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Not only is she kind and passionate, she has dedicated many hours to serving others. Most notably, Sarah has actively served her peers while at North by being a member of Circle of Friends and Student Council for all four years. This past year, Sarah was the student council president. She also has been involved with class board and is a member of National Honor Society and National French Honor Society. Next year, Sarah will continue her studies in the direct admit occupational therapy program at St. Louis University. Please join me in giving a round of applause for Sarah. [Applause] At this time, I am honored to present the class of 2018. During the last four years, I have watched these students pursue and attain excellence in a number of ways. Many of them earned state and national recognition in music, art, journalism, DECA, speech, world languages, and FCCLA.
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There are simply too many medals and trophies to recount here. The class of 2018 showcased their athletic skills as well. During their time at North, these seniors earned multiple conference, regional, and sectional championships, including a girls soccer sectional championship just about an hour ago. Congratulations, girls. [Applause] 33 athletes competed at the state level and experienced success. Two individuals and one entire team took first in the state and several other individuals and teams achieved elite 8 status. In addition, the class of 2018 earned many academic honors. 14 students were named National Merit commended students and three were named National Merit finalists. We had 111 Illinois State scholars and 277 students achieved a GPA after seven semesters of 3.4 and above. 42 of those students earned a GPA of 4.4 or above on a 4.0 scale. Indeed, our students received so many academic awards that we dedicated an entire night to recognizing those students in May.
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Certainly, this is a class that has experienced great success. However, they also have experienced challenges. As Grant mentioned in his speech, they lost three of their classmates. Losing even one student is not easy. Losing three is unthinkable. And I know many of the students in the class of 2018 continue to feel those losses. Still, this class has managed to overcome this challenge as well as their own individual challenges they faced and are ready for the next step in their journey. Class of 2018, as you leave Downer's Grove North, I hope you will take what you have learned here and make a positive difference in our world. And when I say what you have learned here, I do not mean just the skills of reading, writing, math, and the other skills that you were tested on while here at North. Of course, those are all important, but just as important are the lessons you learned about character.
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Indeed, while I am very proud of your academic, athletic, and extracurricular successes, I am most proud of your efforts toward improving your character and toward coming together as one. The opening song, thankful, sung so beautifully by the AC cappella choir, states, "Even with our differences, there is a place we're all connected." And I believe this is very true for the class of 2018. Therefore, I urge you to find those connections in your new surroundings. Use the skills that you have learned here and find those connections in your new surroundings. Use the character that you have developed here at North to find each other's light and be the change that our world needs. I also urge you to take heed of the other message of the song. Be thankful. Often when we are caught up in our challenges, it is difficult to remember all of the good things in our lives.
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Yet, gratitude is empowering. It strengthens us when we take the time to reflect on all that we should be thankful for. And it inspires others when we express our gratitude to them. As Melody Bey noted, gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. Class of 2018, I hope that as you look back on your years at North, you find many things to celebrate. And as you sit here today, no doubt a little anxious about the future, you also are filled with peace because of your accomplishments. Finally, I wish you the best as you venture out into the world, bringing your vision for tomorrow to life and looking for joy even when life is challenging. I will miss you, but I know you are ready to leave and that you will make a positive impact on our world.
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Thank you for everything you have done to improve North High and congratulations. [Applause] And now, Dr. The members of the board of education, it is with great honor and pleasure that I present to you the North High School class of 2018. As principal, I certify that the graduating class of 2018 has met all of their requirements as set forth by the state of Illinois and the board of education of district 99 and are hereby granted all the rights and privileges that correspond accordingly. It is now my pleasure to introduce the superintendent of Community High School District 99, Dr. Hank Thely. Thank you, Principal Schwarz. I'd like to start out by congratulating the class of 2018 on your accomplishments during your high school career, culminating in today's graduation celebration. This is always a big moment for each of you as students, but also for your parents, family members, teachers, and staff members who have helped you along the way.
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Before you start your next chapter, please take a moment to reflect, think about all of those people who helped you navigate those school years starting all the way back in kindergarten. Think of all those people who supported you, cared for you, took you the places you needed to be, and made it possible for you to be here today. And if you look around and spot some of those people in the crowd or staff members around, this is your chance to wave one last time and thank them. Go on, wave. You can do it. Class of 2018, after having the guidance and support of these parents and caring adults and staff members shephering you forward through and through life's challenges, you're now entering a new phase where you begin to lead your own life. Today marks the turning point where you are now leading the way.
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As a parent of a graduating high school senior myself this year, I've lived through a similar year as you, preparing for change. It was a year filled with uncertainty, difficult choices, and lots of joy. And I'm sure you're starting to see through all of those experiences that being an adult can be hard. You have learned that things happen that you don't expect and things that you don't even imagine were possible sometimes occur. Some of these will be challenges. Other times they will be opportunities. Either way, you are now responsible for getting through each of those situations. Sometimes it will take every bit of energy, knowledge, and determination that you have to make it through. But know this, you will make it through. I know you have already faced challenging situations in your life and in school this year and in school for the past four years.
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You will continue to overcome future experiences and roadblocks and explore opportunities by using what you have learned from these experiences and by relying on those around you. There are a lot of people in this world you have yet to meet. And I encourage you to continue to value positive relationships as others as one of your most precious resources. We are in a world that offers limitless opportunities to expand ourselves and moving forward continue to grow by being open to others and by learning from their experiences and their perspectives. In the words of world traveler and author Gina Greenley, "Experience is a master teacher, even when it's not our own." The parents, family members, and teachers in your life trust and believe that they have prepared you for whatever comes next in your life. We are confident that you will join the ranks of successful graduates leaving Community High School District 99.
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And most of all, we trust that we have instilled in you the power and desire to learn, to reason, and to take positive actions for others throughout the rest of your life. In the future, please come back and share your successes with our students. Let us know how your high school experience prepared you for the next set of adventures. I can't wait to hear about the positive differences you are making in the world. To Dr. Kupka and to the members of the board of education, it is my privilege to recommend the members of North High, class of 2018, for graduation from high school community district 99. It is now my pleasure to bring forth Dr. Nansky Kupka, president of the board of education, who will now represent the board in presenting the class to the community. Congratulations, graduates. Good evening and congratulations. I know for some of you this day could not come quickly enough.
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For others, especially us parents today, it is here way too soon. Today you're different. Today you're a high school graduate. Your teachers, administrators, and all the staff, your parents and families work very hard to help you get to this point. and I'm sure you won't disappoint us going forward. Like Grant, like Principal Schwarz, I would like to take a moment to recognize both the students and family members who we wish who are here with us today, but who are not. Representing the board, we are proud to recognize the 2018 class. We offer our congratulations and wish you all the best in wherever life takes you. Now go out and do some good in the world. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. The Dr. Kovka. At this time, we will begin confirring the diplomas. I ask that our line leaders move into place and prepare the graduates.
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For those in the audience, I respectfully request that you remain in your seats and hold your applause and other acknowledgements until all students have been awarded diplomas in order to provide the appropriate recognition that each of our students deserves. Just as you want to hear the name of your son or daughter read, so too will other parents and families. Any loud noise can drown out the reading of a student's name. Please do not be responsible for preventing a student's name from being heard. We thank you in advance for your appropriate and respectful behavior. Will the class of 2018 please come forward to receive your diplomas. Kaylee Aum. Xan Bando, Patrick Adelman, Jason Bell, Anam Adil, Christopher Bellaradic, Jeffrey Aguo, James Belcastro, Sed Ahmad, Edgar Bautista, Adnan Ahmed, Christopher Barera, Aribba Ahmed, Juliana Bare, Alyssa Albertie, Sarah Baron, Kenya Alcantara, Cassidy Baron, Jesse Alcott, Noah Bis, Bianca Eleanelo, Ali Baghdaddy, Dena Alsamara, Marcus Basera, Gonzalo Alvarado, Nicholas Bakarella, Ernest Amakovichas, Brian Aileles, Ethan Anderson, Nafisa Assad, Jaylen Anderson, Robert Arms, Imran Injam, Nicholas Bonamichi, Nicholas Erand, Olivia Bull, Analyn Benge, Christopher B, Ellaner Benge, Megan Busher, Jared Benois, William Browning, Morgan Bentel, Susanna Browning, McKenzie Burnernhard, Eric Browning, Alice Eda, Tyen Brown, Trible, Renee Balawa, Victoria Brown, Randall Black, Shannon Britt, Emily Blanchard, Riley Britt, Emily Ballinger, Bianca Briones, Prell Banga, Evelyn Brindle, Brandon Bon, Samantha Bright, Blake Boris, Jillian Bronn, Charles Bar Romeo, Daniel Bole, Charlie Bulma, Michaela Clark, Matthew Boyd, Nicholas Civetanova, Naomi Boyd, [Music] Kaden Shenote, Allison Burke, Madison Chudzik, Emily Bernap, Analisa Chudzik, Zachary Bush, Jacob Chzn, Viani Bustos, Mity Chavez, Jordan Buyers, Mateo Chavez, John Kagny, Kyle Chapen, Destiny Campo, Christopher Channer, Jack Cannon, Chun Hinn Chan, Katie Kentland, Peter Cervanka, Matthew Carbon, Elena Cervantes, Nathan Carlson, Kristen Cerny, Ariana Carlton, William Cerny, Nicholas Coron, Benjamin Cecil, Connor Carr, Trevor Cassens, Jack Carr, Olivia Dioro, Matthew Carr, Sophia Diorio, William Carroll, Joseph Delortto, Jennifer Casey, Noah Delutri, Samson Coger, Claire Deloplain, Kayn Coleman, Carlos Carlos Deagila, Cameron Collier, Bridget Degan, Sage Collins, Marian Deal, Luke Colo, Shelby Davis, Alberto, Colorado, Michael Davis, Deanna Conklin, Kenan Davis, Sophia Ki, Blake Davis, Morgan Conway, Dean Dar, Hussein, Ian Cook, Campbell Dalan, John Castello, Nathan Cummings, Michelle Cotton, Marina Kulfik, Isabella Codel, Crystal Crockett, Michelle Kosy, Jack Ferz, Ktomi Crabdri, Kendra Fox, Tyler Cre, Alexander Foscuit, Cody Chrissy, Frederick Fosco, Jessica Diaz, Mike Forieri, Joseph Deartalo, Zachary Forester, Alexander Demetriopoulos, Marie Flynn, Trevor Debertton, Timothy Flavin, Patrick Doyle, James Flavin, Jacob Drabnik, Haley Fini, Thomas Drowan, Keegan Farane, William Dulman, Caitlyn Ferington, Christopher Dwanus, Dominic Falco, Joseph Duganzic, Christopher Espinosa, Katherine Dunlap, Benjamin Ellstrom, Lillian Dunn, Kalia Ellis, Sarah Durban, Lucas Elisha, Luke D'vorak, Selma Elbadi, Mohamad Daidar, Benjamin Gunnar, Justin Elie, Alyssa Gunderson, William Economo, Phoebe Gman, Anne Edwards, Zachary Greatus, Chris Frimpon, Kevin Griffin, Grace Fury, Erica Griezbomb, Grace Fenoff, Dena Greenwald, Ryan Gaelic, Mattaline Greenberg, Andrew Galwis, Sandra Greco, Jamie Gonz, Michael Graa, Jade Gandhi, Sha Graph, Leslie Garcia, Sheay Grabowski, Sarah Hines, Emily Gornick, Sydney GOP, Diego Gomez, Benjamin Gartland, George Goldie Morrison, Kylie Gasper, Eric Go, Kenise Gaston, Mariah Mariah Godar, Kinsey Gist, Matthew Jacobson, Nicholas Ganam, Norbert Jackson, Chloe Glenn, Kennedy Jackson, Nina Simone Gutierrez, Caitlyn Jackson, Grace Halberg, Isaiah Esobel, Zoe Howlet, Laura Marvin Ilagrin, Rose Halper, Daniel Iiggo, Aaron Hansen, Diana Ibara, Gavin Harker, Noahi, Logan Harmon, Male Highland, Patrick Harmon, Katherine Hutau, and Serene Hassan, Caitlyn How, Amanda Hazen, Miranda Host, Joseph Hagerty, Kiara Holton, Andrew Held, Parker Holdway, Kira Henderson, Jacob Hland, Carara Hennean, Kyle Hinkle, Cameron Hingles, Caitlyn Hill, Benjamin Heapner, Claire Cavaric, Melanie Hernandez, Kevin Cot, Kyle Higgins, Brian Cosek, Serena James, Chandana Koduri, Lucas Yanowskis, Ryan Kzovvich, Lillian Janowitz, Logan Cluchin, Evan Japlan, Georgie Kurikov, Sarah Jorski, Mia Kiboski, Giovani Jimenez, Da Khan, Aaron Jensen, Samuel Ketchmark, Katie Jensen, Hollis Kerr, Samantha Jillik, Nathan Cop, Alexa Johnson, Allison Keller, Allison Johnson, Alec Kner, Angelique Johnson, Sophia Cartsunis, Benjamin Johnson, Sophia Caro, Hannah Renee Jura, Matteline Kaiser, Marissa Justiniano, Isabelle Malachic, Thomas Cattlechic, Anna Maine, Jessica Cadlick, Jeremiah Lumpin, [Music] Nicholas Kowalsik, Audrey Lucas, Cecilia Kovara, Gabriella Loausano, Taylor Kazaritz, Jesus Lopez, Katie Krennik, Felix Lopez, Declan Kramper, Penny Lopez, Julie Ia Krauss, Allesandro Lacassio, Maxwell Krauss, Lucy Lloyd, Abby Cruel, Felix Leo, Emily Cooera, Tom Brenia Lee, Conrad Kazowski, Sydney Lee, Carrie Kumiga, Matthew Lee, Aden Cupka, Terrence Leblanc, Hannah Cuchek, Lindseay Labida, Isabelle Labiano, Luke Leed, Aaron Lane, Athena Lawrence, John Langan, Maline Mazus, Margaret Langland, Sarah Meyer, Lucas Lowour, Joshua Matoyer, Isabella Malik, Tyler MDIS, Mia Maloyan, Jean Reno Mensadaku, Michael Manzo, Guyri Menan, Francesca Maronei, Briana Mendoza, Claire Marino, Jade Mahia Wick, Hannah Marin, Thomas Mri, Rachel Martell, Kelly Mweeny, Grace Martin, Dylan McMillan, Christina Martin, Christian McKini, Marcelo Martinez, Kayla Mckendry, Chloe Mason, Jaylen McCale, Caitlyn McCafferty, Melanie Maguire, Kaylee McCarthy, Shaylen McGrath, Brandon McCartney, Marissa McGinty, Jonathan McDonald Shoemaker, Jasmine Olsen, Troy McDonald, Shoemaker, Elizabeth Oliveros, Jasmine Mian, Cassidy Ole, Kenma, Michael Miglio, Ailen O'Hare, Christian Malazo, Jonathan Oil, Margaret Miller, Chloe Noa, Maximleian Miller, Austin Novak, Brett Mills, George Nororick, Marabella Mingi, Lillian Nielsen, Huffsa Mesa, Kaye Nelson, Austin Mocha, Carly Neils, Naba Mosen, Michelle Nasim, Joseph Maul, John Nesbbit, Thomas Malloy, Cararissa Meloick, Katie Monaras, Malikica Muzil, Brian Monk, Farzan Muzil, Joseph Mooney, Fiona Murray, Alisa Moralde, Cassidy Cring, Alexis Mormon, Jack Ramden, Cassandra Morazzic, Jesus Ramirez, Munoz, Jane Olsen, Carson Rego, Kevin Ortega, Haley Ramirez, Destiny Ortiz, Aaron Ratigan, Alua Kamisio Arukatan, Elise Ratigan, Arsim Osmani, Sylvester Pu Adus, Sebastian Perez, Osorio, Brendan Quley, Allison Padavani, Jacob Polland, Dalia Pajooki, Grace Poots, Manuel Piagua, Michael Price, Anne Paneo, Matthew Powell, Emma Pano, Katherine Pittz, Samantha Parker, Benjamin Pike, Dominic Pacero, James Pipenbrink, Jarvis Patrick, Aiden Faggley, Kyle Pearson, Isabella Scarati, Benjamin Purdue, Anchen Su Chime, Julie Rhonda, Michelle Santin, Giani Ransom, Miller, Matteline Samuels, Mitchell Rayek, Anthony Sampress, Grazvidas Rukus, Claire Salman, Maline Reynolds, Aaliyah Sagon, Zoe Reynolds, Kevin Sakben, Julia Rhodess, Nicholas Saba, John Richards, Jackson Rumler, Jessica Richardson, Lette Pet Ruiz, Pierre Richie, Phillip Rogerro, Sed Mohammed Abbas, Rivski, Alexis Ruffalo, Adam Rodenbl, Jacob Rosima, Benjamin Rodenbastl, Claire Rowley, Jade Roberts, Daniel Stull, Emma Roach, Alli Rosadi, Alexis Rodriguez, Ethan Ro, Savannah Rodriguez, Bruno Suarez, Veronica Scarpelli, Nicholas Sternberg, Joseph Shelberg, Neve Stewart, Kyle Sheerley, Grace Stevenson, Theodore Schneider, Maxwell Stein, Megan Shop, Zachary Steel, Natalie Schutz, Cassidy Steel, Emma Seag, West, Connor Steedman, Nicholas Sopulva, Anna States, Veronia Cerna, Marshall Stassy, Ryan Shanahan, Carrian Statatler, Andrew Shelley, Rachel Sprag, Drton Sherifi, Cassidy Spawned, Gabriella Serusa, Gabrielle Spinosa, Grant Slesc, Logan Southworth, Justin Slerus, Joseph Soek, Katherine Smurs, Abigail Sabchek, Ethan Smith, Olivia Weaver, Patricia Celiva, Nathan Weman, Dodd, Abigail Swanson, Nolan Watts, Tori Sweet, Michael Waywright, Thomas Sakura, Owen Walgrren, Claire Tarvin, Haley Wagra, Laura Tottovigious, Ryan Villanova, Samuel Tabiani, Gia Villanova, Marlene Torris, Julian Vencio, Michael Taylor Fernandez, Madison Fankis, Kariah Taylor, Haron, Katie Velasquez, Charles Tenorio, Lauren Bain, Cameron Theer, Mia Valente, Grant Alexander Tyson, Spencer Ukrine, Callahan Thomas, Mohamad Uden Sha Elaine Tillitson Colton Trop Mars Tingen Alexandra Tomsky Benjamin Tomchek Brandon Thomasek Griffin Tom Nathan Zik Parker Weber Michaelina Zakowski, Emily Weber, Justin Zalinski, Aiden Webster, Alexander Zia, Matthew Weir, John Zarnowski, Zachary West, Cade Zarnowski, Natalie White, Briana Hannah Zanied, [Music] Alexander Whiteitman, Julia, Ahmad Winters, Jacob Young, Merrick Wise, Briana Yano, Olivia Wjac, Brooke Bjowski.
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[Applause] Students, if you have not already done so, you should move your tassels to the left side of your caps to signify your graduation from high school. [Applause] At this time, I would like to dismiss the faculty members to form the staff receiving line. During the recessional, the combined bands will perform under the direction of senior Ryan Kesovvich. Ryan has been a member of various music groups at North such as the wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, and pit Orchestra. He has been a member of National Honor Society, Tri Music Honor Society, and National French Honor Society. Ryan also played varsity soccer and participated in the West Suburban Leadership Conference. He will attend Indiana State University next year and will major in accounting. graduates during the recessional. Please wait for the section leaders to dismiss you by row to the fieldhouse to receive your diplomas. Thank you to all of our guests for joining us tonight and for being such a gracious audience.
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We ask that you remain in your seats until the conclusion of the recessional. Congratulations class of 2018. You are now proud alumni of Downers Grove North High School. [Music] [Applause] [Music] I choked up twice. I know. I'll choke. It's good. [Music]
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I'm here to talk about how I think the Board of Ed budget is already too lean I don't think there's a lot of room in there for cuts because that's typically what happens after our budget fails over the 11 years I've lived here I know when budget cuts they got rid of the third language at the high school the class sizes have been up and down they've been very marginal and I'd like to reflect back on 20 May 2015 when we had a budget where there was so many people in the auditorium and people were holding money in their hand saying please raise my taxes because I don't want these cuts to come through my children I have twins that were going into kindergarten that year there were only classes they really needed nine you could tell by here that was their grade David you know they were oversized that year they had 21 in a class when the recommendation was between 17 and 20 I also like to point out my sixth grader who started out of the seven years she's been in school five years have been the class sizes have been over there what they recommended so when you say in classes class rollin is declining maybe that took it to school my kids have been directly affected I don't and that's because the budget has always been so lean I'd also like to point out I looked up well you know how much is the median income in this town I looked up on the Connecticut decd website Brookfield the median household income is 112 thousand dollars how does that rank with the Connecticut I know some people shaking their head they say I don't make a hundred twelve thousand dollars but you know what that's an average some people make more some people make less we rank sixteen out of 167 towns in the state that puts us in the top ten percent just to put that in perspective I have the printout from the town from the state website I'm an engineer I like facts that go on facts these are facts I just asked you to please not cut the school budget it is really thin and there's no room for error the kids are gonna suffer especially the kids that need a special education are going to suffer the most say thank you thank you here Orban Laure RPN 95 Stony Hill Road and I'm here to ask that you return a budget with no cuts to a vote and I'm making this request for two reasons one is that I think we've had extenuating circumstances that have prevented to town from having a fair vote the vote on May 15 should not have been considered an official and complete vote I think we all understand why but I did consult with the Secretary of State because I was getting conflicting answers about with what the reason was and she said she agreed that there might be a case to be made that voters rights were limited but regardless that happened the Board of Finance reduced the first budget and returned it for a second vote and during the two weeks between the first and second vote most residents had no power for a week no internet access for a week many were displaced there was a lot of confusion about the status of the first vote and even during yesterday's vote there were a lot of residents asking whether or not they needed to vote again so I think that the effects of the storm continued into yesterday's vote and the Charter makes a provision for this so it's article 8 section see a three letter seat it says upon rejection of one or both parts of the budget by referendum the budget shall be reconsidered by the Board of Finance the more Finance shall then approve the same or a revised budget for presentation at the next Renderman referendum so it says the same to me that says that the Charter was written with the thought in mind that there could be rare situations where it makes sense to return the same budget to the town and if this isn't one of those situations I don't know what would be but the second reason is this budget that we have now is responsible and and anything less is not our town and and specifically our schools have suffered from years of neglect and we've been told to hold our nose and vote yes because if we didn't it was going to get worse and the budget was going to get cut again but we all know that that the past budgets have not adequately funded our schools and it that has to end and we need to do more to make this budget understood not cut it because people didn't understand what was in it and why it was necessary and it's not if they're not extravagant expenses better better we're asking for in this budget it's like bare minimum and and its expenses their expenses we need to pay as a town so I hope that you'll return this budget to the town and let us have a chance for one fair both with a reasonable two week lead time and give us a chance to get residents out thank you Betsie McIlvain one to seven Longmeadow hill I I actually came to thank the Board of Finance for having the courage actually to present as close to the original budget as you did and make logical changes in it I personally and I think with a large number of people in town and deeply disappointed that the budget didn't pass but I I think it took a lot of effort on your part as the Board of Finance and and the Board of Selectmen to have that vote and I think it's going to be even harder on you now to try and present a budget that will pass and it will not be the best or even a very good budget for the town I'm sorry to say let's hope we get it past the next time because we need to thank you I wish the best which is a look at 32 great hair in Lane first let me start off with I saw an article in the paper about facts and I just like to try to clarify things and offer the following facts the robocall that I received and that many of my neighbors received stated that Brookfield would have the highest tax increase not the highest taxes which was a quote in the article in the paper also last week when I was here I heard the first selectmen say that the issue of the fire EMT over budget the $50,000 that was added in he said that he only learned about that two weeks ago and I found that to be a little intriguing since I talked to him about it each of the last two years that they had that extra money in there so again so much for the facts I guess with all due respect to the previous speakers we've had two votes and the people have spoken and I think we you folks talked last week and I think mr.
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Rooney made a argument for listening to the electorate you know I can appreciate that people who want something but the people have spoken twice and when you look at the breakdown of the votes the majority of people not only voted no in a clear majority but they also voted in the majority too high which is saying to you you got to cut spending and there's a lot of places as I've shared with you before that you can and I think you have to think about this we have people who are out of their homes displaced and we had Greg Dombrowski say last week that the town is looking at a minimum two and a half million dollar cleanup cost how do you then keep things like travel and conference money in a budget how do you explain that to those people we're gonna we're going to keep that we're gonna have raise your taxes probably and yet we're gonna keep these travel and conference funds in the budget in both the town and the Board of Ed side you know that's outrageous I think I don't know how you in good conscience explain that to people you have the library last week we had a speaker say it was illegal to use the endowment and yet the chair of the library board said they chose not to use endowment funds you didn't say anything about legal so if they can choose not to use the funds they can choose to use the funds so you got good fifty thousand to a hundred thousand dollars you can cut right there and they still have almost a half a million dollars in the endowment so there's a lot of places there's places in the Board of Ed budget professional development funds again I'm a former teacher I never had a colleague go rusty or go bad because he or she for a year didn't have professional development or didn't go to a conference so you can cut that you can use professional development you can use professional development within this thank you so again I think you need to make a significant cut next on that list I play Bob Beldon seven Red Barn playing a full disclosure I'm on the board of education but I'm not here to speak as a Board of Education member but rather as a prior member of the Board of Finance you guys have a really hard job and I wanted to give a voice to that tonight in the following way it's important as you're deliberating tonight to remember that each of you represent all of the residents and all of the taxpayers of our town that doesn't mean you represent a faction who's just maybe once great schools or once you know lower taxes they you have to River have to represent all of them I am sure each of you walked into the table like many of the residents with one point of view or another and it's important as you're deliberating that you're thinking about both of those and it's a hard deliberation if you're looking at this strictly from a tax rate point of view you're focusing on the destination not the journey that got us there you're looking at the number at the end you could have had the best budget in the world and if it was a five percent tax increase that's a concern we hear that I heard that at your last meeting I've heard that met in numerous times if on the other hand you're focused on the services of our town you're focused on the journey your what you don't want to make sure the class sizes are right that we have the right parks that we have good roads that we have safe and secure fire and police support you're focused on what book field is about and many of those people could care less of whether the tax rates 3% 4% 5% the problem is you have to think about both groups and we count on you to think about both groups now I tend to be a person who is wants to have tight tax rates but great schools that's a hard confident patient it was always hard for me on the board of Board of Finance what I'll ask you to do is a couple of things first of all we have a tight budget every upset through a lot of the meetings the budgets that were presented to you were tight to start with you have a very cautious and frugal for selectmen and Superintendent of Schools the boards that have reviewed them so far have done a good job of scrubbing them and exercising them don't pretend it's easy right if you have to make cuts to hard cuts don't take the easy way out don't just cut contingency and and a revenue line if you have to make cuts it should be hard things we're reducing services if we're going to reduce spending on the other hand make sure it's worth it right that that's something that you all can stand up and in defend lastly don't walk out of here tonight and stop working on it there's 90 percent of the population in Brookfield who get their news on what's happening on the budget through one faction or another and not from you all I would urge mr.
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chairman that you give a quote to our intrepid reporter here before you leave tonight and I would urge the board to actually write a piece on the news times so thank you Thanks all right was there anyone else they wanted to give comment that I didn't get a chance to sign up Catherine malloc for Apache Drive so I didn't prepare anything and when I don't prepare I put my foot in my mouth so I hope that I don't do that so I'm going to try to give a little history I've been on I've been working for the budget for years and years and years yes disclosure I am a para at huckleberry hills school but I also fight for the budget because I'm a resident because I care for our kids but I was fighting for the budget because of PTO and this is history but ten years ago this is a flyer we put out we had lost 36 staff positions since the 2005-2006 school year so 10 years ago neighboring budgets increases Newtown was 5% Ridgeville 4.5% you Fairfield 3.7% Bethel 4.14 we were 1.2 for the following year we were minus 0.26 remember our - increase okay we have not had significant increases since then we are still fighting we are still trying to build from this a few years ago we had a zero percent increase because of expected enrollment decline then apartments started being built after that it was a below maintenance okay so we're still trying to catch up this was an extraordinary year with special education costs I truly wish that message was presented better that these are cost we have to pay these are costs because the state cut us a lot these cut other towns to one other piece of history I want to say education cost sharing we always when I got on the PTO I was like this isn't fair why don't we get as much as other towns I spoke I did lots of research I spoke with the state and I spoke with a gentleman who said it's called educational cost sharing it's based on what you can afford and what you are willing to pay he said why should we as a state give you extra money when your voters are not willing to get extra money this is a different thing this year they cut a lot just because the states in trouble but there's a couple things I wanted to point out that I've heard from being on Facebook somebody wrote that she voted yes to hi and her reasoning was that the state should be paying the special education costs more and she was upset that we had to take up that cost that's a good point I don't think anyone else thought like that but maybe they did so I want you to consider that and the other thing is it is a big deal that we are the lowest per pupil spending it is a big deal if we had more money we would have more money in the pool and we would not have had to cut enrichment and perhaps the septic tanks the smell in huckleberry could get fixed perhaps the sinks could get fixed is that three minutes really yes just want to tell you I was on the state website and I did see that we do have lower scores than Greenidge and I would like yeah okay is there anyone else that wanted to give public comment that didn't get a chance to speak in the past 20 men okay all right thank you everyone in this room joining us tonight and hopefully folks that are watching at home or on their phones or what have you we appreciate any and all attendance wherever you are so thank you for that we have a couple items on the agenda tonight one of which we don't have the chance to get to but next we will be discussing the results of the budget referendum vote and shame on me for not having that pull up right in front of me Oh two seconds ah yeah I got the I got it sent to me I apologize so he's gonna want a second I'm gonna get it to myself so it's on the big screen here and I can grab that cable and share it with everybody yeah well we're working on that may I make a comment yep um the tax increases for surrounding towns you can't simply look at the final tax increase in the mill rate because if you look at Bethel their actual increase in expenditures is up over five percent but they did have a significant amount of development that lowered it down to two point something Brookfield did not have that New Milford was two point something but they use money from their waste management fund to offset an increase of four points something in their actual expenditures so you have to look at all the numbers to get the true story the final mill rate doesn't tell you everything the second thing is I did an analysis and I put it in front of the board members the state issues reports called the equalized mill rate and if you look at this report Brookfield's tax rate is the lowest of all five surrounding towns and in one case two cases Bethel in new town by 13 percent and 21 percent these are my numbers these come from decd comes from the state office of policy management and they go through and they look at every single town and then they equalize the mill rate so if one town offers garbage collection as part of their services they'll take it out for that town to make it equal with Brookfield where we pay for it privately so I think we can count on their records and if you look at it 20 new towns taxes for the same house or twenty one percent higher than ours that just goes to say that Brookfield has done a very good job over the years in keeping our tax rates low and sometimes we do have when you have special education costs and cuts in grants you're going to get a bump like we had this year that's why like that's it all right sorry about that okay so we had okay first question I believe it's on education we had 1641 votes against 1376 vote for the advisory question I had a total of 1583 folks saying it was too high 688 folks saying it was adequate and 694 voters saying it was too low okay the next question is on the town government portion we had 1571 folks 1571 folks against and 1436 folks for okay and then the next advisory question we had 1500 11 voters saying that the town budget proposed was too high 1075 saying it was adequate and 363 saying it was too low okay and that is a recap of yesterday's referendum and why we are here tonight okay does anyone have any comment that they would like to make on this before we move into the next agenda item all right so the next item that was posted on the agenda was set to nil rate based on the results of the referendum we will not be doing that tonight what we'll be moving on to is reconsidering as a board the budget for submission to voters and a referendum on June 12 2008 that is a date that's prescribed by the Charter the way this process works is until we have an approved budget we will have a referendum on the 12th and if need be we'll have one two weeks from then which would make it the what 24th yep 26 27 Matthew needs of it and after that should we not have a budget that that passes we will default to the operating budget for the current fiscal year that we're in right now until we do get a budget that passes okay tonight we will have a meaningful discussion that has board will share our thoughts no number of to do good research database throughout the day with meeting and shut other so I think that we will be able to have a meaningful and productive discussion will give everyone a chance to speak their piece again have meaningful fruitful discussion and I'd like to sooner than later put things to board vote okay is there anyone that would like to open and share their thoughts alright I can go ahead and start I did have a chance to consider some things so given where we are right now there are some things that I would like us to consider I'll start off on the approved capital tab okay we have in the approved capital some capital that's paid for in cash okay that's not bonded unbonded capital expense so I went through here and I mean these aren't you know to mr.
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