if we're made aware of these things that you know as early as possible that hopefully you know school things like a school closure can be um avoided especially for financial [clears throat] reasons. >> So would you be looking at this measure to see maybe what are some of the other things that you you folks can make sure your audits cover so that you don't have to have a whole separate audit. We can definitely work with of course with the board of education as well as the state auditor to ensure that um if there are any specific items that either the legislature requests or that either the board or the auditor feel should be included, we can definitely work with them and as well as our accounting CPA firms to see if we can incorporate them into the audit. >> Okay, questions members? >> Uh questions, chair, thank you.
Vanessa, any questions funding? >> Talk about the [snorts] change. >> Oh, um, Brianna um, knows all about the change in vision. I focus more on the medical u, but she has all the ancillary and other products. Do you want to talk about that? >> So, this is also linked here. Give me >> one second. So currently Kraton is with United Healthcare for vision with uh Valley Schools. That contract is up this year. So we are not renewing that. However, we do have VSSP poolled plans that are um right in line with what you guys are already offering except for they are enhanced a bit. So, um bear with me one moment. >> Um no, that that's totally fine. I just wanted to I didn't have that up on on mine. Um, so currently your current rates are about $101 for an employee, $201 for an employee spouse, $2141 for an employee and child, and employee plus family is 3421.
It's a very interesting statute, the cable act um you know it really provides for different mechanisms for public input like that. So, if you can't make it to tonight's hearing, the law does contemplate that uh uh the issuing authority, you know, through its uh town administrator keep the record open for other data that we can receive as long as we make it public and share it uh with the with the lency. So, there are further opportunities and uh that's about it. >> Thank you, Bill. Appreciate that. Thank you very much. Um I guess it come down to discussion amongst us right now. >> Yeah. Will we go ahead and close this part of the hearing right the ascertainment? >> Yes. >> Right. Okay. Okay. >> Motion to close the hearing >> there. Second. >> Second. >> Okay. All those in favor? >> I. That's 5.
Yes. um almost I don't want to say um February jokingly could be March >> and if we were just pushing it back one month we'd almost just say those are that's what's happening. So in March, we would potentially present, right? Maybe we would have a subcommittee meeting. We've always been early. Most districts, I mean, South Haven's Mother's Day, May every year, right? >> Front of town. >> Um, and you just don't know what the feds or the state or anybody's doing anymore. But I think if we were to we being sub here I don't want to tell you what to do right but we guide you late February early March like even this week in March the week before the school committee if we were to come back we would have better figures for you some things. >> Sure. >> Yeah. Um then we right you um was similar that Monday or Tuesday of the week prior to our school committee could deem whether we're ready to go or you just mentioned oh we just got numbers from the mayor not that number but dates we're still really early tinker around for another month we'll bring it to the April meeting.
And it it's nice because the executive council or representatives from the from the union will actually sit and meet with their colleagues. Well, they'll get the real scoop and then they'll be able to bring that they're able to bring that back to us and we're able to sit down and and problem solve and say, "Okay, so what's the priority of what we really need to focus on? You know, what can we control and what can we where can we make some headway?" So, I found those to be really really helpful. Um, my office is in the building, so I find and there's a revolving door Whoops. in our office. So, um, folks pop in That's another piece too is, you know, having that an open door policy has been really helpful. Um, drives my assistant absolutely insane. She usually wants to kill me because she's supposed to be the gatekeeper and I'll hear I'll hear somebody outside.
So, I would not recommend these first two paragraphs, but the rest of this another version, I would just tack on to the earlier policy, including the limitation section. Um, in this limitation section, it has six pieces to it. Um, it really talks about preserving that this is a celebratory event. Um, and that it can't be, you know, that event can't be diminished or interrupted in any way. It's a privilege. um that if you do not meet our code of conduct, you may be asked not to participate in that. Um again, not something that happens very often, but we have had um an occasion, a unique circumstance that has warranted um that decision to be made. Um that we're looking for cooperation uh from our staff and uh administration uh in the senior activities which lead up to graduation. Um it is a huge production with lots of practices, you know, distributing uh even caps and gowns to students and all the celebratory events that go into it.
Um what is your turnaround time to produce an audit once you have been instructed? How long does it take? >> We usually start field work at least I'll speak for the commission side. Um I know the charter school side it may vary but the commission on an annual basis has to undergo the single audit which is the more comprehensive. It includes a compliance component um versus just a standard financial audit. So charter schools as well, if they meet that threshold of receiving for this upcoming year, it's going to be $1 million in federal funds receiving and expending. They have they they're going to cross single audit threshold. On the commission side, we start field work roughly mid August and going into early September when we first set, you know, provide the information that our auditors request. We go through Our due date for the audits are November 1st.
Um, that contract, like I said, is going away. However, if you guys did offer the VSSP pool plan, we would offer two plans so employees could pick what worked for them. Um, and what is great is your plan that you guys currently have is actually right in line with being in the middle of both of our offerings. So employees wouldn't have to choose if they could afford one or the other or get stuck into one. They can pick whatever works for them, which is great. So if they are picking the base plan, that is about $68. So you're going from $10 down to $6. That is a savings for those individuals. Um, and then the buyup plan is $11.78 for an employee only. So when you when you're talking about um $101 or $11.78, that's obvious obviously a little bit of an increase. However, there are benefits that do change with that.
[clears throat] So this meeting uh the hearing has been closed. Any further discussion on this? >> So we're just going to take a vote of support. I would assume at this stage >> I don't think we even need to do that. >> We don't need to do that. We already made a point. >> I think we need to look at in you know further down the road as we get more information on the >> on the license and funding and stuff is where we'll look at it. I don't think we need to do anything other. >> Yeah. Okay. All right. Very good. All right. Thank you. Thank you everybody who uh spoke on behalf of WACA. I appreciate it everybody. Good luck and uh I know Mr. Silva. Go Pats. >> [laughter] >> Thank you all. >> Thank you very much everyone. >> Those were great comments.
>> Yeah. So I'm thinking our next meeting does sound logical to be roughly a month from now, beginning of March to see. >> May I have your attention, please? The school will now be conducting a lockdown drill. Please go into lockdown mode at this time. This is only a trip. Yes, we are going into lock down >> or you know we're almost done. >> Yeah, we're almost done. >> Yeah, >> we're locked. >> Yeah, so >> unlocked. I get it. That door is locked and the other one outside locked. >> Good job. I'm just saying. So why the door? >> But yes, so it seems like our our plan of action right now is to meet again beginning of March to go over more detail that and we've already we're already going to be updating the budget calendar. We voted on that. So, are there any other budget update questions or things we need to know right now?
Um, and so for me, like I don't want to miss an opportunity to hear what somebody has to say if there's an issue. Um, so I'll either get up and go out or she'll ask because she usually will know. my door. If my door is open, it means that someone can come in and sit down and have a conversation. So, that's another piece as well. I think, you know, sometimes the the idea of asking for feedback sometimes can be contrived and you because I' I've found that when I when we ask for it, sometimes we we don't get a balanced we don't get balanced feedback. You either get the people who are really happy about it or really not. And so there's no balanced kind of piece. Um I did find with the blitz that we got we got a b really balanced um balanced feedback of this is what's going well.
Um that we recognize and are committed to doing those. Um and then uh lastly, which I do think is an important one, uh the last one is number six, uh or I'm sorry, five and six, proper attire. Right? We have a cap and gown that students are expected to wear. um we want to make sure that that ceremony um you know is presentable and that so that acknowledges that we expect a proper attire and then lastly um that school property must be returned. Um these would like the old book fees but there are you know if you have a district issued laptop and all those kind of things. This is our attempt to collect back any DPS property um that is property of the district and should not leave with the graduate. >> Questions from committee members. >> Okay, Kelly, I'm sorry. I have a few.
So we're working from like I said about mid mid August up through November 1st um to try to get that audit in by that specific due date. Um that due date is actually driven by the reporting requirements for our state department of education and they're working on their audit as well as the annual comprehensive review run by D. So, three months. >> Well, like I said, on the commission side, that's the time frame that we have and we've set up with our auditors is to again, everything is kind of pointing at that November 1st deadline to have a report. Um because on our side as well as with the charter school side um our commission will review and accept the audit and on the charter school side as well their charter school governing board will review accept and in some cases the governing board is you know will work through some issues with the auditors.
And part of that is, and I apologize I have to walk over. Um, there is a a premium progressive lenses. you your employees would get a larger allowance for lenses. Also, for contacts, they're on the buyup plan, they would get 175 allowance. So, for those people that do need vision care, eye care, it's really great because they can get a little bit extra with their benefits on the frames and and other things along those lines. So, it is a de uh excuse me, a slight increase when it comes to one plan, but a decrease in the other plan. So, it's really great because then employees, like I said, could pick whichever fits for them depending on their situation. I don't know. Do you want me to let you know about the other plans that I did get in? Your your current dental does not have an increase.
Thank you. >> Thanks. >> And we're right on time. >> 7:35. It's 7:45. That clock is slow. >> Yeah, >> that's my time. >> We got to fix the clock. >> Whoa. Okay. Well, so there we are. Running behind a little bit. Sorry about that. Uh, next on our agenda is uh, Beth Reynolds and Katherine Bird with a presentation on the reconfiguration of space at the community center and the temporary relocation of the food pantry, >> which I think a lot of people are going to enjoy. >> Maybe, maybe, who knows? >> I, you know, I think it will. I've been thinking about how to introduce this for uh well, ever since we really started talking about it. Uh because there is so much to say about um you know what Katherine and Beth and Area and Candy and Kelly [clears throat] and everybody uh just the whole team what they have u what they've done.
>> Anyone look at the chapter >> we are now back to receiving just the minimum amount that per people because our foundation is more went down by five. So our chapter spending increase is only 122,325 and then on top of that our choice and charter sending uh choice went up by 20 students or to the tune of $458,188 and the charter went up by four students but that because of their formula that increase charter spending is $210,170. So why did that choice >> setting in or out? >> Out. >> Okay. Don't worry. >> So the total >> it's a loss. >> Okay. Make sure everybody knew >> total coming off the top is 668,35. >> So right there is like over half. Yeah, >> just covering that. >> It's going to be brutal. >> Yeah, come on in. >> Everybody releasing you from the lockown to come see us.
These are the things that that really aren't going well. Sometimes they were conflicting which opened up some really interesting dialogue around okay so some people think it's great and some people think it's the worst thing ever. So what do we do about that? You know how do we make everybody happy and get to a place where you know folks are on the same page. But um I found the open door policy works really well for me. Um not for my assistant. >> Well, first of all, thank you for coming out in the cold on Groundhog Day and a full moon and all the madness of winter. So, thank you for coming because I know it's a long drive. >> So, this is your opportunity. What questions do you have for us >> and were there questions we didn't ask you that you would like to answer?
Um I I was looking at these uh this compared to the uh previous version of it and there are a few things that are spelled out in there that um are not spelled out in this other version of the policy that I don't know if we added in or or how that all works but um the first one is that there it specifies in the old policy that the superintendent shall establish the date for graduation exercises and shall inform the board of education no later than the first regular meeting held in April. I think that is worth holding on to. >> I I don't disagree with you and that is um I believe that that is something that we have always done. It is also part of uh legislation with our calendar but I think it's nice to include in the policy. >> Yep. Um any um any concern from committee members about adding that to the exist the new new to adopt policy?
>> Yeah. Um what happens if that three-month deadline is not met? We have had issues with schools not being able to meet the um timeline, especially uh this year. Part of it was due to some of the issues we've had on the federal level. There's a compliance supplement that's released on an annual basis that provides either additional guidelines at the federal level. That was late this year. But in this case, the commission sometimes has to exercise its intervention protocol, meaning that we'll have to contact the school's governing board to essentially put them on notice. It's called a notice of concern to put them on notice to say your audit was due on November 1st. it hasn't been submitted on time and we need to get clarification or understand what's going on and when to expect that audit. >> So really no real consequences or penalties um if they don't meet those deadlines.
No change. So, that's great. It's an exciting end on a good note. I'd like to say something we did add to the VSSP vision plans this year is something called light care. So for those individuals that maybe um the district pays for vision, I'm not entirely sure, so I apologize on that one. But if the vision if the vision were covered and they don't actually wear glasses, it's kind of like well what's the point of that? However, we do offer a light care which is um nonprescription blue light glasses, um safety glasses, those kinds of things for those individuals that maybe don't need a prescription glass glasses but could benefit from eye care of some kind. So that would be included within their plans now for as of 7126 we did add that.