I mean it would be better in process when they notice those that they give us heads up. So do we want to create some kind of language for our decisions that basically says on large projects or any project that's construction like hey we approved particular things if like find some kind of language from other boards that sort of says hey the expectation is that there's substantial changes at the time of construction you'll come back or you'll notify us or or what like how do we do this well so that what Asher thinks is substantial and Kate Jersey thinks substantial and my neighbor as a as as a citizen thinks are not going to match. So we cannot I mean so we need to we need to figure out what that means. Like there's two ways to do it. Either at each project we put our foot down as the board and we say these five things better not change and if they do in our decision it says you come back and talk to us.
Um so it's very important that today as you heard from all these teachers and these two wonderful students who are here that it's education is very important and actually we wouldn't have teachers or superintendent without students. So let's think about that. um you know so I just want to make that very known and very clear. So thank you. Appreciate everybody. I have some questions. Oh sure if you don't mind. I was wondering if you could talk a little bit about what your experience has been like on the human rights commission and over any overlap you see between the commission's work and the Greenfield school committee. Um so uh I was elected in October. Um, I was selected vice president about a month or two ago. Um, I guess my work is really amazing. Um, I get to hear from people all over um, the city about what they want in their community.
No, but we're always looking, you know, are there opportunities? And and certainly we've made um a number of improvements over the years, including moving to to um CT Prime for our stop loss. You know, with each of the contracts that we've negotiated, employees are paying a higher percentage of the total cost of the insurance. We have managed you know with the teacher contract we're finally by year 2028 we will no longer have the HMO or PO plans for any of the employees. So we we do take an active role looking at what are the changes that we can make within our plans. Um, but you know, I wish there were an answer. And the only other thing, and I know I shared this at the budget workshops, is if you look at what's really driving claim costs, and the fact is that the medical inflation, you know, in the United States last year ran at about, you know, 9% um on a gross basis and over 7% on a net basis.
In 201920 um the year 20 in the school year 201920 AHSD officially adopted the ask a national model a gamecher for our counselors the framework had existed but we were not using it until then the it was datadriven focusing counselor work in three areas academic college career and social emotional according to the ask a national model 80% of a counselor's time should be spent in direct services to students with 20% in indirect students is aka meetings, coordinating, lunch duty, etc. And at that time, we were closer to a 60/40 split and sometimes worse than that depending the school site. It wasn't easy changing. We didn't have a clear vision. We were part of too many groups. And let's be honest, data was more of an enemy to us than a friend. But things began to shift when our current directors, Amy Quan and Amanda Bean, were lucky enough.
Congratulations. Golf Club meets every Tuesday at the Apple Valley Golf Course. These golfers are dedicated and improving. They practice at the driving range and putting green before going on the course and playing three or four holes. students look forward to it every week. Shout out to all our paraprofessionals and the school librarian, Miss Butler. Last week was paraprofessional and school librarian appreciation day. This week is assistant principal appreciation week. Thank you to all the APS for all your hard work. Shout out to Miss Garcia. She's the best. Miss Aurora from the family center introduced Miss Janaa Shahid from the love program to Mr. Smith and I had the pleasure to meet her. The love program is a nonprofit organization that serves at risk young women of color ages 13 to 21 through Southern California. The organi the organization tools for success is a 10-week program where the w young women are called the love diamonds.
Based on the study, the proposed plan to move the equivalent of one team from each middle school to was discussed in the context of balancing the student and space needs while minimizing fiscal impact on the budget. Following up on the on the commissioner's suggestion, an additional report to see options for preschools to be added to elementary schools will be requested. Grace span options and building use changes may be considered. Meeting was adjourned at 6:42 p.m. Thank you, Commissioner Suarez.
Um, STEM is f ST STEM brings in like a lot of the engineering side like some of those engineering courses can count. Um, there's a there's a bigger focus on exercise science. There's a lot of those classes. Um, technology plays a big role in that as well. Um, and so, yeah, we're excited. We think there's some cool classes in there that we can definitely get put into place. Kudos to Jenny. She's for a veteran teacher. She's very open to change and wanting to do things the right way. So, I appreciate that. Yes, we have our battles, but yeah. Are we still offering the what used to be like the project lead the way those pre-engineering have those moved away so this may take the place? They've moved away, but we have a strong desire to get them back. We've just really struggled. I don't want to talk for Dr.
Entertain a motion to approve donations. I have a motion by Mary Lynn. Do I have a second? Second. Second by Pat. Any discussion? All those in favor? 70. Next, we have an IDE rule. Um, we are we are excited that we are going to be able to offer a potential new program this year and that is to feed students in the summer. And so it is the IDOE rule non- congregate summer meal food program. Um, and what that does is by applying um, and with their approval, we would be allowed to feed all children 18 years of age and younger. Um, so once a week in June and July, they would come to the school and pick up five days of meals to take home and have for the summer. Um, while we're out of school and kids may not have access to food opportunities.
We either have to do it that way project by project or we have to find some standard that is allowed by law right which is like a bylaw or a rule of I think it can be a combination of right I think there's some things um for example just from the look and feel or the materiality um for example 50 pawn pond we proved it two years ago it's nowhere near construction material manufacturing process can change colors can change. So the product that was approved is going to so that's kind of the general ones that I think can by default be put in a process like if materiality undergo some changes but energy related changes that may happen in the life of that project which when you come to construction documents you obviously have to follow that code then those are things that I think again could also be elements that we can captured as general items because it's going to have an impact on the facade of buildings in many cases.
Um, I also think that it's very important to um to, you know, co with the school committee is to um, have like I said youth voice is very important. Um, and for me to be a youth on a city official board is actually cool and it's very, you know, amazing. Um, so I feel like if we had more space and more, um, time for students to potentially be a member of the school committee or potentially be a member of the economic committee. Um, those are things that you're going to need in the future to see and hear for what people are actually going to want to hear. Because to be honest with you, youth hear more than adults. They hear it every day when they walk in the hallway. They hear it every day when they go to the store. They hear it every day when they do a jog around the track.
And even though last couple of years were not good years for us claims wise if you look we've been at about 5.1 to 5.6% you know gross in net. So we are doing better than medical inflation but still a cost that you know does affect our budget and I get that. Thank you. Welcome. Thank you for the questions Mr. Next, um, Mr. Masiana, you're still on deck, sir, because we need to talk about the energy performance contract. Very quickly, the update that I wanted to provide the board is that the interviews with the three firms that submitted proposals, Amoresco, Johnson Controls, and Honeywell, they were completed um last week by the there's a working group that um includes Mr. White from the board. Um, and on April 21st, we've scheduled a working group meeting to make a selection for the firm to go forward and do take us to the next step, which is a very thorough investment grade audit.
And I say that a little bit sarcastically because I don't know if they think they're lucky or not to be chosen to oversee counselors with their support and their knowledge. We've done some serious reflection like conducting an equity audit on our program and site data. We are beginning to see where counselors truly fit within the system using data to support students and inform systemic decisions. We're embracing the idea that excellence and equity are inextricably entwined. As the BER 2030 commission stated, excellence without equity is not true excellence. And equity without excellence is unfulfilled promise. That's why every month when APJ speaks here, we bring data because that's what shows real impact to the equity and excellence of our students. Here are just a few highlights from the school year with a full data report to come in May. At the start of the year, all students completed a universal needs assessment.
This program consists of bi-weekly self-development, self-awareness, career development, leadership skills, and job readiness training. Thank you for your time. I hope you have an amazing rest of your week. See you next month. [Applause] Thank you, Jasmine. Good job, Granite Hills. Hannah. [Applause] Thank you. Good evening, executive cabinet, board members, and attendees. My name is Hannah Forier, and I'm the ASB governing council president at Garnell's High School. ASB has been very hard at work as the end of the year is very fast approaching. This Wednesday, we held our senior pep rally to help honor all of our seniors and it was a lot of fun. Tomorrow, April 11th, ASB is hosting a mini prom wear fashion show in partnership with our family center. The goal of our event is to help advertise the prom pop-up boutique that's taking place on April 15th. The senior class is also working very hard to finish prepping for grad night senior sunset and our seniors are picking up their cap gowns on April 15th.
Are there any questions from the board? Yes, Commissioner B. Um, Chucha Truck was postponed till the 26th because of the weather this weekend. So, just everybody out there noticed uh that it's same place, but it's the 26th. Thank you. Anyone else? Commissioner Mia, add a quick question. Uh, when it comes to expanding the preschools into our already elementary schools, um, how much money will this save us from renting out outside sources in terms of renting out another building to house our preschool classrooms in? I don't think that information is available, but um, will it save us? if it would not because um the number of spaces that we need exceeds the space already that exists including this the rental spaces. Uh we actually have contracts with multiple outside providers where we have students of ours um where we have entire classrooms in other buildings. We have two uh two locations right now.
director, but we really struggle to find the right candidate and get somebody in here to do that. And then uh but I do think the state recognizes that a little bit. And so I think when you read when you look into the I mean I've read it a thousand times, the Indiana code for this um does lend itself a lot to that engineering and computer science track. So we have a desire to do that and uh yeah, it's definitely on our radar for sure. Strictly I can't tell you how much I appreciate the students staff's comments here today. Thank you. All right, moving on. Um, first item business is approve the previous meeting minutes. We got some chairs. Any additions or corrections? So moved. Second. All in favor? All right. Uh, no business. We'll move on to new business. The first item is concern the student international travel.
So, um, we would like your approval to proceed with the paperwork and and getting that started. There would be an associated staffing position, um, a couple positions, but those are covered through the program itself. So, it's it's a wonderful opportunity, and I want to say thank you to Stacy Green. aggressively seeking this out and working through it so that we have a chance for this. That's wonderful. Make sure the paper gets a hold of that one. That's a big deal. We entertain a motion to accept program. Motion by Pat. Do I have a second by Carol?
Um I think it may be wise for us to define and have two scales. One which has got massive impact versus one which can so so I read a bunch I mean most of the ones that have there there's many that have them they use the term dimminimus and then they define what that is. So then everything else has to do you have that some language like that? Um well they don't they don't consistently say what they think is dimminimous, right? But but so that is that's the way to say everything else has to come back. That's one thing. So I think it's the opposite of what you're saying, but it accomplish the same thing. It's standardized, right? So the planning these are dimminimous changes. I would argue that nobody gets to make them without a record because now we we don't have a record.
They hear it from other people. Um, and for me to be there and representing them is amazing. So, yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? Well, yeah. Remember, I used to see you every day as I dropped off a bus of very loud children at the YMCA and every day you would get on that bus and you were able to they'd immediately listen to you and you were able to gather them all together and they really looked up to you. So, it seems absolutely fitting that you should be the one winning this award and I just congratulations to you. you are always on the go and it's wonderful to see the things that you're accomplishing. So, congratulations. Thank you. Appreciate that. Okay. Thank you very much. So much. [Applause] Um, while folks are still here, um, would like to move up the item about the donation from the Donna Woodcock Woodcock Trust.
And so we should have the results of that in the early fall. And that's the update on that. Great. Any questions about that, Mr. Gribble? Um, not directly to the new con contract, but there was an inquiry from the council about our current contract, and I wasn't sure what relevance there was, and because if it's a contract, it is what it is, or is it? Now the the question uh was raised by um John Milone about you know the 600 you know $89,000 cost that's in our budget that is for the our portion of the annual payment for the contract. His question was well where's the offset because we've got a $689,000 cost. And the answer is the offset is what we have for electricity and natural gas and heating oil is lower than it would have been had we not had the contract. But we don't it's basically netted out in our utility costs.
Counselors then tailored supports to meet their sight spec specific needs. Loera High School delivered lessons to 9th and tth graders on communication styles. Ball Junior High School provided seventh graders a lesson on financial literacy titled empowering your wallet. Multiple sites ran small groups addressing peer pressure, self-esteem, and coping strategies. The universal needs assessment is what drove those lessons. In October, every student grades 7 through 12 participated in the college and career fair lessons. And here's some of our street data from our college from our students when they were asked about their path to college or career. I feel very good about my path to college. I've planned everything Cypress College, then transferred to a UC, then pilot training, maybe via the Air Force. I feel a little overwhelmed by all the info, but more confident now. I just wish Cypress offered forensics or something in criminal investigations.