we use those projections. We're seeing some things differently now. Um, and so 25 26 as we head in, we'll probably set a few things up in in a different way, but it takes time. I, you know, we're going to be cleaning this up over two years this year and next year to get it to really to where we want it to be. Um, and but I think we are headed in the right direction. Thank you very much. And just as reminder, tomorrow it's 6:30 for the ad. Is that correct? And then I think on Thursday we have the public session where I assume I think Glattus said she had to leave early but many of the board members that can attend that and speak on behalf of supporting the budget. We'd like to have representation there. Can I ask one question? Yeah. Can I ask one question?
Um the second thing I wanted to comment on is that uh uh well I'm glad I'm glad um D that uh the uh architecture firm selection moved off the consent agenda into the regular agenda and then there was a discussion and um I was also happy to see that it kind of shifted uh towards STR and W uh in the end of that conversation. Um uh I wanted to also suggest that uh the new board consider having a third firm um whether it's one of the ones already present or another one. I I'm a little bit unclear you know there's a there's a law that pertains to the selection of architecture and related such uh such firms. uh and I was a little bit unclear from the discussion whether that law pertained or didn't pertain to the stage that the district is in in terms of the selection process.
I just want to know is it possible to get a breakdown of the inind uh costs that the city gives us in the proposed budget? I'd like to know what they're charging us $12 million. That would be I think or giving us Yeah. I I don't have that, Teresa, but that's something that the city might be able to provide for us. I I think it might report because we have to add that back in. But we might have that. Yeah. Okay. I want to make sure they're not charging us for the roof when they hit a bond for that. I'm sure it's a lot of the bonding cost and and financial costs for the bonds, but you can certainly Mike can certainly request it from Dan. You know, that's that's fine. Are there any board members that have any further questions regarding this particular agenda?
Um but but that law does sort of have a provision that says no less than three firms um you know are selected prior to the contracting phase. And so if that applies should do that. If it doesn't apply, maybe it's still just a guide in terms of how to do something uh in a way that is more in line with typical how organizations typically operate. Um I also think that um you know while Larson and Darby was not selected, there are a number of things for the board to discuss and consider related to Larson and Darby. Uh I know some of you uh up there know much more about this than I do. Um but um in particular uh with regard to the foyer request on the district's contracts with Larson Derby, it was unclear uh whether or not there was a properly executed counterigned agreement between the district and Larson Derby related to uh the plans constructed for the new high school and and I think also related to some of the actual work that was done over the past uh you know however many months or years.
Okay. Can you see anybody who has a hand up? Michelle has her hand up. Michelle, go ahead. Hi. Um, just thinking about the questions that are going to be coming up, Carara, uh, to you or Mike, based on the fact that we're looking at I think basically $20 million in surplus over two years with 21% backto-back asks. Is there any way that we know, I know this is going to be a really hard thing to say, for the following budget that we're going to be looking at or the upcoming budget that we will not be anywhere in that 21% number for our next ask based on the accounting that's happening, the surpluses, and I know we're opening a new school, but what kind of confidence can we give with the numbers that you're now? because it looks to me like you're we're setting up basically 101 here on the accounting and the rec, you know, on our ability to to fiscally be, you know, um accurate in in our accounting, right?
Uh and so there are still things I think to address uh with large senate derby to mitigate risks to the district and um those things can still be done right those things can be cured. Um so that I think is a good topic. And then I think the third thing um I would suggest I have many more uh but the third thing I suggest just for time is that um you know you delve into the topic of uh staff retention and satisfaction. um you know a lot of people are hopeful that the change will bring good things right and it's important for that momentum to carry through over the course of the first meeting the second meeting the third meeting and people see that momentum really come to fruition and and given that we have such low teacher retention I would suggest that that's appreciate you third topic thank you Virginia.
We need to be more on time, right? On time numbers. So what I'm asking for is if we're going to go and we have to go and and you know we're going to defend what we're we're doing and and what actions we've taken based on all of the issues over the last few years. We can point to so many but can we give any kind of assurance that our next ask for the school budget is not going to be near that 21%. based on what you're looking at now, what you're seeing because we don't see, we're only getting the information today. So, you've been able to see the landscape a lot better than us and based Mike on what you're seeing coming in. And Carara, there's going to be I know changes uh to grants and everything. But this is historic this 21%. Sure. In the state of Connecticut, I think 15 is Bridgeport highest.
Hi, welcome new board and uh what existing board members. Um uh let's see. I something I've noticed through the past couple years I guess that I've been here is it didn't seem like well it was kind of diff dysfunctional because of what we had going on in the past. So I'm pretty um hopeful and how do I want to say um kind of excited I guess to see what the new board is going to come up with and things like that. So, um I'm just kind of hoping that the district's books um are audited um not only by the board members but perhaps an audit firm to see where there's any excess spending or even any excessive reserve accounts cuz um actually there's a a village that has over a million dollars that they didn't know about. So, uh, that's quite interesting. So, anyway, um, hopefully you don't find anything like that, but, um, let's see.
So I'm so for for us to be able to ensure to the public that we are really getting a good hold on this are we looking at any kind of a number like 21% in our next ask for 20 what is it 6 27 27 yeah 2627 yeah so I mean you know that number will be an amalgamation of a few things one one wherever we land this year right our budget um we're not opening another academy thankfully Um, but we will, you know, that was a major part of the of the ask percentage-wise. So, you know, not everybody's bringing on an entire new building or a satellite campus and having to staff it and, you know, tierations. That's a major percentage driver. Um, we won't have that next year. There'll be some additional drivers related to that because we'll be adding some more staff as we bring on the 12th grade.
Um, and with staffing issues, I'm also hoping that's going to be relieved um, with the exit of the superintendent and because it has been said that the staff the and the teachers have endured a lot and has been an it it's more been an environmental issue than I think a pay and benefits thing. Um, and it could still be an issue as far as staffing just because there it is, from what I've heard, there is a shortage of workers anyway, no matter what um career they have. So, um, it seems there a lot of places are having trouble finding people. Um, I think that was all. Yeah. And I just I trust that the decisions for whatever uh y'all make for the space considerations that it's you know the I guess the current buildings are taken well into consideration. Um and hopefully we can only add on we only need to add on to those buildings and not have to build a brand new one.
Um, but it will certainly won't look like like it was this year. Um but you have to understand too is that some of the ask um in the budget and I can't remember the percentage it might be five or six million uh were to restore some staff that are it's really that's really hurting us that we don't have and one of the things that is important Michelle is that you know we we were not um operationally efficient this year in the sense that um we did not have we we really don't have enough people to handle all of the the reporting the requirements the legislation the mandates um the initiatives coming down from the state but also the ones that we're trying to drive here and so restoring some of those positions are key because otherwise our hands are are are tied and we're limited.
But um um I trust that um the people here that were watchd dogs will continue to be the watchd dogss um within the board and you know have that extra edge. So um I guess that's all and thank you and looking forward to to a new season. Thank you. Thank you very much. All right. I need a motion and a second to adjurnn. So moved. Second. All in favor?
So I consider that the priority carried absolutely because we have not known where we stood to me that is the one absolute priority that we have as a board. It is difficult for us to know what's happening if you're telling us that you're just figuring like you're just finding the ground. You know what I'm saying? So, I'm asking if you found the ground and what I just heard in this last in this last exchange, which is great. We've gotten a lot more information. We've got a much better sense of where we are and where we want to go. But based on that, you had just said it's going to be tight. The money that we're spending is basically going to the administration to cover the opening of the new school, but will not be facilitating all of the programs that we clearly need. So, you know, based on that one line that you just made and then we're going to be getting in there, you know, we're well aware of construction and what happens and what, you know, we don't necessarily see based on all that because the numbers that we have been projecting over the last few years have been with the idea of the career academy already being open.
So, I just I just, you know, if we're going to go and we're going to stand together and we're going to say, okay, this is where we faltered. this is what we're we're now looking at and this is the direction like for me as you know a taxpayer just a taxpayer am I looking at another 21% you know are we going to get a real understanding of where we are and we're not looking at something like that because that's $20 million sure you know that we're talking about that we've been paying taxes on right everybody's been paying taxes on so I'm just want to make sure that we at least have that in mind for when we go to Oh, sorry. Thank you. That was my question. Just what are we looking at? How do you see the landscape moving forward? And I know that's very difficult, but I'm sure those are questions that as you're moving forward, they're you know, before you that you obviously be way ahead of us in Yeah.
So, I can't imagine that we would have another 21% increase. Um, however, you know, it we we do have um, you know, we are trying to play catch-up. So, I don't think we'll be at the marginal rates that some of our surrounding uh, towns have enjoyed because, you know, they've been kind of keeping up at a at a at a different rate than than Danberry. So, we are, you know, we are trying to to to catch up. I do think we'll get there over time. Um again the the opening of the academy created a a perfect storm if you will of need um coming off ESSER and and trying to do all of these things. So you know there's there's a lot of variables you know the rising cost of health care the the needs of our students um there are there are drivers such as special education second language learners um transportation uh out of district tuition things like that that are out of our control.
Um, but again, we I don't think we're going to have another like 10 million of our ass this year, Michelle, was the opening of the academy. Are we going to need that money moving forward every year? Yes. So, that's the hard part is really is the sustainability moving forward. So, you know, we're not um everything that we've done while it's it's a big number, Michelle, um is still actually quite conservative relative to our size and our need. So, um we're going to continue to make, you know, responsible requests. This was a very unusual year. Like I said, perfect storm. Um, we'll make, you know, very responsible requests. We're very sensitive to the needs of the taxpayers. Um, and I'm extraordinarily sensitive um to the point of, you know, and with and with Mike to, you know, the situation that we found ourselves in and so and understanding, you know, some of the the angst that that's caused.
So, um, you know, might I it'd be irresponsible of me to predict a number for 2627 without looking at our actuals. No. uh and our costs and making sure that we're you know that we have what we need. Um but again 21% would be would be you know I don't think that that is going to be a number or that won't be near given the fact that we we won't be doing some of the same things again. Yeah. Thank you. Of course to your point both Michelle and Cara this is no surprise. I mean this $10 million was reduced. I think the initial estimate was $12 million and that we've been you know over the last couple of years phasing in some positions in anticipation of the academy. So it it was out there as a number as to how they they forecasted it or put money aside for it you know is something else but it certainly wasn't any surprise.
Uh the problem I think as Tara said is the sustainability going ahead because this is a firm number now and we've got to live with all of those positions moving forward. Don't don't forget too, you know, you just you just made me think, you know, we will we will have another mini cliff next year because if we're if we have this ARPA money, it's $7.5 million worth of ARPA money, we'll probably have about four million or so and change left to rely on heading into the year. But then but then heading into 26 27 that that money is gone. So it's not sustained. So we have to absorb at least four million heading into next year. U actually um and then Right. Yeah. So that's what I'm saying like yeah putting that those like the information that Teresa talked about where we have a sheet of things that are non man or things that are coming up that we need to consider.
I know when I'm putting projects together, I'm looking at that number today. If it's next year, if we're looking at at reconciling what we did a couple of years ago, that's what I'm I'm like, we can continue to compare ourselves to Norwok and that size and that expense. I I get it. But they're they're growing at 9%. So, we consistently are growing at at 21 or 20. You know what I'm saying? So, we've got to find a way to make it sustainable so that we can afford it, right? So, I'm just wondering everything on the table, you know, how do we get there or what are we looking at? Probably, you know, I'm not going to give a number either, but I'm just hoping it's nowhere near that 21%. 15% is is a huge number, and I think we all knew about the expenses. We didn't count on the surpluses and not being able to backfill.
So that's where I'm just, you know, I know we're looking at a lot of reasons as to how we got here and it's wonderful that we're, it sounds like we're building a sounder system, but moving forward and if we're asking for that trust, it's how do we rebuild that with and making sure like right now that just came up that money that we won't be having next year, what are we looking at? You know, that's all. Thank you for your time. Yes, of course. Just one last thing, as part of our goals, we do once we land this budget and where it's going to land and stays put and we lock lock lock in whatever our final number is. Um we will do a like a three-year projection um you know to the best of our ability so that we can see where we're going in the next couple of years and and try to anticipate some need not knowing that it's not perfect but right one of our strategic goals was to create a multi-year projection and uh we plan to do that soon as our numbers settle here.