1 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:20,640 All right, testing. >> Mic is on. I think we're good. Now we 2 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:25,519 got that. >> Okay. We will call to order the uh 3 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:31,039 » joint board of alderman and board of education uh special meeting for 4 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:36,320 scheduled for June 3rd, 2026 at 6 p.m. at Bucks Hill School. Uh we'll start 5 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:39,440 with uh well we'll do their we'll let her call 6 00:00:38,160 --> 00:00:43,360 to order also and then she can do the pledge in the uh silent prayer. 7 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:49,680 » Good evening. W welcome to the Waterberry Board of Education special 8 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:55,879 meeting Wednesday June 3rd 2026 at 6 PM at Bucks Hill Gymnasium. And now we 9 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:55,879 stand for the pledge. 10 00:00:57,039 --> 00:01:03,280 I >> alian to the flag of the United States 11 00:01:00,239 --> 00:01:08,000 of America to the stands one nation 12 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:11,880 indivisibley and justice for all. 13 00:01:16,960 --> 00:01:22,600 Okay. Can we do a roll call for the board of alderman? 14 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:22,600 » Trusting. 15 00:01:26,479 --> 00:01:34,079 » Roll call for the board of alderman. Please. Roll call. Yep. 16 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:38,000 Alman Blake. Alman Kern. 17 00:01:36,479 --> 00:01:43,439 Alman Drury. >> Here. Alman Feliciano Roman. 18 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:45,520 » Alman Graasso here. >> Alman Hunter 19 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:51,040 » here. >> Alwoman Martinez McCarthy. 20 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:52,960 » Alman McInty. >> Alman Mosley 21 00:01:52,399 --> 00:01:57,240 » here. >> Here. 22 00:01:53,759 --> 00:01:57,240 » Alman Newang. 23 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:03,920 » Okay. Alman Raldi >> here. 24 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:09,440 » Alman Sanchez. >> Alwoman Weaver. 25 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:12,480 All the woman Zimmerman, Alman Dioen Carlo 26 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:16,520 » here. >> Got seven here. Eight absent. 27 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:21,280 » Eight. Eight. 28 00:02:19,920 --> 00:02:24,640 » Got eight. We got eight. Yeah. >> Who was it? 29 00:02:22,319 --> 00:02:26,400 » We got Mc Graos, Martinez, McCarthy, Ronaldi. 30 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:28,480 » Oh, I didn't hear her. >> Okay. 31 00:02:26,959 --> 00:02:30,959 » Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. 32 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:33,840 » And now we'll do the roll call for the board of education. 33 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:36,000 » Commissioner, >> present. 34 00:02:34,959 --> 00:02:38,480 Anthony >> present. 35 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:41,519 » Vice President Latoya >> here. 36 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:44,959 » Jackson Lopez 37 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:46,480 » present. >> Nunes 38 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:50,560 » here. >> Commissioner 39 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:54,040 » here. >> President Brown. 40 00:02:55,440 --> 00:03:04,640 » And now at this time we'll have a quick presentation by uh Superintendent Darren 41 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:08,239 Schwarz. Thank you uh vice president and uh thank you all for taking the time. I 42 00:03:06,319 --> 00:03:11,360 know it's been a very busy uh few weeks and so I will keep this very short and 43 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:18,000 then we'll just take the tour of the the the the Bucksell preschool as um as we 44 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:22,319 as we discussed. So uh if you go to the next slide, let's keep a moving. We're 45 00:03:20,239 --> 00:03:27,680 just in step number one right here. Just talking about uh making sure that we uh 46 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:34,159 not only establish the need and the edsp specs through the board of education, 47 00:03:28,959 --> 00:03:39,239 but also um looking to uh get a appropriation for bonding for the 48 00:03:36,239 --> 00:03:39,239 project. 49 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:45,599 Uh I sent this to both boards and so I just want to highlight it for the board 50 00:03:43,519 --> 00:03:50,159 again, the boards again and the public that beyond the 79% reimbursement that 51 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:55,200 Waterberry always receives for any project uh that we do in in in 52 00:03:52,560 --> 00:04:02,239 Waterberry if we meet the criteria. So again uh any project we we get about 53 00:03:57,599 --> 00:04:09,120 79%. Uh there is under public act 25174 an early childhood bonus of 15% uh being 54 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:14,319 provided through uh the the governor's office and legislation to be able to uh 55 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:21,040 to be able to earn an extra 15% on any projects to uh expand early childhood. 56 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:25,840 There's also a 15% bonus for uh special education projects. Now that doesn't 57 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:29,199 mean uh we can get over 100% reimbursement for this. They're not 58 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:33,680 going to pay us to do this. Um, and I think there's new legislation that just 59 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:38,080 came out that actually caps us at 95% reimbursement. So, the the cap would be 60 00:04:35,919 --> 00:04:46,759 95%, but we have two really good buckets here to be able to get additional uh uh 61 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:46,759 uh uh reimbursement beyond 79%. 62 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:50,800 I'm not going to go over this because this slide is similar to what we had 63 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:56,960 last time, but I just want to remind everyone that we're looking at uh 25 64 00:04:53,280 --> 00:05:01,759 classrooms to be able to provide 163 general education students, preschool 65 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:05,040 education, and 353 special education students. I I do think there's a mis 66 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:08,720 there was a misunderstanding in some places that this is only for special 67 00:05:06,639 --> 00:05:13,120 education students. It's actually a mix of special education and general 68 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:19,440 education students. and then all of the other um opportunities uh for students 69 00:05:16,639 --> 00:05:23,440 uh to be able to experience uh what they need through all the additional pieces 70 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:28,800 that would be in the building including sensory rooms and and bathrooms and 71 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:34,320 their classrooms OT and PT spaces. >> I see. I do want to point out because um 72 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:38,400 you know I missed us educational people sometimes just assume everybody speaks 73 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:42,320 education speak and so I do want to point out that there is a uh there is 74 00:05:40,479 --> 00:05:48,000 standards about preschool classrooms that from um organization uh uh the 75 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:54,320 accreditation company for preschool is the NYAK accreditation and they do 76 00:05:50,639 --> 00:06:01,120 require 42 square feet uh uh for usable indoor space per child per classroom 77 00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:07,759 that's 756 square ft per classroom of usable space. So shelving, a bathroom 78 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:14,400 does not count for that 756 square ft. That's a very large room uh for for if 79 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:18,319 uh for us. And so many of our uh older structures, they don't they don't they 80 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:21,600 didn't make rooms that large. Never mind if you put a bathroom inside that room, 81 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:25,280 it would actually reduce the amount of space. And so again, uh some 82 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:29,759 conversations about why would it be a new preschool? our older structures just 83 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:34,080 weren't built for these types of models. Not only that, but our older structures 84 00:06:31,280 --> 00:06:38,880 have um multiple floors that don't have easy access to outdoors. Uh whereas in 85 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:41,759 this school, you want if it is a multiple floor school, you want both 86 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:45,120 floors to be able to be able to walk right out for emergency services and 87 00:06:43,840 --> 00:06:50,000 purposes because many of our students have mobility issues. Um we also have 88 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:54,000 beyond the toilets and sinks that I've just talked about there. Nyak also 89 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:59,520 requires 75 square feet of outdoor space per child uh be to be able to properly 90 00:06:56,720 --> 00:07:04,160 to properly uh play and explore. So um and learn from u uh through natural 91 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:09,520 elements. So those are some NYAK standards. There's a lot more than that. 92 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:14,639 I I and I all the preschool uh teachers and administrators here know what the 93 00:07:11,199 --> 00:07:18,680 NYAK standards are. Um and uh we we need that accreditation for our preschools. 94 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:27,120 So, uh, one of the things that was discussed an awful lot at the last board 95 00:07:24,479 --> 00:07:30,720 of alderman meeting were, um, was the, uh, the the current status of the 96 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:33,759 Bucksill preschool. So, I do want to say that we are committed, board of 97 00:07:31,919 --> 00:07:38,880 education and myself are committed to continuing um if if this vote goes 98 00:07:36,479 --> 00:07:45,199 forward and we are given the opportunity to apply for this new preschool and seek 99 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:49,599 that 94 to 5% reimbursement, there is still time between now and then and we 100 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:54,319 do need to keep this uh the the portables up and running as best as 101 00:07:51,599 --> 00:07:58,400 possible. So, um, I sent this information out, uh, earlier, but I 102 00:07:56,560 --> 00:08:01,599 think it's more it's important to say it publicly that it's important that we 103 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:04,960 continue to patch all recoccurring leaks in the roof and add screens to the 104 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:08,639 windows, replace the outdoor and worn exterior doors, replace the ceiling 105 00:08:06,479 --> 00:08:12,720 tiles as necessary, reinforce the foundation, which is probably be the 106 00:08:10,319 --> 00:08:16,240 biggest um the biggest cost that we were going to need to make sure that there's 107 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:20,560 nothing getting underneath the current structures. Uh we'll need to close all 108 00:08:18,479 --> 00:08:24,639 the those exterior gaps, seal all the windows and doors, upgrade exterior 109 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:28,319 woodwork in need of repair, including handrails, uh replace walkable 110 00:08:26,479 --> 00:08:33,760 playground material if there's some trip hazards there, and increase maintenance 111 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:36,399 of exterior landscaping. And I just want to show you this. Even 112 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:38,959 though the school isn't only for students identified with special 113 00:08:37,680 --> 00:08:43,680 education, I think it's important for the board. Somebody uh may have asked me 114 00:08:40,959 --> 00:08:48,399 for this, but since 2017 18 till now, we've had a 28% uh increase of students 115 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:53,839 that have been identified for special education um in in less than 10 years. 116 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:59,839 So almost a 30% increase of students being identified at this early age. 117 00:08:57,680 --> 00:09:04,000 And uh just before we play that video, I just we're going to play the video, 118 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:08,320 we'll go on the tour. Um uh but I just wanted to put together I thought it was 119 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:11,920 a shame that we couldn't do this while students were actually in the building. 120 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:18,240 I think that would have really brought the building to life. Um it's hard to 121 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:21,360 recreate that for you all. Um and so my fear of having a walk through a 122 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:25,120 building, it's a building isn't the same without kids in it. And so, uh, we 123 00:09:23,519 --> 00:09:30,800 wanted to try to recreate in a three-minute video just the the essence 124 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:35,519 of, um, what Waterberry, um, what what Bucksville Preschool is. And the video 125 00:09:33,279 --> 00:09:40,640 was taken from 10 minutes down to 3 minutes. There's a lot of footage there. 126 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:45,959 Uh, so, um, hopefully you get the idea of what it means for staff, students, 127 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:45,959 and parents. 128 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:52,760 » Oh, look at that. 129 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:59,680 excited to, you know, to go in this school every day. Every day. And she 130 00:09:57,680 --> 00:10:04,800 have like [music] a big smile. >> First two days crying on his way in, 131 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:08,720 crying on the way out. Next day was happy to come in, happy on his way 132 00:10:06,536 --> 00:10:11,920 [music] out. And ever since, every day I pick him up, happy kid. 133 00:10:10,399 --> 00:10:17,040 » He was not walking when he first [music] came into school. And um he now is. 134 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:21,360 » He never put more than like four words together. And now he's singing songs. 135 00:10:19,519 --> 00:10:27,120 comes home and he just sits there and sings a song. It's it it's amazing to 136 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:33,959 see. Without programs like this, these kids don't have a chance. 137 00:10:30,079 --> 00:10:33,959 So, it's good to see 138 00:10:34,560 --> 00:10:39,839 that there's potential to keep improving and helping these 139 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:44,240 kids. >> I feel like they love my son, you know, 140 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:48,560 and when you go to school, you know, you want people to to love your kid cuz 141 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:52,560 you're leaving them. So I want them to be like, you know, a part of our family. 142 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:55,600 So, and I feel that here. >> People underestimate the power of 143 00:10:54,079 --> 00:11:00,320 preschool. I think they look at it as daycare when really it's the foundation 144 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:05,519 of education. I had a student when I was a parent in Stacy's room that I was a 145 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:12,079 onetoone to. Um he had cereable palsy. He went I believe to career academy. He 146 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:17,600 had a um history teacher and he's like you. She wanted him to write a paper, 147 00:11:14,079 --> 00:11:21,040 the class, a paper about someone who stood up to you, who meant a lot to you, 148 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:24,959 that you feel like was like a mentor or something. And he literally wrote a 149 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:31,120 letter to me even though I had him at 3 years old. This I mean this program 150 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:38,000 um that they're trying to do, I think believe they're trying to give 151 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:42,720 uh give more space. I think that that is not only going to, you know, help the 152 00:11:40,560 --> 00:11:45,200 parents, um, it's gonna help the teachers, [laughter] it's gonna help, 153 00:11:44,079 --> 00:11:49,839 it's gonna help the kids. >> First day here, looking at the outside, 154 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:52,480 I was like, uh, yeah, 155 00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:59,600 » it's more like a mobile home on wheels. Um, so yes, it would be nice to see an 156 00:11:56,399 --> 00:12:05,200 actual school, bigger classrooms, more teachers, more aids, all that stuff is 157 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:09,519 what all the parents, I'm sure, if you ask them, are hoping for. 158 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:13,680 » I I can only imagine what like 3-year-old me would have been like if I 159 00:12:11,519 --> 00:12:19,200 had had the ability to be in a new facility that was like functioning that 160 00:12:15,680 --> 00:12:23,040 way. Um, I'm 30 now, so and to see this building and kind of still be like, "Oh 161 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:25,839 my god, it's still here." But then like the warmth and community that comes out 162 00:12:24,639 --> 00:12:30,880 of this building is still really awesome. So I can only imagine how much 163 00:12:28,399 --> 00:12:37,279 that would impact going forward. >> Our communication with parents um our 164 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:42,399 community um we just need the facility to be able to um expand on what we're 165 00:12:41,680 --> 00:12:48,000 doing. >> The things that we have now 166 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:55,680 their time is up. They're falling apart. And we've been waiting for this for a 167 00:12:51,680 --> 00:12:58,920 long time. And it's not for us. It's for the kids. 168 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:09,519 » All right. Well, thank you all for um hopefully that gave you an idea of what 169 00:13:06,560 --> 00:13:15,440 it's like to be in the school for for a small amount of time. Um, but with that, 170 00:13:12,639 --> 00:13:19,360 uh, I believe we're ready for a tour. Unless there's, uh, unless you wanted to 171 00:13:18,079 --> 00:13:21,680 do questions. I don't I don't know if you that's what you wanted to do or not. 172 00:13:20,560 --> 00:13:25,279 I think we're here for the tour. So, >> yeah. Any question any questions right 173 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:28,639 now? If not on the tour, there'll be two mics. Dave will have two mics. If 174 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:32,320 anybody does want to ask a question, use the mics so you you'll be heard on the 175 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:37,440 camera. Okay. Alderwoman, uh, Martinez McCarthy. 176 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:41,680 » Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. I on the video 177 00:13:39,279 --> 00:13:48,399 of the the principal said they've been waiting for a long time. 178 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:52,800 » Why did Why is it taking a long time? >> So, that was a teacher, I believe, that 179 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:56,399 said it. Uh teacher, uh not the principal that said that. She's been 180 00:13:53,839 --> 00:14:01,199 waiting for a long time. Um I think there have been multiple discussions 181 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:08,240 over the years of what we can do with the portables. I've I think there's uh 182 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:12,560 we've taken two steps forward, get some ideas, but I think the reality is is 183 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:16,320 that no one's put the proposal to the board of alderman. No one's put the 184 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:20,480 proposal to the board of ed in the leadership position as a superintendent 185 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:25,760 to be able to do this. And so you need someone to say this is time. And I think 186 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:30,240 when the extra 15% came up through the state removes a lot of barriers of nos 187 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:35,920 for us, at least that's what we would think. And so with that opportunity and 188 00:14:33,199 --> 00:14:39,120 for me seeing it closely, you know, I know we've sat in rooms where we've 189 00:14:37,519 --> 00:14:43,920 pitched different things we should be doing or we'd like to do, but it just 190 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:47,519 never got to this point. And so quite frankly, I just think as the 191 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:51,279 superintendent, one of the things that when I was being interviewed by the 192 00:14:49,199 --> 00:14:55,199 board of education, there are a few key areas that we talked about, early 193 00:14:52,800 --> 00:15:00,160 childhood, multilingual, special education being three major points of 194 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:04,240 need in the district. And this is something that I know for um for me was 195 00:15:02,959 --> 00:15:08,560 going to be important to try to push forward. So with the extra 15% now I 196 00:15:06,959 --> 00:15:11,680 think it removed a lot of the barriers of what maybe and I don't want to speak 197 00:15:10,399 --> 00:15:16,880 for other people of why they didn't put a for but I'm assuming that they didn't 198 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:20,079 want to ask for a new building because of the cost that it would have been 199 00:15:18,399 --> 00:15:26,000 associated with but I don't I don't know why they wouldn't have put a forward. 200 00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:31,639 » Okay. Thank you. I would have put a forward 13 years ago 201 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:31,639 when I was when I first came here. 202 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:39,279 » Alder Gracel, >> I [clears throat] don't think that's 203 00:15:37,279 --> 00:15:42,000 um is there any other >> Just lean into that mic. Get that mic in 204 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:46,639 front of you. >> Is there any other facilities that they 205 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:50,880 could use if this gets approved? I know it's going to take three years 206 00:15:50,079 --> 00:15:55,279 at minimum >> at least. Yeah. Is there any other 207 00:15:52,560 --> 00:16:01,279 facilities that they could go into for the next 3 years while that if 208 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:03,759 everything is done in without this without 209 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:05,759 » I mean I'm only saying that because of the horror stories I've heard about that 210 00:16:05,279 --> 00:16:09,199 place. >> Sure. Well, you'll see it in a few 211 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:14,079 minutes. I don't I think that what we heard and to be fair that that that was 212 00:16:11,519 --> 00:16:17,519 um stories over the decades of what's happened in that building not 213 00:16:15,199 --> 00:16:21,360 necessarily and with the what's happening like every day on a daily 214 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:26,320 basis. I think with the commitment that I I have and have walked the building 215 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:30,320 with chief operating officer Albini and uh principal Sims to continue on what do 216 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:35,839 we need to do over the next three years to make this still a place that shines 217 00:16:32,959 --> 00:16:38,800 for kids. Um I think we feel comfortable with the plan that we've put into place. 218 00:16:37,519 --> 00:16:45,759 I think Principal Sims feels comfortable. Um and so uh without 219 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:49,759 displacing other students from schools. So if we did that, we yeah, I could I 220 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:53,839 could put 10 classrooms in a school, but then that means I'd have to take those 221 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:59,680 kids and displace them and cause a domino effect throughout the district. I 222 00:16:56,320 --> 00:17:03,519 think that with if if approved, um I think with our plan in place, we we're 223 00:17:01,759 --> 00:17:09,520 we're going to be okay. and specifically Alderman McGasso, it's um approving that 224 00:17:07,039 --> 00:17:14,240 the structure uh from beneath and closing all the gaps beneath them really 225 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:19,039 reduces anything moving forward in terms of building nests or going underneath 226 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:24,400 the structure. That's the big that and the roof. If we could do those two 227 00:17:20,799 --> 00:17:29,760 things and then ensure we continue to um um attack anything as it comes up, um I 228 00:17:27,839 --> 00:17:34,080 think between us and the and the principal, we feel comfortable that that 229 00:17:31,919 --> 00:17:40,679 it it will it will be able to last for until the new building is built. 230 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:40,679 » Thank you. 231 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:50,559 » Oh, sure. We could do that. Miss Wade, do you want to come up? 232 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:55,577 Yeah, sure. [applause] 233 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:06,880 So, with a with an assist, it is basketball season, right? With an assist 234 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:11,760 from Commissioner Orso, uh M Miss Wade uh um played a video for us earlier. Uh 235 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:15,280 we had a finance committee meeting and she came and and played this for us and 236 00:18:13,360 --> 00:18:21,122 she just uh you can see that her son graduated uh today from Bucks Preschool. 237 00:18:17,679 --> 00:18:21,122 So congratulations. [applause] 238 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:29,600 » And if you just want to tell just briefly your one story of many stories 239 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:32,559 that we have and then uh you want to play for them. 240 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:35,360 » So just tell the same story you told us and then we'll we'll go on the on the 241 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:40,799 tour unless there's any more questions. >> Thanks for having me and um listening to 242 00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:46,960 us. My baby graduated today so I'm so thrilled. Um the annex is amazing. We've 243 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:51,039 gone through this for weeks now, but I um I'm not sure if you guys know what 244 00:18:48,640 --> 00:18:56,640 this device is, but this is called the AAC device. It's a communicative device. 245 00:18:54,000 --> 00:19:02,000 I never knew what it was until birth to three recommended it to us, and the 246 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:05,760 annex actually helped us get it at home. With our insurance, we would have had to 247 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:11,360 pay $11,000. With the help of the staff at the annex, 248 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:16,000 I paid $0 and it's heavy duty and he can keep it forever. 249 00:19:13,520 --> 00:19:21,200 So Royal is non-verbal. He's autistic. He's level three, so he needs help with 250 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:26,799 almost everything. He gets speech, occupational, and physical therapy, 251 00:19:23,360 --> 00:19:31,600 which is 30 minutes a week. Speech being my priority with him. When he's in 252 00:19:29,520 --> 00:19:36,880 school, the message that he has for you guys 253 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:41,200 takes a lot longer. So there's words, there's pictures, pictures of his 254 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:45,440 family, pictures of the food that he eats. So when he's in class, they'll 255 00:19:43,360 --> 00:19:50,480 say, "Royal, what do you want to do today?" And the goal is to get him to 256 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:55,919 tap it and it's going to tell them, "Do you want more royal?" And he'll tap it. 257 00:19:53,440 --> 00:20:00,240 So that is just for one child. So imagine all of the teachers and the 258 00:19:57,919 --> 00:20:05,200 other students that have the devices. This empowers him to really have a voice 259 00:20:02,559 --> 00:20:09,760 in a world where he doesn't. Because if you say, "Hi, Royal." 260 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:14,559 You won't hear his voice, but you'll see his smile. you see his expression and 261 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:18,640 that's why this device is so important. So me and him work together and we have 262 00:20:16,799 --> 00:20:23,440 a message and hope that you guys can hear it and if you ever need it again, 263 00:20:21,679 --> 00:20:28,000 you're more than welcome to hear it. Thanks for listening to us. 264 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:35,919 » My name is Royal, but you can call me R.J. I graduated from prek today. I have 265 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:40,320 a superpower and it is called autism. I use my device to tell my family and 266 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:45,600 teachers what I want and how I feel. I get help with speech, physical, and 267 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:51,120 occupational therapy. This helps learn how to take off my jacket and eat by 268 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:56,240 myself. We really need your help. I heard you can help me and my friends by 269 00:20:52,960 --> 00:21:01,120 voting yes. Say yes to a new school so my friends can get help like me. Say yes 270 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:05,760 to budget so me and my friends can get the help we need. Say yes to our future 271 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:09,280 and I will tell my parents to vote for you. My mommy wants me to be a teacher 272 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:14,000 when I grow up, but I want to be a chair. Haha. 273 00:21:12,159 --> 00:21:19,880 I don't use words yet, but that doesn't mean I don't have anything to say. Thank 274 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:19,880 you. 275 00:21:19,884 --> 00:21:21,904 [applause] 276 00:21:28,159 --> 00:21:35,520 » Um, thank you so much again for that story, one of many. Um, if there's any 277 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:39,840 other questions, I'd be happy to answer them. If not, we'll take the tour. 278 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:46,640 » Aldo Martinez McCarth. >> Thank you. Uh, I just want 279 00:21:42,159 --> 00:21:54,640 clarification. So, if this goes through and the the kids, are they able to be 280 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:58,480 removed while the building the new school is being built? I know that 281 00:21:56,159 --> 00:22:02,159 Alderman Graasso mentioned, but I just need 282 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:06,480 » Sure. So the the exact space of the location of the new building will be 283 00:22:03,760 --> 00:22:12,559 determined um for for this application and for a reimbursement. It doesn't 284 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:16,720 necessarily have to be decided on as we put this application in. So the fact 285 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:22,320 that it that they're currently here doesn't mean the eventual building will 286 00:22:18,640 --> 00:22:26,880 be where it is. In fact, um although I'm sure everyone loves uh the hill, 287 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:32,400 especially on uh cold winter days and the wind whipping up here, um the actual 288 00:22:30,159 --> 00:22:36,640 more ideal situation for us as a community is to actually have it more 289 00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:40,159 centralized as best as possible. And I think Commissioner Orso, how long did it 290 00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:44,559 take you to get here today from the east end? 291 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:48,880 » Let me smile. It took me 35 minutes. So the reason why this isn't the ideal 292 00:22:46,799 --> 00:22:52,880 location for a central location for most of for our students that are special 293 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:57,360 education in three and four is because of the amount of time it takes actually 294 00:22:54,960 --> 00:23:02,799 from the the ends of the city to get here. So if you think about because the 295 00:23:00,159 --> 00:23:07,039 space is limited and because many of our kids take transportation to get here. 296 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:11,760 You could think of a kid on a bus coming from the east end to get up here to only 297 00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:16,480 be in school for two hours to and then only to get on a bus again for another 298 00:23:13,440 --> 00:23:20,159 35 45 minutes to go home. So a central location will reduce transportation 299 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:26,240 times for the vast majority of our kids. And so the kids wouldn't need to be they 300 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:30,799 only would need to be dispersed if the building was going to be built directly 301 00:23:27,919 --> 00:23:35,679 on the site of the portables. Now, good news is is that between Bucks and Wilby 302 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:40,000 and North End, there is a lot of land up here. So, if the ultimate decision was 303 00:23:37,919 --> 00:23:44,720 to put the school on this property, I still think we could continue to what we 304 00:23:41,919 --> 00:23:48,880 have right now um while the school is being built. But, there are multiple 305 00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:52,880 locations in the city, more centralized that we'd be looking at to try to put 306 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:58,159 the school at. >> Okay. So basically the the kids will 307 00:23:56,080 --> 00:24:01,840 still be in the same facility while you're the building is being built. 308 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:03,360 » Correct. >> Correct. 309 00:24:02,799 --> 00:24:07,799 » Correct. >> Okay. That's what I wanted. Thank you. 310 00:24:10,559 --> 00:24:13,559 » Okay. 311 00:24:21,679 --> 00:24:30,000 If you could wave your hand around, [applause] 312 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:34,240 we had an afterchool graduation today from 4 to 6 and then staff are still 313 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:38,240 here because they believe in the children in the and in this building. 314 00:24:36,559 --> 00:24:40,971 I'd also like to thank the parents who are here. Can you please wave your hands 315 00:24:40,080 --> 00:24:44,880 as well? >> [applause] 316 00:24:41,120 --> 00:24:51,039 » Thank you so much for having me. So, while Dr. Schwarz said that I know 317 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:54,880 all of the answers, I I do not. Um, so if I can pass the microphone, I have 318 00:24:53,360 --> 00:25:00,640 some staff members here that would be happy to answer questions um as well. 319 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:06,480 So, I've always wanted to conduct guided 320 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:11,360 tours, whether it be at a museum or a Newport mansion. 321 00:25:08,720 --> 00:25:16,320 um maybe something I do when I retire. Well, this is my chance and this is our 322 00:25:14,080 --> 00:25:23,520 Newport mansion. [laughter] So, while it may not be grandiose on the 323 00:25:19,919 --> 00:25:29,520 outside, we do amazing things as you've seen just a little bit in the video. So, 324 00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:35,520 what you'll see today as you walk in is a building that definitely needs some 325 00:25:32,159 --> 00:25:40,880 TLC that will need repairs over the course of the next three years. But this 326 00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:46,480 is our home and we've built a community and a sta and our staff and our parents 327 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:52,960 believe in us and our hope is that we can take this and move it and expand on 328 00:25:49,919 --> 00:25:58,159 what we're doing um here. So I hope that you can capture that even without our 329 00:25:55,039 --> 00:26:02,559 students here. So with that being said, I would like to show you our playground. 330 00:26:00,559 --> 00:26:08,240 Miss Lydia, our social worker, can lead the way. 331 00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:15,840 Um, while we like our outdoor space, we love our grass, running, playing, it's 332 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:21,360 very countryike up here. Um, it, like Dr. Schwarz mentioned, it's 333 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:27,200 not centrally located, so it does take parents 334 00:26:24,640 --> 00:26:29,760 and our community members a while to get up here. 335 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:33,919 » And there's no bus that comes up here. No public bus. 336 00:26:30,559 --> 00:26:39,679 » The public bus is probably 15 to 20 minute walk. And if you're a parent, you 337 00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:46,679 have to walk um St. Michael's Drive with your stroller or your children if you 338 00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:46,679 take the bus. 339 00:26:47,120 --> 00:26:54,880 While our playground is old, it works for us now. We've added our swings. 340 00:26:52,480 --> 00:27:01,440 We've added some newer equipment and we make it work. 341 00:26:56,880 --> 00:27:07,679 What we're lacking is some adaptive play areas for our children who cannot 342 00:27:04,320 --> 00:27:12,559 walk. So I think a couple of parents mentioned their journeys here with us 343 00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:17,120 where their children learn to walk. If we get our new building, we would 344 00:27:14,720 --> 00:27:22,080 have a playscape designed to meet children with all abilities. 345 00:27:20,159 --> 00:27:30,080 Miss Susan, who's here in the green and white dress, you'll see a buggy that's 346 00:27:25,120 --> 00:27:35,840 inside. It's a a big stroller. She uh got a donation for our school and 347 00:27:33,360 --> 00:27:41,360 purchased the buggy and we call it the inclusion buggy. And what that means is 348 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:47,840 that her students who can't walk can come out here and she pushes them around 349 00:27:45,120 --> 00:27:53,520 so that they can be around their peers. So, we've made it work. We're making it 350 00:27:50,480 --> 00:27:58,080 work. We will continue to make it work because I have amazing staff with 351 00:27:55,440 --> 00:28:01,919 creative ideas and we're always looking to do what's best for the children here. 352 00:28:00,399 --> 00:28:05,320 Are there any questions about the outdoor space? 353 00:28:08,159 --> 00:28:15,120 Thank you, Shakira, for picking up those toys. 354 00:28:12,080 --> 00:28:21,039 I have to do that later. Okay. Well, we're going to move inside. 355 00:28:18,159 --> 00:28:25,919 Uh Mr. Albini is right here. Um, I do need a staff member to open up 356 00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:31,200 the door. All of the classrooms are open. So, I 357 00:28:28,960 --> 00:28:36,799 think what would be best because we don't have a large enough area for us 358 00:28:33,679 --> 00:28:44,679 all to be is for you to walk through the building. I'll be centrally located and 359 00:28:39,679 --> 00:28:44,679 you can find myself or staff member. 360 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:59,039 comfortable in this building and are teachers comfortable and do you want to 361 00:28:57,200 --> 00:29:03,039 stay in this building just for our perspective so we know uh how you guys 362 00:29:01,679 --> 00:29:06,880 feel about remaining in the building over the next three years? 363 00:29:05,200 --> 00:29:12,520 » Thank you. That's a great question. And I have a staff member, 364 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:12,520 Miss Michelle. 365 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:15,640 » Oh. 366 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:23,919 She had a better answer than I did when we talked about this. 367 00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:30,960 This is Miss Michelle. She's one of our pair of professionals. 368 00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:36,640 Um I just wanted to say that um the sense of urgency I felt at the last 369 00:29:33,039 --> 00:29:42,240 meeting. Um I tend to let my emotions get the best of me because um I'm very 370 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:47,120 passionate about what I do. I didn't um donate 30 years of my life to be other 371 00:29:44,640 --> 00:29:52,880 people's children because for hahas I really believe in investing in society. 372 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:58,960 These are future citizens. We need to do right by them. Um so I did describe 373 00:29:56,480 --> 00:30:03,360 conditions in the school but it's still it's like saying when you need house 374 00:30:00,399 --> 00:30:09,440 repairs you're not going to move. You want to stay you want to invest in your 375 00:30:05,200 --> 00:30:16,080 school in your home. Um, so I think people who are asking about moving 376 00:30:11,919 --> 00:30:20,159 locations, it's really not a good idea while the school is built because this 377 00:30:18,240 --> 00:30:25,520 is where the children feel comfortable. We have kids with very highly specific 378 00:30:22,720 --> 00:30:31,120 medical needs. We have a system in place here every day. We have a staff that 379 00:30:29,200 --> 00:30:37,919 knows what to expect, emergency procedures, where the nurse is located. 380 00:30:34,720 --> 00:30:42,480 We have our system down path and um especially for those ch students who are 381 00:30:40,399 --> 00:30:49,279 highly specialized medical needs or students who are severely behavioral um 382 00:30:46,080 --> 00:30:54,440 it's probably safer to stay here while a new school is being built to be honest. 383 00:30:56,159 --> 00:31:00,200 » We have another question here. 384 00:31:01,600 --> 00:31:08,039 What what percentage of the students that come here are special needs? 385 00:31:08,399 --> 00:31:11,399 » 90%. 386 00:31:13,279 --> 00:31:21,120 » So all of our classrooms have children with special needs. Some are co-taught 387 00:31:19,279 --> 00:31:26,240 and then we have four specialized. So out of the 10 classrooms, 388 00:31:23,360 --> 00:31:30,880 six classrooms are co-taught which are half peers, half special education and 389 00:31:28,960 --> 00:31:35,799 the remaining four are for our children with exceptional um needs. 390 00:31:36,080 --> 00:31:44,000 » That answer. So yeah, so the preschool that 391 00:31:41,279 --> 00:31:50,279 the preschool that is being talked about being built is going to be pretty much 392 00:31:46,240 --> 00:31:50,279 mostly special needs. 393 00:31:50,559 --> 00:31:58,159 So what we would like to do in the new preschool model because peer 394 00:31:55,279 --> 00:32:01,600 interactions are so important and like I was speaking about before with taking 395 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:06,399 even taking the children out on the playground to be with their regular 396 00:32:03,679 --> 00:32:11,600 education peers. What we'd like to do is have a continuum for children. So, our 397 00:32:09,279 --> 00:32:17,519 new proposed preschool program would have three-year-olds that are both 398 00:32:14,399 --> 00:32:22,320 regular education and special education, co-taught rooms, regular education 399 00:32:20,240 --> 00:32:26,880 rooms, and then our highly specialized rooms. Many of the parents that are here 400 00:32:24,559 --> 00:32:32,000 today can attest to the fact that their children may have been in a couple of 401 00:32:29,600 --> 00:32:36,559 different classrooms because we move children based on their developmental 402 00:32:34,159 --> 00:32:41,440 need and what they need. So, a child that has an IEP may start out in a 403 00:32:39,120 --> 00:32:46,720 specialized classroom that may need may need to go to a co-op classroom. By the 404 00:32:44,159 --> 00:32:50,880 end of their preschool tenure with us, they may have exited from special 405 00:32:48,399 --> 00:32:55,679 education and they need a place to go to. So, our new preschool center would 406 00:32:53,360 --> 00:32:58,919 provide all of that. >> Thank you. 407 00:33:02,320 --> 00:33:08,640 » My Amazon purchase is paying off. [laughter] 408 00:33:05,760 --> 00:33:14,559 I just wanted to know what are the >> I I know that they mentioned birth to 409 00:33:11,039 --> 00:33:22,159 three, but what are the actual age range that um like what's the the age that uh 410 00:33:18,399 --> 00:33:27,279 the student when they graduate? >> Uh so by law child can start with us at 411 00:33:24,799 --> 00:33:31,679 2 years and 9 months. So many of our children that come in have not yet 412 00:33:28,960 --> 00:33:36,320 turned three. they have to be in a program and we have to start following 413 00:33:33,600 --> 00:33:41,600 their IEP by the time they turn age three. So, we have children that come in 414 00:33:38,640 --> 00:33:46,640 from 2 years 9 months and now they stay until they're five based on the new 415 00:33:43,519 --> 00:33:54,919 kindergarten um law that was passed. 416 00:33:49,600 --> 00:33:54,919 » So, through six two to two to six. 417 00:33:55,679 --> 00:33:59,240 Any other questions? 418 00:34:01,760 --> 00:34:06,519 Okay, I think we're ready to move inside. 419 00:34:09,760 --> 00:34:14,359 » Thank you, Miss Crystal, for holding the door. 420 00:34:15,679 --> 00:34:19,320 » Oh, yep, it does. 421 00:34:19,998 --> 00:34:22,018 [cough] 422 00:34:26,079 --> 00:34:31,320 » Oh, yeah. The graduation. Uh yes, that's 423 00:34:35,040 --> 00:34:44,879 » nice and cool in here. >> Um this is our OT PT room. So this is 424 00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:49,639 where the OT and PT work out of good to see you. Thank you. 425 00:34:54,720 --> 00:34:58,879 » Therapy and physical therapy room. 426 00:35:03,040 --> 00:35:07,839 This is our area. >> Yeah. 427 00:35:05,760 --> 00:35:10,839 » Where we keep all our wipes, paper towels. 428 00:35:19,440 --> 00:35:24,800 » Just Just hold it down. It'll pick up. >> What do you want? 429 00:35:22,560 --> 00:35:27,359 » You don't have to talk. Okay. We won't hear it, but the camera will. 430 00:35:25,920 --> 00:35:30,739 » Oh, do you want me to >> just down? 431 00:35:28,720 --> 00:35:32,880 » Yeah. What do you want me to say? [laughter] 432 00:35:31,359 --> 00:35:38,800 » Perfect. >> Okay. This is our sensory motor room. 433 00:35:36,320 --> 00:35:41,800 So, as you can see, we're a little space. 434 00:35:42,560 --> 00:35:52,160 » This is where we bring children who need to compress 435 00:35:46,400 --> 00:35:57,440 » or need a space to feel safe, to relax, >> to get their sensory needs met, 436 00:35:55,760 --> 00:36:00,440 » especially our students with autism. employment. 437 00:36:01,440 --> 00:36:09,280 » What percentage of autistic >> do you think your kids are autistic? 438 00:36:06,320 --> 00:36:13,359 » I can't give an exact percentage, but in my class, um, I have 12 in the morning 439 00:36:11,839 --> 00:36:16,320 and 10 in the afternoon. >> Oh, wow. 440 00:36:13,760 --> 00:36:21,359 » In a self-contained environment. So in a century location, how many 441 00:36:18,400 --> 00:36:23,760 children in her is it individual or is it 442 00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:27,839 » Sometimes it's individual, sometimes there's a we try not to have more than 443 00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:31,119 two or three at a time, you know, especially if they're having a hard 444 00:36:29,040 --> 00:36:35,000 time. It's usually a one-on-one type situation. 445 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:35,000 » Okay. 446 00:36:35,599 --> 00:36:42,160 » It's not it's not that big of a space, that's for sure. 447 00:36:38,960 --> 00:36:47,760 » It's very small. >> Oh, yes. Come on in. 448 00:36:43,920 --> 00:36:50,760 » Miss Amy's room. Miss Amy's office. >> Miss 449 00:36:55,599 --> 00:37:01,200 someone is really in here because they're having a hard time. It's 450 00:36:58,880 --> 00:37:06,560 probably by themselves with an adult and we have so principal or the secretary 451 00:37:04,960 --> 00:37:09,440 can make sure that everything is still super. 452 00:37:08,560 --> 00:37:13,839 later. >> Sometimes when it's just like a child 453 00:37:11,280 --> 00:37:18,079 that needs to get the kids, >> they just have to go somewhere else. So, 454 00:37:15,599 --> 00:37:23,119 I have two sons. I have Dante who's graduated today. And Noah, who's a year 455 00:37:20,640 --> 00:37:28,880 younger, and he'll graduate next year. They both come here this year. But last 456 00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:33,359 year, Noah got sent to Kingsbury to a classroom that was supposed to be the 457 00:37:30,480 --> 00:37:39,760 same as here, and it was not the same as here. It took the whole year of fighting 458 00:37:35,599 --> 00:37:45,119 to get Noah sent here and he thrives here. But at Kingsbury, there 459 00:37:42,640 --> 00:37:49,119 was no sense of community. We would get to the door in the morning and they'd be 460 00:37:46,640 --> 00:37:54,480 ready to just send him through the door. A kid that's nonverbal, has high support 461 00:37:51,680 --> 00:37:59,520 needs, can't communicate, wouldn't know where he was going in the building if he 462 00:37:56,320 --> 00:38:04,079 had to go. That's so different for him here. the teachers, the peers being able 463 00:38:02,480 --> 00:38:09,119 to go from classroom to classroom. That's not the case if they got sent and 464 00:38:06,400 --> 00:38:14,560 like this got broken up into multiple classrooms in different buildings. 465 00:38:12,320 --> 00:38:19,599 » It's just not the same. This No, my sons both have thrived here. 466 00:38:17,280 --> 00:38:23,760 So, like I've heard multiple times people say like where else could they 467 00:38:21,200 --> 00:38:28,160 go? I don't know if I think that's a good idea because when Noah got sent to 468 00:38:25,359 --> 00:38:34,119 Kerry and there was only one classroom there full of the kids like him, it 469 00:38:30,880 --> 00:38:34,119 didn't work. 470 00:38:47,440 --> 00:38:51,560 Yes. Hi. Hi. 471 00:38:52,480 --> 00:38:56,680 » I knew that and I was so excited. 472 00:39:04,480 --> 00:39:12,400 » No kidding. Come here. >> Oh, nice. 473 00:39:09,920 --> 00:39:19,160 » Oh, that's wonderful. I worked at 474 00:39:15,760 --> 00:39:19,160 18 years 475 00:39:33,440 --> 00:39:41,640 to what some people consider to be amenities 476 00:39:38,480 --> 00:39:41,640 to use. 477 00:39:47,200 --> 00:39:53,920 So, we often have recess in the hallway during the winter. It was a long winter. 478 00:39:53,200 --> 00:39:56,000 Very long. [laughter] >> A long winter. It 479 00:39:55,200 --> 00:40:00,400 » was very long. >> So, we set up play spaces. As you can 480 00:39:58,079 --> 00:40:05,200 see outside of my office, I have a mini grocery store. I [laughter] have a 481 00:40:02,240 --> 00:40:11,480 sensory space. So, we're always looking to improve and make it the best for the 482 00:40:08,079 --> 00:40:11,480 children here. 483 00:40:11,839 --> 00:40:20,307 No, I know that table will be moved once our graduation's over. 484 00:40:16,320 --> 00:40:20,307 » That's my office. So, [laughter] 485 00:40:20,400 --> 00:40:28,240 » how many how many students are in here? >> 200 almost 290. 486 00:40:26,320 --> 00:40:32,880 » The new building would be about 520. >> The new building would be 520 487 00:40:31,760 --> 00:40:36,640 » approximately. >> This building right here 488 00:40:34,960 --> 00:40:39,920 » um different hallway >> different sessions. 489 00:40:38,720 --> 00:40:41,280 It's just one hallway. >> One hallway. 490 00:40:40,720 --> 00:40:45,839 » One hallway. >> We come in that way and we go out that 491 00:40:43,839 --> 00:40:50,560 way. But when they put in the building, they put it in backwards. So the where 492 00:40:48,320 --> 00:40:52,320 we came in, that was supposed to be on that side. 493 00:40:51,920 --> 00:40:57,040 » Okay. >> It was supposed to be central for the 494 00:40:54,480 --> 00:41:02,800 building. So now we have our students coming in that way. Our parent pickup is 495 00:41:00,079 --> 00:41:06,800 on that side. Bus dismissals on this side. children who are coming in over 496 00:41:04,720 --> 00:41:12,560 here and they have to walk all the way down to their rooms that can be very 497 00:41:10,319 --> 00:41:16,640 difficult for them. >> And then we have things like these that 498 00:41:14,640 --> 00:41:21,599 our kids really love so much they want to take it with them because we have no 499 00:41:19,359 --> 00:41:26,720 storage for things. So they just have to stay in the hallway 500 00:41:23,760 --> 00:41:29,839 » and it's hard cuz we have to >> run wild with this 501 00:41:27,920 --> 00:41:33,760 » cover screen in my room. We run with the 502 00:41:31,520 --> 00:41:35,520 screen like this and just so the kids can 503 00:41:34,000 --> 00:41:38,720 » Oh, Donna could stop [laughter] and that would be the end. 504 00:41:37,200 --> 00:41:43,520 » She's on the ground. He's behind the ground. Nope. 505 00:41:40,079 --> 00:41:48,319 » We only down, please. >> So, will they give them full day 506 00:41:46,000 --> 00:41:50,960 » if the parents >> to do that or 507 00:41:49,040 --> 00:41:56,240 » Well, they they all want full day for Yes, we just have half day because 508 00:41:55,119 --> 00:42:01,040 space. >> Yes. This this actually when I started 509 00:41:58,720 --> 00:42:05,599 here there were offices. There were like six desks. So we were all in here and 510 00:42:04,400 --> 00:42:09,920 then >> we tried to like we play Tetris. We 511 00:42:07,680 --> 00:42:13,440 maneuver things and we change offices and we change spaces to figure out what 512 00:42:12,240 --> 00:42:17,520 works best. >> Now it's our sensory room. 513 00:42:15,200 --> 00:42:20,520 » Oh, he loves it. He was going the circle. 514 00:42:22,739 --> 00:42:28,319 [laughter] >> Would anyone like to see 515 00:42:26,240 --> 00:42:32,480 children in here at a time. >> So, ideally, we'd have more than one 516 00:42:30,079 --> 00:42:36,880 space where we could go to calm down. You know, the preschool classroom can be 517 00:42:34,400 --> 00:42:41,200 very loud, overwhelming. So when you have a child, especially like a child on 518 00:42:38,880 --> 00:42:45,400 the autism spectrum with those sensory issues, this can be a real 519 00:42:57,280 --> 00:43:02,680 » you can't segregate like special regular, right? 520 00:43:03,920 --> 00:43:11,960 My son came here >> the actual it's called least restrictive 521 00:43:07,760 --> 00:43:11,960 environment really 522 00:43:12,319 --> 00:43:20,079 environment is to be in this one classroom with other students need 523 00:43:17,920 --> 00:43:25,040 technically it's okay by law >> but most of our students aren't that 524 00:43:22,240 --> 00:43:28,880 restrictive what you want them to be is in the classroom with regular ed kids as 525 00:43:26,640 --> 00:43:33,920 well so that they can see what they call peers so that they can see that um and 526 00:43:31,760 --> 00:43:37,280 they learn a ton from each other. And so our ideal situation is have more 527 00:43:35,599 --> 00:43:41,520 students that are regularly specialized combined rather than just separated 528 00:43:40,079 --> 00:43:45,760 because they learn more from each other. But there are students that are in 529 00:43:43,520 --> 00:43:50,560 specialized classrooms because according to the IP and the PPT decision, that's 530 00:43:48,000 --> 00:43:53,280 the best that's where they're best um going to be able to grow. 531 00:43:51,920 --> 00:43:56,800 » But if you wanted to have a school that was just special ed, you couldn't do 532 00:43:54,400 --> 00:44:02,800 that, right? Under >> um not necessarily. Not if not if every 533 00:44:00,560 --> 00:44:08,000 single student was there placed behind >> in the room and you know we're following 534 00:44:05,359 --> 00:44:12,640 through with whatever their um provided services for that time slot then we're 535 00:44:10,960 --> 00:44:18,160 carrying that over for the rest of the week. So if they have 30 minutes of 536 00:44:15,359 --> 00:44:21,920 services with a speech path then she's giving us information that we're 537 00:44:20,079 --> 00:44:25,440 carrying through for that week of what we're working with with that child. 538 00:44:25,920 --> 00:44:30,880 to >> be prepared for all 539 00:44:29,520 --> 00:44:36,160 some more. [laughter] >> Um, yeah. So, I have, um, a degree in 540 00:44:34,640 --> 00:44:40,800 special education. I'm actually going back for my masters because I love it 541 00:44:38,880 --> 00:44:44,319 here and because my kids deserve the best. So, um, 542 00:44:43,520 --> 00:44:48,000 » yeah. >> Can I add something, too? I know you 543 00:44:45,920 --> 00:44:52,160 have a great room. If you guys pay attention, the lights, most of the 544 00:44:49,599 --> 00:44:56,160 lights are covered. And that's because a lot of children are 545 00:44:54,319 --> 00:44:59,520 stimulated by the light. >> So things that you kind of take for 546 00:44:57,920 --> 00:45:03,680 granted just walking into like your regular classroom, you got to pay 547 00:45:01,119 --> 00:45:07,440 attention to all of the accommodations that they make for them. So like for 548 00:45:05,359 --> 00:45:11,839 example, you see the sink. I'm sure at the new school, you won't have to make a 549 00:45:09,680 --> 00:45:17,040 step stool. It'll be something there for them, but then we have basic necessities 550 00:45:15,599 --> 00:45:21,599 for kids. You know it's >> arms are too short. 551 00:45:19,440 --> 00:45:25,359 » So then they can so it's the water come closer to them. 552 00:45:24,160 --> 00:45:28,880 » Yeah. >> So there's a lot of 553 00:45:27,200 --> 00:45:32,040 » you know adaptions that we're making in the classroom. 554 00:45:32,240 --> 00:45:41,319 » How many kids are usually in you know here like 555 00:45:38,319 --> 00:45:41,319 » session? 556 00:45:45,920 --> 00:45:52,160 I have two here. >> What about the meltdowns in the areas 557 00:45:49,760 --> 00:45:56,400 where like I see little corners that only one child at a time 558 00:45:54,560 --> 00:46:00,640 » can go into when they are having a meltdown or a hard day or or whatever 559 00:45:58,960 --> 00:46:04,560 they're they're you know I've got two very different um two very different one 560 00:46:02,960 --> 00:46:09,200 of them. This is his classroom and he's five. Um but I see that when he needs 561 00:46:07,200 --> 00:46:13,200 somewhere to at home he has a cubby bed that took us forever to get. So, I 562 00:46:11,520 --> 00:46:15,760 brought in that. We have that little cozy. 563 00:46:13,760 --> 00:46:19,400 » I'm just curious, but only one child at a time kind of thing. 564 00:46:27,280 --> 00:46:31,280 » They're coming, huh? Hopefully, [laughter] they're coming. 565 00:46:29,680 --> 00:46:35,839 » But they're coming. >> Yeah. I think it when we plan the 566 00:46:32,880 --> 00:46:41,680 environment to accommodate children in a way that settles all of those extraneous 567 00:46:39,040 --> 00:46:45,160 » I think things that that helps with the behavior a lot 568 00:46:46,640 --> 00:46:52,319 of specializ Super teacher will be in some of the ABA 569 00:46:51,760 --> 00:46:55,680 classrooms. >> Oh, thank you. 570 00:46:55,920 --> 00:46:59,960 like I wanted to send it to 571 00:47:20,160 --> 00:47:25,000 11 years. He's 572 00:47:33,920 --> 00:47:38,119 on my jump starting right now. 573 00:47:54,640 --> 00:48:04,960 my coworker and my other pair of April she is a longterm sub so she because she 574 00:48:02,000 --> 00:48:09,119 has a bachelor's degree so they like promoted her because she's 575 00:48:07,359 --> 00:48:13,359 filling she's like desapping so she's filling a 576 00:48:11,359 --> 00:48:17,920 deficit in the city >> for a teacher 577 00:48:14,560 --> 00:48:22,880 » so for behaviors here because yours is the behavior class or 578 00:48:19,760 --> 00:48:27,200 » we tend to um down the hall we more medically fragile children. So 579 00:48:25,440 --> 00:48:31,040 » um even though this is a self-contained room, yes, our room is more geared 580 00:48:28,880 --> 00:48:35,160 towards children with autism and behavior issues. 581 00:48:36,079 --> 00:48:41,359 » What does this do? >> I would just like to thank all of our 582 00:48:38,880 --> 00:48:45,520 guests for coming. It really meant a lot to us to share our stories and 583 00:48:42,880 --> 00:48:50,480 experiences. Dr. Schwarz would like me to let you know. Um, if you're able to 584 00:48:48,160 --> 00:48:56,040 go back to Bucks Hill Gym to adjourn the meeting, um, please do so. Thank you 585 00:48:53,040 --> 00:48:56,040 again. 586 00:49:07,440 --> 00:49:11,839 » Hey, we're going to stay right here. We'll journey right here. Okay. This way 587 00:49:10,240 --> 00:49:16,319 you don't got to go all the way back. Okay, we can shut it down here. We're 588 00:49:13,680 --> 00:49:18,720 gonna wait. Let me just get a couple. >> Oh, actually, well, never mind. They're 589 00:49:17,599 --> 00:49:22,160 all going to the gym. Never mind. They all went Let's go. 590 00:49:21,359 --> 00:49:25,720 » At the gym. >> I'm going on my 591 00:49:27,839 --> 00:49:34,040 Thank you so much. >> Thank you so much. 592 00:49:30,559 --> 00:49:34,040 » Walk there, sir. 593 00:49:36,160 --> 00:49:40,040 » It is. >> Byebye. 594 00:49:41,599 --> 00:49:46,599 Thank you. >> Thanks for coming. 595 00:49:43,359 --> 00:49:46,599 » It's beautiful. 596 00:50:02,480 --> 00:50:10,079 » We have programs that they go all the way through age 22 in the Waterberry 597 00:50:07,680 --> 00:50:16,160 public schools. And so there's a we call it the continuum of services. Uh the 598 00:50:12,960 --> 00:50:19,920 ideal situation is always the least restrictive environment for students. 599 00:50:17,920 --> 00:50:24,559 And what that means is as much as possible giving them as much exposure to 600 00:50:22,079 --> 00:50:29,359 peers of their age, um the more restrictive you get with specialized 601 00:50:26,559 --> 00:50:35,520 classrooms and special education, um that's not that's not um where we'd like 602 00:50:32,240 --> 00:50:39,839 to go educationally. Um, and then if we don't have a program here in Waterberry 603 00:50:37,440 --> 00:50:45,280 that can properly service the student and the PPT determines uh that the the 604 00:50:43,680 --> 00:50:48,640 better placement is an outplacement, that's where you see some of those 605 00:50:46,400 --> 00:50:53,359 contracts for outplacement for students. I will say Waterberry compared to peers 606 00:50:51,760 --> 00:50:57,760 does a much better job of keeping students in house because we do have so 607 00:50:54,880 --> 00:51:03,520 many programs. So, a long answer to yes, we have different programs that students 608 00:50:59,839 --> 00:51:07,520 go to after they uh graduate preschool. I will say we've had to expand that an 609 00:51:05,359 --> 00:51:11,760 awful lot in the last few years, extra classrooms in the district that students 610 00:51:09,760 --> 00:51:16,400 have to go to because they're just not getting enough um education when they're 611 00:51:14,480 --> 00:51:22,319 three and four and they're just not ready to enter in uh to our um our 612 00:51:19,680 --> 00:51:27,119 typical kindergarten classes. And so, um, although we do have that continuum 613 00:51:24,319 --> 00:51:31,520 of supports, uh, I think the more we can provide at the preschool level, the 614 00:51:29,839 --> 00:51:37,920 actual less you're going to need later on if we if we could do this better. 615 00:51:35,200 --> 00:51:40,800 » And are they mostly assimilated into the the schools that are in your district 616 00:51:39,680 --> 00:51:45,359 once they get out? >> So, it's multiple schools across the 617 00:51:42,559 --> 00:51:50,480 district that hold um different programs based on their need. And so again, the 618 00:51:47,440 --> 00:51:54,800 PPT um will determine where the best placement for the child is. Um whether 619 00:51:53,040 --> 00:51:57,440 that's uh coming out of special education and going into a typical 620 00:51:56,240 --> 00:52:02,160 kindergarten class or going to a specialized classroom, the PPT always 621 00:51:59,440 --> 00:52:06,480 makes that recommendation and decision. >> Okay. Thank you. 622 00:52:04,319 --> 00:52:11,760 » All right. Anything further? All right. Seeing none, Alderman Mosley. 623 00:52:09,520 --> 00:52:14,400 » Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. 624 00:52:12,400 --> 00:52:18,319 » All right. Motion made and seconded. All those in favor signify by saying I. I 625 00:52:17,040 --> 00:52:21,280 » oppose. No. >> All right. The board of alderman is 626 00:52:19,680 --> 00:52:25,119 adjourned. >> Okay. And for the board of education, 627 00:52:23,280 --> 00:52:28,319 before we adjourn, are there any other questions? Anything for the 628 00:52:26,319 --> 00:52:30,400 commissioners? >> Okay. I'll entertain a motion to 629 00:52:29,760 --> 00:52:35,920 adjurnn. >> Make a motion we move. 630 00:52:34,160 --> 00:52:38,480 » All right. That is it for the board of education. 631 00:52:37,200 --> 00:52:41,480 » All in favor? >> I 632 00:52:42,319 --> 00:52:45,559 charge for