001Good evening and happy St. Patrick's Day. Um, calling to order the West Harford Public Schools Board of Education meeting for March 17, 2026. Ammani, would you mind calling the role? Miss Marman >> here. >> Miss Yagalof >> present. >> Mr. Gagnon >> here. >> Miss Hers >> here. >> Mr. Weiner >> here. >> Miss Bleach >> present. >> Mr. Goldman >> here. >> Kayla Jaw. >> Conrad Ky >> here. >> Thank you. And Conrad, can you please lead us in the pledge of >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. Um there is no revision to the agenda order, so we will move into public communications. Um, this is a
002time for the board of education to hear from the public regarding your thoughts, questions, concerns, and suggestions. Um, when you come to the podium, please state your name and town of residence. Each individual is allowed three minutes to speak. Please be mindful of Ammani, who will hold up a yellow card when you have one minute remaining in your time, and a red card when your time is expired. At that time, please conclude your comments and respectfully take your seat. Please note that we are actively listening while you make your remarks. However, it is board of education policy that we do not respond to comments as they are being made. We will begin with pro comments on agenda items. And as a reminder, the agenda items for tonight are the proposed calendar for the 202728 school
003year. Second reading. Accept and approve policies and bylaws 1000, 410, and 5000. accept and approve policies and bylaws 3,140, 5,680, and 8,144. Um, multi-year enrollment projections, approval of the minutes from the March 3rd, 2026 board of education meeting, and approval of the minutes of the board of education budget workshop on March 11th, 2026. We don't have anyone signed up for agenda items, but is there anyone who would like to speak on any of those matters? Okay, seeing none, we will move on to uh general comments. And first on the list is Jonathan Room. >> Shannon, good evening superintendent, members of the board of education, and fellow parents, teachers, and um administrators. Uh my name is Dr. Jonathan Ray, and I am a proud parent of a 15-year-old son who is a freshman at Connard High
004School. Um, I'm here tonight to introduce a parent organization called Focus, which stands for Fostering Optimal Connectivity, Understanding, and Safety. We are a West Hartford parent group that is dedicated to um child welding uh child wellness and digital safety through both advocacy and education. Our group actually grew out of a Sedwick Middle School book club in which we read The Anxious Generation last year. And so you may recognize that um you may recognize some of the well I recognize some of the people in the audience today from that book club. Um you may also know us as an offshoot of community of concern um with whom we partner on um events affecting teen mental health and digital issues especially educational activities um um which I'll announce later. Um focus is a little bit different than
005community of concern though in that we not only seek um that we also seek to advocate both for classroom um and for smartphone u policy reform uh which community concern does not do. Now why is this important to us? It's important because we're watching a crisis um unfold in real time. For my own son, his gateway to digital dopamine wasn't a smartphone. It was actually an elementary school Chromebook. what began as video games um masquerading as math um instruction, as math software eventually snowballed. By middle school, a boy who used to read at a 12th grade reading level um stopped reading entirely and replacing books with binge watching YouTube under the guise of doing homework and eventually started using chat GPT, maybe a little bit more than is acceptable. Um I'm not sure that he's
006read any books um um ever since he's had access to to GPT. Um around middle school he also stopped playing piano and he stopped his hobbies like um building models in favor of just watching YouTube. So I've shut that down in the meantime but still it was the Chromebook was the pathway there. Um edtech unfortunately too often becomes distract tech and we're advocating for reduced highly purposeful Chromebook use alongside a comprehensive K through2 smartphone ban. We recently submitted testimony in support of House Bill 5035 um um calling for a K- through12 smartphone ban. So I I know the budget season is incredibly demanding for this board and I and I plan to return next week to discuss the budget, but as a preview research shows that spending on edtech does not um correlate with improved
007student performance. And so I'll save that for next week though. Um, tonight I'd like to invite the community to join us this Thursday um at 6 PM at Bristol Middle School um where focus is is is partnering with Community of Concern and the West Hartford um prevention partnership to show screeners under the influence with Connard High School principal Joselyn Temple Noble who will lead us with an interactive discussion around issues of digital technology, vaping and substance abuse. Uh we hope to see you there. Um, I'm going to leave a flyer of our organization that everyone wants to get on our email list. There's a QR code right there. Otherwise, you can email us at focus.weehaggmail.com. Thank you. >> That' be good. Thank >> you. Um, next we have Gungjan Sharma. Sorry. >> Um, good evening.
008My name is uh Gungjan Sharma and I am a member of um the community of concern and focus along with Jonathan. I I have a very um moody seventh grader at KP who is currently right now fighting with her father about screen time. Currently as I left the house I could the tantrum was starting. Um and um you know I think all of us have been in this situation. I think all of us are as grown-ups are grappling with our own screen time the doom scroll etc. I think you know there I've read about this may be the first set of generations that have a codependency right we're trying to wean our kids off of something that we are addicted to so you know that that it makes things a little more complex the perspective
009that I come from is definitely that of a parent right um but it's also that of an educator I have been teaching economics in higher education for 22 years now and um over that time and and and in in a wide variet of institutions. I've been in R ones. I've been in um you know not very good um you know teaching uh teaching colleges. I've been in a very exclusive teaching uh college now and um the attention spans of students the negative effect not of phones. We're talking about good, motivated, smart students who want to be in my class, who want to learn, right? And yet they have like 25 tabs open on their on their um uh um uh um browser. You have Slack messages popping up and it's just impossible, right? I'm expecting
010a 19year-old to have control and not check her Slack while I am talking about, you know, the the the responsibilities of the Federal Reserve. Like I I mean you know like the Federal Reserve will lose you know to to the a slack that a friend is sending you and this is all productivity software right like the slack is given by Smith College to students to make it easier for them to communicate. So even productivity software is negatively impacting older students right it's not definitely the lefto the pandemic left but it left us with this technological overload in our schools and I am I you can think of me kind of as the uh you know I'm the chef that has to fry up the sausage that's being made by HBS schools and so in my
011intro classes you have these students who who don't know what a textbook looks like everything has been worksheets and it's all been Google classroom and you're like why do I have to buy a $120 textbook because it distills very important information from experts in their fields and yes it it is on paper yes you have to open it and yes maybe you should try you know reading it and so that's the other perspective that I'm bringing in a current par with a child who you know we're trying to keep away uh a little bit from all this um and we're struggling right but also as an educator um that of what I'm seeing in even grown um you know grownup um students right 19 20 year olds and they're just not able to control their
012um their technology habits. Thank you. >> Thank you. Is there anyone else who would like to make public comment? Come up to the podium and just state your name and town of residence. Hello, I'm I'm Richard Msurley from West Hartford and my concern is the Webster Hill Elementary School um Boulevard. What we have right now is a traffic issue where there is a no standing due to bike lanes that that are on both sides of the street. One side has parking. There's a bike lane. There's true through traffic in both directions and another bike lane. Right now, it's not being enforced that uh the bike lane is being occupied by cars, parents dropping off their children. Um the safety issue I'm having since bikes are not being used. It's sort of less of a concern
013about that is that children, but also families are running across in the middle of the street rather than using the crosswalk. So, I understand that Greg from Town Engineering is planning on repainting the road to have parking on both sides. Uh, I'm not a fan of this only because that doesn't solve the problem of children running out from between two cars where there's a giant void of a blind spot. I would like to keep the bike lanes that are just freshly installed. and I'm from New York City. So, what I've seen implemented is foldable delineators, which are just those pop-ups that trucks can run over, but typically passenger cars will not attempt to drive over. So, I'm in favor of keeping the bike lanes. Also, there's been a federal study that shows having shared road
014access with bikes is 50% more dangerous than having a buffer with bike lanes. So, those are my concerns and thank you for hearing me out. Thank you. >> Is there anyone else who would like to make public comment? >> Thank you. Um so now we will we will turn to uh reports from our student representatives. So Conrad I know is here tonight in um in representing Connard. Conrad and Connard um on behalf of Bridget. So we'd love to hear about Connard. >> Hello. My name is Conrad and I'm giving Connor's report today. Um, so Connor just had their musical, Anything Goes, and it was a huge success for the past two weeks. Uh, we're so proud of, uh, all the actors, musicians, and crew members that made that possible. Uh, also congratulations to the Hall
015Connor hockey team for placing second in the state. And tonight, Connor boys hockey is playing in the state semi-final against East Haven. So, we wish them good luck. Um, for all our juniors, uh, the final SAT Academy session is tomorrow on Wednesday, March 18th. Um, and we have our inschool March 19th SAT. So, it's a great way to prepare one more time before you take your test. Um, AP Spanish Language visited Hall today and for a flamingo field trip. Uh, they learned about uh, the culture behind the dance as well as how to dance it. Um, my final thing is that on March 20th is Connard's blood drive. So, make sure to sign up for a chance to save lives. Donors will receive a $15 gift card as well as snacks. Um, so thank you
016for listening to Con's updates. >> Thank you, Conrad. Any questions? >> And we'll we will be sure to catch up on Hall next time. Um, sorry to have uh Miss Kayla this evening. Um, so moving on to unfinished business. Uh, we have, uh, first on the agenda, proposed calendar for the 2027-28 school year. Second reading. Can I have a motion that the board of education review as a second and final reading the proposed calendar for the 2027 2028 school year? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Jason. >> Second. >> Thank you, Miriam. Uh and turn turning over to Paul for any explanation. >> Yep. Uh very short explanation. As as you mentioned, this is a second reading. The the calendar itself can be found on page two of your board book. Uh just a reminder
017for board members or certainly more so uh any public at home that might be looking. Uh this is the school calendar for the 2027 2028 school year. So not next school year, but the following. Um and there were no uh there were no changes to what's being presented to you this evening. There were no uh there were no requested changes um after the first reading. So uh absent any further discussion or feedback uh I I would uh await your feedback and hopefully a vote to uh to finalize this calendar. >> Any discussion? All right. Uh all those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? All right. The motion passes. Um, moving on to um a uh a third reading for of policies and bylaws and we'll be joined by Julio Darte.
018Um, seeking a motion that the board of education accept and approve as a third and final reading the following revised policies and bylaws which were reviewed by the board policy subcommittee. Community Series 1000 policy 1000 non-discrimination personnel series 4000 policy 410 non-discrimination and students series 5000 policy 5000 non-discrimination. >> So moved again. >> Thank you Jason. >> Second. >> Thank you Latoya. Uh anything you'd like to share as context? >> No. So I think the board is very familiar with these three policies. Um so again I just went in and updated the language based on um the previous board meeting which brought back references or reinstated references to gender/ sex, gender identity or expression and sexual orientation or pregnancy throughout um all three policies. >> Any questions or discussion? Jason, >> I'll just add that
019I think we we sent out the call too after the during the last meeting that anybody who had any other revisions or anything that was missed, please email Julio before. So I I think third time is actually the charm >> question. >> Um I would I would actually I would well I don't want to pop that balloon but um okay I guess I guess a I guess I guess a question is is for board procedure do we for a non-substantive change do we need to delay this to a fourth reading? Okay. So, I I would offer just as a non-substantive change because I was supposed to connect with Julio and I I failed to. On um on our packet, >> it would be pa sorry, page seven of the materials for tonight. Um the second
020heading, alleged discrimination, harassment of community members on the basis of sex. I realized I think there there was some confusion at the last meeting and I had offered a suggest I just had offered a clarifying suggestion to the heading just to insert the word sexual orientation, pregnancy or gender, identity or expression after the word sex in that second heading. So I think it's non-substantive change. >> We can make that change. >> I think headings are always considered non-substantive. So yes, I would agree. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, Don. Any other questions, discussion? All right. All those in favor say, should we do roll call or don't? Okay. All those in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? Any abstensions? The motion passes. >> All right. Three times is a charm. Thanks, Jason. Um,
021so, uh, seeking, uh, now we are moving on to, um, policy and bylaw, uh, recommendations. Second reading. Seeking a motion that the board of education approve as a second and final reading the following revised policies and bylaws which were reviewed by the board policy subcommittee business series 3000 policy 3140 board budget procedures and line item transfers students series 5000 policy 5680 child sexual abuse and assault response and reporting procedures and bylaw series 8000 bylaw 8144 for financial examiners. >> So moved. >> Thank you, Latoya. >> Second. >> Thank you, John. Julio, any context? >> No, I mean, happy to go through them if folks need to, but if you remember, again, aligning with 3140 just added in the new language requirements that were implemented as far as reporting out to the Connecticut State Department of
022Education. So, I don't know if we want to tackle that one individually. You want to go through them all as a group? Shannon >> um is there discussion on individual >> okay >> so on 8144 the expense acral's been taken out if to me it's a meaningful numbers and it has a big impact year to year so if we can make it a second a main another uh item >> page 37 >> 37 sorry >> so again My understanding and and certainly if I'm allowed to phone a friend I will. Um but my understanding was that for us we really don't have acrruels at the end of the month. There's no going back. The only time that they actually close the the the books would be really at the end of a school year. >>
023So these were items to me that come from other entities like the medical like pensions and the impact on them is big. So if you want to call it something else that's fine but I do think we want to observe those. >> So I think I would see it under future costs would it be on like fit under that definition? >> Future costs. Um how about outside entities? >> Input from outside entities. Well, I would also just add if you look at um after number three uh sub six uh allows the uh examiners to request presentations on other such areas as requested by the financial examiners or the board. I mean, my view is that the policy is drafted is broad enough to encompass those responsibilities. And I think I I actually understand future costs
024and trends to be a more plain language um way to express the concept of expense acrals, including including things such as future pension obligations. >> All right. I mean, we're going to have it's going to have to be worked out anyway. So, I mean, this is new, right? I'm fine. Any other questions or discussion? Should we go through policy by policy? Okay. So, um we will vote on business series 3000 policy 3140. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Right. That passes. Um following a vote on student series 5000 policy 5680. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? That passes. And lastly, um, all those in favor of series 8,000 bylaw 8144 say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? The motion
025passes. Thank you all. All right. Thank you, Julia. Um, Uh moving on to uh new business. We have none. And we will move to staff communications and reports and hear from Superintendent Vicinus about what's happening across the district. >> Excellent. Thank you. So, good evening everyone and happy St. Patrick's Day to all. Uh great day and great activities happening in our schools to celebrate Irish culture and heritage. Um, the Irish immigration to the United States certainly played a pivotal role in our country's history, providing essential labor for industrialization, infrastructure, and citybuilding during the late 1800s and into the early 1900s. March also marks celebration and awareness with events such as National Developmental Disabilities Awareness as well as World Down Syndrome Day upcoming on March 21st. Uh, finally, and very importantly, March is Women's History Month,
026celebrating the contributions of women to history, culture, and society. So, we're very excited to be able to celebrate all of that and more. Um, it was recently uh read across America week in our schools. We celebrated that and I wanted to give a big shout out to the Charter Oak PTO the next chapter bookstore and the entirety of our post-secary team for the amazing bookf fair opportunity uh that occurred at Charter Oak at the beginning of the month. Uh the PTO generously ensured that every child could participate by purchasing a book for any student who didn't have uh and I shared the $2 needed as just a reflection of the value that our bookstore provides to the community in terms of the low cost. Um it was a joyful day centered around reading choice and
027community. Um I believe uh we heard about the Hall boys hockey team had defeated Enfield six to4. They were they were advancing to the state championship game this Thursday evening and and I think we heard about Connor's face off with Eio Smith and Talon semi-finals. Uh we also uh I I know that if Kayla were here we'd be talking about they Oh, they won. Excellent. And he said that. Yeah, you mentioned that. So, I'm losing sight in my own notes here. Um, if Kayla were here, she'd be mentioning the pops and jazz, uh, which is also be beginning this week and, uh, and running began last week and running through this week. So, very excited by that. Um, I am pleased to announce uh that our nutrition services department has recently identified a stipended position
028for menu development and culinary standards coordination. Uh, the purpose of these additional duties is to elevate uh district-wide culinary standards, expand scratch cooking capacity, and to strengthen our farm-to-school initiatives. I know that Tim Przinski and Liz, who's in this position, new to this position, um are in the beginning phases of kind of plotting a direction for uh for the district. And I know that there is interest on the board and something that we will likely report on in the uh next school year once they've had some opportunity to kind of plan and vision around that. Um, otherwise uh I think my only other announcement for this evening is I did want to bring your attention to our visual arts department that welcomes uh the full community to its opening reception of ArtBeat, our annual student
029art exhibit which occurs at the Salt Box and Clubhouse Galleries off on Buenav Vista Road. Uh that's going to be occurring tomorrow night, Wednesday, uh the 18th for the opening from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. And the exhibit is uh running through April the 4th. And if you haven't had the opportunity, I must say it is uh just incredibly impressive the the the work of our students uh kindergarten through grade 12 uh within the visual arts. Uh it it's it's it's a sight to really take in. So I hope that many of you can make it tomorrow. And if not tomorrow, I hope that all of you can make it at some point uh before the end of the exhibits. >> When is the April 4th? >> April 4th. Okay. >> Pending your questions. That is
030my report. >> Any questions, Latoya? No questions, but just wanted to share that um really enjoyed the breaking bias event that happened. I came a little late the other night, but I came just in time for the uh the VR uh activity and the um seeing the different officials and different people and their different, you know, identities, which y'all should have had the board on there. But uh I thought it was really powerful and you know one of the things I wanted to share from it with the community was as I was watching the VR which I mean I think Shann and I both can agree like wasn't expected to be in shambles at the end of that but really was and as someone who has been to Africa and been in the slave dun
031the slave dungeons when I was watching the VR experience I just couldn't help but um draw that that connection um you know with our uh Jewish brothers and sisters and so was just really thinking about the importance of you know understanding history and those opportunities that the schools and the town provides so that we can draw those connections with each other and really see um how much more sim similar we are than different and our shared struggles. and yeah, it was just really powerful and really uh stimulated a um ongoing conversation in my household. So, thank you to everyone who put that together and um thank you to you know the the schools for you know all the just support there, the students and their leadership. I thought it was just a really powerful event.
032So, thank you. >> Extremely powerful. The VR was um quite amazing. I'm, you know, so pleased to be able to number one have that preservation of history for for all students. You know, to have the opportunity to showcase it to our West Harford students is is a wonderful thing as as is the uh interviews with the Holocaust survivors. And again, those are available online. Um, I can I can remind you I can remind everyone of the link. Um, but you know that that interview with uh Ava uh core um I've had the opport you know I sat through it a couple of times that evening but I've had the opportunity to hear some of the longer responses because I know we were kind of contained to a certain amount of time and it's it's so
033powerful when when you can take a line of inquiry and follow it along and it's as if uh it's as if she's in the room with you kind of explaining. So uh thank you for sharing that. Thank you the there were four of you that uh five of you I think that were able to attend uh and uh it's just a a wonderful testament to a partnership with Yukon and the ability to kind of bring awareness of um anti-semitism training and building community. So I was very very pleased with those features of the event. >> Anything else? All right. Oh, go ahead, Jennifer. Um, I wanted just to ask about the farm to school. I know you mentioned um they're going to work on it and bring it back, which totally makes sense. Um, as
034they're thinking about it, are they I guess I'm trying to think if there's any opportunity for um input into what it will look like or how it's rolled out or do you foresee it being more of a staff and then we'll react kind of a thing? >> Great question. Um, so I do know that they've already started the process of, uh, community input. I know that there have been some, I think we've had a couple of speakers from some local, you know, uh, organizations and kind of some gr some grassroots kind of coalitions that have occurred here. And those folks have reached out. I've put them in touch with, uh, Tim and they've had at least as as far as I'm aware, they've had at least a first meeting and and a plan for additional.
035So, I know they're getting some input and then um the the plan is to be able to also, you know, have them present here at some point in terms of a vision statement. That'll be an opportunity to showcase it to the public, but um if there's specific input along the way, I'll be happy to pass along. >> Thank you. >> All right. Moving on to um staff reports and board discussions. We will be hearing about the multi-year enrollment projections and joining us will be Miss Barbara Rua. Sure. As Barb sets up and gets plugged in, um for members of the board that are new, uh this is there are two reports that occur each year. There's certainly the beginning of the year report where we report out on the current enrollments as of October 1
036and then around this time of the year uh Barb does amazing work um with partnership with P school and she'll she'll talk about uh that to provide us with multi-year enrollment projections and really what this represents uh is the beginning I know that we're in conversations right now about the 26 27 school year budget um and there's information we glean from this but this is really the beginning of the 2728 budgeting process as we begin to look out and see what our school enrollments will be. So with that, I'll turn it over to Barb. >> Thank you. Good evening. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you regarding the enrollment projections. As you saw in the report, which begins on page 38 of the board book, on an annual basis, we estimate student enrollment
037and prep prepare multi-year projections in order to assist with short and long-term planning. That includes planning for the operating budget and capital improvements for our facilities. As you can see in the slide presented, um there's been great change in the district over the last 35 years. Uh the lefth hand portion of the chart illustrates historical data whereas the shaded blue area illustrates the projection moving the projection for the years moving forward. So when we look back 35 years, you will notice that the K- through2 enrollment was 7,584 students. The district experienced mostly year-over-year increases until the 20101 school year where enrollment peaked at 10,34 students. From there, gradual enro enrollment decline can be seen until the most recent K- through2 enrollment of 8,655 students. Year-over-year growth is projected to vary no more than 166 students
038in a given year moving forward. When we look at these projections, the analysis which is done uh by powers school analytics which is a module of our student information system focuses on three main data drivers to estimate future enrollment including kindergarten enrollment trends, grade level cohorts and impact of residential development. And I'll dive into each of these individually. So, as you saw in Power School's notes included in the report, uh, kindergarten is a significant driver of future district-wide enrollment. The report also indicated that enrollments have been somewhat erratic in recent years. This of course did not come as a surprise with the known variables of recent years. So, for example, what you see projected here in the top table is what percent that year of kindergarten enrollment is as a percent of the prior year
039kindergarten enrollment. So to put these percentages in enrollment numbers, for instance, in October of 2022, there were 614 kindergarten enrollments. In 2023, there were 627 kindergarten enrollments, resulting in the 102% comparison you see there. So when we look at October of 2024, that co that kindergarten class was 577 or 92% of the prior year. And that was the same year that the legislation changed such that you had to be five in order to uh five by September 1st rather than December 31st uh to begin kindergarten. So that is in line with expectations. The table on the ba bottom half of the slide compares demonstrates uh what percent the K incoming kindergarten class is of the graduating senior class. So for instance, in October of 2023, there were 627 kindergarten students compared to the 719 seniors
040or 91%. And this is just another way to preview decline or future growth. The second factor that this analysis weighs is grade level cohort, which is looking at what happens to student enrollment as the group progresses from year to year, grade to grade. And you would expect that to be fairly consistent. Um it growth in elementary school is typical particularly from K through first grade and throughout elementary school as families may move in um for schools. And then adjustments are frequently seen at transition years uh in between fifth through 6th and 8th through 9th uh where students may elect for change. The third major factor is residential development. In the most recent report, it was projected that 64 new single family units and 1,02 multifamily units would be generated uh from development over the next
041decade. Uh despite in looking at this development, it's not obviously a onetoone per unit. So, P school uses a ratio to predict from the development looking at those unit types how many students are anticipated. And so as you can see in total the model expects for all levels including elementary and secondary an additional 83 students in the upcoming year 154 students in the 2728 school year and 207 in the 2028 2022 school year. For context, if these additional students did result from new development, year three of that gross would result in enrollment of 9,157 students, which is comparable to 2019 2020 uh enrollment levels. When we look at this next chart, red represents elementary school, blue represents high school, green is a look at our middle school level. To the left of the vertical line
042is historical data and to the right you'll see two projections, a conservative and a moderate methodology. As you can see in the first three years, these two projection lines are close and do do not really begin to diverge into the outy years. And of course the outy years are the years that are most subject to project delays and other project pivots. Typically we would expect actual enrollment to land somewhere in between those two methodologies. Um, with some recent project updates we've received, we expect at this time projections would actually align more closely with the conservative trend line. And then on this slide, you can see our current year enrollment compared to enrollment projected for 5 years from now, 9,100 9,117 and in 10 years from now coming back down to 8,952 students. um the message
043there in conclusion, you know, we are expecting enrollment growth um but we are not anticipating any capacity issues at this time and so I am happy to answer any questions you might have. >> John, thank you for the report. Um I just have one question about the about the new development data. Um, >> have you been able to identify any specific schools that will be that you know I guess that'll have a greater impact from that new development and and does that and does that factor into your analysis at all? >> So it does factor into the analysis. So I should have me I should mention they work um we provide data our town planner provides data regarding um the various projects that are occurring in town and uh providing updates on those. Um as
044it relates to the actual individual school data when you're looking at 16 schools 13 grades the more granular data is not as reliable as looking at the total enrollment account. But of course we do look to see where those projects are located. always keeping an eye toward if there would be a facility issue coming down the road. >> Any other Ethan? >> This chart on impact on enrollment, is that based on where we are now or is that based on yeartoyear? >> Um, is it this one? >> No, keep going. That one. >> Oh, so this was before. No, no, I'm sorry. You went past it. Keep going there at the bottom. So my question is if I look at I assume it starts from 26 2526. So it's an incremental 83 in the year
045of 2627. Is it then I assume that's 154 is based on 2526 or is it >> it's yes it was actually above and beyond the previous year. So you would add those together. So it's 237. >> Yeah. So it's the 83 plus the 154 and then you would add the 207 >> and that's because I assume of all the new development. >> So it's looking at development and it's looking at you know neighborhood turnover all of those things. >> All right. So it's incremental. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Any other questions? All right. Thank you, Barbara. Thank you. >> Um, so moving on to routine matters, approval of the minutes. Seeking a motion that the board of education approve the minutes of the regular board of education meeting of March 3rd,
0462026. >> So moved. >> Thank you, Jason. >> Second. >> Thank you, John. Any discussion or changes? All right. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Any abstensions? >> Yeah. I was uh absent. >> One abstension. All right. The motion passes. Um moving on. Seeking a motion that the board of education approve the minutes of the budget workshop of March 11th, 2026. >> So moved. >> Thank you, Jason. Can I second? Thank you, Latoya. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? >> We approve workshops. >> It was >> a public meeting. Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. Generally, it was it's a special meeting and because it's uh because it's relating to the budget and it's something we talk about significantly, we do the minutes
047for that. But as you saw, the minutes are >> pretty concise. >> Yeah. All right. Thank you. >> Uh all in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? Any abstensions? Right. The motion passes. Um moving on to information and reports. Uh board members can share any reports from other boards and organizations. Do we have any reports or sharing a quiet quiet night? Yeah, you done. >> This I mean this this might come under sub two just for other information, but just to uh put on the public record um best wishes and good luck to the Hall High School mock trial team who will be competing for the state championship in the Supreme Court on Thursday afternoon. Thank you, John. Um, any other reports from boards, organizations, or other information and discussion? Okay, everybody's really full
048to the brim with budget discussion. So, um, all right, future business announcement of future meeting dates. Uh, we will be meeting again next Wednesday, uh, March 25th, 2026. This will be a a board of education public hearing at 7 PM followed by the budget workshop number two here in town hall in the legislative chamber room 314. So the um beginning part will be a public hearing specifically on the budget. Um and then we will have that workshop to follow. Tuesday, March 31st, we will have a regular board of education meeting where we will be formally adopting the superintendent's 2026 27 budget with any proposed recommendations or changes. That will be at 7 p.m. here in town hall room 314. And then Tuesday, April 21st, um one meeting in the month of April due to scheduling.
049Um and that will be a regular board of education meeting at 7 PM here in town hall room 314. Any requests for future agenda items? >> If I may just >> uh point out not a request for future agenda items, but I'll just remind uh the listening public at home that we do have our second community conversation tomorrow evening, Wednesday. Uh it'll be at the Faxon Library from 6 PM to 8:00 PM and then the upcoming Monday um >> no Webster Library from 6:00 p p.m. to 8:00 p.m. >> And uh very you know thanks to um board members that were in attendance and and really the public who who attended our first community workshop uh this past Monday at the West Harford Senior Center. Thank you, Paul. Um, public communications, uh, anyone else from
050the public who would like to speak. Um, moving on, we have no executive session. So, we are now seeking a motion to adjourn. >> Thank you, Jennifer. >> Second. >> Thank you, Ethan. Meeting adjourned at 7:48 p.m. Yes.