president questions we have until very early June to do the for the board to call for an election as far as additional information the committee has done its research and has studied the topic and is making its recommendation if there are specific questions the board members have and we've tried to answer those as far as waiting to see how the the situation goes with a coronavirus we could I think the challenge there is that elusive crystal ball and I don't know that even by the middle or the 1st of June that we will be able to predict what the economy will be like in 2021 and 2022 which is when this override would kick in as far as doing a poll I think you're kind of asking for almost an election and to ask the people what they want and I think what the board responsibility here is is to determine whether or not to present the question to the voters not this the board isn't saying we're voting to to enact the override it's just asking whether to put it on the ballot or not and to clarify dr.
Califf as far as what extra information it was because I understand we did get the the feedback from the override committee I'm talking about the cuts like looking at getting creative and coming up with different options of you know how how that might look and are there ways that we could do it in such a way that wouldn't have as hard of an impact on teachers students programs which again I know if it's 80 percent of our budget is M&O it's a challenge but looking into that and then again yes I know that what no one's ever gonna be able to know exactly what this let's turn the economy is gonna take but I do think that early June we're definitely going to get a feel for I mean if we're still in lockdown and quarantine and the death you know the death count continues to go up that's gonna be an indicator that things aren't turning around if you know we hit our peak under this month and things keep looking better and come June people are back at work and you know businesses are opening things like that the economy is picking up we're gonna at least start to see a little bit of a an unofficial trend I know that doesn't really define exactly what a trend is but we're gonna get a feel for we're still in the spot we're in now and I'm calling it rate is continuing to rise or things are turning up so that would be my reason for why wait it would be wait until the last possible moment in June when we can get to the county and say yes or no because by June I think it's gonna look different than what April is it's gonna give us some information yes mr.
pitcher mr. president mr. Pritchard thank you for that clarification and just for my understanding if you're asking for to give it a better pulse of the circumstances in June we could probably get some sense of what things would be like in June my point was just that this would not take effect and for another year after that and so the environmental circumstances that we're trying to predict are so far out it would be almost impossible to to predict what what the economy would be like or what people's situations would be like at the time this would take effect I see what you mean by that comment which okay I understand I understand where you're coming from with that I guess if anything though as far as the community goes it's just that feel loved we're going outta depth perception - of going out right now saying we still want you to pay the higher tax in a time that is as devastating financially as it is for our families right now I just I almost feel like because we it's not even like I think if we were if we came close to passing the override the last time it might be a little bit different story not not with the situation because I still think if you know with the finances being away they are I don't I just have concern about going out in general but - the pandemic if it were a close call that might be a little bit of a different story would at least know that in general the community was behind it despite the economic situation but 12% is a lot and so you know if let's just say that it we're gonna get the same results if anything going out maybe another time would at least show like well you know when we were in that economic crisis the district you know they they listened to that and they were mindful of that and you know this again I mentioned earlier as far as like who's there during their darkest hour I mean it's like not all of our Dysart community members are students and teachers and it's more than that so again we all work in that realm so when we think of Dysart we think of our wonderful teachers and staff and our students and programs but we have to remember that we're not all of dinosaurs and all of El Mirage surprise Weddell all of our in our unincorporated areas so we have to still consider that as well everyone else is hitting everybody hard they're facing their own challenges and I think it would show a good effort and be very compassionate approach to saying you know if by chance by June things the economy is at least picking up I don't know I think I would feel better about it just ethically and morally to be honest with you I would leave that question actually up to the board to decide if you would like to delay or to call for the vote now that's that's really a board conversation um mr.
Hicks you said that the county needs to know our answer by the beginning of June correct we just have to verbally tell them by the beginning of June and so I could just say yes we plan on going out but we have to finalize it by the end of June and so we could at that point modify it or cancel it that's a long time that's a lot of time to wait and see what this economy is gonna do that's like two and a half months well that's that's if I'm understanding this correctly the option you know whether whether we vote on it tonight or we vote on it for June we can still bring it back up in our June meeting when is our June meeting oh I'm sorry I'm looking that up right now it's on June 10th mr. president is June 10th okay thank you then and then ones are we have two meetings and two meetings before that or just one there are two scheduled meetings in May May 13th and May 27th okay so we still have a few meetings so with this recommendation is this a am I making a motion what are we doing here well wait I mean so if we're waiting what are we waiting exactly for to see if the economy is gonna change what what are we waiting for I guess I'm not I'm not I'm not making I'm not heading down the wedding I think if we can we have three meetings before June if we need to take this off the ballot we can so well it's not on the belly if well no but I'm saying if we need to make if we need to approve the resolution to move forward we still have three meetings that we could make adjustments or change if we need to based on the information and we're getting so I don't necessarily see any reason to table this if it was you know in my opinion if it was this was you know the final call and then we didn't have an option to make adjustments later I think tabling at me may show good faith but I think at the end of the day we can make a vote on it tonight and make a decision based on what the board wants whether we're moving forward with it or not and then revisit it in our June meeting and I don't know what we need to do to happen put on the agenda whether okay well then I guess I guess I didn't make myself clear I know in the past whenever I mean historically and I was elected for the first time in 2006 any time a board members asked a table for more information there's never been a problem with it but I guess then for the record I'll at least like to I'm gonna make a motion that we table this item until the June meeting is there a second second okay motion made by mr.
Pritchard seconded by John Densmore do we go gave me a second I'm going to have to add a different motion here so just give me a second no problem Krissy can you repeat your motion motion to table do you want me to read do I need to read the whole resolution no no motion to table the item until one may be in order to continue to monitor the [Music] might of these the economic hardship facing our community and receive more information from mr. Hicks regarding how the staff would be impacted by phase one cut okay I apologize mr. Leonard when I ask for a second I was outside of my scope I wasn't it was quiet so I didn't know if anyway I'll put a single almost per second if you wants Chrissy I have motion to table the item to the June 10th 28:20 meeting order the water the economic hardships of the community is that good enough well but and also because I wanted to have some time to further investigate um what these phase one phase one possible phase one options would look like I don't know I wasn't anticipating making a motion like this I'm sorry I didn't make an emotion just a table Adam to the June 10th meeting I think would be sufficient well as long as there's as long as there's a reason why because it sounds like that it wasn't clear and it's not to do it just to do it right but in the right okay in order to monitor the economic hardships of the community and allow administration to so you continue to monitor the economic hardships of a city community come on mm-hmm continue to receive community feedback challenge investigate options in regard to phase one cuts okay sorry I don't type it as fast as you talk so in order to receive can receive community feedback and then what was the last you allow administration to further investigate options for Phase one cuts if necessary since seem like there's any absolute impending rush right this very minute and then to go back and undo possibly I just unless mr.
Hicks I'm missing something I bet you didn't mention that there was a dire need to do at this very moment mr. president members of the board such a community oh but I think you're pushing the brakes here like on a reasonable basis I guess or because concern because I'm pandemic it's this is somewhat uncharted territory in this I I think that the depth of the conversation we're hearing tonight tells how serious the board is considering this this isn't a rubber-stamp this isn't a quick and easy this is a very difficult decision and so we have so I don't want to add any editorial comments at that point sorry okay so Chrissy I have a motion by you and who seconded you miss turns bar okay bori in his open thank you I don't see it on my and ELISA yeah I don't have the boat can we okay hold on let me try something I'm gonna have to delete the first motion yeah try it now they're not coming in no no maybe that they need to refresh their screen so I tried that and it didn't okay so at this point is because I had to add a motion it wasn't it didn't register so if we can do a roll call vote I'll start with Don Dez more yes or no or abstain I'm voting YES Jane Leonard yes no or abstain although yes Christine Pritchard yes no or abstain Traci sorry your sink though yes no or abstain abstain Jennifer tanner yes no or abstain no it says error that it could not be saved I don't know why but we have three yes votes one abstain boat and one no vote so the where the motion passes just ask for some guidance at this point for administration and the motion was to get some more information from administration about the potential cuts if I could get some understanding direction on is the board expecting the administration are asking the administration come back with seven million dollars in cuts proposed are you asking me dr.
Califf I'm the board yes so what was your intention there because if I get I just I don't want us to continue to go down the road of okay first cuts first base cuts always means eliminating kindergarten I don't want to always think okay but we're always gonna eliminating the Arts I don't think it should be a Dunc always going right for that those those programs are obviously very vital very important I think there's more than one way to go about it I'm just asking that we look outside of the box and look at some other feasible options that even though is is probably extremely difficult is it's going to be finding ways that will have the very least impact to teacher students programs as possible you know being innovative looking at so I'm not saying come back with every single penny and and you know spend you know 20-hour days trying to figure it out I'm just saying come up with some some other ideas other than our typical cut kindergarten cut arts because I don't think we should just always start there know where that's all right funds were were designated to so that's what they cover so that's obviously why those but in the money but you know I don't know remember though in 2014 I mean that all that stuff was looked at I mean the same exact process was followed and and looked at and it it's almost impossible to try and do this without touching any of those things so one of the questions that I have mr.
Pritchard is would you be okay with staff putting together a basic outline of what happened in the past so we can see directly what was cut and that would give you more information on after they went through the process and looked at everything basically what they came up with I think that's the only way we're going to have this in a reasonable amount of time without wasting resources putting together something that may never happen is that something that you would consider well into the honest with you mr. Leonard I'm not even necessarily asking I don't I wasn't on I don't believe I was on the board in 2014 I think that was when I was actually working for the districts I think you looked I remember being in the meeting when there was discussion about having kindergarten teachers go to different schools like when kindergarten teacher having to go to different schools so I was not on the board when that happened okay in any way so it's not necessarily historical data cuz I guess what I'm saying is why do we always have to do the same exact thing it seems like the arts always get the brunt of it kindergarten always gets the brunt of it and I know that yes we have to spend the money there because that's what we said on that ballot measure but we don't necessarily have to always cut from there and I think dr.
calles articulated that during one of our workshops several weeks ago so it doesn't even I'm not asking for people to spend countless hours and resources coming down every single nickel and dimed what I'm saying is just think outside of the box with okay well we could also probably cut a little from this area or that area or maybe there's some vacancy money here that we're not I don't know just try to be try to think outside of the box be innovative rather than going for this what we always go for what our first go-to usually always is because it wasn't one I think what you're asking is almost impossible to put together because it's all going to be speculation so I don't know that that's gonna be good data maybe you can correct me if I'm wrong dr. keller sir mr. Hix but I don't know that that is going to really be a fruitful tree that is really going to help us make a decision I think the only thing that we could do is look at what we did in the past after going through the entire process and I mean that would give us who what weren't on the board a little bit better picture of what was cut but at the end of the day you know this is a new time and schools have changed things resources has changed obviously we have I mean there's been so much so much has happened in that time I just don't know that that process is gonna yield anything that's going to help right I think that's I don't really think that that's necessary either to be honest with you I mean that was an added extra because I really don't think that if we looked at cards that should be done in the last one if this override gets on the ballot and if for some reason it fails you know it's good before we're thinking in general but to be honest with you my main my main reason for asking for this to be tabled primarily is to see if by June the the economy is bouncing back people are getting back on their feet financially and and kind of go from there that that's my biggest peace hearing a little bit more from the community not saying going committee together again I'm just saying the community is gonna have this time now they know that they can continue to voice their concern but for me it's more let's see what the let's see what the economy looks like in June and maybe people feel a little bit better about where we are economically and cuz the last thing we want to do too is alienate our community anymore then some people already feel and you know I think we might be in a better place to reevaluate if things are better hopefully things obviously doesn't pass it's not just one year that we're looking at I think as as mr.
Hicks has stated you know this sets into motion a three year you know seven million dollar cut each in each section and so that's that's something that we have to take into consideration I mean obviously we could put it to a vote again and again and again but I don't know that that's the right thing to do either so I think obviously looking at what we want to direct staff to do my recommendation and feel free to add anything or take away or give feedback on this but my recommendation dr. Kellis is let's look at a basic synopsis of where we cut in the past so that we're a little bit better educated on that section and then let's look at is there an opportunity just to receive feedback I know each one of us has a dice our email the people can access via the web page and send us direct communication is that the best way for us to use this time and hear what people are thinking obviously we had the website should we open up the website or should we just wait until June and see where we're at in June okay thank you for that clarification so what I'm hearing if I can just restate that is that you're asking that administration prepare information for the board including how cuts have historically been made and potentially president Leonard I can talk to you about a medium for collecting community input that can be shared with the board and as far as suggesting potential cuts I would just share that I'm hesitant to do that because I don't want to commit and have a board make a decision based on some suggestions or some some guesses or what-ifs rather than that be a much more well har did they agree with you there's no reason to start that process obviously there's a potential that we could face it and doing any specula speculation I mean even those documents getting out to anybody I mean it could be devastating to to all parties that are involved so I don't I don't think that going down that road is appropriate at this time there's never one doubt within the motion that we just passed we actually we added that part in there about looking at alternative options right and looking at alternative options we can get educated on what has happened in the past and that will give us the information that we can look at in the future how are we gonna handle this going forward are we going to continue with the same process that we did in the past are we going to look at is there another option that we can look at do we need to advise staff on something else and we have two meetings before this comes up again and I think that we can work something out that will be that will not only meet the motion but also give us a better standing as far as how do we represent the people and do the best job for Dysart and make sure that that we're well informed on the past processes and then like I said the speculation is stuff that I mean we can look at it just like you just said you don't feel like you know the all-day kindergarten should be the first thing or band should be the first thing I agree wholeheartedly you know we've worked hard to get all of those programs to where they are and make them the extraordinary experience that they are as mr.
Dean commented you know it we're still not back to where we we would have been had we not cut or had to cut but it is what it is and so we have to make decisions based on that I think if we give some time like you had asked for mr. Pritchard but also directing staff to give us an education on the process so that we're aware at that and what their approach is will better understand how those cuts have been made in the past and I think that that will satisfy the resolution of how we would move forward if we had to take seven million dollars out of our budget for the next three years stick to the motion - and then I'll be fine well and this is Tracy I wanted to interject just for a quick second prior processes we've only done this once and that was in 2014 and at that time administration had brought us three scenarios a B and C and correct me if I'm wrong mr.
Dean but I thought there was three different ones and we selected one mr. president members servicing to the best of my recollection you're correct yes so we won't have a lot of history because this hasn't happened several times so that you only have one to look at just just so you're aware it's just it's just one time that we've actually had to do this and it was three different scenarios and we picked one of them okay so this is done president Leonard you mentioned something about that the information getting out there and and in staff people staff members being in fear potential cuts but each election and even currently in our agenda we are basically putting a potential threat out there for our teachers music teachers band teachers PE teachers coaches kindergarten teachers how is that any different then than what we're doing now if we can just look at the whole picture to see what you know where we can potentially make adjustments and maybe make things a little bit easier instead of constantly threatening our kinder parents and kinder stuff I don't see how that differs well I'm just looking at as a speculative of something that's not happening our agendas and the things that we're moving forward with um I agree with you wholeheartedly I think we need to change our culture obviously bringing up the fact that all of those demographics that you just mentioned would be the first to be cut as a justification for what we're doing moving forward I don't agree with that either so I agree that we need to change our culture on that well the way we discuss it but I also think that directing staff to move forward with some sort of a plan that isn't an actual plan isn't I don't think that's appropriate well I do have to say too and every year when when the budget comes and we're talking either adding or subtracting it when it goes through the IBA process they are all charged with confidentiality that whatever it's discussed in that ivi process stays it within that within the confines of that room so that it does prevent like panic and fear across the district of oh they're talking about getting rid of this or they're talking about getting rid of this and it just so even just yearly honor on our ABA process there's there is confidentiality I could just interject to that in those previous times where the $7,000,000 had to be cut previously that was after the election results and it was something that had to be done to put it out there now and saying that these are potential I do believe that there would be some premature actions by staff to protect themselves meaning FLE and I would hate to see that if it wasn't something that needed to happen but from what I understand going back to the original question we will go ahead and prepare the information from the previous situations and look at a medium for community input so do we need to change the notion and if you feel like what mr.
Leonard was there president Leonard was suggesting doesn't cover the motion then I would recommend you change that you we are but I'm saying if and I think this is really kind of turning into something bigger than it needs to be i we already passed the motion the way I had the way I had made it as far as coming up with some different options when I said that I wasn't meaning at all for us to come up with to kind of go through a whole mini IRB a process really come up with this trying document of who might because we might not be but it could just even be in a superintendent update it could just be you know I'm just just so I know that I guess for me I don't want it to be like it's the same old thing we need to be creative and innovative in the way we look at this then I don't think it should always mean the arts get cut or always me in kindergarten gets cut and so I mean it's a real possibility that this override if the board puts it on the ballot might not have I'm just not one for a knee-jerk reaction I'm just saying we need to start thinking about especially with how bad we lost the election the last time we should start thinking about that and then not necessarily always have to go to the same go to do the same standby so I just meant start thinking about it let's be proactive let's you know think outside of the box um but I did not mean for staff to spend hours or scare people away or have it be this formal document that's floating out in the community if I came across that way that was not my intention that's not what I meant so I want you to be mindful of that and consider that and but it's I'm not asking you for a full document but I do want that to be considered that's why I included it in my motion okay and that's why I was just asking for the clarification of the intent of the board for that backward meeting yeah well for June you mean yes and that that's up to you dr.
Kellis I again my main reason for waiting to June was to see what the economy is going to do so we could be a little considerate of our community members and the economy and things like that the other piece of it if you want to it doesn't have to be this major agenda item it can just be like I said in the superintendent update if you want it doesn't have to be anything formal or or long okay I think that if I don't think we could put it in an update because of all the areas that are listed I don't think that would how is it different than anything else at my gonna especially like miss Tanner was saying as far as IBA meetings are you know they're confidential you know that that that type of information isn't typically out anyway while you're in the process as far as what's being considered this is just going to be a very informal and I wish I could give you just a very random example I mean let's say of course this is probably between on contact board members do not get paid so I'll put it out there board members got paid and we normally always cut kindergarten and so it's like okay we always cut kindergarten where else could we cut I know let's cut court the board member salaries or let's cut this area that's all I'm saying if let's just look in different areas if there are any or investigate those may be programs that I don't know all I'm saying is just let's be open-minded let's be proactive and innovative in our approach to looking at alternatives rather than always having the same things on the chopping block you know in talking about alternatives miss Pritchard I would like to just stress to you that we do have many times especially over summer we have natural attrition that happens we have people that you know back out of a contract maybe you decide to get a different position that's maybe a promotion for them there are people that decide to retire mid-year there's people that come health issues there are all kinds of reasons but people will have natural attrition and those are things that we can take advantage of without making those hard decisions too right but a 7 million dollar cut is I think mr.
Dean and mr. Hicks alluded to that that is that is very hard to cover period I mean it's just it's that's a large deep cut into the district so I could just interject and go ahead rushon the board about sticking to the agenda as close as possible thank you yes thanks for that and I think dr. Kelsey do you feel like you have clear enough insight and direction moving forward do I need to retract my statement on yes I think we can prepare a report for the June 10th board meeting okay miss Pritchard are you okay with that yes thank you all right sorry to make it more complicated than it was I appreciate the discussion and the clarification I think that helped a lot all right so moving forward do we need to now that we've deleted this agenda item and we're adding it to the June 10th meeting can we just move past this or do we need to vote on this can you just leave it can't we don't take action you can move forward to the next item okay thank you all right so move down are we on each one perfect we'll move down to each one requests for future agenda items Mike anybody have anything no the only thing I was possibly going to ask for dr.
Keller said in the in his superintendent update was regards to graduation thank you anything else excellent thank you I will go ahead and move to item I one and I will make a motion to adjourn the meeting second motion made by J Leonard seconded by mr. Pritchard or was that Densmore Pritchard thank you sorry I'm waiting for Dawn Dennis Moore's vote then she called her computer already did you know I don't I'm not getting the pop-up on my side okay you can just go ahead and give me a verbal yes Nora abstain to adjourn yes thank you done unanimous we are adjourned I appreciate you guys time have a great night thank you
and through this evenings board education meeting as well as during the YouTuber menu link like to have a call to order here miss Allen is miss ham here miss Harrigan mr. Martelli mr. Perry Jeannie yeah mr. white here mr.
chairman you have a quorum bacon peril believe we're actually going to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance I think Jeff will there we go I thank you for for that Jeff so good evening everyone before we get into the actual meeting just reminder that while we are meeting via the Google meet you can submit questions as we've been doing all along by emailing CPS Co vat19 a Cheshire dat k12 dot CT that us we checked before just before being started and there were no emails just so I'm gonna recommend is actually moved the public comment section toward the end of the meeting specifically after it's the old did isn't it so that between now and then if people meet sending emails or questions we can get some at the end of meeting so unless there's any objections I'm going to go ahead and make that change no objections awesome thank you team first time for business I was going to say it feels a little weird we're missing our student representatives I'm so used to having it I was used to having them out in front of us all school year long so hopefully we get a chance a report from them before before going to school year if not in Town Hall hopefully in the next school we'll meet so it was a little difficult to do with all the other Lane wearing they're doing but that we do miss those folks that being said we're gonna go into the report to stay in the committee starting with the curtain curry committee that's you faith okay we met last evening April 22nd it was a great meeting we did hear from her about a new textbook that is under review for the AP comparative government class we then went on to a full full-on review of through distance learning or remote learning program its evolution + is - is just how we're progressing with it we have heard about where we stand with the 2nd and 1st through K through twos they are still working with instructional packets grade three has moved into the Google classroom platform and so essentially we just went through the progress of each of each program we also heard about the College Board testing so SAT and a CT I'm sorry and ap testing we have so again we got a great report on just how the school is doing a fabulous job the teachers the administration families in terms of dealing with this learning issue thank you Dave that meeting was actually last night and I know we cannot live stream it but I did have folks I know I got some emails I think faith got some messages about if that meaning wasn't be made available today folks actually do want to wash it does that been uploaded yet or is a in progress it's on YouTube 14 awesome thank you my goal I'll surely everybody a lot of folks looking forward to hearing the progress and for the rest of the board if he didn't wash ice tonight it's definitely worth watching you know at least the first half or so so a lot of information there Thank You faith any questions from the board for faith on the Curtin Committee report seeing as there is none next up is the finance Adam that would mean you and mr. Massey Anna Thank You mr.
chairman as we had not had a Finance Committee meeting since our last meeting on March 12th and I believe we reported on that at our last business meeting all the information that is in the agenda tonight will be reported on by mr.
Massey Anna I hand it over to you thank you very much good evening everyone I'm going to share my screen which hopefully you can see now what I did is I brought up the finance report that was provided to the board members can you see that yes okay thank you yeah so what I did is I provided an update to the March 30th report as mr.