6 p.m. I That's what I wrote a note out the 28th. There's no there's no time on the district. Is it the community center? I have six, but let me just I did too. I had six too. Yes, community center. Just look days. We used to do it in the auditorium because we used to be so packed and then there was an overflow to the cafeteria, but I'm pretty sure this is community center. Okay. Uh we'll get that report in a second. So, uh you had a chance to look at the consent agenda. Are there any changes or any concerns about the consent agenda? None.
Um that is all I have unless anyone has specific questions on any of that. Thank you. Any questions? Okay. Um we'll move on to reports from other commissions council. Maybe we'll start with the environmental commission and move to council. Yeah. The main topic uh in the environmental commission was a first reading of a resolution uh recommending that uh the new comprehensive plan uh include elements uh that would advance protection of natural features and uh maintain or even increase uh biodiversity. Uh the idea of this actually came up from a new law in the UK um that applies to um I think buildings up a certain threshold. I think it's nine units or something like that. There maybe is a square meter or something like that threshold, but they're actually requiring um new new projects. um and I think even maybe redevelopments to demonstrate a 10% increase in biodiversity and exactly how that's measured.
Thank you very much. Good evening, board commissioners, people at everyone at home. Um, I want to start off by saying that I wholeheartedly Excuse me. Could you please know who you are, but and I've been here enough to know that Elias Ragsdale. Thank you. Um, I understand many in this room and those that spoke today advocated for a tax increase even up to 4% to ensure that our schools remain well funded. And while I wholeheartedly support this investment in education, our students deserve the best. That's undeniable. I was a student uh in June, right? Less than a year ago. But at the same time, it's important that we balance this investment with fiscal responsibility. Before we ask tax taxpayers for more, we need to ensure that every dollar we currently have is being used as efficiently as possible. We have to be creative in how we approach our budget, looking for ways to eliminate waste and streamline services that don't directly benefit students or things that we have provided to students that simply don't work.
And we all know that to be true. I'm not explaining anything new to anybody. Right. I just want to dispel the notion that the problem goes away should we take the full $15 million. Of course, the problem doesn't go away if we take the full $15 million. We can't predict what's going to happen with the next governor that comes into New Jersey that could drastically cut the aid that we get now. We can't predict what things will look like in 10 years. But we can say if we take the full $15 million now that we're not kicking the can down the road further. That we're doing everything in our power. We are taking as much local control of our own destiny as we can so that we can stop having the continual conversation year after year after year of trying to find out whose jobs are being saved and who has to go home at the end of the workday every day and worry that they're not going to be employed the next year.
Any questions? Uh, any questions from the board for Mr. D? Um, I don't at this time. Miss anything? If not, um, okay. Do you have any questions? No, but thank you for sharing. Okay. It's not in your report. Well, kind of, but I just want to make sure to mention and um voice that we have been requesting updates about the town hall that recently happened um regarding the BIE schools. And I know you plan to present uh some preliminary information as well as request a meeting to discuss that. But I just wanted to to I think expressly state again transparency that the board the nation I think we all are very much aware again what is out of our hands at points it comes to the federal government but especially that we're putting our best foot forward as a school district to be this I don't want to say what I'll say welcoming as possible to any and all who who are um feeling that sense of uncertainty when it comes to the next school year when when it deals with other students on donation.
Okay. So that so Wolfy the warrior. And what type of mascot do they have over there? What do they We're going to we're trying to make this uniform for all. But what do they have there now? Nothing. It's just nothing. Just the name Warriors. And we are warriors with an arrow. Yeah. Okay. We were trying to I think they were So now we trying to be the Warriors with a wolf. They were something they were a different uh comics. Comets. They come. We made them worious because now that we're creating all those programs and everything that we want just them to flow right in. So it's all like, you know, and how many sixth, seventh, eighth graders are looking up to our high schoolers going, I'm want to be there someday, right? So that's kind of why we changed that. What high school did you go to?
Do you believe that? That I should talk more? I don't believe that. You don't believe that? Well, I've got it right here. Okay. Well, then do it. Yeah. Okay. So, and and Oh, she just said maybe a song or two or another song. Another song. And then she said, "Could you tell a few jokes?" So, we'll get to that here in a little bit. Mrs. Morrison, thank you for your request. We are taking request by the way. Oh, the healer so close right there. Yeah, we finished him off. 10 player kill streak for our our tank you showed there. Great job. We got it moving again. We're at 18, but we we're not moved much in the last since you told us math. We got We had 18 more meters to go just to get to where it was before. Yep. We got to get going.
No, no. I'm just in terms of replicating in other years. You know, I know when I think it landed two years ago on the same situation, we said we were going to revisit it with past data because we couldn't count on that data because of when it landed. Okay. I don't anyone else I can look up last year specifically I have this year and this year we have eight that are applied you can see it's clear it says religious holiday we can pull that and I respect that and there everyone can take the religious holidays I'm not not discounting that at all can give you know what I don't like about this calendar I don't like starting before later you know how hot it is in EMS I know I know in August Y we had 17 out last year on the 29th of March.
Hearing none. Then the consent consent agenda is approved. Move on to the um nonrenewal of certified staff. You want to give us a second? Yeah. By state statute, we need to um let teachers know that they're nontenured by May 1st if their um contracts are going to be nonrenewed. And we don't like to do this too often because um we don't want to lose our teachers to other school districts. But with the budget being where it is and the the confidence that um we're not sure if the budget will be approved or not approved. Um I put a three uh staff members down here that are latest hires for elementary because that's where the possible reductions would be. Um all these individuals have been spoken to and not based upon performance but based upon budget. And um tonight you have the names of Ashley Clark, Erin Herszog, and Veronica Sullivan.
Um we are still digging into um we got some good feedback in the meeting and I'm in the biodiversity subgroup that's working on that and we're going to have a second reading of that. So there's been I think we're on version seven now. Um so uh stay tuned and I'll give you a report on on that. It's not prescriptive. Um there's a bunch of sort of recommendations of things um that should be looked at in the comprehensive plan. Um and more generally um and like I said, there'll be a second reading of that and uh hopefully a vote in our upcoming meeting at the end of the month. Thank you. Updates from council. Hi. Yeah, thanks. I think the biggest thing, and it's kind of already been mentioned tonight, but the uh gas franchise agreement we had for our first reading last night at council.
Cuts if needed should come from top down focusing on administrative cost and areas where we can improve efficiency not from the classroom or for ser from services that directly support our students. I know recently we created the position of assistant superintendent of business for how long did we just have a business administrator and actually we still both we still have both of those positions and I'm yet to receive a difference in those job descriptions. This is about prioritizing what truly matters in ensuring that every dollar spent contributes to student success and and as Mr. Ward said, you guys have a very hard decision because you have a commitment to the student success as well as to the taxpayer. And once again, I was a student less than a year ago. But I also understand the more complex role that you take on. So, by making smart decisions, strategic decisions, investing in education while being responsible stewards of taxpayer money, there is a way to find a balance that ensures our schools are well funded, our students have the resources they need, and we remain accountable to our community.
It gives us the room. It gives us the room in the budget to do the direly necessary capital improvement projects that have to happen in order for the roofs to stay on top of the buildings and for the kids not to be swimming in puddles as they go through the hallways. It gives us the room to increase the salaries of the teachers to go through all the steps that have to happen year-over-year. It gives us room to grow each year with a 2% cap and not having to come back to the taxpayers and say, "Give us more." Because we have the additional money that's in the capital side, the $8 million there that we can draw down from. We're also that $8 million will also still grow by the 2% year-over-year. That whole thing continues to grow as we're not taking all of it directly for line item expenses that we have every year.
Um but I'm really excited to be able to review and see much more of your presentation that you had initially sent and of course again just to express that it's not beyond this board and myself especially that the engagement that we've done. I think maybe genuinely what is the almost the safety net that I feel like people are looking for when it comes to some form of stability and what we're able to do as a school district. So, I want to say thank you so much for the effort that you put forth and thank you so much to your uh directors, your team and everyone who is kind of putting their heads together on how do we what we what will we do if we had to absorb the entire nation to a degree and or just at least be uh an open door for them if necessary when it comes to whatever may happen with that.
That's not a good one. TF South. I only say that because we switched mascots recently, so that was like that's a terrible circumstance. It was a lot of push back from to your point community members and things of that nature, but we had the rebels and literally when I went there was a Confederate flag hanging on the wall. Sure. So, um it was the Confed Confederate rebels. So, that's why I said that's probably the worst reference, right? Now we're the Now they're the Red Wolves, which is Yeah, it's just So, for me, I went to Andrew. So, the Thunderbolts. So there wasn't real, you know, that was the that was our thing. Yeah. Right. Same thing kind of like the spear thunderbolt somebody in there. Okay. So what do you need from the board? Anything from the board now? You got it? Yeah. Come back.
Got a minute and a half. Y There's that spin. Yeah. causes a lot of problems, man. Does Norwell's waiting for us. Yep. Yeah. Aiden here. Shoot from above. Tiger's yelling. I know. They're getting excited. Kind of like it. Just used their ultimate. Oh boy. Oh boy. They're emptying the and we used ours as well. Looks like we knocked out one character of theirs. They knocked out one of ours. We're at 83. We're not moving much. Not moving. Slow moving. We got We got one more there. We're moving it now. Oh, burn the excitement. Yep. Let's go. Keep moving. Moving. We're 94 95. Oh, 40 seconds left. Keep going. Keep going. Oh, got the Got the You got to get it moving. We're stuck in there. 9455. Got it. We got about six more me. But again, this is that tough place, Scott. Right there around the bend.
It was not Y 29 staff. We No, it was the 29th of March. We had 17 out last year. Can you go back last year? Sorry. Put you guys on the spot. So, while they're looking that up, let's talk about Labor Day. You know how hot it is in those metal roofs buildings in August? So if we don't have and we also have to be mindful of pushing ourselves out in June as well too with the last day of June five days than it is in August. Um so plus it's the end of the year we got field days. We got all sorts of field trips. We could do more even if they want but September is you're starting you're learning and figuring out where your class anything John it takes me a while. Yeah, we're having a conversation about the the recommendation that the principles that had made was before um Labor Day.
They know that you're doing this tonight, this action. And if you do vote to um not renew their contracts, I will meet with them tomorrow or Mrs. Cortto or we'll meet with them tomorrow to let them know. Can I have a motion that the contract of employment of Ashley Carr, Aaron Herszog, and Veronica Sullivan not be renewed for the following year upon its expiration at the end of the current 2425 school year and the super schools is directed to advise such persons in writing section first. Thanks Cindy. I need a second and we'll go to discussion second. Thank you for the second. Thank you. All right.
Um, and the second reading would then be at our next meeting, which would be April 21st. Um, so if you haven't had a chance to kind of read through what it's all about, the details are all in legisar of last night's meeting. Um, I guess the main thing is it most gas franchise agreements are 30 years in length. This one is not. This one is a uh depending how you look at it, eight or 10-year agreement. Um with the pretty clear uh direction that Ann Arbor will likely not renew it at the end of that gas franchise agreement, meaning we would move off of a gas franchise agreement completely uh by 2035. So uh more details on that to come and more uh on that specifically.
And lastly, I want to say that I've come to this mic advocating for tax increases as well. We h we cannot keep the pattern of zeros, but we also cannot keep the pattern of continuing to burden the taxpayer. And that's where administration comes in and that's where the creativity of you all come in to finding that equal balance. Thank you. Is there anyone else who wishes to speak this evening? Seeing none, motion. Seeing none, motion to close. Motion by Commissioner Batford, seconded by Commissioner Brunak. Okay, so let's open it up for a second round here. Um, Commissioner Suarez, I know had a question before we broke to public recognition. Thank you, President Paris. And just briefly, thank you for everyone who spoke. It was so heartwarming to see the community and staff come out in in these numbers. I wish we had those numbers on many other meetings so we can hear from the community.
I just I keep coming back to when we talk about adequacy and what it means to be an adequate school district and the line a thorough and efficient education. We are $15 million short of providing our children a thorough and efficient education. I have no idea how we cannot want to give them that. I have no idea how that is not the bare minimum of what we're going for. Is it a lot of money? Yes, I totally agree. And I don't want to pay the taxes. It's a terrible situation. And I would rather ask for that money tonight than do this every year in perpetuity. And for the people who are concerned about, you know, I not concerned about to get back to what Miss Fox was saying about that we need to continue the pressure on the legislature that we've had so many people and we've sat here and talked so often about how we need to continue to fight the state at the state level to get more funding.