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We did a cookie cookie celebration here at the I don't know if it was called I called it a celebration because I enjoyed having the cookies uh here for the seniors. Um and then when we have things like pajama day at the schools of school staff uh really rallied around those things and uh made the kids aware of the world around them and and how they fit into that world and more importantly how they can positively contribute to that world around them. Some other things going on. Again I highlighted bullet and hoops night. That was something new for us this year. Um and looking forward to adding some things in the future. So, those are some celebrations outside the classroom. I know there were some inside and I think this is worth noting that our student performance continues to improve um year after year. Um you can see that in ELA, math and science, some considerable jumps in our student performance.
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And so, our staff is doing an awesome job pushing our kids and making sure that they're provided with rigorous um class activities that are challenging them, that are pushing them to think, and really building those transferable skills. That's that's really proud of that slide. Great work that the teachers are doing. Um, next gener next generation account accountability index. We talked about that a little earlier on the year. Uh, we're sitting at 79.5 right now. And again, you can see the trend is moving in the right direction. So, um, what I keep reiterating to the building principles and the teachers is what we're doing is working. So, um, we found the secret sauce. The recipe for success is there. Um, and we're going to do our best to stay the course and continue this trend and keep moving forward. I've heard a lot about per people expenditure in the community and out amongst other superintendents.
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So, I wanted to share this um visual. I did include obviously all the surrounding towns, but I wanted to um provide a little snapshot for towns that are a little more similar to us um and geographically a little closer to us. And so you can see we sit like smack dab in the middle of those districts. Um I didn't put up the next generation accountability index for those districts but if I did you would see that we were uh near the top of all those districts which is another thing to be really really proud of. Okay. So budget this is where we started. So, uh, when we kind of did phase one and the building principles working with teacher leaders and getting their their needs, uh, and their list, they brought it forward to us and we compiled Cassol compiled it all and the the increase over FY26 uh, you can see is a little over a million dollars and we were sitting just under 7% for a total increase.
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And so that's when that's when the good conversations really started to kick in and uh we started looking line by line and seeing where we can consolidate things, seeing where we can uh make savings that made sense that didn't negatively impact any programs, didn't negatively impact any people um and still provided a high quality learning experience that our kids deserved. Um I highlighted just some of the budget adjustments that were made during that process. Um, you can look on page 55 of your budget book. That is a complete list, but I just want to shout out some of the highlights of of some of the reductions that were made. Um, we heard things uh in the community last year about the number of admin assistance we had. So, we took a really hard look at that and as painful as it was, we were able to reduce that by a half half a position.
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Um, and that obviously means that other people are going to have to assume some of those roles and responsibilities. But I can tell you the team has been extremely receptive to that. Um, and incorporating a a team approach, which is not surprising. Um, to make that happen. We are uh reducing by one special education parent educator uh as a parent educator right here at BHS library a.5 position and a building sub at Bolton High School also uh will be reduced. And again, that's uh Mr. Miselli has been great with that as far as like brainstorming ideas right now how we're going to cover that next year and um we know that people are going to have to step up and and ship in in different areas and um we appreciate them doing that. >> Can can I ask a question? >> Yes. >> I'm just wondering are those currently filled where people are being reduced and out of jobs or are they leaving being moved to other positions?
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just the human impact. >> Yeah, that's a good question. Um, some of that is undecided, undetermined yet, but the goal here, so so far we've done um done everything we could to make sure nobody lose their job. >> Okay. And I can I can expand on that a little bit when we get into the budget workshop. >> So, here are some other highlights. Uh, stipen positions. We we took a hard look at all the stipens that we had in the district. met with the uh members of the stipen committee to take a look at what's there. Um and what we found was there are some stipen positions that were u possibly not being utilized or clubs and activities that were no longer running and um so we made some adjustments there. Superintendent's office I took a look at. We'll go over this in the budget book uh at the workshop.
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Um but taking a look at some things that uh I could pair down and I can consolidate uh virtual high school reduced that by $5,000. The athletic trainer and the bus miner. So, a total reduction um again can be found on page 55 and was just under $33,000 of reductions. So, those are not easy reductions. Um those were were pretty painful and again really difficult conversations and discussions, but um I think it made the most sense for for our our our district and to get a number that we'll be we could be comfortable with. Quick little five-year look back on position reductions over the past five years um equaling a little over nine total FTEES impact of reductions. I asked Cassaul like what does it mean if we try to for lack of better terms shave off a quarter percent or half a percent? What's the dollar amount?
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And so, you know, when I look at this, it's kind of a um I think it's a powerful slide for me because when we think of just percentages, sometimes you can throw percentages there, but when you put a dollar amount to it, um you know, you can't save $42,000 by buying less paper. Um so, additional reductions um to this magnitude would result in, you know, staffing changes and program changes. Here's an overview of where the money is being spent. the 2% was tiny, so I had to put it outside the the pie. But you can see as as I'm sure you're well aware that most of it is in salaries and benefits. To break that down a little bit, contractual obligations uh consists of $761,941 of the increase, which is a huge chunk. Um, again, special education increase of only $7,700 is again a tribute to Beth and her hard work and her team.
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Uh, I think that's unheard of in um in districts that it's that that small an amount. And you can see there was a uh less spending in regular instruction and administration and business. We had some savings there because of some things we were able to do. So, the impact of the expenditures and reductions, you can see there the the proposed increase is 8.66, which is a 5.17% increase and of that increase 761,941 is salary in health insurance or a 4.54% increase. So before we even did anything before we got started we didn't really technically start at a zero. We started a 4.54 and went from there. Um so really the increase is 4.54 to the 517. Some local air requests right here. Here again, you can see where we fall as it relates to other area districts. We are below the average and certainly well below some of the other districts.
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I have to note coming from Vernon, Vernon is very low. Um they also are an alliance district and uh they have millions of dollars in state funding which certainly helps to get that. So that that number is a little bit deceiving. Um had to throw in that caveat there. Here's your projected revenues from grants, federal and state, our capital proposals. I know Ben spoke a little earlier about um our Kappa and this is what is in that. The district handicap band replacement. We uh pieced it out into two separate years to try to reduce the impact and potential referendum items and the roof replacement that we've spoken about before. I kept the BHS soccer field and track on there um because it still needs to be done. I took out the BCS um science lab renovation and the BCS library renovation. I talked to Mr.
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Gard and he felt comfortable taking those two things out and um not having those be as much of a priority as some other things right now. Some shared efforts to reduce expenses, some shared things we have with the town. I also included in there, we're exploring shared ESY with Andover this summer, which could produce some revenue for us. And then our next few meetings coming up. And I just want to finish with some pictures of our kids. you know, you get caught up in the office sometimes looking at numbers and numbers and numbers um and popping into the schools and seeing pictures like this, seeing the kids in the day-to-day routines in their classes, interacting with their teachers and their peers. Um that's really what it's all about. So, that is why we're here and um I'm really proud to put this budget proposal together.
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>> Thank you very much. We look forward to our next meeting in about 10 minutes to discuss this in great detail. 11 minutes. But in the meantime, we have no unfinished business, but we do have small new business and resignations or do we not have? >> Yes, we do have one resignation. Elaine Aligretti at BCS is announced her retirement after quite a few years. So, we wish her the best of luck. Really excited for her. Yeah. >> Been a staple. Yes. >> She was my son school Spanish teacher. >> Yeah. >> All right. They choose to fill their >> Yes. Future business. Looking for a motion to adjourn. So move. >> We have a second. >> Second comments on this motion. All those in favor, please say I. Anyone opposed or abstaining? All righty. One down.
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for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Welcome everyone. Y Motion to approve the agenda as presented. >> Second motion to second the discussion.
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We'll go ahead and call this meeting to order. Uh, first item on the agenda is approval of the agenda. >> Also move. >> Second. >> Motion by Josh, second by Allison. All those in favor say I. >> I.
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Good evening everyone. Uh today is Monday, February 9th, 2026. Word Kama Ham um Baba Unified School District regular governing board meeting. Uh roll call um call to order and I'll turn it over to Ben for roll call. >> All those present Thank you, Ben. We do have a quorum.
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I think it's >> I know I haven't put the um strip on there so it was a visual. Yeah, >> I have five minutes. I'll be >> he gets the check >> over here. >> Thank you. >> Just go right back. >> Yeah, I think John already paid the bill, >> right? >> What do I do with this? >> I think John already paid the bill. We already paid this bill. I pulled it out of my >> address. I'll have John cash it and then tell John to put in my account. Was it recent? >> I was going to say nobody ever >> in my office. >> Let me look. That one they have. >> Well, this is what she wants, but I'm just saying that's what >> we have to >> I believe I hit send. >> You have something like that. of the >> cool.
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I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> No, she's sorry. No. >> No. I got his heart. Frost. Yes. Vio here. S Gorman out. Tyer >> here. >> I >> here. Hello. I know today I'm a little um dressed down more than usual, I guess you can say. And I was like going to wear something like fancy nice and then I remembered Mr. Gobble wore PJs one time and so I was like you know I think it'll be okay if I wear if I if I wear this and so >> is low. >> Yeah I guess so. Um yes so today February uh this meeting exciting one for this. I'm just going to jump right into it. We have a lot going on with starting off with some competitions that have happened.
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to the flag of the United States. Does anybody have anything to add to the agenda? >> Can I please have a motion to approve the agenda? >> Joe and Doug. All in favor? >> I. >> Any oppose? Eyes have it. Accomplishment recognition, Mr. Gold. Okay, we have our students of the month. I'd like to call up Mrs. Mullen to to introduce our primary students of the month. >> All right. So, for our primary students of the month in preK, we have Riley. Riley, come on up. [applause] And then for kindergarten we have a gum. [applause] And our first grade student of the month cannot be here. They're sick today. And that is Grayson. >> Okay. All right. Congratulations to all of our elementary school students of the month. First, if we could have Reagan Lesnar up here. Second grade. [applause] >> Oh, okay. And then for third grade, Aaliyah Rosario.
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All right. 6:30. >> Would you mind calling the role, please? >> Certainly. Cara Casten >> here. >> Katie Courtourtney >> here. >> Ken Dawson >> here. >> Chris Espinosa >> here. >> April Fein >> here. >> Don Rener >> here. >> Michael Riskey >> here. >> Ryan Enroy >> here. >> And Romina Papa Gonzalez >> here. >> Thank you very much. >> All right. Have a quorum.
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ation meeting. Can I have a roll call, please? >> Mr. Cerrone >> here. >> Dr. Martin >> here. >> Dr. Mario >> here. >> Dr. Pak >> here. >> Miss Robinson >> present. >> Miss C here. Miss Wenmouth >> here. Let's all stand for the pledgece to the flag of the United States of America to the stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. >> All right. 4.1 staff and student recognition. >> So before we get started this evening, I'm going to turn it over to Dr. Kgatti so we can take a quick moment. >> Good evening board and those listening at home. We want to take a moment to acknowledge the sad news of the unexpected passing last week of Asiggo East High School student special education teacher Paul Kitler. Mr. Killer truly embodied the values of this community. He is greatly missed.
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