001calling to order the February 18th, 2026 meeting of the West Harford Public Public Schools Board of Education. Um, Ammani, can you please call the role? >> Miss Maramman here. Miss Yagalof, she's here but by via phone. >> Mr. Gagnen >> here. >> Miss Hers >> here. >> Mr. Weiner >> here. >> Miss Ble >> here. >> Mr. Goldman >> here. >> Kayla Jaw >> here. >> Bridget Beanie >> here. >> Thank you. Uh Kayla, can you please lead us in the pledge of >> allegiance? Pledges 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. >> All right. So, uh getting started. Um we do not have a revision to the agenda order. So, we will move
002along to public uh communications. So, just as a reminder, this is a time for the board of education to hear from the public regarding your thoughts, questions, concerns, andor suggestions. Um, when you come to the podium, please give 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 there is one minute remaining in your time and a red card when your time has 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 a board of education policy that we do not respond to comments as they are being made. Uh we will begin with comments on agenda items. And as a
003reminder, the agenda items for tonight's meeting is are as follows. Accept and approve policies as a second reading. uh policies 1,00 410 4100 5000 8,141 8,142 and 8,143. We will also be accepting policies as a first reading for policies 3,140, 5680, and 8144. We will review a proposed calendar for the 2728 school year as a first reading. We will also review personnel actions followed by approval of the financial report period ending December 31st, 2025 and ending with approval of minutes from the February 3rd, 2026 board of education meeting. There is no one signed up for agenda items, but is there anyone who would like to give comment on any of those items I just listed? Okay, seeing none, we will move on to general comments. And we have one person uh signed up uh Lance
004Goldberg. >> Hi there. I'm Lance Goldberg, uh 1034 Troutbrook and uh I have a senior hall next year. I'm talk about the school schedule and I am a Connecticut high school teacher in the uh I teach social studies. I'm AP government teacher and I'm a big proponent of experiential education. I do a lot of mock congresses, role plays. I'm somewhat of an expert for the school schedule because in the last 10 years we've done all three of the schedules that are proposed, right? We went from a nine period day, we went to an AB schedule and now we're in a waterfall kind of schedule where we do six every day and drop two. And I love it. I really support it. So, I want to talk the pros and cons of all three quickly. Pros
005and cons of all three and I want to encourage you to do the research yourself. Uh, the 8th period day, I support a change from it. I do believe it was flawed. I liked it, but it was extremely hectic for students. It was like a sprint. No dedicated lunch period. However, what I liked about it is I get to I got to see every student every day. It created the strongest rapport. If students missed a day, it was easy for them to catch up. students saw their friends in all their classes each day and it was more time to see their friends in the hallway with all the passing periods. Uh your your proposal I do not support. We did do it for a few years. 90 minutes or however long it's going to be
006is a very very long period both for students and for teachers. Students would reach a very tired point. Often teachers had to build in breaks or movement activities that took away from actual good teaching practices to keep students engaged. Lots of bathroom breaks, more discipline problems, vandalism got bad. The last year we did it, we actually had monitors stationed in the bathroom. And the community I teach in is very similar to West. Uh it was a huge leap from 45 minutes to 90 minutes. Uh students who had ADHD, IEPs, 504s really struggled with the extremely long periods. Uh I missed everyday contact with my classes. every other day felt like a long time to see those students. If a student was absent, you would it would be a really long time. It was harder for
007them to catch up, especially if it was on a weekend or one of these off days. It was also less opportunities for students to see their friends in the hallway. So, that social piece. The pros were there were longer periods. There was deeper learning occurring uh and the science labs uh were better. The students liked that. They liked the thing they liked about it was the labs and they liked getting homework every other day so it was easier for them to manage their homework. Uh skinny Wednesdays part of your proposal. I think it's a bad idea. I think it goes against the argument for deeper learning. I think you just keep it rolling ab if that's what you do or do what we do. But 36 minutes is just bad practice. It's it's not enough
008to get anything done. So, I do not support that. Do not keep that. Whatever you do, uh, we have the eight periods. I love it. It's been a big success. Very little, if any, complaints about the schedule. Most support it. I did ask my students today. They mentioned labs and I knew about the homework. Uh, 60 minutes is really the sweet spot. You know, we would have it sometimes with a late start and it was always this is the sweet spot. 60 minutes really, really works. It's the most effective instructional period that I've had in 25 years of teaching. lots more deeper learning. I see my students most every day, so three out of every four days. That works. I love it. It's much easier for them to catch up if they're absent. Disciplined is
009improve improved across the board. Uh critics argue it's confusing. How do you figure it out? The two drop it. It's easy to get used to. Really easy to get used to. Uh students only miss the al like I said, they miss the alternating homework days and the way the labs were set up, but that's it. And I actually finished the curriculum now. I didn't finish it the years that we had the longer periods because we had to spend so much time with the movement breaks and it we you know the students would be done. So I wouldn't start something up in the middle of the uh at the end of the period. So I must have uh I think I have five more teaching I'm estimating five more teaching periods. I know the different times
010but I got through further. >> Can I ask you that you just start to summarize please? >> Definitely. I've just got a little bit more. Uh the intangibles were we had four lunch waves in an old building that we had. Now we're in a new building. So we're able to do the three lunches. I don't know if that's an issue at one of the high schools. And I also like that we have five minute passing periods now. And that is a big difference for teachers and for students a nice social piece. But don't believe me. I told you I'm a big believer in experiential learning. I've experienced. So here's your assignment. In order to fully understand this, you need to experience yourself. So, I highly recommend you spend a day following a student in a
011building like mine. See what that's like. Go to a building like with an AB schedule and see what's that see what that's like and then only then can you make the best decision for students. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Um, is there anyone else who would like to make public comment? Okay. Um, so moving on to NAF non-staff communications and reports where we will hear from our student representatives. So, who would like to start? Bridget, I will start. Hello everyone and though I'm a little late, happy Lunar New Year. This past Wednesday, or I guess last Wednesday, Connor rug in the year of the horse with an elaborate dragon parade. The students and staff wearing red, a lucky color, were given red envelopes and fortune cookies. Thank you to everyone that participated in
012the show. Next up, calling all juniors. SAT Academy will be running after school on Wednesdays until March 18th, so make sure to stop by. The sessions lead to the schoolwide March 19th SAT test. Students who attended the academy increase their score by an average of 50 points. This is crazy to me. Just 50 points is a lot. So, make sure you give yourself the opportunity to stand out. Den discussions continue to be a success thanks to the student input. Thank you to all of our students who shared their feedback and we look forward to hearing more from you. Connor's musical, Anything Goes, opens on March 6th and tickets are available now, so make sure to get yours quick before they sell out. These students have been rehearsing almost constantly and I for one am really
013excited to go see the show. Congrats also goes out to Shannon Dalton and El Castillo, Connor schoolwide winner and runner up in the Shakespeare monologue contest. They will both be in advancing to the state's regional competition next month, and we wish them great luck. Valentine's Day has come and gone, and so with it has gone many Connor events. Connor students felt the love of the school community at our pep rally, cheering on unified basketball, spring sports, and seeing their friends participate in the Whitney Houston challenge, of which I believe we had only one winner. Um, so lots of school spirit and lots of fun. After the pep rally, students attended Connor's Valentine's Day dance and turned the cafeteria into a ballroom. I hope all the lucky couples and singles had fun. This or I guess
014two Mondays ago now, Connard's girl B girls basketball team had their Morgan's message game. Morgan's message is a mental health initiative aimed at supporting student athletes and eliminating stigma around mental health in sports. Thank you to all those who donated because your support means a lot. Finally, congrats goes out to Jasmine Cruz, Connard's student and CC a Connor student and CCC girls wrestling championship winner. Thank you for listening to Connor's updates and I look forward to sharing more with you. Thank you, Bridget Kayla. Good evening. Here's what's been happening at Hall. Last Wednesday, Hall's choir program hosted Boche Valentine's where choir students visited classrooms to sing short Valentine's performances for students and staff members. The event was wellreceived and helped support the music program. Hall also hosted its winter pep rally a few weeks ago
015themed Wild West Showdown. The rally brought the entire school together for music and cheer performances, mascots, and a highly anticipated students versus teachers basketball game. Students eventually won, but not by a lot. The student council organized the event, and more exciting events are to come, such as partnering with the PTO to host Titans Got Talent and Prom Fashion Show, taking place on February 25th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Mandel JCC. The evening will be split into two parts. The first half will showcase student talent performances judged by both audience members and a panel. And winners will receive prizes such as tickets to Mission Escape Games. The second half will feature a prom fashion show where students will model designs from Sophia Boutique and JT Gamo. All proceeds from the event will go back
016to supporting Hall students. In the performing arts, Hall is preparing for the annual chocolate cafe concert featuring the advanced orchestra groups I Giovanni Cisti and West Hartford Camda here at the town hall this weekend on the 21st and 22nd. These ensembles comprise the most advanced string players from both Hall and Connor. Celestei was also recently selected by the Connecticut Music Educators Association as a showcase ensemble for their conference this March. Not only that, but the theater department is showcasing its annual 10-minute play festival taking place in the Blackbox Theater on February 26th and 27th. Hall continues its work around school climate and belonging. This week, students participated in breaking bias empathy interviews during community time as part of the ongoing partnership with Yukon through the Morris and Judy Sarna Breaking Bias and creating community program.
017In addition, the school continues to ho hold student focus groups to increase student connections. Academically, Hall is proud to recognize that our national merit semi- finalists have all been named finalists, including Ian Wolf, Allison Chen, and Sam Lewis. In athletics, the winter season is approaching its final stretch through celebrating senior nights. Two students, Ben Goldstein and Lucy Gazdowski, were named the 2026 CIAC scholar athletes, an honor recognizing excellence in both academics and athletics. And that's it. Thank you so much. >> Thank you both. And it's it's just such a testament to your leadership as as student leaders and how proud you are to give these updates every time. and I feel like you're bursting at the seams with even more things you wish you could tell us. So, um, thank you for all of that.
018Any questions for the students? >> I do have. >> Oh, go ahead. >> What is the Whitney Houston challenge? >> Okay, so it was like a viral challenge that we found online. Basically, in I will always love you, there's a drum beat before she sings I will always love you. And the challenge is to try to hit a drum at the same time as the beat because it's not like a normal tempo. I don't know. It's very interesting. I mean, fun to watch for sure. Maybe next board meeting. >> It's a challenge. All right. Well, thank you both. Um, so moving on to unfinished business. Um, can I have a motion? Um, or sorry, a motion for recommendation that the board of education accept and approve as a second and final reading the following revised
019uh policies and bylaws which were reviewed by the board policy subcommittee. And those policies are community series 1000 policy 1000 non-discrimination personnel series 4000 policy 4010 non-discrimination students series 5000 policy 5000 non-discrimination personnel series 4000 policy 4100 family and medical leave bylaws series 8000 bylaw 8141 official duties chairperson bylaw 8142 official duties vice chairperson and bylaw 8143 official duties secretary. Can I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Miriam. >> Second. >> Thank you, John. And we are joined by uh Julio Dearte. And I know we will be hearing from members of our policy committee on the second reading. So, anyone want to comment? >> Sure. Thank Thank you very much and good evening everyone. Um, so again, as I appreciate our superintendent filling in for me last time, uh, we did this.
020Um, and so just to follow up on that, again, a reminder that, um, the policies for non-discrimination essentially add sexual assault victim and human trafficking victim as protected classes. And I also updated the relevant websites um, to be accurate or at least as accurate as they are um, as of today. And then I know there was a uh robust discussion at the meeting as well and uh some things that came up during our policy subcommittee meeting for clarification. So that got all added back in there. So again, I appreciate the board's look on that. Um and I'm happy to answer any questions or allow policy members to add if they'd like. Again, this is kind of the the bucket that I always call housekeeping. So um >> I think it's on. So again, I think
021these are just housekeeping type matters. Um they're all usually statutoily driven. Um but we did go back and after our discussion add the language that we thought we had added back in just so everything should be on the same page and and where we wanted it. >> Any questions? >> Ethan, >> I just curious. Um it says alienage. What is alienage? What page are you on? >> Page two. >> If I pronounced it right. >> I think >> second sentence. >> I think alienage is is synonymous with immigration status. >> So I was also curious why are the Boy Scouts included in this? I realize that was from an existing policy, but >> I know that uh I think during our policy subcommittee meeting, right, Miriam and Jason, we had a conversation about that and
022I think it was probably when this was originally put in there, maybe someone had a uh either a connection to them or um I don't know that there was any other real intent to that, but it was certainly something that's in the uh policy that we need to maintain. I think that was kind of what Jessica had filled us. >> Yeah. My hunch is there's a legislator who this is is a pet project for that that really wanted that language in there. So that's by statute. That's that's not a West Hartford thing. >> I understand. But what is it saying that they have why wouldn't they have equal access? >> Again, I think they just wanted to make sure that they had um clarified that in there. >> Right. Yeah. Because I was also surprised
023to see discrimination against veteran. I mean, all right. I guess it is what it is. All right. Thank you, >> Miriam. >> If I'm remembering correctly, since I didn't bring the last version, um, next to disability, we had added the ADA/504. Um, and then that's page two. And then I thought on page three we under the f first bullet point we had also added disability because we we spoke about that in the policy committee. I think that was in last week's >> page two when so next to disability on the third line in parenthesis we had added ADA504 for on page two of the board book. >> Yes, I thought so. Or was that added in a different policy? I thought that was part of this update to go along for all of them. >>
024I do remember that from our initial discussion the first time it came to the the committee. >> I noticed that on page five, >> it's written and crossed out. I don't know if that's helpful or not. >> That was different. And yes, >> thank you, but just so you can see the language. >> I remember the conversation and I know that there's a part and I have to go through it, but I know that this this reflects what was brought up during our policy subcommittee as well as during the the initial reading. So, if if there's something in there that you think we need to go back and revisit, certainly can do that. But I do know that this accurately reflects those conversations. I I think that's probably right. I think it it reflects the
025board conversation, the second subcommittee meeting. It probably it might be missing the first meeting. >> Yes. >> I'm just unclear on what line you're on on page two and what you're asking >> the third line. So, next to disability to clarify, um, it was recommended we could clarify and write ADA504 next to disability. I thought that's where we had it listed. And then for an, for example, also on page three under the first bullet point to include disability for the second part of the sentence across all the policies. I thought right Jason >> yeah I'm trying to follow along as >> I was not at the last meeting but I'm wondering is there a place where disability is defined as it is on page three and four other classifications so that it's just sort of
026universally applied as a as opposed to modified in each individual location. >> It's not. So, it's a good question. Yes. >> I I would just add this as a separate issue, but weren't we going to put back in the sexual orientation, pregnancy, or gender identity or expression because that's still uh crossed off. So, I'm just I only bring that up now. >> Just I'm not sure if we need to take another look at this al together. Maybe. >> So, I went back and uh watched the board meeting and put in the because I think actually I think it was you, Jen, that had highlighted the different pages. So, I went through and added those specific ones back in. Um, if we want to add the other ones back in as well, certainly can can go
027back and relook at that. >> Well, I don't want to take away from the first issue. I just meant it. So, let's finish this first. So, can we bring it back to policy and just to really just iron it out for sure? >> Like I was gonna say I think we we can't do this at the table. So, I I hate to do this, but why don't we send it back one more time just to get it right? >> And then would it would it be helpful, Julia, if everybody emailed exactly what they were looking for or how do we capture this best? Either way, if you want to take a look at I mean Mary on the committee, so if you want to send me something in advance and and Jennifer, if you feel
028like you want to add all of those pieces back in again, they're they're easy enough to do for sure. Do we want to do that just for those first three policies and move forward with 4,000 and 8,000? Okay, so we're going to send 1,00 4 thou the per the non-discrimination policies back for fine-tuning at the PO. >> Yeah, >> I I think we I I think we found uh the issue on page five in terms of in in terms of the issue in terms with sexual orientation or pregnancy discrimination. Um I think it's just that I think we need to change the heading on the second column where it's alleged discrimination, harassment of community members on the basis of sex. that puts it through our title 9 coordinator that also includes uh sexual orientation and
029pregnancy. So, we just need to I think fix the bold heading to clarify the nature of the complaints that go I think it's f I think it's actually I think it's actually fine other than the headings. >> Can you can you capture that as an email to Julio for them to then consider in the policy committee? >> Yeah, I think that's >> or between the Okay. >> Yeah, we'll we'll make that happen. >> All right. So if you're not on the policy committee, >> we we we just wanted to make we just wanted to make clear that the policies have not done anything to uh to to you know to say that we're not going to enforce again, you know, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or pregnancy. >> Yeah. It's just a titling
030Yeah. thing. Okay. >> Yeah. And I believe that was where um I had added that in on that paragraph, but it sounds like the board would want it added in the entire policy. >> Okay. So if anyone has for >> it's just it's just a heading. >> Yeah. So for the non-discrimination policy uh changes, feedback will go to Julio for those not on the policy committee and then the policy committee will consider all of that in their next meeting and then bring forward it to the next meeting. >> Third time is the charm. >> The third time is the charm. Okay. So moving on. Oh, >> okay. may not be the nay. Mo >> moving on to the uh other two policy areas for um series 4000 on family medical leave and the bylaws series
0318000. Any questions or discussion? So for your reference, family and medical leave is on page begins on page 25. And as you'll recall, this policy 4100, family and medical leave, is is essentially a a near full rewrite in accordance with updated legislation. >> And again, just for clarification, um HR Shannon's office is working hard and they've been following the law. Um so we just want to make sure we codify it now into policy. Thank you for that clarification. Um, all right. So, we are holding on the fir So, can we vote just on that section >> a roll call? >> If you want to uh just amend your motion to um accept as a second and final reading personnel series 4,000 policy 4100, family and medical leave, and then just do a vote on that.
032And then you could likewise do for the three of them 8,000 like I would offer have a discussion about the three of them and then do a separate vote on that. I would just amend your >> Okay. So, I'm amending the resol resolution that the board of education accept and approve as a second and final reading um the following revised policies and bylaws which were reviewed by the board policy subcommittee personnel series 4000 policy 4100 family and medical leave. >> So moved. >> Thank you Jason. Second. >> Second. >> Thank you Miriam. Any further discussion? All right. All those in favor? Do we we want to do roll call since Latoya is >> on? >> Okay. So, doing a can we do a roll call vote? Ammani, please. >> I >> Mr. >> I >>
033Yes. >> The motion passes. Thank you. Um, now seeking an amended uh resolution that the board of education accept and approve as a second and final reading uh bylaw series 8000 bylaw 8141 official duties chairperson bylaw 40 8142 official duties vice chairperson and bylaw 8143 official duties secretary. >> So moved. >> Thank you Jason. >> Second. >> Thank you John. Any discussion? Okay. Uh, can we do another roll call vote, please? >> I >> Yes. >> Thank you. The motion passes. All right. Moving on to new business. Uh, a motion by Latoya Yagalof, Miriam Bleach, and Jason Ganon to accept revised policies and bylaw as a first reading. Uh, can I have a motion that the board of education accept as a first reading the following revised policies and bylaws which were reviewed by the
034board policy subcommittee? Business Series 3000, Policy 3140, Board Budget Procedures and Line Item Transfers, Student Series 5000, Policy 5680, Child Sexual Abuse and Assault Response and Reporting Procedures, and bylaw series 8000, bylaw 8144, Financial Examiners. >> So moved. >> Thank you, Jason. Second. >> Thank you, Miriam. Um, any discussion or any presentation? Yeah, >> sure. So, just a little clarification since it's new for those that don't have the opportunity to sit on the policy subcommittee. Um, that last year state law was revised to allow lo local boards of education to deposit up to 2% of unexpended funds from the prior fiscal year's education appropriation into a non-lapsing account, which you'll remember that uh we did do. Uh, more recently, public act 25-93 established additional requirements related to this account. Under the current law, boards of
035education must provide, prepare, and submit an annual report to the Connecticut State Department of Education detailing the status of the non-lapsing account. This report must include the total account balance, the amount deposited during the fiscal year, and a clear accounting of any expenditures made from this account. The revisions here ensure that we are in alignment with the new statutory requirements. >> Questions or discussion? Miriam, >> I have a question. Um, on page 41, the superintendent is authorized to make transfers shall not exceed 5%. Is that a standard percentage? Is that something unique to West Hartford? Just curious. >> Um, I believe that's fairly standard. I know that was the existing language as far as I'm aware. Um I know that um you know we have a a responsibility to ensure that at the end of
036the day uh your budget must balance um and so kind of the you know as as you review your financial examiner's report and we talk about hey these are the major overages or under you know uh positive variances or negative variances that we have across certain accounts. um efforts are made to ensure that at the end of the day the bottom line of the budget will balance. And so that's just a standard operating procedure in order to ensure um compliance with essentially state law and the mandate that we balance your budget at the end of the year. I'll just add as the recipient of a lot of state contracts, um the v the um overage or underage or variance we're allowed to have within any one line item is typically 10%. So 5% is actually
037even more constrained. Um so I feel like that's prudent practice. So I'm confused because we vote we have the financial and an examiner's report that we vote on. We voted on the lapsin. Why would it be a superintendent assignment, not a board's assignment? >> Can you restate your question? I don't know if I understood you. So I was surprised that this was a superintendent responsibility, not a board responsibility because we do we did vote on lapsing. We did vote on every time we do a financial examiner's report and approve that. And I think it's been explained to me that one of the responsibilities of the board is to do the fi approve the finances. >> So you >> this read differently. >> Okay. Uh I'm not sure if you can point to which part reads
038differently. It is still the expectation that you guys um you know as we brought forward when when we went to expend the funds within the non-lapsing account that that is our practice. We're going to bring that we're going to bring that expenditure in front of the board. Go ahead. Um, so >> but I'm saying this says the second paragraph on the page, the superintendent is authorized to make such transfers as necessary. >> So those are transfers between lines. So in the day-to-day operations of the school, if if the printing budget ran a couple of thousand dollars short and I needed to pull money in from the uh I don't know, a different a different line item in order to cover that shortage. uh or as happened this year for example um in terms of opening
039the school we did not have enough sections. So I'm I'm authorized to essentially execute um and make kind of the daily business decisions to to hire an additional teacher or to work with a U temp agency if we run short on teaching assistance. you know, it's it's all the day-to-day stuff that you guys all see. Um, when we talk through under financial examiners, we're going to make sure that there's clear visibility and transparency. But, uh, just from an operational point of view, um, you know, ensuring there's a quorum of board members so that we can, you know, pay for the toner and things of that nature, you you authorize the superintendent to do that. That's pretty standard. >> So, I guess it's the way I'm reading it, and it could be just me. It talks
040about the annual budget. Is that the annual budget line or is it the annual budget? >> Yeah. No, within within your budget, you know, every budget is annual and so, you know, the budget begins and ends in accordance with the fiscal >> totality. >> Yeah. >> Not line item. >> Rephrase your question. Make sure I'm answering you. >> Okay. It could be me. Um, so the way I read this is it should not exceed 5% of the annual budget. So 5% of the annual budget is 200 million times 5% is 10. >> I see what you're asking. >> So that's a pretty high >> that that may that's a pretty high number, but that's as stated. Uh I don't know. That's been that's been your policy. I don't know. It hasn't become a problem. I'm
041not sure. >> 5% of the total budgets a is a high number, but >> Okay. All right. I'll just have to process it. All right. Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> Just a couple clarifying. So again, that's just transferring that's not adding 5% to our annual budget. >> I I have no means by which to add any money to your budget, nor do I want I don't want that lost in the in the conversation. And again, that all gets reported out to us when you do, you know, move those transfers around. >> Absolutely. On a monthly basis, more or less. Okay. Any uh further um discussion or or context on the other two policy recommendations? >> Sure. Just to uh clarify for um 5680. I've updated the policy to replace the term safe school
042climate coordinator. So with the current statutory, if you remember back uh when the school year started, we had looked at some of the changes to the language and so it now reads school climate specialist. Um, I've also corrected and updated all the listed resources and websites to ensure accuracy and added the names of the school climate specialists assigned at each school. Any questions regarding 5680? Okay. And then the final one is uh 8144 financial examiners. >> Yeah. And I'm going to ask uh Paul if he could just pass out um an update. So when we had our policy subcommittee, there was some feedback that came from that policy. However, the uh board book had already gone to print. So I wanted to make sure that all board members had a copy of the updated um
043policy that you're looking at. There's also hard copies on the back table and we'll make sure that this gets posted up on our website um on the board's website as well so folks at home can follow along. And so the page that you're receiving would reflect page 49 in your book. And as I understand it there, and I'll let the policy subcommittee members describe it, but there's the language is all identical with the addition of one paragraph, the second to last paragraph on the page. I can run with this one. Uh so really what what this was born out of was um you know Ethan had had made um an agenda item he wanted uh you know re look at and provided some language on what we could do around um you know a finance
044committee. Uh he you know graciously put that together and submitted that to us. And so what we did is as we were debating this in the subcommittee was say okay we've got architecture already in place. We essentially have scaffolding through this financial examiners that we have. Why don't we take um a lot of those suggestions and see if we can graph them onto the financial examiners. Uh that's the language you see here. Um did uh some research on, you know, uh districts that look like us, districts that are neighboring to us. And really what you guys have before you is probably the most robust comprehensive policy in this area that that I think exists. Um, you know, we kept the financial examiners as opposed to a committee for a number of reasons. I think it
045gives us much more flexibility and adaptability. Um, and I think that, um, you know, the financial examiners serve as a conduit for distilling information for us as an entire board. Uh, you know, we meet twice a month. Maybe if we didn't meet twice a month, we'd have a different committee structure. Um, but I think, you know, in this way, we've really empowered the financial examiners to get us the information that we need so that we're, you know, able to make the decisions we need to. We're able to message the way we need to um to the public. Um, the change that uh Julia was referencing at the end was um that uh paragraph on the larger paragraph um second to the bottom, the financial examiner shall meet. Um that is the only revision from what
046we talked about um at the subcommittee meeting. we left it with trying to figure out the timing of the meetings. Um so what I did was I actually went back and looked at um the policy we talked about at the top of this section 3140 which actually lays out the statutory requirements for when financial reports are due to the state. That's typically when the financial examiners have met. So we we again took that grafted that on there so that there would be consistency between 3140 and this new policy. Um and then we added in um all of the different types of agenda items that that we could think of. Um and really also added catchalls which you know which we've always essentially had right which is that the board of the financial examiners can ask
047for any information can ask for a meeting about any topic in this realm. Um we kept that that that's really the back stop. Um so again I think this gives us a lot more flexibility than other districts may have. I think it's certainly more comprehensive and it's within a framework that um you know we know >> Jason quick question on when we were in policy committee we there was language on the in the second paragraph that clarified uh monthly meetings and I think the that new paragraph uh at the bottom also included quarterly. >> Yeah. >> So >> I don't see that language. >> Yeah. again. So that that's what I revised coming out of looking at 3140 so that we could have some continuity between those two policies and the state requirements for when
048financial reports are due. Uh then again looking at because we had debate in the policy committee well when do we meet because you know we don't meet all year we meet during the school year. So then trying to fit that on um you know adding those additional meetings then became problematic if you know especially quarterly if you know we're we're adhering to the school schedule. So what we did was again align it with 3140 uh gave the ability to have additional meetings if if requested and also had a focus that um you know meetings prior to uh the presentation of superintendent's budget would focus on specific issues that that were of import to members of the board. >> Mayor, so the financial examiners are still meeting monthly or not necessarily? uh it is almost essentially
049monthly during the the school year. I think the exception is September because there is no financial report. But >> if you actually if you look on your board book on page 40, the outline the the the meeting schedule for financial examiners, interestingly enough, is is codified in a in a different board policy 3140. Um and it's governed by it's governed by statute. So you don't mean in September, but honestly in September there would not there would not be um much relative to the budget nor you know much expenses to examine um but you meet October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May, June and then given that school is not in during those other months um there would be no meeting. So um that that's the calendar which is essentially monthly and the thought being
050um recognizing the you know the structure that exists will um will allow for uh the questions but the idea being hey let's codify this uh in policy in terms of some expectations or some opportunities uh as as based on the the will of the board and the financial examiners um to say at at least two meetings leading up to the budget um at at a financial examiner's meeting these topics might be discussed and so you see they're codified there the budget overall which I assume is the uh the upcoming budget but certainly could be the existing evolving staffing needs and structure um future costs and trends and I and I wanted to I wanted to point that out. If you're in that second to last paragraph, the third bulleted item which says expense acrruel, future
051costs and trends, uh really in meeting with Barb, um the technical definition of expense acrruel would would would actually not necessarily apply in terms when funds are acred. So the future costs and trends, you know, just to remove the parenthetical and let that stand alone as a description, I think seems most fitting and likely meets the intent of what's being asked for. Hey, what are the trends that are going to drive budget decisions upcoming? Um, just to be more technically precise and then purchase services and then the catchall. Anything else that the financial examiners, you know, would like to would like to uh dive into. John, >> I guess uh so I guess consistent with that explanation, I just I'd go back to uh 3140 on page 40 and just in terms of clarifying who
052you know who's making the presentations, maybe um on page 40 uh last full paragraph where it says uh such budget report shall be presented to the board. Maybe we should make clear that such budget report shall be presented to the board by the financial examiners. Then you know then no you know then knowing we'll you know then you know we'll always have the assistance from uh Barb as finance director and uh and Paul in terms of getting further into the weeds. >> So that's to be added to be added 3140. >> Yeah I would say I would add it to 3140. I think that I think that works because then then it then it's consistent with the cross reference back to 3140. >> Agreed. >> Ethan, >> my assumption is that we're going to learn
053as we go along and make adjustments where appropriate. >> I I think that it's built in here that we can learn we're going to learn what questions to ask, how we want information presented, how, you know, best to to get that out to the full board and what that looks like. So, agreed. >> Yeah. Agreed. At least this is the hope. >> Um just a clarifying question on my part um where it talks about the um at least two meetings prior to the presentation of the superintendent's budget. Are those above and beyond the monthly meetings or can the like and timing wise I'm just trying mechanically I'm trying to figure out how this would play out so that you have it align with your timeline for my my hope and expectation if would be that
054you would do it in conjunction or or addended to like you could end one meeting and start the next rather than have them on separate days but um that could operate fluidly and flexibly based on the length of meetings and the volume of requests from the you know, information being sought by the financial examiners. >> That's that's certainly how how I understand it. I think would be also be consistent with how we're having our meetings now with Barb. Um, in terms of the information that we're getting, >> yeah, the the intent of it was that it would be at those they wouldn't be separate new meetings. It would be part of those meetings that take place the the two prior to the presentation of the budget. >> All right. Any Miriam? I was just going
055to say I I think to Jason's point that the substant the changes are substantial and I believe will also be impactful. Um I do also think that the one that this is an important step. I just um you know the one thing that's missing is the fact that the public doesn't have access to these meetings because it's not an official subcommittee. So I think we're heading in the right direction and I think when in the current policy it's supporting as best it can. It's just the public still doesn't have access in a subcommittee type. >> My expectation would be that everything just as is our current practice everything and anything that's discussed at that meeting is shared out publicly in the full public forum for just just I mean think of it in this way.
056It's a you know, the financial examiners by themselves, you're you're not delegating uh budget authority to the financial examiners. Um you you know, so the budget decisions, the the public discussion in and around any changes, anything significant that needs to happen with the full board with the full viewing public. So um the greater transparency occurs here at this table. Um I think by you know as an intent um this is more I think sort of like homework um folks digging in and asking some questions in order to prepare for a public presentation. I also just want to highlight too is the information that um Barb presents to you know to Jason and Jonathan is exactly what goes into the board book. So there's, you know, the public is seeing the exact numbers um that Jason
057and Jonathan essentially get and the barber reviews with them. So, oh, and Ethan, sorry. >> As I said before, I assume it's going to evolve and we'll have a better idea what to disclose when we have to just work at it. >> And just for clarification on my point, to try to avoid a third times a charm, I think as Jason said, on 3140. Um so adding on um the bottom of page 40 where it reads such budget report shall be presented by the financial examiners. That's what you want me or suggesting we add. >> Um yes. Yeah. Yeah. Such budget report shall be presented to the board by the financial examiners. >> Perfect. Thank you. Thank you. >> Any other comments regarding first reading policies? All right, great. Thank you, Julio. And moving on
058to uh new business, proposed calendar for the 2027 2028 school year, a first reading. Um can I have a motion that the board of education review as a first reading the proposed calendar for the 2027-28 school year? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Jason. >> Second. Thank you, Miriam. any context or presentation >> please. So, uh if I can reference you all to page 50 of your board book, page 50. Um there you will see uh a proposed school calendar for the 2027 2028 school year, not next school year, uh the following year. uh as is our practice um we uh attempt to get the uh those calendars out essentially two years in advance uh for public notification. Um, this proposed calendar follows um what really has been the kind of the the routine of
059the district with a start um in uh late August leading uh leading into uh early September with uh what what's typically uh a 3-day week for students uh at the start of school on September the 1st. uh a four- day week following uh the Labor Day break and then the full five-day week to kind of ease ease folks back in. Um we have been uh holding to the uh religious holidays and other observances in accordance with what we've done over really the past uh several decades. Um interesting year coming up uh for 2728, two years out. Um it it's a bit of a it's a bit of a shorter April break. It's a bit of a shorter um winter break in December. Um and uh Rashashana in terms of the way that it falls this
060year does not happen to actually fall on a school day. So uh missing that break and then 2728 school year. But other than that, what you see in front of you um is is pretty much kind of a kind of the battle rhythm that we followed. uh it would propose a closing uh a final day of school uh on June the 9th uh barring some snow days and typically we can count on a couple of snow days uh that would push us into that second full week of June. But pending any questions or potential requests for revision, um we like to we have this out there as a full as a first reading so that should you get any feedback from the public on this that we can respond to that in kind and um
061you know the goal would be to pass it at at the next meeting, but if we need to if we need to table it for a meeting to engage in any public conversations about it, that's certainly not a not an issue. We got plenty of lead time. Any questions? All right. Thank you. Um, so do do you are you proposing we put it delay till the mid? >> No, no, I'm not. Uh, I'll look at I'll look where we are, but if there is a if there is a proposal uh for for any hold, you know, I would just say we monitor. >> Yeah. >> Uh if there's any outreach or if you guys notice anything, you know, some of the time you might need, you know, a closer look. We that happens to us
062from time to time where you know, oh boy, there was something we wanted to account for and and if and when that's happened in the past, just so that you know, uh we'll just bring it forward to the board for a vote and you guys can create a vote. You can you can change, you know, you could cancel school tomorrow if you so wanted to, but let's not do that. >> A big big responsibility. Um, given that the next meeting is the presentation of our budget, then we could probably postpone this to the 17th, St. Patrick's Day, um, for a final second reading. Okay. >> Absolutely. >> All right. Uh, moving on to staff communications and reports. Uh, we'll hear from our superintendent. >> Excellent. Well, I follow such outstanding updates as given by our
063students. I have a I have a shorter report and u begin on a on a more somber note. Um very very sorry to report um that uh as a district we're deeply saddened by the tragic news we received over the course of this weekend with the passing of Kathleen Kit Bucher and her husband Jerry. Uh that happened as as you likely saw in the news earlier uh in Cape Cod with a tragic accident. Uh Kit was a beloved kindergarten teacher at Bugby Elementary. Uh she did retire in 2008 after 20 years of dedicated service. Um and she did still, you know, there are still deep connections within the Bugby community as well as across the district as you know the family grew up here. Um and went to many many of our schools. Um Kit
064unquestionably had a profound impact on her students, the school community and her losses felt very deeply uh well outside of Bugby and our thoughts and prayers remain with the family at a very very difficult time. So that was that was very tough. Um but when we look at the impact our teachers have when we look at at uh the things that they're able to do with kids it it it it helps to brighten our outlook and uh on that happy note uh I am I am very glad to share about some great um artistic accomplishments. So kudos to uh Wilut fourth graders EJ Gorick, Jack Webster, Kaylee Peor, and uh Logan Banchek. Four talented budding artists, and also Connor students, Hudson Bernett, Thomas Guerrero, Procrida, Mishra, and Sophie Simon. These students were chosen to have
065their artwork displayed during intermission on the Jumbotron at an upcoming Wolfpack game in celebration of Youth Art Month. Logan, a fourth grader from Wula, took third place overall in the K4 division. His work will be on full display at the game for our patrons to appreciate up close. A huge thank you goes out to Miss Jocelyn Austin and Miss Jessica Fallus, visual arts teachers, for their continued inspiration and mentorship of our students. So very very glad to report on that. On the budgeting front, um you guys have heard me talk about the seed grant, the special education expansion and development, SED. Uh it's a new grant that came out this year uh from the state department of education. And as you may recall from reading about this in my updates that we have an it's
066an interesting grant because it's both an entitlement and you have to in terms of how the the amount of money distributed to districts was determined, but you still have to apply for the grant um as you would most competitive grants. Uh so our entitlement is over just over 300,000 $317,57. Um, and while we were aware of how much uh the grant was and that the funding was becoming available, we were waiting on the state to produce the actual formal application which was just recently published in between our our two meetings and we've uh just recently submitted. Um and our expansion efforts as you will recall or some of you may recall some of you uh may not be aware uh we did expand our intensive academic classrooms uh across the district this year as well
067as we have an expansion within our post-secary program. Uh so we are seeking to apply um those expenses uh under the seed grant and you'll begin to see more about that um in your financial examiner's reports. Other than that, some short announcements. Um, without stealing thunder, there is a there is a flyer that was left with you. I think I've been mentioning that the the town and the board will again collaborate in these community conversations that are upcoming in mid-March. Um, and I think I don't want to take Shannon. >> Okay. So, they're going to occur on Monday, March the 16th from 2 to 4 at Bishop's Corner Senior Center. uh Wednesday, March 18th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Faxon Library and Monday, March 23rd from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Noah
068Webster Library. And this is a collaborative effort between the town leadership and the board leadership to go directly out into the community and talk about the upcoming budget obviously happening in mid-March. It follows uh my presentation to you and is is during your deliberations in and around the budget. So, it's a good opportunity um for the community to engage directly outside the opportunities that they have during our public hearings. Um, the other thing I wanted to mention, I know I heard it mentioned, but the breaking bias program, um, something that's ongoing, uh, within the schools, uh, there is a community conversation element to that. Uh, the flyers coming out, um, and, uh, there will be, uh, the opportunity for the public to come and, uh, participate and see some of that through registration. Uh, those
069are going to be happening on March the 9th and March the 12th at the town hall auditorium. Um, and there should be information that is uh published out through our schools and I will uh ensure that it is also up on our website as I believe the flyer has just been finalized. Pending any questions? That's uh my report for this evening. >> Thank you, Paul. Any questions? John? >> Uh, not a question but just a comment. I wanted to thank Paul for his kind words about kitten Jerry Bush. Um it's uh we my family had the opportunity to become friendly with them in a very interesting way. Uh we bought their house in the Webster Hill neighborhood 18 years ago and we hit it off and became friends at the closing and we've kept up
070with them over the last 18 years and you know I think they still are very much a part of this community. Certainly certainly a part of my neighborhood still given the number of lives they've touched there. And I want to thank Paul and the district for recognizing them um and their family at this uh just time of immense tragedy. So thank you. >> Thank you, John. Any other comments? All right. Thank you for that report. Um so moving on to staff reports and board discussion. We will be hearing um about personnel actions from Shannon Minski. Good evening everyone. Um, I just want to share an update on personnel changes that are pertaining to certified staff and it's on page 53 of your booklet. Um, all of these changes have taken place since my last update
071in December. As you can see, the list is pretty short, which is expected for this time of year. So, we have three employees that were hired for contracted positions. Two are as special education teachers and the third is a teacher of the deaf. Um, they were all vacancies that we were looking to fill since December and January. We have three interim teachers that are currently at Connard, Sedwick, and Bugby. Interim teachers are hired when there's a vacancy that's not permanent, but it's longer than 40 days. And interim teachers, um, interim staff are certified teachers. They do hold a certification. We had two resignations. Um, one was in early December and one was in early January. Um, in addition, we have a retirement. And I would like to publicly acknowledge that Michelle Gralin. Um, she was
072in West Hartford for 34 years, which is a lot of years of service to our district and our students. Um, she had many different roles. She was a math teacher, a department supervisor, the interim director of secondary education, and most recently an assistant principal at Sedwick. Um, so we wish her a very long, healthy, and happy retirement. And filling in for her, you can see, is Mark Cutotler. He is another recently retired assistant principal who had been at King Phillip. And he is coming back to assist at Sedwick. So, he will be there until the end of the school year. And then this spring, we'll conduct a full um hiring process and search process to find a new assistant principal for Sedwick. Any questions about any of that? >> Any questions? Thank you, Shannon. >>
073Thank you. All right. Um moving on to routine matters, uh financial report and approval of the financial report for the period ending December 31st, 2025. Can I have a motion that the board of ed approve the financial report for the period ending December 31st, 2025, which details projected fiscal year 202526 financial results? >> So moved. >> Thank you, John. >> Second. >> Thank you, Ethan. Um, who who would like to report out? >> I got it. I'm still there. >> All right. Thank you. Um the financial report being reported is for the end of December 25 financials which covers the first six months of the fiscal year. The general fund uh variance projected for fiscal year 26 in total is now projected to have a positive variance of $40,000 which is a 25,000 improvement from
074the prior report or prior month. In terms of the specific category or major categories, salaries, which is the largest, is projected to have be a positive 105,000, which is a $40,000 improvement since the last report. The biggest negative variances being to the full budget. Teacher salaries 375 negative and pair professional negative 250. On the positive side, offsetting is 225,000 to student aids and pupil services salary of 240,000. The next category benefits or major category benefits. There's no variance of anticipated to the budget. And after that, purchase services. There's a negative fullear variance of 65,000, a slight increase from the prior year. And then final category supplies had doesn't have a variance anticipated to the budget. And then the non-lapsing fund or non-lapsing reserve, excuse me, count as projected in the year at zero which was
075a positive 700,000 or 700,000 was taken from the reserve at the beginning of the year based upon last year or the budget props. >> Thank you, Ethan. Any question a page? >> Sorry. Or I could end over >> uh in terms of the next page, the state and federal grants funds total grants of 6.3 million are listed 6.2 identified for the current fiscal year and then salary uh program funds report or special I'm sorry special program funds report basically looking at 2.3 million for the uh 10 different funds in that category. And then the final one, nutrition, has a negative operating income for December year to date of $26,000 and but there is a fund balance as of the end of December of 2.86 million. No, I'm done. >> Thank you, Ethan. Any questions, Jason?
076>> Curious what's driving the uh $190,000 variance on purchase services? That's primarily attributed to additional um services required with facilities with some vacancies and then also um limited staffing agencies that are required in special education to support student needs >> and thank you Barbara for joining us. Um Miriam on page 58 I'm curious what summer school includes please. >> Sure. So summer school, this is um the uh high school summer school. Um and so that would be teacher costs, tutor costs, security, things of the like in running the program. Thank you. Any other questions? All right. Um all those Oh, we'll go to a roll call vote then. And um Ammani, if you could call roll. >> Miss Maramman. >> Yay. >> Miss Yagalof. >> Yes. >> Mr. Gagman. >> I. >> Miss Hers. >>
077I. >> Mr. Weiner. >> I. >> Miss Bleach. >> I. >> Mr. Goldman. >> Yes. >> The motion passes. Thank you for that presentation. Thank you, Barbara. Um, moving on to approval of minutes. Uh, can I have a motion that the board of education approve the minutes from the regular board of education meeting of February 3rd, 2026? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Jason. >> Second. >> Thank you, John. Any questions or corrections, Jason? Or no, you're just holding up your pen. Okay. >> All right. Uh, we'll move to a roll call vote on this motion. Demani, >> Miss Marman, >> um Abstain, >> Miss Yagalof, >> I >> Miss Mr. Gagnon, >> I >> Miss Hers, >> I >> Mr. Weiner, >> I >> Miss Bleach, >> I >> Mr. Goldman, >> yes. >>
078The motion passes. Uh oh. Mike. All right. Um now moving on to information and reports. Um, do we have any board members who would like to make reports from other boards or organizations? No, it's quiet night. Um, any other information or discussion? Okay. Um, so moving on to future vis business announcement of future meeting dates of which we have many because we are about to enter budget season. uh which is a very exciting time with a lot of information that we all want to make sure is publicly shared and digested and processed. And so there will be quite a few meetings throughout the month of March to u make sure that um all that is unfolding in a very um uh uh kind of productive fashion. And in addition to the community conversations that Paul
079mentioned, which I highly recommend uh folks from the community attend if possible, um because those are really a great way to express your thoughts on the budget and also just to hear the rationale for where where things stand. Um but in addition, we will have our future meeting dates of the board. Next being Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026, regular board of education meeting and the presentation of the superintendent's budget. That will be at 7 PM here in town hall in the legislative chamber. On Wednesday, March 11th, 2026, we will have our first budget workshop at 7 p.m. again here in the legislative chamber. Um following that, we will have a meeting on Tuesday, March 17th, 2026, which will be a regular board of education meeting at 7 p.m. here in the cham legislative chamber. Then on
080Wednesday, March 26, 2026, we will have a board of education public hearing at 700 p.m. followed by a budget workshop number two here in the legislative chamber. Tuesday, finally uh ending in March. On Tuesday, March 31st, 2026, we will have another regular board of education meeting, and it will be the adoption of the superintendent's budget 700 p.m. here in the legislative chamber, room 31:14. Um, any requests for future agenda items? Okay. No. Um, do we have any other public comment from visitors? Seeing none, uh, we have no executive session. So, can I have a motion to adjourn? >> So, moved. >> Thank you, Ethan. >> Second race to that. Thank you, John. Uh, meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m.