um Mr. Fusco on when things are put in the future costs column such as the Hubble school HVAC lack of it. Um what does that mean? It's not going to happen before 2030. Well, what

097it means is we are basically what I like to do is I like to share where we are with the city. So know from a bonding perspective to expect. You don't want to show up one day with $3 million and then the next day you show up with $200 million. They're like, "Wow, what did that help?" >> So basically, we're looking out now. We could see opportunities through grants for possibly do some of this HVAC work in bubbles or you can bundle it into a renovation project. >> Okay. like Chip and Sil Middle School, I know it got pushed out. You'll see. But Chip and Middle School now is 30 plus years old and it'll probably be a renovation project by the time we look at the future costs. Maybe it makes sense at that

098time because you have to understand it's not just HVAC, all the other things that go into it, right? So you your switch gear upgrades, you have done structural report on the roof, make sure your structure can handle it. You have additional controls. There's duct work that needs to be done. There's finishes, room finishes, ceiling tiles. Uh we would like to do more and more demand control ventilation though we can. I had a conversation tonight with a member of the mayor's energy task force about that because energy is such a big topic and these are things everything we have in front of us here hopefully will uh save big dollars if you can incorporate that the two high schools do not have ventilation. That is a big plus. It's the newer schools. They don't look like

099we're talking about some outdated stuff here. I like to think of it as like a Pontiac or an old. Anybody remembers those cars, right? But I your way home see how many Pontiacs or old wheels say, right? That's where we are with the high schools. >> Yeah. cuz I think I remember back in the middle of the 2010s that um there was uh Hubble was originally put on uh on the plan for HVAC. I definitely understand that a lot of other things come with it. um as a teacher that endured really hot end of August, beginning of September there and um also uh luckily we haven't had to endure too many hot Junes, but the the lack of an instruction that can go on on really hot days and and you know, we're not whining

100about it. We we we suffered. Um, and I think in an interest of equity too, it always goes back to, you know, and I know not every school has, you know, the ideal situation for heating cooling, but uh, as somebody who, you know, almost passed out putting up bulletin boards at the end of August and I think that um, parents are always under the assumption that your building is air conditioned. For years, we've said they've said, "What do you mean you're all air conditioning?" But Pete, I do want to ask you though, maybe there's a consideration. I understand there's extra costs. Uh there's also other budgeting costs that are um considered, but you know, we've been good about not uh using extra electrical equipment. Um, and you know, I won't name names and they're no

101longer with the district, but there have been teachers who have brought in a little portable air conditioning unit or um fans. I existed with fans, otherwise I could not have come to work on some days. So, I'm just uh wondering if there's any can there be some kind of a um allowance for personal items for cooling? Could you make an exception for a building if it's that um that hot in a building? >> Well, what we've traditionally done facilities >> buildings not have short school day or kids outside. uh as far as an undertaking is it all comes down to capacity electrical capacity and in all Hubble is a very nice school but Humble has it needs some love okay that's the best I can the nicest way I could put it some love it

102needs to have the switch here with that you're not going to put a tremendous amount of reolution load in that building >> correct okay thank you I appreciate you listening >> Mr. FCO. Um I know that you were uh an integral component for the HVAC upgrade at Southside School and when we were there touring with um Lieutenant Governor Bisawitz and team um there was conversation the director of DAS mentioned that there's a monthly application for the um Connecticut HVAC indoor air quality grant program. Um, and she said it's not a competitive grant and it's going monthly. Um, are we are we exploring that? Are we do we have any um plans to fill out applications and cross our fingers that we're one of the schools or districts? >> Absolutely. Question. You're constantly exploring those options.

103As a matter of fact, what brought them to Southside is we were actually ahead of the districts. We're competing against 68 other districts. We did give some money as you know and we will continue to advocate to look uh but grants are wonderful and we can get them and we take advantage of them. We did a lot of grant work over the last couple of years but it's very important I think to stay consistent with our task and our bonding because as this CIP gets compressed we're going to run out of time. Sooner or later, you're going to the buildings are starting to get piled up on top of each other. >> Can both happen at the same time. So even if we're on the CIP, if there was an opportunity to apply for one

104of these, we could do we could do that. >> Absolutely. Yeah. Our our intention would be certainly to do that. Now, there are usually uh grants are great, but grants come with all sorts of stipulations and maybe they don't cover the dunage or the the other things. So, we have to be ready to spend money to make money and to make our our facilities better. And this is a modest ask with the city. I consider it a modest ask. 6,888,000. We want to get in and get some soft cost. We want to get the engineering and the design stuff going. We've always talked about shoveling the ground ready for grants, but it cost money to get a design. And usually the state wants that before they'll commit money, but we don't have that professional service

105money to do with it. Uh but right now where we stand, uh we've got a a lot of potential here. You can take 500,000 square feet of 1.4 million. You can get the high schools done. Remember, we also have to get off of the dependency of steam. We have steam heat to those buildings. And again talking to the energy task force uh the members tonight we agreed that we need to look at these opportunities to take get off of the steam heat because the infrastructure it'll cost you $50 million high school and that's just not we have to work our way out like we did at Southside HVAC projects um the old and new we did I just have one question. I'm looking up there and I don't see that. Well, >> the roof central

106was approved last year. >> Correct. >> And we're asking for the mechanicals this year. So, when is it getting replaced? >> Well, we would hopefully get the soft cost to get it done. Get it designed following their 2728 review. >> Do we think that the roof is going to last till 2728? >> Well, we're in the process right now. We have a roof committee. be meeting this month. >> Yeah. We're trying to work for you. There's statement and it's not just lost city money. They bonded it but state. >> So there's no way that it could happen before that. >> Not we we're going to work as quickly as we can with this committee that moving to the profession. Hopefully what we did with thermal imaging drawings at the beginning of the summer. We did

107an overlay on both identified as pockets of water being developed. That was my commitment with the board of finance. They said, "Give me 180,000 to do that. Hopefully, that'll give us unfortunately this was to bush." >> I know I'm I'm having trauma because Edgewood was only 280 kids that we had to move. That's a thousand kids if Easter if Central's Ruth falls in. Where are we putting a thousand kids? >> Hopefully. >> I know. Hopefully >> doing the best we can. But it's it's it's just not those lives into the universe like But you bring up a good point. That's it's >> that's a thousand kids. >> It's been and and as you've mentioned, Mr. Fusco, the longer things get um >> down the road. >> Yeah. The more expensive it ends up being. So,

108and and the risks that we take. There's predictive, preventive, reactive, right? >> Predictive, we know it's going to go data driven. Preventative, we try to keep it working. And then reactive is we >> have been doing. >> It's too late by then. >> Okay. >> I do have a question. >> Yes. >> So, I'm just looking at this um 26 27 28 29. There's um a big difference in numbers, right? So 6 million this year, 64 million next year, 55, and then back down to looks like 87. Um, is there a way like is that is there a way to make it look better where it's not 6 million here, then 65 here, 55, and then back down to eight? Or is there a reason why we go back down to >> The reason is

109every year when we go in front of the CIP committee, we're parsing out these projects. So we're going after soft cost. So the 8,700,000 is the soft cost, projected soft cost for Southside school. The following year, you're seeing 78 million. That would be the construction cost that we anticipate at that time. So in totality, you put the two numbers together, but in fairness to the city, we'd like to let them know as they're bonding. Uh we don't want to go in one large number. So just like this year, you're seeing 6,888,000. That's the soft cost. The construction cost of the following year is 63. But we will share this with them and they will know. The controller will know what what to expect. The mayor and the CIP committee, board of finance, uh, city council,

110everybody will know >> and it's bonded anyway. >> It's all bonded, but to be able to predict and understand because they have other >> efforts that they have to fund. So, we as the board of ed want to make sure we're advocating, but we don't want to go in and act like we're the only counties. It doesn't work well. Uh this way here, they can project out and see what's coming in the future. This will never end. We'll always spend money on real estate. Uh but you try to do it in bites instead of doing it in prices. Any other questions? >> Uh through the chair, if I may. >> Yes. >> Uh thank you. So, you know, it's like the saying goes, yeah, there's only a couple guarantees in life, and that's death in

111taxes. Uh, but there's another one, too. It's the uh um increase in building materials. Those uh cost increases go up annually. Um, and I know it's going to probably impact the budgets on some of these on some of these projects, especially getting out some of the ones that are a little farther out. Um, have we um, you know, have we anticipated for that? And um is that kind of is that built into the budget uh these budgets for you know some of those longerterm projects where price increases might be going up by 10 15% between now and and when those projects are shovel ready. >> Commissioner that's a very good question. Yes we anticipate escalation but with the soft cost we will also get a professional cost estimate as we go closer to the construction

112on these projects. So really it's hard to say what in 2030 2031 what a 2 by4 would cost but when we do the soft cost in 29 and 2030 we should have a pretty good idea where we are so these numbers can change but as it is today with escalation built in to today's numbers looking out best guess um and I I don't mean it's not a guess it's what we're using for a formula >> number should be relatively spoton unless again something could change in the U in our economy. Just can't project that far out. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. >> Thank you. So, I think we need a motion to adopt the CIP review. So, moved. >> Second. Do >> you have a formal motion? >> Okay. >> You want to have

113us read it? >> Yeah. >> Thanks. It has to be read absurd way. >> I'd like to make a motion to approve the 2026 2027 CIP as presented and to forward to the city capital improvement and strategic planning committee. Second. >> Motion's been made and seconded. All in favor? I >> I >> unanimous. Thank you. >> You're the chair. >> Yes. >> Um I'd like to make a motion to add an item under new business. Um I move that we uh establish a personnel. >> Okay. >> Could that be repeated, please? I'm sorry. >> Sure. Sorry, Russ. Um, I made a motion to add an item under new business and that was to establish a personnel committee. >> We need a second and then we can go into discussion. >> I'll second. >> Okay. Any

114motions are made and seconded? Any any discussion? >> So, what is required to add that new business to the new business for a vote? Well, we'll have to vote to add it to new business, >> right? So, is that 2/3? Is that is that majority? >> Oh, no. Just a majority to add something to an agenda. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Just a majority. The dis if we go into discussion, I can explain why we had we have to add it tonight. So, our first um our first step would be to add the the item that I just proposed to the agenda and then we can start talking about it. We can have a discussion once it's on the agenda and then we can um vote on Yeah. So, right now, I just made a motion

115to add the item to new business, and that's what we're voting on. If it's for member for board members to to either yay or nay to add this item to new business. Can I just ask, don't we typically have a standing personel committee? It just hasn't been seated. Or >> we don't have to have a personnel committee unless we unless the district needs us to have a personnel committee. So it can be appointed at any time. >> Okay. Cuz my my historical information is just that we've always had one. So Okay. When when Commissioner Tigerella was here, he changed it to be an ad hoc committee and as needed and we didn't appoint the committee until we needed it. So when it was appointed, it was when it was needed. So it was ad hoc

116where members just changed whenever or was it seated with the same members and just called when needed? >> Well, once it was established, it was established and it never changed. But in the two years that I was on that committee, I think we met twice. So it's it's really just we don't have a schedule for those meetings. It's just as needed and the superintendent tells the committee when they need to meet. >> So, this would be another ad hoc. It wouldn't be a standing. >> It would be the personnel committee until we changed the personnel committee, but only scheduling meetings, ad hoc meetings as necessary. >> Okay. Motion's been made and seconded. Um, all in favor? >> I I I >> I Okay, so the >> Oh, sorry. >> I I >> I Okay, unanimously.

117Now, it is on the agenda. The item is that we I am going to appoint a personnel committee. I would like to appoint um commissioners Per Simmons, Commissioner Fitz Simons Bula, and Commissioner Cara Ledger to serve on the personnel committee. >> So once again, no minority representation. >> Is that a question? >> Yeah. Yeah. No. So once again, we're going with no minority representation >> for this committee. I am appointing the three commissioners that I just appointed. >> Okay. So, when there was that email that you sent out um the other week and I meant to get back to it, but it was the holidays. >> Is this relevant to the vote because of it? >> It is. It is. It is. Yes, it is. So, um you had said that with the um with

118the like the committee that you had before been in favor of having minority representation, but it hadn't passed. So you thought it was right at the time, but you no longer think that it's right anymore to have minority representation. >> Well, for this committee, I picked people who have relevant experience for the topics that are going to be put in front of them, but the committee would then come back and make the recommendation to the full board and the full board still has the opportunity to participate and make the decisions. Um, so in this >> Okay. Well, it's clear you've been sidelining anyone on the Republican side of the aisle. It has been intentional. It has been the way it's been, you know, whatever. And I thought that you thought it was wrong, but apparently

119it's not wrong when, you know, you're the one making the decision. So, I will be a No, >> I think we need to call a point of order, >> okay, before it gets >> Yeah. I I just think that, you know, what what happens is that we put people on committees who work collaboratively with others. Point of order. >> Yes, Russ, you can have you can ask a question. >> Okay. Sorry about the delay with the online. Can I ask what the purpose of the committee is for? >> Yes. To hear grievances. >> And what would those grievances be pertaining to? >> We we don't know right now. >> Are we anticipating grievances now or is that is are we seeing an influx in grievances? There has not been an official grievance filed. >> Okay.

120So, if there hasn't been any grievances filed, why are we setting up a personnel committee? I'm just curious. Just ask some questions. >> Because we there could be and then we would have to be prepared. >> So, so we're preparing for grievances. Is there something that that has happened? Are anticipating grievances? The reason why there's a personnel committee is because it's confidential and so there's things that can't be discussed in live meetings and so that's not I mean I don't have that information to give you. I've been asked to appoint a committee so I'm >> Well, there has been a grievances filed. >> No, right now I just said there's none. >> Oh, okay. >> There's none. >> You said there was something filed. >> What did I say? >> I thought you I Yeah,

121it could be the connection. I thought you said there was something filed. No. >> Okay. >> I said there has nothing been filed, but I've been asked to fi I've been asked to appoint a committee. So, I'm appointing a committee. >> So, these these don't come to the full board personnel committee items. So, when you say that it can go through committee and then if you want >> if if there is a grievance and a decision has to be made, it's made by the full board. M they've been made by committee from my historical knowledge from being on the board. They they've stayed within committee and been just within committee not come to the full board. If if there was we can you can talk we we can get this in writing from at the

122shipment attorneys that if there were to be any type of settlement or any type of agreement made the full board would be called into an executive session and a vote would be required of the full board. There's been plenty of grievances that have been discussed that did not fuller. If you would like me to get that response for you in writing from the attorneys, I'd be more than happy to. If it was settled by the committee, that's a different outcome than if there was a settlement. Um the grievances that I've known to have come through the personnel committee do not and have not seen the full board >> because there's been no settlement. >> Okay. But there's still uh still a meeting within the personnel committee. >> Exactly. It's it's >> So you still don't

123want minority representation. Does it come before the full board? >> Well, with others on the committee. That's who I appointed. >> I don't give anybody any chances. So I'm still >> okay. discussion is now closed. >> This is a uh I think a ring fencing of information and I I I think it's um it's contradicting um uh other statements that you've made in the past about about minor. >> I'm sorry that you don't agree with the decision. I had to make an appointment and I'm making the appointment and you will have your vote. The discussion is now closed. All in favor? >> No. >> I >> Very cute. Have a good night. >> Thank you. So, the vote was 52. Thank you. >> Uh, anyone have a legacy report? >> I do. >> I knew

124you would. Okay, I'm pulling it up. I I'm happy to share um a leazison report from principal Higgins who shared that the 2627 school year planning is now underway and they are currently making revisions to their program of studies, expanding course offerings in college and career pathways at both high schools. Teachers will be making course recommendations and students will be making course selections in the upcoming week so that they may begin the scheduling process for next year. And last month, the state gave Bristol Eastern High School its 2025 high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate. Um, Principal Higgins is happy to report that Eastern was better than the state goal with a 94.4% graduation rate, which has not been achieved since before COVID. So, kudos. The hard work and dedication of the entire Bristol Eastern

125High School community paid off, and they're hoping to do even better this year. So, congrats to the amazing work of Bris High School. Thank you. >> That's all I have. >> Any other ones? Okay. Well, with no further items on the agenda, the meeting is adjourned.